Ask yourself this question: Why is it that so many western Christians find the greatest challenges to their faith are experiences that do not even qualify as persecution or serious suffering? Why will the loss of a a job or the moral failure of a pastor lead to the end of faith? Why do interpersonal conflicts in a church cause so many to abandon Christianity altogether?

Is there something about these experiences that are inherently discouraging to a particular kind of faith experience? Perhaps a faith experience that says things should be turning out right most of the time?

I really appreciated this post from InternetMonk. Go read the whole thing.

Consider following this series and commenting. Do you have any additional ideas as to how church members can be encouraged to study the Bible for themselves?

For some related information, check the Participatory Study Series tract Seven Barriers to Hearing the Word.

I am often impressed with the incredible amount of time we have over the lifetime of a church member to teach, and how very little is accomplished with that time. No wonder Sunday School attendance is dropping when the time is often spent going over the same material over and over again while we agree with one another on very general ideas.

It’s very similar with youth. We have a tremendous opportunity with youth who spend their high school years in church, yet just what have we accomplished with it?

I have written a new article on “Lessons From Israel”.  This one is not very pleasant, but I believe is a very timely warning.  This is not my typical type of letter…a prophetic warning of judgment for the way we, as a nation, are treating Israel.

But with Hurricane Gustav drawing nearer to the “West Bank” of New Orleans, I just couldn’t help it!  I feel this in my heart, just like I did when Katrina came one week after our government pressured Israel to uproot Gaza. 

I know this will be controversial, and I’m not saying that I know all this to be true without a doubt.  I could be wrong, and I really hope I am.  I’m not claiming to speak for God.  I just know that I see a very strong visual picture of what is coming if we, as a nation, support a president who is in favor of following in the footsteps of President Bush in asking Israel to give up the West Bank, and divide Jerusalem. 

So, I ask in advance, If I offend you personally with this article, please forgive me.  Just take it for what it is worth to you, and chew on it and pray about it. 

As preparations are being made for the coming storm, may we make preparations in our hearts for the coming of the Lord.

We bless the Lord, and we bless Israel, and we also bless and pray for the people of New Orleans and the West Bank.

http://eastriverministries.blogspot.com/

Hannah

I used to blog in another Space, but it was a little dark over there.  Not only that, but I heard a loud slamming one night–indicating that that particular door was closed to me as a writer.  So, here I am again–in a really good place, with a renewed vision.  Now, back to the subject.

Just so that this doesn’t get really long, I’m going to tell you that–as a Christian–you (male or female) are the BRIDE OF CHRIST.  He is coming back for us, the church, His followers, all those who have received Him as our savior.  We will be taken away, just as the Bible describes. He desires us to be “spotless” in other words, void of sin as best we can be with the empowerment of His spirit.  He also desires for us to ready others. In other words–tell others about His coming and HOW TO BE spotless before Him. It’s not magic. It’s hard work and not for the gutless.  But, it’s not impossible either.

Why do we, as His children, have to go through this? Because He wants you to have a new life in Him–and in the new, there’s little room for the old.  If you are tired of the old, it’s time to find out what’s new. In receiving whatever is new in your life, you HAVE TO let go of the old.  You have to. How can you hold something new in your hand if it’s closed around what’s old?

That’s the point that you need to ask yourself (and this is where I’ll close), do you WANT the new?  I mean, if you don’t want anything to change, keep holding onto your stuff, you know?  But, if you are tired of the same old stuff, sick and tired of it, then it means you are ready for something new. It means you are probably ready for Jesus.

Note that the John Webb Winter Golf Tournament has operated as a ministry of Pacesetters Bible School since 2002, both raising money and being a witness for Jesus to children and hospital staff, but also in providing a training opportunity for many volunteers.

The tournament will soon be part of a new foundation, the James Webb Foundation, and Pacesetters wishes it the greatest success. We will continue to support it through volunteers.

Liturgy, as any well done Christian service should show, is the sharing of the Christian story over again: the water (Creation/Baptism), the communion elements (the Death of Christ), the presence of the Word (the Bible), and the celebration of new life (the Resurrection and Reign of Christ). To this end, our faith should be realized in the continuing story of Christ and his Kingdom on earth (as it is in the heavenlies).

From: Everyday Liturgy.

Paul was perfectly chosen to bring our hearts and minds to the most significant phrase in scripture. You were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. He did not launch out and say our calling was our work for God but our fellowship with God. A man’s work was to be an overflow of his relationship with God, not vice-versa.

From The Pen of the Wayfarer