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Archive for July, 2009

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Church and the Internet: We’re Not in Kansas Anymore (Section 3)

Friday, July 31st, 2009

In the last couple of days I’ve been reflecting on the impact of the Internet on the church, especially with respect to the calling of a new pastor in a church. I want to finish up (for now) with some general reflections.
1. We can’t go back to Kansas. 
If Kansas represents a world of secure, local […]

Church and the Internet: We’re Not in Kansas Anymore (Section 2)

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Yesterday I began telling the story of how the Internet impacted the recent calling of Rich Kannwischer as the next senior pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California.
Now, for the rest of the story. Last Sunday there was a congregational meeting at St. Andrew’s to vote on the recommendation of the nominating […]

Church and the Internet: We’re Not in Kansas Anymore

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

Yesterday’s post focused on the Christian Web Conference at Biola University (September 11-12, 2009). Today’s post illustrates why I think Christian leaders need to attend this conference. Whether we like it or not, the Internet has changed (and will continue to change) the way we do church.
In my denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA), pastors are […]

Recommendation: Christian Web Conference

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Today I want to recommend the Christian Web Conference to my blog readers. If you’re at all interested in the relationship between Christianity and the Internet, and especially if you are using the Web as a context for expressing your faith, you will want to check out this conference. Here are some basic details.
The Mission […]

Lauren and Calvin at Laity Lodge

Monday, July 27th, 2009

No, I’m not talking about designer labels. Not Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, but Lauren Winner and Calvin Miller. They were speaking at our most recent Laity Lodge retreat.
If you know Lauren and Calvin, you might think they’re an odd match. There is about a forty-year gap in their ages. Lauren is an East Coast […]

Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

God Will Fulfill His Purpose for You
READ Psalm 57:1-11
 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
Psalm 57:2
David composed Psalm 57 when he was surrounded by his enemies, who were like “fierce lions” (57:4). Thus he cried out to God for mercy and protection: “I cry out to […]

Impressive Doings in Kansas City

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

Earlier this week I participated in the National Worship Leader Conference in Leawood, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. This conference, sponsored by Worship Leader Magazine, gathered 1500-2000 people from throughout the country so that they might grow as leaders of worship in their churches. Many of these folks were professional worship leaders/pastors, but […]

Intimate Fellowship with God and God’s People (cont)

Friday, July 24th, 2009

Part 7 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In my last post, I showed how 1 John connects fellowship with God and fellowship with people in such a way that they are virtually inseparable. Although this notion might be surprising to some of us who have drunk […]

Intimate Fellowship with God and God’s People

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

Part 6 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In my last post I proposed that the Christian life is koinonia, which should be understood as intimate fellowship. This koinonia is with God through Jesus Christ, but not only with God. I’ll explain what I mean in today’s […]

The Christian Life as Intimate Fellowship

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

Part 5 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In my last post in this series, I asked: What is the life revealed by God? The answer of John in his first letter is: Jesus Christ. Through the one who is the Life, we experience the fullness of […]

Inspiration from The High Calling

Monday, July 20th, 2009

The Ninth Commandment: Don’t Lie
READ Exodus 20:1-17
 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.”
Exodus 20:16
The original Hebrew of the ninth commandment reflects a judicial setting. Specifically, this verse refers to lying in the context of a legal proceeding. But it suggests a broader application to lying in general. This is something God’s people, including […]

Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling

Sunday, July 19th, 2009

Toss Your Burden on the Lord!
READ Psalm 55:1-23
 Give your burdens to the LORD,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
Psalm 55:22
Psalm 55:22 was one of the first verses of Scripture I memorized as a child: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you” […]

What is the Life Revealed by God?

Friday, July 17th, 2009

Part 4 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In the opening verses of 1 John, we discover some essential characteristics of the life revealed by God. First, it was “from the beginning” (1:1). Second, it is something John has experienced personally: heard, seen, and touched (1:1). Third, […]

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

I went to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince today with my family. As most of you know, this is the sixth of the Harry Potter films. And as you might have heard, it is surely one of the better movies in the series.
I thought I’d share a few comments with you. I’ll be […]

The Life Has Been Revealed

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Part 3 of series: What is the Christian Life?
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In my last post I introduced the New Testament letter we know as 1 John. Written by a pastor for his hurting flock, John begins his letter by talking about the life we have in Christ. Here, once again, […]
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