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Archive for September, 2009

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But Aren’t There Some Aspects of Church That Are Necessarily Physical? Section 1

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Part 5 of series: Is Online Church Really Church?
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In my last post I presented two arguments in support of the notion of online church. My main point was that, since so many millions of people are now participating in the virtual world of the Internet, the church […]

Whole Church: Leading from Fragmentation to Engagement, by Mel Lawrenz

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Today I’m pleased to be part of a blog tour for pastor and author, Mel Lawrenz. Mel has just published a fine new book called Whole Church: Leading from Fragmentation to Engagement. This book has much to offer for church leaders, including pastors, elders, deacons, and others.
At the core, Whole Church proposes an antidote for […]

Making a Case for Online Church

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Part 4 of series: Is Online Church Really Church?
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It seems to me that in certain circumstances online church allows people who would otherwise be unable to do so to connect with other Christians for worship and fellowship. This would be rather like the experience of my grandparents […]

Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

A Time of Favor
READ Psalm 69:1-36
 But I keep praying to you, LORD,
hoping this time you will show me favor.
In your unfailing love, O God,
answer my prayer with your sure salvation
Psalm 69:13
Psalm 69 is David’s passionate cry for divine help. He has been sinking into the mire of trouble. Some is the result of his […]

What is Online Church?

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Part 3 of series: Is Online Church Really Church?
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Online church, sometimes called virtual church, is church mediated through the Internet, and it can contain a variety of modes.
The basic element of online church involves live streaming of a worship service. For example, this summer I attended a […]

Words to Weigh: From Batman Begins

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

In know Batman Begins isn’t new,  but when I watched it again recently, I was struck by words uttered first by Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes) and then mirrored by Batman/Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale). (Photo: Katie Holmes as Rachel, talking with Bruce Wayne in a hotel.)
Here’s the context: Rachel and Bruce were in love with each […]

How the Internet Helped My Church and My Ministry, Section 2

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Part 2 of series: Is Online Church Really Church?
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In my last post in this series, I described some ways that the Internet had helped Irvine Presbyterian Church and my ministry there. Mostly, I focused on the impact of email on church administration and on my pastoral care […]

Michael Card’s New Book Just Out

Monday, September 21st, 2009

This last weekend we were pleased to welcome Michael Card back to Laity Lodge. Michael, as you probably know, is a highly-regarded Christian singer/songwriter. Among his best known favorites are “El Shaddai,” “Immanuel,” and “Joy in the Journey.”  Michael has also written many fine books, including the Gold Medallion Book Award winner, A Sacred Sorrow.
At […]

Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

God’s Shining Face
READ Psalm 67:1-7
 May God be merciful and bless us.
May his face smile with favor on us.
Psalm 67:1
The New Living Translation of Psalm 67:1 speaks of God’s face smiling with favor on us. This accurately renders the sense of the original language, which reads literally: “May [God’s] face shine upon us.” Peoples of […]

How the Internet Helped My Church and My Ministry, Section 1

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Part 2 of series: Is Online Church Really Church?
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In this series, I want to examine the thesis that online church is really church. More specifically, I want to consider whether an online church experience can ever be enough. Could a biblically-based Christian rightly believe that everything the […]

Is Online Church Really Church? Introduction

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Part 1 of series: Is Online Church Really Church?
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In yesterday’s post I reviewed some of the highlights of the recent Christian Web Conference at Biola University. In this post I mentioned several conversations I had with people who are convinced that online church can be truly and […]

Christian Web Conference: A Review

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Last week I participated in the Christian Web Conference at Biola University in La Mirada, California. I represented The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a sister ministry of Laity Lodge, which helped to sponsor the conference. The CWC is the newest update of GodBlogCon, a conference originally focused on blogging. Now the conference looks […]

Addicted to Facebook? Part 2

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Yesterday I put up some excerpts from a study published by Gordon College. It found that a significant number of Christian college students report “several negative consequences” from their electronic activities. 12.7% of students report that they cannot stop using Facebook and similar technologies, even if they wanted to. This sounds rather like addiction, does […]

Addicted to Facebook?

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Here are some excerpts from a new release that we just published by Gordon College, an evangelical Christian college in Massachusetts:
When they’re not sending text messages or tweets, today’s Christian college students are spending time on Facebook. A lot of it. One in every three says he’s spending 1-2 hours a day on the site; […]

Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

The Hillsides Blossom with Joy
READ Psalm 65:1-13
 The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.
Psalm 65:12
As I reflect on Psalm 65:12, my mind envisions the lush wilderness “pastures” of Montana. On a recent vacation to the “Big Sky” state, my family and I hiked along the South Fork of […]
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