This Picture Pretty Well Sums It Up

Simply Christian

I'm reading a book called Simply Christian by N.T. Wright. It's been compared to C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, and receives praise from people such as Anne Rice, and J.I. Packer. On the front flap, it says:

Simply Christian walks the reader through the Christian faith step by step and question by question. With simple yet exciting and accessible prose, Wright challenges skeptics by offering explanations for even the toughest doubt-filled dilemmas, leaving believers with a reason for renewed faith. For anyone who wants to travel beyond the controversies that can obscure what the Christian faith really stands for, this simple book is the perfect vehicle for that journey.

If anyone has read this book, let me know what you think. I would also like to wish everyone a Happy Easter!

Funny Cartoon

It's the Easter season. Lots of people will be dying eggs for this coming Sunday. Anyway, I thought this cartoon was pretty funny.

One in Four Adults (18-29 year olds) Claim no Religious Affiliation

I read this blog tonight. It's by Mike Slaughter, Senior Pastor of Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio. I agree with the gist of his article. Read it for yourself.

Christians who are Scaring the Heaven out of People

CNN released the results of a survey this week that revealed more than a quarter of adult Americans have left their childhood faith for another religion or no religion. One in four adults in the 18-29 year old range claim no religious affiliation. The United Methodist Church, of which I am a part, continues to lose members at a rate of 80,000 per year. Only 4.7% of UMC clergy are age 35 or younger.

Why are a growing number of younger Americans finding the Christian faith to be irrelevant? Could it be that many who claim the way of Jesus are literally scaring the heaven out of people? So many who claim to be the prophets of Jesus come close to scaring the heaven out of me, like the self-righteous prophets who equate the Prince of Peace with a vindictive terrorist god who creates hurricanes of destruction as judgment against homosexuals or abortion advocates....

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Many in the name of Jesus have connected Christian faith with conservative partisan politics that defend the rights of the unborn but seem indifferent to the plight of the poor, the inequities in the availability of health care for the masses, hospitality toward the alien, and the wellbeing of the planet. Jesus is neither right nor left. Christian politics must always be prophetic and never partisan (Italics mine). Christians must act as the moral conscience for both sides of the aisle, always advocating for peace with justice and the orphan and the widow. The Gospel is good news for the poor. If it doesn’t cover the poor, it is not the Gospel!

Why are a growing number of Americans finding the Christian faith to be irrelevant? I won’t even begin to try to explain those creative Christians who see the image of Jesus on such things as cinnamon rolls!

God bless...

Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on Feb 26, 2008 10:00AM

*Read this blog in its original context here.

New Worship Schedule

Today we began our new worship schedule. FBC Wimberley is now holding 3 morning worship services each Sunday, along with 3 Sunday Schools! Pastor Mark and I talked after the 3rd service, and agreed that we weren't feeling too run down. I'm confident this new schedule is going to be great for our church, and will open up some potential growth areas. Praise the Lord for how He's working in the life of our church. The baptismal waters keep getting stirred, sometimes two or three Sundays in a row!