Weblog
Friday, 27 January 2012
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Church Government: Training Ground for Secular Government?
More Here...
By Dean Lusk
A good friend sent me a copy of a blog post by Director of Religious Studies at the University of Wyoming (and newspaper columnist) Paul Flesher in Wyoming. Flesher's blog and column are both called "Religion Today".
The post he sent me was entitled "The Best Training Ground for Democracy: A Business or a Church?" Unfortunately, Flesher hits the nail squarely on the head when he describes why church leaders are generally well-prepared for the nuts and bolts of a secular government.
One of the statements in the post made me retch, yet I doubt many American Christians see very much wrong with this arrangement, because they readily engage in it:
"A church's management challenge is to provide what the congregation as customers want, for the cost that the congregation as investors are willing to pay through their tithes and donations. If the management fails in this balance, they can be removed." (emphases mine) -
How to Respond When a Christian Friend Stumbles
By Sharon at SheWorships
This week I came across a story about a large evangelical church that exercised church discipline on one of its members in a seemingly harsh way. For those of you who haven’t read the story I hate to be a tease, but I won’t share the link here. Church discipline is an exceedingly complex and difficult process, and since the story only shares one party’s perspective I have misgivings about shedding a spotlight on it now.
After reading this story I spent a lot of time reflecting on confession, repentance and church discipline. The story resurfaced some feelings and convictions I have developed over the years about this topic. Church discipline is one of those practices that is both Biblical and restorative, but when done poorly it can also be destructive and humiliating. I have seen both.
Since I have been ruminating about these issues all week, I want to offer a few tips for responding to another Christian when they are caught in sin. These thoughts are based not only on Scripture but the mistakes I have seen others make and the mistakes I have made myself. I hope they will be helpful to you. More Here...
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The Transient World of the Aeroplane
There is a certain feeling of claustrophobia that sets in when sitting in a plane.
Sitting in a plane at 2.30 am and knowing that there is another 8 hours of suspension in the air--typing on your smartphone to try and pass the time. There is a feeling that this is only a transitory world, and at that, a mind-numbing purgatory. Yet, the knowledge of this temporary existence reminds you of the depravity of the human body. Next to you, is the solitary snorer on the plane, the problem is the only time he seems to snore is when you're about to nod off and fall asleep. Behind you, there is the man who insists on playing Angry Birds on full volume--he can afford an iPad but not headphones apparently. With the symphonic cackle of birds and short-breathed groaning like the sound you make when repeatedly told your pet cat died, conspiring to cause me grief, frustration is becoming an appropriate word. More Here... -
Pregnant With a Promise: Why You Can’t Turn Back
By Bonnie at Faith Barista
When you’re pregnant with promise, don’t turn back. God will carry your faith to completion.
I had never been on the ski slopes before.I was a newly working twenty-something having graduated from college. I finally was earning a salary, which meant I had money to go on a ski trip with my friends.
After taking a beginner’s lesson on the green slopes, my friends met up with me for chili at the ski lodge.
“Come on up with us to the blue runs!” my friends said, as we finished up our last bites of lunch.
“Really? I don’t think I’m ready for that.” I was skeptical to say the least. More Here...
Thursday, 26 January 2012
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The Desire to Be Attractive
I am a Christian woman; the only reason I have not said "godly" is because I feel like I would be bragging on myself if I said that. To be called a godly woman is a great honor, I believe. Anyway, I digress. Lately I have been thinking about modesty and the trials men go through with temptation. I know that both women and men are called to modesty, but for the purposes of this post, I'm just talking about female modesty. I like to dress attractively, I won't lie. I used to not be so good about buying shirts that didn't show cleavage, but I've never had a problem with short shorts or dresses because I was never comfortable with them to begin with. However, in the past year or two, I've grown more mature, I guess, and I have gotten better at covering up even more.
I like to show my figure, though. I have learned to love my body -- really! -- and I have a desire, a strong one, mind you, for others to see. Mainly men. So I wear things that are flattering. But I can't help feeling that this desire is selfish and sinful. Sure, every women was created to love and to desire love and pursuit, and I don't believe that is wrong in and of itself. But how far is too far? I think about how I look a lot, not particularly because I'm insecure, like I used to be, but mostly because I'm constantly thinking about what men see. More Here...
