Good Advice for the Pastor Search Committee

Thanks to Todd Rhoades for posting this.  There have been many times that the mistake of pastor serch committees have led to an ill advised move for a pastor.  I sat though one meeting with a committee several years ago in which the only question I was asked by a member of the committee was what version of the Bible I used. We met for the better part of two hours.

Click the title of this post to read Todd's Blog at http://toddrhoades.com

The Duggars - Compassion or Criticism

Here is a blog post on The R House blog by Lindsey Redfern. I think this speaks volumes to our culture, even our Christian culture.  Aren't we quick to tell others what is best for them without first "giving our cloak also" or "walking an extra mile" with them.  It is simply outrageous to be outraged at someone who loses a baby.  Click on this blogpost title to read the R House post.
Thanks to Lynn Rogers who posted this on FB this morning.
*Note - Lindsey Redfern is a Mormon

Principles or Promises

I think that we sometimes grab certain verses and promises that might not necessarily be in accordance with the NT understanding of the promises of God or the salvation history (Heilsgeschichte) provided in the Bible.  But, they make us feel good.  Click the title of this blog to read a post by Justin Taylor in his "Between Two Worlds" blog.

Charismatics and the Sovereignty of Satan

This is an issue not only in charismatic churches but it is rampant in evangelical Christianity.  These views were very common in the area where I became follower of Christ. Jimmy Swaggart and other TV charismatics probably had a lot to do with the propagation of this false doctrine.

Steve Brown of Key Life made the most profound yet simple statement that still impacts my life, "Either God is in control of everything or He is in control of nothing."

This is an article and the reprint of a letter from Pastor John MacArthur.  Click the title of this post to MacArthur's article.

Should Churches Give Altar Calls?

I have weighed this question for a long time. I agree with the sentiment of the post that in the long run, altar calls have much more to harm churches than to help them.  Click the title of this post to read the blog by Jonathan Leeman from The Gospel Coalition.

Handling Issue Christians - When Visitors are not on the same page as your church

This is actually liberating.  It is amazing how visitors will collect you at the end of their first or second service to tell what is wrong with your church.  Click the title of the blog to read Ed Stetzer's post on the His Lifeway blog

Black Reformed Christians Speak Out

Lecrae, Trip Lee and Eric Mason discuss their relationship in the black community as it relates to their reformed theology.  Understanding the point that you can be reformed and believe in evangelism, not be fatalistic, be a Baptist, or believe John 3:16, I resonate strongly with these brothers.  Click the title of the blog to read the post by Eryn Sun on Christian Post.

We'll Pay Your Pastor Serarch Committee

Add a woman to the mix and get the travel expenses paid.  Maybe we can get CBF to hold a diversity bake sale.

Hey Founders, maybe this is a way to get more reformed pastors to be considered.  Click the title of the blog to read the article on the Big Daddy Weave blog about Missouri CBF paying churches to consider calling women pastors.

Multi-Site Churches are of the Devil

This is a very provocative look at multi-site congregations and the propensity they have to become the modern day "icon" driven churches.

Click the title of the blog to read the post by Thabiti Anyabwile on  his "Pure Church" blog.

The Slippery Slope of Murder - How Abortion has Decriminalized Murder

This post is about a young mother who murdered her baby and had her conviction overturned because of the precedent set by Canada's abortion laws.  The logic is sound that if it okay to abort preborns, it must be okay to kill newborns or "justborns" as the Canadian Courts call them. The problem is with the morality.  The prohibition to murder should protect the preborn instead of the license to kill in the womb extending to the newly birthed.

Click the title of this post to read the Stand To Reason Blog.