THERE IS A COST OF STAYING COOL

The High Cost of Being (and Staying) Cool -- Rick Warren in a Whirlwind

Read Al Mohler's article

Personally I love it. I would have rather had John MacArthur, Jr, or John Piper, or Dwayne Prossor, or a number of others. But Rick Warren will do just fine.

Of course the Separated Fundamentalist don't fellowship with Rick anyway, and the other side the Reformed folks don't like his position either. And even the Evangelicals are not all that in favor of Warren Sad. But since they don't really care about Warren's position, what do they care anyway. They don't.

Folks get over it. So Rick doesn't use the 1611 KJV, its okay, folks. There are those in our circles I guess my X circle who wouldn't liked it if John MacArthur, or John Piper prayed.

If they are not in our circle of belief, they are totally out of our circle of fellowship anyway, uh.

On the other secular side:

• Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign, a group that promotes homosexual rights, sent a letter to the President-elect protesting the choice of Warren.
  

President elect Obama states:

"We're not going to agree on every single issue. But what we have to do is to be able to create an atmosphere where we can disagree without being disagreeable and then focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans."

As Americans we have to get alone or stay at home. That is why we have so many cities and towns, and communities, we have so many view. That is why there are 1000's of different churches, because we can't agree every well on most issues.

Most unsaved people in America have no clue that Rick Warren might have different views than John Piper, or Bob Temple, Sr. Unsaved people wonder why there is a invocation at the inauguration in the first place.

Most Christians in the pew don't have a clue if Rick Warren has different views than their own pastor. Only unless the pastor raves against those pastors who don't hold their personal views. In their eyes they are the devil's servant anyway.

If I have read one negative comment on the "THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE" MATERIAL, I have read 100 plus. But those same preachers don't like John MacArthur, John Calvin, or John Scott, or whoever has a name "John".

But can I say, there is coming a time, if the time is not now, that all of us as pastors are going to have to face this issue of homosexuality. There is going to come a time, if you accept the full normalization of homosexuality you will be cool. If you do not, you are profoundly uncool, no matter how much good things you do, nor how much you love and compassion you seek to express. There is a time that even those members in our churches are going to say, we must agree that homosexuality is cool.

But let me just say this, for now, pray and seek God's wisdom, and if its not cool to be the kind of pastor or Christian you should be, than it is not necessary to be "cool" in the eyes of the world.

WHAT WE SAY WHAT WE BELIEVE

Thirty years ago, the news media still had a perceived impartiality, unlike today. Since then, we have grown accustomed to having major stories plastered all over television, radio and newspapers only to find out later that the story was either misconstrued, or even made up altogether. And if a retraction is ever made, it is buried deep where the majority of viewers/readers never see it.

News is giving according to the viewpoint of those who give it. Really! Yep!

And believe it our not, our preaching is in view of what we really believe.

Behind the news is a personal viewpoint of the news. NBC, ABC, CBS, TNN, FOX etc have the same news, but notice the viewpoint giving of the news. They give the news from their viewpoint.

The ideal news story, apart from questions of style, has these qualities :
1. It is written without prejudice. It is fair, both in spirit and in detail.
2. It is written from an impersonal, objective viewpoint.
3. It is written in good taste.
4. It has originality.

Your viewpoint politically will bleed through.

Our theology and view of God will bleed through our preaching and teaching. What we believe the scripture is teaching will be presented in our presentation of preaching. It should!

IN PREACHING WE SHOULD READ THE TEXT. STUDY THE TEXT. GIVE THE MEANING OF THE TEXT.

HOW SHALL WE PRAY

WHEN IS A CHURCH A CHURCH THAT GOD WILL ATTEND?

HOW SHALL WE PRAY FOR THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE?

Gunman Kills 2, Injures 7 In Tennessee Church
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- A gunman opened fire at a church youth performance Sunday, killing two people, including a man witnesses called a hero for shielding others from a shotgun blast.
Seven adults were injured, five seriously, but no children were harmed at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.

FROM THE NEWS.GOOGLE ARTICLE AND SEEN BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE

As we arrived on scene, the thing that struck us most about the pleasant neighborhood where the church shooting took place was the sheer number of houses of worship — a Greek Orthodox church, various Protestant Christian denominations, a couple of synagogues.

These diverse religious institutions are pulling together and lending support in this time of crisis, while an entire community tries to make sense out of a senseless crime.

Why was this one Unitarian church targeted by a man with no apparent connection to the congregation? While investigators are looking into whether this was a “hate crime,” they have yet to determine a motive. And neighbors of the suspect describe 58-year-old Jim Adkisson as a “really nice guy” who did not seem like a threat.

Tonight, the community is mourning the deaths of two victims, while also counting its blessings. Had it not been for the heroic actions of church members who reportedly blocked the gunman’s shots and tackled him before he could reload, authorities say the outcome could have been far worse.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

We like to think of our houses of worship as refuges — places that enable us to transcend the problems of the world, even if for only an hour each week.

Members of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church probably had the same presumption this morning, as they watched their children perform a play. But then the problems of the world came to church in the form of a gunman. This apparent stranger opened fire — killing at least one person and injuring more than half a dozen others before members of the congregation were able to subdue him until police arrived.

The church posted the following statement on its website:

• Our congregation is recovering from the violent incident that occurred during this morning’s worship service. Please keep us in your prayers.

AND FROM THE WORLD'S POINT OF VIEW THIS IS A CHURCH.

• The church, like many other Unitarian Universalist churches, promotes progressive social work, such as desegregation and fighting for the rights of women and gays. The Knoxville congregation has provided sanctuary for political refugees, fed the homeless and founded a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, according to its Web site.
  

HOW SHALL WE PRAY FOR A "CHURCH" WHO HAS A BELIEF SYSTEM THAT IS NOT CHRISTIAN?

Its statement of belief never mentions God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit or the Bible. It says, among other things, "WE BELIEVE in the tolerance of religious ideas. All religions, in every age and culture, possess not only intrinsic merit, but also potential value for those who have learned the art of listening." Thus, they do not believe the words of Jesus, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me." Do they believe Baal-worship and Satanism have intrinsic merit and potential value? Note this statement on Vine and Fig.

What do Unitarian Universalists believe?

From their website

WE BELIEVE in the freedom of religious expression. All individuals should be encouraged to develop their own personal theologies, and to present openly their religious opinions without fear of censure or reprisal.

WE BELIEVE in the tolerance of religious ideas. All religions, in every age and culture, possess not only intrinsic merit, but also potential value for those who have learned the art of listening.

WE BELIEVE in the authority of reason and conscience. The ultimate arbiter in religion is not a church, nor a document, nor an official, but the personal choice and decision of the individual.

WE BELIEVE in the never-ending search for Truth. If the mind and heart are truly free and open, the revelations that appear to the human spirit are infinitely numerous, eternally fruitful, and wondrously exciting.

WE BELIEVE in the unity of experience. There is no fundamental conflict between faith and knowledge, religion and the world, the sacred and the secular, since they all have their source in the same reality.

WE BELIEVE in the worth and dignity of each human being. All people on earth have an equal claim to life, liberty, and justice-and no idea, ideal, or philosophy is superior to a single human life.

WE BELIEVE in the ethical application of religion. Good works are the natural product of a good faith, the evidence of an inner grace that finds completion in social and community involvement.

THEREFORE HOW SHOULD WE VIEW WHAT A CHURCH IS, AND WHO SHALL WE PRAY FOR THESE GROUP OF PEOPLE

ACCURATE TO PROVIDE A CORRECT POINT OF TRUTH

MY OFFICE DESK AT HOME

GOD'S WORD IS OUR ONLY DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF TRUTH

When you are faced with "What is the truth," God's Word will be accurate. You might ask what about creation, what is the truth? How old really is the earth? Is there really a climate change? What about marriage between two people of the same sex? Should have the state of Texas taken custody of about 450 children from their parents right? The Third Court of Appeals in Austin said the state offered "legally and factually insufficient" grounds for removing the children.

• High Schoolers in Texas will be required to learn about parenting and family values in the fall. Really, do the state schools have a accurate point of view of family and values? Dallas Morning News. Where is the most dependable place to learn the truth about vaules and parenting?

• McCAin rejects televangelist's John Hagee and Ron Parsley endorsements after they both made comments that was out of the main stream. USA Today. Hagee preached a sermon in 1990's about his views. Doesn't pay to record your sermons. John MacArthur, Jr and John Piper have for over 20 years. I have sermons I preached in 1971 at Madison Baptist Church, and the sermons I preached in First Baptist Church in Altoona, Kansas from 1980 thru 1996. I will not be endorseing any of the current folks running for the President of the United States.

Controversial views? By whoses standards are views controversial? The media or the Bible?

Can I say this again, the Bible is God's Word on truth. The truth is, God has the final word on what is right or wrong. God's word is only controversial to those who do not see God as sovereign over all His creation.

Global Warming. Are the current natural disasters we are seeing today brought about by "global warning"? Is there an reliable viewpoint on this issue?

You are getting the point here: Is Fox News correct verses NBC News in their worldviews? Can we say their are dependable in bring us the truth?

Jerry Falwell was controversial by whose standard?

Always view the worldview by the Bibleview

Princeton theologian and scholar Dr. Charles Hodge rightly warned:

• "No amount of learning, no superiority of talent, nor even the pretension to inspiration, can justify a departure from the . . . truths taught by men to whose inspiration God has borne witness. All teachers must be brought to this standard; and even if an angel from heaven should teach anything contrary to the Scriptures, he should be regarded as anathema, Gal. 1:8. It is a matter of constant gratitude that we have such a standard whereby to try the spirits whether they be of God" (Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972], p. 395).

YOU CAN BE SURE..... THE WORD OF GOD THE BIBLE "to be accurate: able to be trusted to be accurate or to provide a correct result."

Check out:

GOOGLE READER FOR THIS BLOGGER.

GROW BY LEARNING. COM WEBSITE

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FROZEN EMBRYOS?
A QUESTION OF CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW

First let me assure you, I am neither a scientist, nor a medical doctor, and do not really understand the technology about this current subject.

And if I were in Biblical Counseling as a Pastor of a Church, how would I counsel this couple?
With Science and technology, just about anything is becoming possible, but with all this technology, are all things moral?

Once you are disconnected from moral constraints, it can and will most assuredly produce nightmares.

Once science and technology are unfastened from moral accountability, science becomes a threat to human dignity, rather than a means to knowledge and human happiness.

How is the Christian to view the Worldview that it’s okay to take the advice of science and technology to do so many things that just decades ago were not possible.

Example: Married couples can decide to freeze embryos to use at a later time to implant them in the wife’s womb. Now several years later, they have decided not to have the embryos implanted. The question they asked: "Should they be offered for adoption, stored indefinitely at great cost, donated for medical research, or destroyed?

Oh, the frozen embryos are the surplus from the in vitro fertilization procedure that brought their son, who is now three years old, into the world.

There is a disagreement between the husband and wife what to do with the embryos. The wife said she would rather destroy the embryos rather than allow someone else to raise "my own child, my own DNA." The husband opposes the destruction of human embryos and refers to their own embryos as their "son’s siblings."

The question then is: WHICH IS IT? Insignificant bio-matter or siblings?

HOW’ S THAT FOR A DIFFICULT MARITAL MOMENT?

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant February 06 07 Checked by Charity 02 06 07

HOW WORLDVIEW WORKS

vs. Christian Worldview

World Views work at multiple levels in each individual. Every person operates out of a basic set of convictions about reality, truth, meaning, and how the world works. Disagreements between individuals and groups on controversial issues can almost always be traced back to a fundamental difference in worldview, recognized or not.

Very often, a difference in worldview becomes apparent when a decison of fundamental importance has to be made. When severe and significant disagreement become obvious, parties to the disagreement often find themselves genuinely surprised that anyone could hold the position they now confront.

We are faced daily with the worldview of issues. Individuals and groups will be offended at peoples' remarks or even a Super Bowl Ad. Some are offended by the half-time show at the Super Bowl. We see certain words can be offensive to certain groups, even when we didn't know it.

"SNICKERS" CANDY BAR SUPER BOWL AD DISSATISFIES"

While the Homoxexual groups thought the ad was wrong, it's a worldview from a group of people who have a worldview about life. Barry Freiman said, "100% of the gay male community - - we are all REAL MEN engaged in what we consider the manliest pursuit of all - - living an honest life unafraid of engaging in behaviors others may consider un-manly."

The question is: How Is the Christian to view this Ad? Do we still buy Snickers candy bars?

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant