Posts Tagged ‘culture’
06/28/2007
Hilton made a statement that she will never do wrong.
Can you imagine how incredibly hard that would be?
To NEVER do wrong.
To never do WRONG.
Either one is impossible.
Paris needs Jesus, who NEVER did wrong, who never did WRONG.
If she could live through Jesus, then she has a shot at that. Not that our goal in life is to not do wrong. Our goal in life should be Jesus. Jesus. (as in Jesus … period!)
Not to be a good boy or girl.
Not to do drugs
Not to commit crime
Not to … whatever
We often go back to doing or not doing things that are right and wrong, rather than thoroughly living through Jesus.
To have ONE HOUR without sin, would be Heaven.
Tags: culture, sin
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06/19/2007
Stolen from another blog at www.churchrelevance.com
I found this to be an interesting article. We have the responsibility of being different in the world, yet relevant. Could you imagine Jesus having come to earth being just one or the other? If he were just different (or holy), then we wouldn’t have been able to stand him. If he were just relevant, then … well … who’d care? But he was God in the flesh, come down to spend time with fools like you and me … and for that I am glad.
Enjoy this article … please discuss by sharing a comment … yes, even those of you who secretly just read the posts. 
-Randy
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At Q, David Kinnaman, president of The Barna Group, shared the results of new research that investigated how young non-Christians perceive Christianity.
How Christianity is Perceived
Non-Christians aged 16-29 years old were asked, “What is your current perception of Christianity?”
91% said antihomosexual
87% said judgmental
85% said hypocritical
78% said old-fashioned
75% said too involved in politics
72% said out of touch with reality
70% said insensitive to others
Present-day Christianity is no longer like Jesus intended.
84% of non-Christians are friends with Christians, but 15% say the lifestyle of the Christians they know is not different.
The Truth About Christians
The top priority of Christians is not to sin, etc.
40% (roughly) of Christians want to see homosexual teachers fired from schools
40% (roughly) of Christians would rather support cancer research than AIDS research
We are much clearer with the sin of homosexuality than we are with the sin of divorce, but only 1% of Christians have prayed to address what they believe is the problem with homosexuality.
It is not us versus them but us versus us.
Matthew 23:13 (The Message) I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God’s kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won’t let anyone else in either.
Hypocrites hurt the gospel.
The Truth About Non-Christians
80% (roughly) of non-Christians have attended a church for 3 months in their life
50% (roughly) of non-Christians have considered becoming a Christian
Many decided against Christianity because of their experiences in church. We are losing Christianity’s attraction in our culture.
Among Non-Christians Aged 16-29
3% have a favorable view of evangelicals
33% have a favorable view of homosexuals
Among Non-Christian Baby Boomers (born between ‘46 & ‘64)
25% have a favorable view of evangelicals
13% have a favorable view of homosexuals
Among Non-Christian Elders (born before ‘46)
27% have a favorable view of evangelicals
11% have a favorable view of homosexuals
What Churches Need to Do
Unfortunately, many churches are creating an arrogant image. Do we forget that it was God’s kindness that saved us? Instead of focusing on flaws, focus on potential.
The church needs to stop being “in your face” and start focusing on service, sacrifice, humility, and grace.
Ask yourself these three questions:
Are we cultivating a heart for outsiders?
What kind of Jesus are we to outsiders?
How can we become know as true Christ followers?
Tags: church, culture
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12/12/2006
Surfing the web, I found this web site from a church that had the following statement … would you classify this as racist language? Would you go to a church like this? How do you see their priorities as a church … what seems to be the dominant theme of their church? Is it faith … or race?
Quickly read through this and then click to link to the church website at the bottom. Normally this kind of stuff doesn’t bother me, but this got me thinking … what if?
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We are a congregation which is Unashamedly White and Unapologetically Christian… Our roots in the White religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an American people, and remain “true to our native land,” the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a White worship service and ministries which address the White Community.
Trinity United Church of Christ adopted the White Value System written by the Manford Byrd Recognition Committee chaired by Vallmer Jordan in 1981. We believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements. These White Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Whites are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:
Commitment to God
Commitment to the White Community
Commitment to the White Family
Dedication to the Pursuit of Education
Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence
Adherence to the White Work Ethic
Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect
Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness”
Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the White Community
Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions
Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace the White Value System
Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System.
The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision:
A congregation committed to ADORATION.
A congregation preaching SALVATION.
A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.
A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AMERICA.
A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.
A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.
A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF AMERICAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.
A congregation committed to LIBERATION.
A congregation committed to RESTORATION.
A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.
For more infromation … link here –> http://www.tucc.org/about.htm
Tags: culture
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03/01/2005
mtv.com – News – Brian ‘Head’ Welch Explains Why He Left Korn
I honestly can say this guy has chosen a new road that will be difficult. To make a stand on principles means that we are willing to go all the way to the matt for our belief in … whatever our belief is in.
In our society today, they tell us that we have to have no barriers at all, which loosely translates to a meaning of life without borders . . .everybody is right . . . do what you want, say what you want, believe what you want. The only problem is that life lived this way does not bring about long-lasting happiness, only temporary ones. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of things bring temporary happiness, but it gets you in the butt later on. My life has spoken to this.
Brian has made a hard decision and I pray that he sticks with it. To give up lots and lots of money for a conviction is incredible.
I have often said a lot of things that were convictions, but as an old friend once told me . . .”true convictions are the things that you live out in daily life” And if I can add on to it, what we live IS our convictions.
I have to keep asking myself, what exactly are my convictions . . and then ask, why did I just do this/that when I don’t believe it is the right thing to do.
Thanks to Jesus for allowing me a framework to live in . . .there is comfort in having right and wrong defined in my life.
Tags: culture
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02/28/2005
I have a hard time portraying to my wife my deep feelings. I recognize that I am a guy and this is par for the course, but as a follower of Christ I recognize I am to be different.
I had one of those epiphanies today on the way back from racquetball . . . a realization that I have a desire to be my wifes perfect warrior/ a knight in shining armor. But as I see who I really am, faults and all, I recognize that if I were to portray the things that are in my head to her . . . I will no longer be her shining knight, but a dull and dim one. I know she would take me as I am, but I want her to be proud of me.
This knight needs to learn to talk out loud more and be vulnerable. Take the armor off at home.
I will try
Tags: culture, sin
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02/23/2005
LINK –> Dr. Neau
This is one of the neatest programs that I have used for organizing the guys poker night at the house. Dr. Neau has used his “skee-ill” to put together a well thought out program. BTW . . in the league I play on I happen to be the top dog of the year . . . so far. I am bound to be bumped out soon!
Tags: culture
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02/23/2005
Alias is one of our favorite shows . . . we have watched it since the second season. We totally missed the first season! So this last summer, thanks to Netflix, we were able to rent the first season. Then the second, and just for fun we saw the third season to catch up again. Now we watch it pretty much every week on Wednesdays (ABC 9:00)
So last night I picked up the kids after our date night and they plugged in this remix by Eric Champion and it totally reminded me of an Alias episode. I turned on to that specific song ont he way to play racquetball this morning and it pumped me up. I had pictures of Sydney running down the hallway somewhere saving the world. . . and then it got me thinking about making a video of me whooping on some of my friends. I think I just might do that . . not now though, I have to go for a walk … so that means instead of upbeat music in the background and me running down some hallway, it is more mellow music in the background . .
Tags: culture
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