Purpose Driven Life author Rick Warren’s son commits suicide

Pastor Rick Warren’s 27 year old son Matthew took his own life. Read the linked story for the details. The elder Warren pastors the Saddleback Church, and he also wrote the bestselling book, The Purpose Driven Life.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/06/17632420-pastor-rick-warrens-son-matthew-commits-suicide-church-says?lite

A Funeral for an 18 year old is a sad thing

Today I went to a funeral for a young man who would have been 18 tomorrow. He was not a casualty of the street. He was a young man raised by two loving Christian parents who happily went away to college, and died in a freak accident. He loved his church and he loved music. During the service people spoke lovingly about his wonderful spirit and how he loved to help people. He was a quiet tall, lanky young man who touched the lives of all the people in his orbit. He lived a rich life in a very short lifespan. So often in the church we speak of funerals as homegoings. A Homegoing is a joyous experience. As believers we take comfort in the fact that we are living to live again, but that joy comes when we think of someone who has lived a long life, but when an 18 year old dies you find yourself haunted by the what ifs. What if he had married, what if he had had children, what would his life be like? We feel like the life is incomplete, but we all are running our own course. We all are living our lives between the hyphens. The hyphens are the year you were born and the year that you die. We are here to impact a life, and not just the lives of the people who share your address. This young man did that. He will be missed not just for the life he lived, but for the people he touched.

Has the Obama Administration become intolerant of Traditional Christian Beliefs?

Pastor Louie Giglio had been asked to give the inauguration benediction, but yesterday he withdrew his name. He did this because he has taught against homosexuality and in this political climate that is a no no. Is being gay friendly and gay accepting a pre-requisite for doing anything at President Obama’s Inauguration? It looks like the answer is yes. President Obama has evolved on the issue of gay marriage and it seems that his evolution should have been adopted by all of his supporters. “Family Research Council President Tony Perkins pointed out that Obama shouldn’t have been surprised in the first place that an evangelical pastor held a biblical view on homosexuality. “This is another example of intolerance from the Obama administration toward those who hold to biblical views on sexuality,” he said in response to Giglio’s withdrawal. “Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, and Orthodox churches all actively proclaim that sexual intimacy within the marriage of one man and one woman is the only biblically-sanctioned human sexual behavior. Are the scores of millions of Americans who affirm these teachings no longer welcome at the inauguration of our president?” The Presidential Inaugural Committee said one of the biggest reasons they asked Giglio to deliver the benediction was because of his leadership in combating human trafficking. Giglio has raised awareness and millions of dollars during Passion conferences to combat modern-day slavery. But his record on compassion was brushed off over a mid-1990s sermon, Perkins lamented. “What is shocking is the intolerance of the Obama team that put such a high priority on forced acceptance of homosexuality that they totally disregard Pastor Giglio’s life work combating human trafficking,” the FRC head commented. “What we are seeing is the inauguration of a new era of religious intolerance in America.”* The Inauguration committee also invited Richard Blanco a gay poet to participate in the ceremony and that announcement was greeted with cheers, but in spite of the work that Giglio has done on human trafficking he is given the gentle nudge off the stage. Is our new tolerance actually a new intolerance? Share your thoughts.

http://global.christianpost.com/news/christians-respond-to-giglios-withdrawal-new-era-of-religious-intolerance-in-america-88068/

Franklin Graham, Mike Huckabee and James Dobson have an unusual perspective on the Sandy Hill massacre

In times of national tragedy we look to faith leaders to provide comfort to the grieving, but in light of the Sandy Hill massacre I have noticed a very strange response from men of the cloth. Mike Huckabee a Baptist minister and a Fox news contributor said “tied the supposed removal of God from society to the increased instances of violence. Huckabee said “We’ve escorted [God] right out of our culture and marched him off the public square.” he went on to say “And then we express our surprise that a culture without him actually reflects what it has become.” I take issue with this statement because although prayer has been taken out of the school Christianity has not left the school. having a relationship with god is a personal thing and there are believers still taking active roles within the school system. Focus on the Family James Dobson said the following in reference to the tragedy. “Our country really does seem in complete disarray. I’m not talking politically, I’m not talking about the result of the November sixth election; I am saying that something has gone wrong in America and that we have turned our back on God. I mean millions of people have decided that God doesn’t exist, or he’s irrelevant to me and we have killed fifty-four million babies and the institution of marriage is right on the verge of a complete redefinition. Believe me, that is going to have consequences too. And a lot of these things are happening around us, and somebody is going to get mad at me for saying what I am about to say right now, but I am going to give you my honest opinion: I think we have turned our back on the Scripture and on God Almighty and I think he has allowed judgment to fall upon us. I think that’s what’s going on.” Today Franklin Graham whose claim to fame is being the son of Billy Graham said he is surprised that we are surprised. He asks why the “shock and awe”. he says we live in a violent and vulgar culture and what doe we expect. So wahat’s the takeaway from this trio of wise men? It’s our fault…no it is not. Evil does exist and bad things do actually happen to good people. Even children and this is a heartbreaking time for our nation, but there is no place for the blame game.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/why-the-shock-and-awe/2012/12/15/3920dab2-46e9-11e2-9648-a2c323a991d6_blog.html

Should Churches Pay Taxes?

The question is simple: as churches become more politically involved, should they pay taxes, Yes or No, and why?

CNN list 9 “faithy” companies, the question is why?

Chick fil A is under fire currently because the CEO has said that he supports traditional marriage. He has also donated money to groups that oppose same sex marriage. In this free country that alone is enough to make him the object of disdain. Today CNN featured a story on their faith blog that was brought to my attention. The title used the word “faithy” which is strange in and of it itself, but they listed 9 companies that also have faith as a part of their corporate identity. It is as if they are “outing” them so that they too can come under fire. This might not have been the goal of the list, but one has to wonder why would they feel the need to post a list and also ask the readers to submit any others that they might know of that fit into this “faithy” category. Share your thoughts.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/24/7-religious-companies-besides-chick-fil-a/

Oregon Church sues blog writer for negative online review?

An Oregon mom decided to review a local church. In the review she described the church as “cult-like”. Cult like makes one envision the Jonestown massacre and the deranged leader Jim Jones. No church wants that kind of ink. The church is suing the writer for $500,000. Read the linked story and share your thoughts.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/14/oregon-mother-daughter-reportedly-sued-for-writing-bad-reviews-church-online/?partner=skygrid

Baptist Leader Richard Land apologizes for Trayvon Martin remarks

Baptist leader Richard Land made some remarks regarding the Travon Martin case that many found offensive. He recently apologized for his comments. Read the linked article and share your thoughts. http://www.thegrio.com/politics/richard-land-baptist-leader-apologizes-to-obama-for-comments.php

Would you go to an Easter service at a church that sent you this?

Everyone wants to be in your face these days. Including this South Carolina church, The Rock. A dead bunny to advertise Easter? Really does this kind of thing really draw the unbelievers? Tell me what you think.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=46979090&#46979090

Did 700 Club Pat Robertson wish an injury on Peyton Manning?

The Denver Broncos traded Tim Tebow. The Broncos had the chance to get peyton manning and they took it. Tebow had a good year last year but he is no Peyton Manning. this was a sound business decision, but Pat Robertson has a problem with it. Roberston said it would serve manning right if he got re-injured. Is this anyway for a man of God to talk? I mean WWJD? Not this. Maybe it is time for Robertson to step away from the microphone.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Pat-Robertson-says-Peyton-Manning-Denver-Broncos-deserve-injury-over-Tim-Tebow-snub-032212