MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT:

Andy Corley & New Tribes Mission. Andy is truly a man on a mission! I can tell you from personal experience, Andy has a genuine desire to serve others. Please consider supporting Andy and his family with a one-time gift or on a continual basis. Your act of generosity will go a long way in multiplying God’s work around the world as you help them minister to other missionaries.

Al Mohler comments on the Emerging Church Movement

“When it comes to issues such as the exclusivity of the gospel, the identity of Jesus Christ as both fully human and fully divine, the authoritative character of Scripture as written revelation, and the clear teachings of Scripture concerning issues such as homosexuality, this movement simply refuses to answer the questions.” Read more in an article entitled: “‘A Generous Orthodoxy’--Is It Orthodox?”

In another piece entitled “What Should We Think of the Emerging Church?” Part One, Mohler quotes D.A. Carson, who argues:

“For almost everyone within the movement, this works out in an emphasis on feelings and affections over against linear thought and rationalities; on experience over against truth; on inclusion over against exclusion…”

Mohler goes on to quote Carson as saying:

"I have to say, as kindly but as forcefully as I can, that to my mind, if words mean anything, both McLaren and Chalke have largely abandoned the Gospel," Carson laments. "Perhaps their rhetoric and enthusiasm have led them astray and they will prove willing to reconsider the published judgments on these matters and embrace biblical truth more holistically than they have been doing in their most recent works. But if not, I cannot see how their own words constitute anything less than a drift toward abandoning the Gospel itself."

Al Mohler writes of D.A. Carson’s new book Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church:

“Carson's book makes for mandatory reading--at least for all those who are concerned about the Emerging Church and the future of evangelical Christianity. He combines a charity of spirit with clarity of thought. If anything, Carson demonstrates an honest attempt to understand the Emerging Church Movement on its own terms. Yet, in the final analysis, Carson sounds an alarm.”

Here’s an excerpt from Carson’s book.

HELPFUL RESOURCES

• Want a list of hotels without porn channels? Go to CleanHotels.com. This site helps Christian families and business travelers find hotels in harmony with their Christian beliefs.

• WWJS: What would Jesus say…about that movie, album or video game? Do you know what video game your child is playing? Click here to read reviews from a Christian worldview of the latest movies, music, video games, and TV shows.

• Questioning Evangelism (Resources from FLT)

FREE ONLINE AUDIO & VIDEO RESOURCES: *

MP3 downloads (Right click (PC) or control-click (Mac) and select Save Target As)
Download the free audio/video player here.

* many of these clips are available for a limited time only.
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Speaking the Language of Love (Dr. Les and Leslie Parrott)
If you’re tired of the same old tips and techniques and want something foundational to improve communication with your spouse — then this is for you! Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott join Dr. James Dobson for a heart-to-heart discussion on speaking the language of love.

Social Justice: Rescuing victims of oppression around the globe.
There are more people in actual slavery today around the world than were brought into slavery from Africa over a 400 year period. The numbers in bondage, including sex trafficking, are staggering – a number which can be compared to the population of California! Hear a sobering exposé on injustice around the world, and what we can do about it. Part 1. Part 2.

Christian college student voluntarily becomes homeless for 5 months. Here he shares his incredible story of life on the streets. Part 1. Part 2.

Every Woman’s Battle For more broadcasts, click here. *

Talk radio host Hugh Hewitt provides encouraging words about the key to victory in the Culture Wars. While politics does indeed make strange bedfellows, the faith community must come together if we are to win the Culture Wars against the secular humanists. Hewitt says victory will require orthodox Protestants, orthodox Roman Catholics, and orthodox Jews laying aside their differences in order to build stronger coalitions. He points out that doing so does not mean we must give up our differences.

The Apostle Paul warns the Church of false teachers. You may be surprise who’s on today’s list.

As Christians, should we live by Grace or Truth? Find out here.

Sermons by Bob Russell:

How does the Body of Christ stay united when we disagree with each other? This sermon provides the answer.

Sermon: Grace for a Broken-hearted Sinner
From the Series: Jesus Full of Truth and Grace

Bold Testimony
Series: How the Church was Built

Bob Russell leads Southeast Christian Church of Louisville, KY. With an average of 20,000 attendees every weekend, SCC is one of the largest churches in America.

The Supreme Court decides against the 10 Commandments.
Based on the opinion of five of the nine judges, the highest court in the land decided Kentucky’s public display of the Ten Commandments is no longer constitutional. Listen to a special radio broadcast on this serious issue regarding religious liberty. *

A Great Message from Dr. Joe Stowell, President of Moody Bible Institute

Religious Intolerance at the Air Force Academy
Some members of Congress believe that Christian cadets at the Air Force Academy have been too bold in sharing their faith. Today, Congressman John Hostettler talks about how he has defended the Academy against these baseless allegations from his fellow Congressmen. Click here to listen. *

Judge Decides Boy Scouts Not Worth Public Support

U.S. District Judge Blanche Manning has ruled that the Pentagon can no longer sponsor a Boy Scout jamboree held every four years because they openly promote the idea that God exists. According to the judge, this violates the rendered view of "separation of church of state."

[Editors note: So much for the government promoting the country's best club for building character in young boys!]

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia recently stated, the neutrality envisioned by the founders of our country regarding this idea of “separation of church and state” is “not neutrality between religiousness and nonreligiousness; it is between denominations of religion.”

Supreme Court decides local governments can take your property

-- ThatTheyMayB1.net

Just imagine, your pastor is enjoying his morning coffee as he sits in his office. Just then he hears a rumble. It gets louder. He runs out to see a big bulldozer ready to level the church. The pastor pleads, “Mr. Bulldozer-man, that’s my church!” B-man yells back, “Just following orders man. Talk to Big Brother. In the meantime, get out of my way. I’ve got some work to do.”

This made-up story may sound crazy, but it’s closer to reality than you might think. That’s because of a new ruling handed down last week after a 5-4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the case known as Kelo v. New London, under the government’s power of eminent domain, local politicians have now been given clear and distinct power to seize private property if they feel the land would better serve the community through an expansion of economic development. Unfortunately, besides citizens losing property rights, according to many, this ruling makes these local politicians even more susceptible to coercion and bribes from big business.

Citizenlink writes:

“If you think this is an exaggeration, consider what Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote in her dissent against the majority’s opinion. Justice O’Connor wrote, “Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party.”

“Churches located in prime areas should be especially
concerned about the long-term implications of this ruling because they are tax-exempt, meaning they render little benefit to government revenues compared with businesses or residential developments. Not only could local governments justify taking church property in order to bring new jobs into the community and to increase tax revenues, they may now be able to justify preventing churches from buying property in areas that would otherwise be prime residential or business property.”

For an example of such abuse of power, click here, scroll down to the bottom, and watch a gripping story out of San Diego called, “Grand Theft Building.”

Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Ruled Unconstitutional.

Critics say judges 'fail to understand the barbarity of the procedure'
--WorldNetDaily.com

Gallup Poll: Supreme Court Pick Matters Greatly To Most Churchgoers

According to a Gallup Poll, a majority of regular churchgoers say the choice for the next justice matters a great deal to them. Read more.

Religious Intolerance heats up: Allstate fires employee because of his religious beliefs

WorldNetDaily reported that J. Matt Barber, formerly a manager of Allstate's Corporate Security Division, was fired February 3 for his Christian beliefs. Read more.

eharmony dating service departs from Christian focus

Faith with a Liberal Twist Hits the Political Trail

-- Citizenlink

A group of left-leaning Christian leaders have started a grassroots movement to "reclaim Christianity and transform American politics," Religion News reported.

The Christian Alliance for Progress held a launch event Wednesday morning at the National Press Club's First Amendment Lounge in Washington, D.C. The group announced plans to pursue a laundry list of issues, including economic justice, responsible environmental stewardship, "equality" for gays and lesbians, seeking peace instead of war and achieving health care for all Americans.

"The religious right has been extremely successful at taking control of the language of our faith and using it to promote an extreme and divisive political agenda," said the Rev. Timothy Simpson, the group's director of religious affairs. "This is fueling incredible polarization in our politics." We think that most Americans, especially people of faith, are ready to hear from Christians who are tolerant, and who understand the many ways that our faiths impact our views of public life."

Peter Brandt, senior director of issues response at Focus on the Family Action, said this attempt to dress the liberal agenda in the fabric of faith is a ploy that doesn't sit well with conservatives.

"A wolf in sheep's clothing is still a wolf," he said. "Pushing the homosexual agenda, pushing for abortion rights -- those things have nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

The Christian Left is Getting Organized

-- Citizenlink by Kim Trobee, correspondent

SUMMARY: A new political group seeks to counter the Christian right.

The Christian Alliance for Progress is aligned with the political left and its leaders make it clear the goal is to counteract the strong conservative and pro-life views of most Christian organizations.

The Rev. Timothy Simpson, the new group's director of religious affairs, said the religious right has been successful in using the language of faith to promote what he called a "divisive agenda."

"We understand the Gospel in very different ways," he said, "and believe even further that the demands of the Gospel in areas of public policy are quite different from the direction that's being taken by the religious right."

Simpson said that different direction includes a stand in favor of abortion."I'm not willing to extend rights to a fetus that would trump the rights of a desperate woman," he said. "I don't think our organization is either."

Billy McCormack, senior pastor of University Worship Center in Shreveport, La., and a charter board member of the Christian Coalition, is disgusted with the new alliance."They're trying to legitimize their baselessness with a cloak of religion," he said. "It's not progress at all. It's an invitation to a downwards moral and spiritual decline."

The new group said it plans to go up against the Christian Coalition. Its president, Roberta Combs, said she takes that as a compliment."That just proves that the Christian Coalition has been very effective for the last 13 years," she said.

Debate Continues In Ohio Over 'Choose Life' License Plates

'Today Show' openly promotes illegal activities

The following is a short email* to the Executive Producer of the Today Show:

Subject: Mama really likes your show. But not for long after I tell her what you're up to.

Dear Jim Bell,

Let me make sure I got this right: you want to “celebrate” on your morning show something 49 out of 50 states in this country consider illegal? Then, of course, let’s not forget to mention also, the fact that every civilized society* since the dawn of man considers such relationships deplorable. (*The exceptions are Canada and the Netherlands, which by their recent rulings could arguably be reclassified as uncivilized societies.)

It doesn't matter, as you state, that it should be promoted as a good thing, just because there exists a state that has legalized same-sex marriage. Mama always said, “just because someone else jumps off a bridge, doesn't mean you have to.”

By the way, Mama really likes your show. But not for long after I tell her what you're up to.

I know my mama. Once she hears you guys are in on redefining marriage away, she'll tell all her friends to watch another morning show from now on.

Sincerely,

Ed "Bubba" Nicholson

Click here to write your own letter.

* Understand that the tone and style I employed in this email was not intended to come across as flippant or glib. On the contrary. At the very least, a funnier, winsome approach hopefully will disarm the reader of this email so that they might actually listen to the point I’m trying to make – that is, that a decision by a few blacked-robe judges doesn’t necessarily make something right, nor should it be tolerated by society at large. At best, my hopes would be that the recipient might even forward the email on to others in the Today Show’s office so that they too may get my point in writing it. (Secondly, on an insignificant, yet anal note, I made slight alterations here since first writing to the producer. However, none of the content or tone really changed.)

Gay Agenda in Schools Will Be Under the Microscope

-- Citizenlink

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) approved a resolution Thursday calling on churches to investigate homosexual activism in schools.

Sixty-three Christian and pro-family organizations signed a statement in support of the resolution, which acknowledges that problems exist in many schools.

Diane Gramley, president of Pennsylvania's American Family Association, one of the original signatories, said schools must no longer be used as places of social re-engineering.

"This resolution is a clear message that homosexual activism within schools is a real problem," Gramley said,"and that we, who are concerned with the safety and well-being or our children, are going to take steps to protect them."