Thursday, April 12, 2012

THE CHRISTIAN POST "Front Page" Thursday April 12 2012 Nisan 20, 5772

Bill Craig, a church planter and founder of Kaleomark Church, takes a photo of himself in front of his SUV, which is parked on the side of the road and covered in a banner to advertise the new church.
(Photo: Bill Craig)

Inside Church Planting: Poor, Struggling, but Sold Out on the Vision (Part 2)

By Jeff Schapiro

As the campus pastor of a church plant, I have heard funny, sad and inspiring stories about what it is like to be a part of a new church in its earliest stages of life. It can be a painful process at times, and church planters often work long hours for little pay in order to see the vision that God has given them fulfilled. Sometimes, it seems, vision is all they have, but in the tough times it can also be enough to get them by.

Behind The Hype, Democrats, GOP May Be Closer to a Budget Deal Than You Think

By Napp Nazworth

No matter who is elected president this November, Democrats and Republicans might be much closer to a "grand bargain" budget deal in the next Congress than election year politics indicate.

US

Economics

Economist: Expiring Unemployment Benefits Would Help Economy

By Michael Gryboski

An economist with experience on Capitol Hill has argued that the way to help increase employment would be to allow the extensions to unemployment benefits to expire.

After investigating the Trayvon Martin case for three weeks, Jacksonville state attorney Angela Corey charged self-appointed neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Martin. The decision, made Wednesday, surprised legal experts.

President Barack Obama commented on the importance of Easter and doing God's work, both as a nation and as an individual, in a video address Tuesday to the Q Conference, a gathering of young evangelical Christians seeking innovative ways to improve Christian ministry in the U.S.

Officials of a Nebraska county have agreed to allow the observance of a prayer service on the steps of a courthouse in May.

Church & Ministries

matt chandler

No 'Vision Shift' After Mark Driscoll Leaves Acts 29 Leadership

By Alex Murashko

The church planting group Acts 29 Network will keep its mission focused in the same manner as before despite a recent change in leadership, said the group's new president, Matt Chandler. "My hope is steadfastly to continue to plant churches that make much of Jesus."

Riva Tims, the ex-wife of Zachery Tims, announced Tuesday that a special gathering would be held next week to remember the late pastor on his birthday at the Florida cemetery where he was buried last summer.

Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, is leading a controversial sermon series called "Wild" which uses live animals, including lions, as part of his presentation.

Entertainment

Tebow

Tim Tebow and Fan Battling Over Rights to 'Tebowing?'

By Christine Thomasos

Tim Tebow, 24-year-old New York Jets quarterback, is reportedly in a legal battle with a fan over the rights to the Internet meme "Tebowing" that was birthed last season.

In a heartwarming story of destiny and redemption, actor Brian Presley has explained that his role in "Touchback" reflects moments of his actual life, and has described how the power of God is reflected throughout the movie.

Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks starting point guard who is currently recovering from a knee surgery, may see his life transformed into a film sometime soon.

World

Youcef Nadarkhani

Fasting, Prayer Vigil to Be Held for Youcef Nadarkhani's Birthday

By Katherine Weber

Christian mission organization Present Truth Ministries has planned an international fasting and prayer vigil for April 11, 2012, in honor of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani's 35th birthday. This is the third birthday Nadarkhani has spent in an Iranian prison for his Christian faith.

A Tunisian court sentenced two young men to seven years in prison for posting cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad on Facebook, reviving a debate over whether the country's new democratic and moderate Islamist government can maintain its promises of freedom of speech and secular objectivity.

A deadly church bombing related to an Easter service held in Nigeria has once again prompted a persecution watchdog to ask for prayers aimed at helping Christians in the country respond to the violence appropriately.

After returning from cancer treatment in Cuba last week, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez went on national television to ask Jesus Christ to save him from death so that he can continue serving his country.

Bubba Watson Speaks About Giving His Life to Jesus, PGA Bible Study

Bubba Watson, first-time winner of a Masters ...

Amare Stoudemire Sparks Bible Discussion on Twitter

Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks injured ...

Tebow Preaches at Church; Says America Should Get Back to God

New York Jets quarterback and outspoken Christian ...

New York Knicks a 'Miracle' Team, Even Without Lin?

The New York Knicks may not be able to bring ...

Tim Tebow: Converting Criminals Into Christians?

Tim Tebow, 24-year-old New York Jets quarterback, ...

Bishop TD Jakes Opens Up in Interview on 'Oprah's Next Chapter'

Bishop T.D. Jakes appeared on Oprah Winfrey's ...

How Bubba Watson Becoming a Father Helped Him Win the 2012 Masters

But it was his becoming a father only days ...

Who's the Fairest of Them All?

Way WAY back before the Brothers Grimm conceived ...

Tech & Biz

apple

Mac Virus Infecting Thousands Could Get Worse, Say Experts

By Daniel Distant

The Mac virus affecting anywhere from 300,000 to 600,000 of Apple's signature computers can be fixed, although it is tricky. More importantly, the company could be forced to be more open with their software, or Apple viruses could get much worse.

Samsung has released a pink version of its Galaxy Note smartphone-tablet hybrid device in South Korea.

Spencer Caldwell created a beautiful mock-up of the iPhone 5 that features a 4-inch display that seems to have expanded vertically.

NYT Columnist at Q Conference: Bad Religion, Not Atheism, Replacing Christianity

By Michelle A. Vu

The New York Times' youngest-ever op-ed columnist and also one of the few conservative Christians at the esteemed newspaper, Ross Douthat, made the case at the Q Conference Tuesday evening that it is not atheism that is replacing American Christianity, but bad religion.

COLUMN

Angry Nerds

preach

Is it me or is there a growing number of theologically conservative preachers, teachers and seminary students who just seem ticked off all of the time?

OPINION

The Need for Strong Marriages

rings

If strong marriages are the foundation of a healthy society, we've got a lot of repair work to do.

COLUMN

Considering (and Surviving) Unhealthy Christian Organizations, Part 2

pews

If you do find yourself in an unhealthy Christian organization, I would encourage you to consider that God may want you to leave it. My own standard is this: will staying here hurt my walk with God or harm my family?

CP BLOG

Can You Be a 'Gay Christian?'

Matt Moore, formerly a practicing homosexual, is now a Christian who openly shares his testimony of how God rescued him from his partying lifestyle.

I receive multitudes of emails on a daily basis from people who encourage me to accept my homosexual feelings rather than turn from them. These people claim that they know Christ, and that His will is for them to pursue their homosexual preferences. In the video posted here I will expound on why this can't be true.

CP BLOG

The Good Life: An Interview With Trip Lee

I’ve made it no secret that I enjoy Christian rap music (and I’m not above poking fun at myself, as I did with The Middle-Aged White Guy’s Guide to Christian Rap). Near the forefront of the Christian rap or holy hip-hop movement is Trip Lee.

POLITICS

Expert: Black Leaders Fueling Racial Division for Political Gain

Carol Swain

Black political leaders, such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, have used the death of Trayvon Martin to stir racial division for political gain, Carol Swain, professor of law and political science at Vanderbilt University, argued in a Tuesday interview with The Christian Post.

LIVING

What Do You Think of Using the Internet to Find a Spouse?

ChristianMingle

The feeling it has made me feel is, "I wish the church would do this better. Why should people have to go to the internet, for goodness sakes, to find a spouse!?"

CP BLOG

Duke Taber - April Blogger of the Month

The Christian Post would like to recognize our first Blogger of the Month: Duke Taber, the author of the Small Town Preacher - Big Time God blog.

OPINION

On Race and Love and Trying to Understand

Trayvon Martin

When it comes to racial reconciliation—and here I'm thinking primarily of blacks and whites—there are certain things I think each group wishes the other would understand.

THEOLOGY

Law and Gospel: Part 2

Tullian Tchividjian

All of God's Word in the Bible comes to us in two forms of speech: God's word of demand (law) and God's word of deliverance (gospel).

CP BLOG

Mayans: A Calendar for the Dark Gods; End of the World or Awakening?

Mayans: A dark calendar

In Mayan/Mesoamerican myth, there are five great ages (roughly 5,125 years a piece), each one ending with a collapse of some sort.

CP BLOG

The Trayvon Martin Tragedy: The Leader's Restraint in a Twitter World

At the conclusion of a press conference, President Obama broke precedence to answer the shouted question of reporters about the Trayvon Martin case. As expected the president’s comments have been both praised and condemned by various pundits.

Rick Warren on Gay Marriage, Abortion, Torture

Pastor Rick Warren on Gay Marriage, Abortion, Torture

Rick Warren speaks to Beliefnet.com founder Steve Waldman on his views about hot-button issues.

VIDEO

The 10 Most Common Objections to Christianity - Part 1

"The 10 Most Common Objections to Christianity" Part 1 (Alex McFarland)

Special Guest Alex McFarland of Southern Evangelical Seminary leads us through Objection 1 from his book "The 10 Most Common Objections to Christianity".

CP BLOG

Were the Gospels Based on Pagan Myths?

pagan

It's an accusation that's been around a long time. Even in ancient times, critics of Christianity noticed some parallels between Christian beliefs and pre-Christian myths. In the late second century, a pagan philosopher named Celsus charged, “The Christians have used the myths of Danae and the and the Melanippe, of the Auge and Antiope in fabricating this story of virgin birth!”

CP BLOG

Don’t Build Prayer into Your Life, Build Your Life Around Prayer

prayer

We all know that prayer is supposed to be a regular part of our lives, but how do we cultivate a greater, more robust prayer life? On this matter, I can think of no better example than Martin Luther. Luther spent years developing his prayer life; he saw prayer as the “daily business of a Christian.”

PASTORS

Rick Warren Talks About Tim Tebow, Mormons, Gay Marriage and Exclusivity of Christ

In an Easter Sunday interview on ABC's "This Week," megachurch pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren talked about a range of cultural and political issues, including President Obama's birth control mandate, the intersection of religion and politics and whether one can get to Heaven by being a good person.

CP BLOG

What Does it Mean to Be Unequally Yoked?

A while back I had a person come to me considering a relationship with a person that was obviously not a good match for them. They said to me, “well they are a believer so we are not unequally yoked“. Every time I hear a believer bring up this scripture I inwardly cringe.

OPINION

Wrongful Birth?

Chuck Colson

We've all heard of wrongful death lawsuits, but can a doctor be sued for wrongful birth? Evidently, the answer is yes.

CP BLOG

4 Days to a Forever Marriage (Book Excerpt, PT 1)

book cover for 4 Days to a Forever Marriage

This week the Book Stop blog is featuring book excerpts from 4 Days to a Forever Marriage by Gary and Norma Smalley. Used by permission. All rights to this material are reserved. Material is not

ENTERTAINMENT

The Resurrection Project: Hollywood Prayer Leader on Movie's Executive Board

Resurrection movie

A Hollywood producer wants to make sure that he includes God in the creation of "The Resurrection," a film that he would like to see materialize as the sequel to Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."

CP BLOG

The Kingdom of God in Yurts: Christianity among Mongols in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries

Many do not know about the Christian civilization of the Mongols, especially in their royal Khanates families. Further, many Protestants identify the entrance of Christianity in China with Robert Morrison in 1807, [2] but Christians and Christianity were influential much earlier.

CP BLOG

A Shift in China

In recent years, the work we have been doing in China has continued to change and grow. Working alongside Chinese welfare agencies, we are making substantial improvements and progress together.

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