 |  | | ...It has been the want of faith, my brethren, that has been at the root of all the blight and barrenness of our past years. And if God is to make His promise in the text good to you and me for this New Year, and for all our own future years, it will be by strengthening and fertilising our faith! When the root is weak or diseased, or when it has no deepness of earth, then any passing locust will soon kill the tree. But when the root is sound and strong and deep-seated and well-watered, the tree will blossom and bear fruit and will survive all the locusts that you can send up against it. Let us have faith, then, my brethren. Let us have, and in all things let us exercise, faith in God.Let us believe that He is, as we have never up to this year believed. Let us believe His Word. Let us read and meditate on His Word in a way we have never yet done. Our spiritual life and its fruitfulness comes and goes just as we read God's Word, and meditate on it in secret... MORE | | |
UPDATES THIS WEEK MAY BE AFFECTED BY LOCAL WEATHER | Headlines for Monday, January 10th, 2011 | Dems, Media Blame Tea Party, Palin for Shooting; Shooter Linked to Leftwing Politics
As U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords fights for her life after a mad gunman shot her on Saturday, some Democrats and major media have moved to pin the blame for her attack on the tea party movement and conservatives like Sarah Palin, despite the fact that the shooter was both deranged and fascinated by leftwing politics. Giffords' Democratic colleague, Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva, told Mother Jones magazine within hours after the rampage that the “political tone and tenor” created by Palin and the tea party movement had set the stage for the shooting. Grijalva said Palin's “apparatus” had put Giffords' and his own life at risk. “Both Gabby and I were targeted in the apparatus in that cycle [saying] these people are ‘enemies.’” He added: “The Palin express better look at their tone and their tenor.” The liberal New York Times was not far behind Grijalva, publishing a lead story headlined "Bloodshed Puts New Focus on Vitriol in Politics." MORE |  | CBN NEWS: Why is Obama Talking More on His Christian Faith?
President Barack Obama has spoken more in public about his Christian faith in the past few months. The day after Christmas, the president, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Sasha and Malia attended a church service at St. Michael's Chapel in Hawaii -- something the family has rarely done since becoming president. Obama also referenced his Christian beliefs during the recent lighting ceremony of the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. MORE | CBN NEWS: Culture War? The Battle for Australia's Soul
A cultural battle pitting Christians against Australia's first atheist prime minister and her party may be looming in the land down under. Just three months after a new minority government assumed power, social issues are now topping the legislative agenda. Prime Minister Julia Gillard is having trouble keeping radical members of her Labor-Green Party coalition government in line. The Green Party's sole representative in parliament is pushing to garner support for gay marriage. He also wants to pass federal laws legalizing euthanasia. MORE | Ted Haggard Gets His Own Reality Show On TLC
Ted Haggard has just landed a reality show on TLC. It's called "Ted Haggard: Scandalous" and will follow Haggard and his family as they start their new church in Colorado Springs. | Obama Eyeing Internet ID for Americans
Obama is planning to hand the U.S. Commerce Department authority over a forthcoming cybersecurity effort to create an Internet ID for Americans, a White House official said. | Missionary Agency Supporting Christians & Muslims In Nigeria
The group Christian Aid is rushing to Nigeria in the aftermath of recent attacks that have primarily been directed at Christians. | Former Evangelical Leader Now Condemns Conservatives
A former chief lobbyist of the National Association of Evangelicals believes the "old guard" is the chief enemy of the modern-day church. | Christians Offer Prayers as Sudan Voters Head to Polls
Christians around the world are praying for Sudan as Southern Sudanese begin Sunday a seven-day referendum to vote whether to remain united with the North or become independent. | In Search for the Longest Married Couple
The search for the longest married couple will come to an end on Monday at midnight. Nominations have been coming in from nearly every state... | Tax-Exempt Ministries Avoid New Regulation
A three-year investigation into financial improprieties at six Christian ministries whose television preaching bankrolled leaders’ lavish lifestyles has concluded with the formation of an independent commission to look into the lack of accountability by tax-exempt religious groups. | Updated NIV e-Bible Debuts Successfully
The eBook of Zondervan's updated NIV Bible ranked high on several bestseller's lists following its Christmas season debut. The 2011 NIV Bible Ebook – the first Bible to go digital before appearing in print – topped Apple's iBookstore chart in the Religion & Spirituality category when it was released three weeks ago. | | SHARPER IRON: Fomenting a Missional Revolution
A college president recently opened a can of worms in speaking of changing music on a “missional level.” I’m not sure what he meant by that, but “missional” is not going away. It is not easily toppled as some critics have imagined. I have read articles and heard sermons on “missional” which left me puzzled and convinced that many opponents have never been involved with a heterogeneous church or engaged in extensive cross-cultural ministry. Much time is spent in libraries doing research to find something to use against something disliked. This is especially true when one starts from the perspective that “missional” is bad and needs to be exposed... MORE | DAVE HUNT: Jim Wallis, Shane Claiborne and Progressive Christianity
Question: I recently heard the term "progressive Christian" in conjunction with some controversial speakers, Jim Wallis and Shane Claiborne, at a Lifest Music Festival. I'm not familiar with the term or the controversy surrounding the speakers. What can you tell me? Answer: Jim Wallis and Shane Claiborne's beliefs place them among socialist, or "progressive," Christians who advocate deeds and actions that they believe will achieve justice and peace upon the earth. MORE | MONDAY MORNING INSIGHT: Should a Church Give a Reason When Firing the Pastor?
A Wichita area pastor was fired last week from a fairly large (800 or so) church. That's not the news. The story here is that the church is not saying why. In fact, they're not giving any reason at all. The local newspaper has picked up the story, and the church isn't commenting. The church, according to the newspaper report, really isn't telling the congregation much of anything either. Pastor Bryson Butts...helped found GracePoint Church eight years ago. The news was delivered by Pastor Butts...on his Facebook page. "Last night, the GracePoint board voted 4-0 to sever my relationship as lead pastor." MORE | Westboro Bap. To Picket 9-Year-Old Shooting Victim Funeral
Fred Phelps Jr. and his Westboro Hate Group have announced plans to disrupt the funeral of 9 year-old shooting victim Christina Greene. | Muslim Group Sues Critic Over Website's Name
A Michigan attorney says she wanted to "drive the Muslims crazy" by naming herself executive director of a website-based group that is critical of the Council on American-Islamic Relations -- which she says is a... | AMERICAN VISION: Does Gold Have ‘Intrinsic Value’?
Almost every conservative talk show is pushing gold and silver as a hedge against inflation, the devaluation of the dollar, and protection against uncertain economic times. Glenn Beck has been the most vocal proponent of owning gold, so much so that some liberals have called for an investigation. These are the same guys who create money out of thin air. Typical. | MON MORN INSIGHT: 17 Signs of a Fast Growing Church
Are there indicators that your church may be ready for a period of sustained growth? Brian Dodd takes a look at the subject and comes up with 17 signs of a fast growing church.... | S.C. Megachurch Launches Fifth Campus in Charleston
A South Carolina megachurch officially launched its fifth campus in Charleston on Sunday, aiming to reach the 84 percent of "unchurched" people in the area. | | |
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