Joseph: His Role in a Bigger Story – Grace To You (John MacArthur)
Joseph’s sudden and shocking promotion to the right hand of Pharaoh was neither karma nor compensation. The betrayal of his brothers, the indignity of slavery, and the injustice of his imprisonment were all experiences ordained by God in preparation for a monumental rescue operation.
How Your Church Must Be Unique -www.vergenetwork.org
No matter the denomination, socio-economic makeup, ethnic mix, city, or geographical region, a church must have Jesus as her foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11) and her chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-21). At the same time, a local church is a unique expression of God’s Church. Tim Keller speaks of the local church’s uniqueness in his book, Center Church:
Church models are in one sense unavoidable. The spiritual gifts and callings of a congregation’s leaders, together with their social context…will necessarily mean every church tends to be naturally better at fulfilling some metaphors [of the church] and doing some kinds of ministry.
While the foundation of a church must not be unique, the culture and ministry practice must be for at least three reasons.
On The Common Beliefs of Teenage Americans – Christianitymatters.com
Christian Smith, professor of sociology and director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame, oversees a continuing studying of the religious beliefs of teenagers called the National Study of Youth and Religion. After interviewing hundreds of teens about religion, God, faith, prayer, and other spiritual practices, Smith and his colleagues have identified the common beliefs that the average teenager holds.
Re-Examining the Divorce Controversy – The Recovering Legalist
I will never forget the phone call I got from a church in Rome, GA about 16 years ago. Someone on the other end of the line was part of a search committee looking for a new pastor. They had gotten my resume and were impressed enough to give me a call. Everything was going well until they asked a very pointed question, “Bro. Anthony, does your wife have a spouse that is still living?” I responded coldly, with squinted eyes and through clinched-teeth, “Yes, ME.” Unfortunately, this would not be the last time something like that happened.
‘Frozen’ characters are Disney’s hottest ticket – Foxnews.com
Editor’s Note: I’m posting this because I am a father of a nine year old girl who just can’t get enough of Frozen!
Six months after the premiere of “Frozen,” Disney’s Oscar-winning, blockbuster animated film, an adoring public just can’t get enough of the princess sisters from the icy kingdom of Arendelle.
The success of “Frozen” swelled Disney’s second-quarter earnings to four times what they were last year, thanks in part to stellar home video sales and a chart-topping soundtrack. “Frozen” merchandise flies out of Disney stores as quickly as it arrives; a “Frozen” skating spectacular from Disney on Ice is set to tour rink arenas in the fall; and a Broadway musical is in the works.
jasonlsneed.com 