Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Who's in Charge of Church Choices: God or Money?
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Oct. 9, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Is the church in the U.S. serving God or Money? That's the choice highlighted by Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:24. The new edition in The State of Church Giving series suggests church member giving and membership patterns can help answer that question.
The State of Church Giving through 2010, published by empty tomb, inc., in October 2012, analyzes congregational reports aggregated and published by denominations.
The new edition updates church member giving through 2010, including for a Composite Set of denominations for the period 1968-2010, for 11 denominations for 1921-2010, and trends both past and future. For example, as a portion of income, church member giving declined from 2009 to 2010.
The book's analysis of giving by all Americans in the 2010 US BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey found that 76% of giving went to "church, religious giving" compared to "charities and other organizations," "educational institutions," or "gifts to non-Consumer Units."
The special focus chapter considers the choices of church leaders and members in light of Jesus' statement in Matthew 6:24 that one can serve only God or Money.
According to the new book, if native-born church members supported international missions at the same level that foreign-born people in the U.S. send money overseas, they would have spent an additional $370 billion on global missions in 2010, amounting to $3.7 trillion over ten years.
The authors suggest that church leaders identify "triage" needs to set a "positive agenda for affluence" for church members. Triage sets priorities based on both the degree of need and the ability to impact that need.
One "triagic" need, the book suggests, is the number of "unengaged unreached people groups," described as having inadequate access to a presentation of the claims of Jesus Christ. One estimate suggested $200 million more a year -- less than $12.50 per church member in one denomination -- could fund the additional cross-cultural missionaries needed.
Another "triagic" need suggested is the reduction of child deaths globally among children under the age of 5. This Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 is behind its planned rate of progress, according to an analysis in the new book. Church leaders and members, the authors assert, are in a unique position to help improve progress so that MDG 4 can achieve its 2015 target of reducing, by two-thirds, the rate of under-5 child deaths between 1990 and 2015. At an estimated $5 billion a year, the cost would equal $50 from each of 100 million church members in the U.S. for each of the next three years, sent through each member's own denomination for programs generally already in place but underfunded. The church could provide moral leadership to encourage world leaders to keep their MDG 4 promise to address what the late James Grant referred to as "the silent emergency."
The State of Church Giving through 2010: Who's in Charge Here? A Case for a Positive Agenda for Affluence (22nd edition, October 2012) is available from Internet booksellers and www.emptytomb.org/pubs.html. ISBN 978-0-9843665-2-1
Christian Newswire
It's true, Christians should be tough – like Jesus
I inadvertently stirred up quite a theological controversy
. I happened to, in a sense, agree with Donald Trump when he advised the Liberty University student body to “not let people take advantage of them.”
Instead, he said, “get even.”
Or, in its greater oratorical context, “Be tough. In the end – win.”
At least, that’s how I, and lots of other people, took it. I didn’t assume that “getting even” had to imply mal intent; I interpreted the phrase through my own evangelical worldview, and I understood that within the dog-eat-dog world of corporate America you have to be fiercely determined, and competitive, to be successful. I do not believe that success is a sin.
Of course, as a Bible-believing evangelical, I do not believe that Christians should treat people maliciously, take revenge or fight with others arbitrarily. I believe we should show extraordinary restraint. But, when someone asked me if I thought God would “get even” with people, I decided to make a nuanced, theological point: “God would, and he did, get even.”
In the end, God won.
They must have expected me to react the way some liberal reporters responded in the aftermath of Mr. Trump’s speech.
The liberal press, which obviously couldn’t bear the thought of Jerry
Falwell, Jr., and Donald Trump working together to halt the current
assault on the American free enterprise system, immediately took to the
Bible to try to drive a wedge between these patriotic allies. They
wanted us evangelicals to go ahead and stay put (and quiet) in our nice
little box.
After all, it’s much easier to take advantage of us that way.
Yet, I believe, it’s high time that Christians toughen up a bit. Christians shouldn’t be malicious, but they also shouldn’t let people run all over them.
Is it heretical to believe God is, and God wants us to be, tough?
Hardly.
Read the Bible.
It’s filled with God pursuing justice, settling scores with folks who messed with him, or who messed with his people, and – believe it or not - Jesus is “Exhibit A.”
. I happened to, in a sense, agree with Donald Trump when he advised the Liberty University student body to “not let people take advantage of them.”Instead, he said, “get even
.”Or, in its greater oratorical context, “Be tough. In the end – win.”
At least, that’s how I, and lots of other people, took it. I didn’t assume that “getting even” had to imply mal intent; I interpreted the phrase through my own evangelical worldview, and I understood that within the dog-eat-dog world of corporate America you have to be fiercely determined, and competitive, to be successful. I do not believe that success is a sin.
Of course, as a Bible-believing evangelical, I do not believe that Christians should treat people maliciously, take revenge or fight with others arbitrarily. I believe we should show extraordinary restraint. But, when someone asked me if I thought God would “get even” with people, I decided to make a nuanced, theological point: “God would, and he did, get even.”
In the end, God won.
They must have expected me to react the way some liberal reporters responded in the aftermath of Mr. Trump’s speech.
It’s high time that Christians toughen up a bit. Christians shouldn’t be malicious, but they also shouldn’t let people run all over them.-
After all, it’s much easier to take advantage of us that way.
Yet, I believe, it’s high time that Christians toughen up a bit. Christians shouldn’t be malicious, but they also shouldn’t let people run all over them.
Is it heretical to believe God is, and God wants us to be, tough?
Hardly.
Read the Bible.
It’s filled with God pursuing justice, settling scores with folks who messed with him, or who messed with his people, and – believe it or not - Jesus is “Exhibit A.”
Pro-Life Gets a Face-Lift -- Youth and Families to Pack Iconic Dodger Stadium
Live Rock Concert, Carnival Games and Rally to Bring New Look, Feel, Excitement to Pro-Life Movement
Event Scheduled for Sunday, November 18, 2012
go2bat4LIFE.com
LOS ANGELES,
Oct. 9, 2012
/Christian Newswire/ -- LIFESoCal, the producers of last
year's walk4LIFE at the Rose Bowl, is proud to present "go2bat4LIFE," an
upbeat, celebratory event at Dodger Stadium on November 18, 2012.
Event Scheduled for Sunday, November 18, 2012
go2bat4LIFE.com
A charitable organization founded by L.A.-area high school and college students and their parents, LIFEsocal has designed a new kind of pro-life gathering for its second year. Go2bat4LIFE will be a large, diverse, interfaith celebration of LIFE that builds bridges and motivates young people to value life, to be proud, outspoken supporters of the movement, and to make responsible choices in their personal lives.
Popular Baptist Pastor Walter Hoye II will emcee the event and Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles is blessing the event with his support. Professional athletes and high-profile surprise guests will pump up the crowd and top Christian bands will perform on the Dodger infield stage. Guests will enjoy baseball-themed games, a zipline, carnival rides, LA's best food trucks, Dodger Dogs and more.
In addition to athletes, celebrities and musicians, a number of teenagers will share stories about their unplanned pregnancies, the choices they made, and how their lives were impacted. One student from a Texas university will share an inspiring story about placing her baby in an adoptive home. Another is an abortion survivor who will tell a remarkable story of forgiveness. Another is a post-abortive young man who will describe how his life and perspective were changed by the death of his son.
"Go2bat4LIFE will send the message that -- not only is it OK to be pro-life -- but it is fun, and it's cool as well. This is not your parents' pro-LIFE rally!" explained Carol Golbranson, co-founder of LIFEsocal. "Young people speaking to young people is what will make our event unique -- along with a joyous tone that will convey the beauty, fun and normalcy of being pro-life!"
Churches and schools from all around Southern California are invited to attend. Musical acts will include chart-topping Christian bands Christafari and Lincoln Brewster. Celebrities from the worlds of sport, stage and screen will be announced in the coming weeks.
Check-in begins at 11:30am and the event will take place from 1:00-4:30 pm, beginning with an energetic one-mile walk around the perimeter of Dodger Stadium. The cost to attend the event is $10 per person; 10 & under are FREE. The carnival rides and baseball-themed games will be offered in exchange for game tickets. Game tickets will cost $1.00 each, or 30 tickets for $20.00. Proceeds from the game ticket sales will benefit local pregnancy help centers and other pro-LIFE ministries.
For more information visit the event's official website, go2bat4life.com, or on Facebook at facebook.com/LIFEsocal, or call LIFEsocal at (626) 755-7323. An exciting call to action, go2bat4LIFE is a big vision and a reason to rejoice in these confused times. Register online now! LIFEsocal encourages churches and faith organizations to bring their entire memberships!
Dodger Stadium is located at 1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Christian Newswire
Audio Adrenaline - Kings and Queens Exclusive Music Video Premiere
Audio Adrenaline - Kings and Queens (Exclusive Music Video Premiere) from audio-adrenaline on GodTube
Multi-GRAMMY® award-winning band Audio Adrenaline is back with a new single and a common goal: to be the voice for orphans in Haiti and around the world. The official music video for "Kings & Queens" was filmed in Haiti among the Hands & Feet Project, a non-profit organization founded by the band to care for orphaned and abandoned children with the love of Christ. All net proceeds will go to Hands & Feet Project to continue growth and support of the nearly eight-year-old charity.
"It's just an incredible song about this idea of when we love the least of these, God wraps these little orphans in his majesty and they can become kings and queens. It gives you that idea that these are God's favorites, these little kids that have been forgotten. There's going to be a special place in heaven one day because of what they've been through here. It's just a triumphant, majestic song that just connects so deeply with Hands & Feet and the message of Audio A right now." -Mark Stuart
http://www.audioa.com/
http://www.handsandfeetproject.org/
Multi-GRAMMY® award-winning band Audio Adrenaline is back with a new single and a common goal: to be the voice for orphans in Haiti and around the world. The official music video for "Kings & Queens" was filmed in Haiti among the Hands & Feet Project, a non-profit organization founded by the band to care for orphaned and abandoned children with the love of Christ. All net proceeds will go to Hands & Feet Project to continue growth and support of the nearly eight-year-old charity.
"It's just an incredible song about this idea of when we love the least of these, God wraps these little orphans in his majesty and they can become kings and queens. It gives you that idea that these are God's favorites, these little kids that have been forgotten. There's going to be a special place in heaven one day because of what they've been through here. It's just a triumphant, majestic song that just connects so deeply with Hands & Feet and the message of Audio A right now." -Mark Stuart
http://www.audioa.com/
http://www.handsandfeetproject.org/
Monday, October 8, 2012
Greg Laurie Answers 'Why All This Chaos in Middle East?'
IRVINE, Calif. – Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship church took the opportunity during his Sunday sermon series on the book of Revelation to talk about the current events in the Middle East as it relates to Bible prophecy. He also pointed to the controversy during the Democratic National Convention over the party's vote on including Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in its platform as highly ironic.
"It seems like every time you turn around there's another outbreak of violence or at least a threat of one," Laurie said during last Sunday's sermon shared at his two Southern California churches in Riverside and Orange County. "Iranian president Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for the destruction of both the nation Israel and the United States and recently stood before the members of the U.N. speaking of an Islamic messiah and a new world order that is coming. Haven't I heard this before?"Laurie then described events in the Middle East that were perhaps misinterpreted by some people at first.
"Of course, we all know [about] that tragic attack against our embassy in Libya by terrorists in a pre-planned attack on the anniversary of 9/11 and the murder of ambassador Chris Stevens," the pastor, also known for his evangelistic Harvest Crusades, said. "We know it was pre-planned because of the heavy weaponry they brought in and the fact that they knew where his safe house was that he fled to and then killed him in cold blood.
"If you thought the war on terrorism was done wake up, because after these riots broke out the crowds were chanting for the benefit of the cameras, 'Take a picture Obama. We're all Osama.' So it doesn't end with the killing of Osama bin Laden. It continues on."
Laurie continued, "Then, there's the Arab Spring and many thought that was going to change the climate in the Middle East, but instead of it being a hopeful sign we found it to be a Trojan horse for Islamic extremism through the so-called Muslim Brotherhood."
World food prices near crisis levels
World food prices rose in September and are moving nearer to levels reached during the 2008 food crisis.
The United Nations food agency reported on Thursday that the worst drought in more than 50 years in the United States had sent corn and soybean prices to record highs over the summer, and, coupled with drought in Russia and other Black Sea exporting countries, raised fears of a renewed crisis.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) price index, which measures monthly price changes for a food basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy, meat and sugar, rose 1.4% in September, mainly due to higher dairy and meat prices.
"It's highly unlikely we will see a normalisation of prices anytime soon," said FAO senior economist Abdolreza Abbassian.
READ MORE
The United Nations food agency reported on Thursday that the worst drought in more than 50 years in the United States had sent corn and soybean prices to record highs over the summer, and, coupled with drought in Russia and other Black Sea exporting countries, raised fears of a renewed crisis.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) price index, which measures monthly price changes for a food basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy, meat and sugar, rose 1.4% in September, mainly due to higher dairy and meat prices.
"It's highly unlikely we will see a normalisation of prices anytime soon," said FAO senior economist Abdolreza Abbassian.
READ MORE
US Warns of Threat to Female Missionaries in Egypt
The U.S. embassy in Cairo has issued a warning to U.S. women
Christian missionaries of the dangers of terror attacks they face in the
mostly Muslim Egypt.
In a statement on its website, the embassy says it has credible information suggesting terrorist interest in targeting U.S. female missionaries.
It asks U.S. citizens to exercise vigilance and take necessary precautions to maintain their personal security. It also urges them to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, which makes it easier for the U.S. diplomatic personnel to contact them in case of emergency.
Christians comprise 10 percent of Egypt's population of 83 million. They regularly complain of discrimination and marginalization in the mostly Muslim country. Right groups say Christians have also been the target of sectarian violence.
READ MORE
In a statement on its website, the embassy says it has credible information suggesting terrorist interest in targeting U.S. female missionaries.
It asks U.S. citizens to exercise vigilance and take necessary precautions to maintain their personal security. It also urges them to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, which makes it easier for the U.S. diplomatic personnel to contact them in case of emergency.
Christians comprise 10 percent of Egypt's population of 83 million. They regularly complain of discrimination and marginalization in the mostly Muslim country. Right groups say Christians have also been the target of sectarian violence.
READ MORE
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