PALATINE, Ill. (BP) -- We've entered the dog-days of summer (July and
August) -- this often oppressive and sweltering time of year that
coincides with traditional summer slumps in church attendance as
families scatter for summer vacations and other summertime activities.
But
our need for prayer is never greater. Here are five suggestions to make
your dog days of summer sparkle with spiritual freshness:
Family table time
-- Ask each church family to use at least one family meal each week to
pray for their neighbors, whether those who live nearby, people they
work with or fellow students. Keep a log of the names and needs of those
the Lord leads toward in prayer. During a Sunday morning service in
August, ask families to come prepared to share their prayers and God's
responses.
Schedule a church picnic -- Before the
festivities begin, ask every family to form a circle and to pray (facing
inward) for the church, its spiritual health, its ministry vision and
its evangelistic effectiveness. Reverse positions to face outward and
pray for the community, its needs, its leaders and the church's
influence on it.
READ MORE at Baptist Press
Friday, July 5, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Billy Graham Team Consoling Community Where 19 Firefighters Died
By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter
July 2, 2013|12:58 pm
Members of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team were sent out to Prescott, Ariz., to offer support to a community grieving after 19 firefighters lost their lives on Sunday in a scorching wildfire that continues to rage through the region.
"Our hearts go out to the families of those firefighters as well as the fire station," said Jack Munday, international director of the Billy Graham RRT. "Firefighters are like brothers."READ MORE at the CHRISTIAN POST
Learning From Young Atheists: What Turned Them Off Christianity
By Eric Metaxas , Christian Post Contributor
July 2, 2013|10:10 am
It's something most Christian parents worry about: You send your kids off to college and when they come back, you find they've lost their faith. The prospect of this happening is why many parents nudge their kids towards Christian colleges, or at least schools with a strong Christian presence on campus.
But in many ways, the damage has been done long before our children set foot on campus. That's the message from a recent article in the Atlantic Monthly.My friend Larry Taunton of the Fixed Point Foundation set out to find out why so many young Christians lose their faith in college. He did this by employing a method I don't recall being used before: He asked them.
READ MORE at the CHRISTIAN POST
Loss of 19 firemen in Arizona prompts chaplains' deployment
Posted on Jul 1, 2013 | by Tobin Perry
YARNELL, Ariz. (BP) -- After an out-of-control, lightning-induced fire in Yarnell, Ariz., killed 19 firefighters on Sunday, Southern Baptists are mobilizing disaster relief chaplains to walk alongside grieving families to offer spiritual support.
The deaths represented the worst firefighting tragedy in Arizona's history, the Phoenix daily Arizona Republic reported.
As of Monday morning, Arizona Southern Baptists had connected with local churches near Yarnell and were determining the needs of the impacted families. Chaplain teams are already on the way to the disaster, said Larry Hyde, the disaster relief director for the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention.
"Our response to hurting families is to help hurting people, not to make Baptists out of them," Hyde said. "We're just out there to support people's needs and share the love of Jesus at a time when their lives are falling apart."
READ MORE at BPNEWS.NET
YARNELL, Ariz. (BP) -- After an out-of-control, lightning-induced fire in Yarnell, Ariz., killed 19 firefighters on Sunday, Southern Baptists are mobilizing disaster relief chaplains to walk alongside grieving families to offer spiritual support.
The deaths represented the worst firefighting tragedy in Arizona's history, the Phoenix daily Arizona Republic reported.
As of Monday morning, Arizona Southern Baptists had connected with local churches near Yarnell and were determining the needs of the impacted families. Chaplain teams are already on the way to the disaster, said Larry Hyde, the disaster relief director for the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention.
"Our response to hurting families is to help hurting people, not to make Baptists out of them," Hyde said. "We're just out there to support people's needs and share the love of Jesus at a time when their lives are falling apart."
READ MORE at BPNEWS.NET
Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Baptist Youth Choir Serenades Colorado Firefighters
By Todd Starnes
"As the sun began to fade behind Pikes Peak, firefighters trudging back to their command post at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, heard a most unusual sound.
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…”
It was Tuesday, June 18th. 8 p.m. Shift change.
“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear…”
The command center was a flurry of activity. Weary firefighters were returning from the front lines – looking for a hot meal. Their replacements were suiting up – fire engines rumbled, sirens wailed. But above the clamor was that most unusual sound.
“Through many dangers, toils and snares…”
Many of the firefighters had been away from their families for days – waging war on the Black Forest Fire – a blaze that has already killed at least two people, destroyed more than 500 homes and consumed more than 14,000 acres of land. These have been difficult days.
But for a brief moment on Tuesday – a group of young people from more than 1,400 miles away – brought a bit of joy to the Black Forest Fire command post when they serenaded the firefighters with music."
READ MORE AT FOX NEWS TODD STARNES
"As the sun began to fade behind Pikes Peak, firefighters trudging back to their command post at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, heard a most unusual sound.
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…”
It was Tuesday, June 18th. 8 p.m. Shift change.
“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear…”
The command center was a flurry of activity. Weary firefighters were returning from the front lines – looking for a hot meal. Their replacements were suiting up – fire engines rumbled, sirens wailed. But above the clamor was that most unusual sound.
“Through many dangers, toils and snares…”
Many of the firefighters had been away from their families for days – waging war on the Black Forest Fire – a blaze that has already killed at least two people, destroyed more than 500 homes and consumed more than 14,000 acres of land. These have been difficult days.
But for a brief moment on Tuesday – a group of young people from more than 1,400 miles away – brought a bit of joy to the Black Forest Fire command post when they serenaded the firefighters with music."
READ MORE AT FOX NEWS TODD STARNES
WORLD | Family flicks beat R-rated reels at box office | Aimee Stauf | June 27, 2013
"What do The Avengers, Wreck-It Ralph, and Les Misérables have in common? All three made the list of top 25 movies last year, and all feature redemptive overtones and family-friendly messages. Together, they brought in no small chunk of change: $961 million."
WORLD | Family flicks beat R-rated reels at box office | Aimee Stauf | June 27, 2013
WORLD | Family flicks beat R-rated reels at box office | Aimee Stauf | June 27, 2013
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