Lest We Forget

On the Horizon

Michael Horton, professor at Westminster Seminary in California, has a new book coming out on Christless Christianity. It looks worthwhile. From the promo:

Christians have always had their differences, but never in church history have there been so many statistics indicating that many Christians today are practicing what can only be described as "Christless Christianity."

Christless Christianity guides the reader to a greater understanding of a big problem within the American religious setting, namely the creeping fog of countless sermons in churches across the country that focus on moralistic concerns and personal transformation rather than the theology of the cross.

Michael Horton's analysis of the contemporary church points believers back to the power of a gospel that should never be assumed.

Here is an excerpt from the DVD:

Random Thoughts

1. Fairness - is in the eye of the beholder. Witness the "scrupulous" reporting of Governor Palin's religious views and the absence of the same in the MSM. 2. "Gotcha!" How I feel about MSNBC's removing Olbermann and Matthews from coverage of the campaign. Do tell - but there is no bias in the MSM! 3. The Alliance Defense Fund is soliciting pastors to challenge the IRS's muzzling of pastor's endorsing candidates by specific preaching on September 28. Sorry, but I think that is the wrong way to deal with the issue and certainly a wrong use of the power of the pulpit. Sorry but I know of no text that supports a particular candidate. I'm certain some preacher somewhere will use Daniel, Thessalonians and a few other ripped out texts to rant against Obama as the anti-Christ, the man of sin or the Obamantion of Desolation. I'll pass on this one. What do you think? 4. Borrowing from Andy Rooney "Don't ya just hate it when a blogger does random thought - must have nothing much to say!

Persecuted Church - India

INDIA

Orissa: six more churches set on fire, hundreds of homes destroyed

More and more Christian villages are being plundered and set on fire as police remains idle. Death threats are made against Christians if they practice their faith. but according to the government of Orissa the situation is “under control”.

Bhubaneshwar (AsiaNews) – The anti-Christian pogrom in the state of Orissa shows no signs of a let-up. In the past three days six churches have been attacked, set on fire and destroyed; hundreds of Christian-owned houses have been devastated and then torched. The number of refugees and missing people is rising.

According to reports that have reached AsiaNews from the diocese of Bhubaneshwar, the Catholic church in Padunbadi was attacked last night, plundered and torn down. Even the church wall was razed to the ground. The Catholic church in the village of Kakadabadi was also attacked yesterday and torched.

On Monday the Baptist church in Durgaprasad, the Catholic church in Chadiapally, and both the Catholic and Baptist churches in Balligada were set on fire and destroyed. Thanks to FreeRepublic & AsiaNews

Persecuted Church in China - update

Word has come from China through Voice of the Martyrs that Pastor Bike has been released. See the August 19th post. Praise God for answered prayer!

School Begins

We are privileged to host a The Covenant Home School Network in our facilities. We expect 70 families in the Surprise, AZ area to be involved. This is the second year we are doing this. Click here for more information

Evangelicals and Sarah Palin

I was intrigued to read some posts over at Hugh Hewitt: Palin by Comparison. The John Mark Reynolds piece is long but very good.

I am bothered because some Evangelicals are saying they won't vote for the McCain - Palin ticket because the Bible forbids a woman to have authority over a man. I believe that is false exegesis of the New Testament passages as well as Proverbs 31 (Reynolds comments on this as well). St. Paul is addressing roles and authority in the church and says nothing about business or government. So, I believe their thinking is very misguided at this point. 'Nuff said.