Technology Sabbath: Take the Challenge!

WARNING!!! This may be one of the most difficult challenges
ever! :>)

Many individuals have grown accustomed to daily interaction
with various forms of technology like: The Blackberry, I-Phone,
Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, text messaging, emailing, and to
continue would take until tomorrow.

According to a survey taken in 2005, "Most Americans including
children, spend at least nine hours a day watching TV, surfing the
web, or talking on their cell phones. Of those hours, one-third of
the time is spent using two or more of those media at once."

So here's the challenge: Take a Technology Sabbath!

1. Give yourself at least 24 hours to get prepared
2. Notify individuals that you will be unplugging for 24 hours (this will eliminate their questions about you not responding immediately)
3. Just DO IT! :>)
   
4. Find alternatives to using technology (take a walk, start writing your book, do a bible study, meet a friend for coffee or tea, go to the library, have a family talk, journal)

*It's going to hurt bad but I will begin my challenge March 30 midnight. How about you? Send this blog to all those you know that would be up for the challenge.

Christian Dating: Is There Such A Thing?

TV anchor Kimberly Kennedy was madly in love with with a
man that she was about to marry when he left her at the alter.
From there a downward spiral of events occurred within her
life as she lost her career, health, and money.

She now has a new book entitled, "Left At the Alter: My Story
of Hope and Healing for Every Woman Who Has Felt the
Heartbreak of Rejection." A common thread within her book is
that she identifies that she put her faith on the sidelines during
her time of dating. Kennedy says, "When you fall in love with
God, you can be assured of one special thing: you will never be
left at the altar. Instead, you will live with him happily ever
after. And the honeymoon will never end."

A few questions for you:

• Do you believe in Christian dating?

• Do you believe in soul mates? If so, is dating necessary?

• What should the boundaries of Christian dating be?

• Is o.k. to date someone that is outside of your faith/religion?

• Is it o.k. to be intimate during Christian dating (kissing, holding hands, sex, etc.)

Too Much or Not Enough?

Recently, I ran across a clip that was quite interesting. It
showed a church celebrating their 132nd Church Anniversary.
During the clip, various generations were acknowledged and
that's where it became really interesting... to say the least :>)
To get the true essence of it... watch it all the way through.

When you see the clip I would like to hear from you. Was it too
much or not enough?

Click here to see the clip!

God-Proofing Schools?

The Lakeview Elementary
School in Nashville,
Tennessee is the latest
example of God-
proofing within the
school system.

In a yearly event,
"See You at the Pole"
there were hand drawn
posters created by the
students and their families,
that school official ordered
to be altered. The school
officials ordered for the
messages on the posters
"Bless God in the U.S.A"
and "In God We Trust" to
be covered up before they
could be displayed
throughout the hallways.

The Alliance Defense Fund Attorneys
filed a lawsuit on the behalf of the parents
and students at Lakeview Elementary
School there in Wilson County. The lawsuit
states that the schools actions violates the
14th Amendment due process and the
Establishment Clause.

It was not many years ago that Madalyn Murray O'Hair
said that she didn't want prayer in the schools and the
world witnessed that in 1962 prayer was abolished from
the School System within the United States of America.

What is your stance on this subject? Should the words
"In God We Trust" and "Bless God in the U.S.A." be
allowed to be posted within our schools?

FREE Online Spiritual Gifts Analysis!

I just ran across an online spiritual gifts analysis for individuals
and for groups as well. It even includes a 4-5 page print out if
you so desire. Please feel free to share this with others as well.

Try it out an let me know what you think.

My Own Mind...?

My wife and I were driving down the street and
passed a church that had this very strange message
on a sign that was on their property. I couldn't believe
my eyes so I stopped right in the middle of the street,
put our vehicle in reverse and said quite loudly, "I
can think of at least 5 reasons why my own mind could
never be my own church!"

Here are the 5 reasons I came up with. I might have missed a few
so I would like to enlist your help.

• I would get a little lonely from time to time.
• With what pops up here sometimes, would it actually be classified as a church?
• What will happen to the church when my physical body expires?
• My church would always be closed due to reconstruction and renovation.
• I guess I would never own the church and always be leasing, because the owner of the church is the one who gave me my mind.
• *I had to add a sixth reason: If the statement on the sign is correct, why is it outside of their actual church building?
  

Anymore?

Religious or Missional Minded?: You Take the Survey!

Clicking here will take you directly to the survey. Leave a comment about the results of your survey.

Still Teaching Leadership: John Maxwell Goes To Jail

Leadership guru John Maxwell was arrested this past
Thursday at the Palm Beach International Airport for trying
to board a plane with a concealed weapon. In his blog,
Maxwell says that someone gave him a handgun as a gift and
he made the mistake of not taking the gun out of his bag.

I have to say that I love the transparency that John Maxwell
displays concerning this mishap in his life. Despite the
sensitive nature of this situation and the swarming reports of
the media, Maxwell still takes time to share leadership principles
from his downfall in his blog. Thanks John Maxwell for
exemplifying true leadership!

What are your thoughts?

Wilkerson's Urgent Message- What Does This Mean To You?

David Wilkerson, the founding pastor of Times Square
in New York City and one of the leading voices to Christian
minister's released an urgent message to the world on
March 7th.

In his blog, Wilkerson says that "an earth shattering calamity
is about to happen. It is going to be so frightening, we all
are going to tremble-even the godliest among us. It will engulf
the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and
Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience
riots and blazing fires- such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles
years ago. There will riots and fires in cities worldwide. There
will be looting- including Times Square, New York City. What
we are experiencing now is not recession, not even a depression.
We are under God's wrath. In Psalms 11 it is written, "If the
foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"'

Wilkerson continues by saying, "If possible lay in store a thirty-
day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials.
He closes the message with, "I do not know when these things
will come to pass, but I know it's not far off. I've unburdened my
soul to you. Do with the message as you choose."

Could there be a message that God is trying to get across to the
world? What does this mean to you?

A New Revelation: Gay Inclusion?

Once at the forefront of a major christian movement
and classified as a mega church, Chapel Hill Harvester
Church has been through more than its share of issues
within the past few years. Similar to many individuals all over
the country and even internationally, I too in the later 90's
would watch the Sunday morning broadcasts of this ministry.
I would often stand amazed at the power of God sweeping through
the sanctuary, and the masses of multicultural worshipers that
filled the auditorium week after week. Now the congregants have
diminished from over 4,000 to under 1,000 in weekly attendance.
You may ask the question, why?

Recently, the newly installed pastor of just three years D.E.
Paulk began preaching a doctrine called, "Gay Inclusion". Just
7 or 8 years ago Christendom was rocked by Carlton Pearson's
announcement of him leaving the message of biblical Christianity
to herald the message of the gospel of "Inclusion". Unfortunately,
the doctrine of "Gay Inclusion" takes it to the next level. Paulk says
this persuasion is a "creation of groups of people all looking for the
answers". He goes as far to say that he believes that in several years
those that are following him probably won’t be called a church
anymore, but will be classified as a community.

Is this going too far? What can be done to bring restoration
at this point?

Celebration Time is Here!!!

This week Glory Center International will celebrate 4 years of
ministry. Kicking off the celebration on Thursday March 5th
is Bishop Larry Trotter and the Sweet Holy Spirit choir of Chicago,
Illinois. There will be many, many more guests all week long.

We're looking forward to a great time of celebration. Hope to see
you there!