very sad news

I have been a fan of Steven Curtis Chapman for years, since the 1990s. I first heard the news about his daughter's death in the morning news. Here is an article in the Sydney Herald. Very sad. Be praying for this family. They attend Christ Community in Nashville. A PCA Church.

Sermon: Defining Presbyterian ( Part 1)

As far as I can tell, there is only one church member that actually grew up Presbyterian. Everyone else has a background as varied as you can imagine. In that sense, it makes CPC a special place, which I am grateful for as a minister.

At the same time, it makes it confusing to some because we are Christ PRESBYTERIAN church. What does that mean? What is a Presbyterian?

So when we have a holiday Sunday like Memorial Day weekend I like to take the opportunity to do something a bit different. So this Lord's Day we will be looking at the beginnings of the Presbyterian Church. And our focus will be primarily on the life and ministry of Jean Calvin.

My hope is that this message will bring in to sharper focus the early convictions of the founders of the Presbyterian Church. We hope you will join us!

Willow Creek is going deeper

Read this article at Christianity Today. Willow Creek Community Church is where the term "Seeker Sensitive" originated from, and has also been criticized for what some would say a watered down gospel.

It seems that they are making a shift towards teaching more Bible and Theology. Wow, what a concept! This Sunday we will be studying the OT book Nahum in Worship and the Westminster Confession in Sunday School. I guess we are ahead of the curve!

I am glad to see they are making an attempt to go deeper. I hope it does make a difference and creates more mature disciples of Christ.

Article from the Vatican

This might surprise you that I would be quoting the Vatican, but I just could not pass this up.

I first heard about this on the BBC World Service. The Vatican has an Astronomer on staff and he recently wrote an article. The title of the article is what is cracking me up => "Aliens Are My Brother".

That title really got my attention.

Anyhow, here is the BBC Article on their website. Enjoy!

SNL Topic: Leadership Competancy

Last Sunday we wrapped up the Intro to Leadership and how to Choose a Leader, and finished with Calling. It was interesting and there was good discussion.

This coming Sunday Night we look at Leadership Competence. How well are people suited to be a leader already? What are important qualities? What will give them a firm foundation to be a leader?

These are the type of questions we will be looking at. Come and join us!

Sermon Text: Nahum 3:14-19

Nah. 3:14 Draw for yourself water for the siege!
Strengthen your fortifications!
Go into the clay and tread the mortar!
Take hold of the brick mold!
Nah. 3:15 There fire will consume you,
The sword will cut you down;
It will consume you as the locust does.
Multiply yourself like the creeping locust,
Multiply yourself like the swarming locust.
Nah. 3:16 You have increased your traders more than the stars of heaven—
The creeping locust strips and flies away.
Nah. 3:17 Your guardsmen are like the swarming locust.
Your marshals are like hordes of grasshoppers
Settling in the stone walls on a cold day.
The sun rises and they flee,
And the place where they are is not known.
Nah. 3:18 Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria;
Your nobles are lying down.
Your people are scattered on the mountains
And there is no one to regather them.
Nah. 3:19 There is no relief for your breakdown,
Your wound is incurable.
All who hear about you
Will clap their hands over you,
For on whom has not your evil passed continually?

Chinese Articles in CT

Christianity Today has a number of Articles on China in it's online addition.

I was reading them and thought I would share them with a larger audience.

I lived in China in the mid 1990s, and times have certainly changed. I hope for the better and the advancement of the gospel to the Chinese people.