Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 14:26-33,36-40

1Cor. 14:26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
1Cor. 14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret;
1Cor. 14:28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
1Cor. 14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.
1Cor. 14:30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.
1Cor. 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;
1Cor. 14:32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;
1Cor. 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
1Cor. 14:36 Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?
1Cor. 14:37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.
1Cor. 14:38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
1Cor. 14:39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
1Cor. 14:40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

"The Secret"

I have debated doing this, but I just saw this on the Today Show and I think it would be good to direct people in the right direction.

What am I talking about?

The movie "The Secret"

If you have no idea what this is about, your not missing anything. If you want to know, click on this link to read an article on Wikipedia which is pretty good.

I saw the movie Sunday after church with some church members who were interested. Afterwards we had a discussion time that was very good.

It is scary how many people buy into this health wealth secular gospel. I thought it would be more convincing, I was very disappointed. It is a New Age movement that lacks integrity.

My favorite newspaper article is from the LA Times, a must read. Very good.

Also, Dr. Stackhouse, who we added to the blog has a good posting Feb. 21 on the movie. I would read that as well.

Let me know what you think.

New addition to blogroll

One of my former profs has a new blog.

Dr. John Stackhouse often writes for Christianity Today and appears on TV & radio talk shows from time to time to defend the Christian Faith. He does a great job commenting on pop culture and offering a balanced perspective.

My favorite class with Stackhouse was World Religions, very helpful and insightful.

Check out his blog!

Visiting the State Capital

My oldest child's class had a chance to visit the State Capital, Concord, NH. We had a great time, and I went along as a chaperon. We met our State Senator, Steve Representative but the highlight was 20 min with the State Governor, John Lynch.

One of the coolest things about NH, is the face to face politics that only can happen in a smaller state. The kids love peppering the Governor questions and I was impressed with how well he handled all their crazy questions. He also did a good job of education the kids and even engaging them in current laws being debated in the Granite State. The NH political system is very unique, and if I could say better than most in these United States (no bias whats so ever :) ). I am beginning to see why NH is political savvy and a great place to test out potential Presidential candidates.

For those of you outside NH, this is a picture with the 4th grade class & John Lynch, the Governor.

Anglican Leaders Warn U.S. Church on Gay Unions, Bishops

Washington Post

Tuesday, February 20, 2007; Page A02

Anglican leaders concluded their five-day meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, yesterday by issuing a demand that the U.S. Episcopal Church unequivocally stop blessing same-sex unions and consecrating any more gay bishops.

In a statement issued in the final hour of the tense meeting, the Anglican Communion gave the U.S. church until Sept. 30 to comply. Otherwise, the leaders said, its relations with other Anglicans will remain "damaged at best."

For the full article, click here

Happy Chinese New Year

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 14:13-25

1Cor. 14:13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
1Cor. 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
1Cor. 14:15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
1Cor. 14:16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
1Cor. 14:17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.
1Cor. 14:18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;
1Cor. 14:19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
1Cor. 14:20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
1Cor. 14:21 In the Law it is written, “BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME,” says the Lord.
1Cor. 14:22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
1Cor. 14:23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
1Cor. 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all;
1Cor. 14:25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.

News out of Tanzania

The picture in the blog is of the 2 leading men in the Anglican Church, the Bishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, leading the conservative movement and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, trying to keep the church together.

I have been watching the events in Tanzania carefully over the growing rift in the Anglican Church. The meeting in Tanzania is seen as a showdown between the liberals and conservatives. At the center of this is Gene Robinson, a Gay Bishop from New Hampshire. This is one of the main reason I am interested in what is going on in the Anglican Union.

Click on this link to read the Guardian Article, click on this link for the BBC News on this historical meeting.

Valentine's Day Nor'Easter 2007

For all of you who view this blog from outside the Northeast, here are a few pictures of yesterday's storm. If I was on the ball, I would have taken some before and after shots.

Since I was not so clever, just imagine no snow. That is how much of an impact the storm made.

School was only canceled one day and the kids are back in school today celebrating a belated Valentine's Day. It is times like this that I am glad I live in New England. We love the snow!

Washington Post's "On Faith"

I am not sure if you are able to access or not without subscribing, but there is an interesting section on the Washington Post called On Faith. I subscribe and it is free.

They have a number of panelists from all types of backgrounds, but some of them might be of interest to you.

Charles Colson
N.T. Wright
Al Mohler
Rick Warren
Miroslav Volf

They have blogs on the Washington Post site, so it may be fun to check it out. Let me know what you think.

Sorry: I have been distracted

Sorry about not updating the blog the past week, no real big reasons why, just busy. I will try and be better this week. With the impending snowstorm tomorrow, I will probably have some time at home on the computer to do some blogging.

BTW- I find it amazing that the first snowstorm of the season is February 13. Unbelievable!

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 14:6-12

1Cor. 14:6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?
1Cor. 14:7 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?
1Cor. 14:8 For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
1Cor. 14:9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
1Cor. 14:10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.
1Cor. 14:11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
1Cor. 14:12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.

Survey suggests 300 million believers

As many of you know, Allison & I have a real interest in China. So it won't surprise you that I found this article on the BBC interesting.

Click on this link to read the article.

Here is a quote...

"The survey also found a significant rise in Christianity - accounting for 12% of all believers, or 40 million, compared with the official figure of 16 million in 2005. "

What evangelism tools are they using!

A little mishap in Minneapolis

I just had to post this photo for you all to see.

Seems yesterday someone was not paying attention when moving a Northwest Airlines plane to its gate at Minneapolis / St. Paul International Airport. Click on this link, and you will be perplexed as I was as to how this could have happened.
Enjoy!

Sermon: The "Greater Gift"

1 Corinthians 14:1-5
1Cor. 14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
1Cor. 14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.
1Cor. 14:3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
1Cor. 14:4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
1Cor. 14:5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

Boston bomb scare

Unless you have been in a coma in New England the last 24 hours, you would be the only person who does not know about the events of the last day in January.

Talk about chaos.......and insanity..... and anger. We have it all.

Everyone has an opinion on this. Check out this blog, he has a lot too say.
If you go to Boston.com you will find a lot of people with a lot of different ideas as to what should be done. There are over 1000's of comments that take 111 pages on the website. Whew, sounds like a nerve was touched here!

Whatever your opinion, it certainly reminds us that we live in a time of anxiety and fear of terrorism. I am so glad that my security and peace is found in Jesus Christ.

"for God is not a God of confusion but of peace" - 1 Corinthians 14:33