Sermon Text: Nahum 1:12-14

Nah. 1:12 Thus says the LORD,
“Though they are at full strength and likewise many,
Even so, they will be cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no longer.
Nah. 1:13 “So now, I will break his yoke bar from upon you,
And I will tear off your shackles.”
Nah. 1:14 The LORD has issued a command concerning you:
“Your name will no longer be perpetuated.
I will cut off idol and image
From the house of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,
For you are contemptible.”

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

There was a recent survey done by the Pew Forum that was very comprehensive and interesting to read. After interviewing 35,000 folks and going through large amounts of data, they have developed a picture of the religious landscape of America in 2008.

Anyhow, I am reading through their findings, and thought you might be interested as well.

Fun on the Weekends

So some of you know that Drew got me interested in NASCAR last year and now both Drew & I look forward to the weekends and watching our favorite drivers.

Mine is Ryan Newman #12, and he just won the Daytona 500 for the 1st time last week. Drew is a Dale Jr. fan, and if you have no idea who he is, then you are really clueless about NASCAR. Dale Jr. is the most popular driver on the track.

Anyhow, thought I would share one of the ways we relax on the weekend!

Stats on North American Churches

I like statistics.......cold hard facts that tell us how things really look.

The 2008 stats are out in regards to the church in North America. Click on this link to read an article that gives us the breakdown.

No real surprises, except for who is growing the fastest, the Mormon Church and the Jehovah Witnesses. The big mainline churches continue to drop in membership very quickly.

Sermon Text: Nahum 1:7-11

Nah. 1:7 The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.
Nah. 1:8 But with an overflowing flood
He will make a complete end of its site,
And will pursue His enemies into darkness.
Nah. 1:9 Whatever you devise against the LORD,
He will make a complete end of it.
Distress will not rise up twice.
Nah. 1:10 Like tangled thorns,
And like those who are drunken with their drink,
They are consumed
As stubble completely withered.
Nah. 1:11 From you has gone forth
One who plotted evil against the LORD,
A wicked counselor.

We are going to look at why God is angry with Nineveh at this particular point in time, and it has a lot to do with what is said in verse 11. Should be interesting.

Refugees in Africa

I was reading an article in Christianity Today that was extremely encouraging.

It was about the problems in Chad, the church and many how some refugees are dealing with the chaos.

There are some great pictures and stories and I thought I would share with folks who read the blog.

New Book by Tim Keller

Hey folks!

Pete a church planter in WA alerted me to this on his blog. Tim Keller has a new book out entitled The Reason for God. There is a website with information you should check out.

I think I am going to order the book, it looks interesting and worthwhile to read. He will be in Boston next week if you want to to meet him in person.

Done!

With some help from my neighbors, our remodeling project is done! Whooo Hooo!

New =>

Sermon Text: Nahum 1:2-6

Nah. 1:2 A jealous and avenging God is the LORD;
The LORD is avenging and wrathful.
The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies.
Nah. 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.
In whirlwind and storm is His way,
And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
Nah. 1:4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
He dries up all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither;
The blossoms of Lebanon wither.
Nah. 1:5 Mountains quake because of Him
And the hills dissolve;
Indeed the earth is upheaved by His presence,
The world and all the inhabitants in it.
Nah. 1:6 Who can stand before His indignation?
Who can endure the burning of His anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire
And the rocks are broken up by Him.


The Sermon Title is The Terror of God's Judgment. Yes, we start out with a bang. Nahum gives us a stark picture of God's Power & Wrath.

Follow up on Christians & Muslim Letters

I mentioned earlier in January about 2 letters that are being circulated between Muslims and Christians. A good idea for sure, but not everyone is thrilled with the wording and intent of the Christian Response.

Al Mohler & John Piper have expressed concern over the Christian Response and it has caused some folks to back away from the letter.

To read the details, click on this link.

Sermon: Intro to Nahum (Part 2)

Like I said earlier, my blogging would suffer while I work on the bathroom. It is coming along, not done, but getting there. Should be working in a week or so.

As the title suggests, we are dividing up the introduction of Nahum. A short book, but little is known about it, or the author. So I am taking my time and hoping to make it interesting. From what I heard on Sunday from church folks, so far so good.

If you have not figured this out, sermons from Christ Presbyterian can be found at this link if you want to hear more.