Tony Blair, Yale University & Faith

I had heard about this for sometime, but was reminded of it this morning in a recent interview by the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair about his Faith Foundation.

Tony Blair made an interesting statement in his interview, globalization is forcing everyone to live closer together. And that means that the various faiths that make up our world are also having more interaction than ever before. I think there is some truth to this, and although I may not agree with some of the premises behind Blair's foundation I think he is right about the role of globalization and world religions.

If I was just a bit closer, I would be interested in taking his class at Yale this fall on Faith & Globalization. I think it would be very interesting.

Click here to read an article on the subject.

SNL: Church, H.S., Prayer & the Bible

In being a leader, it is important that people have a strong spiritual foundation. In the DVD Series, Christianity Explored, they make the point that these 4 elements, the Church, the role of the Holy Spirit, Prayer and the Bible are extremely important for the Christian.

We will be watch an excerpt from CE, as well as discuss these 4 elements. I think it will be time well spent. Join us Sunday Night, at 6:30 pm.

Introduction to the Book of Psalms

True or False?

The psalms are organized in a particular manner or are randomly put together in the collection. True/False?

There are different versions of the Book of Psalms. True/False?

The Book of Psalms and the Torah have a special connection. True/False?

There are 2 psalms that are identical. True/False?

The Majority of Psalms are Lament Psalms. True/False?

We are going to look at all the Psalms this summer. True/False?

The last answer is false, that would be like riding a rocketship this summer to get through all the Psalms in 3 months.

For all the answers to these questions and more, come and join us Sunday!

Warren, Driscoll & Keller chatting about church

Boy, would I like to be in on this meeting!

sounds very interesting....

Click Here to read the article.

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.

SNL Topic: Leadership => Choosing & Qualities

Last Sunday Night Live ( SNL) we began our first 10 week course on Leadership.

Over the next year, we will have 5 of these 10 week courses. All focused on developing and preparing to ordain elders and deacons for ministry at CPC. We had a good start last Sunday, and we meet again at the church office at 6:30 pm this coming Sunday.

The topic, to finish the lecture and seminar on Leadership Qualities and how to choose a Leader. The folks last week found it interesting, come check it out!

Prayer for Myanmar

Just want to encourage folks to be praying for the people who have been devastated by the cyclone in SE Asia.

The PCA is getting ready to respond, go to this link for more information.

Sermon Text: Nahum 3:8-13

Nah. 3:8 Are you better than No-amon,
Which was situated by the waters of the Nile,
With water surrounding her,
Whose rampart was the sea,
Whose wall consisted of the sea?
Nah. 3:9 Ethiopia was her might,
And Egypt too, without limits.
Put and Lubim were among her helpers.
Nah. 3:10 Yet she became an exile,
She went into captivity;
Also her small children were dashed to pieces
At the head of every street;
They cast lots for her honorable men,
And all her great men were bound with fetters.
Nah. 3:11 You too will become drunk,
You will be hidden.
You too will search for a refuge from the enemy.
Nah. 3:12 All your fortifications are fig trees with ripe fruit—
When shaken, they fall into the eater’s mouth.
Nah. 3:13 Behold, your people are women in your midst!
The gates of your land are opened wide to your enemies;
Fire consumes your gate bars.

Sermon Text: Nahum 3:1-7

Nah. 3:1 Woe to the bloody city, completely full of lies and pillage;
Her prey never departs.
Nah. 3:2 The noise of the whip,
The noise of the rattling of the wheel,
Galloping horses
And bounding chariots!
Nah. 3:3 Horsemen charging,
Swords flashing, spears gleaming,
Many slain, a mass of corpses,
And countless dead bodies—
They stumble over the dead bodies!
Nah. 3:4 All because of the many harlotries of the harlot,
The charming one, the mistress of sorceries,
Who sells nations by her harlotries
And families by her sorceries.
Nah. 3:5 “Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of hosts;
“And I will lift up your skirts over your face,
And show to the nations your nakedness
And to the kingdoms your disgrace.
Nah. 3:6 “I will throw filth on you
And make you vile,
And set you up as a spectacle.
Nah. 3:7 “And it will come about that all who see you
Will shrink from you and say,
‘Nineveh is devastated!
Who will grieve for her?’
Where will I seek comforters for you?”