Update on Persecution of Churches in New York City

Matt Huffman sent me the following link with an update on the situation in NYC between churches and city property. You may remember hearing about the city’s decision sometime last year to no longer allow churches to meet in public schools. A lower court upheld the decision and the US Supreme Court refused to hear the case on December 5th. This will take effect in mid-February.
Shortly after the Dec. 5th decision, the NYC Housing authority, which provides space to many churches in community rooms of housing projects, decided to no longer allow churches to meet in its spaces either.
Throughout this process, many pastors have been arrested for protesting this injustice, and churches have united in prayer. Let’s join them and pray for the freedom of the gospel witness and for the hearts of the mayor of NYC and other officials to be changed.
Here’s the link:

http://www.nycreligion.info/?p=4058

sdg

Great article on Transforming Culture through the Family

Here is a very thought provoking article on the potential of a family-centered society as a transformative agent of the gospel. It touches on theology, economics and our calling as Christians and as image-bearers of God.
Read it and let me know what you think!

http://www.reformation21.org/articles/oikos-a-case-for-reviving-the-household-economy.php

sdg

Rick Reilly gets Tebowed

Here’s the best article I’ve read on Tim Tebow, written by the 11 time sportswriter of the year, Rick Reilly. A testimony to the power of a consecrated life.

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7455943/believing-tim-tebow

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Article on Refugee Moratrium and the Election

Here we are, folks…Primary Day at last!
Hope you all are voting somewhere for someone.
Here’s an article that Bresca Gagnon spotted about Ted Gatsas trying to win support for a moratorium on new refugees from Mitt Romney, the republican frontrunner.
Let me know your thoughts on the moratorium in the comments section. Here’s the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/hampshire-mayor-hopes-romney-help-him-reject-refugees-203457211.html

sdg

Great article on sharing the gospel with our families

Here’s a good article on that most difficult topic, evangelism to those who know us best–our family. Some great ideas from a book by Randy Newman.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/ten-ways-to-bring-the-gospel-home-this-christmas

sdg
Merry Christmas!

Is God on Tim Tebow’s side?

There’s a great article on the Gospel Coalition website about Tim Tebow, John Calvin and God’s providence (even) in the realm of professional sports. It’s amazing how many sports pundits are debating the Christian faith of this young man and whether or not God is involved in the dramatic late game comebacks he has been at the center of the past several weeks. Here’s the article:

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/12/13/tebow-calvin-and-the-hand-of-god-in-sports/

A great opportunity for gospel conversations!
sdg

Great video on consumerism and what to do about it

Want to guess how much Americans spend on Christmas each year?
Take a stab at it and then watch this video…

sdg

NY Times Article on Refugee Resettlement Moratorium

Here is an article in the NY Times about Mayor Gatsas’ demands for a temporary stop to new arrivals of refugees in Manchester. What do you think the biblical response is to this issue? We are to accept the alien and foreigner, but at the same time we are to ensure that they can be protected and provide for themselves. Here’s the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/26/us/manchester-new-hampshire-seeks-halt-in-refugee-resettlement.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&emc=eta1

sdeg

Musicians for a Cause

I attended the annual fundraising breakfast for New Horizons for New Hampshire, Manchester’s main shelter/soup kitchen/food pantry. While there, I heard this song by a woman named Angel Smythe through an organization called “Musicians for a Cause.” They are trying to bring attention to homelessness through music. I noticed the biblical allusions in her song, and was reminded how mercy is a bridge to the gospel not primarily to get people to listen, but to point them to the desire deep in the human heart to help others in need. Here’s the link to her song:

http://angelindisguise.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=456390

Happy Thanksgiving, and if you have an opportunity to help New Horizons provide Thanksgiving meals, take it.
sdg

Amazing story on Martin Rinkart…Thanksgiving!

German pastor Martin Rinkart served in the walled town of Eilenburg during the horrors of the Thirty Years War of 1618-1648. Eilenburg became an overcrowded refuge for the surrounding area. The fugitives suffered from epidemic and famine. At the beginning of 1637, the year of the Great Pestilence, there were four ministers in Eilenburg. But one abandoned his post for healthier areas and could not be persuaded to return. Pastor Rinkhart officiated at the funerals of the other two. As the only pastor left, he often conducted services for as many as 40 to 50 persons a day – some 4,480 in all. In May of that year, his own wife died. By the end of the year, the refugees had to be buried in trenches without services. Yet living in a world dominated by death, Pastor Rinkart wrote the following prayer for his children to offer to the Lord:

Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom this world rejoices.
Who, from our mother’s arms,
Hath led us on our way,
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

Copyright 2000 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity

Harry Genet
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