Elasticitate eclesiastica

Pentru ordinarea lui Samuel Clintoc am fost in Austin, Tx, la Hyde Park Baptist Church.

Aceasta nu este o biserica obisnuita. Viata ei ilustreaza adaptabilitatea unei biserici crestine la tranzitia rapida din cultura contemporana.

Va invit sa vizitati site-ul acestei biserici americane si sa ne gandim ce am putea invata impreuna din ceea ce se intampla acolo.Hide Park Baptist Church

Hyde Park is a warm, friendly church where you are welcome.  We have multiple services with a consistent biblical message and multiple worship styles.  We would love to welcome you to any of them.

De pe o alta pagina a site-ului aflam:

At Hyde Park Baptist Church we recognize there are personal preferences in worship.  To that end we offer four choices for Sunday morning worship and one Sunday evening service.

 

Traditions – 8:30am, Worship Center

Our “Traditions” service combines the great hymns of the faith led by Fred McNab and a variety of chiors and ensembles, with the strong traditions of worship and the dynamic preaching of our pastor, Dr. J. Kie Bowman.

 

 

Praise & Worship – 8:30am, Chapel

Join Stephen Magyar and the band for “Praise & Worship” which includes the best of today’s praise music in a technologically enhanced worship service.  Our pastor,
Dr. J. Kie Bowman delivers a powerful message each week by way of the video venue.

 

 

Quarries Church – 9:30am, Quarries Gym

Our newest service, “The Quarries Church” located out at our Quarries Athletic complex, brings together Stephen Magyar and the band with a contemporary Christian style of worship in a relaxed atmosphere.  Dr. J. Kie Bowman follows with a challenging word for the day!

 

 

Blended – 11:00am, Worship Center

If you enjoy the best of today’s praise music combined with great hymns, then try our “Blended” service.  This service features our Exaltation Choir & Orchestra under the direction of Fred McNab and the inspiring messages of our pastor, Dr. J. Kie Bowman.

 

 

Evening Worship – 6:00pm Worship Center

Our “Evening” service affords the opportunity for a more relaxed, intimate atmosphere of worship, prayer and Bible study.  Join Fred McNab and the Connection Praise Team as they lead in music and our pastor, Dr. J. Kie Bowman as he delivers a fresh word from God.

 

 

Stiu ca in bisericile romane din tara si strainatate exista multa frictiune din cauza imbratisarii unui numit aspect de inchinaciune in detrimentul altora. Ce parerere aveti despre abilitatea acestei grupari de a „accepta“ diferentele si de a le folosi pentru integrarea oamenilor din diferite categorii in aceeasi biserica locala? Ar fi bine sau nu ar fi bine sa fim si noi asa? Ar fi posibil ca o biserica romana sa aiba aceeasi elasticictate ?!

Preocupare laudabila

Scolastica Evul Mediu si incapatanarea hainelor latine ale documentelor Renasteri au incuiat afara din discursul public masele largi pentru care murise Christos. Reforma a fost pasionata de „mantuire“ si de proiectarea adevarului spre sufletele celor multi. Raman uimit sa observ aceleasi distinctii si in lumea academica a teologilor de azi.

 

Wrapping it in humanist poetry, Melanchthon expressed what to him was the
central goal of his work in the Reformation: simple exposition of Christ’s teaching in
“life and morals” for the sake of the ignorant in the church. He contrasted this sharply
to the linguistic legerdemain and posturing he found around him.

Whether he was thinking of the commentaries of medieval scholastics or of the obscure but pleasant
paraphrases of humanist contemporaries makes no difference. His central criteria
for judging his own work and others’ from any age were its usefulness and clarity.

Turneu European

Pe urmele fratelui Petru Popovici, Madrid si Roma:

http://rbabiserici.blogspot.com/

 

Cacealmaua climatica

Pretending climate email leak isn't crisis won't make it go away...
Impression left is global warming game has been rigged from start...
AUSTRALIA: Five MPs lead the way by resigning in disgust over carbon tax...

To Ring or Not to Ring ? – That Is the Question !

Al treilea articol de la Nelu Gug

I’m one of those guys who likes technology. I don’t understand it, but I like it. I don’t know how my GPS system works in my car, but as a directionally dysfunctional person, I’m grateful that it knows where I am and where I’m headed.

I don’t understand electricity, but I’m grateful it works when I turn the switch on. I don’t understand how a black cow can eat green grass and give white milk, but I drink it. I don’t have a clue about my computer so I have to get Brian Kelley to fix it, explain it, load it or throw it away for me. I can’t understand the technical manuals, and I don’t intend to start trying at this point in my life.

I don’t understand how we can have so many cell phones and the satellites can find us wherever we are on the planet. I like having a cell phone. I liked the fact that our kids were never out of contact with us when they were out at night. If it was getting close to curfew and they were running late, there was no excuse. They could call and let us know. No need for a quarter, just use your cell phone.

I like the convenience. I like being able to call my kids when they are traveling on the road to make sure they are okay. I like the idea of the cell phones for kids that allow them to call four numbers in case of an emergency. I’m not sure why kids need cell phones just to yak and chat. To me, the purpose of a cell phone is for the parents to stay connected with their kids, not for the kids to stay connected with every person on the planet.

I remember John Maxwell saying one time that he doesn’t carry a cell phone. He said, “When I’m important, I might get one.” I think he was trying to tell us something, but we were all talking on our cell phones and missed the point.

I have been in many restaurants that have a no smoking AND no cell phone policy. Apparently they believe that talking on a cell phone in a public restaurant is rude. I watch every week as teenagers use their cell phones in church to send text messages—sometimes even to another student in the service. It’s distracting to me and to those around them.

On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., I noticed something that got my attention. Every lawyer in D.C. has a cell phone, and they are always on them. Most of them have a cell phone, a BlackBerry and a dozen other gizmos that I have no clue how to work.

But that’s not what I noticed. What I noticed was every place of significancethat we went to had a ‘no cell phone’ or ‘turn off your cell phone’ policy. When we visited Ford’s Theater, we were asked by the tour guide to turn off our cell phones because this was a national monument, and we needed to preserve the dignity of the site. We needed to remember the significance of the assassination of Lincoln and its impact on our nation.

When we visited the National Archives, which house the Declaration of Independence, The Magna Carta, The Bill of Rights and the Constitution, we were told to turn off our cell phones. We were told we would be asked to leave if our cell phones went off. It was very clear that we were in a place of significance. We were in a room that contained the documents of our freedom. Everything about that room gave evidence to the freedom we had been given by those who fought and died for our liberty. The viewing of the old parchments was more important than any call we would get at the time.

When we visited Arlington Cemetery, the sign said clearly, ‘This is hallowed ground.’ We were told to turn off all cell phones—no cell phones under any circumstances, not even on vibrate, so as to show respect for the dead. At the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the guard stepped off the mat and said there was to be absolute silence. They take seriously respect for the dead at Arlington. Even when you are walking up the long, steep hill, you are expected to talk in whispers. No laughing, running or yelling. No matter how long we were there, no matter what was going on in the world, we were expected to turn off our cell phones.

When we visited the Holocaust Museum, we were told to turn off our cell phones. They didn’t ask us to put them on vibrate, they said turn them off. They expected us, for the next two hours, to show respect for those who lost their lives because of a brutal tyrant who hated Jews and Christians.

When I went to the Capitol that day for a meeting with two congressmen, I was asked to turn off my cell phone. Although I was waiting for an hour until the meeting, it was not a time for me to chat on my phone. I wasn’t even to send text messages. I was to sit and wait. It was an act of respect for the place I was in, the Capitol of the United States of America.

Cell phones have become the ‘kids talking in the balcony during the service’ of the 21st century. Remember when the preacher would stop his message and call down a couple of kids or teenagers in the balcony who were cutting up? Those were the days before we wore our feelings on our sleeves. Those were the days when the preacher called you down and your daddy tore you up when you got home.

Today, every church and every pastor in America is dealing with the issue of cell phones. Either out of forgetfulness or carelessness, people have their cell phones on in worship services. Let’s think about this.

At Arlington, the Capitol, the Holocaust Museum and Ford’s Theater, we were told to turn them off (not set them on vibrate) out of respect for the dead, in remembrance of those who have paid the price for us, to honor the sacred documents of our land and because we were on hallowed ground. Does any of that have a correlation to church? You bet.

When we gather in the Lord’s house, we gather to remember and worship the One who died for us. His death gave us a freedom greater than our freedom as Americans. I owe Him respect. In worship, we remember the price paid for us by our Lord. He is worthy of our undivided attention. It might do the body well to remember the Head is more important than that piece of technology we hold in our hands. His documents, the Holy Bible, are the only words that will stand for all eternity. The documents of American history will one day be forgotten. His Word will stand forever. When we gather together to honor the Lord, we are on hallowed ground. Maybe we should forget ‘vibrate’ and focus on vibrant worship. Maybe we should stop text messaging in church and focus on the text for the day. That is, if we have as much respect for the Lord God of heaven as we are told to have for our nation’s capital.

Caderea in ritual

Saptamana trecuta, la Portland, am primit aceasta carte in dar de la autorul ei. Am pierdut “o bucata de noapte” cand am ajuns acasa. Este o lectura densa, cu un continut care merita pus in mai multe volume. M-am bucurat sa o vad apreciata si de altii. Iata ce am gasit (aici)

Motto: „Diferenţa dintre acţiune şi ritual este enorm de mare.”

Ca de fiecare dată, cărţile scrise de Iosif Ţon nu dezamăgesc aşteptările celui care le citeşte, ci dimpotrivă, depăşesc cu mult ceea se poate presupune, citind doar titlul. Din acest punct de vedere, talentul lui Iosif Ţon este de a transmite într-un limbaj facil, uşor de înţeles, concepte deosebit de profunde şi chiar principii de teologie care în mod normal, nu sunt simplu de prezentat.

Astfel, prin intermediul volumului „Căderea în ritual”, avem ocazia de a identifica în mod clar, unul dintre pericolele majore ce pândeşte creştinismul contemporan, şi anume ritualismul. Acest fenomen periculos nu se restrânge doar la o grupare religioasă sau alta, ci se poate manifesta ori de câte ori oamenii pierd relaţia personală cu Dumnezeu. În acelaşi timp, cartea lui Iosif Ţon, „Căderea în ritual” este axată în mod deosebit, pe specificul cultural şi spiritual românesc. Într-o manieră de excepţie şi într-o mare măsură originală, autorul ne deschide perspectiva înţelegerii spiritualităţii creştine româneşti de la începuturi până azi.

Ultima actualizare ( Luni, 23 Noiembrie 2009 18:57 )

Zip My Lips

Al doilea mesaj de la Nelu Gug

Can you keep a secret? The longer I live, the more I realize the scarcity of persons who can be trusted with confidential information. Whether in government (an unnamed White House source) or the church, people love to talk.
R.G. Lee said, “A lie travels around the world while truth is putting on its boots.” We are more willing to spread a rumor than spread the gospel.
The story is told of a man who saw an old acquaintance. He said, “I heard you were dead.” The other replied, “You’ve got the wrong information, as you can see, I’m very much alive.” The man said, “I don’t know, I heard it from a reliable source.”
Let’s be honest, gossiping is fun until you are the subject. We have an insatiable appetite for gossip. National Enquirer has the largest circulation of any paper in America.
The New Testament identifies three types of gossips. The first is the busybody. 2 Thessalonians 3:11, “…doing no work at all, but acting as busybodies.” These persons delight in gathering and spreading information. Facts are irrelevant.
Second, you have the whisperer, the person who says, “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but…” In Romans we read, “being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God.” Funny, Paul says if you gossip or slander you hate God.
Thirdly, the slanderer; this person damages another’s reputation. The Greek word for slander is “diabolos.” It’s the same word for Satan or the devil. (see 1 Timothy 3:11 and Titus 2:3).
When we became believers we gave up the “big” sins like stealing, drinking, cheating, drugs and fornication. Unfortunately, we picked up what we call “little” sins like gossip. In Proverbs 8 God says, “…the perverted mouth I hate.” In Leviticus 19:16 we read, “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people.”
Let’s get God-honest. Our tongues do more running than our feet. We love to talk. We want to know what’s going on. I’ve never heard positive gossip. Gossip is cheap, cowardly, ungodly entertainment.
I heard it through the grapevine was a popular song in the 60s. I suggest it’s time the church prune that vine. We are one of the few fortunate churches where such talk is rare. When it raises its head, for any reason, it’s a signal of Satanic activity.
I have discovered a 100% sure fire method to eliminate gossip. All you have to do is ask the question, “Can I quote you on this?” Or, you can ask, “Who told you this?” You are wasting your time when you listen to “I heard” and “They said.” The epistle of James tells us that one of the major signs of spirituality is the ability to control your tongue. If you can’t, you aren’t spiritual!
Would you pass a tongue test? Okay, open your mouth and say, “Ahh.” Your tongue is evidence of the condition of your heart. It is the exit door of the heart. A disciplined tongue is evidence of spiritual maturity. Suppression is not the same as transformation. You heard about the lady who came to lay her tongue on the altar? The pastor said the altar wasn’t big enough!
Our tongues are to be vehicles of grace. Our lips are to speak righteousness. Our conversations are to be seasoned with salt and full of grace. Of all people, George Harrison, the former Beatle, has written a song entitled, “Devil’s Radio.” The words are, “I heard it in the night, Words the thoughtless speak, Like vultures in the night, On the Devil’s Radio. I heard it through the day, Airwaves getting filled, With gossip forecast to-and-fro on the Devil’s Radio.”
In Matthew 12:36 our Lord said, “every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgement.” Every time we open our mouths, pick up the phone, or even listen to gossip, we are making a choice. In that choice we bless God or grieve Him.
A trip through Proverbs might lead to personal and corporate revival. Royal families make their personal servants sign oaths never to reveal what goes on in private quarters. If we, as Christians, are members of a royal priesthood, shouldn’t we apply even higher standards to the way we speak?
PROFOUND THOUGHT… “Be sure that your lips in public are compatible with your lips in private prayer to God.” – Don Miller

Why Would Anyone Want to Be Normal ?

Nelu Gug mi-a trimis o serie de mesaje pe care le transform acum in posturi. Sper sa va foloseasca la fel de mult ca si mie.

What is normal? “The norm” these days seems to have taken some strange turns. To quote an old car commercial, “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” Everything seems to be changing. What used to be wrong is now right. Things that once made us blush are “normal” conversation.

Matters that were never discussed from pulpits, like sex, marriage difficulties, divorce, abuse and abortion, are now sermons series. Issues and lifestyles once spoken of only in whispers are now shouted from the streets and paraded on national television. It makes you wonder—is anybody normal these days?

Well, here’s a little stat sheet on “normal” Americans. Look it over and see if you rate as a normal person.

· 30% of us can flare our nostrils. (Is that for show or when you are steamed?)

· 91% of us lie regularly. (If Satan is the Father of Lies, he’s got a lot of children.)

· 82% believe in an afterlife. Everybody who believes in heaven isn’t going to make it. Truth is, 100% of us will experience an afterlife, heaven or hell. It all depends on what you do with Jesus Christ.

· 13% have spent a night in jail. Should we add this as a question to our deacon survey? Of course, everyone in jail claims, “I didn’t do it.”

· 29% are virgins when we marry. If we can get the message of “True Love Waits” and the biblical principles of abstinence across to our teens, that number should go up. 29% is below “the norm,” but that 29% is right.

· 35% give to charity at least once a month. Looking at most church budgets, this percentage may be a little high. If the membership of the average church gave 10% and their medium income was $12,000 a year, they would oversubscribe their budget every year. normal in America is to rob God and hoard for self.

· Snickers is the most popular candy bar. That’s because most Americans have never tasted a Butternut.

· 30% refuse to sit on a public toilet seat. Is there a cleaning person in the house?

· 39% of us peek in our host’s bathroom cabinet. Of course, we have a hidden camera in our bathroom, so we know who’s peeking.

· 81.3% would tell an acquaintance to zip his pants. In a non-related survey, only 3% would tell a gossip to zip their lips.

· 29% of us ignore RSVP. But we all read the Publisher’s Clearing House “You are a winner…” letters.

· 71.6% of us eavesdrop. What did you say? Could you please speak up? I’m having a little trouble getting my misconceptions of the conversation straight for repeating it to others who have no business knowing this either.

· 44% reuse tinfoil. Does that include all of the spearmint gum wrappers?

· 57% save pretty gift paper to reuse. I’ll bet a higher percentage save those expensive gift bags we buy because we’re too lazy to wrap a present.

· 53% read their horoscopes regularly. They should be called horror scopes. It’s frightening to think how many people set the course of their days by the stars instead of the Son.

· 59% of us say we’re average looking. If this is the case, there’s a definite need for new and improved mirrors.

· 40% have married their first loves. It may be puppy love, but it’s real to the puppy.

· 20% of men proposed on their knees. If the survey had been more specific, the percentage would have been higher. Those who were on their knees when daddy caught them with their daughter and held a shotgun to their head would raise the percentage substantially.

· 6% proposed over the phone. With the internet, we’ve got people leaving their spouses for someone they met in a chat room. What’s that all about? This is worse than any blind date one could imaging.

· 80% sing in the car. And thank God they leave it in the car. Thank God for air conditioning and rolled-up windows. Thank God for improved sound-proofing. Be grateful—some things are better left unheard.

Unfortunately, the normal Christian is abnormal when it comes to the Word. The normal Christian doesn’t read the Word, spends little time in prayer, rarely shares their faith, does not take the commandments of God seriously on their job and in their family and would fail a basic Bible test. This is a sad commentary on the faith men once died for. Today, we fall asleep hearing about it. No wonder the normal American is a hell-bound pagan.

The normal Christian has failed to live up to what the Bible would call normal. Biblical normality is a person who is Spirit-filled, bears the fruit of the Spirit, loves God with all his heart and his neighbor as himself, is a faithful witness, is a quick repenter and is pursuing holiness.

Motivatie membrala

Cine merge la o biserica pentru un anumit stil de muzica sta acolo in medie 2 ani.

Cine merge la o biserica pentru un anumit predicator sta acolo in medie 5 ani.

Cine merge la o anumita biserica pentru a sluji ramane acolo toata viata.

Religious Leaders Call for Civil Disobedience if Laws Don’t Respect Faith

Saturday, November 21, 2009 2:52 PM

A formidable coalition of 150 Catholic, Orthodox and evangelical leaders are calling on Christians in a new manifesto to reject secular authority – and even engage in civil disobedience – if laws force them to accept abortion, same-sex marriage and other ideas that betray their religious beliefs. On Friday, these leaders released a 4,700-word document – called the “The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience.” The document was signed by leaders ranging from evangelical leader Chuck Colson to two of the leading Catholic prelates in the U.S., Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C. and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, and calls on Christians to engage in civil disobedience to defend their doctrines. (restul aici)