'Accelerating Driven Christians in the Racing Capital of the World'
'Indy Timeline' of Upcoming Events
CURRENT TWITTERSTREAMS YOU MIGHT ENJOY...
#Indy #Prayer #UBcafe #Jobs #Bible #CCDA @ICG #Twurch
#CityReaching #Creation #Evolution #FF (FollowFriday)
#DigitalDisciples #ProLife #IndySM #Reformed #Racing
DrivenChristians @ICTV
Breaking News... Terri Schiavo Dies...
Breaking news from the Eyewitness News team: Terry Shiavo dies. The attorney for Terri Shiavo's husband says the brain-damaged woman has died. Keep up with this story on
WTHR.com and watch
Eyewitness News as more details develop.
*******************
In a Schiavo-related article this morning in the Indianapolis Star:
"Nearly half of all Hoosiers agree with a Florida judge's decision to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube, according to an Indianapolis Star/WTHR (Channel 13) poll of Indiana residents completed this week." [
continue at IndyStar.com]
[Sigh. Admittedly a tough issue. But thankfully, the percentage of Hoosiers who believe that we should err on the side of 'life'... is higher here than the national average (38% vs. 31%), according to recent national polls. While these are only 'opinions', here's an article from a whole different perspective... a first-hand account.]"Add me to the list of poster adults for not pulling the plug. Yet from my new perspective, the sanctity of life versus the dignity of life still seems complex.""I remember Tim holding one of my hands, a neurologist the other, and telling me to squeeze their hands. Unable to do so or to speak, I felt my brain screaming, "Why can't I do this?"[
continue reading "While I Was Sleeping" at ChristianityToday.com]
Reminder: RSVP's needed re Tibbels Event
[via email from the Sagamore Institute -- formerly Hudson Institute. Because of security, RSVP's are required by April 1st for the breakfast event.]
The Sagamore Institute for Policy Research cordially invites you to a Breakfast Briefing oncommunity redevelopment and revitalization featuring Allan and Susan Tibbels, New Song Urban Ministries.
Allan and Susan Tibbels are founders of New Song Urban Ministries, a community-based “ministry of ministries” that takes a multi-dimensional, holistic approach to neighborhood development. Since1988, New Song has focused its revitalization efforts on Sandtown-Winchester in West Baltimore, Maryland, where the Tibbels have brought together a vast array of programs and opportunities that notonly revitalize neighborhoods, but also empower those who live in Sandtown.Thanks to hard work and creative leadership, New Song is partneringwith foundations, churches, corporations, colleges, civic groups, theCity of Baltimore, and the State of Maryland. Among the programs thatoperate under the New Song umbrella are a Habitat for Humanity branch, placement center, an arts program, the New Song Family Health ServicesCenter, and the New Song Community Church (planted by the Tibbels).The New Song team has built or rebuilt one-third of the houses in Sandtown, trained and placed hundreds of workers, and transformed the Sandtown environment into a place of hope. But Sandtown is more than just a ministry for the Tibbels—it’s also their home. New Song Urban Ministries has been honored by the Anne E. Casey Foundation and featured in national publications such as U.S. News & World Report, TheBaltimore Sun, and Habitat World.
To find out more about New Song,visit
www.nsum.org.We hope you will join us on April 5 to hear more about Sandtown andwhat Indianapolis can learn from New Song’s community developmentsuccess story.
Please RSVP to: events@sipr.org by April 1 (acceptances only).Call Pat Hasselblad at 317-472-2050 (ext. 303) with any questions.8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.April 5, 2005 Kite Conference Center30 South Meridian StreetIndianapolis, Indiana
SIPR’s Breakfast Briefings seek to inform civic, community, business,and government leaders about innovative programs and the people behindthem—in Indiana, across the country, and around the world."
*************************************
The Tibbels will also be our guest speaker at the
Transform Indiana lunchtime meeting at the
Unleavened Bread Cafe --
No RSVP needed for that meeting.
Faith Leaders Round-table Discussion...
[The following email came from our friend, Emerson Allen, Faith-based Coordinator, City of Indianapolis.]Round-Table Discussions For Faith Leaders
Will Focus on Firearm Violence and Suicide Prevention.
Please join expert facilitators and other faith leaders on Tuesday, May 31 at Christian Theological Seminary for round-table discussions related to suicide and firearm violence.
Discussion topics include: mental illness and the link to suicide, theological perspectives on suicide, issues for survivors of suicide, gang violence, crisis intervention information, and adolescent issues associated with suicide.
The round-table discussions are designed to provide experts in the topic areas to facilitate group discussions and interaction. Faith leaders, both clergy and lay, of all faith traditions will have the opportunity to attend three different round-table discussions.
The meeting begins at 8:30 am and adjourns at 2:30 pm. Dr. Kenneth Ackles, Sr., Marion County Coroner and John Linehan, Chief Deputy Coroner of Marion County will present the morning keynote address. Afternoon Keynote and a hot lunch will be served and the meeting and lunch is free of charge; however registration is required.
CEU contact hours will be provided for $5 for those who are interested in obtaining them.
Please contact Lori Lovett at the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence at Riley Hospital for Children by phone at 317-278-0945 or by email at
llovett@iupui.edu to register or for more information.
The meeting is sponsored by the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence, Riley Hospital for Children, Christian Theological Seminary, and NAMI Indianapolis. Financial support is provided by Clarian Health Partners.
"Be Free Indeed"... Training April 1st
CALLING ALL PASTORS
You are cordially invited to join a special event focusing on the impact of tobacco influence on the African American community
“BE FREE INDEED”
Protect Your Temple From Tobacco
Faith Based Toolkit Training
Friday, April 1, 2005
8:00 am to 1:00 pm
@
Eastern Star Church5750 East 30th Street
(Continental Breakfast & Lunch provided)
Please RSVP to: (317) 925-2702 ext:45
Sponsored by: Eastern Star Church, Indiana Black Expo, Inc. National African American Tobacco Education Network, & Smokefree Indiana
"Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God and you are not your own."
I Corinthians 6:19
God in the NASCAR...
"On any given Sunday, drivers pray before they take to the track."
"California Speedway - On any given Sunday morning during race season, it is not uncommon to see the likes of Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon and #6 Viagra driver Mark Martin repeating these words from the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty.”
"They may be at the racetrack, but it is Sunday morning, and that means setting aside time for worship, prayer, and meditation on the Word of God."
[
continued at MSNBC.msn]
[hat-tip, Micah Clark, AFA-Indiana]
Dobson re Schiavo... Tonight on Scarborough Country
Tuesday, 10 p.m. ETFocus on the Family founder James Dobson tells Joe Scarborough what his group is doing to keep Terri Schiavo alive. [
continue]
[
again, hat-tip Micah!]
'Emergent' Church?
Bill Bean helps us with the term 'Emergent Church'... (or not).
[
continued at "Unnecessary Pastor"]
Hoosiers mourn fallen sons
"The most important thing in Brett's life was God..."[
continued at IndyStar.com]
Helping Neighbors...
[Some more of our friends from the
Unleavened Bread Cafe are in the news. This is a great ministry -- hope you'll get to know them... and many more like them doing various types of '
Christian Community Development' here in Indy. God bless you all.]
[And God bless you too, Russ. Great article!]
Russ Pulliam, photo, IndyStar"Chris Provence moved to the poverty-stricken neighborhood for convenient access to drugs. Now, he stays there to share the freedom he gained from drug addiction in 1998." [
continued at IndyStar.com]
[Visit
RebuildingTheWall.org]
[Also visit...
CCDAindy.org]
Barna: One in three adults are unchurched...
George Barna"During a typical month, six out of ten unchurched adults worship God (but not via church services); three out of ten study the Bible; and one out of every seven has times of prayer and Bible reading with family members. The religious media play a part in their spiritual life, too, with four out of ten absorbing Christian content through television, radio, magazines or faith-based websites during a typical month. In addition, one-quarter of them have conversations with one or more friends who held them accountable for carrying out their faith principles. "
"There have been some discernible shifts in the characteristics of the unchurched population over the past decade...." [
continue at Barna.org]
You aren't consistently good? Neither is anyone else.
[Excellent article from IndyStar.org]
Lori Borgman, photo, IndyStar.com "The waitress delivered a restaurant-grade cup, a pot of hot water and a lone tea bag. The wrapper around the tea bag made a bold claim --
"Consistently good!" Marvelous, I thought. Tea has accomplished a feat that has long eluded the human race. Eons ago, when Jimmy Carter was running for president and candid enough to admit that ..." [
continued]
[Also visit
LoriBorgman.com]
God's Word
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see hisoffspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 53:7-10 NIV
Terri's Life and Legal Battle Near End
"A wrenching dispute over the fate of Terri Schiavo neared its end on Sunday as the brain-damaged Florida woman moved closer to death and her parents gave up their long and bitter legal battle to prolong her life...."
[
continued at Reuters]
Elsewhere in Florida, Coral Ridge Ministries' Center for Reclaiming America is running this story...
"Michael Schiavo’s Attorney Helped to Fund Judge Greer Re-Election Campaign""As if the circumstances surrounding Terri Schiavo could not get any more suspicious, the Center for Reclaiming America has uncovered evidence that Pinellas-Pasco County Circuit Judge George W. Greer accepted a campaign contribution from the law firm of Michael Schiavo’s attorney only one day after “Terri’s Law” was declared unconstitutional by a Pinellas county court.... " [
continued at ReclaimAmerica.org]
The Scars of Easter...
"He knows the wounds of humanity. His hands prove it."
Isaac Newton said, "In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence."
[
continued at Christianity Today]
An Interview with Pontius Pilate: "What Is Truth?"
Interview by JerusalemChristian.comLast Friday...
Jesus: "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.
"Pilate: "What is truth?"
JerusalemChristian.com: Governor Pilate, thank you for agreeing to talk with us this morning. We understand the difficult position you were in yesterday.
Governor Pilate: You're welcome. Actually, I've rather been looking forward to talking with someone, now that the riot has died down. Yesterday was considerably disturbing to my wife and I. We still haven't slept a wink. Mysterious fellow, that Jesus. I still can't really understand what happened out there. Not really.
JerusalemChristian.com: We can only imagine what must have been going through your mind, Sir. Would you mind sharing your thoughts with us?
[
continued at JerusalemChristian.com]
Foretold...
"Who has believed what we have heard?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
[
continued at "Unnecessary Pastor"]
Bolsinger... on "Skipping Easter"...
[
continued]
[hat-tip, Bill Bean, Unnecessary Pastor]
Testimonies Out Of Mormonism...
by Dan & Agusta Harting, Families Against Cults
Dan:"I am not entirely certain that it is possible to give my testimony on how I came to know Jesus Christ. Even now I look back and ask with great wonder, "Why me Lord"? Why did Jesus Christ reach down into a world teeming with lost souls and lift me out of the muck and mire of sin? Why did He choose me to save instead of millions of other who were and are living a "better" life than I?" [
continued at DoYouKnowForSure.com]
Agusta:
"I was born in 1937 in Reykjavik, Iceland. My parents—though believing in the supernatural-were not “born from above” believers in Jesus Christ. Like most Icelanders, they were members of the National Lutheran Church of Iceland, a church which was already sliding toward total apostasy. My parents never attended church. I was “sprinkled” at 3 months by my Lutheran pastor grandfather, and then “confirmed” at age 14. I was given a Bible and a hymn book, but they became mere “knick-knacks” in my home." [
contined at DoYouKnowForSure.com]
[See other Indianapolis testimonies online... at
DoYouKnowForSure.com]
[
Learn more about Families Against Cults]
New Life Worship Center... To Traders Point...
"New Life, a predominantly black church, has reached a deal to buy the Northwestside facilities of Traders Point Christian Church, a predominantly white church that's moving to a site in Boone County."
"It's a win-win situation for the kingdom.""The deal announced recently is making this a special Easter season for both congregations. But the shuffling will cost a lot of money for both churches."
[
continue at IndyStar.com]
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Schiavo Case...
[
continued at Washington Times]
Indy Prayer Vigil for Terri Shiavo...
[excerpted from an email, without verification -- Contact for further info]"A Prayer Vigil has been hastily organized for 7 PM this evening at the Court House on Ohio and Meridian, to pray for Terri and her family. Please see if you can get the word around."
Collegiate missionary defines success...
photo, BP News"Jonathan Pettigrew doesn’t remember anything about his 100-foot fall down Cheyenne Canyon in December 2002. Instead, he relies on the accounts of friends who watched over his lifeless body during the two-hour wait for rescue personnel.
Now, less than three years since his near-fatal accident near Colorado Springs, Pettigrew often shares with college students the lessons he’s learned throughout his miraculous recovery.Pettigrew, Baptist Collegiate Ministry director at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, is a..." [
continue at Baptist Press]
Steps To 'Peace With God'...
One of our surfers just now emailed a note about the well done "
Steps To Peace With God', on the CBMC site mentioned in Eldon's feature article below. It's worth a look.
Terri's parents appeal latest ruling...
[
continued at LifeNews.com]
[
Indianapolis Star editorial: "Shiavo's life worth extraordinary effort"]
[
Also visit IndyStar.com for related coverage and local hospital comments.]
[Ed. note: The CNN/USA Today poll results cited by major news media seem to beg a central question of the debate. With 56% of opinions apparently concurring with the court, would any of us personally be willing to end her life, knowing she had no vote, her religion would not concur, and a substantial percentage of Americans (31%) would not want their life ended in such a case? Now worse, would any of us be willing to end her life on the vote of one relative... and he with apparent conflicts of interest? Must not a just & merciful society err on the side of preserving life in the case of a non-voting victim? What kind of people have we become?]
30 Minutes with Jim Weidmann and...
I'm blogging this from the Indiana State Library, Author's Room, (wireless, of course), among a significant collection of urban-driven pastors & innovative leaders here in Indianapolis. This morning's brunch is co-hosted by
National Day of Prayer - Indiana and
Crossroads Bible College.
We were warmly greeted by Paula Parker-Sawyers who shared some primary objectives of the Governor's new Office for Faith-based & Community Initiatives.
The morning's featured speaker is Jim Weidmann, NDP's Vice Chairman, Focus on the Family's Executive Cabinet member, author, and featured radio host of "Family Night Guy".
Jim Weidmann, NDPIt didn't take Jim long to get to the point -- prayer. He cited a recent
Barna Research report that only 3% of pastors cited prayer as one of their top priorities for 2005.
Nor did it take long for these gathered pastors to start praying together. In English. In Spanish. Black. White. Hispanic. All for the glory of our great God, and in the name of His self-sacrificing Son, Jesus.
You can become part of the
National Day of Prayer network here in Indiana, by connecting with NDP-IN.org. And then mark your calendar for May 5th -- this year's
NDP. And then 10days later, to be a part of the
Global Day of Prayer.
[
30 Minutes with Jim Weidmann, an interview at World Newspaper Publishing]
Adrian Warnock's UK Evangelical Blog: Building a Christian Blog community
Adrian Warnock's UK Evangelical Blog: Building a Christian Blog community -- Why is building a Christian blog community important? How would this be accomplished?
A Look at the Godcasting Phenomenon...
"Podcasting is creating a new form of wireless parson."[
continued at Wireless Coffee Blog]
Daunting Mission: Finding a Church...
[excerpts from Robert King's article today in the Indianapolis Star]
"For people moving into the area, choosing a church can be as important as finding the right house or choosing a good school for the kids. For some, the church may come before the house. But for those who simply have been away from church for a while, the approach of Easter will prompt them to look again for churches to visit. And some will even use next weekend's Easter services to test the waters for a possible long-term church commitment."
[
continued at IndyStar.com]
[Ed.Note: IndyChristian.com attempts to help 'driven Christians in the Racing Capital of the World' to get off to a good start in finding Bible-believing churches. Click your county in the RH navbar to get started. For those folks looking for such churches which tend to work together in practical ways, see CrossroadsConnection.com]
Shiavo Judge Quits Baptist Church...
[
House, Senate agree on compromise to help save Terri]
Shiavo Judge Quits Baptist ChurchLife News
"Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) -- The judge in the Terri Schaivo case who reissued an order Friday that prompted Terri's feeding tube to be removed for a third time has withdrawn his membership in a local Baptist Church."
"According to a St. Petersburg Times news report, Greer, earlier this month, said he told a church deacon,
"If I don't like what the St. Pete Times writes about me, my only recourse is to cancel my subscription." He told the deacon he would no longer make donations to the church."
[
continued at LifeNews.com]
[hat-tip, ProLifeBlogs.com]
Feeding-tube Removed. Attorney: "Terri Cried."
"An attorney for Terri Schiavo said the severely brain-injured woman cried and yelled out that she wants to live after being told today her life-sustaining feeding tube was about to be removed by court order."
[
continued at WorldNet Daily]
Yesterday's National City-Reaching Telecon...
One of the great ideas from the national conference call that our Transform Indiana Network could easily use in several of the metro areas here in Indiana, was... [
continued at Transform Indiana.com]
Video Blogging...
Too cute. [
continue at Superhua's blog]
Connecting the Puzzle Pieces
By Becki Jenkins, President/Director, Missionary Connection 
Over the years, working in various ministry capacities, I have wondered why Churches, ministries, faith groups and outreach initiatives do not unite. As a whole, we as the collective body of Christ tend to do our own things in our own buildings in our own little spaces and claimed geographical territories with little connection with our brothers and sisters locally, nationally or internationally. It seems that every new Church, ministry or faith based group that pops up recreates the wheel, by duplicating outreach initiatives and resources, all acting as if there are none of these resources already available in their communities and that their particular ministry is didactically unique and singular in relation to the outside world.
[
continue at Missionary Connection]
Internet Activist School...
How funny is this? "
Internet Activist School"
Remember When?
Remember when you were about to head out into 'life'... wondering if you really even wanted to go? Or even 'grow up'? And if so, how would it all work out for you? What to make of all these interviews? Will they pan out ok?
Here's your chance to get into the head of a young Christian experiencing what you probably experienced.
Offer a prayer or encouragement as you read... "
Jewel's Gems" today.
Catch of the Day.... 'formerlyROSIE'
There should be an award for 'Catch of the Day'.
If there were, today it would go to nationally-recognized Christian broadcaster/blogger Kevin McCullough for '
Blogs Hit Rock Bottom'.
"Purpose-Driven Life" Calms Atlanta Killer...
"ATLANTA (BP)--Ashley Smith, the Atlanta-area woman taken hostage by the subject of the largest manhunt in Georgia history March 12, calmed the alleged killer by reading an excerpt from "The Purpose-Driven Life" and talking with him about God. She escaped by persuading him to let her pick up her daughter from an AWANA children's program at a Southern Baptist church." [
continued at Baptist Press]
Also...
watch video of hostage relating some of her account.
Blogging & commenting on this story at World Magazine Blog. Your comments?More story links.
Christendom and the Matrix...
[video link]
Life is complicated. It's like you are born into a game that has been going on for a long time and you don't know what the rules are, or what the object of the game is. To make matters worse, nobody else seems to know either. Some people are adamant that they have it all figured out, but you don't have to talk to them too long to realize they have a long way to go. In our culture, most seem to have given up on anything like figuring out the game let alone winning it. One of the reasons I am a Christian is that the Bible's explanation of the game of life makes sense to me. I see it play out in reality. I have it work in the lives of people in virtually every culture on earth from India and China to the Middle East, from Europe to Africa, and obviously here in America.
Christianity gets a lot of bad press. Much of it is rooted in two sources. 1) Christendom. One of the worst things that ever happened to Christianity was Christendom. When the church became the official religion of the Roman Empire and everyone was suddenly "born" Christian, being "born again" went out the window. Most of what people hold against Christianity can be laid at the feet of Christendom: the crusades, the inquisition, opposition to the scientific revolution, and state sponsored religion in general. Christendom is a culture with rules of behavior. Christianity is a living faith rooted in a personal relationship with a living God. 2) The Matrix. The Bible teaches that there is an unseen realm in which a war between the spiritual forces of good and evil are going at it. To some people this sounds like science fiction, but I have lived it and seen its power. After hearing at least three dozen demons speak through people and take control of their bodies to various degrees, and after helping people find freedom from the snares of the devil for over twenty years, I know it's real.
Paul wrote, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of Christ" (2 Corinthians4:4). He was right. Just as the Matrix was a computer that lied to people and blinded them to the truth of their condition, so our spiritual enemy blinds people today.
The Bible's answer to the question of the game of life is pretty simple-the goal of the game is to enter eternal life and to send ahead as much treasure as possible by loving others and living in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ."
Christian Media v. Church Attendance?
"In our media-drenched society, people have become accustomed to experiencing and interpreting reality through the mass media. A new Barna survey shows that the faith realm is no different. More Americans currently receive religious information, training and experiences through the media than through involvement with a local church." [
continue at Barna.org]
Evangelical Call...
"Evangelicals may not always agree about policy, but we realize that we have many callings and commitments in common: commitments to the protection and well-being of families and children, of the poor, the sick, the disabled, and the unborn, of the persecuted and oppressed, and of the rest of the created order. While these issues do not exhaust the concerns of good government, they provide the platform for evangelicals to engage in common action."
"Despite our common commitments and this moment of opportunity, American evangelicals continue to be ambivalent about civic engagement."
"Jesus calls us as his followers to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our goal in civic engagement is to bless our neighbors by making good laws. Because we have been called to do justice to our neighbors, we foster a free press, participate in open debate, vote, and hold public office. When Christians do justice, it speaks loudly about God. And it can show those who are not believers how the Christian vision can contribute to the common good and help alleviate the ills of society."
[
continue reading NAE paper]
[hat-tip Josh Claybourn, 'In The Agora']
Once without a prayer, faith-agenda emerging...
[excerpts from...]Special prison dorms, gay-marriage ban advance in GOP-led legislature, but other bills languish.
By Robert King, robert.king@indystar.com"One state lawmaker who says he promotes Christianity whenever he gets the chance wants to bring elective Bible courses into the public schools.
Another seeks special prison dorms that immerse inmates in Bible study and Christian counseling.
And a third says an "In God We Trust" license plate would serve as a good reminder of "what separates us from the animals."
Religious beliefs influence Indiana lawmakers of both parties. And laws with a Godly flavor are nothing new. But with Republicans controlling the General Assembly and the governor's office for the first time in 16 years, the faith agenda is advancing further than it has in years."
[
continue at IndyStar.com]
April 5th... Allan & Susan Tibbels
Photo, U.S. News & World Report"
Brick by Brick, He Fights the Inner-city Blues"
The Tibbels are coming to Indy for the specially combined sessions of 'Faith Community Forum' and 'Transform Indiana'. He'll also be speaking at
Grace & Peace Church on the Sunday morning prior.
Don't miss them... [
continued at CCDA Indy Blog]
Bloggin' Jimmy.... II
[continued from "Bloggin' Jimmy", Part I]So here we were in a run-down-but-on-the-mend old church, confronted by a Baylor/Truett Seminary professor challenging the Church, using his experiences from Calcutta lepers to Waco homeless...
Dr. Jimmy Dorrell"Lepers of India are cast outs sent to slums. They can't feel pain so they end up accidentally hurting themselves by being burned, or worse. Many have their legs amputated. At night their toes are sometimes eaten by rats."[
continued at "Takin' It Back"]
American Family Association Update...
.jpg)
- Thousands Attend State House Rally for Marriage Preservation
- Let Your State Representative Know Where You Stand
- Heading Off to Washington
- Love Your Mother?
[continue at American Family Association of Indiana]
2005 Classes of Journey Fellowship Announced
Congratulations to "Journey Fellowship 2005" award winners for their commitment to explore their own career possibilities in the field of professional youth development, and/or grow meaning and renewal in the field of professional youth development. [
continued]
Special congratulations Walt & Christina, Crossroads Bible College!
Multi-housing Church Planting?
"Planting churches in multi-housing settings. (i.e. apartments) I'm curious as to who might be doing this or thinking about it."
[
continued at 'Unnecessary Pastor']
Statehouse Rally for Traditional Marriage...
[excerpted from Indiana Christian News online]March 9th 2005 - By DEREK CLAY, Editor INDIANAPOLIS – A rally to support traditional marriage between one man and one woman sponsored by Advance America Tuesday was interrupted by gay activists at the Indiana Statehouse, with the homosexual protesters continuously interrupting the free speech of Eric Miller and others who spoke in support of a constitutional ban on gay marriages and same-sex unions. [
continue at ICN]
Bloggin' Jimmy...
[excerpt from "Takin' It Back"... re yesterday's 'key event' in the city...]It's a great day today.
You might not think so if you'd ridden along with me, battling early morning traffic congestion, only to arrive in a run-down part of Indy's eastside. I parked streetside (frankly, hoping it was safest) in front of an old brick church, across from a vacant little convenience store with barred windows.
Our
Tranform Indiana /
CCDA meeting(s) had rotated to
Neighborhood Fellowship's location. The inside of the old church wasn't all that much better than the outside. Old. Contorted. Construction-dust everywhere. And some of the dust was no doubt leftover from the German-reformed congregation who left the building years ago. More paint peeled off than was 'left behind'. Either these guys don't know how to plant a mega church wannabe... or they just don't wannabe. Turns out they don't wannabe. They just wanna follow Christ and minister among their poor neighborhood, in His name.
Thirty folks came to the gathering this morning... Christian leaders of many types. Some had gotten up unbelievably early... for them. After all, they had been out on the street ministering late last night. But they wanted to see & hear this Christian guru of street ministries… from Waco.
Jimmy Dorrell
Ministering to the homeless. Same as some of our people here in Indy… like Eric Howard and the folks at
Outreach Inc who are co-located with Neighborhood Fellowship.
Fact is... [
continued at "Takin' It Back"]
Church Planning.... for Internet Evangelism Day
[excerpts from Internet Evangelism Day website] 
Internet Evangelism Day is here to tell you about … - what God is doing on the Web
- outreach strategies that work online
- how you, your church or Christian group can use the Web for outreach
- planning an Internet Evangelism focus day for your church, Bible college or Christian group
You can build a short program to suit your needs, based on the downloads and other ideas we offer.
Planning activities for your church or group:Sunday 24 April 2005 is designated Internet Evangelism Day. We encourage churches and other Christian groups to add a special web outreach focus to their programs on or around this date.
This focus day is particularly for individual churches. However, we also encourage other Christian groups and organizations to hold an Internet Evangelism Day.
Such groups include:
- Bible colleges and seminaries
- Christian schools
- Interdenominational groups
- City/area inter-church collaborative fellowships
- Mission agencies
Churches: We suggest that churches..."
Other Available Resources for your church or group...[
continue all these at InternetEvangelismDay.org]
Church Alert... Possible Scam
[
continue]
Use Your Website to Build Community
by Jeff Koenig, Management Consultant
Make your website calendar really useful and a critical resource by including only a few useful features. Many churches include some sort of calendar on the church website but in my opinion most of the calendars fall far short of being real useful.
read more
Fired pastor again voted out...
[
continue at IndyStar.com]
Tomorrow... March 8th... Jimmy Dorrell comes to Indy...
Jimmy Dorrell
Mission WacoDon't forget: The March 8th meeting of Transform Indiana will again coincide with the "Community Faith Forum" series.... featuring Jimmy Dorrell [
continue]
At the core of a suit: Are bloggers reporters too?
Xinhua[excerpted from New York Times...] "In the physical world, being labeled a journalist may confer little prestige and may even evoke some contempt. But being a journalist can also confer certain privileges, like the right to keep sources confidential. And for that reason many bloggers, a scrappy legion of online commentators and pundits, would like to be considered reporters, too. "
"A lawsuit filed in California by Apple Computer is drawing the courts into that question: who should be considered a journalist? "
[
continued]
Black Contract with America on Moral Values...
Bishop Harry R. Jackson"A nationally known African-American pastor launched a coalition [recently] that will strive to redefine the politics of black churches, shifting loyalties from liberal to biblical values."Misson: To help protect the moral compass of America is the mission of the High Impact Leadership Coalition. By educating and empowering church, community, and political leaders in communities across America, the coalition will be a force to bring a balance of biblical justice and righteousness in our nation. Through prayer, education, proclamation, and empowerment the High Impact Coalition will be a change agent that will protect our community and country. " [Also see book co-authored by George Barna & Harry R. Jackson.][
continue at UrbanOnramps.com]
Interested pastors from Indianapolis -- come 'connect' with us at any Transform Indiana, or CCDA Indy meetings... as we intentionally are networking the Bible-believing Christian community for impact in our cities. Or contact us here at IndyChristian.com.
A Christian Psychologist's Guide to Success
Many who need counseling either will not seek it or they come for therapy and are not willing to make any changes in their lives. They want others to change; they want their environment or circumstances to change but they are resistant to doing anything different themselves. [
Continue......]
Evangelicals challenged to live faith...
[excerpted from Indianapolis Star / Wichita Eagle]Consider this battery-charging suggestion thrown down as a gauntlet to fellow evangelicals by Ron Sider:
"Whether the issue is divorce, materialism, sexual promiscuity, racism, physical abuse in marriage or neglect of a biblical worldview, the polling data point to widespread, blatant disobedience of clear biblical moral demands on the part of people who allegedly are evangelical, born-again Christians."[
continue at IndyStar.com]
NBC Dateline... Sunday evening... Benny Hinn...
[excerpted from NBC online]
"Two years ago "Dateline NBC's" hidden cameras followed the self-described miracles of television's popular televangelist and faith healer, Benny Hinn. Now, in a revealing one-hour, follow-up investigative report, Bob McKeown reports on what happens to some of the millions of dollars sent to the Hinn Ministry by his devoted followers."
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continue]
[hat-tip, ChristianHeadlines.com]
Body of Christ: A Community Of One...
by Pastor Andrew Hunt, III
Body of Christ Community Church 
Have you ever wondered what was really the most important thing on God's mind?
What would He find basic to living a well-rounded Christian life? Scripture shows us time and time again that God would want to see His people living in a functional biblical community of oneness. Where we would be many people but of one heart, one mind, and one soul that constantly seeks communion with God and community with one another. This is God's plan for His people, for us to live in such a way that we
"love the Lord our God, with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love our neighbors as our selves." This is the great commandment and it should become to us the great commitment of our very lives on this earth.
Christian unity is not an option, for unity speaks to the very heart of God and to the very heart of His Son Jesus Christ. The Bible shows in John 17 the very heart of God within a mere twenty-six verses. As the Holy Spirit speaks through the pen of John the disciple He shows us in this passage in John 17:20-26 that as our Christian unity is a testimony that God sent Jesus. [
continue]
Ungodly Distortions...
[The following are all excerpts from "Ungodly Distortions -- Evangelical Christians know that caring for God's creation is a scriptural imperative. " By the Rev. Jim Ball.]Are irrational and dangerous end-of-the-world views of conservative Christians—"the earth is going to be burned up anyway, so why care for it”—behind the environmental policies of our Republican-controlled federal government?
Put aside for a moment any thoughts about whether the presuppositions behind this thesis are correct, because the “secret” has now been exposed by Glenn Scherer, an investigative reporter for the online environmental magazine Grist, in an article provocatively titled “
The Godly Must Be Crazy.”What we have by and large are two subcultures viewing each other through the inaccurate stereotypes they hold of the other. This is why the Grist article is so unhelpful. It feeds those stereotypes.
But wait, there’s more. The Grist “exposé” was catapulted into the national spotlight when veteran journalist Bill Moyers made it the centerpiece of a speech on December 1 in New York City that was subsequently excerpted in numerous newspapers, including... [ ] and the Indianapolis Star.
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continue]
[or read a related article, "Bill Moyers' Latest Anti-Christian Lie"...documenting the chain of erroneous quotes, and referencing major newspapers like the Indianapolis Star which carried 'the phantom quote' in question.]
Bible Quiz Doping Probe Widens...
[from LarkNews.com -- It's just for fun.
Please don't try this at home... or church.]
Photo, LarkNews.com"Eleven-year-old Todd Bradley was a Bible Quiz wunderkind, leading his church's team to the finals three years in a row and winning the championship in 2004. But in February..."
Also in this month's LarkNews... from their mailbag:
Q: Dear worship leader: My church recently hired a full-time, paid worship leader. I'm wondering, what does he do all week? I'm afraid to ask my pastor. Anonymous, Las Vegas, Nev.
A: A better question is...
[
continue at LarkNews.com]
Scalia Doctrine...
[excerpted from Josh Claybourn,
In The Agora]
The U.S. Supreme Court overruled
Stanford v. Kentucky in its decision today in
Roper v. Simmons, which
declared unconstitutional the death penalty for murders committed before the age of 18. Justice Antonin Scalia dissented, and here's the money quote:
"The Court thus proclaims itself sole arbiter of our Nation's moral standards--and in the course of discharging that awesome responsibility purports to take guidance from the views of foreign courts and legislatures. Because I do not believe that the meaning of our Eighth Amendment, any more than the meaning of other provisions of our Constitution, should be determined by the subjective views of five Members of this Court and like-minded foreigners, I dissent."[Continue at...
In The Agora]
[
Update re the 10 Commandments case, at IndyStar.com]
Urbanizing - National Day Prayer Task Force / Focus On The Family
As State Chair of the Indiana National Day of Prayer, one of my key focuses has been on urbanizing the National Day of Prayer Task Force and Focus On the Family. A tall order you say? No not really. I just get out of the way and let God just do it. MORE
Jewel's Gems...
Jewel Graham, Butler[Doesn't this pic just BEG to be captioned?]Jewel's Gems is a new Christian blog we've just added to our
IndyBloggers.com (aggregated) site.
Ten Commandments Go On Trial This Week...
Jay Sekulow"As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on the issue of the Ten Commandments on March 2nd, the ACLJ makes a strong case for the Commandments in its brief filed with the Supreme Court." [
more at American Center for Law & Justice]
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