New Indy Christian Feature... A Monthly Book Review!
Hello, my name is Chris Smith and I am a member of Englewood Christian Church on Indy's near-east side and the editor of The Englewood Review of Books, a free, weekly online book review of recent books for Church audiences.
After some conversation with Neil, we decided to coordinate the posting of a monthly book review on the IndyChristian blog. The first review will be posted on October 15 and our plan is to post a review on or around the 15th of each subsequent month. However, we need YOU to help us by writing reviews.
Here are the guidelines:
Reviews to be considered for posting on the 15th need to be received by NOON on the 1st day of that month.
The book to be reviewed should have been published within the last 12 months.
Your review should be between 300 and 1000 words.
In your review, you should describe the book and convince us why church audiences should read (or not read) this book.
The book may be fiction or non-fiction (If you review a fiction book, don't reveal the whole plot!)
The book does not have to be a "Christian" book, but if it is not be sure to tell us in the review why you think it is relevant for Christians.
All books and/or reviews should be consistent with IndyChristian's "Bible Believing" standard.
Include with your review a one sentence bio.
Submit the review via email to EnglewoodReview [at] gmail [dot] com. Include the tag IndyChristian Review in your subject line.
You will retain the rights to your review, but your submission is taken as granting us permission to post the review on IndyChristian.com and/or EnglewoodReview.org.
We already have a review lined up for October 15, so the first deadline for reviews will be Nov. 1. We look forward to hearing about what you're reading these days!!!
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity amongyourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.
There are moments when I just have to extra-specially love my church. Sunday was one of them.
Our pastor just said to all of us plainly... "In the name of Jesus I say to you, peace be upon you... we're going to be alright... we're going to get through this... TOGETHER."
And in a very tangible way, we've just recently been approved to be an 'Angel Food Ministries' site for our community.
FHL International Journal: Kindness, Unity, Prayer, and Justice
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2008
by Merlin Gonzales
It was a busy day for picking up food for the next FHL Mobile Food Pantry. The Ford F150 full-size pick up truck that the Lord had provided worked hard today. I was hoping for a cargo trailer that someone had promised but it did not happen. However, one of the FHL volunteers made her van available so we can have just one trip to the food banks.
After a 5-hour pick-up and delivery of the groceries, I proceeded to do some admin work. Later, I was surprised when I came out of my office and saw my F150 with a cargo trailer hitched to it.I met Tony for the first time, who handed me the Title of the trailer. He is donating the trailer to FHL. He said that he heard from one of the FHL volunteers that FHL needs a trailer. Just a few days ago, he was praying to God that he would have an opportunity to bless a charitable organization when all of a sudden, he saw an FHL volunteer nearby. They talked about FHL Mobile Food Pantry and found out the immediate need of FHL.
So, earlier that day, he saw trailer for sale at a garage sale and bought it. I still do not know Tony’s full name but he is one of God’s Miracle for the city.
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2008
My day started early to prepare for a Coalition meeting to unify the Body of Christ in Indy. The meeting at Unleavened Bread Café started with unity prayer and was attended by 20+ ministry leaders in Indy. The verses that were shared were Ephesians 4:1-16, Luke 18:7, Isaiah 58:10, Amos 5:21 and Zechariah 4:6. The topic is Unity, Prayer and Justice. It’s like a marriage between prayer & justice. Jesus modeled this for us. He prayed, then, He went out there to be with the poor, He prayed, He went out…Servant leader, unconditional love.
The vision is to form and empower Prayer Groups around the city. We have identified several groups and will be coordinating with each prayer group to be able to invite people to join them in corporate prayer in their immediate area. If we can be united in prayer, we can do more than we can ever imagine. God will honor our humility, our unity and our passion to expand the Kingdom of God together. At the meeting, we stayed away from doctrinal and philosophical discussions as long as we all agree that God sent Jesus Christ who died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins; and if we repent from our sins and put our faith in him we will inherit eternal life. We are here in the world to do the works of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes, we feel that we are alone in our area doing all the works. The prophet Elijah felt the same way right after he defeated the false prophets at Mt Carmel, 1 Kings 18:22,
Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.” But on 1 Kings 19:13b-18, Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." 15 The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."
For this same reason, we need to be connected through prayer, justice and communications.
After the meeting, the City’s ‘Communication Team’ had their weekly training at the Café.
While the communications training was going on, I had the opportunity to visit the outreaches that FHL coordinated with the Youth groups from Southport Presbyterian Church for:
• David Woodrupp for exterior building painting 636 E 36 St. owned by an elderly person
• Jerome Jorman for interior house painting at 250 W. 42nd St., a Group Home for ex-offenders
So it was a prophetic day: Unity, Prayer and Justice.
Initially, we were targeting 5 area prayer groups, North, South, West, East & Central. But please let me know if you already have a prayer group and would like for us to publicize it and encourage others to join your group. Also, please let me know if would like to form a prayer group in your area. I will need the schedule of your prayer meeting, the location and other details with regards to your prayer meetings. We have already identified a few existing prayers groups. Once I receive your response and confirmation, we will have prayer group facilitators’ meeting so we’ll be in the page and will be able to empower each other. Prayer is a great start towards unity and justice. In the next few weeks, we will start form the Justice Groups through ‘Kindness Weekends’.
[excerpted from AlxConn... tech on the new 'Communications Team'....]
The CityReaching.org Communications Team is in need of some talent in order to create a singular, easy to use tool for communicating among the driven Christians of Indiana and beyond.
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
Indiana Pastor to take part in... 'Pulpit Freedom Sunday'
[by Robert King, Indianapolis Star...]
The Rev. Ron Johnson Jr. plans to go before his congregation today in Northwest Indiana and tell worshippers that if they call themselves Christians, there is one major-party presidential candidate who shouldn't get their vote.
Johnson is one of 30 pastors in 22 states who intend to blatantly cross a line that exempts churches from federal income taxes as long as they don't endorse or oppose specific candidates or engage in otherwise partisan political activity.
For years, churches and other tax-exempt ministries have danced around the line.
A few have gone as far as making endorsements from the pulpit. More common is the practice of giving a hero's welcome to favored candidates visiting the church while offering only an obligatory acknowledgement to others. Some have used their pulpits and broadcast perches to decry leaders with opposing views on important issues.
Then there is today's "Pulpit Freedom Sunday," an action by pastors with the conservative Alliance Defense Fund. The event is a move by the pastors to either endorse candidates whose stances line up with their biblical worldview or to warn people away from candidates who don't.
The watchdog in such cases is the Internal Revenue Service, on the alert for...
My good friends at Cars of Clay are at it again! On Saturday October 4th from 10 a.m. to noon they are conducting class in basic car care. While this training is open to anyone it is especially geared to help equip single women in learning more about basic car care. Training will cover...
Mission Aviation Fellowship... Helping Out in Texas...
[The photo & article are from our young Indianapolis missionary/blogger/dad, Jason Thiemann, now in flight-training with Mission Aviation Fellowship. Another Indianapolis friend, Leeman Mosley, is now going through technical training at MAF.
And finally, I also want to give a very grateful shout-out to our long-time pilot-training friends at MAF Hqtrs, John & Nancy Hook -- who have been deploying gospel-driven 'technology'... planes & computers... as a lifetime career. God bless all of you!]
A small team of MAF staff flew to Texas earlier this week to assist with relief efforts in the wake of hurricane Ike. We are providing satellite telephone and internet access services to FEMA and aid workers, which allows them to communicate with their coworkers and coordinate their relief efforts.
Interested in two free tickets to Fireproof, the movie? My wife and I, at Rise of the Home, are offering a chance for one blessed couple to have the opportunity to see this new movie, free. This might be a great opportunity for you, or some other couple going through some marital struggles, to receive some great encouragement from a clean film. If you're interested in more details, feel free to check out our post. Leave a comment if you'd like to enter.
But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
IndyChristian Note... Our Indianapolis friend, Jonathan Tremaine Thomas, plays the role of 'Albert' the young farm-hand and friend of Billy Graham as a young man.
As we'll learn in the film -- which releases October 10th -- it is 'Albert' who invited Billy to the tent-revival at which he committed his life to Christ.
Here in Indianapolis, Jonathan is President of Eastgate Studios. He's become a great friend of us all.
At 9 am... a specially-called meeting for compassion-focused Christian churches/ministries will meet to discuss common matters... and will include ministries such as FHL International, Transform Indiana, Kairos Prison Ministries, Signs of Christ, CBMC, Front Porch Alliance. If you care greatly about our communities in the name of Christ... you'd be very welcome and blessed at this meeting.
At 10am... our special training topic this month is... "Twitter 'N Prayer" -- the point is, how do we effectively use this great new tool to connect & communicate for prayer purposes. And hey, if it works well for 'prayer', it will then also be effective for other purposes that accelerate the (whole) Great Commission... like 'care', 'share' and 'dare'. So come be with us as we brainstorm & train on the big screen.
Race and faith will play crucial roles in this year's presidential election, local religious leaders predicted Tuesday at a forum on race, faith and politics.
The forum, part of the Steward & Associates Speaker Series at the Madame Walker Theatre Center, brought together five local religious leaders and scholars to field questions from facilitators and about 60 audience members.
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Lilly Endowment Giving $10 Million To Salvation Army
[from the Indianapolis Star...]
The Lilly Endowment is giving the Salvation Army $10 million to provide disaster relief in the wake of recent hurricanes that hammered the Gulf Coast and dumped record rainfall on parts of the Midwest.
The grant announced Monday is the largest disaster relief donation to the Salvation Army of the 2008 hurricane season, said Melissa Temme, national spokeswoman for the organization.
Temme said the grant will allow the agency to provide ongoing assistance to victims of Hurricane Ike, as well as those affected by Hurricanes Dolly, Fay, Gustav and Hanna.
"This gift is huge for us," she said.
Before the endowment's donation, Temme said, about $2.2 million had been given to the Salvation Army or pledged for disaster relief this year. But the agency has spent more than $4 million on immediate services to victims.
The Lilly donation brings to $60 million the amount it has pledged to disaster relief this year, said spokeswoman Gretchen Wolfram.
We have been in contact with those in leadership in the recovery mission for Texas.They have expressed to us a great need for chainsaw crews.They are currently making preparations for our us and have asked we wait another week before coming down. Therefore we are in the planning stage for a trip south.
The tentative plans are this. We would like to organize 2 teams. The first would leave Tues , Oct 7 and stay for approximately a week. The second team would then arrive and...
[story via our friend, Pastor Bryan Hudson, IndyImpact.TV...]
Sunday, September 21
Youth gather at the Overcoming Church Youth Center to pray and prepare for the annual “See You At The Pole” movement. This nationwide event asks youth to join together around school flag poles to pray for their schools and fellow students.
Brian Carter is the youth minister at Overcoming Church.
The 2008 date for ”See You At The Pole” is Wednesday, September 24.
And many more. Stay in touch with the Indy Timeline as you plan your week... and well, frankly, your year ahead 2009.
[Oh, and block-out your calendar for Thurs, December 18th so you can be with others across the metro area, doing regional team-building, praying and planning ahead to accelerate the Great Commission in 2009.]
[from our Twitter friend, pastor and IWU alumnus... from Houston]
"So far we have had families sleeping in cars until they found us, another man walked a full day and night just to get to the church. We have a family that not only lost everything material, they lost their mother in the storm. We have a man that is recovering from six gun shot wounds.
I have story after story of the 42 people that have come across our doors in the past three days. We have seen the pain, confusion, and relief that seems to overwhelm the faces of the people who find shelter at Parkway.
We have tried to communicate and demonstrate in a tangible way that they have found a safe place to rest. Most of these people have not slept a full night or taken a shower since last Thursday, no shelter, and no place to go.
These are people who had homes just like you. Kids just like you. Lives just like you but because of the path of the hurricane they lost everything. It is these people that we are extending a loving and helping hand to.
[from our friend, Isaac Randolph, State Director of the Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives...]
The Indiana Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives is asking Central Indiana residents to donate food to help feed Hoosiers in Jefferson and Jennings counties. Many residents in these counties have been without power since Sunday, when the remnants of Hurricane Ike moved over Indiana.
People may drop-off non-perishable food items, such as...
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
One of the oldest and farthest reaching stories in Christian media appears to be nearing its last chapter.
Officials of Gospel Communications International have notified partner ministries that the Muskegon-headquartered global media distributor plans to shut down its Web-hosting services.
In an e-mail to those partners, a company official said its ministry, "as we have known it, is coming to a close."
During more than four decades of the organization's 58-year history, it operated as Gospel Films, which became the largest distributor of Christian films and videos in the world.
Most of its growth came under the leadership of...
Question: Who can impact my neighborhood the most?
John McCain
Barack Obama
Answer: Apparently, neither.
Surely each of us is more likely to impact our own neighborhoods... than Washington can. Or for that matter, even the Indiana Statehouse. Or the courthouse in Noblesville.
So if any of us think there will be a great NATIONAL revival that will get the Great Commission done... maybe this suggests otherwise.
Bottom line... doesn't it all come down to local, very local, and my-neighborhood-local?
Y'know, it occurs to me that Jesus really MIGHT have meant... neighbor-neighbor.
"In that day," declares the LORD, "I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots. I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds. I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells. I will destroy your carved images and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles and demolish your cities. I will take vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations that have not obeyed me."
Carpe Diem! Right? Seize the day. So when I had the opportunity to have coffee with Larry Wilson, I jumped on it. Larry is the Editorial Director at Wesleyan Publishing House. As such, he has the ability to impact 38,000 lives each year -- and that's just in Sunday School. Their materials are used around the world. For instance, just this week he got an email from the Philippines, thanking him for the curriculum.
Moreover, it was great to see just how adept he is at 'socia media'. We don't typically see the print-world so readily involved in the digital world. But then... as his blog-header reveals... he is just a little 'different'...
One of the reasons we got together for coffee is that Larry is on-fire to find ways to proliferate the Word of God pervasively throughout the city... and especially to help get people actually READING it for themselves. Larry noted a few years ago that their publishing house sold 40,000 'one-year' Bibles. [One-year Bibles are laid out day by day throughout the year, with an Old Testament reading and a New Testament reading each day, along with some Psalms & Proverbs mixed in.] He noted that apparently there's a pretty active thirst for Bible-reading... and perhaps even repetitively year after year.
And btw... it's not just Larry who's so web-adept. Actually it was because his wife Heather was easily seen on the web, that created the link so we could have coffee today.
I was reading the little 'Answers' magazine that I get in the mail from time to time -- yeah, I know, I know, you're shocked. But yes, I really do read 'paper' from time to time. Especially this type. It's an awesome neighborhood-outreach concept.
When I read Heather's compelling story about her fateful life in the inner-city (.pdf) and the blessing that God has turned it into... I decided to read some of her other articles online. Cool -- she IS online.
And check this out -- it turns out she's moved to Indiana. Indianapolis even. And she married this guy named Larry Wilson. And they're both on Facebook. And Twitter.
Wait... think about that a moment...
Had they NOT been so socially-networked, we wouldn't have met and I wouldn't be writing about him and you probably wouldn't be reading about him... or her.
And we wouldn't have known of this upcoming conference for WRITERS... November 7-8... here in Indianapolis.
And I wouldn't have met Pastor Brad LeRoy there -- he was just hanging out, studying. Brad is the planting pastor of Harvest Church, McCordsville. I remembered we'd done a piece on him back in Aug 2007 re their great new innovative idea that spoke near to my heart. (Remember, I only said 'NEAR'. LOL)
And lastly... I wouldn't have met 'John' as I was ready to leave. He had heard me mention the magic word...
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
IndyChristian.TVs very own Neil Cox demonstrates how easy it can be to capture an event for reporting to others. Here he uses a portable Flip video/audio recorder that easily fits into the hand and then hooks right up to a computer for transfer. This device would be ideal for easy transport, simple use and just being prepared to capture the news at the moment it's happening.
We Christians are called to witness. However, we are to be not just hearers only, but doers. Sharing the events that promote our communities while spreading God's love is an example of that very thing.
How are you as a witness? Word of mouth, notes and articles, blogging, tweeting, IM, phone calls, photos, texting --- all of it and more, are ways in which to communicate to others what is happening right where we live. What tools do YOU use?
By adding a comment below you can help all of us to discover new ways to get the word out and connect the people of our communities with each other, resources and ultimately with Jesus Christ.
That’s the only way to describe the collaboration happening this week between 2 of the largest online Christian communities. The LifeChurch.tv internet community and the RagamuffinSoul.com community are joining forces for a pioneer, collaborative, week long challenge celebration bringing both believers and seekers online like never before.
Welcome to LifeShare, a seven day challenge for Christians who want to extend the love and compassion of Jesus to their friends via the relationships they have in online communities.
Both LifeChurch.tv and RagamuffinSoul.com will be live streaming through the LifeChurch.tv Mogulus Player beginning today at 8pm CST. Their schedule continues throughout the week. If you want to jump in and be a part you can read below and make sure to sign up HERE!
There are 5 different opportunities for you to participate..."
Neighborhood 'Faith Hope & Love' Business Luncheon
Yesterday, the new citywide 'communications team' covered this Faith Hope & Love event in the B.R.A.G. community of Indianapolis, near 71st & Binford.
Dr. Leonard Scott and Merlin Gonzales organized the neighborhood business luncheon. GT BBQ graciously provided the meal free to local business people. A number of them shared their stories of involvement in this past summer's involvement in the citywide FHL Week here in Indy.
Dr. Scott, himself a local businessman, also pastors the nearby Rock Community Church.
One of the ongoing goals of the new citywide 'Communications Team' is to provide TWO-way communications... ie, being 'quick to listen, slow to speak'. So we took the opportunity today to a quick interview with the neighborhood vice-president, Larry Riggle...
"Larry Riggle has been an Avalon Hills resident for 34 years. He has been the president of the Avalon Hills Civic Association for the past 7 years and a member of the board for 10 years prior to being president. He was one of the early instigators of BRAG and got involved because he believes we live in a great area that is starting to show its age." (Binford71.org)
How about YOUR community's business people? Might God be calling you to be a 'community organizer' (sorry, hadda *smile*) and start building great church relationships in your neighborhoods?
Documentary Producer To Take A Fresh Look At Evolution
[received via email from Creation Evidence Expo...]
INDIANAPOLIS - The 2008 Creation Evidence Expo runs all day Saturday September 20th and evenings through Wednesday, September 24th at the Indianapolis Training Center, 2820 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis. The six Saturday education workshops, offered at no cost, begin at 9:00 a.m. The final workshop begins at 8:30 p.m.
Daily classes for school children about the theories of evolution and creation are being hosted by the expo September 22-26 at The Life Center of Southport, 4002 E. Southport Road, Indianapolis.
Johan Bos of Seattle, Washington, a seasoned independent television producer, is coming during the expo to interview the creation evidence guest speakers because of their renown in the field.
The expo was co-launched in 2005 by Rev. Fredrick Boyd, senior pastor of Zion Unity Missionary Baptist Church, 3855 E. 10th Street, Indianapolis, along with scientist Dr. Carl Baugh, of Glen Rose, TX. In 2001 Baugh shocked Boyd by showing the urban pastor evidence for a much younger earth than is taught in most schools. Baugh connected Boyd with additional creation evidence experts in order to bring this less-often reported information to the public.
Boyd launched the expo to help the community. “Evolution is destroying the minds of our children,” Boyd says, “by giving them false information as to who they are and where they’ve come from.”
Bos, whose career spans twenty-three years and nearly a dozen PBS documentaries, says he is more than curious to study the creation topic and explore why one side of the debate is given more attention than the other. Speaking by phone from filming in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bos said, “I’m excited to be (coming) there.” Bos said his job is to study subjects and reveal whatever story he finds. He adds, “Maybe we should take a fresh look at all this stuff.”
Bos will not be filming during this trip. Instead, he will be interviewing several of the key speakers: Dr. Carl Baugh, Dr. G. Charles Jackson, Dr. Willie E. Dye and G. Thomas Sharp. Additionally, Bos will speak with local expert Dr. John C. Whitcomb, of Carmel.
Dr. Baugh is director of the Creation Evidences Museum in Glen Rose, Texas. Baugh found dinosaur tracts overlapping man’s tracks in Permian rock. That discovery caused Baugh to challenge the evolutionary theory with new questions.
Purdue grad, Dr. Dye, an African-American archeologist from Torrence, CA, has been excavating important finds in man’s history. His main studies have emphasized biblical archeology.
Dr. Sharp is president of the Museum of Earth History in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Sharp focuses on what ideas have traditionally guided man’s interpretation of data.
Dr. Jackson is a science educator who focuses is on science textbooks used today that present as facts early scientific theories disproved many years ago.
John C. Whitcomb, PhD., a graduate of Princeton and a former evolutionist, now lives in Carmel. Whitcomb will speak on “The Origin of Man” Tuesday, Sept. 23rd and about dinosaurs and men, “The Genesis Flood and the Fossil Record,” on Wednesday, September 24th.
All evening talks will begin at 7:00 p.m. at 2820 N. Meridian Street, site of the Indianapolis Training Center. All Saturday and evening events are free and open to the public.
Socia Media Lessons from Orlando... and Louisville
[ht: Facebook/ministry friend Rob Williams, Orangejack]
*********************
Stay tuned at IndyChristian.TV when we go to a LIVE CAM... on the campus of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville)... as social-media guru Aaron Marshall teaches a bunch of pastor-wannabees. Should be interesting! [Currently postponed til Louisville's power-situation is resolved and the seminar is rescheduled. Stay tuned.]
Gotta love this concept of celebrating together. And ya gotta love the people involved. We praise God for all of you -- and for way more than just the Sunday buzz.
photo credits... Fishhook Communications & Jennifer Photography
"The Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter nearly lost his life in the same tragic accident that claimed his best friend, Rich Mullins, nearly ten years ago. Battered and broken, Mitch’s road to recovery was arduous and laced with obstacles both great and small. Victories were often counter-balanced by setbacks, yet it was through this season of wrestling with God that he earned the right to limp."
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Maybe it was the full moon or something. At different points in the day, SEVERAL of my Facebook friends noted whole networks of friends colliding, or 'special connections' they'd just made among our driven Christians.
One new pastor to town suddenly now has over 75 new driven-Christian (Facebook) friends from all over Indianapolis, as a result of various connections that already existed as he arrived.
Another (Twitter & FHL) friend from out-of-state tweeted me... "It's finally happened. Two parts of my world are beginning to collide! Yes!"
Frankly, I had always theorized that this day would arrive. Until recently though, social-networking has too often been a thankless, if not discouraging job -- building lots of communication tracks across the city... which no doubt more powerful ministry-engines would run on someday. [...probably paying little notice to who all worked on the 'tracks'. *sigh*]
Anyway thankfully I at least had my trusty cellphone camera with me yesterday to shoot one such momentous 'connection' here in Indy. And at least some of us will be able to look back and remember this day in the sun...
"This is another question I get often. For me it’s getting a lot harder to answer.
I think there is a big difference between WHERE we are and WHO we are. It’s an important distinction. Is the church just another place in the community. I say no.
The church is not an address. It’s not a location. It’s not a place where people sing songs; a place to go to feel better about yourself; a place where people learn about God; a place where some people go on Sunday mornings; a place where most people don't go...."
And many more. Stay in touch with the Indy Timeline as you plan your week... and well, frankly, your year ahead 2009.
[Oh, and block-out your calendar for 12/18/2008 so you can be with others across the metro area, doing regional team-building, praying and planning ahead to accelerate the Great Commission in 2009.]
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
[IndyChristian Note... We will know that social-networking and internet communicators have 'arrived'... when ministries start catching onto their value as the storytellers of our society... impacting an affinity network that surrounds them. Here's one evidence that we just may be getting there... as blogger Tim Challies shares a unique activity that bloggers have been invited to...]
"A couple of months ago I received a rather unique invitation. Compassion International was considering sending a team of bloggers to Dominican Republic and wondered if I might be interested in tagging along. The purpose of the trip is for these bloggers to see what Compassion is doing in that place and to learn what the organization is all about. I thought about it for some time and have decided to go along. I have long wondered about Compassion, having a perhaps-unhealthy skepticism about such ministries. The more I learn about it, though, the more I am convinced it is a good and valuable organization and I hope that this trip will help allay any remaining fears.
Here is what Compassion says about the trip: "November 2-7, 2008 Compassion International will take a group of bloggers to..."
IndyChristian Note... (hat-tip, Evan McBroom)... Surprisingly, this young photographer did a flyover today, just before Hurricane Ike was at its 'peak' here in Indy....
photo credit, Jennifer Photography
Wanna see what she was so anxious to shoot on a Sunday morning?
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
Please join Jarvis Ward for the Mission America City Reachers’ Resource Conference Call with special guest...
Noel Castellanos
...Noel Castellanos on Thursday, September 18 at 11 a.m. (Eastern).
Noel is the President of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) and a key transformational leader in urban Chicago. His topic is “City Reaching and Community Development.”
To take part in this call, email... info @ cityreaching .com The phone number and pin code will be sent to you via email.
We hope you can make the call!
In Christ,
Rev. Jarvis Ward, National Facilitator Mission America Coalition
Steve Nelson, a dear friend of mine, pastor, author, and father of 8--and most importantly, a self-professed "chicken evangelist," set out to face his fears and hit the streets with the Gospel for 40 days. The results? You'll have to read to hear what God did through a single humble servant.
"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Ed Bahler: Global Inequities... and Junkie Car Club
[great post from our friend, Ed Bahler...]
"Could that be why we are seeing such a focus on social justice issues (in society and in church)? Could that be why Obama’s message of change is resonating with so many? We seem to be sensing the injustice and the need to address it, yet nobody has provided the leadership needed to rally the necessary sacrifice. "
"We chatted for a few minutes and headed to a group of four teens. They were sitting on some bleachers by the baseball diamond. As it turns out, one of them was actually middle-aged, but she was on the phone and eventually walked away from our conversation. She wasn’t one of the kids’ mothers, but she may have been a teacher. Two of the teens were attentive and one laid on the bleachers and gave an occasional giggle or wisecrack. For instance when I asked why God should let them into heaven she said, “Because I rock.”
[Sharon @ A Hoosier Family... has this humorous set of word-pictures for us today...]
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Indianapolis Christians... More info is becoming available in our CityReaching Emergency Mgmt & Disaster Relief wiki-page of info. And one of the objectives there, is to build our Christian communications capabilities to be better & better... in order to help more & more in the future. Your comments to that end, will be greatly appreciated.
Today Paradise Bakery was a glimpse of heaven as we met there with coffee and fine fellowship among some of our 'driven Christians'.
More to the point, we prayed & planned together re the Great Commission in 2009... pervasively in Indy.
Merlin Gonzales, FHL International
What were the 'BIG CARRYOUTS' (takeaways) today?
Save-the-date.... December 18, 2008... 'Indy Timeline 2009 Planning Luncheon'... stay tuned here for future details. [Lord willing, we'll have 5 regional locations... digitally connected together that day.]
Let's fill-in the teamwork grid... Our goal is identifying teams, region by region, neighborhood by neighborhood. We're especially anxious to identify the key 'PRAYER' (column) leaders/contacts in each region as they're laying a great foundation for reaching their communities for Christ.
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.
[Founder, Mary] Marr has been partnering with Christian relief organizations like Somebody Cares America for the last seven years to create a coordinated Christian response to disasters. For the hurricane Ike activation, CEN is providing the media capability to get out the message and register interested churches. Somebody Cares America is providing a call-in center and logistical support. “Together we are able to do more than just working on our own,” says SCA Founder Dr. Doug Stringer.
By working together, CEN and SCA hope to register hundreds of churches enhancing FEMA’s capacity to respond.
This isn’t the first time that CEN has brought organizations together to give a unified response
Today, September 11 our nation again will pause to remember the greatest “wake-up call” in our generation, the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01. On that infamous day, millions of people cried out to God for His help and protection. While we thank God for His care, we face another crisis today—a moral and spiritual crisis that is undermining the biblical foundations upon which this nation was established. In response, a broad coalition of denominations and fellowships under the Awakening America Allianceis calling upon Christians to gather at their county courthouses on September 11, 2008. This will be a time to reflect on the greatness of our nation, honestly address our shortcomings, and to pray for a spiritual awakening in our churches, communities, and nation.
Please join us at the Cry Out America! Prayer gathering on Thursday, September 11. We will convene from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Morgan County courthouse. Various individuals from the church and civic communities will be involved, so please join us in seeking God’s help for the soul of our nation.
Though seating at the event site will not be available, attendees may bring lawn chairs.
For more information about Cry Out America!, visit www.awakeningamerica.us. If you have questions about the Morgan County gathering, call Mike Fox at 765-537-2719 or cell at 765-318-6879.
Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assemby, summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. -Joel 1:14
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centralized media site for Greater Indianapolis Christians. We connect & communicate among 'Driven-Christians in the Racing Capital of
the World' to accelerate the Great Commission!"
"If
you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from
his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one
in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but
in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not
only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..." (Philippians
2)
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