h1

A Note to Crossroads (Our Church Family)

January 15, 2010

Like me, I imagine that you have been rather troubled by the catastrophic earthquake that has taken place this past week in Haiti.  Death estimates range from 50,000 to 500,000 depending on the source.  Beyond the dead there are millions of people without food, water, basic shelter, and the protections that we are accustomed to here in the United States.  We are truly a blessed people—and those who are blessed are expected to bless others.

At all of our weekend services, this weekend, we will collect a disaster-relief fund for Haiti.  The organization that will receive our offering is called “Food for the Hungry” (www.fh.org).  This particular organization is Christian, is recommended by respected Christian leaders, and has very little overhead/administrative costs.  According to their website: “More than 91% of their total income, including commodities, goes to field programs,” (http://www.fh.org/who/finances).  They, in turn, will direct the money to Haitian relief as quickly as possible.

During our offering times this weekend, we are going to designate all loose change to “Food for the Hungry” as well as any designated gifts.  For instance, if you are regular contributor to Crossroads, and you give $200 every two weeks via our offering envelopes, and you would like to designate another $50 to Haiti Disaster Relief, then you would write $200 in the “current expense” box on your envelope, and $50 in the “other” box, and then include a check for $250.  However, if you are not a regular contributor to Crossroads, but you want to put a $50 bill into the offering plates, then your $50 will go to “Food for the Hungry.”.

This morning, as we were getting our oldest son ready for School, we asked him if he had his money for the book fair.  He said, “No.  I’m not going to buy that book.  I’m going to save my money for our Haiti offering at church.”  Although it is a book he’s been wanting, he decided to make a sacrifice for those in need.  At Crossroads, we do a lot to serve our broken neighbors in Joliet—and we will continue to do so—but now is the time to give basic food and water to our neighbors to the south, in Haiti.  I hope and pray that you will give with a cheerful and generous heart.

h1

The Problem with the “Prosperity” Gospel

January 12, 2010

As in my previous post, you can find a great article here about “one of the worst religious ideas ever.”  It’s an article in the Washington Post, and though I don’t know what the author believes in general, I think her critiques of the “prosperity” gospel, as well as the WWJD concept (see previous post) are spot on!  The article is written by Cathleen Falsani for a Washington Post Editorial.

h1

The Problem with WWJD

January 12, 2010

I’d like to encourage you to read a great article here about the problem with the WWJD movement.  Although there are serious theological problems with WWJD, this particular article talks about some of it’s practical problems.

h1

Does “Facebook” Destroy Marriages?

December 23, 2009

According to one report, twenty Percent (20%) of recently-filed divorces mention the social-networking site, Facebook, as a contributing factor.  While this may surprise some, it does not  surprise us (except for the sheer magnitude).  Working to help people improve their marriages, while being heavily involved in social networking ourselves, we see that the danger is obvious and pervasive.   We have personally witnessed the rapid decline of seemingly-healthy marriages simply by following some of our friends on Facebook.  What do you think?

Check out the article here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2780179/Divorces-blamed-on-Facebook.html?=&ATTR=News; The Gospel According to Matt understands that the source (SUN) is a tabloid newspaper, but believes the principle holds true even if the statistics are sketchy.

h1

Liberalism, Conservatism, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son

December 9, 2009

This month I am reading Tim Keller’s book “Prodigal God” for the third time.  The first time was a quick read.  The second time was a staff exercise.  The third time is in preparation for a sermon series.  With each reading, my appreciation for the Parable of the Prodigal Son grows exponentially.

Today it occurred to me that the lost younger son (in the Parable) represents modern-day liberalism, while the lost older son represents modern-day conservatism. (Although I don’t believe that Jesus ever had American politics in mind, it’s certainly relevant to the discussion.)

The lost younger son represents self-discovery and self-expression.  The lost older son represents moral conformity.  The lost younger son represents grace and tolerance.  The lost older son represents hard work and justice.  Again, the lost younger son parallels liberalism while the lost older son parallels conservatism.

Liberalism, the lost younger son, has the right heart but the wrong rules.  Conservatism, the lost older son, has the right rules but the wrong heart.  Either way, they’re both lost.

h1

“Peace to Men on Whom His Favor Rests”

December 2, 2009

In Luke 2:14, in the story of Jesus’ birth, angels appeared in the sky singing: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to men on whom His favor rests.

Peace to men.  Jesus came to bring peace to men.  Jesus came to show that God’s favor, His grace, rests upon us.  Jesus came to show us that there is a Prodigal God who loves us.  And Jesus came to save us for Him.  Jesus came to bring peace to men.  This Christmas season we need to embrace the true spirit of Christmas.  We don’t need to fight a culture-war.  We don’t need to take sides in the battle between the secular and the sacred.  We need to pray for peace and we need to bring peace.  Peace to the hungry who lack food.  Peace to the homeless who lack shelter.  Peace to the hurting who lack comfort.  Peace to the sinner who lacks salvation.  Christmas is about peace and reconciliation through the birth and the blood of Jesus Christ.

h1

Thanksgiving Tribute to our Moms

November 25, 2009

The Wednesday before thanksgiving will always be a melancholy day in our home.  The day before thanksgiving in 2005 my wife’s mother Sylvia passed into Life.  And the day before thanksgiving in 2007 my mom Vicki passed as well.  We find some comfort in the seeming sovereignty of their passing on the same day—how strange is that?  Anyway, thanksgiving carries extra-special significance for us because we remember all the blessings from God, but especially our mothers who raised us to know God.  They are greatly missed, and we think about them every single day.  But we do not grieve as ones who have no hope.  We believe that, through Jesus Christ, we will see them again.

h1

The Manhattan Declaration

November 24, 2009

“The Gospel According to Matt,” aka Matt Summers, endorses the Manhattan Declaration with one caveat: that it treats the issue of poverty as a symptom of the problem rather than a systemic part of the problem. Jesus offers more direction on helping the poor than He does any of the issues mentioned in the declaration.

For information (or to read) the Manhattan Declaration check out/contact: Michelle Farmer or Amy Anderson (770) 813-0000 or (770) 757-4900 cell mfarmer@demossgroup.com www.DeMossNews.com/ManhattanDeclaration

h1

Singing Praises to Allah…

November 24, 2009

I found the following song in my son’s backpack.  When I asked him what it was, he explained that it’s one of the songs he and his classmates are singing at music class (in the public school he attends).

“Ramadan comes once a year

Celebrate that Allah’s here

Fasting food for thirty days

Honoring [Him] with faithful praise

Celebrate with family

Holidays for all and me”

What happened to “separation of church and state?”  It was a great clause when used by proponents  to marginalize Christianity.  But now it has been cast aside for the sake of multiculturalism and pluralism.  Call me old-fashioned, but I want to go back to the good old days when religion was kept out of the schools altogether—like, you know, last year!

h1

On Leadership

November 22, 2009

To successfully lead an organization one must be committed, courageous, and captivating; and embody character.  If the organization is innately Christian then the leader must embody Christ-like character.  But to transform an “organization” into a “movement,” one must be able to lead other leaders.