“The questions these pastors have typically revolve around three issues: how do I prepare my church for my retirement?; what are some major financial issues regarding retirement?; and what do I do after I retire?” - Thom Rainer

Determinism says “everything is fully caused and explained by the past and laws of nature, meaning human actions result entirely from the external factors…. Is our world truly deterministic? And if so, would this imply we lack free will?” - LA Times

Read the series.

Christians need to understand the differences in the production and consumption of intoxicating beverages in Bible times compared to modern times. This difference is a significant concern that needs to be addressed as we ponder Christians and social drinking.

Christians need to understand the differences in the production and consumption of intoxicating beverages in Bible times compared to modern times. This difference is a significant concern that needs to be addressed as we ponder Christians and social drinking.

Connect • Renew • Equip

“Has the Church Lost Her Voice? Recovering the Authority of the Church”

More information: https://seminary.bju.edu/core25/

I personally think the U.S. is right to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. A number of presidential candidates don’t want to support Ukraine.

What is your best guess as to what will happen. I know, “It depends.” But our answer to most things depends upon variables. The question is not what you know will happen, but what do you think is most likely. Comments are welcome.

In the wake of events unfolding in the Middle East, many are wondering what the Bible says regarding the final, future salvation of Israel—and how the exigencies that we are all witnessing on our television screens right now relate to that future.

It is also common for evangelicals to raise this concern: Why should we be distressed for the nation of Israel today—when they are a people in unbelief?

To answer these questions, let’s simply consider the bookends of the coming seven-year tribulation, the 70^th week of the prophet Daniel (see Dan. 9:24-27).

“…it is equally important to remember that there are other kinds of promptings that we can experience besides the leadings of the Holy Spirit. Some can be good promptings, while others can be bad” - Tim Augustyn

“At its moral center, the just war tradition… helps to guide the political sovereign… in determining when, in the last resort, the discriminate and proportionate use of military force is the only means likely to protect the innocent, right wrongs, or punish evil.” - WORLD

Essay gathers some of the best that has already been said on the topic, offers additional insights. - Randy Alcorn

“The majority of Christians ages 55+ strongly agree (45%) or somewhat agree (42%) ‘It is important for me to see continual progress in my own spiritual life.’” - Barna

“Though purporting to speak on behalf of religious liberty, in reality Carlson is playing fast and loose with the truth and endangering the lives of Ukrainian believers.” - Providence

Related: Russian Orthodox Church appoints Putin’s spiritual adviser metropolitan of Crimea - RNS

Begbie “suggests a fresh and largely neglected value of the arts. They offer a counternarrative to the naturalistic reductionism that permeates disciplines like science, philosophy, and psychology.” - TGC

“Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye issued a ruling last week allowing Idaho’s law to take effect, rejecting a request from the Sexuality and Gender Alliance and trans-identified students for an injunction against it.” - CPost

“The debate over those writings and other records has pitted grieving parents and traumatized children against a coalition which includes two news organizations, a state senator and a gun-rights group.” - RNS

“In some cases, the pastor is the cause of the hurt. In other cases, the people of the church hurt the pastor. Pastors can be responsible for church hurt, but this article focuses on how pastors should respond when experiencing a toxic church culture.” - ChurchAnswers

“The group is working to present a report to messengers next June… that could reassert or more closely define what it means for a church to be in friendly cooperation with the SBC” - BPNews

Read the series.

(Ezekiel 18:3, 37:9-10; 1 Samuel 10:6, John 3:1-11)

As we continue on the subject of the New Birth (aka, regeneration), we can note that Jesus’ teaching about this miraculous work of the Spirit is based upon midrash from Old Testament texts. He expected Nicodemus, as a rabbi himself, to understand the concept—even before his encounter with Yeshua. Thus the concept of regeneration is not unique to the New Testament. However, Jesus’ terminology—“You must be born again”—is unique.

Mary Eberstadt “will take the case directly to the ‘nones.’ She will lay out four different arguments for reconsidering the question of religious faith—arguments that will be of interest to all serious people, faithful and secular alike.” - IFWE

“In a day when students are turning their backs on college degrees or finding that it simply isn’t worth the price in relation to their career, the solution may be as simple as having educators who teach not simply what they know, but what they have done.” - Church & Culture

“The King James Bible Study Project is a phone survey completed this year in which I and volunteers called 100 KJV-Only pastors and asked them twenty questions.” - Mark Ward

Survey results at https://kjbstudyproject.com/

“When we asked these four questions, we found a gaping hole on our shelf. Thus started the six-year project that resulted in The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary.” - TGC

State of the Bible: Online worshipers lead in Bible reading frequency - BPNews

What Church Leaders Need to Know About How Gen Z Approaches the Bible - CLeaders

(Read the series.)

Here I continue sharing my reflections on how Paul guided Timothy when he was facing discouragement, from the book of 2 Timothy. You can read Part 1 and Part 2 if you haven’t already. I address these to others, but first to myself.

“I contend, any evangelical now claiming to feel sorrow for the Jewish nation should feel just as much mercy and compassion for Ukraine, the history of which is inextricably linked with Israel.” - Providence

“In 2008, among men, about 20% have never been married. For 40-year-old men in 2022, 37% had never been married. That’s insane to consider — a 40-year-old man is nearly twice as likely to never be married in 2022 compared to 2008.” - GetReligion

“His was a day of religious turmoil. Not only were various Protestants, Catholics, and Anabaptists at odds with each other, but all those broad groups had controversies within their own ranks that had to be sorted out” - WORLD

“Not all research data agrees, but some recent studies indicate that the growth of religiously unaffiliated Americans has slowed or stopped.” - Lifeway

“The Small Church Academy launched a year ago through the Bivocational & Small Church Leadership Network (BSCLN) with three cohorts. Those cohorts – small groups of up to 10 members…. Eight are currently meeting.” - BPNews

Pastor Kevin Schaal wrote recently to address the question of whether recent events—and our times in general—signal Christ’s return to end human history. I agree with his conclusion on that question.

I want to respond to his introduction, though.

“The End is not here yet. But as every contraction—whether false or real—reminds the young couple that a baby is coming, so the events described by Jesus Christ remind us that He is returning, and maybe very soon.” - P&D