Links to Help Your Grip (2.24.10)

Francis Chan puts forth some horrifying videos about persecution and murder of the Christians in India.  Those images will never leave my mind.  Ever.

Timmy Brister lists 21 questions he’s been asking himself as a pastor.  Here are four:

• If our church would cease to exist in our city, would it be noticed and missed?
• If all the pastors were tragically killed in a car accident, would the church’s ministry cease or fall apart?
• If the only possible means of connecting with unbelievers were through the missionary living of our church members, how much would we grow? (I ask this because the early church did not have signs, websites, ads, marketing, etc.)
• What are the subcultures within the church?  Do they attract or detract from the centrality of the gospel and mission of the church?

Read how one American Idol auditioner put Simon Cowell in his place—through Christ-like forgiveness.

Do the Five Love Languages really exalt the lordship of Christ?  David Powlison explains:

Like all secular interpretations of human psychology (even when lightly Christianized), it makes some good observations and offers some half-decent advice (of the sort that self-effort can sometimes follow). But it doesn’t really understand human psychology. That basic misunderstanding has systematic distorting and misleading effects. Fallenness not only brings ignorance about how best to love others; it brings a perverse unwillingness and inability to love. It ingrains the perception that our lusts are in fact needs, empty places inside where others have disappointed us. The empty emotional tank construct is congenial to our fallen instincts, not transformative. It leaves what we instinctively want as an unquestionable good that must somehow be fulfilled. It not only leaves fundamental self-interest unchallenged, it plays to self-interest. . . .

Sadly, Benny Hinn’s wife has asked for a divorce after 30 years of marriage.

Our church has started praying for our Resurrection Sunday services.  You can follow the 40 days prayer guide at our Casting in the Creek blog.

Feel free to listen to and read my sermon from this past Sunday on “Pure Churches are Investing Churches.”  I pray my legacy at Boone’s Creek Baptist Church is marked by this vision of ministry.

Lastly, I have set up (finally) my Amazon store, Gripped by the Gospel.  Come, take a look, and partake of the books!