Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted not only to protect the $1 billion that was in jeopardy, but went even one step further and allocated an additional $450 million to fighting global poverty in 2007. This is the largest amount ever committed by the United States to fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, three of the world’s most devastating diseases!
I just got a free copy of Off-Road Disciplines in the mail today in exchange for reviewing it on my blog. The review will come, but I wanted to share Earl Creps insightful critique (upon which he constructs an alternative, missional approach to the disciplines) of spiritual disciplines. Does this turn you on or off?
He writes: “the average leader that I know thinks of the spiritual disciplines in terms of prayer and Bible reading. These two pillars of spiritual growth entail several dilemmas:
Scarcity: despite their benefits they are not practiced enough.
Practicality: these two disciplines tend to operate in isolation from real life, serving as the national anthem before the ball game starts whenever we go to work.
Performance: they cannot be correlated to ministry “success” in any consistent way
Character: …too many bad people who pray and read their Bibles rigorously are unchanged by their efforts.
Mission: churches are filled with people who are committed to prayer and Scripture but have no concern for mission.
Craig Brian Larson suggest three guidelines for borrowing with integrity:
1. Borrow for a good reason.
2. Meditate prayerfully over the Scripture text and sermon.
3. Give credit.
He suggests several ways to give credit and avoid plagarism.
A note in the bulletin can say:
Today Pastor Smith preaches a sermon by Richard Allen entitled “Five Reasons to Believe.”
Today’s sermon by Pastor Smith relies heavily on a sermon by Richard Allen entitled “Five Reasons to Believe.”
So, what do you think. Should the sermon borrowing begin?
See if you agree….Ten Most Redeeming Films according to Christianity Today. Perhaps more attention should be paid to what we deem redemptive? Are there any missing?
