Do not miss out on this blog's list of pastors worth podcasting for 2008. The list below to the right: Wayne Cordiero, Andy Stanley, Joel Osteen, Greg Hoffmann.
Rated for not only their amazing way to deliver a relevant message, these are pastors who also have a technical team that think like listeners. So podcaster feels welcome and thoughtfully treated with book-end messages, music and other editing treatment to the podcast. We don't just feel like a kid with a glass to the door in the middle of a conversation!
All the pastors are a MUST HEAR for their relevance and messages of leaning-in and taking on hope like no others have communicated before. There are two messages in particular that are a MUST for listening.
ONE: A discussion from Granger Community Church’s Rob Wegner on 11/24/08, titled Outside Impact. Rob has the best explanation I have heard so far addressing Oprah’s view on religion – and how conflicted Christians can better understand it. It’s the first time I have heard anyone intelligently explain, (from a philosophical perspective) without fear-mongering, how Christians can not only understand, but welcome differing views on the paths to God - -without feeling like they condone anything other than Jesus as the Way. Rob’s style and presentation are funny, easy to understand and follow (a huge and complicated subject), and extremely biblical in the perspective of urging Christians not to judge other views.
TWO: Andy Stanley of North Point Ministries offers a weekly leadership podcast that is critical for anyone who is employed in any business. First, I have to say, bar none, (and I podcast many, many pastors throughout the US), Andy is the BEST go to person for listening to worship services. Always, always he has relevant things to say in an urgent context that strikes to the core. He presents with such humor, respect, intelligence, and he just talks like a real person….like I am talking to my husband’s buddies or something.
But here, I am recommending that you check out Andy’s Weekly Leadership podcast. It’s relevant and applicable to any business. That said, if you are a church leader and NOT listening to Andy Stanley, you may as well hang up any hope in improving on God’s plan for your church. It is that important. Andy has such practical, real-life, situational examples of church leadership conflicts, and how to adopt a fresh perspective, embrace difficulties, and how to work through and grow together in God’s plan.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Not to Mix Politics and Religion, But...
I have a tremendous amount of reverence and respect for McCain. He's a good man. For a long time (like the past 8 years) I wished he could be our President. But I was never so aggravated with myself for being a Republican as when John McCain started using the sound bite, "Mr. Obama wants us to spread the wealth (he said this in a jeering tone, hence the ital). We work hard for our money and should keep it in our own pockets!"
I have to tell you, as a Christian Republican - - and I fully understand that Christian's are traditionally associated with Republicans and the Republican sound bites that fly out there - - but as a Christian who really strives to live biblically, I was sick, pissed off, embarrassed, and fatigued by being a Republican.
How many times in the Bible does Jesus talk about money? How many? Of all the subjects he is quoted on, money is the 1 subject he talks most about. Remember what he says? (I am asking only Christian Republicans who like to keep the money they rightfully earn). Remember what Jesus says? Jesus...you know, the whole reason you are a CHRISTian? He calls us to GIVE OUR MONEY AWAY. He urges us to freely give to the poor. Not just freely, but without thinking, without even knowing what you are doing -JUST GIVE.
So, if someone in this country wants to install policies that would spread the wealth to the poorer of the classes, isn't that setting up a system by which we would be giving without thinking? Wouldn't it?
Shouldn't we (as the statistically low-tithers we are), shouldn't we welcome policies that 'spread the wealth'? Yes.
I have to tell you, as a Christian Republican - - and I fully understand that Christian's are traditionally associated with Republicans and the Republican sound bites that fly out there - - but as a Christian who really strives to live biblically, I was sick, pissed off, embarrassed, and fatigued by being a Republican.
How many times in the Bible does Jesus talk about money? How many? Of all the subjects he is quoted on, money is the 1 subject he talks most about. Remember what he says? (I am asking only Christian Republicans who like to keep the money they rightfully earn). Remember what Jesus says? Jesus...you know, the whole reason you are a CHRISTian? He calls us to GIVE OUR MONEY AWAY. He urges us to freely give to the poor. Not just freely, but without thinking, without even knowing what you are doing -JUST GIVE.
So, if someone in this country wants to install policies that would spread the wealth to the poorer of the classes, isn't that setting up a system by which we would be giving without thinking? Wouldn't it?
Shouldn't we (as the statistically low-tithers we are), shouldn't we welcome policies that 'spread the wealth'? Yes.
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