How to Start Your Thanksgiving Diet

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November 9, 2021

There are just 14 shopping days left until Thanksgiving! If that sounds strange, perhaps it’s because everywhere you look retailers have already moved on from Halloween to Christmas. I don’t blame them. Their job is to sell product, and retailers promote Christmas in November because they understand it’s hard to sell stuff to people filled with thankfulness and contentment. But what we need a a Thanksgiving Diet.

Don’t Worry: I promise this isn’t the standard “isn’t it a shame Christmas starts so early” rant. It’s not a rant at all, it’s the non-standard “do we understand the importance of giving thanks” meditation.

How to Start Your Thanksgiving Diet

There are more than one hundred scriptural references to giving thanks. Consider just two Old Testament verses:

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (Psalm 100: 4)
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever (Psalm 107:1)

These verses are more than poetry. They reveal the crucial importance of the spiritual discipline of giving thanks. A Thanksgiving diet means habitual gratitude. Yes, giving thanks is a spiritual discipline, a practice, a habit, developed by those growing in God’s grace.

We enter the gates of God’s courtyard by giving thanks.

The image is drawn from the Temple in Jerusalem: a massive structure whose courtyard was open to nearly everyone. The Psalmist instructs us, though, that the only way in was through thanksgiving. Not the mere attitude of gratitude, but the active giving of thanks: outward, vocal, and communal.

The proper response to God’s goodness is giving thanks.

If we can catch the smallest glimpse of his goodness, it will generate thanks. Conversely, if we are not in the habit of giving thanks, perhaps it’s because we have not seen his goodness. And since his love endures forever, our thanks should be unending, and always new.

Thanksgiving is where Students of Jesus begin. The measure of our spirituality is not how much scripture we can recite. It’s not whether we can heal the sick. Nor is it prophetic insight worthy of Jeremiah. It is, simply, to see God’s goodness and respond in the appropriate way: with thanksgiving.

Finally, the good news gets better. In the U.S. we have a holiday devoted to the giving of thanks. Why wait until the fourth Thursday of November? Our Thanksgiving diet can begin today, by meditating on his goodness and giving thanks.

This article on the Thanksgiving diet originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Two Things That Cannot Exist Together: Why Clutter Destroys Focus

By

Mark Cox

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November 9, 2021

I wasn’t always aware of two interesting polar opposites. But throughout the years, I’ve realized there are two things that cannot exist together in my life. No matter what, they are mutually exclusive: clutter and focus.

Until clutter eventually wins, I never realize that the two elements are in such an epic battle. It’s crazy. I’ll walk into my office one day and can’t physically see my desk. That’s when I need to go ahead and hit the pause button.

Everyone is different. But for me, if clutter exists, then focus absolutely doesn’t. Check out my 8 warning signs below. They indicate when clutter is becoming a problem in my life. See which symptoms apply to you too:

Clutter and Focus: Two Things That Cannot Exist Together

1. Taking on too many projects.

This is probably the worst for me. In order to keep my in-box clean, I’ll print out the email to represent a project I need to engage. Eventually, I realize I have so many projects lined up that I start mindlessly deleting things. Although the delete button can be my friend, excessive use can hurt me in the long run.

2. Not finishing the projects that I started.

These are even projects for which I hold the vision! I have a “starter” gift. Unfortunately, I don’t have the “finisher” gift. That’s not an excuse, though. Anyone can start something. The real winners finish what they start (if it’s worth it).

3. Giving too much (or any) time/energy/resources to projects that don’t match up with my vision.

This has more to do with getting involved in the community than anything. Events need promotion. Videos need edited. Teams need donations. All those are good things. However, when they get in the way of your leadership over your organization, they become obstacles to manage. Be careful how many you take on. And don’t be afraid to say no! The “extras” don’t have to answer to God for what you do in this life!

4. Not taking time out to think (this actually deserves to be number one).

The Strengths Finder tells me I need to spend a solid amount of time each week in my own head. I believe the “theme of talent” this relates to is “intellection.” This test showed me that my work, relationship, and life in general will be healthiest when I spend plenty of time thinking. By the way, if you haven’t taken the Strengths Finder, do it. Immediately! It will change everything about your leadership and work life!

5. Not getting enough rest.

When life gets busy, the first thing to go is rest. My thought is, “I can shave off a couple of hours of sleep to finish this project and just grab coffee in the morning.” That’s fine until it turns into a weeklong habit. At that point, you can’t recover.

6. Poor time management.

In student ministry, I have enough work to do to fill my week with office work. But I’m a pastor. And one of my gifts/strengths/skills is to spend time with my students to love on them. If I go office-heavy, those kids get cheated. If I go meeting-heavy, the work gets cheated. And that’s not even taking into account family time. Good time management is key.

7. Not delegating well.

Ugh, this is really tough for me. Yes, I have an awesome youth ministry team ready to take on the next responsibility. But when I run at an unhealthy pace, I tend to blow past them in an effort to complete the next project. This is a symptom that I’m not thinking through my processes and projects.

8. Not maintaining a “stop doing” list.

Jim Collins taught me this. A stop doing list is just as important as a to-do list. Do you spend equal energy on both?

What are your thoughts about these two things that cannot exist together? What symptoms would you add?

Two Christians Killed, Dozens Abducted in Attack on Church in Nigeria

By

Morning Star News

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November 9, 2021

JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – Two Christians were killed in an attack on a church service in southern Kaduna state on Sunday (Oct. 31), with eight others slain in earlier assaults on predominantly Christian villages, sources said.

The lethal attack on Baptist worshippers in Kakau Daji village, Chikun County, also resulted in the kidnapping of dozens of Christians from the Sunday service, church leaders said.

“Two Christians were killed in the church during the morning worship service, and many others were taken away at gunpoint by the armed Fulani herdsmen,” Ishaya Jangado, president of the Kaduna Baptist Convention, said in a text message to Morning Star News.

Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), lamented that the Nigerian government has been incapable of stopping such atrocities after years of attacks.

“Christians are being killed without respite, and the government exhibits carelessness in tackling these monsters,” Hayab said. “These evil people have troubled us for too long.”

In Jankasa village, Zangon Kataf County, Fulani herdsmen on Oct. 25 killed four Christians and wounded three others, residents said. Samuel Aruwan, commissioner of Internal and Home Affairs for Kaduna state, identified those killed as Luka Nelson, Timothy Koni, Pasi Peter and George Francis. Wounded by gunshot were Daniel Dauda, Extra James and Henry Frances, he said.

“The injured persons are now receiving treatment in hospital,” Aruwan said.

On Oct. 24 in Ungwan Taila village, Zangon Kataf County, herdsmen killed two Christians, residents said.

“The herdsmen attacked our village at about 4:30 p.m.; they were large in numbers, and they were shooting randomly as they invaded our community,” village resident Ayuba Musa said in a text message to Morning Star News. “Two of our Christian villagers were killed many others had gunshot wounds.”

The injured were receiving hospital treatment, he said. Aruwan confirmed the killings and said troops would continue search-and-rescue operations in the area.

In Lisuru Gida village, also in Zangon Kataf County, armed herdsmen on Oct. 11 killed a Baptist pastor and another Christian in an ambush, said area resident Yakubu Luka said in a text message.

“The pastor stood his ground by refusing to renounce his Christian faith, even when he knew it would cost him his life,” Luka said. “He was killed alongside a member of his church. There’s no doubt that it is worth dying for Jesus Christ.”

Hayab of the Kaduna state CAN confirmed the killings, saying he was unable to obtain the name of the pastor and the other Christian slain due to the state government cutting off telecommunication services in the area to help the military combat such crimes.

Facebook Parent Meta to Remove Sensitive Ad Categories

By

Barbara Ortutay

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November 9, 2021

Facebook’s parent company Meta says it will remove sensitive ad targeting options related to health, race or ethnicity, political affiliation, religion or sexual orientation beginning on Jan. 19.

Currently, advertisers can target people who have expressed interest in issues, public figures or organizations connected to these topics. That information comes from tracking user activity on Facebook, Instagram and other platforms the company owns.

For instance, someone who’s shown interest in “same-sex marriage” may be shown an ad from a non-profit supporting same-sex marriage. But the categories could also be misused and Meta, formerly Facebook, has been under intense scrutiny from regulators and the public to clean its platform of abuse and misinformation.

Meta Platforms Inc. said in a blog post Tuesday that the decision was “not easy and we know this change may negatively impact some businesses and organizations.” Shares of the company closed at $335.37 Tuesday, down almost 1%.

“Some of our advertising partners have expressed concerns about these targeting options going away because of their ability to help generate positive societal change, while others understand the decision to remove them,” wrote Graham Mudd, vice president of marketing and ads. “Like many of our decisions, this was not a simple choice and required a balance of competing interests where there was advocacy in both directions.”

The Menlo Park, California-based company, which last year made $86 billion in revenue thanks in large part to its granular ad targeting options, has had a slew of problems with how it serves ads to its billions of users.

In 2019, Facebook said it would overhaul its ad-targeting systems to prevent discrimination in housing, credit and employment ads as part of a legal settlement. The social network said at the time it would no longer allow housing, employment or credit ads that target people by age, gender or zip code. It also limited other targeting options so these ads don’t exclude people on the basis of race, ethnicity and other legally protected categories in the U.S., including national origin and sexual orientation.

It also allowed outside groups that were part of the lawsuit, including the American Civil Liberties Union, to test its ad systems to ensure they don’t enable discrimination. The company also agreed to meet with the groups every six months for the following three years, and is building a tool to let anyone search housing-related ads in the U.S. targeted to different areas across the country.

After an uproar over its lack of transparency on political ads Facebook ran ahead of the 2016 election, a sharp contrast to how ads are regulated on traditional media, the company created an ad archive that includes details such as who paid for an ad and when it ran. But it does not share information about who gets served the ad.

Outside researchers tried to remedy this. But in August, Facebook shut down the personal accounts of a pair of New York University researchers and shuttered their investigation into misinformation spread through political ads on the social network.

At Least Some of the Missionaries in Haiti Are Still Alive, Says US Official

By

Jessica Mouser

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November 9, 2021

There is evidence that at least some of the 17 missionaries in Haiti, who were kidnapped along with a driver, are still alive, a senior official in the Biden Administration told Reuters. The missionaries are with Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries (CAM), which has been posting regular updates and requests for prayer.

“‘The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him’ (Nahum 1:7),” said CAM in an update Tuesday, Nov. 9. “On the 25th day since the kidnapping, we cling to God’s precious promises. As our loved ones endure another day in captivity, we again commit them to God and His care.”

CAM’s Nov. 8 update reads in part:

We, along with government authorities, continue to work hard to bring them home safely. This is our heartfelt desire, but we want to surrender to God’s plan and timing.

The families of the hostages continue to face long days of waiting for news about their loved ones. The hostages no doubt face long days as well, wondering when they might be released. Your prayers have been a lifeline of hope and encouragement for the families, for us at CAM, and no doubt for the hostages during the past several weeks. Keep praying!

Missionaries in Haiti Kidnapped 25 Days Ago

The senior official who spoke to Reuters chose to remain anonymous and did not provide further details about the current situation of the hostages.

The missionaries were abducted by the 400 Mawozo gang on Saturday, Oct. 16, while visiting an orphanage. Six men, six women, and five children, ranging from eight months to 15 years in age, were taken hostage, in addition to a Haitian driver. Sixteen of the missionaries are American and one is Canadian.

400 Mawozo is a notorious and violent gang that controls the Croix-des-Bouquets area where the orphanage resides. The gang is demanding a ransom of $1 million per person. White House press secretary Jen Psaki has said that the FBI, as well as other U.S. agencies, are working to bring the missionaries home safely. Kidnappings have increased in Haiti since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 6 and a devastating earthquake on August 14.

Magic Johnson Credits God for Strength, Guidance Three Decades After HIV Diagnosis

By

Stephanie Martin

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November 9, 2021

At a shocking press conference on November 7, 1991, NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson revealed he had HIV and was retiring from basketball. Thirty years later, Magic Johnson took to social media to acknowledge and “thank the Lord for keeping me, giving me strength, and guiding me for 62 years but especially the last 30.”

Johnson, a Hall of Fame point guard who won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, also shared how the experience affected him spiritually. “Through it all I learned to trust in Jesus and I learned to trust in God!” he tweeted Sunday, after noting that the bishop at his church preached a message about “Victory Over Affliction.”

Magic Johnson Tackled the Stigma of HIV/AIDS

When Johnson was diagnosed with HIV, he was newly married, and his wife, Cookie, was pregnant. (Neither she nor their son contracted the virus.) In a recent interview with “CBS Mornings,” Cookie Johnson recalls advising her husband against going public with his diagnosis. “At that time, people weren’t educated,” she says. “They thought you couldn’t touch people [with HIV], you couldn’t hug people. And I didn’t want people to treat us like we were lepers.”

Magic Johnson, who came out of retirement twice, played on the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team and served as president of basketball operations for the Lakers. Staying active “proved to be the right decision,” he says, because it helped people with any disease know they can “live a productive life.”

Through a foundation he launched in 1991, the 11-time All-Star works to educate and support urban communities. Johnson also uses his platform to raise awareness of HIV, which can be controlled though not yet cured. The former athlete, whose HIV remains “undetectable,” takes a daily cocktail of medication.

Magic Johnson Plays Active Role in COGIC Congregation

For more than 20 years, Magic and Cookie Johnson have attended West Angeles Church of God in Christ (COGIC), which is led by Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr. and has a weekly attendance of 24,000. When Johnson stepped away from the Lakers organization for good in 2019, one reason he cited was wanting to focus on church and community outreach. “It’s truly a blessing when you know what direction you’re going in,” he told Charisma News at the time.

Pro-Choice Advocate Alyssa Milano at One Time Felt Her Miscarriages Were ‘Punishment’ for Her Abortions

By

Dale Chamberlain

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November 9, 2021

Alyssa Milano Abortion — Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Actress and pro-choice advocate Alyssa Milano was recently a guest on People’s “Me Becoming Mom” podcast with Zoë Ruderman, where she shared about her experiences with abortion, miscarriages, pregnancy and motherhood.

During the interview, Milano said that, at one time, she felt her miscarriages were “punishment” for the abortions she had when she was in her 20s.

Ruderman began the interview by asking whether Milano always wanted to be a mother, to which Milano replied in the affirmative. However, Milano expressed that she wanted to wait to have a baby until she was in a relationship with the right man. After she married her current husband in 2009, Milano felt that the time had come.

“We started trying pretty immediately, because I got married when I was 36,” Milano said. “I got pregnant right away, and then we miscarried.”

In response, Ruderman asked, “What was that experience like?”

“I mean, I don’t think I was prepared for it, but the way it was explained to me was that if there is something that your body cannot produce or is lacking in order to have this particular baby that the pregnancy will, you know, take care of itself,” Milano said, concluding that “it wasn’t the right time.”

Though she expressed disappointment with her miscarriages, Milano described them with a somewhat clinical perspective. “I also miscarried before my daughter, so at that point I was kind of just aware that this is maybe how my body does it,” Milano said.

Ruderman then asked how long after her first miscarriage it took before Milano wanted to try to get pregnant again.

“I was ready to try again as soon as they gave me the okay. It just felt like it was a bummer. I mean, I know that a lot of women take miscarriages very hard. But for me, it was part of the process, I guess. It was part of the process,” Milano said. “And both miscarriages — I think I was maybe seven or eight weeks pregnant — so, you know, if it wasn’t viable, my body did what it was supposed to do. And so I still look at it like that.”

“That seems like a very healthy way of looking at it,” Ruderman replied.

Franklin Graham Has Heart Surgery to Treat Pericarditis

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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November 9, 2021

Franklin Graham Pericarditis — Cornstalker, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Franklin Graham announced this morning on Facebook that he had successful heart surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on Monday.

Graham is the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and president of Samaritan’s Purse. He is also the fourth of five children to the late Billy and Ruth Graham.

Graham underwent the surgery after doctors discovered Graham’s heart had developed “constrictive pericarditis,” an inflammation and hardening of the sac around the heart. This hardened sac compresses on the heart and prevents it from working accurately. The surgery was to remove the pericardium.

“The team here at Mayo Clinic does such an incredible job — I couldn’t speak more highly of them,” Graham wrote. “My doctors said I should expect a full recovery and will be able to return to my normal ministry schedule. I look forward to many opportunities around the world in 2022 to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invite people to put their faith and trust in Him. I’m also looking forward to being able to ride my motorcycle by the time warm weather hits! I appreciate everyone’s prayers.”

Graham’s daughter, Cissie Graham Lynch, tweeted about how proud she is of her father, saying, “It’s no secret how proud I am of dad, @Franklin_Graham — and today is no different, as he begins a long road of healing. I’m beyond thankful for the prayers for my dads full recovery today and in the coming days and weeks as he regains his strength.”

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) clinical consideration release, which was reviewed this past August, reports that increased cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported in the U.S. from people who have received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines utilize mRNA technology, while the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (Johnson & Johnson) does not.

It is unknown which COVID-19 vaccine Graham received, and the COVID-19 vaccine has not been referenced in relation to Graham’s pericarditis diagnosis. ChurchLeaders is not claiming that the COVID-19 vaccine is connected Graham’s pericarditis.

Graham, who is 69-years-old, has been an outspoken advocate for the COVID-19 vaccine. Earlier this year, he appeared on Axios on HBO and encouraged pastors to inform their congregations about the vaccine and where they could receive the shot. “We are leaders in a community and we have a responsibility to inform of the truth,” Graham said.

Calling the vaccine “pro-life,” Graham said, “I want people to know that COVID-19 can kill you, but we have a vaccine out there that could possibly save your life — and if you wait, it can be too late.”

The Fruit of Patience

By

R.C. Sproul

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November 9, 2021

The prophet Habakkuk was sorely distressed. His misery was provoked by the spectacle of the threat of the pagan nation of Babylon against Judah. To this prophet it was unthinkable that God would use an evil nation against His own people; after all, Habakkuk mused, “God is too holy even to look upon evil.” So the prophet protested by mounting his watchtower and demanding an answer from God:

And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” (Hab. 2:2–4)

The final words of this utterance, “the righteous shall live by faith,” are cited three times in the New Testament by the familiar words, “the just shall live by faith.” In this phrase, “faith” refers to “trust in God.” It involves trusting in the future promises of God and waiting for their fulfillment. The promise to Habakkuk is one of just thousands given by God in Scripture to His people. Such promises characteristically come with the admonition that though they tarry, we must wait for them.

Waiting for God is at the heart of living by faith. The Christian does not share the cynical skepticism dramatized by the theatrical production Waiting for Godot. The end of Christian hope is never shame or embarrassment, because we have a hope that is a sure anchor for our souls. It is this hope in the trustworthy promises of God that is the ground of the Christian’s virtue of patience.

We are told that we live in a culture that is consumed by consumerism. Madison Avenue daily feeds our instant gratification, which is not merely a weakness; it is an addiction in our time. The epidemic of credit-card indebtedness bears witness to this malady. We want our luxuries, our pleasures, and our niceties, and we want them now. The antiquated virtue by which stewardship capitalism had its impetus was the principle of “delayed gratification.” One postponed immediate consumption in favor of investing for future growth. By that principle, many prospered — but not without the necessary exercise of patience.

When the Bible speaks of patience, particularly as one of the fruits of the Spirit, and as one of the characteristics of love, it speaks of it as a virtue that goes far beyond the mere ability to await some future gain. It involves more than the rest or peace of the soul that trusts in God’s perfect timing. The patience that is in view here focuses more on interpersonal relationships with other people. It is the patience of longsuffering and of forbearing in the midst of personal injury. This is the most difficult patience of all.

When we are injured by others, we long for vindication, a vindication that is speedy. We fear that the axiom “justice delayed is justice denied” will work its havoc in our souls. The parable of the unjust judge speaks eloquently to this human struggle, when our Lord asks rhetorically: “Will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night?” The parable that calls us not to faint in times of trial ends with the haunting question: “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” The parable ties together patience and faith.

If we look at the triad of virtues underscored in the New Testament—faith, hope, and love—we see that each one of these virtues contains within it the necessary ingredient of patience. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that love suffers long. This longsuffering, forbearing patience is to be the Christian’s reflection of the character of God. It is part of God’s character to be slow to anger and quick to be merciful. Part of the incomprehensibility of God in terms of my own relationship with Him is this: I cannot fathom how a holy God has been able to put up with me marring His creation to the degree I have for three score and five years. For me to live another day requires a continuation of God’s gracious patience with my sin.

The bare and simple question is this, “How can He put up with me?” The mystery is compounded when we add to the patience of God not only His patience with me but His patience with you, and you, and you, and you—multiplied exponentially throughout the whole world. It becomes even more difficult to fathom when we see a sinless Being being more patient with sinful beings than sinful beings are with each other.

Best Analogy of the Existence of the Invisible God I’ve Ever Heard

By

Patrick Morley

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November 9, 2021

My daughter-in-law sent me this story by Hungarian writer Útmutató a Léleknek. It is the best analogy of the existence of the invisible God that I have ever heard.

In a mother’s womb were two babies. One asked the other: “Do you believe in life after delivery?”

The other replied, “Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later.”

“Nonsense,” said the first. “There is no life after delivery. What kind of life would that be?”

The second said, “I don’t know, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths. Maybe we will have other senses that we can’t understand now.”

The first replied, “That is absurd. Walking is impossible. And eating with our mouths? Ridiculous! The umbilical cord supplies nutrition and everything we need. But the umbilical cord is so short. Life after delivery is to be logically excluded.”

The second insisted, “Well I think there is something, and maybe it’s different than it is here. Maybe we won’t need this physical cord anymore.”

The first replied, “Nonsense. And moreover, if there is life, then why has no one ever come back from there? Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery there is nothing but darkness and silence and oblivion. It takes us nowhere.”

“Well, I don’t know,” said the second, “but certainly we will meet Mother and she will take care of us.”

The first replied, “Mother? You actually believe in Mother? That’s laughable. If Mother exists then where is She now?”

The second said, “She is all around us. We are surrounded by her. We are of Her. It is in Her that we live. Without Her this world would not and could not exist.”

Said the first: “Well I don’t see Her, so it is only logical that She doesn’t exist.”

To which the second replied, “Sometimes, when you’re in silence and you focus and you really listen, you can perceive Her presence, and you can hear Her loving voice, calling down from above.”

Until every church disciples every person for the Invisible God …

Effective Cell Group Topics You Can Use

By

Joel Comiskey

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November 9, 2021

The goal of my men’s life group is to make everyone a disciple who makes other disciples. This should be the goal of every cell group. Although I lead the group, I’m more of the coach than the leader. That is, my role is to make sure everyone in the group is participating and becoming a disciple in the process. Cell group topics must support this goal.

Part of the discipleship process is that each one leads the lesson time. To ensure this happens, we rotate each month. That is, one person rotates each month leading the Welcome time (icebreaker); another person rotates leading the Worship time; another person rotates leading the Word (lesson time), and another person will rotate leading the Witness time. Are some naturally better in leading the lesson time? Yes, definitely. But the point is not to place the best person in front of the group but to make disciples by giving everyone the opportunity. Remember that people become disciples in the process of participating, rather than merely listening.

RELATED: Small Group Discipleship

Cell Group Topics Made Plain

To make sure everyone succeeds in leading the cell group topics, I’ve been on a quest to simplify it and make sure the questions are simple and application oriented. What could be more simple than Randall Neighbor’s three questions about cell group lessons:

What’s the main point of the passage?
Can someone share something from your past or what you’re going through at the moment that makes this passage powerful or timely?
What is this passage challenging you to do personally (and how can we support you)?

How To Lead Worship Online – 4 Keys

By

Mike O’Brien

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November 9, 2021

A huge component of any worship gathering is, well, the gathering. It’s the people. In light of the quarantine taking place with most churches it’s important that we take a deep breath and consider the challenge ahead for us as the church. Now we lead worship online. It is a shock to the system and learning curve for musicians, techs, and congregations. There’s a new skill-set necessary: how to lead worship online.

It’s OK to grieve the loss of the physical connection. Don’t rush, and don’t try to make a virtual meeting more victorious than it is. Nothing will compare to the physical connection of people. That being said, God is not limited. For example, check out this less-than-ideal worship service with Paul and Silas in prison:

After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. Acts 16:23-26

Even in shackles, their worship of Jesus and recognition of his kingdom was established in that less than ideal situation. The same can be true for us. Jesus is established forever, and he will be glorified in the Church. Here are a few things worship leaders can think about when leading worship in this new era.

How To Lead Worship Online

1. Name the Strangeness

This is not business as usual. You can publicly acknowledge the uniqueness of the time and format even as you learn how to lead worship online. Look forward to a day when we will be together again. Reflect on times past that were wonderful. Let people know this is new for them—and you! Smile. Laugh when things go wrong. Don’t feel a greater pressure to perform or be perfect.

“Welcome to worship on Facebook Live and YouTube! We are so glad you logged in to participate in worship together. This is a unique time and we recognize this will be hard for some of you. This is new for us, too!”

2. Give Permission

As a virtual worship leader it’s important that you recognize that everyone is watching and participating at their own comfort level. When you lead worship online, people see you, but you do not see them. Encourage everyone to take postures of worship that might include singing, shouting, lifting hands, bowing down, or kneeling down. For many, this will be the first time they might feel comfortable worshipping this way. Encourage families (especially families with children) to worship together through dance and physical action.

“We encourage you, in the comfort of your own home to worship freely before the Lord. Turn up the music and express your worship to God through song and prayer. Feel free to bow before the Lord or dance with your family. Be free to worship!”

3. Do Less

When you are in a room with people looking at you it’s a lot easier to “feel” the room. Since you will not have the sympathetic sounds and vibrations of the room you should assume that you will lose people more quickly. As you led worship online, consider a shorter worship set or amend the songs, so they don’t carry on too long. If you are fortunate enough to have more production elements (additional cameras or top-notch broadcast audio) you might be able to extend things. But if you are just getting started consider using a smaller worship team rather than immediately trying to get your whole band to broadcast-quality sound.

4. Sweat the Small Stuff

As you move to a regular culture of live streaming there are elements at play that might be new to you. When you lead worship online the clothing you wear is much more important (solids are better than stripes). Stage lighting is a bigger deal. Effects like reverb and delay are much more pronounced. All of these little things are simply more important because the two-dimensional expression on the screen is more limiting, and we need to help remove unique obstacles. Also, make sure you watch and review what things actually look and sound like during rehearsal or sound check. You might change your strumming style or your posture based on what you see. Also, ask congregants for their feedback on what could be done better as the weeks progress.

“Difficult times” doesn’t mean “impossible times.” You can serve your church in this hour, and grow as a worship leader and learn how to lead worship online.

This article on how to lead worship online originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Advent Prayer Stations: 4 Meaningful Ideas Children Will Love

By

Theresa Cho

-

November 8, 2021

For Christians, Advent is a season of preparation and waiting. Children, too, are eager to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Advent prayer stations are a great way to help kids focus on the real meaning of the Christmas season.

My church uses Advent prayer stations on the first Sunday of Advent. But you can use them any time. The stations offer opportunities to engage, reflect and meditate on this period of expectation. Plus, they work well in Sunday school as well as children’s church.

Four ideas for interactive Advent prayer stations are provided below. Use them to prepare children’s hearts and minds to welcome Jesus at Christmas and all year long. The interactive stations are meant to be intergenerational. Some are specifically designed for ages 2 to 4. You can view more photos of the stations here.

1. Notice Advent Trimmings

Materials: Branches, Christmas Lights, Glass Ornaments, Basket, Strips of Paper, Markers, Advent Painting

In this season filled with trimmings and decorations, how might all these things remind you of God’s decorative presence in your life? How may God want to “trim” your life this season?

If you’d like, in a few words, write this on the paper. Place it in the ornament to trim the church tree or yours at home.

Briefly allow this to be part of you now … invite God to enrich your faith journey.

2. Listen for Advent Sounds

Materials: Musical Scores, Table

Which of these names for Jesus are most significant to you in this season, and why?

Emmanuel, Dayspring, Newborn King, Light, Gift, King of Kings, Lamb, Messiah, Prince of Peace, Rose, Savior, the Child, Baby, Brother

Pray to invite Jesus to be present with you as you hear the many carols of the season, wherever you experience them.

Reflect on the significance of this now … invite God to broaden your faith journey.

3. Watch Advent Lights

Materials: Picture of Balloons, Tealight Candles, Matches, Table

Where will I find hope, offer hope.

There are few things more fragile than an embryo of hope

given its chance of life only by those who say ‘yes’ to its promise

like the prophets who said yes to God’s urging,

Mary who said yes to an angel

and Joseph who said yes to his Mary,

like the people of faith through all of time who have said yes to the promise of love,

and as we sit by the side of our wall

—whatever that wall might be—

surrounded by the rubble and rubbish of broken dreams and lives,

what faith does it take to imagine an embryo of hope being brought to life here?

What ‘yes’ are you able to say

for it be born in our world?

Feel free to light a candle. Set it on a balloon as a sign of the hope you desire to offer another this season. Picture how someone will notice that light of hope.

Take time to let this settle into you now … invite God to enhance your faith journey.

4. Advent Prayer Stations for Toddlers

Activity one: Many people were at the birth of Jesus Christ. Look through the books and hear the story through different eyes.

Materials: A variety of children’s books on the birth of Christ, such as Bright Christmas : An Angel Remembers by Andrew Clements and Kate Kiesler, The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi by Dianne Hofmeyr, The Greatest Shepherd of All: A Really Woolly Christmas Story by Holly Gerth and Rosemary Harris, The Shepherd’s Christmas Story by Dandi Daley Mackall and Dominic Catalano, Mary’s First Christmas by Walter Wangerin, Spirit Child: A Story of the Nativity (Aztec) by J. Bierhorst and B Cooney

Activity two: Nativity is about the birth of Jesus. Who was at the birth of Jesus? What happened? Use the costumes to interact with the story. Imagine yourself as an animal in the barn, a wise person, an animal or an angel. How did they feel? What did they see?

Materials: Nativity Backdrop, a Manger, Dolls (for Jesus), Costumes (animals, angels, shepherds, magi)

Activity three: Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time when we wait for Christmas, when Jesus was born. Children all over the world count down the 24 days until Christmas using an Advent calendar. Make an Advent Calendar:

Take a tree bubble wrap.
Write 1 through 24 on each circle sticker.
Stick a circle sticker in order on each bubble.
Hang it in your house. Each day, pop a bubble.

Materials: Bubble wrap cut in the shape of a tree, Circle stickers, Markers

SBC Church Ignites Twitter Storm After Ordaining Its First Female Pastor

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

November 8, 2021

Austin Fischer, Vista Community Church’s (VCA) lead pastor, tweeted that the church ordained their first female pastor on Sunday October 31, 2021. VCA is listed as a Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) church on the directory of SBC Churches.

“We ordained our first female pastor on Sunday. I understand [people] have diverse views on these things,” Fischer wrote. “I can only testify to what I have seen & discerned, which is the call of God upon so many daughters of God.”

Lauren Russell is listed on VCA’s website as their executive pastor.

It didn’t take long for SBC pastors Tom Buck, Dwight McKissic, Denny Burk, and others to continue their debate on whether women should carry the title of pastor within the church, and whether such a practice is in accordance with SBC’s Baptist Faith and Message 2000 [BFM2000].

The BFM2000 states in Section VI that the Church’s “scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”

McKissic wrote, “If @TomBuck wants to stop an autonomous local SBC church from exercising their freedom to affirm & empower women in ministry, within the context/parameters of a biblical framework, as they interpret Scripture-then he needs to call for a change in the BFM2K, that prohibits this.”

Burk, who is a Professor of Biblical Studies at SBC’s Boyce College, didn’t believe VCA was an SBC church until he found them in the directory. “Surely they are not SBC, right? Our doctrinal statement affirms that ‘the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture,’” Burk said. After finding their listing in the SBC directory, he wrote, “perhaps this listing is dated or otherwise incorrect?”

Buck replied to Burk, “At first I thought they weren’t, but then was told they were. I’m trying to verify. But I believe this is more prevalent in the SBC than we know. And there are certainly men in the SBC who are perfectly fine with it. There has definitely been a shift.”

“For those (e.g., @pastordmack) who believe that a woman can be ordained as a pastor but cannot serve as ‘lead pastor,’ explain from Scripture how you arrive at this position,” Buck said in a later tweet. “In other words, if a woman can be ordained as a pastor, why can she not be the ‘lead pastor?’”

Pope Decries Ethiopia’s Humanitarian Crisis, Urges Dialogue

By

AP News

-

November 8, 2021

Pope Francis Ethiopia — Pope Francis waves during the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Sunday decried the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia and pressed for dialogue to prevail over the protracted war.

The pontiff in his traditional appearance to the public in St. Peter’s Square said he was following the news with “worry” from the Horn of Africa, particularly from Ethiopia, “shaken by a conflict that has dragged on for more than a year and has caused numerous victims and a grave humanitarian crisis.”

The war in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region has killed thousands of people and displaced millions and left many struggling with severe hunger.

“I invite everyone to pray for those populations so harshly tried, and I renew my appeal so that fraternal harmony and the peaceful path of dialogue may prevail,” Francis said.

On Friday, the U.N. Security Council called for an end to the intensifying and expanding conflict and for unhindered access for humanitarian aid to tackle the hunger crisis.

The Rome-based U.N. World Food Program said last week that it had appealed to all parties in the conflict to allow trucks carrying food, medicine and other humanitarian assistance to those in need, but that so far its urgent requests have gone unheeded.

This article originally appeared here.

Chris Pratt Encourages Others to Listen to Christian Music and Read the Bible Amid Backlash

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

November 8, 2021

Popular actor and outspoken Christian Chris Pratt shared on social media about how God used his Christian music playlist to lift him out of a state of depression, after receiving criticism for an earlier Instagram post about his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, and daughter, Lyla Maria.

“We met in church. She’s given me an amazing life, a gorgeous healthy daughter,” Pratt posted on Instagram last week, speaking of his wife and his one year-old daughter.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chris Pratt (@prattprattpratt)

Pratt also has a nine year-old son, Jack, whom he had with his then-wife Anna Farris. Jack was born two months premature, which has caused some ongoing health issues. In Farris’ memoir, she wrote, “The pediatric neurosurgeon sat Chris and me down to tell us that Jack had some severe brain bleeding and there was a chance that he could be developmentally disabled.”

Some were quick to try and cancel Pratt for his post, calling Pratt’s reference to his “healthy daughter” an insult to his son.

“I love Chris Pratt. but the ‘healthy daughter’ part made me wince,” one Twitter follower wrote. “Although he may not have meant it as an insult, it sort of came off that way. Imagine how that will make his son feel, if he ever reads it?”

Another said, “I feel bad for his son. He could have just said she gave me a beautiful daughter. He didn’t have to say beautiful HEALTHY daughter. Ugh. Sad.”

Barna Shares ‘Good’ and ‘Challenging’ News for Pastors of Millennials

By

Jessica Mouser

-

November 8, 2021

There is encouraging and sobering news for pastors of millennials in a new, 62-page report from Barna examining millennial views on different areas of life. When exploring how much millennials trust various cultural influencers, Barna found that millennials do trust pastors—but that trust is “guarded.”

“The good news for pastors,” wrote Barna, “is that millennials, on balance, are somewhat more likely to trust them than to not trust them: 54 percent said they would trust pastors of Christian churches to do what is right or to tell the truth at least sometimes. In comparison 37 percent said they would not afford pastors even that minimal level of trust.”

However, Barna continued, “The more challenging news for pastors…is that the most important response (the ‘top box’ response on the scale, indicating that the respondent would ‘always or almost always trust pastors of Christian churches to tell the truth or to do what is right’) reached only 26 percent. Phrased differently, three out of four millennials do not have consistent trust in the words and decisions of Christian pastors.”

Barna inferred from the data collected in the report that millennial views of pastors represent a “solid outcome, but not sufficient to suggest [that pastors have] consistent and widespread cultural influence.” What’s more, “a different ratio…suggests that pastors may need to rethink their practices and reputation.”

Millennial Views for Pastors to Note

The report, titled “New Insights into the Generation of Growing Influence: Millennials In America,” was released in October 2021. Researchers conducted the survey during August 2021, defining “millennials” as all adults born from 1984 through 2002, that is, people aged 18 to 37 at the time of the survey. The research offers many insights for church leaders on millennial views of the Christian faith, as well as millennial perspectives on politics, civic engagement, life purpose, and mental health.

One part of the survey asked participants to give their opinion on the following topics: conservatives, liberals/progressives, Christianity, atheism, socialism, democracy, the United States of America, the Bible, and Jesus Christ.

Respondents saw Jesus in the most favorable light, with 39 percent saying that their opinion of him was “very positive.” The Bible came in second in the very positive category at 29 percent, followed by Christianity at 26 percent. Only eight percent of participants saw atheism as very positive.

Sixty-five percent of those surveyed said they identify as “any type” of Christian, including evangelical, maineline, and Catholic. Forty-six percent said that they are confident they will go to heaven because they have trusted in Jesus as their savior, and 46 percent said they believe that the Bible is the actual Word of God and a trustworthy guide for their lives.

Nevertheless, Barna cautioned that these results are not as positive as they seem.

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How to Start Your Thanksgiving Diet

We enter the gates of God’s courtyard by giving thanks.

The proper response to God’s goodness is giving thanks.

Clutter and Focus: Two Things That Cannot Exist Together

1. Taking on too many projects.

2. Not finishing the projects that I started.

3. Giving too much (or any) time/energy/resources to projects that don’t match up with my vision.

4. Not taking time out to think (this actually deserves to be number one).

5. Not getting enough rest.

6. Poor time management.

7. Not delegating well.

8. Not maintaining a “stop doing” list.

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What’s the main point of the passage?

Can someone share something from your past or what you’re going through at the moment that makes this passage powerful or timely?

What is this passage challenging you to do personally (and how can we support you)?

How To Lead Worship Online

1. Name the Strangeness

2. Give Permission

3. Do Less

4. Sweat the Small Stuff

1. Notice Advent Trimmings

2. Listen for Advent Sounds

3. Watch Advent Lights

4. Advent Prayer Stations for Toddlers

Millennial Views for Pastors to Note

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