Sep
30
2008
[Washington Post]
Congregants find megachurches offer more personal worship and sense of community than smaller churches, according to a study released yesterday that challenges the conventional wisdom that some large churches are too big to offer a spiritual experience.
Researchers at the Institute for Studies of Religion, who defined megachurches as those with more than 1,000 worshipers, found that their members were twice as likely to have friends in the congregation than members of small churches. They also displayed a higher level of personal commitment to the church — attending services and tithing more often than small-church members.
Megachurches are often criticized for having “all sorts of flaws,” said Rodney Stark, co-director of the institute, based at Baylor University. “They’re big . . . they’re kind of cold, they have kind of like theater audiences — all wrong.”
The findings come on the heels of a survey released last week that found that megachurches’ three-decade expansion shows no signs of abating. That study, of churches with weekend worship attendance of 2,000 or more, found that the average megachurch’s attendance grew 50 percent in the past five years.
Read more here.
[From me]
I guess bigger is better according to this survey. Although I read just last week that many of the mega churches are shrinking. So which survey do you believe? I guess if I had my choice I’d rather be in a larger setting than smaller. Most of the mega churches that I’ve observed up close seemed to have a keen sense of ownership in doing the ministry of the church than smaller ones. But I’m sure that is not true everywhere.
What do you think?
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Sep
30
2008
[AFP]
An Internet video showing Sarah Palin being blessed by a Kenyan witch-hunter emerged Thursday in the latest online blast from the Republican vice-presidential nominee’s past. The video appeared on Youtube and several sites showing Palin taking part in a 2005 service at a Pentecostal church in Alaska where preacher Thomas Muthee calls for witches and other Palin enemies to be defeated.
In the video, Palin can be seen standing before Muthee with her head bowed as her hands are held by two members of the congregation. In his sermon, Muthee praises Palin for her quest to become governor of Alaska and calls on other church members to seek positions of influence.
“In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, every form of witchcraft is what you rebuke. In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, father make away now,” Muthee says in the video.
“Come on, talk to God about this woman. We declare, save her from Satan,” he adds. “Make her way, my God. Bring finances her way even for the campaign in the name of Jesus. Use her to turn this nation the other way around.”
In the same sermon, Muthee calls on followers to seek positions of influence in government, education and business.
“If we have that in our schools we will not have kids being taught how to worship Buddha, how to worship (Prophet) Mohammed. We will not have in the curriculum, witchcraft and sorcery,” Muthee said.
Read more here.
[From me]
Here is an example that the press doesn’t get spirituality. Vote for whomever you want, but to make fun of Palin’s faith is pitiful. I’ve had people pray over me in a similar manner and I’ve prayed for people the same way. What the press doesn’t understand is that Prayer works. We live in a world that is in a battle for our souls. Laugh at me if you want but I see nothing wrong with these prayers. In fact, I pray them daily.
What do you think?
Sep
29
2008
[WSB]
Officials said some metro Atlanta drivers are calling 911 to find out which gasoline stations have fuel.
“911 is for emergencies, and gasoline shortages — as important as they may be to some people — are not emergencies,” said Well Tallon, Douglas County director of communications and community relations.
Tallon said 911 operators have no way of knowing which stations are open and which stations are not, and do not know when deliveries are scheduled.
“Most of the gasoline stations themselves do not know when their next gasoline delivery will arrive,” said Tallon.
Officials said the gasoline calls could interfere with life-and-death emergency calls that need the immediate attention of 911 operator.
Read more here.
[From me]
I wouldn’t call 911 but I can see why people are panicking. I told you that I filled up last Thursday @ $3.99. I was extremely tired from a draining week that I will share more about this week. I would have loved to have slept in on Saturday but I had to take my son to his football game all the way across town. It was raining but not lightning and thunder so we knew they game would still be on, right? Ha, he plays in the the “Keystone Cops” league. Usually games start 2-4 hours late. So I brought a book with me and drove him to the game. No one was there! I called the coach and he said, “you didn’t get the phone call? And told me to check the website next time. You don’t call football games for drizzle! So I wasted gas and sleep driving to a game that wasn’t.
Last night Cassandra said her tank was empty and we couldn’t find gas anywhere. So after Fusion last night I drove up to to Denver, NC then Huntersville with a 5 gallon can looking for gas. When I finally found some in Huntersville, it was scary. People were rude and ugly. I was really concerned for my safety as one man ripped into the gas station attendant for closing the station while he was waiting in line.
I don’t understand what is going on. I’ve heard in the Midwest people are paying $3.09 a gallon and our gas when you find it is $4.09. I think it is high time America get off it’s dependence on foreign oil. We need to find alternatives that are reasonable. Why not make a law that by 2020 every vehicle must run off of _______ alternative fuel. That way the oil companies know it is coming and can invest in alternative fuels.
I honestly believe that we could have a revolt in this country over gas. The last time I felt this helpless was living on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. People were acting much the same way as we are seeing here in NC. Crazy times!
What do you think?
Sep
28
2008
[Yahoo News]
An atheist soldier says in a federal lawsuit that his superiors required him to be present for Christian prayers, and that the military allows fundamentalist Christians to proselytize.Spc. Dustin Chalker, a combat medicwith an engineering battalion, alleges he was required to attend three events from December 2007 to May 2008 at Fort Riley in which Christian prayers were delivered. Chalker has served in Iraq and Korea.
Chalker and and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation filed the lawsuit against Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday in Kansas City, Kan. It alleges violations of the soldier’s religious freedoms.
The lawsuit alleges the military allows religious discrimination by fundamentalist Christians who try to force their views on others, especially subordinates. Its examples include programs for soldiers, presentations by “anti-Muslim activists” and a “spiritual handbook” for soldiers endorsed by Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East.
Defense Department spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said Friday the department has received fewer than 50 complaints alleging religious discrimination in the past three years. The armed forces have more than 2.2 million active-duty and Reserve personnel.
Read more here.
[From me]
If the man is an atheist, what difference does it make? He doesn’t believe in God so the prayer won’t affect him. The military has less than 50 complaints out of 2.2 million personnel. Also, why should the majority have to give in to one person?
What do you think?
Sep
27
2008
[ADELAIDE Now]
ADELAIDE man Sam Marinos believes he has been blessed with the holiest of gifts – the image of Jesus Christ – in the dregs of a Greek coffee.
So strong was Mr Marinos’s belief that he has preserved “Christ’s” image by storing the stained mug in an air-tight container for more than four years.
Now he wants to put his cup of Christ to the litmus test of public opinion and is considering selling it on eBay.
“When I saw it I thought it was the icon straight away,” the 53-year-old said. “There was just some feeling about it, that’s why we never washed it and we sealed it, and we kept it.
Read more here
[From me]
It looks like the West Virginia Mountaineer mascot!
What do you think?
