It’s Wednesday, but Friday’s a-coming!
- A very well-crafted response from Eric Metaxas over the decision by Lifeway Christian Resources to pull a DVD off their shelves — a movie that was described by some as saturated with Christian values and example.
- Should churches use automated voice-message systems? People find them annoying, but email isn’t really effective.
- Not surprisingly, lots of flack from Mormons over their cover story in Bloomberg Businessweek.
- Meanwhile, here are five points from a Canadian cult expert on where LDS teachings diverge from Christian orthodoxy.
- A Christian and a Muslim join together to urge hotel executives — not on religious grounds but in the name of decency — to rethink the pornographic television channels in their properties.
- A rare video interview with the entire Hybels family: Bill, Lynne, Shauna and Todd.
- Jenni Catron debriefs the rather brief appearance of protesters from Westboro Baptist at Crosspoint Church last Sunday.
- Eighteen years after her 1994 album release on Sparrow Records, Cheri Keaggy is back with a new CD, So I Can Tell.
- Exodus International, a ministry to gays and lesbians, has just undergone what Scot McKnight calls a “colossal shift” in its position on reparative therapy.
- Got 40 minutes? Enjoy a sermon by Substance Church pastor Peter Haas, a young communicator with a young church in Minnesota/St. Paul, author of the forthcoming book, Pharisectomy. (Teaching starts at 7:59)
- Got $2.2 million (US)? You could be considered a serious buyer for pastor Ed Young’s house.
- Rob Horsely reviews Part of Me, the documentary on gospel singer turned pop sensation Katy Hudson aka Kate Perry; while at the same time the singer is on record as praying for acceptance of same-sex marriage.
- Does your worship leader sport tattoos? Jon Acuff thinks the church bulletin should have a note explaining the symbolism.
- It’s a short meditation that’s worth the click: Carlos Whitaker on Prayers that Scare the Crap Out of You.
- Does your church march in local parades? If churches in your area do, they often send counter-productive, negative messages. But progressive churches need to do it differently to reach the large crowds.
- Meanwhile, USAToday’s religion page is suggesting that an increasing number of churches are switching to Wednesday Worship during the summer.
- A “Spiritual Themes” panel for cartoonists and fans happens at the most recent Comic-Con.
- Love finding free music. Probably this is old news, but here’s a free six-song download of Rich Kirkpatrick’s Drink The Divine. Or just listen.
- Note re. submissions: If any part of your blog or website is “powered by Google” it is increasingly unlikely that it will end up linked here. Page loads are taking up to ten times longer.
Thinking Out Loud 