Are Gay Rights Civil Rights?

Bob Russell brings up some good "food for thought" here on the whole "Gay Rights" debate.  I always admire Bob's boldness for being willing to talk about the issues that make many people uncomfortable, and if we are being totally honest, that make most Christians uncomfortable.  We need to be a people of prayer about these matters and stand firm in the Truth of the Word of God.

http://www.bobrussell.org/2014/03/09/are-gay-rights-civil-rights/

Five Really Bad Reasons to Leave Your Church

Another good read from Relevant Magazine.  Thanks to Melissa for passing this along.   Unfortunately, people leave churches for all of the wrong reasons all the time.  Hopefully this will be  food for thought in case you ever personally struggle with this.  Keep the faith, brothers and sisters!

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/church/5-really-bad-reasons-leave-your-church

Before You Post....

Got this from Gloor, our worship minister, yesterday.  Basic message is think before your post brothers and sisters.  Sometimes you can blow your entire witness in a single post.  I have a check that I do personally and that I encourage others to do before you speak, post, tweet, vent, whatever:

1) Is it true?
2) Is it kind?
3) Is it necessary?

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/tech/5-questions-ask-posting-social-media

Christian Yoga? Now That's A Stretch

Wanted to pass this article along from Mark Driscoll that was brought to my attention from one of our elders here at Oakwood.  Though I don't agree with everything that Mark puts out, this is a very thought provoking article for any Christian to consider.  Pray and discern, and compare it to the Living Word!  (I also like his receive, reject, and restore thoughts on engaging culture.  Good stuff there.)

http://pastormark.tv/2011/11/02/christian-yoga-its-a-stretch

New Creations Burning with Passion for the Things of God

From Brennan Manning.  Good stuff.

"How is it that we’ve come to imagine that Christianity consists primarily in what we do for God? How has this come to be the good news of Jesus? Is the kingdom that He proclaimed to be nothing more than a community of men and women who go to church on Sunday, take an annual spiritual retreat, read their Bibles every now and then, vigorously oppose abortion, don’t watch x-rated movies, never use vulgar language, smile a lot, hold doors open for people, root for the favorite team, and get along with everybody? Is that why Jesus went through the bleak and bloody horror of Calvary? Is that why He emerged in shattering glory from the tomb? Is that why He poured out His Holy Spirit on the church? To make nicer men and women with better morals?

The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that He lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand-new creations. Not to make people with better morals, but to create a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnipotent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumes, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant, furious love. This, my friends, is what it really means to be a Christian. Our religion never begins with what we do for God. It always starts with what God has done for us, the great and wondrous things that God dreamed of and achieved for us in Christ Jesus."