TheMorningFive 08/22/08
Medicine vs. Miracles
A new survey has found that Americans have more faith in God than doctors when it comes to life-threatening health scares. About 57 percent of those surveyed said they thought God could miraculously intervene in a dire health situation even when physicians can’t.
Megachurch TV
Slate has this story about megachurches that are using video conferencing to change the way people go to church. The article looks at how many large congregations actually watch their sermons on big-screen TVs and projectors from other churches thousands of miles away.
Though the “franchising” element that brings popular pastors and trendy churches to new areas has rubbed some people the wrong, the movement is catching on, and some think, is also drawing new visitors into the Church.
Bolt the Crime Fighter
As fun as it is cheering on your home country’s athletes in the Olympics, there’s something inspiring about seeing smaller nations rally around their own athletes and watch their pride in having them take home medals. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (could a sprinter have a cooler name than “Bolt”?!) is one of those great stories. With seemingly effortless performances, the sprinter has shattered track and field records, and his larger than life personality has made him as fun to watch off the field as he is on.
Time magazine recently posted this story about how athletes like Bolt are offering a hopeful alternative to the violent lifestyle that many Jamaican youth have fallen in to. The country has an enormous murder rate and gun violence is an increasingly severe problem.
Officials in the country are hoping to offer new programs to troubled youth that provide them with a way of staying off the street and engaging in sports programs.
I posted last week about how community officials in Southern California are combating gang violence by offering rugby programs. Again, I think the Church should take note and look to organized sports as a productive outreach to kids in neighbors that offer little alternative.
Olympic Missionaries
And speaking of the Olympics, all those bans and restrictions placed on religious groups by the Chinese government haven't stopped some missions groups. Here’s a story about how American-based missionaries have seen people be open to the Gospel despite opposition from the government.
Signs of the Times
You know those black-and-white billboards that contain quotes from God? They’re from an evangelical group called God Speaks and are an effort to get people interested in the Gospel.
Well now an atheist group has launched their own billboard campaign.
Megachurch Flatscreens, Olympic Crimefighters, Atheist Billboards and More ...
Medicine vs. Miracles
A new survey has found that Americans have more faith in God than doctors when it comes to life-threatening health scares. About 57 percent of those surveyed said they thought God could miraculously intervene in a dire health situation even when physicians can’t.
Megachurch TV
Slate has this story about megachurches that are using video conferencing to change the way people go to church. The article looks at how many large congregations actually watch their sermons on big-screen TVs and projectors from other churches thousands of miles away.
Though the “franchising” element that brings popular pastors and trendy churches to new areas has rubbed some people the wrong, the movement is catching on, and some think, is also drawing new visitors into the Church.
Bolt the Crime Fighter
As fun as it is cheering on your home country’s athletes in the Olympics, there’s something inspiring about seeing smaller nations rally around their own athletes and watch their pride in having them take home medals. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (could a sprinter have a cooler name than “Bolt”?!) is one of those great stories. With seemingly effortless performances, the sprinter has shattered track and field records, and his larger than life personality has made him as fun to watch off the field as he is on.
Time magazine recently posted this story about how athletes like Bolt are offering a hopeful alternative to the violent lifestyle that many Jamaican youth have fallen in to. The country has an enormous murder rate and gun violence is an increasingly severe problem.
Officials in the country are hoping to offer new programs to troubled youth that provide them with a way of staying off the street and engaging in sports programs.
I posted last week about how community officials in Southern California are combating gang violence by offering rugby programs. Again, I think the Church should take note and look to organized sports as a productive outreach to kids in neighbors that offer little alternative.
Olympic Missionaries
And speaking of the Olympics, all those bans and restrictions placed on religious groups by the Chinese government haven't stopped some missions groups. Here’s a story about how American-based missionaries have seen people be open to the Gospel despite opposition from the government.
Signs of the Times
You know those black-and-white billboards that contain quotes from God? They’re from an evangelical group called God Speaks and are an effort to get people interested in the Gospel.
Well now an atheist group has launched their own billboard campaign.