I don’t know why more churches haven’t thought of this. A $900+ bottle of wine, the perfect way to reach the sophisticated wine connoisseur.
Find more at the Holy Observer.
The Holy Observer
An excerpt from The Holy Observer’s disclaimer:
If you are offended by any of the content on The Holy Observer, there is probably some good reason why you shouldn’t be. If you can’t figure out what that reason is, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not smart enough to understand why you shouldn’t be offended, but it probably does.
The Emergent Effect
I am sure the “emergent movement” is having other effects on the greater Christian world but, I think I have noticed at least one.
It seems to me, that Christian teacher/leaders are now apologizing for their use of alliteration or whatever other device they use to help you remember their teaching. You know what I mean, a teaching on prayer, that has 4 points all starting with the letter G, or a teaching on knowing your spiritual gifts that has 5 points that spell something that fits into a nifty little phrase like “know your spiritual SHAPE” (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experience). So anyway I am sympathetic to those who are critical of it because it sure does seem forced and even inauthentic at times. Of course I haven’t heard anybody that upset about it. It is usually used as a jumping off point, by way of a small example, to discuss other problems with the church (sometimes done constructively sometimes done simply to disparage). Of course it hasn’t stopped leaders from doing it (which is probably a good thing) but now they are doing it with an apology. The one I read from Christianity Today today was discussing the principles that guided the life of William Wilberforce.
”As I studied his life, I found certain principles that seemed to shape him and the way he operated. As a hopeless, seminary trained, baby boomer, I can’t help but think in outlines and alliteration. But here’s what I discovered.”
The 5 principles were: Pardon, Purpose, Partners, Power, and Persistence.
Find the article here.
Galileo
Galileo certainly had a serious run in with the Catholic Church, but would you believe it was his faith that made his science possible?
It is Rondey Starks contention that Christian theology made the development of science possible. He argues quite impressively in his book, For the Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-Hunts, and the End of Slavery
