An email this morning from a friend in the Middle East regarding pastors and Christians in Afghanistan (posted with permission):
Jonathan Leeman
17K posts
Jonathan Leeman
@JonathanLeeman
Aspiring ecclesiologist. Trying to stay in my lane. Cheverly Baptist Church.
- Did you know that The Karate Kid is the greatest cinematic portrayal of th gospel ever? Sam Emadi explains.
00:00 - On vacation. Visited a church. Orthodox preacher. Mentioned a verse but basically preached ideas that excited him. Preached his emotion. What was on his heart. All sincere. Nothing untrue. But left hungry. Preachers, your church gets life from God's Word, not your emotion.
- Reminder: Your pastor has never pastored through a pandemic before. Perhaps give him a little room to make the wrong judgment call on this or that? And perhaps, when it comes to determining what's best for the whole church, you're not going to bat 1000 either?
- Things Paul tells Twitter, I mean Timothy, to avoid: unsupported accusations, unhealthy interest in disputes, arguments over words, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, constant disagreement, arrogance, irreverent and empty speech, foolish and ignorant disputes, silly myths.
- Teenagers, the sins you give yourselves over to now you’ll spend the rest of your life trying—often unsuccessfully—to free yourself from the grip and consequences of. I’ve seen it again and again. Ask for faith, grace, and a love for Him who is better.
- Don’t devote your life to doing something big. Devote yourself instead to a good direction, and then do all the small things that God commands. Every day. Over and over and over. Then a day just might come when you discover you’ve accomplished something big.
- My response on the decision by Grace Community Church’s elders to engage in civil disobedience.
- Line along East Capitol for viewing RBG casket at Supreme Court just outside my office. SC on 1st Street. I’m standing at 6th Street.
- A pastor from China, asking for prayer in a CHBC prayer service, mentioned how much he appreciated the loud singing. His church sings quietly for fear of being reported by the neighbors. #thingswetakeforgranted #prayforChina
- According to Forbes, the toughest leadership roles are 9) CEO 8) Congressperson 7) Newspaper editor 6) Mayor 5) PASTOR 4) Football coach 3) 2nd-in-command in any organization 2) University president And number 1 is [drumroll] 1) STAY-AT-HOME PARENT forbes.com/sites/robasgha…
- John Calvin on abortion: “The fetus, though enclosed in the womb of its mother, is already a human being, and it is almost a monstrous crime to rob it of the life which it has not yet begun to enjoy. If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field..." 1/2
- A simple and time-tested formula for building a big audience: 1) Call yourself a Christian. 2) Criticize traditional Christianity. 3) Side with the culture on contested issues. It's worked for centuries. They will love you.
- I often hear aspiring pastors ask what Paul means when he says an elder must be "able to teach" (1 Tim. 3:2). I seldom here them ask what Paul means when he says an elder must be "gentle" (1 Tim. 3:3). A question for all of us: do I aspire to gentleness like I aspire to teach?
