SUNDAY EDITION (6): "The Christian Post" Monday July 30, 2012 Av 11, 5772

Greg Laurie
(Photo: Harvest via Christian Post)

Greg Laurie: People in Heaven Know What's Happening on Earth

By Alex Murashko

After the death of his son four years ago, evangelist Greg Laurie became a lot more interested in heaven, he said during his sermon at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif., Sunday.

Cheney: McCain Picking Palin Was Mistake

By Napp Nazworth

Sen. John McCain was wrong, Dick Cheney said, to choose Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008 because she was not qualified to be president.

US

romney

Romney Arrives in Israel to Meet Officials, Raise Money

By Anugrah Kumar

Mitt Romney, who arrived in Israel late on Saturday, is scheduled to meet top officials of Israel and Palestine, deliver a public speech and hold a major fundraiser. But will he also spell out his Middle East policy to distinguish himself from President Barack Obama, as expected?

Mourners remembered three of the victims of a mass shooting in Colorado as their funerals were held Saturday, more than a week after the incident at an Aurora theater killed 12 people and injured 58 others.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney pointedly referred to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in a Sunday speech while visiting the Jewish nation.

Documents on last week's death of a 24-year-old woman after an abortion were released and indicate that the Planned Parenthood clinic in Chicago "botched" the procedure and delayed summoning emergency care. Pro-life groups are now calling for regulation of abortion in the state.

A group of 42 organizations have condemned Rep. Michele Bachmann and four of her colleagues for criticizing the Muslim Brotherhood and naming Huma Abedin and her family as Americans who keep close ties to the group.

Church & Ministries

Billy Graham

Billy Graham Says His Heart Aches for 'Deceived' America

By Stoyan Zaimov

The Rev. Billy Graham has posted a new prayer letter on his website where he addresses the people of the nation and tells them he is very much afraid of the damage that the American lifestyle is doing in the eyes of the Lord.

Pastor Joel Osteen has recently spoken on his sometimes criticized approach to preaching, saying that ultimately the opportunity to impact his fellow man is the most important part of his ministry, as it is both "humbling and rewarding."

The church in America is no longer simply in a slumber when it comes to its lack of awareness about the persecuted church in the Middle East; it is in a "diabetic coma," says the leader of a persecution watchdog group in the U.S.

A Washington, D.C.-based Baptist church once affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention has decided to sever its ties over differences regarding ordination and political matters.

New York City pastor Tim Keller says Christians should be able to present rational arguments for their faith, noting that the "just believe" statement isn't going to cut it, especially today.

A young evangelical who was recently "outed" by a blogger and accused of leading a dishonest life decided to share his story, including a past same-sex encounter.

More News

Judge Halts Enforcement of Birth Control Mandate on Catholic Owned Company

A federal court ruled Friday that the Health and Human Services (HHS) birth control mandate will not go into effect for Hercules Industries while it waits for resolution of a lawsuit over the mandate.

Olympics 2012 Opening Features All Things British

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the country's most ...

State College Pastors Pray for Families of Sandusky, Paterno

While the town of State College, Penn., continues ...

Christians Say Forced Conversions to Islam Happening in Gaza

Christians in the community of Gaza in Palestine ...

Youth Pastor, Church Charged in Fake Kidnapping

A youth pastor and his church in Pennsylvania were charged Friday for conducting a fake kidnap situation with a group of young students.

Gay Agenda in Campaign Against Chick-fil-A Not About Civil Rights?

The backlash against gay activists and their ...

Micah Challenge Releases 'The Jesus Agenda' to Help End Poverty by 2015

Micah Challenge, a new initiative dedicated to ...

Poll: Most Voters Okay With Romney's Mormon Faith

A recently released poll found that most ...

Amazon CEO Donates $2.5M for Same-Sex Marriage After Gay Employee's Email

The founder and CEO of Amazon.com has pledged a ...

Chaplain Leaves Southern Baptist Convention After Gay Ceremony Attendance

Following controversy over his attendance at a same-sex civil union ceremony, a Southern Baptist chaplain has severed ties with the conservative denomination.

Mt. Soledad Memorial Cross Defenders Fight to Be Heard in 20-Year Case

Following a court hearing Thursday, a religious ...

Add Europe's Debt Crisis to List of US Fiscal Problems, Experts Warn

The European debt crisis will be felt in the ...

Entertainment

Jen Lilley

Jen Lilley Leaving 'General Hospital,' Trusting in Christ to Deliver Next Role

By Christine Thomasos

Jen Lilley may have played murderous schemer Maxie Jones on the hit daytime soap opera "General Hospital," but the actress says she is ready to start a new chapter in her life with the help of Jesus Christ.

Recording artist Julianna Zobrist is on a mission to spread the word of God using her music. It may surprise you, though, to know that Zobrist was reluctant to call herself a Christian at first, and it wasn't until a unique opportunity presented itself that she finally stood in her faith.

Grammy Award-winning singer Israel Houghton has appeared on ABC's "The View" this week talking about his tour, The King's Men.

Tim Tebow is a shining example for NFL players who have spent the offseason getting themselves into trouble, according to New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora.

World

Residents, who have fled their homes, gather in the center of Damascus July 19, 2012.

US Advises Rebels to Avoid Creating Power Vacuum in Syria

By Anugrah Kumar

The White House is advising Syrian opposition to seek not to completely dissolve President Bashar al-Assad's security and administrative apparatus after his expected ouster or killing, a mistake that the United States did in Iraq leading to further turmoil.

A number of mainline traditional protestant churches in Brazil are declining in congregation numbers, according to a new research report out. However, at the same time the newly released analysis indicates that pentecostal churches are experiencing much of the huge growth explosion being reported among the evangelical community in the Latin American nation.

An Iranian pastor serving a six-year term in prison for his faith is being denied hospital treatment for severe bleeding due to stomach ulcers, a Christian rights group has said, warning he might otherwise succumb to the illness within weeks or months.

As the same-sex marriage debate continues in New Zealand, lawmakers discussing a bill proposing the traditional definition of marriage have said it was inspired by U.S President Barack Obama's endorsement of gay marriage.

As the Summer Olympic Games opens today in London, church bells across Britain rang out to signal the final countdown to this evening's ceremony.

Tech & Biz

Samsung Galaxy S3 image

Samsung Outsells Apple iPhone Two-to-One Thanks to Galaxy S3

By Vincent Funaro

Samsung's smartphone sales grew significantly this year, allowing the company to blast past Apple, doing double their iPhone numbers.

Gabe Newell, game publisher, former Microsoft employee and chief executive of Valve, recently expressed his negative feelings towards Windows 8 in an interview with VentureBeat.

Gameloft recently released the new 'Amazing Spider-Man' game for Android devices that is currently available in the Google Play store for $6.99.

The universal search function on the international Samsung Galaxy S3 that was recently disabled in an update is now back on the smartphone.

When Should You Grieve in Ministry?

By Paul Tripp

Ministry, this side of eternity, will be marked by moments of grief like Samuel's. Perhaps it will be the death of a vision, the need to discipline a trusted and influential leader, the knowledge of someone plotting against your God-given authority, sinful division among leaders, a resistant congregation, or a catalog of other difficulties that can obstruct and divert the ministry of a pastor and his congregation.

CHURCH

Learning to Live Without Your Denominational Moniker

By Dan Delzell

Anglican

If you are a Christian who prefers to stick with definitions which are found in the Bible when explaining your faith to others, try doing this sometime. Ask the spiritual leader at your church, "Is it fine if I never use our denominational label, but instead only identify myself as a 'Christian' when talking to others about my faith?" The answer you are given will tell you a lot about the amount of spiritual freedom in your congregation.

OPINION

You Believe in Karma

By Tullian Tchividjian

Tullian Tchividjian

To conclude that suffering people have somehow heaped up trouble for themselves on the Cosmic Registry and that God is doling out the misery in direct proportion would be more than mistaken; it would be cruel.

OLYMPICS

London 2012 Olympics Opens With Spectacular Ceremony: 10 Christian Athletes to Watch (PHOTO)

By Christine Thomasos

Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder reads the Bible before his games.

Team USA has garnered Christian athletes in multiple sports for the 2012 London Olympic Summer Games. Here, some of the top competitors in an array of different sports highlighted for their faith and testimonies.

LIVING

Winning the Battle Through Intimacy With Christ

By Joyce Meyer

megachurch pastor

One thing I've learned over the years is that intimacy with God brings power. The more intimate we are with Him, the more powerful our lives will be. That's because we begin to resemble and act like those we spend time with.

MISSIONS

Korean World Mission Conference Celebrates Milestone of 20,000 Korean Missionaries Worldwide

By Katherine T. Phan

korean world mission conference

Prominent evangelical leaders in the U.S. joined famous Korean pastors at the Korean World Mission Conference, the largest gathering of Korean missionaries worldwide, in the Chicago area this week to celebrate a critical milestone in the world's fastest missionary movement. The number of Korean missionaries in 169 countries has exceeded 20,000 — more than doubling in 10 years.

EDITORIAL

The Penn State Debacle: What Now?

By Dr. Richard D. Land

Richard Land

First, let me put my cards face up on the table. I am a very dedicated college football fan. Let's put it this way. My favorite sports are college football, spring football, and college recruiting.

YOUTH MINISTRY

Teen Mania Celebrates 25 Years of Global Missions Work

By Jeff Schapiro

Teen Mania Recreate ’08 rally

Teen Mania Ministries is celebrating 25 years of sending young people on foreign missions trips through its Global Expeditions program, which has taught thousands of teenagers that they don't have to wait until they are adults in order to be used by God.

OPINION

Is Gun Control a Pro-Life Issue?

By Russell D. Moore

russell d. moore

Gun violence is clearly a pro-life issue to the extent that murder is evil and a violation of the dignity of the person and the right to life. That said, usually what people mean by including gun violence as a pro-life issue is not about gun violence, directly, but about gun control measures.

COLUMN

Born to Love: Trumping Tolerance

By Miles McPherson

miles mcpherson

Don't think, though, that Lady Gaga, one of the best-selling music artists of all time, was singing from a biblical worldview. "Born This Way" is an anthem for the philosophy that dominates today's culture: Tolerance. There is no right or wrong. Anything goes — so go with it.

OPINION

Squawking Over Chick-fil-A

By Eric Metaxas

chick-fil-a

In a better world, buying pens and eating lunch would be a politics-free experience. All that would matter is whether we're getting value for our money. Unfortunately, we're stuck with the one we have.

OPINION

Counterfeiting Money and Marriage

By Robert Morrison

money

Marriage works like that, too. In Northern Europe, researcher Stanley Kurtz found, when governments began to counterfeit marriage by forcing people to accept same-sex couplings as marriages, we saw the total number of true marriages dropping. Counterfeit marriages drove out true.

COLUMN

Leadership Lessons From Penn State

By Thom S. Rainer

Penn State football stadium

I must force myself to learn something if I am ever to be the kind of leader to make certain this tragedy does not place where I serve. If nothing else, I must learn leadership lessons for the sake of these children and future children. In doing so, I noted seven leadership lessons from Penn State.

POLITICS

Despite the Rhetoric, Research Shows Decline in Gun Culture, Gun Violence

By Napp Nazworth

Graph 1: Violence in America, 1960-2010

The recent shooting massacre in Aurora, Colo., has fed into a perception that America is becoming increasingly violent amid a gluttonous gun craze. Actually, the opposite is true, Patrick Egan, assistant professor of politics and public policy at New York University, points out in a post for The Monkey Cage, a political science blog.

OPINION

Why Are So Many Men Hooked on Internet Porn, Video Games?

By Russell D. Moore

Playstation 3

You know the guy I'm talking about. He spends hours into the night playing video games and surfing for pornography. He fears he's a loser. And he has no idea just how much of a loser he is.

OLYMPICS

Interview: Olympic Gold Medalist Josh Davis on Christian Athletes, the Games, and Michael Phelps

By Michelle A. Vu

Josh Davis

Davis spoke to The Christian Post last week about his book The Goal and the Glory – a compilation of stories from Christian Olympians – how he felt the day after winning his first gold medal, and his connection to Texas megachurch pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado and 14-time-Olympic-gold-medalist Michael Phelps.

COLUMN

Finding the Flipside of Evil

By Dr. Tony Beam

Dr. Tony Beam

When evil rises in such a pervasive and perverse way we are left to ponder its cause. Psychologists will line up to dissect and analyze the life of the shooter, pointing to telltale signs that might have revealed his approaching break with reality. Sociologists will point to the shortcomings of culture as the culprit.

POLITICS

The Politics of Batman: Is Romney Bane or Wayne?

By Napp Nazworth

dark knight

Politics has collided with pop culture recently as commentators have drawn connections between Bane, the villain in the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises," and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Others, however, have said that Romney is more like the film's hero: Bruce Wayne, the billionaire who fights crime in a bat suit.

OPINION

A Mainline Collapse: The Twilight of Liberal Christianity?

By Eric Metaxas

Episcopal ordination of Bruce and Glasspool

Since 2000, the Episcopal Church has lost 23 percent of its members. At this rate, there will be no Episcopalians in 26 years.

OPINION

Gotham City Is a Caricature of Biblical Babylon

By Wallace Henley

wallace henley

Gotham is the caricature of "Babylon," identified in the Bible Book of Revelation as the world system seeking to function without God, and usually in defiance of Him.

CHURCH & MINISTRIES

Colorado Shooting: 13 Years After Columbine, Is the Church to Blame?

By Alex Murashko

aurora shooting

Colorado native David Jesse woke up Friday morning to the news of the mass shooting in an Aurora movie theater in which 12 people were killed and 58 injured and instantly felt the same way he did more than a decade ago after the Columbine tragedy. While first recalling how Christian leaders at the time pointed to the evils of society in blaming the shootings at Columbine, he says that the Church is to blame for what happened in Aurora.

OPINION

The Dark Night in Denver – Groping for Answers

By R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

How could such a thing happen? How could a human being do such a thing? There is no easy answer to this question. The easy answers are never satisfying, and they are often based in the confused moral calculus of popular culture. Christians are driven by instinct to think in biblical and theological terms.

CONNECT

Get Free Breaking News Alerts!

Daily News

Weekly News

Preview:  Daily » | Weekly »