If mankind hadn't fallen...

When we'd invented cricket, would there have been dropped catches or edges that went for four?

How John Piper Stays Relevant

Excellent and interesting article here:

Clicky

Praise God for Google Mail

If it weren't for the technological geniuses at Google, I'd have assumed this really was from the reformer himself.

Missional Trinity

God has always existed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a community of love, a dance.

But God created the universe that we see, and saw that it was good. The triune God extended his love outwards to creation.

He started with Adam and Eve who were to multiply and go out to heavenise and fill the earth.

After the flood, Noah and his family were called to do the same.

Abraham was to be the father of a nation. It would be a nation of priests, whose offspring would bless the world. Those who blessed the Abrahamites would be blessed. Those who cursed would be cursed.

For the sake of time, fast forward to Jesus' 12 disciples/apostles. They would, like Jacob's 12 sons, become a nation of priests, the church. They would expand outwards to take hold of the whole earth with the gospel of Christ, as we have consistently seen for 2000 years now.

God, in human history, works inside-out. He starts small, they spread out and in doing so, multiply (look at how this happens in Acts).

Some churches are 'attractional' in focus; they put on a good show and try to bring the crowds in. Other churches are 'missional', not so much trying to get people in as to send people out (whether to other countries or the sports club down the road).

It seems to me that if we have to pick (which, I think, most churches have to/ought to do) then the latter is much the more Biblical and profitable.

Who's most likely to believe in the Bible's Inerrancy?

(in the UK)...

Anglicans, Baptists, Independents, Methodists, Pentecostals or Others?

I have a ComRes Poll in front of me from which I see this result:

1. Pentecostals
2. Others
3. Independents
4. Baptists
5. Anglicans
6. Methodists

Interesting that it's those who believe in modern day prophecy that most believe that the Bible's free from errors.

On the encouraging side, all of them had a majority of inerrantists apart from the Methodists, whose results were a complete reversal of all the other groups.

50p / Month Internet Contribution

Blogging has been light/non-existent but here's an annoyance:

Today's 'Digital Britain' report announces a 50p/month tax for all homes with a landline to pay to upgrade infrastructure. What annoyed me, though, is this quote from BBC News:

"It is a contribution which we are asking people to make - it's six pounds a year - offset, as we make very clear in the report, by the likely continued reduction in headline prices because of the competitive market we have in this country," said report author Lord Carter."

It is not a contribution they are asking people to make, it is one they are forcing people to make. It is a tax, not a freewill offering. It's the internet's equivalent of a TV License. Lord Carter should be honest.

Politics from the Pulpit

Church leaders have been keen to warn their flocks not to vote BNP due to their racist ideology.

Will they have the guts to tell people not to vote for those who would have us exterminate unborn babies?