August

Gay and Christian?, by Regis Nicoll, BreakPoint

Abstract: Is it a gift to embrace, or a temptation to overcome?

Key Quote: "Does that mean that a committed Christian can’t be gay? That depends. Setting aside the cause of sexual orientation, a homosexual bent is not, of itself, a sin. Same-sex attraction is no different from other desires that run counter to the created order—all are products of the Fall propagated by an unsettled combination of nature and nurture. The bad news is that the effects of the Fall are universal, such that we all have a sinful bent, whether to anger, violence, gossip, homosexuality, or “fill in the blank.” The good news is that our desires are just that, and nothing more, until acted upon; and even then, they are forgivable for a repentant sinner. So the issue is not whether we have a sinful orientation, it is what we do with the orientation we have."

User Comment: "It is better to obey than to know. Maybe too late after you know, because much learning earns you much trouble. The more you know, the more you hurt. Man should have never eaten that fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because we would not be ignorantly knowledgable about very simple straightforward matters like this. Sin is such a deception. How many believers follow the Lord today on a day and night basis?"

You also read during August: Winning Your Unseen Battles

September

How to Embrace Jesus without Religion, by Whitney Hopler, based on Rick James' book, Jesus without Religion: What Did He Say? What Did He Do? What’s the Point?, InterVarsity Press, 2007.

Abstract: What can we learn about Jesus when we strip away the veneer and look at the unvarnished truth about Him?

Key Quote: "Jesus didn't speak in sound bites. Rather than simplifying Jesus' messages as religion sometimes tries to do, realize that there's a purpose behind the fact that Jesus' messages aren't always easy to understand. By speaking in parables, Jesus allowed people who are truly seeking God to unlock the meaning while keeping it hidden from those who aren't yet ready to hear it."

User Comment: "At the Last Supper, Jesus gave himself in order to create a new community--a community united in communion with Himself. This act may be thought of as the formation of the Church. The 12 Apostles then, are the most evident sign of Jesus' will regarding the existence and mission of His Church, the guarantee that between Christ and His Church there is no opposition: despite the sins of the people who make up His Church, they are inseparable. Therefore the idea of following Jesus without His Church is totally inconceivable with the intention of Christ. This individualistically chosen Jesus is an imaginary Jesus."

You also read during September: What Story is God Writing for You?

October

Experiencing God When You Get a Raw Deal, by Chip Ingram, Living on the Edge

Abstract: As I walked across campus, I was rethinking whether this God I had come to know was worth following...

Key Quote: "The first two psalms I read did nothing for me. But giving God His 'third chance,' I turned to Psalm 73 and had an encounter that has forever marked my life. I had no idea that the God of the universe could interact through His Word in such a personal and powerful way with a mere human being. As I read the psalm aloud, the Spirit of God brought thoughts and pictures to my mind of what had occurred that night and the words I'd said while walking across campus. Then He answered in His Word the very questions I had so angrily asked Him. Reading Psalm 73 was like reading my biography. The psalmist had my same problem."

User Comment: "Wow! Great article! Thanks for your uplifting testimony!"

You also read during October: Is Halloween Really that Significant?

November

How to Witness to a Jehovah's Witness, by Ray Comfort, The Way of the Master

Abstract: There were no disagreements about the deity of Christ because I made sure the conversation didn't go in that direction. And I avoided doing what the Bible says not to do -- to argue.

Key Quote: "All religions have their roots in idolatry. They have a wrong understanding of the nature of God and His righteous requirements. When you look closely at their beliefs, it becomes evident they are made up of the fruitless branches of self-righteousness. They think that they can bribe God with their works."

User Comment: "Who are Jehovah's Witnesses?... The Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult because they try to cut you off from others who do not have the same beliefs, including family. .. It's amazing they are still around after 100 years of 100 percent failed prophecies. Truly amazing that they can prompt their followers to actually go door to door with a 100 percent bogus message."

You also read during November: What Does the Bible Tell us about Heaven?  

December

Does God Want You to Leave Your Church?, by Whitney Hopler, based on Brian Sanders' book, Life After Church: God's Call to Disillusioned Christians, InterVarsity Press, 2007.

Abstract: You love God. And He must want you to stay at your church, right? Maybe not...

Key Quote: "Differentiate between leaving church and leaving God. Understand that it’s one thing to abandon your relationship with God, and an entirely different thing to leave a particular church. Know that leaving a church for the right reasons should strengthen your faith instead of weakening it. Make sure you’re dealing with issues of how well your current church is or isn’t functioning as it should, rather than a personal crisis of faith. Consider leaving only when doing so will free you to find a better way to grow spiritually."

User Comment: "I believe the church is for equipping the believers to do ministry and missions. Sure there are dead churches and at times it is necessary to leave. But God calls us to a church and God will call us to leave a church. This idea of not getting fed is wrong. This is where the church has gone wrong."

You also read during December: Round-Table Discussion on The Golden Compass