Bible Study and Rock Music: An Interview with the Band Kutless -- October 15, 2010

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Entertainment Bible Study and Rock Music: An Interview with the Band Kutless John D. Barry Bible Study and Rock Music: An Interview with the Band Kutless In the midst of touring and recording, Kutless finds time to regularly study the Bible. Lead vocalist Jon Micah Sumrall and guitarist James Mead sat down with Logos Bible Software's Director of Ministry Relations, Scott Lindsey, for an interview about the importance of Bible study to the band. Read the full article here Culture A Cheat Sheet for Tea Party Americans Dr. Marvin Folkertsma For those bewildered by the flurry of complex legal expressions, such as "First, stop the madness!" just follow this short list. Read the full article here Science and Religion Aren't Friends? Albert Mohler Are science and Christianity friends? The answer to that is an emphatic yes, for any true science will be perfectly compatible with the truths we know by God's revelation. But this science is not naturalistic, while modern science usually is. Read the full article here On Yoga: A Call for a Christian Imagination John Mark Reynolds No metaphysical system is safe from plundering by Christianity, because Christianity is afraid of no good idea, object, or word. Read the full article here Entertainment Action Movies Get Better with Age in Red Christa Banister Like this past summer's surprise hit The Expendables, the bulk of Red's cast may qualify for AARP card-carrying status — Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, etc. But it's a serious mistake to underestimate their strength. Read the full article here Big Dreams and a Big Voice Light Up Pure Country 2: The Gift Laura MacCorkle In the new musical-drama film Pure Country 2, art imitates life as real-life country music singer Katrina Elam takes on her first acting role as Bobbie Thomas, a young woman who leaves a small town to see if she can make it big in Music City, USA. Read the full article here Conviction Makes Its Case with Feeling Christian Hamaker Based on a true story, Conviction delivers a life-affirming message about the pursuit of truth and the love of family. It's a powerful story wrapped in an unassuming package, but its adult language and content make it suitable only for more mature audiences. Read the full article here   FEATURED VIDEOS Breath of Life MarriageToday LIFE Today Beth Moore The Alternative Watch more Christian Video Sermons & Messages from Ministries on LightSource.com   •  Bibles at Christianbook.com •  Pick your classroom with Liberty •  The Christian Private Health Care Option •  Free Christian Book •  Free Publishing Guide Crosswalk.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: • OnePlace.com • LightSource.com • ChristianJobs.com • CrossCards.com • SermonSearch.com • Christianity.com

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UpWords with Max Lucado

UpWords with Max Lucado

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Friday, October 15, 2010  Email    Facebook Twitter    Print

Week of October 15 Do Good Quietly by Max Lucado "They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men" (Matt. 6:5). This is the working definition of hypocrisy: "to be seen by men." The Greek word for hypocrite, hypokrit?s, originally meant "actor." First-century actors wore masks. A hypocrite, then, is one who puts on a mask, a false face. Jesus did not say, "Do not do good works." Nor did he instruct, "Do not let your works be seen." We must do good works, and some works, such as benevolence or teaching, must be seen in order to have an impact. So let's be clear. To do a good thing is a good thing. To do good to be seen is not. In fact, to do good to be seen is a serious offense. Here's why. Hypocrisy turns people away from God. When God-hungry souls walk into a congregation of wannabe superstars, what happens? When God seekers see singers strut like Las Vegas entertainers . . . When they hear the preacher—a man of slick words, dress, and hair—play to the crowd and exclude God . . . When other attendees dress to be seen and make much to-do over their gifts and offerings . . . When people enter a church to see God yet can't see God because of the church, don't think for a second that God doesn't react. "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding" (Matt. 6:1 MSG). Hypocrisy turns people against God. So God has a no-tolerance policy. Let the cold, lifeless bodies of the embezzling couple issue their intended warning. Let's take hypocrisy as seriously as God does. How can we? 1. Expect no credit for good deeds. None. If no one notices, you aren't disappointed. If someone does, you give the credit to God. Ask yourself this question: If no one knew of the good I do, would I still do it? If not, you're doing it to be seen by people. 2. Give financial gifts in secret. Money stirs the phony within us. We like to be seen earning it. And we like to be seen giving it. So "when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Matt. 6:3 NLT). 3. Don't fake spirituality. When you go to church, don't select a seat just to be seen or sing just to be heard. If you raise your hands in worship, raise holy ones, not showy ones. When you talk, don't doctor your vocabulary with trendy religious terms. Nothing nauseates more than a fake "Praise the Lord" or a shallow "Hallelujah" or an insincere "Glory be to God." Bottom line: don't make a theater production out of your faith. "Watch me! Watch me!" is a call used on the playground, not in God's kingdom. Silence the trumpets. Cancel the parade. Enough with the name-dropping. If accolades come, politely deflect them before you believe them. Slay the desire to be noticed. Stir the desire to serve God. Heed the counsel of Christ: "First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too" (Matt. 23:26 NLT). Focus on the inside, and the outside will take care of itself. Lay your motives before God daily, hourly. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life" (Ps. 139:23-24 NLT). Do good things. Just don't do them to be noticed. You can be too good for your own good, you know. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:3-4 NIV) Lord, you make it plain in your Word that you hate hypocrisy, especially because it turns others away from you. So, Father, I pray that you would blunt my natural inclination to seek personal recognition for whatever good things you allow me to do. I don't want to be a phony, but neither do I want to be a glory hound. Fill me with your Spirit, and teach me to follow his example in gladly giving all glory to your Son. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. From Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2010) Max Lucado Online Bible Study Tools Read through the Bible and other Bible study resources: biblestudy.crosswalk.com •  Amazing Deals on Bibles •  Pick your classroom with Liberty •  Christian Private Health Care •  Free Christian Book •  Publish Your Book Crosswalk.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: • Oneplace.com • LightSource.com • ChristianJobs.com • CrossCards.com • SermonSearch.com • Christianity.com

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TH Daily - October 15 - Michelle Malkin, Jonah Goldberg, Michael Barone, David Limbaugh, Mike Adams and More

Public Enemy No. 1: GOP Donors Michelle Malkin: The White House attack on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce isn't about "disclosure." ... more Tax, Spend and Shovel Jonah Goldberg: Back in early 2009, President-elect Barack Obama was asked on "Meet the Press" how quickly he could create jobs. ... more What's Behind the White House's Latest Political Line? Michael Barone: Obama and his spokesmen on the campaign trail and on Sunday interview programs are charging that outfits like the Chamber of Commerce are smuggling foreign money into the campaign. ... more The Sham of Chris Coons' Professed Loyalty to the Constitution David Limbaugh: Delaware Senate candidate Chris Coons cloaks his end-justifies-the-means pursuit in high-minded terms, but it is nothing more than his policy preferences guided by his worldview and absolutely untethered by constitutional constraints. ... more Eight Straight Suicides Mike Adams: Officials on college campuses across the nation are alarmed at a wave of recent suicides involving Christians who have been harassed by homosexual activists. ... more Victory-Deficit Disorder Oliver North: LAS VEGAS -- It has been an interesting "homecoming" from our most recent Fox News "embed" with U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan. ... more The Revolt of the Pampered Pat Buchanan: For the fourth day running, France has been crippled by strikes. Airlines are canceling flights. ... more The Atheist As Moralist Michael Gerson: WASHINGTON -- Christopher Hitchens -- bald from cancer treatments, speaking between doctor's appointments -- has a special disdain for deathbed religious conversions. ... more Obama's Conscience Mona Charen: Two great questions ricochet around the capital in the countdown to the midterms. ... more The Dirtiest Weeks Are Upon Us Matt Towery: A generation ago, the national Republican Party was under the command of the late Lee Atwater. ... more Wasting Our Money Linda Chavez: President Obama has finally admitted that a core premise of his nearly trillion-dollar stimulus package was false. ... more Dems Whistling Past The Graveyard Donald Lambro: WASHINGTON -- Democrats and their campaign strategists have been underestimating the political power of tea- party activists ever since they packed into town halls in the summer of 2009 to protest Obamacare. ... more Will Islam Conquer the Netherlands? Diana West: All eyes are on the war on free speech, the one that Dutch powers-that-be are waging inside an Amsterdam courtroom. That's where Geert Wilders is standing trial for his increasingly popular political platform, based on his analysis of the anti-Western laws and principles of Islam, that rejects the Islamization of the Netherlands. ... more Paging Clark Kent Suzanne Fields: Education, like politics, is local. You want it close to home, the better to monitor it. ... more Why Can't We Criticize What's Wrong with Islam? Cliff May: We should not accept the double standard scholar Bernard Lewis observed: "Islam enjoys an immunity from critical examination that Christendom has lost and Judaism never had." ... more 2010 Race of the Day UPDATE: Ohio's Sixth District Brian Walsh: Disturbing news has hit the race for Ohio's Sixth Congressional District. ... more Rocket Scientist Ruth McClung Shaking Up AZ-07 Katie Pavlich: Candidate Ruth McClung is presenting a challenge to a congressman who called for economic sanctions against his own state. ... more		AP Enterprise: Tea party hopefuls in close races Obama, Biden campaign to hold VP's old Senate seat ADWATCH: With campaign ads, don't trust, verify Social Security to announce no COLA for 2011 'Don't ask, don't tell' appeal tough for Democrats San Francisco's Vending Machine Police Greg Hengler The Numbers That Matter Carol Platt Liebau Ignorance of the Law, or Contempt for It? Carol Platt Liebau O'Donnell Takes on Coons in Debate The 'Tolerant' Side? Whoopi & Behar Storm Off Set During O'Reilly Interview Ann Coulter vs. Huckabee Katie Pavlich Applies To Be In Obama's MTV Audience Got questions about ballot measures? NTU's Ballot Guide has answers 30 companies get one-year waiver from health reform rule Media Matters Tries but Fails to Refute the School Choice Evidence Have Lunch With Heritage – Online Chat Rabies claims 100th fatality in Indonesia's Bali APNews Teen who killed brother could face life in prison APNews Arabs may ask UN to recognize Palestinian state APNews Oil steady below $83 as stock market rally cools APNews Chile miners start new lives, adjust to freedom APNews Government to report on $1 trillion-plus deficit APNews Sony Ericsson posts Q3 profit on smartphone sales APNews Neb. abortion restrictions based on fetal pain APNews Election unlikely to change US farm subsidies APNews CVS fined for problem in sales of meth ingredient APNews Coulter: There's a Reason Why They Call Him "Dick" Hewitt: Wow. Just Wow. Could The Wave Grow Larger Still? Kudlow: Obama the Alien Adams: Allah My Love Elder: Republicans Need To Man Up and Ask Black Voters, 'Are You Better Off?' Hanson: America's Depressed by Being Broke Thomas: Journey to Destruction Gerson: Christopher Hitchens Barone: What's Behind the White House's Latest Political Line? May: Why Can't We Criticize What's Wrong with Islam?
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