Pastor Tom's Journal

Religion Evangelicals Face New Division: Global Warming All Things Considered , March 25, 2007 · There's a growing divide among America's evangelical Christians over what to do about global warming. Host Debbie Elliot talks to Richard Cizik policy director for the National Association of Evangelicals, who's right in the middle of the debate. Related NPR Stories Jan. 21, 2007 Evangelists and Environmentalists Join Forces Dec. 19, 2006 Green Evangelist Richard Cizik Dec. 11, 2006 Religious Group's Ties to Pentagon Questioned Nov. 7, 2006 Evangelical Community Reacts to Haggard Scandal July 14, 2006 Obama Works to Win Evangelicals Back for Democrats June 23, 2006 Evangelical: Religious Right Has Distorted the Faith April 2, 2006 Evangelicals Fret Over Bush's Foreign Policy

Religion Evangelicals Face New Division: Global Warming All Things Considered , March 25, 2007 · There's a growing divide among America's evangelical Christians over what to do about global warming. Host Debbie Elliot talks to Richard Cizik policy director for the National Association of Evangelicals, who's right in the middle of the debate. Related NPR Stories Jan. 21, 2007 Evangelists and Environmentalists Join Forces Dec. 19, 2006 Green Evangelist Richard Cizik Dec. 11, 2006 Religious Group's Ties to Pentagon Questioned Nov. 7, 2006 Evangelical Community Reacts to Haggard Scandal July 14, 2006 Obama Works to Win Evangelicals Back for Democrats June 23, 2006 Evangelical: Religious Right Has Distorted the Faith April 2, 2006 Evangelicals Fret Over Bush's Foreign Policy

A Look at 3,000 Years of Sundays Sunday has traditionally been a day of rest and worship but its purpose has been widely debated. A new book examines the 3,000-year evolution of Sunday including how it is celebrated in America, England and France. Web Extra : Read an Excerpt

From "This I Believe" - NPR Series: My Personal Leap of Faith I enjoyed this essay. Maybe you will too ... or not. Either way, you can discuss it here .

H.B. London Quotes I jotted down some notes from the "Sustaining Pastoral Excellence" conference with H.B. London this week. Jesus asks Peter, in John 21, some pointed questions which can be paraphrased as: "Do you love me more than your ministry?" "Do you love me more than who you are?" "Do you love me more than what you do?" "Do you love me more than life itself?" "If you can do anything else than follow me the rest of your liufe, Peter, do it, because this is going to cost you big time." "The moment we say to Him, 'Yes, Lord, I love You,' He gives us a task and He gives us a cross."

Salvation Through Christ: A Matter of FAITH What do you think it takes for someone to get to heaven? Is it luck? Good deeds? Nothing at all? Or is there something more? The Bible has the real answer to this question. It's a matter of FAITH. F stands for FORGIVENESS. We cannot have eternal life without God's forgiveness. Ephesians 1:7a says, "In Him (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." A is for AVAILABLE. Forgiveness is available for all. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." But forgiveness is not automatic. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven," says Matthew 7:21a. I is for IMPOSSIBLE. It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven because of who He is and because of who we are. God is loving and just, but His judgment is against...

I left home at 6:30 this morning - not as early as yesterday, but I am still "at it" at 9:00 P.M. and I may not vacate this Starbucks table until they close. It was 6:00 P.M. before I could start to write. I have had a tough week and a tough day. I had to get tough and that is tough on me. And yet, I am sitting here with a very sore back, entirely energized to keep going mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

I am trying to articulate some of the values that our Fellowship of Joy shares together and it occurred to me today that one is a sense of the holiness of the ordinary - that there is no legitimate separation of the sacred and profane dimensions of life to one who is dedicating every thought and movement to the glory of God.

Well, here they are again: Spell out the DREAM © 2006, Thomas B. Sims MORE Part 2 MORE Part 1 My First Audio Post - Rough What Are You Going to Do?

For 3 and a half days a week, I am (we are) responsible for an 11 month old boy and his six year old brother - our grandsons. They run me ragged. They wear me out. They keep me from getting my work done. And I was grateful for the break when I returned them to their mother yesterday ... but that was yesterday. Today, I really miss them. Go figure.