The 'Prosperity Gospel'...

This is a really well-made video I found on YouTube a while ago that uses audio of John Piper talking about the 'prosperity gospel' mixed with some interesting video footage. The ending quote of this video has been my 'current favourite quote' since I started the blog and I still love it.

There's so much of this 'prosperity gospel' going around at the moment that I find it incredibly helpful to reflect on what Piper says here, it's a beautiful description of how we as Christians should live our lives...

Church Posters - Part One

Recently I've been becoming more and more frustrated as I walk past churches and see signs and posters on the outside of them that, in my mind, only serve to put non-believers off from coming into church rather than encouraging them in as I think we should be doing.

I'm going to try and get photos whenever I can to illustrate my point, but I also want to try and match negative posters with more positive posters I may see.

Also just to clear up my comments, I'm not saying that what's on the signs and posters is actually bad or wrong etc, assuming it's from the Scriptures, but simply that I feel the way to reach out to the lost and to make them want to actually come into church is to preach the good news of the Gospel. Obviously once someone starts actively seeking God it's essential that they understand all the aspects of Christianity and not just the 'feel-good' stuff, but when it comes to that initial contact or outreach I can't help but feel that posters like this one aren't what we need...

As I have said I hope to post these whenever I come across a sign or poster that catches my attention and am able to get a photo of it. But to keep these posts from being solely negative, I hope to also include photos of more positive signs and posters I find, such as this one...

I'd love to hear other people's thoughts on this stuff...

'Hope When Life Hurts Most'

I'm still trying to work out what I actually want to do with this blog, so I'll try and keep this first 'proper' post pretty simple...

The title of this post is the name of a Passion Talk Series DVD by Louie Giglio, who I've been a big fan (if that's the right word?) of for quite a while now.

I've just watched this two-part series for the first time, and it has deeply moved me. Both talks are incredibly powerful and challenging, and have really made me think about what it is I portray to the world when I'm in times of real trouble and suffering...

If you haven't already seen the two sermons contained on the DVD I highly recommend you try and do so!

The overriding theme I took from Giglio's talks is that when troubles come (and as Jesus says in John 16:33, they will) we need to anchor ourselves to the cross, where God showed exactly how much He loves us, and also that how we react to our suffering should glorify God.

Or to quote John Piper: "God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him in the midst of loss. Not prosperity".

So I hope that roughly sums up what it is about the 'Hope When Life Hurts Most' DVD that struck me.

And it's by no means a new idea to me, but it's something that God seems to be constantly reminding me of recently and expressing to me in new ways. So I hope and pray that when hard times do hit me I'll truly be able to hold onto this hope that is being revealed to me!

Finally if you are interested in watching the 'Hope When Life Hurts Most' DVD you can get it for a real bargain price from www.268store.com and I highly recommend that you do!