While total estimated charitable giving edged up by 3.8% compared to 2009, gifts to churches and religious organizations actually declined when adjusted for inflation. Philanthropy toward other human services groups, like those which sought funds for the Haiti earthquake disaster, fell even more, registering a 1.5% decline when adjusted for inflation. The latest information on [...]
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Archive | June, 2011
Sermon: The Significance of Small Gifts
June 25, 2011
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Tomorrow I’m preaching about Jesus sending the disciples out to do great things — heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons. But to that list of great things, Jesus added giving a cup of cold water to a little child. Small gifts have great significance in God’s Kingdom. The Significance of Small [...]
Read moreChanging Demographics to Impact Small Churches
June 23, 2011
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MSNBC reports this morning that “For the first time, minorities make up a majority of babies in the U.S., part of a sweeping race change and a growing age divide between mostly white, older Americans and predominantly minority youths that could reshape government policies.” But not only will this demographic change to a [...]
Read moreSermon: The Kingdom of God In Today’s World
June 19, 2011
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I preached this sermon today on Trinity Sunday from Matthew 28:16-20. We know this passage as The Great Commission, but the final words of Jesus to his disciples are about the Kingdom of God. Even though this scripture has been used to validate the sending of Christian missionaries to other nations, Jesus’ instructions carry important [...]
Read moreSocial Media or Social Suicide?
June 9, 2011
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Recently I cancelled my Linked-In and Plaxo accounts. I had previously cancelled my Twitter account, but now have one under @PeaceFriendsCom to promote my blog, PeaceFriends.Com. I mostly look at my own family’s Facebook posting and photos, and spend almost no time posting to Facebook, except for my blog posts which go up automatically. In [...]
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