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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Links to Your World, Tuesday July 28

20 of the World’s Most Beautiful Libraries


Silencing the Voice That Says You're a Fraud


From the Department of Duh: "A study which entailed outfitting the cabs of long-haul trucks with video cameras over 18 months, found that when the drivers texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting." (NY Times)


“Having covered Tim [Tebow] for three years, I would say he's the most effective ambassador-warrior for his faith I've come across in 25 years at SI.” (Sports Illustrated story on Tim Tebow)


"Here are 10 skills seminaries need to emphasize. Churches also need to support these skills with opportunities for lifelong continuing education. Most seminary graduates do a passable job of interpreting Scripture, preaching and/or operating church programs. But a vast majority of church travail traced to ministers involves failure touching on one or more of these skills” (Marv Knox makes a list)


In this Baptist Standard opinion piece, Charles Foster Johnson misses the point in the recent SBC decision to drop Fort Worth’s Broadway Baptist Church from affiliation with the SBC. Broadway does not believe that disciples attracted to homosexuality must be challenged to make changes to their orientation, or even their behavior. Johnson, who recently completed his service as interim pastor at Broadway says the Convention’s action was a violation of the Baptist belief in the autonomy of the local church. Hooey. The convention is a collection of autonomous churches that get to decide what is required for an autonomous church to affiliate with them. Broadway can do what it wants as an autonomous church: she just can’t pretend she’s Southern Baptist in the process. The fact that the Baptist Standard printed this opinion piece with no response piece is curious.


According to this story, over 80 percent of those who attend megachurches (defined as a church with 2000 or more in attendance) invite others to church. That’s good news until you discover that the people they are inviting are already attending somewhere. Yep. Just 6 percent of those who get involved in a church of 2000 or more were unchurched before they began attending. In fact, 44 percent simply came from another area church. “It appears that megachurches draw persons who want a new experience of worship—contemporary, large-scale, professional, high-tech,” said Scott Thumma, quoted in the story, co-author of Not Who You Think They Are: The Real Story of People Who Attend America’s Megachurches. Nice.


Keep up with David Smith and contribute to his medical expenses at this website.


“On the latest Koinonia Podcast Douglas Baker hosts a discussion with ‘leading historical theologians who identify, discuss and debate the origins, actions and future of Baptists. The origins of the Baptists and how they become a presence in the history of the church focus the discussion in ways which lead listeners to understand Baptist identity at 400.’” (HT: Between Two Worlds)


Interview with Conrad Mbewe, a Zambian Baptist leader.


10 Ways to Look Good in Photos


Take 18 Minutes to Keep Your Days on Track:



STEP 1 (5 Minutes) Set Plan for Day.
STEP 2 (1 minute every hour) Refocus..
STEP 3 (5 Minutes) Review.

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