Buzzard Blog

Watch 60 Minutes Tonight

I hope you watch 60 minutes tonight. From the White Horse Inn website:

"Is popular televangelist Joel Osteen a faithful representative of the Christian faith? What really is at the heart of the Christian message? Surprisingly, this will be the focus of CBS's 60 Minutes, Sunday (Oct. 14th). In addition to Osteen himself, this upcoming broadcast will feature an interview with Dr. Michael Horton, who believes that Osteen’s popular message is more about self-help and personal motivation than a faithful representation of the Christian gospel."

Ted Haggard Update

Here's a not so encouraging update on Ted Haggard.

(HT: BetweenTwoWorlds)

"Living Corpse" Wakes

I think this is an amazing story: "'Living Corpse' Wakes After 19-Year Coma."

Watch TV Tonight

Don't forget to check out the next episodes of Planet Earth tonight. This series that the Discovery Channel has put together is truly terrific. Watching this program will enlarge your understanding of what a creative Creator we have.

Ted Haggard Update

Here's a Ted Haggard Update.
(HT: JT)

Time Magazine: Calvinism & Death

Time magazine interviews Al Mohler about the relationship between his Calvinism and his brush with death.

(HT: JT)

Another Colorado Pastor Sex Scadal

What is going on!? This Sunday in Colorado another sex scandal was revealed as pastor Paul Barnes confessed to his 2,100 member Denver church about his sexual relations with other men. Read more here. This church needs our prayer.

Gator Attacks Naked Man on Crack

In case you were thinking about it, I'd advise you to not get naked, smoke crack, and hang out near alligators this weekend.

(HT: Cawley)

Ted Haggard

I finally got around to reading last week's issue of World Magazine. The issue included a good article on Ted Haggard: Out of the Dark: Ted Haggard's secret cost him his ministry, but exposure could grant him New Life.

Greenwood Community Church Sex Scandal

This is very sad. Just a few minutes ago one of my best friends emailed me to tell me about the sex scandal that was revealed in his church this past Sunday. My buddy Chris attends Greenwood Community Church in Colorado. This is now the 2nd tragic evangelical sex scandal to be revealed in Colorado in the past two weeks (ie., Ted Haggard).

Todays Rocky Mountain News reported the story:

For the second time in two weeks, a Colorado flock heard a Sunday sermon about sin and sexual scandal - not somewhere "out there," but in their very midst.

"I have to confess to you, I have failed. I feel responsible for this taking place," Pastor Tom Melton told a packed crowd at Greenwood Community Church in Greenwood Village. Last week, high school pastor Don Ryan confessed to sexual intimacy with a 16-year-old girl from the church. Out on bail, he faces serious prison time.

Click here to read the whole article.

And, here's the statement on Greenwood Community's website:

On November 14, 2006 Don Ryan, the former High School Pastor here at Greenwood Community Church, came to our senior leadership and confessed that he has committed a sexual indiscretion with a student for which he is solely culpable.  This event was immediately reported to the Greenwood Village Police department. Therefore, he has been removed from pastoral staff and any type of leadership at Greenwood.  This is a heartbreaking loss for everyone, but our hope is in the power of our Savior to begin the healing and restoration that only He can bring about.  We are very saddened by the revelations and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim, the victim’s family, as well as all others concerned and touched by these events.   The church leadership takes these allegations of inappropriate behavior very seriously and has cooperated with the authorities in their investigation.  As we wish to protect the privacy interests of the individuals who have raised these concerns, we cannot comment any further on the case, or the investigation.  We ask that all of those involved with these events and the investigation appreciate the seriousness of the claims and fully support the victim, the victims’ family and all others involved.  Please pray for everyone who has been impacted.

Now that you know the story, please pray for this church.

CT Turns 50

I'm not an uncritical fan of Christianity Today, but I strongly appreciated CT's cover article from last month: "Young, Restless, & Reformed," because the reporting was solid, the research was fair, and it highlighted a reformed resurgence that I'm thrilled to be a part of (If you haven't read that article yet, read it here).

This month's copy of CT arrived in my mailbox yesterday (I don't really have a mailbox, it's more of a mail slot). In this 50th Anniversary issue, CT again provides some great articles. From what I've glanced at so far there's some:

-great nuggets in the "What's Next?/Evangelical Priorities for the Next 50 years" article
-right on assessments in the "Top 50 Books" article
-intriguing research in the "What Married Women Want" article
-interesting interview quips in the John Stott piece
-and well written history in the "Where We Are and How We Got Here" article

John Piper, Responding to Muslims

Check out John Piper's 10 points about how Christians ought to respond to the Muslim outrage over the pope's recent comments. To get you going, here are just a few of Piper's points:

1. Admit that the Christian church has often been too entangled with civil governments, with the result that violence has been endorsed by the church as a way of accomplishing religious, and not just civil, goals.

2. Make clear that the use of God-sanctioned violence between Israel and the nations in the Old Testament is no longer God’s will for his people.

4. Point out how Islam, in its most sacred writings and authoritative teachings, belittles Jesus Christ, not just occasionally in the news, but constantly by its dominant claims.

5. Point out that, in response to this constant defamation of Jesus Christ, there are no public threats or demands for apologies