GatheredTogether.org » America

American Bible Society and Scripture Union Join Together to Tackle Disapperaring Bible Influence

seniorSOY — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:55:00 +0000

NEW YORK /Christian Newswire/ — Leaders from American Bible Society and Scripture Union/USA gathered in New York City to charter a three-year alliance agreement, joining resources in the fight against ever-declining Bible comprehension and engagement.

This joint project will bring together the strengths of both organizations to help foster a National Scripture Campaign, equipping local churches and denominations to connect the Bible to today’s challenges and struggles.

“The importance of the Bible in America is really too big to fail. We are thrilled to join together with Scripture Union to develop and deploy resources churches in America need to help people explore and experience the best-selling, most-translated book of all time,” said R. Lamar Vest, president and CEO of American Bible Society.

In February 2007, Scripture Union and American Bible Society began an 18-month pilot project to test a new Bible readership program called “The Essential 100 Challenge” (E100). To date, more than 110,000 individuals and churches have engaged in this program. Based on the success of this program, new E100 resources have been deployed to help take this resource to America’s military and veterans.

“Scripture Union is pleased to deepen our mission partnership with American Bible Society. This agreement marks an important commitment for our two organizations to jointly pursue the critical vision of Bible reading revival–one person, one church and one community at a time”, said Whitney T. Kuniholm, president of Scripture Union/USA.

This American Bible Society and Scripture Union alliance builds on decades of fruitful collaboration. In the fall of 2004, the two organizations conducted a research initiative under the title Fan the Flame, which delivered significant findings in the areas of habit-formation research and market research of non-Bible readers in the U.S.

Is There More to Life Than This?

seniorSOY — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:15:19 +0000

Bear Grylls

ORLANDO, Fla. /PRNewswire/ — In the last week, people throughout America have reported seeing signs. The signs are everywhere, and as a result, many are becoming curious about spirituality and wondering whether there’s more to life than this.

It’s all part of a national ad campaign supported by Alpha USA – using everything from bumper stickers and yard signs to billboards, buses and movie theaters. The ads ask, “Is There More to Life Than This?” and feature Bear Grylls, star of the Discovery Channel program “Man vs. Wild.”

People who respond to the ad are invited to a relaxed dinner at a church near them where they can learn more about Alpha, a 10-week course that explores the Christian faith and life’s most difficult questions … everything from “Why am I here?” to “Is God a delusion?”

More than 13 million people in 163 countries have attended an Alpha course, with more than 2 million people in the U.S. participating. A recent study showed that in New England alone, 28 percent of all new converts were reached through Alpha.

This year, local teams blanketed more than 30 metropolitan areas with ads – with more than 600 churches participating. The organization expects to double this effort next year and grow to 200 areas by 2012.

The national ad campaign and introductory dinners are helping churches, organizations and people of all denominations to engage non-believers with the Good News of Jesus Christ. The dinners attract people from many different backgrounds, including atheists, those revisiting their own faith, even people from different religions.

“The yard signs, bumper stickers and posters have been generating all kinds of questions from people,” says Eddie Bogart, from Christ Church, Lake Forest, Ill. “It has given us a great opportunity to invite people we may not otherwise even converse with.”

According to Barna Research, more than half of all those who attend the course make decisions for Christ. Bear Grylls cites Alpha’s pressure-free approach, where no question is out of bounds, as a key to its success.

“I have seen so many people find a personal relationship with God and a quiet strength in their lives after doing the course – myself included,” Grylls explains. “Alpha is such a non-pressured and fun course, and it shows us how Christianity can be relevant and empowering to our lives.”

Grylls will be a featured presenter at The 2009 National Alpha Conference, October 20-21, at Northland, A Church Distributed in Longwood, Fla., which will bring together 3,000 individuals from churches across America. Grylls will speak both at the conference and during a citywide evangelistic crusade the evening of October 21.

A new, three-minute commercial starring Grylls was recently released to help promote the Alpha course and can be viewed at http://www.alphausapress.org.

To find an introductory dinner near you, or for information on The 2009 National Alpha Conference, visit http://www.alphausa.org or call 1-800-DO-ALPHA (362-5742).

Can God Bless America? – Happy 231st Birthday!

seniorSOY — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:50:12 +0000

As the United States of America turns 231 years old today I want to pose the question Can God Bless America?

The United States of America was founded 231 years ago on strong Judeo-Christian principles. From our founding documents to our courts to the eventual printing of our currency, the reverence of God, in government, was everywhere.

The blessings we Americans have enjoyed have made us a shining beacon of freedom and prosperity. We live in a land where anyone regardless of race, gender, class or creed can rise to be anything they set their sights on.

America has turned away from reliance on God to self-sufficiency. It reminds me of when Israel turned from God and did “what was right in their own eyes”. Is it a coincidence that as we turn from God our economic prosperity, and with it, the world’s disappears?

America is also consistently abandoning Israel in favor of Palestine and other Arab countries. Remember in the Bible, God says to to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) To be blessed by God, it is vitally important to stand with Abraham which are the Jews of today.

It’s not too late to turn back into the country that God wants to bless.
What can I do to make a difference today? Pray, pray, pray:

Pray today and every day that the leaders of this country will turn from their own ways and seek God’s guidance in every decision they make.
Pray that Godly men and women will step forward and run for public office and vote for them when you find them.
Pray that our leaders will stand with the land of Israel.

Happy birthday, USA, have a happy July 4th weekend and may God, once again, bless America.

by Bill Rozmiarek
bill@gatheredtogether.org

Should Christians Participate in Public Demonstrations Against the Civil Governmental Authorities?

seniorSOY — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:11:02 +0000

Almost everyday the broadcast and print media bombard the public with 24 hours of sensational, tabloid journalism which only heighten our sense of anxiety, pessimism, misery, and frustration. Many Americans are losing their jobs and are without health insurance, the high gas prices, the war in Afghanistan & Iraq, the exponential growth of the federal deficit, devaluation of the dollar, and not to mention the strain on the economy when the nearly 65 million to 100 million “Baby Boomers” reach retirement age within the next 10 years. Add to sad fact that ‘ENRON’ was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to retirement and 401-K pension funds because 95% of retirees don’t have enough savings to live on, anyway.

Many families are facing the reality that they might have to care for aging parents and “elder care” might become a national issue as it has among the Japanese in recent decades. Also, the prosperity of America is challenged by economic powerhouses China and India, who have some of the fastest growing economies in the world and both countries combined account for roughly, one-third of the global population. In fact, India has now achieved a milestone in 20 years to have nearly 365 million middle-class families, which is more than the entire United States population. When a person feels helpless and as though they are unnoticed and invisible, it is easy to want to complain, criticize, denounce and voice outrage toward political leaders for our misfortunes, but is this the way for a Christian to behave? What would believing Christians do today if they were subjected to a few of the following examples?

Matthew 26: 57, 59, 67-68
And those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and elders were gathered together. Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, in order that they might put Him to death. Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

Luke 23: 4, 13-16, 20-24
And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no guilt in this man.” And Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you have made against Him. “No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. “I will therefore punish Him and release Him.” And Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” And he [Pilate] said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; I will therefore punish Him and release Him” But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that he be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand should be granted.

Acts 12: 1-3
Now about that time, Herod the king [Agrippa I??] laid hands on some belonging to the church in order to mistreat them, And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. . .

Acts 18: 12, 16-17
But while Gallio was pro-counsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, and he drove them away from the judgment seat. And they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. And Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.

Acts 23: 33; 24: 22, 26-27
And when these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the “Way,” put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” At the same time too, he [Felix] was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he used to send for him quite often and converse with him. But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.

NOTE: In the aforementioned, these men had perverted justice and abused their power as civil servants and representatives of the people, and so what are believers to do about the circumstances experienced in these times of today? How would you act if you were abused while in police custody, falsely imprisoned, or someone perjured themselves at your trial? How would you act if Federal or State Laws denied you Civil Rights, Due Process in the Courts, Military service, equal housing, or employment and promotional opportunities because of your race, gender, or lifestyle choice? What if a loved one spent years in ‘solitary confinement’ or was on “Death Row” and later given “LETHAL INJECTION,” but you knew they were innocent? The medicine for this remedy is a painful pill to swallow as referenced in the following:

Titus 3: 1
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed.

I Peter 2: 13-15, 17
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king.

Romans 13: 1-7
Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you not want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword of God in vain; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscious sake. For because of this we pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom is due; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

I Timothy 2: 1-3
First of all, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made in behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

by Robert Randle

pbks@hotmail.com
http://choirboy51.blogspot.com