There is an article in The Christian Post that has a statement that sounds so wrong to me… yet I know it is probably right.  It says, “‘There isn’t a pastor I know of that doesn’t use other sources outside of the Bible,’ said Ron Forseth, general editor of SermonCentral.com, which claims to be the world’s most highly trafficked sermon website. ‘ Most look to the wisdom and experience of their preaching colleagues. ‘The question is what place the Bible takes in their sermon preparation and delivery.’”

Over 5,000 Pastors Pledge to Keep Sermons Purely Biblical

It is foreign to me, because I go to Faith & Victory Church, in Greensboro, NC, and our pastor, Ed Taylor, always preaches from the Bible, and ONLY the Bible.  He never brings in Reader’s Digest, or the newspaper (thank goodness!)  The Christian Post article goes on to say that there is an organization that asks pastors to pledge to use the Bible in their sermons.  Wow.  That someone would need to do that is sad.

So, I prefer the Word of God, and only the Word of God… and before someone says, “I want to hear stuff that is relevant to today!”  What could be MORE relevant than God’s Word?  And, conversely, what is MORE irrelevant than what they are saying in newspapers and in Reader’s Digest?   So… if you want the Word… come on by to Faith & Victory Church!

In Numbers 26:61, it says, “And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.” We are told that our God is a jealous God. (Deut. 4:24) He expects us to worship Him, in His Way, and not get pulled away by distractions of bad (that is, un-sound) doctrine. We are also told that the immature are often “carried about with every wind of doctrine.” Eph. 4:14, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” We have already spoken in past articles, of the fact that these “last of the last days” are perilous times. 2 Timothy 3:1, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” So, we must be ever more vigilent and serious about keeping the purity of the Word of God in our lives and in our worship!

There are many things afoot in the Body of Christ in these days that have no basis in Biblical history, doctrine, or fact. Some of these teachings come from cults, some come from other religions, but ALL are are from the devil! He is trying to draw believers away from sound doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2-5 says, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” We are to preach the Word! We are to preach and teach “sound doctrine.” But, we are also told that there will be those that will not endure sound doctrine, but will be turned unto “fables.” What kind of fables? Well, look at what is happening in certain circles around the Body of Christ. There are various “revivals” that are occurring around the country today that are following doctrines that have no basis in scripture, they are not teaching sound doctrine. They endorse speaking with angels for guidance, and direction, and ask them (angels) directly for help. Angels are God’s “agents” to bring about His will, and they are called “ministering spirits” that are to function “for us.” (Hebrews 1:14) However, we are not to speak TO angels, we pray to God, and God will dispatch them to aid us as necessary. To pray to them, or envoke their (supposed) names instead of God’s is not scriptural! We are to pray to God, in Jesus’ Name! John 14:13, 14 says, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” The Biblical pattern is to pray in Jesus’ Name to the Father God. Not to angels, not to people who have died, not to Mary, or John, or Peter… but to the Father God in Jesus’ Name! Notice the admonition in 2 Timothy 4:5, to “watch thou in all things.” To put it in more modern vernacular, “Watch out!”

This is just one of many examples, there are those that perform “magic tricks” in God’s name, producing feathers, gold dust, and other physical manifestations that are not Biblical. Show me a case, just one in the Bible, where Paul during his travels, for instance, manifested gold dust to prove his own piety, or demonstrate supernatural power! Or, where he spoke and feathers appeared. Can’t find it? That’s because it is not in there! However, there are followers of Jewish mysticism (the Kaballah) that speak of it, and there are some so called Charismatic “revivals” that involve this kind of “strange fire.” What are these things to believers that are determined to do what God has commanded and preach the Word and teach sound doctrine? They are distractions. They are flashy and look and sound “different” and interesting… but they are not what God wants us interested in. He wants us to be true to His Word. He wants us to follow sound doctrine.

I remember a time when a very well known pastor of a large church had a speaker come and speak at his church. This speaker was a lady that was drawing large crowds and getting invited to many large Charismatic churches, no doubt with very large offerings as well! People flocked to see her produce feathers! “Wow, ooooh, ahhh!” People, Jesus said, seek signs. (Luke 11:29) But not for the right reasons. Anyway, this pastor invited the lady to speak. After the service many were asked, “What did she teach?” No one could remember what she said, but they were all talking about the “supernatural manifestations!” Another minister that attended this same service, which was broadcast via satellite to hundreds of other churches, videotaped the lady as she ministered. He was able to show that she was pulling the feathers out of pockets sewn in her her sleeves. A simple “sleight of hand” trick. Her “ministry” was disgraced. She got fewer and fewer invitations after that. In another incident, a minister had the “gold dust” that was “supernaturally” manifested examined, and it turned out to be iron pyrite dust… so, in fact, it wasn’t even real gold! You would think God would manifest real gold! The bottom line is… the ministry of God is not a show… it is not entertainment! We are to preach the pure Word of God, not “perform!”

A minister does not “perform tricks” and spectacular acts to elevate themselves! Most often these folks are seen to be, and often proclaim themselves, as “more spiritual” than others… after all, they are specially “touched of God.” Now, don’t get me wrong, there are unique, special anointings. But, those that God uses in special anointings know that it is NOT them, it is God that does the work! As Peter said, “Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” (Acts 3:13) It is not YOUR personal power that is involved in ministry. In fact, personal power, and seeking such, is the hallmark of the occult! It is not that you are more “spiritual” or “holy!” I believe that this scripture is, in fact, recorded in God’s Word to show us this truth! It wasn’t Peter’s own power, or holiness, or spirituality, that caused special healings to happen in his presence. Acts 5:15, 16, “Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.” What did the work? Jesus told them to preach the Word, and as Mark 16:20 says, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” The Lord worked WITH them… confirming the Word they preached with signs following. What kinds of signs? Gold dust? Feathers? Using “angel’s names?” No! The sick were healed, demons were cast out, the lame were made whole, and the blind saw! Those are God’s kind of signs! And, they didn’t need weird manifestations or paper “barf bags” to do it! They simply preached the uncompromised Word of Faith, and God performed the work! They acted on the Word, and the Word worked!

Why bring these things to your attention? Because as we are told in the Word, in Eph 4:14-24: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Brethren, it is time to be grown-ups! Not to be easily distracted… not seeking “strange fire!” We are to “watch out!” Watch out for these things and avoid them! Rom 16:17, 18 says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and AVOID them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; (we could say “their own self interests”) and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Preach and teach only the purity of God’s Word!

You would think that if something was plain in Holy Scripture, a church would say, “Yes, amen, that’s so!”  But what if Scripture doesn’t agree with what they believe personally?  Well, in fact, they SHOULD agree with God and His Word in all cases… but in this case… no!  What the Bible says is not “convenient” in our modern culture, to their way of thinking… so, toss out the Scripture! Rule the way you WANT it to be… not the way God says it actually is!

What am I talking about? A large church has ruled in an “ecclesiastical court” that a “pastor” that “married” a same sex couple was “right” and did not violate Scripture by doing so. Excuse me?!?

Romans 1:24 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Romans 1:31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Note that this IS New Testament, not Old Testament (I heard one CNN reporter say that the New Testament has nothing to say about homosexuality! WRONG!) Anyway, if we wanted to get into Old Testament scriptures, we could go on and on! Suffice it to say, this story is an indictment against the modern church world!

Court Clears Presbyterian Minister Who Wed Lesbian Couple

“Three years after conducting a wedding ceremony for a lesbian couple, the Rev. Janet Edwards was acquitted Thursday on charges of violating Scripture and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s constitution. The Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) of the Pittsburgh Presbytery ruled unanimously 9-0 to clear the minister on the grounds that she could not have performed the ceremony since the church and state define marriage as between a man and a woman. ‘It can’t be an offense to the constitution to attempt to do the impossible,’ stated the decision, read by the Rev. Stewart Pollock, chairman of the regional church court, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon, associate professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and who has been critical of the PC(USA)’s liberal direction, said the decision represents ‘one of the most absurd decisions ever rendered by an ecclesiastical court.’ ‘This decision is the equivalent of saying that it can’t be an offense to the PC(USA) Constitution, or to Scripture, to attempt to marry a man to a woman other than his current wife, or to his mother, or to a prepubescent child, or even to a horse, because the Church does not recognize as a valid marriage cases of bigamy, polygamy, adultery, incest, pedophilia, or bestiality,’ Gagnon stated. Some argue that the court did not offer a satisfying decision, especially as the PC(USA) continues debates over homosexuality, and that it was more of a ‘non-decision.’ Edwards and the couple she wed in 2005 – Brenda Cole and Nancy McConn – were pleased but the minister also acknowledged that the decision ‘does not settle disagreement among my colleagues.’ But the Rev. James C. Yearsley, who was among several Presbyterian ministers that filed a second complaint against Edwards after the first was dismissed in November 2006 on a technicality, said he wasn’t surprised by the court decision. ‘This is the direction of our denomination, and it is accelerating. But it’s the wrong decision for the wrong reasons. It’s a further attempt to accommodate culture at the expense of scriptural authority and belief,’ he commented, as reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Also, before the ruling, Yearsley, who said he would not push for an appeal, stated that an acquittal would signal collapse of church discipline. During the Oct. 1-2 trial, biblical scholars and theologians on the defense testified that Edwards’ acceptance of same-sex ‘marriage’ was within the Presbyterian tradition of interpreting Scripture in its cultural context, according to the local Post-Gazette.” (Emphasis mine.)

“Interpreting Scripture in its cultural context” simply means, “ignore it, if you don’t like it.” Then throw out your Bible, and just walk away from it… because the Word of God is settled forever, it does not change, and neither does God!

Psalms 119:89 “Forever, O LORD, thy Word is settled in heaven.”

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

So, do what you want to do, modern unscriptural churches… but, please, take “Christian” off your signs and names, and just replace it with the “First Secular Humanist Church” and be done with it! Don’t claim to love and respect God and His forever settled Word!

Make fun of Islam… never! How insensitive! Make fun of the Jewish faith? No! But make fun of a Christian believer that attends a Pentecostal, Holy Ghost Church? Why sure! Pile on! That is what is happening with Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin. She believes in God, is a Christian, and attends a Pentecostal church. So, political cartoonists are having a heyday with her beliefs, including speaking in tongues. After all, it is just Christianity! It doesn’t count! Right?

Never mind that Holy Ghost, Bible totin’, tongue talkin’ Christianity is simply God’s own pure Truth from His Word! You have to wonder what He thinks about all the vile “humor” that is coming out about His Word, and His doctrine. Somehow, I don’t think He is all that amused. Not that He can’t deal with it Himself (and, I am sure, will) but it does make my “righteous indignation” overheat a bit!

But, to me, the bottom line is the underlying symptom behind this. Liberal anti-God forces choose to belittle the truth Word of God, while making excuses for religions that have a stated agenda of “killing the infidels,” such as Islam. Oh, I am sorry, it is a kind, peaceful religion! My bad! Meanwhile, beheadings, and all kinds of evil, takes place in the name of that “kind, sweet” belief… while Christianity is lampooned in our own newspapers. And, while most Americans just read these “jokes” snicker, and move on with their lives… I have to reflect and wonder…

What has happened to our country in such a short time?

For sample of the political cartoons in question, see this link:

Speaking in Tongues

God is calling the Body of Christ (the Church) to get serious in these “Last of the Last Days.”  I keep hearing, “Focus, focus, focus!” Time is short, and we have so much to do to reach a lost and dying world.  And the world is getting worse.

2Timothy 3:1, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

2Timothy 3:13, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”

I don’t mean all this to sound negative, in fact, this isn’t a negative message at all, merely a recognition of what the Bible says about the Last Days.  However, the same chapter DOES say, in the very next verse, after verse 13:

2Timothy 3:14, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”
2Timothy 3:15, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
2Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
2Timothy 3:17, “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

We are to be mature, thoroughly furnished unto all good works! And we have works to do!  We need to be reaching out and teaching and preaching the Gospel!  Not the reverse-Gospel (since “Gospel” means “good news“) or, maybe we could call it the “negative-spell!“  This type of teaching has left a “negative spell” on the church!  It is time to wake up, shake ourselves off, and reach people with the Truth of God’s Word!

John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
John 17:18, “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.”
John 17:19, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”
John 17:20, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;”
John 17:21, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

Believers need to be operating as one, reaching out to the world, so that the world will see us as one… as united! How do we do that?  Teach the Truth of God’s Word!  Not church doctrines… not opinions, just Truth!

If we will do that… then they will hear and receive the Word of God!

Acts 3:19, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”

Folks need to turn, which is what “repent” means, and be converted, that is, changed… then their sins shall be blotted out, and refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord!  Times of refreshing are coming for the Body of Christ, but hard times for those that don’t receive and believe!

Proverbs 13:14, “The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”
Proverbs 13:15, “Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.”

Who is wise? Proverbs 1:7:  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  The word “fear” here is the Hebrew word “yerah” and means “reverence.”  Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” So, the way of the transgressor may be hard, but for the believer, we are promised: deliverance, life, favor, wisdom, and knowledge!  It is so much better to be a believer!

So many people are seeking things, things, things! Instead, as Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

My brethren, seek God, seek His way, reverence Him!  Then all the things will be added in… and you will be in His Perfect Will!

Some atheists in London got bent out of shape because a Christian organization was putting scriptures on the side of buses… so they proposed that the atheists decided to request finds for an “alternate message” that would have been posted on the bus.  But they fell FAR short of the amount of contributions needed to put the signs on the buses!  So there you go!  I guess believing in nothing means that you don’t believe enough to say what you don’t believe!

Atheists fail to cough up for London bus ad

“They even made a mock-up photo of a bus carrying their chosen message: ‘There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and get on with your life.’ The project attracted huge attention on atheist message boards and was even featured on the website of scientist and prominent atheist Richard Dawkins, but it appears that too few non-believers actually put their hands in their pockets. A specially-created website had attracted only 877 pledges when its deadline passed on Thursday, far short of the 4,678 people needed.”

Anyway, I just thought it was interesting that so few contributed!

“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” (Romans 3:2-3, emphasis mine.)

There are many that denigrate the message of faith from God’s Word. They call teachers of faith heretics, and say that we are teaching “name it and claim it” and “blab it and grab” messages. My pastor, Ed Taylor, once was confronted by a local minister that said, “All you Faith Preachers (saying it disdainfully) I just call “faith peddlers!”

Well, my friend, if you aren’t “peddling faith,” what, may I ask, are you peddling? Are we to teach unbelief and doubt? There are apparently those that believe so!  Let me state categorically that I do “peddle faith!” I do “name it and claim it” and I “blab and grab” everything that God’s Word promises I can have! To do otherwise would be ungrateful to God for His magnificent provisions! There are many that say that faith teachers are arrogant and prideful. That is because they don’t understand “where we are coming from.” What do I mean? Well, these ministers might say, “Oh, I am unworthy of this, and I am unworthy of that.” Well, in our own position outside of God, I would agree… indeed, I am unworthy in that regard. BUT, I am not outside of God! I am the righteousness of God, in Him! (1 Corinthians 5:17-21) In whom? In Jesus! I am righteous with His righteousness! For me to say I am now unworthy, or unrighteous, is to diminish what God has, through Jesus, done for me! What is a greater indication of pride? To graciously accept all that Jesus has done for me and “brag” on His righteousness, or to exalt and revel in my personal baseness and unrighteousness? To, in effect, say that what Jesus did by His death on the cross, burial, and resurrection is of NO effect. I say with Paul, “God forbid!”

No, pride is to take any stand OTHER than what God says about us! I humbly state what God says about us as believers:

I am the righteousness of God in Christ! (1 Corinthians 5:17-21)

I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus! (Romans 8:37)

I always triumph in Christ Jesus! (2 Corinthians 2:14)

He (Jesus) became poor that I might be rich! (2 Corinthians 8:9)

I am the healed of the Lord! (1 Peter 2:24)

And I could continue… but the important point is that if God says it about me, then THAT’S the way it is, whether is suits anyone else or not. Let God be true, and every man a liar! (Romans 3:4)

I don’t mean to sound quite so “tongue-in-cheek” with my heading there… but, really!  It is a sad commentary that the Pope feels it is even necessary to affirm the Christian’s mandate to preach the Gospel and see people convert from false religions to Christianity.  I will not go into how scripturally accurate Catholic teaching is here, that is not my point in this article, what I am concerned about is that Christians have come so far from courage in our convictions and faith in the true Word of God, that it is news to hear someone affirm the need to evangelize!

Pope Affirms Right to Convert Non-Believers to Christianity

Jesus was very plain when He said:

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

“Go ye (that’s YOU) into all the world (anyone that isn’t born again) and PREACH THE GOSPEL! This is more that a suggestion, more than an encouragement, it is a COMMAND from the Head of the Church Himself! And, no, I am not talking about the Pope here, I am talking about Jesus! He is the one that told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel! And, notice that what we preach is to be the “Gospel,” which means “good news.” “God makes you sick,” is not only not true, and not scriptural, it is also BAD NEWS! No, we are to preach the true Word of God, see people healed, speak in new tongues, cast out devils… in other words, see the needs of people supernaturally met! Are you seeing that in your church? If not, what are they teaching? Is it THE Good News?

What IS THE “Good News?” Here it is:

Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:11 For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Speak with your mouth, believe with your heart! The GOOD NEWS of the Word of Faith! That’s what Paul said that he, and those with him, preached! That’s what we should be preaching, teaching, exhorting… to ANY and all!

The churches that describe themselves as having “liberal theology” (which you can read as un-scriptural theology) are less likely to use new technologies to preach. I suspect that is because they really don’t have anything worth reaching anyone with… why spend money to use high tech, if you are preaching poverty, lack, and sickness anyway?

Study: Churches Slow to Adopt New Technology

“New research shows that a majority of churches use some type of emerging technology in their services, but the pace of technology adoption has slowed in recent years. Although 65 percent of Protestant churches now have a large screen projection system, that number is just slightly higher than in 2005 when 62 percent had such a system, according to The Barna Group. The use of large screens had jumped from the year 2000 when only 39 percent were using them. Since 2005, there was only a 5 percent increase in the adoption of a large screen projection system. The Barna study, released Monday, found that churches that say they are theologically conservative are more likely to have large screens (68 percent) than churches described by their pastor as having ‘liberal theology’ (43 percent). Smaller churches – ones that average less than 100 adults each week – are less likely to have big screens, with only 53 percent of them reportedly having one. Meanwhile, 76 percent of churches that draw 100 to 250 adults have a large screen and 88 percent of churches that draw more than 250 adults have it. Over half the churches that have a big screen use it to show movie clips or other video segments during their services and events. Along with the slower adoption of large screens, sending e-mail blasts have also not prevailed in the last couple of years. Fifty-six percent of Protestant churches send email blasts to large groups or to the entire church body but that number has remained the same since 2005. More churches have created an Internet presence since 2005. The latest study showed that 62 percent of Protestant churches have a church Web site, up from 57 percent in 2005. In 2000, only 34 percent had a Web site. Larger churches are more likely to have an Internet presence. Nine out of 10 churches with more than 250 adults attending have a Web site while only 48 percent of churches with less than 100 adults have one. ‘Many small churches seem to believe that new tools for ministry are outside of their budget range or may not be significant for a church of their size. It may be, though, that such thinking contributes to the continued small size of some of those churches,” said George Barna, who directed the study.”

We are blessed at Faith & Victory Church… we use LOT’S of high tech to preach the Gospel! Check out our web site, podcasts, and soon… streaming video via IPTV (Internet Protocol Television!) We reach 70,000 + folks a month with our podcasts… all over the world! Amen!

A controversial movie gets a lot of guff from many different corners… and “Expelled!” is no exception. In this article in the Christian Post, he reveals the truth about the mis-information:

Myths about ‘Expelled’

“If you have heard of the new documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, opening April 18, chances are you have heard all kinds of distortions and myths about it. So let me set the record straight about some of the most common myths.

Myth #1: Darwinists interviewed for this film were tricked into participating.

Not so. Each scientist interviewed for Expelled, on both sides of the evolution debate, knew who would do the interview and what it was for. Each of them signed a release, allowing the producers to use the footage of their interviews.

Myth #2: The film is anti-science.

Wrong again. Many distinguished scientists were interviewed for this film and given the chance to express their views. Just like their Darwinist counterparts, the advocates of intelligent design and their supporters who are interviewed are there to talk about science, not to dismiss it. These are people like Cambridge physicist John Polkinghorne; Oxford mathematician and philosopher John Lennox; journalist Pamela Winnick, who has received hate mail for covering the issue; and biologist Caroline Crocker, who was fired from George Mason University for discussing intelligent design in the classroom. Some of them are religious believers; some are not. But what they share is a commitment to science and the unfettered pursuit of truth. Expelled is not anti-science; it is anti-censorship.

Myth #3: Ben Stein, the actor and writer who hosts the movie, has lost his mind.

Bringing up this very issue in a conference call, Stein quipped that he probably has, ‘but it was a long time ago . . . probably sometime around 1958.’ Well, I have known Stein well for years, and he is as bright as a button and anything but out of his mind. On a serious note, Stein and his film’s producers explained that the mud that people are flinging at him is just one small example of what happens to people who question Darwinian orthodoxy. The original idea for Expelled, said co-producer and software engineer Walt Ruloff, came to him when he was working on a project with a group of biotechnologists and learned ‘that there was a whole series of questions that could not be asked.’

The prevailing ideology among many scientists—it turned out—he concluded, was keep your mouth shut, take the research money, and publish only the data that fits with ‘the party line.’ The issue that concerns Ruloff and the others behind Expelled is whether the scientific establishment in this country is going to allow genuine ‘freedom of inquiry,’ or simply shut up—and slander—those who do not toe the line.

Given all this, Ben Stein states, ‘As long as the cause is right, I’m happy to be in an uphill struggle.’

Myth #4: Popular author and atheist Richard Dawkins tells Ben Stein in this film that there could have been a designer of life on earth, but it would have had to have been ‘a higher intelligence’ that had itself evolved ‘to a very high level . . . and seeded some form of life on this planet.’

Well, actually . . . that one is not a myth. He really did say it—striking admission, though it is.

So, I urge you to go see Expelled when it opens at a theater near you. Believe me, in this case the truth really is stranger—and more compelling—than any fiction the film’s detractors could possibly dream up.”