No, the Church in America is Not Dying
However, I would ask you to consider this: God is also giving “Convictional Christians” an amazing opportunity to live out our faith. Yes, it might cost us more to live out our faith in this “post-Christian” world – but we also reap a bigger harvest for the Lord when we do.
An orphan goes to church and asks someone, anyone to adopt him
The preacher spoke about orphans, how Jesus lifted them up. He described an epidemic, “alarming numbers of African-American children who need us.”
Then he introduced Davion, who shuffled to the pulpit. Without looking up, Davion wiped his palms on his pants, cleared his throat, and said:
”My name is Davion and I’ve been in foster care since I was born … I know God hasn’t given up on me. So I’m not giving up either.”
New Research: Bad Choices Burden Americans
While self-defined Protestant or non-denominational Christians are less likely to agree (42 percent), a majority (51 percent) of those who said they are a born-again, evangelical or fundamentalist Christian agree they are still dealing with a wrong choice from their past.
Book Review – One Bible, Many Versions
Just one example here will suffice – Brunn points out that many people will argue that the New American Standard Bible (NASB) is one of the most literal, word-for-word translations on the market. However, Brunn goes through and points out that in many verses a more idiomatic (or, Dynamic) translation is actually more “literal” or formal in its translation than is the NASB. The same is true with the ESV and the HCSB. I was mesmerized by the evidence, and I will never look at the NASB with the same understanding as I once did.
Eight new mental illnesses brought to you by—wait for it—the Internet!
As the Internet evolved into a ubiquitous part of #ModernLife, we’ve witnessed a rise in the number of distinct mental disorders directly tied to our use of digital technology. These afflictions, which range from benign to destructive, weren’t recognized by the medical community until very recently, and didn’t even exist before the Clinton administration.
Some of these disorders are new versions of old afflictions retooled for the mobile broadband age, while others are wholly new creatures. Don’t be surprised if you’ve felt a tinge of at least one or two of them.
Cockroach farming is a booming business in China
As it turns out, there’s much more demand for the little critters than some would like to admit. For example, cosmetic companies reportedly use them as a source of protein and for a “cellulose-like substance” on their wings, according to the Times.
And in May, the United Nations itself encouraged more people to consume insects for food, saying they are an inexpensive source of protein and could be a viable solution to world hunger.
Cockroaches have also been used for ages in Chinese medicine.