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Church Tech: 9 out of 10 Protestant pastors have Internet access, and about half of all Protestant churches maintain a church Web site, according to a recent Ellison Research study. While 90% of ministers are online, only a third of those use a content filter on their church office computer. 88% of larger churches (200 or more in attendance) maintain a Web site, compared to 60% of mid-size churches (100 to 199) and only 28% of churches with fewer than 100. Pastors expect that the most important forms of technology in their ministry over the next 5 years will be doing research on the Internet followed by using Bible study software, building, or maintaining a Web site, using PowerPoint, and being able to show DVDs or videos. (PWB 1/7/05)
“Of thirty Roman emperors, governors of provinces and others in high office, who distinguished themselves by their zeal and bitterness in persecuting the early Christians, one became speedily deranged after some atrocious cruelty, one was slain by his own son, one became blind, the eyes of one started out of his head, one was drowned, one was strangled, one died in a miserable captivity, one fell dead in a manner that will not bear recital, one died of so loathsome a disease that several of his physicians were put to death because they could not abide the stench that filled his room, two committed suicide, a third attempted it but had to call for help to finish the work, five were assassinated by their own people or servants, five others died the most miserable and excruciating deaths, several of them having an untold complication of diseases, and eight were killed in battles, or after being taken prisoners.
Among these was Julian the Apostate. In the days of his prosperity he is said to have pointed his dagger to heaven, defying the Son of God whom he commonly called the Galilean. But when he was wounded in battle, he saw that all was over with him, and he gathered up his clotted blood and threw it into the air, exclaiming, thou has conquered, O thou Galilean.” (Boise 25)
Illustration: “The Egg Toss”
During the waning days of World War II, thousands of Russian troops poured into the city of Berlin. Many of them were simple country bumpkins who had never been in a city before. They were amazed and confused by what they saw. Some soldiers unscrewed light bulbs and carefully packed them away to take home, believing they contained light and could be made to work anywhere.
One group of Russian soldiers burst into a Berlin chemical lab. Ransacking the offices and laboratories, they came upon a dozen eggs sealed in an airtight container, with bright red German words imprinted on them.
Like kids at a picnic, the soldiers put down their weapons, pulled off their heavy overcoats, and began playing an old-fashioned game of egg toss. Just then a lab scientist stumbled upon the scene. Horrified, he started shouting at the soldiers. But since the Russians could not understand German, they ignored him and continued their game.
Finally the scientist found a Russian colonel who could translate. The colonel ordered the soldiers to carefully replace the eggs in their containers and get out of the building, which was then locked up tight.
What the soldiers didn’t realize was that the eggs they were playing with so nonchalantly contained the deadly typhus virus. If even one of those eggs had been dropped or broken, the soldiers would have certainly all died and started a horrible epidemic that could have killed who knows how many thousands of people.
Many people today play around with sin as if it were some kind of game. And though it may look harmless—even innocent to them, they are, in fact, playing with death.
That is why God warns us about giving Satan any kind of foothold in our lives.
We live in the age of information overload. Consider the following:
Ø New York Times contains more factual information in one edition than all the written materials available to a reader in the 15th century.
Ø In 1472 the finest university library in the world was Queen’s College, Cambridge, it contained 199 books. Now there are 60,000 new books released in the USA each year, 300,000 worldwide.
Ø 18,000 magazines published in the USA alone.
Ø 400,000 ‘scholarly’ journals published annually in the world.
Ø 15 billion catalogues delivered last year to American...
Australian women are 7 times more likely than men to be murdered by a partner or husband (Australian Institute of Criminology).
80% of sexual assaults in Australia are against women and 1 in five of these is perpetrated by a family member (i.e. either a father, male partner or husband - AIC).
The median duration of a marriage ending in divorce in WA is 11 years and has been that way since 1960. The most common age at which West Australian marriages are terminated is when the couple are in their mid-to late 30’s (WA office of youth affairs).
The most recent census shows that marriage rates in Australia are at their lowest since 1978 (ABS).
From the Sunday Times ......
1 in 12 women who were married or in de facto relationships had experienced some violence from their current partner.
1 in 3 young people aged between 12 and 20 had witnessed domestic violence in the home.
1/4 of all teenagers had seen physical violence perpetrated against the female parent.
(Source: Sunday Times, 04/07/04, p. 10.)
Now more than ever children need a father who will lead the way to a life worthy of God
Hallmark Cards reports that 65% of Americans decorate their homes and offices , second only to Christmas. We spend about $5 billion on the event making it the 3rd largest party day of the year. (PWB 10/29/98)
Decent Movies make more money according to an annual study by the Christian Film & Television Commission. In an analysis of American box-office receipts for 250 movies released last year, films that stressed “strong moral content” made an average $92,546,413 -- six times that of those focused on “immoral, negative content.” (PWB 3/26/04)
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Dr. Don Colbert wrote a book called Stress Less in which he tackles the problem of stress in our society. Listen to a few observations he has made as a Medical Doctor. “Did you know that 75 to 90 percent of all visits to a primary care physician’s office are related to stress disorders? That’s according to the American Institute of Stress. What is driving us to the shelves of pharmacy? Feelings of stress! Americans are consuming five billion tranquilizers, five billion barbiturates, three billion amphetamine...
Marijuana: The average age of first-time marijuana users in the U.S has dropped from 19 to 13. A recent Gallup poll indicates 34% of Americans favor legalization, the greatest support since ‘69. In ‘01, 50,000 people were sentenced to prison for marijuana violations. In some states with over-crowded prisons voters and legislators are pushing for legalization. At the same time, the White House Office of National Drug Policy reports 23% of 4.5 million U.S. drug-dependent people are teens. (Current Thoughts & Trends 5/18/04)
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Biblical Cinema Growth: The Passion of The Christ movie (earned more than $370 million in North America alone) may be the forerunner of a ‘renaissance’ in Christian film. Several new Bible-based blockbusters are on their way claims Richard Gazolwski, President of WYSIWYG Filmworks. They are The Chronicles of Narnia (based on the book series by C.S. Lewis), The Visitation (based on the Frank Peretti best-selling novel) and One Night with the King (from a Tommy Tenney book. Also Michael W. Smith has his first leading film role in soon to be released Second Chance. T.D. Jakes released Woman Thou Art Loosed in October to solid box-office response. In early 2006, Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph releases. Gazowski notes that in the last few months, there have been over 12 Christian film festivals, with each one displaying an average of over 40 new video productions. Only a few years ago just 4 or 5 new Christian products was typical. (Christian Retailing 12/13/04)
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