Blog - Page 195 of 318 - John H Armstrong

Focusing on the Church Outside the Walls

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 24th, 2009|Categories: Emergent Church|

Emergent churches often receive considerable attention in the press because they offer an element of surprise to readers who know little or nothing about them. One such church, with the fairly typical emergent type name of Fusion Church, meets in a Chicago suburb about a 45-minute drive from my home. Fusion Church is in Lake Zurich (IL). It was featured in an article in our suburban paper on the Monday following Easter. Because Fusion represents many of the "trends" we find in similar "emergent" churches this story is worthy of some comment and response.

Fusion is a small, non-denominational (though connected to various ministries) congregation that is five-years old. It is a thoroughly orthodox congregation in its beliefs and ethical commitments. Fusion says, about itself:

We are a group of people from all walks of life
attempting to follow Jesus. We recognize following
Jesus is a 24/7 commitment, done in God's power,
with the support of intimate relationships [community].
It has incredible implications on how we […]

An Update on David Stopke

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 23rd, 2009|Categories: Personal|

Thanks to scores of you who have prayed for David Stopke and the Stopke family since I posted their story a few days ago. I have now been to Las Vegas and am back home again in Illinois. David was able to hear me speak to him on Tuesday and heard my prayers for him. His eyes filled with tears as he tried to thank me several times. He could move his head and clearly acknowledged my presence there. It was so moving to spend these moments with him. Other visits did not elicit the same kind of response so I am profoundly grateful I had this first one on Tuesday around 1:00 p.m. local time. I wish I could have been there much longer but I was able to accomplish my pastoral desire to minister to him in this hour of life and death.

Today and tomorrow (April 23-24) I am working with two film producers a film for an ACT 3 video. We hope to produce three different versions: 1) A longer version for a DVD […]

Prayer is Irksome

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 22nd, 2009|Categories: Prayer|

We must be honest about it, prayer is difficult for all of us. No one is immune to this great difficulty. Only immature Christians think otherwise. C. S. Lewis wrote:

Well, let’s now at any rate come clean. Prayer is irksome. An excuse to omit it is never unwelcome. When it is over, this casts a feeling of relief and holiday over the rest of the day. We are reluctant to begin. We are delighted to begin. While we are at prayer, but not whole we are reading a novel or solving a crossword puzzle, any trifle is enough to distract us. And we know that we are not alone in this.

For too many of us prayer is something to check off our “to-do list.” It is a daily duty but not something we truly enjoy doing. But the necessity of prayer is seared into our hearts by words like those of the apostle Paul: “Pray without ceasing” (1 […]

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 21st, 2009|Categories: Baseball|

Baseball is back and spring is in the air, or at least on some days. Chicago has experienced a rather cold spring this year, making me wonder where the impact of Global Warming is in the snow and cold of the last few years. (Please smile, this is not a political statement!)

My hopes often spring eternal when baseball returns but I fear my two favorite teams, the Atlanta Braves in the National League and the Chicago White Sox in the American League, are not going far this year. The Braves have a very full cupboard in the minors and could be on the cusp of another good run soon. (Watch for the 22 year-old pitcher Tommy Hanson when he comes up later this season.) The White Sox have some huge holes in their lineup but could have good starting pitching again. They also have a great closer in Bobby Jenks. But both teams need middle relief, a huge problem in many places it […]

Tragedy Can Strike Anywhere or Anytime

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 20th, 2009|Categories: Personal|

Back in the 1980s several fine men in Lake Havasu, Arizona, got in touch with me after they had begun to listen to sermons of mine on tape. (This was pre-Internet so tapes were made and mailed by my local church, some even going overseas and to many small groups around the country.) These men, and their families, soon became friends. At first they were part of a small group who listened to my sermons on cassette tape for group study. One of these brothers, who drove about three hours to finally meet me in person, was David Stopke. David then drove me back to the Phoenix Airport. We became good friends over time. David would write me and we would also talk more and more on the telephone. Eventually I made the journey to Lake Havasu in 1992 to speak to this small group in person. I can still recall driving across the desert to meet the group for the first time. I especially recall the time I had in David's home with his family one Sunday after we had a […]

A Prayer for Ministers This Lord's Day

By John Armstrong|2009-04-19T05:00:00-05:00April 19th, 2009|Categories: The Christian Minister/Ministry|

Lord God, revealed in the preaching of Jesus

    at the seashore,
    in the city and highway,
    in home and upper room,
    in a synagogue and temple,
    in mountain and wilderness,
    to the sick and despondent,
    to the sinner and outcast,
    to soldier and ruler,
    to alien and pilgrim,
    to rich and poor;

Because you have commanded us

    to preach your Gospel to the nations
    to shout if from the housetops,
    to speak it in the light,
    to bring your peace to all,
    to announce the coming of your kingdom;

We pray you,

use our ministers of the word
[…]

A Visit to One of America's Largest Emergent Churches

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 18th, 2009|Categories: Emergent Church|

Mars Hill Bible Church, in Grandville, Michigan, is one of the better known “emergent” (or “emerging”) congregations in America. Begun as a church plant through the leadership of well-known author and speaker Rob Bell, Mars Hill reflects all that is good about emergent Christianity, as well as some of the weaknesses one frequently encounters. I had the unique opportunity to be in Grand Rapids for a meeting with my publisher, Zondervan, on April 6. I came in a day early for the Monday meeting and thus had a “rest” day on April 5, Palm Sunday.With this unusual gift of time away I decided to visit Mars Hill. (I have visited several of the leading emergent churches over the past four years.) Most of what I expected was what I experienced.

The whole congregation gathers for two Sunday meetings, at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. These meetings are actually called “Gatherings.” The service I attended lasted about 70 minutes. The first twenty minutes-plus was […]

Luther's Morning Prayer

By John Armstrong|2009-04-17T05:00:00-05:00April 17th, 2009|Categories: Prayer|

My Heavenly Father, I thank you, through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, that You kept me safe from all evil and danger last night. Save me, I pray, today as well from every evil and sin, so that all I do and the way that I live will please you. I put myself in your care, body and soul and all that I have. Let Your holy angels be with me, so that the evil enemy will not gain power over me. Amen.

Torchwood: Science Fiction with a Postmodern Twist

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 16th, 2009|Categories: Film|

Torchwood is a popular science-fiction award-winning drama created by Russell T. Davies. Torchwood, a spin-off from the popular sci-fi show Doctor Who, follows a group of investigators working for the secret organization of the same name. Set in Cardiff, Wales the team specialize in alien technology that has landed on Earth, and crime, whether it be alien or human. The mysterious Captain Jack Harkness is the leader of the equally mysterious Torchwood, and vows to guard humanity against alien threats. Curious PC Gwen Cooper accidentally discovers the group, and soon becomes entangled in a series of events. This leads up to her being hired, and becoming involved in the exciting affairs of the organization. Together with medic, Owen Harper, and the tech expert, Toshiko Sato, and the impressible Ianto Jones, the five explore the thrilling world of Torchwood.

Torchwood has aired for two seasons on British (BBC) and currently consists of thirteen episodes in first two complete seasons. Several Web sites tell of a new Torchwood mini-series will […]

The Christian Right: R.I.P.

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 15th, 2009|Categories: American Evangelicalism|

I asked yesterday if the Christian right was dead, at least as a viable political entity? My answer, along with that of a growing number of commentators and former-insiders to this movement, is a resolute yes.

Consider this fact: a growing number of very conservative Christians are frustrated with politics! Kathleen Parker noted in her April 5 syndicated column on this issue, published in the Washington Post, that "[this question] is getting fresh air lately as frustrated conservative Christians question the pragmatism—defined as the compromising of principles—of the old guard." She references several conservative spokespersons, one of whom represents a strong anti-public school stance. (This movement has always been there but it seems to be gaining greater force right now as more and more see the public schools are the problem in our culture.)
These Christians see James Dobson as having compromised too much to build a political movement. In my way of thinking, Dobson and compromise do not seem to flow in […]