The wholehearted embrace of the candidacy of Donald Trump by evangelical Christian leaders has troubled me deeply. And in many respects, their embrace of Mr. Trump mystifies me. He is precisely the sort of man whose character these evangelical leaders should have been expected to denounce out of hand. In light of how the genuine … Continue reading Pastor Note #68 — Franklin Graham Has Abandoned Biblical Authority
Tag: Gary Chorpenning
Pastor’s Note #67 — An Evangelical Pastor’s Concerns about Donald Trump’s Effect on the Spiritual Life of Christians
In my judgment, this is an almost impossibly difficult presidential election for American Christian voters. I do not believe there is any clearly acceptable candidate for Christian voters to support in 2016. Christian voters can in good faith make different decisions about which candidate to vote for. But as I have observed this election season … Continue reading Pastor’s Note #67 — An Evangelical Pastor’s Concerns about Donald Trump’s Effect on the Spiritual Life of Christians
Pastor Note #66 — Election Thoughts 2016 –the Supreme Court
A Trump presidency will not result in a strongly conservative Supreme Court as some prominent evangelicals been arguing. Franklin Graham and others insist that the key issue that evangelical Christian voters should keep in mind in this presidential election is the matter of filling the current opening on the Supreme Court and probably more in the … Continue reading Pastor Note #66 — Election Thoughts 2016 –the Supreme Court
Prayer Note #56 — A Prayer for First Responders
A Prayer for First Responders “You must not go about as a slanderer among your people. You must not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at stake. I am the Lord. You must not hate your brother in your heart. You must surely reprove your fellow citizen so that you do not incur … Continue reading Prayer Note #56 — A Prayer for First Responders
Prayer Note #55 — Prayers for Memorial Day
Invocation for a Memorial Day Ceremony God of heaven and earth, in life and in death we belong to you. Our lives and the life of our nation are in your hands. You are the foundation of all that is right and good and just. Today especially we gather to remember with gratitude those who have … Continue reading Prayer Note #55 — Prayers for Memorial Day
Bible Note #19 — Palm Sunday, Mark 11:1-11
I am always torn by this story—by the inherent social tension in the story. This passage and the accounts in the other Synoptic Gospels (Matthew/Mark/Luke) see this event as taking place on the first day of the same week in which Jesus would be crucified. And I see no good reason to argue with that … Continue reading Bible Note #19 — Palm Sunday, Mark 11:1-11
Quotes of Note #5 — Baptism with the Holy Spirit
"I take it that that is abundantly clear -- you cannot be a Christian without having the Holy Spirit in you. But -- and here is the point -- I am asserting at the same time that you can be a believer, that you can have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, and still not … Continue reading Quotes of Note #5 — Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Pastor Note #65 — A Congregational Vision for Prayer and Healing
A Vision for Prayer & Healing in the Life of our Church The Ministry of Prayer in the Life of our Congregation The presence of God is sought and found in a diligent and unremitting pursuit of God through prayer. Prayer is not the work of a few. It … Continue reading Pastor Note #65 — A Congregational Vision for Prayer and Healing
Pastor Note #64 — Marriage: And Now for Something Completely Different
Marriage: And Now for Something Completely Different Is there really a good reason why marriages of more than two people should be forbidden by law? Is sex a necessary part of marriage as it is now defined by the Supreme Court of the United States? Or is it now conceivable that an intentionally non-sexual relationship … Continue reading Pastor Note #64 — Marriage: And Now for Something Completely Different
Pastor Note #63 — Mission Field America
Recently, I read about a church that had a sign at the exit from its parking lot, a sign that people read as they were leaving the church. The sign said, “You are now entering the mission field.” It’s a bracing thought and one that is more and more obviously true in North America. American … Continue reading Pastor Note #63 — Mission Field America
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 