'Pop Goes the Gospel'

Welcome to the February 2010 edition of Pop Goes the Gospel. After taking a month off for much needed rest and reflection Pop Goes the Gospel is back bigger than ever. I had so many great contributions this month that I feel this edition is the best ever!

Taking a month off really improved the quality of submissions and there are many first time posters in this edition. Be sure to read ever article this month so that you do not miss a blessing.

It is such a blessing each month to read what others share about their reflections of Christ in their day to day lives. I really is an honor and a privilege to publish this carnival each month.

Be sure to visit each site and leave behind some words of encouragement. Even negative comments can be an encouragement for the author to continue to write. But remember to be kind and gentle with your remarks so as not to be offensive.

Now on with this month’s edition

Feature Article

Emily Simmons presents Adornment and The Holy Spirit posted at Be In Health Now Emily Simmons’ post takes us on a thought journey as she addresses the issue of ADORNMENT. Looking at the Seventh Day Adventists teaching prohibiting the wearing of jewelry I liked how she includes us in her interaction with her thoughts. The conversational tone in which she writes this post helps you to think along with her as she forms her conclusions. Whether you agree or disagree this is a must read and because it is so well done it earns the prestige of being this month’s FEATURE POST. Well done Emily and I hope you submit more posts! Not bad for a first timer eh?

In Culture

Shannon Christman presents Church Daycares posted at The Minority Thinker Shannon Christman a first time poster to this blog tackles a growing trend in churches today, DAYCARE! Shannon postulates that perhaps the church is responding to the cultural needs of the day rather than seeking to change them. She feels that perhaps instead of providing daycare and thus enabling the further decline of our culture, instead the church should be looking to encourage thrift, time management, and child rearing on the home front. Talk about stirring the pot! Stop over and voice your opinion, I surely hope Shannon is flame resistant, and she is because she is covered by the blood of Jesus. Nice job Shannon and thanks for tacking this HOT TOPIC!

Justin Allison presents Birth Control, Global Warming, and the Bible? posted at Old Testament Ecology Justin Allison tackles a subject near and dear to my heart. Global warming activists insist that people are the cause of global warming. I strongly disagree with their assertions on two levels..#1 I do not believe that CO2 is a pollutant and #2 I do not believe that people should be considered expendable. Global warming activists seem to believe that population control is the best way to fight global warming. I do not think that is what God had in mind when he told Adam to be fruitful and multiply. See what Justin has to say on this topic.

Ann Shorb presents Let’s Talk About Jesus posted at A Light for My Path Ann Shorb relates a news article from York County PA. where someone carefully wrapped a South African gold Krugerrand coin worth $1200 in a one dollar bill and placed it in the Salvation Army kettle this Christmas. Everyone is still talking about it today. What have you done recently to cause people to talk? What are they saying? Is what they are talking about bring joy to others who hear? What can you contribute to the conversation that will have people talking for days, month’s even years? Jesus, God’s most valued treasure was wrapped in swaddling clothes and lain in a hay filled manger over 2000 years ago and yet the world is still talking about Him.

Alisha Harmann presents 25 Excellent iPhone Apps for Bible Study posted at Accredited Online Bible Colleges A handy guide to iPhone Apps of Biblical proportions.

NCSue presents Do we “send the crowds away”? posted at IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING A regular poster here at Pop Goes the Gospel NCSue once again submits a timely post. With all the suffering around us and a world that seems to be out of control, do we as Christians send the crowds away to seek their own remedies to life’s ills, or do we as a church rise up to meet those needs?

In Church Life

Trent Cotton presents Scars posted at Christian Men-Christian Warriors Trent writes about the scars of life that remind us of where we have been, what we have done, and abuses we may have suffered. Those scars can be a testimony to others of what Christ has brought you through if you are willing to bear those scars for Christ’s sake and show others the healing power that Jesus provided on the cross.

LOCKSMIF presents Study The Bible Not The Sermon posted at Study The Bible Not The Sermon Locksmif’s post although poorly titled does post an interesting question. What is God’s name really? Perhaps that would have been a better title since his post deals with the names of God. He concludes that God’s name is Jesus for Jesus is God. Check it out. Thank you for your submission Locksmif!

Kerin Gedge presents The Bankers of Heaven posted at Kerinthian’s Kerin Gedge gives a new spin to the word banker. Although demonized today Kerin points out in his post on the parable of the talents just how valued these bankers were to Jesus.

Diana Hall presents Epiphany: a process posted at damascusmoments Diana Hall another first time poster to this carnival takes on a journey as we follow the Magi who discover something quite unexpected. She writes that as we journey with God and follow His lead He shows up where we least expect to find Him. Great post Diana thanks for sharing!

Rick Schiano presents Let Go, 2012 Is not the End posted at Ricks Victory Blog. Rick takes a stab at the end time pronouncements of 2012. There seems to be a growing number of people who believe that the end is near. As far as human predictions goes this is just another in a long list of disproved prophecies of end times. BUT that does not mean that we should not always be watchful and diligent always expecting the Lord’s soon return. All these failed prophecies has a tendency to make many skeptics, but we do have this assuredly. Jesus will return, when we do not know but return He will.

Bible SEO presents Rich Young Ruler and Jesus | Luke 18:18-27 | Bible Study posted at Bible Study Exposition Online. This well written post addresses the Parable of the Rich Young Ruler. Since Lent will be here in a few weeks perhaps we all should answer the question asked at the end of this post… “What are the things God is asking you to give up?”

In Media

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Telling Tiger To Convert Just Ain’t Kosher posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog I was not sure what to make of Madeleine’s post but I thought I would leave it in for the “entertainment value”. After all she does say her blog is a humor blog. And the more I read her post I did get a chuckle out of it. Basically Madeleine pokes fun at Brit Hume’s remarks about telling Tiger to convert to Christianity. Her point I believe was to many the words of Brit Hume seemed hollow and trite. There is more to redemption then changing religious affiliation. There must be true repentance and fruits born of that repentance. As a believer however I understood what Brit Hume was trying to say. Tell her what you think.

Anthony DeFazio presents Legion posted at sannyasa, saying, “A Christian biblical preview of the movie, “Legion.”” Anthony tackles a movie review that at the time of his post was yet to be released, IT has since hit theaters nationwide. The screenplay to the movie “Legion”, Anthony contends, is a perversion of the 12th chapter of Revelation. I have not yet seen the movie nor am I inclined to do so and based on Anthony’s post it is probably not worthwhile anyway. Satan has long been an imitator of what is good. Satan has always been the accuser of the brethren. Satan since the beginning of time has been distorting the scriptures in attempts to mislead many a soul. It is not hard then to see how this movie is just another attempt to rewrite the scriptures to fit another world view. Well done Anthony and thanks for your post.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of pop goes the gospel using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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