its matthew, hey i just wanted to tell you all of the miraculous work god is doing in my life, besides the period of change and growth i talked about at our last meating. For the last two months i have been subletting on 152nd and broadway, the sublet ends april first at which time i would be without a home.So the last two months i have been searching for something permanent (as i am tired of moving), and of course dedicating the issue to prayer. so here it is the last week of my sublet and have not found a door that stays open, until i spent one last evening searching hopelessly but with faith for a home, when much to my surprise i come across an add for an apartement share on east sixtieth that is cheaper than what i had budgeted. so i thought why not and took the next train to the east side. and two days later im putting down a deposit. its kind of exciting how when wejust wait patiently on the lord he'll pull through even at the last minute.

SIGNING IN PROBLEMS???

This is Peter. I have had no problems following the instructions to sign in under my own name. If you want to blog under your own name, nothing seems to be impeding that. Just follow the instructions in the email I sent. If you want me to re-send, then I will. I may anyway.
Cheers,

Peter

Hello Upper Westsiders!
Clint here. Just wanted to say that I read both Rich Nathan's and Jimmy Carter's pieces on war and found both stimulating and thought provoking.
I had a converstion just yesterday about the war with a Jewish printer and friend I do business with. He is in favor of it. I told him my primary reservations were that I thought we should not undertake war on Iraq until we had much broarder international support. Of course, there is much more we each said to elaborate but I don't have time to detail that here. The conversation gave me an opportunity to say that I did not arrive at my views from either a Republican/conservative or Democrat/liberal orientation. Rather, I told him, to the best of my ability I tried to let the Bible direct my views on such things. He knows I am a pastor, yet we had a free, completely comfortable exchange about our different views.
It seems everyone has strong views about the possibility of war with Iraq. It presents a good opportunity for all of us to inject our Christian worldview (regardless of whether we are for or against the war) in a natural way into such conversations. I hope and pray that God gives many of us opportunities to share about the impact of our faith when we discuss the war with our non-Christian friends and co-workers.

Thought from last nights kinship (FROM PHOEBE):

I love you all. Kinship is such a tremendous blessing. The last 3 years have been a period of intense trials back-to-back, or simultaneously, and you all come every other Thursday, and our house and my body is transformed by the Holy Spirit, your love and characters. I am able to see far beyond my problems as if I were on the moon looking at the earth. I am transported, and I am able to see through the Lord's eyes and not my own hopless ones. Thank-you for coming, let's keep up the good work, and draw more people into the miraculous news! Love, Phoebe

Gifts and Christian Character?

Any reactions to or thoughts on Mike's sermon today? I think it was a valuable insight that gifts need strong character to be well utilized. There are simply too many times in my life when my own sin has hampered my gifting.

More on Christian Just War Theory and Iraq

This time from former prez Jimmy Carter, a Christian, in the NY Times. He's against.

Great to be home!

Back from Columbus after a wonderful conference with scintillating, powerful, meaty, Spirit-fueled teaching. Hope to share some of it here. The conference was on preaching. Just nice to be home with my two lovelies and at Alpha tonight. Don't forget to be inviting people to the ALPHA CELEBRATION DINNER. details -- click here.

Bush and God

Personally, Sonal, I find Bush's faith to be an inspiration. If it comes over as sincere, people will not see it as part of his politics. Some judgmental people will jump to the conclusion that Christianity is conservative because Bush is a conservative. There is no use fretting too much about such people. They hate Christianity and conservatives, and there ain't much Christians can do about that, except, of course use the patient explanation and reasoning that Paul deployed in the synagogues (see Acts).

As for the war, I am not if favor. Bush may be wrong here, but he may be right. Only God knows. Even if he is wrong, God can use it for good. This doesn't mean Christians shouldn't take stances on political issues, just that we can't make falling down on one side or the other a stumbling block in relations with other Christians and/or the lost.

By the way, here is a nice Christian framework for approaching the topic of whether this war is wrong or right. It can come down on either side, depending on how it is applied. It is from Rich Nathan -- consistently rigorous.

I am at a Preaching conference at the Columbus Vineyard

Nice post Sonal -- I will reply when I get back. Conference is awesome. Sorry people can't post under their own names. Will look into it. Bye, Peter