A new Gallup poll reports on the most and least religious states in the U.S. I found this especially interesting since I pastor a church in Massachusetts (which tied for third as the least religious state in the nation).

An analysis of more than 350,000 interviews conducted by Gallup in 2008 finds Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas to be the most religious states in the nation. Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts are the least religious states.

Gallup used the responses to a straightforward question that asked: “Is religion an important part of your daily life?” Here are the breakdowns for the top ten most and least religious states in the country.

According to the poll, overall, 65% of Americans say religion is an important part of their daily lives.

Related article: OK, There Really is a Bible Belt

I only just recently heard of Tommy Emmanuel, but I am already enjoying his music. Tommy is an Australian guitarist whose career spans more than four decades. He started playing guitar at age 4 (!) and was already working as a professional musican by the age of 6. Here’s a fun video where he explains and demonstrates his thumb technique on the acoustic guitar.

Tom’s Thumb Master Class (Video length: 4:17)

 

You can find a lot of his music on YouTube along with some “slowed-down video explanations” of the songs. In the meantime, check out his great version of Arthur Smith’s Guitar Boogie (with video explanation below).

Guitar Boogie (Video length: 3:52)

 

Guitar Boogie “Explanation” (Video length: 3:20)

“Missions are the test of our faith that the gospel is true.”
    – Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society, p. 127

HT: Of First Importance

One of our stated core values as a church is that the church is for children as well as for adults.

“We believe that children can become believers, grow spiritually and serve the church body, and therefore, we will have ministries designed to equip and facilitate this process.” (from Agawam Church of the Bible Core Values Statement)

As a result, we encourage our young people to serve in the church. Probably the most visible way our young people serve is on the church worship team, but others help with Sunday morning set-up, running the sound system, children’s church, nursery, and other areas. So I found it interesting to read that John Calvin also encouraged children to serve in the musical ministry of the church.

“The ministers expect the singing of psalms to have a positive influence on the prayers and on the glorification of the name of God. A number of qualified children are to be selected to lead the congregation in the singing of the psalms.” (Wulfert de Greef, The Writings of John Calvin, p. 111)

Does your church encourage young people to serve? If so, in what ways?

HT: Expository Thoughts

Yesterday’s message in the Gospel of Mark series was called From the Jordan to the Desert, taken from Mark 1:9-13. These verses focus on the baptism and temptation of Christ. Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. Jesus’ Baptism (verses 9-11)
    A. The testimony of Jesus – He is the Savior
    B. The testimony of the Spirit – Jesus is the Christ
    C. The testimony of the Father – Jesus is the Son of God

II. The Temptation in the Wilderness (verses 12-13)
    A. Sent by the Spirit.
    B. Tempted by Satan.
    C. Attended by angels.

Note: Click on the Sermons tab at the top of the blog for this and other messages.

Fred Eaton quotes John Owen on the measure of our growth and decay. “If I have observed anything by experience, it is this: a man may take the measure of his growth and decay in grace according to his thoughts and meditations upon the person of Christ, and the glory of Christ’s Kingdom, and of His love.”

Michael Hyatt encourages you to create an annual time block. “Remember: if you don’t have a plan for your life, someone else does. The key is balance. Make sure you schedule time for the things that are important to you. If you don’t, you will find yourself scrambling to find time for the things that are important. If you are not careful, you will wake up one day and discover that you have spent your life living for other people’s priorities.”

Brad Wright shares some observations on life-development and crime. “Lee Robins, a psychologist who studies crime … noted that all antisocial adults were antisocial as children; however, not all antisocial children grow up to be antisocial adults. This observation provided important insight for theories of crime. It holds that very few ‘good’ kids get involved in crime and other forms of antisocial behavior as adults. Once prosocial, always prosocial. In contrast, some ‘bad’ kids grow up to be antisocial, criminal adults, but others do not. In statistical language, being antisocial as a child is a necessary, but not sufficient, predictor that a child will be antisocial as an adult.”

Scot McKnight questions President Obama’s abortion policy. “On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade he has announced what amounts a contradiction: reduce abortions by supporting and funding abortions. This makes no sense to me. What really makes it difficult morally is that such support is offered on the day he was also announcing — rightly — to close down GTMO and speak against the evils of torture. Abortion is also torture. Women have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies, but once there’s a pregnancy, that woman is now carrying someone else’s body — that body is no longer simply her own. Support of abortion and opposition to torture is a moral contradiction, and I call on the Obama Administration to re-think their position of their stance on abortion.”

Greg Scott writes to his Senator. “I’ve read now that Merrill Lynch took $10 billion in TARP money, and paid $15 billion out in bonuses. I cannot even begin to express in writing the rage boiling within me at this iniquitous arrogance. It is nice to know that the Federal taxes I have paid and will pay into the system over my whole lifetime will not even begin to cover the bonus check for just one of these executives. I’m very glad to know that taxes taken from my 60 hour work week checks will help some executive pay for his nice mansion I could never afford, expensive car I’ll never drive, fancy dinners at restaurants I could never see the inside of, and very comfortable retirement that I will not have since I’ll have to work until the day I die. Please tell me what you will do to hold these crooks accountable for these reprehensible deeds done at taxpayer expense and what you will do to prevent future abuses. My great-grandchildren will want to know.”

This is Sanctity of Human Life Week; Sunday was Sanctity of Human Life Sunday; and today marks the 36th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Here are a number of links from around the web relating to abortion and the sanctity of human life.
______________________________________________________________

The 5-Minute Pro-Lifer. Scott Klusendorf explains how to defend your pro-life views in five minutes or less.

Richard Barcellos shares the following statistics on abortion. “From 1973 to about 2000 there were an estimated 38,000,000 (that’s 38 million!) abortions. That’s about 4,000/day, 173/hr., and roughly 1 every 20 seconds! In 2008, there were roughly 1.2 million abortions in the U.S. Ten years ago there were 1.6 million. But at 1.2 million/yr., that’s still 100,000/month; 23,076/wk; 3,296/day; 137/hr.; and 2.28/minute. Now count to 60.”

The Truth about Roe v. Wade. Read the sworn testimony of Norma McCorvey (“Jane Roe”) as she recounts what really happened in the Roe v. Wade case back in 1973. (HT: Between Two Worlds)

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). During his campaign Obama said he would sign The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) if he became president. FOCA is a radical piece of legislation that would eliminate current restrictions on abortion and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

• You can read more about FOCA here: What Is the Freedom of Choice Act?
• You can sign a petition against FOCA here (I did): Fight FOCA.
• Here is an interesting article on how FOCA would impact the Catholic Health Care System.

An Open Letter to Barack Obama. Pastor Ron Jones posted this open letter to Obama asking him to reconsider his views on abortion. (Ron Jones is pastor of Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia, where thousands of people worship each weekend from the Washington D.C. area, many of whom are Pentagon leaders, White House officials, and members of Congress.)

Russel Moore explains “Why I Hate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.”

I hate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday because I’m reminded that we have to say things to one another that human beings shouldn’t have to say. Mothers shouldn’t kill their children. Fathers shouldn’t abandon their babies. No human life is worthless, regardless of skin color, age, disability, economic status. The very fact that these things must be proclaimed is a reminder of the horrors of this present darkness.

Dr. R.C. Sproul presents a free-to-watch six-part video series on abortion, covering the topics: 1) What Are the Key Issues? 2) How Sacred Is Human Life? 3) When Does Life Begin? 4) What Is the Relationship of Church and State? 5) What About Those Who Demand Their Rights? and 6) What Is Your Verdict?

Click here for more posts on the subject of abortion.

• From CNN: Obama may quickly reverse abortion policy. “President-elect Barack Obama is considering issuing an executive order to reverse a controversial Bush administration abortion policy in his first week in office.”
• Prayer for Obama. Albert Mohler offers a thoughtful and heartfelt prayer for our new President.
• Church Web Design. Lorelle on WordPress has an interesting article on church marketing and learning from church web development. (See also Darren Hoyt’s Interviews with Church Designers.)
• Potential Coral Ridge Merger. Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church extended a call to New City Church pastor Tullian Tchividjian to become senior pastor at Coral Ridge. As a result both churches have agreed to consider a possible merger.
• Why Disney Dropped Narnia. The LA Times fills in some of the back story as to why Disney stepped away from the Narnia films. Plus some good news that either 20th Century Fox, Sony, or Warner Bros. may step in to finance the third film.

Here is the video and full text of Rick Warren’s invocation given at Barack Obama’s inauguration earlier today:

(Video length: 4:44)

Almighty God, our Father: Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone. It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory. History is your story. The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now today we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African American President of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders. Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans—united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.

When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us.

And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitude—even when we differ. Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all. May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day, all nations—and all people—will stand accountable before you.

We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care. I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, ‘Isa, Jesús, Jesus—who taught us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.

At 12:05 p.m. today (EST) Barack Obama took the oath of office and officially became the 44th President of the United States. The Constitution, Article II, Section 1 states that before he enter on the execution of his office, the President shall take the following oath or affirmation:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Let us all join together in praying for our new President and giving thanks to God for yet another peaceful transfer of power for the United States of America.

Related posts:

• Good-bye Mr. President
• Congratulations Senator Barack Obama!

Here are the lyrics to a song Steven Curtis Chapman wrote for President Bush back in November. As we uphold our new President Barack Obama in prayer, let us also remember to give thanks for President George W. Bush and his service to our country these past eight years.

Good-bye Mr. President,
I guess the time has come for you to,
Pack up all your things and turn the page,
So I was thinking as you left,
I’d try to write a song to tell you,
What so many of us want to say.

For all those sleepless nights,
I am sure you must have had,
For all the prayers I’m sure you prayed,
For how you tried to lead us when the way was so unclear,
I am sure it wasn’t always evident,
But thank you Mr. President!

Good-bye Mr. President,
You will not be forgotten,
All the courage and the hope you helped us find,
I can’t imagine how it felt,
To stand where you were standing,
And to try to make the calls you thought were right.

So for those sleepless nights,
I am sure you must have had,
That put those lines around your eyes,
For how you carried the weight,
Even when the lights went out,
I am sure you’ll never know how much it meant,
I thank you Mr. President.

So for those days ahead,
When they write about the past,
And everybody has their say,
From all of us who know,
You gave us everything you could,
We hope you will remember this,
Thank you Mr. President!
Good-bye Mr. President.

- by Steven Curtis Chapman

Poor George Bush can’t seem to catch a break with the New York Times. The Times ran a positive article today on Barack Obama’s reading habits and decided to include a negative paragraph on George Bush for contrast. The problem is that Bush is a voracious reader who apparently reads more than Obama. So how do you turn this into a criticism of the President? Bush reads too much! He races through his books while Obama reads more thoughtfully.

Mr. Obama tends to take a magpie approach to reading — ruminating upon writers’ ideas and picking and choosing those that flesh out his vision of the world or open promising new avenues of inquiry. His predecessor, George W. Bush, in contrast, tended to race through books in competitions with Karl Rove (who recently boasted that he beat the president by reading 110 books to Mr. Bush’s 95 in 2006), or passionately embrace an author’s thesis as an idée fixe.

I am glad that George Bush and Barack Obama are both readers. I am sorry the Times chose to criticize Bush for his reading, especially on this his last day of office. Why not lift them both up as great examples for continued learning through reading?