Magyar Egyház, 2006 (85. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2006-10-01 / 4. szám
10. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ Churches Reaching Men through Outdoors Ministries More ministers like William Johnson in Montana are realizing the importance and popularity of outdoor recreation, as well as the ministry potential. Baptist Press reports Johnson's congregation, Gallatin Valley Baptist Fellowship in Manhattan, Mont., hosts sportsmen’s rallies for hunters and fishermen in his area. “The weekends are the only times when men who hold full time jobs get to enjoy these activities," Johnson said. "They place recreation as a higher priority than coming to church on Sunday mornings. If we offer a rally during the work week, they make time to come." The rally allows Johnson and other church members to meet many men who have never been involved in a church. It also offers an opportunity for men in the church to use their passions for God. “It has helped us gain the image that we meet people where they are instead of just inviting them to come join us," Johnson said. Additionally, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is partnering with God’s Great Outdoors, Inc. to offer the Trail to Adventure Training Conference on the seminary campus Wake Forest, N.C., Jan. 5-6. Pastors, lay leaders and other interested individuals can learn ways to implement outdoor ministries. Lutheran Denomination Releases Study on Human Sexuality "Lutherans talk about human sexuality." That's the subject of a study released Tuesday by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which has lost members amid divisions over homosexuality, Agape Press reports. Last year, delegates to the denomination's national meeting split almost evenly on whether to let homosexuals in long-term relationships serve as clergy. The proposal, which needed a two-thirds majority, failed but a church task force was told to keep studying issues of sexuality and prepare the report that is being issued today. ELCA officials say the new study will invite Lutherans "to consider human sexuality through the lens of Scripture and Lutheran teaching." ’Church of the Ark' Found on West Bank According to the London Telegraph, archaeologists claimed yesterday to have uncovered one of the world's first churches, built on a site believed to have once housed the Ark of the Covenant. The site, in the hills of the West Bank, is richly decorated with brightly colored mosaics and inscriptions referring to Jesus. The find dates to the late 4th century, making it one of Christianity's first formal places of worship. An inscription at the site refers to itself as Shiloh, which, according to the Old Testament, kept the Ark of the Covenant for centuries. Pope Calls Christian Divisions a 'Scandal' The Christian Post reports that Pope Benedict XVI called divisions among Christians a "scandal to the world" at a joint ceremony Thursday with the spiritual leader of the Orthodox Christian church, which split from Catholicism nearly 1,000 years ago. Benedict has made a priority in his papacy of reaching out to the 250-million-strong Orthodox Christians. After joining Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to mark the feast day of St. Andrew, the Pope said, "The divisions which exist among Christians are a scandal to the world." Christians should "renew Europe's awareness of its Christian roots, traditions and values, giving them new vitality." Benedict and Bartholomew together stressed the need to "preserve Christian roots" in European culture while remaining "open to other religions and their cultural contributions." Over the remainder of his stay in Turkey, Benedict is expected to sharpen his calls for what the Vatican labels "reciprocity" — that Muslim demands for greater respect in the West must be matched by increased tolerance and freedoms for Christians in Islamic nations. Christmas with Billy Graham The Billy Graham Christmas Special, airing December 2- 10 in 150 markets across the United States and Canada, offers viewers the opportunity to remember why we celebrate Christmas. The program will feature a 1979 Christmas message from Billy Graham in which he discusses the innkeeper who missed the first Christmas because he was too busy to recognize the Savior being bom in his midst. Mr.Graham implores viewers to not make the same mistake. “I’m asking you to let Jesus be bom this Christmas in the central places of your heart and life,” he states in this classic address. “Let His birth and His presence fill your home, and flood your heart this Christmas season.” The cornerstone of the program will be Billy Graham’s latest sermon, given at Franklin Graham’s recent Festival in Baltimore. Also included are testimonies from two parents who, for very different reasons, are facing Christmas without their sons. Musical performances are woven throughout the program with never-before-seen Christmas music videos from Paul Baloche and Erin O’Donnell, and songs from multi-Grammy Award winning artists Michael W. Smith and Randy Travis. Visit billygraham.org/tv for the date, time, and station in your area. ROAD RAGE STORY An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the traffic light turned yellow just in front of him. The man did the right thing stopping at the crosswalk even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. The tailgating woman hit the roof - and the horn - screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands in the air. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. 1 noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car." RECALL NOTICE The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed "Subsequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it
