http://root48.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/proud-and-not-afraid-to-show-it/

Soren Kierkegaard said, “Humility before God is true pride.”  You know your place before God, therefore you now know your place before the world.  We can say as Paul was able to say, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ,” (I Cor 11:1). 

The world needs more people who are ridiculously confident that they know what it means to follow Jesus.  No more quivering under the false modesty of, “Don’t follow me, just look to Jesus.”  Have the confidence to demand that people follow you under full conviction that if they do so, they will find Jesus and his way regardless of the obstacles and setbacks that challenge your destination. 

http://root48.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/new-parables/

We need a fresh read on the parables of Jesus.  His stories captivated intrigue by loading everyday commonalities with spiritual magnanimity.  However, much of his wit is lost on us as we regurgitate awkward illustrations from an agrarian context.

For example, instead of talking about mustard seeds, why not relate the Kingdom of God to a penny stock?  Instead of throwing "pearls to pigs," we could talk about wasting venti lattes on the folgers drinkers.  I still don't have a clue what "wineskins" are, but I do know my computer's need for a faster internet connection illustrates our ever present need for innovation.  Reaping, sowing, lilies, barns, plows, farmers -  we have the ability to recapture the imagination of spiritual inquirers by retell the parables of Jesus in non-agrarian terms.

http://root48.wordpress.com/2008/02/26/new-york-times-on-christian-decline/

The New York Times just came out with an article on the decline of Christianity in America according a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.  

More than a quarter of adult Americans have left the faith of their childhood to join another religion or no religion.

More than 16 percent of American adults say they are not part of any organized faith, which makes the unaffiliated the country's fourth largest "religious group."  1 of 5 adult men under 50 claim no affiliation.

The rise of the unaffiliated does not mean that Americans are becoming less religious, however. Contrary to assumptions that most of the unaffiliated are atheists or agnostics, most described their religion “as nothing in particular.”

Protestantism has been declining. In the 1970s, Protestants accounted for about two-thirds of the population. The Pew survey found they now make up about 51 percent.

Catholicism has been loosing the most affiliation, yet they make it up just as fast through via immigration, therefore holding at 25 percent of the nation's population.