WHAT MAKES A CHURCH INFLUENTIAL

Here is a list of the top 50 most influential churches in America. http://12.163.122.165/JULY06top50.pdf You can't help notice the personality cult aspect of the thing. Before the church or its ranking is a picture of the pastor and his name. Then, the church's name. Most of the pastor's have media presence.

I guess the real question is, who or what do these churches influence? I think they mostly serve as testimonies to the success of their pastors, who are the real influence. If you have a big church, and are on television, people interview you about various subjects, publish your books and invite you to speak at seminars.

I wonder if they have influencial Sunday School Classes? If I could make the top 50, people would PAY me to speak. At least until they found out I'd do it for free.

WHAT MAKES A CHURCH INFLUENTIAL

Here is a list of the top 50 most influential churches in America. http://12.163.122.165/JULY06top50.pdf You can't help notice the personality cult aspect of the thing. Before the church or its ranking is a picture of the pastor and his name. Then, the church's name. Most of the pastor's have media presence.

I guess the real question is, who or what do these churches influence? I think they mostly serve as testimonies to the success of their pastors, who are the real influence. If you have a big church, and are on television, people interview you about various subjects, publish your books and invite you to speak at seminars.

I wonder if they have influencial Sunday School Classes? If I could make the top 50, people would PAY me to speak. At least until they found out I'd do it for free.

I CAN'T STANDS NO MORE1

A recently reported case involving the Cleveland Municipal School System arising from an incident where a teacher banged the students head off the blackboard, threw him to the floor and punched him.

Rumor has it that incidents of misbehavior in this guy's class are way, way down.

HOW TO TREAT AN ILLEGAL ALIEN?

Should we apply the standard of Exodus 19:33-34?

"When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

"He Lives" has a thoughtful post on the SBC alcohol resolution.

YET MORE ON FRANK PAGE AND WOMEN IN MINISTRY

The story of Dr. Page's doctoral dissertation supporting the ordination of women was "broken" by Ethics Daily. I read about it at Big Daddy Weave.

It was a pretty interesting piece. After having enjoyed the irony, I now wonder how Ethics Daily got Dr. Page's dissertation. Did ED go research it or did someone send it to ED? I have to admit, I have a copy of R. T. Kendle's master's thesis on Calvinism and Baptist History that I picked up at a friend's bookstore.

I left a comment at ED and asked. Hopefully, he'll respond and satisfy my curiosity.

ANDREA YATES GETS OFF

The second murder trial for Andrea Yates brought a dramatically different result for the mom who drowned her kids in the bathtub. The dury found her not guilty by reason of insanity.

So, it's off to the state mental hospital rather than life in prison.

For the record, Mom Yates drowned 6-month-old Mary, 2-year-old Luke, 3-year-old Paul, 5-year-old John and 7-year-old Noah. Nothing like a little mass murder to signal depression. Her attorney continuously claimed Yates had severe postpartum psychosis. If so, look for lots of men to avoid having children in the future. It just isn't safe to be around those post partum women.

Having to live with the knowledge you killed your kids, 5 of them, will be pretty tough. I'm not sure a mental institution can help you with that, either. I hope the jury is right, because it would be an unspeakable injustice to let a mass murderer to free. Once the psychiatrist says she is no longer a threat, they have to release her.

Rest in peace, Mary, Luke, Paul, John and Noah.