2012

NFL

Gisele Bundchen asks for prayer for Brady, then curses

As most of us are talking about Madonna’s halftime show or Cee Lo Green’s bling robe this morning. However, Super model Gisele Bundchen, wife to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, created a stir this weekend. As most upstate New Yorkers around here are cheering the Giants’ win in the Super Bowl, Pats fans are in grief this morning. Bundchen and Brady were in grief after the game.

Bundchen was in so much grief that she apparently said to some hecklers:

My husband can not [expletive] throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.

Earlier this week, Brady’s wife was in a different mood as she sent a message to friends and supporters asking for prayer for her husband. According to Fox News, an e-mail asked: Continue Reading…

blog, NFL

Super Bowl: New robes for clergy?

The Super Bowl, okay, let’s be real… Madonna Halftime Show 2012 was also a fashion show to roll out the line of Cee Lo Green and Madonna’s robes for clergy:

Bling!

NFL

Who does God want to win the Super Bowl?

I remember watching the pregame coverage of Super Bowl XXXII in 1998 and being shocked when a reporter asked Green Bay Packers’ defensive end and ordained minister Reggie White if he thought God wanted him to win the Super Bowl. White shot back, “Well, I’m praying to win.” The reporter replied, “Do you think the Broncos are praying to win too?” “I’m sure they are,” White said. Then the reporter asked this bombshell: “If you are praying that Green Bay wins, and the Broncos are praying to win, then who does God want to win?”

With this year’s big game set for Sunday, it seems that God and football have been the hot topic lately. Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow has been criticized for appearing in an ad to be aired during the game paid for by Focus on the Family that promotes the Christian organization’s pro-life stance. Tebow is also known for biblical references to “John 3:16″ and “Phil 4:13″ on the eye black strips he uses to cut glare.” Tony Dungy, a Super Bowl champion coach and author of The New York Times best-seller, “Uncommon,” has attributed his success to Jesus Christ.

According to the NFL, 87 percent of its players come from some sort of “Protestant background.” Every team in the league offers its members Bible study groups, chapel or worship services. Athletes in Action, a division of Campus Crusade for Christ, provides chaplains for numerous NFL teams. Tom Krattenmaker, in his book “Onward Christian Athletes: Turning Ballparks into Pulpits and Players into Preachers,” makes the case that public displays of faith are not spontaneous, but rather part of a large Christian presence in the professional ranks.

the work of the associate Pastor

PRE-ORDER my book, “The Work of the Associate Pastor”

Judson Press just made my book, The Work of the Associate Pastor available for pre-order. Judson currently has a web special of $11.99.

From Judson Press:

Having spent more than ten years in pastoral staff ministry, Alan R. Rudnick brings a wealth of research and experience to the often undervalued ministry of the associate pastor. Inviting readers to understand associate ministry as more than training ground for a senior pastorate, Rudnick explores the diverse roles and responsibilities that fall under the associate umbrella. From life-stage ministries with children and youth, singles and seniors, to specialized ministry areas such as music, education, pastoral care, and counseling, this volume acknowledges the challenges and opportunities offered to associate pastors in their distinctive ministries. The book’s appendix offers practical resources for churches:

How to plan for an associate
Sample job descriptions
Compensation guidelines

Associate ministers also will find a personal assessment, helpful in discerning when to stay and when to leave their associate position. Overall, this is an ideal resource for graduating seminarians seeking associate opportunities, as well as church leaders looking to establish an associate position.

Obama, prayer

At prayer breakfast, Obama is theologian-in-chief

At the National Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning, President Obama got theological in front of 3,000 attendees. Obama pulled passages from the Bible to encourage governmental policies to help the poor and provide more opportunities for the disadvantaged. Drawing from Jesus’ words, the president encourage higher taxes on wealthier Americans.

Drawing upon faith tenants from almost every world religion, Obama said,

“For me, as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’s teaching that ‘for unto whom much is given, much shall be required… I know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years, and I believe in God’s command to ‘love thy neighbor as thyself. I know the version of that Golden Rule is found in every major religion and every set of beliefs -– from Hinduism to Islam to Judaism to the writings of Plato.”

Last year, the president used the opportunity to proclaim his personal relationship with Jesus Christ at a time when 1 in 4 believed he was a Muslim. This year he shared how he begins every morning with prayer and a scripture devotional. In addition, he shared his experience and prayer time with Billy Graham, perhaps the most impactful preacher/pastor in the 20th century. Obama gave an insight into his personal prayer life since meeting Graham:

Book Review, Book Reviews, introverts in the church

Introverts in the Church

Giveaway: Win a copy of “Introverts in the Church” by subscribing to alanrudnick.org, follow @alanrud on Twitter, comment on this post, or “Like” the Facebook page. The winner will be selected @ 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

In college, I was able to spend time with two international public speakers, pastors, and authors. These two people were electric in front of people. Able to be funny, compelling, and keep a crowd’s attention. As I spent one-on-one time with these speakers, I realized that they were withdrawn and seemingly non-social. Was there something wrong with me?

If you are public speaker or a church person it must mean you are an extrovert! Singing, talking, eating, serving and doing all those “churchy” things in public. Enter, Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture by Adam S. McHugh.

McHugh dispels the myth that only extroverts can thrive and lead in the church. He traces the Great Awakening as an important moment for extroverts coming to the forefront of church lift. Outdoor preachers like George Whitfield set the standard for grandstanding preaching. Since half the American population is an introvert it would only seem logical that there would be many books on introverted people in the church, but there are not.

There is a great deal of psychology in the book. McHugh doesn’t shoot from his hip (that wouldn’t be very introverted, would it). He supplies a ton of data and cultural studies on American’s habits and church culture. The author is quick to present a more complex nature to introverts than just shyness:

Mitt Romney

Romney: I’m not concerned about the very poor

As the president race unfolds, we received a message from Mitt Romney that will certainly be replayed and analyzed:

I’m not concerned about the very poor…

No matter what he said after that, this is a certain blunder. Romney put the rest of the sentence into context by saying, “…there’s a safety net there, and if it needs repair I’ll fix it.” Watch the video:

One of the richest presidential candidates proclaiming his concern is not for he poor? This will send a shock through the political and religious establishment. Of course, Romeny has to be concerned about the poor. It’s required of his Mormon faith. If you don’t think this quote is damaging, then just read about how the Associated Press changed their article head line of the comment.

To be fair, the whole comment is as follows from CNN:

religion, war on religion

Three reasons why there is no ‘war on religion’

Something is heating up GOP presidential primaries after Mitt Romeny’s win in the Florida primary and it’s not the humidity. GOP leaders are declaring that a war on religion is here. First, it was Rick Perry with his “strong” video that proclaimed a war on religion exists. Now, it’s Newt Gingrich who tried to harmonize Perry’s message by accusing both Mitt Romney and President Obama: “I think Gov. Romney is extraordinarily insensitive to religious freedom in America and the Obama administration is clearly engaged in a war on religion.”

Religious persecution or a war commanded by Romney or Obama is just not there. Such claims are aimed at charging a base of the electorate to vote in favor of a particular candidate. Why should we believe there isn’t a war on religion? There are three reasons:

blog

Make way for AlanRudnick.org

It is with mixed feelings that I announce that I’m giving up On The Bema in order to segue to AlanRudnick.org. I started On The Bema in 2009 to blog on issues regarding Christianity and culture. The blog racked up over 74,000 hits in its nearly 3 year life span. On The Bema accomplished as much as it can. It enabled me to share ideas that were featured on Christian Century, WordPress.com, and other blogging websites. Some of the most shared and clicked blog posts are:

blog

Welcome to AlanRudnick.org

This is the new website for Alan Rudnick. On The Bema has transformed!

Newer Posts

On Facebook