I’m away teaching this weekend in Traverse City, Michigan, on behalf of PRMI. So I’ll post my normal Friday finds here today and pick up again next week.
Conversion Stories:
I’ve been doing a series on Conversion stories in the NT, just some devotional thoughts on different characters we see.
See the following articles to see how the [...]

Let’s look at an “easy conversion,” that of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts Chapter 8.
This conversion was as simple as picking a ripe mango ready to fall from a tree. 
It’s not so much about the Eunuch as it is about Phillip being God’s tool to help the man come to faith. 
The fruit is ready
These are [...]

We have already looked The Apostle Paul conversion, as a conversion that fell from heaven.
Now we look at a puzzling conversion story – was it complete, partial, or entirely false? Since we can’t read Simon’s heart, it may be an unanswerable question.
The passage: Acts 7:9ff
Through signs and wonders, Simon the sorcerer had gathered a following [...]

Emergent Churches and Postmodernism
One of the active discussions in evangelism these days is the influence of postmodernism and the development of the Emergent church. The Internet Monk writes up a good summary of this.
Virginia Tech:
There is a lot that is being said about the events at Virginia Tech this week. I was a [...]

Sometimes conversions are just unbelievable. They “fall from heaven” so to speak. There is no evangelist, no gospel presentation, no explanation of the law, it just happens – God does all the work. While not the norm, it can happen. God is sovereign enough to make it happen.
For example, the apostle Paul’s conversion – fell [...]

What happened at Tech this week is indeed another American tragedy. My mind follows the strings of emotion and recalls the grief of Oklahoma City, Columbine, 9/11, and other mass tragedies.
Senseless.
Pastors and chaplains will be sought out. Youth pastors will talk with their students. Vigils will be held. Prayers will be offered. People will seek [...]

I have tried to compile in one article all the links to a definition that we’ve been discussing on EvangelismCoach.org
There are many definitions of evangelism. Searching the web and my library for definitions, I find some are so wide to cover anything related to growing a church, some are so narrow as to the only [...]

I’ve continued to collect definitions of evangelism from various websites. For the beginning of our articles about a definition of evangelism, see “What is Evangelism Part 1.”
From the Espiscopal Church:
Evangelism is “the presentation of Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, in such ways that persons may be led to believe in him [...]

In an article from an Oregon Newspaper today, a researcher points out the well-known numerical decline in mainline churches. One possibility suggested for the decline: “Mainline Churches, many of which tend to be more liberal, are suffering from a fear of evangelism.”
The article goes on to review some evangelism activities in mainline denominational churches. I’m [...]

I had a post about bad church signs. Helen from Ordinary Attempts posts some more funny signs.
Remember to proof read your signs!
Crummy Church Signs is a whole blog about church signs.
Have a laugh and enjoy the day.

UPDATE: The Rambling Prophet found this one in his neck of the woods!

I’ve got a great batch of articles for you this week, pointing out some of the things I’ve been reading and compiling.
Belief and understanding:
At Evangelism Action, we’ve been discussing the conversion experience. Feel free to review the conversation. We are discussing about the relationship between belief and understanding. Do we have to understand first to [...]

To read prior parts:
An Intercessor’s Burden — Getting worked up
Cultural Connections — From Athens to Machu Picchu
This started as part of a conversation over at Evangelism Action, but will take much more than just a comment to tease out.
Spiritual Thirst propels a search
Spiritual thirst is a way of describing a person’s own search for God. [...]

A few years ago, we had the privelege of backpacking in Peru, on the Inca Trail, to the old city of Machu Picchu.
Along the way, we got to learn alot about the Inca culture that built the city, and some of its beautiful architecture, likely from the 15th century AD (1450s or so).
Like the apostle [...]

Paul visits Athens

In Acts 17:16, Paul is waiting around Athens, waiting for his friends to arrive, passing time doing the tourism thing.
He notices all

their idols,
the architecture,
the statues,
smells and sounds of the city.

I can imagine the awe he felt at the architecture, the beauty of the art, and how the noises of the city may have [...]

New Reading I got my new stack of books in this week. I’m currently reading They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations by Dan Kimball about ministry to the Emerging Generation. I’m drinking it up and will likely be writing about it next week.

Pray with Me My little article on Offering [...]

On the Christian Calendar, Easter is rapidly approaching. More has been written about easter, and the cultural connection with bunnies and chocolate that I can to link here. However, Easter can also be a conversational occasion with people.
Yesterday, a co-worker was asked to do a significant project update on Easter Sunday. He politely said, “It’s [...]