If you've seen the weekly pop culture roundups, you know Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth has rested atop the New York Times bestseller list for weeks. Recent counts have it selling over three million copies—one million of which are due to Oprah's picking it for her book club. Over two million people are participating in a ten-week interactive webinar that Oprah hosts with Tolle (pronounced "toll-ee"). This is what many people are reading as they sip their lattes in Starbucks or close their evenings balled up on the couch. Many may very well be churchgoers.

The book's back matter calls Tolle's work "a profoundly spiritual manifesto for a better way of life—and for building a better world." But A New Earth tastes like the warmed leftovers of modernism, humanism, and the New Ageism of the '80s, with hints of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity.     

Tolle quotes from the Bible every three pages or so. Some of his reflections have just enough truth to lull the reader into a dreamy spiritual sleep that misses the rest of the story. Tolle even rewrites Scripture to his own advantage. Many might argue A New Earth is biblical—it's anything but. In this article, I'd like to identify three of Tolle's themes that need to be addressed.

 

We're beginning a new series May 12th entitled Modern Day Idolatry.  I'm really excited about this series, because I believe God is going to use it to open our eyes to the idols all around us.  In advance of this series, encourage you to get your brains thinking along these lines by watching Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Seattle explain this concept.

I was sitting in Starbucks this week and there was a man just sitting at one of the tables and for every 5 guests that came in it seemed like he knew at least one of them and not just their name but there story and friends.  The man was a regular looking guy, that by just sitting and doing what he was doing and talking to those he knew, I found out he was off work for a period of time for medical reasons.  The people he spoke to seemed (from there clothing) to be from all walks of life and any age.  It struck me just how large an impact he had on those he knew and in the few words of conversation he had for almost everyone was able to impact them in one way or another.

What God showed me from that bit of observation was how even the smallest interactions with people in our sphere’s of influence can impact others lives.  I was challenged with broadening my circle to people I don’t normally interact with.  If I have an impact on others, they’ll have and impact on me.  It was an interesting coffee because God reflected back Mike’s message about water walking and how this small step can have great impact on others and back to myself.

Kathryn Stoneman

I stumbled across a great new Canadian Christian resource online, put out by the Billy Graham Evangelical Association.  It's called Soul Chat.  This is how they describe themselves.

Soul Chat is based on a simple concept: Run a one-minute radio spot on stations across Canada. Use the space to cut through the noisy clutter and offer thoughts on the deep questions that every person has. Who am I? Is there more to life than what I see with my eyes? Who is God? Then provide a place online where these ideas can be explored further, where conversations can begin, and where a community can be built. This is our idea. Welcome to Soul Chat.

It's well worth a look and some surfing. . . you can find it at www.soulchat.ca

As promised Monday night, we have posted a video message I presented at Willow Park in the summer of 2006 after my wife Michelle and I returned from two weeks in Cambodia with Samaritan's Purse.  It speaks of the lessons I learned about how God impacted me, and how I seek to live differently because of that.  You can watch the message here:

The other message we have posted is entitled "Living in the Dash", and speaks about how we can make our one life count.  You can find that message here:  

 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

When Gospel and Graffiti collide! A new spin to the Gospel presentation. Produced by: The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to paint the Gospel in graffiti form for a video project dubbed "Bridge to Life".  Worth a look, and maybe pass it on to somebody who will relate to it.  Runs 3 1/2 minutes.  Pastor Mike.

Have you ever been frustrated with someone else's spiritual journey, because you have tried what they speak of and it didn't work for you?  I always wished I was more contemplative, loved just sitting and thinking.  But that's not me!  I'm an activist, and I feel God most when I'm on the move.

Just as people have different personality temperaments, they also have different spiritual temperaments or preferred ways of approaching God for worship and discipleship. In his book, "Sacred Pathways", Gary Thomas contends that every person has at least one spiritual temperament, and most have several. Understanding basic spiritual temperaments is helpful not only for identifying one's God-given preferences, but also for understanding how others may worship

The following assessment will help you determine your own "Sacred Pathway" to worship.  The results might surprise you, and encourage you!  Download it here - Sacred Pathways Inventory - GaryThomas

Pastor Mike

Have you ever wondered how you can be filled with the Holy Spirit?  Just exactly what does that mean?  If I am filled with the Holy Spirit, will I know it? 

These questions are being asked today by Christians who want to walk with God and please Him.  Yet some are afraid they are missing out when they hear about others who claim to have had a special filling of the Spirit. 

This booklet from Radio Bible Class will help you understand and experience the Spirit-filled life.  Read it How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?

"I think I've blasphemed the Holy Spirit and I'm worried that God won't accept me anymore.  How can I know for sure?  What can I do to say I'm sorry?"

That blunt inquiry from a 13 year old girl raised the ears of the others sitting around a campfire during an informal question and answer time at one of my summer stops as speaker at Christian Camps around British Columbia.  It was a question I was not unfamiliar with, and one that was often bundled together in a package of confusion and fear. 

The question springs out of three passages in the Gospels where Jesus speaks of the so-called "unforgivable sin"; blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  What was He talking about?  Did He have a specific sin in mind?  Can people commit the sin today?  Is forgiveness really not possible?  What do other passages of Scripture have to say about this issue?  Read my Master's Paper on the topic What Is The Unforgivable Sin - Blasphemy Of The Holy Spirit:  Pastor Mike