How to Encourage Law Breaking

According to a Dutch study cleanliness really may be next to godliness, or at least keeping the law...more

Special Needs Interviews

Last Thursday I recorded a series of four interviews with our denomination's Special Needs Ministries Director Steph Hubach. This was for the elder training that I do over the internet. The interviews will be posted weekly on Thursdays and the first one is now up. You can access the video recording by clicking "Elder Training" on the right hand column.

The four sessions are:
Thinking Biblically about Disability and Chronic Illness
Coming to Terms with a New Reality
Negotiating a Path to Acceptance
Living a "New Normal" Life

Large Print Bibles

Large print Bibles are now available for use in worship. Ask an usher in the narthex for a copy.

Being Truly Human

The Gospel & Culture Project Foray
Being Truly Human: The Image of God and Life in the World
Friday, February 6, 7–9 pm
Dr. Douglas Green, Professor of Old Testament, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia

How does our core identity as created in God’s image affect the way we live? Doug Green uses the opening chapters of Genesis to show how understanding our purpose and makeup empowers us to glorify God in the world. Doug demonstrates how the fall involved a loss of glory as humans became beastialized by sin. Among other things, redemption involves the gradual restoration of our glory so that we might become truly human.

Forays are held at the Spruce Hill Christian School auditorium at the corner of 42nd & Baltimore in University City, Philadelphia. Light nourishment and beverages provided.

Douglas Green holds a PhD from Yale University and an MDiv from Westminster. Before attending seminary, he worked as an attorney in his native country of Australia.

Cora Signs with Mets

Cora signs one-year deal with Mets
Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Cora and the New York Mets finalized a $2 million, one-year contract Thursday, giving the team a backup infielder who also could displace Luis Castillo at second base.

"You win championships with a 25-man roster," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said.

"Cora has been an integral part of teams that have been to the postseason in four of the last five years."

Cora hit .270 last season in 75 games and 152 at-bats for the Boston Red Sox.

"I'm excited to join the Mets," Cora said in a statement released by the team. "We have a talented roster. I'm committed to do everything I can in any role to win."

Cora could earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses: $250,000 for each of 110, 120, 130 and 140 games started.

Calvin 500

The Calvin 500 is a major international celebration of the life, ministry, theology, and legacy of John Calvin. The event is scheduled for July 5 to 9 in Geneva, Switzerland. A good number of Council Members from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (including Phil) will be present to teach or to preach at the celebration. For more information, go to www.calvin500.org.

Experienced, Well-Seasoned Handyman Needed in Lansdowne

Able-bodied "perfectionist," neat, clean, responsible, and reliable with experience in carpentry work and painting wanted. Must be able to handle small electrical and plumbing fixes, as well as mowing, power-washing, cleaning gutters, blowing leaves, snow removal, and small load trash removal & disposal.

This job is for part-time seasonal to occasional work. Most tools & equipment will be supplied. Having small truck, a hopeful outlook, and plenty of old-time stories a plus!
Call (610) 626-0050 to leave contact information, or email.

The Demands of Hospitality

"While you remain healthy and ply the sea in safety, do not pass by without showing mercy to those who have suffered shipwreck before you" (Gregory of Nyssa, ca 330 in Amy Oden's And You Welcomed Me).

Develop a Theology of Poverty

Tenth and MercyNet present their annual Mercy Training, “Compassion by Command: Responding to God’s Heart for the Poor,” Saturday mornings Feb 7, Mar 28, Apr 18 and May 30 at Tenth Presbyterian Church. Cost is $40 (free to Tenth members). For information and pre-registration contact David Apple, 215-735-7688 or dapple@tenth.org

Jobs

Hi Pastor Clark,

I understand you write a blog for the church? We just received 100 orders from a Mortgage Company for Underwriters, Processors etc. Thought there might be some of your congregation out of work? The Mortgage company is located in Mt. Laurel NJ. They can call 215-568-5630 and ask for Michelle Rose.

Thanks,
Lynn

Lynn Fraser
Senior Account Executive
Contemporary Staffing Solutions
lynn.fraser@contemporarystaffing.com
www.contemporarystaffing.com

Around the World in 80 Minutes--this Sunday!

Join us for "Around the World in 80 Minutes," a monthly opportunity to celebrate God's work in Philadelphia and around the world. The luncheon begins at 12:40 pm sharp, with a wonderful presentation from our short-term team to India to follow. We fully intend to wrap up by 2:00ish, to allow plenty of time for napping, commuting, etc. before the evening service.

The suggested donation for this is $4/individual, $10/family.

Hope to see you there!

University City homeschool co-op start-up

A homeschool co-op for young children is starting up in University City. If you are interested in joining, please contact Lori Kempen.

Bible study babysitter needed

The University City Bible Study is in need of a babysitter for Tuesday mornings from 9:30-11:30am, beginning February 3. We pay $30 per session, and will meet until May. Please contact Lori Kempen if you are interested.

Prayer for President

Al Mohler offers a prayer for Barack Obama as he takes office...more

Cassidy Creed

Here is the creed of Michael Cassidy of African Enterprise and one of Tenth's outreach partners.

Michael Cassidy’s Creed and Philosophy

“My creed is simple: Jesus Christ is God, Lord, Saviour of humankind, and coming King; from that flows my code of conduct and the path from success to significance.

1. Hand everything over to Him, stay His friend, and be true to Him.

2. Stand firm on the Bible as God's authoritative guide for life and living.

3. Aim to correlate behaviour to profession but rejoice in God's forgiveness for failure.

4. Be always willing to tell others about the One whom to know is life eternal.

5. Keep all life's primary relationships strong and intact, for this is the heart of things.

6. Discern God's place and calling for life and stay at the centre of His will.

7. Give everything your best shot.

8. Make forgiveness a way of life and do not retaliate for wrongs inflicted, because vindication of His own is God's business.

9. Be strong and very courageous, as God told Joshua, because life is tough, but it yields to courage.

10. Aim to finish better than you started, remembering too that when this day is done, the best is yet to be, because heaven is our final Home.”

Reversing the Evangelical Flight

Ronald J. Sider, a professor at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary once commented, "Evangelicals must reverse the continuing evangelical flight from the cities. . . . Tens of thousands of evangelicals ought to move back into the city. . . . If one percent of evangelicals living outside the inner city had the faith and courage to move in town, evangelicals would fundamentally alter the history of urban America" (as quoted by J. M. Boice, Foundations of God's City, p. 166)

Urban Ministry Conference at Tenth
March 6–8, 2009

Stand Up for Life, Thursday @ 12 pm

Tomorrow (Thursday) from 12:00-1:00 pm at City Hall will be a rally in support of unborn babies and their parents. Join in singing, praying,m and encouraging Philadelphia to value life. Partner agencies include Alpha Pregnancy Services, Bethany Christian Services, Family Life Educational Foundation, Guiding Star Ministry, and Urban Family Council.

This is an all-weather event, so dress warm!

Biblical Art Exhibition

Here is info about the 2009 Juried Biblical Art Exhibition in Manayunk.

Prayer for Somalia

This Sunday, January 25, the Prayer for the Persecuted Church group will pray for Somalia. They meet at 4:00 in the nursery area off Reception Hall.

How Many Christians?

"The first and most obvious step for dealing with the problem of our cities is to get Christians to stay in or move back to them. . . Not every Christian needs to live in our cities, but far more should live in them than do now. They should live in them as their mission field of choice. How many should there be? It is difficult to say. . . . In America in our day, where the economy is industrial and service-based rather than agricultural, 50 percent of the general population lives in cities. That suggests that at least 50 percent of the Christian population should also. But since this percentage is going up . . . and since we want to be ahead of the times rather than lagging behind them, we should probably lead the way with an even higher percentage of Christians relocating to the urban areas. Many thousands should move there" (J. M. Boice, Foundations of God's City, p. 167).

Urban Ministry Conference at Tenth
March 6–8, 2009

What Will He Find?

It took awhile to hack into Phil's computer, but I finally got in. Here is the manuscript of last Sunday's sermon on Ecclessiastes 7:13-18, "The Crook in the Lot."

He did a pretty good job on a difficult passage. Let's see what he does next Sunday with verses 27-28: "Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things - which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found." According to the NIV, we should add "upright" in front of man and in front of woman. I'm hoping we will have at least a thousand women show up to hear Dr. Ryken expound this verse!

Coral Ridge Candidate

Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church pulpit committee is presenting Tullian Tchividjian, grandson of Billy Graham, as the candidate to succeed James Kennedy as pastor. Check here.

Lunar New Year Celebration

You are invited to come join us to celebrate Lunar New Year 2009! This special event is something you don’t want to miss. We will be having a delicious Chinese cuisine surrounded by beautiful decorations. After dinner enjoy a classical music performance, personal Christian testimony, and a Christian message presented by Reverend Peter Chow. Children’s program will be provided.

The event will take place on Saturday, January 24, 5:30 pm at Tenth, Fellowship Hall. The cost for a working adult is $7 and FREE for students and children under 12. RSVP by January 19th with Shanna Houston at tif@tenth.org or 1215-735-7688x239. We look forward to seeing you there!

Inaugural Speeches

On this inaugural day, check out some of the inaugural speeches from presidents of the past....more

Dan Sharp in Concert

Dan Sharp is playing with The Phiadelphia Harp Trio on January 28 from 12:30 to 3:00 at the
Church of the Trinity ( Rittenhouse Square), 1904 Walnut Street. The Philadelphia Harp Trio will perform works by Debussy, Bax, Rachmaninov, and Genzmer. Free Admission!