I have listened to Josh Howerton extensively and find him engaging and entertaining, a master of the quick quip and contemporary culture, conversant in scripture and genuinely concerned with people’s souls and the ills of society. It took a few times to discern his pattern of teasing a big reveal about contemporary issues late in his podcasts while leading his listeners on a bro centric exposition of a Bible topic pulled straight from the annotations of any reputable study Bible. Little original insight, much yucking it up and some intentionally inflammatory comments toward political figures. Real tickle the ears material that I quickly discarded. Now, concerning a pastor’s mission…. No pastor has as his mission to get folks into heaven. Nothing a pastor does can make that so, he can only help create the conditions where God’s grace is revealed. The Christian witness is one that exposes unbelievers to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. He is the one who calls and moves in the lives of unbelievers. The pastor’s job and that of the church is to train, equip and exhort disciples, lead worship and care for the members of the congregation and community. This appeal for the examination of stored resources for sacrificial giving is a carefully worded passive agressive application of guilt at a corporate level. All that is missing is the promise for blessings that are sure to follow or to be found lacking if you do not give more. The subtext is that maybe you are not honoring God and you should do more. It is what we are all called to do, however in the manner presented it appears as a manipulative abuse of trust . Listeners are being suggested into submission. It is a real dilemma to depend on voluntary giving to finance the enormous expense and infrastructure that has become the Lakepointe enterprise. Perhaps he should lead out by example and while doing so publish a full report and audit of Lakepointe finances, including salaries, non taxable allowances and expenses, investments, property holdings and debt. That is what I would want to see before I gave more.

Convicted child sex offenders shouldn't be allowed to attend church, let alone serve as ushers. That may sound like a hard line. But I remember interviewing a psychologist who noted that when pedophiles are around children, they're molesting them in their minds. And then there are those like Raul Feliciano, who use whatever opening they get as an opportunity to sexually assault children again. This must stop. roysreport.com/usher-charged…

.@WillowCreekCC is asking congregants for $100 million over two years, with participation from 100% of members. Senior Pastor Shawn Williams held up the people who took out second mortgages to fund the church's first building in 1977 as models of faith. More than half the money would go to the church's general operating budget. roysreport.com/willow-creek-…

There’s a deep dive: Pastah and lady in green were charged with DV against his step daughter with the former 2nd wife testifying against THE BOTH of them in 2020, state vs. Ford. The new wife used to be his “daughter”

Grace City Church Pastor Josh McPherson, famous for calling empathy a sin, headlined a white Christian nationalist rally in Washington state’s capital of Olympia on Saturday, where he appeared wipe a booger on his pants during his speech. open.substack.com/pub/domini…