Semper Reformanda Records Launches

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Jul 19, 2006 in Church, Culture | 4 comments

Brian Thomas, Worship Leader at Kaleo Church has launched Semper Reformanda Records.

Semper Reformanda Records is an independantly operated label whose focus is on providing the church with contextualized and missionally minded worship music that is Biblically sound and God-centered; utilizing the great traditions of the past while forging new artistic ground for the present and beyond. Brian Thomas is a modern day hymn writer, recording artist, and the Chief Musician of Kaleo Church in San Diego, CA.

SRR represents the missional side of the reformed faith, taking the best of our present culture and past traditions to praise our King. Theologically speaking, we align ourselves with the ecumenical creeds of the early church, the reformed confessions best summarized by the Belgic Confession, and agree with the Cambridge Declaration that the church is in need of continual reformation/renewal. Culturally, we do not believe the church has ever “arrived”, and therefore we do not latch onto any one tradition. We recognize that music is a powerful gift of God, and one of many ordained elements of worship that should undergird the preached Word.

Our desire is to build a roster of like-minded musicians to impact the church and watching world by writing and recording creative music for worship that will both challenge and inspire. Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda!

Being the Church in San Diego

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Jul 13, 2006 in Church, Culture | 0 comments

Dr. Tim Keller, senior pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, New York and founder of Redeemer Church Planting Center talks on, “Being the Church in our Culture.” Dr. Keller challenges believers to understand the division in church as it relates to the culture that we are in today. Tim Keller discusses the six facets of how to be a church that reaches the culture. First, more Christians living long-term in cities; second, with a better understanding of the gospel; third, living as dynamic counter-cultures in the city; fourth, integrating their faith and their work; fifth, radically committed to the good of the city as a whole; and sixth, contextualizing the gospel message. His stress lies in the fact that we must do all stated facets of ministry because they are all required by the gospel. They are not optional, and they are inter-dependent. Holistic ministry, in which Christians work sacrificially for the common good, is the necessary context for any convincing evangelistic call to believe in Jesus.

From theResurgence: Timothy Keller’s Being the Church in the City (mp3)

ChurchBeauty – church websites that inspire

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Jul 8, 2006 in Church, Church Technology, Ekklesia, General Technology | 2 comments

Imago Dei was selected by ChurchBeauty – church websites that inspire. This site has a number of great church websites for you to take a look at and get ideas from. Other sites listed include The City Church and Dulles Community, which have received lots of praise at Godbit. At Church Beauty, you can also filter sites by categories like churches whose website are css-driven or churches that receive high marks for their church’s website usability.

Men Are from Mars Hill

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Jul 8, 2006 in Church | 0 comments

Mark Driscoll praises Jesus, blasts mega-churches, and extols Reformed theology. An interview posted at Christianity Today.

Would you fix a Muslim’s car

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Jul 7, 2006 in Church, Culture | 1 comment

I spoke with a Christian who builds websites and he told me he would not build a website for any non-evangelical Christian religious group. In fact, he didn’t want to build a website for an alcohol company. So, this got me thinking. If you are an ‘evangelical’ Christian who believes the only way to God is through Jesus and all other religions are false:

Would you sell ice cream to an Islamic center, synagouge or scientology center?
Would you fix the bus of an Islamic center, synagouge or scientology center?
Would you create a sign for any of these groups?
Would you build their website?
Would you host an event?
Would you go door-to-door to hand out information if they paid you?

Where is the line for someone that believes these are promoting false beliefs?