Head-dibs

Dr. Jerry Rankin provides an overview of Summer 2014 events hosted by the Zwemer Institute For Muslim Studies at Columbia International University . 

The 2014 Southeast Regional Conference of the  The Evangelical Missiological Society  will meet Saturday, March 29, 2014 on the campus of Columbia International University . The theme will be “Missions and Diaspora.” The conference is open to professors, students and mission practitioners.   Session speakers include:  CIU alumnus Leiton Chinn , (international student ministry organizer with the Lausanne Movement) will speak on “Reaching the International Student Diaspora in North America.” CIU alumnus Ken Katayama (President of Crossover Communications International ) CIU alumna Jessie Udall  who recently defended her thesis, “Preparing Ethiopians for Cross-Cultural Ministry: Maximizing Missionary Training for Great Commission Impact.” CIU professors making presentations include: Dr. Jerry Rankin, the director of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies   Zwemer Center Assistant Director Trevor Castor,  Dr. Mike Naylo r, New Testame...

Olympics open today in Sochi, Russia. We are praying for the Adyghe people @ Calvary Chapel Blythewood . Join our study of "True Spirituality" this week at 10:30 (live) and 11:00 (streaming).

When you hear the name “Saint George,” and the picture of a knight killing a dragon comes to mind, then you’ve got the right idea. St. George is considered to be the patron saint of many European kingdoms and countries though (as it often goes with historical figures), he is remembered most by the most romantic tales than by his true historicity. Various histories agree that George was born to a Greek family in Israel nearly 275 years after Christ and include his subsequent following in his father’s footsteps by serving in the Roman army. There are indications that Emperor Diocletian knew George’s father, so that helped; that is, until Diocletian banned Christianity. George was martyred for rejecting the new Romanism and for holding on to his faith as a follower of Christ. The story of St. George killing the dragon is rich in symbolism: first, one recalls the biblical imagery of the defeat of Satan, described as “that great dragon” in scripture. This imagery glorifies Christ b...

Students on the campus of Columbia International University use this tent to pray for the nations through Operation World this week.

Some of Christianity’s top missiologists, mission administrators and teachers will gather at Columbia International University (CIU) for the annual Southeast regional meeting of the Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS) March 8-9, 2013. The EMS exists to advance the cause of world evangelization through study and evaluation of mission concepts and strategies from a biblical perspective with a view to commending sound mission theory and practice to churches, mission agencies, and schools of missionary training around the world. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Missionary Family: Witness, Concerns, and Care.”  The keynote speaker will be  Dr. Jerry Rankin , the director of the  Zwemer Center for Muslim studies at CIU . His topic will be “The Family – An Asset to Fulfilling God’s Mission.”  Other CIU professors who will be making presentations at the conference include the dean of the CIU College of Counseling  Harvey Payne , counseling profes...

Ralphie and George. James E. White explores the great divide between "It's A Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Story." Pioneers released a short film narrated by   Columbia International University alumnus Steve Richardson, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the gospel among the Sawi, originally captured in the book,  Peace Child . Steve and his family revisit the Sawi and see how God is transforming their culture. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has a neat graphing tool charting unemployment rates since 1948 . Could Texas REALLY secede from the Union?

Here's a compelling reason to skip the "Christmas Season"  ! One state seceded where the others failed. This writer suggests " Four Reasons Men Don't Read Books (with a practical suggestion) ."  What would be your thoughts on the matter? Bomb the moon for bragging rights . Yeah. Here's a fun one! State and local law enforcement want wireless providers to store your text messages for at least two years . You know, for evidence. This brilliant person assigned each number of Pi to a musical note. Here is the result (in the right hand): The video just goes to show that "All Creation moves in a cosmic danse before the Lord her King . . ." (Kemper Crabb, "The Danse")  

Jonathan Edwards: A Missionary?  PhD. Candidate Jonathan Gibson takes a closer look at the famed preachers' service in Stockbridge. Paul Tripp examines anger, the beautiful characteristic of God . How about some Biblical Roundup for the Root of Bitterness? Paul Tautges mixes up a batch of " 15 Ways To Kill Bitterness ." The Necessity of Sleep for Proper Recovery. Here's a great question: Why Do We Love C.S. Lewis and Hate Rob Bell?

Is Belief in Jesus Necessary ? Ronald Nash explores the dangers of Inclusivism. "The inclusivist view that those who have never heard the gospel will be saved has a serious, negative effect on Christian missions. In light of these and other problems, inclusivism should not be considered an acceptable option for Christians." David Wilkerson answers the question, " Hell: What is it Like ?" Former Redskins coach, NASCAR team owner talks at prison, then school . Joe Gibbs, who won three Super Bowl championships as coach of the Washington Redskins and three NASCAR titles as a team owner, spoke to inmates at the S.C. Department of Corrections and later a luncheon at Columbia International University about his testimony, “Life is Game.” If any gospel has God’s saving mission to the ends of the earth within its purview it is the Gospel of Luke. Registration for Summer Studies at Columbia International University open April 1!  Register for Atlanta courses here .

According to church tradition, Patrick was born in Britain around A.D. 385 while the country was under Roman rule. His real name was Maewyn Succat. At the age of 16 he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave and sold to a local landowner named Meliuc. For the next six years Patrick served as a slave shepherding sheep with little human contact. Although the country was harsh and bleak, Patrick’s childhood faith—learned from his Christian parents—sustained him. He wrote, “The love of God and His fear increased in me more and more, and the faith grew in me, and the spirit was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers, and in the night nearly the same, so that whilst in the woods and on the mountain, even before the dawn, I was roused to prayer and felt no hurt from it, whether there was snow or ice or rain.” Under those harsh conditions, Patrick’s childhood faith strengthened and matured and would one day enable him to reform a nation. Patri...

Dr. Mike Barnett, Associate Dean of CIU 's College of Intercultural Studies answers the question, " How Will We Respond to the Revolutions? " The  Alot is better than you at everything. Here is an excellent explaination on the Biblical mention of Unicorns:

I don't know what book or books you are reading right now and at this point, I really don't care.  Put it down.  Put them all down and pick this one up , open it, read it.  I triple-dog-dare you (that's right, I'm skipping the "triple dare," and am going straight for the throat)! Buy it. Borrow it. Don't steal it (stealing is sin).  Check it out from the library (and if they don't have it, get it by Inter-library loan).  Buy a case, give them away.  Wish-list it.  Trade for it.  Have someone read it to you.  Read it over someone's shoulder (ask, first.  Have some couth). Read it out loud in Sunday School. Get it in large print. Get it in Braille. Get someone to translate it for you. It will wreck your life.

Ed Welch writes, "It feels so right – so spiritual – to live with regrets . It means you feel bad for the wrong things you have done or think you have done, and that sounds like a good thing. If you forget those wrongs, you are acting like they were no big deal."  (ht: Tim Challies) Dr. Walt Kaiser comments on Egypt and Isaiah 19 . Dr. William Larkin asks, " What does the New Testament Have to Do With Missions ?" This is one way to hear " the music of the spheres !" Knockin' on Heaven's Door .  "Through our Christian lives, we will pass through valleys and low points.  It's not a matter of if , but when ."  

Columbia International University is joining hands with other passionate, Christ-centered organizations. Through these partnerships we can accomplish more as together we impact the nations with the message of Christ. Columbia International University is pleased to announce their new partnership with Ambassadors For Christ!  Having similar mission and values, Ambassadors For Christ and CIU will work together to train and send people to the nations with the message of Christ. Ambassadors For Christ is called by God, in cooperation with local churches, to evangelize and disciple Chinese students and professionals in the United States and other parts of the world, to motivate and equip them to impact the culture for the Lord, and to mobilize and channel them into the service of Christ as a vital force for God's Kingdom. Organizations like Ambassadors For Christ draw servants with a heart for the Lord and a desire to serve Him; it will be our great privilege to train th...

Griffiths, Michael C. God’s Forgetful Pilgrims. London: Inter-Varsity: 1975. This book seeks to apply the principles of being an individual Christian corporately; that is, the author shows the characteristics a true Christian congregation. Griffiths laments, “Sadly, many Christians seem to have lost their way corporately and are suffering from this strange amnesia about their congregational goals and purpose” (p. 9). Griffiths first addresses “Our Mental Concept of the Church,” introducing standing translation problems resulting from the richness of “ekklesia” (the “called out group” where the reality of deliverance, relationship, inheritance and community expand the meaning of the already-difficult word) in various settings (locally, regionally, municipally and personally). Salvation has a distinct corporate quality and is not intended for individuals per se. Once again, the English language does not communicate well (for example, “you” is singular or plural, so who is Paul addressin...

Masters degree, Doctor of Ministry and guest students are encouraged to take advantage of what is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to “be at the table” for major thinking and strategizing on world evangelization for the next generation. The course will be led by Dr. William Larkin and Dr. George Murray , site coordinators at Cape Town, and Dr. Roy King , Columbia International University -site coordinator. GLS 5445 (Master's level) and MIS 9445 (Doctoral level) "Major Issues in 21st Century Missions" (3 credit hours): This course is centered on “Cape Town 2010,” the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization held in Cape Town, South Africa, October 16-25, 2010. Through pre-campus and post-campus reading, written papers, and participation in a GlobaLink gathering on the Columbia International University campus, October 22-25, with Internet feeds from Capetown 2010, you will be exposed to six major issues confronting individuals involved in world evangelizati...

"Michael Horton recently participated in a panel discussion on global evangelism at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. It was part of the 12 Cities / 12 Conversations tour sponsored by the Lausanne Movement, and a video of this conversation is now available online . In addition to Horton, other panelists include Skye Jethani, Jim Belcher, Jena Lee Nardella, Miles McPhereson, Soon Chan Rah, and Kay Warren. FYI, the discussion doesn’t get rolling until around 16 minutes into the video (after all the introductory remarks)." Masters degree, Doctor of Ministry and guest students are encouraged to take advantage of what is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to “be at the table” for major thinking and strategizing on world evangelization for the next generation. The course will be led by Dr. William Larkin and Dr. George Murray , site coordinators at Cape Town, and Dr. Roy King , Columbia International University -site coordinator. GLS 5445 (Master's level) and MIS 94...