Impact Blog
A weekly journal and interactive discussion with Peter.
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Season’s Greetings or Merry Christmas?
Written by Peter Youngren on December 16th 2011This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
It’s time for the annual Christmas discussions. Is Christmas too commercialized? The obvious answer is “yes”, but does it matter? Aren’t we all free to decide to make this season all about shopping, or to take a more balanced approach?
Another typical question: How do we know Jesus was really born on December 25th? We don’t, and in fact there is good reason to think He wasn’t, but does that change anything?
Chrislam and friendship between Christians and Muslims
Written by Peter Youngren on November 18th 2011This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
Recently, I was told by a critic that I am a “Chrislamist”. Not sure exactly what the term meant, I did a little research. First I discovered that I am not the only one so accused. Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Community Church in Orange County, California, recently responded to similar accusations. He pointed to Proverbs 14:15, which states, “Only a fool believes all that he hears.” Amen, to that.
Stunning Reversal in Iran’s Supreme Court; Your voice counts
Written by Peter Youngren on October 19th 2011This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
Until just a few days ago, Iranian Christian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani was languishing in jail, expecting his imminent execution, having been found guilty of apostasy and numerous other crimes. This week’s stunning reversal in Iran’s Supreme Court is fresh evidence of the power of activism. For several months thousands of Christians and non-Christians have made their voices heard to their political representatives and Iranian embassies around the world, until Iran’s supreme religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini became involved, and now the Supreme Court has granted a new trial for Nadarkhani.
The “Prosperity Gospel” makes news
Written by Peter Youngren on September 23rd 2011This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
For decades the “prosperity gospel” has been a hot topic of debate within the evangelical movement. Lately it has caught the attention of the secular media, including the Guardian in the UK and ABC News. As far back as 2006 Time magazine featured the, so called, Prosperity Movement in a piece entitled “Does God want you to be rich?” Lately it is the indictment on fraud charges by Brazilian prosecutors against prosperity preacher Bishop Edir Macedor has caught the attention of the news media.
$325,000 received – Thank you partners!
Written by Peter Youngren on September 7th 2011GraceTV has met its Victory Goal of $325,000 to pay for cable and satellite distribution. Thank You, Lord! Thank You, Partners!
By Aug 28th we had received $102,000 on top of regular giving, so we really needed a miracle, going in to the final week. Hundreds of you gave, and one person particularly gave a very large gift. We thank God that He is working through willing people. The total received is $345,267.62.