Chatting on twitter is growing from being a novelty to something everyone does. Chats on topics such as leadership, social media, and a variety of Christian topics have become very popular. (NOTE: scroll down for a schedule of all chats.)
There are a number of ways to access a chat. The simplest is to use http://www.tweetchat.com . Just fill in the name of the chat--in this case, MKBibleChat--and you will see the stream of tweets and can join the discussion. The advantage of this method is tweetchat adds the hashtag for you. No need to type it in.
Which brings up an important point. You MUST include the hashtag #MKBiblechat with all tweets to join the discussion. If not, noone on the chat will see your comment.
You can also join the discussion (for normal twitter) by searching in the "search" box for #MKBIBLECHAT or by clicking on the hashtag #MKBiblechat on someone's tweet. On tweetdeck (which is free and which I recommend) you can create a separate column just for all tweets that include the hashtag (by the way, a hashtag is the symbol "#").
If you have any problems joining a chat just tweet me at my twitter name: @BibleMemCoins and will be glad to help.
Below is a temporary schedule of all chats until we can download the infographic chart.
Monday thru Friday we have chats scheduled at 9:30am EST (all times are eastern in the U.S.--if you are outside the U.S. just google to find out information); 2pm EST; 7:55pm EST; and 10pm EST.
The exceptions are Thursday the daytime chat is 3pm instead of 2pm, and Friday the early evening chat is 7pm, not 7:55pm EST.
Saturdays we do Interview Chat at 11am EST & Bible Jeopardy at 8pm EST. On Sunday morning @cheridouglas does an hour of sharing scripture.
We will notify you when the infographic is downloaded. God bless, and hope you will join us often.
If you would like to help our overseas aspect of the ministry as we lead DeepChats with many third world Christians, see http://www.DeepChatSponsor.blogspot.com.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
What is a Panel Chat?
We are starting something new on #MKBibleChat on Saturday mornings. We will be interviewing a variety of Christian authors, missionaries, pastors, and just plain folks.
Instead of the regular variety chat (you know, where we all pool our ignorance--lol) for the first 20 minutes of chat the host (not necessarily alway me) will ask questions of the guest. The rest of chat will be opened up for questions from all those on chat.
So your cooperation and a little discipline is required. Please, after you log in and say 'hi' to everyone, do NOT tweet until we open it up for questions.
Usually as the guest is answering direct questions I will add some quotes and info re his or her work or field in general. Thought this alternative format might be fun and informative--a chat change of pace. I am very excited..we already have 7 guests lined up including the president of the Barna Group and 3 top selling Christian authors.
Thanks once again for your participation and support these first 6 months as we develop a completely new media and forum for the purpose of growing in Christ. God's richest blessings to you.
Instead of the regular variety chat (you know, where we all pool our ignorance--lol) for the first 20 minutes of chat the host (not necessarily alway me) will ask questions of the guest. The rest of chat will be opened up for questions from all those on chat.
So your cooperation and a little discipline is required. Please, after you log in and say 'hi' to everyone, do NOT tweet until we open it up for questions.
Usually as the guest is answering direct questions I will add some quotes and info re his or her work or field in general. Thought this alternative format might be fun and informative--a chat change of pace. I am very excited..we already have 7 guests lined up including the president of the Barna Group and 3 top selling Christian authors.
Thanks once again for your participation and support these first 6 months as we develop a completely new media and forum for the purpose of growing in Christ. God's richest blessings to you.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
C S Lewis Mini Biography
This is a short biography of the life of C S Lewis (known to his friends as ‘Jack’); for those interested two other books would be a great read: 1. His own autobiography ‘Surprised by Joy’ and 2. Jack: A Life of C S Lewis by George Sayer and Lyle W. Dorsett
You will be able to tell I am a bit of a ‘homer’ on C S Lewis. He, more than any other person besides our Lord, is the reason I am a Christian. At a time in my life when I had just finished a course in philosophy and lost my faith, it was a year of reading ‘Mere Christianity’ and other Lewis books that brought me back to faith. No other writer has influenced my life so greatly. A survey found that ‘Mere Christianity’ was considered the #1 Christian book of the 20th century by a wide margin.
As we begin a 6 month long chat-trek through Mere Christianity (MC from now on) it would help to have a little biographical information. This is just from memory and necessarily short, but I hope it will help you to get more out of #MKBiblechat and your own reading.
Lewis was of English heritage but born and raised in Ireland, which in itself is a tremendously influential and important biographical fact. His one sibling was an older brother Warren, with whom he was to be close throughout his life. The loss of his mother at an early age to cancer forever changed his life. His father never recovered and became an extremely remote figure. The two boys led a close and emotionally rich life driven by their reading and imaginations.
In his teens Lewis, though brought up in a Christian family, was to lose his faith. He read widely and deeply as his home was filled with books—good books, classics mostly. Lewis’ education was at boarding schools, some good and others hopeless, but it was the influence of a man he called “The Knock”, who demanded intellectual rigor and depth, that turned Lewis to what we might call “bookish” pursuits.
Clearly, Lewis was a genius of a rare kind. He could recite pages and pages of books rote word perfect years after a single reading. He studied and became a Medieval Literature scholar and taught at both Oxford and Cambridge. He never pursued a doctorate, possibly for the same reason Einstein did not (Einstein says it was because no one was qualified to give him one).
At the age of 32 Lewis became a Christian through the influence of reading George MacDonald, G K Chesterton and talks and his close friendship with J R R Tolkien (of Lord of the Rings fame). There were other influences, but these were primary.
Lewis wrote perhaps his most popular book at the time, Screwtape Letters, and immediately became well known throughout the Christian world, but it was his series of radio lectures on what became ‘Mere Christianity’ that established him as a brilliant apologist and Christian writer.
Other writings include ‘God in the Dock’, ‘The Weight of Glory’, ‘Surprised by Joy’, ‘A Grief Observed’, ‘The Problem of Pain’, ‘The World’s Last Night’ and MANY others, virtually all worth the reading. His most famous work was, of course, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’, with which we are all familiar.
Lewis was to marry an American Jewish Christian divorcee named Joy Davidman late in his life. This story is a fascinating one, but too long to deal with here. She died of cancer a few years later.
Lewis himself died on the same day John F Kennedy was assassinated, a week short of his 65th birthday. It is sad to me what he might have written had he lived, but our sovereign God is “in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” (Psalm 115:3) I cannot emphasize enough what you are missing if you have not read Lewis. He has quite literally changed my life.
When a friend was leaving him after a visit, the friend said, “Goodbye.” Lewis thought a moment and then yelled after the friend, “Christians NEVER say goodbye.” How true, and typical of Lewis.
Join us Wednesday nights for a chat thru Mere Christianity, chapter by chapter. You won’t be disappointed. 10pm EST. God’s richest blessings.
Below is a list of the 10 books Lewis himself stated had the most influence on his life:
1. Phantastes by George MacDonald.
2.The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton.
3. The Aeneid by Virgil.
4. The Temple by George Herbert.
5. The Prelude by William Wordsworth.
6. The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto.
7. The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius.
8. Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell.
9. Descent into Hell by Charles Williams.
10. Theism and Humanism by Arthur James Balfour.
2.The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton.
3. The Aeneid by Virgil.
4. The Temple by George Herbert.
5. The Prelude by William Wordsworth.
6. The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto.
7. The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius.
8. Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell.
9. Descent into Hell by Charles Williams.
10. Theism and Humanism by Arthur James Balfour.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Paul: the Apostle of the Heart Set Free
Paul was born in an Asian city that is located on the southern coast of what is now Turkey called Tarsus in about the year 10. His parents were Jewish, presumably strict Pharisees. Importantly they were also Roman citizens.
Though Judea was in the Roman Empire very few Jews were Roman citizens. Citizenship outside of Italy was an honor reserved for people who made great contributions to the Empire. Thus, it would appear likely Paul's parents were people of influence and perhaps even moderate wealth.
Paul was sent to Jerusalem to train as a Rabbi at the age of 14. His teacher was a prominent rabbi named Gamaliel. At this time rabbis were also taught a trade the idea being to keep teachers from becoming a burden on society. Paul’s trade was tentmaking.
Paul grew to be a man of firm convictions and fiery temperament, a man of action willing to confront what he saw as the Christian heresy and act on his beliefs. His primary activity as a young adult became stamping out what he saw as an affront to Judaism and Jehovah God.
He took his passionate convictions to the point of condoning, though not actively participating in, the stoning of Stephen. He participated in general persecution of the new faith, "going from house to house, he dragged out the believers, both men and women and threw them into jail."
He then undertook a mission to Damascus where he intended to continue attacking Christians. En route to the city he had a vision. This vision is described several times in the Bible, three times in the book of Acts. Paul saw Jesus who asked why Paul persisted in persecuting Him. Jesus then commissioned Paul to preach His message to the Gentiles.
This Damascus Road experience of Jesus was probably the most incredible and important conversion in the history of the church. The persecutor became the greatest preacher of the faith Christianity has ever known.
According to Acts, Paul spent time in Arabia and then Damascus searching his soul and communing and being taught by God. He undertook the mission he believed had been given to him directly by Jesus. He preached in Damascus for three years. His enemies were determined to kill him so he had to slip out of the city by night.
After gaining official sanction from the elders of the Church in Jerusalem, including Peter and James, Paul brought the message of Jesus to the Gentiles. Along with Barnabas, he went on his first Missionary Journey to Cyprus, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. During this journey they met many hardships (see II Corinthians) and Paul was even stoned and left for dead in Lystra.
Around 50 A.D. he returned to Jerusalem to report to the church elders. His visit provoked a dispute over whether Christians had to first become Jews. Paul said no. The controversy was temporarily resolved in his favor and he went on his second and third missionary journeys to Galatia, Phrygia, Macedonia and Greece. He even went to Athens where he argued with philosophers as well as pagans.
It was during this period that he met Luke, a doctor who would become a close adherent and would eventually write one of the gospels as well as the book of Acts. After his third missionary journey, Paul returned to Jerusalem where he ran into a dispute with the Sanhedrin. He was the object of a huge civil disturbance. For this, he was arrested and eventually brought to Caesarea.
While there, he was questioned and tried several times, but his enemies could not seem to make their charges stick. Even so, he was held by the governor, Felix, who was afraid he might again create problems in Jerusalem. The next governor, Festus, seemed to be loath to come to a decision on his case, so after over two years of house arrest, Paul invoked his right as a Roman citizen to demand a trial before the Emperor.
He was sent on the next ship to Rome. However, the ship met heavy seas and wrecked on the Island of Malta. Paul prayed and was visited by an Angel and the entire crew was saved. Paul eventually took another boat and reached Italy. He was met by supporters and eventually made it to Rome.
Interestingly, neither the book of Acts nor Paul's surviving letters depicts the results of Paul's trial. It is known that he spent two years under house arrest waiting his audience with Nero. Extant literature close to the time indicates that Paul was either tried and executed by the sword or he died during the persecution that came about after the great fire where Nero was reputed to have incited the blaze and to have fiddled during the conflagration in about 64 AD.
Though Judea was in the Roman Empire very few Jews were Roman citizens. Citizenship outside of Italy was an honor reserved for people who made great contributions to the Empire. Thus, it would appear likely Paul's parents were people of influence and perhaps even moderate wealth.
Paul was sent to Jerusalem to train as a Rabbi at the age of 14. His teacher was a prominent rabbi named Gamaliel. At this time rabbis were also taught a trade the idea being to keep teachers from becoming a burden on society. Paul’s trade was tentmaking.
Paul grew to be a man of firm convictions and fiery temperament, a man of action willing to confront what he saw as the Christian heresy and act on his beliefs. His primary activity as a young adult became stamping out what he saw as an affront to Judaism and Jehovah God.
He took his passionate convictions to the point of condoning, though not actively participating in, the stoning of Stephen. He participated in general persecution of the new faith, "going from house to house, he dragged out the believers, both men and women and threw them into jail."
He then undertook a mission to Damascus where he intended to continue attacking Christians. En route to the city he had a vision. This vision is described several times in the Bible, three times in the book of Acts. Paul saw Jesus who asked why Paul persisted in persecuting Him. Jesus then commissioned Paul to preach His message to the Gentiles.
This Damascus Road experience of Jesus was probably the most incredible and important conversion in the history of the church. The persecutor became the greatest preacher of the faith Christianity has ever known.
According to Acts, Paul spent time in Arabia and then Damascus searching his soul and communing and being taught by God. He undertook the mission he believed had been given to him directly by Jesus. He preached in Damascus for three years. His enemies were determined to kill him so he had to slip out of the city by night.
After gaining official sanction from the elders of the Church in Jerusalem, including Peter and James, Paul brought the message of Jesus to the Gentiles. Along with Barnabas, he went on his first Missionary Journey to Cyprus, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. During this journey they met many hardships (see II Corinthians) and Paul was even stoned and left for dead in Lystra.
Around 50 A.D. he returned to Jerusalem to report to the church elders. His visit provoked a dispute over whether Christians had to first become Jews. Paul said no. The controversy was temporarily resolved in his favor and he went on his second and third missionary journeys to Galatia, Phrygia, Macedonia and Greece. He even went to Athens where he argued with philosophers as well as pagans.
It was during this period that he met Luke, a doctor who would become a close adherent and would eventually write one of the gospels as well as the book of Acts. After his third missionary journey, Paul returned to Jerusalem where he ran into a dispute with the Sanhedrin. He was the object of a huge civil disturbance. For this, he was arrested and eventually brought to Caesarea.
While there, he was questioned and tried several times, but his enemies could not seem to make their charges stick. Even so, he was held by the governor, Felix, who was afraid he might again create problems in Jerusalem. The next governor, Festus, seemed to be loath to come to a decision on his case, so after over two years of house arrest, Paul invoked his right as a Roman citizen to demand a trial before the Emperor.
He was sent on the next ship to Rome. However, the ship met heavy seas and wrecked on the Island of Malta. Paul prayed and was visited by an Angel and the entire crew was saved. Paul eventually took another boat and reached Italy. He was met by supporters and eventually made it to Rome.
Interestingly, neither the book of Acts nor Paul's surviving letters depicts the results of Paul's trial. It is known that he spent two years under house arrest waiting his audience with Nero. Extant literature close to the time indicates that Paul was either tried and executed by the sword or he died during the persecution that came about after the great fire where Nero was reputed to have incited the blaze and to have fiddled during the conflagration in about 64 AD.
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