New Jerusalem

Does any one else out there struggle with constantly being bombarded with America being the New Jerusalem?
I remember the first time I got this impression - I was reading Revelation Revealed by Tim LaHaye, et al, and the dimensions were given as being from Boston to St. Louis, New York to Miami. For me, this put New Jerusalem on the East Coast!!
There have been other less vivid examples, but the ones relating to 9/11 are frequent.

Just last week at the District Bible study, we looked at Psalm 79. I realized I was reading verses 9-10 with the wrong eyes: Help us (America), O God our Savior, for the glory of your name: deliver us and forgive our sins (many, many sins) for your name's sake.
Why should the nations say "Where is their God?" (After all aren't we fighting Allah?) Before our eyes, (Americanized/Westernized eyes) make knwon among the nations that your avenge the outpoured blood of your servants (Where's Randy and his just war?)

Maybe I call myself an Old Testament Christian because I see America and us as the chosen ones?!!?

World Religions part 3

Well, Islam went over very well. We look at Judaism next week.

However, I have been asked to research Mormanism! Thank you God and thank you Randy Roda for your research!

World Religions part 2

Yesterday was 9/11, plus six years. I stayed away from the coverage.
Today I read Rodazone, a very fair and balanced blog that I think I will share with my congregation on Sunday as we look at Andy Hamilton's research on Islam.

I didn't plan this series around 9/11 (or any other date), but feel that God's hand was in it -- we will look at Islam after the news media gets through with the coverage and Osama's latest tape is discussed in depth. I think we will be ready to hear about Muhammad and his 'revelation' and retreat from the extremists of the Jihad.

world religions

Have preached on two of the four religions Adam Hamilton discusses in his book, Christianity and World Religions. We know now that Buddhism was birthed from Hinduism. The overarching theme from Adam's viewpoint is that these two religions have a lot to offer in the way of introspection, Hindus are seeking God, while Buddhists are seeking deliverance from suffering. We can start there and then offer them Christ which is the answer to both questions.
The sermons are longer than they are used to and I'm using a manuscript, there is no way I could keep all this information straight if I spoke straight up, but the interest appears to be there. We'll see after we do Islam this week, I've only briefly scanned the information so far, will be digging in later today.
ps I read to the congregation the paragraph where Adam Hamilton talks about the courses he took, the books he read, the sacred texts he read, the interviews with church leaders he conducted and we praised God for large churches with large staffs and time off for senior pastors to do sermon prep and study -- then settled in to use his material; properly credited!!