IRVINE, Calif. – Christian hip-hop star Lecrae (Lecrae Moore) set his musical artist persona aside during a leadership conference recently to talk about the subject of engaging American culture in a non-typical, yet Christian way in order to further the Gospel.

"I think we don't engage culture because we're scared. We don't want it corrupting our kids. I think we're scared because ultimately we're still caught up in a sacred-secular divide," said Lecrae, who is also a ministry leader, to a crowd of more than 2,000 church leaders Thursday at the Resurgence Conference (R12) at Mariners Church in Irvine, Calif.

"We are still caught up in the reality that everything is broken up in two and if you go too far here you are going to get messed up," he said. "There is a sacred-secular divide that hinders us from impacting culture." more >>

IRVINE, Calif. – Speaking on the subject of preaching about Jesus at a leadership conference in Southern California, evangelist and pastor Greg Laurie said he is concerned that churches that are moving away from making sermons the focal point of a worship service are not presenting the full Gospel.

"The trend at a lot of churches today is to move away from preaching. We all got our drama, and our video roll-in, and … we have our message, but it's sort of like a sermon-ette which I fear is creating a 'Christian-ette,'" said Laurie during the opening session of the two-day Resurgence Conference (R12) on Tuesday. "I'm saying that we need to return to biblical preaching."

Laurie was invited to be one of eight speakers at the conference held at Mariners Church in Irvine by Resurgence leadership ministry founder Pastor Mark Driscoll. The event is organized and hosted by Driscoll's Seattle-based Mars Hill Church. more >>

Here is a step-by-step recipe I have seen work successfully over and over again throughout the course of my life. I share this dangerous recipe today so that when you identify these poisonous ingredients in your life, you will know what you may be inadvertently stirring up.

1) Be a whisperer.

Proverbs 16:28: "A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends." more >>

In promoting a two-day conference featuring an all-star lineup of some of the most influential Christian leaders in the U.S., Resurgence ministry founder Mark Driscoll explains why he chose renowned author and pastor Rick Warren as one of the eight speakers scheduled.

"Why Rick Warren? Why did I invite him to our first ever Resurgence conference? Well, how about because he loves Jesus, he's awesome, he's nice, [and] he actually does things that have something to teach us if you are humble enough to learn," Driscoll says at the start of a video posted on the Resurgence Conference (R12) website.

"You Google Rick Warren, your computer will explode. It is amazing how much attention he receives – 675,000 Twitter followers. He has people who love him and hate him, and I'm one of the guys who quite frankly really appreciates him," he said of the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. and author of many books, including The Purpose Driven Life. more >>

Christian conferences occur several times throughout the year in which leading movers and shakers and thinkers gather together to give guidance and encouragement to, and get encouragement from, the body of Christ. Here is a list of some of the top meetings taking place this October and November.

Thriving Summit thriveinthecity.org Date: Oct. 12-13, 2012 Cost: $75 Location: Philadelphia, Pa.

Description: Thriving is an urban resource collaborative that seeks to systematically provide sound theological training, character development and functional tools among urban leaders. The Summit is an annual gathering hosted by Thriving as a yearly collaborative by which urban leaders from global contexts gather together for encouragement, relationship building, training, and resourcing. The goal is to foster dialogue among those who are actively engaged in local church connected and submitted urban ministry; as well as those who aspire to do so. more >>

Two of America's biggest evangelical Christian broadcasters have stationed cameras on a hill overlooking Jerusalem, ready to cover the return of Jesus Christ from the Mount of Olives as predicted in the Bible, should any such event occur soon.

Texas-based Daystar Television Network was first to install a 24/7 camera from its terrace overlooking the Mount of Olives, and now Costa Mesa-based Trinity Broadcasting Network has bought the building next door, allowing it the same opportunity. The Mount of Olives, a mountain ridge east of Jerusalem, is rooted both in Jewish and Christian traditions, and is where Jesus is said to have preached to his disciples and later ascended to heaven, according to Acts chapter one.

The studios also plan on using their foothold in Jerusalem to teach the message of Jesus to the local Jewish population – and encourage Messianic Jews, who believe Jesus is the Christ, to minister to others. more >>