mandles

Candles for men ... cool concept. Thanks to my friend Randy Noblog for the tip.

the gospel

Too many Christians today are trying to improve on the gospel. The gospel is what it is: the Cross of Christ. Christians on both the political right and the left are downplaying the effects of the Fall, and instead buying into a secular myth of progress through market economics or socialism. ~ Mark Dever taken from "Does Your Preaching Touch Politics?"

HT:OOU

hickey news

I'll not offer much in the way of comment here. I have some relationship to the Hickeys and they strike me as good people. Feel free to share your perspective but be kind. I personally thought this was very interesting and I'm very ok if God chose to do it.

Loaves and Fishes’ Miracle Reported in Egypt

Bible teacher and evangelist Marilyn Hickey’s recent 10-day trip to Cairo, Egypt—described by organizers afterward as the largest gathering of Christians to ever assemble in the ancient city— included a report of something more astounding than the several hundred who claimed healing and salvation: 2,400 meals from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) apparently appeared out of thin air.

The rest of the story ...

oh oh ....

Courtesy of Marc Heinrich.

keeping it real

If we really believe the objective, rationally-understood truth of Scripture is both authoritative and incompatible with error — since the Bible is the singular Word of the living God — we must not only study and teach it; we must live it, too. It is not enough to give lip service. If we genuinely believe the Bible is divine truth, we must allow it to permeate our life and ministry. To live otherwise is tantamount to denying the truth. ~ John MacArthur

affect/effect

From my friends at common errors in the English usage ...

There are five distinct words here. When “affect” is accented on the final syllable (a-FECT), it is usually a verb meaning “have an influence on”: “The million-dollar donation from the industrialist did not affect my vote against the Clean Air Act.”

Occasionally a pretentious person is said to affect an artificial air of sophistication. Speaking with a borrowed French accent or ostentatiously wearing a large diamond ear stud might be an affectation. In this sort of context, “affect” means “to make a display of or deliberately cultivate.”

Another unusual meaning is indicated when the word is accented on the first syllable (AFF-ect), meaning “emotion.” In this case the word is used mostly by psychiatrists and social scientists— people who normally know how to spell it.

The real problem arises when people confuse the first spelling with the second: “effect.” This too can be two different words. The more common one is a noun: “When I left the stove on, the effect was that the house filled with smoke.” When you affect a situation, you have an effect on it.

The less common is a verb meaning “to create”: “I’m trying to effect a change in the way we purchase widgets.” No wonder people are confused. Note especially that the proper expression is not “take affect” but “take effect”—become effective. Hey, nobody ever said English was logical: just memorize it and get on with your life.

The stuff in your purse? Your personal effects.

todd bentley study bible

The Todd Bentley Study Bible is now available for print. The full name is Todd Bentley Shaka-Laka-Bam Fresh Fire Kick You in the Face Lakeland Revival Study Bible or TBSLBFFKYFLRSB for short. Here's an excerpt:

"Behold, all authority is given to you in heaven and on earth, go therefore into all the world and beat the living snot out of people in my name, kicking old ladies in the face, tackling Filipinos until their teeth pop out, and kneeing people in the stomach, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Shaka-laka-bam!" - The Gospel According to Bentley 23:4

See TBNN for the full story.

smart wolves

unfinished business

Our relationship with Jesus helps us to rest on His finished work. But the Holy Spirit helps us with what is unfinished. He shows His love for us by changing us into the people that Jesus’ death entitled us to be. And He will keep on doing this until Jesus returns in glory to complete our transformation into His image. ~ Susan Lutz, Love One Another As I Have Loved You

HT:FE

motivation

Let Jesus Christ be your motivation to love righteousness and to hate iniquity. ~ A.W. Tozer, Jesus, Our Man In Glory

god with you?

Jesus Christ, in the power and authority of His Spirit-anointed humanity, stilled the waves, quieted the winds, healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, exercised complete authority over demons and raised the dead. He did all the miraculous things He was moved to do among men not as God, which would not have been miraculous at all, but as a Spirit-anointed man. Remarkable! ~ A.W. Tozer, Jesus, Our Man In Glory

This, according to Acts 10.38 was because “God was with Him.” So, is God with you?

the real problem

The new liberals, as those before them, often get confused with why we as believers, both individually and corporately, remain here “on earth”. I love A.W. Tozer’s voice on what is the problem with man.

Go to God’s Word and you will find that sin is the most pressing, the most compelling, the most imperative problem in human life and society. The most pressing problem is not sickness. It is not war. It is not poverty. Sin is the basic problem because sin has to do with a person’s soul. Sin does not relate merely to a person’s short years on this earth. It involves that person’s eternal future and the world to come.

No one has ever overstated the seriousness of the sin question. It is a question that continues age after age. It comes to every human being: “What am I going to do about sin?” That question takes precedence over all other questions that we are called upon to answer. Whether we are world famous or an unnamed member of the human race, we must make confession concerning our relationship with sin.

As believers, our role is to live life as one who properly makes that confession and to bring others to the realization of the need for the same. We are not called to repair the environment, solve food shortages, nor address injustice. Those are the things we doing once we’ve made that proper confession … but they never become the most important problem.

from v. to

It is a gracious thing that God does for us in His mercy and love when we are forgiven, regenerated and converted. It is indeed a new birth! God saves us from what we were, whatever it was. But He expects us to spend the rest of our lives praising Him, telling about the wonders of Christ and His salvation. He wants us to spread the good news of the great eternal future He has planned for us. He wants us to tell others of the eternal habitation He is preparing for all who love and obey Him. ~ A.W. Tozer, Jesus, Our Man In Glory

Tozer’s emphasis here is that what we are saved to is much more important than what we were saved from.

prophetic stone

Ok maybe not prophetic but certainly this stone is an excellent weather forecaster right?

just when you thought it was safe

Here's a helpful reminder from Jon Birch regarding what we are dealing with here ...

Technorati Tags: ecclesiology

smoking church

Good idea or ?

Technorati Tags: ecclesiology, humor

gunter glieben glauchen globen

Gunter glieben glauchen globen
Alright
I got something to say
Yeah, its better to burn out
Yeah, than fade away
All right
Ow
Gonna start a fire
Cmon!


What more can I say?

are you prepared?

I’m not prepared to play at being a Christian any more - either I am prepared to take on all it means to lead a sacrificial life or I should stop pretending I have anything to do with the man from Galilee. ~ Joe

HT:GM

foundational things

As I spend time helping folks grow in Christ-likeness I find I often have to go over and over the very basics - especially the concept of justification. Therefore I really liked this simple quote posted at Of First Importance.

The only people who get better are people who know that, if they never get better, God will love them anyway. ~ Steve Brown, A Scandalous Freedom

Technorati Tags: justification

storms on the gifts

Here are some great thoughts from Sam Storms on visions.

This is obviously a delicate and important balance for us to maintain. On the one hand, we should not dismiss or diminish the importance of the supernatural and revelatory encounters that God provides for certain of his saints. On the other hand, neither should we elevate them to supreme importance or treat them as if they alone, more so than character and conduct, authenticate the legitimacy of one's calling and ministry from God.

It simply isn't possible to read Peter and Paul and fail to notice that they believed revelatory gifts and other miraculous phenomena were of great benefit in edifying the body of Christ. It's true, of course, that Paul didn't speak often of his supernatural experiences. However, we should always be careful in drawing unwarranted conclusions about the normative character of an event based on the frequency with which it is mentioned. There is only one occasion where Paul mentions that he himself speaks in tongues (1 Cor. 14:18), yet he obviously spoke in tongues regularly, perhaps on a daily basis in his private devotions (1 Cor. 14:19). In other words, "lack of frequent reference does not necessarily mean lack of frequent experience". ~ Sam Storms, Of Visions and Revelations

Technorati Tags: Signs & Wonders

tilted twister

All I can say is "dang!" Thanks to Dan Edelen for pointing me to this very cool post about using Lego Mindstorms to solve a Rubik's cube. If nothing else, watch the video. Cool stuff.

Technorati Tags: technical

one way

I love Randy Alcorn's recent post American Evangelicals Believe There Are Different Ways to Heaven. He rightly confronts the current pop trend of redefining god as love and that all of us will "get in". Alcorn reminds us that "Truth without grace is not real truth. And grace without truth is not real grace."

Drop by his blog and read his take on this.

on indicatives and imperatives

The great gospel imperatives to holiness are ever rooted in indicatives of grace that are able to sustain the weight of those imperatives. The Apostles do not make the mistake that’s often made in Christian ministry. [For the Apostles] the indicatives are more powerful than the imperatives in gospel preaching. So often in our preaching our indicatives are not strong enough, great enough, holy enough, or gracious enough to sustain the power of the imperatives. And so our teaching on holiness becomes a whip or a rod to beat our people’s backs because we’ve looked at the New Testament and that’s all we ourselves have seen.

We’ve seen our own failure and we’ve seen the imperatives to holiness and we’ve lost sight of the great indicatives of the gospel that sustain those imperatives. Woven into the warp and woof of the New Testament’s exposition of what it means for us to be holy is the great groundwork that the self-existent, thrice holy, triune God has — in Himself, by Himself and for Himself — committed Himself and all three Persons of His being to bringing about the holiness of His own people. This is the Father’s purpose, the Son’s purchase and the Spirit’s ministry. ~ Sinclair Ferguson, message from the 2007 Banner of Truth Conference, Our Holiness: The Father’s Purpose and the Son’s Purchase.

I love how Don Williams puts it ... "In true Kingdom preaching, the imperative always follows the indicative."

holiness

God condemned sin in Christ, so that holiness might appear in us. ~ John Stott, Men Made New

HT:JH

god v. gifts

SEEK GOD, NOT HIS GIFTS (from John Michael Talbot)
Gospel Reading: Matthew 12:38-42

An evil and unfaithful age is eager for a sign! v. 39

Are we "gift- oriented"? Are we "sign-seekers?" Many get excited about healings and prophecies and apparitions in other lands. But often, as soon as the excitement wears off, faith wanes and their lives return to old secular ways.

SIGNS & WONDERS ARE A WITNESS

Jesus recognized that miracles and signs give witness to God’s power, although he said with some exasperation, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you do not believe." And yet Luke affirmed in Acts that Jesus was, "a man whom God sent to you with miracles, wonders, and signs as his credentials." Signs also accompanied the apostles and the early church: "A reverent fear overtook them all, for many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles." Jesus himself promised, "Signs like these will accompany those who have professed their faith." So these and other scriptures tell us that signs and wonders are given by God to establish and strengthen saving faith!

UNDERSTANDING THE INCONSISTENCY

The story of Thomas helps us understand this apparent inconsistency. In order to strengthen Thomas' faith in his resurrection, Jesus appeared to him and said, "Take your finger and examine my hands. Put your hand into my side. Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!" Then he said, "You became a believer because you saw me. Blest are they who have not seen and have believed." So we see that Jesus gives us signs and wonders because he knows we are weak. He loves us, so he meets us where we are. Yet he highly commends those who believe without seeing.

MATURE FAITH LOOKS BEYOND THE GIFT

Do we have such faith? Do we seek the gifts or the Giver of the gifts? Is it enough to simply remember the powerful salvation God has repeatedly brought into our life, or must we be constantly reminded? An adult remembers and calmly goes forward; a child must be constantly reminded and prodded to keep on going. Let us have the faith of a mature Christian. Let us be children no longer. As Paul wrote, "Let us, then, go beyond the initial teaching about Christ and advance to maturity."

Technorati Tags: charismata

cigars

Smoker who has 10 cigars a day celebrates his 100th birthday

A man after my own heart ... "I love my cigars. I wouldn't be without them. I don't care about the brand - a cigar is a cigar. But I'm not a fan of the small ones. The bigger, the better."

view of god

Attempts of fallen man to redefine God continues. I see many these days trying to substitute single word definitions for our awesome Creator. They seem well meaning but in the end they reduce Him so some overly simplistic idol that they can digest and even control rather than elevate Him to all that He is. Often their definitions are sadly simple reactions to the ugliness they see in others who hold other definitions. Their eyes are on people rather that the God whom they need to draw near to.

With that, I love this quote from A.W. Tozer.

The church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshiping men. This she has done not deliberately, but little by little and without her knowledge; and her very unawareness only makes her situation all the more tragic. This low view of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of a hundred lesser evils everywhere among us. A whole new philosophy of the Christian life has resulted from this one basic error in our religious thinking.

With our loss of the sense of majesty has come the further loss of religious awe and consciousness of the divine Presence. We have lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet God in adoring silence. Modern Christianity is simply not producing the kind of Christian who can appreciate or experience the life in the Spirit. The words, 'Be still, and know that I am God,' mean next to nothing to the self-confident, bustling worshiper in this middle period of the twentieth century.

This loss of the concept of majesty has come just when the forces of religion are making dramatic gains and the churches are more prosperous than at any time within the past several hundred years. But the alarming thing is that our gains are mostly external and our losses wholly internal; and since it is the quality of our religion that is affected by internal conditions, it may be that our supposed gains are but losses spread over a wider field. ~ A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

the glory of christ

It is by beholding the glory of Christ by faith that we are spiritually edified and built up in this world, for as we behold his glory, the life and power of faith grow stronger and stronger. It is by faith that we grow to love Christ. So if we desire strong faith and powerful love, which give us rest, peace and satisfaction, we must seek them diligently beholding the glory of Christ by faith. In this duty I desire to live and to die.

On Christ’s glory I would fix all my thoughts and desires, and the more I see of the glory of Christ, the more the painted beauties of this world will wither in my eyes and I will be more and more crucified to this world. It will become to me like something dead and putrid, impossible for me to enjoy. ~ John Owen

HT:OFI

sermon prep

Too funny (from Out of Ur).

Technorati Tags: humor, preaching

do you need one?

Do you need one of these?

it's not just us

Wait a minute ... I thought only us fundamentalists and evangelicals had a problem with homosexuality? While there is room for discussion/confrontation regarding some of the message (and methodology) pictured above, the Bible is clear, homosexuality is sin.

While I think what I see above is wrong at several levels, I'm bothered that some of my "christian brethren" use scenes as the above as impetuous to rewrite Biblical truth.

fun in the park

Last week, in place of the "normal" handing out of food at the low income housing areas around us, we held a "block party" at one of them. Very cool time. We had several activities for the kids and served up hotdogs and juice. It's neat to see how our christian community is able to build relationships in this community of people. When we do our outreaches they recognize us and are very open. We are able to pray with many. Some now participate in various other programs that we offer and some even help lead/work in some of the outreaches.

Praise God for how He allows us to participate in what He is doing among the poor.

oh hell

What's the deal with hell? Universalists think no one is going there. The new liberals are working hard to deny the concept. It seems they cannot squeeze the idea of justice into their preconceived definition of love. That is they seem to have pre-defined love then they have defined God as that. They therefore God cannot have a place such as this - it doesn't fit. And on it goes.

But that aside, here are some extracts from Wayne Grudem's Systematic theology : An introduction to biblical doctrine. There may be better sources but this was easiest for me. As I noted before, my thinking of eschatology is shifting but even with that in mind, no solid doctrine leads me to the wholesale dismissal of eternal suffering as some seem anxious to do. I say that to say that while you may pick at the edges of the below (and I will not defend it), I cannot see how one can eliminate the bottom-line. Turn to God through Christ Jesus; if not, it's gonna be bad. Anyway, here's Grudem ...

Hell is a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked. Scripture teaches in several passages that there is such a place. At the end of the parable of the talents, the master says, “Cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth” (Matt. 25:30). This is one among several indications that there will be consciousness of punishment after the final judgment. Similarly, at the judgment the king will say to some, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41), and Jesus says that those thus condemned “will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25:46). In this text, the parallel between “eternal life” and “eternal punishment” indicates that both states will be without end.

Jesus refers to hell as “the unquenchable fire” (Mark 9:43), and says that hell is a place “where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48). The story of the rich man and Lazarus also indicates a horrible consciousness of punishment:

The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom, and he called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.” (Luke 16:22–24)

He then begs Abraham to send Lazarus to his father’s house, “for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:28).

When we turn to Revelation, the descriptions of this eternal punishment are also very explicit:

If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also shall drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured unmixed into the cup of his anger, and he shall be tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image and whoever receives the mark of its name. (Rev. 14:9–11)

This passage very clearly affirms the idea of eternal conscious punishment of unbelievers.

With respect to the judgment on the wicked city of Babylon, a large multitude in heaven cries, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever” (Rev. 19:3). After the final rebellion of Satan is crushed, we read, “The devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Rev. 20:10). This passage is also significant in connection with Matthew 25:41, in which unbelievers are sent “into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” These verses should make us realize the immensity of the evil that is found in sin and rebellion against God, and the magnitude of the holiness and the justice of God that calls forth this kind of punishment.

The idea that there will be eternal conscious punishment of unbelievers has been denied recently even by some evangelical theologians. It has previously been denied by the Seventh Day Adventist Church and by various individuals throughout church history. Those who deny eternal conscious punishment often advocate “annihilationism,” a teaching that, after the wicked have suffered the penalty of God’s wrath for a time, God will “annihilate” them so that they no longer exist. Many who believe in annihilationism also hold to the reality of final judgment and punishment for sin, but they argue that after sinners have suffered for a certain period of time, bearing the wrath of God against their sin, they will finally cease to exist. The punishment will therefore be “conscious” but it will not be “eternal.”

Arguments advanced in favor of annihilationism are: (1) the biblical references to the destruction of the wicked, which, some say, implies that they will no longer exist after they are destroyed (Phil. 3:19; 1 Thess. 5:3; 2 Thess. 1:9; 2 Peter 3:7; et al.); (2) the apparent inconsistency of eternal conscious punishment with the love of God; (3) the apparent injustice involved in the disproportion between sins committed in time and punishment that is eternal; and (4) the fact that the continuing presence of evil creatures in God’s universe will eternally mar the perfection of a universe that God created to reflect his glory.

In response, it must be said that the passages which speak of destruction (such as Phil. 3:19; 1 Thess. 5:3; 2 Thess. 1:9; and 2 Peter 3:7) do not necessarily imply the cessation of existence, for in these passages the terms used for “destruction” do not necessarily imply a ceasing to exist or some kind of annihilation, but can simply be ways of referring to the harmful and destructive effects of final judgment on unbelievers.

With respect to the argument from the love of God, the same difficulty in reconciling God’s love with eternal punishment would seem to be present in reconciling God’s love with the idea of divine punishment at all, and, conversely, if (as Scripture abundantly testifies) it is consistent for God to punish the wicked for a certain length of time after the last judgment, then there seems to be no necessary reason why it would be inconsistent of God to inflict the same punishment for an unending period of time.

This kind of reasoning may lead some people to adopt another kind of annihilationism, one in which there is no conscious suffering at all, not even for a brief time, and the only punishment is that unbelievers cease to exist after they die. But, in response, it may be wondered whether this kind of immediate annihilation can really be called a punishment, since there would be no consciousness of pain. In fact, the guarantee that there would be a cessation of existence would seem to many people, especially those who are suffering and in difficulty in this life, to be in some ways a desirable alternative. And if there was no punishment of unbelievers at all, even people like Hitler and Stalin would have nothing coming to them, and there would be no ultimate justice in the universe. Then people would have great incentive to be as wicked as possible in this life.

The argument that eternal punishment is unfair (because there is a disproportion between temporary sin and eternal punishment) wrongly assumes that we know the extent of the evil done when sinners rebel against God. David Kingdon observes that “sin against the Creator is heinous to a degree utterly beyond our sin-warped imaginations’ [ability] to conceive of....Who would have the temerity to suggest to God what the punishment...should be?”14 He also responds to this objection by suggesting that unbelievers in hell may go on sinning and receiving punishment for their sin, but never repenting, and notes that Revelation 22:11 points in this direction: “Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy.”

At this point, moreover, an argument based on God’s justice may be brought against annihilationism. Does the short time of punishment envisaged by the annihilationist actually pay for all of the unbeliever’s sin and satisfy God’s justice? If it does not, then God’s justice has not been satisfied and the unbeliever should not be annihilated. But if it does, then the unbeliever should be allowed to go to heaven, and he or she should not be annihilated. In either case, annihilationism is not necessary or right.

Regarding the fourth argument, while evil that remains unpunished does detract from God’s glory in the universe, we also must realize that when God punishes evil and triumphs over it, the glory of his justice, righteousness, and power to triumph over all opposition will be seen (see Rom. 9:17, 22–24). The depth of the riches of God’s mercy will also then be revealed, for all redeemed sinners will recognize that they too deserve such punishment from God and have avoided it only by God’s grace through Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 9:23–24).

Yet after all this has been said, we have to admit that the ultimate resolution of the depths of this question lies far beyond our ability to understand, and remains hidden in the counsels of God. Were it not for the scriptural passages cited above which so clearly affirm eternal conscious punishment, annihilationism might seem to us to be an attractive option. Though annihilationism can be countered by theological arguments, it is ultimately the clarity and forcefulness of the passages themselves that convince us that annihilationism is incorrect and that Scripture does indeed teach the eternal conscious punishment of the wicked.

What are we to think of this doctrine? It is hard—and it should be hard—for us to think of this doctrine today. If our hearts are never moved with deep sorrow when we contemplate this doctrine, then there is a serious deficiency in our spiritual and emotional sensibilities. When Paul thinks of the lostness of his kinsmen the Jews, he says, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart” (Rom. 9:2). This is consistent with what God tells us of his own sorrow at the death of the wicked: “As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezek. 33:11). And Jesus’ agony is evident as he cries out, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate” (Matt. 23:37–38; cf. Luke 19:41–42).

The reason it is hard for us to think of the doctrine of hell is because God has put in our hearts a portion of his own love for people created in his image, even his love for sinners who rebel against him. As long as we are in this life, and as long as we see and think about others who need to hear the gospel and trust in Christ for salvation, it should cause us great distress and agony of spirit to think about eternal punishment. Yet we must also realize that whatever God in his wisdom has ordained and taught in Scripture is right. Therefore we must be careful that we do not hate this doctrine or rebel against it, but rather we should seek, insofar as we are able, to come to the point where we acknowledge that eternal punishment is good and right, because in God there is no unrighteousness at all.

It may help us to realize that if God were not to execute eternal punishment, then, apparently, his justice would not be satisfied and his glory would not be furthered in the way he deems wise. And it will perhaps also help us to realize that from the perspective of the world to come there is a much greater recognition of the necessity and rightness of eternal punishment. Martyred believers in heaven are heard by John to cry out, “O sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” (Rev. 6:10). Moreover, at the final destruction of Babylon, the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven cries out with praise to God for the rightness of his judgment as they finally see the heinous nature of evil for what it really is:

Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants....Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” (Rev. 19:1–3)

As soon as this happened, “the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”’ (Rev. 19:4). We cannot say that this great multitude of the redeemed and the living creatures in heaven have wrong moral judgment when they praise God for executing justice on evil, for they are all free from sin and their moral judgments are pleasing to God.

In this present age, however, we should only approach such a celebration of the justice of God in the punishment of evil when we meditate on the eternal punishment given to Satan and his demons. When we think of them we do not instinctively love them, though they too were created by God. But now they are fully devoted to evil and beyond the potential of redemption. So we cannot long for their salvation as we long for the redemption of all humanity. We must believe that eternal punishment is true and just, yet we should also long that even those people who most severely persecute the church should come to faith in Christ and thus escape eternal condemnation.

Technorati Tags: eschatology

the expeditionary man

I haven't read The Expeditionary Man: The Adventure a Man Wants, the Leader His Family Needs by Rich Wagnor but I'll certainly add it to my reading list. Why? The author is the brother of someone in our small group and frankly the concept sounds cool.

Rich Wagnor is currently on a bike tour in relation to the book. Here's one blurb on the book.

As a Christian man, how do you prioritize between what you are driven to do at work and church with what you are responsible for at home? Rich Wagner debunks the myth of a “balanced life” and shares a biblical model of becoming a hands-on leader of his family.

If you happen to read it before I do, let me know what you think.

church games

If your heart is grieved when you see the Church turned into a place that's entertaining, a place where you have to try to trick people to come through the door with a dog and pony show, you are seeing the result of that theology. If you can't trust the Spirit of God to apply the gospel of Christ to the hearts of His elect people and bring them to salvation, you're gonna have to start reaching around for something else, and that's what we see today. Theology matters. ~ James R. White

the work of the spirit

John MacArthur is posted a series on the work of the Spirit that is "condensed, adapted and excerpted from Jonathan Edwards’s The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God." According to Edwards, there are five distinguishing characteristics of the Holy Spirit’s work. In short, a true work of the Holy Spirit: (1) Exalts the true Christ, (2) Opposes Satan’s interests, (3) Points people to the Scriptures, (4) Elevates truth, and (5) Results in love for God and others.

1) It Exalts the True Christ, based on 1 John 4:2-3.

When a ministry raises people’s esteem of the one true Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin and was crucified — if it confirms and establishes their minds in the truth that He is the Son of God and the Savior of men — then it is a sure sign that it is from the Spirit of God. If the spirit at work among a people convinces them of Christ and leads them to Him; if it confirms their minds in the belief of the history of Christ as He appeared in the flesh; if it teaches them that He is the Son of God to save sinners; if it reveals that He is the only Savior, and that they stand in great need of Him; and if it begets in them higher and more honorable thoughts of Christ than they used to have; if it inclines their affections more to Him — that is a sure sign that it is the true and right Spirit. This is true even though we are ultimately incapable of determining whether anyone’s conviction or affections reflect real saving faith.

The words of the apostle are remarkable. The person to whom the Spirit testifies must be that Jesus who appeared in the flesh — not another “christ” in His stead. It cannot be some mystical, fantastical “christ,” such as the “inner light” extolled by the Quakers. This imaginary christ diminishes their esteem of and dependence on Jesus as He came in the flesh. The true Spirit of God gives testimony for that Jesus alone.

The devil has a fierce hatred against Christ, especially in His office as the Savior of men. Satan mortally hates the story and doctrine of redemption; he never would go about to stress these truths. The Spirit that inclines men’s hearts to the Seed of the woman is not the spirit of the serpent that has such an irreconcilable enmity against Him.

2) It Opposes Satan’s Interests, based on 1 John 4.4-5.

When the spirit that is at work operates against the interests of Satan’s kingdom, against sin, and against worldly lusts — this is a sure sign that it is a true, and not a false spirit.

Here is a plain antithesis. The apostle is comparing those who are influenced by two opposite spirits, the true and the false. The difference is plain: the one is of God, and overcomes the spirit of the world; the other is of the world, and is obsessed with the things of the world. The devil is called “he who is in the world.”

What the apostle means by “the world,” or “the things that are in the world,” we learn by his own words: “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (2:15-16). So by “the world” the apostle evidently means everything that pertains to the interest of sin. The term also comprehends all the corruptions and lusts of men, as well as all those acts and objects by which they are gratified.

We may also safely determine from what the apostle says that whatever lessons people’s esteem of the pleasures, profits, and honors of the world; whatever turns their hearts from an eager pursuit after these things; whatever engages them in a due concern about eternity and causes them earnestly to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness; whatever convinces them of the dreadfulness of sin, the guilt it brings, and the misery to which it exposes — must be the Spirit of God.

It is not to be supposed that Satan would convince men of sin or awaken the conscience. It can no way serve his end to make that candle of the Lord shine the brighter. It is for his interest, whatever he does, to lull conscience asleep and keep it quite. To have that with its eyes and mouth open in the soul would tend to clog and hinder all his designs of darkness. The awakened conscience would evermore disturb his affairs, cross his interests, and disquiet him. Would the devil, when he is about to establish people in sin, take such a course? Would he make them more careful, inquisitive, and watchful to discern what is sinful, and to avoid future sins, and to be more wary of the devil’s temptations?

The man who has an awakened conscience is the least likely to be deceived of any man in the world; it is the drowsy, insensible, stupid conscience that is most easily blinded. The Spirit that operates thus cannot be the spirit of the devil; Satan will not cast out Satan (Matt. 12:25-26). Therefore if we see persons made sensible of the dreadful nature of sin and the displeasure of God against it, we may conclude that this concern is from the Spirit of God.

3) It Points People to the Scriptures, based on 1 John 4.6.

The spirit that causes people to have a greater regard for the Holy Scriptures and establishes them more in the truth and divinity of God’s Word is certainly the Spirit of God.

The devil never would attempt to beget in persons a regard to the divine Word. A spirit of delusion will not incline persons to seek direction at the mouth of God. “To the law and to the testimony!” (Isa. 8:20) is never the cry of evil spirits who have no light in them. On the contrary, it is God’s own direction to discover their delusions.

Would the spirit of error, in order to deceive men, beget in them a high opinion of the infallible Word? Would the prince of darkness, in order to promote his kingdom of darkness, lead men to the sun? The devil has always shown a mortal spite and hatred towards that holy book, the Bible. He has done all in his power to extinguish that light, or else draw men off from it. He knows it to be that light by which his kingdom of darkness is to be overthrown. He has long experienced its power to defeat his purposes and baffle his designs. It is his constant plague. It is the sword of the Spirit that pierces him and conquers him.

It is that sharp sword that we read of in Revelation 19:15, which proceeds out of the mouth of Him that sat on the horse, with which He smites His enemies. Every text is a dart to torment the old serpent. He has felt the stinging smart thousands of times.

Therefore the devil is engaged against the Bible and hates every word in it. We may be sure that he never will attempt to raise anyone’s esteem of it.

4) It Elevates Truth, based on 1 John 4.6

Another rule by which to judge spirits is that whatever operates as a spirit of truth, leading people to truth, convincing them of those things that are true — we may safely determine that it is a right and true spirit.

For instance, if the spirit at work makes men more aware than they used to be of the central gospel truths: that there is a God; that He is a great and sin-hating God; that life is short and very uncertain; that there is another world; that they have immortal souls; that they must give account of themselves to God; that they are exceeding sinful by nature and practice; that they are helpless in themselves — then that spirit operates as a spirit of truth. He represents things as they truly are. He brings men to the light.

On the other hand, the spirit of darkness will not uncover and make manifest the truth. Christ tells us that Satan is a liar, and the father of lies. His kingdom is a kingdom of darkness. It is upheld and promoted only by darkness and error. Satan has all his power and dominion by darkness. Whatever spirit removes our darkness and brings us to the light undeceives us. If I am brought to the truth and am made aware of things as they really are, my duty is immediately to thank God for it without inquiring by what means I have such a benefit.

5) It Results in Love for God and Others, based on 1 John 4.8.

If the spirit that is at work among a people operates as a spirit of love to God and man, it is a sure sign that it is the Spirit of God. This last mark which the apostle gives of the true Sprit, he seems to speak of as the most eminent. ...

When the spirit that is at work among the people brings many of them to high and exalting thoughts of the Divine Being and His glorious perfections; when it works in them an admiring, delightful sense of the excellency of Jesus Christ, representing Him as the chief among ten thousand and altogether lovely; when it makes Him precious to the soul, winning and drawing the heart with those motives and incitements to free love of God and the wonderful dying love of Christ — it must be the Spirit of God.

“We love, because He first loved us,” verse 19 says. The spirit that makes the soul long after God and Christ must be the Spirit of God. When we desire the presence and communion of the Savior, acquaintance with Him, conformity to Him, a life that pleases and honors Him, we must be under the influence of His Spirit.

Moreover, the spirit that quells contentions among men gives a spirit of peace and good-will, excites to acts of outward kindness, earnestly desires the salvation of souls, and arouses love for all the children of God and followers of Christ; I say that when a spirit operates after this manner, there is the highest kind of evidence that this is the Holy Spirit.

Indeed, there is a counterfeit love that often appears among those who are led by a spirit of delusion. There is commonly in the wildest enthusiasts a kind of union and affection arising from self-love. It is occasioned by their agreeing on issues where they greatly differ from all others and for which they are objects of ridicule from the rest of mankind. That naturally will cause them so much the more to prize those peculiarities that make them the objects of others’ contempt. (Thus the ancient Gnostics and the wild fanatics that appeared at the beginning of the Reformation boasted of their great love to one another — one sect of them in particular calling themselves “the family of love.”) But this is quite another thing than that Christian love I have just described.

There is enough said in this passage of the nature of a truly Christian love to distinguish it from all such counterfeits. It is love that arises from apprehension of the wonderful riches of the free grace and sovereignty of God’s love to us in Jesus Christ. It is attended with a sense of our own utter unworthiness (see vv. 9-11, 19). The surest character of true, divine, supernatural love– distinguishing it from counterfeits that arise from a natural self-love — is that the Christian virtue of humility shines in it. It is a love which above all others renounces, abases, and annihilates what we term self. Christ’s love is a humble love (1 Cor. 13:4-5).

When, therefore, we see a love attended with a sense of one’s own littleness, vileness, weakness, and utter insufficiency; when it is united with self-diffidence, self-emptiness, self-renunciation, and poverty of spirit — those are the manifest tokens of the Spirit of God.

He that thus dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.

Conclusion

These marks that the apostle has given us are sufficient to stand alone and support themselves. They plainly show the finger of God and are sufficient to outweigh a thousand such little objections as many make from oddities, irregularities, errors in conduct, and the delusions and scandals of some professors. But here some may object. After all, the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, “Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

To which I answer that this can be no objection against the sufficiency of these marks to distinguish the true from the false spirit in those false apostles and prophets — even when the devil is transformed into an angel of light. After all, the very reason the apostle John gave these marks was so that we could test the spirits. Therefore try the spirits by these rules and you will be able to distinguish the true spirit from the false — even under such a crafty disguise.

life in the burbs

I picked this up from Matt Adair regarding the suburbs and Christianity.

In case we confuse life in the 'burbs with following Jesus:

• Suburbs = leveraging everything in order to experience safety, security, and comfort
• Christianity = leveraging everything in order to experience the love of Christ, who is our safety, security and comfort

me for president

I know ... I'm just as surprised as you are. But as I think about it, I up for the challenge. Rick Ianniello for president. Please vote.

Technorati Tags: humor, politics

lions, buffalo, crocodiles, and people

This video shot in September 2004 at a watering hole in Kruger National Park was new to me. As I watched in amazement, I could help but try to figure out who the lions, buffalo, crocodiles, and people might represent. Candidates are emergents, evangelicals, the lost, charismatics, etc.. Can you piece it together?

glowbull warming

Oh oh ... gonna have to change my eschatology now (again) ...

Myth of Consensus Explodes: APS Opens Global Warming Debate

Technorati Tags: current events, eschatology

guide to reading

Martin Downes posted Richard Baxter's guide to the reading of a book (or a blog) to consider when reading.

When reading ask onself:

1. Could I spend this time no better?

2. Are there better books/blogs that would edify me more?

3. Are the lovers of such a book/blog as this the greatest lovers of the Book of God and of a holy life?

4. Does this book/blog increase my love to the Word of God, kill my sin, and prepare me for the life to come?

I have to say that I have been seriously considering these principles more and more lately.

A few months ago I made a wholesale deletion from my reading list the blogs of those I would characterize as "watchdogs" and/or "watchdogs of the watchdogs". While there was some truth in what they reported and some of that benefited me, it became nearly impossible to read through their venom and nonsensical arguments with becoming "tainted". I have to say I feel much cleaner these days.

Now I have begun deleting some pretty good blogs from my rss reader because they simply push the envelop too much and while they may not be heretical, they are borderline and certainly pointing the less wary in that direction. As I get older I find myself with less energy to deal with those bent on inventing new truth.

Oh well, that's what's up with me ...

sweet exchange

[God] gave up his own Son as a ransom for us, the holy one for the lawless, the guiltless for the guilty, ‘the just for the unjust’, the incorruptible for the corruptible, the immortal for the mortal.

For what else but his righteousness could have covered our sins? In whom was it possible for us, the lawless and ungodly, to be justified, except in the Son of God alone?

O the sweet exchange, O the incomprehensible work of God, O the unexpected blessings, that the sinfulness of many should be hidden in one righteous man, while the righteousness of one should justify many sinners!

—Anonymous, “The Epistle to Diognetus” in The Apostolic Fathers, ed. Michael W. Holmes

HT:OFI

algore bust

Al Gore gave a global warming speech in DC today ... here's one spin on it.

Technorati Tags: politics

time for some campaignn'

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

final judgement?

Why would one want to believe in the doctrine of a final judgement? Aside from my understanding that this is the Biblical position, why would we think this is a good or healthy concept? Here are some thoughts from Wayne Grudem in his Systematic theology : An introduction to biblical doctrine (1147).

The doctrine of final judgment has several positive moral influences in our lives.

1. The Doctrine of Final Judgment Satisfies Our Inward Sense of a Need for Justice in the World. The fact that there will be a final judgment assures us that ultimately God’s universe is fair for God is in control, and he keeps accurate records and renders just judgment. When Paul tells slaves to be submissive to their masters, he reassures them, “For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality” (Col 3:25). When the picture of a final judgment mentions the fact that “books were opened” (Rev. 20:12; compare Mal. 3:16), it reminds us (whether the books are literal or symbolic) that a permanent and accurate record of all our deeds has been kept by God, and ultimately all accounts will be settled and all will be made right.

2. The Doctrine of Final Judgment Enables Us to Forgive Others Freely. We realize that it is not up to us to take revenge on others who have wronged us, or even to want to do so, because God has reserved that right for himself. “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord”’ (Rom. 12:19). In this way whenever we have been wronged, we can give into God’s hands any desire to harm or pay back the person who has wronged us, knowing that every wrong in the universe will ultimately be paid for—either it will turn out to have been paid for by Christ when he died on the cross (if the wrongdoer becomes a Christian), or it will be paid for at the final judgment (for those who do not trust in Christ for salvation). But in either case we can give the situation into God’s hands, and then pray that the wrongdoer will trust Christ for salvation and thereby receive forgiveness of his or her sins. This thought should keep us from harboring bitterness or resentment in our hearts for injustices we have suffered that have not been made right: God is just, and we can leave these situations in his hands, knowing that he will someday right all wrongs and give absolutely fair rewards and punishments. In this way we are following in the example of Christ, who “when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:22–23). He also prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34; compare Acts 7:60, where Stephen followed Jesus’ example in praying for those who put him to death).

3. The Doctrine of the Final Judgment Provides a Motive for Righteous Living. For believers, the final judgment is an incentive to faithfulness and good works, not as a means of earning forgiveness of sins, but as a means of gaining greater eternal reward.7 This is a healthy and good motive for us—Jesus tells us, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:20)—though it runs counter to the popular views of our secular culture, a culture that does not really believe in heaven or eternal rewards at all.

For unbelievers, the doctrine of final judgment still provides some moral restraint on their lives. If in a society there is a widespread general acknowledgment that all will someday give account to the Creator of the universe for their lives, some “fear of God” will characterize many people’s lives. By contrast, those who have no deep consciousness of final judgment give themselves up to greater and greater evil, demonstrating that “there is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:18). Those who deny the final judgment, Peter says, will be “scoffers” who “will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?”’ (2 Peter 3:3–4). He also declares that evildoers who “are surprised that you do not now join them in the same wild profligacy,” and “who abuse you” will nonetheless “give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (1 Peter 4:4–5). An awareness of final judgment is both a comfort to believers and a warning to unbelievers not to continue in their evil ways.

4. The Doctrine of Final Judgment Provides a Great Motive for Evangelism. The decisions made by people in this life will affect their destiny for all eternity, and it is right that our hearts feel and our mouths echo the sentiment of the appeal of God through Ezekiel, “Turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezek. 33:11). In fact, Peter indicates that the delay of the Lord’s return is due to the fact that God “is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Technorati Tags: eschatology

iPhone 3G

Technorati Tags: humor, technical

i predict pain

Matt Dabbs highlights this training video on how to evangelize ala Mr. T..

Technorati Tags: humor

simply irresistable

The doctrine of irresistible grace is easily understood. Once we understand the condition of man in sin, that he is dead, enslaved to a corrupt nature, incapable of doing what is pleasing to God, we can fully understand the simple assertion that God must raise the dead sinner to life. That is all, really, the phrase means: it has nothing to do with sinners rebelling against God and 'resisting' Him in that way. It has nothing to do with the fact that Christians often resist God's grace in their lives when they sin against Him. No, irresistible grace means one thing: God raises dead sinners to life. ~ James R. White, The Potter's Freedom

HT:RV

Technorati Tags: Calvinism

kjv -praise god!

Yep - as unbelievable as it seems, a copy of the King James Bible has been discovered among the remains of Noah's Ark.

Read more ...

Technorati Tags: humor, Scripture

bible kill count

More great statistics from Virgil Vaduva.

my charismatic friends

I have some very charismatic friends. They are very cool. Here is a blog to their work in Ethiopia.

union

Union with Christ is not simply one step in salvation; it is the whole stairway on which every step is taken. Or perhaps it would be better to say that union with Christ is the prism through which all the other colors of salvation are refracted. Our election is in union with Christ, for it is in Christ that we were chosen before the creation of the world (Eph. 1:4). Our regeneration is also in union with Christ, for the Scripture says we are created in Christ; and this re-creation is for good works, which means that our sanctification is in union with Christ as well (Eph. 2:10). In short, everything up to and including the doctrine of glorification is in union with Christ, for those who share in his sufferings will also share in his glory (Rom. 8:17).’ ~ Philip Graham Ryken, Justification and Union with Christ

HT:FE

twelve aa traditions

Alan Hirsch just posted the twelve AA traditions. Wow! Here's something the organization that calls itself the church could learn a little from.

• Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.
• For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
• The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.
• Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.
• Each group has but one primary purpose-to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
• An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
• Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
• Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
• A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
• Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
• Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.
• Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Technorati Tags: ecclesiology

proclaiming christ

The following is from A.W. Tozer's Jesus, Our Man in Glory. It was as true in the mid-20th century as it is now.

In our world are dozens of different kinds of Christianities. Certainly many of them do not seem to be busy and joyful in proclaiming the unique glories of Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God. Some brands of Christianity will tell you very quickly that they are just trying to do a little bit of good on behalf of neglected people and neglected causes. Others will affirm that we can do more good by joining in the "contemporary dialogue" than by proclaiming the "old, old story of the cross."

But we stand with the early Christian apostles. We believe that every Christian proclamation should be to the glory and the praise of the One whom God raised up after He had loosed the pains of death. I am happy to be identified with Peter and his message at Pentecost:

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. ~ Acts 2.22-24

Peter considered it important to affirm that the risen Christ is now exalted at the right hand of God. He said that fact was the reason for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Frankly, I am too busy serving Jesus to spend my time and energy engaging in contemporary dialogue.

speaking of preaching

Speaking of proper preaching (or witnessing) ... this just in from John Michael Talbot.

WITNESS BY THE SPIRIT
Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:16-23

You must be clever as snakes and innocent as doves ... The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. vv. 16, 20

Peter wrote, "Should anyone ask you ... be ever ready to reply." Our gospel reading tells us we must be both clever and innocent when we reply. But what does that mean and how do we do it?

TEACH BUT DO NOT ARGUE

Paul told Timothy to teach but not to argue: "I charge you to preach the word, to stay with this task whether convenient or inconvenient - correcting, reproving, appealing ~ constantly teaching and never losing patience." He also said, "Have nothing to do with senseless, ignorant disputations. As you well know, they only breed quarrels, and the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome but must be kindly toward all. He must be an apt teacher, patiently and gently correcting those who contradict him." Teach? Yes. Argue? No. Clever? Yes. Theological speculation? No.

Rely on the power of the Spirit when you give witness and simply state how Jesus has made your life different. If your life does not demonstrate your words, the words will be meaningless. If your life has changed, your words will be charged with power. As Jesus taught the apostles, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you; then you are to be my witnesses." At Pentecost the outpouring of the Spirit caused the empowered believers to make bold proclamations as the Spirit prompted them. Suddenly a handful of uneducated, working-class fishermen became eloquent preachers!

GOD WANTS TO USE YOU

Do we try to speak by our own power or by the power of the Spirit? Do we devise long speculative arguments to defend our doctrine? Remember that, right or wrong, no theology will be powerfully defended without the Spirit! If we seek the power of the Spirit, then our words become instruments of testimony before the small as well as the great. Twelve simple men were used as instruments of God to permanently change the world. God is willing to use you in the same way today!

preaching

I love these quotes today at Reformed Voices. There is absolutely nothing wrong with thinking out loud, theorizing, etc.. But we (and it seems especially so these days) often confuse this with sharing the Gospel. We call it "keeping it real" or some other thing when it is simply being who we are. We should take care to not confuse that as sharing the Gospel. Sharing the Gospel is boldly demonstrating and proclaiming God's absolute Truth.

Preaching is not the proclamation of a theory, or the discussion of a doubt. A man has a perfect right to proclaim a theory of any sort, or to discuss his doubts. But that is not preaching. 'Give me the benefit of your convictions, if you have any. Keep your doubts to yourself; I have enough of my own,' said Goethe. We are never preaching when we are hazarding speculations. Of course we do so. We are bound to speculate sometimes. I sometimes say: 'I am speculating; stop taking notes.' Speculation is not preaching. Neither is the declaration of negations preaching. Preaching is the proclamation of the Word, the truth as the truth has been revealed. ~ G. Campbell Morgan

Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire. ~ Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Technorati Tags: preaching

kingdom life

At its core, life in the kingdom is not so much about pursuing a thing; it is about pursuing a person. It is about having the eyes of my heart focused on Christ. It is about a soul filled with appreciation and brimming with affection. It is walking around astounded that he would place his affection on me and even received my flawed love. It is living with the hope that someday we will no longer be separated; someday I will be united to him and live with him forever. ~ Paul David Tripp, A Quest for More

HT:FE

pride

Spiritual pride dies when we realize that all of our comparisons with others based on relative levels of apparent goodness count for nothing in terms of gaining us standing with God. What we may want God to account to our credit has no currency with him, because the economy of good works is dead. Being better than the next guy, being a more astute observer of his sin, or being more insightful about scriptural truth does nothing to earn me status with God. ~ Bryan Chapell, Holiness by Grace

sorry, i wasn't listening

Christians, especially ministers, so often think that they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others, that this is the one service they have to render. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking.

Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because Christians are talking where they should be listening. But [the one] who can no longer listen to his brother [or sister] will soon be no longer listening to God either... This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in the end there is nothing left but spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in pious words. ~ Deitrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

HT:DW

lunch

Great lunch today.

worlds apart

I love this ... Jars of Clay, Worlds Apart.

"Did you really have to die for me?"



"Worlds Apart"

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache

Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart


I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
"dull the nails that still remain"
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
so wipe away the crimson stains
"dull the nails that still remains"
so steal my heart and take the pain
take the selfish, take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart

great moments complilation

I love these "great moments" from the Letterman Show. Here's a compilation from several of them.

Technorati Tags: humor, politics

got guts?

My friend Randy Noblog tipped me off to this video of El Caminito del Rey (The King's pathway). Originally built in 1901, this walkway now serves as an aproach to makinodromo, the famous climbing sector of El Chorro, near Álora in Málaga, Spain. I couldn't walk this; could you?

maturity

Christians ought to be greatly ashamed of boasting about strengths, skills, victories, training, successes, and productivity in their lives as if, on the one hand, we either earned those things or deserved them, or as if, on the other, such things make us intrinsically more acceptable to the Lord Jesus Christ. ... Christians ought to be quick to admit to their weaknesses, because rightly handled our weaknesses will serve to extol Christ's strength and therefore bring glory to him. ... Christians must not uncritically drag over from the world criteria of self-assessment whose underlying values actually betray biblical discipleship to Jesus Christ. ~ D.A. Carson, From Triumphalism to Maturity

speaking of liberalism ...

Today's important theological word of the day is Inerrancy.

Inerrancy

Belief among many conservative Christians that the Bible does not contain any errors, historical, scientific, or otherwise. Although the term was not employed much until the twentieth-century, upon the rise of biblical criticism, inerrantists would argue that this designation became a necessary line of demarcation between liberals and conservative Christians. Many difficulties arise when defining inerrancy as one’s hermeneutic (method of interpreting the Scripture) becomes an issue. Some would hold to a more literal hermeneutic and define inerrancy accordingly. Others would opt for a less definite hermeneutic and describe themselves as “reasoned inerrantists,” believing that the Bible is true in whatever it is attempting to communicate, but believing that what the Bible intends to communicate is often difficult to understand.

See here for articles on “reasoned inerrancy.”

Technorati Tags: Scripture

liberalism ... its everywhere

Needless to say, my trip to Mars Hill Bible Church confirmed in my mind what I have often heard said concerning much of the Emerging Church. This movement is really just old liberalism with cooler glasses and a penchant for mystery and postmodernism. ~ Nathan Williams

This statement does not apply to all but I can say that more often than not I have the same sense as Williams in regard to my interactions with those that call themselves emergent. Of course liberalism has its fingers in nearly all "movements" within Christianity. It's just that it seemed to take hold fast (or was even the base) for many wearing the label emergent.

I say this not to point out emergents, I say it to suggest that all of us need to guard ourselves against this subtle yet pervasive worldview.

great moments in presidential speeches

Technorati Tags: humor, politics

bible publishers sued

Somedays (actually nearly every day) I hate reading the news ...

'Gay' man sues Bible publishers

$70 million for emotional distress because homosexuality cast as sin ... read the rest.

get green ... kinda

Darryl Dash posted this helpful quote of Martyn Lloyd-Jones:

Christ is not only head of those who recognize Him as such and submit to Him. He is Lord of all...The world is still God's world. He is not only interested in the saved but also in the unsaved. He has put bounds to sin and government is one of the ways in which He does it. There is common grace as well as special grace...We must be concerned about the world and not only about salvation...The difference between the Christian and the non-Christian in these things is that the Christian will never pin his faith on them as a means to bring ultimate and complete salvation to the race... (Iaian Murray's biography, volume 2)

christ's sufficiency

A Sense of Christ’s Sufficiency

The glorious sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice is a golden theme woven by God throughout the New Testament. The list of passages rejoicing in this sufficiency—and warning us not to forget it—is a lengthy list. A small sampling of my favorite passages would include Gal. 1:6-9, 2:16, 21, 5:2-4, 6:14, 1 Cor. 2:1-2, Col. 2:5-19, 3:1-4, Heb. 7:11, 10:1-14, Rev. 5:1-14.

Rather than some optional, ornate fixture hung on Christianity, understanding of the sufficiency of Christ’s work is very central to saving faith. At the most fundamental level “there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12). Not Abraham, not angels, not the Mosaic Law, not the blood of bulls and goats, not the merits of Mary, nowhere but in Christ do we find hope of justification before our holy Father and freedom from the clutches of death.

Read more ...

speaking of racism ...

Turkey shooting: Six dead in US consulate attack in Istanbul

Three gunmen stormed a guard post near the main entrance of the high-walled compound, reportedly shooting a Turkish police officer in the head.

Read more ...

Osama Bin Laden's son calls for Britain to be wiped out on terror web film

The son of terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden has appeared on a terrorist film on the internet calling for Britain and its allies to be wiped out.

Read more ...

Technorati Tags: current events

it never ends ...

Dallas County meeting turns racial

A special meeting about Dallas County traffic tickets turned tense and bizarre this afternoon.

County commissioners were discussing problems with the central collections office that is used to process traffic ticket payments and handle other paperwork normally done by the JP Courts.

Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, who is white, said it seemed that central collections "has become a black hole" because paperwork reportedly has become lost in the office.

Commissioner John Wiley Price, who is black, interrupted him with a loud "Excuse me!" He then corrected his colleague, saying the office has become a "white hole."

That prompted Judge Thomas Jones, who is black, to demand an apology from Mayfield for his racially insensitive analogy.

Mayfield shot back that it was a figure of speech and a science term. A black hole, according to Webster's, is perhaps "the invisible remains of a collapsed star, with an intense gravitational field from which neither light nor matter can escape."

Other county officials quickly interceded to break it up and get the meeting back on track. TV news cameras were rolling, after all.

I hate racism but come on ...

Technorati Tags: current events

pagan christianity

I too have not read Pagan Christianity although I have a copy. I have read several of Viola's other books. I agreed with some of his points, disagreed with most, and generally didn't benefit a lot from the time invested. But with that, I haven't grown to hate the man. In his Facebook profile page he links to this funny video. I like that he did that and I benefited from some of the thinking the video promoted.

driscoll on charismatics

Adrian Warnock posts some of Mark Driscoll's comments on the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit in Luke and Acts. Here are the toplines:

Problems with Charismatics

• Sometimes charismatics focus on the wrong person
• Sometimes charismatics focus on the wrong event
• Some who love the Spirit have been corrupted by the view that it is all about prosperity
• Sometimes charismatics focus on the wrong person as the definition of what it is to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led
• Sometimes charismatics are insufficiently missional

I don't disagree with these observations.

Roles of the Holy Spirit

• The Spirit fills people
• Spirit-filled ministry includes miracles
• Spirit-filled ministry includes prayer
• Spirit-filled ministry includes prophecy
• One of the ministries of Jesus is to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire for mission
• The Spirit leads us sometimes into hardship, testing, and temptation
• Spirit-anointed ministry includes preaching
• Spirit-anointed ministry includes justice for the poor
• Spirit-filled ministry includes joy in God
• The Spirit is given to us by the Father
• The Spirit teaches us what to say
• Spirit-filled ministry results in repentance
• Spirit-filled ministry brings conversion
• Spirit-filled ministry brings devotion to one another and awe towards God

Good list ... I don't disagree. I may have others if I thought about it hard enough. What about you? Do you disagree with any of these or do some obvious misses pop into mind?

Technorati Tags: charismata

piper on the gospel

The gospel is not just a sequence of steps (say, the 'Four Laws' of Campus Crusade or the 'Six Biblical Truths' of Quest For Joy). Those are essential. But what makes the gospel 'good news' is that it connects a person with the 'unsearchable riches of Christ.' The gospel is the good news that the everlasting and ever-increasing joy of the never-boring, ever-satisfying Christ is ours freely and eternally by faith in the sin-forgiving death and hope-giving resurrection of Jesus Christ. ~ John Piper, Taste and See

perichoresis

I really like the concept of today's theological word of the day ...

perichoresis
Gk. peri “around” + choreio “dance”

Refers to the mutual indwelling and relationship of the members of the Trinity. This concept is emphasized more by Eastern Christianity, but is affirmed by all orthodox branches of Trinitarian Christianity. St John of Damascus defines it such: “The subsistences [i.e., the three Persons] dwell and are established firmly in one another. For they are inseparable and cannot part from one another, but keep to their separate courses within one another, without coalescing or mingling, but cleaving to each other. For the Son is in the Father and the Spirit: and the Spirit in the Father and the Son: and the Father in the Son and the Spirit, but there is no coalescence or commingling or confusion. And there is one and the same motion: for there is one impulse and one motion of the three subsistences, which is not to be observed in any created nature” (The Orthodox Faith, 1.14).

egalitarian

And then there is the anti-German, egalitarian view ...


Courtesy Jon Birch ...

Technorati Tags: humor, women

mac preachers

Here's a great idea from nakedpastor for mac-using preachers ...

Technorati Tags: humor, preaching

john piper is the reason i'll go to hell

Wow - while I'm not keen on the dramatization, I really like this message on Make War by John Piper. He is exactly right, we are too often lackadaisical when it comes to dealing with sin in our lives. We need to wage war against that which attempts to control us. We need to make a stand against sin and take captive every thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.

My biggest enemy is not Satan. My biggest enemy is John Piper and he is the only reason I'll go to hell, not Satan.

The title is a play on the topic, if I were to go to hell it would because of Rick Ianniello, not John Piper or Satan.

the club

Some of you will literally hate this and some will think this is great. I've had both reactions to this sort of thing over the years so feel free to express your thoughts/feelings - let's see if you can surprise me.

I've mentioned the Solomon Program run at NSV before. We are now floating a similar idea for teens called The Club. Here's how it works ... again, feel free to respond.

The Club: ‘The Club' is a working title for a potential ongoing Solomon Program type empowerment program for Jr. High (6-8 grade) and Sr. High students. Jr. High and Sr. High students are in separate groups within the overall program. The program goes last six months every year. If a student makes it to 20 of the 24 ‘club' gatherings and meet all other requirements, the idea is that they would get $1000 deposited into a college fund that they can use for college only after high school. If a sixth grader enters the program and does it every year up until high school graduation, they will have $7000 dollars toward college, plus interest.

If a 9th grader enters the program, and does the program only their 9th grade and 12th grade years, they will then only have $2000 plus interest toward college upon graduation. (1000 per year)

Again, this is just the initial idea.

Requirements to complete a year of The Club: Kids will have to make 20-24 gatherings. Meet with a 1 on 1 mentor. Do a final project at the end of each year. Participate in outreach project.

What do the gatherings look like? Bible discussion. (with modern twists) Life courses. (sex, money, future career, friends) Fun: special events, games, etc. Service: outreach events

Timetable: the idea is that both Jr. and Sr. High meet every week from Sept-Nov. Then take a break. Continue Jan-Mar.

Money for each year? We're talking about doing an adoption program where the church and people within the church share the cost of a child's 1000 dollars for the year. Someone (or a family) within the church adopts one child for $500 a year and a church matches the 500 to give the yearly 1000 dollar total. Multiple churches would be involved in this program, not just NSV. Again, just the idea at this point.

Application Process: Parents and kids both sign off on application. Take all kids.

Who teaches classes and mentors? Split classes and mentors between participating churches. Each church has director over their mentors and teachers. Mentors and teachers can be same people. Directors meet together to stay on same page.

Potential Class and Event Examples: "Am I in the Matrix?" "Sex, is it a good thing?" "Big Give Outreach Event." "Movie Night." "Christian Concert." "How many gods are there?" "Beer, drugs and all that's in between."

As you can see, this is a big goal to shoot for and we'll need a lot of people to help. ... Since we are still in the brainstorming stage, we'd love to hear any ideas or feedback that you have. There is no guarantee this program will happen or that there will even be any money to do so ...

PS - Here's a brief on the Solomon Program.

The Solomon Program: The Solomon Program is a six month empowerment program for individuals in our community who have been marginalized and need a little extra help. It runs from February to July every year. The participants go through 12 bible classes, 12 life courses, 24 hours of community service, 12 hours with their mentors, and do a final project. At the end, they get 3000 dollars toward education, housing, or transportation if they complete the requirements.

speaking of sola

Today's theological word of the day ...

Sola Fide
Latin “faith alone”

The historic Protestant doctrine that the only instrumental cause of justification, from the human perspective, is faith. While God is the ultimate cause of justification, Protestants believe that faith in Christ through the message of the Gospel is necessary. There are no works, no matter how meritorious they may seem, that can add to justification (Eph. 2:8-9). This doctrine, according to Protestants, finds its roots in the teachings of Paul but was obscured in the middle ages and restored during the Reformation. Many Protestants would be quick to point out that it is not the doctrine itself that saves, but the reality that the doctrine represents. In other words, one is saved by faith alone, not by belief in the doctrine of faith alone. As well, most Protestants would say that “it is faith alone that saves, but the faith that saves will not be alone.” This doctrine represents a major point of distinction between Protestants and Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and, often, Eastern Orthodox.

california court recognizes heterosexual marriage

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - In a stunning decision that will have ramifications throughout the nation, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco recognized both the existence and the right of heterosexual marriage.

Read more ...

Technorati Tags: current events, humor, marriage

christian living

We conclude, therefore, that a Christian lives not in himself, but in Christ and in his neighbor. Otherwise he is not a Christian. He lives in Christ through faith, in his neighbor through love. By faith he is caught up beyond himself into God. By love he descends beneath himself into his neighbor. ~ Martin Luther, On Christian Liberty

HT:JH

complementarianism

Apparently Mark Heath is a sexist ... well, I don't think so but some others may. He (and I) is a complementarian. Here is his simple yet clear summary of what that means.

This position does not seek to deny "equality" between the sexes. On the contrary, it positively affirms that men and women are...

- equally bearers of the image of God
- equal in value or worth
- equal in dignity
- equal in moral responsibility
- equal in salvation (the same "way in" for all)
- equal as recipients of the gift of the Spirit
- (and I would add as a charismatic) equal as recipients of the gifts of the Spirit

However, complementarians also believe that there are differences between male and female, and that these differences are good. They come from God's creative intention. Rather than competing with one another, men and women actually complement one another. One of the ways that complementarians see these differences outworking is in leadership of the local church, specifically the eldership. They believe the New Testament teaches that men are to be called as elders in the church, to serve by exercising authority and taking responsibility for the care and spiritual well-being of those in the congregation.

But this position leaves him labeled sexist and it bothers him especially in light of the culture that he often finds himself. Ironic.

Technorati Tags: women

sola scriptura

Today's theological word of the day ...

Sola Scriptura
(Latin, “the Scripture alone”)

Belief of Protestants that Christian Scripture is the final and only infallible authority for the Christian in matters of faith and practice. Sola Scriptura was coined during the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, but according to Protestants, is found throughout Christian history. The belief in Sola Scriptura contrasts both the Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, and Eastern Orthodox belief that along with Scripture there necessarily exists an infallible authority which either interprets the Scripture with ultimate authority or adds new revelations to supplement the Scripture. Hence, in these traditions, the Scripture is not the final, ultimate, or only infallible authority as there are other authorities equal to that of Scripture. Protestants, on the other hand, while respecting the existence of other authorities (tradition, experience, reason, creation, etc.), do not believe that these are equal to that of Scripture and therefore must always be tested by, and submitted to, Scripture.

Michael Patton offers a 5 part defense at his blog (part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). I like what he wrote, perhaps you will as well ... regardless, it's worth your time since Patton is the master of the use of charts and you will surely like those.


Update ... part 6, 7

bentley and the haters

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I really don't like what I see going on in Lakeland surrounding Todd Bently. I am NOT his defender. But I'll add that I dislike just as much if not more what I see in the detractors exemplified in the likes of Schlueter and Silva.

Here's how their "biblical analysis" runs ...



First - I'm wondering why someone hasn't hunted down this glass-eyeball dude. I don't think that would prove anything overall but it sure would be interesting to find out if this is fact or fiction and if these guys are sincere, easily duped, or flat-out liars.

Then Ingrid Schlueter begins her quite obviously biased analysis. I couldn't help but wonder how easily she could have made the same analysis with Jesus and His followers.

Then Ken Silva makes his sad claim regarding those gold toothed Dutch folks (again it seems like some simple follow-up could be done relative to that). Silva states, "Where exactly do we see gold teeth being popped into people's mouth in Scripture. We don't. ... God doesn't do a new thing that has no bearing in Scripture." What can I say to that? Unbelievable. These guys have such low view of Scripture and the God of the Bible that I am simply at a loss for words.

Jon Sharp then states that this simply repeats the same narrow understanding of God as voiced by Silva. On the other hand, I do like his statement regarding evidence of fruit. I myself would like to see some of this although I'm not sure enough time has passed for that. At this point I am skeptical at best.

Sharp and Silva then respond to Bentley's "violent" methods. Again, I don't like what's going on in Lakeland but I really struggle with the analysis these guys provide. Silva mentions Elijah and says even he didn't do the extreme stuff that Bentley is doing. True. On the other hand it's pretty clear that these guys would not have approved of Elijah either had the stories not been captured in Scripture. Net - they wouldn't accept anyone doing any level of this kind of thing so I find it hypocritical that they are judging Bentley as if he could ever meet their standard.

Schlueter then plays the fruit of the Spirit card which in her analysis could also discredit Our Lord Himself. Net - just plain poor use of Scriptural standards. She claims that the gap is a missing knowledge of the Word of God. Actually I would say these guys have a wrong and limited understanding themselves. They even take this opportunity to poke at the emerging church.

Well I got through 18 minutes of this nonsense and heard enough. They would prefer we simply sit quietly in prayer while reading the Word as a model of Christian living. Sorry, no thanks. I'm glad God offers much more than that.

Oh well ... sin abounds on both sides of this conversation. Me, I'm going to go love God and share that with some others. Bye for now. Let me know if you listened to the rest and learned anything of substance but I pray you also have something better to do.

Technorati Tags: charismata

small groups

I love hanging out with my small group friends ... even if it's just to sit around enjoying God's creation.

Technorati Tags: small groups

remembering the past

The only thing worse than nostalgia is amnesia. ~ Ravi Zacharias, Deliver Us From Evil

radical corruption

Here's just a small example of "radical corruption" as compared with "total depravity". This man is corrupt. Every fiber of his being is affected by Sin. Yet not every fiber of his being does evil continuously.

A bomb-laden van found on a Brooklyn street by a car thief was wired to detonate by remote control, and had likely been sitting there for more than five months, sources said yesterday. ... A thief who broke into the vehicle as it was parked on 53rd Street near Second Avenue saw the explosives, then drove the van from the mostly residential block to a remote location near the waterfront. The thief, who has an arrest record, then phoned a cop he knew from a previous run-in with the law.

Technorati Tags: Calvinism

the gospel

RC Sproul on the Gospel:

There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the Gospel. But as important as that is, it is often given to massive distortions or over simplifications. People think they’re preaching the Gospel to you when they tell you, ‘you can have a purpose to your life’, or that ‘you can have meaning to your life’, or that ‘you can have a personal relationship with Jesus.’ All of those things are true, and they’re all important, but they don’t get to the heart of the Gospel.

The Gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings, and that problem is simply this: God is holy and He is just, and I’m not. And at the end of my life, I’m going to stand before a just and holy God, and I’ll be judged. And I’ll be judged either on the basis of my own righteousness – or lack of it – or the righteousness of another. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to God, not for His own well being but for His people. He has done for me what I couldn’t possibly do for myself. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.

The great misconception in our day is this: that God isn’t concerned to protect His own integrity. He’s a kind of wishy-washy deity, who just waves a wand of forgiveness over everybody. No. For God to forgive you is a very costly matter. It cost the sacrifice of His own Son. So valuable was that sacrifice that God pronounced it valuable by raising Him from the dead – so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. So the Gospel is something objective. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He did. And it also has a subjective dimension. How are the benefits of Jesus subjectively appropriated to us? How do I get it? The Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith – and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him – and in Him alone. You do that, you’re declared just by God, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and you have begun your pilgrimage for eternity.


HT:MR via PC

love satisfies

In the end, love will satisfy the radical demands of the gospel. Love calls us to poverty. Love calls us to holiness. Without love, poverty becomes an empty and life-draining curse. Without love, holiness degenerates into cold and heartless self-righteousness. ... Is our Christianity radical or fanatical? A fanatic fulfills the radical externals of poverty and holiness but does so without love. Love softens the edge of razor-sharp issues and changes the cutting edge from a sword that kills and maims into a surgical knife that heals. It brings us to a balance between no-compromise and the leniency of wisdom. ~ John Michael Talbot

Technorati Tags: love

amillennialism

I'm thinking of converting to amillennialism ... here's Bobby Grow's primer ...

The Amillennialist affirms that the people of Israel have not been cast off or replaced, but rather, that the Gentiles have now been included among the Jews in God's Covenantal promises. In other words, not replacement but expansion. God's redemptive plan, as first promised to Abraham, was that "all nations" would be blessed through him. Israel is, and always has been, saved the same as any other nation: by the promises to the seed, Christ. Amillennialists, do not believe in a literal 1000 year reign of Christ on earth after His second coming. Rather, they affirm that when Christ returns, the resurrection of both the righteous and wicked will take place simultaneously (see John 5), followed by judgment and and the eternal state where heaven and earth merge and Christ reigns forever.

Strong points of Amillennialism
* It is highly Christocentric: it makes Christ the center of all the biblical covenants (even the “Land” covenant or Siniatic)
* It notes the universal scope of the Abrahamic Covenant (as key) to interpreting the rest of the biblical covenants * It sees salvation history oriented to a person (Christ), instead of a people (the nation of Israel)
* It emphasizes continuity between the “people of God” (Israel and the Church are one in Christ Eph. 2:11ff)
* It provides an ethic that is rooted in creation, and “re-creation” (continuity between God’s redemptive work now, carried over into the eternal state then)
* It emphasizes a trinitarian view of God as it elevates the “person”, Christ Jesus, the second person of the trinity as the point and mediator of all history
* It flows from a hermeneutic that takes seriously the literary character of the Scriptures (esp. the book of Revelation)

HT:JR

Contrary to John McArthur, I may not need to turn in my Calvin Card to make this move ... I hope not.

Technorati Tags: eschatology

the bride of christ

From Jon Birch ...

church growth

Technorati Tags: Church growth, humor

tozer on church

All I can say is WOW!!!

One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always. ~ A.W. Tozer

HT:Philip

eschatological probabilities

Virgil Vaduva did some excellent work modeling the probability of Jesus' return based on the historic evidence. The results are compelling.

Technorati Tags: eschatology, humor

love love love

Tony Reinke quoted the great C.H. Spurgeon today:

I once knew a good woman who was the subject of many doubts, and when I got to the bottom of her doubt, it was this: she knew she loved Christ, but she was afraid he did not love her. “Oh!” I said, “that is a doubt that will never trouble me; never, by any possibility, because I am sure of this, that the heart is so corrupt, naturally, that love to God never did get there without God’s putting it there.” You may rest quite certain, that if you love God, it is a fruit, and not a root. It is the fruit of God’s love to you, and did not get there by the force of any goodness in you. You may conclude, with absolute certainty, that God loves you if you love God.

How excellent is that?!?! If you love God, rest assured, it came from Him and you can therefore know that He loves you. Love is a fruit not a root!

Related to that, Dan Goldfinch quotes NT Wright from Simply Christian.

The key word, of course, is ‘love,’ and much has been written about that in itself. But I want to draw attention to something else–something often ignored in the clamor for better and clearer rules of Christian behavior: that we should be positively kind to one another. ‘Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us’ (Ephesians 4:32-5:2). The quest for justice all too easily degenerates into the demand for my rights or our rights. The command to kindness asks that we spend our time looking not at ourselves and our needs, our rights, our wrongs-that-need-righting, but at everyone else and their needs, pressures, pains, and joys. Kindness is the primary way of growing up as a human being, of establishing and maintaining the richest and deepest relationships.

Love is a fruit. We cannot force it. It can only truly come from a heart redeemed by God. In fact, it must come from a heart redeemed by God. And as such, kindness and other behavior indicative of that love will follow. Without this true love, one is left only with a social gospel. The activity may look the same but the value and true effect is worlds apart.

And as Wright describes, this kindness that flows from a heart of love looks like preferring others, sowing into their lives, and not always insisting on our right to be right.

Now what about "living the Gospel"? Like Darryl Dash, I cringe a little when I hear the phrase. Dash notes Graeme Goldsworthy's comment to confirm where that sense comes from:

If something is not what God did in and through the historical Jesus two thousand years ago, it is not the gospel...[Christians] can only believe it, proclaim it and seek to live consistently with it. Only Jesus lived (and died) the gospel. It is a once-for-all finished and perfect event done for us by another.

But as Dash points out, Glenn Kreider counters this well with the following.

Certainly the gospel (good news) is grounded in the work of Christ, but it would seem to include the future work of Christ as well (including His return and the new creation), as well as blessing for all believers (Gal. 3:8). Furthermore this limitation seems inconsistent with Goldworthy's definition of the gospel as "the event (or proclamation of that event) of Jesus Christ that begins with his incarnation and earthly life, and concludes with his death, resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father" (p. 58). Would not the proclamation of the work of Christ be something that Christians do, and would not that proclamation include living the message as well? In short, how does one separate the verbal and incarnational ministry of the gospel? Did not Paul indicate that Christians do live the gospel when he wrote that "we always carry around in our body the death of Jesus" (2 Cor. 4:10 NIV)? It would seem that one way to understand Paul's testimony in Philippians 3:10-11 is as affirming his desire to live the gospel. "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection of the dead" (NIV). Also, Goldworthy's emphasis on the eschatological trajectory of the biblical story seems difficult to reconcile with the strong limitation of the work of Christ completed in the past. He writes, "God's plan from all creation was the new creation and a people created and redeemed in Christ. The blueprint of creation and of all history is the gospel"

Dash's conclusion is excellent! I'm with him on this.

One of our greatest needs is to keep our definitions of the Gospel centered on the work of God in Christ rather than our own works, but then to include all the work that God did through Christ as good news of what God has done and continues to do.

Technorati Tags: love

preaching can hurt

Bob Hyatt's short post Preaching: This Might Hurt A Little ... was excellent! I have not preached on a regular basis but this little story reminded me of one of my own. First the one Hyatt quotes:

A person emerged from our church a few Sundays ago, saying to me at the door as she left, 'I know you would not intentionally hurt anyone with what you say from the pulpit, but I was hurt by what you said today in your sermon.'

And I thought, 'Where would you have gotten the notion that I would not want to hurt you? I'm a preacher. Some infliction of pain goes with the job! ~ Will Willimon, Pastor

Now mine:

A person emerged from our church a few Sundays ago, saying to me at the door as she left, 'That was one of the best sermons I've ever heard. You are so funny.'

And I thought, 'Ouch!' I went home sad that day.

Hyatt tells us:

I heard plenty of sermons on sexual sin and few if any on the sin of ignoring the poor when I grew up.
But I'm fairly sure the answer to that problem isn't to preach a lot on the sin of ignoring the poor and leave off the messages about sexual sin. It's as easy to preach a sermon on God's heart for the poor in an emerging church as it is to preach on purity in a Baptist one. And that should tell us something.

Here's what I tell small group leaders; we want people to feel safe, BUT we do not want them to feel comfortable. As believers we are to constantly spur each other on to Christ-likeness. That is very often not a comfortable process.

mccain survives shakeup

McCain Survives Campaign Shakeup
by Scott Ott for ScrappleFace

(2008-07-02) — When political campaigns reorganize to revitalize a struggling effort, heads roll. However, aides say Sen. John McCain has survived this week’s shakeup in the McCain for President campaign.

Under new management by Steve Schmidt, a former political operative for George Bush, the GOP presidential campaign was expected to jettison everyone who has failed to consistently, and effectively communicate the conservative message to voters.

While Sen. McCain’s name reportedly showed up on the “short list” he has apparently weathered the most recent round of cuts.

Technorati Tags: current events, humor, politics

what is salvation

Salvation is not merely an objective reality to be wondered at, a theological dictum to be debated about, a philosophical theory to be speculated about—not even merely a marvelous subject to be preached about.

It is a divine reality entering the human being to transform his fundamental disposition, cleanse him from sin and unrighteousness, redeem him from bondage and corruption, impart to him the nature of God, recreate in him the image of Christ, make him a child of God, a member of the household of God, and qualify him through the gift of the Holy Spirit to live a life of true discipleship in the midst of a world almost destitute of the consciousness of God and eternity.

~ George W. Peters, A Biblical Theology of Missions

HT:Bart

love everlasting

The sovereign choice of the Father, by which he elected us unto eternal life, or ever the earth was, is a matter of vast antiquity, since no date can be conceived for it by the mind of man. We were chosen from before the foundations of the world. Everlasting love went with the choice, for it was not a bare act of divine will by which we were set apart, but the divine affections were concerned. The Father loved us in and from the beginning. Here is a theme for daily contemplation. The eternal purpose to redeem us from our foreseen ruin, to cleanse and sanctify us, and at last to glorify us, was of infinite antiquity, and runs side by side with immutable love and absolute sovereignty. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

HT:Philip

Technorati Tags: love, sovereignty

for his glory

[T]herefore it must chiefly consist in giving due respect to that Being to whom most is due; for God is infinitely the most worthy of regard. The worthiness of others is as nothing to his; so that to him belongs all possible respect. To him belongs the whole of the respect that any intelligent being is capable of. To him belongs ALL the heart. Therefore, if moral rectitude of heart consists in paying the respect of the heart which is due, or which fitness or suitableness require, fitness requires infinitely the greatest regard to be paid to God; and the denying of supreme regard here would be a conduct infinitely the most unfit. Hence it will follow, that the moral rectitude of the disposition, inclination, or affection of God CHIEFLY consists in regard to HIMSELF, infinitely above his regard to all other beings; or, in other words, his holiness consists in this. ~ Jonathan Edwards

The rest of the story.

one of 8 million

Yep - here it is, my official certificate for being one of over 8 million who participated in Firefox's record breaking download day.



I know ... pretty special ...

america the great

I love God and I love America. I am bothered (not equally) by those that criticize either. Today Dr. James Emery White posted Another Revolution Worth Fighting For = a must read! I added the emphasis below.

Another Revolution Worth Fighting For

When America’s second president, John Adams, and America’s third president, Thomas Jefferson, both died on the same day in 1826 – and that day was none other than the Fourth of July – it was seen as a sign of God’s favor on the United States. As historian David McCullough notes in his widely-acclaimed biography of Adams, it “could not be seen as mere coincidence.” It was a ‘visible and palpable’ manifestation of ‘Divine favor,’ wrote John Quincy in his diary that night, “expressing,” McCullough adds, “what was felt and would be said again and again everywhere the news spread.”

The idea of “choseness” and “special blessing” from God has been a constant theme throughout the history of the United States, beginning with the Puritans and their “city on a shining hill.” In more recent times, the vision of a Christian America was popularized in the late 1970’s by Evangelical authors Peter Marshall and David Manuel in The Light and the Glory. Marshall and Manuel held that America was founded as a Christian nation and flourished under the benevolent hand of divine providence, arguing further that America's blessings will remain only as long as America is faithful to God as a nation. In 1989 a team of Evangelical historians (Mark Noll, Nathan Hatch, and George Marsden) attempted to lay this somewhat dubious thesis to rest, but it continued as a popular framework for viewing American history among contemporary American Evangelicals.

Whether we were founded as an explicitly Christian nation or not, to many, the idea of God’s favor being removed from our land seems prescient.

As a recent Associated Press article suggested, “everything seemingly is spinning out of control,” with the article going on to note how Midwestern levees are bursting; polar bears are adrift; gas prices are skyrocketing; home values are abysmal; air fares are beyond reach; wars without end rage in Iraq and Afghanistan.

An Associated Press poll reveals that only 17 percent of Americans believe the country is moving in the right direction (the lowest reading in history since their annual survey began). An ABC News-Washington Post survey put that figure at 14 percent, tying the low in more than three decades of taking soundings of the American mood.

Whether the current national malaise can be attributed to God’s disfavor or not, I am more convinced than ever that American needs to turn to what Christian moorings it once maintained. But not for America’s sake, per se, or even for the sake of Western culture.

But for the Kingdom’s sake.

America is not simply the leader of the modern world, but the principal carrier of globalization and exporter of culture. The ideas which lie at the heart of the West, and particularly the United States, are Judeo-Christian. Yet America is at great spiritual risk, and much of our current despondency is tied to our need for God far more than our need for economic relief. The very values and ideas that shaped us as a nation, and could therefore shape the world, are being lost. This has led some, such as Os Guinness, to call for a “third” mission to the West.

The first mission, of course, was the apostolic mission that eventually resulted in the conversion of the Roman Empire. The second mission followed the fall of Rome as missionaries refounded Western civilization and essentially reconverted the west back to Christianity from paganism, what Thomas Cahill referred to in the title of his book How the Irish Saved Civilization.

A third mission would seek to restore America as the leader of the Western world to her Judeo-Christian roots, ensuring continued vibrancy and influence for years to come.

Not to stave off “curse” and receive “blessing;” but instead to be a blessing to others for the sake of Christ.

And that would be another American Revolution worth fighting for.

reformed primer

Joe Holland just posted Reformed Theology in One Verse at Symphony of Scripture. This is excellent and is quoted in its entirety below. I added some emphasis.

“He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

“He who calls you…” God initiates relationship with sinners. This is contrary to every other religion that tells you how to seek God. The fallacy of seeking God is that sin has made man incapable and unwilling of seeking God. It is the farthest thing from fallen man’s desire. That is not to say that fallen men and women do not seek gods. They seek, find, and make gods–idols–everywhere. But they want no part of the true God. He is utterly unlovely and undesirable to the fallen mind.

No, God must and does seek sinners. The story of the Bible is of a holy God calling sinful men and women into relationship with himself. His call, made efficacious by the Holy Spirit, changes a man’s nature. That change, made possible by the atoning death of Jesus Christ, makes God utterly beautiful and worthy of worship. But make no mistake, relationship with God is initiated by God.

“…is faithful…” Good relationships die without faithfulness. Whether friendship, business relationship, marriage, or divine covenant, faithfulness must be present. Every other religion touts man’s faithfulness to God as the basis of divine relationship. Man performs; God rewards.

Only this runs contrary to all that we know about ourselves. Humans live in relational carnage. The best and deepest of human relationships are scarred by failed expectations. The experiment of fallen humanity has produced one law: man is unfaithful.

This is the glory of the gospel–of the Reformed variety. It is God who is faithful for both himself and man. Jesus Christ took up man’s place in his incarnation and lived an utterly faithful life to God even unto death. This faithfulness is imputed to Christians by God’s free grace through faith. Man is made faithful in Christ. God–unchangeable by nature–roots the promise of redemption in his own faithful character. True relationship with God is built on God’s faithfulness alone.

“…he will surely do it.” The “it” of this statement is the completed salvation mentioned in the previous verse. Many Christians will claim God’s sovereignty in salvation but vacillate when it comes to God’s sovereignty in Christian living. They end up advocating a “justified by God, sanctified by self” view of Christian life.

What does this look like? The litmus test is easy. Self-sanctification is motivated by guilt. God-sanctification is motivated by grace. Self-sanctification looks at soul depravity and says, “I’m a failure I must do better. I need to read my Bible more, pray more, evangelize more, give more, attend church more. I will surely do it.”

God-sanctification looks at soul depravity and says, “I’m a failure. I must repent of my sins and find Jesus Christ to be my perfect righteousness. Out of thankfulness for free grace and through God’s power, I want to read my Bible more, pray more, evangelize more, give more, attend church more. God will surely do it.”

It is God who works in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure. God’s sovereign grace justifies us. God’s sovereign grace sanctifies us. Jesus Christ is for us our righteousness and sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30). This is the essence of Reformed Theology, “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” It stands in contrast to man-centered Theology which says, “I who call upon God am faithful; I will surely do it.”

• It is God who initiates through his gracious call.
• It is God who alone is faithful for himself by his nature and for us through Christ.
• It is God who accomplishes our salvation through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

It is for these reasons that Biblical/Reformed theology always exalts one great theme: the glory of God. What a glorious God who loves us enough to display his sovereign grace in fallen men through the redemption only to be found in Jesus Christ!

This is Reformed Theology. But more importantly, this is the Bible’s theology.

importance of dialogue

Matt Dabbs just posted a quote from Dan Kimball's Emerging Church.

We must cultivate a culture that allows dialogue. Evangelicals have been criticized–many times rightly so–for being dogmatic and closed-minded. For too long we have been doing all the talking, without any dialogue. We are now serving new generations that have serious trust issues, and trust is not earned by takling just one-way. We must disarm this criticism and regain trust. We need to encourage, not discourage, people to think, to question, to discover. Why are we so afraid of encouraging people to think for themselves?…At the very least, we need to constantly encourage our listeners to check out our teaching for themselves, measuring them against Scripture. We must avoid, at all costs, giving the impression that we have all the answers and they don’t. We may indeed have answers, but if we appear to be arrogant about it, we’ll lose our voice. We need to encourage people to think. We need to encourage dialogue, even encourage people to challenge what we say. This can disarm people and prompt them to study more to see if what we are saying is true…We must be creative and have dialogue as a core value for how we communicate to and teach emerging generations. This is a huge necessity for being a missional leader in the emerging culture.

I agree completely with the point. I would only add that, "yep, this is a general truth." That is, this is not only for a theological context, an emerging culture, etc.. This is always true when working with people. Leaders must find ways to help people learn, to think, and to draw their own conclusions. That doesn't mean any conclusion is ok, it means we have to be smart as we guide folks.

a.d. am pm

From my friends at Common English Errors ...

A.D.
“A.D.” does not mean “after death,” as many people suppose. “B.C.” stands for the English phrase “before Christ,” but “A.D.” stands confusingly for a Latin phrase: anno domini (“in the year of the Lord”—the year Jesus was born). If the calendar actually changed with Jesus’ death, then what would we do with the years during which he lived? Since Jesus was probably actually born around 6 B.C. or so, the connection of the calendar with him can be misleading.

AM/PM
“AM” stands for the Latin phrase Ante Meridiem —which means “before noon”—and “PM” stands for Post Meridiem : “after noon.” Although digital clocks routinely label noon “12:00 PM” you should avoid this expression not only because it is incorrect, but because many people will imagine you are talking about midnight instead. The same goes for “12:00 AM.” Just say or write “noon” or “midnight” when you mean those precise times.

It is now rare to see periods placed after these abbreviations: “A.M.” , but in formal writing it is still preferable to capitalize them, though the lower-case “am” and “pm” are now so popular they are not likely to get you into trouble.

Occasionally computer programs encourage you to write “AM” and “PM” without a space before them, but others will misread your data if you omit the space. The nonstandard habit of omitting the space is spreading rapidly, and should be avoided in formal writing.

immanence

The theological word of the day ...

Immanence
Lat. immaneentia “indwelling” or “to remain within”

The theological understanding that God is close to or “within” the natural order, contributing to the world by his active presence. This activity is expressed through his providential control of the universe and through his relational involvement. The doctrine of immanence is to be contrasted but not separated from God’s transcendence (meaning God’s being is independent of the world and all things physical). Christian theism believes that God is both immanent and transcendent at the same time.

wright on scripture

In other words, the Bible isn’t there simply to be an accurate reference point for people who want to look things up and be sure they’ve got them right. It is there to equip God’s people to carry forward his purposes of new covenant and new creation. It is there to enable people to work for justice, to sustain their spirituality as they do so, to create and enhance relationships at every level, and to produce that new creation which will have about it something of the beauty of God himself. The Bible isn’t like an accurate description of how a car is made. It’s more like the mechanic who helps you fix it, the garage attendant who refuels it, and the guide who tells you how to get where you’re going. And where you’re going is to make God’s new creation happen in his world, not simply to find your own way unscathed through the old creation…The Bible is there to enable God’s people to be equipped to do God’s work in God’s world, not to give them an excuse to sit back smugly, knowing they possess all God’s truth. ~ NT Wright, Simply Christian

HT:DG

Technorati Tags: Scripture

the screaming pastor

Here Kerney Thomas tells us about Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawd (sp?).



HT:TR

orthodoxy

The coals of orthodoxy are necessary to the fire of piety ~ C.H. Spurgeon

for calvinists only

“A man is not saved because he believes in Christ; he believes in Christ because he is saved.” ~ Loraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination

HT:JH

knowing christ

"The knowledge of Christ," he argued, "...is not the apprehension of what he is, simply by the intellect, but also a due apprehension of his glory as a divine person arrayed in our nature, and involves not as its consequence merely, but as one of its elements, the corresponding feeling of adoration, delight, desire and complacency." ~ Charles Hodge quoted by Paul Kjoss Helseth in Reclaiming the Center: Confronting Evangelical Accommodation in Postmodern Times

HT:MD

for politicians

Whether your Obama or McCain (or anyone else for that matter) ... John Piper reminds us of these two Scriptures:

Now:

On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. (Acts 12:21-23)

Or later:

It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, "where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:47-48)