Free Book: My Friend, My Hero, My Dad

Stephen Altrogge @ http://www.theblazingcenter.com is giving away a book about his dad entitled My Friend, My Hero, My Dad: The Extraordinary Influence of an Ordinary Man.

He says: "No one has had a greater spiritual influence on my life than my dad, and there’s no one I want to be more like. Like the title says, he’s my friend and my hero. This book details the specific ways my dad influenced me to follow Christ, and is intended to be an encouragement for mom’s, dad’s, husbands, and wives. My hope is that this book encourages you as you seek to faithfully raise your children in the fear of the Lord".

To download a free electronic copy of the book, CLICK HERE.

Humor: Top Ten Reason the Dispensationalist & the Reformed Theologian Did Not Cross the Road

Our Friday Humor is courtesy of C Michael Patton @ http://www.reclaimingthemind.org

The Top Ten Reason the Dispensationalist Did Not Cross the Road

10. Thought he would be raptured before he got there anyway.

9. Thought that the other side was for the ‘Israel’, and this side was for the ‘church’.

8. Charles Ryrie was still on this side of the road, why cross?

7. Thought it was pointless since Jesus was just going to bring him back after 7 years.

6. Like the OT prophets and the church age, he was unable to see the other side.

5. He was afraid that if he went, there would be nothing to restrain the man of lawlessness.

4. He was not a part of the dispensation of ‘crossing’.

3. Dallas Theological Seminary hadn’t yet published anything telling him how to do it.

2. Thought there was a two thousand foot gap between the 69th and 70th step.

1. By taking a consistently literal approach, he thought that ‘cross the road’ meant something about the crucifixion.

Top ten reasons why the Reformed Theologian did not cross the road:

10. A woman already crossed, and he would be in sin if he followed

9. The road is not safe if it wasn’t built between 1500-1700 AD

8. He believes that “road crossing” has ceased

7. The crossing guard was only helping people cross from one side, so he suspiciously thought he was denying double pre-destination

6. Romans 9 says nothing about crossing roads

5. The “Walk” sign was gender neutral

4. The road was called Tiber Ave

3. John Wesley said that God’s prevenient grace would pave the way, but he had to take the steps himself

2. He wasn’t elected to cross before the foundation of the road

1. Piper said that God is most glorified when we are most satisfied where we are

The Forgotten Vice of Gluttony

Joe Carter @ http://www.evangelicaloutpost.com deals with the topic of Gluttony. He notes: "the "strip-tease" shows the absurdity of our propensity for sexual titillation:

Now suppose you come to a country where you could fill a theatre by simply bringing a covered plate on to the stage and then slowly lifting the cover so as to let every one see, just before the lights went out, that it contained a mutton chop or a bit of bacon, would you not think that in that country something had gone wrong with the appetite for food? And would not anyone who had grown up in a different world think there was something equally queer about the state of the sex instinct among us?

One critic said that if he found a country in which such striptease acts with food were popular, he would conclude that the people of that country were starving. I agree with him that if, in some strange land, we found that similar acts with mutton chops were popular, one of the possible explanations which would occur to me would be famine. But the next step would be to test our hypothesis by finding out whether, in fact, much or little food was being consumed in that country.
...

Nor is the hypothesis of 'starvation' the only one we can imagine. Everyone knows that the sexual appetite, like our other appetites, grows by indulgence. Starving men may think much about food, but so do gluttons; the gorged, as well as the famished, like titillations.

• Take, for example, the MONSTER THICKBURGER by the fast-food chain Hardee's.

• Gluttony was once listed among the seven deadly sins. But now it's considered, when it's thought about at all, as a private health matter.

• the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

• "Their end is destruction," the Apostle Paul warned, for those for whom "their god is the belly."

Is This "Tolerance"?

Melinda @http://str.typepad.com is discussing a recent student government decision at York University. She comments: "Canada is running amok with politically correct "tolerance." Certain opinions can't be expressed because they offend others. Thus a human rights commission that bypasses the usual legal system can rule on citizen's comments and mete out punishment. Criticisms and objections to Islam and homosexuality so far have been restricted. Now a campus group is ruling that pro-life views can't be expressed. People are free to express their views, as long as they don't express the wrong ones.

I guess one way to win the discussion is to rule the other point of view off limits.

In response to a series of controversies over abortion debates on Canadian campuses, the student government of York University in Toronto has tabled an outright ban on student clubs that are opposed to abortion.

Gilary Massa, vice-president external of the York Federation of Students, said student clubs will be free to discuss abortion in student space, as long as they do it "within a pro-choice realm," and that all clubs will be investigated to ensure compliance.

"You have to recognize that a woman has a choice over her own body," Ms. Massa said. "We think that these pro-life, these anti-choice groups, they're sexist in nature ... The way that they speak about women who decide to have abortions is demoralizing. They call them murderers, all of them do ... Is this an issue of free speech? No, this is an issue of women's rights."

True Happiness

By John MacArthur @ http://www.sfpulpit.com reviews the topic of true happiness. He addresses:

The Spirit and the Bottle

Ephesians 5:18: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (emphasis added).

Be Filled

Paul never says, “Be indwelt by the Spirit.” If you’re a Christian, the Spirit already lives in you (1 Cor. 6:19).

Paul never says, “Be baptized in the Spirit.” If you’re a Christian, you were baptized in Him at your conversion (1 Cor. 12:13).

Paul never says, “Be sealed with the Spirit.” If you’re a Christian, you’ve already been sealed with the Spirit (Eph. 1:13).

All three events occurred the moment you were saved.

Surrender and Submit

the Spirit-filled person submits to others (5:21–6:9). “How do I surrender?” It says, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.” The effect of the Word of Christ dwelling in you is an exact parallel to what happens when you are filled with the Spirit (see vv. 16-23). I

Attitude Adjustment

Ephesians 5:19-20 says, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God.”

"I was at the doctor the other day and the last thing the doctor told me was to 'find God'"

This young man, Justice, was on The Way of the Master Radio. Immediately after the program he said, "I was at the doctor the other day and the last thing the doctor told me was to 'find God'" Emilio, Trish and Cameron follow-up with Justice and you get to watch!

February 21, 2008 - Hour 2 the segment starts about 20 minutes into the program:
Listen to the radio broadcast here:
http://www.wayofthemasterradio.com/po...

The Importance of Prayer

In a day when Rick Warren believes that prayer will not grow your church, Jason E. Robertson gives us a reminder why prayer is vital to church life:

........................................................................
Corporate Prayer: God's Power Creates Unity (click here for full manuscript)
"Living as a Church"

I. INTRODUCTION

Generally speaking, why is prayer so important? Prayer is how God's people respond to him in thankfulness and praise. Prayer is how God's people cry out to him for mercy and deliverance. Prayer is how God's people call upon him to accomplish the work of his kingdom. In short, prayer is how we actively demonstrate our utter dependence on him. It honors him as the source of all blessing.

God calls his saints to be active in the work of the kingdom, whether through preaching, evangelism, and so forth (1 Cor. 3:9). But as we lean on him through prayer, we are reminded that the salvation of individuals and the growth in his churches ultimately comes from him, not from us. When his kingdom is advanced through prayer, he gets the glory because it's eminently clear that he's behind it all. (Indeed, it reminds us that even our activities of preaching, evangelizing, and praying are the result of his work.)

God uses prayer to make it very clear that he is the one who blesses. Therefore he gets the glory.

Raising the Question

But I wonder if you've considered just how important it is to pray together with other Christians. In today's individualistic culture, not much emphasis is placed on corporate prayer. But as we'll see, the Bible attaches great significance to God's people coming together to pray.

II. WHY IS CORPORATE PRAYER IMPORTANT?

In Matthew 6, verse 9, just three verses after the verse I just read to you, Jesus instructs his disciples on how to pray by setting forth what we know as the Lord's Prayer.

Beginning in verse 9, Jesus says,

This then is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Did you notice all the plurals—"our," "us," "we"? In providing a model prayer for his disciples, Jesus puts it in a form that commends it for corporate use. The prayer naturally lends itself to group prayer because of its using "our" instead of "my." Even praying the Lord's prayer privately—which is fine to do—will remind you that you are praying as part of a family of other believers. The Lord's Prayer is an invitation not only to pray but to pray together with other believers.

So why is corporate prayer—praying together with other believers—so important?

1. It Advances God's Kingdom in Face of Opposition

2. It Imparts Wisdom and Guidance

3. Our Dependence Glorifies God

4. Our Unity Glorifies God

Two things to take away from this section: (i) we grow spiritually as we hear others commit to prayer; (ii) we offer a powerful witness to non-Christians who see the love and commitment that we have for one another in our prayers.

III. HOW DOES CORPORATE PRAYER PROMOTE UNITY?

1. Corporate Prayer Draws Us Together

2. Corporate Prayer Fosters a God-Centered Mindset

3. Corporate Prayer Creates a Unity of Purpose

IV. PRAYING INDIVIDUALLY FOR UNITY IN THE CHURCH

1. Pray for the Preacher and His Sermon

2. Pray Through the Church Directory

3. Pray for the Church's Various Ministries and Evangelistic Outreaches

4. Pray for problems in our church

Click here for full manuscript of the above lesson on prayer.

"The Church Ad Project" Is this what it has come down to?

From http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com

"While reading Graphic Design and Religion, I came across the Evangelical Ad Project of 1979. Apparently, Reverend Dr. George H. Martin decided he wanted to venture into advertising, which churches hadn't done much of before. The ads were a work in progress for six years with Fallon McElligott Rice of Minneapolis, and they looked to use contemporary language and ideas to communicate God.

The entire project (which is still being worked on) became the Church Ad Project, and is now available online to order the prints in many different formats. For the quickest browsing, check out their posters".

An Intro Video of Servant Evangelism - Steve Sjogren.

From their site: " This 13 minute video is the perfect way to introduce pastors, lay leaders, friends, and colleagues to this wonderfully practical and powerful outreach model called Servant Evangelism. Great way to jump start outreach in your congregation!"

The supremacy of Christ in an age of terror.

John Piper @ www.desiringgod.org addresses the meaning of the supremacy of Christ in an age of terror. He covers:

The Supremacy of God in All Things--No Exceptions

Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing

"[We are] sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." (2 Corinthians 6:10).

• For those who love others, and not just their own comforts, this complexity means that we will rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).
  

9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the Constant Suffering in This World

Evil and Pain as a Pointer to the Need and Evidence for God

In the final section he deals with the issue of why Does Such a World Exist?

1. The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is not because God is not in total control.

"The Bible is overwhelmingly clear that God governs everything in the universe from the smallest bird to the largest storm. "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father" (Matthew 10:29). "Even winds and sea obey him" (Matthew 8:27). "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33). "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will" (Proverbs 21:1). "Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?" (Lamentations 3:37). "Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?" (Amos 3:6). "He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him" (Mark 1:27). "I am God, and there is none like me . . . saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose'" (Isaiah 46:9-10). There is no person or being in the universe that can thwart the sovereign will of God. Satan is his most powerful enemy and does much evil in the world, but he must first get God's permission, and none of his actions is outside God's governance. He never breaks free from his leash (Luke 22:31; Job 2:6-7; 42:11)".

2. The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is not because God is evil or unjust.

"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). "Good and upright is the Lord" (Psalm 25:8) The angels cry before God day and night, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:3). And when he does things that seem evil to us, the Bible teaches us to speak to man like this: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). God is not evil, even when he wills that evil come to pass. There are good and holy and just purposes in all he does. For those who love him he "works all things together for good" (Romans 8:28). Now and forever".

Four positive reasons why this world exists.

1.The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is because God planned the history of redemption and then permitted sin to enter the world through our first parents, Adam and Eve.

2.The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is because God subjected the natural world to futility. That is, God put the natural world under a curse so that the physical horrors we see around us in diseases and calamities would become a vivid picture of how horrible sin is. In other words, natural evil is a signpost pointing to the horrors of moral evil.

3. The reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is so that followers of Christ can experience and display that no pleasure and no treasure compares to knowing Christ. That is, the loss of every good thing in this world is meant to reveal that Christ himself more than compensates for all losses.

4. Finally, the reason this terrorized and troubled world exists is to make a place for Jesus Christ the Son of God to suffer and die for our sins. The reason there is terror is so that Christ would be terrorized. The reason there is trouble is so that Christ could be troubled. The reason there is pain is so that Christ could feel pain. This is the world God prepared for the suffering and death of his Son. This is the world where God made the best display of his love in the suffering of his Son.

“A Short Defense of Imputation”

“Am I Really Condemned for the Sin of Another?”

C Michael Patton presents a brilliant summary of the doctrine of imputation. He quotes: "Perhaps John Calvin defines Original Sin most concisely as “The deprivation of a nature formerly good and pure.” More specifically, from a Reformed Evangelical perspective, it refers to the fall of humanity from its original state of innocence and purity to a state of corruption and guilt (distinguished later). It is the cause of man’s translation from a state of unbroken communion before God to one of spiritual death and condemnation. The term “Original Sin” is not found in Scripture; Saint Augustine coined it in the 4th century. The primary passage used to defend the doctrine of Original Sin is Romans 5:12-21".

Three types of sin:

• Personal Sin: Sins committed by the individual. All people have personal sin (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:10)

• Inherited Sin: The physical and spiritual corruption which produces a bent and inclination toward sin and a natural enmity toward God (Eph. 2:3; John 8:44; Jer. 13:23; Ps. 51:5). This sin is mediated (inherited) directly from our parents.

• Imputed Sin: God’s immediate declaration of guilt to every individual for the sin of Adam. This sin is “imputed” (or credited) to all people as if they had committed the sin.

He covers a summary of where the traditions fall with regards to these three.

• Reformed Evangelicals:

• Arminians:

• Catholics:

• Orthodox:

Finally, a short History of Original Sin

• Pelagianism

• Arminians

• Augustinianism

• Federalism

Romans 5:12-21

This comparison is between two things:

1. The effects of Adam’s sin
2. The effects of Christ’s righteousness

Through Adams Sin | Through Christ’s Righteousness
Judgment (16) Free gift (16)
Condemnation (16) Justification (16)
Death Reigned (17) Life Reigned (17)
One Transgression=Condemnation of all (18) One Act of Righteousness=Justification of all (18)
Adam’s disobedience=many were made sinners (19) Christ’s obedience=many were made righteous (19)

What Do People Need From Their Pastors? (John Piper)

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine."

2 Timothy 4:2

Six Ways to Hinder Your Prayers

Tim Challies @http://www.challies.com deals with the topic of prayer and the hindrances to them. In summary form:

Like David, we should all pray, “O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth” (Psalm 54:2). If Christians did not believe in the efficacy of prayer, there would be no reason for us to ask anything of God. He is the one who tells us that we can have confidence that our prayers ascend to Him. “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14,15).

Selfish Motives

In 1 John 5:14 and 15, the apostle tells us that our confidence comes from asking “according to his [God’s] will.” James similarly exhorts “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3).

Turning Away From Scripture

“If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).

Unforgiving Hearts

In Mark 11:25 Jesus says, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Family Discord

The apostle Peter, a married man himself, exhorted husbands to live with their wives in an understanding way, being sensitive to their needs, “showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

Unconfessed Sin

“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18)

Doubt

(James 1:5-7).

Sin: Ravi Zacharias

20-Something Reasons to Live at Home

@ http://www.boundless.org Rachel Starr Thomson reviews 20-Something Reasons to Live at Home. She lists the benefits of:

• Training

• Protection
  

• Finances
  

• Community

• Service

How Can We Trust the NT if We Don’t Have the Original Manuscripts?

Matt Waymeyer @ http://expositorythoughts.wordpress.com reviews the reliability of Scripture in regards to manuscripts. He notes:

The Abundance of Existing Manuscripts

"By way of comparison, only ten manuscripts of Caesar’s Gallic Wars exist, the earliest dating 900 years after Caesar; only eight manuscripts of Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War exist, the earliest dating 1,300 years after Thucydides; only eight manuscripts of Herodotus’ History exist, the earliest dating 1,300 years after Herodotus; and only two manuscripts of Tacitus’ Histories and Annals exist, the earlier one dating 700 years after Tacitus. As W. Edward Glenny notes, “the number and early date of the NT manuscripts give us great confidence that God’s Word has been preserved in these documents.”

The Insignificance of Most Variants

Daniel Wallace notes:

In that two percent, support always exists for what the original said—never is one left with mere conjecture. In other words it is not that 90 percent of the original text exists in the extant Greek manuscripts—rather, 110 percent exists. Textual criticism is not involved in reinventing the original; it is involved in discarding the spurious, in burning the dross to get to the gold.

The Preservation of Primary Doctrines

D.A. Carson draws a helpful analogy:

In my judgment the degree of uncertainty raised by textual questions is a great deal less than the degree of uncertainty raised by hermeneutical questions. In other words, even when the text is certain there is often an honest difference of opinion among interpreters as to the precise meaning of the passage. Few evangelicals, I would like to think, will claim infallibility for their interpretations of the Scriptures; they are prepared to live with the (relatively) small degree of uncertainty raised by such limitations. The doubt raised by textual uncertainties, I submit, is far, far smaller.

A Few Problems With Arminianism and a Case For Calvinism

This is part of a DVD called "The Great Debate: Predestination vs. Free Will" distributed by the Apologetics Group. You can purchase this DVD here:
http://tinyurl.com/5cdhbe

This is Dr. Bruce Ware arguing for the position of Calvinism in this video.

The Basic Plot of Scripture

M. Osborne @ http://www.sharperiron.org covers the basic plot of Scripture. He lists:

Creation

Fall

Redemption

In Part Two He continues with:

Creation: Procreation, ctd.

Creation: Creativity, ctd.

Fall

Redemption

Deadly Dangers of Moralism: John MacArthur

John MacArthur gives us one reason why cultural morality is not biblical.

Choosing a Church:

Mark D. Roberts @ http://markdroberts.com has begun a series on church selection. He lists:

1. How you choose a church depends on your basic understanding of the church.

2. In a sense, we don’t choose the church. The church chooses us.

3. The most important issue is not what church I choose, but what church God has chosen for me.

Ten Reasons to Embrace Servant Evangelism

Steve Sjogren @ http://garyrohrmayer.typepad.com offers ten practical reasons for using Servant Evangelism in your church:

1. It opens doors into the heart of your community.
2. It develops a doable ministry in your church.
3. It creates an opportunity for the church to "get involved."
4. It allows a few to touch many.
5. It gives practical tips for public considerations.
6. It is simple, non-aggressive and inexpensive.
7. It doesn't require extensive training.
8. It offers many evangelism and outreach strategies.
9. It nurtures team efforts and team-centeredness.
10. It is a lot of fun! (HT)

Gary Rohrmayer adds:

1. It promotes an incarnational spirit of evangelism. Getting people out of the building and onto the streets. John 20:21
2. It helps to identify the "men and women of peace" in our communities. Luke 10:5-6
3. It reinforces the gospel in the life of the participants.Philemon6
4. It shines a light in a dark world. Matthew 5:14-16
5. It is easily delegated to lay leadership. Professionals are not needed!
6. It promotes the values of kindness, generosity and servanthood.
7. It leverages permission based marketing.
8. It unleashes outreach creativity with the church. Ideas are limitless.
9. It provide an avenue for "Research & Development" in the local church.
10. It fills peoples buckets through a positive emotional experience.

How many ways to God are there?

Justin Taylor @ http://www.newattitude.org discusses the nature of an exclusive claim to salvation. His approach: "Instead of an in-depth theological explanation of exclusivism (which would be very valuable), I’m going to suggest some ways of engaging the issue with those who challenge your Christian beliefs with the pluralist objection. To see a winsome and insightful example of how to address the objection, please make sure to continue to the end where I’ve included a powerful video clip".

Be Prepared

Ask Questions

"A three-step process of questions includes: (1) “What do you mean by that?” (2) “Why do you believe that?” (3) “Have you ever considered that . . . .” Step 1 seeks for clarity; step 2 asks for arguments; step 3 detects a flaw in their reasoning and presents counter-arguments. (For more on this approach, the book to get is Greg Koukl’s Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions, coming in September 2008 from Zondervan.)"

All Religions Are True (or False)

Exclusivism Is Arrogant (Or Perfectly Reasonable)

The Heart of the Matter
"In closing, I would strongly encourage you to take seven minutes to watch this insightful and moving video of R.C. Sproul explaining how Jesus can be the only way":



Recommended Resources

_David K. Clark, “Religious Pluralism and Christian Exclusivism,” in To Everyone an Answer: The Case for the Christian Worldview, ed. Beckwith, Craig, and Moreland

_Tim Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in God in an Age of Skepticism, chapter 1 (“There Can’t Just Be One True Religion”). [After composing the blog post above I discovered that Keller has a similar response to the blind-men-and-the-elephant objection.]

_Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson, eds., Faith Comes by Hearing: A Response to Inclusivism,

_Ronald H. Nash, Is Jesus the Only Savior?

_Harold A. Netland, Encountering Religious Pluralism: The Challenge to Christian Faith and Mission.

Angelology 101

by Phil Johnson @ http://teampyro.blogspot.com covers Angelology 101. He notes: "Few biblical topics have provoked more wild speculation and fruitless debate than angels. Scripture doesn't begin to answer all our questions about the subject. But there's a lot more information about angels in the Bible than you might think. (As a matter of fact, the Old and New Testaments combined speak of angels more than 250 times.) And it's important that we understand the biblical doctrine of angels correctly, especially in an age like ours, when so much popular superstition surrounds and obscures the truth about these glorious creatures".



Angels are spiritual creatures.

Angels are personal and moral beings.

The angels are a mighty multitude.

Angels are God's unseen ministers.

Sermon Outline: “Make Disciples of All Nations, for All Authority belongs to Jesus & the Mission Cannot Fail"

Matthew 28:16-20

1) Availability: Matthew 28:16

Isaiah 6:8

2) Worship: Matthew 28:17-18a

Philippians 3:8-16

1 Corinthians 2:12-16

3) Submission: Matthew 28:18b

1 Corinthians 15:28

4) Obedience: Matthew 28:19–20a

Genesis 12:1-3

Romans 6:17

5) Power: Matthew 28:20b

Acts 1:8

Luke 24:46-48

Hebrews 13:5

Is a fetus a blob of tissue?

The Gospel in a Paragraph... and a Sentence

Thabiti Anyabwile @ http://purechurch.blogspot.com presents The Gospel in a Paragraph... and a Sentence

In a paragraph:

"The most terrifying news in the world is that we have fallen under the condemnation of our Creator and that he is bound by his own righteous character to preserve the worth of his glory by pouring out his wrath on the sin of our ingratitude. But there is a fourth great truth that no one can ever learn from nature or from their own consciences, a truth which has to be told to neighbors and preached in churches and carried by missionaries: namely, the good news that God has decreed a way to satisfy the demands of his righteousness without condemning the whole human race. He has taken it upon himself apart from any merit in us to accomplish our salvation. The wisdom of God has ordained a way for the love of God to deliver us from the wrath of God without compromising the righteousness of God. And what is this wisdom?"

In a sentence:

"Jesus Christ, the Son of God crucified, is the Wisdom of God, by which the love of God can save sinners from the wrath of God, and all the while uphold and demonstrate the righteousness of God."

John Piper, "Conversion to Christ: The Making of a Christian Hedonist," Matthew 13:44-46

How To Speak about God When He Hurts Us

John Piper @ www.desiringgod.org discusses the book of Lamentations, which he describes as "the heart-cry of Jeremiah when he and his people were being hurt by God, and by their enemies, and by their own sin. How he speaks of this divine hurting shows us some of the various ways we may speak about God in our own pain. If we affirm them all, then not one of them will be taken amiss".

The Lord directly does the hurting (2:1-4).

"The Lord in his anger has set the daughter of Zion under a cloud! . . . The Lord has swallowed up without mercy all the habitations of Jacob; . . . He has cut down in fierce anger all the might of Israel; . . . he has burned like a flaming fire in Jacob, consuming all around. . . . 4 He has killed all who were delightful in our eyes in the tent of the daughter of Zion."

The enemies have done the hurting and God has exalted their might (2:16-17).

"All your enemies rail against you; they hiss, they gnash their teeth, they cry. . . . The Lord has done what he purposed; . . . he has made the enemy rejoice over you and exalted the might of your foes."

The enemy has done the hurting, as if the Lord were not watching! (1:9-11; 3:49-50).

Her fall is terrible; she has no comforter. 'O Lord , behold my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed! . . . Look, O Lord, and see, for I am despised.' . . . My eyes will flow without ceasing, without respite, until the Lord from heaven looks down and sees."

The hurting happens as if by God's "forgetting" and "forsaking" them (5:20).

"Why do you forget us forever, why do you forsake us for so many days?"

The Lord will repay the enemies who did the hurting on earth (3:64).

"You will repay them, O Lord, according to the work of their hands."

The Lord will follow his hurting with compassion (3:32).

"Though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love."

God's hurting us is not "from his heart"--not his deepest delight (3:33).

"He does not willingly [literally "from his heart" millibboi] afflict or grieve the children of men."

In his hurting the Lord shows mercy every morning (3:22-23).

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

God's decisive mercy is his causing the erring people to repent; he removes the cause of his own wrath (5:21).

"Cause us to return (hasibenu) to yourself, O Lord, and we will return (wunasub)! Renew our days as of old."

When God is hurting us, wait patiently for the salvation of the Lord (3:26).

"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him."

In and after God's hurting us, he is our only hope and portion (3:24).

"'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'"

New Prince Caspian footage

William Moseley tells Cheryl about a fight scene that terrified him... and see Switchfoot's new song.

Testing a "Revival"

Dan Phillips @ http://teampyro.blogspot.com presents what he thinks about "the Florida revival" and it is a good test case to check the validity of "revival claims". Although he acknowledges no first hand knowledge of the event, he presents the Biblical grounds for evaluation:

1. Believing in the sovereignty of God and having read (and believed!) Acts 2, I know that it is at best extraordinarily unlikely that it will manifest any revelatory or attesting gifts that have not been in regular evidence among Bible-believing Christians over the last 2000 years (1 Corinthians 12:11) — which is to say, not any. For that reason...
   
2. I know that any claims to revelatory or attesting gifts will likely fall short of Biblical standards. This really, really matters to God (Deuteronomy 13:1-11; 18:20-22), so it should really, really matter to me. Specifically:
   
3. I know that if the majority of unbelievers aren't, without any massaging or special sauce from the "revival's" advocates, goggling in slack-jawed and clueless astonishment at undeniably supernatural events, and desperately scrambling for explanations, any claimed miracles are nothing like real miracles (cf. John 11:47-48; Acts 3:9-10; 4:16).
4. I know that if it doesn't center on and exalt the person and work of Jesus Christ, it's not Holy Spirit-breathed revival (John 16:14; Colossians 1:18).
5. I know that if it wasn't produced by the preaching of the Word of God, it's not Holy Spirit-breathed revival (Nehemiah 9).
   
6. I know that if it doesn't produce greater conformity to the written word of God, it's not Holy Spirit-breathed revival (Psalm 138:2; Matthew 28:18-20; John 8:31-32; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
7. I know that if it doesn't produce holy living, which includes adorning behavior and specifically self-control, it isn't Holy Spirit-breathed revival (Galatians 5:22-23).
8. I know that if the leaders of it aren't men well-known for embodying/pursuing the pastoral traits of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9, and specifically for being in subjection to, and for soundly teaching, the whole Word of God, it's unlikely to be a Holy Spirit-breathed revival.
   

My mind is closed, to the best of my ability — to anything but a Scriptural perspective (Ephesians 4:13-14).

God Has Two Hedges

Jonathan @ http://jonathandavis.wordpress.com quotes Matthew Mead from his work: “The Power of Grace in Weaning the Heart from the World“

Thus God dealt with Israel, “She said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my food and my water, my wool and my linen, my oil and my drink.’ Therefore I will hedge up her path with thorns; I will wall her in—so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.’” Hosea 2:6-8.

God has two hedges which the Scripture takes notice of:

1. The hedge of his protection, which you read of Job 1:10, “Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns?”
2. The hedge of affliction, which you read of here: “I will hedge up her path with thorns.”

Now the Lord make use of both these hedges:

The hedge of protection—is to keep His people from danger.
The hedge of affliction—is to stop His people from wandering.

The hedge of protection—is to keep them in God’s way.
The hedge of affliction—is to keep them out of sin’s way.

The hedge of protection—is to keep them from suffering.
The hedge of affliction—is to keep then from sinning,
and to put them upon returning to God.

Healthy Churches and Christian Growth

http://purechurch.blogspot.com presents a quote from Mark Dever's Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, p. 214-215:

"A healthy church has a pervasive concern with church growth--not simply growing in numbers but growing members. A church full of growing Christians is the kind of church growth I want as a pastor. Some today seem to think that one can be a "baby Christian" for a whole lifetime. Growth is seen to be an optional extra for particularly zealous disciples. But be very careful about taking that line of thought. Growth is a sign of life. Growing trees are living trees, and growing animals are living animals. When something stops growing it dies.

"Growth may not mean that you negotiate this rapid in half the time you negotiated the last; it may simply mean that you are able to continue in the right direction as a Christian, regardless of the adverse circumstances. Remember, it is only the things that are alive that swim upstream; the dead things all float along with the current."

Is salvation a "ticket" or a "delight"?

John Piper hits the heart of true salvation, supremely valuing, enjoying, treasuring Christ, above all things. This is in contrast to only using Jesus as some ‘ticket’ to get you out of hell or to bring about your best life now. Instead Christ is to be valued above all because he is above all; it is this that gives you life now that is truly abundant (John 10.10).

Leaving Christ(ianity) - An Epidemic

C Michael Patton @ http://www.reclaimingthemind.org has a very eye opening look at why some leave Christianity.

"Ignorance. Pity. Shame. These are all good descriptions of what she thought of Christianity. But the primary description that I felt coming from here was “betrayal.” She had been betrayed by the Church because they duped her into a belief not unlike that of the tooth fairy. When she discovered this betrayal, no one had a valid answer or excuse. So she left. She is now an unbeliever—a soon-to-be evangelistic unbeliever".

"Over 31 million Americans are saying “check please” to the church, and are off to find answers elsewhere. Jeff Schadt, coordinator of Youth Transition Network, says thousands of youth fall away from the church when transitioning from high school to college. He and other youth leaders estimate that 65 to 94 percent of high school students stop attending church after graduating. From my studies and experience I find that leaving church is many times the first visible step in one’s pilgrimage away from Christ".

The rest of the article focuses on the steps of:

• Step one: Doubt
• Step two: Discouragement
• Step three: Disillusionment
• Step four: Apathy
• Step five: Departure

What Is the Most Crying Need of the Church in America Today?

Justin Taylor@ http://theologica.blogspot.com has put together a number of answers from the Gospel Coalition website from:

D. A. Carson, John Piper, C.J. Mahaney, Mike Bullmore, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, and Tim Keller.

Sermon Outline: Proverbs 31:10-31. “The Excellent Wife & Mother”

1) Her Trustworthiness: Proverbs 31:10-12

1 Timothy 5:4

2) Her Work Ethic: Proverbs 31:13-21

Psalm 93:1

Proverbs 19:17

3) Her Character: Proverbs 31:22-26

1 Timothy 2:9-10

Psalm 112:7

4) Her Holiness: Proverbs 31:27-31

1 Peter 3:1-6

Psalm 111:10

Matthew 6:33

Psalm 128:2

A: High value of a good wife (v. 10)

B: Husband benefited by wife (vv. 11–12)

C: Wife works hard (vv. 13–19)

D: Wife gives to poor (v. 20)

E: No fear of snow (v. 21a)

F: Children clothed in scarlet (v. 21b)

G: Coverings for bed, wife wears linen (v. 22)

H: Public respect for husband (v. 23)

G´: Sells garments and sashes (v. 24)

F´: Wife clothed in dignity (v. 25a)

E´: No fear of future (v. 25b)

D´: Wife speaks wisdom (v. 26)

C´: Wife works hard (v. 27)

B´: Husband and children praise wife (vv. 28–29)

A:´ High value of a good wife (vv. 30–31)

Garrett, D. A. (2001, c1993). Vol. 14: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (248). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers

Death: The Atheist's Nightmare

Win Books from Reformation Heritage

www.inlightofthegospel.org reminds us of a neat context for the month of April. Tim Challies will be giving away three different prizes from Reformation Heritage Books. Three prizes will be awarded as follows:

• First prize: Reformation Heritage Books Selections: God with Us, Reformation Heroes, Meet the Puritans, plus all books in the 2nd and 3rd prize package.
• Second prize: Soli Deo Gloria Selections: Freedom of the Will, Excellency of a Gracious Spirit, Keeping the Heart, Parable of the Ten Virgins, plus all books in the 3rd prize package.
• Third Prize: Profiles in Reformed Spirituality: A Consuming Fire, A Sweet Flame, Dedicated to the Service of the Temple, Christ Is All.

Register for the free giveaway by clicking the link below:

The Christian Mystical Tradition(s)

Kevin T. Bauder @ www.sharperiron.org notes:

"The history of Christian mysticism displays a tension between two impulses that are fundamentally incompatible with each other. Both impulses tend to express themselves in similar language, but what they mean by that language is quite different. Let me briefly describe each of these impulses.

Impulse One: Dionysian Neo-Platonism

Impulse Two: Pious Devotion

He closes with "Who Would True Valor See", a poem from John Bunyan (1628-1688)

Who would true valor see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories
Do but themselves confound;
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright,
He’ll with a giant fight,
He will have a right
To be a pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit,
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
He’ll fear not what men say,
He’ll labor night and day
To be a pilgrim.

Which Generation is Your Church Filled With?

Jason E. Robertson @ http://fide-o.blogspot.com describes the various reactions to truth.

In the first generation truth is a conviction.

• Those who hold that conviction, hold it dearly.
• They do not know the meaning of compromise.
• They are willing to die for what they believe to be true.

In the second generation the conviction becomes a belief.

• Sons hold to the truths they have been taught by their fathers,
• and defend their beliefs in discussion and debate.
• However the keen edge of conviction has been blunted,
• and adherence to a body of beliefs inherited from the fathers is not so much a passion as a persuasion.

In the third generation the belief becomes an opinion.

• By then some members of the movement are willing to trade in their opinions.
• They feel it is time for a change.
• They start talking about renewal,
• but they may look to the world for ideas.

6 Ways to React to the Cyclone

John Piper @ www.desiringgod.org notes that as the carnage from Cyclone Nargis in Burma moves toward 50,000 dead and beyond, there is a way to pray and act:

1. Be softened to the pain nearby.

The Good Samaritan knew nothing of the calamities in first century Burma, but was commended by the Lord for mercies at hand (Luke 10:25-37).

2. Pray for the followers of Christ in Myanmar:

• That they would be still and know that God is God (Psalm 46:10; 100:3).
• That they would be awakened from the illusion that this life is long or sure or the main point of eternal existence (James 4:14).
• That they would be given a new vision of the supreme value of Christ who promises his followers that famine, nakedness, and death will not separate them from his love (Romans 8:35).
• That God would meet their needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus, so that they might have to give to those in need (Philippians 4:19; Ephesians 4:28).

3. Pray for the millions of unbelievers near the calamity and far from it:

• That they would see the helplessness of man before the Power that rules the world and fly to Christ who alone delivers from the final cyclone of God’s wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
• That they would not respond like the people in Revelation (9:20; 16:9, 11) who did not repent at the devastation but cursed God.
• That they would hear the best news in all the world—not the news of health, wealth, and prosperity in this world, but the news that Christ became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13) so that in him we can be more than conquerors in every calamity of life (Romans 8:37).

4. Pray for those of us who live in the seeming security and prosperity of North America:

• That we would see what is about to break over us in due time—either collectively as God removes the hand of his providential restraint, or individually as one by one we are whisked to the hospital, then wheeled to the nursing home, and then carried to the funeral home (Hebrews 9:27).
• That millions would be made to see this and repent from the adultery of treasuring anything more than Christ (James 4:4).

5. Give money to replenish the coffers of compassion “since you also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:3).

6. Muster a team from your church, and when the doors are open, be ready to go.

This kind of going always has the promise of a special, “I will be with you to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Making Wise Decisions

John MacArthur @ www.sfpulpit.com presents a good template for decision making. Presupposing that you are submitted to Christ and filled with the Spirit, he outlines:

1. First, you must obey the moral will of God as it is revealed in Scripture. If Scripture prohibits the action in question, your decision is easy: don’t do it.

• Likewise, if one of the options in your choice causes you to neglect something God specifically commands you to do, you are required to make the choice that will allow you to fulfill your biblical obligation.

2. Second, good decision-making requires that you exercise biblical wisdom.

• James encourages those who lack wisdom to “ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). To make wise decisions, you need to gather necessary information, consider all the options carefully, seek godly counsel, and then choose the option that is most sensible (Proverbs 2:1-11).

3. Finally, you need to consider your own desire. If the Bible is silent about your decision, and if one choice is not clearly wiser than the other, then do what you want. You have the freedom to do so, and God sovereignly works out His plan through your desires (Psalm 37:4; Philippians 2:13).

For more on decision-making and the will of God, see this transcript from Grace to You.

An Evangelical Manifesto

A document was released at the National Press Club entitled An Evangelical Manifesto: A Declaration of Evangelical Identity and Public Commitment, spearheaded by Os Guinness and signed by over 80 evangelical leaders.

From Justin Taylor @http://theologica.blogspot.com:
"The full document is over 7,400 words, and I encourage you to read the whole thing. It’s an imperfect but nevertheless (in my opinion) remarkable document that deserves serious attention. The press has latched on to the political dimension of the document, but the critique of theological liberalism is much more extensive and pointed.

As the title indicates, this is a manifest to declare (1) evangelical identity (attempting to clarify the confusions that surround the term Evangelical in the US), and public commitment (attempting to explain where they stand on issues that cause consternation over Evangelicals in public life). They have three burdens: Evangelicals must (1) reaffirm their identity; (2) reform their own behavior; (3) rethink their place in public life.

They define “Evangelicals” theologically and confessionally, as those “Christians who define themselves, their faith, and their lives according to the Good News of Jesus of Nazareth.” They list the following seven emphases of evangelical belief:

1. Jesus, fully divine and fully human, as the only full and complete revelation of God and therefore the only Savior.
2. The death of Jesus on the cross, in which he took the penalty for our sins and reconciled us to God.
3. Salvation as God’s gift grasped through faith. We contribute nothing to our salvation.
4. New life in the Holy Spirit, who brings us spiritual rebirth and power to live as Jesus did, reaching out to the poor, sick, and oppressed.
5. The Bible as God’s Word written, fully trustworthy as our final guide to faith and practice.
6. The future personal return of Jesus to establish the reign of God.
7. The importance of sharing these beliefs so that others may experience God’s salvation and may walk in Jesus’ way.

They identify six implications that follow from this definition of Evangelicals:

1. To be Evangelical is to hold a belief that is also a devotion.
2. Evangelical belief and devotion is expressed as much in our worship and in our deeds as in our creeds.
3. Evangelicals are followers of Jesus in a way that is not limited to certain churches or contained by a definable movement.
4. Evangelicalism must be defined theologically and not politically; confessionally and not culturally.
5. The Evangelical message, “good news” by definition, is overwhelmingly positive, and always positive before it is negative.
6. Evangelicalism should be distinguished from two opposite tendencies to which Protestantism has been prone: liberal revisionism and conservative fundamentalism.

In response to the enormous confusion surround evangelicals in public life, they seek to clarify their position through a number of repudiations and expressions of concern:

1. They repudiate two equal and opposition errors into which many Christians have fallen: (a) privatizing faith (falsely divorcing the spiritual from the secular and causing faith to lose its integrity); (b) politicizing faith (using faith to express essentially political points that have lost touch with biblical truth, causing faith to lose its independence). Instead they argue that we have a duty to engage with politics but never to be completely equated with any party, partisan ideology, or nationality.
2. They repudiate the two extremes defining the present culture wars in the US: (a) partisans of a sacred public square (those who would continue to give one religion a preferred place in public life); and (b) partisans of a naked public square (those who would make all religious expression inviolably private and keep the public square inviolably secular). In its place they are committed to a civil public square (a vision of public life in which citizens of all faiths are free to enter and engage the public square on the basis of their faith, but within a framework of what is agreed to be just and free for other faiths as well).
3. They are concerned that a generation of culture warring, reinforced by understandable reactions to religious extremism around the world, has created a powerful backlash against all religion in public life among many educated people. In its place they call on all citizens of goodwill and believers of all faiths and none to join them in working for a civil public square and the restoration of a tough-minded civility that is in the interests of all.They are concerned that globalization and the emerging global public square have no matching vision of how to live with our deepest differences on the global stage. Global communication magnifies the challenges of living with our deepest differences. They warn of two equal and opposite errors in the emerging global public square: (a) coercive secularism and (b) religious extremism. They also warn repudiate the positions of coercive religion (which leads to conflict) and relativism (which leads to complacency).
4. They warn of the danger of a two-tier global public square (the top tier for cosmopolitan secular liberals, and the lower tier for local religious believers), which is not only patronizing but also severely restricts religious liberty and justice. In its place, again, they promote a civil public square, respecting the rights of all and requiring respectful debate.

They end with a series of appeals: to fellow evangelicals, fellow citizens, people of other faiths, gatekeepers of society, etc. “Finally, we solemnly pledge that in a world of lies, hype, and spin, where truth is commonly dismissed and words suffer from severe inflation, we make this declaration in words that have been carefully chosen and weighed; words that, under God, we make our bond. People of the Good News, we desire not just to speak the Good News but to embody and be good news to our world and to our generation.”

You can see follow up interviews here: An Interview with Os Guinness about the Evangelical Manifesto

Working out a Theology of Work

Justin Taylor @ www.boundless.org discusses working out a Theology of Work. In it he notes:

Building Blocks for a Theology of Work

1. God works.

2. As God's image-bearers, God calls us to be subduers and rulers.

3. The fall frustrated all of our labors.

4. God is transforming us into the image of His Son.

5. God calls us to our vocations.

6. God commands that we work quietly and honestly in order to provide for ourselves and others.

7. God calls us to work unto His glory.