Want to know who Muhammed is?

Yeah, so I was walking around campus this week and came across the "Fast-a-thon" tables, and "Muhammed Awareness" tables near the student center. Nearly everytime I passed by, I saw a Christian or two, in conversation with them. When I saw the tables, I was reminded of that movie "Dogma" for some reason (don't ask why - and if you haven't seen it, don't waste your time or prostitute your morals to sit through it - it's pretty crude, and any movie that has George Carlin playing a priest has got problems). Anyways, ever since that 'Popish remark fiasco' by 'benedict the bachelor', I've been thinking about what our 'Christian' leaders of today have to say about islam's so called prophet...and how it is totally counter to what the theologians of old had to say:


Thomas Aquinas--

Speaking of Muhammed: "The truths that he taught he mingled with many fables and with doctrine of the greatest falsity . . . Those who believed in him were brutal men and desert wanderers, utterly ignorant of all divine teaching, through whose numbers Muhammed forced others to become his followers by the violence of his arms".

Martin Luther--

He likened Muhammed to "the warring horses of the Book of Revelation that bring great destruction to Christians", and described him as "course and filthy" and "an uncouth blockhead and ass". Luther also wrote that "the spirit of lies had taken possession of Mohammed, and the devil had murdered men's souls with his Koran and had destroyed the faith of Christians", as well as, "We are fighting that the Turk may not put his devilish filth and blasphemous Muhammed in the place of our dear Lord, Jesus Christ".

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." - Romans 1:22-23

Poor Mohammed just can't measure up to our Lord, no matter how many information tables you set up, or how many 'Christian' leaders you corrupt....

There is NONE BUT JESUS!
Bro. Hank

P.S. - None means none. That goes for Mohammed, John Smith, David Koresh, and all the rest of those lying prophets of baal.

It's All His Fault! - Do Guys Have It All Wrong...?

What would a discussion on relationships be without playing the blame game? I mean, somebody is to blame, right? Well...

The purpose of this post is not to 'call out' guys in the relationship, or to remove all the responsibility of girls -- but rather highlight what I see is sorely lacking in college relationships, and where exactly guys have fallen short in their roles as godly boyfriends.

I'll sum up the duties of the guy in '07 parts (whoop!) spelled out as R.E.A.L. M.E.N:

Recognize: Guys, you have to recognize where the girl is in her walk with Christ. As much as you would like to 'think you know' by how often she goes to church, or how many Christian t-shirts she wears -- you must not presume that she's earnestly seeking the Lord's will, if you haven't even taken the time to ask. You can't gauge your relationship with Christ by those outer workings of religiosity, so don't think that you can judge your girlfriend by them either. Recognizing and openly discussing your respective walks will do much for the future of any relationship.

Engage: As I mentioned above, engagement is a crucial aspect of dating. I'm not speaking here of the diamond ringers and one knee-ers... but of engaging in challenging conversations about your relationship with Christ and with each other. A relationship built on a shallow understanding of each other's strengths and weakness, victories and defeats, is a relationship built upon shifting sand. Engagement is imperative for health and growth, and we have no excuse for overlooking it.

Adhere: Guys, stick to your guns. Dating is not an experiment in Christian liberty, nor is it any easier for a dating Christian to 'be ye holy for I AM holy' - 1Peter 1:16. Temptation will come, you can bet your boots, it will come.* (this comment does not in anyway endorse gambling, or support the gambling industry in any way, shape, or form) I have found however; that guys that come into a relationship with clear moral standards, are far less likely to regret aspects of their relationships later on. Fluidity in morals is not a virtue, and traditional beliefs on dating are not a vice. Know what the Bible teaches before hand, and then stand that ground, come hell or high water...

Lead: Wow. This is huge. And soo many guys totally fail at it. It is the man's responsibility to lead the relationship, to set the tone so to speak. Now don't mistake this point for tyranny. A successful leader will never lose sight of his followers, their needs, their shortcomings, and their desires...however, at the end of the day, the decision falls to them. Decisions planted in the Word, and watered in prayer, will be reaped in love. Men must have a spiritual vision for the relationship, unwavering values for its foundation, and unconditional love for its means.

Monitor: In addition to recognizing, engaging, and leading, guys need to monitor themselves, the girl, as well as the relationship as a whole. By this, I don't mean that weekly evaluation questionnaires need to be completed, or that progress reports need to be issued -- but a serious commitment to monitoring the emotional, spiritual, and relational health would be a wise endeavor. Oftentimes I'll hear guys say, "She was fine last week, I don't know what her deal is today." Although I admit that omniscience in the relationship is out of the question (unless you are the girl, and you assume that guys know 'exactly what you mean' and 'exactly what you are thinking'), men have the responsibility to monitor the situation. Again, ignorance in this case is certainly not bliss....at least not for long.

Ecourage: Just like everyone else, sometimes girls need encouragement. Your girlfriend is no different. Beware however, that you do not turn your girlfriend into a 'compliment addict'. Simple encouragement, especially for girls that are insecure, can turn into in unquenchable addiction for greater and greater acknowledge of beauty, success, etc. I know guys, that we like making girls feel good about themselves, and that has it's place. But take great care to base that encouragement upon biblical principles and not worldly ideals of what makes her a good girlfriend (i.e. immodest outfits, popularity, etc). God's grace and love can encourage a girl infinitely better than any carnal encouragement we can come up.

Never forget your first love: "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." - Rev. 2:4. Ok, she's beautiful. She's fun. She's smart. She may be 'the one'. But she pales in comparison to 'our first love', namely Jesus Christ. Mind your prayers. Take heed that 'she' does not take up the focus of your spirituality. Praying for her, and with her is great! But don't neglect "so great a salvation" in your pursuit of relational completeness. Trust that God will grow you both over time, and keep ETERNITY stamped on your eyeballs.


Come on guys, let's be REAL MEN...
Bro. Hank ><>

The Modern-day Circuit Rider

For those of you familiar with campus evangelism, I don't have to introduce Tom Short to you. Doubtless you have your opinions about him, his style, his tactics, and his divisiveness; but none can question his heart for sharing the gospel of Christ at college campuses all over the United States. He'll be coming to A&M soon, and I'll be sure to give you all a heads up....

Bro. Hank ><>
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Traveling preacher shares experiences
Short continues campus evangelism after 26 years
Written by: Tony Gutierrez

"Pastor Tom Short, who spoke on behalf of the Hope Campus Fellowship movement, often quoted passages from his Bible when questioned by students last Monday afternoon at the free speech area on campus green.

Pastor Tom Short, who spoke on behalf of the Hope Campus Fellowship movement, interacted with students about various religious topics last Monday afternoon at the free speech area on the campus green.

After two days of inciting controversial theological discussion in the free speech area, Tom Short invited those still around to join him in a prayer. Around 30 students circled Short as he led them in singing "Amazing Grace" while others heckled him. "Come over to God's side," Short said. "I'm on God's side, and it's not over there," someone from the crowd responded. Short finished his prayer and then left for Missouri, where he will continue his 26-year-old ministry as a modern-day circuit rider, stopping at campuses all over the country.

"I realize when I come on campuses that I am presenting truths that are unpopular and do challenge commonly held beliefs in the university, so I realize some people will react to that," Short said. "It is not my goal to upset people, but if a person hears God's truth and won't turn to it, it will be upsetting. We see that throughout the entire Bible where people are being persecuted for standing up for God and for truth." Short said while he preaches on campus, he encounters three types of people: Those who love what he says, those who hate what he says and those who don't know where they stand.

"I think here in Denton, far more people support me than oppose me, but those who oppose me are far more vocal," he said. Short said he wasn't always the fiery preacher people see him as. When he became a Christian in high school, he said he used to view people like his present self as ignorant or weird. It wasn't until he read the New Testament that he accepted what he now believes. "I said, 'Wow! I believe this - this is what I've been looking for,'" Short said. Short never finished college. He said his denomination, the Great Commission Association of Churches, does not ordain based on seminary education, but rather on the minister's relationship with God.

"Personally, that's where we [GCAC] think a lot of churches are weak because they don't have an example of people living as Christian leaders," he said. "We'd say American Christianity has cluttered what it means to be a pastor and a simple calling." Short said the authority to preach does not come from ordination but from the Bible, and added that there were no seminaries in the New Testament church.
Short was ordained in 1978 in Solid Rock Church [now Linworth Road Community Church] in Columbus, Ohio.

"Most of what I've learned, I learned because I was stumped by somebody, and I was determined to go find the answers," he said. "I firmly believe Christianity has the answers." Short began preaching on campuses in 1980 while he was stationed at a church in College Park, Md. "When we went to the University of Maryland, it was a very hard campus to talk to people about Jesus, and we felt we had to do something to make an interest in spiritual things," he said. "In spring of 1980, we just went out in front of the library and people began to listen. Within a year, the campus was talking about Jesus a lot." Shortly after, Christian leaders from other schools invited Short to speak at their campuses.

While his circuit ministry was growing, Short moved to a pastor position in Georgia and later in San Diego. He returned to his hometown of Columbus before he resigned as a full-time pastor and dedicated himself to the traveling ministry in 1996. Short funds his ministry through church donations, 10 percent of which come from Linworth.
"This is where people are supposed to be thinking about these things," he said. "The campus is the marketplace of ideas. Often, when students leave campus their mind is made up on things like this, and I see this as a last chance to get them to think of issues of life like this."

Short said his family has supported him throughout his time in his ministry.
"I thought it was something he ought to do," said his wife, Rosalyn Short. "I felt he was gifted in speaking." Rosalyn said Short comes home on the weekends to unwind.
"We had strong support from the community of churches and friends and believing what he does, I'm as convinced as he is that this is a good thing," Rosalyn said.
Short has five grown children. Tim, the youngest, travels with Short but was unable to come to NT.

"I just graduated from high school and there's nothing else I rather would have done for my first semester out of high school," Tim said. "Because I'm being challenged I'm having to re-learn the details of why I believe what I believe. It's just to the point where I've matured naturally as a person and in my faith."
While traveling with Short, Tim said he listens to his father half the time and shares his faith half the time.

"I went to a Christian high school, so I wasn't exposed a lot to these different ideas," Tim said. "Everyone has a unique opinion. There's so many ridiculous ideas, but some are the same beliefs, also. I didn't question my faith."
While most of his children are devout Christians, Short said one of his sons is still searching for what he believes.
"We pray for him," Short said. "We know a relationship with Christ is essential in life, and we honestly want him to have a solid relationship with Christ. As part of our family, we love him. He's included in all we do."

Some people, such as Mary Luna-Wolfe, senior pastor for Harvest Metropolitan Community Church, have accused Short of being condemnatory. "I was there for the better part of the first day and the only thing I heard from him was, 'You have to, you should, you're going to hell if you don't,'" Luna-Wolfe said. "I think if you focus on that part of Christianity, just the punishment, you've bypassed what the Gospels talk about. We're talking about a God who sent his only son to die because he loved us not because he had nothing better to do than stand on a campus and scream at us."

While Short denounced homosexuality when he spoke at NT, Harvest MCC does not consider it a sin. Luna-Wolfe said biblical passages do not refer to homosexuality as it is known today. "Based on Christian scholarship and academic work I've done, I do not believe that homosexuality is a sin," Luna-Wolfe said. "I do preach repentance of sin. I just don't believe homosexuality is a sin, but I do preach cultural behavior, social justice, being a part of the community." Members of Harvest MCC offered another interpretation of Christianity at a table across the sidewalk from Short, but Luna-Wolfe asked them not to engage in a debate with Short because she did not want to add to the "ruckus."

"I think they [members of Harvest MCC] distorted Christ's message because they don't call people to repent from their sinfulness," Short said. "They affirm a person to continue in your sinfulness. Jesus' forgiveness is truly offered to all people who repent, and believe, but you have to repent." Short has been cussed at and spit on, but never physically assaulted since most people would consider violence over the line, he said. "One of the most common comments I get is 'How do you stay so patient when people say these things to you?' and I really think it is God's grace," Short said. "Jesus was the most loving human being ever, and yet people hated him. They twisted his words, they accused him of being possessed by demons, they asked questions to test him and ultimately they got angry enough to kill him. No one can even say Jesus wasn't loving, but he got all those types of responses, and I do as well."" (find the originial article here)
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What Love is this..

This will probably not be systematically presented. I am using this as more of a grounds to gather in a rough way my thoughts on certain subjects so that they might later be presented in a more systematic format. For the moment I'm going to talk about the preparation one should embrace before entering into a relationship.. Check that.. first I'll address something else.

This is a main point found in the introduction of C.S. Lewis' book, The Four Loves, which had a profound influence on my understanding of the love between the sexes in a very personally applicable way. He says there is a difference between 'nearness by likeness' and 'nearness by approach.' It means this: I can put on an authentic hand stitched uniform, a replica helmet, menacing eye black, cleats, thigh pads, hip pads, shoulder pads, even a cowboy collar and I will look very much like a football player. I am very near by likeness. However, I am no closer to getting into the NFL by parading myself around in such a way at the local stadium or sports bar than the man selling nachos. This is one type of nearness. There is another. It is nearness by approach. There may be a man who goes out after working his long hours into the dead of night and runs sprints, who works with weights, who in fact may very well sell nachos at the stadium. He is in training. He sees the end and does not seek to imitate in appearance but in approach. This man is very near his goal, very near his dream though he does not look the part.

It is the same with love. Let me be extremely personal and speak on my own experiences for a moment. I was once in love with someone. It was not based on lust, neither was it based on Christ. She was my best friend, my closest confidant, and someone I was intimately attached to. Of her I wrote poetry and wrote songs. She was in my thoughts, in my heart, and I would have in an instant given my life for her. It was that grand sort of feeling from which country songs and sappy romantic comedies pour forth. That is the well I drank of and it was indeed real. Yet it was not from God and so it was brought to a crashing end, for which I am each day grateful and each day regretful for my sin in its pursuit. So, let me ask you this..

Do you think that the lost man loves his wife less? Do you think the lost woman loves her child less? Does not the sacrifice of the lost man for his family look a great deal like Christ’s sacrifice? Does the sacrificial love of that mother not resemble in so deep, so natural a way, that love that God the Father has for His sons and daughters? Thus also the Christian may be in love, may share a love that is very like Christ’s but is not from Christ. It is a temptation for those in such a position to say, ‘oh, but I could not feel a love this true if it were not from God.’ This is only partly true. No man could feel any love so true were we not created in the image of God. We know love in the same way we know wisdom, truth, beauty, and justice; we know them because we were created by a God who embodies those characteristics, in whom they are defined. Do not be deceived by some current of noble sentiment. Do not be overwhelmed by such emotional tides for they will carry you no closer to Christ. They are the waves that ripple out from that true Fount and it is at that Fount where all good things lie.

Next time I’ll address what I intended to talk about in this post.. maybe.. and that is the preparation of a man to love and be loved.

With Love,
EP

Jesus is the monopolizer of all loveliness

From Charles Spurgeon's sermon, "THE BEST BELOVED"

"No words can ever express the gratitude we owe to Him who
loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins.

The love of Jesus is unutterably precious,
and worthy of daily praise.

No songs can ever fitly celebrate the triumphs of that
salvation which he wrought single-handed on our behalf.

The work of Jesus is glorious beyond all comparison, and
all the harps of angels fall short of its worthy honor.

We prize his bounty to us, but we worship HIM.

His gifts are valued, but he himself is adored.

While we contemplate, with mingled feelings of awe,
admiration, and thankfulness, his atonement, his resurrection,
his glory in heaven, and his second coming, still it is Christ
himself, stupendous in his dignity as the Son of God,
and superbly beautiful as the Son of man, who sheds an
incomparable charm on all those wonderful achievements,
wherein his might and his merit, his goodness and his
grace appear so conspicuous.

For HIM let our choicest spices be reserved,
and to HIM let our sweetest anthems be raised.

Our choicest ointment must be poured upon his head, and for his
own self alone our most costly alabaster boxes must be broken.

"He is altogether lovely."

Not only is his teaching attractive, his doctrine persuasive,
his life irreproachable, his character enchanting, and his work
a self-denying labor for the common good of all his people,
but he himself is altogether lovely.

Do not look for anything lovely outside of Jesus,
for he has all the loveliness.

All perfections are in him making up one consummate
perfection; and all the loveliness which is to be seen
elsewhere is but a reflection of his own unrivalled charms.

Jesus is the monopolizer of all loveliness.

He is the engrosser of all that is admirable in the entire universe."

What's Love Got To Do With It?

There is something stirring in our little corner of the blogosphere...

And it deals not with high theology, nor politics, nor church discipline, nor is it difficult to explain...

Okay, well perhaps it IS difficult to explain. And perhaps it does have some theological strings attached, and may effect some political ideals, and weigh in on some aspects of church discipline......alright, okay, I give up! Let me tell you...

Our little niche of cyberspace is abuzz with LOVE! Love is in the proverbial air, shall we say. Questions are brewing like, "What is it?", "Who are we to 'feel' it for?", "Is it predominately a 'feeling' or is it mostly a 'mindset'?", "Is it a question that can be tackled, this question of love?", and frankly - "WHERE DO WE BEGIN?" And to be clear from the outset - primarily, the question thus far has dealt with 'ooey gooey' love, otherwise known as romantic love. You know, that kinda of love that Hollywood makes into some idol for all "meaningful" relationships to worship. Romantic love, in and of itself, is not idolatrous in all expressions. However, much of what masquerades as love today...is just that...a masquerade. What we are seeking here is the essense of love, the purpose that God intended it to bear for men and women, and our responsibilty to live out that purpose in a biblical manner.

Paul said in Romans 11:36, speaking of God, "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." To do justice to our question of love, and give due diligence to our answer, this discussion must flow "from him, through him, and to him". The gift of love is certainly not the same as the gift of faith. And the gift of hope is most definately not the same as the gift of faith. But the foundation of them all, the mighty river of which these streams emit is God himself. "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." - Revelation 22:1

Man..."a pure river of water of life"! Talk about crazy awesome! Okay, so where am I going with all this? Love, rightly expressed and spiritually centered, should flow from God, through God, and to God...just like everything else. And like it's counterparts, faith and hope, there are somethings about love that are unexplainable apart from the mighty workings of God himself. That being said, I think it is well worth the time and effort to seek out God's plan for love in our lives; it's past applications (spiritually in justification), it's present implications (spiritually in sanctification), and it's future ramifications(spiritually in glorification).

EP began tackling some greek definitions of love and its effect on our discussion in his previous post, and Travis at Stepping In Faith has been leading his own study into this heavenly gift of God.

All in all, it looks to be a good series...

I'm excited to see what the Lord does with it,
Bro. Hank ><>

To Love or not to Love.. Is that a Question?

I'm writing about this topic because my interest was peaked by Travis' recent post over at steppinginfaith. I'll be dealing with this issue in some depth next month in the gospel of the kingdom class so this will be a good little precursor.

Love is a crazy, captivating sort of thing and those who have been in love before are well aware of the emotional roller coaster ride it can and often does entail. This is a massive subject. Let's see where we go in this post..

First, there are different kinds of love. The Greek texts give us four different words for what we commonly refer to as 'love.'

Agape- this word is used to denote a sacrifical sort of love and we are familiar with it in NT usage in such passages as John 3:16 and the like

Eros- associated with a passionate love, a desiring or longing. the root for our word 'erotic'

Philia- friendship affection

Storge- typically used for family relationships

It always helps to define the terms. C.S. Lewis takes these four Greek words and speaks on them in one of my favorite books, The Four Loves. I would highly recommend it. The introduction is a bit difficult as it challenges some conceptual misconceptions we have but it is really great reading. That being said, the type of love Travis was discussing in his opening paragraph is not strictly within any one of these categories. That is the difficulty. However, if we understand these well it is much easier to discern where the weight of our true feelings lies. However there's not really space for that here.

The love we may feel towards a person of the opposite sex may be purely eros. We call that lust. It's fairly easy to spot. It may be purely Philia where we just have friends of the opposite sex who, though attractive, we are not attracted to. We often have agape love for our closest friends whom we would do anything for and these too we are pretty aware of. These are the people who we would willingly give our lives for (Jesus gave His for everyone, I'm not quite there yet honestly) and we probably know who they are. Storge, we love our family, that should be a given. The thing that makes it complicated is that the person you marry, you will love in ALL of these ways. You will love them sacrificially, you will love them passionately, you will love them as your deepest friend, and they will be with you as one flesh, closest family.

Love is difficult to describe (this is in a movie, but I can't think of it) because when you are in it, you can't explain it and when you aren't you either don't want to think about it or it doesn't make any sense. But, I've thought about it quite a bit, both in and out of it because I can't help thinking about things; it's just how I work.

Philia, Storge, and Agape have their own sort of traps and confusions, but honestly, for a single person, we don't have too many sleepless nights over them. I don't really lay awake at night thinking about how much I love my enemies or how much I love my friends and family or my dog. It's when you throw in eros that everything gets confusing because it overwhelms the senses, reason, and often our better judgment. Eros can make you do stupid things by itself but when combined with the other loves it becomes even more hazardous (potentially more beautiful if God's grace reigns). It is of great importance to recognize this.

Travis makes the point that 'thinking' you are in love is not the same as 'thinking you are a Calvinist' or 'thinking you are about six feet tall' or 'thinking the sun is hot.' I understand his point and it's a good one. But in some ways, thinking you are in love is exactly the same as those things. You think you are a Calvinist because you aren't completely sure of what that means or how it works. You think you are about six feet tall because you don't have something immediately at hand to compare it to (i.e. a tape measure). You think the sun is hot because that's what you were told, but you haven't been there so you just aren't sure. In fact, you think all of those things for different reasons (factual, experiential, perceived value) and you can think you are in love for many different reasons. If you are thinking that, then you are almost certainly in one of the four categories of love above. When we say 'in love' we usually mean eros plus. Being in love often confuses us emotionally and perplexes us mentally so we are unsure of what our true feelings are, thus we may well 'think' we are in love.

I might post some more on this later. It's an interesting topic and I did little to breach it in this short diatribe.

Until next time,
EP

J.B. Gambrell on the kind of preaching we need

Posted by Founders Ministries

J. B. Gambrell was Southern Baptist leader whose life spanned the War Between the States and the First World War. He served as editor of two state Baptist newspapers as well as teacher at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Corresponding Secretary of the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and 3 terms (1917-1920) as President of the Southern Baptist Convention. His call for a certain kind of preaching is more needed today than it was when he originally issued it.

"We may invigorate our faith and renew our courage by reflecting that divine power has always attended the preaching of doctrine, when done in the true spirit of preaching. Great revivals have accompanied the heroic preaching of the doctrines of grace, predestination, election, and that whole lofty mountain range of doctrines upon which Jehovah sits enthroned, sovereign in grace as in all things else. God honors the preaching that honors him. There is entirely too much milk-sop preaching nowadays trying to cajole sinners to enter upon a truce with their Maker, quit sinning and join the church. The situation does not call for a truce, but for a surrender. Let us bring out the heavy artillery of heaven, and thunder away at this stuck-up age as Whitefield, Edwards, Spurgeon, and Paul did and there will be many slain in the Lord raised up to walk in newness of life."

"Behold, I Am Vile!"

(Thomas Brooks, "Heaven on Earth" 1667)

"You will remember your conduct and all the actions by
which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe
yourselves for all the evil you have done." Ezekiel 20:43

True repentance includes a loathing and abhorring of sin,
and of ourselves for sin.

The sincere penitent loathes his sins, and be loathes himself
also because of his sins. He cries out, "Oh these wanton eyes!
Oh these wicked hands! Oh this deceitful tongue! Oh this
crooked will! Oh this corrupt heart! Oh how do I loathe my
sins, how do I loathe myself! My sins are a burden to me, and
they make me a burden to myself! My sins are an abhorrent
to me, and they make me abhor myself in dust and ashes!"

A true penitent has not only low thoughts of himself, but
loathsome thoughts of himself. None can think or speak
so vilely of a Christian--as he thinks and speaks so vilely
of himself. "Behold, I am vile!" Job 40:4

"They will loathe themselves for the evil they have done
and for all their detestable practices." Ezekiel 6:9

Prayer, in answer

Look, I don't have any advanced theological training or hundreds of thousands of people who read what I write, a knowledge of Greek or Hebrew or really much of anything that qualifies me for addressing most any topic, except the Word of God and the Spirit of God. That being said.. I want to look at a couple of things from the post on prayer from Brother Dan Phillips over at the Pyro Blog Brother Hank put up and requested people leave some feedback on.

1. "Prayer is not a dialogue. Prayer is not a conversation. Prayer has no intrinsic power, whatever."What?! Heresy!"Show me from the Bible. In the Bible, what I say to God is prayer, what He says to me is revelation, it is prophecy. If I am a Christian, I talk to Him. If He talks directly to me, unmediated, I am a prophet, or a seer. And I'm neither; nor are you."

I agree prayer, by definition, is not a dialogue. It is a one way communication to God. I'm all about being clear and defining terms so I won't take issue with that. I will say that there IS communication between man and God (prayer) as well as communication between God and man. While prayer is not a conversation, I can have conversations with God and He does speak to me through the Holy Spirit (John 14:26, Luke 21:15). And to say that prayer has no intrinsic power is both right and wrong. It's right that prayer to a false god or prayer from a false heart has no power. BUT, and I repeat BUT 'proper' prayer does have intrinsic value because God has given it intrinsic value. It's God's power, God's ability, I completely agree but prayer has power because God gave it power. He said, 'whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give you," (John 16:23) and "You will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7) and "they ought always to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1), and 2 Thess. 1:11 "to this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power." Old Testament? "Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you, and all who are yours" (Gen. 20:7), and 2 Chron. 7:14, "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." and on, and on and on. Prayer has power intrinsically, specifically because God gave it that power. He is compelled by it, not by man's volition but by His own.

I also don't appreciate the final comment quoted above especially if I have interpreted his meaning correctly. If there's one thing I dislike almost as strongly as the denial of the Sovereignty of God or the Exclusivity of Christ, it's cessationism. Get your dadgum head out of a book. That's all I've got to say (Acts 2:17- Peter is exegeting the OT, we might want to listen- And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days will I pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy..) People prophesied in the Bible, through revelation from God who were not apostles and that continues today. It's a different standard. It's not inerrant or infallible, rather it is to be judged according to the Word (1 Thess. 5:20-21, Do not despise prophecies, but test everything, hold fast to what is good). Let me just quote one more verse on this, 1 Cor. 14:6, "Now brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues (gasp), how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?" Goodness, is that not clear enough? I'm with Tozer on this one when he said, paraphrasing, 'the church would be radically different if people would spend as much time seeking to be filled with the Spirit as they do trying to prove that you can't be.'

It's like this: If I'm walking along one day with a friend and I say, 'hey, you know I heard people can actually fly.' And he says, 'no, no that's not possible. That's just an old wives tale. People a long time ago maybe could, but not anymore, those things don't happen. We're living in a 'ground only' dispensation.' So, I say, 'oh, ok..' But then.. I look up into the sky and I see people flying, and I'm like.. what the? But I thought? And then they swoop down and shout out, 'hey you should really be up here instead of just hanging out on the ground man.' So.. who do I believe? Do I believe the person who tells me from lack of experience that something is not possible, or do I believe the person who from experience, and Scripture points to something else. Not a tough call for me. I've seen a demon cast out. 'But that doesn't happen anymore.' Umm.. I beg to differ. I've seen people afflicted or temporarily possessed or some weird something too. I've heard people speak in tongues with interpretation. I've seen people prophesy and know things no one knew about a person without ever having met them. I've been in the presence of healings. I hate to.. no, I LOVE to tell you, that the New Testament promises of the Spirit and its power still apply to us today. I'm not some crazy snake holding charasmatic. I go to a Southern Baptist church. I'm also a doctrine of the elect, reformed type of person. And I believe in the Biblical use, validity and importance of ALL of the gifts.. Moving on..

2. "But the weapon isn't prayer (Ephesians 6:18). That's just us talking to God. Our words are without intrinsic power. I don't think that us talking, per se, scares demons. In fact, I'm pretty sure that sometimes it cracks them up."

Umm... Well, define 'weapon.' It's my communication with God, so yeah, it's kind of like a flare gun. But we do have power through the work of Christ, through the Holy Spirit within us to drive out darkness where we find it so those words we speak are a weapon. Those words are not 'prayer' in so much as they are not directed to God but from God, through His Spirit in us. However, if my prayer, in line with the will of God is like Hezekiah's prayer in 1 Kings 19. "
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. " In answer to that prayer, the Lord sent an angel who wiped out 185,000 Assyrian troops in one night. That's a pretty powerful weapon. My view is much more that we are the weapon or tool in the hand of God and not vice versa though He does equip us for battle. Nevertheless God does grant us, according to His will and divine purpose, power in the nature of prayer.

I completely agree that the devil is not too concerned about what we can or can't do or our own perceived power because we have NONE. Sure, us talking doesn't scare demons at all. Us talking to God.. about their destruction? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that might get them riled up a little.

I'll close with this, from Charles Spurgeon on prayer. (just so I don't get any 'you must only read charasmatic, pentecostal authors' comments). From a message delivered May 9th 1880, found here.

"Samuel’s prayers were so prevalent that the very elements were controlled by him. Oh, the power of prayer! It has been ridiculed: it has been represented as an unscientific and an unpractical thing, but we who daily try it know that its power cannot be exaggerated, and do not feel even a shadow of doubt concerning it. There is such power in prayer that it “moves the arm that moves the world.” We have but to know how to pray, and the thunder shall lift up its voice in answer to our cry, and Jehovah’s arrows shall be scattered abroad to the overthrowing of his adversaries. How should those be able to judge of prayer who never ask at all, or never ask in faith? Let those bear witness to whom prayer is a familiar exercise, and to whom answers from God are as common as the day. Over a father’s heart no power has so great a control as his child’s necessity, and in the case of our Father who is in heaven it is especially so. He must hear prayer, for he cannot dishonor his own name, or forget his own children. "

Signing Off,
EP

What prayer is and isn't

Dan Phillips from over at the Pyromaniacs just posted this insightful/digging post on "What prayer is and isn't". Let me know what y'all think...

Bro. Hank ><>

======================
What prayer is and isn't
by Dan Phillips

Preface: with all of yesterday's hilarity, I feel like some dour, prunefaced prig coming in with this serious-subject post. But Frank has decided Thursday's my day, so if I sit on it, he'll mock me. But then again, if I post it, he'll mock me, so... oh well, once more into the breach.

The minefield that is prayer. I can't think of one specific doctrine, offhand, which is more tradition-laden, and buried under sentimentality, than that of prayer.

For that very reason, it's a risky topic. Step in any direction, and you land on someone's toes. Worse, diverge from the "party line," and it's as if you're insulting Mom. Only a fool, or someone with nothing to lose, would knowingly poke a stick at that particular venerated bovine. (Say, why are you looking at me like that?)

Christianoid notions. Common Christian coinage describes prayer as a conversation, declares that "there is power in prayer," makes prayer out to be the be-all and end-all of Christian living. Prayer is "the greatest power on earth," we're told. Is this Scriptural thinking?

Think of Frank Peretti's Darkness books. I read one or two. I thought them imaginative and fast-moving, but neither great theology nor great literature.

In his imagination, Peretti pulls the curtain aside on the spiritual battle that Scripture describes. He shows demons and angels alike in action, makes up their dialogue, fantasizes their attempts to ruin or protect human beings.

Here's what sticks in my mind. What do you suppose strikes terror into Peretti's demons? When does everything start to turn around, for the demons' defeat and the saints' victory? It's when the saints pray. Nothing scares fallen angels, apparently, like praying Christians.

Now, it strikes me that all of this is backwards at worst, sideways at best.

Biblical teaching. What is prayer, in the Bible? It's one thing, and one thing only: prayer is talking to God. Period. That's it. It might be talking in the form of praise, petition, confession, supplication, exclamation, or a host of other forms. It might be talking to God while happy (Psalm 43:4), sad (Psalm 42:9), mad (Psalm 10:15), hurried (Nehemiah 2:4), guilty (Psalm 51:1), busy and distracted (Nehemiah 4:9), or near death (Acts 7:59-60). But it all boils down to that one irreducible: prayer is what you say to God.

No arguments so far? Great. Now fasten your seatbelts, and consider this:...(click here for the rest)

The Cross, The Proof

By: A. A. Hodge

==========================
"I think the first essential mark of the difference between true and false assurance is to be found in the fact that the true works humility. There is nothing in the world that works such satanic, profound, God-defiant pride as false assurance; nothing works such utter humility, or brings to such utter self-emptiness, as the child-like spirit of true assurance. Surely this can be known. If a person is self-confident, there is self-assurance; if there is any evidence of pride in connection with his claim, it is a most deadly mark- it is the plague-spot which marks death and corruption. But if there is utter humility, you have the sign of the true spirit.
This will manifest itself in connection with another mark. If one is really united to Christ in a union so established that Christ is indeed in possession of the soul, the whole consciousness will be taken up with what I would call Christ-consciousness, and there will be no self-consciousness. Little children are very prompt to show their character. There is a great difference in them. Bring a child into a room. She comes thinking about nothing in particular, looking at her mother, then looking at the guests or anything that objectively strikes her, not thinking of herself. That is pure, sweet, and lovely. She grows older, and she comes to think of herself and what people think of her, and her manner has lost its unconsciousness. A great deal of what you call bashfulness is rottenness at the heart; it is self-consciousness. Nothing in the world so tends to defile the imagination, to pervert the affections, and to corrupt the morals, as self-consciousness. You know it is connected with every diseased and morbid action of the body.

A young woman told me that she wanted the witness of the Spirit, and she talked about it everlastingly; she wanted to tell her own experience and feelings always. I told her she must forget herself, not think of her own feelings. The man who is talking about his love unceasingly has no love; the man who is talking about his faith unceasingly has no faith: the two things cannot go together. When you love, what are you thinking about? Are you not thinking about the object of your love? And when you believe, what are you thinking about? Why, the object that you believe. Suppose you ask yourself, 'Am I believing?' Why, of course you are not believing when you are thinking of believing. No human being believes except when he thinks about Christ. Am I loving? Of course I am not loving when I am thinking about loving. No human being loves except when he is thinking about Christ as the object of his love.

In Virginia I once saw one human being in whom there was the perfect work of grace, as far as I could see as her pastor, and I was intimate with her six years. Even on earth she was one of those who had made their garments white in the blood of the Lamb, and she seemed always to walk upon the verge of heaven. I never heard her speak of any one particular of her character or of her own graces. I have come out of the pulpit when the congregation had gone, and have found her upon her knees in her pew, absolutely unconscious of all external objects, so far was she absorbed in worship. When I roused her from her trance, she cried instantly, 'Is He not holy? Is He not glorious? Is He not beautiful? is He not infinite?' She did not speak of her own love or of her feelings.

A great deal of Perfectionism is rotten to the core. All self-consciousness is of the very essence and nature of sin. Then, again, true confidence leads necessarily to strong desires for more knowledge and more holiness, for unceasing advances of grace.

I was told once, in a congregation where I preached, that I need not tell a certain young man anything about religion; he had finished it - that is, that, having finished it, he found nothing else to do. That is what the word 'perfect' means. Now, when a man has finished eternal life, when he has finished learning all the revelation of God, when he has experienced all the infinite benefits of Christ's redemption, when he has finished all the mysterious work of the Holy Ghost in his heart, he ought to be annihilated. There is no place in heaven or on earth for such a man.

But a man who really has the love of God in his heart is always reaching forward to the things which are before. The more he loves, the more he wants to love; the more he is consecrated, the more consecration he longs for. He has grand ideas and grand aims, but they lie beyond him in heaven."

Quote Tracker

Travis Mitchell from Stepping In Faith:

"Someone might say bad doctrine is primarily the individual’s fault and secondarily the institution’s, but to that assertion I ask the question, “from where does good doctrine come, if not from institutionalized instruction?” Our culture – in all its privatized glory – has pitched us the idea that we learn best what we figure out ourselves, and the church has bought it. While to some degree this statement rings true, there is another, more biblical approach with which we must recon ourselves to. It is called discipleship; teaching; instruction. The bible calls it all of these things and more. Did Paul not command Timothy, his disciple, to take what he had been taught and entrust it to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Tim. 2:2)? Did Jesus not commission his disciples to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19)? I am afraid that much of modern missions is centered around the idea of evangelizing the nations. Jesus, rather, said to indoctrinate the nations! Therefore, beloved, I plead with you to be disciple-makers. For God’s sake, be disciple-makers. If we will not heed this Scriptural mandate, the church will surely fall to the cults. For they, you can be assured, disciple well."

Grace, grace!

(Thomas Brooks, "Heaven on Earth" 1667)

"That no flesh should glory in His presence." 1 Corinthians 1:29

"God does not look for any goodness or merit in the creature to draw His love--but He will justify, pardon, and save for His name's sake. All the motives which move God to show mercy are in His own bosom.

Salvation is only from free grace, and not from anything good in us, or done by us.

God is free to bestow His promises upon whomever He pleases.
He often steps over the rich, and chooses the poor;
He often steps over the learned, and chooses the ignorant;
He often steps over the strong, and chooses the weak;
He often steps over the sweet nature, and chooses the wicked nature;
He often steps over the noble, and chooses the vile; etc.,
that no flesh may glory, and that all may shout out "Grace, grace!"

"By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10"
=================

Did you catch that? By HIS grace! Not by our grace, not by our attainment are we what we are today. No, we are here today reading this post because of the mighty GRACE of GOD. In fact, we ARE ... because of the GRACE of GOD. Our physical presence here at the computer screen is due only to God's GRACE. Our spirituality is because of the GRACE of God. Our edifying gifts are ours, only in as much as they were given to us by the GRACE of GOD for their use to exhibit HIS GRACE to the body of believers, called to be HIS church. We literally, physically, spiritually, metaphorically, figuratively ARE... ONLY because of GOD'S fantastic GRACE. What's more, all that we posses, both physically and spiritually is only by the GRACE of GOD. Do you see the importance here? This is not something that can be glazed over in order to "get to the heart of the gospel"....God's grace IS THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL. What is more GRACE-FULL than the King of Kings, coming down from His throne to redeem those that were lost? What can be closer to the heart of the gospel than that?

With all this being said, we can unashamedly and truthfully say, that without God's grace, we would be base men, bondmen, beggarly men, blind men, deformed men, disconsolate men, dead men, and damned men. But God's GRACE came down! God's grace was and is preeminent and preemptive in all matters of the salvation of men. Before the foundations of the world, GOD'S GRACE was in action (Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:20). What man can boast that he sought salvation for himself, "before the foundation of the world"? No, not one, so "that no flesh should glory in His presence." 1 Corinthians 1:29.

Quit your glorying in the flesh, and recognize and rejoice that Jehovah God SOUGHT YOU! That 'good news' is enough to lift even the heaviest of spirits, and lighten the heaviest of loads.

Grace, Grace!
Bro. Hank ><>

The Indecency of Assisted Suicide

By Peter A. Lillback president of Westminster Theological Seminary

"Death is universal. Apart from the intervention of the second advent of Christ, every human being will die. But how humans should die is a point of keen debate in the history of ethics.


Christians and non-Christians have deeply disagreed over the ethical validity of “non-natural” means of human death, namely suicide, abortion, infanticide, capital punishment, war, and euthanasia. And even among Christians there have been deep disagreements over whether these means of human death are ever legitimate. Specifically, then, what should a Christian think about the surging interest in euthanasia in our largely non-Christian culture?


For a host of reasons including advancements in medical technology, the aging of America, and the increasing impact of the secularization of our society, the concept of “quality of life” continues to supplant the concept of “sanctity of life.” Not surprisingly, the practice of euthanasia, simply translated as “the good death,” is a topic of increasing interest and concern.


The stories of Karen Ann Quinlan, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the Hemlock Society, and most recently Terri Shiavo have filled the news. “Death with dignity,” “mercy killing,” “the right to die,” or “physician assisted suicide” identify some of the claims of the advocates of euthanasia. As recently as May 12, 2006, CNN International.com reported the debate in Britain’s House of Lords over a right-to-die law.


To consider the issues surrounding euthanasia, or the alleged “good death,” it is essential to understand how we, as a society, have arrived at the point where legislators are discussing not how we are to live, but how we are to die..." (read the rest of this article here)

A Thousand Wounds

(Thomas Brooks, "Heaven on Earth" 1667)

"For I know my transgressions, and my
sin is always before me." Psalm 51:3

Sin most afflicts a gracious soul.

The deer, feeling within her the working of the serpent's
poison--runs through the thorns and thickets, and runs
over the green and pleasant pastures--that she may drink
of the fountain and be cured.

Just so, gracious souls, being sensible of the poison and
venom of sin, run from the creatures, which are but as
thorns and thickets; and run over their own duties and
righteousness, which are but as pleasant pastures--to
come to Christ the fountain of life--that they may drink
of those waters of consolation, of those wells of salvation
which are in Him, and cast up and cast out their spiritual
poison, and be cured forever.

Believers know that their sins do most pierce and grieve
the Lord. The sins of God's people, provoke Him most, and
sadden Him most--and this makes them sigh and groan it
out, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from
this body of death?" Romans 7:24

If a snake were to sting your dearly beloved spouse to
death--would you preserve it alive, warm it by the fire,
and hug it in your bosom? Would you not rather stab it
with a thousand wounds?

===============

What grace we have been preserved with!

Bro. Hank ><>

Media and Earnest Preaching

By Tony S. Reinke (orignal post)

"We don’t live in the Stone Age or Bronze Age, our era is rightly called the Information Age. We are buried alive in books, blogs, emails, websites, magazines, etc. And so are the hearers of our sermons. So why is the message of the Bible more important than the latest war headline from CNN? The listeners to our sermons may not see a big difference between the two, especially as the Middle East is birthing the next world war and gas prices close in on $4 a gallon. And those seem to have more ‘real’ impact today on sinners then dangers of a spiritually loose life now and eternity to come. What is needed (no, required!) in the Information Age is earnest preaching. Long before blogs and websites John Angell James wrote the following:

“Will anyone deny that we want an earnest ministry to break in some degree the spell, and leave the soul at liberty for the affairs of the kingdom which is not of this world? When politics have come upon the minds, hearts, and imaginations of the people, for six days out of the seven, invested with the charms of eloquence, and decked with the colors of party; when the orator and the writer have both thrown the witchery of genius over the soul; how can it be expected that tame, spiritless, vapid common-places from the pulpit, sermons coming neither from the head nor the heart, having neither weight of matter, nor grace of manner; neither genius to compensate for the want of taste, nor taste to compensate for the want of genius; and what is still worse, having no unction of evangelical truth, no impress of eternity, no radiance from heaven, no terror from hell; in short, no adaptation to awaken reflection, to produce conviction, or to save the soul; how can it be expected, I say, that such sermons can be useful to accomplish the purposes for which the gospel is to be preached? What chance have such preachers, amidst the tumult, to be heard or felt, or what hold have they upon public attention, amidst the high excitement of the times in which we live? Their hearers too often feel, that listening to their sermons on the Sabbath, after what they have heard or read during the week, is as if they were turning from brilliant gas-light to the dim and smoking spark of tallow and rush [a candle].”

- John Angell James, An Earnest Ministry: The Want of the Times (Banner of Truth, 1847/1993) pp. 194-195.

“And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:3-5, ESV)."

Psalm 14:1 – "No God"

From "The Shepherds Scrapbook" by Tony S. Reinke

"I think many of us know Psalm 14:1 by heart: "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" But apparently I did not know the meaning of this verse by heart. Actually the two words, "there is" are not in the Hebrew text. The verse should more accurately be translated: "The fool says in his heart, 'No God.'" It's not that the fool does not believe in God’s existence but that for him/her God is unnecessary. As Lawson writes,

"The term is a synonym for sinner, and it describes everyone who has no place for God in his or her life. The fool's problem is that his heart refuses the knowledge of God. To be sure, he is not an intellectual atheist, denying the existence of God, but a practical atheist, living as if there were no God (Pss. 53:1; 74:18,22; Isa. 32:6)." [Holman Old Testament Commentary: Psalms 1-75, p. 75]"

The Proof is in the Pudding..so to speak

That history of that phrase is available here; suffice it to say it means the true quality of something is found when it is put to the test.

From an AP article found here:

"An al-Qaida-linked extremist group warned Pope Benedict XVI on Monday that he and the West were "doomed," as protesters returned to the streets across the Muslim world to demand more of an apology from the pontiff for his remarks about Islam and violence."

"The pope on Sunday said he was "deeply sorry" about the angry reaction to his speech last week in which he cited the words of a Byzantine emperor who characterized some of the teachings of Islam's Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman" and referred to spreading Islam "by the sword."

"The group said Muslims would be victorious and addressed the pope as "the worshipper of the cross" saying "you and the West are doomed as you can see from the defeat in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya and elsewhere. ... We will break up the cross, spill the liquor and impose head tax, then the only thing acceptable is a conversion (to Islam) or (killed by) the sword."

So we've probably all heard about the huge outcry the Pope's comments last week have caused throughout the Muslim community, very similiar to the outrage expressed last year with the Danish cartoons. Am I the only one that reads these stories and laughs out loud? The headline could read "Islamic protestors threaten violence over comments made naming Islam as a violent religion." Honestly, that's exactly what the article says. Why were they upset and burning churches and burning the pope in effigy, burning American flags, etc? Because the Pope said 20 words in a 5,000 word address that portrayed Islam in a negative light. Oh, Islam is not violent and just for saying that, we're going to kill you. Way to make your point guys. Anger and outrage are great ways to show the world how peaceful your religion is.

Maybe I'll post about Islam more extensively another day because it will be something we will deal with a lot in the years to come and it will help to be knowledgeable about it. The truth is the follower of Islam is simply blind the same way the follower of any other religion other than Christianity is. Goodness that's not a very tolerant or inclusive comment is it? But it is true. It's a religion with the worship of a false god, a different god than the true God of the Bible. This whole 'inter-faith' movement is really not at all something I want us to progress toward. I don't want us to work hand in hand, uniting with other religions. That seems like a terrible idea. Not that we should have a separist mentality in our lifestyle, but we shoud have that mentality in our beliefs. The truth is Islam and Christianity CANNOT peacefully co-exist nor will they ever be able to unless each reinterpret their belief system. Luther said the fact that we have these conflicts is a sure sign that the kingdom of God is at work against the kingdom of darkness. God help us if we ever see peace on earth prior to Christ's return.

Signing Off,
EP

*disclaimer: I am not saying Christians and Muslims cannot peacefully co-exist, though that may be tenable as well, I'm saying the ideologies cannot co-exist because they are at irreconcilable odds with each other. This post was about the belief systems and not the individuals who hold those beliefs.

The Lighter Side

Okay folks, if you haven't seen this, I think you'll be mildly entertained...

or cut&paste the link:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5267894961075966307&q=baby+got+book

especially for you Christian rappers out there, this guy's got some competetion for you...lol

And a couple of comics I got from Pastorway:






Enjoy your weekends, and this Lord's Day, glory in the cross of Christ!
Bro. Hank ><>

Baptist Covenant Theologians

By Jason E. Robertson of "Fide-O"

What Covenant Theology is not:

--It is not a response to dispensationalism, for dispensationalism, in fact, did not even exist until the nineteenth century.
--It does not teach paedobaptism, covenant successionism, paedocommunionism, or baptismal regenerationism.
--It does not teach any particular kind of eschatology.
--It does not teach any kind of philosophy of education such as homeschooling or Christian schools.
--It is not sectarian, but has roots from the early church to all the branches of the Reformed church.
--It is not anti-Semitic nor “replacement theology”, but CT teaches the fulfillment of the promises to Israel in the person and the work of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, who established the church in organic continuity with Israel, not a separate replacement entity.
--Covenant theology is a system of theology that explains the entire Bible in one systematized story organized around three great covenants (Redemption, Works, Grace). CT is a hermeneutic, an approach to understanding Scripture, biblically explaining the unity of biblical revelation...

(check out the rest of this awesome post here)

(and for more Fide-O info on Covenant Theology go here!)

Musician Theologians! Oxymoron????

By Scott Hill of "Fide-O"

"Blogging for me sometimes has an interesting dynamic. The reason I blog is to force myself to think through some of my own theology and philosophy of ministry and its consequences in my own life. It also gives you the readers a chance to agree, disagree, or say “this doesn’t interest me which is another check and balance. This is the benefit that I appreciate most about the blogging dynamic. However, sometimes being forced to carry out your thoughts is not pleasant. I can find I am wrong and have been for years. I can find I am right and no one cares. I can also discover that in a particular area I am right, yet it has such far reaching implications I might have been happier in ignorance. For sometimes truly ignorance is bliss.

That is the way I feel about today’s subject. After studying the bible, church history, and great pastors of the past I have finally decided that a person who takes on the responsibility for the corporate worship in our churches needs to be theologically trained and ordained. Hear me clearly. I am not saying that the person standing on the stage playing or leading the music must be this way. I am saying that the person responsible for what takes place in corporate worship, the person who carries the burden, from what is sung to how the offering is taken should be theologically trained and ordained.

For the last 50 or 60 years our corporate worship services have been turned over to musicians; men and women who have training in instrumentation and vocals, but not in theology. This has resulted in shallow theology being sung by our churches, which has resulted in shallow theology being advocated in our everyday lives. I believe we are seeing the fruit of this problem today in our church culture and the Christian music industry and its lunge feet first into secularism. Music at some point became about something other than the church. It developed into entertainment, which I don’t believe the music of the church was ever intended to be. This has carried over into the spectator model of corporate worship that so many churches embrace these days.

Another result is the fact that the word “worship” and “music” became synonymous in churches. Worship is relegated to 35 minutes once a week. The corporate worship service is no longer the singing of hymns, reading of scripture, testimony to God, exposition of the word. The worship service is the music and then we also have preaching. How can a musician pick songs with theologically sound lyrics if they really know theology?

Also, I believe they should be ordained. I have been thinking about this a lot lately since hearing Bob Kauflins seminar on Corporate Worship as Pastoral Care. I believe it takes someone with the heart and calling of a Pastor to take on the responsibility of corporate worship. Music only affects people emotionally. It does not affect them morally. The Word of God does that. The person taking on the responsibility for corporate worship must keep in mind that there is are bigger things taking place in that Sunday service than making people feel the right thing. It takes the heart of a shepherd to keep that focus from week to week and disciple people in spite of their opinions and preferences. Musicians focus on one thing, the music. Which is not a bad thing, but it is an extreme limitation on what is needed in corporate worship.

I know the crisis that some of you are in. This puts me at odds with some close friends of mine who are in this exact category. There are Pastors and musicians reading this who have the exact scenario I described as wrong in your church right now. You can either agree or disagree, but either way there are ramifications. I have friends who will read this and get mad at me and email me. I say go ahead and get mad, just don’t stop there. Consider what I say and if you believe I am right then make changes. (By the way I am right)."

Is Singing More Important Than Preaching?

By Scott Hill of "Fide-O"

"Is singing more important than preaching? The answer to the question in the title is obviously no. Paul didn’t say it is through the foolishness of singing that men will get saved. Yet, just how important is our time of corporate singing?

I have heard 1000’s of sermons in my life. In fact there is the possibility I have heard over 6000 sermons in my 34 years of life. How many of them do I specifically remember? How many of them do I think about on occasion and reapply the teaching? I don’t know, maybe 50 or 60. Maybe more if something jogs my memory. Yet, how many songs do I know every word to. 1000’s! Now I have a strange ability to remember lyrics and melody lines after one or two hearings of a song, but still most people remember 100’s of songs more than they remember sermons. I know this frustrates those of you that preach every Sunday, but the cold hard facts are its true. At least in our modern times.

I don’t believe this diminishes the importance of preaching. I believe it raises the level of responsibility for those of us who choose what our congregations sing from week to week. I get to use a format that attaches emotions to words through music. I also, unlike preachers, get to sing these words over and over again for decades solidifying them in the memories of the congregation. This brings with it a high level of accountability to those of us who choose congregational songs.

To sing songs in corporate worship for any other reason, other than the desire to teach the great truths of scripture, edify one another, and testify to what God has done for a congregation is a dangerous, dangerous game. Picking a song because of its popularity or its ease of use has no place in corporate worship. To flippantly choose a song without thoroughly checking its accuracy is no different than stepping to the mic to preach error. If you choose a song that teaches error then you have just taught that same error to your congregation. Do you think God will hold you responsible? I do.

To those of us who are responsible for the first half of our corporate worship services it is high time we see our responsibility and begin to take it seriously. We are teachers of the whole body and we will be held responsible for what is taught."

My King

written by Dr. S. M. Lockridge

My King was born King. The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King. He’s the King of the Jews – that’s a racial King. He’s the King of Israel – that’s a National King. He’s the King of righteousness. He’s the King of the ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of glory. He’s the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that’s my King. Well I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don’t try to mislead me. Do you know my King? David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork. My King is the only one whom there are no means of measure can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing. Well, well, He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. That’s my King. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s saviour. He’s the centrepiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s honest. He’s unique. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s pre-eminent. Well, He’s the grandest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the supreme problem in high criticism. He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology. He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That’s my King. He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. Well, He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He’s strong God and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek. Do you know Him? Well, my King is a King of knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory. He’s the master of the mighty. He’s the captain of the conquerors. He’s the head of the heroes. He’s the leader of the legislatures. He’s the overseer of the overcomers. He’s the governor of governors. He’s the prince of princes. He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King. Yeah. Yeah. That’s my King. My King, yeah. His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Well. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable. Yes. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. I’m coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explaining Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him. Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilot couldn’t find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my King. Yeah. He always has been and He always will be. I’m talking about He had no predecessor and He’ll have no successor. There’s nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign. That’s my King! That’s my King! Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We’re around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but it’s God’s power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honour and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? And ever and ever and ever and ever. And when you get through with all of the evers, then, Amen.

What is Success??

Well, while I am in a writing mood, I figured I'd tackle this one. Especially since some of the more difficult questions, like "What is Love?" was already answered so eloquently by the philosopher known as Haddaway...(come on- give a shout out to the 80's).

So what is success?? Well, let's first look at what is isn't. I'm an accounting and finance major, so I can tell you what message I get bombarded with: Power, Position, Prestige, and Paychecks. So many chase their lives in vain after such goals only to find nothing. Look at an example of some who did:

A popular story recounts a meeting that took place at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago in 1923. Attending this meeting were nine of the richest men in the world at that time: (1) Charles Schwab, President of the world's largest independent steel company; (2) Samuel Insull, President of the world's largest utility company; (3) Howard Hopson, President of the largest gas firm; (4) Arthur Cutten, the greatest wheat speculator; (5) Richard Whitney, President of the New York Stock Exchange; (6) Albert Fall, member of the President's Cabinet; (7) Leon Frazier, President of the Bank of International Settlements; (8) Jessie Livermore, the greatest speculator in the Stock Market; and (9) Ivar Kreuger, head of the company with the most widely distributed securities in the world.

Twenty-five years later, (1) Charles Schwab had died in bankruptcy, having lived on borrowed money for five years before his death. (2) Samuel Insull had died virtually penniless after spending some time as a fugitive from justice. (3) Howard Hopson was insane. (4) Arthur Cutten died overseas, broke. (5) Richard Whitney had spent time in Sing-Sing. (6) Albert Fall was released from prison so he could die at home. (7) Leon Fraizer, (8) Jessie Livermore, and (9) Ivar Kreuger each died by suicide. Measured by wealth and power these men achieved success, at least temporarily. Making a lot of money may be an acceptable goal, but money most assuredly does not guarantee a truly successful life. Check out the article that wrote these facts if you want to learn more here.

So what is success? Is it being happy or the new phrase of the 21th century, being "self actualized?" Is it volunteering at a soup kitchen, providing for your family, coaching a kids soccer league.... But no.

Success has nothing to do with anything you can do. Success has everything to do with God. Because you could lose everything and be a bum on a street corner. And if you know the Lord, you're a lot more successful than Bill Gates. Know the Lord. Really know Him. Don't know about Him. Know Him. And you never know someone if you don't spend time with Him. Someone once humbled me about my Bible reading by asking, "Jesus gave His life for you. Can't you give Him 15 minutes a day??" Read His word; it's the truth. In a world where everyone says everything is a matter of opinion, know the TRUTH. And as the saying goes, "the truth will set you free! Why, because it's the Gospel- it's Good News. Spend time with Him. Pray with Him. Pray continuously. And listen. Really listen to what He has to say. What would have happened if Abraham had obediently brought Isaac to the altar to sacrifice him, and then in his understanding brokenness, not listened to an angel of the Lord?? Christ came through Isaac.

And just as important, make Him known! Don't hold it inside. Would you cure cancer and not share it? Of course not. The Great Commission: Go unto all the world and what?? Preach the Gospel. Romans 10:14-15: "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!'" And y'all- This shouldn't be a burden! John 14:15, "If you will love me, you will obey my commandments." Listen to Jeremiah in 20:8, "But if I say, 'I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." If we don't want to share His word, we need to test ourselves. We need to test ourselves and see if we are in the faith.

I feel like I'm shouting here, but bear with me a little longer. These are fundamental things that we are called to do. Things that we are so blessed to get to do. How great is it that Our Father loved us so much to send His Son to die for us, all so we could have a relationship and be reconciled to Him. That's good y'all. That's good. Jesus is part of the Trinity, so God died for us. And if you are one of the chosen, God dwells in you with the Holy Spirit. That's incredible. So why don't we live like that? I mean, really, why?

Are you successful? Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb? Have you realized His grand purpose for you? Because if so, that's what matters- that's successful. Successful is being content in all your circumstances. Paul first wrote that and he had a lot of things happen to him in his life that don't foster living a life of content in the Lord. But he did. Success is knowing the Lord and making Him known. Success is making yourself a slave to Christ only to realize that you find a freedom you had never known in His grace and His love. Success is living a radical faith because God loves us radically and calls us to do so. We are called to be SOLD OUT to Christ. So whether that is in the corporate boardroom, the fields of Africa, or preaching to the penguins in Antartica, go with God. Submit yourself to Him... that is success. Period.

Solomon had it all. He had wisdom the world had never known. A kingdom that was unrivaled in power. Wives (and concubines) galore. He lived a life pursuing pleasure. He had it all, right? You know he realized? All of those things were to him- it was all "chasing after the wind." It was worthless. So what is the conclusion of the wisest man ever: "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
That is success....

The Lord Reigns...

(William S. Plumer, "The Rock of Our Salvation" 1867)

"The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty!" Psalm 93:1

"The Lord reigns! Let the nations tremble!" Psalm 99:1

Jesus Christ is--
Lord,
Master,
Governor,
Ruler,
Shepherd,
Prince,
Prince and Savior,
the great Prince,
the Prince of Life,
the Prince of Peace,
the Prince of princes,
the Prince of the kings of the earth,
a King,
the King,
the King of kings and Lord of lords!

He is God over all, blessed forever!

Christ's kingdom is universal. It includes all worlds,
all creatures, all causes. Nothing in heaven, nothing
in earth--is outside of it. His saints praise Him. The
angels adore Him. The devils are subject to Him. The
king's heart is in His hands, and He turns it wherever
He will. His kingdom rules over all.

His kingdom is supreme. Nothing can shake it. Worms
cannot spit their venom so as to reach the stars in their
course. Nor can puny mortals reach the person or the
power of our glorious Immanuel.

Christ's kingdom is omnipotent. By His own divine
efficiency He carries on His government. He upholds
all things by His powerful word. He does His will in
heaven and in earth. Not an empire rises or sinks,
but by His will. Not a sparrow falls to the ground,
without His notice. Every change on earth is by His
providence. He gives no account of any of His matters.

His work on His people is mighty.
He subdues them to Himself.
He reigns as their Lord and Master.
He chains their great adversary.
He subdues their iniquities.
He strips the world of its fatal fascinations.
He makes them willing in the day of His power.
He leads them into all necessary truth.

"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!"
Revelation 19:6
=======================================

Have you praised the Lord today for His work in your life? Or for His work among the nations? Indeed, even today, the Spirit of God is moving mightily over the face of the waters, and bringing light to those who have known only darkness and sin. Praise Him today! Our God is doing a GREAT work among His people, and we have been given the sight to see it...so let us not fail to use our spiritual eyes to praise the Lord, for His will is a PERFECT will; and His power is a LIFE CHANGING, SIN FORGIVING, EYE OPENING, JUSTIFYING, SANCTIFYING, GLORIFYING POWER!!! - ><> Bro. Hank

"Praise to God Who reigns above,
Binding earth and Heav’n in love;
All the armies of the sky
Worship His dread sovereignty.

Seraphim His praises sing,
Cherubim on fourfold wing,
Thrones, dominions, princes, powers,
Marshaled might that never cowers.

Speeds th’archangel from His face,
Bearing messages of grace;
Angel hosts His words fulfill,
Ruling nature by His will.

Yet on man they joy to wait,
All that bright celestial state,
For in man their Lord they see,
Christ, th’incarnate Deity.

On the throne their Lord Who died
Sits in manhood glorified;
Where His people faint below
Angels count it joy to go.


Now in faith, in hope, in love,
We will join the choirs above,
Praising, with the heav’nly host,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost." - Ri­chard M. Ben­son, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1861.

Want to be the next Dr. Phil??

So I seem to be giving a lot of relationship advice lately. It seems pretty much everyone I know that is in a relationship is either a) getting engaged or b) breaking up. In just the past week, I have had several friends in the latter category. As such, I've found myself being asked to give relationship advice, life advice, an inspiring message, etc. I've tried to keep the advice as Biblically based as I can and take as little credit as I can, but even I am aware of my shortcomings, which are so numerous it's only through the Grace of God that any good may come out of the ramblings that come out of my mouth as advice. But I stumbled across the blog of a Godly man I used to go to Church with back in high school and he seemed to be on a similar page. Here is what he had to say about it based on scripture from Matthew 3.

When I started doing counseling I was overcome with a sense of unworthiness. I thought: "Man, I have serious issues myself, but you are coming to me to help you fix yours?" Looking back on it, I think that sense of unworthiness may have been my best attribute as a counselor. It does not seem to help people when you give them all the answers. May be we all wish we could have Dr. Phil give us the answer to our problems, but in practice it does not seem to work.

John the Baptist was not going around giving out answers. Instead, he was taking confessions and asking people to repent before God. He knew that he was not worthy to give out answers, but that God had sent his Son to give us answers.

I have been around a little while and I have learned a few things about life. God has taught me my own lessons, which may be entirely different from someone else's lessons. Because of only learning my lessons, I am not really worthy to tell you what God has in store for you. But I can tell you that God has the answers; he is the teacher.

So while it may not be what you want to hear in the short run, trust that God has the answers revealed to you in His word and through quiet time in communion with Him. So stop wasting your time with Dr. Phil, Oprah, Dr. Laura or whatever Radio/TV personality captures your attention the most and be captivated by the One who gave His life up for you, to reconcile you to Himself, so that He could have a relationship with us. And that, my friends, means advice and a whole lot more.

“The Religious Life of Theological Students” by B. B. Warfield

“We are frequently told, indeed, that the great danger of the theological student lies precisely in his constant contact with divine things. They may come to seem common to him, because they are customary… The words which tell you of God’s terrible majesty or of his glorious goodness may come to be mere words to you, Hebrew and Greek words, with etymologies, and inflections, and connections in sentences… It is your great danger. But it is your great danger, only because it is your great privilege. Think of what your privilege is when your greatest danger is that the great things of religion may become common to you! Other men, oppressed by the hard conditions of life, sunk in the daily struggle for bread perhaps, distracted at any rate by the dreadful drag of the world upon them and the awful rush of the world’s work, find it hard to get time and opportunity so much as to pause and consider whether there be such things as God, and religion, and salvation from the sin that compasses them about and holds them captive. The very atmosphere of your life is these things; you breathe them in at every pore; they surround you, encompass you, press in upon you from every side. It is all in danger of becoming common to you! God forgive you, you are in danger of becoming weary of God! Do you know what this danger is? Or, rather, let us turn the question- Are you alive to what your privileges are? Are you making full use of them? Are you, by this constant contact with divine things, growing in holiness, becoming every day more and more men of God? If not, you are hardening! And I am here today to warn you to take seriously your theological study, not merely as a duty, done for God’s sake and therefore made divine, but as a religious exercise, itself charged with religious blessing to you; as fitted by its very nature to fill all your mind and heart and soul and life with divine thoughts and feelings and aspirations and achievements.”

–Benjamin B. Warfield, “The Religious Life of Theological Students.” Originally an address delivered by Warfield at the Autumn Conference at Princeton Theological Seminary on October 4, 1911.

-----------------
May God's Word, not become mere words to us; and may we not get so close to the trees, that we fail to see the forest...

Majesty......worship His Majesty!!!
Bro. Hank ><>

Hang your pride upon the gallows

"Who made you to differ?

It is grace, free, sovereign grace, which has made you to differ!

Should any here, supposing themselves to be the children of
God, imagine that there is some reason "in them" why they
should have been chosen, let them know, that as yet they are in
the dark, concerning the first principles of grace, and have not
yet learned the gospel.

If ever they had known the gospel, they would, on the other
hand, confess that they were less than the least- the offscouring
of all things- unworthy, ill-deserving, undeserving, and hell-
deserving, and ascribe it all to distinguishing grace, which has made them to differ; and to discriminating love, which has
chosen them out from the rest of the world.

Great Christian, you would have been a great sinner
if God had not made you to differ!

O! you who are valiant for truth, you would have been
as valiant for the devil if grace had not laid hold of you!

A seat in heaven shall one day be yours; but a chain in hell
would have been yours if grace had not changed you!

You can now sing his love; but a licentious song might have been
on your lips, if grace had not washed you in the blood of Jesus!

You are now sanctified, you are quickened, you are justified;
but what would you have been today if it had not been for the
interposition of the divine hand?

There is not a crime you might not have committed;
there is not a folly into which you might not have run.
Even murder itself you might have committed
if grace had not kept you.

You shall be like the angels; but you would have been like the
devil if you had not been changed by grace!

Therefore, never be proud- all the garments you have
are from above; rags were your only heritage.

Never be proud, though you now have a wide domain of grace;
you had once not a single thing to call yours own, except your
sin and misery.

You are now wrapped up in the golden righteousness of the
Savior, and accepted in the garments of the beloved!
But you would have been buried under the black mountain of
sin, and clothed with the filthy rags of unrighteousness,
if he had not changed you!

And are you proud?

Do you exalt yourself?

O! strange mystery, that you, who have borrowed everything,
should exalt yourself; that you, who have nothing of your own,
but have still to draw upon grace, should be proud- a poor
dependent pensioner upon the bounty of your Savior, and yet
proud; one who has a life which can only live by fresh streams of
life from Jesus, and yet proud!

Go, hang your pride upon the gallows, as high as Haman!
Hang it there to rot, and you stand beneath, and execrate it to all
eternity; for sure of all things most to be cursed and despised is
the pride of a Christian.

He, of all men, has ten thousand times more reason than any
other to be humble, and walk lowly with his God, and kindly and
humbly toward his fellow-creatures."
--
From Spurgeon's sermon, "The Fruitless Vine" delivered March 22, 1857.

There's no 'I' in 'me'

(link to above A-Team pic found here)


A couple of things before we start in.. Hank has really been digging up some gems as of late so I hope everyone else has gotten as much out of them as I have. Thanks for continually sharing what the Lord is showing you; all those things lost from 'hoary antiquity' as Spurgeon would call it. The post about love was right on and something we need to understand as we work out our salvation.

There are a couple of things I really want to get to but I might spread them out in a couple of posts; we'll see..

We've all heard the saying "there's no 'I' in T-E-A-M" right? The idea is that as participants on a team we are supposed to do what is in the best interest of the team and not in the best interest of ourselves. In fact, often what is in the best interest of the team will be in our best interest as well. I was watching ESPN a couple weeks ago during hurricane Katrina remembrance week and they were telling the story of one of last years Lousiana state champion basketball teams. The team was made up of guys from several different schools who had been displaced by the storm but because of the situation they were allowed to play as one team. Of course at first these players did not get along very well at all. Many had been stars at their respective schools and were unwilling to relinquish that role here. One player in particular believed himself to be of much greater value than the team and took it upon himself to do everything. The coach did a very interesting thing one day in practice. He gave that young man the ball and then had him play 1 on 5 against the rest of the team. The coach made his point. Up to then his stats were great but his team had been losing. After that lesson the team united and they went on to win the state championship (anyone want to speculate on how long it will be 'til they make a movie out of that one?). Obviously it was in that players best interests to play team basketball because in so doing they won the championship and he had a great season.

You can pick that moral out of just about every sports movie ( Remember the Titans, The Mighty Ducks, Finding Forrester, etc.). The clear truth is that what is best for the team is also, in most cases, best for you. The maxim 'there's no 'I' in 'team' ' is really a maxim against selfishness. Being selfish is rarely in one's long term best interest. It may work for a while, but eventually it will catch up with you for many reasons, but that's a rabbit trail.. back to the path.

Where could this truth be more important than in application of the kingdom life? I had a long post a week or so ago about our 'self' and in it I stated the importance of our 'selves' passing from memory. I want to continue that discussion for a moment...

As Christians we have been saved by the grace of God for the purpose of glorifying Him. There are good works He has prepared in advance for us to do, He knows the plans He has for His kingdom, He directs our steps, He guides us in the path of righteousness, He provides for our physical needs and our spiritual, emotional, intellectual, et. al. needs, He calls us for a purpose and works all things for our good and His glory. He trains us, He disciplines us, He instructs us, He prepares us. We are like a student enrolled in a lifelong course of training under the greatest instructor in and outside the universe. I say these things to stress the idea that we are God's creation, we are His servants, we are to seek His will, we are to be led by Him. Could I say that in a few more ways? This is God's universe, this is God's redemptive plan, this is God's eternal plan, this is God's restorative plan, this is God's perfect plan, this is God's kingdom. I am God's child by some miracle of grace called salvation..

I say ALL of that to reinforce the idea that my 'self' in all its nobility and grace and wonder (we do think that about ourselves sometimes don't we) and in all it's rottenness and wickedness and paltriness (apparent to a candid observer) has no place in the service of God. Ask yourself this question as I ask myself the same: What can I add to God?

I believe we often, very genuinely, very honestly, very intentionally go about doing God's work without God. If that's the case, then let's do some simple math:

God's work - God = work

Hmm.. well, that's not really that appealing is it... That's not what we were thinking when we heard the yoke was easy and the burden light. The God we worship is not a bedridden invalid. He is the Sovereign Lord of the universe. But so many people burn out, so many people leave the church, so many people get worn out serving and they implode. Why? Because it's their work, not God's work. Sure, the actions are often the same, but the root is completely different; it springs from a different place. I could duct tape apples to a dead apple tree and it wouldn't make the tree come back to life. Or I could tape apples in an orange tree and it wouldn't make the orange tree bear apples. Two things there:

1. Our work, our ministry, will cause us to implode and literally break down if it is not a product of God's work in our lives

2. If God is calling me to serve in a particular area, but I don't feel it's really spiritual enough or good enough for me so I do something 'bigger and better' it will not have the powerful impact I intended. If I am not a pastor but I decide I want to pastor, I will still not be a pastor. If I'm a businessman but I decide I want to be an astronaut, I am not an astronaut. I could pass it off for a while, but when I actually have to do something the truth will come out.

Many people, myself included, are in a rush to do awesome things for the kingdom of God. We are in a rush to mature, in a rush to be more Christlike, in a rush to know more, in a rush for the church to 'be the church' (whatever that means), in a rush for things to change, and that's great. We need to live life urgently because it's short, it's a vapor and I understand that. But at the same time, what happens when the apprentice decides he knows what's best? What happens when the sword bearer for the great knight decides, if he can carry the sword, he can also wield it? What happens? In a great act of valor and courage, the camera frames slow, the valiant young man (or woman) rushes out into battle, they raise the sword, they raise a yell and... they get killed. As almost an afterthought or accidental strike by the blade of an experience foe, they get leveled. All that training, all that time, and now.. broken.. dead. That's not what's best for the team. That's not what's best for the kingdom of God, it's not what's best for the church and it certainly isn't what's best for you (for me). Our passion must be towards God and not for God. I was watching a video from the resurgence conference
by Dr. Tim Keller and he said a major problem with Christians is this:

We base our Justification on our Sanctification meaning we live with the mistaken notion that:

-we are accepted because we obey, instead of
-we obey because we are accepted


If I may speak so boldly as to say what is in the Lord's interest and what is not, then I tell you: it is not in the best interest of the Lord for his leaders in training to take off their training wheels and ride off the precipice. We should press into the kingdom, into the Lord, being passionate about Him and then, at the appointed time, He will send us out. In the meantime let us endeavor to be faithful as David was while in the territory of the Philistines, while though waiting for the Lord to raise him up as king, did not sit idly but rather served and expanded the Lord's kingdom in whatever ways the Lord allowed him. Let us be eternally thankful there is an 'I' in 'CHRIST.'

p.s. I in no means mean to imply that God's work is not 'work.' Half of the equation is still work and that means trying and difficult, but it is also backed by the inexhaustible resources of God.

In the Perfector of our Faith,

EP