This Bread Always

Every Word of God is Pure (1)

2011-11-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

It happens every time I try to read the Bible through in a year…Leviticus. A dread falls over me. I read the one chapter quickly to get to the other stuff on my reading list that is more pleasant to my brain. I just have not valued the time spent pondering why eating a rock badger makes one unclean while eating a locust is clean. This year, I was trudging through what I thought was a

Love brings risk

2011-10-12T09:26:00.000-05:00

Read Dr. Moore’s latest on adoption. Not a cherub-playing-harp call, but a rugged-cross call.If you want your “dream baby,” do not adopt or foster a child: buy a cat and make-believe. Adopting an orphan isn’t ordering a consumer item or buying a pet. Such a mindset hurts the child, and countless other children and families. Adoption is about taking on risk as cross-bearing love.

T.D. Jakes and the Elephant in the room

2011-10-07T10:46:00.000-05:00

This isn’t on the scale of Piper inviting Warren. This is more akin to Augustine inviting Muhammad.Thabiti Anyabwile

Does Prayer Change Anything?

2011-09-08T15:56:00.000-05:00

D.A. Carson on a Sovereign and Personal God:In the Scriptures, believers not only pray for themselves, they ask for things. They ask God to change circumstances, to give them things, even to change his mind. In many passages, as we shall see, we are told that God, on hearing such prayers, "relented" which is not much different from saying that he "changed his mind."But if God changes his mind,

Is the New Testament Reliable? Even Bart Ehrman Says Yes

2011-09-03T13:36:00.000-05:00

I found this quote on Frank Turek’s blog. Here’s what Ehrman says in an interview found in the appendix of Misquoting Jesus (p. 252): Bruce Metzger is one of the great scholars of modern times, and I dedicated the book to him because he was both my inspiration for going into textual criticism and the person who trained me in the field. I have nothing but respect and admiration for him. And even

Every pastor needs some Gandalf in him

2011-08-27T22:05:00.000-05:00

I loved this from Tom Ascol: Every pastor needs some Gandalf in him. Every father does too. 'via Blog this'

Nathan Finn on “The Gospel and Baptist Identity” « Provocations & Pantings

2011-08-26T15:46:00.000-05:00

This promises to be an instructive and helpful series. Thanks to Tim Brister for pulling it together on one page. Check out Nathan Finn on “The Gospel and Baptist Identity”. 'via Blog this'

IVP Daily - Hard Sayings of the Bible

2011-08-24T10:49:00.000-05:00

Here’s a helpful resource from Inter Varsity Press, courtesy of Justin Taylor.Walter Kaiser writes on OT passages; F.F. Bruce on Jesus’ sayings; and Manfred Brauch on the hard sayings of Paul.Nice...

A Kinder, Gentler Atheism

2011-08-18T08:25:00.000-05:00

Is saying , “I don't know” so I’m an atheist, humble? I read an article this morning by Penn Jillette linking his atheism to his libertarianism. Apparently, Mr. Jillette was on CNN being interviewed and peppered with questions about why he doesn’t believe in God and why he doesn’t want the government using tax dollars to help poor people. His approach was to parlay uncertainty into a virtue. “I

Gays, the Buckley Rule and the Glory of God

2011-07-19T12:34:00.007-05:00

In the most recent example of pragmatic politics, potential presidential hopeful, Rudy Giuliani, chastised the GOP as needing to “get out of people’s bedrooms” presumably to focus on fiscal conservatism and the economy. In essence, this takes the Buckley/Limbaugh Rule to another level. It may be stated this way, “In an election year, you only deal with the hot-button issues with which you think

Why is the Muslim World So Resistant to the Gospel?

2011-04-11T12:08:00.000-05:00

A great article by Al Mohler.The future shape of the world appears to be a worldview competition between Christianity, Islam, and Western Secularism. For Christians, both of these worldviews represent real and lasting challenges to evangelism.

Pre-Cambrian Spending

2011-04-06T15:25:00.000-05:00

Just can’t seem to get away from Doug Wilson’s blog. He seems to have something engaging to say about everything. Here’s Doug on Paul Ryan’s budget proposal.The Democrats believe in big government. The Republicans believe in less big, but still ginormous, government. Consequently, Republicans have the constant role of taking the lunacy rolled out by the Democrats, and trying to make it work in

Eternal Poison...?

2011-04-05T10:24:00.001-05:00

From a recent article on Fox News called Poison: The Source of Life on Earth:Scientists have long wondered how these materials, which are the building blocks for all life on Earth, were created. Now researchers say they were likely made from formaldehyde in the primitive solar system.So is formaldehyde eternally existent? If not, where’d it come from?

“In Burkas in No Time”

2011-04-04T10:45:00.001-05:00

Doug Wilson on the reaction by the media and Lindsey Graham on the recent Koran-burning fiasco.If we were in a war, as in the Second Big One, we wouldn’t have made the troops in Europe speak respectfully of Mein Kampf, or wear swastika arm bands, to keep from offending the locals. If we were at war with Hitler again, and some twerp with personal problems in west Texas burned Hitler in effigy,

Undeserved Favor (Gen. 12:1-9)

2011-04-04T08:20:00.001-05:00

Sylvania College and Career (4/3/2011) Intro: We’re still in Gen. 12:1-9 this week. As we travel through Genesis, we’ve been asking: What does it tell us about God? What does it tell us about man? What is it calling on us to do? Today we’re going to look at the question of why God called Abram and not Terah? Why Abram and not Nahor, his brother, or Lot? We’ve seen this issue before, but

In case you missed it: A Review of “Love Wins” – Kevin DeYoung

2011-03-31T10:17:00.000-05:00

Here is a thorough review of “Love Wins” by Rob Bell. Kevin DeYoung goes deep into this book. Here’s his thought on why making judgments is not the same as Judgmentalism....it is possible that I (like other critics) am mean-spirited, nasty, and cruel. But voicing strong disagreement does not automatically make me any of these. Judgmentalism is not the same as making judgments. The same Jesus

Are God’s Rules Good?

2011-03-30T16:35:00.000-05:00

My buddy Chad Barnes has been posting a series on the “rules” of God. It’s a helpful walk through the Gospel and begins here. Check it out and comment.

Four Minute ID Argument

2011-03-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

Ken Keathley lays out a compact argument for Intelligent Design. I found his quote from Michael Denton’s book, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, interesting.“To grasp the reality of life as it has been revealed by molecular biology, we must magnify a cell a thousand million times until it is twenty kilometers in diameter and resembles a giant airship large enough to cover a great city like London

Let Goods and Kindred Go (Gen. 12:1-9)

2011-03-28T08:20:00.002-05:00

Sylvania College and Career (3/27/2011) Intro: We’ve made it through the first eleven chapters. Today we begin studying the call of Abram. Remember what we discussed last week, that Terah, Abram’s father, only got as far as Haran. God deals differently with Abram than He does with his father or brother even though they were all seemed to be heading in the right direction. [Gen. 12:1-9]I.

You can only go so far (Gen. 11:10-32)

2011-03-21T07:33:00.005-05:00

Sylvania College and Career (3/20/2011) Intro: (Gen. 11:10-32) Recall where we are: Post-flood. God has unilaterally covenanted not to destroy the earth by flood again. The writer charts the descendants of Noah through the Table of Nations. Last week, we looked at the tower of Babel and how man attempted to build his way to heaven, save himself through his works. That was an epic fail. Man

Martin Bashir - Rob Bell interview goes viral

2011-03-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

This is causing a bit of a firestorm. The book was released on March 15. Martin Bashir apparently had an advanced copy. He was prepared. Bell was not...Bashir gave an interview on the Paul Edwards Program concerning his conversation with Bell and the push back Bashir has received for conducting a hard-hitting interrogation of Bell.Baptist Press has a transcript of the original interview. One

To blog or not to blog...If you say “yes” here are some tips from the smart people

2011-03-17T07:54:00.003-05:00

Justin Taylor gives a short list of posts offering helpful advice to would-be bloggers.Desiring God recommends that pastors should blog and tells us why. I think it would apply to teachers and lay-people who really need to write as well.Speaking of Desiring God, Abraham Piper (of 22 Words) laid down 7 rules for blog readability a few years ago. I still find it helpful, even though I am not very

Science our Savior (Gen. 11:1-9)

2011-03-14T01:31:00.002-05:00

College and Career Bible Study March 13, 2011 Intro: (Gen. 11:1-9) We come now to an odd feature of Genesis. Didn’t we see in chapter 10 that everyone had already dispersed, and as it says in v. 5 “each with his own language”? Placing why everybody dispersed seems illogical since it is out of chronological order. But, as we will see, there are theological and literary considerations for

Imagine this world-wide...

2011-03-12T13:51:00.003-06:00

Genesis 7:13-24

Sproul: Christianity is “un-American”

2011-03-10T09:56:00.003-06:00

If all religions are equally good, then one stands out as terribly bad, and that is Christianity, because Christianity has no time for pluralism. It sees one way only. Now that is downright un-American. Sometimes you have to make a decision where your allegiance is going to be—with the secular culture or with the One whom God sent into the world as your Redeemer (R. C. Sproul, Acts [Crossway:

Why trust the accuracy of the Bible?

2011-03-07T15:57:00.002-06:00

Fighting for Personal Sanctification

2011-03-07T09:42:00.000-06:00

Living for the Lord is tremendously difficult at times. Crossway Blog posts three exhortations from Owen Strachan to keep in mind as you strive for personal holiness in Fighting for Personal Sanctification...

“It is too light a thing…” (Gen. 10:1-32)

2011-03-07T08:17:00.005-06:00

“It is too light a thing…” (Gen. 10:1-32) College and Career Bible Study (March 6, 2011) Intro: What do you do with this? Every word of God is pure. All Scripture is God breathed and profitable...Look at it in the context of the whole biblical narrative. Where have we been? Where are we going? Narrowing down from Adam to Abraham. But why not just get there? Why devote an entire chapter

Hooch, Ham and Hope in Christ (Gen. 9:18-29)

2011-02-28T13:52:00.005-06:00

Hooch, Ham and Hope in Christ (Gen. 9:18-29)College and Career (2/27/2011) Intro: Noah and his family have remained faithful to be obedient to God throughout the decades leading up to the Flood. Once they finally get off the boat, Noah offers a sacrifice and God enters into a unilateral covenant with all living things that He will never flood the whole earth again. Things are looking pretty

The foot of the mountain and the face of God

2011-02-22T08:26:00.006-06:00

During my reading this morning in Exodus, I ran across this section concerning the meeting of Israel with God at Sinai. [9] And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD, [10] the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate

Covenant and Obedience (Gen. 9:8-17)

2011-02-21T00:18:00.000-06:00

Covenant and Obedience (Gen. 9:8-17)College and Career (2/20/11) What does He mean when He says “covenant”? What is a covenant? When God condescends to us and reveals Himself to us for the purpose of relationship, He structures the relationships in what we recognize as covenants. International relations in the ancient Near East were governed by treaties between great kings and vassal or

Silver is for the Crucible

2011-02-17T08:38:00.003-06:00

This morning the kids and I went through Proverbs 17, specifically verse 3.The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,and the LORD tests hearts.(Proverbs 17:3)In this description of how God refines the hearts of His people, it is amazing that the most precious of metals is reserved for this kind of heat. God has something much more precious than gold or silver in mind: the display

Faith is...

2011-02-16T13:54:00.000-06:00

I was reading through Exodus 9-11 this morning and this part stuck out to me as an example of a true demonstration of faith - and it's from the Egyptians...Then whoever feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the LORD left his slaves and his livestock in the field. (Exodus 9:20

Free eBook on the Doctrines of Grace

2011-02-15T16:22:00.002-06:00

Reformation Theology, the blog of Monergism.com and Monergism Books, is promoting a free eBook entitled: What the Bible Says About the DOCTRINES OF GRACE by Nathan Pitchford. It is available in Kindle and ePub formats.

How the Gospel-Centered Movement can be short-circuited

2010-11-16T11:53:00.004-06:00

It’s Your Fault: Gen. 3:8-13

2010-10-17T13:00:00.004-05:00

It’s Your Fault: Gen. 3:8-13 College and Career Class (10/17/2010) Now, the stage is set for the reappearance of God. The magnitude of humanity’s fall is highlighted by this subsequent conversation. What are your impressions about what this tells us about God? About how we naturally deal with sin? I. Alienated And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the

Great is Your Faithfulness: Gen. 3:1-7

2010-10-11T09:27:00.005-05:00

Great is Your Faithfulness: Gen. 3:1-7Sylvania College and Career: October 10, 2010We start in the garden. All that Adam and Eve needed God’s hand had provided. Exalted above all other creatures because they bear His image, Adam and Eve are given the priestly responsibility of expanding the sanctuary of Eden and having the kingly dominion over the creation.I. Serpent’s ExaggerationNow the

Mid-week course correction...

2010-10-06T12:29:00.002-05:00

This is worth a read...Faith is willing for earthly success or failure, whatever the Lord has ordained for us. Cowardice is ultimately willing for neither, because cowardice won’t take the risk of failure that is necessary in order for real success to occur.Check out the full post here.

Tim Keller on criticism of Willow Creek

2010-10-05T12:11:00.003-05:00

Interesting thoughts on Willow Creek and their expression of the “kingly” role of administration in the church that Keller thinks there is a lot to praise.John Frame’s ‘tri-perspectivalism’ helps me understand Willow. The Willow Creek style churches have a ‘kingly’ emphasis on leadership, strategic thinking, and wise administration. The danger there is that the mechanical obscures how organic and

Audio for DG National Conference 2010 available

2010-10-04T15:07:00.002-05:00

Where else would you see Rick Warren and R.C. Sproul share a platform?

This Mystery is Profound (Gen. 2:18-25)

2010-10-04T10:44:00.005-05:00

This Mystery is ProfoundSylvania College & Career Class: October 3, 2010I. The Foundational QuestionIf I say, “This house is here because someone built it to live in”, what would I understand to be fundamental in the existence of the house, matter, chance, time (impersonal) or design, intention, will (personal).However, if I say, “No, the person built the house because the atoms in his brain

Government should not intrude...here...?

2010-09-29T14:17:00.002-05:00

I find it odd the argument that government should not intrude here, but then works to intrude everywhere else...

Why Finding the Will of God is not like Star Trek: Gen. 2:15-17

2010-09-27T09:17:00.004-05:00

Why Finding the Will of God is not like Star Trek: Gen. 2:15-17Sylvania College and Career Class: September 26, 2010What if I don’t recognize HER? What if I pass HER in the mall and don’t speak to her and miss out on meeting THE ONE? I’ll forever be out of the will of God for whom I’m supposed to marry.What if I don’t go to the right college? What if I don’t pick the right major? What if I

A Temple Not Made With Human Hands (Gen. 2:4-15)

2010-09-19T22:50:00.005-05:00

A Temple Not Made With Human HandsSylvania College and Career Class: September 19, 2010“These are the generations” begins a new section. This will be repeated again as a refrain marking a new section of the book. In effect, this is really where our chapter break should be, but, alas, convention has it at v.1.I. The Lens is AdjustedAll throughout chapter 1 and even in this sentence “heaven and

Why so smug?

2010-09-15T14:06:00.003-05:00

For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 4:7)A reminder lest we claim that our intelligence, spiritual sensitivity, free will or even stronger faith than the one next to us got us into Christ AND, lest we claim that our super smart 5-point theology keeps us there. If

He Rested: (Gen. 2:1-3)

2010-09-13T06:44:00.005-05:00

He Rested: Genesis 2:1-3Sylvania College and Career Class: September 12, 2010We have gone through six days of God setting the stage of creation. Time, separation of waters, separation of land and sea, plants and trees, creatures in the sea, creatures in the air, creatures on land, and finally, the apex of His creation, man: man, who bears the stamp of the image of God Himself. I. Seventh DayIf

Our Own Likeness (Gen. 1:26-31)

2010-09-05T22:40:00.005-05:00

Our Own Likeness (Gen. 1:26-31)Sylvania College and Career Class Notes: September 5, 2010You trust who you know.OUR wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected together by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other. –

God will provide: (Gen. 1:3-25)

2010-08-30T00:31:00.007-05:00

God will provide: Genesis 1:3-25Sylvania College and Career Class: August 29, 2010Recall our discussion on what is faith. How is it defined?And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for [based upon promises], the conviction of

...it may increase thanksgiving...

2010-08-25T08:10:00.004-05:00

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. (2 Cor. 4:15)Grace extends so that thanksgiving may increase. The natural inclination of the heart is to be unthankful. (Romans 1:21) The natural inclination of the heart despises the every day gifts of the common grace of God, but shakes its fist at God when on

VIDEO: The Greatest News in All the World

2010-08-24T17:15:00.001-05:00

Song from Sovereign Grace. Sermon excerpt from John Piper.

VIDEO: What is the Bible basically about?

2010-08-23T12:14:00.001-05:00

Pray for Christians in Pakistan who are serving flood victims

2010-08-23T10:05:00.003-05:00

Pray for Christians in Pakistan as they seek to serve their persecutors in the name of Christ.Ray Cooper of Operation Mobilization said, “They’ve actually gone out in the name of Christ, saying ‘We are Pakistani Christians, and we’re bringing this relief. Do you want to take it from us as Christians?’ And the Muslims and Hindus have just been so thankful and been surprised that Pakistani

In the Beginning, God: (Gen. 1:1-5)

2010-08-22T15:28:00.005-05:00

In the Beginning, God: Gen. 1:1-5Sylvania College & Career Class: August 22, 2010What is faith? Is it some irrational leap in the dark?As you would expect, it’s kind of important to know what it is…And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) I. FaithWayne Grudem, in his

Free Stuff is Cool...Especially when it’s Bible Tools

2010-08-19T17:47:00.003-05:00

Just a quick note to recommend some software of which I have recently been made aware. The Word is free, high quality Bible software. It has several modules you can download for free and others you can download for a fee, including: Bible versions, Bible commentaries, Greek and Hebrew Texts, various other books that can be viewed in the software.While I like Logos, it’s nice to have access to

Grace...

2010-07-27T13:12:00.001-05:00

“Loss of goods is great; but loss of God’s grace and favour is greater...”

2010-07-12T12:17:00.003-05:00

A letter which Master Hooper did write out of prison to certain of his friends, three weeks before his cruel burning at Gloucester. The grace of God be with you. Amen. I did write unto you of late, and told you what extremity the Parliament had concluded upon concerning religion, suppressing the truth, and setting forth the untruth, intending to cause all men by extremity to forswear themselves,

Education by any other name...?

2010-07-09T08:54:00.002-05:00

I’ve been reading John Frame’s “Apologetics to the Glory of God” recently. Although I am enjoying it, it is merely whetting my appetite for his Lordship series. Nevertheless, I found this footnote to be an interesting commentary on public education from a Christian perspective.To those who are offended by the advocacy of religion in the classroom, it should be replied that Christians have just

40 Key Verses for Evangelism

2010-07-08T10:30:00.000-05:00

[This has been, thankfully, a pretty popular post on the hit counter. I have modified it to take advantage of the RefTagger function used on the rest of the blog, but implemented after this post was originally written. Also, with the added feature of the print page option at the end of the post, I trust this list will be even more accessible and helpful. If you appreciate it, send Dr. Beougher

The Law and Love: Don’t make an enemy of friends

2010-07-07T11:13:00.002-05:00

While doing some blog reading this morning, I ran across this quote from Jerry Bridge’s Holiness Day by Day.“The whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.” (Galatians 5:14)Some people maintain that the “law of love” has replaced even the moral commands of Jesus and that our only rule is to “love our neighbor as ourself.” They quote Paul: “The one who loves

Al Mohler looks to the challenge for young Christians

2010-07-06T09:22:00.005-05:00

Today, the incomparable Al Mohler writes on lessons learned through his experience as the host of the Albert Mohler Program. Last Friday was the last live airing of that show. One lesson in particular stood out to me: Just imagine being a young Christian in postmodern America. Everything appears up for negotiation, from sexuality to spiritual realities. In these times, the young are bearing the

Lesbians, Lobsters and You in the Mirror (3)

2010-07-05T10:00:00.001-05:00

Continuing on with 1 Corinthians 6:11 from the previous post…Next, Paul says, “you were justified.” These thieves, homosexuals, and revilers were made right with God. They once were not right with God. They once were unjustified before God. Something had made them wrong with God to need to be made right. Again, Paul identifies these actions as sin, those who commit them as sinners, and all in

Lesbians, Lobsters and You in the Mirror (2)

2010-07-02T10:00:00.002-05:00

One passage in particular came to mind as I thought about Jennifer Knapp’s statement I cited in the previous post. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says,[9] Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, [10] nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor

Lesbians, Lobsters and You in the Mirror (1)

2010-07-01T10:00:00.004-05:00

I have delayed writing about this because I wanted to think about it for a while. Not that I needed to form an opinion, mind you. I just wanted to write through it without my initial visceral reaction. It’s probably not news to many in the Christian community that artist Jennifer Knapp has proclaimed herself to be a lesbian after taking a seven year hiatus from the Christian music scene.

Spurgeon: Pastor’s Heart

2010-06-16T16:02:00.003-05:00

I am occupied in my small way, as Mr. Great-heart was employed in Bunyan’s day. I do not compare myself with that champion, but I am in the same line of business. I am engaged in personally-conducted tours to Heaven; and I have with me, at the present time, dear Old Father Honest: I am glad he is still alive and active. And there is Christiana, and there are her children. It is my business, as

Montage

2010-06-14T11:37:00.002-05:00

While the girls are finishing up on the last few verses for Week 3, I thought I’d go ahead and post this little gem we got from Nathaniel last week. Our desire is that the Scripture sticks with him and doesn’t fade under the stream of additional material.

Memory and Moleskines (Week 2)

2010-06-06T00:11:00.004-05:00

Took us a little longer than a week to do the second section, but the girls kept working and got it down pretty well. With continuing repetition over this section while we do the next, I’m confident that these verses will become second nature. Here’s where we are:Emma - Ephesians 1:1-14Audrey - Philippians 1:1-11Nathaniel - Genesis 1:1

Memory and Moleskines

2010-05-25T14:57:00.015-05:00

Several years ago, I was challenged by an article I read on extended memorization of the Bible. I was further encouraged by a blog post from Tim Brister on using Moleskin journals as a method to help with memorization. Apparently, my procrastinator’s definition of “extended” translated into length of time rather than length of content because I am still working on the second half of Ephesians

Epiphany

2010-04-22T19:40:00.001-05:00

Prosperity gospel: I make myself good by ridding myself of “unbelief” so God owes me what I want. Biblical Gospel: God makes me good in Christ so I owe Him what He wants. (Romans 5:1-11)

New Blog: Fixed and Founded

2010-04-21T12:55:00.004-05:00

I have started a new blog at Wordpress.com called “Fixed and Founded,” taken from Ps. 119:89, 152. I plan to keep posting here and haven’t worked out what matters will be addressed here and what matters will be addressed over there. I wanted to try out the Wordpress format and see if it is more versatile. One thing I have already been disappointed about is the lack of ability to use RefTagger

Frank Turk cuts to the issue on Election

2010-04-21T11:04:00.002-05:00

Spring, apparently, has sprung...Listen: the argument over election is not over anything else. It is only over how intentional God was and is and shall be to save anybody. The Calvinist and the non-calvinists of all stripe all believe that man needs to be saved. The Calvinist and the non-calvinists of all stripe believe that Jesus is the Savior of men. These are not the questions. It is also not

Piper on his decision to invite Rick Warren

2010-04-20T11:32:00.008-05:00

Collin Hanson has a critique of the tone by those who oppose the decision and of the decision by Piper to invite Warren. You only thought junior high was over. But lately the evangelical blog world has been abuzz because John Piper invited Rick Warren to speak for his Desiring God National Conference, October 1–3, 2010. You see, a lot of folks who like John don’t like Rick. So now some of John’s

For those who have ears to hear...

2010-04-15T16:03:00.000-05:00

Dan Phillips on blogging...and why I should get back into it.

2010-04-13T13:51:00.003-05:00

I’ve gotten really lazy about blogging. Dan offers a kick in the pants...So I get glaze-eyed when people announce they’re sick of it, they’re giving up on it, this, that, whatever. I look for an explanation. Maybe something burned them; if so, it’s wise (I opine) to recover and get back to blogging. If bad commenters/bloggers drive out good bloggers, the terrorists win.Or maybe the retiring

"American Gridlock is an American Achievement"

2010-02-22T10:09:00.001-06:00

Is your God good in your cancer?

2010-01-27T20:55:00.001-06:00

This guy continues to humble me...

Is Sola Scriptura self-refuting?

2010-01-22T15:40:00.001-06:00

What’s in your theology?: Matt Chandler gives an update

2010-01-21T10:54:00.003-06:00

Roast Beef (Andy Gullahorn)

2010-01-18T11:45:00.000-06:00

Why memorize Scripture...

2010-01-11T11:51:00.003-06:00

Shatner goofs Palin’s book...who then goofs Shatner’s right back...

2009-12-13T16:54:00.002-06:00

This is classic. I don’t think Shatner was expecting this...HT: Dan Phillips

Errors in the Bible?

2009-12-12T18:20:00.001-06:00

Doug Wilson interviewed about Collsion

2009-12-04T13:08:00.002-06:00

John Piper: What is the Gospel?

2009-11-30T13:29:00.001-06:00

The American Experiment in Spreading the Wealth...The First Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T08:24:00.003-06:00

Like White on rice: James White, John MacArthur, and others on why they did not sign the Manhattan Declaration

2009-11-24T11:18:00.017-06:00

James White expresses his concerns over the Manhattan Declaration. Worthy points to ponder.What is the only power given to the church to change hearts and minds? United political power? Or the gospel that is trampled under foot by every Roman Catholic priest when he “re-presents” the sacrifice of Christ upon the Roman altar, pretending to be a priest, an “alter Christus”? Am I glad when a Roman

Perseverance of the Saints

2009-10-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

The so-called “P” of TULIP: Perseverance of the Saints. If it rested on us to complete our course to Christ, we would be in sore shape about mid-day of the first day of our conversion. Thank God that He not only convicts, draws and regenerates the sinner’s stony heart, but He preserves them in His grace until He calls them home.We believe that all who are justified will win the fight of faith.

What is the Gospel?

2009-10-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

“What is your greatest fear? If I were asking that question in many parts of the world, answers would probably cluster around basic needs such as running water, food, vaccines, and shelter. For most of us in the United States, though, our greatest fears are more likely to be things like the fear of loneliness, some cataclysmic event that throws me off the ladder of upward mobility, divorce, or

Yes, it’s been a while...

2009-10-18T15:04:00.000-05:00

It has been a few weeks since my last post. A lot is going on personally. All good stuff, but time consuming. However, I did want to post a thought I’ve had here lately.I often wonder why God does not simply transform us from the moment we are in Christ. Christians still die. Christians still get hungry and thirsty. What is the point of continuing this, if we are already “in Christ”?Many

The Evolution of Divorce

2009-09-09T10:05:00.002-05:00

Read the full article here. Prior to the late 1960s, Americans were more likely to look at marriage and family through the prisms of duty, obligation, and sacrifice. A successful, happy home was one in which intimacy was an important good, but by no means the only one in view. A decent job, a well-maintained home, mutual spousal aid, child-rearing, and shared religious faith were seen almost

Fruit

2009-09-08T21:06:00.003-05:00

I wrote about this in an email to a friend recently and thought I’d put it up here for discussion, if any are so inclined.I had kind of an interesting train of thought the other day. We, in Adam, grasped forbidden fruit to be like God – the creature striving to be the Creator. Christ, humbly, did not think equality with God a thing to be grasped but laid down His perfect life in perfect

Translators Will Overhaul NIV

2009-09-01T11:42:00.000-05:00

Big news in Christianity Today concerning Zondervan’s pledge to overhaul the TNIV in a move at correcting the “mistakes” made in its gender-neutral slant in translation.

Can a True Christian Believe the Prosperity Gospel?

2009-08-29T11:41:00.001-05:00

Collision: 13-minute preview

2009-08-25T09:26:00.003-05:00

"Collision: Hitchens vs. Wilson" - EXCLUSIVE 13 minute preview from LEVEL4 on Vimeo.I am bummed that it’s only going to be in theaters in New York and Los Angeles. Sign of the times where a movie about robots is distributed internationally, but a movie about men debating the answers to the fundamental questions of life goes straight to DVD.

Print Your Own Scripture Memory Cards

2009-08-20T14:52:00.000-05:00

Announced at the ESV Bible Blog: Using the ESV API, Michael Scott has developed a handy tool to help you with scripture memorization. His website takes a list of references and automatically fetches the texts, formatting them into business card sized cards for easy printing.Check it out at www.mcscott.org.Very cool.

Mohler on the future of the SBC

2009-08-20T08:58:00.001-05:00

Christless Christianity

2009-08-17T16:10:00.000-05:00

HT: WHI

Compelling Missions Video

2009-08-17T13:28:00.000-05:00

HT: JT

Was Calvin More Biblical Than Some Calvinists?

2009-08-11T12:02:00.001-05:00

Here’s a helpful article by Trevin Wax on the language limitation Reformed folks tend to put on themselves when calling people to faith in Christ. Is it wrong to call people to make a decision for Christ? Not at all. The language of “decision” or “surrender” is biblical. Calvinists and non-Calvinists alike believe that the lost sinner, under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, actually does

Retreat or Risk Everything

2009-08-10T17:38:00.000-05:00

David Platt: SBC Pastors Conference 2009 from Todd Thomas on Vimeo.

Keeping Watch...again

2009-07-28T06:01:00.000-05:00

Some additional thoughts on church leadership from the nose-bleed section. Words have meaning and it is good to know the actual meaning of a word before another meaning is infused into it. People die for lack of knowledge, i.e., faith is harmed by misleading statements intended to curb an action through ungodly guilt. One word that I hear misused a lot is “gossip”. Usually in church life it