Earlier, I Repented of Conference Lust...

During this one I am not preaching the gospel in Peru - so maybe...God willing...if my wife will let me...if I can get some cool brothers to go with...

I just may have to make this trek in Sept 06 - The DG National Conference

In all seriousness - I think this conference is a vital gathering of church leaders around a very important issue for our generation.

It seems the gathering of men are theologians, pastors and evangelists dedicated to some very important things:

1. Connecting and Communicating the gospel in every age, to every culture
2. Going to cities and cultural centers to do so
3. Holding to Truth and not allowing one culture (in our case emerging western postmodern culture) to subvert and reign over the Gospel.

So, missional faith, sound doctrine, culturally immersed and relevant, for all peoples - O Lord God you have this path set forth in the wilderness of our times. Keep our feet fast to these paths and holding forth and holding fast your Word.

Relativistic epistemologies and compromised preaching - away with thy bidding! May love of neighbors and cultures be in our souls and above all earthly powers...may Christ be all.

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This morning at the Pastor's conference we heard from Michael Campbell of Redeemer Presbyterian in Jackson, MS. A multi-ethnic Christian community dedicated to the gospel.

Passionate and uplifting, convicting and encouraging, provoking both prophetic discontent and blow stuff up and change zeal.

A few highlights:

A church that does not see the influence of culture, black or white, in their church is probably enslaved to it

There are two enemies to the multi-ethnic church:

1. The Church Growth give people what they like and want paradigm
2. The Pluralism Pardigm that exalts ones culture over the gospel

When the neighborhood changes, DON'T LEAVE!!! and run to the part of town that still looks like you

I highly suggest getting this message "The Multi-Ethnic Church" once it is out on MP3. A passionate pastoral plea to live the gospel with all peoples, now...not just in eternity.

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The Bethlehem Conference for Pastors
kicks off here in a few minutes.

A good friend, good theology, men singing real loud, a huge book store, great preaching...a fun few days

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Good post by Joe Carter over at the Evangelical Outpost:

the evangelical outpost: The Saltless Servant:
Brian McLaren and the “Homosexual Question”

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Get ready for the Fantastic Voyage coming to an intestinal wall near you. The University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha has developed a 15 millimeter diameter robot that can crawl and make observations in the intestines. It is small enough to be inserted through the small incisions in the abdomen used for keyhole surgery. Your doctor can use a joystick to control the little booger as it rolls around inside. All those video game junkies may have a future after all

Here is a picture, click on it to bring up a full sized version:

Link - New Scientist Technology - Robot set loose to film your insides

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Moses Exodus 33

12 Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." 14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" 17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." 18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." 19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD , in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." 21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

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Ezra 9 5 Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God 6 and prayed:

"O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. 7 From the days of our forefathers until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today. 8 "But now, for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. 9 Though we are slaves, our God has not deserted us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem. 10 "But now, O our God, what can we say after this? For we have disregarded the commands 11 you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: 'The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. 12 Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.' 13 "What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have deserved and have given us a remnant like this. 14 Shall we again break your commands and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor? 15 O LORD , God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence."

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Mark Driscoll poses some good questions about the concept of Culture War over at Resurgence. His contention is that an older generation sees America as a Christian rooted nation and that there is a war for the soul of our country. He poses the following questions, which I want to swing the bat on...though only briefly as I have some work to do! Is Christianity at war for culture?

I would answer this with a resounding no. Rather, Christianity is a war for the souls of women and men in cultures. Jesus' mission was to come to purchase men for God from every tribe, tongue, language and people (Revelation 5:9). You might go ahead and say "purchase men from every culture" though I prefer the language of the Bible. The fight is not for the soul of a culture, but rather to see souls redeemed who will then redeem and transform culture to the glory of God.

• We struggle not against flesh and blood
• We want to take every thought captive as Christians making it obedient to Christ
  
• We want to live a kingdom culture as the church in and through various cultures
• We reject that which is unholy (Phillipians 4) and embrace, participate and rejoice in culture that is not. We desire not to be polluted by the world, but we do not desire to avoid the world.
  

Is it beneficial for Christians to speak of themselves in military terms such as war when speaking of their engagement with lost people and their ideas?

I don't think so, but we must be careful not to loose the fighting language of the Bible. Some of us just point the guns in the wrong direction. We are to fight to put to death our own sin by the power of the Spirit under the grace of God. We are to fight the good fight of faith. We are to man our posts in the church like a good soldier (2 Timothy 2). We are to struggle forward with all his energy that works in us.

Paul said that many live as enemies of the Cross of Christ - what should our response be?

• We should see that with tears and know that their end is in the hand of God - not our hands (Philippians 3:18)
  
• We should not be frightened (Philippians 1:28)
  
• We should feed, clothe, love our enemies and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21)
  
• We should preach the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation. (Romans 1:16) Culture is changed when people get changed
  

Does the concept of a culture war cause Christians to fight moral and political battles rather than gospel battles?

Yes, at times this is true - too much energy is spent fighting causes and battles which do not go to the root of the issue. I am in no way pro-life, pro-gay marriage, pro-whatever crazy cause people push in the public sphere. But I also would prefer our energies spent in gospel issues. Now, I think the church should engage all these issues intellectually and in winsome dialogue with our neighbors, but I think we can couch these issues as "political fights" and this does not help us.

Scholars and philophers write on marriage and abortion. But put not your trust in princes, but in the living God. Discuss these things in public, but not at the neglecting of Jesus and his gospel that transforms lives.

This is a complex issue and question to answer - so I will not add any more trivial words than I just did. We can do better here - and there are others who will offer better advice than me.

Does the greatest threat to Christianity come from forces outside the church, or from inside the church, through leaders who are more like Judas than Jesus?

Both - the greatest threat is sin, pride, and arrogance of each of us. From within and from without. I am not in the "beat the hell out of the church" choir who sees the church and its leaders as the main problem for every ailment of believers. I am also not in the club that loves to beat on the non Christian as the source of all evil as well.

As I see it, God is sovereign and uses all our junk in the end for his purposes. I also believe that the church and the world have sinners abounding in their midst, so there is plenty of crap we all bring. Let me pose some different questions.

• Do Judas like Leaders hurt the cause of the gospel - Oh, Yes
  
• Do lying professors who distort and suppress the truth in unrighteousness hurt the cause of the gospel - Oh, Yes
  
• But do any of these thwart the hand of a Sovereign God in his purposes for the church? In the end, no. But woe to those through which these things come. O God may it not be me...dang it, it probably is me. Thankful for Jesus.
  

Do Christians have the right to continually claim the moral high ground when they are statistically no more moral than the average pagan?"

No, Ron Sider's book (though I don't agree with Sider on many fronts) The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience is a good stick for this problem. His findings that biblical doctrine is a difference maker should be a wake up call for all the seeker, doctrine isn't cool, ultra hip, too cool for Jesus, the atonement, and the justice of God crowd.

Driscoll, you are leading well in these areas - and you have a big set with some proper boldness...Watch you life and doctrine brother, persevere in them in doing so you will save yourself and your hearers, and readers, and bloggers. Fight the good fight, finish the race

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Michael Haykin has an excellent post on the history of rejecting pre written prayers over at Historia Ecclesiastica. As one who thinks paryer should be spiritual and not formulaic and predictable AND one who loves to write and read and pray pre-written prayers I found this to be a fun read.

I say:

1. Pray as the Spirit leads - spontaneous and free
   
2. But also write prayers as the Spirit leads and share them with others for their prayer, encouragment, and to build up someone else.
   
3. Read written prayers from history - then pray fired up, by the Spirit, in the now :)
   

Here is the Link - JOHN BUNYAN: A SOURCE FOR A BAPTIST SPIRITUALITY OF PRAYER

Also, I am starting to like John Bunyan quite a bit...

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The Show Daniel is being cancelled by NBC - Link Chicago Tribune | Maureen Ryan

Now do something profitable and read the book of Daniel. You can start here - Daniel 1

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Habakkuk 3

2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you,
and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
in the midst of the years make it known;
in wrath remember mercy...
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17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.

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Today it has rained all day long and our county is currently under a flash flood warning. I started to think about the roof of our house and how constant rains such as these will reveal that the structure is sound and holding out the water. Not so with my Honda Civic. Apparently, the used car I bought in October had been wrecked and repaired and the seal of the door leaks water during torrential downpours. It doesn't leak in normal rains - but constant and heavy rain will bring the trickle into the car soaking the passenger floorboard (Now, the mechanics that checked it out for us did a cruddy job as they said the car was in tip top shape). What came to mind as I was lying here listening to the rain is this. You never know where you have leaks - in house or car until a heavy rain confronts the reality of the condition of the seals on your dwellings. Such is true about our lives as well.

When all is good, life is dandy, the condition of your soul is seldom known. In days of health, wealth, and relational harmony we neither grow nor have revealed the true condition of our lives. It is only when the rains come hard against us do we see if what we have built for a life will sustain the torrent, or leak, or crash with a flood. At the close of one of Jesus' most famous teachings, he had this strong warning:

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Matthew 7:24-27 ESV

He tells us quite frankly - listen to me and follow my words, your house will not fall and be swept away by the floods of life. If you listen to me and just walk away; unchanged and not heading what has been said. Well, you are just a foolish man and awaiting an inevitable crash.

In life the crash sometimes comes slowly, as leaky lives allow corrosive rains seep into crevices which erode a foundation. A slow trickle of death is sometimes permitted to come into our lives while we are happy, well fed, and chipper, giving no attention to our progress in the faith. This is why we must thank God for the testing of our lives. That it is he that sends the rains, it is he that allows us to see the leaks, and receive the sealing tar of his grace where we need to grow.

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2 ESV

It is a fearful thing to pray for a downpour, but it is more fearful to only see the shining of the sun while gaping holes develop in our hearts. So receive the flood when it comes. When the rains do fall, what a great time to look about your life for leaks and paying attention to your soul. For there is nothing of more value.

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My friend Ben Vastine sent a good read on Thermodynamics and Evolution by a Mathematician at Texas A&M

Sewell_EvolutionThermodynamics_012304.pdf (application/pdf Object)

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Fathers, to arms!!! This post over at Girl Talk is a great insight into the kind of devotional one can live with and for your children. This is a discussion from one of CJ Mahaney's daughters as to how her Father is walking with Chad - the twelve year old boy of the family.

This quote is insightful:

As Dad puts it, his primary goal with Chad--apart from helping him develop a disciplined habit of meeting with God--is to provide him with cross-centered content that equips him to discern and weaken sin, grow in godliness, and apply truth to his life.

Dad opens their times in prayer, and they conclude by taking turns praying: for God's help to apply the material and specific requests to God on each other's behalf. "I think it's important for Chad to hear me pray and benefit from my prayers," Dad says. "Spurgeon was deeply affected by hearing his mother pray and I want to be an example for my son." Dad also likes to hear Chad pray as it gives him an opportunity to evaluate his heart. In addition to prayer, Dad leads Chad in a discussion, but their times don't merely include instruction. Dad also seeks to model humility by informing Chad of his own sin, and how he is seeking to attack it, and grow in godliness.

In addition to daily Scripture reading, Dad and Chad have covered a variety of topics over the past six months, using sound theological materials, and beginning with portions from Knowing God by J.I. Packer and The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul.

It is awesome to see an encouragement to walk with your kids in such a manner. I know many Christians who never have read such meat - and this with a 12 year old. I say it all depends what we start our kids on. What sort of stuff we read will make an impression on them. If we want to them to have fluffy Christianity that blows in the winds of the slightest suffering we ought to say "they are young, they will think this is boring, they won't find it fun to ask hard questions, to wrestle with theology, handle well teh Scriptures, or read sturdy books" And such they will be. Yet, it is such a refreshing thing to see, a twelve your old reading Knowing God.

Fathers, call them up, love them, laugh with them, spend the time to plant the truth deeply in tiny souls. Though my efforts ultimately depend on the gracious work of God in the life of my kids, Mahaney's example calls me to press on, excel still more, bring them up in the fear and instruction of the Lord.

My four year old has a special "theology library" we have started on a small book shelf. It is a special library - one that has her Catechism, the ABCs of God, Four Volumes of Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers , and her ESV Children's Bible. She knows that this is a special shelf, one where the books will be added slowly and intentionally. I pray some day it will be full. Full of all manner of depth and joy and grace and truth and practical wisdom found from drinking from fountains that are deep.

Parents, yes even the guys, Girl Talk is a good place to visit...

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My wife just read my last post about "entropy" and "working around the house" - Just to make sure :) - I wanted all to know that our house is well kept and is not a disaster area. Just like everything and anything else it has to be maintained...

Kasey is too funny - she was concerned I was telling the world our place was a dump. It is no such thing - in a world where energy is running down, our house always a place of refuge for me.

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One of the central truths about the world of human beings and the universe itself is that it is fallen and running down. We see this in several ways and through different lenses. First, we know that death is built into all living things. People die, dogs die, plants die, cows die (and taste pretty good too). This is a truth that I am instilling into my kids even at a very young age. Even Daddy’s will die – they know this and we treasure each day that we have together in light of this reality. Second, we also see the death of stars, organized systems of matter run down in the world, and one of the most resoundingly proven facts of science is that of entropy, “that the total entropy of any isolated thermodynamic system tends to increase over time, approaching a maximum value; and so, by implication, the entropy of the universe as a whole (i.e. the system and its surroundings) tends to increase.”(See Wiki – entropy). In other words, the amount of thermodynamic, useable energy is decreasing over time. Entropy increases, useable energy becomes depleted. This is one of the bleak facts in a purely atheistic or naturalistic universe – the destiny of all things according to this worldview is that the universe will some day die a lonely, cold, burnt out, heat death long after all living things are gone. Now, if that just makes you want to click the ruby slippers and go back to Kansas, I understand. There is not much hope offered in here. However, this is not an anti-theistic, naturalistic island on which we live, tather this universe is the product of purpose and intelligence, the handiwork of God.

With that said, at least we don’t have to place the noose around our necks and we can get on with some more important questions. Even as a Christian, no—especially as a Christian, I know the universe is fallen, we are still fallen, we still die. Things break, things get disordered, houses get messy, cars rust, everything seems to need maintenance. It is here I think here we find some clue to our existence. Everything must be maintained and in working order – our laundry room, my car, my family, our society, even my own soul. Yet, why should we try to keep it all together, it can all seem like a kicking against the winds of time. We never really make true progress we just seem to keep things from going to pot for a season. Or is their progress of another kind?

Today, I spent much time folding clothes, doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen, dishes, and putting our house in order. Primarily, I was doing all this on my day off to love my wife. She was out for a few hours and I wanted to give her – a mom of two toldlers and another one on the way – an encouraging lift, something to touch her soul. Again, here I find great purpose and progress – in the maintenance, no, the transformation of the human soul within the maintenance of life and every day things.

Think about it, if matter and living things all slog around into death and disorder, why do we work so hard to maintain it all. We see value in something that transcends the things themselves. We value something immaterial, we value our role in the middle of all this. We find joy in creating things and in doing so we reflect the image of the creative God. We find peace in doing something well – working with certain ethical principles and doing something with excellence. Most people stop here. Creating and working for the sake of these activities yet not giving thought to the effect of our labors on our own souls.

The Christian can and should go a step further. I see all of my life’s labors as being wonderful duties. Although sometimes hard, yes painful, my weary work, my loving when I don’t feel like it, caring about life even as it ebbs away from me – declares my faith in a God who will renew and regenerate me and ultimately all things.

So I will vacuum, wash the car (though I don't do this often), fold clothes, build computer programs, design beauty, keep up the house, try to write with vigor, teach, and persist. Because God is working in us and through us bringing us to his ends; And the soul that trusts in Christ the Lord, will not end as worm food, and this universe will not see a lonely heat death – but no, a great re-creation and infusion of divine power from outside this order will make all things new. And even our work will then continue, because it is suited for the souls of men.

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Synagogue 3000 is hooking up with several Christians/groups to see what synagogues can learn from churches.

Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church (which has 30,000+ worshippers each weekend) recently met with S3K leaders to explore what synagogues can learn from megachurches and small groups.

My friend Sandy Young had a good one liner of advice to guys like Rick Warren to share with our Jewish friends: "Maybe the gospel?" You think? Something about Yeshua the Messiah, the King sitting on the eternal throne of David, would be a great thing to share.

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This post has some great stuff in it. First, it highlights a man whom I have respected immensely and learned much from over the years, Ravi Zacharias.

Second, this is from Mark Driscoll, a young guy just a couple of years ahead of me who I have been reading/listening to a bit lately.

Third, it reflects some discussion about the Emerging Church...a topic I have been reading about for several years now.

So, go enjoy a little Tzatziki with Ravi

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Jacob – Genesis 32

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 27 The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. 28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, [5] because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." 29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, [6] saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

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Matt Wireman has a good intro to some of the discussions about the existence of God over at Off the Wire.

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The is a troubling question that one can wrestle with at times: If God is Sovereign, Why Pray? If God is in control of the universe and providentially guiding history to a certain end, then why should I pray if God is doing his thing anyway?

If you have had this wrestle...read on.

One of the things we sometimes forget is that although God is Sovereign in all things and all that comes to pass, his Sovereignty is not just over what happens, but also how it happens. In more technical speak – he ordains the ends and the means by which the ends are brought about. So, here is the beautiful kicker about our loving Sovereign God. God, in his good pleasure has ordained to accomplish some of his purposes BY answering our prayers. In doing so he brings about his will and also blesses the socks off of his children by thrilling them and involving them in his plans. Let’s look at one example – the gospel going to the nations. A striking promise in the Bible is Matt 24:14.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

It is a promise that God will bring the gospel throughout the whole world. How will this take place? What means will God use for this? You and me!!! Consider Romans 10:14-17

14 But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

So, here is what is true to this point. 1) God will bring the gospel to the whole world 2) The means he will use are people – his people proclaiming his Word. Now, lets go ahead and drag prayer into it. How will the gospel be propelled through God’s people? Prayer – answered prayers no less.

Colossians 4:2-4

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Ephesians 6:18, 19

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

2 Thess 3:1

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,

So, God is Sovereign, he calls us to pray, he ordains to accomplish things by answering our prayers…so I pray 1) to commune with Him 2) To know his will and follow him into his mission 3) Because prayers are powerful much (James 5:16) and 4) God loves his children so much as to answer prayers to do his will…

Prayer in this view is a beautiful submission to God, a rejoicing in his Sovereignty, a humble exalting in God’s choice to use me and my prayers for great and marvelous things. If God is not Sovereign, then prayer is reduced to the creature attempting to manipulate God to do “our will” - not a good plan – especially as messed up as “my will” can be.

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Jeremiah 14:7-9

7 Although our sins testify against us, O LORD, do something for the sake of your name. For our backsliding is great; we have sinned against you. 8 O Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays only a night? 9 Why are you like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? You are among us, O LORD, and we bear your name; do not forsake us!

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This is a funny video - but what it highlights is really not funny.
Do You Go To a 'Me Church'?

Now I'm not so sure I would agree with this entire blog, but they do ask some good questions.

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Don't hurt em Melinda Penner - but thanks for being truthful with us. Thanking God for his grace and the death of Jesus to rescue us from the wrath to come...

Stand to Reason Blog: Nice Saying, Bad Theology

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I want to repent. I am a goofball of a guy. I was sitting here bumming out because I would not be able to go to this conference in May because I will be taking a team to Peru to assist church planting and training Peruvians in Apologetics.

Hello, Reid, Hello, knock, knock, Hello!?!!? I'm an idiot...

Father, I repent of my selfishness and desire to be at a cool conference rather than rejoicing in your providential appointment to preach your gospel and defend the faith in Peru. May you ever burn in my heart a true heart of a servant. O sick pride be away from me and let me give the life you gave me in the service of your Kingdom on the earth.

But if you are just sitting on your butt May 9-11 - register for this and go get equipped for service.

Mars Hill Church - Reform & Resurge Conference 2006

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Purpose Driven Field

This is funny...or is it?

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All users of Logos Bible Software (newbies or veterans) will be interested in the Logos Wiki

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Fly with Google Earth on the first missionary journey of Paul...Google Earth is needed.

Link - Paul's 1st Missionary Journey

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For all who love Theology, Doctrine...goooood advice from my friend Sandy - vine & branch: Not without the presence of God

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CNN.com - Transcripts: "Debate Over Gay Marriage"

A good read
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This week's this WEEK in TECH has some funny commentary on the Intel/Apple announcement last week at MacWorld. Unfortunately it gets a bit over the top...

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Tim Challies reviews a book on choosing a Bible. This is a helpful review: Choosing A Bible

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When I was a college student at UNC many of my friends would take New Testament from Bart Ehrman. We spent many good hours together discussing his view of things.

Ehrman is a skeptical biblical scholar who loves to aim his guns at orthodox Christian beliefs. His recent book is provocatively titled and puts for the idea on how the manuscript of the Bible has been nefariously changed by political forces and scribes with agendas.

Daniel Wallace has a good review of it here:

Review of Bart D. Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2005)

I also wrote a bit on one of Ehrman's works a little while back

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The Evangelical Outpost has some good commentary on one list of "The 50 Most Influential Christians in America"

Not sure what to think but I get this in feeling in my gut when I see many faces on this list: "HELP!"

It is funny to look at the different kind of pictures people have for the press shots...I get a kick out of McLaren's "face shot" - he looks so nice. Can't say I am a fan of his work - but he looks nice.

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Asa King of Judah...2 Chronicles 14:11, 12

Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD , you are our God; do not let man prevail against you."

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I think there are great prayers throughout the Old Testament which do well for the soul...I may pull some of these out over the next few days.

Jehoshaphat – 2 Chronicles 20

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said:

"O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.' 10 "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

When you don't know what to do...

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VS.

Link - Box Office Mojo > News > Around the World Roundup: 'Chronicles' Conquers 'Kong' Overseas

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Mark Driscoll has started blogging - sort of. It looks like a new cooperative network of evangelical theologians and pastors is forming who desire to hold to the historical gospel, engage missionally in culture, and get some cool hang time together if forming.

Driscoll - thanks for not going down the Pelagian finger painting roads that many emerging people are slopping around in.

My next generation sisters and brothers, get in the Resurgence and pass on emgergent. Here is the call...

As another generation comes of age, the Gospel of Jesus Christ must resurge to meet the needs of people and their continually changing cultures. The time has come for the church to move forward into the time and place for which God purposed us, and to meet our day with unchanging, vibrant, unabashed Truth.

Thanks for the capital T in truth - I feel you dog...praying for resurgence

Link - Mark Driscoll's blog | Resurgence

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A good encouragement about meditation from my friend Sandy over at Vine and Branch.

Link - vine & branch: Meditating in dryness

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Friday the 13th - who cares. Walk under a ladder, open the umbrella before going out into the rain, break a mirror, and make PETA proud and hug a black cat today..

Providentially yours...

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I arose early this morning. This week that has been tough for me to do. I am spending a week on Eastern Time so rising at 6am here is 5am on my clock (which is still on Central Time). Yet, God gave discipline to go to be early and to awake refreshed. My plan was simple - go for a jog and prayer, come back for a time in the Scripture.

Overulled - thunderstorm booms outside the doors...what is a short fat guy to do. Well, I ran up and down the halls of the conference center (quietly I might add), did a bunch of push ups and sit ups...even some one legged squats on the stairs in the stair well.

Then I paused - thought about my life, my family, thanked God for my wife, and again my mind wandered back to decisions. Calling, direction - these have dominated my heart for many days. Yet, these days it has been a more peaceful meditation, though many days I just wished I had a perfect road map for my life rather than the lamp for my feet (Psalm 119:105). I confess this often as I know our good God gives, as Jim Elliot once said, enough for each day. So I am content this morning.

I have been wondering why Western culture flees from silence. We like to be alone...so much that we put on the headphones, place literal DVD cinemas in our homes, walk by ourselves, and many days go to sleep alone at night. Perhaps it is in the silence that we meet our fears. Our empty thoughts, the bigger questions of life which scream for answers. Perhaps we may have to face our demons, face our frackered and dare I say sinful nature. Perhaps there we would have to face our thoughts, empty thoughts without God. So we pump the tunes, keep on the televisions, go to more movies.

Psalm 10:4 - In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God."

Cast aside that thought...

Psalm 13:2 - How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

Cast aside that thought...

Turn then your thoughts towards God, receive his mercy, replace the fear, the anxiety, the anger with wonderful thoughts:

Run no more, turn and receive grace and mercy - fear not God's invasion of your inner life. Fear not, his thoughts. His love is expressed in a broken body and spilled blood. Infinite love to all who will call on him. Even now. Now is an acceptable time...now is always good.

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Colossians 3:4 (ESV) ⁴ When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Oh how easy it is for me to say “I am my own life” – So quickly to think MY life is about ME. Yet God, your word calls and sings to the soul a different tune. Christ, is your life.

• All that is good about me is Christ.
• All that satisfies and brings forth anything of value in me is Christ.
• All that I long for and desire is found in Christ
• All my incompletion finds completeness in Christ
• All my brokenness and sin finds redemption in Christ
• All my impatience finds rest in Christ

Yet I make the feeble attempt to make my life MINE. And I reap the fruits of fret, worry, anxiety, fearfulness, and despair. O silly man, you have been given life, decrease so that he might increase. Allow Him to be all so that you receive your all. When will you stop striving against your own joy and allow the ever joyful, ever full, ever beautiful, every satisfying Christ be your Life.

He will appear, and then, I will also appear with him in glory. What hope above all hopes…

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Some good screen shots of the upcoming Windows Vista... Also, a good look at a beta version over at BentUser - Windows XP and Vista b5270 Side-by-Side

Will my next PC be a new Intel Mac or wait for a Vista PC down the road? Good think I probably will not be in the market any time too soon.

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The following is an exerpt from a paper I wrote a few years back... --------------------------------

The process of xenografting, the transplanting of animal organs into human beings, is being researched as a possibility to solve the shortage of organs. With the exception of the use of animal valves in hearts surgeries or ligaments in orthopedic applications, Xenografts have been done experimentally with little or no success, and have yet to enter into clinical trials with human beings.[1] The ethical debate around this possible procedure has centered almost exclusively on a utilitarian fear that the result of such a transplants could possibly introduce xenozoonoses (animal diseases) into human populations.[2] Some ethicists who subscribe to a materialist philosophy have argued against xenografting as a type of “speciesism”, which would give higher moral status to humans over animals,[3] but a Christian response does not suffer from this complication. Before looking at the ethics of xenotransplants, a closer look at the procedure is warranted. There are two possible future frontiers for this science: 1) placing human organs, grown in animals, into humans and 2) placing animal organs into human beings. The concerns and hurdles for both areas of this science deal with the acute rejection of organs by the human recipient and fear of introducing unknown pathogens into the human population. First, the human body rejects foreign subjects with a T-cell invasion that must be suppressed in any transplant. Immunosuppressive drugs like cyclosporine can be used to do this with human organ transplants, but with animal organs there is a different and more acute immune response. There are proteins in our body, serving in what is called the complement system, that seek out anything foreign and mark it for demolition. Human tissues have so called “shield proteins” which guard human tissue from this response, but animal organs would face a devastating result.[4] There is currently promising research underway to genetically engineer transgenic animals whose organs would not be susceptible to this acute rejection.[5] Secondly, the public health risk of releasing xenozoonoses into the population is a very serious matter. This risk could be managed through the control of the donor animal populations and through thorough screening tests.[6] If the acute rejection is managed and the possibility of introducing xenozoonoses minimized, then xenografting presents a possible source of organs to solve the current problem of scarcity. The remaining question then for consideration is: “Is it ethical?"
Ethical Considerations

In a Christian ethic, the ends do not justify the means; the means must justify themselves. It is clear that there is a great need for organs for transplants patients, but they should not be acquired by any means necessar