Thursday, December 27, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Family Tree
Do you ever look up your ancestors and find out who is making up your family tree?
Many of us may be very proud to find out who our relatives are. You may, very well, be related to some very famous and important people.
I think I am related to Dean Smith some how. Can't prove it but we just seem close for some reason.
Jesus had a very peculiar family tree. You would think the Son of God would be related to the religious elite of history. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let's take a look at 4 women listed in his genealogy.
These are taken from John MacArthur's great book "God With Us"
1. Tamar
"Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar,"
The first outcast was Tamar, the Canaanite daughter-in-law of Judah. She gained notoriety in Genesis 38 by resorting to deception, prostitution, and incest when she couldn't get a child any other way. Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and tricked Judah into having sexual relations with her. From that illicit union were born twin sons, Perez and Zerah, and thus Tamar and her son Perez joined Judah in the Messianic line. Despite prostitution and incest, God's grace fell on all three of those undeserving persons, including a desperate and deceptive Gentile harlot.
2. Rahab
"Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab"
The second outcast was also a woman and a Gentile, but she made prostitution her livelihood. Rahab was no paragon of virtue, but she put her faith in the God of Israel and demonstrated it by protecting the two men Joshua sent to spy out her city. God spared her life and the lives of her family when Jericho was besieged and destroyed (Josh. 2:1-21; 6:22-25), and, brought her into the Messianic line. She became the wife of Salmon and the mother of the godly Boaz--David's great-grandfather.
3. Ruth
"Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth"
Ruth, the wife of Boaz, was the third outcast. Though she was a Moabitess and former pagan, having no right to marry an Israelite, God's grace brought Ruth into the family of Israel, and through Boaz, into the royal line. She became the grandmother of Israel's great King David.
4. Bathsheba
"And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,"
The fourth outcast was Bathsheba. She entered the Messianic line through adultery with David. The son of their sinful union died in infancy, but the next son born to them was Solomon (2 Sam. 11:1-27; 12:14, 24), successor to David's throne and continuer of the Messianic line. Once again, by God's grace Bathsheba became the wife of David, the mother of Solomon, and an ancestor of the Messiah.
I hope you can see how the genealogy of Jesus Christ is immeasurably more than a list of ancient names; it is even more than a list of Jesus' human forebears. It is a beautiful testimony to God's grace and to the ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ. He is truly the friend of sinners who came to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance (Matt. 9:13).
Many of us may be very proud to find out who our relatives are. You may, very well, be related to some very famous and important people.
I think I am related to Dean Smith some how. Can't prove it but we just seem close for some reason.
Jesus had a very peculiar family tree. You would think the Son of God would be related to the religious elite of history. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let's take a look at 4 women listed in his genealogy.
These are taken from John MacArthur's great book "God With Us"
1. Tamar
"Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar,"
The first outcast was Tamar, the Canaanite daughter-in-law of Judah. She gained notoriety in Genesis 38 by resorting to deception, prostitution, and incest when she couldn't get a child any other way. Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and tricked Judah into having sexual relations with her. From that illicit union were born twin sons, Perez and Zerah, and thus Tamar and her son Perez joined Judah in the Messianic line. Despite prostitution and incest, God's grace fell on all three of those undeserving persons, including a desperate and deceptive Gentile harlot.
2. Rahab
"Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab"
The second outcast was also a woman and a Gentile, but she made prostitution her livelihood. Rahab was no paragon of virtue, but she put her faith in the God of Israel and demonstrated it by protecting the two men Joshua sent to spy out her city. God spared her life and the lives of her family when Jericho was besieged and destroyed (Josh. 2:1-21; 6:22-25), and, brought her into the Messianic line. She became the wife of Salmon and the mother of the godly Boaz--David's great-grandfather.
3. Ruth
"Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth"
Ruth, the wife of Boaz, was the third outcast. Though she was a Moabitess and former pagan, having no right to marry an Israelite, God's grace brought Ruth into the family of Israel, and through Boaz, into the royal line. She became the grandmother of Israel's great King David.
4. Bathsheba
"And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,"
The fourth outcast was Bathsheba. She entered the Messianic line through adultery with David. The son of their sinful union died in infancy, but the next son born to them was Solomon (2 Sam. 11:1-27; 12:14, 24), successor to David's throne and continuer of the Messianic line. Once again, by God's grace Bathsheba became the wife of David, the mother of Solomon, and an ancestor of the Messiah.
I hope you can see how the genealogy of Jesus Christ is immeasurably more than a list of ancient names; it is even more than a list of Jesus' human forebears. It is a beautiful testimony to God's grace and to the ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ. He is truly the friend of sinners who came to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance (Matt. 9:13).
Birth of Jesus Quiz!!
If you know the answers to the questions please let me know.
How many Kings came to see Jesus at His birth?
How many Magi came to see Jesus at His birth? Where did they come from?
Did the angels ever sing at the birth of Jesus?
Did the shepherds and wise men all come to the same place to see baby Jesus or different places?
Is Jesus God?
Is Jesus the Lord of your Life?
Read this great quote:
"The world is happy to let Jesus Christ be a baby in a manger, but not willing to let Him be sovereign King and Lord that He is. Yet that is the central truth of the Christmas story: the Child of Christmas is God."
How many Kings came to see Jesus at His birth?
How many Magi came to see Jesus at His birth? Where did they come from?
Did the angels ever sing at the birth of Jesus?
Did the shepherds and wise men all come to the same place to see baby Jesus or different places?
Is Jesus God?
Is Jesus the Lord of your Life?
Read this great quote:
"The world is happy to let Jesus Christ be a baby in a manger, but not willing to let Him be sovereign King and Lord that He is. Yet that is the central truth of the Christmas story: the Child of Christmas is God."
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Mary Did You Know?
Mary Did you know people would, worship you, pray to you and hold you up in such Holy esteem? I doubt it.
The following is taken from Roman Catholic Catechisms:
These are unalterable, fixed, unchanging doctrines in the Roman Catholic Church. And here are the five that relate to Mary:
Number one is called The Immaculate Conception of Mary. It does not mean that she immaculately conceived Jesus Christ. It means that she was immaculately conceived by her mother. It is teaching the virgin birth of Mary, thus making Mary free from original sin. The immaculate conception has not to do with the birth of Christ, it has to do with the birth of Mary.
The second doctrine the Roman Catholic Church decreed is the sinlessness of Mary, that she lived her entire life and never sinned.
The third doctrine is the perpetual virginity of Mary, that is that she never knew a man all her life long. She was a perpetual virgin, thus preserving in their system something of the singular purity and untouched character of Mary.
Fourthly, the Roman Catholic Church has determined that it has always been true and is a doctrine that Mary never died. And they call it The Assumption of Mary, or the bodily ascension of Mary into heaven.
Fifthly, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that when Mary assumed her place in heaven, when she ascended into heaven she was coronated as the Queen of Heaven, a position of sovereignty and a position of authority. And in all honesty, in the Catholic system Jesus Himself is put in a position on occasion to be appealing to His sovereign mother.
Roman Catholics believe Mary is the Mother of Mercy, the All-Knowing One, Mary is involved in saving us, Mary's name is to be honored like God's name.
The following will be quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on Mary.
#491 Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: The Most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.
#494 Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of Her Son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with him and dependent on him, by God's grace: As St. Irenaeus says, "being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race." Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert ...: "The knot of Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith." Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary "the Mother of the living" and frequently claim: "Death through Eve, life through Mary."
#510 Mary "remained a virgin in conceiving her Son, a virgin in giving birth to him, a virgin in carrying him, a virgin in nursing him at her breast, always a virgin"
#966 "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death." The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:
#2677 Because she gives us Jesus, her son, Mary is Mother of God and our mother: we can entrust all our cares and petitions to her: she prays for us as she prayed for herself: "Let it be to me according to your word." By entrusting ourselves to her prayer, we abandon ourselves to the will of God together with her: "Thy will be done"...By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the "Mother of Mercy," the All-Holy One. We give ourselves over to her now, in the Today of our lives. And our trust broadens further, already at the present moment, to surrender "the hour of our death" wholly to her care. May she be there as she was at her son's death on the cross. May she welcome us as our mother at the hour of our passing to lead us to her son, Jesus, in paradise.
#829 "But while in the most Blessed Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle, the faithful still strive to conquer sin and increase in holiness. And so they turn their eyes to Mary": in her the Church is already the "all-holy."
Mary Did you know?
The following is taken from Roman Catholic Catechisms:
These are unalterable, fixed, unchanging doctrines in the Roman Catholic Church. And here are the five that relate to Mary:
Number one is called The Immaculate Conception of Mary. It does not mean that she immaculately conceived Jesus Christ. It means that she was immaculately conceived by her mother. It is teaching the virgin birth of Mary, thus making Mary free from original sin. The immaculate conception has not to do with the birth of Christ, it has to do with the birth of Mary.
The second doctrine the Roman Catholic Church decreed is the sinlessness of Mary, that she lived her entire life and never sinned.
The third doctrine is the perpetual virginity of Mary, that is that she never knew a man all her life long. She was a perpetual virgin, thus preserving in their system something of the singular purity and untouched character of Mary.
Fourthly, the Roman Catholic Church has determined that it has always been true and is a doctrine that Mary never died. And they call it The Assumption of Mary, or the bodily ascension of Mary into heaven.
Fifthly, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that when Mary assumed her place in heaven, when she ascended into heaven she was coronated as the Queen of Heaven, a position of sovereignty and a position of authority. And in all honesty, in the Catholic system Jesus Himself is put in a position on occasion to be appealing to His sovereign mother.
Roman Catholics believe Mary is the Mother of Mercy, the All-Knowing One, Mary is involved in saving us, Mary's name is to be honored like God's name.
The following will be quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on Mary.
#491 Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: The Most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.
#494 Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of Her Son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with him and dependent on him, by God's grace: As St. Irenaeus says, "being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race." Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert ...: "The knot of Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith." Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary "the Mother of the living" and frequently claim: "Death through Eve, life through Mary."
#510 Mary "remained a virgin in conceiving her Son, a virgin in giving birth to him, a virgin in carrying him, a virgin in nursing him at her breast, always a virgin"
#966 "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death." The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:
#2677 Because she gives us Jesus, her son, Mary is Mother of God and our mother: we can entrust all our cares and petitions to her: she prays for us as she prayed for herself: "Let it be to me according to your word." By entrusting ourselves to her prayer, we abandon ourselves to the will of God together with her: "Thy will be done"...By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the "Mother of Mercy," the All-Holy One. We give ourselves over to her now, in the Today of our lives. And our trust broadens further, already at the present moment, to surrender "the hour of our death" wholly to her care. May she be there as she was at her son's death on the cross. May she welcome us as our mother at the hour of our passing to lead us to her son, Jesus, in paradise.
#829 "But while in the most Blessed Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle, the faithful still strive to conquer sin and increase in holiness. And so they turn their eyes to Mary": in her the Church is already the "all-holy."
Mary Did you know?
Friday, December 14, 2007
Heresy Alert!!!!
Jesus did not claim to be the Messiah! What?
John should read this verse:
Luke 2:11 "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."
"The Christ" (Greek) and "the Messiah" (Hebrew) both mean "the Anointed One"; also in verse 26.
or this verse:
He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). John 1:41
or this verse:
John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." 26Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."
Maybe John should just read the Bible instead of writing books about Jesus not being what He said He was.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Tebow
Tebow Facts:
Tim Tebow was homeschooled through High School.
Tim was a top rated High School Quarterback.
Tim was featured in an ESPN documentary "The Chosen One"
Tim is a member of First Baptist Jacksonville in Florida. His pastor Mac Brunson has preached at ETBC.
Tim as a key reserve helped the Gators win college football's national championship game for the first time since 1996.
Other facts you don't hear as much about:
Tim was born on August 14, 1987 in the Philippines, where his parents were serving as Christian missionaries.Pam suffered infection with a pathogenic amoeba while pregnant with him, and an abortion was recommended by her doctors. She chose to go through with the pregnancy.
Tim's dad heads the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association, mission work in Philippines.
Tim is not ashamed of Jesus!
"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Mark 8:38
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Question #1
Each week I will try to post a difficult question for you to answer. Some wil be right or wrong questions others will deal more with opinion.
The question below I sent several months ago to many of my pastor friends. So far only one has responded.
Give it a try. Comment by email or in comment section.
Help me answer this question.
If a lion had the choice between eating hay or a raw steak, what would he choose. Would he make this choice every time?
I believe we all know the answer to that question is yes, because he was
made that way and it is the desire of his heart.
So if the lion was made that way does the lion have freedom of choice or does the lion have freedom of inclination, meaning he will choose his desire every time.
Answer this question:
Take a lost person for example: choose sin or God. Which will he choose every time. If he will choose sin every time then how does he come to choose God. And if he does choose God, why? And if he chooses God does he really have freedom of choice....
--Think before you answer ...
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were
dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved-"
Ephesians 2: 4-5
The question below I sent several months ago to many of my pastor friends. So far only one has responded.
Give it a try. Comment by email or in comment section.
Help me answer this question.
If a lion had the choice between eating hay or a raw steak, what would he choose. Would he make this choice every time?
I believe we all know the answer to that question is yes, because he was
made that way and it is the desire of his heart.
So if the lion was made that way does the lion have freedom of choice or does the lion have freedom of inclination, meaning he will choose his desire every time.
Answer this question:
Take a lost person for example: choose sin or God. Which will he choose every time. If he will choose sin every time then how does he come to choose God. And if he does choose God, why? And if he chooses God does he really have freedom of choice....
--Think before you answer ...
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were
dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved-"
Ephesians 2: 4-5
Monday, December 10, 2007
Priceless!
3 tickets to see Enchanted = $20.50
2 Medium Drinks and Large Popcorn = $11.50
A night out with my Girls = Priceless!!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Modesty
Modesty in 2007- what does it look like?
In a day when teenage divas and overpriced clothing stores like Hollister and Abercrombie decide for parents how their teens should dress, what does the Bible say?
"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."
1 Timothy 2: 8-10
The Bible says to dress modestly. To get a better understanding of this word and how the Bible expects His children to dress, listen to this great message by one of my favorite preachers C.J. Mahaney
http://www.therebelution.com/downloads/soul_of_modesty.mp3
You may have to copy and paste but it is well worth the time and trouble!
This web site is a great resource for teens and parents. It is run by the brothers of Joshua Harris. Great site!
In a day when teenage divas and overpriced clothing stores like Hollister and Abercrombie decide for parents how their teens should dress, what does the Bible say?
"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."
1 Timothy 2: 8-10
The Bible says to dress modestly. To get a better understanding of this word and how the Bible expects His children to dress, listen to this great message by one of my favorite preachers C.J. Mahaney
http://www.therebelution.com/downloads/soul_of_modesty.mp3
You may have to copy and paste but it is well worth the time and trouble!
This web site is a great resource for teens and parents. It is run by the brothers of Joshua Harris. Great site!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Merry Christmas!
I love and appreciate my staff, and they love and appreciate you.
Check out this link for a very special Christmas message from Kevin, Mark, and Rodney!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1133508786
Copy and paste the address to see!
Check out this link for a very special Christmas message from Kevin, Mark, and Rodney!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1133508786
Copy and paste the address to see!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Trans- what?
When talking about the saving of a soul we must trust God to do this His way and not come up with some doctrine of our own. Tony Evans (whom I love to hear preach) in his book (which I have in my office, have read and like, not this part) “Totally Saved” makes up a doctrine to fit his sotieriology.
He calls it transdispensationalism.
Here is Tony Evans quote from “Totally Saved”:
“Everybody is saved through Christ, even those who lived before Jesus came, because in the mind and heart of God, Jesus was already sacrificed to pay for sin before the world was ever created (see Revelation 13:8). So a person can be saved without knowing Jesus’ name, but not without Jesus’ provision for sin.
In the case of a person who never hears the gospel and never knows the name of Jesus, but who responds to the light he has, God treats that person like an Old Testament saint, if you will. That is, if the person trusts in what God has revealed, God deals with that person based on the knowledge he has, not the information he never received. I call this transdispensationalism.God judges that person based on his faith in the light he has received. And as in the case of Abraham, God will retroactively count this person as righteous by applying the death of Christ from the dispensation of grace.”
Here is John MacArthur’s Answer
Yes, the question about—I did make reference to the phrase, “transdispensationalism,” almost sort of throwing it away; at the same time, I know it provoked some discussion and thought. It is a term that, to my knowledge, has only been used by one person, and that person is Tony Evans in a book entitled Totally Saved. That book came out, I think, in the year 2002; it was published by Moody Press. It is a book that endeavors to give a very, very simple and basic understanding of salvation.
At the end of the book, there is a chapter in which the question comes up about people who have never heard the gospel. And, in that section, Tony writes that people who never hear the gospel, if they will accept whatever light they have, God will acknowledge that as sufficient for their salvation. That, in itself, is a—that is a departure from historic Christian gospel. We would say that if someone lives up to the light they have, then the Lord, who is not limited in His capacity to deliver the truth, will bring the full light—and that no one could ever be saved apart from Christ.
This is more of the thing that Tony Campollo says, that people are being saved by Jesus who don’t even know there is a Jesus. This is that “wider mercy” view as it’s called. This is also under what has been termed “natural theology”: that natural theology will lead someone to God, and if the person doesn’t have access to the gospel, then God’s not going to hold them responsible for what they don’t know.
And that’s essentially the argument of this book, that in the world, there are going to be people who never hear the gospel, and they are not going to reject the light they have. They’re going to accept the light they have, and God will count that as sufficient to save them.
And then comes the interesting comment that He does this by transdispensationalizing them. That is, treating them as if they were living in another dispensation. Obviously, there is no biblical defense for that, and none is attempted in the book—none. There isn’t even a verse to defend that. (end quote)
Why is it in this rush to defend God when it comes to sotieriology, do we feel we must say more than the Bible says.
He calls it transdispensationalism.
Here is Tony Evans quote from “Totally Saved”:
“Everybody is saved through Christ, even those who lived before Jesus came, because in the mind and heart of God, Jesus was already sacrificed to pay for sin before the world was ever created (see Revelation 13:8). So a person can be saved without knowing Jesus’ name, but not without Jesus’ provision for sin.
In the case of a person who never hears the gospel and never knows the name of Jesus, but who responds to the light he has, God treats that person like an Old Testament saint, if you will. That is, if the person trusts in what God has revealed, God deals with that person based on the knowledge he has, not the information he never received. I call this transdispensationalism.God judges that person based on his faith in the light he has received. And as in the case of Abraham, God will retroactively count this person as righteous by applying the death of Christ from the dispensation of grace.”
Here is John MacArthur’s Answer
Yes, the question about—I did make reference to the phrase, “transdispensationalism,” almost sort of throwing it away; at the same time, I know it provoked some discussion and thought. It is a term that, to my knowledge, has only been used by one person, and that person is Tony Evans in a book entitled Totally Saved. That book came out, I think, in the year 2002; it was published by Moody Press. It is a book that endeavors to give a very, very simple and basic understanding of salvation.
At the end of the book, there is a chapter in which the question comes up about people who have never heard the gospel. And, in that section, Tony writes that people who never hear the gospel, if they will accept whatever light they have, God will acknowledge that as sufficient for their salvation. That, in itself, is a—that is a departure from historic Christian gospel. We would say that if someone lives up to the light they have, then the Lord, who is not limited in His capacity to deliver the truth, will bring the full light—and that no one could ever be saved apart from Christ.
This is more of the thing that Tony Campollo says, that people are being saved by Jesus who don’t even know there is a Jesus. This is that “wider mercy” view as it’s called. This is also under what has been termed “natural theology”: that natural theology will lead someone to God, and if the person doesn’t have access to the gospel, then God’s not going to hold them responsible for what they don’t know.
And that’s essentially the argument of this book, that in the world, there are going to be people who never hear the gospel, and they are not going to reject the light they have. They’re going to accept the light they have, and God will count that as sufficient to save them.
And then comes the interesting comment that He does this by transdispensationalizing them. That is, treating them as if they were living in another dispensation. Obviously, there is no biblical defense for that, and none is attempted in the book—none. There isn’t even a verse to defend that. (end quote)
Why is it in this rush to defend God when it comes to sotieriology, do we feel we must say more than the Bible says.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Do I Know God? Part 3
I haven't blogged in a while because I have been to the "Building Bridges Conference" at Ridgecrest. The topic was Calvinism in Southern Baptist Life.
Many of the speakers talked about easy believism and the false Christians that many evangelism methods produce today. They also talked about how preachers need to be careful not to manipulate people when it comes to salvation. This got me to thinking about true Chrisitianity. What does it mean to be a Christian? Is it just a response to an invitation at the end of a Gospel presentation, or is it a total surrender of your life that has lasting evedience.
Maybe this video by Paul Washer will help:
Many of the speakers talked about easy believism and the false Christians that many evangelism methods produce today. They also talked about how preachers need to be careful not to manipulate people when it comes to salvation. This got me to thinking about true Chrisitianity. What does it mean to be a Christian? Is it just a response to an invitation at the end of a Gospel presentation, or is it a total surrender of your life that has lasting evedience.
Maybe this video by Paul Washer will help:
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Do I Know God? Part 2
Deception 2: "I Remember the time I made a decision for Christ. Isn't that enough?"
I will quote Tullian's book again.
A lot of people think they have a relationship with Jesus because they can remember a time when they decided to follow Jesus. Perhaps you remember a youth conference or a church service when you walked forward. Or maybe you remember a conversation with a Christian friend or one of your parents in which you invited Jesus into your heart. And you've been told that as long as you can recall an event, you can know for certain your relationship with God is genuine. Regardless of what your life has looked like from that moment until now, if you can remember a time when you made a choice for Jesus, you can know you are eternally saved.
Theologians have a name for this erroneous view: decisional regeneration. But the Bible never says that remembering a time in your life when you made a decison for Christ guarantees you a relationship with God-- never!
To be sure, remembering God's activity in our past is beautiful and important. My point is this: we can't assume that our relationsip with God is real if our only basis for this assumption is a past event, whatever it might have been. instead, we need to ask ourselves, How am I living? and What am I loving? None of us enters into a relationship with God merely by raising a hand, praying a sinner's prayer, walking an aisle, or remembering a decision made years ago, especially if our lives show no evidence that our prayer or decision made any difference.
End Quote
Martin Luther said, "Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone."
Paul said, "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" 2 Corinthians 13:5
Peter said, "Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2Peter 1:10-11
Do you know God?
I will quote Tullian's book again.
A lot of people think they have a relationship with Jesus because they can remember a time when they decided to follow Jesus. Perhaps you remember a youth conference or a church service when you walked forward. Or maybe you remember a conversation with a Christian friend or one of your parents in which you invited Jesus into your heart. And you've been told that as long as you can recall an event, you can know for certain your relationship with God is genuine. Regardless of what your life has looked like from that moment until now, if you can remember a time when you made a choice for Jesus, you can know you are eternally saved.
Theologians have a name for this erroneous view: decisional regeneration. But the Bible never says that remembering a time in your life when you made a decison for Christ guarantees you a relationship with God-- never!
To be sure, remembering God's activity in our past is beautiful and important. My point is this: we can't assume that our relationsip with God is real if our only basis for this assumption is a past event, whatever it might have been. instead, we need to ask ourselves, How am I living? and What am I loving? None of us enters into a relationship with God merely by raising a hand, praying a sinner's prayer, walking an aisle, or remembering a decision made years ago, especially if our lives show no evidence that our prayer or decision made any difference.
End Quote
Martin Luther said, "Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone."
Paul said, "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" 2 Corinthians 13:5
Peter said, "Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2Peter 1:10-11
Do you know God?
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
America's Teams
Dallas 28 Deadskins 23
What a great Sunday for Sports fans of America's Teams. I am talking about the 2 teams that inspire us to do more and be more as people. Yes I am talking about the Cowboys and the Tar Heels.
How 'bout them Cowboys! The Redskins didn't know what hit them. It's easy to beat the Jets but when you come to Big D things change, this is the big leagues. Joe Gibbs was great in the 80's but so was Micheal Jackson. It is time for Romo and the Boys to shine.
I want to thank Kenny Jones and Bobby Johnson for wearing your Deadskins ties to church this morning, please wear them next Sunday! This part of the post is dedicated to: Kenny Jones, Matt Johnson, Bobby Johnson, Andy Fox, Jeff Steele, Craig Hamlin...etc. And all other Deadskin fans. Go Cowboys!!
North Carolina 107 Iona 72
What a great win for UNC! Iona, one of America's great basketball teams, succumbed to the greatness that is UNC. What a joy it is to be a 'Heel fan! America's Teams really showed out Sunday. Will you join me by showing your patriotism and wear Carolina or Cowboy blue tommorrow. God bless you and God bless America's Teams!!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Do I Know God?
I am reading a book by Tullian Tchividjian (Billy Graham's Grandson) titled "Do I Know God". It is a good book. The theme is: Do I have a real personal relationship with God. In the book Tullian lists several ways people are deceived into thinking they have a relationship with God, when in reality they do not.
This post will deal with Deception #1.
Deception #1: "I prayed the sinner's prayer. Isn't that enough?"
He begins this deception with an example of a young man who prayed the sinner's prayer as a teen, at a Youth Conference. He comes to Tullian for counsel.
The rest in quotation is taken from his book:
As Jason and I talked, it was clear to me that he did not know God. He did not have an authentic, eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. Regardless of what the speaker led Jason to believe at the youth conference, he was spiritually lost, still dead in his trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).
I never saw Jason again.
What he and others like him fail to understand is that entering into a relationship with God is a spiritual transaction, not a physical one. In other words, God doesn't save and adopt you into his eternal family just because you repeated the words of a prayer, walked an aisle, raised your hand in church, or signed a commitment card.
You enter into a spiritual relationship with God when He opens your blind eyes and softens your hard heart and you become aware for the first time that you are a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior. At that point you run to Him because you understand you need Him and you want Him.
I love what C.S. Lewis said, "Unless He wanted you, you would not be wanting Him." In other words, we enter into a relationship with God when we respond to God's initiative, not when God responds to ours. We love him because he first loved us.
Don't get me wrong--praying the sinner's prayer and walking forward at a Billy Graham Crusade or raising your hand in church isn't wrong or inappropriate in itself. But it can mislead you into thinking that such an action alone offers you a guarantee of salvation and entry into God's family. It doesn't.
Physical, external acts like repeating the words of a prayer don't turn slaves into sons. Divinely crafted internal revolutions do. And initially, only God knows who those people are, because it is an act of God. End quote.
Is praying a sinner's prayer wrong, No, I did on October 30, 1990. Thru that prayer God came into my heart. But that was after intense conviction on God's part, an effectual call on my life. The prayer didn't save me Jesus did. My life has changed since this day. God has changed my heart something I could never change. I could stop many bad things and reform myself to a point, but I could never make my life right with God without His intervention and initiative.
This post will deal with Deception #1.
Deception #1: "I prayed the sinner's prayer. Isn't that enough?"
He begins this deception with an example of a young man who prayed the sinner's prayer as a teen, at a Youth Conference. He comes to Tullian for counsel.
The rest in quotation is taken from his book:
As Jason and I talked, it was clear to me that he did not know God. He did not have an authentic, eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. Regardless of what the speaker led Jason to believe at the youth conference, he was spiritually lost, still dead in his trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).
I never saw Jason again.
What he and others like him fail to understand is that entering into a relationship with God is a spiritual transaction, not a physical one. In other words, God doesn't save and adopt you into his eternal family just because you repeated the words of a prayer, walked an aisle, raised your hand in church, or signed a commitment card.
You enter into a spiritual relationship with God when He opens your blind eyes and softens your hard heart and you become aware for the first time that you are a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior. At that point you run to Him because you understand you need Him and you want Him.
I love what C.S. Lewis said, "Unless He wanted you, you would not be wanting Him." In other words, we enter into a relationship with God when we respond to God's initiative, not when God responds to ours. We love him because he first loved us.
Don't get me wrong--praying the sinner's prayer and walking forward at a Billy Graham Crusade or raising your hand in church isn't wrong or inappropriate in itself. But it can mislead you into thinking that such an action alone offers you a guarantee of salvation and entry into God's family. It doesn't.
Physical, external acts like repeating the words of a prayer don't turn slaves into sons. Divinely crafted internal revolutions do. And initially, only God knows who those people are, because it is an act of God. End quote.
Is praying a sinner's prayer wrong, No, I did on October 30, 1990. Thru that prayer God came into my heart. But that was after intense conviction on God's part, an effectual call on my life. The prayer didn't save me Jesus did. My life has changed since this day. God has changed my heart something I could never change. I could stop many bad things and reform myself to a point, but I could never make my life right with God without His intervention and initiative.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Supermarkio
A good staff person is hard to find. Every church and every pastor desires a hard working, unselfish, compassionate, soul-winning, Bible expositing, tithing, faithful and on- time staff person (we are still trying to find this one--HA HA). Many churches have a staff infection, if you will because of bad staff. Not ETBC!! We have Supermarkio. He is invaluable. No one else can do the things he does for our church.
Supermarkio can preach better than most women. As a matter of fact, recently on visitation a man said, "I don't believe those stories in the Bible they are false."
"Which ones", I said.
"Like God speaking thru a donkey. I just don't believe He would do that", he exclaimed.
I replied, "You have never heard Mark preach have you? God still speaks thru donkeys"
Mark has a vast knowledge of the deep truths of the Bible like Eschatology:
He still thinks Y2K may happen!! And he believes the Rapture will happen after the Millenial Reign of Christ.
Sotieriology: Marks feels men choose God after God chooses men but they have their own choice the same choice that every person who ever lived has had regardless of the chance to hear the Gospel so they can choose a God who would choose them if they would just choose Him first. (sound complex not to Mark)
The Trinity: Mark said, "Its like a Southern Gospel group, you know, like a duet plus one."
Mark is the only guy I know who carried a fishing pole to Sea World!
He also calls the Fifth grade his Senior Year...
We are so blessed to have a man of God like SuperMarkio!
Mark "Guido" Marshall we love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Is God Sovereign
"It is not merely that God has the power and right to govern all things but that He does so always and without exception." - John Piper
God is sovereign over the entire universe: Ps 103:19; Rom 8:28; Eph 1:11
God is sovereign over all of nature: Ps 135:6-7; Mt 5:45; 6:25-30
God is sovereign over angels & Satan: Ps 103:20-21; Job 1:12
God is sovereign over nations: Ps 47:7-9; Dan 2:20-21; 4:34-35
God is sovereign over human beings: 1 Sam 2:6-7; Gal 1:15-16
God is sovereign over animals: Ps 104:21-30; 1 Ki 17:4-6
God is sovereign over "accidents": Pr 16:33; Jon 1:7; Mt 10:29
God is sovereign over free acts of men: Ex 3:21; 12:25-36; Ez 7:27
God is sovereign over life and death: Deut. 32:39; James 4:14-15
(taken from monergism.com)
"...so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.' Daniel 4:17
Is your God Sovereign?
God is sovereign over the entire universe: Ps 103:19; Rom 8:28; Eph 1:11
God is sovereign over all of nature: Ps 135:6-7; Mt 5:45; 6:25-30
God is sovereign over angels & Satan: Ps 103:20-21; Job 1:12
God is sovereign over nations: Ps 47:7-9; Dan 2:20-21; 4:34-35
God is sovereign over human beings: 1 Sam 2:6-7; Gal 1:15-16
God is sovereign over animals: Ps 104:21-30; 1 Ki 17:4-6
God is sovereign over "accidents": Pr 16:33; Jon 1:7; Mt 10:29
God is sovereign over free acts of men: Ex 3:21; 12:25-36; Ez 7:27
God is sovereign over life and death: Deut. 32:39; James 4:14-15
(taken from monergism.com)
"...so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.' Daniel 4:17
Is your God Sovereign?
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Am I chosen?
The upcoming “Building Bridges Conference” at Ridgecrest on Calvinism got me to thinking: Am I chosen?
Here are just a few Bible verses dealing with the word “chosen” in regards to Salvation and office.
Israel was Chosen
"For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:6
O offspring of Israel his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
1 Chronicles 16:13
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! Psalm 33:12
"But now hear, O Jacob my servant,Israel whom I have chosen!
Isaiah 44:1
And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?"
Zechariah 3:2
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
Romans 11:5
Moses was chosen
So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”
Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
Exodus 3: 4,10-11
Therefore he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
Psalm 106: 23
The Apostles were chosen
until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
Acts 1:2
I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'
John 13:18
Paul was Chosen
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
Acts 9:15
We are Chosen
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
Ephesians 1:11
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
Romans 8:33
For many are called, but few are chosen."
Matthew 22:14
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;…” 1 Corinthians 1:27
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,…”
Colossians 3:12
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,..”
1 Thessalonians 1:4
Jonathan Edwards said this about the word chosen in the Bible:God has chosen the godly out of the rest of the world to be nearly related to him, to stand in the relation of children, to have a property in him, that they might not only be his people, but that he might be their God. He has chosen these to bestow himself upon them.
He has chosen them from among others to be gracious to them, to show them his favor. He has chosen them to enjoy him, to see his glory, and to dwell with him forever.
He has chosen them as his treasure, as a man chooses out gems from a heap of stones, with this difference: the man finds gems very different from other stones, and therefore chooses, but God chooses them, and therefore they become gems, and very different from others,
Mal. 3:17, “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”
God has different uses for different men. Some are chosen for the most noble use, for serving and glorifying God, and that God may show the glory of divine grace upon them.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon said this:
“…because I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love.”
He goes on to say:
“…in the fullness of time, He purchased me with His blood; He let His heart run out in one deep gaping wound for me long ere I loved Him. Yea, when He first came to me, did I not spurn Him? When He knocked at the door, and asked for entrance, did I not drive Him away, and do despite to His grace? Ah, I can remember that I full often did so until, at last, by the power of His effectual grace, He said, "I must, I will come in;" and then He turned my heart, and made me love Him. But even till now I should have resisted Him, had it not been for His grace. Well, then since He purchased me when I was dead in sins, does it not follow, as a consequence necessary and logical, that He must have loved me first?”
God Thank you for Grace!! Help me to never take too much credit for the saving of a soul, even my own.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Get Your Teeth!
Rodney Dangerfield said, “We sleep in separate rooms, we have dinner apart, we take separate vacations– we’re doing everything we can to keep our marriage together.”
Well, Rodney doesn't get respect nor does he give good marriage advice. The Bible says to, "May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth." Proverbs 5:18
Are you a happily married person? If not, why? Probably the majority of marriage problems come from selfishness. That's right selfishness. When we fail to meet our spouses needs we become selfish and it builds a wall between us.
Right now what would be your spouses greatest need? Are you willing to meet it? If not you are selfish and your marriage will never be what it could be. Life is to short to be selfish.
There’s an old story, I don’t know where it comes from, but I like it.
An elderly couple is
lying in bed. And the wife is a little discontented in her spirit. She says to her husband,
You know when we first got married, when we were young, you used to
snuggle up next to me in bed.
And he kind of grouses a little bit, but he rolls over and snuggles up next to her. And then
she says, “You know, when we were young and we were first married, you used to hold my hand in bed.”
And he grouses a little bit, but he reaches over with his arm and grabs her hand.
And she says, “You know when we were young, when we were in bed, you used to nibble on my ear.”
And he throws the covers away and gets out of bed. And she’s kind of hurt, and she says,
Where are you going? And he says, To get my teeth!
Hey, if you need to get your teeth, get your teeth! Just don't be selfish....
Well, Rodney doesn't get respect nor does he give good marriage advice. The Bible says to, "May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth." Proverbs 5:18
Are you a happily married person? If not, why? Probably the majority of marriage problems come from selfishness. That's right selfishness. When we fail to meet our spouses needs we become selfish and it builds a wall between us.
Right now what would be your spouses greatest need? Are you willing to meet it? If not you are selfish and your marriage will never be what it could be. Life is to short to be selfish.
There’s an old story, I don’t know where it comes from, but I like it.
An elderly couple is
lying in bed. And the wife is a little discontented in her spirit. She says to her husband,
You know when we first got married, when we were young, you used to
snuggle up next to me in bed.
And he kind of grouses a little bit, but he rolls over and snuggles up next to her. And then
she says, “You know, when we were young and we were first married, you used to hold my hand in bed.”
And he grouses a little bit, but he reaches over with his arm and grabs her hand.
And she says, “You know when we were young, when we were in bed, you used to nibble on my ear.”
And he throws the covers away and gets out of bed. And she’s kind of hurt, and she says,
Where are you going? And he says, To get my teeth!
Hey, if you need to get your teeth, get your teeth! Just don't be selfish....
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Deacons Meeting!!
Last night at church we had our monthly Deacons meeting. For some Pastors this is a very difficult thing to go thru. Some pastors even, if I can use the word, "hate" to go to Deacons meetings. I don't. I work with some truly God-called gifted men. The Bible has some very high and difficult qualifications for Deacons and Elders in the Bible and you can look those up for yourself in 1 Timothy 3. Our men meet those and even go beyond. I am truly blessed to work with some great men and friends.
Some have asked: What really goes on at a Deacons Meeting? Everything is so confidential they say, it is almost like some secret society. Well for the first time ever I am going to break confidence and share some video footage of last nights Deacons Meeting!!! Kenny Jones is our new chairman of Deacons and just watch how he handles our meeting. Kenny you are awesome!!
These verses describe our men:
"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it,.."
Thanks Guys for Standing in the Gap!
And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Exdus 17
Some have asked: What really goes on at a Deacons Meeting? Everything is so confidential they say, it is almost like some secret society. Well for the first time ever I am going to break confidence and share some video footage of last nights Deacons Meeting!!! Kenny Jones is our new chairman of Deacons and just watch how he handles our meeting. Kenny you are awesome!!
These verses describe our men:
"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it,.."
Thanks Guys for Standing in the Gap!
And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Exdus 17
Monday, November 5, 2007
Mondays!!!!!
It is Monday morning!!! I love Mondays don't you. OK lets be honest some Mondays can be tough so I thought I would inspire you just a bit. This isn't spiritual but it does tell us to never give up!
Hope you have a great Monday!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Evangelism
Reformation Day got me to thinking about Evangelism and my role in winning the world to Christ. Just what part do I play in "winning a person to Christ". How much power, influence and persuasion do I have over the soul of another person.
A few years ago our former SBC President and F.A.I.T.H. guru (five finger salvation person) Bobby Welch challenged SBC churches to produce 1 million baptisms. Man I tried hard to win a couple souls. I preached and I prayed and I knocked on doors, it didn't produce to many "souls being won"; I don't guess I helped out a lot. As a matter of fact, we all fell short. I think thru his presidency we actually saw less baptism than before. (Not Bobby's fault --he is a good man)
This got many professional people to ask: What is wrong with SBC churches? They started coming out with books with cool titles talking about how backward we are as churches and people. We need to be more culturally relevant. We need to be cooler. Thus, we look to the new breed of pastors who play AC/DC music, wear cool T-shirts, $150 Lucky Brand Jeans, and you must have a gotee! Forget preaching the Bible verse by verse: to old fashion.
By the way, I am pretty cool, at least Allie thinks so. And if I wear a cowboy hat I kind of look like Kenny Chesney.
Forget discipleship: we are here as a church for the lost (where is that in the Bible). Why go deep when we can go wider. I agree, to many Christians take notes they never apply and God didn't ask us to be glorified note takers, but God never asked us to pimp His Son out to pagans in hopes we might grow a big church and make Outreach magazines most Influential Churches list, either.
Evangelism has become so manipulated and distorted God must be cringing at our Tare making ministries.
So what part do I Have in Evangelism? Read what James McDonald wrote recently:
"We are so far down the road of contextualizing the gospel for our culture that it is nearly impossible to make the point I am going to try to make here. Well-meaning people with sincere hearts for lost people have totally hijacked the gospel and a biblical method for sharing it. We have so overemphasized the role of human persuasion in evangelism that we really believe 'we' are the ones 'winning' people to Christ. It's all up to us--if we aren't relevant, if we aren't in touch with culture, if we don't understand the mindset of the people we are trying to reach, if we can't contextualize the message for the people we want to win for Christ--we might as well be speaking to them in Swahili!!! Is that true? Is that God's heart in the matter?"
In another post James said this:
"Consequences of an Overemphasis on Human Persuasion, etc.
1) Dilution of Biblical Content:
In the name of evangelism, churches across the country have jettisoned God's Word as the source for preaching in favor of felt need content and other points of relevancy aimed at interesting a person in coming to church. These 'talks' are designed to engage the curious in a positive exposure to Christianity in the hopes that over time they will begin to like church and ultimately choose to embrace the same Jesus these skilled entertainers claim to follow.
2) Departure from the Biblical Gospel:
It is nearly impossible to have your focus upon your audience and not succumb to an adjustment of the message. As any used car salesman will tell you, "it's all about reading the customer." This shaping of the message to suit the 'customer' has clearly fallen upon evangelicalism. Biblical concepts like the wrath of God, repentance, atonement, blood, cross and hell, have been scrubbed from our vocabulary in favor of an exclusive focus on the more tolerable concepts of God's love, forgiveness, fulfillment, purpose and freedom. The gospel has been reduced to a formula that can be quickly absorbed in a brief exhilarating conversation. People can pass from death to life, we are led to believe, just by correctly answering a few leading questions. This is a distortion of the biblical gospel. It does not square with Scripture or church history and will either be the end times departure Paul warned Timothy about or the tearful distain of a future, more faithful generation.
3) Dependence upon Human Strategy
You achieve what you emphasize. The church today has lost its moral authority and is wallowing in a weak worldliness that could under no circumstances be called a move of God! We are steeped in a perverse effort to be relevant to a culture that finds our watered-down gospel less than compelling and hardly a departure from life as they already know it. Having failed to win our world, we are now pathetically trying to make friends with it and convince the skeptical that we really are not as 'other worldly' as they might have first thought. The vast majority of evangelistic books and conferences focus on methods and strategies toward a greater cultural awareness. They call us to study the particular generational mindset of the latest target audience. The cacophony of NOISE on this point of emphasis is deafening! And has become for those steeped in Scripture, "sickening." (Amen, Brother James good preaching)
So what is my role,as a pastor, in winning people to Jesus, in a church setting? Paul said this:
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 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.
I wonder if Paul had a gotee!
A few years ago our former SBC President and F.A.I.T.H. guru (five finger salvation person) Bobby Welch challenged SBC churches to produce 1 million baptisms. Man I tried hard to win a couple souls. I preached and I prayed and I knocked on doors, it didn't produce to many "souls being won"; I don't guess I helped out a lot. As a matter of fact, we all fell short. I think thru his presidency we actually saw less baptism than before. (Not Bobby's fault --he is a good man)
This got many professional people to ask: What is wrong with SBC churches? They started coming out with books with cool titles talking about how backward we are as churches and people. We need to be more culturally relevant. We need to be cooler. Thus, we look to the new breed of pastors who play AC/DC music, wear cool T-shirts, $150 Lucky Brand Jeans, and you must have a gotee! Forget preaching the Bible verse by verse: to old fashion.
By the way, I am pretty cool, at least Allie thinks so. And if I wear a cowboy hat I kind of look like Kenny Chesney.
Forget discipleship: we are here as a church for the lost (where is that in the Bible). Why go deep when we can go wider. I agree, to many Christians take notes they never apply and God didn't ask us to be glorified note takers, but God never asked us to pimp His Son out to pagans in hopes we might grow a big church and make Outreach magazines most Influential Churches list, either.
Evangelism has become so manipulated and distorted God must be cringing at our Tare making ministries.
So what part do I Have in Evangelism? Read what James McDonald wrote recently:
"We are so far down the road of contextualizing the gospel for our culture that it is nearly impossible to make the point I am going to try to make here. Well-meaning people with sincere hearts for lost people have totally hijacked the gospel and a biblical method for sharing it. We have so overemphasized the role of human persuasion in evangelism that we really believe 'we' are the ones 'winning' people to Christ. It's all up to us--if we aren't relevant, if we aren't in touch with culture, if we don't understand the mindset of the people we are trying to reach, if we can't contextualize the message for the people we want to win for Christ--we might as well be speaking to them in Swahili!!! Is that true? Is that God's heart in the matter?"
In another post James said this:
"Consequences of an Overemphasis on Human Persuasion, etc.
1) Dilution of Biblical Content:
In the name of evangelism, churches across the country have jettisoned God's Word as the source for preaching in favor of felt need content and other points of relevancy aimed at interesting a person in coming to church. These 'talks' are designed to engage the curious in a positive exposure to Christianity in the hopes that over time they will begin to like church and ultimately choose to embrace the same Jesus these skilled entertainers claim to follow.
2) Departure from the Biblical Gospel:
It is nearly impossible to have your focus upon your audience and not succumb to an adjustment of the message. As any used car salesman will tell you, "it's all about reading the customer." This shaping of the message to suit the 'customer' has clearly fallen upon evangelicalism. Biblical concepts like the wrath of God, repentance, atonement, blood, cross and hell, have been scrubbed from our vocabulary in favor of an exclusive focus on the more tolerable concepts of God's love, forgiveness, fulfillment, purpose and freedom. The gospel has been reduced to a formula that can be quickly absorbed in a brief exhilarating conversation. People can pass from death to life, we are led to believe, just by correctly answering a few leading questions. This is a distortion of the biblical gospel. It does not square with Scripture or church history and will either be the end times departure Paul warned Timothy about or the tearful distain of a future, more faithful generation.
3) Dependence upon Human Strategy
You achieve what you emphasize. The church today has lost its moral authority and is wallowing in a weak worldliness that could under no circumstances be called a move of God! We are steeped in a perverse effort to be relevant to a culture that finds our watered-down gospel less than compelling and hardly a departure from life as they already know it. Having failed to win our world, we are now pathetically trying to make friends with it and convince the skeptical that we really are not as 'other worldly' as they might have first thought. The vast majority of evangelistic books and conferences focus on methods and strategies toward a greater cultural awareness. They call us to study the particular generational mindset of the latest target audience. The cacophony of NOISE on this point of emphasis is deafening! And has become for those steeped in Scripture, "sickening." (Amen, Brother James good preaching)
So what is my role,as a pastor, in winning people to Jesus, in a church setting? Paul said this:
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 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.
I wonder if Paul had a gotee!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
What Scares You?
It is Halloween. This got me to thinking: What scares you?
When I was younger the dark scared me, Micheal Myers scared me, snakes scared me (still do), staying at home alone scared me, preachers that yelled scared me, bluegrass music scared me (still does), encyclopedia salesmen scared me, KISS scared me, Hell scared me, poverty scared me, the Cold War scared me, the Sky Lab falling scared me (remember that), mullets scared me, Tornadoes scared me, plaid pants scared me, Family Dollar scared me (i always got shoes from Family "D"- i didn't know this wasn't cool until 4Th grade Sugar Loaf) , Mom with a switch scared me, the aggressive, humanoid creatures called Sleestaks on Land of the Lost scared me.
It wasn't that I was scared at everything just some things are scary.
Now only a few things scare me.. Here they are:
This really scares me:
(just looks mean and scary)
Mark Marshall playing Basketball scares me:
(he never passes the ball and thinks he is very good-- this is scary!)
Also, failing my heavenly Father, my wife and my children scares me. But with God's grace we will prevail.
Remember:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2Timothy 1:7
When I was younger the dark scared me, Micheal Myers scared me, snakes scared me (still do), staying at home alone scared me, preachers that yelled scared me, bluegrass music scared me (still does), encyclopedia salesmen scared me, KISS scared me, Hell scared me, poverty scared me, the Cold War scared me, the Sky Lab falling scared me (remember that), mullets scared me, Tornadoes scared me, plaid pants scared me, Family Dollar scared me (i always got shoes from Family "D"- i didn't know this wasn't cool until 4Th grade Sugar Loaf) , Mom with a switch scared me, the aggressive, humanoid creatures called Sleestaks on Land of the Lost scared me.
It wasn't that I was scared at everything just some things are scary.
Now only a few things scare me.. Here they are:
This really scares me:
(just looks mean and scary)
Mark Marshall playing Basketball scares me:
(he never passes the ball and thinks he is very good-- this is scary!)
Also, failing my heavenly Father, my wife and my children scares me. But with God's grace we will prevail.
Remember:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2Timothy 1:7
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Is Heaven a Real Place?
As many of you know, on Sunday nights I have started a 4 part series on Heaven. I love to read and study this subject. Jesus and the Bible have a lot to say about it. How could someone who claims to be a pastor and a Christian not believe in Heaven? Well it is easy if you are the "new breed of pastors" in the emergent movement.
Guys like Brian McLaren, Rob Bell and Doug Pagitt struggle with Heaven and Hell being actual places... They also struggle with the "virgin birth, salvation, the atonement, Jesus and the authority of the Bible." Most emergents like these men are universalist, they believe everyone is "gonna be in Heaven" wherever that is to them. They really can't explain it in good terms. I recently heard an interview with Doug talking about Heaven and he said it isn't a place per say and rambled on about something (he sounded like a drunk talking about seeing pink elephants).. But so goes the emergent church...
Rob Bell in his book "Velvet Elvis" said this and I quote: If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody.
And this is because the most powerful things happen when the church surrenders its desire to convert people and convince them to join. It is when the church gives itself away in radical acts of service and compassion, expecting nothing in return, that the way of Jesus is most vividly put on display.To do this, the church must stop thinking about everybody primarily in categories of in or out, saved or not, believer or nonbeliever...
I am thankful Rob was not the person who shared the gospel with me. Because it wouldn't really matter about my spiritual state before God, just pat me on the back and tell me I am basically a good person. No need to repent and believe Jesus.
To most emergents, God is nothing more than a glorified welfare system: helping the homeless and hugging each other. I strongly believe we should try to help everyone we can but just giving a man a dollar or building him a house will not help his present state spiritually. Eventhough, at times, this can lead to a person coming to Christ, most of the time it doesn't. The problem with emergents is this: it doesn't matter if they come to Christ or not.
These are not my words but the words of my Lord:
25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.
--41So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" 43Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
-47Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" 61But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."
Maybe the emergents should read the red letters in this passage. Jesus did a great humanitarian work by feeding the multitude (20,000 people maybe). Then He said he wasn't about just feeding people because that is temporary. He is about eternal life thru belief in Him....
--Jesus also makes it pretty plain that not everyone will follow.
John 6:66 says After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
And guess what --Jesus let them walk... He even offered the 12 the opportunity to walk, as well: So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"
Jesus said that unless you have been drawn by the Father you can't come (more on this in another post).... Jesus would not make a very good emergent like Doug, Brian and Rob.
It is easy to stand over the Bible and make assumptions, but God has called us to stand under the Word and accept it as written...
Is Heaven a real Place? Yes! Will everybody get in? No, unfortunately not.
27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27
Does this mean God is cruel and un-loving? No, it just means He is loving, holy and just.
Guys like Brian McLaren, Rob Bell and Doug Pagitt struggle with Heaven and Hell being actual places... They also struggle with the "virgin birth, salvation, the atonement, Jesus and the authority of the Bible." Most emergents like these men are universalist, they believe everyone is "gonna be in Heaven" wherever that is to them. They really can't explain it in good terms. I recently heard an interview with Doug talking about Heaven and he said it isn't a place per say and rambled on about something (he sounded like a drunk talking about seeing pink elephants).. But so goes the emergent church...
Rob Bell in his book "Velvet Elvis" said this and I quote: If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody.
And this is because the most powerful things happen when the church surrenders its desire to convert people and convince them to join. It is when the church gives itself away in radical acts of service and compassion, expecting nothing in return, that the way of Jesus is most vividly put on display.To do this, the church must stop thinking about everybody primarily in categories of in or out, saved or not, believer or nonbeliever...
I am thankful Rob was not the person who shared the gospel with me. Because it wouldn't really matter about my spiritual state before God, just pat me on the back and tell me I am basically a good person. No need to repent and believe Jesus.
To most emergents, God is nothing more than a glorified welfare system: helping the homeless and hugging each other. I strongly believe we should try to help everyone we can but just giving a man a dollar or building him a house will not help his present state spiritually. Eventhough, at times, this can lead to a person coming to Christ, most of the time it doesn't. The problem with emergents is this: it doesn't matter if they come to Christ or not.
These are not my words but the words of my Lord:
25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.
--41So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" 43Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
-47Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" 61But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."
Maybe the emergents should read the red letters in this passage. Jesus did a great humanitarian work by feeding the multitude (20,000 people maybe). Then He said he wasn't about just feeding people because that is temporary. He is about eternal life thru belief in Him....
--Jesus also makes it pretty plain that not everyone will follow.
John 6:66 says After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
And guess what --Jesus let them walk... He even offered the 12 the opportunity to walk, as well: So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"
Jesus said that unless you have been drawn by the Father you can't come (more on this in another post).... Jesus would not make a very good emergent like Doug, Brian and Rob.
It is easy to stand over the Bible and make assumptions, but God has called us to stand under the Word and accept it as written...
Is Heaven a real Place? Yes! Will everybody get in? No, unfortunately not.
27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27
Does this mean God is cruel and un-loving? No, it just means He is loving, holy and just.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Running
I am seriously thinking about running the half marathon in Myrtle Beach in Feb. I am out of shape right now. 3 weeks ago I ran 10miles in 1hr 50mins. Since, I have only run once or twice. Its not that I am lazy or just don't have time. Every time I run I have the same problem. It has been a secret until now. This person has come forward to help me with my problem. He has given me the courage to come out and tell the world why I don't run as much anymore. Watch this video and see if you can identify "our problem"..
I scare people when I run!!! Is it my Carolina Blue Superman T-shirt, is it my military/state trooper haircut, or could it be my 5'8" 190lbs muscular build. Maybe it is my extreme heavy breathing (like a person with sleep apnea). Or could it be my singing. I run with an ipod shuffle and I just sing as loud as I can when I Run. For whatever reason, when I sing, this always happens: Dogs howl (i mean like they are in pain) the cows just run and don't look back, cars on Alspaugh Dam Rd. do U-turns and go the opposite direction, my neighbors cover their ears and throw things in my direction. But all this could be just coincidence, I mean people threw things at Elvis when he "sang". Micheal Jr. I feel your pain.
God Bless and yall pray fer us!
I scare people when I run!!! Is it my Carolina Blue Superman T-shirt, is it my military/state trooper haircut, or could it be my 5'8" 190lbs muscular build. Maybe it is my extreme heavy breathing (like a person with sleep apnea). Or could it be my singing. I run with an ipod shuffle and I just sing as loud as I can when I Run. For whatever reason, when I sing, this always happens: Dogs howl (i mean like they are in pain) the cows just run and don't look back, cars on Alspaugh Dam Rd. do U-turns and go the opposite direction, my neighbors cover their ears and throw things in my direction. But all this could be just coincidence, I mean people threw things at Elvis when he "sang". Micheal Jr. I feel your pain.
God Bless and yall pray fer us!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Basketball Season is around the corner!
I just love the Tar Heels… Who wouldn’t.. They win almost all of the their games, have won 5 National Championships (Duke 3, State 2 , and Wake 0), have the single greatest Coach in all of college Basketball. We also have won 4 of the last 5 against Duke. Duke coach Mike CRYzewski (I think that is how you spell it) is now 31-32 against North Carolina. Duke as a team is now 96-127 all-time against the Tar Heels.
By the way that is a losing record for all you Duke fans; you have a hard time admitting facts. So here is the question I would love to have answered: Why are you not a Tar Heel fan? I just don’t understand why every person on the planet isn’t a Tar Heel fan.
For those who are not fans. What is it like? How do you approach basketball season realizing you are not a Tar Heel fan? It must be depressing. I feel sorry for you. Do you envy the greatness of UNC?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Rentz Johnson Update
As many of you know, Rentz has been battling a very serious life threatening illness for the past few months. I personally want to Thank You for the prayers and support you have showered on this family. Rentz and Amy are very good friends of mine and it hurts me to see them go thru this, but (and there is always a but with God) God is so much bigger than our circumstances and He will and has used this for good. Rentz is at home and doing better. He said he really misses the Church and wants to Thank you all for everything.
I wanted to show some pictures of Rentz in the Philippines doing "Mission Work"-
-These are from 2005 trip (they are the only ones i have)
(Rentz is sharing his testimony on "The Isalnd"- with June translating)
I call this picture "Job Done"- This was taken after we did a medical clinic and played the locals in Basketball (110% at least) -- we lost but I think they cheated!
It was so Hot Satan was seated in the stands with a Duke T-shirt on (he is a Duke fan you know) fanning himself!!
Lifeguards on duty!! (We have both lost 100's of pounds since this picture!) They said many sharks were in the water but Rentz and I are so secure in our salvation and the sovereignty of God we just floated above them!
This Mission Trip was life-changing for me and I will do a few post about it later but as you can see, nothing is better than serving the Lord across the World with Friends.
Rentz, I love you buddy and I am praying for you to get better so we can fight more sharks together.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Joel's Gospel
6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (ESV)
Joel must have forgotten that verse and this one:
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 (ESV)
and this one:
"The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me." Luke 10:16(ESV)
and this one:
And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them,"Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying,'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26Then you will begin to say,'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27But he will say, 'I tell you,I do not know where you come from. Depart from me.."
Luke 13:23-27 (ESV)
But Joel says this according to one article:
Although Osteen says he believes in hell and the afterlife, he doesn't preach "fire and brimstone" and his messages often leave out the traditional Christian teachings of sacrifice, the cross of Jesus Christ, and the word "sinners."
Backing Osteen, Young acknowledged that not everyone agrees with Osteen's style, but said the megapastor encourages people to live better lives through faith in God and following Biblical principles.
"Few individuals have been as successful as Joel in spreading God's word," stated Young. "Joel understands today's culture and that messages of damnation and of a vengeful God no longer resonate with an overstressed society that already believes they are living in Hell daily.
"Instead, Joel tells people that if they draw closer to God that their lives will be better. This is a message that our society is eager to embrace. Who doesn't seek a fuller life on earth?"
Charles Spurgeon said this about the Gospel:
"Never lose heart in the power of the gospel. Do not believe that there exists any man, much less any race of men, for whom the gospel is not fitted."
"If God does not save men by truth, he certainly will not save them by lies. And if the old gospel is not competent to work a revival, then we will do without the revival."
"When we preach Christ crucified, we have no reason to stammer, or stutter, or hesitate, or apologize; there is nothing in the gospel of which we have any cause to be ashamed."
"The hearing of the gospel involves the hearer in responsibility. It is a great privilege to hear the gospel. You may smile and think there is nothing very great in it. The damned in hell know. Oh, what would they give if they could hear the gospel now? If they could come back and entertain but the shadow of a hope that they might escape from the wrath to come? The saved in heaven estimate this privilege at a high rate, for, having obtained salvation through the preaching of this gospel, they can never cease to bless their God for calling them by his word of truth. O that you knew it! On your dying beds the listening to a gospel sermon will seem another thing than it seems now."
I'll take Spurgeon's Gospel over Joel's Gospel anytime.
To bad Spurgeon didn't get a chance to read Joel's New Book!
Paul said, "8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8-9 (ESV)
Monday, October 22, 2007
Become a Better You
Hope you will read Joel's new Book "Becoming a Better You".
Joel offers 7 Keys to help you Discover the Champion in U! Here they are:
1. Keep pressing forward.
2. Be positive toward yourself.
3. Develop better relationships.
4. Form better habits.
5. Embrace the place where you are.
6. Develop your inner life.
7. Stay passionate about life.
2. Be positive toward yourself.
3. Develop better relationships.
4. Form better habits.
5. Embrace the place where you are.
6. Develop your inner life.
7. Stay passionate about life.
Word on the street is: 3 million in first print. What does that say for Christianity in America?
From Emergents like Brian Mclaren and Rob Bell to prosperity preachers like Joel and Benny; No wonder Christians in other countries laugh or cry at our spiritual state in America
I wonder if John Piper will buy the Book!
PS: Joel can bench press 300lbs hope he doesn't read my BLOG!!!!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
"Here is my first blog from the other page"
Hello! This is a trial run at blogging. I would like to know who is out there.
I want to comment on the Jason Ray story on ESPN. He was the mascot for the UNC athletic program, who died after being hit by a car in New Jersey during the Elite Eight this past March while the Heels were playing in the NCAA Tourney.Here is a great web adress detailing his life and death: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=rayofhope
Jason in death gave life to others. Can anything be more Christ-like. In all, about 80 people have received an organ or tissue from Ray. He loved the Lord in Life and Death....
How is your life impacting others? What type of leagcy are you going to leave? In an age of me first Christianity it is great to see a young man who thought of others.
His story made me think of how I will be remembered and what difference is my life making for the Kingdom. As Christians we have the ability, with God's help, to not just improve lives but change eternities... No sacrifice is to great to make for Jesus.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." John 12:24
Hello! This is a trial run at blogging. I would like to know who is out there.
I want to comment on the Jason Ray story on ESPN. He was the mascot for the UNC athletic program, who died after being hit by a car in New Jersey during the Elite Eight this past March while the Heels were playing in the NCAA Tourney.Here is a great web adress detailing his life and death: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=rayofhope
Jason in death gave life to others. Can anything be more Christ-like. In all, about 80 people have received an organ or tissue from Ray. He loved the Lord in Life and Death....
How is your life impacting others? What type of leagcy are you going to leave? In an age of me first Christianity it is great to see a young man who thought of others.
His story made me think of how I will be remembered and what difference is my life making for the Kingdom. As Christians we have the ability, with God's help, to not just improve lives but change eternities... No sacrifice is to great to make for Jesus.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." John 12:24
My First Blog on New page
Hello! This is my other first blog.. My other blog is at http://www.etbconline.org/
I Just wanted to say how much I love being the Pastor of East Taylorsville Baptist Church.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine being a Pastor much less at this wonderful place.
This past year I have seen our church truly respond like the hands of Christ. When people have needed help with finances, transportation, encouragement, or just the basics, you guys have shown out.
I am truly greatful.
Hope to see you Sunday!
I Just wanted to say how much I love being the Pastor of East Taylorsville Baptist Church.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine being a Pastor much less at this wonderful place.
This past year I have seen our church truly respond like the hands of Christ. When people have needed help with finances, transportation, encouragement, or just the basics, you guys have shown out.
I am truly greatful.
Hope to see you Sunday!
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