The Drama of Scripture

This afternoon I started reading The Drama of Scripture by Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen.  It is a biblical theology that helps us see the storyline of the Bible.  We as believers or unbelievers fit into this meta narrative if we like it or not.  The question remains, will your story within the meta narrative of the universe be one of tyranny against the King or one of loyalty?  So far it has combined both good scholarship, critical methods and insight in putting the story together.  In the prologue they say, “In our opinion, “covenant” and “kingdom of God” present a strong claim to be the main door through which we can begin to enter the Bible and to see it as one whole and vast structure.” (p. 24) Here is how they divide the book.  More to come later.

• Act 1:  God Establishes His Kingdom:  Creation
• Act 2:  Rebellion in the Kingdom: Fall
• Act 3:  The King Chooses Israel:  Redemption Initiated
• Interlude:  A Kingdom Story Waiting for an Ending:  The Intertestamental Period
• Act 4:  The Coming of the King:  Redemption Accomplished
• Act 5:  Spreading the News of the King:  The Mission of the Church
• Act 6:  The Return of the King:  Redemption Completed

PS:  They realize most plays only have five acts but they add a sixth because they see it as clear that the biblical story does not simply end at the conclusion of the fifth act.

Young Guns

The Resurgence blog had an interesting post about young guys in the ministry this week.  Here is an excerpt:

Curiously, throughout church history God has chosen to use young people like Timothy for significant kingdom work. The following are a handful of such examples that have greatly encouraged me and I pray they do likewise for you.

Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards is the greatest theologian America has ever produced. Additionally, the Great Awakening began in 1734 in his Northampton, Massachusetts congregation with the young people who had drifted away from the church, but suddenly wanted to begin meeting with him about his sermons. Edwards began his life of ministry at the young age of nineteen.

They also speak of Whitefield, Brainerd, and the Methodist Circuit Riders.  Read it here.

Photo Friday

Photograph by Marcus Bell.

Your Birth Father Has Fangs

Russell Moore has an excellent little article about the depth of our sin.  Here is an excerpt:

Imagine for a moment that you’re adopting a child. As you meet with the social worker in the last stage of the process, you’re told that this twelve-year old has been in and out of psychotherapy since he was three. He persists in burning things, and attempting repeatedly to skin kittens alive. He “acts out sexually,” the social worker says, although she doesn’t really fill you in on what that means. She continues with a little family history. This boy’s father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather all had histories of violence, ranging from spousal abuse to serial murder. Each of them ended life the same way, dead by suicide–each found hanging from a rope of blankets in his respective prison cell.

Think for a minute. Would you want this child? If you did adopt him, wouldn’t you watch nervously as he played with your other children? Would you watch him nervously as he looks at the butcher knife on the kitchen table? Would you leave the room as he watched a movie on television with your daughter, with the lights out?

Well he’s you. And he’s me.

Read the whole article here.

Quote: Sidney J. Harris

Nothing can be so amusingly arrogant as a young man who has just discovered an old idea and thinks it is his own.

Tunes on Tuesday: Bruce Springsteen

I usually don’t listen to Springsteen, and I have not seen this movie (The Wrestler) but I really like the song.

HT:  Reformissionary

Technology

On Fall Break of 2007 I read Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death.  It was one of the best cultural critiques that I have run across.  The book is about the decline of the printed word in favor of the “tube” which leads to the shriveling of public discourse.  James Grant just lead to me an article by Postman called, “Five Things We Need To Know About Technology.” Here are his five points.

1. We always pay a price for technology; the greater the technology, the greater the price.
2. There are always winners and losers, and that the winners always try to persuade the losers that they are really winners.
3. There is embedded in every great technology an epistemological, political or social prejudice. Sometimes that bias is greatly to our advantage. Sometimes it is not. The printing press annihilated the oral tradition; telegraphy annihilated space; television has humiliated the word; the computer, perhaps, will degrade community life.
4. Technological change is not additive; it is ecological, which means, it changes everything and is, therefore, too important to be left entirely in the hands of Bill Gates.
5. Technology tends to become mythic; that is, perceived as part of the natural order of things, and therefore tends to control more of our lives than is good for us.

Read the whole article.

How to Preach, How Not To Preach

I have been listening to Matt Chandler for awhile.  He is a great communicator and loves the Lord.  Here is a clip from the Desiring God conference.

HT:  Justin Taylor

The Short on the Oscars

• Yeah for Slumdog Millionaire
• Don’t go and see The Reader even though it won some awards (I heard there was a lot of nudity)
• I was wondering what they were going to talk about now that Bush was out of office.  It seemed to give the Oscars a sense of a purpose.  However, it was interesting that they did not mention Obama (at least before I went to bed).
• Instead they seemed to focus on gay rights with the movie Milk

Here are some of the things that were said in relation to Milk.

Dustin Lance Black, who won best screenplay said, ““No matter what anyone tells you, God does love you, and that I promise you, very soon you will have equal rights federally across this great nation of ours.”

Penn who won best actor said, “I think it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.”

Denny Burk has a good response to the Oscars.

Debate on Lowering the Drinking Age

CBS has an article about the debate on lowering the drinking age to 18.

Neon Bible-Arcade Fire

A video of Arcade Fire singing Neon Bible live in an elevator.

I read the lyrics but could not figure out what they mean.  Let me know if you figure it out.  I read on the internet (so probably not trustworthy) that this album is all about going off to war and that the Neon Bible is a symbol for the nightly news.

How to be Revival-Ready

Ray Ortlund posted a great quote by Edwards the other day.  Here it is:

“Spiritual pride is very apt to suspect others, but a humble saint is most jealous of himself. He is as suspicious of nothing in the world as he is of his own heart. The spiritually proud person is apt to find fault with other saints . . . and to be quick to notice their deficiencies. But the eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home, and sees so much evil in his own heart, and is so concerned about it, that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts. . . . Pure Christian humility disposes a person to take notice of everything that is good in others, and to make the most of it, and to diminish their failings, but to give his eye chiefly on those things that are bad in himself.”

Jonathan Edwards, “Thoughts on the Revival,” in Works, I:399-400.

Just Do Something

Kevin DeYoung is coming out with a book on guidance called “Just Do Something.”  He blogged about the point of the book saying…

The gist of the book is that too many of us spend too much time trying to divine God’s will and too little time striving to obey the plain commands of Scripture. God’s will is not a corn maze or magic eight ball. His will is our sanctification. God promises to direct our steps all throughout life, but he never promises to show us what each step is ahead of time. Too many of us are prone to passivity and indecision, because doing nothing feels more spiritual (and less risky) than doing something. So we stumble around in chains of subjective impressions and wander here and there and in and out of our parent’s basement.

God’s will is not a bullseye to hit, but a life to live.

Click here to go to his website and read some of the 1st chapter.

True Church Conference

This weekend I will be traveling with my wife to go to the True Church Conference in Alabama.  This year it is on Repentance.  I will hopefully (if I have time) give updates and the points of each speaker from the conference.

Here is a list of the speakers and their subjects.

Session 1: The Radical Depravity of Man Conrad Mbewe
Session 2: Grace Wrought Repentance Jeff Noblit
Session 3: The Repenting Believer Jonathan Sims
Session 4: Preaching Repentance Paul Washer
Session 5: National Repentance – The Repentance of Ninevah David Miller
Session 6: Brokenness Voddie Baucham
Session 7: My Journey in Grace So Far Jonathan Sims
Session 8: Counseling Seekers for Repentance Jeff Noblit
Session 9: Taking the Message to the World Paul Washer
Session 10: The Doctrine of Regeneration David Miller
Session 11: Repentance & the Glory of God Jeff Noblit

Interesting Links

CNN has an article on the NIV that is handwritten by thousands of people across the country.

World has an article about Facebook.  Here it is in short.  Facebook quietly changed a portion of its terms of service earlier this month, sparking concerns within the blogosphere that members may be locked into a never-ending relationship with the social-networking website.

CBS also has a follow up article on Facebook.

Trevin Wax has a really good post about exegeting your church.

CBS has an article about the setting for Slumdog Millionaire the movie which I posted about earlier.

Review of Piper’s New Book

Tim Challies reviewed John Piper’s new book Finally Alive. 

Here is an excerpt:

As I read the final page of Finally Alive I realized that I had found a new favorite book by John Piper. Those who have read my reviews of some of his previous titles know that while I greatly enjoy Piper’s ministry and am indebted to him in many ways, I have not always found his books easy to read. Yet I read Finally Alive with relish, enjoying it from the first page to the last. It is an incisive examination of a topic of profound importance. I think it represents Piper at his very best as an author.

Read the whole thing here.

Buy it here.

Stomping in My Air Force One’s

This has nothing to do with the rapper Nelly or his shoes.  CNN recently had an interesting article about Air Force One.  Here is an excerpt:

The aircraft, which is longer than the length of a hockey rink, has 4,000 square feet of floor space stretched across three levels. The plane includes a large suite for the president that includes an office, bathroom and conference room. It also provides sleeping quarters for the president.
Read the whole thing here.

Kevin Hash

My pastor and mentor in Bowling Green is featured on the Sovereign Grace Blog with this letter:

Winning entry #4:

In my sophomore year on the varsity basketball team we were in a close game against Mercer County High, down by 1 point with just seconds to go.

The clock was stopped and the referee handed our point guard the ball for the inbounds pass, under our own goal. With only five seconds to inbound the ball, he was not having any luck finding an open player, and time was ticking away. Our entire bench was screaming for the guard to call timeout, so we wouldn’t lose possession.

At that exact moment, I became wide open under the goal, and the point guard threw me the ball. But instead of making the basket for the win, I called a timeout, because that’s what the bench was screaming.

We lost.

Kevin H.
Bowling Green, KY

Happiness

What does the world think will make them happy?  What is the new happiness pill?  Recently I saw CNN had an article about what makes us happy in light of the recession.  This is the point of the article:

Psychological research suggests that, in the long run, experiences make people happier than possessions.  That’s in part because the initial joy of acquiring a new object, such as a new car, fades over time as people become accustomed to seeing it every day, experts said. Experiences, on the other hand, continue to provide happiness through memories long after the event occurred.

Read the whole thing here.

My first thought when I read something on happiness is to critique it with a biblical worldview.  However, I think that this article has hit upon something that is true.  Being a Christian who has been heavily influenced by John Piper, I would nuance the psychologist’s statement by saying this.  Happiness comes by experiencing the greatest good that has ever been or will ever be.  Experiencing the true and living God through the face of Jesus Christ is true happiness.  God must necessarily be the most fulfilling experience imaginable, for he created all other experiences.

The article also goes on to say:

A sense of relatedness to others — getting closer to friends and family — may be one of the reasons why experiences generate more happiness. “When people spend money on life experiences, whether they also take someone with them or buy an extra ticket or whatever, most of our life experiences involve other individuals,” Howell said. People were fulfilling their need for social bonding while having these experiences, he said.

Again, although they may not mean to, they are pointing an interconnectedness that God has created us for.  In the church the new popular word for it is “community.”  Being a Christian I cannot help but think of the two greatest commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself.”  Experiencing God and others, that is truly living.

Slumdog Millionaire

4 Reasons to See Slumdog Millionaire:

1. Become aware of the poverty and corruption in India.
2. Watch a director use light, darkness, color, and motion masterfully.
3. To support these “nobodies” who made a great movie.
4. Finally to be reminded that those who persevere in doing good will be blessed in all their doings (James 1:25).  Although this may be a stretch, it was hard for me not to think that of the rewards that God will bestow upon those who persevere in doing good in this dark world.

Here is the trailer:

Arcade Fire: Intervention

3 Reasons I love this song:

1. It has an organ.  How many songs do you hear that have an organ?
2. It has kids singing in the background.
3. Most importantly it keeps building.  It never lets up.

Here is the video.  By the way it is a weird old movie that is set to the song, not official from Arcade Fire.  Don’t know what is going on.  Just listen.

Quote: Fyodor Dostoevsky

If God is dead everything is permitted.

Ivan Karamazov in The Brother Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Importance of Children in Worship

At the In Light of the Gospel blog, James Grant speaks about children in worship.  Here it is:

Shane Lems quotes William H. Willimon on the issue of children in worship (from A Guide to Preaching and Leading Worship):

“Some churches tried to solve the problem of children in worship by concocting ‘children’s sermons,’ ‘children’s church’ and other devices to interest the children. I feel that most of these efforts are misguided. Many so-called children’s sermons are neither sermons nor are they for children. They are usually petty, unscriptural, moralistic object lessons that children find difficult to follow because they cannot make the connection between the object and the lesson. The children’s sermon is often for the parents – the preacher telling the children what Mommy and Daddy believe the children ought to hear. Younger children cannot understand the moralisms put forth in the children’s sermon, and older children refuse to come forward for the children’s sermon because they feel that they are being put on display and made to look foolish – which they often are. By having a children’s sermon the church says, in effect, ‘Children, you are incapable of worshiping with the church. The service is incomprehensible or irrelevant to you.”

This is so true. I have 4-6 year old children who enjoy our worship and ask questions about the sermon. Just a week ago or so, I was preaching about suffering and trials, and I referenced Romans 5 and what Paul means by standing in grace. A young boy turned to his dad and said, “Dad, am I standing in grace?” I have a 6 year old boy and an 11 year old girl, and they both ask questions about the sermon while we eat dinner on Sunday. Children are more than capable of worshiping with the church and comprehending more than we often do. In fact, children don’t have the “relevance” paradigm from our culture that keeps them from hearing the real message…let us become like children!

CJ Interviews Piper

At the Sovereign Grace Blog CJ Interviews John Piper.  Read it here.

Tunes on Tuesday (Sojourn)

Sojourn a local church here in Louisville put out a CD awhile ago called Before the Throne. I am usually not one to like the songs that come on WJIE but this is one of the Christian CD’s that I constantly listen to.  It is creative and encouraging.  Pick a copy up if you have not heard it.

Listen and buy here.

Counseling “Don’ts”

Deepak Reju and Jay Adams provide some counseling don’ts at the 9 Marks blog.  Here they are:

Jay Adams

1.  Counsel women alone
2.  Counsel drunks; wait till they sober up
3.  Counsel someone being counseled by another
4.  Counsel without access to a phone, desk, writing materials, etc.
5.  Counsel people who set down conditions
6.  Counsel when a person refuses to do his homework
7.  Counsel by telephone
8.  Counsel by separating spouses from one another
9.  Counsel people so drugged that they can’t reason
10.  Counsel young children; counsel their parents
11.  Counsel unbelievers; evangelize them
12.  Counsel a Christian who will not accept Scripture as a Standard

Deepak Reju’s:

1. Don’t counsel people who want absolute confidentiality.

2. Don’t counsel without scheduling boundaries. The needs and burdens of your members can quickly overtake your week. Be proactive in scheduling time for prayer, study of Scripture, sermon preparation, supervision of staff, and other things before people start calling you and asking for time.

3. Don’t counsel with humanistic standards. Keep the gospel as your main focus.

4. Don’t counsel without knowing your own weaknesses.

5. Don’t counsel when you are the only one carrying the counseling burden. Let others carry the “weight” of the congregation’s burdens with you. This is a good argument for the plurality of elders, so there are other pastors helping to carry the load.

6. Don’t counsel everyone. You are not superman. You can’t solve everyone’s problems. You can give comfort and encouragement from Scripture, but sometimes there will be others (in your church) who will have more wisdom about addressing a particular problem. Be wise: let them know your limitations and encourage them to pursue others who will be wiser.

7. Don’t counsel if you are prone to self-righteousness. You will consistently make people who come to you feel like inferior Christians. Make some progress on fighting the sin of self-righteousness before you counsel.

8. Don’t counsel if you are struggling with “besetting sins,” like addiction to internet pornography.

9. Don’t counsel others as if you have the only “right” answers. Proverb 11:14: “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

10. Don’t counsel without personal accountability. As a pastor, make sure there is another pastor/elder holding you accountable for your own spiritual walk. Make sure your accountability partner is courageous enough to ask ‘intrusive’ questions.

Pick Me

Cool video.  Fake?

HT:  Kevin Hash

Balancing Act

Christianity is full of paradoxes. As Chesterton said:

It is true that the historic Church has at once emphasised celibacy and emphasised the family; has at once (if one may put it so) been fiercely for having children and fiercely for not having children. It has kept them side by side like two strong colours, red and white, like the red and white upon the shield of St. George. It has always had a healthy hatred of pink. It hates that combination of two colours which is the feeble expedient of the philosophers.

How should preachers approach this balancing act?  For example when preaching “faith without works is dead”, should the pastor go to what Paul says in Romans and Galatians to balance his point?  Might Christians become unbalanced if our sermon is too focused on works?  Or how should the preacher approach the warning passages?  Should there be comfort mixed in?  These are difficult questions and I think the answers depend on the situation.

If it is a pastor of a local church, and he knows that he will be speaking continually to the same people I think it is important for the pastor to press the point of the passage, and maybe not even provide more than is in the text (that he is covering).  I have thought much about this in reading Romans and Galatians.

For example in Romans 5 Paul emphasizes the power of grace so vehemently (but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more) that his hearers at the end of the chapter are at the point of saying “Well ‘are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?“  That is where Paul wanted them to be.  I think the goal of a preacher, if he is preaching through the book, is to have the congregation thinking the same question.  That means he has understood the text.

This morning Ryan Fullerton did that.  He stopped at Galatians 3:18.  He dissed the law so hard that everyone in the congregation had to think, “Why then the law?” (v. 19).  I think it was wise and right not to provide a reason for the law yet.  He will do that next week.

There are also situations where I think it is important to do the balancing act.  For example, if it is clear that people are struggling with the legalism and you happen to be going through James then it would probably be wise to either get out of James or make sure that they understand James in light of what Paul says.

It also depends on the maturity of the audience.  If the audience is not very familiar with the Bible it might be important for the speaker to walk carefully through what the Bible says.  It must be remembered that Paul was writing to specific people at specific times.

But I say all of this because I find myself scared to preach grace as hard as Paul did.  What if it turns into cheap grace?  But we need to follow Paul’s example.  He understood the questions that would come and he responded to them, but not before he had caused them to ask the questions.

Photo Friday: Lewis Hine

Lewis Hine was a sociologist, a humanist, and a photographer.  Hine capitalized on his skills with the camera and became the leading man in enacting many reforms.  He, unlike others before him, believed in the power of photography to persuade the public and authorities.  He used photography as a means to alert the public and shine light on the dark side of the working class.  Hine was a social welfare photographer who documented the working class of America.

Some claim that Hine’s work was the driving force behind all the child labor reforms.  Hine’s photographs gave the people an inside look at how child labor hurt children’s health, future, and childhood experiences.  He photographed children in mines, factories, textile mills, and street trades.  His pictures show the lack of safety and put a young face behind the machines in the factories.  His pictures reveal his views of the labor conditions in the United States.  Hine’s documentary style of photography set the standard for delivering a social message through photography.

Big Truths For Young Hearts

Bruce Ware, a good friend of the family, just wrote a book called Big Truths For Young Hearts. It is a systematic theology for young people.  His two daughters wrote the following forward.

This book is very special to us. As Bruce Ware’s daughters, we view Big Truths for Young Hearts not only as a rich resource for children and adults, but also as a tangible representation of the teaching we were blessed to faithfully receive from our dad throughout our childhood.

For the past two decades we have lived with a father who loves theology and loves to teach theology. We both remember him teaching us all six verses of the hymn “May the Mind of Christ my Savior” by the time we were three years old. During our annual summer road trips to see family on the West Coast, Dad and Mom used the time in the car to lead our family in singing worship songs, memorizing Scripture, and discussing theology. Dad would often begin a conversation with a question: “So, do you think Jesus had to be both God and man?” or “How can God be good and still allow bad things to happen in the world?” Not exactly laid-back vacation banter, but we loved those family conversations. We girls would sit in the backseat of our family Toyota and rack our brains trying to think of a biblical answer, knowing all the while that Dad had one. He was passionate about sharing truths with us that would give us confidence in our faith. This passion came through in family discussions at dinner, late- night chats in his study, and the “daddy daughter dates” on which he often took us. Though we did not fully realize it then, those conversations were life-changing and heart-shaping. It was Theology 101 given outside the classroom.

Dad really believes the things that are in this book. His theology shapes the way he lives, as we have seen many times. In confronting theological challenges of his day, Dad has displayed uncompromising commitment to God’s word. During hard times, he has trusted God and said along with Job, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” When praised for his gifts, he has had a humble attitude, consistently focusing attention on the Source of every good gift. He is generous with his time and money, faithful in evangelism, untiring in teaching, and devoted to his family. We tell you all this because we want to honor Dad’s integrity. Though of course he is deeply aware of his own sin, he strives to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Big Truths for Young Hearts is the same Theology 101 we learned growing up. It is a rich collection of truths that come straight from Scripture and answer questions about who God is, his work in the world, and the hope we can have through a relationship with Christ. Many people, whether evangelical or otherwise, have misconceptions about the basic doctrines of God. We need to understand these doctrines in order to understand life correctly. This book takes us straight to the heart of the Bible to help us do that.

We want to include a brief word to parents and children. To parents: it may sound cliché, but we followed our father’s teaching in part because he practiced what he preached. Like all children, we needed to look up and see our parents looking up at a great God who has great things in store for those who love him. The practice of faith really does make it powerful. To children: we’re so glad that you’re learning truths about God! It doesn’t always seem fun to have to sit and listen to your parents. But this subject is actually more exciting than anything else you could think of. As you get older, you’ll be very glad that you had parents who loved you and who taught you about the most important person you could ever know: God.

Lastly, to our dad: we love you so much and are so proud of you. You are a tender father, a loving husband, and a faithful provider. Thank you for raising your daughters so that we, to this day, feel cherished. Most of all, thank you for believing the gospel, teaching it to us, and faithfully showing us through your own life that God is great.

With love,

Bethany and Rachel

Quote: George MacDonald

On Emotions:

They had a feeling, or a feeling had them, till another feelings came and took its place. When a feeling was there, they felt as if it would never go; when it was gone, they felt as it had never been; when it returned, they felt as if it had never gone.

Doug Wilson: The Lord’s Table

Doug Wilson has recently had good meditations on the Lord’s Table.  This one is called Free and Full Forgiveness.

As we have told you many times, the designated time for confession of sin is not here at this Table. If you are walking with the Lord, you will confess sin whenever you commit it, and you will put it right with anyone you need to put it right with immediately. As we all need reminders to do this diligently, we have a time set aside for weekly confession at the beginning of the service. This Table, at the conclusion of the service, was not designed to serve as a time of morbid introspection.

But what of those who do not confess their sins appropriately? Week after week, they come to this Table without having prepared themselves to do so. What is happening to them in that case? Though the Table wasn’t designed to foster introspection, it does have a design feature that deals with those who refuse to examine themselves appropriately.

Moses warns the people of Israel that God will see to it that their sin will find them out (Num. 32:23). The Bible teaches that this Table is a time of nourishment for the faithful. But for those who are not dealing with secret and hidden sin appropriately, this Table is a time of manifestation. This is why many Corinthians had taken sick, and had died. This Table brings things to light. Heaven and earth meet in this meal, just as they do in the great day of judgment, and this means that God is in the process of bringing all things to light. He does this inexorably, and in accordance with His covenant word.

This means that every time we partake of the bread and wine, for those with a double life it is a time of unfolding secrets. That money taken from your employer and never put right, a pattern of hidden homosexual sin, or secret infidelity of other forms . . . all are being brought to light. Regardless of what we think we are doing, every participation in communion is an objective request from us, asking God to bring the hidden things to light. And this is a prayer that God consistently answers, whether we know we are praying it or not, and whether or not we would like it if we found out that this is what He is doing. But this need not be grim news. It is in fact gospel. When God brings sin to light, there is an opportunity for free and full forgiveness.

Tunes on Tuesday (Ray LaMontagne)

A good song of the album Till the Sun Turns Black.  Raylay singing “Empty” live.

Or you can listen to the version off the CD.

Why We Don’t Pray: 2 Reasons from Psalm 142

I read Psalm 142 in my quiet time today.  I was meditating on David’s intimacy with God.  He seemed to have two reasons why he prayed.  Therefore, these must be two reasons why we don’t pray.

We don’t pray because we don’t believe God is good.

David cries to God because he knows God will hear and help him.  A man will only cry out for help to someone he thinks can help him.  David really believes that God is kind enough to help him when he is being pursued and hiding in the cave.

“With my voice I cry out to the Lord.” (1a)

“Deliver me from my persecutors for they are too strong for me!  Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name!” (6b-7a)

We don’t pray because we don’t believe God is in control.

David cries out to God because he knows God can change any situation.

“When my spirit faints within me, you know my way!”  (3a)

Lesson:  Meditate and believe that God is both there to help us and that he is powerful enough to.

My pastor Ryan Fullerton had a good sermon on praying to God as Father.

9 Marks e-Journal

The new 9 Marks e-journal is out.  Jonathan Leeman writes what it is about.

Seminaries don’t make pastors, churches do.

You’ll hear someone at 9Marks say that if you hang around us long enough. In this issue of the eJournal, we try to put some flesh on this basic idea.

Mark Dever considers why the local church is uniquely equipped and commissioned to the work of raising up future pastors. Then he offers some practical advice for every pastor and church for doing this work, whether or not they have the resources for an internship program. Both seminary presidents and pastors offer their sentiments in a couple of 9Marks forums. And one of John MacArthur’s associate pastors, Nathan Busenitz, tells the story of how Grace Community Church decided to plant a seminary within the church.

Next, we asked three different churches how they formally mentor future pastors. We hope this might give our pastor readers a few ideas they can adopt, as God provides the opportunity. And our goal is the same for the last section, where we feature a number of church-affiliated programs. Maybe a church will start its own program; maybe it will sponsor a student through one of the programs listed here.

This issue does not contain the longer, more theological articles that we often include (we will in the future!), but here’s the very simple point we hope you catch: God primarily calls and equips men for the pastorate as pastors faithfully shepherd and disciple their own congregations. If you don’t read anything else, catch this point in the first three paragraphs of Dever’s second interview below.

Go to website to read it all.

Funny Super Bowl Ads

Doritos:  Crystal Ball

Pepsi Max:  I’m Good

Bud light:  Swedish

Miller High Life:  High Life

Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad that Won’t Air

The Family Research Council writes the following:

The Washington Times is reporting today that NBC, in a disturbing show of censorship, has nixed a powerful pro-life ad slated to air on Super Bowl Sunday. The commercial, called “Imagine Spot 1,” was created by a Catholic group called Fidelis to drive home the potential of human life. After its run on Black Entertainment Television (BET), the spot is approaching a million YouTube hits. NBC justified the slight by saying that the ad was too political in nature. In reality, these 41 seconds do more to inspire than the hundreds of other Super Bowl ads that use sex and alcohol to wow viewers. It’s ironic that producers pull out the rule book when they want to police traditional values, but when their stars do something really out-of-bounds the networks swallow their whistle.

Read it here.

HT:  My good co-worker Danny Slavich who just got a Associate Pastor position in Florida.  Congrats.

Man on Wire

Last night we watched the documentary Man on Wire.  It is about a young Frenchman, Philippe Petit, who walked across a wire between the New York World Trade Center’s twin towers in 1974.  After nearly an hour of dancing on the wire he was arrested.  It was the artistic crime of the century.  We got it because it got 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Reasons to See it:

1. They had incredible amounts of footage of the plan to get him up on the top of the twin towers.  In addition while he was up there he sits down, lies down, and salutes.
2. Petit, who is still alive, is so dramatic while telling the story that it is fun listening to him re-tell the story.
3. It interesting to see how different God makes people.  Petit could only think about getting on the wire.  All I could think about is what I would do to stay off of it.

Reasons NOT to see it:

1. It is 30 minutes too long.
2. It has a surprising nudy scene
3. It has a subtle theme of encouraging rebellion.

I do not think it deserves 100%, maybe 60%.