Random Recommendation

I just wanted to take a moment to recommend Google Calendar for those of you who are like me and need help remembering things easily. I suggest you do yourself a favor and utilize this wonderfully useful and user-friendly application.

You can create multiple calendar categories (i.e. Personal, Church, School, Bills, Birthdays & Anniversaries, etc.). Then, the event for that category is displayed as a color-coded entry in the actual calendar. (FYI: your categories are called "Calendars" by Google)

Using a menu on your sidebar you can check mark the custom categories you've created so that only the ones you need/want appear on your calendar. You can also choose different views of your events by clicking an appropriate tab. For instance, you can choose to display this information by Day, Week, Month, Next 4 Days, and as an Agenda (list) view.

By the way, you can add a Bible reading plan from the ESV site that gives you what to read each day. You can find the appropriate information by visiting the ESV Bible iCal Subscription Site.

The navigation is VERY easy, and adding events is easier still. Google Calendar is much easier to use than Outlook and much more practical for everyday use. Of course you can also access it from any computer instead of lugging one around.

I use Gmail as my primary email so it makes it easy to click the "Calendar" link and just keep it open in its own tab in Firefox. I do that for both email and my calendar so they are just a click away!

There you have it! There are other features I did not mention so go check it out. I pray you will be able to use it, as I have, to help you be more productive and responsible.

Classic R.C. Sproul - Imputation

Kentucky Baptist Association Boots Church

According to their recent newsletter, the Upper Cumberland Association of Harlan, KY expelled Sunshine Baptist Church during the the 2007 annual meeting in September. The online newsletter states that they took this action because the church called a pastor with an Independent Baptist Church background.

In similar business, they recommended that all member churches cease fellowship with this church and also not to accept members from it or provide membership letters for those in your congregation moving to this church.

Surprisingly, there was no indication the new pastor was going to lead the church away from being a cooperating Southern Baptist congregation. Also, to my knowledge, associational leaders did not discuss this matter with the church prior to removal.

Therefore, I am absolutely dumbfounded why such a severe action was taken. I am especially troubled that the association did not share its concerns with the church prior to removal. For all intents and purposes they decide to treat this congregation as a group of unbelievers, but why?

I have heard rumors that it was actually because the new pastor's wife was married once before. If that is the case, why hasn't it been mentioned officially? I have been aggressively beating the bushes trying to get some answers, but to no avail. I want only the best for all parties involved, but based on the facts presented I cannot help but believe their actions are inappropriate.

I really want to be wrong in this situation. It is my home association involving people I’ve known for a long time and respect very much. So, I will be glad to change my opinion and publicly recant my comments if I determine there is more to it than they published.

I am proud to be a Southern Baptist and to serve as a North American Mission Board missionary, but I am truly saddened by such improper action by my home association. May God grant everyone involved humility and a heart willing to seek reconciliation.

Spurgeon Quote

"Someone asked Will the heathen who have never heard the Gospel be saved? It is more a question with me whether we who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not can be saved." - Charles Spurgeon

Where is My Award for Humility?

Steadfast & Immovable Mike

I'm sure this isn't very scientific but it's pretty cool! I even scored at a higher level than Dr. Mohler.

(I hope I don't have to explain the humor behind the title of this post)

More Signs that the Apocalypse is Near

Michelle and I were channel surfing last night after we went to bed and found one the craziest things I have ever witnessed.

There was a local ministry (something about World Prayer Center) and they were hawking a "Quick Scan" New Testament and other materials for a suggested donation of $40.00. Of course you may ask, "Mike, what is a quick scan NT?" The answer is very sad and troubling.

The announcer proudly claimed that with their quick scan NT you only needed to read the bold verses so you don't have to read the whole thing! Apparently the whole counsel of God's revealed word to us isn't as living and authoritative as we thought.

2 Timothy 3:16 must not be one of their bold verses so I can see how they could overlook it, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness....."

Simply amazing!

The Faith of Abraham

This post has no particular significance other than to share Scripture with you. I pray it blesses your soul like it did mine when I read it today... enjoy.

In the passage from Romans 4 below we find Abraham maintaining hope in God's promise of a child in spite of the fact that by all accounts he should not. He views his own body as well as Sarah's and both are physically unable to conceive a child. Does he give up? No!

Although he realized they could not have children it says that he contemplated this without his faith becoming weak. To top it off they went so far as to put that faith to work! What an amazing example!

"In hope against hope he (Abraham) believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, " SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.

"Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;

yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform."

Romans 4:18-21 (NASB)

Blessings!

Mike

God Responds to Senator

According to news God has responded to the good senator from Nebraska. God's response argues that he is immune from earthly laws and that the court lacks jurisdiction.

The response says, "I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you." (gives an entirely different meaning to the 'Free Will' defense, huh?) Because of this, the response contends that blaming God for human oppression and suffering misses an important point. For those interested, St. Michael the Archangel is listed as a witness. [Read Story Here]

I really don't have much to say about this since it kind of speaks for itself. Anyone have thoughts or reactions you'd like to share?

Senator Sues God Over Disasters

Nebraska senator Ernie Chambers (D) has sued God asking for a "permanent injunction ordering Defendant to cease certain harmful activities and the making of terroristic threats." According to Chambers, he doesn't have a problem with God. It is just a political move in his fight against legislation limiting frivolous lawsuits [Read Story Here]

I believe he is out of line but I am interested to see if the court allows this lawsuit due to the ramifications it could have on church/state issues. That's not to mention giving legal precedence that supports the existence of God. I'm sure the ACLU and other groups will get involved soon.

Anyone ever watch Miracle on 34th Street? (if you have you will understand the reference)

Man Calls 911 on Himself

From the "Not the sharpest knife in the drawer" file comes the story out of Mississippi where a man was arrested for making meth. The only problem is that the police found the stuff after responding to an accidental 911 call made by Curtis Randall Coleman.

The call was originally made to complain about not getting a FEMA trailer (he meant to dial 411 for FEMA). I guess he needed somewhere to live away from all of those fumes.

HT: FOX News

Never Forget

I just wanted to take a minute to ask that you pray for the family of SSGT. Delmar 'Dale' White. He was a member of the KY National Guard killed by a roadside bomb last week in Iraq. He also served in the USMC during Desert Storm back in 1991.

I knew him from our days at James A. Cawood High School as well as being practically neighbors back in my hometown of Wallins Creek, KY. His dad passed away a few years ago but his step-mother still lives there. I was good friends with his parents.

There have been many brave men and women who have given their lives for our freedom, but this is the first one that I knew personally. I'm ashamed to admit that I have taken the others for granted most of the time. Let us not forget their sacrifice and the freedom we enjoy on their behalf!

A Little Help from My Friends

I'm writing a position paper for my Systematic Theology III class with Dr. Ware and have settled on the subject of eschatology, especially as it relates to the timing of the 'rapture' and millennial reign of Christ.

I picked this subject because I really have never developed an adequate understanding of why I believe what I believe, or if what I believe would even stand up to a critical application of the biblical data. So, I though it would be a great opportunity to improve in this area.

For all of my Christian life I have generally affirmed a dispensational premillennial position. Of course this is primarily due to my upbringing (my dad is a huge Jack Van Impe fan) instead of an honest study of the biblical data. My preliminary research seems to support a more historic premillennial understanding, but this is where I would like to ask for your assistance.

Does anyone know of any quality sources on this issue? or, would you like to share your personal understanding of Scripture in this area? Any feedback and/or input would be greatly appreciated!

The Numbers Don't Lie

Anyone involved in SBC life these days has probably heard of the issue concerning missing members. There is a huge discrepancy between membership numbers within the convention as opposed to actual attendance. Christianity Today offers an editorial on the subject entitled Statistical Shell Game [READ HERE].

The article mentions, although not by name, a resolution on regenerate church membership submitted by Tom Ascol during the recent SBC convention in San Antonio, TX. They write, "Opponents cited Baptist polity and said the convention had no authority to tell churches how they should regulate membership and report those numbers." [Read Resolution] I find that reason terribly troubling since they make non-binding resolutions all the time that would easily fall into the same category (calling for consistency here).

I believe we must drop the facade, get our collective heads out of the sand, and show integrity as a convention concerning our membership, even though 16 million sounds good in the press. The eternal destiny of our "church members" are at stake if we do not take them seriously and take our responsibility to them seriously. God help us!

Barry Bonds Rookie Card

This was too good to pass up! I won't make a comment one way or another concerning his alleged steroid use but this is funny... I don't care who ya are!


HT: Amazing Grace & Old Chevys

To Change it Would Make it Worse

In times of suffering it is sometimes difficult to remember God's goodness, even though we would maintain that "God is in control."

I commend a recent Baptist Press article to you entitled To Change it Would Make it Worse. It's a personal account by Barry Joslin of his mother's death. He reminds us that God's sovereignty and goodness cannot be separated. I pray you find it as encouraging as I did.

Barry Joslin serves as Assistant Professor of Christian Theology at Boyce College.


HT: Denny Burk