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

"The Silver is Mine and the Gold is Mine...."

Michelle and I were given a sweet reminder today of Haggai 2:8 that says, "the silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the LORD almighty."

We are coming to the end of the month and things were getting a little tight financially, almost to the point of being in the hole. I was crunching some numbers and double checking our check book and bank account online when I noticed something unexpected.

Someone had given us $250.00 through our NAMB missionary account that posted this past Friday! I was stunned and had to get Michelle to verify what I was seeing. Not only did this help get our heads above water until I get paid next week, we will have enough left over for me to buy my books for class this semester (we totaled up the cost of those yesterday).

We're ashamed by the lack of our faith at times but praise God that he is faithful even when we may be faith-less. Soli Deo Gloria!!!

Talking Jesus Action Figure?

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc announced this past week that they will begin selling 12" talking Jesus dolls in 425 select stores around the county. This doll will be in additon to 3" figures of Daniel and 13" Solomon dolls.

According to their press release the toys will be on Wal-Mart shelves starting in August, mainly in the Midwest and South but also in California and as far northeast as Pennsylvania.

What are your thoughts?

The Blessing of Being Disconnected

We finally have internet service at our house. After a month of being disconnected it is good to have back, especially since I manage the church website and we both rely on email for work and personal communication. Michelle and I both enjoyed spending the time reading, although I'm ashamed to admit that she redeemed the time better than me.

In a single month she has read Girl Talk and Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney et al, Passion & Purity by Elizabeth Elliott, and has just started Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Quest for Love by Elizabeth Elliott. She is also memorizing the entire book of James... talk about being an overachiever!!! I've started reading Holiness by J.C. Ryle, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper, and re-reading The Cross of Christ by John Stott (among several others that I have been reading off and on).

We have all become so reliant on the internet but our experience shows it may not be a bad idea to take a sabbatical from it every once and a while. Although ours wasn't planned, we did find the time to be very rewarding.

In Our New House

We finally got moved and are getting settled slowly but surely. We've been without internet service so have been relying on access at outside locations. I intend to begin posting again regularly once internet service is established.

Keller and The Centrality of the Gospel

I believe I must be behind the times. I have just recently become familiar with Tim Keller (other than just his name) and so far I really like what I'm reading. While searching the web I've realized that he has quite a following.

If you haven't read it I would commend his article entitled The Centrality of the Gospel to you. It provides very practical advice on how to apply the gospel to every area of our lives. He also provides some thought provoking discussion questions. I was especially challenged by his comparison of irreligious and religious people (yes, I said comparison and not contrast).

He writes, "Irreligious people seek to be their own saviors and lords through irreligion, "worldly" pride (no one tells me what to do or how to live...)." He continues, "But moral and religious people seek to be their own saviors and lords through religion, "religious" pride (I am more moral and spiritual than other people)." He concludes, "... these are two different ways to do the same thing - control our lives."

Read the entire article HERE to get the full unpacking of these ideas plus many more on this important subject.

Jerry Falwell - Dead at 73

The AP has just reported that the Rev. Jerry Falwell has died after being found unresponsive in his Liberty University office. He was 73. Read story HERE

Gay ex-Governor to Attend Seminary

Former NJ governor James E. McGreevey, who was raised Catholic, has been accepted into the Episcopalian Church and its General Theological Seminary in New York. Read story HERE.

I suppose we shouldn't be surprised since the Episcopal Church (I use that term very lightly) has represented the far left for some time now. It is sad when anyone claims to represent Christianity when in fact they live contrary to Scripture (can you say Matthew 7:21?).

If They Persecuted Me...

Tomorrow's Sunday School lesson is about Jesus' words to his disciples about the coming persecution. I must admit that I really have never experienced persecution for my faith. Inconvenienced maybe, but my safety has never been in danger due to being a follower of Christ.

Just today I was reading a letter from a colleague of the Christians brutally killed in Turkey recently. Please follow the link below to read the entire letter (Warning: some of the descriptions may be too graphic for some).

A letter to the Global Church from The Protestant Church of Smyrna

Prayer Requests

Just a quick post with a couple personal prayer requests:

• My dad is having surgery in the coming weeks. He is having a complete knee replacement on his left knee. It appears to be a routine procedure, relatively speaking, but obviously can have complications. In particular, he is diabetic a has a little high blood pressure. Neither are very bad but enough to cause concern. His age is also a concern, he is 74. Pray for the surgery and subsequent therapy.
  
• Lord willing, Michelle and I will be moving by the end of May. We will be moving to a house closer to her job and our church (less than 10 minutes to either). However, I will now be commuting to classes and work (35-40 minutes). I would prefer to do this than for Michelle to drive it every day, but it will still be an adjustment (especially for the early morning Greek classes that I'm dreading next semester since I already don't do well with languages). Please pray that my car will hold up specifically. I had some warranty work done on the engine about a year ago but I feel like it didn't fix the problem completely.
  

About the Size of It

HT: Alpha & Omega Ministries

What's Wrong With This Picture? - Answer

Ok, time for the answer to the big question from my previous post. Congratulations go to West Virginia on their NIT championship! However, it seems the t-shirt creator performed below championship level.

Virginia is spelled incorrectly!