The Only Reason for Being

HT: Christ is Deeper Still by Ray Ortlund

Juvenile Diabetes and You

My wife, Michelle, will be taking part in the 2008 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk to Cure Diabetes on September 13th.

This is very important because Michelle recently lost a cousin from complications caused by her diabetes. In addition, Michelle's mom is diabetic... as is my father, brother, and several other family members.

This is where each of you comes in. Would you be willing to visit her 'walker' page and donate a small amount to help find a cure? Her personal goal is just $100.

Follow this link to Donate

Thank you!

Great Deal on Machen Book!

Westminster Bookstore is having a great deal on Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen. Half off until September 15th!

Suicide and Christianity

C. Michael Patton over at Parchment & Pen responds to an email concerning the eternal destiny of a man who claimed to be a Christian, yet committed suicide. You can read his well-reasoned and biblical response HERE.

Patton's sister committed suicide in the recent past so he speaks from firsthand experience of having to deal with this issue.

Many people know that my mother died when I ten. However, fewer people know that she committed suicide. It is for this reason that I especially appreciated his comments and biblical response. Below are links to additional helpful resources:

Depression: The Way Up When You Are Down
Suicide: Understanding and Intervening

Son of Hamas Leader Embraces Christianity

Read the interview and see video of Mosab Hassan Yousef discussing what led him to renounce Islam and embrace Christianity.

Where did the mountain go? More on Serving God & Saving the Environment

I just finished reading a review of Serve God, Save the Planet by Tim Challies and it got me thinking. Not so much about the book, but rather my personal thoughts on stewardship of the environment; particularly the effects of coal mining on the forests and wildlife of Appalachia.

The popular debate about the environment these days seems to be centered primarily on global warming. However, take a short drive to the coal fields of southeast Kentucky and you'll find a problem that is far more important to many residents there, mountain top removal.

Mountain top removal consists of hundreds of feet of a mountain top being blasted away and the resulting debris is pushed over into the valley, even if there are streams in those valleys. This exposes the coal seam so that it can be mined.

Areas that have experienced this practice have seen streams blocked, wells poisoned by dangerous chemicals used in mining, and native plant and animal life virtually eliminated. In addition, the intense blasting during the process has damaged or destroyed home after home. I know of someone whose well was emptied by an underground cavern caused by blasting and the resulting void was filled with explosive methane gas.

Until recently I was very apathetic about the entire issue. Now, however, I hope that this practice can be stopped because it looks like my hometown will soon become its next victim. I feel guilty that it takes my personal interests being threatened before I start caring (I think we humans are like that in a lot of ways).

I'm also taking greater interest in my responsibility for the overall environment. The jury is still out on global warming, but there can be no doubt that I (we) need to become more responsible in how I treat creation.

In the words of Francis Schaeffer from Pollution and the Death of Man,

"The man who believes things are there only by chance cannot give things a real intrinsic value. But for the Christian, there is an intrinsic value. The value of a thing is not in itself autonomously, but because God made it. It deserves this respect as something which was created by God, as man himself has been created by God."

ESV Study Bible

The release of the much anticipated ESV Study Bible is just around the corner (October 15th). I'm not one to get caught up in the hype of new products. However, from the previews I've looked at I can honestly say I'm pretty excited!

Check it out for yourself:


WTS bookstore will be selling it at 37% below list price ($31.49)
Excerpt of Introduction to Luke
Introduction to Revelation
Complete Book of Jonah

Counseling Booklets from CCEF

The Christian Counseling & Education Foundation (CCEF) offers some wonderful little booklets from the Resources For Changing Lives (RCL) series.

They are ideal for providing to those whom you may be counseling. The best part is that they are around $3 each (even cheaper if you buy in packs of five).

Examples include:

Facing Death with Hope - Powlison
Living With an Angry Spouse: Help for Victims of Abuse - Welch
How Do I Stop Losing it With My Kids? Getting to the Heart of Your Discipline Problems - Smith

You can find additional booklets and other resources from CCEF/RCL HERE & HERE.

While you're at it I would suggest New Testament Theology by Dr. Thomas Schreiner


Blessings!

Happy Independence Day!

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies' separation from Great Britain. Read the Declaration of Independence

We will be celebrating and honoring the birth of our nation tomorrow. I feel, however, that the real reason for this day is lost on many people. Even though my citizenship is in heaven I cannot help but express gladness in how God has blessed me to be part of such a great country.

What about the idea that we live in 'Christian country'? Stephen at 'the lower case' has a good post on this issue HERE. I would also suggest a similar post from Stephen HERE.

On a less serious note, I am the object of some laughs and friendly harassment because I'm bothered by the term "Fourth of July." We are not simply celebrating a date on the calendar that we happen to share with countries around the world. It is Independence Day! Just as with the generic (and equally dumb) 'happy holidays' for Christmas, this term completely misses the real reason for the day. Maybe I should start referring to Christmas as "the 25th of December" to show just how silly it sounds?

I encourage the use of the correct name because I don't want anyone to forget. I want us all to honor people like my dad who served in the Korean War, or the many other men and women who have served and died to protect & preserve our independence. May we never forget the sacrifice they have made, and are making even as I type this.

Happy Independence Day!

Baby Survives Abortion

A mother in England chose to have an abortion at 8 weeks because her son could be born with a birth defect. However, the baby survived the procedure and is now a healthy 6 month old baby boy. He suffered some kidney damage but is expected to live a normal life.

Read the story HERE

See original Daily Mail story and picture of the precious 6 month old Finley HERE.

The mother says it best, 'I still struggle to believe just what he has fought through. Now he's here I wouldn't change it for the world.'

What a wonderful outcome to such a terrible procedure!

Modesty

Hopefully everyone has been reading the Sovereign Grace Blog in recent days. C.J. Mahaney has been sharing his chapter ("God, My Heart, and Clothes") from the upcoming Crossway book entitled Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. By the way, the Sovereign Grace blog has information of how you can receive 35% off the cost of this book.

I've only read parts of these posts so far but I look forward to reading it all this week. For convenience you can download the complete content of the blog posts in PDF HERE

I would also recommend checking out the results of The Modesty Survey, conducted by Alex & Brett Harris at The Rebulution. Other helpful resources include:

• Modeling Modesty by Mary Mohler (PDF download)
• Are Christian Women "Modeling Modesty" In Weddings? - Mary Mohler interview on her husband's radio show.
  

As a man, and a Christian man in particular, I believe it is very helpful to seriously consider this issue. Modesty isn't simply a matter of following rules to be a 'good little Christian' (legalism), but it is being responsible in how we serve our brothers and sisters.

I took part in the Modesty Survey and listened to Dr. Mohler's radio program above when it first aired, but the subject had not really been on my mind recently. However, when I attended the T4G conference I was reminded of it once again.

During one of the sessions I was located behind a girl whose pants were riding very low, probably lower than she realized. As a result, a part of anatomy typically associated with plumbers was clearly visible. She was in the back row of the floor seats and I was in the second row of bleacher seats (about a 25-30' separation), so it wasn't that I just happened to look down and see something. It was clearly visible from a distance.

Please do not misunderstand me. I don't think for a second that she was doing this purposely, and I am confident she genuinely loves the Lord, but it was certainly an awkward time. This situation is just one example of why it is important to think about the issue of modesty (I'm talking to guys as well as girls).

We need to be willing to look in the mirror and think of others instead of just whether the garment looks good. I think the chapter by C.J. Mahaney, as well as these other resources, are tremendously beneficial as we seek to serve each other in this area.

Blessings!

It really is official this time

I am officially the Minister of Children & Families at Parkland Hills. There is no more voting that needs to be done by anyone (see previous posts).

It is exciting but also scary. I just need to remember to stay focused on the gospel and not get caught up in being a professional minister. In fact, I probably should re-read "Brothers, We Are Not Professionals."

I appreciate everyone's support and encouragement as Michelle and I begin this new phase of our lives and ministry. I covet your prayers in the days, months, and possibly years to come.

The 17th of May will be my last day where I currently work. I will miss the friends I've made there, although I WILL NOT miss the 45+ minute commute (sorry guys). I praise the Lord for providing such a wonderful job and a great group of people to work with the past year and nine months. Thanks especially to Stephen and Brad for your godly leadership.

"Whoever serves [must do it] as one who serves by the strength that God supplies-in order that in everything God may be glorified" - 1 Peter 4:11

Grace and peace!

It's official...kind of

Upon final approval by our sponsoring church I will be officially called as Minister of Children & Families at Parkland Hills Baptist Church next week.

Our pastor first approached me close to two months ago so it has been difficult to keep it to myself. He first had to discuss it at a Mission Development Council meeting and await their approval. After what seemed like an eternity, it was unanimously approved by them last week.

Our church then took the next step and unanimously voted this past Sunday to call me to this position. It then is set to go back to our sponsoring church for them to formally approve things (only because they are voting to underwrite our budget to cover this salary line item).

I was under the impression that they would be voting tonight, but it turns out that they were only announcing a special called meeting for this coming Sunday where it will be addressed.

So, it isn't 100% official as of yet as I've prematurely told some people, but all involved say that there is full agreement so it is mostly a formality at this point. I have been waiting not-so-patiently up until now so I guess I can wait another few days.

I'll provide more information Sunday night or Monday sometime.

Have Church Your Way

I saw this several months ago but found it again this evening. It is a humorous reminder of the pervasiveness of pragmatic & egocentric churches. The sad part is that it probably isn't too far from reality in many cases.




HT: Route 5:9 (Peacemaking Ministries blog)

A Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On

I woke up this morning and learned that the Louisville area felt the tremors from a magnitude 5.4 earthquake centered in southern Illinois [See local coverage here]. It must have shaken me out of my blogging drought.

I have been unable to blog due to being in New Orleans, LA for 8 days on a mission trip (more on that later), and then attending the Together for the Gospel conference this week. I had some time at home during the conference but I had a paper and other homework to catch up with.

Here is the link to T4G 2006 & T4G 2008 audio (free download and/or stream) until I get back into the swing of things.