The Gospel and The Kingdom

Institution of Marriage: It was only a matter of time before polygamist figured it out…. This BP News article shows how attorneys for some Utah polygamist are using similar arguments that supporters for gay marriage have used.

Audio: Dr. Russell Moore confesses to being a Fundamissional Dean.

Education: Like to learn?  Check out this list of resources for free learning.

This is just way to funny to pass up putting this up here…

HT: Thabiti

I’m Bad!:  Tony Kummer has pointed to John Piper’s confession of his awfulness of sin.  It is quite humorous, I must admit.  You can here the mp3 here.

What About Bob?:  Dr. Mohler has an excellent post this morning on how Bob the Tomato from the VeggieTales is now being censored by new owners, NBC.

Tech: Want your Windows XP machine to look like a Vista machine, even though Vista is not out until sometime in Jan ‘07?  Try this out.  (Note: I have installed this with no problem and really like it, but that doesn’t mean I am responsible for anything that happens.)

There has arisen much opportunity for ministry within the Louisivlle, KY area.  Between Friday and Saturday this area received well over 6 inches of rain (almost 8 in my area of town).  Now, I know that is not much compared to some areas of the world, but that is way too much for this area of the world, at one time anyway.

For a slideshow of pictures from the local news station here in Louisville, look here.  This is where the picture to the right came from.   Also, here is a list of shelters in the area as well as a list of important phone numbers for those in need.  I realize that if you are in need of shelter or information, you will not be on the internet, much less on my site.  However, I put these up there for others to help those in need.  I, personally, will be out of pocket today as I travel to Owenton, KY.  But I know that this area will need much ministry in days to come as well.

I am sure that is the way the players and coaching staff at the University of North Carolina Tarheels felt today.

Man, what a game. 52-7. Of course, for Clemson, this is only UNC, there are bigger fish to fry. But I must say that I am pleased that there is at least some appearence of consistency in the 2006 season thus far.

Go Tigers!

ESPNu.com Recap

SI.com Recap

ClemsonTigers.com Recap

I was reading a bit this morning in John Mark Terry’s Church Evangelism. In Chapter 4 entitled, “Facilitate Change in the Church,” Terry quotes Vernon Armitage’s Buster’s to Dictate Booming Church Changes? to illustrate how rapid recent history has changed. I thought it was a good illustration….one for pastors and church leaders to think about. Here is the quote:

If human history was compressed into a fifty-year span, during the first forty-five years nothing much happened.  Five years ago, humans began to communicate by writing.  Two years ago Christ came to earth.  Five months ago, Gutenberg invented the printing press.  Twenty days ago, Benjamin Franklin demonstrated that lightening is electricity.  Nineteen days ago, the telephone was invented.  Eighteen days ago the Wright brothers flew an airplane for the first time.  Ten days agao the radio became popular.  Five days ago the people began to watch television.

Wow!  One thing has not changed.  Man is still sinful and still needs to stand justly before God.  And still, the only way to do so is through the righteousness of Christ Himself.  Praise be to God!

I have been reading an article for one of my classes entitled, The Biblical Foundation of the Mission of the Church by Robert Dobbie, written in the April-July 1962 edition of the

Dobbie does a wonderful job of setting the context for the Jewish idea of the coming Messiah. He states:

The dreams of the new Kingdom included the religious centrality of Jerusalem, the political significance of Israel, the return of many Jews of the dispersion to their homeland, and a triumph over traditional foes. (Page 197)

Dobbie also pointed out how an errant idea of the true Messiah and the structure of Temple worship led to a non-missionary theology. Sadly enough, a misunderstanding of the true Messiah and the structure and or content of our worship can, does, and always will lead to a non-missionary theology.

But Dobbie does not let the nation of Israel off easy:

Even if the Jewish Church as a whole, in most of its history, failed to develop a missionary soul, much of its teaching, many of its insights, and not a few of its spokesmen worthily represent a claim to which no missionary cause can be indifferent. (Page 200-201)

I appreciate this word on so many levels. First, as I stated, it does not let Israel off the hook, so to speak. Granted revelation was progressive, but they had the bare understanding of what God desired and what He demanded from all of His creation. I would point you to the Abrahamic Covenant, particular Psalms, and several passages in Isaiah.

Dobbie also does an excellent job of pointing to the fact that revelation was progressive and illustrates this with what the prophets preached, and expected from their preaching.

[The OT prophets] made the ethical response of the people focal to its fulfilment or continuance. In particular they linked this manifold concept of righteousness to the necessity and the availability of forgiveness, on the explicit understanding of repentance as its indispensable precondition. (Page 202)

Dobbie then moves to sum up this article this way:

Thus it would appear that the positive marks of an authentic gospel, even in the Old Testament, are to be found, not in the history of the nation as a whole, nor in the witness of the Church as a totality, but in the faith and insight and loyalty of a few - a spiritual remnant - whose committal to their own convictions has foreshadowed and foretold the coming of Jesus Christ and whose life has been a worthy and in the main a compelling adumbration of that incarnate life which involves or should involve irresistible missionary response.  (Page 204)

All in all, again, I enjoyed and appreciate his article.  I am not sure if I can put my .pdf copy up here on the web for you.  But if you want it and cannot find it, email me and we will see what can be done.  I would encourage you to find this article and read it…it is one for the reference shelf.

Well, my silence has been for a good while now. Where have I been? Busy! Classes have started back at SBTS….but that is no new adjustment. My oldest son has started kindergarten…..ok, that is an adjustment for the family. But also, there has been other matters of prayer and contemplation.

For the past four years, I have been the pastor of the Elk Lick Baptist Church in Owenton, KY. God has been so good to me, allowing me to pastor these wonderful people for this period. God also showed me through this pastorate that I need to be with the people I shepherd week in and week out. It has been very hard to pastor from 72 miles away! God has shown me that in order to disciple and lead effectively, a persistent presence among those whom I serve is a necessity. God has also shown me that I need to complete my M.Div degree in a more timely manner. Up until now, I have been working on it in a part-time manner.

Given this fact, God has shown me that my ministry among these people has come to an end. Enter, the good people of Midlane Park Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. Since June, or a bit earlier, of this year, I have been speaking with the search committee of these people who have become so dear to my family so quickly. I preached for this congregation this past Sunday and spent some time with them, informally, on Saturday.

I have devoted less time to blogging these few weeks to devote more time to seeking God’s face in this period of my life. There are many things to accomplish if God places me in this place of ministry and I wanted to think through these issues, not having to worry about “what to blog about today?”.

I trust that my silence will be forgiven. I look forward to continuing to blog, this is something that I enjoy immensely. In many ways, blogging is an extension of my spiritual discipline. Please note….I hesitate to refer to blogging as a spiritual discipline. I will leave my thoughts for that in another discussion.

But for now, I covet your prayers for myself and my family and for the people of Midlane Park. I believe that God is moving in a mysterious way, to quote from Cowper, and great things are in store for each of us.  I covet your prayers for wisdom and discernment and, God willing, for strength and grace to serve these people and this community.

After last week’s loss in 2/OT to Boston College, I was a bit worried about playing Florida State so early in the season.

Aside from a hideous kicking game, I was elated at the outcome of this year’s “Bowden Bowl.” I did not watch the fourth quarter, I will save that for this afternoon, but the highlight reel on this morning’s news was enough to tide me over and provide some great joy.

I am just glad that Proctor played better than his effort against Boston College.

GO TIGERS!!

Game Recap from ESPNU.com

Clemson Football Recap

SI.com Recap

Where have I been?  News will be forthcoming next week….stay tuned.