Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Happy Memorial Day
I was able to preach this Sunday and last and i enjoyed every moment of it. It was about 6 months since i last preached on Sunday morning so this was a real blessing. Pastor Flatt is always gracious when he goes on vacation to let me fill his pulpit. The book of Jude has been coming alive for our people and i trust in doing so our sheep will become more proactive in there defense of the Truth (against errors).
My mom is visiting us right now and that has been so much fun. She lives in WA state (with my father). They have been married now for 33 years and are a real blessing to me and my family.
My sister is spending the summer with us and will be nannying for the Katterhenry triplets (6). Rebekah is going to be a Jr. at the Master's College next year. She is a Biblical Counseling major and a real gem.
My daughter Evelyn celebrated her first birthday last week. At 1 year old she is as cute as ever. What a blessing she is to all who come in contact with her. Happy Birthday little blue eyes. I trust you've been reading daddy's blog. :)
My wife Andrea is pregnant with our 2nd child. She is due in November. Andrea is a consistent example to me of Christ-likeness. She is a real servant who models Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 in her daily conduct. Her greatest passion in life is Christ and her chief domain is the home. Much of her extra energy is given to the church. Yes, i did out punt my coverage in marrying this woman.
Thanks to all those who served past and present on this Memorial Day! I am also grateful for those past Christian heroes who contended earnestly for the faith in the midst of apostasy and unbelief.
Blessings in Christ,
Caleb
My mom is visiting us right now and that has been so much fun. She lives in WA state (with my father). They have been married now for 33 years and are a real blessing to me and my family.
My sister is spending the summer with us and will be nannying for the Katterhenry triplets (6). Rebekah is going to be a Jr. at the Master's College next year. She is a Biblical Counseling major and a real gem.
My daughter Evelyn celebrated her first birthday last week. At 1 year old she is as cute as ever. What a blessing she is to all who come in contact with her. Happy Birthday little blue eyes. I trust you've been reading daddy's blog. :)
My wife Andrea is pregnant with our 2nd child. She is due in November. Andrea is a consistent example to me of Christ-likeness. She is a real servant who models Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 in her daily conduct. Her greatest passion in life is Christ and her chief domain is the home. Much of her extra energy is given to the church. Yes, i did out punt my coverage in marrying this woman.
Thanks to all those who served past and present on this Memorial Day! I am also grateful for those past Christian heroes who contended earnestly for the faith in the midst of apostasy and unbelief.
Blessings in Christ,
Caleb
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
God's glory in funerals
It is my honor today to lead a memorial service for Mark Linton's wife (Dorothy). Please be praying for the Linton family. Please pray for me as well. This is a wonderful opportunity of service/ministry.
Pray that i truly encourage Mark and every Christian that attends from the Text of Romans 8:28-30 (at Mark's request).
Pray that the gospel is clearly, lovingly, and passionately proclaimed.
Pray that God would use his gospel to save a lost sinner.
Pray that i would decrease and that Jesus Christ would increase.
Pray that in all things Jesus Christ would be praised and that God would be glorified!!!
In Christ's amazing love,
Caleb
Pray that i truly encourage Mark and every Christian that attends from the Text of Romans 8:28-30 (at Mark's request).
Pray that the gospel is clearly, lovingly, and passionately proclaimed.
Pray that God would use his gospel to save a lost sinner.
Pray that i would decrease and that Jesus Christ would increase.
Pray that in all things Jesus Christ would be praised and that God would be glorified!!!
In Christ's amazing love,
Caleb
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
End Times and Doctrinal Statements
I posted this at my friends blog here www.upwardaffections.blogspot.com
Most people i know (who are Reformed) have an experience that is very similiar to mine (so i will share)...In the words of R.C. Sproul, no one is born a Calvinist. We are born Palagians or at best, Semi-Pelagians. When God opens our hearts to recieve the gospel obv. our theology is normally very incomplete. We understand the essentials of the gospel but normally not a whole lot more. Hopefully, we find ourselves in a good Bible church and through this and our own personal studies we grow in understanding. In reading through the Old and New Testaments people will encounter lots of 'Calvinistic words' like predestined, foreknowledge, etc. At some point we ask ourselves the difficult questions: I know i was saved by grace through faith alone but how does election fit into this picture. Did I choose God or did He choose me or is it a combo of both? Who should get the credit for my salvation? Are we capable of cooperating with God's grace?
Many of us realize that salvation is really all of God (esp. once we understand biblical depravity). In time, someone introduces us to the works of "Reformed" writers like Hodge, Calvin, the Puritans, etc. We are convinced that the doctrines of grace are Scripturally sound and we have a new badge. We are no longer just Christians we are now Reformed Evangelicals.
In college i realized that when people say they are "Reformed" that it doesn't mean the same thing to every person. Some say if you are not "Covenantal" then you are not truly Reformed. Inevitably this opens up a whole new field of study. What is the relationship between the New and Old Testaments? What method of hermeneutics is most accurate? What about the OT Law? And of course end times (Eschatology) theology is always a big question.
I started to question my premillennial convictions when i read books like "Wrongly dividing the people of God" and other works by faithful Covenant theologians. I realized that all of us (pre and amill theologians alike) affirm the authority of the Scriptures. What i needed to do was to have my Eschatological convictions forged in the text (through study and exegesis). When i went through the minor prophets and then Romans 9-11 in this fashion i realized that their has to be some sort of future for National Israel. Replacement theology (in my humble opinion) just was not able to answer the tough questions that arise from the Old and New Testament texts.
I try not and say that I am a Biblicist that's why i am Premill because i dont think that is really fair to my Covenantal brethren (who claim the same to be biblicists as well). Eschatology is a secondary matter but that does not mean a church should nec. omit it from their doctrinal statement. If we carried out that logic (consistently) then we would not talk about the mode of baptism, or the whole issue of how to view the Lord's table, church polity, or even matters pertaining to the doctrines of grace(after all historic Arminians like John Wesley are Evangelicals).
Some churches (like the one i currently pastor at) choose not to include end times theology in their doctrinal statement. That is a fair choice as well. Each church (leadership team) must make there own decision.
Most people i know (who are Reformed) have an experience that is very similiar to mine (so i will share)...In the words of R.C. Sproul, no one is born a Calvinist. We are born Palagians or at best, Semi-Pelagians. When God opens our hearts to recieve the gospel obv. our theology is normally very incomplete. We understand the essentials of the gospel but normally not a whole lot more. Hopefully, we find ourselves in a good Bible church and through this and our own personal studies we grow in understanding. In reading through the Old and New Testaments people will encounter lots of 'Calvinistic words' like predestined, foreknowledge, etc. At some point we ask ourselves the difficult questions: I know i was saved by grace through faith alone but how does election fit into this picture. Did I choose God or did He choose me or is it a combo of both? Who should get the credit for my salvation? Are we capable of cooperating with God's grace?
Many of us realize that salvation is really all of God (esp. once we understand biblical depravity). In time, someone introduces us to the works of "Reformed" writers like Hodge, Calvin, the Puritans, etc. We are convinced that the doctrines of grace are Scripturally sound and we have a new badge. We are no longer just Christians we are now Reformed Evangelicals.
In college i realized that when people say they are "Reformed" that it doesn't mean the same thing to every person. Some say if you are not "Covenantal" then you are not truly Reformed. Inevitably this opens up a whole new field of study. What is the relationship between the New and Old Testaments? What method of hermeneutics is most accurate? What about the OT Law? And of course end times (Eschatology) theology is always a big question.
I started to question my premillennial convictions when i read books like "Wrongly dividing the people of God" and other works by faithful Covenant theologians. I realized that all of us (pre and amill theologians alike) affirm the authority of the Scriptures. What i needed to do was to have my Eschatological convictions forged in the text (through study and exegesis). When i went through the minor prophets and then Romans 9-11 in this fashion i realized that their has to be some sort of future for National Israel. Replacement theology (in my humble opinion) just was not able to answer the tough questions that arise from the Old and New Testament texts.
I try not and say that I am a Biblicist that's why i am Premill because i dont think that is really fair to my Covenantal brethren (who claim the same to be biblicists as well). Eschatology is a secondary matter but that does not mean a church should nec. omit it from their doctrinal statement. If we carried out that logic (consistently) then we would not talk about the mode of baptism, or the whole issue of how to view the Lord's table, church polity, or even matters pertaining to the doctrines of grace(after all historic Arminians like John Wesley are Evangelicals).
Some churches (like the one i currently pastor at) choose not to include end times theology in their doctrinal statement. That is a fair choice as well. Each church (leadership team) must make there own decision.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Reading Report
I finished MacArthur’s “The Truth War” and really enjoyed reading it. This is a fresh look at Jude as well as an analysis of the contemporary Evangelical movement. It is well worth your time. I am slowly working through “What Jesus Demands from the World” and John Calvin’s “Institutes.”
I started a new book by one of my favorite Contempory authors (Iain Murray) entitled “A Scottish Christian Heritage.” I am almost finished with it and have benefited from it very much. Everything by Murray is really worth your time and attention.So here is the latest update of the stuff i am trying to read outside of Scripture... What have you guys been reading?
Books I am currently reading:
A Scottish Christian Heritage (by Iain Murray)
The Message of the O.T. (by Mark Dever)
Knowing God (By JI Packer) (Ch 19)
What Jesus Demands from the World (by John Piper)
Institutes of the Christian Religion, Vol. 1 (by John Calvin) (Book 1, Ch 14)
Numerous Jude commentaries (for sermon preperation)
Christian Living Beyond Belief (Cliff McManis)
Books I’ve finished in the last year or so:
Meetings that Work (A Strauch)
The Truth War (By John MacArthur)
No Place for the Truth (by David F. Wells).
The Cross and Christian Ministry (by D.A. Carson).
Women's Ministry in the Local Church (by Ligon Duncan/Susan Hunt)
The Holiness of God (by R.C. Sproul)
Growing Up Christian (by Paul Graustein)
How America Lost Her Innocence (By Steve Gallagher)
From Pride to Humility (pamphlet by Dr. Stuart Scott)
Humility: True Greatness (by C.J. Mahaney)
Biblical Eldership (by A. Strauch)
Expository Preaching With Word Pictures (by Dr. Jack Hughes)
The Reformed Pastor (by Richard Baxter)
Legacy of Sovereign Joy (by John Piper)
Whose Money Is It Anyways (By John MacArthur)
The Treasure Principle (by Randy Alcorn)
Baptist Life and Thought (By William Brackney) I read large sections of this book.
By His Grace and For His Glory (Dr. Nettles) I read portions of this book
I started a new book by one of my favorite Contempory authors (Iain Murray) entitled “A Scottish Christian Heritage.” I am almost finished with it and have benefited from it very much. Everything by Murray is really worth your time and attention.So here is the latest update of the stuff i am trying to read outside of Scripture... What have you guys been reading?
Books I am currently reading:
A Scottish Christian Heritage (by Iain Murray)
The Message of the O.T. (by Mark Dever)
Knowing God (By JI Packer) (Ch 19)
What Jesus Demands from the World (by John Piper)
Institutes of the Christian Religion, Vol. 1 (by John Calvin) (Book 1, Ch 14)
Numerous Jude commentaries (for sermon preperation)
Christian Living Beyond Belief (Cliff McManis)
Books I’ve finished in the last year or so:
Meetings that Work (A Strauch)
The Truth War (By John MacArthur)
No Place for the Truth (by David F. Wells).
The Cross and Christian Ministry (by D.A. Carson).
Women's Ministry in the Local Church (by Ligon Duncan/Susan Hunt)
The Holiness of God (by R.C. Sproul)
Growing Up Christian (by Paul Graustein)
How America Lost Her Innocence (By Steve Gallagher)
From Pride to Humility (pamphlet by Dr. Stuart Scott)
Humility: True Greatness (by C.J. Mahaney)
Biblical Eldership (by A. Strauch)
Expository Preaching With Word Pictures (by Dr. Jack Hughes)
The Reformed Pastor (by Richard Baxter)
Legacy of Sovereign Joy (by John Piper)
Whose Money Is It Anyways (By John MacArthur)
The Treasure Principle (by Randy Alcorn)
Baptist Life and Thought (By William Brackney) I read large sections of this book.
By His Grace and For His Glory (Dr. Nettles) I read portions of this book
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