Friday, August 31, 2007

Run Felix! Run!

I have very little interest in track and field but i always try and keep up with the women's 200. One of our seminary professor's daughters is the best 200m runner in the world. Dr. Felix (from the Master's Seminary) has a daughter that can flat out fly. Her name is Allyson Felix. Check out the great story below...


For full story go to www.cbssportsline.com
OSAKA, Japan -- Jeremy Wariner was his dominating self. Allyson Felix was just as awesome.

When Wariner won the 400 meters in a personal best of 43.45 seconds and a margin of .51 over LaShawn Merritt to lead a U.S. sweep, the result was almost a given. For Felix there was still the thrill of the new. With the biggest margin of victory in a major international competition since the 1948 Olympics in the women's 200, Felix surged away from Jamaica's Veronica Campbell to win by a massive .53 margin. Her 21.81 was the fastest time in eight years.
"I have been waiting for so long to run such a time, to run under 22 seconds," Felix said.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Ted Haggard wants your money (again)

Ted Haggard Appeals for Funds

Article written By David Neff
http://www.christianitytoday.com/
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2007/08/ted_haggard_app.html

Ted Haggard, former megachurch pastor and former president of the National Association of Evangelicals, is in the news again—this time asking gifts to provide two years of financial support while he and his wife Gayle study psychology and counseling at the University of Phoenix.
He sent an e-mail to reporter Tak Landrock of ABC affiliate KRDO—and from the way it appeals to “friends like you,” it sounds like it was sent to a lot of people. KRDO has posted the letter as a Microsoft Word document, which you can download from here.

The news was also covered by the Colorado Springs Gazette and the Associated Press.

The letter raises three issues:
First, the e-mail blindsided the group of overseers charged with seeing Haggard through his time of repentance, recovery, and restoration. The Gazette quoted Mike Ware:
“We will review that his statement was premature, and we will talk to him about that. It is not an official release from us,” Ware said. Ware wouldn’t comment on the propriety of Haggard’s plea for money but said he felt it was premature of Haggard to release the statement without first consulting the overseers.

So the first issue is simply that Haggard seems to be operating indepently and ahead of those who were appointed to be his spiritual guardians.

The second issue is the address Haggard’s letter gives where “friends like you” should mail your donations. According to watchdogs in the blogosphere (see this for a start, which has been linked on multiple other blogs), it is a defunct charity whose mailing addresses belong to a sex offender from Hawaii. Curioser and curioser.

The third issue is raised by Haggard’s assets. I’m sure he can use donations, but he wasn’t exactly poor to start with. And many people who need to start over in midlife use home equity and other assets to tide them over their straitened circumstances. Some even take out student loans.

According to the Gazette: Haggard received a salary of $115,000 for the 10 months he worked in 2006 and an $85,000 anniversary bonus before the scandal broke, according to church officials. The church’s board of trustees gave him a severance package that included a year’s salary ($138,000). He also collects royalties on his many book titles.
Haggard owns a home in Colorado Springs that has been for sale. It has a market value of $715,051, according to records from the El Paso County assessor.

Haggard says he needs your dollars. You decide.

This blog was posted originally here http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2007/08/ted_haggard_app.html

Reading progress?

As i've said a number of times this accountablity is more for me than for anyone else. Some of you have chosen to participate in this. I always like to hear about what my friends and family are reading through.

I also admit i sometimes spend time doing what i should not be doing; like watching tv instead of playing with my daughter or surfing the internet for 30 minutes instead of reading a good Christian book, etc. My book list will continue to grow as i continue to grow in discipline. Sometimes that means getting a little less sleep or watching a little less tv, etc.

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:
Pages from Church History (Stephen Nichols)
Shepherding a Child's Heart (Tedd Tripp)
Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth (Wayne Grudem)
Girl Talk (By Carolyn Mahaney)
Christian Living Beyond Belief (Cliff McManis)
The Message of the O.T. (by Mark Dever)
What Jesus Demands from the World (by John Piper)
Institutes of the Christian Religion, Vol. 1 (John Calvin) (Book 1, Ch 17)
Numerous Jude commentaries (for sermon preperation/various authors)
Various articles/commentaries on 1 Cor 11:2-16.

Books I’ve finished in the last year or so:
Assured by God: Living in the Fullness of God's Grace (various authors)
The Reformation (Stephen J. Nichols)
Spurgeon VS Hyper-Calvinism (Iain Murray)
A Scottish Christian Heritage (Iain Murray)
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 (D.A. Carson).
Women's Ministry in the Local Church (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 (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)
By His Grace and For His Glory (Dr. Nettles) Large sections.
Knowing God (J.I. Packer) through ch 19

Monday, August 20, 2007

A Nation of Hypocrites

I am amazed at all the negative press surrounding Mike Vick's recent guilty plea. I think back to when President Clinton lied under oath about his adultery with Monica (and other ladies). I remember that through all this mess the nation embraced the President and his approval rating actually went up during much of this controversy. "Hey it was his personal life and who says adultery is that big of a deal anyways?"

Some people will argue that the President did not violate any Federal law when he choose to break his covenant vows with Hillary/God...of course who really cares about God's Law. Have you ever read the 10 commandments? The end of Romans 1 explains much of this so i won't go back into history past more than i need to.

Now i am not justifying what Mike Vick did to those animals (pit bulls). God created animals for a purpose, not the same purpose as man, but none the less I think most people would agree pets shouldn't be massacred for losing dog fights. (Of course many would argue domestic animals shouldn't be fighting in the first place). Don't misread this blog: Mike Vick was wrong and needs to be punished according to our nations laws. The thing that concerns me is how hypocritical our nation is. People justify so many clear cut sins these days it amazes me that many of the same people get crazy over something like this. How can you justify a woman's right to murder an innocent baby? How can you justify doctors who do this full time? If you try and equate the value of human life with animal life you have some major issues. It may be argued that both are precious, but humans were created in the image of God. Humans have souls.

I could cite lots of examples to further prove my point but i will let you think of your own.

We live in a nation full of self-righteous hypocrites. The gospel is needed as much now as ever before.

Friday, August 17, 2007

Manhood and Womanhood from Genesis 3 (pt 3)




Before we end this lecture we must observe one more important fact. Adam was given the responsibility to not only lovingly lead his wife (from Gen 2) but also to provide for her. Contrary to what I use to think, there was “work” even before the fall. It was some friends in Jupiter, Florida (Don Dunlap) who helped show me this reality from the Scriptures. The work in Gen 2 was still work it was just blessed work. In Genesis 3:17-19 Adam’s particular area of responsibility is affected by the “curse.” This is consistent with what I said at the beginning of this lecture, the curse did not introduce new roles per say rather it distorted God’s original roles.


Notice what Moses records in Genesis 3:17-19, And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”


How should we respond as a result of what we learned today? Is there anything we can do about the curse? Are we Chicago Cub Christians (we’ve been cursed thus should never expect victory)? Should we just accept the fact that man is not going to lead the way God wants him to lead and that woman is not going to help and support the way God designed her to help? What we’re ultimately asking is can the curse be reversed?

Christians must resolve (#1). We will never try to intentionally increase the results of the curse. Genesis 3:16 is not a good thing! It’s a picture of paradise lost. By that I mean a wife’s desire to step outside her husband’s leadership role is not according to God’s plan (no matter what the feminists say). Man’s attempt to lead his wife by force or through harsh manipulation is not according to God’s plan either (no matter what your college buddies may tell you).

I think all of us would admit three things: (A) Its not prudent to plant thorns and weeds in your fruit & vegetable garden. I have a hard enough time killing weeds even when I use Scott’s weed killer. (B) It’s really not smart to try and intentionally increase the pain of childbirth for women either. (I’m not making a case for epidurals here nor am I saying they’re wrong). To say I am not going to take any medicine whatsoever before/during/after child birth simply because I want to feel the full effects of the curse is not prudent. That’s my primary point. (C) It’s also not very wise to try and increase conflict in marriage by continuing down the path of Genesis 3:16. For a husband to lead in a selfish, manipulative, harsh way is not right. For a wife to go outside of her husband’s headship and to fight against his leadership is not right either. I would imagine most of you in this room would agree with points A and B but some of you may not be sold on what the Bible says about C. Think about it for a moment. In the months to come we’ll carefully unpack what God’s will is for today’s man & today’s women.

In summary fashion, God’s design for men is that we provide for our families (Gen 1-3, 1 Tim 5). That as heads of our households we lovingly lead our families (Gen 1-2, Eph. 5, 1 Tim 2:13; 1 Cor 11:5). And finally, that we attempt to protect them (Gen 1-2). Those characteristics are not simply old-fashioned family values; When appropriately applied there God-ordained (and Biblical).

God’s design for women is that they act as helper’s in the home (particularly with their husbands). As godly wives that they follow and submit to the leadership of their husbands (Gen 1-2; Eph. 5:22, 24; 1 Peter 3:1-7; 1 Cor 11:7-10). And finally that you nourish and care for your family (Titus 2).

With that said, outside of Jesus Christ, it is actually impossible to reverse the curse in regards to male and female relationships. So where does this leave us? What’s a guy or girl to do? We’ll answer these questions next time.

Manhood and Womanhood from Genesis 3 (pt 2)



In addition to this suffering, the curse of sin also brought great conflict into the marriage relationship (and more generally into male/female relations as well). Genesis 3:16b notes, Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you. One of the reasons why conflicts exist in every marriage relationship is because the wife tries to usurp the husband’s role as “head”.

Let me prove this to you in verse 16 of Genesis 3. The word translated desire (teshuqah) is a very unusual Hebrew word. In this specific Hebrew construction I concur w/Dr. Grudem’s understanding, the word definitely implies an “aggressive desire.” What that means is that according to verse 16, woman’s desire to take the reigns and lead man is a direct result of the curse. To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

The only other occurrence of this Hebrew word, plus the preposition el, (against) in the entire Bible is found in Genesis 4:7. God was warning Cain here of sin’s power. Genesis 4:7 says, If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. According to one scholar the expression in 4:7 has this sense, “Desire, urge, impulse against, a desire to conquest or rule”.

Back to Genesis 3. “Your desire shall be against your husband.” What exactly did God mean here? Eve now has an inward impulse (a sinful desire) to resist her husbands God ordained headship. I know you married women know what I’m talking about here. It’s that internal desire that resists submitting to our God-ordained leader. All of us experience this sinful desire when we fight against any level of Biblical submission.

Another tragic consequence of the curse is found at the end of verse 16; And he shall rule over you. The word “rule” (v. 16b), does not signify one leading another equal, but rather one who rules by virtue of strength and power. This type of male leadership is often done in a selfish manner. All of us should admit that man’s rule is sometimes harsh, oppressive, and forceful. We could point out hundreds of examples of domineering rule in history past. Many husbands lead their wives but not necessarily in a God-honoring way (note Ephesians 5).

Don’t miss this now: All of this male/female relationship conflict exists as a direct result of the fall. Men do not always lead the way God ordained them to lead and women do not always help the way God them to help (and/or follow). If you’re married or have observed any marriages over any period of time you know exactly what I mean here.

You do understand that prior to Genesis 3 Adam and Eve lived in PERFECT harmony, right? Adam would have been the perfect man that God designed him to be. He would have been a servant-leader. He would have been a selfless-leader and he would have been a loving-leader. And Eve would have been the perfect woman that God wanted her to be: a selfless helpmate to Adam.

Can any of you (who are not single) even imagine what it would be like to live in a truly perfect marriage? Some of us use an exaggerated expression, “I have a perfect marriage” but all of us know that is not totally true. Pastor Flatt and Judy don’t really have a “perfect” marriage, nor do Andrea and I. Even the exemplary husband (Stuart Scott) and his wife (Zondra) don’t have a “perfect” Christian marriage. Redeemed sinners living in the fullness of the Spirit enjoy the blessings of a covenant relationship. Yet no Christian couple has a truly pre-Genesis 3 “perfect” marriage relationship. Sin and sin’s curse affects all of us. It affects our relationship with the opposite sex including wives and husbands.



This series will be continued…

Manhood and Womanhood from Genesis 3 (pt 1)

We have covered 2 key issues thus far. The first key issue was: (#1) Men and Women are equal in Value, Dignity, & Personhood. That truth is essential when building a Biblical foundation for manhood and womanhood. When one accurately interprets the second chapter of Genesis a second key observation should be made: (#2) Men and Women have different roles that are part of God’s creative order. In other words, God created us equal yet different. We are equal in essence, but we have different gender-defined roles. Last session I provided Biblical evidence to support this conclusion. We started our study in Genesis 1 and then spent our second and third sessions in Genesis 2. We’re now going to spend some time looking at (you guessed it) Genesis 3.

So what about the whole curse thing? What changed after Adam and Eve sinned? How does Genesis 3 fit into our understanding of this very topic?

In some regards, the curse did distort the roles that God set in place in Genesis 1-2. Remember now, God created Adam and Eve as equals yet He also designed them with gender defined roles (read Genesis 2). In other words, The curse did not introduce new roles per say rather it distorted God’s original roles.

Let’s observe Gen. 3:16-19 together. Genesis 3:16-19, “To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Both Adam and Eve were judged by God for there roles in the fall. Both Adam and Eve sinned. Yet no matter how intense this Divine judgment appears to be it was actually very gracious. God said in Genesis 2, “In the day you eat of it you shall surely die!” (Gen 2:17) Man did not deserve to live another day or to breathe another breath. God allowed Adam to live some 800+ years on the earth. He allowed Adam and Eve to have a family and learn more about the way of redemption. We serve a merciful and gracious God. For believers even in God’s judgment we see His love and grace (Hebrews 12).

It’s not an overstatement to say the following: “Childbirth equals pain.” If you’re a father you sort of know what I mean. If you’re a mother you really know what I mean. All women suffer during child birth especially those who had children during those days when modern medicine and epidurals were not yet invented. Talk about punishment! The physical pain women endure during this process a result of the fall. Genesis 3:16a, To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.”

To be continued

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

God as Allah?

Check out foxnews.com for this story...

A proposal by a Roman Catholic bishop in the Netherlands that people of all faiths refer to God as "Allah" is not sitting well with the Catholic community. Tiny Muskens, an outgoing bishop who is retiring in a few weeks from the southern diocese of Breda, said God doesn't care what he is called.

"Allah is a very beautiful word for God. Shouldn't we all say that from now on we will name God Allah? ... What does God care what we call him? It is our problem," Muskens told Dutch television.

"I'm sure his intentions are good but his theology needs a little fine-tuning," said Father Jonathan Morris, a Roman Catholic priest based in Rome. Morris, a news analyst for FOX News Channel, also called the idea impractical.

"Words and names mean things," Morris said. "Referring to God as Allah means something."
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group, backs the idea as a way to help interfaith understanding.
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"It reinforces the fact that Muslims, Christians and Jews all worship the same God," Hooper told FOXNews.com. "I don't think the name is as important as the belief in God and following God's moral principles. I think that's true for all faiths."