Responding to the newspaper

John Piper is a good example of how to interact with the local community. I tried to follow his example today when i wrote a comment in reply to this article http://www.journalstandard.com/lifestyle/x144228860/Homosexuality-Seminar-examines-sexuality-issue-in-the-church-Bible

The article begins this way, "Donnley Dutcher, pastor of St. John United Church of Christ, is going to present a seminar on “Homosexuality in the Church – A biblical education event showing an open way to do church.” Dutcher said he wrestled with the question of where homosexuality fit in the church more than 30 years ago. This led him to read a book called “Jonathan Loved David” by Tom Horner, which discusses homosexuality in a historical and biblical manner."

Here is how i responded via email to the editor.

Pastor Dutcher is correct in calling Christians back to the Scriptures with regards to the topic of homosexuality. Human tradition should never trump God’s final authority the Word of God. The Christian church is made up of redeemed sinners who have been saved by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:1-10, Galatians 3:10-11, Romans 3:23). Those who have experienced the saving grace of God in their lives should not look down upon others in a self-righteous, condescending way (Luke 18:9-14); after all, but for the grace of God their go you and I.

As a fellow pastor I could not disagree with Pastor Dutcher’s conclusions more. In fact I’m reminded of the words of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! The Old and New Testament Scriptures are crystal clear with regards to the sin of homosexuality. If repentance (turning from sin to God) is a necessary part of genuine saving faith (Luke 13) than it is imperative that what God labels as sin is rightly described for what it is.

One of the most encouraging passages of Scripture is 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Paul writes, Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, or thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. The early Christian church was not much different than the Christian church of today. Paul says, using a past tense verb, and such were some of you. In other words, the cross of Christ has freed us from our enslavement to various habitual, life dominating sins. Let us rejoice again in the saving power of Christ and in the tender mercies of our heavenly Father.

Humbly submitted,

Pastor Caleb Kolstad
Sr Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Freeport

Felix claims gold

Check out the Olympic story here http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/olympics/bal-sp.olycaps24aug24,0,6376833.story

http://www.allysonfelix.com/home/index/

"After disappointing 200-meter loss, she helps U.S. run to 1,600 relay title
From Sun News Services
August 24, 2008

BEIJING - Her loss in the Olympic 200-meter final was not surprising if you looked at it dispassionately, not after the ups and downs runner Allyson Felix had all season. She accepted the silver medal Thursday night with her customary graciousness, saying it would be ungrateful to be unhappy over a prize so few people have.It was tearing Felix up inside."For two days after we got done crying after the race, she didn't talk to me," said her coach, Bob Kersee.He sent text messages. Felix responded with just two words: "I'm OK. "I was still grieving my 200," Felix said with a laugh. "To be able to have a second chance, to be able to come together with these girls was great."Felix was third, .62 of a second behind Russia, when she got the baton from Wineberg. She turned it over to Henderson with a lead of .25 of a second by running the fastest leg, 48.55 seconds, of anyone in the relay final."

Quote of the day

"Yao Ming...Is that Shawn Johnson's coach?"

Special thanks to Deb Bancroft for supplying us with this gold medal quote.

Working on your preaching skills...

This fellow preacher offers some wise counsel here...

A Few Things I’m Working On In My Preaching
From http://unashamedworkman.wordpress.com/
August 13, 2008


"Obtaining

…the exegetical carefulness of Don Carson…
the expositional clarity of John Stott…
the assiduous attention to context of Dick Lucas…
the cross-referencing knowledge of John MacArthur…the ‘outlining’ skills of Warren Wiersbe…the doctrinal precision of RC Sproul…
the bible-critiquing-culture abilities of Al Mohler…
the delivery of James Montgomery Boice…
the vocabulary of R Kent Hughes…
the simple yet powerful illustrations of CH Spurgeon…
the winsome yet pointed humor of Alistair Begg…
the applicational focus of CJ Mahaney…
the apologetical ’side-bars’ of Tim Keller…
the sheer Scriptural coverage of Mark Dever…
the heart for the lost of George Whitefield…
the compassion for the flock of Charles Simeon…
the unbridled passion for God of John Piper…
the gravity of Doctor Martyn Lloyd Jones."

Kolstad Family

Here is a picture of the Kolstad family! Keep us in your prayers. We thank God every day for the gift of life and for our family.

FBC in the Newspaper

I never thought i would make the front page of the Newspaper but in God’s providence I did (yesterday). You can see the full article on line at http://www.journalstandard.com/homepage/x1600194089/Meet-your-Pastor-New-pastor-joins-First-Baptist-Church

Article on Billy Graham's theology

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51461

See also Iain Murray's book on "Evangelicalism Divided."

Things a pastor isn't: The Minister

Dan Phillips has written a very helpful article on "Things a pastor isn't: The Minister."

The article begins this way, "It's common to refer to a pastor as "a minister," or "the minister." I'm sure many use it out of common usage or force of habit.However... is that an accurate distinctive title of a Biblically-faithful pastor? Is it a Biblical title?"

Click here for full story http://teampyro.blogspot.com/ Aug 1 2008