Super Bowl thoughts

Alot could be said about Sunday's Super Bowl...I want to focus this post on what happened at the end of the game. It was a strange ending because all the coaches and players thought the game was over after Brady's last second Hail Mary was incomplete. The referees said "not so fast everyone" because their was one second on the game clock that had to be played out (lame, i know).

One sportswriter wrote, "As much as I like Belichick, his actions in the final seconds of the game were boorish at best and arrogant at worse. With two seconds left on the clock Belichick headed to the field for his handshake ... and then bolted. He didn't have the sportsmanship and decency to wait until the clock hit zero. It was yet a further display of arrogance by a franchise that has long been one of the models in sports." The Patriots of course had just gone from the greatest team of all time (or one of the greatest) to the greatest team to NOT win the Super Bowl!

When the Colt's choked again in this year's playoffs no one was more classy than coach Tony Dungy. He went to midfield and spent a lot of time congratulating coach Norv Turner. Dungy lost the game with class and humility.

How do you explain the difference between Dungy and say coach Belichick's reactions? Let's not make this more difficult than it needs to be...It's Jesus Christ!

Coach Dungy knows that LIFE is alot bigger then football. It was a really hard loss for him, just like it was for Belichick...But i have the impression that to many unbelievers the NFL is a major idol. Winning and losing becomes everything. The game meant alot more to Bill then it did to Tony; and you know that is no knock on Dungy.

Plus coach Dungy lives his life for Jesus Christ and thus deals with trials in a way i would not expect unbelivers to match. The whole world saw this when Dungy lost his son last season.

Coach Belichick is perhaps the best coach in the NFL. That doesn't mean however that he knows how to lose with class or that he will ever be the NFL sportsman of the year. If you ask Coach Dungy to explain the differences between he and Bill I wouldn't be surprised if he told you the same thing: it's Jesus Christ!

January Reading Report

1 Peter 2:2 says we should be like newborn infants in our desire for the Word of God. One of the dangers in reading too many Christian books in place of the Bible is that they can take us away from the Word of God instead of doing what they are intended to do, in bringing us closer to it (and Him). If we spend time reading a book about the Bible instead of the Bible itself on a consistent basis somethings not right. Sometimes I know I sin in this way so i am not throwing stones in a glass house.

None the less, good Christian books can be very helpful in our pursuit of godliness...In other words, don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Read the Word and read good Christian books about the Incarnate Word.

Here is the latest update of the stuff i am trying to read outside of Scripture... What have you been reading??? Did you ask for any good books for Christmas?


Books I am currently reading:
Definite Atonement (Gary D. Long) Ch 4
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Don Whitney) Ch 9
Future Israel (Barry Horner) Ch 9
The Exemplary Husband (Stuart Scott) Ch 3
Shepherding a Child's Heart (Tedd Tripp) Ch 11
Christian Living Beyond Belief (Cliff McManis) Ch 8
Numerous Jude commentaries (various authors)

Books i might never finish:
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)

Books I’ve finished in the last year or so:
Pages from Church History (Stephen J. Nichols)
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
Way of the Master: Evangelism Training (Ray Comfort)
Evangelical Feminism & Biblical Truth (Wayne Grudem) large sections
Girl Talk (Carolyn Mahaney)
Various articles and commentaries on 1 Cor 11:2-16
Various articles and commentaries on 1 Tim 2:8-15
Various articles and commentaries on Titus 2
TMS Journal (on New Covenant Theology)

Books i've recently purchased:
Goldingay's commentaries on the Psalms.
The Minor Prophets editor McComisky
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges

Preaching and pancake syrup

As I was eating breakfast this morning the following thoughts on preaching came to mind.

My wife made blueberry pancakes for the family breakfast this morning. They were delicious ‘panners’ made perfect when topped off with maple syrup. The syrup I have grown accustomed to is imitation “light” syrup. As a matter of fact I really don’t enjoy “regular” syrup anymore. It is too sweet for my liking. I would even choose light syrup over tree-tapped genuine Vermont maple syrup.

Sadly, I realized that many people are wired the same way when it comes to preaching. Many Christians have become so accustomed to shallow evangelical principalizing that when real expository preaching is tasted it’s rejected (at least initially).

R.L. Dabney refers to a period in church history when Scriptural truth is presented but not in its Scriptural dress. That has become the most accepted and familiar mode of preaching in most evangelical pulpits these days. I’m not thinking about the Joel Osteens of the world in this particular post; I’m talking about men who honestly think they’re presenting an expository sermon and of congregations who think they’re actually hearing one. It’s not unbiblical truth that’s presented, its good doctrine that’s just not presented in Scriptural dress.

Dabney rightly believed that the golden age of preaching is when Scriptural truth is presented in Scriptural dress. That of course is the power of true expository preaching. When we preach, we’re called to speak as it were, the very words of God (1 Peter 4:10-11). This is best accomplished when gifted men commitment themselves wholly to Bible exposition.

The problem is that many people want so many illustrations, stories, or application points that no time is left for true exposition. Who wants to hear about the historical background of Romans when in that time 3 or 4 stories, illustrations, or jokes could be shared? Now most people wouldn’t say that aloud but that is in fact what they’re thinking.

Those who are most gifted in oratory are often most prone to this extreme. It’s what I call shallow evangelical principalizing. I noticed this response over 10 years when I was a student at the Master’s College. During a school sponsored Bible conference three gifted men brought the Word. All were great communicators but one was especially humorous and “relatable”. Unfortunately his sermons were also the lightest of the three. His preaching was thoroughly evangelical but not truly expositional or deep. Still most of the students I talked with in the dorms during and after the conference thought his sermons were the “best.”

Engaging oratory and great communication is not synonymous with a great sermon. In our preaching we should seek both light and heat. I’m not calling for dry, lifeless, preaching here. Passionate, clear, text-driven preaching is what our people most desperately need. Just don’t be surprised if you bring that type of syrup to your people if they initially reject it in favor of the “light” stuff.

The Spoken Word?

Some people may wonder why we at First Baptist Church commit almost half of the public worship service to the individual proclamation of the Word of God? Certain Evangelicals have suggested that preaching itself is outdated and should be replaced by more modern alternatives. Dr. R. Albert Mohler was recently asked the following question: “Must the sermon be a monologue? If not, should it be?”

Dr. Mohler’s response to this question is very insightful. “The very shape of this question is interesting. In the first place, I would not consider the public proclamation of God’s Word to be best characterized as monologue. It is one voice speaking, but this voice is not speaking on behalf of himself, but as the one charged with proclaiming and teaching the Word of God. At the same time, there does not seem to be a biblical warrant for a more dialogical form of preaching. If anything, the biblical model appears to assign the preaching responsibility to an individual who dares to speak on behalf of God by presenting and applying God’s Word.

I think of a text like Nehemiah 8:1-8. In that setting, Ezra and his colleagues "read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood their reading." Earlier in this text, we are told that "the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law." Those preaching spoke with authority. At the same time, it would not be appropriate to suggest that these hearers were passive. They were active recipients of the preached Word. They were "attentive."

In the same way, a church congregation is not to sit passively in the pew merely observing the preaching of the Word. To the contrary, the congregation should be actively involved in the disciplines of hearing, receiving, and responding to God’s Word as it’s preached by the one who is invested with those responsibilities and gifts.

A similar approach is evident in the New Testament. When Paul instructs Timothy about his preaching responsibilities, nothing in the text suggests that Timothy will be involved in a dialectical enterprise with the congregation. Instead, Paul charges Timothy with the sacred and solemn responsibility to preach the Word "in season and out of season." If anything, he warns Timothy against taking the response of his hearers into too much consideration. This can hardly be described as a dialogue.

As I see it, the push for a more dialogical form of preaching is a redefinition of preaching as described in the Scriptures. This shift seems to go hand-in-hand with larger cultural movements against the idea of teaching authority and the very idea of an authoritative Word. The last thing modern evangelicalism needs is the substitution of congregational "dialogue" for biblical preaching. This plays into all of our modern temptations and, in the end, threatens to remove the authoritative Word from our midst.”

This March we celebrate 34 years of faithful Bible exposition from Pastor Joe Flatt. As we thank God for his faithfulness we must constantly ask ourselves am I an active or a passive listener when it comes to the Word of God? James 1:22 reminds us, But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Christians and Muslims unite?

If you are not aware a group of Muslim Clerics recently wrote “A Common Word Between Us and You” an attempt to find common ground between Christian and Muslims.

Even more recently “300 Leading Christian Scholars” (Obviously ever word in that statement is open to interpretations!) published an endorsement of this document in the NY Times: (just like with “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” some of these folks are a real disappointment! i.e. Timothy George, Bill Hybels, Tony Jones, Brain McLaren, Richard Mouw, Robert Schuller, John Stackhouse, John Stott, Rick Warren, Christopher Wright) – see all the of the signatories to this “Christian Response” which was published in the NY Times here.

Hear and watch John Piper’s response to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTY-9FY13kw

Back from Cincy

14 teens and 7 adult staff enjoyed a great trip to S. Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio this past weekend. Greg Stancil brought us the Word. We were all blessed by his practical sermons from the fourth chapter of James. We went to Perfect North for some fun on the ski slopes and to the Newport Aquariam for some fun with the sharks. We spent a couple nights at the Cincy Marriott and enjoyed our traditional skit night and some floor hockey. We are praying that the Lord will use His Word to impact the lives of all who attended this winter retreat. Thanks for your prayers!

Postseason Fun

It was a great weekend here in Indy. Besides quality time with my family and church friends I was able to enjoy some great football games. My Chicago Bears did not qualify for the postseason this year but I love the league especially during the playoffs.

Football was meant to be played outdoors…The classic snow game in Green Bay saw the continued resurgence of the living legend Brett Favre. The game in New England saw Mr. Tom Brady one up himself in a flawless game to top the well coached Jaguars.

Every team I cheered for won on Saturday and on Sunday…or maybe I should say every team I cheered against this weekend lost. It was great to see Peyton Manning go down Sunday. He once again failed to deliver a pass when his team needed one most. What’s Peyton’s career playoff record again??? Manning played a very good game but not a great game like Brady. Had Tom Brady thrown 2 INTS (like Manning did) New England would not have gotten by Jacksonville. The Jags played a great game and still lost.

The Colts on the other hand could not beat San Diego even though the Chargers were playing with an (average) backup QB during the 4th Qtr with the game on the line and with their team MVP (LT) injured on the sideline. It was another devastating loss for an underachieving franchise.

I did feel bad for the classiest coach in the league (Dungy), especially seeing this could be his last game as a Colt’s head coach. Tony Dungy is an example to everyone about how to lose a hard fought battle with class.

As much as don’t like Eli Manning, I had to cheer against Jerry Jones, TO, and Tony Simpson Romo. Romo is now 0-2 in the postseason but does have a bright career in front of him.

It looks like Tom Brady and Brett Favre will battle for this year’s Super Bowl trophy (MVP). If the Packer’s play like they did on Saturday they could beat New England. Of course if Tom Brady plays like he did on Saturday we should crown the Patriots right now.

Integrity

The Freedom of Integrity - Part III
Not As Pleasing Men

Post by Jerry Wragg taken from http://expositorythoughts.wordpress.com/

Paul’s second non-negotiable of integrity is to serve with spiritual courage. The Thessalonians were being told that the missionaries spoke bold words to gain manipulative power over the new converts, and that at the first sign of opposition they would abandon the sheep. Essentially, Paul was being defamed as a mere hireling. Jesus had chided hirelings who feign protection but are cowards in the face of danger (John 10: 11-15). Self-preservation at all costs is a weakness, not a virtue. But was it true of Paul and the others? Again, he appeals to the spiritual courage they had demonstrated some one hundred miles to the northeast in the city of Philippi. Even after they had “suffered and been shamefully treated”, they “had boldness in…God to declare…the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict” (1 Thess 2:2). Paul literally hobbled into Thessalonica—blood still drying on his body from the beating in Philippi—and began to teach in the synagogue, the most confrontational and dangerous environment the truth of Christ could infiltrate. After several weeks (perhaps even 2 to 3 months by some calculations) of unvarnished gospel ministry, the truth hit hard upon stony hearts, at which point the missionaries were secretly whisked away by the new believers who wanted to preserve the lives of their only trusted shepherds. I can almost hear Paul, reluctant to be sent away, strongly contending for the opportunity to remain and teach yet again in the synagogue.

Are these the actions of a man without integrity? The answer is a resounding “No!” A godly man has nothing to fear because his conscience has been “approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel,” and he speaks “not as pleasing men, but God” who sees what’s in the heart (1 Thess 2:4). Solomon, not to be outdone, declared that “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Prov 28:1). Check spiritual leaders! Do they demonstrate spiritual courage? Do they trust the work and the word of God? Do they unfold the scriptures without shrinking back? Do they give an answer with biblical clarity? Do they willingly invite questions about doctrine, ministry, character, service, etc? If not, the sheep will become vulnerable, and accusations will eventually have a legitimate target. Integrity marked by courageous leadership is a tremendous safeguard.

Check out ET for the full post....

In defense of Hillary...

I am not going to vote for Hillary Clinton in the next major election. As a Christian my convictions are both pro-life and pro-family (among many things). I see the pro-choice movement and the homosexual agenda going against both those essential things. Much more could and should be said about those issues but that is not the purpose of the post.

The other day while campaigning in New Hampshire Hillary Clinton had a moment where reporters thought they saw her tear up (or start to cry). The News jumped on this, many saying it would ruin Clinton’s hopes of winning this state’s primary, etc, etc. They called it a potential “Muskie moment.” Muskie was said to have cried after reading a newspapers attack on his wife. Muskie fervently denied that was the case (since heaven forbid a man cry over someone slandering his wife in public) saying it was snow flakes.

The logic behind this thinking is that people in public office have to be strong (which I agree with). The logic continues that people who cry (at least in public) demonstrate a lack of toughness and composure (which I don’t agree with).

I look to the strongest person who ever lived as proof to back my opinions. Jesus Christ was the ideal man’s man because he was 100% God and 100% man. This Man never sinned! He was the most amazing Person to ever walk the face of this earth. To endure the weight of the cross I believe he was stronger then anyone whose ever gone before him (or who will come after him). That strength was both outward and inward! He was a real man.

None the less the gospels do record some occasions in which our Lord wept (Luke 19:41, John 11:35). Weeping is not simply crying, it’s crying like a baby. As an adult I have only wept on one occasion (at least that I can remember). Jesus cried, and even did so in public.

So what’s my point? If Hillary Clinton did tear up during her campaign run I don’t think that’s a very big deal. As a matter of fact I think it’s potentially a good thing since I don’t want a robot running our country. The fact she is a woman and thus may be more emotional is not a huge deal to me either. (I'm not voting for her because of her voting record and because her convictions are not, atleat in my humble opinion, biblically informed).

One reporter commenting on this story put it this way, “But Clinton may shed no tears on the campaign trail. The same people who complain that she is cold and unemotional would seize on it as a sign of weakness and vulnerability.” Just because you might not like what Mrs. Clinton stands for don’t hold her to an unreasonable or an unbiblical standard.

Genuine tears do demonstrate vulnerability but not necessarily weakness! If you don’t agree with me just look to the gospels my friends!

Are you ready for some (more) football?

Congratulations to Mr. Tom Brady for his MVP season in which he broke Manning’s season TD record! I was sure glad to see Mannings record go down. Since I moved to Indy almost 3 years ago I have had some fun debates over “who is the top QB in the NFL.” The argument for a long time was Manning has better regular season numbers but no ring. Brady has very good regular season numbers and amazing postseason numbers (3 championship rings). This year Brady looked like Manning in the regular season (4000+ yards and 50 TD’s). Manning put up great numbers as well...

Won’t it be strange if Manning plays great this year in the postseason and if Brady does not? It will be like years past but vice versa of course. Tom Brady is the still the guy I’d pick to lead my team in any big game. He is the 2nd coming of Joe Montana. If only he were a Bear!

My Chicago Bears ended the season beating up on G.B. and New Orleans with a 3rd string Q.B. , GO figure?!? 2008 may be another great season for the Bears if we can find a reliable QB (McNabb), stay healthy, and get a consistent running attack. That's alot to wish for i know.

Since my favorite team is out of the playoffs here are the teams I will be pulling for (or against):

For
1. Titans
2. Chargers
3. Patriots
4. Jacksonville

Neutral
5. Washington
6. Packers
7. Tampa
8. Seahawks

Against
9. Dallas
10. New York Giants
11. Indianapolis
12. Pittsburgh


My little brother is a huge Titans fan. They are an overachieving team with an amazing coach. I doubt they will get by San Diego. The Jags are one team that could beat both Indy and New England. I really like their coach.

Obviously I can’t stand the Mannings (especially Manning the older). The Steelers franchise is one of the best (if not the best), but I don’t like them at all. I do like coach Tomlin much more than Bill Cower.

If any of teams listed above (1-8) win the championship I’d be content. I can’t believe Chicago is not playing in the postseason this year? How things can change in a year… Well for those of you who are TRUE team fans or NFL fans in general enjoy the postseason!

Happy Anniversary!

Today marks 4 years of marriage for my wife and I. Time has really flown by fast for us. When I married Andrea I received from the Lord a double portion of Divine blessings. She is a Proverbs 31 type woman and thus deserves to be honored at the gates (and on the blog-o-sphere). In 4 years the Lord has seen fit to double our family (size) as well. It is a wonderful privilege and joy to note that my wife is every bit as good in her role as mother as she is in her role as my covenant companion. It is a bit intimidating being married to your best friend, hero, and lover but welcome to my world! “He who finds a wife, finds a good thing.” I’m praising God today for the daily companionship of my wife. She is my greatest earthly treasure!

Here are some lyrics to a song that brings tears to my eyes as I think about my Andrea (baby love).

“Walking Her Home" (Lyrics by Mark Schultz)

Looking back He sees it all

It was her first date the night he came to call

Her dad said son

Have her home on time

And promise me you’ll never leave her side

He took her to a show in town

And he was ten feet off the ground

(Chorus)

He was walking her home

And holding her hand

Oh the way she smiled it stole the breath right out of him

Down that old road

With the stars up above

He remembers where he was the night he fell in love

He was walking her home

Five more years and a waiting room

At half past one

And the doctor said come in and meet your son

His knees went weak

When he saw his wife

She was smiling as she said he’s got your eyes

And as she slept he held her tight

His mind went back to that first night.

Chorus

He walked her through the best days of her life

Sixty years together and he never left her side

A nursing home

At eighty-five

And the doctor said it could be her last night

And the nurse said "Oh, Should we tell him now"
"Or should he wait until the morning to find out?"

But when they checked her room that night

He was laying by her side

Oh he was walking her home

And holding her hand

Oh the way she smiled when he said this is not the end

And just for a while they were eighteen

And she was still more beautiful to him than anything

He was walking her home

He was walking her home

Looking back

He sees it all

It was her first date the night he came to call

December Reading

1 Peter 2:2 says we should be like newborn infants in our desire for the Word of God. One of the dangers in reading lots of good Christian books is that they can take us away from the Word of God instead of doing what they are intended to do, in bringing us closer to it (and Him). If we spend time reading a book about the Bible instead of the Bible itself on a consistent basis somethings not right.

None the less, good Christian books can be very helpful in our pursuit of godliness...We should not throw the baby out with the bath water.

Here is the latest update of the stuff i am trying to read outside of Scripture... What have you guys been reading??? Did you ask for any good books for Christmas?

Books I am currently reading:
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Don Whitney)
Future Israel (Barry Horner)
The Exemplary Husband (Stuart Scott)
Shepherding a Child's Heart (Tedd Tripp)
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)

Books I’ve finished in the last year or so:
Pages from Church History (Stephen J. Nichols)
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
Way of the Master: Evangelism Training (Ray Comfort)
Evangelical Feminism & Biblical Truth (Wayne Grudem) large sections
Girl Talk (Carolyn Mahaney)
Various articles and commentaries on 1 Cor 11:2-16
Various articles and commentaries on 1 Tim 2:8-15
Various articles and commentaries on Titus 2

Books i recently purchased:
Future Israel (Barry Horner)
Preaching and Preachers (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Commentary on the New Testament Use of the O.T. (D.A. Carson)
Resurrection and Redemption: A Study in Paul's Soteriology (Richard Gaffin)
By Faith, Not by Sight: Paul and the Order of Salvation (Richard Gaffin)
The Future of Justification (John Piper)
Genesis: A Commentary (Bruce Waltke)
Chosen for Life: The Case for Divine Election (Sam Storms)
Believer's Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ (Tom Schreiner)

More pictures of Jude

Well we were hoping for a nice family picture for our Christmas cards but Evelyn and Jude decided they were not interested in pictures last night. :)

Our friend Chris posted these at
http://picasaweb.google.com/Chris.Laura.Micah/Kolstad?authkey=6V6eQW7X3ls


Merry Christmas,

Caleb

Should Christians go and see the Golden Compass?

Read one helpful Christian review here http://www.narnia3.com/mt/Blog/Archives/000149.html

What happened to the Bears this season?

What happened to the Bears this season?

1. Inconsistent Q.B. play has killed us.

I love Rex but Rex did not come through this season. Chicago has not had a good QB since Jim McMahon and a great QB since Sid Luckman.

2. Way too many injuries to key players.

I don't even want to start a list here because it makes my stomach turn. I know the Colt's have managed to win despite some key injuries...They have not had as many key injuries but the Colt's have been impressive this season despite those set backs. The Bears on the other hand have not...

3. A poor running attack for a run first team.

Cedric Benson has not been very good (he is out for the season of course). Thomas Jones was the team captain and a better running back (he's in NY because he and Benson did not get along). We were good when we had those guys carrying the ball 20 times (each) a game. Benson was a #4 pick bust.

4. Rex and Brian need guys who can catch the ball. The Bears lead the league in drops. Enough said!

5. The ball has clearly not bounced Chicago's way this season (bad luck/providence).

6. The NFC North got alot better this season. Green Bay is actually very good. The Vikings hit the jack pot with A Peterson. The Lions have been so bad for so long they have top 10 picks at every position (and they still are not great).

7. Not enough off season upgrades. We thought this team with most our returners would return to the Super Bowl. Why 31 teams did not go after Randy Moss is indeed a mystery?

Phil Johnson on God's Truth

Check out Phil Johnson's great post on the Emerging Church at Pyromaniacs (one of my favorite Bible blogs)

Here is a comment he made in his comments section...

Indeed. Patton is advocating a kind of self-doubt (really self-examination—2 Corinthians 13:5). I'm decrying the kind of doubt that is set against God's revealed truth. The first commenter under Patton's post does a pretty fair job of pointing out the necessary distinction. Given that simple distinction, I can wholeheartedly affirm what Michael Patton said in his post today, while standing by what I wrote.The difficulty comes when that necessary distinction is rubbed out by those who buy into postmodernism's anti-epistemology. They conflate self-doubt with doubt toward God's Word by insisting that "epistemic humility" requires us to believe we can't really ever know for sure what the Bible means. So we can't hold any truth with settled conviction, even if it's something the Bible plainly says—because at the end of the day, we can't really trust our own interpretation of the Bible.That's the position Drew is advocating.

It's also what underlies McLaren's trademark skepticism toward truth and certainty. And the reason Drew shouldn't be surprised to find McLaren channeling his very thoughts before Drew himself has even given expression to them is that practically everything in our culture tells us we ought to think that way. And apparently Drew and McLaren don't distrust the trends of the culture as much as they distrust the Bible. Drew and his famous mentor (and hordes of post-evangelicals along with them) have basically joined the greater portion of Western postmodern society in an act of collective epistemological suicide. While talking a lot about "engaging" the culture, they have actually been pressed into postmodern culture's mold. And that mold is a perfect coffin.

Would you vote for a Mormon President?

Mitt Romney made a broad appeal to voters in his speech on faith and politics Thursday, pledging to serve no one religion if he is elected, while at the same time stressing the importance of religious liberty and defending his right to worship as a Mormon.

Romney made the speech in an attempt to answer skepticism about his religion. But he only made brief specific references to Mormonism, underscoring instead what he called the "common creed of moral convictions” shared by Americans and the value of the nation's "symphony of faith."

“Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom,” Romney said. “Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.”

As John F. Kennedy did 47 years ago in a speech answering questions about his Catholic faith, Romney insisted that his religion would not dictate his duties in office if elected president. Romney referenced Kennedy in his opening lines.

"I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith ... I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law," Romney said. " If I am fortunate enough to become your president, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest ... A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.”

For full story go to http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,315486,00.html

NFL

I am glad Rex is back with Chicago since Griese was no upgrade and has no future with the team... Rex has had 3 solid games in a row. The playoffs are probably not going to happen this year for Chicago but as i mentioned before does it really matter? Can anyone really beat New England in the playoffs?

Power Rankings
1. New England
drop off

2. Indy
drop off

3. Dallas
4. Green Bay
5. Pittsburgh

Rick Warren & Hillary Clinton join forces

For full story go to http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,314023,00.html

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton used an appearance at one of the nation's largest evangelical churches Thursday to sketch a broad agenda to take on disease around the globe, calling it "the right thing to do."

The centerpiece of a speech laced with Biblical references and reflections on her own faith was a call to spend billions of dollars to combat HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases at home and abroad. She said she would try to stamp out malaria deaths in Africa within eight years.
Money and government alone cannot solve the problems, she said. AIDS "is a problem of our common humanity, and we are called to respond with love, with mercy and with urgency," she said.

With the presidential campaign intensifying in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, Clinton was alone among leading candidates to fly to coastal California to appear at Saddleback Church in Orange County, where pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren convenes a conference each year to highlight the global threat posed by HIV/AIDS.

What's in the name?

Here are some of the reasons why we named our son Jude MacArthur Kolstad:

1. We liked the names. Let’s not get over-spiritual here.

2. When I get the chance to fill our Senior Pastor’s pulpit (Joe Flatt) I have been preaching through the book of Jude (see http://www.fbccarmel.com/). This Sunday will be my 11th sermon from this much neglected epistle. This book has been my companion for 2+ years now. It is a wonderful book written by the half brother of Jesus, Jude. It’s a great name with an even better message.

3. Pastor John MacArthur has had a major spiritual influence in my life and in my wife’s life. He has also had a big role in the spiritual development of my parents and in some measure in Andrea’s parents lives as well. People who love the truth love those who bring it faithfully.

4. Pastor MacArthur was my teaching pastor for 12+ years. I was apart of Grace Community Churches children’s ministries, teen ministries, college ministries, singles ministries, and there adult ministries. MacArthur taught me how to handle the Bible before I ever went to Bible college or seminary. In my estimation, he is the finest Bible expositor I have ever learned from. Al Mohler recently said, that "John MacArthur + Bible ='s expository preaching." You can make that determination for yourself at http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/grace_to_you/

5. Like the good Dr. (Martyn Lloyd-Jones), Pastor John MacArthur has been greatly used by God in his defense and proclamation of the truth. There is nothing more important in this life then the non-negotiable body of objective truth that makes up the Christian gospel. Jude 3 calls on all of us to “Contend earnestly for the faith.” John MacArthur has been exemplary in his efforts to protect, preserve, and proclaim the Word of God; and when the Word of God is faithfully preached Jesus Christ is glorified!

6. Two of the Pastors that John mentored (Jerry Wragg and Carey Hardy) discipled me. John’s ministry fingerprints were on those men and thus indirectly on me as well. My interaction with John has been predominately through letters. Since the 6th grade has always been faithful to reply to my notes.

7. Andrea and I both attended the Master’s College and I attended the Master’s Seminary. John MacArthur is the President of these Christian institutions. God used TMC and TMS to shape and mold both of our lives and ministries.

8. John MacArthur is a living hero of mine and thus the middle name is appropriate for our beloved first born son.

9. Jude's last name (Kolstad) is also rich with tradition. My parents Kent and Marie have left a wonderful legacy for their 4 children and 3 grandchildren.


Our prayer is that God saves Jude at an early age and that He will use him as He sees fit. We are thankful for this wonderful gift from God.

Commentary on the death of Sean Taylor

I ran across this commentary by a black sportswriter that is worth your consideration...I don't agree with everything he wrote but he does make some great observations...

Here is a portion of what he said. For the full article go to http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7499442?MSNHPHCP&GT1=10637

"There's a reason I call them the Black KKK. The pain, the fear and the destruction are all the same. Someone who loved Sean Taylor is crying right now. The life they knew has been destroyed, an 18-month-old baby lost her father, and, if you're a black man living in America, you've been reminded once again that your life is in constant jeopardy of violent death. The Black KKK claimed another victim, a high-profile professional football player with a checkered past this time.

No, we don't know for certain the circumstances surrounding Taylor's death. I could very well be proven wrong for engaging in this sort of aggressive speculation. But it's no different than if you saw a fat man fall to the ground clutching his chest. You'd assume a heart attack, and you'd know, no matter the cause, the man needed to lose weight.

Well, when shots are fired and a black man hits the pavement, there's every statistical reason to believe another black man pulled the trigger. That's not some negative, unfair stereotype. It's a reality we've been living with, tolerating and rationalizing for far too long.

When the traditional, white KKK lynched, terrorized and intimidated black folks at a slower rate than its modern-day dark-skinned replacement, at least we had the good sense to be outraged and in no mood to contemplate rationalizations or be fooled by distractions. Our new millennium strategy is to pray the Black KKK goes away or ignores us. How's that working?

About as well as the attempt to shift attention away from this uniquely African-American crisis by focusing on an alleged injustice the white media allegedly perpetrated against Sean Taylor.
Within hours of his death, there was a story circulating that members of the black press were complaining that news outlets were disrespecting Taylor's victimhood by reporting on his troubled past

No disrespect to Taylor, but he controlled the way he would be remembered by the way he lived. His immature, undisciplined behavior with his employer, his run-ins with law enforcement, which included allegedly threatening a man with a loaded gun, and the fact a vehicle he owned was once sprayed with bullets are all pertinent details when you've been murdered."

More pics as requested

I have a SON!!!!

Jude MacArthur Kolstad was born on Thanksgiving day! He is 9 pounds 12 ounces (a big boy) and is 21 inches long.

The Lord answered so many prayers along the way. Dr. Jim did the C-section which was a blessing since he is a Christian doctor. He had me pray before the surgery and was playing Christian music during the operation. I really appreciated his Christian testimony!

Praise God and HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (

Caleb, Andrea, Evelyn, and Jude

(Pictures to come)

A must read on Teen Ministries

Phil Johnson has posted this over at Pyro and it is really worth your time and consideration:

At last June's Founder's Conference, Roy Hargrave delivered a powerful message that got me thinking about why so many churches lose their young people. (That wasn't the theme of Dr. Hargrave's message, but he brought up the subject in one of the points he made.)Here's a really brief summary of some of my thoughts on the matter:The very strategies many churches adopt to try to keep their young people involved in the church are the main reasons they lose so many of them. The dominant philosophies of youth ministry today are spiritually lame or worse—and almost completely counterproductive.Specifically, it's time we faced the fact that systematically dumbing down the teaching ministry and ramping up the party atmosphere while isolating our young people from the rest of the body is not a very good strategy for increasing the rate of retention among our youth.

Think about it: Youth ministries (not all of them, of course, but the vast majority of squidgy evangelical ones) deliberately shield their young people from the hard truths and strong demands of Jesus. They tailor their worship so worldly youth can feel as comfortable in the church environment as possible. They squander the best opportunities of those formative student years by minimizing spiritual instruction while emphasizing fun and games.

They let their teens live with the false notions that believing in Christ is easy, sanctification is optional, and religion is supposed to be fun and always suited to our liking. They fail to equip their high school students for the rigorous defense of the faith they will need in college. They neglect to integrate them as young adults into the adult community of the church.And then they wonder why so many young people abandon the church about the same time they leave home.How hard can it really be to understand why the "Youth Specialties" approach to student ministry has been such an enormous failure?

Another day in the NFL

Well the Taco6 clan was eager to post a comment after the Colt's game last night. I fell asleep after the 3rd Qtr so i missed some of the fun. It was a wonderful game for those who are not Manning fans. I thought during the first half the Colts traded for Griese or Grossman. 6 Ints??? I guess that only proves that great players need help from teammates when they are not playing well.

The Chicago Bears at this point are not very relevant. I know that. They could only put up 17 against the Raiders...All i want for Christmas is a Quarterback.

None the less, if the Pats don't sustain any major injuries I don't know if Indy or Dallas or G.B. can beat them. I know the Bears can't. But then again anything can happen in this league which is why they play the game.

A Great Day in the NFL

I wonder if our faithful Colts fans will comment today? I have long argued with my Indiana friends that i would pick Tom Brady over Peyton Manning in a big playoff game. Until last year Mannings QB rating/record and Bradys QB rating/record during the playoffs were not even close. Now this year Mr. Tom cool is on pace to smash the regular season records of Mr. Manning.

I had church Sunday PM so i was not able to see much of the game. I was able to see the end which was the best part...Tom Brady makes some clutch plays and leads the Pats to a come from behind victory in Indy no less. Manning has a chance to be a hero but he fails. He holds on to the ball too long has it knocked out of his arms into a Pats player to seal the Colts fate. He then pounds his hand into the turf knowing full well Mr Brady is the best QB in the game right now and that the Pats are the best team.


The NFC North showed its grit with G.B beating K.C. and Minn beating San Diego and Detroit defeating Denver.

The AFC South is probably the best division in football this season. The Colts and Titans are great teams. New Orleans did defeat Jacksonville yesterday though. When the Titans get Pacman Jones back next year and if they can sign a few quality wide recievers during the off season look out. They have one of the best D's in the league.

The AFC East (minus N.E.) and the NFC West are horrible. The NFC East and The AFC South are probably the two best divisions in football right now.


NFL Power Rankings
1. New England
2. Indy

DROP OFF
3. Dallas
4. Pittsburgh
5. Green Bay
6. Tennesssee

1 Corinthians 11:2-3: Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
1 Corinthians 11:2-3

This is one of the key New Testament texts that highlight many essential principles of Biblical manhood and womanhood. Verses 2-16 address the roles of men and women in the worship service or during some other setting where believers gathered together. Dr. Schreiner believes this section addresses actions that were taking place during the public worship service while Dr. MacArthur believes that Paul is addressing problems in a different context. It appears to me that Paul is trying to correct some of the problems that where taking place during the church worship service in chapters 11-14.

None the less, Paul goes back and forth with statements about men and women (see Garland’s chart below). Clearly this passage is very applicable to the subject at hand. David Garland notes, “Whatever the motivation, the structure of Paul’s argument makes clear what the issue is:

11:4 Every man who prays or prophesies
11:5 Every woman who prays or prophesies

11:7a On the one hand (men gar ) the man. . .
11:7b On the other hand (de) the woman

11:7 A man ought not (ouk opheilei) . . . the head
11:10 A woman ought (opheilei) . . . the head

11:11a Neither a woman apart from the man
11:11b Neither the man apart from the woman

11:12a For just as the woman . . .
11:12b Thus also the man . . .

11:13 It is shameful for a woman to pray to God uncovered
(no parallel)

11:14b On the one hand (men) the man . . .
11:15 On the other hand (de) the woman . . .”

The crux of the argument is probably found in verse 13. 1 Corinthians 11:13, Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with head uncovered? No parallel statement is made here as Garland’s chart above shows. That is a significant observation to keep in mind.

There are only two commands in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. The two imperatives in this passage are found in verse 6 (let her cover herself) and in verse 13 (judge for yourselves). With that said, certain details in this section are very difficult to understand. This is not an easy portion of Scripture to understand yet the central theme of the passage can be discerned and applied. In the words of Dr. Schreiner, “There is an abiding principle in the text that is applicable to the 20th century.” It is an important principle for all Christians to understand and apply.

So how does verse 2 relate to vv 3-16? Verses 3-16 indicate there were some problems in the Corinthian church. Why then does Paul open this section with a commendation in verse 2? 1 Corinthians 11:2, Now I praise you because you remember me in everything, and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you.

In parenting, it’s normally wise to reinforce positive Christ-like behavior in the lives of your children. If your child does something well or is obedient I believe it’s wise to draw attention to those behaviors. Some parents on the other hand focus exclusively on their children’s sins and mistakes. That is not good parenting. Why? Because encouragement is an essential medicine of life. Before Paul corrects the “Corinthian problems” in chapters 11-14, he seeks to encourage them for the things they’re doing right. In the words of one commentator, “The situation of the church is not bleak in every respect.” They were doing some things well which Paul wanted to draw attention to and reinforce. If you’re a boss or a Pastor or a parent or a teacher there is biblical wisdom in Paul’s approach to shepherding/leading. Notice his example in 1 Corinthians 1:1-6; "Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and ball knowledge, 6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you...” Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians are amazing in light of all the problems this church had. Just read 1 and 2 Corinthians and you’ll see what I mean. Let me encourage you to follow Paul’s example and encourage others as much as you can!

After praising the Corinthians in verse 2, Paul addresses some of their problems in 1 Corinthians 11:3-6. But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 4 Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, disgraces his head. 5 But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgraces her head; for she is one and the same with her whose head is shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head.

I believe verse 3 is jam-packed with theological significance. It is probably the most important verse in the entire section. If you get this verse right you’ll probably understand the rest of the passage as well.

Before moving ahead a few questions should be considered. We know Eve was taken from Adam’s rib, but Andrea (my wife) did not come from Caleb, did she? Did the man originate from Christ? How did God create the first man in Genesis? Should the Greek words in verse 3 be translated husband/wife or man/woman? Are their any textual or grammatical reasons to interpret the words more specifically as husband/wife over the more general terms man/woman?

Most importantly, what does the word “head” (“kephale”) mean in this particular context? Complementarians believe it means “Authority.” Egalitarians believe it means “Source/Origin”

Let’s examine how Paul uses this same word (head) in a similar context. Here the word is also used figuratively though more specifically in the context of husbands and wives. Observe Ephesians 5:22-24, 22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Women should submit to their husbands (their God-ordained authority figures), as the church submits herself to Christ.

Let’s also observe the inspired words of Ephesians 1:20-23, "Which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Head (kephale) clearly means authority here. Jesus Christ is the leader of the Church. He is our glorious head. He has authority over the Church.

Before we move on let’s also check out a usage of this word in Colossians. Colossians 2:9-15, For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. The concept of Jesus’ authority and supremacy is clearly declared in this wonderful text.

The word “head” in I Corinthians 11:3 clearly implies “authority”. Let’s read this verse using “authority” in place of “HEAD”. But I want you to understand that Christ is the authority of every man, and the man is the authority of a woman, and God is the authority of Christ. (Note: A few of the good modern day English translations use husband and wife instead of man and woman).

Some of you lay theologians may object to this understanding: “I thought the members of the Trinity (Father, Son & Spirit) are totally equal in essence, nature, personhood, and being? Isn’t that true? Is that not what you taught us in lessons 1-5?” If I answer ‘no’ here I would rightly be labeled a heretic. Why? Because the Bible clearly teaches us that the Father is God, very God, the Son is God, very God, and the Holy Spirit is God, very God. I love to sing the following Christian song lyrics, “Praise the Father, praise the Son, praise the Spirit, three in one!” The doctrine of the Trinity is central to biblical Christianity. The Bible also says that though perfectly equal in nature and being the members of the Trinity have different functions and roles! This understanding is absolutely crucial! If you miss this point you won’t understand the gospels or the Trinity or Biblical manhood and womanhood.

There are no “ontological” differences between Father and Son but they do have different roles. That qualification in no way undermines their fully equality. The Nicene Creed was 100% correct here. Jesus is of the same substance as God the Father. There are three members that make up one Godhead. Three distinct persons but just one God.

A distinct role does not logically imply inferiority! The Son submits to the Father in various Bible passages (Observe I Cor. 15:28, Jn 3:17, 14:28) The Father commands and sends and the Son obeys and comes. Bruce Ware has done some wonderful research that further proves this point if you want a more detailed study of this.

The subordination the Bible talks about deals with order and relation not being or essence. God is the head over Christ yet He is not essentially greater than Christ. Generally speaking Christian women are under male authority but they are not inferior to men. God gave women different gender defined roles that in no way undermine their full equality with men. The same is true in regards to the Trinity. Christian feminists and radical feminists miss God’s mark when they try to promote equal roles in the church and the home. If you don’t believe me study the Holy Trinity! Carefully follow Paul’s logic in I Corinthians 11:3. Do an in depth research project on the role of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has willingly taken on a role in which He eternally exists in the backdrop. The Spirit lives to bring glory to the Son and seeks to bring about the will of the Father. What an amazing example of Divine humility and submission for all of us to consider. Examine Bruce Ware’s wonderful book “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

When Kephale (head) is used figuratively (speaking of people or relationships) it always conveys the idea of authority. Dr. Grundem adds this helpful comment, “Therefore there is no linguistic basis for proposing that the New Testament texts speak of Chirst as the head of the church or the husband as the head of the wife can be read apart from the attribution of authority to the one designated as ‘head.’” [For a more detailed article that supports this claim check out “Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood” Appendix 1, pp 425-468]

The holy Trinity proves that men and women can be totally equal yet they can also have different functions and roles that are gender defined by Divine design.

Ligonier conference and Limousines

I had the privilege of attending Ligonier ministries 5th annual Pastor’s Conference this past week in Orlando. The primary speakers were R.C. Sproul, Steven J Lawson, and Joel Beeke. The purpose of the lectures was to highlight the significance of having a God-centered ministry that is conducted in humble submission to the Word of God and that emphasizes the glory of God in worship, evangelism, prayer, and preaching. Dr. Sproul picked the right speakers to help communicate these wonderful themes.

Now some of you are probably wondering what a limousine has to do with Ligonier ministries? Keep reading and I will evidentially get there…Before I talk about any of the specific lectures per say I want to say what a wonderful job the Ligonier staff did in hosting this conference. The meals each day were unbelievable and the subsidized cost of the conference was amazing ($150 for registration and room/board). The size of the conference was just right (250 pastors), as opposed to the mega conferences (like Desiring God or Shepherds or Together for the Gospel) where 2000 people is considered a small crowd. The smaller venue allowed one to interact with the speakers (especially Dr. Beeke) as well as get to know various pastors from throughout the world.

I had two strikes against me going into this conference seeing I’m both pre-mill and Baptistic (by conviction). I would guess that the vast majority of the men who attended this conference were obviously Covenantal and either Post or Amill. With that said, all the attendees shared a common bond though our personal commitments to the gospel of grace and to a high view of God that all of us shared. All that to say, I enjoyed some great fellowship with various pastors including my father, Kent who came in from Washington state.

Dr. Lawson started off the conference preaching from Psalm 93. The sermon topic was on “the Eclipse of God.” He reminded us that man can build beautiful buildings but only God can build a church. All of Lawson’s sermons during the conference were expositions of various Old and New Testament texts. It was great to have someone model what expository preaching is and to help show everyone why expository preaching is so powerful (Scripture truth in Scripture dress). It’s more and more common these days to have conferences that deal with biblical issues via lectures rather than pure expositions of the Word of God. That is not to say there isn’t a place for great Biblical lectures but personally I’ll take a wonderful exposition of Scripture over a great lecture any day. Lawson concluded his first sermon by reminding us that the greatest issue facing the church today is who is seated above. Who is your God? Psalm 93 is very clear that the God of the Bible reigns!

Dr. Joel Beeke lectured next on hitting your “Target Audience.” This was a very practical lecture. Beeke said our preaching must be both applicatory and discriminatory. He said preaching must not ignore the pew nor be controlled by the pew. He briefly mentioned that in his opinion Haddon Robinson goes too far here. Dr. Beeke then went on to talk about the various people that listen to our sermons in the pew each Sunday: those include the growing believer, the backsliding believer, those who are in spiritual bondage, the open-conscience unbeliever, the indifferent unbeliever, etc. In short, we must remember that we have all kinds of hearers in our congregations. A mature preacher recognizes this and thus will aim his sermon arrows at the various people groups during the course of his expositions. Dr. Beeke reminded us that it would be a mistake to aim for every target in every single sermon. Wisdom and balance are needed here.

Dr. Sproul then gave one of his classic sermons from Genesis 22. He illustrated how we should tackle an Old Testament narrative with power and clarity. Dr. Sproul reminded us that the OT is God’s autobiography. If you want to teach your people about the nature and character of God study the Old Testament.

Dr. Lawson concluded the opening day sessions with a powerful sermon from 2 Timothy 4. I believe that preaching from common passages of Scripture has its advantages and its unique challenges. Steve Lawson eats, sleeps, and breathes this text of Scripture so the sermon was quite amazing to say the least. The first business of the preacher is to preach the Word. As the pulpit goes, Lawson noted, so goes the church. Lawson said there are 8 imperatives that instruct us how we are to preach in 2 Timothy 4:1-5. I’d encourage all you preachers to get this CD. In the mean time PREACH THE WORD!!!

Lawson started off Tuesday’s sessions with an exposition of Revelation 4. His topic was the God-centered worship service. Lawson picked this particular text because he believes that church worship services should be as much like heaven as possible. This thought goes against the contemporary church movement; which is cool, casual, laid back, informal, horizontal, trendy and often very trivial. Lawson asked the following question: If God were to design a worship service what would it look like? Steve encouraged us to examine Revelation chapter 4 if we want to find out. Steve then provided 4 distinguishing marks of a God-centered service from this chapter of Scripture. 1. A high view of God. 2. A deep fear of God. 3. A distinct separation from God. 4. A constant focus upon God. All these marks flowed out of the text of Revelation 4.

Perhaps the highlight of the conference was Lawson’s sermon on God-centered Evangelism from Matthew 7:13-29. All of us are aware of the scary reality that there are many people in every congregation who are born in the church but whom never been born again. This was a wonderful text to preach from in effort to address the following theme mentioned above. I’d encourage all of you once again to get to CD as well…

Dr. Sproul gave a great lecture on “A God-centered view of the Truth.” He went to John 18 and reminded us that we must embrace, proclaim, and contend for the truth! Sproul asked and answered two essential questions from this dialogue between Jesus and Pilate. Question one was what is truth? (Truth is reality as it’s perceived by God). Question two was how can true truth be known (an epistemology question)? Sproul then reminded us that rationalism and rationality are very different things. He also noted that sometimes we reduce apologetics to proclamation of truth instead of giving people a reason for the hope that’s within us. This was a great lecture because we minister to those influenced by post-modern thought.

Now I promised everyone I would get to the Ligonier/Limo connection, so here it is. On Wednesday night there was a Vesper’s service at Saint Andrew’s Chapel (R.C.’s home church). Now for those of you who’ve never been here before it’s really a hard church to describe. The inside of this building is quite spectacular (think stained glass art, massive paintings, exquisite architecture, etc). You preachers will especially appreciate the 8-foot high pulpit that sits on a raised platform…Ligonier ministries provided two large buses for those pastors who did not rent cars during the conference to get to Saint Andrews. For the guest speakers there was a different mode of transportation…you guessed it…a limousine service provided. Now before I go off on this let me say that I’m worried about how some of you readers may use this story. I know there are some pastors who seem to have an issue with every well-known preacher ministering in our day. I believe these men often struggle with envy. They wonder why God chooses to uniquely bless some pastors/churches the way he does? Why them and not me they wonder? It appears men like this often have an over inflated view of their own gifts and abilities as well and thus see zero value in hearing more gifted and experienced pastor-preachers. On the flip side of the coin, there is a growing (legitimate) concern that we Christians don’t turn our Christian heroes of the faith into some type of Christian “celebrities”. There is a line between honoring and esteeming faithful men and worshipping them. I’ve written about this before so I won’t repeat myself all over again. Now, you probably know where I am going with this already don’t you? I need to give my friends at Ligonier the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps R.C. Sproul has someone from his local church who actually owns a Limo company. Theoretically, this man could have offered free services to the guest pastors during the Pastor’s Conference. Honestly I don’t know. Even if that were the case I must ask the following question, what were you thinking?

Let me paint the picture a little bit better for you. All the pastors are at Saint Andrews Chapel waiting for the start of the Vesper’s service and all of a sudden here comes a white limo. The limo parks underneath the St. Andrew’s Chapel overhang and drops off…the conference speakers. (I would imagine the guest speakers had nothing to do with this decision so I don’t want to indict anyone here unnecessarily). I’m just concerned that this picture sent the wrong message. I know too many solo pastors who have to work another full time job in order to bring home an livable income. If the Christian community wants to work against creating a Christian celebrity community I’d suggest ideas like this be reconsidered. Gospel preachers and limos don’t go together. Save the limousine services for newly weds, professional athletes, and movie stars.

Let us focus our attention back on more important things. All things considered this was both an encouraging and an edifying pastors conference. Drs. Sproul, Lawson, and Beeke were very approachable during this conference. In particular, Dr. Beeke made a special effort to have breakfast and dinner with the men. The sermons and lectures that were given during this conference were clearly labors of love. I’d highly recommend you purchase the conference audio set and consider attending next year’s conference. I’d simple suggest if do come you drive your own car or fly in on a major airline…Let’s leave the limos for the rich and the famous.

"Feed Me Til I Want No More"

It has been a busy year and a busy past week. It has also been a very profitable week. On Saturday night Dr. Bruce Ware spoke to a group of leaders at our church on "leadership lessons from the Trinity." It was a wonderful lecture. Dr. Ware reminded us how it is actually God-like to exercise Biblical leadership AND is God-like when we exercise Biblical obedience (i.e. submission). He looked at the Father's example of putting the spot-light on the Son and exhorted we human leaders to do the same. How can we identify evidences of grace in people around us esp. those who may work directly for us?

On Sunday Dr. Ware presented 3 lectures on the doctrine of God. Bruce was both clear and profound. He was both Biblical and practical. My wife Andrea and I were able to have Dr. Ware over to our home for lunch and conversation following Sunday school hour. It was great being able to pick the brain of a first rate Bible scholar like Dr. Ware. I believe next to the Master's Seminary in California that Southern Seminary is the best theological school for prospective pastors to attend in the United States. Both are wonderful, first rate schools.

On Monday I flew to Orlando to attend the Ligonier Pastor's Conference with my father. Dr. R.C. Sproul, Dr. Steve Lawson, and Dr. Joel Beeke are the main speakers. Steve Lawson has already preached 3 amazing sermons on Psalm 93, 2 Timothy 4, and on Revelation 4. Ligonier does a wonderful job hosting pastors from around the country during this small Pastors Conference.

During Lawson's opening address he said we have seen an eclipse in our theology (e.g. open theism, non-Lordship salvation, ECT, health and wealth gospel, etc); we've observed an eclipse in doxology (just attend the average evangelical church worship services); and an eclipse in our methodology (pragmatism reigns, seeker movements, etc).

Steve reminded us that man can build a booming building but only God can build a Church. Dr. Lawson went on to preach through the 93rd Psalm (Our Lord reigns). He noted that God will mediate His sovereign reign through His Word.

In conclusion Lawson said, "The greatest issue facing your church today is who is seated above...In other words, who is your God?"

What are they thinking? (or not)

Maine middle school to offer birth control
School board approves pills and patches for students ages 11 to 13

PORTLAND, Maine - Pupils at a city middle school will be able to get birth control pills and patches at their student health center after the local school board approved the proposal Wednesday evening.

The plan, offered by city health officials, makes King Middle School the first middle school in Maine to make a full range of contraception available to students in grades 6 through 8, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

There are no national figures on how many middle schools, where most students range in age from 11 to 13, provide such services.

Go to msnbc.com for full story here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21358971/

Female students at King Middle School can get access to the pill without telling their parents. NBC’s Ron Allen reports....

A Prayer for Our Churches

“A Prayer for Our Church” by John Piper
October 8th, 2007

O Lord, by the truth of your Word, and the power of your Spirit and the ministry of your body, build men and women at Bethlehem . . .

Who don’t love the world more than God,who don’t care if they make much money,who don’t care if they own a house,who don’t care if they have a new car or two cars,who don’t need recent styles,who don’t care if they get famous,who don’t miss steak or fancy fare,who don’t expect that life should be comfortable and easy,who don’t feed their minds on TV each night,who don’t measure truth with their finger in the wind,who don’t get paralyzed by others’ disapproval,who don’t return evil for evil,who don’t hold grudges,who don’t gossip,who don’t twist the truth,who don’t brag or boast,who don’t whine or use body language to get pity,who don’t criticize more than praise,who don’t hang out in cliques,who don’t eat too much or exercise too little;

But

Who are ablaze for God,who are utterly God-besotted,who are filled with the Holy Spirit,who strive to know the height and depth of Christ’s love,who are crucified to the world and dead to sin,who are purified by the Word and addicted to righteousness,who are mighty in memorizing and using the Scriptures,who keep the Lord’s Day holy and refreshing,who are broken by the consciousness of sin,who are thrilled by the wonder of free grace,who are stunned into humble silence by the riches of God’s glory,who are persevering constantly in prayer,who are ruthless in self-denial,who are fearless in public witness to Christ’s Lordship,who are able to unmask error and blow away doctrinal haze,who are tough in standing for the truth,who are tender in touching hurting people,who are passionate about reaching the peoples who have no church,who are pro-life for the sake of babies and moms and dads and the glory of God,who are keepers of all their promises, including marriage vows,who are content with what they have and trusting the promises of God,who are patient and kind and meek when life is hard.


Pressing for all there is in Christ,

Pastor John Piper

Yes, I Died Twice Yesterday

Mark and Joe want me to weigh in on my Chicago Bears. If you watched yesterdays game you probably observed a few things. Griese is a good back up and an average or below average starter in this league. His arm strength on outs is just not very good. QB is the most important position in the game. Is it any surprise that New England (Brady), Indy (Manning), Dallas (Romo), and G.B. (Favre) are the best teams in the league right now? Football is a team sport but you need a good QB and a good coach to succeed. Griese won’t lose many games but he can’t win many games for you either. The Bear’s need a QB who can win a game for them…

The Bear’s D has way too many injuries to overcome with our backups playing the way they’re playing. The D has been a big disappointment this year. We really miss the presence of Pro-Bowl FS Mike Brown. Adam Archuleta can’t cover anyone and with a broken hand can’t even tackle.

Sunday’s loss was liking dying twice. I had accepted the loss after Peterson rushed for 240 yards and his 2nd touchdown of the game (putting us down by 14). Then I turn back 3 minutes later and the Bear’s are down 7…so I decide to finish the game out. Next thing you know they shut down the Vikes from their own 40 and then connect with Hester (the best special teams player in the history of the game) for 81 yards (to tie the game). I was thinking at this point maybe we’ll actually sneak this one out (like Detroit did to us a couple weeks ago). But then Peterson returns a kick 60 some yards and Longwell kicks a career long (55 yard field goal) to send us back to the bottom of the NFC North. Yes, it was the sports equivalent of dying twice. I need to go visit my sports psychologist for my sports related depression now. This season is really close to being a total wash. If we don’t win 3 or 4 in a row we’ll be draft watching. It’s sad times for Bear’s fans around the country. The only solace i have right now is that perhaps this season doesn't even matter...Look at the way New England has been dominating people? If they stay healthy it does not appear they can lose a game. They can play average and beat most teams by 20 points. That is not good news for Colts fans and NFL fans around the league! Go Bears!

Manhood & Womanhood (pt 2)

One of the way’s Evangelical Feminist’s have tried to solve this problem is to redefine the meaning of the word “head.” They have to admit that husbands are the heads of their wives because the Bible clearly teaches this truth; but many would say “headship” only implies that man is the source of women, not the God-ordained leader or authority figure. Much ink has been spilled trying to understand the N.T. Greek word kephale. Wayne Grudem has literally spent hundreds of hours of research proving that the Greek Word “head” does not mean source. The word “head” when used figuratively and when speaking of relationships always implies authority. We will go into this issue in greater depth next time so I won’t go down that road right now.

Some Christian feminists use a different line of reason. They say that the concept of male headship did not come about until after the fall and is therefore a product of sin. We already answered this objection during our 3rd lecture so I won’t repeat those arguments again now.

God’s ideal marriage is beautifully and clearly summarized for us in Colossians 3:18-19. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. New Testament passages like this one begin to unlock for us an important truth. Christ can enable us to overcome the effects of the curse and the fall of man (at least in some measure). When unbelievers are transformed from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of God’s light they’re given a new nature (Col 1:13). Christians are no longer enslaved to his/her sin or his/her sin nature (see Romans 6-8). The Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in us; we’re “sealed” (Ephesians 4:30). At this point, we try to become who we are in Christ (progressive sanctification). We finally have the ability to follow God’s Word from the heart with pure motives. To borrow Biblical language we’re new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

One of the specific areas of life that God’s Word addresses is the very topic we’re discussing, “Biblical manhood and womanhood.” Therefore spirit-filled Christians should try to pursue these Biblical roles with all their might for the glory of God. The “perfect” male/female relationship that was enjoyed prior to the fall can in some regards be regained as Christians! If you’re in a difficult marriage do not despair because there is hope! If you’re counseling a couple on the verge of divorce, never forget there is hope! The Bible offers all of us tons of hope if we but submit ourselves fully to the Lordship of Christ. Our paradise that was lost can in some regards be regained here on earth. The death of Christ not only restores our relationship with God it also empowers us to restore some of our broken human relationships with others.

Stay tuned as next time we’ll begin to study a crucial New Testament text (1 Corinthians 11:2-16).

Manhood and Womanhood: Selected Scriptures

We spent all last session discussing how the fall of man in Genesis 3 directly effects Biblical manhood and womanhood. I believe the following statement is an important one to consider: The curse did not introduce new roles per say rather it distorted God’s original roles.

Can any of you recall what some of the effects of the curse and the fall were? (A) Women’s role as child-bearer was affected (v. 16a), through greater pain and sorrow. (B) Women’s role as helper was distorted (v. 16b); she now had a sinful “desire” against her husband’s God-ordained role as “head”. (C) Man’s role as leader was distorted (“And he shall rule over you”). Husbands’ don’t always lead the way God ordained them to lead (loving sacrificial leadership, not aggressive, selfish, manipulative rule). (D) Man’s role as provider was affected as well (v. 17ff); the ground was cursed making work much more difficult and laborious. (E) Men and women were introduced to death (no concept of death or dying before the fall). Yet remember that in all of this God was very gracious in that Adam and Eve were not condemned immediately. They did still die as a result of sin mind you. What the Bible says is true, “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23, Gen. 2:17). My point is that they should have died instantaneously.

Did you know that the battle between the sexes finds its origins in the fall? Those of who were thinking Billy Jean King versus Bobby Riggs showcase your age. In the words of John MacArthur, “Women have a sinful inclination to usurp man’s authority and men have a sinful inclination to put women under their feet.” Genesis 3:16 does not outline a pretty scenario. After the fall, all humans have a new master (sin); the sinful flesh is preoccupied with self instead of others. Pride, selfishness, and lust are detrimental to human relationships. Think about how those sins have impacted your relationships with other people. More specifically, how do you see these sins negatively impacting male/female relationships around you?

Some of you may remember that we asked the following questions before we ended last time: Is there anything we can do about the curse? Should we just accept the fact that man is not going to lead the way God wants him to the lead and that woman is not going to help and support the way God designed her to help? Can this curse be reversed or are we Chicago Cub like (cursed Christians)?

(I) Some people don’t believe anything can really be done about the Gen. 3:16 curse. It is what it is so we shouldn’t worry about it. Others try and play the victim card while still others simply despair. (II) Some people think that the best way to reverse the curse is to pursue equal roles & authority in marriage, in the workplace, and at church. Now if this point is true, how does that harmonize with what we learned about in Genesis chapter 2? I showed you that even before the fall, God gave Adam and Eve different gender-defined roles. According to God’s Word, that reality in no way undermines our equality before Him. Said another way, if role(s) alone determine equality, value, and worth then many other Biblical concepts (such as church elders, the Trinity, etc) could not work.

For example, how could a group of qualified men (1 Tim 3, Titus 1) serve in an exclusive leadership capacity, if one’s role determined one’s value? I suggest to you that God has given us different gifts and different roles and that every spiritual gift and role is absolutely essential to the body of Christ. God has given us a diversity of gifts for the unity of the body (note 1 Corinthians 12-14). Elders and Pastors are not more important then the deacons and deacons are not more important than laypeople. There is no church hierarchy in regards to worth. I should repeat the fact that God ordained authority roles don’t imply greater value or worth! If God’s Word restricts the pastorate to men this does not mean women in the church have lesser value or worth. So what’s my conclusion after saying all this? If the eldership and pastorate is restricted only to men (and for that matter only biblically qualified men) then Egalitarians have some major theological problems. Of course those of you who know your Bibles really well understand that Paul uses the Trinity as the ultimate example to prove this very point (we’ll examine 1 Cor. 11 next time).

Coaches try and teach similar concepts to there teams, especially when coaching team sports. Good coaches know that it takes an entire team to win a team championship. In football the Q.B. can not function effectively without his offensive line, running backs, receivers, etc. A great team offense requires more than one star player. Do you think Peyton Manning is more important than Tony Dungy? That’s a silly question since they have totally different roles. Could Peyton Manning win a NFL championship without assistance from 10 other players? Could he really do it himself? Obviously not! Perhaps only one player is given the MVP trophy, but more importantly the Lombardi NFL Championship trophy was presented to all the players on the Colts roster. This was done for a reason. It was a team championship.

So how does all this nonsense affect our conversation? Dr. Grudem summarizes our point well, “If men and women have different God-given roles and authority, then we can’t be equal” is an unproven assumption and it just does not hold true in human experience.” Jesus’ teaching on this topic is actually quite radical. Matthew 20:25-28, But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus taught that just because someone is in a position of authority does not mean they’re more significant in God’s eyes. On the flip side of the coin, just because someone is in a position of lesser authority does not make them less valuable in God’s eyes either. The church janitor is just as important to God as I am (a church pastor). Jesus taught his followers that the way up in the kingdom of God is down. In other words, servant leadership is crucial to Biblical authority. All of us are commanded to embrace our positions in life with humility and with a servant’s mindset.

Here is what I am trying to suggest to you in all this. If authority denies equality, than the biblical concept of male headship, implemented before the curse in Genesis 2, provides the Christian feminist view with a big stick in their theological spokes. (If you ever had someone stick a piece of wood through your bicycle spooks you know what I mean here.) Sin was not introduced into the male/female equation until Genesis 3.