Tuesday, July 31. 2007
A newsletter came today from Gordon Conwell Seminary. The feature article was "Stemming the Tide" (of Pastors leaving their Vocation) This has been an increasing phenomenon for many years. The school's attempt to help struggling Pastors is to offer opportunities for Pastors to gather once a month for guided discussions about key issues being faced by them today. I have been on both sides, in Pulpit and in Pew. I know a number of churches and Pastors who are struggling. I certainly did and I prematurely left my Vocation under duress. Gordon's monthly workshops may be very helpful to some individuals, mostly in the way of fellowship (misery loves company). I have been to many such pastor's fellowships through the years. The camaraderie with like-minded colleagues can be refreshing. But I believe what Gordon is doing with this attempt misses the mark.
Continue reading "AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE"
Monday, July 30. 2007
A new church began in a storefront, about half a block from where we used to live here in Springfield. That was 17 years ago. Yesterday, they broke ground for the construction of a 1.5 million dollar facility a few miles away. That new site is immediately across the street from a small church which has been there, and basically the same, for 50 years. I wonder what makes the difference between these two faith communities?
Monday, July 30. 2007
Our friends at Nehemiah Ministries, a Christian city outreach ministry here in Springfield,sponsored a neighborhood "block party" this past weekend. They are a group of mostly young (and a few older but youthful) Believers who have a very attractive passion for living as disciples of Jesus in the city. They are far more serious and intentional about this than many other evangelical Christians. Their concern is about social justice and action and they do a lot of good, practical ("cup of water") work among those known as The Poor. I mention them here because the Church Calendar today commemorates William Wilberforce. He is remembered for his work on behalf of Abolition, but he too was involved in a variety of types of social activism. You may check out a short bio on the Oremus site (go to the bottom of the page) http://www.oremus.org/oremus.cgi?f
Saturday, July 28. 2007
Luke 8:22-25
One day [Jesus] got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side of the lake.' So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep.
A gale swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, 'Master, Master, we are perishing!'
And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm.
He said to them, 'Where is your faith?'
Friday, July 27. 2007
Many folks do not yet seem to understand what I am about these days. Allow me to try again to clarify my Mission and the work of the Re/formation Institute. I do not see myself as retired from Ministry, only the Pastorate Scriptural Basis: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NRSV [amplified by me]
The context of our daily living is conflict: spiritual warfare. That warfare is between Christ and spiritual Powers of Evil or Darkness. Followers of Christ are in between, under attack by these enemies of Christ, even as they are His Soldiers in the Battles to be fought. This is the context and language of this passage in 2 Corinthians.
“The picture seems to be that of a military operation in enemy territory that seeks to thwart every single hostile plan of battle, so that there will be universal allegiance to Christ.” -Expositor’s Commentary
v.3 Indeed, we live as human beings, [eating, sleeping, working, planning, making changes, playing, consuming] but we do not wage war [against Evil] according to human standards [using normal “secular”, pragmatic methods “to get the job done“]
v.4 [Rather] the weapons of our [spiritual] warfare [are spiritual: [Prayer and Preaching, both grounded in Truth] …[They] have divine power to destroy strongholds [fortresses in which evil spiritual powers are established] [Using these weapons] we [intentionally seek to] destroy arguments [all the isms and ologies, i.e.- wisdom of this Age -1 Cor 3:19] and every proud obstacle [false knowledge -2 Cor 2:8) raised up against the knowledge of God,
v.5 And [then] we seek to take every thought [not every single thought that men have, but the mindset people have, their world and life views] captive to Christ
Continue reading "MY VISION RESTATED: 2 Corinthians 3:5"
Friday, July 27. 2007
The Rev. Dr. John Stott concluded his final public engagement this past week, asking evangelical Christians in England, "What is God's purpose for his people?”
[He said-] “I want to share with you where my mind has come to rest as I approach the end of my pilgrimage on earth.
“God wants His people to become like Christ,”
“Christ-likeness is the will of God for the people of God.”
“if we claim to be a Christian, we must be Christ-like.”
“Christians should seek to imitate Christ.”
Continue reading "DR JOHN STOTT'S LAST PUBLIC MESSAGE"
Friday, July 27. 2007
What is the Scriptural definition and process of “Becoming like Christ”?
We must begin at the beginning. We learn in the Book of Genesis [see my Notes elsewhere], that we human beings are animals and have bodies and physical needs. However, unlike all other creatures, human beings are created in the image of God. This is what gives us our unique dignity and value. It means that we are like God and reflect our Creator. Being like God, we humans are “Persons”. That means we have the capacity and need for rationality, creativity, morality and communality. Together, these attributes are known as “soul”. No other animal is a Person or has a soul. We also, as human persons, have the need and capacity for communion with God. That makes us, like Him, spiritual beings.
All that we are as Persons was negatively affected by “the Fall”- the Image has been fractured. Redemption in Christ involves the redemption of the Human (body and soul). In Christ, there is a new creation. The work of Christ is to restore the Image of God in us to what God intended (and more) before the Fall happened. The work of Christ is to redeem our rationality, creativity, morality and communality. It is to restore our spirituality- our communion with God. And it restores our bodies, as well (in this life and ultimately at the Resurrection) .
Continue reading "WHAT DOES "BECOMING LIKE CHRIST" MEAN?"
Thursday, July 26. 2007
“From Academics and Leadership Opportunities to Extra-Curricular Activities and Athletic programs, [this private school’s] Focus is...
Development of the Total Child”
"The purpose of [this private] School is to promote the development of the total child," said Headmaster [Dr. Anonymous].” I read this statement, and those quotes that follow here, on the website of a prestigious private K-12 school. I want to look at them more closely in this article.
Biblically, a child is made in the image of God. That means a child has faculties for rationality, creativity, morality, communality and, above all, spirituality. The child also has physical faculties. All of these faculties together would be the “Total Child”.
The development of these faculties requires that the child personally and progressively, starting at the earliest age, know the Triune God of the Bible.. Only in relationship with God can anyone know who they are. There can be no self-understanding, let alone growth in true and total potential, apart from that relationship. The Image must know the Original after which it is patterned. This is fundamental to a Christian Philosophy of Education.
Continue reading "DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOTAL CHILD"
Monday, July 23. 2007
I have often said, I am an Anglican, rather than an Episcopalian. Here is part of a statement made by an Anglican Archbishop about the importance of Scripture
"We in the Church of Uganda are convinced that Scripture must be reasserted as the central authority in our communion. The basis of our commitment to Anglicanism is that it provides a wider forum for holding each other accountable to Scripture, which is the seed of faith and the foundation of the Church in Uganda."
"As the Bible came with the authority of Christ, it revealed a God that is greater than the evil spirits and the kingdom of darkness that controlled so many people’s lives. In Uganda, the Bible has grown into a cherished source of authority that is central to Christian faith, practice, and mission. For all God’s people, obedience to this Bible is the source of confidence, abundant life, and joy. It is an absolute treasure that no one can take away. Isaiah, later quoted by Peter, wrote, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isa. 40:8; 1 Pet. 1:24-25). The grass on which our cattle feed, the grass from which our roofs are thatched—all this withers. But the Word of God has withstood the test of time. The Bible is at the heart of our Anglican identity, and we Ugandan Anglicans joyfully submit to its life-giving and transforming authority."
Thursday, July 19. 2007
There are many verses in the Bible that assure us that God, the Almighty, is in complete control of the world He has made. There is evil and sinful human beings chose to do terrible things; nevertheless, God, our loving Heavenly Father is in control of our lives and affairs. Yes, we are accountable and held responsible for our decisions and actions, but somehow these verses of God’s Providence hold true. We often do not see how they can be true, but we trust Him to work out all things for the good as He sees fit. We may suffer unfairly, but He is our Perfect Father who knows best and we put our lives into His keeping and walk down the street of life holding His Hand.
This has been bedrock doctrine for me for many years, but I confess I have struggled with it lately. I have found the following sections of the Belgic Confession and Heidelberg Catechism very helpful and reassuring. I recommend them to you today.
Continue reading "ENCOURAGING WORDS ABOUT GOD'S PROVIDENCE"
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