Dum Spiro Spero

New Blog

2009-03-16T08:37:00.004-04:00

I've started a new blog! I know... I know... I never update this one, why start another one? The new blog is specifically designed for our church. It's a way for me to communicate thoughts about the Christian life or about sermons between Sundays. Since preachers are constantly thinking about church life, this new one should be updated with more frequency. Check it out:

npbcpastor.blogspot.com

And our church's new website:

www.npbcfamily.org

I'm still undecided on what to do with this blog; keep it going, close it down, donate it to science... we'll see.

The Man Cold

2009-03-02T09:40:00.004-05:00

I (along with nearly everyone else in the county!) have been sick recently. The following is a perfect reenactment of my sickness...

Poor Dianna!

Ex-Pres Humor

2009-01-28T21:17:00.002-05:00

This is funny stuff...

Ready for Reformation

2009-01-22T21:54:00.004-05:00

This evening in our time of family worship, we read Nehemiah 13 and some devotional remarks on it (found in this book). I wanted to share these powerful words:

One of the most striking evidences of sinful human nature lies in the universal propensity for downward drift. In other words, it takes thought, resolve, energy and effort to bring about reform.

People do not drift toward holiness. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith.

Reformation is something I've been thinking on a lot recently. As we read from Nehemiah, there were two thoughts going through my head: 1) I need to obey God's Word & 2) Our church needs to obey God's Word. In my own life I know that I will (and do) move in the wrong direction when I'm not purposefully striving for holiness and pursuing God. We sinful men & women are never treading water spiritually. We're either swimming upstream or we're being pushed downstream. So fight for it! Take the kingdom of heaven by force (Matt. 11:12)!

All this is true for the church, too. A church that is not purposeful in watching over its doctrine, holiness and practices will inevitably drift, and I'm afraid that many Southern Baptist churches have drifted. This is a drift that will take more than a 'revival' service to undo. This is a drift that demands nothing short of a full-fledged reformation.

I long for an Ezra/Nehemiah-like, God-sent, Spirit-led reformation! We need our membership rolls reformed. We need our preaching reformed. We need our worship reformed. We need our local church leadership reformed. We need our youth ministries reformed. We need our lack of prayer, lack of passion, lack of evangelism, lack of accountability reformed!

When I look at the biblical standards and then look at the average church, I see an enormous gap between the two. My generation has inherited a mess, which is why many of us are opting to just start new churches. Clean slate; no mess. I see the benefits. But before I walk away from the established church, I want to fight for reformation.

I'm encouraged to fight for at least two reasons. First, God is patient. He is looooongsuffering. Hallelujah! He knows that we're prone to wander, and He is faithful to bring us back. Second, reformation is what God does. The Christian life is reformation. Because sin is constantly attacking, a Spirit-led church is constantly reforming. And get this... if God gives us the grace to see our need, and if God gives us the grace to care about it, then why wouldn't God give us the grace to make it happen?

Go ye therefore and start a reformation!

A Good President & A Great Man

2009-01-16T09:23:00.009-05:00

Last night President Bush said his final goodbye to the nation he has served for the past eight years. In the speech, he remained strong and steady, continuing to warn against the evils of terrorism and promote his belief that, if given the choice, all people will choose freedom. He defended his media-tarnished record, admiting some wrong decisions but reminding us that he was willing to make the tough decisions. Ever the optimist, President Bush used words of hope when speaking of the future of our country and our new president. He said,

"President Thomas Jefferson once wrote, 'I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.' As I leave the house he occupied two centuries ago, I share that optimism. America is a young country, full of vitality, constantly growing and renewing itself. And even in the toughest times, we lift our eyes to the broad horizon ahead."

I haven't agreed with every decision of the Bush administration. He got some things wrong. But as he leaves office, if I had the chance to tell him one thing, it would be "Thank you."

Thank you, Mr. President for holding your office with honor and dignity. Thank you for the tears that always come to your eyes as you speak of our troops and their families. Thank you for making the hard decisions. Thank you for your courage and steady leadership in the face of mounting pressure and criticism. Thank you for your commitment and your success in keeping my family safe for the past seven years. Thank you for using the most powerful office in the world to aid the most powerless people in the world -- the unborn.

Thank you for being a good president and a great man. May God bless you and may God bless our country.

My Baby Mama

2009-01-15T15:32:00.002-05:00

Check out my wonderful wife's blog. Big news on the parenting front!

We're having a...

Jesus, Lottie & Santa

2008-12-24T09:49:00.004-05:00

Growing up in a Southern Baptist church, there were three names associated with Christmas: Jesus, Lottie Moon, & Santa -- and in that order! As I think on it, those three names and all that they represent aren't a bad way to keep Christmas in its proper perspective.

JESUS: Salvation!

Christmas (like every other time of year) in our home centers around our Savior -- we sing hymns, read Scripture, talk about Him, etc. Just think of all Jesus gave up when He humbled Himself by leaving Heaven and coming to live among us.

There, He eternally existed; here, He was born among livestock.

There, He dwelt in splendor and majesty; here, He had no home.

There, He enjoyed sweet fellowship with the Father & Holy Spirit; here, He was despised & rejected.

There, He sat upon a throne; here, He hung upon a tree.

"Oh, the love the drew salvation's plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!"

LOTTIE: Missions!
Christmas is perhaps the greatest motivation for world missions. Just as Jesus left the glories, perfections, and comforts of heaven to dwell among sinful men and women, so Christians must be willing to sacrifice money, home, family, and friends in order to tell others the good news. This Christmas season, pray for the missionaries as they share the Gospel and as they are away from family. Give generously to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering (or any missions fund) this Sunday! And consider how the Lord might be calling you to personally go to the nations -- full-time or even short-term.
Remember Jesus came to bring good news of great joy to sinful people. What are you personally doing to continue that mission?

SANTA: Childhood Memories!
Last (and least!), is the fun tradition of Santa. The jury is still out for us on what exactly to do with Ol' Saint Nick, but we both really enjoyed the thought of him bringing gifts on Christmas Eve. It seems like an innocent childhood imagination (like playing pretend and having imaginary friends), so he makes the list.

Those three names and all that they represent sum up Christmas for our family. So I give you these three names, encouraging you to remember that Jesus is the name that is above every name!

Have a lovely Christmas!

Inmates for Obama

2008-12-17T15:11:00.005-05:00

Meet the fine, upstanding citizens who helped President Obama win this historic election.

Hey... if you were in their shoes, you would've voted for change, too.

Graduation, Thankfulness & Facebook

2008-12-13T09:07:00.000-05:00

Well, I am an official graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary! I graduated yesterday with a Master of Divinity degree (can you really master divinity??). Nevertheless, thankfulness fills the Culbertson house today, and this is especially true for me.

I am thankful for Southern Seminary, a fortress of truth sending out an army that is mighty in the Scriptures. Everytime I walk on that beautiful campus I know it is a bright hope for the SBC.

I am thankful for Dr. Al Mohler and the men who taught me. I have come to deeply respect these men and greatly appreciate all that they teach.

I am thankful for my wife. Her encouragement, support and assistance eased the burden of these last few semesters. Dianna is truly a God-delivered helpmate.

These past two days were wonderful. And to top it all off, I'm on Dr. Mohler's facebook page!

Congrats to Democrats...again

2008-11-05T17:49:00.000-05:00

I'm neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but my election predictions came true last night. Click here for my comments about a McCain/Obama match-up.

History has given us a president unlike any we've ever had before. There are a lot of things going on in my mind about this.
1. The black community is experiencing their finest moment in our nation's history. It's a moment of vindication for them, a moment of deep emotion, a moment that is MLK's dream come true. It really was a powerful thing listening to Juan Williams, Colin Powell, and even Jesse Jackson fight back tears as they looked upon the first black president. For our black friends and neighbors, I am happy.
2. The political campaign waged by Mr. Obama was amazing... another history-making event. They were able to take a no-name (odd-name!) and sell it to the American people. By sticking to the vague, safe messages of "Change" and "Hope," liberals and moderates and probably even a few conservatives voted for their ideas of "change." Obama was the blank slate upon which each of his voters could project their "hopes."
Granted, they had no small bit of help from the economy and Bush's poll numbers, but still...
3. Barack Obama, my president, is still a political figure with whom I have deep disagreements. His views and record on abortion disgusts me and could never allow me to cast a vote for him. I pray that God changes his heart.
4. There's talk that the nation has shifted toward the left. I don't believe it for a minute. This was just the Democrats' year. How could it not be? The Republicans blew their time in power... they don't deserve it back right now. But the fact that California banned gay marriage is enough to show you that America is not moving left. So, my advice to the Republican party is don't jump to the middle of the aisle! Move back to the right... establish your convictions and stick with them.

We conservatives will be desperately looking for a voice in 2010, 2012. Until then, pray for Obama; pray for the Democratic House & Senate; and remember that Christ is our King and only His kingdom deserves our true allegiance.

There's Probably No God...

2008-10-23T15:02:00.001-04:00

Atheists of London have united to put ads on the sides of buses that read: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."That's a real comforting thought, huh? There's probably no God, which means all the bad things that happen in your life are random and meaningless, we, cruel humans, are ultimately in control of the world, there's no standard of right/wrong, and even if there is, there's no one to enforce it. So go and enjoy life! Boy... there's a lot riding on that word "probably."

The interesting thing to me is that what the atheists seek from their non-religion is exactly what Christ offers them. Their logic goes like this:

There is no God. Therefore, we can live free from worry & enjoy life.

BREAK THIS DOWN...

There is no Good Sovereign who created, controls & carries out His good will in the universe.

We can live free from worry, knowing that no one is in control of the universe and that nothing has any purpose.

We can enjoy life by doing whatever we want to do. (Nevermind that following my strongest lusts has never brought me lasting happiness.)

Christianity's logic works this way:

There is a God who has revealed Himself in the person & work of His Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can live free from worry & enjoy life.

BREAK THIS DOWN...

There is a Good Sovereign who created, controls & is carrying out His good will in the universe.

We can live free from worry, knowing that all things were created through Christ, for Christ and in Christ all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17). We also know that all things (including evil, wicked things) work together for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28).

We can only enjoy life by seeing the sinless, crucified, risen Christ as our most valuable possession and by striving to be like Him (Matthew 13:44 & Psalm 63:5-7).

My conclusion:

Christ is God. Forsake all else, live for Him & find the true contentment & lasting joy for which you seek.

-P.S.

To be expected, the Methodists approve of the ads...

W. Stands for...

2008-10-18T09:56:00.000-04:00

Something has happened. Something that so infuriated me that it roused me from my blogging hibernation.

Dianna & I went to see Oliver Stone's sorry excuse for a movie, "W." We were on a date and Hollywood just isn't producing much worth seeing these days, so we wound up in this movie. I can laugh at George Bush just as much as the next guy. These past 8 years have been a comedian's dream. But this movie... As I watched it, the 'W.' took on new meaning:

What??

Don't get me wrong, I expected an unflattering portrayal of Bush, but this was absurd.

Josh Brolin did well with the swagger and the speech, but beyond that, it stunk. Every demeaning thing they could throw in, they did. Bush is a sloppy eater who talks with his mouth full and picks his teeth with his finger. Bush talked to Laura while sitting (and wiping) on the toilet. Bush got a girl pregnant and made her abort the child (an allegation made by none other than the honorable Larry Flynt; it has never been substantiated). Bush's entire presidency, especially Iraq, was just an attempt to make daddy proud. What??

Condi Rice is a fawning servant... she might as well of called him 'massa' (Where's the claims of racism??). And don't even get me starter on Thandie Newton's sorry attempt at her accent.

Karl Rove is a loser who makes his way to power by brown-nosing Bush. Not to mention he looks like a mad scientist.

When is this going to end?

I actually said this out loud. Don't worry, it didn't seem to disturb the other 10 people in the theater. This was just a bad movie. Even if you loathe Bush, you had to be bored through most of this. It was like a cross between a boring documentary and one of those SNL skits that drags on with no laughs. There was no humor (I don't recall much laughter from anyone). There was no suspense, no action, no good acting... not even the slightest hint of entertainment! And I paid for it!!

Walked out

Yep. We left. We stayed for an hour and 1/2, but I just couldn't take it anymore. The kicker came when Bush visits wounded troops and just hands them a t-shirt and shows no compassion for them. Oliver Stone can say want he wants, the liberals can believe what they want, but I've seen this president in tears several times when just talking about those young men and women who fight to protect their rights to produce junk like this.

In the heat of a political season, I'm trying to stay off the blog for fear that I might say what I think of Obama and the socialist regime that might soon come to power. Suffice it to say, "NObama!"

We Yearbooked Thomas!

2008-08-08T11:16:00.010-04:00

There's nothing like having a good laugh at the expense of your own child... the joys of fatherhood! (Chris, you're gonna be a pro!) Some of the pictures of Thomas looked evil (baby's face on a teenager's body -- weird). Here are the funny ones...

He looks like a gangster!
Thomas 'Babyface' Malone

Hillarious

The Afro

The fat kid picture worked well!

I can't wait until he grows up and I can show him these!

Yearbook Yourself!

2008-08-06T22:40:00.000-04:00

There's a new craze that seems to be sweeping the blogosphere. I'm usually not a jump-on-the-bandwagon kind of guy, but I just had to with this one!

1952

1964- Just before my parents graduated (they looked much better than this!) 1970- There's not a doubt in my mind that this is indeed what I would've looked like in 1970 (minus the glasses).
1984 - There's not a doubt in my mind that this is NOT what I would've looked like in the 1980s!

1992

If you think these are bad, you should see my real HS pictures!

NObama!

2008-07-25T10:42:00.000-04:00

Gerard Baker of the London Times best sums up the Obama trip.

You've GOT to read this.

Warning: Not for the biblically illiterate.

_____

And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness.

The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow.

When he was twelve years old, they found him in the temple in the City of Chicago, arguing the finer points of community organisation with the Prophet Jeremiah and the Elders. And the Elders were astonished at what they heard and said among themselves: “Verily, who is this Child that he opens our hearts and minds to the audacity of hope?”

In the great Battles of Caucus and Primary he smote the conniving Hillary, wife of the deposed King Bill the Priapic and their barbarian hordes of Working Class Whites.

And so it was, in the fullness of time, before the harvest month of the appointed year, the Child ventured forth - for the first time - to bring the light unto all the world.

He travelled fleet of foot and light of camel, with a small retinue that consisted only of his loyal disciples from the tribe of the Media. He ventured first to the land of the Hindu Kush, where the
Taleban had harboured the viper of al-Qaeda in their bosom, raining terror on all the world.
And the Child spake and the tribes of Nato immediately loosed the Caveats that had previously bound them. And in the great battle that ensued the forces of the light were triumphant. For as long as the Child stood with his arms raised aloft, the enemy suffered great blows and the threat of terror was no more.

From there he went forth to Mesopotamia where he was received by the great ruler al-Maliki, and al-Maliki spake unto him and blessed his Sixteen Month Troop Withdrawal Plan even as the imperial warrior Petraeus tried to destroy it.

And lo, in Mesopotamia, a miracle occurred. Even though the Great Surge of Armour that the evil Bush had ordered had been a terrible mistake, a waste of vital military resources and doomed to end in disaster, the Child's very presence suddenly brought forth a great victory for the forces of the light.

And the Persians, who saw all this and were greatly fearful, longed to speak with the Child and saw that the Child was the bringer of peace. At the mention of his name they quickly laid aside their intrigues and beat their uranium swords into civil nuclear energy ploughshares.

From there the Child went up to the city of Jerusalem, and entered through the gate seated on an ass. The crowds of network anchors who had followed him from afar cheered “Hosanna” and waved great palm fronds and strewed them at his feet.

In Jerusalem and in surrounding Palestine, the Child spake to the Hebrews and the Arabs, as the Scripture had foretold. And in an instant, the lion lay down with the lamb, and the Israelites and Ishmaelites ended their long enmity and lived for ever after in peace.

As word spread throughout the land about the Child's wondrous works, peoples from all over flocked to hear him; Hittites and Abbasids; Obamacons and McCainiacs; Cameroonians and Blairites.

And they told of strange and wondrous things that greeted the news of the Child's journey. Around the world, global temperatures began to decline, and the ocean levels fell and the great warming was over.

The Great Prophet Algore of Nobel and Oscar, who many had believed was the anointed one, smiled and told his followers that the Child was the one generations had been waiting for.
And there were other wonderful signs. In the city of the Street at the Wall, spreads on interbank interest rates dropped like manna from Heaven and rates on credit default swaps fell to the ground as dead birds from the almond tree, and the people who had lived in foreclosure were able to borrow again.

Black gold gushed from the ground at prices well below $140 per barrel. In hospitals across the land the sick were cured even though they were uninsured. And all because the Child had pronounced it.

And this is the testimony of one who speaks the truth and bears witness to the truth so that you might believe. And he knows it is the truth for he saw it all on CNN and the BBC and in the pages of The New York Times.

Then the Child ventured forth from Israel and Palestine and stepped onto the shores of the Old Continent. In the land of Queen Angela of Merkel, vast multitudes gathered to hear his voice, and he preached to them at length.

But when he had finished speaking his disciples told him the crowd was hungry, for they had had nothing to eat all the hours they had waited for him.

And so the Child told his disciples to fetch some food but all they had was five loaves and a couple of frankfurters. So he took the bread and the frankfurters and blessed them and told his disciples to feed the multitudes. And when all had eaten their fill, the scraps filled twelve baskets.

Thence he travelled west to Mount Sarkozy. Even the beauteous Princess Carla of the tribe of the Bruni was struck by awe and she was great in love with the Child, but he was tempted not.
On the Seventh Day he walked across the Channel of the Angles to the ancient land of the hooligans. There he was welcomed with open arms by the once great prophet Blair and his successor, Gordon the Leper, and his successor, David the Golden One.

And suddenly, with the men appeared the archangel Gabriel and the whole host of the heavenly choir, ranks of cherubim and seraphim, all praising God and singing: “Yes, We Can.”

Reasons to Leave a Church

2008-07-18T16:03:00.002-04:00

I've got a question for you... should believers leave their current local church for another one? If so, why?

Ever thought about this? Our church culture would have you believe that switching churches is just a normal part of the Christian life. It happens all the time. But should it be this way?

Every month, our church gets several couples who are "looking for a new church." You'll hear them say things like "shopping" for a church and seeking a church that "meets our needs." Where do we get such phrases? From the Bible? No. Paul never advised believers to find a "better" church. We get our church lingo from our consumer culture. To hear Christians talk, it's as though a church is no different from a store. Home Depot didn't have what I wanted, so I took my business to Lowe's; service at Sam's Club was poor, so we're shopping at Costco now; the youth group at First Baptist wasn't good, so we moved to Second Baptist.

We carry our consumer mentality into the local church, and it ought not to be so!
Leaving a church because someone offended you is sinful. Such behavior completely ignores Christ's commands to be reconciled, forgive, and love your neighbor.
Leaving a church because it doesn't meet your needs is sinful. Can you see the selfishness in that? The local church does not exist to serve ME and MY FAMILY. The local church exists to serve Jesus Christ.
Leaving a church because you don't like the pastor might be sinful. Notice the "might"! If you don't like him because he didn't visit you or because his sermons are too serious, then those would be sinful reasons to leave. God calls you to love, pray for, support, and forgive your pastor. But if his preaching is unbiblical and he doesn't meet the qualifications listed in 1 Tim. 3 & Titus 1, then those might be grounds for leaving a church.

As far as I can see, there are only a handful of reasons to leave your local church:
1) For Ministry - Leaving your church to serve another one or to start a new one is clearly supported in the NT. (Philippians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 3:2)
2) Relocation - Obviously, when you move, you will need a new church. I think we see this in the NT as well. (Romans 16:1-2)
3) False Teaching - If the church you are in strays from the truth and begins teaching and embracing false doctrine, you need to get out! (Galatians 1:9)
4) Doctrinal Disagreement - I don't think we see examples of this in Scripture simply because there seems to be complete agreement in doctrine among the early church. That is not the case today. Where there is serious doctrinal disagreement, the church member and church leadership should thoroughly discuss the matter. If an agreement cannot be reached, it is sometimes wise to move churches. This must be done in a way that does not break the commands given in Colossians 3:12-14.

The vast majority of church switching that goes on these days is sinful. We should not desert the brothers just because we're mad or we didn't get our way. We, like our LORD, must be longsuffering, slow to anger, quick to forgive, and humble in everything.

Here's what I think all this means for us...
Church members, stay where you are. Learn to love your local body with all her flaws (as they learn to love you with all your flaws!) Fight the temptation to be a church-critic or church-consumer.
Pastors, don't accept church-hoppers into membership. Get in touch with their current pastors and strive with them to be reconciled.

I'm curious to hear what you think of all this...

National Independence, Personal Dependence

2008-07-04T12:18:00.002-04:00

Happy Independence Day to all my fellow citizens!!

This breaking away from Great Britain has worked out really well for us. Think of all the perks... We don't have to drive on the left side of the road... We discovered dental hygiene... And we're not stuck with the embarrassment of that royal family. Those things alone make July 4 a day to celebrate!

One problem though: In America, we've taken the idea of independence a little too far. It has become one of our most treasured personality traits. I agree that national independence is a good thing, but I disagree that personal independence is always a good thing.

The reality is that we need other people. Humans are not independent creatures. Think on 1 Corinthians 11:11-12 this July 4: "Woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God." Paul is arguing that husbands are dependent on their wives and wives are dependent on their husbands. Radical thoughts in our society of independence! You won't find the modern American proverbs "be your own man" and "never depend on a man" in God's Word. Instead, God created us and commands us to be dependent!

Notice the end of 1 Co. 11:12 -"And all things are from God." Men and women are dependent upon each other; churches and pastors are dependent upon each other; employers and employees are dependent upon each other. And all of us are dependent upon God! See that? God created us to depend on Him. The trouble came in Genesis 3, where we bought the lie of personal independence. Satan told Adam & Eve, "If you'll eat this fruit, you'll be like God... you'll no longer have to depend on Him for everything!" And so foolishly believing that they would gain personal independence, they ate.

The lesson? There is no such thing as personal independence! Adam & Eve were created to depend on God, yet they opted to depend on Satan. You & I are born naturally dependent on Satan (original sin), but we can opt to start depending on God... totally relying upon Jesus Christ to forgive our sins and give us eternal life.

So on the day when we rightly celebrate our nation's independence, can you celebrate your personal dependence on Christ, the Son of God?

A Revival of Church Membership & Discipline!

2008-06-24T15:24:00.001-04:00

I am very pleased and very surprised to share that the Southern Baptist Convention adopted the following resolution at its '08 meeting:

ON REGENERATE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND CHURCH MEMBER RESTORATION

June 2008

WHEREAS, The ideal of a regenerate church membership has long been and remains a cherished Baptist principle, with Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message describing the church as a “local congregation of baptized believers”; and

WHEREAS, A New Testament church is composed only of those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, the local church’s only Lord, by grace through faith (John 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9), which church practices believers’ only baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:16-20), and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:26-30); and

WHEREAS, Local associations, state conventions, and the Southern Baptist Convention compile statistics reported by the churches to make decisions for the future; and

WHEREAS, The 2007 Southern Baptist Convention annual Church Profiles indicate that there are 16,266,920 members in Southern Baptist churches; and

WHEREAS, Those same profiles indicate that only 6,148,868 of those members attend a primary worship service of their church in a typical week; and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures admonish us to exercise church discipline as we seek to restore any professed brother or sister in Christ who has strayed from the truth and is in sin (Matthew 18:15-35; Galatians 6:1); and now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 10-11, 2008, urge churches to maintain a regenerate membership by acknowledging the necessity of spiritual regeneration and Christ’s lordship for all members; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our churches to maintain accurate membership rolls for the purpose of fostering ministry and accountability among all members of the congregation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to repent of the failure among us to live up to our professed commitment to regenerate church membership and any failure to obey Jesus Christ in the practice of lovingly correcting wayward church members (Matthew 18:15-18); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we humbly encourage denominational servants to support and encourage churches that seek to recover and implement our Savior’s teachings on church discipline, even if such efforts result in the reduction in the number of members that are reported in those churches, and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we humbly urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention and their pastors to implement a plan to minister to, counsel, and restore wayward church members based upon the commands and principles given in Scripture (Matthew 18:15-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20).

Wow! In a church culture that fails to take church membership seriously... in a church culture that has never heard of church discipline... in a Baptist culture completely ignorant of regenerate church membership, the SBC makes this robust, biblical statement! I truly am astonished and filled with joy at this resolution. I praise God that my denomination, with all its flaws, still has the courage to stand for truth in this manner. I praise God for His work among us! Praise the LORD!

Get Behind Me, Pastors!

2008-05-26T21:04:00.001-04:00

I can't believe I'm about to come to the defense of these guys, but here it goes...

John McCain has recently rejected the endorsement of two pastors, John Hagee & Rod Parsley due to some of their comments which are deemed 'politically incorrect.' The interesting part of this is that McCain actively sought the endorsement of both these men earlier this year when trying to convince evangelicals to back him. Yet, as soon as the media launched its attack on the pastors, McCain (seeing Obama's pastor trouble) dumped them. A few thoughts...

Their comments expressed common Evangelical beliefs. Let me be clear... I don't normally agree with Hagee & Parsley. In fact, I have numerous problems with both of their theologies, and I even consider some of Hagee's views heretical. However, the comments under question are in perfect keeping with a Protestant, Evangelical position.

Hagee harshly criticized and denounced the Catholic church. That's historically common among Protestants! If you think what he said was bad you should read Martin Luther or the English Puritans.
Hagee also said that Hitler was under God's sovereignty during the holocaust. That is absolutely true. God is sovereign over all things... even evil things. It may be hard to understand, but it is a fundamental Christian doctrine. And for the media to paint Hagee as anti-Semitic is just laughable. No pastor supports Israel & the Jews more than he. In fact, he founded CUFI, a political action committee solely devoted to supporting Israel.

Parsley criticized Islam as an 'anti-Christ' religion. Well, they certainly aren't pro-Christ, are they? To consider Islam (and all other religions) to be false is a biblically accurate statement and another fundamental Christian belief.

McCain (like most Republicans) uses Evangelicals. The DNC uses the black community and the RNC uses the evangelical community. In 2000, McCain called Jerry Falwell an 'agent of intolerance,' but in more recent years (leading up to election '08) he recanted and actually spoke at Liberty University. Now we see him begging for the endorsements of these pastors and just a few months later denouncing them as extremists. Thank God my hope doesn't rest in fickle politicians or in the ever-shifting sands of public policy!

Pastors & Politics don't mix. The Bible is a politically incorrect book. Jesus has some very unpopular commands. Thus, the pulpit and politics just don't jive... at least not these days. Our un-Christian nation doesn't understand a biblical worldview. And that's fine. This just gives us an opportunity to talk about biblical principles. But let's do it through conversation, not Congress. Let's win our neighbors' hearts by preaching, not PACs. Let's change our nation by our love, not our lobbying.

America needs to change. But Christians shouldn't look to Obama or McCain to get that job done. We need to look at ourselves, at our churches. We hold the tool to change America, for only we hold the Gospel.

Ashamed of the Gospel?

2008-05-15T16:40:00.001-04:00

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"

Romans 1:16-17

Paul says that he isn't ashamed of the gospel. The gospel, of course, is the good news that Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again to redeem us from our sins. What we could not do for ourselves, Christ has done on our behalf! Good news, indeed.

Paul isn't ashamed of this good news. My initial thought is, "Well, why would he be ashamed of it?" But think about that. To the Jews, this message was confusing because they were under the impression that they could become righteous by obeying the Law. They could be good enough to get to heaven. But the gospel says you can never be good enough. You need the righteousness of another. This left the Jews puzzled (1 Co. 1:23). On the opposite side were the Gentiles who thought this message was just stupid. God came in the form of man, lived a perfect life, died on a cross, and then rose from the dead? C'mon... that's just silly. No reasonable person would buy into that. So the gospel left the Gentiles of Paul's day thinking it was just a bunch of folly (1 Co. 1:23). Thus, the vast majority of the people in Paul's day dismissed the gospel as either confusing or foolish. See how early Christians might be ashamed of the gospel?

When we're tempted to be ashamed of the gospel, we begin pulling other tricks out of our hats.

Oh... you think the gospel isn't cool. Okay. Well how about a concert? Will you come if we offer free pizza? How about if we all dress in Hawaiian shirts?
Oh... you're offended by being labeled a sinner. Okay. How about we just call sin a mistake? Let's just say Jesus came to free us from our low self-esteem... is that better?
Oh... you're uncomfortable with talk of blood and crucifixion. Okay. We can leave that out. No biggie. We'll just say Jesus loves you; is that better?
Oh... you think it's arrogant to say Jesus is the only way. Okay. Do you mind if we say He's the best way? Don't like that either? Umm... how about we just say Jesus is how we experience God? Maybe other religions experience God in different ways.

In our modern culture, it's easy to be ashamed of the gospel. It's easy to think, "This stuff won't grow our church. This talk of sin and a bloody cross won't attract people. John 14:6 & Acts 4:12 just seem arrogant these days." So we're tempted to tweak the message, soften it up a bit, improve Jesus' PR a little. Jesus is cool... just look at our rock band style worship. Jesus is inclusive... see, we affirm gay marriage. Jesus is fun... just look at all the trips we're taking.

Without realizing it (I hope), we're replacing the gospel with something else. "No, no, no," some argue, "We're not changing the message; We're just changing the method." But what they don't realize is that the message (the gospel) is the method. The bloody cross, the reality of sin, the wrath of God, the exclusivity of Christ is the power of God for salvation. People get saved only when we tell them about this stuff. They can only understand God's love for sinners when they understand God's hatred of sin. The gospel - and only the gospel - powerfully sets sinners free!

That's why Paul wasn't ashamed of it. It was for that glorious gospel that Paul worked tirelessly, was mocked, threatened, imprisoned and eventually killed. And here we are... afraid of being labeled 'arrogant' or 'mean-spirited' or 'judgmental.' So we back off. We change the subject. We adapt the message. We try another method. Rather than defending the gospel, we try to improve it. We try to make the truth of the gospel 'acceptable' or 'simpler' or 'more relevant.' And as we do, we're stripping it of its power to save.

Ashamed?

Obama & Jesus

2008-05-14T16:16:00.002-04:00

In an attempt to reach out to evangelical Christians and to dispel the (rather silly) internet rumors that he is a Muslim, Barack Obama has released a new flyer in Kentucky. On it, Obama is shown standing at a pulpit, with a glowing cross prominently displayed behind him. On the back, you can read a short version of Obama's conversion story: "That day Obama felt a beckoning of the spirit and accepted Jesus Christ into his life."

Really? Let's think this through...

Obama's church, Trinity United Church of Christ, is a bastion of black liberation theology, which preaches a false Gospel, one that replaces the biblical Christ with a black-power activist, spiritual salvation with political liberation, and God's people with black people. Thus, when Obama says that he is "doing the Lord's work" (quoted from the new flyer), one has to wonder what that really means. As the recent turmoils over Jeremiah Wright have disclosed, Trinity UCC is a false church with a false gospel. Yet it was in this false church, under the preaching of false doctrine that Obama claims to have had a (false?) salvation experience.

To top it all off, Trinity UCC is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, one of the most liberal denominations of our day. Their "God is still speaking" campaign reflects a common liberal view that God's Word, the Bible, is not the final authority. This allows room to interpret Scripture in light of modern scientific findings and popular cultural movements (i.e. the UCC's acceptance of homosexuality). To give you a taste of just how far-out this denomination is, here's an excerpt from a UCC website:

Although Christ is the primary lens through which we view God, we experience God
in a variety of ways. Through the centuries, one way the church talked about God
is through the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We also speak about God in other ways that enrich our faith—God as mother, rock, liberator, savior, and friend.

Christ is a lens through which we view God? No; Christ is God! One way the church talked about God is through the Trinity? No; God is Triune! These aren't just ways to 'view' or 'experience' God. These are truths about the essential nature of God. And I won't even get started on the 'God as mother' stuff.

So Obama accepted Jesus into his life. I don't doubt that. The question is which Jesus? The black-empowering Jesus proclaimed from the pulpit of Jeremiah Wright? The all-inclusive, gay-friendly Jesus of the United Church of Christ? Some combination of these probably make up the Jesus that Obama accepted. That Jesus may empower you and make you feel good about yourself, but he cannot save you.

A Jesus who accepts all sinful lifestyles has nothing from which to save us. A Jesus who is not fully man and fully God could not conquer sin on the cross or defeat death at the Resurrection.

You, I & Obama need the biblical Jesus, the God-man who came to bear the wrath of God for us, who rose physically from the dead to grant us eternal life, and who will return again to judge all those who do not place their faith in Him today.

Which Jesus have you accepted?

____

PS- Sorry about the recent lack of activity on the blog!

A Savior for the Suffering & Suicidal

2008-03-31T18:14:00.003-04:00

A new invention in Germany allows people to kill themselves with the push of a button. Since assisted suicide is so hotly debated, the inventor of this machine offers a way around the problem... go back to the old-fashioned way where you actually do the deed yourself but use the modern technology of assisted suicide. This machine injects potassium chloride into its user (the same demise of many Death Row inmates), killing them within seconds.

As I read the article on this, a chill ran up my spine. Death, even suicide, are casually discussed as easy ways to end suffering. The fact is that millions of people around the world are suffering tremendously from terminal diseases. The pains they endure are agonizing. The family members who care for them weep over their loved ones' pain. Many of these people feel that death would be better than the miseries they are living through. Nearly 700 people have traveled to Switzerland to be legally assisted in killing themselves.

How should we, as Christians, respond to all of this?

First, suffering is part of the curse of sin. Genesis 3 tells us that the results of Adam and Eve's disobedience to God are pain, difficulty, and eventual death for us all. This life will not be easy because this world is marred by sin. Diseases, handicaps, suffering, even the desire for suicide itself are all due to the fact that we live in and are active participants in a fallen world. It is so important for us to understand that God is not behind suffering. Satan is. Sin is.

Secondly, God has a purpose and plan for suffering. The Bible clearly communicates this truth. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph, a man who suffered immensely in his life was able to say, "God meant it for good." Romans 8:35 says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... No!" The classic example, of course, is Job who lost everything he owned including his health. Yet Job was able to confess, "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

How could Joseph and Job say that? How could people who suffered immense pain say that it was actually a good thing? How could Scripture teach to "count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds" (James 1:2)? Because Christians know that God has a purpose for suffering. There is no such thing as needless, pointless suffering. Every ache, every grief, every throb, every breath-taking pain serves a purpose!

1. Your suffering can make you holier. (James 1:3-4) God can use the heartaches and body aches that we go through to make us more like Him. Only through suffering, can we learn that the sins that give us cheap thrills here and now really have no lasting value. Only through suffering can the impurities of our lives be removed, making us holier and happier people.

2. Your suffering can make you ready for heaven. (Revelation 21:3-4) For a Christian, every pain experienced reminds us that a day is coming when sin & sorrow will be no more. Only through suffering can our hearts learn to long for God's presence. Only through earthly pain can our souls beg for heavenly rest.

3. Your suffering can bring you to Christ. (Philippians 3:8-10) There are times when the Lord uses trials to humble us to the point where we can honestly say, "Knowing Christ is more important than anything else... more important than money, job, family, health, even life itself." When your health is deteriorating, you see that the things you once held so dear aren't going to last, and you get a glimpse of the eternal value of Christ.

4. Your suffering can bring God glory. (John 9:1-3) Giving God glory, making Him famous is the most important work we can do. Suffering provides an unique opportunity to do that. You can respond to suffering in such a way that honors God and lets those around you know that God truly is all you need. I think of Dianna's grandmother and how she responded to her terminal cancer. Even on her death bed, she was praising God for her life and thanking Him for soon taking her to meet her Savior. She knew that this painful death was her way to draw closer to Christ, and she embraced it as such.

The Christian answer is that pain and suffering, though a result of the Fall, can and are used by God for wonderful purposes. These poor souls considering assisted suicide are desperately seeking relief and rest from their tremendous pain and immense suffering. Surely, we can understand that desire. But surely we will tell them that the grave does not relieve suffering. In fact, for those without Christ, death is only the beginning of the greatest suffering ever known.

Only Jesus can ease your pain. Only Jesus can give purpose to your suffering. Only Jesus can lead you through the valley of the shadow of death. Flee to Him now. Make Him your refuge in this time of trouble.

"Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden,

and I will give you rest."

- Jesus (Matt. 11:28)

The Soul of the Black Church

2008-03-16T12:13:00.001-04:00

While it is tempting to get bogged down in the details and political ramifications of Barack Obama's race speech (i.e. Mr. Wright's racism was excused...), there is a bigger issue that surfaced as a result of this. Through the mouth of Obama, those of us on the outside got a rare glimpse into the soul of the black church. Personally, as a Christian and a pastor, I have been concerned about the black church for some time. While many would say it is none of my business, I would argue that as a Christian, all my brothers and sisters in Christ are my business. I am my brother's keeper, and I must stand against any teachings that destroy the souls of men. For that reason, I want to express a few of my concerns for the black church.

"For me to live is black."
For many black Christians, their lives and their faiths are defined by being black. A quick trip to the webpage of Trinity United Church of Christ (Obama's church and a member of one of the most liberal denominations in the nation) reveals that they offer a "Black worship service and ministries that address the Black community." Being black is the center of their existence. They interpret the Gospel of Christ through the lens of race. An excerpt from Obama's speech shows this. He describes his first time worshiping at Trinity UCC:

"At the foot of that cross, inside the thousands of churches across the city, I imagined the stories of ordinary black people merging with the stories of David and Goliath, Moses and Pharaoh, the Christians in the lion’s den, Ezekiel’s field of dry bones. Those stories – of survival, and freedom, and hope – became our story, my story; the blood that had spilled was our blood, the tears our tears; until this black church, on this bright day, seemed once more a vessel carrying the story of a people into future generations and into a larger world."

From the Exodus of Israel to the Cross of Christ, everything is viewed through the lens of race and racism. Paul's words, "for me to live is Christ" are replaced with "for me to live is black." Please understand, I'm not saying that every black Christian believes this way. However, this mindset - openly expressed by Obama - is not uncommon.

"Let my people go."
Another common characteristic found in the black church is the idea that all our problems are the result of what someone else has done to us. Obama waxed eloquently on this for quite awhile. He blamed the disparities in the black community on slavery and Jim Crow. Segregation is to blame for the achievement gap between white and black students. Legalized discrimination of the past is to blame for the income gap between whites and blacks. Economic injustice explains the erosion of black families. The lack of basic services (like parks and garbage pick-up) in urban areas explains the violence and neglect among blacks.

In short, Obama has summarized the message coming from so many black pulpits: "We are victims of our heritage. It is not our fault. We were put here by 'them.' So our message for 'them' is, 'Let my people go!'" But this message only produces anger, resentment, and racism. James 3:16 says, "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." This disorder and vile practice is what we see in the black church and community. And it isn't due to slavery and Jim Crow (as evil as those things were). It is due to this self-centered victim mentality preached by too many black pastors.

"Your people shall be my people, and your God my God."

I know that I cannot fully sympathize with the black community; I do not pretend to. I know that black people have been terribly sinned against throughout the history of our nation. I know that even today there exists hatred and all sorts of injustice. I can even understand any deep-seated resentment on their part.

But in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, black nor white, for we are all one in Christ Jesus. My concern is not with the racism seen in the black community. My concern is with the racism seen in the black church. While I may not be able to identify with the black community at large, I can identify with black Christians for we are one in Christ. To my black brothers and sisters in Christ I say, your race is my race. Your people are my people. Your concerns are my concerns. Because your God is my God! I beg you not to put your people before God's people. Do not put the god of 'my rights' or 'my culture' before the God of Scripture.

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:9-10

The Mrs. Hits the Blogosphere!

2008-03-11T16:46:00.002-04:00

My godly, gorgeous, Georgia girl now has a blog!

Several people (myself included) told her she should start posting her thoughts on homemaking and biblical womanhood. Before you visit her blog, I'll go ahead and warn you, Dianna's beliefs are counter-cultural. But 'counter-cultural' is just another word for 'biblical!' I'm so thankful to have her in my life, and I know her thoughts will be valuable to so many women seeking relief from the lies of feminism. So, with a somewhat biased zeal, I commend to you my wife's new blog...

The Joy of Home

Congrats to Democrats

2008-03-04T23:58:00.000-05:00

With Huckabee out, the official Republican nominee is an elderly white man who has zero charisma, speaks of a 100-year war in Iraq, and has yet to energize his own party's base. Now put this candidate up against a young, energetic black man whose speeches sound more like sermons and whose supporters seem more like disciples.

Get the point?

Sure, congratulations are in order for John McCain. But his nomination is ultimately a victory for Democrats... particularly, Barack Obama. If November's decision is between Obama & McCain, get used to saying, 'President Obama.' If it's Hillary (which I hope it is) Republicans have a shot. But with a war-weary electorate and a hurting economy, Republicans have a hard row to hoe. That's why the GOP candidate needed to be fresh and vibrant... two words never used to describe John McCain.

Don't get the wrong idea. Yeah, I supported Huckabee, but I'm not bitter about this. After Super Tuesday, I really didn't expect much more from Huck. I'll bite the bullet and vote for McCain. But the reality is that a Democrat will most likely take the White House in '08.

Huckabee in 2012??

Don't Bet On It

2008-02-29T17:28:00.002-05:00

In 2001, when South Carolinians were debating the hot topic of a state-sponsored lottery, those of us who opposed it wore buttons that read, "Don't Bet On It." Today, it looks like those words were more fitting than we realized. The SC Department of Education is reporting that grades K-12 will get $0 from the lottery in March due to a $5.5 million drop in lottery proceeds for the last quarter. On top of this loss, their revenue for the month of February was cut in half.

This dramatic drop in revenue does not affect the basic needs of the school system. By law, lottery money may not fund things like teacher salaries, books, or buildings. Even still, the districts have become quite dependent upon lottery funding. Greenville County Schools employ 47 people with lottery money. Charleston County Schools usually receive about $287,000 a month/$3.5 million a year from lottery proceeds.

Education Department and SC Lottery spokespeople are saying that the money should be reimbursed in April. But this raises some important concerns about funding education with a lottery... especially as we try to think biblically.

Is Gambling a Sin?
Scripture never says that gambling, in and of itself, is sinful. When done occasionally and in moderation, it is much like other wasteful forms of entertainment. Gambling becomes sinful, however, when it is done out of a love for money (1 Timothy 6:10) or a desire to get rich quick (Proverbs 21:5 & 28:20). You can see why most gambling is sinful, and why all gambling is stupid.

Should the Government Sponsor Gambling?
Absolutely not. If gambling is a potentially dangerous addiction, a government should not deliberately tempt its citizens in such a way. Both studies and common sense show that the SC Education Lottery is a tax on the poorest of our citizens and encourages sinful, destructive addictions. While I understand that is an individual choice to gamble, I cannot understand why a community would desire to benefit from a neighbor's problem. It's like the state opening liquor stores to raise money for schools... "Sure, people are addicted and it's harming families, but it's for education!"

Should We Gamble with Education?
When gas prices soar, lottery proceeds drop. What if this continues for several quarters? How will this affect our schools? Those 47 teacher's aids in Greenville are not insignificant "extras." If their salaries cannot be paid next year, the district, teachers, and students will suffer as a result. We're not gambling with our money; we're gambling with our kids.

Now that is a sin.

Did A Prophet Just Die?

2008-02-04T17:31:00.000-05:00

Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the Mormon church, died last week. From what I gathered on the news, he was greatly admired among Mormons for his leadership skills and pleasant demeanor. But Hinckley was more than a president to the followers of his religion; he was a prophet.

In Mormonism, the president of the church is the only man empowered to receive revelation and to change or clarify doctrine. Mormonism teaches, "We can always trust the living prophets" and that one's "greatest safety lies in strictly following the word of the Lord given through His prophets, particularly the current President of the Church." Notice the emphasis on the 'living prophets' and the 'current Presidnet.' The guy in charge today trumps any of his predecessors, which explains why polygamy was once accepted but is now banned, and why blacks were once excluded but are now included. The 'word of the Lord' can apparently change from year to year... depending on which prophet you ask!

Gordon B. Hinckley was not a prophet of God. Joseph Smith was not a prophet of God. No Mormon will ever be a prophet of God. Let me give you 3 reasons why:

1) Biblical prophets never contradicted each other. True prophets of God like Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah never had to correct or clarify one another even though there were hundreds of years between them. Mormon 'prophets,' though, are constantly having to change or clarify what previous 'prophets' said.

2) Biblical prophets were always correct. Deuteronomy 18:22 says, "When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken." All prophecies of true biblical prophets have been fulfilled (aside from those to be fulfilled at the end of time). Mormon 'prophets,' though have consistently been wrong. In 1835, Joseph Smith said the Lord would come again in 56 years. He also said that Mormons would take control of Salem, Massachusetts. Needless to say, neither of those ever happened, making Smith a false prophet.

3) Biblical prophets have ceased today. Hebrews 1:1-2 says, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom he created the world." God does not use prophets to speak anymore. God's Word is fully revealed to us in the Old and New Testaments, and I would argue that any other belief denies the sufficiency of Scripture and opens the door to cults like Mormonism. The Bible has everything we need to know about God and His will for our lives. There is no need for a modern-day prophet. The New Testament of Jesus Christ is God's final word to us.

A prophet did die last week... a false prophet. As I watched the story of Gordon Hinckley, my heart sank because this was a good man, a kind man, but a lost man. It is so sad that so many good, moral people are blinded by the works-based salvation offered by this deceitful man-made religion. Pray for Mormons everywhere to recognize that the work is finished, the debt is paid, and that God has spoken fully and finally through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Don't Forget to Vote!

2008-01-19T09:35:00.000-05:00

Today is the first-in-the-South primary, and citizens of South Carolina get to pick the next Republican candidate for president. Don't miss out on this opportunity to send the right man for the right time to the White House. I strongly believe that man is Gov. Mike Huckabee and I encourage everyone to get out and support him today.

He's a true conservative with the longest governing experience. He has consistently been on the right side of the abortion and gay marriage debates. He's strong on defense and strong on illegal immigration. His health care plan will work. And he's the only Republican running who understands the plight of the blue-collar, middle-class workers. We need this man to be the next leader of our nation.

I'm voting for Mike Huckabee, and I hope you will too!

Michigan Doesn't Matter

2008-01-15T23:20:00.000-05:00

Looking at a map, it's hard to notice Michigan with all the Great Lakes around it. Well, with apologies to all the good folks who live up there, the political reality is that the Great Lake State's primaries really don't make a big difference. Iowa was huge. New Hampshire was huge. South Carolina will be huge. But tomorrow's headlines should read, "Romney won... big deal."

Here's why:

-Historically, a candidate must win 2 out of these 3: Iowa (the first caucus), New Hampshire (first in the nation primary), and South Carolina (first in the South primary). Regardless of how much Michigan tried, they can't change this reality.

-No one, except Romney, was even in Michigan for the results! When the candidates don't stick around to celebrate with you, you don't matter much.

-The Dems boycotted Michigan. They were all at a debate in Nevada. Thus, the media attention was split.

What lies ahead?

I predict this won't help Romney at all. From now until Saturday, all eyes are on South Carolina, and most South Carolinians are looking at either Huckabee or McCain. The South Carolina GOP is split and has been so for awhile. On one side you've got social conservatives who voted for Bush in 2000, Bob Peeler in 2002, and David Beasley in 2004. On the other side you've got fiscal conservatives who voted for McCain in 2000 and Mark Sanford and Lindsey Graham in 2002. Sanford has been less-than-spectacular to say the least, and Graham... don't get me started!

So the Huckabee/McCain showdown here is a mini Civil War of sorts! And just to add fuel to the fire, take a little refresher course on Ol' Man McCain's track record.

Keep your eyes on the Palmetto state because Saturday is sure to be exciting!

Iowa's Powerful Message: Change

2008-01-04T11:04:00.000-05:00

Last night two men won big in Iowa: Mike Huckabee & Barack Obama. Huckabee drew thousands of evangelical Christians to the polls for the first time, reminding the Republican establishment, yet again, that without evangelical support, a Democrat will be the next president. And after being outspent nearly 15 to 1, he also showed that money can't buy the nomination. On the other side, Obama drew thousands of first time voters... many Independents and even some Republicans. He also proved that a black man can win in a state with a 93% white population.

These two men have left a tremendous mark on the political landscape. But behind the numbers there is a message. And that very clear message is that America wants change. The message of change has been the focus of both the Huckabee and Obama campaigns. In fact, as I listened to the winners' speeches last night, I found them both to be refreshing. These are the men who can take America into the future (and I personally prefer Huckabee's vision of the future over Obama's).

The big losers out of Iowa are Mitt Romney (who spent the most & came in a distant 2nd) and Hillary Clinton (who placed 3rd behind Edwards!). Again, the message from Iowa is change! Romney loves to defend the Bush White House, while Huckabee has been willing to look at things openly and objectively. Another big problem for Romney is the fact that he looks like he's a rich, snobby Republican. When blue-collar Democrats think Republican, they picture a guy like 'Mitt.'

Hillary, Hillary, Hillary. The lesson for her is that you can't talk about your 35 year-long career in politics with former President Clinton, former Sec. of State Albright, and former DNC chair Terry McAuliffe standing on stage and then expect people to believe you're an agent of change!! The Clinton machine is out of steam, and nobody wants to go back to the '90s.

Iowans spoke for all of us last night. We're all tired of the status-quo. We're all sick of the feuds in Washington. We're all ready for change.

Resolved

2008-01-01T11:23:00.000-05:00

It's 2008! One thing I love about New Year's Day is that it almost forces us to reflect upon our lives and find things we would like to change in the coming year. Most of us live such hectic lives that we seldom, if ever, pause to examine ourselves. I firmly believe that our lives would be holier and happier if we took time for a little more self-examination.

A wonderful example of self-examination is the life of Jonathan Edwards (not to be confused with liberal pretty-boy, John Edwards!). Edwards' legacy stands as the first and greatest theologian produced by America. He pastored the same church for 24 years, faithfully serving and loving that congregation. Yet, perhaps his greatest achievement was the careful watch he had over his own soul. In his lifetime, Edwards made 70 resolutions... ways to fight for his holiness and happiness.

As you begin 2008, I hope some of his resolutions inspire you to fight for holiness in the coming year, realizing that the holier you are, the happier you are. With that in mind, I wish you a Happy New Year!

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

17. Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could

possibly, in any respect, have done better.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, and what I might have got by them.

God In The Flesh

2007-12-23T21:52:00.000-05:00

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of that only Son of God from the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 1:14

God became flesh and dwelt among us.

God became the sacrificial lamb and died for us.

God rose from the dead and His glory shines upon us!

Merry Christmas!

Calling All Wise Men!

2007-12-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

A Christmas Quandary...

It's Thomas' first Christmas, and Dianna & I are wondering whether or not to buy him a gift. Just the thought of us not buying this sweet child a gift is enough for some of you to call Social Services... I know. But here's the deal:

1. We're not rich. (Quite the opposite actually)
2. The grandparents are going to smother him with gifts.
3. Don't diapers & Enfamil count for something?
4. No matter how merry we make Dec. 25, 2007, he's not going to remember any of it.

So what do you think? Should 'Baby's First Christmas' come with a gift?
_

As you ponder the topic at hand, here are a few pics from the '07 Christmas photo shoot.

Mormon on the Mount

2007-12-06T23:30:00.000-05:00

Some are hailing Mitt Romney's speech as one of the grandest, noblest orations in the history of presidential politics. This is one for the history books, no doubt, but was it as noble and open as some would have us believe? I don't think so.

In the speech, Mr. Romney tried to convince conservative Christians (who make up a significant percentage of Republican voters) that his Mormon faith was normal, mainstream and very much like their own faith. With evangelicals in mind, he said,"What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind." John Green, director of the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life and a professor of political science at the University of Akron, called that "one of the boldest statements of faith that I can ever remember."

Or was it?

Far from being a bold statement of his true beliefs, Mr. Romney's response demonstrates the evangelical concern over Mormonism: they deceitfully word their beliefs in ways that appeal to Christians when, in fact, their beliefs are diametrically opposed to biblical Christianity.

Foreseeing this evangelical concern, Mr. Romney added, "My church's beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths. Each religion has it own unique doctrines and history. These are not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance."

Let's get a few things clear here...

Mormon Belief: Jesus is the first 'son' of God. God's other 'sons' include the angels and all mankind.

Christian Belief: Jesus is the Father's "only begotten Son."

Mormon Belief: Jesus is not a member of the Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate Gods.

Christian Belief: There is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are the same in their nature and equal in power and glory.

Mormon Belief: God was once a human. He progressed to become God, and male (not female) humans may do the same. God is one of many gods.

Christian Belief: God has eternally existed as the One True God. Humans are His creation and can never become a deity.

Mormon Belief: Jesus visited the Native Americans after His resurrection and started the true church among them. (So I wonder why we never found any Mormon Indians... hmm)

Christian Belief: Jesus visited His disciples in Jerusalem after the resurrection then ascended into heaven only to return on the Last Day.

"Unique doctrines," indeed, Mr. Romney! Can I tolerate a man who believes such things? Certainly. But I cannot tolerate a man (and a religion) that attempts to trick people into thinking these wicked, cultish heresies are merely a "unique" expression of Christian thinking!

Romney's speech is sure to woo many conservatives... the kind who love to hear presidential candidates talk about keeping nativity scenes at courthouses and God in the pledge. But I hope, I pray that evangelical Christians (to whom this speech was directed) will see it for what it is:

An attempt to make a false church that exalts a false Christ

seem normal and good.

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."

1 John 4:1

Jesus Is In This Car!

2007-12-06T16:34:00.000-05:00

Doubt the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If so, just watch this story about a frail 92 year-old woman who shared the Gospel with her would-be mugger!

If that doesn't work, click here.

A Holly, Hectic Christmas

2007-12-01T09:20:00.000-05:00

Odds are, December is going to be the busiest month of the year for you. A brief look at my calendar reminds me that I have a lot to do between now and Christmas! But have you ever thought about how the Lord wants us to manage time and handle stress?

"Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."

Ephesians 5:15-16

Don't waste this month running around in a frenzy! Make the most of your Christmas season. Try these things:

Shop, but Don't Drop
Ladies, don't spend all of your time this Christmas at the mall. Making memories with the family is much more important than buying everyone the perfect gift. Men, don't wait until the 24th to start. Pick out a good gift for your wife early this month (and ask her what constitutes a good gift!).

Make Christ-Centered Traditions
Santa is exciting. Setting up the tree is fun. Going to Grandma's is wonderful. But don't let your family fall into a Christless Christmas. Make a point to put Him in the things you do. Read Luke 2 on Christmas Eve. 'Give gifts to Jesus' by donating money to a Christian shelter or to World Missions. Pause on Christmas day and have everyone give one reason they love Jesus. Keeping Christ in mind will put both this holiday and your daily planner in perspective.

Share the Good News
"Make the best use of the time..." What other time of the year are Josh Groban and Celine Dion singing praises to Christ on light rock stations?! Use this amazing opportunity to tell your friends, your co-workers who Jesus really is. Explain the incarnation (God coming down to us) to your children. The wisest thing you can do in December is tell someone about your Savior.

Don't end your year stressed to the max. Take a little time today and put things in perspective before the month really gets into full swing. Make the best use of the holiday season... have a holly, not a hectic Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T10:12:00.000-05:00

The painting above is of the Pilgrims as they set sail for the New World. It depicts the families of our forefathers gathering around their pastor, John Robinson, for a time of prayer before they depart. A man is pictured holding an opened Bible while Robinson leads the group in asking Divine guidance and protection for their journey.

This painting accurately represents the humble, godly spirit of Puritanism, which is what I love most about Thanksgiving. There’s just something about this holiday that points my heart toward God. I hope you can say the same. As you take time to look at all the good gifts in your life, recognize that they come down from the Father of lights.

I have so much to be thankful for this year.

My wife, who is my greatest help, my dearest friend, and my deepest love.
My son, who brings such joy to our lives.
My new church, who I have the privilege of serving and caring for.
My God, who has given all these good gifts to me, but gave me the greatest gift when He gave me Himself in the person of Christ Jesus.

“I give thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart.”
Psalm 138:1

One Year Blogiversary!

2007-11-18T17:26:00.000-05:00

This week marks the one year anniversary of my little corner of the blogosphere. I started this blog in hopes to encourage Christian men and women to think biblically in every area of life.

As a pastor, the unbiblical beliefs held by so many church goers is a cause of great concern to me. Don't get me wrong... most church folks don't deny Christ's deity or the existence of the devil. But the average person sitting in the pew is more influenced by the culture than by the Bible. Too often, we blindly follow what the world tells us or expects from us rather than following what Christ has commanded us. For instance, we tend to frown upon women who stay at home because the world told us that women should start careers. We tend to ignore blatant sin in our midst because the world told us not to be 'judgmental.' And we tend to keep our faith to ourselves because the world told us evangelism isn't politically correct.

As Christians, we must regain our belief in the sufficiency of Scripture. We run to science and psychology to give us the solutions to our problems. We look to popular culture to tell us how to live. Is the Word of God sufficient for all areas of life or not? You and I can open God's Word and find out how to raise our children, work our jobs, treat our neighbors, and vote in elections. You and I can find answers in our Bible on every topic from sex to eating habits! As the hymn aptly puts it, "What more can He say than to you He hath said?"

My hope is that we will rediscover the precious truths of Scripture. My hope is that we will see a resurgence of obedience to God's holy commands. My hope is that your life, your family, your church will be radically changed by the power of God's all-sufficient Word.

And I hope my blog will help.

Dum Spiro Spero

Christians & '08 (Part III)

2007-11-08T12:50:00.000-05:00

There are probably some politically savvy conservative folks who have read these posts and think I'm clueless. When it comes to politics, it's all about pragmatics for most people. Admittedly, as I sat down to write these posts, my outlook was one of pragmatics as well. But in thinking through these issues biblically, I have come to some different conclusions. My mindset has changed. Here's what I mean...

Primary Mentality vs. General Election Mentality

In the general election, our choices are limited. By this time next year, all of America will have sorted through the candidates, picking two we may or may not like. At that point, I think our mentality should be ‘Do What Most Honors God.’ Pick the candidate who you feel will do the best job at leading and making God-honoring decisions while in the White House.

But in the primaries, Christians tend to have a better choice of candidates. There is usually a candidate who is consistently conservative and has a decent character. This is certainly true for us this year. Thus, I think our mentality during the primaries should be ‘No Compromise.’ While we have the best option, I say we fight for the best option.

Right now, I’m in ‘Primary Mentality.’

At this point, you cannot convince me to vote for Romney, a Mormon whose history fails to prove his current conservative rhetoric. At this point, you cannot convince me to vote for Giuliani, a man as liberal as Hillary on social issues and as immoral as Bill on personal issues.

I don't care who can or cannot beat Hillary. And neither should you. Who's to say she'll even get the nomination? This time 4 years ago Howard Dean was the man to beat! It's not our job to predict the future. As Christians, it's our job to vote for the best man. And right now we've got some decent choices. Here are a few candidates that I submit for your consideration.

Mike Huckabee

Duncan Hunter

Tom Tancredo

Click on their names to see their stands on the issues.

(And, yes, Huckabee tops the list purposefully!)

Christians & '08 (Part II)

2007-11-07T14:46:00.000-05:00

Before I share the last 2 biblical principles that guide us during an election season, I want to comment on some recent endorsements from Christian leaders. Don Wilton (Pastor of FBC Spartanburg), Bob Jones III (President of Bob Jones University), and Wayne Grudem (Bible professor & author) have all endorsed Mitt Romney. Today, we've learned that Pat Robertson has endorsed Rudy Guiliani... talk about a shocker!

Why are these conservative Christian leaders (and let it be known that I greatly respect Don Wilton & Wayne Grudem) supporting candidates so unlike themselves? One very simple reason... we are scared to death Hillary might win. That's the sole reason. "Who can beat Hillary?"... that's the only thing that matters to these leaders right now. And I can certainly understand. Electing Hillary Clinton could arguably be the worst political decision in American history. However, I think the fear of a second President Clinton is causing these Christian leaders to break the first 2 biblical principles.

It seems that Wilton, Jones, & Grudem are guilty of breaking Principle #2 (Allowing 'Electability' to trump what is most God-honoring). And it seems that Robertson, much to everyone's surprise, is breaking Principle #1 (Compromising on Righteousness). Robertson's mistake is much more dangerous than that of the other men. I think all conservative Christians who live in fear of another Clinton Administration would do well to remember these last 2 biblical principles.

PRINCIPLE #3 – Submit to the candidate who wins.
“Be submissive to rulers and authorities, be obedient, be ready for every good work.”
Titus 3:1

Whether your candidate wins or not, you must be willing to submit to the next leader of our country. There are a few candidates on both sides of the aisle who I adamantly oppose. If they are elected, I must be willing to respect them as our nation’s leader, regardless of how much I disagree with them. The only way this is possible is if I understand principle #4.

PRINCIPLE #4 – God is Sovereign over elections.
“There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

Romans 13:1

The Sovereign Lord determines who will be president. We have to understand that whoever is elected is also the person God appointed… even though that person may not honor Him at all. For reasons higher than ours, God grants authority to whomever He chooses. If Hillary is elected, it is part of God's sovereign plan. This is certainly no reason to just sit back and let the chips fall where they may. We should work diligently supporting the candidate we believe to be most God-honoring and pray fervently for the Lord to bless our nation with a good leader.

But when the election night returns come in, we can rest in the fact that God's Wisdom and Providence are behind it all. Even the leader of the free world is just a servant to the Sovereign Lord.

_______

Some final thoughts tomorrow... along with a few recommendations (not endorsements!)

Christians & '08

2007-11-06T16:13:00.000-05:00

It’s the 1st Tuesday of November… Lord willing, this time next year, we’ll be choosing our 44th President of these United States. As Americans, we have a unique system of government. We’re a government of the people, by the people, for the people. The government is made up of the citizens. The government is chosen by the citizens. And the government is for the good & protection of the citizens.

This form of government (a Democratic Republic) was unthinkable in biblical times. Thus, Scripture does not give us a list of qualifications for public office. Should a Mormon be president? Scripture doesn’t say. Should Christians vote for a pro-choice candidate? Scripture doesn’t say.

This does not mean that God’s Word is useless and irrelevant for us when it comes to picking a president. Far from it! There are principles given to us in Scripture that apply to our situation.

PRINCIPLE #1 – We may compromise on policy, but not on righteousness.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.”
Romans 1:18
_

Lowering taxes, balancing the budget, education, etc. are all important issues. But they are not so important that we cannot compromise on them.

The protection of marriage, the right to life for the unborn, etc. are all sin issues. To support gay marriage would be a sin. To support the killing of babies would be a sin. We cannot compromise on issues like these. If such things invite the wrath of God upon our nation, it would be both foolish and wicked to compromise.

Thus, I cannot vote for Guiliani, McCain, or any of the Democratic candidates, regardless of how much I may like or approve of their leadership styles.

PRINCIPLE #2 – Vote to honor God, not to win the election.
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Col. 3:17

As followers of Christ, our litmus test cannot be ‘electability.’ Rather, our chief concern must be making sure that our vote honors God. The question for us as we enter the voting booth is, ‘How can I use my vote so that God would receive the most glory?’.

Understand that the vote that honors God the most in the primaries may not be the vote that honors God the most in the general elections. For example, I don’t think the most God-honoring vote at this point would be for Romney, who adheres to a false religion, a mainstream cult. However, in the general elections, if our options are Romney (Mormon) vs. Obama (Supporter of Gay Marriage/Abortion), the more God-honoring vote would be for Romney.

What if the two candidates in the general election both support abortion and gay marriage (i.e. Guiliani vs. Hillary)? What is the most God-honoring vote at this point? This is more difficult for me. It seems to me that we have two options under this scenario: 1) Choose the ‘lesser of two evils’ 2) Vote for a third party candidate.

__________

Lord willing, I'll give the Last 2 Principles tomorrow...

You Write The Caption

2007-10-31T12:09:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween!

To celebrate Oct. 31st, I thought we'd have some fun at the expense of Hillary Clinton! Here's a pic I found of her decked out for Halloween. Below, you'll find my first caption. Leave a comment with yours!

Wicked Witch of the West Wing

Sharpton Goes A-Huntin'

2007-10-30T15:33:00.000-04:00

Mark it down... if Dick Cheney goes hunting, something bad is bound to happen. Last time, he shot a hunting partner down in Texas. This time, he's got Al Sharpton up in arms.

The hunting club that Cheney visited in Upstate New York apparently had a small confederate flag hanging in a garage. Word of this got back to Al Sharpton who issued a statement saying, "the vice president should leave immediately, denounce the club and apologize for going to a club that represents lynching, hate and murder to black people."

Unbelievable. Sharpton is a pro at making racist mountains out of insignificant molehills. It was a small flag in an obscure location. But listening to Sharpton, you'd think Cheney made a campaign stop at the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. And while I certainly can understand how black people find the confederate flag offensive, I don't think it's fair to assume that everyone flying the flag wants to "lynch, hate and murder" black people. Sharpton, as always, was looking hard for a way to stir up racial tension.

Those of us who desire to see genuine racial unity have to realize that Sharpton is not on our team. I pray that the black community would recognize that his actions and comments do more harm than good when it comes to resolving racism in America.

Cheney was hunting ducks; Sharpton was hunting hate.

A Preacher's Take on Halloween

2007-10-30T00:02:00.000-04:00

This time each year I start hearing the “Halloween debate.” Should we, as Christians, take part in this holiday? Should we let our children go trick-or-treating? Should our churches host an alternative event on Halloween night? These are all valid questions in a legitimate discussion, but let’s remember a few things:

Halloween doesn’t have to be evil. Yes, there are some oddballs who try to make it a night of séances and sin. And yes, it has a sketchy history. But, honestly, how many converts has witchcraft gotten through trick-or-treating?? How many children have become Satanists as a result of dressing up on October 31st?? Pardon the sarcasm, but I trust you see my point.

Halloween is about candy… plain and simple. This holiday isn’t the tool of Satan as much as it is the tool of Sugar! When I was a kid, the last night of October wasn’t about blood & gore, or ghost stories, or even dressing up; it was all about the candy. Kids aren’t thinking about adult things like demons and black magic. They just want the sweets.

Having said all that, I do think we should approach this holiday with some ‘sanctified common sense’. Here’s what I mean:

Pick costumes that are fun and creative as opposed to scandalous and scary. We can’t complain about the ‘evils of Halloween’ and then let our children run around as ax murderers and zombies.

Choose appropriate decorations for your house and church events (I’ve seen some very inappropriate things even at ‘Fall Festivals’). Carve the pumpkins, put up the spider webs. But I’m not sure bloody bodies hanging from the trees qualifies as God-honoring.

If you’re a parent or if you’re hosting a party, create your own Halloween environment. Have a contest for the funniest or most creative costume and not the scariest. Simply change the focus of your home or party.

So if you, as a Christian, want to celebrate Halloween, I say go for it… just save your leftover candy corn for me!

Contraceptives for Children

2007-10-18T19:14:00.000-04:00

King Middle School in Portland, Maine is now offering a full range of contraceptives to their students, including birth control pills and patches. This move is in response to the fact that over the past four years, Portland's three Middle Schools have reported 17 pregnancies. King Middle has 134 students, five of whom admitted to having had sexual intercourse. Let me remind you that the average middle schooler is between 11-13 years old.

What we have in Portland, Maine is worldly wisdom desperately struggling to find a way to prevent children from having children. But notice a few flaws of the worldly wise:

1) Parents can't raise their children; the trained professionals must do it for them. Rather than contacting, educating, and working with the students' parents, the school system bypassed them in making this decision. Why would they do this? Because the educated elite know better than parents.

This worldly wisdom is prevalent in our modern society. Parents have bought into the lie that they aren't equipped to raise their kids. In fact, one school board member in Portland who has a daughter at King Middle said, "I know I've done my job as a parent, but there may be a day when she doesn't feel comfortable coming to me." Granted, teenagers are notoriously hard to communicate with, but there are things we can do as parents to keep our kids talking. Parents are the single greatest influence in their child's life.

2) Sex isn't the problem; pregnancy is. The school board (rightly) trembles at the thought that 12 year olds are pregnant, but they seem unconcerned with the equally chilling fact that 12 year olds are sexually active. Is the goal just to keep our kids from having babies or is the goal to keep our kids from destructive sexual behavior? The wisdom of this world doesn't view sex outside of marriage as a problem. It's natural. It's neutral. The only down side to sex is the side effects (pregnancy...STDs).

But the sexual union itself is destructive for these kids... in so many ways. Why doesn't the school board find ways to deter children from having sex instead of finding ways to protect the children while they have sex?

3) Contraceptives are the only hope. The wisdom of this world stands utterly incapable of changing the situation in Portland, Maine (and everywhere else in America). In fact, they are so blinded that they cannot see their worldly wisdom (i.e. the sexual revolution, etc.) is what lead to all of this in the first place. They turn to condoms and birth control because, sadly, it's all they have. What they desperately need and furiously fight against is wisdom from above (James 3:17).

The life-transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the ultimate answer for King Middle School. Only Christ's righteousness can overcome our unrighteousness. Only the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit can replace our indwelling perverse desires.

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men,

and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

1 Corinthians 1:25

What Makes A Good Preacher?

2007-10-12T12:36:00.000-04:00

I believe the greatest threat to the church in America right now is the superficial, anemic ear-tickling we have coming from our pulpits. There is, without any exaggeration, a crisis in our churches stemming from a lack of hearing and responding to the authoritative Word of God.

That's why I urge you to look at Al Mohler's recent blog on preaching. If you're not a preacher, please read this to know what you should be looking for in a sermon or in a preacher. If you are a preacher, you must read this, and you must commit yourself to doing this.

From a Dying Man to Dying Men:

Recovering a Bold Vision for Biblical Preaching

May the Word of God increase among us! (Acts 6:7)

Jena, Justice, & Jesus

2007-10-09T17:03:00.000-04:00

Here's a short timeline of the incidents that ensued at Jena High School:

>Sept., 2006 = During a school rally, a black student jokingly asked if he could sit under the tree where all the white students sat.

>The next day, three white students hung nooses from the tree.

>The white students were punished. Some reports claim they got three day suspension. The District Superintendent, on the other hand, says the teens were sent to an alternative school for 9 days, placed in in-school suspension for 2 weeks, made to serve Saturday detentions, attend Discipline Court, and undergo an evaluation before returning to school.

>Dec. 1 & 2, 2006 = Two incidents involving 16 year-old Robert Bailey, a black student, occured. On the 1st, Bailey and his friends were not allowed into a party and a fight insued with a white man (not a student). On the 2nd, Bailey and his friends encountered some white students at a gas station. A heated conversation followed, possibly a fight. What happened after this is not clear, but a gun was pulled by a white student. The gun was wrestled away by the black students. Going on eyewitness reports, police charged Bailey.

>Dec. 4, 2006 = Justin Barker, a 17 year-old white student, was assaulted at school. He was struck in the head by a black student, knocking him unconscious. A group of black students then repeatedly kicked him.

>Robert Bailey, Mychal Bell (16), Carwin Jones (18), Bryant Purvis (17), Theo Shaw (17) were arrested and charged for attempted second-degree murder. Jesse Ray Beard (14) was charged as a juvenile.

>Sept. 20, 2007 = The date of Mychal Bell's sentencing. Rallies were held in support of Bell. In attendance were Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, Ray Nagin, and several popular Rap artists. Bell was found guilty but was released on bail while his appeal was being processed.

How should Christians respond to all of this? Here are my thoughts:

Hating Blacks Is Sin. Hanging nooses in the tree was certainly an unacceptable prank. It reeks of racism and hatred. These sorts of actions are not funny and should never be tolerated. To hate and disrespect black people in this way is to hate and disrespect the God who created them.

Hating Whites Is Sin. As offensive as the prank might have been, it neither justifies nor explains the beating of Justin Barker. Six black students kicked and hit one white student until he was unconscious. For leaders of the black community to brush this off as a "schoolyard incident" is absolutely ridiculous and crossing the line of racial arrogance. This was a gang beating, nothing less. Dare we even consider the repercussions had the six boys been white and the one boy been black?

Justice For All. As followers of Christ, we should seek justice. The right thing needs to be done in Jena. It does not matter what the whites want; It does not matter what the blacks want. For those of us looking at this from the outside, it is hard to say what needs to be done. But my opinion is that justice has been served for the white students who hung the nooses. Now it's time to deal justly with the 'Jena Six'.

Mychal Bell has a history of violence. Robert Bailey was involved in several violent incidents just before Justin Barker's beating. Why is it unthinkable that these violent young men would be punished? Yet, black leaders are invoking emotional appeals like "they want to lock up our babies." The majority of the 'Jena Six' are now 18 or older. Those aren't babies. Those are men who beat another man...criminals.

Jena Needs Jesus, Not Jesse. I firmly believe that Christians of ALL races should stand against men like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. These men use the name of God to spread division and hatred. The gap that exists between whites and blacks in our country will never be settled until men like Jackson and Sharpton disappear. Jena doesn't need the flames of racial tension fanned anymore than they already are. Jena needs godly men, both black and white, to point the community to Jesus and to teach that in Christ alone we can have these barriers broken down.

When we begin to see that we are all sinners in need of the same Savior, then we'll begin to understand that our problems aren't because we're white and they're black. Our problems exist because we are all sinners, seeking our selfish goals. If we could trade in our 'white desires' and our 'black dreams' for God's will and Christ's kingdom, we would experience the blessings of justice and love.

We long for racial unity and God's glory to fill our land, and so we pray,

"Come quickly, LORD Jesus."

Mr. Clean

2007-09-22T17:17:00.000-04:00

Thomas is 1 month & 1 day old now, and he just received his first bath! You're probably wondering why we haven't bathed our child in all this time. The doctors said we had to wait for his umbilical cord thingy (actual medical terminology) to fall off. Dianna has washed him, but today was the first time using the bath tub.

Here are a few pictures...

Dancing with a Dictator

2007-09-22T01:31:00.000-04:00

Columbia University, one of America’s premier educational institutions, is inviting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to address their students. Ahmadinejad controls the nation of Iran and is an up and coming modern day Hitler. Columbia’s guest speaker has called the Holocaust a “myth” and constantly refers to America as the “great Satan.” Iran, under his leadership, has every intention of destroying both Israel and the United States. The Muslim nation defiantly seeks to develop its nuclear capabilities and is solely responsible for much of the insurgence in Iraq.

Columbia sure knows how to pick ‘em!

The university’s president claims that Ahmadinejad’s appearance is part of the school’s “long-standing tradition of serving as a major forum for robust debate.” Really? I wonder how the liberal student body would feel about George W. Bush paying a visit. I wonder if the school's administration would have allowed Jerry Falwell to join the ‘robust debate?'

I must say that I find Columbia’s invitation of Iran’s dictator to be the very definition of offensive. This is anti-American, anti-Semitic and completely lacks any concern for the families of 9/11 and our Armed Forces. This is a disgusting and shameful perversion of free speech and academic expression. It is nothing short of hate-speech sponsored by pathetically weak liberals whose tolerance level has grown so wide that they now kiss evil on the cheek and pat despots on the back.

Yet, this insanity is America’s definition of learning. We send our children off to sit under the teaching of Ahmadinejad and people who defend him. All the while, the terrorists sit back and mock these foolish Americans. Columbia took the bait. They fell for the publicity stunt. They have chosen to dance with this dictator… and it’s easy to see who has the lead.

Thriller Theology

2007-09-17T01:01:00.000-04:00

Been to a theme park lately? Last summer, Dianna and I went to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom with my brother and his family. We spent all day walking around a big fenced-in area just having a blast. We’d ride one roller coaster, get our thrills from it and then head toward the next one, hoping it was bigger and better. Thrill after thrill, each one topping the previous one, we went all the way through the park. At the end of the day, you’re beat. In fact, you grow a little weary of the rides. You’d just prefer to go home, turn the AC up, and sit on the couch for a while.

There are some in the body of Christ who view Christianity as though it’s a spiritual theme park. Six Flags over Jesus we could call it. Some enter and wander around for a bit, just taking it all in. Then they hear about a ride they just have to experience.

“If you want to go deeper with God, then you’ve got to try this worship experience.”
“You can really sense the power of God when you speak in tongues.”
“Get slain in the Spirit and you’ll never be the same.”

These are powerful, emotional, thrill-producing, chill-inducing moments for people. But they never last. You’re always waiting for the next biggest thing. So you go to this revival service or that camp meeting, hoping it will propel you to the next level with God.
Some very dear brothers and sisters in Christ are wandering about, drifting from thrill to thrill. Once the high wears off, they’re out searching for something better. And, oh, the false prophets who prey on these poor souls! One preacher has a “fresh word” for you. The prophetess down the street claims she has “a new revelation” from the Holy Spirit. Apostle so-and-so touches people with his “special anointing” from above. (Of course, you’ll have to sow a big seed before benefiting from any of this.)

My concern for the Thriller Theologians is twofold:
(1) At the end of the day, you’re beat.
You grow weary of all the hype. I know countless people who have spoken in tongues, received a second blessing, been slain in the Spirit and are now nowhere to be found. They got tired of it all because it never satisfied them. Sure, they had some wild stories to tell, but it never changed their lives. So they left. This kind of theology leads to frustration, burnout, and departure.

(2) You’re trying to find excitement in something other Jesus.
You’re addicted to these spiritual sensations. They’re like drugs for you. They provide quick fixes to your needs. They thrill you! They amaze you! You just can’t get enough. But, friend, you’ve replaced Jesus with experiences. You’ve stopped worshiping God and begun worshiping the chill bumps. They’re what you live for; they’re what you long for. You’ll never be satisfied by these. You don’t need them. You need Jesus… just Jesus. You can’t get any deeper than Him.

All that thrills my soul is Jesus. He is more than life to me.

And the fairest of ten thousand in my blessed Lord, I see.

Kidless Nation

2007-09-14T02:13:00.000-04:00

"Where are all the kids?"

That's the question survey groups are asking Americans these days. Gallup reports that under 50% of Americans think 1 or 2 children is the ideal number for a family. These statistics have dropped from 66% in 1986. That's a decrease of nearly 20 percent in 20 years!

When it comes to defining the purpose of marriage, only 1 in 3 of us think of "bearing and raising children." The other 2/3 claim the sole purpose of marriage is "mutual happiness and fulfillment."

Beyond America, the United Nations Population Division estimates that by 2050 the total population of children will be 35 million fewer than today, while the population of those older than 60 will increase by 1.2 billion.

That explains where all the kids have gone. But why? Why are Americans content with such small families? Why aren't we having more children?

Because we hate children.

I realize that's a bold statement (though killing nearly 4,000 unborn children each day should be ample evidence), but think about it. Have you listened to parents talk about their children lately? As a new father, the advice I hear leaves me feeling like children are life's biggest inconvenience, and our family's recent addition marks the end of all joy in life! Kids require things of us. They cost us. And we'd rather not tie ourselves down. Instead, we want bigger houses, newer cars, and cooler gadgets. I mean, how is a guy supposed to pay for his iPhone when he's having to dish out money to pay for his daughter's braces?

We hate children because we love ourselves. We embrace a "do for yourself" mentality and despise a "sacrifice for others" message. So our advice for young couples is, "have fewer kids in order to have more stuff." That's why American couples have prolonged the amount of time between getting married and having their first child. Anything you read on the issue points back to finances... money... stuff!

I agree that marriage isn't simply for the purpose of procreating. I agree that having and raising children is hard work that requires a lifetime of sacrifices. But God tells us in Ps. 127:3-5 that "children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward... Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!". The sleepless nights, the financial obligations, the absence of peace and quiet, the heartaches of teenage years are all worth it! Children are not a burden; They're a blessing.

This is a truth that we must regain... and it starts with Christian men and women. When God says, "be fruitful and multiply," we cringe! When a couple with 6 children joins our church, we make them feel like freaks. When we plan to have children, we have to make sure they fit in the budget first. Our beliefs about kids are just like the sinful society in which we live!

Please understand... I'm not advocating being irresponsible. I'm not saying that waiting to have kids makes you a horrible person. I'm simply calling on all of us to examine our hearts on this subject. We honestly have an unbiblical view of children. And if that unbiblical view is keeping us from having kids, then we should repent immediately.

Today, we look around our great nation and wonder where all the kids are. In years to come, our kids will look at a globe and wonder where the United States was.

A kidless nation is an endangered nation.

Did She Go to Heaven?

2007-08-24T15:25:00.000-04:00

"Such deep longing for God … repulsed, empty, no faith, no love, no zeal."

"Where is my faith? Even deep down … there is nothing but emptiness and darkness."

"What do I labor for? If there be no God, there can be no soul. If there be no soul then, Jesus, You also are not true."

These are excerpts from the letters of Mother Teresa. The woman the world upheld as an example of faith lived in a secret world of doubt. For many people, especially Catholics, there is no doubt that Mother Teresa is in heaven. But she herself had her doubts ... strong, lifelong doubts. What should we think of all this?

I want to begin by expressing my admiration for this woman. While most people spend their lives seeking to help only themselves, she sincerely wanted to help others. Not only did she desire to help other people, she chose to help and serve the poorest of the poor. Her life was an example of service.

The sad reality, however, is that her acts of service did not get her to heaven and could not grant her assurance of faith on earth. This is the greatest error in Catholicism and all other man made religions. Living a good life, helping other people, giving to the poor, etc. will not save you. They will not grant you access to heaven. They will not boost your confidence in God.

Only one way leads to God. Only one truth grants assurance of faith. Only one life can be good enough to get you to heaven. He is Jesus Christ. I have assurance of my salvation and my faith, not because I'm a super-Christian or a great person (I'm neither!), but because I'm trusting in Christ's actions and not my own.

"But Mother Teresa was a Christian, too!" you might think. "In fact, she's the cream of the crop when it comes to Christianity." No. She was trusting in her works as the basis of her salvation. She could not understand why her good works never gave her access to God.

This is the difference between Catholicism (as well as other man made religions) and biblical Christianity. Mother Teresa labored to be in good standing with God. Christians know that Christ labored to put us in good standing with God. Mother Teresa trusted that her acts of kindness would take her to heaven. Christians know that Jesus' act of kindness on the Cross will take us to heaven.

Can you see the difference? If so, stop trusting in your goodness or your abilities and trust in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, the only one good enough to get you to heaven.

"This is the work God requires of you, that you believe in Jesus."

John 6:29

He's Here!

2007-08-22T21:52:00.000-04:00

Dianna and I are glad to announce the birth of our firstborn son, Joshua Thomas Culbertson. Weighing in at 7 lbs. 15 oz., our little boy was born at 9:29 on Tuesday morning. Thankfully, he's got Dianna's good looks! The only thing I contributed was the last name (and the Y chromosome). When we got to the hospital at 9:30 Monday night Dianna was about 6cm dilated. They got her in, gave her the epidural, and the waiting began.

You should have seen my excellent wife throughout this process. Not one scream. Not one unkind word. She was amazing! I definitely have a new hero... and a new love!

Crossroads of Life & Death

2007-08-15T12:41:00.000-04:00

The Providence of our God has placed Dianna and me at an interesting crossroad of life and death. As you all know, we're expecting our first son, Thomas, any day now! We can't wait to hold him and see him. But yesterday our joy was mingled with sorrow as we received word that Dianna's grandmother passed away. It seems like the world stands still when you get news like that. Dianna and her 'Grandy' were extremely close, and this has been hard for her. Please remember her and her family in your prayers as they grieve (though not without hope!).

All this has me asking two questions:

What should a Christian's life look like?
I'm about to be responsible for raising a child, training a man. My prayer is that Christ would save him from his sin. But as a Christian, what should his life look like? What should my life look like?
Dianna's grandmother is a wonderful example for us. She was a woman of the word. She was disciplined to study the Scriptures. She shared that word with those around her. One of her unbelieving grandchildren was headed out for "spring break." Grandy pulled him aside as he left, held his hands, and prayed with him. If that doesn't convict, I don't know what will!
I pray that Thomas would be mighty in the Scriptures, that he would be full of grace with the lost around him, and that he would be full of power... able to stand strong for Christ even in the face of death.

What should a Christian's death look like?
If a believer's life should be different, shouldn't his death be also? Grandy's certainly was. When she found out she had cancer 2 months ago, I never saw her shed a tear. I never heard her doubt God's goodness. She wanted to go to heaven! She wanted to see Christ! She wanted to die!
She knew that death was the road to her Savior. As much as she wanted to stay and see her first great-grandson, her one burning desire was to see Jesus Christ. As Christians, death's sting has been erased; its victory has been conquered. Death doesn't win! For the Christian, death is the servant who carries our bags into heaven.
Grandy's death was filled with victory. I pray that my death and even my son's death one day would be a grand finish.

What will your death look like?
It all depends on what your life looks like.

Is Hillary Man Enough?

2007-07-20T23:59:00.000-04:00

I’m quite interested in the current debate between the wife of John Edwards and the husband of Hillary Clinton. Elizabeth Edwards is attacking Hillary for not being strong enough on women’s rights. In her remarks, she suggested that Mrs. Clinton might be staying away from women’s issues in order to “behave as a man.”

Mr. Clinton, a.k.a. the 42nd president, defended his wife, saying that Hillary “isn’t trying to be a man.” “I defy you,” he continued, “to find anybody who has run for office in recent history whose got a longer history of working for women.”

Of course, this is all just a political play (a good one I might add). John Edwards needs women’s votes, so he’s sending his wife out to get them. Pretty simple. But this brings up a good question in relation to feminism.

Does feminism encourage women to embrace femininity or does it encourage women to become more masculine?

The goal of the feminist movement has been for women to “break the glass ceiling” of every male-dominated career path. I’d say they’ve done well at this mission, so well, in fact, that we have a serious female contender among the 2008 presidential candidates.

But how do the feminists achieve their goal? What are the means to their end? What will Hillary do to break through that final glass ceiling?

Act like a man.

Elizabeth Edwards is right. In order to get elected, Mrs. Clinton has to exert every ounce of testosterone in her body. For instance, when’s the last time you saw her wearing a dress (she’s the pantsuit princess!)? Have you noticed her hair getting shorter? Don’t you think her speeches seem unnaturally aggressive?

Do you see any common feminine qualities (gentle, compassionate, caring, etc.) in Hillary Clinton? No! She comes across as hard-lined, tough, and completely unfriendly. (Political Note: Bob Dole came across that way in ’96. It didn’t work.)

Feminism deceives women into believing that the way to find worth in the world is to be as masculine as possible. Even highly intelligent women, like Mrs. Clinton, have fallen prey to this awful lie. Modern women have been “liberated” only to find themselves behind the bars of guilt and confusion. God’s Word, our sole basis for truth, affirms femininity as valuable and honorable.

My prayer is that today’s women would know this truth, and that the truth would set them free from the oppressive chains of feminism!

Hell?

2007-07-09T12:38:00.000-04:00

Good Morning America recently ran a story about an evangelical minister who rejected the doctrine of hell and lost his congregation. Bishop Carlton Pearson of Tulsa, OK has come to believe that a merciful God and eternal damnation cannot go hand in hand. In his emotion-invoking words, “How can you really love a God who is torturing your grandmother?”

Let me get this straight ‘Bishop’ Pearson…
*You don’t question the fairness of Jesus Christ suffering on the cross, but you do question the fairness of your family member suffering in hell.
*You don’t have a problem with the wrath of God being poured out on the guiltless, spotless, sinless Savior, but you can’t stand the thought of your sinful, guilty grandmother facing God’s wrath in hell.
*Your heart doesn’t recoil at the thought of the Son of God facing excruciating torments, but you take offense at the thought of a loved one facing the same torments.

If you believe that the Son of God can suffer for your sins, why is it so difficult to believe that YOU will suffer for your sins?

Here are a few things that Mr. Pearson does not understand:

1) The Arrogance of His Denial – Pearson used the grandmother example because we all love our grandmas, and we all know that little old ladies are nice and sweet. But we forget that we can be as sweet as pie all our lives and still be lost in sin. God isn’t interested in how nice we are, how well we played with others, or how much money we donated to the United Way. God wants us to humble ourselves before Him and admit that we are – even on our best days – prideful, selfish, wicked beings deserving of God’s righteous anger.

2) The Severity of Sin – Sin is twofold: Our outward actions & Our inward motives. That means that even when we’re doing “good” deeds, if our motives are wrong, it’s still sin. And every sin deserves God’s judgment. To say that God is wrong to judge us is a gross misunderstanding of the nature of sin and the offense it is to a Holy God.

3) The Justice of God – God must do what is right. It is His nature. If a sweet little old lady stole your identity and spent all your money, should the American justice system just smile at her and say, “It’s okay. We love you”? No! Put granny in jail! It’s the right thing to do.
Sending sinners to face their just punishment is the right thing to do. God would be unjust if He didn't.

4) The Mercy of God – You cannot understand the mercy of God without understanding the wrath of God. Doing away with hell does not make God seem more merciful. In fact, it does the opposite. If there is no hell, then what’s the big deal? From what is God saving us? Without the doctrine of hell, the doctrines of God’s love and mercy are cheap and superficial.

5) The Glory of God – All things are created to give God praise and adoration. When a human lives his entire life (even a ‘good’ life) refusing to give glory to God, it is the worst offense imaginable. A person who will not submit to Jesus Christ is a person who mocks, denies, and rejects the God for whom all things were created. This robs God of His glory! How is this not deserving of God’s eternal wrath?

I, like Mr. Pearson, tremble at the thought of hell. I cringe at the possibility that I have loved ones who are in hell suffering for their sins. I am horrified by the fact that there is eternal punishment for those not trusting in Christ.

And that is precisely why I preach it.

Happy South Carolina Day!

2007-06-28T22:23:00.000-04:00

____________________

On June 28, 1776 the British navy focused its destructive attention on one of the colonies’ most significant harbor cities…Charleston, South Carolina. All that stood to protect the South’s most cherished city was a half-built fort made of palmetto logs, guarded by only 400 troops.

The 2,000 soldiers that composed the English fleet understandably saw this as the perfect opportunity for attack. The Brits began their mighty bombardment at a range of about 400 yards. Low on powder, the leader of the SC Regiment, Col. William Moultrie, directed his men to fire slowly and accurately in reply. As the cannon balls hammered the fort, the palmetto logs proved an admirable defense, leaving little damage and few casualties.

During the battle, a shell struck the flagpole, and the blue South Carolina banner fell outside the fort. Sergeant William Jasper, risking his life, leaped down to retrieve the flag, which he secured to a makeshift staff planted in the sand.

After more than ten hours of firing, the British fleet withdrew and several weeks later sailed for New York. Their flagship received more than twenty shots and was almost wrecked, while every other ship, save one, was seriously crippled. For three years following their defeat at Charleston the British troops were ordered to leave the South unmolested.

June 28... a day to celebrate heroes, a day to celebrate freedom, a day to celebrate South Carolina.

"I salute the flag of South Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty and faith."

What's a Girl to Do?

2007-06-27T20:43:00.000-04:00

In the last post, we saw that God does not permit women to serve as pastors. I admit that we theological conservatives have spent so much time telling women what they can't do that we have neglected to tell women what they can do. This is a sad reality. It has hurt our sisters in Christ and the entire body of Christ.

Let me be very clear about this:
Without the God-given ministry of women, the church will cease to exist.

I am not overstating it in the least. It is that serious. Ladies, we desperately need you. And I’m not just saying that women can be involved in ministry; I’m saying every woman should be involved in ministry. It is your calling.

The ministry of the local church stretches far beyond the pulpit. Just because God doesn’t call you to preach doesn’t mean God doesn’t call you to serve.

Joshua Thomas, our son, is scheduled to arrive at the end of August. Dianna is the one who’s carried him for 9 months. She will be the one to give birth to him. She will be the one to experience that unique mother/child bond. No matter how much I might want to, I can’t do any of that. God won’t let me. I’m a man and that isn’t His design for me. But that doesn’t mean I have no place in Thomas’ life! My place is just different from Dianna’s.

Can you see how that applies to women in the church? Ladies, you have an absolutely unique and necessary place in the ministry of your local church. So let’s think this through and see the high calling of a woman in the body of Christ.

Allow me to restate the biblical view of women in ministry. I’m breaking it down into 2 parts.
Part 1= Men and women are equal, but God has given each unique roles.
Part 2= God gifts both men and women to do the work of ministry in ways fitting with their roles.

Part 1 goes back to the Creation itself. “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). All mankind, both male & female, are created in the image of God, meaning they are equally able to serve God, to have fellowship with God, and to represent God. In our spiritual nature, men and women are equal in every way.

But God did not give the man and the woman the same roles. God created man to be the leader, and He created woman to be the helper. Genesis 2:15 says that God created man to “work” and “keep” the garden. In verse 18, we read that God created woman to be a “helper suitable” to the man. Those gender specific roles are seen from the very beginning.

In Genesis 3, we learn that mankind fell into sin. They disobeyed God. But notice how the gender roles played a part in this. God tells Adam that the reason he is being judged is “because you have listened to the voice of your wife” (3:17). Now that’s not to say that we shouldn’t listen to our wives! God is judging Adam because he failed to lead his wife away from sin. We also see that one of the results of sin is a distortion of these gender roles. God tells Eve, “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” (3:16). The Lord is saying that sin will cause some women to want to dominate their husbands, and sin will cause some men to want to dominate their wives in an abusive manner. The gender roles, like everything else, are marred by sin! Yet, the principle remains. God created men and women equal in His image, with unique, gender specific roles.

Part 2 flows naturally from Part 1. Because men and women have unique roles in life, it is natural that we should have unique roles in ministry. Leadership in the church must reflect leadership in the home. 1 Timothy 3:4-5, 12 teach us that one of the qualifications for serving as a pastor or deacon is a man’s ability to lead his family. So the positions of spiritual authority are delegated, by God, to men. (Gentlemen, that is a huge responsibility. Step up to the plate and do your job.)

The woman’s role in the church remains one of a helper. And if you think that is a demeaning task, you’ll do well to remember that God the Holy Spirit is called “the Helper” (John 14:26). So a woman’s ministry in the local church is to assist, to help the leadership accomplish its biblically mandated duties. The leadership of the church cannot accomplish these duties apart from the assistance of their sisters in Christ.

That is the overall principle. The hard part is applying it to specific situations. In this post, I don’t want to get into each specific staff position. So let me just give you a list of biblically appropriate places of ministry for women in the local church.

> Teaching Women
> Teaching Teenage Girls
> Teaching Children
> Counselor for Women
> Music Ministry (choir, praise team, instrumentalist, etc.)
> Hospitality Ministries (making meals, opening one’s house for a Bible study, etc.)
> Outreach Ministries (visiting the sick, shut-ins, lost people, etc.)
> Missions (promoting missions-giving, going on mission trips, serving as a missionary under male leadership, etc.)

That’s a lot! And I could think of more. Sisters, you play a critical role in our churches. I pray that you would delight in your God-given role and seek to use it to build your local church and glorify your Father in heaven! If you want more information on this topic, I highly recommend Women's Ministry in the Local Church. It's under the 'resources for church life' section on the blog.

Can Women Preach?

2007-06-23T17:55:00.000-04:00

Yes, I’m opening this can of worms. Actually, the fine folks down at First Baptist Church Decatur, Georgia are to thank for this. They apparently believe a woman can preach/pastor. You may have heard that they recently called Julie Pennington-Russell to be their new pastor, taking the “honor” of becoming the largest Baptist church to be led by a woman.

FBC Decatur is making a statement. They are obviously pushing this issue. And it all stems from the liberal vs. conservative battle that simmers under the surface of many ‘First Baptist’ churches. But understand that not everyone who likes a strong dose of estrogen in the pulpit is a liberal. Female preachers have long been a part of the Pentecostal movement. From Aimee Semple McPherson to Katherine Kuhlmann to Paula White, our staunchly conservative charismatic brothers and sisters have historically accepted women in their pulpits.

So we have a group of very liberal people and a group of very conservative people who answer affirmatively to the question posed. Interesting, huh? But don’t get the wrong idea. Pentecostals do not support female pastors for the same reasons that theological liberals do.

THE LIBERAL VIEW
Men and women are equal in every way; there is nothing but anatomy that distinguishes one from the other. Where the Bible seems to disagree with this statement, it is wrong.

For instance, Paul says in 1 Timothy 2:12, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man.” The liberal answer? Paul was a chauvinist pig.

THE PENTECOSTAL VIEW
God gifts both men and women to do the work of ministry, including preaching. Where the Bible seems to disagree with this statement, they find a way to twist it into agreement. Hey… at least they care what the Bible says! And, much to our shame, we have all been guilty of twisting Scripture to fit our agendas.

Let’s stick with our fist example (1 Tim. 2:12). The Pentecostal might answer that a woman cannot serve as a pastor, but she may serve as a preacher. Another way they might get around it is to say that Paul was addressing a particular situation, not giving a universal command.

THE BIBLICAL VIEW
Men and women are equal, but God has given each unique roles. God gifts both men and women to do the work of ministry in ways fitting with their roles.

In explaining 1 Tim. 2:12, we would say to the liberal… criticizing Paul is no solution. Paul wrote this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Thus, your disagreement isn’t with Paul; it’s with the Spirit of God.
To the Pentecostal we would say… (1) a woman preaching would fall under the ban of “I do not permit a woman to teach a man,” unless that woman was preaching to a group of women. (2) Paul viewed this as a universal command, not a situational one. In the next verse, he bases his command on the God-given roles at Creation. “For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” This command is rooted in Creation, making it applicable for all people (even Pentecostals) in all ages (even in these “latter days”).

So can a woman be a preacher? No, she may not.

Q-“But who are you to say whether or not God has called her?”
A-“I’m no one to say. God’s Word is the authority, not me. God said she can’t.”

Q-“But doesn’t Galatians 3:28 say that there is neither male nor female?”
A-“Yes. That passage is speaking about salvation, not qualification for pastors. Salvation is available for all who repent and believe, regardless of gender. Women are not second class citizens of the kingdom of heaven.”
Q-“I’ve heard women preach better sermons than men.”
A-“Me, too. I’ve also heard the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing hymns better than Christian choirs. Our experiences do not trump God’s Word. A woman’s ability to preach doesn’t change the fact that she is disobeying God’s command.”

We could go on and on. Let me end with an example that may help to understand the biblical view. I see how some could be confused. How can we say that men and women are equal, but then say that a woman isn’t allowed to preach?

As Christians, we worship the Triune God. As the famous hymn says, “God in three persons, Blessed Trinity.” We worship God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are ONE God in THREE persons, same in essence and equal in every way. The Father isn’t more “God” than the Son. The Son isn’t more “God” than the Spirit. They are all three equal in their divine status.

Yet in Scripture, we see the Son submitting to the will of the Father (Luke 22:42). We see that the Spirit works to glorify the Son (John 16:14). Each is equally God, but each has a unique role in the work of salvation. Get it?

Men and women are equal, but we have different God-given roles. To argue that this is impossible is to argue against the nature of God Himself.

____________

So what can women do in ministry? Lord willing, that will be the topic of my next post.

Pentecostal Power

2007-06-15T10:56:00.000-04:00

I was shocked by a recent LifeWay Research study that reported 50% of Southern Baptist pastors believe in a “private prayer language.” The exact question posed to these preachers was:

Do you believe that the Holy Spirit gives some people the gift of a special language to pray to God privately? Some people refer to this as a private prayer language or the ‘private use of tongues.’

And 50% of the men in our pulpits answered, “Yes.”

Now let me try to clarify what they are and are not asking. They are not asking about the gift of speaking in tongues. You'll find that discussed in Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12-14. Speaking in tongues was a way in which God revealed His Word to the early church. It involved a believer speaking in an unlearned human language... notice I said human language. Scripture never tells of anyone speaking in "angelic" or "heavenly" languages. Thus, speaking in tongues was not random jibber jabber; it was an intelligible, earthly language.

The early church needed this gift because they did not have the full revelation of God that we now have (the Bible). God does not still reveal His Word to us. If you believe that He does, then you are denying the sufficiency of Scripture.

LifeWay was asking about something different from speaking in tongues. Notice how the question places the emphasis on speaking this unknown tongue in private. Many, particularly among charismatics, believe that God gives us a language in which to pray to Him. One verse commonly used to support this idea is Romans 8:26, "For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." The doctrine of praying in tongues is a manipulation of the biblical teachings about speaking in tongues. Praying in tongues (and not speaking in tongues) is the question posed to these SBC pastors.

The findings of this study shock me for several reasons, but let me just share one with you.

The influence of charismatic doctrine is extremely powerful in today's church.

_
I've often wondered how the TV preachers and things seen and heard from today's popular Christianity have influenced the men and women in our church pews. Now I know. And now I know it's not just coming from their TVs and radios, it could just as easily be coming from their pastors!

Why is this type of Christianity so influential? It's exciting. It's different. It has the allusion of "deeper" or "higher" spirituality. Christians who are fed up with dry, monotonous, ritualistic Baptist churches go searching for something better... something deeper. Many of these seekers find themselves getting "filled with the Holy Ghost" and speaking in tongues. If you're looking for an experience, nothing tops that!

The charismatics have hijacked the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, turning the third person of the Trinity into a mysterious force that produces chaos. These days, Baptists hardly even mention God the Spirit because we're afraid of Him. We think the charismatics have dibs on the Spirit, so we avoid Him, lest we all start shaking violently and speaking in tongues. It's high time we get the doctrine of the Holy Spirit back to its biblical basis and away from these misguided spiritual thrill-seekers.

The precious Spirit of God revealed to us in the Bible is even more powerful than the erroneous Spirit of God revealed to us on TBN. The Spirit's power isn't seen in knocking people to the ground; it's seen in a new believer's eyes when he understands the Gospel for the first time. The Spirit's power isn't seen in one's private prayer language; it's seen in the change in one's private behavior. Only God the Holy Spirit can give new birth and only He can sanctify us, making us more like our Savior.

That's power. Just ask anyone who has experienced it.
___________________________
I'd like to close with a word to LifeWay, the group that did the research. I appreciate the research that is now coming from this Baptist entity. But, with all due respect, you guys are not helping this problem by bombarding your customers with books by Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen. Watch what you sell in the stores. While it may cut back on some of your profits, it will help the SBC tremendously.

Top Ten Things I Missed About the Palmetto State

2007-05-30T23:14:00.000-04:00

10. Bi-Lo - The name fits.

9. Hash - Beef or pork cooked in black kettles all night long. Add a little butter, onions, vinegar, & mustard-based BBQ, serve over rice or white bread, and you're ready for a July 4th celebration! Check your local Lion's Club or Baptist Men's group for details.

8. Bojangles - The seasoned fries are better than ever!

7. Southern Accents - Down here, we just talk different. We don't own a garden hose; we own a hose pipe. We don't press buttons, we mash 'em. We understand that the English language does have a plural form of you... y'all. We might could stop talking like this, but then we'd be just like them boring Yankees!

6. Friendly Folks - "How you?" "Fine, you?" I had that conversation with almost everyone at the grocery store on Monday.

5. Dukes Mayonnaise - Stir a little in your mashed potatoes and taste the difference.

4. Black People - Indiana has a black population of like 10 people. Our black neighbors help make Southern culture what it is. I missed y'all!

3. Mustard-based BBQ - Nothing could be finer (especially Maurice's). Throw in a couple of hush puppies on the side and you've got some good eatin'.

2. Kinfolk - My family has been in SC since the 1700's. I belong here.

1. State Pride - We all love South Carolina. If you don't believe it, just ask us or notice the tons of SC paraphernalia on our cars! And with a list like this, how could we not be proud of our home state?

I leave you with a Confederate campfire song (to the tune of "At the Cross").

Take me home to the place where I first saw the light,

to the sweet sunny South take me home,

where the mockingbird sang me to rest every night.

Oh! Why was I tempted to roam?

Home Sweet Home

2007-05-29T11:26:00.000-04:00

I'm glad to announce that we are back in the grand and glorious state of South Carolina. We moved from Indiana this past weekend and are now unpacked, settled, and looking for a congregation to serve (if anyone knows a good Bible-believing Baptist church in need of a pastor, let me know!).

We will certainly miss the beauty of the Ohio River Valley, the good, hard working folks of Kentuckiana, the wonderful congregation of believers who worshiped at Brooksburg, and the absence of pollen! But there is truly no place like South Carolina. Check the blog again soon to learn the Top Ten things I missed about the Palmetto State.

It's good to be home.

By Faith Alone

2007-05-21T12:02:00.000-04:00

A few months ago, I wrote a post questioning whether or not liberal Christians were actually atheists. This provocative question isn't original to me. It actually came from an atheist, Sam Harris. I'm sure that some people thought it was a little harsh, but I think I have found something that might make you reconsider...

A Liberal Preacher's Story

If you have the time, I encourage you to read this. It's an enjoyable read because he's an excellent writer (though I should warn the easily-offended that there is cursing.) He has some true and stinging assessments of conservative Christianity's sub-culture. But, overall, I was amazed by this "preacher's" unregenerate understanding of biblical faith. Yes, we go through seasons of doubt and questions. But this poor soul has camped out there, considering it an honorable thing.

This preacher says, "God, I don’t have great faith, but I can be faithful. My belief in you may be seasonal, but my faithfulness will not. I will follow in the way of Christ. I will act as though my life and the lives of others matter. I will love." Though that may sound honorable to some, it most assuredly is not. That is unbelief. That is works without faith. That is liberal Christianity.

Top Shelf Christianity, Deep and Old Christianity (to borrow his terms) teaches that "the righteous shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4 & Romans 1:17). We are justified (saved, forgiven) by faith. And this faith is not seasonal, wishful thoughts that God might exist. Biblical, saving, top shelf faith is an "assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

Friends, we must be convinced. We must know that our Redeemer lives and on the earth again shall stand (Job 19:25). We must be sure, be very sure, that our calling and election is true (2 Peter 1:10). Are you?

The fool says in his heart,

"There is no God."

Psalm 14:1

Torn Between Two Kingdoms: Learning from the Life of Jerry Falwell

2007-05-16T14:36:00.000-04:00

Jerry Falwell. Just the name conjures up some sort of emotion in you, doesn't it? For me, the emotions are mixed. I respected the man as a strong defender of biblical morality. I once heard him preach in South Carolina on being salt and light in the culture. He genuinely believed that to be his mission, and I respect him for taking very difficult stands. Our nation needs more men who are principled and unashamed of the truth. His death is a great loss.

But there's another side of me that has always been uneasy with Jerry Falwell, not him as a person, but him as an "icon." That's exactly what he was. He was one of those larger-than-life figures who accomplished much in his 73 years. But much of what he accomplished was temporal... earthly... political.

Jerry Falwell was torn between two kingdoms: that which is Caesar's and that which is God's (Matthew 22:21). At first, he wasn't very interested in politics, but after the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, he felt like he needed to do something. That's understandable. But did he get too involved? I believe so.

I say this, not to criticize this good man, but to exhort and rebuke today's Christian citizens. This message is especially needed as the '08 elections kick off. We fall prey to the mentality that politics is the answer. Our hope rises and falls with whoever is in the White House. Brothers and sisters, whether our next leader is Hillary, Rudy, Obama, or McCain, God is still sovereignly carrying out His good purposes. The Lord Jesus Christ is still working all things for His glory.

Jerry Falwell spent much time, energy, and money in making sure that moral leaders were elected. But even Ronald Reagan, for all his virtues, still had many vices. George W. Bush, the conservative Christian's choice, is still far from ideal. Learn from what I believe to be Jerry Falwell's mistake: Our hope does not sit behind the desk in the oval office! Our hope sits in the Heavens, at the right hand of the Father!

But allow me to end this with a little exhortation. Jerry Falwell was like any of us, a sinner saved by God's glorious grace. He made mistakes. Let's learn from them. Yet, he also set an example, a good one: He did something. Don't just sit back and allow Satan to wreck havoc on your community, do something! Don't just accept that your children must learn unbiblical agendas, do something! Don't just ignorantly follow the culture's message, do something! True faith will produce works. Biblical faith is active. What are you doing? Following the example of Jerry Falwell, share your faith, teach your kids, speak the truth, reject immorality. But don't lose sight of your true hope.

Jerry Falwell has entered into a heavenly inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading (1 Peter 1:4). That is where our hope lies.

The Big Four

2007-05-14T21:54:00.000-04:00

There are four questions that shape the way you answer all other questions. Your answers to these will affect everything else in your life. Each human being must (and will) answer these questions in one way or another.

My desire here is to pose these questions and then give you answers... not my answers. My answers can be wrong. When it comes to life's most important questions, we certainly don't want to be wrong. But how do we know what's true and what's false? In John 17:17, Jesus said that the Bible is true, so let's look at the answers the Bible gives to "The Big Four."

Question #1: WHO IS GOD?
Ever thought about this? Is He a cosmic kill-joy, seeking to ruin our lives? Is He a grandfather-figure in heaven, just sitting up there, smiling at us? Is He a She? Is He at all??

Our Maker -- If you create something (a piece of furniture or artwork), then you have rights over it. You can do with it what you will. You can use it yourself or give it away. If it doesn't please you, you can destroy it. It's yours. You made it.
That's how it is with us and God. He made us for a purpose -- to glorify Him. That means He has rights over us and that we are accountable to Him. If we fail to accomplish our purpose (glorifying Him), we will have to answer to our Maker!
Our Father -- God also reveals Himself as a Father, an ideal one. He is a Father who genuinely loves and desires to do good to His children.
Our Judge -- This is part of the picture, too. God is a Judge. He will judge us all. But remember that He is just as much a loving Father as He is a mighty Judge. That means that He's going to do what's right, what's fair.
In order to set up what's fair, He's given us His law. The judge down at the courthouse doesn't (or shouldn't) judge arbitrarily. He judges based on the laws on the books. God does, too. That's fair. So what are these laws?

These were first given to us in Exodus 20:3-17. You probably know them as the ten commandments. Jesus summarized these ten by giving two commandments in Mark 12:30-31. He said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (that's everything you've got). And you shall love your neighbor as yourself." So that's the law. Pretty simple, huh?

TEST YOURSELF

>I love God with everything in me. I've never put anyone or anything above Him. T/F

>I love everyone (including my enemies) as I love myself. I always seek to serve and to do good to other people. T/F

How'd you do? We have all failed miserably at this. We often hate other people. We want to be served instead of serve. And instead of putting God first we usually put Him last... behind relationships, money, fame, work, fun, you name it. This brings us to the 2nd question.

Question #2: WHO AM I?

God has given us these two laws. The test showed us that we've broken the laws. That's what the Bible calls "sin." Sin is breaking God's law or not fully living up to God's law. That definition means we are all sinners. Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Red and yellow, black and white, we're all sinners in His sight. 1 John 1:8 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us."

As a law-breaker standing before the righteous Judge (God), what should He do to you? Most likely you're thinking, "forgive me!" But think of it this way:

Let's say someone burns your house to the ground, leaving you with absolutely nothing. What should the judge do to that person? Should the judge just say, "Don't worry about it...I forgive you"? No! The judge should punish the law-breaker in some way. We would say the judge was unjust if he didn't punish the guilty.

The same goes for God. He's a good, fair Judge. As such, when we stand before Him, He will have to punish us as law-breakers. Romans 6:23 tells us the punishment. It says, "The wages of sin is death." The fair payment for our sins is death -- spiritual, physical, eternal death. The jailhouse for this sentence is Hell, a place where we experience God's just wrath forever.

THINK ABOUT IT

You, a sinner, are under the fair wrath & judgment of God. That's a terrible thought, isn't it? This is a serious issue. I plead with you not to brush it off. Even if you end up rejecting it, at least give it some thought.

>Do you admit that you are accountable to God for your sins and are completely uncapable of keeping His law?

>Do you admit that you cannot save yourself from this dilemma you are in, that good works, church membership, fighting injustice, etc. will not save you?

>Do you agree that the life you are currently living will dead end in Hell, and does this concern you?

If this troubles you, keep reading.

Question #3: WHO IS JESUS?

He's the way back to God. As sinners, we are separated from our Creator & Father. Unless we find a way to fix our broken relationship with God, we stand condemned to Hell. We need a way back! Jesus, God's Son, became a man in order to bring us into a right relationship with the Father. Jesus is the God-man, which means He is fully God (enabling Him to forgive sin) and fully man (enabling Him to take our place). As the God-man, He - and He alone - is the way to fix your relationship with God.
He Kept the Laws. Remember those laws that we couldn't keep? Love God perfectly and love others perfectly...no human can do that! Well, Jesus (the God-man) did it. He never sinned. That means He meets God's requirements on our behalf. If you turn to Christ, His perfect obedience becomes yours, leaving you guiltless in the sight of the Judge.
He Took the Punishment. Sins must be punished. We said that if the Judge lets the guilty law-breaker go, then He isn't fair. You and I deserved God's wrath, the punishment from the Judge. The only way to settle this is for someone to pay the penalty. You must pay for your sins in Hell. The only other option is Jesus. He came and took the punishment for us! On the cross, He died a cruel, painful death in our place, satisfying the penalty of sin.
He is Alive! He died on the cross, but 3 days later rose from the grave. This historical event, called the resurrection is the proof that 1, 2, & 3 are true. Only God could come back from the dead, which means Jesus must be who He said He is! And that means that there is hope for you! Your sins can be forgiven if you embrace Jesus Christ as Savior & Lord.

Now the most important question...

Question #4: WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

What will you do with this good news? You really have 3 options:

Accept It - "I have read and understand this post. I recognize that I am a sinner who deserves God's wrath. I agree that Jesus is my only hope for salvation and that I need Him. I want to be in a right relationship with God." If you're thinking along those lines, God commands you to do two things: A) Turn Away From Sin: Stop loving your sin. The love that you have for breaking God's law must be replaced with a holy hatred. The thought of disobeying God needs to disgust you. Leave your sin behind! It's nasty! B) Turn Toward Jesus Christ: Start loving Jesus! Give Him all your affections. Make Him your life's passion. Be willing to give up everything just to know and follow Jesus.
Reject It - "I have read and understand this post. According to the Bible, I am a sinner who is fully deserving of God's wrath. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ has paid the penalty that I owe on the cross and only He can save me. And according to the Bible, I must turn away from my sin and trust in Him. But I reject this, knowing that I am in danger of being eternally punished by God in Hell."
Think About It - "I have read this post, but do not totally understand it. I still have some questions about Christianity."

Which one of these options best describes how you're feeling/ what you're thinking right now?

If Option 1, Read the Bible, Start Praying (talking to God), Find a Bible-believing church and get involved. This link might be helpful: "The Cost of Discipleship"

If Option 2, I urge you to reconsider. Know that this isn't a light matter. Please don't reject this message without first giving it some serious thought. Take at look at this link: "Why Christianity Is Credible"

If Option 3, know that you don't have forever to just "think about it." Be active in this. Read the Bible for yourself, talk to someone you know who really lives for Christ. This link might be helpful: "Life's Most Important Question"

Feel free to comment with any questions or concerns.

You Write the Caption

2007-05-08T14:55:00.000-04:00

Queen Elizabeth is in town, which means everyone is on their best behavior. In our neck of the woods, the staff at Churchill Downs took a class on proper etiquette when greeting her majesty. Too bad someone didn't do the same for President Bush. Apparently, during her welcoming service at the White House, he almost said she toured the U.S. in 1776 (meaning 1976). Catching himself, he stopped mid-sentence, turned to the Queen and... winked! That's right. He winked at the Queen of England. You've got to love George W.

I found this picture of the Bush winking at the Queen. Leave a comment, suggesting a caption for the picture. (My caption is below)

Love that hat, Liz!

Gays Welcome

2007-05-03T22:13:00.000-04:00

The former Governor of New Jersey, James McGreevey, has been in the news a lot recently. You'll recall that he resigned his political position after admitting having an affair with a male staffer. He announced that he was a "gay American" in August of 2004, becoming what many have dubbed the first openly gay Governor... a title that I don't understand because he resigned as soon as he announced his sexuality. His messy divorce from Dina Matos McGreevey has been the most recent news involving the Ex-Governor.

Today, the news tells us that Mr. McGreevey - a lifelong Catholic - has joined the Episcopal church. Not only has he joined... he's planning on attending their seminary in the Fall! Naturally, this raises a lot of issues, but my initial thoughts aren't about sexuality and the priesthood or the gay rights movement. I'm thinking about the Episcopal church's acceptance of McGreevey into communion... and possibly into leadership.

James McGreevey is a homosexual. He is an adulterer. He is going through a divorce. His wife claims that he is showing perverse art to his 5 year old daughter. This man now wants to join the Episcopal church... and they say, "Welcome!" with arms wide open. Episcopals open their arms to gays, adulterers, and divorcees.

And so do I.

Christ's invitation stands for the homosexual. Jesus' call to follow Him stands for the adulterer. The cross stands to forgive any sinner, including me.

But there is a difference between what I'm saying and what the Episcopals are saying. There is a difference between biblical Christianity and liberal Christianity. Liberal Christianity welcomes the sinner, never asking for change. Biblical Christianity welcomes the sinner, urging and demanding change. The key difference is summed up in one word: repentance. Repentance is a sinner turning from sin to Christ... when a sinner begins to hate his sin and begins to love Jesus Christ... when the sinful habits that we treasure become disgusting to us in light of the invaluable blessings of following Christ. Repentance! Without it, there is no faith. Apart from repentance, we become like the Pharisees and hypocrites, of whom Jesus said, "You clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." Jesus' description fits liberal Christianity in many ways. They have the outward forms of religion, the external marks of Christendom, but inside, nothing has changed.

Mr. McGreevey can join the church, go through seminary, and become a priest, but he's still filthy on the inside. Pray for him. And realize that it can happen to you and me, as well. We can devote our lives to going to church, walking aisles, praying prayers, etc. and still have our hearts filled with the nastiness of sin.

I leave you with the chilling, yet gloriously "welcoming" words of Jesus:

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Dear Contemporary Church,

2007-04-26T15:54:00.000-04:00

I want to start a conversation. It may not work, but I want to try.

Let me begin by defining who I mean by 'contemporary church.' I do not mean Christians who sing praise choruses or who don't wear suits to church. That's how the contemporary church movement started, but it has moved beyond that. Perhaps a clearer term would be 'Hyper-Contemporary,' but I doubt you will appreciate that, so I'll stick with the other. By 'contemporary,' I mean Christians who design their church services around the unchurched in the community, Christians who embrace the postmodern culture, Christians who want their services to be known for their creativity and entertainment appeal, Christians who prefer catchy "How-To" sermons. The list could go on, but you probably get the picture.

I honestly desire to talk with you about things. I've tried to comment on some of your blogs, but my comments never make it through the screening process. So I invite you to my blog, hoping that you will hear my desire to respectfully discuss some issues.

Let me begin by pointing out two good things I see in your efforts. First, you are concerned about the lost, and I praise God for that. One of the many problems with the 'traditional church' is that we (I'll place myself in that category for now) have become so focused on the church organization that we've lost sight of the world around us. I admit it. We've dropped the ball on reaching out, and I would love to see our congregations have the enthusiasm about evangelism that your congregations have. Second, you desire to engage the culture. Scroll through my blog and you'll see that I, too, attempt to engage the culture. Though we go about it differently, we're on the same page here. This current culture is unchurched, skeptical, and entertainment-driven. The traditional church seems blind to this. As Christians, we must address it in some way, and I'm grateful to our Lord that you have that desire.

But I'm concerned. Some days I get angry at what you guys do. Other days I'm shocked and discouraged by what you guys do. Please hear me out. Allow me to list three concerns:
1) Man-Centered Worship vs. God-Centered Worship = I'm using the term 'man-centered' to mean that the focus is on the desires and needs of people. You unapologetically center your worship around the unchurched visitors who may attend. People want rock concert style music, so you offer it. People want fun and exciting things for their kids, so you offer it. People want coffee and doughnuts, so you offer it. People want entertainment, so you offer it. The results? People come to church... by the thousands! But is this growth good growth? And is what you offer on Sunday mornings or afternoons actually worship?
I freely admit that I'm old-school when it comes to this stuff. I'm 25 and I like hymns... I know; I'm weird. But this goes beyond the question of preference to the question of rightness. This isn't a question of practicality (does it work?); it's a question of 'biblicality' (does God's Word accept this?). No, the Bible doesn't commend or condemn rock music and doughnuts, but the purpose of these things is to please people. Scripture never commands us to do that. Rather, we're told to please God, even if it offends people at times. I firmly believe that man-centered worship is self-idolatry, placing what appeals to us or the unchurched above what honors God.
2) Man-Centered Preaching vs. God-Centered Preaching = This same problem carries itself into the preaching at your churches it seems. You preach to entertain and to meet felt needs. "People don't care about doctrine and theology, they just want to make their marriage work," you may say. But the Bible is oh so clear on this. First Corinthians 2:1-5 tells us that preaching isn't to be entertaining and impressive. First Thessalonians 2:1-12 addresses the same issue by Paul saying, "We speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts." Our sermons should not be man-centered. They should be God-centered. They should speak of a Holy God, a sinful humanity, a sinless Christ, and a necessary response. That is the Gospel. That is a person's deepest need, and to give them anything other than this is cheating them and disobeying God.
3) Cultural Engaging vs. Cultural Embracing = Lastly, I'm concerned with the way your churches handle the culture. I'm all for engaging culture and creating culture, but that isn't what I see in your churches. I see you embracing the culture. You may not see the problem with this, so let me explain what I mean.
Romans 1:18-32 clearly describes our modern culture. Here are just a few excerpts: "For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another." "They are full of envy, murder, strife..." "They are... disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless..." That is us! That is our culture. And God says twice in this passage that He "gave them up." John MacArthur, a pastor from Los Angeles, rightly considers this culture to be abandoned by God. Yet, this very same culture is the culture that contemporary Christians whole-heartedly embrace. Guys, I just don't get it. How can you title your sermons after Girls Gone Wild and Desperate Housewives? How can you host a Super Sexy Sunday? You are embracing a culture that is abandoned by God. Can you please explain why? Can you please share how you think using wickedness is honoring to the Lord?

I realize that you guys get a lot of criticism. That's not my desire here. I have sincere problems that need sincere answers. I'm open to critiques. I'm curious for answers. I'm honestly concerned. Let the conversation begin!

For the Gospel,
Josh

Motherhood

2007-04-21T22:43:00.000-04:00

As you can imagine, maternity has been a big topic around the Culbertson household. Dianna is constantly reading about being a mama. She's read books like Baby Wise, What to Expect When You Are Expecting, What to Do When You're Puking, and What to Expect from Your Husband When You're Expecting. She's read magazine article after magazine article telling her to lay on her left side, eat saltine crackers, buy a giant pillow, and to not take out the cat litter.

But Dianna isn't the only mama around the house. Our outside cat, Miss Madison, is now the proud mother of 4. Let me take this opportunity to tell you the story of Miss Madison...

When Dianna moved into the house last summer, this little calico cat started hanging around the house. It looked like it was starving. We tried to get rid of her, but she kept coming back, so we started feeding her. It's my understanding that once you feed a cat, it's yours. Well, we fed her for the next 3 months.
Then, one cool, rainy night in the Fall, we hear a knock at the door. I opened the door, to find our neighbor, "Mrs. Smith." Mrs. Smith is in her 70s, and I had visited with her a few times. She is a disgruntled former member of our church, which meant my visits with her consisted of her listing the millions of things wrong with our congregation. She left years ago due to some silly 'conflict' with a former preacher. So she's standing at my door, in the rain, with Miss Madison in her hands. The conversation proceeded as follows:
Her: "Hi. I'm Mrs. Smith"
My Thought: "I was at your house last week, I know who you are."
Her: "I've come to get my cat, Rascal."
My Thought: "RASCAL?? What a stupid name."
Me: "Oh, okay. We considered her our cat."
Her: "Well, if you had been out here when I came up, you would have seen how she recognized me."
My Thought: "Is this old lady really about to take our cat?"
Me: "I see."
Her: "If you wouldn't put food out for her, she wouldn't come over here. She's been a bad kitty. She had some kittens and then ran off and left them. She's a bad mommy."
Me: "Oh. We didn't know that."
My Thought: "Lady, you've got 50 cats, how did you even realize this one was missing?!"
Her: "Well, I better get her home. Just don't put any food out for her anymore."
My Thought: "She's doing it. She's stealing our cat. That old shrew is stealing our cat. The nerve!"
Me: "Yes ma'am. Have a good night."
*Que the Wicked Witch of the West theme music*

I turn around from the door to find Dianna sitting there weeping. It was at this moment that I wished all my thoughts had been my words. I really was floored that this woman who already had 50 cats would come to our house at night, in the cold, in the rain and take our cat! But I couldn't start a fight with this lady over a cat.

I should mention that Mrs. Smith's backyard is basically attached to our backyard, so Miss Madison (or Rascal...again, what a stupid name...) was back at our house within 2 hours. The cat stayed with us, and has lived happily ever after. THE END.

Mrs. Smith says that Miss Madison was a "bad mommy," but I have evidence that she is a great mother:

The custody of the kittens has yet to be determined.

Who's To Blame?

2007-04-20T11:41:00.000-04:00

I have been thinking through some things in light of the Virginia Tech tragedy. It seems to me that horrible events like these reveal the true nature of America. 9/11 certainly did. The War on Terror certainly has. These sorts of things open us up and show us what we're made of. As the dust from the VT massacre begins to settle, the campus community, the politicians, and the media are all asking, "Why?" -- and rightly so. But our answer to this question reveals much about who were are, and I'm afraid our resounding answers are weak & pathetic.

The day the shooting occurred, the media was immediately answering the question "Why?" by blaming it on the school officials and the police officers. "They should have responded sooner." "They should have sent an email sooner."

After blaming the authorities, the media used this as a way to blame the firearm business. Why did the VT tragedy happen? Because people can own guns in our nation. Does that make any sense? I totally support tough gun ownership restrictions, but how could a person look at what happened in Blacksburg, VA and think, "It's the gun's fault"?

One of the most disturbing and revealing answers to the "why" question was the therapeutic answer. We're told that Cho Seung-hui was 'mentally ill' and 'had issues' and was 'troubled.' We're told that this goes back to him being picked on as a child. Essentially, Cho was just another poor victim...like the the 32 people he murdered. Do you see how utterly disturbing that is? Yet that is exactly what the academic, psychological elites are telling us. (By the way, this is precisely the lie that the Mary Winkler jury believed and let her off with a charge of manslaughter.)

So why did this really happen? Who is really to blame? Cho Seung-hui. He planned this out. He thought this through. He purchased the weapons. He pulled the trigger. This was a young man who had fostered an attitude of resentment and hate for others and, ultimately, for God. Murder always reveals hatred toward God. Cho hated God for putting these people in his life. He hated God for not silencing the people who picked on him. He hated God for making him different than the other students. He held on to this hatred and self-pity for many years, turning it into a vicious idol... one that was certainly influenced by demons. This sin in the heart of Cho manifest itself on April 16, 2007. Cho is to blame, and his wicked, sinful nature is the reason.

You will never, never, never hear a psychologist or a news anchor or a politician say what I just said. They won't say it because our culture of blame and tolerance and therapy will not allow them to say it. We educated Americans have answers now that don't need God. Our answers are too smart to blame sin or Satan. Those things are unevolved and unenlightened. So we make up these other answers... these weak & pathetic answers. And we do it because it enables us to get off the hook when we are in trouble.

This is a very personal, daily thing. "I yelled at you because I am under a lot of stress." "I was rude to everyone at work because I'm having a bad day." We say these things! And we really believe that these answers excuse our sinful behaviors. Read this carefully: There is no excuse for sin. You & I are responsible. Even when we are picked on and treated unfairly and are having a bad day, we are still responsible for the way we treat other people. But we love to blame something else, someone else. Much to their disdain, the answers of the evolved, enlightened academic elites are proving that Genesis 3 is true. After falling into sin, Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the serpent. But who does God hold responsible? All of us.

Learn the lesson that God is showing us: Cho is to blame for his sin. You & I are to blame for our sin. But there is a way to dodge the blame...

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24

Pass the blame of your sin to the only one who can take it... Blessed Jesus.

The Love of God & The Cross of Christ

2007-04-06T23:21:00.000-04:00

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God,

should die for me!

Charles Wesley

God shows His love for us

in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

________

As this Good Friday comes to a close, I want us to look at the other side of Christ's cross. You may have wondered where the love was in the last post. "How can we talk about the cross and not talk about love?!?," you might be thinking. But the reality is that you cannot understand the love of God until you first understand the wrath of God. The first side of the cross tells us what happened there on that Friday: God judged sin by pouring out His wrath on His Son. The second side of the cross, to which we now turn, tells us why that happened: God judged sin because He loves sinners! You cannot see how much God loves you until you see how much you don't deserve it.

You Didn't Deserve the Cross

I've heard it said that Jesus died for us because we are so valuable to Him. The cross, according to this view, shows how much you & I are worth to God. Is that true? Does Jesus love us because we're so valuable? No! And to say such shows a complete misunderstanding of grace. That kind of love is easy. "I love you because you mean a lot to me"...anyone can do that! The truth is that we are unworthy of this love. Read Romans 5:7-8 and you'll see exactly what I mean. The cross reveals a love for the unlovable... a love for the undeserving... a love for enemies! So get this down: The love shown on the cross isn't an EASY love.

In our society, we usually associate "love" with an emotion. So when we hear about God's love for us, we think, "How nice. God has feelings for me. Jesus likes me." If that's all it is, then that's a cheap love. It isn't simply a feeling or a word -- that junk is for teenagers! Love is costly; it sacrifices; it gives. The cross reveals this kind of love. So get this down as well: The love shown on the cross isn't a CHEAP love. It cost the Father His Son, and it cost the Son His life!

Allow me to point out two aspects (though there are millions!) of this love revealed on the cross.

1) A Forgiving Love = Luke 23:34 records that Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" as He hung on the cross. He prayed this for those soldiers who mocked Him. He prayed this for the crowd that yelled, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" He prayed this for those thieves beside Him. He prayed this even for Pilate who presided over His unjust trial. God's love is a forgiving love! It can pardon a selfish governor, a dirty crook, an angry crowd, a cruel soldier, and even a ______ you. What are your sins? Is it lying, cheating, stealing, murder, adultery, gossip, disobeying parents, lustful thoughts? No matter what the sin, the love of God in the cross of Christ offers you forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

2) An Everlasting Love = Luke 23:39-43 zooms in on the conversation between Jesus and the two thieves on their crosses. One crimnal is hateful, devoting some of his last breathes to cursing Christ. The other criminal is respectful and repentant. Jesus offered both forgiveness, but only one received it. Here's how he received it:

>a. He Admitted He Was a Sinner: Admit that you are the one who deserved the cross. Understand that it was you who deserved God's wrath.

>b. He Confessed Jesus Was Sinless: Examine Jesus' life & death and confess that He did no wrong, He perfectly kept the Law of God, and He did not deserve the cross. He was killed so that we, the guilty, might go free!

>c. Ask for Salvation: If you admit that you need a Savior and then confess that Jesus can save you, then ask Jesus to do it! It is really that simple.

-WARNING-

I need to warn you here that both criminals asked Jesus for salvation but only one received it (Luke 23:39 & 40). That is scary. That means that you can see Jesus on the cross and ask Him for salvation and still not get it! That truth should terrify you. How can you meet Jesus at the cross, ask Him for salvation, & still not get it?!

First, this criminal wasn't repentant. He wasn't truly sorry for his sin. He didn't hate his sin. Maybe you have asked Christ to save you, but you never received it because you love your sins. You have no desire to give them up and follow Jesus. You are in a very dangerous position, friend.

Second, this criminal wasn't asking for the salvation that Jesus was offering. He just wanted physical deliverance. "Jesus, get me down from this cross. Get me out of the mess I'm in." He wanted salvation for his body & not for his soul. Maybe you've asked for the wrong salvation! You want Jesus to fix your problems. You want Jesus to make you look better in front of friends & family. You want Jesus as a ticket to heaven. That IS NOT what Jesus offers. He offers to save your soul from the wickedness of sin. He offers to deliver you from the kingdom of darkness to His kingdom of light.

The second thief got it. He, by the work of the Holy Spirit, understood this stuff. (If you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, that should scare you.) The second thief saw that he deserved God's wrath, saw that Jesus was offering love, and he asked to be a part of this glorious kingdom! That thief is still experiencing God's precious love this very moment because it isn't just for today, it's for all eternity! The love that is offered to you by Jesus' cross today is a love that will never end. During this life, Christ's love will sustain and strengthen you. And when this life is over, Christ's love will carry you from death's final pains to heaven's blissful shore!

That hideous, blood-stained cross reveals God's amazing love to you. Can you see it? If you can, then you recognize that this kind of love demands your soul, your life, your ALL. Anything short of that is asking for the wrong salvation.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,

And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;

I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

The Wrath of God & The Cross of Christ

2007-04-06T13:27:00.000-04:00

When I survey the wondrous cross,

on which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

Issac Watts

And Jesus went out, bearing His own cross,

to the place called the place of a skull,

which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.

There they crucified Him.

John 19:17-18

__________

On this Good Friday, I want to encourage you to survey the cross of Christ. Take a long, hard look at it. Let it consume your thoughts. I firmly believe that the problems with our churches, marriages, and lives is that we have lost sight of the cross. I realize that sounds like typical "preacher-talk," but I mean it on the deepest level I can. Life is all about that cross. The cross is the only thing that matters! Yet, we never take time to let our minds, our hearts soak in the richness of Christ crucified.

You Deserved the Cross

The cross reveals to us the holy, fierce, just wrath of God. The cross stands to preach to us, "God hates sin. His anger burns against sin." This anger is holy, meaning that it is unlike our anger. God's anger is unique. This anger is fierce, meaning it is the most furious of all angers and the most painful of all punishments. And this anger is just, meaning it is right for God to hate sin. It is right for God to punish sin. Survey the cross today, and see the wrath that you deserved poured out on Christ Jesus.

1) Physical Pain = In 2004, Mel Gibson produced "The Passion of the Christ." There was a lot in the movie that I didn't like, but the one thing Gibson did well was showing the absolute agony that Jesus suffered. The gore, the blood, and the humiliation are all just one part of God's wrath. This is the part we usually think of... the pain and torment that our Lord endured on the cross. But as you look at the cross today, don't forget that you deserved it.

2) Emotional Pain = By this, I do not mean that Jesus needed therapy or that He went through some sort of emotional disorder. I mean that Jesus was a human with feelings and emotions and that those feelings were trampled upon that day. He went through an unfair trial, died as one of the vilest criminals, was mocked and insulted the entire time, and forced to look upon His own mother's deep grief. The emotional pain that our Lord went through was far more than what any of us experience...even in the worst moments of our lives. Survey that cross. See that emotional agony. Remember, you deserved it.

3) Spiritual Pain = This is the part we don't see on movie screens or in Easter plays. Because we can't see it, we often forget about it. Yet, this pain was the worst of them all. On the cross, the sins of His people were laid upon Him. The prophet Isaiah says, "He has bourne our griefs. He was crushed for out iniquities. Upon Him was the chastisement of us all." It's been said that only the damned in Hell know what Jesus suffered on that Good Friday. In one sense, that is true. They are experiencing the punishment of their sins (the holy, just, fierce wrath of God). But in another sense, that statement is untrue. Even the souls in Hell's eternal torments are not experiencing what Jesus suffered because they are just paying for their sins. The Lamb of God took away the sins of the world!

The whip ripping His back didn't hurt nearly as bad as your wickedness ripping His spirit. The nails driven into His hand & feet didn't hurt nearly as bad as your sinful nature driving into His spotless nature. The emotional pain of being deserted by most of His disciples wasn't nearly as bad as knowing that you would deny Him on a daily basis.

We get a glimpse of this pain in Matthew 27:46, where Jesus cried out, "My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?" This misery in His voice isn't due to the physical or emotional pain. It's the spiritual pain! In John 19:30, Christ says, "It is finished." What is? The judgment, the punishment, the suffering for sin is finished! He paid it all!

Do not forget, though, that this wasn't just a man taking the punishment. Had He been merely a man, He would've deserved it. It would've been like you & me dying on the cross -- we had it coming. Jesus wasn't merely a man; He was more than a man.

Jesus was Immanuel -- GOD with us. And as the God-man took that judgment, it became a justifying judgment! As the God-man paid that punishment, it became a propitiating punishment! As the God-man endured that suffering, it became a saving suffering!

Survey this wondrous cross, and see the work of God. Look at the cross and you will see what you deserve. Look at the cross and you will see what you have earned. But as you think on your sin, don't forget those final words of Jesus, "It is finished." The Father's wrath is satisfied. The Divine anger is gone. The Almighty's hatred is no more. Cling to this ugly, despised cross and you will find mercy.

I love the cross of Jesus,

It tells me what I am --

A vile, and guilty creature,

Saved only through the Lamb;

No righteousness nor merit,

No beauty can I plead;

Yet in the cross I glory,

My title there I read.

We're Having A...

2007-04-04T15:56:00.000-04:00

Dianna & I went to the hospital today for the ultrasound. At first, the black and white blob made absolutely no sense, but the technician (who was a really nice Christian lady) explained it all. After about 1 minute on the screen, she spotted something that looked like a lima bean with something sticking out of it. Apparently, that meant it was a...

BOY!!

Upon hearing this news, I placed both arms in the air, fists clinched, in a sign of "Victory!" My prayers for a firstborn son have been answered, and we are absolutely thrilled! The ultrasound showed more than private parts, though. We saw his face (he was sucking his thumb), his little feet (Dianna's favorite part), and he even mooned us a few times.

Now, we just need help picking a name. Had it been a girl, we had a great name picked out, but the boy names have been a debate for us. Give us your preference:

FULL NAME / CALLED NAME

a) Joshua Thomas Culbertson / Joshua Thomas or Thomas

b) Joshua Ethan Culbertson / Ethan

c) Joshua Eli Culbertson / Eli

d) Joshua Luke Culbertson / Luke

e) Jimmy Dean Culbertson / "Bubba"

I'll keep you posted on the final decision.

YouTube Theology

2007-03-29T16:10:00.000-04:00

If you haven't already seen this video of John Piper, you've got to check it out. It's pretty dang funny. Could this be the new way to teach total depravity to the next generation?? Enjoy!

John Piper is Bad

DayCare vs. MomCare

2007-03-28T22:48:00.000-04:00

A recent study has reported that children who spend large amounts of time in daycare tend to have more behavioral problems than those who are not in daycare. When asked why this might be, Margaret Burchinal, co-author of the study, had this to say:

There’s been a move to make child-care programs more academic. Kids are supposed to start school knowing numbers and letters before kindergarten, and this process gives them less free time and forces them to do a lot more large-group activities and worksheets. It’s really hard for a 3- or 4-year old to sit and listen to the teacher talk for extended lengths of time. This may lead to more acting out. Another hypothesis is that child-care centers tend to not pay their staffs very well and there’s a lot of turnover. It’s very hard to keep well-trained staff members, and teaching good behavior to a group of kids requires a lot of training.

You’ve gotta be kidding me. Academic pressures and a high turn-over rate are the reasons for bad behavior?! Dr. Burchinal is a psychologist at the University of North Carolina. How can smart people be so dumb? I don’t mean that to be rude; it just amazes me how she doesn’t even consider the possibility that the absence of parents might be the reason for the bad behavior. Isn’t that the obvious result of this study? Children need more time with their parents and less time with daycare employees.

The study is one piece of evidence that the world’s method of childcare isn’t working. The Bible never paints a picture of “childcare.” It teaches us about parenting (dad and mom caring for and instructing their children). Caring for children isn’t something we can out-source. Sure, you can get others to do it for you, but the results will not be pretty. Children should be with their parents the majority of the time. But they aren’t.
_

Why?
Mom is at work. Mothers are so busy devoting their lives to the office that they have no time to devote to their kids. Isn’t this the way it’s always been? Not until recently. I bet your grandma didn’t go to daycare. I bet your great-grandma took care of her. In American history, this move of women from the homes to the workplace occurred after the 1960s feminist movement. I realize that what I’m saying might sound alien and that I’m in risk of being considered a male chauvinist. But mothers should stay at home with their kids… at least until they are school age.

Let’s think biblically here. Titus 2:4 instructs young women to stay at home and care for their children. First Timothy 5:14 tells young widows to “remarry, bear children, [and] manage their homes.” A woman’s primary calling is to her home and with her children. Yet most moms are at work.

Why?
Financial reasons. That’s the usual answer. Kids cost money. I can testify to this and my child hasn’t even been born yet! But as American Christians, we have to be careful in this area. Does mom have to work in order to make ends meet or does mom have to work in order to pay for all the luxuries the family desires? This calls for some tough honesty on the part of parents. Most of us are just working for the extras, not for the necessities… just be honest about it. We want a big house, two nice cars, great vacations, tons of toys for the kids, etc. Is there anything wrong with those things? Maybe not. But when we place these things before God’s commands (to train our children & for moms to stay home), they become our gods.
Idolatry is the chief reason for daycare. We are sacrificing our children on the altars of the gods of consumerism. And we will pay a price for this wicked sacrifice.

Parents…especially Christian parents… need to think about this issue. Don’t just accept or reject my opinion. Examine God’s Word and then “be doers of the word and not hearers only” (James 1:22).

Real Politics

2007-03-22T13:48:00.000-04:00

Presidential hopeful John Edwards announced today that his wife, Elizabeth, has cancer again. We first heard of this as the 2004 elections were coming to a close. The cancer (originally in her breast) is back and has now spread to her bone. Thankfully, there seems to be encouraging news from the doctors that it is treatable. The couple really seems to be in good spirits.

I want to ask you to pray for the Edwards family. This reminds us that those politicians we see on T.V. are real people with real struggles. You'll probably remember that Mr. & Mrs. Edwards suffered the loss of their teenage son in a car accident a few years back. Their family has stuck together in very trying times -- a wonderful example of faithfulness in a terribly unfaithful society. Mr. Edwards' words are refreshing: "Any time, any place I need to be with Elizabeth I will be there -- period." We need more men like that in politics.

I disagree with John Edwards on almost every political issue. He would probably never receive my vote. But I do respect him. My heart does go out to him and Elizabeth. And I will pray for them.

Through this bad news, the Lord has given us a great opportunity to learn that though we may adamantly disagree with someone, we can/should still fervently pray for them.

Pinch Me. I'm Protestant.

2007-03-17T11:30:00.000-04:00

I've lived in a part of the country with a large Catholic population for a few years now, which has forced me to rethink St. Patrick's Day. As my font color suggests, I have an agenda here. In Ireland, green has come to represent nationalism (aka Catholicism), while orange has come to represent unionists (aka Protestants). Thus, the Irish flag has green on one side, orange on the other with a white bar in the middle, symbolizing the hope for peace between the two groups. Now, read this well, my new thoughts on St. Patty's Day have nothing to do with politics in Northern Ireland. I don't support the Protestant group over the Catholic group. I think they both are in the wrong. But in America, St. Patty's is all about Irish pride, which up here means Catholic pride. I'm not Catholic and just so no one gets the wrong impression, I proudly wear orange on this fine day!

The Puritans (predominantly Scottish Presbyterians) referred to Catholicism as "antichrist." A little harsh? I don't think so. In the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith (a modified version of the Westminster Confession), the Puritans wrote that the Pope "exalts himself in the church against the Christ and above all that is called God." It's true! In Catholicism, the Pope is worshiped, he is infallible, & he is the head of the church. Yet, Colossians 1:18 says, "Christ is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent." It seems to me that you've got two folks (Pope vs. Christ) competing for the same position (head of church). In that race I'm Pro-Christ and Anti-Pope; Catholics are Pro-Pope and Anti-Christ!

Also, Catholic priests "sacrifice" Christ each time the mass is taken. They believe that once the bread and wine are consecrated, they become the literal body and blood of Christ. Thus, they re-sacrifice him every time they meet. This is why Catholic churches have altars and altar boys. You sacrifice things on altars. Protestant churches do not have altars, which is why I don't like the term "altar-call." Hebrews 10:11-12 says, "And every priest [speaking of Jewish priests, but can apply to Catholics] stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God." His sacrifice is once, for all. Re-sacrificing Christ is saying that His death of the cross was insufficient! It's anti-Christ.

One last thing I'd like to point out on this St. Patty's Day soapbox is that the Pope claims the power to absolve sins, meaning he can grant forgiveness. Think back to Mark 2:1-12, where Jesus heals the paralyzed man that was brought down through the roof. Before Jesus heals him, He says, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Then the religious leaders start thinking, "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Ah... the scribes were on to something here. They were right in that only God can forgive sins. What they were totally blind to was the fact that God was standing in front of them! So Jesus heals the man so that the scribes "may know that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Only Jesus Christ has the power to forgive sins. Again, we see a battle between the Pope & Christ, making him and his religion anti-Christ.
_
I'm not Irish. I'm not Catholic. I'm Scots-Irish. I'm Protestant. So go ahead, pinch me.

I Salute General Pace

2007-03-13T15:43:00.000-04:00

The highest official in the U.S. armed services, Gen. Peter Pace, called homosexuality immoral. He said, "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is okay to be immoral in any way." This statement receives my first salute.

I don't salute him because he made a negative comment about homosexuality. That's not the goal. As Christians, we aren't to speak meanly or cruelly about homosexuals. Ann Coulter's recent comment is a prime example of what not to do. I salute Gen. Pace here not because he spoke negatively about homosexuality, but because he spoke truthfully about it. It is immoral, which is exactly why he is correct in saying the U.S. is not well served by the current policy on gays in the military.

In the aftermath of all of this, liberals and gay rights groups are calling on the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to apologize. Some have called his comment "irresponsible and offensive." House Leader Nancy Pelosi (who represents the San Fransisco area) said that she was "disappointed in the moral judgment." O, how far our country has fallen! Have mercy on us, God.

Yet despite all of this, Gen. Pace has not apologized. He did say that he regretted focusing on his personal opinions rather than on the current policy, but he did not apologize. This calls for a second salute. I don't know where this man stands with Christ, but I pray that these right convictions come from a regenerate heart. I am thankful that America has at least one man of principle leading us. Pray for Gen. Pace, pray for those who disagree with Gen. Pace, pray for homosexuals, and pray for our troops. May Christ deliver us all from the kingdom of darkness into His glorious kingdom of light.

Dear Church Members,

2007-03-09T08:33:00.000-05:00

As a servant of Christ and His church, I feel compelled to write you and express my deepest concern for the present condition of preaching in our churches. You may wonder why I don't address the preachers. After all, they are the ones primarily responsible with preaching. That is true. But I write you because what you believe about preaching will change the way your pastor preaches. If you are content with fluff from the pulpit, expect it. If you are satisfied by feel-good sermons, expect them. When it comes to preaching, you usually get what you ask for! This is unfortunate but true. Thus, I'm appealing to you: Examine your view of preaching.

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:21-25

I. Preaching Is Pleasing
Verse 21 says, "it pleased God." Preaching pleases God! In a day when many churches are "man-centered," (seeking to please people), the Bible tells us that preaching is to be God-centered (seeking to please God). I've heard of pastors doing all sorts of things to please people -- coffee and doughnuts...popcorn...free beer! And all this is in hopes to get/keep you coming to church. Many of these pastors should be ashamed of the ways they lure people in, but do you see why they do it? This is the only way they can get you to church!
What are you expecting from the sermon? Do you want it to cater to your wants and please you or do you want it to focus on pleasing the Lord and obeying Him?

II. Preaching Is Centered
All sermons - even bad ones - are centered on something. Most preachers today center their messages on the "needs of the congregation." Thus, we have sermons on how to be a better parent, how to be content with your job, etc. Those are the things you think about on a fairly regular basis. But is that really what you need? Think about it. Will 7 steps to being a happier person actually help you in eternity? Will 5 ways to spice up your marriage get you to heaven? No. You need sermons that are centered on something greater than your "felt-needs."
Verse 23 says, "we preach Christ crucified." That should be the central message from our pulpits: the Holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, the sacrificial death & glorious resurrection of Christ, and the command to repent and believe! That's the Gospel... that's the Bible. Thus, preaching should be Gospel-centered, Bible-centered. That is your real need. You need to weekly be reminded of your sinfulness and pointed back to the mercy and grace of your Savior. That will fit you for heaven! And that will fit you for earth (this kind of preaching will change your soul, which will change your marriage, your job, etc).
Do you want your preacher to excite your attention & impress your ears or do you want your preacher to feed your soul? What you expect is what you will get.

III. Preaching Is Saving
You need real preaching that is seeking the Father's pleasure and that is centered on Christ's Gospel because the Holy Spirit uses that kind of preaching to do His most powerful and miraculous work. Verse 21 says, "to save those who believe." Preaching is the instrument that God uses to save people! Not cantatas, not children's plays, not fellowship dinners... preaching. Can people get saved at those things? Yes. Are people saved through those things? No.
Romans 10:14 says, How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Some of you may think preaching is too boring for our visual society. Some of you may think preaching is too authoritative for our anti-authoritarian society. Some of you may think preaching is too intellectual for out anti-intellectual society. So instead, you think we should sing the message or we should act out the message. You think those are better ways to reach this culture. But that is "wisdom" of men. God has chosen the foolish, weak tool of preaching to shame the (seemingly) wise, strong ideas of men.
Prophets like Isaiah, Amos, and Ezekiel preached. Jesus Christ preached. When He sent out the twelve, He sent them to preach. God has and will always use the preaching of His Word to communicate His truth to sinful souls.

Because of these truths from 1 Corinthians 1:21-25, I plead with you, brothers and sisters, to do the following:
1) Listen to Preaching -- Preachers are responsible for what they say, you are responsible for what you hear. God commands you to hear His Word. How do you listen to the sermon? DO you listen? Reverently listen and humbly obey the Word.
2) Prioritize Preaching -- If the church offered you free pills each week that would ease all of your aches and pains, you would make every effort to be there. You'd drop everything to get there. Yet, 1 Corinthians teaches us that something even greater is offered through preaching -- salvation! God saves us and makes us holier through preaching. Will you not get out of bed for that? Will you not bring the kids for that? Don't neglect the preaching of the Word; it's too important.
3) Pray for Preaching -- If you realize that your preacher isn't living up to God's standards in his preaching, don't desert him. Lift him up to the Father. If you want better sermons, don't talk about the preacher, pray for him. Also, consider a gentle, loving way of talking with him about his sermons. If he doesn't care and continually will not hear your concern, then find another church. But only after much prayer for your current church's preacher.

May our pulpits be filled with men who will faithfully preach the Word so that our souls would be fed and our lives would be changed. Amen.

For the Gospel,
Josh

A Discovery to Change History

2007-02-28T20:09:00.000-05:00

Small boxes containing what might be the bones of Jesus have been found just south of Jerusalem, according to recent reports. This is big news. If the story is true, this is the biggest news in the past 2,000 years! But the story doesn't stop there. It goes on to propose that in the tomb with Jesus lay the bones of his wife, Mary Magdalene and their son, Judah. History-changing? Oh yeah. But is it true?

From the minimal research I've done, let me give you 4 reasons why this is not true:

1) Common Names -- The names of the tombs (Jesus, Joseph, Mary, & Judah) were all extremely common names during the first century. In Scripture alone, there's Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary the sister of Lazarus, etc. Other names for Judah would be Judas (2 of the 12 disciples named that) and Jude. In Colossians 4:11, Paul mentions another man named Jesus. Thus, finding a tomb with these names is like people 1,000 years from now finding a gravestone that simply says "Bill" and proposing that this must be the grave of Bill Clinton. The names prove nothing.

2) Poor Galileans -- Jesus was from a dirt poor area in Galilee. If you saw "The Nativity Story" then you saw a great depiction of how poor they were. How, then, could they afford such a nice tomb in Jerusalem? And why would they have a tomb in Jerusalem if their home town was 70 miles north in Nazareth? This doesn't make sense.

3) Easter Is Soon -- "What does this have to do with anything?," you may ask. It has everything to do with it. Every year around Easter some crazy new theory about Jesus comes out. Just expect it. As soon as the stores start putting out the chocolate bunnies, someone is going to start spouting off heresy.

4) Scholarly Quotes -- Here's what archaeologists are saying...

"I'm not a Christian. I'm not a believer. I don't have a dog in this fight. I've known about these ossuaries for many years and so have many other archaeologists, and none of us thought is was much of a story. It's a publicity stunt, and it will make these guys very rich."

- William G. Dever, Professor Emeritus, University of Arizona

"[They] have set it up as if it's a legitimate academic debate, when the vast majority of scholars who specialize in archaeology of this period flatly reject this."

- Jodi Magness, Archaeologist from the University of North Carolina

"It makes a great story for a TV film, but it's completely impossible. It's nonsense."

- Amos Kloner, Professor from Bar Ilan University, Oversaw the original excavation of the tomb in 1980

5) $$$ -- This isn't about science. This isn't about archaeology. This isn't about truth. This is about money, plain and simple. Real archaeological finds come out in research, not in TV shows. Genuine discoveries are found in journals, not in popular books. And isn't it interesting how this 'discovery' seems to point us to "The Da Vinci Code" theory? Jesus and Mary Magdalene wed and have a child in the "Da Vinci Code," and now we have the tomb where a Jesus and wife Mary are buried. This is all for publicity and money, nothing more.

But why? Why do James Cameron and others seek to find Jesus' bones? It's very simple:

If they find Jesus' bones, it proves Jesus wasn't resurrected.

If Jesus wasn't resurrected, then He isn't God.

If Jesus isn't God, then we don't have to obey Him.

That's why. Sinners hate God's commands. They hate the thought of leaving sin and clinging to Christ. Thus, they seek to dispose of Christ. The Pharisees did it. The Sadducces did it. Today, Hollywood does it. Those little white boxes aren't going to change history. James Cameron isn't going to change history. The only discovery to change history was the empty tomb.

He Is Not Here, but He Has Risen!

Six Degrees of Segregation

2007-02-26T18:57:00.000-05:00

Ever played the game, Six Degrees of Separation? It's the idea that if you trace relationships back by about 6 people, all people are somehow connected... usually by knowing a friend of a friend. Sound odd? I agree, but before you dismiss the theory, you've got to hear this: "Rev." Al Sharpton and the late Sen. Strom Thurmond are connected!

The news is reporting that genealogists have traced Sharpton's ancestors all the way back to a slave owned by the Thurmond family. In a very interesting providence of the Lord, Al Sharpton's great-grandfather was a slave owned by Strom Thurmond's great-great-grandfather. Thus, two men who you would have never guessed to be connected in any way actually are. And isn't it interesting that these two men are worlds apart? Or are they?

Thurmond, the beloved Senator from South Carolina, was a staunch segregationist for much of his life. He ran for president in 1948 over the issue of segregation. In this campaign he said, "I wanna tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that there's not enough troops in the army to force the Southern people to break down segregation and admit the nigra race into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches." Racist? Absolutely. It's sad that this man had such disdain for another race of people. This is sin. I must condemn this sin, even though I do respect the overall legacy of Sen. Thurmond.

Sharpton, Civil Rights activist and Pentecostal preacher, is what we would consider the polar opposite of Thurmond. But is that true? Let me give you a few cases from Mr. Sharpton's file. In 1987, a black girl in Wappingers Falls, New York accused six white men of raping her, smearing feces on her, and leaving her in a garbage bag. Enter Sharpton... he hyped up the racial tension of the incident. The final verdict was that this was all a hoax, but Sharpton still refuses to admit this truth. In 1991, a black child was accidentally killed by a car full of Hasidic Jews. Enter Sharpton... he called the Jews "diamond merchants" and said, "If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house." In 1995, a Jewish landlord in Harlem raised the rent on a black store owner. Enter Sharpton... who said, "We will not stand by and allow them to move this brother so that some white interloper can expand his business."

Now, are these the comments of a man interested in peace between the races? No. Instead, this is a racist man who wants to divide and segregate the races as much as possible.

Strom and Al, connected centuries ago by the racist institution of slavery and connected today by their racist, divisive comments.

Maybe these two men have more in common than we thought...

Calling For Truth

2007-02-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

ATTENTION ALL SC UPSTATE RESIDENTS

There's a fantastic radio show broadcasting in your area! It's "Calling For Truth" with Pastors Paul Dean and Kevin Boling. My father has been listening to it for awhile and has told me a lot about it. It's on AM, which is why I never heard it, but I've been looking at their website and they have an all-star lineup: Martha Peace, Noel Piper, Will Metzger, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, & Russ Moore. These are all names that I greatly respect in Christ's kingdom. I've linked the website under "Sites I Browse." Check it out, add it to your favorites, and thank Roger Culbertson for the insight!

Our Part of the Globe Isn't Warming

2007-02-13T11:21:00.000-05:00

Some scientists are beginning to doubt the validity of the Global Warming theory. Notice the word "theory" there. It's a word that is conveniently dropped from every news program that I watch. But we're hearing quite a bit recently of people who are questioning Global Warming. I think I'm with them... and I have proof! The thermometer below reads 21 or so, but it's usually 10 degrees higher than the actual temp. In fact, yesterday was the first day we have been over freezing in 2 weeks! Enjoy some of the pics from our Winter Wonderland.

My recommendation to the scientists is to wait until spring or summer before trying to convince me of Global Warming... maybe then I'll buy it. But our research in Indiana does show that cats prefer hairballs over snowballs... here's proof. The cats used for research are Miss Madison (the calico cat), Calvin (the black cat), and Fraidy (the white cat who won't let you pet him). Miss Madison was OK with the snow, she even rolled around in it. But Calvin hated it! Both he and Fraidy were doing their best to keep their paws off the snow.

That's the news from Brooksburg. What's happening in your neck of the woods?

Followers of Christ…Superstars?

2007-02-02T09:03:00.000-05:00

As I scrolled through the news a few days ago, I ran across an article on American Idol. One of the contestants in the Birmingham auditions was Chris Sligh. I noticed he looked familiar, so I began to look into it. Come to find out, I went to North Greenville University with him! NGU producing an American Idol… I was pretty excited. I couldn't wait to cast a vote for a fellow believer and NGU Mountie (I know the mascot has changed, but I'll always be a Mountie!)

Since then, I’ve given some thought to the question, “Can Christians be rock stars?” Let me begin this discussion by saying that I do not take an ‘Independent, Fundamental’ position on rock & roll. I love classic rock. CCR and The Band are two of my top favorites. The Rolling Stones have a long history of great music. And I would choose that music over Michael W. Smith any day! Having said that, I do have reservations about Christians assuming the role of ‘rock star.’ I’ll explain.

On Chris Sligh’s blog, he writes, “I’m first and foremost a Christ-follower.” That's great. I'm really glad to see a Christian involved with American Idol. He continues, “I am also a rock star. I don't feel the two are diametrically opposed. If you do...I feel bad for you." At risk of having Mr. Sligh feel bad for me, I have to wonder if Christianity and stardom are diametrically opposed. I had my initial opinions and I'm sure you do as well, but let's try to set those aside and examine this biblically.
_

In Matthew 10:22, Jesus says, "You will be hated by all for my name's sake." 2 Timothy 3:12 says, "All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." The running theme throughout the New Testament is that the world is not going to applaud us. This persecution is stronger in some areas than it is in others. But the truth is the same: The world will not like us. Why? Because we are called to tell them that the things they love so dearly (sin) are the things God hates! We are called to tell them that God is willing to pardon them through His Son Jesus. But the world hates this message because it demands that they leave their sin and begin loving Jesus.

Now, how does this apply to being a rock star? If your life's message is Christ and Him crucified (which is should be for all Christians), how will this sell albums? Yeah, Christians might buy them, but we're talking about America at large. The world will not buy music that confronts them in their sin and exalts Christ as Savior! Some may cite the success of artists like P.O.D. and Switchfoot, but can you show me one song in which these bands give a clear presentation of the Gospel? In most I've heard, you have to be a Christian to read between the lines of their lyrics and realize, "Oh, they might be referencing Jesus." If a Christian rock star wants to sell his music, he has to make sure it's watered down enough for the world to like it. And there's the problem. The goal for the rock star is to be liked and well-received among the culture. Is that an appropriate goal for a Christian?

I'm sure many people think, "This is a great way for a Christian to share Christ with the culture." But has God called us to sing the Gospel? No. Has God called us to entertain with the Gospel? Certainly not. He has called us to the hard task of preaching the Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 & 4 Paul writes, "I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified... and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." He's saying that the goal of his message wasn't to impress them or to entertain them. His goal was to preach in such a way that they would trust only in Christ and not in a man. My point here is that the goal of our preaching is to point sinners to Christ and not to ourselves. The very nature of being a rock star is to point people to you, isn't it? How else will you sell records? Why else do we have American Idol? As Christians, we can't have it both ways. "My glory I will not share with another (Is. 48:11)."

I hope Chris Sligh does well. He seems to be a great guy, and he's very talented. But after thinking through it biblically, I can't vote for him because Christianity and stardom do seem "diametrically opposed."

PS- Happy Birthday (tomorrow) to my excellent wife! And Happy Groundhog Day to everyone else.

Father Josh

2007-01-24T21:39:00.000-05:00

Don't worry. I haven't joined the Roman Catholic Priesthood. I'm going to be a father! Yes, just 3 months into our first blissful year of marriage, and Dianna and I are expecting. We're really excited. But I'm still trying to picture myself as a father. I need your help.

In your opinion, which of the following dads will I be most like?

Frank Barone, the Cranky Dad

Ward Cleaver, the All-Knowing Dad

Cliff Huxtable, the Hillarious Dad

Archie Bunker, the Clueless Dad

Listen to This!

2007-01-12T14:44:00.000-05:00

My father recommended I listen to a radio program from Family Life Today. It's a sermon by Texas pastor Voddie Baucham to a group of Southern Baptists. It's great! He deals with issues that I addressed in my A House Divided post. I commend it to you.
Click Here to listen.

The Democratic Baptist Convention

2007-01-11T18:00:00.000-05:00

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are working to unite Baptists in North America. Both of the ex-presidents were, at one time, part of the Southern Baptist Convention but withdrew from the denomination because of its conservative beliefs. Now the men have introduced an idea that they submit will heal divisions between all Baptists and focus on the common factors between the groups. Carter said, "Our Goal is to extend an invitation to all Baptists."

They extended this invitation to take part in the unifying plan to 80 leaders from 40 Baptist organizations. The one group not on the invitation list was the Southern Baptist Convention -- the largest Baptist denomination in the world. Interesting huh?
The reason every other Baptist group in America was invited and the SBC was not is simple: conservatives are not welcome. Bill Underwood, president of Mercer University and the mind behind this madness, let his bias show in a statement made on this plan. He said, "The only image most North Americans have of Baptists comes from right-wing leaders who frequently appear on television news shows or other medial, representing some of the most negative rhetoric, most conservative political views and most fundamentalist theology." So back to Jimmy Carter's earlier statement... "extend an invitation to all Baptists"? Here's what he really meant, "We will extend an invitation to everyone except those with conservative political views and fundamentalist theology."
Basically, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton want to start a Democratic Baptist Convention! One in which homosexuals are accepted, women are ordained, doctrine doesn't matter, and everyone just talks about love and acceptance. This is awful -- and I haven't even pointed out the fact that Bill Clinton is the religious leader here!
This brings me to two conclusions. First, I am saddened that there are deeply religious people who just don't get it. They want everyone to be happy and hold hands and just love. But they are willing to unite at the expense of doctrine. Virgin birth? Big deal! Literal hell? Doesn't matter! Jesus the only way to God? Who cares! Well, Mr. Carter and Mr. Clinton, those things DO matter. In fact, Scripture teaches that doctrine is what unites us (Eph. 4:13, 1 John 4:1-3). Let's pray for these erring 'Baptists', that they might see the truths of Scripture and unite on doctrine first.
My second conclusion is that I see, yet again, how thankful we Southern Baptist should be for the trials that kept the SBC from turning into a liberal mess. We were on the brink of disaster. Our seminaries were teaching heresies and practicing immorality. Our pastors were standing in pulpits, ripping God's Word to shreds. But by the grace of God and the work of some very dedicated men (Paige Patterson, Adrian Rogers, Jimmy Draper, Al Mohler, etc.), we younger Southern Baptists are not faced with battles over the inerrancy of God's Word or the ordination of homosexuals. I praise our Good and Gracious God for keeping us from such errors and pray that future generations would remain loyal to "the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3)."

Related Post:
Are Liberal Christians really Atheists?

In God We Trust, right?

2007-01-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

Last night, President Bush presented his new plan to win the war in Iraq. The plan asks for more troops and more responsibility for the Iraqi government. I'm not sure what to think of it, and I'm thankful not to be the leader of our nation during these days. Of course the Democrats don't like it (what DO they like?). But setting the politics aside, let's think 'Christianly' about Iraq.

Proverbs 21:31 says, "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." This proverb summarizes the Bible's teaching on God's sovereignty over military victories. All throughout the Old Testament we see God delivering some armies over in defeat while giving other armies a mighty victory. In every case, we must accept the truth that God is in control of the battlefields - even Iraq's.

I am not knowledgeable enough to know if President Bush's new plan is the right plan. But I do know that few of our politicians - on either side of the aisle - seem to understand Psalm 33:16-17, "The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue." More troops and more aircraft carriers aren't ultimately what win a war. A different strategy and a better, bi-partisan plan aren't ultimately what win a war. We can (and should) do all we can to succeed in Iraq, but Christians must remember that our hope for success lies, not in the plans of George W. Bush or the ideas of Nancy Pelosi, but in the mighty hands of God.

I'm afraid that the current political tensions that run so high in our nation are causing believers in Christ to begin placing their hope and trust in a certain party or a certain politician. I know I've been tempted to do this. But parties succeed and fail. Politicians come and go. Agendas are discussed and then forgotten. As Christians, we know the One who holds the governments and leaders and political plans in the palm of His hand (Proverbs 21:1). We have a personal relationship with the One who will either give our nation victory in Iraq or withhold it. So why are we banking everything on the White House? We don't need to sit around and hope George Bush makes the right decisions. His decisions are in the all-sufficient, all-encompassing will of the God whom we call "Father."

So as the news programs and the politicians debate and bicker over the ins and outs of this new plan, let's remember who really determines the outcome of the Iraq War and let's ask Him to carry out His good and perfect plan.

New Year...New Revelation?

2007-01-04T20:54:00.000-05:00

Have you heard? Pat Robertson is claiming that God told him the U.S. is going to experience a massive terrorist attack in 2007. God also told Robertson that in 2006 the U.S. coastline would be hit by a “tsunami-like storm.” Maybe I missed it, but I didn't hear of a tsunami wiping out Florida. Granted, it does take news awhile to reach Brooksburg.
The media scoffs at Robertson for his predictions. But if these were just predictions, they would be okay. Robertson, on the other hand, claims these to be words from the Lord! That jumps from the category of prediction to prophecy. There are a whole host of things wrong with this. Let me just point out two.
First, in Scripture, when God foretells a terrible event (like a massive terrorist attack) He gives the reason why the event will take place. Our Lord always interprets His actions. For instance, when the Lord says that He will punish Judah in Amos 2:4-5, He tells them the reason: “because they have rejected the law of the Lord” (v. 4). When the Lord sent Nahum to preach judgment to Nineveh, He gives the reason (Nahum 3:19): “For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?”
Compare that with Pat Robertson’s “prophecy.” God’s Word is always specific/Robertson tiptoes around the details. God’s Word always tells why the judgment/Robertson doesn't mention why this attack would happen. Though he does seem to suggest it might have something to do with the American government's mixed relationship with the Israeli government. I don't want to get into all that, but the current nation of Israel (founded in 1948) is not the biblical nation of Israel.
Here’s the main problem with Robertson’s claims of conversation with God: It ruins the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture. God has already revealed everything we need to know for faith and practice... everything. It's found in His Word, the Bible. We need no new prophecies or revelations. But it's not just charismatics who do this. We, too, need to be careful how we word things. We often go about saying, "God told me to..." or "God said ___ to me." Well, what we mean is that the Holy Spirit led us to do something or that we felt convicted in a certain area. God is not privately revealing more to us than what we already have in Scripture.
So many Christians today (especially our charismatic brothers...notice I say brothers) are wanting a "fresh word" or "new revelation" from God. But why? It's because we want something new. The latest fad, the newest trend. But the Word of God has already been revealed. We need no more than what is found on the pages of Genesis to Revelation. We do not need new, fresh words... we need those ancient words, those precious words of old. They, and not the fresh predictions of a T.V. preacher, will prepare us for 2007 - and ultimately for all eternity.

Home for the Holidays

2006-12-23T12:02:00.000-05:00

This painting by Norman Rockwell is one of my favorites because it captures the joy of being with family. I know a lot of people complain that this picture isn't the way a 'real' family looks, and I must admit that is mostly true. But families ought to look like this. Grandpa & Grandma should be valued and respected by their children and grandchildren. Generations of young and old should sit down at the table and laugh together. That's what family is all about.

This Christmas, Dianna and I are going to South Carolina & Georgia to spend the holiday with our family. I consider this a blessing. I look forward to playing with my niece and nephew (the 2 most precious kids on the planet...but that title is subject to change when I have my kids!). I can't wait to go spend time with Dianna's Grandy and Papa, laughing and talking with them. Family and Christmas go hand in hand, and thank God for it. This Christmas, gather your family around you and love them. Give hugs, tell jokes, and tell them how much they mean to you. Family is certainly the second greatest gift given to us at Christmas. As for the first, well, He's what Christmas is all about.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

The Prominence of Promiscuity

2006-12-19T22:12:00.000-05:00

A new study released by the Guttmacher Institute, a liberal think tank dedicated to promoting promiscuity and abortions, says that 95% of Americans have engaged in premarital sex... that's more than nine out of ten! These numbers are strangely high in my opinion, and we certainly have reason to doubt the veracity of such a radical left-wing research group. However, I do believe that the number of men and women in America who are engaging in premarital sex is shockingly high...even in our churches.
There are many reasons: we live in a sex-saturated culture, poor parenting, many colleges have coed dorms (the dumbest thing I've ever heard), the silence of churches on the issue, etc.

But I would like to suggest a reason that perhaps might surprise you: Delayed Marriage.
The average age for a woman to marry now is anywhere between 26-30. In years past the average age was 18-20. That large jump is due, in part, to the American education fixation. One is pushed to finish his or her education (which could last until he or she is 30!) before entertaining the idea of marriage. The message? Family comes second to "bettering" oneself in America. And Christians just buy into this practice, never questioning its intentions or examining its effects. We have embraced the world's philosophy that it is best to wait to marry. But is that a biblical idea? Let's look.
Proverbs 5:18 - ...rejoice in the wife of your youth.
Malachi 2:15 - ...let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.
1 Corinthians 7:2 - But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
Titus 2:4 - ...train the young women to love their husbands and children.
The first two passages, along with the last one, show that marriage is meant for young people. The passage from 1 Corinthians teaches us that the common result of a bunch of unwed people is sexual immorality. Thus, we read in the news today that 95% of Americans have had sex before marriage. The numbers are staggering. The solution is simple. Get married.

Prolonged singleness is the playground of promiscuity.

I'm curious to hear what you think.

Encouraging News from Episcopals

2006-12-17T22:25:00.000-05:00

A group of Episcopals from Virginia voted today to break ties with the Episcopal Church USA (check out my past blog about liberal denominations) and unite with a conservative Episcopal denomination. The group that is pulling out is one of the largest in America and traces its roots back to colonial days. They have chosen to allign themselves with Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, a man who has rightly called the acceptance of homosexuality a "satanic attack" on the church.
You'll remember that the Episcopal Church ordained an open homosexual, V. Gene Robinson, as a bishop in New Hampshire in 2003. Their position on the issue is anything but biblical. Bishop Peter Lee of Virginia has said that the denomination will fight the split, so we can expect a battle in the days to come. The American church's leader, "Bishop" Katharine Jefferts Schori, said that any division saddened her.
This is certainly a sad situation, but not for the reasons that Schori is thinking. The news of the split isn't sad at all. It's great! The sad part is that the conservatives are forced to make this decision. They have no choice but to leave this pagan denomination. I'm thankful for their difficult stand and pray that their tribe would increase!

How Wal-Mart Stole Christmas

2006-12-13T16:51:00.001-05:00

Last night, Dianna and I watched “Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas.” Though this movie had been out for a few years, I had never watched it (I know… I really need to get out more). I was impressed with the movie’s message…

Consumerism isn’t the meaning of Christmas.

What a refreshing message in the midst of what has become the most materialistic holiday celebrated in America!
As Christians, we all know the real reason we celebrate Christmas is Christ’s birth, but what is the message we’re sending to our kids? Ask your children what their favorite part of Christmas is and you’ll probably hear nothing about spending time with family, going to church, or reading the story of Jesus’ birth. The kids will most likely tell you their favorite part is getting the gifts. Granted, that is a great part of Christmas. But our kids have been programmed (by us) to think of “getting” when they think of Christmas. We actually cater to their selfishness during this season! Whatever little Johnny wants, we get. No matter the cost for little Susie, we buy it.
I know that we do this out of love. We want little Johnny and Susie to be happy. But as believers in Jesus Christ, we – more than anyone – should understand that earthly treasures do not bring lasting happiness. Sure, the kids will be elated on Christmas morning, but what happens when the toys get old? I remember playing a video game for about a month and then never touching it again. What a waste!
The Grinch made a good point when he told the materialistic Whos of Whoville that all their expensive gifts eventually made their way to his cave via the garbage shoot. The Nintendo, He-man toys, and bike that Santa brought me just 15 years ago are all in a junkyard somewhere. That PlayStation3, Dora doll, and new T.V. that you’re shopping for will all be garbage in less than 20 years. That is the reality of stuff. Jesus said it this way, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth & rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:19-20).This Christmas, give gifts. That’s all fine. But put it in perspective. Don’t forget that the things you purchase will not bring your children any lasting value. Teach them to store up treasures in heaven. Teach them about God’s gift to us – the only gift that will bring us eternal happiness – the Savior who is Christ the Lord.

A House Divided

2006-12-05T20:49:00.000-05:00

Go to the average church and you’ll find divisions. Group A separates itself from Group B, while Group B doesn’t want to be around Group C. I realize that these groups could represent many different things from church to church. Maybe there is a disagreement over a theological issue. Maybe there is a conflict over the style of music. Divisions vary among congregations.

But what if I were to tell you that there are certain divisions common in almost every church? I guarantee that I can name some of the divisions in your church. Test me on this:
-Group A= Children’s Ministry
-Group B= Youth Ministry
-Group C= Adult Ministry (which is further divided)
>Group C1= Senior Adult Ministry
>Group C2= Men’s/Women’s Ministry
>Group C3= Young Married Ministry
>Group C4= Singles Ministry
>Group C5= College Ministry

Am I right? If you attend a fairly large church, the odds are that your congregation is divided into these groups and that you have a minister specifically for each group!
You’re probably thinking, “What’s wrong with this? These kinds of divisions aren’t bad.” I do not mean to suggest that a children’s ministry is evil or that hiring a Youth Minister is demonic. That is certainly not the case.
However, I do mean to suggest that the divisions we have set are unbiblical and harmful to the body of Christ. Allow me to prove both points.

1) It Is Unbiblical – I’ll begin with a question. Should a woman serve as a Youth Minister? If you have an answer for that question, it is your own opinion and not a matter of Scripture. The Bible doesn’t tell us if a woman may serve as a Youth Minister. Why? Because the Bible mentions nothing about youth ministry. It is a division that we have created.
The Bible doesn’t speak about children/youth/singles ministries. In fact, the biblical example is opposed to our divisional ministries. The biblical example, best set forth in Titus 2, instructs us to combine rather than divide. In Titus 2, the Lord commands the older men to teach younger men and the older women to teach younger women. Yet what do we do in our churches? The senior adults go to Shoney’s for breakfast and the youth go skiing. The two groups are never together for any genuine fellowship! This is unbiblical.
The biblical picture is one of different people from different walks of life uniting under the banner of the cross. What do a 17 year old girl and a 45 year old woman have in common? Jesus. What can a 25 year old single guy and a 73 year old widower talk about? Jesus. That is a radically beautiful thought! O, for churches like this!

2) It Is Harmful – This reason is why I’ve blogged on this topic. As a pastor, I love God’s Church. I don’t want to see it damaged in any way. But our divisions are harming us. Youth aren’t receiving the wisdom of their elders because they’re never together. Singles aren’t receiving preparation for marriage because they’re never around the married people. Children aren’t witnessing Dad & Mom worship the Lord because the kids are taken off to Children’s Church. This hurts everyone.
And rather than have everyone involved in ministry, we hire men to do the job for us. I should be teaching a teenager how to study the Bible, not a youth minister. You should be praying for and encouraging that college student, not a college minister. Ministry isn’t for the
“professionals,” it’s for us, the average church folks. This divisional mentality has stolen ministry from the people pews. I say we get it back.

What do you think?

South Carolina's Christmas Gift to You

2006-12-01T19:13:00.000-05:00

It's the first day of December, which in my mind marks the opening day of the Christmas season. If you haven't decorated yet, what are you waiting for? Get to it.
And might I recommend the beautiful Poinsettia.

The Poinsettia is a sub-tropical plant known for its striking red displays at Christmastime. You probably don't care about any of this. Honestly, neither do I. But the important thing about Poinsettias is that you have the great state of South Carolina to thank for them. That's right. South Carolinian Joel R. Poinsett was the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and while living south of the border, he was captivated by a beautiful red flower, which he sent home for Christmas. The rest is history.
So as you set those lovely Poinsettias on display this year, remember that it came from the finest state in the Union. It's our gift to you.

PS -- Today is my parents' 41st Anniversary! Congratulations Dad and Mom, and thanks for the example of faithfulness and love.

Meet Calvin

2006-11-30T13:10:00.000-05:00

John Calvin was a French Protestant theologian during the Protestant Reformation and was a central developer of the system of Christian theology called Calvinism or Reformed theology. This man caused quite a stir in his day and continues to draw heated conversation among many Christians -- especially Southern Baptists. His practices and teachings have caused quite a few clashes both in his lifetime and in ours.

Today, another Reformer has come. He, too, is stirring up a lot of trouble. I want to introduce him to you because he has reformed our household... completely changed it. Where we once slept peacefully at night, we now are continually awakened by the sound of his voice. Where we once walked the halls of our home without giving him a thought, he is now constantly on our minds (and on our heels). He shares the same name as the great Protestant Reformer, but he does not share the same species.

It is my great privilege to introduce you to the latest and greatest Reformer... Calvin (the Cat).

PS- Today marks the 2 month anniversary of God's grace to me in giving me the godly, gorgeous Georgia girl of my dreams. I love you, Dianna.