Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

The noble hymn that we are to commit to memory was written by Dr. Watts in 1709, to follow a sermon on 1 Corinthians 16:13, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." It is sometimes condensed to four stanzas, but surely we shall not wish to lose the last two. Here it is:—

Am I a soldier of the cross,

   A follower of the Lamb?

And shall I fear to own His cause

   Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies

   On flowery beds of ease?

While others fought to win the prize,

   And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?

   Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace,

   To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign

   Increase my courage, Lord!

I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,

   Supported by Thy word.

Thy saints, in all this glorious war,

   Shall conquer, though they die;

They view the triumph from afar,

   And seize it with their eye.

When that illustrious day shall rise,

   And all Thy armies shine

In robes of victory through the skies,

   The glory shall be Thine. 

Off to Southern

I am currently in Louisville for an intense time of seminars as part of my PhD work.  I am already exhausted.  For the last several months, my day usually ends around two in the morning.  But by God’s grace He has sustained me, and in a bizarre way, it has been enriching.  I will give you more details as they follow.  In the meantime, please pray for myself, my family, and the sweet fellowship at Calvary Baptist Church while I am away.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S THANKSGIVING PRAYER

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Mayflower Impact

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style, November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.

QUITYERBELLYACHIN

That is a sign posted over the threshold of my daughter’s bedroom.  Not without coincidence, that the sign is facing my bedroom.  In fact, I can see it from where I lay in bed.  Suspicious?  You will have to ask my wife’s intent.  But there it is every morning before I even have the chance to walk out the door with the cruel world, before I have the chance to go downstairs to start my daily routine, before I even have the chance to moan out of bed; there it is to greet me-QUITYERBELLYACHIN.  We stare at each other like the eyes of a final showdown in a Clint Eastwood western.  Which one of us will flinch first?  Then I am reminded of Paul’s exhortations to “rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.”
The holiday season is gradually coming upon us, and with that time of the year we officially celebrate Thanksgiving.  As I was musing over this occasion (probably while in bed staring at that stupid sign), I thought how much easier it is to complain than it is to be grateful.  Thomas Edison said, “Grouches are nearly always pinheads, small men who have never made any effort to improve their mental capacity.”  Someone once remarked that nothing is easier than faultfinding; it takes no talent, no self-denial, no brains, and no character.  Complaints are for those who take the cheap and lazy way out.  Consider the follow findings from Scripture and allow these citations to cause you to be proactive in thanksgiving.
You should stop complaining because you love God (Exodus 16:7-8; Numbers 11:1).
We should recognize that complaints about the work of God are directly connected to God Himself.  In the passages mentioned above, God takes Israel’s ‘bellyaching” personally.
You should stop complaining because you love your soul (Numbers 11:26ff; 1 Corinthians 10:6-10; Philippians 2:14-15; Jude 16).
These citations indicate that God equates complaining with the wicked.  Jeremy Taylor once said, “It is usually not so much the greatness of our troubles as the littleness of our spirit that makes us complain.”  If you are a constant complainer, you may need to look deep within your heart and ask yourself if you have the Christ Who makes us thankful.
 You should stop complaining because you love others (Leviticus 19:18; Acts 6:1).
In Leviticus 19:18 there is a correlation between holding a grudge against someone else, and not loving him or her.  In other words, you cannot do both at the same time.  Complainers are kamikazes.  They are destructive.  They tear down.  They usually care only for their own selfishness.
You should stop complaining because things could always be worse (Lamentations 3:39).
Jeremiah, the writer of Lamentations, remarks to his audience, how can a mortal man grumble when he still lives in spite of sin?  God could have placed eternal punishment on us the moment we arrived on earth because we are sinners, yet He gives us life.  The next time any one of us are tempted to open are mouths and murmur perhaps we should remind ourselves that living in God’s grace is better than abiding in hell no matter how bad things get.
 You should stop complaining because you do not want to be judged (James 5:9).
Let us remember we are merely rehearsing here what we will review again in the heavenly tribunal.  
You should stop complaining because you like having people around you (1 Peter 4:9).
Few people like being around a grouch.  The Word of God even commends avoiding people who are “sour pusses” (Proverbs 21:19).
You should stop complaining because God does not always give you what you ask for (Exodus 16:2-3).
Complainers tend to act on emotions rather than on rationality.  Numbers 14:1-4 is a good example of grumblers who get carried away and plan to do something foolish.  They often “bite the hand that feeds them”.  Praise God that He delivers deluded minds anyway!

You should stop complaining because God may give you what you ask for.
The lesson with Israel’s ungodly desire for a king is a good reminder to keep quiet and be content in what God gives us than to voice discontentment and regret it the rest of our lives.

As we celebrate this Thanksgiving season, let us be thankful!  Think of ways you can express your gratefulness to God and others.  “Do all things without grumbling or disputing so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:14-15)  I am thankful for even the little things that God teaches me valuable lessons.  Like a wooden sign hanging over the doorway to my daughter’s room, that greets me every morning and never flinches in its truth.

FLYING CONCERTS

Okay, something totally off the wall here, but a discussion I have been having with some friends in spare time.  I have narrowed down what I think I some of the most impressive “aerial” live concerts in recent times.  There are many honorable mentions here, but these two at least in my opinion are impressive.
The first is Taylor Swift’s performance at this year’s CMA.  I am not a country music fan, nor could I tell you two songs Swift sings, but the choreography in this clip is amazing from first to last.

The next footage that I think is the best is from a live performance of Simple Minds with their one hit wonder, “Don’t You Forget About Me”.  For those of you that aren’t in my generation (X) think John Hughes days specially the “Breakfast Club”.  The reason I love this aerial clip is due the crowd participation (see 3:28 mark) which is the ultimate for a rock and roll band.  I also love how the lead singer asks the crowd, “Everything okay?” as tons of steel dangle over their heads.  These eighty rockers are the essence of coolness in playing to the crowd (just witness the master Bono).  

WHAT I AM READING-MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW

With the imminent release of “The Voyage of Dawn Treader” due soon, my kids and I have been reading the Chronicles of Narnia at night.  I chose to read the Chronicles in the way Lewis wanted them to be read rather in order of when they were written.  “The Magician’s Nephew” is our read currently, as it highlights the beginning of the world, and Narnia specifically.  It is a prequel to the “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”. 

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

One of my Alma Maters is Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I treasured my time there earning my Masters in the late nineties. I still have ongoing relationships with many of my professors. One of my former professors, Dr. Ben Awbrey is a soon to be member of our fellowship which is sort of like Luke Skywalker preaching to his Jedi master. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of teaching a class on leadership in the church with a particular bent toward transitioning to elder leadership which is something our church did last year. It was a profitable time, and I am grateful to Dr. Larry Cornine for the opportunity and the students for their warm reception and engaging questions.

SPURGEON ON GETTING TO HEAVEN

Charles Spurgeon: “All the way to heaven, we shall only get there by the skin of our teeth.  We will not go to heaven sailing along with sails swelling to the breeze, like sea birds with their fair white wings, but we shall proceed full often with sails rent to ribbons, with masts creaking, and the ship’s pumps at work both by night and day.  We shall reach the city at the shutting of the gate, but not an hour before.” 

Nuts and Bolts

It seems that the power of positive thinking hasn’t helped Crystal Cathedral avoid bankruptcy.

A few weeks ago, I posted about my old neighborhood being one of the most dangerous in the city.  Now it seems that my city is one of the most dangerous in the country.

Update on Southern

I am currently in the bunkers cramming all information for my seminars that will take place soon and very soon.  Basically, this is the most intense academic discipline that I have ever done.  I will in a ten day period, be a part of an average of ten hour day seminars.  I will have to present at least papers that I know of probably four in addition to other assignments.  It has been refreshingly intense.  Please pray for me.

Piper On The Word

This article goes back a few years, but it continues to refresh my soul regarding the sufficiency of the Word.

TERTULLIAN ON HERETICS

Tertullian said to the Roman emperor, “every time you mow us down like grass, we increase in number: the blood of Christians is seed!” 

To The Garden We Go...

God does work in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. This growing season has baffled me. Everything is backward. I can’t blame it on global warming. But the summer was weird for growing, and the fall is bizarre.



These are recent pictures of my dahlias and morning glories. The dahlias are a perennial bulb so it pokes through the ground at the end of April. The morning glories I planted about the same time. Needless to say, they are stunning. Typically, they would be looking like this in June/July; not October. God is certainly a God of personality. I threw in these pictures of Noah hauling his pumpkins.

Hope For Christian Counseling?

This video depicts my secret, semi-humorous hope that more “Christian” counselors would become like this therapist. Perhaps then we could rescue some “Christian” men who get their egos hurt every time the wind blows.

What I am Reading

This is my Wheelock’s Latin course book for Latin.  It is the standard in its field.  It is helpful in teaching the student how to translate and read, but you wouldn’t want to buy this book unless you were serious about the subject.  I use a set of vocabulary cards that Wheelock also publishes.

Power of the Vote

Today is voting day, many people believe a lot is a stake in this election. I am one of those (whether right or wrong) that in most elections the highest issue people have in mind when they go into the ballot box is their money. Here is some various information about the economy in my neck of the woods. When I moved to Johnson County several years ago, it was one of the wealthiest counties in the nation. Now it has a poverty rate of a little over 7%.

Kansas City isn’t any better economically either-

Ode To the Auxiers

Many people will ask me what loyalty looks like, and I will tell them, “look up the dictionary under the word loyalty and there you will find Phil Auxier’s picture.  That’s what loyalty looks like.  Phil and his family were with us in worship this past Lord’s day.  It was a wonderful time together. 

This song came out about the same time Phil and I met.  We actually went to this “Invention” concert together.  Little did I know then, that this song entitled “Watch My Back” would be an appropriate and telling song about Phil’s relationship with me.  I miss our times together.  He was, is and always be a true friend. 

You and me, we never had to fight in any wars
On some foreign soil, in the pouring rain
Sharing some foxhole, fighting some enemy
That we don’t know in a place we cannot name

God knows that life is war
If you live for Him
You just might die in battle

But no matter what the weapons may be
No matter which enemy may attack
Well, it's you my friend
I would want to watch my back

You and me / We sure have had a crazy ride
And I'm proud to say I served with you

Nuts and Bolts

Here is a story that is not surprising.  It rates a Kansas City neighborhood as one of the dangerous places to live in the country.  I grew up within a couple of miles of it.  The area I grew up in was Northeast KC or back in the day known as “little Italy”, but once the Italians moved out, it became a war zone.  Growing up, I witnessed stabbings, drug deals, gangs, prostitution, and believe it or not, a couple of gun fights.  My neighbor kept a coffin in his house that he used as a cedar chest for his clothes, and he also had an army mortar he fired every Independence Day that literally shook our windows.  The house I grew up in burned down after we moved due to some suspicious activity.  It is a wonder I survived let alone am sane.  When my friends would come over they would fear for their lives.  The first time I brought my then girlfriend, now wife over to meet my parents for dinner, gunshots were going off.  You can read more about its reality here. 

Update on School

I am in the midst of some intense studies with my Patristic and Celtic Spirituality course.  This course is directly related to my major emphasis “Biblical Spirituality”.  It is led and taught by Dr. Michael Haykin who is known at least in Baptist circles as an expert in spirituality and revival.  He is one gracious scholar.  I have already read a dozen or more books, participated in three different forum discussions, and am preparing for two major presentations when I go to Louisville in November-December.  The major presentation is a 25 page paper on Augustine on the Psalms (more on that in the coming weeks).  Needless to say it is a whopper.  In addition, to all of that, we are required to complete a series of questions based on several writings of church fathers, which totals around one hundred questions.  It is an extremely rich and intense course.  I would appreciate much prayer.  Augustine in particular has challenged me especially in his preaching, which is alien to most preaching today, myself included. 

Hymn of the Month

The song we have been learning throughout this month at Calvary has been “What Wondrous Love is This”. It is an American folk hymn, and here is a good clip that I think serves the song well.

JOSEPHUS ON THE JEWISH WAR

On Sunday mornings the last month we have been treading through Matthew 24.   I am appreciative of so many scholars who have plowed the exegetical trail before me, and others that I have read that are just plain (how do I be diplomatic?)…irresponsible.  But Christian charity kicks in with texts like these doesn’t it?  When we get to heaven, we won’t care about certain textual nuances and hermeneutical gymnastics we will simply have Jesus.  And having Jesus is enough.  I only wish I and every other student of Matthew 24 would keep Him front and center. 

Enough of the diatribe, I honestly don’t see how any serious student of the Word can tackle Matthew 24 with at least glancing over Josephus who was an eyewitness to the Jewish War in A.D. 66-70 which I believe chunks of Matthew 24 deals in large measure (just take a peak at Luke-principle of hermeneutics-Scripture interprets Scripture).  So if you want some real accounts, take a moment to read Josephus and see how Scripture and in particular what Jesus says is confirmed.

ANNIVERSARY-FIRST LOVE-STRYPER

Today marks my thirteenth wedding anniversary, and the years have been incredible. Without hesitation, I am in deeper and greater love with my wife than when we first got married, and I loved her then. She is the only woman that I had any desire to marry, or ever will for that matter. Her love does get better with age. And in a blink of an eye, we have been married thirteen years. Anita is truly the ultimate woman, and she stands in a special class-all to herself.
So instead of waxing on and on, I will let Stryper do the talking. This comes from their “Soldiers Under Command” tour (circa 1985). It is their song “First Love”, and I love how Michael Sweet (the lead singer) kicks it into overdrive at about the 2:30 mark.
Much love to you my life.

What I am Reading

This two volume set is a must particularly for pastors.  The index alone is worth the price you will pay for it.  Believe me.  This is an incredible piece of literature, one of the best resources on evangelism and missions written in our time. 

Jack on Suffering

Someone asked C.S. Lewis, "Why do the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" he replied. "They're the only ones who can take it."

Matthew Henry on Persecution

“Persecuting times are discovering times”.

To The Garden We Go-Noah's Tractor

Last year we got Noah the largest John Deere Tractor and trailer that is offered for kids.  It was a specialty item that has two speeds including reverse.  The highest speed goes about five miles an hour.  Noah took to this last year like water off a duck’s back.  Needless to say, he loves it.  I actually can load wood in the back of his trailer, and he hauls it to me.  The T-shirt he is wearing is also from John Deere, and it reads, “Will trade my sister for a tractor”.  Early this spring, a lady was driving by and saw Noah on his tractor dressed up in his John Deere colors.  She stopped, got out, and asked to take his picture.  And she told us she worked for the sales division at John Deere.  I asked her in jest, “how much would she give us for our son being a model?”  I am still waiting for the check that will get him through college!

Update on School

If you are a consistent blogger, you may have picked up on several posts related to a missions seminar I am involved with.  The class is “History and Theology of Missions”.  Thus far I have read four books, engaged in some small assignments, and participated in various forum discussion groups.  It is a daily project.  The biggest part of this class is yet to come at the end of November, first part of December as I present a twenty five page paper for a seminar.  Please pray for me as I am starting the first draft of that paper.  I have been very impressed with the involvement of missionaries in this forum, and as a pastor I really look forward to getting to know them personally come late fall so that I am learn as a local church pastor how to better equip the people of Calvary from the pulpit. 

William Temple's Christian Hostility

“Not all that the world hates is good Christianity; but it does hate good Christianity and always will.”

Missions Response on the Great Commission

In another forum I am involved with in my missions seminar is to respond to a book I am reading, and basically give synopses on the state of the Great Commission has been in the church.  Here is my response thus far based on a book we are engaging.  It is an ongoing forum. 

I surmise that as long as the church upholds the fourfold gospel ideal mentioned in by Sweeney in the introduction, the gospel will always advance.  The four qualities: “conversionism, the belief that lives need to be changed; activism, the expression of the gospel in effort; Biblicism, a particular regard for the Bible, and crucicentrism, a stress on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  Where these qualities remain intact, we retain and progress a strong and healthy gospel. 

I was thankful that Sushine in chapter one eventually mentioned the mission accomplishments of the Reformers, particularly in the area of printing and missionary mobilization.  The lack of understanding language can be and has always been a barrier in gospel advancement.  One of the means of Pentecost was the Spirit empowered proclamation to each nation in their own tongue, so clarity of language cannot be overstated.  This is why the criticism of early Protestants who remained in their own homeland as a proof of their lack of missionary vision is at the very least a weak one.   Could it be that they were not suited linguistically to those foreign cultures, something that Hinkson brings up vividly in chapter two.  I for one think that Luther’s German Bible, Calvin’s French Bible, and Wycliffe’s English Bible can be counted as major missionary accomplishments in the history of redemption.  As with our age, the greatest time to proclaim the gospel has to be now in terms of technology, resources, and accessibility. 

We must also consider the training of the Word in a local church produces missionaries.  Again, I am grateful Sushine pointed this out, but not in its fullest way.  As persecution passed, Calvin began to train missionaries and plant churches.  From 1555 to 1562 100 underground churches were planted by Calvin’s’ church in France.  By the time of Calvin’s death there were over 2,100 churches in France that had been planted that wasn’t there when he was born.  By the time of his death more than 1,200 missionaries went to France to plant those churches and they all came from Geneva.  Not just in France but churches were planted in Italy, Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Germany, England, Scotland, and Brazil.

Frederick Dale Bruner

Bruner’s two volume commentary on Matthew has been one of my favorite since preaching through this gospel.  He is exegetically precise and applies the passage pastorally.  Regarding the section that I have been preaching on the last few weeks (Matthew 24:4-14) Bruner writes:

“Christians at any time should not await the appearance of anyone or anything except Jesus Christ himself, not even a remarkable Antichrist or a conversion of the Jews or anything else except Jesus Christ himself.  This Christ-centered expectation is at the heart of the New Testament witness, and no other teaching, however well meant, should be allowed to eclipse him.” (Commentary on Matthew Vol. 2, pg. 494)

Nuts and Bolts

It seems Jimmy Carter believes that he is superior to contemporary Presidents.  I am sure he has done wonderful things, but his service as President continues to be dismissal.  Most Presidents are all probably in search of their legacy, but this is just delusional.

This next bit is another one of these cute and real notes from kids to God.  It may not always reflect sound theology, but it does reflect pure honesty.  Thanks JRG. 

Matthew Poole on the Gospel

“Christ bought or redeemed His people…in that by his death he purchased the continuance of their lives, and the staying of their execution, and rescued them from that present imminent destruction which, without Christ’s interposition, had seized on them, as it had likewise on the whole visible creation immediately upon the apostasy of mankind” (A Commentary on the Whole Bible, Volume 3, Banner of Truth Trust, 1963 reprint, pg. 921). 

What I am Reading

One author that I have always appreciated his expertise is Alister McGrath.  I have many of his works on Reformation thought and the spirituality of the Reformers.  Recently, I read his Introduction to Christian Spirituality.  The issue of Christian spirituality is a hot potato in evangelical ranks these days.  If people had questions as related to what is meant by spirituality and how is it demonstrated in the church, then McGrath’s work will be beneficial.  In typical McGrath style, he paints in broad sweeping strokes.  He excels in clarity as this book attests.  Throughout the work, McGrath seeks to describe the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant perspectives of various spiritual practices and beliefs.  It is a good tool if one desires an accurate survey of what constitutes Christian Spirituality.

Polycarp Martyrdom

It was a Friday afternoon. Polycarp was resting upstairs in a country home. They came in like a posse, fully armed as if they were arresting a dangerous criminal. Polycarp's friends wanted to sneak him out, but he refused, saying, "God's will be done."

In one of the most touching instances of Christian grace imaginable, Polycarp welcomed his captors as if they were friends, talked with them and ordered that food and drink be served to them. Then Polycarp made one request: one hour to pray before they took him away. The officers overhearing his prayers (that went on for two hours) began to have second thoughts. What were they doing arresting an old man like this?

Despite the cries of the crowd, the Roman authorities saw the senselessness of making this aged man a martyr. So when Polycarp was brought into the arena, the proconsul pled with him: "Curse Christ and I will release you."

REPLY: "Eighty-six years I have served Him. He had never done me wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who has saved me?"

The proconsul reached for an acceptable way out: "Then do this, old man. Just swear by the genius of the emperor and that will be sufficient." 

REPLY: "If you imagine for a moment that I would do that, then I think you pretend that you don't know who I am. Hear it plainly. I am a Christian."

More entreaties. Polycarp stood firm.

The proconsul threatened him with the wild beasts.

REPLY: "Bring them forth. I would change my mind if it meant going from the worse to the better, but not to change from the right to the wrong."

The proconsul's patience was gone: "I will have you burned alive."

REPLY: "You threaten fire that burns for an hour and is over. But the judgment on the ungodly is forever."

The fire was prepared. Polycarp lifted his eyes to heaven and prayed: "Father, I bless you that you have deemed me worthy of this day and hour, that I might take a portion of the martyrs in the cup of Christ. . . Among these may I today be welcome before thy face as a rich and acceptable sacrifice."

As the fire engulfed him, the believers noted that it smelled not so much like flesh burning as a loaf baking. He was finished off with the stab of a dagger. His followers gathered his remains like precious jewels and buried them on February 22, 155. In the strange way known to the eyes of faith, it was as much a day of triumph as it was a day of tragedy.

Dad and Noah

This picture is precious to me for several reasons.  First, it is the only photo that I know that pictures my dad with my son.  Second, it is a picture of the two closest “guys” in my life. 

My dad would not live another year after this was taken.  We buried my father on my son’s first birthday.  God’s sovereignty is sweetly mysterious.  I don’t know why my boy will not have a close earthly relationship with my dad.  They would have, I am sure, been unbelievably close.  My dad taught me more about Christ at every level than any other human being I know.  I could talk to my father about anything, and did.  In a word, I had the fullest relationship with a dad any son could have, and then I had a son of my own.  I have wanted to ask my dad, “Hey dad, do you ever feel this way when I did this?” just to hear his reaction. 

I vividly remember when my dad’s dad died, and what he went through because they were so close.  On and on I could go, but the day my dad died, I stopped being a son and concentrated all my energies on being a father.  Or I like to say it this way, “The son became a father when the father met the Son”.  And so on my boy’s third birthday, I am thankful for his life, his future faith, and without waxing sloppy sentimentalism, he is as far as any human being can be, my everything.  From a long line of faithful men who loved their God and loved their sons much love, my son.

To The Garden We Go...

This is ode to what we affectionately call “Big Bertha”.  This is a massive water slide and swimming pool we bought in May.  And while it killed most of my grass, it attracted most of the neighborhood kids.  It has been fascinating to observe that when kids gather, their parents gather, which has allowed me to open the door for gospel conversations. 

We have had up to ten kids on this at once, and some adults have braved “Big Bertha”.  I also appreciate my neighbors, because the thing sounds like mission control, and it is beginning to look like a carnival in my back yard. 

Oh well, all is well that ends well.  “Big Bertha” has retired for the season, and I have to purchase grass seed. 

Report on School

A course that I am currently engaged in due to my PhD is Latin.  I know what meaning of you must be thinking, Latin!  I take a three hour course every week at a local college, and I spend at least one hour a day preparing and reviewing. 

Believe it or not, it has so far been rather enjoyable.  It helps that I took twenty hours of Greek and know English.  Latin helps and is helped by both.  It has aided my reading of Augustine, which I am heavily involved in a seminar paper.  And I have enjoyed reading portions of the Vulgate, although that is not classic Latin. 

I think I am one of if not the oldest student in a room of about twenty students.  My instructor is very helpful.  Please pray for my understanding of this language, and especially that I maintain my witness for Christ.  Being on a college campus with about 25,000 students is a powerful reminder of the need for scholarly but compassionate evangelism.

Portrait of Christ

The following is a poem from the Portrait of Christ by F.W. Pitt.  His words were put to music by one of my all time favorite musicians Phil Keaggy about 30 years ago.

Maker of the Universe
As Man, for man was made a curse.

The claims of Law which He had made,
Unto the uttermost He paid.

His holy fingers made the bough,
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow;

The nails that pierced His hand were mined,
In secret places He designed.

He made the forest from whence there sprung
The tree on which His body hung;

He died upon a cross of wood,
Yet made the hill on which it stood.

The sky that darkened o'er His head,
By Him above the earth was spread.

The sun that hid from Him its face,
By His decree was poised in space.

The spear which spilled His precious blood
Was tempered in the fires of God.

The grave in which His form was laid
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made.

The throne on which He now appears
Was His from everlasting years;

But a new glory crowns His brow,
And every knee to Him shall bow:

The Maker of the universe

Sinclair Ferguson

Over at Reepicheep, my friend Tony Felich as usual writes impeccably on the subject of secondary issues often causing strife and division in conservative, Bible believing churches.  I have found that Sinclair Ferguson is spot on right.  It is a great and appropriate read.  May God spare us from heresy, but may he also protect us from making non-essentials the litmus test for unity.

Schnable's Missionary List

The following I found to be extremely helpful list on Biblical terms used for missionary activity.  It came from Eckhard Schnabel’s Early Christian Mission Volume 1.  This two volume set is an incredible reference tool on Biblical missions and covers about every subject under the sun in the Bible. 

Hope you are helped by it. 

Terms for Missionary Activity

(1)               Subjects of Missionary work:

            apostle

            worker, laborer

            evangelist

            herald, proclaimer           

            companion, partner

            witness

            fellow worker

            fisher

            helper, assistant

(2)               Addressees of missionary work:

            the uncircumcised

            alien, foreigner

            sinners

            people

            non-Hellene

            nation, people

            nations, Gentile’ polytheists

            Greeks

            Israel

            Jews

            people

            the circumcised

(3)               Place of missionary work:

            countryside, farm

            earth

            province

            region, district

            colony

            world, humanity

            village, small town

            region, district

            inhabited earth, humanity

            region, district

            homeland, hometown

            neighborhood

            city, town

            district, region, place

(4)               Sending and position of the missionaries:

            send away/out

            office of an apostle

            apostle, envoy

            service

            call, calling

            witness

(5)               Proclamation by word:

            persuade, induce

            speak out, declare

            make known, reveal

            bear witness to

            teach

            relate, describe

            announce good news

            make known in public

            inform, instruct

            announce, proclaim

            talk, speak

            say, tell

            make disciples, teach

            acknowledge, profess

            hand down, pass on, teach

            appeal to, exhort, implore

            convince, persuade

            plant         

(6)               Content of the proclamation:

            truth

            teaching

            good news

            reconciliation

            proclamation

            confession

            tradition

            word, statement

            word

            testimony, proof

            testimony, witness

            the way, teaching

(7)               Goal of the proclamation:

            hearing

            follow, obey

            hear, listen

            wash, purify, baptize

            baptism

            confirm, establish

            take, receive

            entrance, acceptance

            assembly, church

            implanted

            reap, harvest

            harvest

            reconcile

            gain

            make disciples

            feel remorse, conversion

            belief, be

            convinced of

            faith, trust, confidence

            gather, bring together

            save, keep from harm

            rescue

            salvation, deliverance

            plant

(8)               Proclamation by deed:

            way of life, behavior

            drive out demons

            work, be effective

            work, accomplish

            heal, restore

            reap, harvest

            harvest

            heal, cure

            work hard, toil

            build

(9)               Execution of the missionary task:

            go out, go, depart

            go through, penetrate

            go out

            lead in triumph

            seed

(10)           Interpretation of missionary work:

            fisher of people

            implanted

            reap, harvest

            lead in triumph

            sheep

            gather, bring together

            build

            sow seed

            seed

            plant

(11)           The effort of missionary work:

            rest from toil

            run, press on

            course of life, mission

            work

            work hard, toil

            work, labor

(12)           Misunderstandings:

            disturb, upset

            letters of recommendation

            peddle, huckster

            cajole, mislead

Nuts and Bolts

If you live in the Kansas City area, you are intrigued by the fact that IHOP is suing IHOP.  Actually it is the International House of Pancakes is suing the International House of Prayer because the company claims the religious organization has copied its acronoymn without permission.  You can read more here:

Here is another story of religion in the Midwest.

On a lighter note, a friend of mine sent me some humorous yet real answers to test questions.  Keep in mind these are college students that may be your future surgeon.

Despair

If you don’t have any appreciation for clever sarcasm, just keep on surfing.  If you do, then these motivational sayings are for you.  Many years ago, a friend of mine sent me about twenty of these and I find them hilarious.  Here is one of my favorite.  It is called “Despair”. 

Luther on the Gospel

“Thus the sum and substance of all doctrine is this, that we are not justified by any works, but that faith in Christ saves.  This text (John 6:32)  is a veritable thunderclap that impels you to exclaim: what can my life and my good works help me?  Moses does not aid me.  Moses is only a schoolmaster in this field; he instructs me about an external mode of divine service and the strictest outward decency.  The works of Moses do not give life and salvation.  Here we are informed of another and better bread, called God’s bread, which comes from heaven and is not baked on earth.  It is granted by the Holy Spirit.  It confers everlasting life, a life not merited and earned, a gift from heaven. 

Thus you see two kinds of bread here.  The one is not earned, not acquired through a self-chosen, self-devised mode of life, but is an outright gift of bread, food and life.  The other is the bread that man wants to merit through good works and the observance of Moses’ Law.  But whoever refuses to accept life by grace and without merit will never obtain it.  The Father gives it; therefore it is not merited.  It is mine by sheer mercy and grace.  Thus my merit is toppled over and knocked down to the ground.”  (Martin Luther, Sermons on the Gospel of John, Chapters 6-8 (translated by M.H. Bertram), Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, 1959, p. 36). 

Eschatology

As we continue our Sunday study through Matthew 24, the subject of the coming of the Lord and “the end” takes a dominant theme.  I appreciative of Stephen Wellum’s editorial in the Spring edition of the “Southern Baptist Journal of Theology”.  It is a fair and balanced treatment of how we should approach eschatology.  The central focus is Christ, and when Christ gets lost in our timing and sequencing, then our theology is corrupt no matter how orthodox.  You can read the entire editorial here.

Fiftieth Anniversary

Our fellowship celebrated its fiftieth anniversary as a local body.  It was a wonderful weekend of thanksgiving for the past, gratitude for the present and hopeful expectations for the future. 

It was good to meet people from the past.  The city of Lenexa even honored our church by a declaration of Calvary Baptist Church day.  We have had a wonderful testimony to the community fulfilling the promise of Jesus from Matthew 5:16ff.  It is an honor and joy to pastor this fellowship.  I told them yesterday one of my goals is to be at the 100^th anniversary if the Lord wills.  I pray that we would continue to be faithful until Jesus comes.

To The Garden We Go...

In my last garden post, I lamented on the poor production of my garden.  Alas, the tide has turned (on some things).  I am now picking okra everyday, and pole beans every other day.  I continue to pick my orange cherry tomatoes, but they are slowing down.  Here is a picture of Emma picking the beans among the okra.  Once again, the entire pole beans took over our small windmill, and both beans and okra are growing in a raised bed.

Also, here is part of the backside of the play tower that I built earlier this spring.  I put a pirate rope ladder on the back end to secure the platform, and give the kids another fun challenge.

Report on School

A seminar that I took back in August was known as a “Graduate Research Seminar”.  Basically it was required for all incoming PhD students (mainly).  There were about fifty of us from all over the world.  We spent three days of learning everything from the requirements and standards of PhD work, to Turabian style formatting for papers, and how to do research using librarians and library sources.  In preparation for the seminar we were required to do three book reviews with two more on the way. 

The seminar overall was helpful.  I was particularly assisted with the research librarian format.  It is truly remarkable what is available in today’s world.  I bet right now in my study, I have acquired over one hundred sources on one seminar paper I will be delivering this fall.  It truly is amazing what is available online both good and bad. 

What I am Reading

I realize for many it doesn’t seem interesting, but if you are engaged in any form of information acquiring (and we all are at some point) “The Oxford Guide to Library Research” by Thomas Mann is for you.

In particular, if you are a pastor or Bible teacher, you will find this helpful in streamlining your tools to be more effective with time.  It will also instruct you where to go to find it, and how to select good and reliable resources with those that are neither substantial nor scholarly. 

This book was required reading for one of my PhD seminars (of which I will post later).  It is one of these books that if you are a researcher of any magnitude you will find that you will utilize this book again and again.

Israel's Mission in the Old Testament

One of the courses I am taking as part of my PhD work is a History and Theology of Missions.  It has been edifying thus far.  Part of the course work is to post comments about our reading from an amazing two volume book on missions by Dr. Schnabel from Trinity.  He defines “mission” and “missions” as necessarily including the notion of a community of faith that “actively works to win other people” to its views. We post in the forum for dialogue with other colleagues.  The discussion centered on the “mission” activity of Israel in the Old Testament.  Do we find Israel being proactive in the cause of missions in the same vein that we see in the New Testament?  Here was my brief response based upon the book we were reading at the time:

“While there are some incidences in which Jews were proactive in advancing the kingdom of God to others, there were limitations in this mission (see Matthew 10:5-15).  It appears that in Old Testament Judaism we have more of a “come and see” mission rather than a “go and tell” mission.  It is clear that many of God’s people understood the unique blessing God had given Israel as His covenant people, and that they used that blessing to attract and stand out from other nations (see Exodus 19:4-6; 1 Kings 11:23-25; Psalm 67:2; Isaiah 49:6 among others).

Interestingly, Schnabel’s definition could apply to a proactive engagement within Israel when they became like pagan nations.  When Israel rebelled against God’s desires for them, God sent messengers to proclaim a message of repentance in the hope of winning His people back to them.  So from Moses to the prophets to Jesus there is a concentrated effort of mission to “win” Israel while they remained hostile toward God (1 Kings 19:10; 2 Chronicles 24:20-22; Nehemiah 9:26; Jeremiah 2:30; Matthew 5:12; 11:21-24; 21:35ff; 22:6ff; 23:29-36: Acts 7:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 2:15; Hebrews 11:37-38).  This of course was one of the central themes of Peter’s gospel message at Pentecost (Acts 2-3), and is certainly a part of Jesus preaching (Matthew 23:37-24:2).”   

Any takers bloggers and lurkers?

Mark Twain on the Gospel

“Upon arrival in heaven do not speak to St. Peter until spoken to.  It is not your place to begin.  You can ask him for his autograph.  There is no harm in that.  But be careful do not remark that it is one of the penalties of his greatness.  He has heard that before.  Do not try to Kodak him.  Hell is full of people who have tried.  When you get there, be sure to leave your dog outside.  Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”

Nuts and Bolts

My seminary vice president Russell Moore gives some sound insight on Glenn Beck on the new revivalism.

I think I am living in Bizzaro world.  Franklin Graham gets criticized for making accurate remarks about Islam.  The world is having a fit over a pastor thinking about burning the Koran.  A school exam praises Islam while misrepresenting Christianity (see article)  and all the while a mosque is being built close to the site of Ground Zero.

On a lighthearted note, this video is an ode to pastor’s wives.  As consistent pulpiteers, we have all been guilty of using our wives as illustrations without their permission.  Now they get even.

Mr. Bean and the Library

The last several weeks I have visited more libraries both physically and online than I have in the last decade.  I think I am beginning to have nightmares about the Dewey decimal system.  At any rate, here is a hilarious clip from English comedy.

To the Garden we Go...

Okay.  I have had a lousy garden this year; pure and simple.  Overall in terms of harvest, this has been the worst gardening experience of my life.
I planted eight tomato plants, two cherry and the rest regular size.  I may have picked six tomatoes from them all.  Squirrels got to some of them, but in talking to others, very few people have had a good tomato year.  Oddly enough though, I had one volunteer tomato plant come up from a strawberry that I planted.  It is a yellow cherry tomato plant pictured above.  We are now picking some every day.
In other pathetic garden news, I picked two cucumbers from two plants before they shriveled up and died.  I do have two ‘Black Diamond’ watermelons on the vine that are a good size and should be ready to pick any day.  I had the best looking pole beans (Kentucky Wonder) I have ever grown, but not one bean on them.  Of the dozen or so okra plants, I have harvested two okra (compared with two years ago, when we were harvesting about twenty ever day).  I harvest one gourd before the vines died.
My peppers are the one faithful vegetable, as I have six varieties, mainly for winter soups that I harvest about every three days.  I have harvested two baggies full.  I guess this year teaches the truth that we can plant, and we can water, but God makes it grow, or in my case, doesn’t.

Report on School

Most of you know that I am currently a PhD student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.  Southern is the oldest and largest of our six Southern Baptist seminaries.  It is terrific place to receive a solid theological education.  I am part of Southern’s pioneer PhD program known as the modular format.  In a nutshell, being in this program allows me to remain in KC living and being a pastor while doing most of my research.  I physically go to Louisville a couple of times a year for a few weeks.
I wanted to use this blog to serve as a sort of update on my research thus far.
One course that I had to take this past summer was a Cooperative Program course.  If you grew up Southern Baptist, you probably know much about this wonderful and voluminous ministry.  The Cooperative Program is a collective effort (around 40,000 churches) that uses a portion of their tithes and offerings to support over 6,000 missionaries across the world.
Basically, the course dealt with issues involving the local church, some data on Baptist history, but a particular focus on Southern Baptist polity.  The course was a good refresher of the tradition I grew up in.  The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant denomination in the world.  That is not always a good thing, but in the cause of global missions most other denominations envy this organization that has placed and supported so many on the field.  We are also the only Protestant denomination that has went the path of liberal theology and made a successful return to a biblical orthodoxy.  I am thankful of the Southern Baptist heritage I grew up with.  Though we are not perfect, God has used our convention for the sake of His gospel and His word.

How Did You Spend Your Summer?

So meteorologists mark September 1st as the first weather day of fall, don’t ask me why.  But with September does signal the approach of school days (in my day); although now kids have been in school for three weeks which seems a bit much.  Nevertheless here is a brief synopsis of how I spent my summer.
Our family made five different trips to the ER this summer (my son three times, my daughter once, and myself once).  I actually thought I was having a heart attack, but only palpitations.  Hello blood pressure medicine.
Then we found out we had a carpenter ant infestation in one of our walls.  It turns out the critters were coming from our neighbor’s tree.
After that our basement flooded as hard rains backed up our sump pump pit and I went downstairs to ankle deep water.  My son’s pirate ship was literally floating on the high seas.
Then one of our church members borrowed my truck which is a stick shift.  She parked on an incline at the farm she went to collect a chair she bought.  Failing to engage it in gear, the truck proceeded to coast down the hill at a rapid pace without a pilot and crashed into the owner’s steel barn which crashed onto my truck collapsing some of the roof and tailgate as well as destroying the paint job on the passenger’s side.
All in all these things remind me that this world isn’t our home, and all of our stuff is relative.  Time marches on like an ever rolling stream, and our stuff winds up in the junkyard and we wind up in the graveyard.  So once again the Heavenly Father has reminded that this world is passing away (quite literally) in my case, so we should set our affections on things above.

Coffee with John Gill

B.A.-“How did you meet your wife?”

J.G.-“I met Elizabeth while I itinerated in some churches.  We were married in 1718.  We would be married for 46 years until her death.”

B.A.-“Any kids?”

J.G.-“Yes. Though regrettably only three of our many children survived beyond infancy, and even one of those three died when she was 13.  I preached her funeral.”

B.A.-“You have influenced many other great saints.  You had a large impression on George Whitefield and John Wesley.  Spurgeon referred to you as ‘the mantle and chair of the Metropolitan Tabernacle’.  Is it true that you were also given the nickname ‘Dr. Volumnious’?”

J.G.-“Unfortunately”.

B.A.-“Would you say that your blockbluster work was The Body of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity?”

J.G.-“I think that is safe to say it has been an indelible mark on many.”

 
B.A.-“I know you were involved in several controversies, and became a lightning rod for many of those.  Do you care to specify what some you were involved in?”
J.G.-“ I attempted to champion the cause against a moral revelation as a means of salvation.  I defended the doctrines of grace against those who were weak in them.  I sought to refute a deists claims that there was no Messianic prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament.  I also challenged John Wesley on the issue of perseverance of the saints.  Those among other things kept me occupied.”

B.A.-“What were some of your convictions about the church?”

J.G.-“ I believed that a church must have and should use a confession of faith for its own purity and safety.  I was an unwavering Baptist defending the believer’s baptism position even to the point of associating the paedo-baptist position as akin to Catholicism.  I also defended the Baptist belief that a church should have a regenerate church membership.”

B.A.-“What were some of your beliefs related to the gospel?”

J.G.-“ Central to my preaching was the total sinfulness and therefore helplessness of man, and the total power of God to save. I also strongly believed in using the law and the gospel in his salvation messages, making his presentation similar to that of Whitefield.”