A man + Grocery shopping = Utter Chaos

Yesterday my beautiful wife was sick in bed with a bad cold. It was up to me (problem #1) to do some of the duties around the home and make it look... tidy (whatever that means!).So, as part of my responsibilities inflicted upon me by my lovely wife, I had to go to the grocery store and buy the weekly...

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Justification and Union with Christ

Here is a great link to Philip Ryken, senior minister of Tenth Presbyterian Church, and his excellent article, Justification and Union with Christ. This is a very clear (and lengthy!) treatment and explanation of these two vital doctrines that we hold to!This is how he begins the article. It doesn't...

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Conversant with the Emerging Church

Becoming Conversant with the Emerging ChurchOctober 29, 2007In his book, Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church, Dr. D. A. Carson writes giving clarity to the movement (well, as much clarity as there can be with a movement where proponents have so much trouble agreeing with each other) and the...

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The LORD reigns, the the peoples tremble...

This verse from Psalm 99 came to mind as I was here these past few days for a men's retreat with our church...So again, don't feel too sorry for me. I was suffering for the Lord in the sequoia national forest overlooking the marvelous mountains. ...

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Godly living stemmed from the Word of God

Psalm 119:1-8 – Godly Living Stemmed from the Word of GodThis morning as I was reading these verses I was encouraged to see that these have a common theme, that Godly living is inseparable from the Word of God. In fact, this is a theme interwoven throughout the Scriptures (esp. the Pastorals). In any...

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Summary of Jesus' Teaching on the Law

This is a wonderful blurb on I. Howard Marshall's New Testament Theology. I am encouraged by this wonderful quote. Click here to read the rest of this brother's blog:We do not obey in order to enhance our assurance of God’s favor. We obeybecause we have already received the ultimate, definitive verdict, pronounced inthe cross and resurrection, that we are perfectly, irrevocably righteous inGod’s sight...

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Osteen's Message...

Here is an excellent article by professor at Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, California regarding Joel Osteen. I know I've been posting quite a bit of material on Osteen as of late, but when I think of the numbers of viewers going to his church and watching him on TV, I feel as though...

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Reflections on the Expositor's Conference -- Part 2

The Ten How To’s of Expository PreachingBy Dr. Steven LawsonWhile at the Expositor’s Conference in Mobile, I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Dr. Lawson preach numerous times and put into action what he trained us to do. He gave us a seventeen page handout on the “how-to’s” of expository preaching...

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True Greatness

True GreatnessTrue greatness is not found in being qualified but rather in being a servant. This is what Jesus said to His disciples:Mark 9:35 35 And sitting down, He called the twelve and said tothem, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant ofall."One of the sermons in our...

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Become a Better You -- Book Review

Joel Osteen's new book, Become a Better You is reviewed at Challies.com. A little excerpt is worthy of mention here which is pertinent to the issue at hand:This is Osteen’s second book, and the follow-up to his bestselling Your BestLife Now. Like the previous title, this one features a picture of the...

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Christian Scholarship Needed

Al Mohler has a wonderful post on Christian Higher Education. He notes: When we speak of scholarship from a Christian perspective, we speak of more than scholarship done by Christians. Rather, we speak of a passion for learning based on the supposition that all truth is God's truth. Thus, as Christian scholars related together in a learning community, we are to seek to take every thought captive to...

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The Canon is Closed -- Why?

The Canon is ClosedThere is much talk today in the Charismatic, Neo-Pentecostal and Pentecostal circles that the sign gifts are still functioning. Furthermore, they would argue, special revelation is still being given by God. The “Thus saith the LORD” formula we find over 2,000 times in the Old Testament...

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God is on the throne -- I rest assured

SOVEREIGN GOD,Thy cause, not my own, engages my heart, and I appeal to thee with greatest freedom to set up thy kingdom in every place where Satan reigns;Glorify thyself and I shall rejoice,for to bring honour to thy name is my sole desire.I adore thee that thou art God, and long that others should...

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A Startling Reminder of the Wickedness of the Prosperity "Gospel" (if we can even call it that)

This connects with a post a few weeks ago which I blogged about on Joel Osteen and his bestseller book, Your Best Life Now. Contrast that with this MUST WATCH 3 MINUTE VIDEO from John Piper. These are his thoughts on the prosperity gospel today.As you wait for it to download... read these verses:Matthew 5:10-11 10 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs...

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Wedding Reminiscing...

Last night Elizabeth and I had a wonderful dinner together. She made steak, asparagus and rice. It was excellent. Though I enjoyed dessert the best -- her homemade cheesecake. While eating the cheesecake we decided to watch the DVD of our wedding ceremony. For some reason our sound did not come through...

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What NOT to do in the pulpit...

This is sad and dissapointing:Pastor John Rainey's sermons have become virtually unintelligible as heconstantly references Greek and Hebrew definitions, say parishioners at OakCreek Presbyterian. On a recent Sunday, only 20 percent of Rainey's sermon wasin English.The article continues,"We were scratching...

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Lessons from Dr. Lawson -- Part 1

This past weekend I had the privilege of going to the Expositor's Conference in Mobile, Alabama. I met my dad down there and we attended the conference and, as a result, were tremendously blessed and encouraged. I would like to take a few minutes over the next week or so and give a few lessons that...

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A Minister of the Gospel -- That's Our Call

A Minister of the GospelI believe that as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are to herald the Word of God boldly with all authority. This is what Paul tells young Pastor Timothy and Titus to do:1 Timothy 4:13 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation...

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Saved in Childbearing?

I just finished an exam on 1 Timothy 2:15 15 But women shall be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. There are three main issues with this verse that I had to discuss in my essay:What is the phrase “she shall be preserved” mean?...

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Guess Who

Guess who this is? I'll give you a hint, I just spent a day with him at the Expositor's Conference here in Mobile, Alaba...

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