This video has been making its way around the internet. I found it here. Kind of proves a point...get a big head and you usually end up on your face. I think that's in the Bible somewhere.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
The Clip Show, August 19
Time for another episode of the Clip Show, the best links I could find. Enjoy!
Here is a link if you are interested in purchasing the books or DVDs referenced above:
- Liam shows brotherly love and takes Noel to court over the Oasis breakup.
- A very sad story about the new attack on twins.
- Everyone should be offended by the Cross at the 9/11 Memorial.
- Justin Taylor visualizes Paul’s theology as a house being constructed.
- Make people think you are more well-read than you actually are with The Great Books Reader.
- Eric McKiddie offers preachers some rules for using quotations (and why not to use them).
- Not surprisingly, John MacArthur started a firestorm with his comments about alcohol. This guy was offended.
- Love is shown for my favorite movie of all time, Josie and The Pussycats!
Here is a link if you are interested in purchasing the books or DVDs referenced above:
Thursday, August 18, 2011
The Kind of Pastor I Would Like to Be
It has been quite a day (actually quite a couple of days). That being said, I don't have much original content today. Instead, I have a quote from John Piper that I found that hit me like a cannonball. It is my prayer that I will be this pastor one day.
Oh how rare are the pastors who speak with a tender heart and have a theological backbone of steel.
I dream of such pastors. I would like to be one someday. A pastor whose might in the truth is matched by his meekness. Whose theological acumen is matched by his manifest contrition. Whose heights of intellect are matched by his depths of humility. Yes, and the other way around! A pastor whose relational warmth is matched by his rigor of study, whose bent toward mercy is matched by the vigilance of his biblical discernment, and whose sense of humor is exceeded by the seriousness of his calling.
I dream of great defenders of true doctrine who are mainly known for the delight they have in God and the joy in God that they bring to the people of God — who enter controversy, when necessary, not because they love ideas and arguments, but because they love Christ and the church.
Read the entire post.
Oh how rare are the pastors who speak with a tender heart and have a theological backbone of steel.
I dream of such pastors. I would like to be one someday. A pastor whose might in the truth is matched by his meekness. Whose theological acumen is matched by his manifest contrition. Whose heights of intellect are matched by his depths of humility. Yes, and the other way around! A pastor whose relational warmth is matched by his rigor of study, whose bent toward mercy is matched by the vigilance of his biblical discernment, and whose sense of humor is exceeded by the seriousness of his calling.
I dream of great defenders of true doctrine who are mainly known for the delight they have in God and the joy in God that they bring to the people of God — who enter controversy, when necessary, not because they love ideas and arguments, but because they love Christ and the church.
Read the entire post.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Where the King James Only Crowd Goes Wrong
Over the past couple of days, I have found myself involved in a number of discussions about the the Bible, specifically the King James Version. It would seem that there is a group of folks who believe that the King James Version is the only translation that can be used, that it is God's Word handed down from on high.
One thing about Christians is that we love to argue with each other. As a family, the family of God, we disagree all the time. As long as we agree on the major doctrinal issues, the other items are open for discussion. The problem arises when that arguing becomes dirty and the intent is no longer to debate, but instead to defame and destroy.
This, I believe, is where the King James Only crowd gets it wrong. They do a lot of things right. They honor God's Word, they believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, and they believe that salvation comes through hearing the Word of God preached. But where they go off the rails is when they begin attacking the other translations, the individuals who worked on the translations, and the individuals who use the other versions. I have been called "worldly", had my salvation questioned, and have even been referred to as a "Bible perverter".
Please notice I have not made any assumptions or accusations about this group's beliefs. They are entitled to hold what beliefs they would like. I have no issue with the King James Version. I grew up using the KJV, it was the required translation in college, and my pastor at my church preaches and teaches from it. My problem arises when something that is clearly a preference becomes a measure of my spirituality and the attacks become personal. What we need to remember is that unsaved individuals are watching us and if our disagreements with each other continuous, why would they ever want to be a part of it?
Author's note: I do not want it to seem that all KJV Only folks are vicious and mean. I'm sure that the mean ones are probably a very miniscule part of the movement. I also want it to be known that folks who do not ascribe to the KJV Only stance can be just as caustic.
One thing about Christians is that we love to argue with each other. As a family, the family of God, we disagree all the time. As long as we agree on the major doctrinal issues, the other items are open for discussion. The problem arises when that arguing becomes dirty and the intent is no longer to debate, but instead to defame and destroy.
This, I believe, is where the King James Only crowd gets it wrong. They do a lot of things right. They honor God's Word, they believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, and they believe that salvation comes through hearing the Word of God preached. But where they go off the rails is when they begin attacking the other translations, the individuals who worked on the translations, and the individuals who use the other versions. I have been called "worldly", had my salvation questioned, and have even been referred to as a "Bible perverter".
Please notice I have not made any assumptions or accusations about this group's beliefs. They are entitled to hold what beliefs they would like. I have no issue with the King James Version. I grew up using the KJV, it was the required translation in college, and my pastor at my church preaches and teaches from it. My problem arises when something that is clearly a preference becomes a measure of my spirituality and the attacks become personal. What we need to remember is that unsaved individuals are watching us and if our disagreements with each other continuous, why would they ever want to be a part of it?
Author's note: I do not want it to seem that all KJV Only folks are vicious and mean. I'm sure that the mean ones are probably a very miniscule part of the movement. I also want it to be known that folks who do not ascribe to the KJV Only stance can be just as caustic.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Mark Driscoll Labels Cessationists Worldly
In a recent lecture, Pastor Mark declared that those who hold to a cessationist view are worldly, influenced by the same thinking as atheists and deists. He said that atheists believe that God cannot do miracles because He does not exist, deists believe that God can do miracles but does not, and that cessationists believe that God used to do miracles, but does not do them anymore. Pastor Mark then cracked a joke that cessationists claim to believe that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, even though He changed in this area. He also stated that the verses (1 Corinthians 13:8-13) cessationists use as evidence of their beliefs have been "twisted into origami".
As a person who holds cessationist beliefs, I have a real issue with this broad characterization. My belief, and the belief of my particular denomination, is that the supernatural gifts (prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation) existed until the completion of the Bible. At that time, the supernatural gifts ceased to exist, but the spiritual gifts of faith, hope, and love continued. I fully believe that miracles can, and do, occur.
Please understand that this post is somewhat reactionary. I will readily admit that Mark Driscoll is immensely smarter than I am and has studied this issue much deeper than I have. However, to label individuals and groups as "worldly" and to group them with atheists and deists simply because they interpret a passage differently smacks of arrogance.
Please take the time to listen to lecture and see if you agree or disagree with what I have written. It is possible that I misinterpreted his intentions.
What are your thoughts on this?
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Five Kids You Find in Every Youth Group
Last week, we took a look at the Five People You Find in Every Church. Today, we are going to examine the five kids that every youth group has.
Please remember, these are simply sketches of individuals and not meant to identify any one person in particular. Except for me. I was about three of them.
Which one of these best fits you when you were in your youth group?
- The Mascot. Every youth group has a mascot. This is usually a smaller boy who wants to belong with the older, cooler kids. In order to get their attention and gain their friendship, The Mascot will do really weird and crazy things, such as volunteer to swallow goldfish, spit spitballs at the youth pastor while he is driving, or show his rear end to passing motorists from the back of the bus.
- The Lovebird. The Lovebird is a boy/girl in the youth group who, at one point or another, will have a crush on every member of the opposite sex in the youth group (except the Mascot). The feelings are strong for about a week, then fade just as quickly. This is especially true when a visitor comes to the youth group.
- The Pastor's Kid. The Pastor's Kid usually like to cause trouble and can get away with it because he is the pastor's child. He/she is usually best friends and archenemies with the Lovebird because he/she always manages to "snag" the prettiest of the group. It is also the Pastor's Kid who gets the Mascot to do all of the things he does.
- The "Too Cool for This" Kid. There is always one kid in the group who is too cool for what is going on. She stands in the corner, listening to her iPod and making snide remarks. Yet, for some reason, she always shows up to every activity. It probably has something to do with the Pastor's Kid.
- The Preacher Boy. The Preacher Boy was called to preach before he could talk. He loves to strut around, letting everyone know that he has a step on them in holiness because he is going to be a preacher one day. The youth pastor loves this guy and asks him to pray at every youth group meeting and activity. If the youth group does the service in church one night, it revolves all around the youth group's prize pupil: The Preacher Boy.
Please remember, these are simply sketches of individuals and not meant to identify any one person in particular. Except for me. I was about three of them.
Which one of these best fits you when you were in your youth group?
Just For Fun - Ten Things that Smell Better than they Taste
Have you smelled something that made you want to devour it, only to have you retching in disgust after the first bite? Our list today includes Ten Things that Smell Better Than They Taste. Some of them I can agree with, but to me, movie theater popcorn is probably the closest thing to manna we will have hear on earth.
View the entire list here: Ten Things that Smell Better Than They Taste.
Do you agree or disagree with the items on the list? What would you add?
View the entire list here: Ten Things that Smell Better Than They Taste.
Do you agree or disagree with the items on the list? What would you add?
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