God In A Box?

The self-proclaimed "King of the World" has taken on the "King of Heaven and Earth" in a title bout that was over before it began. By now most of you have heard about the over-hyped rehash of a twenty year old archaeological find in Jerusalem purporting to be the family tomb of Jesus.

Experts in the various disciplines have weighed in with their scepticism and I would defer to their collective wisdom. The following links will take you to some of the better analysis of the facts.

James White from Alpha and Omega ministries.

Between Two Worlds references a letter from Skeleton In God's Closet author Paul Maier.

Tim Challies take on the controversy.

Good thoughts from John Piper.

Pulpit lists many other great links and resources.

My take on this? It will do little to weaken most Christians' faith. It will provide the critics of Christianity with another supposed smoking gun. It will generate some book and DVD sales profiting James Cameron and others. (Note the virtual cottage industry that grew from books written refuting The Da Vinci Code last year) But at the end of the day little will have changed.

Although perhaps some good can come of this if we take advantage of the peaked interest to hold forth the truth of Christ's resurrection and the veracity of Scripture.

1 Thing 2 Know

From John 9, this message is the first in a series on the "1 Thing" passages in Scripture. What does it mean to say: "One thing I know, once I was blind, but now I see?" By looking at the physical and spiritual transformation of the man born blind, we can come to a greater understanding of what Jesus can do for us.




MP3 File

Sunday Spurgeon

Observe, then, the generous method by which God honors Christ is set forth here under the form of a banquet. I noted Matthew Henry’s way of describing the objects of a feast, and with the alliteration of the Puritans, he says, “A feast is for love and for laughter, for fullness and for fellowship.” It is even so with the Gospel. It is for love. In the Gospel, Sinner, you are invited to be reconciled to God. You are assured that God forgives your sins, ceases to be angry, and would have you reconciled to Him through His Son. Thus love is established between God and the soul.

Then it is for laughter, for happiness, for joy. Those who come to God in Christ Jesus, and believe in Him, have their hearts filled with overflowing peace, which calm lake of peace often lifts up itself in waves of joy which clap their hands in exultation. It is not to sorrow but to joy that the great King invites His subjects, when He glorifies His Son Jesus. It is not that you may be distressed, but that you may be delighted that He bids you believe in the crucified Savior and live.

A feast, moreover, is for fullness. The hungry famished soul of man is satisfied with the blessings of Divine Grace. The Gospel fills the whole capacity of our manhood. There is not a faculty of our nature which is not made to feel its need supplied when the soul accepts the provisions of mercy. Our whole manhood is satisfied with good things and our youth is renewed like the eagles. “For I have satisfied the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”

To crown all, the Gospel brings us into fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. In Christ Jesus we commune with the sacred Trinity. God becomes our Father and reveals His paternal heart. Jesus manifests Himself unto us as He does not unto the world, and the communion of the Holy Spirit abides with us. Our fellowship is like that of Jonathan with David, or Jesus with John. We feast on the bread of Heaven, and drink wines on the lees well refined. We are brought into the heavenly banqueting house where the secret of the Lord is revealed to us, and our heart pours itself out before the Lord.

Go...See... Amazing Grace

Last night my wife and I had the opportunity to see the new movie Amazing Grace. For those of you who don't know this film traces the twenty plus years struggle of William Wilberforce and his allies to abolish the slave-trade in the British Empire in the early 1800's.

I was greatly impressed by the production and its attention to the spiritual forces that worked in Wilberforce's life to compel his dedication to the abolition of this great social evil. Crucial to this was the impact of slave-trader turned preacher John Newton on Wilberforce.

In an age where the intersection of politics and Christianity is much debated, the story of William Wilberforce reminds us that there can be fidelity to both. Believers on both sides of the aisle can learn some valuable lessons from the work of Wilberforce and his like.

Here are some additional resources to consider:

The Amazing Grace Movie website. Be sure to check out the resources available for use in churches and schools.

This series of articles looks at how William Wilberforce and Thomas Jefferson came down on different sides of the slavery question because of the men who mentored them - Wilberforce had John Newton, Jefferson had humanist William Smalls.

A great look at the spiritual side of the life of Wilberforce is written by John Piper. It can be found here. The PDF can be read online for free.

The Amazing Change highlights the on-going struggle to free millions from modern-day slavery.

Job 23 - From My Scripture Reading Today

(Job Comforted by Marc Chagall)

Then Job answered and said:

"Today also my complaint is bitter;
my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
Oh, that I knew where I might find him,
that I might come even to his seat!
I would lay my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know what he would answer me
and understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No; he would pay attention to me.
There an upright man could argue with him,
and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
What he desires, that he does.
For he will complete what he appoints for me,
and many such things are in his mind.
Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
when I consider, I am in dread of him.
God has made my heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me;
yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
nor because thick darkness covers my face.

Random Quotes From William Wilberforce

“And, sir, when we think of eternity, and of the future consequences of all human conduct, what is there in this life that should make any man contradict the dictates of his conscience, the principles of justice, the laws of religion, and of God?”

“Is it not the great end of religion, and, in particular, the glory of Christianity, to extinguish the malignant passions; to curb the violence, to control the appetites, and to smooth the asperities of man; to make us compassionate and kind, and forgiving one to another; to make us good husbands, good fathers, good friends; and to render us active and useful in the discharge of the relative social and civil duties?”

“If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.”

“I continually find it necessary to guard against that natural love of wealth and grandeur which prompts us always, when we come to apply our general doctrine to our own case, to claim an exception.”

“The objects of the present life fill the human eye with a false magnification because of their immediacy.”

Cut and Paste Preaching

I have sent the following article off to my denominational magazine for possible publication, but wanted to share it here as well, since the problem is becoming more widespread in all the churches.

Cut and Paste Preachers

"It’s time to name names. Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Andy Stanley, Ed Young Jr., Craig Groschel, Joshua Harris, John Ortberg and a half dozen others. Unindicted co-conspirators in a growing fraud being perpetrated upon the unsuspecting church. The crime? Pulpit plagiarism. The practice of passing off another’s sermon as one’s own.

Now this has been a problem for years. Charles Spurgeon relates the story of attending a church service only to hear the young pastor preach one of Spurgeon’s own messages. As a young man I used to make a game out of guessing what Charles Swindoll book my pastor was using to “craft” his sermon. But now the problem is becoming epidemic. No less than the Wall Street Journal has published an article on the growing problem of preachers preaching other preachers material.

And this is a problem I now find within the RCA as well. I have made it a habit over the last year or so to surf the various websites of RCA churches and have begun to notice a disturbing trend. More and more pastors are using not merely ideas, illustrations or even outlines, but entire messages and message series from other preachers. And it runs the gamut, big church, small church, old church, new church; young pastors and established ones as well seem to be succumbing to the temptation.

Why? I can think of at least three reasons for this. First, because of the computer. It is so easy to access good preaching on the internet. You are just a click away from downloading a MP3 or a PDF file from Rick Warren or a host of others. Sites like Sermon Central or Preaching Today offers thousands of messages for the asking. Some churches like LifeChurch.TV are giving away not only sermons, but all the accompanying power-points, music and drama resources as well. Second, the culture which has made celebrities out of the likes of Rob Bell and Joel Osteen leads the layperson to expect all pastors to preach like them. The average preacher finds the need to measure up somehow. Thirdly, the cutthroat competition between churches leads pastors to seek any edge they can get. If the guy down the road is drawing a crowd with Andy Stanley’s stuff, they must counter with Ed Young’s. And with congregations stressing numerical growth as a measure of success, it is no wonder that preachers seek shortcuts.

Now I had talked to some pastors who say that it shouldn’t matter as long as the people are being feed. And I have heard some claim that preaching canned series frees them up to do more ministry. I have two issues with this kind of thinking. The first is in regard to personal integrity. How can we claim to be authentic when we use the words of another? Is it fair for a congregation to pay the salary of a minister who downloads his messages for $4 from Pastors.com? And what about the pastor who misses out on a call because the church has found a “better” preacher? Who of us can compete with a Bill Hybels clone? Now I have had some ministers say that they credit the preacher they use. Yet even if ones acknowledges their sources does that make it acceptable to preach a steady stream of someone else’s work? My second concern is for theological integrity. Most of the oft-copied preachers lack any real depth. Their messages are more pragmatic than biblical. And many are from denominations that denigrate Reformed thinking. The minister has a responsibility to preach God’s word to his specific congregation, not what tickles the ears of a California mega-church.

Right now the problem appears to be a small one in the RCA, but with our push to add more and more churches in response to Our Call I think we might see this trickle become a flood. Now is the time to stem the tide. Pastors need to repent of the crime of pulpit plagiarism. Churches need to repent of their celebrity worship of certain Christian leaders. And as a denomination we must resist the urge to create an environment where we are turning out cookie cutter churches and cut and paste preachers. To preach the Word of God is a sacred trust and one we must undertake with great integrity. God and His people deserve no less."

Better Bumperstickers?

This list has been around the internet quite a few times, but it still makes me laugh...

1. Save the whales. Collect the whole set.
2. A day without sunshine is, like, night.
3. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
4. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
5. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
6. Remember, half the people you know are below average.
7. He who laughs last thinks slowest.
8. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
9. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.
10. Support bacteria. They’re the only culture some people have.
11. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
12. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.
13. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
14. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? If so, raise my hand.
15. If light travels at 186,000 miles/second, what’s the speed of dark?
16. When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.
17. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.
18. Every one has a photographic memory. Some just don’t have film.
19. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?
20. Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines.
21. What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
22. Bumper sticker: I couldn’t repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.
23. Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?
24. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.
25. Light travels faster than sound. That’s why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

HT: The Old Paths

Amazing Transforming Grace

The connected lives of John Newton and William Wilberforce provide illustration for this message on the necessity that saving grace must be transforming grace. The text is from 1 Chronicles 17:16-17, the basis for Newton's hymn Amazing Grace. This sermon ties into the release of the movie "Amazing Grace" on Februrary 23rd.



MP3 File

Sunday Spurgeon

We should do all under the sanction of the Lord Jesus as our Exemplar. It is an admirable course for us all to pursue, if when we find ourselves in circumstances of perplexity we ask ourselves the question, “What would Jesus Christ have done if He were in my circumstances?” The answer to that question is the solution of your difficulty. Whatever He would have done it will be safe enough for you to do. It is certain that He would not have been unbelieving. Equally certain that He would not have done a wrong thing to deliver Himself. We are also sure that He would not have been impatient, rebellious, or despairing—nor would He have grown wrathful or morose.

Well then, I know what I must not be and it may be possible to learn my positive, as well as my negative behavior from the same Guide. I shall be able to discover by turning over the pages of the Evangelists some portion of the Savior’s life very like my own. What He was in that situation I must pray for Divine Grace that I may be, and I shall certainly be led in the path of wisdom. The royal rule for a Christian is not what is fashionable, for we are not to be conformed to this world. It is not what is gainful, for the pursuit of gain would lead us to run greedily in the way of Balaam for reward.

It is not that which is generally prescribed in society, for full often the prescriptions of society are antagonistic to the teachings of Christ. Not even the conduct of professors, for too many even among them walk as Paul tells us even weeping, as the enemies of the Cross of Christ. Alas, my Brethren, the current holiness of the Church falls far below the Scriptural standard! Neither are the common rules of action among professors such as we could safely follow. A safe example is to be found nowhere but in the life of Jesus Christ Himself. Even the holiest of men are only to be followed so far as they follow Christ, but no further.

Love...God

Desperate Faith

The encounter of Jesus with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28 demonstrates the barriers and obstacles that faith sometimes needs to overcome in order to find blessing at the feet of Jesus. Many Christians today give up too easily in the face of difficulty and the apparent silence of God. This message is a call to a faith that overcomes.




MP3 File

Sunday Spurgeon

Ah, how the fire of the Gospel will test a man’s heart. Many a man thinks he carries something good within him and he wraps himself up in the robes of his own righteousness until the Gospel comes—and then he finds that he is naked and poor and miserable! Many a professor imagines that he is serving God and doing well—until, in the Gospel fire, his wood, hay and stubble vanish in smoke! All through this world of ours, the Gospel will burn up with unquenchable fire everything that is evil, and leave nothing but that which is just and true. Of all things under Heaven, the most intolerant is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “What,” you ask, “intolerant?” Yes, I say, intolerant! The Gospel enables us to proclaim liberty of conscience to all men! The Gospel wields no temporal sword. It asks for no cannon balls to open the gates of a nation for its ministry. The true Gospel prepares no dungeon and no rack. It asks not Peter’s sword to cut off Malchus’ ear—but while it gives freedom from all bondage, it demands obedience to itself!

Within its own realm its power is absolute! Its arguments cut and kill error! Its teachings lay low every proud hope and expose every false way! The Gospel is merciful to the sinner, but merciless to sin! It will not endure evil, but wars against it to overturn it and to set up a throne for Him whose right it is to reign. The Gospel of Jesus Christ will never join hands with infidelity or Popery! It will never enter into league with idolatry! It cannot be at peace with error! False religions can lie down, side by side with one another, for they are equally a lie and there is a brotherhood between them—but the true religion will never rest until all superstitions are utterly exterminated and until the banner of the King eternal, immortal, invisible, shall wave over every mosque and minaret, temple and shrine! Fire cannot be made tolerant of that which can be consumed—it will burn the stubble until the last particle is gone and the Truth of God is of the same kind.

A Call To Slumbering Saints

Is the Christianity of our day of the lofty kind of which apostolic men have left us so bright an example? Is it not feeble, indolent, self-indulgent, second-rate? Is there in it anything of the presentation of ‘living sacrifices’ to God, which is our acceptable and reasonable service? Are we not seeking our own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s? Are we not feasting when the world is starving? Are we not at ease in Zion? Are we not sitting still and in luxurious comfort, when many noble and self-sacrificing ones amongst us are rushing into the toil or the war, and, for want of being supported by their fellow Christians, are sinking under the burden and heat of the day?

O easy, luxurious, comfortable Christian! While you are lolling on your couch the sinner is going down to woe! While you are soothing your conscience with the opiates of religious routine; or pampering the flesh; or killing time in mirth and music, at the concert, or oratorio, or social party; or idling days in sport; or talking politics; or drinking in the applause of public opinion; or sunning yourself in the blaze of the ballroom; or absorbed in the latest novel; or engrossed with the unmeaningness of the card table;—men are dying, the present scene is passing, the eternal world is hastening on, and the Judge is at the door!

Rouse thyself from thy indulgence, and work! Do it with thy might. Spend and be spent. Give thy money to the Master; give thy strength and thy life to Him. For He is at hand. He may be nearer than thou thinkest. And how shouldst thou like to be caught by Him lounging on thy soft couch, or feasting at thy well-spread table, when thou shouldst have been working for Him, or fighting His battles,—visiting His brethren, soothing His sorrowing children, ministering to His poor disciples, grudging no weariness or hardship for a Master like Him?

-Taken from Light & Truth: Bible Thoughts and Themes, Vol. IV, The Lesser Epistles, by Horatius Bonar, 1870.

HT: The Old Paths (a new favorite site of mine)

Jon Walking

Giving God The Glory...

Tremendous testimony by Colts owner James Irsay and head coach Tony Dungy.



Jim Nantz of CBS Sports: This is one of those moments, Tony, where there is also social significance in this victory, and to have your hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Tell me what this means to you right now.

Tony Dungy: I'll tell you what. I'm proud to be representing African-American coaches, to be the first African-American to win this. It means an awful lot to our country. But again, more than anything, I've said it before, Lovie Smith and I, not only the first two African-Americans, but Christian coaches showing that you can win doing it the Lord's way. And we're more proud of that.

"More Than Conquerors"

Much will be made of the skin color of the two Super Bowl XLI coaches, and certainly, it is historically significant that Chicago's Lovie Smith and Indianapolis' Tony Dungy are the first black coaches to reach the grandest NFL stage. Their names forever will be linked because of the barrier they broke together.

But the more you learn about these two men, the more it becomes apparent their close friendship stems from something far deeper than race -- their convictions. Both are devout Christians who don't drink or curse.

Rather than belittle players with profanity-laced tirades on the sidelines, they shoot a stare that delivers the message loud and clear.

The worst you'll get out of Smith is ''Jiminy Christmas!'' and that's only when he's really mad. Dungy's former NFL teammates lost a lot of money on bets trying to make him swear, and he has considered leaving coaching for a career in prison ministry.

Both men insist on making room for family and faith in the violent and narcissistic world of pro football.

Read the rest of the story here.

Regardless of what team wins this evening these two men are already "more than conquerors." May we learn much from their conduct on and off the field.

No Super Sunday For Churches?

The NFL’s heavy-handed attempt to prohibit churches from showing the Super Bowl to church members defies common sense. The NFL demanded that Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, cancel its advertised Super Bowl party. In addition to objecting to the church’s use of the words “Super Bowl” in promotions, the league objected to use of a screen larger than 55 inches and disliked the church’s plans to show a video highlighting the Christian
testimonies of Colts coach Tony Dungy and Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith.

The NFL freely admits it routinely makes exceptions for bars and other commercial establishments to show its games with big screen televisions and projection systems. Liberty Counsel characterized this unnecessary singling out of churches as heavy-handed and unfair. The NFL has publicly stated a preference for establishments that sell alcohol over churches hosting a wholesome, family-oriented gathering to watch the biggest football game of the year. With the popularity of big screen TVs and home entertainment, the NFL’s heavy-handed intimidation tactics cross the line into private homes. Will the NFL demand that viewing the Super Bowl at home with friends must be done on screens smaller than 55 inches? This is certainly not the intent of copyright laws, and such tactics by the NFL run afoul of common sense and the spirit of the game.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: “People throughout the world gather to watch the greatest athletic event of the year. Some view the game on small screens and some on large screens. When cars gather outside our private homes on Sunday afternoon, will the NFL knock on the door and ask to measure our TV screens? It appears that in the NFL’s way of thinking, TV screens bigger than 55 inches are fine for bars but not churches. This discriminatory and nonsensical act of the NFL makes the league look petty, and the NFL should apologize for this silliness.”

UPDATE: NFL WILL ALLOW CHURCHES TO HOST SUPER BOWL PARTIES

WND has the latest news...

Churches across the U.S. planning Super Bowl parties Sunday, as the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears meet in the 41st edition of the classic first won by the Green Bay Packers, have been given sweeping permission by the NFL to go ahead – just as long as no admission fees are charged.

Today's Time-Waster

Whack a Ground Hog Whack as many ground hogs as you can before the time runs out.

Play this free game now!!

Random Quotes on Random Themes

In cleaning my office today I came upon an old notebook I had kept a few years ago for quotes I found touched my spirit. Here are a few...

"Certainly God had some further design in giving me life and preserving it with continual miracles, within and without, than that I should eat, drink and die."
(Rev. Thomas Adams)

"We will not have God. So, having rejected God, we can use our minds only to rearrange error." (James M. Boice)

"Instead of 'arising from the ashes' of sin, too many of God's people instead elect to make their home in the 'ashtray.'" (Zeke Moore)

"Let me be a man of one book." (John Wesley)

"I sin against the Lord by laboring more than I pray." (Andrew Bonar)

"A decision for Christ is not nearly so crucial as a life for Christ!" (John Piper)

"If God had granted all the silly prayers I've made in my life, where should I be now?" (C.S. Lewis)

"The success of the Gospel should never be in question. The only question is whether our generation will participate in the conquest or wander in the wilderness." (Rev. G. Brent Bradley)

"Drive [The Holy Spirit] not to a distance, by tampering with small bad habits and little sins." (JC Ryle)

"All decays begin in the [prayer] closet; no heart thrives without much secret converse with God; and nothing will make amends for the want of it." (John Berridge)