Thursday, January 31, 2008
How Shall We Love Our Muslim Neighbor?
From Piper at Desiring God blog...
There are as many answers to this question as there are ways to do good and not wrong. “Love does no wrong to a neighbor” (Romans 13:10). “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Here are some things that, it seems to me, need to be emphasized in our day.
1. Pray the fullest blessing of Christ on them whether they love you or not.
2. Do good to them in practical ways that meet physical needs.
3. Do not retaliate when personally wronged.
4. Live peaceably with them as much as it depends on you.
5. Pursue their joyful freedom from sin and from condemnation by telling them the truth of
Christ.
6. Earnestly desire that they join you in heaven with the Father by showing them the way, Jesus
Christ.
7. Seek to comprehend the meaning of what they say, so that your affirmations or criticisms are
based on true understanding, not distortion or caricature.
8. Warn them with tears that those who do not receive Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen
Savior who takes away the sins of the world will perish under the wrath of God.
9. Don’t mislead them or give them false hope by saying, “Muslims worship the true God.”
There are as many answers to this question as there are ways to do good and not wrong. “Love does no wrong to a neighbor” (Romans 13:10). “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Here are some things that, it seems to me, need to be emphasized in our day.
1. Pray the fullest blessing of Christ on them whether they love you or not.
2. Do good to them in practical ways that meet physical needs.
3. Do not retaliate when personally wronged.
4. Live peaceably with them as much as it depends on you.
5. Pursue their joyful freedom from sin and from condemnation by telling them the truth of
Christ.
6. Earnestly desire that they join you in heaven with the Father by showing them the way, Jesus
Christ.
7. Seek to comprehend the meaning of what they say, so that your affirmations or criticisms are
based on true understanding, not distortion or caricature.
8. Warn them with tears that those who do not receive Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen
Savior who takes away the sins of the world will perish under the wrath of God.
9. Don’t mislead them or give them false hope by saying, “Muslims worship the true God.”
Monday, January 28, 2008
Cast Me Away
This is the first song on Michael Knott's Life of David
when I say I'm living with an angel that's you
when I say I'm living with an angel that's you
and I'm gonna burn you out
and I'm gonna burn you down
and I'm gonna burn you out
and I'm gonna burn you down
when I say I'm living with the devil
you know who I mean
and I'm gonna burn you out
and I'm gonna burn you up
and I'm gonna burn you out
cast me away today
save yourself
cast me away today
save yourself
anyway you can
I'm gonna burn you out
I'm gonna burn you down
I'm gonna burn you out
I'm gonna burn you down
when I say I'm living with an angel that's you
when I say I'm living with an angel that's you
and I'm gonna burn you out
and I'm gonna burn you down
and I'm gonna burn you out
and I'm gonna burn you down
when I say I'm living with the devil
you know who I mean
and I'm gonna burn you out
and I'm gonna burn you up
and I'm gonna burn you out
cast me away today
save yourself
cast me away today
save yourself
anyway you can
I'm gonna burn you out
I'm gonna burn you down
I'm gonna burn you out
I'm gonna burn you down
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
John Piper Responds to "A Common Word Between Us and You"
For a better understanding of what is going on go here.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Current Playlist
Humm The Violet Burning
Secret Lives Waterdeep
You Waterdeep
Don't, This Way 77's
Sound of Melodies Leeland
Thy Mercy My God Christ Community College Ministry
My Glorious Chris Tomlin
Clampdown The Clash
Story of My Life Loretta Lynn
Maybellene Social Distortion
This Old House Loretta Lynn
Low The Violet Burning
Ring of Fire Social Distortion
I Saw the Light David Crowder Band
Sugar Mama Michael Knott
Should I Stay Or Should I Go The Clash
Enough 4:59 Chris Tomlin
Clean (My God Has Rescued Me) The Violet Burning
Surely God is With Us Rich Mullins
If I Said I Don't Mind Waterdeep
Hospital Michael Knott
'Til the Day I Die Third Day
The Altar And The Door Casting Crowns
Already Gone The Violet Burning
Still Listening Third Day
Bad Check Michael Knott
Two Gunslingers Waterdeep
Come Awake David Crowder Band
Story of My Life Social Distortion
Jim Morrison's Grave Steve Taylor
Beautiful Scandalous Night The Choir
Elaste The Violet Burning
State of Grace Pierce Pettis
Jan the Weatherman Michael Knott
Portland, Oregon Loretta Lynn
The Glory of Your Name Christy Nockels
Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes And The Pride Of Life 77's
I Was Wrong Social Distortion
You Knew Waterdeep
Rock Stars On H Michael Knott
Jackson Johnny Cash
There Is No One Like You The Violet Burning
Sky High The Prayer Chain
Death Or Glory The Clash
The Sun And The Sky The Violet Burning
Van Lear Rose Loretta Lynn
Count Me In Leeland
Wire Third Day
God Makes No Mistakes Loretta Lynn
Kitty Michael Knott
O, For A Thousand Tongues to Sing David Crowder Band
Coal Miner's Daughter Loretta Lynn
Hurt Johnny Cash
Secret Lives Waterdeep
You Waterdeep
Don't, This Way 77's
Sound of Melodies Leeland
Thy Mercy My God Christ Community College Ministry
My Glorious Chris Tomlin
Clampdown The Clash
Story of My Life Loretta Lynn
Maybellene Social Distortion
This Old House Loretta Lynn
Low The Violet Burning
Ring of Fire Social Distortion
I Saw the Light David Crowder Band
Sugar Mama Michael Knott
Should I Stay Or Should I Go The Clash
Enough 4:59 Chris Tomlin
Clean (My God Has Rescued Me) The Violet Burning
Surely God is With Us Rich Mullins
If I Said I Don't Mind Waterdeep
Hospital Michael Knott
'Til the Day I Die Third Day
The Altar And The Door Casting Crowns
Already Gone The Violet Burning
Still Listening Third Day
Bad Check Michael Knott
Two Gunslingers Waterdeep
Come Awake David Crowder Band
Story of My Life Social Distortion
Jim Morrison's Grave Steve Taylor
Beautiful Scandalous Night The Choir
Elaste The Violet Burning
State of Grace Pierce Pettis
Jan the Weatherman Michael Knott
Portland, Oregon Loretta Lynn
The Glory of Your Name Christy Nockels
Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes And The Pride Of Life 77's
I Was Wrong Social Distortion
You Knew Waterdeep
Rock Stars On H Michael Knott
Jackson Johnny Cash
There Is No One Like You The Violet Burning
Sky High The Prayer Chain
Death Or Glory The Clash
The Sun And The Sky The Violet Burning
Van Lear Rose Loretta Lynn
Count Me In Leeland
Wire Third Day
God Makes No Mistakes Loretta Lynn
Kitty Michael Knott
O, For A Thousand Tongues to Sing David Crowder Band
Coal Miner's Daughter Loretta Lynn
Hurt Johnny Cash
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
From the "Letter to Diognetus", 2nd Century
from chapters 5 and 6:
For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.
To sum up all in one word--what the soul is in the body, that are Christians in the world. The soul is dispersed through all the members of the body, and Christians are scattered through all the cities of the world. The soul dwells in the body, yet is not of the body; and Christians dwell in the world, yet are not of the world.
For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.
To sum up all in one word--what the soul is in the body, that are Christians in the world. The soul is dispersed through all the members of the body, and Christians are scattered through all the cities of the world. The soul dwells in the body, yet is not of the body; and Christians dwell in the world, yet are not of the world.
Jesus, Pharisees and Whores
the following is my newest piece for my church's newsletter...
Because I have been studying John with the youth on Wednesday night and reading in Matthew as part of my daily Bible reading plan I have been thinking a lot about Jesus’ “relationship” with the Pharisees and the other religious leaders of the day. The religious leaders obviously did not like Jesus. They said he cast out demons because he worked for Satan and that he ate far too much and was a drunk. Oh yeah, and they wanted to kill him. Jesus called them a bunch of vipers, blind guides, hypocrites, thieves, wolves and the offspring of the devil. You could say their relationship was strained at the very least. But what is so amazing is how he treated tax collectors and whores. He was known as their friend by the religious leaders. You cannot help but read the gospels and not walk away thinking Jesus preferred the company of the marginalized and disreputable. Don’t get me wrong, he called them both to repentance. But he reserved all his name-calling and harsh words for the religious leaders. The following is a list of some of my thoughts about all of this.
1. If I am honest I can identify far more easily with the religious leaders. I wish I was more like the whore who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair “for she loved much.” But I am far more like the Pharisee who is incredulous that Jesus would allow her to do such a thing.
2. Who would you be comfortable with at a party; the religious leaders and Pharisees or the tax collectors and women who are sleeping around? I am afraid I know my own answer.
3. There seems to be no hint of Jesus looking down on the sinners even though he alone had the right to do so. After all, he was perfect. However, the same cannot be said for the Pharisees. Their lives seem to be characterized by looking down on others. Jesus reserves such scorn for the Pharisees because of their self righteousness.
4. The life and death of Jesus ooze a graciousness towards the undeserving I rarely see in myself or others.
5. 2000 years later Jesus is still freaking out Pharisees.
Because I have been studying John with the youth on Wednesday night and reading in Matthew as part of my daily Bible reading plan I have been thinking a lot about Jesus’ “relationship” with the Pharisees and the other religious leaders of the day. The religious leaders obviously did not like Jesus. They said he cast out demons because he worked for Satan and that he ate far too much and was a drunk. Oh yeah, and they wanted to kill him. Jesus called them a bunch of vipers, blind guides, hypocrites, thieves, wolves and the offspring of the devil. You could say their relationship was strained at the very least. But what is so amazing is how he treated tax collectors and whores. He was known as their friend by the religious leaders. You cannot help but read the gospels and not walk away thinking Jesus preferred the company of the marginalized and disreputable. Don’t get me wrong, he called them both to repentance. But he reserved all his name-calling and harsh words for the religious leaders. The following is a list of some of my thoughts about all of this.
1. If I am honest I can identify far more easily with the religious leaders. I wish I was more like the whore who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair “for she loved much.” But I am far more like the Pharisee who is incredulous that Jesus would allow her to do such a thing.
2. Who would you be comfortable with at a party; the religious leaders and Pharisees or the tax collectors and women who are sleeping around? I am afraid I know my own answer.
3. There seems to be no hint of Jesus looking down on the sinners even though he alone had the right to do so. After all, he was perfect. However, the same cannot be said for the Pharisees. Their lives seem to be characterized by looking down on others. Jesus reserves such scorn for the Pharisees because of their self righteousness.
4. The life and death of Jesus ooze a graciousness towards the undeserving I rarely see in myself or others.
5. 2000 years later Jesus is still freaking out Pharisees.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Even the Orthodox Jews are Capitulating
From CBMW:
Orthodox Judaism is going egalitarian.
The Jerusalem Post last week announced that the Shalom Hartman Institute, founded by noted Rabbi David Hartman, himself a modern Orthodox rabbi, will open a four-year program next year to prepare women and men of all denominations within Judaism-Reform Conservative, Reconstructionist and also Orthodox-for rabbinic ordination.
Read the rest here.
Orthodox Judaism is going egalitarian.
The Jerusalem Post last week announced that the Shalom Hartman Institute, founded by noted Rabbi David Hartman, himself a modern Orthodox rabbi, will open a four-year program next year to prepare women and men of all denominations within Judaism-Reform Conservative, Reconstructionist and also Orthodox-for rabbinic ordination.
Read the rest here.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Song of the Harlot
In the night
The harlot moves across the floor
She turns the handle on the door
One hundred eyes
Seem to look right through her
Why she's there?
They're not sure
Behind her love
She falls down to her knees
Without a word
She begins to weep
And her tears
Fall down upon his feet
And she smothers them
With kisses
And she dries them
With her hair
In my life
Sorrow has kissed my lonely heart
Fear of man tears me apart
And I've tried
But many times I've loved the world
Many times I've been the whore
I've cried a million tears
Maybe more
So many times
I have been the whore
I will fall down
On my knees
I will sing"I love, my love"
I will weep"I love, my love"
I will sing
Cause I love, my love
And my tears will fall
Down upon your feet
Let me smother them
With kissesLet me dry them
With my hair
If I could be
Anyone at all
If I could be
Anyone at all
Let me be
The whore at your feet
from the violet burning
The harlot moves across the floor
She turns the handle on the door
One hundred eyes
Seem to look right through her
Why she's there?
They're not sure
Behind her love
She falls down to her knees
Without a word
She begins to weep
And her tears
Fall down upon his feet
And she smothers them
With kisses
And she dries them
With her hair
In my life
Sorrow has kissed my lonely heart
Fear of man tears me apart
And I've tried
But many times I've loved the world
Many times I've been the whore
I've cried a million tears
Maybe more
So many times
I have been the whore
I will fall down
On my knees
I will sing"I love, my love"
I will weep"I love, my love"
I will sing
Cause I love, my love
And my tears will fall
Down upon your feet
Let me smother them
With kissesLet me dry them
With my hair
If I could be
Anyone at all
If I could be
Anyone at all
Let me be
The whore at your feet
from the violet burning
Smug
Strike this little pose
Chin up in the air
Lips together tightly
Nostrils in a flare
Now look like you care
Very nice!
Practice in the mirror
Brushing back a tear
Very sincere
A promising career could begin right here at home
If you've got that smug...
That smug...
Hey mama hey mama lookee what your little babies all have become
Hey mama hey mama don't it ever make you wish you'd been a nun?
Vain and fickle, were we weaned on a pickle?
Is it in our blood?
Rome is burning
We're here turning smug
Strike another pose
Power politics
Swallow their conventions
Get your power fix
We love to mud wrestle
We love to be politically Koreshed
Practice that smug
Pose it like a man
One part Master Limbaugh
Two parts Madame Streisand
Now pretend you're in a band
My, my, we're looking smug
Very very very smug
All you smug-starved millions in the thick of the search
Welcome to our church
Whatcha wanna solve?
We can help you evolve from merely self-righteous
To perfectly smug
Strike the proud pose of our country club brethren
Friendly as a tomb
Fragrant as the bottom of a locker-room broom
Now what's the matter?
Hey...get off your knees...that part don't come 'til later...God will not be pleased...
Hey mama hey mama lookee what your little babies all have become...
Rome is cooking
My, we're looking smug
Thank you Steve Taylor
Chin up in the air
Lips together tightly
Nostrils in a flare
Now look like you care
Very nice!
Practice in the mirror
Brushing back a tear
Very sincere
A promising career could begin right here at home
If you've got that smug...
That smug...
Hey mama hey mama lookee what your little babies all have become
Hey mama hey mama don't it ever make you wish you'd been a nun?
Vain and fickle, were we weaned on a pickle?
Is it in our blood?
Rome is burning
We're here turning smug
Strike another pose
Power politics
Swallow their conventions
Get your power fix
We love to mud wrestle
We love to be politically Koreshed
Practice that smug
Pose it like a man
One part Master Limbaugh
Two parts Madame Streisand
Now pretend you're in a band
My, my, we're looking smug
Very very very smug
All you smug-starved millions in the thick of the search
Welcome to our church
Whatcha wanna solve?
We can help you evolve from merely self-righteous
To perfectly smug
Strike the proud pose of our country club brethren
Friendly as a tomb
Fragrant as the bottom of a locker-room broom
Now what's the matter?
Hey...get off your knees...that part don't come 'til later...God will not be pleased...
Hey mama hey mama lookee what your little babies all have become...
Rome is cooking
My, we're looking smug
Thank you Steve Taylor
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The Centrality of the Gospel
Tim Keller on The Centrality of the Gospel
“…the Christian life is a process of renewing every dimension of our life – spiritual, psychological, corporate, social – by thinking, hoping and living out the “lines” or ramifications of the gospel. The gospel is to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating, working, and behaving.”
Read the whole thing here.
“…the Christian life is a process of renewing every dimension of our life – spiritual, psychological, corporate, social – by thinking, hoping and living out the “lines” or ramifications of the gospel. The gospel is to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating, working, and behaving.”
Read the whole thing here.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Jesus at Shoney's, Week 1
This morning was our first meeting of Jesus at Shoney's...actually it was our second but last week was just intro and grits. At 6:45 am we gathered at Shoney's, ate grease and discussed the first chapter of Vintage Jesus which I discussed here. There were a number things that needed to happen (humnaly speaking) for this to go well.
First, they had to actually read the first chapter. Getting teenagers to read is like getting Presbyterians to sing songs written in the past hundred years. It happens but is rare.
Second, they had to show up. After all we meet at 6:45 am. AM...the juxtapostion of those two letters is the beginning of many nightmarish scenarios for the average teen.
Third, they needed to like it or the first two might not happen again. The only thing most of my youth are used to reading by choice is gaming magazines, menus and their wall on facebook. I do have some who read but they are no where near the majority.
First, they had to actually read the first chapter. Getting teenagers to read is like getting Presbyterians to sing songs written in the past hundred years. It happens but is rare.
Second, they had to show up. After all we meet at 6:45 am. AM...the juxtapostion of those two letters is the beginning of many nightmarish scenarios for the average teen.
Third, they needed to like it or the first two might not happen again. The only thing most of my youth are used to reading by choice is gaming magazines, menus and their wall on facebook. I do have some who read but they are no where near the majority.
Fourth, for this to work they had to enjoy the book. It is nearly impossible to discuss anything at 7 am. A boring book would kill Jesus at Shoney's real quick.
Fifth, they needed to come ready to discuss and not just listen to me talk and pry. Since it is after all a book discussion.
By God's grace all of this happened. I had high hopes for Jesus at Shoney's and the first week has not disappointed. One reason is the readability and shocking nature of the book. Most books written for young people are terrible. They are shallow, boring, cheesy, condescending or just plain goofy. This is none of that. It is deep while understandable. Witty and serious. Sarcastic while still respecting the questions of those who have not bought into Jesus. All in all it is a fresh wind blowing through Christology without bringing anything new into the room.
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Gospel and Personal Evangelism
Since even before seminary I have read a number of books on evangelism. This one by Mark Dever is the best I have in giving a biblical apologetic for personal evangelism. It is altogether convicting and encouraging. You can read it in one sitting...if you happen to be sitting for a couple of hours like I was.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Religion Saves and 9 Other Misconceptions
Mark Driscoll, the pastor for preaching at Mars Hill and the genius behind Acts 29 has started his new preaching series based on this.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Monday, January 07, 2008
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Help with Bible Memory for the New Year
Last week I started this Bible Memory program and I very pleased already with the results.
The reasons I think this is a good program are as follows...
1. It sends tests to your email inbox so you cannot escape the accountability.
2. Because it is in your email inbox I will not forget it.
3. I am able to work through Bethleham Baptist's Fighter Verse Program.
4. You get to choose the version of the Bible you prefer.
The reasons I think this is a good program are as follows...
1. It sends tests to your email inbox so you cannot escape the accountability.
2. Because it is in your email inbox I will not forget it.
3. I am able to work through Bethleham Baptist's Fighter Verse Program.
4. You get to choose the version of the Bible you prefer.
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