Last week Steve and I attended and greatly enjoyed Alistair Begg's Pastor's Conference at Parkside Community Church outside of Cleveland. We stayed with Kent and Anne Ramsay (Kent being the son of our members, Jim and Jeanne). We appreciated their hospitality very much.
My reflections: First, the conference was very-well organized. From the plentiful supply of water-bottles, to the excellent meals, to the relaxed schedule, Basics 2009 was excellent. Parkside's facility is beautiful, well-planned, and utilized to its fullest. Just being there was a real treat.
Second, the preaching was as expected: biblical, passionate, challenging, and Christ-exalting. A Scot, an Irishman, and a Piper make for some excellent sermons. One thing I appreciated about the conference was that each speaker had three sessions (2 plenary and 1 seminar), as opposed to a conference like Together for the Gospel where each person speaks once. Basics 2009 allowed for a greater connection with the speakers and gave them an opportunity to teach on a topic more thoroughly.
Third, I greatly enjoyed the Christ-centeredness of the conference. It was clear that we had gathered around the non-negotiables of the gospel. The speakers ability to joke about differing views on baptism demonstrated a spirit of unity and bond of peace that comes from seeing Christ and Christ alone as gloriously satisfying.
Fourth, the corporate singing, though brief, was powerful. Standing with close to 1,100 men and singing about the glory of the cross is a little glimpse of heaven. I am particularly thankful for Keith and Kristen Getty's music ministry. Biblical lyrics, written for today's singers, with excllent music is a rare combination.
I hope Steve gives his thoughts on the conference. After it was over, he was contemplating becoming a professional conference attender.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Selection from Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
Yes, I am still reading from The Rare Jewel. Here is a stirring quote that invites us to consider the riches that we have as one of God's sons.
"So I may say to a Christian: Are you the King's son, the son, the daughter, of the King of Heaven, and yet so disquieted and troubled, and vexed at every little thing that happens? As if a King's son were to cry out that he is undone for losing a toy; what an unworthy thing would this be! So do you: you cry out as if you were undone and yet are a King's son, you who stand in such relation to God, as to a father, you dishonour your father in this; as if either he had not wisdom, or power, or mercy enough to provide for you."
"So I may say to a Christian: Are you the King's son, the son, the daughter, of the King of Heaven, and yet so disquieted and troubled, and vexed at every little thing that happens? As if a King's son were to cry out that he is undone for losing a toy; what an unworthy thing would this be! So do you: you cry out as if you were undone and yet are a King's son, you who stand in such relation to God, as to a father, you dishonour your father in this; as if either he had not wisdom, or power, or mercy enough to provide for you."
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Are You Brave Enough to be Protestant?
Just finished reading David Well's The Courage to be Protestant. This is his fifth book that more or less summarizes his four earlier works that address the relationship between the church and culture. This series began with the very influential No Place for Truth. David Wells is inarguably a sharp, serious thinker. Consequently, some of the book is lost on me. However, the fundamental argument he makes is that unless evangelical churches reclaim the robust doctrines of historical evangelical Protestantism and proclaim these truths explicitly, regularly, and unapologetically, then what is left of the evangelical church will continue to collapse.
He breaks "evangelical" churches down into three categories. I apostrophize evangelical because while these churches may claim to be evangelical (gospel-centered), their doctrine or lack thereof places them outside the bounds of true evangelical churches. The first category is the historical evangelical Protestant churches. These are the churches that quote the Reformers and their predecessors apporovingly and not in sentences that also include the words "misogynist," "narrow-minded," or "hate," as in "I hate that narrow-minded, misogynist Martin Luther." These churches uphold the solas of the Reformation and let God decide who the church is and how the church exists.
The second group is emergents. These "churches" desire so desperately to relate to the culture that they are willing to claim either ignorance of important doctrines or irrelevance. The point of the church for these folks is community. It doesn't really matter the content that they commune around.
The third group is the marketers. I don't want to name names here, but these are the large churches that survey this group and poll that group to determine what the culture likes and dislikes about a church and then builds a church based on that info. For Wells and any biblically-based Christian, letting the culture as opposed to the Bible dictate who the church is and how it lives is a serious error. He demonstrates that such churches dumb down, water down, and eventually tear down doctrine so that in the end, many of these churches are not very different from the world.
"Why are these trends happening?", Wells asks. He spends much of the book tracing the movement from the outside God to the inner self as the source of knowledge and purpose. America is quite spiritual, but not religious. That is, most Americans reject any form of authority other than themselves. Emergents and marketers have picked up on this (probably inadvertently because they are part of the same culture) and have run with it to the tune of booming numbers and exploding budgets.
Wells' anaylsis is thought-provoking and insightful. Any sort of review would fall far short of conveying the magnitude of his thoughtfulness. Yet, in the end Wells describes what fallen man does best: worships fallen man and rejects God's revelation. His book, however, concerns a shift in Western culture that encourages this turn inward, as if fallen man needed this encouragement. Sadly, our churches are now taking the bait, having failed to discern that culture is not neutral. In short, Wells' remedy is to think God's thoughts after him. Given the state of Western churches, this prescription is easier written than consumed.
So, take up some Wells and read. You might be surprised to find that he occasionally writes of yourself. Let us also pray that God would work by his Spirit and through his Word to strengthen his churches and guard us against this pervasive sin.
He breaks "evangelical" churches down into three categories. I apostrophize evangelical because while these churches may claim to be evangelical (gospel-centered), their doctrine or lack thereof places them outside the bounds of true evangelical churches. The first category is the historical evangelical Protestant churches. These are the churches that quote the Reformers and their predecessors apporovingly and not in sentences that also include the words "misogynist," "narrow-minded," or "hate," as in "I hate that narrow-minded, misogynist Martin Luther." These churches uphold the solas of the Reformation and let God decide who the church is and how the church exists.
The second group is emergents. These "churches" desire so desperately to relate to the culture that they are willing to claim either ignorance of important doctrines or irrelevance. The point of the church for these folks is community. It doesn't really matter the content that they commune around.
The third group is the marketers. I don't want to name names here, but these are the large churches that survey this group and poll that group to determine what the culture likes and dislikes about a church and then builds a church based on that info. For Wells and any biblically-based Christian, letting the culture as opposed to the Bible dictate who the church is and how it lives is a serious error. He demonstrates that such churches dumb down, water down, and eventually tear down doctrine so that in the end, many of these churches are not very different from the world.
"Why are these trends happening?", Wells asks. He spends much of the book tracing the movement from the outside God to the inner self as the source of knowledge and purpose. America is quite spiritual, but not religious. That is, most Americans reject any form of authority other than themselves. Emergents and marketers have picked up on this (probably inadvertently because they are part of the same culture) and have run with it to the tune of booming numbers and exploding budgets.
Wells' anaylsis is thought-provoking and insightful. Any sort of review would fall far short of conveying the magnitude of his thoughtfulness. Yet, in the end Wells describes what fallen man does best: worships fallen man and rejects God's revelation. His book, however, concerns a shift in Western culture that encourages this turn inward, as if fallen man needed this encouragement. Sadly, our churches are now taking the bait, having failed to discern that culture is not neutral. In short, Wells' remedy is to think God's thoughts after him. Given the state of Western churches, this prescription is easier written than consumed.
So, take up some Wells and read. You might be surprised to find that he occasionally writes of yourself. Let us also pray that God would work by his Spirit and through his Word to strengthen his churches and guard us against this pervasive sin.
Another Reason to Strive for Contentedness
"If a man is contented to be in a low condition, and to go meanly clothed if God sees fit, such a one is shot-free, you might say, from thousands of temptations of the Devil, that prevail against others to the damning of their souls" (Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment).
Here is yet another encouragement to be content in Christ alone. How many quarrels break out because we are not content in our relationships? Because we do not receive the respect we think we deserve? Because we do not have as much money as another? The Devil trolls the troubled waters of discontented souls knowing that such souls will quickly turn to a quick fix (i.e., sin). Yet souls that are content in Christ do not yield to such temptations because these temptations do not compare to what they have in Christ. Let us strive to be content in him for our sakes and his glory!
Here is yet another encouragement to be content in Christ alone. How many quarrels break out because we are not content in our relationships? Because we do not receive the respect we think we deserve? Because we do not have as much money as another? The Devil trolls the troubled waters of discontented souls knowing that such souls will quickly turn to a quick fix (i.e., sin). Yet souls that are content in Christ do not yield to such temptations because these temptations do not compare to what they have in Christ. Let us strive to be content in him for our sakes and his glory!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Hebrews Memory Challenge
In preparation for teaching Hebrews during the Sunday school hour from March to May, I aim to memorize the book. I memorized the first four chapters a couple of months ago but simply did not maintain the consistent discipline required to retain the book mentally. So now I am jumping in at chapter 2. At a couple of verses/day I should be able to finish the book somtime in late May/early June. It would be a great encouragement if some of us brothers got together to memorize the book together.
Friday, December 12, 2008
It's A Hard Knock Life
"All discipline in the present time does not seem joyous, but painful; but later it will yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12.11).
One thing that books, sermons, classes, seminars, and other training will not substitute for is experience. I have read numerous books on how Christians are to respond faithfully to trials, but to read about anguish is something altogether different from experiencing anguish. We tend to look condescendingly on Israel and other persons in Scripture who have lapses in faith when troubles come. God includes these people in Scripture however to remind us of our own tendency to forget God's gracious gift of the gospel. It is simply amazing how quickly we can forget the eternal, heavenly things when temporal, earthly things are in upheaval. How quickly we can move from emotions of joy to emotions of despair.
From my own experience, I have learned the importance of two things. First and most important is the grace of God during trials. Trials truly show how frail our faith is and the only reason we do not come to naught during trials is his committment to us to make us more like Christ. It is during trials that we learn how to be dependent on God, indeed that we must be dependent upon God. It is during trials that we learn his sweetness, his care, and his love in powerful, experiential ways.
Second, I have learned the wisdom of God through how He has designed his church. I am exceedingly thankful that He has divinely appointed Christians to draw near to one another. Our nearness is especially helpful during times of trial. Trials have a tendency to almost paralyze the sufferer. Many pastors and theologians rightly advise that during trials we need to talk to ourselves more than listen to ourselves. The difficult thing is that talking to one's self seems like an impossibility during trials. Hence, God's wisdom in providing spouses, parents, children, and fellow Christians to speak comforting words during our times of forgetfulness.
He has not left us on our own during times of trial. Because of this truth, we can call him Good. We can also be more than conquerors through trials and even welcome them knowing that He is going to sustain us, equip us, and work through us to glorify himself by growing us in Christ-likeness.
One thing that books, sermons, classes, seminars, and other training will not substitute for is experience. I have read numerous books on how Christians are to respond faithfully to trials, but to read about anguish is something altogether different from experiencing anguish. We tend to look condescendingly on Israel and other persons in Scripture who have lapses in faith when troubles come. God includes these people in Scripture however to remind us of our own tendency to forget God's gracious gift of the gospel. It is simply amazing how quickly we can forget the eternal, heavenly things when temporal, earthly things are in upheaval. How quickly we can move from emotions of joy to emotions of despair.
From my own experience, I have learned the importance of two things. First and most important is the grace of God during trials. Trials truly show how frail our faith is and the only reason we do not come to naught during trials is his committment to us to make us more like Christ. It is during trials that we learn how to be dependent on God, indeed that we must be dependent upon God. It is during trials that we learn his sweetness, his care, and his love in powerful, experiential ways.
Second, I have learned the wisdom of God through how He has designed his church. I am exceedingly thankful that He has divinely appointed Christians to draw near to one another. Our nearness is especially helpful during times of trial. Trials have a tendency to almost paralyze the sufferer. Many pastors and theologians rightly advise that during trials we need to talk to ourselves more than listen to ourselves. The difficult thing is that talking to one's self seems like an impossibility during trials. Hence, God's wisdom in providing spouses, parents, children, and fellow Christians to speak comforting words during our times of forgetfulness.
He has not left us on our own during times of trial. Because of this truth, we can call him Good. We can also be more than conquerors through trials and even welcome them knowing that He is going to sustain us, equip us, and work through us to glorify himself by growing us in Christ-likeness.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Selection from Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
He who has God "is able to make up all his outward wants from worldly comforts from what he finds in himself." As Christians, we are able to do this because of what we have inside of us, namely the Kingdom of God (Luke 17.21). James 4.5 reminds us that God has placed inside of us his Spirit after whom we are to yearn jealously. Christ is the God who frees us from sin so that we may be completely, wholly, totally, and eternally satisfied with Him and through Him.
Two words of instruction come from this teaching. First, Christian, pursue the riches that we have in Christ. There is abundant satisfaction there. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Have you forgotten the great exchange of our sin for his righteousness? Have you forgotten your freedom from the eternal punishment awaiting your death? Have you forgotten the joy of obedience to Christ? Have you forgotten that in him is the treasure of all wisdom and knowledge? Christian, there is too much joy here in Christ!
Second and a gentle rebuke, all of our despair, depression, and sin is directly related to our undervaluing Christ. Do we really think we will have victory over sin, whether it be lust, anger, fear of the future, or discontentment with our present circumstances, if we are not making much of Christ?
O how forgetful we are of what Christ has done for us and who He is! But thanks be to God that he is gracious and will continue to mold our desires into the desires of Christ. Pray that God would give you stronger affections for Christ and then go to the Scriptures and behold the all-satisfying Lord.
Two words of instruction come from this teaching. First, Christian, pursue the riches that we have in Christ. There is abundant satisfaction there. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Have you forgotten the great exchange of our sin for his righteousness? Have you forgotten your freedom from the eternal punishment awaiting your death? Have you forgotten the joy of obedience to Christ? Have you forgotten that in him is the treasure of all wisdom and knowledge? Christian, there is too much joy here in Christ!
Second and a gentle rebuke, all of our despair, depression, and sin is directly related to our undervaluing Christ. Do we really think we will have victory over sin, whether it be lust, anger, fear of the future, or discontentment with our present circumstances, if we are not making much of Christ?
O how forgetful we are of what Christ has done for us and who He is! But thanks be to God that he is gracious and will continue to mold our desires into the desires of Christ. Pray that God would give you stronger affections for Christ and then go to the Scriptures and behold the all-satisfying Lord.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Quote from Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
"The way of contentment to a carnal heart is only the removing of the affliction. O that it may be gone! 'No', says the gracious heart, 'God has taught me a way to be content though the affliction itself still continues.'"
Romans 8 teaches us that we, through the power of the Spirit, are more than conquerors even in the midst of affliction. Though God may never remove the affliction in this lifetime, He has graciously granted us rich spiritual blessings so that we do not merely survive during trials, but we thrive.
Romans 8 teaches us that we, through the power of the Spirit, are more than conquerors even in the midst of affliction. Though God may never remove the affliction in this lifetime, He has graciously granted us rich spiritual blessings so that we do not merely survive during trials, but we thrive.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Psalm 100
A Psalm of Thanksgiving.
1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;[a]
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
A Psalm of Thanksgiving.
1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;[a]
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
If You Don't Feel Like Reading Your Bible, Praying or the like, Read this and be encouraged.
Yes, another post of someone else's post, but why not let those speak who say it best. This post is from http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/ and is written by John Piper.
How I Approach God When Feeling Rotten
November 17, 2008 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary
A vague bad feeling that you are a crummy person is not the same as conviction for sin. Feeling rotten is not the same as repentance.
This morning I began to pray, and felt unworthy to be talking to the Creator of the universe. It was a vague sense of unworthiness. So I told him so. Now what?
Nothing changed until I began to get specific about my sins. Crummy feelings can be useful if they lead to conviction for sins. Vague feelings of being a bad person are not very helpful. The fog of unworthiness needs to take shape into clear dark pillars of disobedience. Then you can point to them and repent and ask for forgiveness and take aim to blow them up.
So I began to call to mind the commands I frequently break. These are the ones that came to mind.
* Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Not 95%, 100%. (Matthew 22:37)
* Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Be as eager for things to go well for him as you are for things to go well for you. (Matthew 22:39)
* Do all things without grumbling. No grumbling—inside or outside. (Philippians 2:14)
* Cast all your anxieties on him—so you are not being weighed down by it anymore. (1 Peter 5:7)
* Only say things that give grace to others—especially those closest to you. (Ephesians 4:29)
* Redeem the time. Don’t fritter or dawdle. (Ephesians 5:16)
* Set your mind on things that are above. Connect all your thoughts to Christ. (Colossians 3:2)
* Do not return evil for evil—like when your wife or daughter says something you don’t like. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
* Rejoice always, and again I say rejoice. Always. If sorrowful, keep rejoicing. (Philippians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:10)
* Give thanks in all circumstances. All. All. All. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
So much for any pretensions to great holiness! I’m undone.
But now it is specific. I look it in the eye. I’m not whining about feeling crummy. I’m apologizing to Christ for not keeping all that he commanded. I’m broken and I’m angry at my sin. I want to kill it, not me. I’m not suicidal. I’m a sin hater and a sin murderer (“Put to death what is earthly in you” Colossians 3:5. “Put to death the deeds of the body” Romans 3:18.)
In this conflict, I hear the promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). Peace rises. Prayer feels possible and right and powerful again.
How I Approach God When Feeling Rotten
November 17, 2008 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary
A vague bad feeling that you are a crummy person is not the same as conviction for sin. Feeling rotten is not the same as repentance.
This morning I began to pray, and felt unworthy to be talking to the Creator of the universe. It was a vague sense of unworthiness. So I told him so. Now what?
Nothing changed until I began to get specific about my sins. Crummy feelings can be useful if they lead to conviction for sins. Vague feelings of being a bad person are not very helpful. The fog of unworthiness needs to take shape into clear dark pillars of disobedience. Then you can point to them and repent and ask for forgiveness and take aim to blow them up.
So I began to call to mind the commands I frequently break. These are the ones that came to mind.
* Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Not 95%, 100%. (Matthew 22:37)
* Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Be as eager for things to go well for him as you are for things to go well for you. (Matthew 22:39)
* Do all things without grumbling. No grumbling—inside or outside. (Philippians 2:14)
* Cast all your anxieties on him—so you are not being weighed down by it anymore. (1 Peter 5:7)
* Only say things that give grace to others—especially those closest to you. (Ephesians 4:29)
* Redeem the time. Don’t fritter or dawdle. (Ephesians 5:16)
* Set your mind on things that are above. Connect all your thoughts to Christ. (Colossians 3:2)
* Do not return evil for evil—like when your wife or daughter says something you don’t like. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
* Rejoice always, and again I say rejoice. Always. If sorrowful, keep rejoicing. (Philippians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:10)
* Give thanks in all circumstances. All. All. All. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
So much for any pretensions to great holiness! I’m undone.
But now it is specific. I look it in the eye. I’m not whining about feeling crummy. I’m apologizing to Christ for not keeping all that he commanded. I’m broken and I’m angry at my sin. I want to kill it, not me. I’m not suicidal. I’m a sin hater and a sin murderer (“Put to death what is earthly in you” Colossians 3:5. “Put to death the deeds of the body” Romans 3:18.)
In this conflict, I hear the promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). Peace rises. Prayer feels possible and right and powerful again.
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