T4TG-statement.pdf
As most of you know, I was pleased to be at Together for the Gospel last week.
Al Mohler penned a document for the group of four men who hosted the conference and it was read during one of the panel sessions. As JT noted on his blog, this statement is helpful not only for what it commends, but also what it denies. I urge you to read a copy!
Click the link above for a link to the pdf file on the T4G website...
HT: Justin Taylor
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Men Don't Listen - Part I
Jokes abound concerning husbands that ignore their wives, boyfriends that won't listen to their girlfriends, and males that can stare you in the face while you talk - never hearing one thing you said! Humour like this works since it touches on a very real problem... albeit a stereotyped one: men are not good listeners.
So, you can see... men need to be in relationships with other men. And one thing that will help make those relationships profitable is learning how to listen to each other.
Watch for Part Two "Men That Are Wise Are Slow to Speak"
There is a tendency amongst us guys to not listen, especially when we are talking with other men. The event unfolds something like this:
1) One man opens up about a specific sin he is struggling with, or a question that has him perplexed.
2) While that first man is still talking, the second man is formulating his solution to the issue... and, perhaps he will allow the first speaker to finish before spouting it off.
3) The second man tells the first man what he should do.
4) The first man is given what most often amounts to a pat answer (albeit something very tangible and practical) and is expected to get that fixed in the near future...
5) Rich, Christ-saturated, Spirit-led, God-honoring fellowship has been enjoyed by all! (That was saracasm!)
A wise man learns to listen. Now, before I attempt to prove that, let me lay some basic groundwork.
1. The Foundation: It is good for men to speak to one another – confessing sin, seeking counsel, asking for advice, etc...
We need to confess sin to God... but to men as well:
Proverbs 28:13 “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”
God has granted some men much wisdom which is to our benefit if we tap into it:
Proverbs 14:33 “Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools”
Proverbs 24:6b “and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”
Wise friends will have words that hurt sometimes, but are for our good:
Proverbs 20:30 “Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean the innermost parts.”
Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”
So, you can see... men need to be in relationships with other men. And one thing that will help make those relationships profitable is learning how to listen to each other.
Watch for Part Two "Men That Are Wise Are Slow to Speak"
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
A Blogger's Life Verse
A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
Proverb 29:11
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
Proverb 29:11
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Would You Be Happy in Heaven if Christ Were Not There?
The critical question for our generation—and for every generation— is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?
And the question for Christian leaders is: Do we preach and teach and lead in such a way that people are prepared to hear that question and answer with a resounding No? How do we understand the gospel and the love of God? Have we shifted with the world from God’s love as the gift of himself to God’s love as the gift of a mirror in which we like what we see? Have we presented the gospel in such a way that the gift of the glory of God in the face of Christ is marginal rather than central and ultimate? If so, I pray that this book might be one way God wakens us to see the supreme value and importance of “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” I pray that our ministries would have the same focal point as the ministry of John Owen, the great Puritan writer of the seventeenth century. Richard Daniels said of him:
There is one motif so important to John Owen, so often and so broadly cited by him, that the writer would go so far as to call it the focal point of Owen’s theology... namely, the doctrine that in the gospel we behold, by the Christ-given Holy Spirit, the glory of God “in the face of Christ” and are thereby changed into his image.
Can we really say that our people are being prepared for heaven where Christ himself, not his gifts, will be the supreme pleasure?
From, God is the Gospel by John Piper, 15.
And the question for Christian leaders is: Do we preach and teach and lead in such a way that people are prepared to hear that question and answer with a resounding No? How do we understand the gospel and the love of God? Have we shifted with the world from God’s love as the gift of himself to God’s love as the gift of a mirror in which we like what we see? Have we presented the gospel in such a way that the gift of the glory of God in the face of Christ is marginal rather than central and ultimate? If so, I pray that this book might be one way God wakens us to see the supreme value and importance of “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” I pray that our ministries would have the same focal point as the ministry of John Owen, the great Puritan writer of the seventeenth century. Richard Daniels said of him:
There is one motif so important to John Owen, so often and so broadly cited by him, that the writer would go so far as to call it the focal point of Owen’s theology... namely, the doctrine that in the gospel we behold, by the Christ-given Holy Spirit, the glory of God “in the face of Christ” and are thereby changed into his image.
Can we really say that our people are being prepared for heaven where Christ himself, not his gifts, will be the supreme pleasure?
From, God is the Gospel by John Piper, 15.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
T4G: Making New Friends in the Gospel
I posted earlier on a number of guys I was able to re-connect with at T4G. Here are some musings on men I was blessed to meet for the first time...
Tom met us at the airport to drive us to the Band of Bloggers meeting. I have totally blanked on Tom's last name, which is a shame since he is a great guy. He has been with C.J. at Covenant Life pretty much since "before the beginning" and now works conferences like this while not at his FAA job. He was one of myriad of incredible servants...
Timmy Brister organized the Band of Bloggers meeting, then drove Challies and I around for 4 hours after the conference and before our flight home. He, too, was a mighty servant! I mean, it takes a lot of patience to stand around a Border's Bookstore while two Dad's scan for the cheapest presents to take home for their kids. (Please thank your wife for us, too, Timmy!)
I had met Nathan Fullerton at Ian Vaillancourt's wedding a few years back, but his brother Ryan has always been "just a name." Our meeting was brief (in the line up at a Subway!) but more than pleasant! I was thrilled to get to know this transplanted half-Canuck and look forward to hearing more and more over the years how the Lord uses him at his church.
Terry Staufer is a regular commentor on this site from Alberta and who do you think the very first guy I met in the parking lot of Southern Seminary was?! A kind providence! The Lord crossed our paths many times over the next three days and it was great to get to know him.
Larry McCall pastors the church in Indiana that breifly served as home for my wife's family over 20 years ago! There we were talking, and me thinking, "I know this name" for 5 minutes or so until, BOING, the light went on! "I married little Susie!" Great to meet this faithful pastor.
Then there was Marc Heinrich of Purgatorio fame. Marc was... what I thought he would be - only better. I had the feeling that spending more than 30 minutes at a time with him would get me in trouble. Be sure to fill in your caption of Tim Challies picture on the Purgatorio blog... and just remember that if it wasn't for me he wouldn't have been smiling.
Scott Lamb was a new friend too. This guy seems as tireless as Mohler and will be a huge asset to the new Discerning Reader as an associate editor.
On top of this were the men I would sit with at each session, talk with at breaks, walk (shuffle) with toward elevators and all the other places through the mammoth hotel. It was a delight to meet them all. Presbyterians, Baptists, Independents, Sovereign Grace guys, "others..." it was truly a time of being together for the Gospel!
Tom met us at the airport to drive us to the Band of Bloggers meeting. I have totally blanked on Tom's last name, which is a shame since he is a great guy. He has been with C.J. at Covenant Life pretty much since "before the beginning" and now works conferences like this while not at his FAA job. He was one of myriad of incredible servants...
Timmy Brister organized the Band of Bloggers meeting, then drove Challies and I around for 4 hours after the conference and before our flight home. He, too, was a mighty servant! I mean, it takes a lot of patience to stand around a Border's Bookstore while two Dad's scan for the cheapest presents to take home for their kids. (Please thank your wife for us, too, Timmy!)
I had met Nathan Fullerton at Ian Vaillancourt's wedding a few years back, but his brother Ryan has always been "just a name." Our meeting was brief (in the line up at a Subway!) but more than pleasant! I was thrilled to get to know this transplanted half-Canuck and look forward to hearing more and more over the years how the Lord uses him at his church.
Terry Staufer is a regular commentor on this site from Alberta and who do you think the very first guy I met in the parking lot of Southern Seminary was?! A kind providence! The Lord crossed our paths many times over the next three days and it was great to get to know him.
Larry McCall pastors the church in Indiana that breifly served as home for my wife's family over 20 years ago! There we were talking, and me thinking, "I know this name" for 5 minutes or so until, BOING, the light went on! "I married little Susie!" Great to meet this faithful pastor.
Then there was Marc Heinrich of Purgatorio fame. Marc was... what I thought he would be - only better. I had the feeling that spending more than 30 minutes at a time with him would get me in trouble. Be sure to fill in your caption of Tim Challies picture on the Purgatorio blog... and just remember that if it wasn't for me he wouldn't have been smiling.
Scott Lamb was a new friend too. This guy seems as tireless as Mohler and will be a huge asset to the new Discerning Reader as an associate editor.
On top of this were the men I would sit with at each session, talk with at breaks, walk (shuffle) with toward elevators and all the other places through the mammoth hotel. It was a delight to meet them all. Presbyterians, Baptists, Independents, Sovereign Grace guys, "others..." it was truly a time of being together for the Gospel!
T4G: Quotes
Here are some of my favorite quotes from the conference... I include the message number or panel number in brackets afterwards. (They are from my rough notes, so I hope they are fairly accurate!)
Mark Dever: "We are fallen enough that we can have a clean conscience and be wrong." (1)
Mark Dever: "True ministers of Christ are happy to be despised if Christ is glorified." (1)
Lig Duncan: "There is only one way to God, but many ways to Christ." (2)
Al Mohler: "Sinners sinning ought not to surprise us!" (3)
Al Mohler: "The problem of us pre-exists all the problems that have happened to us." (P1)
R. C. Sproul: "We are not justified by the doctrine [of justification by faith] or by believing it, but by believing on Christ!" "All that he is and all that He has is mine for the rest of eternity." (4)
Al Mohler: "No one is justified by affection for Christ." "The problem is that we reduce sin to sins. The most insignificant sin ruins the cosmos." (P2)
John Piper: "[The preaching mantle] is soaked in the blood of Christ and singed by the fire of hell." (5) [Discussing what was at stake when we preach the Gospel.]
John Piper: "People are changed the way God wants them to be changed - by seeing His glory... the pastor's job is to make God's glory seen." (5)
John Piper: "A preacher must have the gift of contagen... otherwise his demeanour lies about the text." (P3)
C. J. Mahaney: [In his opening prayer before preaching.] "We know that prayer is not overcoming any reluctance in You..."
"Our character must be more persuasive than our speech."
"There is no pastoral privelege in relation to sin - If you don't watch, you will weaken!"
"You cannot effectively watch yourself by yourself." [This led to that wonderful "cream cheese moment" illustration.]
"Past attention [on our personal sin] is not enough for now or the future."(6)
John MacArthur: [Describing the benefits of expositional preaching.] "You will get a church full of Christians!" (7)
Mark Dever: "We are fallen enough that we can have a clean conscience and be wrong." (1)
Mark Dever: "True ministers of Christ are happy to be despised if Christ is glorified." (1)
Lig Duncan: "There is only one way to God, but many ways to Christ." (2)
Al Mohler: "Sinners sinning ought not to surprise us!" (3)
Al Mohler: "The problem of us pre-exists all the problems that have happened to us." (P1)
R. C. Sproul: "We are not justified by the doctrine [of justification by faith] or by believing it, but by believing on Christ!" "All that he is and all that He has is mine for the rest of eternity." (4)
Al Mohler: "No one is justified by affection for Christ." "The problem is that we reduce sin to sins. The most insignificant sin ruins the cosmos." (P2)
John Piper: "[The preaching mantle] is soaked in the blood of Christ and singed by the fire of hell." (5) [Discussing what was at stake when we preach the Gospel.]
John Piper: "People are changed the way God wants them to be changed - by seeing His glory... the pastor's job is to make God's glory seen." (5)
John Piper: "A preacher must have the gift of contagen... otherwise his demeanour lies about the text." (P3)
C. J. Mahaney: [In his opening prayer before preaching.] "We know that prayer is not overcoming any reluctance in You..."
"Our character must be more persuasive than our speech."
"There is no pastoral privelege in relation to sin - If you don't watch, you will weaken!"
"You cannot effectively watch yourself by yourself." [This led to that wonderful "cream cheese moment" illustration.]
"Past attention [on our personal sin] is not enough for now or the future."(6)
John MacArthur: [Describing the benefits of expositional preaching.] "You will get a church full of Christians!" (7)
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Podcast of Brian McLaren
DashHouse.com: Podcast of Resonate ECHO with Brian McLaren
A bunch of us were a part of this meeting at Richview Baptist Church a few weeks back and there has been a small buzz of bloggigng by those in attendance. If you would like to get a good "feel" for McLaren this is a great place to go. I am glad this is available.
Some other links related are here and here.
A bunch of us were a part of this meeting at Richview Baptist Church a few weeks back and there has been a small buzz of bloggigng by those in attendance. If you would like to get a good "feel" for McLaren this is a great place to go. I am glad this is available.
Some other links related are here and here.
T4G: Re-connecting with Old Friends in the Gospel
Challies and I made it back safe from T4G last night... around 2:30AM! Never try to buy gas in Buffalo after midnight, that's all I've got to say!
What a time.
My mind is still running at full tilt and I feel like I will have quite a bit to post on the conference. We shall see. But I wanted to begin with a run-down of folks I was able to re-connect with - some after over 15 years or more.
My constant conference connection Steve Balentine found me outside the Galt House hotel. Steve always spots me... then again, I am a giant. We missed our mutual pal, Spack.
Jay Flowers was standing by The Master's Seminary booth when our eyes surprisingly met! From biology lab at The Master's College to Director of Communications at Grace to You. Great work Jay!
My fellow Canadian, temporary Gaithersburgian friend, Fred Eaton had a big hug!
Transplanted Canadian (who needs to come back home!) Jason Kovacs was looking lonesome waiting for Fred one lunch when we met up. They eventually met.
Tim Martin (no relation - boy we had to say that a lot in the past!) was there talking to George Zemek! How nice that was! Tim and I used to sit in George's Systematic Theology class together at TMS. I always appreciated Tim.
Justin Taylor joined Challies and me for lunch after the Band of Bloggers pre-conference meeting. JT is just a great guy... and he remembered Susan's lasagna. (Footnote: Actually, he only partly joined us for lunch since after we walked to the restaurant, we ditched him at the back of the line. Nice.) JT is working as one of the editors of the new ESV study Bible. Now, there's a great gig!
John Crotts was there. Johnny Crotts is at everything! His fellow pastor and an old classmate of mine Kent Keller was standing with him. Kent was the one guy I totally blanked on when I saw him again. That was strange! He looks exactly the same! I am such a schmuck!
Then again, Scott Ardavanis had no clue who I was when I grabbed his twitching frame to give a hug! Ardo... has it been so long?
Dave Theobald was looking mighty fine in his dark pinstripe suit... especially as he took us on a tour of Dr. Mohler's 31,000 volume private library. We even got to eat at some remarkable sandwich shop with Dave and the time was sweet. Dave needs to come home too! We need more men of his and his father's calibre!
More locally, I ran into Dr. Haykin, the kwellum (not to be confused with the swellum), Heinz (57 syllable last name) Dishankalinkalink, London pastor Greg McManus and my student Ryan Case.
Then there were all those new friends made...
What a time.
My mind is still running at full tilt and I feel like I will have quite a bit to post on the conference. We shall see. But I wanted to begin with a run-down of folks I was able to re-connect with - some after over 15 years or more.
My constant conference connection Steve Balentine found me outside the Galt House hotel. Steve always spots me... then again, I am a giant. We missed our mutual pal, Spack.
Jay Flowers was standing by The Master's Seminary booth when our eyes surprisingly met! From biology lab at The Master's College to Director of Communications at Grace to You. Great work Jay!
My fellow Canadian, temporary Gaithersburgian friend, Fred Eaton had a big hug!
Transplanted Canadian (who needs to come back home!) Jason Kovacs was looking lonesome waiting for Fred one lunch when we met up. They eventually met.
Tim Martin (no relation - boy we had to say that a lot in the past!) was there talking to George Zemek! How nice that was! Tim and I used to sit in George's Systematic Theology class together at TMS. I always appreciated Tim.
Justin Taylor joined Challies and me for lunch after the Band of Bloggers pre-conference meeting. JT is just a great guy... and he remembered Susan's lasagna. (Footnote: Actually, he only partly joined us for lunch since after we walked to the restaurant, we ditched him at the back of the line. Nice.) JT is working as one of the editors of the new ESV study Bible. Now, there's a great gig!
John Crotts was there. Johnny Crotts is at everything! His fellow pastor and an old classmate of mine Kent Keller was standing with him. Kent was the one guy I totally blanked on when I saw him again. That was strange! He looks exactly the same! I am such a schmuck!
Then again, Scott Ardavanis had no clue who I was when I grabbed his twitching frame to give a hug! Ardo... has it been so long?
Dave Theobald was looking mighty fine in his dark pinstripe suit... especially as he took us on a tour of Dr. Mohler's 31,000 volume private library. We even got to eat at some remarkable sandwich shop with Dave and the time was sweet. Dave needs to come home too! We need more men of his and his father's calibre!
More locally, I ran into Dr. Haykin, the kwellum (not to be confused with the swellum), Heinz (57 syllable last name) Dishankalinkalink, London pastor Greg McManus and my student Ryan Case.
Then there were all those new friends made...
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
The "NEW" New DR! Tim Challies Launches the Discerning Reader: Discerning reviews of Christian books and of books that are of interest to Christians
Discerning Reader
My friend Tim Challies made a worldwide splash today with the lauch of the !!NEW!! Discerning Reader! This is a great idea and a fantastic looking site! (About the old "New DR" read here... a sad story.)
The whole premise of the site is to act as a focal point of book reviews found on the web. Now you can link to these with just one click and get Tim's and the DR's Editorial Board's view on specific Christian literature. I wish there had been something like this when I was younger! You know, Spurgeon published a whole book on comments on commentaries (a book worth owning!) and this is the same kind of thing. (No. I am not suggesting Tim is Spurgeon!)
I hope this site is wildly successful!
My friend Tim Challies made a worldwide splash today with the lauch of the !!NEW!! Discerning Reader! This is a great idea and a fantastic looking site! (About the old "New DR" read here... a sad story.)
The whole premise of the site is to act as a focal point of book reviews found on the web. Now you can link to these with just one click and get Tim's and the DR's Editorial Board's view on specific Christian literature. I wish there had been something like this when I was younger! You know, Spurgeon published a whole book on comments on commentaries (a book worth owning!) and this is the same kind of thing. (No. I am not suggesting Tim is Spurgeon!)
I hope this site is wildly successful!
The Examining Emergent Conversation
I have not been posting here the last few days as there are several interesting comment strings on the EXAMININGEMERGENT blog that have taken up my limited blogging attention.
I will be off with the challeez to Together for the Gospel tomorrow. Please pray the Lord grants us safe travel and a profitable time. I am so looking forward to "getting preached at." If Tim lets me look at his laptop I might do a little live-blogging of the conference myself. He will be zipping off blow-by-blow descriptions, so I might look more to some general comments on the ethos and spirit of the event. One thing I am really looking forward to is connecting with old brothers in ministry and making new friends in the Lord.
I will be off with the challeez to Together for the Gospel tomorrow. Please pray the Lord grants us safe travel and a profitable time. I am so looking forward to "getting preached at." If Tim lets me look at his laptop I might do a little live-blogging of the conference myself. He will be zipping off blow-by-blow descriptions, so I might look more to some general comments on the ethos and spirit of the event. One thing I am really looking forward to is connecting with old brothers in ministry and making new friends in the Lord.
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