Since I am reading, and enjoying, Carson’s small book (haven’t had much time to read lately) about Tom Carson, his father, I found this interview with Mark Driscoll really interesting. Carson talks about his father, his upbringing, and a few things about his ministry. At the end, he even offers some advice to new pastors.
When Ministers Fall
27 December 2008 By Leave a Comment
I am pausing sermon prep this morning to jot this quick entry of the things filling my mind now, only a few minutes after someone popped into my office to inform me that a minister whom I have met before has fallen into sin – and that it’s been made public. This obviously has debunked his ministry, caused shame to the cause of Christ, and made his future, and the future of his family, highly uncertain.
The following are a few things that I think I should do when I learn that a fellow minister has fallen:
- Consider my own fallen-ness, and keep in mind the grace of Christ in my life. John Newton’s words are so appropriate. “This is what I know: I am a great sinner. Christ is a great savior”.
- Pray for the fallen. Pray that he sincerely repents, that he sets his gaze on Christ; that he returns to the foot of the cross. Mourn for him if he doesn’t.
- Pray for the family of the fallen; for healing, recovery and that their faith in Christ remain strong. And pray that they respond to him and to the world in a Christ-honoring way.
- Guard my walk and pursue Spiritual Formation as if my life, family and ministry depend on it. They do.
- Unapologetically continue to preach, teach, write and live-out the teachings of the Bible. Let there be no mistake: the fact that a messenger has fallen does not change the validity, truth and power of the message.
The Gospel Is…
23 December 2008 By Leave a Comment
On Sunday night, we inductively tackled Colossians 1.4-8. In that text, we discovered a list of things about the gospel, either directly or by inference. Here it is, played backwards.
1. Faithful ministers teach the gospel (Col 1.7).
2. The gospel must be taught to be effective (inference from Col 1.7).
3. The gospel must be learned to be effective (Col 1.7).
4. The gospel must be understood (Col 1.6).
5. The gospel must be heard (Col 1.6).
6. The gospel is being heard all over the world (Col 1.6).
7. The gospel is growing (presumably by making more converts) all over the world (Col 1.6).
8. The gospel is bearing fruit all over the world (Col 1.6).
9. The gospel is the Word of truth (Col 1.5).
10. The gospel is the hope laid up for us in heaven (Col 1.5).
11. The gospel produces love for the saints (Col 1.4).
12. The gospel produces faith in Christ (Col 1.4).
Planning a Christmas Message
22 December 2008 By Leave a Comment
Even though this Sunday will actually be three days after Christmas, I am planning to preach on Luke 2.8-14, exploring the impact and implications this most important birth had on the world. I’m stoked about the study.
O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today!
We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel!
M & M’s
20 December 2008 By 1 Comment
When we noticed this photo on my Dad’s camera, we realized how seldom we actually see or take pictures of just the two of us – or of us together at all. My Dad snapped this at the Thanksgiving Day family get together.
Well, She’s Done It…
18 December 2008 By 3 Comments
Maya has learned to drive a car. And she drives faaaast. 
Three Days of Family Fun
18 December 2008 By 3 Comments
On Monday we ran a few errands in town before heading down to Disney World with our friends, Rodd & Kristie and Co. – and we had a blast riding the boats and the monorail. On Tuesday we went to Blue Springs and watched the manatees (see the pictures below). Yesterday, we dilly dallied around the house and then went to the mall for a few hours. It was a relaxed, family-oriented three days, and we have the pictures to prove it.
Moving Right Along
15 December 2008 By Leave a Comment
Last night, just a few minutes before the deadline, I submitted my last research paper for the semester. It is nice to be done, and I look forward to a lighter schedule for a few weeks. The family is happy too. While I am glad that I took such a heavy load of classes, it definitely took its toll. But it is done now. We’re taking the next three days as a mini-vacation.
I had the privilege of preaching on Matt 6.25-34 for the morning service yesterday, presenting the biblical perspective for facing tough financial times. If the audio becomes available today I’ll link to it.
Now to go for a walk with the kids.
Update: The audio is now available here.
Newsweek’s Endorsement of Gay Marriage and a Bible Scholar’s Rebuttal
11 December 2008 By Leave a Comment
Anyone who reads Lisa Miller’s ignorant exploration of what the Bible has to say about homosexuality ought also to read Robert Gagnon’s rebuttal.
My favorite Gagnon quote (from the conclusion):
The question must be asked: What is it with the “elite” newspapers and newsmagazines over the past decade? Are they so obsessed with promoting the homosexualist agenda that they have now given up even a pretense to objectivity, balanced research, and good sense? Do they care nothing for destroying their reputation, built up over many years, as credible sources for news and commentary? These news sources are more and more resembling a homosexualist Pravda—a different agenda but the same style of propaganda “news” reporting that would make the old Kremlin leadership proud.
Christianity Today offered a well-written response as well.
Bush Jr. on the Bible
9 December 2008 By Leave a Comment
Click here to read a Fox News interview about President Bush’s views on God, the Bible and evolution.
The Great Commission
8 December 2008 By Leave a Comment
Yesterday, I had the tremendous privilege to preach the text of the Great Commission, Matthew 28.16-20. You can download or listen to the sermon by clicking here.
Your Word, O Lord…
2 December 2008 By Leave a Comment
I rarely, if ever, use the word ‘awesome’ in either writing or speaking unless I am talking about God himself. Yet, what I saw this morning was nothing less than awesome. A group of men from many different professions, backgrounds and education levels meeting in the wee hours of the morning to do serious, in-depth Bible study. This morning, we tackled one of the most difficult passages in Paul’s epistles and we did it without a commentary or even study-Bible notes; we used only classic inductive Bible study methods. And we came away knowing what Paul meant, and how we should respond to that.
That is awesome.
Thanksgiving Weekend
1 December 2008 By 4 Comments
We had a stupendous Thanksgiving weekend; the first of its kind for us. On Thursday, we had dinner with family, followed by an intense round of croquet (and I lost badly). On Friday, we roasted our first turkey (regular size turkeys are hard to find in Russia) and it came out great – so we enjoyed a second Thanksgiving dinner, as it were.
On Saturday, we went hiking through a sand-pine forest not far from here. Everything went great until Maya was stung by the most venomous caterpillar in the US. I thought nothing of it. I mean, look at the furry little creature! What could he do? Apparently a lot, because her arm went numb in minutes and ached for hours. Thankfully, by dinner she was feeling better.
All things considered, it was a great weekend and now we are ready to get back to work.
