New International Mission Board President David Platt

News of Pastor Platt's Election today

Another reason to stick to the basics

I missed this article earlier in the year, but I did read the how-to guide.  Are you comfortable with this sort of "method" in your church services?  Is this different than what is used at the mass crusades when the counselors come forward first when the alter call is given?

RNS Article about not-so spontaneous "Spontaneous Baptisms"

Is your worship a mirror of heaven?

We looked into Revelation 5 this past week.  One of the striking things is the way in which the worship in heaven of the Lamb and the One who sits on the throne is mirrored on earth. "And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and in the sea, and all things that are in them heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever." (v.13)  This is right after a similar declaration in heaven by others in verses 11-12.  I believe we can have heavenly worship right where we live today.  In our homes, wherever we are, and in our churches.  This worship can mirror what heaven must be like. We can be on guard that we go "in order to" worship (verb) and never just "to observe" worship (noun).  When worship is only a noun we degenerate into spectators who expect entertainment.  Remember, God is the observer in our worship (verb).  Too often we unconsciously expect to observe others' efforts at spiritual entertainment.  We can do this at the movies or concerts, but not in a Christian worship service.  There we are, in community, "on the spot" before the Lord as it were.  And remember (please) worship is not a means to an end, it IS the end.

Did Jesus Google the Passion?

"Is it reasonable to think that Jesus could have predicted the details of his passion only if he read about them somewhere?  This is not to question the applicability of some of the OT allusions to him; it is rather to question the historical reductionism of some Gospel research."

- D. A. Carson, "Matthew" in The Expositor's Bible Commentary, p. 376, 1984

...so I did!

I received one of those "e-vites" and clicked the RSVP.  The event was to be in a church building, and I arrived on time to a virtually empty parking lot.  I thought the event would be well-attended, so I was pretty surprised.  I decided to walk up to the building anyway.  The doors were locked, and there was no sign directing me, and no one around anywhere.  I found a doorbell and gave it a ring.  Waited...no sign of anyone.  I peered into the window again, wondering what to do next.  As I looked to the right I could clearly see, back inside somewhere, part of a message..."Go Ye Therefore..." so I did.

Dissipation makes no sense to anyone.

I see a relationship between Romans 3:12's cryptic (!) quote of Psalm 14 & 53 and Ephesians 5:18.  That word in Ephesians 5:18b (that is used to describe the cosmic/moral state of drunkenness) has fascinated me.  I've translated it as "unsavedness" because of the quality of warning that gives to the command of 5:18a. But recent meditation in Romans 3 caused the über-harsh word "useless" to hang out there loose also.  Why would God call people "useless?" Now I think the two are theological twins, especially in light of the debauchery of 1st century Ephesus and the presence of the word for the "moral status" or corrupt-ness in Genesis 6 that motivated the Great Flood Judgment there.  If you compare what early Christians must have thought of the religious climate in Ephesus with what ancient Judaism must have thought of antediluvian morals, you can see a conclusion to which to jump.  Some of these passages, like Romans 3, can seem so harsh and judgmental, and VERY many people would have a problem with linking spirituality to Ephesians 5:18a--BUT the problem is there is 5:18b "because that is unsavedness."  Paul is encouraging the Ephesians not to be drawn into any of the habits surrounding their persecuted circle of wagons.  In Romans, Paul is making the case for the saving action of God in Christ, clearly demonstrating the parallel between salvation from the Great Flood and salvation from the apocalyptic Last Judgment.  He sees the same God warning good people everywhere to ESCAPE by faith in God through Christ.  (Peter does also I Peter 4.4, and notice the pun!) So, the Psalms echo the sentiments in the Pentateuch, and Paul echos the Psalms in light of Jesus' mission.  So the selection of this word for Ephesians 5:18 rings like a plea from God not to be fooled by the sauce into thinking it is some escape.  In fact, too much sauce can actually HINDER the most important escape of all!  Then Paul gives the better alternative in the verses that follow in Ephesians 5.

Don't wait until Sunday

"If I wait until Sunday to confess my sin, I may have given it time to overtake me" -Cindy in the Upper Room