Since everyone else is doing it we thought we'd jump on the bandwagon. Here are our wishlists so you can see what we are asking each other for this holiday season. Kathy's and Dirk's
I always love looking at people's bookshelves. To me(since I'm a reader), it tells me so much about the person, so I thought that I'd let you know about us. Mine is a true wishlist--I dont expect to get most of these books this giving season, I just like to daydream--so take it with a grain of salt.
--Kathy
11/24/2005
Thankful
There are a lot of things that I could talk about that I'm thankful for--family, friends, Jesus Christ, my husband--but today I'm reminded of something else.
For a long time, even though I'm a Baptist, I didnt want to be labeled as one. "I go to a Baptist church, but I'm not a Baptist"--I saw things in Baptist churches that I wasn't comfortable with so I didnt want to get grouped with them. But through this semester, I've learned a lot. Dirk has been taking a Baptist Heritage class at seminary(a class I had turned my nose up to) and I've learned that the things that I didnt really like about Baptist churches were really not Baptist "things" at all. We discussed this at length last night at church as well, and here is a pretty good list of things that are what historians would call "Baptist distinctives":
For a long time, even though I'm a Baptist, I didnt want to be labeled as one. "I go to a Baptist church, but I'm not a Baptist"--I saw things in Baptist churches that I wasn't comfortable with so I didnt want to get grouped with them. But through this semester, I've learned a lot. Dirk has been taking a Baptist Heritage class at seminary(a class I had turned my nose up to) and I've learned that the things that I didnt really like about Baptist churches were really not Baptist "things" at all. We discussed this at length last night at church as well, and here is a pretty good list of things that are what historians would call "Baptist distinctives":
- Historically orthodox
- Salvation by grace (incedentally, "salvation by faith" was deemed a heresy we call Pelagianism at the Council at Ephesus in 431. The orthodox veiw would be "salvation by grace through faith")
- Bible as the sole authority
- Autonomy of the local church
- Regenerate church membership
- Priesthood of all believers
- Soul, or Religious Liberty
- 2 Ordinances (Believer's baptism, and the Lord's supper)
- 2 Offices (Deacons and Elders)
I'm not uncomfortable about any of these things, in fact I like them, I want to be part of a church that values them. All the other parts of Baptist churches that always bothered me like the altar calls (invented by the Charles Finney, a questionable evangelist during the Second Great Awakening), prevalent anti-intellectualism(a reflection of the culture), "canned" sermons(see previous), excessive traditionalism (we've-always-done-it-that-way mentality) and so forth aren't even Baptist.
Interestingly, reformed Baptists can trace their heritage to the English Separatists that came to America from England--Otherwise known as Pilgrims [not all Puritans were Pilgrims, but its safe to say that most Pilgrims were Puritans]. John Adams, one of our founding fathers, called reformed Baptists "the most thorough-going reformers", which is a high compliment.
I am thankful for a church that is distinctively "Baptist" for all the right reasons, that doesnt mimic the prevalent model for Baptist churches, which seems to be the way of the "get-rich quick schemes" or "get-big-fast schemes". I dont think there is another denomination(and yes even non-denominational's are a denomination....whatever) that at its heart is as truly biblical as reformed Baptists.. I'm putting myself out there by using that statement. But shouldn't you feel that way about the church you attend? Shouldn't you search the scriptures to see if what your church does and believes is truly biblical?? And if you haven't, what right have you to attack or disagree?
I'm thankful to be a Baptist. Yes, you may label me, as long as you know what kind of Baptist identity I'm refering to. Now that you know, you separate what is historical and what is a new development. Label me as a historical Baptist. I'm thankful for my heritage.
--Kathy
Great article on Brian McLaren's "A Generous Orthodoxy"
Steve Camp has a great article on Brian McLaren's book A Generous Orthodoxy. Reading some of the things Mr. McLaren says is down right scarey! Is this what people are being taught???? I hope that Christians will continue to (as Martin Luther said) shake the branches of Scripture. We should all always examine teachings given to us in light of the Bible. Here is the link:
http://stevenjcamp.blogspot.com/2005/11/reinventing-calvinismthe-gospel.html
Enjoy--Dirk
http://stevenjcamp.blogspot.com/2005/11/reinventing-calvinismthe-gospel.html
Enjoy--Dirk
11/22/2005
I'm all for separation of church and state!
Being a Baptist traditionally meant being for chruch/state separation, but recently I do not think church members have been taught it's importance. In fact I would say that we haven't been taught anyting about it. How are people to know what it even means if it isn't taught? Here is a very interesting link to Al Mohler's blog, he mentions what can happen when the state steps into the church. I highly recommend reading more about this IRS case....are they coming to your church????--dirk
http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=383
http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=383
11/21/2005
E.Y. Mullins
I have told several people that I would be posting some of my papers from school on this thing. I guess I better do it. This is a short chapter review over E.Y. Mullins. I recommend reading the entire book, it is very informative. We should all learn about where our denomination came from!--Dirk
Fisher Humphreys wrote chapter ten of Theologians of the Baptist Tradition about Edgar Young (E.Y.) Mullins. After being raised in Texas and moving around the country, Mullins became a strong defender of the Christian faith and a leader of the Baptist.
Edgar Mullins was born as the first son and fourth child of his family on January 5, 1860. His father, who was a teacher, farmer, and Baptist minister. His mother dedicated him to Christian ministry without him knowing until he was 35 years old (181-182). The Mullins family moved to Corsicana, Texas because of the war, and in 1869 and Mullins’ father founded the First Baptist Church of Corsicana. The children of the family were encouraged to attend college, so Edgar became a member of the first class of the military school that is now known as Texas A&M University. Not yet a Christian and preparing to pursue a career in law, Mullins was converted to Christianity at a revival in Dallas, Texas. At the age of twenty he was baptized by his father in Corsicana, shortly thereafter he felt a call to full-time ministry and entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS). After graduation his desire to become a missionary was halted because of health concerns of his doctor. Instead, he became pastor of Harrodsburg Baptist Church in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. After marring Isla May Hawley, Mullins went on to serve churches in Baltimore, Maryland and Newton Centre, Massachusetts. He then served the Foreign Mission Board and became president and professor of/at SBTS, a position he held until he died in 1928. During his time as president of SBTS he also served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1921 to 1924 and the Baptist World Alliance from 1923 to 1928.
During his three decades at SBTS he had influence on three major theological issues that effected Baptist life. First was the controversy between Calvinism and Arminianism. Although Mullins continued to use a Calvinistic textbook in his class, he intentionally took a very moderate position on the issue (184). He wrote this about the extremes of both sides of the issue: “The really safe leaders of thought, however, are between these extremes (184).”
Landmark Baptist interpretation of history was another issue with which Mullins had to contend with during his ministry at SBTS. These Baptists were insistent that the only congregations permitted by the New Testament were local bodies of baptized believers that were in succession from the time of Christ. To deal with this issue Mullins referred to the same line of history as the Landmark movement, but let the answer ultimately rest with historical scholarship (185). This controversy may have led to the lack of written work on the doctrine of the church by Mullins.
The third controversy Mullins dealt with was the controversy between the Fundamentalists and Modernists. In this controversy the study of history and science was used to threaten or explain differently what the churches understood the Bible to say. Mullins, once again, had a very moderate opinion. His stance would not allow for the Bible to be explained away, and would not let the truthful claims of history and science be rejected. This moderate stance was very similar to the stance he took on the Calvinism and Arminianism debate.
Controversies were just one part of Mullins’ ministry, he also wrote more than six books. In his books he teach on apologetics, Baptist heritage, systematic theology, and the controversies of the day. This achievement should be noted along with his leadership of the Baptist worldwide. Through his leadership in the controversies noted above, he led the Baptist away from the extremes of several different views.
Although many of his stances were in the middle of the issue, he should be respected because of this careful thought on issues and his active engagement of the controversies around him. E. Y. Mullins was a great Baptist theologian that led his contemporaries and trained future ministers of the gospel.
Edgar Young Mullins Baptist Theologian and Leader
Fisher Humphreys wrote chapter ten of Theologians of the Baptist Tradition about Edgar Young (E.Y.) Mullins. After being raised in Texas and moving around the country, Mullins became a strong defender of the Christian faith and a leader of the Baptist.
Edgar Mullins was born as the first son and fourth child of his family on January 5, 1860. His father, who was a teacher, farmer, and Baptist minister. His mother dedicated him to Christian ministry without him knowing until he was 35 years old (181-182). The Mullins family moved to Corsicana, Texas because of the war, and in 1869 and Mullins’ father founded the First Baptist Church of Corsicana. The children of the family were encouraged to attend college, so Edgar became a member of the first class of the military school that is now known as Texas A&M University. Not yet a Christian and preparing to pursue a career in law, Mullins was converted to Christianity at a revival in Dallas, Texas. At the age of twenty he was baptized by his father in Corsicana, shortly thereafter he felt a call to full-time ministry and entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS). After graduation his desire to become a missionary was halted because of health concerns of his doctor. Instead, he became pastor of Harrodsburg Baptist Church in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. After marring Isla May Hawley, Mullins went on to serve churches in Baltimore, Maryland and Newton Centre, Massachusetts. He then served the Foreign Mission Board and became president and professor of/at SBTS, a position he held until he died in 1928. During his time as president of SBTS he also served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1921 to 1924 and the Baptist World Alliance from 1923 to 1928.
During his three decades at SBTS he had influence on three major theological issues that effected Baptist life. First was the controversy between Calvinism and Arminianism. Although Mullins continued to use a Calvinistic textbook in his class, he intentionally took a very moderate position on the issue (184). He wrote this about the extremes of both sides of the issue: “The really safe leaders of thought, however, are between these extremes (184).”
Landmark Baptist interpretation of history was another issue with which Mullins had to contend with during his ministry at SBTS. These Baptists were insistent that the only congregations permitted by the New Testament were local bodies of baptized believers that were in succession from the time of Christ. To deal with this issue Mullins referred to the same line of history as the Landmark movement, but let the answer ultimately rest with historical scholarship (185). This controversy may have led to the lack of written work on the doctrine of the church by Mullins.
The third controversy Mullins dealt with was the controversy between the Fundamentalists and Modernists. In this controversy the study of history and science was used to threaten or explain differently what the churches understood the Bible to say. Mullins, once again, had a very moderate opinion. His stance would not allow for the Bible to be explained away, and would not let the truthful claims of history and science be rejected. This moderate stance was very similar to the stance he took on the Calvinism and Arminianism debate.
Controversies were just one part of Mullins’ ministry, he also wrote more than six books. In his books he teach on apologetics, Baptist heritage, systematic theology, and the controversies of the day. This achievement should be noted along with his leadership of the Baptist worldwide. Through his leadership in the controversies noted above, he led the Baptist away from the extremes of several different views.
Although many of his stances were in the middle of the issue, he should be respected because of this careful thought on issues and his active engagement of the controversies around him. E. Y. Mullins was a great Baptist theologian that led his contemporaries and trained future ministers of the gospel.
11/10/2005
Education gone too far?
I have had an ongoing discussion with several people about education. Not just public education, but classical, home schooling, discipleship in the church, seminaries and colleges. Being part of the education system can sometimes be frustrating and rewarding, but reading this blog by Albert Mohler makes me think that some people may be going a little too far. He references a recent news article that I fully intend to read, but his blog will fill you in.
http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=368
I wonder if my "scissor skill" were bad at age 4?????
And yes I will be posting stuff from this semester...I just gotta have time to get it together.--Dirk
http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=368
I wonder if my "scissor skill" were bad at age 4?????
And yes I will be posting stuff from this semester...I just gotta have time to get it together.--Dirk
11/08/2005
its that time again...
Wow, its been a while!
I cant believe our last real post was about RITA of all things....the cause of much frustration and anxiety here in the Houston area. I still dont feel like I have recovered--I lost about a week of instructional time in my classroom, and that's really set me back--there is too much to cover in a semester!!! Actually its not, but it takes forever to get students to understand these concepts--mostly because it doesnt even occur to them to maybe read outside of class or possibly DO THEIR HOMEWORK--so consequently, my time in class is precious. I cant have hurricaines come blowing through (or nearly blowing through) and messing everything up. GRRRRR.
I know you (you know who you are) have been checking this blog about once a week always asking "what's going on with Dirk and Kathy these days???" Well, I'll tell you. Lots of busyness. Dirk has been trying to balance a marraige and a social life with his classes--and doing a pretty good job of it. I still love him, we have friends, and he's got stellar grades in class. Just trying to keep up with it all. I just recently had a stomach virus thing this past weekend. Mostly on Sunday, and it was messy. We'll just leave it at that. It was strange because Dirk was able to sub for my classes and so it was nice to not have to freak out and leave detailed messages for someone to pass onto a sub. Its so nice to get to see him as much as I do. In fact, Dirk's coming up with me to school tomorrow--not to sub, but to help me out with a "class activity"--we're going to play Capture the Flag to teach the Revolutionary War--at least I hope thats how it works. :/ Dirk's there for crowd control. I'll let you know how it goes. Student Council is kicking my butt. Everything is, it seems. Too much too fast!!!
But as far as what the Lord's been teaching me....its been good times. Im on a reading track to read the bible in 180 days. I've done stuff like this before, but I always end up getting off track about 2/3 of the way through. I've kept up with this one--maybe because it starts with the New Testament, and its only been about a month or so. But anyway, I just finished Acts and I'm really sad about it. Its been so good to read through the Gospels and then Acts. I like the narrative stuff. Its also been nice to become reacquainted with the person of Jesus. I've liked rereading his conversations and his miracles. (By the way if anyone has Luke 16 figured out, let me know) But a good way to get me excited about the epistles has GOT to be Romans. Nice how that works out.
I've also been very thankful of the Lord bringing to rememberance many of the blessings He has given me. Its been by His grace that I can remember to thank Him for all the good things, especially as they happen. He has been my provision for energy, creativity, lessons, conversations, time, and all the other things that I can so easily assume just "happen." I am so thankful not only for my precious salvation, but for all the little (and not-so-little) things afterward. Its so humbling to know that He really is mindful of me and my ways and that He really wants all of me--oh that I can give Him all of me! I love Augustine's prayer "Lord, command what You will, and give what You command" He provides for what He demands!! What a gracious God.
Well thats about it in a nutshell ("How did I get in in here??") We've been having some pretty great conversations lately, but we'll have to save that for another post. Have a good one(whatever it is)!
I cant believe our last real post was about RITA of all things....the cause of much frustration and anxiety here in the Houston area. I still dont feel like I have recovered--I lost about a week of instructional time in my classroom, and that's really set me back--there is too much to cover in a semester!!! Actually its not, but it takes forever to get students to understand these concepts--mostly because it doesnt even occur to them to maybe read outside of class or possibly DO THEIR HOMEWORK--so consequently, my time in class is precious. I cant have hurricaines come blowing through (or nearly blowing through) and messing everything up. GRRRRR.
I know you (you know who you are) have been checking this blog about once a week always asking "what's going on with Dirk and Kathy these days???" Well, I'll tell you. Lots of busyness. Dirk has been trying to balance a marraige and a social life with his classes--and doing a pretty good job of it. I still love him, we have friends, and he's got stellar grades in class. Just trying to keep up with it all. I just recently had a stomach virus thing this past weekend. Mostly on Sunday, and it was messy. We'll just leave it at that. It was strange because Dirk was able to sub for my classes and so it was nice to not have to freak out and leave detailed messages for someone to pass onto a sub. Its so nice to get to see him as much as I do. In fact, Dirk's coming up with me to school tomorrow--not to sub, but to help me out with a "class activity"--we're going to play Capture the Flag to teach the Revolutionary War--at least I hope thats how it works. :/ Dirk's there for crowd control. I'll let you know how it goes. Student Council is kicking my butt. Everything is, it seems. Too much too fast!!!
But as far as what the Lord's been teaching me....its been good times. Im on a reading track to read the bible in 180 days. I've done stuff like this before, but I always end up getting off track about 2/3 of the way through. I've kept up with this one--maybe because it starts with the New Testament, and its only been about a month or so. But anyway, I just finished Acts and I'm really sad about it. Its been so good to read through the Gospels and then Acts. I like the narrative stuff. Its also been nice to become reacquainted with the person of Jesus. I've liked rereading his conversations and his miracles. (By the way if anyone has Luke 16 figured out, let me know) But a good way to get me excited about the epistles has GOT to be Romans. Nice how that works out.
I've also been very thankful of the Lord bringing to rememberance many of the blessings He has given me. Its been by His grace that I can remember to thank Him for all the good things, especially as they happen. He has been my provision for energy, creativity, lessons, conversations, time, and all the other things that I can so easily assume just "happen." I am so thankful not only for my precious salvation, but for all the little (and not-so-little) things afterward. Its so humbling to know that He really is mindful of me and my ways and that He really wants all of me--oh that I can give Him all of me! I love Augustine's prayer "Lord, command what You will, and give what You command" He provides for what He demands!! What a gracious God.
Well thats about it in a nutshell ("How did I get in in here??") We've been having some pretty great conversations lately, but we'll have to save that for another post. Have a good one(whatever it is)!
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