Praying Beyond Health Concerns

9Marks has a great new article by David Prowlison on praying for more than just physical needs. I think this article is a must read, not because we have to agree with everything in it but because we need to be striving to pray correctly. Hopefully this article will help drive us back to the Bible to study for a better understanding of Biblical prayer. --Dirk

(HT: Dr. Jim Hamilton)

UPDATE: For some reason the link to the article will NOT work. It will work if you go to Dr. Hamilton's blog, then click on the link, but not from here. I don't claim to understand it either--Dirk

Another sad church

The good folks over at Slice of Laodicea (yes you too should read it daily) provided another interesting article. This one is from the New York Times and highlights a pastor that started a church in Arizona. Here is a small piece of that article that should either 1) make you want to read about this church or 2) cry that the WORLD pointed this out:

The spiritual sell is also a soft one. There are no crosses, no images of Jesus or any other form of religious iconography. Bibles are optional (all biblical quotations are flashed on huge video screens above the stage). Almost half of each service is given over to live Christian rock with simple, repetitive lyrics in which Jesus is treated like a high-school crush: ''Jesus, you are my best friend, and you will always be. Nothing will ever change that.'' Committing your life to Christ is as easy as checking a box on the communication cards that can be found on the back of every chair. (Last year, 1,055 people did so.) (page 3 of the web article, emphasis added)

I hope that we all weep when secular sources have more insight than some churches. May we all pray that the Lord would have mercy on us so that we can seek His face!--Dirk

Summer Reading # 3: Guns, Germs, and Steel

Guns Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. I made myself finally complete this book about a month ago. It was one that I bought about 2 years ago thinking it would make me more enlightnened, but then i got bogged down in all the technical aspects and gave it up. Since I'm teaching World History this next school year (that is coming all too quickly, by the way) I thought I should at least finish it so that I'll sound smarter than my students.

The book's ambitious goal is to explain why the world is the way it is. Why do European nations (including the US) have all the wealth and places like Papua New Guinea are left in the Stone Age? Why did Europe colonize North America and not the other way around? The book drops all notions of racial or cultural superiority and looks more at geography to explain each area's circumstances.

I was going to explain some of the interesting factors that Diamond listed that will decide if a location has enough to offer its inhabitants in the way of advancement, but there are so many, that I would give up this review before I finished. I was convinced of his theories by the end of the book. I would scrap the first chapter or two that explain his hopes of evolution, but the rest of the book is engaging, and you will be able to see the hand of God and how He orders the world.

--Kathy

Summer Reading # 2: Brave New World

I decided to read this, my favorite of all high school reading, because a friend of mine said he wants me to read Planet of the Apes and I said I would if he would read Brave New World(by Aldous Huxley) .

So I thought I should reread it to refresh myself. I know most high school seniors that have to read this book loathe it. I absolutely loved it. I love any dystopian novels (Fahrenheit 451 is up there at the top of my list too) and Brave New World is one of the best. It really allows you to examine the aspects of our society that we take for granted. Our values, truisms, desires and goals are all turned on their head to allow us to see the merit in what we have.

I dont know if this was the author's intent, but I enjoyed the total dismantling of the family(where 'mother' is a dirty word) and its effects on people. I also love the discussions that take place about what true happiness is--is it really the removal of all pain or is pain necessary to achieve happiness? I think what I like most about this book is that is a discussion of culture, brainwashing, and the value of the struggle of life, all in an interesting story.

I know I am not doing this book the justice it deserves in this short book review. The book has much more depth than I can convey in a few paragraphs, so if you are at all intrigued, please check it out.

--Kathy

You know that creepy commercial...

If you've ever wondered about that weird TV spot that advertises the stuff that you actually rub onto your forehead to relieve a headache, you've got to read this. I felt validated after knowing that we weren't the only ones scratching our heads...

--Kathy

New Person the Blogroll

I would like to point out that we have added a new person to the blogroll on the left. Robin and Jason are members of our church and will be moving in a short time to Virginia for Jason's job. I am sorry that I did not put her blog up there earlier. We look forward to hearing about the D.C. area through your writings!--Dirk

Software Review

I have fallen down on the job of reading the last few weeks. I just can't seem to finish The Reformed Pastor and I can't really get excited about Women's Ministry in the Local Church. I have my reasons why I struggle with each. Couple that with summer slothfulness and you get me not reading. So instead of a book I thought I would write a software review. During the past year I have been using a program called e-Sword and it has proved very useful. It was recommended to me by Mike Thompson and for that I am grateful. Read below about it.--Dirk


E-Sword: The Sword of the LORD with an Electronic Edge
By: Rick Meyers

e-Sword Bible software is a freeware program that has been in use since April of 2000. Rick Meyers developed it as a tool for students and teachers to help in their studies. Since that time it now has been downloaded over three million times and is growing to be one of the most used freeware bible study tools.
To start freeware needs to be defined for the people who may not know computer lingo. Freeware is software (a program run on a computer) that is free. It may be downloaded as many times as needed or wanted, but MAY NOT BE SOLD.

HOW IT IS SET UP
Once e-Sword is downloaded and running on your computer Bible versions, commentaries, and other resources need to be downloaded. This allows you freedom to pick and choose what resources that you want to study with.
The e-Sword desktop is divided into two sections. On the left will be the Bible versions tabbed at the top with a dictionary below the Bible. The right of the screen will contain tabbed commentaries, study notes, and topic notes. This set up is changeable with the option of maximizing each of the windows to full screen for easier reading or use.

THE GOOD
Obviously the best thing about this program is that it is free! Rick Meyers has graciously made the program available to anyone who wants to use it. The only part of this program that may cost you money is some of the add-ons. Unfortunately, the NASB and a few other resources require that you pay the publisher the license fee.
Besides being free my favorite feature of this program is the ease of use. The Bibles and commentaries are tabbed at the top of the screen for easy navigation and movement. Mr. Meyers has also built in a synchronizing tool that will keep the commentaries and Bibles together. So as you change Bible verses your commentaries keep up.
The note taking features of this program are also very good. Two different ways are offered. The first is a study notes tab that allows for note taking on specific chapters and verses for later use. As you navigate to different scripture references in the study notes sections your notes are saved under that scripture reference for later use. It makes for simple, yet effective, organization. The second, is topic notes section that allows note taking on different topics. In the same way the subject notes are saved by verse these notes are saved by the topic it is assigned. There are also several downloads for this section written by popular theologians and Christians of the past that are most helpful. For example the Psalms of David set to Metre, Institutes of Christian Religion, Foxes Book of Martyrs, and the Westminster Confession may be downloaded as resources for study.
For all those out there who are on the go and want to study the Bible from the convenience of a PDA a version has been created for Pocket PC. Unfortunately, at this time PDAs running a PalmOS cannot use this feature.
Lastly, there is a STEP reader that supports books that may be downloaded for free. The entire works of John Newton, A. W. Pink, and John Bunyan’s are a few examples of what may be downloaded.

THE BAD
The necessity of downloading each add-on individually, while allowing customizing options, makes this program time consuming to set up. It most likely will turn into a process that takes unless several hours may be set aside.
The language section of the program leaves a little to be desired. While it will help with definitions through the dictionary section, it lacks in a good version of the Hebrew Old Testament and a parsing tool. But this is beyond the scope of most studies, and the program is never promoted as a Biblical language program.

CONCLUSION
Overall this is the best and most simple Bible study program that I have used. It contains a multitude of options yet does not take over the computer’s memory when running. This is a program that all Christians who study their Bible need to at least download and review.

It can be downloaded and researched at www.e-sword.net

Church Rock Concert or Church Heresy Promotion

Thanks again to the Slice for bringing this article to my attention. I don't have a problem with concerts at churches (not on the Lord's day I might add), but this line up of bands is shady. In the Slice article please read the lyrics to one of the songs and look at the names of the bands. May we weep over churches who promote this type of teaching to students. Yes it is teaching!--Dirk

(HT: Slice of Laodicea)

Crazy Rick Warren

I found this rap video, yes rap video, here on the Purpose Driven site. And NO I was not there looking around, I got the link from The Slice.--Dirk

Change of mind

I have decided that it is more important to prepare for Sunday morning instead of transposing all my notes about conference. Look for it next week instead.--Dirk

Founders Conference Tulsa, OK

Ok we are really in Owasso a suburb of Tulsa. Brad could not go because of deaths and funerals that happened this week in our church, so they called in the relief. Mike and I had a good drive up and so far have enjoyed our stay. Besides my computer giving me a few problems, so far so good. I thought I would try to "live blog" the event. But I'm not going to do it live, and I might not keep up with it. I obviously am no Challies. Look for the the first episode tomorrow. We've been through two sessions tonight and both were good. The two sessions were Psalm 51 by Joe Thorn then Revelation 5 by Sam Waldren. Both were excellent and I didn't let my fear of Revelation talk me into leaving (j/k).--Dirk

Guilded Age of Christianity

I know Dirk is the one who normally does all the links to other articles, I felt compelled to point out this post at Slice of Laodicea(if you dont check it out regularly, you ought to) . Ingrid does a great job at discussing the perils of our own Guilded Age of Christianity that we as Americans are in the midst of. Please read and join us in prayer. --Kathy

Concerns about Dr. Page

I recived an e-mail recently written by one of the elders of our church. He has some interesting thoughts about the Presidents Page of the Southern Baptist Convention. I thought these were very insightful and he said I could post it here. --Dirk



As reported by Al Mohler, Frank Page has his own SBC web page. Note the "Important Issues" tab at:http://www.sbc.net/PresidentsPage/FrankPage/ImportantIssues.asp If you read the "Calvinism" section, several things become clear:
(1) he has no historical perspective on what the "doctrines of grace" mean (an old Mormon trick--use the same words as they have been recognized throughout history, but with a new meaning, therefore disguising the real intent--like others who use the term "Hypercalvinism");
(2) he does not know or understand that Calvinists believe in free will--which tells me he is unfamiliar with Jonathan Edwards, Spugeon, et.al., or worse, deliberately ignores what he knows to be true; and
(3) if "salvation.........is universally offered and atoned for by our Lord Jesus Christ" then all are saved and no one is condemned--thus no hell for any human being; therefore the Page formula is "universal offer and atonement equals universalism."
This is the result of a "no doctrine but the Bible" mentality; combine that with a "sweet spirit" and you have the recipe for lethargic, ignorant congregations (and preachers, teachers).

Note also his comments in the "Women in Ministry" section. When he says he supports the BF&M and specifically supports the statement that "the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture," I assume that does not mean Assistant Pastors, as his own church has a female for "Minister for Adults." See http://www.taylorsfbc.org/templates/custaylorsfbc/details.asp?id=32297&PID=313167&mast= If the key to this is his adherence to Scripture (as he claims), is he applying 1 Cor. 14:34-35 and 1 Tim. 2:11-12? If so, how does he justify Kathy Dority's position in his church? Is it even credible or possible that a "Minister to Adults" does no teaching? Is the title of "minister" used to avoid the clear spirit and intent of the Scripture that Mr. Page so highly values? Evidently Scripture is to be obeyed except when it interfers with what he wants to do in his own church. But remember that the title of the section is "Women in Ministry"--I suppose there is an intention to relate "ministry" to "minister" and therefore avoid the"pastor" label--which I would see as a blatantly clear attempt to avoid the authorial intent of Paul in Scripture. These are troubling indicators.--Mike

Seeker Sensitive Results...Are They New

Thanks to the bloggers over at "the slice," as I like to call it, I found this interesting article. It compares the results of the seeker sensitive movement with the results of the Charlemagne era of the 770s A.D. It is well worth your read, even if you don't agree with it. We should all strive to honor God in our worship!--Dirk

Great Article on Rick Warren's trip to Asia

Brothers and sisters many of you know that I don't care for Rick Warren too much. I appreciate some of the work that he and his church has done. For example they funded many pastors that were caught in the hurricanes last year so that they could continue to minister. But, unfortunatly, I don't see him proclaiming the gospel of Christ. Read this interesting examination of his trip to Asia. We need to pray that he does not "drop the ball" while speaking and that the Holy Spirit would speak the gospel through him. I would agree with this article that he is allowed to speak there, because he is not seen as a gospel proclaiming threat.--Dirk

New Website that is a MUST SEE

I just found out that Tim Challies now owns and runs Discerning Reader. Challies is known (in my mind at least) for his great book reviews and faster than greased lightening live blogging. Discerning Reader now has all of his book reviews and he has an editorial team that is writing reviews too. So the next time you want to know if a book is good or if it will be a waste of time and money check it out on the Discerning Reader.

Why do Southern Baptists oppose Premarital-Sex?

Because it leads to dancing.

Lame, I know. I thought of that joke--a great reminder of what getting caught in the periphery issues can do to your logic--as my parents and I perused the new issue of the Southern Baptist Texan.

Check out this article, or at least just the title.

There is a lot I could take issue with about the SBC and SBTC, but let's just stick with the periphery issues, shall we?

An interesting line from the article about the lengthy discussion banning alcohol at the recent SBC said:
“The use of alcohol as a beverage can and does impede our testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ,” [one supporter] insisted, prompting strong applause from messengers. He called for the amendment’s passage so that messengers might speak to the matter and “leaders might take the high road in our walk with the Lord Jesus.” (emphasis added)

Now, I'm assuming this supporter equates any consumption of alcohol with drunkeness. Also, I suppose that so many in attendance felt that any action that might, or could 'impede our testimony' should be banned in a resolution and passed at the next Southern Baptist Convention.

Another quote:
[Another Supporter] said, “The resolution is to take a stand against something that is destroying our world.” After being interrupted by applause, [he] added, “The resolution states very plainly alcoholism has led to countless deaths on our nation’s highways.”

Now I see. This not only is an issue with personal holiness but also with public safety. Aparently those who choose to partake in alcohol responsibly are still ruining their witness and making the highways unsafe.

So should the SBC ban cell phones, high heels, computers, and coffee shops because they all could lead to sin and might inhibit public safety?

I guess Paul should have consulted with the wise messengers to the SBC before he wrote Romans 14. Who needs to be 'convinced in his own mind'(v5) when the SBC has it all figured out for you??

--Kathy