American Inventor

As I was watching American Inventor tonight and started following along on the show’s website. I rememebred last week seeing one of the couples owned a psychic store. With a little more searching I found their website. I just had to blog about what I found there. Many of the psychics were ordained in some “church” or “temple,” but I had to include Victor on this post:

Psychic Advisor Born in the Caribbean, Victor is Ordained as a Christian Minister and is a Feng Shui expert. Author of “Tao of Happiness” available in Spanish, book address Taoism and energy use in ordinary life. Victor is also a talented practitioner in the use of Aromatherapy Oils. His gifts include: Tarot; Palmistry; Feng Shui; Aromatherapy Oils; and Connecting with Loved Ones who have passed away. [taken from the psychic store's website]

If anyone thinks you can be Christian and teach the things above, I would like to talk to you - I need to talk to you.

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,for he will receive me. Selah
(Psalms 49:15) <– That is where your energy comes from!

REFLECTION PAPER ON SBC 2007

Any discussion on the Southern Baptist convention 2007 would have to begin with the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary class that I took in association with this year’s convention. I had never been able to attend an SBC due to mission work overseas occurring during the same time period as the convention. My wife had been blessed to attend some previous conventions as part of worship teams. I had also watched parts of the convention online. This had prepared me somewhat for what to expect.

I appreciated the reading assignments associated with the class work. The titles by Brand and Hankins, One Sacred Effort, and Ammerman’s Baptist Battles were good reads and great support. They provided an interesting and complete history of the Southern Baptist Convention as well as helping the reader see the current structure of the convention. While Ammerman’s text did display some bias, the work as a whole reported the facts without being masked by that predisposition.

The opportunity to hear the heart of Dr. Paige Patterson as he told of the conservative resurgence was the highlight of the course. The design of this class to include the above mentioned readings along with a guest lecture by Dr. Patterson provided such a well-rounded look at the history of the Southern Baptist Convention with a welcomed emphasis on the conservative resurgence.

I have been critical of Dr. Patterson’s approach to items in the past. While I have understood, and often agreed with his conclusion to matters, I did not always care as much for his approach in addressing these matters. Having the opportunity to hear his heart on so many past battles really impacted me. The Lord opened my eyes to Dr. Patterson’s great desire to stand strong in the power of His Word. When he humbly answered a student’s question concerning the personal hurt his stand for the Bible has caused his family, it revealed the depth of the struggle he faced for his belief. Then, when he apologized to the class because he knows that his leadership of the seminary has caused us issues as well, I saw God’s example of humility so plainly in the man before me.

The opportunity to attend this year’s SBC was also a time to spend with family. My two boys were able to travel with my wife and I to San Antonio. We arrived on Saturday and began some wonderful time as a family. We were blessed for our boys to see such a large body of believers coming together for fellowship, encouragement, and support of godly values.

On Sunday morning, my family was able to attend Shavano Baptist Church in San Antonio. This was a small SBC church pastured by Dave Gauthier. There were others in the morning worship service that had come to SBC. Pastor Gauthier used the opportunity to invite Aletha Thomas, an IMB missionary, to speak to the congregation. I was very blessed by the entire worship experience at Shavano Baptist Church and pray that one day we shall be able to return and worship with them. This was an SBC church that was supporting the Cooperative Program through their time and resource.

Sunday evening began the Pastor’s Conference. I was excited to hear how God spoke through these men. I was a little tired from our day’s busy schedule as the first message began and maybe this was the reason Dr. Spradlin’s message was average on my reaction. Dr. Paterson’s testimony and then Dr. Vine’s message revived me fully. God really used Dr. Vine’s sermon to lift my spirit. I felt his message was the best sermon of this convention.

The Monday morning break-out sessions were also a high spot of the conference for me. I choose to attend Dr. Tom Elliff’s Equipped for Divine Intimacy and Dr. Tim Kimmel’s Equipped for Effective Parenting. I wish that the schedule would have allowed me to attend all of these break-out sessions. What a powerful time we had listening to Dr. Elliff speak of how God has moved within his life to become more intimate with Him. I also found myself trying to practice grace-base parenting after Dr. Kimmel’s presentation.

My wife attended the Pastor’s Wives Conference on Monday morning while our boys were in the Children’s Conference. They were all blessed by these opportunities. It was an added gift for me to reflect on the day’s events with my wife.

In the last evening of the Pastor’s Conference, I was excited to hear God through a fresh, young heart as J.D. Greear preached. Dr. Greear has his doctorate in systematic theology and at the conclusion of his message I did not doubt that a bit. He had his facts in order but the emotion of what he had to say was not there for me.

Tuesday morning began the 2007 Southern Baptist Convention. I was excited to be there, but also must say that I was disappointed in the number of messengers that were present when I first arrived. This was a disappointment I felt throughout the conference as I will relate in other events later. I was also surprised that only three motions were made at the first introduction of motions. Once again, my later realization of certain agendas made this understandable as well. The SBC bulletin revealed to me that other motions had been submitted before the meeting.

The morning session moved along so rapidly that Secretary on the Order of Business made a motion to move the schedule ahead by 15 minutes. One of the messengers seated next to me voted against this motion and complained that they should stick to the printed order of business. This messenger also showed up about an hour late to the proceedings.

I have served as a missionary in Eastern Europe and understand the conditions in this area of the world, both physical and spiritual. As I have traveled, I have also seen the differences in Western Europe as well. The physical hardships are not present as they are in the eastern portion of the continent, but the spiritual darkness is greatly magnified. When Heinrich Derksen, president of Bibelseminar in Bonn, Germany, spoke to the SBC I was so excited to hear of the movement of God in this region. Hearing that such a dark area was not only receiving the Light of Jesus Christ, but that this light was also very conservative in theology was stimulating. Derksen spoke of the many ministries in Germany and also the former Soviet Union that have left the Baptist World Alliance and desire association with the SBC. I pray that this convention will help take up this task of proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in a land where our beliefs had such strong root.

Tuesday afternoon started the most interesting debate of the convention. A motion was made to affirm the Baptist Faith and Message as the SBC’s “only consensus statement of doctrinal beliefs.” What followed was a pretty confusing discussion, unless you were privy to what the supporters were trying to accomplish in this motion. It became even more confusing when the item came up for voting by the messengers. I felt that many messengers did not understand what they were voting on and they certainly did not understand the agenda behind the motion. The seminary reports for Southwestern and Southern Seminary would raise these important points of this motion again.

On Wednesday I was monitoring microphone six. First thing in the morning a pastor approached me and indicated that he wished to ask a question of Dr. Al Mohler when the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary report was presented. That was another hour and a half away. Some I figured out that a group had planned a strategy to control all of the microphones during this report. Through cell phone conversations and several small business meeting this group was conducting behind me, this plan became very obvious. I agreed with the points they wanted to make concerning the BF&M use as a guide. However, I do not think their agenda in any way mimicked Jesus Christ. My Bible never says that Jesus hinder His opposition from speaking. In fact, He invited them to speak and then He taught them often using their own words.

I believe that the highest messenger count approached 8521 seated on Tuesday afternoon. A concerning matter was that the highest number of ballots every reported was around 3700. So where were the other messengers? This really bothered me throughout the convention. As I worshipped during the conference on Wednesday, I reflected back on that morning’s strategy planning going on behind me that prevented me from fully praising my Lord and Savior. I also thought about these missing 5000 messengers. Absolutely broke my heart over why people some people are attending. Are we a people concerned with praise or politics?

I was overwhelmed with the neutrality of the messengers. What I mean is that a message would be preached warning of the dangers of commingling with the Emergent / Emerging Church movement and the messengers went wild with applause. Later, a message was preached that we must be more like the Emerging Church Movement and the messengers “amens” loudly arouse. It was amazing to watch, but truly is the beauty of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Hearing the stories of the missionaries, the successes of the seminaries, and the great plans God is providing for the future was the highlight of this convention. I pray that the Holy Spirit will place a desire in future leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention to study as we had the opportunity to do this semester the history and structure of this convention. Most importantly, I pray that we should be a people who always use His Word to light our path.

Just Too Busy

A friend recently sent me an article by Rod Dreher that ran in the Dallas Morning News. It is entitled “Impervious to beauty and dedened to depravity.” Here is a link to the article.

And here is a link to the video of Joshua Bell playing violin in the middle of the morning rush hour at a DC Metro station. In 43 minutes, Joshua Bell performed six classical pieces, 1,097 people passed by a none stopped.

How true this is. I often catch myself just going through the motions. STOP. Take a breath. Worst of all is when I am trying to spend time with God and the things of this world continue rolling through my head. I can’t slow down to focus becuase I feel programmed to be multitasking - 21st century style. If information is available, please provide it to me in a 20 second video byte.

Real Church

Not many words I can add to the linked video.

Jerry Brents made a tremendous impact in my life and my ministry. I wrote Jerry a letter when he first began his battle with cancer. What he wrote me back was incredible. He told me about how God had preapred him all his life and now it was really time to live it. Just check out the video for a small taste of the man that God used to reach so many:

http://www.jerrybrents.com/

Did Gunny use excessive force against John Piper?

Recently an image was posted by an influencial DFW pastor.  Not only do I respect the local pastor, but this image also involved Dr. John Piper was is an incredible man of God.  The circumstances, as they appeared in the photo, however concerned me and I decided to begin my own investigation. 

My concerns really began when I received word that the local (well respected) DFW pastor took an under-age family member on a long journey to worship a relic.  Photographic evidence of family member and relic can be found at his blog (http://gunny93.blogspot.com/).   Then this most recent photo invloving such an incredible theologian who appeared to be under some form diress. 

Instantly I began thinking of similar situations I had experienced over the years. 

I remember the Vulcan nerve pinch:

And the “Iron Claw” of the Fritz Von Erich” (yes I used to go to the Sportatorium and eat Jack’s Fries)  

And now this:

Was Dr. Piper involved in this voluntarily?  Still researching the answer. 

God @ Starbucks

 

So there I am reading my Bible at Starbucks.  I spend alot of time at Starbucks.  Yes, I like the coffee.  However, sometimes it is “getting away” that helps me focus.  Even when it is real busy the noise becomes “white noise” and I can still focus. 

Well today I was reading Exodus when someone came over and asked where I attended church.  I began a short conversation my Eric Willis, Worship Developer, at Fellowship Bible Church in Plano / Richardson, Texas. 

God laid a hand of peace on me through Eric in that brief encounter.  I had just returned from a pre-op appointment for a minor surgery my son is having and I was concerned about that.  There are major changes happening at my work that has everyone real worried.  I fell God calling me to make a bigger step towards vocational ministry - but I haven’t seen an open door in that direction.  And then he is this brother that gives me encouragement through a brief word.

Eric left and I felt real blessed to have meet him.  Then a couple of minutes later he is back at my table with two of his CDs.  Incredible worship music. 

Check out Eric’s website and music at http://www.xprotege.com/. 

http://www.tyronejohnson.com/

More on Unity

As I have been reading through Wiersbe’s Your Next Miracle, I read this quote taken from a letter John Newton wrote to George Whitefield in 1757:

The longer I live, the more I see of the vanity and the sinfulness of our unchristian disputes; they eat up the very vitals of religion. . . . I allow that every branch of gospel truth is precious, that errors are abounding, and that it is our duty to bear an honest testimony to what the Lord has enabled us to find comfort in, and to instruct with meekness such as are willing to be instructed; but I cannot see it my duty, nay, I believe it would be my sin, to attempt to beat my notions into other people’s heads. . . . When our dear Lord questioned Peter, after his fall and recovery, he said not, Art thou wise, learned and eloquent? nay, he said not, Art thou clear and sound, and orthodox? But this only, “Lovest thou me?” An answer to this was sufficient then; why not now?

Amen, and amen.  Maybe we should recirculate this letter through the SBC. 

Your Next Miracle

I am currently reading Warren Wiersbe’s Your Next Miracle.  So here I am reading along in a section dealing with Jesus’ miracles that only Matthew records (17:24-27) about the temple tax.  Wiersbe speaks about how Jesus teaches humility in this miracle.  I start thinking about so many of the current issues “making the headlines” in the Southern Baptist Convention.  At least the important ones to me. 

How did these issues become so consuming?  Wiersbe writes, “Too many believers today have unconsciously adopted the world’s idea of greatness - position, power, wealth, fame - and have forgotten that true greatness in God’s kingdom means humility, sacrifice, and service.” So why is he writing about that in dealing with this Scripture?  Jesus didn’t have to pay the temple tax (the redeemer paid the redemption money; the King is always tax-exempt), but He did.  Why?  He says so in verse 27 - “So that we don’t offend them.”

I think the non-offensive approach is out of whack at times in the church.  Some emergent churches go over board on this one as do the “seeker-sensitive” meetings.  The Gospel is offensive and we should not have a desire to change that.  My sin is even more offensive to God!  At least until I asked Christ to save me from it. 

 Where Weirsbe goes with his point is what made me write this post.  He says:

One of the major causes of division in the church today is the selfish way we insist that others agree with us… God can bless people we disagree with - and He does!  The early Christian assemblies in Rome were in danger of fragmenting because they didn’t know how to exercise Christian love and build unity out of diversity. 

Unity out of diversity.  Huh? 

I am reformed in my theology.  I would be happy to talk with anybody about why I am reformed.  I believe the Bible, being inerrant and infallible, is word-for-word truth.  But here is the point, I attend churches that are very free will.  I serve on the mission-field with believers who are much more charismatic than I am.  But we believe that Jesus is the answer.  The only answer.  We believe that sin is the problem, but Jesus is the answer. 

There was a lot going on in that fish story Jesus told to Peter.  Here is a professional fisherman that used boats and nets to catch large numbers of fish at a time.  Yet, Jesus send him out with a line to catch just one.  This one fish would have a coin in its mouth - no, not its stomach, its mouth.  Yet the fish would still be able to take the hook on the end of Peter’s line - before any other fish - with a coin in its mouth.  And we doubt that God will use a Reformed Southern Baptist working alongside a Free Will Southern Baptist?

History of Calendars

I got into a conversation with a friend yesterday about calendars and how we date things. I decided to dig up this paper and post it.

INTRODUCTION

The history of calendars and the customs related to them is incredibly vast. Even when the area of investigation is reduced to include only the lands of the Bible, this paper could only provide a brief investigation of the topic. Calendars that are of importance in a study on this topic should include the Jewish, Roman, Egyptian, Greek, Armenian, Babylonian, and Muslim calendars. It is also essential to note that these calendaring systems evolved over a period of time. Some of these calendars have both an ancient and modern form. Many have specialized modifications and calculations to keep them in sync with the seasons. Let us begin this discussion with the Jewish calendar.

THE CALENDARS

The Jewish Calendar

The Jewish calendar is referred to as a lunisolar calendar, based on both the lunar and solar cycles.[1] This type of calendar consists of months that begin and end with the new moon.  Months listed in the Bible are usually numbered and not named. When names are used for the months, Phoenician names are used in the biblical books written before the Exile and the names used by the Babylonian calendar are used after this period.[2]  

The Jewish calendar can have both an ancient and modern form. The ancient calendar is considered an observed calendar because of its use of the phase of the moon. A new crescent moon would be reported by reliable witnesses to the Sanhedrin. This ruling religious body would then sanctify the new moon and thus the start of the next month. The dissemination of these observations to communities outside of
Jerusalem was though beacons and couriers. As the Jewish people dispersed throughout the land this structure became unreliable.[3]

The modern form of the Jewish calendar is produced through calculations. These calculations are composed using days, hours, minims, and moments. In using the Torah, the holidays also must be calculated so that they may be observed in accordance with the religious laws. Some holidays required fasting, morning, jubilation, or feats.[4] 

Both forms of the Jewish calendar include an embolismic, thirteenth, month to keep the calendaring system consistent with the seasons. The year length could vary between three different ordinary years and three different leap years.[5] The Sabbath was observed on the seventh day in every week as recorded in the Bible.[6] It is also important to note in the observance of the Sabbath that the day begins at sunset.

The Roman Calendar The Roman calendar was a fundamental part of the culture. Evidence of written calendars has been found in all areas of this society. The calendars were found prominent in art, religion, and politics. The calendar of theRoman
Republic consisted of 12 months. These months were Ianuarius, Februarius, Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Iunius, Quinctilis, Sextilis, September, October, November, and December. This length of this year consisted of 355 days and would fall out of line with the seasons. So the pontifices, a board of priests who were also politicians, would insert an extra month after the end of a shortened Februarius.[7] 

This calendar was reformed numerous times most notably beginning with Julius Caesar. Some of these reforms were to get the calendar in line with the seasons and other regional calendar systems. Many revisions involved remaining months and years to honor authorities of the period.[8] The Roman calendar was replaced by the Julian calendar in 46 BC.[9]

The Egyptian Calendar

The Egyptian calendar can be traced through four eras; Pharaonic, Ptolemaic, Roman, and Christian. The Pharaonic calendar was divided into the three seasons of flood (
Nile), winter, and summer. The reckoning of months and years changed several times based upon kingdom reign and correlation with either the solar calendar or lunar calendars. The Macedonian kingdom of the Ptolemies retained its on calendar in addition to the Egyptian civil calendar.

With the Roman rule of Egypt came the use of a Greek fashioned calendar that had been adopted in
Rome at this time. This calendar is still in use by the Christians in Egypt and
Ethiopia today with only changes to the month names.

The Egyptian calendar is structured on 12 30-day months. Five days are added as needed within the year. With only changes to the month names, this calendar is identical to the Iranian and Armenian calendars.

The Greek Calendar

The Greek authority rested heavily in its city-state style of government and this held true in the calendar system used. Essentially each of the Greek city-states ran its own calendar.  Different cities called the same months by different names. Each city-state celebrated the New Year independently. Both days and months could fluctuate between neighboring city-states. These differences could occur to keep aligned with the season, agricultural crops, or even for political reasons.[10] This not only made dates insignificant to people from another city but also added great difficulty as to recording history.[11]

As armies advanced through the Greek civilization, different calendars came into significance. Alexander the Great introduced the Macedonian calendar into the Greek city-states. This calendar consisted of continuously numbered, and not named, days of 1 to 30.[12]    

The Muslim Calendar

The Muslim calendar is made up of 12 months and is a completely lunar system. It is one of the simplest calendars in the world because it is based on the new moon. This also makes the calendar one of the most accurate also. Like the Jewish calendar, the moon observation is to be made by reliable witnesses. In fact, the lunar indication of the holy day of Ramadan must be observed in the Islamic world and then e-mailed or faxed to areas outside of it. [13] 

The year consists of 12 months of 29 or 30 day length. To keep the calendar in line with seasons, a 30^th day is added to the last month in 11 out of every 30 years. The months have Arabic names.[14]

Modern calendars have changed in both Iran and
Turkey. In
Iran the calendar has gone to a solar based system. Months are based upon the earth’s rotation. Turkey now follows the Christian era calendar.[15]

Other Calendars

The Armenian calendar was made up of 12 months with 30 days each.  Five days were added at the end of the year and called epagomenal days.  This calendar did not allow for a leap day so the beginning of the year occurred earlier and earlier.  The Armenian calendar was replaced by the Julian system and then again by the Gregorian.[16] 

The Babylonian calendar first began with reference to the zodiac and position of the planets.  It later stabilized into a system of 12 months with 30 fixed days.[17]  These months began with the crescent moon.  Months were repeated within a 19 year cycle to keep the calendar in sync with seasons.  This calendar system was kept because of its superiority to other systems even when
Babylonia was defeated in war.[18]   

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Blackburn, Bonnie and Leofranc Holford-Strevens.  The
Oxford Companion To The Year.  New York:Oxford
University Press, 1999.

Weisstein, Eric W.  Hebrew Calendar.  Available from http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/HebrewCalendar.html.  Internet: accessed 29 August 2004.

_________.  Roman Calendar.  Available from http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/RomanCalendar.html.  Internet: accessed 29 August 2004.

_________.  Babylonian Calendar.  Available from http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/BabylonianCalendar.html.  Internet: accessed 29 August 2004.

---

[1] Eric W. Weisstein, Hebrew Calendar. (http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/HebrewCalendar.html.  Internet: accessed 29 August 2004).

[2] Bonnie Blackburn and Leofranc Holford-Strevens, The
Oxford Companion To The Year (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 722.

[3] Ibid., 722-3.

[4] Idid., 723-9.

[5] Weisstein, Hebrew Calendar.

[6] Gen. 2:2-3

[7]
Blackburn, 669-70.

[8] Ibid., 670-6.

[9] Eric W. Weisstein, Roman Calendar. (http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/RomanCalendar.html.  Internet: accessed 29 August 2004).

[10]
Blackburn, 712.

[11] Ibid. 716.

[12] Ibid., 715.

[13] Ibid., 731.

[14] Ibid., 732.

[15] Ibid., 735-8.

[16] Ibid., 739-40.

[17] Eric W. Weisstein, Babylonian Calendar. (http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/BabylonianCalendar.html.  Internet: accessed 29 August 2004).

[18]
Blackburn, 740.

Paul’s Use of Foreknowledge and Predestination in Romans 8:28-30 (Part 6)

(This is part 6 of 6; Click for: part 5; part 4; part 3; part 2; part 1. Appendix available upon request)

CONCLUSION

God’s plan is redemption and He works all things in accordance with His will in that plan. He calls according to this plan. He works in those He calls for His good and His glory. God predestines, elects, and reveals His wisdom through the church as it works in His plan. [40] Can we as believers accept that God has a plan for all things? Can we accept His plan? Do we have a choice in the matter? Do we want to accept it? Can we accept that God has planned before time that some would believe and others would not? Was Christ’s death in the plan from the beginning? How about the foreknowledge of Adam’s actions?

Foreknowledge, election, predestination, and calling are so deep into Paul’s theology. He sees God’s work through these actions and mentions them throughout his writing. Paul discusses a secret wisdom that God has predestined in the entire plan of salvation. The apostle writes to the Corinthian church about this mysterious plan (1 Cor 2:6-9). The plan has always included salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross. [41]

Eskola calls the labeling of this passage as the “golden chain” a mistake. He says that Paul never intended a progressive pattern to be inferred in verses 28-30. Eskola says that Calvinist theology has always seen the progression as evolutive. He comments that the same words appear elsewhere in Paul’s writing without any evolutive connection. [42] People throughout time have attempted to develop the recipe for Christianity. Eskola might be reading too much into Calvinist theology on this point.

How can man account for God’s love and His justice? Most desire a God that is 51 percent love and 49 percent justice. Love always wins, but man wants to see that proof in earthly terms. After all, how could a loving God select some, before they had a chance to do anything good or bad, to an eternal damnation? Love must win because God is love! Man must be given a chance to redeem himself.

A.T. Robertson (Word Pictures in the New Testament) says, “Paul accepts full human free agency, but behind it all and through it all runs God’s sovereignty as here and on its gracious side.” [43]

Redemption occurs only through Jesus Christ (Eph 1:7). God knew this and predestined it. Love does win. The Dictionary of Paul and His Letters says, “The death of Christ satisfied God’s love and justice at the same time, broke the power or evil, transferred believers into God’s kingdom, and ultimately saves them.” [44] James Denney (Expositor’s Greek Testament) writes, “The eternal foreordination appears in time as ‘calling’, of course effectual calling: where salvation is contemplated as the work of God alone, there can be no break-down in its process.” When God calls the sinner to salvation, He justifies him by removing the penalty of his sin. [45]

Praise God for this process. Though it may not be understood fully, it is a process that will never break-down. It is a process that has already been completed. It is finished. The payment has been made.

(This is part 6 of 6; Click for: part 5; part 4; part 3; part 2; part 1. Appendix available upon request)

---

[40] Hawthorne and Martin, 226.

[41] Ibid., 228.

[42] Eskola, 168.

[43] Wuest, 142-3.

[44] Hawthorne and Martin, 228.

[45] Wuest, 146.