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.

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[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)

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[40] Hawthorne and Martin, 226.

[41] Ibid., 228.

[42] Eskola, 168.

[43] Wuest, 142-3.

[44] Hawthorne and Martin, 228.

[45] Wuest, 146.

Plugging In To Prestonwood: Engaging in Dynamic Worship

These are my notes on the Sunday morning sermon by Dr. Jack Graham at Prestonwood Baptist Church for 27 August 2006.

Focal passage: 1 Corinthains 3:6

God is looking for people He can use. 

Warren W. Wiersbe said, “If you can explain it, God didnb’t do it.”

Our vision at Prestonwood is:

1. To engage in the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ which is life transforming.
2. To boldly proclaim and teach God’s inerrant Word without compromise, with conviction, and with compassion.
3. To share the Good News of salvation with as many people as possible by every means possible.
4. To provide a church in which people are cared for, nurtured, and born.
5. To provide a church that will equip families to live in Godly, wholesome relationships.
6. To help Christians grow in their faith and apply biblical principles to their lives.
7. To provide ministry opportunities which enable Christians to discover their spiritual gifts and use them; maximizing them in Christian service.
8. To send and support missionaries to the nations and to our neighbors.

Acts 2:42-47

We must engage in dynamic, life changing worship.  What is worship?

1) Consecration

Romans 12:1

God has set eternity in our hearts.  He created us to know Him and make Him known.  We are created to worship God. 

John 4 – worship in spirit and truth

2) spiritual – it is a lifestyle in which we worship God.  It is the giving of our lives.

• Passionate
• Heartfelt

3) sacrificial

Rick Warren said, “The heart of worship is surrender.”

The worship service is not about what you are getting from it but what you are giving to it. 

4) Sincere

God looks on the heart.

5) Sensible

Worship is service.  Everyday is a day to worship.

Someone said, “Praiseis where God lives.”

Song by Matt Redman (“Heart of Worship”):

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You’re looking into my heart

Not what you give, but what you remove your hands from that is already His.

6) Celebration

Psalm 100:2; Psalm 21:6; Psalm 42:4

Joy in Worship

7) Connection

Communication

Psalm 40:3

Worship and witnessing are often connected in Scripture.

Paul’s Use of Foreknowledge and Predestination in Romans 8:28-30 (Part 5)

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

RELATION TO THE BOOK

When looking at chapter eight in its entirety, we see Paul speaking of the suffering of believers. Then when he gets to 8:28 he reminds his readers of the gospel and the ultimate hope to be found there. [35] Davidson says, “The atmosphere of this passage is one of designed encouragement to all those readers in Rome who were perturbed with the uncertainties of life and especially with the parlous position of the Christian in that chaotic age.” [36] This statement remains true for the Christians of the present day.

Believers throughout time have taken great comfort in the passage of Scripture. Often it is a part of God’s Word that is claimed without an understanding of its meaning. It is “nice” to say that all things work together for good. A loving God would work everything for good. What does good mean? Many scholars say that “good” in this verse has a very specific meaning and that is eschatological glory. [37]

How does this passage relate when in the midst of tragedy? Is this an appropriate passage of Scripture to preach at a funeral? All things work out for good. That is what the Word says. Paul is speaking about the sufferings of the present time in chapter eight. He is also speaking about there being no condemnation for those with a personal relationship in Jesus Christ as their redeemer.

This passage not only relates specifically to chapter eight but the entire Book of Romans as well. Henry Alford (Alford’s Greek Testament) comments, “In this further description, the apostle designates the believers as not merely loving God, but being beloved by God. The divine side of their security from harm is brought out, as combining with and ensuring the other.” [38] R.C. Sproul, Jr. says that believers are the objects of God’s plan of redemption that began “in eternity past and stretches to eternity future.” [39] (This is part 5 of 6; Click for: part 6; part 4; part 3; part 2; part 1. Appendix available upon request)

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[35] Eskola, 168.[36] Davidson, 7.[37] Moo, 529.

[38] Wuest, 142.

[39] R.C. Sproul, Jr, “Foreknown, Predestined,” Tabletalk, June, 2002, 38.