Worship-palooza

In one of his Reform & Resurge addresses, Ed Stetzer talked about a church planting-palooza.  He lamented that most speakers only got a few minutes.  He joked that it took Mark Driscoll more than 10 minutes to warm up.
But we want to hear from everyone.  The more big names the better.  So now there is what [...]

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On Betrayal

(circa 2000, interacting with a section from the book I mention)
If you are in relationship with people, whether at home, church or work, it is impossible to avoid betrayal.  “Essentially, betrayal is the breaking of an implied or stated commitment of care” (Dan Allender, The Healing Path).  This means that betrayal involves a broken commitment [...]

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A-Fraud’s Very Bad Day

I lost all respect for A-Rod in the 2004 ALCS when he tried to cheat and got caught all while declaring his innocence.  Since then I have called him A-Fraud.  Some recently called him April-Rod for his hot start.  He cooled off, and the Yankees are in a very bad stretch of baseball (which I [...]

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Who’s Your Daddy? Part 2

            Enter the Gospel.  Part of the Good News is that God becomes our Father.  The doctrine of adoption is one of the most neglected doctrines in the Church.  The Westminster Confession of Faith says the following in chapter 12.
 

All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, to [...]

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Who’s Your Daddy? Part 1

(I wrote this in around 2000)
If I were to say the word “father”, what image would come to your mind?  A man who appears around 6 PM to sit in a recliner, too tired to do anything but watch TV?  A person who is verbally or physically abusive?  Someone who rolls on the floor with [...]

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Patriots: Bad News from LA

I didn’t hear about this until late morning.  Patriots defensive end Marquise Hill was missing after a jetski incident on Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana Sunday.  The young woman he was with says he saved her life.  She was rescued yesterday.  Apparently the area is known for some strong currents.
Sadly, search teams found his body today.  [...]

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Covenantal Worship: What It Is

(this is the 3rd & final installment on Covenantal Worship by R.J. Gore)
Characteristics of Covenantal Worship
Simple- this is in distinction to the Old Testament pomp and circumstance.  Synagogue worship (upon which most early Christian worship was based) was simple.  The buildings were not extravagant, and the service was simple (not simplistic).  “New Covenant worship is [...]

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Covenantal Worship: Reconsidering the Regulative Principle

(this is the second in a series on Covenantal Worship by R. J. Gore, pulled from my past.)
Argument Against the Puritan Regulative Principle
 
Gore argues that Jesus, our model, violated the Puritan Regulative Principle!  His argument is summarized here.
 

Jesus regularly worshiped in the synagogue.   The origin of the synagogue is speculative (during the Babylonian captivity).  There [...]

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Celtics: Stop the Karma Talk

Seems that My Name is Earl is making a big impression on America.  The pop Bhuddist show is all about karma- thru the eyes of poor white trash.  And I am weary of hearing bloggers and reporters toss out the term.
I do believe in the God of providence.  There is a connection between reaping and sowing, though [...]

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Don’t Waste Your Life

John Piper’s Don’t Waste Your Life is a great book.  And it makes a great gift for graduates (the gift edition w/DVD is an even better deal!).  Apparently I’m not the only one to think so.  I has just been recognized with the Gold Book Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association for selling over [...]

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Covenantal Worship: The Regulative Principle

(I’ve been swamped, so I’m pulling stuff out of archives.  Enjoy!)
The “world” of Presbyterian worship is in disarray.  There is no longer any such thing as “Presbyterian worship.”  Many congregations cling to a more traditional style of worship.  Others, particularly church plants, have embraced contemporary or modern worship styles.  Others have tried to balance them, [...]

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Celtics: Could It Get Worse?

Apparently yes.
1. Portland
2. Seattle
3. Atlanta (perennial lottery team)
4. Memphis
5. Boston
This was the lowest possible seeding for the Celtics.  I can’t remember anything like this happening.  The lottery is a big, stinking joke.  So… the Blazers who drafted Roy & Alderidge last year will get either Oden or Durant this year.  Unless they find a way [...]

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Review: If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something

There have been two positive developments for Rebecca St. James’ career.  First, she spent time at L’Abri.  Second, Tedd T. has been producing her work.  The first results in some more mature lyrics.  The second has a good corporate rock sound with some crunchy guitars. 
I haven’t purchased a Rebecca St. James album in years.  I [...]

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Wrestling with Morality

(I originally wrote this in 1999/2000 or so.  I’m pulling out some old work that I found interesting)
I grew up watching professional wrestling.  It was a reflection of our nation’s experience.  The good guys reflected the oppressed groups in our nation (Chief Jay Strongbow, Pedro Morales, Ivan “Polish Power” Putski), or our allies.  The bad [...]

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The Blessing of Assurance

I feel like I’ve been reading Faithfulness and Holiness for a lifetime.  I usually read a book more quickly, but taking on the church history instruction made my reading grind to a near halt.  I had brain gridlock.  So, this is no reflection on the book, but merely my circumstances.  I am assured of God’s [...]

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Sunday Sounds

Actually, this happened on Saturday.  But…
One of our family “traditions” is to have family breakfast on Saturdays.  Often, while cooking breakfast, I’ll crank up some music.  I’ll often dance with the CavChild.  This weekend, I had a hankering for some old Deep Purple.  So, my daughter got her first Deep Purple experience.  CavWife would say [...]

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Need a Pastor? Here’s One!

Objective: To equip God’s people to expand God’s kingdom through shepherding and discipleship. 
Pastoral Skills
• Stabilizing a congregation after a bitter split, allowing the wounds to heal.
• Restarting the congregation in a more visible, accessible location for growth.
• Building a foundation of biblical & theological knowledge that also focused on life change.
• Creating discipleship curriculum to [...]

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Saturday Shot: Little Sox Fan

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Take a Guess

What type of web site will this lead you to:
www.jeanswelcome.com

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The Bottom Line of Open Theism

(This is the 3rd in a series on Open Theism)
Review and Summary
Pardon my polemics as I sum this up.  The god that Open Theism offers you and me is a diminished deity.  Much of his power and glory have been sacrificed at the altar of human pride.  People want genuine human freedom; a freedom from [...]

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