Posted in Bible, Biblical Theology, Books, Mark Driscoll, Ministry, Preaching, tagged J.I. Packer, Mark Driscoll, Nehemiah, Raymond Brown on September 30, 2008 | 1 Comment »
As I slog my way through Nehemiah- which has been every encouraging and convicting- here are the resources I’m using.
Ezrz and Nehemiah (NICOT) by Fensham. It’s been very helpful from an academic standpoint. Not overwhelming at all. Sometimes authors in this series have been influenced by the higher critical schools, but this seems to be [...]
Posted in Basketball, Celtics, Sports, tagged Boston Celtics, Danny Ainge, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, White House on September 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I really love this picture. Like many a Celtic fan, I’ve been frustrated from nearly 20 years. When I grew up, the Celtics were expected to prevail, and the Sox to fail. Then the world turned upside down- slowly.
This seemed so unlikely after the draft lottery fiasco. But Trader Danny (why the glum face, Danny?) [...]
Posted in Baseball, Red Sox, Sports, tagged Angels, Big Papi, Boston Red Sox, Dice-K, Dustin Pedroia, injuries, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Julio Lugo, Kevin Youkilis, Manny, Mark Kotsay, Mike Lowell, playoffs, Tampa Bay Rays on September 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
It has been a miserable season for the Red Sox in terms of injuries. They have been hit hard from the very beginning of the season as Beckett had a back issue. Those who’ve missed time include Big Papi, Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew, Lugo (thankfully), Dice-K, Wake, Colon (the low-risk gamble didn’t really pay off).
But [...]
Posted in Books, Christian Living, Counseling, Ministry, Theology, tagged addictions, Christ, Counseling, disease model, Edward Welch, gospel, hope, identity, idolatry, shame, Thomas Chalmers on September 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
With my current gig as pulpit supply meaning I have to prepare a new sermon, currently on Nehemiah, each week my reading has dropped off significantly. Addictions: A Banquet in the Grace- Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel by Edward Welch has been in process for well over a year. I started reading [...]
Posted in Church, Ministry, tagged church planting, king, maintainer, Ministry, priest, prophet, reogranizer, starter on September 26, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I was talking with someone about church planting the other day. I’m trying to sort out my reasonable options in continuing to pursue another call in ministry. So he was doing some quick assessment on the phone. There was one question in particular that was quite interesting.
Are you a maintainer, reorganizer or starter?
Maintainer- this person [...]
Posted in Baptism, Bible, Biblical Theology, Theology, Worship, tagged Baptism, grammer, immersion, Pentecost, pouring, Spirit on September 23, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Many a tree has been killed over the topic of the proper mode of baptism. I am not referring to the use of the trinitarian formula. I am referring to whether or not one must be immersed or if sprinkling and pouring are also legitimate modes of baptism. For some people this is pretty much [...]
Posted in Bible, Christian Living, Ministry, TV, Theology, tagged Burn Notice, Creator, goodness, hope, obedience, Prayer, providence, Redeemer, sorrow, trust, unfailing love, wait on September 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The other evening the wife & I were watching the season finale of Burn Notice on our DVR. I thought it an apt metaphor for our current experience. The main character, Michael Weston, is a spy who is blacklisted and dumped in Miami. The show is about his quest to discover why he was blacklisted [...]
Posted in Family, tagged kids, Parenting, park, pool, tricycle on September 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
It’s been a difficult few days ’round here. But we have two great gifts.
Saturday morning I spent some time with the kids sitting on my lap while I read a series of books to them. It is one thing no one can take away. Those great memories of great times with the kids.
Then we went [...]
Posted in Charles Spurgeon, Christian Living, tagged Charles Spurgeon, faith, patience, waiting on September 19, 2008 | 1 Comment »
This was sent to me by a church secretary when I sent my info in to apply. Very nice lady.
Waiting, Not Running
“Truly my soul waits upon God: from Him comes my salvation.”
—Psalm 62:1
“Blessed posture! Waiting truly and only upon the LORD. Be this our condition all this day and every day. Waiting His leisure, waiting [...]
Posted in Books, Christian Living, Counseling, Martin Luther, Ministry, Sinclair Ferguson, Theology, Tim Keller, Worship, tagged addictions, affections, asceticism, Christian Hedonism, idolatry, Jesus, John Piper, Martin Luther, piety, position, Samuel Storms, sanctification, Sinclair Ferguson, Thomas Chalmers, Tim Keller, worldliness, Worship on September 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
In listening to some Tim Keller sermons there were a few leads I wanted to follow up. If you are like me, you might think “I really need to find that”, but aren’t really sure where to find it.
Tim is fond of mentioning Martin Luther’s Large Catechism in connection with idolatry. I’ve been wanting to [...]
Posted in Christian Living, tagged affliction, courage, goodness, grace, mercy, salvation, steadfast love, waiting for God on September 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
In addition to preparing Nehemiah 4 for Sunday, I’ve also been waiting. Yes, waiting for word about my interviews. My mind plays tricks on me. So I need to keep remembering what I’ve been reading in my devotions in the Psalms.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in [...]
Posted in Christian Living, Prayer, Theology, Worship, tagged faith, Justification, means of grace, obedience, promises, providence, sanctification, suffering, trust, work of Christ, Worship on September 17, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Nothing excites me more than to hear a friend say that they want to be more like Jesus. Too often they end up frustrated and dismayed. Unfortunately we think that by following certain steps, rules or principles that we will magically become like Him. The question nags at us each day as the sweat of [...]
Posted in Bible, Biblical Theology, Ministry, tagged Apostle Paul, egos, failure, humility, John Calvin, Ligonier Ministries, Martin Luther, popularity, power, pride, self exaltation, suffering, Tabletalk Magazine on September 15, 2008 | 2 Comments »
As a result of Paul’s discussion of his own ministry, we also learn much about his adversaries in Corinth- the “super-apostles.” This is important because their errors are found in many pulpits today. Just as the Corinthian Christians were drawn to the “super-apostles,” many contemporary Christians are prone to follow their progeny.
Paul’s ministry, like Peter’s, [...]
Posted in Adoption, Baptism, Family, Worship, tagged Adoption, baptism ceremony, church membership, citizenship, Family on September 15, 2008 | 3 Comments »
It was long overdue. This is what happens when you don’t have a call and you are a Presbyterian. My membership is with my Presbytery, not a local church. This complicated & delayed the process of baptizing CavSon. [I have a few posts on the Reformed position on baptizing infants- not all views on infant [...]
Posted in Ministry, tagged complementarianism, conference calls, gracious hand of God, Jacksonville, Riverwalk on September 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
It has been a long week, in which I had interviews on Wednesday and Friday- all while suffering a serious head cold. Sometimes you just have to love the timing of things.
Wednesday evening’s interview was a conference call with a church in a south eastern city. The church looks very much like a good fit: [...]
Posted in Football, Patriots, Sports, tagged Bernard Pollard, Bill Belichick, New England Patriots, Tom Brady on September 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
If anyone can find a way to motivate the Patriots after losing Tom Brady to a knee injury (torn ACL & MCL), it is the Master of the Mind Games, Bill Belichick.
The stories are now out there of fans of lesser teams rejoicing that Tom Brady got hurt (so Middle School, folks).
A Bernard Pollard Fan [...]
Posted in Current Events, Economics, Government, Politics, tagged conservation, currency values, diesel cars, hybrids, labor costs, mpg, pollution, tax policy on September 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Ford has developed a version of the Fiesta that seats 5 and gets 65 MPG. Yes, 65 MPG.
But you won’t see it on the streets near you, and you won’t be able to buy it- unless you live in Europe. Why this is so is sparking some controversy. It would seem quite odd that a [...]
Posted in Biblical Theology, Hermeneutics, Preaching, Tim Keller, tagged Culture, hearts, Josh Harris, text, Tim Keller, triperspectivalism, Tullian Tchividjian on September 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
In Joshua Harris’ Sermon Notes series, he has a copy of sermon notes by Tim Keller. My admiration just went up a few notches, for I can not understand how in the name of all things holy Keller can preach from those notes. They are in short-hand and don’t seem well-organized to this small mind. [...]
Posted in Baseball, Books, Red Sox, Sports, tagged 2004 World Series, Bob Ryan, Boston Red Sox, Dan Shaughnessy, Johnny Damon, Kevin Millar, Manny, Nomar, Pedro, Peter Gammons, Yankees on September 8, 2008 | 1 Comment »
While I was on vacation, my dad gifted me with Dan Shaughnessy’s book Reversing the Curse: Inside the History-Making Red Sox Championship Season. It is one of the MANY books to be written about the 2004 World Series Champions. This book was actually written as the season progressed, and like the movie Fever Pitch, had [...]
Posted in Football, Health, Patriots, Sports, tagged knee injury, Patriots, Tom Brady on September 7, 2008 | 9 Comments »
After going 0-4 in the preseason without any snaps taken by the NFL’s 2007 MVP Tom Brady, the Patriots (and their fans) greatest fear was an injury to their quarterback.
That didn’t take long. On their second series a defender rolled up on his left leg while he was completing a pass to Randy Moss. Out, [...]
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