Articles

It’s a Real Addiction

Aug 18, 2006 | Time/Life Management

pastorhacks.net While reading a few comments from Justin Taylor’s article regarding the book, Getting Things Done, i noticed this blog, which today became a daily read. I can waste more time than anyone on the planet reading about time/life management.  I’m addicted to organizational minutae.  I should close the comment section on this one. Speaking of GTD, I received my copy a few days ago and I just read a few chapters from it today.  So far, it seems to be a bit complicated.  I’ve only read the first section of the book, perhaps the practical section (the majority of the book) will prove more useful.  I am a Franklin Covey consumer and use their Plan Plus for Outlook overlay and have been thoroughly pleased with it.  I’ll let you know if David Allen can actually  whip Stephen Covey in the time management... read more

College & Seminary – They are Different

Aug 18, 2006 | Education

Jesus Creed » Teaching Seminary, Teaching College I’m on my way in five minutes to meet with two men who are planning to go to a Christian college and pursue ministry training.  After my 10 1/2 years of college and seminary education, I enjoyed reading Scot McKnight’s points of difference between college and seminary students. One question and one difference seem to be apparent.  The difference seems to be “maturity.”  The question – do older college students (I mean those in their mid to upper 20s and higher)  display a more “seminary” mindset than the younger, fresh-out-of-high-school college students?  In other words, if the major difference simply mental and practical... read more

A Modern Day Blank Bible

Aug 17, 2006 | Jonathan Edwards

The Shepherd’s Scrapbook » Blog Archive » Building a Blank Bible (part 3): The Blank Bible O.K., the brother who made his own Blank Bible had much more drive than me in producing his own “Blank Bible.”  I may even take up his suggestions on producing one.  I’m thankful he has gone to all the trouble to think this thing through. Yet, my computer has become a more versitile note-taking format.  With most Bible programs, one can associate electronic notes with a verse or passage.  Perhaps my Bible Works or Logos programs would prove a more adequate, accessible and now searchable “E-Blank Bible.  Hmm.  Now there is a thought worth... read more

More Non-Dispensational, Literal Israel Stuff

Aug 17, 2006 | Eschatology

Jesus Creed » Israel’s privilege Just a quick personal reflection here.  I am thankful that Scot McKnight is publishing some material from N.T. Wright on Romans 9-11.  I’ve enjoyed the brief notes.  The comment thread has been interesting also.  I am currently preaching in the book of Romans and just this morning finished reading, in my quiet time, Romans 11.  There remains no doubt in my mind that a divine plan for the salvation of a political, national Israel (not merely a spiritualized Israel subsumed by the church) is yet to come. Having said that, I don’t necessarily think that the current nation of Israel in its present state is the nation that will inherit the promises.  They are a very secular nation and have no inclination to embrace Jesus as the Messiah – much like Paul describes in Romans 9-11.  Yet, I don’t think it is inconsequential either that the nation of Israel exists and the conflict is what it is and for the reasons that conflict exists. Who knows what the future may hold for the present nation of Israel or the entire Middle Eastern political make-up.  I still consider myself to be dispensational in my understanding of Israel and the church.  Yet, I don’t subscribe to the notion that we should financially and militarily support Israel because the land belongs to them biblically.  Actually, from what I read in Jeremiah 31 (the whole chapter), Israel has no right to the land until their heart is right.  My interpretation of the Bible leads me to conclude that their heart will not belong exclusively to the Lord until... read more

Mark Driscoll on Preaching

Aug 17, 2006 | Pastoral Ministry, Preaching

Reflections on Preaching | TheResurgence Mark has some good comments on his personal approach to preaching.  I would wish he would give more specifics about his study time and means of preparation – he keeps it mostly ethereal and general.  However, his comments are worth a quick... read more

Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning

Aug 15, 2006 | Bookreviews

Douglas Wilson has caused me to think about education in a refreshing way. I have heard about so-called “Classical” schools in the recent past, but knew very little about the philosophical basis behind them and what makes them unique. My good friend, Kevin Banks gave me this book four years ago and I am just now getting to it. Why did I wait so long. Wilson does not write as a professional educator. In fact, it appears he has come to his conclusions about education later in his life. He articulates his position well and evaluates not only the public school system but the home schooling movement as well. He is not opposed to home schooling, but notes a number of its weaknesses and challenges parents to consider not merely a private school, but the philosophical underpinnings of the classical system. The book is divided into four sections and contains three helpful appendices. The first section is an evaluation of “The Failure of Modern Secular Education.” The next section provides “An Approach to Distinctively Christian Education.” The third section becomes more specific and describes “An Approach to Distinctively Classical Education.” The final section includes two chapters of “Conclusions,” including an engaging chapter on “The Limits of the State: A Summary.” In essence, Wilson suggests that the Trivinium of the Middle Ages should be a restored approach to education within the context of a Christian school environment. The Trivinium includes educating a student in grammar, dilectics and rhetoric. The basis of teaching students in the archaic approach is to provide them with the tools necessary to learn for themselves (the... read more

Some Controversial (?) Thoughts on Romans 9-11

Aug 15, 2006 | Expositions

Jesus Creed » Romans 9-11 Let me readily say that I have not read Wright on Romans 9-11, so I can’t say whether or not Mr. McKnight’s comments tell the whole story behind Wright’s convictions.  What I think is interesting is that there is no theological bias that the “Jews” Paul is referring to in Romans 9-11 has spiritually morphed into the church.  It’s as if a somewhat literal reading of the text produced a somewhat dispensational sounding approach. I am looking forward to listening to John Piper’s covenental series on Romans 9-11 and based on McKnight’s comments, I may even give Wright a little read as... read more

So You Want to Leave Your Church?

Aug 15, 2006 | Ecclesiology

God Change » ABOUT LEAVING A CHURCH Read Wayne Mack’s long letter to a friend who is considering leaving their church for another.  Why don’t more church members think this way about church... read more

Members as Prospects: A Display of Southern Baptist Sin

Aug 15, 2006 | Ecclesiology, Southern Baptist Issues

Together for the Gospel Are you involved in a Southern Baptist Church?  You must read Mark Dever’s comments on the mistake we Southern Baptists made in our annual meeting this year – see the above link. As Dever points out quite clearly, keeping so-called members on the roll as a means of “prospects” is a result of a faulty view of the church and no doubt conversion as well. This article is a reason why we need men like Dever in positions of leadership within our... read more

Cessationist Reflections

Aug 15, 2006 | General Theology, Worship

Challies Dot Com: WorshipGod06 – Reflections Tim Challies, who live blogged the WorshipGod 06 Sovereign Grace conference last week, gives a helpful reflection on the conference from his cessationist convictions.  He is humble and still firm in his convictions.  I very much appreciated his making his thoughts... read more

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C.J., Lig, Al, Mark, et. al. Mark Dever and Company John Piper John MacArthur Phil Johnson and Friends the same says it all.