The New Baptist Theology of the Christian Faith - God the Father; Part 4

In the following section of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message we can see so much more of who and what God is. The 2000 BF&M says that:

He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise.

The Father is in command. The Scriptures present every member of the Trinity as equally God as represented in Chapter 4. The Father, as the authoritative head of the Trinity actually, perfectly fits this description. Even the Son admits that it is the Father who has complete power and knowledge (Matthew 24:36; John 5:19). The Father, by His position as father, controls and directs the actions of the Son (John 6:38, 14:31; Hebrews 10:5-7; 1 Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 3:14-21) and the Spirit (John 14:26).

The BF&M goes on to say:

God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Notice the Father’s children. Jesus Christ is His “begotten” Son. He called God “my Father” (Matthew 12:48; 16:17; 18:19; 20:23; Mark 8:38; Luke 2:49; 22:29; 24:49; John 2:16). This Father – Son relationship within the Trinity is exclusive and eternal. They are unified and distinct together (John 10:38; 14:10, 11; 17:21). It is important to note the relationship between the Father and the Son because it is only from this relationship that we are brought into relationship with God. It is through faith in the Son that we have the Father’s grace.

The distinctive element in Jesus’ teaching is therefore not an emphasis on God as Father of all men and things, or as Father of the community of believers, or even of redeemed individuals. Rather it is Jesus’ manifestation of His unique messianic Sonship in relation to God “his own Father” (John 5:18); on the basis of this relationship He invites others to come to him and to the Father who sent him, in order to personally experience divine paternity.[1]

“The first person is the Father of the second in a metaphysical sense. This is the original fatherhood of God, of which all earthly fatherhood is but a faint reflection.”[2]

We, Christians, are His “adopted” children. Adoption is the act of being legally and actually added to a family. Jesus went to the Father to prepare a place for us so that where He is we may also be (John 14:1-3). We are not the children of God by nature. By nature we are dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 2:13) but it is God working through His Son and with His Son who makes us alive (Ephesians 2:4-10; Colossians 2:13-15). This is His way of making us His children, adopting us, and so He becomes our father (John 1:12-13; Romans 8:15-16, 23; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:4-5). Jesus also represented this to the disciples when He called God “your Father” in speaking of the disciples (Matthew 12:50; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:36; 12:32). In Matthew 6:9-13 we see that He directed them to pray to their (both Jesus’ and the disciples) Father in Heaven. “Adoption is the highest privilege available to fallen children of Adam, with all its privileges accruing to the one who enjoys the status of being an heir of all of the promises of God and of everlasting salvation – access to the Father’s throne of grace, His pity, protection, provision, and chastening and the seal of His Spirit unto the day of redemption.”[3]

[1] Henry, God, Revelation and Authority; Volume 6, 312-313.
[2] Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 91.
[3] Reymond, A New Systematic Theology, 762.

I can't agree with this!

Skimming through some blogs this afternoon, I came across this attack on Mohler from Baptistfire.com. Mohler is defending particular redemption, the Calvinistic tenet that Christ's death is applied only to the elect. Look at what Towns says about it. It is no wonder where Dr. Caner's muddy theology comes from.

"But Dr. Elmer Towns, Liberty University co-founder and dean of the School of Religion, says Mohler does not understand the true nature of the cross.
"Jesus died for all. No man goes to hell for his sin -- people go to hell for unbelief ... they have not believed in Jesus Christ," Towns says. "Therefore, the atonement covers the sin of every person -- but that's not universalism. We must give them the message, they must believe."

Did you see that? "No man goes to hell for his sin!"

Hunh?

"Therefore, the atonement covers the sin of every person"?

Hunh?

What kind of scholarship is this? Are we allowed to rewrite historical doctrine?

There are some wonderful, Biblical, historical documents for anyone who are interested in reading what true Calvinism teaches at Monergism.com. Give them a visit and read for a little while this evening.

(Kevin, this entire exposure of Drs. Caner and Towns has been very beneficial for me personally. I have received my admissions packet from Liberty and they were on the fast track to becoming my choice to do some more historical study. If this week has been an example of their sloppy historical academia then no sale!)

Can I Agree with That?

My brother and I have been discussing the Southern Baptist Convention, and I've had to ask a few questions. If you head over to here, then you will see a huge conversation about the SBC, Calvinism, and Arminianism. What ever are we to do? Is this beneficial for the SBC? There are all kinds of camps within the SBC, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing. I have ask, do I have a problem with Arminians? And my answer to that is, no. I don't think I do. Many of the "Arminians" I know aren't technically "arminians" anyway. They believe much the same as I do; they simply aren't willing to call it the same thing. And there are many intelligent men I know who sincerely believe an Arminian type of framework, and yet trust in Christ alone for salvation. So, if my issue isn't Arminians and Calvinists, then what is it? Okay, I can figure that out pretty easily. My problem can be found in the state of the churches in the Convention. Many (not all, but many) are a ruin of bloated membership rolls, overly pragmatic evangelism, the "numbers" game, the bigger and better belief, a self centered worship structure, and shallow piety. In short, much of the SBC is no longer a reflection of what I see as Biblical churches. I have a problem with that. My brother asked, how far can we go in cooperating in the SBC? And when I think about that, I have to ask: how far can I go with those churches that seem to be focused on something completely different from what I believe we are to be focused on? Moreover, I have to wonder, what is the belief, theology, or doctrine that is the foundation, or starting point, of that ruin in the SBC?

The New Baptist Theology of the Christian Faith - God the Father; Part 3

In this next post on the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message we read:

and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace.

We must understand that God reigns over the flow of the stream of human history. This means that everything we have as history is the record of God’s activities in the past! Not only that, God hasn’t been simply standing by watching ‘history’ happen, He is working in and through time to make it happen. God isn’t a thermometer measuring the temperature of His world. He is a thermostat, setting the temperature. When we speak of God reigning over the flow of history we mean that the Scriptures always confirm that God is sovereign over what has happened, is happening and will happen.

We must understand that God’s plan:[1]
- Is eternal: Psalm 33:11; Isaiah 37:26; 46:9-10; Acts 15:18
- Is unchangeable: Isaiah 14:24; 46:10-11; Malachi 3:6
- Includes random or chance events: 1 Kings 22:28 & 34; Job 36:32; Proverbs 16:33; Jonah 1:7

His Word as a Decree:
This has to do with authority and revelation. A decree of God is a word of God that causes something to happen.[2] Not only did God design His creation but He also made is so. Not only did He intend for it to be He also commanded it to be, and it became. This displays not only His wisdom and intention but also His tremendous power and control. It is important in this section of the doctrine of God to notice that the Father holds the highest authority in this decree. The Son follows the instruction and command of the Father (Matthew 24:36; John 5:19; 14:28) and the Spirit is directed by both the Father and the Son (Matthew 10:20; John 15:26; 16:13). In the Trinity, it is the Father who is the initiator of the plans and purposes of the Godhead (Deuteronomy 32:6; Job 37:1-13; Psalm 103:13; 148:6; Malachi 1:6; Matthew 7:11).

[1] This also came from Boettner, page 26-28
[2] Grudem, Systematic Theology, page 47.

Quotes on Thursday??

I realize what you are thinking. It is not Wednesday. It's Thursday. And you are exactly right. Like most things, Steve and I had great intentions when we decided to put notable quotes up on Wednesdays (although I guess Steve did quote someone on Wednesday). Well, I'm sorry. What can I say? I had a baby? If you will forgive me, here is my favorite quote for this week:


If only there were evil people somewhere, insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?

- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

God's Goodness and All The World's Badness

My post on the Doctrine of God has… umm… gathered a couple of detractors. As a practice I don’t interact with anonymous writers. As a pastor, when I receive anonymous letters, I simply give them the attention due them: none. If someone doesn’t care enough to take credit for their own words then I am not going to give those words any credit either. Yesterday we got several bites from a few posters. I loved it except they were anonymous. There were several good questions raised, questions that I have asked and still want to grow in my knowledge of the answers. After asking for some identification I got a name from an individual from Europe who identified themselves as ‘Fred.’

Speaking of God and His goodness Fred said:

“He killed about a quarter of a million with his Tsunami; more in New Orleans with one of his storms; He is still killing countless numbers in the Sudan (or is that Allah?) and Iraq; He is also destroying the earth as fast as he can with global warming, destruction of the Rain Forests and the inhabitants of the Oceans. He gave us nasty diseases AIDS, Bird Flu, Tuberculosis, even the ancient and well documented disease of Biblical times, Leprosy. Perhaps He is too busy floating amongst the stars to bother with we simple creatures? After all he created light before the sun from which it came and thus must be something! Perhaps he is writing a book on Quantum Physics and the Cosmos and how they are connected and too busy to bother about the millions he is allowing to starve to death? Shall I go on?”

'Fred' also said that:
“I am another anonymous and the questions are serious. The full list of the things that trouble me about your God would take about fifty of these pages. What I put down is a tiny random fraction, not in order of seriousness either. There are even more terrible things your God has done recently and in times gone past.”Call me Fred -- its my name.”

Well ‘Fred’ I agree with you that the amount of pages would be too many to be able to address everything in detail. As a matter of fact I am certain that there are plenty of books that contain 100,000s of pages already written from both sides of these issues. If this argument could be won by volume then the winner would only have to write and write and write. I am not convinced that way and I am sure that you won’t either. Since we are not going to base our decisions on the volume of words but on the message of the words, their logic and truthfulness, I want to begin what we seem to agree on:

We both seem to agree that there is a God. I believe He is good and you do not.
We both seem to agree that He is not the same as Allah.
We both seem to agree that He created light.
We both seem to agree that we are simple creature.
We both seem to agree that these questions are serious.
We both seem to agree that God is at work in our world. I believe that He works to accomplish His perfect will and you apparently believe that this is terrible.

How am I doing so far? Fred, I want you to let me know if I am saying this correctly before I go any further. Comment and help me to see a little better and I will then carry my response into the meat of what you have asked of me.
Thanks for your time and God bless you.

The New Baptist Theology of the Christian Faith - God the Father; Part 2

It is from the vantage point of the Father’s authority that we will investigate 4 distinctions presented in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. Today we will look at the Father's Care:

The 2000 Baptist Faith & Message reads:

God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures,

Look at the Father’s Care (His painstaking or watchful attention). While most of the works of the one God in Scripture are attributed to the Triune Godhead, in some of these works the Father is evidently in the foreground.[1] In this section we will notice His:

Divine Intervention:
This has to do with God’s ongoing relationship and responsibility to His creation. The Scriptures present us with a God who personally interacts with His creation and is intimately involved in its existence. There is no evidence in Scripture of any randomness or ‘luck.’ Nothing is determined by ‘fate’ or ‘chance’ but by a personal yet infinitely powerful Creator and God. Grudem describes this as God’s providence: “God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3) directs them to fulfill his purposes.”[2]

A simple way of understanding providence is to break the word down into provide-nce. This has to do with God providing for is creation. The Father is actively and extensively intervening in His creation with painstaking and watchful attention (Nehemiah 9:6; Job 34:14-15; 38:39-41; 39:19-20, 26-27; Psalm 104:4, 14, 29; 135:6-7; Matthew 6:25-33).

We also notice His Design:
This has to do with the Father’s purpose. This aspect of the Father displays His wisdom and His Glorious intention. There are many indications in Scripture that the Father designed this universe and the things that occur in it for a reason. A number of these reasons are given at the time of their creation in Genesis 1:
- Sun, moon and stars (1:14-18): ‘for signs and for seasons, and for days and years.’ They were designed and are constantly being held in place by God so that we can tell the time and see His constancy.
- Procreation (1:22; 28): God designed His creation to multiply and fill the earth.
- Humans (1:26, 28-30): God designed the human to rule and dominate the earth.
- Man (2:15, 19; 3:17-19): God designed man to work and then to toil in His creation.
- Woman (2:18; 3:16): God designed the woman to complement the man and to serve him in his toiling.
- Marriage (2:24; Malachi 2:15; Mathew 19:1-7; Mark 10:6-9; Ephesians 5:30): God designed marriage to be a permanent connection between a man and a woman and to fill he earth.

The Scriptures also describe an eternal plan of God for which He created and reigns within His creation:[3]
- The Gospel plan itself was eternally designed: Galatians 4:1-6; Ephesians 1:9-10; 3:9; Colossians 1:25-26
- Christ’s Birth, Life, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension: Acts 2:22-24; 4:27-28; Ephesians 3:11; 1 Peter 1:20
- Salvation of His Elect: Matthew 25:34; Mark 13:20; Acts 13:48; Ephesians 1:4-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:9
- Condemnation of Some: Jude 4

Our heavenly Father is intimately involved in His creation and we are totally dependant beneficiaries.

[1] L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology, page 92.
[2] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, page 315.
[3] I got help for this section from Loraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, pages 20ff.

Don't Read This, I Mean It!!

I had decided to post today, in celebration of being home from the hospital, but then Steve told me about what was going on over ot the Founders Blog. So, don't waste your time reading anything here. Go here instead.

The Real Baby Ruth Post

My brother and his wife are two of the most creative people I have met. I just about died when I got this picture of their Baby.... Ruth!
Here is a picture of Dufus (aka Dad) spending his time wisely in preparation for being eaten out of house and home (although girls, my older girls eat like birds - the twins are another story!). Can you see the desperation in his eyes here?
Here is the proud Aunt Jennifer (I wonder what warnings she is giving Ruth. She of all people in this world knows the horrors of living with Morse men. Jason... would we call Kevin a man?)
Here is the proud father. It just seems un-natural to call him that! (I still remember him as our cute little ring bearer. As soon as I find a picture of him at our wedding I will post it.)
Sara.... Kevin.... we are so thankful that God has blessed you in sich a beautiful way!

The New Baptist Theology of the Christian Faith - God the Father; Introduction

The general doctrine of God presented in the last chapter gives a broad description of the various attributes and characteristics of God. These attributes and characteristics apply to each of the Persons of the Godhead while each Person has distinct personal attributes. His personal revelation as Father, Son, and Spirit brings Him down to earth in a much more personal, caring, albeit real authority. ‘God is...not only Almighty Sovereign, but also personal Father.’[1] An interesting note for this study is that there are numerous books and articles that treat the doctrine of God but I am hard pressed to find many articles, much less books, that treat the doctrine of the Father in a different sense than the general doctrine of God presented in the preceding chapter. The bulk of the studies of God either have to do with the One God, the Begotten Son, or to the Spirit. The fatherhood of God is most evident in the Sonship of Christ although this is not the only way that the Father is seen as a father (Malachi 1:6; John 5:18; 1 John 3:1). The distinction that will be made in this study of the Father is His headship or authority within the Trinity.

It is from the vantage point of the Father’s authority that we will investigate 4 distinctions presented in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.

[1] Carl F.H. Henry, God, Revelation and Authority, page 322.

The New Baptist Theology of the Christian Faith - God the Father; Introduction

The general doctrine of God presented in the last chapter gives a broad description of the various attributes and characteristics of God. These attributes and characteristics apply to each of the Persons of the Godhead while each Person has distinct personal attributes. His personal revelation as Father, Son, and Spirit brings Him down to earth in a much more personal, caring, albeit real authority. ‘God is...not only Almighty Sovereign, but also personal Father.’[1] An interesting note for this study is that there are numerous books and articles that treat the doctrine of God but I am hard pressed to find many articles, much less books, that treat the doctrine of the Father in a different sense than the general doctrine of God presented in the preceding chapter. The bulk of the studies of God either have to do with the One God, the Begotten Son, or to the Spirit. The fatherhood of God is most evident in the Sonship of Christ although this is not the only way that the Father is seen as a father (Malachi 1:6; John 5:18; 1 John 3:1). The distinction that will be made in this study of the Father is His headship or authority within the Trinity.

It is from the vantage point of the Father’s authority that we will investigate 4 distinctions presented in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.

[1] Carl F.H. Henry, God, Revelation and Authority, page 322.

My little Ruth

Well, we are finally home, and everything is going really well. God has been so good to us this week. I thought about putting pictures here, and emailing family and friends, but instead I put all the pictures here. So for whoever wants to see the most beuatiful girl in the world, they can go and see them.

The New Baptist Theology of the Christian Faith - God; Conclusion

The Doctrine of God is both well known and much neglected. We all carry around many assumptions and opinions about God and yet fail to make the connection between the facts of God, revealed to us in Scriptures, and the reality of the presence of God. It is not enough to know about God, even the demons know and they tremble (James 2:19). We must react to the knowledge and believe what He says. We must trust and obey. We must reject everything that would contradict who and what He is and does. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5. J.L. Dagg, speaking about the duty of delighting in the will and works of God, says

"if we loved the truth as we ought, we should experience equal delight in receiving it; and the careful investigation of it would be a source of pure and abiding pleasure. It would not suffice to employ our intellectual powers in the discussion of perplexing questions appertaining to religion, but we should find a rich feast in the truth at may be known and read by all. The man who indulges his skeptical doubts, and suffers himself to be detained by questions to no profit, is like one who, when a bountiful feast is spread before him, instead of enjoying the offered food, employs himself in examining a supposed flaw in the dish in which it is served. The glorious truths which are plainly revealed concerning God, and the things of God, are sufficient to enable everyone to delight himself in the Lord."[1]

In the following chapters we will address the roles and the significance of each of the 3 Persons of the Godhead. As we move on to consider what, as Southern Baptists, we believe about God the Father, Son, and Spirit, let’s make an effort to delight in the meat of this doctrine.

[1] J.L. Dagg, Manual of Theology, page 96.

The Real Ruth Evangeline Morse Post

Okay, So I'm here to clear up any misconceptions. Ruth Evangeline Morse was born at 9:22 last night. She weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. She was 20 and 1/4 in. long. She is beautiful, and perfect. I'd write more, but I have to go back and see her. You might get more from me later. Thanks, everyone, for your prayers. God definitely gets the glory for this little one.

Kevin

It's Definitely a GIRL!

Did I say 'its'? Sorry... She's a girl! Ruth Evangeline weighs 7 pounds and 6 (or so ounces) and is 20 some odd inches. Congrats Kev and Sara!

Kevin Told Me That It Is Definitely A Boy!!!

...or a girl!

Today is to be the Day! Keep Sara and Ruth in your prayers all day. Don't worry about Kevin (he told me that he has several books so he should be fine). I will keep you all updated as I hear more news!
SDG

A New Format: The Word for Wednesday!

Steve and I talked yesterday, and we decided that since 'all the cool places' take a day out of the week and do something special with it, we would too. He and I both like to find certain quotes that stick out in our minds when we read them, or hear them, so we decided we are going to devote Wednesdays to those quotes. Steve will also be posting his normal post on the BF&M, but other than that, we will be quoting all day. Some will be fun, some will be serious, and some might even be sad, but all them will be worth reading.

With that in mind, I have a quote this week that is not funny at all. In fact, it makes me sick. At work the other night, there were two young girls and their mother; they had come to Cinnabon. One of the girls was probably about 16 or 17, and when I read what was printed on her shirt, I felt absolutely disgusted. Here's the gist:

This Shirt would sure look good on your Floor!

I couldn't believe that anyone would let their daughter go out in public wearing something that crude. I understand that as believers, we should never expect non-Christians to act like Christians, but this, this is just too far! In just one short day, I will be having my first little girl (my wife is being induced tomorrow morning), and I shudder to think that my little girl could ever take her body, and her purity so lightly that she would advertise it beforethe entire world. It's disgusting that our culture would ever push an ideal like this one, and make it so "cool". It is also very sad that there are many people who don't know where to turn for their hope and security, so they look in the worst places imaginable. To be so callous to the beauty and purity of this type of love, one designed for a committed matrimonial relationship, that it becomes just another catchy phrase and fun thing to do... this certainly is a tragic quote, isn't it?


[UPDATE: I thought what I was writing today was bad, but then I read this. Dr. Mohler takes it to a whole new level with his commentary today.]

A Valentine Rhyme

Last night Sara and I ran across some of my own Valentine Cards that I had given her. Inside one we found a poem I wrote as a Senior in High School. So, as it is Valentine's Day, I decided I would share it with you.



A Valentine Rhyme:

This is the day,
to write a poem
to your girl
to show you know 'em

This is the day
I'm 'sposed to say:
Would you be mine?
That'd be so fine!

A day to laugh
A day to love,
A day to set your girl above,
yourself and smile.

A day for flowers,
Let's talk a while.

A day to hug,
A day to kiss,
This is a day you shouldn't miss!

Candy, cards, and teddy bears,
They are one way to show you care.
But I know the way to my girl's heart
is not by doing the average part.
It ain't by makin' a romantic mood,
Just give her a huge plate of food!!

Which end is worse?

I am reading another biography this week: John G. Paton; Missionary to the New Hebrides (Vanuatu). In it I found the greatest quote that I have read this week (I might make this a regular post theme).

The young Paton (born: May 24th, 1824) was a successful missionary to the slums of Green Street in the Gloscow City Union. God's gracious Spirit brought forth much fruit from his hard labor in the form of drastic conversions and the growth of his mission work. When he had completed his theological and medical training he came to the conclusion that God was calling him to be a misisonary to the cannibals of the New Hebrides.

Mind you, this was no easy decision. The cannibals from the New Hebrides had already demonstrated their hospitality toward foriegn missionaries by immediately inviting themselves over to eat and literally having the missionaries for dinner. Nonetheless Paton felt assured that God was calling him to serve these heaten. As you can imagine the people of the Green Street Mission were horrified to think that they could lose their beloved pastor to such an undeserving and unpalatable end. Their pleading and their counter-offers fell on dead ears and lead me to the greatest quote of the week.

In response to "one dear old Christian gentleman, whose crowning argument always was, 'the Cannibals! you will be eaten by Cannibals!" Paton says: "At last I replied, 'Mr Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.' The old gentleman, raising his hands in a deprecating attitude, left the room exclaiming, 'after that I have nothing more to say!'"

What follows this quote are many examples of God's grace and His sovereignty. Paton loses his dear wife and newborn son soon after their arrival. He clings to the powerful truth of God and His redemption throughout the book.

As I was holding this book, contemplating its purchase, I flipped through it to see if it looked engaging. I found this quote immediately and had to purchase the book!

Oh that we had such a mind to consider our own end so clearly and so correctly. It reminds me of Job and His faith: Job 1:21 21 And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

Lord help us to look past our situation on to your perfect plan. Help us to wait and see that you are so good.
SDG

Another guest blogger: Jason (aka Helen) Morse

Well my big, little-brother Jason has decided to forego his 15 page views of fame but fortunately his bride, Helen, has taken up the banner and finished the race for him. I really appreciate her post anyway. I think she speaks very well for him (although this post sounds eerily similar to the style of Evan’s emails).

Here she/he goes:
10 Years ago:
Fell madly in love with the girl next door.
Graduated, despite my best efforts.
Had brown hair.
Loved to canoe, fish, hike in my spare time.

5 Years ago:
Celebrated fourth wedding anniversary with aforementioned love interest.
Had brown hair with a sprinkling of gray.
Loved to boat, mountain bike, take trips with my darling.
Bought a house…now spend free time mowing, repairing, fixing.

1 Year ago:
Still madly in love.
Enjoying new job title of “Daddy”
Still had brown hair in the midst of all that gray.
Spent free time reading, wrestling, and playing with son.

Yesterday:
Took down wallpaper for that mad woman.
Still have hair.
Free time? What free time?

Songs I know by heart:
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by the Crash Test Dummies
Let her Cry by Hootie and the Blowfish

Things I’d run away from:
An old house with a big yard
Stinky diapers
Snakes
Jessica Simpson’s singing

Things I’d never wear by choice:
A tie
A tight-collared shirt
Nail polish
A fanny pack

Five things I’d do with $1M:
1. Compensate my parents for all the grief I have caused them over the years.
2. I don’t think there’d be much left after that…

Five Books I’m going to write:
1. 100 Ways to Convince Your Wife You NEEEEED a Shotgun
Hopefully by the time this book is published, I can say that at least one method is “guaranteed.” Chapters include “We’re having a daughter” and “You would love to shoot it, Honey!”
2. Next Time I’m Paying Someone To Do This
Subtitled: Adventures of a Do-it-Yourselfer
3. Easy Computer Solutions: You’re the Problem, You Idiot
4. The Sacketts Meet John Clark and Hire a Memphis Attorney
5. How to Raise a Happy Family on a Boat
Note: This title may be edited depending on the outcome of my little experiment.

Five Greatest Joys:
1. Fond memories of my childhood
2. Watching people’s faces when I say, “Your hard drive has failed, but you did back up everything recently, right?”
3. Coming home to a clean house, happy child, and dinner on the table
4. Teaching my son to spit
5. Cruising around town in my new minivan

The New Baptist Theology of the Christian Faith - God; part 7

As we have seen previosly, God is an amazing, powerful, all-knowing, gracious, revealing, and holy being. Without a doubt, such a being demands some form of response. This is what we trn to today in or BF&M study. (The BF&M -below- is in bold/italics)

To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.

He is the Utmost. This is important for us to note and never forget. God is great! He has done all of the work in our salvation and graciously gives us life. What other response could there ever be? This is the default setting for all Christians. As the Supreme Being, the Sovereign Lord, He will receive worship by default.

The debt we have is eternal. We have an obligation to love God with everything we are. He is to be the object of our obsession. We are to hold Him and only Him in the highest esteem (Exodus 20:3-7). He is to be the object of our awe (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37). We must recognize His authority and acknowledge through our thoughts and our actions that He is…well…God (Psalm 19:14; 2 Corinthians 10:5). Our response to God, our worship, reflects who He is and what He has done in us (Proverbs 1:7; John 14:15, 21; Acts 5:11; 9:31; Romans 13:5; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 7:1; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 2:12; 1 Timothy 1:5 & 19; 5:20; 2 Timothy 1:3; Hebrews 12:3-11; 1 Peter 1:17; 2:17; 3:16; 1 John 5:3).

The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

He is Unified. The Scriptures reveal God in the form of three persons, each person having the same perfection and qualities of God and yet having distinct roles in the Godhead. God is not divided into parts, yet we see different attributes of God emphasized at different times.’[1] He is one what and three who’s.[2] We need to ‘see here, for our comfort, a sweet agreement of all three persons: the Father gives a commission to Christ; the Spirit furnishes and sanctifies to it, and Christ himself executes the office of Mediator. Our redemption is founded upon the joint agreement of all three persons of the Trinity.’[3] As we have seen above in the passages affirming the uniqueness of God, there is only one God. Yet Scripture is clear that there are three persons who make up this one God. While neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament specifically mentions the Trinity as a doctrine, it is definitely revealed and assumed by the Biblical teachings (Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 14:16-26; 15:26; 16:5-15; Romans 8:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:18; 4:4-6; Galatians 4:4-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Titus 3:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 20-21).

The doctrine of the Trinity is fundamental to our faith. The very fact that God has existed from everlasting to everlasting in this complex, personal, intelligent, spiritual, gracious, committed, structured, complementary, loving, and perfect union demonstrates His glory, wisdom, peace, love, and power for all of our own relationships.

...with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

In the following chapters we will pursue this section in much greater detail; defining the roles and the relationship between the three persons of the Trinity. The important thing to remember as we do this is that we never cause any form of division to develop in our thinking about the Trinity. While each member has differing roles each is equal in essence.

[1] Grudem, Systematic Theology, page 177.
[2] I heard Hank Hanegraaf say this on his radio program last month.
[3] Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed, page 3.

R. Eldon Hall has taken up the cause!

There is a new blogger in town, and his name is R. Eldon Hall. Check him out here, where he splits fine hairs, and calls you out on your brand of shampoo! Go get 'em Royce!

Coffee? No thanks.

I told myself that sooner or later, I have to write another serious blog. But I can't bring myself to do it, so here is a little glimpse of what it is like to work at Cinnabon.

customer: "Can I get one of those frozen drinks?"

Cinnabon Employee: Sure, here is a list of the flavors."

Customer: "I don't want one of those coffee flavored drinks...so...can I get a cappucino flavor?"

Employee: "Cappucino?? That has coffee in it..."

Customer: oh...well then, I guess I'll have the Mocha flavor."

Employee: "Mocha?! That's coffee too!"

Customer: oh..uhm, then I guess I'll have the strawberry."

Employee: "Thank You!"

That is one of many such statements that can be heard all around the world when people order food. Another classic is the time when a customer took one of the cokes from our display stand which is located on top of the refrigerator, then asked us if we had any cold ones anywhere.

Do you have any funny comment that you've heard like these? Let me hear 'em.

The New Baptist Theology of the Christian Faith - God; part 6

The 2000 BF&M continues:

and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures.

He is omniscient; He knows everything. He has infinite awareness, understanding, insight, and complete knowledge. ‘God knows all that can be known or is knowable.’[1] ‘God knows Himself and all things actual and possible in one simple (undivided) eternal act.’[2] God’s knowledge surpasses anything that we can imagine. How could He not know everything? After all He Created and rules everything. He is unlimited, infinite. ‘This means that God is always fully aware of everything. If he should wish to tell us the number of grains of sand on the seashore or the number of stars in the sky, he would not have to count them all quickly like some kind of giant computer, nor would he have to call the number to mind because it was something he had not thought about for a time. Rather, he always knows all things at once. All of these facts and all other things that he knows are always fully present in his consciousness. He does not have to reason to conclusions or ponder carefully before he answers, for he knows the end from the beginning, and he never learns and never forgets anything.’[3]

His knowledge extends to all things (2 Chronicles 16:9; Job 28:24; 37:16; Psalm 90:4; 139; Isaiah 42:8-9; 46:9-10; 55:9; Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 6:8; 10:29-30; Hebrews 4:13; 2 Peter 3:8; 1 John 3:20). In a theological discussion that has developed in the past several years concerning whether or not God’s knowledge of the future is open (not bound by some form of determinism) or closed (comprehensively predetermined by God’s plan and decrees) Dr. Ware (professor of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) has presented a solid defense of the traditional view of God’s foreknowledge. The ‘open’ view denies that God can know what ‘free’ creatures will do. It teaches that the Bible presents God as one who figures things out as He goes along and who needs to learn what the future will become. Does He get things wrong? Does He second-guess his decisions? Is His counsel fallible? Ware writes: “Absolutely not,” the church has said throughout history. And once again, Christian people must arise and say no to this proposal. The God of the Bible demonstrates the truthfulness of his own claim to deity by predicting the future with astonishing and mind-boggling precision. This foreknowledge of God encompasses both the immediate (the next word off my tongue) and the remote (what nations and kings will do centuries in the future). The God of the Bible does not face the future as we do – wondering what might happen. No, the true God knows and declares the end from the beginning, and he challenges antone to prove him wrong.”[4]

Dr. Ware writes that ‘at the 1999 annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention a resolution was proposed and unanimously endorsed affirming that God does know all future contingencies, including all future free choices and actions.’ This led to ‘a number of key changes’ being ‘introduced to the previous (1963) edition [of the BF&M], one of which is the addition of a clear affirmation of God’s exhaustive foreknowledge.’ ‘Clearly the SBC leadership and messengers see this issue as central enough to warrant a forthright declaration that defines the boundaries of this major denomination’s core beliefs.’ [5] Having sat under Dr. Ware’s instruction during this period at Southern Seminary I have come to a much deeper appreciation of where Southern Baptists are moving theologically.

As the Ultimate, what else could God be?

[1] Bruce Ware, God’s Lesser Glory, page 32.
[2] Grudem, Systematic Theology, page 190.
[3] Grudem, Systematic Theology, page 191.
[4] Bruce Ware, Their God Is Too Small, page 55-56.
[5] Bruce Ware, God’s Lesser Glory, page 23-24.

Guest Bloggers: Kristina and Joshua Whitaker

This morning I have the wonderful opportunity to introduce you to 2 of our favorite people in the world. I tagged them earlier this week and told them I would give them a platform to play this game. Here they are:

This was done on Wed. Feb. 8th
10 years ago:
-I was in 8th grade, need I say more.
-My long time friend Homer(a dog) had to be put down.

5 years ago:
-Joshua and I were in the process of buying our first house.
-We were planning our wedding and receiving counseling from our dear friends Steve and Amy Morse.
-Joshua and I had been dating exactly 2 years(2-8-99).
-I was working at Nashville Auto Diesel College in the Education Dept. doing various things.

1 year ago:
-Ty was 2 1/2, Allyson was 16 mos. and we were awaiting the arrival of Ely(2-24-05).
-We were in the process of selling our house and moving in with my parents until we figured what we (Notice: "we" not"God") wanted to do.
-We were wondering why everything we looked into buying never worked out (Thank the Lord!)

Yesterday I:
-Cooked and did laundry
-Found a lot of cool blogs to read(Blestwithsons and Large Family Logistics to name a few)
-Watched my soon to be one year old son learning how to walk-they are so brave!
-Was so thankful that God directed us here (KY-SBTS) and that we listened and obeyed Him.

Five Songs I Know by Heart: ONLY FIVE!?!
1) Sound of Music 2)
Veggie Tales theme song
3) Victory in Jesus
4) Redeemer by Nichole C. Mullins
5) Jesus Loves Me(G.A. Camp style)

Five Things I'd do with 1 Million $:
1) Pay for school, books and other debts.
2) Give 10% to the Lord's work.
3) Buy a BIG van and a farm(including all accessories).
4) Buy a Grande Piano.
5) Give some to Steve and Amy.

Five places I'd run away to:
1) Floydada or Perryton, Texas
2) Somewhere in Wyoming
3) Somewhere in Colorado
4) Fiddler's Grove in Lebanon, TN
5) Amish Country in Lancaster, PA

Five things I'd never wear by choice:
1) Bikini
2) Mini Skirt
3) Mullet (SP?)
4) Body Piercings other than the ears
5) Toe socks(like gloves for feet)

Five Favorite Toys:
1) Ink Pen
2) Laptop and Internet
3) Electric Skillet(I'v got to get out more-haha)
4) Piano
5) Of course my children- Ty, Allyson and Ely

Five Favorite Books:
1) The Bible
2) Anything by Janette Oke
3) To Kill A Mockingbird
4) Heavenly Daze Series by Lori Copeland and Angela Hunt
5) Little Women

Five Greatest Joys:
1) My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
2) My Children
3) The love of my husband through thick and thin
4) The wonder of carrying a child in my womb
5) Being almost through with this thing(meme)!!

Five People I'm tagging:
1) Taj or Tonya Eaton
2) Callie Pritchett
3) Wayne or Jan Hall
4) Anyone in the Whitaker Family
5) Hannah Morse(even though she probably doesn't remember 10 years ago since she was only 2)

Thanks for playing Kristina. We love you all!

Our Poster Child!

Spencer has literally 'stamped' out the competition in last month's 4-H poster contest. Out of 663 entrants his poster was chosen as the winner. This means that his design will be on next years 4-H workbook and county-wide t-shirt. Congratulation Spencer! We are so proud of you!

What a quote!

At 6:32 am, David Black posted the greatest quote that I have read all week:

"If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction."
D. Bonhoeffer.

Bingo!! Isn't that rich? Thanks Dr. Black!

He is not a tame...housecat. (here's to you, Jenn.)

"It is no longer safe for me to simply walk through my own house at night. I live in constant suspicion of the shadows, never knowing when I might become a hapless victim. He destroys my couch, eats my food, and when he looks at me...ugh, he simply doesn't care. How do you deal with a creature that has no emotion? He's the devil." -Jasper the Dog on being asked about her owners' new cat, Shiloh.
















"Okay, maybe something is going on...sure. Our little happy go lucky dog is not so happy, or lucky for that matter. She has scratches on her nose, and a constant worried look in her eyes...but Shiloh is just soooo cute! He really is just a big fluffball, I promise! I know he would never ever hurt anything. I mean, really, he just lays around all day. And he's ssoooo cuddly and soft. I simply don't believe it." - Sara the Owner on being asked about the relationship between her pets.
















"In my opinion, he is a menace to society. There can be no doubt that he is attempting to usurp my authority. My dog, who is a sweet and innocent little puppy is being terrorized on a daily basis, persecuted by this foul creature. And my wife...sigh...my wife is being duped by his debonair style and feline charms. She is allowing herself to be decieved, and she is clueless, absolutely clueless to his true intentions. He is attempting a coup, people, and HE WANTS ME OUT OF THE WAY!!! He is dangerous. He is like a virus, a plague upon this house. - Kevin the Owner on being asked about Shiloh














I don't know what the big deal is. They decided to take me. I can't change who I am. You know what I mean? A Leopard can't change his spots, ya know? They have to accept me for who I am. And, oh baby, I am the master of my domain, the king of this measly little kingdom. These people have no idea who they are dealing with...Mu Ha Ha!!! Mu Ha Ha!!! - Shiloh

Gratuitus Grandparent Post

(Disclaimer: no grandchildren were damaged too terribly during the filming of this post)
Well I got the call yesterday afternoon... It was Grampa... mad because the digital camera that we received for Christmas wasn't being used to his benefit (i.e. no pics of his grandchildren).

So here you go Gramps:















Yeah so there it is. Grandchildren and daughter-in-law to be proud of!

A Brief Look.

The time has come for me to finish this tagging business, at least as far as my life story is concerned. I've got a cup of coffee, it's snowing outside, and I've got my Itunes set on random. Let's take a walk down memory lane.

Ten Years Ago:
1. I had just gotten to know my wife-to-be, at the first Youth Camp I ever went to. (then I told her a few months later that I was going to marry her when we were older)
2. I was more interested in Radio Control Cars than real ones.
3. I was in love with J.R.R. Tolkien, Terry Brooks, C.S. Lewis, Louis Lamour, Dean Koontz, Jack Higgins, and Stephen King.
4. I was young, immature, uncertain, confused, and on the whole, a mess.
5. I was more interested in paintball, firecracker wars, punk, ska, practical jokes, making a band, fire, and fishing than...well, anything else at all.

Five years ago:
1. I had just graduated high school, and hoped I could go to Africa as a missionary.
2. I started college at Union University instead.
3. I read John Piper's Desiring God, and my life suddenly became a lot bigger.
4. That girl I met back in number one and I were hoping we would get married.
5. I spent a week hiking and biking through the Grand Canyon, a week building a church in Bimini, and went to Mexico as well.

One Year Ago:
1. I was in Louisville, KY at Boyce College, and hoping I would be graduating in a few months.
2. I had been married to that girl from the previous questions for 2 years.
3. I took a class on the English Puritans, and I found a treasure trove of beautiful theology (I used beautiful intentionally, as odd as that might seem to someone who has never read the Puritans)
4. I had just gotten a new flyfishing rod, and was very excited about that!
5.We prayed for a child.

Yesterday:
1. My wife went to the doctor for what I hope is her last visit before we have our baby.
2. I read a book by Charles Williams (of Inklings fame).
3. I went out to have some coffee, and ended up getting tea instead.
4. I realized that I would finally be graduating this year, and I hope it comes soon.
5. I was praying about what God has in store for me next.

Five Songs I know by heart:
1. 'How Deep the Father's Love'
2. 'She must and Shall go Free' by Derek Webb
3. 'Bridge over Troubled Water' by Johnny Cash
4. 'Fake Plastic Trees' by Radiohead
5. 'The times, they are a'changin' by Bob Dylan

Five things i would do with a million dollars:
1. Buy 900,000 dollars worth of books
2. give the rest of it away
3. regret my first impulse and sell half of the books.
4. buy a house in the mountains for me and my family
5. if there is any left over, spend it on all the books I can get back from no. 3

Five places I would run away to:
1. the Star Wars universe (Don't laugh. You would too, and you know it!)
2. stop by Middle Earth on my way back.
3. the Mountains (yeah, whichever ones I can get to at the moment.)
4. the world behind the mirrors, and down the rabbit hole.
5. a bookstore.

Five things I would never wear by choice:
1. Tight Leather Pants
2. A Darth Vader outfit out in public...well, maybe just a little bit.
3. A cucumber outfit...period.
4. A mullet.
5. anything remotely like this

Five Favorite Toys:
1. My fishing equipment
2. My dog.
3. My computer
4. Okay, i'll admit it. My xbox is pretty sweet.
5. A deck of cards



Five Favorite Books...haven't seen this one before, have I? yeesh....
since i'm in a fictional mood today (not that i've written any fiction here...), I'll stick with favorite fiction I've not mentioned before:
1. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
2. The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser
3. Till We have Faces by C.S. Lewis
4. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
5. Agatha Christie...oh just anything.

Five Favorite Joys:
1. The joy of hope in Christ my Savior.
2. The joy of confidence in a sovereign God.
3. The joy of my wife.
4. The joy of a fish at the end of my line.
5. The joy of books.

Five people I'm taggin...you know what? I don't think so. It ends here.



Five people I'm saving from this fate:
1. My wife (love you, babe)
2. D.R.
3. Dee (except...you did do this to me, didn't you? maybe I should make you do this after all.)
4. Daniel
5. And just so you, dear reader, can sleep well at night, you don't have to do this either. It really is too much work.

The New Baptist Theology of the Christian Faith - God; part 5

As we continue to look at what the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message says and means we come to this phrase:

God is all powerful

We must not over look this truth. I think that we tend to take this for granted more often than not. This is such a ‘Sunday school’ answer, but what does it actually mean? It means that He is omnipotent; He has unlimited power. He is Almighty. He has unlimited authority and influence. ‘He is able to do all of His holy will.’[1]

This aspect of God relates to His position as Ruler of the Universe; He is the Sovereign. He is sovereign. God has the power to do anything that is logically meaningful and wise. He has the ability to control and the authority to rule over all. ‘The relationship between control and authority is one between might and right. Control means that God has the power to direct the whole course of nature and history as he pleases. Authority means that he has the right to do that.’[2]

Scripture completely affirms God’s omnipotence. In creation God did not even begin to exercise His power. Job says that creation is but the outskirts of His ways, a small whisper (Job 26:14). The Lord tells Jeremiah that nothing is too hard for the Lord God (Jeremiah 32:26-27). Paul identifies God’s work of creation as a fundamental evidence of God’s eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:19-20). God also demonstrates his power in the creation of new life through Sarah (Genesis 18:14), Rebekah (Genesis 25:21), Leah (Genesis 29:31, 30:17), Rachel (Genesis 30:22), Samson’s mother (Judges 13:3), Hannah (1 Samuel 1:19-20), King David’s mother (Psalm 139:13-16), Jeremiah’s mother (Jeremiah 1:4), and the virgin mother of Jesus (Luke 1:34-37). God’s has shown His awesome power throughout the history of His people in their deliverance (Exodus 14:21; Joshua 3:14-17; 2 Kings 19:35; 2 Chronicles 32:21), judgment (Numbers 3:4; 16:30-33; 2 Chronicles 36:17), and His providence (Exodus 16:4; 17:6; 1 Kings 18:41-46; 2 Kings 4:1-7; 2 Kings 7:1; Mark 6:41). In Job 38-41 God reveals Himself as the One who powerfully controls everything in His creation. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John God is the Powerful One who will bring about the culmination of His perfect plan. He will powerfully overcome His adversaries and reign in triumph over His new creation (Revelation 19:11-22:21).

Make no mistake about it, God is THE Almighty One (Psalm 24:8; Jeremiah 32:17 & 27; Matthew 3:9; 19:26; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 3:20; Revelation 1:8).

[1] Grudem, Systematic Theology, page 217.
[2] John M. Frame, The Doctrine of God, page 80.

Again??

Well now, isn't this something? Been tagged again, and this time by you, Steve. Well, I hear your challenge, but you'll have to wait a little while for my reply. Since I have no classes to speak of this semester, and Sara and I are just waiting around for the baby to come, I'm reading a couple of dreadfully good books, and will have to think on this tagging for a little bit. I'm outta here. By the way, what's up with calling me three or four times and then not answering your phone since?

Christian humility and Muslim outrage

Tim over at challies.com has written a great summary of this recent muslim rampage. Check it out and wonder at God's mercy and longsuffering.
SDG

UPDATE 02.07.06: I found this at Fred Butler's site. It is another good article on the deceptive worldview of the Muslim.