What a Brutal Battle

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13

There seems to be, in me, a growing desire to 'get it over with.' Sin is becoming more and more a blatant act of rebellion against God, His providence and His revelation.

I have tried to 'get over it' in the past but sin has a tendency to go dormant in one area and spring up in another.

Just when I am satisfied that I have gained a victory over anger I become so proud of it and I hold others who struggle with anger in contempt. Does ANYONE else struggle with this?

I am now beginning to engage in actual warfare with my sin"full"ness.

John Owen speaks of the man who fights against certain sins without attacking the source of the sins:

"A man may beat down the bitter fruit from an evil tree until he is weary; whilst the root abides in strength and vigor, the beating down of the present fruit will not hinder it from bringing forth more."

Doesn't it seem that we easily become legalistic in our fight by condemning specific sins while ignoring our blatant sinfulness?

Oh to KILL IT! Lord help me to stick the knife in deep and keep my hand steady to pierce the very heart of sin in my flesh!

Ministry Focus: GettyMusic

About a month ago at our church we began singing a new song, which has quickly become a favorite for our congregation. I looked up some of the lyrics online, wanting to find out more about the song and the writers, and along the way I found out about a wonderful ministry I want to share with you all. You may have heard of the artists or the song, and if so let me know what you think of it.

The song is called "In Christ Alone," and it is a modern hymn that is delightfully filled with theology seemingly in every line. I have actually witnessed, in church after a service, an incredibly encouraging discussion on the phrase:

'Till on that cross as Jesus died;
The wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live!

It's this kind of effect of such a lyric, which is so different from many songs being catered as "praise and worship songs" in our churches today, that I appreciate from these artists.


The writers of these songs are Keith snd Kristyn Getty, along with Stuart Townend. They are Irish, so I guess that would make these Irish Hymns! Their ministry, GettyMusic, is based out of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, also the church where Alistair Begg is senior pastor. Their tour went through Southern Seminary back in March, so hopefully some of the churches around there are using some of their songs.

On their website you can read their lyrics and listen to some of the songs. I hope you enjoy it and that it encourages you.

Time for a Smoke Break

Yesterday a friend of mine was giving me a ride home from class, and he told me about this little gem penned by Bach (yes, that Bach!). I thought it apropo considering the debate about alcohol and enjoying God's gifts. Why, come to think of it, I bet Spurgeon had this on a wall in his office somewhere:



I Smoke My Pipe and Worship God

Whene'er I take my pipe and stuff it
And smoke to pass the time away
My thoughts, as I sit there and puff it,
Dwell on a picture sad and grey:
It teaches me that very like
Am I myself unto my pipe.

Like me this pipe, so fragrant burning,
Is made of naught but earthen clay;
To earth I too shall be returning,
And cannot halt my slow decay.
My well used pipe, now cracked and broken,
Of mortal life is but a token.

No stain, the pipe's hue yet doth darken;
It remains white. Thus do I know
That when to death's call I must harken
My body, too, all pale will grow.
To black beneath the sod 'twill turn,
Likewise the pipe, if oft it burn.

Or when the pipe is fairly glowing,
Behold then instantaneously,
The smoke off into thin air going,
'Til naught but ash is left to see.
Man's fame likewise away will burn
And unto dust his body turn.

How oft it happens when one's smoking,
The tamper's missing from it's shelf,
And one goes with one's finger poking
Into the bowl and burns oneself.
If in the pipe such pain doth dwell
How hot must be the pains of Hell!

Thus o'er my pipe in contemplation
Of such things - I can constantly
Indulge in fruitful meditation,
And so, puffing contentedly,
On land, at sea, at home, abroad,
I smoke my pipe and worship God.

Johann Sebastian Bach - 1725 (1685-1750)

From: The Second Little Clavier Book For Anna Magdalena Bach

Free at Last! Free at Last!!!

If anyone cared to notice, I put a banner on our sidebar linking to a website where Derek Webb will be offering his latest album, Mockingbird for download free starting September 1. Derek was a singer/songwriter for Caedmon's Call for many years, and now off doing his own thing. I loved his first album She Must and Shall Go Free, which is all about the Church. Mockingbird touches on many issues of politics, and social justice. While I don't agree with some of what Webb says (and don't understand some, either!) I think this album is very thoughtful, and thought provoking. So take some time, download it for free, and listen to your heart's content.

ps- this is our 300th post! And I wonder, is there anybody still out there?

Your goose is cooked!

"Your goose is cooked!"

That was the puzzling exclamation out of my mother's mouth following the event we now know as the "Snorkel Incident." David, my younger brother who was about 7 years old at the time, was in the pool being his normal annoying self when a snorkel mysteriously traversed the yard, striking him in the cheek.

While I maintained my innocence, mom insisted she saw the whole ordeal. Justice was accordingly served, with no fair trial mind you!

Anyway, what do you mean, "Your goose is cooked"?

This is the seal of a town in Czech Republic known as Husinec. Six hundred years ago, it was called Husinec of Bohemia. It's a goose. That's because Husinec means "Goose Town." Also six hundred years ago, around 1369 to be exact, it became the hometown to one of the pre-Reformers, John Hus. He shortened his name in the 1390's, and endured many jokes about his "goose" name. But more on that later. His parents were Moravian peasants, so to escape poverty, he entered the priesthood.

Following in the footsteps of John Wyclif, Hus also believed in the authority of the Word, over the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. During his time at the University of Prague, and later in his pastorate at Bethlehem Chapel in Prague, Hus wrote and preached against the teachings of Rome, which led to his excommunication and label as a heretic. This conflict contiuned until the year 1414, when the Council of Constance convened to sort" out the Hus matter, as his teachings and and ministry at Bethlehem Chapel was leading a reform of the entire Bohemian region.


Under the promise of safe lodging and the chance to defend his beliefs and effect reforms in the Church, Hus traveled to Germany, only to be imprisoned from November, 1414 to May, 1415, whereupon he was given one chance to recant his views. Hus refused, and, during the eighth convening of the council, was condemned to be burned at the stake.


John Hus was executed on July 6, 1415, along with all his clothing and possessions, then his ashes were thrown into a lake. However, Hus' beliefs had already taken hold in Bohemia. The 1420's and 30's saw a series of wars in that region between the Roman Catholics and the followers of Hus and Wyclif. These are known as the Hussite Wars, and are believed to be the first European military conflicts in which guns were used.

Nevertheless, the theology of Hus and Wyclif had been established in Eastern Europe. One hundred years later, another pastor/teacher/theologian would come along and be influenced by the writings of John Hus. Martin Luther would teach his students the beliefs and doctrines held deeply by Hus, and reminded them of the "goose" who was "cooked" in order to preserve those beliefs.

According to Schaff, Hus created a motto based on a sermon by John Wyclif that, "Truth will Conquer." Should we be confronted because of our beliefs, and should we actually have to defend them in opposition to harm and death, instead of just rejection and humiliation and compromise, may we be willing to have our gooses cooked! May we say with Hus,

"God is my witness that I have never taught that of which I have by false witnesses been accused. In the truth of the Gospel which I have written, taught, and preached, I will die today with gladness."

This Made the News at CNN!!

Wow! Without knowing anything other than what CNN spun out this morning, I will have to say kudos to this pastor! The poor guy probably knew he would face some opposition from those who have known Mary Lambert for their whole life but I am certain he never, in a million years, imagined that it would make the national news!

Brothers AND SISTERS; the time is coming when our Christianity will be defined only by the level of conformity to the Word of God we demonstrate in our lives! Will we be found faithful?

Why does the church in other parts of the world face such persecution? Because the Word lives, piercing and separating, in their lives (Hebrews 4:12)!

It seems to be that the simple fact that Mrs. Lambert had served for 54 years gives her the credentials to teach men. Unsurprisingly, this mentality is alive and well in our churches even now! Until we are willing to return to the unvarnished revelation of God's will and way, we will be doomed to operate according to tradition, position, and opinion... God help us all!

BTW... Brother Labouf, I have my hat off to you!

Times may change but...

As a pastor I often hear that we need to adjust our message to our times. Instead of writing a pithy post to promote my own so-called wisdom... here is something that Phil Johnson quoted from Spurgeon's An All Round Ministry (which, BTW, is one of the very best books I have ever read on the ministry of a Christian Preacher!).

How many passages are in the Bible describing the sufficiency and providence of God's powerful, life-changing, eternally consistent Word? More than enough to keep me trusting His Message and not the World's! For starters look at Isaiah 40!

A Sick Family and a Glorified Lord

I was reading some emails today, and I ran across one that was written about a missionary family in the Far East who had become sick. There was a father, mother and baby daughter, and each one of them had contracted the same disease. I began to think about this and several things struck me.

First, I'm reading this from my comfortable chair, in my living room; this brings me a feeling of something akin to shame. But we've all heard that one, right? We've all sat in the passenger seat on that particular guilt trip, and it doesn't lead us anywhere. We still hop off at the end of the trip and go right back home to our comfortable chairs in our living rooms. We feel really really bad for a little while, and we start feeling down because we aren't doing this, or we aren't doing that. I wonder why it is that very few ( and by that I mean, I've never met one) people actually respond to that feeling?

Secondly, despite that feeling of guilt that seems ingrained in our Christian culture, my heart truly went out to this family. This brother and this sister are entirely alone. On the other side of the world, they face a struggle that I would dread here in Louisville, KY USA. While having both parents sick is certainly bad enough, that precious little child being sick as well is so much worse. No parent ever wants that to happen. And there they are, in a situation where healthcare is not right down the street. Moreover, they didn't just have the sniffles. My heart breaks inside of me for their struggle.

Thirdly, even as my heart breaks for their struggle, I'm encouraged by these fellow Christians. They are suffering for Christ's sake, taking seriously the words of Paul, and Peter. They are facing adversity as they toil for the spread of the Gospel. And while I cannot join them at this very moment, I can pray for them. And lest you think that is a small thing, let me remind you that our greatest power is not in our "doing" anything. My greatest power to help is not my strength, my energy, my checkbook (definitely not that!), or anything else of my own. My power, no, our power as Christians is Christ Himself. So, I petition Christ on behalf of my brother and sister struggling to sow the seeds of the Gospel far from home. My trust is in the Lord.

I also pray that I would find ways to help my brothers and sisters in actual, physical ways. We are not going through life alone, ducking our heads at the first sign of a friend in need. As we have, so should we help those who are serving the Lord and are in need (and I'm not just talking about money; in fact, I'm not talking about money at all). We all have a responsibility to help the spread of the Good News (if we actually think its that good!) This task isn't just for those specific people who take off around the world, and continually ask us for help.

To read more about those serving in foreign lands, check out The Voice of the Martyrs

Pour Me Another Round of Res #5!

Tim, the Red-Bearded Viking, has entered the fray that surrounds the SBC's Resolution Number 5 on the drinking of alcohol.

Read it and tell me what you think.

Interesting Conference Up-Coming!

I don't have too much information about this "Think On These Things" conference on October 27-29, but with Bruce Ware speaking I wish I could attend.

Dr. Ware is one of my absolute favorite speakers... ever. I have taken numerous theology classes with him and haven't found a more spiritual, dogmatic, thoughtful, or concise presentation of Biblical doctrines anywhere.

If anyone is heading this direction and wouldn't mind a stowaway... come through McMinnville TN and pick me up!

(Hey Kevin, can you ask him what he is speaking on for me?)

How about this for an interesting read?

Pastor Jim Elliff has written a pretty good article on why pastors move on to other churches.

I have often been distracted by the current attitude and trend to "move up in church" that I see in the political realm of the pastorate. Having served at a church that went through 8 pastors in about 20 years (with 1.5 - 2 years in between looking for the next one - I was only there for a little over 2 years) I can see the danger in both of the attitudes, a pastor's "movin' up" and church's "movin' on".

One of the things that I like best about this article is the idea of home-grown leadership. Our churches certainly... CERTAINLY ought to be raising up CHRISTIAN, Scriptural, Historical, and Spiritually educated leaders for our families and our congregation! How else will we be able to go and "make DISCIPLES", baptized and TAUGHT to obey Christ? The sooner our churches recognize this the better off our future hopes will be!

In this article Pastor Elliff gives some good direction that can serve as a corrective to some of the anti-elder editorials that are being presented today.

Read it and let me know what you think.

Cheers to a Year!

Wow! It's been a year? Well, I've only been here a few months, but I'm glad we've been able to connect and throw the Word, even after all these years and after being so far apart.

But honestly, who knew a year ago that on our first anniversary ThrowtheWord.com would be ATTACKED BY MARTIANS?

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We Have Been Throwing the Word for a YEAR!!!!

Last week our One-Year Anniversary snuck up on us!
In honor of this surprising development (surprising in that I have kept something like this up for over a year now!I also want to say: "Thanks for all of the help Jason, Kevin, and John!") I am re-posting one of the first posts I did here on ThrowtheWord.com. Take a good look at this picture. It is AMAZING!

Post from 8.11.2005 -

I was browsing around and found this amazing photo! How in the world will this thing ever be able to finish this off? He won't need to eat for months!


My children are amazed that their cornsnakes can swallow little fuzzy mice. Well this snake sure has a mouthful! It reminds of how we need to visualize Satan. Satan is a snake! Not a cute little (my mother would shudder) corn snake that just hisses and snaps. Satan is a violent predator seeking to destroy and devour! Fortunately we have a greater Protector! Revelation 20:2 says that "he (Jesus) seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years," Jesus will destroy this devil-snake, one who is even more terrible than the one pictured!

"All important events...contribute to glorify His name and advance His cause."

I just received my copy of Schaff's 8 volume set on the History of the Christian Church. I currently have vol. 1, Apostolic Christianity, AD 1-100, on my nightstand.

Oh yeah, I finished my two summer classes last Friday. I got A's in Abnormal Psychology and my Geography Field Course. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some reading to do!

Phridays are for Photos!

In light of the buzz of the blogging world (here, here, and here) I am posting this photo for your viewing pleasure. These grapes are absolutely the best I have had! When we bought this place last year we had no idea of all of the blessings that God had stored up on it!



FYI: VBS has finished for the season! We were able to serve over 100 different residents at 4 different homes! God is so good! After my recent blogging hiatus (due to said VBS) I will be posting much more often beginning next week! I am so glad that my team members have picked up the slack in my absence! Thanks!

Funny Foto Friday

This is a sign from the construction area on W. Main Street, Downtown Louisvlle.

Just in case you were wondering what that thirty-foot high conglomeration of bricks to your immediate left was supposed to be...

When we legalize one sin, we legalize all sin!

This comes in from Dr. White's blog. May we not be ashamed of the Truth of God's Word!

My Sentiments Exactly

This picture speaks for itself. Living in a college/seminary setting where everyone and their dog (mine and myself included) have a blog, I want this shirt. It would save a lot of talking.

Dispensations and Arthur Pink

Kevin and I have a running (really it is a meandering) discussion going on about escatology and how dispensationalism and covenant theology work themselves out in the end. Depending on what we're reading and who we are talking to at the time will determine where, exactly, we feel like we fall at any given moment (we really are both pan-millennialists - we believe that it will all "pan" out in the end!). If I am talking to Dr. Bruce Ware then I come down on the side of progressive dispensationalism but if I am talking with Dr. Shawn Wright then I am an avid Covenantalist.

The longer I study, really the longer I am just exposed to escatology (escatology is the study of end times) I am leaning closer and closer to a Covenantal perspective and this post by Wade Burleson gives some indication of why. Iain Murray's biography of Arthur Pink is phenomenal. In it Murray discusses Pink's evolution from dispensationalism to a solid covenantal position. The whole episode is one that is challenging for those of us who are so bold and dogmatic about theological arguments. We need to be careful about what we say and write.

Phridays are for Photos! Look at our VBS!

(Notice: this is why I haven't been around for the past 2 weeks)

If you have known me for very long, you know that I do not like to do anything "because we have always done it that way before." You also know that I hold God's Word as dear to my soul as ever is possible and do not want to get in His way. One of the most obvious ways this desire comes into conflict with traditions is in the area of Vacation BIBLE SCHOOL.

At the onset I want you to recognize the implicit identification found within the label "Vacation" "Bible" "School". When I read those words I come to believe that, whatever else will happen during the week of VBS, biblical education (hence: Bible School) will be accomplished. Sadly (Mayor Chill E. Pepper bows his head in shame) what we find instead is entertainment and babysitting. Over the years I have tried to make certain that Bible School happens rather than a simple vacation. This year has been the very best of all.

Earlier in the year when our VBS director, Ruth Rogers, and I met to discuss the direction that we would take, I was being challenged in my own life with sharing the gospel in our area nursing homes. My wife, Amy, suggested that, rather than invest all of our time and efforts in decorating our church and wearing out our workers, we ought to take all of the children and workers to the nursing homes and let them join us in our ministry. What a phenomenal idea! Ruth and Amy organized and planned a simple schedule of singing, study, and Bible Bingo that reminded the residents of their childhood Vacation Bible School memories.




I have found, as I share the gospel in these nursing homes, that many (more like most) of the older people that I share with have little to NO real, active knowledge of Jesus Christ and so we actually DID Bible School. I shared a direct, specific evangelistic appeal to them, asking that they would respond to the God who is so powerfully working in Christ NOW. The response, so far, has been wonderful. We have 2 more homes to visit next week but already I have seen children begging to give snacks away to these grandmothers and grandfathers rather than pleading for more and more for themselves. I have seen my church members loving, touching, and really serving those who have nothing to offer them. God has been so good to reveal our selfishness and allow us to become much more like Christ. He has also been good to open hearts and minds (that haven't been opened in years) to ask about the gospel and hopefully soon to receive the gift of eternal life!

Whoever is generous to the poor,

Lends to the Lord

and He will repay him for his deed.

Proverbs 19:17

(All photos were taken by Hannah Morse)

Appreciation.

I wish to take some time and space on this blog to express my appreciation toward a few friends.

I'm carefully using the word appreciate. Appreciate means to recognize that something is valuable. When I say to Steve, Amy, Kevin, Sarah, Josh, and Kristi, that I appreciate you, what I mean is that I recognize how valuable you are in a number of ways.

First, your allegiance to the Gospel is valuable. Last Tuesday I sat down with Josh, and wished I could have stayed much longer. It's so amazing to see how much Josh has changed since high school. Now he's moved to seminary and is considering a call to missions. It takes courage to do that, even with support from a home church or pastor or friends and family who are fully behind you. Josh and Kristi don't really have that. Josh briefly told me of his experiences with several folks at our old church, and how he has struggled with those strained relationships, strained because of his dedication to follow God. All of you have been entrusted with the Gospel and seek to be good stewards of that message. It would be easier and more profitable to compromise on the truth of the Gospel for the sake of financial or social gains, but you realize the power of that Gospel and reject any attempt to alter it.

Your dedication to your families is valuable. If all three of your families were to meet together, there would be no less than 20 people in the room. I'm amazed that God has blessed you all so abundantly. I also know how difficult it is to support a family in our world today. There are so many other things competing for our attention. But you have all set an example for how to put your family first. Not many people have the guts to pick up the lives of your spouse and children to follow God's calling, but you have done so with great fear and trembling, but also with great confidence in Jehovah-Jireh.

Your commitment to Biblical and theological training is valuable. Not just literally because of how much money it costs, but in how you each approach your education at Southern with the proper motive- to glorify God.

I could go on, but suffice it to say, your value is ultimately found in Christ living in you. It is an honor and privilege to know you, to have served the Lord with you, and to know that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope that this will in some small way encourage you. I greatly admire each of you, and look forward to many more years of friendship. May the Lord continue to bless you and provide for you as you serve him with diligence.

Surprise, Surprise!

I was pleasantly surprised (okay, shocked might be the right word) to read this post on the White, Ascol, Caner, Caner debate. I didn't expect it to take a turn for the positive at all. If anything, I thought it might be taken out to the Kroger parking lot after hours, if you know what I'm sayin' (if you're from the South, you know what I'm sayin' all right). Anyone who took even a mediocre interest in this knows how ugly the discussion has been. I was very impressed with the joint statement that Drs. White, Caner, Caner and Ascol made. A godly example, certainly.

More Books, Gosh!

So, I saw this little quiz as I floated through the internet, and even though I'm sure we've already done one or two of these, I don't care. I liked it, and wanted to answer it. you might notice that all the books are fiction. Good job, they are. Frankly, I'm dreading the beginning of the semester and want to cling to the freedom I have right now to read what I want. If you've never heard of one of these books, check them out because they are worth it. So, without further ado:

1) One book that changed your life: The Walking Drum, by Louis L'amour

2) One book that you’ve read more than once: A River Runs through It and Other Stories, by Norman Maclean

3) One book that you’d want on a desert island:Fierce Wars, Faithful Loves, by Edmund Spenser

4) One book that made you laugh: Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

5) One book that made you cry: I think you got it wrong, I make books cry. Fool. (those weren't tears when I read Cash, by Johnny Cash. My eyes hurt.)

6) One book that you wish had been written: How to Pity da' Fool, By Mr. T.

7) One book that you wish had never been written: Left Behind, by Tim LaHaye

8) One book that you are currently reading: Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy

9) One book that you’ve been meaning to read: The Once and Future King, by T.H. White

Discontent, Rebellion and Blog Mongering

I don't know about the few people who read this site, but I for one am sick and tired of the background and set up here at Throwtheword. In fact, I have been for a while. But Steve, who controls the strings will do nothing about it, proving he is indeed just an old fuddy-duddy. Let's freshen this place up, give it some pizz-azz. I mean, come on. ugghh.