The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.1 Timothy 5.17 (NASB) The term “leadership” makes me nervous. It makes me nervous because in today’s climate I’m not a very good leader. I don’t motivate many people toward innovative ideas. I don’t plan events well. I don’t provide many “aha” moments that transform lives. I don’t attract […]
Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Psalm 85.5 Mom’s great fried chicken (it’s the homemade buttermilk batter) deserved a walk around the block. This would not be just any walk, though. This would be the walk in which Lidi would ride her bike all the way. I probably thought it to be more about me than her. Teaching your daughter to […]
I have a love/hate relationship with the pastoral office. There, I’ve said it. I love what the office should be. I hate what it’s become. I love the idea of the biblical pastor. I hate the idea of the 21st-century American pastor. I love what I could be, by God’s grace. I hate what I’m pressured to be, by man’s expectations. I love seeing the flock eat week-in, week-out. I […]
For those of us obsessed with what God will do in some other time in some other place, Calvin drew out the implications of Philippians 2.21: “For you must give up your own right if you would discharge your duty: a regard to your own interest must not be put in preference to Christ’s glory, or even placed upon a level with it. Withersoever Christ calls you, you must go […]
I’ve recently unshelved an old book to shake me out of my devotional rut: Disciplines for the Inner Life by father and son team, Bob and Michael Benson. Some may find it mystical and weird at some points. But, for those of us who approach life hyper-analytically a little weirdness is good for the soul. Part of the daily meditation includes quotes from the history of Christian spirituality. I can’t […]
By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Therefore, when Jesus received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (Gen 2.2; Jn 19.30) Our church recently benefited from a sermon by Paul Haines on John 19.30. Specifically, he unpacked some […]
In light of the “Baptist Catholicism” discussion, I would humbly recommend Walt Chantry’s small book entitled Today’s Gospel (Banner: 1970). In it Chantry exegetes Jesus’ evangelistic “strategy” with the rich young ruler in Mark 10.17-31. He minces no words in confronting what he calls “neo-traditionalism” that resembles Tetzel more than Jesus (p12). Chantry writes: “Products of modern evangelism are often sad examples of Christianity. They make a profession of faith, […]
Last Sunday’s edition of the Austin American-Statesman printed an article about Brynn Cameron, mother of Cole Cameron Leinart. You sports fans recognize the last name as that of Matt Leinart, 2004 Heisman Trophy winner and injured quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals. The couple attended USC together, where Cameron still plays for the women’s basketball team. They no longer have a relationship. Cameron raises their young son while balancing school and […]
There were some reflections I thought about after yesterday’s posting. I want to unpack a little more what I meant by “loving quantitative [i.e. measurable] self-exaltation rather than qualitative humiliation.” Here’s what I meant. When we “tell our testimony” (a concept worth revisiting in itself) we typically recount what we’ve done for God rather than what God has done in/for/to us. In so doing, we overestimate ourselves and underestimate God’s […]
The typical Baptist suffers from Catholiphobia: the fear of all things Catholic. Most Baptists (including myself) know more about Catholics than Catholicism, which is probably true of any religious tradition. But one is not Baptist for long before realizing we strongly oppose Catholic baptism. The Council of Trent’s insistence that the sacraments (of which baptism is one) works ex opere operato sends chills up our spine (for example, see the […]