Monday, December 29, 2008

Monday Mind Melt

  • I am tired, Hurting tired and I don't like it
  • Sunday AM worship was great - Who's the Boss -Rev 19:11-16
  • Some people think that the local Church is their to had the cash for crack rock
  • Having issues with panhandlers baring in all the time
  • Had a young man, Kris, call Jesus as his Lord after Sunday eve service.
  • Heard B. Reith say he was the" White Kanye West" on the "Go On" Funny.
  • Had a Bible study with my 9yr old and her 7 yr old sleep over friend. James 1:16-18
  • Meet a great younf couple that was visting our Church and bought them lunch. New to Christ and is about to get armed for war!
  • Thinking about how to put together a Men's Bible Fight Club for a men's class at Church
  • Amped about new 8 week sermon series Fight the Good Fight
  • Really dug Shawn of the Citys post on We Only Serve Whites about the confrence ministry mentality.
  • Thinking about new carpet for the Lord's House


Thursday, November 20, 2008

DiscipleText

Okay. This is a low tech way to do the high tech.

I have got my people doing a Scripture Text like Romans 5:1-5 and then a one sentence synopsis, question or application. May be you could do all three. Remember that you are limited on the amount of text.

I would later set up a email group that hits them all after the first go around to make it quick and easy.

Text for the Glory of Christ,

Chris <><


Here's a list of some of the most popular carriers:Remember to use the ten digit number!

AT&T (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@txt.att.net
AU by KDDI (from: 20, msg: 10000, total: 10000)Enter your phone number. Goes to username@ezweb.ne.jp
BeeLine GSM (from: 50, msg: 255, total: 255)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@sms.beemail.ru
Bell Mobility Canada (from: 20, msg: 120, total: 120)Enter your phone number, including the 1 prefix. Goes to number@txt.bellmobility.ca
Bellsouth (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@bellsouth.cl
BellSouth Mobility (from: 15, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@blsdcs.net
Blue Sky Frog (from: 30, msg: 120, total: 120)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@blueskyfrog.com
Boost (from: 30, msg: 120, total: 120)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@myboostmobile.com
Cellular South (from: 50, msg: 155, total: 155)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@csouth1.com
CellularOne (Dobson) (from: 20, msg: 120, total: 120)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@mobile.celloneusa.com
CellularOne West (from: 20, msg: 120, total: 120)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@mycellone.com
Centennial Wireless (from: 10, msg: 110, total: 110)Enter your phone number. Sent via http://www.centennialwireless.com
Cincinnati Bell (from: 20, msg: 50, total: 50)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@gocbw.com
Claro (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@clarotorpedo.com.br
Comviq (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@sms.comviq.se
Dutchtone/Orange-NL (from: 15, msg: 150, total: 150)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@sms.orange.nl
Edge Wireless (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@sms.edgewireless.com
EinsteinPCS / Airadigm Communications (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@einsteinsms.com
EPlus (from: 20, msg: 480, total: 480)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@smsmail.eplus.de.
Estonia Mobile Telefon (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Sent via webform.
Fido Canada (from: 15, msg: 140, total: 140)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@fido.ca.
Golden Telecom (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number or nickname. Messages are sent to number@sms.goldentele.com
Idea Cellular (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@ideacellular.net
Kyivstar (from: 30, msg: 160, total: 160)Sent by addressing the message to number@sms.kyivstar.net
LMT (from: 30, msg: 120, total: 120)Enter your username. Goes to username@sms.lmt.lv
Manitoba Telecom Systems (from: 20, msg: 120, total: 120)10-digit phone number. Goes to @text.mtsmobility.com
Meteor (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@sms.mymeteor.ie
Metro PCS (from: 20, msg: 120, total: 120)10-digit phone number. Goes to number@mymetropcs.com
Metrocall Pager (from: 120, msg: 120, total: 120)10-digit phone number. Goes to number@page.metrocall.com
MobileOne (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@m1.com.sg
Mobilfone (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@page.mobilfone.com
Mobility Bermuda (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@ml.bm
MTS Primtel (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Sent via web gateway.
Netcom (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@sms.netcom.no
Nextel (from: 50, msg: 126, total: 126)10-digit phone number. Goes to 10digits@messaging.nextel.com. Note: do not use dashes in your phone number.
NPI Wireless (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@npiwireless.com.
NTC (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Sent via web gateway.
O2 (formerly BTCellnet) (from: 20, msg: 120, total: 120)Enter O2 username - must be enabled first at http://www.o2.co.uk. Goes to username@o2.co.uk.
O2 M-mail (formerly BTCellnet) (from: 20, msg: 120, total: 120)Enter phone number, omitting initial zero - must be enabled first by sending an SMS saying "ON" to phone number "212". Goes to +44[number]@mmail.co.uk.
Optus (from: 20, msg: 114, total: 114)Enter your phone number. Goes to @optusmobile.com.au
Orange (UK) (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to @orange.net. You will need to create a user account at orange.net first.
Oskar (from: 20, msg: 320, total: 320)Enter your phone number. Goes to @mujoskar.cz
Other (from: 15, msg: 100, total: 100)If your provider isn't supported directly, enter the email address that sends you a text message in phone number field. To be safe, the entire message is sent in the body of the message, and the length limit is really short. We'd prefer you give us information about your provider so we can support it directly.
Pagenet (from: 20, msg: 220, total: 240)10-digit phone number (or gateway and pager number separated by a period). Goes to number@pagenet.net.
PCS Rogers (from: 20, msg: 125, total: 125)10-digit phone number. Goes to number@pcs.rogers.com. Requires prior registration with PCS Rogers.
Personal Communication (Sonet) (from: 20, msg: 150, total: 150)Enter your phone number. Goes to sms@pcom.ru with your number in the subject line.
Plus GSM Poland (from: 20, msg: 620, total: 620)10-digit phone number. Goes to number@text.plusgsm.pl.
Powertel (from: 20, msg: 120, total: 120)10-digit phone number. Goes to number@ptel.net
Primtel (from: 20, msg: 150, total: 150)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@sms.primtel.ru
PSC Wireless (from: 20, msg: 150, total: 150)Enter your phone number. Goes to number@sms.pscel.com
Qualcomm (from: 20, msg: 120, total: 120)Enter your username. Goes to username@pager.qualcomm.com
Qwest (from: 14, msg: 100, total: 100)10-digit phone number. Goes to @qwestmp.com
Safaricom (from: 15, msg: 160, total: 160)Goes to @safaricomsms.com
Satelindo GSM (from: 15, msg: 160, total: 160)Goes to @satelindogsm.com
SCS-900 (from: 15, msg: 160, total: 160)Goes to @scs-900.ru
Simple Freedom (from: 15, msg: 160, total: 160)Goes to @text.simplefreedom.net
Skytel - Alphanumeric (from: 15, msg: 240, total: 240)Enter your 7-digit pin number as your number and your message will be mailed to pin@skytel.com
Smart Telecom (from: 15, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to @mysmart.mymobile.ph
Smarts GSM (from: 11, msg: 70, total: 70)Enter your phone number. Sent via http://www.samara-gsm.ru/scripts/smsgate.exe
Southern Linc (from: 15, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your 10-digit phone number. Goes to @page.southernlinc.com
Sprint PCS (from: 15, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your 10-digit phone number. Goes to @messaging.sprintpcs.com
Sprint PCS - Short Mail (from: 15, msg: 1000, total: 1000)Enter your phone number. Goes to @sprintpcs.com
SunCom (from: 18, msg: 110, total: 110)Enter your number. Email will be sent to number@tms.suncom.com.
SureWest Communications (from: 20, msg: 200, total: 200)Enter your phone number. Message will be sent to number@mobile.surewest.com
SwissCom Mobile (from: 20, msg: 10000, total: 10000)Enter your phone number. Message will be sent to number@bluewin.ch
T-Mobile Germany (from: 15, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your number. Email will be sent to number@T-D1-SMS.de
T-Mobile Netherlands (from: 15, msg: 160, total: 160)Send "EMAIL ON" to 555 from your phone, then enter your number starting with 316. Email will be sent to number@gin.nl
T-Mobile UK (from: 30, msg: 160, total: 160)Messages are sent to number@t-mobile.uk.net
T-Mobile USA (from: 30, msg: 160, total: 160)Messages are sent to number@tmomail.net
T-Mobile USA (Sidekick) (from: 30, msg: 10000, total: 10000)Messages are sent to username@tmail.com
Tele2 Latvia (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)10-digit phone number. Goes to number@sms.tele2.lv.
Telefonica Movistar (from: 20, msg: 120, total: 120)10-digit phone number. Goes to number@movistar.net
Telenor (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)10-digit phone number. Goes to number@mobilpost.no.
Telia Denmark (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)8-digit phone number. Goes to number@gsm1800.telia.dk.
Telus Mobility (from: 30, msg: 120, total: 120)10-digit phone number. Goes to 10digits@msg.telus.com.
The Phone House (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)10-digit phone number. Goes to number@sms.phonehouse.de.
TIM (from: 30, msg: 350, total: 350)10-digit phone number. Goes to number@timnet.com.
UMC (from: 10, msg: 120, total: 120)Sent by addressing the message to number@sms.umc.com.ua
Unicel (from: 10, msg: 120, total: 120)Sent by addressing the message to number@utext.com
US Cellular (from: , msg: 150, total: 150)Enter a 10 digit USCC Phone Number. Messages are sent to number@email.uscc.net
Verizon Wireless (from: 34, msg: 140, total: 140)Enter your 10-digit phone number. Messages are sent via email to number@vtext.com.
Verizon Wireless (formerly Airtouch) (from: 20, msg: 120, total: 120)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@airtouchpaging.com. This is ONLY for former AirTouch customers. Verizon Wireless customers should use Verizon Wireless instead.
Verizon Wireless (myairmail.com) (from: 34, msg: 140, total: 140)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent via to number@myairmail.com.
Vessotel (from: 20, msg: 800, total: 800)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to roumer@pager.irkutsk.ru.
Virgin Mobile Canada (from: 20, msg: 140, total: 140)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@vmobile.ca.
Virgin Mobile USA (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@vmobl.com.
Vodafone Italy (from: 20, msg: 132, total: 132)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@sms.vodafone.it
Vodafone Japan (Chuugoku/Western) (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@n.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan (Hokkaido) (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@d.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan (Hokuriko/Central North) (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@r.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan (Kansai/West -- including Osaka) (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@k.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan (Kanto/Koushin/East -- including Tokyo) (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@t.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan (Kyuushu/Okinawa) (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@q.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan (Shikoku) (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@s.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan (Touhoku/Niigata/North) (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@h.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Japan (Toukai/Central) (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Messages are sent to number@c.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Spain (from: 20, msg: 90, total: 90)Enter your username. Messages are sent to username@vodafone.es
Vodafone UK (from: 20, msg: 70, total: 90)Enter your username. Messages are sent to username@vodafone.net
Voicestream (from: 15, msg: 140, total: 140)Enter your 10-digit phone number. Message is sent via the email gateway, since they changed their web gateway and we have not gotten it working with the new one yet.
Weblink Wireless (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to @airmessage.net
WellCom (from: 20, msg: 160, total: 160)Enter your phone number. Goes to @sms.welcome2well.com
WyndTell (from: 20, msg: 480, total: 500)Enter username/phone number. Goes to @wyndtell.com



Thursday, October 30, 2008

THE FREE THURSDAY MIDNIGHT RULE DOWNLOAD:

To download your free copy of “The Thursday Midnight Rule”, go to the link
below and add it to your shopping cart. When you check out enter the code
"top3-thursmid" (no quotes) and you will be able download it for free – an
$11.00 value! From our Freind, Nelson at the Journey Church


Click Here

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

FORMAT_FOR_ORDINATION

FORMATION OF PRESBYTERY

Moderator ______________

Clerk ______________

Someone to present the candidate to the presbytery ______________

Someone to question the candidate ______________

Someone to lead in the ordination prayer ______________

Someone to present the Bible ______________

Message ______________

ORDER OF SERVICE

Reading of Minutes from the Presbytery.

Introduction of the Candidate

Question the Candidate

After questioning the candidate the presbytery will make a motion and second to recommend
that the church proceed with the ordination.

The Ordaining Church will then make a motion and second to have the presbytery to proceed with the ordination.

Ordination Prayer and the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

Moderator will then declare the person to be ordained.

Presentation of a Bible to the candidate

Special in Song.

Ordination Message.




Questioning of Candidate

Questions which will probably be asked during this service are as follows:

Will you please give your testimony of conversion?

Were your baptized? By what Church?

How many modes of baptism are there?

What institution did the Lord start to carry out His Kingdom work and commanded them to give Him glory in it?

Is the church—in this dispensation—local or universal?

What are the ordinances of the church?

Who is the head of the church?

Do you believe in the inspiration of the scriptures?

Do you believe in the virgin birth of Christ?

What must a person do to be saved?

Can you take your Bible and lead someone to Christ?

Do you believe you are worthy of the office of Pastor/Teacher?

Will you do your best if ordained to this office?

Why are you a Baptist?

Do you believe in pulpit affiliation when those who are not of the Baptist faith?

If the time should come when your life would bring reproach upon this position - would you submit your ordination papers back to the church?

Monday, September 22, 2008

The New Media Frontier - Just In

The New Media Frontier: Blogging, Vlogging, and Poscasting for Christ by John Mark Reynolds and Rodger Overton Just arrived and I am excited. It is Pulished by Crossway books I am really looking forward to this book and will be trying to share as much as I can along the way. In truth I hope to learn along the way an not just observe. I look at this is the difference between measure and monitor. One you watch but the other collects data.

Crossway has a little blub about the book on the site that reads -

New media experts survey the possibilities and dangers of the current landscape while exploring specific ways to expand your reach to a lost world. Their advice on how to use the media with different audiences will train all of God's people to advance, demonstrate, and utilize the Christian worldview in this exciting realm.

I would suggest you order this book from Crossway and not Amazon, Lifeway or the book of the month club because they offer you the chance to download the book in a pdf format too. This is great! You can begin to read the book before it arrvies or if the book is lost at the Coffee shop when your have only read it about halfway all is not lost. This is a big plus in my book and I hope they keep it up!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

An Awesome Quote

"Are we ministering out of memory or imagination?" - Nancy Beach

I love this as I have see so many Churches that ministering in memory of the past.







Thursday, September 11, 2008

wordle to your mother

my blog









My HEIR(air) JORDANS.....

I have been really in to the urban display of the Gospel recently. So when i read this I had to share.



When I was growing up, I was a big Michael Jordan fan. I'm pretty sure every person who reads this is either a fan or has seen him play or at least know who he is. And if you don't...we need to talk! Here's my number: 936-554-25**...ok, just kidding,lol...

Anyway, for those you who don't know, I'm a real sneaker junkie. In fact, Jordans are my favorite shoe and I own several pair. So, this week, I bought a fresh pair of rare Air Force Jordans and I wore them to a concert we were doing in the Houston area this weekend. The event was awesome! I got to be apart of an incredible hip hop panel and discuss it with a group of youth. We also had an all men session where we discussed 'The Kid In The King' by tha messenger which is featured on my latest cd, Dare 2 Be Great and in the book 'Red Ink Poetry' by tha messenger coming out September 20th! Anyway, the youth were all asking where I got them from and it took be back to my high school days...ahhh, the memories,lol...

I remember back in high school when we would go to the mall early just to make sure we got a pair of his latest shoes. And of course, we were doing this way before Nelly made a song about it, but since he made national what many have been doing for years, let me shed some light on it. So, my crew and I would be up early just to go to the mall to get the new J's...back then we called them AIR JORDAN'S. But now, he's retired and as you can see by the video, he has two sons, Jeffrey and Marcus who play in college and high school now...

Can you imagine, Jeffrey and Marcus going to the mall with their friends, walking in to Foot Locker, trying on J's, and buying them? I can only imagine the look on their friends faces! They'd probably be like, 'MANNN, what are you guys doing? Do you not KNOW who your DAD is?' Why are you buying shoes that bear your last name? Those aren't AIR JORDAN'S to them, but HEIR JORDAN'S.

I strongly believe that too many of us really don't know who our dad is! We claim that we are Christians, we play the role, but we really lack the understanding and knowledge of who HE really is. This isn't bad in itself, but some of us just don't want to make an effort to know Him better. Christianity is so watered down and cliche these days that it seems like being a Christian has been reduced to going to church every now and then or simply acknowledging the God your grandmother or parents forced you to learn about in church when you were little.
our inheritance has been reduced to material things. So many of us see God as someone we can simply bring our list of WANTS to, but He's much more than that! He's savior to a dying world, and its up to us, to soak up the Gospel like a sponge and go and be an instrument to help make clean, those who need enlightenment that without Christ, we are filthy!

Romans 8: 15p-17
WHEN WE CRY, "ABBA! FATHER!" IT IS THAT VERY SPIRIT BEARING WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND IF CHILDREN, THEN HEIRS, HEIRS OF GOD AND JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST--IF, IN FACT, WE SUFFER WITH HIM SO THAT WE MAY ALSO BE GLORIFIED WITH HIM.


Don't settle for just reading a devotional a day or week, really pray and challenge yourself to read more and get closer to Christ so that you may continue to grow more like Him and agitate the flame and passion to carry out His purpose for your life!

ya boy,
channel

ps, please leave comments on my myspace page about the devo...click here!



Sunday, September 07, 2008

What Is Expository Preaching?


Dan at Ramblin’ Pastor Man shares J. I. Packer’s definition of expository preaching:
Expository preaching is the preaching of the man who knows Holy Scripture to be the living Word of the living God, and who desires only that it should be free to speak its own message to sinful men and women; who therefore preaches from a text, and in preaching labors, as the Puritans would say, to ‘open’ it, or, in [Charles] Simeon’s phrase, to ‘bring out of the text what is there’; whose whole aim in preaching is to show his hearers what the text is saying to them about God and about themselves, and to lead them into what Barth called ‘the strange new world within the Bible’ in order that they may be met by him who is the Lord of that world.
Dan goes on to unpack this definition (while quoting from the ESV) in the rest of the post. You can read J. I. Packer’s compete essay at Crossway’s site.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Huckabee on Palin

Speaking of Governor Palin, I am so tired of hearing about her lack of experience. I want to tell you folks something: She got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States," former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee told the delegates in his speech

Friday, August 22, 2008

Free Sources and Resources

origianlly posted by Jason Bedell by this stuff need to be reposted so it will get used

Well located below are some links to everything from church resources to photo editors (click here for a pdf version). I've also enclosed a link for you to check out some of the graphics we've used in our series as well as a link to some of our message intro videos/bumpers. Enjoy.


Forefront Series Stuff
Forefront Series Graphics: http://tinyurl.com/4ofghg Forefront Series Videos: http://tinyurl.com/43d44w Church Resource WebsitesCreativeMYK http://www.creativemyk.com/Open Resources http://www.openresources.org/The Vine http://vineresources.com/Muddy River Media http://www.muddyrivermedia.org/Fourty One Twenty http://www.fortyonetwenty.com/Igniter Media http://www.ignitermedia.com/Eleven 72 http://www.eleven72.com/Lifechurch Resources http://open.lifechurch.tv/Newspring Resources http://www.newspringonline.com/Granger Resources http://www.wiredchurches.com/

Photo Websites
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/Stock Photo http://www.istockphoto.com/Stock Photo Xchange http://www.sxc.hu/Corbis Photos http://www.corbis.com/Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com/Presentation SoftwarePro Presenter http://www.propresenter.com/ProWorship (formerly iWorship) http://www.renovatiosw.com/Media Shout http://www.mediashout.com/Easy Worship http://www.easyworship.com/Power Point http://office.microsoft.com/powerpointKeynote http://www.apple.com/iwork/keynote

Blogs I Read for Creativity, Pop Culture, Media, Church Trends
MTV News http://www.mtv.com/news/Spray Graphics http://spraygraphics.com/Web Urbanist http://weburbanist.com/Delicious Daily Photos http://picurls.com/Ragamuffin Soul http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/Collide Blog http://www.collidemagazine.com/blogRelevant Blog http://relevantmagazine.com/releblog/Rolling Stone http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdailyChurchy Media http://churchymedia.tumblr.com/Terry Storch http://www.terrystorch.com/Church Marketing Sucks http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/Church 2.0 http://church20.blogspot.com/Church Video Ideas http://churchvideoideas.com/Free Video Hosting WebsitesUstream http://www.ustream.com/YouTube http://www.youtube.com/Vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/Viddler http://www.viddler.com/MySpaceTV http://vids.myspace.com/Jumpcut http://www.jumpcut.com/Vidilife http://vidilife.com/

Photo Editing Software
Photoshop http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/index.htmlGimp (free for Mac, free work around install for windows) http://www.gimp.org/Live Quartz (free for Mac) http://www.rhapsoft.com/Video EditingHandbrake (free mac dvd ripping software) http://handbrake.fr/Adobe Premiere Pro http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/Final Cut Pro http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/finalcutpro/Final Cut Express http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/ Ulead Media Studio http://www.ulead.com/msp/runme.htmTooble (free Youtube capture for PC/Mac) http://tooble.tv/index.php?page=downloadReplay AV 8 (youtube capture for PC) http://www.applian.com/replay-av/index.phpiMovie (comes with Mac OS) http://www.apple.com/ilife/imovie/Windows Movie Maker (comes with Windows) http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspxCountdown Creators for Pre-ServiceCountdown Maker (Mac) http://trimonix.com/countdown-makerCountdown Creator (PC) http://www.thecountdowncreator.com/





Thursday, August 21, 2008

I desperately need an...

I desperately need an alternative to Jott.com. They're going to make me pay. listen

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Monday, August 18, 2008

The Real reason why we can not post the Ten Commandents

The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this: You cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal,' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians ... It creates a hostile work environment.


I beat twitpic

I beat twitpic. Twitpick will not post on blackjack II will not . But it you do it through google and their gmail, you can do it. And post it on Twitter. listen

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Friday, August 08, 2008

Why Preach Romans?

Bruce Johnson & Brian Bill

The Book of Romans has always been one of my favorites for two reasons. First, the doctrinal truths helped me understand justification, redemption and propitiation when I was a brand new Christian. I have never doubted my salvation in large part because I was encouraged to read this book as a new believer. I like this book for a second reason because I met my wife Beth in a Romans class at Moody Bible Institute. Reading this book always makes me think of her. As much as I love the Book of Romans I have always been intimidated to preach through it. Part of that has to do with its length, but mostly it has to do with its depth. I frankly didn't think I was worthy to preach through this great book. After all, what can I add to what has already been done by contemporary preachers like Ray Pritchard, John Piper, John MacArthur, and John Stott? Just knowing that Luther and Calvin have pored over these pages always made me feel inadequate to the task of preaching Romans. While I enjoy tackling topical preaching, I always strive to do so expositionally (by camping in one key passage). My preferred method of preaching however, is to take an entire book like Colossians, or Nehemiah, or 1 and 2 Thessalonians, or Malachi, or Philippians, or Titus . Luther said that Romans is "The chief part of the New Testament, and the very purest gospel, which, indeed, deserves that a Christian not only know it word for word by heart but deal with it daily as with daily bread of the soul. For it can never be read or considered too much or too well, and the more it is handled, the more delightful it becomes, and the better it tastes." John Calvin wrote: "When anyone gains a knowledge of this epistle he has an entrance opened to him to all the most hidden treasures of Scripture." The English poet, Samuel Coleridge, referred to Romans as, "The profoundest piece of writing in existence." The noted scholar F.F. Bruce once said: "There is no telling what may happen when people begin to study the Epistle to the Romans." William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into English, believed that every Christian should memorize Romans. John Chrysostom used to have someone read Romans out loud to him twice each week. After hearing it read so many times, he said this: "Romans is unquestionably the fullest, deepest compendium of all sacred foundation truths." Frederic Godet, a Swiss theologian, said: "Every movement of revival in the history of the Christian church has been connected to the teachings set forth in Romans... and it is probably that every great spiritual renovation in the church will always be linked, both in cause and effect, to a deeper knowledge of this book." Lest we think that these stories just happened long ago and far away, I heard of one man who visited a church service recently where the pastor was preaching through Romans. At the end of the service, the person sitting next to him asked him how long he had been a Christian. To which the young man responded, "About ten minutes." One of our newest church members attributes a verse in Romans to his conversion, and two weeks ago, when Eric Elder spoke to the students, he told them that God used Romans 1 to free him from the bondage of homosexuality. I pray that that we will see a number of conversions and recommitments during our study together and that God will bring a wave of repentance and revival to us at this time and at this place for His glory and for our good. You may wonder why we are studying Romans right now. I have waited more than twenty years as a pastor before preaching through this profound book. I have thought about it many times but have backed away. Don Grimes has asked me for months when I was going to tackle Romans. My friend Ray Pritchard challenged me to preach through this weighty book. But then the Holy Spirit made it clear to me in a way that I couldn't resist. Here are some reasons why we are roaming through Romans: Over the last several years many new believers have made PBC their home. In order to grow to maturity, the Bible says that we must move from milk to meat. Incidentally, Hebrews 5:12-14 refers to the meat of the Word as "teaching about righteousness," which is what Romans is all about. It's time to wade from the shallow waters and plunge deeply into the waves of God's Word. The Book of Romans contains the clearest statement of the Gospel in the New Testament and is a magnificent explanation of Christianity itself. Every vital teaching of our faith is found in capsule form within its pages. Donald Barnhouse said, "Romans has the most complete diagnosis of the plague of man's sin, and the most glorious setting forth of the simple remedy." This study will make a good follow-up to our just completed Old Testament Journey. You may be surprised to know that Paul quotes from the Old Testament 69 times in this letter and draws from its themes to establish and illustrate key points. One of the reasons I've put off preaching through Romans is not only its depth, but also its length. Some pastors have plowed through verse-by-verse with no breaks, like Martin Lloyd Jones, who spent 13 years preaching through Romans and only made it to chapter 14 before he died. He preached 29 sermons just on the first chapter! We're not going to go that slowly but we are going to take enough time to plumb its depths. I've also learned from John Piper's approach that if God wills, we will take breaks from Romans and then come back to it until we finish it. I hope it doesn't kill me, but if it does, I can't think of a better way to go than to die in the pulpit preaching the Book of Romans. If you're a pastor and you're not sure about whether or not to preach through Romans, may I encourage you to do so? Who knows, revival might just break out if churches across this land uncover the truths of Romans once again! Just this past Sunday one woman met me at the door with tears in her eyes and said, "Now I know that I'm really saved!"



Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Mind Dump - new church, new life

Wow. So much has has happened. Things have been crazy but the Lord has blessed. We left one fellowship full of people we love and loved us and have begun a new work. But our tears have be turn to joy. We have found the people of Northside Baptist wonderfully warm and receptive. They have been very open and accepting. And to top it of horribly kind. They have been exibiting thier love for us like they have always known us. Which might seem strange to some but feels wonderful on this side

My first week here was not one of unpacking boxes, but of going to camp. Not the usually go for a pastor that just moved, but God was definately in this. At Daniel Springs Baptist Encampment in Gary, Tx with Warren Jackson of Clear Camps we say God not only move in the 700 campers lives, but in our youth ministry. (2) students surrenderd to Christ, (1) rededicated her life and (1) surrendered to ministry. Our group was overwhelmed by God last week. Still some are resisting the Spirit and the Word. But we are praying for them and we are not going to give up on thier because we care to much to let them stay the way they are. Christ will prevail!

Not only did the Lord move amoung the youth and children's ministries ( 1 saved and 1 affrimation at camp 2 weeks prior) but an 85 year old lady was saved through our nursing home ministry last Tuesday night. Praise God! He love all His children no matter what age!

more to come ...






Monday, July 21, 2008

On the Preacher's Appearance

John Ploughman's Talk;or, Plain Advice for Plain People by C. H. Spurgeon
A good horse cannot be a bad color, and a really good preacher can wear what he likes, and none will care much about it; but though you cannot know wine by the barrel, a good appearance is a letter of recommendation even to a plowman. Wise men neither fall into love nor take a dislike at first sight, but still the first impression is always a great thing even with them; and as to those weaker brethren who are not wise, a good appearance is half the battle.What is a good appearance? Well, it's not being pompous and starchy, and making one's self high and mighty among the people, for proud looks lose hearts, and gentle words win them. It's not wearing fine clothes either, for foppish dress usually means a foul house within and the doorstep without fresh white wash. Such dressing tells the world that the outside is the best part of the puppet. When a man is proud as a peacock, all strut and show, he needs converting himself before he sets up to preach to others. The preacher who measures himself by his mirror may please a few silly girls, but neither God nor man will long put up with him. The man who owes his greatness to his tailor will find that needle and thread cannot long hold a fool in a pulpit. A gentleman should have more in his pocket than on his back, and a minister should have more in his inner man than on his outer man. I would say, if I might, to young ministers, do not preach in gloves, for cats in mittens catch no mice; don't curl and oil your hair like dandies, for nobody cares to hear a peacock's voice; don't have your own pretty self in your mind at all, or nobody else will mind you. Away with gold rings, and chains, and jewelry; why should the pulpit become a goldsmith's shop? Forever away with surplices and gowns and all those nursery doll dresses men should put away childish things. A cross on the back is the sign of a devil in the heart; those who do as Rome does should go to Rome and show heir colors. If priests suppose that they get the respect of honest men by their fine ornamental dresses, they are much mistaken, for it is commonly said, "Fine feathers make fine birds," and "An ape is never so like an ape as when he wears a Popish cape."Among us dissenters the preacher claims no priestly powers and therefore should never wear a peculiar dress. Let fools wear fools' caps and fools' dresses, but men who make no claim to be fools should not put on fools' clothes. None but a very silly sheep would wear wolfs clothing. It is a singular taste which makes honest men covet the rags of thieves. Besides, where's the good of such finery? Except a duck in pattens, no creature looks more stupid than a dissenting preacher in a gown which is of no manner of use to him. I could laugh till I held my sides when I see our doctors in gowns and bands, puffed out with their silks, and touched up with their little bibs, for they put me so much in mind of our old turkey when his temper is up, and he swells to his biggest. They must be weak folks indeed who want a man to dress like a woman before they can enjoy his sermon, and he who cannot preach without such milliner's tawdry finery may be a man among geese, but he is a goose among men. At the same time, the preacher should endeavor, according to his means, to dress himself respectably; and, as to neatness, he should be without spot, for kings should not have dirty footmen to wait at their table, and they who teach godliness should practice cleanliness. I should like white neckties better if they were always white, but dirty brown is neither here nor there. From a slovenly, smoking, snuff-taking, beer-drinking parson may the? be delivered. Some that I meet with may, perhaps, have very good manners, but they did not happen to have them about them at the time. Like the Dutch captain with his anchors, they had left them at home; this should never be the case, for, if there be a well-behaved man in the parish, it should he the minister. A worn coat is no discredit, but the poorest may be neat, and men should be scholars rather than teachers till they are so. you cannot judge a horse by its harness; but a modest, gentle-manly appearance, in which the dress is just such as nobody could make a remark upon, seems to me to be the right sort of thing.This little bit of my mind is meant to warn you young striplings who have just started in the ministry; and if any of you get cross over it, I shall tell you that sore horses cannot bear to be combed, and again "those whom the shoe flits must wear its John Ploughman, you will say, had better mend his own smock and let the parsons alone; but I take leave to look about me and speak my mind, for a cat may look at a king, and a fool may give wise men good advice. If I speak too plainly, please remember that an old dog cannot alter his way of barking, and he who has long been used to plow a straight furrow is very apt to speak in the same straightforward manner.





Thursday, July 17, 2008

Blog Death: Risen like a Phoenix

From Monday, July 14, 2008 at 12:28am

I am in morning. in a tragic accident the previous Walking with Chris blog was erased as I was deleting a few old community related blogs. I tried to contact blogger about getting it back but they never responded. I have waited but it seems like the old blog is lost with all my life posts but it allows a new chance and for change.I just wished I could get some of the posts back. It is killing me.

Wed 7/16/08 5:14 PM - Blogger sent this"

Hi there, Thanks for writing in. I was able to restore that blog to your
account, soyou should see it the next time you log in. As there is currently
anotherblog at its location, I've added a number to the end of your URL so
thatthere won't be a conflict of address. Please feel free to change your
blogaddress as desired by visiting your Settings Publishing tab. Sincerely,
Dana The Blogger Team



So we are back on schedule and will be posting on a regular basis soon.


Friday, July 11, 2008

Commited to Verse By Verse Exposition?

Ran across this and thought I would share. Enjoy.

“A famous example of verse by verse exposition is seen in his (Calvin’s) return to Geneva after his banishment three years earlier. In September 1541, Calvin re-entered his Geneva pulpit and resumed his exposition exactly where he had stopped three years earlier – on the next verse. Similarly, Calvin became seriously ill in the first week of October 1658 and did not return to the pulpit until Monday, June 12 1559 – when he resumed at the very next verse in the book of Isaiah.”


Steve Lawson, The Expository Genius of John Calvin, page 33

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Burk moves from Criswell To Southern & Boyce

Sam Hodges of the Dallas Morning News Religion blog reports that Professor Denny Burk of Criswell College has been named dean of Boyce College, an undergraduate program at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. You can find Southen's press release here.

Dr. Jerry Johnson, the current president of Criswell College said "Dr. Denny Burk is popular in the classroom and a rising biblical scholar among Southern Baptists. Southern Seminary will be blessed to have him as Dean of Boyce College. While he will be greatly missed at Criswell, we are proud that Dr. Burk joins the ranks of those who began their teaching ministry at Criswell and go on to larger fields of denominational leadership and kingdom service. This has always been part of the Criswell story and I am grateful to see it continue with Dr. Denny Burk."

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The Willowbank Declaration

The Willowbank Declaration

 

"The Gospel is the power of God for salvation, to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16)


"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved." (Romans 10:1)

THE WILLOWBANK DECLARATION ON THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE

PREAMBLE

Every Christian must acknowledge an immense debt of gratitude to the Jewish people. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus is the Christ, the long-promised Jewish Messiah, who by his life, death and resurrection saves from sin and all its consequences. Those who worship Jesus as their Divine Lord and Saviour have thus received God's most precious gift through the Jewish people. Therefore they have compelling reason to show love to that people in every possible way.
Concerned about humanity everywhere, we are resolved to uphold the right of Jewish people to a just and peaceful existence everywhere, both in the land of Israel and in their communities throughout the world. We repudiate past persecutions of Jews by those identified as Christians, and we pledge ourselves to resist every form of anti-Semitism. As the supreme way of demonstrating love, we seek to encourage the Jewish people, along with all other peoples, to receive God's gift of life through Jesus the Messiah, and accordingly the growing number of Jewish Christians brings us great joy.
In making this Declaration we stand in a long and revered Christian tradition, which in 1980 was highlighted by a landmark statement, "Christian Witness to the Jewish People," issued by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization. Now, at this Willowbank Consultation on the Gospel and the Jewish People, sponsored by the World Evangelical Fellowship and supported by the Lausanne Committee, we reaffirm our commitment to the Jewish people and our desire to share the Gospel with them.
This Declaration is made in response to growing doubts and widespread confusion among Christians about the need for, and the propriety of, endeavours to share faith in Jesus Christ with Jewish people. Several factors unite to produce the un-certain state of mind that the Declaration seeks to resolve.
The holocaust, perpetrated as it was by leaders and citizens of a supposedly Christian nation, has led to a sense in some quarters that Christian credibility among Jews has been totally destroyed. Accordingly, some have shrunk back from addressing the Jewish people with the Gospel.
Some who see the creation of the state of Israel as a direct fulfillment of biblical prophecy have concluded that the Christian task at this time is to "comfort Israel" by supporting this new political entity, rather than to challenge Jews by direct evangelism.
Some church leaders have retreated from embracing the task of evangelising Jews as a responsibility of Christian mission. Rather, a new theology is being embraced which holds that God's covenant with Israel through Abraham establishes all Jews in God's favor for all times, and so makes faith in Jesus Christ for salvation needless so far as they are concerned.
On this basis, it is argued that dialogue with Jews in order to understand each other better, and cooperation in the quest for socio-economic shalom, is all that Christian mission requires in relation to the Jewish people. Continued attempts to do what the Church has done from the first, in seeking to win Jews to Jesus as Messiah, are widely opposed and decried, by Christian as well as Jewish leaders.
Attempts to bring Jews to faith in Jesus are frequently denounced as proselytizing. This term is often used to imply dishonest and coercive modes of inducement, appeal to unworthy motives, and disregard of the question of truth even though it is truth that is being disseminated.
In recent years, "messianic" Jewish believers in Jesus, who as Christians celebrate and maximize their Jewish identity, have emerged as active evangelists to the Jewish community. Jewish leaders often accused them of deception on the grounds that one cannot be both a Jew and a Christian. While these criticisms may reflect Judaism's current effort to define itself as a distinct religion in opposition to Christianity, they have led to much bewilderment and some misunderstanding and mistrust.
The Declaration responds to this complex situation and seeks to set directions for the future according to the Scriptures.

I. THE DEMAND OF THE GOSPEL

ARTICLE I.1.
WE AFFIRM THAT the redeeming love of God has been fully and finally re-vealed in Jesus Christ.
WE DENY THAT those without faith in Christ know the full reality of God's love and of the gift that he gives.
ARTICLE I.2.
WE AFFIRM THAT the God-given types, prophecies and visions of salvation and shalom in the Hebrew Scriptures find their present and future fulfillment in and through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who by incarnation became a Jew and was shown to be the Son of God and Messiah by his resurrection.
WE DENY THAT it is right to look for a Messiah who has not yet appeared in world history.
ARTICLE I.3.
WE AFFIRM THAT Jesus Christ is the second person of the one God, who became a man, lived a perfect life, shed his blood on the cross as an aton-ing sacrifice for human sins, rose bodily from the dead, now reigns as Lord, and will return visibly to this earth, all to fulfill the purpose of bringing sinners to share eternally in his fellowship and glory.
WE DENY THAT those who think of Jesus Christ in lesser terms than these have faith in him in any adequate sense.
ARTICLE I.4.
WE AFFIRM THAT all human beings are sinful by nature and practice, and stand condemned, helpless and hopeless, before God, until the grace of Christ touches their lives and brings them to God's pardon and peace.
WE DENY THAT any Jew or Gentile finds true peace with God through performing works of law.
ARTICLE I.5. WE AFFIRM THAT God's forgiveness of the penitent rests on the satisfac-tion rendered to his justice by the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
WE DENY THAT any person can enjoy God's favor apart from the mediation of Jesus Christ, the sin-bearer.
ARTICLE I.6.
WE AFFIRM THAT those who turn to Jesus Christ find him to be a sufficient Saviour and Deliverer from all the evil of sin: from its guilt, shame, power, and perversity; from blind defiance of God, debasement of moral character, and the dehumanising and destructive self-assertion that sin breeds.
WE DENY THAT the salvation found in Christ may be supplemented in any way.
ARTICLE I.7.
WE AFFIRM THAT faith in Jesus Christ is humanity's only way to come to know the Creator as Father, according to Christ's own Word: "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
WE DENY THAT any non-Christian faith, as such, will mediate eternal life with God.

II. THE CHURCH OF JEWS AND GENTILES

ARTICLE II.8.
WE AFFIRM THAT through the mediation of Jesus Christ, God has made a new covenant with Jewish and Gentile believers, pardoning their sins, writing his law on their hearts by his Spirit, so that they obey him, giving the Holy Spirit to indwell them, and bringing each one to know him by faith in a relationship of trustful gratitude for salvation. WE DENY THAT the blessings of the New Covenant belong to any except believers in Jesus Christ.
ARTICLE II.9.
WE AFFIRM THAT the profession of continuing Jewish identity, for which Hebrew Christians have in the past suffered at the hands of both their fellow-Jews and Gentile church leaders, was consistent with the Christian Scriptures and with the nature of the church as one body in Jesus Christ in which Jews and non-Jews are united.
WE DENY THAT it is necessary for Jewish Christians to repudiate their Jewish heritage.
ARTICLE II.10.
WE AFFIRM THAT Gentile believers, who at present constitute the great bulk of the Christian church, are included in the historically continuous community of believing people on earth which Paul pictures as God's olive tree (Romans 11:13-24).
WE DENY THAT Christian faith is necessarily non-Jewish, and that Gentiles who believe in Christ may ignore their solidarity with believing Jews, or for-mulate their new identity in Christ without reference to Jewishness, or decline to receive the Hebrew Scriptures as part of their own instruction from God, or refuse to see themselves as having their roots in Jewish history.
ARTICLE II.11.
WE AFFIRM THAT Jewish people who come to faith in Messiah have liberty before God to observe or not observe traditional Jewish customs and cere-monies that are consistent with the Christian Scriptures and do not hinder fel-lowship with the rest of the Body of Christ.
WE DENY THAT any inconsistency or deception is involved by Jewish Christians representing themselves as "Messianic" or "completed" or "ful-filled" Jews.

III. GOD'S PLAN FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE

ARTICLE III.12.
WE AFFIRM THAT Jewish people have an ongoing part in God's plan.
WE DENY THAT indifference to the future of the Jewish people on the part of Christians can ever be justified.
ARTICLE III.13.
WE AFFIRM THAT prior to the coming of Christ it was Israel's unique privilege to enjoy a corporate covenantal relationship with God, following upon the national redemption from slavery, and involving God's gift of the law and of a theocratic culture; God's promise of blessing to faithful obedience; and God's provision of atonement for transgression.
WE AFFIRM THAT within this covenant relationship, God's pardon and acceptance of the penitent which was linked to the offering of prescribed sacrifices rested upon the fore-ordained sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
WE DENY THAT covenantal privilege alone can ever bring salvation to impenitent unbelievers.
ARTICLE III.14.
WE AFFIRM THAT much of Judaism, in its various forms, throughout contemporary Israel and today's Diaspora, is a development out of, rather than as an authentic embodiment of, the faith, Iove and hope, that the Hebrew Scriptures teach.
WE DENY THAT modern Judaism with its explicit negation of the divine person, work, and Messiah-ship of Jesus Christ contains within itself true knowledge of God's salvation.
ARTICLE III.15.
WE AFFIRM THAT the biblical hope for Jewish people centers on their being restored through faith in Christ to their proper place as branches of God's olive tree from which they are at present broken off.
WE DENY THAT the historical status of the Jews as God's people brings salvation to any Jew who does not accept the claims of Jesus Christ.
ARTICLE III.16.
WE AFFIRM THAT the Bible promises that large numbers of Jews will turn to Christ through God's sovereign grace.
WE DENY THAT this prospect renders needless the active proclamation of the gospel to Jewish people in this and every age.
ARTICLE III.17.
WE AFFIRM THAT anti-Semitism on the part of professed Christians has al-ways been wicked and shameful and that the church has in the past been much to blame for tolerating and encouraging it and for condoning anti-Jewish actions on the part of individuals and governments.
WE DENY THAT these past failures, for which offending Gentile believers must ask forgiveness from both God and the Jewish community, rob Christians of the right or lessen their responsibility to share the Gospel with Jews today and for the future.
ARTICLE III.18.
WE AFFIRM THAT it was the sins of the whole human race that sent Christ to the cross.
WE DENY THAT it is right to single out the Jewish people for putting Jesus to death.

IV. EVANGELISM AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE

ARTICLE IV.19.
WE AFFIRM THAT sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with lost humanity is a matter of prime obligation for Christian people, both because the Messiah commands the making of disciples and because love of neighbor re-quires effort to meet our neighbor's deepest need.
WE DENY THAT any other form of witness and service to others can excuse Christians from laboring to bring them to faith in Christ.
ARTICLE IV.2O.
WE AFFIRM THAT the church's obligation to share saving knowledge of Christ with the whole human race includes the evangelising of Jewish people as a priority: "To the Jew first" (Romans 1:16).
WE DENY THAT dialogue with Jewish people that aims at nothing more than mutual understanding constitutes fulfillment of this obligation.
ARTICLE IV.21.
WE AFFIRM THAT the concern to point Jewish people to faith in Jesus Christ which the Christian church has historically felt and shown was right.
WE DENY THAT there is any truth in the widespread notion that evangelising Jews is need!ess because they are a!ready in covenant with God through Abraham and Moses and so are already saved despite their rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
ARTICLE IV.22.
WE AFFIRM THAT all endeavours to persuade others to become Christians should express love to them by respecting their dignity and integrity at every point, including parents' responsibility in the case of their children.
WE DENY THAT coercive or deceptive proselytising, which violates dignity and integrity on both sides, can ever be justified.
ARTICLE IV.23.
WE AFFIRM THAT it is unchristian, unloving, and discriminatory, to propose a moratorium on the evangelising of any part of the human race, and that failure to preach the gospel to the Jewish people would be a form of anti-Semitism, depriving this particular community of its right to hear the gospel.
WE DENY THAT we have sufficient warrant to assume or anticipate the salvation of anyone, who is not a believer in Jesus Christ.
ARTICLE IV.24.
WE AFFIRM THAT the existence of separate churchly organisations for evangelising Jews, as for evangelising any other particular human group, can be justified pragmatically, as an appropriate means of fulfilling the church's mandate to take the Gospel to the whole human race.
WE DENY THAT the depth of human spiritual need varies from group to group so that Jewish people may be thought to need Christ either more or less than others.

V. JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS

ARTICLE V.25.
WE AFFIRM THAT dialogue with other faiths that seeks to transcend stereo-types of them based on ignorance, and to find common ground and to share common concerns, is an expression of Christian love that should be encouraged.
WE DENY THAT dialogue that explains the Christian faith without seeking to persuade the dialogue partners of its truth and claims is a sufficient expres-sion of Christian love.
ARTICLE V.26.
WE AFFIRM THAT for Christians and non-Christian Jews to make common cause in social witness and action, contending together for freedom of speech and religion, the value of the individual, and the moral standards of God's law is right and good.
WE DENY THAT such limited cooperation involves any compromise of the distinctive views of either community or imposes any restraint upon Chris-tians in seeking to share the Gospel with the Jews with whom they cooperate.
ARTICLE V.27.
WE AFFIRM THAT the Jewish quest for a homeland with secure borders and a just peace has our support.
WE DENY THAT any biblical link between the Jewish people and the land of Israel justifies actions that contradict biblical ethics and constitute oppression of people-groups or individuals.
SPONSOR: WORLD EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
1, Sophia Road #07-09
Peace Centre
SINGAPORE 0922
WEF North American Headquarters
P. O. Box WEF
Wheaton, IL
60189
This Declaration was developed and adopted on April 29, 1989 by all those present at the Consultation on the Gospel and the Jewish People after several days of lntense consultation, undergirded by prayer. Together the participants commend this document to the churches with a call to prayerfully consider and act upon these very serious matters as touching the Christian Gospel and the Jewish People.
Dr. Vernon Grounds (Chairman) U.S.A.; Dr.Tokunboh Adeyemo, KENYA; Dr. Henri Blocher, FRANCE; Dr. Tormod Engelsvlken, NORWAY; Dr. Arthur Glasser, U.S.A.; Dr. Robert Godfrey, U.S.A.; Mrs. Gretchen Gaebelein Hull, U.S.A.; Dr. Kenneth Kantzer, U.S.A.; Rev. Ole Chr. Kvarme, NORWAY; Dr. David Lim, PHILLIPINES; Rev. Murdo MacLeod, ENGLAND; Dr. J. I. Packer, CANADA; Dr. Bong Ro R.O.C.; Dr. Sunand Sumithra, INDIA; Dr. David Wells, U.S.A.; Tuvya Zaretsky, U.S.A.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The Gospel and the Jewish People - An Evangelical Statement

Mar 28, 2008 http://www.worldevangelicals.org/news/view.htm?id=1732

As evangelical Christians, we want to express our genuine friendship and love for the Jewish people. We sadly acknowledge that church history has been marred with anti-Semitic words and deeds; and that at times when the Jewish people were in great peril, the church did far less than it should have.• We pledge our commitment to be loving friends and to stand against such injustice in our generation. At the same time, we want to be transparent in affirming that we believe the most loving and Scriptural expression of our friendship toward Jewish people, and to anyone we call friend, is to forthrightly share the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ.• We believe that it is only through Jesus that all people can receive eternal life. If Jesus is not the Messiah of the Jewish people, He cannot be the Savior of theWorld (Acts 4:12).• We recognize that it is good and right for those with specialized knowledge, history and skills to use these gifts to introduce individuals to the Messiah, and that includes those ministries specifically directed to the Jewish people (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).• We deplore the use of deception or coercion in evangelism; however, we reject the notion that it is deceptive for followers of Jesus Christ who were born Jewish to continue to identify as Jews (Romans 11:1). We want to make it clear that, as evangelical Christians, we do not wish to offend our Jewish friends by the above statements; but we are compelled by our faith and commitment to the Scriptures to stand by these principles. It is out of our profound respect for Jewish people that we seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them, and encourage others to do the same, for we believe that salvation is only found in Jesus, the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the World.

Rev. Dr. Lon Allison—Director, Billy Graham Center, Wheaton College
Dr. Mark Bailey—President, Dallas Theological Seminary
Joel Belz—Founder, World Magazine
Richard Bewes—OBE, former Rector, All Souls Church, Langham Place, London
Lyndon Bowring—Executive Chairman, CARE
Doug Birdsall—Executive Chair, Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization
Dr. D. A. Carson—Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Dr. Paul Cedar—Chairman, Mission America Coalition
Dr. Yonggi Cho—Senior Pastor, Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul, Korea
Chuck Colson—Founder, Prison Fellowship
Dr. Jim Congdon—Senior Pastor, Topeka Bible Church
Dr. Hélène Dallaire–Associate Professor of Old Testament,
Denver Seminary, Denver
David Evans—Bishop, Church of England
Mark Greene—Executive Director, London Institute of Contemporary Christianity
Dr. Vernon C. Grounds–Chancellor, Denver Seminary, Denver
Stan Guthrie—Managing Editor, Special Projects, Christianity Today
Dr. David Harley—former General Director, OMF International
Dr. Harold Hoehner—Distinguished Professor of New
Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary
Dr. Jim Holm—President, Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary
Dr. Kenneth Hutcherson—Senior Pastor, Antioch Bible Church
Canon J. John—Director, Philo Trust
Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.—President Emeritus, Colman M.
Mockler Distinguished Professor of Old Testament,
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Joe Kapolyo—Minister, Edmonton Baptist Church
Dr. R. T. Kendall—President, R. T. Kendall Ministries
Dr. Jerry B. Jenkins—Owner, Christian Writers Guild
Prof. A. N. S. Lane—London Bible College
Rev. Dr. John-Paul Lotz—Lecturer in Church History, London School of Theology
Steve Moore—President & CEO, The Mission Exchange (formerly EFMA)
Rev. Dr. Steve Motyer—Lecturer, London School of Theology
Dr. Marv Newell—Executive Director, Cross Global Link (formerly IFMA)
Luis Palau, Evangelist and Author
Hugh Palmer—Rector, All Souls Church, London
Janet Parshall–Nationally Syndicated Radio Host
The Honorable Tony Perkins–President, Family
Research Council
Dr. Raymond Pfister—Principal, Birmingham Christian
College, Birmingham, England
John Piper–Pastor for Preaching and Vision, BethlehemDr. Carson Pue, President, Arrow Leadership, Vancouver BC Dr. Phil Roberts—President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Dr. Haddon Robinson—President, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
John H. Rodgers, Th.D.—Bishop in the Anglican Mission in America
Russell Rook—Director, ALOVE, Salvation Army
John Seawright—Minister, Abbey Presbyterian Church, Monkstown, Ireland
Gordon Showell-Rogers—General Secretary, European Evangelical Alliance
Dr. Lon Solomon—Pastor, McLean Bible Church, McLean, VA
Dr. Joseph M. Stowell—President Cornerstone University
Stephen Strang—Publisher, Charisma Magazine
Matt Summerfield—Executive Director, Urban Saints
Dr. Vinson Synan—Dean Emeritus of Regent University
Dr. Geoff Tunnecliffe—International Director,World Evangelical Alliance
Clive Urquhart—Director, Kingdom Faith Ministries, Horsham, England
Phil S. Walker—Pastor, Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Madison, MS
Mike Wall—Executive Director All Nations Christian College, Ware, England
Mark Weeden—Pastor,Worthing Tabernacle
Chris Williams—Pastor, London Community Church

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Answers to Objections ____ Romans 3:1-8



· This very morning millions of Americans will wake up and run wrap their Sunday paper. Many will turn to the headlines while others will get the chuckles from the funnies. A hand full will diligently read the sports pages and a brave few will look at the real estate wondering about the current state of the housing market. Many whether they admit it or know will seek advice and wisdom in the dailies. Some will try their luck wit the Horoscopes. Others will be a little more grounded and look at the columns of Ann Landers or some kind of Dear Abby styled help column in search of guidance in dealing with and awkward situation.
· That is what we see when we look at the beginning of the third chapter of Romans. Paul has been written by a group of Christians he has never met, but they seek the Apostle’s wisdom and the Lord’s direction as they have some life situations that have manifested.
· Instead of asking how they should break up with their boyfriend, the best way to get a stain out of a favorite blouse or the proper etiquette for awkward situation they seek Paul for spiritual counsel about how to address the objects to Christianity that some raise.
· This must have been an uncomfortable situation for this young by fast growing metropolitan church. Yet we see that they must have put pride aside as they wrote openly to a man they had never met to discover how to reach those they had formed relationships with. Paul presents for use a very simple question and answer session that will help strengthen our faith and answer questions that we might be asked.

Romans 3:1-2 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
· The questions at hand for Paul were “Why should I, a Gentile, here in Rome want to convert to Judaism to be a part of this new Jewish religion? What does following the weird custom of cutting my body do for me spiritually?”
· These were valid questions. Even if these objections were from people who really were going to be spiritually rebellious no matter what the answer, these questions were ones that were going to come up over and over and were going to have to be addressed.
· Paul’s response is not to tell them in some Nike slogan way to “Just do it!” Not at all. Instead he tells them that there is a laundry list of reasons why one would want to be part of a group who are faithful to God.
· Please notice though that he never endorses the Judaic faith as the way to go but instead only informs the reading audience that there are many great things about the chosen people of Israel. Paul tells us and the 55 A.D. readership that they are a special people because God has put them in charge of writing down and caring for God's revelation, the Holy Scriptures.

Romans 3:3-4 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: "That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged."

· In this Q&A Paul is presented with a question that seems a bit disconnected from the last but if we realize that this is still dealing with the Jewish and Greek populations it will make sense.
· If a veteran solider with many years of combat experience and many campaign ribbons sudden went a.w.o.l, that is absent with out official leave, would this mean that his military employer would desert him too. If this solid solider sudden abandon his post does that mean the army and his nation would abandon him in the same fashion. Not at all. The solider would still be considered active, His branch of service would still search him out and bring him back, but e would have to deal with the consequences of disobedience and his failure to remain firm and steadfast a wartime.
· This is the same for us or any one of Judaism. If we fail to be faithful to God, it does not meant that God will in return refuse to be faithful to His person in the promises He made to us. Jehovah God will gloriously continue to faithful to us when we turn and run when there are difficult times.
· Our unbelief does not render God null and void. It only enhances the tender and devoted care of God more as we see that He is never fleeting even were the stare at His wonders and lie to ourselves and say he does not exist. That He is not real or that He does not care. That God is either a psychological crutch of a deeply disturbed person or nothing more than the absentee landlord of our hearts who does not get involved in the day to day triflings of our lives. While this is enough to make a lover flee and it is quite frightening to think what if God left us, we can find even greater comfort in the truth of Hebrews 6:19, that the anchor of our soul is sure and steadfast.
· The faltering faith of Israel does not change the immutable position of God that he has called and elected His people to salvation. In fact we will find later in the 11th chapter of Romans that God’s faithfulness to His chosen people will result thin those who believe being grafted back in to the Family Tree of Yahweh.
· Let us look another objection that was raised back in the city of Rome. The Question presented seems to be one presented by the Whitehouse press corp. as it is one question with two parts. Maybe it was just posed by a double talking politician.

Romans 3:5-8 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come"?--as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
· I think that Grigori Rasputin the Russian priest and mystic sent this one in. You see Rasputin had this idea that justified his sins and sent a huge wave of people in to a devious lifestyle of a variety of immoral or evil practices. The “Mad Monk”, as he was known to promote sin as away to add to God’s glory and mercy. The mystical healer taught that the more we sin the more the red rich coopery blood of Jesus is worth, so we owe it to God as good steward of salvation to live life to it’s fullest enjoying all that can he had - wine, women, wealth, what have you. Rape, Robber, rudeness, resentment, all recommended.
· This is the same concept that is being presented to the Apostle Paul. The question that has come up is that “if our wrong doing only underlines and confirms God's right doing, shouldn't we be commended for helping out? Since our bad words don't even make a dent in his good words, isn't it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word?”
· Wow what Gaul to ask a man who humble claims the title of Chief of all Sinners this. Can you hear this on a radio call in show, “Hi, Paul, yeah, I am a first time caller but a long time listener. Oh and a Big fan. I have your first book and going to buy your second. Anyway, It seems to me that if I sin, more doesn’t God get more glory for being more gracious and more merciful. That only means that I should try harder to sin make God look better right? The way I see it, God can’t judge me or punish me if I do all of this for Him. Right? Can I say hi to my mom and give a shout out to my boys at the factory?”
· Can you imagine what would take place over the air waves? I think you could hear a great, deep, slow cleansing breath that would almost have an underling growl like a Doberman as Paul sets forth to defend the Gospel and unleash Truth of Christ.
· Paul would declare war and began to unload the artillery of the Gospel like the intelligent masterful five star general of the Lord’s army that he is. Don’t foe a minute think that Paul was have just been a Jesus bully, nothing more that a pugilist with a Holy Spirit Haymaker. No, Paul would have intently listened to statements like, “If my lies serve to show off God's truth all the more gloriously, why blame me? I'm doing God a favor." And with the skill of Patton and McArthur, he would have planned his points of attack and arranged his conversation to keep from being flanked by miscellaneous information and useless arguments.
· While these objections can seem to be cage rattling at the very least, any of us felt this way the first time we drove a car. With sweaty palms we pushed in the clutch, check the mirrors, grindingly changed gears, looked back at the rear view mirror and now the speedometer and over at an anxiety ridden parent.
· We feel the same way when we first start to deal with questions from people. We get that same ball in the pit of our stomach and the beads of swear began to form on our brow. This why Paul is answering he hard questions directs young Timothy and us in 2nd Timothy 2:15 to “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
· So what hard Questions are you dealing with and how will you over come them. How will you teach others? How will you cure your own doubts?

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Free Sermon Organization

Many years ago when I entered in to ministry I found a really cool freeware or shareware program called Bible Key by Paul Apple. It was a great program for keeping filing sermons, keeping track of when and where preached, where you got sermon material from, and file away various illustrations. It did lots of other stuff to like help you file it with regard to topic, scripture, was it part of series as well as there were a couple of huge data bases full of other preachers sermons that could be used for your own inspiration, devotion or aid in your own sermon prep. Well, Bro. Apple who still pastors and is still out there is no longer keeping up this program and with each update or new version of windows, the code apparently becomes more antiquated and functions less with Ms Windows. The last time I tried to install it, well it was a no go if you know what I mean. I really like that program and never found another one that I liked (although I am open to suggestions). I looked for a while but nothing manifested that seemed to equal Bible Key or it is was way out of my price range at the time. Actually, even the high dollar ones seemed to do less than the freebie.

Well, for years I just wrote sermon notes or outlines on paper. Or Post-its. Or napkins. In Notebooks. Occasionally I typed on up and saved it, but I did not always have a working computer. Sometimes good ole PC would die and you are still left with nothing. I decided awhile back that if I was going to invest the time God gives me and use the resources He allows me to obtain or borrow for His sermons, then I needed to be a better steward of what He shows me and what He gives me. This was born my lo-fi, low-tech, low-budget sermon management system.

I created a new folder under My Documents and named it My Sermons.














Then I opened up My Sermons and created another new folder and named this one John as that was the book that I was preaching though. Simple but effective

All went fine as I typed up some sermon notes until I went to save the sermon by the sermon text instead of the title (I chose to use the text since the Bible never changes by the approach to a sermon or the title may). My problem stemmed from not being able to use a colon- “:” in that sermon text. Nope, John 3:16 could not be the name. Well instead of throwing out the system that I (under the power of God) devised, I decided to use the semi-colon- “;”. Not as accurate, but John 3;16 will save to the hard drive and so will Genesis 1;1 – Revelation 22;21. Problem solved and crisis adverted. At first I placed each chapter in its own folder. This might cause some people problems down the road as complete thoughts are sometimes cut into by chapter or verse division. So if you started in Roman 1:17 and ended with oh, Romans 2:7 then you might not see that you have addressed part of the text when you go back. This is part of the reason I just save all sermons by text name in the same Book folder and allow the natural sorting by name and number take effect and do the work for me. The other reason is I hated to even to a simple right click and make another folder because then I have to keep clicking into more folders. My Documents>My Sermons>Bible Book is enough for me. I have also used alphabetic letters at the end of a name when I was working a Scripture from two angles to keep from saving one on the other. Kind of like “John 3;16a” or “John 3;16b” or for notes on a text that are not the actually sermon I would do “John3:16 notes” Sub outline for notes and you get an outline and not a manuscript although I don’t ever do a word for word manuscript. Actually what I do in prep is more to work out the text and the thoughts. I have to do this to drag the out of my head so that I can formulate them to make sense for the public.

I also have some sermons in files for special occasion, by series, a few by topic, or ones that were part of a event (like from a Disciple Now weekend), Sunday evening teaching, prayers, sermon ideas, sermons from others. I also will on occasion store a bibliography of books used freo prep in the folder of a Bible book for future reference anf anything else that I think that I might need for the furutre. For me this keeps everything from jumbling all togather and gives me a simple way of keeping everything separate and neatly tucked away for further use or review. Oh, and the best part is that it is on the cheap.

I hope this helps you and believe that just about any operating system and word processer can do this.
If you care I have picked back up preaching in Romans so if you need some sermon fodder let me know an I'll send you what I have. And if you have any suggestion on how to make this better (or criticisim - but beware I am a pretty big guy - haha) let me know. Maybe you found the perfect program that iI need and it does better job