Does a man have free will over his soul?

Freewill Advocates often argue that if one is able to choose God, then one is able to resist God. They state that here are both done by one's choice, their merit, their own will and thus one can lose their salvation. I conversely ask if a man has the ability to commit murder and succeeds at murdering an individual, does that mean they have the ability to bring the murdered victim back for the grave? The answer is no. Like wise man then is not able to save his soul or lose it either.

Worship: Then sings my soul #Part 1

Worship. What is worship? Since that seems to be the basis of our creation and the goal of our lives it would seem that we would be easily able to define this, but is it is not. Worship as defined by Millard J. Erickson is

"offering of homage, honor, and praise to God."

Warren Wiersbe writes in his book Real Worship, "Worship is the believer’s response of all that they are - mind, emotions, will, body - to what God is and says and does."

In For the Glory of God: A Biblical Theology of Worship, Dr. Dan Block defines true worship as "reverential human acts of submission and homage before the divine Sovereign, in response to his gracious revelation of himself, and in accordance with his will." That is a powerful definition.

Adam Smith of Lost and Found turned me on to the ord english word for worship, “weorthscipe.” It is defined as "what we assign worth to" or "to assign worth to."Both of these definition, one a simplified version ofthe othrs.

Yet, we still don't understand worship and its aim even though this is something we should have learned early on in life or our walk with Christ. In most Baptist (including C.H. Spurgeons) or Puritan Catechisms will have such questions as these to instruct children and new believers:

1. Q. What is the chief end of man?

   A. Man's chief end is to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31), and to enjoy him for ever (Ps. 73:25-26).

2. Q. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify him?

   A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (Eph. 2:20; 2 Tim. 3:16) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy him (1 Jn. 1:3)

Yet, many of the hymnals used by Churches (especially in the Rural South) seem to have a different focus in worship. While it is true that their are songs that have a proper Biblical, Christocentric tone with their trajectory aimed at exalting our Sovereign King Lord, many seem to be more horizontal in aim. Some lack any aim, direction, reference to or shadow of Jehovah, Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Their references to any of the persons of the Trinity seem to be more in a role os submissive to man as the role of God the Blesser is not the Biblical Supreme Lord of Hosts who our of His great benevolence and amazing love, but more like a loving dog licking the palms of his human master. God is seen as one who make us happy and His role is to bless us as a way of serving up. This is a departure from both orthodox theology and historic worship. This leaves believers soaking up improper views of Yahweh and Worship. The generalization is that "worship" is about me and and should make me feel good. This has lead to a great many public worship services become trite with personal favorite hymns lacking with authentic worship but loved for their melody or toe tapping beat. Style is not the issue but the drivel that is peddled that we sing from the hymnal or screen.

As you can tell I feel very strongly about this subject. I have had many a worship opportunities stunted by low theology. Occasions in which I should have been singing unto our Lord I was asked to sing about what the Lord does for me like He was my waitress bringing more napkins. This has led to many frustrated moments, log discussion, and silence on my part during the song service. I have not always been able to sum up my views, but the Lord has graciously shown me in recent day more about this. In a recent worship service a lady from our congregation sang How Great Thou At, and suddenly it was all summed up.

I would describe my personal and pastoral Theology of Worship with one line from Carl Boberg's poem turned hymn, How Great Thou At." Boberg penned the timeless line, "Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee." This line summed up how I see and understand Biblical worship. We sing up from deep down with in ourselves, to God with adoration, testifying of His glorious worth.

I have more to say but for now I will leave you with the lyrics of this famous hymn.

• Verse 1:

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works Thy hands have made.

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee;

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee:

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

• Verse 2:

When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

(Repeat Refrain.)

• Verse 3:

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin:

(Repeat Refrain.)

• Verse 4:

When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration,

And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

(Repeat Refrain.)

The Holy Spirit and His Correlation to Baptism

John the Baptist baptized with a baptism of repentance, but unlike John's baptism, new converts in Acts received the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. These believers experienced repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit, but this was manifested in three different ways according the the Holy Writ.

• The Spirit can come in conjunction with baptism - Acts 2:38
• The Spirit can come after baptism - Acts 8:16
• The Spirit can come before baptism - Acts 10:47

Six Papers on Christian Counseling and Psychology

Soul Origins: How do the Creationist and Traducianist perspectives hold-up to current trends in developmental psychology?

Is Psychology Americas "Other Religion"?

Running head: Is Psychology an "Other Religion"?

Complementary & Alternative Medicine: Practical & Spiritual Considerations

Biblical Theology of Chronic Illness: Why do sick people cling to the Bible?

Does Christian Counseling Promote Privatized Religion?

from your freinds at Reclaiming the Mind Ministries

10 Things God Can't Do

God can't get tired.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.
—Isaiah 40:28


God can't take on a job he can't handle.
Ah, Lord God! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you.
—Jeremiah 32:17


God can't be unholy.
And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"
—Isaiah 6:3


God can't be prejudiced.
In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him.
—Acts 10:34-35


God can't break a promise.
My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of my lips.
—Psalm 89:34


God can't remember sins he's chosen to forget.
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
—Isaiah 43:25


God can't make a loser.
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.
—2 Corinthians 2:14


God can't abandon you.
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, he is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
—Deuteronomy 31:6


God can't stop thinking about you.
How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with you.
—Psalm 139:17-18


God can't stop loving you.
Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
—Jeremiah 31:3


Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.
June/July 2002, Vol. 61, No. 3, Page 24

worse than a paper cut

This is a reprint so to speak. But I think Elrod, Lead Pastor of Compass Point Church, tackles a subject that not many are wanting to even say exists or ever has to take place. So I have presented it here for your edification.



Breaking Fellowship
By Chris Elrod on Leadership

This week I had to do something I rarely do…something that always causes me great pain…something that is a necessary evil of church leadership. I had to cut someone out of my life. The fantasy world of their mind was a stark contrast to the reality of their actions. After three years of being blamed for all their failures and everything that had gone wrong in their life…enough was enough…it was time break fellowship.

I can count on one hand the times I have broken fellowship with someone. It is never an easy thing to do and it always causes you to take a hard look at your own life. However, the reality of leadership is that breaking fellowship has to happen on occasion. There will be those that get mad…get offended…wear their heart on their sleeve…look for the negatives in life…or just can’t face the fact they are to blame for their misfortune. Instead of handling things in a Scripturally mature manner or moving on…they stay and make problems. Negative correspondence, a constant barrage of verbal attacks, a desire to cause division, endless unproductive “meetings”, public displays of anger and other things that can just completely drain your energy. It can come in the form of church members, others pastors, friends, family or staff members. Whatever the case it will cause sleepless nights, great frustration, abuse of your calling and many wasted hours that could have been better spent actually making a difference for cause of Christ. Go the “extra mile”…but don’t hesitate to break fellowship when the distraction from evangelistic ministry becomes too great.

Over the last 20 years of ministry I have discovered several things about the need and process of breaking fellowship:

1. Some people can’t be reasoned with. No matter how talented a pastor, leader or counselor your are…there are some people that can’t be reasoned with. Some have too much baggage, live to be offended, are only content when they are angry at someone and some are simply not emotionally unstable. Try your best to reason with them…but know when to walk away.

2 . Cancer always destroys. You can do two things with cancer…cure it…or cut it out. Cancer grows and destroys with an alarming rate. Some people are just cancer…spreading negativity and destruction throughout your church, ministry or life with lightening quick results. Try to cure it…but if that fails…move quickly to cut it out!!!

3. Always run to the conflict. It is too easy to hide from areas of trouble…especially with people…and think that it will go away naturally. Like the warning light on a car…it will not go away until the problem is fixed. Yes, there is prayer…yes, there is love…but there is also you…the leader that God put into place to protect the flock. You never want to hurt the sheep…but never hesitate to confront the wolves.

4. Strive for restoration. Some people just need a swift kick in the butt when it comes to their attitude and behavior. Don’t break fellowship until you have confronted…and offered a structured plan for restoration. Forgiveness and restoration are two separate things. Forgiveness is immediate…but the trust that comes with restoration takes time…many years…much submission…and incredible oversight.

5. Make the break clean. As harsh as this sounds…if the time comes to break fellowship…make the break clean. Leave no bridge in place for the person to return. There will be other churches, pastors or leaders that God will use in their life…but your time is done. Forgiveness is a Biblical mandate…but it does not mean that the person needs to be allowed back into the fellowship to cause problems again. If restoration and submission is refused…make the break quick…clean…and complete.

6. Don’t let it become baggage. If you don’t want to be attacked…don’t lead. However, when the attacks become too much to bear…and breaking fellowship becomes a necessity…don’t let it become baggage for you. Not every case is the same…don’t judge someone today over something someone else did in the past. Yes, you will hurt. Yes, you will have moments of regret. Yes, you will not feel total resolve in the matter. However, move on…know that tomorrow is a new day…and follow God without fear or reservation.

a must see

http://saidatsouthern.com/video-wayne-grudem-go-grease-lightning-spoof/

feel free to sing along

Abraham Kuyper famously said, "Oh, no single piece of our mental world is to be hermetically sealed off from the rest, and there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: 'Mine!'"

Oprah-Ization of American Christianity

Commenting on recent findings, LifeWay Research’s Ed Stetzer said, “We found a real openness to hearing about matters of faith, but the study also clearly documents what I call the Oprah-ization of American Christianity. It’s very much a generic ‘big guy in the sky’ view of God and a ‘you believe what you believe, I believe what I believe’ viewpoint on theology. People say, ‘Who am I to judge?’” BP News 1/9/08

round 'm up

Tomorrow I am traveling to Rusk, TX to attend a Cowboy Church planting conference. I had planned to take one of the young men from my Sunday School class with me but he is vomiting. I know what you are thinking, "Chris, what are you doing going to a Cowboy Church planting conference?" My thoughts are the same. Yet, still i trek of to see, to learn, to understand and to come back and be a better pastor to the flock that i have the privilege of shepherding.

To counter balance this, i will be going to the Acts 29 Spiritual Formations conference At the Village in Highland Park on Tuesday. From one extreme to the other.