Those humanistic naysayers are at it again.

Today I read a Facebook posting that reminded those who follow Kevin DeYoung’s blog that his blog address had moved. He is now under the Gospel Coalition domain. Anyway, as I went to check out the new location I read his latest addition to the blog. The article is about a reincarnation of failed theories by Thomas Malthus resurfacing under the British group Optimum Population Trust or OPT. They are concerned about the effects of overpopulation of planet earth. It is great stuff when he refers to the biblical mandate that man is created in the image of God and “have an incredible knack for creating”. Man doesn’t just create problems on the earth he also solves them. I don’t want to rehash what DeYoung does quite well in his article, so you should go to the link here and read it for yourself.

What Women Really Want? A biblical perspective.

In the process of trying to catch up on the audio from one of my favorite call in talk shows, The Albert Mohler Program, I came across a very interesting program from Friday September 25th this past week. In the program he commented and took calls about a recent article by columnist Maureen Dowd, a self-described feminist, in the New York Times. The title of the article was “Blue Is the New Black“. In the article Dowd points to some interesting data. She points to a survey by the General Social Survey, which has been tracking the mood of Americans since 1972, that indicates women have progressively been getting gloomier while men are getting happier. While the article doesn’t really come to any resolution for the funk women seem to be in, it does bring up some great observations. According to Dr. Mohler the article raises some questions that we should have an intellegent Christian conversation about. I agree.

One of Dowd’s observations is this:

When women stepped into male- dominated realms, they put more demands — and stress — on themselves. If they once judged themselves on looks, kids, hubbies, gardens and dinner parties, now they judge themselves on looks, kids, hubbies, gardens, dinner parties — and grad school, work, office deadlines and meshing a two-career marriage.

What this observation does is walk around a self-centeredness that is very common in our society today. Of course we know from a biblical world view the bottom factor is sinful pride, which has it’s affect on all of mankind. Aside from that, after three decades beyond the feminist revolution that promised women fulfillment, what have we really learned? What do women want, and why? What should make a woman happy or satisfied?

Dr. Mohler’s radio show is a call in show and many of his callers on this subject were women. Most of them commented about working towards a career early in their life and not finding real fulfillment until they quit the professional workplace and stayed at home to focus on the family and the home. One caller expressed when women are more driven toward a professional career they are going against what they were created for. I’m far from being an expert on women, but I have spoken with many who are godly and they all mention Proverbs 31 as a great biblical example of what a woman should want. Ultimately, as Dr. Mohler points out, the best response to the question is the gospel.

This is a great discussion that is of great importance and significance. I would encourage you to listen to the program, found at the link above and referenced at the link below.

What Women Want: A Response to Feminism

Commuting with Dr. S. Lewis Johnson

I have heard much admiration of Dr. S. Lewis Johnson from speakers at Shepherd’s Conference, including John MacArthur, and Steve Lawson. So when I made the decision to listen to some sermons instead of listening to a book during my commute back and forth to work, I chose to check out some sermons by Dr. Johnson. I went to my primary resource of sermons (aside from my local pastors) at Monergism.com. There I found a series of sermons in the book of Isaiah. The series is an exposition of the whole book. I listened to the first one on Isaiah chapter one and then decided to download the whole series. After listening to the first sermon I found out that this series was done at Believer’s Chapel in Dallas, on a Monday evening in the fall of 1968. Lyndon Johnson was president of the United States. The audio was done as a special courtesy to those who wanted to follow along and not get left behind if they had to miss a sermon of two. There are 45 seperate audio files for this series. One for each sermon. So I now have an iPhone loaded with some great sermons to listen to for quite some time. For those who are not aquainted with this great preacher and teacher, I have provided some bio info below.

Dr. S. Lewis Johnson is considered by many to be one of the best expositors of the 20th Century. His impact continues today in the preaching ministries of many, including John MacArthur and Steve Lawson (just to name a couple). The depth of Johnson’s sermons and writings reflect his diligence in the study. Johnson was another preacher in the Reformed Dispensationalist camp (he was a Calvinist who maintained a distinction between the church and Israel and believed in a literal future kingdom where Christ will reign). ht – Shane Trammel

There is more bio info available at Theopedia.

Through the years I have listened to the preaching of S. Lewis Johnson far more than any other preacher.  ~ Dr. John MacArthur

Other S. Lewis Johnson resources can be found at the following links:

The SLJ Institute

Faith By Hearing

Soli Deo Gloria

Dream Theater – Black Clouds and Silver Linings

It’s been quite some time since I did a music review and I’ve been meaning to review this album since it was released. I guess the Dream Theater guys like the consistency of an album every other year. It’s been almost exactly two years since “Systematic Chaos” was released. You can read that review here. Much has happened with DT in the past couple of years. They have seen their song “Constant Motion” become available as a download for the video game Rock Band. DT headlined a successful 2008 package tour called “Progressive Nation Tour 2008. They also released a DVD of their previous tour called “Chaos in Motion”.

The newest album from the progressive aggressors known as Dream Theater is titled “Black Clouds and Silver Linings” is their tenth studio album. The album was released June 23rd of this year and on July 1st the album debuted at #6 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart. In addition to the standard CD, the album is available on vinyl LP, as well as a 3-disc Special Edition CD that includes the full album, a CD of instrumental mixes of the album and a CD of six cover songs. The album I purchased from Amazon Downloads contains the new original material plus the six cover songs. The album was nominated for Album of the Year by Classic Rock Magazine and announced by the enduring heavy metal rockers Spinal Tap, seen here.

Book Review – Finally Alive

I called it perfect timing as I finished the last few sentences of “Finally Alive” by John Piper and at the same time pulled into our driveway after another day of work and commuting to Omaha. In the forty-five minite trip each way, God has afforded me the opportunity to read  (listen to) some excellent books. I have read seven or eight books since I made the decision to stop listening to so much talk radio. None of those books filled me with as much such joy as “Finally Alive“. I have read several books by John Piper. Some I’ve had difficulty with because of the way they’ve been structured. I’ve had to stop and re-read a chapter in order to fully grasp the concept he presents before I continue through the book. This was not the case with this book. Only once did I stop the audio and re-listen to the few sentences. I did it because the text had brought such a smile to my face that I wanted to experience that emotion again.

The book is wrtten about regeneration, and what it means to be born again. The term born again has been used in such diverse ways it is hard for anyone who does not know scripture to nail it down. It is used by the world to label fundamentalists or evangelicals. I was once asked during a religious discussion if I was “one of those born again Christians”. I replied with a question of my own, “What do you mean by the term “born again”? The word is indeed thrown around and used outside of it’s biblical context. It is used so much it is hard to distinguish those who claim to be born again and live like the world from those who do not. Piper helps the reader to examine this term and it’s meaning as it relates to scripture. He also shows us how to be certain our faith is genuine and our conversion real. Are you truly “born again”?

Book Review – How Should We Then Live

Preface: This book, “How Should We Then Live, The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture“, is also the title of an accompaning film directed by Schaeffer’s son Frank. I will be focusing on the book in this review. Since this is my first attempt at a book review, it may look like other reviews you’ve seen. I will have modeled the format from other book reviewers I’ve read. Like here and here. Lord willing I will be attempting other book reviews as I get more comfortable with my own format. So here goes.

Francis A. Schaffer (Jan. 30, 1912 – May 15, 1984) was an Amercian Evangelical Christian theologian, philospher, and Presbyterian pastor. Schaeffer authored many books and, along with his wife Edith, established the L’Abri community which now has locations all over the world.

I just finished reading this book (side note: My wife argues that it really isn’t reading since I am really listening to the audio version as I commute to work each day) which hasn’t given my comprehension the full time that it needs to digest all that I’ve read. But what I am comprehending continues to impress me. Schaeffer’s giftedness in philosophy and theology are evident throughout the book. As the book’s subtitle “The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture” indicates, Schaeffer takes us through marked times throughout earth’s history that has influenced much of  what we call Western civilization. Each chapter is basically focused on these time periods.

A funny thing happened on the way to defining a church.

While doing some personal research about how an emergent will learn about God I found something very interesting, funny, and sad. One of the sites I will frequent in an effort to learn about what is current in the Emergent Church is Solomon’s Porch.

Solomon’s Porch does not a use the word church. There I would agree. They are, as the subtitle says “A Holistic, Missional, Christian Community. Solomon’s Porch is lead by Doug Pagitt, who is by all means a leader in the emergent movement. He has written several books on the movement and is an authority, which is a contrast in the emergent community. But that is another post, article, discussion.

While navigating the Solomon’s Porch web site using their navigating drop-down list I found an entry for “What Makes a church?”. Curious, I navigated to that page. The result can be seen here.  Go ahead, do it yourself.  I don’t know if this was intentional or not. Usually a web site will have something on a page that is published to the public, so maybe this was intentional. Does the blank page represent the open-minded, broad brush,  emergent definition of church? You draw your own opinion.

In contrast I will briefly mention another web site I frequent a bit more, especially to find info about “What Makes a church.” The web site is 9Marks. They have a couple of tag lines: “Church Matters”, and “Is Your Church Reflecting Culture or Re-shaping It?” The 9 in 9Marks represents the 9 marks of a healthy local church. When I navigated to their page on what a church looks like, I found this. It is based on what is  the ultimate authority for every man, the bible.

It is not my intention to bash Doug Pagitt and Solomon’s Porch. I just found it interesting that they do not have a definition for what makes a church. It is my prayer that Doug Pagitt and Solomon’s Porch update their “What Makes a church” page using the same basis. The bible. It is how we know God, the Holy Spirit, and Christ the son and head of the church.

Some food for thought:

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:9 ESV)

1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. 12 But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13 ESV)

Soli Deo Gloria

Am I a Calvinist? You tell me.

First of all I need to take care of a hat tip (ht) to my buddy Seth at Contending Earnestly. This posting is being created out of my thoughts triggered by this fellow blogger’s posting and comments. The posting is about being labeled a Calvinist, and the label or term being used as a dirty word.

I really didn’t know what I was until I started reading books on theology.  Speaking of theology; The word is much like the word doctrine, and Calvinism.  Theology has also been reduced to a dirty word. At least a drastically minimized word in terms of evangelical importance.

Theology – the study of God. Come on, what’s more important?

I didn’t think theology was important until I ran into some blatantly bad theology. For years I had been indoctrinated in meeting peoples needs above doctrine. Now, I believe, if you don’t have sound biblical doctrine and theology, how can you truly meet the peoples ultimate need? Their need is to hear the true gospel of Jesus Christ. What do I mean by the true gospel? Funny I should ask, because it brings up the point of this post.

When I heard about the Five Points of Calvinism I will admit I had heard the term or label Calvinism and immediately thought “one of them”,  and “I heard they don’t believe we have a free will.” But after reading these five points I basically recognized and interpreted it as the gospel. The gospel spoken of in scripture. These five points are also known as TULIP. This is an acronym which is defined below.

T otal Depravity – We suck. (a verb meaning we are sinners and do not seek God) (Ref. Romans 6:20, Romans 3:10-12)

U nconditional Election – God does the choosing. No matter who you are and what you’ve done. (Ref. Eph. 1:4-8)

L imited Atonement – Christ died and His blood covers those who the Father chose. (Ref. Eph. 5:25-27)

I rresistable Grace – God’s elect hear the gospel and the Holy Spirit works in the hearts and minds of the those elect and they willing come to God. (Ref. Romans 9:16, Phil. 2:12-13)

P erseverance of the Saints – The elect of God cannot lose their salvation. For heaven’s sake the elect didn’t do anything to earn salvation. God did the choosing. They are eternally secure. (Ref. Romans 8:26-39)

I think that pretty much sums up the gospel as it is told in scripture.

So, am I a Calvinsit? If you prefer a label or a badge, I will gladly wear it. I have one on my sidebar as a matter of fact. It looks like this:

Calvinist Cadet

A few months ago I found an article from a blogger that did a real good job of describing why he was a Calvinist. I give a high hat tip to Kevin DeYoung and his article.

Sin still dwells in me.

I am still thinking through this morning’s sermon from Pastor Pat. He preached through Romans 7:13-25. This used to be a confusing text for me until I understood that humans do not really do anything good or righteous. Even those folks who might call themselves “Christian”, think they are good now, but that is such a false assumption on their part. As the Apostle Paul states in the Romans 7, he does the very things that he desires not to do, and hates those things, and yet still does them. He has the desire to do what is right but not the ability to carry it out.

Now, come on, this is the Apostle Paul writing here. Surely if anyone had the ability to do good, it was him right? Not so, says the Apostle himself. For he states in verse 23 of chapter 7 that there is a war going on between the law of his mind (doing good) and the law of sin within his body. In the next verse he even refers to himself as a wretched man. Even as a follower of Christ.

He then poses the question that I did not totally grasp until later in life because I thought that since I became a Christian, I should now be doing righteous things. The question is this:

Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Or, who can save this wretched man that I am. The answer comes on the heels of the question in the form of gratitiude.

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

It is only through the finished work of Christ, his life, his death, and resurrection that good things happen through man. Try as he might, he cannot do the good on his own. It is work of the spirit of Christ in him. As Christians we should never, ever boast about the good that happens through us. It is only Christ Jesus doing that good through us. We have no righteousness of our own.

If you’d like to listen to the enlightening sermon online go here. If you’d like to download it and listen to it later go here.

Soli Deo Gloria!

The Answer – Everyday Demons

At the beginning of this year I was introduced to this amazing new band from Northern Ireland called The Answer. I was enthralled by their honest classic rock style and blogged about their debut album “Rise“. The Answer has been getting rock hallelujahs and gaining thousands of fans as a result of their current tour opening for AC/DC. They have not released an album in the U.S. until now, and yet they are gaining newer classic rock fans hand over air pumping fist. Their love for crafting head-banging guitar riffs and lyrical hooks like the legendary bands is a major part of their lure. In their debut album, released only in the U.K., The Answer poured out this classic rock formula like nobody’s business. But even while you blatantly notice the heavy influences of the legendary bands, The Answer is chiseling out their own unique niche of the classic rock genre.

The new album from The Answer is “Everyday Demons“. It was released in the U.S. on March 31st, 2009. I have listened to this album at least two times through now and I can honestly say that I do not see any weak points. In an interview from earlier this year lead vocalist Cormac Neeson underlined the theme of the new album as a cry to arms against the psychological and physical bullies of this world. The album begins with a Molly Hatchetesq guitar riff on the track “Demon Eyes”, a song that is right in scope with the theme mentioned. Cormac Neeson’s vocals scream into the track with lyrics that say:

Lookin’ out my narrow window
tell you what I see
pit bulls are on the street
and closing in on me

Could it be this paranoia
Is keeping me inside?
Lock the door and load my gun
This time I’m fighting back

The second track “Too Far Gone” displays the prowess of the band’s drummer James Heatley’s drumming and song writing skills. The blues fillers prior to the bridge point in the song are really cool. The third track is called “On And On”. It is the first single released for the album. The song is definitely worthy with a very catchy hook. “Cry Out” written by guitarist Paul Mahon is the next track. The song reminds me of classic Led Zeppelin blues rock, especially with the soulful vocals of Neeson.