Can We Be Truly Transparent?

It appears as if I have been lazy in several of my posts. I have highlighted IMonk more than once the last two months. Michael certainly does not need the traffic, with all his work, he does that well on his own. But Michael is on a spiritual journey, willing to let it take him wherever God decides it should go. A journey that has both moved and inspired me. His journey mirrors many of my own questions, thoughts and I'm sure I'm not alone. This latest post being no exception. I will miss Imonk, but look forward to his new blog.

(Revised) Is The Gospel About Building the Kingdom? Is the Gospel About Loving Christ? Is The Gospel About Christ Loving Us?

Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
Rom 5:4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Rom 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Rom 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--
Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.


I hear a lot of different sermons that have different focuses concerning what the gospel is about. I have read, and written myself, that it's about building the Kingdom. That it is about Christ's deep love for us. It is about our deep love for Christ. That we should put other's needs above our own. Each sermon stressing this is the gospel, and the other things written are wrong. So which one is the gospel about? Yes. I believe it's all of these. The Bible teaches us that Christ loved us before we loved Him (Ephesians 4:32-5:2). The greatest commandment Christ says is that we are to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul (Matthew 22:36-38).

We are given the command to go and tell others the gospel (Matthew 28:16-20). The Bible speaks of the local church(Matthew 18:15-17), a Universal church(Ephesians 1:22-23). The Bible teaches us of sin, how we do battle with sin, to love our neighbor as ourselves, to be joyful, to praise, to rejoice. I could go on and on with the different subjects of the Bible. To focus on one specific thing and call it the only thing is to do injustice to the very thing that we claim to believe, inerrant and infallibility of the Bible. We instead place emphasis where our passions as fallible human beings lay.

Of course there are many more scriptures I could give on the small amount subject matter that I have given, but to list all the things the Bible has in it would take a years worth of posting and I believe I have made my point.

John Piper gives this thought:

What’s the gospel? I’ll put it in a sentence.

The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.

That’s the gospel.

To be sealed by the Holy Spirit, is spoken of in many places in scripture, for example Ephesians 1:14,the definition being a guarantee to be sure, but it is to be assured of God's love for us even when we sin, when we fail, when our faith is shaken. It's scripture. David in the Psalms speaks intimately to God. He pours his heart out both in the depths of sorrow and then again in joy as God reminds him of who He is in various ways.

On the other hand, we are to sacrificially give to others. If someone asks for our coat we are supposed to give it to the one who asks plus whatever else we have to give. We are to loan money or goods to our neighbor with no strings attached. The story of the good Samaritan comes to mind as well.

We should be as balanced as the Bible is balanced. Not one view, not one focus is the only one. There are many different twists and turns, emphasis in the Bible. All are to strengthen us as Christians. To keep us spiritually healthy. In that respect, we are to love God outwardly, inwardly, show our affection, have a deep relationship with Him. We are to get away and spend time with Him. Let Him be with us. Being honest with God, talking to him, wrestling with Him through prayer and scripture. When we fail, confess our sin, knowing that He still loves us deeply.

We are also to put on the armor, strive to be Holy, bring others to Christ so that there are more to be part of building the Kingdom, give sacrificially, think of others greater than ourselves, be part of the local church, also knowing that we are part of the Universal church.

As we study scripture, we have the Holy Spirit who guided Paul, He also guides us. Christianity is a life of supernaturals, the supernatural power of God. It's something we forget. God has given us all we need to live this life and prepare for life after this. He has instructed us to go and tell others, He supernaturally gives us the words, the knowledge, and the power to do this. But let's not get stuck in just one aspect of the Bible, forsaking the rest of it. I don't want to be content with what I do know, I want to know more. I want more of God. May we never be content to know just what we know now. May we thirst to know more.(Ephesians 1: 15-23)

History Has Been Made As NASA's Phoenix Lander Lands On Mars

Photo from NASA
A memory I have of my childhood in the 1960's is of my dad watching every single NASA space take off and landing. It was fascinating for me to watch with him as the countdown began, the rockets flare, and blast off. Then for the next several days, the astronauts would give detailed reports of their flight, including sights they could see out the window. It was wonderful.

Now in 2008, we have a spacecraft that has landed on Mars. This is something I heard talk of for many years and now it is reality. What it discovers will be interesting to see. Could Star Trek become a reality??

In A Perfect World

Walgreens has commercials that end with "in a perfect world..." Well in a perfect world...

Rom 14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
Rom 14:2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.
Rom 14:3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.
Rom 14:4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Rom 14:5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Rom 14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.
Rom 14:8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.
Rom 14:9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
Rom 14:10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
Rom 14:11 for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
Rom 14:12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Rom 14:13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

I've Been Tagged or Random Thoughts

I've been tagged by my friend and blogger Emily Hunter McGowin. The idea is to give six random thoughts of or about me.

1. I read the news about Steve Chapman, whose five year old daughter died this week, and having followed Steve's career since the 1980's, felt a wave of sadness. Having just gone through the death of someone dear to me, I cannot imagine the grief this family is feeling due to the circumstances involved. The death of someone close to you can shake your faith, but as you are honest with God, wrestling it out with Him, asking Him all the why questions, when you finish telling Him that you, the finite human, think He made a mistake, God seems to understand and slowly bring about the healing of pain that you never think will end due to it's intensity. God is faithful, God is indeed our Father who loves us, and it is during these times that He demonstrates that in all its fullness. I'm so glad that I am a child of the King.

2. I saw the movie, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" the other day. It has become one of my favorites since the first time I saw it several years ago. For those who have not seen this western, it's about a senator(Jimmy Stewart) who becomes famous for shooting a notorious outlaw(Lee Marvin). Coming back to the same town for an old friend's(John Wayne) funeral, he begins to tell reporters the truth about the shooting. The truth is John Wayne actually shot Liberty Valance around the corner of some buildings, shooting at the same time Jimmy Stewart's gun went off. When asked by the senator, " You're not going to use the story, Mr. Scott? The reporters reply was" No, sir. This is the west, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

I'll leave that without a comment. :)

3. I put out my garden last week. It's something I love to do each summer. I used to hate when summer came, the heat sometimes unbearable. Since I began gardening several years ago, I hate for summer to end. My husband still can't believe it.

4. Memorial day is this coming Monday. This one is going to be tougher than most. The beauty of being in Christ is that it is ok for me to say that it is. My trust and faith in God even stronger.

5. Our church picnic is this Sunday and I am looking forward to my husband and I going. This year We are bringing granddaughters, Lexie and Lacie, along with a digital camera. We can't miss one single moment taking pictures of these two. It will be their first church picnic. Fact about me: I enjoy picnics, going to the lake, fairgrounds, water parks, amusement parks, anything that is outdoors and tons of fun. Good food doesn't hurt either.

6. Earlier this evening we had a small thunder storm. I enjoy thunder storms. It leaves everything so clean smelling when it's done and there is something about the lightening and thunder along with the sound of rain that is so soothing.

I tag Alyce.

Answer To A Question

One comment on a recent post I did, asked me about the issues we have been discussing over the past three years, stating that he may have missed the one concerning alcohol.

I began to do some research to come up with some of the discussions on this subject, but then on reading Timmy Brister, decided to link to his post, not only to be able to update on the latest in Missouri, but also located at the bottom of his post are articles, which are probably better representative of my view and gives some insight into what has been going on the last three years.

Another Conservative Resurgence Part 2

The Biblical Recorder has published An Open Letter To the Southern Baptist Convention, written by Rodney Hammer,who recently resigned as IMB Regional Director.

I first became aware of Rodney Hammer's resignation from Wade's post on the subject. This letter is in its entirety and gives both the facts concerning the IMB guidelines/policies, which were previously given by Wade Burleson, and Mr. Hammer's reasons for believing these policies to be "extrabiblical, unnecessary and restricting the flow of good conservative candidates" who want to serve IMB. Reasons that I believe best articulate my own personal reasons for objecting to these policies or any other issue that has been on the table of contention for the past 2 and 1/2 years.

Rodney begins his letter:

Dear Southern Baptist Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

My name is Rodney Hammer, and I have the privilege of being an International Mission Board (IMB) missionary of the Southern Baptist Convention. My wife and I have shared the gospel in three of the eleven regions of the IMB over our almost 18 years of overseas service, the last 10 years being in regional leadership positions. I most recently was privileged to serve the IMB and the superb missionaries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as regional leader.

I love working with the missionaries and people of CEE, but I resigned as regional leader in order to share my convictions about IMB missionary candidate policies. I am expected as a regional leader to accept, own, and support the policies of the IMB Trustees. I can do so no longer.

I am in fundamental disagreement with the current IMB missionary candidate policies concerning baptism and private prayer language, and the unnecessary, extra-biblical narrowing of parameters for Southern Baptist cooperation in the Great Commission they represent. While I have other serious concerns, I believe the missionary candidate policies are most in need of redress and illustrate most significantly why change is needed.

The issues have since grown into Calvinism, moderation of alcohol, women in ministry. It will continue to grow unless we take a hard look at what scripture truly teaches. Not just select passages, but all of the Bible. Inerrancy and infallibility mean nothing if not every single word of scripture is read, studied and known. We must realize that there are going to be differences even among those who call for sameness. I think a reading of Rodney Hammer's letter in full will bring clarity of exactly what the objections are and why.

A reading of this letter in it's entirety gives a clear understanding of the issues that began this division that seems to be occurring in our Convention of late. It also gives credence to what others, including myself, have been saying for the last two and one half years. Again, I offer this link to let those who read it, think and decide for themselves. I believe that unless we say enough, the list of those who are Bible believing, Christ loving, mission minded Conservatives to exclude, will continue to grow.

As hard as it is to lose a man of the caliber of Rodney Hammer from the IMB, along with the loss of Wade Burleson, I stand and applaud these men for their courage, even at the loss of working closely on the board of something, people, they both love. Missions and missionaries. May there be more men and women of such courage in both the SBC and Christianity. I am sincerely praying for the IMB and especially the missionaries, who are the ones who have the most to lose, which also affects the giving of the Gospel to countries and people God has laid on their heart, unless things change. My heart has been broken several times this year with the resignations that have happened.

I believe it's supposed to be all about Christ alone, something we are definitely moving away from. I desire to get Christ back as the only focus.

Video Killed the Radio Star by The Wrong Trousers

I post this to add some lightness to the heavy conversation of late and these college students/street performers are good.

Again, if you are watching this video from my blog, to stop the radio player in the right hand upper corner, simply click the square button.

Another Conservative Resurgence? Part 1

I think so. I have heard a lot of the Conservative Resurgence being glorified again(which it is not) in the past year. With the new resolutions(here and here) being brought to the table, I see the same tactics used that the Conservative Resurgence used. The same broad brushing, this time no liberals were the target but other Conservatives. If so, I do not see how our Convention can survive. I posted on this a few weeks ago, where I believe I showed that the Conservative Resurgence was neither pretty nor correct in it's direction nor it's methods. Yes, there was Liberalism attempting to take over the Convention and our seminaries, and yes they needed to be fired. The wrong began when, like McCarthyism, innocent people were labeled liberal who were Conservative and reputations, jobs were destroyed. To judge for yourself, here is Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Is it going to be happening again beginning this year? I've felt that it was going to happen for three years now. This has been more than disagreement, it's been an all out war, albeit one sided.

Let's look at the casualties so far. We've had Sherri Klouda who, because of being a woman, lost her tenure as a Hebrew professor at SWBTS. Next, Dwight McKissic, who because of his stance on PPL, and through some yellow journalism, along with behind the door tactics by SWBTS trustees, resigned his trusteeship with SWBTS. Next , the latest, Wade Burleson, who because of dissenting on IMB policies which you can read about here, was attempted to be silenced with many disciplinary(punishment) actions, labeled, well you name it and he was labeled it. Every meeting began to be focused on him and his dissent to the point that out of a conviction to have the meetings focused back on missions and missionaries, he resigned. The BOT couldn't fire him, so constant pressure and ostracizing was done instead. Sounds like the Conservative Resurgence continuted to me.

This was just the beginning. Now let's look at the groups being formed. First we have those who have been called Baptist Identity. Their goal to bring back Baptist Identity, which appears to be nothing more than a form of neo-Landmarkism or Independent Fundamentalism in another form. Having grown up Independent Fundamentalist for over 35 years, having been taught explicitly the doctrine and all their beliefs, including the book Trail of Blood, it has not escaped my attention, that several former Independent Fundamental churches have joined the SBC in the past ten years. One is Thomas Road Baptist Church which brings with it, Liberty University, also Shadow Mountain Community Church, formerly pastored by Tim LaHaye, now pastored by Dr. David Jeremiah(a minister I enjoy listening to), who was Southern Baptist long before Jerry Falwell if memory serves me . According to Texas Baptist Committed, quoting from Jerry Falwell's 1998 article entitled Southern Baptist Convention Defies Prophets of Doom: :

All six SBC seminaries now have fundamentalist presidents and faculties. All its agencies now have fundamentalist leadership.

The next group formed is the Association of Convictional Baptist, according to Bart Barber, a group of one, although others are invited to join. It seems to me that Indianapolis is not going to be a focus on the theme of the Convention, which is, Fulfilling the Mission. Is this an extension of the Conservative Resurgence as was first thought? Are more going to try to push others out? I'll touch on this further in my next post. I hope I am wrong, but the wind seems to indicate I'm not. I'm praying for repentance and revival. God is in control. He'll either change some hearts or let the Convention go it's own way. We'll see. Indiana should be interesting.

Who Is Our Neighbor?

Luk 10:21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Luk 10:22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
Luk 10:23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!
Luk 10:24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
Luk 10:25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Luk 10:26 He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"
Luk 10:27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
Luk 10:28 And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."
Luk 10:29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Luk 10:30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.
Luk 10:31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
Luk 10:32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
Luk 10:33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
Luk 10:34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
Luk 10:35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'
Luk 10:36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"
Luk 10:37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."


In this passage of Luke, a lawyer asked Christ what he must do to inherit eternal life. Christ then turned to asking what the law said. Now the law that Christ was referring to were those laws that were part of the phylacteries chanted every day. It was a law not unknown to the lawyer. Christ then relays the story of the Good Samaritan, a story that we are all familiar with, but what does this story mean? When read as a whole chapter, Christ gives the answer in verses 36 and 37. So in light of the post where I posed questions, and got some terrific answers, in the light of my working things through, how does this passage apply, or does it apply? I would also ask the same question the lawyer asked Christ. Who is our neighbor?

Believe it or not all the answers I have gotten from my last post, are those I have deeply taken into consideration(which is why I asked for scripture, I'm pounding it through for myself) and each answer has helped me immensely.