News of intentional attacks against non-Muslims in Pakistan on Easter Sunday and reports growing of the number of worshipers dead continues to climb leaves a mind of a follower of Christ in relative peace at a juxtaposition. Especially a local church putting the final touches upon a building process. What does a church do? What…
The Church
Recognizing True and False Teachers
Last night, March 20, at Eastside Baptist I gave some biblical guidelines related to the duty of the church to make proper judgment on recognizing true and false teachers/preachers. The content of the message was difficult because it included naming Saeed Abedini as currently not displaying or producing fruit of a true teacher according to…
Don’t Get Me Wrong – I’ve Said Dumb Things Too (updated)
Watch this before reading any further: updated 3/3/2016 (7:51 pm mtn. time) Andy Stanley responds on Twitter to his comments: “The negative reaction to the clip from last weekend’s message is entirely justified. Heck, even I was offended by what I said! I apologize.” I saw this video posted by Voddie Baucham and Stephen Bratten…
O the Sound of God’s People
There are common things I hear from my preaching friends about the gathered saints on the Lord’s Day. For me… I especially like the sound of children among the people; mostly because they are part of the people. I know there has been a move among many over the years to remove children from part…
Have We Forgotten how to Blush?
“Were they ashamed because of the abomination they had done? They certainly were not ashamed, And they did not know how to blush; Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time of their punishment they shall be brought down,” Says the LORD.” Jeremiah 8:12 Is there any subject off…
The Problem is Not Only Legalized Sodomite-Marriages
There is not shortage of places or people weighing in on the legalization of same-sex marriages. Crimes against nature are no small matter, and now it is legal and celebrated. But this is not the only matter weighing the nation in the balance of danger. I get that unbelievers don’t want laws like believers do. They…
A Good Day to Be the Church
This week in Columbus, OH: Bold resolutions proposed and accepted by messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention. They are kind of lengthy at times but insightful and helpful. If you are looking for a church that is more interested in looking like the culture than submitting to the authority of God you may want to…
Living in John Bunyan’s “Vanity Fair”
It is the allegorical ancient town of Vanity Fair that John Bunyan describes an atmosphere where “jugglings, cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves, rogues, and that of all sorts,” were happening all day and all night. As well as, “thefts, murders, adulteries, false-swearers, and that of a blood-red color.” Is there any connection that a…
Definitions Are Important
Because my office number is forwarded to my mobile phone I get the normal telemarketer calls that come to the church office even when I’m away from my office. This is convenient, but not always. If I’m not busy with someone or in a spot where I can’t take a call I’ll let it go…
the Claptrap
My Twitter account had some activity this past week from a church consulting group. (In most of the Twitter world activity is no big deal, but for a guy like me this was huge.) After having a sermon ‘favorited’ by someone/group that I don’t know anything about I decided to investigate why they would even…