Articles by Paul

the Piano Guys

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Tis the season for video posting of the extremely talented and fun to watch videos of the Piano Guys. If you’ve never heard of the Piano Guys you must still be accessing the internet with dial-up access (is that even still possible to do?).

Out of curiosity, a few years ago, I decided to do a little background research on the Piano Guys. Where there is no mistaking, they are talented and have engineered new ways of playing instruments (they usually don’t play the piano), but the platform of their faith is the reason for this caution.

Most don’t know that the Piano Guys are on public record as stating their faith. They offer full statement of belief on their website, it is as follows…

“We believe the purpose of life is to be happy.
We believe the best way to be happy is to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and to love others more than yourself.

We believe family is most important.

We believe we are all children of a God who loves us dearly.

We believe that good music can be a source of joy, inspiration, and fulfillment.

We believe as Bobby McFerrin once said, listening to only one kind of music is like insisting on living in only one room of
your home your entire life.

We believe in as much laughter in life as possible.

We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as “LDS” or “Mormons”) to learn more about this church please visit mormon.org”

PianoGuys
photo source: thepianoguys.com

Why is this important for me? Why should you find it a significant thing to think through?

Learning that the Piano Guys are LDS did not change the fact that these [piano] guys are talented. They are. What changed is the origin of their faith. When a Mormon speaks of the birth of Christ, sings of the birth of Christ, or even plays music [without words] of the birth of Christ I’m in a different place of critique. I’m no longer simply enjoying music, I’m in doctrinal conflicted with the musician. When a Mormon sings of the birth of Jesus, he means a god left heaven, came and had sexual relations with a woman, and she gave birth to a child. They are the same words an orthodox Christian may sing but the teaching behind those same words are radically different.

I can still respect the talent of the Piano Guys, but I can’t experience worship as a result of their music. I might feel emotion that their music creates but I can’t trust my emotions to lead me to worship. I must give direction to my emotions. It’s possible that many will disagree with me on this. I welcome the disagreement, I’m only stating my observation from comparing the doctrines of the Book of Mormon and the Bible.

What do followers of Christ (defined by the Bible) have in common with Mormons? There is no place where the two are the same. The two doctrines are at conflict with each other, they have two different masters.  The Bible teaches that “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24)

Can a follower of Christ enjoy the talent of the Piano Guys? I think that’s clearly possible. Can the Piano Guys lead a follower of Christ (defined by the Bible) to worship? The answer, in my observation, gets sticky. Because the Piano Guys state their beliefs on their website as clearly Mormon, and because I believe the Bible to be a sufficient rule for my life, I say no; they can only lead someone to worship their god, and clearly they want listeners to worship their god because they invite visitors of their website to check out Mormonism.

I might listen to music from the Piano Guys but I will direct my spirit to not be carried away with emotion. If I’m not careful, my emotion will deceive me and lure me into idolatry. Giving my emotions to another god must be guarded always. Clearly there is a secular product that is enjoyable by the Piano Guys, but just as clearly there is a spiritual component that must not be ignored. If I’m not careful, I can let the familiarity of the music played by the Piano Guys to eventually weaken my heart as to considering that ‘maybe we do worship the same deity.’ We don’t worship the same, so I’ll guard my heart

Be on guard. Guard your heart Christian.

Offered for consideration

 

Clarification Is Needed, Dr. Caner

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I don’t imagine many of the readers of theBride are even aware of the controversy I’m about to speak to… But I feel obligated to go on the record as a pastor of a Baptist Church affiliating with the Southern Baptist Convention asking for full clarity from Brewton-Parker College, Ergun Caner, and Georgia Baptists on the contradiction of Caner’s biography. For me, this is an issue so far removed geographically that it seems almost like I’m tweaking the ear of a dog that’s not bothering me but I feel obligated to be on public record asking for this clarity.

I have personally heard Dr. Caner speak on two separate occasions, and on both occasions was pleased (mostly) with the message on hand. I’m full aware that Dr. Caner and I would disagree on the doctrines of grace, but I am able to appreciate others whom I am in disagreement with as well.

The issue at stake for me is that there is sufficient evidence that there is not simply a slight misspeaking from him on facts of his conversion to Christianity, the evidence from public domain sources do contradict (I have read and watched both). Reports are that Dr. Caner is in legal litigation right now attempting to copyright one of  the videos as the true story and claiming the other is not him (when it is clear, it is) of when and how and where his conversion took place in relationship to his Muslim past.  I’m not questioning his conversion, but credibility of believers everywhere and especially Southern Baptists is of utmost importance for me in this matter.

In my own insignificant platform I’m requesting clarification from Brewton-Parker College, Liberty University, Georgia Baptist, but mostly from Dr. Caner himself.

I’m requesting that my State Convention not allow Dr. Caner to speak in any more convention gatherings in the future unless and until this matter is addressed, corrected, and explained by Dr. Caner himself. I don’t mean any disrespect to Dr. Caner. I don’t want embarrassment to come to him or his family. I respect his contribution to several Southern Baptist institutions. Integrity is a mandate for all professing followers of Christ. Our office of leadership requires it. This is me preaching to me.

Ill-treated By A World Too Evil To See

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The Holy Spirit inspired the writer of Hebrews to remind the Lord’s people that some  Gospel-saturated disciples will be “ill-treated by a world that was too evil to see their worth.” (Hebrews 11:37-38, Phillips)

Saeed_Abedini_ACLJ_story-4X3
Image source: American Center for Law and Justice

Boise pastor, Saeed Abedini is among those whom God has chosen at this time to be a vessel of His glory in this way. He’s been in an Iranian prison for over a year in unimaginable conditions. The reports of his health and safety are of great concern. Would you be willing to join me this evening (December 4, 2013) and gather at the meetinghouse of Eastside Baptist Church (or gather with your home church) and spend some of that time together praying for Saeed and the multitude of other suffering saints around the world? Eastside will gather at 6:30PM tonight at 204 Eastland Drive North, Twin Falls, Idaho.

Also, would you be willing to utilize your social networking to help get the word out to believers you know of Saeed specifically and the persecuted church in general? Share this post on your networks with #freesaeed #savesaeed.

 

He Is Able

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Likely you will notice the social media blitz and the hash-tags #freesaeed appearing throughout the day. Be sure of this, ‘truth is lacking’ in most political offices in our land today. The Lord is indeed displeased that there is no justice. But wait, don’t count what appears to be slowness on the Lord’s part as His abandonment of justice.

For His own arm brings salvation, He looks for no other but Himself. He is clothed in His righteousness so that we might see His glory. He has put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself with zeal.

How will the Lord’s people respond today? Like those three brave Hebrew young men when jeered by the king “and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” Arise church, arise. We do not need to give answer concerning this matter. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver.” (Daniel 3)

Yes, truth is lacking;
And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey.
Now the Lord saw,
And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.
And He saw that there was no man,
And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.
He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.

Isaiah 59:15-17 (NASB)

Remember Those in Chains

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DSCF0782On December 4, 2013, many are being intentional to pray for the release of Boise pastor, Saeed Abedini. The Bible teaches believers to not be in shock when the Lord’s people are mistreated for living gospel saturated lives. This is missing from most gospel preaching today and the result makes many weak, soft, and unprepared for such a day as this.

To your knees in this day of prayer.

“Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body… Make sure that your character is free from the love of money,being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, Iwill not be afraid. What will man do to me?” Hebrews 13:3, 5-6 (NASB)

#freesaeed

Hebrews 13:3 Day

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SaeedThere are many around the nation (USA) who are setting December 4 aside to put the face of Boise pastor, Saeed Abedini, back in front of the American people. I too will be joining the massive social media day of awareness.

Like many of you, several people have sent me Facebook invites, Twitter announcements, blogging tips expressing a hope to remind our countrymen that one of our own still remains behind bars in an Iranian prison.

I’ve reflected on this issue before, and I’ll continue expressing concern.

I welcome you to join me in this media blitz on Wednesday, December 4, 2013.

There will likely be different motives behind many who will participate in the day so let me clarify what I’ll be doing, why, and what I’m inviting you to do.

What I’m doing:

  • First of all, (at risk of sounding self-pious) I intend to deny my flesh the comfort of food for 24 hours, sundown on 12/3 to sundown on 12/4.
  • I will set my alarm clock for 2AM (12/4), rise out of my comfortable bed, go to my knees and plead my case before the Heavenly Father, again.
  • Throughout the day, as the craving for food calls for satisfaction, I will intentionally resist my flesh and cry out to Jehovah for Saeed Abedini. (I’ll also pray generally for all suffering saints in chains)
  • The only internet activity I will participate in is to periodically post a link to this blog post for the duration of the 24 hours.
  • the prayer meeting at the meetinghouse of Eastside Baptist church will be devoted to praying for Saeed at 6:30PM on 12/4.

Why I’m doing what I’m doing:

  • Scripture directs me how to think of believers who are in prison for living gospel saturated lives as if I were a prisoner at their side and to think of all who suffer as if I was the one suffering.  (Hebrews 13:3)
  • Scripture also teaches me to place my cause before God. Maybe God will direct a secular government to do His work but I will plead this cause to the Almight God who “does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.” (Job 5:8-9 NASB)
  • in this pop-culture, celebrity fascination day we live in, so few believers even take the time to consider the suffering saints “exposed to the test of public mockery and flogging, and to the torture of being left bound in prison” (Hebrews 11:36). God has something better planned for their day.
  • My self-centered, selfish, unchecked nature knows nothing of self denial and must learn that it is subject to the Spirit of God. This can’t be done unless God helps.

What I’m inviting you to consider doing with me:

  • join me from sundown (12/3) to sundown (12/4) and refrain from the comfort of food.
  • wake up at 2AM and pray.
  • resist the flesh and obey the Spirit as you pray throughout the day.
  • resist engaging anyone in social media during the stated hours.
  • Share this post on your social networks inviting believers to join together.
  • join your church on December 4 to pray for Saeed.
  • any combination of the above.

Many may be motivated by outrage that our government does so little. Some will launch campaigns to powerful politicians.  Some will enlist a celebrity endorsement from someone in the entertainment industry. As for me, I’ll ask God to help me think like Job; “I would seek God, and I would place my cause before God; Who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.” (Job 5:8-9 NASB)

 

Thanksgiving Feast

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It is always a blessing to gather with family. When we are unable to travel to spend time with parents or grandparents we make the most of our time and invite all who can to gather with us at the meetinghouse of Eastside Baptist Church. We had expected about 14 and began making plans. On Tuesday, I received a phone call from the College of Southern Idaho’s athletic director asking if we had anything happening on Thanksgiving Day and if we did, could the women’s basketball team from State Fair Community College from Missouri attend our services.

Renee and the other women went to work to double the menu, and at lunch today our family Thanksgiving dinner grew from 14 to 28. It was a most pleasant time. I’ll never forget the 2013 Thanksgiving Day gathering. The day began with my traditional 5K turkey trot race at CSI, preparations for the feast with Renee, great food, an extra slice of pie (the reason for the 5K Turkey Trot), some time in the Word, listening to each other express things we are thankful for, a reading of Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Day proclamation, and of course… no family gathering is complete without family pictures.

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By Order of the President of the United State of America

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By Order of the President of the United States of America.
Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863

“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence ofAlmighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed,

Done at the city of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth”

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

By the President:

WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State

in reference to: “Proclamation of Thanksgiving” – http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/thanks.htm

Review of “the Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon” (2 of 3)

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GospelFocusofCharlesSpurgeonI pick up the review of Steve Lawson’s book “The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon” in chapter 3 (page35). The chapter title is “Sovereign Grace”. The never ending debate between Calvinism and Arminianism had all but disappeared as Spurgeon came preaching. The preaching of the puritans and the reformers were fading fast. But now so with Spurgeon. In this chapter, Lawson reminds all readers and preachers who love to quote Spurgeon that he refused to become “infatuated with the current theological fads.” Spurgeon refused and chose the old paths, the path through Scripture. The language of Scripture was the language Spurgeon spoke.

Lawson shows that for Spurgeon, “Preaching the Bible meant preaching Calvinism.” And for Spurgeon, he “never whispered anything.”

When I first began to read sermons by Spurgeon, I began to discover his clear position and defense of Calvin. Lawson points this out frequently in this section of the book. For Spurgeon, Calvin was only preaching what Paul preached. I’ve continued reading Spurgeon’s sermons over the years. I’ve often found myself praying that I might understand what Spurgeon did about the “doctrines of grace”. I’ve come to embrace this title over Calvinism only because I find so few people are willing to learn what Calvin taught on the doctrines of grace. Calvin clearly understood that salvation is 100% the work of God and that too, the preacher of the Bible must preach the Gospel, calling men to repent and believe. For Spurgeon’s Gospel focus, this was not a conflict for a sovereign God who rules and elects to hold man responsible at the same time. In Chapter Three, Lawson helps show this beautiful truth as Spurgeon preached.

Lawson did a masterful job of taking the five truths that constitute the doctrines of grace and show how Spurgeon focused his preaching from this vantage point. This is among some of the strongest support I’ve ever read in a short amount of words. I give Lawson an A+ for his helpful work here. This alone makes this book worth reading for me.

There are only a few more days left to get a free download of this eBook. Click HERE to get it.

“It is no novelty, then, that I am preaching; no new doctrine. I love to proclaim these strong old doctrines, that are called by nickname Calvinism, but which are surely and verily the revealed truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus.” (page 35)

I do not believe that we preach the Gospel unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah, nor do I think we can preach the Gospel unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend the Gospel which allows saints to fall away after they are called.” (page 36)

“the result, he said, is that ” a very hell of corruption lies within the best saint.” Spurgeon recognized that sin lies deep within the souls of even the best of men. This inward corruption makes every man a savage beast: “There is no beast in wolf or lion or serpent that is so brutish as the beast in man.” All people are spiritually dead, unable to see, desire, or respond to the gospel message. (page 37)

“God gave me this great book to preach from, and if He has put anything in it you think is not fit, go and complain to Him, not to me. I am simply His servant, and if His errand that I am to tell is objectionable, I cannot help it. Let me tell you, the reason why many of our churches are declining is just because this doctrine has not been preached.” (on unconditional election, page 39)

 

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