What Do You Say?
One of the things I love most about my church is that there is a real heart for missions and evangelism and making disciples (cf. Matthew 28:18-20
). Here is the encounter of one man, Jason, and one of the guys I’m doing the “Illuminati” study group with, Bob, that I mentioned in the previous post.
What strikes me most about this post that I am linking to is the encounter with Donna. Hear what she told Jason and Bobby when they began to tell her about Jesus,
Bobby and I weren’t prepared for the conversation that we had next. She said yes she knows who Jesus is, and she said that she believes in Jesus. I have counseled and spoken to dozens of addicts who say Jesus and then they love the world. This woman was different. I don’t have the conversation verbatim, however one of the first things she said is that, “God chooses people and he hasn’t chosen me.” She said she married a Christian man at the age of 33 and lived as a believer for 5 years, and gave her whole heart to God, but God would never free her from her addictions. She had heard countless stories and seen them of how people came into churches and were saved and then freed from their addiction but she’s cried and pleaded to God to free her, and she said all the immoral things I do, I’ve asked him to take it from me and he just won’t. If you could see the pain and agony in her tears, the worn face, and the tired and probably high countenance.
One of the things in the study group that I just started is what would we say to someone who says that. What would you say? I’m not sure. How about you? Here is the entire post:
Urban Reformation: Fasten Your Theology:Engaging A Remnant Culture
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God is SO good.
Today has been just one incredible blessing from God my Father and Jesus his Christ.
First has to do with the summer mission trip that my youth at church is going on July 19-26, 2008. While on the trip the kids are going to study John Piper’s book, Don’t Waste Your Life (For more information about this book and the study package it has you can click here or just go to the DesiringGod website linked under the Resources menu below). Yesterday I had the awesome privilege to serve my good friend and co-laborer with the youth Jimmy (he used to be my boss at UPS until a couple of weeks ago when Jesus blessed him with an 8-5 job working with an amazing gentleman at church) by moving him out of his old apartment on MBTS campus and to a new one just a couple miles away. In light of the move, I was asked to teach this morning (June 22, 2008) and begin the study of Don’t Waste Your Life. So I read the chapters and watched the DVD session and did the study guide section last night. I must say it was an amazing study for me. Then today, the youth really responded well and engaged the material. Some even came up to me after the second service and told me how much they look forward to the rest! Teenagers did that! God was really working in their hearts and minds and they want more. God is SO good. Read more
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The Second Coming Debate
I have made known in earlier posts that I am a partial preterist, postmillennialist (or better yet an optimistic amillennialist–amilliennialism tends to view the success of the church in her commission [Matthew 28:18-20] very pessimistically). My understanding of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4 is closest to a post-tribulation view, although I don’t really think we need to have a separate category for what happens at the Resurrection when those who are living are translated into their resurrection-bodies.
The following link is for a two-hour debate hosted by Covenant Radio. It is between Don Preston is a full preterist and his opponent is Lou Ruggiero who is a dispensational premillennialist. While I think that full preterists push certain texts too far (i.e. 1 Thessalonians 4) and thus loosing the eternal estate, there is a great deal that I agree with in regards to full preterism. Listen to this debate and note one thing. The dispensationalist’s commitment to a literal reading of the OT prevents him from allowing Paul and Peter to interpret the OT prophets. Also, the dispensationalist must avoid the texts that speak of timing issues (i.e. texts that say “quickly”). Also, the hyperbolic language in the OT prophets are not allowed to be taken hyperbolically. I enjoyed the debate and I have a great deal of respect for one Don Preston. His website is www.eschatology.org. Here is the link to the debate.
The Second Coming Debate (Preston vs. Ruggiero).
If you liked this debate, Don Preston is going to debate Melvin Jones on June 26, 2008 on the topic of eschatology. Check out the Covenant Radio website (linked above) for more information.
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Previewing My Next Weekend
One week from now, I will be in Chicago for an annual trip that I take with my brother to attend the Wizard World Convention, basically a comic/sci-fi convention. I have met Ray Park who played Darth Maul (Phantom Menace) and Toad (X-Men). I have met the voice actor who played General Grievous (Revenge of the Sith) as well as the actor who portrayed Jaws, the nemesis of James Bond.
Not only am I going to Chicago to spend quality time with my brother (my cousin Henry will be there also), but my favorite comic artist Alex Ross will be there. I’m hoping I can get this poster signed by Ross to hang up in my room. On my flight I’m going to read Captain America #39 where Bucky meets his mentor’s successor from the 1950’s, a man who so loved Captain America he changed his name to “Steve Rogers” and also had his physical appearance altered as well as his vocal cords changed to sound like the original Super Soldier. He even took the super soldier serum (but did not utilize the veta-rays to stabalize the serum) but became insane as a result of the unstable nature of the serum (Incredible Hulk anyone?). Comic Book Resources was given a sneak peak at Cap #39 (Ed Brubaker also writes Uncanny X-Men as well and so there is a sneak peak at Uncanny X-Men #499; the artist for this X-Men comic series is also going to be in Chicago at this convention–so cool!). Check out Bucky and Falcon training. Read more
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Half
Whysoserious.com has released a new teaser for the upcoming blockbuster The Dark Knight entitled “Half.” If you know anything about Batman lore (or you can think Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever), you’ll know who this is. Enjoy!!!
Kinda makes you wish July 18, 2008 was here, huh.
H/T: Newsarama.com: Half
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It Ends Here!
CAPTAIN AMERICA #42 Written by ED BRUBAKER Pencils & Cover by STEVE EPTING.
The final chapter of the epic “Death of Captain America” saga is here! The New Captain America, the Falcon, the Black Widow, Sharon Carter - all in a final showdown with the Red Skull and his minions for the future of America!
H/T: My Comic Space Project: CAPTAIN AMERICA: CAPTAIN AMERICA #42 Solicitation
Author’s Note
Steve Epting, who is the artist for the Captain America run, compares the cover seen in this post with one seen at another site. Epting notes that the second cover on his post is unfinished. I think it still looks beautiful. You can go to the post here: Captain America #42 Cover
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Matthew vs Mark
Last Sunday I preached on Mark’s theme of going to the cross. All over Mark’s gospel text the reader sees that the Messiah, namely Jesus, must suffer and die. Jesus instructs his disciples, and any who wish to be his disciples, to follow that path. To walk behind him. This becomes most explicit in both Matthew 16:13-28 and Mark 8:27-9:1 when Peter confesses Jesus to be the Messiah. When Peter makes the great confession, Jesus instructs his disciples that he must die and be raised on the third day. In both accounts Jesus rebukes Peter and then speaks of anyone who desires to follow Jesus must deny self, take up one’s cross and follow Jesus. Now compare the following statements by Jesus in Matthew 16 and Mark 8 in the NET.
S))Now note that Matthew and Mark do not read the same, but the statements are in a similar context. My question for all who read this is this: what is the difference between Matthew using εὑρίσκω while Mark uses σῴζω? What is the significance of such a choice in words? What does σῴζω convey that εὑρίσκω doesn’t, and vice-a-versa? Or is this just two words being used the same? After all Mark uses σῴζω twice in Mark 8:35 and Matthew parallels σῴζω with εὑρίσκω in Matthew 16:25. Just think about it.
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Two Articles
Tonight I am going to the opening showing of The Incredible Hulk at midnight with some kids from my youth group at church. I’m crazy because I have to be at work at 3:50 AM. I previously reported that Captain America was going to be seen in the film. In this article at newsarama.com, Captain America Not in Incredible Hulk After All, (the article has a link to the actual interview) it has been confirmed that Cap has been edited out of the final cut but will be released on the dvd and the internet so start searching.
The SBC national convention convened yesterday. You can go to Foundersministries.org and find that one of the things that this ministry has been pushing for in the SBC is for SBC churches to be honest about their membership. Tom Ascol has been calling for regenerate membership, that is only those who actually attend church and have professed faith in Christ through baptism and communion, are on the membership rosters. Those who haven’t been attending or have passed away must be taken off the rosters. Also, Ascol has been pushing for SBC churches to get serious about church discipline as well. Well, the SBC passed his resolution to get this done. Here is the actual resolution in its final amended form. Praise God that the SBC is finally wanting to get serious about its church membership. I can actually attest the beauty of church discipline as my church just last month welcomed back into our fold a young woman who was put out under Matthew 18:15-17and the process Jesus puts forward to discipline church members. Complete text of amended membership resolution
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Who Is In This Film?
I stumbled upon the Captain America message boards over at Marvel.com a link to this movie. In it, the director of Thursday’s (June 13 2008) hit release The Incredible Hulk let out an easter egg of epic proportions. Iron Man might have had Captain America’s shield, but hear what The Incredible Hulk has in regards to the Star Spangled Avenger, the Sentinel of Liberty, Captain America.
I can’t wait to commit “suicide” by watching that movie at midnight with some of the kids in my youth group and only have two hours or so to wait before I have to go to work! Ed Norton rocks my face off and Hulk vs Abomination looks SO intense.
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Thundercats! HOOOOO!
This brings back such lovely memories for me. So I thought I would share with everyone the first episode of one of my favorite cartoons growing up, Thundercats. Enjoy “Exodus.”
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