Psalm 23

This is a must see!

Sorry I can’t seem to get the embed code to work for this.

Little girl recites Psalm 23.

Waitin For The Fat Lady To Sing

I know for a fact that some FV reps are frequenting my humble blog. And since I have had no luck getting Mr. James Jordan to answer questions I posed on a few more popular blogs, or any other FV rep for that matter, I’ll ask here. If for no other reason, then just for the record.

James Jordan said in his nebulous apology:

. . . being neither in the PCA nor a presbyterian, anything beyond a general expression of concern or horror at how these affairs are being conducted is inappropriate.

So which is it Mr. Jordan? Are you merely “concerned” or are you “horrified?” There’s a big difference. And exactly which “affairs” are being conducted inappropriately? At this point in my Christian experience I actually find it a bit amusing when those who claim to uphold the tenets of good church discipline suddenly find themselves on the receiving end of the process now cry foul.

I witnessed the discussion leading up to the adoption of the study report at General Assembly last year – which BTW, was commisioned 1 year before. Discussions, debates, books, position papers, etc. were taking place long before that. Hardly a rush to judgement.

How many more years should we all toss this ball back and forth anyway? Why continue to disturb the peace of the PCA when it’s painfully obvious that the time for talk is now over? What more can be said that hasn’t already been said?

It would seem that the Federal Visionists, even the ones who are not members of the PCA, are hell-bent on setting up their siege engines at the walls of the PCA, so to speak. If I were a person who found myself at odds with my denominations “view” of the Westminster Standards, and the judicial process, and the supposed antinomian haters of the kingship of the Lord Jesus who deny that fiducia is part of saving faith??? who are members therein, and I had nothing but contempt and angry words of hatred to spew forth toward them, yata yata yata, I would want to wash my hands of the whole thing and/or remove myself from that denomination as quickly as possible. Hey, I guess I’m just weird that way. Go figure.

You know what they say – it ain’t over till the fat lady sings and she just ain’t singing.

Have a nice day!

Federal Vision Damage Control

Hey, James Jordan has apologized for his “over-heated” comments regarding the PCA. Well . . . kind of . . .  

What Mr. Jordan gives with one hand, he takes away with the other. This FV attempt at damage control couldn’t be more transparent. Take a look at Mark T’s latest post and I think you’ll see what I mean.

Worse Than None

Podcast Log – 1-18-08

Here’s what I’ve been listening to lately.

Gaty Demar: “Last Days Madness”

Dr. Joel R. Beeke: “Meet The Puritans”

Here are a couple on my “to listen to list.”

The Pastors’ Round Table: Calvinism Discussion

Al Mohler:Taking the Measure of Joel Osteen”

Federal Vicious

James Jordan lashes out once again in response to an article posted on Green Bagginses entitled The Discussion Phase Is Clearly Over. Here’s another taste of Mr. Jordan’s shameful behavior.

James Jordan said,
January 17, 2008 at 1:47 pm

Some men remain in the PCA because God has told them they have a duty to help the 7000 who have not yet bowed the knee to antichrist. They (The) hatred of the Kingship of Jesus, which characterizes so much of the PCA, is with (worth) fighting. The Reformed faith is that faith includes fiducia, and this is still worth fighting for, regardless of how many antinominian blogs hate it

The FV bunch really should wake up and smell the coffee. The PCA, as well as a few other Reformed and Presbyterian denominations, want them to pack their bags and move on.

You see, these men had a pretty good run as far as thumbing their collective nose at the PCA and our process of dicipline. Now, as the entire Louisiana Presbytery is facing indictment, I believe they’re beginning to realize that they can no longer buck the system because the fangs and claws are coming out like never before.

The PCA – The Spawn Of Hell?

James Jordan said . . .
The actions of the Star Judicial Chamber of the PCA are so openly wicked and evil, and so totally tyrannical, that is makes the Papacy look like small potatoes by comparison. All Christians in all kinds of churches should be appalled by this tyranny . . .

Well, the Federal Vision saga continues. Don’t miss the posts of Mark T. This guy definately has an inside track on the “doings” of the FV bunch and I really appreciate that. Check out his latest post.

James Jordan Is Loose!

Dueling Bible Verses

Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Rom 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

One morning I heard the following statement regarding Romans 8:28-30 on the Voice of Prophesy:

“First of all, I believe that the “predestination” flavor of Romans 8:28-30 is entirely trumped by the clarion gospel statement of II Peter 3:9. When we purchase airtime here at the Voice of Prophecy, I promise you, this is the verse we hold to!”

PREACHING TO THE BRICK WALL

That’s incredible. Preaching To The Brick Wall indeed!

Did you you know that one verse could “trump” another? This is especially handy if you don’t like what the “trumped” verse says. Too bad the host of VOP ripped 2 Pet 3:9 out of context and failed to consider “audience relevance.”

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

So what do you think? Did the host of VOP rip this verse out of context and wrongly use it as a club to beat down the “predestinarian flavor” of Romans 8:28-30? Does Peter really mean to say that God desires every individual ever born into this world to be saved without exception? Is this really what Peter says? I’ll give my Arminian friends a hint. The context just doesn’t allow for this much desired interpretation. What say you?

Psalm 73

Here is a sermon I delivered last summer when our TE was in S. Africa.

1 Truly God is god to Israel,

To such as are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

My steps had nearly slipped.

3 For I was envious of the boastful,

When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

In verse 1 Asaph tells us that God is good to His people. This hardly sounds like a man who had doubts and was struggling to maintain his faith in God – which is what two thirds of this Psalm is all about. But we need to keep in mind that verse one is actually the conclusion that Asaph reaches after a period of struggle with his doubts about the way God runs His universe. Like us he had his moments of doubt about God’s fairness.

For What It’s Worth

The work I do for a living is such that I am alone and isolated for many hours everyday.  My mp3 player is my best friend and I use it to redeem the time. In light of this, let me share with you what I’m listening to these days.

I recently discovered the teachings of Lee Irons. This guy is a great teacher and I look forward to working my way through his sermons and lectures. At the moment, I’m going through his series on covenant theology and his series on the epistle of James. I highly recommend both. Really good stuff. Here’s a link to the audio page. The Upper Register

I’m also listening to Jerome Zanchius. Let me give you another link. You’re gonna love this. There’s much from which to choose. SermonAudio

Notice how I didn’t end that last sentence with a preposition?

Predestination: Stated and Asserted

Last year two reformed pastors, each with his own flock, told me they were going to preach from texts that required them to introduce the doctrine of predestination. They were both a bit nervous about the outcome. As it turned out, everything went fine for both preachers. To use the words of Jerome Zanchius, both preachers delivered it “as it is delivered in Scripture.” There was no stampede toward the exits and neither were defrocked when it was all over.

Still, I understood their trepidation. Predestination, no matter how clearly found on the pages of the Bible, is one of those doctrines many people love to hate. Nevertheless, we must not shrink back from preaching the whole counsel of God. There is however a right way and a wrong way to go about it. I find the the following quote helpful in this regard.

The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination Stated and Asserted
by Jerome Zanchius, 1560 – 1590

CHAPTER V. SHOWING THAT THE SCRIPTURE DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION SHOULD BE OPENLY PREACHED AND INSISTED ON, AND FOR WHAT REASONS.

Upon the whole , it is evident that the doctrine of God’s eternal and unchangeable predestination should neither be wholly suppressed and laid aside, nor yet be confined to the disquisition of the learned and speculative only; but likewise should be publicly taught from the pulpit and the press, that even the meanest of the people may not be ignorant of a truth which reflects such glory on God, and is the very foundation of happiness to man. Let it, however, be preached with judgment and discretion, i.e., delivered by the preacher as it is delivered in Scripture, and no otherwise. By which means, it can neither be abused to licentiousness nor misapprehended to despair, but will eminently conduce to the knowledge, establishment, improvement and comfort of them that hear.