Baker Book House Church Connection
And it’s a great blog run by a great guy.
Archive for the 'Other Blog' Category
Justin Taylor writes What Was a Church Service Like in the Second Century?
Eric Carpenter has been posting about Strawman Arguments Against House Churches.
I wrote a post a while ago on Hebrews 10:24-25 and quoted David Black.
I like the quote within this post by Tim Challies titled Prudes and Puritans. The only thing I don’t like is the mis-characterization of Puritans as prudes. From what I’ve read, most of them would actually agree with the quote and aren’t “prudes” when it comes to sex.
Also see:
Who Were the Puritans?
Here is a great article:
Praying Beyond the Sick List by David Powlison
In the three strands of prayer mentioned a ways down, I seem to overemphasize #2. I find that in group prayer by and large #1 tends to take over.
Also see:
A Sample Prayer Plan
I don’t spend a lot of time listening to and watching longer videos and recordings but this is really worth it.
Gordon Fee – Interview 1 (does this mean there will be a 2?)
Big HT to: Near Emmaus
In an eclectic post I mentioned a series that my blogging friend Robert Jiminez is starting called Has inerrancy outlived it’s usefulness? Part One. I don’t agree with this but just wanted to pass it on to people and let them decide for themselves.
Derek Ashton just wrote a blog post commenting on the post by Robert. Derek can speak for me I agree with him so much so of course I agree with his assessment.
Both plan on writing future posts on this issue.
I love these kind of posts because it shows where I may have gone wrong or just reminds me how important context is and helps to interpret Scripture:
Most Misused Scriptures
I found some interesting resources on Habakkuk after following up on a quote found in Ryken’s Bible Handbook:
God doesn’t always change the circumstances, but He can change us to meet the circumstances. That’s what it means to live by faith.
–Warren Wiersbe, Conclusion to his outline of Chapter 3
You can find these outlines in HTML format at these links:
Habakkuk 1-2:4
Habakkuk 2:5-3:19
The outline is very colorful–literally. Much of Habakkuk is applied to our present day world and New Testament references are noted. There is quite a bit about Reformed theology throughout.
Another resource I happened to find is by Dr. Thomas L. Constable of Dallas Theological Seminary.
Notes on Habakkuk – 2010 Edition
I like this quote he includes which part of why Habakkuk is so interesting.
Habakkuk is a unique book. Unlike other prophets who declared God’s message to people this prophet dialogued with God about people. Most Old Testament prophets proclaimed divine judgment. Habakkuk pleaded for divine judgment. In contrast with the typical indictment, this little book records an intriguing interchange between a perplexed prophet and his Maker.
–Ronald J. Blue, “Habakkuk.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament p. 1505
And of course there is John Hobbin’s blog Ancient Hebrew Poetry which starts out here:
The Book of Habakkuk: An Introduction
I think you can find the rest via Google.
A while back I mentioned a brief blog post by John MacArthur on Christians and Cremation. Today, Justin Taylor let’s us know about a much fuller treatment of the issue on his post called To Bury or Burn: Christianity and Cremation. He gives a nice summary of a full article by David Jones, professor of Christian ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a link to it.
This is what I’ve believed for a long time and it’s nice to see someone put it into words. The is Tim Challies summarizing what Al Mohler said at Ligonier Ministries’ annual conference.
When it comes to the confrontation of evolutionary theory and the gospel we have a head-on collision. It is our responsibility to give an answer to this question of why the universe looks old, but the most natural understanding comes to this: the universe looks old because the Creator made it whole. When he made Adam, Adam was not a fetus but a man. By our understanding this would have required time. But for God it did not. He put Adam in the garden, which was not merely seeds, but a fertile, mature garden. God creates and makes things whole.
Read the whole article.
I made up a word in case you’re wondering and the subject line is sarcastic.
Finally some Christians are lashing out about the recent slew of posts and articles by Christians about how legitimate macro evolution is and how those who don’t believe this are just not very smart and are making Christians look like a cult. A cult? How can that be when only about 50% of anybody believes in evolution? And Christianity is rather cultish. There is only one way to God, Jesus, or the highway to hell (John 14:6). Is that not cultish? How about a blood sacrifice needed for the forgiveness of sins? That’s just absurd (to a non-religious person). Evolution is nothing compared to that.
Scientists are baffled! by Dan Phillips
Evolution Is False Religion by John MacArthur
I know these two are everybody’s favorites.
Seriously, I don’t think everyone who is a Christian who really believes in macro evolution isn’t a Christian. There is room for debate and I’m no expert. What bothers me is when people make ridiculous statements and/or believe evolution because they don’t believe all of what the Bible says. There is also room for the genre of Genesis and other related Scripture as poetry or allegory although I strongly disagree. Some of my best blogging friends believe Genesis 1 is poetry or allegory and they are very thoughtful committed believers. The important thing is the extent of the sovereignty of God (or having a ‘high view’ of it which I know may sound arrogant) and I will always uphold that no matter what.
I don’t like to rant on this blog very often but just felt like it here. I like to keep things positive and just post about what I’m learning. But I can be a hothead so I let it out now and then at the risk of having to take what I dish out.
Here is a blog called ἐξήγησις (ntexegesis.blogspot.com) written by Professor Ardel Caneday that goes through issues of exegesis in the Greek New Testament.
HT: Douglas Mangum
This ABC News clip about Bruce Waltke is proof of how “fair and balanced” our media are. We are told the debate is between “Creationism” and “Evolution.” Why not the more accurate and balanced “Evolutionism”?
–Dave Black, Dave Black Online
Here is a good blog post on the ridiculousness of Christianity becoming a cult if we don’t believe in macro evolution:
Life on the Cultic Fringe
Genesis 1:12 HCSB
The earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:21 HCSB So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. [He also created] every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:24 HCSB
Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so.
is you can look at some great pictures that some people compiled. It’s amazing what God has created. God created this specifically for His and our enjoyment. How amazing. And I’m so glad he gave us the ability to develop (pun intended) things like photography to capture these things at their best.
The Magnificently Captured Beautiful Places On Earth (Earth Hour Special)
How small we are in this earth that is larger and more resilient than we can ever imagine.
I saw Brian Lilly’s The Week’s End – Links for 03/27/10 and almost forgot I had been preparing my own during the week.
A nice blog with a lot of Scripture related stuff and personal writing:
And She Went Out…
New Books I Like by Kevin DeYoung
Another short version:
Two good posts at Pastoral Musings:
Jesus’ View of The Scriptures
Is Creationism of Recent Origin? – let’s put that myth to rest
More Things Not to Say to Those Who are Suffering by Ed Welch
I’m going to be writing my own post related to that based on Job.
I’m now a Blog Partner affiliate with Westminster Bookstore. You can find the Westminster Bookstore badge in the right sidebar of this blog. I like to go there to look at the items at the top of the left sidebar there like Coming Soon, New Arrivals etc.
They have a blog that I was unaware of until now:
Westminster Bookstore Blog
I was with all the Things they don’t like thinking I’m probably a hipster but then not at all with the Things they do like.
The whole idea is, “What is the relationship between Christianity and ‘cool’?” I guess I don’t need to be concerned about it and will let others handle it.
HT: Justin Taylor
I have trimmed the items in my RSS reader so I don’t have as many links to include in these posts. I hope you’re interested in at least one of these.
Photographs can help your blog look more appealing and help people know what your post is about at a glance. If you’re wondering where to get photos and which ones you can use legally, this article is very helpful:
How To Get Photography For Your Blog
You can also find free photos here at the link Free Photo in the sidebar under Categories (this will grow in time) and at Scripture in Pictures.
God’s Word translation (GW) has a new website.
HT: God Didn’t Say That via BBB (be sure to read those links also if you’re interested)
If you’re not familiar with it, Google has a blog search. It can be helpful to search for the name of your own blog and be notified via RSS when it’s mentioned. This way you can respond to them if necessary and know who’s linking to you. If they say bad things about you, you can tell them how much of a doofus they are.
Best of the Past: Trainer Tells All – What I Have Learned About Health and Fitness
My favorites:
- Working out too much doesn’t lead to good results….hence most people are still struggling after years of hard effort and little return.
- It’s never too late to build muscle….and is more important as we grow older.
- The eat low-fat advice was the biggest health disaster in the last 30 years
- The best performance enhancing thing I know of….is a cup of coffee 30min before a workout/playing sports. –I’ve (Jeff) been doing this for over two decades
Pastor Jim at Ex Libris is giving away a copy of this book. See his review post for details:
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