1st it was B-Rock, now it's Johnny Mac

Senator Obama came to town a couple of weeks ago. Now it's Senator McCain's turn to visit Newport Nerws. He will be at my alma mater tomorrow. We have been deluged with commercials & mailings for many weeks now. Both candidates (& their would be veeps) have been in the the Commonwealth several times already. Obama was in nearby Norfolk and Va. Beach within the last few weeks. Frankly, I'm over being a "battle ground" state. Just a few more days and it will be over. For now I'm off to get some candy and have some fun with the family.

I liked this one

"A Christian woman attended worship at her local church every Sunday without fail. However, her unbelieving husband didn’t like it one bit, and he often asked her to stay at home, and sometimes even threatened her. One Sunday morning, the woman got ready to go to services as usual and the husband said, 'Your not going, your staying home today.' When she insisted that she was going, the husband pulled out a gun, pointed it at her and said, /Where are you going now?' The wife replied, 'If you pull the trigger, I’m going to heaven. If you don’t, I’m going to church.'"

The Bible & Us

Bible Ownership...
Most Americans own a Bible…. 92% of households own at least one copy.
Of those households that own a Bible, the average number of Bibles is 3.

Bible Reading...
In 2000, 59% of Americans reported that they read the Bible at least occasionally. (73% in 1980s)
The % of Americans who read the Bible at least once a week is 37%. (40% in 1990)
Which gender is more faithful at reading the Bible at least weekly? Women (42%) vs. Men (32%)!

Bible Study...
When it comes to going beyond merely reading the Bible to actual study of the Bible, the numbers decline sharply. Only 1 in 7 report involvement that goes beyond just reading the Bible.
(14% currently belong to a Bible study group… This is down a full one-third from 1990 when 21% said they were involved in a Bible study group)

Biblical ignorance is a serious challenge...
Our movement was blessed by God in the beginning because we were a people of the Book. Let’s not lose that emphasis. Our movement is at its best when we clearly teach God’s Word. “The Bible only makes Christians only.” Now some churches have a new slogan, “Biblically based and culturally relevant.” That’s good. But let’s make sure the attempts to be culturally relevant don’t override the need to be biblically based.

I love what Phil Johnson wrote: "That’s why preachers ought to preach the Word instead of telling stories and doing comedy. That’s where the power for ministry resides: in the Word. It’s not in our cleverness or our oratorical skills. The power is in the Word of God. And our task is simple: all we have to do is make the Bible’s meaning plain, proclaim it with accuracy and clarity. And the Spirit of God uses His Word to transform lives. The power is in the Word, not in any technique or program."

Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

What kind of fool are you?

The Bible speaks of a number of fools…

1. The unbelieving fool. Psa 14:1 “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.”
2. The ignorant fool. Prov.1:7 “fools despise wisdom”
3. The self righteous fool. Prov. 12:15 “the way of a fool is right in his own eyes”
4. The mocking fool. Prov.14:9 “fools mock at sin”
5. The self sufficient fool. Rom.1:22 “professing themselves to be wise, they became fools”
6. The Rich Fool. Lk. 12:16 “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.”
7. The Christian fool. I Cor. 4:10 “we are fools for Christ sake.”

John Oates singing National Anthem at World Series

I flipped on the idiot box last night and did a quick double take - Is that John Oates singing the National Anthem? Yes it is! I was quite surprised, but then I recalled his Philly connection. I thought to myself - that's pretty cool that John got a solo gig like this. Then I heard Buck's words at the end: "A great job by John Oates pinch hitting for his partner Daryl Hall who's under the weather..." Man! This guy gets no respect! (But he has gotten paid). He went from singing quite a bit back in the day to becoming a highly paid rhythm guitarist/background singer. I'm sure he contributes in other ways too. Hall was the voice of most of the hits and things ran their courser I guess. Oh well. The word is that Daryl Hall will be back for the next game.

The Obama Administration

Pat Buchanan warns of what we might expect from an Obama administration:

– Swift amnesty for 12 million to 20 million illegal aliens and a drive to make them citizens and register them, as in the Bill Clinton years. This will mean that Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona will soon move out of reach for GOP presidential candidates, as has California.
– Border security will go on the backburner, and America will have a virtual open border with a Mexico of 110 million.
– Taxes will be raised on the top 5 percent of wage-earners, who now carry 60 percent of the U.S. income tax burden, and tens of millions of checks will be sent out to the 40 percent of wage-earners who pay no federal income tax. Like the man said, redistribute the wealth, spread it around.
– Social Security taxes will be raised on the most successful among us, and capital gains taxes will be raised from 15 percent to 20 percent. The Bush tax cuts will be repealed, and death taxes reimposed.
– Two or three more liberal activists of the Ruth Bader Ginsberg-John Paul Stevens stripe will be named to the Supreme Court. U.S. district and appellate courts will be stacked with “progressives.”
– Special protections for homosexuals will be written into all civil rights laws, and gays and lesbians in the military will be invited to come out of the closet. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” will be dead.
– The homosexual marriages that state judges have forced California, Massachusetts and Connecticut to recognize, an Obama Congress or Obama court will require all 50 states to recognize.
– A “Freedom of Choice Act” nullifying all state restrictions on abortions will be enacted. America will become the most pro-abortion nation on earth.
– Affirmative action — hiring and promotions based on race, sex and sexual orientation until specified quotas are reached — will be rigorously enforced throughout the U.S. government and private sector.
– Universal health insurance will be enacted, covering legal and illegal immigrants, providing another powerful magnet for the world to come to America, if necessary by breaching her borders.
– A federal bailout of states and municipalities to keep state and local governments spending up could come in December or early next year.
– The first trillion-dollar deficit will be run in the first year of an Obama presidency. It will be the first of many.

With a democrat controlled Congress this may be pretty close to reality. Hopefully the republicans in the Senate still remember how to phillibuster!

To The King - Matthew Ward

In but not out...

"We need a preacher who can really bring the people in."

"If people leave when the preacher leaves they are following the wrong person."

I think it is interesting to juxtapose these two statements. If you've been around the church for a while you've probably heard some statements closely resembling these. I once said to an elder who made two statement similar to those above that "I guess it's okay to follow him (the preacher) in as long as you don't follow him out!" I don't think he got it. We apparently approve of "preacher following" when the followers come to & give at "our church." However, if the preacher leaves and they do too....well they were just "preacher followers!" Oh, the irony of it all!

Great Quote

I just picked up this great quote from Brent Nelson in an article he wrote over at CBMW's Gender blog. To see it in context go here.

Here's the quote: "Imprecision is the handmaid of confusion, and confusion the prelude to bondage."

PJB: Tribal Politics

Pat Buchanan on General Powell: "Here was a man who was rendered extraordinary honors by three Republican presidents. Reagan raised him from Army colonel to national security adviser, the first African-American in the post. George H. W. Bush named him chairman of the Joint Chiefs, over hundreds of more senior officers. George W. Bush made him the first African-American secretary of state." For more go here.

Vocabulary

Recently I encountered two people from two very different religious backgrounds under the unmbrella of "Christendom." Listening I couldn't help but notice some patterns of speech unique to each of them. One frequently spoke of "visions" and how God spoke to him. He mentioned "speaking into the lives" of people. The other used the phrase "oh my God" (& another I've forgotten) repeatedly in a less than appropriate way. The first was from a very Charismatic orientation; the other was from an old mainline denomination.

What does one's vocabulary reveal especially in religious circles? I remember in college learning the theological orientations of the major publishing houses (i.e., Broadman = Southern Baptist). Now, by looking at a publisher, I am immediately aware of potential bias. Similarly, people use words & phrases that indicate what they've been reading (or not been reading!) and who's been influencing them. Consider the following "buzz words" and phrases and see if you can detect another any underlying meanings or orientations..

• "Welcome to God's house"
• "God was a wonderful purpose for your life"
• "Don't speak that" (in rebuke of someone saying he is "sick.")
• "I'm a Christ follower"
• "You can't have coffee in the Sanctuary"
• "God spoke to me"
• "Dialogue"
• "Annointed"
• "Spirit filled"
• "New Testament Christian"
• "Christians only but not the only Christians"
• "Let's just preach Jesus"
• “Plead the blood of Jesus”
• "Seed faith"
• “Missional”
• "Holistic”
• "Narrative”
• "Don't go the church - be the church"
• "Intentional"
• "God is sovereign"
• "Conversation"
• "I don't teach, I facilitate"

I'm not suggesting that all of these are inherently wrong, but i am saying they usually are revealing. It's interesting that most groups of people, whatevr their orientation, create their on in-house lingo. There are many more examples, but I'm a little under the weather so I'll leave it at that.

Looking back at Old Ford

A week ago I was nervous. Why? I was preparing to leave for Washington, NC for a revival at Old Ford Chruch of Christ. It has been several years since I was a revival speaker and I'd forgotten how nervous I got. So, how did it go? It was a good time and I don't mean to sound trite at all. It was good to spend time with Levi Cichorz, my friend & brother. It was good to see his family. It was good to to get to know Eddie Bowen and Patrick Harrison. It was good to be with the very talented Tony Krantz every night. It was good to see this "small town" congregation being so progressive in their methodology (while remaining doctrinally true). It was good to meet so many fine Christian people who were so generous, encouraging and hospitable to me. It was all good - the fellowship, the food, the family of God! It was a privilege and honor to be with them. I can only speak for myself, but I was revived! If you ever find yourself in Washington, NC., I hope you'll stop in and fellowship with the Old Ford church.

TONIGHT: Pavlik vs. Hopkins

I'm hoping to watch this fight with a friend tonight. If you like boxing then this fight has some drama and is one to watch. Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik vs. Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins. Hopkins is a veteran who fights in a non-flashy, defensive, yet productive style. Pavlik gets in there and throws hands - with KO power. Hopkins is not usually seen as vulnerable to KO's, but here's my prediction: Pavlik by TKO in the 10th round.

PS. Kudos to Vitali Klitschko for his recent domination of Samuel Peter.

It's about time...

After a long hiatus it is goods to see that The Scripturist is finally back! Check out his latest: THE ZEITGEIST MOVIE REFUTED

From Spurgeon...

I picked this up over at Pulpit Magazine. For the whole sermon go here.

"You know what party politics are. We are all trying to [usher] in
another set of maggots to eat the cheese; that is about all it amounts to; first turn out one lot, and then turn in another. It comes to little more than that. Even in the pursuit of really good matters of policy, do you know any Christian man who goes into politics who is the better for it? If I find such a man, I will have him stuffed if I can, for I have never seen such a specimen yet. I will not say, do not attend to politics; but I do say, do not let them spot you." -Charles Spurgeon