Memories of Meece

Listening to this entire album at my old friend's house.



Nostalgia sets in.

Meaninglessness is the Mother of Meaning

In light of the Book of Ecclesiasties, under the fear of God, the following is true:

"...meaninglessness is the mother of meaning: enjoy life while you can." (Dr. Bruce Waltke, An Old Testament Theology, 961)

Don't Waste A Funeral

"It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart."  Eccl. 7:2

Don't Pray So Much!

"Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is heaven and you are on earth.  Therefore let your words be few."  Eccl. 5:2

The Fountain of Youth

Here.

Free John MacArthur

When I read that John MacArthur was releasing all his sermon audio for free nostalgia overwhelmed me. In my early 20's there is no doubt that the preaching of John MacArthur had a profound effect upon me.

Here is a list of some of the sermons he preached that I listened to over and over again on cassette tape (there are a few more I haven't been able to locate yet, but when I do I will post them):

Chosen by God, Part I
Chosen by God, Part II
Chosen by God, Part III

Jesus Prays for His Disciples, Part I

Thanks to Pastor John for releasing these to a public. Clicking through pieces of the audio of these sermons has reminded me of how indebted I am to him.

UPDATE:

The Master's Men

Putting God in His Place: The Case for Sovereign Choice

Links in Florida

In Florida.

Being here makes me want to where an Obama T-shirt one day and a McCain T-shirt the next just for the sake of reaction. Or maybe an Obama on the front and a McCain on the back.

No I'm not at at the World Series, but I am watching it.

I'm looking forward to getting to see some of the state this week.

Read a great line from NT Wright's Suprised by Hope, via Tullian Tchividjian, Christians "are saved not as souls but as wholes."

Abraham Piper mentions one of my favorite practical verses.

Sam Storms has a wonderful sermon on spiritual gifts that he recently preached at the church he now pastors. Do you earnestly desire spiritual gifts? I stand convicted.

The ESV Study Bible has an online edition free to all purchasers of the Study Bible. Cheers to Crossway for that great feature. It's working great for travel, as you don't have to lug around your 25 pound Bible. Abraham Piper is giving one away, see his site for details.

Olympic Reflections

I was watching badminton today. Why is it that the only time it is ever fun to watch badminton is when its the Olympics? And even that feels a little weird. Did you see the Tai-Chi master's at the opening ceremony? That was impressive. Very beautiful.

The apostle Paul said: "Run the race so as to win the prize." The Olympics are a good time to reflect on that.

Are you running your life so as to win the prize after death? Or are you running in life (running your life) so as not to face death abd what comes after--the judgment?

Are you running in such a way as to win or are you coasting?

Phelps, the swimmer, wants several medals. Are you settling for a bronze as a Christian believer? Be a bronze husband? A bronze wife. A bronze in prayer. A silver in Bible. Not quite medal in evangelism. Maybe grab a gold in church leadership. Hmmmm.....

Funny too how we exalt certain gift-ings in the church: Like swimming and Phelps is to preaching and Piper. But who cares about the Badminton players: the servers, the helpers, the intercessors. If your thing is badminton in the church--the unpopular gifting--do it well! It is amazing to watch a person play there part well no matter what it is.

Olympics: glory and sweat. I like glory but don't like sweat: the pain, the panting, the side-aches, the pulled muscles.

It is good to know that the race has been ran. Jesus won. We are called to run the same route he already did knowing that the successes along the way are because of him and failures are forgiven by Him. We are also called to run knowing that many on the sidelines are cheering: a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before.

Abraham, the man of faith is calling you faith.

Joshua, the man of courage is calling you to courage, and Deborah, the woman of courage is calling you to the same.

Samson, in many ways a failure in many areas of life is calling you to rise and finish. You can be considered faithful even after a pattern of faithlessness--Samson shows us this.

There are many more.

The Olympics should remind us that Jesus is the champion that has defeated death, sin, and Satan (See the book of Hebrews not Carman) and gone before us, and others have ran in front of us and finished well; therefore run like an Olympian not like a lazy American that only sits and watches others do the running and get the glory.

Some Thoughts, Recommendations, and Links

So glad to have my wife home...er at least back in the states. We shall return to reality in about a week.

Hit Pei Wei if you ever have a chance. Quick Chinese food that tastes good.

It was such a joy to preach at the Crossing a few times this month, and I'm thankful to Adam and Dave for sharing the pulpit.

Looking forward to fondue tonight. Something I have not yet done...

Trying to decide which book to study next. I've spent a lot of time in Hebrews and am thinking and praying about whether to go to an Old Testament prophet like taking on the Behemoth Ezekiel or going for a gospel. Speaking of biblical study tools, if you are ever in Pasadena, do not pass up the plethora of Christian books at Archives.

I highly recommend Greg Beale's sermons on Revelation, which I think I've mentioned before. I have finally listened to many of them due to the many long drives this summer. He interprets Revelation symbolically, which he believes is the literal interpretive key for the whole book. If you're ready for some light summer reading pick up his 1200 page commentary.

I thought this video was very mean and quite funny; probably not the best way to lead your wife in a joyful day or very beneficial to your relationship:

The Return

My beautiful love comes home tomorrow...


We head here.....


Let's just say I am very happy.

Those Many Controversial Doctrines

When having a doctrinal discussion, often nowadays this popular reply is the norm:

"There is so much controversy on that issue. People have been arguing that doctrine for thousands of years. It's not a big deal and not that important."

This is a very unwise position to take. Bruce Waltke reminds us:

"...more and more evangelical churches and institutions are overthrowing their heritage, sometimes on the superficial basis that scholars are divided on the issue. The truth is that scholars are divided on most theological issues, including even the doctrines of God's incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ and the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ that validates him as the Son of God. In other words, giving up a doctrine on the basis that scholars differ in their opinions shows that no doctrine is secure and the more liberal perspective and practice will prevail." (An Old Testament Theology, 236)

Isn't it Ironic? Don't you Think?

You're having stomach problems. Pretty bad ones for several days.

You receive prescription medication for it. You read on the long handout for the medication the first side effect:

"Nausea..."

This doesn't make you feel better.

Sacrifice and Stars on Monte Alban

Some of the oldest remains of civilization in the world are found on a mountain-peak in Oaxaca called Monte Alban. There people of old studied the stars, built accordingly, and sacrificed animals and humans to the gods. Looking up skyward on that peak it is not a surprise that a culture would look at all that surround in the immense sky and study and even worship. The sadness is the worship--the study and the sacrifice--was false.

The stars would have been unbelievable beautiful and captivating as they would seemingly envelop all. Sadly, I rarely give them notice in this modern world, but God purposed it that way and then used stars to point men to Jesus. Stars were always meant to shine for and to something else...they are never an end in themselves.

Sacrifice also points to Jesus. Blood needs to be shed. The image of God in us knows this. We just distort it. We offer our hearts to something else, be it the literal hearts offered by the Zapotec's or the deep places in ourselves. Hearts are still offered to gods/God and the stars are still worshiped.

We are not so modern after all.

Mi Chica Guapa

Be sure to be checking out my wife's blog.

She is blogging her adventure in Oaxaca, Mexico.

I will join mi chica guapa very soon...hasten the day!

Lessons from the Syringe

I got vaccinated today. I am not a huge fan of "shots" and got like four today...

However, I am quite thankful for them. This is a great example of God's grace to us, to me. I pay a little amount of money to ensure that I am blocked from much physical suffering.

Thanks to God for the wisdom He has given in vaccinations. I have much to be thankful for.

It is a good example of how sometimes life has pains that preserve us from much greater pains had we not experienced the smaller pain. The sting of a syringe is better then the lifetime and deathbed of a horrid disease.

All the stings of life God brings to His people are always meant for their good--always!

Luca & Me

One of my favorite peep's kids...Luca bringin' down da' hizzzouse!

Yes, I need too live vicariously through this rather small little man 'cause I am too old to dunk.

Knowledge Surpassing Love

Knowing Christ's love that surpasses knowledge is a good thing to pray for. Paul prays it. We should it pray it for others and for ourselves:

"...to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Eph. 3:19

Isn't it interesting that we should pray that we know what surpasses knowing...

Delays & Demons

Jack Miller:

"Actually delays are great because they often reveal the power of indwelling sin. We are flying high, then comes a postponement of our hopes, and we end up with an irritable spirit which shows an alarming degree of self-independence and reliance on human capacities. What we fail to see is that reliance on people, their capabilities, their keeping their promises, is a demonic faith, a cooperation in heart with the powers of darkness. We join the enemy, Satan, when we fail to rely on the promises of God to move on our behalf. In brief, our impatience often has a Devilish, earthly side to it, which reveals that we have unconsciously forgotten that trusting Christ is more important than doing things for Christ." (p. 151)

The Heart of a Servant Leader

The Danger of Goal-Seeking

Jack Miller in one of his soul-nourishing letters writes about the danger of being goal-driven in life:

"However, there is a danger in this goal-seeking. We must remember that the process of reaching the goals is at least as important as the goals themselves. In that process we are called by the Spirit to walk in intimacy with Christ, to enjoy Him and His people. I think this fellowship also includes enjoying the common things of life--really seeing the world like the simple thing of a human friendship, a good relationship with a parent, and even something as ordinary as enjoying a ballgame. I think it also includes building a good relationship with your children."

(p. 234-235, The Heart of a Servant Leader)

What Has the Lord Been Teaching You?

I listened to a short little interview of Abraham Piper and found his experience to be mine on this particular issue:

The interviewer asks: "What has God been teaching you over the last year?"

Abraham responds: "That's kind of a funny question I think because..is there a difference between what God has been teaching me and what I've been thinking about and what I've been learning? "

My feelings exactly.

I have been asked the same question and it always makes me feel odd and even squirm-ily uncomfortable because what I think is being asked seems to be a query anticipating a more supernaturally subjective response then I can give. For me, what God has been teaching me is something I have thought about or read in a book or in my Bible or a situation be it circumstantial or relational in my life. My interview would go something like this:

Question: "What has God been teaching you over the last year?"

Answer: "Hebrews" (Not as in the people-group, but as in the Epistle to the Hebrews)

No, not real super-spiritual, but then again, it is quite spiritual because it is the breath of the Holy Spirit through the inspired and unknown writer-preacher of the epistle.

What I'm thinking though is that what the questioner wants is something like this:

"I arose yesterday morning from the depths of sleep and as I arrived at the office and sat at my desk at 6:35 am suddenly I had this incredible sensation of warmth as piercing white light shot into the room (not through my TV) and I was hit by the wind of Holy Spirit and God spoke and said: 'BJ, your sins have been forgiven by Jesus my Son. He is the faithful high priest who fulfills my intention for the priesthood and is in the line of Melchizedek. Therefore you now have mediated and unhindered access into my very presence. As He is my Son, so you are my son.'"

Now, thats a bit satirical, but I think you get what I am saying.

It's good to know I'm not alone in the 'funny'-ness of the question Abraham was asked.

It is also good to know that God does teach people in the dramatic moments of life and the everyday grind. The sad thing is that we treat the everyday things God is teaching us as if its just everyday, not real important, not real spiritual. May we be certain that what God speaks in His Scriptures is never "normal." It is by its nature "supernatural" and what God prompts in your heart and mind in the circumstances of life, the conversations with friends, the sins and successes of the everyday is His teaching.

If your at all like me, don't feel like you must give a St. Paul-knocked-off-His-ass experience, and if your the questioner don't despise the day of small things and only expect those kind of answers.