Picking a Seminary
On the T4G blog, Mark Dever has written a very helpful post on “How to Pick a Seminary“. I’m humbled that I did take into account the 5 factors described when I chose Southern.
Shaped by the Cross (VI)
This is Part 6 - the conclusion of my personal testimony and my spiritual autobiography which I submitted to SBTS as part of my application to their M.Div program.
A few months later while listening to a sermon by John MacArthur on the emerging church, I felt my heart tugged by God to contend for my faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. I thought of all the friends and coworkers I came in contact with over the years, and realized that they could not call on Him in whom they have not believed. Honestly, “how are they to believe in Him if they have never heard of Him? How are they to hear without someone preaching the Gospel message to them? And how am I to preach unless God sends me?” (Romans 10:14-15) It was in those moments that I felt the quiet, constant voice of the Father beckoning me to be trained for ministry of His Word—a calling I am unworthy of but purely a gift of grace. 2006 consequently became a year of fruitful ministry that continually affirmed my calling—internally by the Seed of His Word and externally through friends and church leaders—and a time of learning about the weaknesses of the emerging movement and how to defend my faith with a humble orthodoxy.
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Discipline of Discernment
Tim Challies shares about his upcoming book, The Discipline of Discernment (due out Jan.2008 by Crossway).
Music Monday
British soul singer and songwriter Joss Stone’s third album, “Introducing Joss Stone,” is an electrifying mix of warm vintage soul, ’70s-style R&B, Motown girl-group harmonies, and hip-hop grooves. The album is the one that Stone describes as “truly me. That’s why I’m calling it Introducing Joss Stone,” she says. “These are my words, and this is who I am as an artist.”
I bought the CD last week, I can definitely vouch for it to be Grammy calibre–such a great sounding, happy album! I luv it:-) Check out the first single “Tell Me ‘Bout It” below and the album in my sidebar player.
Google TiSP
I missed it yesterday, but Google is offering free in-home wireless broadband called “TiSP”! It’s still in beta, but get it now;-)
Redeemer, Savior, Friend
I know you had me on your mind,
When you climbed up on that hill,
For you saw me with eternal eye,
While I was yet in sin,
Redeemer, savior, friend.
By the stripes upon your battered back,
By the thorns that pierced your brow,
And every nail drove deep through guiltless hands,
Showed that your love has no end,
Redeemer, Savior, Friend.
Redeemer redeem my heart again,
Savior come and shelter me from sin,
You’re familiar with my weakness,
Devoted to the end,
Redeemer, Savior, Friend
The grace you pour upon my life,
Will return to you in praise,
And I’ll gladly lay down all my crowns,
For the name by which am saved,
Redeemer, Savior, Friend.
Shaped by the Cross (V)
This is Part 5 of my personal testimony and my spiritual autobiography.
Call to Ministry, continued…
In those trying months, my hurt and struggles drew me to look deeper into God’s Word and the words of others before me. In time, I grew in understanding the depths of my depravity and the height of his majesty—His pure glorious holiness which cannot accept sin. Recognizing His Sovereign authority over all things, I began to understand His Divine plan in election and learned to be thankful for His grace in every moment. I found the answers to the questions in the heart and mind of my Sunday students and myself in His infallible Word. Coming to terms with these theological issues, I eventually realized that much of my own theology was “Reformed” once I compared it to various books, sermons, and articles I read from authors like Louie Giglio, John Piper, John MacArthur, Al Mohler, Mark Dever, Josh Harris, Mark Driscoll, etc..
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Three reasons
On the surface, Robert Webber’s book “The Younger Evangelicals” appears to be a good reference for church growth and ministry. But a deeper look into its contents from a biblical perspective provides me with three reasons why I should not waste my precious time reading it and using it to form my ecclesiology:
- his rejection of propositional truth
- his rejection of Scriptural inerrancy
- his de-centralization of the objective Word of God
Thanks for the heads up, Dr. Gilbert!
