John Piper Interviews Rick Warren on Doctrine

John Piper on Pastors and Restoration

Powerful and profound wisdom concerning a pastor who falls. Please pray for your pastors today. It's a war out there.

Prosperity and the Poor

Christianity Today has an article on the rapid spread of the prosperity Gospel in Africa and it's heartbreaking to read that it is because of America they have this destructive teaching in their churches.

"[The prosperity gospel] is the most sweeping movement within the continent of Africa," says Dolan. "The African people at large in the church have bought into it hook, line, and sinker. It offers tremendous promise to an economically deprived people."

It's also an issue of controversy for some of the larger churches in Australia. But instead of holding up cash and cars in front of people to chase after, I'd much rather see the Western Church helping to feed the poor and heal the sick. There was a great interview of Bono (of U2) by Bill Hybels during the Leadership Summit last year and I think Bono's "Gospel" to Africa is a much better one for us to embrace and proclaim.

Currently Listening All That You Can't Leave Behind By U2 Grace

Follow Up

A Cool Tool

This is a bit of a random post. First off, I guess it's a bit of a follow-up post to my previous one about moral integrity in ministry. Piper's Desiring God blog listed an accountability questionnaire that their pastoral staff fill out and go through with each other. The link is here and you can download a PDF file of the handout. It's a great tool to use, so I wanted to post it for accountability groups who may want to use it.

XLV in Big D!

And I wanted to share my excitement that Dallas just won the bid to host Super Bowl XLV (45)! So mark your calendars now! On February 6, 2011 the Super Bowl is coming to Dallas! Woohoo! They've made the most Super Bowl appearances of any team but have never hosted the Big Game. With the young talent that's assembled right now, I think they have the best shot to be the first team to play in the Super Bowl on their home turf. They'll have their new psycho-awesome stadium finished in a couple of years, which will be the best sports facility in the world (slightly biased) ... and ready just in time for XLV. I think I'm going to start saving up for tickets now :) Woohoooooo!

Currently Watching NFL Super Bowl Collection - Dallas Cowboys By Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith see related

The Greatest Weekend of the Year

In light of this Resurrection Weekend, I've been doing a lot of reviewing, reflecting and refocusing on Christ, the cross and my calling. It's been a time of letting go of selfish dreams and embracing a lot of the unknown, trusting God's goodness (character) and greatness (control over all things). It's been a time of seeing how much of my "living sacrifice" to God had crawled off the altar of worship and surrender. It was a lot more painful than I expected, but in the end, my soul felt a lot more free ... the weight of carrying my own burdens had been lifted by the arms of my Savior who died to set me free.

I also went back to reviewing something that challenged me all throughout my seminary years, something that always helped put things into proper perspective for me ... the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. There are so many favorites for me on that list, but for today, #10 and #19 were especially tugging at my heart.

I also found a second list of convictions recently and that is the one pictured above. It belonged to John Piper's father who passed away recently and was a mini-version of his own resolutions that kept him focused on living for Christ. You can read an article of Piper explaining the list here.

The older I get, there seems to be 2 dangers that keep getting stronger that I must fight: 1. The lure (and lie) of financial security and all the toys that come with it, and 2. the dangerous feeling that God "owes me" for what I did or didn't do while serving Him. Both those dangers reveal, at its core, a heart that is no longer beating for Christ and His Kingdom. Instead of reverence, there is resentment, instead of worship there is worry. And for these reasons, there is the cross on which Christ died ... so that this selfish heart can be renewed to new life, new passions and new energy and joy that we never would have known before.

And this Resurrection weekend is a reminder that I need Christ and His sacrifice more today than I ever have before. It's a reminder that I was a beggar who received life's greatest riches that will last through eternity. It's a weekend to soften my heart again and remember the reason why God gives me life each day ... and that is live my life aways for Christ, His honor, His glory and His Kingdom. Happy Resurrection Sunday everyone. He is risen!

Currently Listening How Great Is Our God By Passion ... Live Worship From Passion05 Holy is the Lord

A Rookie Again

My 1 year sabbatical officially concluded last week, and I preached my first full sermon last Sunday in over a year and boy did I feel rusty! I felt like I was preaching for the first time all over again. Even during the preparation of it, I felt like I was taking baby steps all over again.

To be honest, the whole process for me was very frustrating. It's a skill and a craft I was once so comfortable with and now I felt like I was starting all over again. This was by far the longest I had ever gone without preaching since I started ministry over 12 years ago ... but before I spent too much time feeling sorry for myself, I had to re-read a book that has always kept preaching (and the preacher) in the proper perspective for me. It's a book that humbles me every time I read it and reminds of the sacredness of pulpit ministry ... it reminds me that preaching is all about exalting Christ ... it reminds me that before stepping in front of God's people, I need to kneel down before God Himself ... to humble myself before Him and surrender myself before His throne of grace.

I have always felt that proclaiming His Word and His Gospel before others was one of the greatest honors I could ever experience in my life. And last weekend was a good reminder that preparing and delivering a sermon is a sacred honor, it is hard work and it something that should be done with fear and trembling before a holy God.

Please Pray for Me (and all the preachers/pastors in your life)

So if you are able, please pray for me to always have this holy fear and reverence of God and His calling upon my life ... and to the task of preaching His Word. Pray I would be faithful to the text and faithful to the task ... and above all, please pray that Christ would be exalted on high as supreme above all other things ever time I open my mouth. Thank you for your precious prayers.

"If God is not supreme in our preaching, where in this world will the people hear about the supremacy of God? If we do not spread a banquet of God's beauty on Sunday morning, will not our people seek in vain to satisfy their inconsolable longing with the cotton candy pleasures of pastimes and religious hype? If the fountain of living water does not flow from the mountain of God's sovereign grace on Sunday morning, will not the people hew for themselves cisterns on Monday, broken cisterns that can hold no water?"
John Piper, The Supremacy of God in Preaching

Currently Listening All I Want Is You [CD SINGLE] [IMPORT] U2 see related

Piper and Language

Just got back to Sydney and am trying to give my body and time clock plenty of time to adjust. I'll update soon (hopefully) on what's been going on, but for now, I wanted to share an interesting discussion between two friends and theologians: John Piper responds to his use of what some called "inappropriate" language and Wayne Grudem's email to Piper after reading his response. I found it a worthwhile read.

And one of the saddest and most touching songs I've ever come across ...

Currently Listening Dance With My Father By Luther Vandross Dance With My Father

A 10 Minute Feast for Your Soul

The Supremacy of Christ



Passion

This is an invigorating way to spend 10 minutes of your day :) This video clip brings waves of worship and strength to my inner being. I hope it does for you as well. A couple of things to keep in prayer ... obviously the whole Ted Haggard scandal that's rocked the evangelical world this past week.

Sadness

Man, every time I hear of pastors falling it saddens my soul so deeply ... and brings with it a splash of cold water to my face, reminding me how weak we are apart from Christ and that there is an enemy out to steal, kill and destroy all who hold allegiance to Christ. My prayers go out for him, his family, his congregation and for those who have grown cynical to Christ because of the Church's sins (including mine). May God bring healing and restoration to His servants and to our witness in this world.

Prayer

Another thing to keep in prayer would be the nations that are in need of leaders who will lead with justice and truth. Recently, there was a study done that revealed the most corrupt governments in the world. When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. [Proverbs 29:2] Interesting to see which countries are getting better and which are getting worse (USA!).

U2 Baby!

And I shall end today on a happy note. It's an exciting week for me with U2 finally in Australia! They began their Vertigo Tour again last night in Brisbane and I'll be heading over to their first Sydney show this Friday. I'm so excited. Seeing them in the news and getting interviewed all over television here, the excitement level is building with every passing day. 2 days and counting! =)

Currently Listening The Joshua Tree By U2 Where the Streets Have No Name