While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
-Acts 17:16
Most anyone who reads this (well, I don’t guess you read it very often because I don’t write very often, huh?) probably knows about my Graceville days. It’s hard to believe that it’s been four years since I graduated. A good number of my friends went straight into seminary following graduation, and many of them went to Southern (or, as we called it, New-Geneva-on-the-Ohio). As the U-Hauls all started heading north, I began wondering: “Why don’t I have a desire to go to seminary?”
Well, after serving in a church for 3 ½ years (and attending one for almost a year) I am finally resuming my formal education-in the school that I grew up wanting to attend, and later thought I never would.
About a year ago, I went to the website of the University of Georgia just to see what they offered in the way of Master’s Degrees. Somewhat surprised, I discovered that they offered a MA in Religion. To make a long story mercifully short, I began reconsidering UGA about six months ago, and was accepted to the program in June. The last six months have been full of planning, writing, emailing, etc.-hence, the scarcity of posts. In my daily Bible reading, I came to the verse above as I began to reconsider attending UGA. If you’ve never been to Athens, Georgia before, I can tell you that you don’t have to drive very far down Baxter Avenue or Broad Street before you begin to start feeling a little bit of what Paul felt as he walked the streets of that cosmopolitan city.
I am excited about our move to Athens, even if we have to both find jobs in the next three weeks. I see the move there as being an opportunity to witness and minister (the two are inseparable) in a city that is very much interested in “talking about and listening to the latest ideas” (Acts 17:21). Already, some ministry opportunities have presented themselves on the horizon, and only our Sovereign Father knows what will occur over the next year or so. Reading through the passage in Acts, we see that Paul engaged “his” Athenians in three arenas: the synagogue, the marketplace, and the Areopagus. Pray for us as we develop relationships in “our” Athens-in the congregation that God will lead us to, the jobs that He will provide for us, and in the University. Pray for us that we will be faithful with the opportunities that our Father has blessed us with and-above all else-that we will glorify Him.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Monday, June 05, 2006
Why Ain't Nobody Bloggin'?
Yeah, I guess I'm not either...
Not much new in L.A.
Just praying...and waiting...and waiting...
Not much new in L.A.
Just praying...and waiting...and waiting...
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Too Big For Her Britches
Being a native son of the state of Georgia I am quite proud of the state of my birth, and with good reason. The state is rich in history: The first state to establish a public university (The University of Georgia, 1789); the forth state to ratify the Constitution; site of the first gold rush (Dahlonega, 1830's-the US even had a mint there for almost fifty years); battles of both the Revolution and the War of Northern Aggression (relax...that's supposed to be funny) were fought on her soil; one of the few states in the country to host the Olympics-just to name a few. The state is also blessed with natural resources. It is one of the few states in the Union to have both warm beaches (I would call it hot) and cool, beautiful mountains. It is one of the few places on earth where you can find a large, exposed monolith the size of Stone Mountain. Then there are the intellectual treasures of Georgia: Margaret Mitchell, Ray Charles, Lewis Grizzard (Think he's not? Read some of his columns!), Martin Luther King, Jr., Juliette Gordon Low (love those cookies!), Carl Vinson, and many others that I don't have time to write about.
Then there are those times when you wish you could dig a hole under Stone Mountain and hide.
Such has been the case for about the past week. The clown-Cynthia McKinney (who calls herself "representing" Georgia's Fourth District)-struck a Capitol Hill Police Officer after she (1) walked around a metal detector, and (2) failed to wear any identification as a member of Congress. First of all, I think they all should have to walk through the metal detectors and ride DC's mass transit system too, while they are at it-but I digress. Not surprisingly to Georgians, McKinney did not waste much time in throwing down the "racial profiling" card. McKinney, to those of you who do not know about her, is kind of like the crazy member of the family. You know who I'm talking about. The one that nobody wants to own, but since they have the same last name there is not much you can do about it. You want to talk about racial profiling? What do you think would happen if I-a white, Protestant, Republican-walked around the metal detector and kept going after a police officer told me to stop? That's right. My mamma would be coming to see me in whatever dungeon under the Capitol building they have for idiots who do such stupid things.
I also loved the comment from Comrade Nancy Pelosi (Socialist Representative from the 8th District of the Soviet Socialist Republic of California): "I would not make a big deal of this." What a riot. Sure you wouldn't, darlin'. You would like to forget about the family idiot just like you would like to forget about Slick Willy's Intern Training Program, Teddy's little ride into Lake Chappaquiddick, and pretty much Jimmy Carter's entire time in office (he should have been building Habitat houses the whole time, and in case you were wondering, no-most of us don't claim him either...). But, much to Comrade Pelosi's dismay, McKinney will make much bigger a deal of this than any Republican will ever have to-and the reason? Her childish pride has been hurt, and she just may have to face the fact that for all her psychotic rants as a representative, she is just not all that important outside of DeKalb County.
Then there are those times when you wish you could dig a hole under Stone Mountain and hide.
Such has been the case for about the past week. The clown-Cynthia McKinney (who calls herself "representing" Georgia's Fourth District)-struck a Capitol Hill Police Officer after she (1) walked around a metal detector, and (2) failed to wear any identification as a member of Congress. First of all, I think they all should have to walk through the metal detectors and ride DC's mass transit system too, while they are at it-but I digress. Not surprisingly to Georgians, McKinney did not waste much time in throwing down the "racial profiling" card. McKinney, to those of you who do not know about her, is kind of like the crazy member of the family. You know who I'm talking about. The one that nobody wants to own, but since they have the same last name there is not much you can do about it. You want to talk about racial profiling? What do you think would happen if I-a white, Protestant, Republican-walked around the metal detector and kept going after a police officer told me to stop? That's right. My mamma would be coming to see me in whatever dungeon under the Capitol building they have for idiots who do such stupid things.
I also loved the comment from Comrade Nancy Pelosi (Socialist Representative from the 8th District of the Soviet Socialist Republic of California): "I would not make a big deal of this." What a riot. Sure you wouldn't, darlin'. You would like to forget about the family idiot just like you would like to forget about Slick Willy's Intern Training Program, Teddy's little ride into Lake Chappaquiddick, and pretty much Jimmy Carter's entire time in office (he should have been building Habitat houses the whole time, and in case you were wondering, no-most of us don't claim him either...). But, much to Comrade Pelosi's dismay, McKinney will make much bigger a deal of this than any Republican will ever have to-and the reason? Her childish pride has been hurt, and she just may have to face the fact that for all her psychotic rants as a representative, she is just not all that important outside of DeKalb County.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Totally Pointless Thoughts to End the Week
I'm A Baaaad Blogger! Yes, I know. It's been a while since I've posted anything (that's the reason for the whole "undetermined frequency" thing, see?). I've been a little obsessed with my computer lately. Trying to upgrade the processor on it and tinkering with it and fuming and getting mad at a box full of chips and boards and transistors.
I'm really itching to get back in school, by the way…
Nesbit (if you're reading), get your guitar ready. I've got a lot of stuff…oh yeah, and bring the X-Box too...
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Bickerin' Baptists
…So I've been reading the blogs of some of my Baptist friends and others in the know lately (just follow some of the links to the right). I didn't realize that there were so many things going on in the SBC! I guess I've been out of the loop for a while. The church that my wife and I are going to right now is not an SBC church (it's a "Strategic Partnership" of Northpoint Church), so I don't hear anything about the SBC there. From what I've read there are two main issues going around the Convention right now: (1) The SBC presidency will likely be contested this year; and (2) discord within the IMB has caused anger, hurt, and disillusionment. I read an article that suggested that Johnny Hunt (the first nominee for President) would not seek the office. This is not particularly surprising to me. What is surprising to me is how many times I have read the word "universalist" (or some variant) associated with Hunt or with some of what he has said. You do not have to listen to him very much or read very much of what he has written to see that any such moniker is unfounded. Does he ignore some passages of Scripture where God's sovereignty is concerned? It would seem so. Does he emphasize the accessibility we have to the throne of grace to the neglect of the work of the Spirit as the Initiator of change in the heart of an individual? Again, it would seem so. To suggest that Hunt advocates the idea that everyone has been-or will be-made acceptable in God's sight, however, is neither wise nor substantiated. More now than ever we as reformed Baptists need to point out error where we see it, but we need to nevertheless be careful in how we characterize it.
Now, one thing that I like is that Mark Dever has been suggested as a possible nominee for President. There's a couple of things I like about this. First, Dever has not started a program at his church that Lifeway is likely to mass-produce, shrink-wrap, and force on everybody as the method for…well, you know where I'm going with that, so let's just move on... Second-and more importantly-his vision for moving Capitol Hill Baptist Church to an elder-led structure is one that needs to be shared with other churches in the Convention (and you will not have to shell out $350/head to…okay, I'm over it!). Seriously, though, Dever is-in my opinion-an ideal choice for SBC leadership because he clearly understands the need for change in certain aspects of congregational life (leadership, cultural awareness) while recognizing the necessity of renewing interest in other areas-namely, discipleship, biblical and doctrinal preaching and teaching (among the leadership), and biblical and doctrinal literacy (among the leadership and membership).
The IMB issue is one that I am not as "caught up" on. I think that there is Scriptural evidence to suggest that since the gift of tongues was given for the edification of believers that it is still in use today, particularly in areas where congregations are under persecution. One thing that I'm not a sure about is the idea of a private prayer language. Honestly, I was not aware that this was a commonly accepted practice among SBC missionaries. It is an area that I need to study up on, and I need your help! Have you read anything that explains it and/or defends or refutes it? Obviously I know that the use of a private prayer language is not the real issue, but this has really got me thinking. Your comments, rants, arguments, and contentions are hereby welcomed and solicited.
Your servant and His,
Veritatis Amatori
Now, one thing that I like is that Mark Dever has been suggested as a possible nominee for President. There's a couple of things I like about this. First, Dever has not started a program at his church that Lifeway is likely to mass-produce, shrink-wrap, and force on everybody as the method for…well, you know where I'm going with that, so let's just move on... Second-and more importantly-his vision for moving Capitol Hill Baptist Church to an elder-led structure is one that needs to be shared with other churches in the Convention (and you will not have to shell out $350/head to…okay, I'm over it!). Seriously, though, Dever is-in my opinion-an ideal choice for SBC leadership because he clearly understands the need for change in certain aspects of congregational life (leadership, cultural awareness) while recognizing the necessity of renewing interest in other areas-namely, discipleship, biblical and doctrinal preaching and teaching (among the leadership), and biblical and doctrinal literacy (among the leadership and membership).
The IMB issue is one that I am not as "caught up" on. I think that there is Scriptural evidence to suggest that since the gift of tongues was given for the edification of believers that it is still in use today, particularly in areas where congregations are under persecution. One thing that I'm not a sure about is the idea of a private prayer language. Honestly, I was not aware that this was a commonly accepted practice among SBC missionaries. It is an area that I need to study up on, and I need your help! Have you read anything that explains it and/or defends or refutes it? Obviously I know that the use of a private prayer language is not the real issue, but this has really got me thinking. Your comments, rants, arguments, and contentions are hereby welcomed and solicited.
Your servant and His,
Veritatis Amatori
Friday, February 24, 2006
Stand By, Commencing Posting...
Well Rick has just given his seal of approval to this site, and he knows his stuff, so 'looks like I'll be posting here from now on. I sure won't miss the stupid ads at the top of the xanga pages (I don't give a rat's little rear end what Eminem's real name is. He's still going to be a little whipping boy for the dems no matter what name he uses. Anyway...
You can still go to my old site to see the articles I've written previously.
Speaking of which; Rick just posted a reply there. I will reply to that here. I have always found the Dutch Reformed Church intriguing, although I remember reading in Robert Schuler's biography (yes, I did) that he began as sort of a church planter for the Dutch Reformed Church. Actually, though, what I would like to see is the use of Psalms alongside of hymns and choruses. I'm actually working on some tunes for some Psalms right now. Hopefully I can work on them with my brothers when I'm up in the ATL next time. I agree with your thoughts on the roller coaster; too many people are going to churches that are culturally relevant but are devoid of any doctrine, and I'm afraid that they have a false sense of security as a result. I think that churches can-and must-have both cultural adaptability and doctrinal strength. One tells us how to communicate the message; the other gives us the message.
Well Rick has just given his seal of approval to this site, and he knows his stuff, so 'looks like I'll be posting here from now on. I sure won't miss the stupid ads at the top of the xanga pages (I don't give a rat's little rear end what Eminem's real name is. He's still going to be a little whipping boy for the dems no matter what name he uses. Anyway...
You can still go to my old site to see the articles I've written previously.
Speaking of which; Rick just posted a reply there. I will reply to that here. I have always found the Dutch Reformed Church intriguing, although I remember reading in Robert Schuler's biography (yes, I did) that he began as sort of a church planter for the Dutch Reformed Church. Actually, though, what I would like to see is the use of Psalms alongside of hymns and choruses. I'm actually working on some tunes for some Psalms right now. Hopefully I can work on them with my brothers when I'm up in the ATL next time. I agree with your thoughts on the roller coaster; too many people are going to churches that are culturally relevant but are devoid of any doctrine, and I'm afraid that they have a false sense of security as a result. I think that churches can-and must-have both cultural adaptability and doctrinal strength. One tells us how to communicate the message; the other gives us the message.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Monday, February 13, 2006
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