Thursday, July 21, 2005

On Vacation Next Week

My wife and I will be away from the 22nd thru the 30th. We are taking a vacation to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary (the 24th) and I am not taking my computer with me on the trip.

So when we return, if I am smart enough and talented like Phil Johnson at Pyromaniac
I might be able to post some of the pictures here from my vacation!

Enjoy the week but don't forget to check back here after 7/30!

Sunday, July 17, 2005

On My Desk

Right now while seminary is out, I usually try to read as much as I can because when classes are in session, my reading is usually limited to the academic realm and the loads of collateral reading that I have to do within the course of a semester. During the semester/school year, I make a pile of books on my desk which is my "to be read before seminary starts again pile." Here is what is in the pile that I am working through and hope to have done by late August, early September

1) On being a servant of God by Warren Wiersbe - my wife actually found this book for me in a Christian bookstore while we were shopping for a gift for someone, it was on sale and looks to be a good read.

2) The Anatomy of Preaching by David L Larsen - I do not remember exactly where I found this book, but I am only on page 35 /Chapter 3. So far a good read. I enjoy books about preaching, so I can try to improve my preaching.

3) Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch - I recently acquired this book after using it as a source in an exegetical paper that I wrote last semester on I Timothy 3. I may not agree with him, but I at least want to read the book.

4) From Sabbath to Lord's Day by D.A. Carson - this is another recent purchase. I have always been intrigued by the sabbath and then the "switch" to Sunday. I haven't quite figured out what I believe, but I do believe that people are too busy and do not set aside at least one day for rest.

5) Doing Right by David W. Gill - this book was given to me as a gift and it looks to be another good read because it deals with the issues of ethics.

6) Getting Through the Tough Stuff by Charles Swindoll - another gift book. I acquired this shortly after I had my accident where I broke my ankle and left foot in late January. Unfortunately, I have not read it yet, but have made it through the first chapter.

7) The New International Greek Testament Commentary on the Book of Galatians by F.F. Bruce - Another recent purchase. I am trying to build this set up. I already own Knights commentary on the Pastoral Epistles in this same series. I eventually some day want to preach through the book of Galatians, especially chapters 5 and 6. Chapter 6 interests me because of the first few verses regarding restoration and how we do not see this practiced very much today.

Just figured this might be interesting to someone.. then again, maybe not!

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Late night recollections of London events


When I first heard of the news, I knew that Phil Johnson of the Pyromanic blog and his wife were in London, I prayed for their safety and was glad to hear that they were safe. They are travelling back to the US on Friday. Phil has done a great job in telling us about the events first hand from his vantage point and also has told us about his trip to the School of Theology at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Phil's blog is a great read and I try to get over there at least once a day and sometimes leave a comment or two. Phil, thanks for the picture at the top left, I wanted to use it in my post. I hope you don't mind.?!

I had the opportunity to go to London as part of a church missions trip in 1998.

I have been to most of those places that were bombed, I have been stuck on an LU train once. I know how frightened that people can be in these situations.

It makes you think when things like this happen, and hope that those in authority will catch those responsible for such wicked acts of cowardice and violence.

It makes you want to go to London and preach the Gospel that much more to. London is a city of over 6 million people with very little Gospel witness. Right now, as I am composing this post, I can only think of TWO independent Baptist churches in the city. I know that there are probably more than that and I am just not aware of them. But the only two IFB churches that I am aware of are: Metropolitan Tabernacle and Bethesda Baptist Church.

Enlighten me if there are more... I pray that God will bless those ministries to reach out during this time and preach the light of the gospel in a needy place such as London.

Monday, July 04, 2005

As we enjoy our freedoms this day

This post is courtesy of Dr. Bob Griffin of Grif.net. I read it and thought that I would share with those who read this blog. Happy 4th to all!

[Originally by James Witt; source: Jack Price, West Point Class of '64]

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated.

But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.

Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution.

These were not wild eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot of what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't just fight the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted ...

We shouldn't.

So, take a couple of minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
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