Sometimes I Can’t Resist

Showing off the best kids in the whole wide world:

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Harvest Bible Chapel – Putting the Bible Back in Church

One of the main reasons I decided to align myself with the Harvest Bible Fellowship is because of an emphasis on God’s Word in everything.

Liberal churches deny the veracity and trustworthiness of the Bible. Pragmatic churches either “hide” the Bible (seeker-driven churches) or choose to focus only on the portions of the Bible that help a person fulfill their dreams (prosperity gospel churches).

But at Harvest Bible Chapel, we (along with many other Bible-based churches) believe that the Bible is God’s Word and the whole Bible is worthy of our diligent study:

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2.15, HCSB

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3.16-17, ESV

If you come to Harvest Bible Chapel, bring a Bible. We will open it together to a section of Scripture and discuss it’s relevance to our lives, seeking God’s help in understanding and applying it.

If you need help understanding the role of the Bible in your life and how to approach God’s Word, we highly recommend God Wrote a Book by Pastor James MacDonald of Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

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Dr. Ralph Winter (1925-2009)

Few people have done as much in the past 50 years to promote and encourage strategic global missions. Ralph and his wife, Roberta, established the U.S. Center for World Mission in the mid-70s. Thank you, Lord, for the life of Dr. Ralph Winter.

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Josh Hamilton, Addiction, and Worship

Last year’s best feel good story in Major League Baseball was one of this month’s books for me. I just completed Josh Hamilton’s book Beyond Belief: Finding the Strength to Come Back. Josh was the hottest prospect in baseball when he graduated from high school. He was destined for greatness.  But he threw all that away for drugs. After four years out of baseball, he was able to finally conquer his drug problem and return to the game he loved, quickly rising to the major leagues.

Here is a brief video interview with Josh that summarizes his experience:

The difference between the book and this televised interview is simple: Jesus.

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Think about it…

On the last day we stand or fall on the approval of one Person, one Master, the Lord Jesus. – D. A. Carson

I would add…

Our standing or falling is totally dependent on the mercy of one Person, one Master, the Lord Jesus.

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This is Fresh: Sermon Jams

On the way to Chicago last month my friends Kurt and Richard introduced me to a new concept: sermon jams. Check it out: sermon jams are clips from sermons set to music. I am totally loading some of these on my iPod for when I go to the gym. Go to iTunes and search for “sermon jams” and you will find sermon jams for Dawson Trotman, Mark Cahill, John Piper, and others. Word is some of our church members are going to do a few sermon jams from my preaching. Not that I believe them. I think they were just making a threat. But that will be interesting. Ever notice how you can’t stand hearing yourself? Somehow I can’t picture myself pumping iron while I’m listening to one of my former sermons set to to a funky beat..yikes! I think I’ll stick to Piper. Peace.

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The U. S. Government’s Doctrine of Resurrection

It appears our government may have more faith than many of us thought. According to this recent news story, the U. S. government has been issuing stimulus checks to people who have been dead for decades. Not sure it will work to stimluate them…I doubt it! In our study of John’s Gospel we are going to soon discover that their is only One who can truly stimulate life among the dead.

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The Curious Case of Michael Vick

To read my latest column at BP Sports, click HERE.

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Desiring and Expecting Power from on High

A quote from J. I. Packer has me asking myself this question: How much do I desire and expect God to show up in power when I gather with God’s people to worship? I do not mean by this desiring and expecting fanciful or even spectacular acts which make us ooh and ahh, but rather the power of God’s Spirit showing up to comfort, convict, and challenge us…to meet with us in the depths of our soul and cause us to walk away saying, “I met with God today!”

Here is the quote:

The New Testament writers expect that every Christian community will show forth the power of the Holy Spirit, for to enjoy a rich outpouring of the Holy Spirit is a privilege entailed upon the New Testament church as such. For churches to lack the Spirit’s powerful working in their corporate life is by biblical standards unnatural…”   – Keep in Step with the Spirit, J. I. Packer, p. 200.

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