The Complex World's Soundbite Solutions

Found this video today as I was meditating upon the 2008 election. Especially, I was asking: what wisdom is the American church bringing to this intensely fought election where partisan politics have now reached a boiling point.

A few words of wisdom from a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Brothers In Arms

Just completed a delightful Saturday session meeting with my fellows elders in our local congregation. Bruce. Hartley. Jack. These men truly are my brothers in arms. We asked big questioned, and wrestled with where the Lord is taking us.

Unlike this picture, we don't wear a uniform. But we do carry the Sword of the Spirit. We wrestle, but it is not against flesh and blood. We do good to all men, while seeking out those who are the Lord's.



We are brothers, because we have the same Father in heaven. Our Big Brother gave his life that we might have life. Then he sent his Spirit to live within us. This means that we have the tightest of bonds, even as we labor to be what God has called us to be. Guys, I appreciate you. You have gifts and perspectives that I need. You bring substance that fills the many holes in my thinking. I'm glad to lock arms with such men, who are unashamedly servants of the Most High God.

Let's labor to live out the matters we've discussed. Let's BE (together) what God wants us to be. Let's lead his church forward into the Lord's will. Let's focuse together on intentional relationships ("R before I, except after T"). They make all the difference in the world.

Ligonier Is Gearing Up For Christmas!

Take a look at what Dr. Sproul and company has available this year!

Get your own - Open publication

Sharing Christ In One Verse!

I think we (by which I mean, "I") make evangelism too difficult. That's because often I'm not clear in my thinking on my part AND GOD's PART in the evangelical endeavor.

But sharing the Gospel is not rocket science. In fact, a wave is sweeping the Internet...the "Gospel-in-one-verse" wave. Hopefully, it's sweepign the world, too.

Below is one online example of how we can draw EVERY vital part of the Gospel from the single verse of Romans 6:23. Meditate upon it. And share it!

Should this come to Walton?

At our weekly prayer meeting, several local pastors began asking whether our local churches ought to invest effort in bringing this Christ-focused, marriage-enhancing movie to Walton!

Take a look and let me know what your think!

A Blessing From A Fellow Pastor

One of my favorite sermons from the National Peacemaker Conference was from John Strumbo, who spoke on the subject of integrating biblical peacemaking into the life of a local congregation. Take a look at one excerpt from this sermon.


Keynote Highlight: John Stumbo from Peacemaker Ministries on Vimeo.

Tired But Happy

My tonight is short, because I really MUST get sleep this night. However, I'll simply report that my heart is FULL of the many helpful and practical wisdom of peacemaking.

Peacemakers have ultimate confidence in the Gospel, which is the power God has ordained. This Gospel is one of grace, meaning it exhibits God's mercy AND justice in my sins being transferred from me to the cross. As a result I am free to love and follow the one true God.

I've talked these past two days with peacemakers who have seen the Gospel free people stuck in bitterness and unforgiveness over and over and over. In his mercy and grace God has already given me a conflict to address when I return home. Pray that I will be humble, a listener, and open to the Lord's direction.

Sleep in the presence of the King.

Our Amazing Opportunities

Thanks for praying, friends!

I'm bleary-eyed in Orlando typing a (hopefully) brief post on a friend's computer. My brain is tired, but my heart is full of the practical, Gospel-centered principles of peacemaking I've seen displayed over the last two days at the Peacemakers International Conference.

I've been learning all sorts of things...with many "Aha!" moments where things are clicking together for me. I've seen some very creative approaches to teaching. I heard powerful testimonies of how the Lord is igniting church's with a passion to display the Gospel's power in peacemaking.

Tonight the main official conference kicked off with a marvelous plenary session by Ken Sande. He challenged us all to make the Gospel (not the Law!) the center point in our lives, for it is in the Gospel that mercy, compassion, and grace are displayed and transformation comes. Speaking from Exouds 22-23 he pointed out that in this first extended revelation of himself, God revealed himself in terms of the qualities vital to a fallen, broken, stuck humanity being redeemed. This redemption would come to its pinacle at the Cross of Calvary where Jesus received in himself the PENALTY of sin.

The amazing truth is that in that moment of the crucifixion, cosmic justice was satisfied for ALL the sins of ALL God's people past, present, and future. Practically, this means that it is UNJUST for me to count my brother's sin against him when the Sovereign God has thundered forth "paid in full" about that same sin.

Many other marvelous things, but words fail me. The Caribe Royale conference center is really neat. I've met some marvelous people, including Ken Sande and tomorrow (I hope) Thabiti Anyabwile of the First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman Island, another plenary speaker. I had a cool conversation with Kerri, Peacmakers' annual conference manager. She told me that the conference in 2009 is in Dalls, and in 2010 is in Washington D. C.

Finally, I bought some helpful materials. Please pray that the Lord will guide me in effectively communicating in my 1) words and 2) life & ministry the power of God's peace in its vertical and horizontal dimensions. Pray also the Lord will give wisdom in bring the Biblical truths we've learned into the orbit of the RPCNA. God is good. And I am tired.

May the Lord bless you, and give you peace.

The Four G-G-G-Gs of Peacemaking

I've been cramming for the Peace-maker pre-conference these days. And learning to fit lots of information into categories.

It's always a challenge: in a knock-down, drag-out, everything-plus-the-kitchen sink conflict...just how do you begin to make distinctions that cut through the emotion-filled static toward a just and reasonable solution?

One place to start is the four Gs. Although really there are five Gs, because "the Big G" foundation stone of all the others is the Gospel. When tempers are flaring and claws are extended, reminding the parties of the presence and power AND GRACE avaiable from the Creator God begins to put a different perspective on things.

Once things calm down a bit, it is helpful to break a conflict down along the following lines.

G #1: Glorify God. We need to get to the HEART of this conflict. What is really at issue are conflicting demands (that have in fact become heart idols). As we all look outside of ourselves to the common Source of our lives and all things, we can learn to rely upon his grace, wisdom, strength, and justice to bring light in the situation that has currently paralyzed us.

Let's work to view this conflict as an OPPORTUNITY live fore God, serve others, and grow to become like the Lord Jesus.

G #2: Get the Log Out of Your Eye. Everyone needs to ask: just what is MY CONTRIBUTION to the present situation? Conscientous people should be willing to admit that "it takes two to tango." On the conflict front, that means that if there's a big blowup, both parties need to look long and hard...what part have I played in this conflict?

G #3: Gently Restore. Here is where parts 1-2 are important, for they bring a new God-focused and Gospel-centered perspective to the question we're all dying to ask: What is THEIR PART in this conflict. Here is where we must learn not to attack, but to go to our adversary winsomely and creatively. We cannot run away or live in denial of the conflict.

G #4: Go & Be Reconciled. With all the facts on the table, and our personal interests clearly outlined in good faith. We can now make wise choices towards a mutually agreeable solution to the conflict. Here is where negotiation properly takes place.

These four components of conflict resolution don't provide all the answers. And conflicts are as diverse as the people who have them. But this mental outline provides a baseline of rational processing that allows a peacemaker to come in with a level head and a place to go.

Please pray for me as I head to the airport tomorrow. I'm almost packed, and eager to learn more about putting wheels on peacemaking.

I feel like the guys who has the "idea" of a car. It works perfectly okay in his head. But in practice, how do you see conflicts resolved in the power of the Gospel? That's where the I need wheels put on my vehicle!

Get On Your Marks...

The Lord has enabled me to travel to the National Peacemaker's Conference. It is also something he has CALLED me to do (so far as I can discern). As today's news indicates, the need compassionate, competent Peacemakers is enormous.

So I'm busily preparing to head south to Orlando on Tuesday, which entails a lot of details.

But above all, I'm preparing my heart to HEAR God's Word. I need to be renewed in my mind about the importance and ministry of peacemaking. I need to see progress in peacemaking in my marriage. I need to learn to teach peacemaking to my 5-year-old and my 3-year-old, who are often ensnared by conflict with each other. I need to impart a vision for peacemaking to those I am responsible to shepherd.

Those who read here, I would ask you to pray. This trip is expensive. It will separate me from my family and my church family. But you only get out of such an experience what you get into it. Keep track here next week. I'm going to work hard to blog regularly, and hopefully upload photos of the trip. You can also follow much of the Conference on the Peacemaker Route 5:9 Blog.

Tuesday night I'll be crashing (sleeping that is) on the floor of Newark International Airport ahead of a 5 a.m. flight. I'm supposed to be in Orlando by 9:30 a.m. Pray that I make all the connections. Pray that my ears are open to discern the will of the Holy Spirit.

"First take the plank out of your eye, then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:5

A Gospel That Brings Us To God

What is it that makes the Gospel good? Some people root the Gospel in forgiveness, and it is true that our sins are taken away in the Gospel. Some make the Gospel about heaven and hell, and it is true that those who are justified will escape the wrath to come.

But I ask again: what is the highest, best, final and decisive good that makes the Gospel so very, very good. I am being awakened by John Piper to the truth that the highest, best, final and decisive good of the Gospel is that it brings us to God. It hooks us to him. It brings us to utter delight in him. It makes him our all-sufficient and everlasting treasure.

In a heart-gripping way, our God gives us Himself. Thus it is completely appropriate to say that GOD is the Gospel. The Gospel is not merely about God. Or from God. It is God. Himself.

This changes everything.

The power of the Gospel is the power of God. Heaven is the throne of God. It is the God-ness of propitiation, atonement, the Scriptures, and the Church that make them desireable. It is that same God-ness that means that nothing in all creation rises to absolute, primary being. All other things (including the Church, the angels, and heaven itself) are derived. They have secondary being.

This means that all creation has the glory of the moon, while God himself is the Blazing Center of reality. He himself is reality, and there is no reality apart from him.

There is a God Is The Gospel study guide online that begins to unfold this glorious truth. May the Lord prick your heart with his the Gospel of Himself.

Cutting Loose For Kindergarten

My five-year-old daughter couldn't go to sleep last night ... and popped out of bed wide awake this morning. She never does either of those things, much less both of them together. But today's her first day of kindergarten.

So we posed for Mommy's picture on the front porch, then headed off to school. There were no tears, and Marta immediately connected with her friends. Nonetheless, I realize today that my job of raising my daughter just got harder.

No longer does she have 24-7 contact with Mom and Dad. Now there is a whole additional influence, and schedule, and set of priorities. Now it's not just our family.

The home-schooler in me revolts at the thought. It says: we are being watered-down. The Christian in me knows better. All good things that happen in this life, in me or in my children, come from the grace of Christ.

Pure ideology does not insure children turning out right.

I find myself as a 30-year-old dad needing to quietly let go. No, confidently send my 5-year-old out into God's big world (to a very kind teacher, for four hours a day. I mean, its just kindergarten, for crying out loud :-)). But because I rest in the sovereignty of God, I can let God be God.

I will be proactive and engaged in the lives of my children. I will memorize the catechism with them. Be faithful members of Christ's church. But what a delightful and joyful thing it is to entrust my children to the Lord, knowing that just like he cared for me so he will care for them.

Because he's a big God.

Study-In-A-Box Bible

I almost entitled this post, "Bible Study At Your Fingertips" but then thought better of it. Sounds almost like Bible Study Made Easy. I don't want to do "easy" study of the Scriptures, as that will tend to yield simplistic, shallow results. I'm trying to heed the call to do hard things.


That's why today I've researched and bought the ESV Study Bible, which is designed "to understand the Bible in a deeper way."

This formidable book has 2,752 pages in it, and two million words. But that doesn't scare me, because I still have my text-only pocket Bible, which I actually use more often in my personal devotions. But I'm coming to really appreciate good (think Evangelical, Reformed, and practical) study Bibles. In them the authors have enough humility to lay their verbage right along side God's Word, then let you see if their conclusion flows out of Scripture. It takes a box-sized book to do it, but that's just my speed.

All the "study verbage" is designed to help me, a 21-century American, better understand the nuances of meaning in God's Book (like this Introduction to Ephesians, for example). And that book is my life. It is hear that the Voice of the Spirit talks to me each day and reminds me, encourages me, rebukes me, and affirms me.

Here is a picutre of John 1, to give you an idea what this Study Bible is like.

I LOVE maps, because maps give me a great deal of information, and help me to "stick my feet in the sandals" of a given Biblical character. That always makes Bible study much more interesting, and communicates to my the GRAVITY of what God does with his people. For instance, in Solomon's temple? It is usually hard. It is usually long. It is usually extremely frustrating. But through the refinement of his people, God prepares them for joys and marvels they cannot dream of imagine.

So whether you use the ESV Study Bible or not, keep going back to the Word of God. It (and He) is a stable and unmoving Rock amidst the storms of this life. The older I get, the more I delight in panting like a little nursing baby for the pure milk of the Word. (Apparently so does fellow blogspot blogger Pastor Chris of First Congregational of Waseca, Minnesota.) When I eat it, I grow. The Bible becomes more familiar, but there are always new trails to search out, new depths to discover.

I think God delights in being like that.

How Grace (Alone) Enables Salvation

Why is it that, "the letter [of the law] kills, but the Spirit gives life"?

As my daughter turns five, I'm learning important lessons about the doctrines of Christianity. Most important recently has been the multi-faceted distinction between Law and Grace.

Law is the external code, the list of rules that proscribe "good" behavior. The Law cannot reward, but only bark orders. There is no relationship within raw Law. And further, we human beings aren't simple robots. We are made to belong, to relate, to love and be loved.

And that's where Grace comes in. Throughout the all the Scriptures God has given his "precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature..." (2 Peter 1:4). This is an amazing thought!

It is the promises of God that enable relationship. They provide the firm and stable parameters of an unchanging relationship, which in turn supplies me with an identity. God's promises determine WHO I AM, and are the tools God is using to bring about a fundamental change in my very being. We call this change "transformation." It is this grand construction (and destruction!) project that unfolds over the course of our lives. By it we are, in the most literal sense, changed into new people.

The more I grasp this Gospel truth, the more passionate I am that my daughter read and memorize and internalize the promises of God contained in books like this one. From her earliest childhood, I need to impress upon my daughter that her performance flows from who she is, and not vica versa.

In other words, being proceeds becoming. This is the firm foundation upon which a child can confidently pursue learning and growing. All the while they know their essence is determined by someone outside themselves...namely the Almighty God who knit them together in their mother's womb.

Proclaim the promises of God! Memorize and meditate upon them. For it is in the promises of God received by faith alone that the Holy Spirit begins his transforming work in our lives. And when the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Holy Spirit begins his work in you, well you never know what glory might arise out of the ashes!

Gustav: A Peacemaker Object Lesson

The theme of this year's Peacemaker Conference in Orlando, Flor. is a word picture. The storms of life...A beacon of light...built on the Rock. A great them for a Gospel-centered and Christ-empowered message to those committed to sowing peace (with God and neighbor) in peace.

Those preparing and praying for this conference the week's Hurricane Gustav provides a graphic lesson of just how black and threatening the storms of life can be. And how important preparation and assistance are.

Projections Friday showed Gustav arriving early next week as a Category 3 storm, with winds of 111 mph or greater, coming ashore anywhere from the Florida Panhandle to eastern Texas. Forecasts are extremely tentative several days out. The storm could change course and strength, according to experts. Yet there is no doubt that Gustav is plowing its way toward American shores.

"Let me say to the people of Mississippi: This is not a time to panic, but it is a time to get prepared," said Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour at a news conference today near Gulfport, Miss. He issued mandatory evacuation orders for those living in trailers, including the 2,700 government-provided trailers still inhabited by survivors of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast three years ago this week.

Standing by to assist as Lousiana residents as needed are 3,000 Louisiana National Guardsmen activated on Wednesday, with another 2,000 activated on Thursday according to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. He ordered 1,500 Guardsmen to New Orleans, a city devastated by Hurrican Katrina that still has 360 Guardsmen stationed there to police the city in the wake of Katrina.

Needless to say these graphic images of destruction hit us in the core of our being - as do the storms of conflict in our families, churches, and workplace. Devastation results from such violent storms, either in the atmosphere or in our souls.

However, just as our nation's guardsmen are poised to come to the aid of those devasted by such storms, so peacemakers are able to bring assistance into the storms of conflict.

Our prayers are with the residents of the Gulf Coast today. May they bravely and thoroughly prepare to face this oncoming juggernaut. May they find able assistance in the strong arms and logistical support of the National Guard.

And may attendees at Semptember's Peacemaker Conference soberly consider what Beacon is able to penetrate the darkness of such storms. It is only the divine light of Jesus the Messiah, only Son of the Living God who can sustain people amidst such fierce storms.

Come to Orlando prepared to soak in THAT message. And to BE CHRIST amidst such storms.

The One who said "I am the Light of the world" is preparing to shine as light out of (and into) darkness. He is equipping his saints to come alongside those devastated by the deceitfulness of sin. He is the Rock upon which His church is built, who will stand unmoved amidst all the hurricanes.

May our churches be built upon such a Rock, and may we find opportunities to rescue others from the waves.

"The Greatest Public Relations Campaign in History"

Ken Sande has gripped my thinking, and is forcing me to be EXTREMELY EXCITED about this year's Peacemaker Conference.

Here is a link to the speaker page where this wise man lays out a compelling vision for how it is in the Church that the "manifold wisdom" of the Only Wise God is revealed. (Eph. 3:10)

God has chosen the local church display the mystery and glory of Jesus Christ. It is the Gospel that breaks the power of sin.

I've got my tickets purchased, and I hope to post along the way during this fascinating trip.

God Is Honored By HOT Marriages!

Came across this most recent movie release from Sherwood pictures. It's a flick no romantic couple would want to miss.

A Pilgrimage Worth Taking.

This weekend our congregation begins an eight-week journey through The Pilgrim's Progress.

Our goal is to reconnect with this historic Christian classic that "breathes grace" in every paragraph. Like the Scriptures themselves, this amazing allegory equips humans to make their own pilgrimages from wherever they may be to the Celestial City.

If you doubt it's a fun read, just consider that this book has simply never been out of print since it was published in 1678. Especially in modern English, it's in the action category.

Let me invite you to sit a spell and engage your imagination with this parable. It just might change your life. Our congregation wants to place these Bible-soaked images back into our collective consciousness. In Bunyan's classic we find doctrine incarnated in picture. Truth embedded in story. Feast your mind's eye on Christian's tale of travel from this world to the world that's to come.

Participate. CHANGE. Lead.

These three big words summarize the goals of an ambitious effort from Focus on the Family entitled The Truth Project. This resource is offered with much prayer that the Holy Spirit will bring deep and lasting change to the Christian church. Click the links to view introduction clips and to learn more about this resource.
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The Truth Project is a DVD-based curriculum (and supporting website) designed to train Christian churches to an "in depth Christian worldview experience." Its aim is to tutor students in a comprehensive, systematic, and practical Christian worldview. In 12 Scripture-saturated lessons expert teacher (and PCA elder) Del Tackett takes viewers on “The Tour” of all the points of the Christian worldview compass. At times he brings in experts such as R. C. Sproul and Ravi Zacharias. Several RP pastors and RPTS alumni have used this resource in a small group context, and have found it a useful tool to engage believers in heart-changing discussion.
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How do we impart the Lord's truth to the Lord’s people? Tackett answers by first tackling the fundamental question "what is truth" and relating it to the saving work of Jesus Christ. Whatever else may be said, it is clear that a deep transformation must occur. The Christian system of truth must be taught and modeled by leaders who are themselves mature in Christ.
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Three foundational understandings form the foundtion of the Truth Framework, according to Tackett. Each human MUST answer three big questions: “Who is God?” (theology), “Who is man?” (anthropology), and “What is Truth?” (Veritology). The answers to all three questions are deeply personal. This is why Jesus said "I am the Truth" (Jn. 14:6). Truth is the content-within-relationship that disciples in union with Jesus Christ believe and impart to others. This is why Jesus promised the Twelve disciples that "the Spirit of truth ... will lead you into all truth" and then enabled them to write the New Testament (Jn. 16:13). Truth has a rational, objective component and a personal, love component.
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Upon the three Biblical foundations of truth Tackett labors to erect the four “pillars” upon which modern culture is built: Philosophy and Ethics (mind and values), Science (matter, especially developments in Intelligent Design theory), and History (time, including the American Experiment). It is here that so often God's people in America are taken captive by the world's lies.
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The Truth Project’s final lessons are an intriguing 21st century “update”. In a most engaging and simple way Tackett applies Abraham Kuyper’s “sphere sovereignty” concept to modern Sociology: What Is Social Order? Here he engages 21st century pop culture: how do we think God's way about art, media, music, and politics? He argues that each sphere “is all about relationships,” and urges us to view God’s truth in his grand design for social order among individuals & families, for owners and workers in the marketplace, as neighbors in communities of all kinds, and as citizens in our towns, states, and nation (civil government).

When we gaze upon the face of God we will be forever changed. Our hearts will be taken captive by the loveliness of God, of his Word, and of his people. Once we've beheld his goodness and truth, the world's imitations lose their deceptive luster. This is when we can begin to pray that others might come to a knowledge of the truth (2 Ti. 2:25).
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I would highly commend this worldview resource to the Reformed Church (with one or two minor caveats). It is designed to be a discipleship tool that enables regular, everyday folks to engage in transformational discussions with believers and unbelievers in their own homes.
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Are you interested in this tool to help you multiply your life in others? Then you need to know The Truth Project will not be marketed as a product. You will need to attend a training event in your area, where you’ll be equipped to participate in the lives of others, change the way they think about reality, and lead them in taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. May the Lord bless you as you minister to others.

- Pastor Brad Johnston, Walton NY
- Pastor Martin Blocki, Gibsonia, PA

Coming To Our Father.

Can you imagine 90 Released Time children learning the Lord's Prayer together. Imagine them being able to QUOTE the Lord's Prayer, SING the Lord's Prayer, and APPLY the Lord's Prayer through memorized First Catechism questions #109-125.

One other part that seems so helpful to younger children. Imagine being able to SIGN the Lord's Prayer in American Sign Language. Here is a sample.