The Foundation: May 2007

Thursday, May 31, 2007

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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

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A Transgender Pastor, Obesity, and the Shrink

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

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Monday, May 28, 2007

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How Teenagers Changed the Church

Saturday, May 26, 2007

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Friday, May 25, 2007

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Thursday, May 24, 2007

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Pastors are the Happiest People on Earth

True or False? Are Pastors the happiest people on earth? According to this Chicago Tribune article they are. The article reports:

" Eighty-seven percent of clergy said they were "very satisfied" with their work, compared with an average 47 percent for all workers. Sixty-seven percent reported being "very happy," compared with an average 33 percent for all workers."

But what about these statistics from Journey Church pastor, Darrin Patrick:

Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.
Fifty percent of pastors' marriages will end in divorce.
Eighty percent of pastors and eighty-four percent of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.
Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.
Almost forty percent polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.
Seventy percent said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons.

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It doesn't sound like the pastors in these statistics would be the happiest or most satisfied people on earth. In fact, it sounds quite the contrary. So what's the dealio? Evidently someone's statistics are incorrect or pastors just lied on their happiness survey. I would hope that a lot of Darrin's statistics are wrong, because otherwise the church has a huge problem on its hands in dealing with pastors. But I, from personal experience, would also believe that many pastors would lie about their happiness and satisfaction, because they know they are supposed to feel satisfied and fulfilled in their ministry calling and continue to tell themselves they are happy, even if it's not the way they feel.

So what do you think? Do you think pastors are the happiest and most fulfilled professionals? Should they be? Or should all Christian professionals be the happiest and most fulfilled? What does Darrin Patrick's stats, if true, mean for the church in general? Share your thoughts.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

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Common Sayings Not Found in Scripture

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

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Virtual Church

Monday, May 21, 2007

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Dose of Chambers- 5/21

Saturday, May 19, 2007

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Quail Hollow Concert Part 1

Friday, May 18, 2007

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Foundation Mission Trip

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Morning and Evening: May 18th

Thursday, May 17, 2007

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3M Club-May 19th

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

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Televangelist Jerry Falwell Dies at 73

This article is from the Christian Post

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - The Rev. Jerry Falwell, who founded the Moral Majority and built the religious right into a political force, died Tuesday shortly after being found unconscious in his office at Liberty University, a school executive said. He was 73.

Ron Godwin, the university's executive vice president, said Falwell, 73, was found unresponsive around 10:45 a.m. and taken to Lynchburg General Hospital. "CPR efforts were unsuccessful," he said.

Godwin said he was not sure what caused the collapse, but he said Falwell "has a history of heart challenges."

"I had breakfast with him, and he was fine at breakfast," Godwin said. "He went to his office, I went to mine, and they found him unresponsive."

Falwell had survived two serious health scares in early 2005. He was hospitalized for two weeks with what was described as a viral infection, then was hospitalized again a few weeks later after going into respiratory arrest. Later that year, doctors found a 70 percent blockage in an artery, which they opened with stents.

In 2006, Falwell marked the 50th anniversary of his church and spoke out on stem cell research, saying he sympathized with people with medical problems, but that any medical research must pass a three-part test: "Is it ethically correct? Is it biblically correct? Is it morally correct?"

Falwell had once opposed mixing preaching with politics, but he changed his view and in 1979, founded the Moral Majority. The political lobbying organization grew to 6.5 million members and raised $69 million as it supported conservative politicians and campaigned against abortion, homosexuality, pornography and bans on school prayer.

Falwell became the face of the religious right, appearing on national magazine covers and on television talk shows. In 1983, U.S. News & World Report named him one of 25 most influential people in America.

Falwell credited his Moral Majority with getting millions of conservative voters registered, electing Ronald Reagan and giving Republicans Senate control in 1980.

"I shudder to think where the country would be right now if the religious right had not evolved," Falwell said when he stepped down as Moral Majority president in 1987.

The fundamentalist church that Falwell started in an abandoned bottling plant in 1956 grew into a religious empire that includes the 22,000-member Thomas Road Baptist Church, the "Old Time Gospel Hour" carried on television stations around the country and 7,700-student Liberty University in Lynchburg, which began as Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971. He built Christian elementary schools, homes for unwed mothers and a home for alcoholics.

With Falwell's high profile came frequent criticism, even from fellow ministers. The Rev. Billy Graham once rebuked him for political sermonizing on "non-moral issues."

Falwell quit the Moral Majority in 1987, saying he was tired of being "a lightning rod" and wanted to devote his time to his ministry and Liberty University. But he remained outspoken and continued to draw criticism for his remarks.

Days after Sept. 11, 2001, Falwell essentially blamed feminists, gays, lesbians and liberal groups for bringing on the terrorist attacks. He later apologized.

In 1999, he told a evangelical conference that the Antichrist was a male Jew who was probably already alive. Falwell later apologized for the remark but not for holding the belief. A month later, his National Liberty Journal warned parents that Tinky Winky, a purple, purse-toting character on television's "Teletubbies" show, was a gay role model and morally damaging to children.

Falwell was re-energized after moral values issues proved important in the 2004 presidential election. He formed the Faith and Values Coalition as the "21st Century resurrection of the Moral Majority," to seek anti-abortion judges, a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and more conservative elected officials.

The big, blue-eyed preacher with a booming voice started his independent Baptist church with 35 members. From his living room, he began broadcasting his message of salvation and raising the donations that helped his ministry grow.

"He was one of the first to come up with ways to use television to expand his ministry," said Robert Alley, a retired University of Richmond religion professor who studied and criticized Falwell's career.

Liberty University's commencement is scheduled for Saturday, with former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich as the featured speaker.

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Less Words=More Participation

As a ministry we are always trying to figure out how to do things better. One thing that most worship leaders (or in our case the hippie with the flaming guitar and a anti-Carolina button on his NC State Red guitar strap) are always trying to improve is...worship participation. It can be frustrating to a worship leader when it seems like the words are falling on deaf ears and what is happening is more like a zombie festival than a glorious celebration of our Risen Lord. I've heard the example many times from preachers about how people will get all jacked up for a football game or a NASCAR race, but sit around like a slug on a log in church. So I was very excited when I ran across Brother Slawson's post over on TomintheBox that describes what one church has done to improve worship participation.

Original Post or you can view the post below. (By the way, Yes, it is satirical)

"We've all done it. We've been singing a song with a group, or maybe especially when we are alone, and we simply cannot remember the words. We get stuck. That's what we want to avoid," explained McKinley Grant, Senior Music Minister for Internal Outreach at The Gathering Spot.

This former First Baptist Church of West Baines, Arkansas was once filled hymnals in the racks on the backs of pews. "These books were more commonly referred to as 'song books' or 'hymn books'," said Grant. "I always wondered what those funny racks were on the back of the pews," said 15 year old Iris Johnson standing nearby.

In the later 1990's the church was the first in West Baines to go completely to Power Point presentations. "It was revival," said 22 year old Haley Williams. "You could tell that the PowerPoint brought the Spirit to this very spot." Which may be, in part, why the church voted to change it's name to The Gathering Spot at the turn of the millennium. The name change brought excitement and attendance grew for a while. But, "soon it seemed that attendance became stagnant. That's when I came up with the idea of the repetitive one word song," said Grant. "Quiet simply, the song consists of repeating the same word over and over again to a common tune."

Grant continued, "It all started when we were singing 'Holy, Holy, Holy' off the song screen during one morning service. I noticed vastly different participation throughout the song. There was obviously greater participation during the repetitive 'Holy Holy Holy' parts. When we came to other words and phrases, there was a considerable drop off in the volume. Then it hit me. With less different words in the song, more people will be able to remember the words. It's a simple concept, and it works."

Noah Thornton, 17, testified, "With the new songs, I get it, I finally get it. Before, when the words were constantly whizzing by on the song screen, I couldn't keep up. I never knew how to say most of those bigger church words. But now, after singing 'Sanctification' over and over again, it's obvious to me that these types of songs have helped me grow spiritually. I can now pronounce the word 'sanctification' with confidence."

"Don't worry," said Grant, "it's not all churchy all the time. Most days we begin with a very comfortable ice breaker. For example, this week, we plan to sing the repetitive one word song 'Joy' to the theme of The Flintstones. Now who can't do that? Everyone will participate, and it's a lot of fun. Last week, we opened with 'Faith' to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. The week before that, it was 'Hope" to the theme from Welcome Back Kotter. Try it yourself. You'll see."

Brother Slawson.

Monday, May 14, 2007

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Dose of Chambers

Seeing how we are mere writing amateurs, we like to devote space to some of the great Christian writers, teachers, preachers and theologians who have gone on before us. Today's post features today's daily devotion from the classic "My Upmost for His Highest," written by the great Scottish minister Oswald Chambers(1874-1917).

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THE HABIT OF ENJOYING THE DISAGREEABLE

"That life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." 2 Corinthians 4:10

We have to form habits to express what God's grace has done in us. It is not a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved in order to manifest the life of the Son of God...

in our mortal flesh, and it is the disagreeable things which make us exhibit whether or not we are manifesting His life. Do I manifest the essential sweetness of the Son of God, or the essential irritation of "myself" apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy the disagreeable is the keen enthusiasm of letting the life of the Son of God manifest itself in me. No matter how disagreeable a thing may be, say - "Lord, I am delighted to obey Thee in this matter," and instantly the Son of God will press to the front, and there will be manifested in my human life that which glorifies Jesus.

There must be no debate. The moment you obey the light, the Son of God presses through you in that particular; but if you debate you grieve the Spirit of God. You must keep yourself fit to let the life of the Son of God be manifested, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means of manifesting how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure the Son of God is. The thing that ought to make the heart beat is a new way of manifesting the Son of God. It is one thing to choose the disagreeable, and another thing to go into the disagreeable by God's engineering. If God puts you there, He is amply sufficient.
Keep your soul fit to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on memories; let the word of God be always living and active in you.

Friday, May 11, 2007

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Morning and Evening: May 11th

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3M Club

Thursday, May 10, 2007

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Worship at the Greenway

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

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Back to Back

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

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Sam Storms on Top Books

Sam Storms of Enjoying God Ministries gives a list of some of the most influential books of the last 50 years, whether they should have been or not.

"I tried to keep it to ten each, but failed. As you requested, the first list is of those books which exerted the greatest influence, even if some (several?) of them shouldn’t have. The second list is of those books that I believe should have exerted the greatest influence, but sadly didn’t always do so. The problem comes when books ought to appear on both lists, i.e., they were among the most influential and rightfully so. So, I chose to construct the two lists with no overlap. Surely Knowing God by Packer and Desiring God by Piper, just to cite two examples, were among the most influential and deserved to be. But I’ve included them both only on the second list."

The Top Fifteen Most Influential Books of the Last 50 Years
(although most of them shouldn’t have been)

(1) The Late, Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey. The influence of Lindsey’s book on mainstream evangelicals and charismatics is incalculable. Sadly, many who read it simply assumed there is no other credible way of understanding biblical eschatology.

(2) Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. This is a no-brainer. Lewis has been read widely both within and outside of evangelical circles.

(3) The Left Behind series, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. We must include all the books in this unfortunate series of novels. Would that people might read them as fiction rather than non-fiction!

(4) Dare to Discipline (perhaps all books) by James Dobson. The pervasive influence of Dobson on the family, parenting, and the engagement of Christians in the social and moral debates of the last thirty years would be hard to exaggerate.

(5) The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I still haven’t read it (and don’t plan to; although I probably should). It has to be included, though, as it is the best-selling hardback of all time!

(6) Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. Foster’s restoration of the disciplines to their rightful place as normal Christian living has shaped how many pursue their life in God.

(7) God of the Possible by Gregory Boyd. How tragic that a book that denigrates the greatness and sovereignty of our majestic God could exert such widespread influence on how countless laypeople now think of him.

(8) Inside Out by Larry Crabb. Like Dobson, Crabb’s many books should probably be included under this one heading. Larry brought biblical and theological integrity to the insights of psychology in a way that changed many (myself included). I could have easily listed Larry’s book(s) below in the list of those that should have been influential. It’s important to know, of course, that Larry’s thinking about the role of psychology has changed in the past decade as he now recognizes the primacy of the church (and less so the professional counselor) in the healing and restoration of the human heart.

(9) Wild at Heart, by John Eldredge. I’m thankful for what is good and profitable in this book and for the beneficial effects it has wrought in the lives of countless men. But I’m not convinced that Eldredge’s view of masculinity is sufficiently biblical or that it fairly encompasses those who differ with him on critical points (see my review of his book at www.SamStorms.com).

(10) This Present Darkness, by Frank Peretti. Although intentionally fictional in nature, this page-turner shaped how many evangelicals and even more charismatics think about spiritual warfare.

(11) A New Kind of Christian (Jossey-Bass) by Brian McLaren. It’s hard to deny the influence of this book (as regrettable as that influence may be). If I were to make a list ten years from now I wonder if McLaren would appear on it. It all depends on whether the “conversation” is a permanent star in the universe of faith or merely a passing meteorite.

(12) They Speak with Other Tongues by John Sherrill. This was perhaps the most widely read and influential book in the early years of the charismatic renewal.

(13) The Ryrie Study Bible by Charles Ryrie. This study bible probably did as much to promote dispensationalism as did its more famous predecessor (The Scofield Reference Bible).

(14) The Final Quest by Rick Joyner. Few non-charismatics will have read this book (and that’s o.k.), but its impact on the Pentecostal, charismatic, and third-wave world has been incalculable.

(15) The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson. I listed Wilkinson’s book last, given that its influence was due less to its content and more to the way that its commercial success revolutionized the Christian publishing industry.

[Close, but no cigar, would be Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey and Power Evangelism by John Wimber and Kevin Springer.]

The Top Fifteen Books of the Last 50 Years
(that should have been most influential but sadly, in many cases, were not)

(1) Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Multnomah Press), by John Piper. This is the most important and life-changing book I’ve read in the past thirty-five years. The gospel of Christian Hedonism warrants a global hearing.

(2) Knowing God (IVP) by J. I. Packer. I’ve heard Packer say no one is more surprised by the influence of this book than Packer himself. Virtually everyone I know has read it and testifies to its glorious portrait of the grandeur of God.

(3) Systematic Theology, by Wayne Grudem (Zondervan). Grudem’s theology is must reading. Not just for scholars, this wonderful book is being used in Sunday School classes, small groups, and bible studies of every sort.

(4) The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God's Delight in Being God (Multnomah Press), by John Piper. Runs a close second to Desiring God in the Piper corpus of writings.

(5) The Presence of the Future (Zondervan), by George Ladd. This excellent treatment of the kingdom of God marked the end of dispensationalism in my theology.

(6) Jesus and the Victory of God, by N. T. Wright (Fortress Press). I don’t agree with everything Wright writes, especially his doctrine of justification. But this is a marvelous and ground-breaking achievement in dealing with the ministry of Jesus, the kingdom of God, and the proper understanding of the relationship between Israel and the Church.

(7) The Holiness of God (Tyndale), by R. C. Sproul. This excellent book restored in many of us a reverence for the transcendent otherness of God and how it impacts our daily relationship with him.

(8) God’s Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open Theism (Crossway) by Bruce Ware. Would that all might read this superb refutation of Open Theism. Bruce has done a marvelous job of demonstrating both biblically and theologically the exhaustive divine foreknowledge of God.

(9) The Doctrine of God: A Theology of Lordship, by John Frame (Presbyterian & Reformed Publishers). Although this should exert mind-shaping influence on the Christian world, few are inclined to apply the necessary mental energy required to profit from this wonderful book.

(10) Surprised by the Power of the Spirit (Zondervan), by Jack Deere. Although not all will agree with this selection, I remain convinced that Deere’s careful and biblical refutation of cessationism is the best available on the subject. Highly recommended.

(11) Let the Nations be Glad! by John Piper (Baker Books). The best book on missions I’ve ever read.

(12) Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, edited by John Piper and Wayne Grudem (Crossway). This was one of the first, and certainly the most influential, of books explaining and defending biblical complementarianism.

(13) The Gospel According to Jesus (Zondervan), by John MacArthur. A ground-breaking defense of the Lordship of Christ and a thorough-going refutation of antinomianism.

(14) Civility: Manners, Morals, and the Etiquette of Democracy (Basic Books), and Integrity (Basic Books) by Stephen Carter. These are great books, especially Civility. In a day of selfish disregard for the rights and dignity of others, Carter brings both a rebuke and a refreshing word of instruction.

(15) Jonathan Edwards: A Life, by George Marsden (Yale University Press). I had to include something about Edwards!

[By the way, Yes, I have heard of Rosalind Rinker (whose book appeared as #1 on CT’s list of the most influential). But, No, I have never read any of her books and have never had anyone tell me that they have.].

Monday, May 07, 2007

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Broad River Cookout

Saturday, May 05, 2007

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Are There Two Wills in God?

"We must certainly distinguish between what God would like to see happen and what he actually does will to happen." I. Howard Marshall

"God's will for "all persons to be saved" (1 Tim. 2:4) and his will to elect unconditionally those who will actually be saved is not a sign of divine schizophrenia or exegetical confusion." John
Piper

I've been doing a lot of studying here lately on many tough issues concerning how we view soteriology (doctrine of salvation), God's Sovereignty, and God's Will, and I can't help but have a lot of questions. One of those questions being how is it that God "wills all persons to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth," yet we know that not all are saved. This poses the thought that there has to be two different wills of God. That is to say that there is a difference between what God wants/desires to happen and what He actually does will to happen and bring to pass...a confusing thought I know.

As my belief system is becoming more and more Reformed, I find myself seeing this struggle between what could seem to be conflicting and opposing wills of God. We even see in many cases God sometimes willing to bring about what he disapproves, even sin, to accomplish some greater purpose. How can what God wants to happen not happen? It seems like whatever God wants to happen...well...it should and can happen...but that isn't exactly what seems to happen, or is it?

The issue isn't that God is weak and can't get what He wants...be certain God can get what He wants...the issue goes much deeper than that. The simple fact is: we are mere mortal humans. We can't fully understand the purposes and will of God. God accomplishes all that he chooses to accomplish. God ordains that which he chooses to ordain. God is very intentional in everything that he allows to happen, even if it may seem contrary to his nature. God's Ultimate Will is much greater than anything we can fathom or understand.

So how do we answer all the questions we have about God's Will? It's hard to say. The best we can do is seek guidance from the Holy Spirit through God's Word and pray for wisdom, but realize we may never have all the answers. I don't have all the answers...and I never expect to have them all answered, but I do know that by studying such things and developing a large view of God's Sovereignty, it's hard for one not to be amazed by God's grace and mercy. If you'd like to read more info on this topic and the different wills of God, check out the article below.

John Piper's: Are There Two Wills in God?

Friday, May 04, 2007

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Morning and Evening: May 4th

Instead of posting everyday from Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening", I am going to post once or twice a week, and Chance is going to fill in with posts from Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest".

All the days of my appointed time will I wait.'-Job 14:14

A little stay on earth will make heaven more heavenly. Nothing makes rest so sweet as toil; nothing renders security so pleasant as exposure to alarms. The bitter quassia cups of earth will give a relish to the new wine which sparkles in the golden bowls of glory. Our battered armour and scarred countenances will render more illustrious our victory above, when we are welcomed to the seats of those who have overcome the world. We should not have full fellowship with Christ if we did not for awhile sojourn below, for He was baptized with a baptism of suffering among men, and we must be baptized with the same if we would share his kingdom. Fellowship with Christ is so honourable that the sorest sorrow is a light price by which to procure it. Another reason for our lingering here is for the good of others. We would not wish to enter heaven till our work is done, and it may be that we are yet ordained to minister light to souls benighted in the wilderness of sin. Our prolonged stay here is doubtless for God's glory. A tried saint, like a well-cut diamond, glitters much in the King's crown. Nothing reflects so much honour on a workman as a protracted and severe trial of his work, and its triumphant endurance of the ordeal without giving way in any part. We are God's workmanship, in whom He will be glorified by our afflictions. It is for the honour of Jesus that we endure the trial of our faith with sacred joy. Let each man surrender his own longings to the glory of Jesus, and feel, 'If my lying in the dust would elevate my Lord by so much as an inch, let me still lie among the pots of earth. If to live on earth for ever would make my Lord more glorious, it should be my heaven to be shut out of heaven.' Our time is fixed and settled by eternal decree. Let us not be anxious about it, but wait with patience till the gates of pearl shall open.