I subscribe to the Biblical Archaeology Review, sometimes referred to as BAR. The magazine is often (usually?) maddeningly liberal in its presentation of Biblical data, but it is a resource for interesting background information to Biblical passages. BAR recently announced a new site on the internet called "Find A Dig.com". The site has links to current archaeological digs in the Middle East and in Europe. Each link gives you a little background info on the dig.
Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
Friday, January 05, 2007
on something just a little lighthearted
I regularly read columns and blogs by the NY Times technology writer, David Pogue. Given his employer, I suspect that Mr. Pogue probably is quite far removed from my political and religious views, but he is an engaging writer on a subject that fascinates me, computer technology. On his blog today, he posted a link to an amazing website promoting a kitchen blender. You will want to check out the commercials on the 'Don't do this at home' part of the site and see what kinds of things this amazing blender can blend....
Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
UPDATE: There are some ads for movies, etc. at the end of some of the "Will It Blend" commercials that you might find objectionable. My apologies, I didn't notice them before sending out the post.
Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
UPDATE: There are some ads for movies, etc. at the end of some of the "Will It Blend" commercials that you might find objectionable. My apologies, I didn't notice them before sending out the post.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
on a return to the 'thru the nt' series (sermon summary 1.3.06)
We are jumping back into our New Testament series after the Christmas hiatus. We still have two of our college kids at home, so we had a bit bigger crowd for Wednesday PM. I wish we could motivate more people to make Wednesday a regular habit. I suspect that is a lament of many pastors.
We resume our survey with 1 Cor 12-14, entitled 'Regulating Spiritual Gifts'. The proposition was this: "The Lord intends for our hearts to be governed by the Spirit so that we exercise spiritual gifts with definite spiritual control." The three chapter divisions in this section cover three ways in which the use of spiritual gifts are regulated. First, gifts are regulated by an understanding of the true nature of spiritual gifts. They come from one source, God, under divine supervision, are given individually, not sought, and each has a unique function in the body in order to benefit the whole body. Second, gifts are regulated by an elevation of the superior value of spiritual fruit. That is, spiritual fruit (especially love) is essential if gifts are to mean anything, the supreme quality of love is described, and the enduring permanence of love is seen in that it outlasts all gifts (especially the temporary tongues) and even other aspects of earthly spiritual fruit such as hope and faith. Thus, spiritual fruit should be our concern much more than spiritual gifts. Last, gifts are regulated by the discipline of the proper exercise of spiritual gifts. That involves putting tongues in their proper place, realizing that tongues are primarily a sign to unbelievers (and especially a sign that those hearing them are being cut off from God's revelation), and finally regulating their use by strict rules that eliminate all of so-called tongues speaking today. The Spirit-led believer today needs these truths to be in our minds lest we be led astray by false teaching so prevalent around us.
Sunday we will finish 1 Corinthians and move on to 2 Corinthians with a brief stop in Acts 19 in between.
Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
We resume our survey with 1 Cor 12-14, entitled 'Regulating Spiritual Gifts'. The proposition was this: "The Lord intends for our hearts to be governed by the Spirit so that we exercise spiritual gifts with definite spiritual control." The three chapter divisions in this section cover three ways in which the use of spiritual gifts are regulated. First, gifts are regulated by an understanding of the true nature of spiritual gifts. They come from one source, God, under divine supervision, are given individually, not sought, and each has a unique function in the body in order to benefit the whole body. Second, gifts are regulated by an elevation of the superior value of spiritual fruit. That is, spiritual fruit (especially love) is essential if gifts are to mean anything, the supreme quality of love is described, and the enduring permanence of love is seen in that it outlasts all gifts (especially the temporary tongues) and even other aspects of earthly spiritual fruit such as hope and faith. Thus, spiritual fruit should be our concern much more than spiritual gifts. Last, gifts are regulated by the discipline of the proper exercise of spiritual gifts. That involves putting tongues in their proper place, realizing that tongues are primarily a sign to unbelievers (and especially a sign that those hearing them are being cut off from God's revelation), and finally regulating their use by strict rules that eliminate all of so-called tongues speaking today. The Spirit-led believer today needs these truths to be in our minds lest we be led astray by false teaching so prevalent around us.
Sunday we will finish 1 Corinthians and move on to 2 Corinthians with a brief stop in Acts 19 in between.
Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
Monday, January 01, 2007
on defining the conscience (Thurman Wisdom)
A little bit of a break to read today. In my new book by Dr. Wisdom, I discovered this description of human conscience, as good as any I have seen anywhere. Can we really add much to this definition?
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
Regards,The word conscience appears over thirty times in the New Testament, but the inspired writers never explained it. They did not have to. They correctly assumed that all people, in all cultures, were painfully aware of this inflexible judge. In fact, perhaps the best way to think of conscience is to personify it as an internal judge who holds court in the soul of man. Written indelibly on the walls of man's soul is the divine law, and our internal, impartial judge rules in accordance with this law.
This judge will also make rulings based on other laws imposed upon it; but these laws — whatever temporary power they may have — can never supersede or erase the divine law written in the heart. A man's conscience maybe weak because the principles of the law of God are not well ingrained and enforced in his soul (1 Cor 8.12). It may become defiled and — as a judge who has been bribed — become temporarily unclear in its judgments. And a man's conscience may also be "seared with a hot iron" (1 Tim 4.2) — that is, so branded by Satan that it becomes insensitive to truth and judgment. But in none of these cases can Satan make conscience "wholly his." The ancient laws of God are still embedded indelibly on man's soul. Conscience still "remembers" these laws, and it rules in accordance with their standards.
[Thurman Wisdom, a Royal Destiny, Bob Jones University Press, 2006, p. xviii.]
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
on New Years Eve preaching (sermon summaries 12.31.06)
The messages on this day were a great blessing to our church family. My oldest son preached first, then son number two, then I came on 'batting cleanup' in the afternoon service. We concluded our exposition of the Christmas passages with a look at the wise men, the young Christ in Nazareth, and the genealogy in Luke. Here is a summary:
Duncan preached on this theme: 'Trust God whose providential promises cannot be thwarted.' He was picking up on the regular notation in Mt 2.1-18 of fulfilled prophecy. He pointed out that Herod, the priests and scribes, and ultimately Satan, were troubled by the coming of the wise men so they were interested in the messianic prophecies in Micah in order to thwart God's purposes in order to thwart God's plan. When you think about it, it seems odd that God would allow such an 'in your face' announcement of the birth of Christ to such a man as Herod at a time when the babe was most vulnerable. Yet God was working his whole word out - first, the place of the birth, second the arrival of the wise men (see Num. 24:17; Ps. 72:10, 15; Song of Solomon 3:6; Isa. 60:6), third the flight to and return from Egypt (see Hos 11.1), fourth, the weeping in Rama (see Jer 31.15-16). The passage ends with a very sombre story - the death of the infants in Bethlehem. But here is the lesson for us... we, too, live in the midst of the purposes of the almight God. His purposes cannot be thwarted. The call for us is to trust him, though everything around us looks like despair.
Rory preached on this theme: You and I must be utterly subject to the Father. Rory took this primarily from the example of Christ in Lk 2.39-52, which the human Jesus learned of his adoptive father's example as seen in Mt 2.19-23 among other passages. Rory noted how we as men are called to subjection, both to earthly authorities, like parents, and the authority of God. Then he showed how willingly and immediately Joseph lived out a life in subjection to God's authority, immediately responding to every bit of divine revelation he was given, whether it be to go ahead and marry his espoused wife, or to leave Bethlehem immediately, or to return from Egypt, or to go to Nazareth. Each step of the way, Joseph trusted God and subjected himself to God's authority. Joseph and Mary created a home environment for Jesus where he not only learned the Scriptures but saw them lived out explicitly as well... they went 'every year' to the Passover in Jerusalem, a requirement for Jewish men, but a matter of regular worship for this Jewish family, man and wife (and children). When the parents discovered Jesus missing, they found him in subjection to his Heavenly Father's authority, teaching the teachers and subsequently teaching the parents. Nevertheless, Jesus (the Creator of all) meekly followed his parents home, subjecting himself to them. The result was spiritual growth and stability. God prepared him for his magnificent ministry by teaching him subjection, both to human and divine authority. We can only prepare ourselves for the Lord's work and his will for our live by subjecting ourselves to the mighty hand of God as he reveals his will to us through our authorities, Word, church, and home.
The last message I entitled 'Genealogy of Man'. We began the Christmas series with the 'Genealogy of the King' and Matthew's emphasis on Christ's place in God's grand scheme. We close with Luke's emphasis on Christ's work among men, his mission. The genealogies were contrasted, to note some of the distinctive emphases that each has. [All the genealogies in Scripture have meaning and are a rich and profitable study to search these meanings out. The longer the genealogy, the more important the meaning and sometimes the harder to discover!] This is where Luke's genealogy is headed: 'The man Jesus is uniquely the Son of God, the only Saviour of the world.' Luke is most likely giving us Mary's genealogy [lots of debate here, but I think enough evidence to fairly boldly make that statement]. The list commences with Jesus beginning his ministry at 30 years of age... Luke is interested in the mission. The list contains mostly commoners. Jesus, in his mission came for every man. There are not many mighty who are saved. The genealogy in its regression from Christ to Adam focuses on the connection between Christ and Adam - First Adam a living soul, Second Adam a quickening spirit and the First Man and Second Man, the one of the earth, earthy, the other of heaven, heavenly [this speaks of Christs ability to do what Adam could not]. From Adam we get death. From Christ we get life. The mission of Christ is the mission of life. That is why he came. And then the list in Luke closes with 'son of God'. Of course, its first reference is to Adam, son of God, made in the image of God. But in Adam, that image is marred. In Christ, the true Son of God, that image is restored.
The whole doctrine of the incarnation of Jesus Christ is focused like a laser beam on this concept: God became man to restore man to his place as the new creation of God in Christ Jesus.
The man Jesus is uniquely the Son of God, the only Saviour of the world.
Well, a great day was had by all. God blessed us with a special number in the first service by some of our young men and the violin accompaniment throughout the day by Duncan's fiancee, Meg. We followed our services with a New Years Eve fellowship all afternoon, including many games (and our annual 'Sjoul bak' tournament [Dutch shuffleboard]). After supper, we showed the film, St John in Exile starring Dean Jones in a masterful monologue that captures the essence of John's writings. It is absolutely gripping, I highly recommend it. Dean Jones came to Christ in the early seventies and appears to have a good testimony of salvation. This performance was filmed at the Church on the Way, a charismatic church in California. Of course, we have differences in theology and in association with this group, but we certainly recommend this piece as a helpful resource. It sticks pretty close to the Scriptures with only a few minor errors. But the power of the crucifixion and the resurrection are vividly portrayed.
The film closed the day off with a great spiritual emphasis. We all headed home after about 11 hours of fellowship around the Word and with the body. If you would like to see a slide show put together by one of hour ladies, you can see some of the highlights of the day here.
Duncan preached on this theme: 'Trust God whose providential promises cannot be thwarted.' He was picking up on the regular notation in Mt 2.1-18 of fulfilled prophecy. He pointed out that Herod, the priests and scribes, and ultimately Satan, were troubled by the coming of the wise men so they were interested in the messianic prophecies in Micah in order to thwart God's purposes in order to thwart God's plan. When you think about it, it seems odd that God would allow such an 'in your face' announcement of the birth of Christ to such a man as Herod at a time when the babe was most vulnerable. Yet God was working his whole word out - first, the place of the birth, second the arrival of the wise men (see Num. 24:17; Ps. 72:10, 15; Song of Solomon 3:6; Isa. 60:6), third the flight to and return from Egypt (see Hos 11.1), fourth, the weeping in Rama (see Jer 31.15-16). The passage ends with a very sombre story - the death of the infants in Bethlehem. But here is the lesson for us... we, too, live in the midst of the purposes of the almight God. His purposes cannot be thwarted. The call for us is to trust him, though everything around us looks like despair.
Rory preached on this theme: You and I must be utterly subject to the Father. Rory took this primarily from the example of Christ in Lk 2.39-52, which the human Jesus learned of his adoptive father's example as seen in Mt 2.19-23 among other passages. Rory noted how we as men are called to subjection, both to earthly authorities, like parents, and the authority of God. Then he showed how willingly and immediately Joseph lived out a life in subjection to God's authority, immediately responding to every bit of divine revelation he was given, whether it be to go ahead and marry his espoused wife, or to leave Bethlehem immediately, or to return from Egypt, or to go to Nazareth. Each step of the way, Joseph trusted God and subjected himself to God's authority. Joseph and Mary created a home environment for Jesus where he not only learned the Scriptures but saw them lived out explicitly as well... they went 'every year' to the Passover in Jerusalem, a requirement for Jewish men, but a matter of regular worship for this Jewish family, man and wife (and children). When the parents discovered Jesus missing, they found him in subjection to his Heavenly Father's authority, teaching the teachers and subsequently teaching the parents. Nevertheless, Jesus (the Creator of all) meekly followed his parents home, subjecting himself to them. The result was spiritual growth and stability. God prepared him for his magnificent ministry by teaching him subjection, both to human and divine authority. We can only prepare ourselves for the Lord's work and his will for our live by subjecting ourselves to the mighty hand of God as he reveals his will to us through our authorities, Word, church, and home.
The last message I entitled 'Genealogy of Man'. We began the Christmas series with the 'Genealogy of the King' and Matthew's emphasis on Christ's place in God's grand scheme. We close with Luke's emphasis on Christ's work among men, his mission. The genealogies were contrasted, to note some of the distinctive emphases that each has. [All the genealogies in Scripture have meaning and are a rich and profitable study to search these meanings out. The longer the genealogy, the more important the meaning and sometimes the harder to discover!] This is where Luke's genealogy is headed: 'The man Jesus is uniquely the Son of God, the only Saviour of the world.' Luke is most likely giving us Mary's genealogy [lots of debate here, but I think enough evidence to fairly boldly make that statement]. The list commences with Jesus beginning his ministry at 30 years of age... Luke is interested in the mission. The list contains mostly commoners. Jesus, in his mission came for every man. There are not many mighty who are saved. The genealogy in its regression from Christ to Adam focuses on the connection between Christ and Adam - First Adam a living soul, Second Adam a quickening spirit and the First Man and Second Man, the one of the earth, earthy, the other of heaven, heavenly [this speaks of Christs ability to do what Adam could not]. From Adam we get death. From Christ we get life. The mission of Christ is the mission of life. That is why he came. And then the list in Luke closes with 'son of God'. Of course, its first reference is to Adam, son of God, made in the image of God. But in Adam, that image is marred. In Christ, the true Son of God, that image is restored.
The whole doctrine of the incarnation of Jesus Christ is focused like a laser beam on this concept: God became man to restore man to his place as the new creation of God in Christ Jesus.
The man Jesus is uniquely the Son of God, the only Saviour of the world.
Well, a great day was had by all. God blessed us with a special number in the first service by some of our young men and the violin accompaniment throughout the day by Duncan's fiancee, Meg. We followed our services with a New Years Eve fellowship all afternoon, including many games (and our annual 'Sjoul bak' tournament [Dutch shuffleboard]). After supper, we showed the film, St John in Exile starring Dean Jones in a masterful monologue that captures the essence of John's writings. It is absolutely gripping, I highly recommend it. Dean Jones came to Christ in the early seventies and appears to have a good testimony of salvation. This performance was filmed at the Church on the Way, a charismatic church in California. Of course, we have differences in theology and in association with this group, but we certainly recommend this piece as a helpful resource. It sticks pretty close to the Scriptures with only a few minor errors. But the power of the crucifixion and the resurrection are vividly portrayed.
The film closed the day off with a great spiritual emphasis. We all headed home after about 11 hours of fellowship around the Word and with the body. If you would like to see a slide show put together by one of hour ladies, you can see some of the highlights of the day here.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
on the state of religion in Canada
One of our national newspapers in Canada did an interesting series of articles about religion in the True North over the Christmas week. Our American friends might find them interesting to get a sense of what religion is all about here. Contrary to some expectations, there really is a vaste difference between the mostly secular attitudes we have in Canada and the general condition in the USA, although I recognize that the Church in the US is under pressure from secularism and other forces as well.
Anyway, here are the articles:
In the articles you will find a column by Robert Fulford, a very interesting columnist in the National Post. I think he teaches at the University of Toronto or some such post. He is fairly open about his agnostic views, but is a fair and balanced observer of religion and culture (at least as far as I can see). He has written some articles that make me think of 'Almost Persuaded'.
In the "Forum" comments article you will find the typical bluster of unbelievers who really don't have much of a clue regarding what Christianity is all about as well as a few believers who don't know a lot but are trying to articulate their faith. Take it for what it's worth.
As 2007 approaches, I think we who are in the ministry in Canada ought to look at this series of articles and find in them reason to renew our resolve and increase our dependence on the Holy Spirit for success. The task before us is daunting, but the Lord is still the Lord of All. May God prosper our efforts and bring new souls into his kingdom this year in Canada.
Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
Anyway, here are the articles:
A couple of comments... If you scan through these articles, you will find virtually no mention of Fundamentalist influence. That would be because our efforts are so small. I suppose we need to think about how we are trying to get our message out and make some changes.Empowered by prayer
With interest in spirituality on the rise and church attendance in a freefall, the National Post concludes...Savvy marketers target 'Faith and Family'
Way of the Cross video
Zealotry of South shaping the world
'Renovated' Catholicism attracts few tenants
Saving souls in Quebec
Canada's devotion gap
Fulford: Atheism's army of the smug
Forum: Future of Christianity in Canada
Channel's growth verges on biblical
Church of tough love
In the articles you will find a column by Robert Fulford, a very interesting columnist in the National Post. I think he teaches at the University of Toronto or some such post. He is fairly open about his agnostic views, but is a fair and balanced observer of religion and culture (at least as far as I can see). He has written some articles that make me think of 'Almost Persuaded'.
In the "Forum" comments article you will find the typical bluster of unbelievers who really don't have much of a clue regarding what Christianity is all about as well as a few believers who don't know a lot but are trying to articulate their faith. Take it for what it's worth.
As 2007 approaches, I think we who are in the ministry in Canada ought to look at this series of articles and find in them reason to renew our resolve and increase our dependence on the Holy Spirit for success. The task before us is daunting, but the Lord is still the Lord of All. May God prosper our efforts and bring new souls into his kingdom this year in Canada.
Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
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