Pastor James MacDonald wrote a short blog post last week titled “Congregational Government is From Satan.” The main point of his argument is pretty well summed up in the title. He really believes that “congregational government is an invention and tool of the enemy of our souls to destroy the church of Jesus Christ.” Congregationalism holds that the final court of appeal in the local church is not a bishop or a pope (as in the Roman Catholic or Episcopal churches) and not an elder, board of elders, or general assembly of elders (as in Presbyterianism). The final court of appeal in matters of discipline, doctrine, dispute, and membership is…
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Why did Dirk leave the court early?
Viewers watching the NBA Finals last night may have noticed that Dirk Nowitzki left the court in the final seconds before the game was over. He therefore missed the customary post-game celebration and shaking hands with the opposing team. Some reports have speculated that it was a “lack of class” on Dirk’s part that he left.
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It’s Been a Long Time Coming
I just finished watching one of the greatest NBA Finals series I’ve ever seen. At long last, the Dallas Mavericks finally did it. They won the first championship in the history of the franchise, and they did it in dramatic fashion. For years, the Mavs have been looking for another superstar to bring in alongside of Dirk Nowitzki, but it turns out that they didn’t need that. They did it with one superstar and a team of veterans living up to their potential. Coach Carlisle called this a victory for team basketball, and that’s exactly what this was. This title is a long time in coming for long-time fans. About…
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D.A. Carson on Turning the Other Cheek
“Turning the other cheek without bearing witness to the truth is not the fruit of moral resolution but the terrorized cowardice of the wimp.” –D.A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, p. 585
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29 Ways To Stay Creative
(HT: Tim Challies)
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Book Note: “If You Bite & Devour One Another”
I just received a book in the mail that looks to be one worth noting. The book is titled If You Bite & Devour One Another: Biblical Principles for Handling Conflict. The author is Alexander Strauch, who is perhaps best known for his book on eldership, Biblical Eldership. Here’s the publisher’s description of this latest book: “Conflict in churches is a pervasive problem we know all too well. If You Bite & Devour One Another is the only book of its kind, examining all the biblical passages on conflict and outlining key scriptural principles for handling various kinds of conflicts among Christian–whether personal disputes, issues of Christian liberty in lifestyles,…
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John Owen on the Mortification of Sin
“Be killing sin or it will be killing you… Let not that man think he makes any progress in holiness who walks not over the bellies of his lusts. He who doth not kill sin in his way takes no steps towards his journey’s end. He who finds not opposition from it, and who sets not himself in every particular to its mortification, is at peace with it, not dying to it.” –John Owen, Mortification of Sin in Believers, p. 9, 14
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Motivational Speaker Kid
Did you see the video of the little kid trying playing the part of the motivational speaker? He’s just learned how to ride a bike, and he wants to encourage all the other kids that they can do it too. This kid is more inspirational than Matt Foley living in the van down by the river. See for yourself above. Also, this kid was so good, someone rightly figured out that he needed a bigger stage. So watch him address the nation below. (HT: Abraham Piper)
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Where are the men?
Owen Strachan’s reflections on the spirit of the age are spot-on. Here’s a clip: “I cannot imagine what it is like to be a single twenty- or thirty-something woman in the broader culture today. It must be a ghastly experience. Following feminist tenets, you’ve worked your way to a fantastic job in an ultra-urban setting. Because you’re responsible, you’ve been able not only to save money but to buy a nice apartment. You take care of yourself, eat good food, go to fun shows and movies, and generally live a glamorous lifestyle. There’s just one thing missing: a good man.
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A Biblical Case against Spanking?
I just received InterVarsity’s Fall 2011 catalog and noted that William Webb has a new book coming out: Corporal Punishment in the Bible: A Redemptive-Movement Hermeneutic for Troubling Texts. Many of you will remember Webb as the author of the egalitarian book Slaves, Women, & Homosexuals, in which Webb argued for an ethic on the women’s issue that goes beyond the ethic of the New Testament. In that book, Webb argued that “redemptive-movement” often brings readers to an ethical position superior to the one found in the Bible. So even though Paul clearly argues for male headship in a variety of texts, redemptive-movement indicates that there is a better ethic…