Thursday Thoughts

Thabiti Anyabwile asks an important question, "Which provokes more awe: An Evangelical Church Service of the U.S. Marines"  I have to say that in my experience many Evangelical worship services do not provoke much awe at all.  This was a good reminder to me of how important it is to strive to exalt God and His Son our Saviour Jesus Christ in worship.  Sadly, I am sure I have failed at that many times.

Over at Beauty and Depravity, there is an excellent post on Pastoral Health that points out that working as a pastor is now considered "one of the most dangerous or unhealthiest professions."  I wish I could say I did not see that in pastoral ministry, but in my own experience and in my interaction with other pastors, I see it all around me. 

Related to this Mark Driscoll post on how his health is being affected by ministry.  I have been there, and over the past month or so have been there.

Finally, Jim over at Old Truth posted a brief observation on Evangelism, Then and Now.

Thursday Thoughts

Over at Grey in Black and White, Shawn links to this article in the Ottawa Citizen that points out that Christianity builds democracy. Sadly, most people in North America seem to have forgotten this completely, and started to see Christianity as a threat to democracy.

Al Mohler has been putting up some wonderful posts this past week. I have linked over in an other post, but thought this one was worth adding to Thursday Thoughts. It deals with the growing tendency to put aside church activities for "Family" time. It also speaks a little of something that I believe is very important, that is, that the church should avoid "segregating families once they arrive." I believe the church is meant to break down the divisions between believers, not re-enforce what the world does.

That is all for this week.

Thursday Thoughts

Dan over at Pyromaniacs posts on how to be a pathetic leader. I figure this comes pretty easily to all of us, so we need the warning about it.

Denny Burk posts on how even the secular archaeologists think that the Jesus Tomb that is being produced and plugged by James Cameron is a bunch of hog-wash.

If you know a little Biblical Greek, or are considering learning it, check out Dan Phillips new blog.

That is it for this week. It is cold, snowy, icy, freezing rainy outside, and I have more work to do.

Thursday Thoughts

Over at johnrmccraken.com, John posts a helpful tip on Evangelism and small groups.

Another blog that I have started to read, and find very encouraging, interesting, and helpful, is Sharing Jesus. This blog has both helpful hints on sharing the gospel every day, and the person doing it practices what he teaches. He is out there doing it. Some may question the value of some of the things he does, but he is out there doing it. Are they? Two helpful posts of those I have read are The Gospel of John as as Tract (which has a useful link to a source for free Gospels of John) and Starbucks Coffee Shop (which reminded me that places like coffee shops can be a place to meet with unbelievers and talk to them about the gospel)

With all the talk about Global Warming, it is interesting that unlike those in the spotlight want to claim, actual scientists who are not sponsored by big oil companies are questioning the truth of human caused warming. Here is an article in the National Post. Also check out these radio interviews of men with actual credentials who point out some of the shortcomings of the IPCC. Finally, yet another article. When other types of pollution are much more harmful to people right now (think of the horrible smog found in many large cities around this world that not only contains carcinogenic compounds and causes severe asthma attacks in those susceptible to them not to mention the wastes from industry that kill wildlife) focusing on warming that probably has more to do with Solar cycles than Carbon released into the atmosphere seems to be far from the most Christian response to good stewardship.

Over at Ebenezer Reformed Church blog, there is a good post on the problem of pursuing morality as an end in itself.

All I can say is 'Yuck!'

Over are Reformation21, Rich Phillips continued his posts on Biblical Masculinity with Biblical Masculinity #4: Integrity and Biblical Masculinity #5: Self-Control. I missed both of them last time, but happily noticed them before they disappeared from my RSS reader.

Thursday Thoughts

It has been a slow week in terms of blogs or news that I have found interesting.  To top that off I have been busy this week as well, so there is very little in Thursday Thoughts. So enjoy the only thing I have to share this week.

Some people just have too much time and too much technology on their hands. These two guys had a Nintendo Wii and a robot, and decided to see if they could control the robot with the Wii. The result is a tennis playing, sword swinging accident waiting to happen.

Thursday Thoughts

I found this rather humorous picture over at By His Grace Alone. I have to agree, only in America, or Canada if our weather was different would this sort of thing be found. Although I have to say that when I was really into lifting weights I would have appreciated it after my 'leg' days. I could barely walk up the flight of stairs where I used to work out on those days.

An interesting article in The Australian talks about a windmill that produces water out of air.  How this works in detail is not explained because of a patent not yet being received on the technology, but it sound very interesting.  If it works it could provide water for many people in arid and not so arid climates.

R. Scott Clark has a brief post on the truth that the gospel really does produce fruit.  All to often we forget this and start to move to some sort of new legalism. He also has an excellent interaction with Doug Wilson's Federal Vision views on justification entitled, oddly enough, Doug Wilson is Right.

Rick Phillips over at Reformation 21 has a series of posts on Biblical Masculinity:  Biblical Masculinity #1:  Fear of the Lord;  Biblical Masculinity #2:  A Definition; and Biblical Masculinity #3:  Industry.  In our world with such mixed up ideas of masculinity and femininity, these posts are very welcome.

Finally over at the New Attitude Blog you can find a link to a message dealing with Conversational Apologetics.  That is, it will help you to understand how to give a response for the hope that is in you.  If you want help in how to talk with others about Christ, this may help.

Thursday Thoughts

The Iceland review reports that some research indicates that an enzyme found in Icelandic cod may be a cure for bird flu. Apparently the enzyme "penzim" will kill 99% of the H5N1 virus in five minutes. I'm not sure how this helps us unless we all bath in the stuff, and the article does not really explain how it could be delivered, although they do mention that is might work for other flu and cold viruses. I guess those mothers who said, "Take your cod liver oil, it will keep you healthy." were actually right.

I have always been against abortion, but I cannot say that I have been as effective a voice as I would like to be. If you feel the same way you will appreciated that John Piper has some resources to help you argue against abortion. Check them out, but better yet, speak out for the unborn whose lives are in constant danger in our culture of convenience. HT: Between Two Worlds.

Here is an interesting web-cam of an African watering hole.


Dr. Al Mohler shares the lessons he learned through his recent medical crisis. Good observations that I realized I should consider while I am healthy and clear headed.

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Thursday Thoughts

This will be a new and hopefully regular installment on my blog. Basically, this is another blog-spotting and things I have found interesting this past week type of post. Partly I do it so I can keep various things I have found interesting in some location where I can find them again, and partly I do it to share those things with others. I hope those few people who read here will enjoy this new addition.



Carl Truman had some very insightful things to say about how congregations and pastors can give in to pride in our presentation or promotion of ourselves to those around us. As I read it I realize that there is a great danger in how we promote ourselves to other, and realizing that leads to the question Carl Truman asks, "How do we attract others to what we have that is good without drawing attention to ourselves rather than Christ?" An excellent question, and one that I am a pastor and the congregation I serve in need to ask more often.



Tim Challies has an excellent post concerning providence that grew out of a posting by Paul Martin on the current move in Canada to recommend genetic testing on all pregnancies so that those in their 20's can have the same choice to put their unborn child to death as those who are over 35, and Paul's following up on the dangers of genetic counseling. All of these are well worth the read.



Ian over a Rumination By The Lake has a helpful selections of links dealing with Global warming. I agree with his that human caused Global Warming is not nearly as clearly truth as the MSM would have us believe. He also challenges believers in Jesus Christ to realize that taking not taking care of the creation is a sin, and asks, "What should be do, as Christians, to provide for the environment without falling into earth-worship?"



R. Scott Clark answers a person's question on whether the call to "believe" is law or gospel.



Finally, a post from a person I count as a friend and brother in Christ who also serves in an RCA congregation. F. Scott Petersen ask and gives what he thinks the answer to "What constitutes Fruitfulness?"







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