Aug 26, 2009 | Time/Life Management
While away with my wife for a brief get-away this week, I will be giving this some serious consideration. Before You Create a To-Do List | Michael Hyatt | Chief Executive Officer | Thomas Nelson,... read more
Aug 25, 2009 | Marriage and Family
Great questions to use a starters when thinking about a potential mate. Come to think about it, they comprised a lot of what Kel and I discussed and worked through well before engagement. Questions to Ask When Preparing for Marriage :: Desiring... read more
Aug 24, 2009 | Technology, Time/Life Management
I love gadgets. I love e-mail. As ubiquitous as e-mail and gadget to fetch (or push) my e-mail to me are, I have learned to control it. I am 1000s of times better at responding to e-mail than I used to be and find my in-box and follow-up e-mail handled regularly. I control it; it doesn’t control me. Here’s some good tips. Yes, You Can Stay on Top of Email (Productivity Tip) | Michael Hyatt – Lead The Tribes... read more
Aug 23, 2009 | Ecclesiology, Technology
Really? Can we really worship biblically with the church simply through our iPhone? How does this not deny the very meaning of “Church?” Fla. Megachurch Brings Worship to the iPhone |... read more
Aug 22, 2009 | Technology
Making the switch to Mac has led me to learn some new keyboard wizardry. Any time I can use the keyboard more than the mouse, I find myself a bit more efficient. Learn your operating systems’ keyboard... read more
Aug 21, 2009 | Technology
Why haven’t I been keeping up with this? Add social media to Greader – perfect! Google Reader Adds Social Sharing and Mark as Read Controls – Google Reader –... read more
Aug 20, 2009 | Humor
If you need a laugh, watch this a few times. Funny! Between Two Worlds: Fear of Snakes (and Lizards). read more
Aug 20, 2009 | Biblical Studies, Eschatology, Featured Articles
Final thoughts on the antichrist from 2 Thessalonians 2. Intro & Part 1 His Revealing Brings His Undoing (v 8 ) Only when the restrainer is removed will the “mystery of lawlessness” or the man of lawlessness be revealed. The removal of the restrainer brings the revelation of the antichrist. Paul did not believe that his day was that day. In fact, whoever this man of lawlessness is, he will be personally undone by the coming of Jesus Christ who “will slay [him] with the breath of His mouth” (Revelation 19:15, 19-21 – the terminology is very similar). His Deception is Energized by Satan (v 9a) The coming of the man of lawlessness is connected directly to the activity of Satan. His actions are not merely parallel to those of Satan’s. The terminology suggests that his actions are the working, energy, power, and very activity of Satan himself. Satan runs the show with this man as his puppet (Revelation 13:2). His Deception is Exalted by Signs (v 9b). The primary tools of the antichrist are signs and false wonders; two elements connected together: miraculous displays of supernatural power (Matthew 24:24). These are truly supernatural abilities. His miracles and supernatural signs are reminiscent of those performed by Jesus and the apostles of the 1st century. This is far more than world-wide influence or electoral skill. This man publicly appears to be supernatural. His Deception is Embraced by Sinners (v 10) This man of lawlessness will possess the power to be overtly wicked and still convince people that his actions are God-centered. What is fascinating is that the text indicates that... read more
Aug 19, 2009 | Technology
Just when I left Outlook and PC, Office gets their act together. I’m not sure I’m convinced. It would take a lot for me to pay for Outlook again. Microsoft”™s new Office 2010 brings Office back from the dead (tons of... read more
Aug 19, 2009 | Biblical Studies, Eschatology, Featured Articles
Continuing my thoughts from yesterday’s post: What are the characteritics that comprise the man of lawlessness, or the one we would commonly refer to as the Anti-Christ? He Comes with Apostasy 2 Thess 2:3 says, “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (italics in in the NAS). The apostasy here appears to be something quite definite, not merely a period where some are deliberately abandoning the faith, but a definite time where such abandonment tends to characterize the culture so significantlythat it is “the apostasy.” The construction of verse 3 gives the indication that the apostasy and the revelation of the man of lawlessness are closely related to one another. While we may live in a climate ripe for apostasy – while Paul no doubt saw examples of apostasy, the apostasy spoken of here is directly connected to the revelation of the man of lawlessness and is a reason Paul gives for why his own era was not connected to the day of the Lord – the day of God’s wrath. He is Characterized by Disobedience and Destruction His title is a man of “lawlessness;” he is disobedient to God’s instructions. He refuses to be ruled by God (1 John 3:4). “Son of destruction” is a Hebrew idiom to speak of the chief characteristic of this man: destruction. Not that he merely produces destruction, but I think this really describes his ultimate future. Destruction is his doom. He is the one who will be given over to... read more
Aug 18, 2009 | Time/Life Management
Check out the President’s schedule. Do you find it instructive about how you use your time? How President Obama Spends His Time : What”™s Best... read more
Aug 18, 2009 | Biblical Studies, Eschatology, Featured Articles
In spite of the hermeneutical difficulties of the recent Obama-Antichrist video, I am still one who believes in a futuristic coming of a man who we could describe as “The Antichrist.” Perhaps in some circles, such a notion is worthy only of matching historical events with a 1st century villian. I still believe the world will see such a person. Let me also state before going any further. The issue of eschatology is not foundational to fellowship with me. In fact, someone could hold a very different view from mine and still be a member of our church, assuming they would be respectful of the position our leadership holds and not divisive. I have good friends (some of whom were in fact members of churches I have pastored) who think the Anti-Christ was a Roman General (Titus) or a Roman Emperor (Nero) of long ago. I disagree – and I still enjoy their company and fellowship over the gospel. Also I do not intend this blog to be a place that hounds others about their eschatological position. I’m currently preaching through a book of the Bible (Zephaniah) that I think has a lot to say in a futuristic way about eschatology, so I’m going to post a few of my own personal positions on the biblical issues surrounding the Antichrist and eschatology. If that doesn’t suit you or you are not interested in any more premillennial perspectives on what others have made millions of dollars fictionalizing, feel free to move along and read something more appealing. 2 Thessalonins 2:3-12 is perhaps one of the best descriptions of the Antichrist in Scripture. I... read more
Aug 17, 2009 | Technology
Now here’s a Mac Finder (i.e., Windows Explorer) that does everything. Wow. I may actually pay for this. Path Finder 5 by... read more
Aug 16, 2009 | Technology
I downloaded the Kindle app for iPhone months ago. Until today I had yet to download a book. I was looking for a free book that I would find interesting in order to test whether I would actually value reading a book on the iPhone. Here it is. Amazon.com: Suffering and the Sovereignty of God: John Piper, Justin Taylor: The Kindle... read more
Aug 15, 2009 | Eschatology, Hermeneutics
Perhaps you have seen or heard wind of this video. This sort of approach to the Bible is so distracting from a healthy approach to interpreting the Scriptures. It is a case study in why we need more instruction and modeling of solid hermeneutics on a weekly basis in our local churches. Here’s the video: [You Tube Video] Here’s Dan Wallace’s excellent and helpful critique. HT: Denny... read more
Aug 13, 2009 | Prayer
Check out this new site that uses content from the devotional commentator, Matthew Henry, to help enhance your prayer life. Matthew Henry. read more
Aug 13, 2009 | Expositions, Preaching
Here are a few salient quotes from my commentary reading for last week’s sermon on Zephaniah 1:14-18: Contrary to the assumption that God is transcendent but not imminent in history, there is a God to whom the human race will one day have to give an account, however marginal they may seek to make him in the present. The day of the Lord is not arbitrary; it is the logical outgrowth of what humankind is (1:17b), it will bring what humankind deserves (1:17a, c), and it will expose the uselessness of what humans trust (1:16b, 18a). Humans may categorize their sins into the serious, the mediocre, and the insignificant. To Zephaniah (see James 2:10-11) the mere fact of sin excited and merited the whole weight of divine rage. J. Alec Motyer,”Zephaniah,” The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical & Expository Commentary, Thomas Edward MComiskey, ed., 912,... read more
Aug 11, 2009 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Prayer
Here again are a few notes I took while on a recent planning retreat from John Piper’s Brothers We Are Not Professionals. This time on how ministry itself can quickly become an enemy to our primary priorities, namely, prayer: Chapter 9 – Brothers, Beware of Sacred Substitutes 59 – Ministry is its own worst enemy. It is not destroyed by the big, bad wolf of the world. It destroys itself. 60 – Charles Spurgeon put it like this: “Those incessant knocks at our door, and perpetual visits from idle persons, are so many buckets of cold water thrown upon our devout zeal. We must by some means secure uninterrupted meditation, or we shall lose power.” Without extended and consecrated prayer, the ministry of the Word withers up and bears no fruit. Without extended, concentrated prayer, the ministry of the Word withers. And when the ministry of the Word declines, faith (Rom. 10:17; Gal 3:2, 5) and holiness (John 17:7) decline. Activity may continue, but life and power and fruitfulness fade away. Therefore, whatever opposes prayer opposes the whole work of ministry. 61 – But the apostles would not yield to the temptation. This must mean that prayer demanded a large part of their uninterrupted time. If they had thought of prayer as something you do while washing dishes or cooking (or driving a car between hospitals), they would not have seen table-serving as a threat to prayer. Prayer was a time-consuming labor during which other duties had to be set aside. 62 – So the apostles were saying: No Matter how urgent the pressures upon us to spend our time... read more
