I recently decided to follow my own oft given advice and venture out to other churches just to see what the cultural landscape looks like and to stretch myself a bit.

First, I went to an evangelical high Anglican church. I was wanting to see something a little more traditional. Plus, according to the latest news about red wine and health, I needed a shot of the real thing. It was a rewarding experience. It was also interesting to be at a church that was not to concerned about whether I was there or not. There were no greeters at the door, no one really noticed when I came in, and they did not say anything to me as I left. This is not a criticism, but just an observation. They did not let anything take them away from their reverential service in which things were done in a particular order. Because of this, it was not a primary purpose to fill the pews with guests. If a guest came in, great. They could stay and worship, but they were not going to do back flips and moonwalk for anyone but Christ.

Next, I went to a church that was just the opposite. It was a popular non-denominational Evangelical associated church. It was much more alluring in its style, having a much more amplified voice with regards to recognizing newcomers. From the moment we got in the parking lot, there were signs welcoming us along with parking lot attendants waving. These guys were so enthusiastic you would think that they had been trained at Disney World. The signs pointed to valet parking for first time guests. I would have taken them up on the offer, but pride always rules (oh . . . and then there is that awkward feeling that you are supposed to give them some money even when they say they don’t take it). We were greeted by another enthusiastic character, a very nice young man, who led us around. When we told him we were first time visitors, he said “Oh, VIPs?” We then were introduced everywhere we went under this title “VIPs” (Very Important Persons). When others would hear that we were VIPs, they would have a look of excitement mixed with anxiousness. The anxiousness seemed to come from an underlying understanding that their church was focused on bringing in newcomers. Then . . . they led us to the children’s area. Continue Reading »

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1. I found this study interesting considering much talk about how the present postmodern generation tends to be less committed than previous generations.

Members of the Millennial generation are just as likely to open their wallets to charities as those born decades earlier . . . 

[Study] showed that young donors are as generous as those from older generations.

“We thought we would see some real differences, but giving across generations is not all that different,” says Edith Falk, chair and CEO of Chicago-based fundraising consultancy Campbell & Co.

. . . All other factors being equal, the study showed, the average giving level of Millennials is about the same as that of other generations.

2. Six Prayers God Always Answers (*Results May Vary) is a new book from Tyndale that explores some of the mysteries of prayer in a winsome and helpful way. In a chapter entitled “Prayers God Rarely Answers” the authors Mark Harringshaw and Jennifer Schuchmann say “Some questions get us in too deep, dredging up bottom filth that we never bargined for. Some questions are too big. Why is one of them.”

3. Theology Unplugged and Converse with Scholars. As we are anticipating some major “upgrades” here at Reclaiming the Mind, both TUP and CWS have been put on hold. Expect to continue to see them, but they will be more spuratic until the end of the Summer.

4. Pray for Ed Komoszewski. As you know, Ed has been such an important part of this ministry for some time now. He is also a dear friend. He has some serious health problems and is in need of prayer. As is the case whenever problems like this arise, there are many financial difficulties that he and his family are enduring. Please pray for this as well. I don’t want to share too many details here on the blog, but those of you who desire more details and would like to help, please let me know though email.

5. Bob Practico list the Top Ten Theological Scams.

6. Darth Vader Golfing:

7. Six reasons why Batman could take Yoda

1. Batman is taller.
2. Batman is smarter.
3. Batman would already know how to reverse the effect of the force.
4. The dark side would be mistaken for the Dark Knight and Yoda would compromise the code.
5. Yoda would simply be too scared to fight.
6. The anti-force alarm in the Batbelt.

8. Sproul on the difference between salvation and justification (love it!)

9. Was Noah’s flood local, global, parable, myth, or legend? What a conversation going on here.

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Since we have so many people who not only frequent this blog, but also post, I thought it would be good for us to take an oppertunity to get familiar with each other. I know that these tests are not always acurate, but I did find this particular one helpful. It seems to ask the right questions. Anyway, here is my profile. Click on this link, take the test, get the code and then post yours in a response below so that we can see yours! It is really easy.

Notice, I am an “Orignator, Intellectual.” Oh yeah. I am telling my wife.

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Christianity Today links to Reclaiming the Mind (ETS Papers).

The Theology Program started this week: We have a great group. If you would still like to enroll, you can. Go here. (God is calling to you to join.)

Parchment and Pen sister blog: The Submerging Influence is now open. Sorry to Euangelion for taking their name for so long Hey . . . its a good name. By the way, from what I have seen Euangelion is a great blog. Worth a look.

Blog of the week: Tom in the Box. This is theological satire at its best. How does this guy come up with all this stuff? Continue Reading »

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1. I will finish my series on imputation on Monday. 

2. Ben Witherington writes on authorial intent hermeneutics. His three basic guidelines: 1) It means what is means, not what you want it to mean or your presuppositions determine it means. 2) Context is king. No proof texting. This is one of the biggest interpretive problems in the church today.  3) Genre Matter. You have interpret according to the rules of engagement determined by the type of literature. Oh that people would embrace these principles. Here is an excerpt. Continue Reading »

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• Parchment and Pen flashback: Will One White Lie Send You to Hell for All Eternity?

• An interesting discussion: A Challenge to Michael Patton of Pen and Parchment. This will probably get me into a lot of trouble, but shucks, what the hay.

• The Jolly Blogger has some interesting things to say about teenage abstinence. What do I do? I am going to lock my girls up. 

• A new Reformed blog that looks interesting. Theology and Steak. What a name! (HT: John Hendryx)

• Euangelion continues to pick up steam. This is the place to go for the latest news and tid-bits from me and the RMM community.

• Don’t forget to enroll in The Theology Program. It starts in September. If you have yet to take an online course, you really don’t know how much you are missing. (I know. It is already on the “Latest News” on the left, but you don’t really look there now do ya?)

• Top 50 must watch video clips (HT: MereO)

• Greatest super-hero villain: Joker. He is Batman’s exact opposite.

Personal:

I am in Oklahoma this week promoting The Theology Program and spending time with mom. She is not any better, but she is happy to see me. We are about to take our house off the market and settle down in Frisco once again. I am very confused about where God wants us. It seems like I should be in Oklahoma helping take care of my mother, but the doors are not open. Katelynn (my daughter) is just about all healed from her accident. The burns have left many scares on her arm and leg, but most of them are just spots. I will give some picture update of Zach soon. He is now almost 5 months. He is a clone of Will, just with blue eyes.

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Plugs and prayers:

• Check out the Conservative Reformed Mafia. Looks like a promising new blog.
• Bob Pratico, a friend of the ministry and elder at Sojourn Church, will be having heart surgry next month. Please pray for him. 

Ministry Announcements:

• Online courses start soon. Enroll in The Theology Program today. Continue Reading »

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Plugs/Endorsements/Notables:

• Don’t forget to visit our new sister blog, Euangelion. It is your blog where you can post.
• The Evangelical outpost lists the top 100 Christian blogs. Notice Parchment and Pen is not listed. Dude, your breaking my heart!
• The best theological articles on the web.

Ministry Announcements:

• Become official. You can represent The Theology Program at your church. Email us to find out how.
• Online courses start soon. Enroll in The Theology Program today. The best theological distance education on the web!
• First Things will be broadcast live on Tuesday and Thursday at 10am EST next week.

Recantations, Restatements, News, and Review:

• I am an unapologetic Evangelical, 5-point Calvinist, progressive dispensationalist (really a “progressive covenentalist“), complementarian, inerrantist (qualified by a hermeneutic of reason), soft-continuationist, traducianist, republican. Just thought you would like to know what the correct view on everything is to save you some time.
• Dan Wallace’s organization, The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts (CSNTM), desperately needs a new 16.7 megapixel camera to do its work in Albania this summer. The camera (and lenses) costs about $9000. If you’d like to help underwrite the costs of this camera for the preservation of the New Testament, you can do so on-line at www.csntm.org, or by sending a check to the following address: CSNTM | 5729 Lebanon Road | Suite 144, #403 | Frisco, TX 75034.

Personal:

• Thanks for all your prayers. Katelynn, my 8-year-old daughter, is in pain but doing well.
• This Sunday I will be teaching on Texual Critisism again and on Evangelicalism.
• While we are still living in Frisco TX, our house is back on the market as we are trying to move to Edmond OK to help take care of my mother.
• FYI: Greatest cartoon ever made: Justice League

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Plugs/Endorsements/Notables:

• Check out Michael Spencer’s (the IMonk) lament
• You have to get this book. Order it now. It seriously may be the best defense for the deity of Christ ever put in print. Pre-order now. Continue Reading »

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Andreas Köstenberger thinks Dan Wallace’s view that John’s gospel was written before AD 70 is far-fetched. Dan responded.

Listen J. P. Morleand (our next Converse with Scholars guest) talk about his new book The Kingdom Triangle and read a sample chapter.

For those of you wondering why Ed Komoszewski hasn’t followed up on comments in his various blog entries or posted the final part of his 3-part series on dispensationalism, his WordPress account has been giving us fits. Ed will get back to blogging as soon as we get the problem ironed out.

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Those of you who were interested in my blog about whether or not you should go into ministry might be interested in Scot’s words of advice.

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Or something like that . . . you all have to check this out. Chuck Swindoll was dropped from a radio station for his language. You will have to read it for yourself as the language is too vulgar to repeat (it is the kind of language the world uses that CANNOT fit into our Christian sub-culture. Why? Just because, that’s why! The culture uses it. OK, I will post them here. I hope that my language filter does not delete them. Continue Reading »

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Considering my previous post on Bible study software and Bible study sites, I will now post the follow-up as promised with an evaluation of Bible study software. (Actually, this subject was the original purpose of the previous post with its contents intending to preface/footnote this, but you saw how that turned out). Continue Reading »

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As I reflect upon this year, one thing is more evident than ever: God does not hot sync to PDAs.

It is odd but true. God has not ever gotten up in the morning, gone to His computer, logged on to the internet, accessed my Outlook calendar, plugged in His PDA and hot synced to me. I don’t know why. It would be much easier for the both of us. Things would go much more smoothly, and I would accomplish much more. Continue Reading »

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I wanted to take some time to let you know of the significant and immediate financial needs of our ministry. Continue Reading »

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Check out this new translation of the Bible for Postmoderns. To have McLaren translating the Scripture is . . . ummm . . . interesting. Let’s just say if it does nothing else, it will take the heat off of Peterson.

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Two guests that often show up a few days after the arrival of Poneros are named Crying and Sadness. They are different in type from the others I have mentioned thus far. While they come with Poneros, they are not necessarily part of his clan. I am not sure whether he lets them in or whether they have been here all along. I have often thought that they were part of the Landlord’s design of the house. Continue Reading »

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In my house, there are many uninvited guests. These guests show up from time to time and really disturb the comfortable situation that I attempt to make the norm for my day to day living. The Uninvited, as some people call them, bring their friends, associates, and family members who all do their part to change life. Continue Reading »

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I hope you like it. We are still in the process of updating many things here, but I thought that it was time to begin to make the transfer. I think I will continue to post the blogs on the main site for a while as well. Any suggestions or comments? What do you think?

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I am a person who is easy to inspire. We all need examples in our lives that we can look to with great excitement and anticipation of their heroic feats that will overcome evil. It is what Haddon Robinson calls the “show me” of a sermon. People need to see what you are talking about in the lives of real people before they can assimilate the truth and be motivated to action. Continue Reading »

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