Hmmpf . . . . (for lack of a better title)

For three weeks my mind has been filled with nothing. I look at this page and think what a shame I have nothing to say. I have been really busy with a lot of stuff and now finally, I have a break and I have nothing to say besides I made it. I have one semester down and it is pretty sweet. Having nothing to say is not bad, just different.

Shout Out: Thanks Kathy for the Internet time and the usage of your computer. I hope to finish Luther later tonight if that is okay.

Hemlock Inn

I am in North Carolina. Or actually, I will be in less than 48 hours. I am flying out tomorrow. I am elated. That is all.

TFC Update

Earlier in the week I sent in my housing preferences and a deposit. The deposit is refundable if I change my mind. All of my credits from KCC transferred! I will start the year off with a little less stress than most freshman since I have credit for English, math, psych, and others. I will not most of the basics because of my credits. Please pray for my college choice. I am pretty sure that this is the place because more of my family is settling with the idea.

North Africans of Paris

Paris is the capital city of France, and has a rich history and culture. Paris is known for its famous architecture, rich foods, and high fashion, along with being a strong center for art, dance and music throughout the world. Many of the countries colonized by France in the past are represented in France’s multi-ethnic population. Individuals from virtually every unreached people group in North Africa or the Middle East (NAME) can be found living in the greater Paris area, known as the “Ile-de-France.” These NAME Muslims make up well more than 10 percent of Paris’ total population. Moroccan Soussi Berbers; Algerian Khabyle Berbers; North African Arabs; and the peoples of Egypt are abundant. Syrians, Iraquis, and Lebanese make up a strong segment of the population. Many of these immigrants continue living as if they were still in North Africa or the Middle East. They maintain their “home” cultures, even in Paris’ sophisticated environment, which in turn, contributes to tensions between the French and the nationalized Muslim populations. For instance, though the wearing of scarves is a practice of most Muslim women, scarves are forbidden in official photos or in public schools. Many of the NAME Muslims of Paris have moved from countries that are closed to Christianity. The religious freedom of France allows an environment where an open Christian witness can be shared.

Original site with more information

In His Hands

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

Isaiah 40:12

Do You Thirst for the Lord?

Here is an excerpt from Donald S. Whitney's book Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health.

"Lord, I want to know You more," sang Mike, just before the sermon. One of my seminary professors from years back, who was guest preacher at our church that Sunday morning, sat next to me on the front pew and listened transfixed. As Mike continued to sing, I could hear my older friend sigh occasionally. When the song was over, T.W. sat motionless for so long I thought he had forgotten that he was now supposed to preach. As I turned to remind him I saw his shoulders lift and fall with the slow draw and release of his breath. Finally, he opened his eyes and stepped thoughtfully to the pulpit. He looked down for what seemed to be a full minute before he could speak. And then, "Lord, I do want to know you more." Departing from his prepared words for awhile, he spoke of his thirst for God, his longings to know Christ more intimately, to obey Him more completely. Here was a man who had followed Christ for more than fifty years still captivated by the sweetness of the quest. In his second half-century as a disciple of Jesus, the grace of growth still flourished in him.

It's been ten years since that Sunday morning. I've seen T.W. at least annually since, and the things of God have not diminished their magnetic pull on his heart's aspirations. Two months ago I found myself sharing a shuttle bus ride with him from a denominational convention back to our hotel. Though nearly seventy now, and weakened by cardiac surgery, his eyes flashed as he talked half an hour about what he was learning about prayer. Even as his body decays, his longings for God display the growing strength of his soul.

The Apostle Paul must have similarly impressed others in his day. Despite all his maturity in Christ, all he had seen and experienced, late in life (in Philippians 3:10) Paul wrote of the passion that propelled him: "that I may know Him." What is he talking about? Didn't he already know Jesus more closely than perhaps anyone else ever will? Of course he did. But the more he knew Jesus, the more he wanted to know Him. The more Paul progressed in spiritual strength, the more thirsty for God He became.

With a similar thirst, the writer of Psalm 42:1-2 prayed, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?" Does this describe your thirst for God? If so, be encouraged: whatever else is transpiring in your Christian life, your soul-thirst is a sign of soul-growth.

Donald S. Whitney

Contextualization of the Gospel = Confusion

Check out this article at the Slice of Laodicea. It is interesting.

"Contextualization . . . This word can be summed up in the following phrase: "we don't want to be seeker sensitive, but seeker sensible; we don't want to argue for relativism, but relevantism." This appears to be nothing more than mere double-talk beloved: sensible for sensitive - relevantism for relativism. In reality, it is exactly the same thing just clothed in different rags."

TFC Update

I received a phone call from JR, my admissions counselor today. He told me Toccoa Falls College had accepted my application and that he looked forward to seeing me in the fall if that was where God was leading me. Please pray for me to make the right choice, either to go with TFC or continue to look around. I have and idea, but I would like to give this completely to God.

Runaway Thoughts

This summer the church is going on a mission trip to Puerto Rico. I am excited, but there have not been any meetings to sign up. When the church went to Scotland, there were signups and meeting once a month to prepare for the trip. If we do not meet soon, plane tickets will be so high. We need to start fundaraising now for the trip. I really hope that we can get things rolling fast before the time runs away.

Braces

Currently, I am sitting and waiting for my little brother to finish his orthodontics appointment. I have never had braces and I cannot imagine what it is like. My dentist says my biggest problem is the the poor enamel that has been handed down to me from my dad. We both need better enamel. I also drink lots of coffee! Therefore, my teeth are not the sparkling white they probably could be. Coffee vs. White Teeth?

Friday at The Falls

I love the school out there!!! It is great. The school is smaller than mygraduating class. I prayed with a lot of people there. There are prayer rooms everywhere. The people are really friendly and the missions program is awesome.

Last night, while eating dinner outside, I dropped my napkin.This is a normal occurrence with me, I am very clumsy. So in response to my plight,I said "ZUT," which is French for "darn it!" This guy overheard me and said, "you speak French also!" I was so excited to meet two other people on campus one from GA the other from NY that liked speaking French at one time in their lives.

When I went to their worship service, I really felt at home worshiping with the other believers on campus. Also, instead of chapel on Thursdays, they assign you to small groups to do bible study!

The two girls I stayed with were really fun. Callie and I when I was describing my church preferences and laughed even harder when at the same time she pulled out her reformation study bible like mine. Megan asked, if because she was an armenianist, if we could still be friends since Callie and I were Calvinists. I said it would be tough.

Besides all of that, I am praying that God will make clear to me the right college choice.

Sidenote: I went to the founders website to see if there were any reformed churches in Toccoa. There were none. (sadness)

Jars of Clay

Good Monsters Music Video


The Jars of Clay concert was superb. I feel silly asking but I do not exactly understand this song completely.

Toccoa Falls College

Ask me about it!

Labor Day

AAAAHHHHH!

School is very taxing. I cannot think straight. The week seems to pass by very slow. I lose track of time so easily. I cannot get anything done. Every day I am physically wasted. I cannot manage my time at all.

Here is a video I am feeling right now.

Belarus - VOM

Belarus became an independent state in 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Despite independence, the nation is still struggling to find a national identity.

Religion: Christian 78.70%, non-Religious/other 20.20%, Jewish 1%, and Muslim 0.10%

Ideological Influence: Remaining communist influence

Head of State: President Aleksandr Lukashenko

Persecution: In November 2002, a repressive new religion law came into effect. According to the new law, all unregistered religious activity, communities with fewer than 20 members and any religious activity in private homes (apart from occasional, small-scale meetings) are considered illegal. Religious communities that do not have a registered umbrella body will not be able to invite foreign citizens for religious work, and all religious literature will be subject to censorship. In addition, all religious organizations will have to be re-registered within two years. The Full Gospel Union Church denomination, a developing Protestant movement in Belarus, was constantly under attack by the government in 2005, which sought to shut down the operations of its 60 churches. Using their flawed legal system to confiscate property legally belonging to a Full Gospel Union Church in Minsk, authorities launched an organized campaign of harassment and oppression to restrict the growth of Christianity. A network of Baptist churches was also ordered to disband. Baptists in the Brast region complained of increased persecution in 2004. Pastors were fined, and the Justice Ministry ordered a network of unregistered Baptist churches disbanded. The personal property of two Baptists was confiscated, and the pay of another docked after they sang hymns and distributed Bibles during an Easter visit to a hospital.

Missionary Opportunity: Christian literature needs to be made more available. However, the JESUS film has been seen by most of the population in the Belarusian or Russian language.

Happiness is . . .

I am very happy today. Due to mandatory teacher in-service, (why I love teachers) inside rehearsal was cancelled today after 12:00, tomorrow all day and Thursday. Friday will be my last official day of summer band for ever! (reverb action)

Irregularity

I am trying to stay awake without caffeine. I need to fall asleep tonight without a sleeping aid. I am so glad I am tired, but I cannot take a nap. I cannot go to bed any earlier than 9:30. (it is a personal rule) If I go to bed at 9:30, I will get 8 hours of sleep, in theory. I need to get on a schedule to be ready for school on the right side of my bed.

Random comment not pertaining to sleep: Thank you for your prayers for my recent adventures in life.

Hope is a Glorious Grace - John Owen

“Christ in you the hope of glory”—Colossians 1:27

Hope is a glorious grace, whereunto blessed effects are ascribed in the Scripture, and an effectual operation unto the supportment and consolation of believers. By it are we purified, sanctified, saved. And, to sum up the whole of its excellency and efficacy, it is a principal way of the working of Christ as inhabiting in us: “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Col 1:27). Where Christ evidenceth His presence with us, He gives us an infallible hope of glory; He gives us an assured pledge of it and worketh our souls into an expectation of it. Hope in general is but an uncertain expectation of a future good which we desire; but as it is a gospel grace, all uncertainty is removed from it, which would hinder us of the advantage intended in it. It is an earnest expectation, proceeding from faith, trust, and confidence, accompanied with longing desires of enjoyment. From a mistake of its nature, it is that few Christians labor after it, exercise themselves unto it, or have the benefit of it; for to live by hope, they suppose, infers a state not only beneath the life of faith and all assurance in believing, but also exclusive of them. They think to hope to be saved is a condition of men who have no grounds of faith or assurance; but this is to turn a blessed fruit of the Spirit into a common affection of nature. Gospel hope is a fruit of faith, trust, and confidence; yea, the height of the actings of all grace issues in a well-grounded hope, nor can it rise any higher (Rom 5:2-5).

Now, the reason why men have no more use of, no more benefit by, this excellent grace, is because they do not abide in thoughts and contemplation of the things hoped for. The especial object of hope is eternal glory (Col 1:27; Rom 5:2). The peculiar use of it is to support, comfort, and refresh the soul in all trials, under all weariness and despondencies, with a firm expectation of a speedy entrance into that glory, with an earnest desire after it. Wherefore, unless we acquaint ourselves by continual meditation with the reality and nature of this glory, it is impossible it should be the object of a vigorous, active hope, such as whereby the apostle says “we are saved.” Without this we can neither have that evidence of eternal things, nor that valuation of them, nor that preparedness in our minds for them, as should keep us in the exercise of gracious hope about them.

Suppose sundry persons engaged in a voyage unto a most remote country, wherein all of them have an apprehension that there is a place of rest and an inheritance provided for them. Under this apprehension they all put themselves upon their voyage, to possess what is so prepared. Howbeit some of them have only a general notion of these things. They know nothing distinctly concerning them and are so busied about other affairs that they have no leisure to inquire into them; or do suppose that they cannot come unto any satisfactory knowledge of them in particular, and so are content to go on with general hopes and expectations. Others there are who by all possible means acquaint themselves particularly with the nature of the climate whither they are going, with the excellency of the inheritance and provision that is made for them. Their voyage proves long and wearisome, their difficulties many, and their dangers great, and they have nothing to relieve and encourage themselves with but the hope and expectation of the country whither they are going. Those of the first sort will be very apt to despond and faint; their general hopes will not be able to relieve them. But those who have a distinct notion and apprehension of the state of things whither they are going, and of their incomparable excellency, have always in a readiness wherewith to cheer their minds and support themselves.

In that journey or pilgrimage wherein we are engaged towards a heavenly country, we are sure to meet with all kinds of dangers, difficulties, and perils. It is not a general notion of blessedness that will excite and work in us a spiritual, refreshing hope. But when we think and meditate on future glory as we ought, that grace which is neglected for the most part as unto its benefit, and dead as unto its exercise, will of all others be most vigorous and active, putting itself forth on all occasions. This, therefore, is an inestimable benefit of the duty exhorted unto, and which they find the advantage of who are really spiritually minded.

"Hope" - from A Puritan's Mind

—From The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded, John Owen, The Works of John Owen, vol. 7, pp. 321-323, reprinted by Banner of Truth.

Dr. Mohler's Fidelitas

Missions at Risk: A Failure of Nerve
R. Albert Mohler, Jr.The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

America's evangelical Christians are facing a critical testing-time as the twentieth century draws to a close. Among the most important of the tests we now face is the future of missions, and our faithfulness to the Great Commission.

Just as doors of opportunity are opening around the world, the Church seems to be losing its voice. A virtual re-paganization of Western culture is occurring, indicating that the failure of the American Church is evident at home as well as abroad. What is the root issue?

At base, the issue is a failure of theological nerve--a devastating loss of biblical and doctrinal conviction. The result is retreat on the mission fields of the world and regression on the home front. Since mid-century, the mainline Protestant denominations have been withdrawing from the missionary enterprise, some even declaring a "moratorium" on the sending of missionaries charged to preach the Gospel. Among these denominations, the total missionary force is now a fraction of the force at mid-century, and many of those who remain on the fields have been assigned duties far removed from conversionist witness.

This loss of theological nerve is a fundamental failure of conviction. Put bluntly, many who claim to be Christians simply do not believe that anyone is actually lost.

The essence of this belief is universalism, the belief that all persons will be saved, whether or not they have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Universalism presents itself in many forms, including modern inclusivism, pluralism, and our pervasive relativism. In its boldest and most honest form, it is the absolute declaration that all persons will be saved (if indeed there is anything from which to be saved). By this account, all religions have an equal claim to truth which underlies the "religious" character of humanity.

In its more romanticized forms, universalism is the belief that God would not actually sentence rebellious human beings to eternal punishment, in spite of what He reveals in Holy Scripture. These persons believe in a God of their own devising, and not the God of the Bible.

Universalism also presents itself in a naïve form, by which Christians refuse to deal with the issue and simply declare no position or conviction on the issue. Their stance betrays their lack of conscience and conviction. Their conscience is uncluttered by concern for the lost.

The believing Church down through the ages has steadfastly resisted the universalist temptation, because universalism is so directly opposed to the clear teaching of Scripture. The Bible presents Jesus Christ and His atoning work as the only means of salvation; His gospel as the only "good news" for a lost world; and the gospel as the global mandate of the Church.

There is no room for universalism--whatever its form--in the evangelical churches. By rejecting the finality of Jesus Christ and the integrity of His gospel, those who promote universalism are witnesses to another gospel, as the Apostle Paul warned.

Given their commitment to the gospel, could evangelical Christians allow universalism to make inroads into their ranks? There are signs that this is now well underway. In the evangelical academy, some are advocating views well in line with the liberal Protestant arguments of the mid-century. The challenge of pluralism has found many evangelicals with weak knees. The pattern of evangelical compromise is also evident in those who seek to reduce the unique claim Christianity makes to truth, and also among those who promote the idea of a second opportunity for saving faith after death.

The pattern is not restricted to the academics, however. The most dangerous trend may be found in the pews of evangelical churches, where more and more Christians are willing to reject or compromise the uniqueness of Christ and His atonement, citing the apparent "sincerity" of those who worship other gods, or no god at all.

Where will the Church stand? A recent report indicates that at a recent Urbana missions conference (bringing together thousands of college-age evangelicals), only a third of the participants indicated their belief that "a person who does not hear the gospel is eternally lost." As one missionary veteran responded: "If two-thirds of the most missions-minded young people in America do not affirm the lostness of mankind, the Great Commission is in serious trouble!" Should these trends spread within the Southern Baptist Convention, we will be in serious trouble indeed.

Let us make our convictions clear. We stand for the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone has atonement for our sins. We believe in justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This is the sum and substance of the genuine gospel.

The missionary impulse logically follows, for we are called to bear witness and to make disciples of all nations. Southern Seminary--always a leader in the training of missionaries--is now multiplying that commitment through an unprecedented partnership with the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. This new partnership is demonstrated in the development of two new degree programs designed to meet the unique needs of missionaries. A new masters program is now underway, and beginning in the fall, Southern Seminary will become the first Baptist institution to offer the Doctor of Missiology degree. This will augment the Ph.D. in missions already offered through the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth. In an era when commitment to missions is at risk in other quarters, Southern Seminary is determined by God's grace to advance, and never to retreat.

© R. Albert Mohler, Jr. - All Rights Reserved

Here is the Article

Fidelitas may be reproduced in whole or in part, but must include the attribution statement printed above. For further information, contact the Office of the President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2825 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40280. Phone 502.897.4121, Fax 502.899.1770. Or, contact by e-mail at presoffice@sbts.edu

Nigeria - VOM

Nigeria has known only one decade of an elected government since it left the British Empire in 1960, until President Olusegun Obasanjo was elected to office in 1999. He was reelected in 2003. Obasanjo has promised reforms, but a culture of greed and corruption runs deep.


Religion: Christian 52.61%, Muslim 41.00%, Traditional ethnic 5.99%, and non- Religious/other 0.40%

Ideological Influence: Islam

Head of State: President Olusegun Obasanjo, a committed Christian, has wisely and tactfully moved to bring about change while endeavoring to preserve national unity. The former ruling elite have put forth efforts to frustrate and discredit his administration.


Persecution: Islam has been given preferential treatment over Christianity in the past. Shariah Law has been implemented in 12 of Northern Nigeria’s predominately Muslim states. Christian leaders are hopeful Obasanjo’s government will continue to crack down on Muslim fanaticism. In 2005, violence against Christians continued. Believers were killed; churches, Christian schools, homes and businesses were burned and destroyed. The government in the past has turned a blind eye.


Missionary Opportunity: The church in Nigeria is strong, but there is concern over the rise of foreign cults and the mixing of Christianity with the country’s traditional fetish beliefs. Nigeria has become one of the major missionary-sending countries of the developing world.