What's the World Coming To?

In a copy of The Alabama Baptist I noticed an article about an individual who is suing two Bible publishers, because their Bible translations equate homosexuality as a sin.

This is dangerous ground for anyone to be treading. It is my prayer that the courts will deem themselves unqualified to step into matters of Biblical translation.

Learning the Value of Discipline

Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.


Procrastination has always been a thorn in my flesh. Yet God is beginning to deal with me about some areas of my life where this is not acceptable. Ultimately, procrastination is a symptom of selfishness and self-idolatry. This particular verse of scripture has challenged my heart repeatedly this last few months, and echoes in my head almost daily. It is my prayer that it will challenge your heart as well.

Time, German, and Karl Rahner

It was my intention to write often on this blog. To allow myself to leave the pages of my books and the confines of theological academia and contemplate the praxis of theology within our churches. However, that goal has been thwarted. I realize time is one of the most important commodities we have. And time management is one of the greatest tasks anyone, and especially ministers, must (and I mean really must) accomplish. With that comes a set of priorities, otherwise one is tossed to and fro by the wind. for me my priorities in my family grew by 25% with the newest addition of Tyler Augustine Grace on March 26th. Needless to say that I have had my focus elsewhere.

However, I have not neglected my studies either. I am into the last stretch of languages required from me for my academic career. I am taking advanced theological German this summer and will be done with it in August. It has been another consuming factor in my time management. 

But that is no excuse to not write. So allow me to present an axiom from Karl Rahner and commentate on it briefly.

In Karl Rahner's short work on the Trinity entitled The Trinity, one finds his ground principle, his thesis, as this: The Economic Trinity is the Immanent Trinity and the Immanent Trinity is the Economic Trinity. These two terms, Economic and immanent, are descriptors in theology of two different aspects of the Trinity. Some have labeled them differently (ontological or functional for example) but they basically are two ways at looking at the Trinity. The Immanent Trinity is the view of the Trinity as God in his being, his ontic reality. The Economic Trinity is the view of God as he is functioning with creation. The latter would deal with the interpersonal relations of the divine three-in-oneness and its perichoresis whereas the former looks at the interaction of God in creation, where one pays attention to the specific functions of the missions of Son and Spirit from Father. 

What Rahner is arguing is that for one to understand the Immanent Trinity he need look no further than what God does and vice versa. What I find most problematic with this approach, and perhaps Rahner will allay my fears as I read more, is that if the Immanent is caught up in the Economic and vice versa there is no room for more mystery of the ontic Godhead. That is to say that the God who answered Job by telling him he is not God is stripped of most mystery. I am much more comfortable seeing God's immanence being more transcendent than what he presents.

Why do I right this? What does this have to do with the practical Christian life? Besides everything, it has to do with the view of God, which in turn shades the mode of worship, colors the extent of prayer, and embodies the out reaching purpose of our lives. One's view of the Trinity is paramount to their faith. It is how we see how God works as Father, as sacrificial Lamb and as everlasting comforter. 

I do not have all the answers, but I look to the one who does.

May your faith be spurred on to contemplate the richness of the mystery of the Trinity.

Revival Day 2

One of my pet peeves is forcing an analytic outline upon a narrative text whenever it will not fit. This happens to much and when it occurs the text is unnecessarily butchered. My text last night would not take an analytic outline, so I will divide it into scenes for you. It was Luke 19:1-10. The Sermon was called "Close Encounters of the Jesus Kind."

scene 1: Exposition (setting the scene) Verses 1-2
Scene 2: Verses 3-4
Scene 3: Verses 5-7
Scene 4: Verses 8-10

Sorry I am not more help for you sermon Searchers, but this particular passage I did not take an analytic outline (by that I mean, the power of prayer, the person of prayer, the people of prayer, the position of prayer), but I promised I would post something so this is all you get for this one.

My apologies

My apologies for the lack of posting. I cannot speak for Madi, but I am almost positive that he is wide open with school, family (particularly the new addition), and work. As for me I am recovering from three Easter services(four services total) last week and this week I am preaching a revival. However in the spirit of devotional encouragement, I will post here the texts for the revival each night for you Bible reading pleasture.

Monday's text: Matthew 6:25-34. I know that may seem like a strange verse for a revival, but I remain convinced that one of the reasons (in addition to sin and prayerlessness) that we fail to see revival is that we don't trust God as we should. I'll even give you a skeletal outline for you preaching buffs.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [1] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I. Christians should not worry because of their great value to God (25-30)
II. Christians should not worry because it is what unbelievers do. (31-33)
III. Christians should not worry because there is a day to live today (34).

You'll have to do the exegetical legwork for the exposition, illustration, and application. Enjoy!

Tag

I have been tagged...and normally I wouldn't partake in these types of activities, but the most amazing woman in the world wanted me to do it so I thought I would play along.

Where was I ten years ago? I was a senior in high school and I was 70lbs lighter and still relatively athletic. I was still resisting God's call to preach.

Things on my to-do-list today: Finish my Sunday Sermon. Pick out the three sermons for this week's revival. Go running. Take a nap. Organize paper work to get taxes done.

What would I do if I suddenly became a billionaire? I would give to our church to help with improvements and evangelism events. I would buy my wife a new car, a home and take her on a real vacation. I would start my Doctor of Ministry Degree next year. Visit Israel

3 of my bad habits:

1. procrastination
2. I would think of something for #2, but I think I'll do it later
3. I am poorly organized


5 jobs I've had:

1. plant nursery worker
2. Subway Sandwich artist
3. Christian book store
4. youth pastor
5. Pastor

5 things you don't know about me:

1. I am a book addict--I love to read
2. I desire to be a great preacher (Not a known one necessarily, just someone who is anchored to the Biblical text and who leaves a congregation more biblically literate than when I arrive)
3. I don't sleep well whenever my wife and little girl are away
4. My favorite barbecue is Brisket.
5. I have a wide variety of musical tastes, from classic country, to outlaw country, to classical, as well as musical theater tunes.

If I must tag some folks, I guess I would tag Madi, Matt, and Ched. Guys if you don't want to participate no hard feelings

Congrats to Daddy Madi

Congrats on the new addition at Madi's household.