The Sovereign Hand of Trial

I first read this poem when I was newly married. I understood its meaning but could not relate to the author's experience. I hoped I never would.

It has been four years since my last blog entry. At that time I had just finished my first semester of seminary and celebrated my fourth wedding anniversary. I was fully recovered from a significant personal trial that occurred a year earlier and made me take a year off between my undergrad and seminary. I had done extremely well that semester and would also the next. In my hubris, I did not expect to experience the truth of this poem again. . . and again.

The Problem is Not Ultimately Behavior it is Desire

Matthew 15:16-18--And he [Jesus] said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

I love theology. I love gaining insight drawn out of the truth of God's word that points to his attributes and glory. I love seeing how all of the doctrines of Scripture find their home in God's creation and redemption of both humanity and the cosmos through his Son, who is also an accurate depiction of the Father, as the book of Hebrews says, “he is radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Heb. 1:3). But it is also apparent to me that I am not a neutral observer of God's acts and words in history but a needy recipient of his work. Mike Horton puts it aptly, “What happens for us is the basis for what happens to us and in us.” We are actors in God's divine drama culminating in the redemption and rule of the cosmos through Christ.

Its Been A Long Time

"...I shouldn't have left you, without a dope beat to step to."

Yeah, thats my corny title.  But it has been a long time. Over a year and a half later (since my last post) I am in the middle of the semester in my first year at The Master's Seminary.  Glory to God that he has lead me through this rough part of the wilderness, although I am quite sure there are many trials and tribulations ahead.  I actually shouldn't be blogging right now but either sleeping or reading.  Though, I do want to change the purpose for which I blog.  Rather than this site be a way for me to track my growth as I prepare for the pastorate only, I want to also include links, insights, and any kind of media that can either be helpful to anyone who stumbles across and for anything that I might encounter in the future with regards to study, teaching, philosophy of ministry, etc.  Let's make this site work practically, especially as a means to help others long term even if it only helps me help others.  Time to get crackin'.

A Road With Many Curves

         It is true what they say about teenagers and college freshman, "They don't know what they don't know."  I just graduated from California Baptist University (CBU) last week and recognize that during the past four years I have learned much, but also learned that I don't know much.  This is just the beginning.  Both the acquisition of knowledge and the recognition of my ignorance come from the Lord and the godly scholars at CBU.  But really it is I who is wiser to my need, and it extends far beyond book knowledge.

Obedience as the Pathway to Understanding Theology

I was reading Andy Naselli's blog on why John Piper does not own a T.V. and found this snippet mixed in:

John Piper, “By This Time You Ought to be Teachers,” September 29, 1996:

The startling truth is that, if you stumble over Melchizedek, it may be because you watch questionable TV programs. If you stumble over the doctrine of election, it may be because you still use some shady business practices. If you stumble over the God-centered work of Christ in the cross, it may be because you love money and spend too much and give too little. The pathway to maturity and to solid Biblical food is not first becoming an intelligent person, but becoming an obedient person. What you do with alcohol and sex and money and leisure and food and computer have more to do with your capacity for solid food than with where you go to school or what books you read.

 I read something similar in Bruce Waltke's "An Old Testament Theology".  He distinguishes between the Greek concept of theology as an I/it relationship and the Hebrew concept of "the knowledge of the LORD" as an I/Thou relationship.  Because I am in an I/Thou relationship with God the truth I know about him is in connection to my devotion and obedience to him (my right relationship to a holy God).  As in any personal relationship, what I know about God affects my thoughts and actions toward him and reciprocally, my understanding of his thoughts and actions toward me.  A fuller illumination/revelation of his glory demands that I behold and reflect that in my life since I was made in his image to reflect him. In the grandeur of his wisdom he displays his  glorious grace in his love toward us in Christ and simultaneously this love, glory, and grace works out for our good as his creatures--the knowledge of Christ becomes our all-satisfying joy (which by the way brings God glory).

Pointing the Shamed to Christ—Feet First | CCEF

Pointing the Shamed to Christ—Feet First | CCEF

An Interview with Lecrae and Trip Lee

Check this out on JT's blog: his interview with Trip Lee and Lecrae; including their conversion stories and how that led to them expressing theology and the Christian Life through hip-hop. In their words, providing a "soundtrack" to their philosophy of ministry and activities in ReachLife.

An Interview with Lecrae and Trip Lee

Ed Welch - Did Bipolar Make Me Do It?

Dr. Russell Moore on "Christful Peace"

On the 19th of this month Dr. Moore reminded us that sometimes in our talk of "peace" we are not thinking of a biblical peace but a worldly peace.  In other words, there is such thing as a "Satanic peace" in contrast to a "Christful peace".  In his blog post provocatively titled "Christlessness is Peace" Dr. Moore comments:

"I find that, too often, I want a satanic peace, the kind that comes with Christlessness. I just want tranquility, to be left alone with the path in which I want to go. That’s the kind of peace that comes with slavery, and it’s attractive (Gal. 4:9). After all, peace with Pharaoh simply means making more stray bricks. Peace with the flesh simply means watching out for your own tribal loyalties. Peace with Satan simply means marching in rhythm with your desires toward a bloody grave (Eph. 2:1-3).

You can have a Christless pseudo-peace, for a little while.

But true shalom doesn’t leave us alone, as though we were orphans (Heb. 12:8). Christful peace prompts us to struggle (Heb. 12:4), to scream out for deliverance (Rom. 8:15), to be nailed down in execution (Mt. 10:38)."

Great thoughts from Dr. Moore.  A Christian's peace, true peace, is found by means of war; war on the world, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride in possessions (including tranquil, undisturbed, lonely peace). 

Reflections on Micah 7:8-10: Christians, the Indignation of God toward Sinners, and the Gospel of Victory

Micah 7:8-10:
Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be a light to me.
I will bear the indignation of the Lord
because I have sinned against him,
until he pleads my cause
and executes judgment for me.
He will bring me out to the light;
I shall look upon his vindication.
Then my enemy will see,
and shame will cover her who said to me,
“Where is the Lord your God?”
My eyes will look upon her;
now she will be trampled down
like the mire of the streets.


Concerning the Micah 7:8-9, I believe that we can relate to Micah in the seriousness of our sin, the judgment it incurs from God, and faith in God's character to vindicate the covenant people while judging the unrighteous.  Micah did not lose hope because he knew that God had indignation toward him but instead had faith that God would deal with it justly and also plead his case and vindicate him.  He took sin seriously before God and also reveled in his mercy that he would bring him from the darkness into the light.  God would raise him up and he would be victorious over his enemies.

Don't Waste Your Life

The phrase "Don't Waste Your Life" has echoed in the reformed circles of the Christian world, mostly because of John Piper's book by the same title. In it Piper calls us to evaluate American individualistic values and compare them to the biblical values. Language betrays us here because the very discussion of values is a very American concept. The Bible speaks of moral virtues in connection to God such as righteousness, faithfulness, godliness, integrity, and honor. The Bible also gives values to persons and not merely ideas or beliefs, the most valuable treasure being the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

The Lord has been counseling me through many means this past dark night.  I have been struggling with indwelling sin: frustration, condemnation, and the fear of man.  He has used many a means of grace…brotherly accountability, fellowship, circumstances, but mainly the ministry of his word and the ministry of my wife.  In this night I have been wallowing in my self-absorption, my pride, and my pretense.