This coming Sunday night the children that I teach in Children’s Choir will be expected to have tried to memorize the answer to question number 4 of the Baptist Catechism. The question is:

Question 4: What is the Word of God?

Answer: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 5:17- 18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Psalm 19:7-8.

Comment: “Scriptures” is a special word for the “writings” of the OT and NT. Perhaps you will want to explain that the OT deals with God’s word that came before Jesus was born; and the NT is the word of God that came after Jesus was born. “Infallible” means it will never lead us astray in what it teaches. It is true and does not err. It can be trusted. “Faith” refers to right thinking and feeling; and “practice” refers to right doing. We measure our thoughts and emotions and actions by the rule of the Bible. “Inspiration” means that it is God-breathed: by his Spirit he guided his spokesmen to speak his word in their language.

I continue to be amazed at how quickly and efficiently these children are able to memorize these answers and spout them out when called upon. One may ask “How much do the children actually understand?” as some of them are quite young. The two things that jump out to me that are important for us to understand are: One, children are capable of digesting large chunks of information; and Two, even though we may not know what they get, at least they will have a foundation of truth to build upon.

As parents and teachers maybe we need to realize that sometimes (probably more often than not) our children are more capable than we realize and that we should not limit their potential to learn based on our incapacities to teach.

What do you think?

I received this in an email today and thought how true it was!  I think this article goes well with this posting by Mark Fox.  http://www.xanga.com/pastormarkfox/630568378/item.html

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question. Why didn’t we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?’

I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather. I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me. I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom’s garden and flowerbeds and cocklebur’s out of dad’s fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed. Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, the world would be a better place. God bless the parents who drugged us.

Here is a posting for a great Christmas gift. In light of most present day presentations of the gospel, this shirt can be a great conversation starter.

http://www.aomin.org/index.php?itemid=2400

Just in time for that hard-to-please person on your gift list…I mean, hard to please Calvinist on your gift list! I first heard this phrase from my fellow elder at PRBC, but Google tells me he didn’t invent it. I have no idea who did, but I sure use it enough, and the Scripture reference, at least, is mine. Any quick review of the landscape of post-evangelicalism will prove the truth of these words, so why not get a few conversations started in the process? Don’t forget the other designs in Carla’s AOMIN store, including “Theology Matters.” You can click here or use the Shop TeamApologian button to the right to visit!

A friend and I recently had an argu… er… a debate about the use of Q-tips.  The argu.. er… debate centered around the question of whether or not one should use Q-tips to clean out the ear canal.  My argument of course was that it says on the box NOT to, AND that I have always heard to never stick anything smaller than your elbow inside your ear.  I know that’s a bit on the ridiculous side, but you get the point.

His point was a personal testimony that said he had been doing it his whole life, and that he was going to go deaf if he didn’t replace his depleted supply at home.  He also mentioned he had a friend that never swabbed his ears and almost lost his hearing because of a bad ear infection that could have been corrected by removing the excess wax with a Q-tip.  His personal experience, and proof-texting have given him an incorrect understanding of truth in my opinion.

I have found a great post concerning this.  The entire article can be read at http://reasonswhy.stlouisblogs.org/archives/001509.html

Reasons why you shouldn’t put Q-tips in your ears…

We had a lovely lunch after church on Sunday prepared by one of the guys at South City. During lunch one of my engineer friends really tested my memory of anatomy and physiology in his questions about how the ear works. Inevitably, the use of Q-tips will comes up in conversations like that, which brings me to the purpose of this post. Please stop putting Q-tips in your ears!
Here are the reasons why…

#1 – It says it right there on the box: Warning: Do not insert into ear canal, could result in injury (or something to that affect). If that warning isn’t enough for you, keep reading.

#2 – The wax is supposed to be there! Ear wax is produced by the ear canal to protect the ear from bacteria and foreign objects.

#3 – You’ll just push the wax back further into your ear canal. After it goes back into the bony part of your ear canal, it’s much more difficult to remove.

#4 – If you’re causing a coughing reflex (like Tanya’s friend mentioned in her comment) when you use Q-tips, you are putting the swab in too far. There is a branch of the Vagus nerve that runs just below the ear canal wall. Touching the ear canal near this nerve could cause a coughing reaction known as Arnold’s Reflex.

If you’re concerned that you have too much wax in your ears, go to a doctor or an audiologist. Your primary care physican or an audiologist can usually remove ear wax for you. Just stick to the idea of not putting anything smaller than your elbow in your ear!

What is your opinion??

I recently read this short article on James White’s web site and thought it would be a great thing to share. It seems that all to often the problem I see of late is man’s self-centeredness, self-reliance, and our unwillingness to bow the knee to our true authority (scripture-God’s breathed Word to Christians). I will place the whole of the article here as it is pretty short.

Colin Smith

I was vivdly reminded of the truth of Romans 1:24-32 as I read this article. It seems these British environmentalists consider the life of the planet more valuable than human life. The whole issue of environmentalism is one that is often distorted by extremes (aren’t so many issues that way?). As Christians, we should recognized two things that are evident in Genesis 1-2: 1) God gave the earth to man for him to subdue. Man has dominion over all that God made, and hence it is for our use. However, 2) we are to be good stewards of creation, as we should be of all of God’s gifts to us. This being said, we should never, never place environmental concern over the commands of God, such as “You shall not murder,” or the exhortations of God as in Psalm 127 that tells us that the fruit of the womb is a “reward,” not a curse (another sign of God’s judgment on our culture: calling God’s blessings a curse).
This is what happens, though, when a sound principle such as being conscientious about looking after the world God has entrusted to us is handled by sinful minds that suppress the knowledge of God and try to operate based on their own fallen reason: God is removed from the picture, and the planet becomes the object of worship instead. In bygone days the pagans would sacrifice children to their false gods; nowadays it is the pagan environmentalists who are doing the same.
May God have mercy on us all.

I highly encourage you to read this article by Albert Mohler concerning this upcoming movie. As my pastor so blatantly put it, we as parents should tell our children NO if they ask to watch this movie. Take the time to read this article and familiarize yourself so that you can be prepared.

http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=1065

I found this on John MacArthur’s Q&A page and wanted to share it with you.
I was profoundly impressed by an item I saw buried inside the sports pages recently. A high school basketball team from Rockville County, Georgia, had easily won the state championship, rolling over all their opponents. A few weeks after the championship game, the coach, studying the team’s grades, noticed for the first time that one of his third-string players had failed some courses. The youngster was academically ineligible for the basketball team.

The coach remembered that late in one of the semifinal matches, with his team leading by more than 20 points, he had put that player in the game. The ineligible man had played only a few minutes. His participation had in no way affected the outcome of the game. But it was technically a violation.

The coach was in a distressing predicament. If he revealed the infraction, his team would be stripped of the championship. He could keep quiet and hope no one noticed. After all, the violation was a mere technicality–the team would have won anyway. It was unlikely anyone outside the school would ever discover the offense.

Yet the coach realized the player involved surely was aware of the breach of rules. It was possible that the whole team knew and thought their coach had purposely ignored the eligibility guidelines.

The coach said from the moment he discovered the violation, he knew what he had to do. He never even pondered any alternatives. His priorities had been set long before this. He realized that the championship was not as important as his team’s character or his example to them.

He reported the infraction, and the school forfeited the state championship.

I’m sure it was painful to give up the title, but the coach believed his first responsibility was to be a good example to his team. If he covered up the truth, his players would believe he had flaunted the rules. Winning a state championship at the expense of his integrity was not worth the price. Too many young lives could be adversely affected.

“Winning means nothing anyway unless you do it by the rules,” the coach told incredulous reporters.

After the school surrendered the championship trophy, parents and team boosters chipped in to buy a new, larger trophy. This one does not say “State Championship,” but in my opinion it stands for something far more important.

Young People Represent a Sacred Trust

I wish all coaches, teachers, and parents understood that young people are our most valuable resource. The complexion of the world a generation from now will be determined by the youth of today. The example they receive from those who influence them will determine whether they embrace or discard right values.

Whether you are a young person yourself or someone who influences them, you have a solemn responsibility to be a good example.

The Bible clearly emphasizes this truth. In the Old Testament, all Israel was charged with the task of teaching God’s law to the nation’s youth (Deuteronomy 6:7). Scripture says every parent’s highest duty is to train his children in the way they should go, so that when they are old they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). And a basic requirement for those in spiritual leadership is that they demonstrate the ability to train their own children properly (1 Timothy 3:2-4; Titus 1:5).

There is no question about the importance God places on being the right kind of example to children and young people. Eli, a priest in the Old Testament, was severely judged by God because he had failed to train his sons in the way of righteousness (1 Samuel 3:13). Although he had basically been a faithful priest, he had failed as a father, and God ultimately struck him dead for it.

You Can Be a Good Influence

Being a good example is a responsibility all of us share– not just parents, coaches, and other authority figures. There is great insight in the words of the apostle Paul to a young minister: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Those words affirm both Timothy’s youthfulness and his obligation to influence others for good. Even as a young person, he was commanded to be a good example.

Note the progression: “speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.” Those words envelop every conceivable sphere of influence. Paul wanted Timothy to be constantly aware of the impact of his words and actions on others.

The fact is, we all are an influence on people around us, whether we’re trying to be or not. Almost everything we say or do affects our friends and family either for bad or for good. They will reject or accept our values, depending on how clearly and consistently we demonstrate our commitment.

Christians often speak of being a “good testimony.” The word testimony usually makes us think of verbal witness, but being a good testimony for Christ means much more than just talking about Him. If actions speak as loudly as words, how we live is more important than what we say in influencing people for Christ. A testimony for Christ mandates that we live lives of obedience to Him.

The Toughest Standard of All

I want to focus especially on the issue of purity. It’s the last word in Paul’s list of influential characteristics, but in many ways it is the acid test. Assuming everything else in a person’s life is right–even “speech, conduct, love, [and] faith” (1 Timothy 4:12)–purity remains the ultimate criterion of a good example.

In baseball, if a pitcher goes nine innings and gives up only four hits, we would normally think he pitched a great game. But if those hits are all home runs and the pitcher loses the game, our estimation of his performance will not be nearly as enthusiastic.

A person who bombs out in the area of moral purity is like the pitcher who keeps giving up the long ball–no matter what else he does that’s good, we’re going to rate him as a failure.

One who fails at purity fails at everything. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness” (2 Timothy 2:22). Peter amplified the warning: “Abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul” (2 Peter 2:11).

Nothing combats the soul more fiercely than moral impurity. It undermines any good influence we might otherwise have, shatters credibility, and annuls the positive message of “speech, conduct, love, [and] faith.” That is why it is so damaging when a church leader fails morally.

Moral impurity almost always begins in the mind. People who fall into immorality are predictably those who have nurtured impure thoughts. What we sow in our thought life–good or evil– will inevitably bear fruit in our behavior.

Therefore even “hidden” impurity will ultimately affect the kind of example we are.

It is intriguing that Paul warns Timothy about “youthful lusts.” Temptation to lust can be overwhelming to young people. Isn’t it interesting to note that this was true even in Timothy’s day? Paul realized that as a young person, Timothy would be particularly susceptible to impure desires.

Lustful desires and provocative images, together with pride, are the chief characteristics of our world system (cf 1 John 4:16). Modern society does all it can to amplify the power of lust, through advertising designed to capitalize on evil desires, entertainment that heightens illegitimate passions, and a value system that belittles moral virtue.

All of that sets the tone for the forces that influence today’s young people. The result is an almost irresistible pressure to compromise–especially in the area of purity.

And so contemporary young people desperately need good examples of purity, integrity, and sound character. Sadly, there aren’t many positive examples.

You can be one. Whether you’re a young person or elderly, you’re affecting the young people in your life. Have you considered what kind of example you are? Are you a positive or a negative influence?

The Battle in Your Mind

Scripture acknowledges the ferocious battle we must wage to keep our minds pure. And God’s Word offers the means of winning that battle. Here are some key verses to memorize and meditate on if you’re struggling with impure thoughts:

“…be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

“Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee” (Psalm 119:11).

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2).

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

I am taking a Theology Exam and I plan to post each question along with my answers on here as I progress slowly through. Please read and comment… help out if you think I am missing something important.

1. The Bible is spoken of as “inspired.” What does this mean?

Dictionary.com defines inspired to be of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse; and also to be breathed in. While external sources alone should not be the authority of definition for Christians, this definition does not fall far short of what the Bible speaks of as “inspired”.

(1)II Timothy 3:16-17 says (KJV), “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” The phrase given by inspiration above is the word theopneustos in Greek, which literally means (according to Strong’s Hebrew and Greek dictionary) divinely breathed in: -given by inspiration of God. I believe the English Standard Version more accurately translates this verse as, “All scripture is breathed out by God…”

“What is the Excellency of the scripture? It is given by inspiration of God (2Ti_3:16), and therefore is his word. It is a divine revelation, which we may depend upon as infallibly true. The same Spirit that breathed reason into us breathes revelation among us: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men spoke as they were moved or carried forth by the Holy Ghost, 2Pe_1:21. The prophets and apostles did not speak from themselves, but what they received of the Lord that they delivered unto us. That the scripture was given by inspiration of God appears from the majesty of its style, – from the truth, purity, and sublimity, of the doctrines contained in it, – from the harmony of its several parts, – from its power and efficacy on the minds of multitudes that converse with it, – from the accomplishment of many prophecies relating to things beyond all human foresight, – and from the uncontrollable miracles that were wrought in proof of its divine original: God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will, Heb_2:4.”(2)

For the Bible to be spoken of as inspired we determine that it is literally the word of God, as holy men were used as the mouthpiece of God. We can trust it to be true and reliable as our source of instruction on life and matters of life.

1 All scripture quotes are copied from e-Sword version 7.1.0
2 Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible – e-Sword version 7.1.0

I have been reading the book “Fools Gold” by John Macarthur and wanted to share this particular thought.  Please read and comment.

“People who sit under superficial preaching become dependent on the cleverness and the creativity of the speaker.  When preachers puntuate their sermons with laser lights and smoke, video clips and live drama, the message they send is that there isn’t a prayer that people in the pew could ever extract such profound material on their own.  Such gimmicks create a kind of dispensing mechanism that people can’t use to server themselves.  So they become spiritual couch potatoes who just come in to be entertained, and whatever superficial spiritual content they get from the preacher’s weekly performance is ALL they will get.  They have no particular interest in the Bible because the sermons they hear don’t cultivate that.  They are wowed by the preaher’s creativity and manipulated by the music, and that becomes their whole perspective on spirituality.”

Below I have attached a letter from Steve Hinton of Shoreline Baptist Church that I am convinced needs to be better understood in today’s misconception of Chritianity and all the prosperity theology that is being taught.  Thanks Steve!

We are a society of convenience. Think about it. We have everything from A to Z to make our life more convenient. Microwaves, cell phones, remote controls, and the list goes on and on and on. I think you get the picture. We’ve even tried to make our relationship with Christ more convenient. With the continued evolution all kinds of media, we need never to leave the comfort of our own homes to receive the teaching of God’s Word. Don’t misunderstand, I am all for everything we have available to draw us closer in our walk with Christ. My question is “When does it cease to become about Jesus and simply become about a life of convenience?” A. W. Tozer writes: “Every advance that we make for God and His cause must be made at our inconvenience. If it does not inconvenience us at all, there is no cross in it.” The cross that Jesus was called to carry wasn’t cross of convenience. It cost him everything. The cross we are told to take up is also not a cross of convenience. Just listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:24-25 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Self-denial, loosing one’s life…doesn’t sound too convenient to me. Just the opposite. If we are going to be genuine followers of Christ, if we are going to make advancements for God and His cause, it is going to cost us something. It will not be convenient. It will not be easy. The Apostle Paul has this to say in 1 Corinthians 9:25 “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” Allow me to paraphrase as I close. It may not always be convenient to get out of bed and go to church, it may not always be convenient to read you Bible or pray, it may not always be convenient to help someone in need, but when we do we will receive a reward that no one can take away. In other words the reward is worth the cost.

Think about it.
Steve Hinton

For more information about Steve and the ministry God has called him to, please visit http://www.shorelinebc.org/