Umm. . .”DNA” on a blue velvet dress? I was in Lexington for a conference when the “DNA on the dress” evidence broke. There was a local dry cleaner running a commercial that started with a voice over saying, “Hey, Monica. We could have cleaned that dress.” Priceless.

With apparently no news in the real world to cover, Newsweek has treated us to an interview with Bill Clinton. Yes, our media liberal buddies still find old pants-around-his-ankles interesting. And Bill is still Bill, or maybe worse. He gives a unique Clintonian perspective on the pardons. :”People are free to say that they disagreed with this or that part of the decisions I made, but there wasn’t a shred of evidence that it had been done for any improper motive,” Clinton said. “In fact, there is a lot of evidence to the contrary. I thought there was a little bit of a double standard in the way I was treated, to put it mildly. And I still do.” Clinton did say he was a little more open to Rich’s claim of prosecutorial abuse because of all the investigations he endured as president. “I don’t know Marc Rich and wouldn’t know him if he walked in the door there,” Clinton said. But, he added, “I was very sensitive to prosecutorial abuse because I had seen it. ... I don’t think that’s all bad for a president to be sensitive to any kind of abuse of power.” Yes folks, Bill says there isn’t a shred of evidence that he did anything wrong (the man is Orwelian in his capacity to deny deny deny deny deny) and it is all the fault of those right wing persecutors…uh….prosecutors. He pardoned Rich to protect him from those mean men. WHERE DID WE FIND THIS MAN??? He is incredible. (BTW, he may not have known Marc Rich, but there is some good evidence he knew Rich’s gloriously tacky wife. And it is good to know that large checks written for pardons aren’t evidence. Of course, one must wonder what would Clinton consider evidence?!)

Happy Resurrection Day to everyone as well. I will post some thoughts etc later but now its sabbath nap time! DAVIDH: Shreiner has me reading my Bible! I wish Dale Moody were around to give his view of Shreiner’s approach.

Blessed Resurrection morning, everyone!! Celebrate and rejoice today!

RE: Schreiner’s views. To articulate this in the average Baptist church is to be viewed as strange, at best and theologically suspect at worst. I am constantly amazed at the vast numbers of Baptists who would fight to the death for the inerrancy of Scripture, yet recoil at a truth clearly taught there. There is an almost non-existent doctrine of perseverence. In our circles, folks love to talk about ” preservation of the saints” which wonderfully focuses on God’s role of keepingthe saved, but have no concept of perseverence which Jesus so clearly emphsized.

Just updated IM again, this time with an article on Rosie O’Donnell.

Many who think they’re Christians aren’t
really going to heaven, Southern prof warns
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Baptists have become “as sacramental as Catholics” and have distorted the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” to think of many people as Christian who actually aren’t, according to a Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor.
Baptists’ evangelical emphasis on “making a decision” or walking the aisle may be no different than Catholics’ emphasis on infant baptism, said Tom Schreiner, professor of New Testament interpretation.
“It’s struck me lately that there is a danger that Baptists can be as sacramental as Catholics,” Schreiner said. “Catholics may say, ‘At least they were baptized,’ while Baptists may say, ‘At least they came forward.’ In both instances, the physical act may be understood as saving. It is in this sense that there is a comparison between the sacramentalism of Roman Catholics and the view of some Baptists.
_“We must beware of understanding faith as something that was expressed once and then no further fruit is evident,” he warned.
_Schreiner is co-author of a book that addresses this issue. The book, “The Race Set Before Us,” was written with Ardel Caneday, professor of Bible at Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minn.
_The biblical teaching on perseverance, according to Schreiner and Caneday, is that just as a runner must strive to stay in the race with the finish line as the goal, one must fight to stay in the faith with the eternal goal in mind.
Too many churches teach that the finish line is obtained by just entering the race, Schreiner said. He calls this “easy believism.”
“How many people in our churches are unregenerate? What are the statistics?” he asked. “One-third, some studies say, never go to church. One-third go to church sometimes. ... This is not just a problem among Baptists. It is a problem in evangelicalism generally.
_“You make a profession of faith, and then you’re considered to be saved. Yes, if the profession of faith is authentic. But we must also remind ourselves of Jesus’ words, ‘The one who endures to the end will be saved.’ So, initial decisions of themselves, although we rejoice in them, do not clearly demonstrate whether someone is genuinely a believer.”
_So, who are the true believers?
_Those who keep the commands of Christ, Schreiner suggest, quoting 1 John 2:3.
According to the Calvinist or Reformed theology of Schreiner and Caneday, those chosen by God for salvation, the elect, will be kept on track by the warnings of God given in the Bible.
“Those who are true believers will be preserved by means of the warnings,” he said. For “those whom God has chosen, those whom he has elected, our argument is the warnings are always effective,” Schreiner said. “They never fail.”
_“The warnings in Hebrews are not written to say those who have fallen away were never believers,” he added. “Of course, that’s true theologically. But the warnings were written to a community that was tempted to fall away. Our argument is that the warning means exactly what it says—if you fall away, you will be damned. It’s precisely by taking those warnings seriously that the elect will be preserved on the last day.”
_Like signs on a road, the warnings are God’s ordained means of keeping the truly saved from wrecking, Schreiner said.
_The doctrine of eternal security of the believer is commonly held among Baptists. However, particular interpretations of who can be saved or will be saved differ among Baptists.
_Schreiner is among an emerging crop of Calvinist-oriented faculty in some Southern Baptist seminaries, particularly Southern Seminary, who see the doctrine of eternal security inextricably intertwined with their views on election.

From Denise: Here’s a joyous Easter story for all of you. Kind of brings back memories of the attack rabbit in Monty Python’s “Holy Grail,” doesn’t it? Enjoy!

WASHINGTON, March 29 (IM)—An Internet posting Friday, apparently from Michael Spencer’s “Internet Monk” network, described this year’s xxxkicking in Afghanistan as God’s punishment against those who attacked America. The cryptic e-mail, apparently coming from the often heard, but never seen Internet Monk headquarters in Eastern Kentucky, described the Taliban as “target practice” and the Al-queda as “bravely holed up in caves kissing their xxx good-bye.” The e-mail suggested the Al-queda disguise themselves as women and sneak bravely across the Pakistan border, to continue life as lonely cowering fugitives without a country.

It’s comforting to know that America isn’t the only country God punishes:

WASHINGTON, March 27 (UPI)—An Internet posting Wednesday, apparently from Osama bin Laden’s al Qaida network, described this week’s earthquake in Afghanistan as God’s punishment against those who supported the American-led war against terror.

“The earthquake in (the northern Afghan province of) Baghlan has a lesson for those who can see,” says the posting on the al-Neda Web site, which means “the voice” in Arabic.

“Calamities like earthquakes, wars and storms are signs to show that God is upset with the aggressors,” the posting goes on, “but there are few who believe in them and fewer who learn from them.”

Al-Neda regularly carries postings purporting to come from al Qaida, often commenting on or reporting events not covered by the media, which lends the claims credibility.

On March 22, for example, the site reported an attack on U.S. troops at the Khost airport in eastern Afghanistan. U.S. Central Command confirmed “a probing attack” had taken place at the airport and said that one U.S. soldier had been injured.

U.S. intelligence officials have said that since the defeat of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan last year, al Qaida has become dependent on the Internet both for internal communications and connections with the outside world.

While describing the damages done by this week’s earthquake, the Web site says that it came in an area where people had opposed the Taliban and al Qaida and supported the United States.

It also reminds readers that in 1998 two severe earthquakes killed more than 9,000 people in this area—which it says was a base for “the forces of Ahmad Shah Masud and Rabbani.”

Masud was the military commander of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, killed by suicide bombers linked to al Qaida just days before the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States. Burhanuddin Rabbani is the former Afghan president who leads the Northern Alliance.

Copyright ฉ 2002 United Press International

DavidH: Passion Plays Good to hear from you again. Yes, passion plays have come a long way. When I first saw Jesus singing a solo with a microphone in hand at Southland Christian I said that was enough for this old Puritan. Reel it in. And when the entertainment factor produces the emotion and response, you are just left praying that the grace of God got in there somewhere. I am living through it this week. (Thankfully it is over.) A skit tonight that scared my son ten feet in the air. What is the point of sudden loud noises? Does this make it more real? I have to join MacArthur is saying that I really wonder if people believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, or only in human effects on other humans. In Europe, passion plays were community activities with a witness and worship in mind. I know that attitude still exists with many people, but the “gotta top the last one and the church down the road” syndrome is too much. I am waiting for the living cross with the living nails and the singing blood. And thanks for the CD recommendations, particularly SGreen. I didn’t know about the Piper quote. Oh- on Amy Welborn’s blog she had some interesting things to say (In an RCC context) about children’s passion plays with plastic Roman soldier gear. Our RCC friends are experiencing the worship revolution as an assault on the mystery of the mass. I am not in their corner theologically, but I feel the same sense of the invasion of the secular over the sacred. BTW please pray for my mom who has lost sight in one eye and having trouble with the other. Doesn’t look good.

I know I’m a little late on the music discussion, but for what it’s worth… Ginny Owens ( both Cd’s) and Sara Groves “Conversations” are both fine, poetic reflections on the gospel in the everyday. The City on Hill Worship collections offer hope for contemporary worship. And yes, Steve Green’s latest ” Woven in Time” opens with a quote from Piper and just gets better. It feeds my soul.

On another note; Our church is putting on a Passion Play that is very Broadway. We even had to issue a strobe light warning for those with epilepsy. Who knew that the resurrection came with strobes bouncing off a metallic silver suit??!! The production is the thing. The connection between that and the struggles we’ve been discussing re:revivalism are significant. The simple gospel gets lost in the shuffle, as does the power of a soul quieted before it. How do you disciple a Jesus-follower when the beginnings of ” faith” are so overwhelmingly emotion and flash driven? The following in the ordinary days ( as Dallas Willard so clearly develops in Divine Conspiracy) may not be as attractive or compelling as the show. It’s trouble.

A fellow Calvinist had this on his guest book. It’s the kind of letter that makes the internet stranger than fiction: “This is the most heretical site I have ever seen It is obvious that you know little of the history of Christian doctrine or the fact that the demonic man John Calvin who gave you this stuff put to death by burning at the stake anyone who disagreed with him. The test is the early church For the first three centuries the church did not believe like you – Augustine brought in eastern thinking and neo-platonic thought which was copied by John Calvin. Your twisted pervered concepts of truth have a demonic origin and need to be renouced in the Name of Jesus. I have training in these areas and 30 years of research which back up what I am saying. I would include that I have cast demons of Calvinism out of people after they named themselves as such. You need Help. You can reach me at T. S. “

Hmmm. Augustine brought in eastern mysticism. Calvin actually just did in one heretic who renounced the Trinity. (But hey, he tried three times to work it out!) I’m sure he would have loved Paul and Jan. But “Demons of Calvinism” may explain a good bit that’s going on with my wife.

RonH: Arranged marriages. I could probably write an award winning column on the many pagan errors of romanticism. I think it is the opposite of much that scripture tells us is essential for a marriage. So I am not taken in by any chick flick wisdom, but I have raised a highly independent 17 year old young woman. She disagrees with me on several major issues (young earth-old earth), but she is a Christian with her own mind, and her own approach to life. She does trust my wisdom, and I know she would value my view on any important subject. But she is picking the college right now. I am telling her what I will and won’t do and giving her my POV. We will make some trips together. But she will make the final choice and live with the consequences. And it is likely that it won’t be the identical choice I would make. (I would like her to go to Hillsdale and I think she will go to Centre.) Same with a guy. She would talk with both Denise and I a lot and we would give her a lot of unsolicited advice, but I wouldn’t be comfortable making that choice.

In my 27 years working with students, I have seen Christian parents make a lot of choices for their Christian kids, especially about college or a career. I have to say, with some exceptions, I don’t like what I see, Primarily, I want to know how you invested 18 years of yourself in a human being and you can’t trust them to pick a college, a job or a relationship? For me, teaching Noel how to be independent and moral and submitted to Christ above all has been my job. Now its time for her to make the choices. Now, my son on the other hand….I’ll be picking out his clothes in the morning ;-)

I just updated IM with a new article on revivalism. Alas, I moved the music articles down the page to the second listing.

MikeB: No. And I say that as one who grew up with an overdose of prophetic dispensationalism and drank deeply at the wells of Lindsey, etc up into college. Now, I believe that nation over there is a secular U.N. created state of mostly atheistic Zionists. Nothing special. I hope they come to Christ, like I hope Russians and AFghans come to Christ. I think Christians have a tendeny to forget that God doesn’t look at the world the way CNN or the NYT or Fox looks at it. Plus, this road of Bible prophecy has been travelled over and over and over throughout history and we need a little historical humility here. (IF I get on this topic again, vote for a new moderator!)

RonH: Arranged marriages. You are right in a lot of your observatrions. But I think the cultures are wrong often in the way women are treated, and we couldn’t sustain that cultural practice biblically. Our children, especially our daughters, have more independence and education and opportunity than most cultures who practice this, and I think they should. I am not comfortable with the idea of arranging a marriage for my daughter just because someone in the Bible did. I am comfortable with her making that decision with dependence on God and respect for parents. (The Wilsonites probably practice this.) I do strongly reject a lot of the assumptions behind dating as it is practiced and I think we have to make a lot of adjustments, turning it more into three stages 1) group friendship 2) appropriate opposite sex friendship and 3) Christian courtship leading to marriage. (My 17 year old daughter has a really wonderful boyfriend that we are very fond of.)

RonH: Christian principles applied to non-Christians. I am not with you on this one. The moral law. Certainly. The light of reason. Sure. Dave Ramsey works for anyone who does it. But how can a non-Christian practice Ephesians 5? How can a non-Christian do all things for the glory of God? I think this principle oriented shift in teaching and preaching has really been an ominous shift in preaching. Seeing the Bible as a book of principles is what I call the “grocery store” approach to the Bible. Let’s just run in and get a little marriage, and a little parenting and a little finances. The Bible is Christ centered and if the beauty of a Christ obedient life shows “principles” then OK, but I have to agree with McFarland, we have no right to say to the world, “Hey! We know how to raise your kids.” We’re too busy screwing up our own.

Men’s Issues: You are right about the feminization thing in many circles, but not in all. Robert Hicks, whose book I recommended earlier, isn’t. I have heard several Men’s speakers that were just great because of the “guyness” of the whole thing. I am more of the opinion that we need some emphasis on manhood because the general culture and esp the church are feminized and we are losing the definition. (ESP the church) The one PK I attended was good on one level just for the “guyness” of the thing. I, for one, need that because working in a ministry with 150 other Christians, the “guy” side of things is neglected. I am a Wilsonite in that regard. I am for belching, growling, scratching, give me another IBC BHT Christianity. God bless Eric Liddle. I’ll tell you another non-feminized dude: Steve Farrar. I love that guy.

Rob: The possiblity we have agreed on music may be making some kind of instability in the universe. Be careful.

Eric: Your sympathy is appreciated. Now WOULD YOU PLEASE WRITE SOMETHING!!?

Mike: It is certainly a fair assumption that what is happening in the Middle East might appear very much like end times. So much so, that I know people that are basically waiting to be whisked away in the rapture. While it is very important to be prepared (no one knows the hour), it is also important to continue to be a faithful servant and not bury your talents in the ground until the master returns.

As far as whether or not these changes are indicative of end times, one must asked whether or not you can biblically show proof that these events are more apocolyptic than the fall of Jerusalem (70 AD). Also consider that events like this one have happened before, although not to this level. Consider Egypt and Syria’s advance on Israel in the late 60s where Israel struck back with a vengeance. I am certain there were people in the late 60s and early 70s that saw signs of end times, as well.

From my vantage point, I feel that these events may indicate the signs talked about in Daniel and Revelation. However, I am not going to alter my life due to events. I will continue to die to myself daily (1 Co 15:32) and attempt to be a light to a world in darkness. I will certainly pary daily to keep my house clean, for the day of the master’s return, but I must use my talents (Mt 25) in His service. These are the things that have been commanded. The bible does not ask us to alter this plan if we feel end times are immenent. It does, however, command me to not be worried about tomorrow (Mt 6:34), so I will continue to do my best, confess my sins, read my bible and spread the good news, using words when necessary (St. Francis).

I don’t mean to turn all “Left Behind” on you guys, but do you see any end time significance in what is happening in the Middle-East? Do you think there is any eschatological significance to what is going on over there? Do you think the Bible provides us with any end time information we can look at and say with any certainty, “yeah, this is happening right now”?

I’m not trying to set you guys up for a big debate. It’s just that I’m undecided about these questions, and I would really like to tap into your collective wisdom regarding what’s going on and whether you think it has any Biblical significance.

For those of you who who have read the article on CCM and concluded that I have been brainwashed by Gothardites, I would like to mention some CCM that is really blesing me these days. (Dedicated to ROB!)

1. All my Michael Card collection. Having known Michael as a performer from the pre-El Shaddai days, I am biased. Yeah, he puts out a lot of stuff, and not all is great, but he really does something remarkable. He translates scripture into music on a THEOLOGICAL level. For instance, I use his UNVEILED HOPE cd in my classes when we study Revelation, and it is really helpful. His cd on Hebrews, Soul Anchor, is excellent. I just thank God for this guy and his vision of artistry, worship and communicating the Bible’s message.
2. Caedmon’s Call. I particularly like 40 Acres and In the Company of Angels. There is just some fine, serious, God-centered music on here. 40 Acres particularly betrays that someone has been reading some Calvinists.
3. Robyn Mark. This is an Irish guy who records for Integrity/Hosanna. Two worship cds from Iive in Ireland with a celtic sound. Also some very God-centered lyrics and a worshipful sound.
4. Lifehouse. For a straight out secular band, these young men do some remarkable work. I love it when MTV goes for a band and then finds out they are Chrsitians. (Ha!) Listen to “Everything” and you will be moved.
5. Bebo Norman. Good songwriting, well delivered. I like him.
6. Steve Green. I know this isn’t real CCM, but what a God-centered guy with a wonderful understanding of music in the Christian life. I start a lot of days with a Bible, coffee and Steve Green
7. Rich Mullins. Nuff said.
8. John Michael Talbot. Same. I love the old stuff and the newer things that sound like the really old stuff.
9. The Waiting. One of the most creative Christian bands I know of. Their songwriting is very moving.
10. Reliant K. These guys kick it and I can listen to it with my son. A sense of humor is a blessed thing, and this band has a killer one.
11. Creed. Sorry. I love these guys and appreciate what they are doing.

Well, unfortunately, this is one of those times when I have more limited computer access, so I can’t say much. MichaelS, I feel you. It’s almost like I’m sitting in chapel again, thinking about how I could be home cleaning the house or something, watching students try to sleep and talk and laugh and poke fun, then go up and pray and walk the aisle at the end of the service. Ugh. There are some advantages to working among the heathen. At least when I talk about Christ to them, there is no soft music playing, they don’t think it’s the same thing they’ve heard in chapel every day, and there’s nobody down front saying, If you love Chirst, stand up and shout Huzzah! Real world evangelism. Scary.
“See” everyone soon!

Greg: Being an interim minister myself now and on other occasions, I know that the impact is primarily pastoral and transitional, not substantial. I remember a guy who was our interim on a church staff where I served. His preaching was outrageous, but he did a good job shepherding us through the transition. Not that he can’t stand correction, it is just a different deal than someone everyone looks at and says “That’s our pastor.”

There are lots of practical implications of the Bible’s message, but I think modern evangelicals have lost their wits in acting as if “principles for success” are there in the Bible to be derived and applied to make everything better. Mcfarland and I were discussing this a few weeks ago on the subject of parenting. Our big answer on parenting is that we are all depraved rebels and God loves us anyway, so repent and follow Jesus. Your kids and your marriage my be screwed up, but God hasn’t given up. Christians need to quit saying “Hey! We have the answers!” and start saying “Hey! Christ is the answer.” I call the current mood the “Life Management Jesus.” (Talking about dating to lost people is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.)

Would love to know the book titles. BTW, “Life will trash your treasures” is a great sentence. I admire Dr. Dobson, though I frequently disagree with his approach to political issues. I wish he would write and speak more on personal issues because he always seems enormously on target.

Michael: Thank you for the words. So far I have yet to see anything major in the pastors theology, so I am going to prayerfully bring it to him when I get the opportunity and see where it lands.

On the revival: I think real world topics are very important, but I, too, have a problem with a seekers based religion. “Oh, no, we can’t tell them about hell, as it might make them think we are fundamentalist and we will never get the opportunity to bring them to Christ.” Reg Flag! Seesm to me the Holy Spirit leads people to Christ; we are just allowed to participate in the harvest. The person who picks apples does not take credit for creating the tree, yet so many love to take credit for salvation. I see nothing wrong with talking about dating, but, if the goal is revival/salvation/etc., focusing on temporal, worldly topics, even in a biblical manner, is missing the point.

On men’s books: I will have to defer for a moment. I have a couple at home that I have enjoyed, but the names escape me. I went to PK the final year it was only in Colorado. It was a great experience for me personally, but I think it was more being able to worship and meet people rather than a supercharged life-changing experience. I had already been working on a lot of the “promises” prior to that point. The part I enjoyed the most was getting to hear James Dobson speak (which is quite rare). He talked about how life will trash your trophies. As one who has always been very goal driven, it was a sobering topic.

I’m going to ramble on revivalism, invitationalism, sex and dating for a while.

Last night, our “revival” services continued. These are led by a group of just-out-of-college students, and contain all the usual contemporary worship fare, Powerpoint (ohhhh-ahhhh), the kickin’ band, skits with nerds, good looking guys, college type “preaching”, etc. For all that, they have done a pretty good job, comparatively.We’ve had some groups that had me praying we could get some Mormons to come in and do the services. There apparently was some communication of parts of the Gospel on a couple of days.

Anyway, last night the topic was dating. When you are talking with high school kids, you have to talk about sex and dating. It’s mandatory. So, these guys on the team are being mobbed by girls every day. (One girl said “Oh, I love revival. You get so close to God, and the guys are so cute.” There ya go.) So its time for a corrective, I suppose. After talking about his own experience in finding a woman to marry, the speaker gave an invitation to our students to give up “dating” for six months and get their relationship with God in order. This yielded a few customers, non-daters as best I could tell, and a lot of conversation. Now, here is my take.

First, in a Christian worship service or evangelistic effort, you have one thing to say to lost people: flee to Christ. You may die tonight and you will go to hell without the benefits of the Gospel, so trust in Christ now. Second, telling the lost to do anything else, no matter how practically beneficial is Biblically wrong. Jesus told the rich young ruler to drop everything and follow him now. He didn’t say, “Well, you could try to donate some money to the poor, or work a few hours with Habitat, or give up dating.” Third, the general use of an invitational format for this sort of thing makes the lost person think they have kinda sorta done business with God, without surrendering their lives to him. For example, one girl who headed down the aisle and then went back to her seat, is clearly a lost person and is feeling a certain amount of discomfort with her flagrant sexual promiscuity. What is she thinking? If I make this promise, I’ll feel better? God will say “Now that’s progress?” This is seeker theology at its worst, imo. Fourth, the attractions of the monastery and the convent are always there for Protestants. The Bible says nothing about dating. Preach/teach the Gospel and the Bible and tell these lost kids God has nothing to say about dating, lots to say about Christ, and many specific things to say about relationships, sex, marriage, etc once they are Christians. The idea that the Bible contains “Principles for Success” in all these areas that lost people can access and improve their homes, parenting, dating, finances, etc is ridiculous. It’s Oprah-esque. (Can you picture Moses saying to Pharaoh, “OK, if you don’t want to surrender to Yahweh and let his people go, how about Ten Principles for a Happier Home? Or maybe you’re interested in leadership principles. We could go over some Maxwell stuff….”)

I would love to get up and speak specifically to this in my Good Friday message today, and probably will say that if you are lost, you need Christ now, not some attempt to clean yourself up. You can have your life in order and bust hell wide open. But it is sad to see what is happening to the faith in the hands of boomers and their descendents. A Christless Gospel to a generation whose biggest problem is dating. As Charlie Brown said, “Argh!”

I have the Swindoll book but have never read it. Good recommendation. Eldridge (Divine Romance/Wild at Heart, etc) is a publishing phenom right now. Some of my mentors have warned me about “openness of God” theology (no foreknowledge and limited sovereignty) in the books, but others have told me he has explicitly corrected statements that led to those conclusions. I will be reading Divine Romance at some point, as it is often recommended by Piper-types. Thanks guys. I am also reading “When Men Think Private Thoughts” by Gordon Macdonald. Also would always recommend The Masculine Journey by ____ Hicks, which was controversial in the 90’s but I still think is solid. And while we are on books, if you don’t own a copy of Holiness by J.C. Ryle, get to Discerning Reader and pick one up. One of the most satisfying and challenging books I have ever read, and I have been enjoying it since high school!

You might want to check out “Man to Man” by Chuck Swindoll. It’s a collection of short works on a variety of issues.

Vast amounts of preacherly exhaustion have set in on me. Preaching five Holy Week messages in a row to our school is hard. I have covered the ground and don’t want to do anything highly repetitive, but we are talking about the cross here! One more sermon tomorrow, then I can relax on that front and just run the campus ministry center for the evening. Next weekend, I am going to the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals meeting in Indy and I will get to hear Horton and Carson and Ryken. Plus I got off a Sunday for the first time in I’ve lost count how long.

Has anyone read any good books on Men’s issues that they would recommend? I’m thinking of taking my son to a PK meeting in Knoxville this summer. I’ve been to one and it was OK- (remember, I’m reformed, so I was slightly traumatized) but I think it would be a good Father-son thing. Clay will be 14. (He now mumbles a lot. Is this normal?)

Hey, if it works for Paul and Tertius, who are we to criticize Colson and LaHaye.

Rob: I was specifically refering to the situation of being a best-selling author without actually being an author at all. Jenkins writes, Lahaye draws the charts, I guess. Seems uniquely evangelical in its less than forthrightness. (But I am sure you are right ;-) I’ll skewer a hero of mine in moderate repentance. Here’s a note from Ellen Goodman’s current column on the lack of truthfulness rampant in Hell-wood and elsewhere these days: “Stephen Ambrose, who has a meager apology on his Web page, was most recently attacked by Charles Colson in Christianity Today for “dealing in deceit.” But Colson’s column, according to the Los Angeles Times, was actually written by Anne Morse, one of his full-time employees.”

BTW- I am looking for a ghost writer for IM. That way I can work harder on the conceptual side of the page, and not be bothered with the actual writing.

Greg: There is a lot going on in your church situation that I would need to know to give a good response. For starters, you are in a transitional situation, and unless the temporary guy is doing real harm to the church, patience is probably more in order than if this were your permanent pastor. That’s not to say do nothing, that is just to say that his influence will probably not be as great as it might seem right now. If he isn’t around in a year and a good solid guy is there, the impact will be negligible. Not invisible, but minor. Next, leaving a church or promoting schism should only happen with major issues of essential doctrine. I think the protestant temperament needs some moderation in that area.

But having said all that, I would remind you that you should document any issues with exactly what was said. Ministers can be very defensive. If it is a clear doctrinal issue, ask him to explain where he is on that doctrine, and don’t let him do an end run. Be specific- do you believe this or that? I would be cautious about minor points, but plainspoken on major ones. As a temporary, he probably hasn’t had to answer about his doctrinal beliefs to the extent a regular pastor would while candidating. The emphasis on a temp is more pastoral skills. And remember that as a member of the church you have every right to ask questions of your minister, and every right to disagree with him- respectfully. And of course, be teachable yourself.

LaHaye- it’s a scam. I don’t just say that because I disagree with the theology and find the sheepish consumerism of evangelicals to be distressing. It is as you say- a man hasn’t written the books and he is the primary beneficiary of the bazillions made through this. Only Christians would come up with something this shaky. (I wonder if there is a Muslim version of this?)

LaHaye the best selling fiction author? Makes me want to puke.

I have nothing against a little pre-trib story to stoke up both believers and non-believers, but the heavy handed tactics I have seen many pre-tribs take against those who did not fit their view of the world makes me a little nauseous. I, too, would like to think that God would wisk me away from all the troubles of the world during the tribulation, but I have a hard time swallowing the “proof” presented as conclusive.

As far as LaHaye goes, I read an article that he has not penned one single word in the series (he is the advisor), but required an author’s credit to check the biblical validity of the story. If this is true (I am skeptical about the written word), I have very little respect for M. LaHaye.

On another note, is it just me or does Anton LaVey sound a lot like Tim LaHaye? LOL

I have an interesting dilemna in my church that I would like to throw out.

Our pastor left last year, and after a period of “guest speakers”, we finally brought in a transitional pastor, until the Pastor Search committee could find a suitable replacement. The transitional pastor is quite dynamic and has good themes to his sermons. The problem I am having is, while making his points, he is moving into unbiblical teaching. I have not purposefully tried to find anything wrong with his teaching, as his sermons are passionate and, on the surface, seem to be correct. But, I sit in church and get this feeling something is false and then go to the word and find that I am correct. As an example, he taught that we are to be patient with divisive persons, yet Titus 3:10 states:

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.

The issues I am finding are minor and I have intended on contacting him over it. Up until yesterday, I had no real quandry. Yesterday, I found out that one of our eldest deacons had gone to the pastor about scriptural issues and was supposedly brushed aside. He then wrote a treatise on the unscriptural teachings this pastor has put forth on salvation. He asked that the deacons vote on the issue and was out voted. He then stated that he could not stay in a church that maintained a pastor that was unscriptural and renounced his church membership.

I want to hear all sides of the issue and plan on talking to the pastor about the issues I am having with his teachings (which are much more minor than salvation issues). My real question is how others would approach this issue.

At present, my wife and my in-laws (also members) are thinking about looking for another church. I am having my doubts as to the right road to take. Anyone?

At least Mike Warnke had a sense of humor. Sorta… until they found out what a fraud he was. Then he wasn’t so funny. Just sad. And scary.

Booing the Boy Scouts is like booing Mother Teresa. It will eventually bite you square in the buttocks.

Matthew: I’ll take a large pizza.

A Monkish Correction: A while back in a post on the Yates trial, I cited the NYT for misspelling the name of evangelist Mike Warnke as Mike Woroniecki. Turns out there is such a guy, and he appears almost as bizarre as Warnke. Apologies on that one. I’ll spent the night in the Wine Cellar as punishment.

Speaking of which, I’l be in the CHAT ROOM at 10 p.m. tonight.

ERIC: For the first time since 1994, Grisham is not the best selling fiction author in the country. Want to guess who is? Hint: His boxers recently appeared on here. (BTW, if this doesn’t motivate you to write, you must be dead.)

Well, y’all, I’m about to leave for the Big Apple! First time for me, so I might get eaten alive. Anyway, I’ll try to keep up but I don’t know what I’ll have as far as access. Hope y’all have a great weekend.

Scott: Everyone remember the Boy Scouts being booed at the Democratic National Convention? A real revealing moment for the party of Truman and Roosevelt.

Greg:The Weekly Standard has done two cover stories on the academic/media evolution of pedophelia towards “normal and accepted.” It is much further along than you might suspect, and truly a sign that we owe Sodom and Gommorah an apology. A couple of years ago, I could not find many students who would say that an immoral act between a 21 year old teacher and a willing 15 year old was wrong.

BTW, I heard Neil Cavuto talk about priests now being spit on on the streets of NYC. Rudy is definately gone.