crimson on white

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

2010-03-09T06:04:00.003-05:00

"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." Romans 6:12-14

It's awfully early in the morning to be considering such profound things but as I brewed my coffee & poured into the Scripture, many truths became exceedingly clear. For years I read Romans 6 & was somewhat discouraged. I was living under the law rather than under grace.

Paul begins with a question as to whether grace encourages sin? By no means!! "How can we who died to sin still live in it?" I would continually ask myself the same... why am I so drawn to "live" in sin. I remember similar conversations taking place in college as we worked out our theology. We were all desperately aware of our depravity.

John Stott brings clarity (referring to verse 2), "Paul is referring not to a death to the power of sin (or sensitivity toward), but a death to its guilt, that is our justification." In other words, we are still keenly sensitive toward sin, yet the "sting" is gone because of Christ's atoning work. This is only the case for the one who lives "under grace" (v.14). A regenerate person has been "declared to be in the right... declared to be or acquitted from sin." Scripture represents death in a differing manner than we sometimes look; it is much more legal than physical. Scripture views death as the due penalty for our sin rather than a state of lying motionless. Death is the "wage" or payment for our sin.

Therefore, consider yourselves dead to sin & alive to God in Christ Jesus. Continually consider yourself to be dead to sin. Paul implies that it is certainly possible to let sin reign in your life (v.12), but don't let it! "Do not present (Gk: hopla) your members to sin as instruments (Gk: paristanete) for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God... as instruments of righteousness." In other words, do not make yourself available (your eyes, ears, mind, heart, feet, hands, etc.) or put yourself at sin's disposal. Paul uses the words, "do not let sin therefore reign in your mortal body..." Sin can use our body as a way to govern us. If you don't believe me, consider the glutton who cannot control his appetite for food or consider the porn addict who has no self control or consider the one with an eating disorder who will do anything to achieve a certain look. Paul says, don't be a slave to sin. Lightfoot comments, "Sin is regarded as a sovereign (v.12) who demands the military service of its subjects, levies their quota of arms (v.13) & gives them their solder's pay of death (v.23)."

"Because Christ died to sin and lives to God, and because through union with Christ we are ourselves 'dead to sin but alive to God', and must 'count' or consider ourselves so, therefore our whole attitude to sin and to God must change. Do not offer yourselves to sin (13a), because you have died to it; but offer yourselves to God (13b), because you have risen to live for his glory." -Stott (180).

For years I lived under the influence of the law rather than the influence of grace; I just didn't understand. What I now realize is that I was trying to have personal merit before God. I was depending on myself & seeking to muster up enough enthusiasm to live righteous before God. But the ultimate secret of freedom from sin is to live under grace. "To be under grace is to acknowledge your dependence on the work of Christ for salvation, and so to be justified rather than condemned, & thus set free" (Stott, 181).

In summary, does grace encourage sin? By no means. Rather, by all means, grace discourages & outlaws sin. The law provokes & increases sin (5:20); grace opposes it.

A Few Thoughts on Renewal

2010-02-03T09:14:00.003-05:00

I recall a few years ago sitting in one of my favorite local restaurants (Gondolier... for you locals) & pouring out my emotions to a dear friend. This had become a weekly occurrence where I'd find myself spending the majority of our conversation talking about my "weariness, overcommitment, & the perceived need to drop out." I was in the middle of a sentence when a friend of his walked in the restaurant & stopped by the table. My friend said to her, "You look great! I can't believe how refreshed you look." That statement hit me like a ton of bricks. It immediately called to mind how much of my time was spent in dread, weariness, disappointment... burdened. I needed renewal in a bad way.

Here's some quotes & thoughts I've been having... many of these thoughts are birthed from my reading Gordon McDonald's "Renewing Your Spiritual Passion."

Heart check time when "life seems to momentarily turn into a mindless or spiritless journey crammed with events (not experiences) & contacts (not relationships)" (6).

"There are no shortcuts, no gimmicks, no easy ways to cultivate intimacy with God & attain the resulting passion that should carry on through life's journey" (9).

"Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry because I never undertake more work than I can go through with calmness of Spirit." -John Wesley

This is my favorite excerpt from the book (taken from Lettie Cowman's "Springs in the Valley" p.196-7):

In the deep jungles of Africa, a traveler was making a long trek. Coolies had been engaged from a tribe to carry the loads. The first day they marched rapidly & went far. The traveler had high hopes of a speedy journey. But the second morning these jungle tribesmen refused to move. For some strange reason they just sat & rested. On inquiry as to the reason for this strange behavior, the traveler was informed that they had gone too fast the first day, & that they were now waiting for their souls to catch up with their bodies.

I am often astounded at the pace at which our lives move. My dear friends, please spend time waiting... let your souls catch up with your bodies.

Mars Hill Church | Special | 32 Hours: The Church in Haiti

2010-01-25T13:37:00.000-05:00

Mark Driscoll's Full Interview with RC Sproul

2010-01-25T11:58:00.002-05:00

Really enjoyed this one; RC Sproul's work has impacted my life several times over... click on the below image to access Mark Driscoll's full interview with RC Sproul.

Living Water | A Response to Haiti

2010-01-15T10:49:00.002-05:00

If you're considering donating funds to Haiti... may I ask you to consider giving through this channel. Click on the image below to find out more.

Q&A with Piper & Angola Prison Inmates

2010-01-12T09:06:00.001-05:00

via The Gospel Coalition

The In-Between

2010-01-12T07:46:00.002-05:00

I've realized the need to post an update for a LONG time now but haven't. I suppose trying to keep up with 3 blogs is a bit too much for someone... unless it's their job. Consider this my stating my intentions for Crimson on White.

I sense I am somewhat in the in-between. Many things have happened since I began this blog: went full-time with my 2 businesses, the birth of my 2nd child, joining a new church in Knoxville, etc. Therefore, I haven't been very consistent in updates. In many respects I needed my soul to catch up with my writings... I wasn't taking enough time to incorporate what God was teaching, rather jumping on from one thing to another. I still feel there is an audience & ministry for Crimson on White as many of you have expressed; I am so thankful. Originally I planned to open this blog up for many contributors to share their insight & personal reflections from Scripture. Again, I would welcome that (just let me know & we'll make sure our goals/visions are compatible).

God has done a tremendous work in my heart over the past few months & I intend to share them with you here. Stay with me friends & I hope that God may use this blog as a means of grace in your life.

Desiring God Pastors Conference

2009-12-02T10:04:00.001-05:00

Matt Chandler at SBTS

2009-11-12T11:53:00.001-05:00

Words, Words... they're Good for Your Heart... (or are they?)

2009-10-21T07:59:00.004-04:00

First, apologies to those who regularly read this blog (believe it or not, there are a few)... I have been missing in action. My plate is overflowing with work (praise God!): photography, graphic/web design, copywriting, proposals... on & on. All that to say that I am going to schedule to post at least once a week on Crimson on White. What can I say... I'm committed. If I can post more, I will.

Now that that is out of the way, here is the stuff:

Words, Words... they're good for your heart... (or are they?)

Words, words... they're good for your heart, the more you use them, the more you... are likely to sin, or say something totally inappropriate, or 'stick your foot in your mouth,' or brag, or 'blow smoke,' etc. You get the point; they can be damaging. Or, they can be incredible, life-giving & edifying, like a 'breath of fresh air.' I guess what matters is what words you use & when you use them. WORD!

One of the pastors, Craig Cooper, at CCK preached a sermon titled "Encourage One Another Toward Godliness" & he emphasized the power, purpose, & potential of our words. I want to recap some of his points as well as add some of my thoughts on the subject. As a heads up, the good & profound points were likely stated by him not me!

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as it good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." Ephesians 4:29

Here's the point: Our words should promote joy in/toward others.

Craig offered this definition of Biblical Encouragement: Biblical encouragement is that which instills courage/hope in the heart of the believer in the fight of faith.

Scripture offers a clear contrast on the power of our words:

Words can either be corrupting or good for up-building
Words can be damaging or edifying
Words can either promote strife/trouble or peace/unity
Our words matter to God & they affect those around us

I paraphrase CJ Mahaney who encourages believers to be "...wisely forbidding any & all speech detrimental to others." As another author said, "Incivility is storming the gates." Wouldn't you agree? It is all too common for us to hear words of incivility that are laced with bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, false report, maliciousness... words that lessens another's esteem or reputation (Eph 4:31). Often we justify our behavior by a 'passive resistance' towards this type of conversation. We refuse to step in & say, "I'm sorry friend, but have you discussed this with _____, I think it would serve you both to speak with him about this." Or, "It sounds to me that you are holding on to some real bitterness in your heart towards _____. You should talk with him privately." Rather, we often are guilty by association or guilty by participation. Gossip & such feeds our ego & spirit of superiority over others. We feel like we now own something over them if we have evidence of their misbehavior, sin, or character deficiencies. It's like a drug.

Yet it doesn't have to be this way. We learn from Scripture the character of God who is One who always speaks in a way fitting for the moment, whose words encourage & build & promotes joy in others. God gives grace to those who hear His voice. As JC Ryle speaks of one whom you'd be "...warmed by their company as though your soul warmed by fire." God's words warm our souls. And our words can do the same.
A few questions for reflection might be:

What are others most aware of in me?
Are you more aware of my encouragement or criticism?

Every single conversation we have has the potential to give grace to those who hear. What a wonderful & awesome potential we steward! It makes me think twice about what kind of conversations I regular.

Craig offered some clarification as to what biblical encouragement is not; I found this extremely helpful. Biblical encouragement is not flattery, compliments, or kind/polite words. We are thankful for all those things but they are not biblical encouragement. Rather, biblical encouragement is imparting/instilling courage/hope in the heart of the believer in the fight of faith. It is God-centered, revealing God's character, & saturated with Scripture... so that... the person we interact with receives grace. We should point out where God is at work in others. In essence, we can see a spark of God's activity in others & fuel that flame by speaking God's character over that person's life.

Last points of application.

Look for God's activity in others' lives.
When you see it, communicate it specifically.

I hope that these words give grace to you & encourage you in the fight of faith. Lord bless & keep you, make His face shine on you, the Lord lift up His countenance on you & give you peace.

Two Ways of Reading & Interpreting Scripture

2009-10-09T10:47:00.003-04:00

Wednesday morning in our men's group this topic came up again & it compelled me to remind myself of this important principle. I'm sure I have even blogged about this before. But, it seems clear to me that there are two very distinct ways to read & interpret the Bible: man-centered vs. God-centered. The distinction may seem quite subtle but it is not. One way is quite dangerous for the reader & hearer. In fact, I can already hear a rebuttal... "well at least they are reading the Bible." In many respects I agree & if you would've asked me three years ago, I wouldn't have discerned the difference very well. There is a big difference between the two. May I offer an example.

[I would compel you to listen to this wonderful sermon example of a God-centered perspective in preaching, listen to David Prince's "David & Goliath We Never Knew You: The Good News that the Bible Is Not All About You." The below example is revised from Prince's sermon.]

Scripture passage: 1 Samuel 17 | David & Goliath

Man-centered interpretation & application: David is a faithful warrior that I need to emulate. Goliath is any enemy or trial in my life that is difficult. I need to be more like David. I need to face the trials & battles in my life by mustering up enough courage to fight. Rise above the mentality of the weak Israelites.

God-centered interpretation & application: David represents Christ. Goliath is not trials or battles in my life but is the enemy, our adversary, Satan. I am helpless against sin like the Israelites were against Goliath. I have no chance against Goliath; I will never have enough courage or ability. I need Christ to fight for on my behalf; He is the only Salvation.

Do you see the difference? One mind-set immediately begins applying the passage to what "I need to do." This can never be understood correctly until we understand our depravity & the extent of the Gospel. This is just a small preview of what I mean by two ways of reading & interpreting scripture. I strongly encourage you to listen to Prince's sermon as it sheds light on this. I pray that we would begin to see our errors in our reading Scripture. I'll end with this quote by Prince:

"You do realize that you can come to the Bible & just keep saying things that are true & lead someone to Hell. You do realize that don't you! Let's say someone says: 'don't commit adultery... God doesn't want you to commit adultery... it's bad. Don't steal... God doesn't want you to steal... it's bad. Give, give alot, it's good.' And we could go on & on & on. And by the way everything I said is true but everything I said was meant by God to be understood in the context of Jesus & His gospel. And if it's all you say as if Jesus & the gospel doesn't exist, it's damning... it's going to lead you in the opposite direction of where it is supposed to lead you... only when I understand how this story testifies about Jesus... only when I understand that can I make the application to my own life."

Until next week!

Bliss Series at Cornerstone Church of Knoxville

2009-10-06T19:00:00.005-04:00

The past 7 weeks we have had the privilege to sit under the current teaching series at CCK, "Bliss." I can sometimes be skeptical about topical sermon series due to things I have heard in the past (at various locations) such as, "How to Have a Winning Team" or "9 Steps to Deal with Depression," as if the content of these messages even hinted at the gospel. I generally walked away saddened at how cheap the Gospel must sound to the hearers. It sounded more pop-psychological rather than gospel truth.

Yet, I knew the pastors at CCK would not disappoint when it came to content... they've yet to do so. I have been utterly humbled following each message as they pointed me back towards my source of 'bliss,' the presence of God. We have been reminded, "There is no lasting joy in this life but for the grace of God," Bill Kittrell said. And I believe it; God's word & my experience have confirmed it over & over again. This past week we studied out of Ecclesiastes concerning the life of Solomon. Solomon exposes all of his vain attempts to find pleasure only to realize that what he thought would bring him joy only led to despair. "God will curse all those things that you believe will bring you joy." And thank God for His continual care & His leading us back to the source of bliss, namely, Himself.

Check out the sermon titles from the series:

Bliss: Treasure in a Field
Bliss: Fight for Bliss
Bliss: In Trials
Bliss: Friendships
Bliss: When You Coming' Home Son (Parenting)
Bliss: Joy on the Job
Bliss: Nothing New Under the Sun

If you would like to check out the audio & pdf downloads from the Bliss series, click here. Click on the Media/Links tab & look under sermons. I believe it will be a means of grace in your life.

The Theater of God Conference

2009-09-28T12:55:00.003-04:00

John Calvin may be one of the most highly misunderstood & under appreciated men of our time. I suppose that those who misunderstand him, highly misunderstand him & fail to realize the impact he has made upon their lives. I imagine that many who would staunchly rebuttal against Calvin have rarely read his pages. In his day, even those whom disagreed with John Calvin held him in highest esteem. It is said that Jacob Arminius believed Calvin to be the greatest expositor of the Word to have ever lived. I personally have developed a tremendous amount of affection towards his work & ministry... mainly because he encourages me to love Christ more dearly & helps me understand my Lord more fully.

The Desiring God 2009 National Conference was titled, "With Calvin in the Theater of God." I would encourage you to listen to the excellent sessions from the conference. Click on the image below for access to the audio/video sessions.

Cover Designs Submitted for Rick Warren's New Book

2009-09-24T00:14:00.001-04:00

For several days now I have been meaning to tell everyone that I jumped at the opportunity to submit a cover design for Pastor Rick Warren's new book, The Hope You Need. Rick Warren decided to use 99 Designs to host a cover design contest open to the public. As you may imagine, this is a wonderful opportunity for everyone... especially for those of us who have been highly influenced by Pastor Warren. I found out about the contest 1.5 days before the contest end, so I rushed like crazy to submit some of my artwork & photography. I am really interested in seeing how this contest turns out due to the submission requirements & the sheer number of entries... 3189 at submission end. In particular to the contest rules was that no stock photography could be used, only original artwork & photography. I am not sure how they will be able to sort through the stock photos but we will wait & see. But from my end, I thought it was a wonderful way to showcase some of my photos that I thought would make great book cover designs. Can you imagine being able to see one of your photos on the cover? Very cool. So... If you would like to see my portfolio at 99 designs, click here. Otherwise, here are some of my favorite submissions to the contest.

(And... bear in mind... I am trying not to get my hopes up because there were some wonderfully talented designers who submitted cover designs as well. Regardless of what happens, it was a fun project.)

Don't Boast but Boast

2009-09-17T07:03:00.002-04:00

"... we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." | Romans 5:11

In essence, Paul is saying, "Boast in God." He even uses the word kauchaomai, "boast." Stott says, "It is identical with the Jewish attitude which Paul has condemned in Romans 2:17... 'You... brag about you relationship to God' (Stott 147). Is Paul saying "don't boast, but boast?" Emphatically, yes!

But here is the difference: Boasting in God (humility) is distinct from boasting in God (pride). One boast is from a heart of humility, the other from a heart of pride. Let me explain.

Paul had a problem with the Jewish persons who boasted in God (pride) as though He were their 'exclusive property'... as if to say 'they had a monopoly interest in him.' Their lives were not centered on God but rather themselves (although it appeared otherwise). Yet what Paul is saying in v.11 is antithetical to their prideful boast in God.

Rather, Paul is suggesting an exultation in Christ birthed from a heart of humility. A major fruit of the person who has been justified by faith through grace is that they have joy in God himself. As pastor Bill Kittrell said several weeks ago, "lack of joy is not right for a Christian... it is common, but it isn't right." Rather than boast as though we exclusively own God, rather we boast in amazement that He would even own us.

I must conclude with John Stott's most excellent summary statement:

"Christian exultation in God begins with the shamefaced recognition that we have no claim on him (G0d) at all, continues with wondering worship that while we were still sinners and enemies Christ died for us, and ends with the humble confidence that he will complete the work he has begun. So to exult in God is to rejoice not in our privileges but in his mercies, not in our possession of him but in his of us." (Romans, 147-8)

Song Spotlight: "All I Have is Christ" by Jordan Kauflin

2009-09-11T11:11:00.004-04:00

I've been meaning to do this more often... to spotlight some of my favorite tunes/hymns/etc. Today I wanted to draw attention to the song "All I Have is Christ" by Jordan Kauflin, recorded by the Na Band (New Attitude). Check out these lyrics:

I once was lost in darkest night Yet thought I knew the way The sin that promised joy & life Had led me to the grave I had no hope that You would own A rebel to Your will And if You had not love me first I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell bound race Indifferent to the cost You looked upon my helpless state And led me to the cross And I beheld God's love displayed You suffered in my place You bore the wrath reserved for me Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.

Now Lord I would be Yours alone And live so all might see The strength to follow Your commands Could never come from me Oh Father use my ransomed life In any way You choose And let my song forever be My only boast is You

The Sovereign Grace link has free guitar chord/lead sheets as well as the option to download the song: http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/Search.aspx?Keyword=all+i+have+is+christ
The iTunes link is: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=280701875&id=280701491&s=143441

Living Water International

2009-09-10T10:17:00.002-04:00

In the past our family experienced such pleasure in the opportunity to give to Living Water International. They are very grateful & have called us personally numerous times to express their gratitude towards our giving. I am pleased to share this video with you & hopefully encourage & compel you towards good works. I am quickly sobered & humbled. For more info, go to: http://www.water.cc/. The website is unequaled in informative & inspiring content.

Trials & Suffering | A Context that reveals God's Love

2009-09-07T09:02:00.006-04:00

"If you live long enough, you will suffer" - DA Carson

I imagine it sounds sort of masochistic ("the sickness of finding pleasure in pain") to many to say that we should rejoice in our sufferings (Romans 5:3-8). But as the topic of suffering/trials/"pressure" (GK: thlipseis) seems to find its way into my readings (& yesterday's sermon) as of late, I have had to face the topic head on. Specifically I have been studying justification by faith in Christ & its results. And Romans tells us that as a result of our justification ("Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have..."), "we rejoice in our sufferings" (v.3).

But it is not masochism... "It is rather the recognition that there is a divine rationale behind suffering" (Stott, 141).

Stott offers 3 "reasons" or "divine rationale" behind suffering:

Suffering is the one and only path to glory. It was so for Christ; it is so for Christians.
If suffering leads to glory in the end, it leads to maturity meanwhile. Suffering can be productive (to conform us to the image of Christ), if we respond to it positively.
Suffering is the best context in which to become assured of God's love.

Yet as I read & hear this I must ask, "How does suffering reveal God's love & care for my life?" I will attempt briefly to help bring insight to this difficult question.

I am reminded throughout Scripture that God is near to the broken-hearted... to the broken & contrite in Spirit, He has yet to refuse. Suffering ought to lead to humility. And humility is a soil in which God produces wonderful fruit. In desperation, we find that God is near. Suffering quickly sobers us to what is important in this life. And anything that leads us to gain Christ is a good thing.

As one of our pastors, Walt Alexander, stated yesterday (my paraphrase), "Trials are not deviations in God's purposes, rather are integral to His plans for our joy & His glory."

Yet we can only have this mindset if we trust God & His character. If we do not believe in the goodness of God on our behalf, we may sink to despair. Yet, God has proved His love for us in several ways. Consider the ways that He proves His love:

"He has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (5b).
He has proved His love by Christ's death on the cross (Romans 5:8).

Christ died for sinners (enemies of God). Many would die for a friend, yet rarely would one die for an enemy. Sanday & Headlam state, "We infer that the natural explanation of the passages which speak of enmity & reconciliation between God & man is that they are not on one side only, but are mutual" (S&H, 130). Hodges added, "There is not only a wicked opposition of the sinner to God, but a holy opposition of God to the sinner" ( Hodges, 138). Hence, Christ died for those whom God's wrath was pointed toward.

What does this have to do with suffering? Well, it reminds us of the character of God. We can trust God; He alone is trustworthy. God does not waste our time & uses (& orchestrates) events in our lives to mature, care, & shepherd us. I am reminded of Brennan Manning's quote, "Whatever God does not protect us from, He will use to perfect us through." All suffering in a believer's life is for their good (conformity to the image of Christ) & for His glory (us being conformed to the image of Christ).

And, we must conclude as Stott says, "Objectively in history & subjectively in experience, God has given us good grounds for believing in his love. The integration of the historical ministry of God's Son (on the cross) with the contemporary ministry of his Spirit (in our hearts) is one of the most wholesome and satisfying features of the gospel" (Stott, 146).

Recommended Resources:

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper and Justin Taylor (Paperback - Sep 13, 2006)
The God I Love: A Lifetime of Walking with Jesus by Joni Eareckson Tada (Hardcover - Aug 1, 2003)
http://www.monergism.com/directory/search.php?action=search_links_simple&search_kind=and&phrase=suffering&B1.x=0&B1.y=0&B1=Search

The Most Compelling Sermon on Missions I've Heard (... maybe)

2009-09-02T09:03:00.004-04:00

Monday evening as I drove home from Scottsboro, AL from a photo shoot I was reminded of a sermon I have listened to countless times (I mean... dozens of times!). The name of it is: "A Mission Only the Church Could Stop" by David Platt (The Church at Brook Hills | Birmingham, AL). It has fundamentally impacted my life... so much so that I believe it is the most compelling sermons on missions I've heard... maybe. Hence, I wanted to share it with you. Access the media files (audio & video) by clicking on above image or watch the sermon below.

Our son loots our dog's bed!

2009-08-30T20:05:00.004-04:00

Brennan (our son) looted our dog's (Bailey's) bed. Next thing I knew he was making himself at home in it. Bailey did not think it was cool :( So we decided to turn it into a sled that Daddy pulls around the house. Quite fun... quite hilarious = good times!

Welcome Benjamin Knox Finch!

2009-08-28T13:45:00.002-04:00

Our newest member of the family, Benjamin Knox Finch, arrived on Tuesday [8/25] at 9:35 pm weighing 8.1 lbs & 20.5 inches long. Joy had such a pleasant experience during delivery & is recovering quite nicely. We had wonderful support from family/friends & are very thankful for all the love directed towards us. We were able to leave the hospital last night around 7 pm & introduce Knox to his new home. Our dog Bailey greeted him with a warm kiss & Brennan was super-excited to see his lil' bro. Now we are taking time to rest, enjoy hot potato soup, & be thankful. Living the dream!

Plenty of Pics to see at: http://benfinchphotography.blogspot.com

The Campus Initiative

2009-08-19T08:22:00.004-04:00

An announcement was made at church on Sunday to host The Campus Initiative conference on December 17-19, 2009 at Cornerstone Church of Knoxville. Here are the details from the website:

The Campus Initiative Conference is a strategic conference held in order to encourage Christ-centered, church-based college ministry. The Campus Initiative Conference seeks to equip leaders and students to more effectively proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ on college campuses and to encourage college students to faithfully be involved in a healthy, local church.

The Campus Initiative Conference is featuring guest speakers: Dr. D. A. Carson, Randy Newman, and Bill Kittrell. Dr. Carson has a heart for college ministry and is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. Randy Newman has served with Campus Crusade for Christ for almost 30 years and has written books specifically on evangelism. Bill Kittrell is the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church of Knoxville and has been involved in campus ministry for over 25 years.

You can register online at the site, http://campusinitiativeconference.com/. If you register by November 30, the cost is $50. If registered afterward, $75.

If you are coming into town for the conference, let me know... I'd be glad to meet up with you!

I am so excited; I can't wait!!!

The Fear of Death... or Nothingness

2009-08-17T14:41:00.002-04:00

For years I feared death. Or was it that I feared nothingness? I don't really know. I remember as a child lying sleepless in my bed as I contemplated & sometimes shuttered as I thought about death & non-existence. I think what I feared most was the uncertainty that accompanied death. I occasionally asked myself, "What happens when I die?"

I think that is a valid question. I imagine we have all asked it if we were to be honest about it.

For much of my life, we were fairly nominal in church attendance & I don't recall this question being brought up much in our church. I don't know if it addressed or not. Maybe I wasn't listening. If you knew me back then, you would probably say that I wasn't listening very well... you'd probably be right. But, of all places, I figure this is the place to find answers.

Yet, I can't say that I actively pursued an answer to that question, even in church. If anything, I tried to avoid it. But, there were a few times that I was sobered up with the reality of death. I've lost plenty of loved ones. We've all lost loved ones. As one guy said, "If you've lived 30 years, you know that life is full of wonderful pleasure but also excruciating pain." He was right.

Many try to cover up their insecurities about death. Woody Allen said, "Its not that I'm afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens."

A theologian, John Stott said, "Nothing baffles us human beings more than nothingness & death. We dread nothingness & death is the one even that we have absolutely no control over; we cannot escape." Wow... sobering.

Yet, is there any hope many have asked? Most of us hope in life after death. But what does that mean & how do I know?

For me, things changed concerning my outlook of death when I heard the Gospel. The Gospel says that God is the creator of life & that out of nothingness (ex nihilo), He created all things. It also says that God is sovereign over life & death. In short, I was told (& later realized the Bible states) that those who would place their faith in Jesus Christ shouldn't fear death... for they could have life after death. When someone places their faith in Jesus Christ, God regenerates their hearts. They are made alive in Christ. You see, God's son, Jesus, lived a perfect life on earth yet was murdered. He was crucified, was dead & buried. Yet, through God's power, he was raised from the dead. He beat death so that we wouldn't have to fear it.

I found great comfort in Stott's statement, "But nothingness & death are no problem to God. On the contrary, it is out of nothing that he created the universe, & out of death that He raised Jesus."

Fear of death is subdued when we come to realization of who God is.

We ought to consider death; I think it is healthy to do so. It should, however, be an avenue that leads us to Jesus. As well, it ought to compel us to beg for God's influence over our own souls & the souls of others. Wonderful confidence can be found in the Gospel!

If you have questions or fears about death or life, or God, the Gospel, etc., you are welcome to contact me. To some extent, I understand your concern about such matters & will try to gracefully listen & do my best to offer biblical advice. Also, feel free to link this article to friends & family who may be struggling with similar questions about death.

Closet Bed: One man's quest to turn a closet into a fort!

2009-08-13T13:47:00.003-04:00

It wasn't the first time that I received odd looks & half-hearted smiles, but when I mentioned that I was going to turn our hall closet into a bedroom/reading "nook"/fort for the boys, I was greeted with an awkward moment of silence. I typically love awkward moments of silence, but this was directed towards me... how dare they! "I'm a visionary," I thought to myself... "they just don't understand the awesome factor this will bring to our hall!"

So... after searching for affirmation from family & friends, I decided to go for it in spite of their "looks". Well, kind of. Here are the steps: First, I painted it. Second, I took measurements, drew out a blueprint, talked to some buddies of mine at the mattress store, & had them cover a big piece of bed foam. Then I shamelessly asked my dad to built a custom platform for the bed. Next, I built a few bookshelves for the room. And, voila! Dull hall closet morphed into closet bed/fort.

I asked Joy afterward, "Does this mean that we now have a 3.5 bedroom house? If so, that rocks!"

But... there is much missing in there. The fun, "fort" factor is in place, but it definitely needs some design inspiration like some photos on the wall or a big wall-sized chalkboard. I have several photos I am narrowing down to make their appearance. Stay tuned my friends... I am committed to making it the sweetest closet bedroom ever (it could be the only closet bedroom ever, but that is what helps make it the coolest!). So... here are a few pics. Brennan loves it!!! What do ya think?

Mute Math: Need I say more?

2009-08-12T15:49:00.000-04:00

Mute Math... by far the best live concert I have ever seen... ever... I mean... ever! Btw: New album, "Armistice" available on August 18.

Ben Finch | A personal update.

2009-08-11T13:39:00.002-04:00

Here lately I haven't had much to say, or rather, I did not know what I could add to the conversation. This season of my life has been very different for me personally & professionally. For one, this is the first quarter (4 months) in the last 8 years or so that I haven't been on staff at a church. Our family is now attending Cornerstone Church of Knoxville; it is wonderful. But... I often find myself in conversations such as:
"So, you are leading worship at this new church!" someone says...
"Actually, no," I reply.
"Well, are you getting a chance to teach very often?"
"Not really, sometimes I am speaking at different retreats & conferences, but not at our church." I say.
"Huh, what's the matter?" they say.
"Nothing that I know of, we are just learning once again what it means to be affectionate towards the Lord Jesus & His church."

These types of conversations are quite common these days; it is quite humbling really. I didn't realize how I was so closely associated to my performance: singing/playing, teaching, leading, etc. It led me to consider my identity in Christ. I wondered how much I was leaning upon my personal ability/talent rather than finding my identity in the Gospel. Plus, it seems that many measure our relationship to God with what they see in our performance for God. I understand how this could be a tempting measuring tool.

Here's what I am learning though...

I am coming to realize how important it is lead my family spiritually. Rather than lead worship on a big stage, I am finding myself trying to lead my family in worship & prayer in my living room. Which, by the way, it is much more difficult to keep their attention than large audiences! Rather than teach at my church, I am learning to receive teaching & attempt to instruct my family. Rather than plan the curriculum, I am learning to study my material for the "Exploring Cornerstone" class & be a diligent student. I am learning that in order to be someone worth following, you must first be willing to follow.

God is being so kind to us right now. I shutter to think of where I would be currently if the Lord wouldn't have led me to pause. Even more, I am jealous for others to experience the same.

Thankful!

I want to see this...

2009-08-07T15:09:00.000-04:00

What is the Gospel?

2009-08-07T10:10:00.000-04:00

David Prince Quote

2009-08-05T10:48:00.002-04:00

I am sitting here in the office listening to a sermon by David Prince; I am struck by the profundity of the message. I am listening to, "David & Goliath: We Never Knew You." The guys in small group pointed me toward him this morning as we were in weekly "sharpening" session.

What is so striking to me is the broad application the message caries. It exposes our Biblical hermeneutical errors as we approach the text. I listened to the following statement several times so that I could journal it, I was compelled to share it:

"You do realize that you can come to the Bible & just keep saying things that are true & lead someone to Hell. You do realize that don't you! Let's say someone says: 'don't commit adultery... God doesn't want you to commit adultery... it's bad. Don't steal... God doesn't want you to steal... it's bad. Give, give alot, it's good.' And we could go on & on & on. And by the way everything I said is true but everything I said was meant by God to be understood in the context of Jesus & His gospel. And if it's all you say as if Jesus & the gospel doesn't exist, it's damning... it's going to lead you in the opposite direction of where it is supposed to lead you... only when I understand how this story testifies about Jesus... only when I understand that can I make the application to my own life."

via Justin Taylor: Click Here!

Don't Waste Your Life by Lecrae

2009-07-31T15:39:00.001-04:00

Album Cover Game (You Won't Believe My Results!)

2009-07-29T12:02:00.002-04:00

My results were way too funny not to post! TKenny found this idea at the CMD+Shift Design blog via twitter and thought I would give it a go. First, what is the ‘Your Album Cover’ game? Instructions below:

Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
Go to http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.
Go to http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
Use Photoshop (or something else!) to put it all together.
Post a link to it and share with your friends!

Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you: Barbu | Never Know When You're Finished

Leave it to Mike to...

2009-07-29T10:48:00.002-04:00

Leave it to Mike (Simmons that is!) to provide a resource this morning in our men's accountability group that leveled me with conviction. Available online at: http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A203 is an article, "Marriage As It Was Meant to Be" (adapted from John MacArthur's Different by Design. Within this article is a section titled, "Purifying Love." I was humbled by the following:

| Love wants only the best for the one it loves, & it cannot bear for a loved one to be corrupted or misled by anything evil or harmful. If you really love your wife, you'll do everything in your power to maintain her holiness, virtue, & purity every day you live.
That obviously means doing nothing to defile her. Don't expose her to or let her indulge in anything that would bring impurity into her life. Don't tempt her to sin by, say, inducing an argument out of her on a subject you know is sensitive to her. Love always seeks to purify. |

Stott on "The Means of our Justification: Faith"

2009-07-28T08:33:00.002-04:00

I have found the following excerpts from Stott's commentary on Romans especially fitting & beneficial as I continually delve deeper into the subject of justification by faith.

"When we say that salvation is 'by faith, not by works', we are not substituting one kind of merit ('faith') for another ('works'). Nor is salvation a sort of cooperative enterprise between God & us, in which he contributes the cross & we contribute faith. No, grace is non-contributory, & faith is the opposite of self-regarding. The value of faith is not to be found in itself, but entirely & exclusively in its object, namely Jesus Christ & him crucified." p.117

As Richard Hooker... "God justifies the believer--not because of the worthiness of his belief, but because of his (sc. Christ's) worthiness who is believed." p.118

"Christianity, by contrast, is not in its essence a religion at all; it is a gospel, the gospel, good news that God's grace has turned away his wrath, that God's Son has died our death & borne our judgment, that God has mercy on the undeserving & that there is nothing left for us to do, or even contribute. Faith's only function is to receive what grace offers." p.118

"Non-Christian systems think of 'the self-movement of man' towards God. Luther called speculation 'climbing up the majesty on high'. Similarly, mysticism imagines that the human spirit can 'soar aloft towards God'. So does moralism. So does philosophy. Very similar is 'the self-confident optimism of all non-Christian religion'. None of these has seen or felt the gulf which yawns between the holy God & sinful, guilty human beings. Only when we have glimpsed this do we grasp the necessity of what the gospel proclaims, namely 'the self-movement of God', his free initiative of grace, his 'descent', his amazing 'act of condescension'. To stand on the rim of the abyss, to despair utterly of ever crossing over, this is the indespensable 'antechamber of faith'." p.118

A few additional resources on justification (as cited by Stott):

Luther, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians (1531; James Clarke, 1953).
Hooker, "Definition of Justification", being chapter xxxili of his Ecclesiastical Polity (1593).
Emil Brunner, The Mediator (1927; Westminster, 1947), pp.291ff.

New Design for thevisiblegroup.net

2009-07-22T14:13:00.003-04:00

I wanted to fill you in on the new site design draft I have been working on for www.thevisiblegroup.net. I have been playing with this design for a few weeks now & have found that it is sometimes difficult to be really simple. I would love to know your thoughts about our new design... so comment away!!! The new design isn't scheduled to go live for a few more weeks, but for now, check out the draft:

CJ Mahaney at CCK this weekend! And next!

2009-07-21T15:58:00.005-04:00

I am getting very excited about this (& next) weekend at Cornerstone Church of Knoxville. I have admired the ministry & writings of CJ Mahaney for some time now & for the first time I get to hear him teach in person. I look forward to this opportunity & hope you will download the audio after this weekend if you are unable to attend. For those who would like to visit, feel free to email me & I can make sure to meet you. Click here for audio link!

Google Classic

2009-07-17T11:44:00.000-04:00

Gotta love this!!!
Link to source.

Pastor Dad: Free eBook

2009-07-14T10:32:00.003-04:00

RE:LIT is offering Mark Driscoll's latest mini-book, Pastor Dad, available in eBook form for free. For those of us who are learning daily what it means to love God & lead our family, I especially think we would be served by this book. May we take a lesson in humility & open ourselves to counsel & insight from others.

Here's the link: http://relit.org/pastordad/

Good for your heart... have tissue ready!

2009-07-13T11:28:00.000-04:00

On Romans 3:20

2009-07-13T09:29:00.002-04:00

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20

You would likely agree that this statement is pregnant with theological content. This blisters any hope of favor before God based upon merit or privilege. Instead of commented on this, I would like to offer a few of my favorite commentators thoughts on summarizing the above passage.

on 3:19 | hupodikos: held accountable, to bring under the cognizance of... "someone who is guilty in the sense of having offended against the law & so made hiimself liable to prosecution & punishment." | Cranfield

on 3:20 | "Salvation by 'works of the law' bolstered pride & privilege; salvation by faith abolished them." | John Stott

"The principle point... of the law... is to make men not better but worse; that is to say, it sheweth unto them their sin, that by their knowledge thereof they may be humbled, terrified, bruised & broken, & by this means may be driven to seek grace, & so come to that blessed Seed (sc. Christ)." | Martin Luther

"Our first response to Paul's indictment, then should be to make it as certain as we possibly can that we have ourselves accepted this divine diagnosis of our human condition as true, & that we have fled from the just judgment of God on our sins to the only refuge there is, namely Jesus Christ who died for our sins. For we have no merit to plead & no excuse to make... Secondly, these chapters challenge us to share Christ with others. We cannot monopolize the good news. All around us are men & women who know enough of God's glory & holiness to make their rejection of him inexcusable. They too, like us, stand condemned. Their knowledge, their religion & their righteousness cannot save them. Only Christ can. Their mouth is closed in guilt; let our mouth be opened in testimony." | Stott

New Elephant Video

2009-07-09T08:53:00.001-04:00

The Mentoring Project - Elephant Musth Cycle from The Mentoring Project on Vimeo.

"Knowledge is Never Sufficient"

2009-07-08T15:03:00.002-04:00

I am choosing to quote a snippet from Dallas Willard's Knowing Christ Today. I am a bit apprehensive to do this since I cannot provide the full context. Oh well, you will just have to read it for yourself!! I can't wait to read the next chapter based upon Hosea 4:6, "Exactly How We Perish for Lack of Knowledge," since the first few chap's have been so rich in content! Good readin'! Please take the time to read this thoroughly.

"Knowledge alone is never enough for human life, of course. That is itself one part of the genuine Christian knowledge. And by itself, apart from some adequate moral teaching & discipline (based of course, upon knowledge), it always 'puffs one up'--as the apostle Paul in his profound knowledge of knowledge pointed out (1 Cor. 8:1). Knowledge alone sets us up for a fall. It gives a sense of substance & fulfillment to the self & to society that is an illusion. Under this illusion of substance & sufficiency, it forgets, as that wise man Paul also pointed out, that we only know "in part" (1 Cor. 8:1-3; 13:8-12) & that, as the poet Alexander Pope said, 'A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.' Christians know that our knowledge is always little. We rarely even have any idea of how much it leaves out. (It is this knowledge of knowledge that, along with genuine love of neighbor, enables one to avoid intolerance.) In applying what we know or think we know, the 'law of unintended effects' comes into play. When we act with even the best of available knowledge, we really don't know what the consequences will be."

I love this! It just furthers my realization of my inability to be God & it humbles me under the mighty wisdom of an all knowing God. Complete knowledge knows the consequences of every action. Who can measure this but God!?!?

Psalm 36:1 | Romans 3:18

2009-07-06T19:14:00.002-04:00

"Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes." Psalm 36:1

"There is no fear of God before their eyes." Romans 3:18

These verses have proved pivotal to me in my understanding of sin, ungodliness & on the other hand, grace. As of late, I have been slowly & carefully making my way through Romans. As I approach chapter 3, I see how the "playing field" is leveled. In chapter 3 we see Paul's case further unfold as "there is no distinction: for all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God." This includes Jew & Greek. Yet, what I can't seem to skip over is all people's moral failure & inability to be righteous within ourselves. I see so much arrogance & pride in the heart's of men as though we have achieved sanctification or the goal. It is such a great reminder of our need for the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no room for arrogance next to the cross. (I am preaching to myself here!).

The above verses made me think twice. What is the fear of God? And, does it really influence my actions?

Sanday commented on 3:18. He said, "The fear of God supplies no standard for their actions." This makes me wonder, "Are my actions altered because of my honoring & fear of God? Or, do I assume that God will not discipline sin?

I hear people say quite often, "You just have to trust your heart." Well, I get what they are saying, but what if your heart is a big part of the problem. You see, there is a major difference between the unregenerate heart & the regenerate heart. Jeremiah says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, & desperately sick; who can understand it? (17:9)" Further, there is a great chasm between the heart that consistently intakes the gospel verses the heart that is passive towards God. What many people mean when they say, "Go with your heart" is "Trust your feelings." My friends, if I trusted my feelings all the time, I would be in a heap of trouble. Word?

What I am getting at saying is: we must preach the gospel to ourselves. Otherwise, the fear of God will have little bearing (if any) upon our actions. We are way too forgetful.

I am praying for you; I am praying for me. I am asking that God help give me a greater desire for Him. I don't feel guilty or condemned, I just don't want to miss out on Him. He is shown me countless times that He is the treasure.

"Sovereign Grace & the Glorious Mystery of Election"

2009-06-30T08:46:00.017-04:00

Nothing like opening a can of worms on this beautiful Tuesday!

So... I just finished reading a short booklet produced by Sovereign Grace Ministries called, "Sovereign Grace & the Glorious Mystery of Election" by CJ Mahaney. It is one in the "Perspectives" series: "Reflections on Doctrine & Practice in the Local Church." I found it incredibly encouraging & insightful.

First, I don't presume that anyone can understand the full mind of God. I am only offering insight into something that has made a major impact upon me personally; my view of God has drastically increased & my view of self is slowly diminishing.

As CJ states, "as soon as we encounter it (election), we must all acknowledge we that we are in way over our heads." For those unfamiliar with the doctrine of election, the issue that needs clarification is how to reconcile the role of God's sovereignty with human responsibility in salvation.

There are many reasons why this doctrine is important. Without going into too much detail, I will explain how I was brought to my conclusion. For my first several years after conversion, I was convinced that I played a major role in my coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Essentially, I believed that I chose to follow Christ based upon my excellent ability to make the wise choice. The fruit of this was pride & a spirit of superiority in my life. And why not? Clearly, those who are 'saved' are superior & make wise decisions... hmmm. Wrong!

As I have grown in understanding of who God is, I have been humbled by my depravity & lack of discipline to be morally, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, & physically perfect. My pride has taken a hit! I now better understand that I am quite insignificant in the grand scheme of things. There is no room for arrogance in the Gospel.

I began to grapple with my role in salvation a few years ago. I wondered to myself, "Christians say we are saved by grace through faith & that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God (see Ephesians 2)." But there is an awfully large amount of emphasis put on 'making a decision,' 'getting right with God,' & etc. I think I realized that many of us would say we are saved through faith but not realize the source of our faith, God. Because, if it were our faith (or our prayer or realization), that too would be a 'work.' Yet, I have heard countless times taught by well-meaning teachers a theology of salvation through works.

And the terminology throughout Scripture clarifies that we are 'dead in sin.' I don't think that dead people can make themselves alive. Further, I don't know of any who can make themselves 'born again.' And we know that no one can come unto the Father except by the Holy Spirit's drawing. As you can see, my view of self in salvation is diminishing. I began to realize that the theological roads I was traveling eventually led to unbiblical thought. For example, I concluded that Christ's atoning work on the cross was sufficient for all mankind, but clearly it wasn't efficient for all man. It is only efficient for those who trust & believe. Otherwise, we would be universalists.

I am quite certain that if Christ had not chosen me, I wouldn't have chosen Him. I am reminded, "there are none who seek God, no not one." I imagine this is tough for those who grew up in the church who have always been around 'the things of God.' But, I need reminding too, in my sin I was "actively & arrogantly hostile & opposed" to God.

All this to say... I had no merit in my salvation.

One of the pastors (Matthew Lindsey) at my church taught on the doctrine of election the other day in a small group. I think his illustration was wise:
Every month, he takes each individual daughter out on a daddy/daughter date. He always knows where the date is going to end... with ice cream! After dinner, he asks his daughter, "What do you want to do now?" Without hesitation she responds as usual, "Let's get ice cream." So... they head over to get ice cream. Without fail, his daughter always gets her favorite flavor & all is well & good. But... what his daughter doesn't know is that he has already made provisions for the entire date night. He planned the restaurant, the ice cream, etc. He worked the job that paid for the date, arranged the child care so they could go out, made sure the restaurant & ice cream shop were open, etc. Yet, the daughter thinks it was her idea to have ice cream! She doesn't realize all of the details that go into arranging for her to have ice cream. All she knows is that she loves the ice cream that her daddy gets her.

Don't you sometimes think that this is how God calls us to faith? I find great assurance that "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world." Friends, I imagine that there is so much behind the scenes that led me to initial faith in Christ; it produces an awe in me! "God intentially designed salvation so that no man could boast of it... he planned it so that boasting would be absolutely excluded," says Mark Webb.

To ask the question, "who is God's elect" is to miss the point. Mahaney states, "Election is an after-the-experience explanation of your conversion." It should produce in us a holy gratefulness & worship to/of God. "Knowing that our salvation was fundamentally accomplished by God rather than ourselves," says Mahaney, "fuels our confidence & builds our faith to see others regenerated."

I would hope that this brief snippet would prove insightful to some. I am not trying to sell my perspective or view but simply testify of what I personally believe the Lord Jesus has taught me. Therefore, I welcome your comments, insight, rebuttal, etc. My high view of self is constantly being challenged & I am thankful. Thank God for His being infinitely more glorious than I imagnine!

The Mentoring Project

2009-06-16T10:44:00.000-04:00

Final Father's Day Campaign Video from The Mentoring Project on Vimeo.

Advance '09

2009-06-11T12:17:00.002-04:00

This morning has been quite refreshing as I am finishing up on a few design projects, so I went to the Desiring God website & have been listening to the audio from Advance '09. I thought it to benefit you if you went & listened as well.

Here is the link: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByConference/45/

So far, I have been particularly convicted & informed by Mark Driscoll's message, Ministry Idolatry. As well, Bryan Chapell's message on Communicating the Gospel through Preaching was enlightening as he spoke to several common errors when approaching the text. He outlines several purposes of Scripture all pointing to the perfect One, Jesus. It will cause you to reevaluate your study or give you desire to study. And, Matt Chandler's candid message should sober the proud.

Do yourself great service & go listen.

You Don't Know the Half of It

2009-06-09T08:10:00.001-04:00

It is well-known that in his writings in table conversation [Martin] Luther would often refer to visits from the Devil, how the Devil would come to him and whisper in his ear, accusing him of all manner of filthy sin: "Martin, you are a liar, greedy, lecherous, a blasphemer, a hypocrite. You cannot stand before God." To which Luther would respond: "Well, yes, I am. And, indeed, Satan, you do not know the half of it. I have done much worse than that and if you care to give me your full list, I can no doubt add to it and help make it more complete. But you know what? My Saviour has died for all my sins - those you mention, those I could add and, indeed, those I have committed but am so wicked that I am unaware of having done so. It does not change the fact that Christ has died for all of them; his blood is sufficient; and on the Day of Judgment I shall be exonerated because he has taken all my sins on himself and clothed me in his own perfect righteousness." (From Carl Trueman in http://www.reformation21.org/counterpoints/wages-of-spin/thank-god-for-bandit-country.php)

via Jim Boling

A Reminder: The Difference b/n Principle & Practice

2009-06-08T08:38:00.003-04:00

We were reminded yesterday of the importance of knowing how to distinguish between principle & practice. Thanks to Jeff Hodgson for his insight. I know I have mentioned this before, but it is a great personal reminder.

Principle says, "this is the way it ought to be."
Practice says, "there are a number of ways to carry out the principle."

In our corporate worship service, we are exploring together the letters written to the church at Corinth. Currently we are in Chapter 7:17-ff. Yet this section can be difficult if not taken into perspective. I would like to offer some insight.

In verse 32, Paul begins an argument for celibacy. It is his preference that those who are unmarried would remain single, so that they be "concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord" (v. 32). His motive bursts forth in v. 35, "This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate & to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord."

Here is where we see that the principle of being devoted to the Lord leads Paul to adopt the practice & preference of celibacy. But, we must be reminded that he points out their liberty towards practice, "but if you marry, you have not sinned" (v. 28). Paul attempts to help us avoid overemphasizing practice & reminds us to look at the principle.

A few quotes worth mentioning: (my paraphrase)

"Jesus has inaugurated an eternal kingdom & it should be at the forefront of our minds."
"Nothing should take precedence over that which is of utmost importance--the gospel."
"Everything is different because of the gospel; everything should be viewed through the lens of the gospel."
"We shouldn't try to find heaven in anything other than Him" (e.g. marriage, money, success, jobs)
"This life should not be allowed to be the supreme thing in our lives."

This is another reminder to those of us who are recovering legalists who tend to emphasize the practice over the principle. Whether you homeschool & believe it is the only way to educate your children, or your wife stays at home as the homemaker, or you avoid restaurants that serve alcohol, or you listen only to worship music, or you don't "braid your hair, wear gold jewelry, or put on dresses" (note: men, I hope none of you are putting on dresses!), or you are careful to be present at church on every day that ends in "y" being careful not to "forsake the assembling," or you boycott Disney & reality television................ remember the principle.

And, the guiding principle should always be "to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord."

Ouch!

2009-06-04T16:34:00.001-04:00

via Timmy Brister

Questions for the Couples

2009-06-04T15:20:00.002-04:00

Last night Joy & I attended our first care group at the church (www.cornerstonechurchofknoxville.com) we've been visiting for the last few months. Mike & Kay Simmons were gracious enough to serve us by keeping our little man, Brennan. David & Emilee Stanley welcomed us into their home along with several other couples who regularly attend the care group. Apparently last night's format was slightly different than normal, but it was very encouraging & quite humorous to say the least. Most of the couples were able to attend the marriage conference led by Gary & Betsy Ricucci, authors of Love that Lasts. Last night's care group was an opportunity to lead us into practice what we learned from the seminar. There was great discussion & I thought I would offer the questions that were discussed. I believe it would benefit any couples out there to consider these questions with your spouse, but do so through the lens of the gospel.

What is one area of conflict in your marriage that is unresolved and/or continues to come up time and again?
Where am I harboring bitterness/resentment towards my spouse for past sin/disappointments?
Where would I be more aware of sin in my spouse than of grace?
What is one sin that I’ve not asked my spouse for forgiveness? What is keeping me from asking forgiveness right now?
Ask your spouse—What is one area you would like me to grow in this season of life?

It the past I think these questions would've led to anger/bitterness, etc. in our marriage. Yet, last night as we discussed them prior to the care group, it seems that we both have grown significantly as we are learning how to view each other in the light of our sinfulness & the grace extended to us through Christ. He who has been forgiven much, loves much!

A Wonderful Surprise!

2009-06-01T09:08:00.004-04:00

When my wife asked what I wanted for Christmas this past year, I gave her a list of several books that I have been wanting. On the list was Dallas Willard's new book, Knowing Christ Today: Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge. Well, I didn't receive it for Christmas but just figured it was because we were on such a strict budget. Until... last Wednesday we were headed to lunch with my dad & stopped at the mailbox & to my surprise was a package for Joy. She opened it & it was the book. Apparently it had not been released yet & Amazon shipped it when it came in stock.

So... I have read only 2 chapters but they have been great! I do warn you that this is not a devotional book. Willard states, "it will require considerable mental effort to understand." He was right. May I let you in on a few things that stood out to me during the Introduction.

The thesis of the book is stated in the introduction: "This book is about knowledge & about claims to knowledge in relationship to life & the Christian faith. It is concerned, more precisely, with the trivialization of faith apart from knowledge & with the disastrous effects of a repositioning of faith in Jesus Christ, & of life as his students, outside the category of knowledge" (1).

Willard's argument via my paraphrase is this: Christians have gone to church but left their minds at the door. He states, "This means that Christian teachers are left in the position of trying to coax & wheedle people into professing things & doing things by some means other than providing them knowledge of reality--hoping, perhaps, for "divine lightning" to strick their souls & bring them around" (2).

I especially benefit from Willard's argument that Christianity expresses a coherent philosophical system & intransigent historical claims. "A life of steadfast discipleship to Jesus Christ," Willard states," can be supported only upon assured knowledge of how things are, of the realities in terms of which that life is lived" (7).

He ends his introduction with a wonderfully fitting quote by C.S. Lewis,
"God has room for people with very little sense, but He wants everyone to use what sense they have. The proper motto is not 'Be good, sweet maid, & let who can be clever,' but 'Be good, sweet maid, & don't forget that this involves being as clever as you can.' God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than of any other slackers. If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains & all... One reason why it needs no special education to be a Christian is that Christianity is an education itself" (11).

So far I have been highly encouraged by this book as it calls each of us to a higher level of pursuit of God. Willard seems to well support the Lord's claim in Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

Stay tuned as I delve deeper into Knowing Christ Today.

Who is the Enemy?

2009-05-27T09:02:00.002-04:00

I was never taught this. If I had, it would've saved much heartache. Rather, I made some poor choices & often blamed the "enemy." The enemy got way too much credit.

Here's what I mean: I fear that often we ascribe too much credit to the "enemy." In my circumstance & in many of yours this person/being would be the Adversary, the Devil, the anti-Christ, Satan, the Prince of this World.

Here is what I see happening: For example, I see a believer make a choice to pursue something. This may be a business venture, a new profession, a girl/guy, a path, etc. With some prayer they set out on the journey. But then sometimes conflict or opposition or uneasiness or realized mistakes surface & who is to blame now? Well of course, the "enemy." I hear it often, "The enemy is really attacking us. He sees how important our mission is & he doesn't like it, so he is fighting it."
I hear what your saying & the Bible says that the adversary is seeking to kill & destroy. But, sometimes I think that we give him credit simply because we didn't think things through or because God may be revealing sin in our hearts & He wants us to repent before we move forward.

Mike & I talked about this the other day & it seems to reveal much pride in the person who thinks or says "how important is my mission."

It is simply a matter of perspective. One perspective blames the "enemy" for our discomfort; this perspective is an outward view--it doesn't take responsibility. The other perspective sees "indwelling sin" as the enemy & takes responsibility over personal sin.

Now, I already here the rebuttals & don't have time to address them all--a brother's gotta work! But, just hear me out when I say that maybe the source of conflict is God-sent & instead of blaming the "enemy", ask God to reveal indwelling sin & to grant you repentance. It is often a war of the desires of the Spirit vs. the desires of the flesh. Because, let's face it--each of us have a dangerous companion that is at home within us. Often the war is within not without.

I should've waged war against indwelling sin a long time ago. You can either blame everyone else for your defeat or you can repent, walk in the light, & have fellowship with one another & God Almighty.

Comments?

When Vacations Go Awry

2009-05-22T10:17:00.002-04:00

awry: away from the appropriate, planned, or expected.

Yep... that pretty much sums it up.

Joy, Brennan, & I had plans to leave for vacation last Saturday. Well, the night before we were to leave, we were awakened unexpectedly at 12:30 am with Brennan crying. No big deal, right? Although being practically unconscious, I hear Joy & Brennan in the guest bathroom. And the water is running. Oh no! I ran in there to see her taking off his vomit-soaked pajamas. She said, "He threw up everwhere!" I quickly pivoted & walked in Brennan's room to see vomit all over his bed, crib, blanket, sheets, dry-clean only crib padding thing, floor, rug, etc. You get the point. It was bad; it was real bad. I am certain I set a record for holding my breath as I cleaned up this mess, replaced his sheets & blanket. I thought the worst was over as I reasoned to myself, "He has never done this before, everything should be fine."

It wasn't.

To our alarm, the same occurred 3 more times throughout the night. As we woke from our fragmented periods of rest, we were exhausted. But, we were about to get in the car for a 5 hour drive to go on vacation. 5 hour drive + sick baby = vomit in car seat 3 times. Oh no!

Well, without drawing out this story too much, here are the details. We arrived at Joy's parents' house to celebrate Brennan's 1st b-day but he was too sick to eat any cake. Joy's sister & her kids were there too which exposed them to the sickness. Brennan felt much better later that day so Joy & I stuck to our plans, left him with Papa & Nana, & drove down to Santa Rosa Beach, FL. We drove through storms the whole way down but were able to find about half an hour of dryness in Seaside where we ate. As we made it back to our rental house, The Green Gecko, Joy began to feel bad.

You got it! Vomitting in the night!! She was out of commission the our first day... no beach, no food, lots of sleep. Day 2: Joy is feeling much better. But... you got it! Ben is sick... no beach, no food, lots of sleep. Joy calls her parents to check on them. Update: Joy's dad is sick, Joy's mom is feeling like she may be getting sick, Joy's sister & her daughter are sick. Day 3 (our last day at the beach): Well, finally feeling better, we pack up & go have some breakfast. Immediately following, we spent 2 hours on the beach trying to do what we wanted to do the whole time. After that, we had lunch, played a round of putt-putt, & drove 3 hours north to Joy's parents' house. Vacation over.

We arrived at our house last night officially exhausted. A year's worth of planning & vacation savings down the tube. Sometimes vacations go awry, sometimes they don't. I am hoping that we have sensed God's hand in this too. I can't quite give you some super-sprititual explanation or extra-godly insight as to why I feel okay about all this, I just do.

Now, I ponder how to surprise Joy with a day or two (or three, four) of rest & vacation before the next baby comes. Any ideas are welcome. But... let's keep it much closer to home this time.

Back in the saddle & lovin' it!

Below Ground:

2009-05-11T09:29:00.002-04:00

You may want to set aside 15 minutes to watch this. It is moving, gripping, & sad. It will evoke pity for those less fortunate & bring appreciation to your circumstance. Hopefully, you will put yourself in their situation & sober up. I find comfort in knowing that God is sovereign, even under the streets in Romania. See for yourself.

click!

Is a Beer just a Beer?

2009-05-05T14:05:00.002-04:00

What a great topic to stir up some discussion!! In this month's Leadership Journal there is an article titled, "Trouble Brewing: Is a relaxed attitude toward alcohol among clergy leading to a new battle over prohibition." You can access the article by clicking on the article title. I just finished the article & thought to myself, "I have to blog about this & see what others have to say."

One Southern Baptist pastor from Mississippi stated, "I am not too pleased with our alcohol position, not because I am a champion for serving beer at Wednesday night dinner, but rather because of the convoluted way we reach this much-beloved stance. Our position on alcohol is one of recent historic origin, not scriptural."

And consider this quote from historian Mark Noll, "Some evangelicals have made opinion on liquor more important for fellowship & cooperation... than attitudes toward the person of Christ or the nature of salvation."

So, let me ask you, "Is a beer just a beer?"

Love that Lasts, Part 2

2009-04-30T08:42:00.002-04:00

Here are a few impressions from last weekend's marriage conference, Love that Lasts. In this post, I will pull from the first part of Session 1: Why Communicate?

Effective Communication Leads to Fellowship

Why communicate?

For the Glory of God: 1 Cor 10:31, Gen 1:27
It is not good to be Alone: Gen 2:18, Rom 12:5, Eph 4:16, Heb 3:13, Prov 18:1
To become One: Gen 2:18-25
To reflect Christ & the Church: Eph 5:32
To serve the other: Eph 4:29
To be conformed to the image of Christ: Rom 8:29, Eph 4:15

"Communication is not an end in itself. The goal of communication is fellowship... with God, our spouses, & others."

"God's intention for marriage is companionship, intimacy, & growth in godliness for His glory."

"Just because someone communicates with ease does not mean that they are effective communicators."

"If my marriage is not about something that is greater than me, it will end up being all about me."

"When I speak to my wife in a sinful manner, I am presenting to our children & others a distorted view of Christ & His Church."

"Pursue communication as a means of walking in the light, growing in godliness & helping your spouse to mature in Christ as you are becoming one."

"Honesty has been used as an excuse for recklessness!"

One thing that really stuck out to me is asking my wife, "Joy, when I said ______, what did you hear? I need some objectivity in my life & I want to make sure what I am intending to communicate is really being communicated."

Love That Lasts, pt. 1

2009-04-27T08:37:00.003-04:00

Joy & I had the pleasure to attend a marriage seminar this weekend at the church we have been attending (Cornerstone Church of Knoxville) led by Gary & Betsy Ricucci, authors of Love that Lasts (click here for a link to the book). Joy's parents were so kind in coming up from Alabama to care for Brennan as we took some time to invest in our marriage.

Let me begin by saying that I have not been a huge fan of marriage conferences. At marriage, Joy & I committed to continually invest in resources such as books, audio, & counseling. As well, we said we would try to attend a marriage conference/seminar annually.

Our first attempt at Marriage Conferences

Our first marriage conference was a disaster! If you think I am exaggerating, you're mistaken. I took the lead in registering for the conference, booking a romantic hotel, taking the weekend off from church duties, etc. I thought everything was in place. Well, it was except that we were let down in a major way. Long story short, it caused more arguments in our marriage than we could've imagined. We spent our first night in the hotel practically angry with one another; it stunk! I couldn't identify why everything was going so wrong.

Well, after attending Love that Lasts, I realized I wasn't being too critical when I said that the other conference was terrible; it was! The reason it caused so much conflict is because it was viewing marriage strictly from a man-centered view rather than a God-centered view. It was practically 3 days of someone telling me how my behavior was wrong. But what they failed to do was address the main issue--my desire. My desire was for me... "What can I get out of this marriage? How come I do this? But what about me?" You get the point.

Thank God for something Different

Well, I must thank God that this time was a different story. I presume there are a few reasons why. First, I believe Joy & I are in a different place than previously... we are more open to serve one another but also we are not as surprised by one another's tendencies towards sin. God's graciousness towards us has allowed us to be more gracious with one another. Second, the content was so much more God-centered. I will expound on this next time I post, but there was such a huge difference between most other marriage resources we've used & Love that Lasts.

Until next Time

So... I better get to work, but I want you to stay tuned as I post my notes & impressions from this weekend's conference. I know you will be blessed!

Unseen Stories

2009-04-21T10:18:00.005-04:00

I have a friend I would like to help; I would also like your help (if you want to help). Allison White has become a dear friend to Joy & I. She works full-time at Camp Living Stones (www.camplivingstones.com). This summer she is traveling to Benin, Africa with an NGO called Unseen Stories, for the purpose of educating people throughout the entire country about child trafficking, the dangers, how to protect their children, etc. A full-length documentary is currently being developed for viewing in the U.S. The movie trailer & info on Unseen Stories is below.

Joy & I have committed to helping her see this trip through by way of raising awareness, prayer, & financial support. How can you help? The most practical way to help is to purchase a ticket ($8) for a dinner she is hosting at Camp Living Stones on Thursday, April 30 at 6:00pm. That evening will be a wonderful time to hear more information about human trafficking & the work that exists in taking action against it. Plus, you will be able to meet Sarah & Jen, the founders of Unseen Stories, who are making the trip up for the dinner. Please let me know if you would like to purchase a ticket as your contribution helps make this trip possible.

Unseen Stories exists to raise awareness of need and injustice in the world through the production of documentary films that inspire change by providing individuals with clear pathways to take action.

Unseen Stories goals are:

To tell the stories of trafficked children in Benin, raising both national and international awareness of this atrocity and those who are working to combat it.
To mobilize individuals and groups within both the US and Benin to action by providing clear pathways to become involved.
To help catalyze sustainable change in the country of Benin by aiding in bringing an end to child trafficking.

Feel free to link to this site. Thanks!

Resurrection Injection

2009-04-20T15:54:00.002-04:00

My friend Gil sent me this link. Put your seatbelt on, it is powerful!

Elevation Church Easter Opener from Elevation Church on Vimeo.

Marriage & Men: Mark Driscoll

2009-04-15T10:57:00.002-04:00

I am so thankful for someone speaking so forthright to men. I receive the rebuke by Pastor Mark & ask that you do your family the favor by watching this video & responding in repentance. Thanks Mike for pointing our group to this message.

Rendered According Works, Romans 2:5-11

2009-04-15T08:57:00.005-04:00

"He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory & honor & immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking & do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath & fury." (2:6-8)

Exact retribution is the foundation for justice. And God will express his righteous judgment by this firm principle.

But... is this always the case? Is Paul contradicting himself by his previous declaration that salvation is by faith alone? Then why is he bringing up judgment according to works? The answer to this must simply be that we are justified before God by faith, but we will all stand before God on a public occasion & be judged according to our works. John Stott clarifies, "The divine judgment, which is a process of sifting & separating, is going on secretly all the time, as people range themselves for or against Christ, but on the last day its results will be make public" (Romans, 84).

Stott continues, "Such a public occasion, on which a public verdict will be given & a public sentence passed, will require public & verifiable evidence to support them. And the only public evidence available will be our works, what we have done & have been seen to do. The presence or absence of saving faith in our hearts will be disclosed by the presence or absence of good works of love in our lives" (Romans, 84).

Doesn't that sound familiar? James 2:17 ff says, "Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead...I will show you my faith by my works." Or, as Rich Mullins sung, "Faith without works is like a song you can't sing, it's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine."

Based upon Romans 2:7-8, at judgment, there are only two groups of people. The first group are "those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory & honor & immortality, he will give eternal life." These are people who prove their faith by seeking God-centeredness; they persevere in life by faith. The second group are "self-seeking (selfishness, selfish ambition) & do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness." As Stott succinctly stated, "those who are infatuated with themselves, & engrossed in self-centered goals, inevitably reject the truth & follow evil" (Romans, 84).

Application:

We must all take inventory. I am quickly sobered by this reading as I consider my life. If I claim that my life is centered upon faith in God yet my actions prove otherwise, I may be fooling myself. If you were to sit down & list your goals, I wonder how many of them would be self-seeking, selfish ambition goals? What do you treasure most? It is money/wealth, success & recognition, power/control? If so, your actions (my actions) may be indicative that your faith is not in Christ but in other things. Although you have a form of 'religion,' you may not be living in faith. Sometimes we must ask ourselves, "Is my life characterized by faith in the Son of God? Is Jesus my treasure?"

I pray that God would speak to our hearts as we are honest before Him. My friends, justification is by faith in the atoning work of Christ... but our lives (good works) should display the gospel.

God's Righteous Judgment, Romans 2:1-5

2009-04-06T08:32:00.005-04:00

"Therefore you have no excuse, O man..." (2:1)

This is the 2nd time Paul uses this word in Romans -- (αναπολογητος [anapologetos] w/0 excuse, w/o legal defense, unanswered). In Romans 1:20, Paul uses it to declare that all people are held accountable to God's general revelation. Stott said, "Through general revelation people can know God's power, deity, & glory (not his saving grace through Christ), & that this knowledge is enough not to save them but rather to condemn them, because they do not live up to it." In other words, through God's creation or created things, we should acknowledge God & honor Him as such with our lives. That is why it is so important for the Christian to be involved in missions. Because God would use us to inform unreached people about God's special revelation -- that Jesus Christ came to save sinners & He Himself is propitiation/atonement for sins.

Yet, Paul uses this word again in 2:1 for "every one of you who judges." Let me share a few insights from Stott's commentary:

We possess a "tendency to be critical of everybody except ourselves" (82).
"We work ourselves up into a state of self-righteous indignation over the disgraceful behavior of other people, while the very same behavior seems not nearly so serious when it is ours rather than theirs."
Thomas Hobbes wrote of people who "are forced to keep themselves in their own favor by observing the imperfections of other men."
"This is not a call either to suspend our critical faculties or to renounce all criticism & rebuke of others as illegitimate; it is rather a prohibition of standing in judgment of other people & condemning them (which as human beings we have no right to do), especially when we fail to condemn ourselves. For this is the hypocrisy of the double standard, a high standard for other people & a comfortable low one for ourselves."

It is a powerful rebuke to us all. Paul warns 2 different groups of people:

Group 1 (Romans 1:18-32) -- these are people who do things they know to be wrong & give approval to those who do the same.
Group 2 (Romans 2) -- these people do what they know to be wrong & condemn others who do them. This is hypocrisy.

"... not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (2:4)

Paul rebukes the appeal of the Romans as they "presume on the riches of his kindness & forbearance & patience." Paul is pointing out that they cannot use their theological arguments to support their lifestyle of sin. The word he uses is καταφρονεις [katafronice], meaning "to presume, to look down upon, to despise, to think lightly, to have the wrong idea about someone." The Romans were entertaining wrong ideas about God's goodness. We do the same when we rationalize our sinful behavior by saying, "God will forgive me." You may be right, He may have & may will forgive you, but God's kindness & character is supposed to lead you to repentance not a license to keep on sinning.

Conclusion

Possibly the wisest thing we can do in response to this passage is to repent. We should ask God to help us turn from sin & to worship Him. May we refuse to think lightly of His grace & kindness & understand that his kindness is supposed to lead us to Him.

This is where I work

2009-04-03T12:08:00.003-04:00

I love to see where people work. When I do, I feel like I am able to know them better & to understand their personality & interests more fully. So... I thought I would share a few pics of where I work with you. We have two business, Ben Finch Photography & The Visible Group. Well, this is the home of both businesses. We are located at 208 N. Jackson St., Athens, TN. We are so fortunate to have our space in a national historic building called the Samuel Cleage House, built in 1836. It is really cool. Stop by sometime!

So... take a minute to shoot a pic of your workplace & email them to me at ben@thevisiblegroup.net. From there, I may have to post some of the pics at a later date. It would be a lot of fun.

Interview with Matt Chandler: Video

2009-04-02T14:37:00.001-04:00

I watched this interview today & was really encouraged. Enjoy!

How can God's wrath & His love coexist?

2009-03-30T08:35:00.002-04:00

Some of us really need to read this. If you have ever wondered how Heaven & Hell could both exist, let me try to bring clarification. And, I am open to further explanation if anyone would benefit.

I have told some of you that I am doing an in-depth study of the book of Romans. I recently completed a study very similar to this in the book of Galatians. In essence, I am taking each phrase of text in the book & examining it in its original language & then developing commentary as I read through several commentaries & studies. This proved life-changing in Galatians & have considered making it available as a resource to others.

That led me to this point: God's wrath is in vivid detail in Romans 1, yet how can God's wrath coexist with His love? Specifically when we consider Jesus' teaching on anger (comparing it to murder). Let's consider:

(For clarification, I am using Stott's outline as my guide)

What is God's wrath?

For one, God's wrath is not like our wrath. As humans, our wrath or anger is mostly "an irrational & uncontrollable emotion, containing much vanity, animosity, malice, & the desire for revenge" (Stott, 71). God's wrath is empty of these ingredients.

For those of us who have ever wrestled with God's wrath, I must conclude that we are approaching this viewpoint from the wrong perspective... we haven't yet understood the biblical description of God's holiness. God's wrath is His righteous opposition towards evil; He refuses to support evil & will not become indifferent towards it.

Against what/whom is God's wrath revealed?

Paul said that God's wrath is being revealed "against all godlessness & wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness." Evil arouses/awakens God's anger.

Stott said, "Scripture is quite clear that the essence of sin is godlessness. It is the attempt to get rid of God &, since that is impossible, the determination to live as though one had succeeded in doing so" (72).

When people choose to live as though they have "gotten rid" of God, their human rebellion reveals God's wrath. They have chosen to live for themselves rather than for God & others; it is the ultimate in self-centeredness. They are deliberate in suppressing God's truth in order to pursue their own self-centered path.

How is God's wrath revealed?

Consider these quotes:

"When we hear of God's wrath, we usually think of 'thunderbolts from heaven, & earthy cataclysms & flaming majesty', instead of which his anger goes 'quietly & invisibly' to work in handing sinners over to themselves" (Neill, 12)

God's wrath "operates not by God's intervention but precisely by his not intervening, by letting men & women go their own way" (Ziesler, 75).

"God abandons stubborn sinners to their willful self-centeredness, & the resulting process of moral & spiritual degeneration is to be understood as a judicial act of God. This is the revelation of God's wrath from heaven" (Stott, 75).

Conclusion:

I have often been blinded by my own sin. The majority of the time, my greatest enemy is my pride, my refusal to accept anything that challenges my ego. I have found that the most loving thing someone can do is to confront my harmful behavior & action. Rather than act indifferent towards my sin, people who love me the most will confront me. Yet, there comes a point when after they have confronted me time after time & if I do not turn from that behavior, they will allow me to face the consequences of my actions.

The mere thought of God handing me over to my own sin is terrifying. Yet, I do not have to fear for I am trusting Christ as my Savior. And for those who trust & believe in Christ, they realize that God's wrath has been poured out against their sin upon Jesus. Jesus literally bore the sins of those who trust & believe. As one of my seminary professors said, "There is more injustice in Heaven than there is in Hell." Each of us are deserving of God's wrath. Everyone of us has lived for themselves & pursued their desires rather than God. Yet, God lovingly sent Jesus to pay the penalty of our sin. For those who would die to self & live to Christ, forsaking all hope except Jesus, these would be called the children of God.

To be continued...

A favorite turned into a movie!

2009-03-26T11:06:00.000-04:00

ESV Scripture Memory Cards are Ready

2009-03-26T09:52:00.005-04:00

ESV Scripture cards baby! [For those of you who do not understand why I am so excited about doing these in the ESV (English Standard Version) of the Bible, it's because of the ESV's readability & integrity to the original languages.]

Now accepting pre-orders for ESV (or NASB) Scripture Memory Cards ($35) designed by yours truly. See Monday's post for a fuller description. By the way, the card holder/keychain comes in 4 lovely colors: white, black, orange, & pink (girls love pink!). Please specify your preference.

Stott on Romans 1:1-6

2009-03-26T08:25:00.002-04:00

Here are a few of my favorite Stott quotes out of his commentary on Romans (verses 1-6):

The scope of the gospel is all the nations (v.5-6)

"What he (Paul) is affirming is that the gospel is for everybody; its scope is universal. He himself was a patriotic Jew, who retained his love for his people & longed passionately for their salvation (9:11ff.; 10:1). At the same time, he had been called to be the apostle to the Gentiles. We too, if we are to be committed to world mission, will have to be liberated from all pride of race, nation, tribe, caste & class, & acknowledge that God's gospel is for everybody, without exception & without distinction." (p.51-2)

The goal of the gospel is the honour of Christ's name.

"The highest of all missionary motives is neither obedience to the Great Commission (important as that is), nor love for sinners who are alienated & perishing (strong as that incentive is, especially when we contemplate the wrath of God, verse 18), but rather zeal - burning & passionate zeal - for the glory of Jesus Christ... Some evangelism, to be sure, is no better than a thinly disguised form of imperialism, whenever our real ambition is for the honour of our nation, church, organization, or ourselves." (p.53)

Scripture Memory Cards ROCK!

2009-03-23T15:16:00.005-04:00

So... here's the deal. I had possibly my best idea yet the other day. The idea was to design some scripture memory cards that would be ideal to put in your pocket & have with you at all times. Plus, you know me, I had to make them cool looking. The result is below. I got these bad boys in today & they are rock-n-roll incarnate! Click on the image below for details. Better yet, I will go ahead & list it here for you:

100 cards total contain close to 200 verses. They each come with a handy plastic pocket keychain holder & the back text can be customized for your church, ministry, etc. They are available for $35. The passages of Scripture include:

1 Corinthians 13
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hebrews 12:1-11
Isaiah 53
John 15:1-17
Matthew 6:25-34
Psalm 1
Psalm 16
Psalm 19
Psalm 27
Psalm 103
Romans 5:1-8
Romans 8

I am going to be making these available in 2 translations: NASB & ESV. My first copy is in NASB, but I am quickly going to make them available in ESV. Plus, I am going to be doing a second run before too long with other portions of Scripture. If you have some ideas of verses that should be included, let me know. For now, if you want to place an order, simply email me at ben@thevisiblegroup.net. I will follow up with further details. Enjoy!

Smells like "Euangelion"

2009-03-23T09:48:00.005-04:00

Euangelion is the Greek word meaning "good news." It is the origin of our word, 'gospel.' I know you've heard the word 'gospel' used often, but I think it would be helpful to consider it in greater detail. There are many counterfeit gospels out there & it is my desire that you know, taste, & smell the really good news.

The ESV Study Bible states that the gospel "included not just a call to initial saving faith but Paul's entire message about Jesus Christ & how Christ's saving activity transforms all of life & all of history."

The gospel is great news. The gospel of God teaches us that despite our inability to live perfectly & our inclination towards sin, God would give His Son, Jesus, on our behalf to reconcile our relationship with Him.

"The apostles did not invent it; it was revealed & entrusted to them by God. This is still the first & most basic conviction which underlies all authentic evangelism. What we have to share with others is neither a miscellany of human speculations, nor one more religion to add to the rest, nor really a religion at all. It is rather the gospel of God, God's own good news for a lost world. Without this conviction, evangelism is evacuated of its content, purpose, & drive." (Stott, Romans, 48).

The gospel is about Jesus.

"The whole gospel is contained in Christ." Therefore, "to move even a step from Christ means to withdraw oneself from the gospel." (Calvin, p.15)

Marked by the Lord (like you may have never seen)

2009-03-20T10:04:00.008-04:00

The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. The Lord God has opened My ear; and I was not disobedient nor did I turn back. I gave My back to those who strike Me, & My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation & spitting. For the Lord God helps Me, therefore, I am not disgraced; therefore, I have set My face like flint, & I know that I will not be ashamed... Isaiah 50:4-7

Isaiah 50 is one of the most wonderful passages of Scripture to me. The foreshadowing of Christ is unreal in this chapter as well as chapters following. But, I want to take a different look at it today & maybe reveal something that you may have never seen before. But, in order to do so, we must go to Exodus.

The story goes like this:

"If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment. If he comes alone, he shall go out alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife, & she bears him sons or daughters, the wife & her children shall belong to her master, & he shall go out alone. But if the slave plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife & my children; I will not go out as a free man,' then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; & he shall serve him permanently." Exodus 21:2-6

We must conclude that there are times when this would happen--a free man choosing to remain in slavery to his master. In my opinion, this says much about the master. Who would so willingly remain in slavery? Well, mind you, it depends on who the master is. In Isaiah 50 we have the foreshadowing of Christ & it uses very similar wording to convey that those who serve the Almighty, Loving, & Sovereign God will never be ashamed. "He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple. The Lord God has opened my ear."

Those who follow Jesus are different. Why? Because slavery to Jesus is better than the royalty of anything else. I guess you could say, Christ followers have been marked by the Lord. They are his disciples.

I conclude this post, may God bring me to the doorpost & pierce my ear with an awl & may I serve Him forever. I would choose no other way. What an honor to be fulfilled in Christ!

One of the Best Vids I've Seen in a While.

2009-03-16T08:56:00.009-04:00

I've got to thank my friend Brad Hill, of the band Seraph, for emailing me this link. What an incredible video! Whether you are into Fantasy Football or not (personally, I am not), you can't help but get a big cheese on your face when you watch this. Enjoy!

Page CXVI: Old Hymns New Ways

2009-03-13T16:50:00.002-04:00

What a wonderful project! Here's the scoop: "Page CXVI is a project started with the idea of making hymns accessible & known again. They are some the riches, most meaningful, & moving pieces of music ever written."

For a limited time you can download the album for free. Click here.

Via: Justin Taylor

Pray for your Children

2009-03-11T13:43:00.005-04:00

Here's Brennan, my "little knucklehead."

"Children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

I could've never imagined the joy I would experience by having a child. Yet, almost immediately I sensed the responsibility that I would have to lead my wife & my children in spiritual leadership. I am learning to be more vocal in my leadership & praying to God that He would help me take more initiative in things such as family Scripture study, prayer, & service. Although I tend to be very passionate about my convictions, sometimes I do not communicate them as well as I would like; I tend to expect people to read my thoughts. I think sometimes the difficulty for well-intentioned men in leading their families is that they lack a practical way to lead their family toward godliness. I have been encouraged by my men's group & the different ways in which they seek to lead their families; I will share further insight in subsequent posts. But for today, I would like to offer you some prayers to pray over your children & others' children. I would like to thank my wife for pointing me to these. If you have family devotion times that work for you, I would love to hear more about them & how you go about doing so.

That they will have a real born again experience and come to know God personally. (John 3:3)

That they will have soft, tender hearts to hear the voice of the Lord and that they will walk humbly before Him. ((Isaiah 57:15; 66:2; 1 Peter 5:5-6)

That they will love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. (Mark 12:50)

That God will pour out His Holy Spirit upon them. (Isaiah 44:3-4)

That they will love the Word of God, love to pray, and love to fellowship with the saints. (1 Peter 2:2; Psalm 55:17; Hebrews 10:25)

That they will love righteousness and hate evil. (Psalm 97:10; 101:3; Amos 5:15; John 17:15-16; Romans 12:9)

That they will hate lies and deception and seek after truth. (Psalm 51:6; 119:30; 163; Proverbs 12:22; 13:5; 19:9)

That they will stand up for truth and never compromise; that they will stand and keep on standing against all opposition. (Ephesians 6:13-14)

That they will hate the spirit of this world, but instead, bring God's love and salvation to the needy in this world. (John 17:18; Philippians 2:15; 1 John 2:15-17)

That they will understand true justice and have discernment regarding good and evil, the holy and the profane. (Leviticus 10:10; Isaiah 59:14-15; Jeremiah 15:19; Ezekiel 22:26)

That they will seek God with all their hearts. (Psalm 27:8; 105:4; 119:2; Proverbs 28:5; Zephaniah 2:3)

That their whole spirit, soul and body will be kept pure and blameless unto the coming of the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

That God will give them godly wives and husbands. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

That they will love and embrace children and establish godly homes. (Psalm 27 and 28: Malachi 2:15)

That God will keep them from accident, harm, sickness and danger, and all enemy attack. (Psalm 91)

Finally Alive by John Piper

2009-03-10T09:03:00.003-04:00

Consider this endorsement by Adrian Warnock for Finally Alive:

"Have I been born again? is not a question to be answered hastily. In this book, Piper strips away our complacency, arguing that many people falsely believe they are Christians. Because no issue could be more critical, I believe this is the most important book Piper has written."

I would like to implore every reader to allocate time to read this book. How awful to think yourself a Christian, when it is otherwise! Further, how tragic to be convinced by someone that you are born again when it hasn't taken place! I urge you to consider this study as a gift from God to help you discern whether you are truly a Christian or if you are simply religious.

You can purchase, download a free ebook, or listen/read/watch the sermon series that inspired it at desiringgod.org.

Jerry Bridges Seminar

2009-03-09T10:58:00.002-04:00

On Saturday morning, Cornerstone Church of Knoxville hosted author Jerry Bridges. Bridges spoke on the Sovereignty of God, the Goodness of God, & the Discipline of God. I was out of town, but I went to Cornerstone's website & downloaded the 3 sessions. As well, you will find a session called "The Fear of the Lord" by Bridges from 3/5. Go to www.cornerstonechurchofknoxville.com, click on 'Media & Links', select 'Seminars', & Download the MP3s.

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCH! www.benfinchphotography.com

2009-03-06T08:51:00.002-05:00

Ben Finch Photography has finally launched a new website. It is much more user friendly & professional... and the landing page points viewers to a page that they can choose to visit the website, blog, or client proofs & ordering page. You can check it out at the following link:www.benfinchphotography.com. I would love to hear your thoughts & impressions of the site. So go visit it already!

Bridges on the Providence of God

2009-03-04T09:03:00.002-05:00

" God's providence is His constant care for & His absolute rule over all His creation for His own glory & the good of His people... His own glory & the good of His people. These two objectives are never antithetical: they are always in harmony with each other. God never pursues His glory at the expense of the good of His people, nor does He seek our own good at the expense of His glory. He has designed His eternal purpose so that His glory & our good are inextricably bound together. What comfort & encouragement this should be to us. If we are going to learn to trust God in adversity, we must believe that just as certainly as God will allow nothing to subvert His glory, so He will allow nothing to spoil the good He is working out in us & for us." - Jerry Bridges, Trusting God, 23-24

If you do not like free stuff, do not read!

2009-03-02T09:13:00.002-05:00

Something that I have enjoyed quite a bit is my subscription to christianaudio.com. Besides the wonderful library of audiobooks, there is the monthly gift of a free audiobook when you create an account with them. The account is free & there are no strings attached. I just downloaded this month's free audiobook: Donald Whitney's Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Although I have read it, I am going to burn it to a disc & enjoy listening to it on my ride down to Atlanta at the end of this week. Sweet nectar of life!

Can Common Faith Trump Nationalistic Impulses?

2009-02-27T09:14:00.005-05:00

Question: What happens when political enemies are brothers & sisters in Christ?

Where? Gaza Strip.

What? Reconciliation work goes on despite worst violence since 1967.

"Gaza's Christian community of 2,500 suffered at least three deaths in the fighting, & Gaza Baptist Church & the Palestinian Bible Society were damaged by Israeli airstrikes."

"Yohanna Katanocho, dean of Bethlehem Bible College, was concerned about the wedge the war might create between Palestinian Christians & Messianic Jews."

"Frankly, it is hard to accept the perception that we can be political enemies but religious brothers & sisters," said Katanacho. "Our relationship with the Son of God must transform our political perceptions in a away that will make us more critical of the policies of our governments, more vocal of our support of divine mercy, love, & justice."

"We have people praying for both sides--this is a real achievement," said Munayer. Messianic & Palestinian believers collected food & blankets to send to Gaza, while others invited Messianics in Sderot to visit for safety & relaxation."

(Quotes & concept taken from Christianity Today, March 2009, 13).

A Model of Herod's Temple

2009-02-27T09:07:00.002-05:00

Herod's Temple Model

A retired farmer has spent over 30 years of his life building a 1:100 scale model of Herod's temple--and he says that it will not be completed in his lifetime. The pictures are phenomenal. (via challies.com).

Yesterday's Fire is Today's Ashes

2009-02-25T08:10:00.002-05:00

Some of our discussion this morning in our men's group centered around our daily walk with God. We reminded one another that we should be persistent in daily spiritual disciplines such as reading scripture, prayer, journaling, & etc. Not for the sake of gaining more knowledge, but for the sake of knowing & loving God. Through our daily time spent focusing on God, we position ourselves to receive His grace. This led me to a portion of Scripture:

"Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Command Aaron & his sons, saying, 'This is the law for the burnt offering: the burnt offering itself shall remain on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, & the fire on the altar is to be kept burning on it. 'The priest is to put on his linen robe, & he shall put on undergarments next to his flesh, & he shall take up the ashes to which the fire reduces the burnt offering on the altar & place them beside the altar. 'Then he shall take off his garments & put on other garments, & carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. 'The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning; & he shall lay out the burnt offering on it, & offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. 'Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out." - Leviticus 6:8-13

Without discussing the background & historical aspects of this text, I simply would like to point out how it inspired me today.

Did you see how intentional the priest had to be in order to fulfill his daily responsibility? The point is this: Without daily cultivation, our relationship with the Lord can be reduced to fond memories of yesterday. Yesterday's raging fire is simply today's ashes. And, lets face it, if we do not intentionally schedule time to spend with God, it will never organically see itself into our daily routine. We must not only prioritize our schedule, we must schedule our priorities. I don't know about you, but I surely don't want to find myself living off of yesterday's memories. Today, hope in God.

A page is turned.

2009-02-24T09:23:00.003-05:00

As many of you know, I resigned from my position at Clearwater BC on Sunday, February 22. After much prayer & guidance through God's word, Joy & I sensed God's leadership in a new direction. I affirmed to the Clearwater family that God has used our time in ministry at CBC to help refine our gifts, stretch us in our walk with God, & spur others on in godliness.

We do not know for certain what is next. This is the first time we have made this decision without choosing to take another position in ministry elsewhere. I firmly believe God has led us to this decision & we trust that His purpose is good. So... please pray for us as we are likely to get plugged into a church outside of our community in the interim.

Btw: I may have unintentionally led people to misunderstand what I meant when I said on Sunday that we are open to God's leadership anywhere--even if it means Europe, the Middle East, or Athens. I do not mean that we are in route to any of those places, but we are willing to go if we sense that we are called to such a place.

For a Good Laugh

2009-02-23T15:48:00.002-05:00

I would like to thank my wife for sending me the following link. Cheers to a good "belly" laugh!

Pinkner on Selling Indulgences

2009-02-20T10:36:00.002-05:00

You should read this article by Greg Pinkner concerning the Catholic Church's selling indulgences.

A Kingdom Not of Our Own

2009-02-20T10:05:00.002-05:00

So...blogger was down for a few days & I feel like it has been ages since I last posted. But, it has only been a few days. As a result, I may have to post twice today.

I ran across some quotes pertaining to the Kindgom of God & found great encouragement by the perspective they offer. Enjoy!

"When you pray that the will of God be done on earth as it is in heaven, envision conflict being resolved, marriages & families healed, truth told & people faithful to one another, initiatives that break through the vicious cycles of retaliation, & love that creates new community among people through forgiveness, reconciliation, & peacemaking." - Glen Stassen, Living the Sermon on the Mount

"God's kingdom is not a place, but rather a relationship. It exists wherever people enthrone Jesus as lord of their lives." - J.I. Packer, Growing in Christ

"Lord, may your grace gelp me to want what you want, to prefer what you prefer." - Dom Helder Camara, Through the Gospel with Dom Helder Camara

"The second main petition in the Lord's Prayer -- "Thy Kingdom Come" -- rules out any idea that the Kingdom of God is a purely heavenly (that is, "otherworldly") reality... Think of the vision at the end of Revelation. It isn't about humans being snatched up from earth to heaven. The holy city, new Jerusalem, comes down from heaven to earth. God's space & ours are finally married, integrated at last." - N.T. Wright, The Lord & His Prayer

"What the Christian life is" by John Stott, Reflecting on Galatians 4:1-11

2009-02-16T09:29:00.002-05:00

The following is an excerpt from Stott's The Message of Galatians.

"The Christian life is the life of sons & daughters; it is not the life of slaves. It is freedom, not bondage. Of course, we are slaves of God, of Christ, & of one another. We belong to God, to Christ, to one another, & we love to serve those to whom we belong. But this kind of service is freedom. What the Christian life is not, is a bondage to the law, as if our salvation hung in the balance & depended on our meticulous & slavish obedience to the letter of the law. As it is, our salvation rests upon the finished work of Christ, on His sin-bearing, curse-bearing death, embraced by faith.

Yet so many religious people are in bondage to their religion! They are like John Wesley in his post-graduate Oxford days in the Holy Club. He was the son of a clergyman & already a clergyman himself. He was orthodox in belief, religious in practice, upright in conduct & full of good words. He & his friends visited the inmates of the prisons & work-houses of Oxford. They took pity on the slum children of the city, providing them with food, clothing & education. They observed Saturday as the Sabbath as well as Sunday. They went to church & to Holy Communion. They gave alms, searched the Scriptures, fasted & prayed. But they were bound in the fetters of their own religion, for they were trusting that they were righteous, instead of putting their trust in Jesus Christ & Him crucified. A few years later, John Wesley (in his own words) came to 'trust in Christ, in Christ only for salvation' & was given an inward assurance that his sins had been taken away. After this, looking back to his pre-conversion experience, he wrote: 'I had even then the faith of a servant, though not that of a son.' Christianity is a religion of sons, not slaves."

Hidden in my heart: Psalm 16

2009-02-13T08:49:00.002-05:00

I have been much more diligent in my striving to memorize Scripture & hide it in my heart. I memorized Psalm 16 about 2 weeks ago & have been reciting it as often as I can remember. Whether at work, in the car, the shower, in bed, etc. I have experienced a great deal of joy from having this psalm in my mind & heart.

Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.

I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good besides You."

As for the saints who are in the land, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied.

I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You support my lot.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;

Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.

I have set the Lord continually before me;

Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will dwell securely.

For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand are pleasures forever.

For those interested in joining me on this journey, next psalm of memory is Psalm 19.

"Don't Lie to Me" A Song Inspired by Psalm 32

2009-02-12T10:02:00.004-05:00

In October of 2006, I wrote a song for a friend. It communicates the power & stronghold that secrecy & hidden things can have in your life. It was birthed out of some painful conversations I have had with some very close friends who were not willing to submit their lives over to God & turn from some sins that were going to have life-long drastic consequences.

Don't Lie to Me: Psalm 32

If you love me then tell me the truth about God,

that He is my Refuge & He sings songs of deliverance, righteousness, His lovingkindness

has burned away the terror that haunts on this dreadful day.

My body's wasting away with things that I keep to myself

His hand is heavy upon me

my life is drained away, as heat of the summer's day

& I can't remember, for guilt stole my memory.

If you love me then tell me the truth about God...

So go ahead & say it; speak the truth in love.

His life in me is what I need.

Blessed is he whose sin is no more

& in whose spirit there is no deceit.

If you love me then tell me the truth about God...

So don't lie to me to make me feel better 'bout myself,

I said I need your attention, some truthful intervention

I've been needing you to care for me, won't you hold my hands high

Be real with me, for the life of me,

'cause I can't pretend anymore...

No, I won't pretend anymore.

If you love me then tell me the truth about God!

{P&B} Marriage is much more than a Wedding

2009-02-11T07:34:00.004-05:00

I have two friends who are getting married: Peter & Bethany. I am privileged to know them because Bethany is the daughter of Mike & Kay Simmons, who happen to be some of my favorite people. Mike & Kay hired me as the photographer for P&B's wedding, which includes engagement, bridal, & wedding pics. I was privileged to spend the day with them on Saturday for their engagement sessions. As we sat at lunch, I prayed for them, asking God that He would put Himself on display through their marriage. That the world would see a picture of sacrificial & covenant love through their marriage. And, as I said to them, I will say to you: "Weddings are beautiful, but what I really look forward to is how God works in their marriage." So many of us give an extraordinary amount of time & energy towards planning a wedding ceremony with giving little thought to the act of marriage. Marriage is much more than a wedding.

As P&B's wedding announcement quotes:

"Jesus died for sinners. He forged a covenant in the white-hot heat of his suffering in our place. He made an imperfect bride his own with the price of his blood & covered her with the garments of his own righteousness. He said, "I am with you... to the end of the age... I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Matt 28:20; Heb. 13:5). Marriage is meant by God to put that gospel reality on display in the world." - John Piper

That is why Peter & Bethany are getting married.

I thought I would share two of my favorite pics from the day. If you would like to see the rest, you can visit: www.benfinchphotography.com. Congratulations P&B!

A Gift

2009-02-10T08:28:00.004-05:00

This morning as I walked to my office after having parked down the street, I was a little overcome & under my breath, I prayed, "God, please encourage my family; we are so tired & emotional. We need You." I am sure much of this is caused by our lack of rest, my choosing to work on my day off, & the added work of having church at a different location (breaking down sound equip, setting it up, breaking it down again, & setting it up again). Plus, Brennan (9 months old today) woke up every two hours last night--how dare he! His first two teeth are breaking through his gums & it is causing him to be irritated & lose sleep. Hence, we lose sleep as well. But, it is good! I am so thankful I have this opportunity & one day I will surely miss this.

So...walking to work today, after having prayed, I realized that God has encouraged my family. Last Thursday, Joy & I found out that she is already 10.5 weeks pregnant. Wow! We are going to have another Finchlet. I sent a text message to many of my friends, it was simply, "3 + 1 = 4." I thought it would be a fun riddle & believe me, we got some funny responses. By the way, that makes us the 3rd family in our men's group that is expecting--one of the wives said that her husband is being expelled from the group...we could practically start a small city between us all.

Although still tired, I realize that when you need encouraged, sometimes it is just a matter of perspective. We have the gift of a new child.

Welcome to TN

2009-02-06T08:55:00.002-05:00

We have had our share of a few cold days here in TN (of course, cold is relative to where you live). The last few days it got as low as the teens, but today it appears that we are going to be in the 60's & probably 70s tomorrow. Welcome to TN. I thought I would share a few pics from our 'winter wonderland.'

Something I Can Relate To

2009-02-05T08:43:00.002-05:00

The following quotes are excerpts from a fairly good article, "Who Do You Think You Are? The global church needs to ground youth in their true, deepest identity." (Christianity Today, Feb. '09, p.19)

"About a year ago, Kenya exploded in post-election riots that resulted in a thousand deaths. Many of the killers were unemployed young people who were 'hanging out & feeling people were looking down on them'"

"Kenya's 'kids are frustrated that life is not working out.' When their options fail, so does their allegiance to Christian principles."

"Barna Group research found that a majority of American youth raised in the church have left it by age 29. The issue for American Christians is...more about a rising generation whose commitment to Christ may not stand when shaken. And it doesn't take much to shake it before they abandon Christ for lesser loyalties."

"Many young adults have gotten past questions of morality and now need answers from the church about Christian identity, how to follow their calling no matter the challenge, & how to have a positive impact on the world."

"...it will take more than a program to develop a commitment to Christ. The church needs to reaffirm regularly in its teaching, preaching, & example that loyalty to God & identity in Christ leave all other allegiances in the dust."

A parable to some people who trust in themselves...

2009-02-04T11:01:00.006-05:00

(The following is a partial manuscript of my message from this past Sunday morning. I apologize for the lengthiness, but I hope you take the time to read).

Isn't it funny how two people can be in the same location yet have two totally different experiences. And, much of it has to do with their perspective.

Religion vs. the Gospel

"And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, & viewed others with contempt:

"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee & the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood up & was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'

But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'

I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

Narrative Analysis & Exposition:

(v.9) "He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, & viewed others with contempt."

We see in verse 9 that Jesus had a very specific audience for this parable--it was directed towards those who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous & viewed others with contempt--They believed that their morality & activity earned good-standing before God & therefore, they viewed others who were not up to their standard with contempt. Whether spoken or not, these people regarded others as nothing, the basis that others were worthless & have no value. This is a clear example of an "expression of self-admiration." They had a faulty view of themselves, in essence, thinking, "God should be so happy to have me!"

(vs. 10) "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee & the other a tax collector."

We know by Jewish history that there were two time periods in a day that were reserved for public prayer in the Temple--the 3rd hour = 9:00 am & the 9th hour = 3:00 pm. A Pharisee was a very devout, dedicated, & committed individual; it is likely he would often make both prayer times at the Temple. The "things" of God constantly surrounded one who lived a pharisaic lifestyle. Pharisees were well respected by their community due to their religious devotion & prominent roles in religion. If you wanted to compare to today--you may compare a Pharisee in many respects to a pastor, elder, bishop, right-wing conservative, fundamental, etc. They get a very bad reputation due to their confrontations with Jesus (concerning their hearts & motives), but overall, people in their community looked up to them. Now, a tax collector is a different story. Others often despised tax collectors. They were viewed as traitors & thieves: they were Israelites being employed by Rome & they often over-charged their fellow countrymen in hopes that they could pocket some extra money. During this time, the Romans governed the land of Israel; therefore, the taxes collected went to Rome. For example, what if the USA was ruled by another country, say--Canada. Just kidding, I mean seriously--who am I kidding, Canada? (I will go ahead & apologize to the Canadians for using them as a joke). Say the Canadians take over the USA & they hire our fellow men to collect taxes from every family, then upon collection, they send them north to 'land o' Canada.' Do you think that would go over very well?

(v. 11) "The Pharisee stood up & was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people; swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.' (v.12) I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get."

The two verses offer a glimpse into the heart of the Pharisee. Just consider the ego-centrality of this statement: "I thank...that I am not...I fast....I pay...all that I get." Rather than thanking God for what God has done for him, the Pharisee arrogantly brags to God about his own moral purity & religious piety. He made the terrible mistake of comparing himself to others rather than to God. Based upon those around him, he was 'religiously awesome.' Just consider his devotion: "I fast twice a week." Did you know that the OT law did not require a person to fast but apparently once a year on the Day of Atonement? But the wording that Jesus uses shows that this man had a continual lifestyle of fasting--apparently twice a week. In addition to abstaining from food, he would humble himself by praying, mourning, & wearing sackcloth (Matthew 6:16-18). In addition, this man tithed biblically, " tenth of his grain, new wine, oil, the firstborn of his herd, & his flock." Based upon his performance, a religious person would think that God was well pleased with him...unless God judged differently. He was morally excellent, yet was blinded to his own sin.

(v.13) "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!"

If you could picture with me, the tax collector barely within the confines of the Temple court, beating his breast in grief & contrition. He knows that if God bases His judgment upon this man's performance, he is literally damned. And, in his unwillingness to even look towards God, he begs of God, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!" Now this statement, in my opinion, is easy to overlook in most English translations. There is a Greek word here, "hilastheyti," that is sometimes translated "be merciful." And, for some reason, the word "mercy" carries little weight anymore. Consider this: "God, be my propitiation, I am guilty!" Propitiation literally means "appeasement" or "satisfaction." This man, in complete humility before God, in essence, says, "God, if possible, fulfill your wrath, anger, & indignation towards me in some other way; otherwise, I am without hope."

(v. 14) "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Jesus ends the parable stating that only one man left the Temple courts having been declared right in God's judgment. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken & contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:17

Contrast

One man thought he was righteous & tried to justify himself. He was very close to religious activity yet far from God. He depended upon His own effort as a way to be justified before God. The tax collector was dependent upon God's mercy & as a result received God's gift of righteousness & was pronounced justified.

One realizes the depths of his sinfulness & the expanse of God's grace & responds in faith, while the other, does not realize his sin, has faith in himself, acts with contempt toward others, & responds critically.

"As sinners, we are prone to pursue a relationship with God in 1 of 2 ways. The 1st is religion/spirituality & the 2nd is the gospel. The two are antithetical in every way."

Martin Luther

"Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to be saying to us, "I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying."

John Stott

The only favor or standing a person has before God is that by grace, their faith is in Jesus Christ. Be reconciled to God.

Great article on preaching!

2009-01-30T10:37:00.004-05:00

As many of you know...I am quite passionate about communicating, especially God's word. I ran across this article, "Ten Conclusions About Preaching" on Adrian Warnock's blog. Follow this link & check it out. I would love to hear your thoughts.

The Tongue: Put it to Good Use!

2009-01-29T10:46:00.003-05:00

"With it we bless our Lord & Father, & with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth both blessing & cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." James 2:9

For years I have been drawn to Moses' blessing to Aaron & His sons, Numbers 6:23-26:

"The Lord bless you , & keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,

& be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,

& give you peace."

As of late, I have been increasingly drawn to Scripture memory. I thought it would be good to offer a few additional blessings found in the NT. Ideally, we could hide these in our hearts & speak them inwardly in prayer & audibly in public over our brothers & sisters in Christ.

Acts 20:32

"And now I commend you to God & to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up & to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."

Romans 15:13

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy & peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

2 Corinthians 13:14

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, & the love of God, & the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself & God our Father, who has loved us & given us eternal comfort & good hope by grace, comfort & strengthen your hearts in every good work & word."

I don't know about you but far too often I use my words to glorify myself rather than build others up in the faith. Pray that my heart be changed & my words redirected. I'll pray for you too!

Said of Jonathan Edwards

2009-01-27T09:45:00.003-05:00

Jonathan Edwards is considered one of America's most important theologians. Someone once asked a hearer of Jonathan Edwards if he was an eloquent speaker, the man responded:

"He had no studied varieties of the voice, & no strong emphasis. He scarcely gestured, or even moved; & he made no attempt by the elegance of his style, or the beauty of his pictures, to gratify the taste, & fascinate the imagination. But, if you mean by eloquence, the power of presenting an important truth before an audience, with overwhelming weight of argument, & with such intenseness of feeling, that the whole soul of the speaker is thrown into every part of the conception & delivery; so that the solemn attention of the whole audience is riveted, from the beginning to the close, & impressions are left that cannot be effaced; Mr. Edwards was the most eloquent man I ever heard speak." Supremacy of God in Preaching

Taking it to a New Level!

2009-01-26T13:38:00.002-05:00

A little over a week ago I was able to sell two of my lenses & purchase a new one. It is very exciting as I am going to be able to take my photography to a whole new level. So...I thought I would share a peek of my first few images with the new lens. As well, my family members can see pics of Brennan in his new swing that his "grandaddy" bought him for Christmas. Further, I had to include a picture I took yesterday of my good friends, Gil & Melanie Balch's daughter, Isabelle. She is beautiful.

Contrast

2009-01-23T09:48:00.002-05:00

My wife & I are reading through Piper's The Supremacy of God in Preaching. I have read excerpts from this book several times, but never had the opportunity to buy it.

Every evening I give Brennan a bath around 7:00 pm; it is definitely one of my favorite moments of the day. This week, Joy has been sitting in there with me reading The Supremacy out loud to us. It is quite hilarious because Brennan is in the bath tub listening, I am sitting right next to the bath tub listening, Bailey (our dog) is laying in my lap listening & Joy is reading. We are a strange family.

But, she read a statement the other night that absolutely rocked us. Joy's look on her face said it all. As we both said "Amen," she realized that practically her entire life preachers have taught the very thing Piper was refuting. And, bear in mind that she was in very conservative Baptist churches. But, the difference is the perspective--God-centered preaching vs. man-centered preaching. The fruit of one is self-righteousness, the fruit of another is humility before God. Consider the statement:

"It horribly skews the meaning of the cross when contemporary prophets of self-esteem say that the cross is a witness to my infinite worth, since God was willing to pay such a high price to get me. The biblical perspective is that the cross is a witness to the infinite worth of God's glory & a witness to the immensity of the sin of my pride. What should shock us is that we have brought such contempt upon the worth of God that the very death of his Son is required to vindicate that worth. The cross witnesses to the infinite worth of God & the infinite outrage of sin." (35-36)

Please join the discussion.

Yesterday's Man

2009-01-22T13:02:00.002-05:00

I was quite encouraged by an excerpt I read from R.T. Kendall's Yesterday Man: (via evotional.com)

"A person with a tremendous anointing yesterday can continue to see the momentum of that anointing continue to manifest itself. He or she may hastily conclude that 'the anointing is still with us' when it is but the momentum of yesterday's anointing. If I do not experience a fresh anointing every day, it is only a matter of time before I become yesterday's man."

Shevet Achim

2009-01-21T09:00:00.002-05:00

"Behold, how good & how pleasant it is for brothers to dwells together in unity." Psalm 133:1

During my first trip to Israel, I was introduced to the wonderful ministry of Shevet Achim. They are a Christian ministry rooted in Jerusalem for the purpose of helping non-Israeli children receive lifesaving medical care in Israel. With that in mind, they seek to reconcile relationships between neighboring nations & Israelis. I have also heard testimonies of men, women, & children reconciling their greatest relationship--their relationship with God through Christ Jesus.

I would encourage you to pray for these laborers as they help aid children in need of heart transplants, while also sharing the "good news." If you would like to visit the website, please click here.