John Piper and his 30 years of ministry

Justin Taylor's blog yesterday is worth reading. I was pointed there by another elder at Hanley Road Church. The address is: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/.

Approaching 30 years in one pastorate is God exulting. Of course, so is an itinerant ministry such as Paul's missionary journeys. It is all about being God led and God satisfied. A few personal thoughts on John Piper and God's use of him in my life.

There is no person alive today who has more influence upon my journey, whom I have not personally known, than John Piper. There are a lot of reasons for this, but the biggest (at least as I understand them now) follow:

1. God's glory from beginning to the end of Scripture is highlighted in a fluid way in John Piper's sermons, thoughts and writings. Impressively, this high view of God's glory is balanced both in detail exegetical work, as well as broader summaries of biblical texts. In this respect, JPiper has shown balance and, in my estimation, harmony with Scripture on a whole as to God's ultimate and penultimate purposes.

2. Learning how to ask the hard questions of Scripture. This truly is a skill that is all too often lacking in our personal lives. As a pastor to other pastors I would say that this is one of the skills that is imperative for us to refine. Part of the issue is we don't even know that we are not asking the hard questions. God has given us a grace-drenched example to learn from. However, learning how to ask the hard questions is actually an outcropping of another skill. This skill is learning to have in-depth conversation with God concerning his word through memorization, marinating, meditation, praying and returning again and again to the text prior to preaching/teaching it. I have found that when there are not other believers to talk things out with that pen and paper (journaling the verses) works tremendously. He shows us how to be people serious about God's Holy Word.

3. As a pastor, recognizing that your flock will most likely go only as deep as you go in searching Scripture and that your flock will only commit as much as you have committed. The military mantra "Lead by Example" is true here and Piper exemplifies it. It starts with (2) in that as a pastor I must always address what God is saying to me from Scripture. This happens with the journaling. When confronted with the Great I AM - I must ask the hard, guiding question "Am I?" Am I being humble? Am I fighting for my faith? Am I self-righteous? Am I seeking salvation through works of the law? Am I desiring to be a teacher of the law although I don't understand what it is saying? Am I bankrupt in heart? Am I turning to God as my refuge? Am I giving God praise and exultation? Am I? Am I? Am I? JPiper's life exemplifies this. This is why I praise God for this man's example.

4. Arcing - while not his originally he has brought it into a more prominent view. What a wonderful interpretive tool as we labor of God's Word. It is hard, but we mine for gold. We say to God that he is our teacher and we are very interested in what he has to teach us - all of it. It is hard - it is labor intensive, it is hard to understand at points - but we want to know because it is God who tells us. We don't want to be people who tell God that even though he thinks it important for us to know that we just aren't interested or that it just is not worth the struggle. But how to do it? Arcing is a tool that helps in our pursuit of coming to terms with what God has revealed to us.

So, Praise be to God for how he works in people as exemplified in John Piper's life.

Amazing Hubble Pic

The Butterfly Nebula, whose wings expand over two light years, as taken by the Hubble Telescope recently. This is an obstensive example of absolute beauty.

Rebekah's First Joke

While the actors themselves may not be real, the story they are depicting is. Any representations that match the voices in your head is entirely on purpose, which means its not random, so it is radomlessness at its finest. Enjoy!

In the Blink of an Eye

The fourth anniversary of Katrina has arrived with little fanfare. There is no doubt that this Hurricane left its indelible signature on the lives of many. Many, but not all. There are few events that instantaneously change us all. I got to thinking about events that occurred in my lifetime with immediate impact universally - or at least nationally. One second we are all one way - and the next second we are all dramatically different. For me, this is the "In the Blink of an Eye" category of life. You blink - and you're changed.

These events are important not just because of their universal impact, but also because of the lessons that accompany the reality that these events can - and do - occur. Lest we fall into trappings of white picket fences, surround sound stereos, towering litany of books or the blue flashing light of our TV screens we must remember that much of life is outside of our control - and the purpose of life is so much more than creature comforts.

In reflection, I have can think of three events that I think fit into this category of instantaneous impact. There are some peripheral events that, while major, did not get into this category. Some examples of those that didn't make it would be both Iraqi wars and the election of Barack Obama - although I admit that Obama's election carries so many implications that it was tempting to put him my "blink of an eye" category. My litmus test basically was if I had to think about it in a prolonged fashion then it didn't meet the criteria. Any split second event of immediate global ramifications should be abundantly obvious at the mere mention of its name.

"Blink of an Eye" level events occurring in my lifetime:

1. The Challenger Tragedy: Of my three, I think this one is the only one that may not fit into the category. However, the first thing I think when I consider this event is that everyone knows where they were when it happened. I was in fifth grade, in Mrs. Gaines class, watching Challenger take off with her teacher in tow.

2. The Berlin Wall: What more needs to be said? This iconic wall's destruction with the upheaval of communism in the USSR closely following is momentous.

3. 9/11: One second I'm in class trying to earn a degree, the next I'm on my phone with my parents across the ocean trying to figure it out.

Have I missed any? Did I get these wrong? Let me know...

College Football = SEC DOMINATION

Just Remember that 4 of the last 6 National Champions are SEC Baby! Oh, yeah and if Auburn got their shot in '04 it would be 5 of the last 6.

Date Opponent Time (CT)
Sat, Sep 5 @ Washington 9:30 PM
Sat, Sep 12 Vanderbilt 6:00 PM
Sat, Sep 19 Louisiana-Lafayette 6:00 PM
Sat, Sep 26 @ Mississippi State 12:00 Noon
Sat, Oct 3 @ (13) Georgia 11:00 AM
Sat, Oct 10 (1) Florida 7:00 PM
Sat, Oct 24 Auburn 7:00 PM
Sat, Oct 31 Tulane 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov 7 @ (6) Alabama 12:00 Noon
Sat, Nov 14 Louisiana Tech 7:00 PM
Sat, Nov 21 @ (14) Mississippi 12:00 Noon
Sat, Nov 28 Arkansas 7:00 PM

My Rankings for how the SEC will play out in 2009:
1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. Mississippi State
5. Georgia
6. Tennessee
7. Arkansas
8. South Carolina
9. Auburn
10. Ol Miss
11. Vanderbuilt
12. Kentucky

For those who think they know

Missouri & Health Care Reform

For those of you in the show-me state this is a great resource. Show-Me Institute is a Think Tank that is focused on public policy from an economic perspective. This link below is an important place to check out as we all consider what reform needs to occur in health care. While this is written with Missouri in mind, its applications/implications are national in scope.

http://www.showmeinstitute.org/publication/id.205/pub_detail.asp