12/31/09

The best orphan/adoption videos

Another great outline of the Bible

If you're single, you're not busy

Edwards' resolutions and what you should do with them

Make plans and, Lord willing, they'll happen

The greatest novelist? I absolutely agree

-joe

top posts of 2009

Well, here is another year gone by. Traffic has been way up on here this past year and I thought I'd tell you what the top posts looked at were for the year.

First on the list is "sometimes i just want to go away". I thought that after 2008 this post would go back down in pageviews, (it was the last post before I flipped and went to Montana in April of '08) but it has been the top post all year long. It gets hits almost every day from people searching for the terms "i just want to go away"...hopefully it has been used by God to encourage these folks.

Next up is a post on Joseph Hart, a hymn-writer. This is from the first few months of the blog...but people are really interested in this guy.

Numero tres is from my Tuesday Martyr series (which I'm planning to revive in 2010.) The Thundering Legion commands respect for many folks.

Sitting heftily at number four is a very short post on how I look like Charles Spurgeon.

Again in my Tuesday Martyr series, John Huss is at number 5.

My post on the "prosperity Gospel" just last month is already number 6 in clicks.

In what was easily my most creative post of the season, sitting high and mighty at number 7, the story of the bat entitled "odd doings at the fbc"

No year would be complete without the unbelievably awesome rbf, holding it down at number 8.

Number 9 has to be the oddest post to make it...it's a friday compilation titled "rubberbands are good for flipping.

Number 10...my post on whether or not there are two unforgivable sins. I edited it just now to make my own opinion more explicit and clear up some confusion that has resulted from it.

12/30/09

Win an ESV Study Bible

More disturbing videos about Planned Parenthood

Adopting older kids

If necessary use words? I don't think so

A simple invitation

The Lord's Supper

Ever wondered what the Bible is all about?

-joe

resignation

It was officially announced on Sunday, and many of you have known for several weeks, that I have resigned from First Baptist. It is a complicated matter and I won't go into all the details, if you'd like to know more please feel free to call or email.

The heart of the matter is a disagreement about what the role of pastor is. Three texts were laid on my heart and these were the things that led to my resignation.

"Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." - Jude 3,4

"Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ...to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ" Colossians 1:28, 2:2

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." - Ephesians 4:11-16

A failure to abide by these texts has led me to leave the church. May God be merciful to us all.

In Christ,

-joe

12/29/09

Collin Hansen's top ten theology stories of 2009

Learn about the theology of adoption

Crisis pregnancy centers

Why it's difficult to evangelize America

Ryle says repentance is key

Word clouds

Making resolutions this year? Consider this

-joe

the breadth of the Gospel

For a long time I thought of the Gospel as somethng that was just big enough for me. It was something I had to suck in my gut and lurch throught the door because I was just barely going to make it.

I thought this for multiple reasons, but mainly there were (are?) two that propelled that thought. I saw my sin as immense, which it is. This I think is good. One should know the depth of the wickedness that resides within.

The second big reason was that my faith was (is?) small. I barely believe and it is evidenced by my lack of fruit and obedience.

These two reasons kept me from experiencing the fulness of the joy of God in Christ. Something has been changing within me over these years in the faith. It is my view of the immensity of the glory of God found in the grace of Christ.

You see, those two things are important...but if you focus on them more than the Gospel you will fail to experience the fulness of joy that is yours in Christ.

How can you avoid this? Give your attention and all your ambition to knowing, to the greatest extent possible, the riches and wisdom that are found in Jesus Christ. Meditate on his character, his life, his death, his lordship, his humanity. The more you know the greater he will become to you and the more you'll realize that the Gospel isn't just barely big enought for you, that you don't have to squeeze in the door.

The Gospel is the biggest meadow, the widest field, the tallest mountain, the deepest sea...the very depth of the universe. You don't need to squeeze, you can run, arms flailing, voice screaming into God's grace.

-joe

12/28/09

Simple prayers are good

Forget the past

Baby Jesus

Snow sticking to the shovel?


Brian Regan...


-joe

shoplift?

My brother sent me a link to an article about a priest in Britain who urged his congregants to shoplift if they were having trouble making it.

Seriously? This is his advice to the poor in his congregation? How about the church banding together to help those in need...?

You can read about it here.

-joe

merry christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

-joe

family worship

My pastor friend, Jeff Strickland, wrote a good exhortation for his church on worshiping together as a family. I thought that those of you with families of your own might benefit from his words.

You can view it online here.

And now, I am off to finish my day of work, then Chinese food, then Christmas Eve service, then gifting with the family. Good times.

-joe

12/23/09

Confessions of a Pharisaical Calvinist, part 1, 2 and part 3

Some disturbing posts on abortion, here and here

Are old people the problem in the church? Probably not...

Free Jonathan Edwards resources

This could be the worst decision of the week in football (above the terrible on-side kick by the Steelers)


-joe

the flu

I'm not sure if I had the flu or not, but I can tell you that I was incredibly sick yesterday. Puking, the runs, aching bones...the works.

In light of that, I thought I'd point you to what I learned from the flu awhile back.

This is from March of 2008.

-joe

12/21/09

The one thing you need to know

The beginning of the Christmas story

Matt Chandler released a short video on Sunday about his cancer

God can redeem any

Proving what can't be

Mary's virginity is essential

A joke

(HT: Challies)

-joe

wedding

My sister got married this weekend!

She is now officially a Molena instead of a Helt. Here's a picture of the couple a couple months ago. (I might have some wedding pictures someday...)

It's quite possible that this guy loves Jesus more than me, my family and all of my friends combined. Our first conversation was several hours long and consisted of him telling me all about Jesus. It was fantastic.

Congratulations, Amy and Andres!

-joe

11/18/09

Challies has a couple books to give away

How to destroy a church

The sweet promise of security in Christ

The marks of a Godly man

Preach the Gospel to yourself



(HT: Thinklings)

criticism

I've been meditating on this post since I saw it yesterday.

I need to watch my heart (perhaps you do to?)

-joe
(HT: Reformissionary)

12/17/09

Enter for a chance to win a book a month here (HT: CB)

Win a book from Crossway

Win an ESV Study Bible

Be praying for Matt Chandler

Don't waste your cancer

Giving in December

Delight in Jesus by telling about Jesus

Stop sliding furniture

Enjoy Bobby McFerrin:
(HT: PureChurch)

-joe
Subscribe to my shared items here

encouragement from RC

I found this to be timely encouragement.



-joe

12/16/09

Trevin Wax is having a sweet book giveaway from Christmas

Archaeology of repentance

Luther's way to pray

Derek tells us why we should meditate on the wrath of God

Abortion and Cystic Fibrosis

Something about Mary for the Christmas season

-joe

been reading jeremiah

I've been reluctant over the years to read Jeremiah. I tend to be melancholy and depressed, so hanging out with a guy whose message is gloomy and who feels the weight of the people of Israel has not been high on my priority list.

However, in light of recent events, I cannot help but be drawn to this great prophetic voice. I have particularly felt the weight of chapter 15:16.

Your words were found, and I ate them,
     and your words became to me a joy
     and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
     O Lord, God of hosts.

The Scriptures have become sweeter and more joyful than I have ever found them, and this during what I would have thought to be a terribly trying time. God is ever merciful with the Spirit that dwells within me.

I hope to talk about the issue at hand in the coming weeks, so that you all will know what it is that I am referring to, but I haven't yet found words for it.

-joe

12/14/09

Win some sweet stuff at CBN (no, not the Christian Broadcasting Network...)

Challies has quite a few good links today

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place?

And, Steve McCoy has some sweet tunes today

Stop talking sideways

-joe

advent: joy

Yesterday was the third Sunday of Advent. It's the Sunday of Joy or Gaudete, which I'm pretty sure is Latin.

The people of Israel looked forward with expectant joy for the coming savior. This is from Zechariah 9:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
   Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
   righteous and having salvation is he,
   humble and mounted on a donkey,
   on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
   and the war horse from Jerusalem;
   and the battle bow shall be cut off,
   and he shall speak peace to the nations;
   his rule shall be from sea to sea,
   and from the River to the ends of the earth.
As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
   I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;
   today I declare that I will restore to you double.
For I have bent Judah as my bow;
   I have made Ephraim its arrow.
I will stir up your sons, O Zion,
   against your sons, O Greece,
   and wield you like a warrior’s sword.

Then the LORD will appear over them,
   and his arrow will go forth like lightning;
   the Lord GOD will sound the trumpet
   and will march forth in the whirlwinds of the south.
The LORD of hosts will protect them,
   and they shall devour, and tread down the sling stones,
   and they shall drink and roar as if drunk with wine,
   and be full like a bowl,
   drenched like the corners of the altar.

On that day the LORD their God will save them,
   as the flock of his people;
   for like the jewels of a crown
   they shall shine on his land.
For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!
   Grain shall make the young men flourish,
   and new wine the young women.

And when Christ was born we were told that it was good news of great joy! that will be for all peoples. And He will bring peace.  (Luke 2)

We rejoice today because the beginning of the joy of all peoples has begun. It began in the birth of God into humanity and will be consummated at His return when he makes war for the final time and brings peace.

Hallelujah! Rejoice!

-joe

the resuming

The situation that I was dealing with has been resolved, not in the way I had hoped, but resolved none-the-less.

Posting shall be resuming on Monday.

-joe

don't waste your pulpit

-joe

posting

Due to some personal issues I will not be blogging for the next week. If you happen to know about these things I could use some advice. If you don't, just be praying that I would be humble and that God would be exalted.

-joe