Excited about the Fall? I sure am. I love snow in the winter, spring fever and summer vacation, but there is something special about the first night air chill that make a fleece pull-over a necessity, MLB Baseball playoffs (next year, O's!), the start of NFL season (go Ravens!), not to mention my birthday is in the Fall!
There is also excitement about the Fall around CPC especially as it relates to ministry to our youth and their families. Ministries are coming off their summer break and the Potter's House is buzzing again with activity (they have to buzz around the Potter's House because the Ministry Center is a full blown construction site!).
Pioneer Girls and Christian Service Brigade My family just came home from the opening night of Pioneer Girls and Christian Service Brigade (CSB). They were pretty excited. On Wednesdays from now until the Spring guys and girls from elementary age through high school will be gathering hoping to be unhindered in their mission by the currently limited space on our church campus. My 4 girls and 2 boys have had many opportunities over the years to see mature men and women live out their faith while being instructed in activities like orienteering, cooking, firebuilding, rocket craft, sewing, archery, and tomahawk throwing (I'll let you figure out who does what!). I am grateful to those who serve Pioneer Girls and CSB for making Wednesdays special.
Revolution This week also marks the beginning of our high school and middle school group meetings. My two high schoolers are looking forward to Revolution on Thursday nights (each in their own particular way). I am excited for the start of Revolution as well, in part because I supervise Dan Halley and get to see the 'behind the scenes' planning . There are almost twice as many adult workers this year over last who have committed themselves to regularly gather with the high school group - several of them former youth at CPC! I am personally excited about the practical, interactive lessons that Dan is working on based on 1 Corinthians. The God who chose the foolish, weak and not noble things of this world has a lot in store for our young people, I'm sure.
SHINE My middle schooler is excited about SHINE starting on Friday night. Me too. I get to supervise Jeff Corbett in his role as pastoral intern as part of his studies at Reformed Theological Seminay. I know Jeff is excited to be able to serve alonside the SHINE crew that has faithfully served for the past several years as well as with a great set of middle school parents who served in the high school ministry when I first came to CPC. Our middle schoolers are in for a treat as they encounter all of Mrs. D's games and look at selected passages in the gospel of John to discover the wonder of a God who would take on flesh for the likes of us!
Sunday School Sunday wasn't about to be left out of the minstry to our young people. This past Sunday, Rob Craig highlighted the alternative to the Sunday School that starts up on 9/19 at 8:30am on the CPC campus. It is certainly praiseworthy that God has provided the teachers we needed to staff the various classes.
College-aged gathering We have tried off and on to offer something for our "college-aged" people at CPC (don't have to be enrolled to enjoy!). This Fall we're opening the Flora home on Sunday evenings (when we aren't having Lord's Supper services) for a discussion of various DVD series. First up - R.C. Sproul's 'The Holiness of God', probably followed by a worldview series similar to The Truth Project called "TrueU" - we'll have to see how things go.
UPWARD - nuff said...:-)
There are a lot of reasons to be excited about the Fall. And many more reasons to be grateful to God that we can share this Fall together as a congregation.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Role of Prayer in Spiritual Awakening - a video clip
Greetings,
Perhaps this past Sunday's message on Nehemiah 1 and the need for us to urgently come before God for revival of His church in America, in Howard County, and in CPC took you a bit off guard on a warm, August morning. I urge you again to come join us for one hour of prayer this Sunday, August 22nd, in the basement of the Potter's House from 5:00 to 6:00p.m.
There is a link on YouTube that I think you will find very worth the 26 minutes it takes to watch it. It is a message given by J. Edwin Orr in 1976 at the Campus Crusade conference on prayer. In it he tells several true stories of what God did through American history in response to His people crying out to Him together in united and concerted prayer - how such gatherings literally changed the course of history. I have shown this video a dozen times to classes at seminaries and the effect is always powerful.
If at all possible, I urge you to watch or listen to it before Sunday 5:00 p.m. in order to motivate you and build your faith in what it is we are seeking to do.
Watch the video clip "The Role of Prayer in Spiritual Awakening" by clicking here
Thank you,
Pastor Allen
Perhaps this past Sunday's message on Nehemiah 1 and the need for us to urgently come before God for revival of His church in America, in Howard County, and in CPC took you a bit off guard on a warm, August morning. I urge you again to come join us for one hour of prayer this Sunday, August 22nd, in the basement of the Potter's House from 5:00 to 6:00p.m.
There is a link on YouTube that I think you will find very worth the 26 minutes it takes to watch it. It is a message given by J. Edwin Orr in 1976 at the Campus Crusade conference on prayer. In it he tells several true stories of what God did through American history in response to His people crying out to Him together in united and concerted prayer - how such gatherings literally changed the course of history. I have shown this video a dozen times to classes at seminaries and the effect is always powerful.
If at all possible, I urge you to watch or listen to it before Sunday 5:00 p.m. in order to motivate you and build your faith in what it is we are seeking to do.
Watch the video clip "The Role of Prayer in Spiritual Awakening" by clicking here
Thank you,
Pastor Allen
Saturday, May 8, 2010
The Unadjusted Gospel: Harris Report on T4G
The title of the conference that six of us staff went to on Apr 13-15 in Louisville, Ky, was The (Unadjusted) Gospel, referring to the many pressures to alter and adjust the Biblical gospel to fit our times and culture. The eight main speakers spoke of different facets of this.
Mark Dever: The Church Is the Gospel Made Visible
A healthy church displays the gospel in its life, as well as proclaiming it.
It displays the holiness, love, and authority of God. It displays people as redeemed sinners made in His image, who repent and believe the gospel. He spoke of a woman who looked at the Church as a pit of vipers. He said he agreed, but also saw the Church as the people who uniquely see themselves as a pit of vipers, and are being changed by God’s grace. It displays the unity and diversity of God’s people. I was particularly struck by his example of a Muslim nurse who was intrigued by young people visiting an 85 year old woman in her hospital—they evidently truly cared for her in a culture where generations mix less and less.
A healthy church takes risks because it believes the gospel to be true and compelling. He spoke of Jay, who ministers to Muslims in London. Both he and his wife expect him to be killed for his bold witness to them. But they are constrained to make Christ known because they believe the gospel that Jesus is the only way to Life.
I was moved by his point that our culture needs to see the gospel displayed in their world. And the Church living as God’s people makes the gospel visible to them, by its gracious forgiveness to one another, and its living inconvenient love.
I asked myself, How does CPC display the gospel to Howard Co in a way that gives credibility to the gospel we proclaim? Are unbelievers confused about what would cause such a diverse group as we are to live together in community, held together only by the glue of the gospel, and not our similarities of tastes, cultures, or ethnicity?
R.C. Sproul: Lessons in 50 Years of the Defense & Propagation of the Gospel
This was a powerful presentation of Francis Schaeffer’s thesis of a generation ago: the Church in America has lost its sense of antithesis. That refers to the fact that since the 19th century, philosophy and theology take an idea (thesis) and react with a contrasting idea (antithesis). Then someone will seek to accommodate the opposites to see truth in both and create a peacemaking synthesis. Which becomes the next generation’s thesis to react to, and so on.
So in our view of the Bible as God’s Word v simply man’s words. Or in sovereignty and free will, “resolved” in a limited God Who grows and accommodates to circumstances (“open theism”). Or in “Evangelicals and Catholics Together”, which finds a middle ground on many practical disagreements such as marriage, abortion, birth control, sacraments, morality. And imputation v infusion of Christ’s righteousness for salvation. The Roman Church has always taught that we are saved by an inherent righteousness worked in us to save us by grace. The Reformation was all about the fact that we are not saved by any righteousness in ourselves, but only the righteousness of Christ outside of us, which is credited to us, i.e. imputed to us as a legal declaration (which will always produce a hunger for righteousness that will be seen in a changed life).
The Church must not compromise by trying to seek peace with the Roman Church by finding a synthesis between inherent and imputed righteousness!
I will actually be preaching on this in May to help us to be clearer on this point which is often seen as a matter only for theologians to argue about, but of no great practical difference to the lay Christian. I will seek to demonstrate that it actually has very practical implications.
Al Mohler: How Does It Happen? Trajectories toward the Adjusted Gospel
He described 8, but gave the first couple in much more detail and unfortunately had to race through the last few far too quickly. They are
1. Modern trajectory: the gospel must be updated for our scientific, technological age.
2. Postmodern trajectory: preach gospel as if true, tho it is not in any transcendent way, simply because it is meaningful.
3. Moral trajectory: atonement is immoral divine child abuse, so tone it down
4. Aesthetic trajectory: do not preach certain texts because they are crude (eg: the cross)
5. Therapeutic trajectory: preacher as therapist to make you feel good, and recovering
6. Pragmatic trajectory: depend on managerial techniques for church growth
7. Emotional trajectory: preach to felt needs and what makes people feel good
8. Materialist trajectory: health & wealth gospel for immediate gratification
He finished with Romans 1:16: Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. Preaching against the tide is wearisome. It can only be done by deep conviction of the power of the unadjusted gospel.
There were five more messages, plus a testimony, but I don’t think you want them all summarized like I did the first three. Here is a list of the speakers and titles:
Thabiti Anyabwile: “Fine Sounding Arguments: How Wrongly Engaging the Culture Adjusts the Gospel
John McArthur: The Theology of Sleep from Mark 4
John Piper: Did Jesus Preach Paul’s Gospel?
Ligon Duncan: Did the [Patristic] Fathers Know the Gospel?
C.J. Mahanney: To Ordinary Pastors: a Charge from II Tim 4:1-5
(also a testimony to the sufficient grace of God by a pastor, Matt Chandler, who has brain cancer, and though a young man, with small children, could be dead in a year or two)
Let me conclude with simply some personal Harris Highlights:
• I shared how I was challenged to ask how CPC makes the gospel visible to Howard Co.? Do we display God’s character and the grace of the gospel in a way that makes visitors stop and take notice? Or people who have contact with us in other situations? I think some do, which raises another question. Dever said he struggles with what to do for people who visit for years but do not become members of the body, accountable to the elders. What responsibility do we have for such folks? They are seen as part of CPC.
• It was good to be reminded by John McArthur, from the parable of the farmer in Mark 4:26-29, that the power is in the seed, not the farmer. He simply faithfully sows the seed, then sleeps, and “the soil on its own/automatically (v28) bears fruit” in gradual growth of a full harvest. I need to rest more in the inherent power of the gospel, and the work of the Spirit, not my efforts. Diligence without anxiety.
• I found myself envious of some of the gifts of the men who preached so powerfully and with such insight. I was convicted that I wanted to be seen as them, rather than to be as useful to my Lord as He has equipped me to be. The old problem of focusing on status rather than faithfulness. My heart is proud, and I saw that again. It was very humbling.
• C.J. Mahanney, who is an amazing man, spoke directly to this at the last session of the conference: the temptation to compare ourselves with superstars, and be discontent. He spoke on Paul’s charge to Timothy from II Timothy 4:1-5. Points that especially challenged or convicted me: preach the revealed gospel with clarity and total unoriginality—with complete patience (v2). I am not a patient person. And as he said, it is tested every day. How I need to daily remember God’s patience with me! How I try His patience! He is patient with the years it takes me to really see my heart and change. Yet I expect others to change immediately. It caused me to love my God Who is so patient with my dull heart and stubborn will.
There are many other things that could be said, but I do not want to try your patience. Thank you for sending us. We will try to be more faithful to the charge that has been given us to proclaim and live out the unadjusted gospel, which IS the power of God to salvation. Here at CPC and everywhere the Name of Christ is proclaimed. Hallelujah!
Pastor Allen
Mark Dever: The Church Is the Gospel Made Visible
A healthy church displays the gospel in its life, as well as proclaiming it.
It displays the holiness, love, and authority of God. It displays people as redeemed sinners made in His image, who repent and believe the gospel. He spoke of a woman who looked at the Church as a pit of vipers. He said he agreed, but also saw the Church as the people who uniquely see themselves as a pit of vipers, and are being changed by God’s grace. It displays the unity and diversity of God’s people. I was particularly struck by his example of a Muslim nurse who was intrigued by young people visiting an 85 year old woman in her hospital—they evidently truly cared for her in a culture where generations mix less and less.
A healthy church takes risks because it believes the gospel to be true and compelling. He spoke of Jay, who ministers to Muslims in London. Both he and his wife expect him to be killed for his bold witness to them. But they are constrained to make Christ known because they believe the gospel that Jesus is the only way to Life.
I was moved by his point that our culture needs to see the gospel displayed in their world. And the Church living as God’s people makes the gospel visible to them, by its gracious forgiveness to one another, and its living inconvenient love.
I asked myself, How does CPC display the gospel to Howard Co in a way that gives credibility to the gospel we proclaim? Are unbelievers confused about what would cause such a diverse group as we are to live together in community, held together only by the glue of the gospel, and not our similarities of tastes, cultures, or ethnicity?
R.C. Sproul: Lessons in 50 Years of the Defense & Propagation of the Gospel
This was a powerful presentation of Francis Schaeffer’s thesis of a generation ago: the Church in America has lost its sense of antithesis. That refers to the fact that since the 19th century, philosophy and theology take an idea (thesis) and react with a contrasting idea (antithesis). Then someone will seek to accommodate the opposites to see truth in both and create a peacemaking synthesis. Which becomes the next generation’s thesis to react to, and so on.
So in our view of the Bible as God’s Word v simply man’s words. Or in sovereignty and free will, “resolved” in a limited God Who grows and accommodates to circumstances (“open theism”). Or in “Evangelicals and Catholics Together”, which finds a middle ground on many practical disagreements such as marriage, abortion, birth control, sacraments, morality. And imputation v infusion of Christ’s righteousness for salvation. The Roman Church has always taught that we are saved by an inherent righteousness worked in us to save us by grace. The Reformation was all about the fact that we are not saved by any righteousness in ourselves, but only the righteousness of Christ outside of us, which is credited to us, i.e. imputed to us as a legal declaration (which will always produce a hunger for righteousness that will be seen in a changed life).
The Church must not compromise by trying to seek peace with the Roman Church by finding a synthesis between inherent and imputed righteousness!
I will actually be preaching on this in May to help us to be clearer on this point which is often seen as a matter only for theologians to argue about, but of no great practical difference to the lay Christian. I will seek to demonstrate that it actually has very practical implications.
Al Mohler: How Does It Happen? Trajectories toward the Adjusted Gospel
He described 8, but gave the first couple in much more detail and unfortunately had to race through the last few far too quickly. They are
1. Modern trajectory: the gospel must be updated for our scientific, technological age.
2. Postmodern trajectory: preach gospel as if true, tho it is not in any transcendent way, simply because it is meaningful.
3. Moral trajectory: atonement is immoral divine child abuse, so tone it down
4. Aesthetic trajectory: do not preach certain texts because they are crude (eg: the cross)
5. Therapeutic trajectory: preacher as therapist to make you feel good, and recovering
6. Pragmatic trajectory: depend on managerial techniques for church growth
7. Emotional trajectory: preach to felt needs and what makes people feel good
8. Materialist trajectory: health & wealth gospel for immediate gratification
He finished with Romans 1:16: Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. Preaching against the tide is wearisome. It can only be done by deep conviction of the power of the unadjusted gospel.
There were five more messages, plus a testimony, but I don’t think you want them all summarized like I did the first three. Here is a list of the speakers and titles:
Thabiti Anyabwile: “Fine Sounding Arguments: How Wrongly Engaging the Culture Adjusts the Gospel
John McArthur: The Theology of Sleep from Mark 4
John Piper: Did Jesus Preach Paul’s Gospel?
Ligon Duncan: Did the [Patristic] Fathers Know the Gospel?
C.J. Mahanney: To Ordinary Pastors: a Charge from II Tim 4:1-5
(also a testimony to the sufficient grace of God by a pastor, Matt Chandler, who has brain cancer, and though a young man, with small children, could be dead in a year or two)
Let me conclude with simply some personal Harris Highlights:
• I shared how I was challenged to ask how CPC makes the gospel visible to Howard Co.? Do we display God’s character and the grace of the gospel in a way that makes visitors stop and take notice? Or people who have contact with us in other situations? I think some do, which raises another question. Dever said he struggles with what to do for people who visit for years but do not become members of the body, accountable to the elders. What responsibility do we have for such folks? They are seen as part of CPC.
• It was good to be reminded by John McArthur, from the parable of the farmer in Mark 4:26-29, that the power is in the seed, not the farmer. He simply faithfully sows the seed, then sleeps, and “the soil on its own/automatically (v28) bears fruit” in gradual growth of a full harvest. I need to rest more in the inherent power of the gospel, and the work of the Spirit, not my efforts. Diligence without anxiety.
• I found myself envious of some of the gifts of the men who preached so powerfully and with such insight. I was convicted that I wanted to be seen as them, rather than to be as useful to my Lord as He has equipped me to be. The old problem of focusing on status rather than faithfulness. My heart is proud, and I saw that again. It was very humbling.
• C.J. Mahanney, who is an amazing man, spoke directly to this at the last session of the conference: the temptation to compare ourselves with superstars, and be discontent. He spoke on Paul’s charge to Timothy from II Timothy 4:1-5. Points that especially challenged or convicted me: preach the revealed gospel with clarity and total unoriginality—with complete patience (v2). I am not a patient person. And as he said, it is tested every day. How I need to daily remember God’s patience with me! How I try His patience! He is patient with the years it takes me to really see my heart and change. Yet I expect others to change immediately. It caused me to love my God Who is so patient with my dull heart and stubborn will.
There are many other things that could be said, but I do not want to try your patience. Thank you for sending us. We will try to be more faithful to the charge that has been given us to proclaim and live out the unadjusted gospel, which IS the power of God to salvation. Here at CPC and everywhere the Name of Christ is proclaimed. Hallelujah!
Pastor Allen
Friday, May 7, 2010
Intergenerational Prayer - Try It Some Time!
Just last night we hosted a low-key National Day of Prayer event at CPC. With all that is going on in the nation at this time, I needed refreshment in the Truth that God is in control of His world. As I look back on the time we spent together the more encouraged I am about the outlook for our community, both locally and nationally.
Of the twenty-three people that gathered to pray, there were 16 people over 18 yrs and 7 people under 18 yrs. old. Two of the older people had recently turned 18 so they kind of count with the 'younger group'. :-)
Dan Halley led the event that we ended up calling 'PRAY and play'.
Our prayer time was segmented into six categories. We began with our focus directed to the God who hears the cries of His children - His sovereignty, omnipotence, goodness, faithfulness, etc. In the safety of His presence and with the promises of Christ in view we moved to the second segment titled simply 'personal' where participants (young and older alike) confessed sin and pleaded the mercy of God. Then we interceded for various needs: those of our local church (transition - both staff and facility were in view, but also the need for all our ministries to be saturated with the good news of Christ crucified, buried and raised for sinners), our local community (schools, work, outreach opportunities), our nation (the executive, legislative and judicial branches our of government), and finally we prayed with a global emphasis (praying for the persecuted church and various missionary efforts).
After the time of prayer about 3/4 of us moved upstairs to the gym where some enjoyed informal conversations while others played a very serious volleyball tournament. One team actually one 2 out of the 3 games and they were very happy about that, but wouldn't dream of taking the opportunity like a pastor's blog to gloat over the wins. :-)
I wanted to write and convey some of my encouragement by being a part of this event. My heart was gladdened by participating in the time of prayer with my generation as well as the next generation. Being in the same room with those who will likely see more of the fruit of our prayers in the years to come than I will, I was challenged to pray more fervently for the nation and to plead with God to bring about renewal and revival.
I trust we will do something similar to this again. If we do, I will look for you there. Hopefully, we won't wait until the next annual Day of Prayer!
Pastor Tim
Of the twenty-three people that gathered to pray, there were 16 people over 18 yrs and 7 people under 18 yrs. old. Two of the older people had recently turned 18 so they kind of count with the 'younger group'. :-)
Dan Halley led the event that we ended up calling 'PRAY and play'.
Our prayer time was segmented into six categories. We began with our focus directed to the God who hears the cries of His children - His sovereignty, omnipotence, goodness, faithfulness, etc. In the safety of His presence and with the promises of Christ in view we moved to the second segment titled simply 'personal' where participants (young and older alike) confessed sin and pleaded the mercy of God. Then we interceded for various needs: those of our local church (transition - both staff and facility were in view, but also the need for all our ministries to be saturated with the good news of Christ crucified, buried and raised for sinners), our local community (schools, work, outreach opportunities), our nation (the executive, legislative and judicial branches our of government), and finally we prayed with a global emphasis (praying for the persecuted church and various missionary efforts).
After the time of prayer about 3/4 of us moved upstairs to the gym where some enjoyed informal conversations while others played a very serious volleyball tournament. One team actually one 2 out of the 3 games and they were very happy about that, but wouldn't dream of taking the opportunity like a pastor's blog to gloat over the wins. :-)
I wanted to write and convey some of my encouragement by being a part of this event. My heart was gladdened by participating in the time of prayer with my generation as well as the next generation. Being in the same room with those who will likely see more of the fruit of our prayers in the years to come than I will, I was challenged to pray more fervently for the nation and to plead with God to bring about renewal and revival.
I trust we will do something similar to this again. If we do, I will look for you there. Hopefully, we won't wait until the next annual Day of Prayer!
Pastor Tim
Thursday, May 6, 2010
When in Doubt, Ask a Question!
Two people have come to me about last Sunday's sermon to ask the same question: I seem to get stuck knowing what to say to friends when they express a personal need or heavy spiritual comment. How do I get the conversation to the cross?
I realized I should have been clearer on my second tip in talking about the cross. I said, Do not rush too quickly to talk about the cross. Get the person in touch with their need for a Savior before you tell about His radical offering.
The key: ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS!
Eg: a person has cancer. You want to share Christ. But they have not indicated any interest in the Gospel. Ask a question like, "So how has this cancer affected your spiritual life? Do you ever go to church? How has it affected your relationship with God? Has it raised Qs for you about Him or His involvement in your life?
How has it changed your view of life?"
On and on. Each response elicits another question. Probe their heart so they know you are truly listening and caring. At some point it will seem natural to talk about a God Who suffered death for us because He cared about us that much.
So in any conversation where a person goes to a deeper level that seems to invite a bold and caring initiation into sharing Jesus and the cross, if in doubt about what to say, ask a question! The more you ask questions, the easier it will become. And the more questions you ask, the easier sharing Christ and His cross will become.
So thanks for making me clarify that.
Pastor Allen
I realized I should have been clearer on my second tip in talking about the cross. I said, Do not rush too quickly to talk about the cross. Get the person in touch with their need for a Savior before you tell about His radical offering.
The key: ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS!
Eg: a person has cancer. You want to share Christ. But they have not indicated any interest in the Gospel. Ask a question like, "So how has this cancer affected your spiritual life? Do you ever go to church? How has it affected your relationship with God? Has it raised Qs for you about Him or His involvement in your life?
How has it changed your view of life?"
On and on. Each response elicits another question. Probe their heart so they know you are truly listening and caring. At some point it will seem natural to talk about a God Who suffered death for us because He cared about us that much.
So in any conversation where a person goes to a deeper level that seems to invite a bold and caring initiation into sharing Jesus and the cross, if in doubt about what to say, ask a question! The more you ask questions, the easier it will become. And the more questions you ask, the easier sharing Christ and His cross will become.
So thanks for making me clarify that.
Pastor Allen
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Together 4 The Gospel
As Allen and Tim have already mentioned I too want to thank you for sending the staff to the Together 4 the Gospel conference.
For those of you unfamiliar with the conference this is a conference that meets every other year in Louisville, Kentucky. There are a group of four men (thus the play on 4 in the name) who have put together a program to encourage and bless pastors of local churches. The four men are Mark Dever, Albert Mohler, Ligon Duncan, and CJ Mahaney. They each invite another speaker to present a message, so that we have eight messages from top church leaders. This year the additional speakers were; John MacArthur, John Piper, RC Sproul, and Thabiti Anyabwile. The four who put this conference on do so to: bless local pastors through the messages they give; gathering thousands of pastors and church leaders (this year there were about 7,000 in attendance) for fellowship with each other; and by providing several hundred dollars worth of free, good books to everyone who registers for the conference. On top of those things, just getting away as a staff team for time to build our relationships was very helpful. We were able to talk and plan ministry without the immediate daily pressures of shepherding the congregation. (Huge thanks to the administrative team who stayed behind and the elders who were here to shepherd the flock in our absence.)
This year the theme of the conference was the "Unadjusted Gospel." We were encouraged with the power of the pure gospel (Romans 1:16) and reminded of the calling we have as both believers and as leaders to live in the power of that pure gospel. The speakers addressed issues such as: the church's role in living out and displaying the gospel to the world (Ephesians 3:10); types of pressure to adjust the gospel (modern and postmodern worldviews, aesthetic pressures, therapeutic pressures, pragmatic pressures, etc.); what they had learned in 50 years of ministry; and several other topics.
Being with thousands of local pastors was a tremendous encouragement to me personally. There were thousands of young men who are serving local churches, and committed to keep the gospel clear and to present the truths of Scripture to their congregations week in and week out. I loved the messages and being encouraged to both remember and hold to the gospel by the speakers. Along with that reminder, the interaction with our staff team and with other pastors who were thinking through how to apply what we heard to our situations particularly was powerful. I believe the investment you made as a church will bear great rewards for CPC and for Howard County. Thank you.
Steve
For those of you unfamiliar with the conference this is a conference that meets every other year in Louisville, Kentucky. There are a group of four men (thus the play on 4 in the name) who have put together a program to encourage and bless pastors of local churches. The four men are Mark Dever, Albert Mohler, Ligon Duncan, and CJ Mahaney. They each invite another speaker to present a message, so that we have eight messages from top church leaders. This year the additional speakers were; John MacArthur, John Piper, RC Sproul, and Thabiti Anyabwile. The four who put this conference on do so to: bless local pastors through the messages they give; gathering thousands of pastors and church leaders (this year there were about 7,000 in attendance) for fellowship with each other; and by providing several hundred dollars worth of free, good books to everyone who registers for the conference. On top of those things, just getting away as a staff team for time to build our relationships was very helpful. We were able to talk and plan ministry without the immediate daily pressures of shepherding the congregation. (Huge thanks to the administrative team who stayed behind and the elders who were here to shepherd the flock in our absence.)
This year the theme of the conference was the "Unadjusted Gospel." We were encouraged with the power of the pure gospel (Romans 1:16) and reminded of the calling we have as both believers and as leaders to live in the power of that pure gospel. The speakers addressed issues such as: the church's role in living out and displaying the gospel to the world (Ephesians 3:10); types of pressure to adjust the gospel (modern and postmodern worldviews, aesthetic pressures, therapeutic pressures, pragmatic pressures, etc.); what they had learned in 50 years of ministry; and several other topics.
Being with thousands of local pastors was a tremendous encouragement to me personally. There were thousands of young men who are serving local churches, and committed to keep the gospel clear and to present the truths of Scripture to their congregations week in and week out. I loved the messages and being encouraged to both remember and hold to the gospel by the speakers. Along with that reminder, the interaction with our staff team and with other pastors who were thinking through how to apply what we heard to our situations particularly was powerful. I believe the investment you made as a church will bear great rewards for CPC and for Howard County. Thank you.
Steve
Thursday, March 25, 2010
News from Session
March 25, 2010
Brothers and Sisters,
Session has been discussing for some time now how best to provide the Lord’s Supper for our congregation. We have had a subcommittee that has been looking in to questions regarding scheduling the Lord’s Supper and also how to encourage the most people to participate in this means of grace. We want to make the means of grace (the Word, prayer, the sacraments, and fellowship)as available as we can to all the people who call CPC their church home.
As a result of this desire we have looked at when we can celebrate communion. After much discussion and deliberation Session approved the subcommittee’s recommendation that we celebrate communion in the morning service four times a year, and at a monthly evening service the other eight months of the year. We considered the pros and cons for the various time slots we have for celebrating the Lord’s Supper , and we concluded that the best decision overall is to have the communion service in the mornings when we do not have Middle Hour classes and Sunday School and keeping the service in the evening on those months when we do have classes between the services.
That means that we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper in the morning services on the first Sundays in January, July, August, and September. We will hold evening services February, March, April, May, June, October, November, and December.
One other thing to note is that this schedule is what we have planned for while we are in our own facility. We are aware that there are restrictions on food in the school buildings. That means we will have to be flexible with our scheduling the Lord’s Supper while we are off site and renting space for worship. We know you will be adaptable to the circumstances in which we find ourselves as we move off site.
Steve, on behalf of the elders
Friday, March 19, 2010
God's sovereignty - man's responsibility
How can it be possible that God is absolutely sovereign over the affairs of all of His creation and also that we are completely responsible for our every action? Puzzling? Yes. Confusing? Sometimes, sure. Contradiction (and therefore not true)? Not at all.
This past Sunday, Allen laid out the case for both these truths from Scripture. The betrayal of Jesus Christ by one of his twelve disciples, Judas, is one of those historical events that causes us to pause and contemplate God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. Matthew records Jesus' sobering words highlighting these two truths: "The Son of Man goes as it is written of him , but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed ! It would be better for that man if he had not been born." Here we clearly see the death of Christ as predetermined by a sovereign God and also the sobering reality that Judas, the betrayer, is held responsible for his actions leading to Christ's death. Several other passages point this out as well (see Luke 22:22;Acts 2:22-24, 4:27-28).
Maybe you are like several in our fellowship grappling with these doctrines. At the end of both services, I recommended a little booklet written by John Piper entitled History's Most Spectacular Sin . We ran out of the booklets (a good thing, right? except if you wanted one!) on Sunday. By clicking on the booklet title in the above sentence (if I have done the link correctly) you should be re-directed to the Desiring God Ministries website where the .pdf of the booklet is available for you to read in its entirety.
I wanted to get this information to you before Sunday, because Allen is preaching from Matthew 27 a sermon entitled, Judas: II - The Downfall of Judas Iscariot. So the topic is still before us!
As the Lord deepens our understanding of His absolute sovereignty and our responsibility, may the conviction of our sin lead us to find comfort in the completed work of His Son on our behalf.
The discovery of these wonderful truths is best accomplished in fellowship.
Looking forward to our fellowship together in His presence.
Pastor Tim
This past Sunday, Allen laid out the case for both these truths from Scripture. The betrayal of Jesus Christ by one of his twelve disciples, Judas, is one of those historical events that causes us to pause and contemplate God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. Matthew records Jesus' sobering words highlighting these two truths: "The Son of Man goes as it is written of him , but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed ! It would be better for that man if he had not been born." Here we clearly see the death of Christ as predetermined by a sovereign God and also the sobering reality that Judas, the betrayer, is held responsible for his actions leading to Christ's death. Several other passages point this out as well (see Luke 22:22;Acts 2:22-24, 4:27-28).
Maybe you are like several in our fellowship grappling with these doctrines. At the end of both services, I recommended a little booklet written by John Piper entitled History's Most Spectacular Sin . We ran out of the booklets (a good thing, right? except if you wanted one!) on Sunday. By clicking on the booklet title in the above sentence (if I have done the link correctly) you should be re-directed to the Desiring God Ministries website where the .pdf of the booklet is available for you to read in its entirety.
I wanted to get this information to you before Sunday, because Allen is preaching from Matthew 27 a sermon entitled, Judas: II - The Downfall of Judas Iscariot. So the topic is still before us!
As the Lord deepens our understanding of His absolute sovereignty and our responsibility, may the conviction of our sin lead us to find comfort in the completed work of His Son on our behalf.
The discovery of these wonderful truths is best accomplished in fellowship.
Looking forward to our fellowship together in His presence.
Pastor Tim
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Knowing Jesus is Communal
Knowing Jesus is Communal
The following concept is original to and is largely from Tim Keller’s book The Prodigal God. I hope you will find these ideas on community stimulating and inspiring. Enjoy.
We live in a culture in which the interests and desires of the individual take precedence over those of the family, group, or community. As a result, a high percentage of people want to achieve spiritual growth without losing their independence to a church or to any organized institution. This is often the meaning behind many of those who say “I am spiritual, but not religious” and “I like Jesus, but not Christianity.” Many people who are spiritually searching have had bad experiences with churches and because of that they often do not want anything more to do with the church. Sadly, this interest is God stops at the thought level and is not put into actions because of the disinterest in having to be a part of an organization. Churches can be very unpleasant because they are filled with Pharisees and other unpleasant sinners. Yet staying away from churches just because they have self-righteous people in them is just another form of self-righteousness.
You cannot live the Christian life without a group of Christian friends, without a family of believer in which you find a place. C.S. Lewis was part of a well known circle of friends called the Inkings, which included J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of the The Lord of the Rings, and also the author Charles Williams, who died unexpectedly after World War II. In his book The Four Loves, Lewis wrote a meditation on his death in an essay entitled “Friendship” found in his book The Four Loves.
Lewis wrote, “In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets. Now that Charles [Williams] is dead, I shall never again see Ronald’s [Tolkien’s] reaction to a specifically Charles joke. Far from having more of Ronald, having him “to myself” now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald…In this, Friendship, exhibits a glorious “nearness by resemblance” to heaven itself where they very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each of us has of God. For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest. That, says an old author, in why the Seraphim in Isaiah’s vision are crying “Holy, Holy, Holy” to one another (Isaiah 6:3). The more we thus share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall have”
Lewis is saying that it took a community to know an individual. How much more would this be true of Jesus Christ? Christians commonly say they want a relationship with Jesus and they want to “get to know Jesus better.” As Lewis writes, you will never be able to do that by yourself. You must deeply and genuinely involved in the church, in Christian community, with strong relationships of love and accountability. Only if you are part of a community of believers seeking to resemble, serve, and love Jesus will you ever get to know Him and grow in His likeness (Keller 124-127).
Lewis, C.S. The Four Loves. Ireland: Harvest Books Press, 1960.
Keller, Timothy. The Prodigal God. New York, New York: Dutton, 2008.
The following concept is original to and is largely from Tim Keller’s book The Prodigal God. I hope you will find these ideas on community stimulating and inspiring. Enjoy.
We live in a culture in which the interests and desires of the individual take precedence over those of the family, group, or community. As a result, a high percentage of people want to achieve spiritual growth without losing their independence to a church or to any organized institution. This is often the meaning behind many of those who say “I am spiritual, but not religious” and “I like Jesus, but not Christianity.” Many people who are spiritually searching have had bad experiences with churches and because of that they often do not want anything more to do with the church. Sadly, this interest is God stops at the thought level and is not put into actions because of the disinterest in having to be a part of an organization. Churches can be very unpleasant because they are filled with Pharisees and other unpleasant sinners. Yet staying away from churches just because they have self-righteous people in them is just another form of self-righteousness.
You cannot live the Christian life without a group of Christian friends, without a family of believer in which you find a place. C.S. Lewis was part of a well known circle of friends called the Inkings, which included J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of the The Lord of the Rings, and also the author Charles Williams, who died unexpectedly after World War II. In his book The Four Loves, Lewis wrote a meditation on his death in an essay entitled “Friendship” found in his book The Four Loves.
Lewis wrote, “In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets. Now that Charles [Williams] is dead, I shall never again see Ronald’s [Tolkien’s] reaction to a specifically Charles joke. Far from having more of Ronald, having him “to myself” now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald…In this, Friendship, exhibits a glorious “nearness by resemblance” to heaven itself where they very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each of us has of God. For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest. That, says an old author, in why the Seraphim in Isaiah’s vision are crying “Holy, Holy, Holy” to one another (Isaiah 6:3). The more we thus share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall have”
Lewis is saying that it took a community to know an individual. How much more would this be true of Jesus Christ? Christians commonly say they want a relationship with Jesus and they want to “get to know Jesus better.” As Lewis writes, you will never be able to do that by yourself. You must deeply and genuinely involved in the church, in Christian community, with strong relationships of love and accountability. Only if you are part of a community of believers seeking to resemble, serve, and love Jesus will you ever get to know Him and grow in His likeness (Keller 124-127).
Lewis, C.S. The Four Loves. Ireland: Harvest Books Press, 1960.
Keller, Timothy. The Prodigal God. New York, New York: Dutton, 2008.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sunday's Sermon
Just two clarifications:
1. In case you lost the forest for all the trees, if you boil it all down, Matt 24 is saying: Jesus gave a very detailed prophecy of an extremely unlikely event 40 years in the future (like me forecasting the destruction of Washington D.C. in the lifetime of many here, and saying that not one stone of the capitol building will be left on another, and it happens in 2050), and that event was the judgment of Israel for rejecting their Messiah. Then He says His Return will be some unknown time after that, but be ready, alert and hopeful, because just as surely as Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, so He WILL COME AGAIN! If you still are putting Jesus off, that is a warning; if you love Him, that is a promise.
So we DID have the lasanga Sunday evening. He did not come at 2pm. But He WILL come, and it could be any time. So cast aside your small ambitions that are tied to this world, and live for eternity. Live so that at His coming you have no regrets (well at least not major ones!).
2. Concenring the illustration from the movie, "Under Seige". It was brought to my attention after Sunday that there is a sleazy scene in that movie, which I either did not see, or totally forgot. In any case, while the scene I reported makes a vivid point, I cannot recommend the movie for viewing.
SO live this week in the light of His Coming.
Allen
1. In case you lost the forest for all the trees, if you boil it all down, Matt 24 is saying: Jesus gave a very detailed prophecy of an extremely unlikely event 40 years in the future (like me forecasting the destruction of Washington D.C. in the lifetime of many here, and saying that not one stone of the capitol building will be left on another, and it happens in 2050), and that event was the judgment of Israel for rejecting their Messiah. Then He says His Return will be some unknown time after that, but be ready, alert and hopeful, because just as surely as Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, so He WILL COME AGAIN! If you still are putting Jesus off, that is a warning; if you love Him, that is a promise.
So we DID have the lasanga Sunday evening. He did not come at 2pm. But He WILL come, and it could be any time. So cast aside your small ambitions that are tied to this world, and live for eternity. Live so that at His coming you have no regrets (well at least not major ones!).
2. Concenring the illustration from the movie, "Under Seige". It was brought to my attention after Sunday that there is a sleazy scene in that movie, which I either did not see, or totally forgot. In any case, while the scene I reported makes a vivid point, I cannot recommend the movie for viewing.
SO live this week in the light of His Coming.
Allen
What is your only comfort in life and in death?
Q: What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A: That I am not my own, but belong - body and soul, in life and in death -- to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.
-If you grasped these things wth your whole heart, how would it affect the way you handle suffering?
A: That I am not my own, but belong - body and soul, in life and in death -- to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.
-If you grasped these things wth your whole heart, how would it affect the way you handle suffering?
Friday, March 5, 2010
Worship Wise (Whys) - Music Resources at CPC
"I loved that new song today. Where did you first hear it?"
I have heard that comment several times over the years as a part of my responsibility as Worship and Families Pastor at CPC (I have heard other comments too, but I will have to write about those later!).
I want to take the opportunity to introduce several resources to you and invite you to introduce your favorite worship resources to me too!
Over the next couple of weeks, I want to:
1. Highlight new music
2. Describe some of the why behind songs we employ at CPC.
3. Point you to the place on the internet where you can hear samples and even purchase some of the music if you desire. (clicking on the links below should direct you to the particular album)
One of my favorite music resources is Sovereign Grace Music.
Their home page reads: 'Sound + Doctrine: 20 years of providing songs for the local church'. Over the years CPC worship leaders have discovered and presented songs like I Stand in Awe, How Great is Your Love (you might call it 'How High and How Wide' in your house), How Deep the Father's Love for Us and Before the Throne of God Above.
In recent years, we have introduced a host of new songs from the creative artists at Sovereign Grace.
In 2003, they released an album of updated hymns - Upward: the Bob Kauflin Hymns Project. I enjoy singing and playing Come Now Almighty King (the instrumentation reminds me of the computer game, The Hobbit) and the beautiful rendention of Hallelujah, What a Savior. This album also contains a different (more mellow) version of the classic hymn, A Debtor to Mercy Alone.
I have heard that comment several times over the years as a part of my responsibility as Worship and Families Pastor at CPC (I have heard other comments too, but I will have to write about those later!).
I want to take the opportunity to introduce several resources to you and invite you to introduce your favorite worship resources to me too!
Over the next couple of weeks, I want to:
1. Highlight new music
2. Describe some of the why behind songs we employ at CPC.
3. Point you to the place on the internet where you can hear samples and even purchase some of the music if you desire. (clicking on the links below should direct you to the particular album)
One of my favorite music resources is Sovereign Grace Music.
Their home page reads: 'Sound + Doctrine: 20 years of providing songs for the local church'. Over the years CPC worship leaders have discovered and presented songs like I Stand in Awe, How Great is Your Love (you might call it 'How High and How Wide' in your house), How Deep the Father's Love for Us and Before the Throne of God Above.
In recent years, we have introduced a host of new songs from the creative artists at Sovereign Grace.
In 2003, they released an album of updated hymns - Upward: the Bob Kauflin Hymns Project. I enjoy singing and playing Come Now Almighty King (the instrumentation reminds me of the computer game, The Hobbit) and the beautiful rendention of Hallelujah, What a Savior. This album also contains a different (more mellow) version of the classic hymn, A Debtor to Mercy Alone.
Their 2004 album, The Cross-Centered Life was written to exalt with song in the finished work of Jesus on the cross for sinners like you and me. The lyrics give us opportunity to marvel together as a congregation at the gift of God's amazing grace. I love the simple way in which the substitutionary atonement of Christ is presented in The Gospel Song. Just about every one of the songs on this album are 'keepers'.
I would love to have more of their 2006 Christmas album, Savior: Celebrating the Mystery of God Become Man in CPC's corporate repertoire, but Hope Has Come will have to suffice for now. I think Sleep Jesus Sleep has become one of my favorite Christmas tunes of recent years.
In 2008, SGM released Come Weary Saints and Psalms. When I am in need of a reminder of God's sovereign goodness (which is frequently), I pull out the guitar and worship Him with As Long as You Are Glorified and Bob Kauflin's reworking of Oh the Deep Deep Love. The Psalms set to music help my heart to connect to the One who knows my inner struggles. Out of the Depths, Blessed Is the One and The Lord Is cause my focus to be brought back to Him who loved me and gave Himself for me.
The latest release, Sons and Daughters emphasizes our adoption into the family of God and the inheritance we have in Christ. I have enjoyed hearing more and more of my CPC family rejoicing together singing The Father's Love and Completely Done in corporate worship.
I have been given the privilege to prepare the order of worship for our weekly gatherings. Please continue to pray for me as I seek to construct services that primarily present Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-3).
Pastor Tim
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Time in Portland
I am a week away from another trip to Oregon. Our transition into the next phase of our ministry is becoming more and more real. This is bittersweet for me.
God has been very busy in our time here in Columbia. You are sending away a much better man that you received 21 years ago. God has done His work in me, and in my family, largely through your ministry to us over these years. Thank you for how He has used you in this. It is hard to leave those whom God has used.
Yet, we go to the ministry God is clearly calling us to undertake. We are excited about what He is already doing to lay the foundation for our next ministry. I am going to teach a seminar on Marriage next week in Eugene, Oregon, and a seminar on Relationships the following week in Vancouver, WA. Reports are that the seminars are going to be well attended and that folks are excited to come to hear how the gospel shapes our marriages and relationships. I enjoy helping folks see the gospel in the day to day reality of their lives!
Please pray for my family while I am away. They will be very busy, and if they miss me in their busy-ness it will likely be for what they are covering for me instead of my cheerful personality.
I am so grateful for their willingness to take up the slack.
Once again, if you would like to get more regular updates on our transition, send me an e-mail at Steve@ImpactBiblicalCounseling.com and I will gladly put you on the list for our updates!
gratefully,
Steve
God has been very busy in our time here in Columbia. You are sending away a much better man that you received 21 years ago. God has done His work in me, and in my family, largely through your ministry to us over these years. Thank you for how He has used you in this. It is hard to leave those whom God has used.
Yet, we go to the ministry God is clearly calling us to undertake. We are excited about what He is already doing to lay the foundation for our next ministry. I am going to teach a seminar on Marriage next week in Eugene, Oregon, and a seminar on Relationships the following week in Vancouver, WA. Reports are that the seminars are going to be well attended and that folks are excited to come to hear how the gospel shapes our marriages and relationships. I enjoy helping folks see the gospel in the day to day reality of their lives!
Please pray for my family while I am away. They will be very busy, and if they miss me in their busy-ness it will likely be for what they are covering for me instead of my cheerful personality.
I am so grateful for their willingness to take up the slack.
Once again, if you would like to get more regular updates on our transition, send me an e-mail at Steve@ImpactBiblicalCounseling.com and I will gladly put you on the list for our updates!
gratefully,
Steve
Monday, February 22, 2010
Seeing Christ in daily life: Gospel and the Heart
Many years ago Allen, John Lyons, and I went up to visit Redeemer PCA in Manhattan to learn more about how they were running their small group ministry. We met with several of their pastors, and heard Tim Keller as he led a meeting with his ministry leaders.
I believe the most significant aspect of that trip for Columbia Presbyterian was learning about the study of Galatians that they had recently prepared for their group leaders. Pastor Keller had preached through the book (an excellent series!!) and had prepared a study on the book for his group leaders. He had also prepared a study for the congregation that he called Gospel and the Heart. We adapted his study and began running a weekend seminar by the same name. We have offered this seminar every year since that time.
We are drawing close to the time for this seminar. Once again we will spend time looking at how we live by the power of the gospel in the reality of our day to day lives. If you are newer to CPC and have never taken this seminar, I strongly encourage you to register. If you took this seminar years ago, I encourage you to register for two reasons: to see how you have grown in your understanding and appreciation of the impact of the gospel on you daily, and more importantly because of how I have grown in my appreciation for the gospel. Quite frankly, this seminar has grown over the years because of how God has grown me, the teacher, in the riches of His gospel.
We are going to spend Friday evening looking at the two topics: what is the gospel? and how does my adoption into God's family transform my life? Saturday morning we will look at how the gospel frees me to live in faith and gospel power, what saps the gospel's power in my life, and lastly, living with hope beyond our circumstances.
Because of my move to Portland, Oregon this summer this will be the last scheduled time for me to teach this seminar. I hope you can join us to benefit from how God has been shaping me through the gospel for the past 21 years, and to grow in our love for God's gracious gift of redemption. If you have any questions about this seminar send me an e-mail at Steve@ColumbiaPres.org or call me at the office (410-730-6004).
Steve
I believe the most significant aspect of that trip for Columbia Presbyterian was learning about the study of Galatians that they had recently prepared for their group leaders. Pastor Keller had preached through the book (an excellent series!!) and had prepared a study on the book for his group leaders. He had also prepared a study for the congregation that he called Gospel and the Heart. We adapted his study and began running a weekend seminar by the same name. We have offered this seminar every year since that time.
We are drawing close to the time for this seminar. Once again we will spend time looking at how we live by the power of the gospel in the reality of our day to day lives. If you are newer to CPC and have never taken this seminar, I strongly encourage you to register. If you took this seminar years ago, I encourage you to register for two reasons: to see how you have grown in your understanding and appreciation of the impact of the gospel on you daily, and more importantly because of how I have grown in my appreciation for the gospel. Quite frankly, this seminar has grown over the years because of how God has grown me, the teacher, in the riches of His gospel.
We are going to spend Friday evening looking at the two topics: what is the gospel? and how does my adoption into God's family transform my life? Saturday morning we will look at how the gospel frees me to live in faith and gospel power, what saps the gospel's power in my life, and lastly, living with hope beyond our circumstances.
Because of my move to Portland, Oregon this summer this will be the last scheduled time for me to teach this seminar. I hope you can join us to benefit from how God has been shaping me through the gospel for the past 21 years, and to grow in our love for God's gracious gift of redemption. If you have any questions about this seminar send me an e-mail at Steve@ColumbiaPres.org or call me at the office (410-730-6004).
Steve
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Status Report on our transition to Portland
I thought I would write a blog to bring you all up to date with how God is leading in our family's transition to our next ministry. Many of you have stopped me and asked what is going on and expressed your support for our family. I am very grateful for your friendship and support.
I realized this week as I was praying that this blog site is a great vehicle to keep you current with what God is doing as we prepare to launch Impact Biblical Counseling in the Portland area. I also want to help you to know how you can be praying for us in this transition.
One of the things I would like to do is provide regular prayer requests for anyone who would like to be part of our prayer team. I would like to provide up to date prayer requests (weekly?) to anyone who would commit to praying for us. If you are interested, simply send me an e-mail at: Steve@ImpactBiblicalCounseling.com and I will send out a weekly e-mail that gives you our current prayer requests.
In the meanwhile I would like to ask you to pray for us in three areas.
Steve
I realized this week as I was praying that this blog site is a great vehicle to keep you current with what God is doing as we prepare to launch Impact Biblical Counseling in the Portland area. I also want to help you to know how you can be praying for us in this transition.
One of the things I would like to do is provide regular prayer requests for anyone who would like to be part of our prayer team. I would like to provide up to date prayer requests (weekly?) to anyone who would commit to praying for us. If you are interested, simply send me an e-mail at: Steve@ImpactBiblicalCounseling.com and I will send out a weekly e-mail that gives you our current prayer requests.
In the meanwhile I would like to ask you to pray for us in three areas.
- The first is that God will keep me focused on the responsibilities I have here at CPC. I am still fully engaged with the ministries here. I would love prayer for my work with the Building Executive Committee. I am pulling together a team of ministry leaders to plan for life when we move off site for Sunday ministries. Ask God to give us time to meet while we are all busy with the ministries we oversee. I would also love prayer for the Gospel and the Heart seminar on March 26-27.
- Secondly, pray for us as we develop Impact Biblical Counseling and establish relationships with churches in the Portland area. I will be going to Oregon March 11-22 to present two weekend conferences and to meet with more pastors to present our ministry.
- Thirdly, I ask you to pray for the logistics of moving. Ann and I are excited about God's call to this new ministry, but we recognize that this is completely beyond our ability to manage as finite people. Ann has described this as the "coming tsunami." I think I better understand the Hebrews' response to the spies who reported on their trip into Canaan in . Numbers 13 and 14. I agree with Joshua and Caleb's message that the land is filled with good things and will be a wonderful home, and there are giants that God will defeat for us. I want to see more of God who is leading us into this new home, and less of the giants! Please pray that we will be able to sell our home in this unstable market; buy a home (and get a mortgage in a tight credit market); be settled in as the fall starts; and, that God will use our ministry to serve the churches in Portland providing solid care for folks who want to grow in their understanding of how the unchanging grace of God changes us and matures us spiritually .
Steve
Friday, February 12, 2010
Lonely this Valentine's Day?
Lonely this Valentine's Day? Find the intimacy you desire!
The following link is to a small booklet produced by the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation:
http://ccef.org/single-and-lonely-finding-intimacy-you-desire
The following link is to a small booklet produced by the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation:
http://ccef.org/single-and-lonely-finding-intimacy-you-desire
Friday, February 5, 2010
A Song for our Month of Missions
A couple of hours ago we announced that all our activities this weekend at CPC are cancelled because we are expecting a "storm of historic proportions" to blanket our area with a whole lot of snow. That means (for those keeping track out there) that the start of our Month of Missions will have to wait yet another week to begin.
One of the things that I will have to put off until next week is my plan to introduce (or 'revive' depending on your familiarity with the Trinity Hymnal) a song entitled, How Sweet and Aweful is the Place written by Isaac Watts in 1707. I love the beautiful melody in the Trinity Hymnal, but it is the lyrics that I want to bring to your attention in this post.
The hymn takes us on a journey of wonder as the singer (sinner) discovers God's mercy and loving-kindness to sinners, marvels at God's transforming grace, and proclaims the Holy Spirit produced phenomena that causes our hearts to desire to participate with Him in His ministry of reconciliation (see 2 Corinthians 5:11-21).
Verse one describes the assembly of the saints in worship marveling at the glorious Bridegroom:
How sweet and aweful is the place with Christ within the doors,
While everlasting Love displays the choicest of her stores!
Although the updated Trinity Hymnal lyric says 'sweet and awesome', the original phrase was sweet and aweful. The first time I encountered this song several years ago that definitely caused me to pause and consider what I was hearing. The term, awful is commonly used now-a-days for something unpleasant, or of poor quality, but it literally means something that is full of awe or awe inspiring. The place where Christ is lifted up and adored is a sweet and aweful place.
Verses two through four reflect the jaw-dropping realization of the predestinating, unconditionally electing, undeserved favor that believers receive as a free gift of God's amazing grace:
While all our hearts and all our songs join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues, "Lord, why was I a guest?"
"Why was I made to hear thy voice, and enter while there's room,
When thousands make a wretched choice, and rather starve than come?"
'Twas the same love that spread the feast that sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste, and perished in our sin.
We are reminded of what the 11th hour worker might have experienced in Jesus' parable in Matthew 20:1-16 as he was given according to his need, NOT according to what he deserved. Amazing!
Then the hymn takes an interesting turn to look outside of ourselves to the world around us and Watts gives us voice to intercede on behalf of the nations. Note the ordinary means of God's Word preached that is the vehicle by which the 'strangers will ultimately be brought home.'
Verses five and six are the reason why I wanted us to sing this as a congregation during our month of missions:
Pity the nations, O our God! constrain the earth to come;
Send Thy victorious Word abroad, and bring the strangers home.
We long to see thy churches full, that all the chosen race,
May with one voice, and heart and soul, sing Thy redeeming grace.
I have to be honest here - is that my 'heart for missions'? Do I long to see His churches full of persevering pilgrims awaiting the glorious return of the King who came to deliver His people from their sins? I want to grow in that.
Over the last week as it became clearer every day that we were in for a major snow event. We were warned to be prepared. If you ventured into a grocery store in recent days you saw many people heeding those warnings (I was in both Food Lion AND Giant twice each - ask me later why). We won't know the extent of this storm until Saturday or Sunday. However, there is coming a Day when all humanity will be judged by the righteous standard of a Holy God. Not only do we have the clear warning of the Scriptures to prepare for that Day, we also have the exceedingly good news of great joy which shall be for all people - both locally and globally.
I look forward to being able to sing How Sweet and Aweful is the Place with the congregation of CPC and, by God's grace, to live out the song together.
Pastor Tim
One of the things that I will have to put off until next week is my plan to introduce (or 'revive' depending on your familiarity with the Trinity Hymnal) a song entitled, How Sweet and Aweful is the Place written by Isaac Watts in 1707. I love the beautiful melody in the Trinity Hymnal, but it is the lyrics that I want to bring to your attention in this post.
The hymn takes us on a journey of wonder as the singer (sinner) discovers God's mercy and loving-kindness to sinners, marvels at God's transforming grace, and proclaims the Holy Spirit produced phenomena that causes our hearts to desire to participate with Him in His ministry of reconciliation (see 2 Corinthians 5:11-21).
Verse one describes the assembly of the saints in worship marveling at the glorious Bridegroom:
How sweet and aweful is the place with Christ within the doors,
While everlasting Love displays the choicest of her stores!
Although the updated Trinity Hymnal lyric says 'sweet and awesome', the original phrase was sweet and aweful. The first time I encountered this song several years ago that definitely caused me to pause and consider what I was hearing. The term, awful is commonly used now-a-days for something unpleasant, or of poor quality, but it literally means something that is full of awe or awe inspiring. The place where Christ is lifted up and adored is a sweet and aweful place.
Verses two through four reflect the jaw-dropping realization of the predestinating, unconditionally electing, undeserved favor that believers receive as a free gift of God's amazing grace:
While all our hearts and all our songs join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues, "Lord, why was I a guest?"
"Why was I made to hear thy voice, and enter while there's room,
When thousands make a wretched choice, and rather starve than come?"
'Twas the same love that spread the feast that sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste, and perished in our sin.
We are reminded of what the 11th hour worker might have experienced in Jesus' parable in Matthew 20:1-16 as he was given according to his need, NOT according to what he deserved. Amazing!
Then the hymn takes an interesting turn to look outside of ourselves to the world around us and Watts gives us voice to intercede on behalf of the nations. Note the ordinary means of God's Word preached that is the vehicle by which the 'strangers will ultimately be brought home.'
Verses five and six are the reason why I wanted us to sing this as a congregation during our month of missions:
Pity the nations, O our God! constrain the earth to come;
Send Thy victorious Word abroad, and bring the strangers home.
We long to see thy churches full, that all the chosen race,
May with one voice, and heart and soul, sing Thy redeeming grace.
I have to be honest here - is that my 'heart for missions'? Do I long to see His churches full of persevering pilgrims awaiting the glorious return of the King who came to deliver His people from their sins? I want to grow in that.
Over the last week as it became clearer every day that we were in for a major snow event. We were warned to be prepared. If you ventured into a grocery store in recent days you saw many people heeding those warnings (I was in both Food Lion AND Giant twice each - ask me later why). We won't know the extent of this storm until Saturday or Sunday. However, there is coming a Day when all humanity will be judged by the righteous standard of a Holy God. Not only do we have the clear warning of the Scriptures to prepare for that Day, we also have the exceedingly good news of great joy which shall be for all people - both locally and globally.
I look forward to being able to sing How Sweet and Aweful is the Place with the congregation of CPC and, by God's grace, to live out the song together.
Pastor Tim
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Clarifying comments on Sun Jan 31
Last Sunday one of my applications of Matt 20:26-28 was to folks who have come to CPC for a long time and have not gotten involved. I raised the question of whether that might be because these folks want to avoid serving by remaining peripheral. I think that is a valid question to ask if you have been visiting CPC for years and still see yourself a simply a visitor.
However I want to clarify a couple of things:
1. I realize that there may be a number of reasons why you could choose to continue to visit CPC, and not join or get more involved that have nothing to do with your avoiding serving. I was not assuming I knew your motive.
2. I also realize that some of you are not members and yet serve as much or more than some members. The question was not about membership but serving.
3. I am not judging the hearts of people who visit CPC for some time without getting involved. I was simply raising that question among several others as applications of the text for self-examination.
I am convinced that obedience here, as in every one of Jesus's words to us, will increase our joy,not decrease it.
So I offer these words to all who heard me on Sunday with a prayer that we will all hear Jesus and raise difficult questions that draw us closer to Him in our recognition that we need Him to change our self-centered-want-to-be-served hearts. (By the way no one complained to me about what I said! I simply thought a clarifying blog might be in order.)
Enjoy a White Weekend!
Allen Harris
However I want to clarify a couple of things:
1. I realize that there may be a number of reasons why you could choose to continue to visit CPC, and not join or get more involved that have nothing to do with your avoiding serving. I was not assuming I knew your motive.
2. I also realize that some of you are not members and yet serve as much or more than some members. The question was not about membership but serving.
3. I am not judging the hearts of people who visit CPC for some time without getting involved. I was simply raising that question among several others as applications of the text for self-examination.
I am convinced that obedience here, as in every one of Jesus's words to us, will increase our joy,not decrease it.
So I offer these words to all who heard me on Sunday with a prayer that we will all hear Jesus and raise difficult questions that draw us closer to Him in our recognition that we need Him to change our self-centered-want-to-be-served hearts. (By the way no one complained to me about what I said! I simply thought a clarifying blog might be in order.)
Enjoy a White Weekend!
Allen Harris
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
How to Engage Postmodern Cynics with the Gospel
Blog:
How to Engage Postmodern Cynics with the Gospel
I just finished a book that I took an unusual amount of time to read because it has so much to offer: David Henderson’s Culture Shift: Communicating God’s Truth to Our Changing World. This is probably the most helpful book I have seen in many years for helping Christians to understand our culture and how to communicate the gospel to it.
He not only gives a brief history of philosophy in understandable terms, but also lots of concrete examples from his own experience in leading post modern cynics to faith in Christ. Just following how he talks to people makes the book worth the price and time to read it.
He divides the main part of the book into two broad topics:
I. Who we are, and II. How we think.
Each of these is divided into three subtopics, and each of those has two chapters: the first on understanding our culture and how it got to be that way, the second on how we as Christians address it with the gospel.
I. Who we are: Consumers, Spectators, Self-Absorbed Individuals
II. How we think: Beyond God, Beyond Right & Wrong, Beyond Meaning & Purpose
This is not just an intellectual text, but a punch-to-the-gut-make-you-feel-the-despair of lost people in today’s world. For example his quotes from today’s thinkers such as Woody Allen: “Civilization stands at the crossroads. Down one road is despondency and despair, and down the other road is total annihilation. Let us pray that we choose the right road.”
Or the T-shirt that says, “A man’s got to believe in something. I believe I’ll have another beer.”
While there are a few things I disagree with him on, the approach is very God-centered and faithful to the truth of the gospel. It is a bit like Francis Schaefer for the 21st century. This is not just a book to read, but to do. It encouraged me to engage unbelievers because God is at work in our culture of people unglued from Reality, and dying of spiritual thirst.
I just checked; the book is available from Amazon.com: 24 new from .99 and 40 used from .49.
Allen Harris
How to Engage Postmodern Cynics with the Gospel
I just finished a book that I took an unusual amount of time to read because it has so much to offer: David Henderson’s Culture Shift: Communicating God’s Truth to Our Changing World. This is probably the most helpful book I have seen in many years for helping Christians to understand our culture and how to communicate the gospel to it.
He not only gives a brief history of philosophy in understandable terms, but also lots of concrete examples from his own experience in leading post modern cynics to faith in Christ. Just following how he talks to people makes the book worth the price and time to read it.
He divides the main part of the book into two broad topics:
I. Who we are, and II. How we think.
Each of these is divided into three subtopics, and each of those has two chapters: the first on understanding our culture and how it got to be that way, the second on how we as Christians address it with the gospel.
I. Who we are: Consumers, Spectators, Self-Absorbed Individuals
II. How we think: Beyond God, Beyond Right & Wrong, Beyond Meaning & Purpose
This is not just an intellectual text, but a punch-to-the-gut-make-you-feel-the-despair of lost people in today’s world. For example his quotes from today’s thinkers such as Woody Allen: “Civilization stands at the crossroads. Down one road is despondency and despair, and down the other road is total annihilation. Let us pray that we choose the right road.”
Or the T-shirt that says, “A man’s got to believe in something. I believe I’ll have another beer.”
While there are a few things I disagree with him on, the approach is very God-centered and faithful to the truth of the gospel. It is a bit like Francis Schaefer for the 21st century. This is not just a book to read, but to do. It encouraged me to engage unbelievers because God is at work in our culture of people unglued from Reality, and dying of spiritual thirst.
I just checked; the book is available from Amazon.com: 24 new from .99 and 40 used from .49.
Allen Harris
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