Kids and Smartphones

Posted on March 8, 2018 by pastormike

ubiquitous smartphoneWhen my wife and I were raising our children we didn’t have to cope with the rise of mobile phones, the smartphone, tablets, and a whole host of other electronic devices.  They just didn’t exist until their late teens.  By the time our children headed off to Bible college, these devices were becoming the staples of American life. Parents were giving their children flip phones so that they could keep in touch and as a safety measure.  They were seen as necessities by many while our children were in high school.  Then, in early 2007, Apple announced its first iPhone. From that day forth the dynamic of cells phones changed. Continue reading →

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Bible Study and Devotional Helps Part 2

Posted on March 7, 2018 by pastormike

Basic Bible Study HelpsToday I would like to continue my recommendations on the Basic Bible Study Helps that are indispensable to basic Bible study.  So, we will look at the last three of my Basic Study Books, The MacArthur Study Bible, The Unger Bible Dictionary, and The Unger Bible Handbook.  If you want to see the whole list of all 6 right away, go to the “Basic Study Books” tab in the header. You can click on any of the pictures of the books below or any of the hyperlinks and you will be directed to Amazon for purchase. Continue reading →

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Billy Graham Some Other Insights

Posted on March 6, 2018 by pastormike

Billy Graham CrusadeIn my last post, I endeavored to give what I viewed, a balanced approach to the life of Billy Graham.  With the very public ministry that Dr. Graham had, he was open to, again in my view, very caustic criticism and at the other end some very naive glowing tributes.  Both extremes are neither honoring to the Lord or helpful to the church at large.  They also only convince an already hostile world to further and deepened unbelief and criticism of Christianity as a whole. Continue reading →

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Billy Graham

Posted on March 3, 2018 by pastormike

Billy Graham, America's Pastor“Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.”

I love that statement and it reveals Dr. Graham’s heart and love for his Savior and the Gospel he preached.

His funeral was truly his “Last Crusade”. It is the “home going” of one who couldn’t wait to see his Savior. Continue reading →

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Gender Dysphoria

Posted on March 2, 2018 by pastormike

If you are looking for a book that will compassionately explore the Transgender World and gender dysphoria then pick up Ryan T. Anderson’s book, “When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment“.

Let me quote from his introduction:

“In this book, I  argue that Dr. McHugh got it right. The best biology, psychology, and philosophy all support an understanding of sex and a bodily reality, of gender as a social manifestation of bodily sex. Biology isn’t bigotry. Every human society has been organized around a recognition that men and women are different, and modern science shows that the differences begin with our DNA and development in the womb. It is true that men and women differ among themselves, and some people have difficulty identifying with their bodily sex. But this doesn’t mean that sex is either fluid or subjective, as transgendered ideology maintains. This book is an effort to provide a nuanced view of our sexed embodiment, a balanced approach to policy issues, involving transgendered identity and gender more broadly, and a sober honest survey of the human costs of getting human nature wrong.” Continue reading →

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Wheaton College’s Victory

Posted on March 1, 2018 by pastormike

Wheaton College Victory

Here’s some good news coming from Wheaton College you probably didn’t hear about in the news the past few day. Wheaton College stands for religious liberty and won!  Thankfully, it was reported in the Federalist.

And I conclude with some bad news from the State of Washington.  I know I should end a post on the positive. In this case, the opposites are related. This really is a MUST read.  So read on. Continue reading →

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Bible Study and Devotional Helps Part 1

Posted on February 28, 2018 by pastormike

Study and devotional HelpsOne year when I was at Shepherd’s Conference, I heard Dr. MacArthur make a statement that has stuck with me. “The only time you are inherent is when you read the Scriptures.” That just really rang my doorbell.  It is the Bible that is without error and no matter how hard and long I study the Word of God, I am prone to error.  It’s not like I didn’t know that, but Dr. MacArthur’s admonition just seemed to hit home and make an indelible mark on my heart. Bible study and devotional helps go along way to keep us on track with the inerrant Word of God.

When we study the Bible and want to give the “sense” (Nehemiah 8:8) of what God is communicating, we have an obligation to give ourselves “to zealous maximum effort to impart God’s truth as completely, as clearly, and as unambiguously as possible.”[1]  This is not only true of Pastors and teachers (James 3;1), but for all us who desire to know God’s will, found in the Scriptures.  Anyone who is serious about their walk with God must be serious about the study of God’s Word. Continue reading →

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OverWhelmed

Posted on February 27, 2018 by pastormike

Genesis 50:20 (ESV) 20  As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) 21  Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

OverwhelmedThe last couple of weeks I have been studying the Providence of God for my adult Sunday school class. It wasn’t long into my research and study that thoughts and theological positions such as Molinism, Thomism, and Augustinianism gave me a headache.  In some cases (Molinism and Augustinianism were variations on the same theme).   I thought, how do I explain these competing and sometimes complementary views?  If I had a headache over such deep theological questions and views, how would I parse the nuances and separate competing views and make sense of this to those I was teaching without passing on my own headache to those in my class?  Even further, did I really understand the differing views well enough myself? Continue reading →

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Thoughts and Prayers

Posted on February 23, 2018 by pastormike

James 5:16 (ESV) 16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Proverbs 15:29 (ESV) 29  The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

thoughts and prayersThe phrase, thoughts and prayers when tragedy happens just seem to me to be a bit trite.  Don’t get me wrong, I think that prayer should be our first duty as a believer in worship and in response to a tragedy. And our “thoughts” for others in pain should lead to “effectual fervent prayer” (James 5:16).  But it just seems that the phrase has become a reflexive mantra to tragedy and I suspect that no real action in prayer has taken place.  It’s just our way of verbally empathizing with those who have just suffered great loss and pain.

Is there a reason for why I would think this way?  There sure is.  And it is the same reason so many have lashed out in unbelief and bitterness – NOTHING SEEMS TO HAPPEN! Continue reading →

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The Christian and Self-Defense Part 3

Posted on February 22, 2018 by pastormike

Luke 22:35-38 (ESV) 35  And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36  He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37  For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” 38  And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

 Exodus 22:2 (ESV) 2   If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him,

Self-defenseWhat we have seen thus far in our discussion, is that there are no passages that set forth a clear mandate for self-defense (“thou shalt defend thy self”).  Instead we have Old and New Testament passages where the use of self-defense was use and illustrated and in the case of Jesus and His disciples a clear illustration that permitted the carrying of a weapon for self-defense.

What we do need to remember, is that evil and the violence associated with evil is real.  We live in a fallen and dangerous world. It is the condition of the heart of fallen man.

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV) 9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

When man is left to his own devices, evil will always be the outcome (Romans 3:9-23).  Man is fallen, and his heart is in rebellion toward God (Romans 3:9-12) and he is a slave of sin (John 8:34; Roman 6:16-20; Titus 3:3). Evil will continue to exist until sin is ultimately done away with and Christ reigns in the “New Heaven and Earth.”  Until then, the “whole creation groans” waiting for the finishing of God’s redemptive work (Romans 8:18-24). Until that day arrives, self-defense as well as law-enforcement and military might, will be needed to prevent harm to oneself, others, and nations.  Continue reading →

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