Posts Tagged spirituality
Truth Tuesdays-This is True
Posted by Randall W. Ross in Conferences, Events, History, Leadership Issues, Resources, Teaching, The Present, Theology on August 18, 2009
This message by Paul Washer, though lengthy, is worth watching. This has impacted me in so many ways I can’t even begin to unfold it. I pray that God will use it to speak to you as well.
The Ten Indictments of the Modern Church:
1. A practical denial of the sufficiency of Scripture
2. An ignorance of God
3. A failure to address man’s malady
4. An ignorance of the gospel of Jesus Christ
5. An ignorance of the doctrine of regeneration
6. An unbiblical gospel invitation
7. Ignorance regarding the nature of the Church
8. A lack of loving and compassionate Church discipline
9. Psychology and sociology have replaced the Scriptures with regard to the family
10. The Emergent Church , Church growth, and cultural sensitivity
You can get the full transcript HERE:
Web Wednesday-Freight Train Named Desire
Posted by Randall W. Ross in Media Critique, Personal Connections, Resources, Teaching, Theology, Web Resources on August 5, 2009
One of my favorite websites to is desiringGod.org. This online resource features the ministry of John Piper, the pastor, author and theologian. His church, Bethlehem Baptist, is in the midwestern mecca of Minneapolis, MN. The same city is home to Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion, the famous Mall of America, and a wonderful collection of Craftsman Style homes. I’ve never been there, but I always wanted to. I finally now live close enough for it to be an easy possibility.
What you will find through Desiring God is nearly endless. It seems like I discover something new each time I visit the site. There are years of archived sermons, taste and see articles (blog), and various other print and media resources.
My new favorite is the Ask Pastor John series. This is a short format Q & A with John Piper. With new episodes released three times a week (Mon, Wed, and Fri) and featuring one question and answer at a time, it is a quick way to get something to think about or discuss with your family or friends.
Here is a recent example:
Additionally, the database is searchable. If you have a particular issue, topic, doctrine, date, Scripture passage, etc. that you are interested in, a quick search will lead you to a variety of helpful options.
One more thing to mention is the availability of free books. Many of John Piper’s books are available as a downloadable PDF file. It is easy to read on your computer or digital reader (kindle) or you can print a copy and share it with others. You can do this as much as you want as long as you don’t alter the content or charge for it.
Something that rings true in what you will find at desiringGod.org is the organization’s purpose: to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.
What you find at this website is a freight train full of resources, encouragement, and thought provoking questions and material that is fueled by the surpassing joy of Christ. This train is moving, full steam ahead for the city of God’s Glory. Hop on board and benefit from what is here. Find it to be true that…
God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.
Think Thursday- What Do You Think?
Posted by Randall W. Ross in Teaching, Theology, Thoughts and Reflections on July 30, 2009
With this first week of posts, I’m just trying to establish what to expect. I am excited to be writing on these different areas on a regular basis, and I hope it becomes a joy to read them.
So what will Think Thursday be all about?
In 1 Timothy, Paul challenges his young protege to keep sharp and trained in the way and the content of his thoughts. The defense of the Gospel against false teachers and false beliefs was of immense importance. The culture of Timothy’s day and the culture we find ourselves in are very much the same. People in the dark. like staying in the dark. People in the light (the Good News in Christ Jesus), want to shine and treasure that light in the face of the darkness. The advice to Timothy is something we need to hear as well:
If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness…Keep a close watch on yourself and the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:6-7, 16
We need to be trained and we need to be watchful of our lives and our doctrine. We need to think about it. We need to have clear in our minds what we believe, why we believe it, and what implications it has on everything.
This is not just for knowledge to store in our brains, this is knowledge that transforms.
I want these posts on Thursday to ask the question, What do you think?… Do you know what you believe? Do you have solid Biblical understanding as to why? Do you see the implications of your life and doctrine? I will pursue this by asking the questions of myself and sharing my answers.
God wants us to be concerned about our thinking and our doctrine. It matters…not for being right or self-righteous…but for rightly knowing Him and seeing what he desires of us. We need to be self-reflective and willing to learn. Growth will be a result. True unity will be a result as well.
So many say that doctrine divides. This is true. However, doctrine should be what unites us in our gospel communities. We may find that God, and our understanding of Him, separates us from others in this world. We should not think that is a problem. It is inevitable. Yet, we are also taught that we shouldn’t be satisfied with the separation, but try with all our might and minds to see others join us. The goal is not peace among all peoples and beliefs….but peace among all who are in Christ.
This Article by Tim Challies helps us here. We need to see that teaching and understanding doctrine is a ministry of unity.
Whereas Tuesday will be more about the Bible and the Truth therein, Thursday will be about the application of that truth in our minds and lives.
Lost in the Message of Coldplay
Posted by Randall W. Ross in Media Critique, Music, Non-Christian on December 15, 2008
Just because I’m losing
Doesn’t mean I’m lost
Doesn’t mean I’ll stop
Doesn’t mean I will cross
Just because I’m hurting
Doesn’t mean I’m hurt
Doesn’t mean I didn’t get what I deserve
No better and no worse
I just got lost
Every river that I’ve tried to cross
And every door I ever tried was locked
Ooh-Oh, And I’m just waiting till the shine wears off…
You might be a big fish
In a little pond
Doesn’t mean you’ve won
‘Cause along may come
A bigger one
And you’ll be lost
Every river that you try to cross
Every gun you ever held went off
Ooh-Oh, And I’m just waiting till the firing stops
Ooh-Oh, And I’m just waiting till the shine wears off
Ooh-Oh, And I’m just waiting till the shine wears off
I guess I just don’t get it. You could say that I’m “lost” in the effort to find meaning in these lyrics. It seems like one day someone said the word…lost…and someone else said…”hey that could be a song.” Then they just filled up the empty space with some dramatic and thought confusing words. There’s the metaphor of the “shine” and how it “wears off”…what’s that all about? And what is the significance of the gun going off in his hand? If you watch the music video…at this part of the song everyone cheers….but for what? What is so compelling about disconnected word pictures?
I like Coldplay…don’t get me wrong. They’re a good band…talented guys with a great sound…if you’re into the whole emotive…dreamy…stadium experience. But I think they could’ve done a better job with this one. It is a good sounding song…but when you try to really hear what they’re saying in it, I am left scratching my head.
Any help out there…I’m lost.
