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by on 12.19.08

a scholar and a gentleman

Dr. Marshall Neil went to glory this last Tuesday. I just saw the notice on the BJU web-site.

Dr. Neal was one of my favorite professors (did I have any un-favorites? No). The two seminary classes I remember having with him were New Testament Introduction and a theology class on Pneumatology – the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. That Pneumatology class was at 8 am, MWF. Man… Dr. Neal was a fine teacher and a fine man, but his presentation was dry! I remember after that class running into him (in the presence of my future wife) and trying to make some off hand comment about how hard it was for me to stay awake that early in the morning. It was one of those comments that just didn’t come out the way you wanted it to… But Dr Neal just smiled and took it with his usual grace.

Dr. Neal had a wonderful sense of himself. Legend has it that when he was teaching Systematic Theology one time he brought an alarm clock to class and hid it in his desk, set to go off halfway through his lecture. I wish I could have been there!

He is the one who also gave that insight that Paul was a Southern Jew because he always says “you all” in the Greek. I think that one was in a Greek Bible book class, but I can’t remember which one.

I am sure there were other classes I had with him but I’ll have to look them up later. I am on the road picking up youngsters coming home from BJU for Christmas.

But I thought I’d just reminisce a bit about a fine Christian man who simply was faithful and poured his life into hundreds of young men. You have to love guys like that.

I’m sure the Lord does.

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Filed Under: Memories, Personal
by on 12.16.08

a new blog worth reading

I just came across a blog that I think will be well worth reading. It is written by none other than Jay Adams, the man who invented nouthetic counselling (or re-discovered it, maybe). He was my sister’s pastor for a number of years. I met him once. I disagree with him on some things … he’s a Presbyterian, I’m a Baptist, so…

But I have to say I have immensely profited from his writing and teaching, even if I disagree with him! He is a thinking man who loves the Bible and the Lord.

Here is a little bit of a recent blog on Elijah:

Elijah was too hard a worker to become depressed, and those who attempt to excuse their depression on the basis that even a mighty man of God like him got depressed, are missing the point. It wasn’t depression, but disappointment that you see haunting this man. Things didn’t go as he had expected—as he had planned—and he didn’t like it. That’s the problem with many of us as well. When God doesn’t do things our way, we quit, give up, or try to go our own way.

That’s good. Bracing, but good.

Anyway, add Dr. Adams to your blog reader. You won’t be disappointed.  (And you will probably disagree with him from time to time.)

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PS: This is post # 500! Will he ever shut up?

Filed Under: Blogosphere, General Interest
by on 12.16.08

from the dept. of you thought you’ve heard everything…

Now, via, the Christian Post, comes this:

The Italian city of Naples has for centuries made big profits through the sale of nativity scene figurines. It is home to some of the finest displays of the nativity scene in the world.

And each year, craftsmen in Naples come up with figurines of some of today’s best known public figures, which are often added to traditional displays.

This year, most likely to be standing alongside Mary and Joseph, or perhaps the three wise men, will be another heralded couple – the Obamas.

It’s a sad sad crazy world out there…

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Filed Under: Culture, General Interest
by on 12.14.08

12.14.08 – No services today

Here’s why:

image

That’s the Malahat at 9:15am… our people who drive over it each week for church shouldn’t take the risk, not to mention the icy streets and accumulating snow we have everywhere else.

We can be thankful that this usually only happens once a year! But we think a memo to the weatherman is in order: Here in Victoria, we don’t do snow!

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Filed Under: Sermon Summaries
by on 12.13.08

a little history on-line

For a little week-end change of pace, I offer you an historical artifact recently established and placed on-line for all to peruse.

That would be the archives of the British Colonist, forerunner to our local newspaper, Victoria’s Times-Colonist.

The British Colonist was founded in 1858 by a man formerly known as William Smith, but better known as Amor de Cosmos. That’s right … ‘lover of the universe’. British Columbia has always been a place for eccentrics.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Canada, Fun and games, General Interest, Victoria
by on 12.12.08

the mark of fundamentalism

I continue to delve into the DBTS theological journal and again commend the very first article in the first volume of the journal, The Self-Identity of Fundamentalism, by Roland McCune. I started reading the article last week. Recent ministry experiences brought the article to mind again, especially the section where Dr. McCune begins to write about the distinctive characteristic of Fundamentalism.

Militancy has been a defining characteristic of fundamentalism from the beginning. On that there is near unanimity of opinion.

Roland McCune, Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal Volume 1, 1:22 (Detroit Baptist Seminary, 1996; 2003).

This really is true. Fundamentalists declare it, their opponents discern and disparage it. I suppose that the opponents misunderstand it, but they do see it as perhaps the distinguishing mark of Fundamentalism.

Before we go further, perhaps a more thorough definition of militancy might help.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Fundamentalism, Issues
by on 12.9.08

the perils of the naive

Jeff Straub publishes a report on the ETS proceedings concerning the late attempt at tightening up the ETS doctrinal basis. His report, especially the last four paragraphs, provide interesting reading.

The Vote—The final business meeting came early Friday morning. The final issue on the agenda was this vote which was placed before the membership. Less than 5 percent of the society’s 4,600-plus members attended the business meeting, but the constitution specifies that such an amendment requires an affirmation from 80% of those attending the business meeting, not of ETS as a whole. A standing vote took place, and 46 of the 177 members who voted favored the amendment. Apparently, people who attended the business meeting simply abstained. Immediately after the vote, ETS secretary-treasurer James Borland moved to adjourn. President Bullock accepted the motion with a second, despite loud objections. He then put the motion to the gathered members. Over the voices of more noisy protests, the motion carried and the meeting was adjourned. Members quickly filed out of the hall.

Several members approached the platform to question President Bullock’s speedy closing of the meeting. Grudem, among others, was frustrated that his planned proposal was preempted. Bullock explained to those gathered around him on the platform that had the vote been stronger, he would have allowed for the Grudem motion. Since, in his opinion, there was a weak showing to the amendment, he felt justified in closing the meeting. Other members of the executive committee seemingly were caught off guard. It was an unexpected and disappointing conclusion.

If the ETS follows Robert’s Rules of Order, a motion to adjourn cannot be debated, it is a privileged motion. Since this is so, the abrupt ending without debate was legitimate under the rules of order, but it also was clearly a power play on the part of quicker witted opponents of doctrinal amendment.

Should we be surprised? It is ever thus!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: ETS, Issues
by on 12.7.08

12.7.08 gbcvic sermons

Let There be Light (Gen 1.1-5)

From our “Moravian star” Christmas theme:

Of course we are talking in our passage about our natural, material universe, but light and darkness are emblematic of spiritual themes, not only in the Bible but in the consciousness of man. Thus we see these themes recurring in other religions as well, albeit corrupted as all false religions are.

It is only as we consider the theme of light in the Bible that we really understand it properly.

But more than mere understanding, I am going to submit to you that the theme of light and your personal relationship to it, as well as the Biblical presentation of it, speaks very loudly to man’s absolute need of and dependence on God.

A Biographical Sketch of Count Zinzendorf

From our “Moravian star” Christmas theme:

One of the most fascinating stories of Church History (among many) is the story of Count Zinzendorf.

The apostle Paul said:

KJV 1 Corinthians 1:26 ¶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

Count Zinzendorf and a few others are very thankful that the apostle didn’t say: “not any” — he just said “not many.”

So today for our study time I’d like to give you a bit more detail concerning the life of Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf.

The Days of Her Purification (Lev 12)

In our context, this part of the Bible seems utterly foreign to us. We read through it, if we are in the habit of reading through our Bibles, because it’s there, not because we derive great insight and blessing or instruction from it.

  • Isn’t that true?

My goal in preaching through these passages is to help you discover what God was saying to Israel through this ‘enacted spirituality’, these visible, physical pictures of an inner, spiritual reality. I want you to get this principle:

The externals of Judaism embody the internals of Theism.

~~~

Our messages today were all blessings to me, I hope they were to our people. I am especially enjoying our communion series in Leviticus, it is a fascinating book. Our morning message also stirred us as we considered how Light brings life, how man sinned in the light and against the light, and how our Lord Jesus, the Light of the World gives us life out of darkness once again.

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Filed Under: Sermon Summaries
by on 12.6.08

from the wayback machine

I had someone request the audio from some messages I preached four years ago on the subject of Christian music. They are now posted on our church site, I thought I would make the links available here also.

First, an article on our church site that introduces our music philosophy.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Issues, Music, Sermon Summaries
by on 12.6.08

who said it?

Can you identify the source of this quote? What about the date and publication?

Today, fundamentalism is said to be in an identity crisis. It is allegedly trying to discover what it is. New self-definitions are being heard which say that a fundamentalist is one who is faithful to expository preaching, practices church discipline, repudiates easy believism, and is aggressive in evangelism. Or some imply that a fundamentalist is one who believes in inerrancy and does not cooperate with Roman Catholics, or is one who believes the “fundamentals” but is less militant and separatistic than formerly thought. The truth is that these are things that new evangelicals and self-proclaimed non-fundamentalists also believe and practice, leaving a distinctly fundamentalist self-identity completely vacuous. This all points up the fact that many are simply confused, and this includes would-be leaders as well as followers and well-wishers. Judging by some of the prevalent ambiguity, one is sometimes tempted to ask, Will the real fundamentalist please stand up?

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Filed Under: Fundamentalism, Issues, Quotables
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