GracePoint in Outreach Magazine

A few months ago an editor from Outreach Magazine was on the web looking for churches who were finding innovative ways to serve abroad. Somehow, he landed on GracePoint's website and our our Moldova project. He contacted Steve, asking if they could do a write up on us. Colleen Young gave him all the info and now we're published! The article is in their current September/October issue. Here is the text from the article:

"Traveling out of the Moldovan capital of Chisinau is like going back in time as paved roads give way to dirt, and shacks pass for homes. Two hours outside the city, one of many orphanages in this, Europe's poorest nation, is home to 100 children.

"Living a modest existence there—where showers are rusty and moldy and children use an outhouse because the bathroom is broken—the kids know when visitors from an American church arrive and run to
greet them.

"These kids have nothing," says Colleen Young, a member of the outreach team at GraccPoint Community Church (GracePointne.org) in North Andover, Mass., who visited the orphanage in January. Providing necessities and spiritual hope to the orphanage in Tocuz, Moldova, has become an outreach mission for the congregation of 100.

"Since its inception almost three years ago, GracePoint has partnered with missions agency Little Samaritan Mission (LittleSamaritan.org) to support orphans throughout Moldova. In the last two years, the church has focused on helping the orphans in Tocuz. One year, church
members filled backpacks with school supplies and other items. Most recently, the congregation stuffed clear plastic bags with gifts like flashlights, toothpaste and new winter coats. One church member donated a new pair of sunglasses for each child.

"'The kids loved them,' says Young, one of five GracePoint congregants who traveled to Moldova this year. 'They had never had sunglasses before.'

"The congregation also plans to pay for repairs on the bathrooms and showers. While the children cherish the gifts they receive, GracePoint's team intends to show them the love of Christ—not just be the 'Americans who bring things and leave,' Young explains. During their visit, the team played games with the children, studied the Bible, and prayed with and talked to them about reaching out to God when they feel alone. Back home, GracePoint members pray for the kids daily.

"'It is a country where the people feel forgotten, and having the love and peace of Christ will change their lives,' Young says."

A Quote on Difference Making

“You don't have to know a lot of things to make a huge difference for the Lord in the world. But you do have to know a few things that are great, and be willing to live for them and die for them. People who make a difference in the world are not people who have mastered a lot of things. They are people who have been mastered by a very few things that are very, very great. If you want your life to count, you don't have to have a high IQ; you don’t have to have a high EQ; you don't have to be smart, you don’t have to have good looks; you don't have to come from a good family or a good school. You just have to know a few basic, simple, glorious, majestic, obvious, unchanging, eternal things and be gripped by them and be willing to lay down your life for them, which is why anybody in this crowd can make a world-wide difference. Because it isn’t you, it is what you’re gripped with.”

-John Piper, transcribed from the audio of "Boasting Only in the Cross"

Every Member a Theologian

Thabiti Anyabwile answers the question, Why is being a theologian important for the average church member? Don’t we have seminary professors for that stuff?

"We love seminary professors, and are thankful for the gift that they are to the body of Christ. But theology is knowledge of God, and no professor can or should be asked to take our place in the privilege of knowing and savoring God! The great joy of Christianity is that we are actually brought into saving and everlasting knowledge of the marvelous Creator of all things. That knowledge of Him is “theology.”

"We’re all theologians. We’re either good or bad, hungry or lazy, grudging or joyful, accurate or sloppy theologians. But we are theologians. And I hope Healthy Member encourages the average Christian to not be afraid of the word “theologian,” to embrace it as their new birthright, and to take some practical steps in deepening their knowledge of God. For it’s as we know God more deeply, that our daily lives are changed more radically."

I would only add that every member is a theologian because even scholars and seminary professors are susceptible to fallibility. We should never look to any theologian or scholar or professor as distributors of perfect, truth. Our only guide should be the Bible. Acts 17:11: "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."

Thabiti Anyabwile has written a book called, What is a Healthy Church Member? I look forward to picking it up.

What is Real?

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. My mind keeps on racing toward the existential question, "What is real?" Mostly, I keep telling myself that this is all a hoax. Though it sounds like I am wrong.

Consumerism: It's Ok

"We are a nation of consumers, and there is nothing wrong with that."

-From a Discover Card commercial

Mr. Bean Goes to Church

Interestingly, this bit was written by a guy named Richard Curtis, who also wrote the screenplays for Knotting Hill, Bridget Jones, and, my favorite, A Girl in the Café. Curtis has also raised over a billion dollars for poverty and disease relief.

Are You an Activist or a Contemplative?

Mark Driscoll writes:

Which Are You?
The key is to discover whether you are more naturally a contemplative or an activist and then work on your area of weakness. In my years as a pastor I have found that most of us lean heavily toward the contemplative or the active disciplines at the expense of the other. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for people to read about Jesus in their Bible and only see His contemplative or activist scenes at the expense of seeing the healthy tension that Jesus lived in. As a result, when a contemplative thinks of Jesus they are prone to imagine Him sitting alone in the wilderness and silently reading Scripture and praying. Conversely, when an activist thinks of Jesus they are prone to imagine Him performing miracles, preaching, and casting out demons, never sitting down or taking a day off. The truth is that Jesus practiced every contemplative discipline and every active discipline (with the exception of lovemaking). To follow in His example means we must follow in His entire example.

Active Disciplines
Study
Fellowship
Speaking
Teaching
Activism
Work
Lovemaking
Evangelism
Service
Feasting

Contemplative Disciplines
Solitude
Silence
Meditation
Prayer
Sabbath
Chastity
Worship
Journaling
Fasting

Def: Credobaptism

Latin, credo “believe”

The belief that baptism should only be administered to those who are believers. According to credobaptists, baptism is a visible outward sign of confession, ordain by Christ in the great commission. Because it is a sign of belief, credobaptist do not practice infant or padeobaptism since an infants cannot believe. While the majority of church history practiced padeobaptism as a sign of the covenant, padeobaptist argue that the baptism of infants is unbiblical sighting examples in Scripture which, according to the credobaptist, limit baptism to believers.

For more information on credobaptism, see here.

This is also the view of GracePoint.

From: Theological Word of the Day

Fill-In Dad

From Anthony Bradley:

"Where is Michael Phelps' dad? Phelps' dad left him and his sisters when he was seven. One of his sister's tells that she would swim in the pool to escape the yelling and fighting between her mom and her dad.

"When Phelps was 11 he met Bob Bowman and the two have been together ever since. In the absence of his father, Bob Bowman became the man to offer Phelps what all boys need and no woman can provide: masculine validation and blessing from an older man to a younger one. It makes so much sense. Even with an absent father and being a child of a painful divorce, Bowman stepped in during a crucial point in Phelps' stage of development and bestowed upon him exactly what he needed."

Too Much Time on Your Hands

HT: Neatorama

8

In his pursuit of 8 gold medals, Phelps' best races by far were this one, and this one.

Salon on Rick Warren

Read the interesting article on Warren here.

On Wasting Your LIfe

"People often ask us why in the world we would waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they, too, are investing their lives. And when the bubble has burst they will have nothing to show
for the years they have wasted."

- Nate Saint, shortly before he was killed in the jungles of Ecuador by the people group he was trying to serve

HT: Z

More on Zion Bible College

Maybe I am the only one who thinks this is interesting.

Zion Bible College has moved in and will, amazingly, begin classes on August 26th. Read the whole story here.

I Got Something Wrong

Someone asked me a really good question this morning after my sermon. And after looking at it, I discovered I got something wrong.

Her question was, why did the master affirm to the wicked servant in verse 26 that he had harvested where he had not sown and gathered where he had not scattered seed? Doesn't that make the master out to be a bad guy? What I missed was that this was sarcasm. The master uses the words of the servant against him. In essence, the master is saying, "Oh, so you think that I am a cheat and stealer? I see how you think of me." He finishes this up with the sarcasm and indictment in verse 27: "Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest." The actions of the servant reflect his wickedness, not the master's. Had he really believed what he said, he would have given the money to the bankers. I missed that.

Nevertheless, the point is the same. If you have a wrong view of God, you won't serve him. This only bolsters that point.

Go With the Flow

HT: Neatorama

Are Christians Still Persecuted in China?

Randy Alcorn answers this question here. The short answer? Yes.

Mark Driscoll on Harsh Language

A Quote on What Everybody Wants

"The desire for happiness is not in myself alone or in a few friends, but is found in everybody. If we did not know this with certain knowledge, we would not want it with determination in our will. But what does this mean?

"If two people are asked if they want to serve in the army, it may turn out that one of them replies that he would like to do so, while the other would not. But if they are asked whether they would like to be happy, each would at once say without the least hesitation that he would choose to be so. And the reason why one would wish to be a soldier and the other would not is only that they want to be happy. Is it then the case that one person finds joy in one way, another in a different way?

"What all agree upon is that they want to be happy, just as they would concur, if asked, that they want to experience joy and would call that joy the happy life. If one person pursues it in one way, and another in a different way, yet there is one goal which all are striving to attain, namely to experience joy."

St. Augustine, Confessions, 198.

Sara Groves et al

My absolute favorite "Christian" artists are coming to Massachusetts!! This is pretty rare as Mass natives are more likely to attend a band composed of rhinos than Christians. Oh well. I'll take it any way I can get it. The tour is called Art-Music-Justice with Sara Groves, Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken and others. October 5th at Gordon College. Let me know if you want to go!!

Watching TBN So You Don't Have To

Goodness, not me. This guy.

Colbert's Christian One Liner's

Over at the Stephen Colbert web page, there is something called a "Religionizer" that picks a religion for you if you are looking for one. Here are the jokes that come with Christianity:

Sweet! More Bible!
Warning: Stigmata not covered by HMO.
Pro: Salvation. Con: N/A
Jesus died for your sins, so you kind of owe him.
You’re now only 60% likely to burn in Hell.
Start planning your Rapture party now!
Admit it: it feels good to be right.
Jesus is now officially your co-pilot.
Feeling guilty? Get used to it.
Walking on the beach just got a whole lot easier.

HT: Think Christian

Ten Commandments of Email

From the Peacemaker Ministries Blog, the 10 Commandments for Email Communication:

1. Confirm that you are interpreting facts accurately to guard against emailing interpretations of the facts that others might find unfair or untrue. (Heed the 9^th Commandment; see, e.g., Exodus 23:1, Ephesians 4:25.)
2. If you have doubts about facts, meet with wise counselors and/or the potential reader(s) of your email to find spirit-led words for communicating the message concerning disputable facts or questionable motives. (Keep in step with the Spirit and do not provoke; see, e.g., Galatians 5:25-26. Be like Jesus and try to understand the temptations that caused the listener to do that which offended you; see, e.g., Hebrews 2:17-18. Do not impugn motives; see, e.g., 1 Corinthians 4:5)
3. Do not copy others on emails unless you are certain that the email is true, fair, and necessary. Be especially careful not to blind copy emails to people who might form judgments based on incomplete information or emotionally-charged statements. (Do not sow discord; see, e.g., Proverbs 6:19.)
4. Do not send emails with negative policy directives unless earnest efforts have been made to discuss the directives in person and each negative directive points to a positive alternative. (Follow the example of our Lord, who always showed positive alternatives. Use affirming language; see, e.g., Ephesians 4:29, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:25, etc.)
5. Exercise care when using email to develop or mandate new policies regarding emotionally-charged issues. (See how Paul empathized with the target of his communications, as in the book of Philemon, before suggesting solutions. Think before you write; see, e.g., 1 Corinthians 14:20. Focus on issues rather than people; see, e.g., Titus 2:7-8)
6. If responding to a negative email, keep emails brief and gentle. (Be quick to listen and slow to speak; see, e.g., James 1:19. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger; see, e.g., Proverbs 15:1)
7. Do not assume that the person reading your email knows that you trust, respect, and value (at least some things about) him or her. (If you are writing about a negative issue, heed the wisdom of Apostles Paul and Peter who start letters about even the most egregious sins with warm and affirming language.)
8. Pray for wisdom about using logic to base your position on spiritual truths expressed with spiritual words. (See, e.g., John 1:1, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 Peter 4:11.)
9. If you send an email with incorrect information or information sent to the wrong person, make a Biblical apology. (See http://covenant.net/Articles/Confession.mht and the related verses in Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:8-9, Luke 15:11-24, Luke 19:1-9, and Eph. 4:22-32.)
10. Practice the Golden Rule. Ask how you would feel if receiving the types of emails that you send to others. Seek to uphold email standards that, if practiced by everyone in the Christian community, would show a desire to maintain the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. (See, e.g., Ephesians 4:3 and Matthew 7:12.)

Dark Knight

Ray Ortlund, upon viewing the movie The Dark Knight:

Visually stimulating. Technologically impressive. Hollywood has fast-forwarded a gazillion years since my favorite films by Steve McQueen and John Wayne. But peel off the layers of glittering presentation, and what's actually there? A ripping good yarn. I grant that. But not much else. In fact, it comes down to a lie of human idealization being passed off on the public because they're supposed to be better off thinking the lie. That violates everything I believe. I learned nothing. I was not enriched in any way.

Immanuel Church cannot compete with Hollywood in terms of raw momentary impact. No church can. But that's one of the great things about church. It can be real. It can be entry-level discovery, for anyone, of the Lovely One who will amaze us forever.

I'm weary with the world's disappointing stimulants. I want more of Christ.

Though I reacted negatively at first to this "review," I can't help but think he's at least partially right. I often wonder if my sensibilities are not as offended at entertainment as they should be. Yes, we should engage the culture in order that we bring people to Christ. But where is the line? Unholy means never justify the glorious end when it comes to the gospel. Our actions must be a direct reflection of the gospel, not only a way to it. I suspect that we (read: I) do things in the name of cultural engagement and gospel witness when we are really only getting a pleasure fix. Though Ray's piece might be an overstatement, we should not avoid the basic teaching.

HT: JT

Def: Inspiration

(Latin in-, “in” + Latin spirare, “to breathe”)

The doctrine relating to the divine origin of Scripture, that it is a joint product of God and man. “Scripture is not only man’s word, but also, and equally God’s word, spoken through man’s lips or written with man’s pen” (J. I. Packer, The Origin of the Bible). The term comes from the Latin translation, and some English translations (esp. KJV), of the Greek theopneustos, found in 2 Tim. 3:16. Though the English connotes a “breathing in,” both the Latin and Greek imply a “breathing out,” specifically from God to the human authors.

For more on the history of this doctrine, see here.

From: Theological Word of the Day

"The Best Relay Race Ever"

I hope a few of you stayed up to watch the 400m men's relay race last night. Unbelievable. There are only a few other sports moments I have watched live that were amazing as that. I DVRed it and have watched it at least 15 times.

Watch the clip here. Also, there's a great article on it here. The Olympics rule.

Shepard Scale

After listening to this, you might just consider yourself insane:



HT: Neatorama

8/08/2008, 8:08, 8lbs. 8oz.

Fun story here.

A Quote on the Gospel and You

"Do you delight more in the fact that God makes much of you in the Gospel or that the Gospel frees you to make much of God?"

-John Piper

Steven Curtis Chapman on Adoption

Steve Curtis Chapman wrote an editorial at CNN on adoption. It is beautiful and pointed. He writes:

"Caring for these children is not the job of governments or institutions; instead, it is the job of families, people and communities. As Christians, our compassion is simply a response to the love that God has already shown us. Mother Teresa would constantly remind those who worked with her that the Bible clearly teaches that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Jesus. So in a very real sense, caring for orphans is a chance to meet the person of Jesus in 'the guise of human suffering.' This is an invitation from the heart of God to know him and to experience his love."

He concludes:

"If only 7 percent of the 2 billion Christians in the world would care for a single orphan in distress, there would effectively be no more orphans. If everybody would be willing to simply do something to care for one of these precious treasures, I think we would be amazed by just how much we could change the world.

"We can each do something, whether it is donating, adopting, fostering, mentoring, visiting orphans or supporting families that have taken in orphans. You can change the world for an orphan."

Read the whole thing.

Lightning in Slow Motion

HT: Neatorama

The Chapman Family on Larry King

I posted the first segment below. To see the interview in it's entirety, Justin Taylor has embedded all the You Tube videos on his blog here. Though tremendously hard to watch, the faith the family proclaims is well worth seeing and learning from.

Def: Ordo Salutis

(Latin, “order of salvation”)

Refers to the successive order of events in the process or event of salvation. This order includes necessities such as predestination, regeneration, faith, justification, repentance, atonement, and glorification. Depending on ones particular stance on theological issues having to do with salvation, he or she will see these events in differing successions. For example, the Calvinist would normally place regeneration before faith in their ordo, while the Arminian would see regeneration as a result of faith. The Roman Catholic would see justification as an event and a process that takes place throughout the Christian’s life, while Protestants would see justification as a definite event resulting from faith. Therefore, the Roman Catholic and Protestant ordo would differ respectively.

From Theological Word of the Day

When Theologians Disagree

Check out this informative post from Justin Taylor, answering the question, "What if two theologians I respect disagree about Scripture’s meaning?" He writes:

"The answer to this is virtually the same as if the question had been, “What if two theologians I respect agree about Scripture’s meaning?” In either scenario, the proper response is to imitate the “noble Bereans” of Acts 17. These were Jews who listened to Paul and Silas proclaim God’s Word in their synagogue. We are told that “they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” In other words, they combined eager reception of teaching along with daily inspection to see if they were hearing was true.

"The fact that godly theologians, whom we admire, disagree on certain issues is not something that we should receive as a threat to our confidence, but rather we should view it as an invitation to carefully and prayerfully think. Take time to ask questions about what you are hearing or readings: What are the claims being made? What are the arguments? What are the assumptions? What are the implications? What are the relevant Bible passages?

"In 2 Timothy 2:7, Paul gives Timothy a command (“Think over what I say”), followed by a reason that is also a promise (“for the Lord will give you understanding in everything”). And James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom [if you have a pulse, then you fit in this category!], let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” So whether your favorite theologians agree or disagree, if you want to decide what you believe and to have wise understanding, then the biblical pattern is to ask, to think, and to believe. God will hear your prayer, bless your efforts, and give you help."

Chapman Family on GMA

A(nother) Quote on Hell

"There seems to be a kind of conspiracy, especially among middle-aged writers of vaguely liberal tendency, to forget, or to conceal, where the doctrine of Hell comes from. One finds frequent references to the 'cruel and abominable mediaeval doctrine of hell,' or "the childish and grotesque mediaeval imagery of physical fire and worms...

"But the case is quite otherwise; let us face the facts. The doctrine of hell is not 'mediaeval': it is Christ's. It is not a device of 'mediaeval priestcraft' for frightening people into giving money to the church: it is Christ's deliberate judgment on sin. The imagery of the undying worm and the unquenchable fire derives, not from 'mediaeval superstition,' but originally from the Prophet Isaiah, and it was Christ who emphatically used it.... It confronts us in the oldest and least 'edited' of the gospels: it is explicit in many of the most familiar parables and implicit in many more: it bulks far larger in the teaching than one realizes, until one reads the Evangelists through instead of picking out the most comfortable texts: one cannot get rid of it without tearing the New Testament to tatters. We cannot repudiate Hell without altogether repudiating Christ."

- Dorothy Sayers, in A Matter of Eternity, p. 86