The Post Spring Semester Update

• I managed to pull 4 A's and 1 B on my final grades. I was bummed about the B, but who's complaining? I pulled highest grade in my Hebrew final- 98!
• I started my summer semester with an intensive Theology and Ethics. I learned nothing. I am also taking History of Baptists (snore), Hermeneutics and American Christianity. Fall is still up in the air, but I'm at least taking Hebrew Exegesis. I love it!
• I am a breath away from my concealed carry license and will be purchasing a Glock 23 .40 cal in the next week : )
• The 26th-28th of May, I will be traveling to New Hampshire to interview at Trinity Baptist Church in Nashua. It is a student pastor position and I'm pretty excited for the chance. As my burden for the Boston area has grown, I now have a chance to possibly minister in a spiritually dark part of our country. I can use prayer!
• June 4-6 I will be going with the brother in law to Raleigh NC for the Advance '09 conference. John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler and Ed Stetzer will be speaking. Major Calvinists so it should be interesting : )
  
• Music has been at a lull. I've been revisiting some older albums such as Digital Underground, Velvet Revolver, Jawbone Hill, and the like. I need new music! Gaslight Anthem has been worn out by me. Recently my new songs of interest have been: Cold War Kids "Rubidoux", Coldplay "Life in Technicolor II", Coldplay "42", and Gaslight Anthem "Miles Davis and the Cool." I also did pick up the newest Diana Krall album.
  

New Calvinism Makes Time's List

Article

Interesting that this is one of the up and coming movements in the church and now its even gaining attention in a secular magazine as a movement. Reasons that I like this. One- the majority of neo-Reformed churches are committed to Scriptural teaching and the T word that most seeker-sensitive churches run from (..theology). They are committed less to the flashy service as much as they are basing their success of the Word of God. What a concept!!! Second, the conversion in a Reformed church is a big deal- not for the sake of a number, but for the sake of the commitment factor. If you're saved, its expected to show in your desire for growth. This has been treated as secondary by many megachurches. Third, a movement to this will make it more difficult to be a nominal or pretend Christian and hang around for years to be entertained. What I mean is the separation of wheat and tares and the purification of the church will become a bigger movement. Thank Goodness!

The only feelings I have that are to the negative. Some are based in the few areas I'm wrestling with theologically with predestination and limited atonement. Second, some, including my favorite Mark Driscoll, are buying into the satellite church deal. I really struggle with this as I've mentioned before due to it becoming the new face of denominations. Marketing needs to be kept in balance as well. It can't become the bigger emphasis over God doing his work. He doesn't need flashy posters and catch phrases to build his church. He's more than capable of building it on his own.

Driscoll has some additional thoughts on the article:
http://theresurgence.com/new_calvinism
http://theresurgence.com/time_magazine_new_reformed

Mark Driscoll on Nightline

VIDEO

I LOVE THIS GUY! The interview is average. I don't think it completely covers who he is and what he believes. Again they treat it as if the only thing he talks about is sex. He did one 8 week series on Song of Solomon last year and that's the one they don't seem to be able to let go of. He is currently exegeting 1 and 2 Peter and has dealt with predestination, doctrine (a TERRIFIC 10 week series last year) and many more issues.

Mark is just a dude. He's just like myself in that he's just a human answering the call of God. I have a high amount of admiration for him even if I don't see eye to eye on all issues (Calvinism). He isn't afraid to deal with doctrinal issues with his congregation and I very much appreciate that. I'm sick of surface self-help church that is plaguing our nation. It ain't about us!

GREAT Quote by Mark Driscoll on Evangelism Style

Glad to see there are others who feel the same as I. He nails what I've been saying for months.

     "In the routine model, there are two options. In the first, a notable speaker is brought in to present the gospel to a large audience and to call them to make a decision for Jesus. In the second, Christians are sent out to ask non-Christians leading questions in an effort to compel them to receive Jesus.
     In both options, the emphasis is on eliciting a swift decision for Christ without taking the time to build a friendship. In both versions, those who walk forward, stand up, raise their hand, pray a prayer, sign a card, or indicate by some other means their decisions are deemed converts and told to assimilate into churches. Whether they were truly converted is debatable, and the odds of their assimilating into churches are uncertain, unless they already have trustworthy friendships with someone in a church who can serve as a tour guide, introducing them to the language, values and systems of the church. While Scripture gives examples of the routing model, the mission model of Jesus may prove to be more faithful to God, more fruitful to lost people, and more appealing to Christians who are otherwise fearful of using drive-by evangelism techniques such as knocking on doors and street witnessing (which can feel a lot like playing Duck, Duck, Damned, a revision of the children’s game Duck, Duck, Goose).
     While these routine patterns of evangelism have proven fruitful in the past- and remain fruitful in some cultural contexts- their effectiveness is waning in the emerging American culture. There was a time when door-to-door evangelism and door-to-door business sales made sense, because many wives were home all day and husbands came home at night for dinner. This routine is no longer as effective because there are fewer stay at home wives and mothers. In addition, people’s lives are so filled with entertainment, sales pitches, advertising, self-help seminars and large emotionally moving events of various sorts that people are often unimpressed by large church events or slick Jesus sales pitches complete with the canned leading questions."

The Radical Reformission pg 65-67 (Driscoll 2004)

Update 6.23.08

Been awhile since I updated.
-I LOVE Mark Driscoll. Been listening to his Doctrine series which is fantastic. I also listened to his sermons on Birth Control, Paying a Pastor and Does God Have A Sense Of Humor. His wit is hillarious, yet at the same time the dude is deep. He is the perfect balance. He gives me hope that the modern church does have some hope amidst the Seeker Sensitive delusion.
-I survived my second intensive in Cross-Cultural Evangelism and Church Planting. It was alright. I did really well in it. I am writing my final paper for it on "Are Short Term Missions Trips, Missions Trips?" My early thoughts...no. They're ministry trips. Some are more work trips. They pass them off as though building a house is evangelistic. Its helpful, but its NOT missions. Not only that, but even my teacher from Kenya said that the locals often lay back and let the short term people do the dirty work they don't want to do.
-My kids called me on their way to camp. It was very emotional. I miss those kids so much. The girls called on Sunday and the boys tonight. I love them more than my own life. I didn't get enough time with them. I am so pleased to see what God allowed me to start and what my amazing leadership team is continuing in my absence. Only Jesus could do that. I only saught to please him and him alone, not a boss or denomination or for a speaking opportunity at NYWC. It's ALWAYS been about loving the kids. I'd give them my life it God asked me.
-Phillies were hot, now they have cooled off. I'm still pretty pleased with them. Eagles camp starts in a few weeks.
-Vacation in less than 2 weeks and I'm PUMPED! OC NJ is the one and only beach in the world. I love it. Johnson's popcorn, Fudge Kitchen, Mack and Mancos, and...oh yeah...the beach. I love the boardwalk!

Emergent Church Observations

I love Mark Driscoll. The man keeps growing on me more and more. I don't agree with everything he says (Reformed theology, church franchising, etc) but he scratches my itch. There needs to be more like him in Christendom.

In a Youtube video
1. Emerging Evangelicals: Donald Miller and the like. Still evangelically based, focus on basic theology, but turning on some of the original traditions in churches.
2. House Church Emerging: No pastor, no building, little theology, but a huge emphasis on relationships.
3. Reformed Emergent: Mark Driscoll, Covenant Life, and such. They are heavy in theology, very relevant, often charismatic. Though I don't agree with some of Reform theology or charismatics, I'm really excited about this group and the resurgence of theology.
4: Emerging Liberals: Rod Bell, Brian McLaren, and the like. Little theology, heavy on being "relevant," often liberal in politics, and emphasize social action. Seem to like to emphasize change more than truth.

I'm very concerned regarding the liberal movement. I at first was very attracted to the teaching of Rod Bell. However...after awhile (his blessed are the peacemaker episodes), I was very turned off to being different for the sake of being different and rebelling against what the church was...even the good things it was.

What I like? The emphasis on relationship in the church, the break away from Christianese, the application of the Biblical church to modern times. the second takes on certain topics. They seem to not care as much about the number of salvations as much as the number of disciples. That is HUGE to me.

I continue to do my research into this fast growing movement.