Abraham's Plight

How delightful was the newborn babe,
the child of promise had arrived,
the cherished birth of their old age,
the hope of all mankind survived.

He grew in strength and became a lad,
the apple of his parents eyes,
the first full son they'd ever had,
no good to him would be denied.

But then an awful command was given,
the word from up above,
offer him up to God in heaven,
your son the one you love!

Why would God take our son?
why must he now die?
Why would he take the one we love?
Why? was their heart's cry.

How could he be the hope for all,
How could God's word come true,
Abraham believed God the LORD,
and He knew just what he had to do.

The knife raised high into the air,
the lad with fear filled eyes,
the Voice from heaven stopped his hand,
God would provide the sacrifice!

Joyful tears flowed full and fell,
the boy would keep his life,
and so the hope remained alive,
the hope that points to Christ!

Crossroads Bible Studies Underway!

Four lovely couples are gathering together with us to study The Stranger , an overview of the message of the Bible. We are having a wonderful time and learning much together. So far we have covered an overview of who God is according to the Bible, Creation, and the Fall of Mankind. At this point the picture looks pretty dark. The all powerful, all knowing, everywhere present, infinite, eternal God has created the heavens and the earth and has set mankind into the Garden to know Him and to love Him and to serve Him and to represent Him on earth, but mankind has rebelled against their all good creator following Lucifer in their pride. God will bring about the sentence of death for man--but there is hope--the seed of the Woman... Stay tuned!

Come and join us at 6pm on Sunday nights in Suamico! Email me if you wish to be a part of this. caleb@bethelgb.org

Exciting New Bible Study In Howard-Suamico!

You’re Invited!

If you live in the Howard-Suamico area of Wisconsin, please consider joining us for a Dessert Fellowship in Howard on Sunday, September 13th at
6:00 O’clock in the evening.

The purpose of this gathering is to tell you about a Bible study that will be held weekly in the coming months. Bible teacher Caleb Azure is looking forward to meeting you and will explain the details concerning the study as well as
answer questions that you may have.

The future Bible study will be based on the book The Stranger On The Road To Emmaus by John R. Cross. The book is about the “big picture” message of the Bible.

We are tenatively planning to hold Bible studies every Sunday at 6:00pm in the Howard-Suamico area beggining on September 20th.

For more information contact Caleb: caleb@bethelgb.org

Velvet Elvis Chapter 6 "New": Nauseating Evil Words

I'm sorry, but I have to call it how it is. As a preacher of the pure word of God and as a defender of sound doctrine, I was truly nauseated as I read chapter 6. Bell starts out with recalling how frustrated he was as he spoke to someone who was trying to deal with their sin. After that he presented what seemed to be on the surface a presentation of the Christian's Holy position in Christ. The doctrines of substitutionary atonement, imputed righteousness, and positional sanctification in Christ are surely worth rejoicing about. However, Bell subverts these doctrines and makes them something far less than biblical.

First off, essentially what Bell advocates is that because we have died with Christ and the old man has been destroyed we should be overly concerned with getting rid of sin. Instead we should try to live in the light of who were are in Christ. The only trouble with this is that it goes against about 50% of the NT teaching. Christ did teach in the Sermon on the mountain that human righteousness is useless. However, he one must see himself as poor in spirit or devoid of spiritual good, one must mourn over their sin, one must have a meek attitude about themselves, one must hunger for righteousness, these are the ones who enter heaven, find comfort, inherit the earth, ans find satisfaction. The writers of scripture certainly want us to consider our position in Christ: If we have repented (turned from rebellion against God) and trusted Christ (put our whole faith and trust in His person and work for our salvation)then we are righteous in Christ and acceptable before God. But it is this very teaching that causes the writers of the New Testament to encourage believers again and against to walk worthy of this, to be Holy, to put off sin and put on righteousness. God wants us to root out sin in our lives. He wants us to do it in the power of His word and His Spirit and not in a fleshly legalistic way. 1 John 1:9 tells us that believers as a habit of life confess their sin and find forgiveness.

Second, and even more dangerously Bell advocates universalism: the view that all are saved because of the death of Christ on the cross because of sinners. This is "another gospel". This is very serious indeed (Gal. 1:6-8). Bell misinterprets Christ's statement "If I am lifted up I will draw all men to myself." He says that this means that "All People. Everywhere. Everybodies' sins on the cross with Jesus." He says that, "...this reality of forgiveness, this reconciliation, is true for everybody." He goes on to say that all people need to do is realize that Christ has already forgiven them and just let God write their story instead of writing it themselves. This sounds good on the surface, but what is left out here is a clear understanding of God's holiness, man's sinfulness, the response of repentance and faith, and genuine followhship of Christ: constantly putting of sin and putting on righteousness through the grace of Christ. Paul said in Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." Peter called the people to repent at Pentecost. John says in 1 John 5:1 that those who are born of God confess that Jesus is the Christ! Christ's sacrifice is only applied to those who turn from their sin and begin actively trusting in Christ and His finished work for their salvation. Anything less is a false gospel.
Third Bell replaces that Biblical idea of a real heaven and Hell with an idea of only heaven and hell on earth. No time to even go here--but this is obviously wrong. Here are some texts to look at (Matt. 5:22-30; Mt. 10:28;2 Pet. 2:1-17; Rev. 21:8)
In the end Bell reverts to the old liberal social gospel. There is nothing new here. He equates the true gospel with social reform. We do certainly want to care for the poor and needy, but the best way to do that is to give them the true gospel not a false one. Then we also want to provide physical care as well. We cannot replace true Christianity and the true gospel with a false gospel of simple social action.

Jude 17-25 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.NASB95

Rob Bell is a Master Deceiver: Yes a Wolf

I have taken a long break from reading Velvet Elvis , but now I am back in it again. As I read "movement" five: "Dust." I was struck by the fact that Rob Bell is a false teacher and as such must be clearly named as one. Jesus promised that there would be wolves (Matt. 7:15), Paul and Peter affirmed it (Acts 20:29; 2 Pet. 2:1)and they were there in the early church and they are here now. Rob Bell is one of them. How can I say that? Well in this movement Rob Bell very cleverly draws a person in by wowing them with Rabbinical backgrounds and then takes these thoughts and makes Jesus say exactly the opposite of what He actually says in scripture which is our only absolutely true source of information! Essentially he lays out the basics of how Jewish education works and how ones graduates to become a student of a Rabbi and then a Rabbi. He talks about how most Jews didn't make the cut. He says that because the Galilean disciples, Peter, Andrew, James and John, were fisherman that it shows that they didn't make the cut. According to Bell, the way that a Rabbi would tell you that you had made the cut was to say "Follow Me." So he says that when Jesus said follow me to the disciples what he was saying was that they were good enough to make the cut. Bell says that Jesus believed that they could be like Him. He ends the chapter by saying this: "God has an incredibly high view of people. God believes that people are capable of doing amazing things. I have been told that I need to believe in Jesus. Which is a good thing. But what I am learning is that Jesus believes in me. I have been told that I need to have faith in God. Which is a good thing. But what I am learning is that God has faith in me." What Bell has done here is to absolutely pervert the message of scripture. He forces his interpretation of Rabbinical backgrounds into the New Testament scripture and comes up with a fanciful interpretation of what Jesus is trying to do. Why not just let scripture speak for itself by dealing with Jesus' words in their context. Then the message of scripture would not be perverted. Jesus did not believe in the goodness of man, he believed in the goodness of God. He did not put His trust in men, He put His Spirit in them to turn them away from self trust and to trust in God. In the context of Christ's calling of the fishermen in Luke 5, Peter had to realize that He was unworthy to be in the presence of Christ because of his sinfulness(Luke 5:8). Self confidence was not what he needed to become a follower of Christ. He needed Christ confidence. This is why Christ had showed him by controlling the catch of fish that He was God and had power over all the universe. This is what we need today: God confidence and not self confidence. Here are some verses in the Bible that show that what we need is not to believe in ourselves but to believe in God.

John 15:5“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.NASB95

Philippians 3:2-3Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,NASB95

2 Corinthians 12:9-10And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.NASB95

Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.NASB95

Proverbs 28:26He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.NASB95

They Finally Found the Missing Link.....Not:)

Sky News Reports "Scientists Reveal The Missing Link in Evolution".

What a colossal coincidence that they "found" this missing link in the year of Darwin's 200th birthday. Well I guess that makes sense. If the universe could just randomly be in the perfect order to support life on earth and if something could just randomly come out of nothing and if processes so complex that we can't fully understand them are constantly going on to continue life on earth, and if we just randomly have the wisdom and intelligence to talk about these things, then it makes sense that this find of the missing link could just randomly happen on the anniversary of Darwin's 200th birthday!

Well obviously all of this is extreme foolishness. Genesis 1 clears things up nicely. As long as people reject the plain sense of God's word foolishness will prevail. This is what Christ said through Paul:

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.NASB95

Blame it on the Credit Card Companies!

USA Today has an article today called "White House and Congress Target Credit Card Rates". The article talks about how President Obama and congress are going to go after the Credit Card companies to force them to stop raising their rates. I have to admit that I was not pleased when my credit card rate recently went from 12% to 18%. However, I knew that could happen when I got the credit card. America's financial system is built on credit. There are always risks involved in borrowing money or launching business ventures. Pure capitalism rewards hard work and sound investment over the long run. When our government bails out people who have made poor choices the system fails to work. Now credit card companies and banks are trying to save there own bacon by probing ways of increasing income. I understand why they would do that. Our goverenment wants to hyper regulate all of this to make sure that everyone can get out of whatever jam that they are in.

I have to ask a question at this point, wouldn't it be better to let people suffer from poor decisions and hopefully learn their lesson? If someone runs up $50,000 worth of credit that they can not afford and begins missing payments shouldn't they be penalized. We are quickly becoming an absolutely "no fault" society. People want to live however they want and then have no responsibilty for their actions. Our government now seems to want to facilitate this. When we ask for government to do this we better be ready for where that will take us.

The real problem is as always a spirtual problem. We are all sinners and left to our own devices we will make poor choices. If we make poor choices and we have no consequences we will make worse choices. This is why God has given us government: to reward good and punish evil. It is time for us as Americans and as people in general to realize that we are responsible for our own actions, not somone else.

Look at this text and see what God says about responsibility:

Romans 6:23 The wages (just due) of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NASB)

We all deserve eternal punishment because of our rebellion aginst God, but God freely chooses to give us eternal life in Christ. We have to own up to the fact that we deserve God's punishment because of our sin. Then and only then can we turn to Christ to save us from our sin through His death on the cross in our place, and His ressurection which made the way for life for us!

Take responsibility and then receive grace: then be a responsbile Christian!

Rant #4: Rob Bell not a Super Pastor

In movement 4 of Velvet Elvis. Rob talks about how when he was training for ministry and thinking of what kind of a church he wanted to be a part of and eventually plant, he wasn't seeing any where people were really connecting and having a real experience with God. So he wanted to do something totally diffrent. He talks about the plant coming together in a strange way. It seems that they didn't do anything on purpose, but his thought is that God was just putting it together. Somehow tons of people showed up on the first Sunday. He was excited but didn't know what to do. He began a talk on the book of Leviticus. He speaks of it in a bit of a strage way how all of the sacrificial and social terms drew attention. He doesn't talk about the main points of the book: God's holiness and how Israel was to come to Him and walk with Him. The church was grwoing by leaps and bounds. One day he realized that he couldn't be super pastor and had a breakdown. This led to him seeking counseling and ultimately psycho analysis. He discovered that he was embracing the salvation of Christ but not the healing of Christ. He found that he had suppressed experiences from his childhood that had to be dealt with. He began to be "healed" and returned with joy to his ministry this timing understanding that he couldn't do it all and wasn't super pastor and it was ok for him to be growing and being healed with his people.



Well, there is some good in this. It is good for us to realize that we are not super pastors and that we need to be sanctified daily just like our people. It is also good for us to realize that we can't do it all and we need the help of others and most of all the power of the Holy Spirit. However, there are some major problems in this movement as welll. First, Rob doesn't seem to understand that throwing a church together with out a biblically driven plan isn't a good thing. We need to have a biblical philosphy of ministry to keep us centered on the kind of church that Christ would have as plant instead of the kind of church the culture would have us plant. A biblically driven church plant begins with the power of the Holy Spirit and the word of God and protects us from exalting ourselves. (1 Cor. 1-2) A Biblical philosophy of ministry also calls us to shared leadership. (1 Tim./Titus) Third, when we "hit the wall" in ministry the answer is not in psycho therapy and self actulization. The answer is what Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 4:



2 Corinthians 4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.NASB95



Christ does have the healing that the world needs, but we need to do His work His way. Then He will be pleased with us and He will bless His word!

When is Murder Murder?

The Associated Press reports:

Belkis Gonzalez, 42, was arrested Tuesday and charged with practicing medicine without a license and tampering with evidence, both felonies, said Ed Griffith, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office. If found guilty, Gonzalez would face at least a year in prison and up to 15 years.

For a while it seemed that this abortion clinic owner might get away with this atrocity, but now it seems he will be charged. The AP report goes on to say.

The teenage mother, Sycloria Williams, has filed a lawsuit alleging that Gonzalez knocked the infant off the chair where she had given birth, and then scooped the baby, placenta and afterbirth into a red plastic biohazard bag, and threw it out.

The clinic's doctor, Dr. Pierre Jean-Jacque Renelique, had been scheduled to perform the procedure, but Williams went into labor after being given drugs to dilate her cervix and waiting for hours for Renelique to arrive, the suit said. The doctor has said he had been on his way to the Hialeah clinic when he was called to treat another patient who was bleeding.

People are outraged when they here about this, and rightly so, but strangely people would not have been outraged if this baby would have been murdered around the same time, only in the usual way that babies are aborted.

When is Murder Murder? Is a baby a baby, or is it something else? evidently this baby was a baby, and so are the rest who are aborted.

Jeremiah 1:5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, ...NASB95

Congratulations Kirk!

A Critique of Rob Bell's "Velvet Elvis" in the light of scripture

Rant #1: Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis seems somewhat plastic.

I am in the middle of reading Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis. It is an interesting read. As I began reading I realized that there was no way I was going to able to read this book without responding to it in some way. Having heard of Rob Bell's ideas and having even listened to other people critique the book, I thought I understood where he was coming from. However, nothing prepared me for what I am reading.

First of all I want to say that if Rob Bell is responding to rigid and legalistic Christianity that has a veneer of orthodoxy, but lacks authentic faith, and hope and love in Christ, then I completely understand and I protest this kind of Christianity as well. Unfortunately as I read what Rob has to say I find that He is advocating something that goes outside of Christian orthodoxy (the teachings that have been affirmed by true believers from the early church on). He sees Christianity as a Velvet Elvis that must be repainted by every new Christian generation. In other words the faith is moldable and shapeable and can be reformed to fit our cultural context. When it comes to extra biblical things (things that that Bible does not speak to by direct command or principle) there is certainly room for flexibility, but when it comes to scriptural truth there is no room for flexibility. It seems to me that Bell wants to make the Bible plastic and moldable to our cultural context. But notice the words of Jude on this issue: Jude 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.NASB95 The Bible often speaks of "the faith" or "the Gospel" or "the word" or "the scripture" or "the truth." There is clearly a body of teaching that comes down from God to his people to be passed down to all future generations. This body of truth is to be contended for earnestly! This body of truth is the Bible; it is the word of God. 2 Tim 3:16 & 2 Pet. 1:18-21 make it very clear that "all scripture is God-breathed" and that the human writers of the Bible were "moved by the Holy Spirit." God has spoken and he did not stutter. God has spoken and he does not appreciate being corrected or misrepresented. Just ask the prophet Hananiah from Jeremiah's day.

Jeremiah 28:12-17The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Go and speak to Hananiah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made instead of them yokes of iron.” ‘For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they will serve him. And I have also given him the beasts of the field.” ’ ” Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. “Therefore thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you are going to die, because you have counseled rebellion against the Lord.’ ” So Hananiah the prophet died in the same year in the seventh month.NASB95


Rant#2:Rob Bell is either confused about Bible interpretation or he is intentionally confusing people about Bible interpretation.

As I continue to read Velvet Elvis things are going from bad to worse. Initially Rob wanted us to think about Christianity as a trampoline with springs rather than a wall with solid bricks. He suggested that his faith could weather the crumbling of a brick such as the doctrine of the virgin birth. This is enough to show me that Rob Bell does not understand the Christian faith. The fact is that the Christian faith cannot stand without the virgin birth. It is crucial to the atonement and the redemption of mankind of which the whole scripture is about. Now, after reading "movement two", I understand why Rob Bell is so far off about Christianity. It is either because he does not know how to interpret scripture or because he refuses to interpret scripture correctly. He brings up a number of texts that he implies are impossible to understand. The reality is that all of the texts he brings up can be understood if they are interpreted properly in their context. It is true that there are difficult texts in the bible that good men disagree about. However, the meaning of the scripture is generally plain (Psalm 19:7-9), and if one will do the hard work of interpreting text in its context using the tools of exegesis available he may understand the big picture of every text of scripture and can offer plausible suggestions for even the most difficult verse or phrase. If however, you want to make room for whatever opinions you or others have that go against the scripture you can use difficult texts as an excuse to say the scripture is not clear and can be interpreted a number of ways. There are many fallacies in this "movement", but I can only take time to point out a few. First, Bell brings up the destruction of people such as the Amalakites where God commanded that they be wiped out. He evidently attributes these acts to men instead of God. He is trying to absolve the God of the Bible from any such acts. However, a basic truth of the Bible is that God has compassion on whom he will and punishes those who continue in rebellion against Him (Exodus 34:6-7). The Bible teaches that all the world is guilty before God. (Romans 3:10ff). We all deserve His punishment because the race of man has rebelled against His creator. The flood showed that God has the right to judge the whole world even the "innocent" because all are worthy of His judgment. The amazing thing is that God chooses to save some of us. God did use Israel His instrument of judgment on the wicked surrounding nations. The lesson is that God hates sin and will pour out His anger on it. What about the children who were killed though? God spared them from being raised up to shake their fist at Him. They were spared through their death in their innocence. Perhaps God granted them salvation (2 Sam 12:23). Second, Bell brings up the fact that scripture writers had agendas and used events and teachings of their day to make their points. They certainly did. The bible is both a human book and a divine book. But Bell wants to say that these people had experiences with God and were just writing stories that are not necessarily meant to be taken as fact, but as the product of an experience. This is just Neo-orthodoxy repackaged. This is dishonest with the way that the scripture writers themselves presented what they wrote and what they said about the scripture itself. (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:18-20; "thus saith the LORD" throughout the OT). Also, the believing Jews and the church have always been able to recognize scripture as being from God. The dates of the official recognition of the Canon of scripture and the church embracing the scripture are not the same dates. The Holy Spirit has always worked in the hearts of believers to help them recognize scripture as they read it. The councils merely ratified what was already believed. A careful look at church history makes this clear. Third, Bell wants to go back to "context" to get the scripture right, but what he appeals to is the understanding of the ancient Jewish Rabbis and a few illustrations from background and history. These things can be helpful, but they can also be misleading if taken too far. The Rabbis, for instance, are often not a good source for biblical interpretation because they were prone to allegory and bending scripture to their bent. Culture and background can be helpful but they are subject to the near context of scripture. The most important context is the context of scripture itself. This is the context that Bell seems to largely ignore. I will give some examples of this in my next Rant.

Christianity is not plastic or velvet it is not meant to be reshaped. Christianity is about the Rock of Christ and is rock solid teachings (the Bible). See Matthew 7:24-27.

Rant #3: Rob Bell overplays natural revelation (The World of experience) and far underplays special revelation (The Word of God).

Before I talk about chapter, uh er--I mean, movement three (chapter is far too absolute) of Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis, I want to circle back to movement two and give another illustration of a text that Rob sees as impossible to defend and explain that is actually easily explained by interpreting it in the context of scripture. Bell sees the Bible as being "the most amazing, beautiful, deep, inspired collection of writings ever", but he does not see the Bible as the inspired, infallible, inerrant word of God. One text that he cites to proof his point that scripture does not claim to be from God, but claims to be the word of men is 2 Cor. 11:23. Here is what it says in the NASB: 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.NASB95 Bell translates the phrase "I speak as if insane" as "am I out of my mind?". A literal translation from the Greek would read: "I am speaking as if out of my mind." The questions Bell asks are these: "Is God out of His mind", "Is Paul out of His mind", "Is Paul out of God's mind?". I would find this line of questioning amusing if it were not so contrived. Even a cursory reading of 2 Corinthians 11 would explain what Paul is doing here. His opposition in Corinth was making him out to be a money grubbing false teacher. He was put in the awkward place of defending Himself. He would rather not speak of his credentials as an apostle, but he is forced to. His mindset is like the mindset of Christ found in Philippians 2:5-11: he would rather be humble and serve than to exalt himself. But he has to engage in a "foolish" line of reasoning so they can see how foolish these false allegations are about him. Under normal circumstances it would be insane for him to tout his qualifications, but he has to now. He brings up this idea of foolishness and insanity often in this chapter. This is why Paul also says in verse 17: 2 Corinthians 11:17What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.NASB95 If he was speaking in the usual way that the Lord speaks through Him he would not do this. There is no problem with taking this as the inspired word of God is it is understood properly. However, Rob Bell acts as if this destroys they idea of inspired scripture. An honest look at the Christian or biblical view of the inspiration of scripture does not say that God spoke through people as if they were robots. The amazing thing is that God spoke through people's personality and style to say what He wanted to say to the original readers and by principle to us without error! Bell rips these texts out of context not to prove God's point but to prove his point. He says he doesn't like it when people use scripture to back up their point, but that is exactly what he is doing. We should get our point from scripture and then show where we got it from. Bell should pay attention to what the apostle Peter said about Paul's writings.

2 Peter 3:15-16and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.NASB95

On to movement three. I can agree with some of what Bell says in this "movement", but I disagree with his main point. He tells a lot of stories to show that their is a sense of the divine built in to all of and that God's presence is evident all over the earth. This is true. However, he wants to make the job of a Christian to be a tour guide to point to natural revelation (truth revealed in nature, history, and the human experience). He basically intimates that the writers of scripture were spiritual guides who just observed the divine all around them and journaled it. The problem is that this is not what the writers of scripture claimed to be doing. They claim to have been directly spoken to by God and they claim to be delivering His message to men! There is a big difference between a human being who is noticing the divine around them and a human being that is spoken to directly by God Himself. We can definitely use natural revelation as a bridge to introduce people to the truths of God's word, but we should not act as if natural revelation is the primary source of our truth base. However, Romans 1 makes it very clear that men will suppress natural revelation and worship the creature rather than the creator unless God does something to open their eyes through the gospel. The only way we can understand the good news of Jesus Christ as the son of God the Savior and Lord, the one who can rescue us from sin, is to take God's word as absolute truth and to allow His word to work faith in us (Romans 10:17). If Bell wants to introduce people to the wonder of God all around them than he should stop attacking scripture and start defending it because only scripture has the power to pierce the human heart and open our eyes to the truth around us!

Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.NASB95

Romans 10:17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.NASB95

Dissappointed in Favre

There were a lot of mistakes made by both the Packers and Brett Favre over the past few months. However, at the end of the day I put much of the blame on Brett. The Packers have tried to make the best out of a difficult situation. With Brett's lack of complete commitment until just a few days ago, they had to move on. All it would have taken from Brett at any point was a clear and unwavering commitment to be a Packer this year. I loved watching Brett while he was here, but I am glad he is not here now with the attitude that he has had this summer. I am ready to get behind the Pack, Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy, and Mark Murphy included. Let's see what Rodgers can do. He has a great team around him. I will be watching to see how Brett does, but it certainly won't be the same. There is only one reason why Brett is not playing for us this year: He couldn't get over himself. May we learn to be humble and follow humble heroes such as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and not heroes who remind us that they are never too far from falling.

Online Anonymity and the Real You

We live in a brave new world. In the "old days" (Just saying that makes you sound like an old fuddy-duddy:)) to have a secret life you had to be a secret agent or at least be a very sneaky type of a person. Now with the age of the internet practically every other person is living a secret life online. There are secret chats, secret blogs, secret "face book" or "MySpace" pages, secret visits to secret websites. Most people would be appalled if every one who knew them in the "real world" also new all about them in the "cyber world." The question I want to bring up is: Which person is the real you: the online version or the “real world” version. What I have noticed is that people seem to be much more free and unencumbered online. The internet has become a place to express yourself. I would argue that the online version of your self is more accurate reflection of your true self. Some would say that it is just a chance to act out a different personality, but, if you think about it, people often do online what they wish they could do in real life. In other words if people could act a certain way and not be held responsible for it, then they would. Internet has given just such an opportunity.

The Word of God anticipates this struggle when it says in Proverbs:

Proverbs 23:7For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.NASB95

The expression of yourself online is a product of the expression of yourself in your mind: and that is the real you!

So who are you, really?

We need to come to grips with who we really are, so that we can understand what we really need. This is every man’s true need:

Acts 26:20 … repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.NASB95

Acts 4:12“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”NASB95

John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.NASB95

Is Christmas in Your Heart?

This time of year almost everyone greets each other with “merry Christmas.” Lots of people set out little nativity sets in their yard or in their house. People recount the story of the Christ child and sings songs about Jesus’ birth. But as you take part in this, is Christmas in your heart? What do we mean by that?

What we mean is this? Is Christ in you? There are only 3 kinds of people in the world, those who can count and those who can’t. But seriously –there really are only 2 kinds of people in the world: those who have Jesus in them and those who don’t.

Colossians 1:25-27 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.NASB95

When Paul says that Christ in them is the hope of glory. What he means is that Christ in them is their hope of sharing in the glories of God for all eternity in heaven.

You see you can get to heaven unless Christ is in you and you are in Christ. You must be joined together spiritually with Christ to enter heaven.

Why is that? No one can enter heaven on their own. Why not? Because we are sinful.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,NASB95

Habakkuk 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to approve (look upon) evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor On those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they?NASB95

Because of this we deserve God’s punishment, not heaven:

Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death,

But I am glad that this is not the end of the story:

Romans 6:23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.NASB95

This is the message of Christmas: God offers you the gift of eternal life and this life is in His Son.

You see Jesus not only was born as the baby who was God in human flesh—but the God-Man died on the cross for our sin and rose again making a way of eternal life.


Colossians 2:13-14 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision (or unholiness) of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.NASB95

But in order receive this gift you must turn away from your sin and turned to Christ Jesus as your God, your Savior, and your Lord.

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;NASB95

Romans 10:13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”NASB95

When you call on the Lord and believe on Him. God grants you be joined as one with His Son so that he takes away all of your sin and gives you all of His righteousness. (Romans 6:2-7; 2 Cor 5:21)

The baby in the manger is the Son of God (God in human flesh), He is the Christ on the cross, He is the risen Lord of all the earth, He is the judge who will judge all of the earth.

Is Christmas in your heart—that is to say is Christ in your heart.

How does Christ get into your heart:

Acts 16:31 … “Believe in (into) the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, …”NASB95

Turn away from all else and put your trust in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.

I hope that if you have not put your trust in Christ already that you will do so this Christmas season. Then you can truly celebrate Christmas because Christmas will be in you! Christ will be in you: the hope of glory!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.NASB95

How Should The Church Respond To The Exodus Of Our Youth Pt. 9 (Conclusion)

Me Church



It is amazing how far some churches are willing to go to fill the pews with people. A common practice for churches today is to try to determine the "felt needs" of the community and build the church around these things. Naturally if you offer people what they are looking for then they will come. What is often forgotten is that it is Christ who builds the church. He also builds the church His way. Paul tells Timothy that the church is the "pillar and ground of the truth." As Jesus said "Thy Word is truth" (Jn. 17:17). So the church must be the place where the truth of God's word is central. The reason for this is that God and not man knows what people actually need. Because of sin man's mind is tainted. He thinks he needs certain things, but many times these things are substitutes for what He really needs. What He really needs can be summed up in one word: Christ! This brings us to the final principle for that any ministry must embrace to glorify God.

7. Every person’s one true need is Christ Himself.

Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.NASB95

In this passage Paul is giving as a glimpse at the heart of his ministry. Under the inspiration of the Spirit of God Paul tells us that the central feature of his ministry is the proclamation of Christ. Whatever Paul and his team were doing they were constantly proclaiming, preaching, declaring Christ. Now, if there is anything that we do in any Christian ministry that doesn't have something directly to do with proclaming Christ--then we shouldn't be doing it. Paul and his team labored to instruct and encourage people in the wisdom of God's word with the goal of seeing everyone become mature in Christ Jesus. Maturity in Christ Jesus has to do with becoming like Him. We become like Him when we see Him in His Word and Christ is revealed to us through the Spirit and transforms us by His power. Paul knew that God's power would be working in him if he was faithful to preach Christ in the power of the Spirit of Christ.

When one sees Christ in the Word of Christ energized by the Spirit of Christ it transforms Him to be like Christ. This is the glory of the ministry! This is what Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 3:18:

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.NASB95

Jesus said Himself that when someone builds their life on Him and His word that they will be prepared for anything that life brings.

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”NASB95

In this we see that a person's ultimate need, no matter what they think it is, is to be exposed to the teachings of Christ: the Bible. Christ's word actually promises blessing in all things for those who read and obey His word.

James 1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.NASB95

Now these blessing go far bayond what we think we need. Naturally we want everything in our lives to be smooth and comfortable, but that's not actually what is best for us. If we give people what they want we will forfiet for them what they really need. The spiritual blessings of Christ are primary:

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,NASB95

Authentic Christianity is a life that is hidden in Christ.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.NASB95

This applies to youth ministry as well. It would be very easy to design a youth ministry around what teenagers want. Doubtless we can fill our facilities with this approach, but will we be giving them what they really need?

We must give them Christ. This is what we are called to do. As we are faithful to proclaim Christ we can know that God will build His church in His way and we will be blessed and those who we minister to will be blessed.

I close with another description of Paul's ministry and how it works:

1 Corinthians 2:1-14 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.NASB95

"Help, I'm Addicted to My Anti-Addiction Pill!"

I find it absolutely amazing in our medicate happy, responsibility free, therapeutic culture, that there is now a new pill that promises freedom from addiction. The Associated Press report includes these interesting statements about the new drug.

A single pill appears to hold promise in curbing the urges to both smoke and drink, according to researchers trying to help people overcome addiction by targeting a pleasure center in the brain.

"Is this going to be a cure-all? No, not for smoking or alcoholism because both diseases are more complicated than a single target or single genetic issue," said Allan Collins, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Colorado who was not connected to the study.

Notice that drug addiction and alcoholism are described as diseases. But how can you quit a disease. Many people have quit using drugs or alcohol. They made a conscious choice to abuse these and they made a conscious choice to stop abusing these. Now I bet a lot of cancer patients would love to just quit their cancer, but they can't because it is a real disease.

I just wonder if people will get addicted to their anti-addiction pill. The only true cure to "addiction" (which is actually just sinful indulgence) is found in the Bible.

Ephesians 4:17-24 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.NASB95

LP Missions Trip 07 Day 4-5

It's hard to believe that the camp down here is almost over! Time flies when you're having fun! Wednesday was a great day with the Momentum in full swing. The Bethel team continues their labor of love in shining fashion. Despite weariness and lack of sleep the teens continue to serve faithfully with a joyful spirit. Parents you should be proud! Our group is also looking for ways to interject the gospel of our Lord at every opportunity. It is during the small group time that our teens have been prepared to boldly proclaim Christ. Yesterday was college game day. It was a ball (no pun intended)! The heat and humidity were high, but the spirit of encouragement and service was the cool part (in a good way). Today was international day. Lots of festive food parties. More pics from today later. We thought Elle had come down with strep throat, but she seems to be alright after a check up. She was exposed to lots of germs because her campers love her some much that they were hanging on her. Then 2 of her cabin kids came down with strep. It appears that the Lord has answered our prayers by giving her a negative on the test, or he is giving her a few more days of health before it hits (we hope the former). She never once complained and was ready to get back and serve. Tomorrow is the last day with the kids. It has been a great week. We appreciate your prayers. Pray especially that many children respond to the gospel in these last 2 days. Pray that seeds will be planted for a bountiful harvest. Pray that God will continue to teach us in many ways. We will have a lot to debrief on in terms of what we have learned and I know it will promote healthy discussion.

Rejoicing in Christ,
Caleb

LP Missions Trip Days 2-3

I couldn't be more proud of the group that we have down here at King's Domain! Everyone if serving faithfully, despite challenging circumstances, in the pattern that our Lord gave us with joyful hearts! Monday was a training day our crew got to experience meal prep and cleanup for the first time. They had workshops for the students to learn how to be a part of their drama presentations and their worship sets. In the afternoon some of the people went to the high ropes course and some went to play paintball. I was told that our students were very brave on the high ropes course and that Paul Hartman swung like a monkey from tree to tree! Monday night we were treated to a trial run of the Drama: Rhythm Town. Tuesday we prepared with great expectation for the arrival of the "City Cure" kids from Cinci. Bob Badeau left at 7am to take the bus with some counselors to pick the kids up. Despite getting lost, they arrived back at camp at 11am with a bus load of kids! I believe that there are about 80 inner-city kids here for the week! We formed a massive gauntlet line to receive them and they came running through to high energy music. In the afternoon they played in the pool and went rafting. Our crew was busy cleaning and prepping for the western dinner party. The dinner party went from 5-7pm and was filled with fun carnival games. The kids had a great time and it was a good relationship building experience. Then in the late evening they were treated to the first act of Rhythm town. In this act the main character was waiting for his dancing shoes that the mayor of rhythm town would give him, but he got impatient and stole some money to get some shoes. It is a picture of someone not wanting to wait for what God has for them and trying to be happy in other things--going their own way. The leaders went back and had small group time and talked about sin and our bent to go away form God. The video that you will see at the end of the show goes back to Sunday night. The student were coming up with skits to demonstrate the rules. I hope to have a better system soon of uploading more video of the week’s events. Please pray that God will open the hearts of the dear inner-city children we have for the week. Also, pray for strength for our group--they are tired but they have not lost heart!

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.NASB95

LP Missions Trip 07 Day 1: The Trip and Opening Night

Thanks for your prayers!
The Lord gave us a wonderfully uneventful trip down! We had a blast fellowshipping, singing, hearing a devotion from Don on the last words of Christ on the earth, watching Swiss family Robinson, and just enjoying each others company. The first night and all of today (Monday) is training time. Our team is learning how to hype the week for the campers, and learning the proper procedure for things. Last night we had a great time of worship in song together. Today they had a session on understanding Urban people and now everyone is out on the ropes course or paintballing. I would have had some pics form that, but I got rained out. Hopefully more pics of this stuf later. We continue to prepare our hearts to reach out the Cinci youth who will becoming tomorrow! Keep us in your prayers! More later.

Caleb

LP Summer Missions Trip 07

Tommorow we will embark upon a most excellent adventure. Our destination: King’s Domain--a camp designed to reach out to inner-city Cincinnati Youth. We plan also to help a church do some canvassing in Cinci and to visit the AIG Museum. Today we polished our bus as it has never been polished before. All our bags are packed and we are not leaving on a jet plane. Our coach bus, however we trust by God's grace, will carry us safely and comfortably to our destination. We are bringing 4 teens, 11 adults and 3 kids. We hope to keep this blog updated with pictures and notes from the trip. Please be in pray for us that God will open a door for the gospel for us and that we will be bold to speak the truth in love and clarity. Pray that our team will grow in unity, harmony and Christian fellowship. Pray that the God will give us a new passion to make disciples around the globe. Pray for our safety and enjoyment. We carry with us the heart of Bethel Baptist Church and we hope the heart of Christ Jesus! May God be glorified, saints be sanctified and satisfied, and unbelievers be converted!