Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Grace to You - Spiritual Stimulus Plan


OK, so it's a little cheesy, but-hey-this is a great deal! Click the logo to go to GTY's site and enjoy 25% off!

HT: Ryan Shanahan (no-not the NHL player, my bro-in-law)

Monday, February 23, 2009

Bill Clinton is a Calvinist?

I thought this was pretty funny usage of the term 'Calvinist' by Bill Clinton. He could have used the word Culverism and it would have made just as much sense ... (i.e. NONE)

Embedded video from CNN Video


For more on former President Bill Clinton's Calvinism, follow the HT below (since I just learned what HT stands for)...

HT: Irish Calvinist

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Lady Lucy - Kids4Truth's newest Multi-media Dynamation



What is a multi-media dynamation?!? You have to see for yourself. If you have not seen these creative animated ... things, you are missing out! The following is from the Kids4Truth, explaining the 'origins' (no pun intended) of their newest dynamation ...

This past February 12th, the Kids 4 Truth team spent Charles Darwin’s birthday putting the finishing touches on our newest dynamation! Lady Lucy

In the 150 years since Charles Darwin's Origin of Species was published, his theories about the origin of mankind have greatly influenced not only the scientific world but all of society, as well. While Darwin's “Special Theory” (sometimes called “Microevolution”) was largely correct, his “General Theory” that all life shares a single common ancestor is unverifiable and goes against much of the available scientific evidence we have. As such, Darwinism has become a philosophy, a worldview in its own right, almost a religion, and not a scientific theory.

Kids 4 Truth’s new dynamation “Lady Lucy” challenges the Darwinian worldview with more questions it cannot answer and demonstrates the ultimate emptiness of this erroneous philosophy. We hope Christians will be exhorted by “Lady Lucy” to stand strong on the authority of the Scriptures which have proven themselves to be the very Word of the Creator to mankind, the pinnacle of His Creation. On the other hand, we hope Darwinists will be challenged to consider what their authority really is (and what Darwin's authority really was) – the fallible word of a man.

Kids4Truth is a fun and fascinating website to visit with your kids, especially if you want to help to influence them with a Biblical worldview! I also enjoy reading Bob's blog! Bob Roberts is the president of Kids4Truth

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

February Sale at Sovereign Grace - Music and Books!


This month you can get music CDs for $6 and books for $7. Plus Free Shipping!

Recommendations? If you buy nothing else, buy Living the Cross-Centered Life by CJ Mahaney! It's essential Christian reading!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Some things to get excited about ...

I'm not clever enough to tie all these together in a theme, and that is a good thing for you as it would only lead to rolling eyeballs. So, for lack of a better catchy phrase, here are some things I'm really excited about! I can just hear John Piper hissing at me, "Don't tell them you're excited, SHOW THEM YOU'RE EXCITED WITH YOUR WORDSsss!"


So, if I haven't lost anybody, here is what has me excited ...
  • RefTagger. Many bloggers know about this already, but it's new to me! You put some code in your blog and then it makes any references you type in pop up when you hover over them, so readers can see the text! Don't believe me? Check this out. My favorite verse in the Bible is 2 Cor 5:21. Click here to make your blog do this! Best of all, it's FREE!
  • Reformed Conference at Shawnee RPC. I'll give this it's own post, but for now make sure you keep March 26-28 free and clear!
  • Men's Breakfast at Omaha Bible Church featuring Phil Johnson. This morning I was listening to a sermon by Phil, an excellent exposition of 1 Peter 1:3-5 ... see there's the RefTagger again! Reminds me of Gen 1:3! OK, back to the Men's Breakfast. I just happened to email Pastor Raymond this morning to send a link of this or that. Well, he emails me right back with news about THIS, and encouraging me to bring some guys up! Unless the Lord prevents us, the Bonhams are headed north early April. I hope to meet the Irish Calvinist (Erik Raymond) and the PyroManiac (Phil Johnson). Let me know if you'd like to caravan up with us! We'll most likely hit the fabulous Omaha Zoo while we're there!
  • Seth Wing is in Costa Rica! Chances are you know this guy, already. He's one of those kind of guys who seems to know everybody. The most kind and unassuming guy I've ever met; it was a pleasure to work with Seth at StateStreet this last year, and he was a huge blessing to our Bible Study Group. The Lord has called him to move to CR to teach English to elementary students in a country that is 75% Roman Catholic. Please follow Seth's blog, News from the Rich Coast, and drop him a note (Spanish or English) and tell him you're praying for him!
  • I love babies! Finally, babies! Yesterday I wrote about the horrors of abortion. But I'm reminded of several of our dear friends who have either recently welcomed little ones into the world or are expecting in the coming months. Praise God for these precious gifts!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Two Posts on Abortion

The mood is somber tonight as rare thunder can be heard on this early February night. It fits my troubled spirit after reading of a chilling murder. I am compelled to share this post about a lawsuit that is being filed "from the grave" in behalf of a newborn infant who was brutally murdered AFTER being born in an abortion clinic. Thanks to Eric Raymond for posting.

Also, this is a good occasion to share this video by John Piper addressing President Obama in a sermon. With due respect for his office (as we are called to do in Romans 13), he nevertheless confronts the President with the boldness of Christ.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Great Bible-Reading Plan

I joined this group on Facebook. It explains a Bible reading plan that sounds real exciting! Prof Horner gave me permission to post. If you 'facebook', please join his group and try this reading plan...
Professor Grant Horner's unusual, challenging, and life-changing Bible-Reading System is unlike any other you have ever seen. Try it for ONE MONTH and find out for yourself! You will never be the same.

Photo of my Bible of 26 years, open to I Samuel 17, and laying in the dry streambed of the brook Elah.
Not a giant in sight...>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>


Who is Professor Grant Horner?
I am an Associate Professor at The Master's College north of Los Angeles, where I specialize in the Renaissance and Reformation, and I am also Chair of Humanities at Trinity Classical Academy:
http://www.masters.edu/academics/profiles.asp?depname=6
http://www.trinityclassicalacademy.com/

"I have more wisdom than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation." Psalm 119:99, right-hand page, left-hand column, dead center of page. Many people ask me how it is that I know precisely where virtually *everything* is in my Bible. The answer: this system. I began in 1983 (adapting and tweaking the basic design of another system) as a brand-new convert; within 3 years I knew the text of my Bible very well. Twenty-five years later it is essentially imprinted on my mind and heart. I have been all over the country and have taught this system in many churches. I have done open-microphone Q&As on Bible and theology -- with 1200 people in the audience -- as well as cultural-analysis live radio shows where you have to think fast -- and it has been the "imprinting" value of this system that has helped me provide quick, clear, heavily contextualized scriptural answers (I Peter 3:15; right-hand page, right hand column, 1/3rd way down). I have no Seminary degrees, no Bible-college or Christian school education -- hey, I never even went to Sunday School (the first church I went to, just months after my conversion, threw me into Sunday School-- to teach!!! *BIG* mistake, by the way...) All I DID have was a chair, a lamp ... and my Bible.

This is *not* merely a speed-reading program, nor is it a 'study' system. Read the 1-page description provided here to see how it works. (I'd also recommend you look at my first few posts in the Discussion Board 'Starting Up' below as well, for more thoughts.) DO NOT be intimidated! I was a college drop-out, ex-heavy-druggie when I started it. If I can do it -- so can you!

TRY IT FOR A MONTH. Then tell me what is happening!

Join if you wish to try it; stay if you keep it up for one month! And make posts about your struggles, the effects it is having on your biblical understanding and discernment, and to encourage others.

HERE IT IS:

* PROFESSOR GRANT HORNER'S 'TEN LISTS BIBLE READING SYSTEM'*

Each day you will read one chapter from each list, in order. THAT'S RIGHT -- *TEN CHAPTERS PER DAY*!!! Use ten bookmarks or sticky notes with the individual lists on them to keep track of your locations. On day one, you read Matthew 1, Genesis 1, Romans 1, and so forth. On day 2, read Matthew 2, Genesis 2, etc. On day 29, you will have just finished Matthew, so go to Mark 1 on the Gospel list; you’ll also be almost to the end of 2nd Corinthians and Proverbs, you’ll be reading Psalm 29 and Genesis 29, and so forth. When you reach the last chapter of the last book in a list – start over again. Rotate all the way through all the Scriptures constantly. Since the lists vary in length, the readings begin interweaving in constantly changing ways. You will NEVER read the same set of ten chapters together again! Every year you’ll read through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times each, the OT wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and all the way through the OT History and prophetic books about 1 ½ times. Since the interweaving is constantly changing, you will experience the Bible commenting *on itself* in constantly changing ways -- the Reformer's principle of 'scriptura interpretans scripturam' -- 'scripture interpreting scripture' IN ACTION!

After you’ve read any particular book once or twice, your speed in that book usually *doubles or triples* because you’re familiar with it and can move quickly and confidently -- because you are no longer merely decoding the text but thinking it through in the context of all of the scripture! Acts 20:27. Even an ‘average’ reader, if focusing on moving through the text, rather than trying to figure everything out, can usually do this in about an hour a day – 5-6 minutes per chapter. If it is taking you longer, then you are ‘reading wrong’ – stay relaxed, focus, and just keep it moving. Moderate but consistent speed is the key. This is "gross anatomy" -- looking at the whole body; you're *not* closely studying organs or systems or tissues or cells -- it is *not* microbiology. BUT
-- microbiology and the study or organs makes more sense when you know what the *whole* structure of the human body is like, and how all the parts, large and small, relate in perfect interdependence. After just a few days the reading gets *much* easier; in a month it will be a habit, and in six months you’ll wonder how you ever survived before on such a slim diet of the WORD. And then -- you'll tell others to start the system!

I began in 1983 as a new Christian and have now read (most of) the Bible hundreds and hundreds of times. You also need to get ONE Bible, keep it, and do all your reading in it, so you learn where everything is. I’ve had the same Bible since 1983 and I know it intimately. If you keep switching Bibles, you ‘lose’ this intimacy with the text. Find a translation and format you like and stick with it. THIS IS CRUCIAL.

When I was flown out by Masters for a 3-day interview/theological-grilling process, the culmination was of course being ushered in to Dr. John MacArthur's private study, which is where he asked me this one question: "Can I see your Bible?" I thought he would be horrified, because it looked like it had been through a typhoon -- it looked unloved and neglected. Something from a dumpster. It was unbound, with stringy mess and paper debris hanging out. I was so embarrassed. I thought he would chastise me and recommend I get a new study Bible if I was serious about the Word. (No doubt which study Bible he would recommend!!!) He flipped through it and handed it to his wife and said "If your Bible is falling apart, you probably aren't." I was basically hired on the spot.

Your Bible is the only thing on Earth that, as you wear it out, will actually work better and better.

THE TEN LISTS:
List 1 (89 days)
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

List 2 (187 days)
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

List 3 (78 days)
Romans, I&II Cor, Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, Hebrews

List 4 (65 days)
I&II Thess, I&II Tim, Titus, Philemon, James, I&II Peter, I,II&III John, Jude, Revelation

List 5 (62 days)
Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

List 6 (150 days)
Psalms

List 7 (31 days)
Proverbs

List 8 (249 days)
Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I&II Samuel, I&II Kings, I&II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

List 9 (250 days)
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah,
Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

List 10 (28 days)
Acts

If you are wondering why you should read Acts (or Proverbs) all the way through *every single month* then
-- you've just shown that you NEED to read them that much!

*Put these instructions in your Bible and review them from time to time*

SECRETS TO SUCCESS WITH THIS SYTEM:

• Read one chapter from each list each day, in one sitting or two. At the end of a book, go to the next book. At the end of the list – start it again. Do it in the order given above.
• Read quickly (without “speedreading”) in order to get the overall sense. Read as fast as you comfortably can with moderate retention. You’re not studying deeply or memorizing; shoot for 5-6 minutes per chapter. At the end of a chapter, move immediately to the next list.
• GET THROUGH THE TEXT – no dawdling, back-reading, looking up cross-references!
• There are different ‘kinds’ of reading: super-quick skimming, careful moderate-paced, studying the text, deep meditation. You should be between the first and second kind.
• Most people decrease their time spent and increase their retention after just two-three weeks! I now read and retain the entire text of Matthew in 35 minutes, Romans in 20, Genesis in *one hour*!
• Don’t look up anything you ‘don’t get’ – real understanding will come through contextualizing by reading a LOT of scripture over time. Get through the text!
• If you miss a day or two – ok, get over it, then keep going. Don’t cover yourself in sackcloth and ashes and quit! Move the bookmarks along, to find your place(s) quickly next day.
Heb 4:12&5:11-14; Eph 5:26&6:17; Col 3:16; 2 Tim 3:16; Ps 119; Ezra 8; Prov 3: 1-2, 10:14; Dan 1

*PLEASE* INVITE ALL THE CHRISTIANS YOU KNOW TO LOOK AT THIS GROUP -- AS WELL AS ANYONE ELSE WHO'S THINKING ABOUT READING THE BIBLE, EVEN FOR THE FIRST TIME!

The goal of this sytem is simple, and twofold: To know scripture, and to love and obey God more!

SOLI DEO GLORIA

About Me

Here is my testimony: mike