tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37821049895145667632024-03-13T07:17:09.378-04:00Grace in FXBGRandom thoughts and reflections with Bill Lindner - EPC church planter in Fredericksburg, VABill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-71611254363182986572016-02-18T12:17:00.003-05:002016-02-18T16:26:38.341-05:00Navigating Pathways of the Heart: Shame<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This past Sunday, in our second installment of the "Four Dark Riders of the Heart" series, we looked at how the Gospel of God's Grace deals with our shame. Like the previous week, I referred to material from The Gospel App by Bill Senyard that I am happy to pass along as a resource. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-App-Discipleship-Curriculum-Individuals/dp/150084926X/" target="_blank">Click Here</a> for a link to the book.</span></span><br>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What Is Shame?</span></span></h4>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shame is a powerful negative self-assessment that something is innately wrong with you. You are broken, a loser, a failure, dirty, unloveable, a joke and intrinsically not-right. The core fear of a shamed Christian is that no matter what you do, you will never ever be worthy of God’s love and favor again. <br>The Gospel App – p. 39</span></span></blockquote>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because you feel “wrong” you may . . . .</span></span></h4>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2016/02/navigating-pathways-of-heart-shame_18.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-81573957136847486722016-02-11T17:44:00.001-05:002016-02-11T17:45:20.613-05:00Navigating Pathways of the Heart: Guilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zXUliVMpL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zXUliVMpL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="200" width="153"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In response to the requests after Sunday’s sermon on The Gospel Deals With Guilt, I am happy to post a section that I referenced from Bill Senyard’s workbook <i>The Gospel App</i>. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-App-Discipleship-Curriculum-Individuals/dp/150084926X/" target="_blank">Click Here</a> for an Amazon link to that book.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Guilt is what you normally feel when you do something wrong. You did not do right and so feel guilt. Guilt is a power that ignites largely unconscious reactions to fix it.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To feel right again you might . . . .</span><br>
</blockquote><a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2016/02/navigating-pathways-of-heart-guilt.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-42321834225656518672015-12-10T15:47:00.000-05:002015-12-10T15:47:56.036-05:00Marching Orders From Jesus For The War With Islamic Terrorism<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are a number of things to like about Liberty University (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Go to the end of this post</span> for specifics.) but <i><b>I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HAVE <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BEEN MORTIFIED</span></span></b></i> to follow the statements and follow up by their President Jerry Falwell, Jr recently<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">:</span> “If more good people had concealed-carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in.”<br><br>I’m glad that he has clarified that by “those Muslims” he was referring to the two killers in the San Bernardino tragedy. Sort of.<br><br>But he went on to say: “I just wanted to take this opportunity to encourage all of you to get your permit. We offer a free course. Let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here.”<br><br>Encouragement and a free course to fill a dormitory of 19 year old males with concealed weapons? I can’t picture the Marine Corps doing that, even with all their weapons training! But I digress.</span><br>
<br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/12/marching-orders-from-jesus-for-war-with.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-24673799436836107092015-09-10T11:35:00.000-04:002015-09-10T11:35:37.649-04:00War Room: A Movie Worth Seeing<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Full Disclosure: I am generally not favorably inclined to “Christian” movies like War Room for a number of reasons. (Scroll down to the end of this blog if you want to know why.) That said, I came away from this movie encouraged and impressed by three specific things:</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/09/war-room-movie-worth-seeing.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-89616223111282369302015-08-19T13:11:00.001-04:002015-08-19T13:11:30.979-04:00Marriage: A Contract To Aid In One Another’s Sanctification<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This past Sunday I quoted Dr Richard Lovelace regarding the idea that for Christ-followers, marriage served as an important "school for sanctification." Here is the longer quotation from his book, Renewal as a Way of Life</span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Growth in sanctification should be a lifelong series of alterations in our lives through such crises of conviction. One of the functions of God’s law (biblical moral principles which declare God’s will for our behavior) is to measure our lives and locate places where they need changing. “The Law” come to us again and again, not only in the pages of Scripture, but also in the warnings or protests of people close to us who can see our failing, however much they may be in the dark about their own. Parents, teachers, the police and other authorities are all personalized forms of the law.<br><br>A husband or wife also functions in this same way, serving God as an agent of our sanctification. He or she can see the patterns of sin which are hidden from our own vision by spiritual darkness, and from the world because it sees only the surface of our lives. Most divorces among Christians probably occur because the parties have not realized that marriage is a contract to aid in one another’s sanctification. Without this realization, we become experts at what is wrong with one another, without recognizing that the information our spouse is giving us about ourselves is an essential aid to our spiritual growth.</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/08/marriage-contract-to-aid-in-one_19.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-21062118140877549622015-06-02T11:25:00.000-04:002015-06-03T15:03:30.747-04:00Putting On The Brakes: Why Johns Hopkins Hospital No Longer Does Transgender Surgery<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Like the voice of
one crying in the wilderness, I would like to share some information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realize it is dangerous to step in front of
a freight train and shout “Slow down!!” and that is what this feel like, but
here goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With cover stories on Vanity
Fair and the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star on transgender people, I want to say
that there is more to the story that needs to be considered as well.</span></span></div>
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<br></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">First of all, what
a challenging situation to love and care for someone struggling with what is
commonly called “gender identity issues,” especially when the person with the struggle
is our child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I certainly would not want
to “pile on” any parents struggling with that, but especially for anyone in
that situation right now, I want to offer some information for consideration
that is getting lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I would
want to know it if I were a parent in this situation.</span></span></div>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/06/putting-on-brakes-why-johns-hopkins.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-24836900029291948222015-06-02T09:53:00.002-04:002015-06-02T09:53:55.068-04:00Sorting Through the Duggar Rubble<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The sexual abuse of children is a topic that most would prefer to not talk about, but one that we must be prepared to face. There are victims among us, and we want to care for them in appropriate and helpful ways. Avoidance cripples our ability to do that.<br><br>The recent revelation of the sexual abuse perpetrated years ago by Josh Duggar – part of the reality TV family at the center of “19 Kids and Counting – puts the issue in our faces, so let me suggest some things to consider, as well as references that I found helpful for digging deeper.</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/06/sorting-through-duggar-rubble.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-66255273280085143612015-03-25T11:04:00.001-04:002015-03-25T11:04:08.399-04:00Pray Each Day With Scotty Smith Using Your Smart Phone<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’ve made it no secret that my own prayer life has been enriched by including the daily prayers of Scotty Smith. First in his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Prayers-Days-Gospel-Centered-Faith-ebook/dp/B005GMYADU/">Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith</a> and now with his daily “prayer blog” <a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/">Heavenward</a> on <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/">TheGospelCoalition.org</a> blog list, I join him in prayer daily.<br><br>Things have gotten better – or at least easier – to do that.<br><br>If you have a smart phone search your app store – available free on both Apple and Android – for the PrayerMate app developed by Andy Geers. <a href="http://www.geero.net/prayermate/">Click Here</a> to learn more about PrayerMate from Andy himself.</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/03/pray-each-day-with-scotty-smith-using.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-18198988304902165522015-03-19T20:41:00.000-04:002015-03-19T20:41:23.854-04:00The Gospel, Identity and Questions of Sexuality<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With regard to sexuality and marriage questions, the “message” for my LGBT friends and neighbors is identical to the “message” I have for everyone, including myself. Whether straight or gay, married or single, old or young, the Gospel sets you free from seeking your core identity in your sexual preferences or performance. That message impacts different people in different ways, but it means that Jesus offers all of us a new identity – the identity of “in Christ.” This identity then becomes the life-giving source to all other aspects of my life. “I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.” Those opening words to the Heidelberg Catechism state it well.</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-gospel-identity-and-questions-of.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-30579676948610313162015-03-06T06:38:00.000-05:002015-09-03T18:06:36.161-04:00Encouragement For Parents - And The Rest of Us As Well!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My wife and I began
the parenting adventure in a different century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That gives us some historical perspective on what parents face today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<br></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now, as an overdue grandparent and pastor of
young families, I find myself very, very aware of how dramatically the world
that we parent in has changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Technology, entertainment and social pressures have altered the ocean of
life that families will grow in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wise
parent would face those waters alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here are three GREAT resources for encouraging and equipping parents in
this new setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By the way, they are
in alphabetical and not rank order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’ll want to read them all, even if you are raising only boys or only
girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Odds are still good that your
kids will eventually bring home your potential “child-in-law” and you’ll want
to get started understanding that gender NOW!</span></span><br>
</div><a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/03/tools-for-parents-and-rest-of-us-as-well.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-79836264505415981212015-02-03T08:25:00.002-05:002015-02-06T09:55:05.357-05:00Resources On MTD<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This Sunday, I referred to "Moralistic, Therapeutic Deism" and would like to make a number of resources easily available. As I said at that time, I am increasingly convinced that MTD is the "Spirit of the Age." I encourage people to prayerfully and thoughtfully cultivate the discernment to identify MTD's impact in their own life and in their circle of relationships. No church adertises themselves as an "MTD Church," but all of us face it, many are unaware of its influence on them and some have - whether knowlingly or not - let MTD replace the Gospel of Grace in their ministry.</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/02/resources-on-mtd.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-51257086161098687352015-01-28T14:39:00.001-05:002015-01-28T14:39:16.912-05:00Meet Hank Spinner . . .<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On January 11, I used a video recording of a drama sketch called “The Plate Spinner” written and performed by Willow Creek Church in Chicago. You could tell it was from the ‘80’s, but it seems sooooo descriptive of the lives we all seem to lead today. Teens are spinning plates of popularity, school, extra-curricular activities. Single Moms are spinning a set of plates all their own. Retirees have their own plates that make demands of them. You get the picture. It seems we are ALL busy and distracted with a the wobbling plates of our particular life.<br><br>I found a Youtube video of the same script by a different church, so wanted to make that available below. </span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/01/meet-hank-spinner.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-54878425916609725622015-01-22T12:08:00.001-05:002015-01-22T14:19:08.146-05:00The Gospel Advances In A World Of Terrorism<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a good friend who spends most of his time outside the United States working with missionaries, many of whom are working in "closed Muslim countries." This past week, with the TV news filled with stories about ISIS threatening Japanese nationals, Islamist rebels advancing in Yemen and backlash against the French handling of the Charlie Hebdo affair I got a secure email from him. I can't pass it along as it contained information that could compromise missionaries that he works with, but I will pass on - with names and locations deleted - this much:</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>The latest from FOX NEWS, CNN and the BBC is really: (you pick your phrase...) "making me nervous", "rising fear up inside of me", "really scary"! Islamic terrorist cell groups being activated in Europe, the news channels are roaring with more news... all of it grabbing our hearts... YET! <br><br>Did you know: that more Muslims have become followers of Jesus Christ since 2001 than all the years before.. combined? XXXXXXX, with whom I am staying in XXXXXXX, shared a few statistics that he has been tracking... and brothers and sisters... the news is really GOOD NEWS... </i><br>
</span><br>
</blockquote><a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-gospel-advances-in-world-of.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-71514282746346799062015-01-21T08:27:00.002-05:002015-01-21T08:27:19.587-05:00Martin Luther King, Jr - Gospel Preacher<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This past Sunday – January 18, the Sunday before the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday – I read a portion of a sermon by Dr. King as part of my own sermon. I chose not to reveal whose sermon it was until just before the end, saying to start with that it was “an important sermon from the history of the United States.” Dr. King’s sermon “Loving Your Enemies” from Matthew 5:43-44 was a good application of the sermon I was preaching from Matthew 4:1-4, and I hoped it would give highlight to Dr. King as a preacher of the Gospel as well. And let me be honest. It is a GREAT sermon on its own. I read it myself four different times that week.<br><br>A few friends mentioned to me afterwards that they could have listened more intently and with greater interest if they had known who the preacher was from the very beginning. I always (try to) appreciate the feedback I get because my target is communicating, not drawing compliments, so let me apologize. My choice was my mistake. Aiming for a dramatic high point, I missed the target.<br> </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let me back track and fill in some gaps:<br><br><b>First</b>, <a href="http://www.salsa.net/peace/conv/8weekconv4-2.html">Click Here to go to Dr. King’s sermon</a> in full. </span><br>
<br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/01/martin-luther-king-jr-gospel-preacher.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-60913093755668786372015-01-08T09:43:00.000-05:002015-01-08T09:46:13.493-05:00A Different Response To Same-Sex Attraction Than You May Have Heard Before<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’d like to
encourage you to read this blog post from my friend and colleague Tim Habecker,
director of missions/Outreach at Hope EPC here in Spotsylvania County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gives important first-hand perspective on
matters of homosexuality, same-sex attraction and the Christian faith. </span></span></div>
<br>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Perhaps you listened to NPR’s <i>Weekend Edition </i>this
past Sunday morning. If you did you were introduced to a pastor and his wife
from western Pennsylvania. What you likely had no way of knowing is that there
is just one degree of separation between you and Allan Edwards…and it is
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.hopechurchva.org/koine-things/2015/1/6/let-me-introduce-you">Click Here</a> to read Tim’s entire blog
post. </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br>
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<br></div>
<i>
</i><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/01/04/374857829/a-pastor-moves-past-his-attraction-to-men-and-so-does-his-wife">Click Here</a> to listen to the NPR interview with Tim’s friend
Allan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is titled “Attracted to Men,
Pastor Feels Called To Marriage With A Woman.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></span></div>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2015/01/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-37870610507271463442014-12-18T08:53:00.000-05:002014-12-18T09:57:48.342-05:00Planning For 2015<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some of these things are still on the drawing board – being prayed through and planned – but they are clearly emerging with the leading of God. I want to share my encouragement, help you be aware and praying as well as give the Spirit opportunity to begin leading you into your place with what is emerging. Here are a few of the things on our horizon:</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2014/12/planning-for-2015.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-24150600340104464142014-10-23T10:35:00.003-04:002014-10-23T10:35:55.804-04:00Marriage Inequality – A Problem Caused By Redefining Marriage<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How do you ensure that an airplane and an elephant have equal rights?<br><br>Huh?!?!??<br><br>Answer: You don’t. An airplane and an elephant are different in so many ways that talking about equality between them is pointless. The two are simply different, not unequal.<br><br>It is absurd to talk about equality between an airplane and an elephant until you first get rid of the difference.<br><br>Which is why I say that “Marriage Inequality” is a problem that is caused by redefining marriage. The romantic union of two men is as different from a marriage of a man and woman as an airplane is different from an elephant. The two relationships are not unequal. They are different. At least until you redefine them in a way that erases or obscures the difference.<br>
</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2014/10/marriage-inequality-problem-caused-by.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-6918215987032720102014-10-23T07:23:00.001-04:002014-10-23T07:23:41.783-04:00Jesus and the Two Mars Hills<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I was struck
recently by sad news about the two Mars Hill churches, which reminded me once
again of my own need for Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<br></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">You know the two
Mars Hill churches?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<br></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The one in Seattle
was founded by Mark Driscoll and experienced dramatic growth under his spiritually abusive
leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor Driscoll resigned
recently amidst the scandal of that abusiveness.</span></span></div>
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<br></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The other Mars Hill
church is in Grand Rapids, MI.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
founded and led by Rob Bell until he resigned to pursue his own take on a
modern faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a take that left
behind the historic foundations of Christian faith. Rob and I are graduates of the same seminary.</span></span></div>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2014/10/jesus-and-two-mars-hills.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-59900380351937010612014-09-19T09:45:00.000-04:002014-09-19T09:49:01.713-04:00So You Think God Has Multiple Personalities?<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I didn’t set out to be a “Heresy Hunter.” But once I saw THREE churches in our county that said they believed in “One God who has existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” I knew I needed to look further. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While I do not and have never thought that these churches were staging a deliberate subterfuge to undermine 16 centuries of Christian belief, I do think that defining the Trinity as “One God with Three Personalities” rather than “One God in Three Persons” is a dangerous misunderstanding with real consequences. I’m posting this because I have now seen such statements on the websites of other churches in cities that I have recently traveled to.</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2014/09/so-you-think-god-has-multiple.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-51998891522117958232014-09-13T15:14:00.000-04:002014-09-13T15:14:16.146-04:00The Secret Capture of the Church: Why I Hope We Leave Behind the Movie Left Behind<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For the record: I do believe that Jesus will return one day to planet Earth – publicly, gloriously, victoriously and savingly – just as He promised. Those who are alive at His returning will meet Him in the air. He will judge the world – both those who are alive and those who have died - and He will establish His Kingdom with justice, peace and life as it was created to be. All of this has been believed by believers across cultures and across centuries and is part of the “faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)<br><br>Here is what I don’t believe: I do not believe that Jesus will return half-way and silently in order to secretly remove the church and the Holy Spirit from the planet for the seven year Great Tribulation and then “come-again again,” this time to judge and reign for 1,000 years. These ideas are the product of a particular perspective called Dispensationalism that was unknown among Christians until late in the 19th century.<br><br>Why bring it up at all? Because the peculiar idea of a “pre-trib rapture” followed by a 7-year period of Great Tribulation will be served up for a fourth time by Hollywood on October 3 in the movie Left Behind starring Nicolas Cage (!?!).. And like leftover food, microwaved and served for a fourth time, I recommend that you just throw it in the garbage once and for all.</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-secret-capture-of-church-why-i-hope.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-13662089477230182022014-09-09T16:46:00.000-04:002014-09-10T12:06:16.816-04:00Beneath The Cross of Jesus<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Justin Taylor offers this long quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer on his blog today under the title: Bonhoeffer on What a Christian Under the Cross Can Offer that a Secular Therapist Cannot. <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2014/09/08/bonhoeffer-on-what-a-christian-under-the-cross-can-offer-that-a-secular-therapist-cannot/" target="_blank">Click Here</a><br><br>I've been returning to it throughout the day. It is stunning and inspiring and convicting. Bonhoeffer is the German pastor who stood against the Nazi madness and ran an underground seminary to train pastors. Life Together was written while he taught at that seminary. </span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2014/09/beneath-cross-of-jesus.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-74261286602481193422014-09-09T16:07:00.000-04:002014-09-09T16:07:09.781-04:00What makes a Church “Safe”?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For many people, church has never been a “safe place.” They have experienced or heard stories of emotional and spiritual manipulation and even abuse inside the church. Whatever True Christianity might be, the reality of day-to-day, life-on-life living with real people in a church setting can be pretty brutal. I know. I’ve been a pastor for most of my adult life, and have the scars, bruises and limps to prove it. And sad to say, I may have given as much or more than I have taken.<br><br>Over the course of these many years, I’ve observed three different strategies for making a church into a more safe place for real people.</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2014/09/what-makes-church-safe.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-61052509172671705472014-08-27T10:28:00.002-04:002014-08-27T10:41:47.622-04:00Blessed To Be A Blessing<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YSRJWvftySE/U_3pJdUrQ9I/AAAAAAAAApc/xnbYZbf5n1I/s1600/2014082595082003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YSRJWvftySE/U_3pJdUrQ9I/AAAAAAAAApc/xnbYZbf5n1I/s1600/2014082595082003.jpg" height="112" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready, Waiting and Welcoming!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What a great time this past Monday, September 25. Christ Covenant was able to provide a “Welcome Back Continental Breakfast” for the faculty and staff of both Salem Elementary School and Harrison Rd Elementary School on their first day back for the new school year.<br><br>We put on a spread for the 160 people in these two schools who work each day with the children near our church building. I’m thankful to Principles Harold Morton and Deborah Frazier for the opportunity to serve those who serve the kids of our community. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In particular, it was great to see the committment Mr. Morton and Mrs. Frazier have to their students and their families, to their staff and to our community. We are blessed to have two leaders with such committment and faith in the positions that they are in. I got to observe how they set the pace for an entire school. You can believe I pray for them specifically as I pray for our community.<br><br>Christ Covenant has families who send their kids to public schools, private schools and who do home-schooling. Mary Lynn and I used those three options as well as a charter school to get our three kids ready for college. How you educate your children is a family decision based on the needs, resources and convictions of the family.<br><br>But praying and working for the wholeness of the community where God has placed us is an expression of our faith. </span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2014/08/blessed-to-be-blessing.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-29163119566908288462014-08-14T14:50:00.000-04:002014-08-14T15:52:47.711-04:00Relief for ALL the People of Northern Iraq<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Christ Covenant will be joining with the other congregations of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church to provide relief for all the people affected by the atrocities of ISIS in Northern Iraq. <a href="http://www.4cfxbg.org/news-events/iraqi-refugee-relief/" target="_blank">Click Here</a> to learn more or become involved.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By “all,” I mean “all:” the Christians, the Yazidi, the Kurds and even the Shiite Muslims and Sunni Muslims who suffer when standing up to ISIS. Let me explain why.</span><br>
<a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2014/08/relief-for-all-people-of-northern-iraq.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782104989514566763.post-91533316404871836782014-08-12T06:55:00.001-04:002014-08-27T10:28:58.155-04:00Give Them Grace: Gospel-Centered Parenting<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In a recent blog post, Pastor Tullian Tchivdjian recounts a conversation with his son after a crushing basketball defeat. It's a great example of what gospel-centered parenting could look like and what it means to "pursue the heart" with our children in the lives that they live.</span><br>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Dad, I played terrible.” </span><br><br><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I said, “I know you don’t think you played well but why does not playing well make you so sad.” </span><br><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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</blockquote><a href="http://4cfxbg.blogspot.com/2014/08/give-them-grace-gosple-centered.html#more">Read more »</a>Bill Lindnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149125851204515215noreply@blogger.com0