5.21.2008

Relentless Grace has moved!

I am terrible sorry for the inconvenience, but I switched to wordpress- its a beautiful thing.  The address is similar for you - www.relentlessgrace.wordpress.com 


it still works through RSS feeds and in the google feeder.  I do not have to mess with a third party to know stats and many other things.  Plus I can upload audio and post articles easier as well.  

I will delete this site in a few weeks to ensure everyone has the new link.   

5.12.2008

A grand ol' time with Tim Keller


keller_web.jpgWhen: Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
Where:
Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost:
Open to the public and free of charge

Why does God allow suffering in the world? How could a loving God send people to Hell? Why isn't Christianity more inclusive? How can one religion be "right" and the others "wrong"? Why have so many wars been fought in the name of God?

If you or your friends ever struggled with any of these questions, you won't want to miss this event.
reason_web.jpg

As the founding pastor of
Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, Timothy Keller has compiled a list of the most frequently voiced doubts skeptics bring to his church as well as the most important reasons for faith. His book, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, peaked at #6 on the New York Times Bestseller List. In his book, Dr. Keller "addresses each doubt and explains each reason, using literature, philosophy, real-life conversations, and reasoning to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief, held by thoughtful people of intellectual integrity with a deep compassion for those who truly want to know the truth."

Join the CCO in welcoming Dr. Timothy Keller to the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland, situated between the campuses of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2008. The event is free of charge, so bring your friends-skeptics, believers
, cynics, and doubters alike!

For more information about this event,
click here, or contact Scott Calgaro, Director of Conferences & Events, CCO (scalgaro@ccojubilee.org or 412.363.3303 x109).

4.23.2008

Iain Campbell on Psalmody (Reformation 21)

It leaves us a bit eccentric in the eyes of some, but that all depends on where the centre is. A lifetime of worshipping with the words of the Psalms certainly embeds the sentiments of Scripture on one's mind and memory. The Psalter represents the Songs of Zion, which celebrate the both the history and the application of redemption.

I realize there is a theological issue here - how can we sing songs in worship which do not praise Jesus? My response is simply that if Jesus is not the God of the psalms, I don't know who is. I also note that the early Pentecostal preaching on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is grounded in the sentiments of the Psalms. So I do not accept that the Psalms are inadequate for New Covenant worship, and I enjoy speaking on the redemptive, Christological and even Trinitarian strands of our hymnody.

4.22.2008

T4G reflections and Day 2

We stayed at the Holiday Inn 5 blocks from the Convention Center. Marvelous walk in the morning with 60 degrees and cool air. Breakfast was at the McDonald's, nothing marvelous. We discovered that one had to be there early in order to get good seats. It did not happen that morning, but I committed to doing so for the rest of the day.

John MacArthhur kicked off the day with a sermon on the Doctrine of Inability (total depravity). It was excellent and humbling, a biblical recognition that we are unable to do anything good, and even our best actions are worthy of damnation. (John Bunyan quote).

Next up was Mark Dever pleading with pastor to not seek an improved or kinder gospel as one does not exist and is mean. Excellent message. He examined what many try to do with the gospel (think Brian McLaren, Tony Campolo, and Rob Bell), showed their fallacies and presented a robust biblical gospel.

Sproul dominated the afternoon speaking on the "Curse Motif of the Atonement." Sproul explained that Jesus was forsaken that I might be blessed. God fulfilled the Maladiction (curses) on Jesus, whose work, that action brought the benediction to be spoken and fulfilled on me, the true sinner. This was the best and most convicting out of all of these.

In the afternoon was a survey of the debate in evangelical circles over penal substitution by Al Mohler. Good lecture, the most academic so its not enthralling. But a must to listen to, to be aware of what is happening in the church today.

Throughout the whole day (and the night before) the attendees were given 10 books, by the end of the conference I had 15 free books. The most meaningful was Dr. Schaefer's gift to each one of us Redemption Accomplished and Applied, by John Murray.

4.20.2008

T4G Refections and Day 1


at 6:30am, Tuesday, April 15th, myself, two good friends and my adviser departed for the together for the gospel conference in Louisville, Kentucky. It was my first time to a major conference of any nature and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I walked away with over 15 free books, courtesy of many publishers and the T4G speakers, and encouragement from the fabulous sessions. The first talk was Ligon Duncan, who spoke on the importance of systematic theology in pastoral ministry. His talk, in my mind, set the tone for the whole conference. Each in its own way dealt with aspects of the emergent church movement and criticized it heavily. To this end Lig's focused on how systematic theology is above, not equal to, biblical theology. Rather pertinent at this time with the happenings at Westminster East with Enns.

Next up was Thabiti on "bearing the image." His was the most intriguing and I am still thinking about what was said. His general thesis was that we view this world with a misconception that hinders ministry - the idea of race. Race is unbiblical, he said, and suggested a new framework for looking at people - ethnicity. In my mind his gave the foundation for not ministering to a select group of "racial" people, as we are all united in Adam with the image of God and sin. Instead we should view people in terms of ethnicity which is much broader and can include whites with black.

more posts to follow.
If you want to check out the liveblogging see Tim Challies
Also the sessions are free here

4.14.2008

T4G


In 19 hours I, Tim Hopper, Griff Price, and Dr. Paul Schaefer, depart for the Together for the Gospel Conference in Louisville, Kentucky (otherwise known as Southern Baptist Mecca). 3 days jampacked with solid teaching, biblical preaching, and fellowship. I am not planning on blogging in my time there, but pictures, notes, and stories will dominate this blog until my wedding (less than 3 weeks away).

4.09.2008

reading brochure

Here is the recommended reading brochure for Christ Presbyterian Church (The ARP church plant here in Grove City) that I worked on a few weeks ago. It will be on the CPC website, along with sermons and other goodies.

thoughts?

4.04.2008

overboard


just had to share... taken from inphotos

4.01.2008

"In the MTV generation truth and honor means nothing, money and noise means
everything... Parents relive their childhood through their child."
Charles Whiley in my Family class today speaking on modern youth culture.

Books I want to read

Thinking about creating a home and gearing up to do that in just under 5 weeks is very daunting and I am inadequate - a sure sign that I need (desperately) God's grace.

A few books I want to read are:
"When Sinner's Say 'I Do'" [Jen currently is reading it, I'll go at it once she is done]

Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition [a review of which can be found at Drew Goodmanson's blog]

to reread - Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change, Helping People in Need of Change (have not touched this since biblical counseling 101 2 years ago)

And just for kicks - The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship

[First I have to finish others first]