Dever's Mighty Men
The CHBC 2009 spring interns
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Some Family Pics
Lingles are Rockin It
Friday, February 24, 2012
3 years later
Ahh... it was only 3 years ago
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Congrats to Manley Family: Baby Girl
From: Josh Manley <joshuamanley@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 12:53 PM
Subject: Baby Girl
To: Josh Manley <joshuamanley@yahoo.com>
Friends,
We are grateful to God that Jenny gave birth to our daughter this
morning. Both Jenny and the little girl are doing well. While we
don't have a name yet, she weighs in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. and is 19.5
inches long. I hope this finds you all doing well!
Josh
--
Garrett Conner
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A Vision for Tough and Tender Pastors in Controversy
It seems to me that we are always falling off the horse on one side or the other in this matter of being tough and tender—wimping out on truth when we ought to be lion-hearted, or wrangling with anger when we ought to be weeping. . . .
Oh how rare are the pastors who speak with a tender heart and have a theological backbone of steel.
I dream of such pastors. I would like to be one someday.
A pastor whose might in the truth is matched by his meekness.
Whose theological acumen is matched by his manifest contrition.
Whose heights of intellect are matched by his depths of humility.
Yes, and the other way around!
A pastor whose relational warmth is matched by his rigor of study, whose bent toward mercy is matched by the vigilance of his biblical discernment, and whose sense of humor is exceeded by the seriousness of his calling.
I dream of great defenders of true doctrine who are mainly known for the delight they have in God and the joy in God that they bring to the people of God—who enter controversy, when necessary, not because they love ideas and arguments, but because they love Christ and the church. . . .
[Acts 15:1-3] is my vision: The great debaters on their way to a life-and-death show down of doctrinal controversy, so thrilled by the mercy and power of God in the gospel, that they are spreading joy everywhere they go.
Oh how many there are today who tell us that controversy only kills joy and ruins the church; and oh how many others there are who, on their way to the controversy, feel no joy and spread no joy in the preciousness of Christ and his salvation.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Dever's great example to our culture
Yin-Yang Contextualization
Ed, I've been meaning to say a few things on contextualization for a couple of weeks. You're helpful post Contexualization and Consistency provides me with the opportunity. One question from your remarks: in your second to last paragraph, you pit "fitting in like an insider" against "making hard choices." Can you give some concrete examples from Paul's life of what you mean by the latter category that does not also fall into the former?
What occurs to me about contextualization is that people often think of it in terms, as you suggest, of making ourselves like the culture we're trying to reach. It attempts to build a bridge on the power of similitude.
But watching Mark Dever for years now has taught me about a different kind of contextualization. He has a good eye for locating the particular weakness of a culture and then adopting practices that directly run against those weakness. For instance,
- We live in an entertainment-driven culture, and so he works hard to make sure our corporate gatherings don't cater to that desire among Christians and non-Christians.
- We live in a highly emotivisitc culture, and so he's careful not to use overly dramatic sermon illustrations that play to that desire for an emotional rush.
- We live in a style-conscious and celebrity-driven culture, and so he dresses plainly/unremarkably, puts someone else in the pulpit around 35% of the year, and generally promoted the leadership of others.
I could keep going with the examples, but you catch my drift. He's a contextualizing "yin" to the typical contextualizing "yang."
Now that doesn't mean he doesn't do the "yang." Clearly there's a time to build on similitude. His sermon introductions are all about meeting people "where they are at." But what I've learned watching him is that a pastor should also have a willingness to build on points of dissimilitude.
This takes humility and trust in God because building through similitude will almost always build the numbers more quickly. Building on points of dissimilitude may hurt the numbers in the short run. But you do it because it builds a firmer foundation for the long haul. You do it when you see that certain cultural preferences are in fact borderline idolatrous (e.g. entertainment, emotivism), and not finally usable for building healthy Christians and churches.
I haven't read much contextualizing literature, and perhaps the literature says all of this already. But the bottom line: my hunch is that we need a larger vision of contextualization. One needs discernment for knowing when to build with the YIN and when to build with the YANG.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Husbands: Headship Means Taking the Lead in Reconciliation
Husbands: Headship Means Taking the Lead in Reconciliation
Leadership means we must take the lead in reconciliation.
I don't mean that wives should never say they are sorry.
But in the relation between Christ and his church, who took the initiative to make all things new?
Who left the comfort and security of his throne of justice to put mercy to work at Calvary?
Who came back to Peter first after three denials?
Who has returned to you again and again forgiving you and offering his fellowship afresh?
So husbands, your headship means: Go ahead. Take the lead. It does not matter if it is her fault. That didn't stop Christ.
Who will break the icy silence first?
Who will choke out the words, "I'm sorry, I want it to be better"?
Or: "Can we talk? I'd like things to be better."
She might beat you to it. That's okay. But woe to you if you think that, since it's her fault, she's obliged to say the first reconciling word.
Headship is not easy. It is the hardest, most humbling work in the world.
Protect your family. Strive, as much as it lies within you, to make peace before the sun goes down.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
David Wells described me. Ouch!
For you seminary students-
When I was a seminary student I struggled immensely. I did not have the back ground at all to support me academically or intellectually. By God's grace and many tears the Lord got me through and even with success. What a blessing some of you have going to seminary post CHBC!
In speaking of the typical college experience and what kind of students he encountered at the seminary as a professor, Wells described my background specifically.
" Some how they manage to graduate students who have no mental connections with the past, little knowledge of its literature, less of its great thinkers, scant ability to think for themselves, and for whom the prospect of writing a research paper is a matter for great consternation. I looked out on that class, I guessed that at least some of theses victims of the educational system were present. Yet here they were, gamely exposing themselves to what must have seemed to them like grave peril. Their desire to be in seminary was a powerful compensation for - indeed, a counter force to - the habits and disposition they brought with them."[1]
[1] David Wells,
Saturday, February 5, 2011
A bit of M.L.J. wisdom
I'm reading through Murray's volume 1 biography of D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, 'The First Forty Years' - a few pages each morning. It's been instructive and enjoyable for me and always has some food for thought. Here's an excerpt about his preaching, being a new pastor with no theological training:
One thing that was clearly recognizable about this preaching was that it was based upon no contemporary models. Most of the preaching which Dr Lloyd-Jones had heard throughout his life had only convinced him what he must not do. He did not stand in the traditional Welsh succession which for some years had confused emotionalism and sentiment with the genuinely prophetic...In contrast to this, his sermons were closely reasoned, with the main theme carefully analysed. He was certain that true preaching makes its impact, in the first instance, upon the mind...Perhaps the most unusual feature about the form of his sermons was the importance which he gave to the introductions. He once observed:
'I am not and have never been a typical Welsh preacher. I felt that in preaching the first thing that you had to do was to demonstrate to the people that what you were going to do was very relevant and urgently important. The Welsh style of preaching started with a verse and the preacher then told you the connection and analysed the words, but the man of the world did not know what he was talking about and was not interested. I started with the man whom I wanted to listen, the patient. It was a medical approach, really - here is a patient, a person in trouble, an ignorant man who has been to the quacks, and so I deal with all that in the introduction. I wanted to get the listener and then come to my exposition. They started with their exposition and ended with a bit of application.'
Friday, February 4, 2011
Feeling Obligated
- We're loving Christ Covenant Church in Raleigh right now. I'm doing a pastoral internship there...a bit different than CHBC. Teaching the men's Bible study and building some great relationships
- Stacy continue to work at the Dr's office as a medical assistant (like a wannabe nurse). She does stuff that creeps me out, like removing stitches and taking urine samples and other things I don't feel comfortable mentioning. But she's a really nice person...and I love her.
- I am working at Voss Lighting...customer service stuff. We sell Philips lighting products to office management companies. It's a job that gives me lots of free time in the office for reading and teaching prep. It's a "Christian company" so they're all about employing guys who want to be in ministry. And the company motto..."We sell....to tell" (to tell the good news that is)
- I'm not in seminary right now. Our church is in the process of joining the SBC, but it might be another month or two, before the congregation finally settles the decision. I'm waiting for that to happen before beginning at the glorious SEBTS.
- We have not gestational news to report, but we would love to join the parent club in the not to distant future. All in God's good time
- Currently in the midst of training for a marathon...almost half-way there. Memorizing Philippians (per Justin Taylor's blog)...any of you doing this as well?
- Also, Ben Wright just informed me about a position I could apply for as a pastoral assistant. However, it is a fundamentalist church. which I thought would amuse you all. And it's in Lancaster PA, which is colder than NC. So God clearly is not leading us in that direction.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Feeling Rebuked
- Erica finished grad school and is working as a speech therapist in a 3-4 yr old classroom at the River School in Georgetown -- enjoying it, but long hours and long commute.
- I'm working on staff at the church and am having a BLAST! College ministry, music/bulletins, elders' meetings/members' meetings, and caring for members who have left the church (typically by trying to secure resignation letters from them). I'll be on staff till summer 2012. Then hopefully seminary.
- Speaking of seminary, I'll be taking 60 students and adults from CHBC to Lou-uh-vulle next weekend and we'll probably toilet paper the Manleys' lawn during our break from the conference.
- Enjoying having another class of interns here, including Bishop's fine predecessor at Graham, Garrett Kell. That makes this new intern class almost as "Texas" as ours was.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Our little Caleb is officially a cowboy...
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Meet Tyler
What a blessing he has been and we can't but love this little face.
Tyler has been a sweet and quiet little fellow sleeping, eating, napping and of course giving us many diapers.
So far he is a good baby who keeps a good schedule.
I snapped these shots before we left the hospital.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Labor!
May the Lord establish praise on the lips of these babies!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
conner's fourth
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Pray for Geoff and Hinson
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Notes from -Intern Discussion today
-Caring for the poor
· Popularity in our community is a poor guidepost to how we are doing as a church. It has an over/heightened sensitivity to what the world thinks about it.
· There are substantial truths that speak to the issue of caring for the poor; however, it is not the church’s main mission to care for the poor.
· Jer. 29 is a first of a unique moment in redemptive history (i.e.- God’s kind word of revelation for how to live as a dispersed people in particular time); however it presents a particular principle of seeking the welfare of those around you by praying for and petitioning on behalf of those in that city.
· We should understand the rebuke of other nations as a rebuke of the treatment of those (humans) created in the image of God.
· We can all agree that God’s rebuke of the OT nations for what they did that was evil, still stands today.
· The careful distinction we must build in is that we cannot build our church identity on a specific target group like the poor.
· We must make clear what makes a “true” church; then, we must discern the opportunities the Lord has laid before us.
· Practically we can speak to this in our sermons as we apply this in the “public” category of the application grid.
· Those who do not see the same discontinuity we see- are not (in many ways) carrying out the fundamentals/consistency of their “Theonomist” perspectives consistently.
· Going to work as economist, or teacher, or a banker are all good things to do and should not be held in lower light than other works like “World Vision” or other relief organizations.
· We should be moved by the spiritual state of either the poor or the rich.
· Jesus context was to the poor who were considered to be forsaken by God.
· Biblical Theology is key to understanding on how these text fit into redemptive history.
· There is an over thought and emphasis on certain principles that treated as overreaction –“if you don’t treat the care of the poor with highest importance then you must not care.”
· Being grounded in your nuance of theology, will help wade the waters of rhetoric- Mark Dever
Monday, April 26, 2010
The Sweetest Addresses?
1. Than God calling you "son"
2. Than a woman calling you "husband"
3. Than a child calling you "father"
4. Than a church calling you "pastor"
Praise the Lord, Garrett, for making you shepherd of his people! Lord, work for the beauty of your bride at La Plata!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
2T4G?s
Monday, March 29, 2010
That's My King!
Friday, March 26, 2010
SEBTS, Lingle, Dever and Akin
Mark Dever - For Children Only - Mark 10:13-16 from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.
It was great seeing Mark preach at SEBTS.
One of the reasons it is great to go on these trips is because (you can tell by our expression) is that he buys us all any book we want. What a guy?
Top- Interns plus some of the staff out in front of Stealy Hall
Bottom- Danny Akin and Mark Dever discuss the 9Marks at SEBTS relationship
Look who I ran into. Mr. Handsome- Nik Lingle.
Miss this guy and I'm thankful for his friendship.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Encouraging Quote
Hi all,
I'm thankful that toward the end of our internship, Stam persuaded Mark to buy us each the Iain Murray book of our choice -- after all, what a shame it would have been to have Chinese food with Iain Murray but not receive one of his books!
Anyway, I requested A Scottish Christian Heritage, which I've lately been reading before bed. It has not disappointed.
Given Garrett's request for more posts, I thought I would encourage you all with a couple of quotes from Robert Moffat from Murray's book. Moffat was a Scottish missionary to South Africa in the 19th century, and David Livingstone's father-in-law. He labored for 7 years before seeing his first convert in 1826. Yet just a few years after that, in 1829, Moffat and his small team "were favoured with the manifest outpouring of the Spirit from on high" -- they baptized 6 more who gave "very satisfactory proofs of a change of heart," and the number at their church grew to twelve.
As the community of believers in Kuruman subsequently grew exponentially, Moffat still had this to say:
"We want in zeal. The work of conversion, or endeavors to convert sinners, is not so much the primary object of our souls as it ought to be. If I speak for myself I must say that I do not feel that sympathy for the awful condition of my fellow-men which their state ought to excite in every Christian bosom. When I look at the Man of Sorrows, His toilsome days and midnight prayers, and the burning zeal of the first ministers of the gospel, I feel as if I had not the same mind or spirit."
Moffat labored to translate the Bible into the Sechuana language, and finished his first edition in 1853. He was not satisfied with it, though, and continually labored to improve it. He completed a second version in 1857. He wrote this to his wife concerning God's Word:
"It was only yesterday, after laying down the Bible, that I wondered what kind of mind I would have had if I had not the Book of God, the Book containing the astounding idea of 'from everlasting to everlasting,' the development of all that is worth knowing... One would think, that as I have critically, and, I think, devoutly read and examined every verse, every word in the Bible, some a score of times over, I should not require to open the pages of that unspeakable blessed Book. Alas, for the human memory! I read the Bible today with the same feeling I ever did, like the hungry when seeking food, the thirsty when seeking drink, the bewildered when seeking counsel and the mourner when seeking comfort. Don't you believe all this? For alas, I read it sometimes as a formal thing, though my heart condemns me afterwards... I am yet astonished at my own ignorance of the Bible!"
And that from a man that had TRANSLATED the whole thing. May God grant us the same attitude!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Hebrews
Perhaps you have heard of Ryan Ferguson. He quotes Hebrews and various other passages of Scripture...usually for large audiences. And he sweats a lot...at first I wondered if it was a trendy design on his shirt and then I realized it was just massive pit stains.
Anyways, his example has inspired me to memorize the book of Hebrews and my I'm past the half-way mark on that goal. Just finished chapters 1-7 and chapter 11. So just a 8-10 and 12-13 left to complete.
The meditations that this discipline has produced have deepened my affection for Christ, our elder brother who has suffered just as we have in order to bring us to God. He is our forerunner, having marked out the path that we must complete. He suffered, endured temptation, and experienced weakness. Yet he remained holy, innocent, unstained and separated from sinners.
Because he has paved the way through suffering into the presence of God, we have a clear path on which to strive until we finally enter that eternal rest. Hope these thoughts encourage you today.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Do you miss the Hill?
Friday, February 5, 2010
Higher Education
This "update" sees me writing to you all in the midst of the second sizable "snowpocalypse" or "snowmaggedon" of DC's winter. The result of all of this snowschatalogy is a day off from work for me, which means listening to choral music in preparation for Good Friday, drinking too much coffee, catching up on blog reading, eating my wife's delicious cooking, and applying for seminary.
Yes, I said applying for seminary, and yes, Ryan, you win. I'm applying to that "grand beacon" of light and truth, "The" Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of ol' Kentuck. My tongue's not in my cheek - I really do think that SBTS will be a good choice, not only theologically, but also logistically/financially for us. I'm really just hoping to get started with some extension center and possibly online classes, but the Lord may have us in Louisville in a couple of years for full time study -- we'll see!
So, my question for those "in the know:" Which M. Div. concentration do you recommend? I'm sticking with the School of Theology, and looking mostly at the Biblical/Theological Studies and the Worldview/Apologetics concentrations. Any help you can provide??
While we're at it, I also wanted to inform you guys that I will be coming on staff at CHBC this summer as a Pastoral Assistant! I'm extremely excited (and humbled - yes, sincerely humbled, not just saying that as a token nod to our buddy C.J.) for the opportunity and would covet your prayers for my faithfulness, helpfulness, and servant-mindedness during my time on staff. They're not exactly sure whose position I'll be filling, because some of the responsibilities might get shuffled around a bit - but it looks like I will have some combination of Gustav's and Geoff's duties.
That's all for now -- I'll leave you with a couple of wedding pictures since Garrett requested them so long ago!
Yep, Ryan, that's a highway-side beach on the southern coast of Maui, along the "other" road to Hana... great times!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
A year ago...
--We were having our third Intern Discussion--surely all still humbled by Merker's affection and perplexed by Lingle's opposition to Bridges.
--We were leaving for the Desiring God Pastor's Conference--which would be a turning point for all of us in our perception of Manley.
--I think Garrett and Stam got closer on the plane ride with talks of life in marriage.
Grateful to God for bringing you into my life a year ago!
S-L-E-D: A Response to Pro-Choice Thinking
Size: Is Klon Kitchen more human just because he's bigger than Michael Jr.?
Level of Development: Is Garrett more human because he's more developed mentally, physically, emotionally than Jackson? (This assumes Jackson isn't yet doing his own searches for '80s classics on YouTube.)
Environment: Is Merker more human just because he dwells in the capital of the free world, whereas Lingle resides in Hicksville, Carolina? (Likewise, the womb doesn't preclude humanity.)
Degree of Dependency: Were the four more human than the paralytic they lowered to be near Jesus? After all, the paralytic's image-bearing accountability was affirmed when Jesus forgave his sins and healed him.
Anyway, I thought this was a worthy tool to memorize. Hope you're well, brothers!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Haiti Canceled
Our trip to Haiti has been canceled due to the earthquake. Please pray for missionaries and members of our church who were in Port-au-Prince awaiting our arrival when the earthquake hit. All landlines and mobile communications have been knocked out so we have not heard from them yet, but we anxiously wait for word of their safety.
Praise God for his control over all of creation. And praise him that even as he shakes this world now, there will be a greater shaking to come. But we have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:28-29).
More about Haiti
We'll be praying for you as you're there. Most of all for the people of Haiti after this tragic earthquake today. I'm not sure what it will look like when you get down there, but of course your trip may be different than you expect. Hope God will use you to help in ways that you weren't planning.
-Mark
Haiti
I'll be traveling to Haiti tomorrow morning (Wed, Jan 13) and will be there for 6 days. My pastor and a few others will be going down to teach. I'll be teaching the teen sessions from Psalm 19 and our pastor will lead a weekend pastor's conference on the nature of Biblical worship. There will also be a ladies conference and a vacation Bible school. Please pray that all these ministries would build up the local bodies in Haiti. Our goal is to strengthen the churches there with the faithful teaching of the Word.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)
I'll be sure to update the blog with pictures and reflections when I return next week.