Akin and Duncan

Ligon Duncan - Q & A with Danny Akin from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.

Husbands: Headship Means Taking the Lead in Reconciliation

Husbands: Headship Means Taking the Lead in Reconciliation

via Justin Taylor by Justin Taylor on 2/17/11

John Piper:

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.

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]

I'm thankful for good profs who step up and help!

---

[1] David Wells, No Place For Truth, or, What Ever Happened to Evangelical Theology?, Eerdmands Publishing Co., 3.

A bit of M.L.J. wisdom

Brothers,

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.'

Feeling Obligated

Wow! It was great to see your names pop up in my inbox yesterday! I just wish I could have been with one of you to really enjoy the moment that I saw Manley's feeble attempt to dupe us with Ricky boy. As for a little update from our corner of the world:

• 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.

Miss you all but remember you with joy every time I think of you.

Feeling Rebuked

Bishop! I received your e-mail and am feeling heartily admonished. Thank you for caring for my soul in this way. Please do not shut down this blog. Long Live Dever's Mighty Men!!

Updates from the Merkers:

• 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.

That's all for now -- miss you all!

MM