Mike's new book

Mike McKinley - Church Planting is for Wimps from 9Marks on Vimeo.

TML's new book

Michael Lawrence - Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church from 9Marks on Vimeo.

This Is Your Brain on Porn

This Is Your Brain on Porn

Meet Tyler

Our sweet little guy arrived a little after 6PM on Tuesday evening June 8.

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.

Look out Graham TX

The fellow behind me is heading to be a senior pastor!

Hey Oh!

Labor!

Let's pray for the Conners as Laura is now in labor. Also pray for Susan Burk, the wife of one of the pastors at Kenwood; she too is in labor.

May the Lord establish praise on the lips of these babies!

conner's fourth

Let's praise the Lord and congratulate the Connery's today for their fourth anniversary! Comment with the best marriage advice they've given or you've gleaned from their marriage. Love you, guys.

Timothy George lectures on Reformation

Timothy George - The Five Revolutions of the Reformation from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.

B21 and the GCR Panel at SEBTS

Baptist TwentyOne - Great Commission Resurgence Panel from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.

Pray for Geoff and Hinson

Brothers, let's pray for Geoff Chang this week as he and TML travel to Portland. Geoff will be meeting with the church, teaching Sunday school, and interviewing with the congregation in hopes of being called as associate pastor. See the schedule here.

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

The Sweetest Addresses?

Can you think of anything better than these?

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!

2T4G?s

1. Which talk are you most looking forward to?
2. What will be the first phrase Kauflin spontaneously squeels?

That's My King!

What's most astonishing about this is its overwhelming truth. But what is also surprising (and instructive) is that Josh kept this from us. Hear a portion of a sermon Josh preached during his Mississippi ministry days.

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?

Me and Mr. Carrington celebrate our new books!

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.

FOXNews.com - The Death and Rebirth of the RickRoll

FOXNews.com - The Death and Rebirth of the RickRoll

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Falling on Deaf Ears? -- Why So Many Churches Hear So Little of the Bible

Falling on Deaf Ears? -- Why So Many Churches Hear So Little of the Bible

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!

Hebrews

Hey Brothers,

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.

Greg's book

Leeman and his new book

Front of Capitol

The Hill looks like it needs some help.

Supreme Court

National Mall

Library of Congress


Reports are now saying we can expect another 12 to 20 inches.

You got to be kidding me?

Do you miss the Hill?

DC is looking (maybe) at its worst snow and blizzard in over 100 years.

We are inside and praying we do not lose power.

Anyone still want to come up for a visit?

Bruce Waltke -on the Psalms

Loved the donkey joke at the beginning!

Higher Education

Hallo Fellas,

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!

Dear Mr. Manley

Dear Josh,

May we have some updates; perhaps on how Jenny and Reeves are doing? (pics included)

Our leader

Mark Dever - Study Video from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

A year ago...

--We were writing papers on the first portion ofPolity and The Bruised Reed.
--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

Yesterday, Denny Burk preached from Proverbs 24.10-12 on abortion. He gave us a useful mnemonic device to respond to people who make arguments to deny the humanity of babies in the womb: SLED.

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!

This is how you pose for a pastoral portrait.

Idolatry?

Open Night of Worship from Jamie Clements on Vimeo.

Haiti Canceled

Hey brothers,

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

Nik,
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.

Finding Meaning in the Pentateuch | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Finding Meaning in the Pentateuch Christianity Today A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

For Ryan

I found some old notes from intern discussion.

Once during intern discussion we were talking about the Lord's Supper in its observation apart from one central gathering.

I remember the points that came out from discussing with Mark and these were the ones I jotted down.

1. Having the Supper outside of one gathering undermines discipline.


2. It is fundamental to "the" gathering.


3. It is the active picture of who can and cannot come to the table.

Piper at the Village Church

A sermon I desperately needed to hear. Piper at the Village Church this past weekend. What a gift he is to the church.

http://tinyurl.com/ygx44hw

Ouch

While I was home I used my dad's electric razor on my head and neck. Needless to say if it was a fight... the razor won. It burned me all up. What can I say... I am my father's son. If you know my dad, you know he is constantly hurting himself.

A couple of weeks ago I ran into something much like my father would do. Here are the results.

What happens when you don't have hair to protect your head?

Big Move For Us

Brothers,
We have good news and answered prayer. It looks like God is now allowing Jennifer and me to do what we've been wanting to do. We will be moving to Turkey in mid-January to serve the workers there. A great opportunity has come up for us, so we're going to take it. We'll be visiting our families in December and January and then coming back to DC for a weekend before we head out. So we only have a couple more weekends at CHBC.
While we're in Turkey I'll have an administrative job. We'll also be able to take the time to learn Turkish and to use our lives to share the truth with those around us. We hope to be there for a long, long time. I'm happy to tell you more if you get in touch with me.
Thank you for rejoicing with us in our great God and in the gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ.

-Mark S.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thankful for you guys. Would be great to get an email or even phone call from some of you every once in a while. (eh hem....Lingle, Merker, Stam).

Local Church in Vietnam

A raid caught on tape. Heart breaking.

http://ow.ly/EgcW

If only I had a Blu-Ray player

Roll out some encouragement

Check out TML, Dever and Croft in this pic

Service Planning during renovations

Because renovations are under way we now sing the final hymn at the top of the stairway. Mark insists.

Oh my!

Name That Author...

"It would be a good contest amongst Christians, one to labour to give no offence, and the other to labour to take none. The best men are severe to themselves, tender over others."

Piper: Sailhamer

Piper: Sailhamer’s The Meaning of the Pentateuch Will Rock Your World

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Jonah Sermon Audio

Brothers, I'd love your feedback on my sermon.