There's a NEW Heart of Ezra
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Please visit the NEW Heart of Ezra now hosted by Word Press!
posted by TAC @ 8:46 AM,
Launch of New Podcast
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
If you would like to listen to my new podcast, called Preach the Gospel, you can check it out here.
If you would like to subscribe to the podcast here is the feed.
1 Cor. 9:16 (ESV)
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
posted by TAC @ 6:32 AM,
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Quote from Richard Sibbes
Friday, November 10, 2006
I read this quote from The Bruised Reed by Ricard Sibbes a few days ago.
"What the heart likes best, the mind studies the most."
I find some Christians are usually better able to quote the most recent movie, lyrics from a song, news story, political strategy or specifications on the latest car than they are able to quote the Bible.
So what does your mind study the most? It might give you an honest evaluation of what your heart treasures.
posted by TAC @ 1:04 PM,
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Quote from John Piper
Friday, October 27, 2006
I thought this quote was interesting from John Piper. It is from his message The Supremacy of Christ and Joy in a Postmodern world.
"The point is to simply affirm precious truth of doctrinally based joy over against the postmodern debunking of propositional revelation and biblical doctrine and expositional preaching—as though there were some other way to attain Christ-exalting joy."
posted by TAC @ 11:31 AM,
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A Conference in the Comfort of Your Own Home
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
In April I attended the Together for the Gospel Conference (T4TG) in Louisville, Kentucky. While I was there I heard about another conference that was to take place this fall. It was John Piper’s Desiring God Conference. At T4TG I had been given a DVD which previewed the conference and the speakers who were to be there. On the DVD John Piper announced the national conference would be based on a book written by David Wells. After I heard this, I knew I had to read the book. Any book that had a conference based on it must be some book. I picked up Above All Earthly Pow’rs: The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World in the bookstore at T4TG. There were a few other books I read before I finally got a chance to pick it up and read it. As I began to read I could see why John Piper would want to have a whole conference deal with this issue. David Wells does a masterful job of explaining where we are in the current age of postmodernism and how we as Christians should respond and live in such an age. While quite deep, I also found it to be very instructive and thought provoking.
Even before I had read the book I knew the Desiring God National Conference would be worth attending, but after I read the book I had a new perspective as to why such a topic was important. Unfortunately, I was not able to fly up to Minneapolis, Minnesota to attend. I did find Tim Challis live blogging of the event helpful, but I still wanted more. Then a few days after the conference was over they put the audio of the sessions on the internet which can be downloaded for free. I quickly jumped at the chance and downloaded all of the sessions, including the panel discussion. It was like Christmas that day. “You mean I can have them all for free?” How I wish more conferences were like this! Now I had seven hours of audio just waiting to be listened to, but when would I get a chance to?
I decided this would be a great chance to listen to the conference with my wife. She had known my interest in the conference and had heard me talk about the book. I have truly enjoyed these times. We currently have listened to two of the sessions, but it takes us two sittings to listen to one session. So far we have listened to Voddie Baucham and Mark Driscoll. Both have been edifying and uplifting. Christ is a postmodern world is a serious issue for us as we seek to continue in ministry. What a joy to have the Desiring God National Conference in the comfort of our own home. I look forward to the rest of the sessions and the great biblical insight I am my wife can gain from the conference speakers.
posted by TAC @ 12:27 PM,
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Golden Ball Disgrace
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
On Sunday I enjoyed watching the second half of the World Cup Final. The whole world cup had been great up to this point and so I sat back with anticipation to see the final outcome. Personally, I was hoping Italy would win. It had been a while since they had won the World Cup and I like the way they played as a team. France had some powerhouse players, like Henry (pronounced "Onry") and Zinedine Zidane, who I thought might be able to boost them to a win. (As a side note Zinedine Zidane has become a familiar name in our house with it being one of the three soccer players my wife knows. Can you guess the other two?) With the 90 minutes ending at a one-one tie, the world sat on the edge of its seat hoping for a spectacular set of extra time. What would happen would shock all spectators.
With only a short time remaining before penalty kicks the captain of France, Zinedine Zidane was red carded. He was ejected from the game for head butting one of the Italian players in the chest. Zidane has become known as one of the best soccer players in the world at this time. What was even bigger was the fact that he had announced his retirement from the international scene after this World Cup. He would not get to see his dream lived out of ending on the top of the world. As Zidane walked off the pitch he passed by the World Cup trophy, which would never end up in his grasp again as Italy won the match in penalty kicks. What a huge disappointment for all France fans.
A day after the World Cup final they announce the winner of the Golden Ball. This is the MVP of the World Cup. Who did they choose? Zinedine Zidane, a player who had been sent off in the World Cup final because of a disgraceful action taken toward another player. What was remembered from Zidane that night was not his skillful ball handling but his unsportsmanlike conduct. Whether he was taunted or not by another player should not matter. At his level of play, if you are taken out of the game that easily by another player all the talent in the world does not matter. Zidane's heart displayed his real need, which wasn't a World Cup trophy, it was a Savior. Zidane, who is known as a great soccer player, ended up not looking like a great man. The true fruit of his life was displayed for the whole word as he walked off the international scene. It was not fruit of the Spirit (especially self-control), but was rather the rotten fruit of the flesh.
How could they give the Golden Ball to someone who did not deserve it? Yes, he might have played well, but his vicious should have disqualified him from such a reward. Are we watching our own lives so that we will not be disqualified? Are we able to exercise self-control in all things? Zidane had spent countless hours buffeting his body to play the game of soccer and in the heat of the game his discipline failed. He did not play in such a way to receive a prize, but in our sin twisted world he received a prize. It will not be so the Christian. We must run the race of life in such a way to obtain the prize. To lay hold of the reward. Our pursuit in this life is holiness, to be like Christ in everything. Do we pursue in through the tough times or do we let the tough times get the best of us. Let us discipline ourselves in the understanding and application of God's Truth to our hearts.
1 Cor. 9:24-27 (ESV)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. [25] Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. [26] So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. [27] But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
posted by TAC @ 6:21 AM,
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FBCLA Summer Camp 2006
Friday, July 07, 2006
Last week I had the great honor and privilege to speak at a Junior High Summer Camp. My friend Derek Brown invited me out to his church, where he is currently the high school director, to teach on the book of Philippians for a week to 23 middle schoolers. I was "psyched out of my mind" to be able to do this. God truly blessed my time there and my prayer is that He will use that camp to strengthen and grow the lives of all that attended for His glory and honor. It was also a great time of fellowship. Being able to talk about ministry with Derek was an encouragement to my heart. How amazing it is to experience the Word of God lived out in the lives of others. Derek truly emulates Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." I was sharpened by Derek last week. His knowledge and love of our Lord and Savior impresses me every time. The wisdom the Lord has given him also is a blessing to all he comes into contact with. His leadership is a great example of Christ and I know GOd will use him to be a great leader of the church. We all need sharpening. Derek sharpened me last week. Who has sharpened you recently? Maybe it was a sharpening which caused friction and exposed sin in your life. Make sure you put it to death. Maybe it was sharpening which encouraged you with the power of Christ when you were feeling weak. We need brothers and sisters to build us up in the most holy faith and push us toward Christlikeness. Thanks Derek for sharpening me.
P.S. I also want to announce my new family blog! You can visit it here. Make sure you save it on your favorites as major events are taking place all the time!
posted by TAC @ 10:55 AM,
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