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“There must be a reason.”

There always is. And, in this case there’s no difference in that regard.

“Well I, for one, am getting prepared—as much as I can be under such circumstances.”

Me too.

“How are you doing so?”

Pretty much the way everyone else is—except for one very great difference.

“What’s that?”

I’m talking earnestly to the Lord about it; and I’m sure that whichever way it goes, He’ll work things out in such a way that they’ll be for the good of those who love Him. After all, He called us, and put us in this situation, for some purpose.

“I know Paul wrote to that effect in Romans 8:28, so it must be true. But, I’ll tell you, it’s hard to see how it will happen in this case.”

During Michael Vlach's session, "You Might Be a Dispensationalist If," from this month's Shepherd's Conference, he argues that one's convictions on Dispensationalism vs. Covenant Theology necessitate certain conclusions on some matters of doctrine, but not on other matters of doctrine.

He offers Calvinistic soteriology as an example of those non-issues. In doing so, he disagrees with some CT proponents who argue that Dispensationalism necessitates Arminianism. I believe his assessment is correct. One can be a Dispensationalist and a Calvinist.

Many thanks to Matthew Hoskinson for serving us by preparing a two-page subject index to this book:

D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge. Letters Along the Way: A Novel of the Christian Life. Wheaton: Crossway, 1993.

More info:

Here is a good message on preaching from Matt Chandler. I am not an expert on preaching and not totally in love with Chandler’s preaching, but I am challenged by this good reminder on the necessity of faithful heralding. (As with everything, spit out the bones. I don’t endorse or recommend everything Chandler says or everyone he hangs around with.)

In the last month or so, I have read about 1500 pages on leadership, particularly church leadership in the changing context of today. This particular selection of books has a common theme: today’s society is markedly different than previous generations and therefore requires different leadership.

Here’s a few random thoughts:

Salt is a common seasoning, used almost daily by almost everyone. For some it is used too much, causing health problems. Unfortunately for many Christians, it is used too little and it has nothing to do with our food. It has to do with our speech.

Paul says, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:6).

Paul uses this metaphor for speech particularly in the realm of evangelism, and connects it with grace. But evangelism is not the only time when graceful, salty speech is needed. It should be the characteristic of all of our speech.

Christianity On Trial Is Belief in God a Delusional Road-Block to Progress? Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Location: 260 – 098 Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Road, The University of Auckland Today, many best-selling atheists argue that belief in God is delusional and a roadblock to political, moral, and scientific progress. In this public Q and A event

This week, my friend Andy Naselli gave me a copy of his new (and first) book, Introducing the New Testament: A Short Guide to Its History and Message.

Some time ago, I had seen a manuscript of this book and am delighted to see it in print. It is a short introduction to New Testament that gives basic introductory information about each book of the New Testament such as author, date, recipients, and message.