Provocations & Pantings

Stuff this week, and some stuff not this week.

2008 Puritan Reading Challenge

1. I have interviewed Dr. Stephen Yuille, author of The Inner Sanctum of Puritan Piety: John Flavel and the Doctrine of Mystical Union with Christ and plan on posting it sometime this week (a few edits need to be made). Dr. Yuille provided some great answers and commentary which I think you will enjoy listening to.

2. On Wednesday (Feb. 27) at 1:00 p.m. EST, I will again be on Calling for Truth with Paul Dean and Kevin Boling to talk about John Flavel and The Mystery of Providence. It will be a live call-in radio broadcast from 1:00-2:00 p.m. EST, and you can listen two ways:

1. If you live in SC or parts of NC, GA, or TN, you can listen in at Talk 660.
2. If you are like me and live elsewhere, you can listen online by going here.

The toll-free number to call in is 1.888.660.9535. As I said last month, it would be great to have as many of you on the show as possible as I am sure there is much more to be said and discussed than I could bring to the table. Plus, I would much rather listen and hear from others than be on the mic.

3. On Thursday, February 28, I am going to post the open thread for The Mystery of Providence where you are encouraged to share your thoughts on the book and how it has impacted your life or helped you in your relationship with God. From these responses, there will be a random drawing for the winner of the February book giveaway. So be sure to chime in and qualify for the possibility of winning some great books!

4. On Monday, March 2, the winner of the February giveaway will be announced.

2008 Band of Bloggers

After our first week of registration, we are 40% full! Needless to say, I am really jazzed about this year’s event. For those of you who are attending, I have created an attendees list as well as a Google map to see where everyone is coming from. To date, the following ministries/organizations are also represented: New Attitude, Banner of Truth, Union University, Ligonier Ministries, Founders Ministries, IX Marks Ministries, Crossway Publishers, Desiring God Ministries, HeartCry Missionary Society, Reformation Heritage Books, Midwest Center for Theological Studies, and Center for Biblical Manhood & Womanhood. If you are considering attending Band of Bloggers this year, be sure register soon as we have limited seating capacity.

“Ask Anything” This Week

Anyone remember the “9th Inning Rally” from this past December? Well, this coming Sunday (March 2), Pastor Mark Driscoll is going to address my question which I asked on the “Ask Anything” deal. For those who may not know, the question is:

“Do you believe that the Scripture not only regulates our theology but also our methodology? In other words, do you believe in the regulative principle? If so, to what degree? If not, why not?”

You can find all the media (audio and video) to this entire series by going here. I am hopeful that Pastor Mark will address this issue substantively as it is particularly relevant to theological and ecclesiological discussion today.

A Few Miscellanies

Miscellany #1

Last Friday morning, on my way to the True Church Conference, a local talk radio show had a discussion on, of all things, God’s providence. The host did not know it was that, but the topic was centered on an article in The Huntsville Times entitled, “Does God ‘Protect’ Some and Not Others?” I could not believe what I was hearing, not from the host (although he is a deist, e.g. God sets things into motion and leaves everything to the sovereignty of man), but from Christians who were calling in. One after the other, they were giving the answers of Open Theists! Answers like “God isn’t control over evil because he is not that kind of God; he cannot help what wicked, evil men do. What you see today is the result of the free will of men which God cannot change.” Poor, helpless God, subject to the arbitrary whims of man!

So I pulled over on the side of this back road and decided to call in.

While on hold for 20 minutes, the host was asking, “Why should God let anyone die (as in Katrina, the tsunami, etc.)?” So when I was able to chime in, the question to ask is, “Why should God let anyone live?” We are all sinners by nature and sinners by choice. The effects of the Fall have devastated man and the creation which also groans for redemption. However, God is as sovereign over the will of Bin Laden as he is over the winds called Katrina. There are no mistakes with God’s providence which is yes mysterious but always good. Well, before I was able to finish my second sentence, he cut to a break and hung up on me.

Anyway, so here I was, in my hometown in the buckle of the Bible belt, listening to a fatalist being responded to by Open Theists (though I am sure they were not aware of it) claiming to be speaking on behalf of Christians (and God!). Live-blogging from that moment on was certainly a challenge as my hands were still sore from pounding the steering wheel.

Miscellany #2

One another note, quite a different note, I want to ask that you please pray for me (and my wife) this weekend. We will be flying south in view of a call. I will be speaking several times over the weekend, including the Sunday morning service. This weekend is the fruit of over eight months of talks, prayer, and seeking God’s will for our lives after seminary. I am excited about this opportunity but am trusting that God will continue to confirm His will for us in the future as He conforms us to His good purposes. So if you think of it, I would really appreciate your prayers, for peace with an anxious heart, for strength with a weary soul, and for God’s delight and pleasure with my life and offerings.