Tuesday Theology

Tuesday Theology

September 29 2009

by Doug

Today for Tuesday Theology, I'd point you over to SBCVoices.com, specifically to the debate about whether or not multi-site churches are a good option, a bad option, a Biblically acceptable option, or what. I'm one of the presenters on this debate, so my theological thinking is headed that direction.

You can comment there or here about it. I'll have a rebuttal up in a day or two, and will link it here.

Doug

September 29 by doug

Reflections on Proverbs

Proverbs 29, September 2009

by Doug

Proverbs 29:1(NIV) →You really don't know when the last warning is coming. Don't play with it. Once you pass that line, there is no turning back. And yes, I think that can apply to believers. God will bring discipline on you for the purpose of teaching you and turning you back. I don't think He stops until you repent, even if it means you go see Him.

Proverbs 29:2(NIV) →The people groan under the wicked, for it takes their energy to face it. Be strong, and place the righteous into power!

Proverbs 29:4(NIV) →Justice provides stability. Kickbacks, bailouts, and infighting don't really help.

Proverbs 29:5(NIV) →Flattery may seem good, but to flatter dishonestly will destroy you!

Proverbs 29:6(NIV) →Your own sin brings your destruction. It's incredibly easy to blame others, but it's our own sins that get us.

Proverbs 29:8(NIV) →This one seems a little odd. But I think what we're seeing here is that people will turn a city upside down with ridiculous behavior, but that wise men will settle people down, preventing internal turmoil and outside interference.

Proverbs 29:9(NIV) →For more on this one, check out Overlawyered.com. Really.

Proverbs 29:11(NIV) →Anger must be controlled.

Proverbs 29:12(NIV) →This is why it's important to see who advises those who are in charge, be it in politics or church.

Proverbs 29:15(NIV) →Discipline. Children need it. From parents, not from the government.

Proverbs 29:16(NIV) →We may live to see the downfall of the wicked from heaven. In truth, this is a promise that wicked people will never stomp out righteousness, not that you as a specific righteous person will survive.

Proverbs 29:18(NIV) →This is about having God's word. Not about preachers having good ideas.

Proverbs 29:27(NIV) →At what point will we understand that righteousness and wickedness just don't coexist in peace? Any ideas?

Sept 27 AM Sermon Outline

Date: September 26, 2009 AM

Text: Hebrews 11:32-38

Location: CBC Monticello

Theme: History Matters

1. History of Faith

   1. The history of those who have gone before us is worth studying

      1. How many of us have learned the stories of Gideon, Barak, Samson, David, and the rest?

      2. Do we focus on teaching these stories to the next generations?

   2. The history of people that have proceeded us in the Christian faith is important

      1. We ought to learn about people that have proceeded us in faith

1. George Mueller

2. John Chrysostom

3. Thomas Aquinas

4. Martin Luther

5. Hudson Taylor

6. D. Bonhoeffer

7. Lottie Moon

8. Dixie Jackson

9. David Brainerd

10. Gladys Aylward

11. Augustine

12. Black Regiment

1. 1. 1. Have you heard of these? Ever read of their efforts?

      2. These should be our heroes as much as anyone else.

   2. The history of those that have gone before help us to see God's faithfulness through the ages

   3. We should look to these for the similarities, not the differences between “then” and “now”

2. History of our church

   1. How did we get where we are?

   2. What brought the best?

   3. What brought the worst?

   4. What are the foundations we can build on?

1. Firmness of faith

2. commitment of people

3. Experience with adversity

4. Provision of facility

5. God's strength

3. Our own personal history

   1. What are the good things?

   2. What are the bad things?

   3. What has brought us closest to God?

   4. What has pulled us away?

   5. What has gone as we planned and hoped?

   6. What hasn't?

   7. What does this teach us about God?

Monday Morning Politics--September 28

Monday Morning Politics

September 28, 2009

Doug

Republicans and sheer, utter stupidity.

While, personally, I don't often put these two things together, this weekend I've seen some reasons why. They basically come back to the current health care debate. Now, to tell you the truth, I currently have health insurance that I pay for completely from my salary. If I could live without insurance, I would make a substantial amount more. Also, at previous times in our family's life, we've gone without insurance for Ann and I and had the kids on Medicaid, because we could not afford the insurance offered by my employer. As soon as I could find a job with insurance provided, we changed. We continued to be eligible for Medicaid because of low-income, but used only our employer plan.

So, what has me displeased with the party of no right now? After all, my experience with Medicaid was more than enough to convince me that government run health care isn't a great idea. We had difficulties with payments at times, at other times saw doctors gladly order tests that seemed unnecessary simply because Medicaid would pay for it. We also saw some amazing differences in how we were treated by office and hospital staffs when we were on private insurance and Medicaid. Being a Medicaid patient seemed to result in longer waits, snarlier staff, and less listening by professionals, as if being on Medicaid was a sign of incompetence. Republicans should make me happy, because they do not want increased government involvement.

Problem is this: they're starting to be exceedingly stupid about it. We had a US Senator apparently express that there was no use in mandating maternity coverage, and his defense was “I don't need it, I shouldn't have to have it.” Well, chuckles, did you have kids at some point? Will your wife ever? I hope to never need the cancer portion of my medical policy, but insurance is about shared risk. And it sounds so stupid and insensitive, that people with compassion and sense are going to now dislike you and all you have to say.

There have been a few other examples cropping up. And it's time to stop it. The American people are, generally, against using tax money to insure people. Really, they are. Even people that think we should use taxes to insure those without insurance realize the dangers of corporations and businesses dropping private plans and overloading the system. After all, every other government program runs into funding trouble. Social Security has issues. Medicaid/Medicare has issues. Government-run education is consistently short-funded. So, there has to be a better option.

The Republican party has got to come forward with ideas that protect individual freedom, provide opportunities to have reasonable access to health care, and remains compassionate. This idea of basing your opinion on what you, personally, need or don't need doesn't wash.

I'm no expert, but I think that if we see insurance return to being for major issues, but that individuals are responsible for their own preventative and minor medical issues. It is financially viable to operate auto and homeowners insurance in that manner, but one must remember that insurance companies are allowed to decline and modify policies based on risks. You couldn't mandate universal rates or prohibit denials. I think this is a complex problem that must be dealt with, but depoliticized.

Staking out a political position is one thing. Sticking with your principles is a good thing. Having no compassion for people that aren't like you is not. It's no way to show the country that you're capable of leading it.

Doug

September 26 by Doug

Reflections on Proverbs

September 26, 2009

by Doug

Proverbs 26:1 →And in the Proverbs, fool reflects poor morality. So honor and poor intentional moral choices do not mix. And this is why I really don't give very many hoots about media award shows.

Proverbs 26:2 →Fret not that someone asks God to curse you. God will not honor a dishonorable curse. See David's response to Shimei in 2 Samuel 16 and 2 Samuel 19. And quit stressing about the fruitcake down the road attempting to use his Ouija Board or whatever against you. You leave it alone, and don't give evil a foothold by willful disobedience. God will deal with the rest.

Proverbs 26:4-5 →Wrestle with a skunk, and you still stink, but you still can't let the skunk camp out.

Proverbs 26:13 →Do you see danger everywhere? Does this hold you back from taking necessary actions? Get help if need be, but get going! Better to be eaten by a lion while striving to obey!

Proverbs 26:18-19 →Humor can be a good thing, but deceiving your friends goes too far. Be cautious.

Proverbs 26:21 →Are you sparking strife? Am I? Is your reputation as one who does this? It's time to clean it up.

Proverbs 26:28 →It's not just a minor issue. It's hatred. Quit excusing your behavior or downplaying it. Really, anything about obeying God is serious. We have lightened up as if it's no big deal.

September 25 by Doug

Reflections on Proverbs

September 25 2009

by Doug

Proverbs 25:1 →Just remember, if you give credit, it's not plagiarism.

Proverbs 25:4-5 →Give the government some time, perhaps if we get rid of all the dishonest people of both parties from Washington, and things will improve.

Proverbs 25:6-7 →Let God handle your exaltation. He knows whether or not you can handle it as well as whether or not you deserve it.

Proverbs 25:9-10 →Don't betray and destroy another for your wealth and aggrandizement. It's not worth the cost.

Proverbs 25:11 →Learn to listen and say the right things at the right times.

Proverbs 25:13 →For Christians, are we being that trustworthy messenger?

Proverbs 25:21-22 →Did you know that in some Middle Eastern cultures at the time, and to this day, burning coals are carried in firepans on people's heads? Yep. And how do you help out someone in the desert at night? Heap coals on their heads. Really. So, by caring for your enemies, you might be helping their survival. Which is good, because it gives them time to repent and get right before God.

Proverbs 25:23 →Watch your tongue, because actions follow looks.

Proverbs 25:24 →Be careful who you marry. If you think you're quarreling now, wait until you're living together. Seriously folks.

Proverbs 25:28 →Are you lacking self-control? Then anyone can attack and conquer you. He who angers you controls you. Practice self-control.

Book Review: If God is Good

Book Review: If God is Good by Randy Alcorn

Doug Hibbard

September 25, 2009

Ok, I actually get the opportunity to review books for a couple of publishers. This one is from Multnomah publishers. It's entitled If God is Good. It's by Randy Alcorn, who has a decent track record of writing both fiction and non-fiction.

This book is Alcorn's attempt to tackle the problem of evil. The theological term for this is “ theodicy,” attempting to justify God's existence and reconcile it with the existence of evil. The normal person term for this is “ life,” as in, “If God is good, why does bad stuff happen?” Sometimes our questions come from big bad stuff like wars and abortion, sometimes it's personal bad stuff like cancer and AIDS, job losses and car accidents. All through, Christians are taught and teach to others that God is good, that fundamentally, good wins out over evil in the world.

Well, a 200-word or so book review cannot adequately deal with the philosophical issue, and shouldn't. My question is “Does Randy Alcorn provide a reasonable response to these questions?”

I would say that yes, his responses are adequate for the Christian reader. He reinforces his points with both Scripture references, historical examples, and literary references from other Christian writers. His application of Scripture is not ground-breaking, but this is a strength rather than a weakness, as he is not pushing a radical shift in theological thinking. His historical examples and literary references go to reinforce his points well and give him credibility by citing the words of those who have suffered what he has not. All told, what he has constructed is a well-illustrated (word illustrations, that is) example of the general evangelical viewpoint: God is good is not up for discussion,but how God's goodness allows evil is discussed.

Will this work stand as an apologetic work, to explain to non-believers what God is up to with suffering? Probably not. Yet I don't think that's quite his intention. Rather, I think his intention is to strengthen believers in the face of these arguments.

One last word is due here. While I think that some in crisis will find comfort in this work, it's also not a book to wait for evil to hit before you read. In my opinion, this book is better read first in the calmness of everyday chaos, before the waves of major catastrophe strike. Mark it up, highlight, use the little Post-it Flags I love so much to highlight major points, and then refer back in times of crisis.

In all, this is not a must-read, but it is definitely a should-read book. If you want to make sense of suffering from a Biblical perspective, start here. Randy Alcorn's If God is Good is worth the read.

Doug

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Multnomah Press in exchange for the review.