Thoughts of a Pastor-Historian

I don’t have time to keep up with current discussions in SBC in the blogosphere right now, but my brother apparently does!  And he has opinions.  He has responded to open letters from SEBTS professors Alvin Reid and Nathan Finn, and he has a dream for the future of the SBC.   The following paragraph from this post really gets at what Jeremy is trying to say in these posts:

I think we have a confession of faith that suits Calvinists, non-Calvinists, BI and GCR.  I propose that Calvinists, non-Calvinists, BI and GCR unite under the authority of Scripture, the BF&M 2000 and a cooperative mission program.  Let’s call it the Southern Baptist Convention.

I am continually amazed at my little brother’s clear thinking and articulate writing.  He just needs to do more of it!  Anyway, you can read Jeremy’s recent posts by following the links below:

• Reid, Finn, Calvinism, and the SBC Part 1
• Reid, Finn, Calvinism, and the SBC Part 2
• Reid, Finn, Calvinism, and the SBC Final Thoughts
• I Have A Dream…

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On today’s Renewing Your Mind program, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin was interviewed by John Duncan about his newest book, The Christian Lover, published by Reformation Trust.  Listen here (after today you may have to look in the “Audio Archives” for the February 13th program).

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From the conclusion of a sermon preached this past Sunday at Farmdale Baptist Church:

No matter how bad the situation seems to be in your life, know that God is in control.  He works all things together for good to them that love God.  This is true even when it doesn’t seem to be so.  When the children of Israel were making bricks and building cities for Pharaoh, it probably didn’t feel like God was in control.  When Pharaoh told the midwives to kill all the Hebrew little boys, it probably didn’t look like God was in control.  When Pharaoh commanded the people of Egypt to throw all the baby Hebrew boys into the Nile, it probably didn’t seem that God was in control.  But He was!  He caused their number to increase in spite of the persecution.  He brought His deliverer, Moses, into the world in spite of the fury of Pharaoh, the Devil and all of hell.

Just think of all the things that could have gone wrong.  The three months that the baby was hid by his parents had to be watched over by God.  He was kept from making any sounds that might attract attention.  After he was place in the Nile, he could have been swallowed by a crocodile, swept down stream out of sight by the current, or discovered by someone other than Pharaoh’s daughter who would have immediately drowned him.  Then notice the fact that the baby Moses cried at the exact perfect instant, just when Pharaoh’s daughter discovered him, so that her heart melted.

When we think of the circumstances surrounding the birth of Moses, we can’t help but think of another providential birth about 1,500 years later.   To this birth, the birth of Moses was the necessary antecedent.   Like Moses, Jesus was born after a period of four hundred silent years.  Satan also tried to prevent His survival through another maniacal king, Herod.  And just as Moses would lead his people to physical deliverance from Egypt across the Red Sea, Christ would lead His people to spiritual deliverance by His death on the cross and resurrection.

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Southern Seminary has completely upgraded their website with tons of new information available.  It is much better organized and therefore much easier to find information.  Check it out.

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The Spring 2009 semester has begun at SBTS and that means chapel services have commenced. There have been two chapel services so far and both of the messages are must hear.

First, on Tuesday Dr. Mohler opened the school year officially with a Convocation message titled:  “Memphis, Miami, Milan, and Mumbai: Ministry Somewhere, Anywhere, Everywhere” (Acts 1:1-8).

Then, yesterday Dr. Moore preached a much needed message: “Desert Reign: How the Temptations of Christ Can Wreck Your Life, Your Ministry, and Your Future (Part 1)” (Matthew 3:16-4:4).

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Banner of Truth is offering the 7 volume clothbound set of John Calvin’s Tracts and Letters which are $170.00 retail for only $80.00.

Reformation Heritage Books is offering the volume Jonathan Edwards at Home and Abroad: Historical Memories, Cultural Movements, Global Horizons edited by David Kling and Douglas Sweeny (University of South Carolina Press) which retails for $60.00 for only $24.00.

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