Indelible Grace: Your King Has Come

If you like Indelible Grace and haven't heard their Christmas album, you can listen to 5 of the 10 songs here. It's worth clicking just to listen to free, God-honoring music!

If you like this music, you can purchase it here or here.

Meditating on Autumn

As I have been driving to and from work lately, I have been worshiping God for the glorious beauty he designed trees to display when cold weather comes. This morning, I thought about the trees as an illustration of the end of a believer's life. Just like the way trees display the true color of their leaves during autumn, so should believers show their true colors when life begins to wane. When we face cancer or congestive heart failure, what will others see? Will they see a glorious display of God's mercy and grace in our lives? Will they see an attitude that points others to the source of our hope? This extends even to persecutions and sufferings that Paul calls "light momentary afflictions" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

So, will you be an autumn tree, bringing glory to God when facing the wintry chill?

~ Todd

Reformation Study Bible - Special Offer!

According to this special offer from Renewing Your Mind, the broadcast ministry of Ligonier Ministries and R. C. Sproul, if you give a gift of any amount, you will receive a genuine leather Reformation Study Bible. You can find out more about the Reformation Study Bible here.

Happy Reformation Day!

~ Todd

ESV Study Bible

WTS Books has just put up links to several different editions of the new ESV Study Bible. Check them out:

• Hardcover
• TruTone Natural Brown
• TruTone Classic Black
• Black Bonded Leather
• Burgundy Bonded Leather
• Black Genuine Leather
• Burgundy Genuine Leather
• Premium Calfskin Leather

Be sure to click these to help me get free books!

~ Todd

UPDATE: Of course, Challies and Justin Taylor both published this same list and clogged up the site with all their traffic. Just be patient. :-)

More on the Alcohol Discussion

I just found a good discussion (from this page) between Dr. Albert Mohler and Dr. Russell Moore on the subject of beverage alcohol. This discussion presents some of the underlying reasons behind the policy of abstinence from beverage alcohol required for all students and faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

I'm interested in your opinion, so listen in and please comment!

~ Todd

Angel Food Ministry

Check out the local news report on how God is meeting our community's needs through our church:




I'll be signing autographs around 9:30 tomorrow morning at the church. :-)

Todd

Something to Sing About

Yesterday was my birthday and it was a great day! Thank you to my wonderful and beautiful wife for making the day so special. She is very thoughtful! One of the gifts she gave me was the Come Weary Saints album by Sovereign Grace, and one of the songs that has really captured me is titled "As Long As You Are Glorified." We need to meditate on the words of this song; we need to live thinking like this! Here are the words:

As Long As You Are Glorified

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

Now listen. And worship. And sing!

Fathers are Important?

Jason Whitlock, columnist for the Kansas City Star, recently wrote an article about Vince Young, quarterback of the Tennessee Titans. Young, beginning his third year in the league, caved under the weight of adversity Sunday, asking to be removed from the game after throwing a second interception. Since the game on Sunday, Young has apparently been suffering depression, and the Titan's head coach, Jeff Fisher, had to call on the police to locate him.

What makes all this drama interesting is Whitlock's take on the plight of young athletes who lack the intestinal fortitude required to handle the rigors of such a spotlight. He references two negative examples: Young and Michael Vick. He also contrasts them with Donovan McNabb, quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. Unlike Young and Vick, McNabb seems to have adapted to his environment in ways that allow him to excel.

To what does Whitlock credit this difference? The influence of fathers. He argues that the position of quarterback in the NFL (like many other roles in life) requires "thick skin and genuine self-confidence."  "It doesn't take much to crack a man with no real identity, especially if he's grown accustomed to having all his shortcomings rationalized."

Here's the most interesting quote:

It's not about color. It's about fitting the profile of someone who can handle all that goes along with being an NFL quarterback. If I'm an owner, I spend my quarterback dollars on young men who were raised by strong fathers. It wouldn't be an infallible system, but on average I bet I'd hit more winners than if I turned over the leadership of my team to a kid who isn't used to having a strong male authority figure.

This makes me think along a couple of lines.  First, honest evaluation is important and neglected.  Second, being and having a strong male authority figure is important and neglected.  This article makes me want to be a better dad.

What do you think about Whitlock's analysis?

~ Todd

How to: Filter the Internet for Free

Last year I purchased a product, the D-Link DSD-150 SecureSpot Internet Security Adapter, in an attempt to filter out the temptations of unfettered Internet access. The product worked fairly well, but after using it for a year, we were required to pay about $80 to renew. Since we didn't use most of the features, including the anti-virus functionality, we decided to survey our options. So I began a quest to find an alternative.

A software client that monitors and filters web content is one option. There are several free options available. This, however, is not a good fit for my household. Because I work in information technology, I have more than one computer in the house, and I might have a temporary operating system loaded on a workstation at any time. If I am trying to guard myself against sin, I need to close this loophole. So a software client won't work.

Another option that closes this loophole is a hardware based solution. This is exactly what the D-Link adapter provided. I searched for a replacement for this product, and found a few wireless routers that partnered with an filtering service to provide protection. Most of these, however, were older model routers, and I was hesitant to purchase something that was not current technology.

I then stumbled upon a third alternative: OpenDNS.com. This web site provides filtered web browsing for free. For free!?! With no client, how does this work? For those of you who don't know your computer from your hard drive, DNS, or Domain Name System, translates domain names (like google.com) to IP (Internet Protocol) addresses (like 64.233.167.99).  Each request for a web site must be translated from a name to a number.  OpenDNS manages this system to block questionable web sites.  The only trick is turning the service on!

OpenDNS provides instructions for enabling their service for your computer or network.  I chose to point all my web traffic to OpenDNS.com by changing my DNS servers in my router.  My router serves as the central connection for all my network traffic, and all traffic out of my network must pass through my router.  Once the filtering categories are selected on OpenDNS's site, I can have someone password protect my router configuration and the filtering categories.  Now everyone in my house is protected!

You should check it out!

Todd

Meditations on John

I'm going to start posting some thoughts on the gospel of John as I read through the book. I'm going to try to read a paragraph or so each day, recognize something important or significant, and meditate on it throughout the day. I am planning to blog my thoughts in an effort to spark further meditation, as well as to be disciplined.

John 1:1-5

John tells us so much about Jesus in this passage. He existed in the beginning. He was both with God and was God at the same time. Jesus was the means by which everything was made. He was, and is, the origin of all life.

What is amazing to me is that the origin of life loved us to death. He created humanity, watched Adam and Eve crash and burn, sacrificed himself to resurrect us, and now leads us to a perfected, finished humanity. Despite the darkness that attempted to destroy humanity, Jesus is a beacon of light that defeats the darkness.

I think this is an image of hope. "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." The light is still shining.

"Heavenly Father, give us eyes to see the light; help us look to the light and not love the darkness."

Hype Well Deserved?

Check out this video introduction to the new ESV Study Bible due out in October. Many of the scholars I respect are touting the value of this resource. I look forward to using it.

~ Todd ~

Prosperity Gospel: Oxymoron?

In Mark 8:34-38, Jesus continues to rebuke Peter for his misunderstanding of Jesus' mission. Jesus had just finished explaining his rejection by the Jews and his death and resurrection, and Peter took Jesus aside and begin to "correct" Jesus about who the Messiah was supposed to be. Jesus explains to Peter and the rest of his followers that being a disciple of Jesus demands us to sacrifice our lives for Jesus and the gospel. What does this mean? "Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me"?

For many in this world, the meaning is very clear. Becoming a follower of Christ in many countries means willingness to be persecuted or executed. The Voice of the Martyrs does a very good job communicating the plight of the people of God in hostile lands. One might be arrested, kidnapped, beaten, shot, stabbed, raped, tortured, or murdered in places like Eritrea, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, China, Columbia, etc.

But we live in the United States of America; how can we relate to this command of Christ to take up our cross and follow him? To sacrifice our lives for Jesus and the gospel? We don't face persecution (yet) like our brothers and sisters in distant lands. In many ways, however, we would be better Christians if we lived with persecution. Because we live with deception.

How many "Christians" in the U.S. are willing to sacrifice their lives for Jesus and the gospel? Many would confess with their mouths their willingness to do it, but how many confess with their actions? I often don't. My life is filled with entertainment. I struggle to make time for Bible reading and prayer, much less additional reading that is not required for school. Yes, everyone needs times of refreshing, but how long will we live like the world and call it Christianity? Are we deceiving ourselves?

I think this is why Joel Osteen and his fellow proclaimers of the "prosperity gospel" are so "successful" and dangerous. Jesus said that he came to give us abundant life, but that does not necessarily mean a life filled with material possessions. How is anyone sacrificing their lives for Jesus and the gospel if he or she is living life for material wealth? How does the well-to-do church member with a boat and a big-screen and a Benz reflect Christ to the homeless man on the street? Not that those things are wrong in themselves, but are we living as a witness to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, or do we treasure our treasures above all else? Would you give up your job for full-time ministry? Would you abandon your comfortable life to move somewhere hot and humid and disease infested for the sake of Christ?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

"Help us, Heavenly Father, to seek first your kingdom, and to trust you to meet our every need."

~ Todd ~

Piper on Galatians and the Gospel

John Piper, in a sermon on Galatians, states that "any requirement that goes beyond faith in the work of Christ ends the gospel!" "The good news to the world is that right standing with God was bought totally by Jesus Christ at Calvary and it can be enjoyed only by faith in his work, and any requirement that comes in to incline us to rely on our work ends it, and Christ is no more advantage to you."

This leaves us with the question: "What are you relying on for your salvation?"

• Your decision when you were ___ years old?
• Your good works?
• Your Bible reading?
• Your not swearing?
• Your not killing someone?
• Your church membership?
• Your faith?!?!?

There is only one right answer to this question. Only your reliance on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as sufficient to make you right with God can save you. That, plus nothing!!!

This does not mean we get to "believe in Jesus" and do whatever we want. But it does mean that nothing but depending on Jesus can save us.

And that makes Jesus Christ very beautiful.

~ Todd ~

DWYL Podcast on Adoption

Check out John Piper's thoughts on adoption in this Don'tWasteYourLife.com podcast:



Adoption was at the very center of the creation of our universe in the mind of God! And, thus, adoption is a beautiful picture of Christ's salvation of sinners.

~ Todd ~

ESV Study Bible - Psalms Sample

I just received an email from the ESV Study Bible Team with a link to the latest sample of their upcoming work -- Psalms.

Thought I would pass it along. I can't wait to get this resource!

~ Todd ~

Divine Initiative

I sometimes have a problem taking the initiative to start something new. I don't know why! Genesis 1, however, helps us see very clearly that God is the Divine Initiator. He began this world by working his plan of creation. And he begins new life in us by working a different kind of miracle; one that takes a broken, messed up person and forming a new creation! Every day he continues to shape us, conforming us to the image of his Son, Jesus Christ.

So, today, I am praying that God will grant me some small measure of his divine initiative so that I may be more like Christ.

~ Todd ~

A Heavenly Perspective on Life

I recently heard Arturo Azurdia quote Richard Baxter regarding a Christian's perspective as he approaches the magnificent satisfaction of heaven. Baxter wrote:

The memory will not be idle, or useless, in this blessed work. From that height the saint can look behind him and before him. And to compare past with present things must raise in the blessed soul an inconceivable esteem and sense of its condition. To stand on that mount, whence we can see the Wilderness and Canaan both at once; to stand in heaven and look back on earth, and weigh them together in the balance of a comparing sense and judgment, how must it needs transport the soul, and make it cry out,

“Is this the purchase that cost so dear as the blood of Christ? No wonder. O blessed price and thrice blessed love, that invented and condescended! Is this the end of believing? Is this the end of the Spirit’s workings? Have the gales of grace blown me into such a harbor? Is it hither that Christ hath allured my soul? O blessed way, and thrice blessed end! Is this the glory which the Scriptures spoke of, and ministers preached of so much? I see the Gospel is indeed good tidings, even tidings of peace and good things, tidings of great joy to all nations! Is my mourning, my fasting, my sad humblings, my heavy walking, come to this? Is my praying, watching, fearing to offend, come to this? Are all my afflictions, Satan’s temptations, the world’s scorns and jeers, come to this? O vile nature, that resisted so much, and so long, such a blessing! Unworthy soul! is this the place thou camest to so unwillingly? Was duty wearisome? Was the world too good to lose? Couldst thou not leave all, deny all, and suffer any thing for this? Wast thou loth to die, to come to this? O false heart, thou hadst almost betrayed me to eternal flames, and lost me this glory! Art thou not now ashamed, my soul, that ever thou didst question that love which brought thee hither? that thou wast jealous of the faithfulness of thy Lord? that thou suspectedst his love, when thou shouldst only have suspected thyself? that ever thou didst quench a motion of his Spirit? and that thou shouldst misinterpret those providences, and repine at those ways which have such an end? Now thou art sufficiently convinced that thy blessed Redeemer was saving thee as well when he crossed thy desires, as when he granted them; when he broke thy heart, as when he bound it up. No thanks to thee, unworthy self, for this received crown; but to Jehovah and the Lamb be glory for ever.”

-- Richard Baxter, The Saint's Everlasting Rest

Dare we dwell on the pleasures of this life and jeopardize the pleasures of the next? Can you see heaven clearly enough to forsake the snares of this world? Help us, Heavenly Father, to become entranced with a clear vision of heaven!

~ Todd ~

P. S. - You can also read Baxter's works at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library!

Additional Benefits to Obeying the Law

Several months ago I began a concentrated effort to drive the speed limit. When I filled up the tank in my Honda Accord today, I noticed that I had gotten 370 miles out of the last fill-up. Despite the fact that I was almost pushing my car to work because the tank was so empty, I have actually seen a boost in fuel economy from obeying the speed limit. Since slowing down, I have seen my average go from 22 miles per gallon to 24-25 mpg.

These guys, however, have taken the gas mileage-saving game to a whole new level. 133 mpg! Wow. I'm not that interested in turning off my engine while driving, but the results are pretty impressive...

~ Todd ~

Brandon the Blackbelt!

A few weeks ago my son, Brandon, earned his 1st degree black belt. He achieved a perfect score on his test and I thought I would show you his form:

Daddy's proud of his boy! (Now I'm gonna have to take karate so I can discipline him when he's a teenager!)

~ Todd ~

The Only Real Hope for our Postmodern World

David Wells, author of several books, including The Courage to be Protestant: Truth-lovers, Marketers, and Emergents in the Postmodern World, views the historic Christian faith as the only real hope for our postmodern world.

In this book I am nevertheless going to think of myself as a biblical Christian first and foremost, as in continuity with Christians across the ages who have believed the same truth and followed the same Lord. The period in which these truths were brought into the most invigorating, health-giving focus was the Reformation. I therefore think of myself as a Reformational in the sense that I affirm its solas: in Scripture alone is God's authoritative truth found, in Christ alone is salvation found, it is by grace alone that we are saved, and this salvation is received through faith alone. Only after each of htese affirmations is made can we say that salvation from start to finish is to the glory of God alone. These affirmations do not stand simply as solitary, disconnected sentinels, but they are the key points in an integrated, whole understanding of biblical truth. This is what gives us a place to stand in the world from which to understand who we are, what the purposes of God are, and what future lies before us. These are the things that historic Protestants believe, and that is what I am.

If this sparks any interest, check out Robert Sager's summary of this first chapter of this book. I will be writing a summary of chapter 4 in a few weeks.

~ Todd ~

My Posts Haven't Been Publishing! Really!

Ok, not really. I've been lazy and distracted since getting out of school for the semester. I haven't posted for a couple of weeks, and I'm starting to feel quite guilty! Hopefully things will pick back up soon.

On a side note, if you haven't visited Said at Southern, you should. I've been invited to participate in a group book review of David Wells' The Courage to be Protestant. My contribution should publish on June 16. If I get it done. :-)

I'll try to write again soon! Thanks for reading my blog!

~ Todd ~

An Illustration of Faith?

I've been thinking about how faith in Christ transforms us; the Bible teaches us that we are a new creation, yet we are now in transition. We are in the cocoon, metamorphosing into a butterfly from the caterpillar we once were. We see and taste the life to come, yet we still feel the dirt and desires from our death.

As I was driving to work, I started thinking about how God has been working in my life. I don't drive like a madman anymore. I feel terribly guilty when I'm driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, even when I'm just passing someone! And yet, when I think about the entire landscape of my life, this is a very small patch of land that has begun to sprout new, green grass. But if I were to examine every corner of my life, I would find many bare patches. And I think I probably have more bare patches than I realize.

Someday, when Jesus returns and I am transformed into a real man, one who could not even consider the thought of sinning in every area of his life, then the landscape will be lush and green, and God will look upon his new creation and smile.

Yet, he sees me this way already. I have been forgiven, and God has credited Jesus' righteousness to my account. How terribly unworthy I am to receive the grace of God.

This leaves me feeling... speechless.

~ Todd ~

Q&A With a New Believer

Recently my son, Brandon, placed his faith in Christ, and as we prepare for his upcoming baptism, I sat down with him to help him think through some important questions. While I admit helping him think about each question, these answers were his own response to the questions:

Q: Why do you want to be saved?
A: "Because I sin a lot, and that makes me a sinner."

Q: What does it mean to repent?
A: "Turning your back on sin and saying, 'I don't want to keep going the wrong way.'"

Q: Who can save you from your sins? How?
A: "Jesus Christ, God's one and only Son, because he came to die on the cross to pay for our sins."

Q: How do you know that Jesus' death was good enough to pay for your sins?
A: "Because God resurrected Jesus."

Q: What makes you good enough to go to heaven and be with God?
A: "When all of my sin was placed on Jesus, he gave me his obedience."

Q: Why do you want to be baptized?
A: "To show people I was spiritually dead, and now I am raised from the dead."

Q: What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?
A: "To follow God and do what he instructs you to do (as best as you can)."

Q: Who helps you to be a disciple of Jesus?
A: "God, because he gives you the Holy Spirit to help you obey."

Pray for Brandon that God will use him in a spectacular way to make the name of Jesus famous in the world!

~ Todd ~

Jesus, Friend of Sinners!

At the Together for the Gospel 2008 conference, the Sovereign Grace Ministries booth was distributing their most recent Song Sampler CD. Where have I been? This music is incredible, God-honoring, and gospel-centered! I have been listening to this CD in my car non-stop, and I thought I would share the words to one of these incredible songs:

His Forever

Jesus, friend of sinners
Loved me ’ere I knew Him
Drew me with His cords of love
Tightly bound me to Him
’Round my heart still closely twined
The ties that none can sever
For I am His and He is mine
Forever and forever

Jesus, friend of sinners
A crown of thorns You wore for me
Bruised for my transgressions
Pierced for my iniquities
The wrath of God that I deserved
Was poured out on the Innocent
He took my place, my soul to save
Now I am His forever

Jesus, friend of sinners
I love to tell the story
Redeeming love has been my theme
And will be when in glory
Not death nor life nor anything
Can ever separate me
O love that will not let me go
Yes, I am His forever

You can actually download this song and another for free at the Pierced for our Transgressions web site.

Enjoy!

~ Todd ~

Cue the Hallelujah Chorus!

Last night I finished my Greek Syntax and Exegesis final! Without a doubt, this was one of the most difficult classes of my seminary career, and now it is done! I am thankful for the opportunity to study under Dr. Rob Plummer, and I am thankful that I have the ability now to begin to understand the original languages of the Bible. With this class complete, I now have 77 credit hours toward the 94 required to complete a Masters of Divinity degree at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Only six classes remaining!

Pray for perseverance!

~ Todd ~