Again, Wright is Wrong

The latest socio-politico-religious discussion has been over the recent publicity tour of Dr. Jeremiah Wright. Here our brother and fellow elder gives some insight into why, once again, Wright is wrong.

At Home with the Lord

I was informed yesterday that on Friday, April 25, 2008 Elder DJ Ward was found absent from his body yet present with the Lord. Elder Ward was an elder in every since of the word. His warmth for people and his dedication to the gospel will be missed. Yet, the roll of elders in heaven just became one more closer to being complete. For this we rejoice.
Here is a clip I posted earlier this year. I just believe it captures the heart of the man, whom I knew only briefly but felt his passion for the gospel deeply. I can imagine him getting to heaven and proclaiming one more time, "I'm a grace case!"

Here John Piper gives his reflections on Elder Ward.

Tim Keller on The Reason for God

Westminster Bookstore and the Westminster Gospel and Culture Project has made available three videos recently recorded with Tim Keller on the theme of his recent book The Reason for God.

Tim Keller panel discussion with WTS Faculty
Tim Keller at UPenn
Tim Keller at UPenn Q and A

Thabiti on the Abolition of Race

Last night at the Together for the Gospel Conference Thabiti Anyabwile delivered a message entitled "Bearing the Image: Identity, the Work of Christ, and the Church". In no uncertain terms he called for the abolition of race. Thabiti began by suggesting that our entire outlook on life has been so misplaced, so wrong-headed, and so inadequate that we either need to change it now or commit ourselves to the closest mental health institution. Why? Because believing in race is like believing in unicorns. You can listen to the entire message here.

Also, here is a short clip of his message:

(HT:Challies)

Heidelblogging "On Being Black and Reformed"

R. Scott Clark, professor of historical and systematic theology at Westminster Seminary California and blogger at Heidelblog, has written a review of my book "On Being Black and Reformed." You can read part one here. In part one he identifies four strengths in the book. He promises at the end of the review that in part two he will give four weaknesses. I appreciate Dr. Clark taking the time to read my book out of what I imagine is a never ending stream of recommended book titles that cross his desk. Yet even more than appreciation, I am amazed by two things: one, that he found four strengths in my writing; and two, that he only found four weaknesses (he probably found more, but is being kind).

Thanks Dr. Clark. Your review reminds me that, like all of us, my gifts must continue to be used for God's glory. Also, these gifts are far from perfected and I need God's grace and the challenging encouragement of men like yourself if I will continue to faithfully exercise those gifts for the glory of God and the good of His people.

Update: Dr. Clark has posted part 2 of his review here.

Ken Jones on Multiculturalism

Yesterday, Ken Jones preached on the gospel's impact on the issue of multiculturalism in church. You can listen to his message from Eph. 2:11-22 here.

A Dream Come True?

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. As we are bombarded with people giving us their assessment of the progress we have made in fulfilling MLK Jr's dream, I thought it would be interesting to wonder if this is how the fulfillment of his dream would look and sound.



Two men judged not for the color of their skin, but the content of their vocal chords. If the King of Soul and the King of the High C's can get together and get along, surely we all can.

Southwest Christian Fellowship Men's Retreat '08

This past weekend was the annual Men's Retreat at Southwest Christian Fellowship. The theme for this year's conference was "Act Like Men" - taken from 1Cor. 16:13-14: Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

We spent 2 days and 2 nights at Woodlands Camp and Conference Center in Helen GA. It was time well spent. Not only were we refreshed by the relaxation and recreation of the camp, but we were encouaged and challenged from the Word of God by the teaching and fellowship of our guest preacher, Roger Skepple, pastor of Berean Bible Baptist Church in Atlanta GA. Joining Skepple in the primary teaching was Robert Benson and Ed Pugh. You can listen to and download all four of the messages by going here.

The scope and impact of the Men's Retreat is more than I can cover in this brief blog post. However, let me say that just as God says in his word, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity...For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore" (Psalm 133), our time at the retreat was a blessed witness to the glories of this truth. Men prayed. Men played. Men confessed. Men embraced. Men fell down. Men got up. Men cried. Men laughed. Men shared. Men listened. Men ate. Men relaxed. Men loved. Men learned. Men taught. Men caught. Men grew. Men rested. Men worked. Men sang. Men read. Men prayed. All of this was because Men worshipped.

One of the many highlights of that worship was the Men's Retreat Trio (Ed Pugh, Kelvin White, and Allan Bynoe) singing The Gospel Song by Drew Jones and Bob Kauflin. The words are simple yet profound:

Holy God, in love, became

Perfect Man to bear my blame

On the cross He took my sin

By His death I live again

It was a glorious reminder that the only way we can really act like men is to believe and live upon the gospel of Jesus Christ. Men are never more manly than when they are praying and worshipping.

RC Interviews Ben Stein

There is a new documentary that is gaining steam and is due out in theatres next month. It is Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. It is hosted by the actor/comedian Ben Stein and it takes up the issue of intolerance in the academic world against those who would challenge modern theories of Darwinism. The film looks interesting. Apparently it has even caught the eye of RC Sproul. Recently RC interviewed Ben Stein and the both of them discussed the folly of Darwinism and the inescapable reality of an Intelligent Designer of the universe. The dialogue between the two men is really interesting and enlightening. My favorite part is toward the end. As RC is concluding some of his remarks, Stein looks at him and wonders out loud, how RC could know so much about the subject. What Stein discovered is what I learned during my years of working at Ligonier. RC has a mind like a steel trap! He remembers everything. He is literally one of the most informed and diverse thinkers I have ever met. I don't recall ever having a conversation with RC and not going away from it having learned something new. In fact, I was recently listening to a Panel Discussion from the Ligonier National Conference in which RC was joined on stage by CJ Mahaney and Sinclair Ferguson. CJ made the point that the only thing about which he was confident that he knew more than Sinclair and RC was sports. RC did not respond, but I knew from personal conversations that CJ would be quite surprised to find out that RC is very proficient and informed concerning professional athletics. Furthermore, if the question was baseball or golf or the Pittsburgh Steelers, I would put my money on RC. Sorry CJ. But I digress.

Here is the video of the interview. You'll see that it isn't long before Stein realizes that RC's is a mind to be reckoned with.

(HT:Challies)

Eric Redmond on Black Liberation Theology

Yesterday, our brother Eric Redmond was on The Albert Mohler Radio Program discussing Jeremiah Wright, African-American Theology, and the Church. At his blog, A Man From Issachar, Eric gives an excellent overview of Black Liberation Theology and its grandchild, the insidious Word-Faith Theology, or as Eric calls it Nuevo Negro Liberation Theology. You can read his thoughts here.

Bach on his Birthday (SDG)

Johann Sebastian Bach was born on this day in 1865. Though it could be argued that there were those equal to him, we can confidently say that no one as ever been any better. Listening to Bach gives you the sense that there is something more profound, more beautiful, more compelling, and more desirable than you had considered before you listened to him. As much as any composer, Bach's true inspiration comes through in his compositions. Therefore, it should not surprise us that he would sign off on his compositions with the letters SDG, meaning Soli Deo Gloria. Truly Bach sensed his giftedness was for the promotion of God's beauty, truth, and good in the world. In this, he should remind and challenge us all to be more aware of our calling and mandate found in 1Cor. 10:31: "...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Yet, not only is it Bach's birthday but it is also Good Friday. As we remember our Lord's passion and call to mine Calvary, I thought it good to consider Bach's interpretation of it in his now incomparable piece St Matthew's Passion. Like Handel's Messiah, Bach's St. Matthew's Passion captures the biblical revelation in music like nothing before or since. If you have some time, listen and appreciate Bach's desire to communicate the suffering of his and our Saviour. Surely, our Lord was forsaken so we would not have to be.

O, the passion! O, the wonder of Christ our God!

Anyabwile a Prophet?

Yesterday Barack Obama acquitted himself well on national TV. With the eloquence of Abraham Lincoln and the presence of Ronald Reagan, Obama reminded us once again, that even if you don't agree him, you still want to listen to him. We have to wait and see if he is able to overcome the latest barrage of political attacks and steady his presidential bid. If he does, he will have no one but his wrong-headed former pastor Jeremiah Wright to thank for it. Because of the erroneous theology of Wright, Obama has been given a platform and opportunity to speak to the American public that neither Hillary Clinton or John McCain has been afforded. As usual, Obama with his eloquence was able to turn what was possibly devastating, into a unprecedented opportunity. Yet we can only lament that it was the decline in African-American theology that has brought this opportunity. Thabiti Anyabwile practically predicted such a scenario.

Anyabwile, author of The Decline of African-American Theology, on Jan. 4 2008 wondered out loud if the decline in African-American theology would derail the campaign of the first really legitimate African-American candidate for president. Thabiti prophetically stated:

People will be more alarmed at the value system at Trinity United Church of Christ where Sen. Obama worships. It is explicitly Black Nationalist in character and, interestingly, introduces "race" in a way that Sen. Obama, to this point, has not. Already several pundits have picked up on this issue and began to discuss it (see here).

One great irony would be if it were finally the weakness of the African-American church that effectively destroyed the first viable presidential bid of an African American. So many people tout the African-American church for its historic role in promoting justice, but few have seen the connection between sound theology and any true effort at justice. In a sad turn of events, it may be by God's hand the Sen. Obama campaign that forces global light on the damnable heresies and errors, the counterfeit Christianity present in so many churches.

White evangelicals may wonder why most blacks, though they disagree with Jeremiah Wright, would still support Barack Obama. Well, there are several reason. But one for sure is that most blacks who support Obama already knew about the foolishness of Wright and thus this is not new information that would change their opinions of Obama. For them, Wright's comments do not change the message or the man who is promising change to them.

Yet, I agree with Anyabwile. The greater issue is not whether or not Obama wins or loses. The real discussion should be around the damnable theology that is spewing forth from such places as Trinity United Church of Christ and the impact such theology is having on the people who hang on every word.

In the final analysis, Rev. Wright has been dead wrong for along time. We will see if Prophet Anyabwile was dead on in his proleptic analysis.

Update: Here Thabiti is interviewed by Collin Hansen of Christianity Today.
(HT:JT)

You, Me, and Computers

Have you ever wondered why we have such a love/hate relationship with our computers? Well, today I came across a quote attributed to Albert Einstein (I say attributed because like Shakespeare in literature, Einstein gets credited for every insightful scientific quote) that just may explain our necessary predicament:

"Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid; humans are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant; together they are powerful beyond imagination." -- Albert Einstein.

Ligonier Conference Online

I have participated in many Bible and theological conferences. I have attended and been encouraged by even more. And I can say with all sincerity that Ligonier Ministries puts on as good a conference as anyone could hope to do. I don't particularly like to rank elements of the kingdom of God. This is a practice that I lament to find far too often in modern evangelicalism and particularly in the blogosphere. The next time some one says this guy is the best preacher, or that blog is the best blog, consider that their thoughts are not God's thoughts and their ways are not God's ways :-). With that said, I do commend Ligonier Conference for its pursuit of excellence and commitment to theological integrity. I was not able to attend this year's conference, but am pleased to see that the conference was streamed live on the internet and the videos can be viewed again here. Of particular recommendation is Sinclair Ferguson's message from Isa. 53 on The Substitutionary Atonement of Christ. Take note that Sinclair reminds us that Christ was not just our representative, but he was also our substitute. An excellent word as we enter the week of our Lord's passion.

Still Alive!

I know. I have not blogged in a while. I have been busy with a few writing projects as well as local church work. I hope soon to have some news on both accounts. Regardless, I will be back soon and hopefully, better and badder than ever. So, thanks for your concern; but know that I am still alive!

God the Gentleman?

Here is a quote I came across today at a blog by a worship leader:

"God is always a gentleman. He never comes into a heart uninvited, and never takes over a life without being asked."

After reading it I could not help but think that someone forgot to tell Jonah this. Also, neither was Apostle Paul reminded of this so-called truth. In fact, when I think of my own life, if God had waited on me, I never would have known who He is. Thank God once again that He is not subject to human sentiments of chivalry.

War is almost Hell

Someone has said, "War is hell." Well, I don't believe war is hell, but I am convinced that it is darn near to it. On the ground in certain places of Iraq is not a desirable place to be, as seen in this recently declassified footage of a truck bomb. This is a brutal reminder that those in Iraq and Afghanistan who are in harms way are in need of our prayers. I am sure we all know someone. May God bless our troops and the men and women of Iraq and Afghanistan who desire life and peace.

Yes We Can!

I am not a supporter of Barack Obama. I most definitely do not support Hillary Clinton. And am not impressed with John McCain. So, my vote this coming November is up in the air at the moment. However, having said all that I would like to give you some food for thought. As you contemplate how you will cast your ballot this fall, don't be fooled by those who say that lofty words and fancy phrases don't make a difference. Don't be fooled into believing that the ability to give an inspiring speech has little to do with being the leader of people. I would argue that one of the most important aspects of leadership is to inspire people to do more than they believe they can. It is calling people to see what they have yet to see is possible. Speeches have done this throughout time. And continue to do it today. Who can forget the words of William Wallace in Braveheart.



We should never underestimate the ability and responsibility of the President of the United States to inspire and encourage people with his presence and his words. Four years is not a long time to really effect significant change, but the ability to inspire a generation with one's words and presence can have lasting effects for years to come. It is no wonder that the greatest and most respected of our presidents have been men who could turn a phrase and give inspiring orations that have continued to inspire generations later. Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan are men who used there presidential pulpit to give some of the most unforgettable words our nation has ever heard from men who have held the office. These men (like them or not) are on any honest man's short list of most inspiring and beloved Presidents. Why? One reason for sure is that they were able to inspire, not only with their presence but with their words.

Today much is being made of Barack Obama's lofty speeches and inspiring oratory. Some say its empty rhetoric. Others say it is just speeches, but no solutions. Yet, I would suggest that at the moment everyone is just giving speeches. And in the history of our nation and world, speeches have made a difference.

Again, I am not a Barack Obama supporter. He and I have serious ideological differences (as well as religious ones). However, I do believe it is refreshing to hear someone who can speak with inspiration once again. We have not had it since Ronald Reagan. It is refreshing to be able to listen to a speech and not be bored two minutes into it. I am not saying that I am going to vote for Obama. But I am saying that it would be nice to have a president once again who could give speeches like Winston Churchill. Now, if we could only have one with Churchill's convictions and leadership. I guess we can't have it all. But then again, if you listen to Obama you might begin to believe "Yes We Can."

Washington Post on Redmond

I have blogged several times on my man Eric Redmond, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church. Those who know Eric know what a wonderful asset he is to the church and to our desire for Reformation among African-Americans. Apparently the Washington Post has discerned this as well. Eric and Hillcrest are featured in today's feature article on faith. Check it out.

BTW
The bow tie is not the left over remains of the Nation of Islam, but remnants of an academician turned pastor. We might need to reformed that as well.

"I'm a Grace Case"

Every year in August people from all around gather at Main Street Baptist Church for the annual Sovereign Grace Bible Conference (to some it is affectionately simply called "The Conference"). The conference has been pioneered these past 25 years by Elder D.J. Ward, pastor of Main Street Baptist Church. The conference features a variety of preachers, most from a movement of Calvinistic baptist churches known as Sovereign Grace Baptist (you can access last year messages here).

If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Elder Ward, then you know what a magnanimous and gracious man he is. He has been in the pulpit ministry for many years and yet his enthusiasm for the truth of the Doctrines of Grace and God's Sovereignty in all things has not waned in the slightest. I have had the honor of sharing the pulpit with Elder Ward on a couple of occasions, and I can honestly say that he has encouraged my heart and ministry in the gospel. And don't let his slow gate and gray beard fool you. There is yet fire in his heart and power in his voice. Here is a small taste of what I mean.

One of his joys is singing of the grace and mercy of God. As you can tell from this video and the fact that he is reminded that he is "a grace case."