And So the Summer Begins

Since I haven't been posting as much as I used to, I thought a brief update might be in order.

I'm enjoying the second day of my vacation/sabbatical and am already hard at work on my next project--a book on the two kingdoms.  I'll have more info about it as the project moves forward, but I've been working on it for some time and hope to make significant progress over the next nine weeks.

My study time will be interrupted by a trip to the URCNA synod (in New London, Ontario), a week in Mammoth Lakes with a bunch of friends from church, as well as a number of weekend forays to places my wife and I enjoy visiting.

I should also tell you, it has been a long and difficult year at Christ Reformed.  We've been without an associate pastor since Thanksgiving, and we've had a number of difficult ministry issues arise (such as a Megan's law offender worshiping with us) which have demanded much time and energy.  I'm not one to "take time off" when I am on vacation/sabbatical, because I actually enjoy writing and being able to concentrate on one task.  Not having to continually multi-task is relaxing!  A good cigar or two is also nice on break.

But I will take the time to watch a host of DVD's people have recommended, I will attempt to plow through a stack of books (most of which are related to my current project), as well as spend time with my sons before they return to grad school and college respectively.

I also am looking forward to one of my favorite aspects of my summer break--sitting in the pew with my family and hearing the word of God preached.  Our assistant pastor (Rev. Andrew Compton) is a very good preacher and we've got several promising seminarians getting a chance to preach this summer as well.  I'm very much looking forward to it.

So, I'll be around, but won't be taking questions or phone calls, and I'll post once in a while as I am able.  I hope to have a productive summer, and I hope you enjoy yours as well.

"Let a Person Examine Himself" -- 1 Corinthians 11:27-34

Here's the audio from this morning's sermon, the twentieth in a series on 1 Corinthians.

Click here

This Week's White Horse Inn

Jesus & Modern Scholarship

Can we trust the New Testament portrait of Jesus, or is the Jesus of history radically different from the Jesus of faith? What are we to think of scholars like Bart Ehrman who suggest that Jesus has been "misquoted," and that the Bible has significantly changed over time? Joining the panel for this discussion is New Testament scholar Craig A. Evans, author of Reinventing Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospels,Holman QuickSource Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls. and the

http://www.whitehorseinn.org/



Who Said That?

"It is the command of the gospel that we live our lives in conformity with the beliefs taught in the Scriptures.  That we often fail to live up to this command does not invalidate the fact that we can and ought to live according to our beliefs."

Leave your guess in the comments section below.  Please, no google searches or cheating.  Answer to follow next week.

Update on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 09:18AM by Kim Riddlebarger

This is from Al Wolters, in the opening chapter of his influential book, Creation Regained (Eerdmans), 6.

It should not come as a surprise that someone who does not properly distinguish between the kingdom of God and the civil kingdom (seeing Christ's redemptive work as extending to culture) could so easily (and thoroughly) confuse the law and the gospel.

No Vuvuzelas for the Pope!

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales is worried that when Benedict XVI visits England in September, he will be greeted with the constant cacophony of vuvuzelas (you know, the plastic trumpets that require you watch the World Cup with the sound muted).  Pope's upcoming trip to England 

With the whole trumpet blast theme and all, John Knox came to mind--I know that the Pope is not a queen with a vendetta, but he does at times dress like one--A Fashion Statement. 

In case you hadn't heard, Ted Haggard is starting a new church.  He states, "I think we're qualified to hold people's hands" in times of trouble.  I didn't realize that holding people's hands in times of trouble was a biblical qualification for pastoral ministry.  Admitting that he's neither qualified nor entitled to serve as a pastor again, Haggard is not one to let something as trivial as biblical qualifications to stop him from starting a new church.  People need their hands held!  I guess none of the existing evangelical churches in Colorado Springs can do that as well as Haggard can.  Not sure I would want Ted Haggard to hold my hand.  Haggard's back

Beware of the Caliphate.  A prominent Iranian cleric wants to see Iran rule over "the entire Middle East and Central Asia."  He believes this will prepare the way for the Islamic messiah.  No question, Islamic eschatology will be a factor in the geo-politics of the Middle East for some time to come.   Some might say the same thing of dispensationalists here, regarding US foreign policy towards Israel and the Palestinians.  But dispensationalists don't have the desire nor the power to coax a client army (Hezbollah) to actually provoke a war with Israel.  Iranian apocalyptists do.  Calls for a Caliphate

Lakers-Celtics, Game Seven!

The NBA's two most storied franchises . . . 

Two very good teams, tied so far, down to the final game . . .

A bitter rivalry . . . 

A basketball fan's dream!

Magic's "baby hook shot" was the greatest moment in Laker's history, but we forget that it was almost ruined by Larry Bird, who apparently drilled a three-point shot from the baseline just before the final second expired, only to have the ball spin around the rim and kick out. 

And then there was Don Nelson's brick that bounced straight up and came back down through the rim as the clock ran out, earning the Celtics a win in game seven of the 1969 Lakers-Celtics showdown. 

Win or lose, this is gonna be fun!

Go Lakers!  Predictions, anyone?

Update on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 09:23PM by Kim Riddlebarger

Wow!  That has to be the ugliest championship game I have ever seen!

Great defense by both teams, and a level of intensity throughout that was second to none.

Go Lakers!

Speaking of Summer Reading

In light my of previous post regarding some suggested reading for Summer (Click here), several people have asked me about which Reformed "classics" they should read.

Here's a brief list of books which I recommend that every Reformed Christian read at least once.  I'm sure you have your favorites, but these are the ones I think most helpful.

J. Gresham Machen's Christianity and Liberalism (Eerdmans) Click here: This is a powerful apologetic for the truth of the gospel and clearly spells out the difference between true evangelical Christianity (as expressed in the Reformation creeds) and the "evangelicalism" of both Protestant liberalism (Machen's foe) and modern American evangelicalism (which is so much like the Protestant liberalism of Machen's day the ironies cannot be missed).

B. B. Warfield's Inspiration and Authority of the Bible (P & R) Click here:  This is not an easy read, but remains an important read.  It presupposes some knowledge of Greek and Hebrew, but you can slog through it without knowing either.  This book is frequently the object of scorn, but still remains a standard defense of inerrancy and to my mind, Warfield's critics have never refuted his arguments.

Calvin's Institutes (the Battles edition, Westminster/Knox) Click here:  If you call yourself "Reformed" and haven't read the Institutes, shame on you.  Now is the time!

John Murray's Redemption Accomplished and Applied (Eerdmans) Click here:  Given the debate within evangelical circles about justification and the nature of Christ's sacrificial work on the cross, this is must reading.  Murray is not very helpful on covenant, but his quirky view of the covenant of works is not a factor here.

Geerhardus Vos' Biblical Theology (Banner) Click here:  This too is not an easy read, although it is well-worth the labor.  Vos is the father of Reformed biblical theology and will give you a sense of the big-picture unity of redemptive history.  A great corrective for those of you who were raised as dispensationalists!  I've also posted an outline of this book on the blog (Click here)

John Owen's Indwelling Sin (a modern version published with two other works--Crossway)  Click here:   For those of you raised in American evangelicalism or Roman Catholicism, Owen's presentation of gospel-driven sanctification will be a real blessing to you.  Highly recommended.  Good on Crossway for re-doing this in an attractive format.

This should get you started!

"Until He Comes" -- 1 Corinthians 11:17-26

Here's the link to this morning's sermon, the nineteenth in a series on 1 Corinthians:

Click here

This Week's White Horse Inn

Understanding Biblical Criticism

Some today are arguing that the New Testament is so full of transmission errors and scribal additions that it cannot be trusted. But is this really the case? Has the Bible been copied so many times that it is basically unreliable? On this edition of White Horse Inn the hosts discuss this issue with New Testament textual critic Philip W. Comfort, author of Encountering the Manuscripts and editor of The Origin of the Bible.

http://www.whitehorseinn.org/



Who Said That?

"LeBron James should agree to a three year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers to play for one dollar each season." 

A bit of a curve here--but (hint, hint) the answer fits with the overall theme of the Riddleblog/White Horse Inn.

Leave your guess in the comments section below.  Please, no google searches or cheating.  Answer to follow next week, Lord willing.

Update on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 09:59AM by Kim Riddlebarger

This is a quote from associate pastor Christopher Benek of Providence Presbyterian Church in Hilton Head, South Carolina, who recently gave a sermon challenging LeBron James to give up his salary (Sermon on LeBron James).

The theme of the sermon is that since LeBron is such a loyal and dedicated athlete, such an act of generosity would show Christians that life is not about money, but should be focused on giving up worldly things for heavenly ones.  Another sad instance of a minister focusing on an illustration (and poorly at that) and not on the exposition of a biblical passage.  The "Life of LeBron" must be one of those Gnostic gospels.

Pastor Benek feels so strongly about this, he's willing to give up his own annual salary if LeBron gives up his.  Like that's going to happen.