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More on the Personal Side…

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On Wednesday I promised a post on Thursday (which didn’t happen) on what else has been going on in my life. So, here’s that update.

On August 9, I started a 35 day candida cleanse and detox. What this amounted to, diet wise, was about 1200 calories, no dairy, no wheat, no sugar and no processed foods. It was one of the more strict things I’ve pursued physically in my life. In the process of this, I lost about 44 pounds and felt pretty amazing. I’ve developed a love for vegetables, lean proteins and healthy oils.

Since that ended, over the past month I have continued to work hard on disciplining my life and diet. The basic model I’m trying to follow to lose weight is no grains, no sugars, and no bad fats. Of course, there are times when it is very difficult to follow this, but the normal routine of my life is disciplined in this way. I still shoot for about 1200-1500 calories and have continued to lose even more weight in slow, steady ways.

So, this has been pretty wild. I’ve had to learn new ways to eat and not pound so many carbs. All of this has been pursued on my part because I want to glorify God in my physical body. I have been bought with a price and therefore, want to please Him in my physical body (like 1 Corinthians 6:20 instructs). Please continue to pray for me and ask God to reveal when food is becoming an idol or when my heart is longing for what I don’t need. I have seen how much my eating is related to feeding selfish cravings. I want to be holy above all.

Sojourn Kids

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Still thinking about Sunday’s sermon on parenting, I came across a very helpful resource this week on the web…one of those you should bookmark, subscribe to, befriend on Facebook, etc.

Sojourn Kids is the Children’s Ministry of Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY. They have amazing resources and links available on their site. They also feature great helps for parents. Navigate your way around this site…I promise you will find helpful things.

Studying Hebrews

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As for what I’ve been up to lately…I’ll post more tomorrow on another personal side, but I’ve been prepping for preaching through the book of Hebrews in my spare time. The usual rhythm of a pastor who preaches through books of the Bible is lots of studying. Prepping to preach through difficult passages in Colossians has been fun. Currently, we are making our way through the end of chapter 3. The end of this book is in view (only 3 sermons after Sunday). After a Thanksgiving sermon and a brief series on Advent (Love, Joy, Peace, Hope), I plan to preach a series on the Lord’s Prayer in the month of January. To prep for that I’ve re-read Paul Miller’s The Praying Life in recent days and was freshly edified and convicted.

But, having said all this, a bulk of my time is spent on researching the book of Hebrews. Here are some things I’ve taken/am taking in:

The Book of Hebrews itself. I type it on onto single spaced pages and read the text over and over again (in the ESV of course). On the study leave I’ve been granted (keep reading), I hope to work hard in the Greek text.

Thomas Mann’s Oxford Guide To Library Research. I’m reading this to be a good steward of a study leave the elders of Crestview are giving me for a week in November.

George Guthrie’s Structure of Hebrews has been really helpful, but at a whopping $206 on Amazon, I got it through Interlibrary Loan at at my public library.

Four Views on the Warning Passages of Hebrews was helpful to show the different interpretive schemes among calvinistic and arminian Bible interpreters. The charitable tone of the scholarly debate printed in this book was also encouraging.

I downloaded Edwards’ Notes from the Blank Bible on Hebrews.

I have a used copy of Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae coming in the mail (on Hebrews).

Some commentaries I had, of which I have read the introductions are:

Kent Hughes 2 Volumes on Hebrews
F.F. Bruce’s contribution to the NICNT on Hebrews
O’Brien’s recent release in the Pillar Series on Hebrews
Allen’s latest NAC release on Hebrews
John Owen’s abridged commentary on Hebrews in the Crossway Classics Series
Guthrie’s NIVAC on Hebrews

Other books that have proven helpful:
McCheyne’s sermons on Hebrews
Philip Hacking’s Day One book Opening Up Hebrews
David Dickson’s Short Exposition of Hebrews
Driscoll’s section on Hebrews in A Book You’ll Actually Read on the NT
Fee & Stuart’s intro to Hebrews in How To Read the Bible Book by Book
Roger Ellsworth’s section on Hebrews in Guide: The Bible Book by Book
Carson, Moo & Morris’ chapter on Hebrews in Intro To The NT
Notes from Alan Tomlinson‘s class on General Epistles from Seminary
I taught through Hebrews to High School Students in the Fall of 2001, so I am reviewing those notes.
George Guthrie’s intro to Hebrews in Commentary on the NT Use of the OT is helpful.
And I also read George Ladd’s chapter on Hebrews in Theology of the NT
Lig Duncan also has his teaching through Hebrews manuscripted online

On top of all of this reading, I’m listening to the following, which were free downloads:
Steven Lawson’s sermons on Hebrews at GBC’s 2006 Bible Conference
D.A. Carson’s 3 sessions at the J.B. Gray Lectures at Southern Seminary on the NT use of the OT, specifically related to Hebrews
Dick Lucas’ Instruction on Hebrews as part of the Proclamation Trust
Richard Gaffin’s Theology of Hebrews on Westminster Seminary’s ITunes U
Matt Chandler’s Series on Hebrews
John Piper’s Sermons Through Hebrews
Mark Dever’s Overview of Hebrews

I very much identify with Ecclesiastes 12:12: “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is weariness to the flesh.” I want to steward my time in this book and especially on the gift of study time from the Elders well, so I am working hard to hit the ground running.

And #3 is…

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Many of you know that Meghan and I are expecting a 3rd child February 22nd of 2011.

Well, we went to the doctor this morning, took some pictures of the baby and were able to find out that #3 will be a GIRL!

We are praising God for this precious gift.

Weekend Recap – Lordship for Parents/Unbelief

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Yesterday’s sermons are now online:

AM: Lordship for Parents from Colossians 3:21
PM: Jesus in the OT – Unbelief from Numbers 13-14 and Hebrews 3-4

I thought the AM message, in particular, was very convicting personally. The call to not lead our children to discouragement is a hard line to keep. I also looked at Ephesians 6:4 and how it brings a positive admonition to the discussion of parenting in leading our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. I urged parents to lead children to this through teaching and example. So, there was much to live from there.

In the PM, we continued looking at the OT story and how it points to Jesus. Specifically, the sermon dealt with the unbelief of Israel in the wilderness. I tried to show how the author of Hebrews points us to persevere in belief and not repeat the mistakes they made. The application for me from that message was to persevere in the message of first importance: the Gospel.

I hope you had a great Lord’s Day as well.

How To Make Your Kids Spirtually Apathetic:

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Apathy is defined as a “complete lack of emotion or motivation about a person, activity, or object; depression; lack of interest or enthusiasm; disinterest.” This weekend, we will be looking at Colossians 3:21 and how we are called to parent our children under the Lordship of Christ. I found this post by the Life Together blog on how to breed spiritual apathy in your kids so helpful.

Here are Scott Linscott’s 5 Keys to Making Your Kids Apathetic About Faith:

1. Put academic pursuits above faith-building activities.
2. Chase the gold ball first and foremost.
3. Teach your kid that the dollar is almighty.
4. Refuse to acknowledge that the primary motivating force in kids’ lives is relationship.
5. Model apathy in your own life.

You might check out the full article for more info on how each of these can be pursued. The upshot of all this is that God has greater desires for our children than mere worldly achievements. They were made in by Him and for Him. Let’s allow this vision to compel us to parent in a way that pleases the Lord.

Weekend Recap – Children

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Today’s sermon, Lordship for Children, from Colossians 3:20 is now online. This sermon is really the 4th in what is shaping up to be a nice series on the Lordship of Jesus and its ramifications for us in relationships.

Today’s sermon focused on how the fact that Jesus is Lord has implications for children. Really two points emerged as being how children show Jesus as Lord: 1) They can obey their parents completely and 2) They can set as their motivation pleasing Christ. We walked through the text and ended up practicing the Lord’s Supper together.

Tonight, we will meet in Small Groups and discuss Thabiti’s chapter 4 in Marks of a Healthy Church Member (A Healthy Church Member is Genuinely Converted).

What I found striking this AM was how honoring parents is a continual lifestyle for us to pursue. Also, most relevant was the application to parent children well, so that they can obey and, thus, please the Lord.

Hope you had a great weekend worshipping.