Paper: Jesus and Tongues
I've written a paper called:
"Jesus and Tongues." It's a 13-page essay/commentary on every verse referring to the spiritual gift of tongues in the New Testament.
I welcome your comments and questions. As I think is obvious in the preface, this is not just a paper to show off knowledge. I did not write it for seminary. It is actually to be used to get many Christians and church-goers in Namibia back to focusing on the gospel. Therefore I need it to be as clear, winsome, and convincing as possible. I need it to be thorough and to not be too negative, and not too charitable on the other hand either.
To read the paper
click here.
Info & Article Need
I have a great immediate need for concise and powerful articles on the historical Jesus (how do we know he really lived?) and how the Bible was written (authors, time span, unity, etc). I have a couple of books and long written materials that I can summarize and I will work on that but if you know of any ready-available internet or short pdf resources, that would be perfect. Please send to leroyh@gmail.com or another address if you have it.
Preaching and House Churches
If there is any question in your mind about the role of preaching in light of the focus on house churches, please listen to Mark Driscoll, here:
http://theresurgence.com/text_and_context_media , the message at the top of the list called "Putting Preachers in Their Place".
Maybe it's just me. In late 2005 early 2006 I didn't even know if preaching was Biblical. It was something God was letting me go through as a result of reading some books. I had to go on a search from scratch to find out if preaching was Biblical when I was suddenly feeling called to be a preacher. It is. Mark does a good job of laying it out and discussing the relation between preaching and house churches and home fellowships.
Great Week at Campus Ministry and T Shirt Request
Wow, what a week at the Namibia Polytechnic.
I got to preach Christ and His gospel to students.
Being on mission alone on a university campus means I don't have all the gifts. However, God is in control of the people He sends to me, and I got to use my knowledge and teaching gifts in three different areas this week.
- There is a guy I'm talking to about deep Christian doctrine. We talked the most and I gave him "The Pleasures of God" by John Piper. This is gospel clarification.
- Another was focused on apologetics with a guy who is comparing JWs, Mormons, and 'regular' Christians. We talked about the gospel on an entry level. I need to get him a Bible this week!
- A third was all practical, talking about sexual sin and the stuff I was used to talking about back when I was at university. This is the gospel applied and practiced. I want to meet with him and his friends.
Pray for a student who called me near the end of last week and attended a church meeting with us on Sunday. His phone had just been stolen but he got ahold of me anyway. Then this week I didn't get in touch with him at all though I tried.
I think there isn't more to talk about because I actually have a lot of work to do. I am wondering this week how I will get my assignments and preparations done and still keep up with the new relationships. I've got three seminary assignments, a youth group message, and a Father's Day message to prepare.
Last and least, I've got another T-shirt request. If anyone wants to buy me this:
http://store.eternalunlimited.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=11009 I would be 'eternal'ly thankful, and it would look pretty good on campus! Send it to either of our parents' addresses and they will send it over with other stuff, or put together a package yourself! We need more Piper books and Bibles if I can't find them in the store this week. Email for details.
Wow - Article On What We See In Namibia
This is a Christianity Today Article about the rise of Health, Wealth, and Prosperity "Gospel" in Africa. Many of the observations made in the article describe what is true in Namibia. The article focuses in on Nigeria. Namibia, however, has a much smaller population so all of the information about big crowds has to be put in perspective.
Here's the link:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/article_print.html?id=46571
As I Lay Dying (Band) Lyrics
Hello, just some lyrics from some new music I'm listening to while working on seminary studies. You just do not find lyrics like this outside of
some really old (but good) hymns, and Christian hardcore music.
This Is Who We Are
Now this is who we are
I am no one's hero
For we are not the giant men
That some may think
You are faithful when we are not
So I'd like to tell this story
The way it is meant to be
Without the burden that's in our hearts
None of us would have ever found You
For You are faithful when we are not
You began a work
That only you can complete
Now this is who we are
I'll never know the answers
And I'll always wonder why
... Why we're given grace we'll never deserve
And a second chance that we will never earn
For there is nothing I can do to save myself
Now this is who we are
I'll never know the answers
And I'll always wonder why
But You have let me start again
I'd rather be called weak
Than die thinking I was strong
Within Destruction
If music is a mirror revealing the depths of my heart
Then I will write the darkest song
For without forgiveness my soul is lost
All that is hope within destruction comes from You
For I have fallen, and there is nothing good within me
Yet I've been given life I will never deserve
For without forgiveness my soul is lost
The Sound of Truth
[Chorus]
We have all heard what we wanted to hear
"Truth" that sounds right to our ears
[Chorus]
[Verse 1]
But what wisdom is there within us
To live based on the feeling of our hearts
How many times has instinct let us down
Never to be thought through
Never to be questioned
Say what you really mean
When your ambition calls you (calls you)
For what use is there, is there in praying
If you will only hear what you want to hear?
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
We speak of fighting to resist this world
But what about the battle within us?
If we have chosen to live against the grain
Then why are we all facing the same way?
There is no difference between us and them
If we all blindly seek truth from sentiments
[Chorus] 3x
