Daily Devotions?

I have been thinking about this for some time now.  I don’t do daily devotions.  I don’t even get up extra early to pray, I usually get up with enough time to get ready, and go to work.  I don’t read my bible in a year, I never have done that.  Most of my friends pray everyday in the morning before they go to work, they read their bibles at the same time and place everyday as well.  But I don’t.  Yet I don’t find myself to be any less spiritual than them, and I do read my bible – a lot.  I do pray, but I guess I just pray in unconventional ways.  Driving in my car, when I am walking alone.  I don’t pray every day either, sometimes I skip a day or two, I think I may have even gone a whole week without praying, same thing with my bible.  Even though I don’t read my bible daily, it seems that I know my bible better than my friends who do daily devotions.

I used to always feel really, really bad, try and discipline myself but I always failed and it just caused me to feel worthless.  As I have become older it just doesn’t bother me as much.

What is your devotional habits like?  Do you read and pray on a regular (or daily) time schedule, or are you like me, somehow it just gets done.

Church History 101

I am on this big learning curve with the church fathers, and might I say that I am having a really good time learning. There appears to be a resurgence in the interest of what they had to say, how they lived, and who they were. I say this because of the number of recent publications that are being targeted for the lay person.

I found this site, that has a good overview (introduction) to the early Christian history. But the nice thing about this site is that they also have a blog, and from what I can tell they post sporadically, every 1-2 months. So they are not super active, but at least you can post and hope to get a response at some point. The blog is not highly active with comments, but that could be for a number of reasons.

Early Church History

Early Church History Blog

If you know of others sites of similar interest feel free to recommend them.

Oh really? Prophet Piper strikes again

UPDATE II:

Based on the advise of my friend Nick I decided to stop any further commenting on this site, due to the double blogging that is going on I am locking this one as it stands. If you have any further comments, opinions or what not please post them at GreyCoats.  All posts that were here are no longer readable, but you are not missing much, most of it was posted as well at GreyCoats.  I don’t know if any other way to stop further commenting, and keep what was posted.  So this was the most simple thing to do.

URL    : http://rdtwot.wordpress.com
Comment:
Robert,

Honestly, if I were you, I’d go into every comment that these folks from the ‘greycoats’ left here that was also left on their blog, and just edit it to a link to their original comment over there.  This double-blog commenting is strange.

The great danger of double blog commenting around the blogosphere is that it often attempts to say the same thing twice, in two places, so apparently twice as many people can see it.  This is not the blogging way, and will result eventually in the petering out of poorly founded comments (twice!) or in the development of heretical comments to smooth over the differences.

Just some advice from me to you.

UPDATE:

For those of you just joining, Devin and I have cleared up our misunderstanding, and we have both apologized. There is good dialog going on here, and at his blog, so feel free to still join in. And it looks like I found another blog that I will visit often.

For the record, in case you are wondering, I am still not a fan of John Piper

I just read this post, and I have to say that it really bothered me. Most of my friends that visit here are not Charismatic or Pentecostal, and yet we find great fellowship with each other. Most of you that read my blogs know that I am a diligent student of the word, love God, and strive to understand all orthodox positions, and heterodox views as well.

This post is from The Grey Coats and this is what he said in regards to a quotes from John Piper from 1985:

Today I found a gem of a quote from John Piper on the Charismatic movement that I believe has really come to pass today. – devinasheville

This is the quote from Prophet Piper that he is referring to:

The great danger of the charismatic movement around the world today (with all the good I see in it) is that it often attempts to preserve fellowship among believers on the basis of a shared experience rather than on the basis of shared theology. This is not the biblical way, and will result eventually in the petering out of poorly founded experience or in the development of heretical theology to smooth over the differences.

Oh really? You have got to be kidding that this guy would actually think that this has come true today. What planet is he living in? I know that there are factions of extreme Pentecostals/Charismatics, but don’t tell me that you don’t have those in your camps either? For God’s sake I even have some family members that I wish I didn’t have.

Anyhow, what are your thoughts? I posted a reply at his site, but I don’t think that I was as kind as I normally am. I apologize for my sarcasm at his site.

Inquiring minds want to know…

ESV Study Bible WebSite

For those of you that have been waiting for the ESV Study Bible, they have setup a website that gives full description of it. Enjoy!

They will be offering a CalfSkin version of this bible, and all of them are Smyth sewn binding.

A Theology for the Church

Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Pub. Date: July 2007
Type: Hardcover
ISBN 10: 080542640X
ISBN 13: 9780805426403
Product #: 001317634
Weight: 3.05 lbs
Trim Size: 6.32 X 9.3 X 2.3
Binding: Hardcover
Price: $49.99

CBD

Amazon

Many thanks to Jim Baird from B&H Academic for the complimentary review copy!

Although I just received it today I wanted to post to say thank you to the publisher, and also give a quick overview. Again I have not read the entire book (997 pages). Several nice features about this book are:

• In addition to discussing the various theology subjects, each chapter contains the following segments:
  • What does the Bible say?
  • What has the church believed?
  • How do the doctrines fit together?
  • How does each doctrine impact the church today?

I really do appreciate the sections “What has the church believed”. The sections “What has the church believed” are introductions to what the early church fathers believed. I have recently become very interested in studying the church fathers, so I find this section especially useful. To often they are overlooked or just introduce to students by way of the creeds and nothing more is ever discussed besides the occasional quote. With today’s innovations and the churches seeming to neglect our roots I am very glad to see that the church fathers are included, and will hopefully spark further interest in their writings.

Since the book is a new publication, and published by B&H publishing it includes the HCSB as one of the translations used. It also uses the ESV, NASB, NIV, NKJV, NRSV, & the KJV. This yet another nice feature of this book. Because of this they also quote many of the recent theology books that have been written in the last 20 years, and of course they also quote all of the usual theological giants as well. Which introduces you to the many other books written on the subject if you wish to study deeper on any topic. I have read various other introductory theology books such as “Basic Theology” by Charles Ryrie, and he does not cover the church fathers at all in the way this book does. Also they don’t shy away from quoting or discussing theologians such as Karl Barth.

These are just a few reason why I think this would make a great addition to any library. If you are looking for your first introductory book to Systematic Theology, you can’t go wrong with this edtion. Each chapter is written by different theologians, and the editor is Daniel L. Akin president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

UPDATE:

I have been reading much more since I first received it, and I am very impressed, so much so that I am highly considering using this new volume as our standard text book for our Bible Institute. Currently we use Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, and I think that “A Theology for the Church” offers a bit more depth for our students.   I also think that laypersons will find much value in this book as it is not so technical that it will overwhelm them.  Although written by Southern Baptist I find this book to be useful for other denominations as they quote extensively from outside sources.  As it is clearly seen in how they present opposing views in an irenic manner.

Learning Theology With the Church Fathers – Review

Book Review – “Learning Theology With the Church Fathers” written by Christopher A. Hall

Well this is my first book review, kind of feels like I am back in school writing a book report (never really like doing that either). I have not been posting as often because I am buried deep in the books I am reading as I am preparing to start a monthly lecture series at our church on various subjects, in addition to starting to teach at our Bible Institute as well. I also took about two weeks off on vacation, and I have been ever so busy at work.

One of the lectures that I am preparing for is dealing with Historic Christianity. Now I’ll be honest and say that I have never fully read any of the church fathers writings (not the intent of the lectures) but I do need to deal with their conclusions and why it matters to us.

I came across this book called “Learning Theology With the Church Fathers” written by Christopher A. Hall. This is an introductory survey book about what the church fathers believed. Who do I recommend this book to? Anyone who has never really read the writings of the church fathers, and those who want to explore how the wisdom of the patristic traditions helps us understand how we developed the various doctrines that we now embrace, and how it might aid us in the proclamation of the gospel. He does not cover every single church father and what they wrote, but it is a good book to at least get you going and maybe spark a further interest in their writings. He writes very well and keeps you engaged. The book does have broad appeal and you are not required to be a scholar to appreciate this book. Keep in mind that this book is more of a survey, an overview if you will. I am not done with the book but I have really enjoyed the 2 chapters plus the introductions that I have read so far.

There are a few really good reviews on Amazon as well and recommend you read those as well.

The chapters in the book are:

1. Christ the Son, Begotten and Not Made
2. Mystery and Wonder of the Trinity
3. Christ Divine and Human
4. Holy Spirit
5. Sin, Grace and the Human Condition
6. Providence
7. The Sacred Scriptures
8. One Holy, Apostolic Church
9. Resurrection and Eternal Life

This book is the second in a three part series surveying the various aspects of early church history.

Book 1 – Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers (examination of various hermeneutical methods, focusing upon the differing schools of Alexandria and Antioch).

Book 3 (forthcoming) – Praying with the Church Fathers (deals with sacramentology and pietism among other things).

If you are in the area stop by

Does Historic Christianity Matter?

There is some great dialog going on at Parachment and Pen on the topic of Historic Christianity. I think it has jump around a bit, as most blog responses due, but the title of the blog was “How Many Beliefs Can One Abandon and Still be Called Christian?” Which people seem to have got hung up on.

This is a topic that I have been thinking much about. In light of recent issues such as Openess Theology, Preterism, etc how do we defend Historic Christianity?

Michael in his blog raises some serious questions for us to think about.

There are a lot of beliefs being abandoned today as people question “established” traditional Christianity…

Most of those who would deny a traditional Christian doctrine do so believing that they are reading the Bible more faithfully than those who have gone before them. In other words, they are not always denying the truthfulness of Scripture, but the truthfulness of “orthodoxy” as defined by historic Christianity. In their mind, they are restoring the true intent and teachings of Scripture by abandoning the views of the historic Christian faith.

That is the attitude I have received when speaking with Preterist, and Open theist. But isn’t this the same line of reasoning that the restorationist churches of the nineteenth century such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and Disciples of Christ have taken?

Post here or just join the dialog over at Parachment and Pen

Historical Reliability of the Gospels

I am taking this course with Dr. Craig L. Blomberg author of the book “The Historical Reliability of the Gospels” It is a total of 16 hours of lecture crammed into 3 days.  If any of you have a specific question that you would like me to ask Dr. Blomberg please posted it here and I will respond with his answer.  I know that this goes without saying but please only post questions as it relates to the subject.

Open Theism

I have been reading non-stop regarding this subject. Currently I have two books that I have been reading, one is by The Benefits of Providence
by James S. Spiegel, and What Does God Know and When Does He Know It?: The Current Controversy over Divine Foreknowledge by Millard J. Erickson.

I have dropped “The Benefits of Providence” over Erickson’s book, because he seems to address it in a more systematic way, plus he presents the open theist views in an understandable way. I plan to write more on this subject when I am done as I see danger in embracing this particular view of God. Will give a small review of each book.

It was brought to my attention recently, and I was asked the following question, “does God know everything?” I responded with “yes”. “Does he know the future?” they asked. “Of course” I responded. After a few questions it became apparent that they had been talking to someone who has an Open Theist view, and created this sudden questioning of God’s Omniscients. I am always amazed when these sorts of doctrine’s make their way into the church.

The chief proponent of this view seems to be Gregory Boyd. You can read a short bio at Theopedia

I also plan to hold a seminar at my church dealing with the subject “Does God Know All Things”. I am a Traditional Theist, and I have different points of views on this matter, but to deny that God does not know all things is a something that must be challenged, and confronted.  to deny that God does not know all things, I think presents a set of challenges for us, and what are the ramifications of embracing such a doctrinal position?  As C.S. Lewis once said

“Everyone who believes in God at all believes that He knows what you and I are going to do tomorrow.”

You can read Justin Taylor’s introduction on this subject from his book “Beyond the Bounds – Open Theism and the Undermining of Biblical Christianity” Which is another book I plan to read as soon as I am done with the other two.

My question is:

• have any of you had encounters with this subject?
• do any of my regular visitors embrace Open Theism?