IF I WAS RICH ENOUGH TO START A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WHAT WOULD IT BE FOR?

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary/Boyce College, Louisville, KY

As the title indicates, no, I don't have enough money to start a scholarship program. But if I did, what would I make it for? Well, I have a clear-cut answer for that! Not a list of possibities: my mind's made up!

My scholarship will be specifically for singers/songwriters to get a degree in Bible. No, not a minor in Bible with a major in music. The major should be for a Bible, theology, pastoral studies, or apologetics degree. 

The scholarship would also be only for certain Bible colleges/seminaries. Of course, it would be one that believes the Bible is inspired, infallible, inerrant. It would not only teach that Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), but that they are training students to go into the world and evangelize. 

Is that controversial enough? Let me go further. That school will also be teaching recent creationism and dispensationalism! Essentials for salvation? No. But both of these views are based on the Bible meaning what it says. A school that doesn't agree with this does not deserve a penny of my money.

What is the purpose of this scholarship? I believe there is a place for musicians in Christian ministry. I also believe there's a need for musicians releasing Biblically based music. For that reason, I'd put most emphasis on a Bible major; the theology would depend on the school. I would see how homiletics training may be of value (which is why I included Pastoral) and I would be excited to see Scripture defended via songwriting.

Any thoughts on this?

 
 

 

 

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 19 OF 48 - PSALM 86:11

Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville, TN

 

Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
            Psalm 86:11, New King James Version
 

This is a wonderful prayer. I love the thought "Unite my heart to fear Your name." 

What does it mean? Scripture warns us against being double minded. Psalm 119:113 says, "I hate the double-minded, but I love Your Law." James 1:8 says of one who doubts when asking God for wisdom that he's "a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." Later, James exhorts "Purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8)

Could another way to put a "united heart" or an "undivided heart" "whole hearted?" It means we're not divided by trying to fit in with the world and be in fellowship with God, because since the world's not in fellowship with God, we can't be whole heartedly following our Lord if we're spending a lot of time in the goat pen.

May we be taught God's way. May we walk in His truth. And may our heart be united to fear His name. 

BOOK REVIEW - CANYON SURVIVAL BY CONNIE QUEEN

 

 "What am I doing in this canyon? Who are these little children with me? Who is this man in the red truck who's offering help? Who am I, and why are other people shooting at us?"

Canyon Survival by Connie Queen is an exciting story with an exciting cover. The plot has more twists and turns and surprises dropping in on you than a canyon road with falling boulders. The characters will pull at your heart as well. 

One of the best stories I've read this year, and I highly recommend it.

BOOK REVIEW - I WOULD DIE FOR YOU: ONE STUDENT'S STORY OF PASSION, SERVICE, & FAITH BY BRENT AND DEANNA HIGGINS

What does it look to live a life totally surrendered to God, being obedient to him? Is it possible to display such total abandon to our Creator? Is there an age limit on being too old ... or too young?

I Would Die For You: One Student's Story of Passion, Service, & Faith is the story of B.J. Higgins, a teenager who lived out his love for God and the world, with a call to missions. He spent two summers ministering in Peru, and returned home with an unknown but deadly disease.

B.J.'s parents, Brent and Deanna Higgins, wrote/edited this book. Besides their contributions, it includes several journal entries, devotionals, and blogs by B.J., as well as comments from family members, friends, B.J.'s fellow summer missionaries, and others such as Bart Millard of MercyMe. It also includes several photos of B.J.

This is not a negative, but I found this book a challenging read on several points. First, if you're human, a story about a teenager who dies will of course be a challenge. Second, I found the book being a collection of memories from various people than it would if it was written as typical prose and then having a few quotes at the end. Finally, it's a challenge for me to stand up and be counted, to take up my sword and serve God as He wills.

I highly recommend this book.

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 18 OF 48 - PSALM 85:13

 

Maumee Bay State Park, Oregon, OH

"Righteousness will go before Him,
        And shall make His footsteps our pathway."
                     Psalm 85:13, New King James Version

Psalm 85, like a lot of other Psalms is a blessing. But I want to focus on the final verse. 

Is righteousness making God's footsteps our pathway? Or are we prone to go to the right or the left?

There's an excellent book Turn Neither To The Right Nor To The Left by Eric Schansberg, focusing on politics. But we must not assume "right" and "left" deal solely with politics.

Going to far to the right can refer to a legalistic mindset. It also can refer to a reluctance to change but maintain the status quo. There's a book titled The Seven Last Words of the Church: "We've Never Done It This Way Before." (I once say a cartoon where there was a banner reading "Week Two of The Church Plant," and one person said, "We didn't do it this way last week.")

While the right side has the danger of not changing things that are at the minimum don't hurt being changed and at the maximum things that really should be changed, the left side is the opposite, changing things that should be left alone. (Pun unintentional). 

Some of the changes are to be seen as "being compassionate," accepting cultural norms instead of the truth of God's Word. Some of the changes are to be seen as "being intellectual," assuming scientific theory is more valid than Biblical fact. And sometimes it is us just being selfish, defending things we like and not wanting to be judged (sometimes that judgment is what Jesus is condemning in Matthew 7:1, sometimes it is an attempt to turn a sinner from the error of his way in James 5:19-20.

Are we asking God to make His footsteps our pathway?

POST PRIMARY '23 THOUGHTS

Christians United Church, Indianapolis.

 

 After looking at the ballot for Tuesday's Republican primary, Becky asked if I wanted to run for City Council. 😱

Let me give a little background, and then I'll share some thoughts. 

We are in the city of Lawrence (Indiana), which is in Marion County; Marion County and Indianapolis are one in the same. Thus, I live in two different cities, represented by two mayors and five councilers (Indianapolis 10th district, Lawrence's 3rd, and three at-large Lawrence representatives. At the moment, all except the Lawrence mayor are Democrats.

I'm typing this on the day of the primary election. There were five candidates for Indianapolis Mayor on the Democrat side (including the incumbent, Joe Hogsett, running for his 3rd term) and four Republicans. For Lawrence Mayor there was one Republican and two Democrats (the Republican candidate probably finished due to term limits?). 

The primaries are over and I will predict that in the Council races, the Dems will maintain their majority in both Indy and Lawrence. Why? Out of the 25 seats in Indianapolis, 12 have no Republican candidate. In Lawrence, same is true for half of the half dozen districts; true, there's three at large seats which are contested, but if the Dems win either those three seats or two of the contested seats, they've got the majority.

Okay, that's enough for the background. My thoughts?

• Have the Republicans given up on Indianapolis (and Lawrence)? Is it better to save money and work on races that aren't expected to be won, or to fight on the ballot even when the odds are against them?
• Related. Is the thought that partisan control of a city does not make a difference as much as it does with state and federal government? Thus, is the GOP saving up for the seemingly more important races?
• If the Libertarians got aggressive and ran for every seat the Republicans are ignoring, would the voters there realize that there is an alternative to the Democrats and encourage them? Or do Republicans (and Democrats) think it's better to let the "bad guys" have control than to let the revolutionaries (e.g. third parties) provide some needed choices other than the two bullies?
• Are we heading to a point where a single party has control? And is there anyway that this is good for freedom? 
• We have open primaries where you can vote in one party's primary, even if you are probably voting for the other party in the November elections. Is that good, or should the selection of the November candidates be done by those registered in a certain party?
  
• The Republican running for Indy mayor spent 1 mil of his own money to get the nomination. With the money involved, is running for office any different than gambling? And does that make money spent in campaigns money that could be used more effectively elsewhere? 
• By the way, except in the case mentioned in the above paragraph, who pays for the Bully... I mean two major Parties' primaries? Yep, us taxpayers. Should we put an end to that?
  
• Let's move from the unimportant to matters of faith. As Christians, do we either a) ignore battles we should be fighting (should the Republicans and Libertarians make sure no seat is unchallenged) or b) spending time and money for earthly things (even in the church) instead of heavenly things (should the Republicans not challenging a seat being wise)?

Yes, of course I'd love to hear your thoughts on these questions. And should I run for office? (Honestly, I think Becky would be a better candidate than me.)

BOOK REVIEW - SALVATION TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSION (2ND EDITION) BY ANDREAS KOSTENBERGER AND T. DESMOND ALEXANDER

 

 Does the Old Testament contain the concept of mission, and if so, is it the same or different than the New Testament's? How does Paul's view differ from Peter's and John's?

As far as I know, only one book of the New Studies in Biblical Theology series has two editions and two different numbers in the series. This one is Andreas Kostenberger's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth. (The original is book #11, this is #53.) I have not seen the first edition, but the intro points out that T. Desmond Alexander added a section on the Old Testament. 

Kostenberger divides the views of the New Testament into four groups. One would expect one of the groups to be the four Gospels, but no - each group includes one of the Gospels together. He combines the writings of John in one section and combines Matthew with the Jewish mindset of the epistles of James and to the Hebrews. Mark is linked with Peter and Jude, and you might want to bring a lunch when you tackle the 100 page chapter focused on Luke, Acts, and the epistles of Paul.

This is a very insightful book, pointing how there is a unified message through Scripture of God's desire to save the lost through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. As the others I've read in the New Studies in Biblical Theology series, I recommend this volume.