Some might say my willingness to eat food that fell on the floor is gross...

...I consider it evidence of my faith in my sister's ability to keep a clean house.

One more thought on Bishop Robinson

As usual, John Piper is better at verbalizing an issue than I am.

His language is a little stronger than mine, too.

But I don't think it's out of line.

This honestly upsets me

Al Mohler is the president of Southern Seminary. He's one of the most important evangelicals out there, and uncompromisingly biblical. I really recommend his blog.

The other day, he wrote about Bishop Gene Robinson, who has been chosen by Barack Obama to pray at his inauguration. Bishop Robinson is the Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, and openly gay. If you've been following the news surrounding the Episcopal Church at all recently, you know that controversy over homosexuality has racked the denomination. Bishop Robinson has been a major factor: "Controversy over his election has led to a schism in his church and a rupture that threatens to unravel the world-wide Anglican Communion."

In reading Mohler's article, I came across a statement regarding Bishop Robinson's plans for his inaugural prayer that stopped me in my tracks. Mohler quotes an article from the New York Times: Bishop Robinson said he had been reading inaugural prayers through history and was “horrified” at how “specifically and aggressively Christian they were.”

“I am very clear,” he said, “that this will not be a Christian prayer, and I won’t be quoting Scripture or anything like that. The texts that I hold as sacred are not sacred texts for all Americans, and I want all people to feel that this is their prayer.”

Bishop Robinson said he might address the prayer to “the God of our many understandings,” language that he said he learned from the 12-step program he attended for his alcohol addiction.

Wow. I hope that you see what he is saying there. Mohler reacts well: "Keep in mind that this man is the Bishop of New Hampshire for the Episcopal Church. He is 'horrified' by the character of previous inaugural prayers as 'specifically and aggressively Christian.'"

Matthew 7:21-23: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Mark 8:38 "For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

Lord, let me be specifically and aggressively Christian.

A few things to work on

I know I'm a few weeks late, but nevertheless, I have some resolutions. I've already been working on some of these, but as everyone knows, it isn't real unless it's on the blogosphere.

Without further ado, in 2009, I would like to (in no particular order)

Regarding Bible study
1. read 1 gospel per month
2. read the rest of the NT twice
3. read Psalms and Proverbs twice
4. read the rest of the OT once
5. memorize all the fighter verses
6. memorize Ephesians (this one will be the toughest)


Everything else
1. begin attending Bethlehem Seminary (this one's in the Lord's hands)
2. speak at Camp (this one's in Pete and the Lord's hands)
3. become a member at Bethlehem
4. join a small group
5. become a youtube sensation (now accepting ideas)
6. clean and organize my room
7. join a church league softball team
8. come to a better understanding of baptism
9. come to a better understanding of the media and how we as Christians should interact with it
10. bake something
11. present the Gospel
12. play more disc golf
13. build something
14. read at least one book that is on my shelf per month
15. explore the possibility of becoming a contestant on Jeopardy!
16. travel somewhere I've never been.

There's more, but that's what comes to mind now.

Short posts upset Guy

That's how I know they are worth it.

The good news: My expenses are pretty low right now

The bad news: My income is even lower.

I hate trying to find a job.

Highs and lows from a 366 day, 1 second period in my life

Everyone else is doing it, so I will give it a shot.

A few lows of 2008:

I took out more student loans, putting me more in debt
I said goodbye to some dear friends in Fargo
And Kentucky
I ended the year jobless
I still sin...everyday
I'm still not disciplined
I suck at blogging regularly

Many more highs:


I turned 22,
graduated from NDSU,
was accepted at SBTS,
lived in Kentucky for 5 months,
had my best summer personally at Camp,
got a girlfriend,
preached a few times at my church and felt like I improved each time,
read the entire Bible,
started a blog,
was an usher in one of my best friend's wedding,
spent a weekend at both the Hanson and Brandes cabin,
felt called back to MN,
applied for seminary...again,
drove a lot (I love to drive), and
was showered daily with grace.

I'm sure there are a lot of things I'm missing, but that's off the top of my head.

2008 was good. God was good in 2008.

If some is good, more is better

I went to church three times this weekend. Just because I could. I love one of the churches, and I love people at the other two. I've linked all three, and I encourage you to check them out (but I realize that most of you who read this blog are probably familiar with them).

Saturday night I went to Bethlehem Baptist with Laurel. This was the church I love, and it is where I plan on becoming a member. www.hopeingod.org

Sunday morning I went to Discover Church in Champlin. This is Jess and Andy's church, and I had told them I would go see it (and did in fact want to go anyway). It is a church plant and meets in a theater. That was an interesting experience, and I really enjoyed the sense of ownership and fellowship among the members. Setting up and tearing down a church every week takes a lot of commitment, and they did it joyfully. That's pretty sweet. www.discoverchurchnetwork.org

Sunday night I went to Corner Church in Downtown Minneapolis. This is Scott Woller's church, and he is one of my favorite people. It's a tiny church that meets in a coffee shop, both of which Scott started as part of his vision to reach the people of downtown with the love of Christ. Very cool. www.cornerchurch.tv


These three churches are so incredibly different. All three have advantages and their own set of problems. I was blessed in attending all three.


May God glorify himself in each of those churches.