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Thursday, 02 July 2009

  • Conclusion on Church Elders' Authority


    Here is a link to the conclusion of my dissertation, The Authority of Church Elders in the NT. Aside from the readers on the committee at school, I have not received much in the way of critical feedback. I am anxious for my conclusions to be challenged and improved. I also pray that where ever I have accurately understood the Scripture, this will be an encouragement and challenge to others. I have only uploaded the conclusion. I can also make available the chapters that discuss each relevant passage individually if there are further thoughts or questions.

Monday, 29 June 2009

  • "Train Up a Child"

    “Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
    Prov 22:6

    The definition of “train” in the Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains is “disciple, i.e., broadly instruct in accordance with proper rules of conduct and behavior which would include both principles and teaching holy ritual.”

    Disciple your children. Teach your children. Training is primarily teaching. But it cannot be one class, or one semester, or only in class. Training is life teaching. Discipleship implies and walking through life together and giving instructions along the way. Discipleship would naturally include example and demonstration as well. This is also teaching.

    The other day, Dana and I discussed this question: “Why are we educating our children?” Education cannot be an end in itself because knowledge is an incomplete virtue. Knowledge is valuable and important, but the most significant issue is what one does with his knowledge. Many have wrought great evil and destruction with their knowledge. Children are to be trained in the way they should “go.” The main concern is not merely what they know, but what they do. Thus, we must broaden the view of Christian education to wisdom. Wisdom adds righteousness and fear of God to knowledge. God’s purposes for us are to love him and love others. All education and knowledge, then, is gained in order to fulfill God’s purposes.

    Training a child has this broader goal in mind for it does not simply convey knowledge, it teaches a way of life – “in the way he should go.” It is a way, a path that goes on and on. It is not just a particular skill or behavior. As the definition above states, it includes principle and holy ritual. Principles are eternal truths that transcend particular circumstances. Principles inform wise and right decisions no matter what the particular problem or choice one faces. “The way” is one that will last one’s entire life. Thus, when the disciples are old, they will still be able to follow it.

    This way is not a personal, traditional, or cultural way. It is the way one “should” go. This assumes a right way, a transcendently true way. Therefore, the child is taught God’s way – the way of righteousness, love, and wisdom.

Thursday, 25 June 2009

  • Ministry Before Self

    “Imprisonment and afflictions await me.
    But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself,
    if only I may finish my course and the ministry
    that I received from the Lord Jesus,
    to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
    Acts 20:23-24

    Usually if imprisonment and affliction were the consequence of certain actions, we would simply stop those actions. There are probably not very many activities for which we would go to prison. If we would, it is because the issue at hand has become more important to us that our own comfort and survival. For Paul, completing his ministry has become greater than the value of his own life to himself. Since he must live to complete it, that is the value of his life. He is not suicidal. He is stating that the value of his life is not in serving himself, but in serving God.

    This is exactly the point at which we must die – to ourselves. If we do not die to ourselves first, then we will not obey in affliction. We will not complete our ministries. But when our ministries become a greater objective than our own comfort and survival, we will find great courage and power for the task.

    The call is to ministry. When we serve God, it is not to isolated worship and self denial (although times for this are essential), it is to join him in his plan to build a kingdom and a people for himself. People are the focus of the work. The ministry is given by the Lord Jesus. We do not get to think of whatever we may like to do, like choosing our favorite career. While in one way Paul’s ministry of testifying to the gospel is unique to him, this also is a part of all of our ministries; we will have different manifestations of this ultimate goal. Any ministry of love to others that does not have as its final purpose to meet their eternal needs falls miserably short of loving them in the most important way – giving them life in Christ, the very best gift of all and the fulfillment of all human need.

    So, here is the question for me today: What is most important to me? Do I value the completion of my God given ministry more than my own comfort and survival? Am I willing to deny myself in order to serve God? If I am, what would that look like in my life today?

Wednesday, 24 June 2009

  • Garden Update

    Our garden is growing pretty well. We put a fence around it to keep deer and rabbits out. We have bush and pole beans, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, melons, potatoes, sweet potatoes, sunflowers, grain, tomatoes, greens, peppers, okra, carrots, and radishes.


     

    We enjoyed a visit at the Biltmore House on Monday.



Friday, 19 June 2009

  • The Power of Money

    “The rich rules over the poor,
    and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”
    Prov 22:7

    Money is powerful. Government, politics, and social structure are formed by wealth. Ideally they are not, but in reality, they always are. As I reflect upon this, here are some resolutions that come to mind:

    I determine to be free from the power of wealth.
    I will never be bribed or bought.
    I will not become stressed over low funds.
    I will not become discontent with what I have, nor jealous of what someone else has.
    I will work diligently to faithfully provide for the needs of my family.
    I will pray about and trust the Lord with our needs.
    I will keep carefully manage our money as a good steward of God’s resources.
    I will not make moral decisions based on financial considerations.
    I will not make ministry decisions based on financial considerations.
    I will not foolishly spend nor will I selfishly hoard what I have.
    I will use God’s blessings as an opportunity to minister to others.
    I will never respect or despise a person based on their financial position.
    Money is a means, never an end, and must always be a means for righteousness and love.

    “Whoever oppresses a poor an insults his Maker,
    but he who is generous to the needy honors him.”
    Prov 14:31

Thursday, 18 June 2009

  • Protecting and Equipping Children

    “It is not possible to live in this world faithfully without coming into conflict with those who have no desire to live faithfully. The task of every Christian parent bringing children up to maturity in such a world is to do it in a way that equips. False protection, precisely because it does not equip, leaves a child defenseless when the inevitable day comes when that artificial shelter is removed. True protection equips. We do not want to build a fortress for our students to hide in; we want to give them a shield to carry—along with a sword.”

    - Douglas Wilson, in the preface of the middle school textbook Omnibus I: Biblical and Classical Civilizations.

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

  • Twelve Year Anniversary

    June 14 was Dana and my twelve year wedding anniversary! We spent a wonderful day together yesterday thanks to Melissa Lonas, who stayed with all our children. Our day began at the Blowing Rock Mellow Mushroom, followed by a walk downtown complete with Kilwin's ice cream and Kojay's coffee. We then had a great hike that begins at Simm's Pond near Price Park. I highly recommend this trail as a moderate, just over 2 mile walk. It included a beautiful woodsy trail by the creek as well as open pasture and long distance views.
     



    The evening was concluded with a fancy dinner at the Manor House at the Chetola Restort. This was where I took Dana on Dec 6, 1996 to propose. Here is a picture of us in the gazeebo where I asked her to marry me almost 13 years ago.



    I asked if she wanted to stay married and she said yes! I am very grateful for such a beautiful, capable wife who strives with me to "take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me" (Phil 3:12)

Monday, 15 June 2009

  • Back from Vacation

    We are back from a relaxing week of vacation at Fairhaven Ministries in Roan Mnt., TN. Our whole week was only filled with reading, relaxing, napping, picnicking, hiking, creeking, sitting by the fire, and just being together.





     


    There were some falls that made a nice slide.



Friday, 05 June 2009

  • Cook Out and Wiffle Ball

    On Sunday we had a birthday/graduation celebration cook out.
    We had a great time, as you can see by this picture of Josiah!


    You can read a nice summary of the events and some action shots of our Wiffle ball games on Daphne's blog. I must only make one correction to her report: the only place Dustin struck me out was in his dreams! I have taken the liberty, though, to provide us all a closer view of one of Dustin's at bats. It appears, upon investigation of this picture, that Dustin missed the ball here. Maybe it is because his eyes are closed while he is swinging.


Wednesday, 03 June 2009

Pulse

About Me

  • I am a follower of Christ; husband to Dana; dad to Bethany, Caleb, Josiah, Hannah, Nathaniel, and Kathryn; a pastor of Highland Christian Fellowship; teacher of communication at Appalachian State; and a Ph.D. student of NT at Southeastern Baptist Seminary. Dissertation Topic: The Authority of Church Elders in the New Testament.
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    • Name: Matthew
    • Gender: Male
    • Member Since: 4/12/2007
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