Christian Striver

Is Predestination A Game of Duck-Duck-Damned?

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:22:00 -0500

While working this morning I listened to a sermon by Greg Boyd, Pastor at Woodland Hills Church in Minnesota, in which he said, “It is our free choice, not predestination, that causes us to either follow Jesus or not follow Jesus.” This is no small matter. Aside from throwing the Bible out the window (see Romans 8:30, Matthew 24:31, Titus 1:1, Acts 4:27-28, Psalm 139:16, Ephesians 1:11 for staters), this view impacts how we view God, ourselves, sin, and the work of Jesus on the Cross.

I will admit that as an immature Christian in college I hated the Doctrine of Election. I thought is was unloving and I couldn’t understand why God would choose some for salvation and not others - the idea seemed like what Mark Driscoll has called a game of Duck-Duck-Damned. But as I matured in my faith I not only realized that the truth of Predestination is taught throughout Scripture, but it is also a great source of hope and assurance.

This foundational doctrine is a good place to start when considering whether your church is a Bible-teaching church or just interested in bringing in crowds. Many in the church today are more interested in experience than worship and cultural relevance over Biblical truth. The idea that you can “accept Jesus into your heart” or choose for yourself salvation is warm and fuzzy, but the problem is that these ideas are not supported by the Word of God. The issue of the sovereignty of God is not a place to be tolerant of loosy-goosy theology; it amounts to a massive revision of the Biblical view of God.

Why Your Church Doesn't Feel Like Family

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:32:00 -0500

This is old, but I’m constantly reminded of how true this message is.

Striving for the Faith of the Gospel

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:21:32 -0500

Philippians 1:27-30

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

That's Great, It's Starts with an Earthquake ...

Sat, 21 May 2011 07:25:27 -0500

"‎”Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not..."

Sat, 21 May 2011 07:23:33 -0500

“‎”Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” - Matt. 24:44”

Francis Chan Announces New Book: Erasing Hell

Fri, 20 May 2011 22:25:00 -0500

Francis Chan: We Can't Afford to Get Hell Wrong

Fri, 20 May 2011 22:13:18 -0500

No One Knows That Day or Hour

Fri, 20 May 2011 22:09:00 -0500

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” - Mark 13:32

Calvinist Pick Up Lines

Thu, 19 May 2011 20:59:00 -0500

HT: Matthew Smith via Mark Scheve

Youth Ministry ... Please Share Your Thoughts

Wed, 18 May 2011 15:47:09 -0500

Hello Everyone,

I’m a youth pastor who recently left a church after serving there for four years and I’m looking to hear from as many teens as possible about what they like, dislike, wish for, what would you have changed, what helped you grow, what made you say, “I’m never going back there again,” what made you tell your friends, “Hey, you’ve got to come to church with me tonight,” etc. about youth ministries that they have been apart of in anyway.

This is just to help me improve as a youth pastor, no other purpose. Please share your perspective with me if you have a few minutes. Your insight would really help a brother out.

Thanks and keep striving!

The Greatest Marriage Proposal Ever

Tue, 17 May 2011 20:39:26 -0500

10 Things Submission is Not

Tue, 17 May 2011 20:38:25 -0500

1. Simply or singularly a marriage issue

Submission is God’s design. It is a reflection of the interaction within the Trinity. Whether single or married, submission is a core heart issue revealing one’s dependence upon God. For a wife, it demonstrates her willingness to yield to her husband’s lead in obedience and belief of God’s covenant to her.

2. Degrading

Women have been lured into believing that submission is somehow humiliating. It does not bestow second-class status. It was Christ’s glory to submit to his father’s plan of redemption for his children; it is a wife’s glory to submit to God’s plan of provision and protection for her life

3. Silent

When submission is depicted as voiceless oppression, both men and women lose. God declared that men need help and to leave them without our prayerful input is to deny them help – the very thing God declared they need. Submission uses her voice to speak words of grace and life into her husband’s life.

Nasty Ad Against Drinking Soda - I Mean Nasty

Fri, 13 May 2011 09:52:00 -0500

HT: twentytwowords

Sitting is Killing You (It's Killing the Church Too ... We're a Sent People)

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:05:00 -0500

Living As Dead People

Mon, 09 May 2011 23:32:10 -0500

Our reality as believers will be always a kind of mystery. We live in this world experiencing a real tension. We are here, but we are not from there. We are called to see what is unseen and to seek what can’t be found in this world. And as a reasonable explanation for this, the …

Be a Trader

Mon, 09 May 2011 23:20:30 -0500

"Popular is almost never a measure of impact, or genius, or art. It rarely correlates w/ guts, hard..."

Fri, 06 May 2011 22:01:18 -0500

““Popular is almost never a measure of impact, or genius, or art. It rarely correlates w/ guts, hard work or a willingness to lead. - Seth Godin”

Winner of Desiring God

Fri, 06 May 2011 21:06:26 -0500

I let my daughter Elliette pick the winner out of a hat for the Desiring God give-a-way. The picture is kind of grainy, so the winner is … Briana at strengthlikelions!!

Some Old, Old School DC Talk

Thu, 05 May 2011 22:14:37 -0500

That some serious 80’s hair on @therealtobymac! Check the lyrics, there’s some serious truth in there. Christ is King! Allelujah!

What's Your Story?

Thu, 05 May 2011 10:05:35 -0500

I am a youth pastor who is seeking to better understand the faith stories of teenagers. If you’re Christian teenager (age 13 to 18), I’d like to interview you about your personal faith story. I’m about to start a research project focused on teen faith stories and, if you’re willing, I would like to arrange a time to have a Skype interview with you about your personal testimony. Interested? If so, please leave a comment here or send me a message about how to get into contact with you to schedule an interview time. Please consider helping me out by sharing your faith story with me.

Disclaimer: If you are under 18 years old you will need to obtain permission from a parent or guardian to participate in my study. Parents/ guardians will be asked to sign an informed consent form indicating that they grant permission for you to participate. In addition, all interviews will be recorded, but all identifying information (i.e., name) will be excluded from all reportings of the research results and the recordings will be promptly destroyed at the conclusion of the study.