Jun 15th 08
Posted by Adam in Random Thoughts
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-A-B-R-Y! (to the tune of the Mickey Mouse theme) That’s what we used to sing to my dad when my sister and I were smaller.
That’s one of my few good family memories from when I was a little kid. That’s because much of what I remember was the pain of my parents’ broken relationship, their divorce, and the ensuing confusing that any kid of divorced parents experiences. Then Jesus saved me.
I began to fervently pray for my dad when I first became a Christian. And slowly, I began to watch Him work. My family began to be redeemed by the unstoppable power of a loving God. Slowly, sometimes strangely, He was changing my dad.
That brings us to today. My dad is, besides my wife, my biggest supporter and fan. And now, a friend on a level that I honestly never expected.
So dad, thanks. Thanks for always providing for me. Thanks for always making sure I was never lacking anything I needed. Thank you for supporting me when I was 19 and engaged, trying to shove a four-year-degree into two, not having a clue about what lay ahead. Thank you for being excited when Hope and I got pregnant (or at least not showing your worry too much.) Thank you for supporting our decision to move to Scotland, even though I know it caused you pain. Thank you for just picking up the phone every now and again to check on me. I really appreciate it.
I love you, dad. Happy Father’s day.
Jun 13th 08
Posted by Adam in Reflections
Orthopraxy (correct practice) doesn’t necessarily always flow from orthodoxy (correct thinking).
But, heteropraxy (bad practice) always flows from heterodoxy (bad thinking).
Jun 11th 08
Posted by Adam in Reflections, Theology
People are sinners…all people. If you’re confused on this point, go and spend some time with a 2-year-old. That’ll clear you right up. As well, there are countless scriptures that describe people as sinful.
So here is the question: How can God continue to allow a world full of sinners who have repeatedly, profoundly, and skillfully violated His very nature, continue to live and enjoy His blessings (like air, food, water, and life)? The answer: common grace.
Common grace is the first step in our salvation, because without it, God would simply judge us and take our very lives. Why is it grace? Because none of us actually deserve life, or any other blessing from God. Humanity stands before Him utterly depraved, broken, and worthy of nothing but judgment from God. Yet, in His grace He stays His hand.
Examples of common grace include things like physical sustenance, beauty, intellectual understanding, creativity, and morality.
So what’s the big deal about common grace? For starters, it shows us God’s heart toward all people, redeemed and lost. God makes the sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Secondly, it reveals His endless mercy in giving us something we don’t deserve. And finally, common grace demonstrates God’s beautiful glory.
So praise God for His common grace, without which we would have no chance to know Him!
Jun 8th 08
Posted by Adam in Reflections, Theology
I’ve bee thinking about doing this for a while, and I think I’m going to go ahead with it.
Coming on the Confessional: a series of entries the Ordo Salutis, or “order of salvation.” The order of salvation is a theologians attempt to understand how exactly Christians come to be saved.
Why I am I doing this? Well, I think that it matters. I also derive unending encouragement from thinking of this process of salvation, and how God has stooped down from Heaven to save us, and bring us to Himself.
NOT why I am doing this: to be controversial, although one of you is bound to disagree with me.
Hope you tune in (or RSS in, or log on, or whatever you internet-folks do.)
Jun 6th 08
Posted by Adam in Theology
Are you?
Jun 5th 08
Posted by Adam in Reflections, Theology
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part, but the whole
Was nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, oh my soul!
- Horatio Spafford, It is Well with my Soul, 1871
The doctrine of expiation is that part of our faith that deals with God completely removing our sins from us. It makes us clean, pure, and new. Our sins were nailed to the cross, and we indeed bear them no more.
Thanks Horatio.
Jun 3rd 08
Posted by Adam in Random Thoughts
So, for the last few months I’ve been working with a great company called Church Plant Media developing and designing our church’s new website.
Check it out and let me know what you think.
www.centrepointchurch.org
May 28th 08
Posted by Adam in Cultural Commentary, Reflections
The Church of England is currently having second thoughts about the Gospel.
In a denomination that is currently liquidating it’s assets to remain financially solvent, they are trying to destroy the one uniqueness that has preserved them. That is, the uniqueness of Christ.
One young man, who aspires to priesthood, has brought the issue up. He formed a motion asking the House of Bishops (the leaders) of the Church of England to explain to the church their understanding of the…’uniqueness of Christ in Britain’s multi-faith society, and offer examples and commendations of good practice in sharing the gospel of salvation through Christ alone with people of other faiths and of none.’
However, his comments were condemned by senior figures within the Church. The Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, the former Bishop of Hulme and the newly appointed Bishop of Urban Life and Faith, said: “Both the Bishop of Rochester’s reported comments and the synod private members’ motion show no sensitivity to the need for good inter-faith relations. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs are learning to respect one another’s paths to God and to live in harmony. This demand for the evangelisation of people of other faiths contributes nothing to our communities.”
Seriously? Seriously.
One brave bishop said, “Our nation is rooted in the Christian faith and that is the basis of welcoming people of other faiths. You cannot have an honest conversation on the basis of fudge.”
He immediately drew criticism.
Thoughts:
- Pray for the leaders of the Church of England.
- This is what happens when you start to mess with Scriptural inerrancy. It can only lead to weak, flaccid, unsure, mushy, pseudo-faith.
- This is, in part, exactly why we’re over here.
May 25th 08
Posted by Adam in Reflections
Today was an interesting day of parenting in the Mabry house.
Alanna was, um, challenging today. (Please notice my great use of Euphemism there.)
So, I got a bit angry with her in one of her more trying moments, and raised my voice a tad too loud. I promptly squatted down, looked at her and said, “Alanna, Daddy shouldn’t have yelled at you. Please forgive me.”
She gave me a big kiss on the lips. I think that 3-year-old for forgiveness.
So, as I was putting her to bed tonight, I was telling her about Jesus. I said, “Alanna, Jesus wants to come and live inside your heart. One day, if you want, you can ask Jesus to come and live inside your heart.”
She thought about it, as she does. Then, after a pause replied, “Daddy, my heart is in my belly. Jesus wants to live in my heart…in my belly…in a house.”
I laughed… a lot
Someone said once that you don’t have to feed your children a tree, you just have to plant seeds. I hope I planted some today.
May 23rd 08
Posted by Adam in Video
…but very funny.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFGVzt7c5bY]
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