Questioning the Slump Test

If you were to contract a new house, you can request a slump test on the concrete before your foundation is poured. This is a very accurate test to demonstrate the quality of the concrete being used in your house. If it slumps too much it is bad. If the concrete doesn't slump at all it is bad.

But let's say, hypothetically, your slump is just right and the contractors proceed with the construction of your dream house. Then a few years after you have moved in and are enjoying your house, there is a knock on your door. You answer it and find standing there one of the workers who helped build your house. He tells you with shame on his face that the contractor somehow faked the slump test. The concrete that was used to pour your foundation was inferior quality and will begin to crack and cause all sorts of problems.

Now every time you hear an odd sound in your house, you think, "Is this it? Is the house going to fall in or the walls begin to crack?" You have that doubt in your mind. You are fearful of adding on or even hanging something on the wall, because if the foundation isn't sound you could loose it all. And all of this is caused because someone you don't even know put a question in your mind.

I see this all the time in the media and in today's schools. Talking heads and academic scholars question the Word of God and those questions begin to wear on us as Christians. Over the next few weeks, I am going to handle a few of the most prevalent questions that are out there, slamming you in the face every day.

Let me leave you this morning with just this bit of encouragement from Scripture:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind."

So if God cannot lie, and all Scripture is inspired (or breathed) by God, then it stands that there is NO lie in Scripture. Those that try to tell you otherwise are just trying to get you to doubt that which no man should doubt.

Sola Scriptura

If It's Too Loud...

One of my passions is music. No I can't play and by no means can I sing...in fact I sound very much like a drowning cat when I try to sing, but I am very moved by music. I grew up in the eighties listening to 'Hair Bands' (if you don't know what they are, you are truly blessed) at very high volumes.

After I was saved, I got rid of my secular music. I listen to almost 100% Christian music. I know that there are arguments (some of them very good ones) for and against the Christian music scene that is out there today. But I can say that I would rather listen to a "Christian" song that sounds like every other 'Boy Band' out there than pollute my mind with the dribble that is pawned off as modern music.

As I returned a movie tonight to the local video store, the CD was playing and it was Todd Agnew's new album. The third track was playing and it hit me like a ton of bricks. As we celebrate the Passion Week and come upon Good Friday, I was listening to these lyrics:

"Each crack of that whip was for my mistakes
Blood is on my hands
Each stumble up that hill was my step to take
Blood is on my hands
How do I say thanks for this"

Each and every day I stumble. Some days there are just those little hiccups in the road and I go on. Others are the big pot holes that I fall into and it takes a while, sometimes a long while, to get up and going again.

And it was because of those stumbles that He was stricken. It was because of MY failings that He was crucified. He was perfect. I am totally depraved, but forgiven through His sacrifice.

I didn't create this blog to talk about music, I created this to talk about Scripture. But sometimes music, like the events of our lives, drives us to Scripture.

2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

Isaiah 53...the entire chapter, look it up. Or post a comment with your e-mail addy and I'll get it to you.

As you approach this Resurrection Sunday and Good Friday, and attend the services at your church, keep these in mind. He didn't go to the cross and suffer the shame and indignation for the faceless masses...He did it for YOU!

Sola Scriptura

The Apprentice

Last night I finished a fiction novel that I had been reading for a few weeks. One of the main characters was an apprentice blacksmith. Due to circumstances, he was unable to continue in the trade but became a soldier instead.

All through his life he refers back to lessons that his blacksmithing tutor had taught him. Even as he faced death on a different continent, he recalled teachings from his beloved trainer.

I was thinking this morning, as I wait for the caffeine to kick in, about some of the Biblical models of apprenticeship that we have.

One of the first that comes to mind is that of Moses and Joshua. God had chosen Joshua to be Moses' successor in leading the nation of Israel. Joshua would receive blessings that Moses had forfeited in arrogance. But the relationship between these two is what intrigues me. What must have their conversations been like, especially as Moses' time on earth drew to a close?

Another of those relationships is Paul and Timothy. The great Apostle and the young pastor. You get a glimpse as to what Paul thought of Timothy when he writes in 1 Timothy 6:11, "But you, man of God..." This is the ONLY time Paul uses this term. And you know that Timothy encourages Paul by his statements in 2 Timothy and the other epistles.

My question for you this morning is who is your Moses? Who is your Paul? Who is your tutor in the everyday of life? Who is your spiritual tutor that you turn to?

Almost as important is who is your Joshua? Who looks to you for help and guidance as they begin their journey?

I have men in my life that are great expositors like the apostle Paul and I sit at their feet and drink in the Word. I have men in my life that are skilled leaders that take time to teach and instruct and train me. To quote one of these men whom I love, "These are the men with whom I would charge Hell with a water pistol."

Sola Scriptura

Roaster's Ramblings

I really enjoy a good cup of coffee or ten. One of my favorite places to stop and think and drain a few gallons of the good stuff is Roasters here in Amarillo.

Sometimes I just enjoy sitting back and listening as the people talk back and forth across tables and sometimes across the room. A few nights ago, I overheard a conversation that made me stop and think.

One young lady was bragging to her friends that her birthday was coming up and she was going to get a tattoo for her birthday. I don't want to get into the whole tattoo-Biblical issue (we'll tackle that one later), but what really got me was that she repeatedly refered to the fact that her dad didn't want her to get the tattoo. Not only did he not want her to get one, he threatened to throw her out of the house if she got one. And she didn't care. Her comments were in the line of, "I'm almost eighteen now and he'll get over it."

Now that's my rub. She had NO respect for her father's opinion and planned on completely disregarding his wishes.

I just don't get it. Was she wrong in the fact that since she is now approaching the age of majority, she no longer needed to respect her father or heed his wishes?

Let's take a survey through the Word and see what we're told there:

Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving to you."

Ephesians 6:1-3 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'--which is the first commandment with a promise--'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

In fact there was a punishment laid out in the Law for dishonoring parents that Jesus Himself refers to in Mark 7:10, "Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death." This was accomplished by stoning the offending offspring to death in the center of town so they would be an example to all the children of the city.

I need another cup, so I'll sign off for now and fill up. More later...

Sola Scriptura

Grand Opening

Every day it seems that you can see a new business, whether a restaraunt or service type business, holding its "Grand Opening". They hold their grand opening in order to tell the public, "Hey, check us out...We have something to offer that the other guys don't!"

Well, here's our "Grand Opening"!

This is a blog that offers what many don't. Biblical answers to issues and situations that teens are facing every single day. There are times in life and situations that arise that teens need answers for and they are too afraid to go to their parents or too ashamed to seek the counsel of other adults. That is where we step in. Not as a replacement for parents or counselors that know the teens personally, but as a 'First Responder' in times of need.

No topic will be taboo (some may be edited for content) and all questions will be answered. They may not be answered with the answers that you want, but they will be answered Biblically and supported with Scripture. There won't be any answers from Dr. Phil or the Psychic Network...those are worldly counselors. All of the answers will be from the Bible and the Bible only. If we follow the mantra of the Reformers in Sola Scriptura, then it will be easy to do as Paul commanded us to do in Colossians 3:2, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

To keep things rolling, I will try to cover and post a news article every few days and respond to it Biblically.