A Little Payback

Well, thanks to Jay Anderson for coming down from Eau Claire to teach me a bit about musky fishing. We boated 4 muskies. This musky fishing thing is a whole lot easier than i thought. Fish of 10,000 casts? More like 20 or so. Ok, i got really spoiled. They were having a sale on musky lures at Fleet Farm, and i had to buy a bigger net. I'd better not get too into this new sport, it could get expensive!
I was talking with a local pastor again today, and he had a very intriguing thought. We don't have very many really interesting writers with really good theology and sound doctrine these days. I wish Bunyan were still alive. Seriously, i think the reason C.S. Lewis is still so popular, and why McClaren and Miller have such a following today. I appreciate what men like John Piper and R.C. Sproul are writing, but it does not seem to engage and intrigue much of today's culture in the same way writing like Blue Like Jazz or Velvet Elvis has. I can see reasons why this seems to be the case, since many of the theologically-minded Christians enjoy more heavy reading and arguments and exposition. I tend to fall into that camp, but always want to find ways to engage and influence more young people in our culture with sound doctrine and good theology. How else can we know and love the one true God? How else can we learn to glorify and enjoy Him. How else do we know what we ought to believe about God and what He requires of us? If someone could write like some in the emergent movement yet build it upon sound doctrine i think we might have more of an impact on the post-modern culture and be more effective in what Mark Driscoll calls "reformission." I'll try to get my brother to convince my brother to write this stuff, i guess.

local church membership for students?

Here is an interesting thought. I've been attempting to create a good model for local church/para-church org relationships over the past few years, and it's tricky! I just read an article given to me by a pastor in Stevens Point about just that, written by a man named Byron Straughn. He suggests local church membership as a vital part of that partnership. So far my ideas have relied heavily on local church involvement for students, but not membership. I would hope membership in a local church would provide a sense of belonging in that congregation for a student. They may be more apt to see the primacy of the church, which is what we want for them as an organization, and they might feel like their main source of spiritual growth and help would be the local church. This would help organizations place importance on ordinary means of grace and the sacraments, and would in turn help the para-church realize its mission of evangelism and winning souls on the campus. Instead of "recreating church," as Straughn puts it, the para-church would be able to use up less of the students time attempting to do things like preaching and corporate worship and could focus more effort on evangelistic relationships and activity. I know i would rather have a student be part of an intramural volleyball team for the purpose of evangelism than be part of our large group planning team.
My question is, is this practical? Do churches want students to be members for a few years and then leave? Can this kind of relationship be realized with mere local church involvement rather than membership?
The statistics show that over 70% of students claiming to be Christian entering college leave college unsure or sure that they are not, but if those students are involved in a para-church org they are 95% certain to "retain the faith." Also, 98% of students who come to a saving faith in Christ during their college years give some credit to para-church org activity, and 90% of college-age converts coming to the local church are brought there by para-church members. I do not mean to belittle the purpose or work of the para-church in any way, i just want to fulfill our true mission to the best of our ability for the glory of God, and i believe doing so centers around an emphasis on the local church during the college life. I want students and pastors and IV staff and ex para-churchers alike to comment on this so we get ideas from all perspectives!

thoughts on baptism, please

I'm playing games with the muskies, and losing at them all. Turns out they love to eat walleyes, bluegills, and bullheads when they are on the stringer next to the canoe, but they do not like to eat bullheads or suckers when they are on a hook on a musky rod in the middle of the river. Oh well.
Here's a potentially controversial question. What do you think scripture says about infant vs. believers baptism? Use Spurgeon/Gill and Sproul/Berkhof for their exposition of scripture, but please don't rely too heavily on arguments that are not scriptural. I'd love to hear some good arguments here. I'd also like to hear some advice about potentially being a paedo/credo married couple. Something besides "don't have kids" would be helpful. Thanks guys and gals, have at it!

The Legend is True

I am still soaked as i sit down to write this post. I talked to a kid yesterday who told me a story of a five and a half foot muskie that lives where i've been fishing. "A new world record" he said. It's not the first time i heard that story, so i didn't take it seriously until today. My friend Jordan and i were fishing walleyes, catching quite a few. I bet we had caught close to 20, and i had a nice 16 inch walleye on my metal stringer, dangling in the water. I was fishing away when the canoe shook with such force i thought Jordan had fallen off his seat or something. I looked at him and he was looking at me and the canoe shook again with such force i thought it might tip. I looked down over the side and a big red tail came out of the water, soaking both of us and dumping about 2 gallons of water in the canoe. The muskie was not going to give up on that walleye, so i had time to look at it, get the net, stick the net in the water and get it on her head. I lifted her head up and all i could see was the tail of the 16 inch walleye sticking out of the mouth, and the thing's head was about the size of the back of one of my kitchen chairs. We made eye contact. Needless to say, the rest of the muskie didn't fit in the net, so it rolled back in the water, still ferociously yanking on the walleye. By this time i was just trying to get the muskie off the stringer to keep from tipping the canoe ( i didn't want to go for a swim with that fish!). It finally broke my steel stringer and took the walleye, leaving us soaking wet with no dinner. The fish was so huge, i can't believe it. Now i have a reason to fish there, and it's personal. If i catch that thing it is going on my wall, above the bed, as long as I can convince my future wife. This time it's personal. I hope Kyle or Jeremy or someone can come up and help me finish the job. I'll make time whenever you have time.

Random Stuff

I hope we can continue the conversation on the past post. It's raining here, and it's supposed to be that way for the next week. I would build an ark, but i'd like to see how many animals i could fit into my canoe. I've finally forced myself to eat most of the ice cream from the bucket i bought a month ago. I got a vanilla/chocolate mix because i wasn't sure which i liked better, but the last time i opened the bucket there was only vanilla left. Guess i solved that one-chocolate.
I caught myself in a disturbing thought a minute ago. I was looking for my Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening," and found it where it usually is-next to the bed. My thought in exact words was "I love being able to wake up and see Spurgeon laying next to me." That thought didn't form quite right, but i knew what i meant. Speaking of that subject, did you know there was a Charles Spurgeon honeymoon suite in Indiana? You can look it up online. I'm thinking about changing plans from Yellowstone next summer to the Spurgeon honeymoon suite, but it might feel kinda weird. There's a huge picture of Spurgeon on the wall, and his eyes follow you around the room.

I'm reading Acts at the moment and have a question about Acts 8. What are verses 12-17 saying about baptism and the Holy Spirit? I'm assuming a lot of it has to do with gifts, since there can't really be baptism without grace, and grace without the Holy Spirit. Odd. And if you're really ambitious i need some help with Calvin's commentary about the laying on of hands that he puts in with this section of scripture. "the Church was beautified for a time only with these gifts; whereupon it followeth that the laying on of hands...had an end when the effect ceased." What, laying on of hands is dead? Hyper-cessationism?

Kyle Borg's question

Here's another one from one of my famous friends. I'd like to spend a little time discussing it, so nobody is allowed to post an answer that just says "yes."
Well, here's another question for anyone to mull over. I've been wondering, is it okay to pray to Jesus and the Holy Spirit even though Scripture never says we should, and even Jesus prayed only to the Father?

Places to Pray

Where are your favorite places to pray? I hope there are places where you feel drawn to prayer when you are there. Actually, i hope you feel drawn to prayer wherever you are, but because of my forgetfulness, i love having places to pray. I don't recommend this normally, but the bed has been a consistent place for a long time. It is the greatest way to start my day. I roll over and see my Bible and Spurgeon's Morning and Evening sitting right there on the nightstand. It's also nice to just close my eyes again and pray right away instead of sleep. I realize this would not work for everyone. I also love going on walks. Lately, the trail along the river next to my apartment has been amazing. Quiet places out in nature are my absolute favorites. I also feel a need to pray in the truck on long drives. Those are my consistent places. But i guess the Lord is everywhere, and we don't need places to pray. The main point is that we are praying to our God, who is able to do abundantly more than we could ask or imagine, and who holds everything in His sovereign hands. I am preparing some stuff for my vision team with InterVarsity about the book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala. I would recommend other books on prayer, such as John Bunyan's Prayer , but Cymbala's book makes me want to keep praying more and more. I want to be in earnest prayer for my students and Joanna, for my family and for circumstances. The sweetest times, however, are spent in worship of God for who He is and meditation of Christ. God does good things all the time!

A rough day

I just sent a letter declining my entrance into seminary. That was a tough one to write, because i really don't want to put it off. In other news, i was not being smart with the canoe last night in the dark and broke a truck window. There goes a couple hundred bucks that i don't really have, but i'll have to deal with it.
I realize that i have a tendency to mess things up. I'm so terribly happy that salvation does not depend on my will or effort, but on God's. His covenant is his and becomes ours as a gift. I like how in Genesis 4 God puts a rainbow in the sky. When i see a rainbow i sometimes think to myself "this is a gift God gave to remind us of His covenant." But Genesis 4 says otherwise. In it, God says "I will look upon it that I may remember my everlasting covenant." It is good to remember God's covenant, but the covenant itself depends on God's memory, not my forgetfulness. Spurgeon points out, "It is not my remembering God, but God's remembering me which is the ground for my safety; it is not my laying hold of His covenant, but His covenant laying hold of me. Glory be to God! The whole of the bulwarks of salvation are secured by divine power...and are guarded by almighty strength."
On the same note, i heard a sermon on the Passover the other day. It was not a great sermon, but it reminded me of a great sermon that my friend Jeremy gave on the same text. The Isrealites were to put the lamb's blood on the doorpost, and God says "When I see the blood I will pass over the house." It was not dependent upon the Isrealites seeing the blood, but God looking upon it and acting. It puts a depth into the words "God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me." It is God looking to Christ for our salvation and righteousness, for we have no merit or righteousness on our own, all is Christ's and has been imputed to us by a miraculous act. I guess today is rough, but it is still a good day. I have nothing that is worth complaining about and plenty worth rejoicing over.

help

I don't know what to do right now. I just found out that i am accepted to begin seminary classes online beginning this November. I am starting a new job right now and getting married in December, however. The seminary students say that i will need to put in about 15 hours per week of studying to excel in my classes, but will that be possible if i am working on campus with students full time and becoming a husband a few weeks after classes begin? If some of you old married guys could give a little advice it would be much appreciated! I just don't know what to do. I want to start seminary asap, but would have to wait a year if i do not begin this fall. I know seminary and IV would conflict, especially with 3 road trips each month for InterVarsity. So i need to pray about this, but i'd like to hear what you all have to say!

Saying hello to walleyes

I'm trying to decide if having the Wisconsin River a quarter mile from my front door is good or bad for me. It's hard to stay off the water, but so far i have been able to make myself get my work done before going out, so that's good. Today i caught 20 walleyes before i got out of sight of my truck. My fiance wants to bake fish, so i kept 2 good ones to try baking. I only bake salmon, but i'll try these 'eyes and see what happens. I guess baking fish will make me live longer or something. I told her there should be enough mercury and pcb's to make baking the fish not worthwhile. She didn't find that as amusing as i did.
I got a chance to be on campus and pray for a while this morning. It's great. I have been very impressed with the city and campus of Stevens Point. I'm excited and glad God has led to this place, even though it will take some time to get life rolling here. God is good all the time. Starting in three weeks the road trips begin again. Over the next 6 months i will be all over Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. There's a chance i'll be driving through your neck of the woods as long as you live in the US. Things will be so busy, but there should be time to pop in and say thanks to all you who support my ministry with prayer and finances. I'm a little nervous about being a husband and being gone so much, but i'll try to get as much out of the way as possible before Dec. 1st. I guess we'll have to deal with that. I'm thankful i'm not Adoniram Judson or one of those old time missionaries who had to leave family for months at a time without phones or emails or even letters when they went on a trip. I guess we'll be able to handle a few weekends apart if need be, because He is worthy.

Too many goodbyes, not enough hellos

Today i got to spend some quality time fishing with one of my closest friends Josh. I realized the past few weeks that saying goodbye is one of my least favorite things to do in the whole world, and i'm not good at it. It feels like I have been saying goodbye to everybody lately, and not saying hello to anyone. Today was the last day i got to spend with Josh before he and his family get to go back to East Asia for a few years. It's good, though, because we have work to do on both sides of the world. I guess i just want to say that I'll miss you bro, and i'll try to keep praying for you every day. But even if i'm not faithful, God will be. After all, you have "the favor of the Lord!"
It seems that sometimes God calls us to things that seem a little tough, but it is a joyous thing to be in the service of the King! It's been a while since i've last listened to it, but my mind goes back to the revival hymn and Paris Reidhead preaching about God being so deserving of His reward. God willing, there are future beneficiaries of Christ's sacrifice where Josh is going and there are some in Stevens Point and there are some in La Crosse and wherever it is that you are. Let us run the race marked out for us and fight the good fight wherever it is we are called to be missionaries, for he is more than worthy. Not that we can pay God back by working for Him, but He is simply worthy, and we exist to glorify and enjoy Him.

It's been a while

Whoa, sorry this took so long. I've been in Illinois, South Dakota, Wyoming, and moving to Stevens Point these past few weeks. I haven't had internet, but thankfully there is an unsecured wireless nearby (is that wrong?). So, most of my stuff and most of Joanna'sstuff is moved into the apartment. The last big thing to move in will be the girl. She will have the place to herself for October and November while i live with my brother, then i'll move in with her December 1st! But for now i have a big place all to myself, with no friends or students around. There's plenty to do, so i'm not bored, but i am a little lonely i guess.
Yesterday i got the canoe out on the Wisconsin River, which is right next to my apartment. Caught about 30 bass, 20 catfish, and a walleye an 2 hours before i ran out of bait. Josh, you gotta make a trip up here, it's ridiculous. Trolling for catfish is my new favorite thing to do. I bet it wouldn't be a stretch to catch 100 nice cats in one day. Now if someone could give me some new catfish recipes that would be lovely.
Spurgeon's morning devotional was convicting for me. He writes, "I myself must mount the watchtower, and watch unto prayer." I could make plentyof excuses for not praying nearly enough recently, but instead i'll resolve to do so. I have to go for my prayer walk now, and that is bound to be more beneficial than posting on this blog. If anyone reading this has a bunch of free time, you should come visit! My new address is 1200 River View Ave. apt. 144, Stevens Point, WI 54481. Grace and Peace!