Young Adult Ministry of First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS
I love the Apple products, but never would have thought of them being, in any way, positive from a moral perspective, only from a business perspective. However, in this post Justin Taylor shows us how Apple has taken a stand against pornography with the iPhone and iPad.
I recently came across a short quote from an influential American preacher of the early 20th century, Vance Havner. Havner succinctly articulates a true-to-life answer to a question that we, as Christians, continually ask of ourselves - "Am I growing?" "How does growth happen?" "What does growth look like?" The question of Christian growth is fundamentally one that can only be answered by looking backwards and evaluating where we have been and how those steps stand in contrast to where we currently find ourselves. But do we realize that most of our growth comes from the everyday, ordinary faithfulness, rather than the mountain top...
The heart is an idol factory, John Calvin tells us. This is evident in the way we are always looking to build up and show off ourselves. It seems that our number one idol is always me, myself and I. We're constantly thinking about how things will affect us and how everything will make people think about us, even though most people are probably too busy thinking about themselves to worry about us, most of the time. Brian Regan does a funny bit about the "Me Monster" at a dinner party (see below). The most uncomfortable part of it is...
Dug Down Deep is the latest book from Joshua Harris. He takes a dip into new waters with this book. Harris leaves the subject of dating, courtship, lust, and dating the church, in order to tackle theology. It's not a systematic theology, rather it is a book on the importance of knowing theology. "If you or someone you know is tired of swimming in the shallow end of the pool," writes Kevin DeYoung, "Harris will be a gentle hand pulling you into deeper waters. If you find theology (and those who love it) distasteful, this book will offer good doctrine...
Friends,It is with sadness and hopeful anticipation of God’s call that I write to inform you that I will be stepping down from my position as Minister of Discipleship and Young Adults to accept a new call to ministry as the Assistant Minister for Church Planting at Parish Presbyterian Church in Franklin, TN.It is so difficult to say goodbye, and to move away from a friends, family, and a fruitful vineyard for ministry. If it were not for the power of prayer and wise counsel, we would never even considered it. But God has over time warmed our heart toward...
Several of you read through the Bible this last year for the first time. What a feat! And what a blessing! Some of you have expressed interest in reading through the Bible this year, and you have wondered the best way for making the journey. There's many excellent Bible reading plans from which to choose: Biblical Order, Chronology, Type of Literature, etc. If you have questions about pros and cons of various plans or approaches, don't hesitate to drop me a line. I would love to speak with you about it. But for those of you who want a straightforward plan...
Burk Parsons, Editor of Tabletalk Magazine, has written a helpful piece on the role of resolutions in the Christian's life and practice. I commend it to you. You can find it here.
From Don Whitney:1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? 2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? 3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? 4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? 5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? 6. What is the most helpful new way...
"Light of lights! All gloom dispelling,Thou didst come to make thy dwellingHere within our world of sight.Lord, in pity and in power, Thou didst in our darkest hourRend the clouds and show thy light. Praise to thee in earth and heavenNow and evermore be given,Christ, who art our sun and shield.Lord, for us thy life thou gavest,Those who trust in thee thou savest,All thy mercy stands revealed."--St. Thomas Aquinas "Before the paling of the stars, Before the winter morn,Before the earliest cock-crowJesus Christ was bornBorn in a stable, Cradled in a mangerIn the world His hand had madeBorn a stranger.Priest and king lay fast asleep In...
John 1:1-3, 14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." HT: Justin Taylor
Every year for reformation21 Paul Helm writes a "Christmas Cracker." His 2009 piece, "A Caller From Cyberspace" was released a few days ago. You can find the piece here.
USA Today sent Cathy Grossman to quiz Tim Keller on the benefits of multi-sites as opposed to megachurches. Check it out here.
Scotty Smith, Pastor for Preaching, Teaching, and Worship at Christ Community Church, just posted a prayer inspired by the circumstances of Christ's birth. I thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy! “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son,...
Many of you are aware and some of you have read the recently published book from The Chalmers Center written by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. The book is entitled, When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Ourselves. We will be spending time this next summer reading and discussing this work for our YA book club. It is a very helpful resource in the continuing conversation on how to honor God, build the church, and strengthen the wider community while meeting the needs of the poor. For our own context, this book will help us evaluate our past efforts at...
When the Creator of the world entered creation, the earth was not silent. Quite the opposite. From the birth of Jesus to his death and resurrection, earth responded in surprising ways to the presence of his Creator. In the Christmas story, we see the heavens responding by sending a star to shine gloriously over the spot of Jesus' birth. It's presence was such a celestial phenomenon that the wise men from the East noticed its rising and followed it. It led them to the Christ child. Though earth was largely unaware of the birth of Christ, heaven couldn't contain its excitement! Though...
Christmas is a time of year filled with reflections, songs, antiphons, chants, hymns, poems and many other various and sundry forms of verse and rhyme. Why has Christmas inspired Christians from ever century of history to write? There's many reasons to be sure, but chief among them is the simple truth that Christmas is a time for worship. The Christmas story teaches us this important truth. Following the announcement of the birth of Jesus, the angels lead us in the most (maybe the only) fitting response to the birth of Christ: singing! We read in Luke 2:13-14, "And suddenly there was...
For those of you who are interested in following the fallout from the Manhattan Declaration, you can visit our own Derek Thomas' blog post at reformation21. While you're there, you should take the time to read Ligon's fine defense of why he chose to sign the document.
As Christians, we are called to be witnesses for Christ in a fallen and broken world. This means, among many other things, that our attention and energy is required in the public sphere; that we are to bring to bear the whole counsel of God's Word in our individual lives and also in the world at large. Throughout church history, Christian cultural engagement in the public sphere has included the drafting of statements or position papers on certain social or cultural issues. Such papers help bring clarity to complicated cultural issues by making certain affirmations and denials. Recently, a group of Orthodox,...
It was good to return to Pathway on Sunday after a six month absence. As I stood in front of the class, I thought to myself, "Six months is a long time." There were many new faces and some newly returned old faces that I was so glad to meet or re-meet. I look forward to much more time in the near future, especially as we pace through the holidays and into 2010. This is an important time of year, and we want to redeem the opportunities the Lord has given us together. On that note, don't forget the annual Neighborhood Christian...
It Will Cost You Everything from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.
Yesterday was the beginning of what has traditionally been called "Advent" in the church calendar. It is a season of heart preparation, filled with meaningful remembrances of Jesus first coming and loving anticipations of his return. In one sense, Advent is a season like all others; a season of reflection, commitment, and worship of God. In another sense, Advent is a unique time of year, set aside for concentrated attention on the fulfillment of God's covenant promises in the incarnation of Christ. Amidst all the busyness that usually accompanies this season, I hope you will set aside time for meditative,...
The world was introduced to the life story of Michael Oher in 2006 following the publishing of Michael Lewis' bestselling book, The Blind Side. Now left tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, then a junior at the University of Mississippi, Michael Oher became a living example of the enduring power of true love to completely change a person's life. Oher's life story has recently been adapted for the big screen and will be released to theaters everywhere on November 20th. John Lee Hancock, the film's writer and director, was compelled by the message the story communicated: a young couple (Leigh Anne and Sean...
Our church will be sponsoring its annual Christmas trip to Parchman Prison on Saturday, December 5, 2010. This is an excellent opportunity to take the message of Christ to the prisoners, as it will be their only celebration of Christmas. Only men and women, 21 years of age and older, are allowed to participate in this event. Please sign up no later than Friday, November 20, by contacting Allison Hurley at 601-973-9111 or allisonh@fpcjackson.org. "...I was in prison, and you came to me."--Matthew 25:36
Many of you have asked me how the NT Bible study is going this quarter. I'm pleased to announce that God has done a great work in our midst and has faithfully encouraged our study week after week. Men from every age and stage of life are attending and mutually encouraging one another in the Faith. For those of you who cannot meet with us weekly but are interested in keeping up with the study, I have posted the NT handouts on the website for your spiritual benefit. There is a possibility that audio files will be available in the not...
I don't always have time to create a new blog post but oftentimes I want to suggest another blog or article that I have read online. One of the easiest ways to share these articles is with Google Reader. These are my latest recommended reads.
Thomas ChalmersIn this mornings lesson on Lack of Self-Control I quoted from two sermons that I have linked to below. Both authors have a way with words that may shed some light on a deep truth that has evaded you in the past. Join the crowd of people who have been blessed by them.The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas ChalmersThe Weight of Glory by C.S. LewisI also recommended that you take the time to pray through Psalm 130.A Song of Ascents.130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice...
My good friend, Josh Kines, sent me this fascinating Christian hip-hop website complete with Christian rap and "sermon jams." For some reason, I feel compelled to share this with you. (By the way, I hope the irony of the fact that I'm the guy posting this is not lost on you). Keep it real.
For personal edification, I've been taking in a collection of short devotional reflections entitled, The Loveliness of Christ. It is a small compendium of quotes and meditations from the 17th century Scottish theologian, Samuel Rutherford. This little volume has become a regular well of spiritual refreshment for me in recent days. The quotes below are intended to encourage quick movement to Christ. Do not linger in distance from your Savior. He is ready to receive you. May the Lord encourage you today and in preparation for the Lord's Day as you consider the instructions and pleadings of one of our great elder...
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400This is the fourth post in a series on the Westminster Confession of Faith. You may want to read the Introduction to the series, The Value of Creeds and Confessions, and General Revelation before reading this article. 1. Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that...
Carl Trueman takes aim at the way the media handled the recent deaths of Michael Jackson and Ted Kennedy. It's worth a read. You can find the article here.
Greg Wilbur recently wrote a short piece in preparation for an upcoming Film Conference at Kings Meadow Study Center that I found to be helpful instruction for living wisely in the world. I've posted the article below in full. Seven Worldview Questions & Narrative In several of his works, including The Universe Next Door, James Sire identifies seven questions that articulate and define various worldviews. All belief systems and perspectives have an explicit or implicit answer to each of these questions and those answers help determine what it is someone truly believes. When evaluating literature, art, music, film, political rhetoric, textbooks, essays,...
I'm hearing good things about the current Sunday school series on sins that divide the church. Big thanks to Steve and Brad on developing the idea and putting the series together. Along these same lines, Kansas State University published a piece in Wired magazine entitled, "American Vice: Mapping the Seven Deadly Sins." It's interesting to say the least, even if the science is a bit sketchy. Take a look for yourself and then weigh in. I'd be interested to know what you think about it. HT: Gate Davis
Well, it has been a few weeks since the last post in this series so you may have forgotten where we are in our study. Last time i mentioned that we are going to be ' turning back the clocks' to some of the earliest formulators of the theology of the Trinity. We also noted how by the end of the first century the church held sort of a hodge podge of beliefs concerning what we call the Trinity today. Now, if any one of these beliefs were examined individually, it was clear enough to understand and accept. Problems arose,...
Men, our second meeting of the Men of the Covenant is this Thursday (October 1). We continue with our theme for the fall, "A Man After God's Own Heart." This month Rev. Elbert McGowen, Reformed University Fellowship Minister at Jackson State University, will be speaking on the always pertinent topic of repentance. Elbert is a native of Jackson, MS. He graduated from Alabama A&M University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. After working for several years, Elbert sensed the call of God to enter full time Christian ministry. In answer to this call, Elbert returned to Jackson to attend Reformed...
Bob Thune at the Coram Deo blogsite penned a brief but helpful review of Paul Miller's excellent new work, A Praying Life. Check it out here.
This is the third post in a series on the Westminster Confession of Faith. You may want to read the Introduction to the series and The Value of Creeds and Confessions before reading this article. 1. Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and...
If you have not had a chance to listen to pastor John Piper's (pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota) sermon entitled, "Greatness, Humility, Servanthood" then do so now!!! I pray that it will force you to search your heart and spur you on to seek true humility as it did me.
Over the past few weeks we have looked at various areas in which the doctrine of the Trinity could use some revitalization in our day and age. Over the next few weeks we are going to ‘turn back the clocks’ a bit and travel back to the days of the early church. Hopefully by now those reading are convinced that freshly reorienting our thinking with the doctrine of the Trinity is a necessity. There was a time however when such “reorienting” was not possible. What am I talking about? Simply that at one point there was no developed doctrine...
Over the past few posts I have attempted to press home the necessity recovering the doctrine of the Trinity in a number of areas for our generation. We have seen that the recovery of this doctrine is necessary if we are to worship God rightly and deeply, recover a biblical doctrine of creation, and also to entering into the kind of deep meaningful relationships that God has called us into. In this post i want to make a specific application of the problem of "the one and the many" mentioned a few weeks back. And I want to do that...
Words are more powerful and thus more important than we often think. Proverbs 16:4 says, "Pleasant words are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." On a more somber note, Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." God intends for Christians to use words in such a way as to employ their proper power. We are to use words in a way that is consistent with their intention. We must not overlook the lasting effect of words. When we speak to another, we are to take into consideration the power of the words...
I've shared a great deal about the Peru mission trip that Christy and I took this summer with 34 other members from FPC. It was a tremendous, truly unforgettable experience. God blessed our ministry in some remarkable ways. We feel honored to have been given the opportunity to go. Since so many of you prayed so faithfully for us while we were there, I want to invite you to view the Peru Movie that Stephen Kruger put together for all of us. It's hard to capture the experience of Peru, but the movie goes a long way in helping you visualize...
My former pastor, Scotty Smith, penned this prayer recently, and I wanted to share it with you. “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult." Proverbs 12:16 Jesus, of all the prayer-worthy things I can think of, “annoyance” has never made it onto my supplication list… until now. Though the pastoral pestering of your Spirit, I see and grieve that I’m too easily annoyed. Have mercy on me, Prince of Peace. Free my foolish fretful fitful heart. How can I possibly build bridges for sharing the gospel when I have an annoyed spirit? I’m...
Last week we looked at a few of the areas in which a recovery of the doctrine of the Trinity is imperative for the Church in our generation. This week we are going to pinpoint one more area: Relationships Unless you are a budding theologian you might think that perichoresis is a disease which affects the liver. Actually, the term has been used ever since the early Church Fathers to refer to the mutual inter-penetration and indwelling within the three fold nature of the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To translate that...
On his blog, Matt Harmon gives some very helpful points for the balancing of the gospel and social engagement. This is a discussion that deserves more attention in our time. You can visit Matt's site here.
Some of you might have seen Ligon's write up in the First Epistle, introducing us to the brand new website devoted to promoting Matthew Henry's Method for Prayer. If you're not familiar with this classic work, then you now have the opportunity to peruse it online and even receive daily e-mail updates that will stir your heart to pray Biblically. This is a great resource!
Before looking at the Westminster Confession of Faith specifically, it might be helpful to understand why we place such a high importance upon creeds and confessions. The answer to question three of the Westminster Shorter Catechism (written by the same authors of the WCF) states, "the Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man." That being the case, what is the need for creeds and confessions? Should we simply focus on reading and understanding Scripture? Would that not make more sense? It is important to recognize that the Westminster Assembly placed...
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} I think it might be helpful to do a ‘fly by’, so to speak, of a few of the areas where a recovery of the doctrine of the Trinity is essential in our generation. A ‘birds eye view’ might help illuminate the importance of the matter. We will look at 2 areas in this post in order to get an idea of the importance of recovering this doctrine in...
There's a new book by the singer and song writer Michael Card coming out next year entitled, A Better Freedom: Finding Life as Slaves of Christ. I had the privilege of knowing Michael when living in Franklin, TN, and I heard him speak on the subject on several occassions. I expect the book to be fascinating in its reflection on how being owned by Christ establishes real freedom in Christ. This is probably a title to add to your short list. “A better freedom can’t be found by those unwilling to be bound. A better freedom is not known by those...
Some of you expressed interest in listening to a recent sermon I preached at Redeemer Church, Jackson, MS. I've posted it here for your convenience.
There's a helpful new article by Carl Trueman on the "cult of options" and the resident temptations of a culture that celebrates choice as a virtue. This article is a spiritual gut check for consumeristic Americans who specialize in avoiding commitment and keeping all options open. You can find the article here.
Robert Letham is sadly correct when he says, " For the vast majority of Christians, including most ministers and theological students, the Trinity is still a mathematical conundrum, full of imposing philosophical jargon, relegated to an obscure alcove, remote from daily life". Think about something for a second, and be honest. When you hear the word "God", which 'Person' of the Trinity comes to your mind? Or better yet (or is it worse?) , when you say the word "God", which Person of the Trinity came to your mind before you uttered the word? Or, possibly more humbling, when was...
Some of you have wondered where I've been this summer. Well, I'm around--haven't gone anywhere--just teaching in another young adult/couples class on the other side of the church building. I've certainly missed our weekly fellowship together, and I'm always looking for good excuses to come by and visit. Thanks to all of you who have written and called me just to check in. It means a lot. Lord willing, I'll make most of our gatherings together this fall, and I'm always good for a lunch or coffee. I cherish the time I get to spend with each of you, but that's...
"I recall, with great gratitude, a period in my later teens when I first became acquainted with the Westminster Confession, and began to study it with the aid of a commentary. Looking back, I think of that as one of the most valuable investments of time and thought I ever made."[i] Sinclair Ferguson st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400 John CalvinHave you noticed that there is a growing interest in reformed theology? It appears to be a trend that...
Stay up to date with the latest information regarding the Pathway Class. The Pathway Newsletter will provide information regarding upcoming events, recent blog posts, and anything relevant to the class. Just add your email below in order to be added to the list. Newsletter Sign Up You may also be interested in one of the following avenues of communication:Join Our Facebook Group | Follow Us on Twitter
Nate sent us an email this morning updating us on their Peru mission trip.Good morning! I hope all is well at FPC. This is the first time I've had internet access, so I thought I'd check in on all of you. Things are going very well here in Cajamarca, Peru. The Lord is blessing our time with these precious people. The reformed churches here are small but strong. We've enjoyed worshipping with them and serving alongside them. The medical clinic remains very busy, over 300 patients seen so far! Another full day ahead of us today, as publicity is spreading...
Most of you in the Pathway class are probably aware that Nate and Christy Shurden along with a team of 34 additional members are currently serving in Peru on a mission trip. The team left last Saturday and will return this Sunday, July 5th. They are running a medical and dental clinic, a vacation Bible school, a sports camp, and providing various levels of support to local Peruvian churches, pastors, and missionaries. The team asks that you specifically pray for them in the following ways:Travel mercies (praise God that they arrive there safely)The health and stamina of team membersEffective ministrySpiritual...
John Piper often speaks of Jonathan Edwards and C.S. Lewis as his greatest influences. These men have had a great impact upon the church in many different ways, but both of them had a way of combining both God's glory and human joy into one experience. This quality is something immensely apparent in Piper's own sermons and books. "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him." That is the underlying theme in everything Piper preaches and writes. It is a truth that had a paradigm shifting effect upon the way he viewed God. It has...
Leland Ryken is a scholar of the first rate. He is Professor of Literature at Wheaton College and has written broadly and frequently on the relationship between Christianity and the humanities. His work has done much to spark the current interest in classical literature, language, and imagination among Christians. To that end, a handful of you might find Ryken's recently released article on Shakespeare of interest. Though I'm well aware that my enjoyment is not often a good guage as to whether others will enjoy it, I felt it worth the risk with this particular article. I do hope you will read it and...
John CalvinYesterday in Pathways we took a brief look at the doctrine of predestination as taught by Paul in Ephesians 1:3-6. I addressed a few of the many important questions/ objections that I have heard or even had myself regarding this teaching. I thought I would post a few more of those objections that i didnt get a chance to address due to time restraints. First, we briefly looked at the relationship between predestination and evangelism but here I wanted to look at one passage that I think is extremely helpful on the relationship betweent the free offer of the...
This summer at FPC Tom Elkin (minster of Marriage and Family Life) is teaching a series entitled, "The Natural Man's Struggle with Reformed Theology". The idea behind his series is that "every major teaching of Christianity as stated in Reformed Theology is either angrily attacked or ridiculed today" (take for example the picture on the left). It is hard to argue with that premise. This Sunday in Pathways we are going to be looking at arguably the most attacked and ridiculed teaching of Reformed Theology: Predestination. Many people cringe at the very sound of that word. Cringe or not, we are forced to deal with the topic for...
Since I wasn't able to finish my lesson on Mark 16:9-20 last Sunday I wanted to post the (unedited) manuscript for anyone interested in reading the rest. I concluded on Sunday after giving three options for explaining an abrupt ending to Mark (I have added a page break where I stopped for quick reference). Here is a link to the audio if you were not there on Sunday and would like to listen to the lesson. Text: Mark 16:9-20 (Luke 24:8-49; Matt. 28:18-20) Title: From Failure to Fulfillment Introduction: The Difficulty with Mark 16:9-20 The Reliability of the NT Manuscripts...
The people over at Boundless have put together a great resource that may interest some of you guys...They currently have a 59-page digital book titled A Guy's Guide to Marrying Well. The contributors are top notch and the book is designed very well. Here's the introduction from Steve Watters:Most men hope to marry some day, but there's no guarantee they will. Increasingly, young men are — as one writer put it — "stumbling on to the altar as if by accident."Too many guys make their way into their 20s and 30s without the marriage modeling and insights that were once...
This past Sunday one thing we briefly looked at was the glorious truth that Jesus earned permission for us to access God directly via the propitiatory nature of his sacrifice. The first Adam was denied access to the garden, driven out by God on account of his disobedience. The second Adam (Jesus) gained our access back in, so to speak. Not only did he live a life of perfect obedience to his Father, but he also absorbed the full measure of God's wrath in his soul, not only his body, so that sinners like you and I do not have to. What a glorious truth that is. There were a few places where the 'theological rubber' meets the...
In college I remember, quite distinctly, reading A.N. Wilson's gargantuan cultural history, The Victorians, and wondering how such great genius can be combined with such radical religious unbelief. A one time ministerial candidate for the Church of England, Wilson left the Faith long ago and has sought ever since to shed his life of any remaining vestiage of the faith... until very recently. Catching up on some reading today, I ran across an article from several weeks ago in the "New Statesmen" on how the crusty, convinced atheist A.N. Wilson has made his way back home, as it were, to the Faith he left...
Does the idea of meriting grace sound oxymoronic to you? If I told you that grace is based upon merit would you hesitate to agree or immediately object? The ground of grace is merit. Let me break this down for you. What I mean by grace is "undeserved pity." A synonym for merit might be "earn". Putting this together I am saying that the idea of "earning undeserved pity" is a reality.I agree wholeheartedly that you and I can in no way earn grace. Grace must be freely given and freely received. Here's the problem. If that is all we...
Holy week is a wonderful time to turn one's attention to the heart of every believer's hope and victory, the resurrection of Christ. As you prepare for worship on Sunday, as you gather with the saints to remember, relive, and reenact the gospel, consider the cosmic dimensions of Christ's work. He has come to make you, and all things, new. Christus VictorResurrection hope hastens henceon bud, breeze, and blossomgrieving rynds banished in lilac scents.Hark, the Easter Hymn rings hastefrom its loveliest biding-place.A lavish breach of winter's curt hard swordan ardent repudiation of death's dark pallthe out-veining sun of the Christus Lord.At the refectory...
Stop what you're doing and pray for someone who is not a Christian. Pray that God would give you a love for this individual. Pray that God would put this person on your mind regularly. Pray that God would give you opportunities to build your friendship. Just stop and pray.
I just finished reading an article in the April edition of Newsweek entitled "The End of Christian America" and thought some of you might be interested. If you have a few minutes, read it and post a comment. We would love to hear your thoughts!
I'm not sure if any of you have tuned in or were even aware of a series of debates that ABC news has been broadasting over the past few years entitled 'The Face Off'. The goal of this series is to tackle 'sensitive' and 'controversial questions'. Two years ago the series kicked off by asking the question "Does God Exist?" (scroll to the bottom of the page for the video). Christian and famous actor Kirk Cameron (Growing pains, The Left Behind Series, The Way of the Master)and his partner Ray Comfort ( The Way of the Master) squared off against members of...
I wanted to provide everyone with a review of our first discussion night on "Loving Our Neighbors." Several of us gathered at Sneaky Beans in Fondren to take some time thinking through how we could cultivate a heart for Jackson.We started the discussion with a review of the five key points from Brian Habig's talk "A Heart for Jackson - Called to the City." We wanted to take some time to apply each of these five points first to the gospel and secondly, to our own lives. Nate began the discussion by stating that the primary purpose of these discussions...
Some of you have mentioned the desire to receive my handouts and outlines for the Tues. Morning Men's Old Testament Bible Study. Well, your wish is my command! I've uploaded the outlines and handouts to the website for your access. I hope you find them helpful.
The most recent edition of Time Magazine pinpoints 10 ideas that are changing the world. The list is insightful from another of cultural angles, but it was particularly insightful to find out that the "New Calvinism" is 3rd on the list! Check out the article here.
Next Tuesday night from 7-9pm at Sneaky Beans in Fondren we will gather for an evening of good discussion around the theme of "loving neighbor as self." This is a continuation of the conversation that Brian Habig started for us just over two weeks ago. In preparation for Tuesday night, I asked Steve Smith to give some thought to the importance of considering as a community what it means to love our neighbor as our self. Steve penned a very helpful piece on the purpose and priority of Christian neighboring, and I thought I'd share his thoughts with you. "Our...
When was the last time you fasted? Have you ever fasted? Was it for the right reasons? Fasting is a concept that is often missing from the Christian life today. Many have mistaken notions of what fasting is. But probably, many more simply don't think much about it.We clearly see the concept of fasting in the Old Testament. It was practiced on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:32), during special holy days (Judg. 20:26), praying for safety (Ezra 8:21), praying for forgiveness (Ezra 9:5-9; Neh. 9:1; Dan. 9:3-19), praying for healing (2 Sam. 12:22; Ps. 35:13), during mourning (Neh. 1:4;...
Last night was a great time of fellowship and teaching with Brian Habig. I want to apologize up front for pulling a little bait and switch with the class. Actually, that's only what I'm being accused of doing. I never said that Brian Habig would be joining us for dinner at Sal & Mookie's, but that was the impression that many of you had. I apologize if my flyer misled you. I'm looking at it right now and after announcing the event it reads, "Everyone in the Pathway Sunday School Class is invited to join us for dinner at Sal...
God has called us to love Him to such a degree that our love for others is considered hatred in comparison (Luke 14:26). He has called us to love him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27). How is that even possible? And why are we asked to do something that feels so contrary to our nature? We see a shadow of this kind of love in the example of Abraham. He was willing to offer his own son as a sacrifice (Gen. 22). He trusted that God could raise...
Well, last Sunday's lesson on the book of Malachi wrapped up our series on the Minor Prophets. Thanks to all who attended these lessons, we hope you feel a bit more acquainted with this often neglected part of the bible. I know Brad and I enjoyed digging into these books in our preparations and we hope that you all benefited from the lessons as well. I thought a few words to wrap up the series might be in order. From the outset of the series our main objective was to point out where we encounter Christ in the Minor Prophets. While it is...
LD posted a snippit of a recent post by John Piper on prayer... and legalism. Excellent. Check it out.
“Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity, than a rich man who is crooked in all his ways.”—Proverbs 28:6 The book of Proverbs is a powerfully affecting book for a multitude of good reasons, not least of which is the obvious fact that God wrote it and persists in using it to transform our hearts in the living of the Faith. But what has stood out to me most during my current re-reading of Proverbs is its blistering honesty. Over and over I have found the instruction of Proverbs cut through my soul like a knife through...
Over at beliefnet.com, there is a fascinating article entitled, "24 Things About to Disappear in America." It's worth a read and some reflection. Also, have you seen the "Did You Know?" video on youtube? If not, check it out here. For those of you with an interested in learning more about how technology affects the way we live and experience the world, check out Maggie Jackson's new book, Distratcted: The Errosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age. BTW: Just a quick word on technology. Everytime we witness technological advance it means our relationship and experience of the world has been...
More than once you've heard me mention the name of Russell Moore. Dr. Moore is the Vice President for Academic Administration at The Southern Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY. He is a writer for Touchston Magazine and the author of the blog, "Moore to the Point." (He will actually be our Mid-South Men's Rally Speaker in 2011!) In a recent blog post, he gave direction to parents on the use of cell phones among pre-teens and teenagers. It's good instruction for us to hear as well. The title of his post is "Does Your Child's Cell Phone Preach Another Gospel?" Provactive title, isn't...
Words paint pictures. Some writers create masterpieces with very few words. Consider the following six word example by Ernest Hemingway."For sale: Baby shoes, Never worn."My jaw dropped the first time I read that. It's incredibly moving.There are many verses in Scripture which tell a similarly compelling story. But none are shorter than John 11:35."Jesus wept."It doesn't take a lot of words to generate a story. One brief sentence has the ability to occupy our thoughts for hours. Yet, in today's culture, few of us bother to read. And of those who do read, few meditate.Before I confuse you, allow me...
It's not too late to make a new year's resolution! If you have not made one yet, or even if you have, I encourage you to add scripture memorization to your list . At the very least, resolve to watch this sermon by pastor John Piper on the necessity and benefits of scripture memorization for the Christian life. He is much better at motivating people to do things than I am! My wife and I were extremely blessed by this sermon and I know that you will be too.
In light of our sermon series on the Minor Prophets I thought this video clip was particularly relevant. It is a clip from an excellent sermon by CJ Mahaney titled, "The Cup."Isaiah 51:17, 2217 Wake yourself, wake yourself,stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lordthe cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregsthe bowl, the cup of staggering.22 Thus says your Lord, the Lord,your God who pleads the cause of his people: “Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering; the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more; No...
In case you're not a frequent visitor to the FPC Church blog, let me encourage you to check it out and visit it regularly. It's a great way to stay abreast of all that's going on in the church, and to gain spiritual wisdom and insight from Ligon, Derek, and others on the church staff. On Tuesday of this week, Ligon offered sage, Biblical advice on how to pray for Barack Obama. You can find his post here.
In honor of Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, Russell Moore penned a thought provoking entry on his blog, "Moore to the Point." The post is entitled "Why I Hate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday." A counterintuitive post to be sure, but one that deserves your reflection and consideration. You can read the post here.
Check out one of the latest attempts of atheists in Britian to get their message out! Although quite humorous, I thought it was relevant in light of my past few posts on the evangelistic character of the "new" atheism.
“You can’t have your cake and eat it too”, is a familiar saying to us. If you choose to eat the piece of cake on your plate, then you can’t save it for later. Vice versa, if you choose to save your piece of cake for later, then that means you cannot enjoy it now as well. It would be illogical to think that you could eat your fill of cake now and also have the same piece of cake to enjoy at a later time. You must make a choice between one of the two options. There is no...
Every day I resume my battle with the Goliath of idleness. Just when I think I have the perfect slingshot with the most aerodynamic rock to fling at the giant, he finds my weakness and points me to a funny video on YouTube. I think YouTube was the thorn in Paul's flesh (everyone has their own opinion, so that is mine). I don't think I'm alone in this war. In fact, I know I'm not. Books on productivity are hot sellers right now. Who doesn't want to redeem more of their time? We all want more time to read or...
Molly Worthen of the New York Times just published an interesting article on the ministry of Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. Many of you will be familiar with Driscoll, for he has partnered with John Piper, D.A. Carson, Timothy Keller, and others in the broader reformed community for various forums and conferences. He is an orthodox defender of the gospel of grace, but he is unorthodox in almost every other way you can imagine. You can find the article here.
We might jokingly say that "doom and gloom" has been one of the reoccurring theme's so far in our study of the minor prophets. Despite being an unpopular topic, proclaiming God's wrath and judgement against sin was high on the 'to-do' list of the prophets. Such a task was fundamental to their job description as God's 'covenant lawyers', so to speak. God's people had broken their covenant obligations and the prophets were proclaiming God's lawsuit against them for breach of covenant. This explains why so many of the same themes keep popping up in our study. Fundamentally, all of the prophets had...
Ladies, Let me encourage you to carve out time on your calendar right now for Saturday, January 31, 9:30–11:30 a.m. at the home of Ashley Hall to hear Sharon Phillips address the topic of "Dating and Marriage from a Biblical Perspective." This breakfast is especially designed for you! Rick and Sharon Phillips have walked with and counseled many on this topic for years. They've even recently put their thoughts into a book, Holding Hands, Holding Hearts. (You might want to pick up a copy before the breakfast with Sharon!) This is an informal time where Sharon will do a bit of...
Collin Hansen has compiled a top ten theological stories list for 2008 at the Christianity today website. You can find it here.
You’ve probably witnessed the tendency in people, communities, cultures, and even time periods to correct one extreme by choosing the equal opposite extreme. The equal opposite, however, is usually not seen or understood as a new extreme but as the only possible solution. For example, if the culture is eating too much for supper, then the solution proposed is rarely to limit the portion size and resist the temptation for seconds. No, the solution proposed is to cut supper out altogether! Easier it is to rid oneself of the tension entirely, then to daily exercise wisdom, discretion, restraint, and moderation. Undoubtedly,...
Unlike many places in the U.S., my home state, Mississippi, has a long history of church attendance. I know this because I've seen it with my own eyes, and passed through it with my own soul. I am, in other words, a product of it. But despite being a product of it and being thankful for how God used the church in my life, I’m not always proud of it, or at least not in every respect. Growing up in Laurel, MS, a sleepy little town halfway between the coast and the capital, no one ever asked me about my...
A good friend, and one time professor, Greg Wilbur, wrote a review of The Gospels and the Incarnation by Phil Ryken, Dan Doriani, and Rick Phillips (our FPC Men's Rally speaker in January 2009). Check it out.
You would have to be hiding under a rock somewhere in the Sahara to have not heard of Barack Obama's choice of Rick Warren for the invocation at the Presidential Inaguration next month. Needless to say, it has caused quite a stir, largely due to Warren's stated disapproval of homsexual marriage. But whatever you think about Obama's choice, one thing is almost certain--increasing acceptance of homosexuality as a viable sexual alternative. This means that evangelical Christians, intent on upholding the Bible's instruction on the matter, will need both courage and wisdom to face detractors in the years to come. To that end, let...
In his new book Christless Christianity, Michael Horton tells the story of when the late Donald Grey Barnhouse, then Senior Minister of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA, once speculated what Philadelphia would look like if Satan took over. Without hesitation, Barnhouse quipped, "...the bars would be closed, pornography banised, and pristine streets would be filled with tidy pedestrians who smile at each other. There would be no swearing. The children would say 'Yes, sir' and 'No, ma'am,' and the churches would be full every Sunday...where Christ is not preached." This haunting image from Barnhouse should be taken to heart,...
Thanks for all of you who came out tonight to put together the Christmas Cookie Jars for Neighborhood Christian Center. What a great way for us to serve this incredible ministry! Though we faced significant trials, running out of sugar about half way through, we weathered the crises and finished strong. We are the Pathway class, changing the world one cookie at a time. I've posted a number of the pictures from tonight's project on the website. I hope you will take the time to check them out. You can find them here.
Now that we have taken the time to reflect upon the message of judgment in Hosea we can further appreciate the message of mercy. God's marriage has been described as broken due to his bride's unfaithfulness. And then we read something amazing in 2:14-15:14 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her,and bring her into the wilderness,and speak tenderly to her.15 And there I will give her her vineyardsand make the Valley of Achora door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. In the midst...
I thought some of you might find this interesting in light of the series of blogs that i have been posting. The link below is to a debate between Douglas Wilson (Christian) and Christopher Hitchens (Atheist) on the topic of "The Existence of God". Hitchens, you will remember, is one of the "4 Horseman of the New Atheist Apocalypse" that i discussed in last week's post. Wilson and Hitchens are currently on a 'debate tour' , traveling to various locations in the U.S. Check it out if you have a few spare minutes. I find that watching debates such as this one help me to know what I believe even better and to be able...
Archimedes "thoughtful" by Fetti (1620)Archimedes was the greek mathematician who, when working with the lever, said, "Give me a place where I may stand ("Pou Sto" in greek) and I will move the world. If he could somehow get the fulcrum of this simple machine outside of the cosmos, then he would be able to move it. While Archimedes's extracosmic "place to stand' was merely hypothetical, the Christian needs a real and actual extracosmic 'place to stand',so to speak, if he is going to be an effective witness in the culture in which he finds himself. Let me explain. There...
I have continued to spend time in Hosea since Sunday's message. The story of Hosea's broken marriage to Gomer provides such an incredible picture of God's marriage with his covenant people. There is both a message of judgment as well as mercy. How Hosea rescues Gomer (3:1-5) points us to the true bridegroom, Christ! I'd like to encourage us to continue to reflect upon a few things this week. Today, I want to focus upon the message of judgment. I think it's important that we not jump past this too quickly. There are truths for us to learn here in...
This winter we'll take a look at each book of the minor prophets. There are twelve books in this section of Scripture covering Hosea to Malachi. Each week we will examine one of these prophets with the hopes of seeing three things. We want to know something of the context in which the prophet lived and proclaimed his message. We want to know how each book points to and prepares the way for Jesus Christ. We plan to show how this relates to the church today. The minor prophets are often neglected in pulpits today. Unsurprisingly, Christians have very little...
Join us Thursday, December 5, for the Men of the Covenant lunch. The speaker this week is Dr. A Joseph Wheat. Dr. Wheat came to Highlands in July, 2005. Prior to this he was the senior pastor of Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is the founding pastor of Trinity Presbyterian in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Dr. Wheat began his ordained pastoral career at First Presbyterian of Augusta, Georgia, as an assistant pastor. He is a 1984 graduate of Auburn University, where he received a BS in Economics and graduated in 1987 from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson with...
Sam Harris - Evangelistic AtheistHave you ever met an evangelistic atheist? One who is as passionate to spread the 'gospel' of atheism as Christians are to spread the gospel of Christ? I most certaintly would not characterize the majority of self professed atheists that I have encountered in this way. Most do not have a very well thought out worldview but would probably default to a more or less nihilistic outlook on life. In more recent days, however, atheism has jumped on the postmodern band-wagon and has re-invented itself. Thanks to the so-called ' Four horseman of the New Atheist apocalypse', atheism is becoming a whole new monster. If you have not heard of Richard...
In The Decline and Fall of Charity, Clint Rainey provides a helpful analysis of contemporary generosity. Christians are giving more than other groups but significantly less than they gave during The Great Depression. Isn't it interesting that we have more, but give less? In one of the more startling statistics, Rainey states:Taking a cross-section of church contributions nationwide right now, you’d see they nosedive as you move down the age spectrum. We can only hope that’ll change as today’s youth get older and wealthier, but it isn’t unreasonable to wonder about the cultural implications of sixty-year-olds who are 10 percent...
Have you heard the exciting news that "meh" is going to be added to Collins English Dictionary? Actually, "exciting" might not be the most appropriate description considering the definition of "meh" is, "an expression of indifference or boredom, or an adjective meaning mediocre or boring." I doubt anyone in America would be surprised to discover how the word was vaulted to dictionary status.The origins of "meh" are murky, but the term grew in popularity after being used in a 2001 episode of "The Simpsons" in which Homer suggests a day trip to his children Bart and Lisa. "They both just...
Marilynne Robinson won the pulitzer prize for fiction in 2005 for her novel, Gilead. Some of you have heard me voice high praise for Gilead, both for the beauty of its prose and the truth-ful-ness of the story. For me, there is hardly another modern author, writing to a mainstream audience with a secular publisher, that accomplishes so much for the "things hoped for...the things unseen" (Heb.11:1). Now having read Gilead twice and Home once, I can honestly say I've rarely been more impressed with the balance of truth and imagination displayed in these two novels. Robinson doesn't bypass the mind on...
We reflected on I Thess. 1:1-3 last night at prayer meeting. It's a passage where Paul expresses deep thanksgiving for what He sees God doing in the community at Thesslonica. Three phrases stood out to me in Paul's prayerful remembrance: the work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope (1:3). What's interesting about these three descriptions is how closely tied they are to both heart and life. Paul's encouragement stems not from their faith alone, but their work of faith. His thanksgiving is not for their love alone, but their labor of love. His rejoicing is not for...
Ligon Duncan has posted a very helpful reflection on the Bible's mandate to pray for our elected officials. His words are timely, given the recent election of Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Let me encourage you to check it out at reformation21.
Join us Thursday, November 6, for the Men of the Covenant lunch. The speaker this week is Dr. Samuel Hensley. Dr. Hensley, in addition to practicing medicine, serves as Bioethics Consultant to Mississippi Baptist Medical Center and is an Adjunct Professor at Covenant Theological Seminary and a Fellow at the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity. He is president of the Board of Directors of Matthew 25:40 Ministries, an outreach to the elderly in Chicago. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the local campus based chapter of the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) and serves...
The Christian life can be very discouraging. It can seem like the harder you try to be who you're supposed to be, the worse you become. It can often feel like everytime you take one step forward that you follow it up with two steps back. Yes, the Scripture tells us "to run the race that is set before us," but doesn't it often feel like you're running in circles instead? If you find yourself in that place right now, I ran across a beautiful passage in C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity that you might find comforting. It was for me....
I spend a lot of time speaking with people about sin. It's a central tenant of what I'm called to do. As you can imagine, this is not always, not even most of the time, a fun task. Most people (including myself) don't relish the opportnity to talk about how their lives are messed up. Instead, they'd prefer to look "on the bright side" of things. Someone recently told me that they were an "optimist." This meant, at least in part, that he'd rather think about the "good things" in his life; you know, the things that were going well. He admitted that all this talk about brokenness...
Okay, so we're back in Mark 4 this Sunday, finishing up the parable of the sower. We only made it through the first part of the parable two weeks ago, and so this Sunday we'll pick up where we left off and talk about the seeds that fell among the thorns and the seed that fell on the good soil. Good stuff. Revisting this passage, particularly the section where the seed among the thorns, reminded me a brand new book edited by C.J. Mahaney entitled, Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World. In this sense, let me promote Worldliness by encouraging...
I ran across a number of satirical short films by Tom Rice that I thought you'd find interesting... revealing. One of the most poignant of the films focused on the sin of gossip--that's right, the sin of gossip. For most of us, gossip has become so common--so acceptable--that we hardly bat an eye when it happens. In this short film, you see a beautifully convicting example of how "prayer requests" so easily slip into grave sinfulness. Check it out.
The New Yorker published a cartoon in 1967 that summarizes my kind of madness. It's a picture of a husband and wife with their realtor visiting a house that just went on the market. The house for sale is unique in that every wall of the house is lined with bookshelves. The wife walks in the door, surprised at the sight, and immediately says to the realtor, "Holy cow! What kind of crazy people used to live here anyway?" If you've ever visited my office, you might be tempted to say the same thing. And yes, I'm willing to admit it; I...
In a recent op-ed piece in USA Today, Stephen Mansfield asserted that the rise of the political right has done much to subvert the long standing, loving heritage that was once the strong reputation of evangelical Christians in America. This loss of the spirit of charity can be, according to Mansfield, indelibly linked to the wedding of Christianity with the right-wing. This is changing though. The rising generation of evangelicals are increasingly skeptical of the messianic promises advanced by both political parties. They have heard the bloated promises of Republicans and Democrats alike, and they have witnessed expectations rise and fall...
This is an important week in the life of FPC, and I want you to be up on all the ways you can be involved and contribute significantly to the life and health of the church. 1. Officer Election: We are nearing the end of our election for the office of elder. The congregation has already elected nine men to the office of elder, and there is only one more slot to be filled. The two candidates in a run off for the officer of elder are W. Harper Keeler and F. Earl Fyke. If you are a member of FPC,...
After more than forty years of pastoral ministry, Eugene Peterson believes that the sum of a pastor's work is to "teach his people how to pray." When I first read that line, I thought to myself, "Yes, a pastor ought to consider it among his chief responsibilities to help his congregation learn how to pray -- but to call prayer 'the sum' or 'chief goal' seems overstated. Aren't we forgetting a few things here? Isn't a pastor supposed to teach his congregation the Bible and doctrine too? Isn't a pastor supposed to train his congregation to love one another? Isn't a pastor to teach his congregation how to share...
Calling all guys! Every Thursday morning at Primos on Lakeland a small group of guys gather for a short time of study, discussion, encouragement, and prayer. We would love for you to join us! We begin at 6:45am with breakfast and get started with our study around 7am. This fall we are embarking on a brand new journey through C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. We begin this Thursday, so it's not too late to join us! The books are free, and the fellowship is good. What are you waiting for? There's no better way to begin the day! If you would like to...
I've been slowly working through a new book by Andy Crouch entitled, Culture Making. I'm not yet ready to post my thoughts on the book, though I would like to introduce you to some of the aims and then point you to a recent review of the book. The book catalogs the interest and fascination of a new generation of Christians with culture. In Crouch's mind, this interest is evidence that many Christians are not satisfied with a comfortable divide between faith and life. Younger Christians especially are deeply desirious to understand how all of life, not just "Christian" activies, share in the...
A dear friend of mine posted a few quotes on the importance of "worldview" on the way we live, move, and have our being. I thought I'd share the quotes with you for your consideration and reflection. "The most practical and important thing about a man is his view of the universe. For a landlady to consider a lodger, it is important to know his income, but still more important to know his philosophy. For a general to fight an enemy, it is important to know the enemy’s numbers, but still more important to know the enemy’s philosophy . The question...
"Help me to walk as Jesus walked, my only Savior and Perfect model, his mind my inward guest, his meekness my covering guard. Let my happy place be amongst the poor in spirit, my delight the gentle ranks of the meek. Let me always esteem others better than myself, and find in true humility, an heirdom to two worlds."
I've been reading a number of new books on creation and the calling of man that have reminded me of thoughts long forgotten and spurred lots of new fruitful ideas. One of the things that struck me recently is just how different the God of Scripture is to the popular Near Eastern gods who littered history in the day of Moses. The God of creation is not removed from his creation, governing with an iron fist from afar, thirsty for power and a way to prove Himself. Rather, we find in the Scripture an infinitely great and powerful God, not...
In last month's Touchstone magazine, Russell Moore penned a scintillating article on how the purity of the gospel is being distorted as often in so-called "Bible-believing" or "conservative" churches as in liberal churches. The name of the article is "The Messiah Channel." Here's a taste to whet your appetite. "Where anything other than Christ is preached, there is no truth offered, and thus, there is no freedom proclaimed. There may be shouts of affirmation or silently nodding heads, there may be left-wing politics or right-wing politics, there may be culturally liberal psychotherapy or culturally conservative psychotherapy, there may be almost anything people...
One of the privileges of being a member of FPC is the opportunity to nominate and elect men to serve as officers in the church. Following the Biblical pattern, FPC has two types of officers: elders and deacons. Within the office of elder, there is a distinction between teaching elders (i.e. ministers or preachers) and ruling elders. This Sunday all members of FPC get to exercise the membership privilege of casting votes for the men they believe best qualify to fill 10 available ruling elder slots. Each man has participated in a rigorous training for the office of ruling elder. They...
As most of you know, we're partnering with the Agape class to supply Neighborhood Christian Center with all the school supplies they need for their fall tutoring program. This is a great opportunity for us to show that our love for Christ is genuine (see Paul's words in I Cor.8-9) by meeting the needs of our community. A listing of all the school supplies can be found on the home page (www.fpccareer.org). NCC is expecting an enrollment of 60 kids this fall, so there's no fear of bringing too much. Break the piggy bank, reach between the couch cushions, lift...
Calling all guys! Please join us Thursday, September 4, as we kick off our fall Men of the Covenant lunches. The speaker this week is Dr. Jim Baird. Following the Korean War, Jim was called to the ministry. He graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta. He has served as pastor in churches in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and for 12 years as senior pastor at First Presbyterian, Jackson, before retiring in 1996. Jim served as the moderator of the PCA General Assembly in 1983 and 1984 and as chairman of the PCA's MNA and MTW committees.The time is 11:45 a.m. -...
There may be no spiritual practice more countercultural than prayer. It is almost never convenient, efficient, or measurable in impact, which is to say it has little to make it attractive to a world caught in a web of immediate relevances. Prayer will not be hurried, bullied, or quantified. It refuses to be pigeonholed. But when it is practiced, when our soul is given over to it, we enter into the power of God. We are taken up, as it were, into the realm of heaven where God lives and we commune with him. In a world of exile, prayer...
“Do you pray?”—J.C. Ryle, A Call to Prayer (p.9) The question shot though me like a bolt from clear blue sky. Conviction quickly spread through my heart. “I hate questions like this,” I thought silently to myself. But no matter which way I cut it the answer was the same… “No… I don’t pray.” Of course my answer wasn’t entirely true—I did pray some. I prayed when life got hard, or when I needed something particular from God, or when I thought it might be handy to have God on my side. But I knew deep down that Ryle wasn’t...
There's a really fascinating article in World Magazine that exposes the dangerously idolatrous expectations we hold about the power of technology. The article is written by Vern Poythress who is the Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminister Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He has been thinking about cultural matters from a Christian perspective for well over 30 years, and he has done some tremendous work in that time. Check out the article here.
On Sunday we wrapped up our short two week study on the discipline of Christian meditation. Some of you received the handout I gave in Sunday school which outlined some practical suggestions for meditation. But for those of you who couldn't be with us, I'm posting a few of the meditation questions for your viewing. I hope you find them to be a good resource. “Meditation reflects on the truth of God in the presence of God.”—Edmund Clowney “Slowing down and giving one’s undivided attention to God lies at the core of Christian meditation.”—Adele Ahlberg Calhoun Questions To Get You...
There is always more to say than can be said. We have one more week to talk about the spiritual discipline of meditation, and there is more to be said now than when we first began. But such is the nature of things. But even with our abbreviated study on this important Christian practice, I hope you have been impressed with the priority and purpose of meditation. I hope you have seen the Scripture as the primary text through which meditation finds its foundation, and Jesus Christ, both in his person and work, as the focus of meditation. One of...
Please make plans now to join us for a season of prayer before the evening worship service at FPC. We will begin praying at 5pm in the large meeting room in the first floor of the youth house. If you can't be there at 5pm, come whenever you can. We will wrap up things around 5:45pm just before evening service begins. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at nshurden@fpcjackson.org or 601-668-0730Hope to see you there!
"Dogma can in no way limit a limitless God. The person outside the Church attaches a different meaning to it than the person in. For me dogma is only a gateway to contemplation and is an instrument of freedom and not of restriction. It preserves mystery for the human mind."--Flannery O'Conner
One of the ways we fallen human beings go about destroying the good things God has given us is by isolating or separating those good things from other good things. Sometimes the greatest damage is done when we allow what is good to be dislocated from the only context at which that good thing can be truly enjoyed without being destroyed. This is true with sex, and C.S. Lewis is a faithful guide to us as he speaks about the two halves that make a whole in Mere Christianity. "The Christian idea of marriage is based on Christ's words that a...
I was first introduced to the literary output of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn during my second year in college. I remember it quite well. I had just finished one of Leo Tolstoy’s lesser-known works, The Forged Coupon, and I was so intrigued by his unique vision of the Faith that I knew I wasn’t ready to leave Russian literature behind... But what to read next? In a conversation with one of my roommates (also a literature major), he suggested I pick up Solzhenitsyn. Knowing Solzhenitsyn merely by name and reputation, I took my friends advice and picked up One Day in the...
This next week or so in Sunday school we'll spend time reflecting on the nature of Scripture (what it is) and the discipline of Bible reading. But before we dive right into the particulars, I think it's important that we talk about the relationship between Scripture and our reading of it. I realize that the word "discipline" may grate against your sensibilities. Should reading the Scripture really be a discipline? The answer to that is, of course, "Yes and no." I would say, first, that reading the Scripture always takes discipline. The reader must go to the Word, open it, read...
This week we continue our series entitled "Practicing the Faith: Working Out What God Is Working In." This series has focused on sanctification (growth in grace) and spirituality (intimacy with God). Throughout the last few weeks, we've discovered a number of things that are essential to growth and intimacy with God. To summarize, here's two brief points:To receive the grace of the gospel requires that we believe we need the grace of the gospel. To believe we need the grace of the gospel requires that we cultivate a state of the heart that believes and remembers the gospel. On Sunday, we'll...
Banner of Truth has recently republished a number of handsome new volumes, including a long overdue republication of Thomas Chalmer's letters. Chalmers was a Scottish Minister born at the end of eighteenth century, but ministering in the nineteenth century in the city of Glasglow. His legacy is widely known in both preaching and outreach, but it was his reflections on the nature and work of parish life that truly changed my life when I first encountered him in college. His very well known sermon, "The Expulsive Light of the New Affection," is as powerful as any sermon I've ever read or...
I ran across a quote by the long time pastor of Westminister Chapel in London, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, while reading a new book by Iain Murray. I thought the quote captured an important distinction between religiosity and true Christianity, and so I share it with you for your own consideration. "If I were asked to state the main difference between religion and Christianity, I would say that religion always puts its emphasis on what man does in his attempt to worship and please God... Christianity on the other hand is primarily listening to God. God is speaking! Religion is man searching...
It's not rare for me to speak with unbelievers about the faith. For one reason or another, I find that I attract the doubts, frustrations, allegations, and seekings of unbelievers. They feel they can express themselves to me, and for that I'm thankful. Sometimes, however, I'm afraid they talk to me because I "look-like" or "talk-like" a church-goer, or maybe it's because I act like a Pharisee (God forbid!). To be completely honest, I wouldn't be surprised at either allegation. I wish I had a dime for every time I've looked in the mirror and thought, "You're not the man you...
In a letter to Mary Willis Shelburne, C.S. Lewis rejoices over God's answering of prayer, and he gives us a little peak into the "magic" latent in all of God's answers, namely, that God speaks to himself through us. I thought you'd find this helpful, comforting, and encouraging to your/my "puny faith." "Oh I am glad, I am glad. And here's a thing worth recording. Of course I have been praying for you daily, as always, but latterly have found myself doing so with much more concern and especially about 2 nights ago, with such a strong feeling how very...
Okay, so the title of this blog was intended to make you click on the post. Did it work? I hope so. I'm sure many of you are thinking about the upcoming election, and I'm sure more than just a few of you have reflected on this unprecedented moment in our country where an African American is the candidate for a leading political party. It is a fascinating time in which we live. (Think of it this way, when you're old and gray with beautiful grand kids who love to hear about the "good ole days," you'll be able to...
In college, I was introduced for the first time to one of the great Christian books of all time, Imitation of Christ by St. Thomas a Kempis. The first manuscript was written sometime in the early 14th century, while St. Thomas spent a season of life at St. Agnes monastery in Zwolle. It has since become one of the best selling books of all time. According to some estimations, as many as 6,000 editions of the book have been published, and it is now available in over 50 different languages. Needless to say, many Christians throughout the centuries have found...
My post on the difference between true brokenness and worldly sorrow has prompted a question from several of you. What is true repentance? You've stated it in a number of different ways, but I think this is the central concern. For starters, repentance is different than confession. Confession is admitting sin, while repentance is consciously turning from sin. We are, by disposition, more comfortable with confession than repentance. Many of us are willing to say "I have a problem," but few are willing to take the steps necessary to do a 180 degree turn. The former is fairly easy, but the...
I read this on a friend's website. I just had to pass it along. This could be used as a prayer for spiritual direction for those of you needing an answer or guidance from God. "May you ever have the hindsight to know where you've been,The foresight to know where you are going,And the insight to know when you have gone too far."
Christy and I are celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary today. Several people have asked me this morning if it feels like its been seven years, and I can't say that it has. In so many ways, it seems like yesterday. I guess time flies when you're having fun! One thing is for sure though, a lot has happened in seven years. In fact, if you had told me I would be living in Jackson, MS, be a pastor at FPC Jackson, and have three kids in the first seven years of marriage I would have laughed out loud and recommended you check...
What spiritual help does the Christian receive by worshipping according to set patterns? A friend of mine actually asked me this three of four years ago, and a long, profitiable discussion ensued after he asked it. It's a good question, isn't it? He, as did I, came from a background where worship was more spontaneous or "Spirit led." He, as did I, received tremendous spiritual benefit within such churches, and he sensed his own heart grew immensely under the tutelage of saints who had long concerned themselves with the spiritual movements of God in the soul--saints who where not convinced that worship should...
Speaking of culture shifts, there is an interesting article in the religion section of today's USA Today on how more and more people are opting for "spirituality" over "dogma." We didn't really need a leading American newspaper to tell us this, but it's worthy of note when it does! Though I suspect the findings will not shock most of you, let me encourage you to check it out and consider what may be the trend of the future.
A couple of months ago I read Al Mohler's newest release "Culture Shift," and I've had a number of you ask me what I thought of it. So, I'm posting a little review I wrote below. It's by no means exhaustive, but I trust it will give you some sense of my impression. Enjoy! If you've been a regular reader of Al Mohler's blog, then you have a good sense of what to expect in Culture Shift: Engaging Current Issues With Timeless Truth. The subtitle not only tells you what to expect content wise, but it provides a window into the...
This is just a quick reminder that a group of us will be gathering tonight at Trustmark Stadium at 6:45pm for the M-Braves game. The plan is that we will buy tickets together at the gate. I'll have a section picked out by then, that way we can all buy tickets in the same section. If you come late, please give me a call, and I'll tell you where we are seated. Looking forward to it. Go Braves!
David Jones, RUF Minister at Standford University, has written a tremendous review of Diane West's bestselling book, The Death of the Grown-Up at reformation21. Warning: This review has the delightful capablity of offending all young adult readers. With that said, I hope you'll risk offense and read the review with benefit.
Each time I speak about the centrality of the gospel for the Christian life (not just for salvation) I'm amazed at how many people respond by saying, "I've never heard that before." I guess I should quit being amazed, since much of my own understanding of the Christian life growing up had little to do with the gospel proper. Unlike many, I was not intentionally nurtured into thinking that the gospel was what saved you and discipleship or "Christian education" was something that would "get you through the rest of the way" after you believed the gospel, but I certainly...
I take great comfort in God’s complete control over all things, but only because I know Him. When you meet someone, you begin the process of considering how much you can trust them. It’s a subconscious but universal experience. We weigh certain criteria (again, usually subconsciously) about the person, and we draw conclusions about whether they are trustworthy or not. I call it a "process" because trust is something that increases or decreases over time. Faith is not a static reality; it doesn’t stay the same. Faith moves up and down, largely because faith is tied to the experience of...
"As Harold took a bite of Bavarian sugar cookie, he finally felt as if everything was going to be ok. Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And, fortunately, when there aren't any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin, or a kind and loving gesture, or subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace, or an offer of comfort, not to mention hospital gurneys and nose plugs, an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken secrets, and Fender Stratocasters, and maybe...
I will be away tomorrow, preaching for a good friend of mine in Greenwood, MS. I'm preaching both services tomorrow, so it's likely that I'll miss you guys all the way around. While I'm away, Dan "the man" Chase is going to be filling in. Dan, as many of you know, was an intern with RUF at Ole Miss under Les Newsome, is presently studying at Reformed Theological Seminary, and working tirelessly at Seattle Drip on Lakeland ("Drip it like it's hot, yo") Keep Dan in prayer as he prepares to teach tomorrow. Make plans now to be there. I know you...
In James Schall’s delightful book, On the Unseriousness of Human Affairs, there is a chapter entitled “On Wasting the Best Years of Your Life.” It’s a beautiful piece. In the chapter, Schall quotes a memorable line from the book of Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince. The line reads like this: “It is only the time we ‘waste’ with our friends that counts.” This got me thinking... Have you noticed that busy people are rarely good friends. The reason, of course, is that busy people are too busy for friends. They know that friendship takes time, but they are too busy doing “important...
It seems we're years away from great research on the effect the internet is having on our minds, but it is encouraging to see more and more psychologists and sociologists exploring the possibility that the internet, and other such information technologies, can reshape the neural circuits inside our brains. Interested in finding out more? Check out Nicholas Carr's fascinating new article in this month's Atlantic Monthly
This past Sunday we introduced the subject for this quarter, "Practicing the Christian Life: Working Out What God Is Working In." Thanks to all of you who have already given me good feedback. I especially appreciate the constructive criticism--you telling me where you need more clarity or what specific areas of your walk with the Lord that you would like to see addressed. The goal of this quarter is to discuss the relationship between truth and life, believing and doing. It would be far easier to only talk about believing. For instance, if we're talking about truth alone, it would be...
This coming Wednesday, June 4th, the ladies will have a summer Bible study/discipleship group kick-off held at the home of Ashley Hall. We would love for you to make plans to join us for Bible study this summer and to plan to come at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday dinner, followed by time afterwards getting to know one another and introducing/distributing the books. We will be reading, Living the Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney—it’s short and very accessible, yet convicting book that deals with how the cross impacts our daily living. How does Christ’s death on the cross effect our everyday decisions, priorities, commitments,...
If you've been around me for any length of time, it's likely I've relayed my love for G.K. Chesterton to you. His classic book Orthodoxy has done much to shape my own outlook and priorities of life. It's a book I re-read every year and with each reading I learn new things and re-discover old truths. I'm struck afresh with fresh insights and provoked by new points of interest. It is a reading adventure that is second to none. Over the years I have grown in my appreciation for Chesterton's ability to find the romance in that which is most ordinary....
It's spring cleaning time at the office. You know the drill--the time we find as much junk as we can find and pilfer through it with the intent of throwing away as much as possible. It's a tortuous process for me, filled with the normal mental anguish of internal questioning and second guessing: "Do I need this? I might could use this one day? No, be realistic, Nate. If you haven't used in five years, what's the likelihood that you'll ever use it?" This time around has been no different than the last time I purged--except for the fact that...
Serious reflection on how technology affects the way we live is a subject deserving more attention. Thankfully, more and more sociologists and cultural analysts are giving time and energy to studying the psychological, physical, emotional, and spiritual impact of a digitized culture. One of the publications I trust on this topic is The New Atlantis: A Journal of Technology & Society. Several years ago Christine Rosen, a senior editor at the New Atlantis, released a series of articles cataloging the tendencies and temptations inherent in a primarily image based culture. For those of us who may spend the bulk of your...
You guys always hear me encouraging you to attend the mid-week supper, prayer meeting, and discipleship groups at FPC. Those of you that are coming regularly know what a great time of fellowship it is. We are thankful to those of you who have made this time meaningful and enjoyable. I've heard a good deal of postive feedback regarding our d-group offerings for YA, and I trust that will continue into the summer. As you probably know, we will have two new d-group topics for summer. Tyler Uzzell is planning to tackle the book of Ephesians in our co-ed group, and Ashley Hall,...
American Christians are a conflicted breed. I know this, because I am one. We will often say we agree with something "in principle," but this usually means we "know its true"(mental assent), but we never intend this "truth" to change what we're doing or how we're doing it. In other words, it a truth that is "out there," but not a truth we have embraced and bound ourselves to. Thus, it's a truth that never transforms the who, what, when, where, and how of our lives. This is particularly true when it comes to wealth. We say in one turn, "Money can't buy...
Our regularly scheduled deacon and elder meetings are tonight, and I (along with the other ministers) occasionally get the opportunity to lead them in devotions before the meetings. It was my turn tonight, and so I spoke briefly on I Tim. 3:9 and Paul’s spiritual qualification for the office deacons. I thought I’d post it here in hopes that you too might find benefit from it. There is an interesting new article by William Murchison in this month’s Touchstone magazine. The article is entitled, “The Way We Weren’t: Churches in the Fifties Were Filled, But Were They Faithful?” In the...
It's true you know: there really is no place like home. After a week at the beach with the family, it was great to return home and to at least some sense of normalcy. Yes, I'm still a little sunburned, but it's nothing aloe vera can't fix! Thanks to all of you who sent me e-mails, text messages, or facebook messages wishing us a great vacation. We will have to tell you all about it. It was Knox's first trip to the Big Sea, and from all reports, he loved it. (He slept most of the time, which is his...
It struck me that I probably didn't get to tell many of you that I am on a much needed family vacation to the beach this week. So, if you have trouble getting hold of me, just picture me stretched out on a chase lounger with the warm spring air blowing through my hair, with the roar of the ocean in the background, and a great book in my hand. This is about as close to heaven as it gets for me this side of the rainbow! But as good as it is to get away, to enjoy some rest and...
Thabiti Anyabwile, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Grand Cayman, gave the second presentation at T4G 2008. His talk was entitled, "Bearing the Image: Identity, Work of Christ, and the Church." Thabiti’s talk centered around a misconception about race, namely, that it doesn’t exist. (How's that for an intro!) Race, according to Thabiti, posits an essential biological difference between peoples. Holding to such an explanation would mean that each race (African American, Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, etc.) would be fundamentally (biologically) different from every other people group. Instead of race, Thabiti sets forth the term "ethnicity" as an alternative. The...
Yesterday, many of you got to see and hold the new addition at the Shurden house, Daniel. Knox. Isn't he great? We're so glad he's with us. What a joy he has been to get to know. He has such a good temperment. We are truly blessed. However, there is this one little thing that can sometimes be difficult. Knox has a little trouble keeping his milk in his belly. That's right -- he's the king of the spit up! I know, it's a fact of baby life. He can't help it! But Knox, more than our other kids, looses his milk all...
We were privileged to have Ligon kick things off at the T4G conference last week with a tremendous message on the importance of sound doctrine for faithful pastoral ministry. The rather puritan like title (which was conveniently cut from the bulletin!) went something like this: "A joyful defense and declaration of the necessity and practicality of systematic theology for the life and ministry of the Church." I want to share with you just a few points in the message that I think are pertinent for YA at FPC. It will probably take me several posts to cover the important issues...
I returned from the Together for the Gospel conference at around 11pm last night. Wearied by travel, I labored up the stairs to my front door to my lovely wife. Her face was beaming. She greeted me with lots of hugs and kisses, and she asked me many questions about the conference. After setting down bags and kicking off my shoes, we began to talk. I gave her a quick overview of the week, everything from the hotel room, to restaurants, to people I met. But the bulk of our conversation centered around the high points of each talk, the...
I'm out of the office this week with a host of our interns, Jeremy Smith, our Senior Assistant Minister, and our Senior Minister, Ligon Duncan, for the 2008 Together for the Gospel Conference in Louisville, KY. This is a conference where Reformed Evangelicals from different traditions -- Baptist, Charismatic, Presbyterian, Independent, etc. -- come together to celebrate the unity that is found in the gospel of Christ. It promises to be a wonderful week of preaching from some of today's leading Reformed ministers, and I'm looking forward to a rich time of fellowship with brothers across denominational lines. There is such...
Revisiting a section early in The Annals of a Quiet Neighborhood, I was struck afresh with the not-so-common sense that MacDonald displays in ministry. All Christians sense at different times that they should be "doing something for the Lord." We look about our world, into the lives of the people who inhabit our community, or maybe those ostracized from our communities, and we have a strong urge to "change things." We want to bring reform, maybe revolution. We want the very common heartaches and miseries that mark the lives of our family, friends, and even enemies to be removed. We watch...
George MacDonald is among the most well-known Scottish fantasy writers of the 19th century - or of any century for that matter. Though he is not read as often today as the fantasy writers he inspired, his stories continue, when read, to stir the imaginations of children and scholars alike. His influence is hard to overestimate. Indeed, it may not be an exaggeration to suggest that the myths penned by J.R.R. Tolkien, W.H. Auden, C.S. Lewis, and Madeleine L'Engle would have been unthinkable had George MacDonald not set their imaginations on fire. Stories like Phantastes, Lilith, and Princess and the Curdie lie in the background --...
I'm having a great time teaching through the marvelous letter of I John in one of the young married classes at FPC. It's a book that has fed my soul for years, reminding me always of both the comfort and challenge of knowing Christ--and especially of the fact that the challenge of the gospel is only fully realized when it arises out of the comfort of the gospel. This may seem counterintuitive, but it's true. What do I mean? Last week we honed in on the "light" and "darkness" metaphor of I John 1:5-10. We discussed in some detail the importance...
In a conversation this last week, I was asked for a reference that gives comfort to believers who are struggling with besetting sin. Almost without thinking James 5:6 popped into my mind. "But he gives more grace." It's a simple verse, just five words, but the measure of comfort derived from this promise is without scale. James is addressing a group of people caught in all sorts of interpersonal struggles. Quarrels and fights were commonplace in the church, which exhibited a deep rift of soul -- their "passions are at war within them." (5:1). They are "double minded," having made...
The time in history that you and I occupy has been referred to as "the age of the nanosecond." If we entertain the possibility that such a description might actually be one of the dominating motifs of our time, then we are forced to recognize that the ascendency of techonology is near about complete. For the "age of the nanosecond" points to the tempo of our lives, which apparently has been set by technology. We've made the machines, and it seems the machines have returned the favor. I would be the first to say (though I'm not the first) that...
We are told by people who determine such things that we live "in the age of information." News reports, opinions, facts, polls, statistics, advertisements, etc. are the stuff of our daily existence. It is the new norm, and for the most part, we love it. We love being "in the know." It gives us a sense of power, of understanding the world, our situation, life. When discussing the woes of the world, we frame our sentences like this: "The problem with _______ is that they don't understand ________. If they did, then this world would experience _______." This structure reveals something about...