Did You Just Compare John Piper to Joel Osteen? [Text Messaging]

I appreciate this question, texted to me during my sermon today.

In making my point on Psalm 1:1-2, that we are to be people of the Word, I did mention Joel Osteen and John Piper (and I think I threw Charles Stanley in there as well).

Here's the text:

1:1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

The point was this:
We are to delight in the Law of the Lord. We are to meditate on it day and night.

The primary source of our devotion and study is to be the Word of God.
Not Bible Study Handbooks, though they are helpful.
Not Small Group studies, though they are helpful.
Not Sermons from preachers (here's where I mentioned Piper, Osteen, and Stanley.)

I appreciate the question, because it could be intimated from the way I made my point that I consider the three men on the same 'level.'

I certainly try to obey the 'Steve Brown' rule and pick heroes who are dead... they are less prone to embarass you. I've found Piper to be a great inspiration, and thoughtful commentator, and a deep thinker. But... He's not the Word, and he would, I am sure, point us away from his own messages and encourage us to read the word.

I like Charles Stanley. Almost everyChristian knows who he is, and has listened to In Touch on the radio, or seen him on TV. He's everywhere. I like Piper's preaching style more, but he is a good man, with a good heart. But... He's not the Word, and he would, I am sure, point us away from his own messages and encourage us to read the word.

I've never heard a whole sermon by Joel Osteen, and I don't know the guy. I look at his church and the sinful voice inside of me says, "He can't be bringing the gospel with a church that big..." but I don't know. I do think some of his prosperity theology is dangerous (the idea that God wants you to be healthy and wealthy, and you can claim that in Christ), but like I've said, I don't know his teaching well enough to speak out about it. But... He's not the word, and while I don't know if he would point us away from his own messages and encourage us to read the word, I hope he would.

We're called to embrace Jesus. We are called to embrace His Word. Let's read the book first and foremost.

thanks for the question!

Get Your Nose in the Book [Bible Reading]

Psalm 1 says that God blesses the man who steers clear of the was of the wicked and swerves into His Word, meditating on it day and night.

In the spirit of opening up the possibilities for your own devotional bible reading, I wanted to share some resources that might help you develop the habit of reading God's Word.

We are called to be workmen who are devoted to the Word, accurately handling it so that we will not be ashamed. A primary way we accomplish this is to READ God's Word. We must be in it if we expect to KNOW it and OBEY it.

Ask yourself:

• Do you have a plan to read God's Word?
• Have you set a time to read God's Word?
• Have you set a place to read God's Word?

If not, and if you're anything like me, then you won't! Let me encourage you to invest the time... take 20 minutes before basketball starts this afternoon, and find a place. Put your bible there. Put a pad and pen there. Make sure there is a light if you are going to be reading in the morning... and then plan to be there to read. Here are some plans to get you started:

• I appreciate the list of plans assembled at this website. Which one is the right one? I'd say any one which gets you into the Word. New to the bible? Check out this one. Never read through the bible? How about this one. Looking for something new? Stories you've never read? Right here. Eager to spend some time with Jesus? Right here.
  

• We're counting down the days until we celebrate the Lord's Resurrection. Why not read the Gospel accounts of His final week? Some members of our church are going to be studying this in their small group... they might find the harmonized accounts of Jesus final week (which i put together in 2006) helpful for study. Jesus Final Week

• Another plan I am experimenting with allows you to read as much as you want per day, as long as you read the whole section in a week. This is a mighty goal, not for the faint of heart. More details on how to use this plan are here. Weekly "Chunks" Plan

• For years I've used Robert M'Cheyne's plan, but it can be a merciless taskmaster if you allow yourself to feel the guilt of missed readings. The plan has you read in four places each day, and takes you through the whole bible in one year. I like it because it challenges me to read all over the place. Preaching and reading on this plan allows a pastor to make 'mad connections' as he reads through the Bible. It all fits together... if we read it, we'll see it. The author himself describes how to use it here.

• I am once again using my own bible reading plan, connected with another that lets me read through the NT twice in one year. Figuring this out is pretty easy. This plan gets you through the NT twice, with all the other readings. I ran this off, cut it nice and small, and am planning on ignoring columns 1 and 2 and reading from column 3. I also print one of these off and stuff it in the front of my bible. It's not really patented or trademarked. I just wrote that to be funny... I cross off the chapters as I read them, and so I know which areas of the Bible I am neglecting.
  

Finally: Read. Read some more. Pray and ask God to help you understand what you are reading. My pastoral mentor used to say that "a man makes time for what is important to him..." If God is your treasure, then you should express that with your time in a solid commitment to be in His Word. May we all be devoted to His "law", so we will stand in joy and awe before Him on that last day.

What We Owe To Those We Disagree With [Theology Reader]

Enjoying this brilliant article by Roger Nicole. There is some theological "rough sledding", but if you assume the gentleness and wisdom of what he is saying in those parts, there is much wisdom here.

There are three major questions that we must ask; and I would like to emphasize very strongly that, in my judgment, we need to ask them precisely in the right order: (1) What do I owe the person who differs from me? (2) What can I learn from the person who differs from me? (3) How can I cope with the person who differs from me?

Many have put on blue or grey and taken sides in blogging wars, in theological, political, and intellectual circles. No matter what side you are on, there is water for your soul here. Drink deep and grow.

http://www.founders.org/journal/fj33/article3.html

He Decides What It All Means.

A good friend just emailed me this video. This might scare some, but it fills me with a great sense of expectation. Knowledge is increasing, communication is increasing, and while that might mean uncertainty and market volatility, it means that the ability to communicate the Gospel in new and creative ways in increasing. We have greater ability to take a stand for the Gospel of Jesus Christ now than ever before. We have greater ability to communicate with clarity and humility.

We ought to embrace technology, embrace humility, and communicate with passion and conviction, for the sake of those who have yet to hear, yet to decide, yet to believe.

After all, all things are created by Him, and for Him, and through Him. He decides what it all means... he should get the glory. Let's us the future for what it is for: Him.

Redeeming the Time... instead of waiting for voicemail...

I have a lot to do. I know you do too.

So I was thrilled to learn that most voicemail systems in businesses and most mobile phone carriers have ways to skip the prerecorded messages.

I didn't believe it, so I tested my own phone... it worked!

For most voicemail systems, try hitting #, 1, or *. That may enable you to dodge the message. 

For mobile carriers, try:

• 1 for Verizon (It works!).
• # for T-Mobile.
• 1 for sprint.
• 7 for Cingular and AT&T.

Try this if you are constantly leaving messages for the same person who has a two minute message telling you what you already know:

- they aren't there.

- leave a message.

- leave your number.

- they'll call back... (will they?)

Don't spend your precious time listening to recordings. Go do something to honor the Lord Jesus.

(BTW - I posted this so I can look it up later... and because it might help.)

John 7 [Text Tuesday]

Here's the text I'll be preaching from this Sunday, December 7th, 2008.

[Note #1: If you are reading this post on facebook, you can comment here or preserve your comments at keithmyer.blogspot.com.]

[Note #2: If you are one of my non-Christian, non-churchy, non-Jesus following friends, I like you! I respect your thoughts and opinions even if I don't agree with you, let me know what you think!]

[Note #3: Podcasts are coming. You'll be able to hear the finished sermon, which takes your input into account. Your input is valuable, and I love hearing from you! I'm trying to focus more on comments, but also trying to keep the content a-rolling. Thanks!]

7:1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?”

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Using Facebook Biblically [Wise Wednesday]

Theology moves so fast these days. I was interested to find this article with some helpful thoughts about thinking biblically about Facebook.

Nine things we should avoid:

1. The trend of using status updates to complain

2. Measuring your worth/identity by number of Facebook friends/Facebook interactions

3. Greater concern over forming Facebook (virtual) friends rather than real friends

4. Diminishment of face-to-face time with people/enjoying and working on real relationships

5. Dual identities (saying/doing things online you'd never do in person)

6. Hurting and excluding others (intentionally or unintentionally)

7. Facebook and online life can make you more distracted

8. Can tempt you away from your calling/work (celebrating the insignificant)

9. Thinking about yourself more than you already do.

I can think of a few other things that need to be avoided:

1. Judging others by the groups they join.

2. Feeling hurt by not being invited to 'this party' or 'that event.'

3. Checking people out to see if I am doing 'better' than them.

6 ways we can use facebook for Jesus:

1. Get back in touch with old, far-away friends in an easy way, showing them how you’ve been changed by Jesus

2. As an extension of face-to-face relationships/can be used to enhance time with people

3. To think about yourself less and others more (pray for people!)

4. To sharpen/discipline what you do with your time

5. To quickly announce/make great things happen

6. To influence other people for Jesus. Create a new culture with your status updates..

Paul instructs us to make the most of our time, because the days are evil. We're called to be redeemers, using what God has given us for Jesus. What other ways can you think of using new technologies for Jesus?