The Wartburg Watch » deb

EChurch@Wartburg – 5.20.12

deb — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:00:44 +0000

Welcome to Our Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg Enhanced Rainbow by Barb Ver Sluis Here is our order of worship A Prayer of Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) Link O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray, with the graces of Your Holy Spirit, With love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Teach us to love those who hate us, to pray for those who despitefully use us, That we may be the children of our Father, Who makes Your sun shine on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity, grant us grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; May we guard the door of our lips; may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, And thirst after heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” This is a prayer from the church father Irenaeus (died 202 C.E.) Link "Give growing maturity to beginners, O Father; give intelligence to the little ones; Give aid to those who are running their course. Give sorrow to the negligent; give fervor of spirit to the lukewarm. Give to the mature a good end; for the sake of Christ Jesus our Continue reading →

Categories: EChurch@Wartburg

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Here Is Our God – TGC’s First National Women’s Conference

deb — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:13:20 +0000

"However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God." 1 Corinthians 11:11-12 Daisy The Gospel Coalition (TGC) has held its share of conferences since it was established, and next month it will host its first ever women's conference – Here Is Our God. So how long has The Gospel Coalition been in existence? Twenty years? Ten years? Here is an excerpt from a Christianity Today article entitled What's Next for The Gospel Coalition which answers that question. It states: "Trinity Evangelical Divinity School professor Don Carson and Tim Keller came up with the idea for the Gospel Coalition (TGC) several years ago. They kicked it off in 2007 with a conference attended by 500. In 2008, the conference was a by-invitation-only, off-the-record meeting of the nearly 50 men on the coalition's council. In 2009, 3,100 pre-registered and 223 walked in. They also rolled out the Gospel Coalition Network (TGCN) on The City, a social networking site developed at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. The site will allow TGCN to approve and Continue reading →

Categories: Calvinism/Calvinista, Gender Gospel, Gender Roles, Gospel Coalition, New Reformed Theology

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CONFERENCE$ out the Wazoo

deb — Fri, 18 May 2012 02:29:27 +0000

"I am also very concerned about conferences. Or, more specifically, conference Christians." Mark Driscoll KFC Yum! Center Together for the Gospel 2012, which attracted between 7,500 and 8,000 "conference Christians" to the KFC Yum! Center, is now a memory. Not to worry, there are more conferences on the way for the Calvinista crowd. Take a look. . . Next Theme: The Church (ironically, this is the theme for Resolved 2012) May 26-29, 2012 Orlando, Florida Speakers: C.J. Mahaney, * Kevin DeYoung, Matt Chandler, Jeff Purwell, Jared Mellinger, Ian McConnell Cost: $175 (Individual) $250 (Couple) * Yes, that would be the same Kevin DeYoung who served on the preliminary panel to determine whether C.J. Mahaney was fit for ministry. This is the last Next Conference Here is our God Theme: God's Revelation of Himself in Scripture June 22-24, 2012 Orlando, Florida Speakers: Don Carson, Tim Keller, John Piper, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Mary Kassian, Carolyn Mahaney, Mary Mohler, Kathy Keller, Noelle Piper, Jani Ortlund, Lauren Chandler, Kristie Anyabwile, among others Cost: $175 This is the first ever National Women's Conference sponsored by The Gospel Coalition Resolved 2012 Theme: The Church June 22-25, 2012 Palm Springs, California Speakers: John MacArthur, Continue reading →

Categories: Calvinism/Calvinista, Conferences

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EChurch@Wartburg – 5.13.12

deb — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:05:56 +0000

Welcome to Our Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg Enhanced Rainbow by Barb Ver Sluis Here is our order of worship Once again, we bring you a praise song from The Odes Project. This is from the recently discovered first-century hymnal found called The Odes of Solomon. You can read more about this remarkable historical find here. Imagine yourself singing with your brothers and sisters from 2000 years ago. That is the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us! A Prayer of Martin Luther Link Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it. I am weak in the faith; strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor. I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether. O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you. In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have. I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor. I am a sinner; you are upright.With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the Continue reading →

Categories: EChurch@Wartburg

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Mary Kassian and Her Complementarian Spin

deb — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:59:28 +0000

"Recently, someone in the twitter world called me an “uber-complementarian.” They threw out the term “complementarian” derogatorily, like an ugly handful of mud – akin to calling someone a “racist,” “fascist,” “sexist,” or something scary like that. I had to smile, since I remember sitting around a table with John Piper and Wayne Grudem and others, wracking our brains to come up with an apt label to describe the historic Christian teaching on gender. Oh how quickly labels turn into stereotypes!" Mary A. Kassian Rosie the Riveter I love learning the history of recently established complementarianism. It was birthed through the Danvers Statement, which Mary Kassian probably had a hand in writing. What I'd really like to know is how she became so privileged as a woman to sit shoulder to shoulder with the likes of John Piper and Wayne Grudem as they "wracked" their brains to identify a term that would describe their narrow interpretation of gender, supposedly according to Scripture. The above quote is the introduction to Mary Kassian's post a year ago – "Dora the Doormat" and other Scary Straw Women of Complementarity. She provides a Historic Christian Position on Gender in which she explains the following: Continue reading →

Categories: Calvinism/Calvinista

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Calvinista Mary Kassian to Address SBC Pastors’ Wives in New Orleans

deb — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:55:50 +0000

"THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE IS THE HAND THAT RULES THE WORLD." William Wallace Cradle That Deb Rocked Congratulations, Calvinistas! Your tribe is expanding its influence over the Southern Baptist Convention. How clever to arrange for one of the leading Neo-Calvinist dames to address SBC pastors' wives at the SBC Ministers' Wives Luncheon next month. By influencing the "first ladies" of Southern Baptist congregations, you can have a direct impact on those who rock the cradles of SBC babes. This isn't the first time Kassian has addressed women of the Southern Baptist Convention. Three years ago she spoke at a "Women of Truth" conference that preceded the SBC Annual Meeting when it was held in Louisville. That was the year of the Great Commission Resurgence. . . Peter Smith of the Courier-Journal wrote an article about this gathering entitled: Women urged to focus on caretaker role. He describes how an attendee "sat with her Bible open to the second chapter of the biblical book of Titus, listening to a speaker expound on the passage's teaching that women should be submissive to their husbands and the primary caretakers at home. She knew the passage well, having marked it thoroughly in Continue reading →

Categories: Calvinism/Calvinista, New Reformed Theology

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EChurch@Wartburg – 5.6.12

deb — Sat, 05 May 2012 04:32:58 +0000

Welcome to Our Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg Enhanced Rainbow by Barb Ver Sluis Here is our order of worship (All the songs in today's EChurch are performed by Avalon) The Trinitarian Prayer of John Stott link Good morning heavenly Father, good morning Lord Jesus, good morning Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father I worship you as the creator and sustainer of the universe. Lord Jesus, I worship you, Saviour and Lord of the world. Holy Spirit, I worship you, sanctifier of the people of God. Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more. Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you. Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons in one God, have mercy upon me. Amen.” If you are new to EChurch, please click on this link for an explanation Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:24-25 (NASB Bible Gateway) "and let us Continue reading →

Categories: EChurch@Wartburg

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Combatting Muscular Christianity

deb — Sat, 05 May 2012 03:50:29 +0000

"In 'Young, Restless, Reformed' circles, a new generation is discovering Jonathan Edwards and 'masculine Christianity' in one fell swoop … One noted pastor has said that God gave Christianity a 'masculine feel' … Jesus and his buddies were 'dudes: heterosexual, win-a-fight, punch-you-in-the-nose dudes.' Real Christian men like Jesus and Paul 'are aggressive, assertive, and nonverbal.' Seriously?" Michael Horton kickstarter.com Macho Man Mark Driscoll has been using Sex, Rock (Indie), and Violence to build his empire, and he has been highly successful! As a "pastor and Bible teacher" (Mark's pet phrase), he definitely knows what a guy wants… Driscoll and his YRR cohorts have concocted a clever way to attract young men (aka dudes) to Jesus through Masculine Christianity, and it appears to have climaxed this year. Where will it end and is anyone speaking out against this fleshy form of faith? The answer is a resounding YES! There are a number of individuals fighting against this dangerous trend, and we are grateful for their push back! Lynne Tait, an Australian and regular commenter here at TWW, had an excellent response to our previous post, as she quipped: "I seriously wonder if these guys have read the same Bible as I Continue reading →

Categories: Masculine Christianity

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Masculine Christianity – On Display In All Its ‘Glory’

deb — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:58:22 +0000

"God has given Christianity a masculine feel. And being God, a God of love, He has done that for our maximum flourishing both male and female." John Piper speaking at the 2012 Desiring God Pastors Conference Theme: "God, Manhood & Ministry Conference – Building Men for the Body of Christ" These are the only kind of boxers we like (link) In case you haven't noticed, MASCULINE CHRISTIANITY is sweeping through conservative evangelical churches like a firestorm. It has been gaining momentum in recent years, with Mark Driscoll providing the spark. Now John Piper has thrown gasoline on the fire and it's burning out of control! Is this God's plan for the man? You be the judge… First, let's take a look at how masculine Christianity is manifesting itself at a church in my native state of North Carolina. Egads! WARNING: Highly Offensive Language! Yes, you heard that right. Here are the exact words of Pastor Sean Harris: “So your little son starts acting a little girlish when he's four years old and instead of squashing that like a cockroach and saying, ‘Man up, son, get that dress off you and get outside and dig a ditch cause that's what boys Continue reading →

Categories: Masculine Christianity

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EChurch@Wartburg – 4.29.12

deb — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 05:04:37 +0000

Welcome to Our Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg Enhanced Rainbow by Barb Ver Sluis Here is our order of worship Prayer on the Beatitudes Link Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Keep us from being preocuppied with money and worldly goods, and with trying to increase them at the expense of justice. Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." Help us not to be ruthless with one another, and to eliminate the discord and violence that exists in the world around us. Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Let us not be impatient under our own burdens and unconcerned about the burdens of others. Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be filled." Make us thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness, and actively spread your influence in our private lives and in society. Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." Grant that we may be quick to forgive and slow to condemn. Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are Continue reading →

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