tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178982962011-06-08T02:46:44.000-04:00"For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come." - Hebrews 13:14. Dedicated to the Glory of God and the encouragement of fellow pilgrims as they progress along the path to that Heavenly City "whose builder and maker is God" - Hebrews 11:10.Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.comBlogger211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-57887099521074184862007-11-10T09:43:00.000-05:002007-11-10T11:37:53.992-05:00

"You've got to have something for the kids at every level," exclaimed a certain man as he instructed the ladies to his left and right at the lunch room table of our school's cafeteria. As a newbie to the table, I remained silent as he expressed his opinion that Churches must take special care to provide something special (entertaining and fun activities) for children and teenagers. I wanted to

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-60642297071721511262007-09-19T20:49:00.000-04:002007-09-19T21:02:19.468-04:00

This is long. I apologize ahead of time. I think it is worth the read though.It has been quite awhile since the last installment of Reaching Forward Devotional. I'd like to write more, but, I typically write only when I am particularly gripped by -- "obsessing over" -- something. That is the way I learn from the Lord. He impresses upon me some thought which seizes my attention and holds it rather

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-24017471438720801632007-08-21T11:12:00.001-04:002007-08-21T11:40:17.209-04:00

I've been reading and teaching through Paul's letters to the Churches that were scattered throughout Greece, Macedonia, and Asia Minor. Lately I've found myself retracing his missionary steps and trying to get a better hold on his missionary journeys and experiences. I've read from Acts 13 to Acts 22 multiple times; read straight though at times, as well as focusing occasionally on one section

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-46343369301182549332007-06-01T01:10:00.000-04:002007-06-01T01:23:09.347-04:00

My brother met Bono at a Ruby Tuesday’s in Moss Point, Ms last Saturday night. Yes… Moss Point, Ms! He was sitting at a table with a bunch of relief workers. Here's a priceless line from my brother when he saw Bono, “Hey Becky [Brad’s wife], look at that guy trying to be like Bono!”My sister in law called me as soon as they departed the restaurant... at about 9 p.m.. But, because she had been

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-8045681744109620042007-05-14T16:33:00.000-04:002007-05-14T16:37:16.481-04:00

I wrote this one a couple of months ago and am just now publishing it.Its been more than a month since my last devotional. I’ve been thinking a good bit about the next devotional, but haven’t been moved toward writing about any particular topic. However, as of late, the Lord has been focusing my thoughts on contentedness. The other day as my son Andrew and I were building a small deck in our back

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-33086180271403535612007-05-14T16:30:00.000-04:002007-05-14T16:33:15.701-04:00

God is not safe. Someone says, "uh... what"? Most of you are likely familiar with C.S. Lewis' classic "Chronicles of Narnia" series. Lewis' first installment in the 7 book series was The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe. It came to the big screen in December of 2005 and was a huge success. As a fan of C.S. Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia tales, I thought the movie was very good and remained

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1170872393344973262007-02-07T12:41:00.000-05:002007-02-18T19:10:53.928-05:00

There are a host of interpretations as to the identity of the great Harlot of Revelation 17 and 18. On her forehead is written the Title: Mystery,Babylon the Great,The Mother of Harlots and ofThe Abominations of the Earth. I wonder if anyone would like to add that to their long list of Titles and Designations? Any volunteers? Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Divinity. Doctor of Theology, PHD, DMin,

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1155824071730548622006-08-17T10:07:00.000-04:002006-08-17T10:18:59.630-04:00

I have not had time to sit and put together further comments on the meaning of the Coming of Christ in John 14. But, I will soon, Lord willing. I thought I'd post a portion of one of my very first entries as a reminder to me of what I hope this blog will be. While debates about emergent and baptism are interesting, we need not forget we are brothers and are commanded to exhort and encourage one

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1154490896016394942006-08-01T23:33:00.000-04:002006-08-01T23:54:56.026-04:00

Coming soon. Some think John 14:1-6 is a passage dealing with the Rapture. Others, the second coming. Still others (Edwards and Gill included, I am told), the death of the Christian. And some think that the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell believers is what's in view here. So what is it? I have my opinion, and I think it is faithful to the context. I think Jesus is speaking of His

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1149911144699902182006-06-09T23:39:00.000-04:002006-06-10T11:35:43.440-04:00

WHY SO MANY INFANT BAPTISTS? In laying the foundation for their theological propositions, the great reformers of the 16th century appealed to the doctrine of ‘sola scriptura’-- scripture alone. It was this very appeal that opened the door for the recovery of believer’s baptism. Why, then, did the reformers retain infant baptism? Why do so many today ignore the clear teaching of scripture

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1147964417589538812006-05-18T10:49:00.000-04:002006-05-18T11:02:23.156-04:00

Orthodox Christian BaptismBy virtue of the title itself, believer’s baptism suggests that a person should be baptized because he or she has been converted. Unquestionably, baptism in the New Testament is always presented as an act of obedience which follows repentance and faith. John Piper states, “in every New Testament command and instance of baptism the requirement of faith precedes baptism.”

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1147060774234864542006-05-07T23:28:00.000-04:002006-05-16T16:41:55.236-04:00

I'm grateful for the comments on Part 1. For the most part, everyone has been respectful. However, if I have to answer another question about the term "orthodox"..., "I shall be very put out" (Prince Humperdink, The Princess Bride). Please forgive me if my responses appear to be unkind. I assure you that they are not meant to be. It is hard to accurately convey the intended emotion in an e-mail

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1146771218541947652006-05-04T14:45:00.000-04:002006-05-11T09:48:20.980-04:00

One of my best friends and several very good friends have left Baptist circles to become, as they would put it, "fully reformed." What this means is that they've embraced "covenantalism" to the extent that they now view "paedobaptism" (the baptism of infants into the covenant community) as the legitimate covenant sign for all children of believers. This paper is the fruit of our discussions and

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1134579773286056052005-12-14T12:02:00.000-05:002006-01-29T23:08:33.446-05:00

I've been waiting for an opportunity to gather more information and find time to offer something worthwhile. However, my time has been taken up in other pursuits. Suffice it to say, as I've read and studied emergent I've gained a more balanced perspective on the movement. Here are some observations on the negative aspects of emergent.1. Renegade for the sake of being renegade. This is not

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1134342715479014052005-12-11T17:01:00.000-05:002005-12-12T13:07:21.320-05:00

This weekend a friend and I were conversing about the topic of "justification by faith alone". He expressed a concern over the way, at present, many proclaim this truth. Quite honestly, before our conversation, I had not given much thought to the content of his concern. "What was his concern", you ask? He said that he was concerned that in much teaching on this subject, there is a mixing of

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1133649903440733232005-12-03T17:23:00.000-05:002005-12-04T17:42:09.286-05:00

A brother recently asked, "Tom, what is it about the "emergent church" that interests you?" If you are not familiar with the term, it might bear some explanation. There is no short answer. But, as best I can, here is my definition. Emergent Church: a movement among Christians that is designed to recover authentic fellowship and worship in the body of Christ. It is much more complex than that I'm

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1132247103480902822005-11-17T11:54:00.000-05:002005-11-17T16:30:47.156-05:00

You need to read Joel Rainey's latest blog on "Jonathan Edwards on the Missional Church". As a fellow Southern Baptist I empathize with his concerns and am thankful for the summary of Edward's work, Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God. It deals with how success should be measured in the "local church". He gives 5 standards for measuring true revival. Have a look. Here's the link

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1131636109945979002005-11-10T09:42:00.000-05:002005-11-18T09:00:44.120-05:00

I recently began reading The Horse and His Boy with my 11 year old son. In this book, several "Narnian's" are trying to make their way back to their blissful home. "Narnia and the North" is a sort of slogan comparable in someway to "Disneyworld or Bust" (I doubt, however, that everyone would see Disney world as a "blissful" destination!). This is my favorite book in C.S. Lewis's timeless

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1130516287793063592005-10-28T18:45:00.000-04:002005-10-29T00:44:54.076-04:00

As I was driving my daughter to high school the other morning, I asked her, "Honey, what is "church"? Notice that I did not ask her "what is THE CHURCH"? I knew she'd answer that one correctly. So, yes, I deliberately misled her. Her answer was the one I thought she'd give. "That's Sunday morning." Hmmm. "So church is what we do on Sunday mornings?" "What about on Sunday nights and Wednesday

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1130186896412867752005-10-24T16:24:00.000-04:002005-10-24T16:48:16.426-04:00

It is o.k. to "say" God is sovereign. However, if you mean what you say, you'll likely find yourself branded as unloving, or outdated in your view of God. Most people give assent to the Sovereignty of God. However, their definition of "sovereignty" is something less than what scripture claims for God:Isaiah 46:10 "I declare the end from the beginning,and from long ago what is not yet done,saying:

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898296.post-1129407874396145092005-10-15T16:16:00.000-04:002005-10-15T16:56:51.463-04:00

Well... this is the first entry as a "blogger"!! Whewheww! I am not sure how I will use this. I'll simply post as the Lord leads for as long as it seems profitable. The title of this blog reflects my view of the Christian experience. As John Bunyan's "Christian" in "Pilgrim's Progress", I see the Christian life as an adventurous, exciting and dangerous journey to the "celestial city" (heaven).

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03476620603374588956noreply@blogger.com1