gdp's Comments

Be Diligent... : Definition of Elder of the Church

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 05:42:24 +0000

J.A., thanks for taking the time to comment. I'm sure doc will answer when available, but I wanted to respond too. This idea has been tossed around for a while -- that it was common to have multiple wives, so what Paul really meant was "one wife at a time". I don't think that's really the case though. We don't see examples in the New Testament of men having more than one wife, but what I believe to be more of a possibility (and I mean the word "believe" here to be a statement of my opinion) is that if the instruction was for "one wife at a time", that allowed for the possibility of a widower re-marrying, and still meeting the qualifications to be an elder. Even if the man has not remarried, I do not believe Scripture prohibits a widower from being an elder.

Lindsey Nobles : On My Bookshelf

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:00:15 +0000

You're right; that stack of books is out of control, but probably no more out of control than most folks. Here are just a few titles in my stack: The Match (Susan Whitman Helfgot), To Busy Not to Pray (Bill Hybels -- reading it again), The Unexpected Adventure (Lee Strobel & Mark Mittelberg), and The Case for the Real Jesus (Lee Strobel). Wonder if it's significant that everything there is over a year old except The Match? (And yes, I've HAD them for over a year too -- unread, except for the Hybels book.) My recent post Day 344- I John 3-1-24 — Do the Right Thing- pure and simple

Be Diligent... : The Sheep Hunt

Thu, 9 Dec 2010 16:24:27 +0000

I like your parallels, and agree that there are many parallels between most things we do and living a Christian life. Being an aviator, I find many parallels between aviation and Christianity as well. For example, there's a person called a "controller", but it's not the Air Traffic Controller who is responsible for the safe arrival of the plane and its passengers & cargo to its final destination. The responsibility for taking the action necessary -- whatever it may be -- to assure a safe outcome falls solely on the shoulders of the pilot in command of the plane. The controller may very well have some life-saving advice and some suggested steps to perform that may help ensure safety, but ultimately it's up to the pilot to take the proper course of action. Salvation very much depends on it.

Be Diligent... : Chosen before the foundation of the world

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 22:29:51 +0000

Hi Bob -- I really appreciate your comment. I suspect you meant it as a comment to my original post titled Salvation Is Not Initiated By Human Choice, rather than this follow-up to this post since Randy in this post doesn't refer to 2 Peter 3:9, but nevertheless I'll answer it here. I, like doc, agree that context is critical, and I agree with you that the letter the apostle Peter wrote to the church, which is titled 2 Peter in our Bibles, was written to Christians. Certainly it is also correct that the head of our body -- Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23) -- doesn't want to lose any of his "little ones". Peter wrote that God is "patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (emphasis mine). So sure; it makes sense that he's telling them that God is patient with them (the church) and he doesn't want any of them to fall away. But... Restricting the meaning of 2 Peter 3:9 to only those who are already saved is like saying that since Jesus was speaking to the apostles in the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20) that I don't have to teach the Gospel because He wasn't speaking to me. There is nothing in the context of the great commission that would exclude me from that command, and there is nothing in Peter's statement that would exclude unsaved individuals. Certainly God is not willing that they perish either -- that's why He provided His Son for their redemption! But it is still their choice.

Be Diligent... : Forgiveness of Sins

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 20:37:54 +0000

Thanks Doc. Another thought we commonly hear is something to the effect that "when God forgives, he wipes the slate clean." I don't believe that. You're a former schoolteacher. Have you ever tried to clean a blackboard such that there is no vestige whatsoever of any of your former scribbles? I have, and I think I'd rather push that camel through the eye of the needle. It ain't easy. Of course, all things are possible with God, but this is our analogy, not His. I suggest a better analogy is that when God forgives, he throws the slate away! The point is, to truly forgive and forget requires Divine attributes; it is something we cannot do. Therefore, it's hard for us to imagine this is something God not only can do, but does do. When God forgives, it's just as if I'd never sinned -- at least as concerns my relationship with Him. Naturally, some sin carries with it lasting physical consequences, and God has not promised to remove these, just to erase the spiritual consequences.

Be Diligent... : First Worship -- Day 8

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:41:27 +0000

Janis, thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad you were able to follow the reports.

Be Diligent... : High Maintenance -- Day 5

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:27:18 +0000

Thanks Michael. It\\\'s been a good trip. Maybe you can make the one next year.

Be Diligent... : Moving Day -- Day 3

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 22:38:39 +0000

Gene, thanks for the encouragement. What a great work the Lord is doing here, and what a privilege to be a part of it!

Be Diligent... : Planting the Seed in Walvis Bay -- Day 2

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:02:49 +0000

Definitely, Janis -- how good to hear from you! In fact, Jon and I are roommates on this trip. That's working out great, at least from my point of view; you'd better get the real story from him. Glad you guys are liking life in Gilmer so well. If you see my good buddy John Spencer, tell him I said hi.

Be Diligent... : Can I Help You?

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 17:23:34 +0000

Exactly right, and it's so easy to not have that attitude. It used to bug me to no end (and still does, really) to see someone (all right, it was usually a little old lady) bring a carry-on bag onto an airplane, then not be able to lift it up to put it in the overhead bin. I'd never help. I'd sit and watch her fiddle with it, and usually fairly quickly someone else would ask if he could help. I still feel like people who can't lift a bag up to put it in the overhead should be checking their bags, but I now react differently. I figure whether they check it or not is their business, but if they need help, I'm there to help. Great post.

Be Diligent... : To Judge or Not To Judge

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:14:56 +0000

Thanks doc; great points. There's also the example of Paul judging Peter (Galatians 2:11-14).

Be Diligent... : "God Made Me Gay, So I'm OK"

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:43:40 +0000

Doc, I was having this very discussion with a colleague once, and he asked me, "At what point did you choose to become a heterosexual?" I had never heard that question before and didn't really know how to answer. The question though, reflects a fundamental difference in core beliefs. I happened to believe the Bible, and the fact that God did not create me in a condition He later condemned. My friend, of course, was not a believer. So our differences were much greater than whether homosexuality is just as legitimate a "lifestyle" as heterosexuality. As long as those differences existed, we likely would not be able to discuss this particular issue and come to an agreement. And we haven't.

Be Diligent... : Who Is Satan?

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:54:06 +0000

Yep, and I figured out why the related posts didn't show up. I had it set to show only posts from the last 12 months, and all 3 of these were older than that. I changed it to 2½ years.

Be Diligent... : Who Is Satan?

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:45:00 +0000

Thanks doc; good thoughts (if indeed thoughts about satan can be good). I don't know why the "related posts" plugin didn't do its work this time, but there are at least 3 other posts on this blog dealing with satan:

BTW, I have my own convention in mentioning the prince of darkness in print -- I refuse to capitalize his name. He doesn't deserve that honor.