Christianity Explored

This Sunday Evening we will be starting our first Christianity Explored class for anyone interested in knowing more about the basic tenants of Christianity.

The seven week DVD series is produced by a church in London that has done a fantastic job of explaining the gospel from the gospel of Mark. The church that put this together is the church John Stott is associated with.

We are excited about getting this up and running and hope it will be a helpful resource to explain what we believe, and help others better understand the Christian faith.

There was a Christianity Today article recently published about Reformed Theology and its popularity amongst various church leaders. John Piper & Josh Harris are prominently mentioned. Click on this link to read the article.

Reformation Sunday

Many folks with a Presbyterian or Lutheran background like to remember on the last Sunday of October the famous event of October 31, 1517. The key figure is Martin Luther, the famous church father who protested the abuses of the Catholic Church in the 16th Century. If you read this article about him, you will discover why this date is so significant and why many churches remember it as Reformation Sunday and sing, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God".

Sermon: 1 Corinthians 4:1-9

1Cor. 4:1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
1Cor. 4:2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
1Cor. 4:3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.
1Cor. 4:4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.
1Cor. 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
1Cor. 4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.
1Cor. 4:7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
1Cor. 4:8 You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.
1Cor. 4:9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

Desiring God Conference 2006

This year I wanted to travel to Minneapolis to attend the John Piper Desiring God Conference. Unfortunately it was sold out. Fortunately, the folks at DesiringGod.org have put the conference online.

Theme: Above All Earthly Powers: The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World
Date: September 29 – October 1, 2006
Location: Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, MN
Speakers: David Wells, Don Carson, Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll, Voddie Baucham, and John Piper.

Check out the conference online, I have download some of the talks already and I am looking forward to listening when I get a chance.

Back in New Hampshire

Saturday was great...... The southern BBQ lived up to its hype. A lot of folks showed up for the BBQ and the talent night. The talent night was hilarious, my host played Richard Simmons and it was hysterical. Very funny.

I got to share Saturday Night about New England and Nashua and was able to expand on that during the Sunday School hour the next morning. I had a lot of folks come up to me afterwards and were very encouraging. After lunch on Sunday, I travelled to Charlotte Douglas Airport and waited for my flight back to Boston. The flight was uneventual and I got home late Sunday Night.

The featured speaker was Dr. Henry Krabbendam. A very good speaker and really challenged the church and missionaries to follow Paul's example as described in Philippians 1, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Southern Hospitality

Opening ceremonies were last night for the missions conference.

There are 14 missionaries from all over. Military chaplains, overseas missionaries, local missionaries, local ministries, college outreach, church planting, etc.... A great diversity for sure. There is something wonderful about being in an atmosphere with an emphasis on missions, evangelism and outreach. Those who were gathered were either directly involved in missions or were supporting it. It was a great start to the weekend conference.

Saturday is the highlight of the conference. For supper, an authetic southern BBQ followed with a talent night. I sure do love Southern Hospitality!

Missions Conference in Stanley, NC

Greetings from the New South!

I am spending the next several days attending a missions conference at First Presbyterian Church in Stanley, NC. This PCA church has invited me to share about church planting in Northern New England as well as our efforts in Nashua, NH.

I am looking forward to sharing with folks about the needs and realities of ministry in Northern New England. I will do my best to keep up the blog while I am down here and give folks an idea of how it is going. Please pray for me at this important time that it would be fruitful and beneficial for the Kingdom.

Anyone for Tea?

For those of you who are Tea lovers, or those who might be interested in trying something new, let me suggest a Tea Company.

Portsmouth Tea Company is founded by an elder in our Presbytery, Marshall Malone. From the news I am hearing, it is fabulous tea and the Company is rapidly expanding as their customer base is growing.

I am looking forward to trying some soon and I thought I would pass it on to anyone who might be interest. Enjoy!

Guest Preacher => Tim Andrews

This Sunday Rev. Tim Andrews will be preaching on 1 Corinthians 3. Tim is the previous minister at Christ Presbyterian Church and has been back on numerous occasions to help fill the pulpit. Tim is a great guy and we are blessed to have him come and preach the Word.

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 3:10-17

I have been a bit of a bum this week with the blog, I apologize.

This Sunday we will continue to look at chapter 3 of First Corinthians. This passage has been prone to misunderstandings for centuries. The body as a Temple, Purgatory as well as the understanding of the church have been all affected by this passage. I hope to clear up these misunderstandings and see what the passage does say about the church. It should be interesting.

1 Corinthians 3:10-17 (New American Standard Bible)

10According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.

11For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.

14If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

15If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

17If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

Fall from Mt Kearsarge

10 of us from the church went up Mt Kearsarge and enjoyed the colors from the summit on Saturday. One of the church members snapped this photo. It was a perfect day to see the colors, not a cloud in the sky, and warm and breezy. I will post some more photos when I get a chance. Nothing beats Autumn in New England!

Harvard Changing Core Courses

Here is the article about the proposed changes at Harvard....

What has gotten a lot of people talking is that religion and reason is being considered as a core course at Harvard. It is currently not offered and the reason for the change is to prepare students for the real world. I personally think the recommendations make sense. But if you read the article not everyone is pleased. What do you think?

Guest Speaker : Rev. Bradley Barnes

This Sunday we have a special treat. Bradley Barnes, an RUF/RCF minister on the campus of Harvard University is going to share about his on campus ministry and preach from First Corinthians.

I am looking forward to his visit and I think it will be eye opening for us as a congregation as we hear about his ministry to one of the most prestigious schools in the world. It is also my hope that we will be partnering with him in this endeavor through prayer and support.

A humbling statistic

I am getting ready for a missions conference later this month and I am assembling some facts and figuires about our region. In my research, I came across a very troubling statistic in regards to New England.

Acccording to the ARDA, American Religious Data Archive, the national average of evangelical churches in 2000 is 14%. Roughly 1/7 of the population of the US attends an evangelical church. In the Bible belt, you have 25% of the population of North Carolina going to evangelical churches and 39% in Mississippi.

The states that rank below the national average are found on both coasts. For Washington, it is 10%, California is 7 percent. But the lowest percentage comes from New England, Rhode Island at just 1.5%.

New Hampshire and Massachusetts are not very far behind at 2.5% & 2.3%. New England comparied to any other region or state has the least amount of evangelical churches in the United States. Sometimes I feel like a missionary, and looking at this research I understand why. New England is very much a mission field.

A very humbling statistic.

Fall Colors Update

In my estimation, we are in the peak season right now for colors. There are colors everywhere...red, orange, yellow, etc..... We went for a drive this weekend and the colors were fantastic. Very pretty. Forecasters here in NE have been saying this should be one of the best autumns for fall colors. I think their predictions were correct! I will try and take some picts soon for those folks out of town to enjoy!