Outlines, Notebooks

 

The Glory of God and The Life of The Mind

THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE LIFE OF THE MIND

Charles e. Whisnant

To be human is to think, and to think is to operate within a worldview. Every individual operates out of a basic set of convictions about reality, truth, meaning, and how the world works. As thinking creatures, we create, perceive, absorb, and base our thinking upon certain intellectual assumptions that, in essence, allow the world to make sense to us. Well; so says Albert Mohler.

From early in my life the thirst for knowledge and understanding has been the sense in my mind. Those early years of Dad and Mom reading Proverbs must have implanted into my mind the desire to get knowledge and understanding and wisdom.   

The knowledge that I have sought is that of the Bible. What a library of books, sixty-six to be exact; and from those sixty-six books have come thousands of other books that have attempted to explain those books. 

My Dad had a great library of Christian books, and early in my teens I loved to read them.  While I started reading the Bible when I was twelve: (thanks to Dad’s Mom.) 

The best way I knew to know the Bible was to read those books that would help me.  You only get as good as you have been trained in the field you desire to be in.  My training in learning the Bible was quite simple.  The climate around me were preachers who didn’t seem to believe a lot of learning was necessary to know the Bible.  Thus, my skill of learning the Bible was reduced to reading   Christian books.  Dad believed in teaching the Bible book by book in Sunday  School, and he would give teachers a book by H.A. Ironside.  (1876-1951) To know the Bible was to read H.A. Ironside.  Also Dad would have the radio on everyday listening to other radio preachers.  I would listen to their preaching.   Examples: J.V. McGee, Oliver B. Greene. M.R. Dehaan.  Charles Fuller, and others.

Finally going to seminary, I was able to listen to some really great teachers of the Bible.  So I learned to know the Bible by hearing what others were saying about the Bible.  

The point I am making is this, I learned from others what I knew about the Bible.  It’s a habit that seems to be what I still do today.  

While the trend of the day in our circle of preachers was, “don’t have people believe you know the Bible from reading other books. “   The idea was: don’t study very much.  Just get your knowledge from the Lord and the Holy Spirit.  

Well, I bucked the system.  I remember the first sermon I preached was not one that I came up myself, for I didn’t have a clue how to do that.  I used books to help me with the sermon.  I preached once in Hickory North Caroline one Sunday and used the introduction of a sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon. (That went over well…..)

I wanted to know what the book of Galatians said, and I spent months writing each verse out, and then finding books that would help me understand what they meant. (I still have that project from 1965).  I taught Psalms in our Bible class as a teenager and used Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon.  (I still have those notes)

The desire to know what the Bible meant verse by verse has been my life’s work.  Thus, in my early ministry, knowing the Bible came by reading books. I was rather proud of my library of several thousands of books.  But I wanted to know the Bible on my own, that is, how was H.A. Ironside able to know what he knew?   I was really never taught the skills of knowing the Bible.  I did have a class in seminary one summer on hermeneutics: the science of interpreting the text, the way you can explain and interpret the Bible.  

How was J. Vernon McGee able to know the Bible?  How was H.A. Ironside able to know the Bible?  How was A.W. Pink able to know the Bible?  That is what I wanted to know.  

Having the mind to learn, having the intellectual ability to learn would help.   The development of one’s mind or intellectual capacities in order that we may understand the Christian faith, and the Word of God and develop the ability to know Christian thought would be good. How do you do that?  

Of course, I was taught that preaching was something different than teaching.  Preaching had a different point of view than just teaching what the Bible said verse by verse.  Be a preacher first. then if you have time, learn what the Bible really says.  

Theology?    While I had Dr. George L. Norris and he was really great; but theology was not to be a part of preaching, others said.  Therefore, those early years were not reading John Calvin and theology books.  

But I still had a desire and still do, to know for myself the Word of God.   But I still have to have books.  Now I use what are called theological and technical books which help explain the meaning of the verses in the Bible. And books help explain the theological concepts of the verses.  

I have never been able to develop the mind and skills that could discover the meaning of words purely on my own.  But goodness, there are those gifted by the Lord who have been given that great blessed gifted. I am very thankful for those who can.  I am just glad I can read and study those who can, and I am glad I can understand what I read.  That is a blessing.

Many Christians and preachers ignore the intellectual component of discipleship.  Many Christians fail to develop their intellectual capacities in order that they may understand the theology of God, and the Christian faith, and develop the habits of Christian thought. Many do not even want to form intuitions that are based upon biblical truth.  Christian discipleship requires growth and development, intellectual faithfulness requires a lifetime of devoted study, consecrated thinking and analytical reflection. Few Christians, it seems, really want to devote themselves to knowing the Word of God in depth.  Few want to know the Biblical truth about what the Bible really is saying about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Prayer, Salvation, Christian living, Lordship, the Glory of God, the Church, the Holiness of God, etc.

Few take seriously to know the undertaking of the Bible, and take time to really develop the discipline of learning what God is really saying in the Bible. But thank the Lord for those who have taken seriously the task of Christian thought and the development of a distinctively Christian mind.  I am continually working on that.  

Christ Himself instructed Christians to love God with heart, soul and mind.  It is not so we can be known as intellectually smart but to be known as a person who loves to know Him.

Bowling

On Saturday Charity and I went bowling with a family and friends from the church. I had not bowled in twenty years. But I had a good time trying to get back in form. (which I didn't).

We hope at least once a month we can make this a church activity. Maybe I will get in form after a few months.

Computer Virus Hits

This is my office at home.

Its Friday. My computer at the home office got a virus of the major kind on Wednesday. I should get it back today. I am not in the church pastor's study. I set up a new Lexmark printer, etc. yesterday.

I don't have all the information on this pastor's office computer as I do in the home office computer, therefore I can not upload the different information I would like too. But I am working on a external memory in which I will be able to get information from home to the office.

I love working out of the church pastor's office. But since so much of my work is on the computer its hard to do as much as I would like. But I am working of that problem.

Sunday I hope to be in Romans Sunday Morning. I hope I have not lost all my notes too.

DO I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW MY LIFE?

DO I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW MY LIFE?

The question should be? Who cares about your life anyway? Who is the only one who not only cares, but will help you every moment of the day? Who knows your every action of the day? Who knows you as you are and still cares about you?

Its always being our policy, stop in anytime with reason. Office hours at the church. While we lived in Altoona, Kansas for over sixteen years, our front door was open all the time. Literally not locked.

The open door to our lives within reason of course. But we should live like we are a open door. Its not a reality show, where much is stage anyway for TV. But in real life the idea that God is looking in, is a sobering thought.

While many want to know what the TV or Movie personality person is doing, and they are usually posted on some magazine for the world to see. Many can't want to buy a magazine to see what they are doing.

Personally I enjoy a brief update on what my friends are doing. I enjoy their photo of family and vacations.

Our life is an open book. So be sure to walk as Christ would desire us to.

Maybe we would like to follow the work that someone does. I would love to follow John MacArthur around for a week, to see what he does in his preparation for sermons, and pastoring the Grace Community Church. I would love to spend a week just following him around. Well, its not practical I know.

Psalms 1:1-3 , Psalms 1:4-6. Matthew 7:24 -26 Matthew 7:27

There Is No Day Off on Monday

For me to live is Christ.

Having spend a week getting ready for Sunday and teaching and preaching three times I am now getting ready for the next week messages. There is no time to get lazy.

Sunday Bible Study time I spoke on "How Accurate Is The Bible."

• I will post the notes, and the video of about nine minutes. But the lesson was over 50 minutes.

Sunday Morning the message was from Romans 1:2 "...Which He Promised Beforehand Through His Prophets in the Holy Scriptures..." Paul answers the question of the Jewish leaders that he is not teaching a new teaching, he is teaching that which was taught from the beginning.

• The message video was 32 minutes. I will upload and post and post the notes.

Sunday Night the message was from Philippians 2 "A Bibical Theology of Thinking". How does a church attain unity of attitude?

• The message video is 51 minutes in length.

Last Wednesday Evening I spoke on the subect "What Is Sin?" part one and

• The video is 59 minutes in length and will need to be posted.\]]

In addition I have some photos of the Sunday Bible Class, also a video of Bob Temple leading in a song.

So let me see, 150 minutes of sermons, and 15 upload on Vimeo at about 3 hours per upload. Well I better get to work.

VISITING MY FAMILY IN TEXAS

Sunday Morning at my sister Ellen and her husband Herschel in Midlothian Texas. 900 miles from Lexington KY, and 1120 miles from Portsmouth Ohio. Charity and I are visiting my Mom Pauline for a few days.

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We had a very good trip, the weather was rainly and windy, but otherwise Charity and I had a good time together.


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Mom is doing well for 86 years old.

THE DARK SIDE OF LIFE SHOWN

The real me sitting at my desk at 4 a.m. Web cam does good.


Truth is the foundation of learning so we need to learn truth. John 18:36-38



NOTE THEN Ephesians 6:13-18

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:13-18

HOW DO WE SEE TRUTH?

WHAT DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE UH!

PERSPECTIVE WHAT IS IT? PARTICULAR EVALUATION OF A SITUATION OR FACTS, ESPECIALLY FROM ONE PERSON ‘S POINT OF VIEW. A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE MATTER.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THIS PHOTO?

VISUAL LITERACY AS WELL AS OTHER VIEWPOINTS

COMPOSITION AND CROPPING: CAPTIONING, CONTEXT AND CIRCULATION

What would you say this picture is saying:

and how many ways was this photo used to say totally different ideas?

This particular has been chopped up at least three different ways to express the point one is trying to make.

CHOPPING UP A PICTURE TO MAKE A POINT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE IS REALLY NOT GOOD.

Now may I point out, I am way over my head with this literacy point. What we see and how we interpret a photo, or a speech, or what some one says, or even a passage from the Bible generally is different. The orginial intention usually is missed.

When we use a photo to express our point, the photo should give the idea that we want to make. Yet I would say, others will generally read into the photo how they interpret the photo. Therefore making our point different from what we originally were trying to make.

There is a point to this, but what is it?

*I know I don't have a comment section,

but there is my email.

CAR CARRIER

When I was a child, my view of Heaven was as a child. I loved cars, and I loved those trucks that carried the new cars. I remember saying, "When I get to heaven, the first thing I will ask God for would be a truck that would carry my cars." Well some fifty years later, I am still thinking I still might ask the Lord. So the other day, I chased this car carrier down town Portsmouth, and got out of my car, and took this photo as the truck turned at Bob and Floyd. Goodness to I not have other things to ask God for in Heaven?

I took this photo at night, and the photo was so dark I could not see the truck, but since I downloaded a update Kodak EasyShare software, they were able to lighten the photo.

KEEPING YOUR DDDP

Four Questions to Keep Your Passion Thriving

Four questions that you might need to ask yourself to make sure you're going to keep your passion. (If you want to keep your PPPD going, Passionate Playful Personality Disorder)

These are great questions all of us need to ask ourselves regularly to make sure that we don’t lose our passion for Jesus, the church, and ministry. Here they are:

1. How much time do I spend listening to God?

• The challenge in leadership is as simple as listening to God. But in order to listen to God, it takes time… consistent, uninterrupted time. Are we asking God to allow us to see what He is doing in our ministry? What I personally mean by listening to God is, within my spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit to direct my mind toward God as I study and read and pray; and praying that my mind is open to the work that God is doing around me.

2. Am I more concerned with being discovered or being developed?

• This is a constant temptation for most of us and most other great leaders that I know. You must stop thinking constantly about what other people think of you or your ministry (and stop trying to impress them!) and instead, allow God to develop your relationships with others and Him. Also allow God to develop your character and your ministry skills.

3. Am I believing any lies?

• It seems every leader believes certain lies throughout their ministries that hold them back, and in fact, admitted to running from some really stupid things in his ministry. Don’t allow your critics to doubt what God is calling you to do. And when you get depressed or discouraged, simply go back to where God found you. There you will find the strength and answers and fortitude to move forward and not give up.

4. Am I risking or am I playing it safe.

• Leaders must constantly risk. Many pastors, in fact, are one risk away from a breakthrough. Some leaders just take forever to put out there what they believe would be good to say or do.

• The idea is not to be afraid to fail. Here’s how he looks at leadership: “Take a risk… fail… take another risk.”

• If your spirit is directing you to do something, do it… even if others think you're crazy.

I thought these were great questions to ask ourselves constantly. Take some time today to ask yourself these questions. If you’re feeling ‘less than passionate’, the answers to these questions will help you get back.

If being passionate and playful is getting you into trouble with someone, just say, "Get over it."

PHOTO:

Kyle, Chad, Becki, Charity and Charles

TOP OF THE MORNING

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NOW I AM SET FOR THE MORNING AND EVENING

I woke up this morning, Friday, feeling find. I woke up with Christ on my mind.

You know a sermon is good, when the message is on your mind on Friday. With all the activity that is involved each day, with all the traffic that runs through our minds and life each moment, its good that the Holy Spirit can filter out all that and give you that sweet spirit in your heart and gives you peace and comfort and joy.

VACATION TIME

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• Charity and I will take a few days to travel to Lexington KY to visit our boys. Spent the night with Eric and Leslie. On Friday we traveled 434 miles to Southaven Mi s s i s s i p p i. to visit with Susan Lugar. On Satursday we will end up in Midlothian Tx. My sister Ellen and husband and Stephen live there. And my mother who will be 86 on the 15th lives there too. So we are glad to get a change to visit family and friends this weekend weekend and a few days next week. Our trip is just under 2000 miles round trip.

• I was pleasantly surprise by my children on Friday, they had bought me a Scanner. Those pictures on the blog were pictures made from the orginials by my digital, so they thought it would be nice to be able to scan the orginial pictures. Now I really can have enjoyment doing it right: as soon as I learn how to use the Scanner. GROW BY LEARNING as I say.

DENNIS AND SUSAN LUGAR have a wonderful God blessed ministry here in Southaven. I will give more deal about the ministry as soon as I can. I have taken some wonderful pictures of their new building, and as soon as I can get them on the computer I will post them.

We are spending the night with the Lugar's and they are just minutes from the Memphis, Tenn. Memphis, oh the team that KANSAS Jayhawks won to take the 2008 Basketball Championship. Both teams were great this year. No team had won more games than Memphis this year.

I learned today from their son Jonathan that FED X mail hub for over night for all the USA comes through Memphis. They have over 240 jets that come in and out of Memphis at night.

COMPETENT TO COUNSEL BIBLICALLY