First Nation's Pastoral Training School

(You will need to turn up your volume)

On May 25, 2014, Pastor Jim shared the Elder's vision for further missions outreach.  The plan is to develop a Pastoral Training School for First Nation's people.  After the presentation questions and comments were received.  The following questions and answers are offered in reply: (We have lumped them together and the questions are summarized.)

#1. There was a question about others (perhaps in our church) participating in the sessions.  We will bring that up at a time closer to the start of the school.  One of the secondary aims would be to build "community" among the students and it would be important that this ideal be maintained.

#2.   There were a number of questions about issues of native spirituality, current issues of violence and abuse; and  issues of reconciliation, forgiveness, etc. and how these would be addressed.  The Gospel, as truly understood and applied is the basis of all forgiveness and reconciliation.  That truth is trans-cultural. Apart from a vital relationship with Christ and the application of His Word, by His Spirit, there can be no peace.  As important as it is for the Church to assist in practical issues of justice and healing; the ultimate way this will happen is through the creation of new life that comes only by the Gospel. The goal of this training is not to equip pastors to specifically address this.  The goal of this training is to help the student be able to read, interpret and teach the Bible.  There is a context where these issues need to be addressed but it cannot be this one. 

Our uncompromising commitment to the sufficiency of God's Word renders us confident that biblically trained pastors can address this (2 Timothy 3:16-18). It is within the formation of the Body of Christ in a First Nation's community that provides a new community within a community to love and accept people.

The essential need to have these newly equipped pastors connected to older mentors and encourages will assist in the certainty of them facing difficult ethical and cultural problems.

#3.   Have we considered the possibility of providing a financial donation to replace lost wages by prospective students?  No; and we will.  That's a good idea.

#4.   How will you ensure that this local church initiative doesn't become a para-church or large institute?   By maintaining the goal of only 6 students per session, by keeping a lid on the enrollment it will be kept at the optimum size and manageable.  If there are greater applicants then we would encourage other churches to pick up the baton.

#5.   Where will the pastor's come from?  We are looking specifically at Keehewin Cree Nation; Elizabeth Settlement; Cold Lake First Nations; Fishing Lake Settlement; Frog Lake First Nations; Saddle Lake Cree Nation; Whitefish (Goodfish) First Nations; Beaver Lake Cree Nations; and Heart Lake First Nations; Buffalo Lake Settlement; Kikino Settlement;  for starters.

#6.   The question of literacy was raised. There would have to be some threshold knowledge level prior to attending such training.  As was mentioned there would need to be some pre-work done before each course.

Offer Advice Very Carefully - Dr. Ed Welch

Giving advice goes poorly so often, it is worth more careful thought about how we give it. We all need advice. We seek it every day. That is a wise and natural part of being a creature rather than the Creator. But we also know that advice can run from helpful to horrible, and it can bless a relationship or hurt it. 

What is advice?

Advice is our opinion or our version of how Scripture should be applied in a given situation. It includes most anything that begins with an implied, “I think . .  .” or “If I were you . . . .” It is not offered with Scripture’s authority, so it is best followed with “and what do you think?” 

The Apostle Paul makes a distinction in 1 Corinthians between what God says and Paul’s specific application of godly wisdom. We could say that one is truth and the other opinion or advice. “To the married I give this command [from the Lord]” (v.10) in contrast with “Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy” (v. 25). Of course, when Paul gives his opinion, we listen. But he knows he is speaking in a different way—he is giving advice. Some followed it, some did not, as he would expect.

Giving advice well

Good advice, at its best, comes only after someone has asked for it . . . . .

TO READ MORE CLICK HERE!

Top 10 Biographies of Christian Women - David Murray

Today I’m listing the Top 10 Biographies of Christian Women together with summaries of their Amazon descriptions. I have to be honest here and say I have not read all of these. I’ve read some and the others I collated via survey questions, social media recommendations, and other book reviews. Thanks to all who sent in their suggestions.

1. Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman by Gladys Aylward.

“A solitary woman. A foreign country. An unknown language. An impossible dream? No. With no mission board to support or guide her and less than ten dollars in her pocket, Gladys Aylward left her home in England to answer God’s call to take the message of the gospel to China. The Little Woman tells the story of one woman’s determination to serve God at any cost.With God all things are possible!”

To read more of the blog click HERE

The Conditionality of an Unconditional Covenant - James A.E. MacLellan

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you . . . Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.” (Genesis 17:7, 9, NIV).

God comes to Abram again and says, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.” (Genesis 17:1, NIV).  Abram is 99 years old.  What appears to be confusing is that, God seems to add a condition: "Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”” (Genesis 17:1–2, NIV). Was the Abrahamic Covenant conditional or unconditional?  According to Genesis 15 the Covenant God made with Abram was clearly unconditional.  God made promises to Abraham that required nothing of Abraham. But in Chapter 17 there appears something that Abram is to do, namely be obedient in regards to circumcision.

“Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.” (Genesis 17:9–10, NIV).

Some have sought to answer the conundrum by suggesting that this covenant in Chapter 17 is a different covenant.  As noted in the ESV Study Bible:  "The manner in which God introduces this covenant distinguishes it from the formally unconditional covenant already made in ch. 15 . . . Here, however, a conditional dimension is explicit, indicating that this covenant will benefit only those who walk before God and are blameless." [1]

It is hard to believe that there are two covenants in view here.   So why is there confusion?  The mystery lies because of a false assumption among Believers -- that assumption is this: "If a promise has conditions it makes it uncertain."  In other words conditions to an unconditional promise render it insecure.  John Piper is helpful here when he writes,

"But that is not true. It is a false assumption based squarely on the conviction that man is autonomous and self-determining. But if, as Ezekiel 36:27 says, God puts his Spirit in man and causes him to walk in his statutes (and thus fulfill the conditions of the covenant), then a promise can be both conditional and certain of fulfillment. If God commits himself to work so that Abraham fulfills the conditions of the covenant promises, then there is no inconsistency in saying that the promises are sure, steadfast, irrevocable, and conditional." [2]

This same mystery confuses people in other promises God has made.  For example there are ample promises in God's Word that assure the believer of the certainty of their salvation.  For example, Paul assures the Colossae believers that Christ will some day present them faultless and then he adds: “if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel . . ..” (Colossians 1:23, NIV).  The word "if" seems to make a unconditional promise, "conditional"!  St. Augustine understood the conditionality of unconditional promises.  He prayed, ""O Lord, command what you will and give what you command."  God makes the promise and God alone provides the grace to bring the promise to pass.

Therefore when we pray for enablement that an unconditional promise of God be effected in our lives we are neither questioning God's integrity nor doubting His promise.  To pray such reveals a true understanding of how God's works.

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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (79). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

2. http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/the-covenant-of-abraham

Neither Man Nor Woman - James A.E. MacLellan

Often Christians are accused of a illogical "slippery slope" phobia. The old joke when I was growing up was: "Why don't Baptists dance?"  Answer?  "Because it leads to pre-marital sex!" For some years now Christians have raised concerns over homosexual unions being legitimized.  This concerns follows the weight of Scripture which classifies practicing homosexuality as a sin.

Prophets who spoke up warned the nation that such a blatant dismissal of God's design for marriage was in a sense a dismissal of God.  Atheism.  That's a slippery slope isn't it?  Well no it isn't.  Not only are we denying God's creation of a heterosexual, monogamous, lifetime marriage, but now we deny creation.   The fine print under the picture in the upper left reads:

VICTORY: The Australian High Court's judgment means that Norrie May-Welby, 52, cannot now be classified as either male or female. Picture: EPA

The article in the Herald, Scotland's paper is entitled: Court declares Scotswoman born a man is now genderless.  It was printed on April 3rd.   You can read the article online by clicking HERE.

This decision is a direct, undeniable affront to God's Word.  “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27, NIV)

"There is no status distinction among bearers of the divine image; they are equal while having distinct capacities and roles in fulfilling the divine mandate to steward the earth." [1]

Just when you thought ungodliness had reached it's pinnacle, the depravity of mankind takes it to an all time level.

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1.  Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ge 1:27). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

What is Church Membership Good for?

Ricky Jones is lead pastor of RiverOaks Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

When we hear the word membership, we immediately think of a club. A member pays dues, comes to meetings, and fulfills the obligations of a club member. When you move, or no longer have time for the club, you simply withdraw your membership and move on.


To read more click HERE.

World Vision and Why We Grieve For the Children

by Trevin Wax

"World Vision has announced that its American branch will adjust its employee code of conduct to allow same-sex couples who are legally “married.”

Hoping to keep the evangelical organization out of debates over same-sex marriage, president Richard Stearns adjusted the employee code of conduct to sexuality within the confines of “marriage” whether between man and man or woman and woman. In other words, while declaring to not take a position on redefining marriage, his organization has redefined it.

Some observers are elated.

Evangelicals are shocked.

Many are outraged.

No matter what you think about this decision, I hope you feel a sense of grief… for the children. This is a story of deep and lasting significance, because there are children’s lives at stake in how we respond . . .."

To read more click HERE.