What is a Healthy Church? (Mark Dever) Review by Challies.com

Our friend and blogger Mr. Tim Challies writes a review of Pastor Dever's book here. He provides some quotes from the book also which I have placed here: Choice Quotes (ht: Challies.com) "It's impossible to answer the question what is a Christian? without ending up in a conversation about the church; at least in the Bible it is." "When a person becomes a Christian, he doesn't just join a local church because it's a good habit for growing in spiritual maturity. He joins a local church because it's the expression of what Christ has made him--a member of the body of Christ." "If you have no interest in actually committing yourself to an actual group of gospel-believing, Bible-teaching Christians, you might question whether you belong to the body of Christ at all!" "A healthy church is not a church that's perfect and without sin. It has not figured everything out. Rather, it's a church that continually strives to take God's side in the battle against the ungodly desires and deceits of the world, our flesh, and the devil. It's a church that continually seeks to conform itself to God's Word." "Friend, the church finds its life as it listens to the Word of God. It finds its purpose as it lives out and displays the Word of God. The church's job is to listen and then to echo." Grace, mercy and peace be with you!

D. James Kennedy Dies (1930-2007)

The Washington Post's "On Faith" section posted that the Reverend Dr. D. James Kennedy died this morning at 2:15 at his home in Fort Lauderdale. Read the article here. He will be missed in many ways. He was one who had a large vision. His involvement ranged from Christianity in politics to media and desired to see a culture a people of transformed hearts. Coral Ridge had announced his retirement a month ago. His Website Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Coral Ridge Ministries Grace, mercy and peace be with you!

Between Two Worlds: In Defense of Paedobaptism

Between Two Worlds: In Defense of Paedobaptism HT: JT

Worship and D.A. Carson

JT at Between Two Worlds, provides an interesting interview with D.A. Carson on t he topic of worship.. Interview with Carson on Worship Grace, mercy and peace be with you!

More on Baptism

More on Baptism From Ligon Duncan and Sam Storms Grace, mercy and peace be with you!

Defining Worship

Defining Worship (Bob Kauflin at Worship Matters) Grace, mercy and peace be with you!

Fill Up Your iPod--for Free! (Solo Femininity)

Fill Up Your iPod--for Free! (Solo Femininity) Sovereign Grace Ministries has begun to make their audios available as FREE DOWNLOADS. Now if we can just get more folks to offer these downloads in a PODCASTing format, life would be soo much nicer. Not complaining, just informing. Grace, mercy and peace be with you!

Between Two Worlds: Baptizoblogodebate Roundup (with Breaking News)

Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds, does us a favor and placeds all the posts from the Baptism debates which have been occuring, at one location. As Michele at Reformed Chicks Blabbing writes, "This is not an issue at our church since we admit both credo (confessional) and paedo (infant) into membership. We believe that there shouldn't be any unbiblical requirements to membership. I would hate to exclude from fellowship those for whom Christ died, I feel sorry for churches who don't have a problem with it." We too at Christ Church are under the same conviction with our church constitution as Michele's. Baptizoblogodebate Roundup (with Breaking News)

Baptism again

Wayne Grudem's response to John Piper's earlier letter to Grudem Original letter from Piper to Grudem, "Piper's Response to Grudem on Baptism and Church Membership" What others are posting about these postings: Reformissionary: He also has original postings from when Piper's church was going to change their constituion with regards to Baptism. JT at Between Two Worlds offers this: Baptizing Small Children Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

JMEjr's Prayer

Our children's ministry does a wonderful ministry to our families, with our children. They not only walk away with having learned about God's progress of Redemption through history via the holy Scriptures, but they also walk away being taught manners, chivalry, young lady virtues and how to pray. A prayer which jmejr has brought into our family and is done prior to meals, sometimes during meals, after meals, at bed time and anytime when he feels like it. Learn it. If you are going to be at our home for a meal, there is a great likelihood that you will hear it at least once. "God our Father. God our Father. We thank you. We thank you. For our many blessings. For our many blessings. A-amen. In Jesus name, amen." Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Baptism

Piper's Response to Grudem on Baptism and Church Membership Baptism as a Sacrament of the Covenant Grace, mercy and peace be with you!