Calling all Business Men and Women!

Many in my extended family are in careers that involve business. My brother just graduated with a degree in business. A plethora of my aunts and uncles are in business. Many that attend my church are in the business world. I just came across what I think would be a spectacular resource and read for all those that practice business on a daily basis. In 2003 Wayne Grudem, who in my opinion is one of the best writers today on Biblical Doctrine and Theology, came out with the text Business for the Glory of God: The Bibles Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business

What a resource for anyone in the business world that has questions about the disconnect that they possibly may see between glorifying God and doing business Monday-Friday. This is even a short read, only 96 pages! If you have an extra couple of bucks pick this up or send it to a family member or friend who would enjoy it!

Cheer For The Minnesota Twins Today!

I don't blog about Sports too often, but my favorite baseball team has been playing some crazy games lately so here is my attempt at Twins analysis. In the offseason this year the Twins lost 5 important players (Johan Santana, Carlos Silva, Torii Hunter, Jason Bartlett, and Matt Garza). Of those five three were starting pitchers. In the Majors if you don't have good to great starting pitching you will have trouble winning even if your offense is loaded (insert either Detroit Tigers or New York Yankees here).

Santana bolted for NYC to the Mets in one of the biggest trades in Twins History. Silva signed a wicked fat contract with Seattle and the 'chief' bolted for the Pacific NW. Garza was traded as part of a deal to the Tampa Bay Rays and has been a bright spot in their resurgence to places they've never been (in first place and above .500 in May!). The Twins allowed these starting pitchers to go because they obviously knew that the cupboard wasn't bare. The Twins organization was confident in their young starting pitching that they had (even though many fans had their doubts).

The Twins just went 5-1 on a current road trip in Detroit and Kansas City. The worst pitching on the road trip was done by John "Boof" Bonser and the old vet Livian Hernandez. Here is what the Twins young starters did on the road trip

• Kevin Slowey (24 years old) 2-0, 15 in/pitched, 1 ER - Season ERA 3.38
• Nick Blackburn (26 yrs old) ND, 8.1 in/pitched, 2 ER - Season ERA 3.39
• Glenn Perkins (25 years old) 1-0, 7.2 in/pitched, 1 ER - Season ERA 2.77
• Scott Baker (27 yrs old) - on 15 day DL, but is 2-0 - Season ERA 4.09

Now this is how the Twins do business - they have to - being a smaller market team. These four pitchers will make a combined $1.6 million dollars this year (avg. $400,000 per pitcher). The three pitchers that left the Twins will make a combined $25.5 million dollars this season compared to the four twins youngsters making 1.6 million dollars. Here's how the 3 departed/former Twins have fared with their new squads

• Johan Santana - 6-3 w/ a 3.41 ERA ($16.9 million/year)
• Matt Garza - 4-1 w/ a 3,78 ERA ($404,000/year)
• Carlos Silva - 3-4 w/ a 5.14ERA ($8.25 million/year)

The Twins spend money wisely, develop their own talent from within and still have Francisco Liriano working in AAA to get back to major league form. The future is bright for the Twins as they have good (we'll see if it's great by the end of the season) young starting pitching.

Nutjobs: Polygamy and it's Savior

Recently I watched the CBS 48 hours special presentation called Polygamy: A World Apart. I was introduced to the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints, not to be confused with the LDS - Latter Day Saints - who oppose Polygamy) leader named Warren Jeffs. I didn't really know much about this man, but became intrigued when the show quoted his followers as saying that Jeffs was their "Savior". This prophet is considered to be God's mouthpiece on earth by his followers. Aside from this Jeffs also plays a large role into the ongoing Polygamy that happens amongst the members of the FLDS. Jeffs was convicted of being an accomplice to rape in Sept. 2007 and is serving two - five year sentences in Utah. Jeffs advised woman that they were risking their eternal salvation if they did not do what he advised.......Now that is what I call a NUTJOB!

As I am working on a session to teach high schoolers in a couple of weeks this story caught my attention. I am teaching a class that is based off a section in Vintage Jesus. I have entitled the session: What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors. Here are some of the texts that I have observed lately

• Isaiah 43:11 "I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior."
• Isaiah 45:21 "There is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me."
• Matthew 1:21 "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
• Romans 5:10 "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."
  

I Miss Intern Josh Koehn

Josh Koehn did an internship here at MBC this year in the area of youth ministry. Josh helped in various activities, but may be missed and remembered most for his high view of Scripture along with his personality that I just don't have words to describe. I have posted this video to show his skills along with our very talented Associate Pastor. Josh will attend SBTS in Louisville, KY next fall.

Hymn Of The Week: What God Ordains Is Always Good

by Samuel Rodigast (1649-1708)

1. What God ordains is always good;
His will abideth holy.
As He directs my life for me,
I follow meek and lowly.
O God indeed...
In every need...
Doth well know how to shield me;
To Him, then, I will yield me.

2. What God ordains is always good.
He never will deceive me;
He leads me in His own right way,
And never will He leave me.
I take content...
What He hath sent...
His hand that sends me sadness
Will turn my tears to gladness.

3. What God ordains is always good.
His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup
That my Physician sends me.
My God is true...
Each morn anew...
I'll trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.

4. What God ordains is always good.
He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm,
Though many storms may gather.
Now I may know...
Both joy and woe...
Some day I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly.

5. What God ordains is always good.
Though I the cup am drinking
Which savours now of bitterness,
I take it without shrinking.
For after grief...
God grants relief...
My heart with comfort filling
And all my sorrow stilling.

6. What God ordains is always good.
This truth remains unshaken.
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
I shall not be forsaken.
I fear no harm...
For with His arm...
He shall embrace and shield me;
So to my God I yield me.

© Public Domain
CCLI Song No. 167832
CCLI License No. 2048851

Twins Theory

As I got to work today in my Minnesota Twins Jersey (w/#15 and Guzman printed on the back - kind of went old school as Guzman now plays w/ the Washington Nationals) I thought I would post something related to Twins baseball. To my surprise I came across in staff meeting this morning The Twins Theory. The Twins Theory actually has nothing to do with baseball (Although the Minnesota Twins could actually use a new theory on defense as they are second to last in the AL in fielding, a once defined trademark strength of the Twins).

The Twins Theory is an unscriptural theory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This theory has been suggested by scholars (mostly Muslim) and says that Christ had a twin, and that three days after He had been crucified and buried, His twin showed himself, declaring that he was Christ risen from the dead.

Dr. Gerry Breshears provides this response to the Twins Theory in Vintage Jesus (Crossway, 2008), "There is not a shred of evidence to prove that someone who looked like Jesus existed at that time. Additionally, Jesus' mother was present at his crucifixion, and the likelihood of fooling his mother is minimal. Also, the physical wounds he suffered during the crucifixion were visible on Jesus' resurrection body and carefully inspected by the disciple Thomas, who was very doubtful that Jesus had risen until he touched scars from the crucifixion evident on Jesus' body."

I agree with Dr. Breshears

Memorial Day

Memorial Day brings up rememberance, patriotism, and for many Americans a day off. Normally holidays in our great country are accompanied by other events and Memorial Day doesn't disappoint in that area. A few examples are the family outings (which I participated in this weekend), graduations, bbqs, picnics, and since 1911 the weekend features the running of the the Indianapolis 500.

The easy thing to do with Memorial Day is to skip over it, go on with your day, and enjoy what many call a spring board into summer (since I live in ND and woke up to 40 degress this morning, I kind of disagree). The idea of this holiday is to remember those that have perished or have fallen protecting this country. This holiday brings up death and the reality that death is coming to us all. As followers of Jesus a good way to think about death and the perspective that we can have is given by Francis Chan in his new book Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God. One of the best phrases in the book is "Your best life later." Memorial Day is about rememberance, but also can be about anticipation of the glorification we will experience later.