The past three weeks have been a whirlwind for my family.  God is moving us in an entirely new direction.  Sadly, we will be leaving Maranatha Baptist Church as of the end of June and moving to Douglas, Arizona, where I will be pastoring Sunnyside Baptist Church.

Given the change in ministry… the name of the blog had to change.  You can find my new blog (“Ramblin’ Pastor Man”) here http://ramblingpastorman.wordpress.com/

Soli Deo Gloria!!!

Russell Moore has a fascinating post on the fear of snakes in human beings.  It is hard to explain… just read it!!!

You can find it here http://henryinstitute.org/commentary_read.php?cid=469 

The 2008 Ligonier Ministries West Coast Conference is coming to Phoenix September 28-29th, 2008!  The theme of the conference will be “Tough Questions Christians Face.”  The speakers include Dr. R.C. Sproul, Dr. John MacArthur and Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III.  Following are a list of the message topics:

1) Has Science Disproved the Existence of God?

2) Why Does God Allow So Much Suffering and Evil?

3) If God is Sovereign, How Can Man Be Free?

4) Is Jesus The Only Way?

5) Should The Church Embrace Postmodernism?

6) What is the Gospel?

This is a great opportunity to be blessed by the teaching of some of the brightest men in evangelicalism today.  You can learn more by visiting the Ligonier website (find it here http://www.ligonier.org/conferences_westcoast.php )

See you there!!!

As a followup to my earlier post, I cannot recommend strongly enough Dr. John Piper’s recent sermon on II Cor 4:1-7 entitled “I’m Sending You to Open Their Eyes.”  It demonstrates clearly that a passion for evangelism is not quenched even though one holds firmly to the doctrines of grace.  You can listen to the audio, watch the video or read the manuscript here http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2008/2723_Im_Sending_You_to_Open_Their_Eyes/

In this message, Dr. Piper gives ”Ten Encouragements to Gospel-Telling“:

1) God uses clay pots (i.e. ordinary people like you and me.)

2) Get resources to share (books, tracts, etc…)

3) Know that God uses many influences.  (No work is in vain – I Cor 15:58.)

4) Be a lavish giver.

5) Find people interesting.

6) Be encouraged that you are not alone.

7) Invite people to church.

8) Fill the city with gospel teaching.

9) Use your giftings.

10) Read books on evangelism.

Read it and be blessed!!!

This is my first post on this blog.  As I am new to this… I will make a number of technical errors… so bear with me.

No doubt this blog will be of relatively little interest to most people.  It may be of some interest to those who are members of Maranatha Baptist Church in Globe, Arizona, where I am the pastor.  I will be posting some of my discoveries as I study the Bible as well as general thoughts on the Christian life.

As I begin this endeavor… let me dedicate this effort to the Lord with the following prayer…

Heavenly Father:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14 (ESV.))

Amen