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“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” There are some big and wonderful words in this passage of scripture. It seems that each phrase is selected to reveal the sufficiency and wonder of God. All joy and all peace are found in Him, and every ounce of hope given to man is “His hope”. These, the greatest gifts in the world, come not as a result of our efforts to obtain them, but rather through the realization we cannot obtain them without Christ! Simple faith in the only one that could make them accessible (by belief in His death, burial and resurrection), provides freedom from a joy-less, peace-less and help-less life. By Jesus Christ, we are brought near to God and given the Holy Ghost, who indwells us, and endues us with abundant and heavenly comfort. The world provides cheap substitutes that are momentary and vain. Only Christ can provide the fulfillment spoken about in this passage, but it comes about because of the two main words: “in believing”. Do you believe (put your faith and trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ?

We have recently done some updating in our Family 2007 section, including a few pictures from the end of the year. An entirely new gallery has also been added, documenting some of our 2006 travel on deputation.

The above shot was taken in night mode on our terrific Sony camera. I had been stranded in Beaver, Alaska for a few days that December (2006), and was happy to see that Cessna in the foreground. The temperature was around 40 below zero.

While I enjoy debating the weighty matters of theological conservatism, I fear I do it all too often on this site without also offering something simple, interesting and fun. Today I found myself surfing BBC London for information on the upcoming mayoral election. (I’m fascinated by the British political system.) As a side journey, I decided to visit In Pictures, which led me to a series of fantastic photo galleries.

Over the past few years I have become increasingly interested in learning more about life and culture in Britain, and have collected a series of web links to UK political, cultural and photography sites. The BBC is one of my chief sources, along with the Telegraph, and the Independent. Anyway, you don’t have to be nearly as intrigued as I am to enjoy these photos of London.

• Night Fantastic - Night shots from around London.
• Big Ben - Go inside the famous Westminster clock tower.
• London Bridges - A collection both historic and modern.
• Aerial Photos - Much of the city seen from the air.

I have taken a few decent London shots (including the one above), which you can see in our England 2007 gallery. Most of the others were captured in either Bedfordshire or Buckinghamshire this past October.

A good friend recently sent along an e-mail commenting on our Settle for This? post from March 18. By way of response, I sent this additional information that might help others who have read the article. Here is a slightly modified version:

I correspond/keep up with many people in the ministry. Recently I have been nothing short of alarmed by the authors and teachers they are recommending. It is not a matter of these men having nothing profitable to say at all, but more a case of their materials being vastly inferior to others written/provided by fundamentalists.

These pundits usually have one thing in common; they are popular. Some have sold hundreds of thousands of books and operate very large ministries. These guys are usually highly intellectual and pragmatic. They are higher class neo-evangelical types that operate on “sophisticated” outreach plans, usually relying on observation of the culture - then development of a ministry philosophy - then systematic execution. They discount our - preach God’s word faithfully and pray the Holy Spirit works in hearts - method as old-fashioned, unsophisticated and (worst of all) unsuccessful.

What’s the common denominator? Problematic, poorly formulated and many times unquestionably wrong doctrine.

There are some fantastic fundamentalist ministers around today. They are found at small Bible colleges, medium sized churches, and remote mission fields all over the world. Their teachings are more difficult to find, I understand, but the power of God shines through their every word. They give testimony of simple faith, consistent Bible teaching, and love for people. Their ministry is not accomplished by pragmatic methodology and study of cultural relevance, but rather by the power of God’s word in the heart’s of Holy-Spirit-prepared people.

Therefore, when I am asked to endure the heady research and intellectual formulation of another doctrinally questionable evangelical heavyweight, I ask myself, do I have to settle for this?

All that to say I generally agree with your statements on the subject. There is sometimes no harm at all in recommending a book by an author that violently disagrees with us. In fact, some of them are likely more Godly people than we are! To me, that’s not the main point. I am instead weary of being told that the “best and brightest” Biblical thinkers of today reside far outside fundamental circles. I find that notion unquestionably wrong and bordering on laughable.

We have made an attempt to clarify our position in the past few days by presenting the preaching of Dr. Rick Flanders. He makes the connection between belief and philosophy as well as anyone we have ever heard on the topic.

“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” No two believers hold identical views on every matter of conscience. Experience, upbringing, personality and a variety of cultural factors contribute to our individual thinking on personal standards. One man may feel an issue is open for discussion, while another has settled the answer in his mind; both may have a tendency to believe the other is wrong. This passage commands that we leave the ultimate judgment to God. With that being said, we must be clear on the type of issues this passage is speaking about. These matters seem to be explicitly personal and generally observed to be debatable among men of righteous character. The concern doesn’t seem to be over the application of specific scriptural text, but instead comes about as a byproduct of endeavors to maintain holiness within a difficult, contemporary context. Let’s not decide to stretch the term “personal standard” too far within its Biblical context, but let us also be careful not to assume everyone must agree with us! If we are “fully persuaded” our actions (or lack thereof) please God; He alone can be the final judge.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” The first two verses of the chapter are regularly connected in sermons and other teaching, but these are rarely quoted together. I am always surprised by that, as I see such a vital link between them. The imperative in verse two is renewal of the mind; instructions on the subject of that renewal come in verse three. While we often believe our thinking patterns regarding the world are the main issue, it seems the way we think about ourselves is key. Affection for, and subsequent conformity to the world have their root in the selfish desires of the flesh. When we place ourselves at the pinnacle of importance, we obey our own desires, live in a pattern of sinfulness, thinking and behaving in a worldly manner. The person we consider above all others in life should be our Savior. A person living in total devotion to Him will think soberly and live righteously, separating themselves from worldly influence.

Serving as Internet Coordinator at the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau over the past year has been fun, educational and rewarding. One of my favorite assignments has been the creation and ongoing development of a website called Inside Alaska. I began the initial work for a pre-launch last August, but have only recently completed all of the creative elements needed for an “official launch”. Reaction from staff, visitors and bureau members has be overwhelmingly positive. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Some of my favorite articles on the site include:

• Sharing Alaska Adventure - Fantastic entries from our photo contest.
• Photographing the Aurora - Tips on how to get northern lights pictures.
• Fairbanks Musher Pulls Ahead (for good?) - Promoting the Yukon Quest.
• 2008 Open North American Pictures - World’s best sprint-mushing.

By way of follow-up to our most recent post on foundational ministry principles, I wanted to link you to a related article. Dr. Rick Flanders offers some very interesting perspectives of fundamentalism in an entry published by Sharper Iron on May 3, 2006. Its editor’s note gives us a clue as to how widely endorsed his philosophies may (or may not) be within fundamental Christianity.

While many of today’s generally conservative ministers bristle at Dr. Flanders’ assertions about (what he calls) young fundamentalists, I would rather tend to agree. Many critics of “how things used to be done” grew up in the fundamentalist movement, and have personal stories of dismay with individuals in their past. These emotional ties too often cloud the real issues and set people on a crusade to right perceived wrongs. This is a principle reason otherwise strong men of God look outside fundamentalism for input on ministry methodology.

I am not a product of the movement to which Dr. Flanders refers. Preachers I grew up admiring were generally old-fashioned, hellfire and brimstone types that sang hymns, knocked doors, and read from the King James Bible. All were Southern Baptist, though they didn’t particularly associate themselves with the convention at large, but rather held to Biblical conviction and called out compromisers no matter what label they wore. Did they get some things wrong? Definitely. Is it my job to correct their mistakes? Definitely not.

The fact of the matter is, most of the convictions they helped form in me came directly from scripture. Certainly I have chosen to do many things differently over the years, but I have never asserted the need for reforming their general methodology based upon changing cultural dynamics or my own inflated sense of sophistication. We are not smarter than those that came before us, and we do not live in a world that is so radically different that it should cause us to jettison proven philosophy and technique. Those insisting otherwise should take a very serious look at their motivation for doing so. They should also set out to prove their ways are measurably better, based on Biblical standards.

Today I am an independent, Baptist, fundamentalist with a traditional and conservative ministry philosophy. While I am frustrated I even have to list these qualifications, I fear it is all too often necessary in framing discussion. Unfortunately it is not enough to simply call yourself a fundamentalist today, as the range of thought among us is sometimes too “broad” to unite us.

I have recently expressed concern that many Baptist pastors and missionaries are enthusiastically promoting speakers, authors and teachers that are sub-par in doctrinal and (consequently) philosophical understanding. This week I was grieved again by three further examples, as those calling themselves fundamentalists justified the blunders and missteps of their favorite evangelical pundit.

This morning I clicked play on a message that helped focus my concerns. As I compared it with those I’ve heard from the “leading Christian thinkers” of our day, I discovered a monumental difference. These words resonate with conviction and assurance that only consistent and deliberate study in God’s word can bring. Talk of cultural dynamics and the psychological processes of the post-modern mind were conspicuously absent; praise God.

Dr. Rick Flanders was featured at the Conference on Baptist Fundamentalism last month at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. He spoke on an historic mistake by fundamentalists, and in doing so defined a chief problem today. It is one of the best sermons you will ever hear on foundational principles for ministry philosophy. I thank God for men that stand firm against the tide! Please make time to listen.

Download A Mistake by Fundamentalists

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” The children of Israel are not the only people who have ever attempted to establish their own standard of righteousness. This seems to be a common human dilemma. Men, in their sin, desire a god made in their own image. When we have convinced ourselves that our standard is sufficient to save us, the last thing we want to hear is God’s word. It reveals our sinfulness and points us to a source of redemption outside ourselves. The free gift of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ does not appeal to selfish, human desire. It is the word of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit that convicts us of the sin from which our selfishness stems, and causes us to submit ourselves to God through faith in His son. If you are making an attempt at establishing a righteousness sufficient to keep you from Hell and bring you to God, your efforts are doomed, like the children of Israel, to failure. Humble and sincere belief in Jesus Christ is your only hope. Come to Him today.