Saturday, December 29, 2007

A FUNNY ON "THE GOLDEN GIRLS"


It has been a few weeks and I hope that everyone had a great Christmas, and are making plans to attend their Watch night Service to set in motion their devotion and obedience to the LORD for 2008!

I wanted to share a funny that I saw on the TV show "The Golden Girls" a couple of weeks back. Now, you might be saying to yourself, "The Golden Girls, Jarvis? You're posting on your blog a quote from The Golden Girls"? Well, after hearing this interaction, I believe that you will get a chuckle out of what was said.

The situation was set up as such: The oldest character of the four ladies, Sophia (played by Estelle Getty) was choking on something and passed out while another character, Rose (played by Betty White) was applying the Heimlich maneuver on her. Sophia had a "experience" of going to heaven and when she got there, she was initially approached by an angel. This was the interaction between the two:

Sophia: Dorothy (Sophia's daughter)! Where am I?

Angel: Sophia? Welcome to heaven!

Sophia: I'm in heaven?

Angel: That's right!

Sophia: Heaven, Heaven? I went straight to heaven? No stops? No purgatory?

Angel (perplexed by Sophia's statement): Purgatory? Oh ho ho ho you Catholics (laughing)! Look, why don' you make yourself comfortable. I have to prepare for our next arrival, and actually, I'm rather excited! It's a televangelist!!!

Sophia: Why is that exciting?

Angel: We've never had one here before!!


This was cute! Anyhow, Have a Great New year!!!!!










Tuesday, December 11, 2007

WHEN WILL THE MADNESS STOP??


The other day, while I was doing my morning walk, I was listening to a message by Anthony Carter in which he was stating that the Church has this problem with wanting to be like the world when it comes to faddish things.
Well, on the heels of the VitaminWater, Fiji, and Dasani water crazes, there are companies springing up trying to "Christianize" the water business. For example, a company right here in Florida is now promoting an item called SpiritualWater, which they classify as Holy drinking water that encourages you to "stay focused, believe in yourself and believe in God" (notice what is last on this list!!!). Another company in Chicago is promoting water called Liquid OM, which claims to have "good energy" that can be transferred to the drinker well before they drink the water itself. And finally, there is a company in California promoting Holy Drinking Water--which is blessed in the production warehouse by an Anglican and Roman Catholic priest. The purchase of this water is to remind people to "be kind to others" when you purchase and drink it.
Now, I don't think it takes a person with the IQ of a Neurophysiologist determine my feelings for such resources as these, but I do wonder why (1) Christians feel the need to promote such propaganda?, and (2) the Christianity promoted in these items fall far short of authenticity? For instance, true Christianity would promote that goodness comes from God and God alone (Luke 18:19), and that naturally "there is no one that does good" (Psalm 14:3). In addition, Scripture states that all of man's righteousness is like "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6), and that it takes God to work in us (or in Greek, energize us) to both "will and do for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). In short, a bottle of natural water can never make a man holy because natural means can never solve a spiritual problem. There is only one water that can cleanse the heart of men and make them righteous in the sight of God--the fountain of blood that flowed from the LORD Jesus on Calvary's mountain for sin. If one has not drank from this fountain, there is no other water that will make them acceptable in God's eyes.
So while there will be some Christians (and sadly, non-Christians) buying this water thinking that it will give them some burst of power, much like Spinach does Popeye, my faith will be rooted and will rest in the perfect, finished work of the LORD Jesus on my behalf. It is he who is my solid rock, and truly all other ground is sinking sand.
To read the article on this topic, click here

Monday, December 10, 2007

WHEN LOYALTY BACKFIRES


As I was getting ready for church yesterday, I was watching ESPN's Outside the Lines (OTL) broadcast and I saw a segment that dealt with Michael Vick and his dogfighting case. The story stated that one of the major reasons why Vick was involved in this matter is due to his loyalty with those he knew before he became an All-Pro quarterback in the NFL.
OTL focused on the issue of certain athletes not wanting (or being able) to sever unhealthy acquaintances with individuals in their past due to the fact that they would "lose their credibility" in the circles they grew up in. OTL went on to state that Vick's inability to develop new healthy relationships with others in lieu of the ones he had growing up played a major factor in him being unable to mature and make proper decisions which ultimately led to (quite possibly) the end of his NFL career (today he received a 23 month prison sentence).
As I was watching this broadcast, immediately my mind went to the state of the African-American Church and the not often talked about loyalty that exist within it. I often wonder how many of my brothers and sisters are following the likes of TD Jakes, Creflo Dollar, Juanita Bynum, Frederick Price, and other heretics, not due to their theology but because of the color of their skin.
I remember a few years back, I was attending a Presbyterian Church with a white pastor (whom I love with all my heart even to this day) and one of the first questions that I would hear from another black brother or sister--when asking me about the church I attend--would be "Is it a 'white church'"? And when I said "I do have a white pastor", immediately the conversation either stopped, I was looked at funny, or I was given some unneeded advice like "Try to get some 'neck bones' in your Worship". In addition, I also have a friend whose pastor has tried to discourage him from attending KNOX Seminary, stating that it is a "White Pulpit".
It was Martin Luther King who once said, "The most segregated time of week is 11AM on Sundays", and I truly believe this segregation has called many of our African-American brothers and sisters to get into errors and cults that will ultimately cost them their souls. The reality is that most people who attend church feels some sense of comfort in fellowshipping with people of their own race. And sadly, this way of thinking for our people has caused some to embrace the teachings through the teacher! In other words, since Jakes, Dollar, and Bynum has my skin color, their Biblical "interpretations" must be trustworthy and since Luther, Calvin, and Sproul does not, they must be erroneous in their explanation of God's Word.
And unfortunately, much like in the case of Michael Vick, some of our brothers and sisters are unable to break free from the old patterns of thinking and acting, thus negating development in the theology and relationships they need to overcome racism, anger, bitterness, and malice against others. And while I want to state at this point in no way am I expressing this is a "black only" problem (Because I have been on other sides and seen this same issue. Equally, I have heard of cases where blacks were treated terrible in some white congregations), my passion is to see my African-American brothers and sisters become saved and adherers to the Reformed faith. And it grieves me that some try to place some unwarranted "pressure" upon we African-Americans who embrace Reformed theology--calling us Uncle Toms and White people lovers--just because we agree Scripturally with John Piper and reject Edddie Long!!
And it also breaks my heart to see family members and friends become "theologically malnourished" due to the fact that they want to be loyal to those in their race. And, in essence, this loyalty becomes a catalyst for a defeated life, false conversion, and--in some cases--eternal damnation.
We, as a people, need to learn that we are not to follow teachers based on racial circumstances, but rather, by their divine understanding of the Word of God. I personally have been blessed to grow from both black instructors--like St. Augustine, Tertullian, Lemuel Haynes, Anthony Carter, Robert Benson, Ken Jones, Rickey Armstrong, Michael Leach, and Sherrard Burns (to name a few) as well as white instructors--John Calvin, John Knox, John Flavel, John Bunyan, Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Pink, R.C. Sproul, Robert Reymond, and Warren Gage (once again, to name a few). And I follow these people because I agree with their Biblical instruction, not because I feel a sense of "black loyalty" or I get pleasure being some kind of a "sellout".
In conclusion, it is my prayer that this trend will stop among our black culture and we can learn to follow people of God not because of the color of their skin, but by the content of their message. What matters when it comes to instruction in Scripture is whether or not it matches what the Holy Spirit intended when he dictated it through men. And if we use this criteria, we can--as my Pastor always says--be ever careful to give God praise, honor, and glory!

Friday, December 7, 2007

SBC BECOMING MORE CALVINISTIC


I am always encouraged when I hear about the growth of Reformed Theology in many Christian cirlces, no matter what the primary race or region of the church or denomination.
With that said, I was overjoyed to hear that Lifeway Research has recently completed a study in which they report that 34 % of current Southen Baptist Seminarians, who go into ministry or pastoral offices after graduation, are holding to the teachings of Calvinism.
Equally, the survey reports the following statistics as well:
****Souther Baptist Seminary graduates who identify themselves as Calvinist conduct personal evangelism at a slightly higher rate than their peers who are not Calvinist.
****That although these Calvinist baptized fewer people each year, their number of baptisms are virtually identical each year with non-Calvinist churches.
Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, states that if the numbers increase in this way, Calvinism will continue to be a major influence in the denomination.
This is an encouraging number to see within the SBC, and it is my prayer that the number of African-Americans will rise--who are in the SBC, PCA, and other Reformed-based Seminaries--so that we can witness similar effects in regards to Reformed teaching and the Black Church.
To read the article, click here

Monday, December 3, 2007

CROSS TV IS GOOD TV


I have been blessed to be a Reformed Christian for close to 7 years now, and I have had a lot of resources that has aided my growth in the faith. But, without question, the resource that has blessed me the most is Word Pictures that is produced by Cross TV, a Reformed Christian production company located in Boca Raton, FL. Their mission is to tackle "the most vital, life-changing, soul-shaking biblical subjects in a compelling video format". Equally, their goal is to produce a series on every doctrine within Holy Scripture. At this present time, they have produced over 40 series ranging from a dramatization of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" to "A Workman Approved by God" ( a series that deals with proper Biblical exegesis and interpretation). In my jail ministry on Saturday Mornings, I usually work thorough a series with the guys, and they have been expressly blessed by the content in the videos. The guys find it challenging, yet straight forward in its delivery.
And in a time where channels like TBN and The Word Network do so much to hurt Christianity, it is refreshing to know that God has provided a means to get His true message across to the masses.
So, if you wanted to know how to harmonize God's Sovereignty with Man's responsibility, how to defend the Deity of Jesus Christ, or know how to avoid the error of "Collapsing Contexts" in your Bible interpretation, then check out Word Pictures from Cross TV! You'll be blessed that you did!!!!
To find out more about Cross TV, you can check out the following sources:
Tune in to the TCT Channel (DirecTV channel 377) @ 7:30 AM Monday-Friday
Go to their web site at http://www.crosstv.com/, and check out their inventory of programs that you can order.
Click here to hear Word Pictures founder and host Mark Kielar give a teaching on the problem with the "Prosperity Gospel" from the series "The Good Steward".