November 25, 2007 - AM Service
Obedience and Justice in the Workplace - Colossians 3:22-4:1
Pastor Kevin | Higgins Lake Baptist Church

Registration has been opened for the 2nd Annual Bible Conference and Pastor’s Seminar at West Cannon Baptist Church, February 25-27, 2008.

Get more details here. Speakers for the conference will be Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Dr. Steven J. Lawson, Dr. James Grier.

Kristi brings great joy to her father’s heart. Happy birthday Kristi!

November 18, 2007 - AM Service
Parents, Don’t Provoke Your Children - Colossians 3:21
Pastor Kevin | Higgins Lake Baptist Church

It has, for the last few years, been my heart’s desire to bring great glory to the name of Jesus. But I’m more and more aware that my speech, thoughts, attitudes and actions often fall very short of giving glory to God in all things. The proper choosing of this one true purpose for living, to give God glory and glorify God in all things, is the purpose for which the follower of Christ should live all their life. That’s why I’m so thankful for fresh reminders of where my one true desire should be centered. This morning I read the following from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening:

—Read the Rest of the Entry…

November 11, 2007 - AM Service
Children Obey Your Parents - Colossians 3:20
Pastor Kevin | Higgins Lake Baptist Church

Our good friend Roger Miller helped teach Taylor and me how to properly wax an auto today. Our Savana has never looked so good.

I picked up this 80’s vintage Fuji Absolute today. It’s a very nice ride. It even came with two new tires and tubes which Kevin Michael installed for me. He’s becoming quite the bike mechanic as he’s working on building his own fixie.

Go Bucks!

See the video after the jump.

—Read the Rest of the Entry…

We learned last night that my elder brother Ken was called to Pastor Evangel Baptist Church of Taylor, Michigan. Our family is rejoicing for Ken and Lois and family today. Ken joins a leadership team with a long, faithful history at Evangel Baptist Church.

Read Ken’s update here.

I am grateful to the Corps and how it’s influenced my life for the better and I’m deeply grateful for all who’ve gone before and for those who fight for freedom today. Semper Fi!

Does your appearance help or hinder the Gospel? Mike McKinley writes at 9 Marks for those of us who would seek to reach the culture by being much like the culture — Contemplating Cool.

Some selected quotes:

• if the Lord called you to shepherd sixty uncool saints until they were safely home, with no spectacular revival or ministry explosion, would you consider that beneath you? Would it seem unworthy of your gifts and a waste of your life? If so, you are being motivated by pride.
• Much of being a pastor is profoundly uncool.
• There is a real danger in becoming so puffed-up over our freedom in Christ to wear black t-shirts that we begin to look down on the Ned Flanders-style Christians who love the Lord and have served him faithfully for years. In fact, it may be that the Lord is more pleased with their humble walk (though not as sophisticated) than he is with yours.
• With a few exceptions, Christians who try to be cool are terrible at it.
• Being like the culture can make it hard to see the gospel.

Just in case you think this applies only to pastors — it doesn’t.

November 4, 2007 - AM Service
Love and Submission - Colossians 3:18-19
Pastor Kevin | Higgins Lake Baptist Church

Pulpit Magazine shares a brief article on Explaining the Gospel to a Child
Here’s a quick summary:

1. Remember that repetition and restatement are especially helpful. Give the gospel simply and briefly, but don’t assume the first positive response means they got all the truth they need to know.
2. Use Scripture and explain it clearly. Even with children, God’s Word is the seed that produces life (1 Peter 1:23).
3. Understand the inherent danger in any outline or prefabricated presentation
4. Finally, remember that the issues in salvation are the same for a child as for an adult. The gospel is the same message for every age group.

Helpful reminders for parents, Sunday School teachers and youth workers.

And, while not geared specifically to children, How to Share the Gospel Clearly at Bible.org is helpful.

Check out the November giveaway at Challies.com — there will be three winners.

• First prize: The first prize winner will take home One copy of The ESV Listener’s Bible on CD (as read by Max McLean) and one copy of Classics of the Christian Faith CD collection. The retail value of this prize is over $150.
• Second prize: One copy of Classics of the Christian Faith CD collection.
• Third Prize: One copy of Classics of the Christian Faith CD collection.

An early shot this morning of our first snow of the season. It will likely be gone later today. Click the image for a larger version.

Carl Trueman on the gift of baldness and the priorities of a minister:

The priority of the minister is not to be hip or cool. It is not even to `connect with the kids.’ It is to immerse himself in the word, to know the gospel inside out, and to communicate that gospel with care, clarity, love, and force. OK, my criticism of the hair obsession and vanity of so many ministers is overstated; and they are scarcely the only Christians with skewed priorities. We all know Christians who are more concerned about where children are educated than the doctrine of the Trinity, or who are more passionate about Bible translations than guarding their tongues from malicious gossip. But the point of priorities is basic and important: don’t let your mid-life crisis determine the way you think about the gospel and the church. A hairstyle which tries to hide the ageing process is one thing, ridiculous but harmless; a theological agenda which mimics the world’s obsession with locating wisdom in the very sector of society with least experience of, and perspective on, everything is far more serious and potentially damaging. Let’s hope that the hairstyles of the forty-something clergy with soul patches are not sacramental: outward signs of inward spiritual realities. As to my brothers who are follicle-challenged but who faithfully study, pray and preach the gospel week by week, Be bald, be strong, for the Lord your God is with you.

I suggest you go read the whole thing.

• Christianaudio.com has available for free download during November the unabridged audio book Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards — free registration required, use coupon code NOV2007 (see free audio page each month for a free download)
• Preaching Points Podcast is a fairly new and brief podcast from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, that seeks to encourage preachers toward preaching excellence — Haddon Robbinson is one of the participants (via UW)
• At Pulpit Magazine, Seizing Opportunities for Evangelism
• At The Baptist Bulletin, an update on a completely normal family — home of the McCaughey septuplets