11 Monday Jul 2016
Posted in Uncategorized
In this morning’s NYT:
A new study confirms that black men and women are treated differently in the hands of law enforcement. They are more likely to be touched, handcuffed, pushed to the ground or pepper-sprayed by a police officer, even after accounting for how, where and when they encounter the police.
But when it comes to the most lethal form of force — police shootings — the study finds no racial bias.
Read the whole article here.
07 Thursday Jul 2016
Posted in Uncategorized
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept –Psalm 137:1 What does it look like to reach the breaking point of orthodoxy? What does it look like to arrive at the place where the de…
Source: Alton Sterling, a Son’s Tears, and Psalm 137: A Lament
27 Monday Jun 2016
Posted in Uncategorized
THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE SBC REGARDING THE CONFEDERATE FLAG
From “Hearty Support” 1863 to “Discontinue the Display” 2016
BY WM. DWIGHT MCKISSIC, SR.
At the near beginning of the 21st Century, The Southern Baptist Convention recently made the decision to address a heretofore unaddressed aspect of her history, and that is the SBC’s historic identity and complicity with the Confederacy. A vote was taken to ask Christians to discontinue the public use of the Confederate Flag (CF), in order to show solidarity with other Christians, including African Americans.
Perhaps this was one of the most heart wrenching and gut checking decisions ever made by the SBC. Why? Because the SBC and the Confederacy were connected at the hip historically, emotionally, psychologically, philosophically, geographically, politically, and even genetically. This connection is deep, intertwined, and multi-layered. Many in the SBC literally have the blood of Confederate Soldiers running through their veins. That made…
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21 Thursday Apr 2016
Posted in Uncategorized
I loved Purple Rain.
I married a girl who had a purple raincoat and a pre-Purple Rain, oversized poster of Prince in a purple trench coat (and occasionally she has been known to sing and dance in public when one of Prince’s songs plays in a store or mall).
I am not among the faithful fans of Prince; I simply am one who recognized the same musical brilliance everyone else recognized in him.
I am working on a small piece to honor Christ while talking about Prince. However, I wish to be respectful, so I will wait until we are past the artist’s funeral.
Many condolences to Prince’s family. May the Lord Jesus pour out his mercy upon you.
11 Friday Sep 2015
Posted in Uncategorized
This week, as I leave Chicago’s Union Station and walk past the Willis Tower heading toward my CTA train station, I have thought of the chaos I immediately would experience if a terror attack came to the former Sears Tower while I am within its vicinity. I’m not sure I can place myself in the shoes of those who ran from the falling World Trade Center’s twin towers, or who lost loved ones in the attacks. However, my heart and prayer today is with you who were most affected by that infamous day in 2001. May the the God of all comfort be with you through the mercy that is Jesus Christ himself. May he work justice on your behalf with mercy. May he mercifully reveal himself as the most beautiful Savior and most terrifying Judge. May he disclose to you, in mercy and love, the message of the fall of the tower of Slioam and the parable of the Vinedresser and fig tree — Lk. 13:1-9: “Unless you repent…” — so that you might know his peace. May the death of Christ for our sins and his resurrection from the dead be your hope as you look to him alone to see your tears, heal your heart, overcome your pain, and provide the joy of his mercy.
11 Saturday Jul 2015
Posted in Bibliotheca, Uncategorized
I just received my copy of Sam Storm’s, Packer on the Christian Life: Knowing God in Christ, Walking by the Spirit (Crossway). I am excited to drop into more J. I. Packer. His works, Knowing God (IVP) and Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (IVP) — two modern classics — profoundly have shaped my routine Christian walk, theology, evangelism, and both pastoral and academic ministries. I get to add Sam’s book to my copy of Dane Ortlund’s, Edwards on the Christian Life: Alive to the Beauty of God (Crossway). Both books intend to strengthen Christian thinking and living by drawing out the richness of historical and modern evangelical – and in the cases of Edwards and Packer, Puritan – thought for conforming one’s life to Christ in the contemporary world.
Over a decade ago I read McGrath’s biography of Packer and was challenged by the depth of Packer’s life–a life lived in the face of God. I am eager to see how Ryken’s new biography of Packer will enrich admiration of Packer, striving for holiness, and greater proclamation of Christ.
Related: J. I. Packer, “Introduction” to The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen. Packer’s Introduction is a modern classic, and the work by Owen some consider to be the classic, definitive text on the extent of the atoning work of Christ.
19 Sunday Apr 2015
Posted in Calvary Memorial Church, Uncategorized
“If we are going to faithfully follow Jesus we are going to have to become increasingly comfortable with releasing rights for the cause of Christ.” – Todd Wilson, “Giving Up Rights to Gain Rewards,” on 1 Corinthians 9, April 19, 2015.
In this morning’s sermon, Todd mentioned reconsidering (my term) the absolute rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. I think Christians give up the right to rights when you say “Yes” to Jesus’ summons to salvation. As Todd asked, “What if Jesus had demanded rights?”
All “rights,” as “claims on other people to treat you a certain way” (Wilson), are not germane to humanity or necessary for a peaceful society. A Christian ought to be wiling to sacrifice any legal right for the sake of the Gospel.
18 Saturday Apr 2015
Posted in Homosexual Related Stuff, Uncategorized
@RevKevDeYoung
If you have not picked up a copy of Kevin DeYoung’s, What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? (Crossway), you should pick up a copy immediately. Kevin, in as simple, sensitive, and nice terms as possible, lovingly dismantles pro-homosexual arguments and rhetoric that make up our current common attempts at moral discourse. Especially significant is his chapter, “What About Gluttony and Divorce?” Before you allow someone to attempt to silence your efforts to label homosexual behavior “sin” by suggesting that believers ignore other sins, read this chapter.
Thank you, Kevin, once again, for giving us a tool to help us speak Christianly and intelligently both inside and outside of he church.
23 Monday Mar 2015
Posted in Uncategorized
“For reasons only known in the heavenly realms, American Baptist College has” become “ground zero for this battle over same-sex marriage in the Baptist church,” Dwight McKissic, co-coordinator of the National Baptist Fellowship of Concerned Pastors, said at a March 17 press conference in Nashville.
The fellowship is a coalition of pastors who minister at congregations in cooperation with the National Baptist Convention USA Inc., America’s largest predominantly African American Baptist denomination.
Other pastors present at the press conference alongside McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone…
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09 Monday Mar 2015
Posted in Uncategorized
A DEFINING MOMENT FOR THE NATION AND THE NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION
Ten Reasons Why American Baptist College President Forrest Harris Should Rescind Lesbian Bishop Yvette Flunder’s, Garnett-Nabrit Lecture Invitation
By William Dwight McKissic, Sr.
Discussions, deliberations and decisions, regarding the legality and morality of same-sex marriage—have wound their way through courts of justice, halls of Congress, city councils and county governments, local school districts, voting booths and the office of the President of the United States. These discussions have been a part of American families’ table talks for many, many years, because many American families are impacted personally by an immediate or extended family member who is engaged in a same-sex relationship, or contemplating and evaluating their sexual identity.
The Supreme Court of the United States of America is scheduled to debate the legal fate of same-sex marriage in the United States on April 28 (http://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-to-hear-same-sex-marriage-arguments-on-april-28-1425573877). They are likely to…
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