Are We There Yet?

They’re back! With Video!

Paul Bankson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:56:59 +0000

Video of the HLPC team’s week in Honduras. Song written and performed by Matt King and the whole team. A little inside humor from their week is involved… ask them about it.

29 June ‘09 New Building Update!

Paul Bankson — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:41:22 +0000

Its begun…

Paul Bankson — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:25:39 +0000

First day of actual building work on the church property!

“Aunt Ida”= the Missing Link?

Paul Bankson — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:25:53 +0000

I watched with amusement the hoopla surrounding the announcement of the fossil that some scientists were extolling as the “missing link”. It was suggested that this was undeniable proof of Darwin’s theory of evolution. The fossil was nicknamed “Aunt Ida” so as to encourage the idea this is an ancient relative of humans. Google even modified their logo a couple of days ago to reflect an image of the ancient fossil of a lemur.

Well, it seems that, to borrow from the Bard, it was “much ado about nothing.” Even a layman’s glance at the fossil itself seemed to stretch the limits of credulity to suggest this was the slam dunk for evolution. Now that others have examined the evidence itself, the claims of Ida’s “handlers” are called into serious question.

Chris Beard, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, takes critical aim at this overhyped discovery HERE.

While I don’t share Dr. Beard’s take on origins, his debunking of the “missing link” claim is helpful.

(HT: Justin Taylor)

Angels & Demons

Paul Bankson — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:15:32 +0000

Once again Ron Howard and Tom Hanks bring a Dan Brown novel to life. I’ve not read the book or seen the film, but I’m told it pits science against religion. I’m sure many of our neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers are seeing the film. Westminster Theological Seminary has done a great service by putting together a great web site which addresses many of the issues raised by the book and film. You can access it HERE.

Why Johnny Can’t Preach

Paul Bankson — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:21:05 +0000

T. David Gordon, professor of Religion and Greek at Grove City College, is the author of the short but penetrating book entitled Why Johnny Can’t Preach: The Media Have Shaped the Messengers. It’s a book that both encourages and challenges. I finished it yesterday and have been mulling over its contents ever since. I’m a product of my generation it is without doubt. I grew up an avid TV watcher and still gravitate toward what we used to call the “boob tube” (now with flat panel TV’s that descriptive phrase is dated). Gordon argues that few pastors today preach really good sermons. Many are products of this technological age and thus are more image than text driven. He believes most sermons preach moralism, are “how-to” sermons (be a good father, husband, etc.), are introspective sermons, or preach only social change.

Gordon says that what is most needed in this or any age is Christ centered preaching. Gordon says that when Jesus exhorted Peter to feed His sheep in John 21, he and all pastors do so by “proclaiming the fitness and competence of Christ in His mediatorial work.” Gordon goes on to say: “When we ‘feed’ God’s flock, we feed their faith. We nourish the part of them that has the need and capacity to rest on Christ and have confidence in his work of redemption.” (p.74) Oh that I might be a pastor that truly feeds Christ’s lambs in just that way Lord’s Day after Lord’s Day!

Let me finish with this great quote from Why Johnny Can’t Preach that is along these lines:

I believe that as people’s confidence in Christ grows, they do, ordinarily and inevitably, bear fruit that accords with faith. Thus, there is no need for some trade-off here, or some alleged dichotomy suggesting that we need to preach morality if we are to have morality. No; preach Christ, and you will have morality. Fill the sails of your hearers’ souls with the wind of confidence in the Redeemer, and they will trust Him as their Sanctifier, and long to see His fruit in their lives. Fill their minds and imaginations with a vision of the loveliness and perfection of Christ in His person, and the flock will long to be like Him. Impress upon their weak and wavering hearts the utter competence of the mediation of the One who ever lives to make intercession for them, and they will long to serve and comfort others, even as Christ has served and comforted them. (p.78)

Entrusted with the Gospel

Paul Bankson — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:44:33 +0000

The Gospel Coalition is sponsoring a conference entitled “Entrusted with the Gospel” with some EXCELLENT speakers. Some of my personal favorites include Tim Keller, John Piper, Phil Ryken, Bryan Chapell, and Ligon Duncan. The conference runs April 21-23 and is available for free live viewing via the internet. You can access this conference HERE.

Good thoughts for a Maundy Thursday

Paul Bankson — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:23:48 +0000

~My brother, John, gives some helpful perspective on Maundy Thursday HERE. By God’s grace, we will start our own Maundy Thursday service next year at HLPC.

~Les Newsom gives some great insights into the sufferings of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane HERE. Well worth the time to read!

I confess- I love Chick Fil A too…

Paul Bankson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:00:55 +0000

This is too good not to share….

Watch Ligonier Conference online

Paul Bankson — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:27:39 +0000