You know, I used to blog religiously (poun intended) almost daily back in the hayday of blogging – written blogs, anyway. These days I have a lot of life that sort of gets in the way. Probably many of you are in the same boat. Life sometimes makes us so busy.. In my case most of it has been medical – it’s the cost of getting older for many. I just wanted to stop in and say hello and share my love and remind you to keep Jesus in your holiday celebrations, and also to make sure to enjoy your time with your family. Someday they may not be there.
Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Apologetics
Apologetics, that’s a funny word. What does it mean? Well it is being able to answer questions and maybe objections about your faith, and it is something that the Word instructs us to do and be prepared for.
1 Peter 3:15-16
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
Well, why do I bring this up now after such a long pause in my ramblings here? I was talking with a friend (Dave G) online and lo and behold he also has a website where he does apologetics posts. Wonderful stuff! https://www.legatichristi.org/. And then he told me of yet another site he enjoys on the subject, https://coldcasechristianity.com/, and this site even has podcasts if you want soemthing to listen to when you are unable to read. Lastly our conversations eventually led us to the Great Commission and spreading the Gospel and reaching souls for Christ and that reminded me of my favorite method, designed by Bill Fay. He designed “How can I share my faith without and argument?”, which has both a booklet you can get here and an audio track to listen to, which you can find here.
All these resources are definitely worth checking out and my hope is that they will help you be prepared and comfortable enough that you, too, can participate in the Great Commission as we are supposed to as Christians.
Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Here it comes!
Now is the time to get in on the fun or bring new people to the site!
New year and many topics planned. Here is just a short list and if you have any comments or suggestions, now would be the time @ Linc at ReverendLinc dot com!
- What do they believe?
Major religions of the world and what thir core tenets are.
- Which version of the Bible is the right one?
There are so many versions of the Bible, how do you know which one to use and what are the differences.
- Thou Shaly Not Judge.
Clarification of the single most mis-quoted verse of the Bible.
My seminary – pounding the street!
As a Minister, I often get asked, mostly by haughty sanctimonious Christians (modern day Pharisees) what Seminary I went to and/or what my qualifications are. Most often this is just for some kind of misplaced competition to decide my legitimacy.
For the record, my parents never really pushed any kind of religious education for me and were not overly religious people, not attending church, etc.. I did attend some church and some sunday school education at a Baptist church with a religious Aunt of mine. I had some early personal experiences with the paranormal which pushed me into a long interest in such things, culminating into heavy study and involvement into Witchcraft and, eventually Satanism during my college years. There I met a brother Gary who God put in place to turn me around. He argued the scriptures with me and also t get me to go to church with him until I finally caved in and went. I was, and am lucky to still have him as a brother to rely on to this day. There, in a Fundamentalist church, I had my conversion. Heard the words and calling of God like thunder (literally). From there my education and interest continued until I felt called into the ministry in 1996. I was ordained and started right away!
“God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called.”
We can see that in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
Clearly, I am part to that “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise”..
I do take some issue that all ministers and pastors must go to Seminary in order to preach/teach and minister. Although I absolutely believe that one must learn and be a student of Jesus’ teachings, more often than not, I believe those places are reserved for teaching doctrine and denomination. Both of those can, I believe be detrimental toward the real mission of spreading the Gospel, and inhibitive of the Holy Spirit whom the Bible says is the actual teacher (John 14:26). Although some would argue, we need to make sure that one’s doctrine or denomination is not overriding the word of God or his spirit directing you.
At any rate, it’s been a rolercoaster ride for sure, being ordained, being handed a church, running a homeless ministry and then moving across the continent, all the while being a bivocational minister. What I mean by that is being a minister has never been my sole employment – no I’m not a rich televangelist! I have always relied on an additional day job (I’m also a computer systems engineer) to fund both my family and my ministry. My Biblical education has come from self studies, those with my peers and, like the title says, years of beating the streets by foot meeting my fellow man where they were with the Gospel. And now, after all that and some baptisms, communions, weddings and funerals, I am here.