The Dawn Treader

This is certainly interesting news from general assembly.  A motion was raised to pull out our kids from public schools.    Here are two reports.  One from Christian Communication Network
and one from World Net Daily.   My friend Joel Belz endorsed this motion.  It was ultimately defeated.  The result is posted on Josiah's General Assembly blog.

Update (Jun 21):

From the keyboard of the Jolly Blogger (Rev. David Wayne), who was present at GA when this motion was raised.  This is an important clarification.  Thanks David.

I also want to point out what it was that Rev. Warhurst was saying to the General Assembly of the PCA, lest I misrepresent him, or he be misunderstood.  The language of his resolution was the language of encouragement, not binding law.  In other words, his intention was to offer what amounts to pastoral advice, not a law. This was not presented as something that was to be binding on the conscience of the member of the PCA. I did not speak to him personally at the Assembly, but from listening to his humble and thoughtful presentation of his views I understood his intentions to be those of warning parents about the dangers of public schools and asking the denomination to encourage, not order, parents to pull their kids out of public schools.  I can't envision Rev. Warhurst or his compatriots attempting to bring church discipline on those who failed to heed his/their encouragement.

Just finished watching Greg Koukl on Faith Under Fire.  He engaged the ideas of best selling author Dr. Depak Chopra.  Koukl was sharp -- very sharp.  I want to watch it one more time and then post some analysis.  I have to say, it was the best display of tactical apologetics I have ever seen.

“First of all”, I said, “any worldview which contradicts itself can immediately be rejected.”  Joe listened and nodded in agreement. 

“The worldview that claims there is no truth, is itself claiming to be true. Contradiction. Reject it.”, I said, making a thumbs down motion.

“The worldview that claims that we can’t know anything, is itself a claim to know something … namely, that you can’t know anything.  This is nonsense.  Again, reject it.”

Joe chuckled and nodded.  He was beginning to get the picture.

Joe’s comment caught me a little off guard.  If you would have asked me prior to the cook out, I would have given higher odds on picking up a new ketchup stain on my shirt that day than on making a rational defense for God’s existence.

I smiled at Joe and nodded politely.  I wanted him to know that he did not offend me.  Hmmm.  How to respond?  When in doubt … ask a good question.

This is a reprint of a series of posts I did last year.  Our church sponsors a mercy ministry called picnics on the lawn.  It starts up in the spring and goes through the fall.  Our first picnic in Roanoke will be a week from this Saturday.  To get ready, I thought I would re-post my series on The Dawn Treader for those who missed it last year.

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When my friends Woody and Paul mentioned that our church would be hosting a “picnic on the lawn” to help feed Roanoke’s homeless population, I’ll be the first to admit that the idea did not sound appealing.  Fire up a grill down on the lawn at the health department, cook up some dogs, and feed them to the dozens of homeless men and women that show up there on Saturday.

Hmmm.  This sort of thing is out of my comfort zone.  What would an INFJ like myself have to say to a homeless guy?  It is not as if I am all that comfortable walking up to a stranger and striking up a conversation.   Do I just walk up and talk about the weather?  What if the topic of church or God comes up?  Would my words about God and His goodness ring hollow to someone who sleeps on a cot at the rescue mission every night.