the blog of Jerry Bolton
Posts tagged HBCYR
I Need Church.
0Currently listening to: “This Is The End” – Relient K
Relient K made a great new album. You should listen to it if the chance comes upon you. It is called “Forget And Not Slow Down”. I am refusing to be using contractions. No reason.
My friend Ian Hales just made a great post over on the Harvest Durham website. You can read it here.
The post is the second in his series entitled “Who Needs Church?”. He’s examining the components of the local church and the necessity of it in the lives of believers. It’s actually something I’ve been dancing around doing myself for many months, so I’m thankful someone far better qualified (and far better “having his head around it”) stepped up to the plate.
Personally, the part that was most useful to me is where he mentions that Acts can’t be our model for church structure, as some are prone to demand (house church movement, anyone?). Why? Simple hermeneutics. Acts is a history book – it’s descriptive. So, just in the same way that we wouldn’t take the historical accounts of the Old Testament as prescriptive for how we should live our lives (thus becoming polygamists, as some misguided folks are… prone to demand) we can’t take the embryonic church structure in the book of Acts and use it as our primary source. I’m not suggesting for a second Acts isn’t useful and important, but basic study will reveal that Luke’s purpose in writing Acts was to relay the history of the early church in a rather condensed form. It’s descriptive – describing the events that took place, only occasionally weighing in on things. Conversely, the pastoral epistles of the New Testament are prescriptive by genre and by nature – they prescribe the correct structure for the local church in a way Acts never so much as pretends to.
All in all, I found Ian’s breakdown quite helpful. I trust you will too. Make sure to check out the first post in the series as well (heck, maybe even add the Harvest Durham blog to your feed reader, fair citizen!).
Minor note: Harvest Bible Chapel Durham is the recently announced church plant out of Harvest Bible Chapel York Region, and is planned to launch sometime in 2010.
…destination: beautiful/intriguing
0Current Tunage: Relient K – Aulg Lang Syne
“Let It Rain… Let It Reindeer” is a really great, listenable Christmas record. I discovered quite a few this year, such as Bebo Norman’s, Johnny Cash’s, smatterings from the Happy Christmas compilations, The Almost’s new EP, Jars of Clay’s, Josh Groban (I blame Steph for that one), Sovereign Grace ministries’ “Savior” album, and so on. It’s been a musically bountiful season.
We left home a week ago and haven’t been back since. Peterborough, New Liskeard, South Porcupine (in Timmins), and later we’ll be in Englehart – all before returning to precious Pickering. It’s been quite a whirlwind tour.
That being said, it’s been full of adventure, conversation, and warm memories which will be treasured all year long.
I have made a few “new year’s revolutions” this morning and although it’s ne’er been my custom to do so (I prefer “new day’s resolutions” on the regular to an annual event), these are more of a compilation of those ‘new day’ items:
I’ve kept it short, I’m just as apt to do nothing if an action list seems impossibly large as anyone else would be.
1. Set up a dual-boot of Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux (Intrepid Ibex version).
2. Complete my professional portfolio and accompanying website prior to graduation.
3. Devote time to daily writing, whether it be a blog, a review, or just adding to current progress on my ‘book’.
4. Read at least a book a month.
There are more, however these “more” delve into the realms of intricate complexity too deep and profound to explicate upon in this hallowed place. In other words, I’m keeping them to myself.
Here’s some things I’m thankful for from 2008 gone by:
1. Marriage, to Steph. It’s pretty much the best thing on God’s green earth.
2. Wonderful in-laws, which I’ve been enjoying throughout the year.
3. A hacked Nintendo Wii full of Homebrew applications and joy.
4. The chance to try out and enjoy the recent WoW beta (for WotLK) and spend some time with old friends from the guild.
5. For such great friends to have stand with me on my wedding day (Noah, Todd, Mark, Al, Ian, Shane) – much love, guys.
6. Terabyte hard drives, even though I don’t yet own one.
7. Getting paid to sleep for the entire fall.
8. A renewed enjoyment of composition as well as quality reading (I believe I read around 20 books this year, give or take).
9. Only 12 weeks of classes and about 3 exams left until being DONE with full-time school.
10. An amazing almost-full-time contract in Peterborough during the months leading up to the wedding.
11. A lot of really great music that came out this year.
12. A lot of really great sermons that I had the privilege of enjoying over the course of the year, both via the internet (ie. Driscoll, Piper, Harris, Mahaney, etc) or via Sunday Mornings (at Harvest York Region, c/o Whittingstall).
13. Good, quality cordless phones. I don’t think I’ll ever look back to corded again… particularly when I throw on that speakerphone and it feels like I’m sitting across from whoever it is I’ve called.
14. The fall LAN party thrown by my little brothers at my parents place – such a fun time.
15. The ESV Study Bible, even though I haven’t gotten mine yet.
16. Great Boxing Day sales – once again, it was worth hardly buying anything all year in order to frugally save a load of cash on some necessities (loot: new keys and mouse, colour laser printer, office07).
17. Living closer to sweet concerts.
18. Coffee mornings with my dad in the fall on my way to classes in Peterpatch.
19. Free Toronto Stars at DC/UOIT Student Commons.
20. The soon-coming TF2 Scout Pack.
21. Harvest Bible Chapel, York Region – I can’t even begin to numerate the blessing that it’s been to fellowship in a place with timeless truth and timely methods.
22. Our Tuesday night small group study in “Lord, Change my Attitude” – profitable not only due to the content but also the community/fellowship, accountability, and growth that we’ve been privileged to be a part of. Particularly, I’m thankful for the wisdom and insight provided us by virtue of the amazing friends who participate with us in it – it has truly been one of the highlight blessings of the year.
23. Paper extensions.
24. Snowstorms.
25. Ice Hockey for the NES.
And now, some far less meaningful lists:
Currently reading:
“Christianity’s Dangerous Idea” by Alister McGrath
“The Master’s Plan for the Church” by John MacArthur
“The Murder of Jesus” by John MacArthur
“Wordliness” by CJ Mahaney
“Through Painted Deserts” by Donald Miller
Hoping to read this year:
ESV Study Bible
“Vintage Church” by Mark Driscoll
“Death By Love” by Mark Driscoll
“This Momentary Marriage” by John Piper
“The Cross-Centered Life” by CJ Mahaney
“Humility: True Greatness” by CJ Mahaney
“The End Of Reason” by Ravi Zacharias
Currently listening to:
“Black-Listed Sessions” by Mars Ill
“Slow Flame” by Mars Ill
“Deepspace5oul” by Deepspace 5
“Bake Sale” by Deepspace 5
Looking forward to hearing this year:
“The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be” by Deepspace 5
new mewithoutYou
new Project 86
new As Cities burn
new Mars Ill
Currently playing:
DotA AllStars
Team Fortress 2
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Looking forward to playing this year:
World of Goo
Sins of a Solar Empire
Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People (Season 1)
Braid
No More Heroes
Hoping to see released this year:
Starcraft 2
Anyways, having now ranted endlessly in list form, I wish you all the best in 2009 and look forward to saturating your blog-reader-eyes with a glut of posts ne’er before seen. Or not. Either way, it’s going to be a crazy ride – even if I am pants-on-head-insane.