ESV Bible Blog Highlights BBTC

The ESV Bible Blog recently highlighted the Back to the Bible Training College in South Africa and the students receiving their new ESV Study Bibles.

The Wise & The Foolish

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He who walks with the wise
grows wise,
but a companion of fools
suffers harm.
- Proverbs 13:20


Would you be wise? Spend time with those who are wise, sit at the feet of those who regularly demonstrate and teach wisdom. Wisdom is contagious. Those who desire it will walk with those who have it, with those who regularly pursue it. In contrast those who spend time with the foolish will succumb to the contagion of foolishness and will no doubt reap much trouble.

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Faithful Soldiers

The fierceness of the battle ought not to discourage the faithful soldier. It ought rather to embolden him, to deepen his resolve to fight, to cause him to dig deeper trenches, to plot out well planned strategy for warfare, to engage daily in the life and death battle for souls and for his soul...

Life is War! The battle is for the affections of your heart.

Are you fighting? More importantly is the opposition proving to increase your resolve in the battle? Faithful soldiers will never waive the white flag. Never.

He is in the trenches with you, as are your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Contrary to the popular Army recruiting slogan; there is no such thing as an Army of one.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
- Paul, Romans 12:12

I'm gonna lose it anyway...

The conversation with my uncle was rather one sided due to his intense struggle to communicate. He lay there in his hospital bed almost entirely unable to move, a ventilator breathing for him. I brought him Piper's book, The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God. With his hands too weak to hold the book, I asked him if he might like me to read it to him. He responded with a barely perceivable nod.

I brought this particular book because it has repeatedly proved so powerful in my life as it has often served to highlight the hope sustaining medicine, that is the sovereignty of God. Only shortly after beginning to read, I choked up as tears streamed down my face. The powerful words combined with the massive reality of visible suffering, seen in my devastated uncle, was overwhelming.

The last sentence I was able to read was this, "O Lord, if this were lost instead, and all I had was You, I would be rich, and have the greatest Good." I couldn't finish the sentence the first time, but had to attempt to gather my composure. Even then the words could only barely come out of my mouth, "It's ok to lose everything, if in the end we gain Him." This is exactly what Paul said, "I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ."

It's ok if we lose everything and in the end gain Him. The words hung in the air more powerful in this atmosphere of incredible loss and suffering. He responded in a slow feeble whisper, "I'm gonna lose it anyway." Until then my uncle had struggled to form words. But here his message was uniquely comprehendible.

My uncle is dying of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He was recently diagnosed with this disease and appears to be rapidly declining in health. He is currently in a local hospital and has only within the last few weeks been put on a ventilator.

The words of my uncle proclaim a truth which is largely disregarded in our day. One day we will all indeed "lose it anyway."

The question remains, why then do we live as if this is not the case? We would be wise to consider the wisdom from this man whose time on this earth is short. Men in such circumstances do not lie.

Piper on the New Calvinists

This video is from the recent Religious Newswriters Association meeting in Minneapolis. Speaking on behalf of the New Calvinists were John Piper, Collin Hansen, and Carolyn James.



More audio and video from this meeting is available here.

HT: Desiring God

The Battle Cry

HT: BraveHeartedGospel.com

Following the Footsteps of Christ

- K.P. Yohannan
HT: BraveHeartedGospel.com

The Deadliness of Sin

He who plays with the deadliness of sin is like one who strolls through a den of vipers. He and one who drinks poison are the same. Both volunteer to consume a fatal toxin.

With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.
- Proverbs 7:21-23

For CHRIST

also SUFFERED once for sins,

The RIGHTEOUS
for the unrighteous,

THAT HE might bring us to God

- 1st Peter 3:18a

Josh Wilson: Savior, Please

And this Gospel

of the Kingdom

WILL BE Proclaimed

throughout the WHOLE world

as a testimony to ALL nations,

and THEN the end will come.


- Jesus, Matthew 24:14

BBTC Vision to Expand

Back to the Bible Training College has a vision to expand their ministry. This brief video highlights the Bible College as well as their vision to expand. May the Church in America engage in supporting this vibrant ministry.

A Call To Anguish

- David Wilkerson
HT: BraveHeartedGospel.com

AS

the Father has SENT Me,

Even So

I AM SENDING you.

- Jesus, John 20:21b

IF - THEN

IF you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding

IF you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding

IF you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures

THEN
you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God

THEN
you will understand righteousness
and justice
and equity
every good path

- Proverbs 2

So also conversely:
IF you do not
THEN you will not

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FPBC to BBTC 2009

Here is a brief video highlighting our recent trip to the Back to the Bible Training College in Barberton, South Africa:

Run For Your Life!

On the Sunday after the terror attack on September 11th, Carter Conlon delivered this powerful message at the Times Square Church in Manhattan. The message was entitled, "Run for your life."

- Carter Conlon
HT: BraveHeartedGospel.com

THIS IS WAR!

- Paul Washer
HT: BraveHeartedGospel.com

Nicole Mullen: My Redeemer Lives

An Apt Answer

"For many years after each of the morning and evening services I remained in the auditorium for another hour to field questions. Hundreds of people stayed for the give-and-take discussions. One of the most frequent statements I heard was that "Every person has the right to define right and wrong for him- or herself." I always responded to the speakers by asking, "Is there anyone in the world right now doing things you believe they should stop doing no matter what they personally believe about the correctness of their behavior?" They would invariably say, "Yes, of course." Then I would ask, "Doesn't that mean that you do believe there is some kind of moral reality that is 'there' that is not defined by us, that must be abided by regardless of what a person feels or thinks?" Almost always, the response to that question was silence, either a thoughtful or a grumpy one."

- Tim Keller, The Reason for God, pg. 47


To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season, how good it is!
- Proverbs 15:23

Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes.
- Proverbs 26:5

His Handiwork is Worth Seeing

One day during the trip to South Africa, the staff of the College took us to the Krueger National Park which is about an hour or so drive from the College. They did this the last time I went as well. Both times I was torn between going to the wildlife park or staying and visiting with the students. Both times I ended up going to Krueger. Both times I was glad that I did.

It is breathtaking to see such glorious displays of God's creation.

His handiwork is indeed worth seeing.

Here's a few photos we took.

Reasoning in the Areopagus

"Skeptics believe that any exclusive claims to a superior knowledge of spiritual reality cannot be true. But this objection is itself a religious belief. It assumes God is unknowable, or that God is loving but not wrathful, or that God is an impersonal force rather than a person who speaks in Scripture. All of these are unprovable faith assumptions. In addition, their proponents believe they have a superior way to view things. They believe the world would be a better place if everyone dropped the traditional religions' views of God and truth and adopted theirs. Therefore, their view is also an "exclusive" claim about the nature of spiritual reality. If all such views are to be discouraged, this one should be as well. If it is not narrow to hold this view, then there is nothing inherently narrow about holding to traditional religious beliefs."

- Tim Keller, The Reason For God, pg. 12

I've just finished the intro and the first chapter of this book. The introduction may possibly be the most attention grabbing introduction that I have ever read. This book is Keller's effort at engaging in Paul's task of reasoning in the Areopagus. A friend recently recommended this book as the most important book he read last year. After reading the introduction and the first chapter I can see why.

Here is a great example (mp3) of Keller also doing this in his preaching.

A View From 37,000 ft. at 629 mph

The view from my window seat, on the flight to South Africa, was a vivid display of glory that David wrote about in Psalm 19.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

Surely the evidence of Your glory in creation is overwhelming. It is more than enough to convict us as guilty of knowing of Your existence.

That small window served, on that morning, as a foretaste of the glories of heaven. Pure and unstained, peaceful and breath taking. I can still hear the sky proclaiming Your handiwork...

The in flight info.
37,000 ft. !
629 mph !

A Great Resource Now Even Better!

The wonderful Jesus Storybook Bible is being re-released in a Deluxe Edition.

You can sample the audio from the new release! This will make a great family treasure even more accessible. My daughter and I have been through the Jesus Storybook Bible again and again. Now we will be able to go through it together in a new and refreshing way. We can't wait!

There is also a new website highlighting the book as well as more details about the new release.

You can pre-order this delightfully Scripture saturated, Christ-centered, and child-accessible work now! It will be released in October of 2009.

Gifts from the Church in America

The students with their new ESV Study Bibles.

The students with their new books, Desiring God and Finally Alive.

BBTC is Hoping to Grow

This is the building in which the BBTC students go to class. The building is designed to hold 90 students. There are currently about 106 students attending. Needless to say the facility is quite cramped.


The College is seeking to expand in order to be able to serve and equip more students. A goal has thus far been set at being able to house and train 300 students. This will require significant expansion and therefore a significant expense. This College does not charge the students admission, but rather is supported by donations.

There are currently students from 14 countries across the continent of Africa. This is a non-denominational College which is accredited through another University in Europe. The students can graduate after a 3 year training program. The College also offers post graduate degree programs.

The students at the College will be quick to tell you that the Church in Africa struggles due to a lack of adequately trained and equipped pastors and teachers. BBTC is helping to fill this need by equipping pastors and missionaries with Biblical training and teaching as well as materials such as those provided during our brief trip to the College.

A video will be released later with more details as to the needs regarding the hoped for expansion.