"The surest sign of true intellectual acumen is a student's comprehension of what it is he does not know; not what he does know. It is a spirit of humility that affords us with the best opportunity to grow, mature, and achieve in the life of the mind. It is knowing how much we do not know that enables us to fully embark on a lifetime of learning; to recover to any degree the beauty goodness and truth of Christendom." -- C.S. Lewis

I am by no means in complete agreement with everything that C.S. Lewis has written, and I have many differences with him on many issues, with that said, I find the above Lewis quote to be very helpful and wonderfully articulated as to the perspective that we should take as Christian young men when obtaining knowledge and our purposes for doing such. It is very easy to fall into the trap of obtaining knowledge for the sake of obtaining knowledge. Even more common among Christian young men that truly desire a greater purpose for their lives, is obtaining knowledge for the sake of advancing personal ambition. All the while, hiding personal ambition behind the name of “life calling”, masking pride as “life purpose”, and ultimately worshipping knowledge more than Christ.

Young men must always be mindful and avoid this trap. Seeking first to add to their faith virtue, and to their virtue, knowledge, (2 Peter 1:5). To do this, we must set in our minds that we are not obtaining knowledge first and foremost to advance our life callings or to minister to the body of Christ, rather we are first obtaining knowledge to know more about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By knowing more about Him, we are then able to walk in unity to His commands, and through this we are able to have a clearer understanding of our life callings and how we can use them to speak to the body of Christ. We should not desire to merely learn facts, but we should desire to learn the relationships of facts and how they fit together in unity to the Word of God. This is the beginning of wisdom, and this is why it is of utmost importance that we meditate on His word, day and night, (Psalms 1:2). If we gain a foundation in the Word of God, we are then able to obtain knowledge outside of the word of God, filtering it through the Word of God, and having a useful purpose for it in the Body of Christ.

This is not to say that knowledge obtained in idolatry is useless and that we should try to forget any knowledge that we have obtained in idolatry. Knowledge obtained in idolatry can be useful and bring glory to God, but such knowledge is useless if we do not repent for our sinful motives in obtaining it and recognize the starting point for gaining knowledge – The word of God. Our lives on a moment by moment basis, each thought, each action, each word that we read and speak, must start with a realization that we are not the font of wisdom, nor are we even a font. We are simply vessels in servitude to Jesus Christ. We are ink, His Word is the pen that guides us on the paper of life. Obtaining knowledge is how we thicken the ink, but without the pen of God's word to guide the ink of knowledge, we are simply useless inkblots.

If a young man sits down to learn from any book, he should first ask himself why he is reading the book, how this book will allow him to know more about His creator God, and then how this knowledge that is being obtained can be used for his unique callings to the body of Christ. To put it simply, motives matter. Motives matter with any type of learning, whether it be reading a book, or walking down the street. We are constantly learning and we should constantly challenge ourselves as to our motives for learning.

If we as young men start with the understanding that the Wisdom of God’s word is infinite beyond our ability to even fully comprehend it, we must be honest with ourselves and realize that there is much more that we do not understand about our creator God and the world that He has placed us in. If we first understand this in our hearts as our starting point for obtaining knowledge, it will humble us beyond words. It will also embolden us to speak truth when we know it to be true because we recognize that The truth that we speak is not of us but is a gift of God to us to bring hope, chastening, love, repentance, forgiveness, and unity to the body of Christ. This is the very starting point for Christian education, the realization that we do not know as much as we think we know, and the only way we will know is to first look to the Word of God and build our knowledge upon this foundation.

I am very pleased to report that early this morning 7lb. 2oz. Isaiah Christopher Johnson entered the world to father and mother Chris and Tracy Johnson. This is a wonderful event for the entire local community here in Southwest Missouri and it is a blessing to witness the hand of God in bringing new life into this world.

On a personal level, it is amazing to me because both Chris and Tracy have been long time friends of mine. I have known Chris since he was about six years of age and Tracy since she was about three years of age, and this is their first baby. How exciting to see two young people that grew up together, married, and are now acting in obedience to Christ by being fruitful and showing forth multi-generational faithfulness. Congratulations Chris on being a new daddy, and congratulations Tracy on your new life into motherhood. May God richly bless the life of Isaiah Christopher Johnson and use it for His glory.

Yesterday, I returned from a weekend visit with the Hayden family in Wichita, and much like my previous visit, I was truly blessed to be in the Hayden household. The purpose of my trip was to fellowship with the Haydens, and to hear Caleb preach his sermon at their local assembly. I was blessed with the fellowship and Caleb did a wonderful job on his sermon. The weekend included but was not limited to: late night conversations, (ranging from laughter to serious looks into theology), reading with the family, watching documentaries on the lives of Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, book discussions, evening walks, blog posts, root-beer floats, tasty food, pictures, delicious bass, community fellowship, the meeting of the local church, and the making of salsa. In short, this weekend was a close nit time of fellowship with dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I am grateful to the Lord that He has provided me with such friendship.

I neglected to take very many photos, below are several photos taken from an evening walk as well as the adventure of making homemade salsa from the family recipe of Nathan Barnes. (A special thanks to Nathan for providing the recipe to me. Don’t worry Nathan, your families secret recipe is in safe hands :)

Look out tomatoes, I have a knife! (No comments on my apron!)

Following the 'secret' recipe.

Cut those tomatoes ladies!

A special thanks to Mrs. Hayden for taking this picture. Mrs. Hayden was also a big part of the salsa making process.

Despite their best efforts, they were unable to free Old Camper :(

The bridge of contemplation.

CS on the phone with good friend Tim Horn.

Susanna's artsy pose.

Miss Lydia Hayden gives the camera the "death look". (Or, perhaps the person holding the camera.)

Miss Lydia Hayden poses for the camera

What are you hiding from Susanna?

As you can see, I employed the CS Hayden method of photography

CS was excited to be a part of this walk.

Nice Watch

The walk begins...

Although I may disappoint some that thought my trip to KC involved some exciting new announcement, (including those that thought I was going to buy a ring, you know who you are), I am sorry to disappoint. What this very special trip did involve was wonderful fellowship with old friends, some of which I had not seen for many years.

I had the privilege of traveling to KC with good friend Nathan Bollinger to visit the Greer family. Sean and Dan Greer are some of my dearest friends in the world, and it is wonderful to see how the Lord continues to shape their lives for His glory. They are both young men that are committed to honoring the Lord in their lives and it is exciting to see how they have grown in Christ each time that we are able to visit together. Yesterday, I enjoyed the Greer’s fellowship, hospitality, and reminisced over childhood stories. This trip was particularly special because I had not seen Sean for over four and a half years, and Dan only once in that time – the longest stint that we had gone without seeing each other.

I have been friends with the entire Greer family since I was just four years of age and through the years we have remained close friends. This trip was a wonderful reunion and a clear reminder of the importance of friendships that last a life time. I was encouraged and excited to see how both Sean and Dan have grown as men and how the Lord continues to providentially direct their steps.

Praise be to God for friendships, reunions, and life-long relationships that are so vital to covenant community!


Dan, (me), Sean, Nathan

Today I embark on a special trip to Kansas City, Missouri. The nature of this trip will remain secret until I post again on my blog. I will return tomorrow morning.

We are taught in scripture that honor is one of the most important aspects of our lives. Every aspect of our lives revolves around honor in one form or another. Each of us have authorities that God has placed over us. If we honor our authorities, scripture teaches that it will be well with us and that we will have a richer understanding of God as our ultimate authority. What we must recognize is that honor is required regardless of agreement with authority. Honor is independent of agreement. All authorities will make mistakes, even violate God’s law Word, yet we are still called to honor regardless of agreement. Furthermore, we are called to honor our authorities even if they are enemies to us, (those that oppose God and are in open violation of His law Word), but we are not called to agreement with them. We must understand the distinction between agreement and honor. Honor is responding in a Christ like manner to the authority that God has placed over us. Agreement is oneness in conscious to that authority. Either way, honor is required, period.

If our boss has asked us to lie so that the company will profit, we are not required to follow his command. However, we are required to honor him in our response and our approach to such an evil request. Though his character is wicked, we are called to honor his position of authority, but not his sinful actions. We are called to stand up against the evil that has been asked of us, and at the same time respect the authority that is over us. If we are passive and accept what our boss has asked, in the name of “I was just following orders”, we dishonor the position of authority of our boss, and ultimately our creator God. Though agreement with our boss is not required to honor his authority, obedience to God’s word is required so that we may honor both our boss and our creator God. The same applies to all positions of authority.

If we are to honor authorities, we must hold ourselves accountable to the only standard that we have to follow, God’s word. In so doing, we will honor our authorities through our obedience to the scriptures.

The majority of the church today has embraced a false understanding of its purpose and the future, the purpose of families related to the church, and ultimately the purpose of the Lordship of Christ on this earth. In Archibald Alexander work, The Log College, Alexander provides the following piece of historical antidote related to the false views that the church embraced in 18th century colonial America. While in New Jersey, George Whitfield dined with a number of clergyman, the below quote is from one such dinner conversation:

After dinner, in the course of an easy and pleasant conversation, Mr. Whitefield adverted to the difficulties attending the gospel ministry arising from the small success with which their labours were crowned. He greatly lamented that all their zeal-activity and fervour availed but little; said that he was weary with the burdens and fatigues of the day; declared his great consolation was that in a short time his work would be done, when he should depart and be with Christ; that the prospect of a speedy deliverance had supported his spirits, or that he should before now have sunk under his labour. He then appealed to the ministers around him, if it were not their great comfort that they should soon go to rest. They generally assented, excepting Mr. Tennent (The Rev. William Tennent, Jr.), who sat next to Mr. Whitefield in silence; and by his countenance discovered but little pleasure in the conversation. On which Mr. Whitefield, turning to him and tapping him on the knee, said, “Well! brother Tennent, you are the oldest man amongest us, do you not rejoice to think that your time is so near at hand, when you will be called home and freed from all the difficulties attending this chequered scene?” Mr. T. bluntly answered, “I have no wish about it.” Mr. W. pressed him again; and Mr. T. again answered, “Now, sir, it is no pleasure to me at all, and if you knew your duty it would be none to you, I have nothing to do with death: my business is to live as long as I can — and to serve my Lord and Master as faithfully as I can, Until He shall think proper to call me home.” Mr. W. still urged for an explicit answer to his question, in case the time of death were left to his own choice. Mr. Tennent replied, “I have no choice about it; I am God’s servant, and have engaged to do his business as long as he pleases to continue me therein. But no, brother, let me ask you a question. What do you think I would say if I was to send my man Tom into the field to plough, and if at noon I should go to the field and find him lounging under a tree, and complaining, ‘Master, the sun is very hot, and the ploughing hard and difficult; I am tired and weary of the work you have appointed me, and am overdone with the heat and burden of the day; do, master, let me return home and be discharged from this hard service.’ What would I say? Why, that he was an idle, lazy fellow; that it was his business to do the work that I have appointed him, until I, the proper judge, should think fit to call him home. Or suppose you had hired a man to serve you faithfully for a given time in a particular service, and he should, without any reason on your part, and before he had performed half his service, become weary of it, and upon every occasion be expressing a wish to be discharged or placed in other circumstances. Would you not call him a wicked and slothful servant, and unworthy of the privileges of your employ?” The mild, pleasant, and Christian-like manner in which this reproof was administered, rather increased the social harmony and edifying conversation of the company, who became satisfied that it was very possible to err, even in desiring with undue earnestness to “depart and be with Christ,” which in itself is “far better,” than to remain in this imperfect estate; and that it is the duty of the Christian in this respect to say, “All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come.”

Due to many false views of eschatology that the modern church has embraced, the following quote is very accurate for today. We are more desirous to leave this world than complete our duty. We have no control over our own departure from this earth, yet we insist on willing ourselves to think of escape, more than service to Christ. As a result, we have a church that focuses on winning souls, and carries the Lordship of Christ no further. We handout tracts and share a testimony of Christ, but we go no further because we have embraced the false understanding that our only hope is to get people saved and wait to escape. True Biblical thinking says that we as Christians must take dominion in all areas of life to truly be a testimony of Christ. The most affective witnessing tool that we posses as Christians is to encompass all aspects of culture in the Lordship of Christ -- family, church, government, education, diet, etc. must reflect the Lordship of Christ.

Again, if we as the body of Christ focus only on soul-winning, then we fall short of proclaiming the Lordship of Christ. For example: fathers and mothers are called to teach their children the alphabet, but we do not spend our lives learning the alphabet, we learn it in order to read and grow. The conversion of a heart to Christ is the alphabet of our faith, the foundation of truth that we must have to understand what it is to grow in faith. If the body of Christ is only teaching the alphabet then we will have a church that is stagnant and unable to ‘spiritually read.’ The sad reality is that we in many ways do have a church today that is drinking of milk and is unable to eat of the meat and substance of the word of God. Ultimately, we are called to continually grow and we must not stop short of this calling by simply focusing on soul-winning alone. We must take dominion in every area of life so that Christ may be honored not only in our personal testimony but in every aspect of our life.

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
-- Mathew 24:46

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."
-- George Washington Carver

"No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it."
-- George Washington Carver

I must admit, I am not an expert in regard to the teachings of the Intelligent Design Movement, but with the recent endorsement by President Bush I have taken more of an interest in the idea that the President proposed of teaching it in the unbiblical public school system along side Evolution. The more I learn about the Intelligent Design Movement, the more I begin to see that it offers no valid scriptural alternative to evolution and is ultimately a different spin on idolatry. The idea is to teach public school students, along with evolution, an alternative to evolution as to the origins of the creation of all of life. The way Intelligent Design works is that it hints at a higher power, or more than one higher power, as the very basis for the creation of the world and attempts to give scientific evidence by showing the complexity of creation and concludes that a higher power had to be involved because creation is so complex.

The main reason this teaching does not differ from evolution is that it fails to acknowledge God as the source of creation and even allows for the possibility that more than one higher power had a part in the creation of the world, rather than The one, and only one, creator God.

To give an example: Here is an imaginary ‘special’ bible that I have come up with: “Don’t be offended, this special Bible contains no reference to a God, it hints at it, but it doesn’t give credit to a God, so you won’t be offended by it. This special bible will make you think about the possibility of a higher power of some kind, although it may or may not be a god, so don’t worry. Also, this special bible doesn’t necessarily limit the higher power to just one higher power, it could be one or many higher powers, but don’t worry, it isn’t a god. Look on the bright side, this special bible will make you think and at least it makes you look at the possibility of something bigger than the possibility of nothing.”

If I were to offer this explanation to most Christians they would tell me to get lost and to toss my heretical bible in the trash on my way out. Yet, this is what the Intelligent Design Movment offers us – nothing. Scripture is the only standard in which we can judge any philosophy or movement. As Romans 1:20 tells us: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

We as Christians are without excuse when it comes to our obligation to follow the scriptures, and the unchristian culture that the world offers is without excuse (as the above scripture says) as it relates to the creation of the world. We as Christians have a standard, it is the holy unchangeable word of God. To deviate to any other standard in the hope of winking at a culture that is void of understanding, and is without excuse, is to participate in idolatry.

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
-- 2 Peter 3:4-5-6

Are we as Christians willingly ignorant when it comes to our blind endorsement of such movements as Intelligent Design? Or, are we willing to look at everything in life through the grid of scripture?

What does the Intelligent Design Movement offer the unbiblical public education system, and what standard has President Bush employed by endorsing such a movement? Ultimately, the answer is a varied form of idolatry. Rather than teaching one form of idolatry in the unbiblical public school system, it has been proposed that we teach two varying forms of idolatry.

As Christians we have but one calling and that is complete servitude to Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. We must set aside political allegiances; personal preferences, pragmatic reasoning, and we must go to the scriptures:

Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

(Endnote: For a comprehensive overview of Intelligent design and what it means to the Creationist movement, visit: AIG.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. – Philippians 4:8

Tonight, I am putting the above verse to memory in the hope that I will continually be mindful of it and honor the commands in it. Our thought life is one of the most import aspects of our faith and the means in which we live out every aspect of our faith. As many men have said before: ideas have consequences, and if we are not diligent to follow the above verse in the shaping of our thought life, our ideas will ultimately lead us to sinful consequences.

Below is a quote from a recent blog post made by Dr. George Grant that was articulated very well and is helpful in showing the importance of a Christ honoring thought life:

“We are what we think. In our very practical modern world, we tend to think that what a man or woman does or does not believe is really not all that important. We like to think that we can separate private from public concerns, character from performance, worldview from responsibility. But such a notion carries a fearful implication. It really means that it does not matter what anyone of us believes so long as we do not take our beliefs seriously. But throughout history, wise men and women have understood that far from being an irrelevant, superfluous, and private affair, our inmost faith is the utmost aspect of our outmost lives.”

By the grace of God, may each of us strive to think as Christ and not allow apathy to dictate our thought life. We will ultimately be driven by our thoughts, even if we are not aware of how and why we are shaping them, and in the final analysis our thoughts will facilitate our actions -- for good or for bad. We must apply a Biblical epistemology to our thought life and carefully consider what are minds are dwelling upon so that we can in due course say without hesitation “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:13

I recently completed my second reading of David McCullough’s wonderful work, 1776. Without a doubt this is now one of my favorite historical books. The book provides an amazing account of just how close our great nation was to losing the very foundations that ultimately made it a nation. There were numerous circumstances, hardships, relationships, and providential interventions that lead to an amazing course of events that changed the entire world and resulted in a culture that was distinctively Christian and determined for freedom. McCullough has done an amazing job to show the great sacrifices that the colonies underwent, and has accurately shown the heart and character of the great man that stood as an unflinching leader in the face of almost impossible circumstances – George Washington.

Washington had very obvious limitations: he wasn't a scholar; he wasn't a great orator like Patrick Henry, he didn’t possess a great military genius, as was obvious by the many blunders that he made as a leader. Although he was a gifted man, he had no distinctive ability that stood out and dazzled those that would scrutinize great abilities that are often marked in great leaders.

What he did have is something that McCullough captured in a most beautiful way-- character, steadfast uncompromising diligence in an extremely difficult situation. He could take the blows, and he had an extraordinary self-command, particularly when things were at their worst. When under pressure that few men in the history of the world have ever faced, he was resolute, sober minded, and brought clarity of thought to the circumstances he was facing. He was in the purest sense of the word, a realist. He never tried to make excuses or provide himself with flowery antidotes as to the realities of life that he was facing in the cause. He understood the realities of what was at stake, and he didn’t shy away from his responsibilities. He looked impossible circumstances in the eye and faced them as a godly man.

In my view, one very key aspect of his outstanding leadership was that he understood his own limitations as a man and a leader, and was willing to view himself as he was, not as he would wish himself to be – without being discouraged or losing sight of the objective for the war and his role in it. Most importantly, he never gave up. Again, he was facing circumstances and pressures that few men in the history of the world have ever faced, but he never surrendered to them, he pressed forward, he didn’t compromise. He was a great man, a great leader, and a true testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am humbled the more I learn about Washington, but I am also encouraged. I am humbled because I realize how weak I am as a man, and how I often allow the most mundane things of life to weaken my resolve to press forward in my callings that I have as a man that desires to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. I am encouraged because I see the providence of God in Washington’s life and the example that he is as a man that did not waste his time or abilities, but set his resolve to be steadfast. His heart was fixed and he never wavered.

God almighty in his kind providence directed the life of George Washington, and Washington acted in obedience to his creators guiding hand. It is my hope that I will never neglect the legacy of men like Washington, and that I will be continually grateful for what I have been given. We have all been given much in the history of our nation and much is required of us if we are to honor the legacy of great men such as George Washington.

In the Lord’s providence, my parents have officially sold their home, purchased a new home, and have moved into their new home as of July twenty ninth. As I departed Missouri in early July for a three and a half week trip around the country, an hour after I left, I received a call from my father informing me that they had a buyer for their home. In an amazing work of the Lord’s guiding hand, a week later, my parent’s home was sold before it was listed with a realtor and was sold to a Christian home schooling family of six. This is an answer to prayer as the Lord provided a buyer more quickly than my meager expectations, and in a fashion that did not require a listing with a realtor -- a result of my brother-in-law (Mark) and sister (Cherie) spreading the word in the local community.

Although the moving process is still underway, (there are still many boxes all over the house), the Lord was merciful in answering prayer in the sell of the home and in the purchase of a new home. For now, I am posting a few photos from the two days of moving. Later on, (once there are more boxes put away), I will make several posts with photos of the new house that the Lord has provided.

Praise be to the Lord for answering prayer in His perfect timing.

I was having a blast. Doesn't it look like I was having fun? (The July heat made the three truckloads of moving quite warm.)

My brother in law, Richard. Seriously, don't mess with Texas, he means it.

One of the casualties of the moving process. This is a shot of me with a Band-Aid over the slit in my wrist that just missed cutting my anterior interosseous artery. Everyone was grateful I opted to avoid cutting that.

The furniture, enjoying some fresh air on the portico.

My momma, turning away from her annoying son who will not put the camera down :)

The Kitchen, twenty minutes after this photo was taken the entire kitchen was in boxes on the countertops

The living room, slowly being emptied.

My office at the old house being taken apart. The other side of the room is filled with boxes of my books.

A warehouse manager on the edge.