Inspiring Reading

We Christians must be readers. Christianity is a religion of the Book. We learn, and grow, by reading Scripture. We may also grow by reading great works of theology, biography, devotion, philosophy, etc., always making sure that these works are brought under the authority of Scripture. For we, like the Apostle Paul says, "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5).

Reading is not only for the seminary student, it is vital to every Christian. May we follow in the steps of Augustine of Hippo who came to saving faith after being compelled to read a Bible when a little girl, on the other side of a wall, sang, "Take up and read, take up and read!" He did, and so must we.

I was up early this morning, reading through John Piper's Brothers, We Are Not Professionals. I was particularly struck by a section in which he considers the statements God is love and God is God. He bifurcates them and balances them at once. His words follow.

Now these two truths from the Bible [God is love - 1 John 4:8, 16; God is God -Isaiah 45:22; 46:9] have unleashed different impulses in the world. And we will see that a balance is introduced here, lest we make Christianity an elitist affair, which it definitely is not.

- That God is love unleashes the impulse of simplicity, and that God is God unleashes the impulse of complexity.
- That God is love unleashes the impulse of accessibility, and that God is God unleashes the impulse of profundity.
- That God is love encourages a focus on the basics, and that God is God encourages a focus on comprehensiveness.
- That God is love impels us to be sure that the truth gets to all people, and that God is God impels us to be sure that what gets to all people is the truth.
- That God is love unleashes the impulse toward fellowship, and that God is God unleashes the impulse toward scholarship.
- That God is love tends to create extroverts and evangelists, and that God is God tends to create contemplatives and poets.
- That God is love helps foster a folk ethos [a folk ethos revels in the intimacy of God], and that God is God helps foster a fine ethos [the fine ethos revels in the transcendent majesty of God].

Perhaps someone is saying at this point, "I don't like this separation between God is love and God is God, between folk and fine, evangelists and mystics, fellowship and scholarship, accessibility and profundity, simplicity and complexity." My response is: "Well, GOOD!" Because in my mind, every one of these things is precious, and both sides of all these pairs are indispensable in the ministry and mission of Christ in the world.

How true, Dr. Piper! Our churches have too frequently made this bifurcation between one side and the other and devoted their all to the one side. They honor one attribute of God or another, while throwing others away! Let us not behave that way. Let us cherish the intricacy and balance of our God, our Savior, and the ministry to which we are all called.

We are blessed to live in an age where books are so accessible and inexpensive. We Christians have a duty to study who our God is and devote ourselves to cherishing Him. We will also find usefulness in reading other works that better tune our hearts to contemplation of God and the seriousness of our calling, especially as these works point us back to Scripture. Let us follow Augustine and "take up and read."

Steven Douglas

Clean Water in Africa: Something CAN Be Done!

There are several ministries and other non-profit groups who are making an impact across Africa. Right now there are literally millions of people who do not have adequate access to safe drinking water. These groups are doing something practical to change that. Please watch these catchy videos and consider giving to organizations such as Charity: Water or Advent Conspiracy.
You can be a part of easing the intense suffering of people who do not have any options.

This video is from Charity: Water.




These videos are from Advent Conspiracy (replace Christmas theme with Resurrection Day).

New Heights Baptist Church Youth Event: Southern's Give Me an Answer Conference.

Our youth will be attending Southern Seminary's Give Me an Answer Conference titled, "Revolution". This event will occur from 5:30-10:00pm Friday, March 13, and 7:30am-3:30pm Saturday, March 14. This event will feature up-and-coming Christian authors and speakers Alex and Brett Harris. The Registration costs $55.00 at the door and includes the cost of meals.

The youth of New Heights Baptist Church are looking forward to attending this event which promises to instruct Christian youth on how to respond to the surrounding postmodern culture. We invite the youth from our neighboring churches and surrounding southern Louisville to come along. Here is some further information from the Give Me an Answer organization. Here is info on Alex and Brett Harris.

Spiritual Disciplines Conference: Dr. Donald S. Whitney Speaks at New Heights Baptist Church

Dr. Donald S. ("Don") Whitney, Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality and Senior Associate Dean at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, will be speaking at the Spiritual Disciplines Conference at New Heights Baptist Church on the evening of Friday, April 17 and the morning of Saturday, April 18. This conference will include teaching on the disciplines of praying through Scripture (Friday) and meditating on Scripture (Saturday).

Several local congregations are already committed to attending this event. If you would like to attend (and we would love to have you), please contact the office of Pastor Cody McNutt at (502) 592-6195 in advance to reserve space. New Heights is located at 7315 Southside Dr., Louisville, between New Cut Rd. and Palatka Rd.

Overview: Don Whitney has devoted his life to helping young men and women develop biblical disciplines in order to better love and serve God. The two headlining lessons that Dr. Whitney will be teaching on are based on the Christian's need for Scriptural guidance. Scripture should inform each Christian's prayer and thought life. Dr. Whitney will outline how to go about the process of disciplining yourself for godliness (1 Tim 4:7b-10).

This conference promises to be of great gain for believers of all sorts, whether young or old, new or mature. New Heights Baptist Church welcomes Dr. Donald S. Whitney and we look forward to a great night of learning and fellowship.