Busy Week Ahead

by Phil Johnson

     don't normally post my speaking schedules and travel plans here on the blog. But this week, I'm going to make an exception, because I want to invite all PyroManiacs readers within driving distance of the Tampa Bay area to the second annual Brandon Biblical Theology Conference where I'll be speaking this coming Thursday and Friday.

Chris Pixley, who occasionally posts comments here at the blog, pastors the host church, and he will be speaking, too. So will Robert Reymond, who probably doesn't post on any blogs anywhere, but who has given us one of the finest systematic Theology texts in recent years. I'm eager to hear him.

As you can tell from the graphic on the right, the theme is the Trinity. Click on the image for more information, or click here for the conference brochure in .pdf format.

Even apart from the Brandon conference, I have a jam-packed schedule this week. Virtually every missionary supported by Grace Community Church will be in San Diego for our church's biennial missionary conference. I'll be leading a seminar Monday on ministry in postmodern times, and I'll give a short update to the missionaries on Tuesday about Grace to You, our international outreach, and the new "Grace to You" television broadcast.

In the past these missionary conferences have taken place at various locations on the foreign mission field. They are wonderful opportunities to connect with our missionaries all at once, and to keep them informed about what's going on at Grace Church, what evangelical issues and theological trends we are concerned or encouraged about, and give them a time of rest and fellowship together.

This year, however, the get-together is close to home because Sunday is Grace Church's 50th Anniversary Celebration. So it's a big week and promises to be a memorable one. If I'm mostly silent on the blog, you will understand.

But before I go, how about a little BlogSpotting?

• Dave Cruver ponders the question Pilate asked: "What is truth?" Truth is personal, he reminds us, and therefore it is relational and ethical. He connects his point with what Dan was saying here.
  
• A whole different post by Dan prompted Eddie Beal to post some thoughts about Galatians 5:14.
  
• Ken Silva wrestles with the guilt-by-association issue and the need to resist the influence of quasi-evangelicals, medieval mystics, and rank liberals who make up the core of the "contemplative spirituality" cabal, and who seem intent on using their influence among evangelicals to undermine historic Protestant and evangelical distinctives. He rightly points out that some associations are in fact guilty. For the record, I understand Ken's concern, and I do wish otherwise solid evangelical leaders were more cautious about whom they quote and whose books they recommend without qualification. But I still remain firmly convinced that it's wrong and unfair to discredit an otherwise godly teacher, write him off entirely, or label him a heretic based solely on whom he quotes from. Since we can't see hearts or judge motives, our evaluation of a man's soundness (or not) should be made according to what he himself actually teaches, and not according to what he reads or cites. So I still think guilt-by-association arguments are invalid and ineffective and are better avoided.
  
• Bob Ladwig at "The Truth Avengers" agrees with me about the guilt-by-association issue, but thinks Slice of Laodicea is more guilty than most when it comes to that fallacy, so he doesn't want to be associate with them anymore.
  
• Sean Higgins (who just completed the Portland Marathon) gives us an extra dose of Spurgeon.
  
• Mark La Roi thinks "It's weird to think that any Christian could debate that Christ doesn't have to be Lord of your life." I agree.
  
• David Wayne, the world-famous Jollyblogger, corroborates our claim that presuppositionalism is better than steroids.
  
• "Mustard Grains" at "More, Please" thought Dan's post on "Skewed Priorities" hit the nail squarely on the head.
  
• Craig Allen Myers and the Brethren at "Dunker Journal" also thought that post was good enough for a link.
  
• Another ditto from Rick Ianniello—who has little to add. (Rick evidently forgot that he needs try to be really clever) whenever he mentions PyroManiacs.)
  
• Ilona at "True Grit" sympathizes with my plight and recommends Centurion's post on giving—with or without the graphics.
  
• Rebecca Stark liked Dan's post on apologetics, but reminds us that even ballet dancers have their place.
  
• Van Edwards also liked Dan's post on apologetics and does a nice riff on the same subject.
  
• Tim Brown recommended Frank's post on "joyful giving"; listened to one of my tapes; and sent a message to our friend Bob Bixby.
  
• Bob Bixby appreciated the linkage, picture and all.
  
• John Schroeder thinks Dan overstated his case on prayer for the sake of controversy. (That's typical Pyro behavior, according to him.) Then Mr. Schroeder (who presumably doesn't overstate anything on purpose, and who urges us all likewise "to exercise care when we state things") further suggests that the PyroManiacs (and all other Reformed cessationists) are already partway down the slippery slope to atheistic naturalism.
  
• Eric Rung ponders the wisdom of an old adage.
  
• Jenson Lim has no patience for the lordship debate. I sympathize with virtually all his complaints.
  
• Kevin Stilley aspires to Philishness Philibuster Philhood. Be careful what you wish for, Kevin.
  
• Tim Suffield can't decide whom he currently likes better: Adrian or the Pyros. He's actually leaning toward a third blog, "The Shepherd's Scrapbook," which does indeed look like a contender.
  
• Charlie Sebold was amazed to read about the Jack Van Impe connection in my testimony. His brief post is poignantly titled "Quit while you're ahead."
  
• Steven Adkins wondered if the picture of John MacArthur in Calvin's Pulpit was real or a PhotoShop trick. It was real. Pastor MacArthur returns from Europe today. While there, he not only spoke in Calvin's pulpit, but he also spoke at the "Castle Church" in Wittenberg, under whose pulpit Luther is buried and on whose doors Luther nailed his 95 Theses.

That's all the links I have time for this week. Please keep me in your prayers while I'm traveling this week, and if I get an opportunity to make a post or two from the road, I'll do it.

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