tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.comments2012-05-23T21:37:34.085-07:00Bryan Barleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17731250246892796543noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-54943824261476790082008-07-16T09:59:00.000-07:002008-07-16T09:59:00.000-07:00Brian-<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the post. It's interesting that you say that because I'm in the middle of Bible exposition right now and our professor made a comment this morning that we as seminary students have to realize that a lot of what we find amazing in the sermon preperation process is not interesting to most in the pew. Therefore, as he put it (and as you put it too), we have to sift for the gold so that those truths we do proclaim are not lost in the details that aren't neccesary in that forum.<BR/><BR/>P.S. I checked out Southern when we were in Louisville last week for a wedding and it was beautiful!Bryan Barleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17731250246892796543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-76644775195384285292008-07-16T09:33:00.000-07:002008-07-16T09:33:00.000-07:00The extremity that I often deal with is the extremity of overload, - packing too much into one sermon; to me it's all great, but the congregation finds it overwhelming, - this of course is the temptation when you have one shot at 'em every few months. Nevertheless, I must learn how to sift for the gold that will be most profitable to the congregation and most glorifying to God in that setting. Thanks for the post as always.Brian R. Mahonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938133593035421771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-85152525616274125542008-07-15T20:58:00.000-07:002008-07-15T20:58:00.000-07:00i didn't do that.....<BR/>TaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-60315284207593620822008-07-14T04:36:00.000-07:002008-07-14T04:36:00.000-07:00God bless you.Andy Metzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02939252499859872055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-86783243946237294782008-07-12T10:54:00.000-07:002008-07-12T10:54:00.000-07:00thanks buddy! that pic is hilarious too!Matthew C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12542732176918484077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-91165269001528373202008-07-05T19:24:00.000-07:002008-07-05T19:24:00.000-07:00Well done sir. Your post reminds me of the time when Norman Geisler talked to us about endangered species. His point was basically that if i was to find that there was a nest, den, gathering, etc. of endangered animals on my property, guess who would have to move...me!-P Harmon-http://www.blogger.com/profile/02026775335888771512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-66309616571586182392008-07-03T12:39:00.000-07:002008-07-03T12:39:00.000-07:00that's good to hear<BR/>--mattAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-52937884416761236862008-06-28T10:29:00.000-07:002008-06-28T10:29:00.000-07:00On point my friend. Thanks.Brian R. Mahonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938133593035421771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-79420835973947351432008-06-27T19:25:00.000-07:002008-06-27T19:25:00.000-07:00Disappointing!Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13018552039093575622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-24784640639308472342008-06-27T03:05:00.000-07:002008-06-27T03:05:00.000-07:00What about the Panthers?Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13018552039093575622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-70323671682709751212008-06-26T19:30:00.000-07:002008-06-26T19:30:00.000-07:00just no Brett Favre...it is a gut feeling...Megannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-44829250385538664722008-06-25T08:54:00.000-07:002008-06-25T08:54:00.000-07:00THIS WAS A HOAX.........You need to check your sources before publishing things as fact! HAVE YOU NO JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-30202909331032492992008-06-23T23:09:00.000-07:002008-06-23T23:09:00.000-07:00do not forget to tell me more about this when we talkMatthew C. Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12542732176918484077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-75413371695151812462008-06-20T13:17:00.000-07:002008-06-20T13:17:00.000-07:00The Christian pursuit is not to moralize men but to be certain that they hear the word of Christ through which faith comes. For what does it profit a man to be temporally moral when on that Day, he stands before God Christ-less. His human morality, and legality will be likened to that of wretched worms in view of that which God will require of him; a Divine look into the heart of a moral man without Christ will prove sufficient to reveal that his morality is self-centered and actuated for the approval of men (politics) and not of God which renders love and obedience to God grounded in the propositional truths of the Gospel of Christ. <BR/><BR/>Our endeavor is to kill men with the law of God, and to take great pains in spreading that Gospel seed in hopes of the vivifying work and effects of God's Spirit. This above all is the area of concentration for believers, for it is the ultimate obedience to Christ's summarization of the law - to love God supremely, and our neighbors.<BR/><BR/>Politically speaking, we ought not to be satisfied, in my course of thought, to remain idle. Christ speaks of our submission to and involvement in government in relation to our submission to and identification with our Father in heaven. Paul mentioned as much, and also sought to advance the Gospel in capitol areas first as a matter of priority - in the hopes of its quickly spreading.<BR/><BR/>Nevertheless, it is not our main endeavor - the union between the souls of men and the Gospel of Christ to the glory of God the Father is. Conversely, our lives are open to all within our area of influence at any given time, and therefore our political involvement and affirmations and qualifiers and disqualifiers must be in accordance with the doctrine of Christ, that by such public view Christ may be honored even if we are scrutinized.<BR/><BR/>So for the sake of the law of Christ, the realization of which is the advance of the Gospel and of God's kingdom, let us be involved in all spheres of influence so long as our witness is not tainted and, therefore, lost. Again, Matthew, you are right - we ought not legislate morality; but we ought to preach the Gospel and live lives that honor Jesus Christ - and this involves our attendance with much prayer to the things of national government.Brian R. Mahonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938133593035421771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-87340479948794735302008-06-20T06:05:00.000-07:002008-06-20T06:05:00.000-07:00Great thoughts guys. Ravi Zacharias has said (with others) that you can't legislate morality. How much should Christians just let some things be, and just focus their time and energy on changing the hearts and minds of people and not the legality of their desires. This is a really hard question for me. any thoughts?Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12542732176918484077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-51627107803695792712008-06-19T09:00:00.000-07:002008-06-19T09:00:00.000-07:00To be honest with you, I remain uncertain. I like your reasoning behind McCain in contrast with Obama. That makes sense to me. I know that McCain is a Republican, but he seems to me to be the least conservative Republican that I can remember. Is him being a Republican enough for me to vote for him? No. I do not think that party is ultimately determinative, but as you have made clear, conviction; but as it is quite often, what are the politicians "true" convictions? For what he says in one place to one people group, he recants before another. He wants office, plain and simple; and the greater reality is that they want it for themselves, and not solely for the good will of the nation or nations; hence, they politic rather than remain authentic (unless they are authentically political - and in that case - too bad so sad for those who follow them). As I said in an earlier blog - thank goodness for our perfect representative Head, Jesus Christ!<BR/><BR/>But to return to the issue, and not to be overly simplistic, but it seems to me that the safest route is much prayer - a discipline that in all honesty I haven't given over to things like the presidency. But God has used your blog to awaken me to the reality that perhaps I should!<BR/><BR/>As for an answer: Currently, I would "settle" on McCain, only because his "disqualifiers" are foggier to me than Obama's. Either way, whomever the people elect, whomever God ordains in this time and place in history, I am certain that I will be consigned to much prayer for them - even now.Brian R. Mahonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938133593035421771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-12387949623556453922008-06-18T14:36:00.000-07:002008-06-18T14:36:00.000-07:00Brian,<BR/><BR/>Great question, and I've been thinking about it all day since I saw your comment this morning. I still don't feel like I've come to a place where I feel great about my conclusion, but here's what I would say:<BR/><BR/>I haven't done a ton of research on McCain, but it seems that he isn't exactly a champion for the pro-life cause (http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/John_McCain_Abortion.htm). So I think this election is a good example of having to choose the lesser of two evils. Right now, I would vote for McCain because I know that, whether the right to life is a conviction of his or not, he will at least stand firm for the pro-life cause because he is a republican and he knows who he has to answer to. He has already tried to court more conservative votes once he got the GOP nomination. <BR/><BR/>I guess the way I see it is that McCain is going to be much more pro-life than Obama (http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Barack_Obama_Abortion.htm) since McCain answers to the usually pro-life republicans while Obama has very little to hold him accountable on this issue.<BR/><BR/>I know that some would say that if I feel like this I should vote for an independent candidate, and I recognize the logic behind that, but I just don't know if I can get over that being anything more than wasting my vote when a candidate is out there who will at least someone support the pro-life position. <BR/><BR/>If, hypothetically, two candidates ran who were equally and strongly pro-choice in their position (i.e. two Obamas) I would probably not vote. I know I could be criticized on that for a number of different reasons but when it comes to the issue of abortion I could not vote for anyone who holds a pro-choice position like Obama. Like Piper writes, that's a deal breaker. In respect to the illustration he gave about marriage, I would stay single.<BR/><BR/>With all that said, I still don't feel entirely good about that position - maybe you can help me out. What do you think?Bryan Barleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17731250246892796543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-3051813781822103692008-06-18T05:31:00.000-07:002008-06-18T05:31:00.000-07:00I've been seeking clarity on voting issues as I think through this election year. Like you, I have felt the conviction to be more informed politically - and that with biblical discernment. I appreciate your contribution here. One question - what do you do if the two candidates are both pro-choice? If that is a thing that would serve to disqualify a person in your own conscience, what do we do if our options are hedged in between two people who hold no such biblical conviction as we in fact do? Do we vote for the lesser of two evils, etc.?Brian R. Mahonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938133593035421771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-60035119378171173492008-06-17T21:38:00.000-07:002008-06-17T21:38:00.000-07:00yepMatthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12542732176918484077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-90649530508338069352008-06-16T22:24:00.000-07:002008-06-16T22:24:00.000-07:00yeah man! sounds awesome. i wanna hear more laterMatthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12542732176918484077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-29203678436046996232008-06-14T13:54:00.000-07:002008-06-14T13:54:00.000-07:00i just wanted to protect the rights of Mr. Richard Strauss. The entrance music for the USC Gamecocks is known by 2001 but it's original composition was called "Also Sprach Zarathustra", a tone poem by Richard Strauss. Get it right buddy. jk<BR/>--mattAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-73854541007766568342008-06-09T12:19:00.000-07:002008-06-09T12:19:00.000-07:00Brook Whitmire's voice booms over the loudspeaker in Sanford Stadium and 92,746 are summoned to their feet. <BR/><BR/>"It's Saturday afternoon in Athens!"<BR/><BR/>They've spent the past two hours at the Dog Walk, lining the way between Lumpkin Street and the Bridge with red and black. The team has walked the walk, looking the Bulldog Nation in the eyes as they prepare for the game ahead.<BR/><BR/>The Redcoat Band now stands Between the Hedges as Whitmire's voice fills the air. Then, there in the southwest corner of the stadium, a lone trumpet soloist stands, and the Battle Hymn of the Bulldog Nation begins.<BR/><BR/>Larry Munson's voice now, distinct and raspy as ever, comes over the speakers as on the screen a montage of Bulldog greats - Herschel Walker, Vince Dooley, Erk Russell, Lindsey Scott, Kevin Butler, Eric Zeier, Champ Bailey, Robert Edwards, David Greene, Boss Bailey, Mussa Smith, Thomas Davis, Matthew Stafford - roll on the screen. Lindsey Scott's crushing 80-yard TD run on Florida in 1980. Herschel's legs pumping through Tennessee in his freshman campaign. Dooley getting carried off the field on shoulders - "Look at the Sugar falling out of the sky!" Verron Haynes stomping on the Volunteer's face with his hobnail boot. David Pollack stripping and recovering for the TD against the Gamecocks. Michael Johnson leaping over Auburn to capture the TD and the SEC East. <BR/><BR/>All to The Voice of the Bulldogs, in his legendary style, and on the backdrop of the Battle Hymn:<BR/><BR/>"Heroes have graced the field before, with the hearts, bodies and minds of which the Bulldog Nation can be justifiably proud. The tradition of unbridled excellence demonstrated by these, whose memory spans more than a full century. And now a new breed of Bulldog stands ready to take the field abound to assume the reigns of the Georgia forebearers and continue that tradition, understanding that there is no tradition more worthy of envy, no institution more worthy of such loyalty, as the University of Georgia. As we prepare for another meeting Between the Hedges, let all the Bulldog faithful rally behind the men who now wear the Red and Black, with two words, two simple words which express the sentiment of the entire Bulldog Nation..."<BR/><BR/>And 93,000 fans, filling the stadium and bridge, yell at the top of their lungs, in exact unison with Redcoat Band,<BR/><BR/>"Go Dogs!"<BR/><BR/>I'm not saying the Sanford Stadium has the greatest single moment of entrance, but I challenge anybody to give me a greater two hours leading up to game time than you'll find on any fall Saturday afternoon in Athens.Berthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15657890753968261061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-19789140884679638182008-06-08T09:19:00.000-07:002008-06-08T09:19:00.000-07:00Barley,<BR/><BR/>I have to agree with Patrick man! Granted, Virginia Tech's is good - been there, done that. But, 2001? I think another criteria of a great football entrance ought to be that the team has a historical record over .500 - they actually have to be good! Carolina hasn't accomplished anything in over 100 years of football! It's like, "let's get pumped for 2001 because that's the only thing to get pumped about on a Saturday afternoon in Columbia!" But hey, I appreciate your Carolina steadfastness, after all, if there were no Carolina fans who would Clemson fans make fun of? <BR/><BR/>No, really - I love the videos! It gets me pumped for football season! Thanks for the jolt!Brian R. Mahonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13938133593035421771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-81771632713947562072008-06-05T09:40:00.000-07:002008-06-05T09:40:00.000-07:00Are you kidding me? How in the world did 2001 make it to the board of greats with teams like Ohio State, Florida, and Tennessee? And where is Florida State's entrance of riding the horse and spearing the 50 yard line? I think it's pretty intimidating even though we have laid the wood to them over the past few years! AND LET US NOT FORGET "THE MOST EXCITING 25 SECONDS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL"....THE HILL!!!! Be afraid...be very afraid! No matter who you pull for, with a given tag like that, this entrance must not be left out. GO TIGERS!-P Harmon-http://www.blogger.com/profile/02026775335888771512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205944802378584259.post-7422126204780742602008-05-29T14:20:00.000-07:002008-05-29T14:20:00.000-07:00Tyler, good point. I've thought about downloading the audio so I can have the files in case they become unavailable. I would host all the files on here, but I know that many of these debates are copyrighted and can't be hosted here. That's why I've provided links to the site rather than directly to many audio clips. But, I'm still thinking on that one... Hope you're enjoying your mission trip!Bryan Barleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17731250246892796543noreply@blogger.com