2.22 Christmas Party Photos

Photos from Tuesday night's Christmas Party are now available. Just click on any of the photos below to go to the whole album. Or just click here.

We had a great turnout and a great time. We were able to appreciate Jeff & Judy with a nice "twin" gift of 2 cards, 2 Starbucks coffee mugs, 2 $15 Starbucks gift cards and 2 crisp $100 bills! Thanks to all who contributed!

Enjoy the photos and Merry Christmas! Don't forget about the New Year's Party!

A few photos from the "Dirty Santa" gift exchange:

Rachel Riggan is back! She got John Owen's "The Glory of Christ"...did she keep it though???

Pastor Jeff got a purple stuffed animal...he didn't have to worry about anyone stealing it.

Michael Klamm tried some creative advertising...but no takers...I think he ended up pawning the stuff off to my kids.

New Year's Eve Fellowship

New Year's Eve Fellowship at the family home of Beth Riley

8:30PM to 12:01AM - Sunday night, January DECEMBER 31st :o)

Please email Beth to let her know what you can bring from the following list:

Snack Food (4-5 people)
Dessert (3-4 people)
Drinks
Cups, plates, flatware
Card Tables - 4 or 5

You may also contact Beth via email for directions.

When you arrive at the house, please park on the road and not in the driveway.They need to be careful walking down the walkway because it is steep. We will put something out by the mailbox so that you can find the right house.

*DISCLAIMER: 2.22 has never partied like this before (Christmas AND New Years?), so don't get used to it. :o)

2.22 Christmas Party - December 19th

Here's a food list & quantities needed for the upcoming Christmas party...just find something that you'd like to bring, and email Anita to let her know. If you'd like to bring something that isn't on the list, that's fine too, just let Anita know.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

(8) - 2 liter drinks

(2) - cheese dips
(4) - tortilla chips
(6) - desserts
(6) - appetizers/finger food

*Bringing food is not required to attend the party! :o)

CHANGE of New Email Address!!

Sorry for the confusion, but 2.22 will once again have a new Email address!!

I have been having trouble with the sbcglobal address, so, from this point on, please use the following address for any 2.22 related correspondance:

222mission AT gmail DOT com

Be sure and add this to your address book, and you might also want to indicate in your email provider that this won't be a Junk/Spam address (sometimes when you receive an email addressed to an entire list of recipients, your email provider will block it as potential spam - I'm finding this to be true for those of you with Yahoo addresses).

If you are not receiving 2.22 emails, please send an email to the new address with the word "SUBSCRIBE" in the Subject line. Please Note: 2.22 emails are DIFFERENT from the 2.22 Blog Feedblitz. If you are subscribed to Feedblitz, you will receive any updates to the 2.22 Blog. The 2.22 email list is for any time sensitive announcement that wouldn't be appropriate for the blog (missionary updates, fellowship opportunities, etc.). IOW, you need to be subscribed to BOTH! :o)

Also, I will be checking this email daily, but it will only be checked in the evenings, so if it's time sensitive, be sure and send it early enough to allow for my response. Again, here is what to use this new email address for:

~Emails that you want me to forward to the group
~Blog articles
~Your change of email address
~Any other 2.22 related information

Thanks for your help!

2.22 Christmas Party - December 19th

I hope you've marked your calender for Tuesday, December 19th. 2.22 will hold it's 2nd Annual Christmas Party at 6:30pm at the home of Aaron & Anita Wilson.

We will once again play "Dirty Santa", so bring a gift to exchange if you want to play ($5-$7). Last year produced some great books as highly coveted gifts, and as well as the not-so-coveted Kung Fu fighting hamster.

Michael Martin has graciously offered to deep fry a turkey for us this year (if you had any last year, then you'll remember how good it was!). For other food items, please sign up during the upcoming 2.22 meetings on Tuesdays. If you can't be here to sign up, please email Anita to find out what to bring.

Please be sure to invite any and all college students who will be returning for the holidays - many of them do not get our emails nor read the blog, so we want to extend the invitation to them by word of mouth.

Hope to see you there!

Oh yeah...also reserve your New Year's Eve for a 2.22 fellowship at the home of Beth Riley. Devotional, food & games will begin at 8:30pm. Watch the blog for more details.

After Darkness, Light - Study Guide #2

In preparation for Friday night's study (November 17), read Isaiah 5 & 6, and consider the following questions:

1. Why was Israel under condemnation (see Is. 5 and 6:10).

2. Why would God call a preacher to preach for the purpose of making people’s hearts “dull”, “ears heavy”, eyes “blind (see Is. 6:10)?

3. Based on the entire chapter (Is. 6), why would Isaiah still want to preach for these sad results?

4. How does Isaiah’s ministry compare with yours?

~Have you encountered the Lord in His holiness?
~Do you have a heart to serve, leaving the results up to God?
~Do you preach/ share Christ with the remnant in mind?
~Do you disciple people understanding that God might have rejection planned for you?
~Have you ever thought that God’s plan is best no matter the results?
~How does a passage like Dt. 29:29 help?

5. When considering 2 Cor. 2:14-17 do you see how Paul’s ministry parallels Isaiah’s?

After Darkness, Light - Study Guide #1

In preparation for this Friday's Bible Study (November 10), Jeff has come up with a short pre-study guide:

1. Read 1 Samuel 1-3 focusing primarily on chapter 3.

2. Not having Bibles back in OT times, what does 1 Sam. 3:1 mean: "...the word of the LORD was rare"?

3. Why was it "rare?"

4. Samuel was called to be a prophet. Is it legitimate to think of yourself as being called by the LORD to a certain task in these days?

5. If so, then what is God's call for your life? What does God's word call you to and what's your gift mix and what are your current opportunities?

6. Since God reveals himself through the Bible, how does sin keep you from enjoying this revelation?

7. In 1 Sam. 3:21 note the way God reveals himself once again?

After Darkness, Light - Current Study at 2.22 Fridays

On Friday nights, over the following months, Pastor Jeff will embark on a sermon series called “After Darkness, Light.” He's going to use 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 as a springboard into this biblical study. This passage, like none other, captures four primary theological categories or themes that he has discovered independently while surveying the doctrine of illumination. The breakdown of this passage is as follows:

The Context

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

Theme 1 – Condemnation without Illumination

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Theme 2 – Communication for Illumination

2 Corinthians 4:5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

Theme 3 – Conversion by Illumination

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts…

Theme 4 – Communion through Illumination

2 Corinthians 4:6 …to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Practically speaking, these four categories will lead to four applications:

• By rejecting illumination you’re condemned


• By biblical communication you’re transformed


• By illumination your soul is converted


• By illumination your communion is enriched.

Be sure and join us each Friday night for this study. Remember, we have a meal each Friday beginning at 6:30pm, so bring a few bucks to help cover costs (guests eat free!). We begin our worship around 7pm with a focus on missions, then worship through song, then Jeff will open the Word to us.

Hope to see you there!

**2.22 WILL NOT MEET the Friday after Thanksgiving, and also on December 8.

Above All Earthly Powers

The audio is now available from the recent Desiring God Conference on The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World. You will be hearing more from Pastor Jeff in the near future, as he was able to attend this event.

Click here for all the audio, or click on the individual messages below.

David Wells The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World

Justin Taylor, John Piper, Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll A Conversation with the Pastors

Voddie Baucham The Supremacy of Christ and Truth in a Postmodern World

Tim Keller The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel in a Postmodern World

Mark Driscoll The Supremacy of Christ and the Church in a Postmodern World

Justin Taylor, Voddie Baucham, John Piper, D. A. Carson, David Wells Speaker Panel

D. A. Carson The Supremacy of Christ and Love in a Postmodern World

John Piper The Supremacy of Christ and Joy in a Postmodern World Read or Listen

An Emerging Church Primer

By Justin Taylor

Some of you may be called to be experts on the emerging church. We need experts. But I'm not that expert. And perhaps it's good for you that I'm not. In conservative evangelical circles, we can be tempted to listen to experts so that we can hear the person's conclusions: "Just tell me what to think—don't bother me with how you got there." We want the Cliff Notes on the emerging church. We want to read the cast of characters—"this guy's a wolf, that guy's a sheep," and so on.

I'm not going to do that. One of my goals is to help you understand the "emerging church." But my deeper goal would be for us to become the sort of people who know how to think about things like the emerging church. After all, the "emerging church" is not here to stay. It's a movement, and this is its season. It might be replaced in a year or so; it might stretch out for decades. Yet one thing's for sure: Emerging Church Version 2006 is going to look different next year. And the next.

As Christians, we want to train ourselves to have the mind of Christ, so that we can respond like well-trained tennis players to whatever ball flies in our direction—no matter the angle, the spin, or the speed.

Read the entire article here.

222 Blog Gets New Look

I'm slowly trying to update the overall look of the blog - could you let me know what you think? Here's some of the questions I have. Feel free to leave your comments. Thanks!

• Are there any links that aren't working?
• Do you like the 3 column layout?
• Can you see all three columns on your screen (does the page fit on your computer screen)?
• Is the color scheme ok, or does it make you want to puke?(I know I can't find colors to please everyone, but I'm trying to match the header photo)
• Are there other features/links that would be helpful (permanent links to IFO, STEP, etc.)
• Other suggestions?

Study Resources on Election

In light of our recent chapter & discussion in Bible Doctrine on the doctrine of election, here's a helpful sermon on answering objections to this teaching.

This will be helpful as you prepare for this coming Lord's Day discussion.

Here's a few other resources as well.

More on Fighting Sexual Temptation

Some Biblical motives for fighting sexual temptation:

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: That you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Genesis 39:7

And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, “Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and ran out of the house.”


Matthew 5:27-30

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Proverbs 5:1-6

My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion and your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey; and her speech is smother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.


James 1:12-15

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

I Corinthians 10:7-10

Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, not grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

I Corinthians 10: 13-15

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man, God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Titus 1:15-16

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

I Peter 1:3-8

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Revelation 22:14-15

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Galatians 5:16-25

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, socery, enmity, strige, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Job 31:1

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Proverbs 6:24

To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

Proverbs 23:27

For a harlot is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

Jeremiah 3:1

They say, IF a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? Shall not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.

I Corinthians 6:13-20

The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ Himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in Spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit whom is in you, who you have received form God? You are not your own , You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your own body.

II Peter 2:9

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished

Pieces of Proverbs - Asteroids

This is the third and final post (for now) in a short series of simple observations regarding sin found in Proverbs .

Proverbs 5:7-8
And now, O sons, listen to me,and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her,and do not go near the door of her house...

"Do not go near the door of her house": in other words, avoid putting oneself in positions where one will be tempted to sin. The statement is not simply, "don’t go in her door," but rather, "don’t even go near her door."

This is likely a testimony to the very strong attraction that such temptations have over one, much like (to wax astronomical) the gravitational pull of a planet on passing asteroids. If the asteroid stays far enough away, it is unaffected by the strong gravitational pull, but if it comes closer, its course is inevitably altered—and if it comes close enough, it is pulled into the planet, becoming annihilated as it burns up in the planet’s atmosphere.

Sexual sin is like this in that one should not flirt with the temptation; to do so is already to have been defeated.

Pieces of Proverbs - The Path

Continuing in a series of insights and observations in the Proverbs...

Proverbs 5:5-6
Her feet go down to death;her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life;her ways wander, and she does not know it.

In verse five, the author states that the feet of the adulteress "go down to death, her steps take hold of Sheol," with the consequence (in verse six) that "her ways are unstable [but] she does not know it."

Like the "lip" motif in verses one through three, this description of the adulteress’ feet and "ways" is set over against the advice (or wisdom) given by the author at the end of the previous chapter. There, the author has already admonished the reader to "watch the path of your feet," with the consequence that "all your ways will be established."

So the author appears here to be contrasting 1) the wise man’s self-knowledge, mindfulness and attentiveness to his lifestyle and careful, intentional consideration of the effects of his behavior on his life to 2) the adulteress’ lack of self-knowledge and inability or unwillingness to "ponder the path of life."

The wise man’s ways are "established" as a result, while the adulteress’ ways are "unstable". Since stability is much to be preferred over instability, the truly good option is here obvious.

A Word From LaJuana Magee of IFO

"My life has undergone tremendous change after finding IFO.
I have been touched by the faith of those involved".
Aloke from India

"Yes, I believe in miracles because now I know there is a God".
Wei from China

The quotes above are just two of the lives that have been touched/changed by the love of God demonstrated through his people.

What a wonderful privilege we have to serve the Lord in such a way. IFO serves to enlarge His kingdom and His righteousness in the lives of internationals who come, year by year, to live and study in Central Arkansas. Most of the hundreds of internationals that come, have never heard the message of the gospel. Most have never stopped to think about eternity. Over half of the internationals that study in Central Arkansas are from restricted or closed countries. Last year God allowed us to see many hearts become open to His love and grace and several place their faith in Him.

As I have been picking up the new internationals from the airport, I wonder which hearts and lives will change during their time with us. Knowing that is the work of God, brings great comfort. Knowing that He has placed them in our paths to love, serve and tell, challenges me. I hope that it does the same with you. We are expecting around 120 new internationals at UALR and 100 new internationals at UCA. We do not know how many new ones are at UAMS. There are hundreds! Central Arkansas has become a mission field in itself. You can be a missionary right here where you live.

Would you pray about how God will use you this year in the life/lives of internationals?

Here are some ways to serve:

1. Become an American Friendship Partner: Plain and simple - be a friend! We ask that you spend a couple of times a month with your friend. Contact them once a week; e-mail is fine. Let them be apart of your life.

2. Come to Conversation Club: A “once a week for six weeks” commitment beginning the later part of September. We have Conversation Club during the lunch hour at UAMS, on Monday evenings at UALR, and Thursday evenings at UCA. You don't have to commit to all campuses. If you are interested, choose one campus.

3. Special Events: We have several throughout the year. Sign up with IFO to get info messages about our special events. Come and make a friend.

4. Hospitality: As internationals come into a new cultural environment, adjusting can be hard. Helping them get settled is a demonstration of God's love and care for them. Sometimes they ask, "Why do these Americans do these things for me".

5. Holiday Hospitality: Invite a international to spend a holiday with you and your family.

These are just a few ways that you can serve with us.

Would you think about it? Would you pray about serving with us?

If you would like more information on how you can be apart of this ministry, contact LaJuana Magee at

LaJuana@IFOarkansas.org or check out or website at www.IFOarkansas.org

2.22 will be helping with the Fall IFO Picnic - See blog post below!!

IFO PICNIC - Details & Ministry Opportunities

International Friendship Outreach (or IFO) is a community based program offering opportunities for social and cultural interaction between American hosts and internationals who study, work, or live in the central Arkansas area. They also sponsor a number of social events and outings during the year. They offer these services in both the Little Rock and Conway areas. IFO is a mission partner of the Bible Church of Little Rock.

Below are details for the upcoming IFO Picnic:

When: Saturday, September 16th, 2006
Where: Maumelle Park (off Hwy 10), Pavilion #2
Time: Official start time 5 pm. However there is some help needed before this to get set up starting at 2:45.
What: Food, Fun & Friends followed by Volleyball, Basketball & Soccer (games will be setup beforehand along with some board games for early arrivals.).

Don’t forget to bring lawn chairs of something to put on the ground to sit on as we do not have enough seating. Also, if you could empty your ice makers and brink in picnic coolers for drinks and food, it would be much appreciated.

BCLR 222 Group members are being asked:

1) To buy a case of bottled water and put it in the church refrigerator the evening before (or they can give me the case no later than two nights before the picnic and I can take it to the church OR they can place the water in their own cooler and bring it themselves). We would ask that everyone who does plan on coming to the picnic to please bring a case of bottled water (I think there are 24-36 bottles in a case).

2) To go to the church on Saturday afternoon at 2:15 pm to pick up any food that has been dropped off for the picnic; to fill the Igloo water coolers from the youth department and ice chests with ice; to fill the coolers with water; to load folding tables (11-12) and chairs (50-100) and bring to Maumelle Park by 2:45 pm.

3) To set up the tables and chairs

4) To break out of our group and to mingle and converse with the international students. To eat with them, get to know them and let them get to know us, and to enjoy the games which will follow the activities.

5) To help with breaking down the tables and chairs. On the set-up and break down we can split where some people come early to set up and others stay late to break down.

I am asking that people not PROCRASTINATE on letting me know if they are going to be able to be at the picnic or not. So if you can give me an answer by the END OF AUGUST it would be greatly appreciated. I need to let Vicky know as soon as possible how many of the 222 group are going to be able to help so she can know if she needs to ask others in the church to help with set up and tear down. The most important thing is spending time with the students so if all you can do is come for the picnic but can’t come early or stay late that is NO PROBLEM! We want to build God-glorifying relationships with these international students and show them that we care about them.

Please contact Michael Hamline to let him know if you want to participate:

A) Email
B) Phone: 501-225-1011
C) Tuesday night where sign-up forms will again be available. Please give these forms back to me or else I won’t know you signed up. If you have already signed up then you don't have to contact me.

Pieces of Proverbs - Honey

A while back, I promised some posts for the guys on the subject of sexual sin & temptation. Well, here's an attempt to stick to my word. Hey, better late than never, right?. I'm going to post several short articles that I'm also posting on my own blog - in case you aren't a faithful reader of iamchief :o)

Feel free to comment and dialogue on these.


A friend has recently been doing some meditating in Proverbs and recording some of his thoughts and observations. I found them to be so helpful, that I asked for his permission to post them here. They're simple, yet profound insights, that I think will be helpful to all of us.

I'm not sure how many I'll post, but I've got at least three sets of verses for this week. I'll call them "Pieces of Proverbs". We'll begin in Proverbs 5.

Proverbs 5:1-4
My son, be attentive to my wisdom;incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion,and your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,sharp as a two-edged sword.

In the first three verses, there is a "lip" motif.

The author advises the reader to cultivate discretion so that one’s "lips may preserve wisdom." This is set over against the lips of the adulteress, which initially seem abundantly delightful—the author expresses this by saying that her lips "drip honey," seeming to indicate such a promising abundance of pleasure. This promise is true, but dangerously lacking in full disclosure, however, for verse four says that "in the end she is bitter as wormwood." It is interesting here that the author does not claim that her lips are bitter but that she is bitter. This seems to be a reference to the character of the adulteress considered as a whole.

The author does not deny that there is genuine pleasure to be had in the lips of the adulteress; to deny this would be radically implausible. Rather, he seems to be claiming that one’s delight in such pleasure is inextricably linked to the experience of a greater bitterness that is hidden from view at the outset.

The promise of such pleasure is so dangerous because it seems to capture all of one’s attention, preventing one from observing discretion in these matters.

STEP Ministries and 2.22

Quite a few from 2.22 took 9 hours out of their summer to serve in an inner-city ministry called STEP. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, from 5 until 8, each "mentor" is paired up with one (sometimes two) "mentees" for the purpose of relationship building and Bible study.

Rachel Riggan served in STEP in July she said:

I had a 13yr. old girl who is a Christian, and seemed to have a teachable heart. She has a sad home life as 3 siblings have different fathers.She and one sister have the same dad but he took off when they were little. She has had a mentor this last year, so she knew more of what was going on than I did at first. She was eager to learn and she did ask lots of questions. I think she is still trying to understand alot of things. I enjoyed her so much and wished that the program was longer than 3 days. It is amazing how you go to serve to be a blessing and you end up being blessed through them. The Lord is so good!!!

Rachel Riggan & Alecia

If you served in STEP this summer, send me an email describing your experience & a photo, and we'll post it on the blog.

Meanwhile, here's a couple of photos of other 2.22ers and their mentees...

Lani Stine & her new friend

Emily Griggs had two young ladies to mentor

Jason & Ross Riggan

15 yr old, Carl Johnson & Aaron Wilson

(Wow...I really look fat in that picture, don't I?)

2 From 2.22 Go To China

Hi everyone!

Yes, it's true, Laura and I will be leaving for China on July15th. Please keep us in your thoughts.

Because blogs and xangas are public, we must be careful as to what we say. However, don't let that discourage you! If you would like to keep in touch with us (which we would love for you to do), our emails are: laura.neale@gmail.com and anna.neale@gmail.com . Simple yet practical. Also, adventures from our travels will be posted regularly on our xanga sites: www.xanga.com/lauracricket and www.xanga.com/annaphora. Again, please take care as to what you say. We will crave encouragement while we are there and if you just go to our sites to see the adorable Chinese children, please do. We love posting pictures most of the time.

Thank you for your interest in what we are doing. We appreciate it greatly!

The Neale Sisters

The "I Am's" of Christ - 2.22 Summer Preaching Series

On Tuesday, June 13th, 2.22 began a summer series on "The 'I Am's' of Christ" from the gospel of John. The statements, and their respective chapters are as follows:

The Bread of Life - John 6
The Light of the World - John 8
The Sheep Gate - John 10
The Good Shepherd - John 10
The Resurrection and the Life - John 11
The Way, the Truth, and the Life - John 14
The True Vine - John 15
Before Abraham was, I AM - John 8

Throughout the summer, Lord willing, Pastor Jeff and several of our undershepherds will be covering each of these statements. You won't want to miss any of it!

Aaron began the series with an introduction and brief overview of the "I Am" statements. Practical, penetrating questions were asked regarding our love for and knowledge of Christ. It was suggested that the reason we don't love Christ as we ought is because we don't know Him as we ought. Christ's purpose in being known is so that He may display the glories of His Father. To know Christ is to know the Father (John 8:19). And what better place to get to know Christ - to see the glories of the Father - than in the gospels; particularly, John's gospel account.

Aaron read several excerpts from John Owen's classic work, "The Glory of Christ". He was reading the abridged, slightly modernized Puritan Paperback version. You can read the original work, online for free here. Also helpful resource might be R.C. Sproul's cd sermon series on the "I AM's" of Christ.

Other resources mentioned by Aaron were James White's paper on the "ego eimi", as well as the hymn "More Love to Thee" by Elizabeth Prentiss, and this lesser known hymn, "Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?" by Philip Doddridge.

Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?

Behold my heart and see;
And turn each cursèd idol out,
That dares to rival Thee.

Do not I love Thee, O my Lord?
Then let me nothing love;
Dead be my heart to every joy,
When Jesus cannot move.

Is not Thy Name melodious still
To mine attentive ear?
Doth not each pulse with pleasure bound
My Savior’s voice to hear?

Hast Thou a lamb in all Thy flock
I would disdain to feed?
Hast Thou a foe, before whose face
I fear Thy cause to plead?

Would not mine ardent spirit vie
With angels round the throne,
To execute Thy sacred will,
And make Thy glory known?

Would not my heart pour forth its blood
In honor of Thy Name?
And challenge the cold hand of death
To damp th’immortal flame?

Thou know’st I love Thee, dearest Lord,
But O, I long to soar
Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
And learn to love Thee more!

WWJW: Where Would Jesus Worship?

Audio from the Church Emergentcy Conference should be available soon, I'll post links as it becomes available. Also, check out the Pulpit Live graphic in the sidebar for some current articles on the emergent church.

And finally, did you attend the conference? If so, why don't you leave your remarks in the comments section...what did you learn & what were some of the highlights for you.

As he promised, here is the outline & Scripture references of Pastor Lance's concluding message:

The Church God Attends
Selected Scriptures

Introduction:

Within current church movements like the Emergent Church, the critical question could be asked, “What kind of church would God Himself actually attend today?” What would be the criteria that God would use to determine what local church, or movement of churches, to attend? In other words, how would the Lord Himself evaluate the current maze of ministry approaches within Protestant local churches in order to determine where He would attend and become involved? We are speaking somewhat tongue-in-cheek of course, for the question itself is somewhat humorous and provocative, but it does give us an opportunity to ask a question about current church philosophies of ministry and how Jesus would evaluate them. With so many different approaches on “how to do church,” as people often say, what is the proper criterion for choosing the right church or movement of churches to attend? How do you decide what church in which to become involved? How do you decide where to spend your time, effort, and energy? How do you decide these crucial matters? Well, in an age where many have been asking, “What would Jesus do?” I want to ask, “Where would Jesus attend church?” Here’s my answer:

1. Jesus attends the Churches who worship God in spirit and truth

· John 4:13-26
· Zechariah 7:4-14

2. Jesus attends Churches who Fear God and Esteem His Name

· Malachi 3:6-18

3. Jesus attends the Churches who Worship God by Faith

· Hebrews 11:6

4. Jesus attends the Churches who offer up their Worshipful Praise to His Name

· Hebrews 13:15
· Psalm 22:3, 22-23, 25
· Psalm 33:1

5. Jesus attends the Churches who Serve and Share with One Another

· Hebrews 13:16

6. Jesus attends Churches who Pursue God’s Will

· Hebrews 13:21
· Romans 12:2

7. Jesus attends Churches who lay their Lives down as Living Sacrifices

· Romans 12:1

8. Jesus attends Churches who Humbly and Fearfully revere God’s Word

· Isaiah 66:1-3
· Isaiah 48:17-19
· Jeremiah 6:16-19
· Jeremiah 8:4-9
· Nehemiah 8:1-3

9. Jesus attends Churches who acknowledge His rightful Headship

· Ephesians 5:22-30
· Matthew 18:15-20

10. Jesus attends Churches who make Him Preeminent

· Colossians 1:15-20

11. Jesus attends Churches who maintain Him as their First Love

· Revelation 2:2-5

12. Jesus attends Churches who are Faithful in Persecution

· Revelation 2:9-10

13. Jesus attends Churches who Stand Against False Teaching

· Revelation 2:14-16
· Revelation 2:19-23, 24-29

14. Jesus attends Churches who Continue in Good Works

· Revelation 3:1-3 (negative example)
· Revelation 3:8-12 (positive example)

15. Jesus attends Churches who Express their Utter Dependence upon Him

· Revelation 3:15-19

16. Jesus attends Churches who Cry out to Him for Help and Deliverance

· Psalm 17:1
· Psalm 55:1-2, 16-19, 22
· Psalm 142:5-7
· Psalm 130:1-2

17. Jesus attends Churches whose Pastors Faithfully Tend to the Flock

· Jeremiah 23:1-4
· Acts 28:28-32

18. Jesus attends Churches who offer up Sincere Testimonies and Prayers to God

· Psalm 66:16-20
· Psalm 5:1-3, 7, 12

19. Jesus attends Churches where Everyone’s Physical Needs are Being Met

· Acts 2:44-47
· Acts 4:32-37
· Acts 5:1-11

20. Jesus attends Churches whose Pattern most closely Follows the Early Church

· Acts 2:42-43
· James 1:22

21. Jesus attends Churches who Pursue Righteousness and who Seek the Comfort of the Lord

· Isaiah 51:1-8

22. Jesus attends Churches who flee from Sexuality Immorality

· Jeremiah 29:19-23
· 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

23. Jesus attends Churches who Refuse to Worship False Gods

· Daniel 3:8-30
· Daniel 6:10-28

24. Jesus attends Churches who are Committed to His Wisdom

· Proverbs 2:2
· Proverbs 8
· Colossians

25. Jesus attends Churches who are Faithful to Proclaim Him in their Witnessing/Mission

· Acts 16:11-15

Photos Emerging...

Here are just a few photos from the Church Emergentcy Conference. Click here to see more (additional photos addes 6-8-06!), or double click the slide show below.

As If...

I don't think that anyone from our group was able to make the New Attitude conference. So, here's some links to re-cap the even, as if you were there.

Adrian Warnock collected a few great quotes.

And here's the OFFICIAL Na blog, complete with re-caps, photos, and the Courtesy Ninjas.

Purchase the conference sessions on cd or mp3 here.

Like listening to podcasts? Try Napcast.

Na ninjas

Join us for 2.22 on Friday Nights!

Don't forget that 2.22 is meeting in the Activity Center on Friday evenings at 6:30pm!

*More pictures coming soon, when Aaron can remember the 2.22 Flickr account password!

down with the dc Talk

One of Jeff Crott's claims to fame is that he attended the same school with homeboys Toby McKeehan, Kevin Max Smith and Michael Tait - better known as dc Talk. I think they were even considering bringing Crotts on as a fourth member of the Talk, but they couldn't sell the concept of "Surfer Rap" to the record labels. That, and the fact that Crotts can't dance.

Just after I became a Christian, their album "Free At Last" came out & it was the first Christian album I ever bought (it was either that or Smitty's 10 year album, I can't remember). So I've been down with the dc Talk for quite some time now.

Well, looks like they have a new album coming out - but hang on, don't get excited and start tearin' down the walls - it's just another one of those 10-year-anniversary-tribute-albums performed by various Gotee Artists. They did something similar before, but it was just a re-release with a few bells & whistles- oh, and a bonus documentary/movie that was supposed to be released in the theatres, but for some reason - perhaps they were busy as a school boy makin' an "A" - it was never finished, so they decided to slap the unedited film on a dvd and sell it for the same price as a fully edited movie (I bought it).

I know it's normal for bands - dc Talk no exception - to do "Greatest Hits" albums. In fact, I snatched theirs up quick, fast in a hurry (their re-mix of "Say The Word" has got to be one of the best re-mixes I've ever heard). But another 10 year anniversary tribute to another old album? You'd almost think two things:

1) It's just a marketing tool to make some more money. But hey, you know that they're down wit the flow in the know on the go like a pro not for show 'cause they ain't in the biz for the dough or the me or the ray, all the dough's gotta stay 'cause they can't, no they can't, take it home anyway.
So it couldn't be that.

2) They don't have anything better for a new album. Even if DJ's don't play it.

I don't know...I really don't suspect either. After all, since their "temporary" breakup, Toby & Tait have had successful solo albums. Oh - and K Mart K Max too (just ask him). And I've never been dissappointed with anything new the group has come out with in the past.

All speculations aside, from what I've heard so far, it sounds pretty good.

Careful Little Links

Be careful little eyes what you see.
In a recent article, Al Mohler remembers the Darwinian display at the London Zoo almost a year ago.

Be careful little ears what you hear.
Justin Taylor introduces us to some new arrangements of some old hymns. Good Stuff.

Be careful little mouth what you say.
Phil Johnson offers his insight on using vulgar and profane language.

More on Modesty

Once again, our very own Todd Murray is gaining popularity with his thoughts about modesty at the wedding ceremony. But what's more important than Todd's "fame & fortune" :o) is that the message of modesty is being further discussed among Christians.

Al Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, recently did a radio program on this very topic, and referred to Todd's admonition to brides about wedding day attire. You can read his current blog here, where you'll find links to the radio program, which you can download for free.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss has several wonderful resources on modesty for women, that you can find here. I'd encourage all of our ladies to either purchase the cd's or listen online to any of Nancy's series on modesty. She addresses the heart attitude of modesty first, then discusses (without being legalistic) issues of appropriate clothing. Great stuff!

And don't forget the Mahaney girls have been blogging about this already. Read it here.

Now, anytime anyone address the issue of modesty among women, there can be a tendency to think that women are the only problem. Well, without repeating what any of the speakers above have probably already said, let me just make these few points:

• Guys and girls are equally responsible in this area.
• Guys have the responsibility to avert their eyes and control their minds.
• Girls have an equal responsibility to avoid wearing and acting in ways that are tempting to men.
• It's as "simple" as that - no one (male or female) should do anything that would cause a fellow believer (male or femail) to stumble. Cf. Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8; 10:23-33; Philippians 2:1-4)

Perhaps this short quote from Richard Baxter (quoted by Nancy Leigh DeMoss in "The Look") says it best:

“And though it be their sin and vanity that is the cause [of lust], it is nevertheless your sin to be the unnecessary occasion…You must not lay a stumbling-block in their way, nor blow up the fire of their lust…You must walk among sinful persons as you would do with a candle among straw or gunpowder; or else you may see the flame which you did not foresee, when it is too late to quench it.”

*If this still seems like an one-sided attack against women, I'll be fair and post some resources for the guys soon. :o)

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

A few photos from Friday night's Travs Game

Soaked in Blood and Singed with Fire

I received the following email from a dear brother:

I had the blessed privilege of attending the “Together for the Gospel” conference a week ago with others in our church. It was God-besotted, Christ-uplifting, and H.S. infused. I wanted to share with you some of John Piper’s message (all of the speakers were well-prepared and worth quoting, but Piper always has a way of waking me out of my consumerism mentality).

My prayer is that you are sitting under the kind of preaching that he is calling for and then living in light of it, or that you are that type of preacher yourself. The cross of Christ and the lake of fire; and we want a flippant, therapeutic, stand-up comic in our pulpit? God help us.

He included the following excerpt:

Preaching as Expository Exultation for the Glory of God
John Piper
Together for the Gospel Conference
Louisville, Kentucky

April 27, 2006

God did not ordain the cross of Christ or create the lake of fire3 in order to communicate the insignificance of belittling his glory. The death of the Son of God and the damnation of unrepentant human beings are the loudest shouts under heaven that God is infinitely holy, and sin is infinitely offensive, and wrath is infinitely just, and grace is infinitely precious, and our brief life—and the life of every person in your church and in your community—leads to everlasting joy or everlasting suffering. If our preaching does not carry the weight of these things to our people, what will? Veggie Tales? (Not in a million years) Radio? Television? Discussion groups? Emergent conversations?

God planned for his Son to be crucified (Revelation 13:8; 2 Timothy 1:9) and for hell to be terrible (Matthew 25:41) so that we would have the clearest witnesses possible to what is at stake when we preach. What gives preaching its seriousness is that the mantle of the preacher is soaked with the blood of Jesus and singed with fire of hell. That’s the mantle that turns mere talkers into preachers. Yet tragically some of the most prominent evangelical voices today diminish the horror of the cross and the horror of hell—the one stripped of its power to bear our punishment, and the other demythologized into self-dehumanization and the social miseries of this world.4

Oh that the rising generations would see that the world is not overrun with a sense of seriousness about God. There is no surplus in the church of a sense of God’s glory. There is no excess of earnestness in the church about heaven and hell and sin and salvation. And therefore the joy of many Christians is paper thin. By the millions people are amusing themselves to death with DVDs, and 107-inch TV screens, and games on their cell phones, and slapstick worship, while the spokesmen of a massive world religion write letters to the West in major publications saying, “The first thing we are calling you to is Islam . . . It is the religion of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil with the hand, tongue and heart. It is the religion of jihad in the way of Allah so that Allah’s Word and religion reign Supreme.”5 And then these spokesmen publicly bless suicide bombers who blow up children in front of Falafel shops and call it the way to paradise. This is the world in which we preach.

And yet incomprehensibly, in this Christ-diminishing, soul-destroying age, books and seminars and divinity schools and church growth specialists are bent on saying to young pastors, “Lighten up.” “Get funny.” “Do something amusing.” To this I ask, Where is the spirit of Jesus? “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25). “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29). “Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead” (Matthew 8:22). “Whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (Mark 10:44). “Fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). “Some of you they will put to death . . . But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives” (Luke 21:16-19).

Would the church growth counsel to Jesus be, “Lighten up, Jesus. Do something amusing.” And to the young pastor: “Whatever you do, young pastor, don’t be like the Jesus of the Gospels. Lighten up.” From my perspective, which feels very close to eternity these days, that message to pastors sounds increasingly insane.

You can read the entire sermon here.

Purchase audio from the conference here.

Get a play-by-play recap of the conference here.

Pics from Desi's Cookout

Click here to see the rest of Desi's photos from last Saturday's cookout.

Todd Murray Gets His Name In Blogdom

Some wise words from our worship pastor, Todd Murray, are shared by the Mahaney girls. Thanks Todd!

Post-Everythings

Usually you post the first few lines of an article to peak the reader's interest, then direct them to the entire article for further reading. However, this time, allow me to post the LAST paragraph of this article by Tim Keller.
In this paragraph, Keller sums up his thoughts on how the reformed evangelical chuch already has some of the right resources to reach what he calls the "post-everything" culture, but also challenges us that we may not be engaging this culture correctly. He concludes his article by saying:

I see people who are desperately trying to reach the post-everythings who in their desperation are trying to throw out essential elements such as the substitutionary atonement, forensic justification, imputed righteousness, the Sovereignty of God, or the inerrancy of Scripture. Many of them are probably over-adapting to the post-everything situation. But while they do not have our theological resources, often we do not have their level of engagement with the people of the emerging society. To correct this, let us confess that we really have failure across all our parties to reach the coming
society, and let us resolve to use the premier resources of Reformed theology. If we can make these changes, then we may really start to see renewal and outreach, and we might actually be a resource for the broader body of Christ in this culture.

Read the entire article here & let us know your thoughts - especially as we're approaching the "Church Emergentcy" conference in June (more details to come).

New Blog Subscription Service

I just came across a more reliable subscription service for the 222mission blog. Those of you who have already subscribed to this blog through "Bloglet", will continue to receive updates, but they will be from "FeedBlitz" now instead of "Bloglet". You won't have to do anything different to receive these. If you are still receiving updates through "Bloglet" (which I've now renamed "Blog-let-down" :o), you may receive updates from both services for a few days. I am in the process of deleting all "Bloglet" subscriptions so you won't get duplicates.

If you haven't subscribed to this blog yet, now would be a great time. "FeedBlitz" will not spam your email inbox nor sell your address to other parties. It's easy to sign up.

Let me know how you like the new subscription service. Thanks!

Photos from Bonfire & Beth's Dinner

Click here to see all of Beth's photos from the bonfire at the Suitt's and the dinner party at Beth's!

You'll also see what this is all about:

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A Few Blogs on the Emerging Church

Two articles just emerged (tic) out in the blogosphere on the subject of the emergent church.

Chad "Breuss Wane " Bresson reports on a recent Brian McLaren article, as well as tying in a few of D.A. Carson's thoughts.

And of course you'd know that Steve Camp is on top of this as well. He posts an article by David Green that helps us understand where McLaren is going (and where he's coming from) with an interesting re-write of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Be sure to read the comments too, they're often just as intriguing as the article!