Two Institutions Two Institutions Returning the Two Institutions of the Family and the Church back to a Biblical model. Articles
A Cry from the Fatherless
2007-08-20 23:10:00 ?It may be hard for some father?s not to have a son, but it is much harder for a son not to have a father.?- S.D. GilbertThree boys. Wow! As of 11 days ago I am the father of three boys. Asher, Caleb and Nathaniel Hickman have me for a dad. Now before you start sending your sympathy wishes to them, let me make one statement. Blake Leslie Hickman will do whatever it takes to make sure those boys know their dad. Many people see the above quote and automatically assume that it is in reference to single parent homes. Unfortunately, that is not the case. One of the saddest things in our culture is the rate of fatherless homes where the father is still present. One thing that we need to make sure of is that we are not adding to the rise of that rate. Are we making our kids a top priority? Are we being intentional in how we participate in their lives? Are we having conversations with them with no ulterior motives? Are we telling them we love them with no strings attached? It is ... More About: Fath
Integrity In Church Membership
2007-08-16 23:07:00 Integrity as defined by Websters dictionary is a firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic value. I have also heard a colloquial definition of integrity that says integrity is doing the right thing even when no one else is looking. Both of these definitions are sufficient but unfortunately neither of them can be strictly applied to the record keeping of many Southern Baptist churches.The issue of integrity in church membership has been debated for years in small groups and behind closed doors. It has not, however, seen as much attention (for obvious reasons) like it has recently. Dr. Tom Ascol, pastor, and executive director of Founders Ministries has spearheaded a movement to discuss the issue in Southern Baptist circles. His ill-fated attempt to bring the issue to a vote at the Southern Baptist Convention this past June can be viewed by clicking on this link: SBC Integrity In Members hip Video. Unfortunately, Dr. Ascol's resolution in support of church integrity was... More About: Church , Integrity
Churches Live or Die By The Family
2007-08-13 23:13:00 It may not come as a shock to many of you, but according to Professor W. Bradford Wilcox at the University of Virginia the success of the church is inseparably tied to the success of the traditional family. The research of Professor Wilcox was featured in Dr. Al Mohler's blog today. The entry can be found by clicking here.According to Professor Wilcox,Currently, men are 57 percent less likely to attend church regularly if they are not married with children, compared to men who are married with children. Women are 41 percent less likely to attend church regularly if they are single and childless. Marriage does more than bind a man to one woman; it also ties a man to a local congregation.If anything this research should be a wake-up call for the church. What are we doing to create an environment that builds strong families. When I examine the weekly schedules of some churches, I have to scratch my head and just wonder what are they thinking. I will never understand how we have been s... More About: Family , Churches , Live , The Family , Live O
Weekend Update:God Definitely Has A Sense Of Humor
2007-08-12 00:51:00 I hope you enjoy this video of some not so perfect church experiences. Watch it a couple of times and savor the fact that only a creator with a huge sense of humor could make something as silly as us.A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.-Proverbs 17:22 More About: Humor , Sense , Weekend , Update , Weekend Update
We Have Seen The Enemy, And He Is Us!
2007-08-08 23:03:00 It's amazing the unusual sources where wisdom can be found. The Bible obviously is the best source, but I believe that the Lord has a habit of occasionally surprising us by putting wisdom in unusual places. The title of this post actually is a line from the comic strip character Pogo the Possum. Pogo's statement is such a correct and disturbing indictment of whom it is we must fight with all our might.It was good old Plato who formalized the idea that material things are inferior to spiritual things. In a sense he was right but God created all of us both material and immaterial and to understand how God expects us to live, both must be taken into account. So the fact of the matter is that our spiritual state is not dependent on our physical state but our physical state can and does reflect the state of our spirit. A better way of making this point comes from Proverbs 23:7 where the Psalmist states, "...as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.""Okay, enough with the philosophy, M... More About: Enemy , The Enemy
Some Good and Bad News
2007-08-06 15:22:00 I came across an article on Friday from the January edition of Relevant magazine. The subtitle of the article is "Why are so many twenty somethings leaving their faith?" With student ministry being the vocation that pays my bills, whenever I see articles that may reflect on the way I did my job, I tend to pay attention.I will assume that if you are in ministry you have been inundated with the stats of how many students are "divorcing" their faith while away at college. This article uses a stat from some recent Barna research. I've seen numbers listed as high as in the 80%'s, but I tend agree more with Barna's research. I hate stats because they can be manipulated so easily, however Barna usually does a fair job of quantifying his results. For example, he agrees that 80% of students have not maintained the same spiritual fervor while in college that they had in high school, however, his research shows that 61% have completely disengaged with no hope for return.Before I go any furt... More About: News , Bad News , Good , Some
Weekend Update: The Consumer Credit Treadmill
2007-08-04 20:22:00 This weekend, many couples are sitting down in front of a pile of bills trying to figure out how to make minimum payments. According to a story published by Bankrate.com, around a quarter of all Americans worry about how to pay off credit card debt. Unfortunately the percentage is not any better among Christian households.The fact of the matter is that many people go into debt for things that they could just as easily do without. The mental image of having something or being entitled to something drives us to max-out credit cards and make minimum payments hoping that we can eventually pay them off. What we really need is a greater dependence on the Lord and a little self-discipline neither of which can be bought with plastic.If you are one of those people who are facing a mound of debt take some time this weekend to stop the worry, spend some time recommitting yourself to depending on the Lord, and get some free help from some of the following wonderful resources:www.daveramsey.comw... More About: Credit , Consumer , Weekend , Update , Weekend Update
A Much Needed Ecumenism
2007-08-02 16:35:00 There have been few, if any, successful ecumenical movements in church history. The issue has always been either a strong ecumenism that has doctrinally weak churches or doctrinally strong churches that have a weak ecumenism. In either case the results fall far short of the ideal and nothing good happens. It would take a very rare set of circumstances and a special act on God's part for ecumenism to be desired and fruitful. I for one believe that those circumstances and God's action may be in the process of intersecting.In the last few years, we have seen the enemies of the gospel rally and strike in unprecedented ways. Evangelical Christianity now finds itself right in the middle of two very formidable foes. On the one front is radical islam with its suicide missions, and koran quoting imams. On the other front, is secular naturalism and atheism spewing forth its evolutionary, politically correct, vitriol with its allies in Hollywood and the media. Satan has positioned his armies...
A Third Great Awakening
2007-07-30 13:30:00 Revival is an often discussed topic among pastors, seminarians, and amateur theologians. Everybody wants revival but not many are convinced that it is likely or even possible. It is true if you look at our country today there are many things that will quickly lead you to despair. The culture that drives the marketplace in America is an amalgam of post-modern, hedonistic, narcissism.Yet for all of the evil that exists in our land, I am convinced that there is a remnant that could unleash another great awakening. My optimism is centered around the trend among 30 and 40 something pastors, seminary professors, and denominational leaders who are not satisfied with the status quo. I equate this theological restlessness with the humanist movement that occur ed on the dawn of the Reformation. Like our spiritual forefathers Huss, Luther, Calvin, and others, we are seeking to go Ad Fontes or "back to the sources". More and more this younger generation of evangelicals are voicing their dissati... More About: Great , Awake , Awakening , Third
Weekend Update: Christianity In The Cartoons
2007-07-28 13:55:00 I ran across an article on the Lawrence Journal-World website entitled The Gospel According To The "Simpsons". The focus of the article was a book by the same title written by Jewish author, Mark Pinsky. In his book, Mr. Pinsky dissects the popular cartoon to see exactly what message is being delivered by its state of the art, computer animated, raucous characters. What Mr. Pinsky says might just surprise you.I have in the past been very dismissive of the Simpsons for a number of different reasons not the least of which is its irreverence and innuendo. After reading this article and an excerpt from Mr. Pinsky's book, however, I am inclined to be a bit more observant. Don't get me wrong, I won't go out and buy the DVD box set, or have a Simpsons party for my students (heaven forbid!). What I will do is be more careful before I assist the enemies of the church by becoming a stereotype. If anything this article and Mr. Pinsky's book should serve as a means for understanding the p... More About: Christianity , Cartoons , Disciple , Evangelical , Weekend
Sex May Sell, But The Church Shouldn't Be A Market!
2007-07-26 16:44:00 I confess that my perspective on modesty may be a bit strict. I am a recovering pharisee. When I was growing up girls and guys weren't even allowed to swim together because that was considered mixed bathing. (Funny I never saw any soap in the pool. Hmmm?) Having been since converted to the ranks of the reformed, however, I am happy to view all things through the lens of grace.More and more, I find that some of the guidelines I used to follow in an attempt to win God's favor I am returning to because of God's favor. One of these guidelines is that women should dress modestly. I'm sure at this point many of you may be rolling your eyes and thinking: Here it comes, another tirade on short-shorts and bikini's. Actually I would like to examine this issue from a two institutions perspective and see if we can in an environment of grace find a way to encourage one another. So let me direct this post to two separate parties...To Husbands, Fathers, Pastors, and Men in general - You hav... More About: Church , Market , Sell , The Church
A truly sad commentary...
2007-07-23 20:37:00 A good buddy of mine brought something to my attention the other day. One of the bastion churches of the SBC is severely under attack right now, and all of it is from within. A pastor has made some poor decisions and some members have made some poorer ones, and there is an outright war going on right now. We at Two Institutions have a policy about not spreading gossip and lies, and therefore, unlike some others, I will not reveal any names.When news like this hits me, it breaks my heart. I know some men who serve on staff at this church and it breaks my heart for their families. What breaks my heart the most though is that depraved human beings, who may very well have been set free from the curse of their depravity, choose to glory in its shame.Two things I see killing the church today; 1. Egomaniacal pastors who feel that the church they work at is THEIR church, and 2. Egomaniacal members who feel that they have some life bond claim and that the church is THEIR church. When you com... More About: Commentary
Weekend Update: Harry Potter Party Mania
2007-07-21 17:29:00 One thing I like about blogging is that by nature it is very organic. It is not static like a newspaper or a magazine and it can be updated almost instantaneously. With that in mind, I felt inclined to do a weekend update. Chalk it up to having a lot on my mind or having too much free time. I'll let you be the judge...Last night I happened to stop by my local bookstore. It was about 8:45pm and the place was packed. As I struggled to find a parking space I realized what was going on. They were having a Harry Potter book release party. At midnight dozens of parents and sleepy kids would be lined up to purchase the latest missive in the Potter saga.I have no desire to launch into a tirade about Harry Potter. To be quite honest, I have seen all of the films except for this latest one, which I will probably wait for it to come out on video. There is some entertainment and even some positive values that they posses. I think that there are also some troubling elements in the Potter books ... More About: Party , Weekend , Update
Martin Luther Would Support Homosexuality?
2007-07-20 00:02:00 I feel as though in my thirty-odd years that I have heard just about everything...and then I get wind of the following article:When it comes to gays, 'What would Luther do?' by: Mary Zeiss StangeI won't offend your sensibilities by attempting to build a straw man (or woman in the case of Ms. Stange), but her points display a gross misunderstanding of the great reformers character and Biblical scholarship. Sufficed to say that when you are so engrossed in error any fair handed treatment of the facts seems irrelevant.One point that I feel compelled to make is the fact that Dr. Luther was a Biblicist par excellence. He found in the scriptures his basis for just about every aspect of life from eating and drinking to child-rearing and social manners. There is no way in the world he would have overlooked key texts such as:Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; 1 Corinthians 6:9. To emphasize this even further consider Paul's crystal clear teaching on the subject found in Romans 1:26-27:For... More About: Homosexuality , Support , Would , Martin Luther
The Church Must Return To The Kingdom
2007-07-18 21:42:00 As promised, I am proud to present our first official guest blog entry. The author today is a personal friend of mine and has one of the keenest theological minds of anyone in my acquaintance. I hope that you will enjoy his scholarship. By the way, be sure to leave comments if you enjoy this post and maybe we can have him write again. Thanks, MikeThe Church as we know it has forgotten, and in many cases forsaken, the concept of Kingdom , more specifically, the Kingdom of God. That indictment, at first, comes across pretty harsh. Allow me to explain. First of all, the Church is not totally to blame. In our modern times, we have very few examples of Kingdoms to draw from in order to understand what the principles of a Kingdom entail. So, to our modern, Western churches, the concept of Kingdom has become too foreign for congregations to relate to. Therefore, many pastors, preachers and lay ministers just avoid the subject altogether or give it cursory, even gratuitous mention. ... More About: Return , The Church , Must
The Day Of The Quick Conversion Is Gone
2007-07-16 23:26:00 I have become quite fascinated with the theological statements of David Wells. For those of you who aren't familiar with Dr. Wells, he is the Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at Gordon-Conwell Seminary. He was the keynote speaker at the Founders Conference held a few weeks ago in Owasso, OK at Bethel Baptist Church. In one of his sessions he shed a particularly poignant light on the need for a strategic change in the way the gospel must be presented. He states...Evangelicals must dispense with the popular demand for instant results and realize that just as God was patient in unfolding His redemptive plan over thousands of years, so modern Christians must patiently unpack the entire storyline of Scripture for postmoderns, Wells said. Only when this "slow, careful, remedial, preparatory work" is done, he urged, will the cross of Christ make sense.I strongly urge you to click over to the Baptist Press site using this link and read the address ... More About: Quick , Conversion , Version , The D
A Great Strategy For Fighting Pornography
2007-07-14 20:31:00 I know that I have been posting in addition to our normal schedule of Monday's and Thursday's but when I find something good I feel compelled to share. Watch this video I found on GodTube about how to fight porn. I hope you find it as encouraging and inspiring as I did. More About: Strategy , Great , Fighting , Pornography , Rate
Alabama: The Buckle On The Bible Belt
2007-07-13 16:43:00 It should come as no shock to those of you who hail from the yellowhammer state, but according to a recent poll published in the Christian Post, Alabama beats the rest of the U.S. in Biblical knowledge. The article entitled, Alabamians Beat Nation in Biblical Knowledge cites a poll that was conducted by the USA Polling Group. The survey asked a sample of Alabama natives basic questions such as the names of the four gospels, the birthplace of Jesus, etc. I for one am happy to congratulate the people of Alabama for their Biblical scholarship. For years it seems that the deep south has been maligned as full of cross-bred, redneck, hicks. Well, such people do exist to be sure, but at least the hicks know the Bible , and that is something to be proud of! More About: Faith , Scripture , Belt
The Death of God Blessed Sexuality
2007-07-12 17:35:00 Males and Females are created different. Any person with eyes can deduce our external differences and any person with ears and a brain can deduce our internal differences. God's design was for man and woman to enjoy and appreciate our differences at different levels from acquaintance all the way up to married sexual intimacy.Rejoicing in these differences at all levels can even be considered a kind of worship. I am happy to give God the glory for the beauty and tenderness that graces the fine ladies with whom I have the privilege of knowing. Satan's design for the sexes, obviously, is perverse , sickening, and relentless. A good example of satans exploitation of our sexuality is witnessed in an article I came across from the Christian Post entitled, Times Square Pastor Fights Bare Bottoms Billboard.Apparently a firm that is selling a new style of bidet called the washlet, has put up a billboard of several people completely nude from a rear view. This is wrong on several levels no... More About: Death , Blessed , Sexuality , The D , Ality
The Church Is Not Immune
2007-07-09 14:57:00 I noticed an article in the Baptist Press today that reveals some unsettling facts about pornography in the church. The article in its entirety can be found at the Baptist Press site. It is entitled, Flood of pornography breaching the church. This is an area that men in ministry ignore to their peril. There are a few strategies that you can follow to help guard against the subtle inroads that the porn industry uses.1. Get an Internet filter. Here is a site that compares all the well known filters:Top 10 Filters Reviewed2. Load an accountability program on every computer that you use. A great program for doing this at XXX Church (no, this is not a bad site, it is an anti-porn site).3. Get help. Find a brother or sister in Christ that you can be accountable to and meet with them regularly for encouragement and prayer.4. Never have sole access to the Internet. Make sure that the computer you use can be used by anyone.5. Always have the computer you use to surf the net in a public pla... More About: The Church , Not I
Putting Families First
2007-07-08 17:28:00 A couple of weeks ago Mike broached the subject of accountability. Now that word alone is one that most would say they need in their life, but few actually have. Even for those who do have it, the accountability they have is very weak and it does more to serve their own needs than to truly be used as a sharpening tool. For me personally, I hit a huge crossroads in my life with accountability this last year when I turned 30. For one I realized that though I said I had accountability, I actually did not. Another hard fact that I had to face was that if I did not soon gain some accountability I was dangerously close to losing my ministry. And by ministry I don't mean my job, my position at my church or even my peers and friends. By ministry I mean my wife and soon to be three little boys. You can take all of the previous things away from me and I will live just fine. If I lose my family, I'm a dead man.This sobering reality set me on a quest to build some strict accountability into m... More About: Putting , Families , Lies
Evan Almighty: Keeping Christianity Afloat In Hollywood?
2007-07-05 15:39:00 For many years, Christianity has been the persona non grata in Hollywood . Producers, directors, and actors have practiced their craft either oblivious or in defiance of people of faith. Several movies that have been produced lately, however, have marked a distinct shift in this anti-Christian bias. Some good examples of this are The Passion of The Christ, Amazing Grace, The Last Sin Eater, One Night With The King, etc. One of the latest films that marks another attempt to intersect Hollywood and faith is Evan Almighty .This film has drawn a spectrum of reactions ranging from praise to condemnation. According to Christianity Today Movies.Com film critic Carolyn Arends,Evan Almighty is a little too silly and sometimes a little too sloppy to be considered a masterpiece. But the filmmakers have managed to make a truly entertaining film that invites viewers to contemplate the rather big idea that we're all "chosen" to be in relationship with?and obedient to?our Creator...Evan Almighty i...
A glimpse of how it should be.
2007-07-02 19:54:00 Wowzer! One week ago at this time I was in Summerton, SC attempting to access a horrible wi-fi connection. I was at Impact, our summer camp for our students, and boy was it hot. I love camp. No, seriously, I do. I don't love being away from my family, but I do love camp. Something about seeing the future generations worship makes my heart glad. This year camp was really, really different. Exactly two weeks before we were to leave, we received word that our speaker had suffered a severe head injury that would sideline him for the rest of the summer. Now for some churches, that would have been the death knell. Not for us. We are tremedously, extraordinarily blessed. Within hours of receiving the news, 5 of our pastor's, including our senior pastor, had volunteered to speak and cover our sessions. It also needs to be said that there was no compensation or bribery involved. This is a picture of how the body of Christ is supposed to work. When one part suffers, the others... More About: Glimpse
Why Two Institutions.Org?
2007-06-28 15:55:00 I suppose that a post about why Blake and I started this blog is in order. The Lord has led us to some conclusions based on things we have learned from His Word, from our head student pastor, from observing trends, from reading breakthrough studies like Soul Searching: The Religious And Spiritual Lives Of American Teenagers by Christian Smith, and from conversations we have had with student pastors from other churches. Here are a few things that we can say we feel pretty certain about:1. That many, if not most, families have given over their God-ordained responsibility for discipling their children to the church (i.e. Pastors, and Youth Pastors).2. That instead of teaching and equipping families to do the job that God assigned them in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, churches have assumed a role that God never intended them to have.3. That, furthermore, many churches encourage families not to disciple their children by creating an environment that keeps families busy and separated from one anothe... More About: Institutions
Brother Martin Unmasked
2007-06-25 14:57:00 Since the beginning of this blog, you have known its authors by their pen-names (Brot her Martin and Wilber). Well at first we were unsure that anyone would even read what we wrote. We also didn't want people to associate our very Biblical message with any of our past life's mistakes. Believe it or not there might be a few people out there who will listen to Brother Martin, but who would close their ear to Mike Hall. Well, Blake (aka Wilber) and I feel that it is necessary to run that risk. We want those of you who don't know us from Adam to associate our purpose with our personalities warts and all. So I decided to beat Blake to the point and go first. My name is Mike Hall. I am a relatively young man (in my mid 30's), who serves as a curriculum editor for a company that produces Sunday school and discipleship material. I also serve as the Director of Student Discipleship at a sizable Southern Baptist church in the state of N.C. I was raised an independent, fundamental, King ... More About: Roth
Two Institutions Gets A Face-lift
2007-06-23 17:23:00 In just a couple of weeks, Two Institutions .Org will reach a major milestone. We will pass the 3 month threshold and, Lord willing, will beat the new blog survival odds. In anticipation of this auspicious occasion, we have given our homepage some over-due design attention and have added some new features. Here are some things we have changed or added:1. Obviously, we have a new graphic design. - this will hopefully give our site a cleaner appearance and help you to focus on the content better (which is why you all visit, I hope :-P)2. We have structured the posts differently so that only the 2 newest posts will appear on the homepage. - if you want to read older articles click on one of the archives links or at the bottom of the homepage is a link that says older posts3. We will still post on Monday's and Thursday's but very soon we will be pulling in guest bloggers on other days of the week. - check back often you might be surprised to see who posts here4. We have added several ... More About: Face , Lift , Face Lift
Jesus Is Looking For A Few Good Slaves
2007-06-21 18:15:00 When we talk about leadership, the last thought that comes to mind is slavery or servitude. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Most of us when given titles or positions of authority tend to think of the privileges and perks that come along with such titles. We develop an unsaid hierarchy in our minds that defines our relationships with other people. We use terms like, he or she is "under my ministry". What we fail to realize is that unless we are extremely careful titles, positions, higher salaries, etc. can actually be the worst things that ever happen to us. What we see as good, satan can actually use to render us odious and ineffective to the people with whom we minister. In reality what marks a leader, a true leader, is not his title, salary, or perks, but how good of a slave he is for others. Lest you think I am making this up, lets look at what Jesu s says...And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it ... More About: Slaves , Good , Look
A Constant Reminder
2007-06-18 15:47:00 I love being a dad. One of the highlights of my day is when my oldest son wakes up in the morning. He is now three years old and is fully potty trained. I say that because that means when he wakes up in the morning there is only one thing on his mind...pee pee! He usually wakes up sometime between 6:30 and 7 a.m., which is right in the middle of my quiet time, but I never mind the interruption. Typically, the time he wakes up is right in the middle of when I am praying for him and his two brothers. I am coming to realize that God is often using this interruption as a reminder of how important my task as a dad really is.After my son goes pee pee, I help him back up into his bed and get some books for him to entertain himself so I can finish my time alone with the savior. I need that time and my son, even at three, understands this. But this brief 5 minute interlude in the middle of my devotional life has done as much to strengthen my faith as any book or method that I have tried pre... More About: Const , Cons , Reminder , Remi
God Claims A Precious Jewel
2007-06-15 18:11:00 Ruth Bell GrahamJune 10, 1920 - June 14, 2007There was a time that my opinionated, legalistic upbringing would not allow me to show proper respect for Brother Billy or Mrs. Ruth. Fortunately for me the same grace that God showed in raising up this fine couple was applied to my heart. Soon, I began to respect and admire this wonderful man and his godly family. How wise,loving, and tireless this wonderful lady must have been to support the vast ministry that God gave Brother Billy while maintaining a balanced household for their family. I am reminded of Proverbs 31:29-30 which states:Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Let that sentiment be impressed upon all of us as we reflect on Mrs. Ruth's legacy. More About: Jewel , Claims , Precious , Reci
Making Memories Not Regrets
More articles from this author:2007-06-14 17:17:00 I?m sure that by now you gentlemen out there are probably worn down from all the fatherly advice that seems to come to a head this time of year. I was listening to Dr. David Jeremiah this morning and even he commented that it seems like mothers day is for praising mom and that fathers day is for preaching at dad. Well, I?m going to leave the preaching to others for a moment and see if I can share with you some practical and fun ways to invest some time and love into your kids. Raising children is obviously one of the most difficult endeavors known to mankind. If you do it right it requires love, patience, self-disciple, time, tears, lots of prayers, and lots of money. It doesn?t have to be full of gut wrenching. On the contrary, there are several ways for you to actually enjoy your kids and have fun with them. I remember my dad taking my brother and I fishing when we were young. Sure he had to teach us to be quiet and have patience but we had fun and we got to clean and cook the fis... More About: Memories , Memo , Maki , Regrets , Makin 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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