peterlumpkins.com

Heritage Foundation Fellow hounded by Piers Morgan and Suze Orman for his position against gay marriage

(pic source) Ryan T. Anderson serves as the William E. Simon Fellow in Religion and a Free Society for The Heritage Foundation, a conservative thinktank in Washington, DC. According to his bio, Anderson researches and writes mainly about marriage and religious liberty, but also has expertise in justice and moral principles in economic thought, health care and education, and bioethics and natural law theory. In addition, he co-authored the book entitled What Is Marriage?: Man and Woman: A Defense (Encounter Books, December 2012) along with two Princeton scholars, Robert P.... Read more →

David Allen: Regeneration can hardly precede faith...at least not according to Scripture...

SBC Today posts a great summary of Dr. David Allen's presentation and The 2013 John 3:16 Conference. Of Ephesians 2:1-10, Allen says, “Part of what is driving the ‘regeneration precedes faith’ issue is a flawed anthropology drawn partly from Ephesians 2. With respect to Ephesians 2:1-10, when Paul speaks of the unregenerate as being ‘dead in sins’ there is no question that ‘dead’ is being used metaphorically. In Scripture, ‘death’ is often used metaphorically to express alienation from God and ‘life’ is used to express union with God via salvation... Read more →

Former megachurch pastor and now convicted sex-criminal Jack Schaap gets 12 years

(picture source) According to Sun-Times Media Wire: A former northwest Indiana megachurch pastor was sentenced to 12 years in prison Wednesday for sex crimes involving a 17-year-old female church member, the Post-Tribune is reporting. Prosecutors had asked for 10 years for the Rev. Jack Schaap, but Judge Rudy Lozano noted federal sentencing guidelines called for at least 168 months, and he didn't want to go that much below the guidelines. Lozano noted that Schaap, former First Baptist Church of Hammond pastor, pleaded guilty, but considering the government's case, he almost... Read more →

Free Church Press Online Store Available

screen capture of new site for Free Church Press The new Free Church Press site is up, including the store. I realize it still needs some cosmetic work but the tests I put it through seem to indicate it's functionally accurate. A note about the shopping cart. Presently, one may checkout by either Paypal or Amazon. I've applied for an onsite secure cart which should be up in a couple days. This is a new phase for Free Church Press, and an expensive one as well. Even so, I remain... Read more →

John MacArthur offers more skepticism on the YRR and "Flat-screen" Preachers

Yesterday I posted MacArthur's video wherein he pounded the young, restless, and reformed community for stepping over the moral threshold into a worldly lifestyle.1 In a real sense, MacArthur's concern centers on classic antinomianism, a well-known temptation within the Reformed community. In 2009, I wrote these words: The Conservative Resurgence which officially began in 1979 made history by turning the theological clock backwards to its rightful, biblically authoritative moorings… Southern Baptists once again should heed the times: there is another coming crisis in our convention, just beyond the horizon. Before... Read more →

Must see video--John MacArthur continues his skepticism toward the young, restless, and reformed...

Check out MacArthur's skeptical apprasial of the YRR. I'm fairly sure our young Calvinists in the SBC will not appreciate his wholesale criticism of the trendy theological movement. On the other hand, what Arminianism has to do with the criticisms MacArthur levels is not apparent. NOTE: I haven't a clue what MarArthur means when he strangely implies there exists an "Arminian" way to behave, dress, and do church. Maybe he'll reveal it in Part II. Read more →

Free Church Press Resources-- still no online store...

Still no store. Believe me, I'm working on it. Hopefully this week. Thanks for your patience... Read more →

Why all the buzz? Further thoughts on the present Calvinism conversation by Earl Blackburn

Below is the final of four entries on the purported Calvinism issue posted on March 12, 2013 in The Message, Louisiana Baptists' state paper. Editor Kelly Boggs generously sent all four articles to me so non-subscribers could access the important articles dealing with the unfortunate situation developing at Louisiana College. The three prior articles are linked at the end. The final piece appearing in The Message is penned by Louisiana pastor, Earl Blackburn. Blackburn serves the Heritage Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA, a Founders-friendly church affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist... Read more →

Laughing till I can laugh no more

Few videos qualify as a genuine belly-buster. The following video does. I laughed till hurting, crying, and exhausted. I don't know how much has been 'doctored'. That's irrelevant to me. It's just plain funny. Therefore, enjoy the "screaming goats"... Read more →

Louisiana's Message republishes "The Calvinists are here" by Georgia's Christian Index editor, Gerald Harris

The Baptist Message recently posted a series of articles on the purported issue over Calvinism at Louisiana College. I received permission from The Message editor to re-post the four articles in full on my site since many Southern Baptists outside Louisiana are watching with concerned interest the fiasco taking place on the Baptist campus. Yet since so few of us outside Louisiana subscribe to The Message, we were left completely in the dark as to the content of the articles. You may find the first and second articles linked after... Read more →

First Redeemer Church's Founding Pastor Richard Lee announces plans to retire

Dr. Richard Lee, Founding Pastor of First Redeemer Church, Cumming, Georgia announces his plans to gradually step away as Senior Pastor. In a prepared letter read to the congregation this past Sunday and now posted on the website, Lee stated: "During recent years I have prayerfully and diligently worked with others in preparing the church for the day that I will step aside. "Whether that happens in months or years, God’s church is too important to not have prepared a well-developed plan for having in place the one who will... Read more →

"Vines left speechless by book in his honor" says a Southwestern seminary news release

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary posted a news release entitled "Vines left speechless by book in his honor." The article states: "Moments before standing to preach a sermon in a Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary chapel service, well-known Southern Baptist preacher and former SBC president Jerry Vines was presented with a book written in his honor by prominent SBC pastors and theologians. The unexpected recognition left Vines in an unfamiliar state—speechless." Entitled Preach the Word! A Collection of Essays on Biblical Preaching in Honor of Jerry Vines (Free Church Press, 2013: David... Read more →

C.J. Mahaney resigns

from Plant & Build: The next chapter of SGM’s history begins April 12 when we will, Lord willing, transition to a new polity pending a vote of ratification... As that new polity takes effect, I will be transitioning from the role of President, and the Executive Committee will recommend an individual for confirmation by the Council of Elders to serve in the newly formed role of Executive Director. ... Read more →

New Online Store coming for Free Church Press

capture of the old Free Church Press site While I had a webpage @ www.freechurchpress.com where people could check out and purchase the new products being produced by Free Church Press, it woefully lacked what needed to be present on a webstore. So, I'm in the process now of setting up an entirely new website and store for Free Church Press. I hope to have it up and running by early next week. I'll keep you posted on the progress. Read more →

New Release by Free Church Press! The Secrets of a Great Church by Jerry Vines

Just in time for The John 3:16 Conference, The Secrets of a Great Church by Jerry Vines will be given free of charge to all registered participants. In addition, through the generosity of friends of Free Church Press and Jerry Vines Ministries, a complimentary copy will be available to messengers who drop by the booth at the 2013 Southern Baptist Convention in Houston, TX. Read more →

Truett-McConnell professor interviewed by Christian Index

Dr. Adam Harwood, Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at Truett-McConnell in Cleveland, Georgia was interviewed recently by The Christian Index. The interview appears in the latest edition. Below are answers to some of the questions1: Adam Harwood, assistant professor of Christian studies at Truett McConnell College, has written a book entitled “The Spiritual Condition of Infants.” Free Church Press has recently summarized the book into a 38-page volume, “Born Guilty: A Southern Baptist View of Original Sin.” Harwood will be addressing the John 3:16 Conference at North Metro First Baptist... Read more →

New Release--Preach the Word! A Collection of Essays on Biblical Preaching in Honor of Jerry Vines, edited by David L. Allen and Peter Lumpkins

Free Church Press just released its newest volume entitled Preach the Word! A Collection of Essays on Biblical Preaching in Honor of Jerry Vines. I was privileged to be a part of the ceremony at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on Tuesday, March 5th during chapel when Dr. David Allen presented the first copy to Dr. Vines. Dr. Vines preaching after the ceremony Dr. Vines and me in the Riley Center after the chapel service The volume contains chapters by a broad spectrum of Southern Baptist pastors, professors, and entity heads... Read more →

What is Calvinism? everything you need to know about Calvinism...and then some by Peter Lumpkins

Well it took long enough! The truth is, I've been so busily assisting others in getting their literary stuff published, I've continued to place on the back burner something from my own bean pot. Hence, I took a few days off to cook up this little piece which I think will help church folk understand the Calvinism issue. Below are a few words from the opening: “So, what do I desire to accomplish in this little book? Recall the subtitle—everything you NEED to know about Calvinism ... and then some.... Read more →

Born Guilty? A Southern Baptist View of Original Sin by Adam Harwood

Free Church Press announces a new and exclusive teaching series on biblical, theological, ethical, and ecclesial themes significant for Southern Baptists. The series will target people in the pew rather than those who have a theological background. While we believe all church leaders--including pastors and other staff leaders--will benefit from the series, the goal is to educate the millions of Southern Baptists who neither have theological or biblical degrees nor desire to wade through long, technical works to gain a reasonable grip on the essence of a particular subject. Thus,... Read more →

Craig Daliessio finishes his series on "Gimme That Old Time Religion"

Craig Daliessio puts the finishing touches on his series on "Gimmie That Old Time Religion" with the fourth and final piece focusing on "You need Jesus." Craig shares a snippet from growing up: "When I was a boy, growing up in church, (for the record, I'm 49...I was a boy growing up in church in the 70's and early 80's) Jesus was the central figure. Jesus was the Son of God. The Savior. The Sacrifice, The Beloved Son. The Returning King. I started attending that church in 1973. I was... Read more →

A.W. Tozer on Calvinism & Arminianism

For all my Calvinist brothers and friends...enjoy... Someone once asked Dr. Graham Scroggie, “Are you a Calvinist?” I feel Dr. Scroggie was speaking for me when he replied, “When I am on my knees praying, I am a Calvinist. But when I get into the pulpit to preach I am an Arminian!” That my great High Priest will keep me, I have no doubt. Will He do so because of my goodness? No! Will He keep you because of your goodness? Again, no! We are kept because He is at... Read more →