FELLOWSHIP AND SERVICETheological Foundations of Mercy Ministry© 2003 Reformed University MinistriesUsed by permissionTHEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MERCY MINISTRYby: Paige Benton Brown*INTRODUCTIONI work at Vanderbilt University and am on staff with Reformed University Fellowship there. I’m also aPresbyterian chaplain. In my second year at Vanderbilt, we got a new Episcopalian priest whose namewas Becca Stephens. The first time I met Becca she was telling the chaplains’ office, the group ofaffiliated chaplains, about trying to garner their support for this vision she had for this thing called “theMagdalene Project.” She had a vision. This one woman had a vision of gaining properties throughoutNashville,...

Read the full post

   st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} IDENTIFYING YOUR IDOLS  (By Tim Keller)   A. USING "PROBLEM EMOTIONS" TO IDENTIFY IDOLS. a.         If you are angry.  Ask, "is there something too important to me? Something I am telling myself I have to have? Is that why I am angry ‑‑ because I am being blocked from having something I think is a necessity when it is not?" Write down what that might be  b.        If you are fearful or...

Read the full post

Interpreting the Bible Bruce Waltke Biblical hermeneutics, the art of interpreting the Bible, aims to develop rules for its interpretation. This article presents two basic rules with important refinements for each, and two final words on encouragement to the reader. These rules are based on the conviction that the triune God for the sake of His elect progressively revealed Himself, according to His own immutable counsel, through the inspired authors, and providentially superintended the collection of their writings into the canon, the Bible, to His own eternal glory. Rule One: Interpret the Words of the Bible in the Light of...

Read the full post

Some Broad Principles (not formulas!) of Wise Dating1. The Gospel Principle: Fall in Love with Jesus and with His gospel. The gospel is what will makeyour relationships last (whether it be friendships or a future marriage). Why? Because Jesus did notcast you off when you were hard to love- He entered into our suffering and sin (and took it uponHimself). Believing that as a fundamental conviction enables you to love others who are hard to love.2. The Kingdom-Orientation Principle: Look for someone who is living for something bigger thanhim/herself. Someone who is being transformed by the gospel and therefore is...

Read the full post

By Dick Keyes-- the speaker for the Spring 2003 Harrington Counseling Lectures atCovenant Seminary. He is the author of Beyond Identity, True Heroism, ChameleonChristianity, and is finishing a book on cynicism. The following article is taken from a talk onthe uniqueness of Christ that he gave during his time at Covenant.One of the most contentious and difficult issues any Christian has to face today is the question of theuniqueness of Jesus Christ. This issue is difficult, in part, because our society is religiously pluralistic.We live in a society where kind, intelligent, sincere people all around us have very, very different...

Read the full post