It is because God’s wrath is real that His mercy is relevant. Unless you have a real wrath, the Biblical concepts of mercy and of grace are robbed of their meaning.
-Alistair Begg
John 3:36
Had a parent-teacher conference this morning
My wife told me not to come
I came anyway
She said "please just listen and nod"
I said "I always listen"
She said "you listen like you're sitting in a boardroom looking for something to challenge"
That's how listening works
Nice classroom
Small chairs
I am 6'4" and was seated at a desk designed for someone who still believes in Santa Claus
My knees touched my chest
The teacher introduced herself
Shared her identified pronouns
I shared my identified adjectives
Smart and handsome
My wife closed her eyes
The teacher had a folder
Color-coded tabs
I respected the organization
She said our son is "a pleasure to have in class"
My wife smiled
I waited
That sentence is never the whole report
It's the executive summary before the risk section
She said "however"
There it is
She said he "asks a lot of questions"
I said "good"
She said "during quiet time"
I said "when is quiet time?"
She said "it's when students are expected to work independently and in silence"
I said "so he's the only one trying to get information and you've structured the environment to prevent it?"
My wife put her hand on my arm
I continued
The teacher said he recently told another student that "sharing pencils doesn't make sense if nobody brings their own"
I said "that's an accurate observation"
My wife squeezed harder
The teacher said she's concerned about his "resistance to group activities"
I said "he's not resistant. He just doesn't see the value of doing more work for the same grade."
The teacher said he also corrected her math on the whiteboard
I said "was he right?"
She paused
She said "that's not the point"
I said "it's a little bit the point"
My wife stood up
Sat back down
Compromise
The teacher pulled out an evaluation sheet
Categories like "works well with others" and "follows directions" and "respects classroom norms"
All subjective
Not a number on the page
I asked how these are graded
She said "based on observation"
I said "so one person's opinion with no second review?"
She said "it's professional judgment"
I said "my auditors say that too. Right before I disagree with them."
She looked at my wife
My wife said "I'm sorry about him"
I said "I'm sitting right here"
My wife said "I know"
The teacher said overall he's a bright kid and she just wants to make sure he learns to "collaborate"
I said "collaboration is important. But so is recognizing when you're the only one doing the work. He'll learn that again in college. And again in the real world. Might as well start now."
Nobody spoke
The teacher closed her folder
She said "I think we've covered everything"
I said "one more thing"
She braced herself
I said "his reading is above grade level. His math is strong. He asks hard questions and corrects mistakes when he sees them. I just want to make sure this school knows what it has."
The teacher looked at me differently
My wife looked at me differently
I said "that's all"
We left
In the car my wife was quiet
Then she said "he's turning into you"
I said "is that a good thing?"
She didn't answer
From the backseat he said "dad, why does the teacher count off for asking questions? Isn't that the whole point of school?"
I looked at my wife
She looked out the window
I said "yes. It is."
He said "I don't think she likes when I'm right"
I didn't say anything
Neither did my wife
Small chairs
Color-coded tabs
No follow-up items
But the kid's going to be fine
Sent from my iPhone
"NAMB created a problem by funding men who weren't qualified to plant, then solved the problem by funding men to fix it."
My latest piece on NAMB and the SBC's church planting problem
https://t.co/7atO9U76Sc
John MacArthur explains the Pre-Trib Rapture of the Church:
"You'd have to go to school to get it wrong. It's crystal clear. Somebody's gotta tell you it's not true."
My good friend Ray Comfort from Living Waters is headed to California State University with Turning Point USA tomorrow to answer students’ questions and share the gospel and the truth of Scripture on campus tomorrow.
Please be praying for his and his team’s safety, for effective ministry, and that many young people will be challenged and respond to the salvation message.
You can watch the live stream on their YouTube channel from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. PT tomorrow: https://t.co/lKvtPpiTRI
I had the honor and privilege to speak at Charlie Kirk's memorial service. Please continue praying for Erika, her children, and the entire team at TPUSA.
#CharlieKirkMemorial
My dear American friends,
We British Christians would get excited when, once a year, Queen Elizabeth would make a mild but sincere reference to the love of Jesus Christ in her Christmas address.
In Charlie Kirks' Memorial service, watched by tens of millions, I just heard:
- Multiple clear presentations of the gospel from men like @robmccoyus and @DrFrankTurek with clear calls to repentance and faith
- Worship songs full of Scripture sung by tens of thousands live and millions at home
- Personal testimonies of lives transformed by the work of Christ and the witness of believers
- Demonstration and explanation of the value of marriage, child-rearing and family
- Calls to Romans 13 for the government to bear the sword for the protection of good and punishment of the wicked
- Declarations of spiritual warfare on the forces of evil and promises to endure no matter the cost
- Calls to be prophets and call the nation to repent
- More Scripture references and Bible readings than I can count
- And a widow publicly forgiving her husband's killer because Christ forgave his killers on the cross.
All of it done before, and by, the most powerful people in your nation and the world.
You guys should be on your knees thanking God for your country. It is a light to the world.
Never stop fighting for it.
I can think of no public figure whose work has meant more to me than John MacArthur's. I can think of no ministry that has shaped my life in greater ways than Grace to You. Like millions of other Christians around the world, his daily teaching became the backdrop of mundane domestic tasks, long car rides, and sleepless nights. His books, the first resources I turned to when dealing with a crisis or trial in my life.
To be quite frank, this feels a little like losing a father.
I had the joy to interview and correspond with him on occasion, and when he heard I had cancer, he sent me a message of great encouragement.
I cannot help but feel we have seen the last of the great lions pass out of the world. But I know, as Pastor John taught me, that the Lord does not leave himself without a witness. And He will raise up more teachers like Johnny Mac, as his dear friend, RC Sproul, another of the great lions, used to call him.
And on that note, I smile to imagine the two of them reunited.
His adherence to sound doctrine never wavered. Whether preaching from his pulpit or on the set with Larry King, he never watered down the truth of Scripture.
I thank you Lord so much for his legacy and that he now has the full joy of his salvation.
Well done, good and faithful servant.