Jeremy Parks

14 May by Jeremy Parks

Christian Islands, Part 1

9 comments

“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any [...]

9 May by Jeremy Parks

A Letter To Missions Volunteers

23 comments

One of the more interesting areas of missions growth in recent years is the influx of volunteers to assist in the international missions efforts.  Volunteers have always been around, but the rise of the mega-church has precipitated a parallel increase in the number of people heading to the field on their own dimes. The phrase [...]

8 May by Jeremy Parks

Deafness, Language, Assumptions, and Judges 2:10

8 comments

Written on behalf of someone I know…. Even though I attended church until I was 16, I didn’t really know the Christmas story.  I was clueless about prophecies and fulfillments, about Herod’s political intrigues, about the communicative appearances of angels for Mary, Joseph, and Zechariah.  Imperial decrees regarding taxation and census meant nothing to me; [...]

29 March by Jeremy Parks

Choosing Accountability

16 comments

Several days ago, many of us became aware of the tragic situation unfolding in Wake Forest, NC involving criminal charges and shattered lives at Southeastern Seminary.  I want to write about something that has struck me in all of this, but I want to do so carefully and graciously.  As we comment and think about [...]

23 March by Jeremy Parks

Respectful Audacity: A Proposal for Prayer

22 comments

Respectful audacity. That particular phrase is not one that springs to mind when pondering prayer.  Perhaps it should be something we consider. In Exodus 33, we can read an account of Moses’ boldness.  Moses had previously ascended the mountain to receive God’s laws.  Back at the base, the people grew impatient and crafted for themselves [...]

27 January by Jeremy Parks

Electric Fences and Missionary Kids: A Study in Situational Judgment

10 comments

Stacy and I have three children.  This story is about two of them, Preston (age 13) and Zach (age 10).  Our kids are what many people call MKs, missionary kids.  Preston has lived just about 3 years in the US in his life, while Zach only has about 2 years in the US.  The rest [...]

24 January by Jeremy Parks

What’s Our Doctrine of Yard Implements?

8 comments

In today’s “Theology Corner” we’re taking questions from our readers.  The first question comes from A Paul in Seabrook, TX.  A assures me that his entire first name is simply A, and that his initial and name are in fact identical.  I imagine this causes all sorts of excitement when traveling internationally in places where [...]

19 January by Jeremy Parks

Does Intent Trump Impact?

11 comments

Ever watch a bunch of cows jammed into a pen before an auction, branding, or health check?  Too many bovines packed into too little real estate; the crowding makes it easier to direct them all out the one-cow gate and down the chute.  It’d be fine if they didn’t all weigh 2,000 pounds and didn’t [...]

12 January by Jeremy Parks

Alcohol and IMB Workers

151 comments

A consistent topic of discussion on blogs is the matter of alcohol use.  Abstentionists, abolitionists, moderationalists, and free-will imbibers abound.  It is safe to say that we lack a unified opinion on the matter.  The freedom of the believer, the autonomy of the local church, and the belief in the equal indwelling of the Holy Spirit [...]

2 January by Jeremy Parks

5 Questions with….an IMBer in Contemplation of Past and Future

10 comments

Hey folks, it’s time for a new installment of our award-winning “5 Questions with…” series.  We’ve been taking a brief hiatus, one that was not foreknown but was indeed predestined by my fall workload. Today’s subject is Fuzzy Goldenblister, an IMB worker for somewhere between 10 and 15 years.  He’s roguishly handsome, erudite, and cooks [...]

28 December by Jeremy Parks

Local Baptist Churches Win Coveted “Most Calvinistic Association” Award

25 comments

In the midst of the Calvinism/Arminianism storm, a few voices of reason have appeared in the Hickory Stump Baptist Association.  Pastor Cal Johnson, author of such books as “Total Depravity: A Study of In-Laws,” and “Irresistible Grace and the Boston Red Sox” is leading the charge towards a purer form of Calvinistic teachings. The key [...]

26 December by Jeremy Parks

Family Struggles Between Protection and Engagement

19 comments

Every Christian family worries about placing their impressionable family members in secular environments where immoral standards endanger upright lifestyles and godly testimonies.  Within the Christian community, there is little consensus as to whether protectionist policies are better than active engagement, or if withdrawal from the world amounts to cowardice. The issue even divides families. Stan, [...]

11 November by Jeremy Parks

The Hardest Part of Humility

19 comments

The Biblical call for humility among believers is common, well-known, and needs no citation here.  The implications of humility, though, require some attention. Humility is not saying, “I’m bad, I stink, I’m a loser.  I’ll never accomplish anything for Him because I can’t.”  Statements like this simply assert that the Spirit has bestowed nothing on us and that [...]

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