A-4 PEOPLE-FILES
- Femi Aribisala - Kate Armas - Joshua Arnold - Rodney Arnold - Justin Arnot - Arun Arora - Tom Ascol - Bruce Asford - Matthew Ashimolowo - Karen Atkins - Mike Augsburger -
==femi aribisala============= |
Dr. Femi Aribisala was born on April 12 1952 in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. He is from Ibadan, Oyo State, He went to Government College, Ibadan from 1964-1968; St. George’s English School, La Storta, Rome, Italy from 1969-1972; and the Institut Internationale d’Études Francaises, Rambouillet, France from 1971-1972. He has a B.A. in History and Politics from University of Warwick, Coventry, England (1972-1975); M.A. in International Relations from School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington D.C., United States (1975-1977); and a Ph.D. in International Relations from Oxford University, Oxford, England (1978-1981).
March 16, 2025: Premium Times: Article of Faith: The battle is the Lord’s, By Femi Aribisala
Femi Aribisala Files
Jesus says to His disciples: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” (John 15:16).
We blundered at the first birth, presuming we were born to pursue our own dreams, have illustrious careers, make a lot of money, and make a name for ourselves. But now our Maker leaves nothing to conjecture. We are born again (a second time) to produce the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:11).
Peter writes our curriculum vitae. He says to the believer: “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, (God’s) own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9).
How do we proclaim the praises of God? Is it by what we have? Certainly not! Jesus says: “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:15). We proclaim God’s praises by what we are. God says: I am what I am.” (Exodus 3:14). He does not say: “I am what I have.”
--Femi Aribisala
We blundered at the first birth, presuming we were born to pursue our own dreams, have illustrious careers, make a lot of money, and make a name for ourselves. But now our Maker leaves nothing to conjecture. We are born again (a second time) to produce the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:11).
Peter writes our curriculum vitae. He says to the believer: “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, (God’s) own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9).
How do we proclaim the praises of God? Is it by what we have? Certainly not! Jesus says: “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:15). We proclaim God’s praises by what we are. God says: I am what I am.” (Exodus 3:14). He does not say: “I am what I have.”
--Femi Aribisala
==kate armas======
Kat Armas is a Cuban American writer, speaker, and theologian from Miami, FL. She holds a ThM from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary where she was awarded the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing. Her first book, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us About Wisdom, Persistence and Strength, sits at the intersection of women, decolonialism, the Bible, and Cuban identity. Her second book, Sacred Belonging: A 40-day Devotional on the Liberating Heart of Scripture invites readers to encounter the Bible through a decolonized lens, lifting up themes of creation, wisdom, spirit, the body, and the feminine. Kat has spoken at seminaries, universities, and conferences nationwide and her work has appeared in the National Catholic Reporter—where one of her essays was shared by the pope!, Plough Magazine, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Sojornours Magazine, and more.
“I’ve swum in waters that are traumatized, are shaped by exile and displacement, and in many ways, look to the empire, to the United States, as a sort of salvation. But that’s what empire does, doesn’t it? It puts people in vulnerable positions and then convinces them that only the empire can save them from their vulnerability.”
― Kat Armas, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us about Wisdom, Persistence, and Strength
― Kat Armas, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us about Wisdom, Persistence, and Strength
“One of my seminary professors once said that when we read the Bible, we should read it with resistance: constantly asking questions, wrestling with it the way Jacob wrestled with God. May these pages invite you to do just that.” ― Kat Armas, Sacred Belonging: A 40-Day Devotional on the Liberating Heart of Scripture
Our world is both stable and chaotic, balanced and dynamic. Both states exist together yet still affirm the truth that we are part of a web of diversity that needs every creature—from beetle to elephant to deciduous leaf—to function in its fullness. Caring about deforestation and the loss of animal species is a worthwhile endeavor because everything responds to everything else. What happens to the earth happens to us.
In Matthew’s Gospel, the story goes that when Jesus was dying, the earth went dark for three hours (27:45). At the moment he cried out and took his last breath, the land shook and the rocks split (27:51). Some interpreters might say this speaks to the supremacy of Jesus over creation, and maybe that’s true—particularly when read through a Western lens of hierarchy. But perhaps it’s more than that. In Colossians, Paul says that in Jesus all things are held together (1:17), so would it be farfetched to think that the cosmos would tumble into a kind of chaos at his death? I like to imagine that the earth was responding to her relationship to Jesus in a divine connection of sorts.
Through Jesus, God became one with us in this intricate web of life, experiencing alongside us the fullness of what it means to be human. Perhaps the death of Jesus is also a lesson about the interdependency of all things.
Indeed, nothing happens in our world that doesn’t affect something else. When wolves were eliminated, rivers changed course and bird species died out. When Jesus took his final breath, the earth shook and the rocks split. Our world and everything in it tell a story of belonging—a belonging established at the very beginning, in accordance with God’s desire for all of creation to be in concert together. --Kate Armas; Sacred Belonging; 2023
In Matthew’s Gospel, the story goes that when Jesus was dying, the earth went dark for three hours (27:45). At the moment he cried out and took his last breath, the land shook and the rocks split (27:51). Some interpreters might say this speaks to the supremacy of Jesus over creation, and maybe that’s true—particularly when read through a Western lens of hierarchy. But perhaps it’s more than that. In Colossians, Paul says that in Jesus all things are held together (1:17), so would it be farfetched to think that the cosmos would tumble into a kind of chaos at his death? I like to imagine that the earth was responding to her relationship to Jesus in a divine connection of sorts.
Through Jesus, God became one with us in this intricate web of life, experiencing alongside us the fullness of what it means to be human. Perhaps the death of Jesus is also a lesson about the interdependency of all things.
Indeed, nothing happens in our world that doesn’t affect something else. When wolves were eliminated, rivers changed course and bird species died out. When Jesus took his final breath, the earth shook and the rocks split. Our world and everything in it tell a story of belonging—a belonging established at the very beginning, in accordance with God’s desire for all of creation to be in concert together. --Kate Armas; Sacred Belonging; 2023
==joshua arnold======
Joshua Arnold is a senior writer at The Washington Stand, contributing both news and commentary from a biblical worldview.
May 22, 2025: Life News: Joshua Arnold: Southern Baptist Church Resolution Would Target Dangerous Abortion Pills That Kill Babies
Joshua Arnold
Ancient Israel had no legislature, as God had already given them a law. Nor were there executive officials, except when God called one for a specific purpose. Thus, ancient Israel’s government consisted primarily of judges — appointed by the people (Deuteronomy 16:18), raised up by God (Judges 2:16), or anointed as priest (Deuteronomy 19:17) or king (2 Samuel 8:15) — resolving disputes between private parties. In addition to judges, America has law enforcement officers and public prosecutors who are also charged with ensuring the law is justly enforced. So, while America is not under the Mosaic law, its basic principles of justice apply even more broadly in the American system.
The question is, what should the righteous do when “justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away,” when “truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter” (Isaiah 59:14)? We should pray. That is, we should appeal from human injustice to the divine Judge.
What should we pray for? Scripture authorizes at least three pleas (seek earnestly, and you may find others) to offer up as we lament the prevalence of injustice. First, we should pray that justice officials would be saved, or at least that they would not molest Christians. Paul exhorts Timothy to pray “for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:2-4). --Joshua Arnold; Christian Post; Justice must be impartial: Biden vs. Trump treatment 8.8.23
The question is, what should the righteous do when “justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away,” when “truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter” (Isaiah 59:14)? We should pray. That is, we should appeal from human injustice to the divine Judge.
What should we pray for? Scripture authorizes at least three pleas (seek earnestly, and you may find others) to offer up as we lament the prevalence of injustice. First, we should pray that justice officials would be saved, or at least that they would not molest Christians. Paul exhorts Timothy to pray “for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:2-4). --Joshua Arnold; Christian Post; Justice must be impartial: Biden vs. Trump treatment 8.8.23
==justin arnot======
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's legal ‘war chest’ supports evangelists facing opposition in UK and Europe
Franklin Graham’s legal team has revealed details of a growing “defense fund” to support Christians facing discrimination for expressing their faith — a fund created from successful court rulings after multiple British venues attempted to cancel Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA)'s “God Loves You!” evangelistic events. Speaking at the European Congress on Evangelism in May, attorney Justin Arnot, who represents Franklin Graham and the BGEA, referred to the legal victories as part of a broader spiritual and legal battle over freedom of religious expression in the public square. The so-called “Billy Graham Defense Fund”, sometimes referred to by Graham himself as a “war chest,” was formed from settlements and damages awarded in court cases where U.K. venues had withdrawn from hosting evangelistic rallies under pressure from critics of Graham’s biblical convictions. (Christian Daily 8/6/25) READMORE>>>>>
Franklin Graham’s legal team has revealed details of a growing “defense fund” to support Christians facing discrimination for expressing their faith — a fund created from successful court rulings after multiple British venues attempted to cancel Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA)'s “God Loves You!” evangelistic events. Speaking at the European Congress on Evangelism in May, attorney Justin Arnot, who represents Franklin Graham and the BGEA, referred to the legal victories as part of a broader spiritual and legal battle over freedom of religious expression in the public square. The so-called “Billy Graham Defense Fund”, sometimes referred to by Graham himself as a “war chest,” was formed from settlements and damages awarded in court cases where U.K. venues had withdrawn from hosting evangelistic rallies under pressure from critics of Graham’s biblical convictions. (Christian Daily 8/6/25) READMORE>>>>>
==arun ar0ra======
Church leader warns against exploiting Christianity for a nationalist, anti-migrant agenda
Since his release from prison earlier this year, where he claims to have embraced Christianity, Robinson has increasingly woven Christian imagery into his messaging. Since his release from prison earlier this year, where he claims to have embraced Christianity, Robinson has increasingly woven Christian imagery into his messaging. Wooden crosses were a prominent feature at the first Unite the Kingdom rally in September. In response, senior Church of England figures are urging Christians to resist attempts to appropriate the faith for political purposes. Right Reverend Arun Arora, Bishop of Kirkstall and the Church of England’s co-lead on racial justice, warned that the Church must “resist the capture of Christian language and symbols by populist forces seeking to exploit the faith for their own political ends.” (Left Foot Forward; 12.13.25)READMORE>>>>>
Since his release from prison earlier this year, where he claims to have embraced Christianity, Robinson has increasingly woven Christian imagery into his messaging. Since his release from prison earlier this year, where he claims to have embraced Christianity, Robinson has increasingly woven Christian imagery into his messaging. Wooden crosses were a prominent feature at the first Unite the Kingdom rally in September. In response, senior Church of England figures are urging Christians to resist attempts to appropriate the faith for political purposes. Right Reverend Arun Arora, Bishop of Kirkstall and the Church of England’s co-lead on racial justice, warned that the Church must “resist the capture of Christian language and symbols by populist forces seeking to exploit the faith for their own political ends.” (Left Foot Forward; 12.13.25)READMORE>>>>>
==rodney arnold======
Rodney Arnold is the founding and lead pastor of OneLife Church and serves as a member of OneLife's Ministry Leadership Team. Rodney has a passion for teaching, church planting, and helping people discover Jesus and how their one life can make a difference. He and his wife Harrison have been married since 2008.
July 14, 2023: Standard Newswire: Missionary Church USA Elects New, Youngest President
The Missionary Church USA elected its seventh president this week, marking a new era for the evangelical denomination based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Rev. Rodney Arnold of Knoxville, Tennessee was elected by delegates representing churches from across the country at the biannual SHIFT National Conference held in Orlando, Florida. At 40 years old, Rev. Arnold becomes the youngest president ever chosen by the denomination and the first from a southern state.
The Missionary Church USA elected its seventh president this week, marking a new era for the evangelical denomination based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Rev. Rodney Arnold of Knoxville, Tennessee was elected by delegates representing churches from across the country at the biannual SHIFT National Conference held in Orlando, Florida. At 40 years old, Rev. Arnold becomes the youngest president ever chosen by the denomination and the first from a southern state.
GOC Appoints Interim Vice President
The General Oversight Council has appointed Rev. Rodney Arnold, lead pastor of OneLife Church in Knoxville, TN, to serve as interim Vice President of the Missionary Church. Rev. Arnold will fill the role after former Vice President Jimmy Santiago became interim President last month. Rev. Arnold has been a credentialed minister in the Missionary Church since 2009 when he planted OneLife Church in the Southeast Region and was coached by then-regional director Dan Palmer. Started in his living room, the church has since multiplied to multiple campuses across Knoxville and has planted four autonomous churches in East Tennessee while coaching and training hundreds of other church planters as the founding member of the Ignite Church Network. In 2020, OneLife Church was recognized by Outreach magazine as one of the top-100 multiplying churches in the United States. While serving as a local pastor, Rev. Arnold has also been a trainer and speaker across the country and denomination including the Church Multiplication Training Center, Ludlow Falls Family Camp, Ignite Network, Building Bridges Network, Exponential conference, Leadership Network, Nappanee Missionary Church’s Fan the Flame conference, the Hispanic/Latino National Conference, and the SHIFT national conference. Internationally, Arnold has partnered with networks to train pastors and church planters across Latin America, including the Pastor Network Panamá and Love Serves International in the Dominican Republic. He was also elected to the General Oversight Council in 2019 and will continue to serve in that role as interim vice president.
(Missionary Church 7/6/22) Read More>>>>>
The General Oversight Council has appointed Rev. Rodney Arnold, lead pastor of OneLife Church in Knoxville, TN, to serve as interim Vice President of the Missionary Church. Rev. Arnold will fill the role after former Vice President Jimmy Santiago became interim President last month. Rev. Arnold has been a credentialed minister in the Missionary Church since 2009 when he planted OneLife Church in the Southeast Region and was coached by then-regional director Dan Palmer. Started in his living room, the church has since multiplied to multiple campuses across Knoxville and has planted four autonomous churches in East Tennessee while coaching and training hundreds of other church planters as the founding member of the Ignite Church Network. In 2020, OneLife Church was recognized by Outreach magazine as one of the top-100 multiplying churches in the United States. While serving as a local pastor, Rev. Arnold has also been a trainer and speaker across the country and denomination including the Church Multiplication Training Center, Ludlow Falls Family Camp, Ignite Network, Building Bridges Network, Exponential conference, Leadership Network, Nappanee Missionary Church’s Fan the Flame conference, the Hispanic/Latino National Conference, and the SHIFT national conference. Internationally, Arnold has partnered with networks to train pastors and church planters across Latin America, including the Pastor Network Panamá and Love Serves International in the Dominican Republic. He was also elected to the General Oversight Council in 2019 and will continue to serve in that role as interim vice president.
(Missionary Church 7/6/22) Read More>>>>>
==tom ascol======
Thomas Kennedy Ascol is an evangelical Christian pastor, author, and president of Founders Ministries. He is currently the senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Florida, where he has served for 37 years as of June 2023. He has served as an adjunct professor of theology for various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary, the Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary, African Christian University, Copperbelt Ministerial College, and Reformed Baptist Seminary. He has also served as a Visiting Professor at the Nicole Institute for Baptist Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.
Ascol is the president of Founders Ministries and the Institute of Public Theology. He has edited the Founders Journal, and has been a regular contributor to TableTalk, the monthly magazine of Ligonier Ministries. Ascol regularly preaches and lectures at various conferences throughout the United States and other countries, and hosts a weekly podcast called The Sword & The Trowel.
Ascol is the president of Founders Ministries and the Institute of Public Theology. He has edited the Founders Journal, and has been a regular contributor to TableTalk, the monthly magazine of Ligonier Ministries. Ascol regularly preaches and lectures at various conferences throughout the United States and other countries, and hosts a weekly podcast called The Sword & The Trowel.
Why the Questions About Voddie Baucham’s Use of $1.4 Million Aren’t Going Away
About a week has passed since The Roys Report (TRR) published an article, revealing that disgraced G3 Founder Josh Buice used a fake account to email allegations about Voddie Baucham to TRR. And despite Buice issuing a statement recanting his allegations, the Buice scandal—and the questions Buice raised about Baucham’s 2021 GoFundMe—are not going away. The main reason for the lingering questions is that the two men who could refute the allegations—Baucham and Founders Ministries President Tom Ascol—have failed to produce any documentation showing how the funds were spent. Instead, they and their allies have tried to shame those of us asking questions, which is incredibly hypocritical, given that Founders Ministries claims to support reform in the church. (Julie Roys 5/22/25) Read More>>>>>
About a week has passed since The Roys Report (TRR) published an article, revealing that disgraced G3 Founder Josh Buice used a fake account to email allegations about Voddie Baucham to TRR. And despite Buice issuing a statement recanting his allegations, the Buice scandal—and the questions Buice raised about Baucham’s 2021 GoFundMe—are not going away. The main reason for the lingering questions is that the two men who could refute the allegations—Baucham and Founders Ministries President Tom Ascol—have failed to produce any documentation showing how the funds were spent. Instead, they and their allies have tried to shame those of us asking questions, which is incredibly hypocritical, given that Founders Ministries claims to support reform in the church. (Julie Roys 5/22/25) Read More>>>>>
IS CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM AN ACCEPTABLE IDEOLOGY?
Christian nationalism is a phrase that has picked up a lot of steam, especially among politically active evangelical Christians. Some have intentionally distanced themselves from the term, while others have begun passionately embracing it as their political ideology. This disagreement begs two important questions: What does Christian nationalism even mean, and should Christians embrace such a thing? According to Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries, Christian nationalism is best defined as an ideology that “asserts that there is something identifiable as an American nation, distinct from other nations, … defined by Christianity, … and that the American people and their government should actively work to defend, sustain and cultivate America’s Christian culture, heritage and values.” In short, America is historically a Christian nation, and its people and governments should work to maintain that heritage. However, critics of Christian nationalism say that America is not a Christian nation. According to Pew Research Center, only about half of American citizens report that religion is very important in their lives. (Liberty Champion 8/28/23) Read More>>>>>
Christian nationalism is a phrase that has picked up a lot of steam, especially among politically active evangelical Christians. Some have intentionally distanced themselves from the term, while others have begun passionately embracing it as their political ideology. This disagreement begs two important questions: What does Christian nationalism even mean, and should Christians embrace such a thing? According to Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries, Christian nationalism is best defined as an ideology that “asserts that there is something identifiable as an American nation, distinct from other nations, … defined by Christianity, … and that the American people and their government should actively work to defend, sustain and cultivate America’s Christian culture, heritage and values.” In short, America is historically a Christian nation, and its people and governments should work to maintain that heritage. However, critics of Christian nationalism say that America is not a Christian nation. According to Pew Research Center, only about half of American citizens report that religion is very important in their lives. (Liberty Champion 8/28/23) Read More>>>>>
Russell Moore, Karen Swallow Prior Spark Outrage for Saying They Don’t Enjoy ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’
Various people, including commentator William Wolfe, an outspoken supporter of Christian nationalism, and Founders Ministries president Tom Ascol, responded critically to Prior and Moore. “The admissions in this exchange explain a lot,” said Ascol, retweeting a circulating clip of the conversation. “Its [sic] not Scripture, but if this story leaves you cold, it might be indicative of a much deeper issue,” said another user.
(Jessica Lea/Church Leaders 8/25/23)
Read More>>>>>
Various people, including commentator William Wolfe, an outspoken supporter of Christian nationalism, and Founders Ministries president Tom Ascol, responded critically to Prior and Moore. “The admissions in this exchange explain a lot,” said Ascol, retweeting a circulating clip of the conversation. “Its [sic] not Scripture, but if this story leaves you cold, it might be indicative of a much deeper issue,” said another user.
(Jessica Lea/Church Leaders 8/25/23)
Read More>>>>>
==bruce ashford======
Bruce Ashford is a book writer, speaker, columnist, and speech writer. He is the author or co-author of six trade books, including Letters to an American Christian, How To Survive an Election Season, Every Square Inch: An Introduction to Cultural Engagement for Christians, and One Nation Under God: A Christian Hope for American Politics. He is the author of three academic books: The Doctrine of Creation, The Gospel of Our King, and Theology & Practice of Mission. Ashford is a Fellow in Public Theology at the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics (Cambridge, UK), a participant in the Dulles Colloquium of the Institute on Religion & Public Life, and a trustee at the Institute for Religion & Democracy.
Mar 13, 2023: Wartburg Watch: Bruce Ashford’s Spectacular Fall From Grace
Bruce Ashford first appeared on the radar of The Wartburg Watch in the summer of 2021. As I recall, one of our “field agents” notified us of Ashford’s somewhat discrete resignation from his Provost position at SEBTS in July 2020. The email circulated through employees of SEBTS stated that Ashford would remain with the seminary, “returning full-time to the classroom.”
Bruce Ashford first appeared on the radar of The Wartburg Watch in the summer of 2021. As I recall, one of our “field agents” notified us of Ashford’s somewhat discrete resignation from his Provost position at SEBTS in July 2020. The email circulated through employees of SEBTS stated that Ashford would remain with the seminary, “returning full-time to the classroom.”
Bruce Ashford Files
The biblical writer introduces Job as a wealthy and powerful Gentile living far away from the promised land, yet one who “feared God and shunned evil” (1:1). When Scripture speaks of “fearing” God, it is referring essentially to living wisely under God’s reign. Job is also described as “the greatest man among all the people of the East” (1:3).
The fact of Job’s wealth and power is significant to note. The Bible says of wealthy people that it is harder for them to genuinely trust God than it is for a camel to crawl through the eye of the needle. In other words, there is something about affluence that tends to corrupt a man. Yet, the writer of Job makes clear that Job did not fit the stereotype. Job genuinely trusted God, which is a remarkable characteristic.. -Bruce Ashford; 4.10.22
The fact of Job’s wealth and power is significant to note. The Bible says of wealthy people that it is harder for them to genuinely trust God than it is for a camel to crawl through the eye of the needle. In other words, there is something about affluence that tends to corrupt a man. Yet, the writer of Job makes clear that Job did not fit the stereotype. Job genuinely trusted God, which is a remarkable characteristic.. -Bruce Ashford; 4.10.22
Bruce Ashford Files
The overall result of God’s monologue is to reveal that Job has obscured God’s counsel with insufficient knowledge. He spoke too quickly and firmly in light of his own inability to comprehend God’s being and ways. Job’s suffering and his subsequent encounter with God caused him to grow in his understanding of God and of himself.
Although God didn’t give Job an answer as to why he suffered, he did give Job a fuller understanding of God, himself, and the world around him. In return, Job became willing to accept that he would never understand why God allowed him to suffer but that he believed that God can work in and through his suffering to accomplish his mysterious purposes.
In conclusion, Job recognizes his finitude and fallenness: “Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes (42:6).” The Hebrew word for “repent” could also be translated as “loathe.” It seems the point of Job’s concluding declaration is he has come to recognize his smallness and the limits of his own wisdom. And he has come to embrace God’s greatness and the mysterious nature of God’s wisdom and ways. So, when we feel like yelling at God, as Job felt, we are well-served to pair our yelling with the remembrance that God’s wisdom is higher than our wisdom, his ways higher than ours. -Bruce Ashford; 4.18.22
Although God didn’t give Job an answer as to why he suffered, he did give Job a fuller understanding of God, himself, and the world around him. In return, Job became willing to accept that he would never understand why God allowed him to suffer but that he believed that God can work in and through his suffering to accomplish his mysterious purposes.
In conclusion, Job recognizes his finitude and fallenness: “Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes (42:6).” The Hebrew word for “repent” could also be translated as “loathe.” It seems the point of Job’s concluding declaration is he has come to recognize his smallness and the limits of his own wisdom. And he has come to embrace God’s greatness and the mysterious nature of God’s wisdom and ways. So, when we feel like yelling at God, as Job felt, we are well-served to pair our yelling with the remembrance that God’s wisdom is higher than our wisdom, his ways higher than ours. -Bruce Ashford; 4.18.22
 Bruce Ashford Files
In light of the degraded nature of our nation’s public discourse, therefore, evangelical Christians must model the “more excellent way” to which Paul refers (1 Cor. 12:31). This more excellent way goes beyond the mere intellectual evaluation of political ideologies and policies. It also includes the practice of convictional civility.
Instead of degrading the people on the other side of the political aisle by demonizing them, questioning their motives, and caricaturing their arguments, the Bible instructs us to speak the truth in a way that communicates Christian concern and respect. We should represent our debate partners accurately, not misrepresent them. We should recognize the good in their lives and their arguments, not glorify ourselves and demonize them. In other words, we must cultivate a public demeanor that is worthy of the Lord whose name we carry (2 Cor. 4:10). If the gospel message is true—and if it truly transforms—then gospel-minded Christians should expect to be radically different in every arena. As those convinced of the gospel’s truth, it is right and proper for us to defend it in public. However, the manner in which we defend it can either defraud or reflect its truth. Truth without grace makes us political bullies and jerks. Grace without truth makes us political non-entities and wimps. But Jesus’s powerful combination of truth and grace exemplifies for us the more excellent way of convictional civility. With confidence, then, we must stand firm in our convictions—but do so winsomely in ways that honor the Christ whose gospel we cherish. -Bruce Ashford; Gospel Coalition; How the Gospel Should Shape Our Political Posture 6.1.21 |
|
Bruce Ashford Files
American Christians are well-served to reflect upon how we can be “salt and light” in our broken society and culture. When Jesus urged his disciples to be “salt” he knew that his audience would understand well the preserving and seasoning power of salt. In his day—an era without refrigerators or freezers—his audience knew well that meat could be preserved by rubbing it down with salt and placing it in a cool place. Best of all, the salt would not only preserve the meat but season it also. Yet, to be effective, the salt had to remain chemically pure. It couldn’t be mixed with sand, for example, or it would be ruined. The implication for Jesus’ disciples is that we should conform to God’s law (remaining spiritually pure) instead of becoming contaminated by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life. -Bruce Ashford; Ten Words for a Broken Society (Preface) 12.21.21
September 2018: Bruce Ashford: Christianity Today: 5 Books for Getting a Handle on Populism
==karen atkins======
ABC Chicago adopts resolution calling for Gaza cease-fire
Karen Atkins, representing the group’s Prophetic Witness Committee, said the United States and European Union are complicit in the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. “As we call for an immediate cease-fire and release of all hostages and prisoners, we name what we believe is the necessary condition for a safe future for Palestinians and Israelis: the creation of a free, safe and internationally recognized Palestinian state in which Palestinian people can flourish as God intended for all people on Earth,” she said. “It should matter to us, Christians, because whatever we do for the least of these brothers and sisters of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we do it for him.” (Baptist News Global 5/21/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Karen Atkins, representing the group’s Prophetic Witness Committee, said the United States and European Union are complicit in the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. “As we call for an immediate cease-fire and release of all hostages and prisoners, we name what we believe is the necessary condition for a safe future for Palestinians and Israelis: the creation of a free, safe and internationally recognized Palestinian state in which Palestinian people can flourish as God intended for all people on Earth,” she said. “It should matter to us, Christians, because whatever we do for the least of these brothers and sisters of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we do it for him.” (Baptist News Global 5/21/24) READ MORE>>>>>
==MIKE AUGSBURGER======
Pastor Mike Augsburger grew up in a pastor’s home in Denver, Colorado. In the summer of 2008, God called Mike to Soteria Des Moines as its Lead Pastor. Mike has an exceptional gift for communicating the Bible. Paired with several degrees including a doctorate in preaching, Soteria is known for its excellence in preaching and teaching. Pastor Mike is also on the boards of several state and national organizations keeping us plugged in and influencing others for the gospel.
Pastor Mike Augsburger; Soteria Church; Des Moines, IA
July 13, 2023: Politico: DeSantis is hoping Iowa evangelicals can make his campaign born again
“My pulse on Christian evangelical voters is that they’re split somewhere between Trump and DeSantis, and in my circles, people are leaning more toward DeSantis because he seems to be more authentically conservative,” said Mike Augsburger, lead pastor of Soteria in Des Moines. “If DeSantis can get his message out there, I think he can be a draw for evangelical voters.”
“My pulse on Christian evangelical voters is that they’re split somewhere between Trump and DeSantis, and in my circles, people are leaning more toward DeSantis because he seems to be more authentically conservative,” said Mike Augsburger, lead pastor of Soteria in Des Moines. “If DeSantis can get his message out there, I think he can be a draw for evangelical voters.”
