Author Archives: Anthony Baker

About Anthony Baker

Husband, dad, pastor, artist, and musician. Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2006 (no joke!). Loves coffee (big time), good movies, and sarcastic humor. Holds a Doctorate in Ministry. Most importantly, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. All glory belongs to Him! Matthew 5:16

by Anthony Baker | February 10, 2017 · 6:07 pm

Has Revolution Replaced Revival?

The author of the following post just subscribed to mine today. So, when I went to look at his, the first post I read was this one, and man did it hit the mark! I highly recommend you reading it. He makes some brilliant observations.

live4him.ca

I am a veteran of a revolutionary war. I am not sure how many casualties were inflicted as a direct or indirect result of this conflict but I personally witnessed the pain and division it caused. As in many of the latest revolutions designed to bring church to the unchurched, my war, the worship war, was a fight to establish a new way of doing things.

Let me be clear; the church often suffers from tradition for the sake of tradition. The church has paid the price for creating doctrine out of habits and theology out of life experience. That being said it is just as easy to create new doctrine out of new habits and new theology out of new experiences.

Have we created a doctrine of change driven by a theology of proven success?

Do we seek a new way of doing things rather than a renewed connection…

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The observance of the Sabbath.

I came across this post by Ray Comfort. It’s not often that I get asked about worshiping on Saturday or Sunday, but it does happen. So, here are some thoughts for you to consider.

Ray Comfort's Daily Evidence

Skeptics argue that these verses contradict Paul’s later statements that the Sabbath commandment was temporary and believers could decide for themselves regarding its observance (Rom. 14:5; Col. 2:14–16).

Scripture makes it clear that no one can be justified (made right with God) by keeping the Sabbath holy, or by keeping any other Commandment. All the Law does is bring the knowledge of sin to show us that we need a Savior. Jesus fulfilled the demands of the Law, which means we can be made right with God through faith in Him alone (see Eph. 2:8,9). Believers now serve in the spirit, not the letter of the law, and the principle behind the Sabbath is this: Just as God created for six days then rested on the seventh, man is to work for six days and rest on the seventh—to cease working. Those who trust in Christ’s finished work on the…

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Crazy Like Me

Crazy people like me exist so that normal people can define themselves. – A. Baker

3 Comments

Filed under Humor, Life Lessons

Tagged as definitions, ego, Humor, philosophy

by Anthony Baker | February 9, 2017 · 7:26 am

Wisdom vs Knowledge

There’s nothing wrong with getting an education – I have one. However, we should first desire to learn of Christ, the Wisdom of God, rather than knowledge for knowledge’s sake. An ignorant wise man is far more profitable than an educated fool. – A. Baker

4 Comments

Filed under Jesus, wisdom

Tagged as Education, knowledge, wisdom

by Anthony Baker | February 8, 2017 · 10:00 am

Divine Irreconcilabilty

The doctrine of divine irreconcilability is the point where the sovereignty of God and the free will of man meet in the light of the glory of the Gospel. – A. Baker

3 Comments

Filed under Christian Unity, God, Theology

Tagged as Doctrine, God, Theology

by Anthony Baker | February 8, 2017 · 7:00 am

“You Might Be a Legalist If…”

The following list is not original on my part, I am unsure of who came up with it. But even though I didn’t write it, I want you to read it.

All that’s needed is Jeff Foxworthy to add his voice and declare, “You might be a legalist if…”

1) God’s love for me depends on what I do.

2) Meeting the expectations of others, especially those in my congregation or in positions of authority, are paramount.

3) Moral and ethical questions are usually black and white and only made into fuzzy shades of gray by hand-wringing, bleeding-heart types.

4) I try hard to obey God and it irritates me that others think they can get away with avoiding the same level of dedication.

5) I fall short because I don’t have enough faith, or because I haven’t prayed enough, or because I just need to be a better person.

6) God is predisposed to be angry with me because I am a sinner. My main goal in life is to try to gain God’s favor by doing things that will impress him.

7) My sense of spiritual well-being is linked to a Christian leader or membership in my church rather than a personal relationship with God.

8) I tell my children not to do something in church or around other Christian families that I allow in my home.

9) I believe my church is God’s true church and that most other Christians may be sincere, but are sincerely wrong.

10) The exterior choices a person makes in what they wear, hairstyle, piercings, tattoos, etc. is a clear indication of that person’s character.

11) I sometimes worry that people might take advantage of grace if it’s preached too much —people might think they can do anything they want.

12) After being around Christians for a while I feel drained —weary of putting up a false front.

13) When I happen to miss a service or activity of my church I feel guilty.

14) I will likely get into heaven, even though I’m far from perfect, because I have tried to be a basically good person and God will take that into account.

So, are you a legalist? I used to be, but I still struggle. That is the reason for this blog. That is why I call myself a “recovering” legalist.

8 Comments

Filed under Church, legalism

Tagged as Denominations, Legalism, Religion and Spirituality, What is a legalist?

by Anthony Baker | February 8, 2017 · 12:56 am

There Is a God!

Oh, hallelujah! I woke up a little while ago with my face burning and itching. But the waking up led to me checking my phone, and long story short, discovering this song and this group.

I have a new favorite song and a new favorite group!

Go ahead, watch and listen if you want to get blessed. THIS is good stuff.

“There Is a God,” by Mountain Faith

1 Comment

Filed under Faith, God, music

Tagged as bluegrass, Mountain Faith, Music

by Anthony Baker | February 7, 2017 · 2:45 am

How Do You Treat a Gift from God?

Remember, dear believer, if your pastor is a “gift” to your congregation (Ephesians 4:11), how you treat him says a lot about your relationship to the Giver. – A. Baker

2 Comments

Filed under Church, ministry

Tagged as Christianity, Church, gifts, Ministry, Pastor

by Anthony Baker | February 7, 2017 · 2:37 am

Which Would Surprise You More?

It may come as no surprise to you that I have some pretty unique students who ride my school bus. I’m sure the same could be said for any school bus.

However, today, following a conversation in which a middle school girl was laughing about some creepy things she’d done, like stabbing her stuffed frog, I posed a question to the students surrounding her.

“Of the following,” I asked, “which of these two things would surprise you more if you found out they were true about (the girl)? First, that she had a bedroom full of unicorns and rainbows, and that she wrote poetry about flowers… Or, secondly, that in her bedroom she had a black pot, under which sat a burner…and that she used the pot to boil water, into which she would put the severed extremities of creatures she gathered from outside after midnight while her parents slept?”

“Unicorns and rainbows,” replied the other students. A creepy cackle of approval came from the seat behind me. Then she added, “But the poetry could have been about dark, magical flowers that kill.”

Uh, yeah.

Anyway, this got me to thinking. What would surprise you more, if you heard it about me?

That I could bench press 500 pounds, or…
That my biceps look like chicken thighs.

How about this?

That I have a fondness for burning things, or…
That I have a fear of getting burned.

Now, try these on for size. Which would surprise you more?

That I was a spy for the U.S. government, or…
I was a draft dodger.

You see, how we answer these questions reveal our perceptions of people. So, here’s one more. Which would surprise you more if you learned it to be true about me?

That I’ve never offended a single soul with my preaching, or…
That someone got so offended by something I preached that he left the church and personally threatens me…and he wouldn’t be the last.

I hope you picked #1 on that one (read John 15:18-20). Otherwise, I need to reevaluate what I’m doing.

Why not give it some thought and ask others some questions about yourself? You might be surprised with their answers.

2 Comments

Filed under Christian Living, Christianity, General Observations, Life Lessons, Uncategorized

Tagged as impresssions, rumors, surprises, testimony, truth

by Anthony Baker | February 4, 2017 · 7:49 pm

When Tomorrow Is Sunday

Never forget that the arguments, the hurt feelings, the illnesses, the stresses, and the pains that hit seemingly out of the blue are not coincidence when tomorrow is Sunday. – A. Baker