www.nailmark.org is up and running

Hello all! As of today www.nailmark.org is online. There is still a lot of work to do, it's not real pretty yet and the most of it is under construction still, however, from this point on this blog will now be found there. When it's all said and done there will be not only the blog at www.nailmark.org but also articles about theology and apologetics, chat forums for you to dialogue with other's about various topics related to theology and apologetics, there will be debate's and podcasts for you to download, there will be a store with various item's and resources for you to purchase and there will be Bible Study notes for you to use for your own personal study of God's word.

So for future blog posts go to www.nailmark.org and check back there often to watch as the site develops and grows into a valuable resource.

Serving Christ,

Jacob Allee

New Blog for FSBC of JC

What's up? I have created a blog for the new youth group. The name of our group is now THE B.O.M.B. SQUAD. you can check out the youth group's blog at www.fsbcbombsquad.blogspot.com.

Serving the King,

Jacob Allee

Update

My family and I will be moving to Junction City, KS on the 17th of may and I will be jumping right in to my pastoral role as I will be preaching God's word the next day. The senior pastor, Nathan Butler, will be gone my first weekend there because his oldest son is graduating from college that Sunday. Feel free to check out my new church's web site: www.fsbcjc.org. The site is new and not finished, however, there is a fair amount to look at there.

I will be developing a blog for the student ministry at FSBC and will have that up and going soon. I intend to let the students vote on a name for the student ministry, so that is still to be determined.

On other fronts, the www.nailmark.org site is still under development, we have made some progress but it will still be a while. My developer is quite talented but also quite busy as he is a graduating senior in High School this year. I will keep you posted as the site develops.

I have sold several copies of the Baptism Debate and have plenty more available. Again the cost is 10 dollars which includes shipping for orders here in the United States. Just contact me via email at jacob@nailmark.org and I will give you the information you need to order a copy for yourself or your church.

Sola Deo Gloria,

Jacob Allee

Great News!

Well, I am officially a youth pastor once again! I went to Junction City, KS over the weekend and candidated for the position at First Southern Baptist Church and the church has called me to be their Youth Pastor!

I'm quite excited about the opportunity, I really like the Pastor a lot as well as all of those who I had the opportunity of meeting. There is a good group of core students that I will be starting with and they are great kids, I look forward to really getting to know them.

I will be starting there in about three weeks. Thanks to all who have been praying for us as we have been searching for a position in which to serve!

Sola Deo Gloria,

Jacob Allee

FBC Ulysses

I will be doing a presentation on the defense of the Trinity and Deity of Christ this coming Sunday morning at First Baptist Church in Ulysses, KS. If you are anywhere around Ulysses Kansas I would invite you to come and join us that morning. The service starts at 10:45 am. The address is: 220 N Simpson St, Ulysses KS. 67880 and the church's number is (620) 356-2722 if you need to ask for directions. Of course you can just enter in the address at maps.yahoo.com.

Sola Deo Gloria,

Jacob Allee

Ben Stein, Making Christian Friends and Darwinian Enemies

I just came across something that really took me by surprise. I had no idea about this project until today, but apparently Ben Stein is coming out with a movie that will hit theatre's nation wide April 18 called "Expelled." This movie is about the fact that schools around the world have almost unanimously "expelled" the notion of intelligent design. The movie is meant to put this debate in the public spotlight and present the case for intelligent design as, at the very least, a reasonable theory that deserves as much attention as evolution.

There are many brilliant scientist's around the world, Christian and non Christian, that believe intelligent design is true, highly probable, or at least a viable theory that should be considered next to or over evolution.

I don't know much more about the movie really other than it has gained endorsements from people like James Dobson, Chuck Colson, the lead singer of the newsboys, and a whole bunch of other big "names" in the Christian community.

I'm looking forward to seeing it. I hope it does a good job of presenting the case for intelligent design so that it will show unbelievers that there is ample evidence that points towards a creator over random chance + time.

Anyway, here is a link if you want to look at more information about the movie (and I guess curriculum to buy for your church that coordinates with the movie). I don't necessarily endorse the movie or the curriculum for that matter, seeing as how I just found out about it, but this movie should at least push an important discussion into the public spot light.

http://www.getexpelled.com/

Sola Deo Gloria,

Jacob Allee

Debate Now Available on DVD

Hello all,

I just wanted to let everyone know that the debate that took place a while back at Tabor College between myself and Mr. Garret Boyer is now available on DVD. The cost to receive a copy is $10.00 which includes shipping to anywhere in the US. If you are outside the US I will have to check on shipping cost's to your area and get back with you.

For those who might not remember, the debate was over the topic of "Is Baptism a Necessary Condition for Salvation?" Garret Boyer is a member of the Church of Christ and contended for the position that it is indeed a requirement for salvation. I of course took the traditional protestant/Baptist view that it is not, rather it is By faith alone we are saved. The debate is just a bit under 2 hours long.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of the debate please contact me by email at jacob@nailmark.org, and I will work out the details with you as far as shipping address and payment options. Hopefully after the new site is finished being constructed this will be a much simpler process with the store that will be built into the site.

Sola Deo Gloria,

Jacob Allee

New Logo

If you go to www.nailmark.org you can now see the new logo. I'd love your feed back on it. Work is continuing on the site as a whole and there will be more to look at soon.

Sola Deo Gloria,

Jacob Allee

Update

Work has officially begun on the new web site. I have purchased the rights to the domain name www.nailmark.org. There's nothing there yet but a sign that says the web site is under construction. My developer thinks that he should have at least the shell of the web site done by the end of the week. All email in concern of the apologetics ministry should now be directed to jacob@nailmark.org. I will continue to keep you updated as things develop and let you all know when there is something to look at.

Sola Deo Gloria,

Jacob Allee

New Web Site to Begin Construction

I just talked to the individual who will be putting together the new web site for me and we will begin construction tomorrow. I'm not certain how long it will take or what the web address will be just yet, but I am very excited about the prospects of what I'll be able to do with this site in comparison to the limits of my current site's.

We will be changing the name from Reformation In Progress to Nail Mark Ministries as I feel the new name will reflect more closely the main goal of the ministry, pointing people towards the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

I'll be sure to let you know as soon as the new site is up and running.

Sola Deo Gloria,

Jacob Allee

God is Not Passive

Something that is often heard in church's, whether by preaching or even in the hymn's and modern praise songs is that "Jesus is patiently waiting." Meaning that God has done all that He can do and now it is just up to you.


Now maybe it's just me, but that makes my skin crawl. The presentation of the almighty maker of Heaven and Earth, the Alpha and Omega, the Great I AM, the Word become flesh, as completely helpless, inept and unable to do anything more... now He is just patiently waiting, beckoning the sinner to come home.


Here's my question, is this how the Bible presents God's role in salvation....the patient waiter?


No. God is not passive, God is the God who saves to the fullest! God is the God who knocks people off horses and claims them as His own (Acts 9). God is the God who anoints shepherd boys and makes them kings (1 Samuel 16) God is the God who overthrows armies by the smashing of clay jars and blowing of horns (Judges 7). But is he waiting patiently...hoping that you will accept Him? I don't think so.


God is not passive and He is not impotent. God has from the foundation of the world chosen those whom He will save. Ephesians 1:4-6 tells us:

"4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."

and verse 11

"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will"

This is the God who works all things according to the counsel of his will. The God who does whatever He wants with the inhabitants of the earth (Daniel 4:35).

Certainly the Bible describes God as patient (2 Peter 3:9) but this is not patient as in waiting to see if we will come or not, but rather patient to fulfill His promise. God is patiently working out the counsel of His will among the people of this world.

Yes it's true that God is patient....but He is not waiting, He is fulfilling! So let's throw this bad theology out the door and on it's ear that says, Jesus has done all that He can do and He wants you to come to Him but it's just up to you, but he really hopes you will...blah, blah, blah. Instead let us recognize that God is a God who is Sovereign and saves to the fullest. If He wants you, he's gonna get you....and there is nowhere you can hide.

Jesus put it this way:

"All that the Father gives to me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." (John 6:37)

God is not passive.

Sola Deo Gloria!

- Jacob Allee

Ministry Update

Hello friends!

I'm excited to tell you that there are some things going on! I am still seeking full time employment as an associate pastor, but in the mean while my wife and I have talked it over and I am going to scale back my hours at the job I'm at now and see if we can't make something really happen with this ministry.

So here are some things that are going to be happening with the ministry of Reformation In Progress....

1. We are considering a name change.

My desire as an apologist is to equip the body of Christ with what they need to affirm their faith and defend it against competing worldviews and religions. I unashamedly hold to the doctrines of grace, but I still wish to partner with churches who are not 5 point Calvinist's. The name Reformation In Progress I'm afraid scares some people away before they even give the ministry a second look. So, though I'm certainly not going to change my convictions or teachings, I though a name change would at least help me get into churches that disagree with Calvinism so that I can partner with them in teaching things like defending the trinity, witnessing to Mormon's, etc.

So here is the name I've been considering most strongly: Nail Mark Ministries. Why? Because of what Thomas says in John 20:25.

" But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."

The heart beat of this ministry is to give people what they need through plain reason, Scripture and other evidence, to be able to fall down before Jesus' feet and proclaim "My Lord and my God!" just as Thomas did.

Feel free to leave your thoughts about the idea for this name.

2. We are going to be building a new web site.

I am hiring a very computer savvy individual to build the ministry a new site. Once completed we will have a lot more flexibility with what we can do online as a ministry. The blog will be on the same web site as all the articles and resources that are now on www.reformationapologetics.com. There will no longer be a need for two separate sites. We will eventually have an online store. You will be able to download Mp3's and there will be a forum for apologetic and theological discussions. And more. My hope is that when it is all done it will function very similarly to www.aomin.org.

3. As soon as possible we are going to become an officially non-profit organization.

This will allow donations to the ministry to be tax deductible.

4. I will be actively pursuing opportunities to speak in churches about how to defend the Christian faith.

I have done some work in this area already, but I will be coming up with some materials so that I can lead training workshops in churches that will walk people through Scripture, relevant history and evidence so that they can become prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within them.

None of this of course will happen over night, but I am excited as I am going to be turning more of my attention back to this ministry as I wait for God to take me and my family wherever He wants us to go.

I appreciate your prayers, idea's and suggestions as we continue to work towards the above mentioned plans and goals. We need to raise some money (hopefully by speaking at a few churches in the near future) in order to pay for the expenses that come along with setting up a non-profit status, so be praying for that as well.

I will be blogging more regularly starting this next week I think! Can you feel the excitement? Yeah buddy!

Serving Christ our Lord,

Jacob Allee

Prayer Request

Hello all,

I apologize about the lack of posting lately I have been working an evening job to support my family at the moment and free time goes to spending time with them. I have a prayer request however. I am actively seeking a position as a Student Pastor. Will you please pray that God will lead my family and I to a great church where we can serve using our gifts and where I can make enough money to continue my educational goals. I thank you for taking the time to pray for me and my family.

I've had some great idea's for posts and hopefully soon I'll be able to devote some time to them.

God bless you all!

Serving Christ,

Jacob Allee

James White, Very Kindly, (Set to Classical Music Even), Rips the Guts Out of Catholic Answers Apologist Steve Ray's Argument

This is why I love Dr. James White! Steve Ray, a Roman Catholic apologist, is claiming that the church has always upheld the apocrypha as Scripture with exception to the anomaly of one scholar by the name Jerome. Does this hold true? See for your self.

Wow.

This has probably been the longest gap I've ever had in my blogging. I apologize to those who are regular readers here. Between the Christmas and all the other holiday stuff, as well as two hob interviews, one in Kentucky and the other in southern Indiana, I have just hardly even been home let alone found time to blog.

A real praise however is that after a lot of bouncing around and changing our minds about what we ought to do and where we should go, my wife and I have finally decided that Louisville, KY at Boyce College is the place for me (Boyce is the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's undergraduate school.)

I spent a semester at Tabor College and it just didn't set well with me. I was having a tough time dealing with the liberal, and utterly Arminian theology that is buzzing around that school. (Not trying to imply that liberal and arminian is hand in hand, there was just both there at Tabor.) Theistic evolution, alegorizing the first 11 chapters of Genesis, etc.

But my wife and I have now both seen and toured the campus of Southern / Boyce and feel very certain that this is where God wants me to get my education. I've loved that school for a long while now, but I wasn't sure if that was what God had for me just because it was what I wanted. But now, Susan and I are both convinced there is nowhere else in the world I ought to go. I plan to start their in either the summer or fall semester.

I will be majoring in Christian Worldview and Apologetics! How wonderful is that! As far as I can tell Boyce College is the only fully accredited, 4 year undergraduate school that offers a degree in Christian apologetics. I couldn't be more excited given that my ministry here at Reformation is centered upon apologetics and theology. And of course this school is by far the most reformed of all the SBC school's. Not every professor is a five point Calvinist, but they all are at least moderate Calvinist's because they have to teach the Abstract of Principles that the School was founded upon which ensures their belief of Total Depravity, Unconditional Election and Perseverance of the Saints. And many of the prof's hold to Limited atonement and irresistible grace, but other's don't.

Nonetheless, I couldn't be more excited to be in this environment of conservative, Biblical, Christ centered learning. I ask for your prayers as I seek a place to work while in school. Boyce College doesn't accept Stafford Loans so I must pay for school as I go, along with usual living expenses. I also am praying for a job that will allow for plenty of time with my family.

I have had two interviews at two different churches, both were interested in me however I did not feel that either of them was the place I ougth to serve. So I'm waiting on the Lord to open the right door. I thank you for your prayers when you think of me!

I will endeavor to get back to posting regularly again soon. God Bless!!!


Serving Christ,

Jacob Allee