INTRODUCTORY POST

I am a newcomer to computers, the internet and blogging. You will also quickly detect that I am new to writing. Apart from sermon prep, I haven't done much of it. I started this blog in part to force myself to articulate my thoughts and theology by writing them out. So this is going to require a new discipline for me . I am greatly influenced by superior bloggers such as:Phil Johnson, Frank Turk, James Spurgeon,Tom Ascol and many others of this stripe. My two favorite blogs, of course, are PASTOR STEVE WEAVER'S BLOG and DOXOBLOGY. These two young men are the smartest, most articulate, fervent, anoited, cutting edge, doctrinally sound to be found anywhere on the internet.(Is my prejudice showing?) I confess that I am not in the same league with these men that I have named either educationally or spiritually. However I do occasionally have something to say and I intend to try to say it coherently on this blog. Have mercy on me and try not to judge me too harshly if I fail in this attempt. I feel a little uncomfortable saying "I" so much, but in this introductory post I think I need to kinda 'splain myself and where I'm coming from. Theologically I'm a Calvinist. I pastor a small independent baptist church in Titusville Fl. where I preach verse-by-verse through books of the bible. I am not into the KJVonly debate, however I do only preach from the KJV. I can readily identify with guys like James Spurgeon and RegularJoe in that I also am a recovering IFBer. I guess I never really fit in with them, though, and was often viewed with a certain amount of suspicion. Although I tried to be accepted, I just didn't seem to fit in. For one thing I never beieved in nor did I practice Hyles style easy-believism. I was always a little too close to Calvinism, although I hadn't come to a full understanding of the doctrines of grace. I always have believed that the church's primary purpose is not "soul winning" but to worship and glorify God. Please don't mis-understand this last statement. I believe in the great commission.My family and I spent a total of 5 years on the mission field in Old Mexico. I just believe that evangelism must be done in a scriptural way and that it is to be done for the glory of God. The focus is on God and not the "soul". By the way, can you tell that I don't know how to make this thing do paragraphs? Now, you might ask "why is this blog named AMAZING GRACE AND OLD CHEVYS ?" The answer is simple. I love the doctrines of grace and am still, after 28 years, amazed that God would extend His saving grace to me. I also love old Chevys. I like to drive 'em, I like to see 'em, I like to buy 'em, I like to sell 'em. I like 'em. What more can I say? If John Calvin were alive today he would say "Old Chevys are the bomb".