Kingdom Triangle cont.

Part 2 . Here JP highlight the first foundation of the triangle:
1) Recovery of Knowledge.
He recommend that we 'return to the first four centuries of Christianity and take some lessons from the early church.' This way we ground Christianity in knowledge, rather than unsubstantiated faith statements.
Second foundation:
2) Develope a path of spiritual formation. His guidelines are: self-denial and reliance on God. Matthew 16: 24-26 Please take time to read these scriptures before you go further. The key to Jesus claims is that the ONLY way to find 'happiness' is to develop a life of character and virtue, a life that manifests kindness, wisdom, goodness. This classic sense of happiness is lost among us today. Instead 21th Century modern man view happiness as pleasurable satisfaction.
Third foundation:
3) Restoring the miraculous power of the Kingdom of God. We as Church of Christ members are very skirmish about this. We barely even teach, study or preach on this. We are missing a big blessings from the Kingdom of God. Spencer wrote in The Washington Times that in communist China there are millions of recent conversions to Christianity. Believers now outnumber national members national members of the Communist Party. (Richard Spencer, Millions All over China Convert to Christianity, The Washington Times, August 3,2005, A-1, A-11) What is happening here and why? Philip Jenkins distinguished historian from Pen State U. documents and attributes these growth to a God that intervenes daily in everyday life, including miraculous events. JP documents many reports of supernatural activities. I will mention one or two, end of drought in answer to Christian missionary's' prayer in a Buddhist village in Thailand resulting in over 100 families becoming Christians, significant numbers of demonic deliverance. A counter argument even among Christians would be that these are uneducated people they expect and are easily fool by such things. JP also documented miracles in US. Incidentally, JP is a distinguished professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology. Not someone to dismiss likely. Richard Swinburne and Gary Habermas ( distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Theology at Liberty University) whom I also had the good fortune and pleasure to learn under them also believes in miracles happening daily.
In conclusion: JP challenges us to Revolt. Do not let those baggage hinder you down. Instead, strive for knowledge, strive for personal discipline and practice and restore the transforming and miraculous power of God's Kingdom for Ashlan is and has always been on the move.

Blessings