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Recommendations For Fundamental Bible College or Seminary?

John of Japan

Well-Known Member
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From what I have heard, BJU has caught a good bit of grief for this but I always like me some good bluegrass music! I remember discovering bluegrass gospel back in the 80s when I was still "Hard-Core" and seemed no one objected since most didn't use drums (no "space" for them usually). I also loved the fact that I could "Rip up the Fretboard" with my flatpicking and still be "right with God!":Roflmao Got pretty good with my "Scruggs-Style" picking on the banjo too!
Do you like the Petersens?

I am a guitar picker too, but have tried the mandolin and banjo. I had one when I started Japanese language school, but a SBC friend heard about it and bought it from me. Never got another one.
 
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Armchair Apologist

Active Member
Do you like the Petersens?

I am a guitar picker too, but have tried the mandolin and banjo. I had one when I started Japanese language school, but a SBC friend heard about it and bought it from me. Never got another one.
Not sure if I have heard the Petersons before but I'm sure I'd like them.

I haven't really touched a banjo in about 25 years and sold the one I had about 10 years ago. I have about 13 guitars and basses in my closet - five acoustic, four electric, four basses, and one ukelele and then I have all of the amps and accessories plus some parts in my garage where I could probably put a couple more guitars together! Most of this was from a period in my life when I was actively gigging in bands and acoustic duos. Yes, I need to pare down my collection especially as I am getting ready to retire and spend much of my time overseas.

Japan makes some of the best guitars on the planet. Most notably is Alvarez Yairi. I happen to have three of them in my collection!
 

John of Japan

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I dislike those who are overly agressive with their Calvinism as I would be with those who are overly agressive with their Arminianism (or "anti-Calvinism") and I would probably find myself pushing back either way. My pastor and I have had some long talks about this and have pretty much made an unwritten rule that we are not to be overly dogmatic either way and that may be discussed as historically significant doctrinal positions of which we may differ and of which differences are allowed among the teachers and members. I believe that with such a position, there is no danger in splitting a church! This would be my counsel to young men and future pastors preparing for the ministry.
I don't think God designed theology to be aggressive. Taking a stand on holiness, yes. Being aggressive about evangelical doctrines, no. However, being aggressive against heresy? Certainly. (If that makes sense.)
 

John of Japan

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Not sure if I have heard the Petersons before but I'm sure I'd like them.
it's a Christian family that does bluegrass together. Looking for something to bind them all together, the father picked bluegrass. and they do right well at it in Branson, a mix of Christian and folk type secular music. Here's an example:
.
I haven't really touched a banjo in about 25 years and sold the one I had about 10 years ago. I have about 13 guitars and basses in my closet - five acoustic, four electric, four basses, and one ukelele and then I have all of the amps and accessories plus some parts in my garage where I could probably put a couple more guitars together! Most of this was from a period in my life when I was actively gigging in bands and acoustic duos. Yes, I need to pare down my collection especially as I am getting ready to retire and spend much of my time overseas.

Japan makes some of the best guitars on the planet. Most notably is Alvarez Yairi. I happen to have three of them in my collection!
Wow, that's an awesome collection. In Japan at one point I had 4, but back in the States nowadays just two: a folk and a classical (I love the sound of the classical for folk and hymns.)

Never played in a band, but was invited in high school to play bass in a rock band. Did not--maybe the Lord telling me no, not sure. But I did cut my teeth in high school playing for a choral type group known as Up With People. Then as a missionary the guitar was quite useful for when we didn't have a pianist in our church.
 

Armchair Apologist

Active Member
I don't think God designed theology to be aggressive. Taking a stand on holiness, yes. Being aggressive about evangelical doctrines, no. However, being aggressive against heresy? Certainly. (If that makes sense.)
Theology is the study of God based upon our understanding of what he has revealed of himself to us. I am not sure how we can say how God "Designed" theology or determined its intended purposes. Well actually, he probably did but I'm thinking of theology from a purely human-centered standpoint. It is our human nature that leads theological discussions to be "agressive." You can factor in sin and pride and this is of course the source of most contention! As a matter of fact, I believe there is a verse somewhere in Proverbs that speaks of such...:D

We should definitely and earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints but we should also shun profane and vain babbling and I believe it takes some grace and wisdom to understand where one ends and the other begins. We should choose our battles wisely.

How important is the Calvinism/Arminianism debate? I believe our soteriological views impact the ways in which we view evangelism and world missions and for this reason, the discussion is necessary but we also understand that taken to their logical extremes, both can be quite heretical. Where things turn into profane and vain babblings is when one side misrepresents the other and/or uses their particular position as a "test of orthodoxy" and viewing the other side as being heterodox if not flat out heretical. This is where things become quite harmful if we allow it to remain unchecked in our churches.

Make sense?
 

Armchair Apologist

Active Member
it's a Christian family that does bluegrass together. Looking for something to bind them all together, the father picked bluegrass. and they do right well at it in Branson, a mix of Christian and folk type secular music. Here's an example:
.

Wow, that's an awesome collection. In Japan at one point I had 4, but back in the States nowadays just two: a folk and a classical (I love the sound of the classical for folk and hymns.)

Never played in a band, but was invited in high school to play bass in a rock band. Did not--maybe the Lord telling me no, not sure. But I did cut my teeth in high school playing for a choral type group known as Up With People. Then as a missionary the guitar was quite useful for when we didn't have a pianist in our church.
They sound really good but what the guy is doing on guitar doesn't seem to match up with what I am hearing. I hear fingerstyle but he is obviously using a flatpick and even when "Cross-picking" (which I do mostly) it would sound different! Either way, they sound great and even after the song hardly ever gets old even though I wonder if some of these folks ever expand their song library!:Laugh

I had a classic guitar at one time but sold it along with the banjo. It was a cheap Ibanez with a laminate top I bought while stationed in Guam. All of my acoustic guitars are "Dreadnought" style but each have their own "personality" I guess. My "band playing" days was in the 2010s when I was going through a divorce from my first wife). I felt quite "lost" during this time but it was also my most fruitful time for songwriting and such. Covid pretty much killed my gigging and since my (present) wife and I were getting back into church (and back into fellowship with God), I lost interest in returning to playing in bars and such. I have acquired a few "luthiery" skills which come in handy whenever I am traveling around and see some neglected "Church Guitar" somewhere that needs a little love. I guess this will be one of my ministries. I will often buy a cheap ("inexpensive but adequate) guitar while I am in the Philippines and will usually give it away to some church or ministry before I head back to the States. I thought about bringing along my Martin D-18 in future "long-term" visits but I hope I wouldn't have to give that one away! Perhaps I'll bring along my "beater" DY-71 Yairi instead. It actually gives the D-18 a good run for its money but it can be a little tempermental.
 

John of Japan

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
They sound really good but what the guy is doing on guitar doesn't seem to match up with what I am hearing. I hear fingerstyle but he is obviously using a flatpick and even when "Cross-picking" (which I do mostly) it would sound different! Either way, they sound great and even after the song hardly ever gets old even though I wonder if some of these folks ever expand their song library!:Laugh

I had a classic guitar at one time but sold it along with the banjo. It was a cheap Ibanez with a laminate top I bought while stationed in Guam. All of my acoustic guitars are "Dreadnought" style but each have their own "personality" I guess. My "band playing" days was in the 2010s when I was going through a divorce from my first wife). I felt quite "lost" during this time but it was also my most fruitful time for songwriting and such. Covid pretty much killed my gigging and since my (present) wife and I were getting back into church (and back into fellowship with God), I lost interest in returning to playing in bars and such. I have acquired a few "luthiery" skills which come in handy whenever I am traveling around and see some neglected "Church Guitar" somewhere that needs a little love. I guess this will be one of my ministries. I will often buy a cheap ("inexpensive but adequate) guitar while I am in the Philippines and will usually give it away to some church or ministry before I head back to the States. I thought about bringing along my Martin D-18 in future "long-term" visits but I hope I wouldn't have to give that one away! Perhaps I'll bring along my "beater" DY-71 Yairi instead. It actually gives the D-18 a good run for its money but it can be a little tempermental.
Good plan for your trips to the Philippines. Guitars are tailor made for the mission field!

I took a Conn classical guitar to Japan in 1981--made in Japan! Loved it, but when I took it in for repairs once they were astonished. Didn't know Conn ever made guitars! My classical guitar here is a Lucero, with a nice built in tuner. I have a Seagull folk guitar that I like.

They're not big on guitars here, but several years ago when the 200th anniversary of "Silent Night," they had my son and me dress in period costume and lead the congregation in the song, "just like when it was written with a guitar. That was fun.

I play my Lucero and sing for my students on final exam day in my various classes a few songs to make them laugh and relax, theoretically to do better on the test: "The Unicorn Song," "Please Mr. Custer," and "Tie Me Kangaroo Down." Seems to work for them. :)
 
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