Now that I think about it...

Memorial Day Reagan Quote

2011-05-24T09:18:00.000-04:00

The other day I came across one of my favorite Ronald Reagan quotes and I thought it was especially appropriate with Memorial Day coming up. I intend to share it with my kids this weekend and have a discussion about the privilege and responsibility of freedom:

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We did not pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." Ronald Reagan

God help us. We have lost our soul and broken faith with our Founding Fathers. We have compromised our Christian values and are selling out our hard-won freedom for socialist entitlements.

Osama

2011-05-05T12:54:00.002-04:00

As every patriotic American I was thankful when I learned that our brave military had successfully neutralized Osama bin Laden. However, I admit that I have felt conflicted by some of what I have seen and heard over the past couple of days. The nuanced reactions of some reveal how deeply divided our nation has become and how difficult it is for America to have thoughtful discussions about morality and politics. To illustrate, I offer a few (random) thoughts:

I congratulate the President on taking down Osama. I think the weight of history made his decision inevitable; nevertheless, he deserves the credit for making the call. I think we should rise above the political bickering about whether it was Obama, Bush or our military who "got Osama." I happen to agree that Bush deserves much more gratitude than the democrats and media are willing to give him, but the point is that bin Laden's death is a good thing for America (and the world!) and we should celebrate it as such. There is plenty of other things that Republicans and Democrats can (and should!) argue about before 2012. This isn't one of them.

Speaking of celebrating: I agree with those who have cautioned us about celebrating the death of bin Laden in a way that glorifies his killing much in the way that we have seen Muslims glorify the death of Americans. When we do that, we surrender our moral authority and suggest that they have succeeded in imprinting their violence upon us.

For the same reason I support President Obama's decision NOT to publish the death pictures. If for no other reason that they are gruesome and shocking. C'mon, honestly? Would you want you kids to see those pictures? What good could it possibly do to release them for the general public? I am afraid that they would only serve to simultaneously sensationalize and desensitize evil. They are going to get out eventually, but I want my kids to live in an America that says, "Justice was served. We did the right thing by executing an evil, satanic man. You don't need to see the pictures."

By the way, I am glad they killed him...armed or not...resisting or not. The SEALS did the right thing NOT to bring him back alive. I did not want him to stand trial; I did not want him to live the rest of his life in prison somewhere; I did not want to see him executed. I'm glad he was dispatched w/o question and dumped in the sea. Done and gone.

One more thought. I listened to one Obama administration official today suggest (very subtly) that the proliferation of guns in America makes it more likely that "lone ranger" terrorists will use bin Laden's death as an opportunity to conduct violence on our soil. Really? Does anyone really think that legal gun ownership is related to Islamic terrorism? Apparently. And they are politicizing the death of Osama bin Laden to reinforce their agenda.

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Fair Tax?

2011-04-28T11:45:00.004-04:00

Occasionally I get upset when I see or hear something in the media that, in my opinion, intentionally distorts an issue that is currently in public debate. Such is the graph above that was printed recently in the US News and World Report Weekly I receive. Usually I just fume or "preach" to my wife about these sorts of things, but today I have resolved to expose some of them and use them to teach my kids to think critically, hopefully even philosophically, about the nuances of political debate.

This graph, according to the title, purports to illustrate something to us about "Tax Fairness." What it seems to illustrate is that the more money a person earns, the more unfair they believe their personal taxes are. This reinforces the notion--so prevalent in the political rhetoric of liberals--that wealthy people are greedy and selfish. I do not want to assume that USN&WR is intentionally corroborating the president's strategy, but this graph subtly manipulates the subconscious perception of those who have heard him (and other politicians) to agree that it's only "fair" for rich people to pay more taxes.

This graph is misleading because of what it does not show: How much taxes individuals in these income categories are actually paying. For instance nearly half of Americans are not paying any federal taxes. I wonder how that information affects the "fairness" quotient? Also, if we assume that the numbers above reflect taxable income then the tax rate for each "bracket" increases from 10% to 15% to 25% to 33% to 35% respectively. Isn't it conceivable that those who are paying taxes at a much higher rate might consider their personal taxes "unfair?" Is it "fair" to resent wealthy people who are already paying the largest percentage of taxes and insist that they pay more? But these are not questions that the graph even remotely suggests.

This is just one illustration of how our national debate (on any issue) is subverted by the media's unwillingness to be fair and honest in their presentation and our inability to be thoughtful and informed.

Good Friday

2011-04-22T16:46:00.001-04:00

"The cross itself has become God's glorification, the glory of God made manifest in the love of the Son." Jesus of Nazareth Part Two, pg 165

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Maundy Thursday

2011-04-21T18:16:00.001-04:00

Today is Maundy Thursday. Traditionally, this is the day during Holy Week when we recognize Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. This afternoon I came upon this great quote from Jesus of Nazareth Part Two Holy Week, which I am reading this week:

Jesus represents the whole of his saving ministry on one symbolic act. He divests himself of his divine splendor; he, as it were, kneels down before us; he washes and dries our soiled feet, in order to make us fit to sit at at table for God's wedding feast. Page 56

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Matthew 2:1-12

2010-12-24T11:15:00.001-05:00

I am sorry that I was unable to post this yesterday...when it was supposed to be posted:

Tradition places the Magi at the nativity scene with the shepherds; however, they did not arrive until much later. An article that I read recently said that they may have come from the region we now call China. Their search for Jesus commenced when they first saw "his star" rise in the heavens and did not conclude until they found him with his parents approximately two years later. They had invested a lot of time, energy and resources to find the Christ and they "rejoiced exceedingly with great joy" as their journey neared its completion. I can only imagine the scene of deep, satisfied worship that unfolded as they laid their gifts before the King of Kings.

Their story is a lesson for us because we often take worship for granted. Sincere worship requires the intentional, unhurried investment of our time, energy and gifts to find the presence of Jesus. When we fail to seek him with properly-aligned commitment then our worship becomes cheap. Cheap worship may not cost you very much, but neither will it satisfy you very deeply. On the other hand...if you want to find the heart of worship...push through all of the stuff that clutters and complicates Christmas and look in the manger. There you will find Jesus, for God has promised that we will find him when we seek him with all of our heart (Deut. 4:29; Jer. 29:13).

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Earth to heav'n replies

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

Luke 2:1-20

2010-12-22T12:51:00.000-05:00

I heard the other day that less than 28% of Americans will read the Christmas story this Christmas. I mean THE Christmas story--from Luke chapter 2, not 'Twas the Night Before Christmas! Less than 50% will attend a Christmas service at church. Today you have a chance to do both! Join us for Carols and Communion tonight at Glad Tidings at 7! In the meantime, enjoy this scene from a Christmas classic:

Luke 1

2010-12-21T15:29:00.000-05:00

Today I would like to feature a guest devotional...sort of. After you read the first chapter of Luke, which includes the Annunciation and Mary's Magnificat, read these excerpts from an article written by Gordon McDonald for Christianity Today:

Think about this. Mothers "enjoy" nine months of almost exclusive influence upon a child while it remains in the womb. In most cases, the influence continues—little diminished—in the next 2-3 years of life. And what's to be said of the years beyond that? The things a mother can pump into the life of a child in those first years—for good or for ill—is beyond calculating. And so it must have been with Mary and Jesus.

How the Holy Spirit shaped Jesus' consciousness of his mission as the saving Christ is a mystery to me. But I'll bet on this: Mary was a major player in the process.

I can imagine Mary saying to Jesus over and over again when they worked together and when she tucked him into bed, "Son, when you grow up, tell the people about God's mindfulness and his compassion … remember: his mindfulness and his compassion … his mindfulness and his compassion." (Gordon McDonald, "What Kind of Mother Was Mary?" Posted 12/20/2010)

Mostly, when I reflect upon Mary as the mother of Christ I think about what a great honor she was given and I do not think enough about her awesome responsibility. It is remarkable that God had confidence in Mary...that she could and would rear Jesus properly! It reminds me that I have also been given a responsibility--to nurture the life of Christ in me and to cooperate with the Holy Spirit whose work is "building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph 4:12-13 ESV).

John 1:1-18

2010-12-20T15:47:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if you noticed it or not, but the tag line at the end of the video, before "Happy Digital Christmas," says "times change, feelings remain the same." If only that were true. In fact, feelings about Christmas have changed over the past several years. What I think the producers of this video meant, or at least what I intend to say, is that times do change and feelings may change, but the truth remains the same.

John declares Jesus Christ to be the eternal Word (logos) of God. Christmas is to me the most sublime holiday because it marks the historical moment when the transcendent Word of God became flesh. God stepped from beyond space and time into our space and time! Therefore, Christianity is not based on metaphysical abstractions but rather upon the very physical revelation of Jesus Christ. A faith that is based on feelings or upon some other mutable framework must change with the times. However, our belief in the birth of Jesus Christ (as well as his death, burial and resurrection!) does not change even if the means of communicating it does. He is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Psalm 150

2010-12-19T08:55:00.000-05:00

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! (verse 6)

It seems so appropriate that the lectionary readings for this Sunday--the fourth Sunday of Advent--includes Psalm 150. This Psalm encourages us to employ music as we give praise to God for his wonderful deeds. Indeed, we could not celebrate Christmas adequately without Christmas music! Churches, carolers, retailers and radio stations provide a non-stop soundtrack for this season of God's good-will. This morning our church's orchestra will present their annual Christmas concert and I can't wait. I expect that as they play there may be "angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold!"

Still thro' the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

The holy songs of the nativity and the festive carols that we sing and enjoy every year at this time are but echoes of that first Noel that announced the glorious glad tidings that Christ was born! That good news still thrills our hearts. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 9

2010-12-18T16:33:00.000-05:00

Mark 1:1-8

2010-12-17T15:54:00.000-05:00

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight (verse 3)

Only one week until Christmas and I still have so much to do! I still have shopping to do ("Still?" Who am I kidding? I have shopping to START!). That means these next seven days will be filled with busy preparations for the big day. Today, after reading Mark chapter one, I am wondering: "Am I making myself ready for the Advent of Jesus Christ?"

Mark's gospel, unlike the other two synoptic gospels, contains no birth narrative. Instead it begins with John the Baptist who was sent by God as a messenger to prepare the way for the Messiah . His message was very straightforward: "Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins." Repentance is not a very popular message, and it certainly is not a topic that comes up very often at Christmas; however, it seems to be necessary. In fact, repentance makes us aware of our need for a Savior and it creates a humble and receptive heart. Perhaps this is what John meant when he said, "Make straight paths for the Lord"--repentance removes barriers in our hearts that otherwise might hinder the life of Christ within us.

Therefore, I am encouraging you to take some time to be unhurried and quiet in the presence of the Holy Spirit this week. Intentionally come away from the busy preparations of the last week before Christmas for long enough to reflect on how you may make straight paths for the Lord in your life. Do you need to repent of certain attitudes or behaviors that are, to whatever extent, blocking the fullness of Christ's joy? Amid all of the other preparations that you must make, don't overlook the opportunity to filled with the real Christmas Spirit!

Psalm 22:19

2010-12-16T11:12:00.001-05:00

But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!

This is one of my favorite Christmas carols and I love this version by The Franz Family. It's beautiful and it just seemed appropriate for today. Enjoy!

Micah 5

2010-12-15T17:14:00.000-05:00

And he shall be their peace (verse 5)

That Bethlehem was chosen to be the birthplace of the King of Kings had both prophetic and practical implications. Bethlehem was the "city of David" (Luke 2:4) whose everlasting dynasty Jesus Christ would consummate. Also, its name means "house of bread," an appropriate appellation considering that Jesus is the "Bread of Life" (John 6:35ff). However, there is another, less apparent, reason that Jesus was born in Bethlehem--because it was a small, seemingly insignificant, Palestinian borough. Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born there although it was "too little to be among the clans of Judah." This sounds very much like "too small to matter" or "too insignificant to count."

A mere five miles to the North lies the great city of Jerusalem--the royal city, the holy city--a city of political intrigue and religious significance. If one were looking for an event of historic importance it would be easy to overlook the quaint, pastoral setting of Bethlehem and fix your eyes on the palace or the temple in Jerusalem.

O, little town of Bethlehem,

How still we see the lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by;

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in the tonight.

Without a doubt Jerusalem figured into the drama of Jesus' life and, especially, his death. Yet his birth--the great, mysterious act of the Incarnation--would take place in a nondescript stable (maybe even a cave!) lying along a dusty path in a quiet little village. Christ's birth in Bethlehem is a metaphor for both the humility of the incarnation and the glory of salvation (The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons of man can become sons of God!).

How silently, how silently

The wondrous Gift is giv'n!

So God imparts to human hears

The blessings of His Heav'n.

No ear may hear His coming;

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

Genesis 49:10

2010-12-14T16:39:00.000-05:00

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Enjoy another "flash mob" declaring Jesus Christ to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He shall reign forever and ever!

Numbers 24

2010-12-13T13:39:00.000-05:00

"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab" (verse 17)

This prophecy concerning the advent of Jesus Christ is remarkable because it was delivered by the prophet Balaam; who, you may remember, had been hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel. Yes, that Balaam--the one whose donkey spoke to him. In fact, Balaam could not curse God's people. Each time he opened his mouth he pronounced blessings upon God's people. This was a phenomenon that was particularly annoying to Balak and it must have reached its ironic climax in this scene when Balaam prophesies that one day a Savior would arise from Israel that would overthrow those who oppress them.

I sometimes get discouraged by the blatant commercialization of Christmas. Sometimes I am irritated by those who try, unrelentingly, to get Christ out of Christmas. But this story gives me hope. It reminds me that despite the efforts of a pagan king and a greedy prophet God succeeded in announcing the birth of His son, Jesus Christ, thousands of years before it actually happened. We are still celebrating His birth thousands of years later and, with God's help, we will continue to proclaim Christ's birth until He comes again! Just let them try to stop us.

Isaiah 7:10-14

2010-12-12T18:02:00.000-05:00

An excerpt from my message this morning:

Immanuel means “God is with us.”

Now, I want you to understand what this sign meant to Ahaz. This is a wonderfully reassuring word of hope to King Ahaz because what God is saying to him is this: “Ahaz, I am going to protect and preserve your lineage because the Messiah is in your bloodline! I made this promise to Abraham—'Through your seed all nations shall be blessed.' I also made a promise to your Father David—that his throne would be established forever. And now I am affirming both of those promises to you."

I will not allow anything to happen to you…and to my people…that will violate my covenant or jeopardize my eternal plan of redemption and salvation! So this will be a sign for you…the virgin shall conceive. She shall bear a son and his name shall be called Immanuel! And he shall save his people from their sins! And that is what we celebrate at Christmas…that God fulfilled his promise. He kept His word. Christ has come. He was born to the Virgin Mary. He died on Mt. Calvary and he was raised back to life on the third day!

Now, what about you? What does this sign mean to you? Are you facing challenges that seem impossible? Are you losing heart? Do you need assurance that everything is going to be okay? You only need a sign. And God has given that sign to us. His name is Immanuel. The only reassurance you ever need is to know that God is with you...and if He is with you then He will make sure that His purpose and plans for you life succeed!

Isaiah 7

2010-12-11T12:23:00.000-05:00

This Sunday morning I will continue Advent in Isaiah--a collection of Christmas messages taken from Isaiah's prophecies concerning the Christ. If you'd like to "read ahead" then read Isaiah chapter 7 today. This video is a visual adaptation of Andrew Peterson's song, "So Long, Moses." If you can't tell by now, I really like Andrew Peterson and his Christmas album, Behold the Lamb of God, from which this song is taken, is one of my favorites!

Psalm 126

2010-12-09T07:40:00.000-05:00

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy;

then it was said among the nations,

"The LORD has done great things for them."

I insist that our kids open their presents on Christmas morning. I know that there are many whose tradition is to open gifts on Christmas Eve and that is fine, but it seems to me that nothing compares to the excitement and joy of kids on Christmas morning! We should be at least as excited about the true meaning of Christmas--what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. He is, after all, the greatest gift we will ever receive.

And yet my heart goes out to those this Christmas whose circumstances have not fared well this year. To those who have lost their job. To those who have been sick or infirm. To those who have had loved ones pass away. To any who have fought personal battles with depression, adversity or hardship. To these I offer the hope of Christmas--that God is able to "restore our fortunes" (verses 1 and 4). The lyrics of "O, Holy Night" remind us:

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

I pray for you today...that your long night will be shortly over and that morning will dawn with new joy. I pray that you might experience that thrill of hope as you anticipate reaping with shouts of joy the harvest that was sown with tears of sorrow.

Psalm 51:15-19

2010-12-08T11:01:00.000-05:00

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it (v 16).

What gifts are you planning to give this Christmas? Probably you have a list. Have you thought about how much those gifts are going to cost you? Unfortunately, many Americans go deeper in debt this time of year as they rely on credit cards to pay for Christmas gifts. Although, credit card spending has decreased for 26 consecutive months due to the recession, "Visa said last week that U.S. credit-card spending climbed 9% in the first four weeks of November" (Detroit Free Press).

This has made me wonder, what are some gifts that we can give this Christmas that wouldn't cost anything? I've thought of several:

Give somebody a compliment
Give someone a hug
Give someone some encouragement
Give somebody a smile

I could go on, but probably you can think of some too, so go to our Facebook page and add your own! Then, go out and spread some Christmas cheer--give these gifts liberally without worrying about going in debt!

Psalm 33

2010-12-07T08:49:00.001-05:00

Our soul waits for the LORD (v 20)

When I was a child the hardest thing about Christmas was waiting. I remember laying on my bed shooting a foam Nerf basketball through a small hoop on my door listening to Christmas music and smelling delicious smells coming from my mom's kitchen. I was bored and wished that Christmas would hurry up and come already. That was before the days of video games and cable TV--way before the days when kids imagined that they had to be entertained at all times. Now Christmas comes way too fast. I know it seems that way now because I am an adult, but it is also because our hurried, busy, technology-driven lives have made waiting inconvenient if not unnecessary. Patience is no longer a virtue in our culture, it's seen as a weakness.

I, for one, am glad that I had to wait for Christmas. It taught me that good things come "in their time," and that what is going on as we wait is as important as what we may experience when the waiting is over. So soon the day is upon us, the presents are open and the moment is over! When we train our souls with silence, stillness and solitude we learn to appreciate that we have a heavenly Father who "looks down from heaven" upon us (v 13). He knows what we truly need...not a toy or a trinket that will soon be discarded, but a Savior--one that will remain with us. Waiting on the Lord whets our appetites for Immanuel!

Now I have children of my own. They say to me the same things that I probably said to my mom, "I'm bored! How many days til Christmas? I wish it'd hurry!" And I tell them what my Mom would have said to me, "You'll just have to wait." It's a good life lesson...it's training for their souls.

Jeremiah 23:1-6

2010-12-06T17:00:00.001-05:00

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.' (v 5,6).

Isaiah 11

2010-12-05T17:47:00.000-05:00

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit (v 1).

An excerpt from my Sunday AM Message, "A Christmas (Family) Tree"

The next time someone gives you grief about putting up a Christmas tree just tell them that it is a representation of Jesus’ “family tree!” That He is the “green shoot” that sprang from the stump of Jesse and that He has come to set His people free!

Tell them that you chose an evergreen because in Him is Life Everlasting. You can say to them that the reason that we string lights upon it is to remind us that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World and the decorations represent the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts under the tree represent the gifts of the Spirit!

Then you can tell them, “And we are the branches! If we abide in Him then we will bear much fruit! If we remain in Him and His Word abides in us then we may ask for whatever we wish and He will give it to us. We receive everything through Him…and apart from him we can do nothing!

Guest Devotional (Matt Webster)

2010-12-04T10:58:00.000-05:00

Today I would like to feature a guest devotional by Matt Webster...enjoy!

As we gather this year to celebrate the birth of Christ, I can't help but to wonder on the thoughts of Joseph. Here is a man who was righteous and devout who was just a hard working carpenter who loved a woman named Mary. Mary just happened to be chosen by God to carry his son. I wonder what Joseph was thinking as events transpired on the first Christmas. Here his wife is about to give birth to the very person who had the power to save them from the depths of hell, and God's son is going to be brought in this world in a stable. I assume that is not how Joseph envisioned it all. How often do we get a revelation from God and then start applying our own plans to how it should be carried out. I am sure Joseph envisioned that the birth of God's son would be spectacular, however there were no friends and no family to celebrate. I reflect back to what Max Lucado writes, " Any minute now Mary will give birth. Not to a child, but to the Messiah. Not to an infant, but to God. That's what the angel said. That's what Mary believes. And God, my God, that's what I want to believe. But surely you can understand; it's not easy. It seems so ...so....so.... bizarre."

God is the ultimate architect of the events that transpire in this universe we live in. The challenge as Christians we face is to fully put our whole hearted trust in him and to lay all our hopes and dreams in his hands. It truly takes a leap of faith to this, however when we let God order our steps then we are able to fully experience the blessings he has ordered for us. Lucado writes, "But this time I'm not the builder, am I? This time I'm a tool. A hammer in your grip. A chisel in your hands. This project is yours, not mine. I guess it's foolish of me to question you. Forgive my struggling. Trust doesn't come easy to me, God. But you never said it would be easy did you?"

This Christmas season I urge you in the business of the season to take time to ask God to reveal to us his plan for our lives that will ultimately bring glory to him. I urge you to put your full trust in God's plan and his timing as we come upon a new year.

** Excerpts taken from One Incredible Moment: Celebrating the Majesty of the Manger, Max Lucado

Psalm 148

2010-12-03T08:16:00.000-05:00

21 days until Christmas!

I love this time of year because, generally, people are more happy...especially those who are focused on the true significance of the season--the birth of Jesus Christ. Ironically, we are told that suicide and depression actually increases during the holiday. How can that be? I am no psychologist, but I imagine that the joy that characterizes this time of year provides a stark (and some would say superficial) contrast to much that is wrong with the world. Since I am no professional, I will not pretend to know how to diagnose, much less treat, clinical depression; however, I would like to offer one suggestion--Praise the Lord! Give thanks to God for his steadfast love and for the Christ child who has come to set right all that is wrong with this world. As I read Psalm 148 I can easily picture the scene of Jesus' nativity and the heavenly host singing and giving glory to God.

It could have been the inspiration for a more obscure Christmas carol, "Praise the Saviour, All Ye Nations," which extols:

Praise the Savior, all ye nations,
Praise Him, all ye hosts above;
Shout, with joyful acclamation,
His divine, victorious love;
Be His kingdom now promoted,
Let the earth her Monarch know;
Be my all to Him devoted,
To my Lord my all I owe.

Genesis 12:1-3; Matthew 1:1-17

2010-12-02T07:59:00.000-05:00

Today, something a little different...and fun. The Apostle Paul affirms that God's covenant with Abraham, particularly these words, "And in (through) you all the families of the earth will be blessed," applied to the advent of Jesus Christ (See Gal. 3:8). Matthew's genealogy illustrates how the birth of Jesus Christ fulfilled this promise. Watch this video interpretation of Andrew Peterson's song, Matthew's Begats, and rejoice that Jesus Christ is the Messiah!

Psalm 53

2010-12-01T09:01:00.084-05:00

O come, thou rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny

From depths of hell thy people save

And give them victory o'er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel

Every year there are new attempts to take Christ out of Christmas. By now we have come to expect it. We should not be surprised that secular culture would wish not to be reminded that this holiday marks the birth of Jesus Christ for the impulse of the unregenerate heart is to say, "There is no God!" (v 1). If there is a God then we are accountable to him and our iniquities must be adjudged. This is not a pleasant thought to anyone and not the sort of thing that makes any time of year "the most wonderful time of year!" In fact, Christmas may be more fearful than festive to a corrupt heart (v 5)--a tension that I believe is portrayed quite well by Ebenezer Scrooge as he is "haunted" by the Christmas spirits. Therefore, the world's solution to all this fear and foreboding is the politically correct solution--a holiday without the holy.

However, Christ's Advent is not bad news...it is great news! The angels announced Jesus' birth as "glad tidings of great joy!" He has come to release us from our bondage to sin and offer to us God's mercy and grace! This is the longing that is captured in verse 6: "Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad." Our sins do not have to be adjudged they may be atoned! When you take Christ out of Christmas you take the heart out of what makes this the "happiest season of all!"

Genesis 3

2010-11-30T10:46:00.000-05:00

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found

Far as, far as the curse is found.

Genesis chapter 3 contains both the reason and the remedy for the human condition. God has put "enmity," or mutual hatred between the offspring of the serpent (Satan) and the offspring of the woman (v 15). "A perpetual quarrel is here commenced between the kingdom of God,and the kingdom of the devil among men; war proclaimed between the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpent" (John Wesley). We wrestle continually with the effects of that hostility--sickness, suffering and injustice. However, there is also in that same verse (v 15) the promise that the seed of woman (Jesus Christ) shall come and crush the power of the enemy of our soul! This is the first mention of the Advent of the Messiah and it is what we celebrate at Christmas--that Christ has come and made a beginning of the end for the kingdom of darkness. Therefore, "our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you" (Psalm 3320-22)!

Isaiah 2

2010-11-29T17:23:00.000-05:00

25 more days until Christmas!

This Sunday I encouraged our church to focus on the real importance of Christmas during this Advent season. I offered three simple suggestions based on Isaiah 2:1-5.

Restore the priority of worship. During this holy season draw closer to God. Ask God to exalt Jesus Christ higher than anything else in your life.
Read (and obey!) God's Word. Take the time to read the Bible...especially the passages that pertain to the promise and fulfillment of Christ's coming. If you have a regular discipline of reading God's Word, don't let it slip amid the busyness of the season. If you don't...now's a great time to start.
Be reconciled to someone who bears an offense against you or to someone against whom you hold a grudge. There is no Christmas so cold as the one that passes with unforgiveness remaining in your heart.

"Come, let us walk in the light of the LORD" (Isaiah 2:5).

2010-10-06T11:30:00.000-04:00

I have ordered the ravens to feed you there (1Ki 17:4 NIV)

This morning when I arrived at church and was walking into the building a large crow flew over my head with something in its mouth. Ordinarily, I might not have noticed; however, it was a beautiful Fall morning and the sky was bright and clear. Besides, last night I had just read a quote by Hudson Taylor: "God's work done God's way will not lack God's support." I took it as a sign--God reminding me that He has promised to meet my needs--even if He has to send ravens as He did for Elijah! Later, in prayer, God confirmed this word to me: "Do all that you can to meet the needs of others and trust me to meet yours." What a great God!

2010-09-30T11:33:00.002-04:00

The Cutting Room Floor

2010-09-27T16:13:00.006-04:00

Sometimes I cut content from my messages as I preach. I know this would be hard for some folks to believe. I can imagine them saying, "How much longer could that sermon have been?!" But it's true--some materials do end up on the "cutting room floor." Often, when I go back over my notes and see these items, I think to myself, "I wish I had said that!" This is in contrast to what I think about what I actually did say which is often, "I wish I hadn't said that!"

At any rate, it occurred to me recently that I could post some of these "deleted scenes" here as I have the opportunity (and memory) to do so. Some of these are harmless illustrations or supporting ideas that I simply overlooked or skipped in my preaching. Others may be more controversial...such as this excerpt which I recently excluded from my message "Back to Church." The text was Psalm 122:1 in which King David says, "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'"

A recent survey of Americans revealed that 1 out of every 4 Americans believes that President Barak Obama is a Muslim—despite the fact that he has publicly professed to be a Christian. Why would a quarter of Americans doubt the president’s testimony that he is a Christian and suspect that he is, in fact, of another religious persuasion?

Could it have something to do with the fact that he seldom attends church?

In fact, recently a commentator on MSNBC stated that Barack Obama is the most religious president of recent times—more religious than Ronald Reagan! “In fact,” says Chuck Todd, the president “gets Bible verses sent to his Blackberry every day!” As if this (or what other types of emails you receive and forward each day!) is the true measure of whether a person is actually "religious."

Anyhow, Mr. Todd did go on to say that he “does wonder if it would have helped had the president picked a church, as he said he would during the campaign, or if he regularly attended church.”

Listen, I know it would have helped because that’s the first reason why people go to church—because they are Christians!

What is missing of course, is the context of the rest of the sermon which makes the point (hopefully!) that, although going to church does not make you a Christian, going to church is something that Christians ought to do!

Anyhow, there it is...a "deleted scene" from one of my recent sermons. In this case it ended up on the cutting room floor because I worried that it was too provocative...that it would seem to be a cheap shot at the president...and because I really was trying to economize on time that Sunday.

Primal Scream

2010-09-10T09:38:00.004-04:00

Okay, although I worry about getting kicked out of the A/G, I have to say it: I don't care for Mark Batterson's books all that much--specifically his latest book, Primal. "In a Pit..." was okay, I couldn't finish "Wild Goose...," but, at least so far, "Primal" has made me want to...well...scream!

First, a disclaimer: I have not read the entire book. Therefore, my reactions may be premature and I sincerely hope that I will be able to say by the time I finish the book, "Ah, I see now where he was going with all of that!" But that's just the thing--I'm not so sure I will be able to finish it. I've only just today picked it back up after setting it down several weeks ago after I read on page three: "After all, the truth must be reincarnated in every culture in every generation." My jaw hurt so badly after hitting the floor that day that I have been too wary to read any further.

For the record, Truth has been incarnated one time--"once and for all"--in the historic person of Jesus Christ. I understand his point is that we must discover the native means to make that truth "relevant" to particular contexts, but why not simply say that rather than employing the theological language of the incarnation in a deliberate attempt to be provocative. I still am not sure I would have agreed with him, but at least I would not have been suspicious that he is a heretic.

So I picked the book back up off of my office floor this morning--hoping to make some progress in my serious attempt to be a more disciplined reader--and in chapter two I discover that Batterson is "afraid that the Western church has tried to engage our culture mind-first instead of heart-first" (pg 17). I'm not sure anyone can actually believe that the problem with the Western Church, much less the American Church, is that we think too much or that we are engaging our culture with deep theological (or even philosophical) reflection. So I shifted a little in my chair but I didn't throw the book down. Nevertheless, I suspected that he was setting me up for a post-modern punchline. I didn't have to wait long; it came two sentences later: "But compassion is the ultimate apologetic."

Now, my issue may not be so much what Batterson is saying as it is with how says it, and the precise words that he chooses to use (or misuse). An apologetic is dispassionate because its object is truth. That is not to say that it is passionless or unemotional but rather that the veracity of an apologetic is not dependent upon the passion with which it is sustained or received. So I agree with what Batterson wants to communicate--that Christians need to be better about showing compassion to those with whom we disagree because, doggone it, if they like us better they might just listen to what we have to say. But he gives too much away by saying it as he does.

This reaches it logical if regrettable climax in Chapter 2 on page 26 where Mark reduces over 2000 years of Biblical and historical reflection on the theology of the atonement to one "primal act of compassion at Calvary." Who needs Augustine? Anselm, Aquinas or Barth? I know, I know..."Give the guy a break! He's not saying all that." That's true, and I have to admit it: I'm old school. So I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that Chapter 3 gets better.

Francis Asbury (Cont.)

2010-08-16T12:34:00.002-04:00

One final lesson that I have gleaned from the life of Francis Asbury while reading John Wigger's excellent biography, American Saint:

5. Work with and work through people.

So much of what Francis Asbury accomplished was of course not personally accomplished by Francis Asbury. In fact, it was the myriad of itinerant circuit riders, local church preachers, exhorters and class meeting leaders who who performed the greatest labor. These formed the rank and file of American Methodism and they were the great engine of the church's success. However, it was Francis Asbury who engineered this great network and organized its strategy, creativity and energy to serve the mission of the church. He would not have been successful had he not been able to connect with people, earn their trust and then empower them to achieve.

Some criticism of Asbury has been that he was autocratic, manipulative and ambitious. I imagine that every leader struggles with those temptations and is often guilty of those tendencies. Yet, generally, these are allegations that seemed not to succeed against Asbury in his lifetime. Regardless of the isolated resistance of some (who were no doubt motivated and manipulated by their own ambition and agendas) Asbury enjoyed the admiration and endorsement of the Methodist connection. This is not the legacy of a manipulative autocrat, but rather the evidence that he was able to establish authentic relationships with people and then extend his influence through his connection to them for the good of the church.

Asbury's strength is my weakness. This is his greatest lesson to me and it coincides with what the Holy Spirit is attempting to teach me in my own leadership. He is pushing me to acknowledge that I must learn how to empower others to do what I cannot do by myself. He has given me a vision that cannot be accomplished without a network of men and women who are willing to contribute their gifts and energy to achieve a collective goal. Everywhere I turn I am hearing this. Everywhere I look I am seeing this. I need the humility and the courage to figure out how to do it.

Francis Asbury (Cont.)

2010-08-10T16:46:00.003-04:00

Further lessons I gleaned from the life of Francis Asbury while reading John Wigger's excellent biography, American Saint:

3. Never underestimate the power of personal piety (character) and never compromise your moral authority.

It was especially refreshing in this character-deficient age to read a biography of a leader whose power derived, in large measure, from the compelling nature of his personal piety. Indeed, I fear that the Church has traded too much in leadership models that are centered on business or political values and, as a result, has lost much of it's moral authority. By all accounts, Francis Asbury was an intensely devout, spiritually-disciplined man whose influence and persuasion emanated from his unimpeachable character.

I was struck with the author's revelation that although Asbury intentionally avoided entangling himself with politics and politicians he nevertheless formed a great admiration for George Washington--another man of that same era who commanded the near unanimous respect of the nation through the force of his probity. I wondered if in Washington, whom Asbury did personally meet, Asbury found confirmation or inspiration for his own austere pattern of virtue. Either way, leaders of that sort are regrettably scarce nowadays and we (as a nation...as a Church) are so much the poorer because of it.

4. Persevere! Slow and steady wins the race.

While other Methodist preachers fled America during the Revolutionary War and while Asbury's counterpart, Bishop (Superintendent?) Thomas Coke was inconstant and vacillating in his own commitment to the American Methodist Church--remaining away from his bishopric more than residing within it--Asbury continued steadfast in his duty to his American brothers. Because of it, he earned their respect and loyalty. What Asbury was able to accomplish in America during his lifetime--and it was considerable!--he achieved not because he was the Church's best preacher or, perhaps even, it's best presbyter, but because he applied what abilities he did possess in a consistent manner on a focused goal over a long course of time.

I loved the one story that the author told of Asbury, who often chose preachers more gifted than he to travel with him, arriving at a church where he was scheduled to speak. Asbury's poor physical condition made it impossible for him to preach and so his companion supplied the pulpit that evening after which Asbury stood for a few concluding remarks. One person who was in attendance was overheard to say that they had enjoyed the bishop's sermon rather much; however, they did not care for the old man at the end! Such seemed to be the measure of Asbury's success...not necessarily in his charisma or prodigy, but in his ability to stay the course and finish well.

One more lesson I have learned from Francis Asbury tomorrow (?)

Francis Asbury

2010-08-09T10:39:00.000-04:00

I have had a biography of Francis Asbury (American Saint) sitting on my living room end table for several months. I ordered it after seeing it referenced in some footnote of something I had read. I had deferred reading it because I viewed it as "recreational reading." I kept putting it off--treating it much as I do dessert--until I had finished other "more important" books. I finally began reading it at the lake over a couple of days of family vacation and I finished it last week. It is one of the most enjoyable books I have read in the past several years. The life and legacy of Francis Asbury, of whom I actually knew very little (despite my time among the Methodists!) impacted me greatly and I was inspired to improve my own vision and practice of ministry and leadership.

Among the "takeaways" from John Wigger's book are these lessons from the example of Francis Asbury that I pray I can internalize:

1. One person can do more than we usually imagine.

I was "blown away" by how much Asbury was able to accomplish through his single-minded devotion to Christ and the Church. Although he receives little attention (at least at the popular level, outside of Methodism) it is impossible to ignore Asbury's monumental impact upon the historic development and present contours of American Christianity. Some of this impression is due, no doubt to Wigger's sympathetic treatment; however, I never felt that he was exaggerating the context of Asbury's achievements. If anything, Asbury's legacy is so much more remarkable for the understated, less than remarkable, way he accomplished everything he did.

I do believe that Asbury's legacy may be responsible for some of the challenges Christianity faces in a democratic, capitalistic culture; so all that he did may not have been all good, but you also get the sense that Asbury himself wrestled with this and was not completely comfortable with the inevitable consequences of what he had begun. Nevertheless, he inspired me to stop thinking so small and imagine what one life (my life!) could accomplish in service to God.

2. I should complain a lot less!

Actually, I could have stated this one lesson a little more generally, such as, "The significance of sacrifice," or "Be willing to pay the price," but I needed to make it personal. If, by the end of Asbury's career, Methodist preachers were already becoming too comfortable for the hard life of itinerant ministry and their upward mobility was in competition with their piety and poverty then how much more are these snares for preachers today in our much more affluent society?

When I read of the hardships Asbury endured and the expense he meted out in terms of his own energy and health I am convinced that I have not yet striven to the point of shedding my own blood (Hebrews 12:3-4). On the whole, I am entirely too selfish, too prideful and too soft. I am thankful that many of the sort of sacrifices that Asbury was required to make are no longer necessary (we can thank men like him!) but I am also ashamed that I often imagine myself ill-used or pitiful when I do make certain sacrifices for Christ and the Church. I am convicted by the example of Francis Asbury.

More lessons I have learned from Francis Asbury tomorrow (?)

The Rest of the Story

2009-08-31T11:07:00.004-04:00

Usually the illustrations in my sermons generate more comments than the exposition--an interesting, if not irritating, phenomenon for a preacher. I would rather believe it was the weight of Scriptural truth that made an impression on people's hearing than some story chosen to reinforce that truth, but that just shows how left-brained I am. Besides, I recognize the power of stories and images to connect truth with the sub-conscious...it's why Jesus used parables.

But occasionally, there is the need to tell the "rest of the story" so that a particular illustration does not eclipse a specific principle or, worse, do harm to the actual point. The story I told this Sunday about my confrontation with a man in Durham is a case-in-point. The point that I hoped to make with that story was how we often do not regard the disposition of our own conscience when we worship. In that sense, it was really not so much about HIM as it was about ME. So I worried that the point was lost when someone asked me, "How do you know he didn't ask God to forgive him before he walked into the worship service?" Well, I don't know. I suppose he could have asked God to fogive him in the 50 feet or so between the office and the sanctuary, but if he did he didn't stop to come back and apologize to me. Nor did he speak to me after the service, or ever again as far as I remember. Nor did he ever repent of his rebellion against the pastor. In fact, he had already physically asaulted the pastor and eventually he left the church after his "coup" failed. The entire ugliness of the situation could not be communicated in a brief illustration.

Actually, that story might have been a good illustration of a point that I made later in my message; that if we are sincere in our worship, we will have to change because God will not allow us to continue in our sin...He intends to make us holy. If we refuse to repent and be transformed, then we are only fooling ourselves about the sincerity of our worship. To my knowledge, the man never repented of his sin because he never demonstrated any "fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matt. 3:8).

Nevertheless, that was not the point I was attempting to illustrate at that point because actually I don't know what was in his heart. What I do know is that he had as much right to worship as I did...not because he was perfect but because Jesus was perfect. As wrong as I felt like he was, I know that I was not perfect either...still am not. Thank God that He still accepts us...in fact welcomes us into His presence. But He will not let us remain in our condition! He intends to transform our hearts and minds. If we refuse, then we will find ourselves in the position of resisting His Holy Spirit, which is why some people, as I said, either stop worshipping God altogether or they revert to a form of worship that lacks any real power and they convince themselves that the "sensation" of worship substitutes for the "substance" of genuine faith. That's the "convenience" of religion preferred over the tough work of relationship.

Incidentally, I think many folks in the modern church fall into that last category. One way to recognize this "syndrome" is to compare a person's love for worship to their receptivity for the Word. A person may love praise and worship, but if they cannot or will not receive the Word, then there is a problem in their conscience and they are trying to shut down the conviction of the Holy Spirit. But that's probably a whole other post.

God's Work...finished

2009-07-29T15:50:00.004-04:00

This Sunday morning when I spoke of the Sabbath rest that has been made available for believers through Jesus Christ, there was one aspect of that particular work of God that I neglected to emphasize. Although I spoke of the "failure" of others to sustain or secure the promises of that rest (the first Adam, Moses, Joshua) I did not want to imply that Jesus Christ was God's subsequent work. In other words, it is not that Adam's "failure" or Joshua's "failure" forced God to do a new work or devise a different plan (plan B or C). The salvific work of Jesus Christ was actually ordained before creation (see Rev. 13:8), not improvised after Adam's failure or Moses' or Joshua's, etc. God did not have to come out of retirement to save us from sin. In fact, this is seen in Hebrews also:

For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world, for he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." (Heb. 4:3,4; emphasis added).

This is important for understanding what God has accomplished in Jesus Christ for those who believe and how it is superior to the Old Covenant--not that it is merely "better than" in some comparative way, but actually that it is the fulfillment of God's eternal wisdom and purpose.

Quote--Dallas Willard

2009-07-23T10:17:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading a book that has been on my "reading stack" for some time: Hearing God by Dallas Willard. I should have read it much earlier! I thought I would share my favorite quote from the entire book. This book is about prayer; specifically, it is about "developing a conversational relationship with God." In the epilogue Willard says, regarding our reticence to enter into this type of relationship:

"We are hindered in our progress toward becoming spiritually copetent people by how easily we can explain away the movements of God toward us. They go meekly, without much protest. Of course his day will come, but for now he cooperates with the desires and inclinations that make up our character, as we are gradually becoming the kind of people we will forever be. That should send a chill down our spine" (pg. 218, italics added).

It did send a chill down my spine! I wish that I had read this before I preached the message I did on Sunday...it articulates more clearly the "competition for supremacy" that each follower of Jesus Christ must manage in their own relationship with God. Help me, Dear God, to listen more closely for your words to me and not drift away from the work that you are attempting to accomplish in me.

Hebrews 2

2009-07-20T11:37:00.000-04:00

I always feel awful after I preach a sermon that I felt was especially "hard;" therefore, I've been kicking myself since Sunday morning.

I set out to emphasize that the warning in Hebrews chapter two is especially applicable to those of us who are quick to claim, "Jesus is Lord!" and yet struggle to bring everything in our lives into obedience to His Lordship (v 8). In that regard we easily "drift" away from God and "neglect" His truth (v 1, 3). I felt like I did an okay job illustrating how this happens through the conflict of interests in our lives that are competing for supremacy. I used an illustration that I thought was especially poignant but which I hope was not polarizing--the homosexual agenda.

Most Christians are quick to condemn the hypocrisy of those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord while committing homosexual sin. However, I pointed out, it is just as duplicitous to confess Jesus Christ as Lord if we are committing heterosexual sin. I worried afterward that the nuance was lost in the emotion of what has become as much a political issue as a moral issue.

But mostly, I worried that I spent too much time exposing our human frailty and not enough time explaining the solution. Namely, that God has not condemned our frailty, but in fact, became flesh to redeem us from the power of sin. Jesus Christ died on the cross to destroy Satan's power and set us free from our former slavery. Now He is our great high priest who, because He has been tempted just as we are, is able to help us when we are tempted to drift away from Him or neglect His truth.

Will America Be Restored?

2009-06-01T12:05:00.000-04:00

In my Pentecost Sunday message yesterday I spoke about "four adjustments" that had to be made for a church to become a "pentecostal" church...a church that, subsequently, would GROW. The second of these adjustments is one that the Holy Spirit impressed upon my heart some time ago:

From geo-politics to the gospel

When Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem, their response revealed that they still harbored a nationalistic hope: "Are you, at this time, going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" Our current national "crisis" has caused me, on more than one occasion, to ask, "God will America ever be restored? Will we ever return to the foundations upon which our nation was founded?" It is a question not unlike that of the disciples and I think we need to hear Jesus' answer: "Stop worrying about that...you will be MY witnesses." I made the statement yesterday (and I had not intended to say it quite so forcefully) that when Christians start caring more about the lost than we do about our economy the church will begin to grow.

Even so, I am not sure that I communicated the point effectively. Speaking for me...I mourn the loss of "my country" and so I am convicted when I sense that what God is saying in these last days is that I need to care less about the restoration of some geo-political kingdom and care much more about the kingdom of the gospel. Nevertheless, I feel it is true. America may never be "restored." And I have to be okay with that because my hope does not reside in Washington D.C. Therefore, I am asking God, "Teach me how to be your witness."

2009-05-18T16:23:00.000-04:00

One of the reasons that I started this blog was to provide a forum to "debrief" the sermon(s) I preached on Sunday because AFTER I preach there are always times that I think, "Hmmm, I should have said this," or, "I shouldn't have said that," or, "Now that I think about it...I could have/should have made that point differently."

Consequently, it occurred to me yesterday after my message on "Your Fallow Ground" (Hosea 10:11-13) that there was a nuance to my application of Hosea's prophecy that I did not underscore sufficiently.

In my message I said that we are in a moment not very much unlike Hosea's. We have witnessed "the first visitation of God's judgment" and are now waiting for the "final consummation of His wrath." Hosea, a prophet from Israel, seems to have prophesied in Judah during or immediately after the destruction of Samaria (in Israel) and prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, his message was especially timely. Warning Israel's Southern brethren of their impending, similar fate, Hosea encourages them, "Break up YOUR fallow ground...it is time to seek the Lord."

The connection to the moment we occupy in history is striking. God has been longsuffering to America (as He was to the nation of Israel); however, we have witnessed a demonstration of how quickly and easily He can wipe away the prosperity with which He has blessed us. This has been, in my opinion, the prelude to the final sweep of God's judgment and, therefore, should be a wake up call to us. I made the point that God has given us this respite so that we might hear the Spirit saying to the church, "Break up your fallow ground...now is the time to seek the Lord."

Here is what I wish I had said more clearly:

The "final sweep" of God's judgment coincides with the second coming of Jesus Christ, not to some general punishment or plague that God is calculating against our unbelief or iniquity. Judah's fate, at the time of Hosea's prophecy was pretty much sealed ("Judah will [also] plow"); therefore, his word was meant to prepare God's people for that imminent event and to encourage them to prepare their own hearts in a manner that would sustain them. Likewise, I believe that what we are witnessing are events that are leading up to the imminent return of Jesus Christ--an event that is established in God's prophetic timing and one for which His children need to be prepared.

Poems for a Friday

2009-05-15T14:13:00.000-04:00

I ran across a couple of poems this week in my reading that I thought were so good I wanted to preserve them here and share them with you. Both of them spoke to me...the latter one being especially convicting.

"I Did Not Come to Call the Righteous"
Matthew 9:9-13

We ninety-nine obedient sheep;
we workers hired at dawn's first peep;
we faithful sons who strive to please,
forsaking prodigalities;
we virgins who take pains to keep
our lamps lit, even in our sleep;
we law-abiding Pharisees;

we since at gospels such as these.

--Julie Stoner

Time Management

Luther in the year he spent
as Junker Joerg in Wartburg towers,
translated the New Testament
to pass the everlasting hours.

Though living as a refugee
Erasmus wrote his tour de force.
In Praise of Folly's said to be
the product of a trip by horse.

With dinners late, D'Aguesseau saw
an opportunity to write
his sixteen-volume work of law
in fifteen minutes every night.

Today I slept late, took a walk,
sipped coffee on my ragged lawn,
checked the mailbox, saw the clock,
and noticed half my life was gone.

--Stephen Scaer

Love Not The World (3)

2009-05-14T13:23:00.000-04:00

"I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth." (1Jo 2:21 ESV)

If we are going to innoculate ourselves against the love of the world, which will, in these last days, will seduce many and cause them to depart from the household of faith, then we must not only learn how to discern the spirit of this age, but we must also know how to distinguish the truth from error.

There is an interesting migration that is taking place in the church today. There has been a recent, dramatic increase in the percentage of Christians who no longer identify themselves with the doctrinal traditions of specifc denominations or churches but who, rather, identify themselves simply as "non-denominational." I am sure that there are many factors that have influenced this development; however, I suspect that one explanation may relate to the fact that some Christians do not appreciate or understand doctrinal nuance because they don't really know what they believe. This should be bothersome to us because the best way to identify lies and avoid heresy is to be thoroughly catechized in the truth.

Jesus said, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (Joh 8:31-32 ESV) I am afraid that many will be led astray in these last days and brought under the bondage of satanic and/or secular error. Churches and individual believers need intentional strategies to resist this danger through regular, systematic study of the Word of God and the great doctrines of the church.

Love Not The World (2)

2009-05-12T17:11:00.000-04:00

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1Jo 2:16 KJV)

If we would resist the love of the world then we must fortify ourselves against its seducing power. A couple of weeks ago at our monthly prayer and praise service I offered a few suggestions of how that might be done. I took each one from the same passage in which the Apostle John warns us about this last days danger.

First, we must learn how to discern the spirit of this age. Jesus told his disciples that they were being sent out as sheep among wolves; therefore, they must be as wise as serpents and yet harmless as doves (Mtt. 10:16). Unfortunately, we have, at times, inverted his wisdom and embraced certain influences in order to become more "relevant." We must become more "critical" of the various media that we allow access to our hearts and mind.

I know this sounds old-fashioned and yet I worry about the values to which we accede when we grant the world access to our hearts and minds. "Secular evangelists" are constantly preaching through books, radio, television, magazines, music, movies, the internet. The spirit of this age seeks to conform its congregation to its own carnal appetites: The lust of the flesh, the lust of they eyes and the pride of life. These values are the unholy trinity and believers must become aware of their subtle influence and operation in our life. If left unchecked, they will draw us away from our first love and, through the vanity of our own pride, lead us to empty lives of self-absorption.

Text of National Day of Prayer radio spot (WCKB)

2009-05-07T16:10:00.000-04:00

Greetings on this National Day of Prayer! Today every citizen is encouraged to take the time to pray and seek God’s grace for our nation. It is an honor to be invited back to this studio each year on this day to share a prayer with you. And what a difference a year can make!

Last year the Dow Jones average was just below 13,000 points and the economy seemed strong. This year the economy is in recession. Last year the average unemployment rate for North Carolina was only 5.7 per cent. This year many have lost their jobs and the unemployment rate is 10.9 per cent. It has been a hard year. At least the price of gas is cheaper than it was a year ago: This morning I paid $2.09 per gallon. Last year it was $3.72.

We have all witnessed the dramatic shifts that have taken place in our country and around the world these past twelve months. At times it seems we cannot keep up with the changes; much less expect to understand what these changes mean for our nation and for our children. As a result there is a certain sense of anxiety in the air. We breathe this in each day and we wonder what news might be on the television tonight or on the front page tomorrow morning. There is a sense that we are living in a critical moment…that what is happening right now really matters and that current events are creating the shape of things to come. And we are frustrated--frustrated that it seems we are not in control. I have come to believe that this is what it feels like to be living in the last days.

This past Sunday I taught my congregation three affirmations and I want to share them with you before we pray. Here is the first: “There are some things that I cannot control.” Jesus taught us not to worry and yet it’s the one thing we have in abundance! If we become preoccupied about the future and what might happen, then we will never have the faith to believe what God can do. I say to you that there are some things you cannot control, so stop worrying about them!
The second affirmation is this, “There are a few things that I can control.” Despite what you may have lost in this bad economy, give God thanks for what you still have and begin today to honor Him with it! Don’t allow uncertainty and fear to close your fist around the blessings that God has given to you. Be generous with your time, your talents, and your treasure. Invest yourself in your family, your church and your community.

The final affirmation is, “God controls everything!” Friend, I am glad to say to you today that no matter how things may seem on the six o’clock news, God is still in control! In fact, we may be seeing an acceleration of the events that will eventually lead to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. If that is the case, then I hope you have made preparation for His return. If you are not sure that you have then let me lead you in a simple prayer:

“Heavenly Father, I admit that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ
died so that I might be forgiven of my sins and so that I might become your
child. Therefore, I confess Him as my Lord. I ask that He would come
into my heart through the power of the Holy Spirit and make me into a different
person, one who is made able to live for you and who is ready to meet you when
Christ does return. Amen.”

Now let us pray together for our nation:

“Father, we bow before you on this National Day of Prayer and we ask that you
would help us. In a world where so much seems to be out of control, we are
thankful that you are in control. We need revival, Lord. We need you
to heal our land. So we humble ourselves before you. We repent of
our wicked ways. Come to us and turn our hearts to you. Deal with
our leaders, Lord. Grant them wisdom and give them the courage to lead us
with righteousness for your name’s sake. Amen.”

I am Pastor Timothy Rice of Glad Tidings Church in Dunn, NC and I invite you to visit us if you don’t have a church home. Our church is located at the corner of Fairground and Friendly Roads and we meet for worship every Sunday at 10:30am and 6:30pm. If you prayed with me today I would love to hear from you. Our phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Thank you, WCKB, for giving me this opportunity to lead your radio audience in prayer on the National Day of Prayer.

Love Not The World (1)

2009-05-06T10:09:00.000-04:00

"These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you." (1Jo 2:26 KJV)

I have seen a great danger in the church. Christians are being seduced by the love of the world. The Apostle John identified this subtle distraction and warns that it will be responsible for the departure of many from the fellowship of believers. Despite episodic evidence that church attendance is up, statistics suggest that less than 20% of Americans attend church at least 3 times out of eight weeks. In fact, when church "growth" numbers are compared to population growth it becomes apparent that, in fact, church attendance is shrinking.

Should we be alarmed? Well, if you believe church participation is an indicator of spiritual health (as I do!) then yes, we should be concerned. I believe Christians are too busy...too preoccupied with the world's definition of "quality of life." We love the world and what the world has to offer more than we love the church. We would not say that, but our actions speak louder than our words.