Off-Road Pastor

A Conversation on Bad Christian Art and the Reality of Life

2011-12-23T10:39:00.000-06:00

Justin Taylor posted a video of a conversation on bad Christian art. This "art" includes paintings and music and the discussion speaks of the message of bad Christian art compared to the reality of the cross and the reality of our life. Scripture is more rated R than many Christians would like to admit and much of the bad Christian art ignores this reality. (Example: Thomas Kincaid art which portrays a sweet little cottage in surreal lighting giving the impression of complete solace and goodness.) To view this conversation, go here. It is worth the ten minutes of viewing.

Reflecting the True Gospel of Christ

2011-12-13T10:00:00.000-06:00

Philippians 3:18-19 (ESV) ¹⁸ For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

What does it mean to be an imitator of Christ? Does it mean perfection or holiness or just doing the best you can? These questions are not new to me. From the moment I began to truly live for Christ I have begun to see those areas in my life that are far from imitating Christ.

In Philippians 3:18-19 Paul is encouraging the believers in Philippi to imitate Christ, not the world. If we were to look deeply into the hearts of those who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ today we would inevitably find some who use the gospel to justify their own sin. Most predominantly we see this in those who glory in the shame of homosexuality, premarital sex, and other behavior. Paul encourages us to imitate Christ, not those who pervert the gospel for their own means.

But while it is easy to see the perversion of the gospel in the behavior of others it may be just as easy to see that same perversion in my own life. Though I do not condone homosexuality do I condone another behavior which does not glorify God? How do I fight against my propensity for sin? What type of influence is the gospel revealed by my life having on those who witness my life? Is what is revealed by my life the true gospel?

The daily devotional TableTalk speaks today on imitating Christ as an encouragement to other believers.

In addition to preaching the true gospel, we must live in a manner shaped by the gospel. As we live in holiness, imitating others who imitate Christ, those whom God is calling to Himself will see the genuineness of our gospel and follow the authentic Jesus (Matt. 5:15-16).

May our lives reflect the authentic Jesus.

Retreat or Reach Out: The Conundrum of Halloween

2011-10-28T09:30:00.002-05:00

I grew up torn about Halloween. As a young child I dressed up as a cowboy and went door to door for candy. Oh, how sick I was that night. But as I grew older my parents and my church began to withdraw from Halloween. We began to see this holiday for what it truly was, a celebration of the demonic forces in this world.

But as I moved into my college and adult years I began to become torn. The question I began to ask about my life in general was, "How can the children of God go on the offensive against Satan and his dominion in every aspect of life?" In other words, how can we reach out to others with the gospel of Christ in every aspect of our lives?

Halloween was no exception. How can the children of God turn this celebration of evil into a time of gospel living? David Mathis has a great piece on the Desiring God blog which asks some very good and pertinent questions about Halloween and our reaction as believers. Check out the small portion of it below and read the entire piece here.

What if we saw October 31 not merely as an occasion for asking self-oriented questions about our participation (whether we should or shouldn’t dress the kids up or carve pumpkins), but for pursuing others-oriented acts of love? What if we capitalized on the opportunity to take a step forward in an ongoing process of witnessing to our neighbors, co-workers, and extended families about who Jesus is and what he accomplished at Calvary for the wicked like us?

What if we resolved not to join the darkness by keeping our porch lights off? What if we didn’t deadbolt our doors, but handed out the best treats in the neighborhood as a faint echo of the kind of grace our Father extends to us sinners?

Perseverence in Suffering

2011-10-26T09:00:00.004-05:00

I once heard it said that suffering will either pull you closer to Christ or push you further away. Tabletalk addresses this in today's reading.

Persevering faith is the type of faith required for salvation. It is easy to have a fleeting and false trust in the Lord when things are going well for us. Authentic faith, however, endures even in the most difficult circumstances of life, moving us to trust God even when we are at our wits' end (Matt. 13:18-23; Heb. 11).

Our time here on earth will be filled with trials, tribulation, and suffering. This is true whether you belong to Christ or not. But those who truly belong to Christ are able to endure sufferings because of the "faith required for [their] salvation." The reason for this persevering faith is that we who belong to Christ have hope in the words of our Savior:

Matthew 25:31-40 (ESV) ³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Our Divine Vocation

2011-10-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

Luke 2:34a-35 (ESV) “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

This past Saturday I officiated over a funeral for a 69 year old man who had been battling cancer for the past two years. In the end he had lost over 80 pounds, could barely walk, and was so sensitive to light and sound that no one could talk to him and all the lights had to be turned off. For the two years he took chemotherapy and radiation his body slowly began to deteriorate and suffering became a daily occurrence.

The question begs to be asked: Why would God allow such suffering? This man was no stranger to God. He had been a believer most of his life, raised his children in a godly way, and was a great example of faithfulness to Him even unto the end. Why would God allow his own children to suffer in such a terrible way?

Tabletalk from Ligonier Ministries addresses this issue. Why do the people of God suffer? As a child of God, suffering may be my divine vocation. Here is what Tabletalk has to say about this issue.

Scripture is clear that suffering is one of the many vocations - calls - that the Lord gives to His people. This may be hard for us to receive, but there are many examples in the Bible of people who were called to periods of pain and difficulty. God allowed Job, for instance, to experience all manner of trouble. . . When Job asked, "Why?" God answers by emphasizing His sovereignty and , consequently, Job's need to trust Him. Much of our suffering falls into this category - we do not know exactly why the Lord lets it happen, but we must nonetheless trust His goodness.

Christ was the ultimate example of suffering. What he endured on the cross is unimaginable and more suffering than any one person will experience in a lifetime. In Luke 2:22-35, Simeon tells Mary of the suffering her baby will endure. But that suffering will also have an affect on Mary. This suffering was the vocation of Jesus and Mary. It was their divine call to endure such tragedy for the sake of God's glory and great name.

Why did my friend have to suffer so much in the end? It is truly a mystery. But to the end he continued to praise the name of God and trust in his ways. Like my friend, we must trust in the goodness of God. We may never understand the meaning of suffering and tragedy, but we can understand that God is sovereign over all things. He is in control and in the end his good name will be lifted high.

Brothers, God Loves His Glory

2011-09-16T11:03:00.001-05:00

Last February I picked up the book Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper. I opened the book for the first time this week and in typical Piper style he gets my attention on the first page. If you or your pastor have not yet read this book I would highly recommend it.

In chapter two Piper attempts to bring the attention of pastors back to the glory of God. All too often our main focus as men in the pastorate is upon the church, ministries, or leaders. These things are not unreasonable to focus in-and-of themselves, but to place them at the forefront of our ministry as pastors can be dangerous. They can be dangerous because God places one thing as ultimate in his work: His glory.

Here is an excerpt from Brothers, We Are Not Professionals.

     God's ultimate commitment is to Himself and not to us. And therein lies our security. God loves His glory above all. "For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. . . . For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profanes? My glory I will not give to another" (Isa. 48:9, 11).
     God performs salvation for His own sake. He justifies the people called by His name in order that He may be glorified.
     "Therefore say to the house of Israel [and to all the churches], Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD. . . . It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel" (Ezek. 35:22-23, 32). (Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, pg. 7)

When we sing songs of His glory and ask that His name be given glory instead of us are we backing those words up with action? Do we realize that if God's ultimate purpose is to make His glory great and not His people great that we need to follow in his footsteps. My prayer for myself and my fellow pastors is that each morning we enter the doors of our office, another persons house, or a hospital room that His glory is foremost in our minds.

Don't just say that we want to glorify God. Do it. And then see God work mightily.

John MacArthur's Take on Joel Olsteen

2011-09-07T11:00:00.004-05:00

John MacArthur takes a hard stance against Joel Osteen's theology and gospel view. It's about six minutes long but worth the time. Take a look at it here and let me know what you think?

Has God Rejected Israel?

2011-08-23T10:00:00.002-05:00

Being the pastor of a church that is extremely conservative and Israel friendly, I find the conversation about Israel's special privilege from God come out every once in a while. There are some normal questions that are asked: Is Israel still the chosen people of God? Does God have a special plan for them? How does Jesus fit into the picture with Israel today?

This morning, as I read Romans 11:1-10, some of these questions were answered for me. Paul states very clearly that by no means has God rejected his people. Just as there was a remnant in the time of Elijah when apostasy was rampant, so a remnant of Israel remains during Paul's time. But there is a catch. This remnant was not chosen by race, genealogy, or special privilege. This remnant was chosen by grace.

"But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11:6; ESV)

Israel had been seeking favor and redemption from God through works of the law. But they failed to obtain this redemption. Why? Because only the elect obtained it while the rest were hardened by God (Romans 11:7). This is a huge statement that those who believe in a special plan and privilege for Israel are missing. God chose some while he hardened others. How do we know it was God who hardened them instead of hardening their own hearts?

"God game them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day." (Romans 11:8; ESV)

Election is a difficult doctrine to grasp. I've only been on this election boat for four or five years and I still have a lot to learn. But hopefully, through the grace of God and his using those around me to challenge me, I will only continue to understand more and more of this wonderful doctrine of grace. My hope and prayer is that all of us who are children of God will dig deep into the realities of our Savior though they may be difficult to grasp. The Spirit of God will continue to teach us and reveal his truth to us throughout the time we live here on this earth.

Why our Parents Put Us To Shame

2011-08-10T13:30:00.006-05:00

Feel like times have changed? Feel like everyone is judging the way you parent? Feel like your parents parented differently than parents of today? I came across a blog (blogher.com) that addresses these issues and more on parenting. It definitely brought back some memories. Here is a little snippet:

I often think about how we survived under the watch of our parents. There were no infant seats (how did you get anywhere with me in the car?), no seat belts (ok, there were seat belts, but they weren't safe and no one wore them), people smoked basically everywhere, we gnawed happily on plastic and toys full of lead, climbed on high steel monkey bars, and electrical outlets were always in plain view and ready for a zappin'.

Parenting standards have obviously changed over the years (and most for good reason), but here's why I say our parents rocked.

They Cooked. Meals. In pans. Sometimes even in the oven. Every day. And if we were hungry, we ate. There were very few drive-thrus, no Toaster Strudel, microwaves, no Lunchables, no pizza delivery. We ate meals, you know, with a starch and a vegetable. There was no such thing as a Meal Deal, and items that are passed off as meals today, like the "Pizza and Cookie" combo pack, Hot Pockets, or Jalapeno Poppers didn't exist.

They Sent Us Outside to Play. We played outside, often; most times until after dark. They encouraged it. We were only in the house when it was raining, and sometimes not even then. I remember not even knowing what to do with myself in the house, and would keep checking the window to see if the rain had stopped and I could return outside.

Go here to read the rest.

Grieving the Holy Spirit

2011-08-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

The other day my son asked my wife and me why we need to eat well and exercise. Our response was a little deeper than should be told a four-year-old. We tried to explain that God lives within us and we are God's holy temple. Needless to say we had to go into more simplistic detail.

But how often do I forget the simple truth that God, more specifically the Holy Spirit, lives within me? Each time I sin I allow something into my mind and heart that is deplorable to God. In the Old Testament God speaks of turning his face away from his elect, his chosen people of Israel because of their sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). This does not mean that he abandons his people, but that when sin enters the relationship between God and his people a rift is created. The New Testament speaks of our sin grieving the Holy Spirit.

John Calvin put it this way:

No language can adequately express this solemn truth, that the Holy Spirit rejoices and is glad on our account, when we are obedient to him in all things, and neither think nor speak anything, but what is pure and holy; and, on the other hand, is grieved when we admit anything into our minds that is unworthy of our calling.

"God's Spirit is especially sensitive to sin because of His close relationship with us, those who have been saved and defined as the Lord's holy people (1 Peter 1:13-16)" (TableTalk). Though our sin grieves the Spirit it is not a paralyzing grief that at times overtakes our emotions and decisions at difficult times such as the death of a loved one. God cannot be so grieved that it clouds his judgement. But our sin creates distance in the relationship between us and our Creator. He has not left us. He has only turned his face away from us. That is the effects of sin in our lives.

Final Day: Why Am I Here?

2011-07-15T08:21:00.000-05:00

I missed yesterday's post. This is not because God suddenly decided not to speak to me through anything yesterday, but because after almost a week of living out of a suitcase and being in a constant state of "what's next" it begins to wear on a person. So, yesterday's post was left undone. But today is a different day.

We leave tonight to head back home. Our time here this year is over and it's gone much faster than expected. We have three hours of VBS this morning, chores and cleanup after lunch, and then we drive to Hot Springs, SD for some R&R before heading home. We should be in around midnight (Mountain Time). Because of this I thought I would add one final entry about Pine Ridge and my experiences here from this year.

Yesterday I met up with an old friend, Jay Moon, from Sioux Falls Seminary (SFS). Jay was my professor of missions and outreach. Each year he brings a group of students from SFS to immerse them into the Native American culture. It is a learning experience so that they might better understand how to bring Christ into that culture without destroying that culture. The idea of the white man destroying a culture for the "sake of Christ" is no more evident than in the Native American culture. Back in the day the white man and the church began to systematically drive the Indian out of them. It didn't work. All it did was create thicker walls that are extremely difficult for the church today to get past. Jay is trying to teach the students he brings out here about these walls and how to best get beyond them to embrace the culture that was created by God, but misdirected away from him by sin (i.e. - sun dances, pow-wows, sweat lodges, etc.).

On the other hand, we come down here to preach the Gospel on our own. There is very little native involvement, though at one time there was significant work done together. We do not immerse ourselves into the culture and though we strive not to bring the "white man's religion" with us we make very little effort to understand the walls that have been built up.
What Jay and his team are doing and what we are doing are good, but inadequate. Jay's team doesn't bring the salvation message with them. They are there to learn. We bring the Gospel message, but are not purposely learning about the culture. Yes, Christ is sufficient, but that is no excuse to not embrace and learn about a culture. Yes, it is good to learn about a culture, but that is no excuse not to purposely bring the Gospel message in all you do.

So, this brings up a very simple, but deeply intimate question. Why am I here? This is a question that not only I need to answer on this trip, but in every situation I find myself. Why am I here at Pine Ridge? Why am I the pastor at a church? Why do I work where I do? In other words, why has God placed me in the situation or place that I currently find myself? We may think we know, but do we truly get all that Christ has purposed for our lives in the here and now. Am I missing a huge chunk that He is desiring for me to get? Am I only seeing half the message?

So, why are you where you are? What is God's purpose for you here? Are you glorifying God by preaching His Gospel to the people around you with your words and actions? Are you getting into the lives of the people around you, their history and experiences, so that you can better understand how to serve, love, and preach the Gospel to them?

Our lives are greater than the here and now. God has an eternal purpose for us here. Are we living for that eternal purpose?

Jesus My Glory

2011-07-13T07:47:00.000-05:00

I LORD GOD,
Thou hast commanded me to believe in Jesus;
      and I would flee to no other refuge,
   wash in no other fountain,
   build on no other foundation,
   receive from no other fullness,
   rest in no other relief.
His water and blood were not severed
   in their flow at the cross,
   may they never be separated in my creed
      and experiences;
May I be equally convinced of the guilt
      and pollution of sin,
   feel my need of a prince and savior,
   implore of him repentance as well as forgiveness,
love holiness, and be pure in heart,
   have the mind of Jesus, and tread in his steps.
Let me not be at my own disposal,
   but rejoice that I am under the care of one
   who is too wise to err,
      too kind to injure,
      too tender to crush.
May I scandalize none by my temper and conduct,
   but recommend and endear Christ to all around,
   bestow good on every one as circumstances
      permit,
   and decline no opportunity of usefulness.
Grant that I may value my substance,
   not as the medium of pride and luxury,
   but as the means of my support and stewardship.
Help me to guide my affections with discretion,
   to owe no man anything,
   to be able to give to him that needeth,
   to feel it my duty and pleasure to be merciful
      and forgiving,
   to show to the world the likeness of Jesus.

            (from The Valley of Vision)

Day 3: Where is Your Idol?

2011-07-12T21:49:00.001-05:00

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21

The verse above is commonly quoted by many Christians that I know, but do we truly read this verse to ourselves? A treasure is extremely valuable and many of us would jump at the chance to buy a treasure chest full of jewels that are sold at the right price. The parables of the hidden treasure and pearl are perfect examples of this concept. In both parables the men sell all of their possessions to buy a precious and priceless item. Jesus uses these parables to explain the worth of the kingdom of Heaven. Or even more specifically he is explaining the worth of himself. Jesus is the kingdom of Heaven and his worth is greater than everything we own.

Hopefully we would all agree to the concept of Jesus' worth. But do we agree more through our words or our actions. Now, I'm not one to say that we should sell all of our possessions, but what is Christ was asking us to do sell our most prized possession. If we agree that Jesus Christ is priceless then we should eagerly be willing to give that one item up that always seems to get in the way of living our lives as if Christ is priceless. I'm talking about idols. Everyone can have an idol. It doesn't have to be something expensive. It can be a relationship or a material possession. It can be vanity or pride. What is the one thing that if Christ asked me to give it up for his sake that it would cause the most pain?

Throw your idol into the fire. Yes, it will be painful, but in the end isn't the cause of Christ and his call on our lives worth it all?

You don't feel that you have an idol? Just let me say this: As children of God we are called to obey our Father in every area of our life. We are to live our lives with God's mission in mind at all times. What's God's mission? His mission is to glorify himself in all things. What is that one thing in your life that is not glorifying God? Are you willing to get rid of that one thing? Where is your idol? What do you need to do to give every area of your life over to him? Now, those are some deep questions that will dramatically change your life. And maybe even change the lives of people are you who do not know the worth of Christ. That's living on mission for God.

Day 2: Who Is God?

2011-07-11T21:47:00.000-05:00

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1

Today was the first day of Vacation Bible School here at Pine Ridge. VBS here is much different that any that may happen at our home church. Most of the children who attend our home church VBS at least have a basic knowledge of the Bible and Jesus. If you ask them to turn to Matthew 10:5 they can probably find their way to the passage eventually with very little help. But here on the Rez biblical knowledge is hard to come by.

Jerry and I taught the teenagers today and as far as biblical knowledge and foundation it was very minimal. So, we started from the beginning: what the Bible is, how to find a passage in the Bible, why we read the Bible, etc. Our lesson this morning was focused on creation and the Creator. And the best place to start on this topic is in the beginning.

Genesis 1:1 is very clear. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." In the beginning God was. He was not born and he will never die. He was here before time began and he will be here when time is ended. And everything that is in this world was created by God.

It is very easy for me to go to church each Sunday morning, spend time daily reading scripture and praying to God, and focus my energy on the ministry of God at FBC. But how many times have I been in awe before God where I cannot say a word because of his awesomeness. When I pray to God do I remember that this God I'm speaking to has been around forever? He's been around before forever even began. This is the Creator of the universe that because of Christ I can have a personal, intimate relationship with him. And this God who created all things can take time out of his day to care about and for me. This small human on a small planet in a giant universe and he cares about me. How awesome is that?

When we explained the concept of God's foreverness (my term) to these teenagers their eyes told the story of what was happening in their minds. It was inconceivable to them that this would be true. But it is true. And I know this God and he knows me. Why? I will never truly understand. Other than the fact that I am his and he has saved me. I am his child because of his Son.

My hope is that not a day goes by that his awesomeness and my relationship with him do not bring me to my knees in praise and worship of his great name. He is God and I am his. Thanks be to God.

Day 1: Who Needs to Hear?

2011-07-10T21:45:00.004-05:00

When you're on the Rez you're on a different time and mindset. This was no more apparent than the 11:00 worship service this morning. Nothing ever really starts on time here, but when 11:30 hit I began to feel that this time something was different. At 11:35 I was pulled aside by a team leader and was told that the pastor was caught up with an issue and wouldn't be able to lead the service. Would I be willing to step in? Of course, because I am a pastor, it made perfect sense to approach me. And I agreed to help out.

Now, if a situation like this arose at home (even just starting the service forty-five minutes late let alone the pastor not showing up) many people in the service would either leave or complain. But not on the Rez. Everyone was sitting quietly and enjoying each other's company while they waited for the service to begin.

When the service finally did start we sang three songs off of youtube.com and I shared the story of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus. To close the service we opened the floor to share how God changed us on our road to Damascus. We shared for over twenty-five minutes and the number of roads God met us on was amazing. From abuse and divorce to the death of a loved one and recovery from addiction, God is a mighty God who saves us from this world and our sin. And no matter the road God meets us on we who believe are all children of Christ. Heirs together in his promise of salvation and redemption.

When was the last time you shared your being saved on your road to Damascus? Have you ever shared that story? There are many around us who God may be calling us to tell His story in our lives. Are you willing to answer that call right now?

Want to read about Paul's conversion? Read Acts 9 for yourself and see what Christ did to this man who would become the tip of the spear of missions work for Christ and the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Pine Ridge

2011-07-10T10:57:00.001-05:00

This week I am at Pine Ride, SD preaching the gospel message to the children of the reservation through a VBS. My hope is that I will write a post each evening to share what God is teaching me through this experience. My hope is to express the work of God at Pine Ridge who have never been to this culture. He is at work here and I plan to join him in that work. To him be the glory.

Can I Divorce God?

2011-07-06T09:00:00.009-05:00

³⁸For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

The website ehow.com gives an easy four step process on how to divorce your parents. There are a number of reasons why you may need to proceed with this drastic step: "abuse, neglect, abandonment, parental drug abuse, both of your parents being in prison (especially if they won't get out until after you turn 18), or exploitation of you by your parents." The interesting thing about this procedure is that though it removes the legal authority of the parents over the child it does not change the reality that the child is still the offspring of the parents.

The sections preceding this verse are important to gain the deep understanding Paul is trying to convey. Throughout chapter eight Paul uses words such as "adoption" and "heirs" and "children of God" to describe the elect (those saved by God's elective grace through faith). We (the elect) are children of God. We are heirs with Christ of the inheritance received by Christ. We are adopted into the family of God by Christ's payment of our debt. And once we are part of the family of God we cannot be taken from that family. We cannot divorce God and act like it never happened. Who would want such a move, anyway? Who would want to be removed from the love of God once they have tasted the sweetness and joy of that love.

Paul makes it clear. The is nothing in all of creation, including ourselves, who can remove the elect from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing. Nadda. Zilch. We are his for eternity.

Now that should give us peace.

Union With Christ

2011-07-05T09:00:00.001-05:00

O Father,
Thou hast made man for the glory of thyself,
   and when not an instrument of that glory,
   he is a thing of nought;
No sin is greater than the sin of unbelief,
   for if union with Christ is the greatest good,
   unbelief is the greatest sin,
   as being cross to thy command;
I see that whatever my sin is,
   yet no sin is like disunion from Christ by unbelief.
Lord, keep me from committing the greatest sin
      in departing from him,
   for I can never in this life perfectly obey
      and cleave to Christ.
When thou takest away my outward blessings,
      it is for sin,
   in not acknowledging that all that I have is of thee,
   in not serving thee through what I have,
   in making myself secure and hardened.

Lawful blessings are the secret idols, and
      do most hurt;
   the greatest injury is in the having,
   the greatest good in the taking away.
In love divest me of blessings that I may glorify
      thee the more;
   remove the fuel of my sin,
   and may I prize the gain of a little holiness
   as overbalancing all my losses.
The more I love thee with a truly gracious love
   the more I desire to love thee,
   and the more miserable I am at my want of love;
The more I hunger and thirst after thee,
   the more I faint and fail in finding thee,
The more my heart is broken for sin,
   the more I pray it may be far more broken.

My great evil is that I do not remember
      the sins of my youth,
   nay, the sins of one day I forget the next.
Keep me from all things that turn to unbelief
   or lack of felt union with Christ.

                           from The Valley of Vision

Albert Mohler on the Marriage Revolution

2011-07-02T10:04:00.004-05:00

This is from Denny Burk's blog. Check the rest of it out here.

Albert Mohler has an opinion piece in tomorrow’s Wall Street Journal about the moral revolution we have been witnessing concerning homosexuality. Speaking of evangelicals, he rights,

We cannot accept the seductive arguments that the liberal churches so readily adopt. The fact that same-sex marriage is a now a legal reality in several states means that we must further stipulate that we are bound by scripture to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman—and nothing else.

We do so knowing that most Americans once shared the same moral assumptions, but that a new world is coming fast. We do not have to read the polls and surveys; all we need to do is to talk to our neighbors…

It is now abundantly clear that evangelicals have failed in so many ways to meet this challenge. We have often spoken about homosexuality in ways that are crude and simplistic. We have failed to take account of how tenaciously sexuality comes to define us as human beings. We have failed to see the challenge of homosexuality as a Gospel issue. We are the ones, after all, who are supposed to know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only remedy for sin, starting with our own.

We have demonstrated our own form of homophobia—not in the way that activists have used that word, but in the sense that we have been afraid to face this issue where it is most difficult . . . face to face.

My hope is that evangelicals are ready now to take on this challenge in a new and more faithful way. We really have no choice, for we are talking about our own brothers and sisters, our own friends and neighbors, or maybe the young person in the next pew.

There is no escaping the fact that we are living in the midst of a moral revolution. And yet, it is not the world around us that is being tested, so much as the believing church. We are about to find out just how much we believe the Gospel we so eagerly preach.

The Groaning Within Me

2011-07-01T09:00:00.014-05:00

"And not only the creation, but we ourselves,

who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,

groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons,

the redemption of our bodies."

Romans 8:23 (ESV)

Each day we turn on the television, computer, or radio we are bombarded with the reality of a fallen world. Ungodliness, hatred, greed, selfishness, and death pervade every aspect of the human race. This is the reality of the legacy of Adam and Eve. And yet in the middle of all this fallenness is a group of people who, though just as fallen, have been redeemed and made fellow heirs with Christ.

Creation "groans" for its redemption. It "waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God" (Romans 8:19). And along with creation the heirs of God groan inwardly for the second coming of Christ.

On June 10th a group of seven from our church will be heading down to Pine Ridge Reservation to hold a Vacation Bible School for the children of the community. Most of these children have no hope because they do not have Christ. Standing in the middle of a large group of children who have no hope makes my groaning come to a crescendo. Christ, come back. Bring all people to yourself. Renew my body. Renew my inmost being. Renew this fallen world.
But I must wait patiently. For God does not move because I ask him. He moves because it is his time to move. He has set the time of his return since before the beginning of history. It will not change because I ask.

So, as I wait the redemption of creation and my body, I will serve him with all of my being. I will love the children of Pine Ridge. I will share with others the work Christ has done within me. And I will wait.

The Non-Visible Art Museum

2011-06-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Check out the new low that the world is going to in order to make a buck. If you've got an idea then you can find someone foolish enough to buy into it. Welcome to the world of Non-Visible Art. Oh, and there's a museum of this art for you to attend. You buy a card for between $20 and $10,000 which describes your artwork in detail for you to imagine what the artwork looks like. Check out the video here for more explanation from "artist" James Franco and the couple who opened this "museum." You won't be disappointed. I know I wasn't. I needed a good laugh.

From Death to Life

2011-06-24T09:00:00.005-05:00

For to set the mind on the flesh is death,

but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:6 (ESV)

It is not difficult to find death in our world. Turn on the television and witness wars or crimes as they happen. Drive down the road and see the carcass of an animal broken and torn to pieces. And every day we look into the mirror we witness the affects of death. Our skin begins to sag a bit more and wrinkles become more prominent. Every year we realize that we cannot physically do what a year earlier was easy. Death is creeping on our doorstep.

But death has a culprit. Our bodies are dying because of sin. (Thank you Adam and Eve.) And there is nothing we can do about it.

This week we had family in town and the conversation somehow drifted to old age and growing older. A comment was made about Suzanne Summers, the actress who played on the 80's sitcom Three's Company. (Man, I hated that theme song.) She is in her sixties and violently trying to put off death. She takes over ninety (90!) pills a day to supplement her body with the vitamins, minerals, and other things that the body begins to produce less of as we get older. Her desire is to live forever and will take any risk to prevent her death from coming. But what she doesn't want to face is that she is going to die. She cannot avoid it. And though she is afraid to she will face that death.

Unlike Suzanne Summers, those who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can live life with confidence. That though their bodies are dying they will have physical life again at the final resurrection. Those who know the Spirit have no reason to fear physical death because it is temporary.

"But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:10-11)

Praise be to God for his grace and mercy. Praise be to the indwelling Spirit for the life he gives because of Christ's righteousness. Now live the life we have been given with confidence. Live for Him.

Malaise

2011-06-17T13:00:00.002-05:00

What is malaise and what does it have to do with me? Check out the post by Desiring God below. I hope it is encouraging to you.

Malaise is a mercy that feels yucky.

Malaise is that feeling you get when you’re getting sick but you don’t quite know it yet. It’s a vague sense of dis-ease. Your energy is draining. You just want to lie down. Emotionally, you might feel discouraged, irritable, depressed, or cynical for no identifiable reason. You ask yourself, “What’s the matter with me?”

Precisely what you’re supposed to ask. Malaise is the early warning system God designed for the body. It’s telling you something destructive is attacking your bodily systems. It’s a messenger running ahead of an invading enemy alerting us to get our defenses in place.

The soul also has its diseases and they are more deadly than the body’s. Soul diseases attack our belief systems. Corrupted beliefs can be very serious if left untreated. They grow and spread, wreaking destruction in us. And when contagious, as they frequently are, they harm others. Such diseases can result in soul-death.

Mercifully, there is a malaise of the soul. I’ll bet you know what I mean.

Because hope is to the soul what energy is to the body, soul-malaise manifests itself as a flagging hope in God. It’s a vague, doubty, spiritual discouragement. You wouldn’t describe it as a crisis of faith. You might avoid talking about it because it’s hard to describe. You just feel spiritually sluggish. You don’t feel like doing anything spiritually significant. You ask yourself, “What’s the matter with me?”

Precisely what you’re supposed to ask. This malaise is the early warning system God designed for the soul. It’s telling you something destructive is attacking your belief systems. It’s a messenger running ahead of an invading enemy alerting us to get our defenses in place.

So what should we do when we experience soul-malaise? Similar to bodily malaise, we pray and get prayed for, get plenty of rest, seek to identify the source (what is draining my hope in God?), head to God’s pharmacy (the Bible) for some meds (promises) and if needed (as it often is) we get some help from soul-physicians (friends or pastors) who are skillful at treating these diseases.

It’s not wise to ignore malaise. Left unchecked you will get sicker.
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching (1 Timothy 4:16)

Once Bound by Death, Now Bound by the Spirit

2011-06-17T10:00:00.001-05:00

Romans 7:5-6 (ESV) ⁵ For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

Have you ever asked God for patience and found out that he didn't give it to you immediately? As the phrase goes: If you ask for patience God won't give you patience. He gives you opportunities to be patient. This mindset applies to much more than patience.

Before Christ brought us into him we were bound by death and our sinful passions flooded the members of our body. Our lives were controlled by death and we worshipped at its altar. But Romans 7 clearly states that we are no longer held captive by death. Death no longer holds sway over us. This change in control over our lives is not because of anything we did to control our sinful passions. Only the work of the Holy Spirit can make such a change.

But the question still remains: Why then do I continue to sin? Perhaps it is a sin that is new. Perhaps it is a sin that is chronic within my members. But why do I continue to sin despite the fact that I am no longer held captive by death? I am held captive by the Spirit. Shouldn't my life reflect that captivity?

The answer lies within the process of sanctification. Yes, death no longer holds me captive, but the process of sanctification is very seldom easy or quick. It may take time. Years, perhaps. But God will make us who he desires us to be in the time that is needed.

Maybe, just maybe, when we ask for God to remove our passion for the sin within our members he won't take the sin away. He may only give us the opportunity to deny the passions of the flesh and choose to live for him.

Christ Is All

2011-06-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

O LOVER TO THE UTTERMOST,
May I read the meltings of thy heart to me
    in the manger of thy birth,
    in the garden of thy agony,
    in the cross of thy suffering,
    in the tomb of thy resurrection,
    in the heaven of thy intercession.
Bold in this thought I defy my adversary,
   tread down his temptations,
   resist his schemings,
   renounce the world,
   am valiant for truth.
Deepen in me a sense of my holy relationship to thee,
   as spiritual Bridegroom,
   as Jehovah's Fellow,
   as sinners' Friend.
I think of thy glory and my vileness,
   thy majesty and my meanness,
   they beauty and my deformity,
   thy purity and my filth,
   thy righteousness and my iniquity.
Thou hast loved me everlastingly, unchangeably,
   may I love thee as I am loved;
Thou hast given thyself for me,
   may I give myself to thee;
Thou hast died for me,
   may I live to thee,
      in every moment of my time,
      in every movement of my mind,
      in every pulse of my heart.
May I never dally with the world
      and its allurements,
   but walk by thy side,
   listen to thy voice,
   be clothed with thy graces,
      and adorned with thy righteousness.

                            (from The Valley of Vision)

Gospel-Centered Funerals

2011-05-27T10:00:00.001-05:00

I remember my very first funeral I ever conducted. I had no idea what I was doing. I got all my advice from a little booklet that I bought during my time at seminary and I realized quickly that my time at seminary did nothing to prepare me for this. In fact, the seminary I attended encouraged us not to share the Gospel at funerals as it would be awkward for those not knowing Christ. Of course I immediately disagreed with the thought because the Gospel, I believe, needs to be the center of all I do as a pastor, no matter how it makes people feel.

A few weeks ago I came across the 9Marks blog post that addresses this exact issue. How does a pastor handle different funeral situations and keep the Gospel at the core of the message? This is something I struggle with each and every time I conduct a funeral. Check out the post below. I plan on buying the suggested book and make it a vital part of my personal library.

Conducting Gospel-Centered Funerals
By Michael McKinley | 5.9.2011
Today I received an email from a woman to whom our church has been reaching out. She was asking if I'd be willing to lead a memorial service for her friend's mother who had recently passed.

Of course, I said "Yes". Who would pass up a gospel opportunity like that? But then I had that moment (not uncommon in my expierience of ministry) where I realize that I'm not sure about the next steps to take.

So, I was ridiculously glad to receive in the mail a new book by my friends Brian Croft (of 9Marks blogging fame) and Phil Newtown: Conduct Gospel-Centered Funerals. I've already read it, and it's very, very good.

Given the dynamics of my church, I do 50 weddings for every funeral that I conduct. To be honest, I don't have a ton of experience. And so I greatly appreciate how specific the book's counsel is. If you want advice on how to appropriately eulogize an adult with mental handicaps who was not known to you, there's a section in the book for that. I'm not joking... and it's good advice too!

If you're ever called on to take part in funerals, this is a great resource to help you think through how to love people and shine the gospel clearly in that moment.

Quality or Quantity: Which is More Important for a Child?

2011-05-26T13:00:00.001-05:00

Do you struggle with balancing home life and work life? How much time do you spend with your kids and how do you make that time high quality? Anyone in any job, let alone ministry, would attend to the fact that these are questions that are hard to answer. Hopefully we all desire for our children to grow up feeling loved by their parents. That is what we desired from our own parents. Mark Driscoll gives a few words on the difference between quality and quantity when it comes to kids and how Jesus Christ modeled this for us in scripture. Check the short clip out here.

Improper Boasting

2011-05-26T10:17:00.000-05:00

Ephesians 2:9 (ESV) Not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

A number of Christmases ago I built an advent calendar for my brother and his wife. It wasn't very fancy but through much trial and error I finally had it finished where it wouldn't fall apart. I was very proud of that calendar. It was the first (and so far the only) I had ever built. When they opened their present that Christmas I began to tell them how I made it, how long it took, how many times I made mistakes, and I'm sure boasted too much for my own good. It was my calendar made with my own hands. If it was beautiful it was because I made it that way.

Sometimes we can have the same attitude towards Christ. We claim that Christ saved us from our sins but then proceed to tell how "I" made the decision to follow Christ and how "I" wouldn't have been saved if "I" didn't trust in him. It's amazing how we give ourselves the credit for something that we had absolutely nothing to do with. Yes, we did choose Christ but He chose us first (John 15:16).

Even further there are some who believe that we can work our way into God's favor. What foolishness. TableTalk has a good explanation on this.

People who trust in their works think they can boast in them, but all such bragging is futile. Yet those who understand that salvation is not of themselves or their works at all can boast properly (Eph. 2:9). They can boast of the great mercy of God that was poured out on them when they least deserved it and give the Lord all the glory for their salvation (2 Cor. 10:17; Gal. 6:12-14).

The mercy and grace we have received from God is not given to us because we deserve. That defeat the purpose of mercy. Mercy is given when least deserved and so we who are reconciled to God through the death of His Son Jesus Christ should stand in awe of the greatness of the glory of God. We are his children because He made us His children. Boast only in his great mercy and glory. Amen.

Cleaning Up The Mess Harold Camping Left Behind

2011-05-22T09:00:00.001-05:00

I went to church yesterday morning and was very glad to see that I wasn't the only one there. I have no idea what I would have done if the rapture happened and I was "left behind." I don't feel that I have to expand much on this fiasco that happened on Saturday. The whole situation speaks for itself. But unfortunately this event will be something that the church will be cleaning up for years to come. Harold Camping has now become the poster boy for the church and I'm not very happy about it. In fact, I agree completely with Kim Riddlebarger's blog from yesterday. Below is a sample and you can read the entire short post here.

This, then, is why it is so important to expose this man for who and what he is--a false prophet, a schismatic and a kook, lest anyone think that Jesus will not return when we least expect it, to judge the world, raise the dead, and make all things new. And frankly, it is sad that so many Christians expect non-Christians to do our job for us.

How Do You Deal With the Loss of a Child?

2011-05-10T15:02:00.002-05:00

Our beautiful daughter Kahra born February 2009

It was on July 28, 2005 that my wife and I had a miscarriage at around eleven weeks along and we lost our first child. To this day the emotions are fresh and the feelings of a life lost are still raw. The wound has healed, but the scar is deep and still very sensitive.

To this day my wife and I struggle to explain exactly why God would take something so precious to us without knowing a face or personality. Having a child was a great desire for us both. Perhaps we weren't ready. Maybe we both needed to grow up a little before the pressure of a baby in our life changed everything. Perhaps there is no explanation that can satisfy the pain of our experience.

But we do know that God is God and we are not. Whatever he has planned for our lives we, as his children, must submit to and glorify him. Through that difficult time we slowly healed and opportunities arose for us to care for and cry with others who had lost a child. We understood the pain. We understood the confusion. We understood the loneliness that so many parents go through when they lose a child. We understood the completely unbiblical things people would say to make us feel better. (i.e. - "Your baby must have been deformed and God knew you couldn't handle it." or "God needed him with him." as if God needs anything from us.)

We are better people because of the loss of our child. God is more glorified with our lives now than before our loss. In the end, to Him be the glory.

If you encounter those who have lost a young child or older child it may be difficult to know how to react. Lisa Blanco has written a great article on Gospel Coalition's blog here on the loss of their son who was born six week premature. If you are in a ministry of any sort (full-time or volunteer) please read her article. It will proved great insight into how God works through such terrible circumstances and our reaction to those circumstances and God as His children.

The Doctrine of the Trinity

2011-05-10T10:00:00.004-05:00

Ephesians 1:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

There are some doctrines in our Christian faith that are difficult to understand. One of these is the doctrine of the Trinity. How can one God be in essence three distinct persons? Our limited minds cannot comprehend such depth. Those who are looking to prove Christianity as a farce point to this doctrine. After all, the word Trinity isn't even found in Scripture. Though the term Trinity is not found in God's Word does not make the doctrine untrue for it summarizes the truth of God as three distinct Persons yet one God.

TableTalk explains this doctrine well.

We see in [Ephesians 1:3-6] that the Father planned redemption, having predestines His people to eternal life in Christ. The Song of God carried out the work necessary to secure the salvation our Father planned and promised. Jesus Christ, the God-man who is the perfect union of the second person of the Trinity with our humanity, shed His blood to bring us forgiveness and, due to His obedience, is exalted as King over all (Ephesians 1:7-12). God the Holy Spirit seals the work of Christ to us, applying the benefits of salvation and marking us off as our Creator's special possession (Ephesians 1:13-14). Each person works distinctively to bring salvation, yet harmony pervades the process, for the works of the Trinity are undivided - all of the persons of the Godhead work together to achieve the same end and never stand at cross purposes with one another. God, therefore, is irreducibly three in person - Father, Son, and Spirit - and one in essence.

We can stand firm in our faith that God the Father, Son, and Spirit are one, working together for the will of the Father. May His name be glorified by our lives as we grow and are sanctified in Him.

The Gift of Gifts

2011-05-09T10:00:00.002-05:00

O SOURCE OF ALL GOOD,

What shall I render to thee for the gift of gifts,
   thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,
   my Redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,
   his self-emptying incomprehensible,
   his infinity of love beyond the heart's grasp.
Herein is wonder of wonders;
   he came below to raise me above,
   was born like me that I might become like him.
Herein is love;
   when I cannot rise to him he draws near on
      wings of grace,
   to raise me to himself.
Herein is power;
   when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart
   he united them in indissoluble unity,
      the uncreated and the created.
Herein is wisdom;
   when I was undone, with no will to return to him,
   and no intellect to devise recovery,
   he came, God-incarnate, to save me
      to the uttermost,
   as man to die my death,
   to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,
   to work out a perfect righteousness for me.
O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds,
      and enlarge my mind;
   let me hear good tidings of great joy,
      and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore,
      my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,
      my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father;
   place me with ox, ass, camel, goat,
     to look with them upon my Redeemer's face,
      and in him account myself delivered form sin;
   let me with Simeon clasp the new-born child
      to my heart,
   embrace him with undying faith,
   exulting that the is mine and I am his.
In him thou hast given me so much
      that heaven can give no more.
                                  (from The Valley of Vision)

No One Is Righteous - Yes, That Means You

2011-05-06T10:00:00.004-05:00

Romans 3:10-18 (ESV) ¹⁰“None is righteous, no, not one; ¹¹ no one understands; no one seeks for God. ¹² All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” ¹³ “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” ¹⁴ “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” ¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ¹⁶ in their paths are ruin and misery, ¹⁷ and the way of peace they have not known.” ¹⁸ “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Last night at our Wednesday night Bible Study we focused on Habakkuk 2:18-20 where God warns the Babylonians of their coming judgment and how their idols will not save them. We were reminded of our own lives and the idols that we create only to have them fail. In those moments we are not seeking God, but thanks be to His mercy and grace and salvation that those moments hopefully do not last long.

But Paul reminds us that with no understanding of God and no fear of him or desire to seek him we are bound my our unrighteousness. We have no way of being justified in his sight. The idols we bow down to cannot save us. They are but speechless, breathless created things that in the end, when we desperately need divine intervention, only remain silent before us. Then we are utterly alone.

It is a good reminder that through Christ we are made righteous. Through Christ we are justified in his sight. Through Christ does redemption come.

Praise be to God.

More Thoughts on God's View of the Death of Osama bin Laden

2011-05-05T09:00:00.001-05:00

Below is taken from the Desiring God blog which I follow. I am posting this to encourage believers in their war against themselves on the death of Osama bin Laden and give a greater understanding of what scripture has to say about God's reaction to this incident. I have already written my thoughts on the death of Osama bin Laden here so I will not say more.

God’s emotions are complex—like yours, only a million times more. Right now, your emotions about bin Laden are not simple, i.e. not single. There are several, and they intermingle. That is a good thing. You are God-like.

In response to Osama bin Laden’s death, quite a few tweets and blogs have cited the biblical truth that “God does not delight in the death of the wicked.” That is true.

It is also true that God does delight in the death of the wicked. There are things about every death that God approves in themselves and things about every death that God disapproves in themselves.

Is God Double-Minded?
This is not double talk. All thoughtful people make such distinctions. For example, if my daughter asks me if I like a movie, I might say yes or no to the same movie. Why? Because a movie can be assessed for its 1) acting, 2) plot, 3) cinematography, 4) nudity, 5) profanity, 6) suspense, 7) complexity, 8) faithfulness to the source, 9) reverence for God, 11) accurate picture of human nature, etc., etc., etc.

So my answer is almost always “yes, in some ways, and no in other ways.” But sometimes I will simply say yes, and sometimes no, because of extenuating circumstances.

Here is why I say God approves and disapproves the death of Osama bin Laden:

In one sense, human death is not God’s pleasure:

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? . . . For I do not pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live. (Ezekiel 18:23, 32).

In another sense, the death and judgment of the unrepentant is God’s pleasure:

Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy myself. (Ezekiel 5:13]
[Wisdom calls out:] Because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you. (Proverbs 1:25–26)

Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her! (Revelation 18:20)

As the Lord took delight in doing you good . . . so the Lord will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you. (Deuteronomy 28:63)

We should not cancel out any of these passages but think our way through to how they can all be true.

God is Not Malicious or Bloodthirsty
My suggestion is that the death and misery of the unrepentant is in and of itself not a pleasure to God. God is not a sadist. He is not malicious or bloodthirsty. The death and suffering considered for itself alone is not his delight.

Rather, when a rebellious, wicked, unbelieving person is judged, what God has pleasure in is the exaltation of truth and righteousness, and the vindication of his own honor and glory. (For further discussion of God’s heart in judgment see the section in The Pleasures of God called “How Is God Like George Washington?”, pp. 147–149.)

When Moses warns Israel that the Lord will take pleasure in bringing ruin upon them and destroying them if they do not repent (Deuteronomy 28:63), he means that those who have rebelled against the Lord and moved beyond repentance will not be able to gloat that they have made the Almighty miserable.

God is not defeated in the triumphs of his righteous judgment. Quite the contrary. Moses says that when they are judged they will unwittingly provide an occasion for God to rejoice in the demonstration of his justice and his power and the infinite worth of his glory (see also Romans 9:22–23).

A Warning
Let this be a warning to us: God is not mocked. He is not trapped or cornered or coerced. Even on the way to Calvary he had legions of angels at his disposal: “No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord”—of his own good pleasure, for the joy that was set before him.

At the one point in the history of the universe where God looked trapped, he was in charge, doing precisely what he pleased—dying to justify the ungodly like you and me.

(Adapted from The Pleasures of God, pp. 66-74.)

The Abundance of Blessing in Christ

2011-05-04T08:00:00.008-05:00

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

When was the last time you sat and praised God for His blessings in your life? In just the past twenty-four hours God has stirred my heart to recognize the many blessings He has given me that I all too often fail to recognize. I have a beautiful, wonderful, loving, and caring wife that is more forgiving than I give her credit for. After a few years of trying to have a baby now we have two. My son doesn't stop talking from the moment he gets up to the time he goes to bed. But his laughter, curiosity, and constant energy lift me up when I need it most. I have a beautiful daughter who's smile and gorgeous eyes melt your heart every time. There's nothing better than to hear your daughter run to the door to great you when you come home from work. I am the pastor of a wonderful church of caring and loving people who truly desire to live for God. It's not perfect (no church is) but God is doing a mighty work in the lives of people all around me.

Finally, and the most important, God has blessed me with eternal life. What a blessing to know that despite myself God has saved me. The Son of God has redeemed me from my sins. The Holy Spirit is at work within me to sanctify my and help me live like Christ. This blessing is above any gift that God can give. What a joy to know that I will be with Him forever in Glory.

We should remember to bless God for His blessings upon us. They are undeserved and God should be praised for them.

I'll end with a quote from TableTalk by Ligoner Ministries.

There are many reasons why God deserves our praise, but in Ephesians 1:3 the apostle tells us that our Father should be praised for sharing the abundance of His goodness with us - for bestowing upon us spiritual blessings.

Amen and Amen.

Praise and Thanksgiving

2011-05-03T10:00:00.003-05:00

O My God,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
   my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
   for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
   and I would pour out all that fullness before thee
      in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with thee
   ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
   ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
   ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
   crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
   for adorning it, sanctifying it,
      though it is fixed in barren soil;
   for the body thou hast given me,
   for preserving its strength and vigour,
   for providing senses to enjoy delights,
   for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
   for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
   for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
   for a full table and overflowing cup,
   for appetite, taste, sweetness,
   for social joys of relatives and friends,
   for ability to serve others,
   for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
   for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
   for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
   for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
   for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the power of language
      to express,
   for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time
   and eternity.

                           (from The Valley of Vision)

Should We Rejoice At His Death?

2011-05-02T10:00:00.008-05:00

I am torn. At the news of the death of Osama Bin Ladin last night I was shocked, grateful, and saddened. It is difficult for me to rejoice at the death of another human being, a creation of God. But it is hard to contain my feelings of justice brought to him by God last night. I sort of feel like I have a split personality and they are warring against each other.

Denny Burk wrote a good piece on his reaction to the news and how he feels we as believers should respond.

Earlier this evening, we all learned that U.S. special forces have killed Osama Bin Laden, who was hiding out in a mansion in Pakistan. The reaction across the country has been remarkable. I cannot remember another instance in my lifetime when throngs gathered spontaneously in the streets of our major cities to celebrate, but that is indeed what is happening right now as I type. That being said, I just wanted to take a moment to jot down where my thoughts have been over the last couple of hours since the news broke.

1. Romans 13:4, “It does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” If ever there were a just use of force, this was it. The U.S. government carried out its God-ordained task and has acted as the minister of God bringing His wrath upon one who practiced evil. The U.S. government isn’t God’s only minister of the sword. But tonight was our night, and I am grateful that justice was served.

2. Hebrews 10:31, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Isaiah 33:14, “Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with continual burning?” I shudder to think of what Bin Laden is facing right now. I do not question the justice of it, but I can hardly bear to contemplate the horror of it. If my thinking is defective now, it won’t always be. The day will come when God will command me to rejoice in His justice in the damnation of the wicked (Revelation 18:20). Until then, the horror should serve as a motivation to warn people to flee the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

3. I think Christians are right to contemplate how jubilation (like we see on TV right now) is consistent with Ezekiel 33:11, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.” So I can understand why Christians may be asking, “If God is not delighting in the death of the wicked, then how can we?” I think there is confusion on this point because this verse is easily misunderstood. The second part of the verse is key to understanding its meaning. The text is not trying to say that God never delights in the death of the wicked. Rather, the verse means that God prefers for sinners to repent rather than to perish. If they refuse to repent, God delights in His own justice enough to punish them appropriately (e.g., Psalm 1:5-6; 5:4-6; 68:2; Isaiah 13:1-22; Jeremiah 18:11). We have to be willing to praise God for His justice one way or the other (Psalm 139:19-22; Proverbs 11:10; 28:28; Revelation 19:1-3).

I can see his point and I agree to a point. We were all disgusted at the sight of throngs of people in the Middle East rejoicing during the 9/11 attacks. And yet last night many in America did the same thing. They rejoiced in the streets. We could make the very good argument that those who died in 9/11 were innocent while Bin Ladan had blood on his hands and was far from innocent. And that would be a very good and true argument. But how does this make us any different than the throngs? We are all rejoicing over death. But we are called to bring life through Christ and rejoice in that life.

I do praise God that his justice was done. But I am more saddened that Bin Ladan never repented and turned to Christ. That may have seemed like an impossibility, but God is a God of impossibilities.

Urban Legends Passed on By Preachers

2011-04-30T10:00:00.001-05:00

You've heard about the guy who strapped a rocket to his car and it took him over the mountains haven't you? Well, Trevin Wax posted a blog (here) of urban legends that preachers continue to spread. What was the eye of the needle that the camel couldn't go through? Did they have to tie a rope to the High Priest in case he was struck dead by God so they could pull him out? I've repeated that last one many times. Now you can see how many "truths" you've spread over the years. I'm only at one and I feel lucky. I thought I'd have repeated more. Let's see who gets the highest number. Ready, go!

God's Covenant People

2011-04-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

Romans 2:28-29 (ESV) ²⁸ For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. ²⁹ But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

There is an ongoing conversation on the covenant people of God that I am having with some individuals in my congregation. This conversation may happen only a couple of times a year, but it is evident through our talks that we disagree. It is even more evident that some individuals who claim to hold God's Word above all things in reality do not hold it as high as they believe. Yes, I know this is a very straight-forward statement. But let me let you know why I believe this is true.

As a church we hold to Scripturealone as the truth above all things (sola scriptura). This includes current cultural views and my own feelings on subjects. One subject, though, where some have held on to dispensational thinking is on what I would call the two covenant people of God. No one would disagree that those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord, Savior, and Treasure are part of the covenant people of God. But some still hold to the idea that the Jewish people, simply because they are Jewish, are also the covenant people of God. They believe that God holds a special plan for the Jewish people which to me sounds very much like salvation without Christ.

But in Romans Paul makes it very clear that a Jew is not merely an outward thing (circumcision or anscestry) but is an inward matter of the heart. This is made more clear by the note on Romans 2:29 in my ESV Reformation Bible.

"The work of the Spirit, issuing in a God-centered life, not hte opossession of 'circumcision' and the 'written code,' makes one a member of God's covenant people."

If we believe in Scripture alone as the foundation of all truth then we must be willing to change our beliefs to match that truth. Challenging our beliefs with Scripture as the foundation is important. God's Word outshines every culture of this world because it is exactly that, God's Word. Not man's. That is why it has lasted for a couple of thousands years.

So, are you willing to have what you hold as true tested by Scripture? Are you willing to truly hold to Scripture alone? Are you willing to change what you hold true if it contradicts God's Word? Or are you wanting to hold on tightly to you current beliefs because it's what you know and what you parents taught you? Trust in Him and His Word. They will not lead you astray.

I Am Second

2011-04-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

I was turned on to a website called I Am Second by Andy Wright, a pastor and friend of mine in Dell Rapids, SD. It is full of video testimonies from famous and not-so-famous people who have put themselves second to Christ. All the videos are amazing. Check it out. You won't be disappointed.

God Honored

2011-04-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

O GOD,

Praise waiteth for thee,
   and to render it is my noblest exercise;
This is thy due from all thy creatures,
   for all thy works display thy attributes
      and fulfill thy designs;
The sea, dry land, winter cold, summer heat,
   morning light, evening shade are full of thee,
   and thou givest me them richly to enjoy.
Thou art King of kings and Lord of lords;
At thy pleasure empires rise and fall;
All thy works praise thee and thy saints bless thee;
   Let me be numbered with thy holy ones,
   resemble them in character and condition,
   sit with them at Jesus' feet.
May my religion be always firmly rooted in thy Word,
   my understanding divinely informed,
   my affections holy and heavenly,
   my motives simple and pure,
   and my heart never wrong with thee.
Deliver me from the natural darkness of
      my own mind,
   from the corruptions of my heart,
   from the temptations to which I am exposed,
   from the daily snares that attend me.
I am in constant danger while I am in this life;
Let thy watchful eye ever be upon me for my defense,
Save me from the power of my worldly and
      spiritual enemies
   and from all painful evils to which I have
      exposed myself.
Until the day of life dawns above
   let there be unrestrained fellowship with Jesus;
Until fruition comes, may I enjoy the earnest
      of my inheritance
   and the firstfruits of the Spirit;
Until I finish my course with joy may I pursue
      it with diligence,
   in every part display the resources of the Christian,
   and adorn the doctrine of thee my God
      in all things.

                                From The Valley of Vision

Remembering God's Grace

2011-04-22T11:05:00.001-05:00

Genesis 21:1-2 (ESV)
¹ The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. ² And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.

I am currently preaching through the book of Genesis in our Sunday morning worship services. I was tempted, as many pastors are, to step away from Genesis during this Easter season to preach on one of the Gospels and the story of the death and resurrection of Christ. But the more I thought about doing this the more I felt I needed to stay in Genesis, though I wasn't sure how it would work out. You know how that is. Mother's Day comes up and inevitably the passage you are suppose to preach on is the death of Jezebel. Doesn't really work.

But it is also amazing how God works through passages you never thought would be perfect for Easter. This Sunday I will be preaching on Genesis 21:1-7; the birth of Isaac. And my-o-my how amazed I was at how this tied into Easter. God's grace is shown to Abraham and Sarah through giving them a son. They did not deserve such a gift, but God gave them Isaac in order to put the covenant promise into action. The birth of Isaac was only the beginning of the promise God made to Abraham years before, but how would the nations be blessed through Abraham?

Just as God's grace was given to Abraham and Sarah so that same grace would be extended to those who believe in His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, as their Savior, Redeemer, Treasure, and Lord. We do not deserve His Son. But the grace of God is given, anyway. Isn't that the meaning of grace? It is an undeserved gift that is given to those unworthy of it.

It is given to me. May I never forget to worship and praise the Great Giver of Grace.

Man's Great End

2011-04-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

LORD OF ALL BEING,
There is one thing that deserves my greatest care
   that calls forth my ardent desires,
That is, that I may answer the great end for which I am made -
   to glorify thee who hast given me being,
   and to do all the good I can for my fellow men;
Verily, life is not worth having
   if it be not improved for this noble purpose.
Yet, Lord, how little is this the thought of mankind!
Most men seem to live for themselves,
   without much or any regard for thy glory,
   or for the good of others;
They earnestly desire and eagerly pursue
   the riches, honors, pleasures of this life,
   as if they supposed that wealth, greatness, merriment,
   could make their immortal souls happy;
But, alas, what false delusive dreams are these!
And how miserable ere long will those be that sleep in them,
   for all our happiness consists in loving thee,
   and being holy as thou art holy.

O may I never fall into the tempers and vanities,
   the sensuality and folly of the present world!
It is a place of inexpressible sorrow, a vast empty
   nothingness;
Time is a moment, a vapor,
   and all its enjoyments are empty bubbles,
   fleeting blasts of wind,
   from which nothing satisfactory can be derived;
Give me grace always to keep in covenant with thee,
   and to reject as delusion a great name here or hereafter,
   together with all sinful pleasures or profits.
Help me to know continually
   that there can be no true happiness,
   no fulfilling of thy purpose for me,
   apart from a life lived in and for
      the Son of thy love.

               (From The Valley of Vision)

"Love Wins" Video Parody

2011-04-12T16:00:00.002-05:00

It's sad that Rob Bell has become a parody. Bet he never thought that would happen. I'm not all that surprised, though.

What is True Sacrifice?

2011-04-12T10:00:00.003-05:00

Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV) ¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Those of us who are called to full-time ministry to earn a paycheck live a different life than those not called. I cannot say it is a better life or more spiritual of a life, but it is different none-the-less. We are on call 24-7-365. We could have meetings almost every night of the week if we aren't careful. At times the church does come before our own family (especially after the death of a member of the church). We are called to lead, teach, preach, care for others, be strong and yet meek, and know everything there is to know about God and His Word to name just a few. From the outside it seems that we "sacrifice" everything for the cause of Jesus Christ.

But does anyone truly sacrifice anything for Christ? I mean, how do the above things compare to the sacrifice of my Savior? Have I truly sacrificed anything in comparison to His sacrifice of humbling Himself and dying on a cross a horrible death for the will of His Father and for the love of His creation?

"I never made a sacrifice. We ought not to talk of sacrifice when we remember the great sacrifice that he made who left his Father’s throne on high to give himself for us."
David Livingstone

David Livingstone was no stranger to sacrifice. He spend much of his life and in the end gave his life for the cause of Christ. But compared to the sacrifice of Christ Livingston's sacrifice was small and frivolous. Puts a new spin on our view of sacrifice, doesn't it?

Will I live today remembering the sacrifice of my Savior? When, as a pastor, I feel I have given enough today for the cause of Christ (note: not the cause of church members) will I be reminded of His sacrifice?

Humility or Arrogance?

2011-04-10T14:30:00.000-05:00

We live in a world where the definition of these two words (humility and arrogance) are flipped. When a pastor stands in front of a group of people and speaks about himself, his own thoughts, and his own experiences he is said to be a humble man. When a pastor stands in front of a group of people and speaks about God, God's thought, God's truths, God's commands and doesn't mention himself he is said to be arrogant. The preacher speaks the truth of God plainly and has no business messing with the message. He is but a messenger. He speaks the words of his Master. He should not place himself in his Master's place. Doug Wilson provides us with a short, but very true explanation here.

Reformed Rap! Who Would Have Thought?

2011-04-08T10:36:00.001-05:00

I was tuned into this rapper by Andrew, our Associate Pastor. It's a strong, Biblical message that will surprise you. The words are on the screen but twenty bucks says you can't read as fast as he raps.

Would You Take a Vow of Silence?

2011-04-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Could you do what this teen is doing? He is taking a vow of silence for lent. Oh, if only others (pastors, politicians, children) would do the same. Check it out here.

Be Still

2011-04-06T10:00:00.003-05:00

Last week I began a routine of going for a walk at 6:00am not only for exercise but also to spend time in communication with God. The cool air wakes me up and I start my day focused on God and His work in my life for the coming day. The walk takes me just over thirty minutes and I usually spend the entirety of it speaking to God. But last Sunday was different. Halfway through my walk God spoke to me. It wasn't an audible voice but it might as well have been. God said, "Shut up!" I was a bit startled to say the least. But as I looked up to the horizon ahead of me I say the sun rising. It wasn't spectacular. Honestly, I've seen better. But it was as if God was telling me that I talk too much to Him and don't spend nearly enough time listening to Him. And in that moment I was enthralled at the thought that I was alive one more day. I was breathing in and out. I had another day to live for Him. What a privilege and honor to live one more day for God.

Later, during the morning service, some sang the song "Be Still" by Steven Curtis Chapman. I've always loved that song but that morning it held more meaning. I had heard God tell me to slow down, stop talking, and know that He is God of me and all the world around me.

Psalm 46:8-11 (ESV) ⁸Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. ⁹He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. ¹⁰“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” ¹¹The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

God is above all things. In this world we spend too much time being busy. I get worried about the day to come or how my schedule will work out to spend enough time doing ministry with the church and my family. When will I take time to dig into God's Word for personal spiritual growth? Do I have time to visit that family in the hospital? When do I get a break?

God is in control. He makes wars to cease. He breaks down armies. He is sovereign over all things on this earth. So be still and know that He is God. He is our refuge. He is out fortress. He is our all.

Bell Says He's Been Slandered

2011-04-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

A few days ago Denny Burk, Associate Professor of New Testament and Dean of Boyce College, wrote a blog on Rob Bell's reaction to the criticism of his book Love Wins. Bell gives an emotional interview with the Washington Post where he states he has been misrepresented and slandered by his critics. I feel for the guy, but he had to have known the push-back he was going to get with his heretical ideas on Hell. I mean, come on. I'm looking forward to the day he sits down with John Piper and has a panel discussion on the book. Hey, I can dream can't I? You can see only a part of the interview here and read the posted comments.

Puritan Prayers: Divine Mercies

2011-03-31T10:00:00.001-05:00

My Eternal God,
Yours is surpassing greatness, unspeakable
   goodness, super-abundant grace;
I can as soon count the sands of ocean's 'lip'
   as number your favors towards me;
I know but a part, but that part exceeds all praise.
I thank you for personal mercies,
   a measure of health, preservation of body,
   comforts of house and home, sufficiency of food
      and clothing,
   continuance of mental powers,
   my family, their mutual help and support,
      the delights of domestic harmony and peace,
      the seats now filled that might have been vacant,
   my country, church, Bible, faith.
But, O, how I mourn my sin, ingratitude, vileness,
   that days that add to my guilt,
   the scenes that witness my offending tongue;
All things in heaven, earth, around, within, without,
      condemn me -
   the sun which sees my misdeeds,
   the darkness which is light to you,
   the cruel accuser who justly charges me,
   the good angels who have been provoked to leave me,
   your countenance which scans my secret sins,
   your righteous law, your holy Word,
   my sin-soiled conscience, my private and public life,
   my neighbors, myself -
      all write dark things against me.
I deny them not, frame no excuse, but confess,
      'Father, I have sinned';
Yet still I live, and fly repenting to your outstretched arms;
   you will not cast me off, for Jesus brings me near,
   you will not condemn me, for he died in my stead,
   you will not mark my mountains of sin,
      for he levelled all,
   and his beauty covers my deformities.
O my God, I bid farewell to sin by clinging to his cross,
   hiding in his wounds, and sheltering in his side.

                  (The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions)

Does Church Make Us Fatter?

2011-03-29T08:55:00.001-05:00

I have long told others that persecution is coming for the church. Those who teach or preach against issues such as homosexuality will soon be prosecuted and persecuted by the government. We are already seeing this happen in Canada and it will only be a matter of time before it begins here. I don't desire to create any conspiracies or think that Big Brother is out there (which he probably is), but this story from foxnews.com I believe is just the beginning. At first it seems silly to think that churches make people fatter. I have always believed that people make themselves fatter. But this might be just the study the government uses to attempt to regulate churches just as it has restaurants. You may laugh, but mark my words. It will happen sooner than you think.

Evangelism by Penn

2011-03-27T08:53:00.001-05:00

Earlier this week I posted a quote by Penn Jillette from the comedy-illutionist group Penn and Teller. Below is the video that quote was taken from. He may still not believe that there is a God, but he seems to understand the importance of telling the truth of our beliefs more than we do. Take a look and let me know what you think.

The Fascinating Battle Between Flesh and Spirit

2011-03-26T08:15:00.002-05:00

1 John 2:15 (ESV)
Do not love the world or the things in the world.

This is a very plain and simple admonition to seek God first in all things. The "world" here is a system of rebellion and pride that seeks to dethrone God in my life. And this world system is a constant threat to a believer's walk in Christ.

It has always fascinated me to observe the battle of my flesh and the Spirit within me. 1 John 2:17 reads,

"And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

The battle within me has been fascinating because as a believer I know that the things of this world will pass away, but the desire of the flesh within me towards the world is strong. More often than not I give into my flesh and in a way dethrone God from my life at that moment. But there is One who is greater than my flesh and the desires of this world. There is no five-step process to defeating the world. There is only One who can defeat the world. And one can say that the one-step process is to believe with all my heart, mind, and soul that Jesus is Lord. Then my life will truly follow.

Biblical Eldership

2011-03-25T15:00:00.001-05:00

Over the past year or so I have been working in our church to change the name of our leadership from Deacons to Elders. During our annual meeting the change was voted down by the congregation. So, another year or so of talking, explaining, and revealing the scriptural view of some in our congregation (especially those who voted against it) is needed. When this change will happen, no one can tell. Perhaps never. But as the lead sheperd of this flock it is my goal to focus all we do and say as a church on Biblical truth. If as a leader you find yourself in the same boat as myself or you want to learn more about what an Elder is scripturally then check out here what 9Marks has to say in a great blog posting on Eldership.

Rob Bell's Legacy is Beginning To Take Shape

2011-03-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

The Rob Bell topic has gone on for a while and there isn't much new information that can be discussed and debated. But I read an article at foxnews.com which addressed the legacy that Rob Bell is leaving. This article addresses his views on Hell and Universalism which are deceiving a number of people within the faith community. Take a look here and see what is beginning. Though Bell's words and platform will lead many astray we can be confident that God is still in control and at work in the world today. This too shall pass.

Romans 8:28-33 (ESV) ²⁸And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. ³¹What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

Faith in Action

2011-03-24T10:00:00.002-05:00

1 John 2:5-6 (ESV) ⁵By this we may know that we are in him: ⁶whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Legalism is the strict adherence to law which in turn will bring salvation. This is where the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus' time got it wrong. The Law of God had become a list of requirements (some of which were added by man) to show or prove their "holiness." Spirituality had become a set of regulations. The better one held to the regulations the more spiritual one was considered.

Christ's coming flipped this thinking upside down. Jesus did everything different. He spent time with tax collectors, Samaritans, women, and prostitutes and spoke against the legalism of the spiritual leaders of the day. So how should we take the verse above? It seems as if John is promoting legalism in saying that whoever abides in him ought to do what Jesus did (works).

John Calvin has a wonderful commentary on this passage. He gives a few passages from the words of Moses to the people of Israel concerning the Law of God.

Deuteronomy 10:12 (ESV) And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV) ¹⁹I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, ²⁰loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Moses is calling the people to "walk in all his ways" and "obeying his voice." But there is a deeper sense beyond works based love. Calvin adds in his commentary, "For the law, which is spiritual, does not command only external works, but enjoins this especially, to love God with the whole heart." Obeying God's precepts cannot be disconnected from the heart. The Apostle John is pointing out that if I say I love God then my works and actions will follow suit. If I love Jesus then I will walk as he walked. I will obey his commands. This is not legalism. This is faith in action.

Do I Hate Unbelievers?

2011-03-23T15:00:00.003-05:00

Is every Christian a missionary? This is just one of many questions posed by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne in their book The Trellis and the Vine. Here is a short excerpt of their answer.

"The Christian without a missionary heart is an anomaly. The missionary heart will be seen in all kinds of ways: in prayers for the lost, in making sure our behaviour offends no one, in gospel conversations with friends, and in making every effort to save some. We are slaves without rights, even though we are free (cf. 2 Cor 4:5; Phil 2:7)."

There is a great struggle within the church in the Unites States today. We desire for others to come to know Christ but it seems too socially awkward to approach them and tell them about Christ. I recently led a Bible study on evangelism and stated that we are given opportunities each day to share our faith with unbelieving neighbors, friends, and family. How often do we meet an unbelieving neighbor in the grocery store and only say hello? Why do we resist getting beyond the surface conversation, pray for them right there, and telling them about the love of Christ? Someone answered with, "But we don't want to ruin any type of relationship that has been built up. Telling them about Christ at the grocery store would make us both uncomfortable."

My father used to tell me that if something was important to you then you would do it. For example, if you say that prayer is important to you then you should be praying consistently and with power. If following the commands of Jesus Christ means sharing the truth of His Gospel with others then I should be sharing the Gospel with others. It's not rocket science. In fact, Marshall and Payne write about Penn Jillette, an avowed and vocal atheist, and one-half of the famous comic-illusionist act Penn and Teller. "He was evangelized by a polite and impressive man, and had this to say about the experience:

'. . . I've always said, you know, that I don't respect people who don't proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell, or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that, well, it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward . . . How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you, and you didn't believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that . . .'"

Atheists get it. Why don't we? Any reason given for not sharing Christ with others is given to excuse our lack of missionary heart. And in the words of Penn Jillette, "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?"

Spiritual Forces of Darkness

2011-03-23T10:00:00.003-05:00

I often repeat a phrase that I heard a number of years ago. "Ministry would be much easier if people weren't involved." People are messy. People are dirty. And it's difficult to do ministry when messy, dirty people get in the way. There are times when things don't go as planned which often happens when people get involved.

But there is another side to the above statement that I also often repeat. "But without people there would be no ministry." It is a good reminder that one reason we are here is to love and serve Christ by loving and serving those around us. It is a greater reminder that people are not our enemy. Ministry can be frustrating because the people are frustrating, but our fight is not with people. Paul says this very clearly to the church Ephesus.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil int he heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

When ministry become messy or dirty because of the people involved (including myself) I must remember that my battle is not with people but with the Enemy. People in my church, town, and area are enslaved to the dark spiritual forces of this world. My fight is with these forces. And this allows me to see people not as burdens but as people fighting temptation and sin.

Bashir Defends Interview of Bell

2011-03-18T15:00:00.002-05:00

Martin Bashir recently did an interview with Rob Bell on his new book. Many questions have arisen as to the faith of Bashir. Is he an atheist, Christian, or something else? What is his background? Why did he ask the questions he did of Bell? Denny Burk posted an interview Bashir gave on a radio station where these questions are answered. Feel free to check it out.

This Too Shall Pass

2011-03-18T08:45:00.000-05:00

God's Word lasts forever. No matter the circumstances. No matter what false teachers may raise their voices. The Word of God and the truth of His gospel will never end. Truth is truth and it is the truth which sets the captives free. Free from sin. Free from themselves. Free. But only through the blood of Jesus Christ and His sovereign grace. Amen.

Rob Bell in His Own Words

2011-03-17T12:00:00.007-05:00

If you haven't yet seen it, Rob Bell did an interview with Martin Bashir from MSNBC. He is asked some very candid questions and his answers do reveal quite a bit about his belief on God, Heaven, Hell, and Love.

My Hurting Heart

2011-03-17T10:00:00.001-05:00

Last night I struggled to fall asleep. As usual there was too much on my mind. The new song the worship team will be singing on Sunday morning was running through my head, thoughts about meetings from the day and future meetings for this week. But most of all the topic of Rob Bell was on my mind. I can say that right now my heart hurts. It hurts for Rob being mislead and misleading so many others.

The other day I read a post by a two friends accusing those who are questioning Rob Bell's "new" thoughts in his book to being in the same theological boat as Joel Olsteen. How can two friends, who are seminary trained, be so caught up in Rob Bell's words that they forget what scripture says about Heaven, Hell, and the fate of every person who ever lived? But scripture makes it clear that people will be decieved and stray from the truth.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV) ^"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

But we are not to be dismayed. We are given a command to preach the gospel in the midst of deceit.

2 Timothy 4:1-2 (ESV) I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
It is the gosopel that is our solid foundation in times of crisis. God is still in control and no matter how many people speak against the truth it does not make the truth irrelevant or false. God is still God and the elect are still His children. So, in the midst of this seeminly dark time in the history of the truth, God's word endures. His church will still be known and the true Gospel of Christ will be heard.

Albert Mohler on Rob Bell

2011-03-17T08:40:00.001-05:00

Justin Taylor placed a link on his page to a review by Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I thought it would be helpful to deal with Rob Bell's new book. So, here it is.

Restraining the Lips

2011-03-09T08:58:00.000-06:00

Proverbs 10:19 (ESV) When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

As a pastor I must confess that I enjoy hearing myself speak. This enjoyment tends to get me in trouble at times because I don't think before I speak. This is nothing new for me. As a young boy I was known by my other to be honest with what comes out of my mouth. She would frequently come to me and ask the same question, "How does this shirt/dress/outfit look on me?" And being the young, inexperienced young man that I was I would answer honestly. Many times the answer was positive, but every once in a while it would be negative. Where my father, the wise man as he is, would refuse to answer I would jump right in and give my opinion. Well, why not? She wouldn't ask me if she didn't want the truth, right?

Years have passed and though I have grown to hold my tongue more often, it continues to get me in trouble. A man who restrains his lips is prudent or wise. But the man who uses many words will only allow his sinfulness to rear its ugly head.

God, may you give me the ability to hold my tongue. Restrain my sinfulness and let my words be few. For Your glory, Father.

Imitation of Christ

2011-03-07T08:27:00.000-06:00

Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV) ¹Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

When it comes to my fellow believers do I follow the example of Christ? Christ gave his life up, sacrificed all he was, for his children. Paul urges us to act the same for our fellow believers. This goes beyond being cordial on Sunday morning or waving hello when we pass in the street. This is a deep, intimate, sacrificial love for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

There are so many times in life where my focus is on my needs and desires above anyone else's, including Christ's. I'm not proud of it, but it is reality and I must be honest with myself. This can especially be a struggle for anyone in the ministry. You are on call 24/7 and when there is a need (whether it be unlocking the front door of the church building or visiting a family who just lost a loved one) you are expected to jump up without complaint or problem. After all, isn't this what we are paid to do? Yes, I get paid for being a pastor and the expectations of people are always there, but I am also human and being pulled away from my family time or sleep time can be hard to bear at times.

How would Jesus react to such a situation? How did Jesus react to such a situation? Time and time again Jesus made time for the people seeking healing or asking questions. Yes, he did make time for himself, but even much of this "alone" time was in prayer with his Heavenly Father. We are implored by Paul to love as God loved, giving himself up for the sake of his glory and his children. Am I willing to do the same?

Is the Narrow Way Really That Hard?

2011-02-23T08:35:00.002-06:00

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)
¹³"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

Rightfully, this verse has been used to speak about our salvation in Jesus Christ. The road to destruction (Hell) is wide and easy, but in the end all on that road will suffer for eternity. On the contrary the road to life (Heaven) is narrow and hard, but in the end all on that road will life in the presence of their creator forever. I cannot and will not disagree with these statements because they are true. But many times I have overlooked a simple word in verse fourteen that not only speaks about salvation, but the life of the one saved.

The life of a Christian is not an easy one. It is filled with persecution in many different forms and comes with a changed life from one of the flesh to one of the Spirit. But why do many believers (including myself at times) get upset when life throws us hard times? Sickness comes, jobs are lost, family members pass away, money is short, and we seemed surprised. It's as if we expect life to never have problems because we know the Creator God.

But in reality, the narrow way is hard. There is a reason that very few find it. It's so darn hard.

The life of one individual was particularly difficult. He was rejected by his friends and family. He was continually badgered and harassed by those who despised him. He was accused of a crime that he did not commit. And in the end he was even rejected by God. If the life of our Savior Jesus Christ was hard why should we expect anything different. If the word rejects God it will reject His children. But in the end life is awaiting us on this narrow road.

Amen.

God The All

2011-02-22T08:36:00.000-06:00

O God whose will conquers all,
There is no comfort in anything apart from enjoying you
     and being engaged in your service;
Thou are All in all, and all enjoyments are what
     to me you made them, and no more.
I am well pleased with your will, whatever it is,
     or should be in all respects,
And if you bid me decide for myself in any affair,
     I would choose to refer all to you,
     for you are infinitely wise and cannot do amiss,
     as I am in danger of doing.
I rejoice to think that all things are at your disposal,
     and it delights me to leave them there.
Then prayer turns wholly into praise,
     and all I can do is to adore and bless you.
What shall I give you for all you benefits?
     I am in a strait between two, knowing not what to do;
I long to make some return, but have nothing to offer,
     and can only rejoice that you do all,
     that none in heaven or on earth shares your honor;
I can of myself do nothing to glorify your blessed name,
     but I can through grace cheerfully surrender soul and body to you,
I know that you are the author and finisher of faith,
     that the whole work of redemption is yours alone,
     that every good work or thought found in me
        is the effect of your power and grace,
     that you sole motive in working in me to will
        and to do is for your good pleasure.
O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much
     about man's creaturely power and goodness,
     when, if you did not hold us back every
     moment, we should be devils incarnate.
This, by bitter experience, you have taught me
     concerning myself.

          (The Valley of Vision, Puritan Prayers and Devotions)

Take Off The Diapers

2011-02-18T08:48:00.005-06:00

Ephesians 4:11-14 (ESV)
¹¹And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹²to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³until 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, ¹⁴so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

What is the purpose of the church? Contrary to some thought the church was not created to feed others. We've all heard the excuse, "I don't like this church or pastor or teacher because I don't really feel fed." What does that mean, anyway? Is the purpose of the church to be a feeding trough once a week for people who don't know how to feed themselves? Thinking like this brings to mind the image of an adult in diapers, sitting at a table, and the 70 year old mother spoon feeding him. In society today we would call that crazy. So then why do we assume that as an adult in the church we should be spoon fed everything for our spiritual development and growth? Maybe it's because we still have "adults," who have been in the church for years, still wearing spiritual diapers.

God is very straightforward through His servant Paul. The church is there to equip the saints for the work of the ministry of Christ, building each other up until we attain maturity in Him. Remember, this is addressed to those of us who are believers, whether for a week or fifty years. We are no longer to be like children who are gullible and fall for any doctrine that seems good to us.

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

We are to be honest with one another not to tear down, but to grow up. Our desire should be for each and every member of the body of Christ to become mature in Christ for the glory of Christ. Take off the diapers and become an adult. Grow spiritually and become sanctified for the glory of God.

Amen.

The Church: Jews and/or Gentiles?

2011-02-09T08:36:00.000-06:00

Ephesians 3:10 (ESV) ¹⁰so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
In the verses preceding Paul explains to the Ephesians his call from God to preach to the Gentiles "the unsearchable riches of Christ." In his mind there is no greater division than that between Gentile and Jew. Anyone with some knowledge of church history can confirm this. But through the Spirit those division falls and the church is not divided between Gentile and Jew, but united in Christ. And through the church the "manifold wisdom of God" will be known even to the powers and authorities in the spiritual realm.

If Christ can unite Jews and Gentiles in the first century then surely He can unite the church today in the twenty-first century. Forgetting denominational divisions, what would the church of today look like if the people within the local body of believers came together, united in Christ? All too ofter our petty disagreements or personal feelings rule over our unity. If we are not united in one cause as the local church, what does this say to the rulers and authorities in the spiritual realm? What kind of witness are we for Christ?

Just something to think about.

Sufficiency of Christ

2011-02-08T08:57:00.000-06:00

Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV) ⁹For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,¹⁰and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

You know the feeling. When you look into your own heart and are ashamed by what you see. How can God love such a sinner as I? And why do I live by the flesh more than the Spirit? These are only some the questions that run through the mind as we get closer to Christ.

And precisely the problem is that we try to live for Christ on our own too often. When looking back on my life I have to admit that anything good that came out of me come directly from Christ and His influence. As scripture says, "No one does good" (Romans 3:10-12). I am only righteous through the blood of Christ who is fully God and able to forgive sins. His righteousness is imputed to me. Oh, the glorious grace of God.

I cannot live for Christ on my own strength. It is only through the power of Christ in me that any good comes from my life. He is sufficient. And with Christ within me, His power strengthening me to fight the battles against my flesh, nothing can stand against me.

"In Christ we have been filled, and since He is fully God, Paul means [in Colossians 2:9-10] that all believers have been filled with the very fullness of the Almighty Himself. . . Thus, indwelt by the Spirit, we have the power of God to conform us to godliness, and we do not need anything or anyone else to make us holy" (Tabletalk, February 2011 issue).
Praise God.

Revelation of Myself Through Prayers

2011-02-04T08:55:00.000-06:00

Romans 2:1-5 (ESV) ¹Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. ²We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. ³Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ⁵But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Why do we so often fail in our prayer life? Why is it a difficult task for us to spend any significant amount of time in prayer to our creator? I'm sure there are many answers to these questions given by many different people, but I have found an answer that was so obvious I couldn't see it right in front of my face.

The people that Paul is writing to in Romans 2:1-5 obviously have a problem. They are judging people for acts that they are doing themselves. They are condemning others when they should be looking at their own life and seeing that they are as much condemned. While they are judging others God is judging them. Quite a statement.

I have found that I struggle in my prayer life because the closer I get to Christ the more sin is revealed to me. The more I know of the Father the more unworthy I become because my heart is revealed, my condemnation is seen. So, to keep myself from this I tend to be shallow in my prayers and my penitent heart is not to be seen. But no more.

O God of Grace,
Thou hast imputed my sin to my substitute,
     and hast imputed his righteousness to my soul.
     clothing me with a bridegroom's robe,
     decking me with jewels of holiness.
But in my Christian walk I am still in rags;
     my best prayers are stained with sin;
     my penitential tears are so much impurity;
     my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin;
     my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.

I need to repent of my repentance;
I need my tears to be washed;
I have no robe to bring to cover my sins,
     no loom to weave my own righteousness;
I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,
     and by grace am always receiving change of raiment,
     for thous dost always justify the ungodly;
I am always going into the far country,
     and always returning home as a prodigal,
     always saying, Father, forgive me,
     and thou art always bringing forth the best robe.
Every morning let me wear it,
     every evening return in it,
     go out to the day's work in it,
     be married in it,
     be wound in death in it,
     stand before the great white throne in it,
     enter heaven in it shining as the sun.
Grant me never to lose sight of
     the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
     the exceeding righteousness of salvation,
     the exceeding glory of Christ,
     the exceeding beauty of holiness,
     the exceeding wonder of grace.

My Heart Exposed

2011-02-03T08:59:00.000-06:00

Colossians 2:4-5 (ESV) ⁴I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
I have to admit that I have been exposed. In going to God this morning I have exposed my true heart and desires to Him who knows me best. And if I was honest with myself and Him I would have to say that I hate it. I hate it because to have my true nature and heart revealed is painful and humiliating. When my true heart and desires where exposed clearly for my own eyes I realized one thing: I am not satisfied with Christ.

My desire for food has overtaken my desire for God. I would rather be gluttonous than listen to the voice of God telling me what I am doing to His temple. I would rather allow the lusts of my heart control me than listen to the voice of God telling me what is happening to my relationship with the God of the universe. My heart is exposed.

John Calvin wrote, "Those who are not satisfied with Christ are exposed to all fallacies and deceptions." I have believed in fallacies and deceptions more than the word of God and in doing so I have revealed my dissatisfaction with Christ. I do not say this lightly because I do understand the implications of this revelation. When our hearts are exposed to us we see us for who we truly are: sinful, arrogant, selfish, and utterly depraved. We need Christ for more than salvation. At the cross He paid for my sins but His work does not end there. I have been justified by grace but sanctified daily through the exposure of my heart.

I am praying that my heart stays firm on Christ and that every day my true nature is exposed to Him who continues to sanctify me. My prayer is that you can do the same.

Amen.

How Responsible Are We When the World Rejects Our Message?

2011-01-13T08:25:00.000-06:00

I found encouragement this morning with these words. It is very hard to remember that the world does not reject us as much as it rejects Christ. I hope you find the same.

His Grace is Sufficient

2011-01-12T09:43:00.001-06:00

Genesis 15:6 (ESV)

^"And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness."

This verse has such a rich, deep, and profound meaning for the elect today. Abram believed God's promises and God counted him righteous not because he was circumcised, not because he earned it, and not because he deserved it. Abram was righteous because God proclaimed him so. God bestowed His grace upon his servant and he was justified because of it.

After I spoke on this passage last Sunday morning a very trusted friend gave me a definition of grace. Grace can be literally defined as God's ability. When God tells us that His grace is sufficient for us He is telling us that His ability is sufficient no matter the circumstance. I wholeheartedly agree, but I believe there is a deeper understanding to His grace.

My children are not perfect. In fact, they tend to drive their mother and I crazy at times. When they disobey, the consequence for their actions is losing a specific privilege. But there are times when we decide to give grace. (My son has even been known to ask for grace when he has gotten in trouble.) We do this purposely to teach him the truth of God's grace. When we give grace to our children it isn't because they deserve it or earned it. We give grace because we love our children and desire to teach them about God's character.

God gives us His grace not because we deserve it, but because He is God, loves His children, and places His grace upon whom he wishes. What was true for Abram thousands of years ago is still true today for the children of God. His grace is sufficient for me. And praise God I don't have to earn it.

Final Inheritance

2011-01-06T08:58:00.000-06:00

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) ^"13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

We have all had one of those days. A day in which nothing goes right, everything irritates you, and you just want to find a hole and hide. Not only can this world bring us trouble but more often our own sinfulness brings us down to despair.

When I look at my own life intimately I find that I have a lot to work on. I get caught up in my own sinfulness and my frustration increases to the point that I want to throw up my hands and give up. But it is comforting to know that I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. Of course, this does not mean that I've reached the pinnacle of spirituality and righteousness. On the contrary, the Spirit is just the down payment of my inheritance. He is only the first installment of the total inheritance which I will receive at the throne of the Father.

I have to remind myself that this world is temporary. My sinfulness is only temporary. But until I receive the final inheritance in full I will have to trust in the Holy Spirit and my Savior to get me through each day. This world will end and His children will come into their inheritance. What a wonderful day that will be.

To His Glory!

New Year's Resolutions in the New Testament

2010-12-22T16:54:00.001-06:00

Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV) ^"1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

This may be sacrilegious, but with the new year approaching and hoards of people making resolutions that they won't live up to, I thought it relevant to preach this Sunday on resolutions that Paul gives to the church in Ephesus. Paul makes it very clear in Ephesians 4:17-32 that the life we as believers are to live is one that is focused on our new life in Christ. We are to put away the old life which was lived in futility or uselessness. We lived our lives the way we wanted with no real purpose other than satisfying our own sinful desires. Our new self is focused not on uselessness, but on Christ.

In other words, we are to practice what we preach. If we claim to love and be a child of God, a true Christian, then our actions will follow our words. I have witnessed countless occasions where people will claim to be believers with their mouth and two sentences later will be gossiping or slandering or tearing down an individual. Yep, that's showing everyone how righteous and holy you have become in Christ. (That was sarcasm for those of you in Rio Linda.)

The body of Christ, his children, are to imitate their Father. Our Father (Isaiah 9:6) made the ultimate sacrifices of humbling himself by coming to this earth as a human and giving up his life so that sinful humans like myself can call him Father. Am I willing to sacrifice my life if that is the will of the Father?

Do you want the people around you to know that you are a child of God? Then act like one.

When, Father? When?

2010-12-17T06:13:00.003-06:00

Father, how easily we as your people get caught up in the now. We become distracted by personal feelings, desire to please others, desire to avoid conflict, and a willingness to keep the peace no matter the cost. When is the right time to stand? When do we, your chosen people, have the strength, desire, and kahunas to stand for what is right? We speak out of both sides of our mouth. One side speaks of peace and the price being too high to stand up. The other side speaks of micromanaging your work within your body. We seem to be pulling out the sliver of wood in our hand not realizing we are missing three fingers. We are focused on dirt under our nails while our entire body needs to be thoroughly cleansed. We are not yet white-washed tombs filled with dead bones, but we are seemingly dying because of our desire to please others. Forgive us, change us, give us the willingness to step out because your truth demands it. Remind us that we are to stand in your truth for the truth of this world is folly. When, Father? When will you move in the hearts of men and soften us to your truth? When will your people stand up for truth and your gospel? When will you convict us that words mean nothing if action is not applied? When will your people begin fearing your more than the person standing next to them? When will you open our eyes to your overwhelming glory, love, compassion, might, strength, and demand for total obedience from your people? When will you become more important than the feelings of the person next to us? When will you change me? When will you change us? When, Father? When?

For Your Glory Alone!

An "Eloquent" Preacher

2010-10-18T13:52:00.002-05:00

I have a distinct memory of a class in seminary called "Sen Prep" where we watched videos of famous preachers, took notes, and studied multiple techniques in giving a message. I cannot say that it was a waste because I very much learned what my preferred style of preaching was. But I do have to say that many of the books we read on sermon preparation were not all that helpful. Many are still on my shelf waiting to be sent to others via EBay.

Over the past two years of preaching on a weekly basis I have begun to understand that I really have no idea what I am doing. I don't feel prepared enough. I don't feel that I have relied on the Spirit enough. I don't feel that I have spoken the words of my messages well enough to be comprehended on a deep spiritual level. In other words, I needed some help with my preaching. Maybe you know the feeling.

So, at last year's Desiring God Conference for Pastors I picked up a book called The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper. I finally actually have begun to read it recently and came across a quotation about Jonathan Edwards's preaching style. A man was asked if Edwards was an eloquent preacher. Here is his response:

"He had no studied varieties of the voice, and no strong emphasis. he scarcely gestured, or even moved; and he made no attempt by the elegance of his style, or the beauty of his pictures, to gratify the taste, and fascinate the imagination. But, if you mean by eloquence, the power of presenting an important truth before an audience, with overwhelming weight of argument, and with such intenseness of feeling, that the whole soul of the speaker is thrown into every part of the conception and delivery; so that the solemn attention of the whole audience is riveted, from the beginning to the close, and impressions are left that cannot be effaced; Mr. Edwards was the most eloquent man I ever heard speak."

What a testimony! Oh, to preach with such power of the Spirit and to have such a testimony about my preaching. May the words that come from my mouth each week proclaim the truth of the gospel not with words to please itching ears but with words that God uses to bring people from the brink of Hell into his loving arms.

Can We Change the Mind of God?

2010-10-06T14:42:00.002-05:00

This is a question I find coming up more and more in my ministry. Much of the issue is with the difference in the theological understanding of God's and our power and how they interact. In evangelical circles most would turn to scripture for a solid grasp of this topic. But when taken at the surface we can see that scripture seems to contradict itself. Let's take a look at both sides of the issue from the Word's point of view.

Can we change the mind of God? Yes. There are three major passages that come to mind in support of this position: Exodus 32:9-14 (Moses asks God to spare Israel at Mt. Sinai and God relents his wrath), 2 Kings 20:1-7 (Hezekiah's life is spared and is extended 15 years because Hezekiah reminds God that he has walked with him throughout his life), and Genesis 18:20-33 (Abraham asks for God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if there is anyone found righteous within the cities). In each of these passages God declares his will and a man asks (in one way or another) God to spare a life or lives.

Can we change the mind of God? No. Here are three passages to support this position: Numbers 23:19 (Pagan prophet Balaam speaks God's words to Balak),
"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?"

1 Samuel 15:29 (Saul rejected as king by God)
"And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret."

Psalm 33:10-11
"The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations."

Does scripture contradict itself? Can God contradict himself? Can we thwart or overthrow the will of God? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding no. The question should not be "Can we change the mind of God?" This puts the focus on me and as a depraved being I am not in a position to tell God what is right or what is wrong. The focus of the question should be on God and his perfect will. Can God change his own mind when his will is final? We must understand that when the Lord makes a pronouncement intended to be final, he cannot be talked out of it buy a mere human. God's will is final.

When he seemingly changes his mind to complete destroy the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai he is reminded of his covenant made with Abraham. Did God suddenly let his anger get the better of him and forget about the covenant? That is obviously a silly question. But He still sends a plague upon the people for their disobedience. Hezekiah's life was spared at that moment, but he still dies 15 years later. God still destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah despite his promise not to if there was anyone found righteous within the cities. Lot and his family were evacuated before the destruction.

We need to get beyond ourselves and look to God and his character. I am not above God in that I can know what is best for a particular situation. I am not above God in that my powerful prayers can overthrow his will. My power is minuscule compared to His. Churches need to focus not on themselves and their will, but the will of the Creator. I am not above Him. He is above me. From this point of view we can see clearly that a mere human cannot talk God out of an action when God has already pronounced it final.

One final word: "Our object should not be to have scripture on our side but to be on the side of scripture; and however dear any sentiment may have become by being long entertained, so soon as it is seen to be contrary to the Bible, we must be prepared to abandon it without hesitation."
William Symington

Amen and Amen.

Naked and Not Ashamed

2010-06-18T11:35:00.001-05:00

"And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed."

Genesis 2:25 (ESV)

No, today's blog will not be on the subject of the sexual union between a man and a woman. But this verse does bring up an interesting question to which many people assume they know the complete answer. Most people assume that because the word naked is found that this verse is speaking only about the nakedness of a husband and wife and their lack of shame. But a more profound question is hidden deeper within the meaning of this verse: Why were they not ashamed?

Our attention should be on the lack of shame not the lack of clothing. John Piper, in his book This Momentary Marriage, give two possible reasons for their lack of shame. First, Adam and Eve are not ashamed of their bodies because they were created perfect and without flaw. Remember that the Fall of man into sin has not yet happened and God in Genesis 1:31 states that his creation was "very good". But is this truly the reason why they were not ashamed?

Both Jesus and Paul held this passage in Genesis 2 up as the standard for marriage in their time and we should do the same in our time. So, this passage has a broader affect than only before the Fall. Yes, Adam and Eve were perfect and without flaw or blemish, but in our fallen world today we should hold up the standard of no shame with our spouse. A more modern example is Hollywood. It is full of beautiful people who continually fail at marriage. So, physical perfection is not the point.

A husband and wife are not ashamed because even though their bodies are full of flaw and imperfections the covenant love between them "covers a multitude of flaws" (Piper, 33). This is a mirror of the covenant relationship that Christ has with his bride, the elect, which covers a multitude of sins. This is very clear by Paul in Ephesians 5:31-32. "The very essence of this new covenant is that Christ passes over the sins of his bride. His bride is free form shame not because she is perfect, but because she has no fear that her lover will condemn her or shame her because of her sin" (Piper, 34).

Praise God for his covenant relationship with his church. May our marriages in our churches reveal this covenant relationship to those who do not yet know him. May our marriages declare the glory of God and his gospel to all around us. Amen and amen.

Where Does My Truth Come From?

2010-06-16T10:08:00.000-05:00

Matthew 18:20 (ESV)

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

How frequently do you hear scripture misinterpreted and taken out of context? Probably more often than we truly know. How frequently do we misinterpret scripture and take it out of context? Probably more often than we would like to admit.

Take, for instance, the verse above. I have heard this verse spoken many times, even by my own deacons, in defense of gathering more than one or two people together for prayer. In fact, I believe that before this past year I have used it multiple times for the same reason. But if you take the verse in context it is not speaking about prayer at all. Prayer is not found any where in the entire chapter of Matthew 18. This verse is speaking about church discipline and how to handle it as a group of believers. God is reminding us that in dealing with church discipline Jesus is very much present to "validate the judicial activity of the church" (Reformed Study Bible notes).

So, why is this verse so misused and misinterpreted? I believe because of one thing: laziness. I can say this because I find myself having this problem many times. I misused this passage because I took everyone else's word for it that it meant what they said it meant. And I never took the time to actually look up the passage, study the surrounding text, and make a decision based off of the Word of God and not the word of man. There is a reason for sola scriptura and not sola man.

May Christ and his word be my ever present source of truth.

American Evangelicalism and the Role of the Messiah

2010-05-05T21:58:00.000-05:00

"Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ."

Matthew 16:20 (ESV)

During my Bible reading this evening I came across Matthew 16:13-20 where Jesus asks his disciples who they believe he is. After Peter's confession that Jesus is the Messiah the disciples are given strict orders to not tell anyone "that he was the Christ." This command was given because the expectations of the people of Israel for the Messiah was one of military conquest instead of spiritual/soul conquest. This, of course, makes sense. If the disciples began to openly declare his Messiahship before the appointed time it would "have instigated a political movement that would have hampered his real mission" (ESV Reformation Bible Study Note).

After reading this passage my mind began to take a weird journey. Trying to bring this passage into our current context of the 21st Century I began to think about the role of American Evangelicalism in our churches. One area that I frequently have conversations with those I would a part of this ideology is the view of America as a country blessed and protected by God. American flags are found in the front right next to the cross and books are presented that talk about the Christian history of America. At times it seems that I have more conversations about how the country is going away from its Christian roots than about how my neighbor will be spending eternity in unimaginable suffering away from the presence of God.

Which brings me back to the passage in Matthew. I know how dangerous it can be to take a passage that was for a specific time and place and people and transfer it to a situation nearly two thousand years later. But I couldn't stop myself in the comparison. I believe that the main message of this passage was to reveal to the disciples that the call of the Messiah was not what everyone assumed. His call was not to rule a nation but to rule the heart and soul of the elect. His call was not to bring Israel back to political and military prominence in the world but suffer and die and be raised to life and ascend to the right hand of the Father. His call was to reveal to the whole world his love, mercy, grace, justice, and glory.

What would happen if the Church rose up not for political gain or influence, but rose up to be used by God for the work of souls? How would the Church look different if preached the Gospel with our lives and mouths instead of picketing at political rallies? How would the world look different if we focused on Christ as the Savior of Souls instead of the Savior of Nations? This is a dangerous topic, but I want your input. Am I off base? Am I misinterpreting the call of the Messiah?

Don't hear me wrong. I believe we should stand up for what is right politically, especially those things blatantly against scripture. I hold very strong conservative political views and continue to pray for our President and leaders. But where should our real focus be as believers: the saving of America or the glory of God through his work of salvation?

I report . . . you decide. (Sorry!) Let me know what you think.

Orignal Sin or Not?

2010-05-04T20:52:00.001-05:00

"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."

Psalm 51:5 (ESV)

Today I read an article by Kelly M. Kapic called Simul Iustus et Peccator. Don't ask me what it means. I'm a little rusty on my Latin. In this article, though, he discusses the debate of original sin between Pelagius and Augustine.

Here are the basics of the debate. Pelagius was "apparently frustrated by the lackadaisical ethical attitudes he saw around him" and began to write about the importance of unbending moral behavior. While arguing this point he went as far as to say there was no original sin found in us. We are not born with sin. Instead, "we sin when we show inadequate willpower and give in to the seductive situations."

Augustine saw a major problem with this stance because scripture is saturated with passages similar to Psalm 51:5 above. One major issue Augustine had with Pelagius' teachings was "that he had no satisfying explanation for the real continuing struggle that believers have with sin in their lives." In other words, we sin because we are just not trying hard enough not to sin and Augustine could not stand for that.

So, I bring in a famous question by a well-known doctor: How's that been working for you? Not well, I'm assuming. Our sin problem is very deep and very personal. In fact, who in their right mind wants to admit their deep sinfulness. No one wants to be known as a "bad person" because we think we are overall "good people." We don't just sin every once in a while, though. We sin all the time. Or as Kapic puts it, "our problem is that we are soaked in sin, are born into it, and are never completely free from its presence this side of glory."

We cannot forget the cross. The cross holds more significance than our salvation. It's significance goes far beyond a one-time usage. The cross is a daily guide for His children. I'll close with Kapic's final sentence. "[W]hile we continue to struggle with sin, we also find hope and comfort as we lift our eyes to the cross and keep walking."

Spiritual Renewal Time

2010-05-03T22:44:00.000-05:00

Once again, it has been a very long time since I've posted anything. But tonight is the beginning of my annual Spiritual Renewal time where I get away for a significant amount of time and focus on reading the Bible, other books that I haven't gotten to, and prayer. I will hopefully be posting every evening. (We'll see. You know me.) Pray that the Spirit truly speaks to my heart and renews my energy to follow his way.

God is good. All the time.

The Relativistic Church

2010-03-16T11:28:00.000-05:00

John 15:19 (ESV)
"If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

"Be in the world, but not of the world." This is a statement that we have heard and may have said many times throughout our life and ministry. But the difficulty of this statement is not so obvious as we like to admit.

Churches can truly struggle between the balance of being in the world without being of the world, but all too often they miss the mark and become more of the world than they would like. What I'm talking about is a general relativism [whatever is true for you works for you] that pervades many churches and even more, many people in the church. The desire of so many churches to be needed and relevant in their communities becomes their focus. This then breeds shallow faith, shallow ministry, and shallow churches.

Now, don't hear me saying that all churches who try to be relevant to their communities come relativists. That would be too much of a general statement. But how do we minister in a culture and be relevant to that culture without becoming that culture? Ah, the million dollar question which actually has a very real answer. R.C. Sproul put it very plainly:

"We need churches filled with Christians who are not enslaved by the culture, churches that seek more than anything to please God and His only begotten Son, rather than to attract the applause of dying men and women. Where is that church? That is the church Christ established. That is the church whose mission is to minister redemption to a dying world, and that is the church we are called to be."

If we want our churches to be relevant and make a real difference in our communities then we much preach the gospel with our lives. God is to be our focus. Not numbers or applause from mere mortal men. We must be the church Christ established and to do that we must make Him the center, not us. Amen and amen.

Life-changing Experience

2010-02-06T09:04:00.001-06:00

I just recently returned from an amazing experience at the Desiring God Conference for Pastors. And all that I have learned would not fit in this tiny blog. But I do want to lay out one specific truth that was revealed to me. I haven't been enjoying the presence of God in my life.

What is joy, anyway? Here is a great definition. Joy is a deep, durable delight in the splendor of God which ruins my joy for anything else. My relationship with God has been focused on beating my body into submission because I wasn't doing what I was suppose to do in order to be close to God. There was no joy in it. I wasn't basking in the greatness and glory of God. I was forcing myself to do the right thing. Or at least trying to do the right thing at which I usually failed. "You can't work for joy when you don't work from joy."

This experience has been a life changing, ministry molding, faith increasing experience that I would recommend to anyone I meet. So, here is my final question for you. Are you enjoying your relationship with God? Or are you focused on everything else but the presence of God? Answer that question and you will find where your heart stands.

Our Amazing God

2009-12-15T14:21:00.000-06:00

Genesis 1:1 (ESV)
"In the beginning, God . . ."

It is simply amazing how great our God is. God is not limited by time. He was here from before the creation of the world and history. God created history. Think about this: all that is around us, including the things made from made, were put here by God. Man-made things are only a bunch of God-made thing put together. We would have nothing if God was not there first. Isn't He simply amazing. Bask in our holy, awesome, glorious, omnipotent, omniscience, omnipresent, and overwhelmingly wonderful God. Amen.

Our Limitless God

2009-12-09T09:48:00.001-06:00

2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)
"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Isn't it amazing how limitless God is? Even time does not limit God as it does us. His patience with us is great. And when we get impatient with His timing He just sits back and continues to be patient. We work around limitations (seconds, minutes, hours, days, years) but God is limitless.

I will let Calvin finish this blog off. Read his words of encouragement.

"He now turns to speak to the godly; and he reminds them that when the coming of Christ is the subject, they were to raise upwards their eyes, for by so doing, they would not limit, by their unreasonable wishes, the time appointed by the Lord. For waiting seems very long on this account, because we have our eyes fixed on the shortness of the present life, and we also increase weariness by computing days, hours, and minutes. But when the eternity of God's kingdom comes to our minds, many ages vanish away like so many moments.

"This then is what the Apostle calls our attention to, so that we may know that the day of resurrection does not depend on the present flow of time, but on the hidden purpose of God, as though he had said, 'Men wish to anticipate God for this reason, because they measure time according to the judgment of their own flesh; and they are by nature inclined to impatience, so that celerity is even delay to them: do ye then ascend in your minds to heaven, and thus time will be to you neither long nor short.'"

Charles Spurgeon & Revival Without Prayer is No Revival

2009-12-02T09:26:00.002-06:00

Christ commands us to pray in his name and the Father will give us whatever we ask. Of course, this is only if what we ask is in His will. But many times we assume that praying here and there throughout the day is good enough because Paul tells us to pray without ceasing. But in actuality Paul is not suggesting that the little prayers throughout the day are the only way to pray.

When Christ chose the twelve apostles he did not pray here and there throughout the day. He spent the entire night praying for God's wisdom and will. Paul constantly talks about how much he is praying for the different churches he planted.

Here's the kicker, though. Many of us in the church almost just expect God to work and do mighty things in and through our churches without spending significant times in prayer. And I'm very guilty of this. As a pastor you would think that I spend at least 30-60 minutes each day in fervent prayer for those in my church and for God to move mightily here. Wrong. Prayer seems to be the last thing on my mind. And I am very ashamed of that fact. If we want to see our churches experience true revival then we must pray.

Charles Spurgeon had the right idea. He desired revival in his church and he made it very plan in his prayers.

"And now, Oh Lord God of Hosts, hear our ardent appeal to Thy throne. 'Turn us again.' Lighten our path with the guidance of Thine eye: cheer our hearts with the smiles of Thy face. O God of armies, let every regiment and rank of Thy militant Church be of perfect heart, undivided in Thy service. Let great grace rest upon all thy children. Let great fear come upon all the people. Let many reluctant hearts be turned to the Lord. Let there now be times of refreshing from Thy presence. To Thine own name hall be all the glory: 'O Thou that are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey'" (Spurgeon, "One Antidote for Many Ills" 2:742).

No, Nominal, and Active: The Three Groups of (Non)Sanctification

2009-11-25T08:43:00.001-06:00

2 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV) "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth."

Sanctification is "to made holy through Christ and . . . to grow into and strive for holiness by cooperation with the indwelling Holy spirit until . . . complete conformity to Christ" (Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, pg. 105). Literally it means "to be set apart."

If we take a look at the Church of today we see basically three types of people involved in one form or another in the work of the Church. One group of people attends because it is what they have always done and have never truly put their faith in Christ or made him Savior, Treasure, and Lord of their life. A second group has a relationship with Christ, is actively pursuing Christ, and desires for His glory to be seen and revealed through their lives. The final group has a relationship with Christ but is very nominal in their understanding and belief in following Christ. It is this final group that I would like to comment on.

This final group makes many excuses as to why they are not growing in Christ or actively pursuing Him through the work of the Church: too busy, not smart enough, haven't gone to seminary, etc. The excuses are boundless and they are completely unjustified. Sanctification is not an option. It is not something that is only for special Christians who are smart enough to give the Latin definition of the word. When we put our faith in Christ or better said, when God pursues us because he "chose us as the firstfruits to be saved" we have no choice but to be sanctified.

So, this begs the question: If someone is consistently not actively pursuing Christ then are they truly a believer?

Click here for a powerful video on sanctification suggested by my good friend Paul Veal who pastors in Nebraska. Or check out his blog here for more on sanctification.

Really? . . . Really! . . . Really?

2009-11-19T11:18:00.001-06:00

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (ESV)
"To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

I believe that God is sovereign over all things. He either allows or causes all things to happen. He is in control of all things, knows all things, and if it is his desire he will do something. This seems to me a very basic understanding of God that most Protestants hold to with a few exceptions or tweaks.

I recently met a pastor who has a theology that blew my mind (and not in a good way). He does not believe in God's omniscience (all-knowing) nature. At least, not in the way most theologians, let alone everyday Joes, define it. He believes that God knows what He is going to do, but not what we are going to do. Wow! I had never met someone with that belief and hope that someday I can have a conversation with him about it. But putting my "Really?" response aside, I want to address this issue. Long, drawn out arguments are not to be used on a blog, so I will keep this short.

It seems that most of Paul' writings are not focused on himself. Even when he calls himself the "foremost" of all sinners (1 Timothy 1:15-16) the focus is not on himself, but on Christ. The entire book of Romans, though Paul here mentions himself numerous times, is not focused on Paul, but on Christ. Ephesians is written to a group of believers to teach them doctrine focused on Christ. When Paul lays out the requirements for elders, deacons, women, men, children, etc. the focus is not on the people, but on Christ.

Where this pastor I mentioned above misses the point is that his life is not about himself. God is not out there rubbing his hands together waiting to see what we are going to do. If you take the omniscience away from God then you lose his sovereignty. God is no longer God and we begin to live for ourselves just hoping that God will join us. God has a plan for each of us and he is in control of that plan. We cannot put ourselves outside the sphere of God's sovereignty. If we do then we become God and we reduce God. Not a good thing.

". . . so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him . . ."

Amen.

Living In Community Can Be Such a Pain

2009-11-10T11:20:00.000-06:00

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 (ESV)
"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone."

Why do we gather together as the church of Christ? Why do we feel the need to sit in a seat and listen to someone give a message on Sunday morning? Why do we live in community with other believers? Because inside of us is a desire to live in community: with other people and with God.

I've said on numerous occasions on Sunday morning that we gather together because we know that living the life God desires us to live can be a war and we need comrades at arms who are willing to fight our sinful selves by our side. Accountability partners is usually the word used to describe these types of relationships. I'm in one of those groups with two fellow pastors and I can tell you that those two men are willing to fight with me and they proven that as true.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy are urging the church in Thessalonica to hold each other accountable. Not an accountability like the Spanish Inquisition, but an accountability of love. "[A]dmonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." And all too often churches are afraid to do admonish, enourage, help, and be patient. But when a church follows through with these words of Paul, Silas, and Timothy then so much good can happen. Yes, there will be growing pains. Yes, people may be offended and turn away from the church or even God. But we can be confident that when we stand firm to these words that at the end of all things God will be pleased and the church will be blessed.

Resistence is Not Futile

2009-11-06T08:36:00.002-06:00

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (ESV)
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;"

I had a conversation a few days ago with a couple of fellow pastors about resisting the devil. We do not realize, those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the power that we have the ability to tap into. We forget that the God of the universe, the creator of all things, the one who was here before here even began is the same God that we worship and the same God who has made himself known to us. He has power over all things including the devil and our sinful nature. After all, the work on the cross defeated the work of Satan with Adam and Eve.

But this power is not something to mess with or take lightly. Psalm 111:10 makes this very clear. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!" In other words, we are to have a healthy fear of the Lord. We need to understand that we are on the side of the power of the universe and that it is not our power to use, but to respect with holiness, honor, and glory.

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" James 4:7-8 (ESV). Too many times we either fight the devil on our own, half-heartedly, or not at all. But God has reminded us that if we truly resist the devil he will flee from us. If we tap into the power of God it is God that will push the devil back. It is the power of God that the devil will flee from. But all too often the devil knows that we will not resist him. He knows we will not rely on God but on ourselves. He is cunning and gives us opportunities to deny the power of God in our lives.

"Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." Let's tap into the power of God. Draw near to him and allow him to change our life, heart, mind, and soul. And in the end we will stand firm. Not on a foundation built by us, but a foundation on the blood and power of Jesus Christ. To His glory forever.

For more on this topic check out Matt Heltzel's blog titled "Make War" (http://matthewheltzel.blogspot.com/2009/11/make-war.html).

My Joy and Glory

2009-11-05T08:35:00.002-06:00

1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 (ESV)
". . . for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord."

What is my motivation for doing this job? What is my motivation for staying focused on Christ and His work in my life? Why do I continue to believe in Christ as my Savior and Lord? Why do I live?

There are a number of answers for all of these questions: I'm called to be in ministry, I love helping people grow in Christ, I couldn't do anything else, I like the flexible hours, I like working with people, etc. But Paul gives an interesting answer. Why do Paul, Silas, and Timothy live? Because those they lead to Christ "are standing fast in the Lord."

No one would argue whether Paul had a difficult life or not. He truly understood what persecution was and what it was like to survive it. But Paul, in essence, says that all the trials, troubles, persecution, "distress and affliction" were worth it because of the faith of the believers in Thessalonica. He tried and tried to see those believers again but was prevented in seeing them because of the work of "Satan." But when Paul found out that they had been standing firm in the faith he rejoiced by saying, "For you are our glory and joy" (1 Thesssalonians 2:20; ESV).

Now, there is a danger in taking this passage the wrong way. Isn't Christ to be given the glory and not us? Yes. Are we to find our glory and joy in those around us? Yes. Paul is not putting himself and his glory first in this passage. His main focus is on the work of Christ in the believers. But because those believers stayed firm in the faith, rejecting the temptations of the "tempter" Paul can rejoice and find his glory and joy in their faithfulness to Christ. Christ is still the center of it all.

Where is my joy found? I can give the normal Sunday School response, Jesus. But that seems like it should be an obvious answer. Do I find my joy and glory in those God has used me to have a more authentic relationship with Christ? I can tell you that when I hear from individuals in this church who desire to be more authentic, real, and relational in their faith it does my heart good. When someone writes me a note or makes the effort to tell me that the words I spoke in a sermon or Bible Study had an affect on them it does my heart good. Not because I'm such a good pastor or speaker, but because God is using my simple words to do a profound work. Those people are my joy and glory because their faith is focused on the glory of God. Amen and amen.

My Favorite Quote of the Year on Joel Osteen

2009-11-04T18:33:00.004-06:00

Usually my blog is reserved for my personal growth and experiences with God through the ministry he has called me to here in Emery, SD. But tonight I had to post this short entry.

Last night, while sitting and playing my XBox 360 (yes, and I'm proud that I own one) my wife was checking her email. Suddenly she spoke with so much authority that it immediately caught my attention. She noticed that Joel Osteen has a new book out and it is already on the New York Times Best Seller List. (No surprise with that one.) She began to quote the title of the book, "It's Your Time: Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams, and Increase in God's Favor." Funny how we are mentioned first, second, and God is relegated to third in that title. Any way, immediately after quoting the title she said, "That guy is SO not going to heaven."

Enough said, honey. Enough said. Definitely my favorite quote of the year.

Is Christ On The Forefront, Or Am I?

2009-11-03T11:33:00.000-06:00

1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (NIV)

"You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia - your faith in God has become known everwhere."

As I have mentioned in the past, our purpose as a church is to "Glorify God by Making Disciples." And as I have also mentioned in the past, we as a church do not do a good job in making disciples. And we are not too off base from the normal church in the western hemisphere. What I mean by this statement is that the church tends to use the right language but not the coresponding action. We use language like "disciples" or "outreach" or "loving our neighbor" but the reality is that we don't do much of those things because we don't know how to love our neighbor or to reach out to those who don't know Christ or how to be a disciple let alone make one.

I love the language Paul uses in 1 Thessalonians 1. He tells the church in Thessalonica that he thanks God for their faith because they became "imitators" of Paul, Silas, and Timothy and of the Christ himself. Not only did they do the work of Christ as Christ commands, but they also became "a model to all the believers" in the surrounding areas. Their "faith in God [had] become known everywhere." This church was no slouch and not only spoke the right language of believing in Christ, but lived it out to such a level that everyone in the surrounding regions knew about their faith.

That is my hope for First Baptist here in Emery, SD. Not that our name would become a household name, but that the work we do in making disicples and glorifying God would be bring God to the forefront of the lips of the people around us.

I will take it even further. I hope that my life brings Christ and his hope and plan for the people around me to be brought to the forefront of those who hear my name and see my work for God. All too often I make myself great. All too often we make ourselves great. All too often we put Christ secondary to making ourselves great. If we truly desire for the people of Emery and the surrounding communities to repent of their sins, come to Christ, and make Him great in their lives then we cannot put ourselves first.

Drink Away, My Friend! Drink Away!

2009-10-31T15:24:00.005-05:00

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (ESV)
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved."

Tomorrow morning I will be preaching on 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 where I will primarily be focusing on verse 31. In that verse Paul states that everything we do should be to the glory of God. Of course, our mission at First Baptist is to glorify God by making disciples and this verse is actually one of the verses the church choose long before I came to minister to represent their mission. This verse standing alone is very powerful, but when put into the perspective of the context I believe it becomes even more powerful.

Every week I find a few things that I could say in my sermon that would be challenging and some things, if said, would be very unsettling. When I study for my messages I try to take the context into account and try to understand the author's perspective rather than what I want to hear. This passage is no different. When I read and studied the nine verses before 1 Corinthians 10:31 I began to see where Paul was coming from and what he was trying to convey to the church in Corinth. In this passage Paul is talking about our freedom as believers. He says very plainly in verse 23, "'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful,' but not all things build up." In other words, as believers we are free to do many things without the fear of conviction, as long as it is not sinful. But even those things, though we can do them with good conscience, are no always the best things for us.

Here is an example: Drinking alcohol is not sinful, but it may not be the best thing for me to do. Especially is it is against another's conscience. Though I may not have a problem with drinking, someone else around me (believer or unbeliever) may and so Paul says that we should not drink in front of them lest we violate their conscience. We do this not because I need to please others around me, but because the guy who doesn't want me to drink is the weaker brother and so I must be willing to help that weaker brother in his growth in Christ, even it means stopping something that is rightfully allowable.

The background to verse 31 is based off of our freedom as believers without violating the conscience of the weaker brother or unbelieving friend. "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." We do things in our life not because we want to prove a point of our freedom in Christ, but because we are to bring glory to God through everything. If it takes for me to not drink to bring God glory than so be it. But if someone's conscience is not violated then I say, "Drink away, my friend! Drink away!" Just do it for God's glory and not to prove a point.

I'm a Poor Example and It Sucks

2009-10-30T15:09:00.001-05:00

1 Peter 5:1-3 (ESV)
"So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

I will have to admit something to you all. I struggle with staying focused on my vocation and ministry of being a pastor. There are days that would rather sleep in until 10:00am, go to bed early, and do nothing but watch football in between. And would have to admit that I don't do the best in fulfilling the scripture above.

Peter lays out some basic principles for elders/pastors: shepherd the flock, serve eagerly, and be an example to the flock. But the principle I feel that I need to focus on the most is the final principle. Honestly, there are weeks where I feel like such a hypocrit. During my sermons on Sunday mornings I preach the a true believer in Christ can't help but live their life for Christ. In other words, reaching out and preaching the gospel of Truth through their words and actions. And yet, as I live my life during the week I would have to admit that most of my time is spent with believers. I mean a 99-1 ratio believers-unbelievers. And usually that 1% unbelievers are those I run into at the grocery store and our conversation doesn't go past "Hello. How is life? Oh, that's good."

And then I get frustrated with my leadership because they are unwilling to even think about getting out of their comfort zones, go down to the bar, buy a coke, and sit with "sinners." I am certainly not being a good example.

So, why don't I get out of my comfort zone enough? Yes, God has called me to lead the people of this church in spiritual growth, intimate relationships with each other and Christ, and challenging them in their beliefs about their faith. That is my vocation, my job. But that job does not give me a pass on evangelism. Man, I frustrate myself. God has called each of us who believe in Him to make disciples, help expand His kingdom (not ours), and bring Him glory through our lives.

Sometimes I just feel like I'm riding the fence. I want to be on fire for Christ, but my own selfishness and depravity get in the way. How do I get past this hump in my spiritual life and ministry? How do I jump in the game and hit the line with all my might? (Sorry for the football analogy.) How do I give Christ all of me instead of most or just some of me? That is the real question.

Suffering for Jesus (Sort Of)

2009-10-22T08:29:00.005-05:00

1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV)
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."

I remember receiving a phone call from my dad a number of months ago. He was on the west coast (I believe in Oregon) standing in front of the Pacific Ocean. He was there for some type of Regional Minister's Conference. When I asked him what he was doing right at that moment he said, "I'm breathing in the ocean air and walking on the beach." My response was very sarcastic. "So, you're suffering for Jesus, eh?"

We in America have no idea was suffering for Christ is all about. Or maybe a different way of stating it is that the suffering for Christ that Peter is talking about in 1 Peter 4 is not something we can relate to. All over the world people are dying because of their faithfulness to the call of Christ in their life. But the most we suffer, outwardly at least, is to be told "no" when we invite others to a Bible study.

I say outwardly because I feel that the persecution that we normally suffer here in America is inwardly (Is that even a word?). For example, as men we walk into a grocery store and we walk past the lingerie section. Our mind wanders and we begin to lust in our hearts. Or we struggle with any type of sin and the fight is not usually between on individual and another, but between one individual and their own inner thoughts and desires. Yes, those around us may be affected by our sinfulness (especially close family members and friends), but most of the suffering comes from the inner turmoil that occurs in our heart and mind.

We have no idea what it means to suffer for Christ, at least outwardly. Maybe that's the problem with us in America. We've become too relaxed and see our faith as an inward struggle between us, our desires, and the desires of Christ. When in actuality we should also be suffering for Christ outwardly. When was the last time I asked a "God Question" to someone outside of the Church? It's been a while. And I'm ashamed of that.