HEATH'S HEARTBEAT

The Way Things Look

2011-08-18T09:55:00.003-04:00

In our age, image is seemingly everything. The power of marketing is hard to overstate. The way things look send a message, and rightly or wrongly, people make decisions based on appearance.

Today, at the drudge report, there are two pictures. At the top is a picture of our president, Barrack Obama -- he is shown on vacation at Martha's Vineyard, riding a bicycle (an old-timey one, not a mountain bike) smiling gleefully, in his long pants and golf shirt. He is wearing a helmet, and following along behind him is a girl (I assume his daughter) on another smaller bicycle. Of course there is nothing wrong with a man enjoying a bike ride on vacation with is child. However, some facts to keep in mind with this picture -- here is the leader of the USA, a nation that is seemingly on the brink of economic Armageddon, fighting two (three if you include Libya) wars with soldiers dying everyday and the ten year anniversary of 9-11 coming up with the threat of more terrorism always looming. (I would not want the president's job -- then again I didn't run a national campaign to get it either.)

The other picture on the drudge report is a little lower on the screen, but visible (above the fold if you will). It is a picture of Mr Putin -- leader of Russia. He is standing with a dark suit on, wearing a red "power" tie, with a Russian military officer to his left and some other official on his right. He is wearing aviator sunglasses and has a stern glare.

A contrast. USA looks soft; Russia looks hard.

Just an observation.

See The Glory of God

2010-12-21T11:12:00.002-05:00

I think for 2011 I will adopt a verse of Scripture that will be my "life verse" for the year (and really why not for all of life - every year?)

John 11:40 -- Jesus saith unto her, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"
I know (Heb 11:6) that without faith is impossible to please God; this year (and throughout all of my life) I desire to please God -- by exercising genuine faith in Him; to believe Him; to trust Him; to walk (live) by faith and not by sight. Why? Because like Moses I desire to see the glory of God. I desire to see the glory of God on display in my life, in the life of this His church, in this community and in this world. Oh God! Be glorified! This is His mission; I desire to be a part of that mission.

Now, may I get out of the way with "my" will and "my" way; Lord, help my unbelief, may I not sin by not believeing You and trustuing you and obeying you completely. Lord, may this year, this day, this moment, may we behold Your glory and be forever transformed.

Who Hates Us?

2010-12-17T09:50:00.002-05:00

John 7:7 - "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil."

I get fretted when I hear self-appointed, evangelical "leaders" tell us how to live "missionally" and be men-pleasers so then we can witness to them the Gospel of Jesus.

I never see Jesus trying to win friendship with the world by being like the world or catering to them -- He loved the world, evidenced by His death for sinners (surely) but also by telling the truth -- in fact He is the Truth. He exposed the evilness in the heart of man; He exposed the evil works of man as evil; He shone light in darkness, and darkness hates the light.

As Christians, "little Christs", I ask, "who hates us?" Does the world hate us, or do they simply tolerate us? Perhaps they laugh at us, and that really upsets some of us -- its like we want the world's apporoval and friendship.

I don't make a big deal out of it, but some Christian "leaders" have been sneering down their noses at some of the brethern for making a big deal of not patronizing stores that refuse to use the word "Christmas." So be it. When did it become OK for Christians not to stand up for Jesus' name? OK, you may think it silly to boycott said stores, that we're not going to impact the Kingdom by such foolishness. But at least these brethren are standing up for something and not just letting the world forget Jesus -- the reason for the season. Let the stores hate us Christians; let the world hate us Christians -- then we might be looking more like our Master.

I'm not advocating being a jerk. Jesus wasn't a jerk. But may we so live and conduct our lives in this darkness that it will be unmistakeable that we have been with Jesus. May we not be so consumed with winning the friendship of the world, but may we be consumed with being Jesus-pleasers.

Be Ye Holy

2010-10-08T11:00:00.002-04:00

" . . . holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord" - Psalm 93:5

I recently came across a story where a church in South Carolina rocked out to Poison's "Nuthin' But a Good Time" one Sunday morning during "worship."

This is not all that uncommon in 2010 America. This is scary, however.

Scary, becasue our God is a holy God. Scary, becasue He demands His people to be a holy people. Scary, becasue we don't seem to fear God as being perfectly holy and righteous. Scary, because we approach Him very casually and with the incense and worship of Baal. Holiness and evil do not seem to mix well together. Scary, because how long will God tolerate this blasphemy among those who are called "His people?"

I pray that we will have a fresh vision of God, like Isaiah recorded in chapter six of his book. Read it. Does this sound like modern worship on Sunday mornings?

Where"s Jerry Falwell?

2010-08-22T16:31:00.002-04:00

With all of this swirling around about the mosque at the World Trade Center, I was just wondering -- where is the outspoken Christian leader? Who will take a stand for the truth and Him whose name is Truth? Who is NOT ashamed of the Gospel, the exclusivity of the Gospel that Jesus preached? Where are the true men of God who are not afraid to carry the cross into the public arena and risk being crucified on it? Who will rise up and call political correctness what it is -- from hell? I pray that the Lord would raise one up, a modern day Jeremiah with a "Thus says the Lord". We, as a nation, slide further and further away from righteousness and most Christians just want to "feel good" when they leave church. Lord, please, shed Your grace on this country that I love and raise up disciples who deny themselves and carry the cross.

I Want a GCR

2010-05-12T14:42:00.002-04:00

Come June in Orlando, the meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention will be voting on some important matters. The way this is being talked up on the internet -- on blogs and on Twitter - and the way that the GCRTF is going all over the USA promoting their plan in "panel discussions" -- the average messenger is bound to think, "Man, this is BIG." And perhaps it is.

I have followed some of the writings concerning the GCRTF recommendations, and I have looked over the report that has been publically submitted. I have listened to a little of the not-so-positive feedback as well. At this point I don't know how I will vote in Orlando. I must pray and seek the Lord's guidance, and I must read up some more on the subject.

However, what I do know is that I do not see a Great Commission Resurgence mentioned in the New Testament, and believe it or not I don't see the Southern Baptist Convention mentioned in the NT. What I do see, however, is obedient followers of the Lord Jesus Christ - with no internet, no money, no printing press, no "bloated beuracracies", -- empowered by the Holy Spirit of God going "everywhere preaching the Word." (Acts 8:4)

We don't need to fiddle with man's programs to achieve a Great Commission Resurgence, we need faithful, holy, obedient men of God who will unashamedly stand (wherever God puts them) and preach the Word.

We don't need to be enamored with culture and try to fit in and be hip and cool and be all friendly with the world -- see James 4. No, the "plan" called forth in Scripture was given to Timothy in that rotten city of Ephesus. Paul didn't say "Timothy, go do a study, find out what the people want, try to appeal to them on their level, incorporate the world (music, entertainment) into your services there." No, the instruction was simply -- "Timothy, preach the Word!" (See 2 Timothy 4)

Perhaps if more men stood and proclaimed the Word of God -- line-by-line and precept-upon-precept -- the sheep would be more healthy, and healthy sheep reproduce, and healthy sheep go forth into the highways and hedges -- because they love Jesus and want to be obedient.

We don't need better, re-designed programs. We need holy men of God set on fire and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

When we get our eyes off of ourselves, and back on Jesus; instead of lifting up our programs and our denomination and our ideas and lift high the blood-stained banner;
when we repent of our worldliness, and come out from among them and live seperated lives of holiness -- we might indeed see a Great Commission Resurgence and people coming to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ the Lord.

I want to see a GCR; I just want to see it God's way.

A Real Converted Muslim

2010-05-05T13:38:00.002-04:00

Check out the website of Timothy Abraham.

It's True

2010-05-03T12:06:00.005-04:00

Romans 3:10 & ff. is true.

"There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one."
"Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit."
"The poison of asps is under their lips";
"Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
Destruction and misery are in their ways;
And the way of peace they have not known."
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Thankfully, Romans 6:23 is true too.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Today I am praying for the salvation of lost people.

God Knows

2010-03-17T12:38:00.002-04:00

Psalm 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."

I read this morning about the death of a lady that I had the pleasure of knowing, and serving as her pastor. Mrs Hazel Ward died last week and was buried on Sunday. I doubt very seriously if many folks outside of tiny Northampton County, NC - in particular the communities of Woodland and George - would have even have known Hazel.

She was the mother of one daughter - Pam - who passed away as a young woman. Later Hazel laid her husband, Jules, to rest. She had worked in a casket-making plant for years and retired. She lived alone. She lived quietly. She lived faithfully.

Hazel came to church with a faithfulness that any pastor would appreciate. She came, she sang in the choir, she read and studied her Bible. She didn't make waves. She didn't gossip, or run people in the ground. She did, however, speak the truth, and was not afraid to do so.

She suffered a stroke, a debilitating one, and had to leave her home and go to a facility. She died there. There was not any coverage on TV of this event. I didn't read it in the New York Times or even the Raleigh News & Observer. It didn't make it on Twitter or Facebook that I know about.

But this saint, when she breathed her last was welcomed into heaven and into the presence of the Almighty God and her Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

You didn't know her. The world didn't know her. But God did, and her death was precious in His sight.

Thank You, father, for the life of Hazel Ward. Thank you for her smile and laugh. Thank you Lord for her faithfulness to You. Thank You, Father, that she was precious to You.

Love Not the World

2010-02-13T11:53:00.002-05:00

This is Valentine's weekend.
You know that retailers love that "weekend" - more time to sale their wares.

Anyway, around the 14th of February every year we hear lots about love. Of course this is the "eros" love -- love for one's sweetheart.

I am prone to think about "what do I love?"
To what do I give my time and resources, my love?

Indeed, isn't a sure sign of love what one "gives" for it?

We know that God has so loved us that he "gave" His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, to save us from hell.
As one ancient has said,"We are most like God when we give." And God is love.

However in the same book of the Bible that teaches us that truth, we are also taught "Do not love the world or the things in the world." -- 1 John 2:15

That's the sharp point to me -- do I love the world and things in this world?

If I love the world and the things in the world it will show, will it not? It will show up in my decisions. It will show up in my bank statement. It will show up in how I spend my time. It will show up in what I give my mind, my eyes, my ears -- and ultimately my heart -- to.

What does my life reveal about what I love?
What does my conversation reveal about what I love?

We are taught in Scripture that the first and greatest commandment is to what? "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength."
Catch that word -- "all".
That doesn't leave room for the world or the things in the world.

Does my life reveal that I love God with everything?
Does my conversation reveal that God is my treasure above else?

I pray that I will not be enamored with this world, this world that is passing away, this world that hates my Savior and seeks to lure me further and further away from Him.
May I love the Lord my God with a pure, undivided heart.
To His glory.

Random Things 1/25/10

2010-01-25T19:53:00.002-05:00

* Cannot get my mind around 200,000 people in Haiti dying as the result of an earthquake. Wrestle with what a tragedy of that scale does to a country like Haiti. I also wonder how all these journalists can film and take photos, etc., of people digging through the rubble for their loved ones and not drop their cameras/microphones and help them dig? Am also troubled how we as a people can send millions and millions of free-will offerings to a place we've never been to people we've never met and yet we tolerate children in our own communities going without food, and older people going without meds. There are serious cracks in the system that we turn blind eyes to.

* Again, we are devestated by the natural disasters that afflict our planet and its people, yet we won't even take a moment to pray for, much less get out of our comfort zone and go to our neighbors and tell them the way to avoid hell for all eternity. I am not sure we grasp the fact that hell is real and eternity is forever.

* along those lines, we spend hours and hours of our lives on the computer -- facebooking, twittering, blogging, youtubing, ituneing, etc - when it is time we could be praying, studying Scripture, interacting with folks face-to-face in our homes and community. One day we will give an account of how we spent our time. Think about it.

* I miss my mother's voice.

* Accepted an invitation to preach at a community-wide youth revival this spring in Virginia -- begin now to pray and seek God's guidance in what to bring to hungry young people.

* Was glad to see little tiny babies at church yesterday with their Moms and Dads.

* Started reading The Reformed Pastor by Baxter. Read this book long ago, and certainly worth a second, third, fourth, . . . read.

* Know that I am blessed of God, a recipient of His amazing grace, and so undeserving of all His benefits toward me. May I live to His glory alone.

Man, This Hurts

2009-12-20T11:16:00.002-05:00

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." -- Hebrews 10:24-25

Man, this is hard, and it hurts. To look out the window, in the 11:00 hour, on Sunday, and see the church parking lot empty, and me sitting in the house.

Missing church, not being with the people, not fellowshipping together, not for a moment sharing the common life of being a child of God when we come together in His house to focus our attention upon Him. It hurts.

I have enjoyed sharing a time of worship with my wife and children. It is a tremendous blessing to hear your children read Scripture, to hear them pray, to join in our living room and sing God's praises, to be able with these precious gifts from God break the bread of life, to serve as the priest in our home. I am so thankful.

But I miss being with God's people, in God's house, on the Lord's day. In some ways I am thankful for this time away as it makes me (I pray) more grateful for the time we can and do spend together. To appreciate more this foretaste of heaven when all of God's children - from every tribe, tongue and nation - will be gathered around His throne to worship and praise Him forevermore. Until that time, may we not neglect meeting together.

Perishing & Renewal

2009-12-08T11:46:00.002-05:00

2 Corinthians 4:16 -- "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."

This past weekend, as we have done for the past 10 years, the wife and I, along with the children, met up with dear friends for a Christmas shopping trip in Concord, NC.

Four adults and four small children spent all day Friday traipsing around Concord Mills. When i say all day, I mean all day.

At about 8:00 PM we were "cooked", "done", "bushed" "had had it" "beat", "worn out", "tired".

We ate, we went to our room, crashed on our beds, and slept.

Saturday morning, Rachael and I decided to go to the Billy Graham Library, just down the road. I had heard about this place, but had never been.

We pulled up, were greeted by a warm smile at the gate. We went towards the building itself, and saw that the entire front was designed like a cross. The grounds were decorated for Christmas. There was a sign pointing to a prayer garden. I was already feeling better.

Inside this vast building was warmth. One could feel something different -- I had not felt it at Concord Mills the previous day.

On the beams above us were written verses of Scripture -- "For God so loved the world . . ." "Come unto Me . . ."

We took a little tour and we heard over and over about the love of God. We heard over and over how God had sent His only Son into the world to save sinners. We heard how God had used one man and his family to impact the world with that simple message. God can do anything.
At the end, we (and everybody else that passes through those doors) were confronted with the Good News, and what we would do with it.

I left that place Saturday afternoon with the inward man renewed.
By Billy Graham? Oh no.
But by the Holy Spirit of God.

Thank You, Father.

Missional Church

2009-11-18T22:23:00.002-05:00

Today I had the real privilege of going to Madison, NC to view the "Talking Murals" at Mt Tabor United Methodist Church.

Now I know that many, many church leaders/pastors/denominational heads/church-growth gurus, etc, etc, pay big dollars to go to conference after conference to hear the latest in "missional" churching. This idea of really reaching out to the world, out-of-yourself style of living, promoting Jesus.
Most of these conferences, books, websites, all seem to look the same and are bought by people who look the same. Goatees or soul-patches, and black clothes; using the latest in technology and using all the cool buzz words.

Then I go to Mt Tabor UMC in Madison, NC. Here is a teeny-tiny church, established in the 1800s, right off of HWY 220 in little ol' Rockingham County, North Carolina. I doubt that Mt Tabor and the Talking Murals have ever been written up in Christianity Today magazine, ever been featured or noticed by missional, urban church planter-type websites or blogs.

But here, since 2005, nearly 20,000 people have come through the doors and rested in the quiet little sanctuary -- it truly is a sanctuary (not a "worship center") -- and been nourished with the old, old story of Jesus and His love. You are invited off of the busy highway of the world, to come sit quietly (you walk into the sanctuary under the words from Psalm 46 "Be still and know") and hear about the Lord Jesus Christ - what He has done and what He invites you to do - receive His gift of salvation and love into your heart.

You are encouraged to leave your prayer requests in a box at the back, and the church looks at each one every Sunday morning and prays over them at the altar. No money is charged, but Gospel tracts are offered for the taking.

I am thankful for the Mt Tabor United Methodist Church and pray that the Lord will use this ministry in a tremendous way. They are not trying to be like the world to win the world, they simply want to declare Christ Jesus to the world.

May all churches, church leaders, and Christian men and women do the same.

www.thetalkingmurals.com

What Do You Think?

2009-11-02T10:46:00.002-05:00

Proverbs 23:7 -- "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."

"Our thoughts are the builders, which rear the temple of our character.

If we think of unclean things - our lives will become unclean.

If we think of earthly things - we will grow earthly.

If we think of Christ, if thoughts of Him are in our mind and heart continually, we will be changed, moment by moment, into His beauty."

-- J. R. Miller

What Is Repentance?

2009-10-30T13:44:00.002-04:00

"From that time Jesus began to preach , and to say, 'Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" -- Matthew 4:17

Repentance means that you realize that you are a guilty, vile sinner in the presence of God, that you deserve the wrath and punishment of God, that you are hell-bound. It means that you begin to realize that this thing called sin is in you, that you long to get rid of it, and that you turn your back on it in every shape and form. You renounce the world whatever the cost, the world in its mind and outlook as well as its practice, and you deny yourself, and take up the cross and go after Christ. Your nearest and dearest, and the whole world, may call you a fool, or say that you have religious mania. You may have to suffer financially, but it makes no difference. That is repentance. --- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Hip or Holy?

2009-09-17T09:46:00.003-04:00

The Apostle Paul loved lost people and gave his life to preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ Jesus -- going to the Gentile world as far as he could, as fast as he could. His zeal to see men saved has served as an inspiration for centuries. Paul, who went up on Mars Hill in Athens and preached to the philosophers of the day, who went to the marketplace, and house to house, who planted and pastored churches and made disciples -- yes, that Paul -- wrote these words:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said, "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people."
"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
(2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

How do we reconcile this teaching with the thinking that we see so prevalent in the evangelical world today? We are encouraged to be like the world -- to talk like the world, to dress like the world, to engage in the world's amusements (and idolatry), to look like the world, to mimic the culture in our churches (from the architecture, to the interior design, to the music, to the graphics) and lives -- all in the name of "trying to win some." We must be "missional".

Do we win the world by being like the world? By catering to the world? To feeding our flesh and theirs? Do we dumb-down the message just to make it easy to swallow for lost people?

Or do we follow the teaching of God's Word -- "come out from them and be ye separate."? Should we not preach the whole counsel of God -- His holiness and wrath on sin as well as His mercy and grace? It seems the message of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount was for His followers to be different.

Are we guilty of the charge that Jesus made to Peter -- are we more mindful of the things of man than we are the things of God? Who is the focus of our worship, our lives, our churches? Seekers or God? Are we man-centered or God-centered? Is our concern to be hip or holy? To be relevant at all cost or to be righteous?

Trust In His Holy Name

2009-08-25T10:44:00.002-04:00

"Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee."

-- Psalm 33:20-22

SBC Concerns

2009-08-22T13:04:00.002-04:00

Having been in the Southern Baptist Convention my entire life, having been born and bred in a SBC pastor's home, educated in SBC schools, and now a pastor myself in SBC churches I feel that I can comment with some (not infinite, not perfect - just some) insight.

1. I ask where are the pastors and lay people?
It seems more and more we look to the seminaries for our leadership. Just recently Dr Mohler spoke concerning the future of the SBC and we were all instructed in the blogosphere to listen and heed. Dr Akin delivers the GCR message and sits at the wheel of leading that charge.
Perhaps this is because it is in the seminaries where the energy (i.e. youthfulness) and spare time lies. It is in the student ranks (and recently graduated) that movements are normally born. They look to and buy into their professors' ideals and goals. Their professors (and presidents) become real heroes and guiding lights. If the professors and presidents get behind and start pushing, it is not long before the students get behind and then force the issue -- via, in the present age, blogs and other forms of new media. Professors and presidents, though very busy, are usually around and can kick around ideas and theories and find a willing audience with which to dialogue.
Pastors are usually surrounded with people who are older and do not care too much about the machinations of the SBC, ideas or even theology very much (they do, they just don't know it). Pastors are usually with sick people, hurting people, lost people, miserable people, hungry people. In the off time, they are with a dutiful wife who seeks to make ends meet living on a pastor's salary and does not have a lot of energy to discuss Mark Driscoll and our involvement with Acts 29 or the rise of Calvinists in the SBC.
Maybe we need seminary presidents and professors and students and mega-church CEOs (I mean pastors) to dream the big dreams, scheme the big schemes.

Which leads me to my second concern,
2. If it is not happening in the local, no-name church, will it happen at all?
Right now the big push is the GCR. If one looks at the names of the folks that have officially signed on, we see a lot of pastors, students, professors, bureaucrats, staff people, etc. The SBC is made up of some 14 million people. Where are they? Would they sign the page if their pastor told them to go to the website and sign it? Perhaps. The signatories might swell. They might read about it in the SBC ghetto journalism outlets (ie, state papers, homelife, mature living, open windows). But most probably will go through their daily lives and to their graves and never realize that a GCR even exists or existed -- and they'll be OK with this.
We (pastors, presidents, bureaucrats, ghetto journalists) will go to the SBC next year, we'll sit on the edge of our seats waiting for the report of the GCR Study Committee, we'll see BIG, over-the-top banners and slogans promoting the GCR and so forth and so on. Then we'll come back to the hungry, hurting people we see everyday. And little (in the big picture) will have changed.

UNLESS (and this is where I think if anything REAL is going to happen this is where it has to happen ------) people, the 14 million nameless and faceless Christians that make up the SBC, get serious about following and loving the Lord Jesus Christ. BIG plans, BIG thrusts, BIG resurgences can be promoted until the cows come home, but will not accomplish much until Christians get seriously in love with Jesus. Jesus says that if we love Him we will follow His commands. We are not seeing the Great Commission carried out with much fervency because so-called Christians don't really love Jesus with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. Until this happens, in the 40,000 local, nameless, un-MEGA churches filled with everyday people we will continue to spin our wheels.

Seminaries, teach the men to go out to these churches and to focus NOT on themselves, NOT on the convention, NOT on style,
BUT to model and live before the 14 million - - -passionate, red-hot LOVE for Jesus, and because of LOVE for Jesus, we will follow His commands and carry out the GC.

I pray everyday that our local church, all 330 members, here in this corner of Rockingham County, NC will bring glory to God, by sharing the love of Jesus Christ with Monroeton and the world. I also realize that I must lead, have been called by God to lead, these 330 Southern Baptists -- they do not know seminary presidents, Ed Stetzer or Mark Driscoll, they don't know where the SBC will meet next year and probably do not care. But I pray they love Jesus, and because they love Him they/we will be faithful to carry out His Great Commission.

Michael Vick & Us

2009-08-14T09:35:00.003-04:00

Trust me, I have never been a real Michael Vick fan. I detest Virginia Tech football, and when the highly-touted Vick chose to go there to college, it just gave me more reason. I thought that Vick was a pampered athlete, probably all through his athletic life - always praised, never corrected, never disciplined. I imagine when he went off to Tech he was given star treatment. Do we really think that super-stud athletes are held to the same standards (academic and otherwise) as every other student?

When he went off to the NFL, now, in my thinking, he became a rich thug. Flipping off the fans, going through airports with stash pot and being let go, but hey everyone was buying his jersey and the Georgia Dome was packed on Sundays -- whose gonna mess that up with accountability?

Then, as always, one's sin finds you out. (Just ask Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.) He was convicted of the horrible crime of cruelty, systematic cruelty, to animals. This time he would pay for his actions.

****
Now he has served his time. He has apologized. He has re-signed to play again in the NFL. Many are outraged, saying he should not be allowed to play. That the Eagles are sick to sign him and so forth and so on. No, I do not relish seeing him play football again in the NFL - but not because of his crime. He will have it hard -- especially when he goes to a rival stadium -- and with the media. I wouldn't want to be him.

This has me thinking -- what about when folks come into our church, folks with a past. Especially in a small community where everybody knows everybody, and all that everybody has done. When they come in, we stare and talk and whisper and get on the phone and talk some more -- "you wouldn't believe WHO was in church yesterday!"

What if that person is really sorry for what they have done in the past and they are trying to start over? What if they have repented and trusted Christ for forgiveness? Why do we make it hard on them? Where would ANY of US be were it not for Jesus? Where is the humility in the body of Christ? Don't WE ALL deserve hell? Where would we be if not for God's amazing grace that saves wretches like me?

I pray that the Christian church, including my own, will be a place of refuge for sinners needing forgiveness and life. It is the sick that need healing, not the well.

I think instead of condemning Michael Vick, I will pray for him. I will pray for Tony Dungy who continues to work with Vick. And I will pray that Michael Vick will be surrounded by Christians - you know, "little Christs" who will love him.

I will also pray for churches, that we will love sinners the way Jesus has loved us.

A Rebellious Wretch

2009-08-03T15:10:00.004-04:00

I stand amazed and wonder how a perfect, holy God could love a sinful, rebellious, wretch like me -- and love me enough to send His only begotten Son to take my place on the cross, to endure the judgement of sin, as God poured out His wrath - not on me, but on Christ Jesus, that the likes of me might have fellowship with Him.

Thank You God for saving me.

I have nothing in which to boast.

All glory to God.

Are You a Disciple of Jesus Christ?

2009-07-29T17:10:00.003-04:00

In Mark 8 the Lord Jesus Christ teaches that there are three marks of a disciple of His:

- self-denial

- taking up the cross

- following Him

====================================================
* Who do I think about the most?
* What am I suffering because I follow Jesus?
* Am I willing?
* Is my life a pattern of surrender to His will?
* What evidence is there that I am a fully-devoted follower of the Lord Jesus Christ?
* Do I hunger and thirst after righteousness?
* Am I a living sacrifice?
* Is my mind being transformed away from the ways and thinking of this world?

Get Out

2009-07-12T15:10:00.002-04:00

I am still processing what a guy told me at church this morning. I had made a comment in the sermon about looking at the lives of those in Foxe's Book of Martyrs, and then listen to ourselves complain about it being too hot and uncomfortable in the Sanctuary.

After church this guy said to me -- what you ought to do is one morning turn the air up to about 90 degrees, then tell everyone at 11:00, "you know, it is too hot in here for church today. Let us go outside, door-to-door, to our neighbors right up and down this road and share the message of Jesus with them."

I wonder how many excuses we would hear?

I wonder why I wouldn't do that to begin with?

"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Isn't this what He said?

Preach It John

2009-07-07T19:24:00.002-04:00

"The evangelical movement itself must take some of the blame for devaluing the truth by catering to people's itching ears (2 Timothy 4:1-4). Does anyone really imagine that many of the entertainment-hungry churchgoers whop pack today's megachurches would be willing to give their lives for the truth? As a matter of fact, many of them are unwilling to take a bold stand for the truth even among other Christians in an environment where there is no serious threat against them and the worst effect of such a stand might be that someone's feelings might get hurt.
"Much of the visible church nowadays seems to think Christians are supposed to be at play rather than at war.
"But Christians, of all people, ought to be most willing to live and die for the truth. Remember, we know the truth, and the truth has set us free (John 8:32). We should not be ashamed to say so boldly (Psalm 107:2)."

-- John MacArthur The Truth War

The 2nd Day of July

2009-07-02T15:14:00.003-04:00

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty." -- John Adams, written from Philadelphia on 3 July 1776

It is obvious that most Americans are not that concerned with liberty and freedom and independence anymore. (Followed the news for the last 20 or so years? Seen the growth and intrusion of the government in our lives?)

And obviously the day of our independence from the shackles of an oppressive British government are NOT marked by "solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty." Far from it -- "hey, as long as I get Thursday as my Friday and be chillin' by a grill full of meat, preferably by a body of water . . . . who cares about anything else?"

And we wonder why there might be some problems in the foreseeable future?

But I am thankful to Almighty God that I was born and live in the United States. I am thankful to Him for the freedom that I enjoy as a citizen. Am thankful to Him for the blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice that many, many people have laid down to make it so.

Most of all I am thankful for the freedom that Almighty God has granted to me in and through the finished work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I rejoice in Him that I am free from the bondage of sin and and its penalty - death. Indeed, this is the truth that sets men free.

Thank You, heavenly Father. You are indeed worthy of our worship, praise and adoration.

State Run Television

2009-06-20T06:06:00.002-04:00

The kooks in Iran are not letting any foreign reporters report, and all that the folks have there is "state run" TV.

They can only see what the government wants them to see.
They can only hear what the ones in power want them to hear.

With the idea that the people will only think what the rulers want them to think.

Fast forward to this coming Wednesday, in America, when the American Broadcasting Company (abc) will be airing - on the public airwaves - only what the Obama administration wants us to hear, with no dissenting voice.

Similarities?

Open for Business

2009-05-26T08:31:00.002-04:00

Yes, the economy in the West is weak right now. But there are still people with lots of money.

Some of those with lots of money do not live in the western hemisphere. They live in far away places like Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to name a few. They have lots of money from selling oil - energy - to oil dependent nations like the US.

Speaking of the US -- they hate it. I know we all want to be liked, but that is not reality. The people who are killing our soldiers, and flying planes into buildings really do hate us. The more of us they can kill the better they feel.

The North Koreans just launched a nuclear weapon test. It was a sign to the world and especially to those that hate us that the doors are open for business. North Korea is very poor, but obviously scientifically very smart. They can detonate a nuclear bomb. There are people with lots of money, who hate the US, who cannot wait to get their hands on a nuclear bomb -- so they can kill more and more people -- Americans and our allies.

What will we do? What will they do?

Thankful for unashamed preachers

2009-05-17T20:42:00.002-04:00

In an evangelical world (even an SBC world) where the order of the day seems to be compromise with the world, talk like the world, look like the world, I thank God for men of God who stand and proclaim unashamedly the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Men who will call sin -- sin; men who will unapologetically call sinners to repentance.

We have kicked off revival services at Fairview and the messenger, Roger Roller, is so refreshing -- he hasn't tried to give us what we want, but what we need. He hasn't tried to impress us with his knowledge of the world, but proclaims the counsel of God.

May his tribe increase.

Seeking God?

2009-05-11T10:59:00.003-04:00

This morning in my Bible reading I came to this verse . . .

And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? -- Isaiah 8:19

So often people ask, "what do you think?"

We go to conferences and read books and articles and blog posts to see what other people, "wizards" are saying.

When was the last time you heard someone say, "shouldn't the people of God seek God?"

Of course praying and seeking God is hard, humiliating, and not popular. So it is often avoided - even amongst those who call themselves "God's people."

Avoided --- and we suffer, just like the Israelites in Isaiah's day.

"I've Got The Power!"

2009-05-05T09:56:00.002-04:00

I remember a song when I was kid -- "I've got the power!" -- the singer would yell. That is really the only lyric that I recall.

No wonder it was a hit. We like to think that indeed we have the power. The power to do whatever -- we certainly don't like for anyone to infringe on our supposed power. When they do we have a power struggle. "I can" "No you cannot" "Oh yeah, watch me" "I will not let you" "Go ahead try and test me"

This happens in families with parents and children; it happens with co-workers; it happens in churches; it happens in governments.

"I've got the power!" Oh really?

I believe it happens in things of the spirit as well -- in the Christian life. "I can do it."

May we remember John 15 -- "Apart from Me," Jesus said, "you can do nothing."

May we recall the words of Oswald Chambers: "Every element of self-reliance must be slain by the power of God. Complete weakness and dependence will always be the occasion for the Spirit of God to manifest His power."

Do we desire to see what we can do or what the Spirit of God can do?
- in our lives? in our homes? in our church? in our community?

"I've got the power!" -- Only if He has me, and I have surrendered all to Him.

Man, Have I Got Good News

2009-04-24T09:08:00.003-04:00

When God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

- found in Paul's letter to Titus

Hey, spread the good news. Someone is dying to hear it.

No Foreign Policy Expert . . .

2009-04-06T16:32:00.002-04:00

I am certainly no foreign policy expert, but . . .

is it wise to announce to the world that we (the one relatively sane superpower on earth) will support doing away with all nuclear weapons . . .

while a nuclear-armed nutcase (North Korea) is firing a nuclear test missile right over our allies(Japan) and one day hopes to hit US soil with it?

I like the idea of peace through strength. Not appeasement.

I Need Jesus

2009-04-01T23:30:00.003-04:00

Everyday, the spiritual writers say, I need to preach the Gospel to myself.

Everyday I live on this earth, I see the wisdom of this statement.

Everyday, every moment of the day, I need a Savior.

Without Jesus I can do nothing. With Him, Paul tells me, I can do all things.

I really need to know this.

I need to know that because Jesus lives in me I can indeed " . . . be patient with all."

Without Him I cannot.

Without Jesus I can do nothing.

Our Commander-in -Chief

2009-03-26T07:25:00.002-04:00

Please take a look at these pictures. All of them, especially the ones of the president beside the little boy, enjoying his beverage.

You know if a grown man desires to have alcohol at a sporting event, we can argue about whether he should or shouldn't. (I personally wish the stuff didn't exist.)

However, this grown man is the President of the United States of America - a hero to many, an example to the world. I guess what really disturbs me about these pictures is that he is sitting beside a little boy - drinking beer. For all the little boy knows, as for all my little boys know - drinking beer makes you "stupid" and I don't want them to be "stupid".

This just hurts me somehow. I am saddened.

Come on Chief, set the finest example you can.

Who should we listen to?

2009-03-18T10:32:00.002-04:00

"All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." -- Colossians 1

It saddens me that we live in such a pragmatic age. An age of "if it works, it must be good." If it is producing numbers, get on board.

Recent studies have come out that American churches are in decline, that less and less people are identifying themselves as "Christians", and certainly in our own Zion, the Southern Baptist Convention, baptisms are declining. This is concerning.

What do we do?

There are heads meeting all the time trying to figure out the next step to take. Conferences announced everyday to stop the bleeding and bolster up sagging budgets.

Should we look to the world? Hey Jim Collins, how can we be great?
Should we look to what seems to be bringing in the numbers? Hey Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, what now?

Perhaps someone should call us to prayer? Dear Lord Jesus, what would You have us do?
Perhaps we should get back to God's Word? Isn't that our authority?

Perhaps we need a revival of holiness amongst God's people (beginning in the pulpit), a revival of God-centeredness? A crying out to God for His direction, and bringing our lives and churches under His Lordship.

Perhaps we don't need to go to Seattle, Atlanta, Austin, or California. Maybe we should go to our closets and get alone and serious with Him who has preeminence.

"Who am I . . . ?"

2009-03-17T10:00:00.002-04:00

I have had the pleasure recently to do some studying about Moses.

God's Word is eternal. It speaks to man in every age. The externals may change, but human nature, as Dr Lanier used to always say, "runs in the same ruts."

Moses had been raised in luxury and privilege in the house of Pharaoh. Egypt, the most prosperous and powerful civilization on earth, was before him. One day Moses takes a trip to see his "people" - the Hebrews. The Egyptians had turned them into servants. Moses looks and sees an Egyptian taskmaster being extremely hard on the Hebrews and Moses takes it upon himself to free his people -- he slays the Egyptian taskmaster and quickly buries him in a shallow grave.
Later he's back amongst the Hebrews and he notices two of them fighting and arguing with each other. Moses takes it upon himself to step in and say "Hey, what are you doing? You should be united against the oppressor, the Egyptian, not at each other's throats."
They say, "Hey, who are you? You gonna kill us like you did the Egyptian? Butt out, Mr Moses."

Moses failed in setting the people free. He was rejected. In failure, Moses runs away from it all - from Egypt, from the Hebrews. He ends up in the desert, at 40 years old, tending sheep. Quietly for the next 40 years he tends sheep that belong to his father-in-law, knowing that he has failed, knowing that his people are still in bondage.

One day he sees a bush on fire but that is not burning up. He goes to it and hears from God. God tells Moses he has a mission -- to go back to Egypt and lead the people out of bondage.
The self-confidence is gone now - at 80 years old - he says to God, "Who am I . . .?" (see Exodus 3:11)
God desires to reveal Himself. We get in the way. Moses had to get all the way down - at the end of himself - then the great I AM would be revealed.

Lord, teach me Your way.
May I be out of the way.
May Your glory be revealed.
Do Your awesome work, Lord.
To You alone be glory.

Right On Carl

2009-03-14T19:41:00.002-04:00

What follows is from an article by Carl Trueman, a seminary professor in Philadelphia. I think he hits the nail right on the head with the way many "want the gods to do their thinking for them." The cult of personality is strong . . . even in the church of the Lord Jesus.

And, of course, as in politics, so in religion. The American political process, as I argued above, is simply the most dramatic example of the `great man theory of history' which pervades American society. I had often wondered why certain British figures - Jim Packer, N.T. Wright, Alister McGrath etc., were much bigger this side of the Atlantic than back home in their native country. Was it just the accent? Surely it couldn't be the dentistry.....? Maybe the dress sense? No. It is all to do with the way America is a personality/celebrity oriented culture in a way that Britain, while she may well be catching up, has historically not been. The American church reflects the culture: ministries built around individuals, around big shots, churches that focus on god-like guru figures, all of them pointing to one door. I have lost count of the conversations I have had with church people anxious to tell of who they heard at this conference, of which person they corresponded with, of how this opinion or that opinion would not sit well with this demi-god and is therefore of little value; and, of course, of how anyone who disagrees with, or criticizes, this chosen hero must, of necessity be morally depraved and wicked. People want the gods to do their thinking for them. All of the Pelagian, Manichean celebrity malarkey of the American political process is alive and well in the church as well. The question is: when it comes to churches and ministries built around messiahs who are supposed to point not to themselves but to the true door, who is going to have the guts to leave the temple?

The Message Never Changes

2009-03-14T08:39:00.003-04:00

Church history is strewn with examples of those who thought they could mold the message for their own time -- but ended by corrupting the truth . . . If church history teaches us anything, it is that different times do not require different messages. Those who preach anything other than the unadulterated gospel forfeit the power of God in their ministries.

Nothing is wrong with the message . . .
If they don't hear the truth, cool music won't help.
If they don't see the light, PowerPoint won't help.
If they don't like the message, drama and video won't help.
They are blind and dead.
Our task is to go on preaching not ourselves, not our manipulated message, but repentance and submission to Christ Jesus as Lord. The message never changes.

-- John MacArthur

All Is Of God . . .

2009-03-13T09:16:00.002-04:00

In some devotional reading the other day I came across this little verse . . .

1 Corinthians 12:6 "There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all"

All is of God that is, and is to be;
And God is good. Let this suffice us still,
Resting in childlike trust upon His will,
Who moves to His great ends, unthwarted by the ill.
-- J. G. Whittier

Always the Same

2009-03-12T13:15:00.002-04:00

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

I have a funeral message to preach tomorrow for a lady who perished in an automobile fire. She was a mother and a sister and a friend to many. To her daughter, to her sisters and brother, and to her friends -- their lives changed when they received a phone call.

Our lives can change in an instant.

Is there anywhere to go in this world full of change, full of disruptions and uncertainty? When the change comes to our lives (and it will, when we least expect it) where will we be standing? On anything solid? Will we be overcome with the change and sink into the mire of despair and hopelessness?

What can be offered to this family tomorrow afternoon?

We find that it is not really a "what" that may be offered, but a "Who" that will be proclaimed. It is the Almighty God of the universe Who is our refuge, our rock, our hope, our security.

Tomorrow afternoon I will share with this family the truth from God's Word - not mere man's opinion or kind, sympathetic words - no, but the truth, the eternal truth from God.

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.'" -- Psalm 91

"When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, my Anchor holds within the vale. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand."

Rejoice, Christian, that we can proclaim an unchanging Savior and God. To Him be all glory!

Have We Forgotten 9/11?

2009-03-06T10:06:00.003-05:00

There is MUCH to distract us.

* 2 wars -- far, far away
* an economy that is in the tank, and sinking deeper & deeper as each day passes
* joblessness, ever increasing
* a society caught-up with the celebrity of a new president
* a society caught up with itself
* we have summits on energy & health care
* sports stars who cheat
* divorce rates not going down
* abortions increasing
* not to mention ME and MY FEELINGS - isn't it all about ME?

All of this, and the terrorists who seek to totally destroy our lives, are patient . . . patient . . . patient.

Pray for God's grace, mercy and protection. Pray for our elected officials. Pray for our children and grandchildren. "Pray without ceasing."

You Are . . .

2009-03-01T10:38:00.003-05:00

Lord Jesus Christ,
you are for me medicine when I am sick;
you are my strength when I need help;
you are life itself when I fear death;
you are the way when I long for heaven;
you are the light when all is dark;
you are my food when I need nourishment.

-- Ambrose of Milan (340-397)

Light These Sticks

2009-02-21T11:19:00.002-05:00

"God, I pray, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn up for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life but a full one like Yours, Lord Jesus."

-- Jim Elliott

Where Will It Come From?

2009-02-18T10:44:00.003-05:00

Over the last few weeks we the people have been asked to foot a lot of bills.

- a $1,ooo,ooo,ooo,ooo government spending bill on top of an already trillion dollar federal budget

- $2,000,000,000,000 to bail out banks

- billions and billions to bail out US automakers

- read this morning in the nyt that Obama is asking for $75 billion to stop foreclosures

Where will it stop?

Where will all the $$$ come from?

Has anyone remembered that all the baby boomers will be crying for their Social Secuirty checks soon?

What about the wars were engaged in?

Where will it stop?

What really makes me think is HOW will it stop?

Odds & Ends

2009-02-05T13:36:00.002-05:00

Check out the Coach Kay Yow video at wral.com

It is cold today.

Why do we so often focus on the circumstances and not on Christ?

"Rejoice in the Lord, always. And again I say rejoice." - Philippians 4:4

It doesn't seem that Barack Obama had to wait too long to think "Gee, why did I want this job?"

"Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in,
Bear't that th'opposed may beware of the.
Give every man thine ear but few thy voice.
Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgement.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not expressed in fancy; rich not gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are of all most select and generous chief in that.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be,
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine own self be true.
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."
---- Polonius, Hamlet
by Wm. Shakespeare

Irony or Inconveient Truth

2009-01-28T11:23:00.002-05:00

Former Vice-President, and almost President, Albert Gore, is making his way to Washington today to address global warming.

This will happen in the midst of a tremendous and deadly ice/snow winter storm.

Is global warming a real threat? I don't know, and neither do scientists and meteorologists.

Is walking/driving on ice a real threat? Just watch the news.

Thanks Mr Gore for bringing this to our attention.

United Around Obama

2009-01-24T21:27:00.002-05:00

Some things to keep in mind . . .

- about 65 million Americans voted for Obama for President; that works out to about 22% of the US population

- about 60 million Americans voted for someone else besides Obama for President

- about 100 million eligible voters in the US were so inspired that they didn't even care enough to go the polls on election day

A country united around one individual?

May we be careful not to fall for the cult of personality (created in large part by the media in this case) -- in any sphere of life. May we keep our heads about us, when everyone else seems to be losing theirs.

May we remember our principles. May we "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness."

United around Obama? Careful.

2009 Predictions

2009-01-01T07:48:00.003-05:00

DISCLAIMER: As i type this I am battling the flu, not very clear thinking.

Looking back over last years 1/1 post I find that only 1 of my predictions came to be . . . the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship. Another prediction, the Florida would win the national championship in football remains to be seen . . . they are playing in the game in a few days . . . but hey, at least they got there.

Here goes . . .

1. Though we may never hear it, Obama will say quietly to himself "Why did I ever want this job?" What, with the problems that confront us and the big-time egos in his cabinet. He's in for it (and I'm afraid we are too). Earnestly, may we pray for the president and for our nation.

2. At the 2009 Oscars, Heath Ledger will win an award. (I know, that's really stepping out on a limb.)

3. The financial turmoil will continue throughout the year. Businesses will fail. But I also predict that this downturn will make us a stronger nation, and we will rise stronger. I don't just mean financially stronger, but I think we will be really ripe for a great spiritual awakening.

4. UNC will win the national championship in men's basketball.

5. To be crowned in 2010, Texas will win the national championship in football.

6. The Indianapolis Colts will win the Super Bowl.

7. The New York Yankees will win the World Series.

8. Carl Edwards will win the NASCAR championship.

9. The Boston Celtics will repeat as NBA Champions.

10. Hollywood will turn "The Last Lecture" into a movie.

Off to a good start

2008-12-23T21:31:00.002-05:00

I read this evening that the President-elect was recently questioned by federal prosecutors in a corruption case involving the Illinois governor.

This is not a good way to start one's presidency, it seems.

Especially one that sold us on "change."

Painful. Truth.

2008-12-13T15:49:00.002-05:00

Hell is eternal. Hell is real. There will be people in hell forever.

"And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." -- Revelation 20:15

A reason to celebrate Christmas.

We Don't Get It

2008-12-12T10:20:00.002-05:00

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." Ephesians 6:10-11

I don't think we (myself included) get the fact that the devil hates us and seeks to destroy us - our families, our children, our church, our nation. We just live and talk and think -- rather carelessly and immediately.

Do we ever ask ourselves, "Is what I am doing, what I am saying, what I am thinking -- is it bringing glory to God? Or am I playing right into the enemy's hand?"

We, the redeemed of the Lord, are at war.

I Stand Amazed

2008-11-21T14:40:00.002-05:00

The hymn writer says that he stands amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonders how He could love him -- a sinner, condemned and unclean. These are great words. But I wonder if we could even "stand" in His presence?
In reading recently about how Jesus told Peter to throw out his nets for a catch, and the nets filled up to bursting, all Peter could do was fall to his knees in the presence of the Son of God, saying "depart from me, for I am a sinful man."
All who have been saved must wonder at the grace we read about in Romans 5:8 -- "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

When we think about that - His gift of salvation - I am confronted with the question that Psalmist asked in 116:12 -- "How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?"

Perhaps I will desire God above all else. That I will hunger and thirst after righteousness. That I will seek to do His will. That I will take up my cross and follow after Him. That I will walk as Jesus walked. That I will be able to say with Paul the Apostle, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

President Obama

2008-11-05T09:07:00.002-05:00

Well the results are in, and as the world knows America has elected Barrak Hussein Obama as the 44th President.

As the reality sets in, my mind wonders "What will the next four years be like?" I do not think they will be like the past eight years, even the past 16 years. Eight years of Clinton, eight years of Bush will be markedly different than four years of an Obama administration. For many people this is a good thing. Afterall, that was Obama's mantra -- "CHANGE." This is what defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primaries and it defeated McCain in the general election. Obviously, many Americans say they desire change.

The status quo in government has been rocked. Clinton & Bush were for the most part centrists. They liked keeping the status quo, this is how they governed. The left pushed hard on Clinton, the right pushed hard on Bush but the result was pretty balanced. Stable. Sometimes clear divisions in Washington are not all bad -- not every side gets what they want.

Today it is different. Obama, though he campaigned as a centrist, has a record of being quite leftist. The Speaker of the House is a leftist. America, I believe will not be governed from the center, but from the left.
This will show up in a myriad of ways. In economic ("spread the wealth around" aka socialism), taxation, spending, entitlement, budget policies. It will show up in social policies - judges who legislate from the bench, Supreme Court justices that uphold abortion, increased legislative approval of a the homosexual agenda. It will show up in foreign policy - defense spending slashed to pay for domestic policies, tests by states and terrorists that hate us (Biden himself predicts this). And of course the left-leaning will show itself in domestic areas -- government-run health care amongst a whole host of other inititatives.

America went to the polls and voted for "change." What concerns me is the "change" we might indeed see and where it will take us.

May we all pray (as we are commanded in Scripture) for all of our elected officials. We as a nation and they as policymakers need, desperately, God's wisdom.

Trust In The Lord

2008-10-28T14:03:00.002-04:00

I think a person's maturity as a Christian is tied to their obedience. If a person says that they are a follower of Jesus Christ and do not do what He says do, then how can we call that person a "follower"? Jesus Himself asked the question, "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?"

The Lord God calls us to trust Him. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. We are called to walk by faith, believing Him, trusting Him, obeying Him, following Him wherever He may lead. I show my immaturity and disobedience when I choose to ignore His ways, to not trust Him and go my own way and serve my flesh instead of yielding to the Holy Spirit.

For instance, if I have a problem in my life, a struggle with someone who is doing the wrong thing and it is affecting me . . . what should I do?

God's Word tells me what to do --

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; do not be envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and whither like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

Refrain from anger and forsake wrath!

-- Psalm 37

Will I trust Him? Will I yield to Him?
Lord, help me, I pray.

Thanks Robyn

2008-10-17T15:52:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Robyn B over at The Eden Four here are 6 random things about yours truly . . .

1. I've been told by my family that my name "Heath" derives from the name of a character on a 1960's Western TV show, The Big Valley. One of the show's stars was a young Lee Majors and his name was "Heath." My brother liked it, so it's mine.

2. I really like misty, foggy, fall days when the yard is strewn with leaves.

3. I hate finances. Seldom carry cash. Have never balanced a checkbook. Yet, read The Wall Street Journal every single day.

4. I long to visit Wales. There you find my roots.

5. If I could only have one book on a deserted island (besides the Bible of course) I would probably take the Complete Works of William Shakespeare.

6. I've always wanted to wear a tweed jacket, puff a pipe, sit in a leather chair and have long conversations with C. S. Lewis.

Resources

2008-10-17T15:40:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to pass along a couple of great new resources . . .

Get This. The English Standard Version Study Bible.

Also, rap music is certainly NOT my favorite genre of music. With that said, however, there is some good rap music out there -- gloifying God and putting forth the Gospel to and in a culture and to a crowd that would likely never visit Fairview Baptist Church. One of these good rap artists is a guy named Lecrae. He recently came out with a new CD entitled "rebel". It is worth a listen. See also the ministry that he works with, REACHLIFE Ministries.

Feeling Left Out

2008-10-07T09:06:00.002-04:00

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that negotiations are ongoing between big cheeses from Citigroup Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, and federal government officials on the fate of Wachovia Bank. Officials from Wachovia were left out of the talks . . . on purpose. Wachovia is just the carcass that the vultures are fighting over.

To me, this is sad in a way. Though I am not a native Tar Heel, North Carolina has been my home for about the past 15 years. In these 15 years I have witnessed a lot of change in this state. NC is no longer textiles and tobacco. With the Research Triangle Park in the "triangle", research & development, bio-technology, computer and other high-tech industries changed Raleigh. In Charlotte, it has been BIG banks that has made Charlotte into a CITY. Bank of America headquartered there. But it was Wachovia -- a true NC bank that made good and made NC standout in the world of finance and Wall Street that also headquartered in Charlotte.

Today, yankee bankers from New York City (Citigroup) and "foreigners" from California are eating it (a true NC bank--Wachovia) up like scraps from a pig-pickin'. Left out. Dead. Like a member of the family that did good but has now passed on. What will the rest of the family do now? What will the closest of kin in Charlotte do?

North Carolina pride has suffered a blow.

Socialism

2008-10-04T14:45:00.003-04:00

from The Wall Street Journal, dated October 4, 2008:

President George W. Bush signed into law an unprecedented $700 billion plan
to rescue the US financial system, one of the largest ever government
interventions in the nation's economy -- and almost certainly not the
last.

The legislation ranks alongside other broad federal attempts top prop up the economy, such as Roosevelt's New Deal . . . It will likely be followed by other moves. . . . Looking to next year, Democratic lawmakers are planning to revamp financial-system regulations . . . House Speaker Nancy Pelosi portrayed the legislation as "only the beginning" of the legislative response to the faltering economy.

Proclaim Christ

2008-10-02T11:47:00.002-04:00

Acts 8:5 "Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ."

We as Christians make something very simple very complex. We have a story to share with the nations -- our neighbors -- a story of Jesus and His love.

We are born sinners, we inherit this from our parents (all the way back to our first parents) and we are enslaved to sin. We are in bondage to our selves, to our fears, to death, to what others think. This bondage will eventually lead to eternal separation from God -- hell -- instead of heaven, the presence of God.

The Bible story is a story of redemption and love. God, as our Creator, knows our condition, knows that we cannot get out of it by ourselves -- we always fall short in our climb to God (religion). Seeing this, God sent a Savior to us. We don't climb up to God, He came down to us, to rescue us and to set us free from the bondage.

Jesus Christ, the unique God/man, the Son of God, came to the earth and did live a perfect life -- He kept God's laws and ways perfectly (only God in the flesh could). Then, as God planned from all eternity, Jesus went to the cross and died -- why? -- for His own unrighteousness? No; He had none. He paid the penalty of sin, for us sinners. Jesus bore my penalty, for all of my sin, on the cross. Why? So that I may have peace with God, set free to love God and to serve God and my neighbors.

Jesus died. He was buried in a tomb. On the third day He rose again, ascended into heaven and lives forever.

When we recognize our sinfulness and our helpless state, and go to Him for salvation, seeking His forgiveness, turning from our sin and surrendering our lives to Him, He saves us. He makes us His own.

"But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" -- John 1:12.

May we proclaim Him to a dying world; to our family members and friends and neighbors.

They wait.

Read this story as told by Charles H. Spurgeon:

When the great Biblical critic, Bengel, was dying, he sent for a young
theological student, to whom he said, "I am low in spirit; say something good to
cheer me."
"My dear sir," said the student, "I am so insignificant
a person, what can I say to a great man like yourself?"
"But if you are a student of theology, " said Bengel, "you
ought to have a good word to say to a dying man; pray say it without
fear."
"Well, Sir, " said he, "What can I say to you, but that the
blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin?"
Bengel said, "Give me your hand, young man; that is the very
word I wanted."

The Mind of Christ

2008-09-26T13:45:00.002-04:00

1 Corinthians 2:16 -- "But we have the mind of Christ."

Thinking is powerful.
Thoughts are powerful.
Thoughts influence everything about us.
Thoughts can be good or bad; God-pleasing or God-displeasing.
As a Christian, one born again and indwelt supernaturally by the Spirit of God, I do not have to think thoughts that dishonor God. I have been set free by the Lord Jesus Christ. I am no longer a slave to my flesh or to Satan. I can think on things that are noble and praiseworthy, thoughts that are pure and lovely. I can resist, by the Power that is within, the enemy who seeks to undo me and destroy me. The enemy, Satan, is a loser. He lost at Calvary -- my sin debt was paid in full. He lost on the third day when Christ rose again -- and now He has secured and given to me new life. This is the gift of salvation -- Jesus, my Righteousness.
In this war, the beaten enemy continues to fight. As I have received God's indescribable gift, I also have a responsibility. To gird up the loins of my mind; to keep my mind in gear; to keep my eyes focused on the prize, on the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. I must stand, and stand firm against the wiles of the devil, I must resist the devil, flee from immorality and walk as Jesus walked. Oh how I need His grace -- His strength -- His wisdom -- His peace -- His presence. May I pray and seek Him every moment, every day -- "Father lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one. For Thine is the power and the glory forever and ever."

HABAKKUK 2:4

2008-09-16T17:18:00.002-04:00

Habakkuk? Who is that? Isn't that an odd name for someone? How often have you heard a message, a sermon, a lesson, from the Biblical book of Habakkuk?
I once had an OT professor at LU say, "Wouldn't it be embarrassing to get to heaven and meet a guy named Habakkuk and have to admit, 'hey,I've heard of you, but I never took the time to read your book in the Bible.'"
Habakkuk actually has a lot of great things that we must learn and cling to -- it is indeed the Word of God. It is valuable and authoritative.
Today i think about Habakkuk 2:4 which reads, "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith." It is the last part of this verse that is so meaningful today.
I went to the hospital, or surgery center, today to be a with a family whose loved one was having surgery. When I went into the waiting area, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a lady sitting by herself, and had in her hands what looked like rosary beads. I just moved on and sat with the family i was there to see. I realized later that I had sat down right behind the lady with the beads.
We began to talk, I and the family i was there to see. We talked about life. I made the comment that life was ultimately in the hands of the Lord our God. Man could say this or that, machines and tests might show this or that, but our lives were in the hands of God.
We started talking about various folks who have been visiting our church, and it was mentioned that one gentleman was a Roman Catholic. I said that was fine, but that when I preached I tried (with God's grace and the Holy Spirit's power) to convey that being saved was by faith in Christ alone. That "unless one is born again they cannot see the Kingdom of God." I said that I was afraid that many people, Catholics included as well as everyone else, lived under the false belief that we could earn God's favor by doing good works, and going through certain rituals and keeping some sacred rites.
The truth is, as stated in Habakkuk 2:4 is that we are saved, justified, declared right before God by faith and by faith alone, in Christ alone.
The lady behind me with the rosary beads jumped up and said "I appreciate much of what you have said, but I am a Catholic -- I teach school, I go to church, I am praying the rosary for my husband . . . and I trust Jesus." I said "Well that is great, but it is faith in Christ alone that saves us -- not any of these other rituals. We must trust Christ. He alone is our Savior."
About that time we were called to see the doctor as the surgery was complete. I left this dear lady with the message that "I pray that you know the truth; for the truth is what sets you free."
I pray for many of my friends and neighbors who might be trusting in anything other than Christ to get to heaven. It is not Jesus plus anything. Jesus paid it ALL. On the cross it was He who said, "It is finished." The price for my sin and yours was paid, in full.

"In my hand no price I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling."

Shaken To The Core

2008-09-15T08:46:00.002-04:00

The Wall Street Journal reports to day that the US financial system has been "shaken to its core."

Which makes me wonder . . . where and in what do people place their trust, their faith? I guess many believe that everything will just go on as normal . . . forever, at least until they die.

This world offers NO guarentees. Only ONE is eternal, the Alpha and Omega, the one, true God. He is faithful and true. Read His Word, the Bible. Oftentimes His people, the ancient Israelites, sought to place their trust in armies and riches and in their own wisdom -- guess where that got them?

Whenever we ignore God, refusing to acknowlwedge Him and trust him and look to Him for salvation -- we fail. As individuals and as nations, I am afraid.

I think we are reaping what we have sown. God does not play games. May we trun from our wicked ways, acknowledge Him and serve Him, may we come humbly before Him, may we seek Him and may He hear our prayers, forgive our sin and heal us. (2 Chron. 7:14)

Where Were You?

2008-09-11T09:09:00.002-04:00

Today, September 11 2008, marks the seventh anniversary of that day "the world stopped turning."
Do you remember where you were that day?

I was in my office at Woodalnd Baptist Church preparing for a funeral that i had that morning -- for Wilma Joyner. Wilma was a unique person, a character to say the least. One of her peers told me that when they were all in elementary school, on the first day of school, the teacher decided right there and then to make a statement -- she would take all the boys outside and whip them. He added that indeed the teacher did this -- spanked all the boys -- AND Wilma. She never married -- no man could have ever contained her. She worked hard as a banker and she played hard -- enjoying this life. She also knew and loved and was thankful to the Lord for all of her blessings. Yes, this was to truly be a homegoing and a celebration of her life.

While at my desk the phone rang. It was Mrs. Liz, would I like her to come down to the church and keep the nursery for the funeral? I said it didn't matter, I didn't foresee a whole lot of children coming to the service, but she was welcome to if she wanted. Then she said, "have you seen the news this morning?"
"no," I said, "what's up?"
She said, "a plane has struck the World Trade Center in New York, and then another one. They're saying it could be a terrorist attack."

I hang up and ran home to turn on the TV. What I saw is forever in my mind. Peter Jennings of ABC News was broadcasting. Showing the pictures of the burning towers. Talking about the fire and rescue underway. Then a live shot of the first tower collapsing. Unimaginable. I remember standing there in front of the TV with my mouth open.

Everyone was shocked. Scared. What's next? Why? Who? All of those innocent people. Oh dear God.

May we never forget.

Hot, Fresh, Now

2008-09-06T11:05:00.002-04:00

One thing that I cannot understand (among a multitude of others) is why the stock of Krispy Kreme doughnuts is so low. I remember back when the company went public, and the price was like $50 a share -- it was hot. Now if you look the price is like $3 a share. Why is this? I don't know why?
When you can get a dozen (12) of the best doughnuts in the world for $5.99 it is simply a mystery why they are not setting the world on fire. Of course we go to the store in Greensboro, and every time I go there is a line. Are we the only people, we here in the Carolinas, who appreciate Krispy Kreme? The ones at Myrtle Beach are always busy too.
Think: what is not to like? Dough. Fried. Drenched with sugar. And when they are HOT, FRESH they literally melt in your mouth.
Forget trying to sell Kool Kreme. Forget trying to hawk fancy coffee drinks. You sell the best doughnut in the world. Market it as such.

Check them out. krispykreme.com

Long, Long Time

2008-08-10T22:52:00.002-04:00

It has been a really long time since the last post to this weblog. I certainly realize that. However, much has transpired in our lives since the last entry, most of which I would never care to publish on a blog. However, one thing remains constant -- God is still God, and He is sovereign over all.

Speaking of God's sovereignty, there are a couple of great you tube postings out there of SCC on Larry King discussing the tragedy with his daughter and son. Also there is a great word from Greg Laurie on his first Sunday back to the pulpit after burying his son. Search for them -- they are worth watching.

Got home yesterday after a week with the youth at Camp Caswell. What an incredible week it was. There is something soul-stirring with being with over 1000 teenagers worshipping God - loudly and sincerely. I believe every church member (not just our church, but every baptist church in NC) should go and be a part of this event. It would change a lot of things. Oftentimes we all need to get away from our little world, into another world, to see things in a different perspective. We quickly realize it is not all about us.

Speaking of that -- the home church of my wife and the church where I was ordained, suffered a tremendous loss and tragedy this past week. The youth of Sycamore Baptist Church went to Smith Mtn Lake for a day of fun and sun and while there a 12 year old boy, member of the church, drowned. His funeral was today. Now something like that should cause us all to stop -- to pray for someone else whose world has just been shattered beyond measure, to think about something and someone besides my self and my petty issues and hang-ups.

Not to mention that all of us should stop and consider every day the number of people all around us who perish and go into eternity with no knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Do we even care? Will we be obedient to what Christ the King has commanded us to do -- "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."? Will we get so wrapped up in ourselves, our wants and wishes and agendas or will we go to a world that needs life?

What will we do? What will I do?

OI, OI Know The Truth

2008-06-27T13:59:00.002-04:00

Last evening we wrapped up a week of Outrigger Island -- Living God's Unshakable Truth -- VBS 2008.

We had a really great Bible school.

The material was A-1, I thought. The truths that were hammered home each night were clear: God Is Real, Jesus Is God's Son, Jesus Is the Only Way, The Bible Is God's Word, We Must Live the Truth. When you see good solid material like this, it makes you thankful that our denomination, the SBC, is committed to the truth of the Bible -- without apology.

Robyn B. and myself had the privilege and challenge of teaching the youth class. These young people were truly fantastic. Creative. Intelligent. Respectful. A joy to be around. I thank the Lord for each of them.

The workers were all patient and kind. What a great time. Until . . .

last night at the close of the week, because the girls had collected the most offering (all going to World Changers) yours truly got a pie in the face. Not cool. But the kids loved it!!

Most importantly, I know that one young lady received Christ into her heart and life. We pray that she will rely on the Lord and obey His call to public profession and baptism. Hallelujah!

Sin Must Die

2008-06-23T11:03:00.002-04:00

From today's reading in Oswald Chambers . . . .

We have to recognize that sin is a fact, not a defect; sin is red-handed mutiny against God. Either God or sin must die in my life. The New Testament brings us right down to this one issue. If sin rules in me, God's life in me will be killed; if God rules in me, sin in me will be killed. There is no possible ultimate but that. The climax of sin is that it crucified Jesus Christ, and what was true in the history of God on earth will be true in your history and in mine.

The Days Roll By

2008-06-23T07:47:00.002-04:00

The past few weeks have been quite hectic, but otherwise rewarding.

I left GSO on Monday, June 9 and flew to Indianapolis -- after finding out at 10:30 PM on Sunday that my flight had been cancelled, stayed up til 12:00 with Expedia and found a different flight -- for the Southern Baptist Convention. There were about 7500 messengers there from SBC churches all over the US. For the time I was there it was a good meeting. Johnny Hunt, pastor of the FBC Woodstock GA was elected president out of a field of 6 good candidates. My prayer is that Hunt will call us back to the cross of Jesus Christ and re-focus the Convention on winning the world for Christ. I also appreciated the program from the NAMB, and again the focus on sharing Jesus, planting churches, and loving our neighbors.
Downtown Indianapolis was a vibrant place, a nice place, with lots of great restaurants and shops. I left out of there on early Wednesday morning, was met in the afternoon at GSO by my fantastic family -- the BEST sight at anytime, but especially after a separation. We had church that night and then it was off again on Thursday.
All of us left Thursday for Eliz. City, NC to attend and officiate at the wedding of Mike O. and Leslie. We had the unique opportunity to stay on the Coast Guard base there, in a great little cabin, right on the Eliz. River. The boys really liked this whole thing. The wedding was really nice. It is odd in this day and age to have a wedding where the bride and groom have not lived together, have not had any children, and feel certain that they go into holy matrimony both pure. Mike is in training for the ministry at SEBTS, and I pray for him and the new Mrs.
We got up early Sunday morning in Eliz. City and headed for Rich Square, NC to preach in revival services there. We went to the Shoulars home on Main St in RS, and that was to be our lodging for the week. Ann was so nice to let us stay in her house, and what a lovely home it is. The boys took to calling it the "haunted mansion" but it was really roomy and very nice and private. We were so thankful to have the time to spend with Bob & Rita and their family. Bob is a great friend. The folks fed us tremendously and the hospitality was warm. Another highlight was to see so many friends from Woodland. These brothers and sisters are truly part of our lives, we love them and miss them. Anyway, we preached the Word and I believe some decisions were made and solidified. We pray that in all things God was exalted.
We decided to drive home Wednesday night -- got home LATE. And back into the grind here at home. The work of ministry never rests, as a faithful church member was found to have all kinds of heart trouble on Thursday morning at the hospital, and I was able to be there to pray and minister with her and her family. Baptism (hallelujah!) yesterday morning, and the heater was broke on the baptistery, but that was OK. And to top it all off, VBS started last night. VBS presents its challenges during the week, but I pray that none of us will lose sight of the fact that we have been blessed by the Lord to be able to present Jesus Christ to all of these children. What a joy and a privilege to be involved in what God is doing. Jesus came to bring life, abundant life, eternal life, to sinners. May we be consumed with Christ Jesus and His mission.
I thank the Lord for His watch care and safekeeping. What an awesome God we serve.

My, My, My

2008-06-20T07:50:00.002-04:00

I have not been here for awhile, and I have much that I want to write about, but time is short.

However, I wanted to put this link up about what one heretic is saying at a meeting of Baptists.

"I'll be back"

No Greater Joy

2008-05-30T13:49:00.005-04:00

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 4

Thus said the Apostle John in the midst of many attacks on the truth. What a joy it must have been for this beloved disciple to know that the "children" he had been ministering to, sharing the love of Jesus and the truth of the Gospel message with, were standing firm in the truth.

In the first century, as now in the 21st century, the truth is attacked all of the time. We have an enemy, his name is Satan. He hates the truth. Go all the way back to the Garden of Eden, he disputed the truth of God's word, "Did God really say that, Eve?" So, he slithers up beside us and says the same, causing us to question what God has said, when we know that God cannot lie -- He is incapable of lying.

That is why I share in John's joy when I hear of and see "my children" walking in the truth. Please allow me to share a couple of examples.
Yesterday I was on the phone with a church member, and in the midst of our conversation they told me, with excitement, that they had indeed read through the entire Bible -- in actually less than a year. This person is a mature Christian, but had never read the entire Bible straight through. Now that they have, they were filled with delight, and cannot wait to continue into another turn through the entire Bible. I rejoiced with them when they shared this with me. I know that they will be a stronger Christian, armed with the sword of the Spirit in their fight with Satan.
Also, yesterday i discovered that at least two church members (families) have their own weblogs. As I linked to these I was again blessed to read their thoughts and adventures, with a view to the cross. What a blessing, I never (at least until yesterday) knew about.
This happens periodically. I will have the opportunity to visit or spend some unhurried time with a church member and discover that God is really working in their lives, that they are walking with Him and listening to Him and seeking to please Him. This is edifying to the pastor, who so often looks out over his congregation and sees blank stares and little movement at the time of decision and wonders -- "is it getting through?" It drives me to the Holy Spirit with greater fervency to do His supernatural work as His Word goes out. Then I get to taste and see that indeed the Lord is good.

Thank You Father, for Your people. Bless them and keep them, I pray, from the evil one. May they be strengthened with might, and be able to stand in this evil day. I pray that we will all be fully armored for the fight. Be glorified, Father and may Jesus be lifted up in every life of your children, as we surrender to and rely upon the presence of Your precious Holy Spirit.

Just Wonderin'

2008-05-26T10:15:00.002-04:00

The Lord has called me to pastor a flock of His people, to be the under- shepherd. I am responsible to Him as to how faithful I am in doing this task that He has assigned. I really love being a preacher/pastor. It is an unworldly delight to be able to study God's Word, to pray for and minister to His people, and to stand before them every week and declare the unsearchable riches of Christ.
As I read the blogs that I read, I see the same names over and over speaking at conferences all the time, all over the United States and occasionally in the UK. My question is: when do these guys pastor their people?
Are they "in touch", do they keep a close eye on the flock that God has entrusted them to? Do they feel that they have "so much" to give the wider evangelical world that they just cannot be tied down to a single congregation?
Oh, I appreciate the work of some of these men, have benefited from their work, but I think to myself: if I were gone that much from my people, I don't know how effective I could be as their pastor. I love the people that God has sent me to pastor, they are His people, His bride, His church.
It seems that if a person was going to be a full time conference speaker and writer, why not just call yourself that: a full time conference speaker and writer. Start a para-church ministry. Don't call yourself a "pastor" to the local church if you are not one, if you are never there.

Reading Looking Upward

2008-05-16T16:41:00.002-04:00

I spend an awful amount of time reading. I read the Bible, books, on-line articles and information, and everyday I read the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The Journal has become and continues to become more and more a national newspaper. Rupert Murdoch has taken over the paper since he acquired Dow Jones. He wants it to be a top notch contender against the New York Times as the national paper of record.
I am thankful for the WSJ, as it is a conservative (at least editorially) news outlet. Since we have scaled back on our TV viewing habits, and we ditched some of the more pricey packages on our satellite, we can get only CNN. I really miss Fox News. CNN is NOT fair and balanced. Their slogan is "CNN=Politics" it really should read, "CNN=Obama". The air is filled with Obama apologists and Bush/republican haters. You should have heard the outrage when President Bush said talking to terrorists amounted to "appeasement." Anyway, i digress . . .
Most of my reading is pretty positive. For my sermon preparation I read Biblical material and devotionally. Which is all good and refreshing (if not humbling and convicting); I guess I should say it is spiritually enriching reading. At lunch I get the WSJ from the mailbox. Usually this is where we get the cold, hard truth about the condition of our nation and world, and why I feel a compulsion to live with urgency, as it concerns the call of Christ on my life.
Today, for instance, a big headline was about the overturning of the ban on same-sex marriages in California. Then I read about the suffering in China and the loss of life both there and in Burma. I read that Libya is getting sick of America, again. On and on and on. Everyday.
I am convinced that now is NOT the time for shallow, hollow Christianity. We must rise out of the misty lowlands and pursue God with all that we have. We must be the called out ones; soldiers of the cross; living in Jesus, following Jesus, speaking Jesus. Taking up our cross and following Him. Be disciples.
What does this have to do with reading? Prepare your minds for action; renew your mind; set your mind on things above. Read with an eye looking up -- be it history, literature, Puritans, the WSJ -- God-centered. We must.

Burma?

2008-05-10T09:08:00.002-04:00

One of the things that has really bothered me, frightened me, kind of sickened me lately has been the public response to the tragedy in Myanmar or Burma. When I say "public response" I mean that there has not really been a public response.
I have read that they think that there might be 100,000 people dead there as a result of the cyclone that hit. 100,000 human beings killed -- at one time -- in one place. Men, women, children.

You know what I see all over the headlines? Obama, Hillary, Bush wedding. Do you remember last weekend -- the horse euthanized at the Kentucky Derby? There was a lot more outcry and coverage over an animal than over the 100,000 dead in Burma. Are we sick or what?

I did read yesterday in the Wall Street Journal that perhaps all of the de-forestation, the destroying of the mangrove forests may have indeed contributed to the devastation. Now you know I am no enviro-wacko, but they kill all of these forests to keep US supplied in shrimp -- no joke -- research it. They use the trees they cut down over there for fuel -- the poor cannot afford gas, so they need the wood to live. We are killing ourselves. We are so greedy, that we will kill ourselves.

I saw a bumper sticker one time that summed it up --- GREED KILLS.

When the cyclone hits California or Myrtle Beach or Miami -- maybe we will care more. I somehow doubt it though. Care to re-visit Katrina? But hey, as long as the French Quarter is back up and I get my party on -- who really cares?

At this point what can we do about Burma? The military dictatorship that runs the country is reluctant to let aid in. We should force it in, drop it from the air, get it to the people. I will pray for the people there ---- and I will pray for us here.

Wow what a break!

2008-05-07T11:47:00.002-04:00

I have not blogged here for awhile. Laziness I guess or just too tired, too preoccupied, or cannot get to the computer at a good time -- my wife works (earns a living via the computer and she really has first priority) at various times when it would be convenient to sit down and write this. I realize i will never be a Chailles or Wade Burleson, so I don't even try sometimes. Anyway . . .

We had an excellent series of meetings, we called revival services, a week or so ago. Dr Greg Mathis, pastor of the great Mud Creek Baptist Church in Hendersonville NC was our guest. What a gifted preacher. I enjoyed spending time with him and learning from this giant (literally and in other ways). People made decisions and no doubt, the truth was proclaimed. We ended the week with brother Tom Brown from Sharon, he too delivered a powerful exposition on that it is high time for the people of God to WAKE UP!

Had a little break with the family, which was nice. Had a missionary speak with us on Sunday AM -- at the 11:00 service. An independent missionary in Mexico, training pastors and church planters. He did a great job. Jerry Shaw. One thing I like about independent missionaries is that we get first hand accounts and personal interaction with them. IMB missionaries are so often just that it seems, "IMB misisonaries". We read their names on their birthdays and pray for them, see little vignettes at Christmas. But I imagine most SBC churches have little personal contact with actual missionaries on the field. This I think needs to improve -- probably on the church's part and on the part of the IMB.
Speaking of the IMB, it seems that the trustees are leaning more and more to a landmarkian direction. It seems that they may be going further and further inward. Only certain people and churches are recognized as proper administrators of baptism. No one can have a private prayer language and be a missionary supported by IMB. It seems that the restrictions are going beyond the Baptist Faith and Message, narrowing. There seems to a bit of legalism creeping into the SBC, and this is scary. Someone has said, "liberalism doesn't tell people the truth; legalism keeps people from the truth."
I have been listening to brother Mathis' series from Colossians, and Jesus is all you need for salvation and life. It isn't Jesus plus anything. (See the New Testament). I pray that we as a Convention, as churches, as individual Christians, will get back to the cross of Christ, lift it high, hide behind it, and let Jesus shine! To Him alone be the glory!

Operation In As Much

2008-04-19T17:46:00.002-04:00

In as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto Me. -- Jesus, Matthew 25

The numbers are not in, and that really is not the the most important thing anyway, but a lot of lives were touched today through OIAM. We were able to show to our neighbors in all kinds of ways the love of Jesus Christ -- freely we have received, may we freely give.
Care packages were delivered to women's shelter, flowers planted around hospice home, wood cut, split and delivered to those in need, care packages taken to EMS stations throughout county, windshields cleaned and gas pumped at convenience store, quarters given out at laundry mats, flowers and cards placed in restaurants -- on and on it goes . . . . to the glory of our gracious and loving God.
Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard and given so much. I know you are and you will be blessed.

What Do We Really Want

2008-04-10T09:21:00.002-04:00

As evangelical Christians we may say and pray that God would send a revival, a spiritual awakening, to our nation, our communities, our churches and our lives. But is this what we really want? Is this the desire of our heart?

Usually what people really want they go after. If I say I really want to lose weight, and I am serious about wanting to lose weight, I will do what it takes to lose it -- go on Atkins or whatever.

As a Christian, do I really want to see revival? What am i doing about it? Am I going after it? Am I following the Lord's commands?

Of course I know that revival is a supernatural gift from God, it comes down from heaven. My prayer is that of the prophet Isaiah (64:1) - Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down! Apart from Him we can do --- NOTHING! (John 15:5)

At the same time, He calls us to action. Note that familiar verse in 2 Chronicles 7:14 -- we must, as God's people, turn from our wicked ways and seek His face in humility, "then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

So back to my question, what do we really want? We say revival and awakening. But have we, God's people, forsaken our evil ways and truly sought His face in humility?

Do we want our evil ways more than we want His healing?

Answers?

2008-04-08T14:22:00.002-04:00

Today General Petraeus comes to Washington, in theory, to report on the conditions in Iraq, along with the US ambassador to that country.

I have been glancing at the "hearing" in the Senate, and all I hear is US Senator after US Senator bloviating. These people do not want answers, they just want to sit up there and give their take on the whole situation.

How do I know?

They will take the time that they are given to ask questions and just sit there and go over the talking points handed down from the national parties and campaigns; they'll quote a story in the NYT and recite poll numbers. Then they will put forth a slanted, lawyerly "question" and then get all in a tiff when the General and Ambassador try to give a reasoned response. But the senators don't care about the truth, about hearing from these men who live in Iraq everyday and breathe the situation every waking hour. I think they just like to hear themselves talk. It disgusts me.

It is a wonder anything ever gets accomplished in Washington DC. What a cesspool.

Road to Serfdom

2008-03-27T17:02:00.002-04:00

The headline caught my attention -- "Ten Days That Changed Capitalism" by David Wessel, appearing in the 27 March edition of the WSJ. In the body of his article we read, "The past 10 days will be remembered as the time the US government discarded a half-century of rules to save American financial capitalism from collapse." He later quotes an economist as saying that the US government has acted to stave off Great Depression II.
This should frighten the US citizen. But I fear that it will not.
It seems since Great Depression I, in the 1930s, the people of this country have looked to the government to bail them out of all troubles. When trouble, disaster, strikes -- we look to the government to rescue us. Why is this?
I recall after Katrina hit, in that cesspool of New Orleans, one man screaming at the TV camera, "Where is the government to help me?" I wanted to say back to him, "Why can't you help yourself?"
I think we have created a dependent nation. Now it is a credit crunch, a housing bust, people can't pay back loans they've taken out -- so what do we do? "Government, come save us!"
Slowly, and here recently not so slowly, our freedoms erode, erode, erode. But hey, if I am comfortable -- got my party and my i-pod -- oh well.
Before long the only ones who will be comfortable will be the commissars who rule our lives, as we let them. We become serfs; the state our master. We're done.

The Wonderous Cross

2008-03-21T07:57:00.002-04:00

Today is Good Friday. As I meditate on the crucifixion of our Lord and Saviour, there is no other way to come to Him except with humility. Who am i that the Son of God would leave the glories of heaven, to come to this wretched sin-stricken world, to be despised and rejected, mocked and ridiculed, to be sinless yet become sin and take on Himself the sin of fallen men like me, to take on Himself the wrath of God, the punishment due my sin, all that I might live?

I must say with the hymn writer, that when I survey the wondrous cross I must pour contempt on all my pride.

In this age of emerging churches and emerging theology, of seeker-sensitivity and man-centered worship -- I WILL cling to the old rugged cross, I will wash my filthy rags in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb that died upon that cross. I must cherish the old rugged cross, for apart from it I am a sinner bound for hell and separation from God, instead of a sinner bound for heaven and fellowship with God.

Thank you, dear Jesus, for going to the cross. Thank you for bearing my sins and my shame and for dying my death. Thank you for loving me, Jesus. May this life that you have saved bring you praise, glory and honor. Amen.

Very Disney-esque

2008-03-07T10:41:00.002-05:00

"Very Disney-esque." That was the description given by a local pastor for the new children's wing they have built onto their worship center on their campus. The article also stated that the church had built a coffee cafe to go along with the playground so the adults can sip while the children slide.

Give them Disney --- and they will come.

Give them Starbucks --- and they will come.

The pastor is also quoted as saying, "hey, this is the world we live in." So, by all means let's give the world what it wants; lets try our best to be like the world to attract the world; and before long we just might be accepted by the world.

Does this not all sound a little too worldly for you?

I'm not wrong am I, but I thought the church of Jesus Christ was called out of the world, to be different from the world, so that the world might know that God was different from the world (holy).
Yes, God loves the world, so much so that he sent His Son to save His people from the world. He calls out to be His own special people, a holy people, like He is holy.
We are called to live separated lives. "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." -2 Corinthians 6:17

I thought church was to be about God, not man. We gather to worship God, not man. The church is to be pleasing the Lord, not man. Churches, as well as individuals, have to decide -- will we serve man or God? Is my life God-centered or man-centered?

Do we want to give our world more Disney or Jesus?

Will we build more "Chuck-E- Jesus" playgrounds or will we seek build our children and families up in the training and admonition of the Lord, our holy God?

But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." -- Matthew 17:23

A Rough Week

2008-03-06T11:51:00.003-05:00

Last Wednesday morning, early, we received a desperate call from R's mother that we should come to her house -- quickly.
On Monday we had gone to Sycamore to see Rachael's dad and mom. We had a nice visit and even shared some laughs. Upon leaving I told Rachael that her dad really looked good, as strong as I had seen him for quite awhile. He had been off of his experimental chemotherapy for about two-three weeks as he battled infection. We hoped that he was getting stronger for the next go-round.
On Wednesday morning, he died.

It has been a long, yet all too quick 7 months since his diagnosis. He fought with tremendous courage and we are thankful for the time we have had with him. He was my wife's hero. He was the light of my mother-in-law's life. At his memorial service I shared this verse as I began my remarks about him, " . . . that you aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing." (1 Thess. 4:11-12)

In the week that has passed since he left earth for heaven, my anchor has been 2 Cor. 4:14, "knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus . . . Therefore we do not lose heart."

Praise be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

I Am A Friend of God

2008-02-23T13:22:00.002-05:00

The above title of this post is the title of a song -- a contemporary worship song -- that is sung (I guess) in many "evangelical" churches. I guess they take the words from Jesus to His disciples. But whenever I have heard the song, it just seems too jolly for my taste. Perhaps I would fit better with a song (or psalm) that spoke of me being in awe of God. It seems that too many people look at Jesus as their "bud."
By the way, when I last heard this little ditty I was seeing it sung at Lake-something church in Houston, TX where Joel Osteen is the "pastor." Of course everyone had a smile :)

Sometime in the wee hours of the morning (I couldn't sleep) I came across a documentary with the exact same title as that song -- "Friends of God." It was appearing on HBO. Now before you go and start thinking -- 'what's he doing watching HBO?' -- I do not subscribe to HBO, and never will. I recently switched to Dish Network and they threw HBO in for three months free. As I was looking at the guide, I saw this title as being on. I thought, "this ought to be slanted." So I flipped it on.

The first scene was to Osteen's "church." All smiles and happy times. I don't think I have heard of him mentioning the blood of Jesus and repentance of sin and justification by faith alone in Christ alone.

Then they went to Colorado Springs and spent time with Ted haggard and his church. This was before the shipwreck. And I literally got nauseated watching Haggard -- listening to him and then thinking that just a few days after this recorded he was defrocked for moral degradation. I had to turn it. I was sad and sick.

Then after a little bit, I said I'll go back and see what's happening now. They were in Texas somewhere at an event conducted by the Christian Wrestling Federation. These were fat guys in costumes mimicking the WWE -- all in the hopes of winning just one for Jesus. I wonder why Paul didn't think of this in Rome? At this point I turned it off for good. I had seen enough.

I don't know . . . I guess what makes me sad, mad, scared, discouraged . . . is that I have been reading The Reason for God by Tim Keller, and his logic and apologia is so sound. I read it and I hope and pray that non-Christians will read this book, that God would use the message of this faithful, Bible-believing pastor and they will seek the face of Jesus. Then I watch shows like this documentary and I'm thinking, "Why would a sophisticated, thinking, person even consider the claims of the Christian church?"

Some thing's gotta change. Let it begin in me.

Day of Prayer & Fasting

2008-02-20T10:17:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, 19 Feb, was a day of prayer and fasting, a day to call upon God to rend the heavens and come down (Is. 64:1), and send revival to His people here at FBC. In the 10 weeks running up to revival services, I have asked the congregation to take one day a week to fast and pray for revival.
I learned many valuable things yesterday:
* that the flesh is demanding. No wonder that we are told to walk in the Spirit and deny the flesh, not to feed its lusts -- becasue it never gets enough. However, I found that when my flesh was screaming to be fed, I was driven to the Savior. I was reminded of Jesus in the wilderness, when tempted by the Devil to turn the stones into bread, and Jesus responded with the truth that man shall not live by bread alone but by the word of God. Apart from God, we can do NOTHING. I realized afresh that if revival is to come to His people, we must be completely dependent upon Him, surrendered, and looking to Him to send the showers of blessings.
* that God is able to sustain. We don't "need" all that we say we "need." I could make it on a lot less -- less food, less stuff that quickly fades away, and less of ME and what is needed is more, more , more of HIM.

The Lord is working in my heart. I just want to be still and submissive, and see what He is doing and what He wants to do and will do. To Him be the glory!

Pray for Dr Mohler

2008-02-14T15:06:00.002-05:00

Just read at Baptist Press that Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, will have to have surgery soon to remove a pre-cancerous tumor from his colon. Because of this, he has has asked that his name not be put forward as a candidate for SBC president in 2008.
Dr. Mohler is a tireless defender of the faith, a gifted Christian thinker, and a genuine leader, a devoted husband and father. My we all join in praying for this servant of our Lord.

Where Are We Headed?

2008-02-08T14:26:00.000-05:00

Recently, I began to go back and re-read and study the Philadelphia Baptist Confession of Faith. This confession was first printed (by Ben Franklin BTW) by the first Baptist association in the United States in the early 1700s.
I read this to reconsider the ground from which we spring. These men are so clear in what is the truth. In this day and age of relativism and post-modernism (which to me is basically old-fashioned "darkness") it so refreshing to read this crystal-clear statement.
One wonders, where will the churches that are popping up all around us, where will they stand 250 years from now? I wonder if they will still be around? I doubt it. Why? Because on what do they stand?
It appears that many of these churches or fellowships or "porches" or whatever the hip word of the moment might be, are crowd gatherers. Goats are entertained with rock music, Hollywood film clips, arresting stage scenery, and funny-story telling "pastors" with untucked shirttails and soul-patches. Surveys are studied with more eagerness than God's word in "staff" meetings. The method is more important than the Message (which is also the name of the "translation" used).
What happened to "feed My sheep"? As CHS asks, are we feeding sheep or merely entertaining goats?
What will happen when the entertainment gets old? Will the envelope have to be pushed more and more? When the children of the yuppies we're trying to reach get tired of the "Chuck-e-Jesus" playground that we've built for them? Is it all based on entertaining, so we can get the crowd, so we can get more and more cool stuff for our IT minister on staff, so our church can be the hippest in town?
Like the stock market in the 1920s this is bound to all come crashing down. I read recently in the New York Times in an article by one of their columinists about evangelicals that liberals should like. In this article one very prominent pastor is quoted as saying that he didn't care one bit about politics, (good for him I might add) but that ALL he cared about was helping AIDS victims in Africa. Well, that is good and noble, and I pray that he can help them. But my first thought was, what about the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? Don't those suffering in Africa need to hear about the cross, just as those in our cul-de-saced neighborhoods?
Maybe once the entertainment gets a little stale, we will guide our crowds into a social gospel so they will feel less guilt.
Where are we headed?
Call me crazy, a reactionary, pathetic -- I don't really care -- but I think I'll go back to Philadelphia, circa 1740, and look for some guidance.

What's The Driving Force?

2008-01-28T13:49:00.000-05:00

These thoughts that I am about to share are very near and dear to my heart. All that I feel and would like to say cannot ever be fully conveyed in a simple, single blog post. With that said . . .

My brother and fellow pastor, Tim Rogers, has over at his site Southern Baptist in NC a long and thorough post about LifeWay Research and the use of words and what unchurched Harry and Mary say about what constitutes a Christian. Along with this I picked up a book at my local library entitled unChristian, the title certainly caught my eye, I picked up and read that it was written and based on a ton of research (there's that word again) done by the Barna Group.

My concern as I read these words about research and what non-Christians think, I am driven to think "so what?"

We read about all of this surveying that church planters must do and study as they begin their work of planting congregations.

My response to this, and I confess I may be labeled unenlightened to many "missiologists" and pastors alike, is if this is so vitally important, then why don't we ever see the Apostle Paul doing surveys and market studies before he goes into a city to plant a church? The first century believers who were accused of "turning the world upside down" I don't ever read of them doing research before they preached the Gospel.

Have you heard anyone recently sayingof the US church that "they are turning the world upside down" for Jesus?

With all of our "gnosis", have we left out the "logos"? Where are the Spirit-filled preachers and missionaries who pray for boldness to preach Christ? Have we gotten so man-centered, so seeker-sensitive that we have left God out of the equation? Oh we would never say that, but gauge: are we walking by faith or by sight?
I submit that the church of Jesus Christ does not need more research, but more men and women wholly surrendered to Jesus Christ, filled with the Spirit of God, who pray without ceasing and are unashamed workman rightly dividing the Word of truth.

The Apostle Paul went to the ancient city of Corinth -- a rotten, vile, filthy city, soaked and saturated in sin, in the grip of Satan -- and read what he unashamedly tells them in his first letter:
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)

Do I really need to know what unchurched Harry & Mary think of me as a Christian? Not really. They don't need me anyway, they need Jesus Christ.
I don't really need to see research and do surveys, Jesus has already told the church what we are to be doing -- "Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation." (Mark 16:15)

Complicated?

L Russ Bush

2008-01-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

I learned this morning that one of the most gentle men and fierce defenders of the faith once delivered to the saints, Dr. L. Russ Bush, went home to heaven. See sebts.edu

I remember my first class with Dr. Bush at SEBTS. Before the class began I did a little research on the man, to prepare myself. I found out that he had come to SEBTS at a very, very hard time. The SBC was changing -- hard and fast. Dr Bush was then a professor of philosophy at Southwestern, writing scholarly about inerrency of Scripture and Baptists and the Bible. He knew where he stood, and so did everyone else. While Patterson and Pressler, et. al, were taking the headlines and many of the pot-shots, Bush and Nettles and others were winning the minds.

The much-loved, and very liberal President of SEBTS, Randall Lolley, was gone. The new president, Lewis Drummond, came along and then had the gall to ask Dr Russ Bush to come east and be a professor and dean of faculty at SEBTS. Who in their right mind would take this assignment? A faculty on fire, the future uncertain.

Only a man gifted and called clearly of God -- Russ Bush. He came to SEBTS, and that has made all the difference.

Dr Bush was the author of two books that have meant a lot to me personally, Baptists and the Bible and The Case for Inerrency. Like their author, the books are clear and straightforward.

When I walked into that first class with Dr. Bush, I learned real quick that here was a man who took things seriously. His faith and his position as a professor, who was paid by the members of Southern Baptist Churches, were of utmost importance. I remember his going over the syllabus -- no tape recordings of any kind, no laptops, the paper you used to turn in papers were to be of a specific weight, the staple was to be angled just so, and when we did class work to be turned in, only black or blue (preferably black) ink was to be used. Dr Bush was old-school. Coat and tie everyday, coat buttoned. He lectured from his prepared notes. He did not seek feedback from students, and grew flustered if someone asked him more than once to repeat something so they could write it all down. He never, however, lost composure or his dignity. I remember him bringing his Bible to class, an NIV Study Bible, everyday -- still in the box it came in to protect it -- I guess.
I had to go to his office a time or two, and both times I approached with great trepidation. Knowing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, this man could chew me up and spit me out intellectually. He, I am sure, forgot more than I will never know. However, when I visited him in his office he was extremely gracious and accommodating. He listened closely to what I had to say, and answered me with sincerity.
I remember thinking when it came time for tests in his class -- they were open book. "Piece of cake" I thought. WRONG. He would take a sentence from a book, change one word, and ask a True or False question. I found that I studied more for his open book exams than I studied for other closed-book exams. Also, you used up ALL the time for one of his exams, and left the room exhausted. This man took loving the Lord with all of your mind seriously, and he wanted to pass that along to his students. He did. I remember walking in one day and the teacher who had been in the room before him had drawn a curve on the board -- a grading curve. As Dr Bush erased it, I heard him say -- "I don't use these -- you get what you get." Clear & straightforward, honest.
One other thing that he passed along to us that I will never ever forget -- and wished more people would get -- he said, "If a person believes that Jesus Christ is the one Savior for mankind, that He died and rose again the third day, then I can go a long ways with that person." A long ways in walking side-by-side in Kingdom work. This I have never forgotten, as some of my dearest friends and I do not see eye-to-eye on every jot and tittle of theology.
Dr Bush made an impact on this young, naive seminary student. I appreciate him and am sorry that more young, naive students will miss all that he taught.
I rejoice that his faith has now ended in sight.

Let It Snow!

2008-01-19T14:26:00.000-05:00

Finally . . . the snow has arrived.

The forecasters have been calling for it . . . but then all kinds of variables had to be in place before we would see it. Now it is coming down pretty good, but none is sticking to anything. I personally feel that it is still too warm. However, "they" say that cold Arctic air is coming down to meet the moisture -- but still not too arctic outside now.

Sticking or not, it is certainly pretty to see falling. Much prettier than freezing rain or sleet.

I would love for it to snow really good, at least 12 inches, someday. The last time we really had that kind of snow we lived in Woodland and JPL was just a baby. He and ZDL have never really had the wonderful opportunities to ride a sled, have a snowball fight or build a cool snowman.

Snow is pretty right after it starts to really bury everything in white. Like my dog's nasty pen, the muddy yard and gray, barren trees. To look out and see all white . . . gorgeous and magical and still. It does something to the soul.

I am reminded of a verse from Scripture, Psalm 51:7:
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

Oh the love that our God has lavished upon us -- poor, foul, dirty, wretched sinners. That He would wash us, cleanse us from all our unrighteousness, and make us fit for His glorious presence. Of course, as David says here -- He has to do it. God has to cleanse and wash and make clean, we cannot do it ourselves. Salvation is a gift to be received, not a pass to heaven that we earn, merit or buy.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Loathing Sin

2008-01-11T10:20:00.000-05:00

One of the things that fascinates me and infuriates me is how in modern day evangelicalism we have really toned down or in some cases completely left out the concept of sin and our need to be saved from it.
I guess it is not seeker-friendly to preach about sin, and the fact that we are sinners -- foul, wretched, poor, blind sinners in the hand of an angry God.
I do not make a habit of watching many TV preachers -- I do like to watch some (Adrian Rogers, Charles Stanley, John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, and I receive a blessing from the now deceased Bishop G E Patterson out of Memphis) but I have stopped by to watch Joel, Joyce, and some of the rest. And what I don't hear is talk of the blood, and why Jesus Christ came and died. Where is the Gospel?
If it is like this on what we see on TV, one can fearfully imagine what are the sheep (goats) hearing at churches all across this land? Is the Gospel being proclaimed? What about sin and the need for a Savior from sin and the punishment that sin brings?
Yesterday I read on a website that I love, Grace Gems, these words from the Puritan Thomas Watson -- I doubt you'd hear them (sadly) in many 21st Century pulpits:

"Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices!" -- Ezekiel 36:31

A true penitent is a sin-loather. If a man loathes that which makes his stomach sick, much more will he loathe that which males his soul sick! It is greater to loathe sin -- than to leave it. The nauseating and loathing of sin, argues a detestation of it.
Christ is never loved --- until sin is loathed.

Heaven is never longed for --- until sin is loathed.

When the soul sees its filthiness, he cries out, "Lord, when shall I be freed from this body of death! When shall I put off these filthy garments of sin -- and be arrayed in the robe of Your perfect righteousness! Let all my self-love be turned into self-loathing!"

We are never more precious in God's eyes -- than when we are lepers in our own eyes!

The more bitterness we taste in sin -- the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ!

Thank you Brother Watson for these words. Now, may Jesus be sweet and sin be loathed. And the Gospel of Jesus Christ be proclaimed in all the earth!

Renovation In Progress

2008-01-09T15:39:00.000-05:00

Our sanctuary is undergoing an entire renovation. It had not been touched since the early '80s, I understand, and there is lots to do.
This morning a huge dumpster was placed at the front of the church.

I cannot help but draw spiritual inferences.

First to my own life -- I need to throw out some old stuff. I still battle this old man and his fleshly ways.

There are more than likely some old things that need to be thrown out of the church -- bad attitudes, discord, backbiting and such.

I am praying for renewal and renovation to take place in several ways; first of all in my own heart and life. And also in the heart and life of our congregation.
I am praying that I and we will delight in our Savior and Lord, Jesus, more than anything else. May we return to our first Love. May I and we have a hunger and thirst for God and His glory like nothing else. May we desire to see Him save people and thus worshipped and praised and served. May Jesus be our treasure above all else.

O dear Jesus, renovate your people.

Al Mohler

2008-01-02T16:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning I posted here that Al Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY would be the next President of the Southern Baptist Convention.

I just read an article (4:30 PM, Wednesday, Jan. 2) at SBCTODAY.com that he will indeed be nominated for said office.

Dr Mohler is an articulate spokesman for conservative Christian values. He is a man who is definitely NOT ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is obviously gifted, intellectually and otherwise. Southern Seminary has grown tremendously under his leadership, and continues to draw students and turn out graduates who are committed to Scripture and discipleship -- a full orbed discipleship.
Dr Mohler speaks with clarity on thorny issues. He is a Christian thinker, in the vein of Francis Schaffer. He can speak, knowledgeably on bio-ethics as well as the latest film or book coming at society, and its impact on believers. Whenever I see him on Larry King (or whatever) I am never sorry to see his name and my denomination linked together.
Dr Mohler is a fine preacher, an expositor, and Spirit-filled proclaimer of the truth. We, as Southern Baptists, should all be proud of such leaders and thank God for them. May the Lord be gracious to us and increase the tribe of Al Mohler.

Some Predictions for 2008

2008-01-01T08:43:00.000-05:00

Republican Presidential Ticket: Rudy & Fred
Democratic Presidential Ticket: Obama & Gov. Bill Richardson
Winner . . . Rudy & Fred

U S Senator from NC: Dole vs. Hagen
Winner: Dole

Superbowl: Dallas vs. New England
Winner: Patriots

Next SBC President: Al Mohler

2008 World Series: NY Yankees vs Chicago Cubs
Winner: Yankees

2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions: (and oh how I HATE this!) UNC

The Top NCAA Football Team in 2008, crowned National Champs in Feb. '09: Florida

2008 Heisman Trophy: Percy Harvin

2008 NBA Champs: Boston Celtics

2008 NASCAR Champion: Dale Jr.

Life Is But A Vapor

2007-12-27T15:01:00.000-05:00

Having just celebrated my 37th Christmas, I can conclude it was not like any other and that this one will never be replicated.
I know you might be thinking, "Oh gee I'm sure something really far out happened." Well, no. Life happens, and life is but a vapor. That was realized, and that really changes things for me.
First of all, Rach's dad was there. In that we rejoice and give thanks to the Lord. God has kept him alive. Doctors, several months ago did not hold out much hope. God has given him life, and life is in His hands.
My Dad was there. Battling lymphoma and the wretched effects of chemotherapy, Dad enjoyed his Christmas with his family, in his house. My precious, Godly mother was right there beside him. She, unaware of the battle that she is engaged in, smiled and rejoiced in the "impromptu party" we had. She has Parkinson's disease, and it is taking its toll.
Rach's grandmother and grandfather (maternal) were there too. Her paternal grandmother was not -- for the first time in Rach's life.
Neither of my brother's two wives were there. For years we celebrated with one, and their children; they divorced; then he remarried a woman with 2 girls -- they came for several years, then that was over.
Who will not be there for Christmas 2008? I am not sure. I do know that life can change in an instant. There is a time to be born and a time to die, that I know. There is a time to laugh and there is a time to cry; a time to mourn and a time to dance.
I also know and rest in the One who never changes. Jesus is the same -- yesterday, today and forever. I know that as His child, nothing can separate me from His love. I know that He is my joy, my peace and my hope.

That The Son of God Might Be Glorified

2007-12-21T10:27:00.000-05:00

We wrote here a little bit ago about the glory of God. We talked about how this is IT. God loves His glory, for there is nothing higher. Everything that we do, we are told in Scripture (1 Cor 10:31) we are to do it all to the glory of God.
Jonathan Edwards has written . . . "all that is ever spoken of in the Scripture as an ultimate end of God's works is included in that one phrase, the glory of God."
As Piper points out, God is God-centered. This is not soothing to man's pride. We like to think of God as being totally man-centered, thus we can then consider being God-centered people. The fact is that God loves His own glory even more than He loves us, and this is the foundation of His love for us.
I know this is hard to grasp, at least it has been for me. It is challenging. Haven't we been taught that "if God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it"?
Well, I have been reading the Gospel According to John, and plan in the new year to begin preaching through the Gospel. As I came today to the story of Jesus and the death of His friend Lazarus, I see further evidence that God's glory is IT.
Jesus gets word that His friend Lazarus is sick unto death, "he whom Thou lovest is sick" his sisters said. And yes indeed, Jesus truly loved Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. We read it right there in John 11:5. He loved them, oh how He loved them! But He loved something else more.
Look at verse 4, "When Jesus heard that (of Lazarus' sickness) He said, 'This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.'"
God's glory is the greatest. That's what it is all about. Jesus wanted His followers to see this.
Later, Jesus announces that indeed Lazarus had died. verse 14. And He then says something astounding -- "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe."
I believe He wanted His disciples to see that all of this was happening that the Son might be glorified -- which is the highest, most important thing that there is.
Jesus would go to Bethany. He goes there and He weeps. Why does He weep? Well, we know that He had compassion, He could sincerely, like no other, feel our pain. He knew the hurt that Mary and Martha were feeling. He loved them, and when they were hurting He wept with them. This too is simply astounding. That the King of Kings and Lord of Lords would so love His sheep -- poor pitiful sheep. There He stands, He who created the universe and sustains all things with His omnipotent right hand, at a dusty Palestinian graveside with two sisters, weeping. Amazing love, how can it be?
Anyway, He is taken to the grave itself and told those standing around to open it up. Martha interjects, "but you know it is bound to stink -- he's been dead for four days." Perhaps she thought Jesus wanted one last look at His friend Lazarus. But then Jesus says something to her that speaks to this truth about God's glory:
Jesus saith unto her, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"
Not, "Oh dear sister you will see your dearly beloved brother once again." But, "You will see something infinitely more better -- the glory of Almighty God." That's it.

May we pray and say with Moses, "I beseech Thee, shew me Thy glory." Yes, Lord let it be.

Here It Is

2007-12-15T10:42:00.000-05:00

A while back a dear friend gave to us a really nice bird feeding "system". I use the word "system" because this goes beyond what I have always been accustomed to in bird feeders. I have been accustomed to a rigged-up pole (usually an abandoned clothes line pole) and a plastic feeder from Wal-Mart that the squirrels would quickly take over, clean out and I would say, "Forget this man, I ain't payin' to feed no yard rats." Then weather would claim the empty forsaken feeder. There would be few birds in my yard, and if they wanted satisfaction, they would have to find it elsewhere.
But now, things are different. With the "system" I have an engineered pole, that fits snugly into our dry NC dirt. It is telescopic, and add-ons are available. Mine has a squirrel baffler, half-way up that prevents them from climbing up to the food. There are two branches coming off the pole that allows me to hang two feeders of my choosing. Our friend gave us a narrow, cylindrical feeder, with yellow highlights, that holds thistle for small chickadee-type birds. They love this stuff and eat at it all the time, fighting one another for space on the feeder. On the other branch there hangs a Yankee dipper. It is larger, cylinder-shaped and it holds more of a classic feed -- sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, just a dash of corn kernels to really tempt the squirrels. Now the neat thing about this larger one is that the little stands on the feeder are collapsible, they will not hold the weight of a yard rat. IF they COULD get to the feeder, they couldn't stay on it -- HA, HA!
It didn't take long after assembling the "system" to get the birds to come and get it. Now, I am really attentive to keeping the tubes filled, especially on a day like today when it is cold and precipitation is on the way. It sits right outside the computer room window so as Rach works she can see the birds. We have a bird book, a field guide, given to us by my dear sister several Christmases ago that also comes in very handy. Who knows, I might become an ornithologist (or whatever that fancy word is for bird-watchers) one day.
Anyway, as I think about all of this I think about the invitation to come and dine from our Lord Jesus Christ. He says, "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (Rev. 3:20)
He is there, He alone can satisfy the hungry soul, He invites us to "Come" to Him. He is the "bread of life." In Him we are safe, no one can pluck us out of His hand.
There is no need to keep searching, "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food." (Isaiah 55:1-2)

What a gracious, all-satisfying Savior we have! He is no "system", He is a real Person Who loves and abides and keeps and Who never runs out and Who never leaves nor forsakes.

Glory To God In The Highest

2007-12-13T10:32:00.000-05:00

Thus sang the heavenly hosts in announcing to the shepherds the birth of the Savior -- see Luke 2:14.

It has amazed me recently at some of the discussion concerning the glory of God.

God's glory -- this is IT! This is what it is ALL about. I am teaching my son the old truth, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Or if you wish to get a little more Piper-esque, " to glorify God BY enjoying Him forever."

We are saved for God's glory. We exist for God's glory. C S Lewis says that this is the business of life, bringing glory to God.

I remember in my seminary Church History class, Dr Fred Grissom (the last hold out at SEBTS after the Patterson regime came to town) lecturing about Calvinism and Arminianism. Ol Fred came down this way, that he would rather stand guilty of giving God too much glory and credit for his salvation than not enough. I agree. God does not share His glory; He is a jealous God. "I am the Lord; that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another." Is 42:8

The amazing thing is that when we (by His grace) come to this conclusion, that it is all about Him and His glory, that we really find peace, joy and satisfaction. Jesus said that the person who loses his life will find it. Jesus called those who wanted to be His disciples that they must first deny themselves. We must get to the place of Paul when he wrote, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

It shouldn't be an issue -- that it is all about God's glory. It doesn't seem to an issue in heaven.

"And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.'" -- Revelation 4:9-11

"Not unto us , O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake." Psalm 115:1 May we echo this with our mouth, with our lives, but most importantly with our hearts and minds.

In salvation
In life and in death
In heaven and on earth
"Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen."

Disqualified

2007-12-10T15:31:00.000-05:00

"No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." -- 1 Corinthians 9:27

That is the first verse of Scripture that came to mind as I just finished reading a story about a 39-year old pastor of a large SBC church in Alpharetta, GA who resigned as Senior Pastor after being charged with domestic abuse against his wife. It seems that the pastor and his wife got into a fight after a charge about an affair was leveled. She claims that he pulled her hair and then pulled out a shotgun. She called 911 and had him arrested. The newspaper report said that after he announced his resignation from the church that the congregation gave the man a standing ovation. For what, may I ask? For being a wife-beater? Or for a being a dudley-do-right young pastor (CEO?) who always said the right things and who made the church grow, GRow, GROW! And they hated to see him go away.
Admittedly I have never met Pastor Witcher, but I do know (based on the reported facts) that something was/is seriously wrong in the man's life. Instead of clapping, the congregation should have been weeping and mournful over his sin and theirs too, crying out to God for help and mercy.
This is something I have found I must do constantly -- cry and plead for God's help and mercy. I am a sinner; I need a Savior. Apart from HIM I can do nothing. I also know that the enemy is real and dangerous, prowling around like a roaring lion seeking (a pastor, a church, a Christian) whom he may devour and destroy and besmirch the name of Jesus all over the Atlanta (and world) area.
Yes, my dear brethren, weep, mourn, seek the Savior.

What Are You Giving for Christmas?

2007-12-04T12:55:00.000-05:00

It was reported recently that on Black Friday Americans spent over $10 billion to kick-off the Christmas season -- the consumerism season. In the world's wealthiest and most materialistic nation, it should not surprise us that we spend so much money, time and energy and get so stressed out about things. It does however discourage me to think that we as Christians, believers of the Lord Jesus and His followers, get caught in it as well.
We are prey to the forces of marketing and much more evil forces that wrestle against the Spirit within us.
This is not why Jesus came -- for us to glutton on things of this earth. He came that we might feast upon Him and His riches. He came that we as sinners, alienated from God, might have peace and joy that comes from the salvation that He alone can bring. He came to secure this for His people, not -- I don't think -- earthly comfort and ease and gluttony.
I know that we like to give gifts, it is a way to express our love for someone. God expresses His love the same way, by giving (see Jn 3:16). But do we have to do it according to the world? Isn't there a better way to express love for someone --yes even with giving -- that doesn't involve malls and cheap, plastic junk?
I remember when I was a kid and my aunt Alice would always bring a tin of her homemade cookies to us kids for Christmas. I looked forward to these every year. She didn't get these from a gourmet on-line bakery or some fancy dessert shop in town. No she made them -- in her own kitchen, with her own hands, some of herself went into those cookies (not literally of course) -- and an eight year old kid could not have been more pleased. Now I think what we buy, buy, buy for our own nephews and nieces and our own children -- something marketed to us by media, something overpriced with no emotional attachment at all, just something plastic from a big-box retailer that the world says they need.
I don't remember every gift I have ever received, do you? Many of the "gotta haves" were discarded, broken, lost, forgotten and erased from memory shortly after opening. The cookies from my aunt -- never have forgotten them.
What will we give this year?
May we learn from our Savior and give ourselves.

PS -- This past Saturday morning I had the wonderful privilege of speaking to Dads & Sons at Monroeton School. I did a little survey as part of my talk -- "what does your Dad do that you love the most?" I asked the boys. You know the answers? Did any one say 'when he buys me stuff' ? No, that wasn't heard. What I did hear was 'when he plays with me.' When he is with me -- that's what kids want -- you. Give yourself away.

Necessary & Good

2007-11-26T10:46:00.000-05:00

But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." -- Luke 10:41-42

As a pastor, as a human being, I often myself "anxious and troubled about many things." Life is filled with "many things" -- marriage, children, church, finances, family, education, health, people & personalities, conflicts and challenges, opportunities and destinations. I feel often times caught up in theses "things." Especially here in the month or so before Christmas. What we think we would like to have -- an old-fashioned, family Christmas, simple and warm and loving -- may be easy to imagine and harder to realize. What with calendars filling quickly to the brim, with unexpected crisis arising and so forth. We get like Martha -- busy, busy, busy.
In the midst of the busyness, we fail to recall what is necessary and truly good -- Mary had it -- spending time at Jesus' feet, hearing His word, loving Him.
As Christians, isn't this what we really need? Jesus said so.
Is this really a good investment of precious and fleeting time -- sitting at Jesus feet? Jesus said so.
Not only is it necessary and good, Jesus said it is everlasting -- it "will not be taken away."

I know that as a pastor, called by Jesus to feed His sheep, I have to spend time and energy on the good portion, the necessary part. I know that as a husband and a father seeking to disciple his family, I must spend time and energy on the good portion, the necessary part -- quietly before the feet of my Master, learning of Him to follow Him. I pray that I will not, and that you will not, get distracted, "troubled about many things" (albeit virtuous things), and be robbed of that which Jesus says is necessary, good and lasting.

Time spent with Jesus is never wasted; it is always good. I am reminded of when I was reading the autobiography of Jerry Falwell, he went visiting a couple and he was telling them all about what he had been doing for God -- knocking on hundreds of doors, starting this and that ministry, busy, busy, busy -- and they stopped Falwell dead in his tracks when they asked him, "Well, Jerry you've told us all that you have been doing for God, tell us what God has been doing in you."

Thankful

2007-11-22T10:25:00.000-05:00

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." -- Psalm 100:4

Am I full of thanksgiving today? Indeed, I should be. I have so much for which to be grateful, not the least of which is my adoption as a child of God through Jesus Christ. I will never be able, throughout all eternity even, to express full thankfulness for the indescribable gift of salvation.
I am thankful for the gifts that He has bestowed upon me in this life: family, friends, health, material blessings. I am thankful for the Word of God, and the calling on my life to proclaim it.
Deserving am I? Never. It is by grace that we live and enjoy so much.

Soli Deo Gloria!