TruthWalk

Putting the Super Bowl into Perspective

2012-02-01T09:21:00.006-05:00

Four years ago, after the Patriots lost to the Giants (shudder, twitch, convulse), I posted a blog article entitled, The Superbowl, Brady, Belichick ... and Bread. Given the rematch coming up this Sunday, I thought it would be wise to repost the article before the "big show" this weekend. Of course I'm hoping that history doesn't repeat itself, but regardless of whether you are a Giants' fan or a Patriots' fan, we would all do well to keep this game in perspective. Read on!

Superbowl Sunday was marked by black Monday – at least here in Boston – as Patriot fans licked their gaping wounds from Sunday’s Super-disappointment. One gentleman sent me the following e-mail on Monday morning, which I have posted with his permission:

Good morning, Pastor Matt.
I have to confess, I am coming off a pretty much sleepless night. It is amazing to me how emotionally involved we can become in matters such as Super Bowl wins and losses. I need to find a way to disassociate myself from sports. I get so emotionally distraught when our "home teams" lose….primarily the big games. Have winning and sports become gods to us? Pastor Matt, I don’t understand how we can get so wrapped up in these things. The winning affects my life in no way at all other than the "good feeling" that accompanies rooting for the home team. The flip side seems so unbalanced.
Anyhow, I just thought I’d send you a note and ask that you somehow put this into perspective for me. No family member died…..no one got hurt….all are healthy and there are no debt collectors beating at the door…..and yet after the game, there was this giant sized hole/pain. Why do we take these matters so seriously? It’s silly really.. Have a great day.

I’m glad this brother wrote what most others are probably feeling but perhaps wouldn’t say. He raises some good questions, like why is it that we get so "emotionally distraught" over a simple game? Why do we take these matters so seriously? And perhaps the most important and revealing question of all: Have winning and sports become gods to us?

I think they have. After all, what is an idol but the object of our desires? "Worship is basically adoration, and we adore only what delights us" (John Piper, Desiring God, p. 19). Bear with me for a moment, as I paraphrase a few verses from the Psalms:

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for the Patriots. My soul thirsts for the Patriots, the undefeated Patriots. When can I go and watch the Patriots?

"O Patriots, how sweet are your wins to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

"My soul thirsts for a Superbowl win, my flesh yearns for one, in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

My intent is not to be sacrilegious, but to engage in hyperbole for the sake of making a point. Isn’t it ridiculous that our enthusiasm and sentiments for a sports team comes even close to paralleling our affections for God?

The problem is not that we’re pursuing pleasure but that we’re trying to find it outside of God. The prophet Jeremiah put it like this:

"My people have exchanged their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate," says the Lord; "for my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that hold not water." (Jer. 2:11-13)

Like C. S. Lewis said, "We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

We settle for football instead of Christ. If it’s not football, then it’s something else: clothes, computer games, a higher income, the approval of others, a great sex life, etc. The tragedy is that we have seen our worship of God as something separate – and perhaps even in opposition to – our pursuit of happiness. This is what John Piper has rightly called "the moral enemy of worship." Says Piper, "When worship is reduced to disinterested duty, it ceases to be worship. For worship is a feast."

Isn’t this precisely the point that our compassionate Lord makes in Isaiah 55:2, when He says, "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." You see, "the great hindrance to worship is not that we are a pleasure-seeking people, but that we are willing to settle for such pitiful pleasures" (Piper). We think that football or sex or popularity or more money or a better marriage or physical fitness or the affirmation of others can satisfy the longings of our soul. The fact is, they can’t; only Christ can.

Even those who "follow Christ" must be careful to seek their pleasure in HIM, and not just His gifts. Remember what Jesus told the crowds when they followed Him after He fed the five thousand? He said, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval" (John 6:26-27 NIV).

Rather than seeing Jesus as the object of their desires, they saw Him only as a means of fulfilling their wants. Recently I read an outstanding lesson on John 6 by Paul David Tripp in his book, The War of Words. In a chapter entitled "Following the King for All the Wrong Reasons," he asked: "If you had to write down your dream for your life, what would you write? What is your ‘if only,’ ‘if I could just have,’ ‘if God would just give me. . . then I would be happy?’"

Think about that for a second. What would your answer to that question be?

Tripp goes on to share insights from John 6, centering on our struggle betweenphysical bread and spiritual bread: "In the middle of this struggle is the Deceiver, who would have us believe that life is all about physical bread, that spiritual things are of little consequence." Tripp then goes on to share four subtle but persuasive lies that Satan puts before us. Time and space forbid me from expounding on all four lies, but they all culminate in the fourth deception, which is: Life is found in physical bread. Read carefully Tripp’s comments on this vital point. It will be well worth your time:

This is the lie of lies–that somehow, some way, life can be found outside of a relationship with God. This was the lie told by the Deceiver in the Garden, and it is the lie told countless times again every day. Feeding on physical bread only leads to more hunger. It is only as you feed on Christ by faith, receiving his life, that you can ever be satisfied. He is the Bread. He is life! All other offers of life outside of Christ lead parched people to drink at dry wells. He is the True Bread. He is the river of life. Follow him and within you will flow rivers of living water (John 4:13-14). Without him you are dead, even though you physically live (Eph. 2:1-10).

It is so easy to buy into the lie that life can be found in human acceptance, possessions, and positions. It is so easy to have your life controlled by dreams of success in your career. It is so easy to believe that nothing else satisfies like romantic love. It is so easy to fall into pursuing the idol images of Western culture–big suburban house, luxurious car, lavish vacations, etc. When we do this, we quit feeding on Christ. Our devotional life begins to suffer. We pray less, and when we do, we pray more selfishly. We find our schedule doesn’t leave much time for ministry, and we spend more time with our colleagues at work than we do with brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. Functionally, we are feeding on the world’s bread, not on Christ.

Our entire life will be determined by which bread we pursue. There are no more dangerous lies than the ones that lead us away from a loving hope and surrender to the Creator we cannot see, and toward a bondage to an endless, unsatisfying pursuit of what is passing away....

We fall into spiritual depression when [Christ] removes the physical bread so that we would hunger again for the Bread that really satisfies....

To the degree that you have based your life on something other than the Lord, to that degree God’s love and the hope of the gospel will not comfort you. You will not be comforted because you are hungry for another kind of bread. You long for a king who will give you the bread you crave....

As we look at our own lives and all that we are living for, we need to ask, Whose dream, which bread do we seek?...

Perhaps many of us, even though we have not physically forsaken the King, have lost our enthusiasm for his grace and mercy because following him has not led to the fulfillment of our dreams....

This can be something as "silly" as a Superbowl win or something more subtle but just as superficial. You can find your satisfaction in physical bread, or you can find it in Christ, the living Bread. You can pursue your own dream, what you think will make you happy – or you can pursue Christ and His dream for you -- "the good portion, which will not be taken away from [you]" (Luke 10:42).

SOHL Surfer

2012-01-24T16:37:00.002-05:00

As most of you know, January 22 was Sanctity Of Human Life (SOHL) Sunday. I preached on this theme from several texts in Scripture. As a follow-up, I'd like to share two helpful links that would be good to check out the next time you're surfing the Web.

The first is a free download of John Piper's book, Exposing the Dark Side of Abortion. This is based on three sermons that Piper preached on this theme. Some of the statistics are a bit outdated, but God's truth is timeless, and the way Piper presents it packs a punch. To find more about this free download, go to http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/a-short-free-ebook-on-abortion.

The second link worth checking out is the home-page for CompassCare, a non-profit organization that provides expert service in helping women facing unplanned pregnancies. To find out more, visit http://www.compasscare.info/.

Thinking Some More About the Lord's Day

2012-01-18T11:57:00.009-05:00

If you haven't read the previous post, "Thinking About the Lord's Day," you should read that before reading this, as I'm picking up here where I left off there.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about the Lord's Day lately, especially considering the "buzz" over starting a Saturday night service. The funny thing is, the question I posed to the Community Groups on that subject had nothing to do with any intention on my part to launch such a service! But since many churches have gone that direction, I thought I'd throw that scenario out there in light of our study of the Sabbath, its fulfillment in Christ, and the resulting implications for believers today, both individually and corporately.

In thinking further on this whole issue of a Saturday night service, I'm mindful of what my friend, Dr. Timothy Tennent, declared at the September convocation at Asbury Theological Seminary: "Only a sustained theological reflection is able to penetrate and unmask the pragmatic, market driven assumptions which largely go unchecked in today's evangelical churches." Tennent then goes on to cite just a couple of examples that, in his opinion, lead us into the very heart of the issue. I've highlighted what I consider to be particularly striking statements.

Somewhere in America at some church meeting a decision was reached to change the name of the place they worshipped from the word "sanctuary" to "worship center" or "celebration center." Furthermore, they decided to build a space which could be used as a gymnasium during the week and a place of worship on Sunday. Having a dedicated space only for worship seemed like a shocking waste of money. Indeed, they had at least 5 reasons for doing this. What concerns me is that they probably never stopped to reflect theologically that there just might be 6 reasons not to do it. Of course, maybe there were only four and the "celebration center" in the gym would have carried the day. The point is, that reflection never happened.

Somewhere in America on some Sunday morning the first man or woman walked into a worship service with a baseball cap and a cup of coffee in their hand. It is now quite common. The pastor would surely offer three or four impressive reasons why this was the "missional" way to go, but I can assure you that when the decision was made, serious theological concerns were not invited to participate.

These examples all seem so small and insignificant. Yet, that's how all drift happens. You see, liberal Protestants never woke up on morning and said to themselves, "Hey, let's adopt an Arian Christology, shall we?" No one said, "Wouldn't it be just wonderful if we could devote the next 50 years to undermining the apostolic faith." No! I've read their writings. They were deeply concerned, as we are, to make the gospel relevant to modern people. Evangelicals have not openly abandoned apostolic Christianity. No one sets out to cheapen the gospel, diminish God's holiness or downplay the cost of discipleship. It's just happening. A baseball cap here, omitting the word "wretch" from Amazing Grace there. The pressure to bring in new members made it best to just drop the required confirmation class for membership. Besides, people are just too busy to attend a new members class and it might hurt our annual membership goals. The call to career missions slowly became short term missions which slowly became vacations with a purpose. It all happened so seamlessly. We brought in a new youth director. He doesn't have any biblical or theological training, but, oh, how the youth love him. You should see the new worship leader we have! He doesn't know any theology, but he's just picking the choruses each week, and he can really play the guitar! You see, it happens in ten thousand small skirmishes, rarely in any big. bloody battle.

Note: I think Tennent's whole article is outstanding and well worth the time it takes to read. To see the whole convocation address, click here.)

Now, you might think by reading this, that I'm opposed to Saturday night worship gatherings. Not necessarily. The issue for me is that we give ourselves first to biblical and theological reflection before pragmatic considerations.

For instance, have you ever considered why the first day of the week is so significant, from a theological standpoint? O. Palmer Robertson has. In an article entitled Why Worship on Sunday?, Palmer invites us to "consider carefully the following evidence that the redemption accomplished through Christ's resurrection determined the day for Christian worship":

1. Jesus Christ arose on the first day of the week (Matt. 28:1). He entered into his rest from labor, not on Saturday (the seventh day), but on Sunday (the first day of the week). As Jesus entered into his rest on the first day, so he encourages us to begin the week by resting in the confidence that he will provide for all our needs for seven days with only six days of labor.

2. Jesus Christ appeared to his assembled disciples on the first day of the week, as well as to Mary and to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (John 20:10; Luke 24:13). By these appearances on the first day of the week, the resurrected Lord set a pattern for meeting with his disciples. They began expecting to meet with him on the day of his resurrection, which is the first day of the week.

3. Jesus appeared to the assembled disciples one week later on the first day of the week, with doubting Thomas present this time (John 20:26). Already a new pattern of assembly for worship was emerging. God's new covenant people were making it a habit to assemble together on the first day of the week, the day of Christ's resurrection. Jesus honored these assemblies by appearing to the disciples at this time, and encouraged their faith in him as the resurrected Lord.

4. The resurrected Christ poured out his Spirit on the assembled disciples exactly fifty days after the Sabbath of the Jewish Passover, which was the first day of the week (Acts 2:1; cf. Lev. 23:15-16). The word Pentecost means "fifty," referring to the fifty days after the Sabbath of the Passover. Forty-nine days would span seven Jewish Sabbaths or Saturdays, and the fiftieth day would then fall on a Sunday, the first day of the week. So it would appear that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came on the first day of the week, when God's new covenant people were assembled for worship. So the pattern would be established more firmly. Both the resurrection of Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit occurred on the first day of the week.

5. As Paul spread the gospel of Christ among Jews and Gentiles throughout the world, the first day of the week was used as the time for Christians to assemble for worship. In Greece, Paul and Luke assembled with the people of God to break bread and to hear the preaching of God's word on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). This was the day that the people of the new covenant assembled to hear God's word.

6. Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth to establish the pattern for their presenting of offerings for the service of the Lord. He ordered the Christians in Corinth to follow the pattern that had already been set with the churches in Galatia (1 Cor. 16:1). On the first day of every week they were to consecrate their offerings to the Lord (1 Cor. 16:2). This schedule for honoring the Lord had become the pattern for God's people throughout the churches. The churches were not to present their offerings any time they wished. Rather, on the first day of each week, all the Corinthian Christians were to follow the pattern that had already been set among the Galatian churches. The first day of the week was the designated time for the presentation of offerings to the Lord.

7. The apostle John, now aged and perhaps the only living member of the original twelve apostles, had been banished to the island of Patmos. In this circumstance, he could not assemble for worship with the people of God. But the apostle informs us that "on the Lord's Day" he was "in the Spirit" (Rev. 1:10). The significance of his being "in the Spirit" seems quite clear. He had entered into the presence of the Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was offering his adoration to him.

But what is the meaning of the phrase "on the Lord's Day"? In one sense, it may be said that every day of the week belongs to the Lord, and so might be called the "Lord's day." But John is referring to something more specific. He does not speak merely of "a" day that has been consecrated to the Lord. Instead he speaks of "the" Lord's Day.

That one day that may be called "the Lord's Day" was the day in which he proved to the world that he was Lord. On one particular day, Jesus made the universe understand that he was Lord of all. That day was the day of his resurrection. On that day, he conquered the last of the sinner's enemies, which is death. On the first day of the week, he showed that his power could overcome all enemies, even death itself. That day is "the Lord's Day."

So by the end of the lifetime of the first apostles, Christians knew about one day of the week that was called "the Lord's Day." On that day, they celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. That day became the time for their assembly as they rejoiced in the resurrection of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So it is the same today. The original commandment to honor God by worship one day in seven still holds, since this requirement was a part of the Ten Words laying down the moral standards of God for men. One day in seven must be consecrated for worship and service to him. Both creation and redemption show that God must be honored in this way.

From the creation of the world until the coming of Christ, that day was the last day of the week. People in the days of the Old Testament were looking forward to the rest that the Savior would bring.

But now Christ has come. He has risen victoriously over all his enemies. This victory he won on the first day of the week. On this day he meets with his disciples as they assemble to commune with him.

So we are to celebrate the rest he has won for us. We are to taste and anticipate his rest by offering our worship on the first day of the week. For it is the only pattern demonstrated in the Scriptures of the new covenant for the worship of God's people today.

Those sound like pretty good arguments to me as far as making a case for the church to meet on Sundays for corporate worship. But on the other hand, arguments could be made for meeting on some other day for worship:

Worship for the Christian is to be a way of life (1 Cor. 10:31); therefore, we are to worship the Lord individually--and can do so corporately--any day of the week.
Saturday evening services may be implemented for evangelistic purposes. So long as he didn't compromise Scripture, Paul accommodated his ministry to those he was trying to reach, so that he might "with more of them" (1 Cor. 9:19). Paul's custom was to attend the Sabbath synagogue service to reason with the Jews from Scripture (Acts 17:2). Many Catholics in our day are used to attending Saturday night mass. So perhaps an evangelical might be more successful in inviting a Catholic friend to church on Saturday evening than on Sunday morning.
God commands Christians not to forsake the assembling of themselves together (Heb. 10:24-25). But some Christians, by nature of their jobs, have to work on Sundays. A Saturday night service actually affords them the opportunity to obey the Lord in this area and to enjoy the blessings that result from being an active part of the church body.

More arguments could be stated, probably on both sides. Here's how I come down on the whole issue personally:

I think it's fine to host a service on Saturday (or any other day of the week for that matter), so long as such a service is in addition to and not in lieu of Sunday worship.
Motive matters. If a church launches a Saturday night service for the sake of evangelism or to accommodate those with unavoidable conflicts on Sunday, then so be it. But if it is simply to satisfy our idolatrous priorities, then may it never be!

This second point is one of crucial importance. I believe it grieves the heart of God when Christians make little of him and make much of themselves ... when the Lord takes a back seat to the real loves of people's lives. A Saturday night service for many people is a means of getting worship out of the way and freeing up all of Sunday to do what they most desire: sleeping in, playing sports, going to the beach, watching TV, etc.. The sin is not in these activities themselves but counting them as more important than expressing our love and adoration to the God who has created us and redeemed us.

Imagine if you had a child who spent as little time with you as possible, let's say an hour or so a week, and that hour was spent at a time that was least intrusive to the things they really wanted to do. You took a back seat to everything else, and you always sensed they came to spend time with you not because they really wanted to, but because they felt they had to. How would you feel? How do you think God feels about our worship habits as His children?

I want God to know that He is my first love, has first dibs on my schedule, has first place in my affections. I want this to be true of me personally and of us as a church corporately. Motive matters. Worship matters. "Great is the Lord; He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure His greatness" (Psalm 145:3).

Thinking about the Lord's Day

2012-01-11T10:10:00.004-05:00

My most recent sermon was an exposition of Mark 2:23 - 3:6, wherein Jesus declares, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Put another way, the Sabbath was instituted to be a blessing to people, not to put them under bondage. The Pharisees thought they had the final word on this issue with all their extra-biblical rules and regulations, but Jesus proved otherwise. After declaring His lordship over the Sabbath, Jesus "went on from there and entered their synagogue" (Matt. 12:9). He took the battle to them, demonstrating his lordship "on their turf" by healing a disabled man in the synagogue. Yes, the Sabbath was instituted to bring blessing, not bondage.

As a follow-up to the morning sermon, we posed some specific questions in our Community Groups that evening, narrowing our conversation to one particular line of discussion which had to do with our observance of the Lord's Day. Here are the questions we raised:

What were Sundays like for you growing up, in terms of how it was observed by your family or community? Was it considered a "day of rest"? If so, what was and wasn't allowed?
Consider the following statement by Fred Zaspel: "For those who rest in Christ, every day is a Sabbath." Do you agree? Why or why not?
In Scripture, the first day of the week (Sunday) is referred to as "the Lord's Day," obviously because it was on this day of the week that Christ rose from the dead. Even if one does not regard Sunday as the "Christian Sabbath," do you think there are practical considerations that should make this day different from any other day of the week? Why or why not?
What do you think of a church's having a Saturday night service in addition to, or in lieu of, a Sunday morning service? Would this be appropriate? Why or why not?

In an effort to help the TruthWalk readership to continue to think through these issues, I recommend that you read Pastor Steve Weaver's paper, "Is The Lord's Day the Christian Sabbath?: A Biblical and Theological Examination." I do not know Pastor Weaver personally but thought that his synopsis of this issue was well-researched, pointed, and concise. (You can give the paper a careful reading within a span of 15 minutes.)

Bottom line: As Lord of the Sabbath, Christ redirects our attention from the Sabbath to himself. The Sabbath finds its fulfillment in Him, as does all the law. Therefore, Sabbath requirements are no longer morally binding on Christians. Christians should make worship of Christ alone a requirement for this day.

Whatever conclusions and convictions you arrive at on this issue, I think it behooves all of us to consider the following testimony and exhortation by Don Whitney:

One example of how the Lord has been shaping my life is to conform more to His Word has to do with my beliefs and practice on the Lord's Day. Most conservative, Bible-believing Christians I know seem to make few choices about their Lord's Day activities based on Scripture. Rather they base their choices on their culture--their family culture, church culture, or the culture of society at large. So whether they go to the mall, watch football, play golf, eat out, take a nap, work in the yard, or whatever, they do what they do more because of the traditions of their family, church, or community than because of what the Bible says. If everyone in the church talks about or watches the big NFL game on Sunday, they probably will too. Or if they do not watch the game, it's only because they don't like football or have something else they would rather do or must do. Regardless, the decision is not made for biblical reasons.

As I examined the Scriptures pertaining to this issue, my habits on the Lord's Day were transformed. The Bible has directed me on this matter in ways that are refreshing, restorative, and recreative for my soul, mind, body and family. In summary, I have understood the Bible to teach that my greatest privilege and first responsibility on the Lord's Day is to worship Him with His people. Also, because the first day of the week is called in Scripture "the Lord' s Day" (Revelation 1:10), the day should be observed uniquely for the Lord, and every activity should be evaluated by that fact. However you choose to spend the Lord's Day, I appeal to you to base your decisions and actions on the revelation of God.

- Don Whitney, Ten questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, pp. 36-37

This blog post will not be the final word on this issue. I myself continue to wrestle with some of the questions posted above, thinking through their practical implications for me personally and for us as a church collectively. May God help us to grow in wisdom, that we might walk with the Lord in the light of His Word.

Romney, the Olympics, and Church Ministry

2012-01-04T13:57:00.003-05:00

Mitt Romney, who just won the Iowa caucuses by the slimmest of margins, is going all out in his pursuit of the U.S. Presidency. Whether or not Romney will win the election and make a good President remains to be seen, but by all accounts he appears to be a good manager.

In last Sunday's edition of the Democrat and Chronicle, Sharon Cohen of the Associated Press reminded us that

Romney tasted defeat in his first campaign [for President] but found a new outlet for his management skills. He took over the floundering scandal-ridden Salt Lake Olympic Games and is credited with turning them into a financial success.

Gillespie, his former aide, says Romney bucked up a demoralized staff, recruited people with Olympic experience, and tackled problems with an orderly management style that involved asking probing questions.

"When somebody says, 'Look this is the way it's always done,' his first reaction is going to be, 'Not necessarily. Let's talk about why,'" she recalls. "There's a really intense challenging of the status quo."

I love that approach and can't help but wonder how much more effective and fruitful the local church would be if we were willing to ask the hard questions. And lest someone think, "Wait, that's incorporating worldly business practices into the life of the church," let's not forget that when Jesus told His disciples not to do what the Gentiles do, He was speaking in terms of lording it over people, i.e. using your position of leadership to serve yourself rather than others. Jesus was not denouncing the practice of asking probing questions and challenging the status quo. After all, the record of Scripture shows that Jesus himself asked probing questions and challenged the status quo as much as anyone!

Some church programs need to die. We can give them a good funeral, but let's let them die! In some cases, a swift execution would be an act of mercy to many.

Just because we may criticize other churches for doing things wrong doesn't mean that we're doing things right. Moreover, I concur with Harry Reeder that "true effectiveness is never achieved at the expense of faithfulness." But let's not confuse biblical truth with stubborn traditionalism. Faithful stewardship demands that we look at where our church resources (personnel, finances, time, energy, etc.) are being expended, and if this is the most effective means of pursuing a biblical vision for ministry.

In his immensely helpful book, The Deliberate Church, Mark Dever rightly states, "When it comes to building a people for His own name and glory, God cares how we go about participating in His redemptive purposes." How we "do church" says a lot about our theology and our faith (or lack thereof) in the power of the gospel.

It all boils down to the goal of Christian ministry, and that is to make disciples. Are we doing this effectively? That's the bottom line. And it's a question that even the most conservative evangelical churches must be willing to ask themselves. Colin Marshal and Tony Payne put it this way:

Even among those godly, faithful pastors who avoid the trendsetting fads of Christian marketing, there is confusion--most especially between what Christian ministry is in the Bible, and what Christian ministry has become in the particular tradition or denomination of which they are part. We are all captive to our traditions and influenced by them more than we realize. And the effect of tradition and long practice is not always that some terrible error becomes entrenched; more often it is that our focus shifts away from our main task and agenda, which is disciple-making. We become so used to doing things one way (often for good reason at first) that important elements are neglected and forgotten, to our cost. We become imbalanced, and then wonder why we go in circles.

So, You Want to Lead?

2011-12-20T10:48:00.002-05:00

Back in 2001, I attended the Heart-Cry for Revival conference, a biennial event sponsored by Life Action Ministries. The Lord did a great work of conviction and renewal in my heart, for which I will be forever grateful. Prayer and the preaching of the Word brought about a defining moment of repentance and renewal for me, one that significantly impacted my life and ministry from that point forward.

It's been ten years since I attended that conference. Over the course of the past decade my wife and I have continued to be blessed through Revive magazine, a quarterly publication of Life Action Ministries. Its stated mission is "to ignite movements of revival and authentic Christianity." We have found each issue to be filled with biblical, practical articles written by leading Christian men and women.

In fact, leadership is the key theme of the magazine's most recent issue. Leadership is influence If we want to influence people for God, if we want to impact people for Christ, we must possess the distinctive qualities of Christian leadership. With this in mind, pastor and author Crawford Loritts laid out several "Guiding Principles for Godly Leadership." I have found these to be scripturally based and practically beneficial, which is why I'm sharing them here on the TruthWalk blog. Here they are:

Do not tell God how to use you. Stay open. Stay flexible.
Do not compete or compare. No mortal being can take from you waht God as for you. Just pursue what God places in front of you.
Do not live by your rights, but respond to what is right. People who live by their rights only grow to the level of their demands.
Do not operate from giftedness; operate from brokenness. Your gifts are not a statement of your identity--they are only something God uses. Your real identity is found in Jesus.
Do not make decisions based foremost on your gifts. God wants to grow you and bring about new things. He may want you in a situation outside of your gifts so He an do something greater in your heart and life.

Can you think of some references and real-life examples and incidents from Scripture that validate these principles? Why not write them down next to your own reprint of this list?

The Christ of Christmas is the Christ of the Cross

2011-12-12T12:01:00.001-05:00

The following article was originally published on December 19, 2008:

My dad has always had a knack for writing good poems. Some of them are hilarious. Others are rather profound. All of them convey a wonderful talent that Dad has put to good use over the years.

One of my dad's earlier poems centered on Christmas. In it, Dad encourages his readers to keep their focus on Christ - not in the sense that the world does this time of season but with the knowledge of who He really is and what He came to do.

Many folks have liked the evangelical thrust of this poem so much, that they have placed miniature copies of it in their Christmas cards. Whether you keep this to yourself or pass it on to others, I pray that you will heed its vital message.

The Christ of the Cross
by James W. Fletcher

Amidst all the tinsel and trappings,
The holiday glitter and gloss,
God help us to see past the wrappings,
Remembering Christ and the cross.

While many grow tear-eyed and tender
When scenes of the stable they see,
To little Lord Jesus they'll render their thanks
But not the Christ of the tree.

Now marvel we must at the manger,
The Babe, and the Bethlehem birth.
But, oh, let us stay not a stranger
To why Jesus entered this earth.

For Christ in the cradle could never
Have saved us from infinite loss;
But praise Him forever and ever -
He's also the Christ of the cross!

"Let Freedom Ring"

2011-12-07T17:12:00.007-05:00

So go the lyrics of the hymn, My Country 'Tis of Thee, which served as the de facto national anthem of the United States before the adoption of The Star-Spangled Banner as the official anthem.

Years ago our family lived in Richmond Virginia. The church where I served as an associate pastor was located on Monument Avenue, so named because every few blocks there is a statue that has been erected in honor of an American hero. One such hero is Patrick Henry, a living symbol of America's struggle for liberty, who in March of 1775 uttered those time-honored words, "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death."

For many Americans, this is exactly what they got. Thousands of common people possessing uncommon valor sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom. On this 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we commemorate the 2,402 Americans who lost their lives on that "day of infamy." Like so many other soldiers who have fought for our freedom, including those who are fighting the war on terror today, countless Americans have sacrificed their lives so that their children and succeeding generations might live as free men.

This is the same reason that Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. "It was for freedom that Christ set us free" (Galatians 5:1). Yet it wasn't political freedom that Christ won for us, but spiritual freedom. Jesus himself declared, "If you abide in my word, they you are truly disciples of mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:31-32).

What are the practical implications of this? We don't have to guess, for Scripture tells us: "Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as slaves of God" (1 Peter 2:16). Here in America, one cannot be a free-man if he is a slave. But in the kingdom of God, the only way one can be truly free is to become a slave of Christ.

William Penn wrote, “Men must be governed by God, or they will be ruled by tyrants.” Sin is the cruelest of tyrants. How wonderful it is to know, experience, and declare the Good News of Christmas: "She will bear a Son; and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

Kids Can't Sit on Santa's Lap? - A Sad Consequence of Child Sexual Abuse

2011-11-29T20:47:00.006-05:00

While watching the news this evening, I noticed that much of it was dominated by the child sexual abuse scandals and allegations. Accusations against former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky continue to mount, the most recent charge coming from one of his own grandchildren. Now allegations have been raised against Bernie Fine, assistant basketball coach at Syracuse University.

Then there was the news on the sentencing of Michael Jackson's doctor, who administered a deadly dose of a powerful sedative to treat the pop star's insomnia. Yet most would readily agree that lack of sleep was far from being the greatest of Michael's problems. Rather, it was the child molestation charges that followed Jackson till the day he died.

Our family was living and ministering in the Boston area when Cardinal Law resigned in 2002 over the sexual abuse crisis that Law came to symbolize. At that time many parishioners became disillusioned with the Roman Catholic Church and either abandoned religion altogether or began to check out various Protestant churches that formerly were considered anathema.

Going back to the allegations against the college coaches, my wife made a key observation, saying that she would have never guessed that a football coach or some other guy who comes across as "a man's man" would be involved in such a scandal. It raises the question 'Whom can you trust?'

Apparently not Santa. At least that's the way that the British Department of Education sees it. The Telegraph reported that "parents who have offered to don the red suit have been told that they must not allow youngsters to sit on their laps...." While some consider this restriction as going too far, school officials are standing by their decision, saying that they would rather err on the safe side.

While I'm convinced that heavier restrictions should be placed on coaches, priests and teachers rather than Santa (whose time with children is spent with swarms of parents and other adults standing right there), I can appreciate the growing national and international concern for protecting children from sexual molestation.

The Washington Times divulged some unnerving statistics:

As victims of childhood molestation boys face significant and unique barriers in reporting what they intuitively know is inappropriate behavior. Approximately 1,460 children died in 2005 due to child abuse or neglect. Seventy-nine percent of these children were under the age of 4 years old.
Statistically one in eight males are a victim of abuse and a child has to tell seven adults of suspected abuse before he or she is taken seriously.... Rates of suicide among male victims of childhood sexual abuse are 14 times higher than the norm and they are 38 times more likely to die from a drug overdose.
Male victims are also prone to more aggressive behavior than female victims. A male victim is 53% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile compared to others and 38% more likely to be arrested for violent crime as an adult. Victims face a lifetime battle with depression, anger, addiction and possibly suicide....

Statistics and news stories such as these all remind me afresh of just how vital children's ministry is in the local church. I am thankful to have pastored churches that take this ministry seriously by screening all workers, establishing strict guidelines, building trust with parents, keeping one's integrity in tact, and, best of all, showing the pure and holy love of Christ to the children under their care. Despite the many tragic news stories aired daily, there are also unreported acts of genuine love and kindness, not one of which escapes the Lord's attention.

After all, it was Jesus who said,

Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea....

See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

- Matthew 18:5-6, 10-14

A Song and a Prayer

2011-11-23T10:37:00.009-05:00

Last Friday we had the privilege of seeing our oldest son Matthew graduate from USMC boot camp in Parris Island, SC. This was the culmination of nearly 13 weeks of intense and often grueling training, during which time the only means of communication between us and our son was through "snail-mail" (the U.S. postal system). No phone calls, e-mail, facebook, or Skype - just handwritten letters. Not being able to talk with our son was one of the most difficult aspects of our separation during this training time. At times Matthew's letters had a touch of humor; sometimes they expressed real discouragement and anxiety. In each and every letter, Matthew expressed his continuing need for prayer.

So, like I said, we were thrilled to be reunited with Matthew at his graduation from boot camp, and to bring him home with us for the Thanksgiving holiday. Soon into our long drive home (almost a thousand miles), Matthew asked if he could use my iPod to play some songs over the van speakers. The first song he played was "I Know You're There," by Casting Crowns. The words of the chorus are as follows:

I know You're there,

I know You see me;

You're the air I breathe,

You are the ground beneath me;

I know You're there,

I know You hear me;

I can find You anywhere,

I know You're there.

Matthew said that he thought of this song all the time as he was going through training. Many other Christian songs came to mind as well. This surprised me, as Matthew did not listen primarily to Christian music throughout his high school years, even right up until the time he left for boot camp. Once in a blue moon he would listen to such songs, but in most cases he heard them when we (his mother and I) played listened to them in the house or car.

So I asked Matthew, "Did you remember all the lyrics to this song and the others?" "Yes," he replied. I thought this was really odd, since I had listened to these songs far more than Matthew yet couldn't remember many of the lyrics. Matthew shared that he was equally amazed at this; he wondered how on earth he remembered all the words.

We concluded that the Lord brought them to mind, and that this was in response to the prayers of so many that Matthew would be reminded of, and feel a keen sense of, God's presence throughout his time of training. In his loneliest, most difficult hours, Matthew's heart was renewed and strengthened through the song quoted above, plus the following song entitled "God Will Lift Up Your Head":

Give to the wind your fear

Hope and be undismayed

God hears your sighs and counts your tears

God will lift up, God will lift up, lift up your head.

Through waves and clouds and storms

He gently clears the way

Wait, because in His time, so shall this night

Soon end in joy, soon end in joy,

soon end in joy, soon end in joy.

God will lift up your head.

The above song is based on Psalm 3, wherein David describes God's protection, faithfulness, and encouragement in the face of insurmountable difficulties. Despite his overwhelming circumstances, David testified, "But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head (Psalm 3:3).

How good it is to know that God is always there for us, His children. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5), and He has made good on that promise. His Spirit brings to mind such promises and renews our heart as He fills it. What an amazing thing it is also to see the connection between being filled with the Spirit and making melody in our hearts to the Lord (see Eph. 5:18-20).

So much more could be said, but I'll stop here and thank the Lord once again for His abiding presence and for answered prayer. May we all rejoice in these wonderful truths this Thanksgiving season as well as through each and every day.

Happy Birthday, Billy -- and Thank You

2011-11-08T12:10:00.007-05:00

Yesterday Billy Graham celebrated his 93rd birthday. I still remember the time that I got to meet Dr. Graham in person at a mutual friend's home. What an unforgettable experience that was.

Over the course of his life, Billy Graham has met personally with twelve U.S. Presidents and has preached the gospel in person to more people than any other person in history. By the time he had turned ninety, Graham's lifetime audience, including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2.2 billion.

According to the BGEA staff, more than 3.2 million people have responded to Billy's invitation at the crusades to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Countless others have received Christ upon hearing the Gospel preached by Billy over the airwaves or other means of communication.

One such man was my dad. Yesterday I asked him to share how he personally came to faith in Christ through the preaching of Billy Graham. Here's the story, in my dad's own words:

Billy Graham will always have a warm place in my heart, since he was the human vehicle through whom I came to Christ.

It was September 1958, and I had just been discharged a month early from the U.S. Marine Corps in order to attend college at the University of Richmond. My brother and sister-in-law, both Christians, had invited me to stay with them until I could find a place. One afternoon after class, I was sitting in a corner of their living room, thinking about nothing in particular. Then my sister-in-law began recording a radio message by Rev. Graham, intending to send the tape to her unsaved father. So far as I know, her father never received Christ, but God had someone else in mind. The message being preached that day was about King Agrippa, and I can remember to this day the Word smiting my heart when Agrippa told Paul "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." The Holy Spirit did His convicting work, I repented of my sin, and was saved then and there.

Countless others have been won to the Lord by Billy Graham, but I'm sure he was never aware that in September, 1958, a young college freshman received forgiveness from the Lord who used that message intended for someone else.

"The Exorcist" Turns Forty

2011-11-01T12:05:00.003-05:00

This Halloween I discovered something that might surprise most people: The Exorcist was not intended to frighten its audience.

You're probably thinking, "Yeah, right. It only scared the living daylights out of how many people?"

Still, it's true -- at least according to William Peter Blatty, the guy who wrote both the novel and the screenplay. Before writing The Exorcist, Blatty had been a comic novelist. But while he was a student at Georgetown University in 1941, he got wind of an actual case of demonic possession going on nearby. Blatty remembers thinking, "Someday, somebody's got to write about this, because if an investigation were to prove that possession is real, what a help it would be to the struggling faith of possibly millions, for if there were demons, I reasoned, then why not angels? Why not God?"

Blatty's intention was to write a "novel of faith in the popular dress of a thrilling and suspenseful detective story -- in other words, a sermon that no one could possibly sleep through...." Well, my guess is that most who have seen The Exorcist have not slept through it!

When I was a freshman in Bible college, the professor who taught the angelology/demonology course showed excerpts from The Exorcist to the class. I remember little to none of it -- probably because I had my eyes closed. I had always questioned his wisdom in showing the film, but now that I understand more of its backdrop, I get his reasoning. That's not to say that I agree with it, but I do get it.

Having just preached on Mark 1:21-34 this past Lord's Day, I'm convinced that the record of Scripture provides all the fascinating, factual accounts that we need to understand that demons are both real and powerful. They can completely overcome a person, dominating his thoughts, speech, and behavior. People tormented and possessed by demons tend to be the most repulsive and pitiable. Yet one word from Jesus, "the Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24), sets the demons packing and the people free.

Interestingly, Blatty discovered in his research "that in every period of recorded history, and in every cluture and part of the world, there have been consistent accounts of possession and its symptoms going all the way back to ancient Egyptian chronicles." We who know the Word of God should not be surprised at this, for since mankind's fall into sin, "the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1 John 5:1). But "for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). Melvin Tinker has noted, "Nowhere in the New Testament are believers ever depicted as living in servile fear of demons, that is precisely the state from which they have been delivered by the gospel."

That's "good news" worth celebrating.

Following Jesus: Is It Really a Sacrifice?

2011-10-25T08:09:00.006-05:00

This past Lord's Day I preached on Mark 1:14-20, wherein the Gospel writer recounts Jesus' proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom and His call to four fishermen. We saw that the call to discipleship is a summons to follow Christ, which demands commitment. In considering this point we reflected on how these fishermen left their nets as well as their families "immediately" in order to follow Jesus. We think of their sacrifices and sufferings. Indeed, they gave up a lot. But we also thought about what they gained -- eternal life, forgiveness of sins, the joy and peace that characterizes God's kingdom, plus abilities and opportunities to make a global impact for the sake of the Gospel. In short, they became God's world-changers!

After preaching on this theme Sunday morning, I was doing some light reading later that same day from a book a friend had lent me. In it I found the following quote from the famous missionary David Livingstone. This is an excerpt from a speech he delivered at Cambridge University on December 4, 1857:

People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa.... Away with the word in such a view and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger now and then with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life may make us pause and cause the spirit to waver and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.

Livingstone realized that serving God is a win-win situation; we'll always end up with far more than we gave up. Jesus Himself promised, "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life" (Matt. 19:29).

Pastor Mark Batterson reminds us, "There is an old aphorism: 'No one ever bet too much on a winning horse.' I know this for sure: The only regrets we'll have at the end of our lives will be that we didn't seek God more or seek God sooner."

I agree. Now I'm sitting here wondering why I ever referred to this as "light reading." Actually, it's pretty heavy-duty stuff! And immensely practical, too. The bottom line is: if this is true, what difference will it make in my life? What difference will it make in yours?

Five Minutes That Could Help Your Marriage

2011-06-07T16:52:00.002-05:00

This past Lord's Day, I had the difficult task of bringing before the congregation an unresolved sin issue involving a marriage. When such an issue is raised publicly (in accordance with Matt. 18), it has a way of waking people up to the painful challenges they're facing in their own marriages. Christian husbands and wives realize that if they do not get serious about resolving trouble and tension in their relationship, they may wind up estranged from one another, the Lord, and the church fellowship.

I struggled with the title of this particular post because I don't want to give the impression that I advocate a "quick-fix" approach to serious problems in marriage. Real, lasting change takes time and a lot of help from the Holy Spirit, as we trust Him to help us learn and live out God's truth as revealed in Scripture.

Still, the following five-minute video might be just what you need to re-focus and recommit yourself to the covenant of marriage. Three theologians, who have been married to their wives for a combined total of 116 years, offer some valuable biblically-based counsel on the covenant of marriage. I found it helpful and hope that you will, too. For more information and helpful resources, visit The Gospel Coalition website.

Piper, Carson, and Keller on Sustaining the Covenant of Marital Love from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

A Prayer for "The Family"

2011-06-03T15:20:00.002-05:00

The Valley of Vision is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions by anonymous authors. I use this resource to "beef up" my own prayer life with greater biblical substance. You should never read these while in a rush, for at least two reasons: (1) the language is a bit antiquated, which requires the reader to slow down a bit to grasp what's being said; (2) virtually every line is so rich with scriptural truth and theology, that to read it superficially or casually would seem to be inappropriate or irreverent.

This morning I read slowly, deliberately, and meditatively on the following prayer entitled "The Family." I found it to be wonderfully convicting, comforting, and challenging. It resonated with the desires of my heart to seek out God's best for those whom I love. I share it with you in the hopes that it will stir your heart as well.

O sovereign Lord,

Thou art the Creator-Father of all men, for thou has made and dost support them;

Thou are the special Father of those who know, love, and honour thee,

who find thy yoke easy, and thy burden light,

thy work honourable,

thy commandments glorious.

But how little thy undeserved goodness has affected me!

how imperfectly have I improved my religious privileges!

how negligent have I been in doing good to others!

I am before thee in my trespasses and sins,

have mercy on me,

and may thy goodness bring me to repentance.

Help me to hate and forsake every false way,

to be attentive to my condition and character,

to bridle my tongue,

to keep my heart with all diligence,

to watch and pray against temptation,

to mortify sin,

to be concerned for the salvation of others.

O God, I cannot endure to see the destruction of my kindred.

Let those that are united to me in tender ties

be precious in thy sight and devoted to thy glory.

Sanctify and prosper my domestic devotion,

instruction, discipline, example,

that my house may be a nursery for heaven,

my church the garden of the Lord,

enriched with trees of righteousness

of thy planting, for thy glory;

Let not those of my family who are amiable, moral, attractive,

fall short of heaven at last;

Grant that the promising appearance of a tender conscience,

soft heart, the alarms and delights of thy Word,

be not finally blotted out,

but bring forth judgment unto victory

in all whom I love.

Music to a Pastor's Ears

2011-05-24T13:09:00.004-05:00

The other day one of our former church members was in town and stopped in to see me. In the course of our conversation, I asked how her extended family was doing, which prompted her to tell me about an incident that took place a few years ago.

Her aged father-in-law, who lives in town but attends a theologically liberal, mainline Protestant church, came to our church one Sunday morning. As one of our associate pastors opened the service with a Scripture reading, the lady's father-in-law asked, "What's that sound?" She listened carefully but couldn't hear anything but the pastor's voice coming over the sound system. "Is it a buzzing in the speakers?" she asked. "No, it's not really a buzzing sound," he replied. Then he immediately proceeded to say, "Wait. It just stopped. What was that?"

She didn't have a clue.

Later on in the service, the father-in-law heard this "sound" again and told his daughter-in-law so. Again, she couldn't hear anything and began wondering if he was "losing it." After a few seconds he said, "There! It just stopped again! You couldn't hear it?" "No," she replied, just a bit concerned.

When I got up to preach and announced the sermon text, the aged gentleman turned to his daughter-in-law and said rather emphatically, "There it is again! Listen! Can't you hear it?"

It was then that she heard it. What her father-in-law had been hearing on-and-off again throughout the course of the service was people turning the pages of their Bibles!

This man was not used to hearing this sound, for in his church, people for the most part did not bring their Bibles, and the minister did not preach from the Bible.

How blessed I am to hear the rustling of pages each Lord's Day. It is music to this pastor's ears, and a sound I don't ever want to take for granted. Biblical exposition is cherished in my church, and for that I praise God.

Who's Making the Flat Cakes?

2011-04-15T10:13:00.005-05:00

While reading through the book of First Chronicles, I came across the following section that described the responsibilities of some of the Levites:

Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they were required to count them when they were brought in and taken out. Others of them were appointed over the furniture and over all the holy utensils, also over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices. Others, of the sons of the priests, prepared the mixing of the spices, and Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with making the flat cakes.
- 1 Chronicles 9:28-31

One of those mind-blowing passages, right? Actually, if you're like me, you were probably wondering, "Who cares? What's the big deal? Why all the boring details?"

Yet the other side of my brain says, "Wait. The Bible assures us that 'all Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable ..." (2 Tim. 3:16). So what benefit might the above passage bring us? The ESV (English Standard Version) study note provides some wonderful insight along these lines:

The responsibilities of vv. 28-31 may strike the modern reader as obscure and dull. Perhaps they seemed so to the ancient reader as well. Nevertheless, the whole work of the sanctuary depended on the faithfulness of these men; and all of God's people may take comfort from this reminder that God both notices and remembers those who faithfully perform routine tasks in service to him. The mention of these servants was probably a source of pride to their later descendants.

Isn't that great? I love that! What an encouragement! Church ministry can involve any number of seemingly mundane tasks, such as changing diapers, trimming bushes, raking leaves, running the sound system, passing out bulletins, serving snacks to kids, collecting the offering, and numerous other acts of service. And God takes note of each one! He faithfully rewards every person who serves others in His name.

While others may overlook, fail to acknowledge or appreciate our acts of Christian service (and we all do, because no one is perfect), we can carry on our work with joy because God knows who's making the flat cakes!

No wonder Scripture tells us, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Jesus Christ" (Col. 3:23-24). Amen!

It's a Sink, Not a Urinal

2011-04-12T19:33:00.002-05:00

Okay, I admit, it's kind of an odd name for a blog article. But stick with me for a moment, because there really is a "moral to the story."

Every Tuesday I go to a local engineering company where I serve as the corporate chaplain. Rarely do I need to use the restroom while I'm there, but every now and then nature calls. Such was the case today. So I went into the men's restroom and made the same mistake I almost always do. I keep thinking that the large metal trough to my left is some kind of "community urinal" when in fact it is the sink. The first time I went into this bathroom, I approached this trough and was about to micturate (yep, that's the formal term), when I saw a man stick his hands in it, push some kind of petal with his feet, and out came water through holes that I hadn't seen. Whew. That would have been really bad if he had walked in just a few seconds later.

I have to remind myself nearly every time I go into that restroom that the trough to my left is a sink, not a urinal!

What's the point to my telling you all this? Well, I think there's a parallel to the sink and the sanctuary. Both are intended to be resources for cleanliness. A key reason we gather with the saints for worship is to spur one another on to love and good works (Heb. 10:24-25). We go to build up the body of Christ, so that we grow up to maturity in Him (Eph. 4:12-16). We come to pray, confess our faults to one another, hear the preached Word, and press on in our walk with Christ.

Yet if we're not careful, we can treat the Lord's house like a urinal. Instead of cleansing ourselves, we can contaminate others with ungodly attitudes and words. Just as urine and other waste products are undesirable to the body and irritating to the skin and eyes, so are thoughtless words and carnal attitudes to the body of Christ. When we criticize, complain, and gossip, we are "urinating in the sink," so to speak.

Maybe this is somewhat of a crude illustration, but I couldn't let it pass (pun intended). Please take it to heart. When you come to church, treat it like a sink, not a urinal.

Sweet Suffering

2011-04-01T08:10:00.003-05:00

Cancer. Just the sound of the word fills our hearts with fear and dread. It's a terrifying diagnosis. For many of us, this disease threatens to rob us of our health, our energy, our vitality, and our sense of well-being. It endangers our ability to provide for ourselves and take care of our families. It may steal our identity, our sense of purpose and significance. It can ruin our best-laid plans, destroy our hopes and dreams. It has taken friends and loved ones from us far too soon.

Cancer is a powerful enemy. But it's not all-powerful. . . .

This is the opening quote of a gospel tract entitled What Cancer Can't Do. I keep a supply of them on hand because I regularly come across people who are suffering from cancer or know somebody who is. Of course the point of the tract is: God is the one who is more powerful than cancer, and He is the one "who comforts us in all our affliction" (2 Cor. 1:4).

Just this morning I was at a local gym working out, when I ran into an older brother in the Lord. He doesn't go to our church, but is a member at another evangelical church closer to Boston. I met this guy some time ago, and as we talked, he informed me that his wife has cancer. I promised to pray for her, and even paid a visit to their house on one occasion.

This morning I asked him how she was doing, and he said she's finishing up chemotherapy treatment that has been going on for about a year. After the first cycle of treatments, the doctors found that the tumor had not shrunk but had actually grown. Needless to say, this news was very disheartening to this couple who have been married for nearly half a century.

Yet as this brother updated me on this difficult situation, he said, "But we have our devotions each morning out in the sunroom. That's been our sweetest time of the day as we read our Bible and pray together. Some time ago my wife told me that she's changed the nature of her prayer. At first she was praying, 'Lord, take this cancer away.' Now we're praying, 'Lord, do whatever You want. We give this cancer to You.'"

He said this with a lump in his throat and tears in his eyes. This brother and his dear wife have found a sweetness in their suffering.

This experience is not unique to them, but is the "mournful joy" of every believer in Christ. The apostle Paul said it perfectly:

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.... So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
- 2 Cor. 4:8-9, 16-18

Shortly after returning from the gym, I found out that another Christian brother had just died of heart disease. He was in the prime of his life and leaves behind his dear wife and two young boys. Thankfully, his wife knows Christ, as do other members in his family. For them, there is a sweetness in their suffering.

John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress, wrote, "In times of affliction we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God."

Thank you, Father, that nothing can separate us from your love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, and that we are more than conquerors through him (Rom. 8:37-39).

A Minister's Millstone

2011-03-09T12:44:00.013-05:00

Vitriolic minister Fred Phelps and his hate-crazed congregation of Westoro Baptist Church (WBC) have made the headlines once again. This time it was for picketing at the funeral of 20-year-old U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder, who died from a non-combat-related vehicle accident in Iraq on March 3, 2006. The WBC members held up placards that said "Thank God for Dead Soldiers, "Semper Fi Fags," "God Hates You," and "America Is Doomed." Though Matthew Snyder was not gay, the Westboro Baptist congregation insists that U.S. military deaths are God's vengeance on the United States of America for its tolerance of homosexuality.

Albert Snyder, Matthew's father, sued Fred Phelps for defamation, intrusion upon seclusion, publicity given to private life, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Mr. Snyder, who said of his son, "He was a hero and he was the love of my life," said of the WBC protesters, "They turned this funeral into a media circus and they wanted to hurt my family. They wanted their message heard and they didn't care who they stepped over. My son should have been buried with dignity, not with a bunch of clowns outside."

Last Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that the Westboro congregation was constitutionally protected from Snyder's lawsuit, in light of the First Amendment.

This Wednesday, students here on the South Shore of Massachusetts partook in a discussion of this case, with the primary question being: Does the First Amendment right to freedom of speech protect protesters at a funeral, even though they are intentionally inflicting emotional distress on the family of the deceased? The two sides to this debate are summed up by the school administration as "Snyder's (The Dad) Argument" and "Phelp's (The Church) Argument."

The fall-out from this whole fiasco is apparent, summed up well by a Christian friend who serves on the school faculty/staff:
"This church is smearing the name of "Baptist" and more importantly Christianity. Most of the teachers and students will, in my guess, side with the father and will have further "cemented" in their minds that Christians are an intolerant, unloving, homophobic group."

Phelps and his congregation would do well to heed the warnings of the God they think they know so well. Jesus declared,

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the heart of the sea. Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!"
- Matthew 18:6-7

The "little ones" Jesus refers to in these verses are identified as new, impressionable believers. Jesus compares these spiritual children to physical children, for whom He also cares immensely, saying to His disciples, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19:14).

In commenting on Matthew 18:7 (quoted above), William MacDonald writes,

"The world, the flesh, and the devil are leagued to seduce and pervert. But if a person becomes an agent for the forces of evil, his guilt will be great."

Indeed, Jesus says it would be better to die a violent death (i.e., having a millstone wrapped tied around your neck and be drowned in the ocean) than to destroy the innocence of another.

If anyone will suffer the judgment of God for such an offense, it will be a "minister" who in the name of God convinces children of his own congregation to carry hateful placards that grossly misrepresent the God of the Bible, and who creates confusion in the minds of school kids who are now convinced that all Baptists are homophobic bigots.

How do we counteract such atrocities? By faithfully living Gospel-centered lives. How important it is to show the world around us the essence of true Christianity! By God's grace we can do this, as we are filled with His Spirit and live according to His Word.

The evil influence of Fred Phelps and his disillusioned followers will be overcome by power of the gospel. May this encourage us and embolden us as Jesus' true ambassadors.

"Though He Died, He Still Speaks"

2011-02-25T11:55:00.008-05:00

This quote, taken from Hebrews 11:4, is on my heart this morning.

That's because last night, while lying in bed, before turning the light out, I was reading James Boice’s commentary on Matthew 11, in preparation for my upcoming sermon. Dr. Boice’s insights reflected a robust theology, a pastor’s heart, an evangelistic spirit, and a sensitivity to the human condition.

For a moment my thoughts drifted back to 1999. I was in my first year of ministry at First Baptist Church, and that fall I had attended a Bible conference at another local church less than thirty minutes away. James Boice was the keynote speaker, so I had the privilege of hearing (and meeting) him in person. This was quite an honor for me, for I’ve had a great deal of respect for Dr. Boice over the years. He became the pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1968, the year I was born. Moreover, Dr. Boice decided at the age of twelve to become a minister of the gospel. This is exactly how old I was when I sensed God’s call to full-time gospel ministry.

Just months after I had the joy of meeting Dr. Boice and hearing him expound the Word of God, he was diagnosed as having an aggressive form of liver cancer. He found this out on Good Friday, just two hours before he was scheduled to preach. Dr. Boice mounted the pulpit of Tenth Presbyterian Church for the last time on Sunday, May 7, 2000. He announced to his stunned congregation that he was rapidly dying of cancer. He said to them,

Should you pray for a miracle? Well, you’re free to do that, of course. My general impression is that the God who is able to perform miracles--and he certainly can--is also able to keep you from getting the problem in the first place. . . . Above all, I would say pray for the glory of God. If you think of God glorifying himself in history and you say, “Where in all of history has God most glorified himself?” the answer is that he did it at the cross of Jesus Christ, and it wasn’t by delivering Jesus from the cross, though he could have. . . . And yet that’s where God is most glorified.”

On June 15, 2000, at the age of sixty-one, James Montgomery Boice died peacefully in his sleep, just eight weeks after his diagnosis. Exactly two weeks earlier, my own mother had peacefully entered into the Lord’s presence.

How do you think you would react if you were given news of your impending death? Would your heart and mind go immediately to the glory of God as revealed through the cross of Jesus Christ? The apostle Paul lived with the cross always in view. He boasted only in the cross (Gal. 6:14) and made his life count for Christ.

Right now I am forty-two. I may not live to be forty-three. Perhaps I’ll enter the Lord’s presence when I’m fifty-two, as was my mom, or maybe I’ll go to heaven when I’m sixty-one, like Dr. Boice. Whatever the case, one thing is for sure: “Only one life will soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”

I often think of Moses' prayer, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12). What my wife and I want--and what we want for our children and church family--is to make every moment count for Christ. Our desire is, as Jim Elliot put it, is to live to the hilt every situation we believe to be the will of God. We must repent daily over self-interest, squandered time, vain pursuits, trivial interests and activities. We are put here for a purpose, and we fulfill our life’s mission by our faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Limping Along

2011-02-22T17:19:00.006-05:00

Some time ago, our pet beagle Buster injured his right hind leg. Ever since then, he's been walking with a limp. Because he's not using the one leg at all, its muscles are shriveling up. Though the other hind leg has gotten more muscular, the limp is throwing his whole body off kelter. So this is not a good thing.

I thought of this the other night while talking to one of our faithful nursery workers here at church. She loves the children and has a real heart for that area of ministry. But she shared a prayer request that more church members would serve on the rotation. She then commented, "Doesn't this have to do with that statistic about 20 percent of the people doing 80 percent of the work?" The problem, she noted, is that even the most dedicated servants get tired and discouraged over time when there's no one to help them.

That's when I thought of Buster. It's not good for him not to be using that leg for so long. It signals that there's a problem that needs to be checked out. Perhaps he needs surgery. At the very least he needs therapy. Even though his limp on the one side has made his other hind leg stronger, even that will eventually feel the wear and tear of carrying the burden of his body weight. God designed dogs to walk on all fours, not three out of four. Over time, this limp will affect his other joints as well. Why? Because everything is off balance, due to compensating for his lame leg.

If we're not careful, something similar can happen to the body of Christ. The Bible says that God has given each member of Christ's body certain spiritual gifts so that the body can function properly and grow to maturity as each member does its part (see 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:15-16). Of course the negative implication is that if each member does not do its part, then the whole body suffers. Everyone else is trying to pick up the slack, doing things they weren't intended to. As a result, the other members get worn out, the ministry becomes dysfunctional, and the whole body suffers.

At our church, we strive for an "every-member ministry." That's the way God designed the body to run -- not limp. As I consider our many members and ministries, I'm thankful that most people are plugged in. Yet I can see a few areas here and there that are lacking (or should I say limping), and needlessly so. If we all exercise our spiritual muscles, putting them to good use in the service of our Lord, the body of Christ will not be lacking ... or limping!

So, how are you using your gifts to build up the body of Christ?

We Will Hold On

2011-02-08T21:52:00.002-05:00

On Sunday mornings our congregation is working through the Gospel of Matthew. Right now we're in the midst of chapter ten, where Jesus sends out the Twelve to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." He warns them of the persecution that's going to come their way for preaching the gospel of the kingdom. The good news for believers is that when persecution comes, we don't need to panic. All we have to do is follow God's plan.

In one sense that's rather simple, isn't it. But it's by no means easy. In fact, it's impossible apart from God's power. That's why it's so important to hold on to His love. Paul Baloche has a song by that title, which will be introduced to our congregation this coming Lord's Day. But in the meantime, I thought it would be good for our church body--and anyone else who visits this blog site--to understand the central message of the song. We live in a culture which will hate us for the gospel's sake. When persecution comes, will you hold on to His love? I hope you will, for His love is better than life (Ps. 63:3).

R. C. Sproul Addresses the Issue of Abortion

2011-01-22T22:23:00.003-05:00

Theologian R. C. Sproul talks about the 20th anniversary edition of his book, Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue.

R.C. Sproul Discusses the Issue of Abortion from Ligonier on Vimeo.

My Son's Resolution

2011-01-04T16:16:00.004-05:00

My son Ethan is a student at one of our public middle schools. Today he brought home a paper that he had written. The assigned theme was New Year's resolutions.

I was blessed by what Ethan wrote (I had no idea what it was until today), and he granted me permission to share it with the TruthWalk readership. Many of you know my son Ethan, and I think you will appreciate most of all what he wrote. Here it is verbatim:

Many people use New Years to resolve things.

I resolved to do my Devotions faithfully to the Lord. Well I am Reading and praying, I or you should know who we are reading about and who we are talking to well I am praying. The reason I choose this is that I know that it is important to do every single day. When I do my devotions I should always know what I am reading about, and even though we don't like reading that much it is worth it. When I do my devotions I rush sometimes so I can go on the computer or watch TV. But now that I am writing this I really know that I should take my time and just really think of who he is. Where God is right now there is no madness, sadness, arguing, swaring [sic], fighting or Bullying, there is none of that in heaven. So this is why I am picking that should do my devotions and be like him and know him every single day.

What did Ethan's teacher say about his paper? One word: "Good." She also asked where he went to church. Pretty cool, huh? It seems to me a seed was planted. May God be pleased to water it and bring forth fruit.

By the way, how is your devotional life?

"Make Believe"

2010-12-16T21:15:00.004-05:00

God has blessed the human mind with the gift of imagination. Young children utilize this gift well, and parents find it marvelously entertaining.

My dad and mom were no exception. Once while watching us children play, Dad recorded his thoughts in the form of a rhyme. More than that, he brought to light the spiritual realities that are at stake when it comes to differentiating fantasy from reality.

Make Believe

I often watch my children play,

And how amazed am I that they

Are occupied for hours on end

With games that start with “Let’s pretend.”

They play at “house”, they play at “store”;

They play at “school”, they play at “war”.

They play at “cops and robbers”, too;

There’s nothing little minds can’t do.

Yes, “let’s pretend” contributes joy

To every little girl and boy;

And drab and dull would childhood be,

If it were not for fantasy.

The thought that weighs upon my mind

Is: Some don’t leave those years behind.

Concerning things “beyond the veil”,

They still let fantasy prevail.

They make believe there is no hell;

They make believe their souls are well;

They reason, under false pretense,

That works will be their sure defense.

Behold, the final, fearful end

Of those, like babes, who still pretend!

For in eternal things, you see,

There is no room for fantasy.

For fantasy oft times conflicts

With that which God on high edicts;

And fiction from the days of youth

Must not displace the written truth.

Because the Bible doth reveal

That mankind’s need for Christ is real.

Imagination has a role,

But not in matters of the soul.

And what of you, good Christian friend?

Do you serve God, or just pretend?

Do you the Holy Spirit grieve,

By service only “make believe”?

Sleepless in Massachusetts

2010-12-01T09:42:00.001-05:00

Do you ever have trouble sleeping at night? Last night was one of those nights for us. I had trouble sleeping in the middle of the night, as did a few of my other family members. Whenever I have trouble sleeping, I wonder if God wants me to pray about certain things or perhaps simply to contemplate who He is in the quietness of the night. Some things were undoubtedly weighing on my heart and mind, so I gave these to the Lord, knowing that He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). If God keeps us awake at night, then clearly He has something better for us than sleep. Maybe it's to pray ... meditate on a truth of Scripture ... reflect on our life as a family ... or simply listen to hear His voice. Whatever the case, we should take full advantage of these opportunities. Yes, we may be tired, but in those moments, God has something more precious for us than sleep.

I'm sure David had many sleepless nights when he was in the wilderness of Judah, being chased by murderous King Saul. (That would be somewhat stressful, don't you think?) Nevertheless David testified to the Lord,

You satisfy me more than the richest feast.

I will praise you with songs of joy.

I lie awake thinking of you,

meditating on you through the night.

Because you are my helper,

I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 63:5-7

May these verses encourage you to think on the Lord and enjoy His fellowship, even as the world around you sleeps.

The Story of Jonah - Like You've Never Heard It!

2010-11-19T14:08:00.002-05:00

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.

I Stand Corrected!

2010-11-03T10:58:00.002-05:00

Whenever my wife goes away (which is rare), I get a renewed appreciation for all she does here in our home. In a family with four boys (five if you include me), keeping up on laundry alone can be nearly a full-time job!

This is what I was attempting to do last evening with Ethan, one of my younger sons. We brought down from the upstairs the hampers of dirty laundry and dumped it all out on the floor. Ethan helped me separate the white clothing from the colored, and I began throwing the whites into the . . . dryer. After a moment I realized what I was doing, shook my head and sighed, "What am I doing throwing these into the dryer? They go in the washer!" Ethan responded, "Yeah, I know. I wondered what you were doing." To which I responded, "If you knew that, why didn't you say something?" My son replied, "I thought that it wasn't nice for children to correct their parents."

I've thought about that remark several times since. I responded to my son initially by saying, "Well, it's good that you're sensitive to that, and children should certainly show respect to their parents. But even parents make mistakes and need to be corrected. So it's okay to do that as long as you go about it in the right way."

But as I thought on this more, I began wondering if I am as open to correction as I'd like to think I am. On several occasions my children have heard their mother or me apologize and ask for forgiveness if we've done something wrong. But what if we don't see it or acknowledge it? It's still a sin - or at least a mistake (if it doesn't involve wrongdoing) - isn't it? Of course it is. We correct our children all the time!

How important it is, then, to let my children know that I also am not above correction. Parents too are human, and therefore quite fallible and sinful. My children must know that it is commendable to correct me when I'm wrong or to make me aware of my mistakes. Again, children must do so respectfully, in a way that honors the Lord and their parents. But in showing humility, accessibility, and teachability on our part, we are instilling in them by our example the very character traits we want them to possess and express in their own lives.

Even this morning after my oldest teenage son had left for school, I sent him a text message which said - and I quote: "Did u take my good dress belt?! I went to where it and can't find it!!" Now in addition to using the wrong kind of "where" [wear] in my message, I made another mistake. Right after sending the message, I thought, "Great. Now I'll have to wear my older, more casual belt with these dress pants!" As I went to put it on, I made this amazing discovery: I had already put on a belt. My dress belt! I sent my son a second text, saying, "Never mind. I got it. Sorry."

Come to think of it, maybe my daughter didn't take my iPod recharger cord either.

Correction isn't just for kids; parents need it, too. Do your children know that?

Bible Quiz Answers

2010-10-23T14:51:00.004-05:00

ANSWERS TO BIBLE QUIZ

1. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

2. Psalms.

3. Luke.

4. Romans 6:23.

5. 8. Noah and his wife, their 3 sons and their wives (I Peter 3:20).

6. “All things whatsoever you would that men would do to you, do you also unto them” (Matt. 7:12).

7. Noah, Moses, David, Daniel, Paul.

8. 66 (39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament).

9. Adam and Eve.

10. You shall have no other gods before me, you shall not make any graven images, you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, remember the Sabbath day, honor your father and your mother, you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, and you shall not covet [abridged wording].

11. Invisible beings created by God.

12. Esau.

13. David.

14. Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan, the Sower, the Lost Coin, the Lost Sheep, the Treasure in the Field, the Pearl of Great Price, the Great Feast, etc.

15. Three.

16. A doctor (Col. 4:14).

17. Levi.

18. The Old Testament.

19. Greek.

20. Trust in what God says.

21. Jesus (Acts 20:35).

22. True.

23. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

24. Tower of Babel, Tabernacle, Temple, Church.

25. “You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. . . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37,39).

26. Saul, David and Solomon.

27. No.

28. Michael, Gabriel, and Satan (fallen angel). Some add Wormwood (Rev. 8:11).

No other angel is named in the Bible.

29. Moses.

30. Both, on separate occasions (Matt. 14 and 15).

31. Twelve: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Could you have named them?

32. John 11:25.

33. A tax collector.

34. John 2.

35. Neither. It is not in the Bible at all. There is no such book.

36. Reuben, Judah, Issachar, Levi, Dan, Zebulon, Benjamin, Simeon, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, and Joseph (which was divided into Ephraim and Mannaseh).

37. Methulseleh – 969 years (Gen. 5:27).

38. A Christian. All Christians are saints.

39. Psalm 119. It has 176 verses, far longer than any other chapter.

40. Genesis, Exedus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

41. John the Apostle.

42. The Devil, the Temptor, Beelzebub, the Serpent, the Dragon, the Evil One, the Prince of the Power of the Air, Lucifer, Prince of Demons, etc.

43. Lamb.

44. Praise the Lord.

45. The Book of Judges (chapters 13-16).

46. Greek. The Old Testament was translated about 200 BC.

47. John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”

48. Peter, James, John, Andrew, James the Younger, Matthew (Levi), Simon the Zealot, Philip, Thaddaeus (Judas, not Iscariot), Bartholomew (Nathaniel), Thomas, and Judas Iscariot.

49. Flood, Exodus, Babylonian Captivity, Dispersion, and the Crucifixion.

50. Enoch and Elijah.

51. All men (I Cor. 15; Daniel 12:2). But only Christians get perfect bodies.

52. False.

53. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, I Peter, II Peter, I John, II John, III John, Jude, and Revelation.

54. Yes. See Matthew 5:8.

55. Our inheriting Adam’s sin. See Romans 5.

56. Turning water into wine, feeding the 4,000 and 5,000, raising Lazarus, walking on water, stopping the storm, healing the blind, etc.

57. This saying is not in the Bible. A similar proverb is in Proverbs 13:24.

58. Hebrew and a few chapters in Aramaic (mainly in Daniel).

59. The New Testament.

60. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome.

61. Anointed.

62. False. We are not saved by good works at all.

63. Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.

64. Solomon.

65. Genesis 1:1.

66. Judah.

67. Passover (or Unleavened Bread), Pentecost (or Weeks), Tabernacles, Sabbath, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Purim. Hanukkah is not in the Bible.

68. John the Baptist. See Matt. 11:11.

69. Daniel 5.

70. Caesar Augustus.

71. False. Moses died in the Wilderness. Joshua led Israel into the Land.

72. Regeneration.

73. This is in Poor Richard’s Almanac by Benjamin Franklin, not the Bible.

74. John 1:1, 8:24,58, 20:28, Rom. 9:5, Titus 2:13, I Tim. 3:16, etc.

75. Matthew, Chapter 2.

76. All of these.

77. Heaven.

78. The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms (or Writings). See Luke 24:44.

79. God chose only some to be saved. See Eph. 1, Rom. 9, John 15:16, etc.

80. No errors at all. See John 17:17, "Thy Word is truth.".

81. It is not in the Bible at all.

82. Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter.

83. Called-out assembly.

84. Rom. 3:20,28, 5:1, Gal. 2:16, 3:11, Eph. 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, etc.

85. Love. See I Cor. 13:13.

86. Luke 10.

87. A real place. Also known as Hades, Gehenna and the Lake of Fire.

88. Eve, Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Mary, and Lydia.

89. John 10.

90. Only the High Priest.

91. Faith alone. See answer to question 84 above.

92. This is the term for the Five Books of Moses. It is also known as the Torah.

93. Luke 15.

94. Ephesians 5:22,25; Col. 3:18-19 (cf. Also I Peter 3:1,7).

95. Fallen angels.

96. Mary.

97. Acts 16:31.

98. Samson.

99. John the Baptist.

100. Matt. 28:19, Luke 3:22, II Cor. 13:14, Eph. 2:18, I Peter 1:2, etc.

100 Questions

2010-10-20T08:04:00.003-05:00

The following Bible questions were sent to me from a pastoral colleague. They were originally compiled by Curt Daniel.

Why not carve out some time to take this quiz? I'll post the answers soon.

BIBLE QUIZ

This test is designed to help Christians discover how much they know about the Bible. There are no trick questions, nor questions about small details. Please do not use your Bible when taking the test. An answer sheet is provided, together with Scripture references where appropriate.

1. Name the four Gospels.

2. What is the longest book in the Bible?

3. Who wrote the Acts of the Apostles?

4. Which book says, “The wages of sin is death”?

5. How many people were on Noah’s Ark?

6. What is the Golden Rule?

7. Put in chronological order: Daniel, Noah, Paul, Moses and David.

8. How many books are there in the Bible?

9. Who were the first two people?

10. Name the Ten Commandments.

11. Angels are: ghosts of dead people, children who died in infancy, genies, or invisible beings created by God?

12. Who was the brother of Jacob?

13. Who wrote Psalm 23?

14. Name three of Jesus’ parables.

15. How many epistles were written by John?

16. Was Luke: a fisherman, an apostle, a doctor or a shepherd?

17. Which tribe did Moses belong to?

18. Is Daniel in the Old or the New Testament?

19. In what language was the New Testament written?

20. Faith is: a leap into the dark, trust in what God says, believing in something you know isn’t true, or a religious feeling?

21. Who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”?

22. True or false: James and John were brothers.

23. Who were the three patriarchs?

24. Put in chronological order: Temple, Church, Tower of Babel, Tabernacle.

25. What did Jesus say were the two greatest commandments?

26. Name the first three kings of Israel.

27. Is Santa Claus in the Bible?

28. Give the name of at least one angel.

29. Who wrote the Book of Deuteronomy?

30. Did Jesus feed 4,000 or 5,000 people with the loaves and fishes?

31. How many Minor Prophets are there?

32. Which book says, “I am the resurrection and the life”?

33. Was Matthew: a carpenter, a centurion, a tax collector, or a priest?

34. Which Gospel records Jesus turning water into wine?

35. Is the Book of Hezekiah in the Old or the New Testament?

36. Name the twelve tribes of Israel.

37. Who was the oldest person in the Bible?

38. A saint is: a sinless person, an apostle, a pope, a Christian, an angel?

39. What is the longest chapter in the Bible?

40. Name the Five Books of Moses.

41. Who wrote the Book of Revelation?

42. Give three names or titles for Satan.

43. What kind of meat was eaten at the Passover?

44. Hallelujah means: I believe, hosanna, wow, praise the Lord, or amen?

45. Which book tells us the life of Samson?

46. What was the first language the Bible was translated into?

47. What is the shortest verse in the Bible?

48. Name the twelve apostles.

49. Put in chronological order: the Dispersion, the Crucifixion, the Flood, the Babylonian Captivity, and the Exodus.

50. Name someone who went to Heaven without dying.

51. Who will be raised from the dead: all men, Christians only, or angels?

52. True or false: We are saved by being baptized in water.

53. Name the Books of the New Testament.

54. Will we see God in Heaven?

55. Original Sin means: demon possession, Adam and Eve having sex, Eve eating the Forbidden Fruit, or our inheriting Adam’s Sin?

56. Name three of Christ’s miracles.

57. Which book says, “Spare the rod and spoil the child”?

58. In what language was the Old Testament written?

59. Is the Book of Hebrews in the Old or the New Testament?

60. Put in chronological order the nations that held Israel captive: Greece, Egypt, Babylon, Rome, Assyria, and Persia.

61. Christ means: Master, High Priest, Annointed, Savior, Lord, or Redeemer?

62. True or false: God will save someone if he has more good works than sins.

63. Where are the 10 Commandments located in the Bible?

64. Who wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes?

65. Which book says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth”?

66. Which tribe of Israel did Jesus belong to?

67. Name 3 of Israel’s feasts or festivals.

68. Who was the greatest man before Jesus: David, Abraham, Solomon, John the Baptist, Moses or Adam?

69. Which book mentions the handwriting on the wall?

70. Who was Caesar when Jesus was born: Herod, Caesar Augustus, Pilate, Nero, or Julius Caesar?

71. True or false: Moses led Israel into the Promised Land.

72. Being born again means: reincarnation, regeneration, redemption, or restitution?

73. Which book says, “God helps those who help themselves”?

74. Give a Bible verse that explicitly says that Jesus is God.

75. Which Gospel mentions the Star of Bethlehem?

76. Was David: a prophet, a shepherd, a soldier, a musician, or a king?

77. When a Christian dies, he goes straight to: Purgatory, Heaven, Hades, unconscious sleep in the grave, or back to Earth?

78. What are the three divisions of the Old Testament?

79. Election means: God chose only some people to be saved, our parents dedicated us to God, or God chose those He knew would believe in Jesus?

80. Does the Bible contain many, a few, or no errors at all?

81. Is the Book of Enoch in the Old or the New Testament?

82. Put in chronological order: Jeremiah, Elijah, Samuel, Peter, Isaiah.

83. Church means: Temple, Christian building, called-out assembly, or nation?

84. Give a Bible verse that teaches justification by faith alone.

85. Which is the greatest: hope, love or faith?

86. Which Gospel has the Parable of the Good Samaritan?

87. Hell is: a real place, a myth, here on Earth, Purgatory, or nowhere?

88. Put in chronological order: Sarah, Lydia, Ruth, Mary, Eve, and Esther.

89. Which book says, “I am the Good Shepherd”?

90. Who could enter the Holy of Holies: the pope, Moses, a priest, an apostle, the High Priest, only angels?

91. We are saved by: faith, good works, or faith and good works?

92. What is the Pentateuch?

93. Which Gospel records the Parable of the Prodigal Son?

94. Which book says, “Wives, submit to your husbands. Husbands, love your wives”?

95. Demons are: goblins, fallen angels, ghosts of dead people, or myths?

96. Who was Jesus’ mother?

97. Which book says: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”?

98. Who was the strongest man to ever live: Hercules, Samson, or Goliath?

99. Who baptized Jesus?

100. Give a verse that teaches the doctrine of the Trinity.

The Simplicity of God

2010-10-06T10:31:00.002-05:00

Recently I attended the Expositors’ Conference in Mobile, Alabama, with Drs. Steven Lawson and R. C. Sproul. What a blessing it was to sit under the preaching of the Word by these godly pastors for two full days! (Afterward I got to spend a couple of days with family in Tennessee, which was also nice.) While introducing one of his sermons, Dr. Sproul stated that one of the most neglected doctrines in the church today is the simplicity of God. By this we mean not that God is easy to figure out or comprehend, but that God is not composed of parts. Whereas humans are compounded creatures, such is not the case with our Creator. God is love (1 John 4:8), and God is light (1 John 1:5), but nothing in Scripture suggests that God is part love and part light. Rather, God is Himself both love and light. The same is true in refer-ence to all of God’s other attributes. For instance, in Exodus 34:6-8 we read,

The LORD passed before [Moses] and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

God is His attributes; He is entirely loving, entirely merciful, entirely just, and so forth. Thus when we emphasize some of God’s attributes to the exclusion of others, we misunderstand and misrepresent who God is and wind up with a god of our own choosing. This is idolatry.

On the other hand, if we embrace God’s simplicity and seek to understand His unity, we come to know, love, and worship Him for who He really is, even as Moses did. We see that different attributes of God are emphasized at different times for specific purposes. We come to appreciate God’s individual attributes while celebrating the unity of His divine essence. Our God is an awesome God! May we worship Him by being consistent in our own character - not only as individual believers but also corporately as the body of Christ.

Beautiful Words for Beleaguered Parents

2010-09-17T17:46:00.004-05:00

For many years, the writings of Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) have been a perpetual source of encouragement to me. Next to the Holy Scriptures themselves, no other writings have so enriched my walk with God. In my darkest moments, Spurgeon's scriptural reflections and applications have been a tonic to my soul.

No doubt one of the reasons that Spurgeon's words brought such great comfort to his hearers was because he himself struggled with depression. The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1 that we as believers are able to comfort others with the same comfort we ourselves have received from God.

One such word of comfort is extended to parents who find themselves disheartened in their child-rearing efforts. Parenting is one of the toughest challenges we face as believers on earth. We face many hindrances, not the least of which is our own fallenness and susceptibility to sin. Recall Jesus' words in Matthew 7 when He said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall our Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" (italics added). Compared to our holy heavenly Father, we earthly parents are evil. Still, we love our children and know how to give good things to them.

Yes, our own sinfulness as parents creates a hindrance in our attempts to shepherd our children. But provided that we are making it our aim to please Christ in all that we say and do, fighting the good fight of faith, the battle grows weary when our children persist in their sin. Nothing is more painful than when our children refuse the best that we can offer them: the gospel and all the promise it holds forth for their lives. Some reject the gospel altogether, showing no interest in having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Others "claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him" (Titus 1:16). Still others are like the Galatians: after starting their Christian lives by the Spirit, they're trying to become perfect by their own human efforts - and failing miserably.

Be encouraged by what Charles Spurgeon writes in the September 17 morning entry of his devotional classic Morning & Evening. These are beautiful words for beleaguered parents, based on Jesus' words in Mark 9:19, "Bring him unto me."

Despairingly, the poor, disappointed father turned away from the disciples to their Master. His son was in the worst possible condition, and all means had failed. But the pitiful child was soon delivered from the evil one when the parent, in faith, obeyed the Lord Jesus' word, "Bring him unto me." Children are a precious gift from God, but much anxiety comes with them. They may be a great joy or a great bitterness to their parents. They may be filled with the Spirit of God or possessed with the spirit of evil. In all cases, the Word of God gives us one prescription for the curing of all their ills, "Bring [them] unto me." Oh, for more agonizing on their behalf while they are yet babies! Sin is there, so let our prayers begin to attack it. Our cries for our offspring should precede those cries that announce their actual advent into the world of sin. In the days of their youth, we will see sad indicators of that dumb and deaf spirit that will neither pray aright, nor hear the voice of God in the soul. Still, Jesus commands, "Bring [them] unto me." When they are grown up, they may wallow in sin and display enmity against God. Then, when our hearts are breaking, we should remember the Great Physician's words, "Bring [them] unto me." We must never cease to pray until they cease to breathe. No case is hopeless while Jesus lives. The Lord sometimes allows His people to be driven into a corner so that they may know how necessary He is to them. Ungodly children, when they show us our own powerlessness against the depravity of their hearts, drive us to flee to the Strong One for strength, and this is a great blessing to us. Whatever our ... need may be, let it, like a strong current, bear us to the ocean of divine love. Jesus can soon remove our sorrow. He delights to comfort us. Let us hasten to Him while He waits to meet us.

Confessing Lust

2010-09-08T07:29:00.002-05:00

In the following video, biblical counselor David Powlison answers a tough question: how specific should a husband be in confessing sins of lust to his wife? (Our thanks to Tim Challies for posting this on his blog.)

No Distinction

2010-08-25T09:56:00.004-05:00

This morning I came across a great quote by Charles Spurgeon in his devotional classic Morning and Evening. He said, "God makes no distinction in His love for His children."

As soon as I read that, the glorious reality of it was impressed on my heart. God loves all His children equally. This means that God loves me every bit as much as He does Billy Graham, John MacArthur, Chuck Swindoll, Joni Eareckson Tada, the most committed missionaries, Bible expositors and Christian authors. God loves me as much as the precious orphan in the third-world country that has given his or her heart to Christ.

The Bible teaches that God loves all people, but He does not love all people equally. There is a great divine love that God has for all humanity. "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son . . ." (John 3:16). Yet the love that God has for His elect is so far greater than the general love He has for the world in general, that the latter is hatred by comparison. "As it is written, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated'" (Rom. 9:13; cf. Mal. 1:2-3). God's love toward His people, as suggested by the term "elect," is a love of choice. It refers to God's sovereign grace, His special favor that He bestows on those whom He chose in Christ

before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
- Ephesians 1:4-5; italics added

We see from this text of Scripture (and numerous others) that our adoption is based not on our performance, our personality, or anything else that made us more worthy than the non-elect. Scripture makes it clear that God's choice to love us, redeem us, and make us His people was all according to His purpose and therefore "to the praise of His glorious grace."

My children have different gifts, skills, personalities, failures and successes. But I love them all the same. Nothing will ever change the fact that they are my children. If this is true of me as a very imperfect parent (even an "evil" parent compared to God the Father - see Matt. 7:11), then how much more so is it true of our heavenly Father?

Yet how prone I am to think that God loves other of His children more than He loves me. Actually, I suppose that I don't necessarily "think" this so much as I feel this, especially when I fail (which is often!). How glad I am to be reminded that God loves me as much as He does any of His other children. That love is unconditional and will never cease. Indeed, in the ages to come, God will continue to show me, and every blood-bought child of His, "the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7).

No wonder the apostle Paul earnestly prayed that every believer would "know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:18).

George Matheson, a godly 19th century pastor and hymn-writer, was born with an eye defect that resulted in his becoming blind by the age of eighteen. Shortly thereafter his fiancee left him, deciding that she wouldn't be content to be married to a blind man. Having been spurned by what he thought was true love, Matheson lifted up his broken heart to heaven and found solace in the unchanging love of God. As a result, Matheson penned one of his greatest hymns, O Love That Will Not Let Me Go. The first stanza goes like this:

O love that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee.

I give thee back the life I owe

That in thine ocean-depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

May we, like Matheson, find our solace and security in the love of God. There is no greater love, and to have it is to be filled with all the fullness of God.

A Mosque Near Ground Zero?

2010-08-03T12:10:00.003-05:00

As you've probably already heard, "a New York City panel voted unanimously to reject landmark status for a building in downtown Manhattan, paving the way for its demolition -- and for the construction of a 13-story, $100 million mosque near the World Trade Center site" (via Fox News).

This has created quite a stir among Americans. Though I usually steer clear of politics on this blog site, I thought it would be good to take an opinion poll from the TruthWalk readership, to get an idea of where you stand on this issue. Most of us would claim to have a "Christian worldview" which would affect our political views. As a Christian, and as an American, what are your thoughts on this matter?

I'll borrow the same question and options put forth by the Fox News poll:

Should New York Allow Mosque Near Ground Zero?

No, of all the places to build a mosque, don't allow one there.
Yes, the Constitution protects freedom of religion, so government can't stand in the way.
Don't prohibit it, but work with the mosque backers to find a more appropriate location.
Other (leave a comment).

In the 'Comments' section below, simply put 1, 2, 3, or 4. Then, if you wish, add any comments to further explain your position or rationale (especially if you chose option #4).

I broached this subject with one of our associate pastors this morning and discovered that we held essentially the same view. Once we've received some significant feedback, we'll add our two cents.

Ambitious for the Church

2010-07-30T10:11:00.003-05:00

I just finished reading a terrific book by Dave Harvey entitled Rescuing Ambition. The main idea is that ambition has gotten a bad rap over the years. While Scripture clearly warns us against selfish ambition, there is such a thing as spiritual ambition. We are all "glory-chasers"; God has wired us this way. Says Harvey, "We will always pursue glory. The only question is, Where will we find it?" The fact is, we pursue what we value. Mankind fell into sin when he pursued his own glory ("you will be like God") instead of his Creator's. "But the good news of the gospel," Harvey declares, "is that we aren't trapped by the tragedy of misplaced glory. While our ambitious impulses led us to vain pursuits, the Lord of glory has come to rescue our ambition. He has come to redeem us and recapture us for his glory."

The remainder of the book explores at a deeper level the above themes and goes on to speak of ambition's path, contentment, failure, and a host of other related issues. One of my favorite chapters, which appeared near the end of the book, was "Ambitious for the Church." Though Dave Harvey has served for two decades as a pastor, he is not speaking primarily to pastors but to God's people as a whole. The basis for our ambition for the church is Christ's ambition for the church. He gave His life for her. He promised His disciples, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).

As we live in community with God's redeemed people, we exalt Christ's purposes. We see for ourselves what Scripture clearly conveys:

Though sin once isolated us, the cross now unifies us. As citizens of a new kingdom and members of the household of God (Eph. 2:19), we're not longer merely individuals concerned only with ourselves. We're now "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession" (1 Pet. 2:9). . . .

Christ's promise introduces us to a radical, countercultural idea: the satisfaction of individual ambition is linked to our collective identity as the people of God. The individual Christian simply cannot understand his purpose, and therefore his ambition, in purely individual terms.

Did that last paragraph sink in? Perhaps you should read it again! The New Testament knows nothing of isolated Christianity. The local church occupied an essential place in the life of God's people:

The very first believers "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. . . . And all who believed were together" (Acts 2:42, 44).
Teaching and preaching were experienced publicly. Timothy, as a pastor, was commanded to devote himself "to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching" (1 Tim. 4:13).
Believers were exhorted "to meet together . . . encouraging one another" (Heb. 10:25).
They were repeatedly called to "serve one another" (Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 4:10).

Our commitment to the local church - or lack thereof - is indicative of our ambitions. In his book, Spiritual Disciplines within the Church, Donald Whitney warns us against being "spiritual hitchhikers" who want "all the benefits but no responsibility; all take and no give; no accountability, just a free ride."

Instead, why not commit yourself to the church that Jesus loves? Be faithful in attending its worship gatherings. Encourage your fellow believers. Serve others to the glory of God! Also, while doing so, beware of the "My-Church-Is-for-My-Ministry" mentality. In making this point, Dave Harvey quotes the psalmist, who testified to the Lord, "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness" (Ps. 84:10). One guy captured the point well by saying, "What you're a part of is more important than the part you play."

That's a good principle to keep in mind, isn't it? Dave Harvey reminds us that such an attitude stirs ambition for the church and frees us to "savor the fruit that accompanies the doorkeeper's devotion: first in, last to leave."

If you are looking for a good book to read before summer's end, I would heartily recommend Rescuing Ambition. You'll be glad you read it, as will others who will benefit from your godly ambition.

A Bug's Life

2010-07-06T14:12:00.003-05:00

I don't know if it's the heat wave or what, but the last few days I've come across more bugs than usual. The latest encounter took place in my office bathroom. I saw the small insect making its way slowly across the floor. I don't know what kind it was, but it was the size of a lady bug.

Anyway, I watched it for a moment, trying to figure out what exactly it was, where it was going, and what it must have been thinking. But after thirty seconds or so I got bored and squashed it with my foot. Then somewhat to my own surprise I said, "Sorry, pal."

Afterwards I thought, "Boy, I'm glad I'm not a bug ... and I'm glad God is not like me!" Imagine Him sitting there in heaven thinking, "Who is this guy? What's he doing? Where does he think he's going?" Squish!

Thankfully, God is not like that! He knows me better than I know myself. In fact, He "formed my inward parts [and] knitted me together in my mother's womb" (Ps. 139:13). Furthermore, God knows exactly what I'm up to, every second of the day, every day of my life. He sees the good and the bad, my ups and my downs, my best days and my worst days -- and He loves me through it all. Why? Not because I'm great, but because of His grace!

God's understanding of me is so much greater than my understanding of a bug. His love for me is so much greater than my love of a bug. (Love of a bug? You gotta be kidding me! And let's not even talk about spiders!) My life won't end with a squish under some divine shoe. Rather, my great God and Savior will transform my lowly body so that it will be like his glorious body (Phil. 3:21).

Boy, I'm glad I'm not a bug.

Ligonier National Conference - 2010 (part two)

2010-06-30T10:24:00.002-05:00

This is a continuation from last week’s blog about the Ligonier Conference that I attended two weeks ago in Orlando, FL. The theme was “Tough Questions Christians Face.”

You can view each session at www.christianity.com/ligonier/.

I suggest that you make time to watch each streaming video, especially the Pre-Conference Bits, Bytes, Blogs & Bibles: Christian Communication in a Hypersocial World.

The Pre-Conference focused on the so called new social media, yet attendees were reminded that it’s really not new, but how we actually “talk” and interact currently, via IPods, IPads, IPhones, Facebook, Twitter, Email, LinkedIn, RSS Feeds, Text messages, mobile phones, GPS devices and so on. The speakers made important distinctions gave clear warnings, cautions, risks and benefits to how we communicate, especially important for the church at large.

Al Mohler in his “The Hypersocialized Generation”, says there is a shift in our social engagement, the “most fundamental since the human language and the invention of the printing press.” He said there is a temptation to withdraw into our own private world, a propensity to over relate and withdraw simultaneously.

The digital revolution is here to stay and is interwoven in our lives. We’ve become reliant upon this relatedness and “not being connected” is thought of as worse than being dead! Mohler warns parents to take control and not forfeit responsibility and that the rules should not only be about usage of time, but content discussions as well. He said that adolescents shouldn’t have cell phones in their bedroom at night, or have Internet access in their bedroom. Parents must model this themselves.

Although there are Kindle and other e-book opportunities, the absence of reading and silence have created voids necessary for our souls. Multi-tasking is not something to “gloat over”, since our minds are not meant to participate that way, contrary to what we are told. Our lives are nourished by distraction. An interesting phenomenon has also resulted from multi-tasking – the loss of ability to read facial expressions.

We need to find the best use for these technologies and to establish boundaries. The risks seem to outweigh the benefits. The question is how to be connected and remain faithful? Mohler ended his session with, “May God give us guidance.”

In the earlier session with Ed Stetzer, he said that there are “drive-by posters” who are anonymous, others not accountable in relationships, still others who create false community. Also, that we have been reduced to a “sound-bite culture”, so that’s how we communicate, i.e. 140 character tweets! He also said that there’s a tendency to trivialize important things - simplism, reducing things beyond their capacity to be reduced. On the positive, he said that we could assist in inspiration, in introductions, in exhortation and creating community. His warnings included the enhancement of pride and a degree of narcissism in social media, e.g. rankings, the number of “friends”, blogs named after individuals – the creation of a “fake world.”

Tim Challies spoke about “texting/truthing in love”, actually how we should conduct ourselves and the principles of communicating in this digital frontier. Burk Parsons spoke about making the best use of our time and we should be kingdom focused, set our minds on heavenly things, edify the body of Christ, maintain unity and purity in the church and ultimately to glorify God personally and corporately. He ended with the question, “Why are you using this media, for the glory and kingdom of God or the advancement of our own empire?

Again, this is only a summary and brief recap just from the Pre-Conference sessions, so I still suggest that you view them in their entirety to grasp the importance of all of their messages. There’s a terrific Q & A session as well.

These speakers are gifts to the body of Christ. Listen to their warnings and advice and we can save ourselves and loved ones from potential harm and evil. We should all think about how The Lord would have us communicate via this “new social media”, to give Him glory, to preach His Word, to go into all the world and make disciples (not blog followers).

Joe Capozzi

Ligonier National Conference - 2010

2010-06-25T10:03:00.004-05:00

Last week, I attended Ligonier Ministries’ 23^rd Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. The theme was ‘Tough Questions Christian Face”. The conference brochure states:

“Christians are bombarded with difficult questions every day about Scripture, theology, science, and many other topics. As believers in the one true God, we are not without answers to the hard questions of life, for the Lord has spoken and has given us a revelation that directs us to the One who holds the answers.”

A pre-conference seminar on the role of new media in the church and the world and the issues that confront us as believers was well attended. The main conference sessions addressed the origin of evil, the inerrancy of Scripture, the interpretation of the Bible, the exclusivity of Jesus Christ, the age of the earth, God’s command in the Old Testament for Holy War, and the resurgence of interest in Reformed theology. Here are some of the titles of those sessions and the speakers who were assigned the topics:

Why Did Jesus Have To Die? - John MacArthur
Does the Doctrine of Divine Decrees Eliminate Human Will? - John MacArthur
What is Evil and Where Did It Come From? - R.C. Sproul
Is The Bible Just Another Book? - Steve Lawson
Is The Exclusivity of Christ Unjust? - Alistair Begg
Why Do Christians Still Sin? - R.C. Sproul, Jr.
Why Does the Universe Look So Old? - Albert Mohler
Can We Enjoy Heaven Knowing of Loved Ones in Hell? - R.C. Sproul

The other speakers included Michael Horton, Derek Thomas and Burk Parsons, who spoke during the two and a half day conference!

Each meeting began with prayer and worship and ended with a few “infomercials”!

I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and was convicted, educated, edified, encouraged and challenged. I was equipped to answer some of these tough questions to, “…always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” (1 Peter 3:15b)

The most impact for me came from the pre-conference titled: Bits, Bytes, Blogs & Bibles: Christian Communication in a Hypersocial World. The session titles and their respective speakers were:

Session 1. The Brave New World of New Media – Ed Stetzer
Session 2. Principles for Conduct in Communication – Tim Challies
Session 3. Taking Captive New Media for the Church – Burk Parsons
Session 4. The Hypersocialized Generation – Al Mohler

I could have left after these sessions and still be enthralled by the content and challenged with the issues. Especially since the intention of the pre-conference speakers was to help those who are wary of the internet/ new media and to provide cautions/yield signs – do we rush headlong and embrace this new technology?

There’s so much I’d like to disseminate that I’ll continue in next week’s blog. There are inescapable trends in the new media that need to be highlighted and we need to realize that vast geographic distances have now been closed. Most importantly, The Lord has prepared technology over the course of history to break down the geographic barriers for the fulfillment of His purposes, “… to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had pre-destined to take place.” (Acts 4:28 ESV)

See you next week!

Joe Capozzi

Abraham's Greater Love

2010-06-16T09:18:00.005-05:00

For the last couple of weeks, I've been holding on to an article that was written by one of our elders, Jason Mathisen, who recently underwent a nerve-wracking incident with his son Tristan. This crisis led Jason to some serious thinking about fatherhood, the gift of children, and the treasure of God Himself. Jason recorded his thoughts on paper, and at the prompting of his wife Lauren, passed them on to me.

The original title of Jason's article was The Love That Abraham Had for God Was Greater Than That for Isaac. May the Lord be pleased to challenge your hearts through the following testimony.

When my son Tristan was 6 years old he had spent the afternoon fishing with his “pampie” which is our term for grandfather on my wife’s side. (I guess that’s not as strange as "KeeKee," which is what my kids call my father which actually started out as "Kukie".) Well, anyway. . .

Pampie had picked up Tristan from school, and my wife dropped my daughter Peyton off to meet them so that the three of them could go fishing - or in my son's case feed the mosquitoes. (He can get a bite on the side of his forehead and end up looking like the sketches of Cro-Magnon man. I swear you could show a movie on his forehead and charge admission.)

As you can probably guess, Tristan got a lot of bites and had a pretty bad reaction, for we forgot to remind Pampie to put bug spray on him. Well, we were prepped and ready with Benadryl cream and kids' Benadryl liquid to administer to my son to keep him from looking like Quasi Moto or the Elephant man.

So the fishing expedition arrived with big smiles and tales of two fish, one that got away and the one that was caught which was respectably the size of my 6-year-old son's foot. Oh, and there were baby geese and turtles that peed on them and of course my son's trophy mosquito feedings…

Benadryl to the rescue.

We sat down to eat supper, and as the adults talked, the kids retired to the living room with cookies in hand to watch a cartoon.

Well about a half hour later my informant daughter came in to tell us that Tristan had crashed out on the couch. No big issue there, considering his long day at school followed by fishing.

After my father-in-law left, I was getting ready to take the dog out and heard my wife call my name from the living room. "Just a minute," I said. "I'm taking the dog out."

Now there are times when you can pick up on tone, and this was one of those times. She called me again, to which I replied (tone missed on this try), "Just a ..." - "JASON, COME HERE!" Tone received ... registered in brain ... dog can wait.

I proceeded to the living room to see my wife kneeling next to the couch where my 4-foot tall 67-pound son was lying. As I got to her side I could see the reason for the “tone” in her voice. Now when I say "tone" I'm not suggesting that there was yelling or sarcasm in her voice. It's hard to explain, but I new she was dead-serious. It was a tone that said, "GET IN HERE - I NEED YOUR HELP NOW."

To my dismay I saw what looked like vomit coming out of the corner of my sons mouth as he was lying mostly on his side. I grabbed his shoulder and shook him lightly and said his name. Then I shook him again - this time not so lightly - and raised my voice to the level of what we call in our house “loud talking”.

Tristan did not move, and at this point a cascade of triage from years of training went thru my head but emotions that I had not been prepared for took a hold of me as well. In discussing my feelings with my wife later, she remarked that she had never seen me this way before. Not outright panic, but definitely a look of "controlled fear" on my face.

After assessing the situation, I realized that my son was breathing normally was not choking or passed out. He was simply in a very deep sleep.

From the time my son Tristan was two years old, a bomb could go off in the next room, and he would sleep through it without batting a lid. Mix this with a little Benadryl and a half-chewed cookie, and that explains the sludge oozing from the corner of his mouth!

Well, now that my heart could be visibly seen pumping away at 180 beats per minute, I decided to clean him up and bring him to his nice comfy bed where the air conditioning was keeping things cool (unlike my body, which was producing mega-sweat on my forehead!).

With Tristan now safe and tucked into his bed, I knelt next to it and thanked God that my son was okay. I also thanked the Lord for this reminder I had just received that He is sovereign, and I am to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. I realized how fragile life is and how undone I would be on a constant basis if I thought that the lives of my loved ones rested in my feeble hands.

Yes, we are to be good stewards of what God has given us: wife, kids, family, friends, job, etc. But are we careful to keep them in their proper place, putting our relationship with the Lord first?

Well, with all the drama of the evening now past, I decided to vacuum the house. Yeah so, 7:30 at night and I was going to vacuum. What of it? I had already gone for a run, so this was the best way to release the tension from all the adrenaline that had just rocketed through my body!

While I was pushing the vacuum around, the Lord spoke to me. Not audibly, but through His Word in my head. What came to mind was the story of Abraham and Isaac.

Abraham had a son who had been a long time in coming - a "miracle child" as it were. God promised that a great nation would come through him, and he and his descendants would have unimaginable blessings. The boy's name was Isaac, and oh, how Abraham loved him!

Imagine Abraham's shock and chagrin when one day God commanded him, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you" (Gen. 22:2).

What would you have done, had God directed this command to you? What would I have done? This is the question that weighed upon my mind. I thought about how much I loved my son Tristan, and like a wave crashing onto the shore, the thought occurred to me: "Is my love for the Lord in its rightful place?" Forgive me, Father, for putting anything - anyone - before You. An idol is anything that takes precedence over the Lord, and I needed to be reminded of this.

Now that the incident is passed and proved to be nothing serious, I can look back on it and almost laugh. Still, I can remember the heaviness of the moment. It left a mark on me - a mark of remorse for the love I had failed to show my Father in heaven.

I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice,

To worship you - oh, my soul, rejoice!

Take joy, my King, in what you hear;

May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.

Afraid of the Captain's Voice?

2010-06-02T13:17:00.004-05:00

On Memorial Day I was standing on our back deck with my son Ethan who had his BB gun in hand. He said, "Hey, Dad, watch this." Ethan took careful aim and hit a tin coke bottle that lay on the ground at least fifty feet away. He nailed it three times straight!

Impressed by Ethan's sharp-shooting, I remarked, "You should go into the military!" To which Ethan replied, "No ... I'd be afraid of the captain's voice."

Not enemy fire. Not parachute jumps. Not minefields. Just the captain's voice! I thought that was so funny. I would have never guessed that one in a million years!

Praise God, this is one fear we never have to face as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ! Did you know that in Hebrews 2:10, Jesus is referred to as "the Captain of [our] salvation"? The idea being presented in this particular context of Scripture is that Jesus has gone ahead of us as the author, the founder, the pioneer of our salvation.

This came at a great cost, for the writer of Hebrews explains that God, "in bringing many sons to glory, [made] the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Heb. 2:10). The next verse goes on to say that we as believers are united to Christ, which is why "He is not ashamed to call [us] brethren." Jesus laid down His very life for us, counting us as His brothers.

Simon Kistemaker writes that as a result of Jesus' successful mission, "He received the appointment to lead the elect out of a life of slavery in sin to a life of eternal happiness in which they are considered sons and heirs with Christ." (New Testament Commentary: Hebrews, pp. 70-71).

Jesus Christ is one Captain whose voice we as His followers never need to fear! He has won our hearts through His selfless love, and therefore we make it our aim to be well-pleasing to Him (2 Cor. 5:9). God, help us to be "good soldiers of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3)!

"Amazing Grace" As It's Meant to Be Sung!

2010-05-25T10:39:00.006-05:00

This Thursday I'll be conducting a funeral for a lady I've never met. Her son is a professing believer and wanted to be sure that a "salvation message" was preached. I assured him that I always make it my aim to preach the Gospel wherever I go, and this funeral would be no exception.

As we thought through other aspects of the service, it was decided that we should sing a hymn. But since most of the people there would be nonChristians, we decided to go with - you guessed it - "Amazing Grace." That hymn is probably the most famous of any that's ever been sung.

No doubt many of you know who wrote it and also the history behind it. But do you know the full story? And have you ever heard this hymn sung in a way that honors its historical context? I first saw this video at The Gospel Coalition website, where it had been posted by Thabiti Anyabwile. It takes nine minutes to watch. It's worth every second. Enjoy!

The Second Coming: Comfort or Conflict?

2010-05-19T10:16:00.010-05:00

Do the following terms mean anything to you?

Dispensationalism
Preterism
Amillennialism
Postmillennialism
Historic Premillennialism
Pretribulational Premillennialism

All of these are schools of theological thought, interpretive approaches to Scripture, and/or particular views of eschatology (the study of the end times). When and How Will Jesus Return? is a question that has produced much interest, discussion - and often heated debate - within the evangelical church.

Despite the many disagreements that exist over the manner and timing of the Second Coming, there is one truth concerning this doctrine on which all evangelical Christians agree:

There will be a sudden, personal, visible, bodily return of Christ!

Can you say "Amen!" to that? Every true disciple of Christ exclaims with the apostle John, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20). The reality of Jesus' return motivates us "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12-13).

I have a pastor-friend who is currently preaching through the book of Revelation. He has admitted how difficult it is to exposit the Apocalypse! The other day I sent him a portion of a blog by Dr. Hershael York, professor at Southern Seminary, wherein he offered some good thoughts on eschatology. My brother was encouraged by this, and I hope you will be too, regardless of your eschatological views.

I often think we have missed the purpose of eschatology. We are not encouraged to be convinced of a system but to be comforted by a promise. Paul told the Thessalonians that he didn’t want them to be uninformed so they wouldn’t grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13) and they were to use his words to comfort and encourage one another (1 Thess. 4:18). The reason Paul explains the resurrection of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15 is because it ensures our resurrection. The entire book of Revelation was written to a persecuted and suffering church to hearten and cheer her with the good news that the Bridegroom is returning. In spite of whatever trouble we may be enduring, we have the assurance that Jesus reigns and will vanquish all enemies—especially death!

When I, as a pastor, hold the hand of a parent whose child cannot breathe and is dying in an incubator, eschatology matters desperately—but not necessarily a system or school of eschatology as we often debate and discuss. That grieving mother needs to know that Jesus has taken the sting out of death, that He is one day returning and is going to right the wrongs and defeat our enemy. That father beside her needs to have confidence in a big God who is absolutely in control and will one day send His Son to gather to Himself the very people He has redeemed from the sin that escorted death into this world.

Eschatological investigation and systemization has its place. We might find profit in studying the way events surrounding Christ’s return will unfold or the nature of the tribulation period. But when everything in life but life itself has been stripped away, when believing families huddle in grief beside a dying father, the reality of the resurrection of Christ matters far more than the identity of the 144,000. The things that the Scriptures most plainly teach are the very things we most urgently need. I do not know if my historic premillennial beliefs are more correct than my father’s dispensationalism, but this I know: my Redeemer lives!

Christian Encouragement

2010-05-12T08:05:00.005-05:00

This morning just before leaving the house I got a text message on my cell phone that read, "Thinking about you and praying for you. May GOD give you his power and strength. Good word on Sunday."

Talk about an instant high! My spirit was immediately encouraged, and I walked across the street to the church with an extra skip in my step.

This text message was timely, because last night as I walked home after an evening meeting, I turned back and looked at the church building. (I know the church is not actually the building but the fellowship of believers who gather there to worship and serve the Lord. Nevertheless, the building represents the visible presence of our church in this community.) In looking back at the empty church building and parking lot, I was subdued by a melancholy spirit. I felt insufficient for the task of pastoring my congregation. I wondered what the future held for us. So many opportunities before us, yet so much sin that easily besets us.

The irony is that just a couple hours before this, I had received a very affirming message on facebook by a gentleman who is fairly new to our church. He told me how moved he has been by the preaching of God's Word, how he hangs on to every word (after so many years of non-attendance and disinterest), and how much he was looking forward already to this coming Lord's Day.

Two encouraging messages within a span of 13 hours, yet in between them my heart still sunk temporarily into discouragement (even if only for a moment). In fact, before turning out the light for the night as I lay in bed, I read the final chapter of Kent Hughes' book, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome - a scripturally rich book that I had been reading for the last few weeks in my battle against despondency. This, coupled with the psalms, has buoyed my spirit and kept me focused on what success truly is in God's eyes: faithfulness.

This morning I had a sister in Christ weeping in my office over her wayward child. We prayed together, lifting him up - and the whole family - before the Lord. I encouraged her to be strong in faith, giving glory to God by clinging to His promises.

The bottom line in all of this (and I know I've been rambling somewhat) is that Christians need encouragement. And I can find nothing more encouraging than that personal touch of kindness and especially knowing that I am being prayed for.

The prophet Samuel, who was mightily used of the Lord in his generation, spoke these assuring words to the despairing people of Israel:

The Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth wih all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
- 1 Samuel 12:22-24

Samuel saw not praying for God's people as a sin against the Lord. How many times do we think of it that way? Notice, too, that Samuel's commitment to pray for the people was accompanied by encouraging words to the people.

May we be typified by such love and grace in our relationships with one another. The Bible tells us to "comfort and encourage one another daily" (1 Thes. 5:11). The Lord knows we all need it. By His grace let's be sure to give it!

A Good Word for Would-Be World-Changers

2010-05-05T12:45:00.003-05:00

Last evening I returned from the Spring Conference of the New England Center for Expository Preaching (NECEP). More than 120 ministry leaders (most of them pastors) participated in this conference. The theme had to do with the primacy and power of preaching in the local church. Our two keynotes were Drs. Derek Thomas and Mark Dever.

On Monday afternoon, Dr. Thomas preached a message on "Christ's Design for the Church" from Matthew 16. One of the outstanding features of the sermon was the tremendous price Jesus paid to purchase His church: His own blood. Those who would be true followers of Christ and be involved in the building of His church must also pay a price - what Paul referred to as "filling up in my flesh what is still lacking in regards to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church" (Col. 1:24). Dr. Thomas, who serves as Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, pointed out that one of the prevailing challenges that seminary faculties face in regards to incoming students is that they stride in with an air of entitlement.

Today I read a one-paragraph article that captures the essence of the problem that Dr. Thomas was describing. Those pastors who were middle-aged and older knew exactly what he was talking about. It is amazing how many aspiring young pastors have a mouthful, when they have yet to be faithful! On the other hand, I had the privilege of interacting with many pastors attending the conference who have persevered in their place of ministry for many years. For the most part, they struck me as "faithful plodders" - and I thank God for them!

A Call for Faithful Plodders

POSTED BY JUSTIN TAYLOR

SHARETHIS

From Kevin DeYoung's Tabletalk article:

"My generation in particular is prone to radicalism without followthrough. We have dreams of changing the world, and the world should take notice accordingly. But we've not proved faithful in much of anything yet. We haven't held a steady job or raised godly kids or done our time in VBSor, in some cases, even moved off the parental dole. We want global change and expect a few more dollars to the ONE campaign or Habitat for Humanity chapter to just about wrap things up. What the church and the world needs, we imagine, is for us to be another Bono -- Christian, but more spiritual than religious and more into social justice than the church. As great as it is that Bono is using his fame for some noble purpose, I just don't believe that the happy future of the church, or the world for that matter, rests on our ability to raise up a million more Bonos (as at least one author suggests). With all due respect, what's harder: to be an idolized rock star who travels around the world touting good causes and chiding governments for their lack of foreign aid, or to be a line worker at GM with four kids and a mortgage, who tithes to his church, sings in the choir every week, serves on the school board, and supports a Christian relief agency and a few missionaries from his disposable income?"

Retreat Reflections

2010-04-28T09:26:00.003-05:00

Last weekend approximately fifty of our ladies trekked down to the Cape for their annual retreat. The theme verse was, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt. 6:21; Luke 12:34). The keynote speaker was Diane Schreiner, who serves with her husband Tom at Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, where Tom serves as Preaching Pastor. (He is also the Professor of New Testament at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.)

In the days following the retreat, I heard many positive comments from our ladies - through hallway conversations here at church, e-mail, facebook messages and the like. I was quite encouraged by hearing these, and I thought it would be good for the TruthWalk readership to be blessed as well (especially since so many of our readers are members here at First Baptist Church). So without further ado, here are some comments (with little to no editing) that were passed on to me by various retreat participants:

The Ladies' Retreat was such a blessing to all of the ladies that attended. It was a real ministry to my sister Joan, a new believer...she even shared her testimony with all of the ladies!

I loved Diane's simple style of getting out the fact that we are all at different stages in our lives.... I like how she taught us to use the verse "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14) as a stepping stone ... as we rise out of bed [and] begin the day before us. I also really loved the small gathering after each of the teachings where we shared our favorite Bible verses that helped us in our daily walk. And the bonus, which I really needed was the six hours of girlfriend time, just having some fun exploring on the Cape which was quite restful!! Although I came back tired, I was refreshed spiritually as well as mentally. I hope we continue to have retreats like this. Again, the simplicity of it made it possible for me to reflect on the teachings and put it into practical use.

It was a long two weeks building up to what was supposed to be an exciting time away. The reality of going to a weekend event seemed like one more thing that was on a never ending list. The moment I walked into that room the worlds problems disappeared and women who I get a friendly "hi" in the hall from became eternal friends. The schedule was wonderfully balanced with worship, quiet time, free time and small group time. We watched as Moms and daughters, daughter-in-laws and sisterss, new believers and old all shared their heart and their laughter ... so much laughter! What an inspirational goal to strive for as I someday hope to share the time with my girls. God was ever present this weekend.. I am home very excited to apply the simple truths that were brought to the forefront and the ease in which we are to carry them out. To pass His love on to my family I feel equipped, refreshed and looking forward to next year.

I really loved the retreat. I thought the speaker was a wonderful Titus 2 role model. She had a meek and quiet spirit, she was warm, loving and approachable, and her teaching was very sound. She encouraged us in our devotion to Jesus. I also appreciated the quantity and quality time we all got to spend together. We got to share together in small groups after the talks, and we got to laugh a lot together during the game times. Also, I enjoyed getting to know my roommate and riding home with her, too. It was really nice to get to spend time with her. It is a blessing to see her willingness to deny herself and follow Christ. She acknowledges how the Lord is rewarding her lately. When she won the raffle we were all so happy for her. She said her 20th anniversary is coming up. The Lord is good!

As women, it is very easy to feel isolated and alone trying to juggle the demands of being a wife, and mother, of working outside the home, church ministry and many other responsibilities. Satan loves to discourage us through, guilt, lonliness and feeling that we are the only ones messing up or feeling overwhelmed. When you put all those women together who share similar stories and exeperiences you get 1) uncontrolable fits of laugher and 2) encouragement that we are facing the battle together as sisters in Christ. We have other women to offer advise, give encouragement, share scripture and hold us accountable. The fellowship was very sweet!

In reflecting on the Retreat this past week-end, the number one thing that jumps out at me is the sweet fellowship and unity that was so evident. I totally echo another sisters sentiment when she passed along how she could sit down at any of the 10 tables and enjoy just talking and being with them. If you have been here for any real length of time you are aware of the fact that it hasn't always been that way! God has done a work in our midst and words can't express how thankful I am!! May God continue to have his way in each of our hearts and lives so we will continue to grow even closer and more like Christlike in every way.

Praise God for His work among these women and numerous others who joined them for this retreat! May each of us be spurred on in our walk with Christ, having been encouraged and challenged by these testimonies!

God Will Never Send His Children Packing

2010-04-14T13:35:00.006-05:00

By now you've probably heard about Torry Hansen, the woman from Tennessee who sent her adopted 7-year-old son back to Russia. AolNews reports,

Last week Hansen placed the child, unaccompanied, on a one-way flight from Washington, D.C., to Moscow, where she had hired a man to pick him up and take him to the Russian Science and Education Ministry Building.

"I adopted this child, Artem Saveliev, on September 29, 2009," Hansen wrote in a note stuffed into the boy's backpack. "This child is mentally unstable. He is violent and has severe psychopathic issues/behaviors. I was lied to and misled by the Russian orphanage workers and director regarding his mental stability and other issues."

An investigation is underway to determine if Hansen's actions violates any laws and thereby constitutes a crime. So far no charges have been filed. However, Russian officials are outraged and have threatened to suspend all adoptions of Russian children by U.S. parents. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called Hansen's actions a "monstrous deed."

One of my friends, who provided a link to the above article on his facebook profile, passed on a remark made by another pastor who said, "This is a tragedy. But, it gives one new appreciation for our adoption into God's family, where we are NEVER 'sent back.'"

I remember thinking the very same thing as I watched the story unfold on the news the other night. The New Testament says that as a response to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God adopts us into His family.

Galatians 3:26: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."
John 1:12: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name."

A few contrasts can be made regarding Hansen's adoption of the Russian boy, and God's adoption of His children:

Based on her claims, Hansen didn't know what this boy was like before she adopted him. God, on the other hand, did not adopt any of His children in ignorance. He knew we were a bunch of dirty rotten sinners, yet in His mercy and grace He adopted us anyway. This leads to the second point:
Whereas Hanson's acceptance of her adopted son was conditioned on his behavior, God's love and acceptance of His adopted children is unconditional. "God demonstrates His love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
Hanson's adoption of the Russian boy was temporary - she sent him packing. But God's adoption of His children is permanent. Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).
All the boy got out of the deal was two hundred bucks and a one-way ticket back to Russia. As God's beloved children, we get to share all the riches of Christ. "But you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (Rom. 8:15-17).

As I think on these blessed truths, a wonderful old hymn comes to mind. It's entitled I am His, and He Is Mine. If you'd like to sing it with a musical accompaniment, click here. Or you can simply read the lyrics below:

Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know;

Gracious Spirit from above, Thou hast taught me it is so!

O this full and perfect peace! O this transport all divine!

In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.

Heav’n above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green!

Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen;

Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,

Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms cannot now disturb my rest;

Closed in everlasting arms, pillowed on the loving breast.

O to lie forever here, doubt and care and self resign,

While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His; Who the Lord and me shall part?

Ah, with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill the loving heart!

Heav’n and earth may fade and flee, firstborn light in gloom decline;

But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.

Timeless Truth from an Aged Saint

2010-04-07T12:11:00.006-05:00

Earlier this week I paid a visit to an aged saint (he turns 93 next month). I hadn't seen him for quite some time, and there was a noticeable decline in his health. Though he lives in a rather large house, his living quarters have been reduced to one room on the first floor. He sleeps a lot and is nearly stone deaf. His mind is fading as well. He repeats things, often just a moment or two after he said them. Much of the time he doesn't talk at all - even when company is present - but simply dozes in his chair.

This man has been a Christian nearly all his life. He has a great heritage and has left behind a great legacy. I would tell you his name, but that's not important, for he represents a vast majority of men and women who have walked with the Lord for many, many years and have almost reached heaven's shore.

As I visited this dear friend the other day, I found it hard to get a conversation going. He seemed simply to want to sleep. The nurse came over and yelled (rather loudly) into his ear, "Mr. ______, Pastor Matt is here! What would you like to say to him?" He responded,

"I'm glad he's still in the faith."

Wow. So am I. That fact meant a lot to this man. He himself has been a dedicated servant of the Lord for many, many years - nearly all his life. Now he sat there dozing.

That was fine with me. I was content to sit there and thank God for this wonderful man and the godly influence he's had on my life over the last eleven years that I've known him. When my mom died back in 2000, this dear friend wrote to me one of the most meaningful handwritten letters I have ever received. I still have it. In it he spoke of the glory that awaits us in heaven, where we will dwell with our Savior and loved ones in Christ forever and ever. Now this dear brother is almost there himself. Soon he will be "absent from the body" and "at home with the Lord."

My friend has always loved the old hymns, so as he lay there dozing, I told him that we had concluded our Easter service by singing "Christ Arose." Though I don't have a great voice, I attempted for the sake of my friend to sing that first stanza nice and loud:

Low in the grave He lay - Jesus my Savior!

Waiting the coming day - Jesus my Lord!

I was just about to sing the chorus, when to my utter surprise, my dozing 93-year-old friend lifted his head, opened his eyes, and sang with more lung power than I could have imagined:

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes;

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

I am not kidding when I say that his booming voice resonated throughout the entire house. The nurses were peering in through the glass doors. (They later said that at first they thought he was yelling at me!) What a joy it was to hear my friend sing with such "gusto" unto the Lord! I grinned from ear to ear and almost laughed from sheer joy.

Not wanting this musical exchange to end, I informed my friend that earlier in the Easter service, the children had sung:

He lives! He lives!

Christ Jesus lives today! . . .

At this point my friend joined in and sang:

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way. . . .

Of course I continued with the words,

He lives! He lives!

Salvation to impart . . .

But instead of continuing these lyrics with me, my friend went back to booming out:

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Talk about an impromptu hymn medley! Now I did laugh. This was great!

Yet my friend no sooner finished the chorus and he lowered his head and began to slumber once again.

I just sat there looking at him with great love and admiration in my heart. After a few moments I decided that I should quietly slip away and allow him to rest. I was just about to do that when he lifted his head and said out of the blue:

"God is faithful."

Then he dozed a bit more. After a minute or so, he said it again:

"God is faithful."

Another pause followed by a new phrase:

"The fellowship of the saints."

Amen. Precious.

I hated to leave but knew I must. He needed his rest, and I needed to get home. Before I left, I asked him in a loud voice, "Mr. ________, do you have a favorite Bible verse?"

"Yes," he replied.

"What is it?" I asked.

Without hesitation he said,

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."

I sat there letting the words sink in. Clearly there was a connection in what my aged friend had said throughout this conversation. Stringing it all together, I thought:

I'm glad he's still in the faith. . . .

God is faithful. . . .

The fellowship of the saints. . . .

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The lesson is clear: God is faithful; therefore let us be faithful. We are called to faithfulness. "Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2).

This man before me had not only said it; he himself has lived it. As I parted with a prayer, I thought, "Imitate his faith."

By God's grace, I will.

Gym Hours versus Jesus Hours

2010-04-02T09:56:00.004-05:00

This morning I went to my local gym to do some exercise. While going through my workout regimen, I listened to some great Gospel-centered songs and sermons on my iPod. Truly the spiritual workout met or exceeded my physical workout!

I left the gym physically exhausted yet spiritually enriched. But as I made my way through the main doors out into the parking lot, I saw a sign that said:

Easter Hours:

7:00 a.m. - Noon

Instantly I felt a deep agitation within my soul. The only hours they would be open on Easter Day would be the very hours that corporate worship would be taking place. To them this was not a "holy day" but a mere "holiday" in the secular sense. It was not a time to worship; it was a time to work out. Once noon rolled around, the staff and whoever got in their a.m. workout would be free the rest of the day to do their thing.

Yet in my anger I remembered that Jesus died to save sinners like these. Sinners like me. The Holy Spirit brought to mind the words of Titus 3, which instructs us as believers

"to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures.... But when the kindness of God our Savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
- Titus 3:2-7, italics mine

The Spirit that moves me to anger at man's disregard of the Savior and the greatest demonstration of sacrificial love which shaped the course of history and eternity, is the same Spirit who reminds me that my redemption is not owing to my own righteousness. It is a gift of God's grace. And the grace God extended to me He can and does extend to those who are still enemies of the cross of Christ.

God help me to hate the sin but to love the sinner, and walk in humility with my Savior before a watching world.

"With His stripes we are healed."

2010-03-31T10:43:00.002-05:00

At home we have an updated revision of Spurgeon's most popular work, Morning and Evening. As indicated by the title, each day has two devotionals - one for the morning and one for (you guessed it!) the evening. This morning's devotional was especially moving in light of this being Holy Week, as our thoughts are centered on Jesus' death and resurrection.

In meditating on the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53:5, "With His stripes we are healed," Spurgeon writes,

Pilate delivered our Lord to the Roman officers to be scourged. The Roman scourge was a most dreadful instrument of torture. It was made of the sinews of oxen. Sharp bones were intertwined here and there among the sinews, so that every time the lash came down, pieces of bone inflicted fearful lacerations and tore the flesh from the bone. The Savior was, no doubt, bound to the column, and thus beaten. He had been beaten before, but this beating by the Roman soldiers was probably the severest of His flagellations. My soul, stand here and weep over His poor stricken body. Believer in Jesus, can you gaze on Him without tears, as He stands before you the image of agonizing love? He is at once fair as the lily for innocence and red as the rose with the crimson of His own blood. As we feel the sure and blessed healing that His stripes have worked in us, do not our hearts melt at once with love and grief? If ever we have loved our Lord Jesus, surely we must feel that affection glowing now within our hearts.

See how the patient Jesus stands,
Insulted in His lowest case!
Sinners have bound the Almighty's hands,
And spit in their Creator's face.
With thorns He temples gor'd and gash'd
Send streams of blood from every part;
His back's with knotted scourges lash'd.
But sharper scourges tear His heart.

We would gladly go to our rooms and weep; but since our business calls us away, we will first pray for our Beloved to print the image of His bleeding self on the tablets of our hearts throughout the day. At nightfall, we will return to commune with Him, and grieve that our sin should have cost Him so much.

"Just kill the bugs, Jerry."

2010-03-23T18:47:00.003-05:00

Actually, my friend's name is spelled Gerry, but I thought the two J's in the title looked better. Gerry is a member of our church who came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ a number of years ago.

On the spur of the moment, Gerry joined me and a couple of other men in our church for lunch. The other two guys work about an hour away, so on our way out to see them, Gerry and I enjoyed a good conversation. He shared with me how he came to know Christ, and how his life was forever changed. So much so that Gerry switched jobs. Previously he was in a managerial position that pretty much required him to work every Sunday morning. Corporate worship became such a priority to Gerry, that he switched jobs, taking a cut in pay. At least in this new job, Gerry didn't have to work Sundays, for the parent company was founded by Christians who did not conduct business on the Lord's Day.

Gerry is an exterminator. He kills bugs for a living. And he loves it. Not because he has anything against bugs, but because Gerry loves people. He enjoys getting to know his customers and taking care of their "pesty" problems. Most of all, Gerry looks for opportunities to share the gospel with them. Some folks are interested in what Gerry has to say; others aren't.

One time, Gerry attempted to share the gospel with a woman who was dying of cancer. Apparently she wasn't interested in listening, nor was her husband. After a moment or so he said, "Just kill the bugs, Gerry." So Gerry courteously continued his work.

Gerry could have given up, figuring few if any of his customers would be interested in hearing the gospel. They would probably just get offended or think he was weird. But Gerry knew better than that. Gerry is fully persuaded that the gospel "is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16). So as Gerry goes about his business killing bugs, he continues to share the gospel wherever the opportunity presents itself.

On another occasion Gerry got to talking about spiritual matter with another customer. As he opened his Bible, the client said, "Man, I wish I had one of those!" Gerry said, "Here, take this one! I've got three more at home!" Maybe we'll see that man in heaven someday.

The more I listened to Gerry, the more I perceived and appreciated his love for God and for people. It was so encouraging to know that this brother was being so faithful in sharing his faith with others. I was challenged and motivated to be more consistent in my own gospel witness.

Gerry just doesn't kill bugs. He tells people about Jesus. I love that. Don't you?

A Peek at Saint Patrick

2010-03-17T11:16:00.005-05:00

A few days ago I received via e-mail this wonderful article on Saint Patrick posted by Jim Elliff, founder and president of Christian Com-municators Worldwide (CCW). How much do you know about this missionary to Ireland named Patrick? Read on!

As Attila the Hun prepared his first attack on Roman provinces and Augustine secluded himself in his study writing The City of God, Patrick's parents worried about their son. At almost 16 years old, he hadn't professed faith in Christ, even though his father Calpornius was a deacon and his grandfather Potitus was a pastor in the church. Something of a rebel, Patrick had already committed a serious sin that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

One night shortly before his 16th birthday, Patrick stayed at his father's country estate in Britain with the household servants while his parents traveled to a nearby town on business. While everyone slept, a party of Irish slave traders surrounded the estate. All the able-bodied members of the household were kidnapped, bound with chains and loaded into boats to be transported to Ireland. Those who resisted were killed outright.

After a two-day journey in an open boat, chained to the other captives, Patrick was sold to a farmer and given the menial task of watching the sheep. Three days before he had been a nobleman's son commanding slaves, now he was a slave. Patrick wrote about this time in hisConfession:

But it was here in Ireland that God first opened my heart, so that—even though it was a late start—I became aware of my failings and began to turn with my whole heart to the Lord my God. For He looked down on my miserable condition and had compassion for me, young and foolish as I was. He cared for me even before I knew who He was, before I could tell the difference between right and wrong. He protected me and loved me even as a father does his own child.¹

Patrick prayed constantly during these years, alone with the sheep, and remembered the Godly teaching of his parents and his pastor. Patrick also learned to speak the language of the Irish people, gradually learning their customs and about the gods they worshipped. In learning to protect and care for the sheep, Patrick was for the first time forced to think of something other than his own selfish desires. Patrick said:

God used the time to shape and mold me into something better. He made me into what I am now—someone very different from what I once was, someone who can care about others and work to help them.

After serving as a slave for six years, Patrick twice had a dream in which he heard a voice say, "Your ship is ready." Taking this as a sign from God, Patrick ran away from his owner and traveled "maybe 200 miles" on foot as a fugitive. Patrick was utterly alone for weeks and yet said he was never afraid until he came to the port city. There, he summoned up his courage and asked a ship's captain if he might sail with them to Britain as a member of the crew. The Captain initially refused his request, but as Patrick breathed a prayer for guidance, the officer changed his mind. Patrick was going home.

Can you imagine the celebration as Patrick walked into the courtyard of his home in Britain? The son they had thought twice lost, both to this world and the next, was twice found. Patrick said, "They took me in—their long-lost son—and begged me earnestly that after all I had been through I would never leave them again."

We know little about the next few years of Patrick's life—how long he stayed at home or what plans his parents had for his future. We do know that as a result of a series of dreams, Patrick was convinced that God wanted him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Patrick's parents would lose him yet again.

After receiving the proper training and the blessing of the church, Patrick obeyed God and returned to the land of his captivity, preaching among the people there for the next 40 years. Thousands of people came to know Christ and the church in Ireland was established. InConfession, a letter Patrick wrote late in his life, he said:

My final prayer is that all of you who believe in God and respect Him—whoever you may be who read this letter that Patrick the unlearned sinner wrote from Ireland—that none of you will ever say that I in my ignorance did anything for God. You must understand—because it is the truth—that it was all the gift of God.

____________

¹ Quotes from Patrick's Confession were taken from the translation of Philip Freeman, St. Patrick of Ireland (Simon and Schuster, 2004), pages 176-193.______________________________

Copyright © 2006 Susan Verstraete
Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright. Other uses require written permission.

Kirk Cameron's Testimony

2010-03-10T22:23:00.003-05:00

Here's a great presentation of the Gospel through the personal testimony of Kirk Cameron (of "Growing Pains" fame) with comments by John MacArthur. It's a great clip to pass on to your unsaved family members and friends.

"The Humble Will Rejoice in the Lord"

2010-03-09T08:29:00.007-05:00

In The Spirit of Revival, pastor-theologian R. C. Sproul wrote, "A study of both Scripture and history shows that God usually brings revival through 'nobodies from nowhere,' humble people who lived in little-known places who in their own time were not considered celebrities."

Does this thought encourage you? It does me! It coincided perfectly with what Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers:

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who thing they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
- 1 Cor. 1:26-29, NLT

Sunday after the morning worship service, I was talking with a Christian brother who was sporting a T-shirt that communicated a biblical truth (offhand I can't recall exactly what it was). I mentioned a few ties that my wife had gotten me for Christmas in years past. One had the Lord's Prayer written on it; another had a beautiful script of John 3:16 (I wore that tie just yesterday, in fact); another shows the books of the Bible. My friend mentioned another T-shirt he owns that says,

I'm just a nobody trying to tell everybody

about a Somebody who can save anybody.

Such a perspective quells pride, promotes holiness, exalts Christ, and enhances our Gospel witness.

We are in the midst of a Week of Prayer at my church. Our theme for this week is repentance. One verse we've considered is Isaiah 57:15:

For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

C. J. Mahaney got it right when he wrote, "God is decisively drawn to humility.... This is the promise of humility. God is personally and providentially supportive of the humble." I close with the following prayer taken from the Puritan devotional classic, The Valley of Vision:

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,

where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;
Let me find Thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley.

Self-Denial, Prayer, and Fasting

2010-03-03T09:19:00.003-05:00

The following article was written by Pastor Paul Tessari, in preparation for our upcoming Week of Prayer (March 7-13):

There are several things which might facilitate prayer and fasting in God’s people. Most notable in Scripture are those exhibiting repentance for sin[1] and those who are seeking God’s help, guidance and protection in a given situation.[2] No matter the cause, the believer seeks to move the heart and hand of God to action on their behalf. We are, as Isaiah 58:4 states, trying to “make [our] voice heard on high.” These petitions are to be done in humility knowing that God only looks to the one who is humble and contrite of spirit.[3] God, Scripture attests, does not hear the prayers of a sinful man.[4]

So what is the posture of fervent prayer? How do we make known to Him the importance of our prayer? Surely, as Scripture teaches we should “pray without ceasing.” We should be active in our daily lives communing in prayer to the Almighty King. But what of those special circumstances, when we run to Him in emergency, when our need is dire, our hearts heavy, and our hope slim? Times like that of Esther the queen who discovered a plot by Haman to murder her people and wipe them off the face of the earth. Or times like that of Jonah when he preached to the wicked people of Ninevah and proclaimed the impending judgment of God upon them. How did they pray then? In what way did they emphasize the degree of their prayer? They did it with fasting! The people willingly denied themselves life sustaining nourishment in an appeal to make known to the Lord the serious nature of their petition. “We shall deny ourselves and seek the Lord,” they said.

The concept of self denial is not new to Scripture. Indeed, Scripture is filled with its references. As a Christian it is foundational to our faith, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:24).

The apostle Paul, ever the impassioned writer, compares the Christian to a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Each of these vocations conjure images of self abstention. Can you imagine a soldier who fights only when he wants to? Or breaks for lunch whenever he’s hungry? What sort of athlete stops when he’s tired or quits when he’s behind? What befalls the farmer who wakes up at mid day when the notion suits him?

Be assured that this soldier will never win the battle, this athlete will not see victory, this farmer will never enjoy the fruit of his labor nor eat of its bounty. Winning the battle, seeing the victory, enjoying the fruit of your labor never comes without first laying aside self. And neither does the Christian walk.

Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 9 when he says, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

When we fast we are denying our body the very thing it needs to survive. In so doing, we are subjecting the desires of the flesh to the will of the spirit. In earnest humility we are appealing to our heavenly Father and making known to Him the importance of our petition.

Such commitment in prayer is rare today. In an age where we are encouraged to yield ourselves to our flesh, Scripture exhorts us to deny ourselves and pray to a holy God. This goes contrary to everything our culture embraces. At every turn, our society incites us to submit to the appetites of our flesh and “just do it.” Satisfy your every impulse and “Go for it.” Yell from the rooftops, “It’s my money and I want it now!”

Yet, this is not the way of Christ.

Self denial should be a distinguishing mark of all those who name the name of Christ. We are bought with a price. We are not our own. As bondservant of our Lord Jesus Christ we do not do our own will, but the will of Him who has saved us.

In a little over a week, First Baptist Church in Weymouth will be having our week of prayer. O, how beautiful and encouraging it will be to see brothers and sisters in Christ united in prayer. How “counter culture” it will be to band together and deny our earthly impulses and present ourselves before the throne of grace in humility. I, for one, am looking forward to it.

[1] Jud. 20:26; 1 Sam. 7:6; Neh. 1:4, 9:1; Dan 9.

[2] 2 Chr. 20:1-4; Ez. 8:21; Est. 4:3; Ps. 109:19; Dan. 6:18; Acts 13:2, 14:23

[3] Ps. 35:13; Is. 66:2

[4] Jer. 14:12

How Hungry Are You for God?

2010-02-23T16:11:00.003-05:00

On March 7, our church will launch its annual Week of Prayer. The Elders and Deacons are encouraging the congregation to fast the final three days of this week-long prayer watch.

Why? Because fasting is a biblical way of reminding ourselves that God is the center of the universe, not man. If God is truly our number-one love, then we will exalt and desire the Giver above His gifts. Consider the following Scriptures:

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. - Psalm 73:25
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. - Psalm 42:1
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. - Job 23:12
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. - Matthew 4:4; cf. Luke 4:4; Deut. 8:3

That final statement was made by Jesus at the end of a forty-day fast in the wilderness. Jesus did not command His followers to fast; He simply assumed they would. (In giving them instructions He said, "When you fast..." not "If you fast...." - see Matthew 6:16-18).

There is a danger in fasting. The Word of God warns us about people who "require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth" (1 Tim. 4:3). The fact is, "food will not commend us to God' we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat" (1 Cor. 8:8). God accepts us on account of His own mercy and grace, on the merits of His Son Jesus Christ. Whatever we do in relation to food or drink is done to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). It is an act of worship, God accepts us solely on the merits of His Son, Jesus Christ. In his outstanding book, A Hunger for God, John Piper points out,

In the heart of the saint, both eating and fasting are worship. Both magnify Christ. Both send the heart - grateful and yearning - to the Giver. Each has its appointed place, and each has its danger. The danger of eating is that we fall in love with the gift; the danger of fasting is that we belittle the gift and glory in our willpower.

Earlier in this same book (on the very first page, actually) Piper notes, "The discipline of self-denial is fraught with dangers - perhaps only surpassed by the dangers of indulgence."

Frankly, I believe that's the extremity toward which most of us gravitate ... by far. We are slaves to our appetites. Paul warns us about those "whose god is their belly" (Phil. 3:19). As Piper quips, "The stomach is sovereign."

I understand that the point of fasting is not to diet; it's to die - to self! Food itself is not the issue per se; it's our fleshly appetite. An idol is anything that becomes a substitute for God. An idol can range anywhere from sexual pleasure to a T.V. show to a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship to making money to seeking the praise and approval of others.

There is such a thing as true and false fasting. Read Isaiah 58. If you abstain from food while clinging to the other idols of your heart, then forget it. You might as well go ahead and gorge yourself; your fasting isn't acceptable to God anyway. But if you abstain from food as an expression of your hunger for God, desiring His righteousness, His presence, His power in your life - if you "take delight in the Lord," He will "make you ride on the heights of the earth" (Isa. 58:14). He will prove Himself to be the greatest pleasure that you can possibly experience.

So while it may be appropriate to abstain from sex, or a certain T.V. show, or your favorite hobby for the sake of seeking the Lord, there's nothing like abstaining from food that brings our fleshly cravings to the surface. This is a point that Arthur Wallis stresses strongly in his classic book, God's Chosen Fast. Without mincing words, Wallis writes:

When people do not like the plain, literal meaning of something in the Bible they are tempted to spiritualize it and so rob it of its potency. Once the truth becomes nebulous it ceases to have any practical implication. They have blunted its edge; it can no longer cut. In the main this is what the professing Church, and evangelicals in particular, have tended to do with the biblical teaching on fasting.

"To fast," we are told, "is not simply nor necessarily to abstain from food, but from anything that hinders our communion with God." Or they say, "Fasting means to do without, to practice self-denial." We have only to widen the meaning enough and the cutting edge has gone.

It is true that there are many things besides food that may hinder our communion with God. It is also true that we need to practice self-denial in general. The fact still remains that "to fast" means primarily "not to eat."

John Wesley declared, "Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have disregarded it." As was stated earlier, the prevalent error of our day is not self-denial but self-indulgence. We tend to feast and play rather than to fast and pray.

But I also believe that God in His grace brings us to the place where we get "fed up" (pun intended) with the junk food of this world and long to feast in fellowship with Him. As Wallis states so eloquently,

... God be praised, a new day is dawning, and a new thirst for the Spirit is beginning to awake the slumbering Church. It is a day of spiritual renewal. There are searchings and inquirings, burdens and longings on every hand. The heart-cry of the Church is ascending to heaven. The Spirit of God is stirring.

Is He stirring in your heart? I hope so. I pray that you will be so hungry for God that you will say to Him, through fasting, "God, this is how badly I want You; this is how badly I need You! I do desire You more than my necessary food! Come to me, Lord, and fill Me with the fullness of Yourself!"

"Big P, little p" (by Pastor Nick Jones)

2010-02-16T14:42:00.003-05:00

Big P, little p - what begins with P?

Parents Patiently Practice Persistent Pedagogical Prayer

Parents, the greatest influence in your child's life right now is: you. It may not feel this way, your kids may argue differently, but the fact remains that you do the primary molding in your child’s life.

The reason for this is simple: no other influence in their life is like the parent-child relationship, which is an educational relationship in which everything you do teaches your kids something. You may not sit down for a formal “lecture” time, there may be no “family meetings” to discuss important matters, but this does not mean your kids are not learning from you. Your words, actions, interactions, attitudes, presuppositions, and thought processes all shape your child’s view of the world around them and teach them how they are to live in it. God designed it this way.

Next month here at First Baptist Church, we’ll be having our annual Prayer Week, and as preparation for that I’d like each family to take a close look at how you are teaching your children about prayer.

You teach your children about prayer when you react to life’s situations.

In many bad situations we teach our kids that prayer comes only after we’re done grumbling, complaining, or gossiping (if at all). Likewise, when good things happen, prayer is relegated to a quick “praise God!” and nothing more is said. When these occasions come, we teach that prayer is secondary to our emotions and situations. Instead our actions and reactions should teach that prayer is a necessary part of our emotions and situations.

You teach your children about prayer in your attitude toward prayer.

Your kids also learn about prayer when it is regularly absent, forgotten, or approached out of a sense of “ought.” If your attitude is: “let’s get this done with so we get to the stuff we really want to do,” then you are setting your kids up to see prayer as something to check off of a list, but not really necessary for daily life. Conversely, if you love to pray your kids will see, remember, and learn (even if they don’t like it or agree!).

You teach your children about prayer when you pray without them.

Do your kids see you pray by yourself? Do they see that you have a personal relationship with God that is worth your time and energy? Many kids only see their parents praying in public times (meals, church services, etc.), which is the quickest way to enroll them in the Pharisees School of Prayer and teaches them that prayer is merely a way to make people look good and holy, regardless of what their life really looks like.

You teach your children about prayer when you pray with them.

The simple act of praying regularly with your kids teaches them several, massively important lessons. You teach them that your family submits itself to a higher authority and that you are under his banner, you teach that you recognize God as the giver of every good and perfect gift, you show that fellowship with God is sweeter than the gifts he gives, and it shows that God himself is the binding force for your family – the source and glue of all that you are.

You teach your children about prayer in what you pray.

There are two issues at hand here. First, do your prayers teach your kids that prayer is just a tool to get what you want? Are they filled with phrases such as, “help me, give me, help me, give me, help me give me”? There, of course, is nothing wrong with praying, “help me” or “give me,” but are you the center of your prayers? We must be careful not to be selfish in our prayers.

A second caution would be against having dishonest prayers. If you humbly approach God in prayer, acknowledging out loud that you’re a dirty, rotten sinner who can only come to the Father through the blood of Jesus, then you teach your kids that prayer isn’t a performance. Pray what you mean; mean what you pray. Don’t pray, “God, we’re happy and thankful” in a boring tone. Do your words match your attitude? If you’ve royally messed things up, don’t pray a generic, “blah” prayer – be honest with God. This is especially important when your kids see you sin. It shows that you don’t have a casual disregard for your failures, instead it teaches them to go to the only One who has dealt with your sins through the work of his Son.

Prayer is a wonderful gift from God – we can talk to him! Love God and love to pray, and in doing so you teach your kids how, when, why, and what to pray. Remember, they will learn about prayer from you. The question is: what will they learn?

Jesus: Our Superior, All-Sufficient Savior

2010-02-10T10:35:00.004-05:00

Last Sunday I preached on Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." I mentioned that mourning is not a dead-end street, it's the road of redemption that leads us straight to Jesus Christ. He is the One who has come "to heal the brokenhearted" and "to comfort all who mourn" (Isa. 61:1-2). In Christ we have all the comfort - and everything else - we need. Jesus is the all-sufficient Savior who meets the deepest needs and longings of the human soul.

Several days ago we received a mailing from our former church in Richmond, Virginia, that included the pastor's summary of a recent article by Revive magazine (Winter 2010, Volume 40, Issue 4), which offered a significant look at the superiority and sufficiency of Christ:

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.
Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.
Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void to create a new people of God.
Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by His Father on the mount, but was truly sacrificed for us.
Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the King, forgives those who betrayed and sold Him, and uses His new power to save them.
Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and God, and who mediates a new covenant.
Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God's justice, now gives us water in the desert.
Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves His foolish friends.
Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes His people's victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.
Jesus is the true and better Esther who left His ultimate and heavenly palace, and who didn't just risk His life but gave it to save His people.
Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.
Jesus is the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us.
Jesus is the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

All these marvelous identities and realities we find in our Lord. Can you think of some others? Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Strengthening Relationships

2010-02-02T20:54:00.004-05:00

What's the most important commandment? We don't have to guess, because Jesus already answered that question when it was put to Him.

Jesus replied, "the most important commandment is this: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."
- Mark 12:29-31

A lot could be said about these two commandments; indeed, a lot has been said about them! So much so that perhaps you didn't read the above text carefully. Maybe you just glanced over it or skipped it altogether because it is so familiar to you.

But despite our familiarity with this text, we still don't "get" it. Marriages are still in turmoil; teens are alienating their parents; siblings continue to quarrel; congregations are rife with contention. - And all this among professing Christians!

What's the problem? One well-known pastor put the answer in a nutshell when he was asked "What's the number one need of the evangelical church today?" His response: "Spiritual growth."

Sounds simple, but that really is the truth. Grow in your relationship with God, and you will most certainly improve your relationships with others.

One way that you can do this as a Christian is to be committed to corporate worship. In his helpful book, Basics for Believers, William Thrasher writes:

Each Sunday brings with it the wonderful opportunity for ever believer to celebrate and deepen his relationship with God and other believers through the act of worship in a corporate setting. It is in participating in this important act that we learn to fulfill the two greatest commandments as spoken by our Lord....

Proper worship should usher the believer into a special time in the presence of God and guide him in direction of thanksgiving, repentance, and holy living. It is a time to listen to God and what He has said to us through His Word. It is a time to look at ourselves in light of that Word and to confront and confess our sins. This is a time when we can sing praises to Him and thank Him for what He has done for us. And it is this vital time that marks just how we will live and conduct ourselves in the coming week.

Another blessing of strengthening our intimacy with God is the effect it has on the entire family. As husband and wife become closer to the Lord, they become closer to each other. as families worship together, they are nourished by the experience and their foundation as a unit is made firm. Their relationship to each other is fortified and they learn how to live godly lives together in acceptance and love. They hear God's commandments and seek to apply these truths with one another.

As we grow in the Lord and mature in our understanding of his Word, we become better neighbors to those around us. And as we become better neighbors, people God has placed in our lives are drawn to Christ. This is one of the main channels God has been pleased to use to expand His kingdom.

... It's one's proper relationship with God that has the greatest impact on all other relationships in life. Failure at this juncture is where many believers begin the gradual decline that affects every other area of their lives. This is why many Christian marriages end in divorce and why their families sometimes mirror the troubled and unsaved families around them. The Bible makes it clear: Apart from Christ, we can do nothing positive for the kingdom. But through Christ, we can have relationships with our mates that glorify and bring pleasure to God. We can have solid relationships with our children, and we can effectively reach out to our neighbors and serve those around us.

Don't underestimate the importance of corporate worship and your involvement in the life of the local church. It is a lifeline to your relationship with God and others.

The 9/11 Terror Trials

2010-01-29T08:58:00.003-05:00

It appears the 9/11 terror trials won't be held in NYC after all. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he would be "very happy" if the White House held conducted them at another location. Rep. Peter King of New York, ranking Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, has introduced legislation to block funds for a 9/11 trial in NYC. The fact is, a large number of both Democrats and Republicans believe strongly that the 9/11 hijackers should be tried, not in a civilian court, but a military tribunal. Not in NYC, but in Guantamano Bay or some other military base.

As I thought of all this debate and opinions regarding what is sure to be "the trial of the century" - how it's going to be conducted, where it's going to take place, who's going to prosecute, what's going to be the outcome, etc. - I couldn't help but think of the Great White Throne Judgment described by the apostle John in sobering detail in Revelation 20:11-15:

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The Judge: God Almighty

The Prosecutor: Jesus Christ

The Accused: Unrepentant Man

The Verdict: Guilty

The Sentence: The Lake of Fire

There will be no debate, no change of plans, no lapse in the prosecution, no negotiation, no leniency, no possibility of parole. "For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).

Are you prepared to meet your God? Have you made peace with Him through faith in Jesus Christ? He bore God's wrath on the cross so that you wouldn't have to bear it for all eternity in the lake of fire. Having been raised from the dead, Jesus now sits enthroned at God's right hand. He is the righteous Advocate of all who turn from their sin and trust Him to save them. He will be the righteous Judge of those who don't.

"Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him" (Psalm 2:12).

Rock-Solid Faith Beneath the Rubble

2010-01-24T23:56:00.004-05:00

Late Sunday night, a friend shared a link to CNN, which featured a video of a woman being interviewed in a hospital after she had spent five days in the rubble of a crumbled building in Haiti on her knees! Watch and be blessed by her testimony.

Because of His sanctifying love, often times our Lord will bring about various crises, the purpose of which is to drive us to our knees - maybe not literally as was the case with this precious believer, but nevertheless just as important. May our own faith in the Lord be strengthened as we continue to hear testimonies of our brothers and sisters in Christ looking to the Lord in the aftermath of the quake.

On a side note, I praise God for the prayers and financial contributions offered by our congregation this past Sunday for evangelical churches in Haiti. The initial offering was quite generous, and more is sure to come in. Some in our fellowship may even go on site to help. However and wherever our Lord may lead us to help, let us do so with all our hearts. For Jesus Himself said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).