The Convergence

From the Cradle to the Cross

2015-12-16T15:43:00.000-05:00

During the Christmas season, in front of the home of a friend, is a very simple decoration - usually the only one displayed - a cross in blue lights. This cross was made by the grandfather many years ago. And in years past, down another a street we used to live on, you would see a lighted cross in someone's front yard. Does it seem strange to think of seeing crosses at Christmas time? I like the idea though because it truly points to the real reason that Jesus came.

Even when the angel announced the future birth of Jesus to Joseph, he said that Mary would have a son. They were to name Him Jesus "for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21. Jesus came with a mission....to save sinners. "For even the Son of man came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45.

So you see, the cradle in that manger stall and the cross of Calvary go hand in hand. Why celebrate one without the other! The wonder of the virgin birth of Immanuel gave way to the cruelty of the substitutionary death on Good Friday and eventually to the triumphant resurrection of Christ on Easter. Christmas opens the story of redemption as told in the old carol, “Silent Night” which says “With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth” and the cross contains a new chapter. The book will soon be completed when Christ returns again to take us home to eternally be with Him.

This song beautifully ties together the cradle and the cross. I cannot sing it without tears.

A Communion Hymn for Christmas

Gathered round Your table on this holy eve,

Viewing Bethlehem's stable we rejoice and grieve:

Joy to see You lying in Your manger bed.

Weep to see You dying in our sinful stead.

Prince of Glory, gracing Heaven ere time began.

Now for us embracing death as Son of Man:

By Your birth so lowly, by Your love so true,

By Your cross most holy, Lord, we worship You!

Bethlehem's Incarnation, Calvary's bitter cross,

Wrought for us salvation by Your pain and loss;

Now we fall before You in this holy place,

Prostrate we adore You, for Your gift of grace.

With profoundest wonder we Your body take

Laid in manger yonder, broken for our sake:

Hushed in adoration we approach the cup

Bethlehem's pure oblation freely offered up.

Christmas Babe so tender, Lamb who bore our blame,

How shall sinners render praises due Your name?

Do Your own good pleasure in the lives we bring

In Your ransomed treasure reign forever King!
(words by Margaret Clarkson)

I believe that Mary gradually began to understand throughout Jesus' life the price for sin that He came to pay. The Bible tells us that she pondered these things in her heart. Knowing that Jesus would not always be "hers", she must have savored each moment and each day with this unusual child.

As you celebrate this joyous season with your family, my prayer is that you will take a few moments each day to lovingly gaze into the face of your sleeping baby, to snuggle your toddler, and to give your older child a big squeeze....to savor each day we are given with these dear children. Let's not forget the wonder of their birth just as Mary must have wondered. And in her life, her own son became her Savior. "And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior." Luke 1:4. Is He your Savior and Lord? What better time to acknowledge His cross as you celebrate His cradle!

A Pastoral Christmas Prayer

2014-12-19T17:02:00.002-05:00

*Today's post is by Harvest elder Bob Bashawaty*

Dear Gracious Heavenly Father,

We come before you to worship you and to praise your holy name. We come to declare your glory and proclaim your love and mercy and grace. We come to honor you and to exalt the name of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. From eternity past, you determined to redeem a lost and wretched humanity. From eternity past, Jesus chose to pay the price of that redemption. Throughout history the prophets spoke of your promise to send a Deliverer, a Savior, a King. Isaiah wrote these familiar and precious words, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and bring forth a son, and will call him Immanuel." Which being interpreted is, "God with us." So during this season and throughout the year we celebrate the miracle of the birth of your Son Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, who left His throne of glory to take on the form of a man, to walk among us sinless proclaiming the gospel of salvation through faith in Him. Then, O Father, in an act of unspeakable love, Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin, bearing the full weight of your wrath so that we might have eternal life. Then, in the glory of your power He rose from the grave defeating sin a death and ever lives as our high priest and intercessor. Oh what a blessed reality, dear Father, to know that we are loved with an everlasting love, that you will never leave us or forsake us, that your grace is available and sufficient to strengthen us and comfort us and empower us.

Knowing this, Lord, we are deeply grieved when we fail to honor you with our obedience. We love you so much but so often we are drawn away by our own lusts, tempted by the world and the flesh to sin against you and who we are in Christ. It is in you that we live and move and have our being. Every breath we take is a gift from you. We are totally dependent upon your grace for life, and yet too often we choose our way over your way. Father, as a church, as individuals, we confess this sin of rebellion against you. We are so grateful that we can come into your presence anytime with a broken and contrite heart, acknowledge our sin to you and receive forgiveness and cleansing. We thank you that the guilt and the penalty for sin are paid for by Jesus; that there is no condemnation for us who are in Christ. We thank you that by the power of the Holy Spirit we can repent of our sin and live a life that glorifies you and testifies Jesus Christ.

Father, I pray now for our church. As a body of believers I pray that our fellowship is pleasing in your sight. I pray that our commitment to teaching and preaching without compromise the word of God would define us in this community. I pray that we would be diligent to guard against the influences of the world trying to weaken our stand for the truth. Give our leadership wisdom and discernment to expose and defeat the attacks of the Devil as he attempts to destroy. Help us to maintain our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ, welcoming all who name the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior.

And Father, I pray for each member and attender at Harvest that first and foremost they understand the gospel and know Jesus Christ as Savior. I pray that their relationship with You would grow more and more intimate as they exercise the disciplines of bible study and prayer. I pray that growing in their Christian walk would be an all-consuming passion, knowing that they are servants of the most high God, equipped by Him to be useful for the Kingdom of Heaven. I pray, Father, for each person here to be a minister for Christ; serving one another in love and humility.

I know, dear Lord, that there are those who are hurting and struggling. It may be health issues, or relationship issues, or personal habits that are stealing the joy of their salvation. For these folks I pray for an abundance of your grace and an overwhelming sense of your presence. I pray that they would find their comfort and peace in you, and I pray that those around them would be sensitive to their circumstances and be willing to minister to their needs.

And finally, Father, I pray that each of us would live in anticipation of the return of Jesus Christ. Your promise is that the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. We live in a world that is cursed, that denies God and delights in iniquity. We live in a world that is temporary and is headed towards judgment. Our one hope, our blessed hope, is the return of Jesus Christ to set up his kingdom; to put an end to sin, death and Satan, to rule in righteousness and ultimately create a new heaven and a new earth free of any stain or impurity. Each generation has hoped that your return would be soon, and we as well echo the words of the Apostle John: “Even so come, Lord Jesus.”

In your precious name we pray. Amen.

The Promises of God

2014-06-20T13:13:00.000-04:00

*Today's post is by guest writer Sandy Hall*

Almost 31 years ago Bud and I made promises to one another on our wedding day. And thankfully by God's grace, we kept those promises until the day Bud died. But....

Promises are made to be broken....at least that's way it seems in our culture. A parent bribes a child, "We will go to the zoo on Friday." But they never go. A mechanic guarantees, "I will have your car done by 2 o'clock today." But two days later you are still waiting! A promise seems to mean nothing. Maybe this is why it is hard for us to trust in the promises of God. Would you say that you believe and act upon God's promises? Or do you doubt His Word?

Most of us would say we do believe God's promises, but do we really trust what He says in His Word and what He promises to us?

Hebrews chapter 11 lists many who did believe in the promises of God. Among that list are the names of women who trusted. Sarah is one, the wife of Abraham, who had the choice to believe God or look at the impossible circumstances around her.

Hebrews 11:11, "Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised."

What exactly was God's promise to Abraham and Sarah? Genesis 12:1-3 records that God told Abram and Sarai (their names at this point in the story) to leave their kinsmen and country to go to a place where God would lead them. He promised to make of them a great nation, to bless them, to use them to bless all other nations of the earth, and to protect them as they went. Later in Genesis 15:2-6, God says their descendants would outnumber the stars in the sky. Actually these promises were spoken by God directly to Abraham but they certainly included Sarah as God said that she would bear a child as the means to God beginning to fulfill His promises.

Genesis 18 tells the account of the three men who visited Abraham and Sarah and told them of God's promise that Sarah would truly bear a son. Sarah's first reaction was to laugh - this was totally impossible because she was past the time of her life when she could have a child.

Aren't we like her in spirit? Maybe we don't actually laugh out loud, but deep, deep down in our heart we keep focused on all of the circumstances that we think prevent God from working and doing all that He has promised and is able to do.

* A doctor tells a woman that it is impossible for her to carry a pregnancy full term.
* Or a child is so far away from walking in harmony with his family and it seems like he will never come back no matter how hard you pray.
* Or a husband is unsaved or seems to be cold toward spiritual things....and things are getting worse and worse.
* Or you have been badly hurt by someone and healing is far, far away.

We face those "impossible circumstances" here in this twentieth century; maybe not the same exact details as Sarah faced, but certainly to the same magnitude of overwhelming odds against us.

BUT GOD!

Genesis 21:1-2 says, "And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him."

Romans 4:21 comes to mind, "and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform."

God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son, and He gave it. Now was there any reason to doubt that He would fulfill the rest of His promises to Abraham that He had given earlier? Our verse about Sarah in Hebrews 11 says that Sarah received strength to conceive. That strength was not actual physical strength, but the Greek word here means "a special, miraculous abundance of power." The conception of this child was not the norm; Isaac was conceived by the miraculous, mighty working of an all-powerful God Who was doing just what He said He would do.

Couldn't God have caused Sarah to conceive Isaac at an earlier time in her life when it was naturally possible for her to bear children? Sure! But by waiting until it was impossible, humanly speaking, He was able to show Himself "faithful who had promised" as Hebrews 11 tells.

God does what He says!

Do you believe that? Do you believe that He deals with us out of a heart of love? Or do you succumb to Satan's lies that God has forgotten you or turns a deaf ear to your prayers? What better choice do we have than to cling to God, His loving character, and His Word?

What are some of God's promises to Christians today as revealed in the Bible? The study of the promises of God is a wonderful lesson in His goodness. His Word is truth. You can be sure that whatever God promises us, Satan will quietly whisper and sometimes shout the exact opposite to us in our heart. He will twist the truth and amplify the "impossible circumstances" to get us to doubt what God has said.

1. Once we are saved, we are forever God's children.

One promise that God give to Christians today is found in John 10:27-29 which says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."

Once you have been saved by sincerely accepting Christ's sacrificial death on the cross as payment for the penalty of your sins, you are forever saved. You belong to Him just as the sheep belong to the shepherd. And because of who God is - the eternal, all-powerful Father - we can know that we will always be saved. We now have eternal life, spiritual life and will live forever with Him.

Has Satan been whispering his lies to you that you are such a failure as a Christian or as a wife or mother, that surely you are no longer saved? If he can get you to believe that, you will not grow in your walk with God and you will wallow around in your sin for a long time, even years. There is no sin that can cause you to be "plucked out of his hand." This is not an excuse to sin or to stay in our sin as is discussed in Romans 6:1-2. We need to confess our sin and trust in His promise to forgive (I John 1:9).

Please remember that your salvation was not earned by you, neither can it be maintained by you. The focus of these verses in John 10 teaches us that when we recognize how great and powerful God the Father is then we understand that no one is able to go against His great work of salvation in our lives.

Are you willing to build the assurance of your salvation upon His character and His promise?

2. God will forgive a repentant heart.

Another promise given to Christians is in I John 1:9 which was briefly mentioned above.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Do you believe this verse? Do you believe it fully or are there some of your secret sins that you won't even admit to God, let alone believe that He can and will forgive them if you confess them?

Sometimes we carry around with us the sins of years past because we don't really believe that God is able to forgive them and cleanse us. Sometimes we do lay them at His feet, admitting our failure, but then at a later time Satan gets us to pick them back up again and we continue to lug around the guilt again.

God did not intend for us to live that way. He saved to the uttermost, cleansed away all of the guilt of our sins, and gave us the power to live for Him.

If there is a sin in your heart to which you are holding and hiding, may I encourage you to confess it to God by admitting that what you did was wrong and then trust Him to be faithful to forgive and cleanse you as He has promised.

And if that sin was against another person, make it right by asking forgiveness of him, thus allowing God to make you totally free of the guilt. He has already paid for that sin through His death on the cross. He already knows about it because He is all-knowing; there is nowhere that we can hide from him (Psalm 139, "O Lord, thou has searched me, and known me...").

3. God is ever-present with us.

And what of the promise that God is ever-present with us? Matthew 28:20 tells us that He is with us always. "And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." Do you believe that? Or does Satan ever get you to doubt that? Especially in the middle of trouble, we quietly begin to wonder if God has lost us in the billions of people living on the earth today or think that maybe He has forgotten about us for a day, a month, or even for years.

Where is your confidence and courage?

According to Joshua 1:8, if you are feeling that way, it's probably because you have not been meditating in the Word of God and doing what it says. "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success."

When we don't fill our minds and hearts with God's truth, we wander around in doubts and fears.

God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, but He also told him how to do it - by reading God's Word and thinking about it day and night and then by doing what it says to do.

Do you doubt His presence?

It is not because He has moved but because you have turned away. For whatever circumstances you face as a woman, as a wife and mother, God is there with you as He promised. What a comfort? And what hope for the future! I can face all of life with Him beside me, helping me, guiding us.

If we do not believe God promises, Satan leads us to doubt, despair, discouragement, depression and even defiance against God. Perhaps others have broken their promises to you, but God never will. Some of the women in Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith chapter, never saw the promise fulfilled in their lifetime, but in heaven all promises will be kept and realized.

My prayer:
I have anchored my soul in Your unchanging presence, Your all-knowing wisdom and Your deep abiding love. Because of these, I can trust Your promises.

(Just a few weeks before Bud died in 2012, I wrote this article but never got to proofread it and publish it on my blog. I believe God was preparing my heart as I wrote this for the events He knew were coming. I do believe God's promises. I believe He is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows - Psalm 68. I believe He hears my prayers. And I will trust His promises. I will speak truth to my heart by God's grace.)

By Sandy Hall
All rights reserved. Please ask permission before copying this article. Thank you. mom5j@yahoo.com

Dying to Self

2014-05-09T14:04:00.000-04:00

I Corinthians 5:7 says "For even Christ, our passover, is sacrificed for us." The story of the Passover, which is when the Jews celebrate the story of their deliverance from the death angel sent to convince Pharoah to let them go from slavery in Egypt, and the story of the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ, are beautifully intertwined. This verse brings the two together. Jesus, the Lamb of God willingly laid down His life as a sacrifice for our sins. John 1:29, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Just as a perfect lamb was killed for the Passover and its blood was put on the doorposts of the Jews' homes, Jesus' blood was shed to cleanse our hearts from sin and save us from sure destruction and judgment.

In the hours before Jesus' crucifixion, He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. There He laid down His will to do the will of the Father. He would go to the cross to die in my place and yours. It was for our sins that He died, not for His, because He had no sin. He would do as His Father had said; the whole reason He had come to earth was to be the sacrificial lamb, to die once to pay the penalty of death for the sin of the world.

The apostle Paul says in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." Really Paul is saying that just as Christ laid down His will to do the Father's will, we have the privilege of following Jesus' example by laying down our own will to allow Christ to live through us. Our needs, our wishes, our hopes, our desires, and our dreams are all surrendered to do the will of Christ in our lives. This sounds so noble and most of us would say that we are willing to do this, but how does it work out in our day-to-day lives? How do we "die to self?" How do we put aside our pride and willful ambitions? How do we in actuality "take up our cross" and follow Jesus? The following poem tells us how. This was an eye opener for me to realize how much I still hang on to my will for my life and how far I have to go in learning how to die to self.

When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught and you do not sting and hurt at the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worth to suffer for Christ,

that is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself but take it all in patient, loving silence,

that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance spiritual insensitivity, and endure it as Jesus endured it,

that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God,

that is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or to record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown,

that is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising in your heart,

that is dying to self.

"Dying to Self" - author unknown

My youngest child is now 18, but I remember well when he was born. He was our fifth child in ten years. As many of you know by your own experience, giving birth to a child is also a dying to self. Your own comfort, plans, and wishes are set aside in order to give life to another person. Then after the birth, you get up nights to feed this little one, change endless diapers, and basically take care of his every need no matter how you feel or what you were doing or trying to do. You die to self in order to care for the needs of another. But what a joy it is. Recently, my first grandchild was born. I watched as my son and his wife cared for him. Another generation carrying on this dying to self. Just as Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, so we as parents also endure the demands on us to have the joy of bearing a child and caring for him.

Perhaps you don't have children or babies, but certainly somewhere throughout your day, there is a time to die to self. It is not easy. Our hearts rise up in resistance to it. Perhaps you are falsely accused; perhaps someone criticizes some good that you have done. Or you are served a food you don't like. Or you are tempted to brag about one of your accomplishments. Or you are not chosen, or left out. By God's grace and with Christ's example, we also can die to self. "And being found in human form, he [Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:8

by Sandy Hall

Labors of Love

2014-01-17T14:42:00.000-05:00

*Today's post is by guest writer Sandy Hall*

That time of year has arrived again when you spend twenty minutes bundling everyone up to go outside: the extra sweater, snow pants and coat, hat, mittens and scarf, two pairs of socks, and the boots! To top it off, when our children were young they liked to play hockey in our driveway (even in the snow), so add to the above list the helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and skates instead of boots. Now if you multiply all those articles of clothing by the number of children you have, then divide it by the outside temperature and subtract the wind speed you will find out where you register on the frustration scale! That tells you how many minutes they will stay out (which usually ends up exactly one-third the amount of time it took you to get them ready to go out!!! Ahhh, for a few minutes of summer’s heat wave!

Seriously though, have you ever thought of all the little labors of love you do for your family throughout a single day? All day long (and even into the night) we as women meet the needs of others. Jesus said if we give even a cup of cold water in His name, we will receive a reward (Mark 9:41). In the same light, our labors of love can be viewed from a higher perspective. All that we do: washing dishes or dirty faces, changing diapers, baking bread, reading a story, teaching Bible verses, ironing a shirt, driving kids to soccer practice, preparing a favorite meal, listening, soothing a “boo-boo”, sewing on a button, and yes, even getting children dressed to go play in the snow….all of these are lofty, worthwhile actions when done as a service to our God. They don’t have to be considered menial or mundane; they are daily, continual, valuable gifts of love we give to our families and are ultimately sacrificial gifts to God!

Oh, Lord, make all that I do and say to be done “…in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

How They Love One Another

Not merely in the words you say,

Not only in your deeds confessed,

But in the most unconscious way

Is Christ expressed.

Is it a beautific smile?

A holy light upon your brow?

Oh no! I felt His presence

When you laughed just now.

To me, ‘twas not the truth you taught

To you so clear, to me still dim.

But when you came you brought

A sense of Him.

And from your eyes He beckons me

And from your heart His love is shed.

Till I lose sight of you and see

The Christ instead.

By Mary Wang, With God in Red China

By Sandy Hall
All rights reserved. Please ask permission before copying this article. Thank you. mom5j@yahoo.com

Bigger and Better

2013-12-11T16:40:00.000-05:00

*Today's post is by guest writer Sandy Hall*

Many years ago when Bud and I were young newlyweds, we were working with the teens at our church. We planned a YAC (Youth after Church) for a Sunday night and had about 30 kids in our home for fun and food. Bud divided the teens up into teams of 4 or 5, gave each team a penny, and sent them out into our neighborhood to trade that penny for something bigger and better. They could trade up as many times as they could convince people to trade, and they had to be back to our house by a certain time. Off they went! Some very interesting items came back to our home that night! Lots of laughs. I remember a bird cage even. But the one thing that was most exciting to this wife and soon-to-be-mother was a dryer. It didn’t run….but that didn’t stop us. Bud discovered it needed a $7 part, fixed it, and we were good to go. I think we used that dryer for our family of 7 for about 20 years!!

When I was a little girl, I made a trade that changed the course of my life. I traded my sin for the righteousness of God. I traded my plans for my life for God’s plans for my life. I traded my selfishness for God’s love. And I’m so glad! It was a great trade. Something far bigger and better! This song gives my testimony:

"Trading My Sorrows" by Darrell Evans

I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen
I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength
Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning

The Scriptures give many examples of men and women through the ages who traded for bigger and better:

- Abraham traded the security and comfort of his home in Ur for obedience to follow God to the unknown, believing in the promises of God. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; or he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10

- Sarah traded barrenness for the strength to bear a child. “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Hebrews 11:11

- Did Moses ever dream he would lead the nation of his people, the Jews, out of bondage in Egypt? Hebrews 11 tells us he traded the passing pleasures of sin for suffering affliction with the people of God; he traded the treasures of Egypt for the reproach of Christ.

“And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:16

And my mind goes to the quote by Jim Elliot, a missionary martyr in Ecuador in the 50’s, “He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

So many godly examples of those who were willing to trade for something bigger and better.

Why then do we hang on tight to the “penny”? What are you hanging on to? Can you not see that God has something bigger and better in mind for you? Trade in that penny for God’s best!

By Sandy Hall
All rights reserved. Please ask permission before copying this article. Thank you. mom5j@yahoo.com

The Breath of Life

2013-11-08T16:32:00.000-05:00

*Today's post is by guest writer Sandy Hall*

September 29, 2004, 7:02 p.m. - Sarah was born, much to the relief of the dear mother, father, family, doctor/midwife, and friends. As Sarah entered the world, we held our breath, waiting for her to breathe. Come on, little one.......what seemed like a minute or two passed, but was only a few seconds......there it is! A lusty wail was heard as her lungs filled with air, a totally new experience for her. Her eyes opened and her parents looked into them for the first time. Sarah was handed to me as I sat on the bed next to the momma. Just minutes later, Sarah's sister came forth and the same anticipation occurred. We waited.......come on, baby, breathe!.......Ah, yes, then Mercy cried out. She was okay. We all exhaled. Mercy's eyes were open, gazing about at all the new sights. What a special moment to see the faces of these two new daughters for the first time. Mom and Dad and their five other children welcomed with tears of joy and relief these two new little ones. What a privilege to be there as these babies breathed their first breath of life.

October 21, 2004, 5:30 p.m. - Bill lay quietly on his bed at the nursing home in Riverview. His eyes were closed; there was no response from him. His wife and I talked quietly to him and to one another. Every once in a while we stopped to listen to his breathing.......shallow.......with pauses......in between. Several times we leaned over waiting for him to breathe again.......15 seconds passed. Come on, Bill, breathe. There it was........another long, slow exhale. Minutes later, there was a 20 second interval between breaths. We talked quietly on about how wonderful of a man he was, how she loved to serve him and make his life happy.......a long pause again.......20 seconds passed.......then 30......I leaned over to listen for his next breath. I took his hand and tried to find a pulse. No more breaths came, no pulse. He was at rest. Bill entered heaven with joy and rejoicing. The pain and suffering of recent months was all gone; He was seeing his Savior face-to-face. For his wife, a time of sorrow and relief. Losing a husband two times in 5 short years was not easy. What a privilege to be there with her and with Bill as he took his last breath.

Such were the experiences I had just three weeks apart that fall. As I drove home after Bill had died, the words of the verse in Genesis 2:7 came to my mind, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breathe of life; and man became a living being." I had watched Sarah and Mercy breathe their first air; I had watched Bill breathe his last. Yes, the babies were very much alive in the womb with their needed oxygen coming through the placentas from their mother's blood, but seeing them take in air for themselves for the first time was amazing. Who tells them to do that? Think of all the physiological changes that must take place for this to happen. And for Bill, who told him to breathe his last? Why at that moment? "For it is appointed unto man, once to die....." God! He is the answer to the first and the last breath we take. He is the source of all life. He gives it; and He takes it away. And as many have said through the centuries along with Job, "...the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21b

Obviously, if you are reading this article, you are breathing. You probably don't even remember your first breath of life at your birth, and most of you were not conscious of your breathing throughout today.....unless you felt out of breath chasing two toddlers all day! When will your last breath be? At this point in time, only God knows. Are you ready? Will you be ready when your last breath comes? Do you know what will happen to you then? The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27 that "...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." If you have acknowledged your sin to God and asked Him to be your personal Savior, since He has already paid the penalty for your sins on the cross, you can be absolutely assured that you will be with Him. If you are not sure what will happen to you when you breathe your last, please read the following verses from the Bible:

Romans 10:9, 10, 13 "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.....for 'whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'"

From our first breath to our last....."Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow" (Psalm 144:4). Because of that, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord" (Psalm 150:6).

By Sandy Hall
All rights reserved. Please ask permission before copying this article. Thank you. mom5j@yahoo.com

Harold and the Purple Crayon

2013-10-18T12:06:00.000-04:00

*Today's post is by guest writer Sandy Hall*

Are you a Harold trying to draw life with your purple crayon? In the children's book "Harold and the Purple Crayon", this little boy gets into one scrape after another. And what does he do? Cry to momma for help? Sit down and think about it? Pray? No, he draws himself out of his troubles. He encounters a dragon, but draws himself out of the fear. He is independent, a problem solver, fearless, triumphant. All he needs is his purple crayon and he's good!

As I browsed through this little book, Harold's self-reliance jumped out at me in bold purple images. He is in control! Aren't we like that? We want to be in control. And even if we can't control the circumstances, we can control the outcome....at least we think we can. And then something comes along that reminds us we are not in control. 9-11, a heart cath, an accident, a hurricane, a loved one's death. We are not in control and we know it deep in our heart of hearts. But we want to be a Harold with our purple crayon, drawing our way out of trouble.

A few years an adult Sunday school class at our church had studied the book of Daniel. My husband, Bud did a wrap-up lesson teaching us that the theme of Daniel is that God is in control and Daniel KNEW it. Despite all the trials of Daniel's life in Babylon, he didn't pull out his purple crayon and draw his own release from captivity, his rescue from the lion's den, his dream-come-true of Jerusalem being rebuilt. He trusted God. Period! Yes, he prayed - as had been his custom since he was young - but he trusted God to pull out the "purple crayon" when He saw best.

So put that purple crayon away. Break it, melt it, pitch it. And trust in an eternal, loving God Who is in control!

By Sandy Hall
All rights reserved. Please ask permission before copying this article. Thank you. mom5j@yahoo.com

A Conversation With Grace

2013-09-13T15:45:00.001-04:00

Imagine sitting down in a coffee shop for a conversation with Grace.

“Hey Christian, how have you been lately?”

“Not so good,” you respond, head down. “I’m trying to live a life that honors God...but it’s just so difficult in this world. Temptation comes from every side. My heart still contains so much filth. I want self-control, I want righteousness. I know I was made to represent God in this world, but I find myself more in sync with the culture around me. I go after the same things my unbelieving neighbor pursues. I lust after the things my television tells me to lust after. I chase dreams my college professors tell me to chase. I commit the same sins as any ol’ heathen. Why, just the other day I lied to my parents because I wanted to hang out at my friend’s house after school. Just the other day I blew up at my husband and my kids after a long day. Just the other day I lingered in lust at an image and sinned against my wife and my God. To tell you the truth, Grace, I feel like a complete failure.”

Grace responds, “That’s not the way I taught you to live.”

“You’re right,” you say, “And I just don’t know how I can change.”

Grace smiles, places a hand on your shoulder, and points behind you. “Christian, remember when I first appeared to you? You were hopeless, dead in your sins. Waiting for the righteous wrath of God. Then in the nick of time, Jesus rescued you. He gave Himself for you on the cross. He completely forgave you! He took you just as you were and He made you a treasured child of God! Do you remember that glorious day?”

You nod your head: “That was the greatest day of my life. I’ll never forget how Jesus rescued me.”

Grace turns and points ahead. “Here’s another happy thought: In a little while, the Coming One will come and will not delay. He’s just beyond the horizon. Jesus will appear in all his glory to once and for all rescue you from this wicked world. Isn’t that a happy thought? Won’t that be a great day?”

You’re overwhelmed with gratefulness. "But I don't deserve any of this."

"I know" comes the reply. "That's why they call me Grace."

Your heart is encouraged. “Grace, that’s some great motivation to keep on going. The gospel is enough. The glory of God is enough. Jesus is enough. I’ve got better things to do than waste my time on the passions of this world. I’m ready to keep moving! I’m ready to do some good works for God’s glory!”

Grace smiles and extends a hand.

“One more thing, Christian.... Stay with me. Don’t ever turn your back on me. Even on your best days, you need me. Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”

Jesus takes your hand. And you press on, step by step with your God and Savior.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

"I Can't Overcome This Sinful Habit!" (part four)

2013-05-09T16:05:00.001-04:00

In part one of this series we were reminded that in order for lasting change to happen in your struggle against addictions, your entire being – mind, will, and emotions – must be affected by God's truth. In part two we considered the role of our minds. (Remember the truth of your identity - you don’t have to sin anymore!) In part three we focused on the role of our wills. (Act on the truth of your situation - you’re in a war!) Today we will consider the role of our emotions in the fight against sinful habits.

With your emotions you must delight in the truth of eternity - sin cannot give you ultimate joy.

What is it that you really want?

You say, “I want to change”

… really? Do you really want to change?

Do you really want to leave your sin behind, forever? Do you hate sin, or just the consequences of sin?

Perhaps you'd admit: I want change, but I want to have change without having to break a sweat.

I want change, but I can’t say goodbye to something I love.

I want change, but only because it will make my life a little easier or save me some money or maybe it will restore my relationship with my ex-wife.

I want change…but only sometimes.

I want change…but not until tomorrow.

You will not desire real, lasting change until you desire God more than anything. Until you delight in him over all the temporary pleasures of sin.

Isaiah 55:1-3: Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live!

Open your soul to hear this invitation to partake in the joys of God! You don’t need to keep drinking sewer water - you can quench your thirst at clear, cool streams! You don't need to keep eating that gross moldy bread – you can have the good stuff fresh out of the oven! Don’t you want this more than anything?

The most effective motivations are positive motivations, because ultimately people will do what they want to do. So, what is it that you want the most?

When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:20-23)
“You have been set free from sin.” Addiction feels like slavery, doesn’t it? And sin is a cruel master. But sin is no longer our rightful master. “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin… [but] if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34, 36). God has redeemed us, and He is now our master. And he gives the gift of life and the fruit of holiness.
The choice between God and sin is a choice between life or death. Let the significance of that choice sink in. The stakes are incredibly high! Today you can experience distance from God by turning to sin. Or you can experience life by walking with God and focusing on the joy of eternity to come.

Titus 2:11-13: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age waiting for our blessed [happy] hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Grace teaches us to renounce sin in light of something infinitely better - our “happy hope” – the glory of Jesus!

One day Jesus will return in glory and His people will be with him forever. He will usher in his glorious kingdom and defeat all enemies of joy and righteousness. Everything evil will come untrue. The fight with temptation and sin will be over as you become perfect in holiness.

Isn’t this what you desire most? In those moments of fierce temptation, when it seems nothing else matters but gratifying your desires, grace reminds you to desire the best joys, to wait for your happy hope. Don’t sacrifice what you want most for what you want now! Sin cannot give you ultimate joy, only Jesus can. God doesn’t want to keep you from pleasure, He wants to give you the greatest pleasures!
Do you believe this?

Your ability to turn from sin and obey God is in direct proportion to your ability to believe God’s precious and very great promises of joy.

So get to know God’s promises. Get to know God. Worship Him. Sin is nothing other than misplaced worship! In order to leave your worship of sin, you must replace it with worship of the one and only true God.
It could be that you want sin more than you want God because you don’t really grasp just how good and glorious and gracious God is. Any plan to beat addiction must include a plan to know God better. Familiarize yourself with His beautiful, perfect character. He is great, He is glorious, He is delightful. Worship Him. You are not going to break free from your sinful habit without worship of the one true God.

__________
Maybe you read this series of posts hoping for a simple, easy solution for your addiction. One simple answer. One magic pill. I'm sorry to say that it doesn’t work that way. Sin is complex, and breaking a sinful habit is complex. Getting into your addiction took time, effort, and practice, and breaking your addiction will take much more of the same. But here’s the good news: Your gracious, loving Savior is the great physician. He gives us just the right combination of healing medicines and strengthening exercises in His Word. More than that, He gives us Himself. We don’t just get the prescription, we get the doctor. We don’t just get the life ring, we get the lifeguard. We don’t just get the salvation, we get the Savior. We get Christ.

So run to Christ!

While there’s life and while there’s Christ, there’s hope. Repent today! Return to the Lord. He loves you. Remember how horrendous sin is, then remember how good God is and go to Him. He invites you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.... Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:8-10)

Run to Christ! Cling to Christ! Stay with Christ! Don’t shrink back from Him in shame. He loves you - He died on a cross to prove it. The cross has made a way! His arms are open to you.
Even when we’re faithless, He remains faithful – He cannot deny Himself.

"I Can't Overcome This Sinful Habit!" (part three)

2013-05-03T15:40:00.000-04:00

With your will you must act on the truth of your situation - you’re in a war!

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. (Romans 6:12)

As a believer, you’re no longer defined by your sin. But sin still wants to dominate your life. This verse pictures sin as an heartless, malignant, vicious overlord. (If you're a Star Wars fan, picture Darth Vader. If you're a Lord of the Rings fan, picture Sauron. If you're a Harry Potter fan, picture Voldemort. You get the idea....) Sin does not have any rights over you anymore, but sin still wants to control you and make you obey its commands and destroy your life.

Don't let your guard down! Don't forget that sin is an evil tyrant. You see, sin wants to present itself to you in a far more charming manner. It will dress itself up as an jovial entertainer, or even as a hilarious comedian. It will dress itself up as a shrewd financial planner or career adviser, telling you how to successfully allocate your money and your time. It will dress itself up as an ice cream man, dishing out treats for all to enjoy. It will dress itself up as a wise philosopher, cunning you with fine words. This is why you must know the truth of your situation! Life is not a classroom, or an ice cream shop, or a career office, or a theater. Life is a battle. You’re in a war. Sin is not your friend or your ally or your commander. Sin is your enemy!

The good news is: the war against sin has already been decided, and we’re on the winning side! D-Day is already past! The cross marked the beginning of the end for sin. But there are still battles to be fought, and you can still get seriously wounded.

Do not present your members to sin as instruments [weapons] for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments [weapons] for righteousness. (Romans 6:13)

In the battlefield of life, you have a number of weapons at your disposal. Your mind, your time, your energy, your talents, your relationships. You can give these weapons to God for his cause of righteousness in opposing sin, or you can give these weapons to sin for its cause of unrighteousness in opposing God. My friend, you’ve been brought from death to life! Why would you present your weapons to the agent of death, sin? Present all you are and all you possess to God!

“Present yourselves to God” – this involves intention and action. Don’t just “let go and let God.” By the power of the Spirit within you, take up the armor of God and fight! The cross frees you and empowers you to fight! A passive approach to godliness won’t work – that is why the New Testament so often speaks of the Christian life as strenuous activity: warfare, long-distance running, physical combat. The battle is real, and the struggle is good!

In order to overcome sinful habits, you must develop a plan. There is nothing unspiritual about being intentional. Make a plan to break free from your addiction. You are not going to break free without a plan. Don't keep your options open. Destroy the sin once for all. Be brutal at killing the sin within you!

· "I will sever all contact with my drug buddies. No excuses."

· "Once a week I will have someone check the internet sites I visit."

· "I will make my eating public by eating with family or a friend every night."

Your plan must be specific. The more specific, the better. Not “I’m going to ask Janet to keep me accountable” but “I’m going to call Janet this evening, speak with her honestly about my struggles, and request that she ask me about my struggles twice a week.”

Use wisdom. Discern the triggers that start you back down the road toward sin, and set up barriers right at the beginning of the road. Sometimes the road to pornography doesn’t begin with lust but with anxiety. Sometimes the road to overeating doesn’t begin with cravings but with self-pity. Sin is complex – face it honestly and aggresively.

Don’t expect permanent change overnight. Pack your bags for the long haul. But don’t let the length of the battle scare you. God gives you grace to fight the battle of today. Tomorrow He will give you grace to fight the battle of tomorrow.

Let me close with an encouraging truth: you’re not expected to fight this war alone. Cry out to God for help, even in the moment of temptation! He gives us the gift of prayer so we can call for aid in the midst of the war. Cry out to other believers as well. Fellow soldiers are all around you and are eager to help! One of the non-negotiable realities of fighting a sinful habit is this: you can’t beat it alone. Trying to beat an addiction cold turkey, all by yourself, is nearly impossible. Satan prowls like a lion – his strategy is to separate you from the herd when you are weak so he can have his way with you. Stay with the herd!

Maybe you've been been trying to beat your sinful habit alone because of shame, fear, or doubt that anyone would care. But you must reach out for help! Open up to a mature believer in your life. God sees your sin anyway – you may as well be honest about it to a faithful brother or sister in Christ. Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed (James 5:16). Seek accountability and prayer support. In a war, a solo mission is usually a suicide mission. Team up with other soldiers. Humble yourself – You are not going to break free from your sinful habit without help from others.

By the grace of God, act on the truth of your situation - you’re in a war!

In our final post, we'll consider how our emotions must be affected by the truth of God's Word in order to overcome sinful habits...

"I Can't Overcome This Sinful Habit!" (part two)

2013-04-26T14:44:00.001-04:00

With your mind you must remember the truth of your identity - you don’t have to sin anymore!

Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 5:20-6:2)

Why shouldn’t we continue in sin? Because we don’t have to! We are no longer chained to sin.

Dogs are gonna bark. Cows are gonna moo. Birds are gonna fly. Rocks are gonna just lie there. Snowflakes are gonna fall. Rivers are gonna run. Sinners are gonna sin. But you don’t have to sin because you’re not a sinner! You may feel like you have to sin, but you don’t have to sin! Because Jesus died and rose, you died to sin and rose to life.

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4)

Christians often say, “Well, I’m just a sinner saved by grace.” This is true, but it is not the whole truth! “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (II Cor. 5:17). It’s much more accurate to say: “I used to be just a sinner, but now that I have been saved by grace, I am free to be much more in Christ!”

You may object: “I still sin, so doesn’t that make me a sinner?” No more than rolling around in mud makes you a pig! “Sinner” is no longer your basic nature or your primary identity. You are not defined by your addiction. In Christ you are a “saint” – a holy one. That’s your new identity. But here’s the key – you need to remember that truth. It’s so easy for us to forget. We have to activate our minds to focus on the truth of our identity so that we can be who we are.

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11)
In Christ, we are "holy ones." We are alive to God. So let’s remember our identity and act on it!

The role of the mind is so important when battling addictions. When we are faced with sin’s temptation, our minds can be very clever at coming up with sinful rationale and excuses. (Often our minds are at their sharpest when trying to rationalize a sinful behavior!) In the moment of sinful desire you will be tempted to think, “I’ll go ahead and sin, God will forgive me.” My exhortation to you is to “embrace the grace of power before you sin as intensely as you do the grace of pardon after you sin” (John Piper). Actively remind yourself who you are. Consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. A slide into sin usually begins in your mind. That’s a great place to stop it.

Remember the truth of your identity - you don’t have to sin anymore!

In our next post, we'll consider how our wills must be affected by the truth of God's Word in order to overcome sinful habits...

"I Can't Overcome This Sinful Habit!" (part one)

2013-04-19T16:21:00.000-04:00

Humans are, by nature, creatures of habit. In many cases, this is a good thing. I'm glad I don't have to re-learn how to brush my teeth every day. It would be a real pain to have to read a manual on driving every time I step into my car. Praise God for the gift of habit!

However, our habitual nature becomes a detriment when sin enters the picture. The human heart has a way of turning all kinds of activities - including activities that are not inherently wrong - into sinful habits that control us and enslave us and harm ourselves and others. Common sinful habits include alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual addictions (mainly pornography), gambling, compulsive lying, overeating, oversleeping, outbursts of anger, self-inflicted pain, sports obsession, video game obsession, long hours in front of the TV, social media obsession, an out-of-control imagination...the list could go on and on....

Most likely, at least one of the items in that list has been a particular struggle for you. Maybe you think you have your sinful habit under control, but the fact that it’s a habit means that you’re under its control. Call it what it is: Enslavement. Bondage to sin. And because most addictions are related to the body, the chains are strong and extremely tangled and can seem impossible to shake off.

Is it even possible to overcome this addiction? Absolutely - if you know Christ you’re a new creation! You’re indwelt by the Holy Spirit! Temptation will continue for the rest of your life, but you can stop the habit. “God is faithful…with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape” (I Cor. 10:13).

So how can I overcome my sinful habit? What should I do when I keep repeating the same sin?

It won’t be simple, it won’t be easy – but here's some good news: the most significant work has already been done…by Jesus Christ, on the cross.

Nothing you have done is so bad that you can’t be forgiven by Christ. Some of the greatest heroes of our faith - Moses, David, and Paul – were former murderers! God can forgive you, too. But don't make the mistake of trying to earn God’s forgiveness. Don't think, “If I can just get this wicked activity out of my life and visit with God every Sunday morning…do a few good deeds here and there…maybe then God will accept me.” Being a Christian is much more than going to church and being a good person. It is becoming a child of God through the work of Jesus in your place on the cross. Receive Him, and you can be forgiven no matter what you’ve done.

Mark it down - You are not going to break free from your sinful habit without the gospel.

Forgiven children of God will be tempted by sin and will give in at times. But they are always convicted and cannot remain comfortable in sin. The Spirit of God will reprove us until we are back on the right path. "The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives…. If you are left without discipline…then you are illegitimate children and not sons" (Heb. 12:6-8). If you’re caught in an addiction, but you haven’t given up and you want to defeat your sin for God’s glory, my prayer is that you can find some real hope and some real help in the gospel.

Here's something you need to be aware of, right up front: You are not going to break free from your sinful habit without God’s Word. We are made holy by God’s truth – His Word is truth (John 17:17). In order for lasting change to happen, your entire being – mind, will, and emotions – must be affected by God's truth.

Sin, at its core, is deceptive. Satan is the “father of lies” – he’s very good at deceiving you in the moment of temptation. Every time you sin, it is because you have temporarily rejected a promise of God and believed a lie of Satan. Consider some of these common lies about your sinful habit:

· Just one more time won’t hurt.

· You’re in control – you can stop anytime you want to.

· It’s not a big deal if you sin – God will forgive you, right?

· It won’t really be that harmful if you’re careful.

· How can something that feels so good be wrong?

· God’s way is miserable. The way of sin is fun. Why should you miss out?

· It’s too embarrassing to seek help from a fellow Christian.

· You’re all alone – nobody else struggles with your sin.

· You’ve blown it already – God won’t forgive you.

· You’re in it too deep – it’s too late to change.

· There is no way of escape – you will give in sooner or later.

· It’s someone else’s fault that you struggle with this.

· It’s God’s fault that you struggle with this.

· God wouldn’t let you struggle with this so much if He really loved you.

My friend, don’t believe these lies! Believe the truth of God. He has given us very great and precious promises in Christ, so that we can escape the corruption of the world (2 Peter 1:4).

In our next post, we'll consider how our minds must be affected by the truth of God's Word in order to overcome sinful habits...

Affliction Prepares You For Glory

2013-03-01T14:36:00.002-05:00

II Cor. 4:17: For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

When is a bottle of Gatorade more satisfying? After you’ve spent 3 hours on the couch watching a movie? Or after an exhausting 3-mile run?

When does your pillow feel softer? After a day of vacation on a beach with your feet propped up? Or after a long Saturday spent raking the leaves and cleaning out the gutters?

Here’s a fact of life: Agony best prepares you for refreshment. Labor best prepares you for rest.

If you ever wonder why our loving Father would allow faithful believers to experience affliction and pain, never forget: affliction prepares you for glory.

Think of the afflictions Paul endured, despite being one of the most faithful believers we know. Here is Paul’s "resume of suffering”:

In far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my concern for all the churches. (II Corinthians 11:23–27)

However, Paul says: this affliction is preparing me for glory. And the level of affliction I endure can’t even be compared to the level of glory I will experience. The pains of this life that we experience can feel like a heavy burden. But the perspective of eternity can make these burdens seem light in comparison. Notice the terms of measurement: “light affliction”… “weight of glory.” It brings to mind the image of a old fashioned scale: one side with a feather, the other side with a pile of bricks.

But even this image doesn’t get us all the way to the reality. The weight of our future glory in heaven is “beyond all comparison.” To describe the weight of glory, Paul used the greek word huperbole which means “far surpassing” or “extreme,” then he wrote that word a second time to increase the emphasis. It’s not easy to translate the full force of this phrase into English, but I appreciate the way this phrase is rendered in the HCSB: “an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.” There is no scale in existence – no standard of comparison in our conception – that could accurately show how light our afflictions are compared to the eternal weight of future glory. It wouldn’t even be fair to say it’s a billion times weightier. It’s like comparing a 3-year-old’s craft project to the works of Rembrandt. It's like comparing a the skill of a first-grader learning the recorder to the skill of a master musician like Yo-Yo Ma. There is no comparison! Perhaps the most accurate thing I can say is that eternal glory is infinitely weightier than the worst affliction on earth.

And our future glory will last forever. It is “eternal.” It will never end. A million years from now we will look back on our 70-80 year time in these bodies and see that it was just a vapor in the wind. Filled with pain, yes. Filled with sorrow, yes. But “momentary.” Fleeting. And followed by joy with God in glory for never-ending eons of time!

Believe the very great and precious promises of God! Affliction prepares you for glory...when affliction is met by faith.

II Cor. 4:18: ...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.

Peace That the World Just Can't Give

2013-01-11T16:36:00.000-05:00

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. - Jesus (Jn. 14:27)

“My peace I give to you…not as the world gives.” This statement leads me to think… What kind of peace does the world give?

The world can give a temporary feeling of calm. When the kids are quiet, the day’s work is over, the stresses of life are momentarily out of the way – we can brew a cup of Earl Gray, curl up with a good novel, and feel calm for a while. You don’t need a personal relationship with Jesus in order to enjoy a temporary feeling of calm.
The world can give a form of insurance against the tragedies and changes of life: health insurance, accident insurance, life insurance, flood protection, bomb shelters, retirement accounts. These can give a surface-level assurance that you and your loved ones are protected no matter what. (There’s nothing wrong with insurance, but let’s be honest - it can only protect you to a limited extent.)
The world can give a deception that all is well with your soul. The spirit of this age teaches that as long as you are a decent person and don’t murder anybody, you’ll be okay in eternity (if there is indeed any such thing as eternity). If there is a God, his standard isn’t all that high and nearly all of us will slip over his low bar of justice.

These are a few examples of the peace the world can give. But the peace Jesus gives is different. And it is far better because it is far deeper and far more lasting and far more real. It’s a peace that the world just can’t give.

Biblically speaking, peace is a steadfast wellness of the soul that results from reconciliation with God and leads to harmony with others.

Recently I cracked open a fortune cookie and read this advice: “Peace comes from within. Seek it from yourself.” Though this is fairly common advice, it is tragically horrible advice. You can have no lasting inner peace unless all is well between you and your Maker. And the Bible tells us that all is not well between us and our Maker because we have offended Him deeply, intentionally, and repeatedly. Our thoughts, our words, our actions, even our very nature is depraved. All the subjective inner peace you can conjure up will not change the objective reality that God’s wrath is on its way.

This is where the good news of Jesus Christ comes in. Romans 5:1 says we have “peace with God” if we have been “justified by faith.” Jesus, the sinless Son of God, hung on the cross to satisfy the wrath of God that was coming our way. Then God raised Jesus from the dead! If you place your faith in Jesus – if you receive his offer of forgiveness – God “justifies” you. This means that He considers you righteous because Jesus died and rose in your place. There is nothing I can do to please God on my own, but God is completely pleased with what Jesus did in my place. So I am no longer considered a rebellious enemy of God, but I am child of God – a member of his dearly loved family. I have been reconciled to God. I have peace with Him.

If you're seeking peace, let me assure you that you are on a worthy quest. And let me encourage you - you can find peace. You can find peace by finding God through Jesus Christ.

When you have peace with God, inner peace follows. Here's how it works: if I am in Christ, that means God is for me. And if God is for me, that means everything he allows into my life - even difficulty and sadness - is intended for my ultimate good. Peace with God also leads to peace with others. If God could forgive me despite my many offenses against Him, surely I can forgive others when they offend me!

Through Christ, I can have true peace no matter what situation I find myself in. Because peace is not absence of conflict or a feeling of calm. It is complete wellness of my inner being even in the midst of outward turmoil. This is why Jesus could say to His disciples - just hours before his torture and execution - “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (Jn. 16:33)

I Know a Man...

2012-10-25T14:31:00.000-04:00

I know a baby boy who was born in the most incredible circumstances. His birthplace was an animal barn, but men bowed down before him as if he were royalty. Angels announced his birth. Scholars traveled thousands of miles to bring him gifts. The king of that land was so jealous he attempted to put this baby to death. It was said of this boy that he had no human father.

I know a child who grew up humbly, sweating away in a carpenter’s shop. Yet at the age of twelve he amazed some of the brightest scholars around with his intelligence.

I know a man who was introduced by a voice from the sky that said: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am delighted.”

I know a man who could read people’s minds…see right into the depths of their soul…tell them all about their past as soon as he met them.

I know a man who turned water into wine. He healed a sick young boy from 18 miles away. He touched a man with a deadly skin disease, and the man was completely cleansed. He commanded a paralytic to get up and walk – and the man walked! He touched a coffin and a dead man immediately came to life. He scolded a storm and it stopped. He stood down a lunatic in a graveyard and cast out a multitude of demons. A woman touched the hem of his clothing and her 12-year sickness was healed. He took a twelve year old girl by the hand and raised her from the dead. He gave blind men sight and made a mute man speak and caused a deaf man to hear. He multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish so that they fed over 5,000 people. He walked on water. He shouted into a tomb and a dead man came to life and walked out.

I know a man who said the most amazing things:

“Unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God”

“Everyone who drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”

“Love your enemies”

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”

“Do not be anxious for your life…but seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness”

“Do unto others and you would have them do unto you”

“Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest”

“Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother”

“Do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

“The very hairs of your head are numbered, therefore do not fear”

“He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it”

“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

“If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed”

“The last will be first, and the first will be last”

“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted”

“There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents”

“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit”

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life”

“I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

“I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he will be saved”

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

“I am the resurrection and the life”

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me.”

“I am the true vine, and you are the branches”

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

I know a man who reached out to the outcasts of society: fishermen, foreigners, tax collectors, prostitutes, and notorious sinners.

I know a man who told people the truth about our condition:

“Men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil”

“Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty… Everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her in his heart”

“Whoever loves father or mother or son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”

“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance”

“Unless you repent, you will perish”

I know a man who wept with compassion for crowds of people, and spoke good news to them, and healed the sick.

I know a man who claimed to be the fulfillment of hundreds of centuries-old prophecies. Claimed to be the Son of God. Claimed to be the maker of the universe. Claimed to have authority to judge everyone. Claimed to be sent by God. Claimed to be one with God. Claimed to be the only way to God. Claimed that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

I know a man who was transfigured before three of his friends. His face shone like the sun, and his clothing became as white as light. Again, a voice from the sky said, “This is my beloved Son, my chosen one – listen to him!”

I know a man who said he would be killed by government authorities, then rise from the dead after three days.

I know a man who rode into a city on a donkey and was hailed as king by crowds of people.

I know a man who talked down a mob of intellectuals looking to trap him in his words.

I know a man who got down on his knees and washed the dusty feet of his followers.

I know a man who claimed that he existed from eternity past.

I know a man who was forsaken by all. Rejected by his family. Feared by the government. Hated by religious leaders. Betrayed by a companion. Denied by his chief disciple. Abandoned by his closest friends in the hour of his greatest pain.

I know a man who sweated drops of blood out of agony for what awaited him.

I know a man who allowed himself to be arrested on false pretenses. He was tried by a biased court, testified against with lies. He was charged with blasphemy and troublemaking. He was found not guilty but sentenced to death anyway. The man who calmed wild storms allowed himself to be cruelly mocked. The man who healed the sick was viciously whipped. A large ring of long thorns was beaten into his skull. He was lifted up on a rough wooden frame. For hours he bled in plain view of the crowds. His power was questioned, his words were ridiculed, his claim to be God was scorned. Despite his agony, he offered forgiveness. Darkness fell over the land in the middle of the day, as this man endured the wrath of God. This sinless man took the punishment for my sins and your sins and the sins of men, women, and children from every age and every nation. Then this man shouted “It is finished” and gave up his life.

I know a man whose body lay in a common tomb for three days, but who could not be overcome by death. I know a man who was raised to life as proof that everything he said was true. He is God. He can forgive sins. He can grant eternal life.

I know a man who appeared to hundreds of people as proof of his resurrection.

I know a man who forgave those who abandoned him.

I know a man who promised his followers: “I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

I know a man who rose up into the clouds, but promised to return someday to rule over the earth and to be with his people. Today - this very moment - he is alive and well.

I don’t just know about this man… I know him. I’ve met him. He calls me his brother and his friend. He has forgiven my sins and given me life. And it’s my joy to announce that you can know him too! His name is Jesus.

HBC Statement on Homosexuality and "Gay Marriage"

2012-09-26T15:20:00.000-04:00

The creator God, to whom all are accountable, has revealed Himself and His will in His perfect Word, the Bible.

The Bible confines sexual relationships to marriage. The Bible defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman. These limitations are for our good and for God's glory. Biblically (and historically), there is no such thing as “gay marriage.”

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. (Heb. 13:4)

[Jesus] answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? (Matt. 19:4-5)

Because of the fall of man into sin (Gen. 3), all men and women struggle with various forms of perverse sexual orientation. An inclination toward these perversions (temptation) is not sin. However, acting upon any of these orientations is sin and offends a holy God.

Sex before marriage
Adultery
Heterosexual relationships with multiple partners
Sex with children and/or forced sex with an unwilling partner (these perversions are particularly egregious)
Homosexual relationships

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Rom. 1:24-27)

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10)

Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 1:7)

The essence of sin is idolatry – the worship of a false god. When I set up anything as a priority above the God of the Bible, including my own desires, sin results. As complex as perverse sexual orientations can be, at the root of each perversion is a worship disorder (Rom. 1:21-25).

Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him. (Rom. 1:21)

The gospel gives us hope. Jesus Christ offers Himself as the Savior for sinners, regardless of the nature and extent of our sin. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, I can be forgiven of any and every sin (1 Jn. 1:9). As I begin to worship the true God, he gives me strength to overcome sin by His Spirit (Gal. 5:22-25). And in Christ I have the hope of future perfection: an eternity with God completely removed from sin (1 Jn. 3:2).

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

In a culture that increasingly affirms homosexual practice and advocates “gay marriage,” here are a few necessary Christian responses:

A wholehearted love for God. This includes submission to his Word and a sincere renouncing and turning from our own sin.
A humble love for our neighbors. This doesn’t always involve affirming and advocating what they want, but affirming and advocating what is best for them and best for society. (By the way, this doesn’t just apply to the issue of homosexuality.)
A broken-hearted gospel invitation to all who will hear. Our God is still mighty to save!

The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God…. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11)

Mr. By-Ends and the American "Christian"

2012-06-25T17:07:00.002-04:00

It's comforting to know that weaknesses currently plaguing American "Christianity" are not unique to our age. Over 300 years ago, in his classic tale The Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan described a character eerily similar to many modern evangelicals. Note carefully the words of Mr. By-Ends, his interaction with the faithful men Christian and Hopeful, and the twisted reasoning of his friends Mr. Hold-the-World, Mr. Money-Love, and Mr. Save-All. I've italicized portions which seem to me most typical of American "Christianity."

___________________________

So I saw that, quickly after they were got out of the fair, they overtook one that was going before them, whose name was BY-ENDS; So they said to him, "What countryman, sir? and how far go you this way?" He told them that he came from the town of Fairspeech; and he was going to the Celestial City (but told them not his name).

Chr. "From Fairspeech!" said CHRISTIAN; "is there any that be good live there?"

By-ends. "Yes," said BY-ENDS, "I hope."

Chr. "Pray, sir, what may I call you?" said CHRISTIAN.

By-ends. I am a stranger to you, and you to me: if you be going this way, I shall be glad of your company: if not, I must be content.

Chr. "This town of Fairspeech," said CHRISTIAN, "I have heard of; and, as I remember, they say it is a wealthy place."

By-ends. Yes, I will assure you that it is; and I have very many rich kindred there.

Chr. Pray who are your kindred there, if a man may be so bold?

By-ends. Almost the whole town: and in particular, my Lord TURN-ABOUT; my Lord TIME-SERVER; my Lord FAIRSPEECH (from whose ancestors that town first took its name); also Mr. SMOOTH-MAN; Mr. FACING-BOTH-WAYS; Mr. ANY-THING; and the parson of our parish, Mr. TWO-TONGUES, was my mother's own brother by father's side. And to tell you the truth, I am become a gentleman of good quality; yet my great-grandfather was but a waterman, looking one way and rowing another-- and I got most of my estate by the same occupation.

Chr. Are you a married man?

By-ends. Yes; and my wife is a very virtuous woman--the daughter of a virtuous woman. She is my Lady FEIGNING'S daughter; therefore she came of a very honourable family, and is arrived to such a pitch of breeding, that she knows how to carry it to all, even to prince and peasant. 'Tis true, we somewhat differ in religion from those of the stricter sort; yet but in two small points: First, we never strive against wind and tide; secondly, we are always most zealous when religion goes in his silver slippers--we love much to walk with him in the street if the sun shines, and the people applaud it.

Then CHRISTIAN stepped a little aside to his fellow HOPEFUL, saying, "It runs in my mind that this is one BY-ENDS, of Fairspeech and if it be he, we have as very a knave in our company as dwells in all these parts." Then said HOPEFUL, "Ask him; methinks he should not be ashamed of his name." So CHRISTIAN came up with him again, and said, "Sir, you talk as if you knew something more than all the world doth; and if I take not my mark amiss, I deem I have half a guess of you: Is not your name Mr. BY-ENDS, of Fairspeech?"

By-ends. That is not my name: but indeed it is a nickname that is given me by some that cannot abide me: and I must be content to bear it as a reproach, as other good men have borne theirs before me.

Chr. But did you never give an occasion to men to call you by this name?

By-ends. Never, never! the worst that ever I did to give them an occasion to give me this name was, that I had always the luck to jump in my judgment with the present way of the times, whatever it was, and my chance was to gain thereby; but if things are thus cast upon me, let me count them a blessing, but let not the malicious load me therefore with reproach.

Chr. I thought indeed that you were the man that I had heard of; and to tell you what I think, I fear this name belongs to you more properly than you are willing we should think it doth.

By-ends. Well, if you will thus imagine, I cannot help it. You shall find me a fair company-keeper, if you will still admit me your associate.

Chr. If you will go with us, you must go against wind and tide, the which, I perceive, is against your opinion; you must also own religion in his rags as well as when in his silver slippers; and stand by him too when bound in irons, as well as when he walks the streets with applause.

By-ends. You must not impose nor lord it over my faith; leave me to my liberty, and let me go with you.

Chr. Not a step farther, unless you will do, in what I propound, as we.

By-ends. Then said BY-ENDS, "I shall never desert my old principles, since they are harmless and profitable. If I may not go with you, I must do as I did before you overtook me: even go by myself, until some overtake me that will be glad of my company."

Now I saw in my dream that CHRISTIAN and HOPEFUL forsook him, and kept their distance before him; but one of them looking back, saw three men following Mr. BY-ENDS; and behold, as they came up with him, he made them a very low bow, and they also gave him a compliment. The men's names were, Mr. HOLD-THE-WORLD, Mr. MONEY-LOVE, and Mr. SAVE-ALL--men that Mr. BY-ENDS had formerly been acquainted with; for in their minority they were schoolfellows, and were taught by one Mr. GRIPEMAN, a schoolmaster in Love-gain, which is a market town in the county of Coveting, in the north. This schoolmaster taught them the art of getting, either by violence, fraud, flattery, lying, or by putting on a guise of religion; and these four gentlemen had attained much of the art of their master, so that they could each of them have kept such a school themselves.

Well, when they had, as I said, thus saluted each other, Mr. MONEY-LOVE said to Mr. BY-ENDS, "Who are they upon the road before us?" For CHRISTIAN and HOPEFUL were yet within view.

By-ends. They are a couple of far countrymen, that, their mode, are going on pilgrimage.

Money-love. Alas! why did they not stay, that we might have had their good company; for they, and we, and you, sir, I hope, are all going on a pilgrimage?

By-ends. We are so, indeed; but the men before us are so rigid, and love so much their own notions, and do also so lightly esteem the opinions of others, that even if a man be never so godly, yet, if he jumps not with them in all things, they thrust him quite out of their company.

Mr. Save-all. That's bad; but we read of some that are righteous overmuch, and such men's rigidness prevails with them to judge and condemn all but themselves. But, I pray, what and how many were the things wherein you differed?

By-ends. Why, they, after their headstrong manner, conclude that it is their duty to rush on their journey all weathers; and I am for waiting for wind and tide. They are for hazarding all for God at a clap; and I am for taking all advantages to secure my life and estate. They are for holding their notions, though all other men be against them; but I am for religion in and so far as the times and my safety will bear it. They are for religion when in rags and contempt; but I am for him when he walks in his golden slippers in the sunshine, and with applause.

Mr. Hold-the-World. Aye, and hold you there still, good Mr. BY-ENDS; for, for my part, I can count him but a fool, that, having the liberty to keep what he has, shall be so unwise as to lose it. Let us be wise as serpents; 'tis best to make hay when the sun shines: you see how the bee lies still all winter, and bestirs her only when she can have profit with pleasure. God sends sometimes rain, and sometimes sunshine; if they be such fools to go through the first, yet let us be content to take fair weather along with us. For my part, I like that religion best that will stand with the security of God's good blessings unto us; for who can imagine, that is ruled by his reason, since God has bestowed upon us the good things of this life, but that he would have us keep them for his sake? Abraham and Solomon grew rich in religion. And Job says, "That a good man shall lay up gold as dust." But he must not be such as the men before us, if they be as you have described them.

Mr. Save-all. I think that we are all agreed in this matter; and therefore there need be no more words about it.

Mr. Money-love. No, there need be no more words about this matter indeed; for he that believes neither Scripture nor reason (and you see we have both on our side), neither knows his own liberty nor seeks his own safety.

___________________________

Friends, don't be surprised or shaken by modern compromises; truly there is nothing new under the sun. Let us guard our hearts against anything that would steal our love for Christ. And let us hope anew in the gospel, which was the answer for 1678 England and is still the answer for 2012 America.

Life is Long, Life is Short

2012-06-01T17:18:00.001-04:00

So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

Encouragement for disciplers in God's church:

Life is long - so be patient as you minister to people. Don't put yourself under pressure to teach everything there is to know in a single sermon, or fix all of someone's problems overnight. You are likely just one factor among many in an individual's spiritual life and growth. In most cases God began His work in someone before bringing them your way, and in most cases God will continue His work in someone after moving them on from your influence. One plants, another waters, but God causes the growth.

At the same time...

Life is short - so maintain a sense of urgency as you prepare people for eternity. You never know how long someone will be in your life. God in His grace can use your momentary influence to change an individual for eternity! Life is a vapor. Your speaking God's truth to someone today may be vital.

May the Lord give us wisdom and grace as we minister in light of these two realities.

A Few Sincere Questions

2012-05-23T09:52:00.000-04:00

At last month's Harvest University conference, James MacDonald gave a message containing some practical admonitions to 2,000 Harvest Bible Fellowship pastors and ministry leaders. Portions of the message were good and helpful, but one rather disturbing portion revealed MacDonald's thinking on how he handles disagreement. Please note that these comments were not said accidentally or in obscurity. These statements have not been twisted or pulled out of context. On the contrary, MacDonald chose to highlight this portion of his message on his blog. Note carefully the section beginning at 14:43.

I sincerely urge ministry leaders, particularly in the Harvest Bible Fellowship, to carefully consider the following questions:

- Out of all the verses in Scripture, why would MacDonald want those two verses to be his elders' favorites? Would you really have these two verses be your elders' favorite? Should two verses about rejecting factious men be elevated over the many verses about the importance of sound doctrine? Or the many verses about gentleness and love?

- Do these verses really describe someone who simply disagrees with the pastor (as MacDonald implies)? Or do these verses actually describe a false teacher dividing the church with false doctrine? Do you think it's mere coincidence that this message was preached just days after Mike Bryant and HBC Grayslake were removed from HBF simply for disagreeing with James MacDonald?

- Should we really be so pessimistic about the Lord's ability to change someone? Should a man be a pastor of God's flock if he is resigned to people "being as they have been"?

- How do you feel about MacDonald "releasing you" to build a catapult in your church's parking lot and load it regularly? Does this strike you as a healthy pastoral admonition? Are these the words of a shepherd or of a CEO?

- Does James MacDonald have the right to "release you" to do anything? Do you consider him a fellow pastor, or is he above you - with the authority to tell you what to do as you lead your local assembly?

- If you are to take seriously MacDonald's admonition to catapult factious men into other churches, what implications does this have for the body of Christ as a whole? If a man is truly factious (as Scripture defines it), should we not warn other churches rather than catapulting factious men into them?

- Did MacDonald have the right to call for loyalty to himself by using the words of Jesus in John 6? What is more important, loyalty to a man or loyalty to the Lord? Do you have the courage to do the right thing when the two conflict?

Lastly, perhaps you would consider making this passage your elders' favorite:
Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
(1 Timothy 6:9-12)

Kevin DeYoung and Shane and Shane at Five Points Community Church

2012-04-04T09:22:00.007-04:00

I'm grateful for Five Points Community Church in Auburn Hills, MI. Their elders are examples of faithful ministry and their church is known in southeast Michigan for their clarity and passion in proclaiming Christ. Another reason I'm grateful for them is because they regularly serve area churches by making good resources available. For example, they recently hosted a conference on adoption that some members of our church really appreciated and benefited from. In about a month or so, Five Points is hosting a one day seminar on preaching entitled Preaching Christ: The Pastor as Herald of the Gospel. The speakers are Kevin DeYoung, Stephen Um, and Brent Nelson. If you're a pastor in the Metro-Detroit area, this is something to clear your schedule for. You can register here.

That same night, the church is hosting a Shane & Shane concert. While the cost of the seminar covers the price of admission to the concert, anyone can attend. You can purchase tickets here.

Here's a song of theirs I've listened to a number of times since my daughter was born, because it always feels like it was written with me specifically in mind. If you have a daughter, listen to this and be challenged and encouraged to draw your daughters attention to Jesus (watch the whole thing).

*Cross-posted from David Crabb

Don't Be Holier Than Jesus!

2012-03-28T11:18:00.006-04:00

"The world is rated R, and no one is checking IDs. Do not try to make it G by imagining the shadows away. Do not try to hide your children from the world forever, but do not pretend there is no danger. Train them. Give them sharp eyes and bellies full of laughter. Make them dangerous. Make them yeast, and when they’ve grown, they will pollute the shadows." ~N.D. Wilson

I came across this quote last night and it really resonated with me. It encapsulated and said so well a few things I've been mulling over in my mind for the last several months. I recently preached a sermon on Matthew 5:13-16, which is the passage where Jesus tells his followers that they are salt and light in this world. What follows is a portion of that sermon talking about how, in light of this passage, we should view the world, the culture, and our pursuit of holiness.

"Jesus' teaching here should keep us from two common errors that Christians have made in regards to their relationship to the world: the first error is that the world is basically good and will gradually become better and (perhaps) even perfect through Christian social action. In opposition to this view, Christ says that the world is basically rotten. The second error is the view that because the world is basically rotten, the Christian should try to disassociate himself from the world as much as possible, staying away from 'bad influences.' So we guard, protect, and shelter and do everything with people in our church and perhaps other Christians. It's clear that as salt, the Christian is to be a preserving force in the world wherever God has placed him.

"James Montgomery Boice says, 'The salt never did any good when it was on one shelf and the meat on another. To be effective, the salt had to be rubbed into the meat. In a similar way, Christians must allow God to rub them into the world.' This means that we must be Christians at work, Christians in politics, Christians at home, Christians at the soccer games, Christians at the rec center, Christians everywhere.

"Boice continues, 'Oh, someone says, "that would mean that I would have to be taken out of the salt shaker and spread around, and I might get dirty and even seem to dissolve or disappear!" Yes, that is what it means. In fact, there is even a sense in which the salt must dissolve if the flavor is to be released.'

"Christian, beware of talk of 'holiness' that is holier than Jesus. Often, holiness (which means separateness) is taken to mean separateness from sinners rather than separateness from sin itself. Jesus didn't just take you straight to heaven when you were saved, he left you here for a purpose--a mission (Matt. 28:19-20). If your mentality is that the world is really awful and full of bad influences, so I'm just going to hunker down with my family and other like-minded Christians until Jesus comes, then you are sinning. You have lost your saltiness. Jesus is going to say later, 'Let your light shine!'

"Do you know non-Christians? Parents, do your children know non-Christians? Under the name of 'sheltering' are you keeping them from the mission Jesus gave them? Are you raising a house plant or an oak? By God's grace, let us be people who stand strong for Jesus, proclaiming His message with boldness, compassion, and clarity. Let us be ambassadors on mission for King Jesus. Let us be brilliant light that penetrates the deepest of darkness. Until Jesus comes, and for the praise of His glorious grace."

*Cross-posted from davecrabb.com.

Never Give Up!

2012-02-29T16:00:00.000-05:00

Our church is currently studying the book of Acts on Sunday mornings. This past Sunday we were blessed by Acts 9, the story of Saul's unexpected conversion. Jesus changed him overnight from a fierce persecutor of the church to a bold messenger of the gospel.

We also were blessed by this corresponding testimony by one of our members, who prayed for an antagonistic co-worker even when he seemed like a lost cause. I know you will be encouraged by her story. Never give up on your family or acquaintances who are far from the Lord! The God who spoke light out of darkness is still in the business of creating faith in the darkest of hearts.

Gospel Story: Michelle from Harvest Detroit West on Vimeo.

Judgmentalism and "Defending the Truth"

2012-02-25T10:03:00.000-05:00

Our church is currently studying through the Gospel of Matthew, and this Sunday we are considering together Matthew 7:1-6 and Jesus' teaching on a critical spirit (or judgmentalism). I was reading through D.A. Carson's thoughts on this passage earlier today and was struck with the particular section focused on the manifestation of a critical spirit when it comes to doctrinal disagreement between Christian brothers. Carson notes:

Doctrinal critics can be among the most offensive in this regard. The doctrinal critic may agree that another person is a brother in Christ, has been significantly used of the Lord, is thoughtful and sincere in his submission to Scripture; but because the critic focuses on the one area of doctrine in which the two disagree, this other brother may be painted publicly in hues of gray and black. That Christians are to demonstrate observable love (John 13:34f; 17:20-23) is lost to while the critic "defends the truth."

I am not minimizing the significance of truth, nor denying that there are limits to fellowship. I am saying two things.

First, genuine believers have more in common than they recognize when, with a sectarian mentality, they focus attention and energy on points of difference, largely to reinforce what they construe as their own raison d'etre ["reason for existence"]. If I wholeheartedly embrace only those fellow Christians who see things exactly the way I do, I will never embrace anyone, except, perhaps, a handful of weak-minded followers.

Second, we must never lose sight of the stress in Matthew 7:1-5 on attitudes. Christians will honestly disagree on doctrinal points, but to become very heated helps no one. There ought to be clear-headed discussion of the differences, with honest submission to the Word of God and a repudiation of arguments which consistently and without cause ascribe unworthy motives to the opposing brothers.

A few thoughts:

(1) My prayer is for grace from God to cultivate a catholicity ("universality") of spirit in my life, family, and ministry. I want to be eager to think the best of other Christians, to glory in the big, important things that we hold in common, and to endeavor not to be cynical or suspicious.

(2) Marco Antonio de Demonis' (not Augustine's) now-famous words are worth seeking to live by: "in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity."

(3) It is important to have a way to think through the weightiness of a particular doctrinal position. Am I really "defending the truth" or am I making a secondary issue a primary issue? Am I really "defending the truth" or just my application of the truth? Am I really "defending the truth" or just a sub-cultural norm? Any life or ministry that is going to actually defend the (real) truth in a way that is full of grace, seasoned with salt; must have a way of ordering doctrines.

Wisdom for the Modern Church from the Not-So-Distant Past

2012-01-20T16:51:00.003-05:00

“I trust I am not given to finding fault where there is not fault. But I cannot open my eyes without seeing things done in our Churches which thirty years ago were not so much as dreamed of. In the matter of amusements, professors have gone far in the way of laxity. What is worse, the Churches have now conceived the idea that it is their duty to amuse the people…. What folly has been left untried? What absurdity has not been too great for the consciences of those who profess to be the children of God—who are not of the world but called to walk with God in a separated life? The world regards the high pretensions of such men as hypocrisy. And truly I do not know another name for them….

Surely there is a sobriety of behavior which is consistent with a work of Divine Grace in the heart and there is a levity which betokens that the spirit of evil is supreme…. We have gone from liberty to libertinism. We have passed beyond the dubious into the dangerous and none can prophesy where we shall stop. Where is the holiness of the Church of God today? …Now she is dim as smoking flax and rather the object of ridicule than of reverence.

May not the measure of the influence of a Church be estimated by its holiness? If the great host of professing Christians were in domestic life and in business life sanctified by the Spirit, the Church would become a great power in the world. God’s saints may well mourn with Jerusalem when they see spirituality and holiness at so low an ebb! Others may regard this as a matter of no consequence. But we view it as the breaking forth of a leprosy.”

- Charles Spurgeon, 1889 (“A Dirge for the Down-Grade, and A Song for Faith”)

“Pragmatic philosophy...asks no embarrassing questions about the wisdom of what we are doing or even about the morality of it. it accepts our chosen ends as right and good and casts about for efficient means and ways to get them accomplished. When it discovers something that works it soon finds a text to justify it, "consecrates" it to the Lord and plunges ahead. Next a magazine article is written about it, then a book, and finally the inventor is granted an honorary degree. After that any question about the scripturalness of things or even the moral validity of them is completely swept away. You cannot argue with success. The method works; ergo, it must be good.

The weakness of all this is its tragic shortsightedness. It never takes the long view of religious activity, indeed it dare not do so, but goes cheerfully on believing that because it works it is both good and true. It is satisfied with present success and shakes off any suggestion that its works may go up in smoke in the day of Christ.

As one fairly familiar with the contemporary religious scene, I say without hesitation that a part, a very large part, of the activities carried on today in evangelical circles are not only influenced by pragmatism but almost completely controlled by it. Religious methodology is geared to it; it appears large in our youth meetings; magazines and books constantly glorify it; conventions are dominated by it; and the whole religious atmosphere is alive with it.

What shall we do to break its power over us? The answer is simple. We must acknowledge the right of Jesus Christ to control the activities of His church. The New Testament contains full instructions, not only about what we are to believe but what we are to do and how we are to go about doing it. Any deviation from those instructions is a denial of the Lordship of Christ.”

- A. W. Tozer, 1970 (God Tells the Man Who Cares)

“According to God's grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.

If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one's work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one's work. If anyone's work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire....

If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness; and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings of the wise are meaningless....

A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God's mysteries. In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful.”

- The Apostle Paul, 55 (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 18-20; 4:1-2)