One of the clearest signals of moral decline in our nation is the flippant use of the name of God. His name has become a byword or a “filler,” instead of being the holy name of God.

It seems that every time we turn around, someone is reacting to something that excites them, makes them laugh, or causes them to get angry by saying “O my god.” This is tragic, in that it does not truly hold to the holiness of the name of our Creator and Lord.

Recently, I was reflecting on this again, and I came to a realization. This type of usage of the name of God is not only sinful in that it is taking His holy name in a profane and/or vain way, but there is more to it.

They are telling the truth.

When that room has consumed their thinking and planning for weeks, and money has been diverted from the work of the Lord to pay for this fancy redecorating job; then, when it is done and they exclaim, “O my god,” they are telling the truth. That room has become their god.

When they will laugh at anything, no matter how profane or immoral, then when they laugh at that joke and release another “my god,” they are telling the truth. Humor and immorality have become their god.

When they win the lottery and, in their excitement, shout, “O my god!” they are just calling out to their god.

When they watch a great touchdown catch and call out with the same phrase, they are just speaking about the game that has become their god.

You see, it is more than just a vain use of the name of Jehovah; it is changing gods. We have let the earthly become our god, and that is about as vain, empty, and damning as it gets.

QUESTION: What are your thoughts?

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Since relaunching the blog a couple of weeks ago, we have been blessed by some very nice comments, both online and off. Many of you have kindly spoken of some aspect of the redesign that you like, and for that we are very grateful. We want the site to be informative, but also have a good design.

One of the lessons we have learned from the relaunch is this: people like free stuff!

At the top of our blog, there are some buttons that lead to free resources pages. Though our numbers are small by most blog standards, those pages get “hits” every single day, whether we post a new article or not. People want to see what is free.

Additionally, since adding a free incentive for signing up for our blog via email, we have seen that number go nowhere but up. When we relaunched at the beginning of this month, we had less than 100 email subscribers. Now, with a free eBook for signing up, we have over 130. (If you haven’t signed up and gotten your free eBook on Revelation, do so here.)

People just like free stuff. In fact, I would venture to say that, over time, we will have people stumble onto this post simply because the title contains the phrase “free stuff.” (Most of us have googled a phrase like that before!)

Knowing that people like free stuff, I have a question: Why aren’t more people saved?

“What?” you may ask. “How do those things go together?”

They go together perfectly. Just listen to the words of Paul the Apostle:

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, ESV)

“Free gift.”

That’s what salvation is!

If you want to pay, you can certainly do that, because God has given you choice in this life. He did not create us to be automatons that cannot operate apart from a series of predetermined commands. He gave you choice and will and the ability to think and discern.

But your all-wise Father also made it clear what lies at the end, ultimately, of each choice.

If we desire to sin, we may certainly do so. That is our choice, but God has made it clear that sin is the way that actually costs. It has “wages” associated with it. We must pay.

In total contrast, when it comes to salvation, God has already paid. It is a free gift, because Christ has paid the price in your place and mine. All we must do is accept the gift at the waters of baptism. Come to that location in gratitude and humility and accept the gift. God will give it to you.

So, we have a choice. Do we pay the wages of sin, or do we accept and receive the free gift of God. Consider that contrast.

You may brag about a great freebie you got at some point in your life. Maybe someone gave you a trip, a car…maybe even a house. Over time, though, that gift will end, wear out, or break down.

If you like free stuff, you simply cannot compare any earthly freebie with what the Lord offers. He offers a way out of your biggest problem; that of sin. He offers that freely to you at baptism, and He promises that the gift will last forever.

It’s the greatest free gift anyone can imagine, but so few have accepted it.

Have you?

QUESTION: What comes to your mind when you consider the “free gift” of salvation?

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I won’t be preaching on Sunday nights for a couple of weeks after tonight (VBS, 5th Sunday, Church Camp), so it will be a few weeks before our next handout. Enjoy this one on Acts 17. We hope you are finding these to be helpful to you!

Acts by the Numbers Chapter 17

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So far as I know, the author of our hymn for this week, Arabella Katherine Hankey (sometimes published as “Catherine”), only wrote two hymns, but they are remarkable songs.

Hankey was born and raised in London and was strongly influenced by a group called the “Clapham Sect” of the Anglican Church. This sect, clearly under the influence of William Wilberforce, was opposed to slavery, and also wished to reform prisons, education, and make other social changes through the work of the church. Though the Clapham Sect was basically gone by the time she reached her formative years, people like Katherine Hankey carried on the ideals for decades.

To show more of Hankey’s passionate heart, Robert Morgan writes,

Early in life, Kate became involved in religious work. As a young girl, she taught Sunday school; and when she was eighteen she organized a Bible study for factory girls in London. (This Bible study was never large, but the girls became close and fifty years later, five of them met together at Kate’s funeral.) When her brother fell ill in Africa, Kate traveled there to bring him home. That trip sparked a passion for foreign missions, and in later life Kate devoted all proceeds from her writing to missionary work. (Then Sings My Soul: Book 2, page 109)

As she entered her 30′s, Katherine became very ill. She had been so involved in efforts through the Church that doctors ordered her to stop and stay in bed for an entire year. She complied, in part. Though she didn’t travel as she had before, she remained a missionary via writing.

The most famous writing from that year was done in two parts. It was a poem that, when completed, was 100 stanzas in length. The first part is called “The Story Wanted,” while the second part is “The Story Told.” She completed the entire poem in 1866, though it took her most of the year to write it.

In 1867, the Young Men’s Christian Association held its international convention, and one of the leaders ended a sermon by quoting from the poem. William Doane, who heard the sermon, put part of the song to music, and gave us “Tell Me the Old, Old Story.”

It wasn’t until two years later, though, that another hymn-writer, William Fischer, created a unique melody (which he called “Hankey”) for another part of the hymn. In 1869, “I Love the Tell the Story” was first published in an American songbook, and has been a favorite hymn of many ever since.

Thanks to the wonders of technology, you can read an 1875 publication of Hankey’s entire poem right here:

Old Old Story by 5ptsalt

This hymn is obviously a missionary song. Singing it should cause us to swell with motivation to tell all we know about Jesus Christ, because He has done so much for us. Knowing where this song came from, though, only adds to that appeal. When we consider that a lady who was bedridden for a year wrote it so that others might know about the Lord, we have no excuse to avoid using our talents to tell that “old, old story of unseen things above.” After all, that story is one “that I have loved so long.” How can I help but share it?

Picture from My Hymnal Collection

From “Hosannas to the King” (1908)

Lyrics

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

(complete lyrics here)

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Yesterday, we looked at how some of the language used by those in favor of gay marriage betrays at least part of their agenda. However, gay marriage is not the only issue we need to consider.

And those who support homosexual marriage are not the only people we need to think about, either. It is possible that Christians can (and, in part, have) led us to this point in our nation.

Now, before you get too angry, take a look at the title of this post again. I am not saying that you support gay marriage. I would venture to say that 90% of our regular readers (if not nearly 100%) do not support homosexual unions. Many of you are, as I am, staunchly opposed not only to homosexual marriage, but to the homosexual lifestyle in general.

However, what we are seeing in our society is not just the push for gay marriage. What we are seeing is a total redefinition of the idea of traditional, God-directed marriage.

And even Christians have contributed to that.

How?

For too long, we have said that God’s view of marriage is “one man and one woman for life.” What’s wrong with that? It is an incomplete description of God’s ideal. Of course, we know that the New Testament teaches that a man is to marry a woman and that they are to remain married for life, but that’s not the totality of God’s design nor His desire.

Instead of oversimplifying things to “one man and one woman for life,” we need to say what the Bible actually says. God’s view of marriage is “one Christ-like, loving, and servant-leader man, and one church-like, respecting, and submissive godly woman who have left father and mother, are cleaving to one another, and committed to the one flesh picture for an ever-maturing lifetime, to the glory of God.”

Now, that may not roll off the tongue as easily as the shortened version, but it also does not provide us an open door to destroy marriage.

What do I mean? Far too many, even in the Church, see marriage just as a lifelong “thing.” It’s not all that special, other than it just lasts a long time. If we do not present the full picture to the world, we are helping to pull away at the very fabric of God’s traditional view of marriage.

Any time I make fun of my wife and act like wives are just all overbearing, I am not loving my wife, so I am not not giving a godly picture of marriage.

Any time I participate in a gossip-fest where husbands are the subject of all the jokes, I am not respecting him, so I am not supporting God’s view of marriage.

When I leave divorce out there as an option, just in case we can’t make things work, I am not truly committed to the union, so I am not supporting traditional marriage.

When I let my mind wander to other people (whether in real life or online or a move star), to whom I am not married, and begin to fantasize about them, I am not honoring the “one flesh” relationship that is part of God’s view of marriage.

When I am not sure I would sacrifice even my own life of my wife, I am not loving her as Christ loved the Church, so I am not upholding God’s standard.

When a wife says (or thinks), “I’ll respect him, but only when he deserves it,” she is not doing as God said in Ephesians 5:33 (there are not qualifiers on either the husband’s love for his wife or a wife’s respect for her husband!), so she is not upholding God’s view of marriage.

When my marriage becomes secondary–either in action or in attitude–to my pursuit of money, leisure, or time with other friends, I am not placing the value on marriage that God does.

…and we could go on.

You see, with each of these things that we might consider “small” in comparison to gay marriage, we have make a small pull or tear in the fabric of what marriage really is in God’s sight. We may think we are just kidding around with the gals, or just looking at a little pornography like every guy does, or just enjoying something else in life right now. In reality, we are chipping away at the pillars of a God-instituted and God-directed institution, and our nation is reaping the whirlwind of our “small” decisions. We can shout from the hilltops that those who desire homosexual marriage are only striving to have society sanction their fleshly and selfish desires. That may be true, but any time (any time) I deviate from God’s standard for my own marriage, I am also displaying my own selfishness.

Let’s not just oppose the sin and threat of gay marriage. Let’s be sure we devote ourselves fully to the strong and perfect standard that God has for marriage. Only when we do that to the best of our ability can we say that we are really upholding traditional marriage. And only then is God truly glorified in our home.

QUESTION: What are some suggestions to remain fully committed to God’s true standard for marriage?

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There can be no doubt that one of the issues of our time is homosexuality, and the twin issue of gay marriage. As our Supreme Court is preparing to give a ruling any day now on this issue, our nation stands at a precipice many of us never thought we would see. In fact, historically, our nation would be the first to sanction homosexual marriage. After defining “conjugal” marriage as that between a man and a woman, Girgis, Anderson, and George write,

But history also shows that hostility to homosexually inclined people could not possibly have given rise to the conjugal view. The philosophical and legal principle that only coitus could consummate a marriage arose centuries before the concept of a gay identity, when the only other acts being considered were ones between a married man and woman. And even in cultures very favorable to homoerotic relationships (as in ancient Greece), something akin to the conjugal view has prevailed–and nothing like same-sex marriage was even imagined. (What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense)

As the rhetoric grows and the tidal wave of influence continues to grow, we continue to see the emphasis on how all gays and lesbians desire is a strong, long-lasting, committed, and loving relationship. I am certain that, in some cases, that might be true. While homosexuality is clearly a sin (and we dare not back down from that truth, no matter the tide of culture), I have no doubt that some who wish to marry really do desire a life-long partnership, sinful though that union might be.

However, there are at least two reasons why we need to see through this rhetoric of this being about loving, committed unions.

First, statistics show that it just isn’t true. In fact, some studies show that a vast majority of gay men who wish to marry only want to do so for the “rights” and “benefits” that society offers, such as tax breaks. Among lesbians, there is more of a leaning toward life-long unions, but it is not exactly 100% (it’s more like 50-60%). A doctor named Bryce Christiansen wrote an article several years ago that states it well in the title: “Why Homosexuals Want What Marriage Has Now Become.”

But more than stats, the language being used betrays the homosexual agenda. Has anyone else noticed that, as homosexual marriage seems to be drawing more and more popularity, those who want this change have started changing their wording? While they often use “gay marriage” or “homosexual union,” they also have begun to talk about “GLBT rights.” Of course, those four letters stand for “gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender.”

Here is my question: If all this is about loving, committed relationships, how does bisexuality fit into that equation? How can one even know (or, better said, “think”) he or she is bisexual without having avoided true, lifelong, committed relationships?

Friends, I’m not one who always believes in the “slippery slope” argument. It is too often overused or overstated. But in this case, we are already seeing it before the issue of gay marriage even is decided upon by our nation. How long will it be before multi-partner marriages are also allowed, so that bisexuals can have these same “loving and committed” relationships?

I pray for our nation, and I fear that we are destroying ourselves by our own ravenous and selfish ways.

QUESTION: How can we lovingly but clearly make it plain that this is not only about “loving” and “committed” relationships?

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Photo credit: Les Chatfield on Creative Commons

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One of my favorite people was able to be at worship at Lebanon Road yesterday. For about 3 months, his health has declined, and he knows that his time on the earth is likely quite short.

I have kept in touch with him some in the past few weeks and months, but it was not just out of “duty.” This man is one of my favorites. He didn’t always compliment me, but he has always encouraged me to preach the truth. He was able to “speak the truth in love,” and encourage me to always seek that truth. His input in my Wednesday night class was always focused on following “the Word” (the phrase he used constantly), and I have missed it over the past few months.

He has not been able to attend worship for about 3 months, until yesterday. Much of his family was here, and helped him get ready and come to worship. He wasn’t quite as dressed up as he used to be, but that’s quite alright. He also needed a walker to help him stabilize while shuffling to his place, but there’s no shame in that.

As he came in, I walked up to him, shook his hand and told him how glad I was to see him. He told me that he had to come back to “check in on me” (one of our common jokes), and wanted to see everyone.

Then he said words that caused me to go near tears.

He said, “I knew I had to come one more time.”

One more time.

There’s no way to be absolutely sure, but he is fairly certain that his health will prevent him from coming again. Just being present yesterday took a stronger effort than I can fathom. But this man was not going to miss worship. Declining health or not, he was going to assemble before God and with his Christian family.

You may think this post is going to be about worship attendance. Certainly, we could talk about those faithful Christians who overcome aches, pains, and even depression to attend. They come in with walkers, canes, wheelchairs, or with shuffling feet, because they are not going to miss worship.

But I want to make another observation to encourage us all to examine our lives.

This man knows that he may or may not enter a “house of worship” again in this life. He knows that the sermon he heard yesterday may have been the last one he hears in person. He may have sung his last hymn (“O Will You Not Tell It Today,” which he has lived out countless times) in corporate worship. He may have eaten the Lord’s Supper with his brothers and sisters at Lebanon Road for the final time. I pray that’s not true. I want him to be able to come back and worship again and again, but that’s not in my hands, nor his.

But as I reflect on his words, I’m thinking about a different “one more time,” both for myself and for my friend.

You see, there is coming a day, and we know not when it will be, that some will worship “one more time,” and that “one time” will never end. The moment is coming when none of us will enter another house of worship on this earth, because time will be no more. Our “one more time” will be eternal, and around the throne of God. It will last and last, and we will never grow weary of praising and honoring the One who gave us time and blessed us in eternity.

I want to find my friend around the throne of God and lovingly tell him, “Bill, you were wrong. You got yet another ‘one more time,’ and it’s even better than either of us thought.”

Friend, will I see you there?

QUESTION: What about worship in heaven encourages you the most?

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Photo credit: Greg Westfall on Creative Commons

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We continue with our handouts from the book of Acts. We hope these are helping you teach the basics of this great book to your children. Today, we are on Acts 16.

Acts by the Numbers Chapter 16

Our hymn for this week has a connection to the Mayflower, Isaiah, and Nebraska.

“Beulah Land” is a song that has fallen out of favor in many places, likely because much of the language is quite old and in some places even confusing. Even the title confuses many people (but we sing right along like we know what we are talking about!).

“The Land of Beulah” by Jennie King Mellon Library at Chathan University

However, we can know for certain where the title, “Beulah Land,” came from. In Isaiah 62:4, God said to His people, “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.” (Note: I had to quote from the King James Version, because many modern translations go ahead and define words like “Hephzibah” and “Beulah.”)

The King James translation, so commonly used in the 1800s was the catalyst for our hymn. Since the word “Beulah” was from a Hebrew term that means “married” or “to marry,” the land was pictured as being “wed” to God. Thus, the name became synonymous with heaven, since that is the land of God.

Edgar Stites, who was a descendant of one Mayflower traveler, wrote this hymn in 1876. He later wrote about the experience:

It was in 1876 that I wrote “Beulah Land.” I could write only two verses and the chorus, when I was overcome and fell on my face. That was one Sunday. On the following Sunday I wrote the third and fourth verses, and again I was so influenced by emotion that I could only pray and weep. … I have never received a cent for my songs. Perhaps that is why they have had such wide popularity. I could not do work for the Master and receive pay for it.

The four verses and chorus were coupled with a tune by John Sweney, and the rest is hymn history. In fact, one story claims that Ira Sankey sang this hymn as a solo at the funeral service of John Sweney because it was his favorite tune.

Though the song is intended to make us think of heaven, there are some who have parodied it. In fact, when the American frontier was being settled by farmers who were promised amazing weather and perfect growing conditions, they used the song to make fun of the horrible conditions they actually saw. While it doesn’t fit perfectly with the lines, they used the same tune to sing:

Ah, Nebraska Land, Sweet Nebraska Land!
Upon thy burning soil I stand.
And I look away, across the plains,
And I wonder why it never rains.

Of course, we won’t have to worry about drought (or rain, for that matter) in the true land of God, Beulah Land. Originally, the song began with the words “I’ve reached the land of corn and wine,” but in most modern hymnals we sing “I’ve reached the land of joy (or love) divine.” If that’s not enough change, many hymnals also list the writer as Edgar Page instead of Edgar Stites. Why? Page was his middle name.

For those who long for heaven, the words of “Beulah Land” may be a bit outdated, but they still cause us to desire that wonderful land of God as our eternal home.

Picture from My Hymnal Collection

From “Hymns of Blessing for the Living Church” (1916)

Lyrics

I’ve reached the land of joy divine,

And all its beauty now is mine,

Here shines undimmed one blissful day,

For all my night has passed away.

O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land,

As on thy highest mount I stand,

I look away across the sea,

Where mansions are prepared for me,

And view the shining glory shore,

My heav’n, my home forevermore!

(complete lyrics here)

Video

(trouble viewing the video? Click here to watch on YouTube)

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Photo credit: Chatham University’s JKM Library on Creative Commons

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In 2001, Ryan Corbin crashed through a skylight and fell around 30 feet onto a concrete floor. His life hung by a thread, but he fought valiantly. This book, penned by his mother, Lindy Boone Michaaelis, speaks of how faith has carried the family–especially  her–through this long series of trials.

Personally, I wanted to read the book because Ryan is the grandson of Pat Boone, and Pat actually wrote the forward. Lindy makes it clear that Boone’s celebrity status and finances have helped in certain situations, but that faith has been the true driving force behind Ryan’s slow but remarkable recovery.

Several times, Lindy and Pat appeared on Larry King Live, since Boone and King were old friends. These appearances caused many around the world to pray for Ryan. In some ways, this book reads like a “thank you” to them for their prayers. At times, there are even letters from viewers printed at the end of chapters.

I found this book to be very raw, as Lindy is willing to admit both the peaks and the valleys of Ryan’s struggle and her own walk as his mother. While she has obviously done tremendous amounts of good, she admits certain missteps or struggles that others might not want to admit.

Overall, this book is a good read. There are some issues with taking passages out of context, but they do not detract from the overall message of hope this book provides. If you are struggling, especially as you help someone with a protracted illness or sickness, you might want to get a copy as a way to help you walk through this difficult time.

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DISCLAIMER: I was given a free copy of Heaven Hears from the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to give a positive review.