Guarding the Good Deposit

Moving!

2006-09-08T21:48:00.000-05:00

Please note that as of today, I will be moving my blog to a new site. Note the change and update your links if you so desire. All new posts will be found at Occupied With the Word.

It's All About...

2006-09-08T09:14:00.000-05:00

"Lord, you were favorable to Your land;
You restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of Your people;
You covered all their sin.
You withdrew all Your wrath;
You turned from Your hot anger."

At first glance it is clear that Psalm 85 is a prayer to God concerning Israel. It speaks of "Your land," "Jacob," and "Your people." How then are we to apply this song in the 21st century? It begins with understanding that this is not spoken directly to us, but to a specific group of people. Following that, we understand from the layout of the text that the psalmists are stating what God has done for His people. To say it simply, this is praise. The writers of this prayer are beginning with statements of praise to God for what He has done.

What is it that He has done? What does the text say?
1. God was favorable.
2. God restored fortunes.
3. God forgave iniquity (sin).
4. God withdrew His wrath.
5. God turned from His anger.

These are all items that the writers placed in song for the nation of Israel to sing as reminders of what God had done for them. Indeed, couldn't we say some (or perhaps all) of these things? The first portion of this song is about the greatness of our God. We can see from this that He does not change (Malachi 3.6)--He still judges sin as well as forgives sin; He is favorable to His people. Christ became the propitiation (the satisfaction of God's righteous anger against sin) for us and God's wrath has been withdrawn from those who come by faith to Him.

While this Psalm is directed to Israel, when we begin to understand what is happening in the song it does not seem so far away. In fact, in many ways we could write similar things. The first paragraph of this particular song details praise to God for His wondrous works. We could do the same (even using the exact same words and phrasing)--no, we should and must do the same. Let's take time to do that today, learning from Psalm 85.

Psalm 85

2006-09-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

This song is one of the Psalms with which people sometimes have difficulties. The difficulties lie not so much in understanding the meaning of the song, or its intended interpretation, but in the "so what" category. What is the "so what" category? It's my shortened form of "So what does this mean for me?" In other words, some people have told me that they don't enjoy reading the Psalms because they find them difficult to apply to their own lives.

Psalm 85 is a case in point. The song was written by the sons of Korah as a prayer to God. The prayer centers on seeking God's favor for the nation of Israel. How does one apply this prayer for God's chosen people to modern believers who constitute the body of Christ? In the next four posts I will seek to answer this question, and hopefully show that every Psalm can, in some way, be applied to modern believers.

Much of the problem in my estimation stems from biases that people have in place when coming to the text. For example, some may say even before beginning to read, "I'm not going to get anything out of this." In order to stem that rising tide we must begin with verse 8 of Psalm 85:

"Let me hear what God the LORD will speak...."

Before entering into our study, let's take some time to make sure that we are prepared to hear!

Prayer [still] works

2006-09-05T10:33:00.000-05:00

The communities of Lubbock and Rockwell, Texas, recently took their desire for rain to God. After suffering through an extremely dry spring and early summer these communities passed referendums calling on their citizens to pray for rain. In spite of the media taunting, God answered.

Some three and a half inches of rains fell in the town over the Labor Day Weekend alone, overflowing some reservoirs and spillways.

Jody James from the National Weather Service recalled: "We were dealing with red flag warnings, fire danger, and extremely dry conditions earlier in the year."
Without mentioning the prayer requests, Channel 11 KCBD reported: "Looking outside, you'd never guess a month ago that Lubbock was described as parched, and in serious drought conditions."

Husbands love your wives

2006-09-04T21:51:00.000-05:00

Ligon Duncan posted something so good on Ephesians 5:25 that I couldn't help but post it here.

While looking at Eph. 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her," we asked -- so what does that love look like? How are we supposed to love? Paul doesn’t leave us without an answer. He points to the cross. What is Christ’s love for the church like? Look at the cross.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones taught me something about Ephesians 5:25 that I had never before grasped. How many times have I read, and preached, this verse and missed it? Then I read his pastoral words of application: "How many of us have realized that we are always to think of the married state in terms of the doctrine of the atonement? Is that our customary way of thinking of marriage?. . . Where do we find what the books have to say about marriage? Under which section? Under ethics. But it does not belong there. We must consider marriage in terms of the doctrine of the atonement." (Life in the Spirit, 148)

That means, by the way, that every time we hear a sermon on the atonement, we as Christian husbands are being shown and taught by our Lord how to love our wives. Yes, certainly, above all, whenever we hear atonement proclaimed, we are always first to consider the matchless work of God on our behalf. The atonement always and foremost is to evoke in us wonder, love, gratitude and praise for saving grace freely given to us at the cost of the Father’s only and beloved Son. It is about what God is doing for us, for our redemption, outside of us, without any assistance from us, or any input from us, or any contribution from us. For the atonement is the awesome display of the stunningly surprising saving love of God at work on our behalf. It is never a mere example of love. It is never a mere illustration. It is never merely a means of moral influence.

But here in Ephesians 5:25b, Paul bids Christian husbands to look at the cross, to look at how Christ gave himself for his people there, to look at how he gave himself totally, to look at how he gave himself to the uttermost, to look at how he endured the shame and suffering, to look at how he died – all for his bride, all for his people, all for the church.

And then the apostle Paul applies the atonement to Christian husbands. "Men," he says, "Christ lived, suffered and died for the eternal good of his bride – now, you go love your wives like that. Love your wives like Christ loved the church. Love your wives like Christ gave himself for the church. Love your wives in light of the atonement."

So next time you are wishing that the preacher would talk about something practical, and he’s up there again preaching about the cross, preaching about the atonement, just remember the triple practicality of it – (1) he’s not only teaching you about the love of God, a love so deep you’ll never see to the bottom of it in all eternity, (2) he’s not only teaching you about the glorious work of redemption by penal substitution, a work without which you would not and could not have been saved from an eternity in hell, (3) he’s teaching you as a Christian husband how to love your wife – Christ lived, suffered and died for his bride; you live, and if necessary suffer and die for your wife’s good.

Evangelist Drowns

2006-08-31T11:01:00.000-05:00

Pastor Franck Kabele reportedly drowned off the western coast of Africa after telling his congregation that he could walk on water just as Jesus did. He went so far as to tell his church people that he had a revelation that if he had enough faith he could repeat the miracle.

Pastor Franck then walked into the water from the beach. The water eventually went over his head and he never came back.

Always be careful of those "revelations"--they might not be what you think they are. That is why we must always go back to the Scriptures to verify what we hear and feel. Emotions and suppositions should always take a backseat to God's revealed will for mankind.

With that in mind, why would God (or whomever) reveal to Pastor Franck that he could replicate the act of Jesus? The point of that miracle was to demonstrate the deity of Jesus (notice when Jesus gets in the boat the disciples worship Jesus saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."). Why would God want to demonstrate the deity of Pastor Franck when he is simply a created being?

Home Again...For Now

2006-08-30T12:15:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to all of you who have been praying for our family! We know that it is only by the manifold grace of our God that we have been sustained the last couple of weeks. We are home again, but another trip to Montana will be here soon.

My dad is doing fairly well. It is hard to say anymore than that, though. How well can someone be doing when he has had two brain surgeries in the last three months? Dad is doing better mentally than physically, but both are below par (and yet significantly better than before the surgery). Improvement is daily, but slow.

It is hard to know what will happen now. Portions of the tumor still remain, so regrowth is certain. There are few, if any, possibilities for treatment remaining. Humanly speaking my dad only has a few months to live. We still believe that our great God can intervene miraculously if that is His will, and we are still praying for that.

Now we are just trying to live day by day in His care. Isn't it wonderful that He is the anchor of our soul and our constant refuge?

Out of ICU, Home Tomorrow?

2006-08-23T22:06:00.000-05:00

Things are going okay here. Jason's dad was moved from ICU to a regular room on Monday night about 7:00. He hadn't slept much on Sunday night, so he really wasn't feeling very well. Tuesday was better, because he'd had more sleep, but there was a lot of swelling on one side of his face. One eye was swollen shut all of Monday. As of today, Wednesday, the swelling is greatly decreased, and he's able to see again out of that eye. He's having physical and occupational therapy, making sure that he is stable enough on his feet to avoid falls at home. He was up and dressed in street clothes by 4:30 this morning, and he performed beautifully for the therapists today. Jason took him on a walk this afternoon, and he did really well. If things continue to progress, he may go home on Thursday.

His sister, whom he has not seen in years (since our wedding), flew in to surprise him today. We are so glad she came, and Jason's grandparents were especially excited to see her. It was a great surprise for Lynn.

Thanks again for your prayers for us. This is a tiring routine, but it is good to be together. We're so glad the Lord allowed that to happen.

Thank You for Your Prayers

2006-08-20T20:30:00.000-05:00

Hello from Montana!

We're at the end of a very long Sunday. Jason's dad had brain surgery this morning to remove a cyst that was creating pressure on his brain. This surgery was a risky one, with sudden death during surgery, mistaking radiated normal brain tissue for cancerous brain tissue, and bacterial meningitis as very real possibilities. The decision was made to move ahead with the surgery, because without it, he would not have survived much longer. We started our day at 7:00 assembled in his hospital room with both sets of Jason's grandparents, his stepbrother and stepsister-in-law, a couple who are good friends of his parents, and us. Jason's granddad led us in prayer, Jason read some scripture, and we sang some hymns together. It was a sweet time. Lynn finally went into surgery at 9:30 MST, at little later than expected.

The doctor believed he saw a cyst on the MRI, but when the surgeon saw the mass during the surgery today, he determined that it was not really much of a cyst at all. It was instead portions of the tumor that had died, having exhausted the blood supply to those portions. Those were removed, as was any tumor that the doctor could see. Lynn's survival of the five hour surgery and the removal of the source of the pressure on his brain was a wonderful blessing and answer to prayer. The six hours he was away from us were difficult, and there was obvious relief among us when we finally knew that the surgery was over and he seemed to be okay.

The sad news that we have is that the chemotherapy and radiation have had no impact on his cancer. He is in the twenty percent of cases of this type of cancer that does not respond to the treatment at all. The doctor gives him six months at the most, but we are preparing ourselves for less than that, based on the experience of the last three months.

He is currently in ICU, and he was very groggy when we left for supper this evening. We plan to go back to the hospital in a little while to see him again. We are so tired--it was a very short night, and many of us slept very little. The day was emotionally exhausting, and we are ready to crash. (Jason's actually sleeping beside me in the car as I write to you.) We will be in Montana for at least another week. We will update again as we can, although it may not be often. (Our dial-up connection isn't working.) If you think to pray for us, pray specifically that his body resists infection. He is still at risk for bacterial meningitis, which would be fatal.

We understand that a significant portion of adult Sunday School was spent in prayer for us this morning. Thank you so much for that ministry to us--we know God used your prayers to hold us up on this difficult day. We love you, and we thank God for each of you.

Allison

Update

2006-08-17T23:28:00.000-05:00

I will not be posting very consistently, if at all, in the next couple of weeks. We are leaving in the morning to fly to Montana. My dad has developed a cyst in the brain that is causing the same kind of symptoms as did the tumor. If something is not done, he may not survive long. Please pray for us as we seek His will for the next few days.

In His hands....

The Angels are Rejoicing...

2006-08-11T17:07:00.000-05:00

because another child has come home. Who knew that God could use Culvers to bring someone to Himself? Give praise to Him, will you?

P.S. If you know of whom I speak, please let them tell, would you? They have some specific people at church they would like to tell.

Welcome to Wisconsin

2006-08-09T10:31:00.000-05:00

University of Wisconsin officials are being warned their refusal to recognize Christian student groups is illegal.
In recent weeks, the University of Wisconsin-Superior has denied recognition of the school's InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison has derecognized the Knights of Columbus.
The officials allege the groups violate school's "anti-discrimination policy" by not allowing non-Christians to serve in leadership positions, according to the Arizona-based public-interest legal group Alliance Defense Fund, which notes non-recognized groups are denied access to campus facilities and student funding.
"The University of Wisconsin has decided to force campus student organizations to violate their core beliefs, even in the face of controlling federal case law that bars them from doing so," French said.

The ADF is working on this situation.

Missing the Point

2006-08-08T09:45:00.000-05:00

Brian McClaren, co-author of Missing the Point, has some company. The Rev. Ian Gregory, a retired congregational minister from the UK says that he missed the point in his twenty years of ministry. He is now working on a new project that he calls, "Christianity without religion."

What does that mean? Apparently it means chatting about "anything that makes you feel good" and a "laughter room" because "laughter is as important as prayer." I'm simply not surprised that Mr. Gregory tells people who are bored with church not to go!

"People are fed up with religion. The bar-room talk is that it causes too much trouble in the world. But people are intrigued by spirituality and by figures such as Jesus and Buddha."

The traditional Sunday morning service will be replaced by "coffee and laughter" - videos of classic comedy films during which people will be able to come and go or read the Sunday papers over tea and toast.

While the Church of England is going hay-wire trying to keep its pews filled, this is a little extreme. "The Rev Mark Ireland, the Church of England Missioner for the Diocese of Litchfield, wondered whether Mr Gregory's church was proclaiming the "good news of Jesus Christ" in what he was doing."

I'm with him.

Dr. Dino

2006-08-04T08:59:00.000-05:00

Many Christians are familiar with Kent Hovind (a.k.a. "Dr. Dino"), the evangelical creationist. He has developed a DVD teaching series, as well as books, maps, charts, etc., detailing creation from a biblical perspective. Apparently, Mr. Hovind is quite popular worldwide. In fact, he is scheduled to visit 26 cities in Africa for debates.

Oh...make that was scheduled. It appears that Mr. Hovind got stuck in Genesis and failed to make it to 1 Peter 2:1: "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good." A federal judge has called Dr. Dino a "flight risk" in a case charging him with failing to pay $470,000 in employee taxes. So, no debates for Mr. Hovind, at least outside of the local judicial district.

2006-08-02T14:40:00.000-05:00

In the midst of the heat it sometimes helps to think about cool mountain water...

Hmm...I wonder if the River of Life will be like this?

Summer + Theology= ?

2006-08-02T09:34:00.000-05:00

My brain feels like it has been working very slowly recently. I don't know if it is the heat or something else. Maybe my occupation and the heat don't go hand-in-hand. At least that's what another blogger says: "Summer is a terrible time to attempt theological thinking. For one, every time you step outside there is the great risk of being preoccupied with the doctrine of hell."

I couldn't help the little chuckle that came when I first read that!

Missions in Action

2006-08-01T10:33:00.000-05:00

Mountain paths, bears and flooded rivers couldn't keep Lhaka and Diyali from journeying deep into a remote region of Bhutan to bring the Gospel in a way no one had done it before: film.

Bhutan's population is 72 percent Bhuddist. The less than 1 percent who are Christians face being expelled from the country, losing their citizenship or being persecuted in other ways. GFA Radio has broadcasts in five of Bhutan's 15 languages. But with so many more people still to hear the Gospel, Lhaka and Diyali decided to do something new.

"Seeing the hunger of the Bhutanese for the Gospel," our correspondent wrote, "they made a sacrificial attempt to screen the film on the life of Jesus in some remote villages."

Read the rest of the account here.

Suffering for our Faith

2006-08-01T09:50:00.000-05:00

The following is from When God Weeps by Jonie Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes:

Stripped to his waist and forced on his stomach by the authorities, Paul shut his eyes. A pair of sandals shuffled in the dirt behind him. He heard the crowd quiet down, heard the breath taken, the whistle of the leather, and—snap!—felt its bite. The guard found his rhythm and the beating began in earnest. The flogging was characteristically Jewish: thirty-nine applications of a triple lash. Thirty-nine, not forty. Mosaic law permitted up to forty, but better not risk overstepping the bounds.

By the thirtieth blow, Paul’s tongue lagged in the sand. Before his career’s end, he would taste the dust outside of five such synagogues. He would also know scar-opening sessions under the rod of Rome, barely elude assassination, cling to ship’s wreckage in the open sea for a day and a night, mark years in chains, and be left for dead after stoning-by-mob (2 Corinthians 11:24-27).

He could avoid it all. A few disclaimers would do, even just a discreet silence at critical moments. But Paul never could hold things in. His enemies came to hate his endless spewing of quotations, not to mention his formidable intellect. They couldn’t fool Paul. He knew their deeper objection. What his enemies truly loathed was the unseen figure behind every debate and discussion he entered—the one, as the Baptizer put it, whose sandals he wasn’t good enough to untie. It was the memory of this unseen man that kept Paul going. Of course, what always set everyone off was that thing above “three days in the tomb and then…” Hadn’t the Greeks guffawed over that one! A corpse hopping off his stone slab? A stiff traipsing about town? Hah! But what entertained the Greeks incenses the Jews. How dare a mere mortal claim the same rank with the Almighty! Especially a bastard rabbi from the backwoods who polluted the Sabbath with his so-called healings and infested teachings! He was double a fool for having gotten himself crucified!

But Paul had seen this Rabbi. After his burial. Less than a decade afterwards. This Rabbi had appeared to Paul and his caravan on the road to Damascus—enveloped in eye-sizzling glory, speaking from the third heaven, and majestic beyond words. Unquestionably risen from a stone-cold tomb. This incident alone convinced Paul that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the long prophesied Son of God—come to meet death for the sins of the world in order to grasp life again and lavish it on others. Hours later this same risen Christ had appeared in softer tones to a Christian man in Damascus, telling him to find and baptize Paul. The message ended with an announcement: “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:15-16).

The proclamation proved true. Paul was destined to spread the fame of Jesus more than the other apostles combined. Yet he suffered intensely in the process.

Worship While in Pain

2006-07-27T09:45:00.000-05:00

Kellen has been writing about infant deaths. One of the main passages related to this issue is 2 Samuel 12. To summarize, David has an adulterous affair which results in the conception of a child and the death of the woman's husband (by David's direction). David is then confronted by God through the prophet Nathan. David confesses, and Nathan says that David's sin is "put away." However, the consequences of his sin still remain: the newly-conceived child will die.

My point here is not to rehash what Kellen has argued. I would instead like to point out the rather strange reaction of David to the news of the consequences. The first reaction is, "David therefore sought God on behalf of the child" (2 Sam. 12:16). At this point David's selfish, sinful desires have apparently taken a backseat to God's sovereignty. Later (v. 22) we are told he was seeking God's grace. David understands that the only One who is able to intervene is God Himself. So David fasts and prays before God for seven days...and the child dies.

The king's servants are afraid to tell him the news because they think that David will be crushed. Who wouldn't, right? The death of a child would be terrible for any parent. And if he reacted so strongly for the seven days the child was still alive, what would he do when he heard the news of the child's death?

"And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped" (v. 20).

After worshipping David returns to his normal life, to the confusion of his servants. Later in the passage David gives the reason for doing so from a human perspective: the child is dead and cannot be brought back; rather the opposite is true: David will go to him.

The question I would like to pose is this: How is it possible for David to go to the house of the Lord for the purpose of worship when his child has just died as a result of his personal sin? I will suggest two reasons (if you have more, please comment):

1. David has a proper understanding of God's holiness. God is perfectly and infinitely holy and as such He must act in justice against sin--even the sin of king David, the "man after God's own heart." David understands the death of his child in light of God's attributes. While death is painful, it is a result of sin ("sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned...." Rom. 5:12). Thus, in David's mind the death of his child highlights the holiness of God and the depth of his sin.

2. David has a proper understand of God's sovereignty. Notice that his view of sovereignty did not keep him from entreating the Lord for grace. But--and this we must notice--when the grace David desired did not come he worshiped. David was not about to sulk in despair because his desire was not granted by God. Instead, he understood that God sovereignly rules over man and if God chose to execute justice rather than grace at that moment, then the Judge of all the earth did what was right. The proper response is to worship the Lord for His sovereignty.

Circumstances are often an easy place to become self-centered. We look at ourselves, focusing on the difficulties of the moment. It may be death, or something far different such as a job situation. It may be something that comes along normally in the course of life, or it may be a consequence of sin. Whatever the case, we need to be like David! We should seek God's grace, but worship Him regardless of the outcome.

A Veto For Life

2006-07-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

President Bush recently vetoed H.R. 810, the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005."

It is rare these days to find a politician willing to stand up for what is morally, ethically, or biblically right. While the President stopped short of saying that killing embryoes is murder, I am impressed with what he had to say:
Like all Americans, I believe our Nation must vigorously pursue the tremendous possibilities that science offers to cure disease and improve the lives of millions. Yet, as science brings us ever closer to unlocking the secrets of human biology, it also offers temptations to manipulate human life and violate human dignity. Our conscience and history as a Nation demand that we resist this temptation. With the right scientific techniques and the right policies, we can achieve scientific progress while living up to our ethical responsibilities.
And,

I hold to the principle that we can harness the promise of technology without becoming slaves to technology and ensure that science serves the cause of humanity. If we are to find the right ways to advance ethical medical research, we must also be willing when necessary to reject the wrong ways. For that reason, I must veto this bill.

Speaking at the White House with several children present who are the product of embryo adoption the President said,

Like all Americans, I believe our nation must vigorously pursue the tremendous possibility that science offers to cure disease and improve the lives of millions. We have opportunities to discover cures and treatments that were unthinkable generations ago. Some scientists believe that one source of these cures might be embryonic stem cell research. Embryonic stem cells have the ability to grow into specialized adult tissues, and this may give them the potential to replace damaged or defective cells or body parts and treat a variety of diseases.
Yet we must also remember that embryonic stem cells come from human embryos that are destroyed for their cells. Each of these human embryos is a unique human life with inherent dignity and matchless value. We see that value in the children who are with us today. Each of these children began his or her life as a frozen embryo that was created for in vitro fertilization, but remained unused after the fertility treatments were complete. Each of these children was adopted while still an embryo, and has been blessed with the chance to grow up in a loving family.
These boys and girls are not spare parts. (Applause.) They remind us of that is lost when embryos are destroyed in the name of research. They remind us that we all begin our lives as a small collection of cells. And they remind us that in our zeal for new treatments and cures, America must never abandon our fundamental morals.

HT: Al Mohler

Baseball & Faith

2006-07-24T16:28:00.000-05:00

Faith and baseball are inseparable. Without hope in the unseen, no one would hit a 95 mph fastball, steal home or cheer on the erratic Atlanta Braves this season.

This week, belief comes out of the dugout when the Braves host the first of three "Faith Day" promotions. After the 1 p.m. game Thursday against the Florida Marlins, star pitcher John Smoltz will talk about his faith and Christian bands will perform for those with a $10 ticket for the event, separate from game admission.

Check out the rest of the article here.

Do I Dare?

2006-07-17T09:44:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'll admit it... The Brewers are not under God's judgment. And no, I'm not just appeasing the Brewers fans at church. It is a stretch to attach them to Noah.

Now the Cubs...that's a different story. They gave up two grand slams yesterday (a total of 11 runs) in the same inning! Plus, it was the first time in club history that happened. (Just a side note--one of the grand slams was by a former Royal, Carlos Beltran.) I'm sorry, Jeff and Kellen, but somehow that must be a form of God's judgment. Believe me--I feel your pain. I once sat through an opening day game watching the Royals give up a gazillion home runs; it did not bode well for the rest of the season. But I've never seen two grand slams in a game, much less in one inning.

It does give me a little joy to see that the Royals are on their way to having a better record than the Cubs. I guess I do need to be careful here. I wouldn't want to cause any of you to stumble in some way. So, perhaps this exercise in questionable theology needs to end.

Maybe...

It's just so fun...

A Little Fun

2006-07-09T22:19:00.000-05:00

An exercise in questionable theology:

Well...there is some sad news in Wisconsin today. The Brewers lost three straight games to the lowly Cubs. I suppose that could be God's judgment. Think of it...an expedition to Iran believes they have discovered Noah's ark. Noah was in trouble after coming out of the ark for raising some grapes, and getting drunk on the wine. God must not like it when people get drunk (check out Ephesians 5), and since that is helped by those who brew alcoholic beverages, God must be judging the Brewers. (Sure, you might argue that the Brewers are around .500 this season [actually they are currently 2 games under .500 and have fallen to third place]. Don't get too excited--that could be God's judgment in letting the Brewers have life their way--check out Romans 1). That must be it, because there certainly can't be any redeeming qualities in the Cubs. After all, it's been since 1908 that they have won the World Series. At least the Royals won in 1985. I had the pleasure of going to the Brewers/Cubs game Friday evening with someone from church. During the loss I enjoyed watching the scoreboard keep up with the Royals' win over the Blue Jays.

Granted, the Royals are (at least at the present time) worse than the Cubs. But at least they are not under God's judgment like the Brewers. They simply have bad pitching. Oh, and sometimes they can't hit. That combination makes for some painful baseball at times. But, God appears to be causing His face to shine upon the Royals because two of their minor league prospects were the stars of the Futures game. One of them was even the MVP. God has seen enough of the Royals persecution from the likes of ESPN, and it looks like God is beginning to be gracious to the Royals which is more than I can say for the Brewers and the Cubs.

Storms of Destruction

2006-07-07T11:08:00.000-05:00

Psalm 57 begins with these words:

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in You my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.

In this verse we see a fascinating statement of reliance upon God combined with personal action in obedience. First is the crying out to God for His action. Specifically, that God would look kindly upon David (the author of the psalm) and extend mercy. This is a trust in God Himself--in His attributes and person. The reason given for this request for mercy is that David is resting completing in the Lord: "for in You my soul takes refuge." Picture it this way: a child who is scared of the storm runs to his parents' room and asks to crawl in their bed because he needs "a refuge." The parents are merciful and allow the child that access. David cries out to the Lord because he knows that mercy is waiting.

But he does not wait for mercy. After crying out to God, David then states what he is going to do: "in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge." It is almost as if David is saying, "I'm not waiting for your answer as to whether or not I can get in the bed--I'm coming!!!" He is taking the responsibility on himself to run to the Father where he says, "I will take refuge here."

Brothers and sisters, there will be "storms of destruction" as long as we are in this sin-cursed world. It is as sure as the sun rising and setting each day. But there is mercy to be found in the One who provides a refuge. Notice, however, that the mercy found is not necessarily the removal of the storm! The psalmist declares that he will take refuge "till the storms of destruction pass by." This is mercy through the storms of life. This is a place of refuge to ride out the storm.

When the storms of life come remember that there is mercy and a place of refuge. But don't wait for it to come to you. Run to the Father and declare to Him, "I'm here to take refuge...ready or not, here I come!" Then prepare yourself for the peace of God to rule in your heart.

Pastor John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg

2006-07-04T20:39:00.000-05:00

In a sermon delivered to his Virginia congregation on Jan. 21, 1776, he preached from Ecclesiastes 3. Arriving at verse 8, which declares that there is a time of war and a time of peace, Muhlenberg noted that this surely was not the time of peace; this was the time of war. Concluding with a prayer, and while standing in full view of the congregation, he removed his clerical robes to reveal that beneath them he was wearing the uniform of an officer in the Continental army! He marched to the back of the church; ordered the drum to beat for recruits and over three hundred men joined him, becoming the Eighth Virginia Brigade. John Peter Muhlenberg finished the Revolution as a Major-General, having been at Valley Forge and having participated in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Stonypoint, and Yorktown.

Celebrating our nation's birthday

2006-07-04T20:30:00.000-05:00

"Why is it that, next to the birth day of the Saviour of the World, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day [July 4th]?... Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birth-day of the Saviour? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the corner stone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity..?"

President John Adams, July 4, 1837 in an address delivered to the Town of Newburyport on the sixty-first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Misplaced priorities?

2006-06-30T18:52:00.000-05:00

A Beijing soccer fan refused to let the small matter of his house burning down disturb his enjoyment of Tuesday's World Cup match between France and Spain.

A fire broke out in a hutong in the center of the Chinese capital at 3am local time Wednesday -- kickoff time in Hanover -- and gutted the traditional courtyard dwelling, the Beijing Daily Messenger reported.

"When the neighbors shouted 'fire!', I took my little baby and ran out in my nightclothes," the man's wife told the paper.

"My husband paid no attention to the danger, just grabbed the television and put it under his arm.

"After getting out of the house, he then set about finding an electric socket to plug in and continue watching his game."

Doesn't that fit perfectly into our sinful human race? God tells us that we will spend an eternity separated from Him, and instead of turning from our sinful desires to trust in Him alone we seek to continue in what we enjoy. Let's continue:

One man quit his job in Beijing to return to his hometown Chongqing so he could watch the whole tournament uninterrupted.

State news agency Xinhua reported that the 23-year-old's boss at the IT company had offered him a pay rise, but he turned it down flat, saying the World Cup was more important than his job.

God tells us that He has provided a free gift (which is eternal life--how can you beat that?), but sinful humanity would rather continue in their personal desires without Him.

Another from Putian, Fujian province, took a less diplomatic approach, Xinhua reported.

When his cheers during the Argentina-Ivory Coast match woke his wife and she switched off the television, he locked her in their bedroom and settled back down to watch the game ignoring her loud protests.

Some just can't stand to hear God or His people speak of life with Christ--there response is to merely shut the door--to their own eternal detriment.

Apes and Human Rights

2006-06-29T22:18:00.000-05:00

From a couple of news sources:

The governing socialists in Spain have put forward legislation to grant great apes ‘human rights’. The same government which stripped from unborn human children the right to life and permits destructive research on human embryos, has put forward legislation to grant great apes the rights the rights to life, freedom and to not being tortured, according to a report by Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

The idea of “human” rights for great apes is possibly a stab at what secularists regard as “retrograde” Christian ideas about the hierarchical nature of creation with man, as the image of God, at the top.

Spain is about to take the world into uncharted legal territory. Later this month, a resolution is going before parliament which, if passed as expected, will give a set of rights to chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orang-utans. These great apes will then be regarded in Spanish law as "legal persons."

It will be of historic significance, the first time that any civilization has recognized the special status of another species and the need to protect it not only from extinction but also from individual abuse. Spain will be obliged to introduce new laws protecting the great apes, putting pressure on other European countries to follow suit, and will undertake to organize a forum of rich nations to fund the protection of the great apes in their natural habitat.

The resolution is based on the work of the Great Ape Project, which was founded in 1993 by philosophers Peter Singer and Paola Cavalieri. It urges the goverment in Spain to take the necessary measures in international forums and organizations to protect great apes from maltreatment, slavery, torture, death and extinction.

The central idea of the project is that the great apes share more than just DNA with humans. There is an enormous amount of data collected by scientists, including Jane Goodall, Diane Fossey and Birute Galdikas, that the great apes are intelligent beings with strong emotions that often resemble our own.

So if you are planning to go to Spain later in the year when the bill is passed, don't be suprised to see a gorilla walking down the street in a suit, or a ape serving you coffee in Starbucks.

From Colorado

2006-06-19T12:11:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! We discovered that we have internet access available to us here at camp on a limited basis. (It is one computer available in the office for all of the campers'--300 in three camps--use.) It is v-e-r-y s-l-o-w, so we will not be doing much with it! I admit it...I'm not very patient when it comes to slow internet access. We are doing well, trying to get some rest and enjoying the wonder of God's creation at 9,300 feet above sea level. The speaker for this week is good, and we are enjoying sitting under his teaching. We've enjoyed some conversation with him and his family already, and we hope for the opportunity for more. Thanks for your concern and prayers. We are having a great time, and we trust all is well at home with all of you.

Federally Funded Murder

2006-06-09T18:46:00.000-05:00

Planned Parenthood is one of our nation's leading pro-choice groups. They have changed the landscape of America through their funding of abortions and sex education. Did you know that $272 million of our tax dollars goes to fund this organization? Since 1987 they have received $3.9 billion in tax dollars to continue murdering the unborn.

If that isn't outrageous enough, Planned Parenthood is reported a profit of $63 million dollars for 2004-05, and is requesting more money from the government--more of our dollars.

"Large numbers of Americans want this taxpayer funding to stop," Sedlak states in a press release. "We are confident this new financial report [from Planned Parenthood] will generate a grassroots groundswell for government to cut off the ever-increasing flow of our dollars." He refers concerned Americans to American Life League's online petition campaign to end taxpayer funding of the agency, stopplannedparenthoodtaxfunding.com.

The Million Dollar Question

2006-06-08T09:02:00.000-05:00

Ray Comfort's Living Waters ministry is in trouble--sort of. Apparently, the ministry sells a tract that looks like a million dollar bill (which doesn't exist in American currency). The back of the "bill" has the gospel message on it which is in the form of a "million dollar question."

Some foolish person tried to deposit one of these tracts at his bank, which then prompted a counterfeit investigation which then led to the seizure of 8,300 tracts by the Secret Service. Ironically, since the seizure took place there have been orders for about 500,000 of the tracts. Comfort has been advised by attorneys to not turn over the goods.

"The thinking is that if agents show a judge a copy of the $1 million tract, he would laugh till he cried and then, after catching his breath, he would thank the agents for a good laugh and then ask them to stop wasting his time," he explained.

So what's happening here? Is this "religious persecution" or a legitimate crime? Just wondering.

Interesting Day

2006-06-06T10:22:00.000-05:00

Surely you know what today is. Yes, it is Tuesday. And yes, it is June 6. But have you heard the full story of today? It is June 6th, 2006. Or, if you prefer, 6-6-6. As far as I'm concerned, it's merely another of the days that Lord has made--man simply put some numbers to it.

People in Hell, Michigan are really living it up, though.

They're planning a hot time in Hell on Tuesday. The day bears the date of 6-6-06, or abbreviated as 666 - a number that carries hellish significance. And there's not a snowball's chance in Hell that the day will go unnoticed in the unincorporated hamlet 60 miles west of Detroit.

"I've got `666' T-shirts and mugs. I'm only ordering 666 (of the items) so once they're gone, that's it," said Colone, also known as Odum Plenty. "Everyone who comes will get a letter of authenticity saying you've celebrated June 6, 2006, in Hell."

Most of Colone's wares will sell for $6.66, including deeds to one square inch of Hell.
Live entertainment and a costume contest are planned. The Gates of Hell should be installed at a children's play area in time for the festivities.

"They're 8 feet tall and 5 foot wide and each gate looks like flames, and when they're closed, it's a devil's head," Colone told The Detroit News for a Saturday story.

Some people are not so hyped, however:

The 666 revelry is just the latest chapter in the town's storied history of publicity stunts, said Jason LeTeff, one of its 72 year-round residents - or, as the mayor calls them, Hellions or Hell-billies. But LeTeff wasn't particularly enthused.

"Now, here I am living in Hell, taking my kids to church and trying to teach them the right things and the town where we live is having a 6-6-6 party," he said.

Being Alone

2006-06-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

There have been many times that I have had people tell me that they feel very alone as a Christian. The complaint is that coming to Christ alienates a person from friends and family, and can hinder other relationships as well. This is all true. Believing in Jesus means automatic enmity with the world. But for a new(er) Christian those things are extremely important; it is difficult to disciple people through those situations.

Obviously, the Body of Christ needs to step up and become involved in the lives of people who are struggling with these kinds of losses. We must also realize, though, that even Jesus experienced these same things. In John 6, Jesus miraculously feeds the 5,000. It is an incredible event that demonstrates Jesus' deity to His disciples and the people who ate from the five loaves and two fishes. You would think that this would be the perfect time to celebrate and to stand in awe of Jesus.

Not quite. The people miss the spiritual message and want to make Jesus their political king. Notice what happens next: "Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself." Even as the Savior of the people Jesus was alone (notice that I did not say "lonely"). The people didn't get the message, which is in essence a rejection of Jesus Himself. When we come to Jesus, there will be others who don't get the message which often results in alienation. Take courage, my friends. Jesus experienced the same thing, and yet He still died for you. And when people reject you, they are not rejecting you, but the One who bought you.

We're Home!

2006-06-01T11:15:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us during our trip to Montana. We are now home, having arrived last night. We are thankful to be home--hopefully we can get some rest now! Please continue to pray for my dad. At this time it appears that his only long-term hope is in the healing of our Lord. He will begin treatment next week, Lord willing. Hopefully that won't make him too miserable.

Our God is good, and everything that He does is good, so for now all we can do is commit ourselves to the hand of the One who has life in Himself (John 5:26). To God be the glory. Amen.

Picture Post

2006-05-28T22:24:00.000-05:00

This is another picture from my home in Montana. This is the Boulder River Falls less than a mile from the ranch where I worked and lived (Allison lived there with me for a summer, too, after we were married). We took this picture this week, during flood stage when the Falls are going over the top as they are here. During lower water the river goes under ground--though a rock hole--and comes out of the large hole in the bottom-left of the picture. There also used to be a rock bridge over the river above the falls, but it has long since fallen down. It is still called Natural Bridge.

Here are a couple of pictures of the ranch:
This is the guest portion where the owners stayed. Allison and I lived in the cabin at the very top.

This is a portion of the main ranch.

For those of you suffering in the heat back home, here is a little joy sent to you from the Montana mountains that were snowed upon last night!

This one is for cbcsparkie: yes, the Road Kill Cafe is still there!

Things are a little more upbeat here. After Dad decided to go through treatment the spirits (human spirits, that is) have been a little higher. We have a few more things to take care of before we head home Tuesday (Lord willing). We're looking forward to seeing all of you when we get home.

2006-05-27T23:23:00.000-05:00

Hi, friends—

My mom told me today that she could tell how tired we were by the mistakes in the last post. We know now that today is May 27, and it is Jason’s stepbrother who is planning to care for Jason’s dad and stepmother during his treatment.

Today was a slower day, and that was a blessing for us all. It’s very cool, and it has rained almost constantly for the last twenty-four hours. Tomorrow the three generations of pastors in Jason’s family will attend church together. That’s pretty special, and it will be a treat for all of us.

Allison

An Exhausting Day

2006-05-26T22:35:00.000-05:00

Update time again.... Wednesday and Thursday were spent working for (and a little "with") my dad. I did most of the work, but let him do enough to feel productive. It was probably a little to much for him anyway. The lady for whom we did the work told Dad that if he didn't go through with treatment she was going to come after him with her broom. That was a funny picture.

Today was an exhausting day. We left early for Billings, and spent several hours in different rooms in different medical buildings talking to different people. The long and the short of it is that Dad is going to go through treatment, beginning in a week or so. In addition to the difficulties of the radiation and chemotherapy, there will be additional challenges. Among them is no driving for an undetermined amount of time. That is because of the risk of seizures due to brain surgery. Also difficult is that Dad cannot use power tools for the same reason. That basically eliminates the possibility of earning income.

A positive, though, is that my brother-in-law (my step-mother's son) and his wife have said that they will take my parents into their home in Billings for as long as necessary through this process. It is an incredible kindness. My Dad is only related to them by marriage, but they have accepted him as their own. That relieves some of the burden.

Another good thing is that Dad can still fish...as long as he doesn't wade in the river!

By the way.... We are on the edge of a winter storm advisory for tomorrow night (Saturday). Unfortunately we are on the very edge, so we will miss it. For those of you who may be a little slow, it is May 28, in Montana, and there is a winter storm advisory. What a wonderful place! It is God's country. We are disappointed we will miss the fun.

Late night update

2006-05-23T23:42:00.000-05:00

This is another late-night post. Too late, actually. We are very tired. Today my grandparents (my Dad's parents) arrived from Minnesota. So, Allison (with some of my help) is now cooking for six instead of four. I am still doing as much as possible to help my dad. Tomorrow morning we are going to finish a small job he began weeks ago. At least that way he can get paid a little bit.

That is one of the biggest problems with this whole situation. My Dad wasn't able to do much work for about a month prior to his surgery, and he likely will not be able to do much for the next few months. They also have no health insurance. Thus, finances will be an issue in the coming weeks and months.

Today was a bit frustrating. Dad was supposed to meet with the oncologist tomorrow, but we found out this afternoon that the appointment has been moved to Friday due to a scheduling mixup. I have been waiting to meet with this doctor to be able to ask questions that Dad didn't ask the first time around. So, we must continue with the waiting game.

Dad is doing well -- too well, actually. He generally does too much. That means that there will be more swelling in his face and head due to drainage from the surgery. That is a bit of a concern. What is more concerning, however, is his right eye. The few days before the surgery (a week ago, now) he had blurry and double vision in that eye -- presumably from the pressure in his brain. Those symptoms have still not disappeared. In fact, some days they are worse. He is supposed to be able to drive in a week, but he is scared to drive with his vision that way. My dad does not use the word "scared" in reference to himself, so it must be pretty bad. Pray about that would you? Also pray for wisdom concerning treatment. That decision must be made in the coming days. Thanks for your concern. We are still praying that our great God would simply remove the tumor.

Reminders of Love

2006-05-20T23:32:00.000-05:00

Since I haven't posted in awhile it is probably best if I bring you all up to date. First, my dad has not decided about treatment at this point. We are meeting with the oncologist on Wednesday--perhaps that will help with the decision-making process. My dad is doing well--too well, actually, as it is nearly impossible to get him to take it easy. As a result, he has some swelling in his face and eyes, so much so that one eye is almost swollen shut. He also has blurred vision in that eye.

I have been busy doing a lot of things for my dad, including running him around town since he can't drive. So, I'm tired! There have been many good things, too. Here is how Allison described yesterday:

Today has been a sweet day. The first half of the day saw four different visitors stop by to see Jason’s dad. The first was one who wants to have us all over for supper on Sunday. We’ve only just met her this trip, but she attended my father-in-law’s last church. The next was a lady whom he served as pastor for sixteen years. She’s been through some difficult days in the time he’s known her, and he has been a steady source of wisdom and encouragement. Her appreciation for him is obvious, but she wanted to be sure he knew it again.

About mid-morning, the pastor of the church my in-laws presently attend called. Would there be an extra place at the table at lunchtime? Sure, my mother-in-law said. The pastor said that another pastor friend, Rex, would be coming through town right at noon, and he’d stop in. We so enjoyed this man’s visit. It turned out that I’d met him before years ago—nine years, to be exact. The first summer we were married, we lived twenty-five miles from here on a ranch where Jason worked. During that summer, John MacArthur spoke at a family camp just up the road, and we went to hear a question and answer session. I guess I met Rex that night, although I really don’t remember. He reminisced with my in-laws and Jason, too, about mutual friends.

As we were finishing up our meal, a knock came at the door. It was an old man, slow on his feet and a tremor in his hands. His wife is a resident at the local nursing home where Jason’s dad leads a Bible study. This man, Jim, comes to hear him teach and play his guitar. He sat down at the table with us, and the six of us enjoyed true fellowship in the Lord.

Jim prepared to leave, and Rex, the visiting pastor friend, asked if he would lead us all in prayer. His sweet words brought tears to my eyes as he asked God to give Jason’s dad wisdom as he considers treatment options and, if it is God’s will, he asked for a miracle of healing. He reminded my father-in-law of his love for him as he left. After thirty minutes or so, Rex decided to leave too. Before he did, though, he prayed with us again.

These visits are reminders of how loved my father-in-law is. He’s a man who’s lived out what it is to be a pastor—taking an interest in people’s lives, being available to them, doing whatever he could (including a lot of physical labor) for them. The result? He’s well loved and respected, but I think this attention is a surprise to him. He doesn’t realize, I don’t think, just how important he is to so many people.

From the Foothills of the Mountains

2006-05-18T13:46:00.000-05:00

After 19 hours of driving, we are in Montana! It is nice to just see my mountains (and yes, they are my mountains! The view above is from my hometown. These are the Crazy Mountains). My dad is home and doing well. There is not much to post other than what I have already stated: his energy is improving, and his mind is clear once again. It was to the point before his surgery that he couldn’t concentrate on anything.

There are difficulties, however. He cannot drive for two weeks. My mom is unable to drive as well, so that means they will need help with that for a while (good thing we are here!). He also cannot lift more than five or ten pounds for six weeks. That is not good for someone who does carpentry work to pay the bills. It looks like I am going to have to help quite a bit in the next few days so my dad can get some of his jobs done so he can get paid. That is becoming increasingly important as he hasn’t been able to do any significant work for about a month, and it looks like that will continue for some time. Not good. Pray about that, would you?

Probably more important though, is prayer for God’s miraculous power. The tumor my dad has is cancerous, and only occurs in the brain. It is also very aggressive. The prognosis is not one that is encouraging. With an aggressive regimen of radiation and chemotherapy (at the same time, apparently), he is being given a year to a year-and-a-half of “quality life.” I haven’t been able to speak to the doctor myself, but will next week to clarify. It does appear, however, that this type of cancer is not “curable.” Treatment only staves off the inevitable.

So, the only thing we can do is to boldly approach the throne of grace to find help in our time of need. Would you help us with that? With our great God all things are possible. Since He created our bodies, He can remove the tumor completely. Please pray with us, believing that He is able, that He would remove the tumor to the amazement of the doctors.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly
Than we ask or think, according to the power at work
Within us, to Him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
Forever and ever. Amen.
Eph. 3:20-21

Traveling Notes

2006-05-16T23:26:00.000-05:00

Well, this is going to be one of the latest (in the evening) posts for me. I am typing this from a motel room on the way to Montana. During the day today I found out that my dad's tumor was indeed cancerous. There are also remnants of the tumor left in the brain--little "slivers," the doctor called them, identified by an MRI. There will have to be treatment, probably both radiation and chemo, and it appears that another surgery may take place. Can you imagine that? Two brain surgeries? Hard to picture.

My dad is doing well. He is already regaining strength that he has lost in the last few months, and his voice and mind are clear again. That is wonderful. This will give you a bit of an insight into my dad (and me as well ): my dad said he hoped there is a video of the surgery that he can watch! I am a little curious too. (Talk about getting into someone's head! Sorry--we have to find humor in this.)

We are doing well, hoping to arrive in Montana tomorrow evening. We enjoyed being together in the car today talking and listening to someone else preach on a CD! We would still appreciate your prayer support. We know the Great Physician is attentive. Thanks again.

Update

2006-05-15T14:01:00.000-05:00

For all of you folks who have been praying for the last several hours--many thanks. Our God is good and His mercy endures forever. While everything is not yet in the clear, I have spoken with my father this morning. He was very clear, strong, and even humorous. This is simply amazing as it is a drastic change from the last several months, if not the last year. We are still waiting for pathology reports on the tumor, as well as discussions regarding treatment options, but the outcome looks positive. We continue to covet your prayers, and for wisdom for the coming days as we must make travel decisions.

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless Your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless You
and praise Your name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and His greatness is unsearchable.
Psalm 145:1-3

An Update

2006-05-15T09:24:00.000-05:00

While there are still questions to be answered, we do have a small update. Jason's dad came through surgery well, but the doctor discovered the cause of the pressure was a fast-growing tumor. We're taking some encouragement from the fact that the medical team believes the tumor was completely removed. There will be a meeting this morning in which we'll get further information. Thank you for your continued prayers for all of us; we need them so much right now.

Allison

An Urgent Request for Prayer

2006-05-14T22:44:00.000-05:00

Friends,

Could we ask you to seek the Lord on our behalf in the coming hours? As I post this, Jason's dad is having emergency surgery to relieve pressure caused by a mass on his brain. The doctor is uncertain whether the mass is an infection or a tumor; perhaps we'll know more when the surgery is over. Thank you in advance. We appreciate and love you all.

Allison

Sin in the Corner

2006-05-12T14:45:00.000-05:00

The hydrant in the bedroom was the elephant in the living room. A 400-pound, green and yellow fire hydrant apparently spent more than 30 years in the upstairs bedroom of a Yakima couple's home before it was returned recently to the West Valley Fire District, after the man's death.
The wife discovered clippings from the Yakima Herald-Republic that detailed how the hydrant had disappeared in June 1975. She called West Valley Fire Chief Dave Leitch late last month and offered to return it, the newspaper said.

Apparently, the wife asked several times where the hydrant came from, but the husband was defensive and wouldn't answer. So, she just accepted the fact that there was a 400-lb fire hydrant in their home. Personally, I don't think my wife would give up that easily!

Anyway... isn't this how we treat sin in our lives? Sometimes it can be an obvious, 400-lb behemoth that has sat in a corner so long that we forget that it is there. Then, when it is pointed out by someone, we get defensive, pass it off, and let it stay. Sadly, the hydrant was not returned until after the man's death, when his spouse could finally deal with it appropriately. I wonder how many "hydrants" the Lord will have to deal with upon our deaths.

God's attributes

2006-05-11T08:59:00.000-05:00

Last night in Bible study/prayer meeting we talked a bit about Isaiah 40 and the attributes of God. It wasn't much of a study; it was simply pointing out the characteristics of God mentioned in that particular chapter. The point was that the focus of our prayer time must be on God -- who He is, what He is like, etc.

Richard Baxter, a Puritan preacher from a by-gone era, said this:

"Remember the perfections of that God whom you worship, that he is a Spirit, and therefore to be worshipped in spirit and truth; and that He is most great and terrible, and therefore to be worshipped with seriousness and reverence, and not to be dallied with, or served with toys or lifeless lip-service; and that He is most holy, pure, and jealous, and therefore to be purely worshipped; and that He is still present with you, and all things are naked and open to Him with whom we have to do. The knowledge of God, and the remembrance of His all-seeing presence, are the most powerful means against hypocrisy."

Amen

What is needed

2006-05-10T09:14:00.000-05:00

"What is needed today is a Scriptural setting forth of the character of God--His absolute sovereignty, His ineffable holiness, His Inflexible justice, His unchanging veracity. What is needed today is a Scriptural setting forth of the condition of the natural man--his total depravity, his spiritual insensibility, his inveterate hostility to God, the fact that he is "condemned already" and that the wrath of a sin-hating God is even now abiding upon him. What is needed today is a Scriptural setting forth of the alarming danger in which sinners are--the indescribably awful doom which awaits them, the fact that if they follow only a little further their present course they shall most certainly suffer the due reward of their iniquities. What is needed today is a Scriptural setting forth of the nature of that punishment which awaits the lost--the awfulness of it, the hopelessness of it, the unendurableness of it, the endlessness of it. It is because of these convictions that by pen
as well as by voice we are seeking to raise the alarm."

A.W. PINK

Bad Choices

2006-05-05T09:06:00.000-05:00

As human beings we often enjoy getting as close to the fire as we can without getting burned. As Christians, we tend to get as close to the world as we can without being part of it. The problem with that thinking is that God calls us to be holy--separate from those things which are not godly. When we take up the attitude that we can get close without getting burned, we place ourselves in spiritual danger.

Here is an illustration from the stupidity of human beings that illustrates my point:

A real estate tycoon who owns a nature preserve tried to show off for visitors by jumping on an alligator's back for a ride, but the reptile bit his hand and dragged him into 15 feet of water.
The 8-foot alligator let go of Ronald Bergeron after witnesses pulled its tail. Bergeron, 62, suffered a shattered pinky, a broken ring finger and puncture wounds in his palm.
The multimillionaire developer tried the stunt Sunday while giving a tour of his 5,000-plus-acre preserve to weekend guests who had made large donations to the Boys & Girls Club.
"I always tell them I'm going to wrestle an alligator," Bergeron said Wednesday. "It's part of my Florida culture. My grandfather was a game warden in the Everglades, and I grew up around alligators."
He said he usually rides the alligator for a minute before letting it go.
This time, Bergeron said, "he was rolling and I couldn't keep control of his mouth. He grabbed my hand in his mouth."

When asked if he would give up wrestling alligators, Mr. Bergeron's answer was that it was "unlikely" because it is "too exciting." Indeed. In the same way, sin is often "exciting," but it is also extremely dangerous to one's spiritual health. Be wise--stay away.

Confused

2006-05-03T13:38:00.000-05:00

The LA Times has an article about JuBus -- and no, that is not a racial comment. It is the name for Jewish Buddhists. If you are confused, as I was, it gets even worse. Here are some snippits from the article:

'JuBus' blend the communal rituals of Judaism with the quiet solitude of Buddhism. Most adherents are at peace with the paradox.

The altar in Becca Topol's living room carries a statue of Buddha and a garden stone painted with the Hebrew word for peace, shalom. In April she celebrated Passover with a "Zen Seder" feast that opened with a modified Haggada narrative comparing Israel's exodus from Egypt to Buddha's liberation from suffering.

"Most people don't go very far into Buddhism; they just want to feel a little better," said Michael Shiffman, founder of L.A. Dharma, a nonsectarian Buddhist organization in Los Angeles. "But can you be Jewish and not believe in God? Good question."

Rising from a meditation pillow after a Sunday morning Buddhist service, [one Jewish Buddhist] said, "I even look at the writings of the Old Testament, such as Moses' conversations with God, as Zen koans; that is, as questions and statements to be used as meditation disciplines along the lines of 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?' "

Huh?!? I'll stick to my Bible, thank you very much.

God's Goodness

2006-05-02T12:12:00.000-05:00

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"
Psalm 34:8

Friends, take a moment and reflect on this verse. Consider the first sentence: "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!" There is no question here, no "perhaps God is good." And it doesn't say to gorge yourself in order to see that God is good; no, it says taste...savor a little bit and you will see that God is indeed so very, very good.

If even a slight savoring of the Lord reveals that He is good, then it must be that those who run to Him for their refuge, their safety, their care will be blessed...happy...fulfilled...satisfied with His goodness.

Does that mean life will be easy or a bed of roses? Well, maybe it will be a bed of roses! There will be life amidst the thorns, but a focus on the beauty and the fragrance of the flower. It is in this mindset that the Apostle Paul can write,

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay,
to show that thesurpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."
2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Christians Fighting

2006-05-01T07:24:00.000-05:00

Why do Christians do this? How does this is this justified as being right?

Violence erupted between two church groups at Queenstown this afternoon leading to the arrest of 37 church-goers, according to Eastern Cape police.

One person was stabbed in the incident and stones were hurled at police officers who tried to intervene. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the group. However, there were no injuries. The fight, between two groups of the Apostolic Church, began after members of one of the groups forced themselves on to the private property of the other group, said Namhla Mdleleni, an inspector and police spokesperson.

The groups are believed to be long-standing rivals. Police were still investigating the exact cause of today's violence. The 37 are scheduled to appear in the Queenstown magistrate's court on Tuesday.

No wonder the church has such a bad reputation.

Busy, Busy

2006-05-01T07:19:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have been faithfully visiting for the last week, I apologize for not posting. It was a hectic week in which I didn't peruse news sights for blog material, and nothing came to my mind about which to post. Rather, it was a week in which Psalm 36:7 applied:

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge
in the shadow of Your wings.

God's holiness

2006-04-25T10:56:00.000-05:00

This morning I read a familiar Bible story in my devotional time. It is in Numbers 19:10-13. Here's the situation: Israel is wandering in the desert, complaining that they have no water. Moses and Aaron then seek the Lord's direction. God tells Moses to speak to a rock and water will come out of the rock for all of Israel (hundreds of thousands if not millions, of people, plus animals). Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses hits it twice with his staff. In a gracious response, God still provides water in spite of Moses directly disobeying God's command. As a consequence, Moses and Aaron are not allowed to enter the Promised Land.

I have heard that story many times, usually in a lesson teaching the necessity of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. In other words, when this passage of Scripture is taught, it is often about Moses. The problem (which I realized this morning) is that it is not about Moses. It is about God.

The key sentence in the passage is this: "Because you did not believe in Me, to uphold Me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them."

Go back and read the first part of that quotation again. Clearly, God says that what matters most is Him. That's not to say that obedience does not matter, but what matters most is God and His holiness. It is God and His character (specifically, in this passage, His holiness) that is of utmost importance. What this passage teaches us is that our indifference and disobedience to God's Word not only hinders our relationship with Him, but it mars His character in the eyes of others.

Moses failure was not so much in hitting the rock instead of speaking to it, but in failing to uphold God as infinitely holy in the eyes of the people. That should be every Christian's goal: to make sure that when people see you--what you do and what you say--they should see God's holiness.

2006-04-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

HT: http://cartoons.christianpost.com

O Death, Where Is Your Victory?

2006-04-20T08:58:00.000-05:00

I am posting this quote from Charles Spurgeon upon hearing the news that Zola Levitt, a Jewish man who trusted in and proclaimed the Lord Jesus as Messiah and God, was promoted to glory:

"That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death."—Hebrews 2:14.
O child of God, death hath lost its sting, because the devil's power over it is destroyed. Then cease to fear dying. Ask grace from God the Holy Ghost, that by an intimate knowledge and a firm belief of thy Redeemer's death, thou mayst be strengthened for that dread hour. Living near the cross of Calvary thou mayst think of death with pleasure, and welcome it when it comes with intense delight. It is sweet to die in the Lord: it is a covenant-blessing to sleep in Jesus. Death is no longer banishment, it is a return from exile, a going home to the many mansions where the loved ones already dwell. The distance between glorified spirits in heaven and militant saints on earth seems great; but it is not so. We are not far from home—a moment will bring us there. The sail is spread; the soul is launched upon the deep. How long will be its voyage? How many wearying winds must beat upon the sail ere it shall be reefed in the port of peace? How long shall that soul be tossed upon the waves before it comes to that sea which knows no storm? Listen to the answer, "Absent from the body, present with the Lord." Yon ship has just departed, but it is already at its haven. It did but spread its sail and it was there. Like that ship of old, upon the Lake of Galilee, a storm had tossed it, but Jesus said, "Peace, be still," and immediately it came to land. Think not that a long period intervenes between the instant of death and the eternity of glory. When the eyes close on earth they open in heaven. The horses of fire are not an instant on the road. Then, O child of God, what is there for thee to fear in death, seeing that through the death of thy Lord its curse and sting are destroyed? and now it is but a Jacob's ladder whose foot is in the dark grave, but its top reaches to glory everlasting.

Mary's God

2006-04-19T08:57:00.000-05:00

Mary J. Blige says she has found religion, but she makes no apologies for her earthly materialism. In fact, she says God has willed her to wear bling.
"My God is a God who wants me to have things," the singer tells May's Blender magazine. "He wants me to bling. He wants me to be the hottest thing on the block. I don't know what kind of God the rest of y'all are serving, but the God I serve says, "Mary, you need to be the hottest thing this year, and I'm gonna make sure you're doing that."

I guess that means the God I serve is not the same as Mary's god. Would someone please tell me where in the Bible (also known as God's revealed will for humanity) I can find all this "bling" stuff? I seem to have missed it somewhere.

I think I also need help in understanding how this fits in with my devotions for today from Luke 6. "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (v. 20). "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation" (v. 24). Oh, and one more thing... could someone tell me how this fits into Romans 12:1, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice..." Where is the sacrifice in Mary?

Okay, okay, you know I can't resist. What about 1 Timothy 2:9, "likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire..."

Facetiousness is so fun! But seriously, isn't it sad that she is serving a god of her own making?

Sad story

2006-04-18T08:22:00.000-05:00

I was watching a television show last night that was fascinating and sad. It was called God or the Girl and is about some young men who are struggling to decide if God wants them to enter the Roman Catholic priesthood, or to choose a normal life. That in itself is sad, as several of the young men are trying to decide between celibacy and serving God. Why is that sad? Because it is following the traditions of men rather than the commands of God (Mark 7:8).

That is not the saddest point in the show, however. At one point, a particular priest comes to one of the young men whom he is mentoring, and says that perhaps God wants him to sacrifice--by carrying his own cross--literally. The young man goes to a home improvement store to purchase materials, and he and his friends build an 80-pound wooden cross for him to carry. But there is a catch: he must carry it 22 miles to a particular church. A portion of the program chronicles this individual's excrutiatingly painful journey, at the end of which he will apparently know what God wants him to do.

Terribly sad... . This fits in with other Roman Catholic programs that, for all practical purposes, seek to twist God's arm, to appease Him in some way to act on a persons behalf. That is something God has opposed all throughout biblical history--God is not at the mercy of human beings.

What stuck me as the saddest part of the situation was the misinterpretation of Scripture. Yes, Jesus declared that all who wanted to follow Him must take up their cross daily and follow Him. But is this what He meant, to make a spectacle of ourselves while literally carrying a cross?

A close look at Luke 14:25-33 shows that Jesus made that statement to demonstrate that one must count the cost of following Him. His purpose was to engage the would-be disciple in the process of thought that would bring the individual to the conclusion that being a disciple means surrendering to Him, even to the point of death, if necessary. The prospective disciple was to view Jesus' statement not in a literal way, but as figure of speech.

By 70 A.D., approximately 30,000 people were crucified in Israel by the Romans. That tells us that a cross would have been an easily understood picture--a picture of death. Thus, Jesus tells those who would follow Him, "Are you ready to give up yourself to be Mine?"

Let's be careful not to do insane, pointless things because of our misinterpretation of Scripture. Take up your cross daily...but do it in the way Jesus intended.

Resurrection Sunday

2006-04-15T12:03:00.000-05:00

How does the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus encourage your faith?

Resurrection survey

2006-04-13T09:06:00.000-05:00

A recent poll by Scripps Survey Research revealed that most people don't believe in the resurrection of the body.

Some 1,007 adults were interviewed by phone from Feb. 19 to Mar. 3 by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University and asked the question, "Do you believe that, after you die, your physical body will be resurrected someday?" Results indicate that out of those interviewed only 36 percent replied "yes" to the question while 54 percent said they do not believe in the statement and 10 percent remained undecided.

According to the poll, 90 percent of Americans believe in God or a Supreme Being, with 65 percent indicating that they were "absolutely certain" that God exists. Seventy-two percent replied they believe in an afterlife with "some sort of consciousness" with 47 percent of being absolutely certain of this.

The poll also found that half of those who attend church recently said they believe they will undergo a physical resurrection compared to a quarter of those who have not attended service recently.

The survey speaks volumes about biblical literacy and faith in the declarations of Scripture. Maybe it's time our churches get back to preaching and teaching the words of God rather than the musings of men:

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,
how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ
has been raised.... And if Christ has not been raised,
your faith is futile and you are still in your sins....

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead....
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ
all shall be made alive.
1 Cor. 15:12-13, 17, 20, 22

Spring Rain

2006-04-12T09:04:00.000-05:00

Today is one of those wonderful spring days. You know...the kind when you walk outside first thing in the morning and your olfactory senses (that's your sense of smell for those of you who speak English!) are hit with a strange but wonderful smell: fresh clean air that has been cleansed by rain. Few things in creation are as wonderful. Why is that? Bcause God designed it, of course!

Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God...
He covers the heavens with clouds;
He prepares rain for the earth...
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 147

A Great Debt

2006-04-11T09:16:00.000-05:00

A Malaysian man said he nearly fainted when he received a $218 trillion phone bill and was ordered to pay up within 10 days or face prosecution, a newspaper reported Monday.
Yahaya Wahab said he disconnected his late father's phone line in January after he died and settled the $23 bill, the New Straits Times reported.
But Telekom Malaysia later sent him a $218 trillion bill for recent telephone calls along with orders to settle within 10 days or face legal proceedings, the newspaper reported.

Receiving a $218 trillion bill in our world would be laughable. Outside of fraud or something similar it is simply outrageous. For a moment, though, imagine that it was your bill... and that it was real. Imagine that you were actually faced with a bill that was humanly impossible to pay (even governments can't pay that kind of bill!), and if you didn't there would be prosecution for the unpaid debt.

The Scriptures tell us that we are born into this world with that kind of debt--a sin debt--and God's holiness demands that it must be paid or prosecution results. Romans 6:23 tells us that the prosecution is death. There is no mistake, no fraud, no going back to the company and demanding an investigation. No, we simply face the debt and, being unable to pay it, we face an eternal punishment for our inability to pay what was owed.

"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." The word "propitiation" means to be satisfied. While we were unable to pay the debt, God satisfied the righteous demands of payment by dying for us. What you couldn't pay God did... it is His free gift to you.

Spurgeon Devotional

2006-04-08T10:56:00.000-05:00

Charles Spurgeon, a great preacher of a by-gone era, wrote this devotional for today, April 8. Thanks to the Spurgeon Archive for the info.

Preserved to Work's End

The Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. (Acts 23:11)

Are you a witness for the Lord, and are you just now in danger? Then remember that you are immortal till your work is done. If the Lord has more witness for you to bear, you will live to bear it. Who is he that can break the vessel which the Lord intends again to use?

If there is no more work for you to do for your Master, it cannot distress you that He is about to take you home and put you where you will be beyond the reach of adversaries. Your witness-bearing for Jesus is your chief concern, and you cannot be stopped in it till it is finished: therefore, be at peace. Cruel slander, wicked misrepresentation, desertion of friends, betrayal by the most trusted one, and whatever else may come cannot hinder the Lord's purpose concerning you. The Lord stands by you in the night of your sorrow, and He says, "Thou must yet bear witness for me." Be calm; be filled with joy in the Lord.

If you do not need this promise just now, you may very soon. Treasure it up. Remember also to pray for missionaries and all persecuted ones, that the Lord would preserve them even to the completion of their lifework.

Perfect ways

2006-04-06T08:44:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered why things happen? Or, have you ever wondered why God allows certain events or situations in life? I am certain that most everyone has. How should we respond to these situations? What does God expect us to understand?

Psalm 18 is a song of praise by King David for the sparing of his life. The song contains parts that are similar to other psalms such as a declaration of praise for who God is, what God has done, and how the writer has benefited from God's actions. The song then ends in another declaration of praise. What interested me was a break in between the description of God's actions and the part concerning the benefits of that action. David writes:

This God--His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true;
He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.
For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?

The Psalms are full of questions -- questions as to the purpose of events in life, questions regarding the need for trials and difficulties, and questions as to when God would step in and do something. That in itself is a comfort--it is not wrong to ask questions of God! However, in the end we may not have the answers. It is at that time that faith must take over and we must declare with David, "This God--His way is perfect."

David was often on the run--even from his father-in-law (Saul), and his own son (Absalom)--and his life was often in danger. As God's anointed king, it makes sense that he would wonder what God was doing. But he always returned to this fact: "This God--His way is perfect."

When a person is able to consistently return to the truths of the Person of God--the perfection of His ways, the fact that His purpose and Word are true, that He is a place of refuge when His children are under attack, that He is our Rock--the difficulties of life (even life-and-death situations) pale in comparison to the greatness of our God. Who is a rock in the storms of life? Only our Lord: "This God--His way is perfect."

Life in Perspective

2006-04-04T18:55:00.000-05:00

Probably every Christian has at one time or another failed to share the Good News of salvation when the opportunity was presented to them by the Lord. It is also very likely that most Christians fail to grasp how faith transforms life, and how pressing the need is for evangelism. The following post from India places these into the proper perspective:

I saw a man die today.

It happened like this. We were commuting to this campus. I had just finished writing some emails on my 8lackberry and was thinking about the sermon I was about to preach.

Then, we came upon the scene. It must have just happened, because everything was very fresh. Picture a road the width of most American residential streets, but this road is a highway with heavy traffic in both directions.

I don’t know who this man was, or exactly what had happened. What I do know is that somehow he had been knocked off the bicycle he had been riding, and somebody drove a truck over his head. And that is how he was when we saw him - lying there in the middle of the road, a body with half a head still attached and the contents of the other half spilled all over the road.

I’ve never seen anything like that before. I instantly felt very sick. It was good that we had not yet eaten. The lively chatter that had characterized the drive up to that point was replaced by an earie, stunned, silence.

The strange thing about the scene was people’s reaction. In the US, if an accident like that happens, the poliece and firemen will be there right away, they will close the road, they will interview the witnesses, determine fault. The truck driver would loose his job, and maybe later the victim’s family would sue the trucking company for wrongful death.

But here, there was no poliece. There was no witnesses coming forward. There will be no investigation. The truck driver that hit the man continued along his way. Nobody was stopped to check into the accident, remove the body, or clean up the mess. The body just say there in the road, and everybody just drove around and kept going - like we would when encountering a dead possum. Such is the value of human life in a polytheistic society.

Still trying to cope with the shock of what I saw, I wonder about what that man’s life. Had he ever heard the gospel? Here, most likely not. That is why we are here training church planters - because the only hope for any Indian is to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed by the church of Jesus Christ.

There is no longer anything we can do for that man, but perhaps we reach the next man.

It's not all bad

2006-04-03T09:09:00.000-05:00

A recent article in the LA Times reported what appears to be a growing trend among high school students: they are standing up for the faith; or, at least demanding real answers for evolutionary questions. The article follows a teacher through a class, documenting how students raise challenging questions and statements regarding the veracity of evolution.

Two decades of political and legal maneuvering on evolution has spilled over into public schools, and biology teachers are struggling to respond. Loyal to the accounts they've learned in church, students are taking it upon themselves to wedge creationism into the classroom, sometimes with snide comments but also with sophisticated questions--and a fervent faith.

As sophomore Daniel Read put it: "I'm going to say as much about God as I can in school, even if the teachers can't."

Such challenges have become so disruptive that some teachers dread the annual unit on evolution--or skip it altogether.

In response, the American Assn. for the Advancement of Science is distributing a 24-page guide to teaching the scientific principles behind evolution, starting in kindergarten. The group also has issued talking points for teachers flustered by demands to present "both sides."

Don't you love it? Those pesky teenagers keep bringing up questions that evolution cannot answer. Must be frustrating. Glad I'm not a biology teacher.

"We're not going to roll over and take this," said Alan I. Leshner, the executive publisher of the journal Science. "These teachers are facing phenomenal pressure. They need help."

The teachers need help? The teachers need help to be able to answer the questions their students have? I thought the students were the ones in need of education! I really should be careful here. This borders on being a gleeful blog at the inadequacies of the evolutionists. There is great encouragement, though, that our teenagers are learning and standing firm on God's inspired Word. Take heart; all is not lost, our Lord is Alive!

Sad but true

2006-03-30T08:37:00.000-06:00

It is hard to believe that someone could be within 100 yards of an 1,100-foot tall rock and not know where the rock is. Yes, it happened. Apparently, a drunk driver stopped to ask police where Ayers Rock (in Australia) was, when he was pointed right at it!

We should not be surprised by that, however. Throughout Scripture we see that sort of thing all of the time between human beings and God. It was part of God's judgment as recorded in Isaiah 6:10 where God says, "Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." This passage is quoted by Jesus in Matthew 13:14-15 in reference to the people in Israel.

Isn't that sad...having eyes to see, but not really seeing?

Last night our Bible study centered on 1 Samuel 4 where the fulfillment of God's prophetic judgment took place in the death of the high priest and judge Eli, and his sons and daughter-in-law. The text of that passage fascinates me.

We are told in 1 Samuel 3:2 that Eli's eyesight had begun to fade, "so that he could not see." Eli was old, and the natural progression of age had deteriorated his eyesight. But that was not all. In chapter four there is a play on words that give us insight into the spiritual condition of this priest, and Israel as a whole.

After Israel is defeated on the battlefield, Eli is sitting by the roadside near the city gate waiting for news of the outcome (Israel had taken the Ark of the Covenant into battle -- trying to force God's blessing on their actions--Eli was concerned about the Ark). The text actually says, "Eli was sitting by the road watching...." He is watching? But isn't he blind? When the messenger from the battlefield comes running into the city shouting the news, Eli misses him, and doesn't get the news until a little later. Why did he miss the messenger? "Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were so set that he could not see" (v. 15).

Here is a sad saga: Eli, the spiritual leader of Israel, is out watching, but he cannot see. He cannot lead Israel in the proper spiritual direction because he is himself unable to see. It was the blind leading the blind. Like the man at Ayers Rock, he was pointed in the right direction, but was totally lost.

In the New Testament, the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3 was very close to the same situation. That is why Jesus cautions them to "anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see." This is not speaking of physically, but spiritually. Perhaps this is a good lesson to remember; we may have eyes, but that doesn't mean that we automatically "see." Let's get some of that eye salve from Jesus...

A Great Example

2006-03-29T08:13:00.000-06:00

I'm sure that most of you have heard of by now of Mary Winkler, the lady who killed her husband Matthew, who was a pastor. There are not many details available, but Matthew's parents have spoken with Mary and have assured her of their forgiveness.

Though they don't understand what reason Mary Winkler would have had for killing their son, her in-laws have "assured her of their forgiveness," a longtime family friend said Monday.
Winkler confessed to shooting her husband in the back, though they haven't discussed a motive. She has since apologized to his parents, Dan and Diane Winkler, and their sons, Daniel and Jacob, according to Billy R. Smith, dean of the School of Biblical Studies at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson.
Smith has known the Winkler family for 25 years and said he and Dan Winkler have been friends for that long. Smith has talked to Dan Winkler several times since the tragedy and planned to attend visitation for Matthew Winkler on Monday night in Selmer, he said.
"They were able to visit with her in Alabama, and she expressed her great sorrow for what she'd done, and they assured her of their forgiveness," Smith said. Dan and Diane Winkler "have loved her as a daughter, not as a daughter-in-law, and if they could take her home with them right now, they would," he added.
"They're a great example of what it means to forgive," Smith said of Matthew Winkler's parents. "... That's because of their faith, their character and their love."

What a great example of forgiveness and the display of Romans 8:28. Don't forget to pray for all involved.

The "Separateness" of God

2006-03-28T08:07:00.000-06:00

I was reading yesterday of God's directions to Moses regarding the construction of some temple implements in Exodus 30. Of the altar for burning incense (placed before the Holy of Holies) God says,

"You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering,
or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it."

Speaking of the basin for washing He says of the priests,

"When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near
the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord,
they shall wash with water, so that they may not die.
They shall wash their hands and their feet,
so that they may not die."

Sounds restrictive, doesn't it? The priests can only offer incense that has been directed by God, and they have to make sure that they wash their hands and feet before embarking upon their ministry duties.

I came away from this passage with a few thoughts. First, God is directing the institution of temple worship. As the sovereign God and the object of the worship, He has the right to require these details. In the same way, God has every right to establish boundaries for us today--He is God, and He is the object of our worship.

Second, this speaks of man's sinfulness...and these are the priests! Even those called by God to lead His people in worship must understand that they are not perfect. This passage addresses two aspects of this: man's idea of what is appropriate in the worship of God (specifically the incense) is tainted; thus, only what God ordains is acceptable. Also, man himself is unacceptable to God as he is...he must be cleansed. Thus, the restrictions are not so much about "do this...don't do that" as it is about teaching people the character of God and the character of man.

Third, this expresses volumes about God's holiness. While the previous items are involved in the passage, the intent of these specific directives is to teach the priests and all of Israel how holy, how separate from sinful humanity God really is. Deuteronomy 4:23-24 says,

"Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God,
which He made with you...for the Lord your God
is a consuming fire, a jealous God."

God's character is such that He is so holy, so pure, so separate that man must tread carefully when coming into His presence. After the "incident" with the golden calf, God instructs Moses to pick up camp and move on. God will send an angel to go before them, but God Himself would not. Why? "I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people." God's holiness cannot placate (to put off through concessions) man's sin.

On the opposite side of the coin, the wonderful truths of the New Testament are that the barriers between man and God are now removed. Among the wonderful promises those in Christ are given is that we can come into His presence with boldness (Hebrews 4:16) and confidence, much like Moses did when entering into the Tent of Meeting to speak face to face with God.

I am concerned, though, that in our desire to be faithful to the New Testament teaching on the church, we have neglected the OT teaching of God as incredibly, infinitely holy...a consuming fire and a God who is jealous of His Name and attributes.

What are we declaring to the world? Truly, we are declaring that our God is approachable in Christ. But are we not neglecting that our God is a consuming fire? The seeker sensitive movement, the emerging movement, and others (even evangelical churches), downplay this picture of God. We must remember that the Old Testament accounts were written for our instruction.

Moses prayed, "please show me Your ways, that I may know You..." (Exodus 33:13). God's ways also include His holiness, His wrath against sin, and the fact that He is a consuming fire.

Perhaps we need to learn from God's temple directives...

Persecution Update

2006-03-27T08:59:00.000-06:00

After pressure from the international community, and Afghan court has dismissed the charges against Abdul Rahman. He may be released today, placing him in what could be even greater danger. Read this for the full story.

Persecution

2006-03-23T08:31:00.000-06:00

Perhaps some of you are aware of Abdul Rahman who was arrested last month in Afghanistan on charges of apostasy. He had become a Christian several years ago. That is an offense against Islam and is deserving of death. In the last few days a couple of other Christians have been arrested.

This past weekend, one young Afghan convert to Christianity was beaten severely outside his home by a group of six men, who finally knocked him unconscious with a hard blow to his temple. He woke up in the hospital two hours later but was discharged before morning. "Our brother remains steadfast, despite the ostracism and beatings," one of his friends said. Several other Afghan Christians have been subjected to police raids on their homes and places of work in the past month, as well as to telephone threats.

Pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters.

Doing what is right...In your own eyes

2006-03-22T08:50:00.000-06:00

Some time ago I began a study on the book of 1 Samuel during our Wednesday evening study time. I thought I would post some thoughts from that study occasionally.

1 Samuel follows on the heels of the book of Judges. This is important to understand as it helps us grasp some things that take place in the book of 1 Samuel. The period of the judges was chaotic at best. The nation of Israel was mired in a cyclical pattern. After the conquest of the land of Canaan and the subsequent death of Joshua, the book tells us that Israel disobeyed God who then allowed them to be plundered by neighboring nations. Then we read this:

Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them.

It really is a sad situation. For years and years they followed a pattern of obedience which turned to disobedience followed by oppression and plundering. Then Israel repented, and God sent a judge to free them from their oppressors and turn them back to God. Then the cycle began all over again. After awhile you feel like banging your head against a wall!

The key verse, though, is the last one in the book. In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Read that last sentence again.

Sound familiar? Our own country -- even our entire world -- fits that description. That is why some in South Dakota are offering instructions on "do-it-yourself-abortions" after the legislature banned abortions. That is why divorce is so prevalent, our prisons are overcrowded, and *gasp* the church is going emergent. There is no standard, no regulation, no guidance. Simply everyone doing what is right in his own eyes. It is into this situation that Samuel is born. While every is going his own way, Samuel listens and obeys God. What are you doing?

Intelligent Design

2006-03-21T08:33:00.000-06:00

Astonomers have found a nebula 80 light-years long, and about 300 light-years from the center of the Milky Way. Interestingly, it is different from any other discovered nebula: it is in the shape of a DNA strand because of magnetic forces in that area of the universe.

"Nobody has ever seen anything like that before in the cosmic realm," said the study's lead author Mark Morris of UCLA. "Most nebulae are either spiral galaxies full of stars or formless amorphous conglomerations of dust and gas—space weather. What we see indicates a high degree of order."

A high degree of order? Let's see...there is a giant explosion of nothing that somehow establishes the universe into a "high degree of order"? I doubt it; sounds like God to me.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Psalm 19:1

Referral

2006-03-20T09:48:00.000-06:00

Check out this great post at Pyromaniacs.

2006-03-19T22:30:00.000-06:00

Brian McLaren was invited to speak at a gathering of the Kentucky Baptists. After reading McLaren's A Generous Orthodoxy, the invitation was rescinded. Dan Garland, the group's Church Development and Evangelism Team leader commented,

"In the book, McLaren says that while there is no assurance that there is salvation to be found outside of Jesus, Christians should not jump to the conclusion that Jesus is the only way to salvation."I must add, though, that I don't believe making disciples must equal making adherents to the Christian religion. It may be advisable in many (not all!) circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu, or Jewish contexts, "McLaren says in the book."

"Christians should not jump to the conclusion that Jesus is the only way to salvation"? What about "no one comes unto the Father except through Me?" While McLaren is not the spokesman for all those involved in the emergent movement, it would be wisest to stay as far away from this kind of theology as possible. I would argue that it is also incredibly unwise to "help people" follow Jesus and remain idolators. My Bible says that has already been tried. Israel did it in the OT, and God didn't take too kindly to it.

Problems with Jello

2006-03-17T10:00:00.000-06:00

Okay, okay, you've had enough of the jello.... Well, just a little more! By the way, I am in no way claiming to be an expert on the emerging "conversation" (that is what many like to call it). I am merely commenting on what I have read and heard. If you want a thorough, well-balanced evaluation try Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church by D.A. Carson. It can be a bit difficult to follow sometimes, but it is a good book.

Today I would like to point out what bothers me about the movement.

1. The emerging movement is to be commended for their desire to make Christianity effective. However, in doing so they move to an extreme. Instead of following objective doctrinal truth they tend to follow shallow, relative methods. This leads to such things as a refusal to accept the biblical statements on homosexuality as sin, and the doctrine of hell because they are "weapons of mass distraction" (Brian McLaren). Ever heard of, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for everything?"

2. The movement generally fails to see the exclusivity of the gospel. In other words, there is a failure to see faith in Christ for salvation as the only means of gaining entrance into God's heaven. The movement is lax on this issue, even to the point of arguing that for the sake of dialogue with other "faiths" we must downplay faith in Christ as the only way. Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary writes,

When it comes to issues such as the exclusivity of the gospel, the identity of Jesus Christ as both fully human and fully divine, the authoritative character of the Scripture as written revelation, and the clear teaching of Scripture concerning issues such as homosexuality, this movement simply refuses to answer the questions.

If there is a refusal to answer questions, we must wonder why.

3. A rejection of the propositional truths (statements that affirm something as being true or false -- absolutely) of Scripture to be culturally relevant (see Titus 2:1 for the command to teach these truths). This borders on, if not crosses over the line of, rejecting the belief in absolute truth. In other words, this movement is characterized by a compromise of biblical truths for the sake of culture. D.A. Carson writes,

Is there at least some danger that what is being advocated is not so much a new kind of Christian in a new Emergent Church, but a church that is so submerging itself in the culture that it risks hopeless compromise?

That is my fear.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
preach the word;
be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort,
with complete patience and teaching.
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching,
but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves
teachers to suit their own passions,
and will turn away from the listening to the truth
and wander off into myths....
2 Timothy 4:1-4

More Jello

2006-03-15T16:15:00.000-06:00

"Be forewarned. The Emergent Church is the most theologically corrosive view/movement/trend in a long time. The Seeker movement and the "Laughing Revival" of the last decade pale in comparison. And it’s consuming millions, especially young people." Greg Koukl - Stand to Reason

Squeezing Jello, part two

2006-03-15T08:48:00.000-06:00

From my perspective, the desire feeding the emergent thinking is relevancy -- making the church relevant to a modern world. Obviously, the question is, "How do we do that?" While that is a good question, it is not the one that should begin the evaluation process. Let's go back a little further and ask, "Why isn't the church relevant?" James Spurgeon has an answer (note: he is not Charles Spurgeon! He is a present day writer and pastor):

One of the reasons the church is so cold and dead and lifeless is because she has lost her love for God. Instead of replacing that with something fleshly to appeal to fleshly men, we need to get back to our first love—God—and knowing him. For those out there looking for ways to make church more relevant, how about this idea? How about giving it depth and authenticity by focusing on something beyond mere human experience, by helping human beings to lift their eyes upward and see something greater than anything there is to offer here below? How about making church relevant by making it separate from the ordinary, a holy place, where, get this, God himself is exalted and expounded upon and worshiped. How about offering to the public, not just relevancy, but depth and authenticity through theology and application to the life of faith and worship?

Don't you think that would eliminate much of the "jello-problem"?

Squeezing Jello

2006-03-14T08:30:00.000-06:00

How do you squeeze jello? More importantly, how do you squeeze jello without it becoming distorted, misshapen, and/or shooting out of your hand?

Some time ago I blogged about the church needing to change. I included the quote, "When your memories are more exciting than your dreams, you've begun to die." I still believe that to be true, especially in the church. We must continually adapt to reach each successive generation; we must also be excited about what our great God can and will do through us.

There is a problem, though. That kind of talk is becoming increasingly dangerous these days--not because it is false, but because some believe and follow it to an alarming extreme. In fact, it has become a "movement" with an unassuming name: the Emergent (or Emerging) Church.

On the surface, this sounds attractive. The church needs to keep up with the times--adapting, changing, modernizing--to keep the gospel relevant, or so they claim. Thus, the need to be emergent.

There are several problems with those who are "emerging." One is the lack of unity amongst followers, and so there are many different thoughts, definitions, and beliefs among the group. This makes it difficult to understand what core doctrines, philosophy, and structure are followed. Two, the closest thing to a spokesman is Brian McLaren, who is a lightning rod figure with whom some refuse to be associated. As far as lacking a definitive structure:

...this is a movement that hates formal structure, so it has been resistant to any kind of definition or careful boundaries that would make its shape easy to discern or describe. It's a movement that is purposely foggy and amorphous, fluid and diverse--and most in the movement want to keep it that way.

You were wondering when the jello would fit into this post, weren't you? The emerging group is like jello -- there are hard to pin down, difficult to define, and when you squeeze, they shift and move. In some ways, it is the next generation of the seeker-sensitive movement although it is much more than that. Basically, the group seeks to modernize the church (that is a very basic statement, by the way -- it is very difficult, if not impossible to point out one over-arching goal).

All that to say this: what are we to do with this? I think most would agree that the church needs to keep moving forward; we need to keep dreaming. But does that mean we should throw out the "way we do church" and begin all over? What aspects of church (theologically called ecclesiology - the study of the Church) must remain the same?

Stay tuned for more jello squeezing...

Those narrow-minded people...

2006-03-13T11:34:00.000-06:00

The following is a quote from Charles Spurgeon's sermon titled, "The Bond of the Covenant."

This generation has made a god of its own. The effeminate deity of the modern school is no more the true God than Dagon or Baal. I know him not, neither do I reverence him. But Jehovah is the true God: he is the God of love, but he is also robed in justice; he is the God of forgiveness, but he is also the God of atonement; he is the God of heaven, but he is also the God who sends the wicked down to hell.

We, of course, are thought to be harsh, and narrow-minded, and bigoted: nevertheless, this God is our God for ever and ever. There has been no change in Jehovah. He has revealed himself more clearly in Christ Jesus; but he is the same God as in the Old Testament, and as such we worship him.

Sounds like it could have been written today, does it not? He preached this message in 1885!

Deck Chairs

2006-03-09T20:26:00.000-06:00

Those who know me understand my frustration with what I call "symptom sins." These are the deeds done by those who hate the light of Christ that the church "loves" (there is some sarcasm there, but not much) to speak out against. For example, perhaps the two most common symptom sins attacked by the church are abortion and homosexuality. I routinely receive information seeking church support for some agenda against these or other sins.

My frustration stems from how I believe God sees these sins. Please understand, these are sins -- transgressions against a holy God. However, these sins are not the issue! They are merely symptoms of a greater problem (unbelief - a rejection of God). Addressing these symptoms is like trying to wipe your runny nose with a Kleenex. It addresses the symptoms, but not the core issue.

The reason for this is that the church has forgotten how God works. Addressing the symptom sins is like trying to change the world by changing the way people live. God seeks to change the world by changing people from the inside-out. Thus, the church's responsibility is not to affect the moral standards of society, but turn people's unbelief into belief.

A quote I heard last week at the conference was this: "The church is spending time trying to change the deeds of darkness. That is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic." Perhaps we should focus on our real duty.

There and back again

2006-03-07T09:16:00.000-06:00

Good morning, everyone! I thought I better post something since it has been some time since I last did so. For those of you who don't know, or have forgotten, I have been out of town for a pastor's conference. It was a great conference. While it was very tiring physically (about 14-16 hour days), it was an energizing time spiritually. God is good to have worked things out for me to go. Now if He can only start working on that for next year....

One of the great benefits of this conference is free stuff -- ministry related, of course! I came home with around 22 free books, a couple of free CD's, a new leather portfolio for sermon organization, and other things. I was also able to purchase approximately 10 more books at a greatly reduced price, many as low as $5 or $6. Now if I can only find the time to read them! This conference does everything possible to make this conference a resource for pastors. Not just during the conference, but afterwards as well. I will continue to receive a discount on books through the ministry's bookstore, and I also receive a complimentary one-year subscription to an online pastor's resource center (normally $200). Yes, God is good! As Christians we are not to look for our reward from the Lord in this world, but this conference was a very nice prelude!

Something Good - Part Two

2006-02-23T08:23:00.000-06:00

Yesterday's post detailed the relationship of Isaac with Yahweh, called the Fear by Isaac's son Jacob. Today I will address the relationship of that Fear to Jacob. The word used by Jacob means to be very afraid, or to dread something. It can also mean to be in awe -- perhaps because of the fear. I noted three reasons for Isaac to dread the hand of Yahweh in his life, and asked whether or not this "dread" was passed on to Jacob.

Main Question: Did Isaac pass on his dread of Yahweh to his son Jacob, and so become the reason Jacob called Yahweh the Fear?

Possible Answers:

1. Jacob had no reason to dread the hand of Yahweh! The New Testament tells us that God had chosen Jacob to be the one through whom the promised line would come before he was even conceived. Jacob did not experience the difficulties his father faced in his relationship with Yahweh. This delves into a deeper question--Did Isaac communicate the need for trust in Yahweh at all, or simply his fear of God?

2. It appears that Jacob was afraid of very little. Remember, he was the one who deceived everyone around him; others needed to be afraid of him!

3. Everything that Jacob does (at least until he returns to Canaan) is because it will benefit him, not because of fear. For example, even when God appears to Jacob at Bethel in the dream with the stairway to heaven, Jacob agrees to follow Him -- but only because he recognizes the benefits!

There does not appear to be a reason in Jacob's life for the use of the term Fear for God. Unless, of course, he was merely referring to the One who led his father, and who his father genuinely feared (both in being afraid, and in awe). The problem with that thinking, though, is that Jacob rarely, if ever, does anything unless it benefits him.

With that in mind, I think the proper answer for our question is found in the context. Let me refresh your memory. Jacob has left the home of his father-in-law after 20 years of labor (14 for Laban's two daughters, and another six as a worker in which he received certain portions of Laban's flocks and herds as pay) without notice, without good-byes, and without a forwarding address. When Laban hears of it three days later, he gathers some of his family and takes out after Jacob (after all, Jacob's wife Rachel had stolen the household idols!).

There is evidence of anger in Laban in the pursuit. This is seen by the fact that God appears to him in a dream warning him not to do anything to Jacob. Thus, Laban must have been planning what he would do when he caught up with the runaways. When he does catch up to them, Laban accuses Jacob of stealing the idols which is then followed by a search of Jacob's belongings. They are not found because Rachel is sitting on them and uses an excuse to not get up.

It is at this point that Jacob responds in anger to Laban, recounting the pain and anguish of serving him. Jacob then says, "Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night." It appears to me that Jacob is giving Laban a warning -- as in, "Watch out Laban, or the God my father dreads will do more than rebuke you!"

A little later there is a peace party. In ancient times, there would be a marker established so that both groups/people would not go beyond the marker to do evil to the other, and there would be a sacrifice of some sort with the sacrificial animal being the "peace meal" between the differing groups. There would also be a solemn "swearing in" ceremony in which each party would swear to uphold their end of the agreement.

The oath ceremony between Jacob and Laban is of great interest to me. Notice their statements:

Laban:
"May the God of Abraham and the god of Nahor,
and the gods of their father, judge between us."

Jacob:
"And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac."

It appears that Laban is trying to tie in his family gods (plural!) with the God of Jacob's family. Notice that this is not a belief in God, but merely seeking to call Him as a witness to this agreement. Jacob, on the other hand, doesn't do anything of the sort. His oath is based solely upon the Fear.

Why? I think there are two reasons. First, Jacob is again reminding Laban that there is Someone to dread if he fails to hold up his end of the peace bargain. Thus, using this term for God benefits Jacob (as usual!). Second, I see here a movement in Jacob. Perhaps it is a movement from dread to awe. Why would Jacob swear by the Fear of his father? Could it be that Jacob understands that this Fear is now his God, the One who has fulfilled His promise to bring Jacob back into the land of promise, and the One who will keep him in this situation and all future difficulties? I think so. In fact, the very next chapter may function as a support for this thought. The next chapter in Genesis is when Jacob wrestles with God for a blessing. What he gets is a name change -- from Jacob to Israel. Why? Perhaps because the Fear of his father Isaac is now his Fear as well. Can you say the same? Can you say that you follow the Lord out of awe, and not dread?

Something Good

2006-02-22T10:42:00.000-06:00

Someone asked me yesterday to blog about something good, as it seemed like I had been pointing out negative things a little much in recent days. I don't know if I agree with that (someone's got to do it, right? ), but I am happy to oblige. So here goes....

This morning I was reading in Genesis chapter 31 and came across a reference to God that is quite intriguing. It comes at a point in the chapter where Jacob is ready to leave his father-in-law's home and head back to Canaan to his own family. God has blessed him in the north country, but now is the time to return. How does he know this? Because the God of his father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac has told him it is time (Genesis 31:42). Later, in establishing a peace-treaty with his uncle Laban, Jacob swore to uphold the covenant by the "Fear of his father Isaac" (Genesis 31:53).

Why would Jacob give God the name Fear, and why would he attach that name to his own father? To make matters more difficult, this is the only time in Scripture that God is called Fear. There are many times when people are commanded to fear Him, but never again is He simply called Fear.

Intriguing, no?

The Hebrew word used by Jacob is one that means "dread," or to "be in dread," and in some cases, "in awe of." It is found 48 times in the Old Testament, and most often means to be so afraid that your knees are knocking together (obviously, that is my own paraphrase!).

To fully understand what is happening here in these statements will require a couple of posts (in case you didn't know, I do have other things to do ), but for today I will seek to address the relationship of the Fear to Jacob's father Isaac.

Main Question: What reasons were there for Isaac be afraid of or dread Yahweh?

Possible Answers:

1. As a teenager, Isaac was bound, laid upon an alter, and was about to have his life cut short by his own father -- all at the direction of Yahweh. Is this a reason to dread the work of God in your life? You bet -- at least from a human perspective. I for one would be wondering what God was going to do next! You have to wonder if that one instance didn't affect Isaac's relationship with God for the rest of his life.

2. God was at work in Isaac to make him realize that worship was a priority, that recognizing the hand of God upon his life was key. Chapter 26 of Genesis relates how Isaac was essentially driven from place to place until he learned this lesson. No one enjoys being driven by God--it is a painful way to learn.

3. When Jacob and Esau were conceived, God promised that Esau would end up serving his younger brother. The problem in this situation is that Isaac loved Esau, not Jacob, essentially driving a wedge between Isaac and Yahweh. Isaac was always seeking to change the plan of God (to no avail, obviously).

It is apparent that Isaac's dread of God moved into the realm of righteous, believing awe; he is included in the "hall of fame of faith," after all (see Hebrews 11). However, it is also apparent that for most of his years Isaac lived his own life, the way he thought he should live, but in a way that was a little (or a lot!) afraid of what God might require him to do. If that is the case (and I believe it is), then this "fear" that Isaac had was an unhealthy fear of God -- one that was the result of an unyielded life. Isaac was trying to live out his faith according to his desires, not God's.

That kind of thinking will always make a person dread God's plan, and perhaps even God Himself. Did Isaac pass on this same sense of dread to Jacob? Perhaps so. Did Jacob ever learn, as we are to learn, that "all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose?"

Spiritual State of the Union

2006-02-21T09:19:00.000-06:00

Each year the President addresses the country in his State of the Union speech. Following that speech, Dr. D. James Kennedy, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, delivers his "Spiritual State of the Union Address." The "Spiritual State of the Union message, in my opinion, happens to be more important since that's the foundation upon which the nation is based," said Kennedy during the broadcast.

What is the "spiritual state" of the union according to Kennedy?

In this year's address, Kennedy acknowledged the good along with the bad, but emphasized on the positive trends that indicate that Christians are making a difference in American culture.

"We have seen the number of Christians in Washington increase enormously recently. In 1990, in the House of Representatives, they could find only five born-again Christians. In 2000, there were 100 such people in the Congress. In 2002, I think it was 125," said Kennedy. "I haven't got the figures on 2004, but it's growing, and Christians and decency and morality and the kinds of things that made this nation great in the beginning, are beginning to be felt again in America."

Let's see...we kill at least 1.3 million babies each year, we are trashing the institution of the family in exchange for same-sex unions in the name of equality, those people that follow God's plan are divorcing at an alarming rate, our young people are experimenting with sex, alcohol, and drugs at frighteningly early ages...and we are beginning to feel decency and morality and "Christian" things in America?

Forgive me if I seem a bit (or lot ) pessimistic. I am merely seeking to hear what Dr. Kennedy is saying and looking at our world through the lens of his statements. The view is quite blurry, my friends! Also, what Dr. Kennedy says appears to be the opposite of what Scripture states. Consider the following from 2 Timothy 3:1-7:

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

This passage of Scripture plainly states that the state of the unions of this world will not continue to improve, but will turn further and further from the Truth. Dr. Kennedy also believes that we are in the midst of a "spiritual awakening" in America. I may be looking through dark glasses, but it appears that Dr. Kennedy is looking through rose-colored glasses.

To his credit, Dr. Kennedy also said, "... more and more Christians are waking up and getting involved. I hope that you are determined this year to be one of them." I agree--I hope you are among them.

If they only would have asked me...

2006-02-20T10:21:00.000-06:00

It appears that Darwin's 140-year-old theory that life began in volcanic waters that were extremely hot and acidic (with a bit of clay, mind you) is about to go bye-bye.

Life is likely [edit: someday this will probably be proven wrong as well!] to have emerged in warm puddles of fresh water and not the piping-hot volcanic springs that have often been proposed as its source, research has suggested.
An experiment to recreate the conditions in which life began has revealed that the hot, acidic, clay-filled waters that had been proposed as prime candidates are probably incapable of mixing organic matter in the right way.

The scientific group testing the theories are now moving their testing grounds from volcanic, acidic waters to pools of fresh, warm water. Sure, that will help.

If only they would have asked me first! I could have told them that Darwin's theory would not "support life!" They could have saved money!

Theological Reading

2006-02-17T08:41:00.000-06:00

The following is a discussion by Charles Spurgeon based on 2 Timothy 4:13. It is a passage in which Paul instructs Timothy to bring books and parchments with him when he comes to Paul.

How rebuked are they by the apostle! He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books! He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a man to utter, yet he wants books! He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books! The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, "GIVE THYSELF UNTO READING."

The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his own. Brethren, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. YOU need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible. We are quite persuaded that the best way for you to be spending your leisure, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master's service. Paul cries, "Bring the books" — join in the cry.

Paul herein is a picture of industry. He is in prison; he cannot preach: WHAT will he do? As he cannot preach, he will read. As we read of the fishermen of old and their boats. The fishermen were gone out of them. What were they doing? Mending their nets. So if providence has laid you upon a sick bed, and you cannot teach your class — if you cannot be working for God in public, mend your nets by reading. If one occupation is taken from you, take another, and let the books of the apostle read you a lesson of industry" (from Spurgeon’s sermon #542 "PAUL - His Cloak And His Books" in the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit 9 (1863): 668-669).

Good stuff!

Superman and Jesus?

2006-02-16T09:08:00.000-06:00

The educational system in England is searching for ways to teach students about morality and religion. They need to keep searching....

Since research has shown that cinematography helps in the retention of material, teachers are being urged to use Superman as an example of Jesus. According to Helen Cook of Sheffield Hallam University, there are many parallels between the two:

-- Both arrive on Earth in unusual circumstances after being sent by their fathers

-- Both move from relative obscurity to a prominent adulthood

-- Both are able to help the humans they are sent to live with

-- Both struggle to stand up for truth against injustice and evil

According to Miss Cook, children become excited about Jesus when they are "given a point of reference." The Rev Dr John Gay, the Church of England's spokesman on religious education says that analogies can be effective in teaching, much like Jesus' parables.

Well, let's just hope that those children don't come away thinking that Jesus is a mythical comic book hero. And that's all I'm going to say about that....

Question of the Day

2006-02-15T08:49:00.000-06:00

What faith or religion describes the following (answer: see my post in the comments)?

(1) worship whatever representation of the god-force works best for you;
(2) emphasize meditation, rituals, or devotion to that representation, whichever works best for you;
(3) if you want to go down the Path of Desire, go, and perhaps eventually you'll tire of that and seek out the Path of Renunciation.

Morning Prayer

2006-02-14T09:13:00.000-06:00

Psalm 143 contains a fascinating verse (okay, there is more than one fascinating verse, I just want to highlight one). Notice verse eight:

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.

This verse is in the midst of a prayer to God by King David. He is seeking God's guidance and help in some situation. In this particular verse there is a repeated pattern: a request followed by a reason. Outlined, it would look like something like this (in my own paraphrase):

Request #1: "Make me to hear Your lovingkindness"
Reason: "Because I trust in You."

Request #2: "Make me to know the way I should go"
Reason: "Because I am seeking You."

The fascinating aspect of this verse comes from the grammar of the Hebrew language. The first word in each of the requests ("hear" and "know") are in a form that is referred to as having a causative action -- that is, something or someone is causing (or "making" as in my paraphrase above) something to happen. This is why the NKJV translates the verbs as "Cause me to hear" and "Cause me to know".

As human beings, we like to be in control. We like to think that what happens in life is a result of our action, our choosing, or our planning. Biblically, we can never separate God's sovereignty and providence from our life; thus, our actions, choices, and plans are never ours alone, they are all part of God's overall plan for His world.

What the psalmist is requesting of God in this verse is that God would step in and do something in His life, that God would make something happen in the life of the writer that would not arise as a result of human action.

In other words, we might say that the psalmist is praying, "God, make me experience Your loyal love to me this morning even if in my sinfulness I don't want to hear about it." Or, "Yahweh -- my God, my trust is in You alone, so transcend my sinful humanity and make me experience Your loyal love."

The second half of the verse is seeking God's direction in life: "Lord, I am seeking Your will in my life, so make me know what You want me to do." I have said for many years that if a child of God is diligently seeking Him, that He will make His will clear. He doesn't desire to make His will a mystery.

The key to the application of this verse to our lives is surrender. We must "let go and let God" as the saying goes. Are we actively releasing our own control over life so that God can "cause" us to hear His loyal love and to know the way we should go? Are we truly seeking God to work in our life? Notice that David had already given himself to the Lord: "because I trust in You", and "because I lift up my soul to You". He had already recognized God's care for him, and God's providence over the direction of his life -- he was ready for God to work. Are you?

Flying Shoes

2006-02-13T10:36:00.000-06:00

Prophecy makes pretty plain that people living during the rule of the one Scripture calls the "Antichrist" will be required to have an identifying marker in their hand or forehead in order to do any buy or sell.

An Ohio company has embedded silicon chips in two of its employees - the first known case in which US workers have been "tagged" electronically as a way of identifying them.

CityWatcher.com, a private video surveillance company, said it was testing the technology as a way of controlling access to a room where it holds security video footage for government agencies and the police.

Sean Darks, chief executive of CityWatcher, said the glass-encased chips were like identity cards. They are planted in the upper right arm of the recipient, and "read" by a device similar to a cardreader.

"There's nothing pulsing or sending out a signal," said Mr Darks, who has had a chip in his own arm. "It's not a GPS chip. My wife can't tell where I am."
So far around 70 people in the US have had the implants, the company said.

Scripture indicates that the removal of the true Church from this world will take place prior to the Tribulation. If so, make sure your flying shoes are ready!

(Thanks to Jeff for the link)

Speaking of evolution...

2006-02-11T09:01:00.000-06:00

In yesterday's post I wrote of the 10,000 clergy who signed an open letter containing false statements and bad logic. Those statements were regarding the relationship between evolution and Scripture.

Interestingly, my wife overheard someone yesterday speaking of evolution in a different sense -- the evolution of God. The person was sharing how they were working their way through a book (I am assuming it was some type of "Bible" study) which taught people how to pray to the "evolving God."

The teaching of an "evolving God" can take two basic forms. One, that the One Supreme God is in the process of evolving (much like science claims we are evolving) and two, that human beings are gods in the process of evolving.

The second thought process is so ludicrous biblically that I refuse to spend time writing about it here. The first thought, though still ludicrous, must be corrected. In case you don't believe that this thought is out there, here are a couple of quotes:

"I want you to know me as I am now. The most important understanding I can convey about myself is that I am evolving. This understanding is crucial if you are to know me as I am, and not as I was. I have revealed myself to humans on many occasions, from before any of your histories can remember. Each time I have revealed myself, I have done so in terms the people receiving me could understand. Each time I have revealed myself as I was at that time. Because I am evolving, I am changing. I am now focusing more certainly than ever on love and intimacy with my other half, the Mother of Creation... and my union with her inside of you. And because humanity is evolving, you are changing. You are now much more ready to accept the role of host to our presence here on Earth."

This is nothing other than philosophical, new-age, mystical babbling that is supposedly from God. Sure, I believe that one....

This next one is from a Jewish Kabbalist:

But what I like about this notion is that it captures another aspect of God that I've been implicitly suggesting--that God is in the process of evolving. God is what we call an emergent--God is in the process of emerging and changing with us. So Rabbi Nachman read the line in our liturgy that said "Abraham knew You God from his youth" as something like "Abraham knew You God when You were still new in the God-business."

God may not have been fully evolved when She created human beings, and She needed human beings to assist in that process. God created human beings in order to become more self-conscious.

How do I contain myself??? Beside the fact that this writer goes entirely against the script of the Bible in calling God female (the Scriptures, even in the original languages, make very plain the reference to God as "He"), am I really to believe that God needed human beings in order to "become more self-conscious"? Am I to believe that God was at one time "new" to the "God-business"? Really, people! If those statements are true, then whomever this being is, he/she/it is not God. An inherent quality of God is that He must be unchanging!

This is why I continually harp on the fact that we need to stick to the Scriptures as God wrote them. They are our only source of absolute truth, written perfectly and without error. God does not evolve, nor does He "need" us in any way.

"For I am the Lord, I do not change..."
Malachi 3:6

"God is not a man, that He should lie..."
Numbers 23:19

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and comes down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."
James 1:17

If God were to evolve or change in any way, then our future, our salvation, and His mercy and grace would be in doubt. Give Him praise for the fact that you can trust in His unchanging grace today.

A Lack of Words

2006-02-10T08:14:00.000-06:00

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't read it myself. It doesn't really surprise me, but at the same time, I wouldn't have believed it had you told me about it. Well, come to think of it, maybe I would have. See what you think.

In "An Open Letter Concerning Religion and Science," 10,000 clergy have signed their names indicating their agreement to statements such as the following:

"Within the community of Christian believers there are areas of dispute and disagreement, including the proper way to interpret Holy Scripture. While virtually all Christians take the Bible seriously and hold it to be authoritative in matters of faith and practice, the overwhelming majority do not read the Bible literally, as they would a science textbook."

"We the undersigned, Christian clergy from many different traditions, believe that the timeless truths of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist. We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests. To reject this truth or to treat it as "one theory among others" is to deliberately embrace scientific ignorance and transmit such ignorance to our children. We believe that among God's good gifts are human minds capable of critical thought and that the failure to fully employ this gift is a rejection of the will of our Creator."

I really am at a loss for words here. The "overwhelming majority" do not take their Bible literally?

Evolution (which they accurately state as a "theory") is a "foundational scientific truth"? Maybe my logic is still at home in bed this morning, but how can evolution be a "theory" and a "scientific truth" at the same time?

I, too, believe that one of God's good gifts are minds capable of critical thought. Unfortunately, it appears that those who are in agreement with this document have not taken advantage of that gift in this case. I guess they are telling us to not believe in Adam and Eve, the flood, the tower of Babel, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Ten Commandments.... Instead, trust science over your Bible. I'll bet that will please God.

While most of the signers of the letter are from "non-fundamental" backgrounds (sorry, that's the only term I could think of, even though "fundamental" is gaining ground as a negative word) such as Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, and others, there are, sadly, a handful of Baptists and even a professor of Old Testament from the same background as R.C. Sproul (Reformed Church).

Jesus believed in the truth of the Old Testament. I'll take His word over "science" any day.

I know it's not Christmas, but...

2006-02-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

This morning I was reading Matthew 2 which contains the account of the Magi coming to visit the Lord Jesus as a child in Bethlehem (Jesus could have been up to two years old at the time, since Herod had all boys under two killed when the Magi didn't return and tell him that they had found Jesus).

As I was reading this familiar passage, it struck me anew that these men were magi. "So what?" you may be asking! It is important for us to know that these men were magi because every Christmas season we sing or hear them sung about as kings who are bringing rich gifts to the Christ Child. While the gifts are rich, the magi are not kings. Magi are most likely astrologers from the area of Babylon and Assyria (modern Iran and Iraq) -- those who sought to tell the fortunes of the future by looking to the stars. They were those who were employed by kings and peasants alike for guidance.

What struck me is that these men (perhaps three, since there are three gifts, but we cannot be sure) are normal people. They are not the high and mighty, not the powerful of the world, but those who are just like the people in Bethlehem who had no room.... What a wonderful thought that God chooses to receive worship from us, normal people, those who are not especially significant in the eyes of the world.

And yet, these magi are proof that we, too, can seek out the King of kings and give Him our gifts, our all and be received into His presence.

The Presence of My God

2006-02-08T09:04:00.000-06:00

I am writing this as I watch the snow drifting down from the grey sky. I know many do not like or in any way enjoy snow, but it has always been a comfort to me. It is a symbol of "home," of quiet peacefulness. There is also a sense of the presence of God when it snows. Just as each snowflake is unique, unlike any other, so our God is unique and unlike any other. Isaiah writes of God, "...I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me" (Isaiah 46:9).

Psalm 139 also speaks of the presence of God. In verses 7-12 there are several statements made describing God's presence in creation. Verse 7 contains a rhetorical question asking where one can go to escape God. The answer is an assumed "nowhere!" The rest of the verses comment on the question and answer:

-- God is present if I were to go into heaven or the grave.
-- God is present if I were to follow the sun in its circuit around the earth.
-- God is present if I were in the depths of the sea -- in fact, even there God will lead me, and God's right hand (a symbol of strength and authority), will hold me.
-- If I were to remain in darkness or light, even there God is present.

The point is the totality of the presence of God -- He is everywhere, and understands everything about me.

Before you get overwhelmed with your day, your problems, your circumstances, or your life in general, remember the snow: God is unique, and there is none like Him, and He is present everywhere.

Strange!

2006-02-07T09:15:00.000-06:00

For your reading pleasure--some humor and/or disgust:

Sharon Tendler, a wealthy Londoner, was recently married to a dolphin (yes, you read that correctly) she met 15 years ago in Israel.

While the story of a rich Londoner marrying a dolphin sounds fishy, it's apparently true.

The media was abuzz when Tendler took the plunge and exchanged vows with Cindy in the waters of the groom's home.

"At least it wasn't a same sex marriage," quipped a co-worker who'd had too much sugar one afternoon.

The reports say that when she met Cindy 15 years ago, the connection sparked and she began visiting him at the resort several times a year. The bride wore a white dress to the dock during a ceremony at Dolphin Reef.

She became the first person in the world to "marry" a dolphin, though many of us doubt this union is legal. She bent on one knee, her hair framed in a veil and pink flowers, and gave Cindy a kiss and a nice piece of mackerel.

The salty groom was waiting in the water after the ceremony, and friends tossed the happy bride in to frolic with her new husband.

"I'm the happiest girl on earth," Tendler was cited as saying. "I made a dream come true and I'm not a pervert. I really do love this dolphin."

I'm sure that is an excuse God will accept....

Athletes of Faith

2006-02-04T11:37:00.000-06:00

Here are some testimonies of athletes from tomorrow's Super Bowl teams. These are from thegoal.com, and bpnews.net:

Tommy Maddux, now the backup to quarterback "Big Ben":

I was 20 years old when I left UCLA to go to the Denver Broncos in the NFL. I grew up in Texas where football is huge, but I never really was a drop back passer until college, and then two years later I was in an NFL huddle.

I needed more work and more playing time, but I was playing behind John Elway, an NFL legend, and when you are the backup to John Elway, you don’t get much playing time.

After two and a half years, I was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, and moved with them to St. Louis. I was released by the Rams, signed with the New York Giants, was released by them, signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and was released during their training camp in 1997.

For 1997, 1998 and 1999, I was not in football. I was selling insurance with Allstate. The great expectations I had coming out of UCLA as a 20 year old seemed to have fallen flat.

I had grown up knowing the Lord. I knew who Jesus was and what He did and accepted all that. I almost lived in fear of God. I was afraid that if I made mistakes or the wrong choices, He would punish me and take things away from me.

My wife, Jennifer, was a believer when I met her and always encouraged me in my faith. She had a relationship with Jesus, and even gave me a Bible on my birthday the first year we were dating. If I was faced with a problem, she would always remind me to pray.

When I was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, I rededicated my life to Christ. I had begun to do some things that weren’t good or productive while in Denver. I tried to fit in with the guys. I started drinking a little bit, and got caught up in material things. My marriage began to suffer, and Jennifer and I had struggles. Being traded away from Denver was one of the great blessings of our marriage. I started living for Christ again.

Ironically, I thought that by rededicating my life to Christ my career would take off. It didn’t. God had other plans. In fact, all the things I was so dependent on that the NFL could give me, were taken away, one by one, until there was nothing left. We were brought to our knees – to the point where there was no one to rely upon but God.

After three years as an insurance salesman, I went back into football. I played for a year in the Arena League and for another year with the Los Angeles Xtreme in the XFL. I was the MVP of the XFL, which created some interest among NFL teams. I signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a backup and a year later, I was their starting quarterback.

It’s been wonderful to be part of God’s plan. I could not have asked for things to turn out any better. I have a wonderful wife and children, a great marriage and a career in the NFL, doing what I’ve always wanted to do. And the best part is that I know God has brought me to this place – through some hard times, yes, but sometimes the hard times are necessary for us to finally be brought to a place where we trust God alone.

I have no idea how this will end up. I’ve learned that everything can be gone in an instant. And the day will come when I will no longer be in the NFL. But I know my identity is not wrapped up in being a football player. I am a child of God. I am loved by God. I am a family man. I have experienced some wonderful things, but nothing greater than knowing Jesus as my Savior.

From the Seahawks:

In the two-week buildup to a championship game with hundreds of different plotlines, Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck leaned forward in his chair at the Super Bowl media day as if he intended to divulge one of the secrets for his team’s successes.

“I don’t think many people realize,” the softspoken, seventh-year quarterback from Boston College said as reporters leaned forward for what they expected to be a juicy tip from the Seahawks playbook, “how many Christian guys we have on this team and how united we are.”

“There are a lot of us on this team from all parts of the country, but we are united in Christ, and the unity you see on this team is very encouraging,” Hasselbeck said.

Encouraged by their quarterback and their league MVP running back Shaun Alexander, Christian players on the Seahawks spent a majority of their hour-long session with the media sharing their faith and the need to focus on more than just Sunday’s final score.

“We believe life itself with Jesus Christ is more important than what we do on the field,” Alexander said. “We want to make sure our focus is on more than this game. We have a bigger calling.”

Backup quarterback David Greene, a rookie who starred at the University of Georgia where he was active in campus ministries and greatly influenced by his Christian head coach, said those looking to explain Seattle’s success coming into Sunday’s game need to look closer than wins or statistics.

“We have a lot of guys on our team who don’t get caught up in the extra stuff. We have guys who are in the Word every day when you could be getting stressed out.

“When you’re living with pressure, you have to surround yourself with good people and that’s what we try to do. If you believe in Christ, then you can live with pressure regardless of what happens on Sunday.”

Equal time

2006-02-03T08:40:00.000-06:00

Since we are commanded to be unified in the body of Christ, it is only right to give equal blog-space to the Seattle Seahawks (again, in case you have been on another planet for the last week, they are the other team in this Sunday's Super Bowl).

Facing the favored Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday afternoon at Ford Field in downtown Detroit, Holmgren said he is counting on a different kind of power to make it through another crazy Super Bowl week: his personal faith in Jesus Christ.

“If I didn’t have a foundation in my faith with Christ to keep me through the high and lows of this week and every week, this job it would be very hard,” he said during the Jan. 31 media day.

“My faith gives you a perspective and that’s the most important thing in this job,” he shared.

Holmgren’s eternal perspective allowed him to send his wife Kathy and one of their four daughters on a medical mission trip with Northwest Medical Team, a Portland-based group this week to Africa, where they will be during Sunday’s championship game with Pittsburgh.

“My wife has been there before [on a mission trip] and my daughter is a nurse so they will enjoy it more. It’s more important.”

More important than the Super Bowl? That’s the ultimate message Holmgren subtly sought to spread to the disbelieving media.

While not outspoken about his faith when talking about football matters, Holmgren said he is happy to share the reason for his success with anyone who asks and the reason for the team’s surprising post-season success.

“I’ve always said this [job] would be hard without my faith,” the head coach said.

Defensive line coach Zerick Rollins said Holmgren is good about setting the tone for the team’s preparation for Sunday’s big game or any game.

“My faith in God is first in everything I do. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Super Bowl or a preseason game,” Rollins said. “You have to prepare to do your job and do it well, but the first thing you do is give God praise because He deserves it.”

Running backs coach Stump Mitchell has seen the high and lows of the NFL as a player with the St. Louis Cardinals and a coach for the last seven years with the Seahawks. As a Christian leader on the coaching staff, he knows this can be a tough week for his team.

“We have a lot of mountains to climb and a lot of temptations to face, but our faith puts it all in perspective.

“This,” Mitchell said of the Super Bowl, “is a small issue to God.”

This one must be a tough choice for God. While it really is a "small issue to God" in light of eternity, He does direct the course of human events. So, which team would God choose? Which group of believers will succeed?

I am in no play to speak for God on this issue, but.... Go Steelers!

Super Bowl & Faith

2006-02-03T08:30:00.000-06:00

Kevin Spencer is the special teams coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers (in case you have been on another planet for the last week or so, they are playing in the Super Bowl this Sunday). This is his first time participating in football's greatest game.

“You wonder why God puts you in a position like this,” Spencer said. “You pray a lot and you ask for guidance, but you don’t know why God decides to bless you like this.”

Spencer, who became a coach after playing the game himself, has watched countless big games on television and has seen plenty of championship moments, but now he will be a participant in the biggest match up of the year, live and in person.

“When they gave the [AFC] championship trophy to [team owner] Mr. Rooney after the game, my locker was only about two to three feet away from that and I was able to stand there and watch the entire thing in person. God is so good to me.”

Rather than being nervous about the biggest game of his career, Spencer said his faith has helped him gain a confidence during this hectic week of preparations.

“When you lean on your Christian faith, you know it’s in the Lord’s hands, who loves me and will take care of me. That helps me cope and enjoy the week.”

The Steelers' director of player development is in a similar situation...

But one of the first things he did when he checked into his room at the Steelers’ headquarters hotel was flip on the television set -- not to catch the latest headlines on ESPN or hear how great the Steelers appear to be, but to get some food -– spiritual food.

“I wanted to see if I could find some spiritual program, preaching or teaching which would lift me up,” Jackson said.

“Then I called my wife and we had a prayer over the phone about the week ahead. During the week we have the family members get together for Bible study and prayer on Wednesday night and I don’t want to miss that.”

During the season, Jackson makes a commitment not to read the newspaper because he doesn’t want to read the overly negative or positive things being written about his team. He also makes it a point to stay close to the other Christian players and coaches on the team.

“That way, we can hold each other accountable. That’s the greatest thing Christian men can do for one another,” he said.

After watching the Steelers finish off the Broncos two weeks ago to earn the Super Bowl trip, Jackson found Pittsburgh center and fellow believer Jeff Hartings for a bit of perspective.

“In two to three weeks, most people probably won’t remember who was in the Super Bowl,” Jackson said. “This will all be gone, but knowing God gave His Son Jesus to die for us, that is something that will live forever.”

Well said. Does that mean the Super Bowl isn't so bad after all? Hmm...does that mean that God favors the Steelers?

Biblical literacy?

2006-02-02T08:35:00.000-06:00

The following is a post by Marvin Olasky who teaches at the University of Texas:

Here in the Bible Belt, it’s surprising how many of the University of Texas seniors in my Journalism and Religion class are reading the Bible (portions of it) for the first time. They are typically shocked by some of the Old Testament passages:“Isn’t it strange that God is so jealous of the golden calf statue?” "Why would Moses tell the Levites to kill brother, neighbor and friend?" “Reads like parental discipline of ‘Do it or else.’” “God is scary." True, he's not a tame God. One Jewish explanation: He's teaching His people to be holy -- in a sense, pushing them hard so they'll be ready for a Super Bowl that's only three days away. One Christian explanation: He's showing that... sin keep [sic] reemerging -- and man desperately needs Christ.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Guarding the Good Deposit

Moving!

It's All About...

Psalm 85

Prayer [still] works

Husbands love your wives

Evangelist Drowns

Home Again...For Now

Out of ICU, Home Tomorrow?

Thank You for Your Prayers

Update

The Angels are Rejoicing...

Welcome to Wisconsin

Missing the Point

Dr. Dino

Summer + Theology= ?

Missions in Action

Suffering for our Faith

Worship While in Pain

A Veto For Life

Baseball & Faith

Do I Dare?

More Questionable Theology

A Little Fun

Storms of Destruction

Pastor John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg

Celebrating our nation's birthday

Misplaced priorities?

Apes and Human Rights

From Colorado

Federally Funded Murder

The Million Dollar Question

Interesting Day

Being Alone

We're Home!

Picture Post

An Exhausting Day

Late night update

Reminders of Love

From the Foothills of the Mountains

Traveling Notes

Update

An Update

An Urgent Request for Prayer

Sin in the Corner

God's attributes

What is needed

Bad Choices

Confused

God's Goodness

Christians Fighting

Busy, Busy

God's holiness

O Death, Where Is Your Victory?

Mary's God

Sad story

Resurrection Sunday

Resurrection survey

Spring Rain

A Great Debt

Spurgeon Devotional

Preserved to Work's End

The Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. (Acts 23:11)

Perfect ways

Life in Perspective

It's not all bad

Sad but true

A Great Example

The "Separateness" of God

Persecution Update

Persecution

Doing what is right...In your own eyes

Intelligent Design

Referral

Problems with Jello

More Jello

Squeezing Jello, part two

Squeezing Jello

Those narrow-minded people...

Deck Chairs