A Better Glimpse

I like doing things with my son Tyler. I will often make it a point to get out of town, get in the woods, go fishing, or just get alone with him. It is during these times that I attempt to pry a little bit into the mind and life of my teen aged wonder. We had one of these times last weekend and it was a good one. We had a very meaningful and painful conversation about memories. I asked Ty what his favorite memories were with me. We talked about times at camp, hunting stories, back packing trips, and fishing. This was fun!

I then asked him if he had any memories of me and his mother together. Silence followed and I had to pry a little. He was little when Nancy left (about 4) so I didn't know if he remembered anything or not. After a bit he said, ''Yes, I have some memories''. I asked what they were. He remembered vividly sitting on one of his riding toys and listening to Nancy and I fight.

This broke my heart. This made me stop and think again about the impact my selfishness had and has on this little boy. We talked for a bit about this memory and I apologized. I said I was sorry for the whole thing. It helped me understand better just how ugly divorce is. It helped me understand just how sinful I am and gave me a better glimpse of how big the gospel is.

I pray for the day we may be reunited again as a family. I pray that God will make me into a man that Nancy would be proud to call her husband (so long as that man is a godly one). I pray for the day that we will be able to make new memories. Happy memories. Godly memories. I rejoice that I serve a sovereign God. It is He that is in control and I trust in Him to do what is best for all of us. Are the above desires best for us? Are they selfish desires? I wrestle with these questions. I don't know the answers. I'm OK with that because I trust Him.

No more Enemy

For a couple of weeks now I have been listening to Stephen Curtis Chapman's new album ''Beauty Will Rise''. If you are not familiar with this album, it is his first album after the death of his daughter Maria. It is a heart wrenching, thought provoking, album that brings to the surface what many feel as they struggle with the death of a loved one.

I would like to share with you a small part of one of his opening songs called ''Heaven in the Face''.

But in my mind’s eye I can see a place Where Your glory fills every empty space. All the cancer is gone, Every mouth is fed, And there’s no one left in the orphans’ bed. Every lonely heart finds their one true love, And there’s no more goodbye, And no more not enough, And there’s no more enemy.

Every time I hear Chapman sing those words I can't help but praise. ''And there's no more enemy''. I tear up with those words! I long for that day when Satan and sin WILL be defeated forever.

Been there, Done That

I often get annoyed with myself because I sometimes have such a relaxed view of scripture. I get the old ''been there done that'' attitude. This morning, for example, I was reading about Christ feeding 5000 people, then walking on water, then healing lots of people, and then feeding 4000 more people. Yup, ''been there done that!'' I breezed through these verses very quickly because they are very familiar to me, as if I could learn nothing new from them. As a matter of fact the above is about all I would have gotten out of this section of scripture had it not been for the desire God has put in my heart to know his word. I praise Him for that desire! Had Christ performed any one of these miracles today could you just imagine the buzz? People all over would be tweeting, blogging, changing statuses and youtubeing (I'm sure that is not a word, but you get my point). There would be pictures and video streaming across the Internet. The world would know almost instantly.

Even if these things were to happen today Christ would have gotten the same reaction. We still would have accused him of blasphemy, or said that it was by the power of Satan that he was able to do the things he did. We still would have plotted and lied and eventually, we would have killed him.

Because these things happened to long ago it is difficult for me to imagine them really happening, but they did. These wonderful things that Christ did to authenticate his ministry were nothing compared to what he did for me on the cross. He died so that I may live. He suffered so that I do not have too. He took my sin upon himself, took the punishment on himself so that when God looks upon me He sees his son and not my filth.

We have been given a great gift that is the Word of God! Read it and study it carefully! Let us not just breeze through a section of scripture. Let us see what God has for us today everyday!

Why blog? Why Tweet?

I asked myself a couple of questions recently.
#1. Why do I enjoy reading blogs so much?
#2. Why is Twitter so fascinating?
#3. Why do I blog and why do I Tweet?

Most of the blogs I follow are Christian men that I have learned to respect because they point me to the cross, the same can be said for the folks I follow on Twitter. The answer therefore to questions 1 & 2 is that through these blogs and tweets I am forced to think about and dwell on topics and doctrines that make me grow and give me a desire to draw closer to my King through the study of his word.

My third question is a little more complicated because it tends to get all wrapped up in the fact that I have a sin nature. Why do I blog? Why do I tweet? Well, I guess that I want to share some of what my God has done and is doing for me and hopefully encourage those who read my blog (and tweets) to think about and dwell on topics and doctrines that will help them grow and have a desire to closer to their King through the study of his word. My spirit wants that. My flesh however tends to desire the praise of man.

I was reading in Matthew the other day the Sermon on the Mount. 6:1 says, ''Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.''

If written with the wrong motives I know that the praise of man is the only reward that I will receive. I want more then that! I want to honor my God and give Him the glory for the work he has done. I know that I need to be careful to write with the correct motives. I need to practice righteousness to and for my King, not for you, and not for me.

Love

My son and I used to have this ongoing battle. I would tell him that I love him and he would immediately blurt out, ''I love you more!'' I started telling him that until he could define what love is he can never prove to me that he loves me more (not that he ever could ;). Over the years this has turned into many great teachable moments. Often we turn to 1 Cor. 13 and read it together, or we talk about the gospel or any other scripture that may be relevant at the time. Now when I ask Ty to define what love is he says, ''I want what is best for you''. While that is probably an over-simplification, I believe he is beginning to grasp what love is.

While it is often much easier for me to see the shortcomings of others in this area of love I have to force myself to look in the mirror and I often have difficulty seeing my own face because of the tree I have sticking out of my own eye. Like all of you I have difficult people in my life. Do I picture them dying and agonizing death at my own hands or do I really want what is best for them? Do I brush them off because I ''don't have the time'' or do I want what is best for them? Am I to selfish to share with them the Gospel or evangelize them or do I turn and go my merry way.

If asked, I am sure that I would be able to explain to you what love is or at least what my understanding of what love is. If watched, I pray that I will also be able to show you through my actions what love is. I am continually aware of the two 13 year old eyes that are watching me constantly. As Paul told Timothy to watch his life and doctrine carefully, I need to do the same. We need to do the same. The world is watching. Will they be able to see in our lives that we love, or will they see instead that we just don't have the time.

Wretched Worms

Worms. When I think of worms I think of fishing. I think of hooking a worm several times and then sending that insignificant little critter to the depths to hopefully entice a fish to end up on my dinner plate. Worms are easy to find if you know where to look and if you don't well then they are relatively cheap to purchase at the nearest bait shop or convenience store. Worms are the old stand-by. If nothing else works lob a worm out there and chances are you will catch something. Worms are expendable. I don't know of many folks who would swerve their car to miss hitting a worm, or feel to badly about loosing a couple while fishing, maybe even end up staying a little to long in moms fridge. To our human perspective worms are just not that important in the scheme of things.


Thankfully our God's perspective is a little different! In Isaiah 41:14, ''Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.'' Not only does God refer to Jacob as a worm but He also declares that He is one who helps Israel, and He is their Redeemer!


The next time I am fishing I will be sure to look at that worm and think of myself, wretched worm that I am. I may still think that worm on my hook is not very significant but I will praise God that he sent his son to die for this insignificant worm that is me.

Tozer

This quote is taken from ''The Pursuit of God''. He is speaking of men who seem to love God more then most, men who God uses mightily.

They were prophets, not scribes, for the scribe tells us what he has read, and the prophet tells what he has seen. The description is not an imaginary one. Between the scribe who has read and the prophet who has seen there is a difference as wide as the sea. We are overrun today by orthodox scribes, but the prophets, where are they? The hard voice of the scribe sounds over evangelicalism, but the Church waits for the tender voice of the saint who has penetrated the veil and has gazed with inward eye upon the wonder that is God.

I love to read. As I read I need to be careful that this knowledge that I am gaining is not empty but full of the wonder of God. I can share with you what I have read, but without conviction, my words are empty like that of the scribes. I pray that as I grow as a Christian I will see God as he is, not just read. I thank God for this gentle reminder this morning!

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

What a mystery! What a blessing! What a promise! What a mighty God we serve!

Scripture vs. Scripture

It has been very interesting for me as of late to watch those around me interpret, speak, and sometimes teach what they believe scripture has to say. There are so many folks from so many different backgrounds thinking and teaching so many different things. The problem here is that it does not matter what we think scripture says or feel what scripture says, what matters is what scripture is actually saying. There is after all only one truth. The easiest way for me to think about and relay this difficult situation is to talk about salvation and the different ways it is interpreted through scripture. For example, is it ''once saved always saved'' or ''perseverance of the saints''? Can we loose our salvation? Are we chosen for salvation or do we choose it on your own? On what do we base these decisions? Is this what we have always believed because this is what we have always been taught? Do we use just one scripture to show our position, or many different verses, or do we base our decision on these issues on the whole of scripture systematically?

We all bring ''baggage'' to the table with us when it comes to looking at scripture and trying to decipher what God is trying to tell us. We all have very different experiences that tend to tint how we view the truths of scripture. For example: Do you us feelings when reading scripture? Perhaps it is just what you have always believed or have been taught by your parents or schooling? I went to bible school and at the time I believed everything I was taught. A bible school could not be wrong. Could they? Maybe it is tradition, or a particular denomination that we unpack scripture with. Our goal when it comes to bible study should be to bring as few of these pieces of ''luggage'' with us as possible. We need to pray that God will enable us to read his word with a clear mind, that his Spirit will enable us to understand his Word. Remember, there is only one truth! I do believe we are, by Gods grace, able to see and know many truths in scripture. It is important though to interpret scripture with scripture and not with the ''baggage'' we carry. My point here is that we need to know Gods word. Know what it says, know what it means before we open our mouths! Be faithful to the teachings of scripture, not to what we feel, or have been taught. Make it your own and be able to back it up with truth.

Lamenting Lip Service

If you have been following my blog at all as of late you know that I have been reading books such as Jonny Mac's ''The Jesus you Can't Ignore'' or ''Truth War'' and I just started Matthew Meads ''The Almost Christian Discovered''. Very convicting books that are often times not very comfortable to read but at the same time outstanding because of growth through the Refiners fire. One of the hardest truths I have been forced to come face to face with through all of this is that I am a very stubborn sinner. Probably obvious to those of you who are close to me! I have been spending time as of late in Isaiah and read a couple of verses this morning that really hit the nail on the head.

Isaiah 29:13-14a-
And the Lord said:
because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far away from me
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.
therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful things with these people,
with wonder upon wonder...

Too often I am guilty of just giving the Lord lip service. Too often I fear God because that is what I am supposed to do. Last night I had a bit of an awakening through something wonderful that Lord has done and is doing. I had a conversation of sorts with my x wife and I told her that I wanted to be a family again. This is something that Ty and I have been praying about for a long time. I know that others have too and I thank God for your prayers. While she didn't say, ''Yeah! Lets do it!'' She was not opposed to the idea and said that she sometimes feels the same way. She said she is not ready for it now but is open to the possibility of getting together and talking about it sometime in the future. I encouraged her to pray about it and she promised me that she would. I believe that the Lord is working in both of our lives and I know that He will continue to do so. We may never be a family again and I am OK with that. I can't help but think that someday we will though. I praise God for doing a wonderful thing in my life last night in spite of the lip service I sometimes offer to Him. I am humbled before my great and sovereign God. Soften this heart of mine so I can be more usefull to you.

Matthew Mead

This morning I started reading ''The Almost Christian Discovered'' by Matthew Mead. I have presently finished the introduction and have a gem that I want to share with you.

''As many go to heaven by the very gates of hell, so more go to hell by the gates of heaven, in that the number of those that profess Christ is greater than the number of those that truly close with Christ.''

Sobering words that challenge me to examine my own life.

Ephesians 1:3-14


Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.


I love this scripture. So much meat! So much theology!

Careless Comfort

I was thinking today about two things that kind of came together in an interesting way. The first is ''once saved always saved''. This is not the ''P'' in TULIP. This is fire insurance. This is saying a prayer and then living however you want to. This is not perseverance of the saints. This is self seeking assurance that one day we will all be in glory regardless of how we live. We all know people who say that because they prayed a prayer or walked an isle or raised their hand to receive salvation. ''How dare you question me!" "You are so judgemental!" They need to be ''unsaved'' before they can be truly saved. I am not saying that you can not get saved from praying a prayer or walking an isle or raising your hand. What I am saying is that after salvation there is a change. One becomes a new person. The old is gone.

I was also thinking about Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Could that not just as easily read Lord, Lord, did we not pray a prayer? Lord, Lord, did we not walk an isle or raise our hand? Lord, Lord? Oh! What a terrible truth these people will face believing that they are saved when they are not! I have many friends who are in this dire situation. Do I love them enough to talk to them? Do I love them enough to share with them the lie that they have bought into? Do I love them enough to make them uncomfortable? Do I love them enough to to make myself uncomfortable?

A friend of mine over at the vertiCALL http://theverticall.blogspot.com/ says this about comfort, ''In terms of spiritual growth, comfort has never made me any stronger or any wiser. Not once. Anything I've learned has been an outgrowth of difficulty or danger or depression or doubt or discipline. Comfort is nice, but it's overrated. '' (Thanks Blaine!)

Comfort is a crutch that many of us are resting on far to comfortably! Ahhh the American church. So comfortable. So easy to say, ''Yeah, of coarse I'm a Christian''. It is time for me to start stretching my comfort zone a little more. I need to love them enough to confront them carefully tactfully and lovingly. Stand with me!

Father make that my hearts desire.

Covenant or dispensation that is the question

Most of my life I was taught a little about how wrong Covenant theology is and a lot about how right Dispensationalism is. Truth be told for most of my life I really didn't care much about either of these views anyway.
I have found as of late that the more I look into and grasp Reformed Theology the more I am questioning some of the views I hold (held) on to and why exactly am I holding onto them anyway. I have been reading lots of books talking to lots of folks and measuring it all through scripture in a systematic way and seeing things quite differently now then I did back then. I may have different leanings now then I did back then but I don't think I'm ready yet to put all of my eggs in one basket. John Macarthur refers to himself as a ''leakey Dispensaionalist''. Piper tends to lean more towards Covenant. Who is right? Once again I do not believe that this is an issue to die for. We have the gospel. I pray that the gospel gets bigger and bigger for me every day. That is what matters. If you so desire I would love to hear where you dear reader stand on the issue and why. Please feel free to share!

Next we can get into Eschatology! Just kidding! My head already hurts!

Jonny Mac

I just finished reading John Macarthurs new book called, ''The Jesus You Can't Ignore''. The focus of this book is the rather polemic relationship between Jesus and Pharisees. The book starts with the clearing of the money changers from the temple and ends with the seven woes to the scribes and pharisees. There is no doubt that when it comes to truth Jesus was not on the fence.

We do have the problem in our churches today of being afraid to stand up for truth. It is more important to get along then it is to stand on sound doctrine. One of the things that Macarthur mentions is that the closer a doctrine is to the gospel and still not the gospel the more satanic it is. I think that statement is both profound and very true. I look at the ecumenical movement and shudder! There are churches out there that look like us, smell like us, act like us, and sadly, think they are like us but they are not because their Jesus is not the Jesus. That is OK though because they are very close. No, no, nonono, no! Jesus said ''I am the way''. He did not say ''I am a way.'', or ''I am the way, but you have to do some other stuff too.'' Jesus and Jesus alone is the way to heaven.

We are in a truth war. Read the book and get fired up about it. Many of us have spent far too much time on the bench.

Reflections of Rob

At the '09 DGNC Doug Willson said the following, ''Gods word is authoritative in everything that it teaches, and it teaches everything.'' Gods word is sufficient. There are many who do not agree with that even in ''Christian'' circles but that is not what I want to talk about today. As a whole, I believe that Gods word points to the Cross. The gospel is the one issue all of scripture proclaims. A friend of mine recently said to me that if you can't get to the cross in every sermon you preach old testament or new you are not presenting the message properly. The gospel should be at the center. If the bible were a target the gospel would be the bulls eye. It should be what we aim for. There are many other things that the bible teaches, some more important then others, but the gospel is really what it's all about. Please don't for a second think that I am downplaying anything in the bible. All of Scripture is Gods eternal word. It is all important but the Gospel is central.


There has been much talk in my neck of the woods about the unborn, infants, and the mentally handicapped, specifically where they go when they die. I have read many essays and articles and listened to some sermons on this sensitive issue. I have spent time in prayer and reviewed the scriptures that were brought forth in my study. Many godly men have come to the conclusion through much study of scripture and prayer that all of these go directly to heaven. Others will say that while scripture does have something to say on the issue that they are not comfortable saying that all baby's go to heaven. I would have to say that I do not sit in the all baby's go to heaven camp, I do however sit in the Romans 8:28 camp, ''And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.''

That being said, I still believe that Gods word does teach everything. Until we reach glory we will not understand what that everything is. His word is sufficient. There are hills to die on in regards to the truth of scripture. The gospel is one of them. Where baby's go when they die however I will happily leave in the hands of my sovereign God to do what is good.

DGNC 09 and John Calvin

It is often easy when looking at the impact a single man has on Christianity to forget the fact that this man was simply a sinner used by and gifted by the Almighty for His glory. It is true that Calvin was a man used mightily by God. It is true that Calvin and his writings have had a significant impact on all of Christianity. It is also true that John Calvin was only a man, a sinner, saved by grace. It is because of that grace that this man had the impact that he had. It is also important to remember that there are many other historical Christian men that have been used by God in a similar fashion, Luther, Edwards, Augustine, and Spurgeon, to name a few. I may be referred to as a Calvinist but it is important to remember that it is God that I aim to glorify and the gospel I am to proclaim. I believe that this is the desire of most that bear the title of Calvinist.

It was Sam Storms who mentioned a quote of Calvin that has very strongly been on my mind. It follows.

''As Calvin wrote, "we ought to learn to have one foot raised to take our departure when it shall please God." Let us diligently work at our jobs and honor our employers, but let us do it with one foot raised. Let's get married, have children, devote ourselves to our spouses, but do it with one foot raised. Educate your children, Mom and Dad, but do it with one foot raised. Weep at the grave site of a child that has died in infancy, but do it with one foot raised. Read a book, write a book with one foot raised. Cheer for your favorite football team with one foot raised. Plant a garden, plant a church, open a savings account, invest in a stock, but do it with the anxious expectation, the joy-filled hope, the anticipation of the heavenly life and the felicity of the life that will be ours.''

In everything we say and everything we do we are to live as though glory is just around the corner.. How different would our lives be if only we consistently live in such a way. How different would the Church be? This thought is helping me understand better what it is that Milton Vincent wrote in his book ''The Gospel Primer''. It is this thought that is helping me understand better what it means to live our lives with the gospel always in front of us. It is so wonderful to know that the gospel is something that we will be learning about for eternity. What a mighty God we serve!

Just a quick note. It is so important to to worship the God of heaven and not heaven itself! Yes heaven will be glorious, but as Shai Linne says, ''I don't want to go to heaven if God is not there!''

Thanks

This morning it hit me pretty hard that I need to be more thankful. I have so much to be thankful for! James 1:17 says that ''Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.'' I have to admit that I take so much for granted. Every gift is from the Most High God. I just took a breath, my heart is beating, I was able to get out of bed this morning, we have a great God who hears our prayers (and responds). This is a list that can go on and on. It is God that holds me together. Not just me but everything. EVERYTHING! I praise God for that. I know that my life would fall apart were it not for His great presence. God created everything we see in 6 days and I do not believe that this made God tired. God continues to hold all of this together, all of creation is held together with no effort. This is big stuff! God is a big God! I can not comprehend how big God is. This same big God chose to love me and He chose to love you. This same big God chose to know suffering and death by the hands of little people like me and you. He chose to know these things FOR little people like me and you. Praise God! Every good and every perfect gift comes from God. All these things we take for granted come from God. The Gospel came from God. Salvation came from God. That breath I just took came from God. What did I do to deserve all of this? Not a thing, nothing. I am not able to anything to earn these gifts. He gives them because he is Love. Grace. I am thankful for Gods grace. It is because of Gods grace that I can be saved. It is because of Gods grace that I can see, smell, hear, think, walk, breathe, cry, love.... Grace. It is God and God alone that has given these gifts. I need to be more thankful for these gifts.

Ps. 7:17
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
Ps. 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Ps. 86:12
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Ps. 97:12
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

Give thanks with me today to our great God!

''Christians'' in the News

It seems to me that more and more ''Christians'' are making the news. I just read an article this morning about a ''Pastor'' who is encouraging his congregation to pray with him for Obama's death.
"I'm gonna pray that he dies and goes to hell when I go to bed tonight. That's what I'm gonna pray," he told his congregation. You can read the article here. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/31/phoenix-pastor-draws-protests-telling-church-prays-obamas-death/?test=latestnews
How ''Christian'' is that? Where in scripture do we see that we are to pray for anther's death? Where in scripture do we see that we should pray for another to go to hell? Where is the love we are taught about in scripture? I am glad that this is not the way that God feels. I am thankful that Christ died for sinners and provided a way for salvation. He died for all sinners, sinners like you and me. Yes we need to pray for Barack Obama! Pray for this man! Pray for his salvation. Pray for his family. Pray for this nation! My heart is full this morning. Pray for this ''Pastor'' and others like him. Our adversary is strong and very intelligent! Fight on your knees!

A Really Really Big But

Recently I was sharing some scripture with someone I know. It was straigt forward, no nonsence scripture. It was the kind of scripture that the world would look at as foolish. It was scripture that should make the Christian wonder and pray. This person responded to this scripture with a ''Yes, but''. ''Yes, it may say that but I think...''. The sad thing is that this person professes to be a Christian.

''Yes, but''... Very dangerous words when it comes to Gods word! It is the ''Yes, buts'' that are polluting the very gospel of Jesus. It is the ''Yes, buts'' that are responsible doctrines, very important doctrines being set aside in order to promote unity with folks the likes of which Jesus himself turned away.

While it saddened me to hear this person respond in this way it caused me to examine my own life. How many ''Yes, buts'' do I have in my own life? I think we all have them in our lives to some degree. Let us watch out for these ''Yes, buts''. It is these ''Yes, buts'' that slow our growth as men and women of God. It is these ''Yes, buts'' that cause dissension and quarrels. Pride, our biggest and most damaging ''Yes, but''. Let us grow in the gospel. Let us rest there. Find refuge there. Let us rest in sufficiency of Gods grace. 2 Cor 12:9.

Hokey Pokey

I think when I say ''Hokey Pokey'' we all get the image in our heads of a silly dance where you put your right hand in, then your left hand, right foot, left foot, shake um all about and then take them all out again. Silly dance right? I am sure that most of us have at one time or another participated in the ''Hokey Pokey'' and had a great time to boot! Well, I got to thinking this morning about the Hokey Pokey in a much more sinister way. Picture with me for a moment a Christian dancing the Hokey Pokey only now when they put their hands and feet in they are putting them in the world, being a part of the world. Come on they beckon, it's only a silly dance! There is no harm in it! Look at the fun we are having! Here, drink this! Smoke that! Feast your eyes on this! Look at all this cool stuff!

Dangerous ground! Flirting with the world. How often do I find myself doing the Hokey Pokey with the world? How often do you? Silly dance right?

1 Jn 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and desires of the eyes and pride in possessions-is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

It is total and complete foolishness to flirt with the world in this way. I know that. You know that, yet there are times when we are sucked into the same trap over and over again. We convince ourselves that it is only a silly dance again and again. Why is it so difficult for us to get it through our heads that sin is dangerous! There is a silly dance called the Hokey Pokey. There is no such thing as silly sin though, it is sinister! It is that same silly sin that we flirt with that put Jesus on the cross. It is that same silly sin that caused God to know death. Imagine eternal God knowing death! It is that same sin that had God the Father to turn his back on God the Son. The same God that loved the Son with a love that is so much better then you or I could ever comprehend. No, there is no silly sin. Let us stop this Hokey Pokey with the world. Let us look to God and God alone for our Joy not to the silly (sinister) sins of this world!

Morning Thoughts

I have heard much talk as of late about eschatology. Of the many godly men I respect few have the same view. These things can not be fully known.

There are so many Christian folks that quarrel or wrangle (for you Al) about stuff that cannot be fully known! Stop it. Just stop it!

Yes, there are battles that need to be fought. If someone comes to you with a gospel different then the one taught in scripture, I believe that is the time for the boxing gloves to get dusted off. Fight the fights that need to be fought. Fight them with scripture. This is not the time to say ''I think'' or ''I feel'', this is the time to say ''the Word of God says!'' There is authority in the word of God only foolishness from the word of man.

I am convinced however that if we spent as much time trying to figure out what it means to walk by the spirit as we do fighting silly fights that have no answers that this world could be a different place. This world could use a few more Spurgeons, or Newtons, or Brainerds, or Calvins. Let us go together for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ go boldly into this dark world!

It has been said that the night is darkest before the dawn and I believe this to be true. As I look around this dark world in these dark times I can't help but wonder how much darker it will have to get before the coming of the Son.

Jesus who?

Ah the post-modern world we live in today! Not only can my truth be different from yours but my Jesus can be different too? If you don't like this or that about Jesus you can just change him to fit your desires. This ''new'' Jesus is no longer the historical Jesus of the bible and therefore he is not Jesus at all. You may call him Jesus and rely on him to save you but in reality this ''new'' Jesus has no more power to save you then this screen you are looking at. God cannot change! Jesus cannot change. Gods word can not change! It is amazing to me how folks can just pick and choose what they want to believe is or is not true in Gods word. I like this part here but this part over here does not fit me to well so I will just push that back or pretend its not there or means something other then what it says. Gods word does not change just like God does not change. If you change it to fit your wants it is not the bible anymore it is something less, something worse. Beware. Changing scripture to say or mean what you want it to is dangerous business, as is changing Jesus! The Word of God is absolute truth. Just because you may ''change'' what you think Gods word is saying does not mean that you are changing Gods word. It means you are walking on thin ice! Some might even call it heresy.

Galatian Encouragement

I have been spending time in Pauls letter to the Galations as of late. I just love this little epistle! There is one verse that was encouraging to me, I hope it is for you too.

Gal 6:9:

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

We need to continue to do good even when we see little in the line of fruit. It may take some time for that fruit to show up but it will in due time! Is that not a great promise! We can not give up though! We need to run the race, fight the fight, persevere till the end. Do not give up.

Persecuted Church

Below is a link to Fox News. It tells of the killing of a Christian woman for distributing bibles. We need to pray folks! At the end of the article it speaks of the 30,000 Christians the worship and hold services in private. Just wanted to pass this along and encourage The Church to pray!

Report: North Korea Publicly Executes Christian Woman for Distributing Bible - International News News of the World Middle East News Europe News - FOXNews.com

This article reminded me strongly of Alcorns book, ''Safely Home''. Its a great read if you have not read it!

Spurgeon

I have decided to read 1 Spergeon sermon a day. That is my goal anyway. If those of you that know me would hold me to this I would dearly appreciate it! That being said I would like to share with you a bit of this mornings reading.

''Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrows? Would you drown you cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea, be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of grief and sorrow; so speak peace to the winds of trial. as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead.''

Amen and amen!

Later in the same sermon Spurgeon states:

[You] ''SHALL BE DAMNED. O terrific thought! How dare I utter it? But I must. Ye must be warned, sirs, lest ye also come into this place of torment. Ye must be told rough things; for if Gods gospel in not a rough thing & the law is a rough thing; Mount Sinai is a rough thing. Woe unto the watchman that warns not the ungodly! God is unchanging in his threatenings. Beware, O sinner, for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.''

Together we stand....

I remember as a kid watching movies about knights and kings, fair maidens and sinister villains. There always seemed to be a common theme in these movies. The good guys would be hard pressed, on the brink of udder destruction at which time the hero would give one of those encouraging butt kickin speeches that would undoubtedly end with, ''Together we stand! Divided we fall!''. This speech would unite and excite the troops, there would be a mighty battle and the good guys would be victorious. Ps 86:11 really caught my eye the other day, it reads:

Teach me your way, O Lord,that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

I know that I have a battle waging in my heart. O how strong are the desires of my flesh! How often I fall to the desires of my heart! I read this verse the other day my heart lept. To me this was the butt kickin speech that I needed! For I am very aware that I cannot stand with a divided heart. My heart can only have one master. Father, unite my heart to fear your name! I know that I can not win the battle on my own. It is by the grace of the Sovereign alone that sin can be dealt with and beaten! My battle cry? ''Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name!'' OK, not really a battle cry, but my cry to my King.

Grace!

I had to repost this! Its called ''Look Ever to Jesus''. I am very thankful to God for puting this godly man in my path! He has a blog called ''The tells of Tim''. I believe I have a link to it on the right. Thanks for this Tim! Just had to ''steal'' it!

…through faith we overcome.

How could it be that this ’faith’ is our own? No. Go back and look again if this is your disposition. You don’t have faith…never had it… never will, except by the grace of God. You belong to the Devil by man’s own doing, until God makes you his own.

Faith is a gift… something given to us… that we don’t possess or exert or produce. It is not that the Holy Spirit comes alongside and encourages our faith… He produces faith!! Faith is a gift…. no boasting… no ‘free will’… God saves… period. I know we believe this, but let’s quit with the foolishness that our decision directs the will of God. Are we above Jesus Christ, who submitted ALWAYS to his father’s will? Ever since you came into this world you have not had any choice but to respond in accordance with your desperately wicked heart… yes the wicked heart of a newborn…enmity with God from the womb. Why? Because of the curse of sin. We do not have any ability…inclination to draw near to a Holy God. NONE.

and yes… at the moment I am standing on my soapbox! It has been a wretched day and the only hope I have is in the God who saved me. This is not an emotional outcry… it is my clinging to the Rock that Hannah praised in her prayer in 1 Samuel as I read this morning. God is Good. God is SOVEREIGN (yeah, you’re hearing my emphasis) FREE… FREE.. FREE. NOTHING in this world has ever been free, nothing. Everything is indebted… owing. BUT not God… He is FREE to will and act according to His good pleasure (and His pleasure is always good). I cannot plan or perform or ordain as He does. His way is perfect… and I don’t always like His perfection. Difficulties… they’re difficult! Pain is no fun. Not knowing stuff.. is challenging at the least for a pitifully finite mind like my own.

The point is… again, that its all about God and He is the One worth looking to.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4:8-9

If I’m honest and willing to think about and practice these things… I am not looking at me, what my life is like, what I’m struggling with, what kind of bad hair day I’ve had… I’m focused on, submitted to, worshipping the Holy One of Israel… the Rock that Hannah praises… the Savior and LORD who accomplished everything to reach down and save me by His unquestionable authority and power and choosing.

… And all this from an old hymn that was called to my attention this evening… I think it is entitled ‘Yield Not to Temptation”, though I would title it ”Look Ever to Jesus”

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/y/i/yieldnot.htm
Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;Each victory will help you some other to win;Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue,Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Refrain
Ask the Savior to help you,Comfort, strengthen and keep you;He is willing to aid you,He will carry you through.
Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,God’s Name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain;Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true,Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Refrain
To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown;Through faith we shall conquer, though often cast down;He Who is our Savior our strength will renew;Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
manfully?… if endeavored in light of looking ever to Jesus, then yes.. manfully! Fight… Run… Obey… Rejoice!

Time well spent

I have been a busy boy! I had a wonderful week in the back country fishing! I had a great opportunity to work with Northern Frontier (a Christian Service Brigade Camp) as a co-counselor (along with my brother Al) for a group of 7 young men. We spent a week with these kids sharing the love of Christ with them in our great Gods wonderful creation!! Many fish were caught and many memories were made. More importantly the gospel was faithfully presented! I pray that many seeds were planted as some of the attributes of God were taught. It was time well spent. I praise God for this opportunity!

I also had the chance again this year to work with a week long soccer clinic that our church puts together each summer. I would say that on average we had 18 to 20 kids each night. Pretty good considering the size of our community! The gospel was clearly spelled out each night. I pray that lives are changed! Again, time well spent.

It is safe to say that much of my life in the past 2 weeks was devoted to sharing the love of Christ with teenagers. It is indeed very humbling for me to think that our Holy God would choose to use a filthy sinner such as myself to accomplish his will here on this helpless planet. Please pray with me that the relationships that were started during these two weeks would be God glorifying and that the seeds that were sown would grow to be maturity.

This has proven to be a reminder to me that I need to live each day in the spirit of ministry not just on those special occasions like Brigade or VBS or youth group. I am a Christian. As a Christian, by Gods grace each day needs to be lived in ministry.

Few find it

I have been doing a lot of thinking and meditating on the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:13 and 14.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.''

These are the words of our Lord Jesus speaking to the multitudes in the famous Sermon on the Mount. ''For the gate is narrow...those who find it are few''. Salvation is not easy, in fact we are told in Phillipians to ''make out our own salvation with fear and trembling.''! It is however easy to go to hell. ''the gate is wide and the way is easy''. Sadly, I believe that there are many many folks out there that think they are heaven bound on the narrow road that have missed the narrow gate and travel on the easy road. Take easy believism for example. Raise your hand, pray the prayer, walk the isle. Is that all that is necessary for salvation? John Macarthur has rocked my world a number of times but never as much as the first time I heard words similar to these! The above can indeed be a step towards that narrow gate, there is more to it though! The way is hard! Life altering decisions need to be made! Decisions that require one to take up his cross and die to self! Don't look back like Lots wife!


How many folks do I know that are on that wide road. How many ''Christian'' folks are on that same road! C. H. Spergeon once stated that he would be surprised if half of his congregation made it to heaven (my paraphrase). I think that the same can be said for many of today's churches too! The gospel has become very very soft. Many think that is has to be soft to attract the world. Jesus did not preach a soft gospel. He says nothing of praying a prayer or walking an isle. His gospel was hard, sell all that you have and give it to the poor, take up your cross and follow me, the world will hate you because of me. Hard words, I know. What road are you on? Who is Jesus to you? A good man? The Savior? Lord and Sovereign King? Let us work our our salvation with fear and trembling knowing that JESUS IS LORD!

The day after

I would like to take a moment to praise God for a growing day yesterday and a blessing of a day today. I can not imagine living life as a person who does not have the hope that we as Christians have in our God! What is it like to live with no hope?! What is it like to have nothing to put your faith in?! I praise God for my salvation, for the hope that I have in Christ, for the victory that is won, for the comfort I have in the gospel. It is Christ who conquered death! It is God who calls me a co-heir of Christ. What have I to fear! We do not have to fear death. We do not have to live in fear at all! We have a great and sovereign God who loves us! It is wonderful! It is comforting! It is a peace that passes all understanding! It is Christ who lives in all who believe! I praise God for the gentle urgings of the Holy Spirit. Do not be afraid! Trust in Me! Hope in the Lord! Trust in the grace of God! You are weak! Trust in my strength! Rest. We have a wonderful Father! Isaiah 41:30 says: ''but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.''

God of Hope

As of late I have been spending time in Romans. I read through chapter 15 the other day. I am so glad that the Holy Spirit had me there! Romans 15:13 says, ''May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.'' We as Christians have hope, not only in tomorrow, but also in today. That became very real to me today. My son was taken to the hospital via ambulance with chest pain. I was out of town doing on the job training and was not aware until after the fact. I was called to an office and told the news. All I could do was pray, and pray I did. The Holy Spirit kept bringing that verse in Romans back to me! We have a God of hope! It is so comforting to know that the God of all creation is in control! He loves me. He loves Ty. He did take care of us today. Ty is home safely and ready for tomorrow! I praise God for the hope that we have in both today and tomorrow through Him who created us.

It is finnished

During Boys Brigade the other day my brother Ben was doing the lesson and I was reminded of the words of Christ in Revelation 20:5+6.


And he who was seated on the throne said, ''Behold, I am making all things new.'' Also he said, ''Write this down, for these are trustworthy and true. And he said to me, ''It is done!''

Christ did speak words very similar to these 2000 years ago. They are recorded in John 19:30.


...''it is finished''

The first time these words were spoken by Christ so many years ago Satan and sin were defeated! She next time these words are spoken will mean their utter destruction! The victory of Jesus! Amen and amen!

More from Packer

I am still soaking in ''Knowing God'' by J.I. Packer. The subtitle for the section of the book I am reading is, ''He Became Poor'', it goes on to talk some about the Christmas story and how you and I as Christians ought to make the ''Christmas spirit'' a part of our everyday lives. Similar to living a cross centered life or preaching the gospel to myself every day. Let me share a little of what Packer has to say.

''We talk glibly of the ''Christmas spirit'', rarely meaning more by this then sentimental jollity on a family basis. But what we have said makes it clear that the phrase should in fact carry a tremendous weight of meaning. It ought to mean the reproduction in human lives of the temper of him who for our sakes became poor at the first Christmas. And the Christmas spirit itself ought to be the mark of every Christian all the year round.''

''It is to our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians-I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most orthodox Christians- go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lords parable, seeing human needs all around them, but (after a pious wish and perhaps a prayer, that God might meet those needs) averting their eyes and passing on the other side. This is not the Christmas spirit. Nor is it the spirit of those Christians-alas they are many-whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home and making nice middle-class Christian friends and bringing up their children in nice middle-class Christian ways and who leave the submiddle-class sections of the community, Christian and non-Christian to get on by themselves.''

This broke my heart. I see this all the time, all around me. I then looked in the mirror and I looked at my own life and not at the lives of others (the way it should be). You know what I saw? Packer was talking about me too. I can think of so many instances in my own life where someone was hurting and because I either did not like them or thought them less then me I passed them buy, sometimes with a prayer, sometimes not. Wretched man that I am! How is it that GOD humbled himself to the point of being born human and then dying and I can't love another human being! Indeed, I am pathetic. Many of you know my dog April. She is absolutely the most pathetic dog that I know. One look at her face and you would have to agree with me! Seems fitting I guess that she has a pathetic owner! Thank God that her pathetic owner is saved by grace!

Father, help me to live with that Christmas spirit every day.

With Calvin in the Theater of God

It appears that in September that I well be heading to Minneapolis once again in September! I never thought I could be so excited for summer to be over! It will be nice to be there without the blistering cold temperatures!! I look forward to studying some of the life John Calvin. I have to say though that I am not very familiar with most of the speakers. I would love to hear what you, my faithful readers know about these men! I expect to see all of you there too!

Chosen for Prayer

The above title is a section heading in Mlton Vencents book the ''Gospel Primer''. It is becoming more and more obvious to me that God is trying (and succeeding) to speak into my life the importance of prayer. I have been surrounded by information about this topic by the books I am reading, church messages, and the blog world. It is awesome to watch God work. A bit frightening too, I had better start to pay better attention! I want to share this section with you.


Chosen for prayer


When God chose me for Christ before the foundation of the world, He did not choose me to be merely ''holy and blameless''; He chose me also to be ''before Him in love.'' To be sure I am always in Gods presence on earth, and in heaven I will be in His presence more fully then ever. But it could also be said that in this life I am especially ''before Him in love'' when I come ''before Him'' in prayer and worship.
Therefore, I can infer that prayer is not simply something I am allowed to do as a Christian; prayer is actually one of the great purposes for which God chose to save me. Christ Himself confirms this fact when he makes the following statement to His disciples, ''I chose you...that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.'' As a chosen one of God, I was saved to pray; and whenever I come into Gods presence to behold Him, I am arriving at the pinnacle of Gods saving purposes for me.
God is radically committed to my life of prayer. He shed the blood of His Son so that I might be cleansed and rendered fit to stand before Him in love. He also permitted the brutal rending so His Son so that I might now have a way into the Holy Place through the torn flesh of Jesus. ''Draw near'' He says in Hebrews 4; ''Draw near'' He says in Hebrews 10; ''pray without ceasing'' He urges elsewhere. How can I not feel the infinite sincerity of these invitations especially when considering the painful lengths that God endured so that I might enter His presence in prayer?
Indeed, the gospel itself serves as the sweetest of invitations to pray; and preaching it to myself each day nurtures within me a mighty impulse to come ''before [God] in love'' and do the praying that I was elected to do.

Blessings.

He started it (take two)

I am a graduate of the Word Of Life Bible Institute (BI). Most folks who read this blog are probably aware of this. In order to complete the training at the BI I worked at Camp of the Woods, a Christian Camp in Speculator NY, with their Teen Program. Part of that ministry was memorizing Phillipians 1 and 2. I was much better at memorizing then and (to God be the glory) a little better at understanding now! I just came across a couple of verses from Phillipians 1 that I would like to share with you, verses 3-6 follow.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

The end or this section of scripture says ''he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion''. He began the good work in me and He will complete it! All God, no me. He started it, He called me, He chose me. He will complete it. This is not to say that I do not have some responsibility for the decisions that I make here on earth as a Christian. My point is that I am totally deprived, unable to seek God without his calling and that I am eternally secure (perseverance of the saints) God started it he will complete it.

The Gospel

I have been chewing on Milton Vincents ''Gospel Primer'' again. It is so refreshing to rest in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. I have been encouraged by this book to spend time in the book of Romans, particularly chapters 5-8. This morning I was in chapter 6. This is so beautiful! Romans 6:5-11 follows:

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Amen and amen. I hope this blesses you the way it did me this morning!
I couldn't help but add this bit from Revelation 21 too. Enjoy!

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Blessings

Get Your Own Dirt

I once heard a story about a scientist talking with God about how he could create life in a test tube with nothing but dirt. God simply said to the scientist, ''Get your own dirt''. I was reminded of this story today when I read and article titled, ''Scientists May Have Discovered How Life Began.''

I don't know about you, but I take great comfort in knowing that life was created by the Word of God as the Gospel of John states in the opening verses. It is also soothing to read the account of creation as recorded in Genesis. I take great comfort knowing that we have a sovereign God. We have no need to worry a rogue asteroid, global warming or a nuclear war destroying this small insignificant planet called earth. We are so blessed to have the very word of God at our fingertips, so blessed to have the Spirit of God to help us understand the words contained in those holy scriptures! Truth. God spoke all things into existence. That same God continues to hold it all things together!

To Christians this should all be very basic (and important) truth. To the world though it is but folly. Without the gift of salvation and in turn the Holy Spirit they have no prayer of understanding these truths!

I sometimes find it very tempting to scoff at the foolishness of man and science that does not recognize God because scripture is so clear about creation. This is not at all the proper response! If it were not for Gods grace in my life I would be in those very same shoes! I should be on my knees praising the Creator for his calling and praying for that same mercy to be granted to those scientists who are making these bold statements that are so contrary to truth. Absolute truth can only be found in the Word of God. Let us rest there.

Born Twice

I was watching a program yesterday called ''House''. For those of you who don't know, it's a TV medical drama. This particular program was about a pregnant woman whose baby was literally killing her. The climax of the show was when House (the Dr.) did removed baby from mother, fixed the problem and then replaced baby. At the close of the program the woman asks Dr. House if her baby was going to be OK. House exclaims something like, ''Of course your baby will be fine, its the first baby in history to be born twice!''.

This brought my mind straight to Jesus in John 3 where he is talking with Nicodemus. Jesus says, ''Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” We must also be born twice. Our second birth is not at the hands of a fictional character named Dr. House but in the hands of our eternal creator and sovereign, God Almighty who chose us before the foundations of the world (Eph 1:4)!!! We know that same God will hold onto us and work in our lives for our good until we are perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4)! That same God is in heaven even now preparing rooms for those whom He has called (John 14:2).

I love how the Holy Spirit can use silly things like TV programs to remind us of the truths that are held in the Holy Scriptures!!

Country Music Theology

I would like to share with you some theology. I have two very different examples from two very different music genres. The first is taken from arguably the most popular country singer on the planet, Kenny Chesney. The song is called ''Everyone Wants to go to Heaven''. Here are the lyrics.

Preacher told me last Sunday mornin’
Son, you better start livin’ right
You need to quit the women and whiskey
And carrying on all night
Don’t you wanna hear him call your name
When you’re standin’ at the pearly gates
I told the preacher, “Yes I do”
But I hope they don’t call today
I ain’t ready

Everybody wants to go to heaven
Have a mansion high above the clouds
Everybody want to go to heaven
But nobody want to go now

Said preacher maybe you didn’t see me
Throw an extra twenty in the plate
There’s one for everything I did last night
And one to get me through today
Here’s a ten to help you remember
Next time you got the good Lord’s ear
Say I’m comin’ but there ain’t no hurry
I’m havin’ fun down here
Don’t you know that


Everybody wants to go to heaven
Get their wings and fly around
Everybody want to go to heaven
But nobody want to go now

Someday I want to see those streets of gold in my halo
But I wouldn’t mind waiting at least a hundred years or so

Everybody wanna go to heaven
It beats the other place there ain’t no doubt
Everybody wanna go to heaven
But nobody wanna go now

Everybody wanna go to heaven
Hallelujah, let me hear you shout
Everybody wanna go to heaven
But nobody wanna go now

I think I speak for the crowd

I know that this song was never written with theology in mind. It was written to be a fun song with a catchy toon. Still, to me at least, it is thought provoking. There is a lot of ''folk theology'' here with the angels wings and halos and what not. No doubt this is what most of the unsaved folks listening to this song think of heaven. The tragedy here is that there are many ''Christians'' with this same ''theology''! I am sure too that there are many church goers today that love this song and sing it at the top of their lungs with ice cold beer in hand while toasting there fellow drunkards at the local watering hole. ''I wanna to to heaven cause its better then that other place!'' One thing I can say for sure though is that this song may speak for the crowd but it does not speak for me!

Let me share another song with you that has theology a little different then the above! This is a rap or hiphop song written by Shai Linne. The theology here very scriptural and systematic. The lyrics here are beautiful and wonderful and full of truth. What a difference!

My Portion
written by shai linne
Verse 1
It makes sense that I should write this song
It’s been a while now since you turned the light switch on
And so powerfully opened up my eyes to see
Reality, now I’m free (check it out)
Reminisce on my Christ-less days
Evidence- my life and ways
It was like I was forever bent
I lived a life of decadence
Then you sovereignly intervened and I’ve been on your team ever since
I was saved and am being saved- present tense
And will be saved from the deadly pestilence
Your holiness got me worshipping You with reverence
You’re infinite and transcendent- yet with friends
Your love letter, the Old and New Testaments
Also the Christian’s best defense-It speaks of Christ, who was heaven sent
Forgive us for ever being negligent or hesitant to represent His excellence
The world chases after the cars with better tints
Your people long after Your glory- a better glimpse
The Author of my faith, praise Your marvelous grace
The type I can call and embrace when I fall on my face
So I’m lifting up my hands and I’m raising my voice
Even though the world thinks I made the craziest choice
They can laugh all they want, Lord, I do not care
And I don’t want to go to Heaven if God is not there

Hook:
Whom have I in Heaven but You?
And earth has nothing I desire but You
My flesh and my heart may fail however
The Lord is my portion forever

Verse 2
The penalty for my sin deflected- so glad I’ve been elected
I spread my hands out to my Savior as I genuflected
And then reflected on Christ, the globe spinner
(You) turned this out-of-control sinner into a soul winner
I can’t take credit for it- You’re too holy
I didn’t choose you, Lord, you chose me
The actual situation is ever since my youth
My natural inclination was to resist your truth
I was dead you said “Live!”
Now you’re teaching me to love you for who You are and not just what You give
It’s so divine- to maintain through the pain
It blows my mind how You came the way You came
Not a conquering hero, but a Suffering Servant
Lord, You died for a zero who doesn’t deserve it
You take shady dudes who hate the truth- Give them faith in You
Make them new creations too- All praises due
So praise Him- don’t hesitate from the right to left
Just thank Him and meditate on His life and death
Resurrected and exalted- forever so high
And why He chose me I might never know why
But I’m lifting up my hands and I’m raising my voice
Even though the world thinks I made the craziest choice
They can mock all they want Lord I do not care
And I don’t want to go to Heaven if God is not there.

Hook:
Whom have I in Heaven but You?
And earth has nothing I desire but you
My flesh and my heart may fail however
The Lord is my portion forever

Bridge:
You could give me the Lex, the coupe, the Beamer, the Benz
The sex, the loot, the Cream or the ends
But next to the truth of Jesus, friends
it’s worth nothing (repeat)

Verse 3
And Lord, don’t let me get caught up in my own tapes
I saw what happened when Noah got drunk off His own grapes
So many ways to stumble- many boastful and loud
The Lord gives grace to the humble and opposes the proud
The Holy Spirit’s a great deposit; my life- He stabilized it
Today the object is to stay in the prayer closet
And when I come out, may they know that the Master lives in me
Through passion for ministry and loving sacrificially
No matter what, Lord, wean me off of the world
Can’t believe I found the costliest pearl (it's crazy)
For the glory of your name I’ve been made your own
By your grace justified through faith alone
That’s why I’m lifting up my hands and I’m raising my voice
Even though the world thinks I made the craziest choice
They can laugh all they want Lord- I do not care
And I don’t want to go to Heaven if God is not there

Hook:
Whom have I in Heaven but You?
And earth has nothing I desire but You
My flesh and my heart may fail however
The Lord is my portion forever.

I love these lyrics. This is theology (very good theology) put to hiphop music. I used to hate the stuff now I use it often to fill mind with truth. You can read more Shai Linne lyrics at http://www.lyricaltheology.blogspot.com/ .

Kenny may sing that he wants to go to heaven just not now, I however sing as Shai sings, Whom have I in heaven but YOU (my King and my God, my Redeemer and Lord)!

What are you filling your mind with?

Packers Punches

I would say that the one book that made me rethink what it means to be a Christian is Johny Mac's ''The Gospel According Jesus''. A friend of mine gave me this book and we spent quite a bit of time talking about the different Gospel truths contained in it. Some of these truths were refreshing and others were downright uncomfortable. All were necessary. This same friend just gave me a copy of Packers ''Knowing God''. It is becoming apparent that the same can be said about this book. I have read and reread the first chapter in the last couple of days and it has proven to be both convicting and convincing. Why is it that we study theology? Why is it that we want to know the Word of God?

Packer says:
What is my ultimate aim and object in occupying my mind with these things? What do I intend to do with my knowledge about God, once I have it? For the fact we have to face is this: If we pursue theological knowledge for its own sake, it is bound to go bad on us. It will make us proud and conceited. The very greatness of the subject matter will intoxicate us, and we shall come to think of ourselves as a cut above Christians because of our interest in it and grasp of it; and we shall look down on those whose theological ideas seem to us crude and inadequate and dismiss them as very poor specimens.

I know that I can sometimes find myself falling into this. Packer goes on to say:

To be preoccupied with getting theological knowledge as an end in itself, to approach Bible study with no higher a motive then a desire to know all the answers, is the direct route to a state of a self-satisfied self deception. We need to guard our hearts against such attitude, and pray to be kept from it.

This resonates very true for me! Very convicting. This is something that I struggle with frequently. This is something I pray about for deliverance. I don't want to know Gods word to puff me up. I want to know Gods word to know God. Packer continues:

Our aim in studying the Godhead must be to know God himself better. Our concern must be to enlarge our acquaintance, not simply with the doctrine of God's attributes, but with the living God whose attributes they are. As he is the subject of our study, and our helper in it, so he must himself be the end of it. We must seek, in studying God, to be led to God. It was for this purpose that revelation was given, and it is to this use we must put it.

God is so good. Father help me to study your word with the right motives. Help me to know you better for the sake of knowing you.

Follow me?

1 Cor. 11:1 is a very familiar verse that I would like to take a short stroll with. It says:

''Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.''

The apostle Paul was living his life in such a way that he could tell the Christian people of Corinth to do as I do, watch me, learn from me. He is not saying, ''do as I say'', but do as I do as I follow Christ. How many Christians are there now who can proclaim that? I guess there will be a lot of different answers to that question all depending on what your definition of a Christian is. If you refer to anyone and everyone who claims to believe in God as a Christian then your answer will be much different from that of someone who holds to the much tighter definition of Lordship Salvation.

Though not a fan of the title ''Lordship Salvation'' I do sit in this camp, that being said my answer to the above question is that there should be many Christians that can and do proclaim as Paul did. Follow me as I follow Christ. Those Christians who cannot should be on the road to that proclamation.

Can I make this bold statement? Am I living in such a way that I can tell others to live as I live as I follow Christ? Being a father I make that proclamation every day to my son weather I am aware of it or not. He looks up to me, wants to be like me. What am I saying to my son without even meaning to? If there is anyone on this planet that I should be able to say this to it is my son. There are times that I do not live up to this. I look back and all I can do is pray to God that that will not rub off on my boy. It is so much easier to say, ''Do as I say!''

We as Christians are being watched very much like my son watches me. What are you telling those who are watching you? Follow me as I follow Christ? Maybe it is something all together different? Maybe it's follow me as I follow my sin nature? I think as we proclaim follow me as I follow Christ those who are chosen will be attracted to how it is that we live much more then the words we speak. Our words will only carry weight if our actions are speaking more loudly then our mouths. Be doers!

Friend of sinners

And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

The previous verses come from the book of Jude verses 22 and 23. It calls us as Christians to have mercy on those who do not know the Lord. It calls us to hate their sin but to love them. We have a horrible reputation of being hate mongers and judgmental. We are told again and again in scripture love others, love your neighbor, love those that persecute you, indeed scripture has much to say about love.

I find it easy to avoid those who are living in sin. I want to be surrounded by those who are like me. I have a hard time sometimes differentiating between the sin and the sinner. I don't think that I am alone here either! I think many of us struggle with this issue! Jesus surrounded himself with sinners! Who is it that we are trying to model our lives after? JESUS! He was a friend of tax collectors and whores, liars and thieves! What a difference we could make if we were only more like Jesus, the friend of sinners! I praise God that Jesus chose to befriend me...a sinner...saved by grace. Father give me the strength to be a friend of sinners, to love the unsaved, and give you my King glory.

Technological Time Suck

I was talking to a friend of mine not to long ago who referred to his wife as a ''fun vacuum''. I will not mention any names here in the interest of protecting my friend from the almost certain scorn of his loving bride! Thou a funny statement that made me laugh it is only an intro to what I would like to talk about. The God vacuum is my topic for today. We all have in our lives to differing degrees at different times something or someone that is more important to us then our God. I want to talk about how and why these worldly things tend to ''suck'' God to the back burner of our lives. I know that for me this tends to be technology. My computer. Facebook. TV. I get so easily drawn into such meaningless things! The book of Ecclesiastes speaks much of this! Vanity, vanity all is vanity! This can also be translated to be Meaningless. There is so much worldly and meaningless stuff that we tent to chase after. Why? It is all for nothing! Oh, the flesh is strong and selfish! The only things worth doing here on this temporal earth are the things done for the eternal glory of it's Creator! Let us not sugarcoat this worldly vacuum and call it what it is, idolatry. Anything and everything we have in our lives that does not bring glory to God is meaningless. It is idolatry. I am not saying that because as Christians we are not allowed to have fun, I am saying that the focus of the fun we have should bring God glory. As of late I have been spending way to much time doing what I want and not nearly enough time doing what God wants.

Technology has become a God vacuum for me. I am making it a point to spend the time that I previously spent following meaningless pursuits following my Savior. Less time glorying me and more time glorifying my God who saved me! I would love it if you my faithful readers (all 2 of you) would help hold me accountable to this decision. I need to spend that time taking up my cross and following Him, for ''I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.'' Gal. 2:20. This is who I want to be. This is who God wants me to be. This is who I want you to help me be.

Man in the Mirror

Have you ever looked in the mirror and had a tough time looking back at yourself. Have you ever had the feeling that your reflection was judging you for all of the shortcomings in your life? Happens to me, and I don't like that guy to much. The book of James talks about that man in the mirror. James 1:22-25 says:


22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

We all need to be doers of the word, we need to persevere. 2 Peter 1:3 says:

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


We are given all that we need to live our lives as doers of Gods word. The next time you look at your reflection in the mirror remember that. Remember also that when our Father God looks at that same reflection he does not see a filthy pile of sin but the face of his precious Son, Jesus. Praise you Jesus!

Undeniable truth

I have made it a habit that whenever I come across certain phrases or themes in scripture to underline them. One of those themes is that we as Christians are chosen by God. We are His elect. Prior to his choosing we are in fact totally deprived, unwilling and unable to seek God. The more time I spend in scripture the more I am sure of this biblical fact. The fact we are chosen is a theme in scripture that is undeniable. This morning I was reading in 1 Peter and I just wanted to share it.

1 Peter 1:1-9
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

I have some friends who tend to lean towards Armenian theology. I love them dearly! I do however have a terrible time understanding how they can read scripture such as the above and come away thinking they have anything to do with their salvation or the keeping of it! Like Israel in the old testament was chosen by God to be his people so we are chosen. We are chosen to an inheritance that is eternal, imperishable!

Today is the day that we historically remember our most spectacular sin. The murder of the innocent son of God. It is our sin that put Christ on the Cross. I praise God that He loves us that much. I praise God that I serve a risen Savior! A Savior who was slain so that we as Christians can live! Let us live for Him!

Growing In Grace

My son asked me the other day if I would read Milton Vincents ''The Gospel Primer'' with him again! It was a blessing the first time and I expect the same this time too! Ps. 127:3 says ''Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. '' Ty is such a blessing. His heart is so tender. His prayers so sweet. Our children are a heritage from the Lord. What values are we impressing on them? When Ty was a bit younger he wanted to be just like his daddy. I think that he still does only now its mannerisms that he is picking up on. To me they tend to be a little exaggerated. I often hear or watch Ty do something and think to myself ''where in the world did he get that from?!'' Only to realize later on that that ''who in the world'' is yours truly! Children do make great accountability partners! Proverbs 22:6 says, ''Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.'' I often get very convicted when I read scriptures such as these. I sometimes tell myself that I am doing the best that I can to train up my child. Often that is not true. I tend to get in the way. As I write this my shortcomings as a father are glaring at me. There us so much I can do better. Father help to to train up Ty in the way he should go. Help me to be the father that I need to be. I pray that my shortcomings with not be his.

Many of you reading this are parents too. I am praying that this little post will encourage you to be strong and courageous for your children. Train them up so that they will go and spread the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. May they be as arrows in the hand of a warrior. (Ps. 127:4)

Walk softly carry big stick

Jesus or Lord is often described as being meek. If this is true then I believe that we have a terrible misunderstanding of what exactly this small word really does mean in regards to our Lord. I think when most people think of meek they think of a lamb, submissive, weak, compliant, lacking courage, cowed, gentile, mild, soft, you get the point. If I were to refer to someone as meek in today's culture it is easy to picture a slight little man who is quiet and afraid. In regard to Christ meek can mean lion just as much as it means lamb. When Christ says in Matt 11:28, ''Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'' How about when Christ is beaten and scourged and led to Calvary to be crucified? I see the meekness of the Lamb. How about when Christ is overturning the money changers tables? How about when Christ returns? How about the judgement that all who do not know Christ will face? I believe that if we are to refer to Christ as meek we need to find our definition in Christ rather then in a dictionary.

I think it is important for us as Christians to ''walk softly'' as Christ walked. 1 Peter 3:15 says, ''but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,''. The word gentleness here is often translated meekness. It is also important for us to carry a ''big stick'' as Jesus did. 2 Tim 4:2 says, ''preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.''

The next time you hear the word meek I pray that you will be reminded of Jesus our precious savior and lord!

Secretly Selfish

The Holy Spirit has made it glaringly obvious to me that my prayers are often prayed with a heart of selfishness. I praise God for pointing this sin out to me. I often pray for the Lord to give ME strength. Give ME strength to share your love with others. Give ME strength to live a righteous life. Give Me strength to love others as we are commanded. There tends to be a very selfish slant to my prayer that does not desire to bring God glory but to bring me glory. It sickens my how deeply sin is rooted in this flesh! I need to be praying for the Lord to give me HIS strength. I need to earnestly pray for Gods glory so that I am able, through His glory, to live for His glory. I know that it is not the words that I pray. It's a glory thing. It's a heart thing. It's a priority thing. Father give me your strength to live for your glory.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

II Corinthians 13:9
For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.

The Gospel

I was reading the Desiring God blog this morning and want to share with you a precious reminder to never forget the Gospel. I Corinthians 15 3-4 says:



"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures"



The Gospel is so precious. Let it get bigger in our lives every day!

Parents and their children

An encouragement to parents taken from the Desiring God blog.
(Author: John Piper)

Jesus tells of two sons:
What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, "Son, go and work in the vineyard today." And he answered, "I will not," but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, "I go, sir," but did not go. (Matthew 21:28-30)

I draw this advice for parents from these words: Do not despair of the rebel, and do not assume the heart of the compliant child is with you. Which means practically, pray like crazy for both of them. And keep showing both of them the gospel of undeserved, blood-bought grace.

I say,
Amen

John Wycliff

Taken from Steve Camps blog http://stevenjcamp.blogspot.com/

"Prove All Things by the Word of God"

by John Wycliff

"I will run in the way of Your commandments..."

-Psalm 119:3

The true Christian was intended by Christ to prove all things by the Word of God, all churches, all ministers, all teaching, all preaching, all doctrines, all sermons, all writings, all opinions, all practices. These are His marching orders. Prove all by the Word of God; measure all by the measure of the Bible; compare all with the standard of the Bible; weigh all in the balances of the Bible; examine all by the light of the Bible; test all in the crucible of the Bible. That which can abide the fire of the Bible, receive hold, believe, and obey. That which cannot abide the fire of the Bible, reject, refuse, repudiate, and cast away. This is the flag which He nailed to the mast. May it never be lowered!

A church which does not honor the Bible is as useless as a body without life, or a steam engine without fire. A minister who does not honor the Bible is as useless as a soldier without arms, a builder without tools, a pilot without compass, or a messenger without tidings. Stand fast on old principles. Do not forsake the old paths. Let nothing tempt you to believe that multiplication of forms and ceremonies, constant reading of liturgical services, or frequent communions, will ever do so much good to souls as the powerful, fiery, fervent preaching of God's Word. If men want to do good to the multitude, if they want to reach their hearts and consciences, they must attack them through their ears; they must blow the trumpet of the everlasting Gospel loud and long; they must preach the Word.

This seems to fit nicely into what the Holy Spirit has been whispering to my soul as of late.

God is Sovereign!

Philosophy

I have been doing some studying recently that involves philosophy. Philosophy is defined as: The rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct. At first I was intrigued by the study. I felt intellectual because I was learning about philosophy. This is what smart people talk about! I was thinking to myself about how useful this knowledge could be to win others to Christ! As I continued to turn this information over in my mind during the past couple of weeks I started to notice that philosophy does not seem to rely very heavily (or at all) on scripture. It is after all a "rational investigation of truth". Gods word is foolishness to the world so there is no need to include the Bible in philosophical discussions. John Piper once said that "science without God is heresy". I would say that philosophy without God is the same. Truth. What is truth? Truth, is the word of God. The Bible, Gods word is truth (tough for some to grasp in this wonderful post-modern world of ours!). You can talk philosophy with me all you want, you may even have some very persuasive arguments, but I will not sway (by Gods grace) from the truth found only in Gods eternal word. The word of God does not change (Mal 3:6). What was true about God when it was written is still true today and will still be true 1000 years from now and forever! Furthermore, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is what saves people not philosophy, or even apologetics for that matter! The Gospel is the power of God for salvation (Rom 1:16). If truth is what you are looking for then look to Bible, not just a section or a verse but the whole thing. It is so easy to look to the world for wisdom. It is often done by Christians and they don't even realize it! God is the founder of truth, wisdom, and knowledge, seek Him.

Matt 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.