Today at church Pastor Ed talked about the newly elected Barack Obama. I know that there are many Evangelical Christians that have some very negative feelings about Mr. Obama. While I do not agree with some of the policies that he has, he is our leader and God's Holy Word has some very important things to say about how we should treat our leaders. Titus 3:1-3 says "Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. " As many of you know I enjoy Facebook, it has been a great tool for me to get in touch with old friends. It has been a blessing! Lately many of my friends have been bickering and fighting, name calling and bashing each other over this whole president thing. This should not be! Fast friends now are disgusted with each other. Is that love? I don't think so. I think many of us "Evangelicals" have forgotten what it means to love. I include myself in the above statement. Who remembers what the greatest commandment is? Love the Lord you God. The second is like it Love your neighbor as yourself (my paraphrase). Where does love fit into all of this anger and fighting? I think it fits in very well where Satan is concerned. Get them fighting and they will be useless. The world will see all the fighting and have no desire to follow Christ! We are commanded to love! Yet we fight. My heart is broken. If we can't love each other because of who our new president is how are we going to love others? How are we going to bring revival to this land? How are we going to bring glory to God. That is why we are here!
Christians are known for what they don't agree with. We are known as anti-gay and anti-abortion. We are looked at as judgemental and arrogant! We should be know by our love! It is possible to love others and yet hate sin. I want to be known as a Christian. A follower of Christ. A lover of others. Not as someone who just condemns others that are not the same as I am. But for the grace of God that saved me! Romans 13:8-10 says "8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. The whole world is my neighbor. I need to love them more. I would be willing to bet that you do too!
I think it is important for us to love Barack Obama weather we agree with him or not. We need to pray for the leader that God has ordained. We need to pray for each other. Lift each other up. We may have different views of what is right and what is wrong, that does not change what scripture says about how we are to deal with each other and our leaders! Love! I am going to spend some time in the word this week studying more on how to love others and how to treat those who I don't agree with. I will be praying for Barack Obama and his family. I will be praying for this nation. I will be praying that we remember how to love our neighbors! Please join me in this and maybe we will see God do some great things! Thanks to my Pastor for his God given words this morning. God bless you all!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Friendly Fellowship
As a rule I am not a conversationalist. I do not like being with large groups of people, I guess I feel out of place, awkward. Unless forced, I have a hard time meeting new people and making new friends. I dread reunions. Class reunions, family reunions, way out of my comfort zone! Avoid at all costs! Danger!
Well, last night I had the opportunity to catch up with some folks that I have not seen or heard from in 15 years! I was nervous! I was really not looking forward to the forced conversation or the consuming silence that accompanies me in times like theses!
I had an awesome evening! The fellowship was sweet. We were able to share some testimonies, talk some theology, and share some of what had happened the last 15 years. I can truly see us becoming fast friends. I praise God that He overcame my fears. If it were not for our shared faith in the Lord Jesus I believe that last night would have turned out much different! I would have been uncomfortable, out of my comfort zone.
I know that through my relationship with the Lord that I am a new creature! The old is passed away, new is come! (2 Cor 5:17).
Well, last night I had the opportunity to catch up with some folks that I have not seen or heard from in 15 years! I was nervous! I was really not looking forward to the forced conversation or the consuming silence that accompanies me in times like theses!
I had an awesome evening! The fellowship was sweet. We were able to share some testimonies, talk some theology, and share some of what had happened the last 15 years. I can truly see us becoming fast friends. I praise God that He overcame my fears. If it were not for our shared faith in the Lord Jesus I believe that last night would have turned out much different! I would have been uncomfortable, out of my comfort zone.
I know that through my relationship with the Lord that I am a new creature! The old is passed away, new is come! (2 Cor 5:17).
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Sparkling clean
This morning I was reading in John 13 about Jesus washing His disciples feet to show them how important it is for Christians to be servants, no matter their station in life. If Jesus the Lord of the universe is washing feet, how much more should I be doing! I wanted to share this passage with you starting at verse 6 and going through 11, it is beautiful.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Clean or not clean, that is the question that we all have to answer. What a beautiful picture John paints for us. I long for my Savior. Oh to hear Him say "because of Me you are clean! " A sinner like me clean, as white as snow, because He who was from the beginning cared enough to die. I stand in awe. Thank you Jesus. Help me to serve you better and therefore serve those around me better too.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Clean or not clean, that is the question that we all have to answer. What a beautiful picture John paints for us. I long for my Savior. Oh to hear Him say "because of Me you are clean! " A sinner like me clean, as white as snow, because He who was from the beginning cared enough to die. I stand in awe. Thank you Jesus. Help me to serve you better and therefore serve those around me better too.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election
I bet you thought by the title that I was going to talk about voting and who I was going to vote and why you should vote for that person too. Well, you are wrong! Ha!
All of this talk about the presidential election has made me appreciate the fact that God elected (or called) me to Himself for salvation! Last Sunday night at church we talked about predestination. Romans 8:30 says, And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. This is such a great verse! I am so thankful that I am on the Romans 8:30 road! I was predestined! I was called! I am justified! I will be glorified! It had absolutely nothing to do with me or who I am, It was and is all God. What a great God we have! What a great Savior we have! Were it not for the love of the Father and His perfect plan for salvation I would die a wretched sinner. We as Christians have such hope! We are His people! His chosen. His elect! I praise you Father!
All of this talk about the presidential election has made me appreciate the fact that God elected (or called) me to Himself for salvation! Last Sunday night at church we talked about predestination. Romans 8:30 says, And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. This is such a great verse! I am so thankful that I am on the Romans 8:30 road! I was predestined! I was called! I am justified! I will be glorified! It had absolutely nothing to do with me or who I am, It was and is all God. What a great God we have! What a great Savior we have! Were it not for the love of the Father and His perfect plan for salvation I would die a wretched sinner. We as Christians have such hope! We are His people! His chosen. His elect! I praise you Father!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Spurgeon
More from Spurgeon. Try to say this from a pulpit today!
Why, there are those who pretend to save souls by curious tricks, intricate manoeuvres, and dexterous posture-making! A basin of water, half-a-dozen drops, certain syllables—heigh, presto—the infant is made a child of God, a member of Christ, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven! This aqueous regeneration surpasses my belief; it is a trick which I do not understand: the initiated only can perform the beautiful piece of magic, which excels anything ever attempted by the Wizard of the North. There is a way, too, of winning souls by laying hands upon heads, only the elbows of the aforesaid hands must be encased in lawn, and then the machinery acts, and there is grace conferred by blessed fingers! I must confess I do not understand the occult science, but at this I need not wonder, for the profession of saving souls by such juggling can only be carried out by certain favoured persons who have received apostolical succession direct from Judas Iscariot. This episcopal confirmation, when men pretend that it confers grace, is an infamous piece of juggling. The whole thing is an abomination. Only to think that, in this nineteenth century, there should be men who preach lip salvation by sacraments, and salvation by themselves, forsooth!Why, sirs, it is surely too late in the day to come to us with this drivel! Priestcraft, let us hope, is an anachronism, and the sacramental theory out of date. These things might have done for those who could not read, and in the days when books were scarce; but ever since the day when the glorious Luther was helped by God to proclaim with thunder-claps the emancipating truth, "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God," there has been too much light for these Popish owls. Let them go back to their ivy-mantled towers, and complain to the moon of those who spoiled of old their kingdom of darkness. Let shaven crowns go to Bedlam, and scarlet hats to the scarlet harlot, but let not Englishmen yield them respect. Modern Tractarianism is a bastard Popery, too mean, too shifty, too double-dealing to delude men of honest minds.If we win souls, it shall be by other arts than Jesuits and shavelings can teach us. Trust not in any man who pretends to priesthood. Priests are liars by trade, and deceivers by profession. We cannot save souls in their theatrical way, and do not want to do so, for we know that with such jugglery as that, Satan will hold the best hand, and laugh at priests as he turns the cards against them at the last.
Why, there are those who pretend to save souls by curious tricks, intricate manoeuvres, and dexterous posture-making! A basin of water, half-a-dozen drops, certain syllables—heigh, presto—the infant is made a child of God, a member of Christ, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven! This aqueous regeneration surpasses my belief; it is a trick which I do not understand: the initiated only can perform the beautiful piece of magic, which excels anything ever attempted by the Wizard of the North. There is a way, too, of winning souls by laying hands upon heads, only the elbows of the aforesaid hands must be encased in lawn, and then the machinery acts, and there is grace conferred by blessed fingers! I must confess I do not understand the occult science, but at this I need not wonder, for the profession of saving souls by such juggling can only be carried out by certain favoured persons who have received apostolical succession direct from Judas Iscariot. This episcopal confirmation, when men pretend that it confers grace, is an infamous piece of juggling. The whole thing is an abomination. Only to think that, in this nineteenth century, there should be men who preach lip salvation by sacraments, and salvation by themselves, forsooth!Why, sirs, it is surely too late in the day to come to us with this drivel! Priestcraft, let us hope, is an anachronism, and the sacramental theory out of date. These things might have done for those who could not read, and in the days when books were scarce; but ever since the day when the glorious Luther was helped by God to proclaim with thunder-claps the emancipating truth, "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God," there has been too much light for these Popish owls. Let them go back to their ivy-mantled towers, and complain to the moon of those who spoiled of old their kingdom of darkness. Let shaven crowns go to Bedlam, and scarlet hats to the scarlet harlot, but let not Englishmen yield them respect. Modern Tractarianism is a bastard Popery, too mean, too shifty, too double-dealing to delude men of honest minds.If we win souls, it shall be by other arts than Jesuits and shavelings can teach us. Trust not in any man who pretends to priesthood. Priests are liars by trade, and deceivers by profession. We cannot save souls in their theatrical way, and do not want to do so, for we know that with such jugglery as that, Satan will hold the best hand, and laugh at priests as he turns the cards against them at the last.
The Saviors Promise
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
I read this during my time with the Lord this morning and wanted to share it. I hope that it will bless you!
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
I read this during my time with the Lord this morning and wanted to share it. I hope that it will bless you!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Ecumenical?
The following is a quote from Spurgeon.
To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus. If we are prepared to enter into solemn league and covenant for the defense of the crown-rights of King Jesus, we cannot give up the crown-jewels of his gospel for the sake of a larger charity. He is our Master and Lord, and we will keep his words: to tamper with his doctrine would be to be traitors to himself.
Todays Church is striving for unity with others. I say amen to Mr Spurgeon!
To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus. If we are prepared to enter into solemn league and covenant for the defense of the crown-rights of King Jesus, we cannot give up the crown-jewels of his gospel for the sake of a larger charity. He is our Master and Lord, and we will keep his words: to tamper with his doctrine would be to be traitors to himself.
Todays Church is striving for unity with others. I say amen to Mr Spurgeon!
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