A Southern Baptist Calvinist...on life, the world, and java

Are we clear?

2012-01-28T09:29:00.000-08:00

I used to not get it. When the preacher said we weren't supposed to only act saved on Sundays, I'd smile and say "yeah, thats right!" Then I would do what I'm not supposed to do.

When we *truly* surrender our lives to Christ, we are taking up His Cross and we're making it our cross. Jesus told us to take up our cross. Paul said he picked his up and implied every day.

I love that scene in A League Of Their Own, you know, the movie about the ladies baseball league back in the 40's. (Some of you may not have watched it because Madonna is in it.) Tom Hanks cries out. "Crying? There's no crying in baseball!" Sometimes, when I'm looking in the mirror of God's word I say to myself, "Laying your cross down? There is no laying your cross down. Jesus didn't lay His cross down. He never said, 'take it up and lay down, what-EVER.' No He said take it up and follow Me!"

OK, its true, I talk to myself more than is probably normal, but sometimes you just have to tell yourself what to do!

I usually don't like pictures of Jesus, something about the second commandment strikes me as important. But in this instance, it's not meant as an object of veneration, its just meant to make a point. And I think I'm OK with that. (He really ought to be darker and more middle-eastern looking.-But I digress.)

What I like is how you can plug so many things into the sentence where the word 'Twitter' is. Lets face it, most people are not on Twitter. So how about these possibilities:

No I'm not talking about just Sundays.

No I'm not talking about just Bible Study.

No I'm not talking about by email.

No I'm not talking about Facebook. (had to get that one in there)

No I'm not talking about following me 'in spirit'

No I'm not talking about when people are watching.

No I'm not talking about just to hang out.

No I'm not talking about when everything is going well.

No I'm not talking about _______________ . (You fill in the blank.)

Jesus made it very clear, "If ANYONE wants to come after Me, Let him take up his cross and follow Me."

Through the cross is the only way.

Oh but what a glorious way it is. Scary? Sure! He's asking you to come and die. But if you're seeking your life you'll lose it. You have to give it to Him to find it.

Counterintuitive? You Betcha!

True? You Betcha!

It's in losing our lives that we find it; Grace Abundant, Mercies Galore, God's riches in ridiculous amounts.

When we seek pleasure we find death.(Rom 3:23) When we seek death in Christ, we find pleasures beyond belief.(Psa 11)

Jesus really meant "Follow Me."

I get it now!

We're clear!

The Gospel in Post-Christian America

2012-01-10T14:44:00.000-08:00

So, is this post-Christian America? That right there will bother some people. Fewer and fewer attend church, or say they are believers in Christ. Recently I heard a British Evangelist named Pethers share a story from the UK. About a Vicar who was giving a class from public school a tour of his church building. They knew almost nothing about church so he was teaching them words like pulpit, pew, baptismal and every time they walked by a large crucifix on the wall one boy tried to get his attention. Finally he turned to the boy and asked him to ask his question again. The boy pointed to the crucifix and said who's the bloke on the wall.
Some say that's the USA in 50 years, Pethers said we're only about 20 years behind them.
Christianity is a forgotten religion to the present generations.

So, how do we share a gospel in a world that has no respect for scripture, no knowledge of man's bent toward sinning, Hell, Heaven, or whether they should even be concerned. Its not that they have chosen not to care, they don't know they SHOULD care. They don't know there is anything to care about.

They like Christmas for the materialism and family traditions. Easter is probably an enigma except for Rabbit eggs. The baby in the manger is irrelevant and they don't even know who is on the cross.

Pethers suggested something I like, he said, what if we made it our goal, not so much to share "The plan of salvation" with people, but we just bring them a little closer to thinking rightly about God. Everyone is in a different place. When you interact (build relationships) with them try to leave them a little closer to God than when you found them. Put in a nice word about what Jesus has done for you. Why Jesus came to earth. Maybe why salvation is even necessary. Don't assume ANYTHING.

But I want to add to that. There is a place, still, for sharing the "Gospel" if not jumping right into the "Plan of salvation." Because, after all, they aren't the same thing. The "Plan of salvation" is NOT the power of God unto salvation, the GOSPEL IS! (Romans 1:16-17) The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus Christ. But Good News needs a context; That requires the Bad News. While Jonathan Edwards preached to a very different crowd than exists today, his emphasis on the reality of Hell, and man's incredibly awful predicament as sinners hanging by a thread over a fiery pit, is still not a bad idea. As Janet Denison said in her blog, talking about Heaven is much more socially acceptable than talking about Hell. Heaven is just a nicer subject all around. But as terrible as it is to talk about about Hell, Janet points out, "I don't want to go around scaring people with the existence of hell. But there is a worse thought. I don't want them to go there." (http://www.janetdenison.com/blog/19-highway-2012-heaven-or-hell)

So what do we do? How do we present the good news? How do we keep the USA from this downward spiral of unbelief? Well, First of all, we can't keep that from happening. God can, we can't, lets be honest. But we can be faithful witnesses of A) our own testimony of what Christ has done for us, B) proclaiming the Good News in light of the Bad News, and C) build relationships with people and bring them closer to understanding the gospel; Little by little. A seed is pretty small, but it can bring forth a lot. A little watering of the seed and prayer for the seed are both in order.

But in the final analysis we have to trust that God knew what He was doing when he told us to go make disciples, and that the good news of Jesus Christ is the only thing that will break a man or woman's heart; even today in 21st Century America; this post-modern, post-Christian era of biblical apathy.

One Anothering

2012-01-06T14:14:00.000-08:00

I didn't invent that phrase. It has apparently been used for years. The first time I recall hearing it is when I heard pastor Al Meredith speaking to a group of ministers in Fort Worth. Al is pastor of Wedgwood Baptist,which, in 1999, was the site of multiple shootings by a lone gunman during an evening youth rally. As you can imagine, that shakes a church up.
One of the things they needed to do was love one another in a more genuine fashion than they ever had. The shallow form of loving one another most church members do wasn't going to cut it when a tragedy like that struck the church body.
But do we have to wait for tragedy?
Actually tragedies often cause us to do many things. Increase our sense of security by installing an alarm system on the house or motion sensor lighting. We remind our selves to be more thankful and treasure the days God gives us. We try to remember not to take people for granted. We try to not hold things too tightly lest the Lord take them away from us and at the same time to love more deeply while we have the chance. All in all tragedy is a real bummer, but it has a silver lining.
So, in light of all that, maybe it will help to return to the simple command of Christ; "Love one another." Simple? Yes. Fun? Maybe. Easy? Not really. But a command just the same.
There are a dozen or so verses in the New Testament where we are told to love one another. Jesus said it several times, as did Paul, John, and Peter. Seems like an important teaching of the New Testament, eh?

So how do we do that?
Let me suggest some other "One Another" verses in the Bible and let you look down the list to see which of these you are doing. If "loving" is "doing" then these ought to get the love flowing. Feel free to check off the things you've done in the last couple months.

Wash one another's feet.

in love serve one another.

In honour preferring one another;

receive ye one another,

Salute one another

Greet ye one another with anholy kiss. (2x)

Greet ye one another with akiss of charity.

Be kind one to another,

forgive one another,

Bear ye one another's burdens,

forbearing one another in love;

Forbearing … and forgiving one another,

comfort one another withthese words.

teaching and admonishing one another

admonish one another.

edify one another,

exhort one another

exhorting one another:

and,

consider one another to provokeunto love.

So, how did you make out? Are you One Anothering?

Think its time to start? Or step it up a notch?

Maybe you're doing well. Maybe all your checkmarks are in the teach, admonish, exhort category. If so, work on the "Be Kind and forgiving" group.

Consider this training for Heaven. After eons of worship, praise and celebration we all have to live together for eternity!

Can't wait, can you?

God Bless you all, Bro. Clark

Joh_13:14 Gal_5:13 Rom_12:10 Rom_15:7 Rom_16:16 1Co_16:20 2Co_13:12 1Pe_5:14 Eph_4:32 Gal_6:2 Eph_4:2 Col_3:13 1Th_4:18 Col_3:16 Rom_15:14 1Th_5:11 Heb_3:13 Heb_10:25 Heb_10:24

The Boy Who Loved Jesus

2011-12-24T10:35:00.000-08:00

Long long ago in a land far far away, there was a youngmarried couple who had a little boy. We’ll call him Nicky. His mom and dadloved him very much and took him to church with them and told them the storiesabout Jesus in the Bible. In fact when he was 5 years old he could tell thestories and he learned that to be like Jesus meant that you did good things forpeople and helped people. I think his folks really must have loved Jesus andtaught little Nicky to love Jesus, too.

But then something bad happened. Well Nicky was a littleolder, like a teenager maybe, when his mom and dad died in a bad accident. Idon’t know what happened to them, but Nicky’s uncle took him in and Nicky foundout something about his mom and dad. They had been very wealthy and now all ofthat money and land and houses belonged to Nicky!

Well, Nicky had a lot more than he needed to live on, so hestarted to do what his mom and dad had taught him to do. He started to helppeople. But he didn’t want lots of people to make a big fuss about it so hedecided to do it secretly.

First, he heard about a man who had lost all his money.Maybe his barn and burned down and all of his corn and grain that he had storedfor the winter. And now here this man was with no money and he had threedaughters and he was running out of food too. He didn’t know what to do.

And the man with the 3 daughters had another problem, therewere people he owed money too and they wanted their money. They took his landbut that wasn’t enough. Then they said, we’re going to take your littledaughters away and sell them as slaves!

They could do that back in those days. It was a terriblething.

So, on the night before the oldest daughter was going to betaken away and sold, she washed her only pair of socks and hung them by thefireplace overnight to dry and be warm for in the morning. When she got up thenext day and went to get her socks she found a lump inside. In fact, severallumps. And when she reached in she found out it was coins, Gold coins!

She was so excite she ran to tell daddy and he was amazedand said now we can buy food and have enough to keep you from becoming a slave!

Guess what. The next morning there was another small bag onthe floor with money in it to buy more food and keep the next daughter frombecoming a slave.

Then the daddy said, I’m going to stay awake tonight so ifthey leave something else I can find out who it is. So he sat up and waited andwaited and waited. Then he fell asleep. A little later there was a thump! Helooked and there was a little bag on the floor under and open window. He jumpedup and ran outside just in time to see… do you know who he saw? Yep, it wasyoung Nicky.

The father said, “Nicky, is that you?” Nicky turned and cameback and the father said, “How can I ever thank you for these wonderful gifts?You have saved my family.” Nicky said, “Just give thanks to Jesus Christ forhearing your prayers, and please don’t tell anybody I am the one who did this.”The father agreed and kept his secret a long time.

Over the years Nicky did many things to help people outsecretly and he told people all over about Jesus. He talked about Jesus so much andlived such a good life that one day the town asked him to be their preacher. Mr. Nick was almost out of money himself, because he had given almost all ofhis money away, and he said yes and became not little Nicky, or even Mr. Nick. Hebecame Pastor Nicholas.

And he became quite well known as a pastor. But thensomething really bad happened. When pastor Nicky was starting to get old, amean and evil King came to the throne. He was emperor of all of Europe and hisname was Diocletian. He didn’t like Christians and he didn’t like Jesus and hestarted beating Christians and throwing them in prison.

Some of the people would ‘recant.” They would say “OK I won’tworship or talk about Jesus anymore.” So they wouldn’t be beaten or put inprison. But pastor Nicholas wouldn’t do this. He kept on talking about Jesusand telling others and so Diocletian had him put in prison for a long time.

Then one day Diocletian died and a new King came into power.The new King was Constantine. He was good to the Christians. In fact, hismother was a Christian. So he let all the Christians out of prison.

Well when pastor Nicholas gothome his town treated him like a hero. Now they called him something new; not little Nicky or pastor Nicholas, theycalled him Nicholas the Confessor. Because no matter what happened to him heconfessed Jesus as the Lord. He became so well know that over 400 churches allover Europe were name after Nicholas. But these folks began to call himsomething else. They didn’t call him Nicholas the Confessor, they called himSaint Nicholas. They called him a saint because he was such a good Christianand loved Jesus!

Well way up in the country ofHolland where the Dutch people live, they didn’t say Saitn Nicholas like we do,in their language he was called Sinter Klass. Which, over the years, becameSanta Claus. So little Nicky grew up to be Santa Claus. All because he lovedJesus and tried to be like Him!

You see Santa Claus knew thatChristmas was all about Jesus, not about him. He wanted people to know aboutJesus not about him. He wanted people to thank Jesus for answering theirprayers not to thank him for anything. That’s the kind of man Saint Nicholasbecme.

And that’s why we celebrateJesus, not Santa Claus, at Christmas!

Just thought you'd like to know Santa Claus fits in to all of this!

Brother Clark

http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=36780

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/real-santa/

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2004/nick.html

PS. By the way, among all thestories that grew up about Nicky in later years comes the story that after Nickgot out of prison, he contended with the Arian controversy. Arius had claimedthat Jesus was not truly divine like God the father. It is said that Nicktraveled to Nicea for the council of 307 and argued with Arius there. He got soupset he slapped Arius across the face. The other Bishops were so outraged thatthey defrocked him. Then Mary and Jesus appeared next to him so they recantedand reinstated him as a Bishop. So, you don’t want to get on Santa’s NaughtyList!

The Household of God

2011-11-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

Here's a little of what I've been learning in my studies for Sunday's sermon. Some "overflow" if you will...

God refers to those who are part of His church as members of His family. And it's part of the Gospel - the Good News - that we are "accepted in the beloved."(Eph 1:6)

There was a time when we were not members of the household of God, but strangers, aliens.

Eph_2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

As “fellow citizens” we are a part of God’s Kingdom, but as Members of His household what are we? We could be servants and be part of the household, but more explicitly we are Children of God.

Rom_8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

And how did we become Heirs and children of God?

Tit_3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

And as heirs we are all on the same footing with Christ.

1Pe_3:7 Likewise, husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life;

How can we know that we are God’s Children?

One way is:

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that

we are the children of God: 17 And if children,

then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;

So, the Household of God is also the New Testament Church of God.

1Ti_3:15 you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

Jesus also portrayed the church as a family.

To His Disciples early in His ministry:

Mat_5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Teaching them to pray:

Mat_6:9 Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

After the resurrection:

Joh_20:17 Jesus said … "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

Jesus promises His disciples a Family of God.

Mar 10:29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there’s no one who has left house or brothers, sisters or mother, father or children or lands, for my sake and the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

The Apostle Paul Explains the Family of God is part of one of God’s great mysteries.

Eph_3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Paul portrays How and Who He chose to be part of His Family!

Jas_2:5 … my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he promised to those who love him?

Paul also explains how we ought to live as members of the Household of God.

1Ti_3:15 you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God,

1Pe_4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who don't obey the gospel of God?

Gal_5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only don’t use freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Gal_6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in sin, you who are spiritual restore him in a spirit of gentleness.

1Th_5:12 We ask you, brothers, respect those who labor among you, are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

1Th_5:14 we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

1Th_5:25 Brothers, pray for us.

2Th_2:15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught by us,

2Th_3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition you received from us.

Jas_1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

Jas_1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

Jas_1:19 …my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Jas_2:1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the

faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

1Jn_3:16 … he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

1Ti 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

While there are many other Scriptures that describe how we ought to live as followers of Jesus Christ, a significant part of those instructions reflect how members of a family ought to behave.

We don't have the luxury of saying "It's none of my business" when it is a brother or sister in Christ who needs, prayer, comfort, recognition, admonishment, rebuke, restoration, help, encouragement, service and respect. Why? Because we are members of the same family. The family of Jesus Christ and the Household of God.

So may I encourage you all in the Holiday Season that has so much to do with family visits, don't forget your "Other" family; the one God brought you into.

I'm glad I'm in your family!

Clark

Invitations and Altar Calls

2011-11-20T17:56:00.000-08:00

Invitations and Altar Calls

Invitations are ancient, altar calls are relatively recent.

“Houston,We have a problem.” Those have come to be favorite words to describe somethingof great concern in a soft, non-panicked way.

Well we in Christendom, and as Baptists, have a problem.There are many people calling themselves Christians who are not living asdisciples of Christ. Now surely, at any given time, they are true believersstruggling with some part of their life. They do not want to give up somethingthat God requires, or perhaps they have a blind spot and are not behaving in away that honors Christ. But they are still truebelievers and God will bring them through this time of difficulty.

But for many who name the name of Christand show no devotion to Him there is another answer. They are not truly bornagain Christians. Jesus said therewould be those who called Him Lord whom He never knew.

Is this problem worse now than in other times in history? Ithink so. It is easy to be called a Christian in our society. There’s littlepersecution, certainly not what believers in other countries experience. Thereare instant friends when you go to church. There may even be instant consumersfor whatever one is selling.

But chief of all, it’s so easy. You walk down the churchaisle, say you want to be a Christian, you repeat a prayer the pastor leads youin, word by word, and Voila! It’s done. They even tell you, “Congratulationsyou are a born again child of God now!”

Are they? Are they really? Yes, some may have been saved ina very similar scenario to that one, but there were other things at work ifthey were.

There was the conviction of sin that the Holy Spirit bringsto impress upon us we need forgiveness. There is the awareness that Jesus Christ is Lord that leads us to repent from sin andplace our faith in Christ. There was the awakeningof faith in our hearts and minds, the sense of relief from knowing that oursins are washed away. Without this sort of a work of God, repeating prayerstill we are blue in the face do not save.

This does not mean it is drenched in emotion, though it maybe. But it does mean there is a desire for salvation, and the understandingthat it only will happen through faith in Christ,and there is the placing of one’s faith in Christ,at the very least.

Not wanting to give someone a false hope is why I am wary ofhow one conducts an invitation to Christ. Some haveceased to offer an invitation with accompanying invitation hymn. I always callthem ‘hymns of commitment’ by the way; for believers to commit themselves to Christ as well as unbelievers.

So the main Question we should always ask in situations suchas this is “Is it Biblical?”

Isaiah the prophet said, “Come now and let us reason together; though your sins be as scarletthey shall be as wool...” Jesus said,“Come unto me all who labor and areheavy laden and I will give you rest.” These are invitations from God to cometo him and find forgiveness and rest from trying to earn His forgiveness.

The altar call however is an early 1800’s invention. It wascalled an anxious seat or mourner’s bench, and people were called to come tothe front of the meeting room and sit on this bench, or kneel at it to be maderight with God. It seemed like a goodidea, to get all those needing to be saved in one place, but why? There aremany moves of God in which this ‘altar call’ was never used and many were trulysaved. I would even go so far as to say it was more effective that way thanwith the bench.[i]

You see, helping someone get saved is not in scripture.Telling them the good news and inviting them to repent and believe is; but asinners prayer which, if repeated, magically saves one’s soul is really heresy.And unfortunately, that is what the anxious bench became and still is in manychurches today that employ the altar call.

Many who come are saved, true, and I would say many weresaved before they got to the front. God has already called them to Himself andthey had already responded in faith before they whispered in the pastor’s ear,“I need to be saved.”

Even though I still issue an invitation at the end of apreaching service some pastors and preachers won’t do an altar call. Listen towhat Jonathan Leeman, the editorial director at9Marks[ii]and a PhD candidate researching ecclesiology[iii],says about a conversation he had with a man in the church where he served as aninterim pastor:

“I told this brother and the restof the elders that I wouldn't do an altar call. Why not?

Because I think altar calls arewrong? No, I think a pastor is free to give one. It's not a sin.

Because I don't believe thatpeople must make a decision for Christ? No, I thinkpeople must decide to repent and believe in order to be saved.

Because I don't think Jesus calls us to make a public profession? No,people must publicly profess their faith, which is why Jesusinstituted baptism.

Because I think inviting sinnersto repent is inherently manipulative? No, I believe preachers should invitenon-Christians to repent and believe throughout their sermons. I did thisduring the interim pastorate, and I did it just last Sunday when guestpreaching at another church. I very clearly invited non-Christians to repentand believe in the middle of my sermon, and then told them to speak with meafterwards, or the pastor, or the Christian friend who brought them.

So why wouldn't I give an altarcall? In short, I believe that this particular man-made practice, this19th-century innovation, has produced more bad than good for Christian churchesin the West. The altar call relies on the powers of emotion, rhetoricalpersuasion, and social pressure to induce people to make a hasty and prematuredecision. And producing professions is not the same thing as making disciples.Surely a number of factors are responsible for the many nominal Christians thattypify Christianity in the West, but I believe that the altar call is one ofthem.

How many people in the lastcentury walked an aisle, and spent the rest of their days convinced that theywere a Christian, never considering how they lived!”

The alternative to giving altarcalls is sticking with the practices we see modeled in Scripture:

1. Invitepeople throughout your sermon to "repent and be baptized" like Peter did in Jerusalem(Acts 2:38). But when you do, don't just stand there waiting with emotionallycharged music playing, staring them down until they relent. Rather, makeseveral suggestions about how and where to discuss the matter further.

2. Askpeople what they believe when they present themselves for baptism, just like Jesus made sure the disciples knew who he was (Matt.16:13-17; also, 1 John 4:1-3).

3. Makesure they understand what following Jesusentails (Matt. 16:24f; John 6:53-60).

4. Explainthat the fruit of their lives and persevering to the end will indicate whetheror not they really believe (Matt. 7:24f; 10:22).

5. Youmight even explain that Jesus hascommanded your church to remove them from its fellowship if their life movingforward does not match their profession (Matt. 18:15-17).

Yes, let's pray hard forconversions. But then let's do every thing Scripture requires of us in the longwork of making disciples---a work that generally requires lots of teaching,lots of time, lots of invitations, lots of meals together, and finally thecommitment of an entire church body. –

Jonathan Leeman

I take a both/and approach. I think inviting someone to Christ at the end of the sermon reinforces the idea thatsomething must be happen in order to be saved. But I steer away from emotionalappeals, long extended invitations, and any kind of social pressure to getsomeone to “make a decision.” I’m not interested in decisions; I’m interestedin conversions, changed lives, and making disciples.

So while I do offer the possibility of someone coming to thefront who needs counsel or assistance in surrendering their life to Christ, I fully recognize it is the Holy Spirit who does thework or nothing truly happens. Repeating a prayer does not save. No matter howmany times you repeat it. Only faith in Christaccompanied by repentance from sin can do that; and only God can do that in asinner’s heart so that they may be saved.

[i] It mayhave been more difficult to keep records of names and the number of how manymade ‘professions’ of faith.

[ii] http://www.9marks.org/ This is a ministry ofDr. Mark Dever and Capitol Hill BaptistChurch in Washington D.C.

[iii]Ecclesiology is the study of the Doctrine of the Church.

Sinner or Saint? Which One are You?

2011-11-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Twice in the last few months I've heard a preacher/pastor scold (gently of course) believers for thinking of themselves as sinners. Even as sinners forgiven, or sinners saved by grace. I hadn't heard that in years. I used to hear it all the time back in my charismatic days. But I don't like it! I don't like it at all. It gets my goat and sticks in my craw and I'm not even sure what a craw is or what my goat has to do with it!
I'm NOT saying they're wrong, I'm just saying... you know, I don't like it.
But "Why?" you ask?
Because, while YES, we are saints, that is not the whole picture. I mean, how many folks do you know who don't sin anymore? We have been completely forgiven if we have been born again by the sheer Grace of God the Father, through our faith in Christ. And, we have not only had the debt against us cancelled by God, but we have been given Christ's own robes of righteousness, a new heart, a quickened spirit, and new destination. Yes, we are declared saints, Holy, wholly set apart unto God, His own vessels for service in the temple not made with hands. I GET THAT! Its just that the language of talking about ourselves as saints seems to be all about us. But when we see ourselves as sinners, we turn to Christ as Savior and talk of all he has done for us.
Right now, as the saved in this world, we live in the Kingdom which has come but is not yet made manifest in all the earth. This Kingdom is God's rule and reign. It is the essence of the Good News that Christ came preaching. (Mk 1:14-15) In this Kingdom the Gospel of Jesus Christ rules! That means that Grace Rules, because Grace is the heart of the Good News and of the Kingdom. Grace! Total and complete and free for sinners. Costly to God through Christ, but free for us who have been redeemed.
This wonderful Amazing Grace reminds me that I am a sinner, poor and needy, lost and greedy, but saved and loved. I'm a sinner, with a conscience enlivened by a Holy god above. I need the Gospel everyday! Everyday I need to know my success as a member of God's Kingdom depends on GRACE!
Paul asked an important question to the Galatians. "Having begun in the Spirit, did you think you'd be made perfect in the flesh?" One way to look at that question is to say, "Having begun by Grace, did you think you could do the rest all on your own?" We can't. We can't conform to the image of Jesus without grace. We can't be happy by clapping our hands but by grace. We can't be witnesses for Christ but by His grace. WHAT? Are you thinking that I just gave you an out for not witnessing? Do you think you can say, "I just don't have the grace for witnessing, someone else should do that." No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying we should do what we need to do, by the grace and power of God and trusting in His grace and power to take our feeble, lame, good works, and make them powerful through God.
Some people look at Jesus as if He's a "kinder gentler" Moses. Like He brought in the "Law Lite." Actually , it's the opposite. Jesus raised the bar. The law said don't kill your neighbor, Jesus said don't even hate him. Jesus said to love everyone. Jesus said to go and make disciples. I would submit to you the last three things I said are impossible. we can't do them, yet we are commanded. How does that work?
We do them In Christ. As sinners forgiven, as sinners saved by grace, as sinners who need the power of god every moment everyday, in order to do the things He has commanded. When we learn to live in that constant state of grace (which is impossible for us, too) then we come to know that His yoke is easy and His burden is light!

Oh Lord, help us to know the same grace that saved us is at work in our hearts to change us and make us what you want us to be. Let us not chafe against the prod, but turn, everyday, and put our head in the yoke of Christ.

Clark D.

PS I really am glad I'm a saint, set apart unto God, for the glory of Christ. just sayin...

Signs, Church Signs, Dumb Signs

2011-10-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

We have a church sign! It’s about 12 feet tall and it hasthree lines for messages. We like to put coming events or general info upthere, but we also put the occasional inspirational message. But you have to bevery careful with that.

Why, you ask? I hope you asked that anyway; if not go aheadand do that now...I’ll wait....
OK, Thanks.

Frankly, some churches make themselves just looksilly, or ignorant, or even offensive at times with their signs.

People look at signs differently than church folks do. Theycan appreciate humor as good as the next guy usually, but some signs are just alittle looney.

Among the humorous I’ve seen:

Who ever is praying for snow, Please Stop!

Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!

When the restaurant next to a Church put out abig sign with red letters that said, “Open Sundays,” the church reciprocatedwith its own message: “We are open on Sundays, too."

Walk-ins Welcome (that’s on our sign-thanks Dave)

Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons—come hearone!

Now that last one is a little curious. Did they intend tosay the pastor is boring? Or that if you get right with God you’ll sleepbetter?

You see some signs maybe cute for members, maybe even inspirational.But to the unchurched they get a response like “HUH?”

Honk if you love Jesus,Text while driving if you wanna meet Him

Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!

Try our Sundays. They are better thanBaskin-Robbins.

Sign broken. Message inside this Sunday. DustyBibles lead to Dirty Lives

Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, thehours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of thisworld.

It is unlikely there’ll be a reduction in thewages of sin.

Do not wait for the hearse to take you tochurch.

Forbidden fruit creates many jams.

In the dark? Follow the Son.

Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up.

When down in the mouth, remember Jonah. He cameout all right.

You have to consider what the unchurched think when they seeit. Down in the mouth? Jonah? I don’t think they’ll get it. Of course, if youWANT to have them think less of you and of Christ; Butmost people don’t want that. So some try to be “Trendy.” I’ve been guilty ofthat myself.

Get off of Facebook and Get in the Good Book

You have a friend request from -Jesus:

Confirm Ignore

God’s got an app for that

If you don’t like the way you were born, trybeing born again.

First, people don’t like being told what to do, as if thereis something morally wrong with being on Facebook.

Secondly, A friend request from Jesus?Really? A statement like “You sinned, Jesushas blocked you.” Would be more accurate, but NO, don’t put that on the sign!

Third, Actually Jesus doesn’t have an app for everything.This is one of those false promises like, “Come to Jesus He’llmake everything better.”

And these days there are folks who’ve never heard of beingborn again.

Upcoming events are a good thing to put on a sign, and they’reusually pretty safe.

But even then you should be careful:

A singing group called “The Resurrection” wasscheduled to sing at a church. When a big snowstorm postponed the performance,the pastor fixed the outside sign to read, "Resurrection postponed."

Then there are those pithy sayings, but think twice, willyour neighbors think you’re rehashing old sayings because you are not realbright?

People are like tea bags—you have to put them inhot water before you know how strong they are.

God so loved the world that He did not send acommittee.

Fight truth decay—study the Bible daily.

If you’re headed in the wrong direction, Godallows U-turns.

Looking at the way some people live, they oughtto obtain eternal fire insurance soon.

This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing? ----->(U R)

If you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep. Talk tothe Shepherd.

Then there are the serious issues dealt with in a sillyway.

How will you spend eternity—Smoking or Non-smoking?

We always need to go beyond “What do the unchurched ‘drive-bys’think?” And ask ourselves, “What does God think?”

Is God pithy? Is he ‘selling something’? I hope you answeredNo to both of those.

Now some of you thought while reading this, “But I don’t DOchurch signs.” Very true. But do you do bumper stickers? Do you email cutelittle things to a large group of people? (With, perhaps, lost and unchurchedpeople in the bunch?) Or Tweet? Or do status updates?

Do you live your life giving off simplistic ideas of whatyou find important?

We need to be real; honest; and deeper than a bumper sticker.We need to live our lives among those who don’t know Jesusthe way He did. He took their pains to heart. He didn’t sin with them, but hedidn’t judge them. He did judge Pharisees because they wouldn’t judgethemselves. But for some reason sinners – who knew they were sinners – like tobe around him. Why is that? Maybe He just loved them.

Oh, Lord Jesus,it’s really hard to love some people. But I know you loved me in spite ofmyself, so it’s the least I can do, to love others for you.

That’s my prayer, what’s yours?

ClarkD

PS Remember - "This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing? -----(U R)"

Once I put on the sign:

“Its almost T__key Day!

What is missing? U R “

A 9th Inning Blast

2011-10-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

You know I'm not one that thinks that God favors one sports team over another. Right? You know I don't really think God hates Oklahoma Football. He never said, "Texas have I loved but OU have I hated."

Now I know there are some who are such big Albert Pujols* fans that they might think God favors the St. Louis Cardinals. Well I'm a Pujols fan AND a Josh Hamilton** fan, but, and trust me on this, God isn't favoring either team based on favoritism. (I am open to the possibility that God may have a hand in winners and losers as part of His overall rulership over the universe.)

So what I want to point out really has nothing to do with these teams but with 9th inning saves in general. Thursday night of this week, the Rangers were behind 1-0 going into the last (9th) inning, in the World Series, or "Fall Classic" if you prefer. (I won't confuse you with the top or bottom of the 9th, that really confuses some people-I have No Idea Why.)
But in the 9th inning, at their last chance 'at bat,' they score two runs and won the game!

There were three Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were their Persian names, who were going into the 9th inning behind, but instead of facing fastballs coming in high and hot they were facing Flames of fire high and hot. They didn't give up, they stepped up!

Job probably felt like he was behind 1000 to 1 in the 9th inning after losing his children, his wealth and having to listen to three so-called friends preach at him about how rotten he was day after day. But, he didn't give up like his wife told him to do.

And, of course, Esther and Mordecai, were behind by thousands or even millions when in the 9th inning she stepped up and swang for the fences. She needed to knock the stuffing out of it, go downtown with it, blast it into oblivion in order to win the day. What she didn't know of course was that God was giving her the perfect pitch, the perfect bat, and all the strength she needed to get the job done.

How do you know when you're in the 9th inning? When you know its all about over.
Either you're going to quit, or someone else is going to take you out of the game, or your going to die trying; but you know things can't keep on the way they are.
Well as Christians we know that even our death, in God's timing, and for His glory, is a victory. But we also know that now and then we get a victory this side of Heaven.
We see a soul saved, a person on death's door come back, a B+ on a final exam, and we know God has heard our prayers. He may have been silent for a long time but remember, even in the 9th inning, He is always saying Trust Me!

Keep trusting,
Clark D

*Albert Pujols, pro baseball player extroardinaire for the St.Louis cardinals; first baseman, slugger, all around good guy.
** Josh Hamilton, pro baseball player extroardinaire for the Texas Rangers; slugger etc. etc.

Don't Think I Can't Communicate With You

2011-10-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

Having been through the exciting yet often subjective world of Charismatic churches, I've grown leery (and weary) of people who have frequent leadings from God; especially when they appear contrary to scripture or just plain "out of someone's creative imagination."

However, I never want to sell God short on what He can do to impress Himself on mere humans. Even Charles Spurgeon once said that all the teachings or ordinances of the church can't replace the presence of God. They become like a sundial on a cloudy day. In other words, useless. Pretty strong speech for a strong reformed Baptist like C H Spurgeon.

So with this mind-set I set myself up for God to move in my world and rock my consciousness!
And He did.

It was last night. At a Lord's Supper service out in the country in a camp setting. I and many other ministers and pastors worshiped together and then someone besides us administered the Supper.
It was a warm, blessed atmosphere, and I was pleasantly surprised how blessed I was to be a part of it.
I went forward picked a piece of motzah and a small cup of juice and headed back to my seat.

I ate the bread while climbing a couple rows up in this outdoor rock amphitheater, where people were spread out and few were sitting very close to another. As I sat I raised the cup to drink and stopped short as a strangled cry rose up though my throat. I got a grip, got in control, telling myself that this service was more for the three young men who had joined our ranks in this learning group we were all part of. I was afraid if I made any noise I would become the center of attention, drawing focus away from Christ and these new inductees.

As I started to drink it happened again only this time it turned into a sob. It lingered and my shoulders and whole body seemed to be weeping.
I didn't know why.
Then I remember a story of Luther, when he was a young Catholic minister, saying his very first Mass. When he got to the words "This is my body", where the wine, that he held up in a chalice, would turn into the actual blood of Christ, he stopped and was immobile for sometime until he mumbled himself through the rest of the the Mass.
Later when asked what happened he said at that moment when the wine would be turned to blood he realised his inadequacy to hold the perfect innocent blood of Christ. That his dirty, sinful hands would hold the cup of God was overwhelming to him.

But there I was holding grape juice, knowing it was only grape juice and weeping because of my unworthiness to hold even that; much less handle God's word everyday. Or, to use my sinful brain to contemplate scripture and to use my sinful lips to proclaim it. I was just sobbing before the Lord.

Then it was as if the Lord was pushing me slowly but firmly down to my knees to worship before Him. I didn't see Jesus, I didn't feel His hand on my shoulder. I was just aware than in my heart I was weeping for mercy and grace had set me free. A burden seemed lifted. A sin removed. An oppression evaporated into thin air.

Then, as I was kneeling in my heart before the Lord, it was as if He said, "So, you don't think I can communicate with you?"
Part of me thought, "I never said tha!." But another part of me just said "Yes Lord, you can."

We don't decide when God will show up. We can plan, but God keeps His own counsel. Man proposes, God disposes.

Blessed Be His Name.

One other note, before the burden lifted off my shoulders, two sweet sisters came and prayed for me. Not to counsel or ask questions, just to pray as God did His business with me. Thanks!

A 9-1-1 Remembrance

2011-09-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

It’s been said thatMinisters are called on to say something when no-one else knows what to say (Al Mohler I think). It’snot a fun position to be in. At the home of a family who have just lost a childor when something terrible like 911 happens, people look to ministers for wisdomand help for their hurt.

Sometimes we’respeechless. Sometimes we’re hurting, too. We can’t make any more sense of awicked evil terrorist attack than anyone else. But we try and sometimes we don’tdo a very good job.

Some people will say, “Remember,God didn’t do this, men did.” But everybody knows if God is all powerful Hecould have stopped it and He didn’t.

Or we can answer likeJesus did when they asked him about the tower that fell in Jerusalem and killedsome folks. He said, “And if you don’t repent, you will likewise perish.” It’sinteresting that Jesus didn’t always say comforting words.

In our country we debatewhether we should be at war. When we aren’t at war some people think we shouldbe.

We debate whether to showthe planes hitting the towers on TV. Some say show it, some say don’t.

We debate how much ourchildren should know about this evil world we live in.

But as horrible as thosepictures are that show people dying on 911, there is another picture just ashorrible.

We like to say that thepeople who were killed on 911 were innocent. Where they? The Bible says for allhave sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Now I don’t think they deservedto die that day! They were not enemycombatants! Only grossly evil cowards attack those unarmed!

But, compared to Jesus,there wasn’t an innocent one in the whole group! And yet innocent Jesus died a slowbloody death.

Jesus didn’t endure thewrath of terrorists; He endured the wrath of His own Father. Why? For those whowould be saved!

SO, we mourn those thatdied that day.

We honor those that gave their lives trying to rescue thevictims.

We give thanks for those who came after the fact to treat themmedically and spiritually.

And, we are very grateful that 40% of the Baptist Churchesin Manhattan NY have been started in the last 10 years!

Brig. Gen J. Spivey-Chaplain

And while we promise tonever forget the 911 tragedy, we cannot possibly forget the Passover tragedy,when Jesus our Savior died in our place.

And we need to remember,Muslims are not our enemies. They need Jesus. Even the radicals.

1Co 15:51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all bechanged, 52 In a moment, in thetwinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and thedead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptiblemust put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptibleshall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality,then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed upin victory. 55O death,where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death issin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which gives us thevictory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

2011-08-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

Ever heard this line? "No good deed goes unpunished." Ever felt this way? I have. Does that mean we stop doing the right thing? I hope not. Or else why would God gives us all these verses about suffering?

2Ti_3:12 ...all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

1Pe_2:20 what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But when you do good and suffer, and you endure, this is a gracious thing...

1Pe_3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1Pe_3:17 For it is better ... that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1Pe_4:16 if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Suffering is bad, I hate it. But I wish I didn't hate it so, I should learn to embrace it and identify with Christ even more. I don't mean I should go nail myself to a cross or crawl on my hands and knees to Nashville or anything like that. I just mean, in the course of doing the right thing and suffering for it, I ought to rejoice and "glorify God on this behalf."

I know and accept that not everybody likes me, or thinks I'm great, or funny, or even bright. That's OK. Disappointing but OK. I understand it. I'm an "Acquired taste." I'd like to say I'm an exquisite taste but "Acquired" is already stretching it.

But to be villified, wow! Who knew? What did I do to alienate and anger some people? I certainly didn't mean to, and it pains me to think I'm at fault here. But let's face it, if several people are mad at you whats the common denominator? You. Or in this case; me!

But until I know that I'm suffering for UN-righteousness, I'm going to force myself to rejoice and truly thank the Lord Jesus for suffering for me, and giving me even the smallest, tiniest, infinitesimal glimpse into suffering for righteousness sake.

Daniel did it, Mordecai did it, Paul and Silas did it and by the grace of God so can I.

Important Questions From Ministers and Churches

2011-08-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

Thom Raller of Lifeway fame, has shared a few of his favorite Questions that he has received. I think they deserve a hearing... or viewing.

· Who is the worst pastor in the United States?

· Is it illegal to kill a bad deacon?

· Should I be concerned if most of the members are complaining about the length of my sermons?

· Should we report our church split as a new church start?

· Can you give me a list of all the churches in America that are either growing or not growing?

· Would you please recommend me to serve as pastor of one of the largest 100 churches that don’t currently have a pastor?

· Our church had 210 in average worship attendance a year ago. Today the attendance is 640. Is that good?

· Would you serve as a reference on my resume? I’m sorry about what I said about you on that blog.

· My wife does not like my sermons. Can you help me?

· Our church has run off seven pastors in the past eight years. Do you think we have a problem?

To that I would add some that have come my way:

What if my church doesn't notice when I say something heretical?

Our church had 110 a year ago, now its at 55, should I be concerned?

Is giving people a free breakfast on Sundays and a $5 gas card at the end of the service a good way to build the Kingdom?

What other kind of job can a pastor get if he gets fired?

Is it true some people pray for More funerals?

To this I would also add, love your church, love your pastor, talk to him not about him, and accept him as a frail creature of dust, desperately in need of God's wisdom.

Mr. Cain, What About Equal Rights For Muslims?

2011-07-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

Amendment #1 To the Constitution of the United States: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Herman Cain said cities and peoples should be able to stop a mosque from being built in their neighborhoods and city limits. I like Herman Cain. He's bringing a breath of fresh air to the Party not unlike Rev. Jackson did to the Democrats a couple decades ago. But he missed this one.

What part of "make no law" and "Free exercise" is unclear to him? If an Imam or teacher in a mosque starts making political statements they'll lose their tax exempt status. If they begin to incite violence, they'll be arrested, if they try to get Sharia law voted in, it tii will be in violation of the constitution and be overturned. There are laws for these things. But when government stops the Muslims, Buhddists, Bahai's, Hindus, Sikhs, Mormons, or even satanists from building a place of worship or meeting or what ever, then the constitution is being violated and the question MUST arise, "Who's Next? Christians and Jews?"

Here's an excellent exerpt from Ed Stetzer's recent blog that says it well:*

The Qur'an, sura 2 ayat 256, says plainly, "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out

clear from Error: whoever rejects Taghut (evil) and believes in Allah hath grasped the most

trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things."

In his book All about Hinduism, Sri Swami Sivananda, a well-known proponent of yoga and Vedanta,

writes, "Hinduism is a religion of freedom. It allows the widest freedom in matters of faith and

worship. It allows absolute freedom to the human reason and heart with regard to questions such

as the nature of God, soul, creation, form of worship, and goal of life. It does not force anybody

to accept particular dogmas or forms of worship."

No matter where we live or what religion we follow, we should not demand for ourselves that which we are unwilling to grant others--freedom from compulsion and from discrimination on the basis of creed.

...Emperor Ashoka was a great force in the early Buddhist missionary movement. He built large

pillars inscribed with the core values of his faith. Among the inscriptions, we find the following:

"One must not exalt one's creed discrediting all others, nor must one degrade these others

without legitimate reasons. One must, on the contrary, render to other creeds the honor befitting them."

Jesus' closest followers had trouble understanding that force was forbidden in religion. One day

he was walking toward Jerusalem and entered a Samaritan village. The people of Samaria

did not respect the faith of the Jews. Jesus sent two of his closest followers, James and John,

to go ahead of him and prepare for them to stay.

When the Samaritans refused to receive Jesus, James and John responded angrily, asking

Jesus to call down fire from heaven to punish them. But Jesus said that the use of force was

out of place for his message, and he rebuked them for making such a suggestion (Luke 9:54-55).

Whenever Christians have tried to use force to advance the gospel, they have acted against the

wishes of Jesus.

Not long ago, in Bangladesh, eight Christians were kidnapped by Buddhist extremists, who

brought the group into their temple. The Christians had their heads shaved, were

forced to wear Buddhist robes, were made to clean out the temple, and were forced to bow down

to an idol. During their captivity, they were threatened with severe punishment.

Their wives were forced to bow before an idol each day before being allowed to give the captives food.

Muslims in the United States have received threats by so-called followers of Christ. In central Nigeria,

rivalry between Muslim and Christian villagers has frequently resulted in deadly attacks--

Muslim against Christian, Christian against Muslim--over the past decade.

In the spirit of mutual respect and tolerance, Muslims should be free to build a masjid

where they live, and Christians should defend their religious freedom to do so.

At the same time, Christians should be free to plant churches in places like

Bhutan, the Maldives, Brunei, and Saudi Arabia. No matter where we live or

what religion we follow, we should not demand for ourselves that which we are

unwilling to grant others--freedom from compulsion, freedom from discrimination on

the basis of creed, and freedom of conscience.*

_____________

Come on Christians. Are we afraid the truth will be defeated? Are we afraid of Sharia? REALLY? News of the death of the US Constitution are greatly over-rated. It's not dead. God's not dead. And if the US falls and the constitution goes with it, GOD is STILL not dead.

Now get ready to throw something at me but I have a news flash. When Jesus returns He won't need the Constitution, the Bill of Rights or the flag. They will all cease to be. We can say so long, it's been a great ride. We can say thanks to the founding Fathers if we want. But Frankly the governments of this world are not worthy to be compared to the Kingdom of God. And God will build His church (and Kingdom) and the gates of Hell, USA, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and Lithuania shall not prevail against it.

To quote Mohammed: Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error.

Hey even a broken clock is right twice a day.

To Quote the US Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting establishment of religion or prohibiting the Free Exercise thereof;...

To Quote the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ in Holy Scripture: They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto death."

*http://www.edstetzer.com/2011/07/freedom-of-religion-has-to-be.html

So Long Tommy; Here, There or In the Air!

2011-06-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Facebook informed me, in one of those little boxes in the upper right corner of my home page, that it was Tommy Teague's Birthday. I didn't send him a birthday message because I figured he'd get a hundred or more.

Tommy pastors a large church on the northeast edge of Fort Worth, North Richland Hills Baptist Church. He was a mentor to me in my final semester of seminary in 2007, even though we were almost the same age. He encouraged me, challenged me, asked me hard questions, and prayed for me.

He used to serve on staff at First Baptist Dallas, an even larger church where part of his duties included helping their long time pastor, W.A.Criswell, to facilitate his plans and assist him in ministry.

Today I hear that early this morning, while in his hotel room in Israel, where he was leading a group through a Holy Land tour, he died of a heart attack.

I'm really sad. I know he's in Heaven, I know he is blissfully ecstatic beyond any of our wildest dreams. But Even though we weren't "close", I know he will be sorely missed by his church, his bride, his children, and everyone who knew him.

That a man as busy as he is would take the time to meet with me every week for 14 weeks when he had no vested interest in helping me, but just did it to serve the Lord, that makes a mark on your life. The way he did it left an even bigger mark. I learned from him. I still can play back in my mind several things he said to me.

Years ago, when I was a young Christian in my late teens, some of us had a saying when we were saying goodbye to each other: "Here there or in the air." Implying we'd see each other around whether here on earth, in Heaven, or during the rapture while we were heaven bound flying upwards.

Now I know, I'll see Tommy not here or in the air, but definitely I'll see him there!
Dr. Tommy Teague.

So long my friend.

Francis Chan’s Erasing Hell: a response to Rob Bell’s Love Wins-Guest Blog By Randy Alcorn

2011-06-22T04:51:00.000-07:00

Please consider this book revie3w from Randy Alcorn, which is, as usual, very well written.
From :http://www.epm.org/blog/2011/Jun/22/francis-chans-erasing-hell

By Randy Alcorn

I spoke about Mark Galli’s God Wins in the previous blog. (The ebook is now available on Amazon.) Today I’ll deal with Francis Chan’s Erasing Hell, another response to Rob Bell’s Love Wins. Then I’ll compare Chan’s book to Galli’s.

In Erasing Hell, Francis Chan speaks with compassion. You can almost feel him trembling over the issues at stake. He recognizes this debate is about God, His nature and His authority. I sensed both humility and prophetic power in this book.
I’ve talked with Francis personally and been at a few conferences where he’s spoken. It’s like watching a fire burn—you don’t know exactly what’s coming next. That same passion is on the pages of his book. Chan lays his heart on the table. It’s rare that a book mixes straight-from-the-heart talk with careful citation of Scripture. Erasing Hell does exactly that. I was not only informed, but moved.

What I read wasn’t the final edit, so some of the contents may have changed by the time the book’s released in early July. But these were some of the chapters:
Does Everyone Go to Heaven?Has Hell Changed? Or Have We?What Jesus Actually Said About Hell

Chan’s book goes deep and detailed exactly when it needs to. It occasionally appeals to the original languages, e.g. the meaning of the Greek words Gehenna and aionos. It does so in order to deal with misleading statements about those terms in Love Wins.
The author explains that he asked his friend Preston Sprinkle to assist him in the research. That research and Francis Chan’s presentation are a dynamic combination.
Chan is honest, admitting that when it comes to Matthew 25:46 “everything in me wants to interpret it differently, to make it say something that fits my own view of justice and morality.” Then he adds, “But from what I can tell, this is what the text is saying.”
One of the tests of whether we truly believe in the authority of God’s Word is whether or not we bow to it and accept it by faith even when it is painful or disturbing to do so. (What should it tell us if the Bible seems to always agree with us?) Chan models this approach to biblical interpretation. Will we pridefully believe what we want to, or humbly believe whatever God has told us?
C. S. Lewis said of Hell, “There is no doctrine which I would more willingly remove from Christianity than this, if it lay in my power. But it has the full support of Scripture and, specially, of our Lord’s own words; it has always been held by Christendom; and it has the support of reason.” Dorothy Sayers, another broad-minded Christian, claimed, “We cannot repudiate Hell without altogether repudiating Christ.”

Too many Christians choose to believe whatever makes them feel good, while they ignore, deny, or reinterpret Scripture when it doesn’t fit culture’s current definition of love and tolerance. Hence, culture and the reader of Scripture become the authority, rather than Scripture itself. Faith becomes merely a collection of fleeting opinions, always subject to revision. That is something very different from historic, biblically grounded Christian faith.
Rather than apologize for God, Chan suggests we should apologize to God for presuming to be wiser and more loving than our Savior. Yet he does this while fully acknowledging the heart-rending difficulty of facing the existence of eternal Hell.
How does Erasing Hell compare to God Wins? I would describe Erasing Hell as passionate, biblically reasoned and pastoral. God Wins is historically rooted, theologically reasoned and journalistically precise. Someone who prefers thoughtfully presented theology and history might favor Galli’s book, while someone who enjoys careful exposition of key biblical passages and likes to connect with an author on an emotional level might prefer Chan’s.

I deeply appreciated both books; their content is sufficiently unique to justify reading both. I think it’s a God-thing that these small books are so different, yet complement each other with minimal redundancy. With their different backgrounds, personalities, life experiences, and writing styles, Mark Galli and Francis Chan each bring to the table things the other doesn’t. Reading them back to back, I found they produced a stereo effect that made the sound fuller than either on its own.
These are both small books. Combined, they are less than 80,000 words, which would total one medium-sized book, still smaller than most theological books. If you are thinking a book can’t be that great if it’s just a critique, realize that both of these authors don’t just respond to Bell, they set forth a positive case for a central biblical doctrine. (Remember too that Luther’s classic On the Bondage of the Will, which he considered his best book, was actually a critical response to a book on free will written by Erasmus.)
I love that these authors don’t throw anyone under the bus for raising questions. But neither do they throw orthodox Christians throughout church history under the bus for believing the most difficult teachings of Jesus.
I was encouraged that both my sons-in-law clearly saw the danger of Bell’s book and rose to the occasion in their churches. One, a pastor, produced a podcast on Rob Bell’s book for his church and the other led a study of the book with men in his church. God Wins and Erasing Hell will be invaluable tools for pastors and lay leaders to guide believers in evaluating these doctrines.

Is it possible that God can be loving and that there is such a thing as eternal punishment? The Lord Jesus and Scripture, as understood by the great majority in the early church, the medieval church, the Reformation and the evangelical church, has always answered affirmatively.
Yes, Hell is dreadful, but it is not evil—it’s a place where evil gets punished. Something can be profoundly disturbing yet still be moral. Hell is moral because a good God must punish evil.
Much more is at stake here than the doctrine of Hell and the question of universalism. We don’t own the Christian faith. It isn’t ours to revise. God’s Word wasn’t meant to be given away piecemeal, leaving the next generation with leftovers. If we go on decade after decade parceling out fragments of the faith, what will be left? When we abandon truths Christians once died for, will we no longer have truths worth living for?

Both Chan and Galli recognize that the doctrine of hell isn’t a ballot measure, and God doesn’t give us a vote. There will be no end to dismantling doctrines if we consider it our calling to try to make God look good in our eyes and our culture’s. If his definition of good is different than ours, we dare not expect him to be the one who changes. The Almighty doesn’t need us to give him a facelift and airbrush his image. Our task is not to help people see God favorably but to see him accurately. God has the power, through the true gospel, to touch hearts and draw people to his love and grace while they fully affirm his holiness and justice. It’s not either/or, it’s both/and.
We are tempted to shrink God so he fits inside the borders of our minds. But those are small borders, and he is a big God. There’s great comfort in knowing a God who loves me but doesn’t need my counsel. The best part about Chan’s Erasing Hell and Galli’s God Wins is that as I read both these books, God became greater and I became less.

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The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions. It hushes their fears and allows them to practice all pleasant forms of iniquity while death draws every day nearer and the command to repent goes unheeded. A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1961), 95.

Rep Weiner is a Hot Dog

2011-06-11T16:25:00.000-07:00

So now top democrats are calling for Rep. Weiner (D) to resign. I'm not sure why, except they're embarrassed. He hasn't been formally charged with indecent exposure or contributing to the delinquency of a minor, although he is surely guilty of both simply due to the nature of the internet.
Here's the thing, First he has a really unfortunate name for the problems he has. And, secondly, not only as a Christian, but also as a father of three girls and grandfather too, I'm offended at his conduct as a public figure and elected representative of the people. I don't think his behavior is representative of a great many of his constituents. And thirdly, while the liberal media has been slow to criticize, compared with Rep. Foley and the thousands of emails from Former Gov. Palin which was making people salivate with possibilities but so far, nada, zip, zero; still, they have dealt with it some and the reason they have been reluctant to is it's really not "hard news" and its kinda embarrassing. Well, for Democrats, anyway, and most TV reporters are.

But there's another thing that bothers us. We are him and he is us and we are all together. Most men don't feel this way when a guy gets caught acting gay, because frankly there aren't many of us who even relate to that. (The number of gays in society is often greatly exaggerated.) But when it comes to getting caught up in a texting/flirting/sexting situation? Yeah, it could happen to any of us given the right situation. Or, at least, any of us guys could be tempted by a situation like this. I, personally, can't imagine allowing a pic of me nekkid floating around out there. But explicit emails? Yeah, it could happen to anyone...like I said, given the Right situation. (May it never happen to me!)

This leads me to be thankful, once again, for GRACE! Grace, as I taught some grade school children this week, is getting something good you don't deserve. God's grace is shown in so many ways because we don't deserve ANYTHING good to happen to us. A few clouds on a hot day? Grace! A nice rain after a dry spell? Grace! Forgiveness no matter what kind of bone-headed things we've done? Grace!I feel bad for Weiner, (Darn, what is his first name, I'd rather use that!) He got caught doing something stupid. Something God can forgive, but many of his constituents won't. And, if it's as bad and widespread as it seems to be, then that's probably as it should be. But poor representative friend, and you know who I mean, God will forgive you, if you humble yourself before Him and His Messiah Jesus Christ. As Jeremiah said, call on God and he will answer and show you great and might things! Jesus Saves and forgives!

And Now, a Cloud

2011-05-27T15:57:00.001-07:00

Isaac Watts: My Soul, My Life, My All

2011-05-21T21:35:00.000-07:00

I want to tell you today about a great man. He was a great notbecause he was big and strong because he wasn’t. He was 5 feet tall and had abig head. He was sickly most of his life. He could barely carry out his dutieswhen he was 30 yrs old, and yet he has impacted the world.

He wasn’ta great man because he was smart. But he was very smart. He wrote books used astextbooks at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Yale.

He wasn’ta great man because of his family, but he came from strong and brave stock. Hisgrandfather was the captain of a British warship in the mid 1600s; his fatherwas a teacher and a deacon in a dissenting church during a time when Englandwas persecuting the dissenters. His mother’s grandfather was a leader of theFrench Huguenots who were run out of France because of their faith.

No thisman was great because he trusted in a Great God at an early age, and shared hisfaith with the world. I’m talkingabout Isaac Watts.

He has been called the Reformer that Christians know byheart…but not by name.

Nowwhy should we know about this man? Well he is the father of English hymns, heinfluences hymn writers to this day, AND we sing a number of his songs inchurch. So who was this man?

Let meset the stage for the world Isaac Watts lived in.

Just 10 years before he wasborn the plague came to Southamptonand decimated it. Many who could afford it fled to London and other larger areas.The poor were left with very few shops and industry and no real economy. Thenthere was the English persecution ofthe dissenters. Those who believed they should be free to worship as they seethe Bible teaches. These were Baptist, Quakers, Presbyterians, Congregationalists,and later the Methodists.

Isaac’sown father a Congregationalist, was jailed several times for his beliefs. Itwas on his release from jail the first time that he married a young lady thatvery day. But then one year later when young Isaac was born, the father couldn’tbe there because he had been locked up again. During this time many Christiansdied from malnutrition and disease that was rampant in these nasty prisons. Hisfather was released the following year and slowly was able to start up hisschool again.

He startedteaching young Isaac Latin at 4 years old. He began writing in Latin at 6, at 9his father started teaching him Greek. That was also the year that he had smallpox!

But thenext year he began to tackle French. Most English didn’t learn French in thosedays, but there were many French descendants, like his mother, in the area andhe thought it was a good idea. Then at 13 he learned Hebrew.

He was so bright that a wealthy Doctorvolunteered to pay for his education at Oxford or Cambridge. But to do so, Isaacwould have to renounce his family’s Dissenting ways, and pledge fullfaithfulness to the Anglican Church. Isaac couldn’t do that. So he went to aless prestigious academy established for dissenters. He graduated there at 20and returned home for two years before he found a teaching position. It wasduring those two years, when Isaac wrote the bulk of his hymns. He was incrediblyprolific.

This whole hymn-writing hobby of hishad an interesting start. The English of his day didn’t sing hymns. The Germans hadfor 100 years, but all they sang in England were psalms set to a rather somberand difficult meter.

One dayIsaac was complaining after their church service that these songs are too coldand dark. The preaching at that time was sound biblical teaching by men withsome good education in the Bible. But to him the songs didn’t seem to fit. Sohis father said. Why don’t you write something suitable for our congregation forthis evening?

Some havesaid this was a sort of challenge, like someone saying, “If you think you cando better go ahead!” I think his dad knew he was up to the job.

When Isaac was 6 years old he wrote a poemand showed his mom and she couldn’t believe he really wrote it. So he went and wrote another, this time heused his own name.

I am a vile, polluted lump of earth

So I’ve continued ever since my birth

Although Jehovah, grace doth daily give me

As sure this monster, Satan, will deceiveme

Come therefore lord from Satan’s clawrelieve me.

Wash me in thy blood, o Christ

And grace divine impart

Then search and try the corners of myheart

That I in all things may be fit to do

Service to thee and thy praise too.

He continued to writeverses and poems, so one day his father says, “Isaac, you write a hymn.”

More about that later but there are someother things you should know about this great man.

Being strong in his faith, beingthe sonof a teacher and having received a degree to teach and bea minister, he had some strong beliefs. One of which was, ifyou are going to try to love the Lord with all your mind you need to be a goodthinker. He was influenced by the Empiricist philosophers of the day and tookto science and philosophy very well. This was the movement that taught thatknowledge came from empirical evidence that you could see and measure. It’s thebasis of modern science. And because of this emphasis he became known as agreat thinker. He wrote a book called Logic that was used as a text for manygenerations at Oxford, Cambridge, and even Harvard and Yale, it went thru 20editions. He wrote about Metaphysics, he wrote the first book of verses forchildren, and it went thru 100 editions! He published a major work on astronomyand wrote catechisms for little children to learn about Jesus.

But it’shis hymns that made him famous. In spite of the influence of Watts by philosophy,IsaacWatts knew there was another source for knowledge than just observation.The other source? The Word of Godreceived by faith.

Among his great writings in Philosophy,Astronomy, and Logic, he wrote hymns like these:

Alasand did my saviour bleed

Allhail the power of jesus name

ami a soldier of the cross

christthe lord is risen today

comeye that love the lord

Ohgod our help in ages past

wheni can read my title clear

jesusshall reign wheree’re the sun

joyto the world

wheni survey the wondrous cross.

In Americaa printer by the name of Benjamin Franklin printed his hymnbooks. Nobody seemsto know exactly how many he wrote. One man says 697, another over 700, another750. But among his less famous ones are a couple that looked interesting:

ARE ALLTHE FOES OF ZION FOOLS? And, FATHER WEWAIT TO FEEL THY GRACE.

That lasttitle suggests something. Isaac Watts wasn’t just a man given over to thepassion of Objective Thinking and Logic and Objective Theological statements.He was also the subjective experiential lover of Christ and man of faith.

Thinkabout two of His greatest hymns for a second.

First, Joyto the World.Because of the tune that we sing it to this is one of the most joyful hymns butit’s also one of the most doctrinal! It’s all written in the third person. Listen:

From thetext in Luke 2:10 I bring you good tidingsof great joy.”Isaac Watts writes:

Joy to theworld, the Lord is come!

Let earthreceive her King;

Let everyheart prepare Him room,

And Heavenand nature sing,

AndHeaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to theearth, the Savior reigns!

Let mentheir songs employ;

Whilefields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat thesounding joy,

Repeat,repeat, the sounding joy.

No morelet sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thornsinfest the ground;

He comesto make His blessings flow

Far as thecurse is found,

Far as,far as, the curse is found.

He rulesthe world with truth and grace,

And makes thenations prove

Theglories of His righteousness,

Andwonders of His love,

Andwonders, wonders, of His love.

Butcompare that to the next song, it’s all written in first person. Joy to the worldis made up of objective truths about God. And he wrote many songs like that.But he also wrote songs like this: WHEN I SURVEY:

From Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our LordJesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Isaac Watts made it verypersonal and wrote:

When I survey the wondrous cross

On whichthe Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pourcontempt on all my pride.

Forbid it,Lord, that I should boast,

Save inthe death of Christ my God!

All thevain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow andlove flow mingled down!

Did e’ersuch love and sorrow meet?

Or thornscompose so rich a crown?

Hisdying crimson,like a robe,

Spreadso’er His body on the tree;

Then I am dead to all the globe,

And allthe globe is dead to me.

Were thewhole realm of nature mine?

That werea present far too small;

Love soamazing, so divine,

Demandsmy soul, my life, my all

There isanguish here.

Anguishfor sins committed.

Anguish fora life spent on self.

Anguishfor the inadequacy of what we have to offer.

Anguishbecause God’s Holiness demands a price we can never pay.

Anguishbecause of the price our Lord, who loves us so much, paid on our behalf.

Thatleaves only one action. All the logic in the world can’t dispute that Jesusdeserves our souls, our lives, our all.

Does Jesus have your all today? Does He?

Oh Hell!

2011-05-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

Little did I knowwhen I preached a series on Heaven and Hell two years ago that Hell was goingto soon be in the news big time? Hell! Recently Bill O’Reillyon Fox and Martin Basher on MSNBC,even good morning Americahas discussed it! How would you like to wake up to THAT conversation?

First let me say this is not a response to Rob Bell's Book, Love Wins But his book did give rise to this discussion. So consider this a brief polemic on the doctrine of eternal punishment. (Justology?)

Next let me say 's a given that not asingle liberal theologian believes in any type of traditional view of Hell. Also, most conservative theologiansbelieve in some version of eternal punishment. There are a handful of conservative theologians whobelieve that Hell ultimately destroys, or annihilates, the soul and it ceasesto exist. But that’s not the same as saying there is no Hell, or that Hell is here on earth, or that someday all the people in Hell will be allowed into Heaven, or that all Hell will break loose! (I just added the last one for fun.)

Then let me say, Nobody in their rightmind ‘likes’ the idea of Hell! It’s a horrible, terrible concept. Eternalsuffering? Are you kidding? If it is put to a vote, I’d be tempted to vote against it! And ifyou ask, what about Hitler or Osama bin laden, I’dsay I don’t think they’ll be in Heaven but I don’t care if they are in tortureforever. Let them be annihilated. I’m ok with that! (But not too quickly, I mean as long as I'm voting.)

You see our thinking wants to say, there’senough trouble here on earth for some people, let’s

just say Hell is here onearth and be done with it. OK? Is that alright?

No,it’s not alright. Because Jesus says something different. And I’m alwaysgoing to go with what Jesus said,above human ideas and foolish daydreaming.

UnderAttack: The doctrine of Hell. Jonathan Edwards wrote of hell: This doctrine is indeed awful anddreadful. It is dreadful to think of it, but yet tis what God, the eternal God,who made us and who has us soul and body in his hands, has abundantly declaredunto us, so that so sure as God is true there will absolutely be no end to themisery of hell.

Listen to John MacArthur on hell: This truth of eternal punishment to come onthose who do not believe the gospel …is a painful message to preach. … It’s notonly a painful message to preach, it is a painful message to hear. It is apainful message to process. It is a painful truth to apply, but it is biblical.

So what did Jesussay on this subject? 15 times Jesusreferenced Hell. 6 times Jesus talksabout eternal fire and the fire of punishment. Jesustalks about Hell more than anyone. So if you don’t believe in Hell you’ll findyourself arguing with Jesus, not me.

Mat 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the

eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ...46 And these will go away into eternal

punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Mar 9:43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life

crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.

Accordingto Jesus:

Hell isouter darkness (Mat 22:13) where there’s weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mat 8:12).

Hell’s a fiery furnace (Mat13:42, 50) unquenchable fires (Mk 9:48-49). Hell is spiritual destruction (Mat 10:28) where there are endless torments (Lu 16:23-24).

In Short: Hell is a horrible place with agony, terror, and anguish.

Some people still say, “I don’t care, I just don’t believe in eternal punishment.” To be consistent then you can't believe in eternal Heaven. In Matt 5:46 (above) Jesususes the same word ‘aionos’ which means eternal, to describe both of them. Ifyou don’t believe in an eternal Hell, then how can you believe in an eternalheaven?

Englishspeaking people have a history of stories ending with “And they all livedhappily ever after.” I read stories like that to all 3 of my girls as the were growing up. Usually it sounded like this: "...and they all lived happily ever after, now go to sleep.

Daughter, "Did the Prince and Princess have babies?"

"Yes, go to sleep."

Daughter, "What are their names?"

"Good ni-ight."

"Can I have a drink?" (but I digress)

You know what we call those kind of stories? Fairy tales.

And anyone who says that God is going to make it allwork out, no one will be punished forever and everyone lives happily everafter…its a fairy tale!

Some say the whole idea of Heaven is a Fairy Tale. Understandable, but I'm basing this on the words of Christ Jesus.

Doesn’t Jesus say (Mat 10:28) that thesoul will be destroyed in Hell? Yes Hedoes, that word comes from a root meaning mar, punish or ruin. There‘s another wordthat means disintegrate, to demolish. Jesususes that for the Temple,not the soul.

Part of our problem is we are fair-minded Americans. We think weare more fair minded than God, or God is more fair minded than the Biblesuggests.

For instance, If I punch my friend Markin the nose, he would be justified to repay me with the same. Or he might callthe law. But if he does the smart thing he’ll get me calmed down and then I’llfeel guilty and apologize and he can hold this over my head the rest of mylife.

BUT, what if I walk up to President Obama and punch him in the nose. Before hegets a chance to forgive me or invite me to a beer summit, I’ll be body slammed by 3 or 4 Secret service men,handcuffed taken to jail and I won’t get out for a long time. And that is as it should be, He's the President!

In other words, the punishment fits the crime. Now RobBell, a pastor who wrote a book questioning the reality of Hell, might ask, why wouldGod punish for eternity someone who only sinned for 70 or 80 years, and in factis guilty of one primary sin, that of rejecting Jesus. Will God punish thatperson FOREVER? Wouldn’t God make the punishment fit the crime? Surely thewicked will be punished; but forever? All I can say to this logic is this:

Any sin againstthe infinitely holy, infinitely loving, and infinitely JUST God is a crime ofeternity. Not a crime of 70 or 80 years but a crime of infinite proportion.

You want to deny Hell? Go ahead and deny the Abject, Fearful, Holiness ofGod.

And when you begin to think of the eternal nature of Hell, don’t pictureyour loved ones or friends going there… picture yourself. What do you deserve?

I don’t believe you can scare people intoheaven, but they need to hear the truth, that’s why Jesuswarned us of Hell.

And I'm glad that Jesus is the Seeker of the Lost!

20 Things Men Should Know About Women

2011-05-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

(I was going to call this "From the mouths of Babes" but that would be tacky!-CD)

May 09 2011

From Guest Blogger Chad Missildine @ http://thewayitcouldbe.com/

20 Things Men Should Know About Women

Repost: I posted this online recently: Ladies, what is one thing men should know about women? Your answers will B a blog post. Ready, go! Here are the responses:

Macy Missildine (she says this a lot) If you are going to be there, be all there!

cindybeall When we say we’re “fine”, we’re really not. K? (In response to your ladies question)

_taylorlen if we put conscious effort into getting ready, please tell us we look good. you may be thinking it, but we need to hear it!

Anna_Light women like to talk. If you want to score some points ask them a question that sparks conversation. Oh and listen too!

melissamoore the vast majority of us mean what we say. If you ask & we tell you what we want/need, just do it. We loathe being ignored.

Jubilee888 Listen to our input with respect & pray about it; men are supposed to lead, but God didn’t give them ALL the answers.

rndspringer What we wish men knew: Sometimes we don’t want you to fix it, we just want you to listen.

ajkasza Women want their men 2 provide ldrship/ security–keep your job, keep your temper, keep your focus on God/home/family. Hope this helps!

katiemoon 1+ thing men should know: don’t b intimated when women r strong & don’t b afraid to lead even stronger.

kebrennan Men: We don’t always want you to “fix” it. Sometimes we just want you to listen.

Ashley Reaka Most of the time we do not need you to fix something, we just need you to listen to us even if it is difficult for you to understand.

Sandy Collum Sandmeyer We really do expect you to read our minds. That’s a flaw, we’re really sorry.

Shelley R. Smith if you cannot read my mind, ask me what’s going on in there. :0) communication is the key that will unlock the treasure chest and help you solve the mystery that is me.

Angela Nevius Dormer husbands, show your appreciation and attention when we dress modestly in public… then maybe we won’t desire to get attention from other men by dressing otherwise! (my man is the best at this!)

Christine Ramos Sarcione That we are most attracted to them when we see them playing with their children, laughing and having a great time!

Emily Tate We’re going to assume that every action/inaction of a man has a meaning behind it, even if it doesn’t.

Donna Ecton Don’t make assumptions or stereotypes about women. I’m not going to be/act/like a certain way because “women are supposed to/ that’s what women do”. That is so irritating! For instance, I’m not really that into shopping for clothes, handbags, etc. That doesn’t make me “weird”. Oh and don’t just shrug off our emotions to hormones. That invalidates our feelings.

Well ladies, love for you to add to the list in the comments! Gentlemen, thoughts?

For Pastors: How Does an Under-shepherd Stay Faithful to the Chief Shepherd?

2011-05-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

A GUEST BLOG:

Pastors are supposed to build up the flock, right? They're supposed to stir believers on to godliness and service. We're supposed to be positive, gracious, winsome, congenial, frugal, sweet, and always out visiting the right people. Oh, and we're supposed to know at least the book and the chapter of any and every verse they think of. In short, they're supposed to be nigh on to perfect.

So what do we do when the very words of Jesus come into play in a situation without violating any of the above?
For instance:

Mat 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

How do you tell someone who has gone on and on about how much "The Lord has blessed them financially" before laying down a sizable check on the Sunday School room table? How do you tell them, the Lord isn't accepting your offering? Or do you just shut up and keep it. Let the giver and God sort out what sort of blessing, if any, the giver will receive?

Then there's:
Mat 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Say there is a woman who doesn't show the qualities and character that the pastor believes a Christian Lady ought to show, but she always likes to pray in front of others. You don't want to explain to everyone why this person should not be in leadership or 'leading' in prayer. You still hope to help her grow and repent. Her problem might be more about willful disobedience than immaturity. But for the time being you have to make a call, for the woman's benefit and for the church. Am I right?

Then there is the command to all believers:
Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

I don't want to be at odds with anyone. I don't like to make enemies, it's just in my nature to try to keep people happy. OK? I want people to like me. So sue me. BUT, I have to do whats right because I will answer to God for how I pastored His flock. So if I have offended someone and they DO, in fact, have something against me, I should apologize and make restitution.
But, what if they just THINK they have ought against me. What if they are upset with me when I was just trying to do what is right. What if a pastor doesn't believe, after soul-searching prayer, that he has truly hurt them in any way?
Notice that Jesus didn't say that the brother "thinks" he has ought against, or thinks that a person has in some way hurt him, taken from him, damaged his character etc. etc. If a man says he is offended him that may be true. But they may have offended him with the truth, and therefore owe no apology.
Still, it's my desire and command to bring unity within the church, and that I will try to do. Often, a perceived injury is often the result of misunderstanding.

Then a shoe gets put on another foot:

Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

This is one of the hardest steps of church discipline to take. Not the first part possibly, although that too is difficult. But taking someone with you who is mature enough in the Lord to put what the Bible says above feelings. Then to approach them in a restorative way, giving them every benefit of doubt, but still calling them to repentance.
Then, what do you do when the person confesses his faults, then does something else wrong and leaves the church. If the sheep says it's leaving the church does the shepherd still go after it? Then if it joins another flock do you forget about it or warn the other shepherd?

And then:
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

And this is one of the trickiest situations of all; when a pastor perceives and discerns that one of the sheep is a wolf, but none of the other sheep see it. The pastor's responsibility is to God first, then to the protection of the flock. Sometimes the flock doesn't want protection. Sometimes they want the pastor to go through diversity training so he will learn not to discriminate against wolves. (Poor little things.) After all maybe the wolf wants to be a saved wolf!

Just points to ponder for pastors.

Shelter From the Storm (Lyrics)

2011-05-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

Resting in your holiness, the only place it's safe to be,
I find myself so blessed, I find myself so free.
And when I take a stand for you, or go where I am called,
The enemy may rise up against me but I know I won't fall.

I've got a shelter from the storm, I have a place where it is warm,
I have a hiding place in you.
And I'll never fall away because I'm saved by grace, and grace will keep me ever true,
I have a hiding place in you, I have a hiding place in you.

I don't face the world alone, I face it side by side,
With the One who's on the throne, the One who bled and died
To give this world it's only hope, He wants you to come in.
He wants to give you Holy Life He wants to be your friend.

To be your shelter from the storm, your place where it is warm,I have a hiding place in you.
And I'll never fall away because I'm saved by grace, and grace will keep me ever true,
I have a hiding place in you, I have a hiding place in you.

And I'm not ashamed to say, I know the only way,
I can reach anyone is to be in touch with you.
For I want them to see, they can be from sin set free,
And just like me they can always run to You.

And find their shelter from the storm, Their place where it is warm,They'll have a hiding place in you.
And they'll never fall away 'cause it's all by grace, and grace will keep them ever true,
We have a hiding place in you, We have a hiding place in you.

(copyright 1997 Clark Dunlap)

An Open Letter to Francis Chan

2011-04-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Bro. Chan,

I don’t know ya, I’d like to call you Francis but I’ll wait till youtell me it’s OK. I don’t think you’ll mind, still…

I just am very frustrated with your criticisms of the church. I think youshould be a little nicer to the body and bride of Christ.

This is not to say that there isn’t room for corrective messages.Certainly, we all know that we are to restore our fallen brothers and sisters.We all are to pull the plank out of our own eyes before taking the speck out ofour neighbor's eye. But those things are very specific. Do you have a brothergetting drunk? Correct him biblically. Do you have a sister engaging in gossip?Correct her biblically. But complaining about worship services? Where’s yourchapter and verse? Sounds like a lot of personal opinion and preference fromhere.

To quote from the Christian Post online[1]:

“Church today has become predictable, says bestselling author andinfluential preacher Francis Chan. "You go to a building, someone givesyou a bulletin, you sit in a chair, you sing a few songs, a guy delivers maybea polished message, maybe not, someone sings a solo, you go home," Chansays in his latest "BASIC" video.” “The Crazy Love author isconcerned about the big disconnect between what the church looks like today andwhat it looked like 2,000 years ago.”

Brother Chan, 2000 years ago they were dirt poor and met in the woodsto keep from being persecuted. If that day comes again we’ll be in the sameboat. We have brothers and sisters around the world facing these things andmany of us pray for them. And about the modern worship service, your point is?Can’t we try to do things excellently for the Glory of God? Excuse me. (And Inever said to anyone, “we’ll get you out in an hour.”)

Besides, this service is one small part of the week for the believer. Manyfellowship with other believers on a daily basis. Many pray for their friendswho are lost and look for opportunities to share Christ. Not all, of coursenot. Do you think this was not true 2000 years ago? Why did the scriptures haveto remind them to give an answer to every man, or, owe no man anything butlove. They needed reminders, too.

Chan: "When you read the New Testament, you see the Holy Spiritwas supposed to change everything so that this gathering of people who callthemselves Christians had this supernatural element about them," Chanexplains in the video series, produced by Flannel. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, people began speaking indifferent languages, people were being healed, and believers had a supernaturallove for one another. The fire that came down from heaven, that rush of wind,however, seems to have disappeared”, Chan points out.

Change everything? Did he change you? I’m sure he did. The Holy Spirithas changed me in a radical way! (Oooh,good idea for a book title.) I was lost, blind, crippled and dead, spirituallyspeaking, but now I am alive in Christ. I am putting to death my flesh, I amtrying to take up my cross. And I’m not alone! Millions of Christians are doingthat. And millions are giving their tithes and offerings to support Christianworkers and hundreds of thousands of Missionaries around the world. [2]

Chan: "Do you really see this supernatural power at work when thebelievers gather together for what we call church?" he asks. "Isn'tit the same Holy Spirit that's supposed to be available to us today? Why is itso different?"

No, I don’t see the Holy Spirit falling on us like the day of Pentecostor like on Gentile believers that Peter preached to. What can we do about it? Thisis where I think you have some good things to say. But give us hard, specific, concretedetails about how to be the kind of yielded, cross-bearing disciples, and unifiedpeople that God can trust with the power of the Spirit. That would be good tohear, but I promise you, you cannot guarantee that the Holy Spirit will fallin America as he has in the past.

I hear from missionaries and Christians in unevangelized countries thatGod still does the miraculous. I am inclined to believe that. But they willagree that the greatest miracle is still the change of a hardened fallen heart,into a repentant heart of saving faith. This miracle still happens here in theUSA.

The article continues, “Chan's frustrations with the church today arewhat inspired the "BASIC" series. He was successfully leading amega-church in Simi Valley, Calif., when he began to question and rethink"how we do church." He began feeling uncomfortable with peopledriving long distances just to hear him speak every weekend and with churchhaving become a once-a-week routine. After 16 years at Cornerstone Church, helet go of the reins in 2010 and traveled to Asia where he and his family spenttime with persecuted Christians and orphans.”

Bro. Chan, your passion is admirable. Why is it though, I hear thesnapping and cracking of passion Freezing into legalism. “Are you Radical forChrist? You have to prove it or you’re not. You have to walk away from yourjob. You have to go to a third world country. On and on and on.” Seriously?

Before I get excoriated, YES, I know, we do forsake all for Christ. AndI have and will continue to by God's grace. But if obeying the Lord is to stay in the USA andstay at my job, don’t tell me to do otherwise. As much as I love Keith Greenand the songs that helped shape my Christian childhood, Keith was wrong aboutone thing at least, Jesus did not "command us to go", as one of his songs said.Jesus commanded us to make disciples; here, there and everywhere.

Chan: "I heard one person say the church nowadays is neither supernor natural," he says. "Everything is predictable and everything isexpected." "There's a truth to that," he admits. "I feelbad about it. Being around a church culture, even leading a gathering ofbelievers, I've gotten pretty good at predicting what's going to happen in achurch service. Was that the way it was supposed to happen?"

So, unpredictability is the sign of the Holy Spirit? I thought it wasboldness to preach the gospel. Predictability isn’t necessarily a sign of God’swork but maybe its cultural.

Chan: "When Jesus said this power (of the Holy Spirit) would come uponyou, it really did come upon them and they were powerful beings (Jesus'disciples)," Chan points out. "Why is it that in the church so manypeople are weak or defeated or we get so insecure because we look at ourselvesrather than God? It doesn't make sense."

Ah, yes, here’s the voice of a pastor. Yes many are weak and defeated.That shouldn’t be so. But it was so long ago as well. Why was the book ofHebrews written? Because there were many believers about to lose heart andreturn to Judaism.

Chan: Though Christians believe in an almighty and all powerful God whoplaces His spirit in believers, the response among His people today is:"Hi, welcome to church. Here's your bulletin. We'll get you out in anhour. Come back next week." "I mean, really? Is that all God intendedfor us?" Chan challenges.

No, that’s not all God has in store for us. You are right that is atragic attitude. But once again, I contend that there are millions for whomthat is not their experience.

Chan: While pondering whether Christians really believe the Holy Spiritexists today and can work powerfully, he asks one poignant question: "Whatwould the church look like today if we really stopped taking control of it andlet the Holy Spirit lead?""I believe this is exactly what the worldneeds to see."

Well Bro. Chan I think this statement belies your lack of faith.Really. Hard for me to say, because your faith is probably stronger than mine,but I think our Sovereign Lord is capable and is in fact in charge of Hischurch. He moves his church where He will. He moves ministers to walk away frommega-churches, He moves college students to go to other countries, He movesyoung couples with children to leave jobs and go to Ethiopia. He leads USchurches to worship in many different languages and in many different venuesfrom ornate cathedrals to barely functional warehouses to living rooms tooutdoor arenas. He leads African churches to worship in different ways, andAsians and eastern Europeans. God is in control and in charge. And yes, we allneed to check our dedication level frequently. Are we forsaking all? Are wetaking up our crosses? Are we denying ourselves? Some yes, most no. And pleasekeep calling us to true discipleship. But don’t be slapping around Christ’s Bride, He doesn’t like that I don't believe.

[1] http://www.christianpost.com/news/francis-chan-church-today-not-what-god-intended-50000/

[2]http:/christianityzperiodzaboutzperiodzcom/od/denominations/p/christiantodayzperiodzhtmand its link to Frontier Harvest Ministries. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_Christian_missionaries_are_in_the_world#ixzz1KgVGHGlQ

Missional, Missional, Missional: Can I be Anti-Missional and Still Saved?

2011-04-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

In his article “Defining Missional: The word is everywhere, but where did it come from and what does itreally mean?” Alan Hirsch (12/12/2008 online Christianity Today) writes, “It has becomeincreasingly difficult to open a ministry book or attend a church conferenceand not be accosted by the word missional.A quick search on Google uncovers the presence of "missionalcommunities," "missional leaders," "missionalworship," even "missional seating," and "missionalcoffee." Today, everyone wants to be missional. Can you think of a singlepastor who is proudly anti-missional?”

He goes on to say that Missional is not “emerging”, seekersensitive, evangelistic, cell-group centered, or social justice. He definesmissional as: “Because we are the "sent" people of God, the church isthe instrument of God's mission in the world. As things stand, many people seeit the other way around. They believe mission is an instrument of the church; ameans by which the church is grown. Although we frequently say "the churchhas a mission," according to missional theology a more correct statementwould be "the mission has a church." (Hmmmm... (me))

He goes on, “Similarly, to be missional means to be sentinto the world; we do not expect people to come to us. This posture differentiatesa missional church from an attractional church.” And, “The attractionalmodel... seeks to reach out to the culture and draw people into the church—whatI call outreach and in-grab. But this model only works where no significantcultural shift is required... And as Western culture has become increasinglypost-Christian, the attractional model has lost its effectiveness.

So far so good. Then he states, “Missional represents asignificant shift in the way we think about the church. ... we ought toengage the world the same way he [God] does—by going out rather thanjust reaching out. To obstruct this movement is to block God'spurposes in and through his people. When the church is in mission, it is thetrue church.

Really? This is a significant shift? Arewe only now, in the 21^st century discovering the mission of the church?I remember hearing back in the 70’s, “Win a friend to win a soul.” Wasn’tthat the same thing? Somebody wrote 2000 years ago, “be IN the world not ofit.” Oh yeah, that’s in the Bible.

But who couldn’t agree with Ed Stetzerin this list:

From programs to processes
From demographics to discernment
From models to missions
From attractional to incarnational
From uniformity to diversity
From professional to passionate
From seating to sending
From decisions to disciples
From additional to exponential
From monuments to movements

Andlet me add a couple more to Ed's list:

From services to service
From ordained to the ordinary
From organizations to organisms

(Ed Stetzer, David Putman Breaking the Missional Code (Broadman & Holman, 2006))

There are some great things here! AndI believe these are based on genuine concerns. Stetzer says: “I think perhapsthe common thread through all the variations “missional” would be the concernthat churches have become inward focused and self-concerned and have given upthe missionary nature of the Christian and the Church.” (http://blindbeggar.org/?p=701)And, he takes his concern, that the church may take the Missio Dei in the wrong direction, seriously (As in the Church Growth Movement) stating,“Missions historian Stephen Neil expresses the concern thatwhen churches focus on societal transformation... then “everything” is mission. Neilexplained, “when everything is mission,nothing is mission.” Those words were prophetic: he spoke those words to amovement that progressively moved away from church planting and evangelisticmissions to a near total focus on social justice. (ibid)

Stetzer, like many others wants todo away with the "tyranny of the ‘or’.” As in, Do we help the poor or preachthe gospel? Do we build an orphanage or spend our money on missions? In thosechoices the gospel and missions ought to triumph. But what if we took an ‘and’approach?, they might ask.

Hmmm, good questions, are the “or”questions valid? Is a both/and approach better?

If you were to Google “definitionof missional” you’ll find 20 or so definitions easily, all very similar. Butyou will also find hundreds of derivative statements; mission is..., mission isnot... that try to define the definitions but many of those are contradictory.

Jesse Johnson (Pastor, Local Outreach Ministries, Staff Elder @ Grace Community)in his seminar during the 2011 Shepherd’s conference makes some“counter-missional” observations for the sake of balance and evangelism. So manymodern (Or should I say post-modern) ministers have defined missional incultural and social terms. Doing church in clothes that look like yoursurrounding community’s clothing (Driscoll); Combining feeding the poor with preaching thegospel; or as a ‘middle ground’ between evangelism and mercy ministry (McLaren). Stetzer even says that missional takesaway the distinction between doing ministry inside the church and missionsoutside the church.

Johnsonhas a problem with this. Not that ministry in the world is a bad thing.Building a house for someone who lost theirs and giving sandwiches to the homelessare admirable.

But some missional minded peoplewould have us believe that houses and sandwiches are the mission of the church.I mean, if that’s “Missional” then the great commission includes sandwiches.

But it doesn’t, does it? Isn’t theGreat commission making disciples? Isn’t the great commission preaching thegospel to the nations? Isn’t it being witnesses of the suffering andresurrection of Christ? Yes it is, according to Matthew, Markand Luke anyway.

So what’s this about in a nutshell?Don’t be missional if it means turning the mission of the church into a soupkitchen or a Home Make-Over. Be missional if it means being primarily aboutwhat the Bible says is the mission of the church.

Does that mean engaging a culturewhere they are? Sure. Does it mean taking on cultural appearances to become allthings to all men? Sure, within reason. Does it mean being Christ-like out inthe world? Sure. But it also means that the main thing is the gospel and thegospel challenges the worldly culture, it doesn’t embrace it. The gospelcondemns godless culture. The gospel is bad news before it is good news. Thegospel is the Power of God, not sandwiches. Not ‘everything’ is the mission ofthe church. Preaching the gospel and making disciples is the mission of thechurch.

Don’t forget, “Missions historian Stephen Neilexpresses the concern that when churches focus on societal transformation... then “everything” is mission. Neil explained, “wheneverything is mission, nothing is mission.”

7 Words of Christ at the Last Supper

2011-04-16T21:32:00.000-07:00

1. 1. The Lord prepares their last meal. The Lord is preparing something for us.[1]

Luk 22:7Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he enters in. 11 And ye shall say unto the good man of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

2. 2. The Lord expresses His desire and His intentions for when they will eat together again. This is something Jesus desires to do with us, too.[2]

Luk 22:14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

3. 3. The Lord shares with them and eats and drinks the same thing they do. Jesus knows our pains and weaknesses. He was tempted just as we are yet without sin.[3]

Luk 22:17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

4. 4. The Lord explains to them the bread and the wine. This is what all of the old testament sacrifices point to, and the tabernacle, and the temple, and the Passover itself: That Jesus would be the perfect Lamb, offered up by His own Father, for sinners such as you and I who didn’t have a prayer.[4]

Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

5. 5. The Lord knows He is being betrayed. The Lord know when we betray Him, too.[5]

Luk 22:21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. 22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

6. 6. The Lord patiently teaches them again about being servants. The Lord is a patient teacher for us, too, when it comes to how we treat the body of Christ.[6]

23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For who is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. 28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

7. 7. The Lord warns Peter but He doesn’t judge him, He tells him He’ll pray for him. And the Lord ever lives to make intercession for us, too. If you belong to Christ, He is praying for you just as He did for Peter. Peter did fall, but Jesus personally restored him. Who do you think personally restores you?[7]

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

[1] Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

[2] Rev19:7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."

[3] Heb 4:15 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.

[4] 1Co 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven …. For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.

[5] Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[6] Lu 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

[7] 1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

The Great Blogster

2011-03-01T21:14:00.000-08:00

I'd like to write a great blog. Really! I mean an eye-popping, show-stopping, flip-flopping ogre of a blog.
Why? I can hear it now: "Brother Clark's Blog has sent shockwaves through the Christian community and the president has called for a week long fast for America to repent before God. Harvey Bolander, CNN news."
That, my friends, would be so cool!

I might get a mention by, Challies, or DeYoung, or Phil Johnson, or (do I shudder to think) Mark Driscoll.
Matt Chandler would probably mention me cause I'm a fellow Texan, and my son-in-law Mark went to his alma mater and he's a really nice guy.
But, I have no big shocking news. I don't have any great scoop like seeing His-self the elf Benny Hinn holding hands with some young blonde up and coming pentecostal preacher lady. I got zip. And I can't out satire @Xianity and make something up.

Oh I could robbell ya and ask a lot of questions to make you think I believed something really bizarre. But who really cares about that. Rob Bell's name is now a verb anyway, like mclarenizing. Big Deal.

What if I wrote the penultimate defense of God's sovereignty in election and made everybody say, "Ohhhh, That's why the road to hell is wide and full." But they won't. Most people are on that road anyway.

What if I was to... oh whats the use?
Maybe I'll just go do something like tell folks about God's saving work in Jesus and not even blog about it. Or preach about it. Or justify my existence as a pastor with it. Just go back to what I was doing on the streets of San Marcos Texas in 1973; handing out tracks, telling folks that Jesus saves and inviting them up to some Christian counter-culture coffee-house to hear the gospel sung about and explained. Now all I gotta do is find a coffee-house that does that.

If it Weren't For bad Luck, Wouldn't Have no Luck At All

2011-02-19T08:59:00.000-08:00

Paul wrote:
2Co 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Can I take a stab at this kind of writing?

In the last 4 weeks I've been to 3 funerals, spoke at two of them, I've been in ice storms, I've had gout that kept me from walking, a wife sick with the flu, I've been sick with what feels like pneumonia, my father-in-law sick as well. I've had friends in hospitals I couldn't get to visit, friends with medical procedures as well. I've had insomnia, indigestion, and suffered ignobility. I've been criticized, ostracized, and anglicized. And now I'm just starting to make stuff up!!!!

It doesn't compare to Paul's list does it? There is always somebody who has it worse than I do. Yet, where I live, and what I'm going through is still real to me. Reminds me of the old blues phrase: If it Weren't For bad Luck, Wouldn't Have no Luck At All.

But in the next chapter Paul lists incredible things that happened to him including a vision (or trip) to the heavenlies.

And after all that he says:
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities (weaknesses), that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Boy, thats hard to do isn't it? I know it is for me. But when I am alone with God I can say, "Thy Will Oh God I long to do. If I am criticized, for doing right, help me love my critics. If I am doing wrong, show me the way. If my weakness keeps me from ministry, Lord go in my stead and send laborers to do your will Oh God. For I am naught but Thine Oh Lord."

I know we all have enough trouble to whine about. But I challenge you to find a way to glory-boast-be proud of....your weaknesses.
Because THEN are you strong with the power of the Lord. Hey, I don't understand it, but He promised!

Clark

The Rural Church Dilemma

2011-02-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

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Another Guest Blog... (edited slightly for space)

Author: Jim Elliff

Recently I drove to several small towns in rural Arkansas with my 89 year old father my siblings, tracking the steps of the ministry of both my dad and his father. We visited small towns that even Arkansans might not recognize today: Cotter, Caledonia, Hagersville, Greenwood, LaVaca—twelve in all. These were the places where my father, and his father, labored for Christ seventy and eighty years ago.
Much has changed in the landscape of rural America in seventy plus years. For one thing, most farms have been eaten up by large conglomerates, dramatically reducing population. The size of families has dropped and the area Walmart has made ghost towns of typical downtown areas. Families moved out of these rural areas for big cities in order to find work, and young people will almost certainly not stay where there is no action. With these demographic alterations, the country church has been reduced to a shadow of what it once was.
   But this does not mean the country church is not there. There are yellow brick buildings with mud stains around their base that still exist as the gathering place for those few faithful (and often reserved) older citizens and, in rare cases, a family or two containing younger people.
   The "county seat" town churches are doing better, but even they feel the changes. Some have become regional churches. In fact, there are some notable exceptions to the rule that rural churches are failing. In one Arkansas town you have likely never heard of, 900 are attending the largest church on Sunday mornings. The more remote rural churches have yielded their younger families over to these active centers. We could call it the "Walmartization" of the rural church.
   I've been there in my own ministry, pastoring in historic Washington, Arkansas as my first assignment. Thirty-five years ago, this town consisted of about 400 occupants, half black and half white. It has now lost much of that population and has turned into a state park (it was the old Civil War capitol of Arkansas). I never knew what quiet was until I pastored in that town. I used a "privy" behind the café and I waited out the lonely nights in a "Jim Walter" home provided by the church. It grew to about 60 in attendance while I was there, but stayed mostly around 40. The grade school moved to Hope just after I was there, and things went down further. I'm not even sure if the church still meets. We said, even at that time, that the church was "just past Hope."
   In addition, I've preached in so many rural churches I could not even begin to recount them all. A ministry of 40 years of preaching has landed me in city and rural churches, some huge, others so sleepy that grass grows unmolested on the two-lane highway—and deacons wear overalls. Though I've loved all of the experiences I've been privileged to have, I have to admit that it is often easier to visit than to stay. And I've scratched my head with the pastor wondering how the church could find vitality.
   What happens when a young seminarian or college ministerial student takes his first churches in these areas? And what should the committed rural pastor think about his church's future? Here are some thoughts for rural pastors. You are the experts, not me. But these thoughts might stimulate something in a church that is not going to be known, outside of a miracle, for its numerical growth. In fact, you may wonder sometimes if God knows you are there.

Remember that you are entirely unaware of the impact of your ministry. For instance, you may teach older adults without much visible impact. But one of them, perhaps a grandparent of an unconverted child, may receive stimulus from your ministry that makes her a true witness to her grandchild. Her witness, prompted by your instruction, may be the thing God uses to bring that child to Him. She may not even be aware of her impact. It may not come to bear until after she has passed on. The grand-child, in time, may marry a believer and raise up children who also become believers in another part of America. Do you really know what that will mean in terms of eternity? Do you know what it means in terms of generations of believers? What if, three generations down the line, one of the Christians in this line is instrumental in evangelizing an unreached tribal group? Did you see that when you taught that grandparent on a sleepy Sunday morning? Likely not. Jesus said, "I will build my church." The time you taught that grandparent might be far more instrumental in the building of the universal church than ten years of ministry in a large city church. You cannot know how God will work for sure, be confident ...[in] how significant your labors are. Therefore, "sow in hope."
Be happy to know that you may not be able to change much but lives. I mean by this that the structure of things, the hackneyed songs, the unrefined style of your meetings, the organizational plan, the leadership set, etc., may not be within your power to alter. But, at the end of the day, the real purpose of your being there is to change lives, not to make things look good. I found, you will often not know your impact until you are gone. I received a letter from someone at that Old Washington church who was affected by my novice ministry in ways I did not dream. She was then a child visiting without her parents, and I had paid real attention to her. She continued to come, though almost always hidden in the shadows. My attention to her resulted in her eventual conversion and a life of serving God for which she was extremely thankful. Her brother, who died as a youth, had also been converted. She had been seen as not just a visiting girl, but as a soul important to God. The importance of that attempt at caring was completely unknown to me until I received that letter.
The focus should be on people. So, keep your aim right.
Be energized by the concept that your church could become the most loving church in the world. I find this compelling. There will be many things your church may not be. It may not be the most educated, most innovative, or the most evangelistic church, but it can be the most loving church. There is nothing to stop that from happening except your lack of determination and/or the will of the people. Love, after all, is the sign of maturity as a church. You will find ways to encourage love. This may mean you will work out ways for people to be in your home, and in the home of the other members. You will think of ways to get people to really know each other. Sheep need help to overcome their reserved nature. They will need to be commended for acts of love, just as Paul often did. You will need to set the pace and demonstrate a passionate love for the people. Dream about this. And, my experience is (and the Bible's teaching is) that this is a powerful way to witness. The love of the people of God for each other is, as Francis Schaeffer said, "the final apologetic."

When it is all said and done, we are going to be thrilled at the way God has used the out-of-the-way places, the forgotten places, to do some of His most significant things.
I love the rural church and hope you do. Some of you will serve all your life in them. God bless you for your perseverance and courage.

And I love Jim Eliff, and his brother ministers, too.
Clark D

http://www.ccwblog.org/ Jim is a house church pastor, seminar speaker, preacher and one of 4 writers of the CCWBlog. Oh, and a calvinistic baptist.

Instant Discipleship

2011-01-28T12:35:00.000-08:00

SOCIAL MEDIA! It’s all the rage! All you have to do is click on the Like button, the Follow button or the Friend button and you become a Follower. Instant Discipleship! You don’t even have to add water and stir!

But is it Really Discipleship?

The Pharisees considered themselves Disciples of Moses, but I’m not sure old Mo would claim them. And I am quite sure there are folks who call themselves Disciples of Jesus about whom there will come a day when he says to those who claim to have acted in His name, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”

What does a Genuine Disciple do? What makes a real disciple different from the fake kind? What is at the heart of True Discipleship?

First, it’s a matter of “Being” before “Doing.” Jesus said, “You must BE born again.” Paul wrote, “Let this mind BE in you which was in Christ Jesus.” You may be able to act differently than your nature for a while but eventually your actions will speak volumes about who you are!

So, secondly, being a true disciple because your faith is in Christ, should lead to Doing the works of the Disciple. Didn’t Zaccheus give back what he stole? Didn’t Peter change his ways after denying Christ three times?The True disciple begins to act like one and that’s where the Disciplines of Discipleship come in.

Remember Breath, Eat, Run?

Just as physical growth requires Breathing, Eating, and Exercise, so does spiritual growth. But for our spirits, breathing is living in and practicing God’s presence. Eating is taking in God’s word both to understand what He has said and to let it affect our hearts and lives. Exercise is how we keep from getting spiritually fat. We share, give, act, do, and run the race set before us.

Eat Pray Love Or Breathe Eat Run

2011-01-16T17:46:00.000-08:00

Breathe, Eat, Run

Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir, Eat, Love, Pray, (if you can call a story by a 30 something a memoir) retells her journey from a marriage and existence in which she was very sad, to learning to eat in Italy, pray in the east, and love again.

Its interesting, but it's also the journey of a person of means and out of reach to most people. Not that the feelings she wrote about are out of reach but gee, half the fun is the travel right?

The word of God leads us in a different direction to fulfillment. Not to criticize Italian food by any means but there IS a better food out there to be had.

But before we eat we must breathe.

The essential element, not only of life but also of growth, is breathing.

God uses breath, wind and breathing often to demonstrate His presence and existence.

And breathing is not only essential for physical life but also for our spiritual lives.

Consider these scriptures:

Gen 2:7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man

became a living creature.

Psa 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

Joh 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Act 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit...

We need to breathe in the breath of God; His Spirit, through His word, His grace, and His presence. When we pray, meditate on the Lord or His word, when we attune our ears to His voice; when we worship and exalt, or poor out bitter tears to Him, we are breathing.

After Breathing, We must eat to live and to grow. Our feeding, our nourishment is His Word. It sustains us and builds us up.

Consider these verses:

1Pe 2:2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation--

Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,

Jer 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.

1Co 3:2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,

Jesus also said, Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

That's another clear reference to God's word being our spiritual food. We have to eat. It's a necessity for Growth and life. We cannot starve ourselves from God's word and expect to thrive!

But after all that eating we need to exercise, so I say Run! Run with the Wind (breath, Spirit).

1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old-womanish tales, and exercise yourself to godliness.

Act 24:16 And in this I exercise myself, always to have a blameless conscience toward God and men.

1Co 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

There are many ways to use that food and breath you have been receiving. Exercise your Faith in God. Exercise your lips and speak for God. Exercise your talents, time, temple, and treasure for God.

But don't, whatever you do, eat and eat without exercising. Then you become a Phat Pharisee!

But Before you can Breathe in His Presence, and Eat up His Word, and Run in the strength of God, you must be born. There is no ongoing life without birth and there is no Growth without birth. Birth only comes by the wooing love of God, that draws us to Himself and by repentance from sin and self, and through faith in the Lord Christ, we are saved by His grace!

A Prayer for the First Continental Congress

2011-01-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

A Prayer from the First Continental Congress

A "Guest" blog today from Randy Alcorn's EPM ministries.

By Randy Alcorn

In light of the 112th Congress opening today, here is the prayer that opened the First Continental Congress on September 7, 1774. May we be encouraged to pray that our leaders will have the same dependence upon God as these men did during very difficult times.

O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee. To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle!
Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.
Amen.
Reverend Jacob Duché
Rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 7, 1774, 9 a.m.

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The Prodigal Father

2010-12-30T06:11:00.000-08:00

Who’s the Prodigal Now? Luke 15:20, 22-24

Luke 15:20 `... and he being yet far distant, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and having ran he fell upon his neck and kissed him; ...22 `And the father said unto his servants, [Quickly] Bring forth the first robe, and clothe him, and give a ring for his hand, and sandals for the feet; 23 and having brought the fatted calf, kill it, and having eaten, we may be merry, 24 because this my son was dead, and did live again, and he was lost, and was found; and they began to be merry.' ESV

Where had the son just come from? From the Pig Sty. One of the smelliest places you can imagine. Worse than a sheep pen the day after it rains. (All that wet wool-yuck.) But pigs are worse.

Ever heard the expression: “Stinks to High Heaven”? He probably did. Not to mention he had walked from a far country in that condition. Would YOU kiss him?

Then The Father ran. “Throwing off oriental custom”(Robert H. Stein), this behavior is ‘beneath’ a man of his status and shameful. (see John MacArthur) Why does he do it?

Why did God send his only begotten son? Jn 3:16 L_____

Why did Jesus endure the cross despising the shame? Heb 12:2 J____

Why does the shepherd leave the 99 for one? Lu 15:2,4,8 Eagerness to save.

Remember What PRODIGAL means? Extravagant! The son threw away money and wasted his life extravagantly.

But Now the Father behaves Extravagantly! Extravagant Grace!

2Co 4:15 all things are for your sake, so that the superabounding grace might be made to abound (MKJV) or, as the Geneva Bible put it...that most plenteous grace.

Rom 5:17 For if by one man's offense death reigned by one, much more they who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.) & v.20; 2 Cor 9:8, 14

Eph 1:7 we have redemption...according to the riches of His grace, & 2:7

1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant,

Jas 4:6 But He gives more grace. 1 Pe 1:2 Grace be multiplied... &4:10

God always has MORE GRACE! Isn't that an amazing and wonderful truth? The riches of His grace are unfathomable.

"Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace.

Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly...”

HERE is the urgency, do this without delay! God is not slow to save!

The Robe: The Best, of First Rank, for official wear or formal occasions.

-Not his old one he left behind (it’s gone),

not the stinking rags he had on, that would never do.

not a servant’s robe, nor his other son’s.

The Father’s Best Robe, His #1 Tux!

Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah ... for He has clothed me with the robes of salvation, He covered me with the robe of righteousness like a bridegroom ... and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and lo, a great multitude, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes...

What other is the greatest sign of the Father's owning, and blessing, and provision but that whic symbolizes His purity, holiness, righteousness, and salvation

The Ring: symbol of the Father for his hand (hand=authority and power)

The learned Jews of the day were aware that just a century before Christ came another ruler, Antiochus made provision for his successors in 1 Maccabee 6:14 "Then called he for Philip, ...who he made ruler over all his realm, 15 And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet, ..."

The ring signified the authority of sonship. This is ‘positional’ sonship.

The Sandals: The prosperity and “Place” of sonship. This is "Personal" sonship. He didn’t say, “here’s the signet ring, go get your own shoes." God provided from His Extravagant Grace all that pertains to our sonship!

But Wait, that's not all!

The Fatted Calf! Uh-oh, I see a problem brewing here. This was ‘in effect’ the Older son’s calf, and sandals, and robe, and ring! The Father is practicing a type of “Usufruct.” Which usually means enjoying the use and 'fruits' of another man's property. Like when you raise crops on rented land, the land isn't yours but you benefit from it.

In a more ancient version, it’s His son’s property at his death, but until then he can do as he pleases. This doesn't diminish the grace the Father has for his older son. The cattle will have more calves, his income will purchase more robes and sandals and rings.

It's the Fathers to do with "as He pleases." This is the heart of God's Providential sovereign grace.

Now notice, Jesus never gets to the need for atonement directly in this parable. That is not his point. He is talking to the common people-who are hanging on his teachings, and the Scribes and Pharisees-who are trying to find fault with his teaching. And he is telling the latter group that God welcomes sinners without their attempts at earning forgiveness. God is eagerly, joyfilly, lovingly, welcoming home an extremely offensive son without so much as demanding an apology. The Father didn't even let the son finish his speech!

But even though no mention of atonement is made, a calf still gets killed and blood is still shed - for merrymaking. There is joy in heaven over ONE sinner who repents!

Let’s Celebrate! He was dead- as good as dead, assumed dead- but in our case-we Were Dead! Eph 2:1 He made you alive, who were dead...& 2:5; also Rom 6:13, 7:11, Col 2:13, 1 Pe 4:6.

Why is the recognition of our deadness without Christ important. One to signify that our salvation is ALL OF GRACE! and second, to remind us of the words of Christ: Joh 15:5 ...He who abides in Me ... brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

(For further study let me recommend John MacArthur's A Tale of Two Sons. And thanks to the folks at extragrace.blogspot for loaning me ;-) the logo, oh and Rembrandt and Guercino.)

What are the troubling headlines in your world?

2010-12-17T11:53:00.000-08:00

What are the troubling headlines in your world?

Is it the Incredibly growing deficit? For the last 50 years the USA has been going deeper and deeper in debt with no end in sight.
Maybe its the incredibly shrinking job market.
Maybe its the ongoing misery in Haiti, the earthquake, then rampant Hepatitis, now a cholera pandemic.
Maybe it's the growing violence against Christians around the world. There are radical Muslims out there killing Believers almost everyday.

Well here's one that hit me between the eyes:

Most Evangelicals Believe Good People are Heaven-Bound

WHAT? Most Evangelicals? Doesn't the idea that some one is "Evangelical" mean that the church needs to be evangelistic? Obviously not. (See full article below.)
I know, this is not new. Evangelicals have been populating the World Council of Churches for decades. I just forget sometimes that Evangelical doesn't mean Evangelistic. THe WCC is all about tolerance. I guess like the American Cancer Society is. NOT!
Ever heard anyone from the American Cancer Society say, "Go ahead and smoke cigarettes, its OK, why can't we all just get along?" No, that's not what they say. They don't endorse suntanning, carcinogens in the diet and other cancer-friendly activities either.
Does that make them Intolerant? I don't think so.

Brothers and Sisters, we can be Evangelical in many things but let's not be Evangelical in our approach to the gospel. Let's be Evangelistic! Good News Centered! Sharing our Faith in Christ by and through both actions and words. Sometimes actions need to precede the words. Sometimes the words of the gospel are all there is time for.

But let us not forget, that there is a message to the Gospel.

There is a message that must be delivered.

Giving away school supplies, helping with rent, watching children for 5 mornings in the summer time to give moms and grandmothers a few mornings off, are not going to Lead Anyone To Christ.
They may help! They may helps us build relationships. They may help us open someone's mind to the possibility of a relationship with Christ.
But the Message is the Thing!

SO, here goes a "Different" kind of Christmas blog:

(A few things) EVERY CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO KNOW:
1. There is no salvation without the power of God working in someone's life.
Pleadings are fine, encouraging someone to believe is great. But God Alone provides the power, that none of us had on our own, to repent and believe. A person doesn't just wake up one day and out of the blue decide to be a Christian.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes,
Act 5:31 This One God has exalted to be a Ruler and Savior to His right hand in order to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel.
Act 11:18 When they heard these things, they were silent and glorified God, saying, Then God has also granted repentance to life
2Ti 2:25 in meekness instructing those who oppose, if perhaps God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth,
Isn't it something incredible that God not only gives people the "Faith" to believe but also the ability to repent. I didn't understand for a long time why it said that Esau looked for a place to repent and couldn't. God didn't give it to him, for one thing. He was only sorry about the outcome of his decisions not for what he had done.
(Heb 12:16 (lest there be any fornicator, or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he did not find any place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears). )
2. Unless we all repent and Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ there is no salvation. None. Zip. Nada. Sorry.
Jesus: Luke 13:3 I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name,
Joh 3:36 He who believes on the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him.

3. God does not OWE salvation to anyone. Not even sweet old Aunt Susan who's an atheist (or Buddhist or Mormon...) but nicer than any Christian you know.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us 5 (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved),
6 and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
God saves people because He Loves, not because there is any good in any of us.
God saves to demonstrate the greatness of His grace. He gets to display it however He wants.
If God gives Faith to people when they hear the gospel it is so that they might believe. (Rom 10:17 Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.)
Dear Old Aunt Susan has to repent and believe. And somebody needs to tell her!

Some think the way I look at the gospel is cold and harsh. (Poor aunt Susie.)
But I am amazed by the grace of God, that sent Jesus to die in my place, or in ANYONE's place.
   I am amazed by love that lifted me from out of the miry pit.
      I am undone by Holiness, that reveals all the filth that inhabits my very best efforts.
         I am beyond my capacity to understand how the blood of Christ can cleanse me of all that uncleanness.
And yet He does. And that is Good News!
And without Christ, there is No Good News.
Christmas is one of the best times of the year to renew your commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and your desire to share the gospel with others.
Have a Very Blessed Christmas!

Love you all, Clark

Here's that article I mentioned...

Author: Most Evangelicals Believe Good People are Heaven-Bound

By Stephanie Samuel|Christian Post Reporter

Campbell, who co-wrote American Grace, How Religion Divides and Unites Us, contends that surveys of 3,000 Americans, used to write the book, show that American people of faith, though devout, are very tolerant. So much so that most believers also believe that good people, despite their religious affiliation, can go to heaven.

Among the faiths, 83 percent of evangelical Protestants agreed that good people of other religions can go to heaven. Ninety percent of black Protestants also believe good people can go to heaven.
When prodded further, more than half – 54 percent – of evangelical Protestants said yes, people of religions other than Christianity can go to heaven. Sixty-two percent of black Protestants agreed with the statement.
Notably, the author mentioned that there may be some in the evangelical category that don't belong.
Campbell, an expert of religion, politics and public policy, explained at a Thursday discussion of his book that the numbers can be explained with the “Aunt Susan” theory. Aunt Susan, he said, is the nice friend of a family member who is well-loved and is an all around do-gooder.
“You know that if anyone is destined to go to heaven, it’s Aunt Susan,” described Campbell.
However, Aunt Susan is of another religion. Rather than condemn that person to a lost eternity, Campbell said, most American believers choose instead to believe that that person is heaven-bound.
He also shared that knowing an Aunt Susan opens believers up to other faiths.
“You become warmer not only to people of that group, but to people of other groups,” Campbell contended.
Simply put, interlocking social networks allows believers to accept tenants of other faiths.
Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, works with leaders of many faiths on issues such as stopping pornography, abortion and religious persecution.
“That doesn’t mean that I’m going to abandon the New Testament teaching,” he stated.
Those who do so to accommodate other beliefs “aren’t very good evangelicals,” in his view.
Land lamented that more evangelicals are being taught the doctrine of universalism. “It’s emphasized from the pulpit; it’s emphasized in the seminaries,” he decried.
Universalism is the theological doctrine that all people will eventually be saved despite a relationship with Christ.
He said this is especially true of youths because the messages from the pulpit have changed.
“I think the doctrine ‘In Christ alone’ … was emphasized more 25 years ago than it is today so young [people] are hearing about it less,” he revealed.
While Land said it is possible for Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans and even Catholics to follow the tenants of their faiths and have salvation in Jesus Christ, he stated that the same is not true for Buddhists, Muslims and Mormons.
“It is impossible to believe what Mormons believe and be a Christian. It is impossible to believe what Muslims believe and be a Christian,” he said.
Likewise, he acknowledged that there may be unsaved believers among Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans and Catholics. Salvation, the biblical requirement for heaven, is an individual and personal choice, he told The Christian Post.
Land said he quotes the Bible’s New Testament which states that there is one mediator between God and men and that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life to all those who ask about heaven. If missionary work and evangelism is to continue on into the future, other Protestants must do the same, he asserted.
“If the price of respecting your faith is to deny mine, then that price is too high,” declared Land.
Campbell’s discussion was held at the Pew Forum in Washington, D.C.

DWARF STAR

2010-12-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

Today's Guest Blogger, my Friend and Brother in Christ John Ketchersid

of PLYMOUTH PARK CHURCH OF CHRIST
Day 12 of the 30 Day Spiritual Adventure

I hope your daily time of reading, meditation, and prayer is going well. Today the devotional focuses on the simple man who was chosen to be the earthly father of Jesus Christ: Joseph. He was a common man called to lead an uncommon life.

I think that is one of the great messages of Christmas: the Lord uses the ordinary to accomplish His extraordinary mission.

1 Corinthians 1:27 God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.

Our Sun is called a Yellow Dwarf Star. Let that sink in for a minute: a dwarf star. Not exactly a description that engenders pride and confidence. But it’s the center of our universe…well, our solar system…which is a tiny part of the Milky Way Galaxy…which is one of hundreds of billions of galaxies in the whole universe. Small. Insignificant. Common.

Joseph is kind of a dwarf star. He’s one in a long line of ordinary people that the Lord has used in His mission of extraordinary salvation. And you know what? We are next in line! In our world that focuses on the big, powerful, and amazing, God chooses to use the insignificant folks like you and me!

on Tuesday, December 7, 2010

(Clark-I like this, Marney and I were just talking about insignificant we can feel when we consider all that God has made. And my friend David Ragsdale just put on his FB:
Believes it is better to be .....
A man of the great GOD
than to be A Great man of God.)

The History of Advent

2010-11-28T14:29:00.000-08:00

History of Advent –

It cannot be determined with any degree of certainty when the celebration of Advent was first introduced into the Church. The preparation for the feast of the Nativity of Our Lord was not held before the feast itself existed. Advent comes from the Latin "Veni" which translates the Greek word parousia - the "coming" of Christ.

One of the earliest references to Christmas being celebrated on December 25 appeared in Antioch in the middle of the second century (100s). At that time, Christians were still persecuted. An official determination was made in the fourth century (300s), when the Roman emperor Constantine embraced Christianity, thereby ensuring the legality of Christmas celebrations. The Council of Tours in 567 established the period of Advent as a time of fasting before Christmas. They also proclaimed the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany a sacred, festive season.

The time before Christmas hasn't always been a celebration. Advent was once a solemn preparation but not for Christmas. It was a season preparing for Epiphany, January 6—which commemorates the adoration of Jesus by the Magi. Some claim Peter started Advent, but the exact starting even though it’s been lost to history, was probably after Peter’s death.

Whenever it started, Advent originally was a time of fasting and self-reflection - instead of Christmas parties ord "thinking of others for a change." In the 300s, two events changed all that: Emperor Constantine built in Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity, also declaring Jesus' birthday a holiday; also the Bishop of Rome, Julius, set the date as December 25. Christmas took on a happier atmosphere and became a time of joyous anticipation for the “Next” coming of Christ and commemorating the first one.

Preaching the Gospel in Public School

2010-11-19T09:44:00.000-08:00

This morning was GREAT! I was invited to NorthRidge Middle school for Career Day. I wish they'd had Career Days when I was in School, I was pretty clueless about what the real world was about till just a few years ago. Now I'm slightly less clueless.

Mrs Eva invited me to come and this was my 2nd time.
Now since I am there to talk about my "career" choice and, very importantly, "Staying In School," I don't treat this as a chance to preach an evangelistic sermon. But I do try to inject what I can. I talked about the importance of a Pastor maintaining hsi relationship with Jesus Christ and things along that line. I had 3 groups of 20 to 25 kids in each group, and in the last group, a soft spoken young lady raised her hand during Q&A time and asked this; "What can I do to guarantee that I can go to be with Jesus when He comes back?"
Right there in a public school! In front of 25 kids who seem to be fairly engaged in the moment!

What would you say? You know that any minute now the bell is going to ring and an announcement will interrupt what you are saying, so you want to answer this question thoroughly and briefly.

What would you say? These kids are bright, they don't need sugar-coated religiosity.

What would you say? I'll stop asking that now, so you can stop and think about it.
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Hmmmmmm
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Are you ready for MY answer?

I think there are several important points I needed to make.
1. There really was a Jesus and He really rose from the dead. It's a historical fact. Every bit as true as there was a George Washington. There was a Jesus and there was a resurrection.
2. The reason Jesus came and died on the cross was because we have all sinned against God. And God is so HOly and Awesome He doesn't tolerate sin at all. In fact He hates it, He won't put up with it.
3. But He loves us. He made us and loves us and since somebody had to pay for our sins, God sent his only son to come to earth and pay the price for your sin and for my sin. He paid by dying a horrible death.
We couldn't pay for our sin, we were too much sinners, Jesus was perfect.
4. So what do we need to do to guarantee that we will be with Him forever?
We need to Turn and Trust.
Turn from our sins and our selfish way of living and turn to Jesus. Then Trust Jesus, that since he paid the price for our sins, and since he rose from the dead and is still alive today, he will forgive us of our sins when we ask him too, and he will take our sins away from us, as far as the east is from the west. And that's pretty far.

Then I said, now sometimes people need help knowing how to do this, and if you have a youth minister or a pastor you can talk to or simply another strong believer, you can ask them and they'll help you. Or you can ask me. (I had handed out my church name and contact info just in case they ever need me.)

Did I include the essentials in that brief amount of time that I had? Did I miss anything?
Sure there is much you can say if you have the time and you have a dialogue going. But for two minutes I tried to hit a home run.

Now every home run needs a great pitch. I think that young lady asked me that question Solely so that I could tell her friends how to be saved and what it means to become a Christian. I could be wrong, but I think I'm right.

That's one reason its good to have a Christian friend with you when you have an opportunity to talk to someone about their faith. Having a friend ask a question like this young lady did is a great way to go. It might be the kind of question a non-believer might ask if they knew how to phrase it. They can ask other questions of you like, "What do you mean by Repent?" Or "how would you give your life to Jesus?"

I hope you'll say a prayer for the kids that heard the gospel today. It's not everyday you get to share Christ and the message of Salvation in a public school. And when I think of what a wicked little brat I was at their age, I know I needed the gospel badly! And I thank God for loving me that much in spite of myself!
I saw a Tweet this week that said:
Good News, you're worse than you think you are, but
Good News, God's grace is greater than you can imagine.

I Love you all, God bless, Clark