Loving the "Unloveable"!

"If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same...But love your enemies and do good..."

Luke 6:32-33, 35

We are called to love the "unlovable". But is there anyone who is truly "unlovable"? Difficult? Unruly? Belligerent? Mean? Sour? Scornful? Perhaps. But "unlovable"? I doubt it. Here's why: my love for them is not, in any way, supposed to be contingent upon their behavior towards me or another. Jesus makes that point very clear! So let's be careful not to label someone "unlovable". To do so is to attempt to negate the teaching of Christ and belittles the equipping power of the Spirit. I am simply called to love everyone, friend and enemy alike, for the sake of Jesus Christ and the witness of the gospel. No excuses. Think about it.

Innocent People?

"Suppose you were to ask me, 'What happens to the innocent guy in the middle of Africa who dies without ever hearing the gospel?' My confident answer to you, based on the authority of God's Word, would be, 'I believe he will undoubtedly go to heaven. There is no question in my mind.' Now, before some label me as a heretic (and others label me a hero), read back over that last paragraph. Look especially at the hypothetical question: 'What happens to the innocent guy in the middle of Africa who dies without ever hearing the gospel?' The reality is, the innocent guy in Africa will go to heaven because, if he is innocent, then he has no need for a savior to save him from his sin. As a result, he doesn't need the gospel. But there is a significant problem here. The innocent guy doesn't exist...in Africa or anywhere else. I am always amazed at how we bias this question concerning people who have never heard about Jesus...There are no innocent people in the world just waiting to hear the gospel. Instead there are people all over the world standing guilty before a holy God, and that is the very reason they need the gospel."

David Platt, Radical

The "Nones"...Nothing is Something!

This morning, thanks to the USA Today, I learned that the "Nones" have now become the second largest religious category after Catholics. That's after Catholics, so we do mean "Nones", not Nuns. The "Nones", those that claim no religious identity, now outnumber the nation's largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention. While this demographic does include atheists and agnostics, consider that, among this group:

*68% believe somewhat in God or a higher power
*41% say that they pray
*23% think religion is at least somewhat important in their life

Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, offered a warning, "This is a wake-up call. We have an incredible challenge ahead for committed Christians." I agree. But I am afraid that most of the Amercian church, while cringing at such statistics, will respond in its usual way. That means we will likely take our "let's-just-hope-it-goes-away" stance while trying to convinve ourselves that things are going just fine. But that's unacceptable. Jesus has not called us to be observers of His Kingdom work, but active participants. So for those who love Jesus and want others to love Him, too, what do we do? I don't have all the answers and I know that I need time to really process this latest information. But I do know this: the gospel is sufficient to meet this challenge! So let's pray for the lost. Let's take the Good News to them, where they live, work, and play. Let's tell them about Jesus. Let's show them Jesus in the way we live and interact with them. Let's love them and serve them with the heart of Christ. They may be called "Nones", but that doesn't mean they're nothing. They are made in the image of God; they are sinners that need a Savior. And that's something. A really big something.

Odds and Ends...

Wow! Time does fly. I haven't posted in over a month, so...allow me to catch up on some "odds & ends":

*We are in week 6 of our Radical Discipleship Study at our church. Here's a startling point from this past week. Consider: the American church spends $10 billion annually on buildings. In America alone the amount of real estate owned by institutional churches exceeds $230 billion. Should we discuss priorities? The conversation isn't as simple as you may think, but it is a conversation that needs to be had.

*The college football season is in full swing. My beloved Tennessee Vols need prayer. They're 3-2 but could easily be 3-5 by the end of the month. We need some help on ol' Rocky Top!

*I am beginning a short sermon series this week entitled The Church: God Gathers. God Sends. Let me clarify. The series will be short...the sermons will not be. Anyway, as I am preparing I am finding that our practices and definitions of "church" are, at times, remarkably unbiblical. I pray that our hearts will be recaptured by the scripture's picture of the church.

*"If God promises something, then faith must fight a long and bitter fight, for reason or the flesh judges that God's promises are impossible. Therefore, faith must battle against reason and its doubts."

Martin Luther

Radical Thinking 2

Tonight is the second session of the Radical study at our church. On the inside cover this David Platt book, Greg Matte, pastor of First Baptist Church of Houston, writes: "Radical will cause you to bounce on a spectrum between two words: ouch and amen. Tough truths do that." I couldn't agree more. In chapter two of Platt's book, the chapter being covered tonight, he addresses the practices of reciting the "sinner's prayer", walking forward to answer a public invitation, or simply "accepting" Jesus. Plenty of ouches here, especially when considering that many of the devices used today in evangelism leave out the essential explanation of the gospel. That's not to say that people can't be saved through such tools and methods. God saves us in spite of ourselves! But that doesn't give us an excuse to complicate and cloud the biblically obvious: we are called to repent and believe in Jesus. My faith isn't in a prayer. Or in the fact that I "went forward", whatever that's worth. My faith isn't in a methodology or persuasive tactic. I was called to faith in Christ Himself; and that's how I am to call others needing His grace. Just something to think about...

Praying for Sight

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.'"

John 3:1-2 ESV

Notice Nicodemus' use of the plural pronoun we. Although he is engaging Jesus in a personal conversation, he references the observations and beliefs of his brotherhood. Nicodemus states plainly that they know Jesus has come to them from God! Yet they do not relate to Jesus as such. They do not receive him as the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. How can they know what they know and believe what they believe and not open their lives to Jesus and receive him as Savior and Lord? Why can't they see? Because their hearts are hardened. They can't see Jesus for who he really is. What is the remedy? Being born again. That is why Jesus' declaration in verse 3 is crucial: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." God must supernaturally change the sinner's heart. As we consider the spiritual condition of those around us, we need to pray with absolute dependency on the Holy Spirit, recognizing that only God can cause a Pharisee to really see.

Radical Thinking!

"When someone asks, 'Where is your church?' we point them to a building or give them an address, and everything centers around what happens at that location. When we gather at the building, we learn to be good. Being good is defined by what we avoid in the world. We are holy because of what we don't participate in (and at this point we may be the only organization in the world defining success by what we don't do). We live decent lives in decent homes with decent jobs and decent families as decent citizens. We are decent church members with little more impact on the world than we had before we were saved. Though thousands may join us, ultimately we have turned a deaf ear to billions who have never even heard his name. Discipling is much different. Whereas disinfecting Christians involves isolating them and teaching them to be good, discipling Christians involves propelling Christians into the world to risk their lives for the sake of others. "

David Platt, Radical

We are beginning a new session of Discipleship Study at our church this month, using the book Radical by David Platt as our resource. Periodically, I will share a quote from his writing or a point from our lesson and discussion. While we may not agree with David's points on everything, his passion for Christ is evident in his writing and he does force us to think about things we would like to ignore. So let's tackle the hard things together, as brothers and sisters in Christ!

Chandler on the Gospel

"The idolatry that exists in man's heart always wants to lead him away from his Savior and back to self-reliance no matter how pitiful that self-reliance is or how many times it has betrayed him. Religion is the tool the self-righteous man uses to exalt himself. Again, this isn't new; the apostle Paul lays out in Philippians 3:4-9 his religious pedigree and practice as an example of what a man can accomplish with discipline and hard work. In that passage Paul states that all his religious effort, exhaustive checklist of all his accomplishments included, amounts to nothing compared to the surpassing greatness of Christ. He goes a step further and even calls it 'rubbish' or 'dung'. Think about that: all your church attendance, all your religious activities, your Sunday school attendance medals, your journals, having a 'quiet time', reading the scriptures-it's all in vain if you don't have Christ. When you read Paul's texts together, you get a feel for his attack on the Christian, moralistic, therapeutic deism of his day. We are saved, sanctified, and sustained by what Jesus did for us on the cross and through the power of his resurrection."

Matt Chandler, The Explicit Gospel

Relying on the Word!

"All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

II Timothy 3:16-17

Most Christians have some level of familiarity with the above verses. And while it is beneficial that these verses be understood in the broadest context, it is equally beneficial that we understand the immediate application of Paul's description of God's word. Ask yourself: why did Paul include these sentences at this point in his letter to Timothy? Why did he say what he said and why did he say it when he said it? Begin reading in verse 10 and read through to 4:8. Here we find some reasons. Paul has set an example for others...because of God's word. Paul has endured great afflictions for Christ...because of God's word. Paul is honest in his assessment of present and future hardships...because of God's word. Paul declares that we may know about the gospel...because of God's word. Paul warns of the coming judgment...because of God's word. Paul encourages the preaching of sound doctrine...because of God's word. Paul is certain that all sacrifice will be richly and eternally repayed...because of God's word. See the pattern? Paul is making certain that we understand that scripture is not the invention of men. It is not limited in its usefulness or power. It has not been pulled out of "thin air". It is not the product of religious minds. It is from God himself; scripture is God-breathed! Therefore, we may build our lives on its content, knowing that God himself will always, without fail, honor His word. Paul desired for Timothy to carry this conviction into his ministry. Let us carry this same conviction into ours.

Don't Be Naive!

Last Sunday, while preaching from Acts 16:16-33, I warned our congregation against the casual dismissing of the demonic in both the biblical storyline and our present world. Many will simply deny the fact that scripture clearly attributes various personal afflictions and oppressions directly to demonic influence. Others, wanting to uphold the truth of the Bible, will affirm the stories as accurate and trustworthy. But, they explain that somehow, in the advance of the past two thousand years, demons have simply vanished. Both views are wrong. We still live in a fallen world where the demonic is ever-present. That's the bad news. The good news is this: We have authority over the enemy in the name of Jesus! Don't be naive. Demons are real and present...right here...right now. But don't be afraid. Remember the words of Jesus: "Be courageous! I have conquered the world."

Goodbye Andy!

I just received word that actor Andy Griffith passed away this morning at the age of 86. Although his career was marked by various successes, he will be best remembered as Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry. The Andy Griffith Show will forever be remembered as an icon of American television. And deservedly so! I still laugh out loud when watching the exploits of Andy, Barney, and the Mayberrry citizenship. Several biblical principles come to mind when considering The Andy Griffith Show. They include:

*Simplicity. It's the simple things that can make us the happiest. Simplicity makes contentment shine.
*Family and Community. The people around us are gifts from God. Granted, some require diligent patience and care, but, at some point, we are all on that list. That's why the rule of love is so important. 
*Laughter. The Bible tells us that laughter is a great medicine. That's why The Andy Griffith Show is such a great prescription. How can we watch Otis or listen to Floyd and not laugh?
*Resolution. At the end of each episode, life was seen as back to normal in Mayberry. Problems solved. Relationships mended. Criminals jailed. Barney humbled (sometimes). While life is not a sitcom with convenient and quick resolutions, we trust that in the end everything will be O.K. Why? Because God said so! And like Andy and Barney on the front porch at the close of the day, we can share the same peace and tranquility knowing that all is well because of Jesus. Thanks, Andy, for the fond memories. We will miss you.

p.s.- For laughs courtesy of Mayberry, check out some of my Mayberry Monday entries from the first year of this blog.

Attitude Adjustment

Today is Monday; need an "attitude adjustment"? If so, this post is for you. If your attitude is fine today, then read this and store it away for future reference. At some point you'll likely need it! It's taken from James MacDonald's book Lord, Change My Attitude. MacDonald writes:

"Looking a little closer at Numbers 11:1, it's hard to miss the fact that we choose our attitudes. That's a short sentence and you might be speed reading, so let me say it again: We choose our attitudes! Oh, yes, we do! They don't choose us; we choose them. You should see the looks I get when I teach this truth publicly. People get all uptight and angry looking, like they're going to storm the platform, and I understand why. Nobody wants to be told 'Your attitude problem is in the mirror'-but it is. Until we embrace as fact the idea that we choose our attitudes, we will never be able to choose differently, and life will always be like a wilderness. Notice what Numbers 11:1 says: the people! They couldn't point the finger anywhere but at themselves...Back to God's word: 'The people became like those who complain.' Why did they become like that? Because they had to? Because someone forced them, because of the way they were brought up? No; they chose. They had good reasons not to complain; they had more than enough reasons to be thankful. Instead, they chose the attitude of complaining. God's final judgment on their attitudes clearly held them accountable for their choosing."

I'm Back!

I have had extensive difficulty with my blogger/post connection. It now seems as though things have been remedied. Thanks for your patience. Here is a great little story from Henry Blackaby. Hope it makes us think!

"The story is told of a godly man who sought to read his Bible and pray every morning for an hour before he went about his other chores and responsibilities. He generally spent this time with the Lord in the privacy of his own bedroom before joining others in his family for breakfast. The man was faithful in his discipline, but sometimes found that he became sidetracked when his cat wandered into his room and began to purr loudly as it rubbed against his pant leg. The solution to this problem? He leashed the cat to one of the bedposts while he spent his time reading and praying.

The man's son witnessed the behavior of his father. He grew up admiring his father's devotion and as he became an adult and moved out on his own, he sought to copy his father's discipline. He bought a cat and tied it to the bedpost just as his father had done, and then spent a little time reading his Bible and praying-unless, of course, he was running late. On most days, he spent only a few minutes in his devotional time, but he never failed to leash the cat to the bedpost.

That man, in turn, had a son who also admired his father and sought to be just like him. When he became an adult, he purchased a cat and faithfully leashed it to the bedpost each morning as he was getting dressed and ready for the day. When his little boy asked him why he was doing that, he replied, 'I'm not quite sure, but my father always leashed his cat to the bedpost and he was a good man who loved God. I think maybe tying the cat to the bedpost was a part of his faith ritual. So I tie the cat to the bedpost, too.' Is there something in your life that has no real spiritual meaning, but which you regularly do?"

Learning To Listen!

Listening to a sermon can be a daunting task. There can be major distractions, everything from screaming babies to snoring neighbors (don't laugh-this really happened to me). Granted, there are many things that occur during a sermon that we simply can't control, including the preacher himself. But there are many things that we can control, at least to a point. This is the first in a series of posts concerning how to listen effectively to a sermon. For a more complete reading on the subject, find a copy of Christopher Ash's booklet Listen Up! He has some great ideas and thoughts, some of which I will cover in the coming posts. I hope these are a help to you. Enjoy.

L2L (Learning To Listen) Point #1:
PRAY. PRAY. PRAY. This one is so simple, yet probably the most overlooked aspect of listening to a sermon. And it might be the most important.  Honestly, how often do you ask God to allow you to hear the things you need to hear? And after you hear them, how often do you ask God to let those things be received into your life and applied in tangible ways? How do you deal with those things that are shared with which you initially disagree? How about those things that are particularly tedious/challenging/convicting? I cannot effectively listen apart from communicating with God. The quality of my listening, and the results that should follow, are contingent upon prayer. So...start praying now for Sunday's message, lifting up both speaker and listener to the Lord. Praying people make better listeners.

An Upside-Down World!

Tomorrow I am going to begin a short posting series that centers on the topic of learning to listen effectively to your pastor's sermon. For today, here is another excerpt from the book Die Young: Burying Yourself In Christ. In the upside-down world of Christianity, everything is different. Less is more. Death is life. And weak becomes the new strong. Consider:

"In the Christian life, unlike the world around us, weakness, not strength, is a valuable commodity. We have access to the throne of God, not because of our brute strength or steady determination to obey every minute detail of the law, but because of the confession of our inability to do any of it on our own. It is through weakness that we first utter the words, 'Dear God, save me.'"

Not Intimidated!

I recently completed a seven-week sermon series taken from Paul's letter to Titus. From our inferences from Paul's writing, coupled with historical accounts, we can safely say that the people of Crete were quite the challenge to disciple. But Paul reminds us that the gospel is truly sufficient for all things...and for all people! We may have tendencies to be become intimidated by others, particularly by those that we view as, well, intimidating. The gospel, however, is "God's power for salvation to everyone who believes." And Paul instructed Titus in relation to the gospel. The Cretans, as hardened as they were, needed the message of Jesus. Paul was confident that this message was sufficient enough to do all that needed to be done among the Cretans: establish and care for local churches, ensure sound teaching, correct wrong doctrine and behavior, lead people into good works, keep a godly focus, and support the cause of the gospel elsewhere. So what do we learn from this? If the Good News was all that was needed for the people of Crete, that is all that is needed for the people of today. Whether they be the people of our own churches, the people that live across town, or the people a thousand miles away, the gospel is all-sufficient in saving them and supplying their needs. Unleash it and let it do its work. 

Desiring Less to Have More

"Part of the death that leads to righteousness (Romans 6:16) as you die young is learning to die to your desire for stuff-the definition of stuff being anything other than God. And while stuff isn't inherently evil, the position we give it in our hearts can be. Face it-less isn't something most of us are excited about getting, unless it's less of something bad. 'Dear God, give me less good stuff' has probably never been your prayer."

Hayley & Micheal Dimarco, Die Young: Burying Yourself In Christ

Prayer Challenge: Ask God to reveal something that exists in abundance in your life. It may be clothes, shoes, tools, money, toys, furniture, books, etc...Anything, really. Then ask God what He would have you do with those things that you could be a blessing to someone else. Remember: Having less is actually more! Learn to let go of "stuff".

Christ Changes Everything!

We recently began a new session of Discipleship Study at our church, using the book by Haley & Micheal Dimarco Die Young: Burying Yourself In Christ. I love the chapter titles. Among them: Death Is the New Life, Less Is the New More, Slavery Is the New Freedom, and Red Is the New White. The authors continually challenge the reader by reminding him/her that Jesus really does bring about a radical change in life. Our reasoning is to be different than that of our worldly counterparts. Our speech is to be different. Our attitudes are to be different. Our motivations are to be different. Our behavior is to be different. While some changes may be sudden and dramatic, and others subtle and painstakingly long, make no mistake: Christ is at work in the life of a believer! How is He working in you? Do you notice Him leading you on the "road less traveled"? Consider these words from the Dimarcos:

"When you die to everything that this world suggests is necessary for a 'good life', when you reject everything that they say is essential for happiness, peace, or even life, you choose the road less traveled by natural man but well-traveled by the spiritual man. It is a narrow road that leads to life and few will find it (Matthew 7:14) because few are willing to accept the paradigm shift that faith requires. This shift says that life isn't about you but about your God. This may mean taking the worst seat at the table (Luke 14:10), going the extra mile (Matthew 5:41), or forgiving someone for the same thing over and over again (Matthew 18:22). All of these the world would consider a step down in life and most definitely not a step up."

Considering the World to Come!

"How then, should we view this world and our existence in it? The Puritans would answer, sub specie aeternitatis- 'in the light of eternity': we must 'consider' (Romans 8:18) things as they will be rather than they are now: I see a world in decay and trouble. I consider a renewed, perfect world to come. I watch my body deteriorating. I consider my new body. I can make no sense of things here. I consider a world where all is integrated. I am tempted to sin here. I consider a world of perfection to come. I see in part now. I consider a time when I shall see Jesus. This is our calling: to gaze deliberately and see things as they will be rather than as they are. Did you notice that Paul suggests that this deliberate gazing is what creation itself is doing? Creation 'waits with eager longing' or, as J.B. Phillips so marvelously rendered it, 'The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own.' Creation stands on tiptoe. Are you?"

Derek W. H. Thomas, How the Gospel Brings Us All the Way Home

Say What?

In this month's edition of Christianity Today magazine's Quotation Marks segment, you will find a hilarious flub from noted atheist Richard Dawkins. When asked publicly for the full title of Charles Darwin's famous book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, Dawkins struggled. His exact reply:
"On the Origin of Species...uh...with...oh God." Sounds like a confirmation of Romans 1, but I'm sure Dawkins would disagree! Maybe he should stick with books that have simple titles, like, say...the Bible.

Using Biblical Words

During his sermon last week at the T4G conference, Thabiti Anyabwile observed that words act as containers for the truth. He warned that if we lose the words of Christianity, we lose the ability to properly convey the truth. For example, here is a word from the Christian vocabulary: lost. In many churches, this is an unpopular word that is often omitted from public use or it is assigned a less offensive working definition, although the new "meaning" is scripturally unsound. But if this word, and dozens of others like it, are intentionally sidelined or unscrupulously redefined, how can the gospel be explained with clarity, accuracy, and love? In short, it can't. That is why pastors and laymen alike need to use biblical words to explain biblical things. That, though, is only half of the challenge. We need to be able to offer an explanation of those words that we actually use. And our explanation needs to be not only right but also understood. Over the next several days, look at the list of words below. Do you know what they mean? Could you explain them to someone asking serious questions about your faith in Christ? And could you communicate their meanings in a way that someone could actually comprehend? Don't wait until you are caught off-guard. Prepare now to give an answer.

Lost
Saved
Born Again
Repentance
Propitiation
Baptism
Jesus
Grace
Faith
Resurrection
Kingdom
Sin
Believe

T4G Highlights

I took the week off from posting while attending the T4G (Together for the Gospel) conference in Louisville, KY. What a blessing it was to me and the thousands in attendance. I will resume posting again next week; hope you will return! In the meantime, I leave you with some of my selected highlights from T4G 2012. Some serious, some silly:

1. Free books!
2. Corporate worship led by Bob Kauflin.
3. David Platt's sermon on missions. Incredible.
4. Derby Pie.
5. The shout-outs for Tennessee when I wore my Vols sweatshirt.
6. The on-stage testimonies of lives changed by the grace of Jesus.
7. C.J. Mahaney standing in the lobby greeting people as they entered. And thanks to C.J. for his refute of Big Ten football.
8. Thabiti Anyabwile's sermon on Paul as a converted terrorist. Wow.
9. John Piper's teaching on the keeping power of God, explained through the words of Jude.
10. No gimmicks. Just Gospel. And tremendous encouragement for pastors. Thanks to Mark, Ligon, Al, and C.J. for all the hard work.

Easter Sunday...He is Risen!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

I Peter 1:3

"It shall be imputed to us who believe in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification."

Romans 4:24,25

Prayer: We praise you, Father, for your perfect love, mercy, and grace. Thank you for keeping your word in sending Jesus to be our Savior and Lord. We know that apart from His death and resurrection, we would still be in our sins. But He has risen! And we now have a hope that is truly eternal. Thank you for your wonderful gift. Jesus lives! And so do we in Him! Amen.

Contemplating the Cross, Good Friday

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most-
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small:
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Prayer: Father God, today is the day that we fix our minds and hearts on the cross of Jesus. May we rest in His final words: It is finished! We have nothing to contribute to our salvation, nothing to add to what Jesus has already accomplished for us. By faith we remember. By faith we rest. Thank you for a love so amazing and divine. Amen.

Contemplating the Cross, Day 4

"However, the truth of the struggle between Christ and the Devil does not mean that the ransom of which Christ spoke of was paid to Satan. Think of it for a moment. If Christ paid a ransom to Satan to deliver us from Satan's clutches, who is the victor?... So if the ransom was paid to Satan, the Devil laughed all the way to the bank and there is no Christus Victor. It must be Satanus Victor...When the Bible speaks of ransom, it speaks of the ransom being paid not to a criminal but to the One Who is owed the price for redemption, the One Who is the offended party in the whole complex of sin-the Father. Jesus didn't negotiate with Satan for our salvation. Instead, He offered Himself in payment to the Father for us. By so offering Himself, He made redemption for His people, redeeming them from their captivity."

R.C. Sproul

Prayer: Father, we thank you for redeeming us at such a great cost. We will never fully understand the debt we owe you until we see you face to face. We were prisoners, held captive by our sins. But because of Jesus, acting on our behalf, we are redeemed! Thank you for loving us enough to set us free. Amen.

Contemplating the Cross, Day 3

"The atonement is not merely a doctrine of the church. It is the doctrine of the church. Leave this out, and you have no truth, no Savior, no church. As Luther said of the doctrine of justification by faith, that is was the article of a standing or falling church, so we affirm of the atonement, the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ for the sins of men...If the atoning sufferings of Christ are left out of a ministry, that ministry is worthless."

Charles Spurgeon

Prayer: Lord, we ask that we would be given a renewed sense of the greatness of Christ's sacrifice for helpless sinners. May we hold it in awe, never minimizing its place in Christianity. And we ask that pastors, our own and those around the world, would recognize that any ministry that abandons the work of the cross is indeed worthless. May our pastors preach Christ and him crucified. We thank you, Father, for allowing us to hear this wonderful message. By grace we have received it and believed it. Amen.

Contemplating the Cross, Day 2

"In the light of their sense of Christ's victory over Satan and the powers of darkness, the early disciples went into the world proclaiming Christ the Redeemer and Conqueror. If we share their appreciation for Christ's triumph, we will also share their passion to proclaim it. For we live in the light of this fact: Jesus has triumphed over Satan. We too may therefore ask the questions Paul does in Romans 8:31-35. Here, significantly, in the light of the cross seen as a triumph over Satan, Paul uses the interrogative pronoun. Does he have Satan specifically in mind? Who can be against us? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? Who is he that condemns? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Satan certainly cannot; for by his death Christ disarmed him of the weapons that would otherwise enable him to do so. Christ has conquered! And in him we are more than conquerors!"

Sinclair Ferguson

Prayer: Father, we thank you that we are not helpless victims. Because of Christ, we are made more than conquerors! May we not live in fear of Satan and his schemes. Help us not to run from the opportunities you give us because we are afraid. As conquerors, may we not be held in the grip of fear. Instead, may we live in the victory that has been given to us through Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Contemplating the Cross, Day 1

Each day this week, I will be posting a reflection and/or teaching concerning the theology of the cross, followed by a short prayer. May these daily entries help to prepare your heart for contemplation and celebration as we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday:

"Yet the neglect of the cross in our churches is the result of more than our growing fascination with the subjective and with self-improvement. There is also a growing hostility to the whole notion that Christ suffered as a substitute, that God would desire such a thing, or that God is at all wrathful. Theologians and biblical scholars have reread parts of the Bible-or set it aside-in order to fashion a seemingly more humane religion, a religion of improvement rather than rescue. In such a domesticated version of Christianity, there is no place for a bloody cross."

Mark Dever

Prayer: Father, we thank you for the cross. And we do understand that we are thanking you for a bloody cross. Forgive us for trying to sanitize the cross in an effort to ignore or avoid the seriousness of our sin. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Cultivating Relationships

"I once heard a man walk up to a woman and say, 'How are your kidneys today?' That's the truth! I actually heard the man ask that question. Her response? Did she hit him with her purse? No, she said the following: 'Oh, they're much better today, thank you, Doctor.' I overheard those words in a hospital room. The doctor had earned the right to ask that personal question. If you doubt that, stop the next lady you meet on the street and ask it yourself, and see what happens. All of which is to say, we need to earn the right to ask personal questions."

D. James Kennedy, Evangelism Explosion

As I have often shared before, personal evangelism isn't easy. Uncertainties and challenges abound, but we are called to share the gospel through our personal relationships. But if we never take the time to build those relationships, how can the gospel be shared with those not yet following Christ? Here are a few thinking points that might help:

*Be deliberate! These relationships don't "just happen" very often. We must intentionally pursue relationships with those that aren't Christians. Our tendency is fueled by the homogeneous principle of like-attracting-like. We are comfortable with our own. But the gospel demands that we deliberately break the ranks of the easy and familiar to reach the unbeliever. In other words, go out of your way to begin to develop friendships with those that don't yet love Jesus!

*Be dependent! We can't do this in our own power; we must be completely dependent on the Holy Spirit. If left to my own devices, I will never place myself in situations that are tense and potentially messy, which personal evangelism can often be. And if I do place myself into these situations, I don't have the ability on my own to convey anything worthwhile. That's why I must pray, pray, pray. That's why I must be constantly led by the Spirit, dependent on Him for leading and empowerment.

*Be diligent! Don't give up. Relationships take time. We must let them develop naturally, over the course of time. Trust must be established. Common ground, such as likes and dislikes, must be established. The rhythms of communication must be established. Too often, we become frustrated when our initial attempts are thwarted. Don't bail out; keep plugging away, knowing what good might be coming: someone learning to love Jesus Christ. That's motivation enough.

Turning Back? Why?

"After this many of his disciples turned back and longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, 'Do you want to go away as well?'" John 6:66-67 (ESV)

I spoke today at a noon Lenten service hosted by our local Presbyterian church, using the above text in my sermon. While reading this passage of John, I have often wondered why the many deserted Jesus, and yet the few remained. Here are some clues that I have discovered in and around the passage that surrounds these verses:

1. The "many" would not listen to Jesus. The trouble begins in verse 60: "When many of his disciples heard it, they said, 'This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?'" What is "it"? The conversation of the preceding verses, most likely the intense statements of verses 53-58, dealing with Jesus' body and blood. Unless we listen to Jesus, we are, in his own words, "not of God" and "not of the truth". In their minds, it was easier to leave than to deal with the hard, harsh, and sometimes bizarre sounding words of this crazy Galilean. So they went away.

2. The "many" failed to embrace Jesus as Lord. They refuse to acknowledge the absolute authority of the One they have been following. When we come to a working understanding of lordship, we welcome the entirety of Jesus' teaching into our lives. But please don't misunderstand! Welcoming does not mean that I like everything and never have questions, reservations, and sometimes terrible struggles with God's revealed will for my life. But because He alone is Lord, I press on, doing what He wants me to do, understanding that He has every right to make demands of my mind, emotions, and will. Which leads to the next point:

3. The "many" missed the eternal significance of what was being said. Read Peter's words, expressed in verses 68 and 69. The Twelve know that Jesus is speaking as God! And, although greatly imperfect at times, they listen to Jesus as the voice above all other voices. He alone has the words that lead to eternal life. When we miss Jesus, we miss the things that he says. And when we miss the things that He says, we miss Jesus. The "many", failing to recognize the true identity of Christ, treated His teaching as dispensable. It is not-because Jesus is Lord!

4. Peter seems to distinguish between the "many" that left and those that remained by way of the word "believed" in verse 69. Those that believed stayed and followed Christ. Those that didn't believe went away. This is why an accurate and continual explanation of the gospel is essential in making certain that "believers" really do believe. Because if they don't, they will "turn back and no longer walk" with Christ.

Fighting Boredom!

"God, your way is holy. What god is great like our God?" Psalm 77:13

Let's be honest. Sometimes we think that church is boring. But we must recognize that our boredom and disinterest are rooted in our own sinful devices. Granted, there may be multiple causes for our boredom, but there is one certain solution to combat every single one of them: the greatness of God! Consider the axiom of old: finitum non capax infinitum. Meaning, literally, that the "finite cannot grasp the fullness of the infinite." This Sunday, when the temptation comes to let the mind wander into thoughts of lunch, doodles on the church bulletin, or your neighbor's taste in clothes, bring back into focus the greatness of God. There is no god like Him! Let's let this truth saturate our singing, praying, and listening. Let's praise Him as the Creator and King that the scriptures reveal Him to be. I have found that when I consider that I am the finite meeting with the Infinite, boredom can't stay. Distractions lose their footing. Disinterest flees. As you enter your church sanctuary this Sunday, ask yourself the question of the psalmist: "What god is great like our God?"

Deeds from Creeds

"I have said it before, and I'll write it here again: we need another Reformation-and this one needs to be about deeds, not creeds. Many have misunderstood me and and said, 'Oh, he doesn't believe in creeds!' I believe in creeds. I preach on creeds with frequency. But the issue is not creeds alone. Creeds must be turned into deeds. It's not one or another. It's both. We must do and teach the kind of behavior that goes with sound doctrine. We must be doers of the Word. We only believe the parts of the Bible we actually do. You may say, 'I believe in witnessing.' Do you do it? No? Then you don't really believe in it. 'I believe in tithing.' Do you do it? No? Then you don't really believe in it...We only believe what we actually do.

Rick Warren, from his chapter in Thinking. Loving. Doing.

Consider a Compassion Sunday!

Many of you that frequent this site know that my family and church support Compassion International (CI). CI is a Christian ministry that reaches impoverished children throughout the world with physical help and spiritual nurturing. Their statement of mission is simple: "Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name." You and your church have an opportunity to help this worthwhile cause by planning a Compassion Sunday for your local congregation. This year's event is targeted for April 22, but another Sunday can be chosen to better fit your church's schedule. Information can be obtained by visiting compassionsunday.com or by phoning CI directly @ 1-888-503-4585. This event can be easily tailored to fit into any service type or size. Participation may be as simple as having a current child sponsor share for a few minutes about the impact of CI, or it can be as involved as having the entire service's theme built around our helping the poor as a response to the gospel. It's simple. It's flexible. It's effective. Please give prayerful consideration to this idea in the coming weeks. Approach your pastor with the information. Take it to your Sunday School classes and small group meetings. However you choose, just get involved! On behalf of the often forgotten, I thank you.

Another Moore Monday!

"A few weeks ago my buddy Vicky was getting ready for work when she heard a beeper going off somewhere in her house. She was a tad perplexed, since she didn't own a beeper. She reasoned it was her husband's, knew he'd be in trouble without it, and started trying to find it. The sound was so loud she was sure it was in the room with her, but she searched in vain. She looked under the cushions of her couch and chairs. She looked behind the TV. She exhausted one room and looked in another. No matter where Vicky went, the sound was the same. No 'getting hotter', no 'getting colder.' Just a steady beep. Imagine her surprise when she realized the beep was coming from inside of her. The battery on her pacemaker was going out and sounding an alarm. She didn't even know her pacemaker had an alarm. You may not know you have one either, but you do. When it goes off, you've got to learn to listen to it. The hardest part may be that you won't always understand why the beeper is going off-why God is directing you to back off from a situation or relationship. The warning may not make any human sense. When this happens, beware of rationalizing yourself into a pit! Mind what the Holy Spirit is telling you even if you don't know why. You may live on for years without clear understanding, but you can praise God by faith, knowing that He veered your car in a different direction to keep you out of some kind of ditch."

Beth Moore, Get Out Of That Pit

Bend Me!

Last week, my seven-year old son made a rather honest statement while expressing his dissatisfaction with our choice of restaurants. He wanted to go to...McDonald's! Shocking, I know.
But we didn't eat at McDonald's. In voicing his displeasure he exclaimed, "But I want to do what I want to do!" Isn't that the exact root of sin? We want to do what we want to do. If sinners created a social club or organization, that would be a perfect mantra for advertisement. Think about it...Sinners: Doing What We Want Since 6000 B.C. Or Want It. Do It. Sinners. But we must yield our will to God. We must learn to want what He wants. We are taught this surrender by the Holy Spirit as God continues to shape us into the image of Jesus. Recently, I read of the Welsh revival that began in 1904. God used a young man by the name of Evan Roberts as an instrument in reaching people with the gospel. Evan's prayer, inspired by the words of another, was simple: "O Lord, bend me!" Evan initially preached to seventeen young people who responded to his appeal for repentance and obedience. Within a half year, tens of thousands were converted and sweeping social changes came as a result. If only I would learn to humbly pray, "O Lord, bend me!" Bend me away from what I want and toward what you want. May your desires become my desires. Instead of clinging to my ideas and yearnings, may I surrender them to you. May I do what you want me to do, and not what I want to do. O Lord, bend me!

Staying Put!

The process of sanctification is rarely easy. Quite often we find ourselves in the midst of trials and hardships, wondering why in the world God has allowed such things to enter our lives. We might be inclined to flee, to simply attempt to leave the unpleasant circumstances behind us, hoping for greener grass over the next hill. But running away is never the solution. Consider these words from James MacDonald, taken from his book When Life Is Hard:

"Do you feel the pressure to cut-and-run in your life? We think a change of scenery will fix the problem. Spouses leave their marriage and then they are shocked to find the same problems in their next marriage! 'You remind me so much of my first wife!' Well, duh, the same guy picked his second partner. Meanwhile, a pastor leaves and moves to a new church and is dumbfounded to find the same problems with different faces. Why? Because the pastor is part of the problem, too, because he didn't stay put and learn the things God wanted him to learn. We think the answer is a new environment when the real answer is a new me...God is working on you and me from the inside."

Spurgeon on Law and Sin

"Law does not make us sinful, but it displays our sinfulness. In the presence of the perfect standard we see our shortcomings. The law of God is the looking glass in which a man sees the spots upon his face. It does not wash you-you cannot wash in a looking glass; but it prompts you to seek the cleansing water. The design of the law is the revealing of our many offenses, that, thereby, we may be driven out of self-righteousness to the Lord Jesus, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin."

Charles Spurgeon

More Moore Monday!

Here is another excerpt from the teaching ministry of Beth Moore. I hope it serves you well this week. I know I need to be reminded of this truth daily:

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you out of your God-given destiny...because you demand your own way.
I cheat you out of contentment...because 'you deserve better than this.'
I cheat you out of knowledge...because you already know it all.
I cheat you out of healing...because you're too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you out of holiness...because you refuse to admit when you're wrong.
I cheat you out of vision...because you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship...because nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love...because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.
I cheat you of God's glory...because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you always think I'm looking out for you. Untrue.
I'm looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit. But don't worry...if you stick with me you'll never know.

Bonhoeffer on the Fear of Men

"...Jesus encourages his disciples by saying 'Fear not.' They must not fear men. Men can do them no harm, for the power of men ceases with the death of the body. But they must overcome the fear of death with the fear of God. The danger lies not in the judgement of men, but in the judgement of God, not in the death of the body, but in the eternal destruction of body and soul. Those who are still afraid of men have no fear of God, and those who have fear of God have ceased to be afraid of men. All preachers of the gospel will do well to recollect this saying daily."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1906-1945

Another Lesson from an Atheist!

On Tuesday, 1/24, my blog post referenced atheist and entertainer Penn Jillette. He's one-half of the famous Las Vegas duo Penn & Teller. Today's edition of the national newspaper USA Today features an interview with Jillette that focuses on his appreciation of modern technology. In referencing his use of the electronic reader Kindle and iPad, Jillette is asked what books he reads via these devices. His reading list includes the Bible. In his words, "I read the Bible every day." When questioned as to why an atheist is reading the Bible, he replies, "I've read it three times all the way through. It's a big part of our culture, a big part of our history. I don't just read things I agree with." Why am I sharing this with you? Here is an atheist who is reading his Bible daily. And not only that, he has accomplished a feat that few Christians have: he has read his Bible all of the way through...three times! Granted, he may be lying. And he is certainly not reading the scriptures with a godly intent. But still, it should cause us to examine our own habits concerning our diligent and routine study of the Bible. Or lack thereof. I am not suggesting that we read our Bibles in order to "outdo the godless heathen". My competitive nature may want to suggest such a notion, but I must quickly reject it. I am saying that I find it rather odd that an atheist is doing something that most Christians aren't doing. And I want that fact to stir me in a Christ-honoring way.

Be Strengthened by Grace!

"Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them."

Hebrews 13:9

*The author of Hebrews tells us that our strength is to come directly from grace. Grace is not weak; it does not require help from "foods". Obviously, some within the intended audience of this letter were seeking spiritual strength from various dietary regulations, wrongly thinking that the grace of the gospel was insufficient. While we may not be attempting to draw our strength from our diets, we can plug in a thousand other things for "foods" that are still crazy efforts to empower the grace of the gospel. Grace will do fine on its own. Grace doesn't need our help.

*The author tells us not to be fooled by diverse and strange teachings. This is why we must never compromise the essence of the gospel. There are certainly many issues where we can politely agree to disagree. Baptism. Gifts of the Spirit. Church government. But the message of the gospel? No! When we adhere to diversity leading to the gospel, we err. And tragically so. Diversity may come from the gospel, but diversity doesn't lead to the gospel. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me." Read this entire chapter of Hebrews. Everything is connected to the certainty of Christ, that His sacrifice is truly sufficient for the sinner's salvation. Our hearts are to be strengthened by His grace alone. Don't be fooled by another teaching or opinion. His grace is indeed sufficient.

*The need to be strengthened implies that we are prone to weakness. Every person needs the strength of the grace of the gospel. Don't think you don't. In times of waining strength, look to Jesus. He understands our lives and promises to be our helper. It's not a weakness to admit you are weak. It is a weakness to hide that you are.

Culinary Gratitude...My Top 10

I love food. It is such a blessing from God. And I'm not saying that to be flippant or silly. It really is a great gift from our Creator. Here I have compiled a list of ten favorites. Try making your own list, just for fun. My top ten foods & drinks (and even a smell):

1. Starbucks Coffee. Need I say more?
2. Bacon. See comment for #1.
3. A pecan log from Cracker Barrel.
4. The smell of a freshly opened box of Fruit Loops cereal.
5. Giordano's Pizza (Chicago, IL). It will make you see Jesus.
6. Three letters: BBQ. Ahhh...the wonderful smell of burning hickory.
7. Sour cream & Onion Pringles. My motto: Eat one and the can is gone.
8. Anything from the Cheesecake Factory, but especially the Caramel chicken.
9. Sweet Tea. And serve it like they do at a UT football game: with a big slice of orange.
10. Vanilla ice cream. Boring? Maybe. Delicious? Yes!

It's a Moore Monday!

"I believe I can confidently but reverently say to you that God can put any broken person back together again no matter what he or she has suffered. I'm not just saying that God can cause a person to maintain his or her physical existence after tragedy. Many people live through tragedy. I'll never forget my mother-in-law's response when I asked her how she survived the death of her beloved, blond-headed three-year-old after a house fire. She answered, 'I just kept waking up. I didn't want to live. I simply didn't have much choice.' Many of you know exactly what she meant. My heart still breaks for her. I am thankful I can tell you that she is no longer simply breathing. She is living once again. Physical existence is not what Christ died to bring us. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. As impossible as this may seem, God can restore abundant life."

Beth Moore, Praying God's Word

"Then Jesus said to him, 'If you can? Everything is possible to the one who believes.'"

Mark 9:23

Quick Exhortations!

"Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Don't stifle the Spirit. Don't despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil."

I Thessalonians 4:16-22

Wow! What a way to end a letter. Paul gives the Thessalonians more than a one-two punch; he delivers a spiritual flurry of mandates. There are nine points of thought in these seven verses. But don't miss their significance because of their placement in the letter or their succinct nature. Paul meant business when he wrote these things. Give them due consideration; read them slowly, pondering their immediate and broader meanings. May God bless you as you meditate on His word.

Swindoll on Surrender

"The next time you're feeling sorry for yourself, pause long enough to compare your situation to His. The next time you're unfairly criticized, again, compare; weigh your trouble against what He endured. The next time you have to surrender something comfortable or something familiar for the greater good, compare what you are surrendering to what He surrendered. The next time you're asked to adjust a plan, compare your adjustment to His adjustment. Keep Jesus as your standard. All other human examples are driven by a survival instinct, an internal compulsion to preserve and nurture self. Only Christ modeled godly selflessness throughout His entire life. While others seek to preserve their own lives, He came to lay His down."

Charles Swindoll, So, You Want to Be Like Christ?

Understanding God's Wrath

"If we are to preserve the balance of scripture, our definition of God's anger must avoid opposite extremes. On one hand, there are those who see it as no different from sinful human anger. On the other, there are those who declare that the very notion of anger as a personal attribute or attitude of God must be abandoned. Human anger, although there is such a thing as righteous indignation, is mostly very unrighteous. It is an irrational and uncontrollable emotion, containing much vanity, animosity, malice and the desire for revenge. It should go without saying that God's anger is absolutely free of all such poisonous ingredients...The wrath of God then, is almost totally different than human anger. It does not mean that God loses his temper, flies into a rage, or is ever malicious, spiteful, or vindictive. The alternative to 'wrath' is not 'love' but 'neutrality' in the moral conflict. And God is not neutral. On the contrary, his wrath is his holy hostility to evil, his refusal to condone it or come to terms with it, his just judgment upon it. In general, the wrath of God is directed against evil alone. We get angry when our pride has been wounded; but there is no personal pique in the anger of God. Nothing arouses it except evil, and evil always does."

John R.W. Stott

A Good Point...from an Atheist!

The following quote, from Penn Jillette, is found in the book The Trellis and the Vine by authors Colin Marshall and Tony Payne. Jillette is one-half of the famous comic-illusionist act Penn and Teller and a self-described atheist. But give his words close consideration; they will prick your heart. Here is the passage from the book:

"We have to conclude that a Christian with no passion for the lost is in need of self-examination and repentance. Even the atheists have worked this out. Penn Jillette is an avowed and vocal atheist...He was evangelized by a polite and impressive man, and had this to say about the experience:

'I've always said, you know, that I don't respect people who don't proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe there's a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell, or getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that, well, it's not really worth telling them because it would make it socially awkward...How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed beyond the shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you, and you didn't believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that...'"

Where are the No-Shows?

As with yesterday, today's post deals with a disturbing statistic. It is taken from the writing of Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Here are Dever's own words:

"American evangelicals are in pretty desperate need of rethinking and reconsidering this topic (membership), especially in our own fellowship of churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. According to one Southern Baptist study a few years ago, the typical Southern Baptist church has 233 members with 70 present at the Sunday morning worship service. My question is this: where are the other 163 members? Are they all at home sick, in a rest home, at college, or on vacation, or in the military? Maybe some are, but all 163 of them? What does this convey about Christianity to the world around us? What do we understand this to mean about the importance of Christianity in our lives? And what is the spiritual state of these people, if they've not been at church for months, or even longer? Is their non-attendance really any of our business?"

First of all, this is not just an issue for the SBC. As a non-denominational pastor that has frequent conversations with other pastors, this is truly a universal problem within the church today. Next, let me stave off the entire slate of "But-going-to-church-doesn't-make-you-a-Christian" objections. I agree-going to church doesn't make you a Christian! I have preached that message repeatedly, often to jeers and frowns. And I am not assuming that all of the missing members are genuine believers. The reality is that some aren't. These things being said, I have several questions:

*Valid reasons for continual missing aside (employment obligations, health issues, pressing family responsibilities), why would someone born again not have a desire to regularly gather with God's people?

*Why do some churches allow those that haven't darkened the door in years, for no valid reason, to participate in matters of church business such as budget approval or voting for/against the calling of a pastor? Without referencing denominational procedure and guidelines, how can such activity be biblically allowed? Would Paul have approved such a notion? Absolutely not!

*Have we made church membership an inconsequential matter? Are we failing to convey the true meaning of membership to prospective and current members? Do they understand the ministry of membership?

*Are we carrying the "rugged individualism" of American thinking into our ideas of membership? In other words, are we dealing with a people that don't want expectations placed on their behavior and refuse to submit to any personal accountability to the corporate good?

This is in no way an exhaustive list of inquiries concerning the no-shows among our memberships, but hopefully it's a start. I welcome your comments and further questions. Be watching for more about membership in the coming days. Thanks in advance for your time.

Don't Be A (Negative) Statistic!

The late Bill Bright, founder of the Campus Crusade for Christ, would always state that only 4% of evangelical Christians ever verbally share their faith in their lifetimes as believers. Think about it. Only 4%! How can we possibly align this rebellion of silence with the teaching of the scriptures? We can't. If we are silent, we are wrong. I know it's not easy to begin these conversations and it's certainly not any easier to navigate through them. But we must verbalize the gospel. Don't be a (negative) statistic. Share your faith today.

Celebrating God and Race

Today is the national commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday. In celebration of Dr. King's vision and ideals, I would like to share the following from John Piper:

"When you put this teaching of Genesis 1 (that God created the first man in his image) together with the teachings of Acts 17:26 (that God made all the ethnic groups from this first ancestor), what emerges is that all members of all ethnic groups are made in the image of God. No matter what the skin color or facial features or hair texture or other genetic traits, every human being in every ethnic group has an immortal soul in the image of God: a mind with unique, God-like reasoning powers, a heart with capacities for moral judgments and spiritual affections, and a potential for relationship with God that sets every person utterly apart from all the animals which God has made. Every human being, whatever color, shape, age, gender, intelligence, health, or social class, is made in the image of God."

And may the church say, Amen! But not simply with our mouths, but our hearts.

MacDonald on Hardship

Next Tuesday, we are beginning a new session of Discipleship Study at our church. We are using the James MacDonald book When Life Is Hard as our study resource. MacDonald centers the teaching on finding God's hope in the midst of adversity and suffering. Considering the topic, it will certainly be a timely discussion. Adversity and suffering know no season; they are continual reminders that we live in a fallen world. But we can find hope. Right here. Right now. Here is a small excerpt from the book:

"God knows the way that you take. He wants you to succeed in the testing you are experiencing. Considering His great love for you, do you honestly think He would let you go through more than you can handle? No...God is near you when your heart is broken, and saves you when your spirit is crushed (Psalm 34:18). God draws near to you during a hardship unlike at any other time in your life. Maybe this is why the desperate need comes. Maybe this is the very moment that God is seeking to engineer-the moment of your turning as never before to Him. If this is your moment and you don't know how to pray, God even knows that. Romans 8 tells us that God's Spirit prays for us when we don't have words. Just start praying and sharing your heart. Thank God that He knows the way you take."

Go Broncos!

As I bask in the excitement of the Denver Broncos' victory over the Pittsburg Steelers, may I simply share one word: TEBOW! See my April 23, 2010 entry for more details. I thank God for Tebow and his continued public faithfulness to Jesus Christ. Win or lose on the field, Tim has proven himself to be a winner off the field. And that counts most in the Kingdom. But hey! I'd still like to beat New England.

You Might Be A Preacher If...

I know this is a tired old line, but I ran across these and thought that they were funny. Hope they bring a smile to your face this weekend. With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy:

You Might Be A Preacher If

...you talk in other people's sleep.

...you've ever stood by a grave as two drunken veterans try to fold an American flag.

...you have seen an ugly bride.

...you say, "It's Sunday, but Monday's coming!"

...you've ever wanted to fire the church and form a congregation search committee.

...you're often asked what it's like to only work one day a week.

...you get your second wind when you say, "...and in conclusion".

...you actually know how many committee members it takes to change a light bulb.

...you thank God every day for Caller ID.

...you've secretly wanted a Gatorade bath after a particularly good sermon.

...people think you were born again last night.

...you've had roast for Sunday dinner.

...you've been roasted for Sunday dinner.

...you think everyone loves preaching.

...you suffer weekly from P.M.S. (Pre-Sermon Syndrome)

...you've ever checked your fly as you stood for the opening hymn.

...you've ever fantasized about "re-baptizing" a certain deacon.

...you can pronounce names like Jeshishai, Mephibosheth, and Quirinius.

...despite all the struggles, you couldn't imagine yourself doing anything else.

How Do You Feel?

"Our common tendency is to habitually begin with the internal, the subjective, the experiential, then use those feelings and impressions to determine what we'll accept as being objective fact. We let our feelings tell us what is true, instead of letting the truth transform our feelings. For most of us, this isn't something we practice only when reading a book or listening to a sermon. We explain our choices by saying, 'I feel good about it.' It's the fundamental mindset with which we approach practically everything. It's how we live. We're conditioned to this approach not only by our sin but also by our culture, which incessantly entices us to 'follow your heart' and do whatever makes us feel good-along with the flattering assurance that nonstop feeling good is something we absolutely deserve! It would be fine to follow our feelings if we could always be sure they're faithful to reality. But they aren't; their perspective on reality typically has huge blind spots. As a result, our emotions are flighty, fickle, and far too easily dominated by any number of influences-spilled coffee at breakfast, a traffic stall when you're running late, a cutting comment from a coworker. Our feelings simply can't be trusted."

C.J. Mahaney, Living the Cross Centered Life

Dear Abby!

Dear Abby:
I am a middle-aged woman who is a Baptist by faith. I believe that when I die I will go to heaven. My problem is, if going to heaven means being reunited with my parents and other family members, then I don't want to go! The idea of spending eternity with them is more than I can stand, but I don't want to go to hell, either. Any thoughts?

Eternally Confused in Mississippi

Dear Eternally Confused:
Yes. When you reach the pearly gates, talk this over with St. Peter. Perhaps he would be willing to place you in a different wing than the one your parents and other family members are staying in. And in the meantime, discuss this with your minister.


The above letter really did appear in the Dear Abby column this past November. As is. My mom cut the column out and saved it for me. Oh, to be Dear Abby for a day! Or this lady's minister. I hope she did talk with her pastor; and I pray that Jesus would remove the bitterness from her heart and would allow her to value heaven for His sake alone.

Whitfield on Walking with God

"Walking with God not only implies that the prevailing power of the enmity of a man's heart be taken away, but also that a person is actually reconciled to God the Father, in and through the all-sufficient righteousness and atonement of his dear Son. 'Can two walk together, unless they be agreed?' Jesus is our peace as well as our peace-maker. When we are justified by faith in Christ, then, but not till then, we have peace with God; and consequently cannot be said till then to walk with him, walking with a person being a sign and token that we are friends to that person, or at least, though we have been in variance, yet now we are reconciled and become friends again. This is the great errand that gospel ministers are sent out upon. To us is committed the ministry of reconciliation; as ambassadors for God, we are to beseech sinners, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled unto God, and when they comply with the gracious invitation, and are actually by faith brought into a state of reconciliation with God, then, and not till then, may they be said so much as to begin to walk with God."

George Whitfield, preaching from Genesis 5:24

Welcome to 2012!

"Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. Who can declare the Lord's mighty acts or proclaim all the praise due Him? How happy are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times. Remember me, Lord, when You show favor to Your people. Come to me with Your salvation so that I may enjoy the prosperity of Your chosen ones, rejoice in the joy of Your nation, and boast about Your heritage."

Psalm 106:1-5 (HCSB)