A Book and a Question Often Asked

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 I have recently joined with Thomas Nelson Publishers in what they call  Book Review Bloggers. Here is how it works. Bloggers agree to read a recent release, write an objective review, and post that review to their blog. Nelson then links to the review from their website. A dream come true for someone who enjoys reading and writing.

I received my first book yesterday – Where is God? by John Townsend. I requested this book and have been looking forward its arrival. I was intrigued by the title. It seems more than just a title. It is a cry from a heart that is searching for answers. A snippet from the inset of the book reads, ” Why does a loving God allow you to experience difficulties? How is God active in your hard times? How can you locate Him these rough circumstances? This poignant and engaging work will clear the confusion. Most of all, you’ll be reminded that major troubles mean one thing: now is the time to seek God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and let Him show up in ways that will change you forever.” Stay tuned for the review.  

Taking a Break

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I am taking a break from writing through the Christmas holidays. It is my prayer that each one you have a Merry Christmas. I hope the time with your families is blessed and enjoyable. I want to leave you with a verse that sums up our reason for celebrating.

“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Luke 2:10-11

Thank You

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Yesterday was an emotional day at Port Royal Baptist Church. Our Adult Choir performed the Christmas musical drama, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”. It was very powerful. It was a great mixture of old Christmas songs infused with new songs of faith and deliverance. The drama told the story of God’s providence over and His care for the faithful. Our Children’s Choir did an outstanding job as well. I am a firm believer in the power of music to reach the hearts of people in ways that a spoken message can’t.  Thank you to all who participated in telling this fantastic Christmas message.

Yesterday was also the last service for our Minister of Music/Youth Jim Riley and his wife Cindi.I’ve been blessed in serving with them since August 2nd. I want to say thank you to them for the better than fifteen years of service they have given to PRBC. Their commitment to the music/youth ministries will no doubt be seen for years to come. I appreciate Bro. Jim’s leadership in areas other than music/youth. There are always lots of little things to be done behind the scenes when it comes to church administration. Thank you Bro. Jim for making sure the “bases were covered”. With all of my heart I believe, through their dedication to God’s church, Jim and Cindi have contributed greatly to the future success of PRBC. It is my prayer that God will richly bless them in every way they stand in need of. Once again, thank you.

Worth Repeating

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Wherever you are, be all there”

Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador

So much can be said in just a few words. Jim Elliot was a missionary who lost his life in 1956 at the hands of the Aucas, a primitive indian tribe in Ecuador. He gave his life with the desire to give them the message of eternal life found in Christ. We are where God has planted us. In order for us to honor God in His service, we must be all we can, wherever we are.

My Thoughts on Tiger Woods

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Believe it or not, I am a fan of PGA golf. While I do not have a “favorite” golfer, there are a few that I enjoy watching play: Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, David Duval, and Tiger Woods. You would have to have been out of the country over the past few weeks to not know what has been happening with Tiger Woods. About three weeks ago, his personal life began to unravel on television before the entire world. The beginning point was an accident outside his home early in the morning. As media attention increased, rumors began to swirl of an extramarital affair. Recently, those rumors have proven true. I find it unfortunate and tragic that the troubles of the famous find its to the evening news. I believe the attention compounds the issue and makes it more difficult to resolve. As has been seen in the past, the public loves a good mess.

Woods has decided to take a break from golf to focus on his family. I am sure this was a hard decision to make. Through this entire situation, I have been amazed by the reaction of those in the press and also those close to him. I can’t help but to be saddened by the negative impact this is having upon his family and children. In a great majority of the interviews I have seen, when asked about their thoughts on Tiger Woods, the attention is about how his career will be affected. One pro golfer commented that this will even the playing field and allow others a greater chance at winning. Where is the concern over the family that has been hurt? Where is the concern over the vows made before God in this marriage covenant? Where is the applause for placing the importance of repairing his family over his career in golf? Personally, I believe the lack of a proper view and understanding of marriage is a contributor to this situation. The reason I say that is through many interviews, and from the media reports, words referring to his marriage such as “hindrance”, “mistake”, “liability”, and “bad decision” have been used.

I would like to make a few thoughts and observations about this entire situation. I understand that I am no expert and I am fairly certain that Woods does not read this blog. That being said, here are my thoughts.

1. I believe that a mending of the marriage covenant cannot take place until an acknowledgment is made that God has been offended. It is God who gave us the institution of marriage for our benefit and to picture the relationship between Christ and His church. It is His. A violation of that covenant is a violation of His nature and purpose.

2. Next to our relationship with God, our family is to be a priority. While many say that Woods’ time away from golf will affect his career negatively and cost him millions, I feel it is the right decision. It is our family that stands by us in the good times and bad. When all the fame, fortune, and attention is gone, our families are standing there. They are our God-given support system. I applaud his decision.

3. Scripture is confirmed time and time again that our sin will eventually catch up to us. Moses reminded Israel to “be sure that your sin will find you out”.  Regardless of how careful an individual is keeping their sin a secret, eventually it comes to light. Sin normally requires additional sin to keep its covering.

4. The sin we choose to be involved in has the ability to impact us and those around us in a way that cannot be seen at the time. No one sins in a vacuum. There is always someone affected by our choices. In this case, Woods’ family has been affected by the break in trust. Also, the consequences of his actions are being immediately felt with some of his sponsors pulling endorsements.

It is my prayer that Tiger Woods, and many other celebrities in the same circumstances have someone in their lives to give them wise counsel. I don’t know Woods’ spiritual condition or his belief system. I do pray that God would intervene so that not only would their family be restored, but God’s nature and glory would be seen through His work. I wonder if that would be reported?

Dehydrated Hearts

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Water is an amazing thing. It can take many forms: ice, snow, vapor. It also makes up nearly eighty percent of the human body. It is absolutely necessary for life. Without it, our bodies will begin to shut down. There will be signs of this shut down, everything from dry mouth to illogical thought pattern. Unless water is taken in, it is of no value to the body. You can have as much water around as you like. Unless you take it in, you could die of thirst.

Your spirit needs water as well. Not the same kind of water your body needs. Without your spirit being watered, it can begin to dehydrate. There will be signs here as well. Short tempers, depression, worry, fear, guilt, insecurity, unforgiveness, and anger are all signposts along the road to spiritual dehydration. We do our best to satisfy this soul thirst  with earthly effort. We hope that increased activity, the church, or even family can make a difference. None of these will quench the thirst of a drying heart. Jesus himself gave us the remedy for soul thirst. He said in John 7:37-38, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Only Jesus can quench the thirst that burns deep inside our hearts. He tells us to come to Him if we have a need. The blessing for us is that we can continually come to Him as often as the need arises. The fountain never dries. Imagine a stream of water flowing that is always there for a person to drink from. This stream removes the fear of dehydration. Now imagine a river of living water that falls on our heart and spirit like a waterfall. This waterfall allows security, peace, forgiveness, love, and strength to penetrate a dry spirit. We know that in Him our spiritual thirst will be quenched.

 

The Changing Landscape of Discipleship

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In his recent book, The Shape of Faith to Come; Spiritual Formation and the Future of Discipleship, Brad Waggoner takes an in-depth look at the future of discipleship in the New Testament church. He suggests and provides a good argument for an effective model for disciple-making in today’s church:  intentionally mentoring believers one-on-one.  This tends to go against the traditional and accepted method of discipleship in many of our churches. The most familiar method is to place the process of discipleship in a classroom setting, hinged on coursework and lecture. The model of one-on-one mentoring and coaching is biblical It appears to be the preferred method of Christ during His earthly ministry. While it is true that Christ preached to and taught large groups of people, He intentionally  chose small groups to people to pour His life into. We can see this through His interaction with the twelve disciples He chose. Even in that group, there were one or two who were especially close.

Waggoner shares five principles for discipleship that clearly demonstrate the disciple-making process that Jesus used. These principles have the potential to impact the church today in its thinking related to making disciples. Consider these:

The Principle of Selection: Jesus selected certain people to pour His life into. He did not attempt to grow everyone at the same time in the same ways.

The Principle of Association: He not only chose these, but He called them to identify with His mission.

The Principle of Demonstration: Jesus modeled ministry for them. He not only shared verbally, but He moved them out of the “classroom” and showed them “how to”.

The Principle of Delegation: On the job training. He empowered them with the authority and opportunity to do real, life-changing ministry.

The Principle of Supervision: He was there with them as they went. He coached them and corrected them. One day He would no longer be with them.

I have to believe this model has the ability to change the landscape of disciple-making in our churches today. That model: One mature believer taking an interest in another believer and intentionally pouring their life into them with the goal of growth and repetition of the process. Discipleship, as I see it, is the ongoing process by which a believer moves closer to the heart of God; evidenced in their actions, attitudes, choices, and lifestyle. You don’t accidentally get there. Discipleship is intentional. Disciples are made.

 

 

 

FIFS : Exodus 14:19-20

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“19. And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.  20.  So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night. “

Israel was on the run. They had been freed from the bondage of the Egyptians, They were now being pursued by the Egyptian army as a result of Pharaoh changing his mind about the release. The nation of Israel finds themselves between a rock and a hard place. Before them, the Red Sea. Behind them, the army of Egypt. The angel of God moved from their front in a guiding capacity to behind them in a guarding capacity.

This scenario plays out in the lives of God’s people today. There are times when God’s people find themselves between a rock and a hard place. It could be the demands of an employer set against personal convictions. It could be financial needs set against a desire to spend more time with family. At the Red Sea, Israel was waiting on rescue. However, during the wait, there was the reassuring presence of God. While wait on God’s rescue from the rocks and hard places, in that interim, there is One who holds, comforts, and calms us.

Worth Repeating

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“God does not have to come and tell me what I must do for Him, He brings me into a relationship with Himself where I hear His call and understand what He wants me to do, and I do it out of sheer love to Him… When people say they have had a call to foreign service, or to any particular sphere of work, they mean that their relationship to God has enabled them to realize what they can do for God.”

Oswald Chambers

Being Alone is not Always a Bad Thing

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There is a fundamental fear that many people in today’s world share. This common fear is the fear of being alone. I believe that we are social creatures. We desire, if not need, interaction with others. No one wants to feel as if they are without the support, love, and companionship of others. I can remember times in my life when I felt completely alone. Growing up, we moved around frequently. Prior to my seventh grade year in school, I had attended thirteen different schools. I remember being the new kid in class many times. Perhaps my earliest memory of being alone was standing in front of a classroom full of students who had known each other for years while the teacher had me to stand up front. I can remember hearing that very familiar statement, “Class, I would like to introduce you to our new student.” Alone.

Although being alone is not the preferred choice of many, there are times when it is a good thing.  The times that we spend alone with God are both productive and beneficial. It is in our time alone with God that we are able to truly hear from our Heavenly Father. In this fast-paced world that we live in, we are often required to spend a lot of time on the phone, on the road, and even hours in front of the computer. It is extremely difficult to hear from God in the middle of that activity. We must intentionally carve out some time out of our schedules to get alone with the creator of the universe. Significant things happen get alone with God. We find this pattern throughout the Bible. Consider these: 

In Exodus 1, alone with God, the Hebrew midwives risked their lives by listening to God’s command to spare all male children, one of whom was Moses.

In Lamentations, Jeremiah, alone with God, pleaded for the salvation of an entire nation.

In Nehemiah 1, alone with God, the desire to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem was birthed in Nehemiah’s heart.

In Daniel 2, alone with God, the meaning of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was revealed.

Alone with God, in prison, Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesian church.

In Revelation, alone with God on Patmos, John received an incredible vision from Christ Himself.

Alone with God is an individual choice, a passion we choose to pursue. It is in these times that we experience the true intimacy of our relationship with God. Alone with God, we lift our petitions to Him in with a certainty that He will hear. Alone with God, we see His Word come alive in our careful study. Alone with God, the plans and purposes He has for us are spoken to our hearts. Alone with God, we feel the conviction of sin that has grieved God’s heart. Alone with God, we feel the calm assurance that regardless of outside conditions, he has control of the inside. Alone with God, our spirits are refreshed and encouraged. I can’t think of a better place for the child of God to be.