Modern Martyrs

When Pastor Al Meredith entered the pulpit of Wedgwood Baptist Church September 19, he addressed the question nearly everyone was asking: “Where is God in all this?” And the “all this” was almost too horrible to remember.

Just four days before, the church’s sanctuary had been a place of horror and carnage as Larry Gene Ashbrook opened fire on a youth evangelism rally, killing seven participants and wounding others. He then calmly sat down in a pew and shot himself to death. In an instant, a place of worship had been reduced to a crime scene.

Once again, young people lay dead and wounded from an act of inexplicable violence. But this time the scene wasn’t a high school, but a church building. What the youth first thought was a dramatic skit turned out to be a matter of life and death. Larry Ashbrook entered the sanctuary, shouted anti-Christian curses at the young people, and then shot with cold-blooded accuracy.

The youth had met that morning around school flagpoles as a part of the national “See You at the Pole” prayer and evangelism movement. Little did they know that their witness would soon reach around the world.

How could God have let this happen? How do we explain this evil? A tragedy like this sets loose a torrent of theological questions. The response to these questions is a true test of any theology—and any Christian.

read the rest of this post here.

posted by jrd.

Silence of the Lambs

The following was posted by Pastor Mark Dever and can be viewed at http://www.9marks.org/blog/by-author/mark-dever.

One of the most frequently commented upon aspects of the morning Lord's Day service here at Capitol Hill Baptist Church is nothing we do.  Or rather, it is the nothing we do.  It is our moments of silence.

There's silence between various aspects of the service. I encourage service leaders to NOT do the "no-dead-airspace" TV standard of busy-ness. We LIKE "dead air space."  "Dead air space" gives us time to reflect.  To collect our thoughts.  To consider what we've just heard or read or sung.  The silence amplifies the words or music we've just heard.  It allows us time to take it all in, and to pray.  We have silence to prepare ourselves.  We have silence between the announcements and the scriptural call to worship.  We even have a moment of silence AFTER the service!  I pronounce the benediction from the end of II Corinthians, invite the congregation to be seated.  And then, after about a minute of silence, the pianist begins quietly playing the last hymn that we had just sung.  During those few moments, we reflect and prepare to speak to others and depart.  We do business with God.  We prepare ourselves for the week ahead.

I'm a sound addict.  Even as I write about silence now, I've got Paganini blasting in my study!  But yesterday morning in church during one of our silences, I became aware of how corporate a labor such public silence is.  Everyone works to be quiet.  People stop moving their bulletins or looking for something in their purse.  There's no movement.  We, together, hear the silence.  It engulfs us.  It enhances our unity.  It is something we all do together.  Together we consider what we've just heard.  Together we contribute to each other's space to think.

Why has the church forgotten this?  Our culture knows it.  At the most solemn moments, we have a minute of silence.  And everyone listens to the silence.  And thinks about why we're being silent.  Why don't we do this in the church.

In the last century, E. M. Forster, in A Passage to India, referred to "poor little talkative Christianity".  Perhaps there was a day when all Christians did was gather to listen to the Bible read and preached, and to prayers.  But that day is long gone in most evangelical churches.  These days we gather more to watch than to listen.  And to sing. 

But in all the noise of our choirs, and drums, and electic guitars, and organs, and praise bands, where is the solemnity?  Where is the dignity and majesty that is so often indicated in the Bible by a stupified silence, soaked in awe and covered with wonder?

Ecclesiastes 3:7 tells us that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent, but we seem to have forgotten today that there is a time for silence.  God calls his people before Him in silence:  "the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him," (Hab. 2:20).

Certainly as Christians we have much to rejoice over--loudly and joyfully and expectantly!  But is no part of our regular assemblies to reflect the weightiness of our sinful selves before a holy God, the silence of conviction, even of sorrow?  Furthermore, is no part of our regular assemblies to reflect the stunning weightiness of our forgiveness in Christ, the silence of marvel, and even the humility of some incomprehension?

We silence ourselves exactly because God has not kept silent.  We silence ourselves in order to hear God speak in His Word (cf. Deut. 27:9)  We silence ourselves to show our assent to God's charges against us (cf. Ps. 39:9).  We silence ourselves to show respect and obedience and humility and restraint (cf. Zeph. 1:7; I Cor. 14:34; I Tim. 2:12).  We silence ourselves to search our hearts (cf. Ps. 4:4).

We silence ourselves in our own times of prayer, reading and meditation on God's Word.  And we should also silence ourselves in our periods of corporate worship.  Making silence together builds and unifies the church, witnesses to the majesty of God and tacitly proclaims His greatness to all who hear.

posted by jrd

Death of An Atheist

Does belief in "God" make you a Christian?  Read Al Mohler's review of the "conversion" of an atheist.

http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/04/29/the-death-of-a-former-atheist-anthony-flew-1923-2010/

posted by jrd

As I said before....

The Beginning of the Occupation.

Frenchman Crying During Nazi Occupation of France

12/11/1941-Marseilles, France: Frenchman crying as the flags of fallen France were marched through the streets of Marseilles on their way to Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

3/21/2010. Democrats on their way to pass the "Health Care" bill.

posted by john d.

Preaching Pattern

"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading." Nehemiah 8:8 (ESV)

In many churches, there is almost no public reading of the Word of God. Worship is filled with music, but congregations seem disinterested in listening to the reading of the Bible. We are called to sing in worship, but the congregation cannot live only on the portions of Scripture that are woven into songs and hymns. Christians need the ministry of the Word as the Bible is read before the congregation and God's people -- young and old, rich and poor, married and unmarried, sick and well -- hear it together. The sermon is to consist of the exposition of the Word of God, powerfully and faithfully read, explained, and applied. It is not enough that the sermon take a biblical text as its starting point.

excerpted from www.albertmohler.com

 posted by john d.

When Sorrow Becomes Sinful

The title is taken from the second chapter of a reprint of John Flavel's "A Token For Mourners" published in 1674 and reprinted by Banner of Truth Trust as "Facing Grief". The second chapter poses the question, 'when does sorrow become sinful and excessive'?


"It becomes excessive, when,...it causes us to slight and despise all our other mercies and enjoyments as small things, in comparison with what we have lost....

It is a sin springing from ignorance. Did we know the desert of our sins, we should rather wonder to see one mercy left than that twenty are cut off. They that know they have forfeited every mercy should be thankful that they enjoy any, and patient when they lose any of their comforts....

If you knew God, even that sovereign Lord at whose disposal our comforts come and go, who can the next moment blast all that remain, and turn you into hell afterwards, you would prize the mercies he yet indulges you with at a higher value.....

And yet, if you be out of Christ, you are in danger of a far sadder stroke than any, or all, yet mentioned. What if God should say, Do you not prize my mercy? have you no value for my goodness and forbearance towards you? Is it nothing that I have spared you thus long in your sins and rebellions? Well then, I will stretch out my hand upon your life, cut off that thread which has kept you so many years from dropping into hell."

posted by john d.

Good Listening

In my morning rounds of blog-reading I came across a posting by Thabiti Anyabwile regarding the preaching and listening of the Word of God. I thought it worth sharing.

"The more I preach, the more convinced I am of two things. First, preaching is really, really difficult. Second, listening to preaching is really, really difficult. Even the best of listeners struggle with poor preaching. And the best preaching can't cure the worst listening. You want both. Great preaching and great listening. That combination best edifies preacher and people, strengthening the church in the most profound way. But even good preaching and good listening should result in good growth by the grace of God. So, the effort is well rewarded.

I'm convinced that how we listen to a sermon makes tremendous and profound difference in our encounter with the word of God and the God of the word. And that's no revelation I just sat here and thought up. It's what the Bible itself teaches. Ever wonder why the Bible so frequently exhorts us to listen, to pay attention, to heed? Ever wonder why Jesus so often begins His teaching with, "Have you not heard?" Or, take Solomon. Breeze through the opening chapters of Proverbs and count the number of times he writes, "Listen, my son." And then there are all the biblical rebukes for not listening, for being stiff-necked, slow to hear, and the like.

God is a speaking God. We must, then, be a listening people. In fact, the difference between an eternity of enjoying God and an eternity of wrath comes down to whether we listen to the message preached. "Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God." So, this is an issue of extremely vital importance. Our spiritual health depends upon hearing God clearly, which depends upon knowing how to listen.

Likewise, listening to and benefiting from sermons requires good filters.

The first and most important filter for the listener is a "True or False" filter. The listener must ask themselves: "Is what I'm hearing true or false?" A true/false filter is a clean listening filter for those wanting to grow by the word of God.

The truth–the whole counsel of God–is good for us. Falsehood misleads and destroys us. So, we must first come to the word thinking and listening with the categories or filter of true and false. Is the preacher giving me the truth here? Reject everything that is false. But thankfully embrace the truth with both arms. Hold it close to your bosom and love it. Christians are truth people, and faithful servants of the word declare the truth."

Pastor Anyabwile further provides some thoughts on "True or False" filters. You can read the entire post at http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabitianyabwile/

posted by john d.

The Church of the Golden Age

The local church is not in a golden age. It's probably not even in a plastic disposable age at this point. And as such, it often falls short of meeting our spiritual needs -- unlike the church of the Golden Age.

The church of the Golden Age would be full of the love of Christ, right? And full of people who have overcome sin. It would be lead by Christ and by men just like Him. And when I have a lousy day that lasts for weeks (or months), that church would be there for me all the time.

And wow: would the church of the Golden Age have good doctrine. The teaching there would be from like one who has authority -- not just lip service, not just translations from the Greek and Hebrew, not just lessons about how to live our lives. The doctrine of the church of the Golden Age would both humble us and lift us up so that we could be both servants of Christ and also his brothers and sisters all gaining the inheritance of the Father in eternal life.

…I want to remind all of you -- because I myself needed reminding -- that the church of the Golden Age is not past.

The church of the Golden Age is still coming. It has never yet been here, but in it our hope lies.

Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city,

but we seek one to come.

Adapted from “The Golden Age” by Frank Turk posted on February 10, 2010 at http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2010/02/golden-age.html

posted by john d.

The Church

When will we stop "going to church" and
start "being the church"?


Matthew 25:31-46

posted by john d.

Wrong Reasons to Love the Church

Do you love the church? Romans 12:10 tells Christians to "Love one another with brotherly affection."

The affection and love we're to have for fellow-Christians is to be based on the work of Jesus Christ for us. It's not about elitism, it's not because Christians are better than anyone else, it certainly isn't because Christians are necessarily more lovable. We love the church because we love the Savior who redeemed the church.

Acts 20:28 tells us that Jesus purchased the church with his own blood. Is this what your love for the church is based on? If it's anything less, it won't last long.

Don't love the church because of what it does for you. Because sooner or later it won't do enough.

Don't love the church because of a leader. Because human leaders are fallible and will let you down.

Don't love the church because of a program or a building or activities. Because all those things get old.

Don't love the church because of a certain group of friends. Because friendships change and people move.

Love the church because of who shed his blood to obtain the church. Love the church because of who the church belongs to. Love the church because of who the church worships. Love the church because you love Jesus Christ and his glory. Love the church because Jesus is worthy and faithful and true. Love the church because Jesus loves the church.


Excerpted from the sermon "We Are Here to Love the Church." - posted at www.joshharris.com

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" Eph. 5:25

Edited and posted by john d.

Irresistible Grace - Our Encouragement

John Newton in a letter to Rev. Thomas Jones (October 20, 1767): “As to myself, if I were not a Calvinist, I think I should have no more hope of success in preaching to men, than to horses or cows.”

Posted by Kevin DeYoung – 1/23/10 - http://thegospelcoalition.org

re-posted by john d

For Your Consideration ....

Are we becoming "theological eggheads"
ignoring the gospel needs of our community?

In other words,

Are we "educated" beyond our profession and practice?





" . . . .if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. "

posted by john d.

Signs - and Wonder

No Parking? I can park here I've got important business and besides I'll only be a few minutes. Speed Limit 55? - means nothing, I'm in a hurry. No Passing Zone? I can pass as long as I can make it. No Smoking area....are you kidding, I have my rights.

I have noticed the inability of a lot of people to follow directions posted on signs.

It appears that those who ignore signs might feel that they apply to everyone else and not to them specifically. They must feel exempt, or special, or beyond the authority of the sign. In other words, they will be autonomous. I .... me.....my.....above everyone else.

"This sign must be for someone else, certainly it is not meant for me."

"Why should I have to obey this sign?"

"I don't agree with this sign, therefore I don't have to obey it."

This attitude is another indicator of sin exhibited by our self-love...our selfishness. Is it any different than Satan's challenge to Eve to question God's authority - and by extension all authority outside of ourselves?

We theoretically agree with Hebrews 13: 17 which requires us to "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves..." but tend to ignore 1 Peter 2:13,14 which commands us to "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors...."

Is this lack of respect for authority as evidenced by our disregarding signs and promoting "self" the result of our pagan culture affecting the Christian or does the Christian's attitude of self-love contribute to it's cause?

posted by john d.

Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year

Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them.

Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It’s so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we’re going and where we should be going. The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus.

So let’s evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical diligence, remembering that, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage” (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let’s also remember our dependence on our King who said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

by Don S. Whitney

posted by john d.

New Year Resolutions

How are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions? No, I won’t let you forget. What? You forgot what they were? Did you write them down? See if you can find the paper. No don’t be discouraged. Today is the beginning of the rest of your life. Take 5 quiet minutes and make several resolutions. Then we’ll take stock at the end of June. Like Paul said: “Forgetting those (failures) that lie behind, and pressing ahead to the goal, I pursue…” Let’s be a pursuing people.

Joshua 7 is a chapter on how to deal with failures of the past. Achan disobeyed God and kept some booty he wasn’t supposed to. So Israel is defeated in their next battle. Joshua is crushed. He rips his shirt open, throws himself on the ground and wails before God. God comes in an amazingly matter-of-fact manner, and simply says: “Get up; why are you on the ground? Israel has sinned. That is why they got beat. Get up and get rid of the sin” (vv.10-13).

OK then, let’s not go around bemoaning all our failures. Get up. Repent. Get the sin out. And let’s be on our way to Ai: “Do not fear or be dismayed…I have given into your hand the King of Ai” (8:1). Renew the New Year’s covenant or make a new one. Write it down. Paste it on your bathroom mirror. Set a limit to it. And be sure to add this contingency clause: “If I fail, I will not mope around in despair. I will encourage my heart in God’s mercy, repent and start up again.” Future life is too precious. The possibilities of joyful service are too great to let yourself be paralyzed by the past.

Adapted from “New Year's Resolutions? Oops”, by John Piper, March 24, 1981

posted by john d.

Happy New Year

1922 New Year Card




from my family collection.

posted by john d.