What gives you joy? What gives you joy to the utmost?
The apostle John revealed his answer in 3 John 4.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
It gave me great joy to receive this email from someone in our church earlier this week:
Hi, Tuesday prayer list folks...
I don't send these every week, but I wanted to let you know that I prayed this verse (among other things) for you this morning. Have a great day.
1Corinthians 16:13
That _________ would be on the alert today, standing firm in the faith, acting like godly men (or women) and being strong.
I was among the Tuesday prayer folks in our Seven Day Prayer Directory at OGC. I was SO ENCOURAGED to know that I had been prayed for in such a substantive, biblical way.
And it gave me GREAT JOY that one of His children sought to walk in the truth of praying for one another and communicated that as I have continually sought to exhort us over these last several weeks.
Church, have you prayed for the Thursday prayer folks yet today?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Bless You Cancer (13)
I was reminded in my journal from 8.24.05 of a source of comfort during the worst week in my treatment process.
I continue to get numerous cards. My mother has taken it upon herself to recruit friends and family to bombard me. Many encouraging emails too. Praise God for that. I do so long for the day when my life is returned to me. Having it held captive by cancer treatment is terrible. Lord, grant me strength to persevere. Again, I pray, send relief from these discomforts.
Never underestimate the power of a written note to encourage someone who suffers. Is there someone you could bless with comfort Hallmark style today?
I continue to get numerous cards. My mother has taken it upon herself to recruit friends and family to bombard me. Many encouraging emails too. Praise God for that. I do so long for the day when my life is returned to me. Having it held captive by cancer treatment is terrible. Lord, grant me strength to persevere. Again, I pray, send relief from these discomforts.
Never underestimate the power of a written note to encourage someone who suffers. Is there someone you could bless with comfort Hallmark style today?
No Prayer More Fundamental
D. A. Carson keeps heaping more thermonuclear fuel on my desire to pray through the flock.
There is no prayer we can pray for others more fundamental than this: that God might strengthen their hearts so that they will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father on the last day (A Call to Spiritual Reformation, p. 94).
See 1 Thess. 3:13, dear ones, and PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER!
There is no prayer we can pray for others more fundamental than this: that God might strengthen their hearts so that they will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father on the last day (A Call to Spiritual Reformation, p. 94).
See 1 Thess. 3:13, dear ones, and PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Bless You Cancer (12)
I am remembering arguably the hardest time in my journey through cancer valley.
From my journal of 8.23.05:
The misery shows no signs of abating. Lord, have mercy. My tongue, mouth and lips are raw. I'm nauseous most of the day. The mucous is relentless. How long before the side effects give way and I find relief? O, Lord, grant me endurance. Grant me strength. I almost wept over the pain this afternoon. The taste in my mouth is metallic and bitter. To swallow a pain pill is necessary but always an effort for fear of gagging and throwing up. This may prove one of the longest weeks yet in the trial. Please don't give me more than I can bear, Father. I've never felt affliction like this. How do people who live with it all the time survive. I at least have hope of relief. It can't come soon enough. Guard my lips, O God, in this affliction.
I say, Bless you cancer, for multiple reasons. One is because 2 Cor. 1:4 is true. God comforts us in our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
I now possess pastoral compassion for those who battle chronic pain in a way I never would have known before. God uses suffering to make us better comforters of others in their affliction. The comfort that thought brings is not colossal during one's trial but it grows in its significance over time as you see the Lord redeem it in the lives of others.
From my journal of 8.23.05:
The misery shows no signs of abating. Lord, have mercy. My tongue, mouth and lips are raw. I'm nauseous most of the day. The mucous is relentless. How long before the side effects give way and I find relief? O, Lord, grant me endurance. Grant me strength. I almost wept over the pain this afternoon. The taste in my mouth is metallic and bitter. To swallow a pain pill is necessary but always an effort for fear of gagging and throwing up. This may prove one of the longest weeks yet in the trial. Please don't give me more than I can bear, Father. I've never felt affliction like this. How do people who live with it all the time survive. I at least have hope of relief. It can't come soon enough. Guard my lips, O God, in this affliction.
I say, Bless you cancer, for multiple reasons. One is because 2 Cor. 1:4 is true. God comforts us in our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
I now possess pastoral compassion for those who battle chronic pain in a way I never would have known before. God uses suffering to make us better comforters of others in their affliction. The comfort that thought brings is not colossal during one's trial but it grows in its significance over time as you see the Lord redeem it in the lives of others.
No Put Downs Except This Kind
This from D. A. Carson in today's romance:
Christian love, mature, deep, and unqualified, is a rare commodity. When it is displayed, it speaks volumes to a society that gorges itself in self-interest, lust, mutual-admiration pacts, even while it knows very little of love. Show me a church where the choir is known as the War Department, where people divide over evangelistic strategies or over the color of the carpet, and I'll show you a church that has not been praying along these lines for some time [that the love of Christ would abound in its midst]. Conversely, we will see profound spiritual renovation if by God's grace we make it our commitment not to put anyone down--except on our prayer list (A Call to Spiritual Reformation, emphasis mine, pp. 92-93).
Brethren and Sistren, love well by praying hard and only putting one another down on your Seven Day Prayer Directories and personal lists.
Christian love, mature, deep, and unqualified, is a rare commodity. When it is displayed, it speaks volumes to a society that gorges itself in self-interest, lust, mutual-admiration pacts, even while it knows very little of love. Show me a church where the choir is known as the War Department, where people divide over evangelistic strategies or over the color of the carpet, and I'll show you a church that has not been praying along these lines for some time [that the love of Christ would abound in its midst]. Conversely, we will see profound spiritual renovation if by God's grace we make it our commitment not to put anyone down--except on our prayer list (A Call to Spiritual Reformation, emphasis mine, pp. 92-93).
Brethren and Sistren, love well by praying hard and only putting one another down on your Seven Day Prayer Directories and personal lists.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Why This Means & Method of Death?
I preached on John 6:35 today. I am the bread of life. We had communion following the preaching of the Word and rightly so, particularly on this occasion.
This morning in my sacred romance with Jesus I read this on why the cross by A. W. Pink regarding Christ's Penal Work:
As to why this means and method of death was selected by God out of all others possible--poisoning, stoning, beheading, etc.--Genesis 3 supplies the answer: "As the fatal sin which diffused the curse of the human race was connected with the forbidden 'tree,' God wisely ordered that the last Adam should expiate sin by being suspended on a tree; and He appointed in the Law (Deu 21:22-23) such a symbol of the curse as reminded all men of the origin of the Divine curse on the world. He would not have the curse removed in any other way." Among the Romans, death by crucifixion was the the deepest possible humiliation. It was the most degrading of punishments, inflicted only on slaves and the lowest of the people. If freemen were at any time subjected to crucifixion for great crimes, such as robbery, high treason, or sedition, the sentence could not be executed until they were put into the catalogue of slaves, and that by the utmost humiliation. Their liberty was taken from them by servile stripes and scourging as it was done to Christ. Thus, the curse of God's Law was executed upon the Head and Substitute of His people. To "preach Christ crucified" (1 Co 1:23) is to proclaim and expound His being "made a curse for us."
I wanted to read this before the Table today, but ran out of time. I never made the "tree" connection before. It made me sing When I Survey the Wondrous Cross with a deeper layer of insight, devotion, and wonder than ever before.
This morning in my sacred romance with Jesus I read this on why the cross by A. W. Pink regarding Christ's Penal Work:
As to why this means and method of death was selected by God out of all others possible--poisoning, stoning, beheading, etc.--Genesis 3 supplies the answer: "As the fatal sin which diffused the curse of the human race was connected with the forbidden 'tree,' God wisely ordered that the last Adam should expiate sin by being suspended on a tree; and He appointed in the Law (Deu 21:22-23) such a symbol of the curse as reminded all men of the origin of the Divine curse on the world. He would not have the curse removed in any other way." Among the Romans, death by crucifixion was the the deepest possible humiliation. It was the most degrading of punishments, inflicted only on slaves and the lowest of the people. If freemen were at any time subjected to crucifixion for great crimes, such as robbery, high treason, or sedition, the sentence could not be executed until they were put into the catalogue of slaves, and that by the utmost humiliation. Their liberty was taken from them by servile stripes and scourging as it was done to Christ. Thus, the curse of God's Law was executed upon the Head and Substitute of His people. To "preach Christ crucified" (1 Co 1:23) is to proclaim and expound His being "made a curse for us."
I wanted to read this before the Table today, but ran out of time. I never made the "tree" connection before. It made me sing When I Survey the Wondrous Cross with a deeper layer of insight, devotion, and wonder than ever before.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Should We Applaud in Church?
Someone raised this question recently in preparation for our upcoming congregational meeting. Why don't we regularly applaud whoever sings the offertory? We do occasionally but it is rare when it happens.
D. A. Carson has some helpful insight on the question on page 88 of his book noted below.
Applause used to be unknown. Then it came to be deployed after special music. Now it is sometimes heard punctuating sermons. This is, I think, a regressive step. True, some might consider this to be a kind of cultural equivalent to a voiced "Amen!" I take the point, and would not want to introduce new legalism by banning applause outright. But the fundamental difference between "Amen!" and applause must be noted: the "Amen!" is directed to God, even if it serves to encourage the person who is ministering, while applause in our culture signals approval of the performer. God is left out, and the "performer" may the more easily be seduced into pride. This is one of several ways by which the rules of the entertainment world have subtly slipped into corporate worship and are in danger o destroying it from within.
That about sums it up.
A Call to Spiritual Reformation is a worthwhile read.
D. A. Carson has some helpful insight on the question on page 88 of his book noted below.
Applause used to be unknown. Then it came to be deployed after special music. Now it is sometimes heard punctuating sermons. This is, I think, a regressive step. True, some might consider this to be a kind of cultural equivalent to a voiced "Amen!" I take the point, and would not want to introduce new legalism by banning applause outright. But the fundamental difference between "Amen!" and applause must be noted: the "Amen!" is directed to God, even if it serves to encourage the person who is ministering, while applause in our culture signals approval of the performer. God is left out, and the "performer" may the more easily be seduced into pride. This is one of several ways by which the rules of the entertainment world have subtly slipped into corporate worship and are in danger o destroying it from within.
That about sums it up.
A Call to Spiritual Reformation is a worthwhile read.
Bless You Cancer (11)
Four years ago today marked a milestone as noted in my journal from 8.22.05.
Home. They let me go last night. It's over. Treatment is finished. TBTG. They took the 5FU IV out at 8:45 after 128 consecutive hours. No wonder I feel like c _ _ p. Sores on the inside and outside of my mouth. Red inflamed skin in the cheeks and neck area. Mucous galore. Nausea. Some vomiting. I can hardly talk. I told Nancy yesterday AM, "It stinks being me today." But by God's grace we got through. Hopefully from here on in things can only get better. I wonder how long it will take to recover.
Fortunately I didn't really know, or I might have despaired.
Home. They let me go last night. It's over. Treatment is finished. TBTG. They took the 5FU IV out at 8:45 after 128 consecutive hours. No wonder I feel like c _ _ p. Sores on the inside and outside of my mouth. Red inflamed skin in the cheeks and neck area. Mucous galore. Nausea. Some vomiting. I can hardly talk. I told Nancy yesterday AM, "It stinks being me today." But by God's grace we got through. Hopefully from here on in things can only get better. I wonder how long it will take to recover.
Fortunately I didn't really know, or I might have despaired.
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Kind of Prayer We Need
So what we need, then, is a prayer life that thanks God for the people of God, and then tells the people of God what we thank God for. D. A. Carson
After I read that from the man's book, A Call to Spiritual Reformation, I sent an email to the one deacon in our Seven Day Prayer List at OGC that falls in the Friday section and did just that.
PEOPLE OF GOD, LOVE ONE ANOTHER BY PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER. GIVE THANKS FOR ONE ANOTHER AND TELL ONE ANOTHER WHY YOU GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR ONE ANOTHER.
Eye has not seen and hear has not heard what kind of church we will be if we take this call to pray through the flock faithfully EVERY WEEK! As the Nike people say, JUST DO IT!
After I read that from the man's book, A Call to Spiritual Reformation, I sent an email to the one deacon in our Seven Day Prayer List at OGC that falls in the Friday section and did just that.
PEOPLE OF GOD, LOVE ONE ANOTHER BY PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER. GIVE THANKS FOR ONE ANOTHER AND TELL ONE ANOTHER WHY YOU GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR ONE ANOTHER.
Eye has not seen and hear has not heard what kind of church we will be if we take this call to pray through the flock faithfully EVERY WEEK! As the Nike people say, JUST DO IT!
Made for Another World
If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.
C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis
Bless You Cancer (10)
Four years ago today I endured a four day, 24/7 continuous infusion of a chemotherapy drug called 5FU. You can read about this nasty little devil here.
This from 8.19 through 8.21.05 in my journal from that year.
It was a long day yesterday. A lot of lying around. I got up for one walk. Came back and threw up. Vomited a total of three times yesterday. The 5FU is definitely getting to me. So grateful I am not doing radiation. It's a week today since they burned my tongue. it's feeling somewhat better but is still sore. Yawning is quite painful and mucous is still a problem, but not as bad. The doc thought I looked ten times better on this round. He was very upbeat.
I am weary of this journey. So much mucous. More vomiting and nausea. These last four days seem like an eternity. Oh to keep the perspective that we are trying to save my life. It's a brutal path. I was weak and tired much of the day yesterday. I slept a lot. Man, it has been a long haul. Lord give me mercy to persevere. Seems like my secretions have gotten worse, thanks to the extended chemo. Taste is all weird again. I can't wait to get to the other side.
The last day. They hung the final bag of 5Fu last night. I should be finished and free to go home some time tonight. What a relief. It has been miserable. Mucous, mouth pain, nausea, vomiting, sore face. This stuff is so toxic. I just pray it is doing its job and killing any cancer left in my body. I long for relief. Jesus have mercy.
Often times I felt so sick I could only summon one prayer.
Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
It was enough.
This from 8.19 through 8.21.05 in my journal from that year.
It was a long day yesterday. A lot of lying around. I got up for one walk. Came back and threw up. Vomited a total of three times yesterday. The 5FU is definitely getting to me. So grateful I am not doing radiation. It's a week today since they burned my tongue. it's feeling somewhat better but is still sore. Yawning is quite painful and mucous is still a problem, but not as bad. The doc thought I looked ten times better on this round. He was very upbeat.
I am weary of this journey. So much mucous. More vomiting and nausea. These last four days seem like an eternity. Oh to keep the perspective that we are trying to save my life. It's a brutal path. I was weak and tired much of the day yesterday. I slept a lot. Man, it has been a long haul. Lord give me mercy to persevere. Seems like my secretions have gotten worse, thanks to the extended chemo. Taste is all weird again. I can't wait to get to the other side.
The last day. They hung the final bag of 5Fu last night. I should be finished and free to go home some time tonight. What a relief. It has been miserable. Mucous, mouth pain, nausea, vomiting, sore face. This stuff is so toxic. I just pray it is doing its job and killing any cancer left in my body. I long for relief. Jesus have mercy.
Often times I felt so sick I could only summon one prayer.
Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
It was enough.
Sweet Baby James
Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of James Gjertsen's homegoing. We miss you, son. The hard providence you brought into your parent's lives and all those who love them brought great joy and deep reflection as well.
For a sweet, thoughtful, substantive recollection of all things James, click through to the House of Gjertsen site here.
I said it before. I'll say it again. I love shepherding people of such faith and devotion. They make me want to be a better pastor.
For a sweet, thoughtful, substantive recollection of all things James, click through to the House of Gjertsen site here.
I said it before. I'll say it again. I love shepherding people of such faith and devotion. They make me want to be a better pastor.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Jesse & a Crucial Distinction About Evangelism & Missions
If you aren't reading Brett & Nicole Bradley's blog, I commend it to you.
I love blogs by my people because they give me a window into their hearts so I can know better how to shepherd them. Facebook is doing that for me to, to a certain extent. I keep learning, ever so slowly, even pushing 57 years of age.
Check out today's raw, tender, and insightful stuff from the Bretticus and his bride here.
I love pastoring folks with such sincere, substantive faith.
I love blogs by my people because they give me a window into their hearts so I can know better how to shepherd them. Facebook is doing that for me to, to a certain extent. I keep learning, ever so slowly, even pushing 57 years of age.
Check out today's raw, tender, and insightful stuff from the Bretticus and his bride here.
I love pastoring folks with such sincere, substantive faith.
Our Inscrutable Strata of Self-Admiration
Desiring God's blog has a post by John Piper comparing thoughts from C. S. Lewis and Jonathan Edwards on the subject of humility. It's worth checking out here.
This smidgen of a quote from Lewis regarding the human propensity to self-admiration might whet your appetite to click through:
It is like fighting the hydra... There seems to be no end to it. Depth under depths of self-love and self-admiration.
This smidgen of a quote from Lewis regarding the human propensity to self-admiration might whet your appetite to click through:
It is like fighting the hydra... There seems to be no end to it. Depth under depths of self-love and self-admiration.
Bless You Cancer (9)
This from 8.18.05.
Back in the hospital again. Another twist. My medical oncologist showed up at treatment with ideas for altering the plan. He was wrestling with adding the 5FU continuous fusion treatment (4 days, 24/7) following the cisplatin. He wants to finish strong. The only way to do it AND keep me on TPN (liquid nutrition) was to put me in so I can run simultaneous IVs. The chemo is not compatible with the TPN so we can't piggy back off the port - unfortunately. Other than feeling weak last night I didn't have any other immediate side effects from the cisplatin. Thanks be to God.
Had my final radiation treatment yesterday. Number 38! Hallelujah that is over. What a long haul. We brought gifts to the staff - some food, Piper books (Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die). I think they felt touched. Got my boldness quotient up to distribute the books. Gave my radiation oncologist a copy of my Psalm 23 message, "Tsunamis, Cancer, & the Shepherd's Extraordinary Care." Hopefully he will listen to it and God will convict and soften his heart.
It was not always easy, but God gave grace to seek to redeem the suffering by enabling us to share the gospel with caregivers and fellow-patients along the way. Blessed be His name.
Back in the hospital again. Another twist. My medical oncologist showed up at treatment with ideas for altering the plan. He was wrestling with adding the 5FU continuous fusion treatment (4 days, 24/7) following the cisplatin. He wants to finish strong. The only way to do it AND keep me on TPN (liquid nutrition) was to put me in so I can run simultaneous IVs. The chemo is not compatible with the TPN so we can't piggy back off the port - unfortunately. Other than feeling weak last night I didn't have any other immediate side effects from the cisplatin. Thanks be to God.
Had my final radiation treatment yesterday. Number 38! Hallelujah that is over. What a long haul. We brought gifts to the staff - some food, Piper books (Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die). I think they felt touched. Got my boldness quotient up to distribute the books. Gave my radiation oncologist a copy of my Psalm 23 message, "Tsunamis, Cancer, & the Shepherd's Extraordinary Care." Hopefully he will listen to it and God will convict and soften his heart.
It was not always easy, but God gave grace to seek to redeem the suffering by enabling us to share the gospel with caregivers and fellow-patients along the way. Blessed be His name.
How Are We To Improve Our Praying?
Dear ones, who prayed with me today for the G's thorugh the H's in our Seven Day Prayer List at OGC?
My prayer for each, among other things, was Col. 1:9-12.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
D. A. Carson got me fired up today with this thought from A Call to Spiritual Reformation:
If we are to improve our praying, we must strengthen our loving. As we grow in disciplined, self-sacrificing love, so we will grow in intercessory prayer. Superficially fervent prayers devoid of such love are finally phone, hollow, shallow (p. 85).
Beloved, let us love one another well by praying for one another daily.
My prayer for each, among other things, was Col. 1:9-12.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
D. A. Carson got me fired up today with this thought from A Call to Spiritual Reformation:
If we are to improve our praying, we must strengthen our loving. As we grow in disciplined, self-sacrificing love, so we will grow in intercessory prayer. Superficially fervent prayers devoid of such love are finally phone, hollow, shallow (p. 85).
Beloved, let us love one another well by praying for one another daily.
Upon My First Believing
Oh, church, read and feast upon Christ through the work of Puritans like Thomas Brooks!
O blessed Lord! Upon my first believing and closing with Jesus Christ, Thou didst justify me in the court of glory from all my sins, both as to guilt and punishment. Upon my first act of believing, Thou didst pardon all my sins; Thou didst forgive all my iniquities; Thou didst blot out all my transgressions; and as upon my first believing Thou didst give me the remission of all my sins, so upon my first believing thou didst free me from a state of condemnation and interest me in thy great salvation. Upon my first believing, I was united to Jesus Christ and I was clothed with the righteousness of Christ, which covered all my sins and discharged me from all my transgressions. Remember, O Lord, that at the very moment of my dissolution Thou didst really, perfectly, universally, and finally forgive all my sins.
No wonder all heaven ceases its activity and rejoices at the salvation of even one sinner (Luke 15:10). Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
O blessed Lord! Upon my first believing and closing with Jesus Christ, Thou didst justify me in the court of glory from all my sins, both as to guilt and punishment. Upon my first act of believing, Thou didst pardon all my sins; Thou didst forgive all my iniquities; Thou didst blot out all my transgressions; and as upon my first believing Thou didst give me the remission of all my sins, so upon my first believing thou didst free me from a state of condemnation and interest me in thy great salvation. Upon my first believing, I was united to Jesus Christ and I was clothed with the righteousness of Christ, which covered all my sins and discharged me from all my transgressions. Remember, O Lord, that at the very moment of my dissolution Thou didst really, perfectly, universally, and finally forgive all my sins.
No wonder all heaven ceases its activity and rejoices at the salvation of even one sinner (Luke 15:10). Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
The Highest Stair
Puritan William Gurnall wrote this:
Consider God's unspeakable love for His beloved Son as He watched Him--alone--enter the stage of bloody tragedy. Be still here and know the painful price both God and His Son paid for you to be one with Him. I think you are at the highest stair God's Word can lead you to ascend into the meditation of His love.
Picture a father who has only one son--and can have no more--sending that child to prison and with his own lips sentencing him to death. And then, to guarantee the execution be completed with the most horrible torment possible, he watches his child's death with eyes brimming not with grief but with anger. If you study this parent's countenance you conclude surely he hates his son or the sin he committed. This is what you see in the Father towards his Son, for it was God, more than men or devils, who caused Christ's death.
Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!
Consider God's unspeakable love for His beloved Son as He watched Him--alone--enter the stage of bloody tragedy. Be still here and know the painful price both God and His Son paid for you to be one with Him. I think you are at the highest stair God's Word can lead you to ascend into the meditation of His love.
Picture a father who has only one son--and can have no more--sending that child to prison and with his own lips sentencing him to death. And then, to guarantee the execution be completed with the most horrible torment possible, he watches his child's death with eyes brimming not with grief but with anger. If you study this parent's countenance you conclude surely he hates his son or the sin he committed. This is what you see in the Father towards his Son, for it was God, more than men or devils, who caused Christ's death.
Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tears of the Saints
August is something of unofficial missions month at OGC. We devote the 9:30 hour to reports from and prayer for our various short and long-term folks on the field.
Need a motivational jolt to be a global Christian? Check this video out. I caught it on Justin Taylor's blog.
Need a motivational jolt to be a global Christian? Check this video out. I caught it on Justin Taylor's blog.
Bless You Cancer (8)
Here is a portion of my journal from 8.17.05.
The day has finally arrived. The treatment finish line! I get my last radiation session on my neck and my last chemo blast to the body. What a long six weeks it has been! Of course, I still have the aftermath of these treatments to deal with, but there is much prayer going up on my behalf and at least I won't be having continuous radiation while the chemo side effects take their toll. At this point I just want the whole thing over with. As [John] Piper wrote to me in an email, "May you come forth as gold."
Proverbs 25:11 says, A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. In other words, a comment made or written at just the right time in just the right way with just the right truth is a beautiful thing. Pastor John's reference to 1 Peter 1:7 helped catapult me into a frame of mind to endure what lay ahead. I had no idea just how much I would need such a promise given the suffering yet to come.
The day has finally arrived. The treatment finish line! I get my last radiation session on my neck and my last chemo blast to the body. What a long six weeks it has been! Of course, I still have the aftermath of these treatments to deal with, but there is much prayer going up on my behalf and at least I won't be having continuous radiation while the chemo side effects take their toll. At this point I just want the whole thing over with. As [John] Piper wrote to me in an email, "May you come forth as gold."
Proverbs 25:11 says, A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. In other words, a comment made or written at just the right time in just the right way with just the right truth is a beautiful thing. Pastor John's reference to 1 Peter 1:7 helped catapult me into a frame of mind to endure what lay ahead. I had no idea just how much I would need such a promise given the suffering yet to come.
Total Depravity Like Never Before
I've seen this video a while ago, but not with Pastor John's comments on it as well.
I love it. Check it out.
I love it. Check it out.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
What Is the Gospel?
Ever since reading this summary of the gospel in Dever and Alexander's book, The Deliberate Church, Crossway Books, 2005, 221 pages), I have sought to be all the clearer in my presentation of the gospel to unbelievers and in my teaching of the gospel to our new member classes.This Gospel, then, is that God is our holy Creator and righteous Judge. He created us to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever, but we have all sinned, both in Adam as our representative head, and in our own individual actions (Rom. 5:12; 3:23). We therefore deserve death—spiritual separation from God in hell (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:3)—and are in fact already spiritually stillborn, helpless in our sins (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:6-8; Eph. 2:1) and in need of God to impart spiritual life to us (Ezek. 37:1-14; John 3:3). [Given our desperate condition what follows is why the Gospel is supremely good news] But God sent His Son Jesus Christ , fully God and fully man (Phil. 2:5-11), to die the death that we deserved, and he raised Him up for our justification, proving that He was God’s Son (Rom. 5:1; 1:4). If we would have Christ’s perfect righteousness credited to us, and the penalty for our sins accounted to Him, we must repent of our sins and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation (2 Cor. 5:21; Mark 11:14-15) (p. 28).
How strong is your knowledge of the gospel, the whole gospel, and nothing but the gospel?
Bless You Cancer (7)
This from 8.15.05 in my journal.
The final week of treatment, Lord willing. I can see the finish line. Had visitors today. Someone recited John 14 from the ESV, flawlessly. What an encouragement that was. Someone stopped by with food for Nancy. Someone else brought the video of the OGC service to the house.
James says pure and undefiled religion before God is to visit widows and orphans in their distress (1:27). I counted the endless stream of folks who visited this pastor in his cancer distress as a certain pure and undefiled religion that I will not soon forget.
Another insight. I went in and out of the hospital five times that year. Some of those stays lasted multiple days. Since that time I have never taken hospital visitation as a pastor lightly or as something to begrudge.
Every visit to my hospital bed or the couch in the family room meant the world to me in my suffering. Thanks to all who showed such mercy and kindness in our season of need!
The final week of treatment, Lord willing. I can see the finish line. Had visitors today. Someone recited John 14 from the ESV, flawlessly. What an encouragement that was. Someone stopped by with food for Nancy. Someone else brought the video of the OGC service to the house.
James says pure and undefiled religion before God is to visit widows and orphans in their distress (1:27). I counted the endless stream of folks who visited this pastor in his cancer distress as a certain pure and undefiled religion that I will not soon forget.
Another insight. I went in and out of the hospital five times that year. Some of those stays lasted multiple days. Since that time I have never taken hospital visitation as a pastor lightly or as something to begrudge.
Every visit to my hospital bed or the couch in the family room meant the world to me in my suffering. Thanks to all who showed such mercy and kindness in our season of need!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
A Question to Ask Every Day
This came from today's Coram Deo (Living before the face of God) section in August's Table Talk edition.
Each day we should ask ourselves whether we are content with the gifts God has given us or whether we are coveting (not simply wanting) something else. That something could be money, a relationship, a job, recognition, or any number of things that can be considered good. But when we think that we need these things, we have distrusted God's provision. We should regularly take a look at our goals to see whether they reflect contentment with His grace.
Bless You Cancer (6)
Still home this morning. Feeling a bit stronger. Hope to make it in to the office after lunch.
This entry from my journal of 8.13.05 reminds me how much prayer can be a part of a season of suffering in a believer's life.
One day closer. Vomited twice. Mucous is constant. Today I get my final tumor bed radiation treatment. Now things will be able to heal. After this, three neck treatments and I am done. I just want it to be over. Strengthen me, Lord. It has been so long since I have felt well. May this season come to a close soon.
It felt like I "rowed" on the stormy sea forever. But Jesus did get into the boat and take me to the other side. I'm grateful.
This entry from my journal of 8.13.05 reminds me how much prayer can be a part of a season of suffering in a believer's life.
One day closer. Vomited twice. Mucous is constant. Today I get my final tumor bed radiation treatment. Now things will be able to heal. After this, three neck treatments and I am done. I just want it to be over. Strengthen me, Lord. It has been so long since I have felt well. May this season come to a close soon.
It felt like I "rowed" on the stormy sea forever. But Jesus did get into the boat and take me to the other side. I'm grateful.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Bless You Cancer (5)
At home today battling my periodic nemesis, CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). It beats cancer, as this entry from 8.12.05 from my journal testifies.
Some days seem unbearably long. These last two weeks just drag on. It seems like it will never be over. But the end draweth nigh. I just have to persevere by God's grace. . . . Not a good night's sleep between mucous and not being able to breathe well. Not sure whether to fire my tongue or my nose for poor performance! Both maybe.
At least the Lord helped me keep my sense of humor, not to say my life as well.
Some days seem unbearably long. These last two weeks just drag on. It seems like it will never be over. But the end draweth nigh. I just have to persevere by God's grace. . . . Not a good night's sleep between mucous and not being able to breathe well. Not sure whether to fire my tongue or my nose for poor performance! Both maybe.
At least the Lord helped me keep my sense of humor, not to say my life as well.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Missionaries Who Love the Body of Christ
That's Rodney and Amanda Walton, part of the CCC team in Salerno. They have a post on their blog about their church in Italy. You can read about it here. I visited that church when I went to Salerno last March.
Like their counterparts, the Bradleys, who treasure the glory of God, I want to promote the Waltons, who treasure the church of God.
Remember to pray for them. They head back to the US tomorrow so Amanda can deliver baby Walton here.
Won't it be sweet to see them?!
Portrait of a Disciple
Here are the eight marks of a fully devoted follower of Jesus as distilled from the Scriptures as best I see it.
· Pursues his joy in God by abiding in Christ through the practice of spiritual disciplines
· Manifests his godliness of character by obeying God’s word through the power of His Spirit
· Fulfills his roles in society by embracing God’s design for functioning in each of the ordained spheres – home, church, and state
· Shares his faith with unbelievers by engaging them through a wise combination of gracious words and merciful works
· Does his part in global missions by maximizing his investment through praying, sending, and/or going
· Accomplishes his ministry to others by using his gift(s) in the domain(s) of God’s calling
· Manages his resources from God by utilizing them according to the principles of biblical stewardship
· Demonstrates his love for believers by engaging in fellowship through keeping the covenants of church membership
May we give ourselves regularly to the kind of self-examination that measures our commitment to follow Jesus in terms that the Scriptures prescribes.
· Pursues his joy in God by abiding in Christ through the practice of spiritual disciplines
· Manifests his godliness of character by obeying God’s word through the power of His Spirit
· Fulfills his roles in society by embracing God’s design for functioning in each of the ordained spheres – home, church, and state
· Shares his faith with unbelievers by engaging them through a wise combination of gracious words and merciful works
· Does his part in global missions by maximizing his investment through praying, sending, and/or going
· Accomplishes his ministry to others by using his gift(s) in the domain(s) of God’s calling
· Manages his resources from God by utilizing them according to the principles of biblical stewardship
· Demonstrates his love for believers by engaging in fellowship through keeping the covenants of church membership
May we give ourselves regularly to the kind of self-examination that measures our commitment to follow Jesus in terms that the Scriptures prescribes.
Bless You Cancer (4)
Some posts in my journal along the path of treatment of head and neck cancer were decidedly mundane. This from 8.11.05.
Radiation resumed yesterday. I had to take a 2 1/2 hour nap in the afternoon. It wipes me out. Had some nausea but not too bad. It was a fairly uneventful day except for the fact that I moved one day closer to finishing treatment for this horrible disease. Thank you, Father.
In retrospect, a fairly uneventful day in the fight against so formidable an enemy was a good day indeed. Any day without cancer is a great day for sure.
Radiation resumed yesterday. I had to take a 2 1/2 hour nap in the afternoon. It wipes me out. Had some nausea but not too bad. It was a fairly uneventful day except for the fact that I moved one day closer to finishing treatment for this horrible disease. Thank you, Father.
In retrospect, a fairly uneventful day in the fight against so formidable an enemy was a good day indeed. Any day without cancer is a great day for sure.
Living Today in Light of the End
More in the morning romance, this from D. A. Carson.
To think that rebellious, self-centered mortals become children of God, increasingly mirroring his character, and one day enjoying the unclouded bliss of a perfect existence in the presence of the Triune God--this could not possibly be the fruit of our own endeavors. Rather, Christ is glorified, he receives the praise that is his due, as we are glorified, as we are conformed to his likeness. On the last day, Jesus Christ will be glorified in us on account of what we have become by his grace, and we will be glorified in him on account of what he has done for us.
From A Call to Spiritual Reformation, Baker, 1992, p. 59.
To think that rebellious, self-centered mortals become children of God, increasingly mirroring his character, and one day enjoying the unclouded bliss of a perfect existence in the presence of the Triune God--this could not possibly be the fruit of our own endeavors. Rather, Christ is glorified, he receives the praise that is his due, as we are glorified, as we are conformed to his likeness. On the last day, Jesus Christ will be glorified in us on account of what we have become by his grace, and we will be glorified in him on account of what he has done for us.
From A Call to Spiritual Reformation, Baker, 1992, p. 59.
A Prayer for Today
This, again, in the morning romance, one of many prayers for the day.
Oh, Father, help me trust in your magnanimous heart of love and not shrink back in faithless fear.
In Jesus name, amen.
Oh, Father, help me trust in your magnanimous heart of love and not shrink back in faithless fear.
In Jesus name, amen.
Depth of Terror, Height of Love
This today in the morning romance with Jesus from a sermon by Charles Spurgeon.
Who would know God's hate of sin must see the Only Begotten bleeding in body and bleeding in soul even unto death. He must, in fact, spell out each word of my text and read its innermost meaning: "He hath made him to be sin for us." Oh depth of terror, and yet height of love! . . . How acceptable with God must those be who are made by God Himself to be "the righteousness of God in him!" I cannot conceive of anything more complete.
Who would know God's hate of sin must see the Only Begotten bleeding in body and bleeding in soul even unto death. He must, in fact, spell out each word of my text and read its innermost meaning: "He hath made him to be sin for us." Oh depth of terror, and yet height of love! . . . How acceptable with God must those be who are made by God Himself to be "the righteousness of God in him!" I cannot conceive of anything more complete.
Monday, August 10, 2009
What Brings the Hand of God on a Man of God?
We turn to the book of Ezra for the answer. Twice chapter seven says the hand of God, the good hand of his God was on him (vv. 6 & 9). Every man of God worth his salt covets this.
Why was Ezra so graced? Verse 10 explains:
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
Many thanks to Justin Taylor for calling attention to this young man who may well fall into such a category. Decide for yourself with this video of his recent message at the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. His recitation from the Psalms alone in the beginning makes the investment of time worthwhile. The message he brings will challenge you. It did me.
Why was Ezra so graced? Verse 10 explains:
For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
Many thanks to Justin Taylor for calling attention to this young man who may well fall into such a category. Decide for yourself with this video of his recent message at the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. His recitation from the Psalms alone in the beginning makes the investment of time worthwhile. The message he brings will challenge you. It did me.
David Platt: SBC Pastors Conference 2009 from Todd Thomas on Vimeo.
Bless You Cancer (3)
In reading over my journal from this time four years ago, the entries reminded me of two generous gifts Nancy and I received from God's people. One came from our church in Idaho; the other came from the good people of OGC. Both churches took special offerings to help defer expenses that insurance didn't cover as well as to help with our mega-deductible.
The receipt of those gifts so encouraged us! Today it made me think of Paul's words in 2 Cor. 9:12.
For the ministry of this service (he's talking about giving) is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
Among the varied fruits of sacrificial giving is the overflowing of many thanksgivings to God for the generosity of His people and the supplying of significant needs. God gets the glory when His people give generously to the needs of the saints.
Do you know someone in need whom you can bless with a gift? Take it from the Apostle Paul, your giving will result in the overflowing of many thanksgivings to God.
The receipt of those gifts so encouraged us! Today it made me think of Paul's words in 2 Cor. 9:12.
For the ministry of this service (he's talking about giving) is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
Among the varied fruits of sacrificial giving is the overflowing of many thanksgivings to God for the generosity of His people and the supplying of significant needs. God gets the glory when His people give generously to the needs of the saints.
Do you know someone in need whom you can bless with a gift? Take it from the Apostle Paul, your giving will result in the overflowing of many thanksgivings to God.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Take Charge of Your TV
Randy Alcorn goes after guidelines to keeping your TV a servant rather than a master. You can read the full post including the motivations he gives here.
These are the things he lists:
1. Keep track of how much time you spend watching.
2. Decide in advance how much TV to watch per week.
3. Use a schedule to choose programs for the week (perhaps at family time)— then stick to your choices.
4. Keep your television unplugged, store it in a closet, and/or put it in a remote part of the house .
5. Periodically "fast" from television for a week or a month. Notice the "cold turkey" effects.
6. Choose programs that uplift rather than undermine biblical values.
7. Use the "off" switch freely. If it's wrong and you keep watching, you're saying "I approve."
8. Use the channel changer frequently. Even decent programs often have explicit commercial clips of the latest adultery-rape-murder-madstalker-child-kidnapper movies.
9. Watch and discuss programs together as a family—to avoid passivity and develop active moral discernment through interaction.
10. Don't allow young children to choose their own programs—that's the parent's responsibility. As they get older, they can choose, but parents should always have veto power. Use it with sensitivity, but use it.
11. Don't use television as a baby sitter. Provide healthy alternatives, such as reading, projects, play and interaction with parents, siblings, and friends.
12. Spend an hour reading Scripture, a Christian book or magazine, or doing a ministry for each hour you watch TV.
13. Consider dropping cable, Showtime, HBO, or any other service that you determine is importing ungodliness or temptation into your home.
14. If you find you can't control it—or you're tired of the battle—get rid of your television.
These are the things he lists:
1. Keep track of how much time you spend watching.
2. Decide in advance how much TV to watch per week.
3. Use a schedule to choose programs for the week (perhaps at family time)— then stick to your choices.
4. Keep your television unplugged, store it in a closet, and/or put it in a remote part of the house .
5. Periodically "fast" from television for a week or a month. Notice the "cold turkey" effects.
6. Choose programs that uplift rather than undermine biblical values.
7. Use the "off" switch freely. If it's wrong and you keep watching, you're saying "I approve."
8. Use the channel changer frequently. Even decent programs often have explicit commercial clips of the latest adultery-rape-murder-madstalker-child-kidnapper movies.
9. Watch and discuss programs together as a family—to avoid passivity and develop active moral discernment through interaction.
10. Don't allow young children to choose their own programs—that's the parent's responsibility. As they get older, they can choose, but parents should always have veto power. Use it with sensitivity, but use it.
11. Don't use television as a baby sitter. Provide healthy alternatives, such as reading, projects, play and interaction with parents, siblings, and friends.
12. Spend an hour reading Scripture, a Christian book or magazine, or doing a ministry for each hour you watch TV.
13. Consider dropping cable, Showtime, HBO, or any other service that you determine is importing ungodliness or temptation into your home.
14. If you find you can't control it—or you're tired of the battle—get rid of your television.
What It's Like to Live with a Wellness Consultant
Bless her heart, Nancy, my bride, cares about health with a passion. I sat down to dinner with her on Saturday night to this lovely dish. I had to take a picture. As I uploaded it today, I got to thinking about just how much she cares for me in the way she looks after the food I eat.Let me count the ways. That's ground venison in the sauce. We know just where that animal had been. Free range, no hormones, lean, delicious meat. That's spaghetti squash. I know it looks like pasta, but it's not. It's a vegetable. Got to admit, I miss pasta. By the way, aren't you glad Jesus didn't say, I am the vegetable of life? I am. Anyway, we don't use pasta as a rule with meat because the protein and carbs don't combine well and make it difficult on the system to digest. Add that to your Did you know? list of things.
Let's see, what else? Basil garnish, from Nancy's herb garden. Spring water from Zephyr Hills. Of course, my seemingly endless supplements. Anybody who has been to lunch or breakfast or dinner with me knows about that. Oh, yes, and then the plastic ware. Metal is TOXIC to the body, you know.
So welcome to my culinary world. If you are what you eat, then I've got a leg up on the competition. Thanks, babe, for keeping me alive, Lord willing, for as long as possible so we can serve the King as much as possible with good health and well souls (3 John 2).
More Puritan Power for the LB
Ungodliness is a poison which drinks up all serenity of conscience and inward springs of joy.
William Gurnall
William Gurnall
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Life in Salerno
A blog post yesterday from missionaries aiming to get to Salerno with Campus Crusade for Christ. Today comes a blog post from one couple on our team already there. You can check it out here.It tells of Rodney and Amanda Walton's trip to the local farmer's market. Nancy and I went there when we visited the Valiquettes, another member of that terrific team back in March. That's my bride pictured haggling for fruit that chilly day.
Check it out and make a comment to encourage these dear ones on a journey of heroic proportions.
Propitiation & Old Man Klein
Oxford Club met this morning. What a band of brothers. Where would we be without godly men in our lives? We tackled the first half of chapter 18 in J. I. Packer's book, Knowing God. It dealt with the doctrine of propitiation.Simply stated, propitiation is the work of God's grace through the shedding of His Son's blood that averts the Father's just wrath toward us FOREVER. Propitiation assures that He will forevermore act favorably toward those who take refuge by faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Toward the end of our time together this morning I ran to my office to pick up a volume of Jim Boice's commentary on the Gospel of John. I had read a story in it recently that I wanted to share with the brothers to capture a key thought. I couldn't find it. I promised I would blog it. Here it is.
Years ago in the Midwest there was an old German farmer by the name of Klein. He was an ungoldly man. Although he lived across the street from an Evangelical Lutheran Church, he never went in; and, of course, he did not believe the gospel. To his way of thinking, the gospel was for other people, not for him. One day, however, the Bible school of the church began to teach the Bible school children the chorus of the hymn that goes:
Grace! Tis a charming sound,
Harmonious to the ear;
Heav'n with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.
Saved by grace alone!
This is all my plea.
Jesus died for all mankind,
And Jesus died for me.
From his listening post across the street Mr. Klein heard the children sing. He heard most of the words clearly. But when they came to the line "Jesus died for all mankind," he thought they were singing "Jesus died for old man Klein, and Jesus died for me." The thought that Jesus died for him personally finally sank into his heart. Klein crossed the street to the church, attended services, and eventually committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
By sharing this story I intended to encourage my brothers that propitiation as a doctrine has enormous practical implications. We are such the objects of God's amazing love that we may rightly believe that Jesus died for us each as one and averted nothing short of the wrath of God rightly reserved for us who reject His law and spurn His grace. No wonder we sang, Our Great Savior!
Jesus died for old man Heff and Jesus died for me! Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Jesus died for old man Heff and Jesus died for me! Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Bless You Cancer (2)
Here are portions of my journal from 8.8.05. I was still finishing up a combo treatment of radiation and chemo for tongue cancer at the time.
(I almost posted a picture of a tumor that looked similar to the one on the right side of my tongue before my blessed ENT removed it from my mouth. It was far too ugly to subject any viewers to. I called it the monster. It was. It's gone. It hasn't come back. Thanks be to God. This is no small thing. I saw my oncologist recently who told me about another patient of his. She has head and neck cancer. The disease is out of control. Eventually it will eat through her carotid artery. What God spared me from! Amazing. Grace. Mercy. Every day is a gift, especially Sundays. Oh, Lord, have mercy on that woman. If she doesn't know You, bring her to your blessed peace through the redeeming work of Jesus.)
I went to church, if only for twenty minutes, yesterday, for the first time in weeks. I miss the worship of God's people. I shared and did the pastoral prayer. It was sweet. They greeted me with a standing ovation! (OGC loved me/us well through our cancer storm on our Sea of Galilee) They did not know I was coming. I cried and pointed heavenward. This is about God; it's not about me. I am SO weak; He is MEGA strong. I testified of the truth of Romans 8:32 and future grace. I prayed. I exhorted. I blew them a kiss and left. Thank you, Lord. I won't soon forget that Sunday. (I haven't)
There is nothing like God's people, the church for which the Son shed His blood, when they/it practice fervent love towards those who suffer.
(I almost posted a picture of a tumor that looked similar to the one on the right side of my tongue before my blessed ENT removed it from my mouth. It was far too ugly to subject any viewers to. I called it the monster. It was. It's gone. It hasn't come back. Thanks be to God. This is no small thing. I saw my oncologist recently who told me about another patient of his. She has head and neck cancer. The disease is out of control. Eventually it will eat through her carotid artery. What God spared me from! Amazing. Grace. Mercy. Every day is a gift, especially Sundays. Oh, Lord, have mercy on that woman. If she doesn't know You, bring her to your blessed peace through the redeeming work of Jesus.)
I went to church, if only for twenty minutes, yesterday, for the first time in weeks. I miss the worship of God's people. I shared and did the pastoral prayer. It was sweet. They greeted me with a standing ovation! (OGC loved me/us well through our cancer storm on our Sea of Galilee) They did not know I was coming. I cried and pointed heavenward. This is about God; it's not about me. I am SO weak; He is MEGA strong. I testified of the truth of Romans 8:32 and future grace. I prayed. I exhorted. I blew them a kiss and left. Thank you, Lord. I won't soon forget that Sunday. (I haven't)
There is nothing like God's people, the church for which the Son shed His blood, when they/it practice fervent love towards those who suffer.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Missionaries Who Treasure the Glory of God
That's Brett & Nicole Bradley with Campus Crusade for Christ. They've got a heart for Salerno, Italy. God willing, they will get there soon, once the support comes in. This is the kind of missionary I want to promote - all out enamoured with the glory of God on display in His creation and in His redemption through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
They've got some extraordinary pics and an amazing video on their blog. You can check it out here. By the way, if you are any kind of regular visitor to my blog, and I am grateful that you are, please add this one to your list as well.
These two make me want to be a better pastor.
Faith & Food & Following Jesus
Dr. Al Mohler has an intriguing post on his blog about cooking in light of the new movie released today about Julia Childs. I felt particularly interested to read it in light of where we are in the gospel of John right now, namely the bread of life discourse in chapter six.
Here is a sample of what Dr. Mohler writes.
Christianity contributes a distinctive understanding of the importance of food and, by extension, the importance of cooking and hospitality. We understand that human beings are made to require food for sustenance. Our need for food is a reminder of our finitude. The food in our fields and all in our tables is a reminder of God's loving provision for us. The Bible dignifies the loving preparation of food as one of the distinctive gifts of women. While cooking is not limited to women, throughout human history wives and mothers, sisters and daughters, have shown their love for and commitment to their loved ones through the careful preparation and celebration of food. When this is lost, something more than culinary knowledge is lost.
You can check it out here.
Here is a sample of what Dr. Mohler writes.
Christianity contributes a distinctive understanding of the importance of food and, by extension, the importance of cooking and hospitality. We understand that human beings are made to require food for sustenance. Our need for food is a reminder of our finitude. The food in our fields and all in our tables is a reminder of God's loving provision for us. The Bible dignifies the loving preparation of food as one of the distinctive gifts of women. While cooking is not limited to women, throughout human history wives and mothers, sisters and daughters, have shown their love for and commitment to their loved ones through the careful preparation and celebration of food. When this is lost, something more than culinary knowledge is lost.
You can check it out here.
Do You Like Andrew Peterson?
Justin Taylor has posted an elaborate inteview with the writer and musician. You can check it out here.
My First Prayer Shower
Members of our leadership team gathered last night to pray for Valor Edwards Gjertsen. He's the one still in the womb belonging to the radiant young lady seated on the left.
This was new for me. Prayer cards with various Scriptures were passed out. Each of us prayed the word of God back to the Father with Valor's name inserted appropriately in the text. What a sweet time!
I'm wondering if it is too late to do something like this for me? I'll only be 57 next month.
Puritan Power for the LB
Man, Gurnall was terrific this morning.
But let the saints humbly shout "Hallelujah!" When God made you a holy man or woman He gave you gates and bars to your city. Now through His grace you are able to defend yourself with the continual comforts which heaven sends to withstand Satan's power. Once you were a timid slave to him but now he is under your feet. The day you became holy God firmly planted your foot on the serpent's head. Your lusts--mighty strongholds which gave him easy control--have been take out of his hand. Satan has been dislodged and can never again set himself up as king of your soul.
All together now, HALLELUJAH!
But let the saints humbly shout "Hallelujah!" When God made you a holy man or woman He gave you gates and bars to your city. Now through His grace you are able to defend yourself with the continual comforts which heaven sends to withstand Satan's power. Once you were a timid slave to him but now he is under your feet. The day you became holy God firmly planted your foot on the serpent's head. Your lusts--mighty strongholds which gave him easy control--have been take out of his hand. Satan has been dislodged and can never again set himself up as king of your soul.
All together now, HALLELUJAH!
Pray for Pakistan
This is the second time in two days I have read disturbing news coming out of Pakistan regarding persecution of Christians there. The first came in our local paper. And then today I received this in the weekly prayer update from Voice of the Martyrs.
On July 30, Muslim extremists attacked Christians, burning more than 50 homes and animals in Faisalabad, Pakistan, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Muslims falsely accused Christians of burning the Quran during a wedding ceremony the previous day. Muslim extremists claimed they attacked believers because police did not arrest anyone for their complaints about a burned Quran. This is the fifth incident of persecution against Christians in two months. Muslims are threatening more attacks. Pray for believers who have lost their homes and livestock. Ask God to provide for and encourage them. Pray false accusations by Muslims will draw believers closer to the Lord and for their faithfulness to draw non believers into faith with Christ.
On July 30, Muslim extremists attacked Christians, burning more than 50 homes and animals in Faisalabad, Pakistan, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Muslims falsely accused Christians of burning the Quran during a wedding ceremony the previous day. Muslim extremists claimed they attacked believers because police did not arrest anyone for their complaints about a burned Quran. This is the fifth incident of persecution against Christians in two months. Muslims are threatening more attacks. Pray for believers who have lost their homes and livestock. Ask God to provide for and encourage them. Pray false accusations by Muslims will draw believers closer to the Lord and for their faithfulness to draw non believers into faith with Christ.
A Journey of Heroic Proportions
As part of my sacred romance with Jesus in the mornings of late, I am reading The Sacred Romance.This intro to chapter ten grabbed my attention today, especially in light of the fact that I spent nearly an hour last night counseling with a couple from out of town about their opportunity to change careers and head for a call to full-time missions.
Every great story involves a quest. In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins ran from the door at a quarter till eleven without even so much as a pocket handkerchief and launched on an adventure that would change his life forever. Alice stepped through the looking glass into Wonderland; Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter stumbled through the wardrobe into Narnia. Abraham left “his country, his people and his father’s household” to follow the most outlandish sort of promise from a God he’d only just met, and he never came back. Jacob and his sons went to Egypt for some groceries and four hundred years later the Israel nation pulled up stakes and headed for home. Peter, Andrew, James, and John all turned on a dime one day to follow the Master, their fishing nets heaped in wet piles behind them. The Sacred Romance involves for every soul a journey of heroic proportions. And while it may require for some a change of geography, for every soul it means a journey of the heart (Brent Curtis and John Eldredge, The Sacred Romance, Thomas Nelson, 1997, p. 143).
In 37 years of walking with my Master, I have never known this not to be true. I commend to you calculated, risk-taking faith on your journey with Him, wherever He may take you.
In 37 years of walking with my Master, I have never known this not to be true. I commend to you calculated, risk-taking faith on your journey with Him, wherever He may take you.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Bless You Cancer
I'm closing in on my four year anniversary since finishing treatment. Surgery to remove a tumor on my tongue and the lymph nodes on the right side of my neck. Thirty-nine radiation treatments. Four bouts with chemo. 2005 was not a fun year.
I kept a journal through the process. Today I revisited this time in '05. Here's how part of it reads for August 7.
We watched the celebration of Operation Mobilisation honoring 45 years of George and Drena's ministry. (George Verwer is one of my modern day heroes of the faith.) It was exuberant, funny, touching, and inspiring all at the same time. The man has had a consitent, faithful run. I would really like to finish like that, however much time remains. Would you be gracious to me, Father, and allow that? Thank you for whatever is to come. Help me to be faithful.
Some four years later. God continues to answer that prayer. Blessed be His name.
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:1-2).
I kept a journal through the process. Today I revisited this time in '05. Here's how part of it reads for August 7.
We watched the celebration of Operation Mobilisation honoring 45 years of George and Drena's ministry. (George Verwer is one of my modern day heroes of the faith.) It was exuberant, funny, touching, and inspiring all at the same time. The man has had a consitent, faithful run. I would really like to finish like that, however much time remains. Would you be gracious to me, Father, and allow that? Thank you for whatever is to come. Help me to be faithful.
Some four years later. God continues to answer that prayer. Blessed be His name.
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:1-2).
Randy Alcorn on Suffering
Randy Alcorn has taken his stab at the classic question of theodicy - the problem of evil - in his book If God is Good.
Justin Taylor includes an extended interview with Alcorn about the always interesting topic here.
Here is a video clip to tantalize your interest.
Here is a video clip to tantalize your interest.
Questions to Ask When Preparing for Marriage
John Piper has a post on the DG blog with some helpful questions for those pondering marriage. You can check it out here.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Praying & Armoring
Of all the “one another” passages in the New Testament constraining the manner of our engagement within the body of Christ, none has registered more relentlessly of late on my mind and heart than the one found in James 5:16.
Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed (emphasis mine).
The pray for one another segment of that passage has dominated my thinking and pastoral practice ever since reading this in The Deliberate Church by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander (Crossway, 2005, 221 pages):
One of the most practical things you can do for you own personal prayer life, and for the prayer lives of other church members, is to assemble a church membership directory . . . so that everyone in the church can be praying through it a page a day. . . . We usually encourage people to pray through the page number that corresponds to the current day of the month.
Capitol Hill Baptist Church, where these brothers minister, has a lot more folks attending than OGC does. I have discovered that we can pray through our entire flock every week without much difficulty. Teddie, our church office manager and executive assistant, prepared a special version of the directory for me that has the days of the week in the margin. Each day has about fourteen family units contained within. This breaks down the whole church into manageable portions. It makes it easy for me to pray for all our people at least once a week. No other tool of late more dramatically influences my praying.
On Sunday in our concert of prayer during the 9:30 hour I introduced this concept related to another important section of Scripture, namely Eph. 6:18. Paul concludes his treatment related to putting on the full armor of God with this exhortation:
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
I take that to mean that to some extent we cannot fully dress ourselves in spiritual armor without the aid of intercession by our fellow saints. This is a sobering conclusion! Who wants to go into battle without adequate protection?
So I reiterate my exhortation of Sunday morning to all of you who attended the concert of prayer and received a copy of the latest directory divided into days of the week. PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER. Join me, the staff, and the leadership team as we press in with concerted, regular, faithful intercessory prayer that we might be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might (Eph. 6:10).
If you missed our prayer time last Sunday but would like a copy of the directory for prayer purposes, contact the office and we will be glad to see that you get a copy.
Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed (emphasis mine).
The pray for one another segment of that passage has dominated my thinking and pastoral practice ever since reading this in The Deliberate Church by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander (Crossway, 2005, 221 pages):
One of the most practical things you can do for you own personal prayer life, and for the prayer lives of other church members, is to assemble a church membership directory . . . so that everyone in the church can be praying through it a page a day. . . . We usually encourage people to pray through the page number that corresponds to the current day of the month.
Capitol Hill Baptist Church, where these brothers minister, has a lot more folks attending than OGC does. I have discovered that we can pray through our entire flock every week without much difficulty. Teddie, our church office manager and executive assistant, prepared a special version of the directory for me that has the days of the week in the margin. Each day has about fourteen family units contained within. This breaks down the whole church into manageable portions. It makes it easy for me to pray for all our people at least once a week. No other tool of late more dramatically influences my praying.
On Sunday in our concert of prayer during the 9:30 hour I introduced this concept related to another important section of Scripture, namely Eph. 6:18. Paul concludes his treatment related to putting on the full armor of God with this exhortation:
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
I take that to mean that to some extent we cannot fully dress ourselves in spiritual armor without the aid of intercession by our fellow saints. This is a sobering conclusion! Who wants to go into battle without adequate protection?
So I reiterate my exhortation of Sunday morning to all of you who attended the concert of prayer and received a copy of the latest directory divided into days of the week. PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER. Join me, the staff, and the leadership team as we press in with concerted, regular, faithful intercessory prayer that we might be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might (Eph. 6:10).
If you missed our prayer time last Sunday but would like a copy of the directory for prayer purposes, contact the office and we will be glad to see that you get a copy.
Conviction or Accusation
Here is a helpful post for discerning the difference between the genuine conviction of the Holy Spirit and the accusations of the devil.
Sin, Addiction, & Biblical Arithmetic
I continue to read through for the second time Ed Welch's book, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave. It is subtitled, Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel. He offers this helpful counsel about dealing with sin and its potential to enslave to bondage:
Remember that the diagnosis of sin is never the last word. Instead, the last word is Jesus Christ. Sin should take us right to Jesus. The way out of addictions is to talk more about Jesus, the Redeemer and Liberator, than about sin. . . . The biblical arithmetic is this: for every one look at your sin, take ten looks at Christ. Doctrine must not only be practical, it must also naturally point us to Jesus Christ.
Let us preach the gospel to ourselves everyday, from the moment our feet touch the floor in the morning to the point at which we slip back into our beds at night.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
A Prayer Following Prayer
I got this from Tim Challies today.
It's a Puritan prayer from the Valley of Vision.
O God of grace,
I bewail my cold, listless, heartless prayers;
their poverty adds sin to my sin.
If my hope were in them I should be undone,
But the worth of Jesus perfumes my feeble breathings, and wins their acceptance.
Deepen my contrition of heart,
Confirm my faith in the blood that washes from all sin.
May I walk lovingly with my great Redeemer.
Flood my soul with true repentance that my heart may be broken for sin and unto sin.
Let me be as slow to forgive myself as thou art ready to forgive me.
Gazing on the glories of thy grace may I be cast into the lowest depths of shame.
And walk with downcast head now thou art pacified towards me.
O my great High Priest,
pour down upon me streams of needful grace,
bless me in all my undertakings,
in every thought of my mind,
every word of my lips,
every step of my feet,
every deed of my hands.
Thou didst live to bless,
die to bless,
rise to bless,
ascend to bless,
take thy throne to bless,
and now thou dost reign to bless.
O give sincerity to my desires,
earnestness to my supplications,
fervour to my love.
It's a Puritan prayer from the Valley of Vision.
O God of grace,
I bewail my cold, listless, heartless prayers;
their poverty adds sin to my sin.
If my hope were in them I should be undone,
But the worth of Jesus perfumes my feeble breathings, and wins their acceptance.
Deepen my contrition of heart,
Confirm my faith in the blood that washes from all sin.
May I walk lovingly with my great Redeemer.
Flood my soul with true repentance that my heart may be broken for sin and unto sin.
Let me be as slow to forgive myself as thou art ready to forgive me.
Gazing on the glories of thy grace may I be cast into the lowest depths of shame.
And walk with downcast head now thou art pacified towards me.
O my great High Priest,
pour down upon me streams of needful grace,
bless me in all my undertakings,
in every thought of my mind,
every word of my lips,
every step of my feet,
every deed of my hands.
Thou didst live to bless,
die to bless,
rise to bless,
ascend to bless,
take thy throne to bless,
and now thou dost reign to bless.
O give sincerity to my desires,
earnestness to my supplications,
fervour to my love.
Lessons from the School of Prayer
One last thought from Dr. Carson.
So far:
Much praying is not done because we don't plan to pray.
Adopt practical ways to impede mental drift.
At various periods in your life, develop, if possible, a prayer-partner relationship.
Choose models, but choose them well.
Develop a system for your prayer lists.
Mingle praise, confession, and intercession; but when you intercede, try to tie as many requests as possible to Scripture.
If you are in any form of spiritual leadership, work at your public prayers.
Number 8:
Pray until you pray.
This is Puritan advice. Carson writes:
What they meant is that Christians should pray long enough and honestly enough, at a single session, to get past the feeling of formalism and unreality that attends not a little praying. we are especially prone to such feelings when we pray only for a few minutes, rushing to be done with a mere duty. To enter the spirit of prayer, we must stick to it for a while. If we "pray until we pray," eventually we come to delight in God's presence, to rest in his love, to cherish his will. Even in dark or agonized praying, we somehow know we are doing business with God. In short, we discover a little of what Jude means when he exhorts his readers to "pray in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20)--which presumably means it is treacherously possible to pray not in the Spirit.
He ends with this:
In the Western world we urgently need this advice, for many of us in our praying are like nasty little boys who ring front door bells and run away before anyone answers. Pray until you pray.
Lord, let us linger.
So far:
Much praying is not done because we don't plan to pray.
Adopt practical ways to impede mental drift.
At various periods in your life, develop, if possible, a prayer-partner relationship.
Choose models, but choose them well.
Develop a system for your prayer lists.
Mingle praise, confession, and intercession; but when you intercede, try to tie as many requests as possible to Scripture.
If you are in any form of spiritual leadership, work at your public prayers.
Number 8:
Pray until you pray.
This is Puritan advice. Carson writes:
What they meant is that Christians should pray long enough and honestly enough, at a single session, to get past the feeling of formalism and unreality that attends not a little praying. we are especially prone to such feelings when we pray only for a few minutes, rushing to be done with a mere duty. To enter the spirit of prayer, we must stick to it for a while. If we "pray until we pray," eventually we come to delight in God's presence, to rest in his love, to cherish his will. Even in dark or agonized praying, we somehow know we are doing business with God. In short, we discover a little of what Jude means when he exhorts his readers to "pray in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20)--which presumably means it is treacherously possible to pray not in the Spirit.
He ends with this:
In the Western world we urgently need this advice, for many of us in our praying are like nasty little boys who ring front door bells and run away before anyone answers. Pray until you pray.
Lord, let us linger.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Pray for India this Month
Global Prayer Digest focuses this month on the Indian subcontinent.
In this month's details they post a fascinating article on the Ganges River and its significance to the peoples of India. Here is a sample from that page.
In many religious traditions, there is a special river that symbolically washes away impurities and sins. In ancient Persia, there was the Tigris and the Euphrates, and in Egypt, it was the Nile. When it comes to the Ganges River, Hindus probably outdo them all. Some believe that life is incomplete without taking a holy dip, or bath, in the Ganges. One Hindu pilgrim told a BBC News reporter that, "I am here to wash away my sins-the sins I accumulated in my life so that I can die as a pious soul." (Jan. 15, 2007, BBC News). Many Hindu families keep a vial of Ganges water in their homes. This gives the family prestige. If anyone is dying in the home, they can drink from this vial of water. They believe that act will either cure them or cleanse their souls of all past sins. Sadly, the water is so badly polluted that it most likely speeds their death.
In many religious traditions, there is a special river that symbolically washes away impurities and sins. In ancient Persia, there was the Tigris and the Euphrates, and in Egypt, it was the Nile. When it comes to the Ganges River, Hindus probably outdo them all. Some believe that life is incomplete without taking a holy dip, or bath, in the Ganges. One Hindu pilgrim told a BBC News reporter that, "I am here to wash away my sins-the sins I accumulated in my life so that I can die as a pious soul." (Jan. 15, 2007, BBC News). Many Hindu families keep a vial of Ganges water in their homes. This gives the family prestige. If anyone is dying in the home, they can drink from this vial of water. They believe that act will either cure them or cleanse their souls of all past sins. Sadly, the water is so badly polluted that it most likely speeds their death.
Will you join me in praying this month for spiritual breakthroughs for the glory of God and the fame of the Name in India?
The Lord Will Make You a House
A bunch of us moved our reformed Canuck friend, Norm, into his new condo this morning. The best thing about being over fifty and nursing a stiff back is that you get to take pictures while everyone else lifts stuff. A great group of guys got 'er done in only three hours. Why guys choose to move in August in Florida, I'll never know, but the man has his own place now. God is good. All the time.
After all the heavy lifting was over, I led us in a brief dedication of the place. I read from 2 Samuel 7. David thought he would build God a house, but God said, no. Rather He declared through the prophet that He would make him a house (v. 11). We call that the Davidic covenant. What a house!
After all the heavy lifting was over, I led us in a brief dedication of the place. I read from 2 Samuel 7. David thought he would build God a house, but God said, no. Rather He declared through the prophet that He would make him a house (v. 11). We call that the Davidic covenant. What a house!It lead David to pray this way in v. 18. Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And then in v. 29, Now therefore may it may it please you to bless the house of your servant. We all lay hands on Normand asking God to bless the man and his new digs. It could be said of all us, who are we that He has brought us thus far, and oh how desperately we all need His blessing on our houses.
Lessons from the School of Prayer
Class on Saturday, PC?
You bet. This school on this subject never closes.
So far we have these principles:
Much praying is not done because we don't plan to pray.
Adopt practical ways to impede mental drift.
At various periods in your life, develop, if possible, a prayer-partner relationship.
Choose models, but choose them well.
Develop a system for your prayer lists.
Mingle praise, confession, and intercession; but when you intercede, try to tie as many requests as possible to Scripture.
Now for number seven:
If you are in any form of spiritual leadership, work at your public prayers.
D. A. Carson exhorts:
Many facets of Christian discipleship, not least prayer, are rather more effectively passed on by modeling than by formal teaching. Good praying is more easily caught than taught. If it is right to say that we should choose models from whom we can learn, then the obverse truth is that we ourselves become responsible to become models for others. So whether you are leading a service or family prayers, whether you are praying in a small-group Bible study or at a convention, work at your public prayers.
Enough said. Time to work on my pastoral prayer for tomorrow.
You bet. This school on this subject never closes.
So far we have these principles:
Much praying is not done because we don't plan to pray.
Adopt practical ways to impede mental drift.
At various periods in your life, develop, if possible, a prayer-partner relationship.
Choose models, but choose them well.
Develop a system for your prayer lists.
Mingle praise, confession, and intercession; but when you intercede, try to tie as many requests as possible to Scripture.
Now for number seven:
If you are in any form of spiritual leadership, work at your public prayers.
D. A. Carson exhorts:
Many facets of Christian discipleship, not least prayer, are rather more effectively passed on by modeling than by formal teaching. Good praying is more easily caught than taught. If it is right to say that we should choose models from whom we can learn, then the obverse truth is that we ourselves become responsible to become models for others. So whether you are leading a service or family prayers, whether you are praying in a small-group Bible study or at a convention, work at your public prayers.
Enough said. Time to work on my pastoral prayer for tomorrow.
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