The New Year is here, and some of us will be making resolutions. Have you ever noticed that most of our resolutions concern our physical health? We resolve to eat less and exercise more, and more often than not, by mid-January, we have fallen back into the same old bad habits. We know what we should do; we just don’t do it. Or we don’t do it until something like a heart attack gets our attention.
As Christians we often make resolutions that concern our spiritual health. We resolve to pray more or to actually finish reading through the Bible in One Year. Much like our other resolutions we do well at first. We keep up with Genesis and Exodus but fall behind in Leviticus and finally quit in Deuteronomy. Isn’t it interesting that physically we eat too much of the wrong stuff and spiritually we eat too little of the good stuff?
I encourage you to make good resolutions and keep them. There is nothing wrong with setting good and healthy goals. However, your personal resolutions (or lack thereof) are not what I want to address in this short post. As your pastor, I challenge you to think about the health of our church. We speak often of our physical health, and we have a good idea of what it means to be a healthy person. As I said before, we know what we should do. We just don’t do it. As Christians, we have a notion of what it means to be spiritually healthy. We all know the five correct answers to most any question asked in Sunday School: Jesus, God, The Holy Spirit, Pray more and Read your Bible. Again, we know what we should do. We just don’t do it!
We know what it means to have a physically healthy body, but do we, as a body of believers, know what it means to be a Biblically healthy congregation? That is the question I want you to think about. What does the Bible say? If I were to ask you to list the physical marks of a healthy body you could easily list several. What if I asked you to list the Biblical marks of a healthy congregation? What would you say? The health of our church is the central theme of this year’s State of the Church Address. Every member of Little Flock Baptist Church who is physically able should attend. This year’s Address will be given in the Morning Worship Service, on Sunday January 24th. It is my prayer that God would make us into a strong and healthy church that glorifies Christ in all things.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Ripped Wrapping Paper and Busted Boxes
Think about Christmas morning. It will be here before you know it. What comes to your mind? One picture that comes to my mind’s eye is the huge scattering of ripped wrapping paper, busted boxes and battered bows, left in our living room when all of the presents have been unwrapped. Have you ever lost a gift or part of a gift in all of that mess? Dad I lost one of my action figures?” “Mom have you seen my dolly’s hat?” Jess and I look at the huge trash bag filled with wrapping paper, and not wanting to tear all of that paper back out, we respond, “Nope… we haven’t seen them.” I wonder how many gifts are caught up in all of that wrapping paper and thrown away each year. I wonder how much we lose in all that clutter.
My job, as your pastor, is to remind you not to lose the gift in all of the wrappings. Don’t allow the gift to be caught up in all of that clutter. E.B. White once said, “To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year.” He is right. It is all too easy to forget Christ at Christmas. If we don’t purpose otherwise we can get caught up in all of the clutter. Don’t lose the gift in all of the wrappings. I didn’t say that all wrappings are evil. No, they are not necessarily evil; they are only peripheral and not necessary. Wrappings come and go, but Jesus remains. Traditions die. Jesus lives! Wrappings are burned in the fire. Jesus saves our souls from hell. Christmas is a Christian holiday that revolves around Jesus Christ, God’s Son and our Savior. Celebrate Christ’s birth this Christmas!
For the next three Sunday mornings we will examine four of the Old Testament prophesies fulfilled by the birth of our Lord. This Christmas sermon series is titled, “Mary, The Magi and The Maniac.” Come each week, and we will study through Matthew chapters 1 and 2. Finally, please join us on Christmas Eve. We will celebrate the birth and sacrificial death of our Savior in a special Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion. The service begins at 6:30P.M. If you are in town, bring your family as we remember the sacrifice of our Risen Lord!
Have a truly Blessed and Merry Christmas!
My job, as your pastor, is to remind you not to lose the gift in all of the wrappings. Don’t allow the gift to be caught up in all of that clutter. E.B. White once said, “To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year.” He is right. It is all too easy to forget Christ at Christmas. If we don’t purpose otherwise we can get caught up in all of the clutter. Don’t lose the gift in all of the wrappings. I didn’t say that all wrappings are evil. No, they are not necessarily evil; they are only peripheral and not necessary. Wrappings come and go, but Jesus remains. Traditions die. Jesus lives! Wrappings are burned in the fire. Jesus saves our souls from hell. Christmas is a Christian holiday that revolves around Jesus Christ, God’s Son and our Savior. Celebrate Christ’s birth this Christmas!
For the next three Sunday mornings we will examine four of the Old Testament prophesies fulfilled by the birth of our Lord. This Christmas sermon series is titled, “Mary, The Magi and The Maniac.” Come each week, and we will study through Matthew chapters 1 and 2. Finally, please join us on Christmas Eve. We will celebrate the birth and sacrificial death of our Savior in a special Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion. The service begins at 6:30P.M. If you are in town, bring your family as we remember the sacrifice of our Risen Lord!
Have a truly Blessed and Merry Christmas!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
My Psalm of Thanksgiving
By God’s wisdom and grace, I was born with a bone disorder called Fibrous Dysplasia. Fibrous Dysplasia weakens your bones and causes deformity. For me, it affected my left leg. For 34 years I battled the symptoms of this disorder. Pain, increasing deformity and frequent breaks were just a part of life. Eventually, Fibrous Dysplasia rendered my left leg useless below the knee. Finally, at the age of 34, that portion of my leg was removed.
For most people, childhood revolves around school. Time is measured with the coming and going of different grade levels. Children move from Kindergarten to First Grade and from First Grade to Second and so on... Their young lives are marked by progress. My childhood revolved around surgeries. Time was measured with the coming and going of different procedures. I went from the first surgery to the second surgery and from the second surgery to the third and so on… My life was marked not by progress but by pain. Or so it seemed to me.
Pain, yes, there was a great deal of physical and emotional pain. Yet, there was also love and joy. I hurt. My parents suffered. They loved me, and I knew it. They wished they could take away the pain, but they couldn’t. They wished they could stay with me in the hospital, but it was just not possible. Dad had to work hard and long hours to support us, and Mom had to care for my three younger siblings. For the weeks that followed a surgery, that left me alone. In those long and lonely weeks the best and worst moments of the week fell on Sunday afternoons. On Sunday afternoons my parents and siblings would drive from where they lived in Longview, Texas to The Shriner’s Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, where I lived and recovered. The best moment of the week was that moment I first saw my family enter my room and surround my bed with conversation and love. They often wheeled me into a large gymnasium area where my brothers and sister could play. O how I looked forward to those precious moments together! The worst moment of the week was that moment when my family would walk across that large gymnasium, turn, smile, wave goodbye, turn again and continue out the door, out of sight.
Pain, yes, there was a great deal of pain. I tried to comfort myself by thrashing my head from side to side in my bed. It was in these moments of anguish I found my LORD and my God. No, it was in these moments of anguish that my LORD and my God found me. At some point in my misery an Invisible Hand would stay my almost uncontrollable thrashing. This Great Hand was strong and full of love. An unheard Voice would whisper into my heart, “You are loved. I will use you for my glory.” I had a hope and a future! I could not see it, but God had spoken. “For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15
And so I thank my LORD and my God for parents who loved me and suffered with me in my pain. I thank God for The Shriner’s Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, and for all of the Shriners, Doctors, Nurses and Physical Therapists who worked so hard to mend my broken body. Most of all, I thank my LORD and my God for His gift of Fibrous Dysplasia. My pain was my paidagogos, a tutor that led me to Christ. I praise the high and exalted God who lives forever, whose name is Holy. I am profoundly grateful for the One who dwells on a high and holy place and yet also comforts little boys in great pain. To God be the Glory both now and forever. AMEN.
For most people, childhood revolves around school. Time is measured with the coming and going of different grade levels. Children move from Kindergarten to First Grade and from First Grade to Second and so on... Their young lives are marked by progress. My childhood revolved around surgeries. Time was measured with the coming and going of different procedures. I went from the first surgery to the second surgery and from the second surgery to the third and so on… My life was marked not by progress but by pain. Or so it seemed to me.
Pain, yes, there was a great deal of physical and emotional pain. Yet, there was also love and joy. I hurt. My parents suffered. They loved me, and I knew it. They wished they could take away the pain, but they couldn’t. They wished they could stay with me in the hospital, but it was just not possible. Dad had to work hard and long hours to support us, and Mom had to care for my three younger siblings. For the weeks that followed a surgery, that left me alone. In those long and lonely weeks the best and worst moments of the week fell on Sunday afternoons. On Sunday afternoons my parents and siblings would drive from where they lived in Longview, Texas to The Shriner’s Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, where I lived and recovered. The best moment of the week was that moment I first saw my family enter my room and surround my bed with conversation and love. They often wheeled me into a large gymnasium area where my brothers and sister could play. O how I looked forward to those precious moments together! The worst moment of the week was that moment when my family would walk across that large gymnasium, turn, smile, wave goodbye, turn again and continue out the door, out of sight.
Pain, yes, there was a great deal of pain. I tried to comfort myself by thrashing my head from side to side in my bed. It was in these moments of anguish I found my LORD and my God. No, it was in these moments of anguish that my LORD and my God found me. At some point in my misery an Invisible Hand would stay my almost uncontrollable thrashing. This Great Hand was strong and full of love. An unheard Voice would whisper into my heart, “You are loved. I will use you for my glory.” I had a hope and a future! I could not see it, but God had spoken. “For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15
And so I thank my LORD and my God for parents who loved me and suffered with me in my pain. I thank God for The Shriner’s Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, and for all of the Shriners, Doctors, Nurses and Physical Therapists who worked so hard to mend my broken body. Most of all, I thank my LORD and my God for His gift of Fibrous Dysplasia. My pain was my paidagogos, a tutor that led me to Christ. I praise the high and exalted God who lives forever, whose name is Holy. I am profoundly grateful for the One who dwells on a high and holy place and yet also comforts little boys in great pain. To God be the Glory both now and forever. AMEN.
Monday, November 9, 2009
More or better methods?
We live in difficult days, uncertain days. It has been a difficult year for our country. It has been a difficult year for our church, and the future may seem uncertain. Why do difficult days come? How should we, the people of God, respond? What should we do?
Brothers and sisters, why do difficult days come? The answer is clear in Scripture but so often cloudy in our lives. It is easy enough for our brains to comprehend, but most difficult for our hearts to take a hold of. Various trials come “so that the proof of your faith, [being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire,] may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 1:7 Faith, our most valuable asset, increases when God blesses us with adversity. This is why James, inspired by the Holy Spirit, so confidently and graciously reminds us to “consider it all [pure] joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2
Brothers and sisters, how should we respond? At this point I will be brief. When the ground beneath your feet begins to shake, hit your knees. When the going gets tough pray! John Bunyon, that hero of the faith who wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress from his prison cell, also wrote these wise words, “You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”
Brothers and sisters, what should we do when uncertain days come? Should we search for more or better programs? Should we adjust our Worship style? Should we change our schedule? Should we target a certain segment of the West Hallsville / South Longview population? Should we? Should we? Should we? When life is uncertain we should run to the Rock that is higher than ourselves, the One who is certain to see us through. We don’t need more or better methods or programs. No, what we need is God. E.M. Bounds once said, “Man is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. Man is God’s method.”
Brothers and sisters do not be afraid, pray, seek God and ask Him to increase your faith.
Brothers and sisters, why do difficult days come? The answer is clear in Scripture but so often cloudy in our lives. It is easy enough for our brains to comprehend, but most difficult for our hearts to take a hold of. Various trials come “so that the proof of your faith, [being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire,] may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 1:7 Faith, our most valuable asset, increases when God blesses us with adversity. This is why James, inspired by the Holy Spirit, so confidently and graciously reminds us to “consider it all [pure] joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2
Brothers and sisters, how should we respond? At this point I will be brief. When the ground beneath your feet begins to shake, hit your knees. When the going gets tough pray! John Bunyon, that hero of the faith who wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress from his prison cell, also wrote these wise words, “You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”
Brothers and sisters, what should we do when uncertain days come? Should we search for more or better programs? Should we adjust our Worship style? Should we change our schedule? Should we target a certain segment of the West Hallsville / South Longview population? Should we? Should we? Should we? When life is uncertain we should run to the Rock that is higher than ourselves, the One who is certain to see us through. We don’t need more or better methods or programs. No, what we need is God. E.M. Bounds once said, “Man is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. Man is God’s method.”
Brothers and sisters do not be afraid, pray, seek God and ask Him to increase your faith.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
"We need a Re-Bible!"
Last night after our Evening Prayer Service I listened to a great sermon by Dr. Stephen Davey. Dr. Davey has a radio ministry called Wisdom For the Heart. His text was one of my favorite in the Bible, Nehemiah chapter 8. After rebuilding the wall the returning exiles rediscovered the Book, the Word of God. Dr. Davey told the story of an African convert trying his best to write in English to an English friend. He wanted to tell his friend and brother in Christ that his village was experiencing revival. When his English speaking friend read the letter he noticed a completely understandable yet very appropriate "slip of the pen". "Brother, we are having a rebible."
Brothers and sisters this is exactly what we need. We need a re-Bible. When God's people rediscover the Book true revival is not far away. Read Nehemiah chapters 8 and 9. For this reason, we will begin providing a weekly family devotion in Sunday's worship bulletin. If you need a place to start reading, a place to start your rediscovery of the Book, one will be provided. The texts selected and study questions provided will be designed to help families get into the Word together. Rediscover the Word! Have a re-Bible of your own.
Brothers and sisters this is exactly what we need. We need a re-Bible. When God's people rediscover the Book true revival is not far away. Read Nehemiah chapters 8 and 9. For this reason, we will begin providing a weekly family devotion in Sunday's worship bulletin. If you need a place to start reading, a place to start your rediscovery of the Book, one will be provided. The texts selected and study questions provided will be designed to help families get into the Word together. Rediscover the Word! Have a re-Bible of your own.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The Church on Fire
I remember when the phrase "on fire" was used quite often. "He is on fire for Jesus!" "That church is on fire." I'm not sure if this terminology is as popular today, but it should be. It is a good description of normal Christianity. If someone where to ask me if Little Flock was on fire I would sadly confess that it wasn't, but it should be. It is supposed to be. I would also admit that the Church in America is not where it should be. It is not on fire with the fires of Revival.
Recently I was thinking about those mysterious angels called Seraphim. We see them in Isaiah 6:2-3 and again in Revelation 4:8. I pondered these majestic beings always found near the Throne of God. The thing I found most interesting about these unique angels was their name. The Hebrew word seraph means "to burn" or "burning". The Hebrew ending "im" makes it plural. The six winged angels of Scripture are called "the burning ones". I thought this name very telling when I noticed their occupation. These "burning ones" are consumed with one thing, the Holiness of God. Listen to Isaiah 6:2-3
Recently I was thinking about those mysterious angels called Seraphim. We see them in Isaiah 6:2-3 and again in Revelation 4:8. I pondered these majestic beings always found near the Throne of God. The thing I found most interesting about these unique angels was their name. The Hebrew word seraph means "to burn" or "burning". The Hebrew ending "im" makes it plural. The six winged angels of Scripture are called "the burning ones". I thought this name very telling when I noticed their occupation. These "burning ones" are consumed with one thing, the Holiness of God. Listen to Isaiah 6:2-3
Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with
two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet,
and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said,
Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.
When I thought about the Saraphim, "the burning ones," I understood why the Church in America is not on fire. I knew why our own church was not on fire with the fires of Revival. Our church, as well as the Church in America, is not on fire because it is not consumed with the holiness of God! We will not see Revival fires burning again until we call our people back to Isaiah's dreadful repentance. When Isaiah saw the Holy God sitting on His Throne he cried out, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." (Isaiah 6:5)
In our weak new world of delicate sensibilities and political correctness we no longer speak of the Holiness of God. People don't want to dread God in fear; they want to add him as a friend on their Facebook wall. We wink at our sin and tip our hats to God in that order. Isaiah saw God's holiness and pronounced curses on himself and his sin, his people and their sin. Brothers and sisters in Christ, the church will not be set on fire until it is consumed with the holiness of God!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
We Have Not Sought the Favor of Our Lord
We have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to [His] truth.
No truer words could be spoken on behalf of our own beloved Nation. I love this Country, but I fear for it because I fear God. He is Holy and we are not interested. He is Creator God, and we mass produce our own gods. He is Wise and we demonstrate our foolishness when we do not seek His favor.
No truer words could be spoken on behalf of our own beloved Nation. I love this Country, but I fear for it because I fear God. He is Holy and we are not interested. He is Creator God, and we mass produce our own gods. He is Wise and we demonstrate our foolishness when we do not seek His favor.
“We have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to His truth.” Daniel first voiced this brutal confession an old man praying in exile. His country had been desolated, and he had lived in deportation for nearly seventy years. Daniel remembered the dreadful days of his youth when God did not turn back His Holy wrath, but utterly destroyed Jerusalem, sparing only a scattered remnant like himself and his three friends. Daniel’s prayer is recorded in Daniel 9:1-19. Please read it prayerfully and make it your own.
Daniel’s confession contains both a warning and a way out. Seek after God’s favor America! Like Daniel, cry out for compassion lest we too taste the bitter cup of God’s Righteous judgment. "O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion.”
Even in our sin God shows us His compassion. In the great warnings of Scripture we also find the way out. How can we seek the favor of God? He tells us, “by turning from [our] iniquity and giving attention to [God’s] truth.” Little Flock, this Sunday, July 5th, in honor of the Birthday of our Nation, we will give our “attention to the Lord God to seek {Him by} prayer and supplications…” Our focus will not be One Nation, but One Nation under God with [God honoring] liberty and [God honoring] justice for all. Come prepared to pray diligently for our Country. Pray after Daniel, "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
