What A Sentimental Time Christmas Is :)

Well, over the “Christmas season” did anyone include the story of all of the children being slaughtered in Bethlehem? If not, why not? Why is this part of the Christmas story not as much a part of the Christmas story as everything else?

Can I suggest one reason we don’t include the slaughter of every baby in Bethlehem? It is because of the sentimentality associated with the season. Much like Easter, we want to emphasize the positive aspects of the gospel (if we include the gospel at all) and leave out the fact of, well, sin. He came to die for our sins.

People are more thrilled with presents under the tree and a white Christmas than that the sin that engulfs them has separated them from the very God who became man.

May I suggest that next year the color red remind us of the slaughter of all of the babies in Bethlehem 2000 years ago and of course, the blood of Jesus that cleanses from sin. Of course, the slaughter of babies doesn’t jell with the sentimentalism that is demanded once every 12 months. Neither does the demand of the Lord to forsake family for Him.

I am against sentimentalism for the sake of sentimentalism, but not against celebrating the incarnation. It’s something I do year round. In fact, almost daily I suppose.

But frankly, the sentimentality and all of the gushy emotions kind of nauseate me. Especially when I am tempted to get caught up in it myself. Can I suggest the need for a bit of self-examination? Perhaps this love of the sentimental is simply an attempt to make up for a lack of true feeling for God year round? Perhaps the tiny bit of passion one has for Christ needs seasons of sentimentality to bring out the truth that sentimentality is all that is involved in this relationship. Kind of like the dude who tattoos a girls name on his arm as if he could express his love and all that he is prepared to do for her by that mere act. This usually precedes the total abandonment of the forlorn lass by the irresponsible chump. If he really loved her he would live sacrificially for her. He would marry her.

I say that sentimentality coincides with Radical Egalitarianism because after all, there needs to be some way for us all to feel good together if we are to call ourselves Christians. If you really want to celebrate the incarnation, Jesus said to take up your cross daily and die. I know, it’s easier to pray a prayer, go to church and be especially caring around Christmas time. (gag)

an emotional and passionate person

(not giving props to the one who started the thinking for this post in order to protect myself)

The Effect of Radical Egalitarianism in Discipleship

The other day in a discussion with a brother we were talking about the difficulties of discipleship and he pointed to the problem of radical egalitarianism. I have been reading since then and have to give props to Wildavsky, Piper, Grudem and others. I have more thoughts on this subject, but have attempted to boil them down in the following one page essay. I have some cross-cultural thoughts hinted at, but will save them for future discussion. I will gladly discuss any suggestions that are seriously thought out.

The effect of radical egalitarian thought on the hierarchy of wisdom naturally developed in Christian education and institutions has spawned a generation of very need individuals who don't realize their own needs. I have noticed when discipling young men that it is all too common to have responses to the impartation of wisdom that show a stubborn refusal to open oneself up to that level of learning which is acquired only in humility and asking the very questions that when answered would enlighten one with true wisdom. Proving that the source of such a fountain of pride is radical egalitarian thought is the prevalence of a refusal to be a servant in small things. The cry of “equality” has been so loud in the atmosphere of modern liberalism that anything associated with authority and hierarchy is denounced as evil or unjust. How justice came to be viewed in the institution of learning is not a puzzle. The worldly thought that equality is the highest good has replaced Gods’ glory being the highest good. Respect and honor are demanded before the floor is even scrubbed well. The thought that we should evolve into a society where scores are not even kept at ball games has crept into the church resulting in a despising of every kind of God-given authority and has given way to the demand of the democracy of comfort in the midst of theocracy.

The most common ideas in the world resulting from radical egalitarianism are feminism, the gay rights movement, affirmative action and quotas. Responsibility is the principle that is frowned upon in these discussions of course, because radical individualism demands that we not be put in the uncomfortable position of having to earn our way before enjoying the privileges of the way. The family is the first institution to suffer from liberal and radical thought. Every last vestige of the Christian family is being torn at by the media and other proponents of modern liberalism. For years now, TV show, movies and commercials have attempted to mock the authority of the home. In particular, because of the influence of feminism, another spawn of radical egalitarianism, the father in the home has been made the brunt of jokes, insinuations and parody.

Radical egalitarianism refuses to acknowledge that one segment of society or individual is superior to another. We have somehow been deceived into believing that all men being created equal ends with all men being equal. But where men end up in life involves time, experience, responsibility, learning, investment, blood, sweat and tears. Too many nowadays have been deceived by modern thought and have knowingly or unknowingly bowed to the God of radical egalitarianism to their own detriment. They will not have anyone telling them what to do and they will not acknowledge their need to learn. Thus we have a generation of know-it-alls climbing up our ecclesiastical ladders taking places that will possibly result in not only their own fall, (I have seen it far too often), but the fall of many of those unfortunate enough to end up under them.

Now lest some misunderstand, I am not talking of the kind of egalitarianism displayed by Jesus when He taught us that the servant is the highest, or that the first is the last. In using these words and in teaching of the equality of service in the body, he was not denigrating authority, nor dispelling the fact that there are those in society who have more and those who have less. Jesus was and is in fact the same Sovereign God who has ordained that such things be as they are. Agreed, that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. Please understand that I am attempting to address the attack on the family and the church in their ministry of teaching that has resulted in children demanding to be addressed and thought of as adults before they have even had the time to experience the results of taking responsibility seriously.

Thoughts?

I Drank in the Scriptures in the Bahamas

Awright, so we just got back from the Bahamas. A week of laying out on the beach reading the Word on my new Kindle. and sleeping. and reading. and watching the ocean and the sun. and having the butler bring nachos and a drink for the wife and I. Well, it wasn't heaven by any stretch of the imagination of course. It was kind of dream like though.
All the while we were there, Faith and I both sensed a longing. For the place where our souls belong. For relaxing and reading the tropical climate was great, but it's not what we were created for. God was no closer to us.
Sure, not having a phone, )with the exception of the the .50 texts my wife sent and the two accidental international pocket calls I made for 10 minutes), was great. No electronics except my Kindle for reading. ( I am not bragging about the Kindle) (by the way, have you ever tried something like this? it is awesome) anyway, we really enjoyed being away and I feel so refueled that I feel dangerous. Sinners better get out of the way if you don't want a full dose of the gospel.
But now, I want to go ahead and read Radical by David Platt, which I was hesitant to read right before we left on our 30th anniversary tropical vacation. (our first ever)
I think he is talking about forgetting all about the American Dream and hotly pursuing Christ. Actually, I did suspect that maybe the Lord was calling me to missions in the Bahamas for a little bit. I even inquired into it a bit and was told that I would be wonderfully embraced by pastors down there if I should come to teach and preach. Anyway, the Lord did not lead further. shucks.
I am glad to be back to the church family that God has called me to. We had a good worship gathering yesterday with a great message on missions from one of our interning missionary families, the Phleegers.
Had a good time in counseling with one of our church families in the afternoon where God is evidently working. and then visited our dear sister, Nancy Ponder in the hospital. She is in much pain and is asking for the Lord to take her on home. To hear her moan in pain and then smile as she praised the Lord and prayed together and she would say Amen and then begin moaning again. It is these times where I feel led to pray that the Lord would give grace and usher the saint into His presence as quickly as possible. I pray that for Nancy.
So, we are back. I not sure we really went with the exception that I feel rejuvenated and we have pictures.
So, most of my time there, Faith will attest, I read. and I read. I couldn't get enough of the Word. There are seldom times like that when I can just drink in the Word for hours. But why not? It seems to me that if a Pastors job it primarily the ministry of the Word and prayer, how could he not spend hours each day reading the Word. Well of course, hours of praying is what it seems like the ministry demands. You can do so much more through praying than anything else. Well, with my business, the demands of being a faithful husband, father and grandfather, I am going to set my heart on a continued drinking in of the Word and long hours of prayer. That is what I long for until I reach my home in heaven. Some things will be left undone. And that is OK. If I can' t daily drink in the Word and spend quality time with my Father in communion, then I might as well resign from being a Pastor. And I am being realistic.

The Incredible Rush for Christmas Now

We see it every year in the world. Before Thanksgiving has even begun the rush to advertise amidst the barrage of the false images of what the birth of Christ really meant assaults us. We are reminded continually of the crass commercialism we will experience for the next four weeks that will make an attempt to dull our senses to the remembrance of a sacred day which should be holy and should fill us with joy. But it seems to blaze by. Amidst the rush of shopping, decorating and preparing we lose the real experience and implication of anticipation.

Christmas used to be so simple and sacred. But we have forgotten how to wait. Our society teaches us that we should have everything now. As soon as young people marry nowadays, they want the same things it took their parents years to enjoy. They want it all now. They want that fullness of experience that can only be enjoyed after years of suffering and waiting. We would rather bypass the suffering. And waiting? That was something born of necessity in years gone by. Now, we want what we can have and we want it now.

I am afraid that attitude has crept into the church. Every year, once every twelve months, people clamour for certain experiences. We want certain songs sang. Never mind that many of the songs labeled as “Christmas songs” could be done much better, many are weak theologically and some are downright unbiblical. We just want that feeling that singing these songs bring us and we want it all month long. We want our month of Christmas.

Churches have for years experienced and taught the necessity of waiting and anticipating the coming of the Messiah. Some call it advent, the few weeks before December 25^th. Now I am not in favor of religious trappings, but the biblical notion of waiting certainly appeals to me in my somewhat advanced age. Waiting is something that God uses in many situations. There is a maturing process that only waiting can accomplish.

We are a people who are waiting on the coming of the Lord. We are to anticipate His coming and hope for it, but we are to wait. We are to endure. We are to fast and pray. Long. We are to wait on Him. We are to suffer. And when He comes, oh how glorious, how precious, how sweet.

This is the way to truly celebrate Christmas. As it happened. The Israelites had waited the coming of the Messiah with anticipation. For years they had suffered. And then He came. He was born. The Deliverer was here.

There is something about the coming of Christ that wonderfully appeals to me. The culmination of waiting? The enjoyment of the promise I had embraced? The receiving of the gift? The shock of the world? Oh, one day the world will bow to my King. One glorious day.

In a couple weeks, we will meet on Christmas Eve and enjoy celebrating together. It will be a sacred moment. Standing in our church in a circle, holding hands and rejoicing that we are safe in Christ. That evening for some, for us the next morning on Christmas day, the family will sit in a small circle and read about that glorious day 2000 years ago when our Savior came to earth in the body of a baby. It will once again be holy. It will be meaningful. It will be special. One thing that makes it special every year is the waiting and the anticipation. Celebrating advent in our own way. This is not Christmas month. This is advent, but Christmas Day is coming.

Wait.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come..

Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Empty Nothings

Life is filled with them. In fact, most of the world is made up of them. Promises that can't be fulfilled. Intentions that are not acted on. Mirages that never materialize. The bible teaches us that life itself is a vapor. yet throughout their lives men pursue that which is nothing. Along the way they experience nothing because nothings are empty. The mirages they bask in serve to merely enlarge their appetites, voraciously hounding that which fills, yet they are never truly at peace and satisfied.
Sin itself, which is something, can only provide emptiness. Before God it is something. It is something hideous and horrible in fact. It is impossible to see how utterly horrible sin is unless you can see how beautiful Christ, the Savior from sin is. It was He, who fills all, who took upon Himself all of the terrible weight of your sin. And He is the only one who could do it. Taking upon Himself your sin was so weighty that it caused a rift between the Father and the Son. But He did it because of love.
All that sin and the world promises turns out to be nothing and all that the heart of man truly longs after is found in the One who alone can truly fulfill.
I urge you to turn to Christ. Cease your persistent pursuit of nothings which are empty.

Worthy Is The Lamb

My son preached this message this past Sunday at Karis church in Columbia and I wanted to share it. It is about worship from Revelation 5 and greatly magnifies the Lord.

Worthy Is the Lamb

God's Remedy for the Troubled Soul

This is a sermon preached this past Sunday at Rockport that I hope will truly be a help to a troubled soul.

True Gospel Affection in the Soul of Man

A Plain gospel message. Preached this past Sunday at Rockport Baptist church in Arnold, Missouri.

True Gospel Affection in the Soul of Man

More Thoughts on Worship Preparation

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3

Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.

So many have not been taught well concerning spiritual etiquette when gathering for worship. Please consider God's word concerning this.

My first thoughts are on the word "rash". This Hebrew word "bahal" is translated "trouble" 17 times and "haste" 4 times. Think here of Jesus words to Martha. "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary." In the context of this passage our thoughts here would be concerned with reverent consideration rather than a hasty rushing in accompanied by babbling about much of nothing. Seeking the Lord quietly would do so much for our hearts preparation for worship.

So often we appear so concerned to tell all our troubles, yet we have spent little time telling the Lord about our troubles and preparing our hearts for exactly the divine encounter in His Word that may be the answer we are seeking.

This passage also spoke to me about the reasonableness of well prepared worship. Shooting from the hip is not more spiritual than well thought out, prepared and contemplative worship. It was actually Aaron hastily making the golden calf, Nadab and Abihus' hasty and irreverent offering and King Saul's brazen worship that brought the judgment of God. We are approaching GOD! We especially, as people of grace, ought to be so filled with gratitude that all we can think about is, "I am coming before the King." "I am coming to worship my King." "He is the One who has set me free." "We have an audience with the KING!"

It's time we stop looking like we are so concerned about what others think about us and focus on the reality of what is taking place as we gather to worship the LORD, the MASTER, the KING! (and that would of course necessitate arriving in a timely manner and being sensitive to distractions during worship that would draw attention away from Him and His WORD! This also requires grace and wisdom.)

There is a real difference between being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and being carelessly unprepared when gathering before the LORD. But preparation is not only the responsibility of the Elders. We ought to be both prepared and yet subjected to His Lordship. He can do whatever He wants, and if our hearts are prepared, then and only then will we be ready to yield to Him. Personal preparation is so important here.
"God is in heaven and you are on earth" speaks of the fact that He is the Creator and we are the creatures. Coming boldly into the throne room never implies irreverence.
Let your words be few.

Then, when we have ended the service with prayer, it is appropriate to leave. It is not appropriate to leave before the last Amen. Let us be considerate to all. And let us then love those who are visiting, new comers, new members and those who are hurting, with true care, concern and prayer.

Preparing For Worship

I gave a brief exhortation regarding preparation for worship at our business meeting yesterday. I thought I would briefly encourage further. My mentor sent me a few thoughts, which I have expanded upon.

Ecclesiastes 5:1

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.

The concept of preparing for Worship seems lost in our busy lives. As if because God is a God of grace, we should feel fine to simply rush into His presence, having taken no thought as to how prepared we were for the encounter. As if preparation for worship was not a "real-life" need and trivial conversation with people were so critical to our spiritual lives that we ought not to leave it out. On Sunday morning we rush into the church, talk all the way through until the time we attempt to calm people down before the call to Worship and get them "focused on God", and then wonder why we didn't "sense the presence of God" this morning.


For the Puritans, preparing for worship started the night before. The Puritans were people concerned with being prepared for Worship. It was common for there to be prayer meetings on Saturday evening, simply in preparation for Sunday Morning.

The Westminster Confession states: "When the congregation is to meet for public worship, the people (having prepared beforehand their hearts thereunto) ought all to come…"
Certainly, some may give 10 or 20 seconds to prayer the morning of worship, but the question must be raised as to whether this is sufficient. We need for God to work in our hearts before the worship time ever begins.
It is God we are worshiping.

Perhaps we should consider the last few words in Ecclesiastes 5:1. "we don't know the evil we are doing".

Listen to the words of Stephen Charnock:

"Worship is an act of the understanding, applying itself to the knowledge of the excellency of God, and actual thoughts of his majesty….It is also an act of the will, whereby the soul adores and reverenceth his majesty, is ravished with his amiableness, embraceth His goodness, enters itself into an intimate communion with this most lovely object, and pitcheth all his affections upon Him" (Steven Charnock)

What is at the root of the matter is the condition of our heart. Do we even care? Our hearts need preparedness for worship. JI Packer said: "An aimless, careless, casual, routine habit of church-going is neither rational nor reverent."

Please hear this admonition. Beginning on Saturday evening, spend much time with God. Seeking His face, for His smile, crying out for the power of God on the preacher, exalting Jesus as Lord in your life, humbly submitting yourself to His supremacy, begging for His grace and for the display of His glorious majesty as we humbly and reverently gather to bow before His throne in worship, praise, prayer and preaching. We are not walking into Walmart, neither are we entering the house of God. The people of God, His house, are gathering together for Worship. When we gather, be preparing your heart for this awesome occasion. Be ready to stand trembling, yet joyfully lavishing praise on the One who has raised us from the dead and given us life.

COUNSEL FOR HUSBAND AND WIVES

Ok, I have been so busy that I haven't had the time to take on my blogs. I have three and they have all been neglected. I am determined to keep them open and get back to them this fall.
Until then, I had the opportunity to preach at Rockport again, and after reading various Puritans, I decided to preach on Eph 5:33 for the edification of our couples.
Most of the points are borrowed but are still good. This would be good counsel for most marriages that are having trouble.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonid=82310163320

How to Tell You're Born of God

I thought I would share this. Not that I am a fan of my own preaching. I'm not. Really can't stand to hear myself. but I think the truth in this message is desperately needed in the church today. So, I will share it. Please forgive my forwardness, but hopefully you can share it with someone who may need to hear it.




http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=69101254582

Abide

Colossians 1: 9

Dear Sons and daughters,

Backing up and bit and looking at Paul’s prayer for the Colossians, my prayers for you are certainly like Paul’s. He says that he did not cease to pray for them, that they might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. He is thinking about the first few verses where he thanked God for the hope that came to them. And that of course is the first thing that God must do, is to give us hope in our hearts. And that only happens when God changes our heart. We can’t do it ourselves, and that is why I pray that God might do it in you.
His theme in both passages involves the bearing of fruit. First, the fact that the hope that comes to us causes us to bear fruit, and secondly, that it is God’s will that we bear fruit. Now, you ask, how can we do that? We can’t!
Try as you may, muster up all the desire you can, you will never be able to bear fruit. But God can. Jesus said, “abide in Me, and I will abide in You. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
Abide – translated to remain 16 times; to dwell 15 times
3306 menw meno men’-o
a root word;
AV-abide 61, remain 16, dwell 15, continue 11, tarry 9, endure 3, misc 5; 120
1) to remain, abide
1a) in reference to place
1a1) to sojourn, tarry
1a2) not to depart
1a2a) to continue to be present
1a2b) to be held, kept, continually
1b) in reference to time
1b1) to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure
1b1a) of persons, to survive, live
1c) in reference to state or condition
1c1) to remain as one, not to become another or different
2) to wait for, await one

In other words, the only way that anything positive spiritually is going to happen is if you spend time with Jesus. That means talking to Him in prayer. And reading His word. The short time it takes you to read this paper is a good start. Then, just spend a few moments talking to Him about this. As you do, pray that He will direct your path this day. That you will be sensitive to His leadership, see what He is doing, and follow Him by faith, knowing that He is perfect in all His ways, no matter what it looks like to You.

Let me try to simplify. My prayer for you, like Paul’s for the Colossians, is that you would be filled with the knowledge of what God desires for you. That you would see how God is involved in every aspect of your lives, and knowing Him and how He works will cause you to see His hand in everything so much more. And that you would come to understand how His works so beautifully flow together in one glorious purpose. He has a purpose for you. You are not an accident. There is a set out plan for your life that He is working out. Watch for Him! You will see it. And it is wonderful beyond comprehension.

All of my love,


Dad

Note to Children on The Lovingkindness of God

Sons and daughters,
Well, there are just times that you have to drink in certain portions of scripture again and again. As I have poured out my heart to God for you this morning, I believe in the Lord. I believe that He is working in you right now and will continue to work in your hearts. I am in Psalm 107 once again re-reading these wonderful words and claiming them for my children. V. 6 says that they cried to the Lord in their trouble and He delivered them out of their distresses.
That is my hearts desire. That you are delivered out of your distress. Jesus is a Deliverer. That is His business. These people were hungry and thirsty..their soul fainted in them….THEN they cried to the Lord. That is the time to cry out to the Lord, and He will satisfy your soul and fill it.
There is nothing like just getting alone somewhere and crying out to the Lord. Weeping tears of repentance and at the same time tears of joy because you know that the Lord is near to them that are of a broken heart.
Read this Psalm, I have printed it for you, and see what type of Lord our Lord is. Yes, he allows us to go through tribulations because of our rebellion, but when we cry to Him He hears.
Oh, that my children would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to them.
Look, He is able to brake the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in two. He is able to brake bonds and to bring you out of darkness and the shadow of death. Did you know that when you are away from the Lord you are sitting under the shadow of death?
That is where some of you are right now. Do you know how that strikes fear into my heart?
He can make your storms to be calm and your waves to be still. And you will be glad to be quiet and He will bring you to your desired haven.
Whoever is wise, and will observe these things will understand the lovingkindess of the Lord.
Your Loving Dad

1 ¶ Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
10 ¶ Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.
17 ¶ Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
23 ¶ Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 ¶ He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish.
39 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Sons and daughters,
Well, there are just times that you have to drink in certain portions of scripture again and again. As I have poured out my heart to God for you this morning, I believe in the Lord. I believe that He is working in you right now and will continue to work in your hearts. I am in Psalm 107 once again re-reading these wonderful words and claiming them for my children. V. 6 says that they cried to the Lord in their trouble and He delivered them out of their distresses.
That is my hearts desire. That you are delivered out of your distress. Jesus is a Deliverer. That is His business. These people were hungry and thirsty..their soul fainted in them….THEN they cried to the Lord. That is the time to cry out to the Lord, and He will satisfy your soul and fill it.
There is nothing like just getting alone somewhere and crying out to the Lord. Weeping tears of repentance and at the same time tears of joy because you know that the Lord is near to them that are of a broken heart.
Read this Psalm, I have printed it for you, and see what type of Lord our Lord is. Yes, he allows us to go through tribulations because of our rebellion, but when we cry to Him He hears.
Oh, that my children would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to them.
Look, He is able to brake the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in two. He is able to brake bonds and to bring you out of darkness and the shadow of death. Did you know that when you are away from the Lord you are sitting under the shadow of death?
That is where some of you are right now. Do you know how that strikes fear into my heart?
He can make your storms to be calm and your waves to be still. And you will be glad to be quiet and He will bring you to your desired haven.
Whoever is wise, and will observe these things will understand the lovingkindess of the Lord.
Your Loving Dad

1 ¶ Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
10 ¶ Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.
17 ¶ Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
23 ¶ Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 ¶ He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish.
39 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Letter to My Children On Rebellion

Good Morning Sons and Daughters,

Or whatever time of day it is that you are reading this. I imagine afternoon or evening.
Which reminds me. You all need to get into the habit of reading the bible every morning. At least one chapter. It would take all of 2-3 minutes on average; Sometimes one. And those very few minutes each day would impact your life dramatically if you were consistent.
I am amazed at how gracious God is with me. Psalm 106 reminded me through His patience with the children of Israel. It’s kind of a mini picture of the first five books of the Bible. Time and again God had been gracious with them, and yet they would come to a place where it seemed better to them to take another way. God would punish them, and they would return asking for mercy, and of course God gave it. Now don’t think that people didn’t die in the midst of all of this. They did. As a matter of fact, not a one of the children of Israel who started out the trip into to wilderness ever made it out. Their lives were vicious cycles of drifting from God into rebellion, experiencing His punishment, asking for mercy, receiving it; then wondering off into rebellion again, etc. ad nauseum.
Remember that scripture that says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of that way is death.” Yes, God is merciful. I am surprised that I am still alive. Not that I have ever wandered off into blatant adultery, drunkenness, thievery, or rebellion. But that at fifty years old I still have too many times that my flesh is weak. I hate the flesh. But I love the Lord. And I pray that He will purify my heart and my mind so that you kids see more of Jesus in me by the time I die. I don’t want my life to be a picture of Psalm 106, but a picture of Jesus.
So my exhortation to you my dear, dear children, is to avoid the vicious cycle of rebellion that the children of Israel experienced and so died in the wilderness. Does your life seem like a wilderness from God right now? He is willing to have mercy and restore all that sin has taken. Yes, since He is a loving heavenly Father, there will be times of chastisement in order that you may learn not to stray. But if you cry out to the Lord, in due time, He will answer and come in power and glory. I have seen this kids. The Lord has come upon me in power. He has done this as I have cried out to Him for you. And He has assured me that He is working. For that I am eternally grateful.
1. Do not forget all that God has done in the past.(v.13) Gave you a Christian home. Gave you parents that love you. Allowed you to hear the gospel. Spared your life thus far. Kept you healthy thus far. Girls, He has given you healthy children. Gave you responsible husbands.
2. Be careful what you ask for (v.15) Don’t just desire a fun-filled life. Ask for a joy-filled life. Ask for God’s best for you in all things. Ask for God Himself.
3. Don’t forget God. (v.21) He is always there. He sees all. He knows all. And He loves still.
4. Do not complain against the Lord. You can complain to the Lord all you want. Just don’t complain about the Lord. We can’t even see what is going to happen tomorrow, much less today. And He can. He has already planned what is going to happen tomorrow.
5. Do not yoke up to unbelievers. (v. 28) I know this verse is about Baal, but the general teaching of separation from unbelievers themselves is throughout scripture. Believe me, they didn’t just happen upon Baal. He was introduced by the heathen around them. Come out from among them and be separate from them.
Kids, these are not rules, but principles to live by. Ignore them at your peril.
I love you.

Dad

Note to Children on the Fear of God

My Dear Sons and Daughters,

In studying this morning Psalm 111, we are reminded of the perfect faithfulness of God and of the foundational theme of Proverbs, the fear of the Lord.
To walk in the ways of God and to follow the principles we are taught in the Bible is certainly the wisest course we could take. In fact, woe be to us if we walk another way. You merely need to go back two chapters to see the end of the man who opposes God in his ways.
There is such comfort in the fear of God. When you bow to the Lord of the universe, you know that you are bowing to someone who is competent, someone who is faithful, and someone who can be trusted. If your shrine lies elsewhere, then you can only rely on yourself, and in the end you will see that we are too feeble to be relied on to even handle one day apart from God.
It is simply awesome to think that God the creator is our Savior and our Friend. That is why we can both fall down before Him with tears in reverent awe and gleefully laugh as we rejoice in Him as He reveals Himself to us in power. The only way that we can possibly respond to the goodness and grace of God is to faithfully live by His principles.
If we refuse to live by His principles, then we are fools. That is why the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. He holds the keys to life. Life is all about Him and what He is doing in and through your life. Ignore him and you will fall. Despise His reproofs and you will die.
The voices will be many and often which compel you to take another route, but you must be resolute. You can’t afford to walk in the ways of the unwise. You know better. (You have sat under an average of 150 sermons a year from your father for most of your lives…. ). Anyway, as you walk, keep your eyes on Jesus and listen to His voice as the Holy Spirit guides you. The resulting blessings that begin to rain down on you will refreshingly remind you that God is faithful. He has written your name on the palm of His hand. He numbers every hair on you head. Ignore His promptings only to trudge once again agonizingly slowly down the muddy ruts of pain and isolation from God. I say slow, because it is such a dreary way once the initial thrill of rebellion wears off, but it happens all of a sudden if you are not alert to what Satan is trying to do. Be sober. Be alert. Satan is like a roaring lion seeking to devour you and your children. Fight for them. You boys fight for your future wives and children. Do it now! Tomorrow you will be old men. Listen to your father. Fight my sons. Pray my daughters. Do not be deceived. I am praying for you and am confident that God is faithful.

Love,
Dad

Note to my Sons

Some Observations Concerning Joy

My sons, it is with the greatest concern, love, tender care and fatherly emotion that I write to you concerning your present and future experience of joy. I write this, not because you don’t know joy, but because I fear that at the very least, my example has not been one of consistent joy. I assure you, that the times that you have observed me in a state of anxiety or fretting has only been caused by my own sins.
I do know, having observed you very closely, with the eye of a paternal intensity not unlike a father over the crib of a badly injured newborn babe, that there are times when you do enjoy the experience of joy and there are times that you do not. What concerns me is not something that I have misdiagnosed or misinterpreted. I am no novice when it comes to my children. I have studied them all of their lives and have been keenly sensitive to every wisp and movement that affects them. Some may say that perhaps this kind of fawning observation is unmanly, or not fatherly, but I cannot help overseeing my offspring in a way that causes me to be in continual prayer, concern and care.
I feel like I have set you free to fly, but that in some ways I have clipped your wings. The kind of love that I have for you, I feel, is unusual. I don’t see it in a lot of men for their children, yet they proclaim that it is a sort of tough love that kicks the nestlings from their homes to survive on their own. Perhaps, but at least these same nestlings should be adequately trained and equipped to handle the various aspects of independent life necessary to prosper in all sorts of circumstances. In that I have fallen short, and have thereby clipped your wings. Not to worry though, because you have sprouted fine on your own, and have learned and are learning the hard way to fend for yourselves, God having slowly restrained me from gathering you under my wings against your will, you both being men of God who yearn to live free. Free from restraint, but also free from sin. It is this area that I want to address.
The times of joy that I have most often observed you, not to put you both in the same category, because you are both so different yet you do struggle with some of the same sins, are times when you are out of your ordinary element. By that I mean that you are away from home and are with those that are not your family. This is partially unfair in that we have had thankfully not a few times of delightful fellowship with only our own family in glorious discussion of the things of God, which times have sustained my life.
But having lived with you for the past few months, and that, under strained financial circumstances, I have concern for you future families. It may not always be well, as I have stated in another letter, with our economy, even though God’s economy is what we actually live under. You may often have your character tested, and this same character must be iron-clad before your family. That is what the times you are going through right now are for. There are going to be people depending on you, and you must show your wife and children that you are trusting implicitly in the ROCK, who cannot be moved.
I have observed the leak of joy from your lives, even though my observations are tainted and cannot be fully trusted, because I only see the outward man. But I do see your demeanor around your family, and that demeanor will affect the whole family. Not that you are to live for the happiness of others, but others’ happiness is often tied up with yours, and that will be perfectly clear to those others, when you are the head of your home.
So let me cut to the chase. The absence of joy often means the presence of or a struggle with sin. We are taught that in order to overcome our sins, we must walk in the Spirit. One of the fruits of the Spirit is joy, the others being of equal value. Love, peace, long-suffering, self-control, etc. As we walk in continual and humble obedience to His leadership, and submission to His will, and yieldedness to His presence, His affect in our lives will be the fruit we bear of love, joy, peace, etc. I say again, we simply cannot walk after the flesh and have joy. It is impossible, because joy is a fruit of the Spirit. And if it is a fruit of the Spirit, then it is not something that we can call up at will. It is something that we live in. My sons, walk in the spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. This is a lifelong lesson, but something that we must take up everyday and wage war about. I know that I am preaching to the choir, and to myself. Painfully aware of that in fact, but your loving Dad is thankfully, still growing in grace, and still has a fiery desire to see my sons full of joy. Don’t get me wrong, I want you to also walk in sorrow for your sins, but godly sorrow results in repentance and the resultant joy. The sorrow of the world works death.
I wish to see my boys know the full joy of the Lord, as I know that you have known. I simply want it for you more, and I want it for your future families. I want you to be overcomers, conquerors, warriors, who can lead a family to the fountain of joy. Otherwise, I feel that you may taint your offspring more than I have tainted mine. You both have strong personalities, lots of talent, leadership capabilities out the wazoo, and limitless possibilities. So….you are on dangerous ground, being heirs of pride. My sons, cast your all once again, and every day on Jesus. I am so…so proud of you both, but I must hasten to add that it is a humble and thankful response to God rather than true pride.

Letter to My Children - 2nd

Well Dear Children,

How my heart is enlarged for you. As I pour out my soul to God on your behalf this morning, my prayer is that you would experience the reality of the presence of God in such a way as to change you forever.

There are times that a child of God slips, and at such times he will find that God is there. And that God understands. Psalms 103:14 tells us that “He knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”

In other words, the Lord knows the foundation of our thoughts, actions and intentions. He knows what we are made of, what we have experienced, what we have been taught, what we have grasped and haven’t grasped. He knows the basis upon which we act and speak. And he knows that he made us from the dust of the ground and he doesn’t have expectations that are out of the realm of our ability to fulfill.

He is a merciful God. In fact, v. 17 of that same Chapter tells us that God’s mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon those that fear Him.

There will never be a time that one of His children is not able to receive mercy. Sometimes we will feel differently. As if we have sinned too much to go to God with it. But that is a deceptive feeling. The truth is, if we are God’s children, then every time we sin we can go to God with it and ask for forgiveness. In fact, we must go to God with it. Where else can we go?

Do you not think that I struggle with the same sins as you do? Yes, we are all made of the same dust. And we have very much the same points of reference in which to live our lives. All that I have learned I have taught you. How much you have grasped, I don’t know. That is the difference. But certainly I have had to make much use of the mercy of God, which fount thankfully never runs dry for the believer. His mercy is indeed from everlasting to everlasting upon those that fear Him.

Read that whole chapter of Psalm 103 and you will find comfort in the mercy of God. And then cry out to Him that He will give you His mercy. And He will. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Oh that His mercy would flood the lives of my children and that they would flee to Him for refuge. He will take you in and comfort you. He will rescue you from the power of sin and self and the ultimate despair that sin will take you to if you let it.

Remember, He has come that you might have joy. And that you might have LIFE.

And God is going to give it to you. I know this. Drink of it deeply! Children drink of the riches that God has for you right now.

Your loving Dad