Get Out

I am still processing what a guy told me at church this morning. I had made a comment in the sermon about looking at the lives of those in Foxe's Book of Martyrs, and then listen to ourselves complain about it being too hot and uncomfortable in the Sanctuary.

After church this guy said to me -- what you ought to do is one morning turn the air up to about 90 degrees, then tell everyone at 11:00, "you know, it is too hot in here for church today. Let us go outside, door-to-door, to our neighbors right up and down this road and share the message of Jesus with them."

I wonder how many excuses we would hear?

I wonder why I wouldn't do that to begin with?

"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Isn't this what He said?

Preach It John

"The evangelical movement itself must take some of the blame for devaluing the truth by catering to people's itching ears (2 Timothy 4:1-4). Does anyone really imagine that many of the entertainment-hungry churchgoers whop pack today's megachurches would be willing to give their lives for the truth? As a matter of fact, many of them are unwilling to take a bold stand for the truth even among other Christians in an environment where there is no serious threat against them and the worst effect of such a stand might be that someone's feelings might get hurt.
"Much of the visible church nowadays seems to think Christians are supposed to be at play rather than at war.
"But Christians, of all people, ought to be most willing to live and die for the truth. Remember, we know the truth, and the truth has set us free (John 8:32). We should not be ashamed to say so boldly (Psalm 107:2)."

-- John MacArthur The Truth War

The 2nd Day of July

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty." -- John Adams, written from Philadelphia on 3 July 1776

It is obvious that most Americans are not that concerned with liberty and freedom and independence anymore. (Followed the news for the last 20 or so years? Seen the growth and intrusion of the government in our lives?)

And obviously the day of our independence from the shackles of an oppressive British government are NOT marked by "solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty." Far from it -- "hey, as long as I get Thursday as my Friday and be chillin' by a grill full of meat, preferably by a body of water . . . . who cares about anything else?"

And we wonder why there might be some problems in the foreseeable future?

But I am thankful to Almighty God that I was born and live in the United States. I am thankful to Him for the freedom that I enjoy as a citizen. Am thankful to Him for the blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice that many, many people have laid down to make it so.

Most of all I am thankful for the freedom that Almighty God has granted to me in and through the finished work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I rejoice in Him that I am free from the bondage of sin and and its penalty - death. Indeed, this is the truth that sets men free.

Thank You, heavenly Father. You are indeed worthy of our worship, praise and adoration.

State Run Television

The kooks in Iran are not letting any foreign reporters report, and all that the folks have there is "state run" TV.

They can only see what the government wants them to see.
They can only hear what the ones in power want them to hear.

With the idea that the people will only think what the rulers want them to think.

Fast forward to this coming Wednesday, in America, when the American Broadcasting Company (abc) will be airing - on the public airwaves - only what the Obama administration wants us to hear, with no dissenting voice.

Similarities?

Open for Business

Yes, the economy in the West is weak right now. But there are still people with lots of money.


Some of those with lots of money do not live in the western hemisphere. They live in far away places like Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to name a few. They have lots of money from selling oil - energy - to oil dependent nations like the US.

Speaking of the US -- they hate it. I know we all want to be liked, but that is not reality. The people who are killing our soldiers, and flying planes into buildings really do hate us. The more of us they can kill the better they feel.

The North Koreans just launched a nuclear weapon test. It was a sign to the world and especially to those that hate us that the doors are open for business. North Korea is very poor, but obviously scientifically very smart. They can detonate a nuclear bomb. There are people with lots of money, who hate the US, who cannot wait to get their hands on a nuclear bomb -- so they can kill more and more people -- Americans and our allies.

What will we do? What will they do?

Thankful for unashamed preachers

In an evangelical world (even an SBC world) where the order of the day seems to be compromise with the world, talk like the world, look like the world, I thank God for men of God who stand and proclaim unashamedly the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Men who will call sin -- sin; men who will unapologetically call sinners to repentance.

We have kicked off revival services at Fairview and the messenger, Roger Roller, is so refreshing -- he hasn't tried to give us what we want, but what we need. He hasn't tried to impress us with his knowledge of the world, but proclaims the counsel of God.

May his tribe increase.

Seeking God?

This morning in my Bible reading I came to this verse . . .

And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? -- Isaiah 8:19

So often people ask, "what do you think?"

We go to conferences and read books and articles and blog posts to see what other people, "wizards" are saying.

When was the last time you heard someone say, "shouldn't the people of God seek God?"

Of course praying and seeking God is hard, humiliating, and not popular. So it is often avoided - even amongst those who call themselves "God's people."

Avoided --- and we suffer, just like the Israelites in Isaiah's day.