Musings and Meditations of a Country Preacher
While our attention is rightly turned to the issue of life and specifically, abortion this week. Let’s make sure we remember that sexuality is a much larger issue than abortion alone. Please read this article from today’s USA Today - Teen pregnancy, abortion rates rise
If you can stand a real eye-opener, be sure to read the comments at the bottom of the page.
Let’s teach the kids the right things and do it ourselves.
Thanks to my dear friend, Matt Perry, for calling attention to this article on his own blog. It’s by Josh Harris and the original is here. If you care about the Church of Jesus, and particularly the congregation of which you are a part, the read this carefully and prayerfully.
WRONG REASONS TO LOVE THE CHURCH
Do you love the church? Romans 12:10 tells Christians to “Love one another with brotherly affection.”
The affection and love we’re to have for fellow-Christians is to be based on the work of Jesus Christ for us. It’s not about elitism, it’s not because Christians are better than anyone else, it certainly isn’t because Christians are necessarily more lovable. We love the church because we love the Savior who redeemed the church.
Acts 20:28 tells us that Jesus obtained the church with his own blood. Is this what your love for the church is based on? If it’s anything less, it won’t last long.
- Don’t love the church because of what it does for you. Because sooner or later it won’t do enough.
- Don’t love the church because of a leader. Because human leaders are fallible and will let you down.
- Don’t love the church because of a program or a building or activities because all those things get old.
- Don’t love the church because of a certain group of friends because friendships change and people move.
Excerpted from the sermon “We Are Here to Love the Church.”
On Wednesday, Dec. 30, I received an e-mail from Don Whitney’s “Biblical Spirituality” ministry. He poses “10 Questions to Ask at the Start of the New Year.” I share them here in hopes of fostering a sense of purpose and intentionality for our lives in the year ahead. Please read and consider these prayerfully.
Happy New Year!
The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.
1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity
Mohler on the future of the SBC
more about "SBTS – Resources – Video: The Preside…", posted with vodpod
From time to time, I like to listen to recordings of the Scriptures. I recently discovered a free Audio New Testament that presents the English Standard Version. This is an awesome translation, and I think you might want to look into downloading it for you own use. Here is the link to it — http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/ambassador/free-audio-bible-download
This is a HUGE FILE, but worth the effort. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
I just did the funeral for one of the old faithful “pillars” of our congregation. It was a great celebration of the life of a saint. While I was visiting with the family, making plans for the service, one of the daughters handed me a Bible her dad had given her and asked me to read the note in the flyleaf. It truly blessed me. With her permission, I share the content of that note with you here.
Dear Jan, Scott, & Derek,
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. I urge you to use this One Year Bible to study the Word to know the way of the Lord in your life. To fear God is true wisdom and to forsake evil is real understanding (Job 28:28).
Everyone needs to work out their own salvation but remember faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
I have gathered a few thoughts that I believe will help you as you travel life’s highway:
1. Use you mind for creative ideas.
2. Surround yourself with creative Christian people.
3. Use your time wisely.
4. Study money. Learn how you can make it work for you.
5. Realize that God owns everything.
6. God is the source of everything. God loves a cheerful giver and a good steward.
7. Sow a seed to meet your need.
8. Trust God and obey Him. Remember Jesus is Lord and He is our great interceder
9. Combat stress by reading the Word. Examine your heart to see where your treasure is. Rebuke the devil and spend time in prayer daily.
10. The Joy of the Lord is your strength. Through it all God loves you and cares about you and your family. Household salvation is of the Lord.
My wish for you and your family is that God will bless you with a long, full life filled with good health, happiness, and prosperity. Give God your best and ask Him for His best for you. I am grateful to God for His many blessings. Among them is the privilege of living in the greatest country in the all the earth where opportunity abounds. To have a very full life with two wonderful wives each quite different and a large loving family. Isn’t it great when we can all get
together and reminisce the good times we have had. My hope and prayer is that when life on this earth is over we will all be a part of the great family of God and joint heirs with Jesus. Thank you for all your love, support, and kindness.
Love, Dad.
PS. Claim the power of the blood of Jesus Christ through faith.
Wouldn’t our world be a better place if there were more dads like this one?
I’ve been seeing and hearing a lot of input about the new ESV Study Bible from Crossway, and it all sounds pretty convincing. I began to look for a copy at all my usual sources, but this thing is EXPENSIVE! A couple weeks ago, I got a mid-week sale e-mail from CBD, which offered a leather-bound edition for $37.99, which is close to half of what it usually goes for, and I bit. I just got it here yesterday, and I AM IMPRESSED! The content and layout of this Study Bible is great, and the scholarship of the supporting material is outstanding.
I have been exposed to the ESV in varying degrees since it was first introduced several years ago, but I’m not one to switch Bible Translations very easily. I’ve been using NASB for many years, and most of my study materials are compatible with that translation. I’ll be reading this new translation through before I decide to make it my preaching Bible (if Idecide to make it my preaching Bible), but my initial impression is very favorable. After all, it’s always good to have multiple translations available for comparison when studying God’s Word. I’ll try to keep you posted on the progress of this enterprise.
Just a word of friendly, pastorly advice here on the use of “Study Bibles.” The most important aspect of any Bible is the biblical text itself. I personally own and use a few different Study Bibles, but when it all comes down to studying the Word of God, it must come down to the study of the Word of God itself. Remember, only the actual Bible is inspired, and the rest is simply (potentially) helpful information. As far as the study helps, footnotes, maps, charts, and comments go, it’s always helpful to consider who has contributed to that material and their personal theological convictions as you choose a Study Bible. Some good examples include The NASB Study Bible, The ESV Study Bible, The Apologetics Study Bible, The Life Application Study Bible, The MacArthur Study Bible, and a classic, The Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible. With these later ones, be sure to select a translation that is fitting. I would avoid The Liviing Bible, for example, because it is not a translation but a paraphrase. Someone has said that the best translation is the one you will actually read, so choose wisely. 
By now the whole world knows of the landmark decision handed down on Friday by the Iowa Supreme Court, throwing out the 1998 state law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. I have already begun exhorting my congregation to make their voices heard in the halls of state government. The battle for an amendment to the Constitution will be long and hard, but we must fight it.
As I write this, I am listening to Dr. Al Mohler talking about the trend in America toward a post-Christian society. This reality is playing out right before our eyes. I am still very much in shock over this whole thing. Friday’s ruling makes its argument by equating same-sex marriage with civil rights. I suppose we should not be surprized by this downward trend, but that doesn’t mean we should not also be enraged and deeply grieved by it.
I have contacted my state legislators and reminded them that they should serve the will of the people and not cave in to the pressures of politics. The liberal speaker of the house has already said there will be no action towards amending the Constitution in the current legislative session. I call upon the voters of Iowa to take note of the progression of this matter as your representatives in Des Moines deal with (or refuse to deal with) this issue. We cannot do much to put the justices of the Supreme Court out, but we can, and we must hold those whom we have elected to account when the next election day arrives.
In regard to the justices, I hope their mothers are proud of them. I, along with most of the rest of Iowa, am not.
Please take the time to read this article by Bob Kauflin about musical taste.
Thanks to Eric Shumacher for posting it on his blog, An Infant In A Cradle.
Yesterday, the local news reported the following:
“Dozens Protest New Pro-life Clinic”
IOWA CITY (KWWL) – Choices Medical Clinic is opening its doors next month on South Gilbert Street in Iowa City, just a mile from the Emma Goldman Clinic.
Two clinics offering care for pregnant women. Two clinics with missions that are miles apart. And the newest is already opening its doors to controversy.
“What we do is just provide an alternative of compassionate care for women,” said clinic Executive Director Rachel Owen.
It’s an alternative that brought out dozens from the University of Iowa Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance — protesting at an open house for Choices Medical Clinic.
“We see it as a fake medical clinic,” said protestor Laura Kacere.
“They’re intentionally misleading women to promote an anti-choice political agenda,” agreed protestor Megan Felt.
Protestors like Kacere say they’ve seen crisis pregnancy centers like the one opening in Iowa City before. Her concern: the clinic will provide false information to its patients.
“These women are in a vulnerable position and that’s when they need to be educated comprehensively about their rights, about their options,” said Kacere.
Owen admits one of the clinic’s goals is to eliminate the need for abortion. But she says that won’t come at the cost of integrity.
“We will not be manipulating them into any decision,” said Owen. ”We again, give the facts.”
Similar centers have faced this criticism. But many of those are federally funded. Owen says this will be a non-profit clinic, supported entirely by donors. But she realizes that along with supporters, there will also be detractors.
“The more I’m talking to you the more excited I am to have protestors out there, I guess because it’s going to be an opportunity for us to show our compassion and our love because we are really not here to deceive people,” said Owen.
“We don’t necessarily want to shut this place down or anything, I mean they do have a right to be here,” said Kacere. ”We just don’t want any women to come here with the idea that they’re getting a full comprehensive education about their rights.”
One of the board members said the clinic will be staffed with registered medical personnel. He described the protest simply as good publicity.
Choices Medical Clinic’s tentative opening date is April 20th.
Online Reporter: Bryan Goettel
When I saw this headline, I just about fell out of my chair. I guess it’s just another example of how far we as a people have drifted from our traditional Jude0-Christian values. The prevailing worldview that would oppose a pro-life clinic is growing in our midst, and we need to be faithful to uphold the Truth of God’s Word. As I write this, my grandchildren are playing in the adjacent room, and I wonder what kind of world we are preparing for them. God have mercy on us, for we have sinned most terribly.
