Forced to Pause and Ponder

Monday morning I wrote some letters and went to put them out by the mailbox, when I was informed by our church secretary that the mail-man had already come.  I had just missed him.  It was 10 a.m.  I really wanted the letters to go out that day, so I decided to deposit them in the postal box at the end of our street.  I noticed that traffic had been blocked off, but I assumed it was because of utility work being done.

As I approached the corner, I knew there was something far more critical and serious going on.  Just moments earlier, the Weymouth police officer working the traffic detail at the utility site was struck and killed by a pick-up truck after its driver ignored a stop sign and sped through the inter-section, pinning the officer to the National Grid truck.  It was a gruesome scene, and the officer was pronounced dead upon the ambulance's arrival at the hospital just a half-mile away.

The officer who was killed was only 34 years old.  He leaves behind his wife and three children - ages 14, 9, and 6.  No doubt what started out as a normal day for this family became a tragic one that will forever alter their lives.

The utility crew had just finished working, too.  They were wrapping things up, getting ready to leave.  Then in the blink of an eye - a single breath - a life is snuffed out.  As I stood there at the intersection, I saw some personal effects where the officer had been standing.  Perhaps he had been finishing up a cup of coffee ... or talking to one of the utility guys ... maybe getting ready to put in a call to his wife or the station.  One second he's here, alive and well; the next second he's crushed between two trucks.  Gone.  Dead.

How many times do I walk to that street corner to mail a letter or walk to the gym?  My boys probably walk to that street corner half a dozen times a day to grab a snack, drink, or gallon of milk (for Mom) at Cumberland Farms.  How easily that could have been one of us struck and killed on a normal day, in a completely unanticipated moment.

This to me is a powerful reminder of how brief and unpredictable life is.  It forces me to ask questions like:

• How would I live today differently if I knew it were my last day on earth?
• In what manner did I leave my home this morning?  Were my last words ones of anger, frustration or rebuke?  Or were they ones of love, affirmation, and encouragement?
• Are there any other relationships in my life that need to be mended or restored?  Have I done my best to live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:18)?
• Am I consciously, prayerfully, earnestly looking for opportunities to share the Gospel with the lost?  The people that cross my path today may be gone tomorrow.  Am I innocent of the blood of all men (Acts 20:26)?
• Have I allowed the tyranny of the urgent to crowd out the most important things in life?
• What about this very moment?  If in the blink of an eye I was with my Savior, would He be pleased with what I was doing that split-second in time that He called me home?

Lord, "teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).

That Day is Here

Years ago I served on the pastoral staff at Immanuel Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia.  During that season of our lives (1991-1994), something happened that I have never forgotten and have been thinking about a lot the last few days.

I was walking from the church secretary's office to my office, when I passed by the senior pastor and another associate pastor who were engaged in conversation.  The senior pastor had just returned from taking his daughter, his oldest child, to college.  As I walked by these fellow pastors, I heard the associate pastor ask, "So how was it, dropping her off?"  The senior pastor responded, "Alana [his daughter] did pretty well.  But it was tougher on me than I expected.  I couldn't keep back the tears."  

When I heard him say that, I remarked, "Man, I don't want to hear this!  My daughter is still in diapers!"  It was at that point that my pastor looked me square in the eye and said with dead-seriousness, "My daughter was in diapers yesterday.  Your daughter will be gone before you know it."  The way he said that, and the way he looked at me as he said it - I knew he was dead right.  I knew the day of my daughter's departure would come all too quickly.

That day is here.  It is a day of mixed emotions, to say the least.  It is a day of celebration, knowing that Megan is about to enter a marvelous new phase of her life.  God has wired her for this.  "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" (Eccl. 3:1).  Megan has blossomed into a beautiful young lady, and her parents rejoice in that.  

Yet this day is also one of sadness for us.  It will be difficult having one less chair around the dinner table.  It won't be easy seeing so much of Megan's stuff gone.  I will miss praying over her with the rest of the children each night before bed.  Ruthie especially will miss the companionship of the only other female in our household.  (Boys can be so, well, unladylike!)  Megan's daily presence has added so much wholesomeness (and humor) to our household.  Life in the Fletcher household simply won't be the same without her.  So, yes, our celebration is mixed with a measure of sadness.

As I look back on my years with Megan, I see many imperfections in my parenting.  The only perfect father Megan has ever had, without question, is her heavenly Father.  I hope that despite my failures and shortcomings I have pointed her to Him, and I pray that she will seek the Lord all the days of her life.  No matter where she goes, she has a Friend who sticks closer than a brother - one who will never leave her nor forsake her (Heb. 13:5).

Gracious heavenly Father, watch over our daughter.  The fact is, You love Megan far more than we do (as hard as that is to comprehend), and You alone have the power to "preserve [her] going out and [her] coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore" (Psalm 121:8).  Please do so, O God, and may Megan walk worth of the gospel; may her life bring You glory.

Even as I wrote this brief prayer, my phone rang.  It was Megan, asking me where I am.  She says, "It's time to go."  Yes, it is.

Tombstone

It's amazing how God can cause a few incidents to converge in order to make a point.  

I began my day as I usually do, sitting in my easy chair in our living room with my Bible and morning cup of coffee.  While reading through Jeremiah, I came across this verse:

"A beautiful ... palace does not make a great king" (Jer. 22:15 NLT).

God sent this message by His prophet to Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, who was building a bigger and better house for himself on the backs of his unpaid and oppressed laborers.   He thought that by building a big, beautiful palace it would speak well of his kingship.  But God sent a scathing denunciation to inform him otherwise.  Having a great palace doesn't make you a great person.  Centuries later, Jesus said, "Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15).

That verse from Jeremiah stuck with me as I started my day.  

Later on, I dropped off our van to be serviced.  The auto technician said it would take about an hour (it actually took about three), so I took a stroll.  Eventually I walked by a cemetery and saw row after row of tombstones.  I thought, "All the people in there are dead." (Very perceptive, don't you think?)  "Every one of them was alive at some point, but now they're all dead.  Someday I'm going to be dead." This thought no sooner crossed my mind, than I saw it - a tombstone that bore in big, capital letters the name FLETCHER.

That inscription stuck with me as I continued my walk.

This afternoon I was on my computer getting ready to write this blog, when I received a link to this following video clip of John Piper preaching to thousands of young people.  This was the icing on the cake.  Watch it; it's well worth your time.

Don't waste your life.  Make it count for Christ.

Driver Beware!

This morning I read some statistics that are interesting - and highly relevant - but not surprising. Texting while driving dramatically increases the likelihood of getting into an accident.  Through the use of continual video surveillance over six million miles, The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that "when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting."  They also found that "dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about 6 times in cars and trucks."

What is the average length of time that drivers take their eyes off the road while looking at their devices?  About five seconds.  That's pretty scary, when you consider that in five seconds a vehicle going 55 mph can cover more than a length of a football field!  

We have three drivers in our family and a fourth one waiting in the wings.  Given that Massachusetts has not yet outlawed the use of hand-held devices while driving (except in Brookline) provided that at least one hand is on the steering wheel, statistics such as this make me nervous.  My wife has already been on the receiving end of an accident caused by a driver who got distracted while using her cell phone.  We must exercise extreme caution while driving - not just so that we're not distracted but also because we know that other drivers will be!

To show you how dangerous talking on a cell phone can be, I know of one driver who, while talking on his Blackberry, was driving less than 10 miles per hour with no other vehicles in sight.  Yet he still got into an accident.  How?  He got hit with my golf ball!  The man was my uncle!  He was on the receiving end of a beautiful five-wood I hit right down the fairway.  Of all the places my ball could have gone, it landed in a 1.5" by 3" area about four feet off the ground 200 yards in front of me.  It hit my uncle's phone, which he happened to be using at the time!  Thankfully he was okay.  I wish I could say the same for his brand new Blackberry.

All that to say that from a human standpoint we need to be alert and discerning drivers.  Yet ultimately, from a theological standpoint, we know that God is in control.  He superintends all that happens on earth, including the path of every car ... and golf ball!  So we exercise prudence while trusting in His providence.

Golf, anyone?

Looking for Love in All the Right Places

For the last little while, I along with the other elders in my church have been reading through the inspirational classic, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret.  From his early life in England, through the founding of the China Inland Mission, to reaching millions of lost Chinese for Christ, Hudson Taylor's life was one of profound faith that brought great glory to God.  Taylor's legacy lives on in the hearts and experiences of those who discover his "spiritual secret."

What was his secret?  It was "drawing for every need, temporal or spiritual, upon 'the fathomless wealth of Christ.'"  The book basically guides the reader through Hudson's many trials, the stretching of his faith, his spiritual wrestlings, fears, circumstances, and opportunities.  We see that he was "a man with a nature like ours" (James 5:17), subject to all the common experiences, challenges, and disappointments of life.  Yet what made Hudson so different from most Christians is that he really believed the promises of God and drew upon his riches in Christ for everything in life.  He not only trusted God, but he also treasured God above all else and wanted His will - nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.

It's amazing to see how this governing principle for Hudson Taylor's life played out in the Lord's provision of a wife.  Upon coming to China with her family, Maria met Hudson,

who impressed her as having longings like her own after holiness, usefulness, nearness to God.  He was different from others - not more gifted or attractive, though he was bright and pleasing and full of quiet fun, but with a something about him that made her feel rested and understood. He seemed to live in such a real world and to have such a real, great God.  Though she saw but little of him it was a comfort to know that he was near, and she was startled to find how much she missed him [when he had to leave, and how joyful she was when he returned]....

Perhaps it was this that opened her eyes to the feeling with which she was beginning to regard him.  At any rate she soon knew and with her sweet true nature did not try to hide it from her own heart and God.  There was no one else to whom she cared to speak about him, for others did not always see in him what she saw.  They disliked his wearing Chinese dress, and did not approve of his making himself so entirely one with the people.  His Chinese dress - how she loved it!  or what it represented, rather, of his spirit.

Hudson was drawn to her as well.  After a period of testing, praying, and waiting on the Lord, they "were openly engaged."  A few days before he was to be wed to Maria, Hudson wrote in a note to his mother, 

I have never felt in better health or spirits in my life....  God has been good to us.  He has indeed answered our prayer....  Oh, may we walk with Him and serve Him more faithfully.  I wish you knew my Precious One.  She is such a treasure!  She is all that I desire.

Then, six weeks later, he wrote:

Oh, to be married to the one you do love, and love most tenderly and devotedly . . . that is bliss beyond the power of words to express or imagination conceive.  There is no disappointment there.  And every day as it shows more of the mind of your Beloved, when you have such a treasure as mine, makes you only more proud, more happy, more humbly thankful to the Giver of all good for this best of earthly gifts.

Indeed.  "Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD" (Proverbs 19:14). 

As I consider this beautiful story from Hudson Taylor's life (and there is much more to it than space permitted me to share here), I am reminded of how important it is for me myself to rely on the Lord in every facet of life, and also as a parent to teach my children to do the same, especially when it comes to marriage.  Specifically, I have come to see how important it is to emphasize the following:

1. Who you are on the inside is much more important than what you look like on the outside.
2. Seek the Lord, and let the Lord seek you a mate.  Then you will truly be "a match made in heaven" and know the deepest joys of marital love.
3. All things come to those who wait, provided you are waiting on the Lord and wanting only God's best!

May God help us to take these lessons to heart!

Real Confession

First John 1:9 is a well-known and precious verse to believers:  "If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Confession is to be a key component to our prayers, as our Lord Jesus Himself taught us in the model prayer:  "Forgive us our sins..." (Luke 11:3; cf. Matt. 6:12).

Every day I confess my sins to God.  I acknowledge to Him any known transgressions, thank the Lord for His atoning grace, and claim His promise that "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).  Like David, I ask the Lord to "renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).

Yet the other day I came across a written prayer that convinced me that I sin far more often than I think I do, and that I don't devote sufficient time to healthy introspection, asking the Lord to search my heart and to reveal any - and all - wicked ways in me.  The following anonymous prayer, simply entitled Sins, was penned by one who had an acute sensitivity to sin and made a properly thorough confession to God:

Merciful Lord,

Pardon all my sins of this day, week, year, all the sins of my life,

sins of early, middle, and advanced years,

of omission and commission,

of morose, peevish and angry tempers,

of lip, life and walk,

of hard-heartedness, unbelief, presumption, pride,

of unfaithfulness to the souls of men,

of want [lack] of bold decision in the cause of Christ,

of deficiency in outspoken zeal for his glory,

of bringing dishonour upon thy great name,

of deception, injustice, untruthfulness

in my dealings with others,

of impurity in thought, word and deed,

of covetousness, which is idolatry,

of substance unduly hoarded, improvidently squandered,

not consecrated to the glory of thee, the great Giver;

sins in private and in the family,

in study and recreation, in the busy haunts of men,

in the study of thy Word and in the neglect of it,

in prayer irreverently offered and coldly withheld,

in time misspent,

in yielding to Satan's wiles,

in opening my heart to his temptations,

in being unwatchful when I know him nigh,

in quenching the Holy Spirit;

sins against light and knowledge,

against conscience and the restraints of thy Spirit,

against the law of eternal love.

Pardon all my sins, known and unknown,

felt and unfelt,

confessed and not confessed,

remembered or forgotten.

Good Lord, hear; and hearing, forgive.

- The Valley of Vision:

Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Certainly there is such a thing as morbid introspection that leads to spiritual depression.  It's been rightly said that for every look you take at yourself; take ten looks at Christ.  Nevertheless, the more we understand the quantity and magnitude of our sins and failures, the more we truly appreciate, value and prize the free and full forgiveness that God provides in and through His Son Jesus Christ.

God help us to grow in our awareness of sin, that we might excel in our praise of His grace. 

Some Guy on a Bus

Every Tuesday morning I meet with a fellow elder named Tony for prayer, Scripture memorization, mutual encouragement and accountability.  This morning he shared that he had family visiting with him - his sister, her husband, and their three children.  I asked if they know the Lord.  They do and are active members in their local church.

This led to a brief conversation about the family as a whole.  My elder friend is one of eight siblings, six of whom have definitely come to know Christ.  Their mother also knows the Lord, and their dad on his deathbed received Christ as Savior.  It all started when one of the siblings - Tony's brother Brendan - got saved.  Brendan was then used of the Lord to win his family to Christ.  

Brendan, who also is an active member in our church, got saved years ago after being witnessed to by his landlord.  How did Brendan get connected with this landlord?  This landlord has a brother that Brendan knew while working in Australia.  This landlord's brother was not a believer and mocked his brother's faith in Jesus Christ.  Yet it was through this connection that Brendan ended up getting saved.

How did this landlord - who was/is a very earnest witness for Christ - get saved?  Years earlier, while he was in Florida, some guy on a bus shared the gospel with him.

Do you see the chain reaction?  Some guy on a bus shared the gospel with another man.  This man in turn shared the gospel with Brendan and countless others.  Brendan shared the gospel with his siblings, who in turn were used to win their parents and spouses to the Lord.  Now all these parents are raising up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord - and of course witnessing to their friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.

I wonder if that guy on the bus had any idea that sharing the gospel with one fellow passenger would create such a chain of events?

I wonder what opportunities God is giving me to begin or continue a similar chain of events.

I wonder how more zealously I would evangelize others if I could look into the future and see all the fruit that comes from faithfully fulfilling one God-given opportunity.

I wonder what opportunity God will bring across my path today, and if I will act on it.

I wonder. . . .

Two American Icons - Dead

I remember standing in the lunch line at Parkside Elementary School and hearing one of my classmates exclaim to another, "Farrah Fawcett is such a babe!"  That was the first time I had heard her name.  Given that eight-year-olds are such experts on who and who isn't a "babe", I was anxious to see a picture of what this woman with the cool name looked like.

I didn't have to wait long.  Charlie's Angels became one of the most popular shows on television, and posters of Farrah started popping up all over the place.  (As a kid, I always thought Jaclyn Smith was prettier.  And come to think of it, I did end up marrying a brunette.)  Farrah truly had become the "American Beauty."

Just about the time the Farrah Fawcett craze began to wane, Michael Jackson's popularity began to rise.  Of course the Jackson Five had been a sensation years earlier, but by the early 80's Michael had begun to make a name for himself.  Eventually Jackson became known as the "king of pop."  Jackson's 1982 Thriller is the world's best-selling record of all-time (PR Newswire, 1/16/09).  That dude could dance like nobody else I've ever seen.

Despite the fame, success and popularity that Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson enjoyed, both of these former American icons are now dead.  Gone.  History.  Farrah died of cancer, and Michael was overtaken by an alleged heart attack.  News of their deaths - and their lives - will consume the media's attention (and hence ours) for another day or so, and then these two sensations will become (literally) "yesterday's news."

It's a sad and sobering reminder not only of the brevity of life but also the futility of life apart from Jesus Christ.  It is not my intent to stand as judge over either Mr. Jackson or Miss Fawcett, but to my knowledge neither professed faith in Christ nor lived in a manner consistent with true Christian conversion.  Despite whatever fame they enjoyed, Farrah learned that beauty doesn't last forever, and Michael discovered that we all grow old and can't stay children forever.

Now other stars are on the rise, and they too face the same sobering realities.  One such star, Shia LeBeouf (lead actor in such movies as Disturbia and Transformers) was arrested on a DUI last year and admitted to being an alcoholic.  LeBeouf acknowledged that "he is indeed battling a few demons, adding that all actors are."

They're all in pain.  It's a profession of bottom-feeders and heartbroken people....  Most actors on most days don't think they're worthy....  I have no idea where this insecurity comes from, but it's a God-sized hole.  If I knew it, I'd fill it and I'd be on my way.

(Fox News, 6/10/09)

That "God-sized hole" to which Shia referred can only be filled with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Indeed, as John Piper put it, God is the Gospel.  Saint Augustine's prayer is as relevant now as it was in the fourth century when he prayed, "God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you" (Confessions, Book One). 

We who are considered the "nothings" of this world have everything this world needs - and it's all found in Jesus Christ, "who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord'" (1 Cor. 1:30-31).

Yesterday's deaths are a fitting reinforcement of the lesson we learned during Bible study the night before:

Do not let your heart envy sinners,

But always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

- Proverbs 23:17 -

Removing Linoleum

Last evening I began removing linoleum from our downstairs bathroom floor.  As I undertook this arduous task, I couldn't help but notice some important spiritual parallels between removing linoleum and getting rid of sin:

1. Some sins, like our linoleum, have been in place for years. Though it is really ugly, after awhile you don't notice it.
2. Once sin becomes affixed to us, it becomes difficult (though not impossible) to remove.
3. To really be effective in removing sin, you have to have the proper tools (e.g. the Word of God, prayer, Christian accountability and fellowship, etc.).
4. Progress may be slow at times, but it is visible.  Seeing what's been successfully removed so far keeps one motivated to keep removing more.
5. The downside of seeing progress is that, if we're not careful, we can have a "that's good enough" mentality and stop short of removing all that really ought to be removed.
6. Having one or two people come alongside to help is a real encouragement and catalyst for further progress.
7. The job is rarely, if ever, done in a day.  Thus it requires not only diligence but also endurance.
8. Sometimes the areas which look the ugliest and where the most work is needed are the ones less visible to others.
9. It's not enough to remove the old stuff; you have to replace it with the new if it is going to be really beautiful and useful.
10. The process of "removing" and "replacing" becomes much easier when you've been coached and encouraged by someone more experienced that you.

I'm sure that more parallels could be drawn if more time were spent in reflection on these matters.  Come to think of it, I'll probably have more time tonight.  If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom!

My Daughter Megan

This weekend is a special one for our family as we are celebrating not only Father's Day but also the high school graduation of our oldest child and only daughter, Megan Elisabeth.  As I reflect on these last 18 years that we have had with Megan, several thoughts come to mind:

• I'm glad that God was pleased to give us a girl and that she is our oldest child.  In many ways Megan has been like a "second mother" to our boys.  She is a great sister.
• I love her hair, how it's red (she got that from my grand-mothers) and naturally curly.
• Megan has never broken our hearts through disobedience or rebellion.  Rather, she has been a very compliant child with a tender heart and generous spirit.
• My wife is the best cook I know, but Megan is a close second.  Ruthie has trained her well!  If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, Megan will be married in no time!
• When Megan and I butt heads, nine times out of ten it's because we're so much alike.
• Megan has a great sense of humor.  Nobody I know can get Ruthie laughing like she can.
• I appreciate the way Megan was a witness for her Lord during her last couple of years at Weymouth High School.  She has used special projects and presentations as opportunities to share the Gospel and a Christian worldview with her teachers and peers.  This past year she even led an after-school Bible study.  This took a lot of perseverance and spiritual courage.
• Megan has some great artistic ability.  Some of her drawings have really amazed me.
• Friends can be a great asset or liability, depending on their character and influence.  Megan has chosen wisely in this area.
• I appreciate the way Megan understands and copes with my temperament and at times my preoccupation with certain things.  She knows me and knows how to relate to me.  This has not always been easy, and I'm grateful for her patience, forbearance, and sensitivity.
• Whereas many teens don't give younger kids the time of day (or might even pick on them), Megan has befriended many of her juniors and been a positive influence on them.
• I'm glad that Megan is going to a Bible college this fall - one that has a family atmosphere and is committed to a Christian worldview.  I am really excited for her and believe this will be a positive and rewarding experience.
• I won't like having one less chair at the dinner table.
• I will like having back the use of my car.
• Megan means "great."  Her middle name, Elisabeth, means "consecrated to God."  By His grace, we have a daughter who has lived up to her name.  I pray she always will.

Certainly more could be said, but some things are meant to stay locked up in the heart of a dad.  I suppose I've shared these thoughts publicly because I haven't shared them enough with Megan privately, and because I want her and everyone else who reads this to know how honored and blessed I am to be her dad.

I love you, Megan.

Why Isn't Everyone Here?

A couple of weeks ago on Wednesday evenings I began a Bible study series on Proverbs.  Our introductory sessions went well, characterized by a lot of interest and interaction.  After the second lesson, one of our church members came up to me - rather earnestly - expressing his strong desire to see the whole church benefit from this book study. He said he would promote it from any platform he could.  So I offered him a posting here at our TruthWalk blog.  Here's what he had to say:

As most of you already know, Pastor Matt has embarked on a teaching series on each Wednesday evening titled PRIZING PROVERBS. If you hadn’t known that, then please pass the Word around (pun intended)!

The first two weeks have been an introduction, formulated with the use of a "Proverb" acrostic:  

P – Purpose of the book: How to live wisely

R – Rules for interpretation to keep in mind

O – Origin of the book (author, date, recipients, etc.)

V – Various topics in Proverbs (e.g. the Lord, the family, the fool, diligence & laziness, friendship, finances, life & death

E – Explanation & Examples of Parallelism: Synonymous, antithetical, emblematic and synthetic parallelism; i.e. those that say the same thing, those that are opposite, those that are symbols and some that continue the thought or complete a statement

R – Relating Wisdom to Christ, namely the wisdom of man vs. the wisdom of God

B – Beginning of wisdom, namely, the fear of the Lord.  

As you can see, this was an exhaustive introduction and a marvelous overview/explanation of what we could expect to learn. As I looked around the sanctuary (our meeting place), I said to myself, "Where is everybody?”

This teaching series has been and will be vital to our daily walk, especially since it exalts Christ, imparts His wisdom and will instruct us about virtually everything. Also, it will clear up misconceptions, misunderstandings and/or misinterpretations. Let me cite an example:

Proverbs 22:6 - “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Jay E. Adams in Competent to Counsel writes, 

This has been taken by some interpreters to mean that if parents train children properly in youth they will not depart from that training when they grow older. However, this is probably not what the verse means. Literally, the passage reads, ‘train a child after the manner of his way,’ that is, after the standard or manner in which he wants to be trained. The verse stands not as a promise but as a warning to parents that if they allow a child to train himself after his own wishes (permissively) they should not expect him to want to change these patterns when he matures. Children are born sinners and when allowed to follow their own wishes will naturally develop sinful habit responses. The basic thought is that such habit patterns become deep-seated when they have been ingrained in the child from the earliest days. The corollary to this passage is found in Proverbs 19:18 where the writer exhorts the reader, ‘ Discipline your son while there is hope; do not set your heart on his destruction.’ 

Wow, this is great stuff!

This is the kind of teaching and preaching that we receive each and every week at FBC Weymouth. We’re given the opportunity to ask questions, dialogue about life issues and get remedy, most importantly, Godly advice, counsel, instruction and help. Oh, how we need all of this.

So, why isn’t everyone here?

I believe that we need to make this a weekly priority for ourselves and family and friends and even those people we know who are not believers in Christ. Each week, we’ll “Get Wisdom”, and as we do, we are led by The Holy Spirit in our life’s decisions for us and for our relationships. At the same time, non- believers will be drawn to “Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:24b-25.

Joe Capozzi 6/16/2009  

A Halo of Hope

The following post was written by my friend, Paul Tessari, who serves as Associate Pastor here at First Baptist Church in Weymouth, Massachusetts.

In the New Testament, James writes, 

Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’  Yet you do no know what your life will be like tomorrow.  You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

This truth was brought home to me at the death of my friend Greg Hudson this last week.  The bible often speaks of our life in these terms.  At every point it conveys the brevity of life and the importance of living it in light of this fact.  The reality is, at some point, we all go on to meet our creator.  Yet, though we do not admit it, we suppress this hard truth when it comes to our own life.  There is something within us that refuses to believe it and so, for the most part, we live our lives thinking we will live forever.  “Such things cannot happen to me,” we think.  It is only when a tragedy such as Greg’s occurs that we are forced to deal with our own mortality and that the veil of self denial is removed and we see ourselves in the same light as Scripture—a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 

It is at this very moment that we should ask ourselves, Where will I spend eternity?  What hope is there in death for me?  We must ask them before the shadow of self denial once again descends upon our eyes.  They are tough questions to ask, but questions we need to ask—and answer—before that fateful day happens.  Hebrews, 9:27 tells us, “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes the judgment.”  There are no second chances, no “do over’s.”  Today is the day of salvation and now is the acceptable time (2 Cor. 6:2).  Scripture tells us that our only hope of eternal life with the Lord is through His Son Jesus Christ.  The apostle Peter said this in Acts 4:10: 

He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.  And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which you must be saved.

Jesus Himself stated: 

I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The death of Greg Hudson, while tragic, has a halo of hope—he knew Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior.  And while we grieve here on earth for the loss of our friend, we rejoice that he is at home with the Father basking in His glow.  Scripture speaks of the hope that is found in those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ, 

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

- 1 Thess. 4:13-18

 Paul speaks further of the death of the saints in 2 Cor. 5:6-9,

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight—we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

This is our beloved brother Greg, who is now—at this very moment—rejoicing with the Lord in Heaven. 

Do you have this hope?  Do you have this assurance?  You can.  Take this time now, while your heart is still tender to the sadness of the hour and come to Jesus Christ.  Greg did, and I know that he would want you to as well. 

What Time You Got?

The answer to that question is:  the same as everybody else.  Each person, for the duration of his life, has sixty seconds each minute, sixty minutes each hour, twenty-four hours each day, and 365 days each year to do what he/she is going to do.  That's what time you got!  Me too.

Next question:  How are you utilizing your time?  Are you making the most of it?  Are you managing it well, or squandering it?  Ben Franklin said, "If you love life, don't waste time, for that is what life is made of."  If Ben Franklin, being an unbeliever, could understand the value of time, how much more so should we who know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior?  "For to me to live is Christ..." (Phil. 1:21).

A contemporary of Ben Franklin's understood the importance of time even more than he did and consequently accomplished more than Franklin did - at least in light of eternity.  This man's name was Jonathan Edwards, arguably the greatest theologian in the history of America.  He also preached what is probably America's most famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."  Jonathan Edwards pastored right here in Massachusetts and was greatly used by God in the revivals that swept across New England in the 1730s and 1740s.  

Edwards was born in 1703, and seventeen years later he was born again while contemplating 1 Timothy 1:17, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.  Amen."  While meditating on the marvel of God's Person and the glory due His name that Edwards "began to have a new kind of apprehension and ideas of Christ, and the work of redemption, and the glorious ways of salvation by Him."  This is what Edwards wrote in his journal, having had the Gospel written on his heart.

Having been miraculously converted, Jonathan Edwards was now committed to glorify and honor God with every fiber of his being.  To help himself do this, he crafted over the course of the following year dozens of "Resolutions" which were designed to help him achieve his life's ambition:  to glorify God.  It's amazing to think that Edwards began writing his famous Resolutions at age 18 - less than a year following his conversion - and completed them before he turned 20.

These Resolutions can be grouped in various categories, which Dr. Steven Lawson has capably outlined in his outstanding book, The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards.  One such category was that of Time.  In Resolution #7, Edwards vowed,

Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

Realizing that his death may be preceded by the coming of Christ, Edwards later wrote for Resolution #19,

Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

Clearly, these particular Resolutions were designed to help Edwards steer clear of temptation.  As noted by Lawson, "If he [Edwards] cold say that he ought to avoid any activity in his final hour, he would know that he ought to avoid it at any point in his Christian walk....  Living as if he was in his last hour helped him keep sinful things at a distance."

About a year after finishing his Resolutions, Edwards wrote in his journal,

I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.  July 8, 1723.

Edwards earnestly wanted to live a life in such a way that he would never lie on his death-bed wishing that he could relive it, knowing that he had wasted it.  If we are to live contented lives, we must make the same commitment, resolving to take significant steps now.  Like Edwards, we must make the glory of God our number-one pursuit and passion.

What in your life needs to go?  What needs to be added?  In what ways can you better maximize your time, making the most of every minute, to count for eternity?  

May each of us like Moses pray, "Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).

Love Them While You Can

Nine years ago today, my mom went to heaven.  With her husband and five children surrounding her and singing her favorite hymns, Mom "breathed her last."  It was on a Thursday, at 5:24 p.m.  (More than once in the days and weeks that followed, I had to excuse myself from the dinner table, so conscious was I of when the clock turned 5:24 and reliving that moment in my mind.)

I'll always be thankful to the Lord for those nine precious days I had with Mom prior to her homegoing, especially sitting at her bedside and holding her hand all through that final night.  God gave me those hours to reiterate to Mom how much I loved her and to thank her for being such a faithful and loving mother to me.

Mom's last audible words were: "I have so many good memories ... good memories.  I love you."  (For my birthday that year, Ruthie gave me a beautiful, marble-based picture holder with those words engraved on it, with pictures of Mom and me, along with the rest of the family.)

It's been nine years since I've been able to look Mom in the eye, hear her voice, squeeze her hand, spend precious moments with her.  God graciously granted me 31 years to enjoy Mom. Whatever opportunities I had to cultivate our earthly relationship are now gone.  All I have now are the memories and the anticipation of heaven.

Years ago, while I was in college, I heard a song at church one Sunday morning that made quite an impression on me and has stuck with me ever since.  So many songs are written about how precious children are, but this song is about how precious parents are, and how we must "love them while we can."  You can listen to it by clicking here and then clicking on the orange demo line you see in the link.  Here are the lyrics:

They tied our shoes, took us to school, patched our worn-out jeans

They soothed our tears and calmed our fears, and listened to our dreams

Somewhere along their golden years, their hair has lost its sheen

The notes to hymn one hundred ten crackle when they sing

And now they are alone, no children's voices fill their empty homes

 

Chorus

We must love them while we can, we must love them while we can

For time just seems to hurry by, and the days slip into years

And the moments that we have will disappear

So love them while we can

 

Verse 2

The folks that taught us our first words, still have much to say

The silver secrets of the world, lie beneath those crowns of gray

As they approach the end, we change our role from children to best friend

Bridge

We always thought they'd be around

Until the end of time

Until day we wake and find ...

Chorus

We must love them while we can, we must love them while we can

For time just seems to hurry by, and the days slip into years

And the moments that we have will disappear

So love them while we can

I realize that not everyone has been blessed with Christian parents like mine.  Nevertheless, God's Word instructs us as children to honor our parents ... to love our neighbors as ourselves ... and even to love our enemies.  You'll never regret showing the love of Christ to  your mom and dad.  If your parents are still living, don't wait till Mother's Day or Father's Day to express your gratitude or to demonstrate your love for them.  Make the most of today.  Love them while you can.

Twenty Questions

Earlier this year around Valentine's Day, we hosted a "date night" at our church and showed the film Fireproof, starring Kirk Cameron.  It as really well done and showed how the only way that marriage can be as it was meant to be is through the love of Jesus Christ.  The gospel is the fountain of a truly Christian marriage.

One resource that became available as a result of this movie is the book The Love Dare which is designed to fan the flame of your marriage.  At the back of the book, authors Steven and Alex Kendrick provide the following "Twenty Questions" to help you get familiar with your spouse all over again.  Keep in mind that these questions are no substitute for Scripture; they are merely a helpful means for applying Scripture on a very practical level.  Here are the questions:

Personal Questions

1. What is your greatest hope or dream?
2. What do you enjoy the most about your life right now?
3. What do you enjoy the least about your life right now?
4. What would your dream job be if you could do anything and get paid for it?
5. What are some things you've always wanted to do but haven't had the opportunity yet?
6. What three things would you like to do before the next year passes?
7. Who do you feel the most "safe" being with?  Why?
8. If you could have lunch with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
9. When was the last time you felt filled with joy?
10. If you had to give away a million dollars, who would you give it to?

Marital Questions

1. What are three things that I do that you really like?
2. What are three things that I do that drive you crazy?
3. What have I done in the past that made you feel loved?
4. What have I done that made you feel unappreciated?
5. What are three things that I can work on?
6. Of the following things, what would make you feel the most loved? - Having your body massaged and caressed for an hour ... Sitting and talking for an hour about your favorite subject ... Having help around the house for an afternoon ... Receiving a very nice gift.
7. What things in the past do you wish could be erased from ever happening?
8. What is the next major decision that you think God would want us to make as a couple?
9. What would you like your life to look like five years from now?
10. What words would you like to hear from me more often?

My wife and I are headed off to Martha's Vineyard for a two-day getaway (compliments of our church family in honor of my tenth anniversary as pastor - thank you, dear flock!).  This would be a great time for us to ponder and answer these questions.  We challenge you and your spouse to do it as well.  In fact, we dare you!

Common Threads in the Facebook Fabric

Facebook has become a real sensation.  My experience has been a very positive one over all.  Early on, I was forced to limit my time on facebook, as it could easily consume my time if I let it.  For the most part I now "check in" two or three times a day, giving a quick read of status updates, recent photos and such.  It's a great way to stay somewhat personally in touch with so many folks at all varying levels of relationship with me, from casual acquaintances to good friends, to dearly loved family members and church members.

Before heading home for lunch, I logged on to facebook to "catch the latest," and something hit me that I hadn't really thought of before, that being the points of common interest.  For instance, moms with young kids tend to post status updates, pictures, and comments that revolve almost entirely around their children.  Adults in general tend to talk about their favorite TV shows and hobbies.  Guys (who do not frequent facebook as much as girls) usually talk about sports - whether it's one they're actually playing or watching on television.

But what I really noticed today was how one or two political topics have a way of drawing attention.  With all the national and global news that inundate us each and every day, I'm amazed at how just one or two items in particular become the subject of conversation.  Today, the two "hot topics" - at least in my facebook sphere - President Obama's speech at Notre Dame, and Miss California's statements regarding gay marriage.  (The discussion on the second issue isn't so much about her original comments that were said some time ago, but the discussion that has ensued since then.)

One former church member who moved out west wrote for his status update:  

"So let me get this straight, Obama wants a change in tone over the abortion debate. Basically what he is saying is, there will be no problems if you just agree with him. So everyone, let's just believe everything he believes and then there will be no more problems! Obama is nuts!"

Another facebook friend, a prestigious Presbyterian pastor down south, posted the following quote by radio Bible teacher Nancy Leigh DeMoss concerning Carrie Prejean:  

"... while I applaud her courage, I also believe some of her choices and public actions, past and present, are representative of many women who consider themselves Christians, but who lack clear biblical thinking and conviction on such matters as virtue, womanhood, beauty, modesty, and discretion."  

In response to that quotation, one of the pastor's friends noted, 

"On Hannity recently, Mrs. California said that 'in California, a bathing suit is no big deal.'  In other words, 'we are accustomed to revealing bathing suits, appropriate or not.'  I really hate that this young lady has gotten nailed for her comments on gay marriage but, she needs to mature some.'"

Facebook is a marvelous tool, so long as it is used properly in terms of time, manner of communication, and other considerations.  Other Christian bloggers have offered some good practical counsel on this issue (such as Dr. Albert Mohler); my point isn't to do that here.  I simply noticed that facebook gives us a personal glimpse into the thoughts, daily activities, and interests of others.  But that also means that it gives others a glimpse into our own thoughts, opinions, daily activities and such.  To me, this is a positive occurrence overall.  It's simply a reality we need to be aware of, and to be careful and conscientious in using facebook to reflect our authentically Christian views and lifestyles.

Atonement Appendix

If someone were to ask me how my vision is, I'd say it's 20/20 - especially in hindsight.  After posting my last article on the atonement, I didn't feel good about it.  Truth is, a topic such as that in a forum such as this tends to generate more heat than light.  This has nothing to do with the comment that was submitted and my response to it, for that was a gracious exchange.  The issue centers on my consideration of the TruthWalk readership and what would most benefit them, to God's glory.  

The atonement debate has been going on for centuries.  We're certainly not going to solve it here.  The reason Bible-believing Christians find it to be such a hot topic of debate in the first place is because there are so many verses that would seem to support both sides of the debate.  This does not mean there is any discrepancy in God's Word - only to our finite understanding.  (The apostle Peter acknowledges near the end of his second letter that some of Paul's writings are "hard to understand."  He doesn't say they are impossible to understand but that they are difficult, nonetheless.)

This evening I read some very wise counsel from theologian Wayne Grudem, whom I highly respect.  (His book, Systematic Theology, is the best of its kind I've come across.  I cannot recommend it highly enough, in light of its theological depth and breadth, its practical wisdom, and pastoral tone.)  Grudem devotes a full chapter to "The Atonement," wherein he explores the various Scriptures and lines of thinking that come into play.  But as he wraps up the chapter, he does something very wise.  He shows how those who hold to particular redemption ("limited atonement") and those who hold to general redemption ("unlimited atonement") agree at several key points.  They include:

1. Both sincerely want to avoid implying that people will be saved whether they believe in Christ or not.
2. Bot sides want to avoid implying that there might be some people who come to Christ for salvation but are turned away because Christ did not die for them....  Both sides want to affirm that all who come to Christ for salvation will in fact be saved.
3. Both sides want to avoid implying that God is hypocritical or insincere when he makes the free offer of the gospel.  It is a genuine offer, and it is always true that all who wish to come to Christ for salvation and who do actually come to him will be saved.
4. Finally, we may ask why this is so important at all.  [Note:  This to me was a critical point in reference to my last blog posting.]  Although Reformed people have sometimes made belief in particular redemption a test of doctrinal orthodoxy, it would be healthy to realize that Scripture itself never singles this out as a doctrine of major importance, nor does it make it the subject of any explicit theological discussion.  Our knowledge of the issue comes only from incidental references to it in passages whose concern is with other doctrinal or practical matters.  In fact, this is really a question that probes into the inner counsels of the Trinity and does in an area in which there is very little direct scriptural testimony - a fact that should cause us to be cautious.  A balanced pastoral perspective would seem to be to say that this teaching of particular redemption seems to us to be true, that it gives logical consistency to our theological system, and that it can be helpful in assuring people of Christ's love for them individually and of the completeness of his redemptive work for them; but that it also is a subject that almost inevitably leads to some confusion, some misunderstanding, and often some wrongful argumentativeness and divisiveness among God's people - all of which are negative pastoral considerations.  Perhaps that is why the apostles such as John and Peter and Paul, in their wisdom, placed almost no emphasis on this question at all.  And perhaps we would do well to ponder their example.

Having read that, I think I'll go pray, asking God for a good dose of that apostolic wisdom!

In the same vein, I would encourage the TruthWalk readership to dig deeply into God's Word.  That was my motive behind raising a controversial topic in the first place.  The fact is, too many Christians have "milk" appetites instead of "meat" appetites when feeding on the Word of God.  They skim the surface of Scripture instead of going down deep.  Incidentally, as I was finishing this, brother Don (the gentleman who commented on my last posting) responded to a personal e-mail I had sent him earlier.  By God's grace, we enjoyed a wonderful dialogue via e-mail that was spawned by the initial posting and ensuing comments.  Lots of Scripture shared in a respectful and gracious manner.  That's how it ought to be, with a desire to help one another grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).  

I'd like to summarize our discussion of the Atonement with the following words by Philip P. Bliss:

"Man of Sorrows," what a name

For the Son of God who came

Ruined sinners to reclaim!

Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, 

In my place condemned he stood;

Sealed my pardon with His blood;

Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless, we;

Spotless Lamb of God was He;

"Full atonement!" can it be?

Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die,

"It is finished," was His cry;

Now in heav'n exalted high;

Hallelujah! what a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,

All His ransomed home to bring,

Then anew this song we'll sing:

Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Here endeth the lesson.

Who's Limiting the Atonement?

One of the most controversial questions concerning the doctrine of the atonement is:  For whom did Christ die?  Did Jesus die as the Substitute for every individual sinner in the world, or did He die for the elect alone (i.e. those of every tribe, language, people and nation, whom God chose for salvation before the foundation of the world)?

Typically, Calvinists are said to be the ones who limit the atonement.  But, when you really stop to think about it, every biblical Christian believes in some form of limited atonement.  Otherwise, such a person would be a universalist (one who believes that the whole human race will be saved).  

So, who limits the atonement - the sinner or God?  This really is the crux of the controversy.  And on this point the great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon set forth a cogent case for the "Calvinist" view:

We are often told that we limit the atonement of Christ, because we say that Christ has not made a satisfaction for all men, or all men would be saved.  Now, our reply to this is, that, on the other hand, our opponents limit it; we do not.  The Arminians say, Christ died for all men.  Ask them what they mean by it.  Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of all men?  They say, "No, certainly not."  We ask them the next question - Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of any man in particular?  They answer, "No."  They are obliged to admit this, if they are consistent.  They say, "No, Christ has died that any man may be saved if" - and then follow certain conditions of salvation.  Now, who is it that limits the death of Christ?  Why, you.  You say that Christ did not die so as infallibly to secure the salvation of anybody.  We beg your pardon, when you say we limit Christ's death; we say, "No, my dear sir, it is you that do it."  We say that Christ so died that he infallibly secured the salvation of a multitude that no man can number, who through Christ's death not only may be saved, but are saved and cannot by any possibility run the hazard of being anything but saved.  You are welcome to your atonement; you may keep it.  We will never renounce ours for the sake of it.

- Cited by J. I. Packer, "Introductory Essay," in John Owen, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ (n.p., n.d.; reprint, London: Banner of Truth, 1959), 14.

Years ago while attending a small Bible Conference at which James Montgomery Boice was the keynote speaker, I asked him about his views regarding the doctrine of limited atonement.  I'll never forget his answer:  "I believe that when Jesus said, 'It is finished,' He made salvation complete, not just possible."

That's food for thought.

Holding My Hand

The other day during my morning devotions I came across two passages of Scripture that complemented one another in a very meaningful way.  The first passage was Psalm 37:23-24:

The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD,

He delights in every detail of their lives.

Though they stumble, they will not fall,

for the LORD holds them by the hand.

The next passage was Psalm 55:22:

Give your burdens to the LORD,

and He will take care of you.

He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

(Both passages above are taken from the New Living Translation.)

In reading the first text, I couldn't help but think of a little child just learning to walk.  If you are a parent, you can relate to the joy of seeing a baby take his or her first steps.  Each one was considered a major accomplishment and was met with applause.  The notion that God takes a sovereign, joy-filled interest in each step we take through life astounds me.  Not only that, but He is holding our hand all the way, so that even when we stumble, we are sure not to fall utterly.

For some reason, the second passage caused me to think of older people, even though it still carries the same essential concept of God holding on to us and not allowing us to fall.  I think the reason I thought of older people is that babies don't have the "burdens" that grown-ups do.  I've noticed that the older we get, the more we can be prone to worry.  Maybe this is due to our self-awareness that as we age, our bodies and minds grow more frail and feeble.  The elderly, like little children, often require assistance as they walk.  Yet sometimes they refuse it, convinced that they can do just fine themselves.  It's sad to see them fall and hurt themselves.

The thought that dawned upon me is that as we go through life, God is there to hold our hand.  But for us to hold His hand, we must release the burdens we're clutching.  We must humble ourselves and confess that we can't walk one step without our Lord's help.  We must become like little children, trusting our Father to hold us and help us, to guide us and steady us every step of our lives, until we reach our eternal home.

The following song doesn't have a lot of weighty theological substance, but the strain of truth that runs throughout it is sufficient to comfort any believer of any age:

Precious Lord, take my hand

Lead me on, let me stand

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.

Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light,

Take my hand, precious Lord,

Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,

Precious Lord, linger near

When my life is almost gone

Hear my cry, hear my call,

Hold my hand lest I fall,

Take my hand, precious Lord,

Lead me home.

When the darkness appears

And the night draws near

And the day is past and gone -

At the river I stand;

Guide my feet, hold my hand,

Take my hand, precious Lord,

Lead me home.

The Blessing of Firm Beliefs

In last Sunday's sermon, I quoted Dr. Albert Mohler (President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) in his description of this postmodern era as "the age of no truth."  While that certainly sums up the spirit of relativism that pervades our culture, it is refreshing to see some exceptions.  I came across a couple of them recently.  

One has to do with Miss California, Carrie Prejean.  When asked during the Miss USA pageant about her stance on same-sex marriage, Miss Prejean responded, "... I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman."  Many believe that this answer cost Prejean the pageant.  Still, Miss California stood by her answer, saying, "It's not about being politically correct.  For me it was being biblically correct."

The second instance has to do with former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who currently has his own Fox News television show.  In one segment of his recent interview with World magazine, Huckabee was asked various questions regarding the political tactics of Christian conservatives.  (Huckabee himself is an ordained Southern Baptist preacher who pastored for 12 years before beginning his political career.)  When asked, "How do you break out of the Christian 'box'?", Huckabee responded, 

I don't want to break out of the box if that means people think I'm somehow abandoning my faith.  If my faith is the reason people say, "I'm not going to vote for him," then good, don't vote for me, because I'm not going to abandon who I am to get your vote. . . .  When I was governor people asked me, "Is it hard being a Christian?" and I said, "No, it's actually easier.  I don't have to wake up every day and decide what I'm going to believe today."  If I get defeated, I get defeated.  that's part of the deal.  I'd rather be defeated and go to my grave with some sense of consistency of conviction than that I had to win every last office in America including the presidency but had to sell my soul to do it.

Now I don't know Mike Huckabee or Carrie Prejean well enough (personally or otherwise) to affirm the validity of their faith or the consistency of their Christian walk.  But at least in terms of their words, they are spot-on.  Believers in Jesus Christ and biblical inerrancy, whose convictions arise from Scripture's teaching, don't have to play the guessing game when it comes to their stance on moral issues.  "What saith the Scripture?" serves as our credo.  The Lord Himself becomes our confidence and keeps our foot from getting caught (Prov. 3:26).

In an age of no truth, it's refreshing to see those who still stand up and affirm the Truth.  I pray that I will be one of them till the day I die.  I want to hear my Savior say, "Well done, good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.  Enter into the joy of your Master!"