God Moves in a Mysterious Way

Crises can be very rude.  They rarely tell you in advance when they're going to pay you a visit.  They just show up, and usually at the most inopportune times.

That's how it happened this past weekend when a dear friend and colleague in ministry was candidating for an Associate Pastor position at my church.  This is a weekend that I, along with the rest of the church, had been anticipating for some time.  It was a big stepping stone in terms of our long-term vision.

Yet it was at the outset of this monumental weekend, indeed, on the very day it began, that a close family member had (and continues to be) steeped in an immoral lifestyle.  Worse than that, he has all but turned his back on God, now doubting the existence of God, the reality of the Gospel, the veracity of Scripture.  This is a man who, for the most part, had the same advantages of a godly upbringing that I did.

How could such a thing happen?

Before you answer, let me say that my question is more emotional than it is mental.  I know theologically how such a thing can happen, based on what Scripture says about the depravity of man, the deceitfulness of sin, etc.  It's just that sometimes we are stupefied over the sudden change of course that life can take.

It was right around this time (I think it was the same day, in fact), that I discovered that the family business might go belly-up due to the economic (and more specifically, the mortgage) crisis.  Imminent bankruptcy looms before my loved ones.

Years ago, I read an article wherein a pastor wrote, "Our tendency in the midst of a crisis is to ask, 'God, what is the meaning of this?', when the question we ought to be asking is, "God, what is the meaning in this?" - A subtle change in words represents a big difference in the dynamic of the question.  Right now, I'm looking to learn whatever lessons God has for us in these crises, and encouraging my family members to do the same.

On the back of the sermon hand-out last Sunday was the following poem by William Cowper.  As always, God's timing is impeccable.  I have been drinking in the theological richness of this rhyme since the moment these crises hit.  May it fortify your faith in the midst of whatever trial you might be enduring this hour:

GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY

By William Cowper

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never-failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs

And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust Him for His grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

A Walk in the Park

Yes, and a long walk it was!  The park referenced in the title was none other than Busch Gardens, the well-known theme park in Williamsburg, Virginia.  While on vacation last week, our family spent a day getting "Busched."

It was great!  Despite the hot weather (the temps soared into the upper nineties), we were able to take in a lot of rides and other attractions.  One of my sons said this was best theme park he had ever been to.  If you were to ask my kids what they found so impressive, they would tell you the roller coasters (especially the Griffon and Apollo's Chariot) as well as the 4-D attraction at Corkscrew Hill.

But if you were to ask us as parents what impressed us most about the park, we would say it was the creativity of the park's layout (it's divided into the different countries of Europe, with each section having the flavor of that particular culture) and especially the service of the staff.  Regarding the latter, we were amazed at how consistently friendly the staff, especially in light of the fact that they go through the same routines with thousands of people day after day after day.  When they thanked us for visiting Busch Gardens and wished us a pleasant and fun experience, it sounded like they really meant it!  On one occasion, our family was one of the very few in line to get on a train, and the worker at that station offered to refill our water bottles from the staff's private water cooler.  (I think he pitied our family of seven, knowing the park charged nearly $4 for one bottle of water!)

The workers were not only courteous, they were also conscientious.  Not once did I see any of the staff horsing around while tending to their duties.  Oh, they were good-natured and all, but at the same time they took their jobs very seriously.  They checked and often re-checked every seat on ever ride to make sure every passenger was secure.  The operator would wait for the "thumbs up" safety signal from every worker before "throwing the switch" to start the ride.  There was no goofing around when it came to their jobs, and we appreciated that.

The icing on the cake was the cleanliness of the facilities.  Thousands upon thousands of people made their way through the park that hot summer day, and you know that many are not careful to throw their litter where it belongs!  Yet we were hard-pressed to find any trash on the grounds.  The staff was composed of a "leadership team" who were very conscientious about keeping their facilities clean for their customers' enjoyment.  This was quite apparent to us, and we were pleased with their standard of excellence.

As I thought about all these impressive qualities, I began wondering how the Busch Gardens management train their staff.  Do they convey to them the importance of people's safety, that lives are literally on the line every time a machine is in operation, that their type of work allows no room for careless mishaps?  Is there some kind of incentive program like "Employee of the Month" for whoever shows the most diligence in their duties or courtesy to customers? Whatever they do, it is effective ... and makes quite the impression.

Finally my thoughts shifted to our service as a church.  As the Lord brings folks across our path, how courteous are we?  How conscientious are we in serving them?  How much diligence is given by each member to keep our facilities looking clean, efficient, pleasant and inviting?  After all, "they do it to obtain an imperishable wreath, but we an imperishable" (1 Cor. 9:25).  That is to say, we as ambassadors for Christ have far more incentive to serve with excellence than unregenerate staff members at a theme park!  No wonder Scripture says, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve" (Col. 3:23-24).

We went to Busch Gardens for entertaintment.  But we also got an education.  Considering that the tuition was worked into the cost of the ticket, I guess it wasn't so expensive after all.

The Conversion and Calling of a Pastor

Last Monday evening, the Board of Elders at First Baptist hosted an Ordination Council for Nick Jones, our Assistant Pastor of Student Ministries.  This is more or less our "endorsement" of Pastor Nick for ministry abroad, not just here under the auspices of First Baptist Church in Weymouth.

The council proceedings included hearing Pastor Nick's testimony regarding his salvation and sense of God's call to the gospel ministry.  I found this to be so well-written and down-to-earth, that I asked Pastor Nick if he minded my posting it here at TruthWalk.  He consented, and I believe that by reading this, you will get a more "personal" look at Pastor Nick and how our Lord has led him thus far. 

By the way, Pastor Nick survived the elders' barrage of doctrinal questions very well!  After a 150-minute examination, the elders affirmed Pastor Nick's call to the gospel ministry.  We laid hands on our brother and had an encouraging season of prayer, asking God to bless his life and ministry for His glory.

Hopefully after reading Pastor Nick's testimony, you'll feel as if you know him a little more personally.  When you're done, feel free to leave a comment.  We'd love to hear from you.

I was raised in the metro Houston area in southeast Texas by my mom and stepdad. We were not religious, we didn’t go to church, and the only time I heard God’s name was in a curse word. My real dad took me to church when I was with him every-other weekend, but I hated it and tried to get out of it.

I was a lonely, nerdy little kid who always sought to overcome the verbal, emotional, and sometimes physical abuse from my stepdad, by trying to get people to like me. I thought that if I could make them laugh at my jokes or believe I was cool by telling them lies, then I would be happy. I failed miserably.

As I made my way through Jr. High, I continued in my endeavors of acceptance. I began drinking and smoking and became an expert at cutting people down so that my friends would think I was cool and funny. I only became more isolated. In my eighth grade year I was lost in a sea of depression. I hated my life, but didn’t know why. I couldn’t understand why people didn’t like me and why I was so disconsolate.

Then I met Brad Barnes. Brad was a senior and I was an incoming freshman. He played the same instrument I did in band and even though I was so much younger, he would talk to me and take me to lunch during summer band. One afternoon he invited me to his church. I said, “no way,” but he pressed on. I finally relented when he told me that there was free pizza.

At the church that night, the preacher was preaching on Hell. He was fire-and-brimstone and roared from the pulpit that without Jesus I would suffer forever. I didn’t like the sound of that and I walked down the aisle. Afterward I called home to tell my mom that the reason I was late was because I got saved, but she cussed me out and told me to get home.

That freshman year of high school was rough for me. I called myself a Christian, and tried to stop doing all the bad things I was a part of, but something was missing. I still didn’t like going to church, but I thought I was doing good if I wasn’t cussing or drinking; I was also still extremely lonely and depressed. Then the breakthrough came.

My dad signed me up for a summer camp at his church. I didn’t want to go and fought against it, but my dad (Mr. Pushover) amazingly stayed firm and made me go. Of course, now I am eternally grateful. The preacher at this camp taught us that Jesus was more than a “get out of Hell, free – card.” He showed us that Jesus was the Son of God who is the only one worthy of our praise. He helped us understand that we were (and are) so sinful that we can never do enough good things to earn God’s favor. Even if we could stop sinning (we can’t), that’s still not enough for God. He requires perfection – and that’s why Jesus is necessary. He’s the only perfect one, and he lived and died, and now lives again, not so we can merely get out of Hell (although we do!), but so we could have a relationship with him now.

This was all so new to me. I thought being a Christian just meant managing a list of dos and don’ts, but this guy spoke of freedom. I came to understand the truth of who God is and who I am and what grace is. This brought joy where there was only sorrow. This brought acceptance where there was only rejection. This brought peace where there was only strife. Instead of hate, I was filled with love: love for Jesus, love for my stepdad, love for the church, love for scripture. And sin, instead of being something I liked but was supposed to avoid, became something I loathed.  I trusted in Christ as my Lord and Savior that evening (it was a Thursday), and I was baptized the very next morning in the Gulf of Mexico!

From that point on, I was a changed boy. I was still only allowed to go to church when I was with my real dad every other weekend, but we somehow convinced my mom to let me go on Wednesday nights as well. Aside from that, things at home didn’t get any better – they actually got worse, especially with my stepdad who hated Christianity. But this battleground provided great soil for growth. I was pressed into dependence on God. He was teaching me that He had a plan and that He was totally in charge, and that if I was going through hard times, He had a good reason for it.

A few years later I found myself leading our school’s Youth for Christ group. Although looking back I can tell that I wasn’t anywhere near ready for such a position, God blessed me during that time and began to impress upon me that He had given me some sort of leadership skills. I assumed that I would teach a Sunday School class at church or something similar, but had no idea or desire to go into the ministry.

After graduating from High School and moving on campus at Houston Baptist University, I threw myself into everything I could at my church (Second Baptist – Houston). With my parents no longer restricting me I made myself available for everything. I still had no intention of working at the church; I just wanted to help. Soon I was teaching High School Bible study classes, directing a college-age Sunday School class, and leading worship for both. After two years, they asked me to come on staff as a summer intern with the Jr. High ministry. I thought that was the coolest thing ever, to be paid for working at a church!

As the summer ended, the church asked me to stay on full-time with the Jr. High ministry. While I loved being in the ministry, I still had no thoughts of doing it beyond graduation. My friends and co-workers, however, saw things differently. Starting with little comments and teases that eventually led to lengthy discussions, they began to voice their opinion that I was called to the ministry. I fought against it for a while, although looking back, I can’t recall why. Slowly, over the next two years though, while teaching and leading worship week-in and week-out, I began to get the internal confirmation of what my friends had been trying to assure me of.

This had been perfect timing because by then end of that time I was engaged to my lovely wife-to-be and just a few months from graduating with a BA (double-major in Christianity and Speech Communications) from HBU. I was still far from perfect, but had an incredible pastor/boss who patiently worked with me, sharpened me, and helped burn out some of my impurities. He, along with the other ministry staff, encouraged me in my spiritual giftedness and challenged me areas that needed help. I knew I still needed to grow, but I also knew that God called me to be in ministry full-time, for the rest of my life.

The church, however, could only keep me at an intern’s salary, and I was not able to support a family on that income, so I soon found myself looking for a ministry position at another church. Since that time, Amanda and I have been through a mountain range of experiences. We’ve been a part of some good ministries with some great men of God, and we’ve been in some valleys, that have stretched our faith in ways unimaginable. Through it all, however, God has confirmed in us, again and again (sometimes through tears), that His place for us is in ministry. And thus we will stay in the strength and grace He provides.

Wise in Grace

The other evening I was meeting with a couple who, along with me, are working their way through a wonderful Gospel-centered book for married (or about-to-be-married) couples.  In the particular chapter we were studying, the author used a certain phrase that caught our attention:

"WISE IN GRACE"

We mulled that over in our minds for a moment, even repeating the phrase aloud as we did so.  We asked ourselves, "What exactly does he mean by this?"

To give you a fair shot at answering the same question, I should give you the context in which it appeared.  The book is entitled When Two Sinners Say, "I Do":  Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage.  The chapter in which the phrase "wise in grace" appears is the one on how to deal with a spouse in sin.  Comparing confrontation to surgery, the author, Dave Harvey, said:  

To be wise in grace is to see that a well-considered word carefully applied is good medicine.  This is a soul you're slicing open.  Go very slowly.  Cut very gently.

What does it mean to be "wise in grace"?  Here's what we came up with, based on the context in which the phrase was used, as well as the biblical concept of wisdom and grace:  it's applying the truth of Scripture in a constructive way in any given situation through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Notice how the author said that one wise in grace would "see that a well-considered word carefully applied is good medicine."  Well, how would one "wise in grace" see that?  How would he know that?  He would know this by knowing God's Word, for that's what Scripture clearly conveys:  "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (Prov. 12:18).  

So to be "wise in grace," one must know the Scriptures.  But scriptural knowledge means nothing, if it is not accompanied by love.  Paul told the Corinthians:  "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up," and "If I ... can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge ... but have not love, I am nothing" (1 Cor. 8:1; 13:2 NIV).  If I wield the sword of truth in a reckless, unloving manner, I am not using God's Word rightly.  After all, "the word of God" is "the sword of the Spirit" (Eph. 6:17), and "the fruit of the Spirit is love" (Gal. 5:22).

In fact, it's interesting that Ephesians 5:18 says, "Be filled with the Spirit," and the corresponding passage in Colossians says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (3:16).  So Scripture equates being filled with the Spirit as letting God's Word dwell in us "richly" (abundantly) in such a way that we teach and admonish one another in a way that exudes grace.  Ephesians 4:29, another great cross-reference, says:  "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."  This requires wisdom, which is the skillful application of truth in any given situation.

So that teeny-weeny phrase, "wise in grace," speaks volumes, doesn't it?  May this quality characterize our dealings with each person the Lord brings across our path, especially those who are of the household of faith (Gal. 6:10).

Americans Devout but not Dogmatic?

"The United States is a nation of believers...."  This was the opening line of an article in the June 23 edition of The Boston Globe.  The statement was premised on "a massive new study of religion in America conducted by the Pew Forum and Religion & Public Life," which was released earlier the same day as the Globe article.

You can read the statistical details of the study by reading the article for yourself.  In fact, it even shows some interesting correlations between New England and the nation as a whole.  In short, New Englanders are the least likely to say they are religious.  (Surprising . . . not!)  But the one statistic that grabbed my attention more than any other is that fifty-seven percent of Evangelical Protestants believed that "many religions can lead to eternal life."  

Of course such a belief flies in the face of Scripture's teaching, as a few quick references will reveal:

John 14:6: "Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes unto the Father, except by Me."

Acts 4:12: "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."

John 3:36: "He who believes on the Son has life; he who believes not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."

Galatians 1:8, 9:  "But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed."

Do you understand the implications of these verses in light of the above statistic?  What needs evangelizing is not only the unbelieving world but the "believing" church - because what the majority of professing Evangelical Protestants believe concerning the way of eternal life is wrong!  

My guess is that most if not all of the TruthWalk readership do not need to be convinced of this.  We believe in the true gospel.  We affirm the exclusivity of Christ.  We believe that Jesus really is the only way to salvation.  Solus Christus!

But we are faced with a real challenge, and that is proclaiming the true gospel to this post-modern generation.  In a culture where the most fundamental truths are questioned, a world in which there are no absolutes, this may seem virtually impossible.  Yet we must remember that in all cultures of every age, the challenge has been the same, as has the solution.  The challenge is to get sinners with blind eyes and stony hearts to see and receive the message of the gospel.  Yet the solution is, and always has been, the power of the preached Word.  

Romans 10:17: "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

1 Corinthians 1:21: "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."

Jeremiah 23:29:  "'Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?'"  (This verse is posted in the right-hand margin of TruthWalk.)

We are incapable of convincing people of God's truth through persuasive words of human wisdom or fancy rhetoric or savvy marketing.  Stone hearts are made flesh by the transforming power of the Gospel itself.  As Paul the apostle stated and knew so well, "It is the power of God to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek [Gentile]" (Romans 1:16).

I think the greatest challenge I face as a preacher is cultivating true love and understanding for people stuck in a postmodern mindset.  I tend to view them with disdain and frustration rather than pity and compassion.  In his book, Preaching to a Post-Everything World, Zack Eswine writes:

I am convinced that biblical preaching will meet this challenge [of reaching people with the gospel in today's world] only when a generation of preachers remembers where they have been.  Until we remember that God drew us to himself and nourished us before we even knew where to find the book of Exodus in the Bible or that such things as Arminianism and Calvinism even existed, we will withhold from others the same mercy that was required for us to learn what we now know.

In this light, the prayer of many of us is that God would raise up a generation of expository evangelists; preachers who understand biblical exposition in missional terms; preachers whose hearts burst with love for sinners; preachers who no longer dismiss biblical exposition when they think of engaging culture; preachers who no longer expound the Bible with disregard for the unchurched people around them.

Read those last two clauses again.  That's where I'm at, seeking a balance between biblical fidelity and cultural relevance.  And while it is true that God's Word is relevant to every culture of every age, it is incumbent upon us as proclaimers of God's Truth to show that the Holy Scriptures are just as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.  That takes hard work and the Holy Spirit.  Careful preparation and constant prayer.  

"And who is equal to such a task? ... Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God" (2 Cor. 2:16b; 3:5).

Concerned about Corporate Worship

A couple of days ago, a church member expressed to me in an e-mail message her sadness over the spirit of corporate worship during our Sunday morning services.  I asked if I could share her thoughts on TruthWalk in the hopes of generating some discussion.  She agreed if I did so anonymously, so that the readership could focus on the content of what was said rather than the personality behind it.  I can say as pastor that this person is growing in her faith, has been honest about her own struggles, and loves First Baptist Church.  So don't think of this Christian sister as looking down her long, self-righteous nose at the rest of the congregation.  She is simply sharing a concern in the hopes of correcting the problem as she perceives it.

So give this a read, and let us know your thoughts on the issue.  Worship is our highest priority as Christians, for whatever we do is to be for the glory of God.  How that is expressed may vary, but Scripture says a lot about even our expressions in worship.  So read these comments in light of Scripture, and share your own thoughts by leaving your personal comments.

Hi Pastor Matt,

I have been very sad about something that I have noticed in our church, Praise and Worship time.  It makes me so sad that I am, one of but so few that even move, never mind sing during this time.  I tried to tell myself that well, maybe that is just how Conservative Baptists churches are or maybe the Northeast is just a little different but I no longer think this is so.  I think it may be something else.  

This is from Mike Cleveland's study today in The Lord's Table:

This verse tells us that our God is a consuming fire. Fire in Scripture often speaks of judgment, but may also refer to fervency. Fervency may be defined as an ignited spirit aflame with passion for the living God. It is truly amazing to note that God desires this passion for Him in you and in me. In fact, God is nauseated at the "Laodicean" spirit that is unenthusiastic, indifferent and half-hearted in its love for Him.

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, says this: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." Revelation 3:14-16

This scares me when I read it and I think of so many who merely stand during the songs and not even whisper the songs. 

The definition of Praise  and Worship from Dictionary.com:

Praise:

to express approval or admiration of; commend; extol.

to offer grateful homage to (God or a deity), as in words or song.

Worship:

1.	reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.

2.	formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage: They attended worship this morning.

3.	adoring reverence or regard: excessive worship of business success.

4.	the object of adoring reverence or regard.

This verse also clearly captures worship to me:

Revelations 5:8-14

I am just so sad that I don't see this.  I get upset with myself when I am uncomfortable being the only one who is clapping and I stop because I feel 'silly'.  

It isn't just that.  I have also been burdened by the shortage of giving.  I wondered how come this is so despite the letters pleading, the powerpoint presentations of the damage to the building and the explanation of taking care of the property, etc.   Then I went to my old church a couple of weekends ago. Their praise and worship is much different than ours. The songs are about the same except the praise and worship team moves, smiles, claps and so forth.  The church sings, claps and moves.  Some sway their hands in the air. It seems like a celebration at times and then when the song gets slow and more serious, people seem to honestly feel the words.  Why do I mention this?  It's their giving. They give more than they have a budget for every week. The church is over its yearly goal and it is July.  Is there a correlation between the praise  and worship of the church and the giving? I submit that there is. I don't mean a good show put on by the team is what we need to do but an honest and heartful praise and worship of our Lord during this time may bring about change. How do we do this? I really don't know but I will pray, pray, pray. 

Pastor Yusef on WEZE said something astonishing today. He wanted to know why the people who will scream themselves hoarse during an athletic event, stand, shout, clap and have no care in the world what a fool they make of themselves can't seem to even open their mouths or move a finger during praise and worship.  I know it struck me pretty hard.  I immediately thought of our praise and worship and it made me sad.   

Maybe some senseless rambling of a tired person who should be in bed right now but it was on my heart to bring it up today.  I probably should have just emailed this to Pastor Nick but I don't have his email address so you are the lucky recipient.

Okay, folks, what are YOUR thoughts on all this?

Stand Firm in Your Faith

Tuesday's blog posting featured Peter Hadden's valedictory address, which he delivered a couple of weeks ago at The Master's Academy's graduation ceremony.  Today's article is a reprint of the salutatory address given by Rachel Burke at South Shore Christian Academy's graduation ceremony last Saturday.  Rachel and her family have been part of our church family for about five years.  Her father, Tony Burke, is an elder, and both Tony and his wife Anne serve as leaders in Student Ministries.  Rachel has ministered in a variety of ways, one of the most notable being her active involvement in children's ministries.  Rachel has served as a summer missionary with Child Evangelism Fellowship and has also served as assistant teacher in children's Bible School class on Sunday mornings.

Rachel has been gifted with a great mind.  Part of the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our mind (Matthew 22:37).  Rachel's speech conveys the importance of doing this not only by knowing the Scriptures, but by obeying them (see John 13:17). How great it is to see one of our own graduates challenging her peers to live for God's glory.  God bless you, Rachel, and all our other graduates, that you might serve the purposes of God in your generation.  

Without further ado, here is Rachel's address:

Both Emily and I had difficult times writing speeches for today. From this time last year, as we watched the Class of 2007 receive their diplomas, we dreaded our own graduation, for we had no idea what we should say at it. We wanted to speak about something meaningful but not cheesy, applicable but not overdone. For weeks we pondered the infinite realm of topics but could not find anything that felt right. Finally, Emily thought of something very simple, but very suitable- what could be better to discuss than the foundation of this school, the Lord Jesus Christ.

SSCA is grounded in and centered upon the Lord. Throughout my time here, each teacher and staff member has displayed a life devoted to Christ. They ensured that each student firmly understands the truth of Scripture, and more importantly, they taught us through both their counsel and their example how we can live to serve God. Everyone graduating today has been privileged and blessed to have this opportunity for encouragement and instruction, so that we may better follow the Lord in our own lives.

However, merely learning how to follow the Lord has little lasting benefit. What we do with that knowledge is far more important. Many of us know a parable that Jesus told about a wise man who built his house on a rock. Throughout storms and floods and winds, his house remained secure, for it was built on a firm foundation. Another man built his house on sandy ground, without a foundation. At the first sign of water, his house collapsed and crashed to the ground, for it had nothing to stand upon. I have known this story for years, but until recently I did not notice whom Jesus was really talking about through it.

When Christ describes the man who built his house on a firm foundation, he is not speaking of those who are “good people;” he is not even speaking of Christians, those who claim to know him as Lord. The man who remains secure is he who hears the word of Christ and follows it. Likewise, the man whose house crumbles does not represent those whom we view as horrible sinners, but those who hear Christ’s word, and know it, but do not follow it. Not only will these people lose what they build; Christ says that “the ruin of that house is great.”

Everyone graduating today knows how to act like a perfect Christian. We can do all the right things and give all the right answers. But does that really matter? We are leaving this school, our parents, and our churches. As we go on to college, few people will care that we know how to behave like proper Christians. What others will notice is if we have taken all that we have learned and made it a part of who we are.

God is asking each of us to serve him with all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our soul, and all of our strength. He has given each of us different abilities and desires, that we may use them to glorify him. The years that we will spend in college are not meant to be used as playtime while we wait for real life to start. If we are willing to allow God to use us, the next four years can be a time of radical, life-changing experiences. In Jeremiah 1:7, the Lord says, “Do not say I am only a youth, for to all whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.” God wants to use these years to do mighty things in us and through us.

As we leave this school, and travel from the watchful eyes of our parents and teachers, I encourage my classmates to devote their lives to God, and to use all they have for his glory. For as it says in Isaiah 7:9, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

Called to Be Different

Today's blog posting is a reprint of a Valedictorian Speech that one of our students at First Baptist Church delivered during his graduation ceremony at The Master's Academy.  Peter has become a real spiritual leader among his peers.  He is kind, generous, helpful, and wanting to become more like Christ.  To Peter and our other graduating seniors, we say:  "Congratulations on reaching this significant milestone, and may our Lord richly bless you!"  Here's what Peter had to say:

Conformity is defined as the action or behavior in association with socially accepted standards. As we have been growing up we have been living according to the standards that our parents and our schools have set up, but as we leave this place and our families, what are we going to conform to? Is it going to be what society says is acceptable and do what everyone else is doing or are we going to strive to be different, to be a light in this already darkening world?

We live in a time where it is no longer the individual but the group. People are classified by what group they follow not by what they; themselves, have done. We have to break the cultural norms and not be just another group, but individuals that have a love for what they do and a desire to serve God with the gifts He has given us. If the cultural norms cannot be broken, then we have to be a group that is different from the rest. A group that isn’t here in world with all its desires but one that is laden with the truth of scriptures. As Christians, we are called to be different. To live a life apart from the world. A life that is full of sacrifice and enrooted in Christ.  Luke 9 says that we are to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Christ. At times that might seem hard to do but we have to remember that this life is temporary along with its pleasures, but living for God brings rewards that are eternal, beyond the here and now.

        As we go into the university world, I hope that we don’t believe in the false teachings of some of the teachers and their ideologies, but rather we believe in what Christ teaches. As we listen in class we have to ask ourselves; “Is what the professor saying based in Scripture or is it a part of his worldview?” There are going to be those who go against the Bible, teaching what they see is right, but we must remain in the Word. Colossians 2:8-10 says: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”

As we are in the work place we are going to be bombarded with ridicule because of what we believe, I pray that we won’t lose faith because of it but rather we would be a testimony to those around us. Not being like everyone else but different. Different because we all possess different gifts, that make us unique. We aren’t to squander these gifts but use them to the full extent possible.

 So what are we going to do? Are we going to be like everyone else in the world or are we going to be different? Taking what we know and our gifts and using them to bring glory not to ourselves but to God.

I want to thank the parents for the upbringing that they have given us and the influence they have been. I also want to thank the teachers for making sure that we were provided with and education that’s foundation was the Bible.

... Guys, we made it!!

From Larry Bird to the Big Three

Last night, the pre-game show for Game One of this year's NBA finals between the Boston Celtics and L.A. Lakers included footage from the 1980s' rivalry between these teams.  The Lakers had Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and other notable players.  The Celtics had Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, Kevin McHale, and Danny Ainge as some of their most dangerous weapons.

This brought back many memories of my childhood.  We lived on a cul-de-sac (just like we do now, only it was at the end of a longer street).  There in front of our driveway, on the edge of the circle of grass in the cul-de-sac, my dad had set up a really nice basketball board.  My brothers and I would play there for hours on end.  We would identify ourselves as famous players.  I was always Larry Bird.

Of course, when Michael Jordan joined the Bulls, I had to be him. After all, we did live in Chicago!  I was a basketball fanatic (sort of like my son Elijah is now!).  Just as the eighties belonged to the Celtics and Lakers, the nineties belonged to the Bulls. 

I remember getting ready to watch Game One of the 1991 NBA finals. It was the first time the Bulls had made it to the championship series with Michael Jordan.  (They would end up winning the championship that year as well as 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998!  Phil Jackson was the coach that whole time, by the way.)  Well, getting back to my story, we had just moved to Richmond, Virginia, a month earlier and here I was in our little town-home, getting ready to watch my beloved Bulls in their first NBA championship series.  The tip-off was minutes away, when all of a sudden - BLIP! - the screen went blank. The picture tube on our old floor-model, the only TV we had - was toast!  I jumped in the car and ran to the nearest appliance store and bought a $300 TV.  I was back home in minutes, ready to watch the game.  That move went totally against my frugal nature.  After all, that was about all the money we had in reserve, and I just went out and spent it on a television set - in a matter of minutes!  But that's how badly I wanted to watch the Bulls.

Fast forward to seventeen years later: June 5, 2008.  The Celtics and Lakers are matched up for the first time in two decades!  The Big Three are going up against Kobe and crew!  What do I do?  Turn off the TV after the first quarter and go to bed!  Why?  Not because I wasn't thoroughly enjoying the game, but because I knew I had to get up early the next morning, and there's no way I'd end up watching the whole thing anyway, so why not go to bed now?  (It was shortly after 9:30 p.m.)

Knowing myself and what I used to be like, it's hard to believe that I went to bed like I did last night.  Of course I woke up and was anxious to see if the Celtics won or not, but the fact was, I had reached a point in my life when I valued sleep over sports.  The choice was entirely mine.  I had no parents telling me to go to bed.  I was simply tired and chose to go to bed instead of staying up to watch the game.

The funny thing is, I have no regrets.  I'm glad the Celtics won, and I'm glad I got my shut-eye.  I'm not sure what the lesson is in this!  I'd like to think that I've simply matured and come to the realization that sports, while fun, are not the primary substance of life.  If our lives revolve around sports, then we have lost the Center and our sense of what is really important.  Yes, I'd like to think that this whole matter of my going to bed after the first quarter is an indication of the fact that "when I became a man, I put away childish things."

But part of me knows better than that.  That's what I'd like to think. But it's probably only partially true at best.  The fact is, I'm getting older, and I'm feeling a bit more tired at the end of each day.  This is pretty sorry to say, considering that I haven't turned forty yet!  Still, I don't rebound as quickly as I did at age twenty, or even thirty.

Regardless of how late we stay up, or whether we watch the game or read God's Word, the bottom-line is: "To everything there is a season, a time for ever purpose under heaven" - and certainly that includes a time to watch the game and a time to read God's Word, a time to play and a time to pray.  And in the freeness of His grace, God "has made everything beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  Our response to this reality ought to be the prayer of Moses, recorded in Psalm 90:  "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  

Amen.

Go Celtics!

Pool Slime and Pet Sins

Yesterday after dinner, we began the necessary but dreaded task of taking off the tarp which covers our above-the-ground pool.  It's almost always more complicated that it should be.  Only once has the process gone smoothly.  Something nearly always goes wrong.

Yesterday was no exception.

As six of our seven family members surrounded the pool (our daughter Megan was working), we reminded one another of the cardinal rule:  Do not let any edge of the tarp fall down into the pool!  Because once that happens, all the slime on top of it (decomposed leaves, bird droppings, dirt, algae, and the like) can easily make its way into the nice, clean water underneath it all.  

Well, we no sooner started pulling the cover off, then part of the tarp's edge started going under.  "Quick!  Grab it!" we yelled to the kid who was closest.  Whew!  Catastrophe avoided.  So the process continued.  Slowly but surely we made it from one end of the pool to the other.  Now the final heave to get that last little part OVER the edge of the pool without ANY of the slime slipping into the water.  

Problem was, there was too much water on top of the tarp, and now it was all gathered into one place.   It smelled to high heaven.  It was grotesquely green.  The sickening aroma was sapping our strength as we tried with all our might to get that last little bit over the edge.  

"Somebody needs to get in the pool and help us lift this from underneath the tarp!"  Our son Matthew bravely volunteered.  He got into the pool and got his arms underneath the sagging portion of the tarp filled with 300 pounds worth of sludge, as the rest of us held on to the surrounding edge of the tarp, pulling with all our might.

The smell was getting stronger.  Our arms were getting weaker.  Then, to our horror, we saw some of the slimy, green sludge seeping through an unguarded segment of the tarp.  "Quick!  It's seeping into the pull!  Who's not grabbing the edge?  Pull, everybody, pull!"  And pulled we did - with all our might.

Then it happened.  Somehow, some way, somebody lost their hold.  The tarp caved under the weight, and the whole of the slime rushed into the pool - every single drop of it.  A thick green, algae-infested cloud spread its filth throughout what had been, seconds earlier, a clear and clean pool, until all of the water was contaminated with dirt, leaves, algae, and bird poop.

Who wants to swim in that?

So now we (mainly Ruthie, our pool expert) are left with the challenge of trying to filter all that filth out of our pool.  Later I was kicking myself, knowing that we should have emptied out some of that filthy water bucket by bucket, until the remaining amount was light enough to gather up in the tarp and throw over the edge.

Okay, somewhere in this mess there is a lesson for us.  I think it has to do with the pet sins that are left untouched in our lives.  Our heart, like the pool, can be freed from all other impurities.  We let the Lord deal with those.  But those little pet sins, like an algae-infested puddle, are left alone.  We figure that, when the time is right, we'll get rid of it without a problem.

But there already is a problem.  The sin is bigger than we think it is.  It's not as easy to get rid of as we thought it was.  We think it's no big deal when it's a very big deal.  Because we didn't let the Lord take care of it, we try to root it out ourselves, in our own strength.  And what happens?  Everything falls apart, and that sin spills all over, contaminating our whole heart.  Our whole person becomes polluted because of that one permitted sin.  And, oh, the price we pay.  If only we had gotten rid of it in the right way when we had the opportunity!

Well, getting back to our situation, we called "the pool guy," and he basically said that while our pool is not beyond help, it will take a lot of time and effort to get things back where they should be.  

Unaddressed sin leads to the same result.  The damage it does does not put us in a hopeless or helpless condition.  But it will take a lot of time and effort to get things back the way that they should be.  

Thankfully, we have a long-suffering and gracious Lord who is ready to help us in our time of need.  He is the "expert" at solving the sin issues in our lives.  The best thing we can do when we have made a mess of things is to go to Him, admit our failures, and ask Him for His help.  He will gladly give it.  Oh, it will indeed take a lot of time and effort on our part, but we can be assured that our great Savior will give us the grace to do what we need to do.

So, what slimy sin is sitting there in the recesses of your heart?  Root it out!  Ask God to help you; He will.  Then enjoy a good swim in the cool and refreshing waters of His grace.

Music to My Ears

Yesterday my wife and I went to Chapman Middle School to hear our son Ethan sing, with all the other fifth graders, the songs that they had been learning throughout the year.  Exactly one week earlier, we had attended the spring musical hosted by First Baptist Christian School, where two of our other sons are enrolled.

The differences between the two programs were noticeable to say the least.  At the FBCS musical, there were about 130 kids performing, with the grades ranging from pre-school through grade 7. At the CMS program, there were over 300 kids performing, all of them fifth-graders!  All of the songs at the FBCS musical were gospel-oriented, whereas all the songs at the CMS program were all secular, American folk songs (unless one counts "God Bless America" as being a "Christian" tune).  The FBCS musical opened and closed in prayer.  The CMS program began and ended with a few simple remarks.  The FBCS musical included a verbal presentation of the gospel.  The CMS program had all music but no message.

More differences could be cited, but there are two main thoughts that we took home with us as we left the program yesterday.  First, we were reminded of how privileged we are to have a Christian School at First Baptist Church, and to have had all five of our children as students there at one time or another.  (Two of our children are still enrolled at FBCS.)  Second, we were reminded that kids are kids, and it's important that unsaved kids in the public school system rub shoulders with saved classmates.  Though initially we were reluctant to send any of our children to a public school (let's admit it - there are many down sides to it), we are happy to see three of our five children "slugging it out" in the secular sphere.  They are learning - much sooner and better than I did growing up - what it means to be salt and light in practical terms in a worldly society.  They are discovering that delicate tension of being in the world but not of the world.  There have been some bumps and bruises along the way - and there will be more to come - but God is teaching them some great things through their experience.  I'm proud of them, and I'm praying for them.

God in His providence has worked things out in such a way that we have experienced just about every type of schooling option:  public school, private Christian school, homeschool, and special education in a public school setting.  We have come to see "the good, the bad, and the ugly" in each of these situations.  For the most part, it's all been good - to the praise of God's grace.

I say this to encourage any parents out there who might be wondering if your kids are in the right school.  While we want to do what's best for our kids in consideration of their particular needs, be assured that wherever you have them enrolled, God can use them (and you) in that environment to bring Him glory.  God can use any person in any place to accomplish His purpose.  That's what's so amazing about grace.

The Cyclone that Hit Burma - 200 Years Ago

Yesterday I received the May 31/June 7 issue of World magazine.  On page 127 there was an outstanding article by Andree Seu entitled "Gospel Cyclone."  Recalling to mind the cyclone that hit Burma earlier this month, Seu recalled another "cyclone" that hit Burma two centuries ago through the ministry of Adoniram Judson.

Ever since I read Courtney Anderson's biography on Judson a number of years ago, he has become one of my favorite missionary statesmen from yesteryear.  Exactly 200 years ago, Judson was studying at Andover seminary right here in Massachusetts.  It was during this time that he read Puritan Thomas Boston and grew passionate in his love and service for Christ.

In her article, Seu brought back to mind some of the interesting tidbits on Judson's life -- like the fact that he started his own mission board, since there was no mission board to send him.  My uncle, Ted Fletcher, followed that same path thirty years ago.  Because he didn't have the necessary number of Bible credits required by most mission boards, Uncle Ted didn't "qualify" as a missionary with those boards.  So he started his own mission, which he started with his wife Peggy.  Their basement served as their headquarters.  Eventually, this mission of humble beginnings grew to become Pioneers, which now has 1,700 international members serving on 178 teams in 80 countries among 130 unreached people groups -- in partnership with more than 2,000 churches.  Amazing!  Only God!

Similarly, Adoniram Judson's missionary venture had a very humble beginning.  Seu sums up for us the difficulty of Judson's work:

Judson knew Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, but Burmese was a tough case.  He retained a tutor and studied 12 hours a day.  Ann [his wife] leaped ahead in fluency.  Four years later Judson held his first worship service.  He experimented with different customs for the gospel's sake (before anyone was emphasizing "contextualization").  He built himself a zayat of bamboo and thatch by the roadside.  He would sit in it and cry out in his best Burmese, "Ho!  Everyone who thirsteth for knowledge!"  The message was mostly met with total indifference.  Judson baptized one convert in 1819.  The couple's second child died.

More trials with increasing intensity challenged the faith of this young missionary.  In addition to spending 17 months in a "vermin-infested death prison," Hudson lost his wife Ann in 1826 and his third child six months later.  Just about the time he was ready to call it quits, Judson's faith was renewed when he got word from the States that his alcoholic brother had received Christ as his Lord and Savior.  When Judson died, there were 8,000 believers and 100 churches in Burma (now called Myanmar).  Today, this country has the third largest population of Baptists in the world!

May God give us the same tenacious faith as that of Adoniram Judson and other faith-filled servants of the Lord, many of whom "were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.  Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword.  They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated - of whom the world was not worthy" (Hebrews 11:35-38).  They were fools for Christ (1 Cor 4:10).  They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death (Rev. 12:11).

Thank you, Andree, for reminding us of these "heroes."  We praise You, Father, for saving us by Your grace and filling clay pots like us with Your empowering presence.  

More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!

Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee;

This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee,

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

"Come aside ... and rest awhile"

One of my favorite stories in the Gospels is the feeding of the five thousand. Through His teaching and example, our Lord gives awesome lessons in Christian ministry. One of the most striking things about this story, as recorded by Mark (6:30-44), is that one of the most famous miracles was preceded by a much needed time of REST:

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
- Mark 6:30-31

Imagine the scene: The apostles have gathered to tell Jesus all they they have said and done. They had been quite busy in ministering to the needs of others - so busy that they hadn't had time to eat! Have you ever been that engaged in the work of ministry?

Mary had a little lamb,
'Twas given her to keep.
But then it joined the local church
And died for lack of sleep!

Yes, people and programs at church can keep us constantly on the move! I don't think that what the disciples were doing was a bad thing. I don't think that they were "over-committed," as we here so often in a society that has all-but-forgotten what it means to be a poured-out-vessel for Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, these disciples were whooped! This goes to show that those who are truly committed to Christ and to meeting the needs of others in His name, will always be faced with formidable challenges in ministry that demand a huge investment of their time, effort, and concentrated attention. How do we cope with it all?

By listening to our Lord's wise and loving invitation: "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." The disciples had been busy serving and teaching others. Jesus, too, had been busy meeting the needs of the multitudes. Furthermore, we find out from Matthew's gospel that Jesus had just been informed about the death of His beloved cousin and faithful servant, John the Baptist. "When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself" (Matt. 14:13).

Jesus needed a break; His disciples needed a break. So what did they do? They took a break! But notice what kind of a break it was -- time alone with God and with one another. In other words, it was a time of physical rest as well as spiritual and emotional refreshment.

Do you get alone with the Lord on a regular basis? Do you refresh your spirit through Christian fellowship? Think of it: If Jesus and His disciples needed a break - time of refreshment with their heavenly Father and with one another - how much more so do we? I think of Jesus' words to Martha: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." That "good part" is time spent at the feet of Jesus, simply being still and knowing that He is God!

Of course you know the rest of the story. Jesus and His disciples returned to the crowd, where Jesus looked with compassion upon the people and taught His disciples to do the same. God worked in an amazing way. Yet it was all preceded by a time of rest.

My wife and I are headed away for our own time of rest this weekend. We are looking forward to it. We are tired. It will be good to refresh ourselves spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally. We need these kinds of getaways every so often, but what we need every day is our quiet time with the Lord. What we need several times a week is refreshment through our fellowship with other believers.

I hope you, too, will heed our Lord's instructions. Get away from the crowd; get alone with Christ. Don't forsake Christian fellowship; pursue it. Who knows what miracle is waiting right around the corner?

Yesterday my two oldest kids came home from Weymouth High School and informed us that tomorrow (Friday) is “Gay Pride Day.”  Everyone is encouraged to where a Gay Pride T-shirt and to be silent throughout the day in honor of this special event.   Our initial response was “Well, don’t wear a T-shirt, and make sure you talk often and loud throughout the day.”

Of course there is a better, more biblical response than that.  But first, let me give you a quick overview of Youth Pride.  I paid a visit to the Massachusetts Youth Pride website and learned that “Youth Pride is the oldest and largest GLBT pride event in the nation.”  (GLBT stands for Gay, Lesbian, Bixesual, and Transgender.)  According to the Massachusetts Youth Pride Committee (MAYPC), Youth Pride is important for three reasons:

1) Youth Pride brings youth together to alleviate isolation: It's an event where thousands (YES, THOUSANDS!!!) of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth (and their allies) realize they are not alone. Realizing that there is support and people alike in the world are hugely meaningful for an isolated adolescent.

2) Youth Pride works to alleviate the social stigma associated with being a GLBT youth: 
In a world with so much hatred and animosity against things we don't understand, Youth Pride is an event that works to push pack the social stigma heavily associated with being GLBT. Increasing visibility works to push stigma back, to increase understanding and tolerance of the GLBT community….

3) Youth Pride brings community, higher education and social support resources to the youth: 
Youth Pride is a program primarily rooted in suicide prevention. The two goals mentioned above help to alleviate the risks of suicide. 

The 2008 Youth Pride Rally and Festival is scheduled to take place tomorrow, May 10, at Boston Common.  The event officially kicks off at noon. 

Up until yesterday, Massachusetts was the only state to legalize gay marriage.  It did so in 2004, and since then, 9,500 couples have taken advantage of the law.  As of yesterday, California became the second state to legalize gay marriage.  This has huge implications for our nation, considering that California residents make up well over ten percent of our nation’s population.  (California has an estimated 108,734 same-sex households, according to 2006 consensus figures.)

What are we to make of all these Gay Pride celebrations, court decisions and such?  Let me suggest three biblical responses: 

Hatred:  Not for the people ensnared in such sin, but for the sin itself and the tremendous harm it does those who are in bondage to the sin of homosexuality.  I find it interesting that Youth Pride “is a program primarily rooted in suicide prevention.”  These kids and adults who are caught up in this sin are among the most miserable people on earth.   While celebrating their “sexual freedom” on the outside, they are bound by the cords of their sin on the inside.  We should hate not them but the sin that enslaves them.

Humility:  In 1 Corinthians 6, the apostle Paul reminds us that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Then he lists various categories of sinners included in the realm of the unrighteous.  Among them are fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners.  But then in the same breath he immediately goes on to say, “And such were some of you.  But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”  Then over in Titus 3, a passage I’ve been studying this past week, Paul says “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.  For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures….  But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (vv. 2-5).  Any righteousness or victory over sin that we have attained is all owing to the grace and mercy of God.  Let us not react to Gay Pride with our own sense of Christian pride.  That would steal from God’s glory and make a mockery of His mercy and grace toward sinners like us.

Hope:  Isn’t that what these poor souls need and what we can offer them?  In Colossians 1:23, Paul talks about “the hope held out in the gospel.”  In Lamentations 3 we read, “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks Him.”  Instead of pointing our fingers at sinners, we should be pointing sinners to Jesus Christ.  I close with these words from a song that Steve Green sang a number of years ago:

We are called to take His light

To a world where wrong seems right.

What could be too great a cost,

For sharing life with one who’s lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel

All the grief they bear.

They must hear the words of life

Only we can share. 

People need the Lord, people need the Lord;

At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord;

When will we realize -- people need the Lord.

Happy Birthday, Howie!

Today one of our beloved seniors at First Baptist Church turns 93. His name is Howard Robbins, and he’s no stranger to most of us.

Howard and his brother grew up in Randolph with his parents, where they attended the First Baptist Church in Randolph. In 1938, Howard was wed to Marion (the same year Howard’s future son-in-law, Harold Noyce, was born!). Marion remained Howard’s faithful companion – the love of his life – for 63 years, until the Lord called her home in 2000. In 1941, Howard and Marion bought a home at 14 Belmont Street here in Weymouth, where they raised their four children – Joan, Kenny, Nancy, and Janet. Howard still lives in this same house, along with his daughter Nancy and her husband Harold. (All three of them are members at First Baptist Church here in Weymouth, which is in the same neighborhood as their house.)

Incidentally, Howard started attending our church when it was still located down on Lincoln Square. Then, when his children were grown, he attended Tremont Baptist Temple in Boston for a few years. It was there, in 1975, that Howard actually committed his life to Christ – the year after his daughter Nancy came to know the Lord. Since then, Howard has been a dedicated Christian, living his life to the glory of God. Eventually Howard came back to FBC in Weymouth, where he has been part of our church family for decades.

Some of you know that, in addition to working as a gas station attendant, Howard also worked as a printer for a number of years. But did you know that he played the drums? Yes, indeed! His daughter Nancy tells me he was quite the drummer! (Keep that in mind, Pastor Nick, in case you ever need a back-up for Frank!)

I met Howard when I came on the pastoral staff in May of 1999, the same month Howard turned 85. I had never met an octogenarian with so much youthful energy! And he still has it! Shake Howie's hand at church, and you’ll find it’s as solid a grip as any other man you’ll meet! Plus, you’ll get a warm smile and a compliment that will keep you encouraged for the rest of the day. But my most memorable experiences with Howard have been the times that I have prayed with this wonderful man of God. I remember being in a prayer group with him during the Week of Prayer (I think this was in January, 2007) and being lifted up to the heights of heaven as I heard genuine, joyful thanksgiving being made to God for the gift of salvation in Christ. With no reservation whatsoever, Howard freely acknowledged what a "rotten sinner" he was, and yet what a remarkable Savior Jesus is! He was rejoicing like a man who had just been saved five minutes earlier, not half a century ago! I remember praying in my spirit even as Howie prayed that, if the Lord tarries and I live to be anywhere as old as Howie, that I would have the same unfeigned love and zeal that he has for the Lord. Truly, the joy of the Lord is his strength!

Men like Howard remind me of Caleb in the Old Testament. Remember, he was one of only two spies of the twelve sent into Canaan who believed that Israel would be victorious over the Canaanites and inherit the land as God had promised. While the other ten spies were saying, "We can’t do it; the people are too strong for us!" (Numbers 13:31, paraphrase), Caleb and Joshua said, "We should by all means go up and take possession of the land, for we shall surely overcome it" (Numbers 13:30, paraphrase). Forty-five years later, after the wilderness wanderings and the conquest of Canaan, Caleb stepped forward to claim his piece of land. "Give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I wil drive them out just as he said" (Joshua 14:12). When most men would have retired, Caleb was still conquering mountains!

What made this old veteran so young at heart? His walk with the Lord! Three times we are told that that Caleb wholeheartedly followed the Lord God of Israel. In his book, The Strength of a Man, David Roper writes,

Half-hearted men – those who fool around with personal ambition and enterprise and make retirement their chief end – don’t comprehend. They wither and die before their time. You see them around every town, dull and dreary old men with nothing to do, sitting on park benches or living on Park Avenue, with that dead look in their eyes – over the hill and never on top. Not so Caleb.

And not so Howard! The joy of the Lord is this man’s strength, and it is a joy for me to see!

Certainly a lot more could be said. With that in mind, I’d like to encourage you to leave a comment as well. Be assured that, before the day is over, Howard will be reading these himself.

Howard, thank you for being such a faithful and joyful servant of Jesus Christ. We love you, brother!

K. P.'s Prayer Meeting Experience

At our prayer meeting last Sunday evening, one of our elders, Lou Perez, shared the following account in the life of K. P. Yohannan, the well-known Indian evangelist. Some of you might have heard him preach at a nearby church several weeks ago, as he was ministering in the Boston area. Anyway, I thought this account was worth reprinting for the sake of those who haven't already read it. In fact, even if you have already read it, it's worth reading again!

East Indian evangelist K. P. Yohannan says he will never forget one of his first prayer meetings in an American church. He had come to the United States eager to meet some of its spiritual giants and leaders. One man in particular held his interest, a preacher known even in India for his powerful sermons and uncompromising commitment to the truth.

More than 3,000 people attended services on the Sunday Yohannan visited his church. The choirs were outstanding and the preacher was everything he'd hoped it would be. But he was especially taken by the announcement the pastor made about the midweek prayer meeting. He said there were some things lying heavy on his heart -- would the people come and pray about them? Then he announced the name of a certain chapel on the church campus. Excited, Yohannan determined he would attend.

When he arrived later that week, he brought with him some definite assumptions. The most basic was that prayer meetings are essential, of primary importance. In India, and in many other parts of the world where Christians are persecuted, the prayer meeting is the centerpiece of the church's life. Everyone comes, the meetings often last long into the night, and it is not unusual for believers to arise daily before sunup to pray together for the work of the church.

Fearing a huge crowd, he came early to get a seat. But when he arrived he was surprised to discover a chapel with a capacity for only 500 -- that was empty! A few people came in, but there was no leader, no songs or worship, just chit chat about news, weather, and sports.

Forty-five minutes later an elderly man, the leader, but not the pastor, walked into the chapel to offer a few devotional thoughts from the Bible and to give a brief prayer. The meeting was over, and as the seven attendees filed out of the chapel, Yohannan sat in stunned silence, his mind filled with questions: Was this it? Weren't they going to stay and wait upon God? Where was the worship? The tears? The cries for guidance and direction? Where was the list of the sick, and the poor, and those in need? What about that burden the pastor said was heavy on his heart? Weren't we going to intercede for a miracle? And where was the pastor?

I think if K. P. were to attend my church, he'd be both disappointed and delighted. He would be disappointed over how few attend our corporate prayer gatherings, yet he would be delighted to pray with those who do. I know how my own spirit gets a much-need boost as I enter into God's presence with His people through prayer. There's a dynamic to it that is different than my private prayers. I am built up in the Lord as I hear others pray and as they affirm my own prayers. Corporate prayer isn't just about God and me. It's about God and me and my brothers and sisters in Christ.

When you really think about it, K. P.'s or anyone else's opinion matters little in comparison to what our Savior thinks. As we are gathered together, He is right there in the midst of us. I wonder what impression He has of our prayer meetings. My guess is that Jesus, too, is filled with both disappointment and delight. He is disappointed that more of His people do not pray. He thinks of all the blessings that they could have from His gracious hand, yet they have not because they ask not (James 4:2). On the other hand, I believe that Jesus is delighted to commune with those who do show up, who pour out their hearts in praise and supplication to the One they love and know they need.

In light of what's been said on this subject, what's your opinion?

Preacher's Progress

"I would not recommend my book on The Antichrist that I wrote twenty years ago."

These words were written by Arthur W. Pink to a friend on December 20, 1943.  They caught my eye as I read the second-to-the-last chapter of his biography, because I myself had been studying Paul's teaching on the Antichrist ("the man of lawlessness") in Second Thessalonians chapter two.  This chapter is, admittedly, one of the most difficult chapters to interpret in all of the New Testament. Frankly, it is challenging many of my eschatological views, most of which were developed through my formal education at Bible college and seminary.  I've been doing a lot of reading, a lot of praying (though I'm sure not nearly enough), to try to reach a conclusive stance regarding the precise order of end-time events.  So far my study has raised more questions than answers. 

I'll say more about this in a minute, but first I want to get back to Arthur Pink.  After writing the above comment to a friend in 1943, he made these additional remarks in his publication, Studies in the Scriptures, four years later in 1947:

"If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know" (1 Cor. 8:2).  To the very end of his earthly pilgrimage the best instructed Christian has reason to pray, "That which I see not teach thou me" (Job 34:32).  Even the theologian and the Bible-teacher is but a learner and, like all his companions in the school of Christ, acquires his knowledge of the truth gradually - "here a little, there a little" (Isa. 28:10).  He too advances slowly, as one great theme after another is studied by him and opened up to him, requiring him to revise or correct his earlier apprehensions and adjust his views on other portions of the truth, as fuller light is granted him on any one branch thereof.

I am coming to see, now more than ever before, the veracity and relevance of Pink's perception, as derived from the Scripture verses he quotes above.  The inquisitive side of me wants an answer to everything.  The pastoral side of me - and ironically the beast of pride in me as well - wants to have all the answers for anyone who asks.  But I do myself and others a terrible injustice if I am not honest with God's Word and honest with myself.  The fact is, I don't have all the answers.  Nobody does.  "The secret things belong to the Lord" (Deut. 29:29a).  "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter" (Prov. 25:2).

Yes, one of the glories of this life is to swim in the infinite depths of God's revealed truth, all the while knowing that the glory of His secrets are greater than the glory of our searching.  But herein is where we find the divinely crafted joy and delight of it all.  For as we humbly and honestly search out God's truth, we discover God Himself.  We come to know Him in an ever more intimate way.  Is this not what Scripture itself teaches?

But just as it is written, "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him."  For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God." -- 1 Cor. 2:9-10

Amazing!  This text is not talking about heaven so much as it is discovering ALL that God has prepared and provided for us in Christ!  The Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13), and of course Jesus Christ Himself is the Truth!  How foolish it would be to stand on our theological high horse, "forcing" certain texts to "fit" our theological grid, rather than to discover in ever-increasing degrees the glory and beauty of our blessed Savior!  As Arthur Pink went on to say,

Like the rising of the sun, spiritual light breaks forth upon both preacher and hearer by degrees.  The men who have been most used of God in the feeding and building up of his people were not thoroughly furnished for their work at the outset of their careers, but only by dint of prolonged study did they make progress in their own apprehension of the truth. . . .  Certainly this writer is no exception.  Were he to re-write today some of his earlier articles and pieces, he would make a number of changes in them.  Though it may be humiliating unto pride to make corrections, yet it is also ground for thanksgiving to God for the fuller light [graciously granted] which enables him to do so.

God help us always to approach His Word with humility, not simply to get answers to our questions or to find proof texts to support our theological bias, but to KNOW HIM intimately and to help others do the same.

An Affair to Remember

The news is out. Longtime TV personality, news anchor, and show host Barbara Walters had an ongoing affair with U.S. Senator Edward Brooke, a moderate Republican from Massachusetts, in the 1970's. At the time, Walters was an aspiring journalist and rising star in television news. Edward Brooke was a popular politician -- the first African-American elected to the U.S. Senate. According to an article published today in The Boston Globe, a colleague referred to Senator Brooke as "the Barack Obama of that day."

At the time that the affair took place, Barbara Walters had already been divorced twice. Right around the time that the affair ended, Senator Brooke divorced his wife as well. He eventually remarried and lives in Florida. (Brooke is 88 years old, and Walters is 78.)

In her newly released book Audition, Barbara Walters described Senator Brooke as "the most attractive, sexiest, funniest, charming, and impossible man." She goes on to say, "I was excited, fascinated, intrigued, and infatuated."

If you want to read Walter's recollection of the affair, you can buy the book or tune into The Oprah Winfrey Show, where Walters will share her a couch-side confession with the TV host in an upcoming episode (gag me with a spoon).

The point of interest for me lies in the reason for their breaking off the affair. It was in order to save their careers. Simple as that. No mention is made of God or of any moral convictions regarding the illicit relationship. This brings to mind the Clinton-Lewisky scandal. While most Americans were riveted to their television sets to get all the dirty details, the fact is that two-thirds of the American populace felt that what Clinton did was his business and nobody else's. This "majority opinion" spoke volumes about the moral terpitude of our nation and its low view of sexuality and marriage.

I pray that we who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ would reflect God's purpose and blueprint for marriage, as stated by Jesus Himself in Matthew 19:4-6:

And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

Jesus went on to say that the only reason God allowed divorce was "because of the hardness of your hearts ... but from the beginning it was not so," and that "whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery" (Matt. 19:8-9). These are hard words to hear, especially in a day of "no fault" divorce and no sense of commitment. The divorce statistics are as bad in the evangelical church as they are in the unbelieving world.

Oh, that we would shine as lights in this wicked and perverse generation! May our marriages reflect a passionate and holy love that portrays the love of Christ for His Church, and vice-versa (see Ephesians 5:22-33). I thank God for men and women in our congregation who refuse to give up on one another, but rather work through the struggles of marital love in this life, not to "save their careers," but to glorify Christ and to learn what it means to love one another as He loves us.

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. -- Hebrews 13:4

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures.... But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. -- Titus 3:3-8

Doing Hard Things

My last posting was a review of Joshua Harris' book, Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is). It just so happens that Josh has two younger, 19-year-old twin brothers, Alex and Brett Harris, who have just recently come out with a book of their own. It is written primarily for teens and is entitled Do Hard Things.

The Lord has been doing a work in my daughter Megan's heart, and she read this book in order that she might be encouraged, strengthened, and challenged in her walk with Christ. Megan told me how much she enjoyed the book, and I asked her if she would mind writing her own review of it. Megan graciously consented (despite all the other schoolwork she had to do!), and the following represents, in Megan's own words, her thoughts on the book:

When I was asked to read Alex and Brett Harris’s Do Hard Things, I just put it on my list of things to do. Reluctantly willing to spare a few moments reading it, I sat down with the book in my hand and read the first sentence. Transfixed, I finished the book in a little over two hours.

What Alex and Brett confronted our teenage generation on was simply this: exceeding low expectations. These expectations were placed upon us by average, everyday individuals who have underestimated what we teens are capable of, and our generation has now lowered themselves to settling with embarrassingly low expectations. According to one researcher mentioned in the book, these so called “expectations” consist of completing a daily chore (such as taking out the trash), cleaning our room with no help from parents, and making sure the gas gauge stays above a quarter of a tank. Alex and Brett’s argument: do all that you are capable of to the best of your ability for Christ’s glorification. Not only do Alex and Brett encourage you to do “big hard things”, such as fighting AIDS or raising money for third world countries; but they plead with you to start with the “small hard things”. These include daily devotional time, exercising regularly, and getting to bed on time. These are activities that do not gain immediate gain or satisfaction, but will launch your ability to “do hard things”!

I enjoyed Do Hard Things immensely, and I would recommend it to any teenager… any teenager who isn’t afraid of a challenge! The challenge you are faced with after reading this book is this: will you exceed the low expectations placed upon you and do hard things for God? The hard part is figuring out what hard things God has called you to do, and doing them! I too, am faced with this challenge as I am writing this, and I am continuing to seek God’s guidance through communing with Him through His Word and in prayer. As Alex and Brett put it “most people don’t expect you to understand what we’re going to tell you…and even if you understand, they don’t expect you to care. And even if you care, they don’t expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don’t expect it to last. We do.”

I want to thank Megan for taking the time to share her thoughts. We would like to hear yours, too! What do you think about this whole idea of "doing hard things" for God?
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Book Review: Sex is not the Problem (Lust Is)

After numerous men in our church confessed that they struggled with pornography and other lust-related sins, other brothers in Christ rallied around them to give them the support, encouragement, accountability and prayers that are essential to overcoming the flesh.

Much has been written on the subject of sexual temptation, but a lot of the available Christian resources fail either to address the issue biblically or to connect the teachings of Scripture in a practical way to everyday life. However, I am pleased to say that I have recently read a book that is well-balanced and very effective on both fronts. In fact, the book's effectiveness lies in the fact that it is so well-balanced, shooting straight with its readers from the Word of God.

The book I'm referring to is written by Joshua Harris and is entitled Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is). The book is a quick read, being less than two hundred pages, in large type. It is written for both guys and gals, and has received a number of endorsements from highly respected Bible teachers of both sexes (e.g., Nancy Leigh DeMoss, John Piper, and Jerry Bridges, to name a few).

There are three parts to the book: (1) The Truth about Lust; (2) In the Thick of the Battle; (3) Strategies for Long-Term Change. In Part One, Josh shares the main reason why we lose our battle against lust: We have the wrong standard for holiness; the wrong source of power to change, and the wrong motive for fighting our sin. Typically, we come up with our own standard for sexual purity -- a set of rules -- and believe that by adhering to that standard, we can be sexually pure. Furthermore, we seek to obey our set of rules in our own strength. We do this in order to "feel" like a pure person, to show God how good we can be, etc. Then everything comes crashing down. Our guilt becomes overwhelming so that we feel like we can't pray, that we are no good to God, that we are nothing but a big hypocrite. Josh points out how this approach is inconsistent with Scripture. To begin with, God's standard is nothing short of absolute perfection: "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, of or greed, because these are improper for God's holy people" (Ephesians 5:3, emphasis mine). This standard puts sexual purity far beyond our natural grasp to reach -- and that's the point. Nobody has ever perfectly obeyed God's standard, except Jesus Christ. He alone is our source of righteousness, our source of strength. He alone can free us to be holy. In the closing pages of this section, Josh carefully lays out the definitions of -- and the differences between -- the doctrine of justification and the doctrine of sanctification. Understanding these are essential to understanding the basis of our acceptance to God and our ability to overcome sin.

In Part Two, careful consideration is given to the practical aspects of fighting sexual lust. The reader is led through a series of questions to help determine when he/she is weakest, and what to do about it. Various "lust-triggers" include the Internet, television, the local gym, and other potential instruments of temptation. It's important to realize that the tools themselves may not be sinful, nor is the temptation. When it comes to the media, however, we must be aware of its attempts to "define reality" for us. To put it in Joshua Harris' own words,

Entertainment goes straight for our hearts. . . . Media never reasons with us in its attempts to convince us to love lust and sin. You'll never see the CEO of a television network standing in front of a flip chart explaining why adultery is good. But that same CEO might have his company create a television drama that engages your emotions and, through the power of the story, makes the sinful act of adultery seem appealing.

Harris' point is well taken, considering the figures from Nielsen Media Research, which reveal that the average US household consumes 8 hours and 14 minutes of TV per day, and the average individual American watches 4 hours and 35 minutes a day! If we are going to be holy, we must examine and be willing to change our viewing habits. As Harris points out, "There is no such thing as 'must-see TV'. . . . The only thing that's essential is walking with God and pleasing Him. And if that sometimes requires cutting back on what we watch, it's no real sacrifice."

The third and final section of the book deals with strategies for long-term change. In short, Josh talks about the importance of accountability, arming yourself with Scripture (this is one of the best chapters of the book), and sowing to the Spirit. We are reminded that the fight of faith, the fight against sin, is the fight of a lifetime. We are all works in progress, and "God calls us to trust Him in the struggle against lust, to persevere and so prove the reality of victory accomplished by His Son."

At the very end of the book, the author inserts a special section entitled "Purity Download," wherein he offers Seven Tips for Fighting Internet Porn. Those whose battle with lust is waged mostly on-line will find this section most helpful.

In closing, let me say that I found this book to be utterly true to the teachings of Scripture while being "refreshingly real" in addressing the lust-related issues of our day. The author hits the subject of lust head-on, speaking in frank terms, without being crude or titillating. I especially appreciated Josh's explanation of how lust is operative in both men and women, though in different ways. This facet of teaching has been largely ignored in most other books on sexual sin, in my opinion. I anticipate that both men and women will glean much in their reading of this particular section.

I am inclined to think that just about anyone would benefit from reading Harris' book. Though written primarily for Christians, the book does give a very straightforward presentation of the Gospel, pointing everyone to Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation and freedom from the guilt and power of sexual sin.

This book is great not only for individuals, but also for groups. In fact, it comes with a group study guide for both men and women. As indicated by the gender-specific study guides, this book should be utilized in an all-male or all-female group rather than in a mixed group, due to the sensitive nature of its content. Also, in light of its mature content (one chapter in section two, for instance, deals specifically with masturbation), I would recommend that this book not be read by children or pre-adolescents. I think it is suitable for teens and that it would be ideal for parents to read through the book with their teenage children -- fathers with their sons, and mothers with their daughters.

As stated on the back cover, "Neither sex nor sexuality is our enemy. We need to rescue our sexuality from lust so we can experience it as God intended." Joshua Harris' book goes a long way in meeting this need by leading us through the muck and mire of lustful passion, on to the high plains of biblical sexuality. For this reason, I recommend his book enthusiastically.