Good grief! Is there no end to the foolishness? Last night there was a fire in one of the unfinished homes on the disputed lands of the former Douglas Creek Estates; a fire that was fortunately put out by somebody before things got out-of-hand. And all this took place a day after the media carried reports of native occupiers asking for building supplies and money so they could finish the houses and have shelter over the coming months!
That this dispute is still ongoing is a testimony to the incompetence of everyone involved. Federal and provincial governments need to uphold the law and settle the dispute one way or another. That this sorry state of affairs drags on is incredible and shows what a pathetic lack of leadership exists in this country. As I have said before on this blog, if the land belongs to the natives, as they claim, it should be returned to them immediately. If the land does not belong to them, those who are occupying the land need to be removed immediately. All that is in dispute is who owns the land! Surely this is not too difficult even for a group of lawyers to figure out!
The larger and more important issue is the relationship between Canada and its native peoples. The present system does not work. No group should be sustained by government hand-outs, no matter how long their ancestors used to live in this part of the world. Encouraging them to moving in the direction of "gaming" is equally damaging to the social fabric of native society. Somehow these peoples need to integrated into mainstream Canadian life in the 21st century so that they can contribute in a meaningful and important way to the nation and the world. There is a better way than what we currently seeing being played out in Caledonia, but it will never emerge until everyone is prepared to sit down and honestly look at the situation around them. The status-quo is bankrupt. It is time for a radial reconfiguration of relationship between people who are in the end, human beings.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Learning From Ernesto
Today as I was listening to a weather reporter on CNN describe what is happening with tropical storm Ernesto as it heads toward south Florida, I heard something that immediately caught my attention. Apparently, the more organized the storm becomes as it moves over the warm ocean water, the more dangerous and powerful it becomes. As long as the storm system is interrupted by a land mass or is buffeted by crosswinds so that it never really has a chance to organize itself, it will not be able to get up to full strength. The more I thought about this interesting weather fact, the more it occurred to me that this is not just true of tropical storms and hurricanes, but the same principle applies to life in general and the Christian life in particular.
I am not thinking about mere corporate-type organizational structures; even though we are supposed to do everything in a fitting and orderly way (1 Corinthians 14:40). When I think about a properly organized Christian life I think about a life that is centered in Jesus Christ. This is where the power lies and this is when we become "dangerous" in terms of the kingdom of darkness.
When we are distracted by other things we are not as effective as we could be because our energies are divided. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Money" (Matthew 6:24).
When I think of someone who was devoted to the Lord Jesus in an exemplary way, I think of the great apostle Paul. To God's holy people in Philippi he wrote: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body" (1:21-24). This explains why Paul was so powerful and did so much good for the kingdom of God.
Without in any way wanting to minimize the destructive forces of tropical storms and hurricanes and the damage they can inflict on persons and property, we can still learn valuable lessons about how we can be effective for good and for God. We need to ask ourselves if we can really say: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!" For this kind of single-minded focus cannot help but shape our lives and thrust us forth into the harvest going on around us.
I am not thinking about mere corporate-type organizational structures; even though we are supposed to do everything in a fitting and orderly way (1 Corinthians 14:40). When I think about a properly organized Christian life I think about a life that is centered in Jesus Christ. This is where the power lies and this is when we become "dangerous" in terms of the kingdom of darkness.
When we are distracted by other things we are not as effective as we could be because our energies are divided. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Money" (Matthew 6:24).
When I think of someone who was devoted to the Lord Jesus in an exemplary way, I think of the great apostle Paul. To God's holy people in Philippi he wrote: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body" (1:21-24). This explains why Paul was so powerful and did so much good for the kingdom of God.
Without in any way wanting to minimize the destructive forces of tropical storms and hurricanes and the damage they can inflict on persons and property, we can still learn valuable lessons about how we can be effective for good and for God. We need to ask ourselves if we can really say: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!" For this kind of single-minded focus cannot help but shape our lives and thrust us forth into the harvest going on around us.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Unity and Holiness
In Psalm 133 David writes:
How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Unity is a great blessing indeed and I have been reflecting on it since our faculty meeting today. It is wonderful, joyful experience to be able to work together with brothers and sisters in the greatest cause of all: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is one of the sweetest blessings of God.
However, this divine blessing reminds us that one of the enemy's favorite tactics is to divide and conquer and it is a strategy that he has used effectively time after time. It is something he is able to do without much effort because there is so much that he can use against us. Pride, envy, bitterness, discouragement, weariness - to name just a few - can be used by our adversary with great effectiveness if we are not careful to stay close to the Lord.
Near the end of the letter to the Hebrews, we read: "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son" (12:12-16).
This interesting collection of exhortations is far from random or haphazard. Lack of holiness in general, and bitterness and immorality in particular, will destroy unity and make it impossible for anyone or any group to make progress in the things of God. Unfortunately, these sins are more common than they should be and hence the apathy, deadness, deviousness and the superficiality that marks too many who call themselves "Christians".
May God awaken in us all a hunger for himself that drives us to strive for better and greater things not merely as individuals but as a mighty army of God's people who are determined to give him glory and praise!
How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Unity is a great blessing indeed and I have been reflecting on it since our faculty meeting today. It is wonderful, joyful experience to be able to work together with brothers and sisters in the greatest cause of all: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is one of the sweetest blessings of God.
However, this divine blessing reminds us that one of the enemy's favorite tactics is to divide and conquer and it is a strategy that he has used effectively time after time. It is something he is able to do without much effort because there is so much that he can use against us. Pride, envy, bitterness, discouragement, weariness - to name just a few - can be used by our adversary with great effectiveness if we are not careful to stay close to the Lord.
Near the end of the letter to the Hebrews, we read: "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son" (12:12-16).
This interesting collection of exhortations is far from random or haphazard. Lack of holiness in general, and bitterness and immorality in particular, will destroy unity and make it impossible for anyone or any group to make progress in the things of God. Unfortunately, these sins are more common than they should be and hence the apathy, deadness, deviousness and the superficiality that marks too many who call themselves "Christians".
May God awaken in us all a hunger for himself that drives us to strive for better and greater things not merely as individuals but as a mighty army of God's people who are determined to give him glory and praise!
Saturday, August 19, 2006
On Knowing The Creator
I have spent the last few days reflecting on the biblical doctrine of creation because I have been assigned to speak on the subject this coming week at the Carey Conference. Even a cursory reading of the Bible reveals that this doctrine is crucial to a proper understanding of the biblical story from beginning to end. Beyond the first two chapters of Genesis, the doctrine of creation and its implications are woven throughout the Scriptures from beginning to end. If we do not get it right we will distort the nature of God, fail to understand our uniqueness as human beings made in his image, and not appreciate the goodness and value of the world around us. My purpose in this posting is not to rehash what I will present on Monday but to reflect a little on the awesome truth that: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth!"
This is the context for everything else that follows. In the beginning was God. One God who created freely according to his own sovereign (kingly) good will and pleasure. He did not have to create. There was nothing lacking in himself. He was not lonely or bored. It was not necessary so that he might have someone to talk to, or love, or have fellowship with. God has always been complete within himself. His decision to create did not reveal or express any deficiency in him whatsoever. It was an act of power that met with the full consent of the Godhead. It is a wonder that we need to ponder: the self-existent, self-sufficient, sovereign God creating the universe by his word. Profound divine activity that was voluntary, effortless and rational.
Sometimes our world and our lives can seem chaotic. We are not sure what tomorrow will bring. But if we know the Lord we know someone who can help us in our time of need. Sometimes I don't think that we meditate on the wisdom and power of God as we should. We can so easily forget that he is able to do more than we can ever imagine. And we forget that in the end he will win the battle. We forget because many times it does not seem like that. It can seem as if the world is out of control. Violence and bloodshed in the Middle East, secularism and materialism here in the West. Marriages in disarray and families in a state of turmoil. We wonder how it will end. Will sin ever be defeated and righteousness reign supreme?
In the midst of the present confusion we are called to live by faith in the Triune God. The one who spoke the universe into existence in the beginning has committed himself to make all things new. If anyone other than this God were making such promises we would have reason to doubt. But if he is for us there is no one who can stand against us. He is supreme over all. The King of the ages. The one to whom all glory and honor are due. We should not be discouraged but press on in his mighty power; waiting with patient anticipation for all that he will do in his own time.
This is the context for everything else that follows. In the beginning was God. One God who created freely according to his own sovereign (kingly) good will and pleasure. He did not have to create. There was nothing lacking in himself. He was not lonely or bored. It was not necessary so that he might have someone to talk to, or love, or have fellowship with. God has always been complete within himself. His decision to create did not reveal or express any deficiency in him whatsoever. It was an act of power that met with the full consent of the Godhead. It is a wonder that we need to ponder: the self-existent, self-sufficient, sovereign God creating the universe by his word. Profound divine activity that was voluntary, effortless and rational.
Sometimes our world and our lives can seem chaotic. We are not sure what tomorrow will bring. But if we know the Lord we know someone who can help us in our time of need. Sometimes I don't think that we meditate on the wisdom and power of God as we should. We can so easily forget that he is able to do more than we can ever imagine. And we forget that in the end he will win the battle. We forget because many times it does not seem like that. It can seem as if the world is out of control. Violence and bloodshed in the Middle East, secularism and materialism here in the West. Marriages in disarray and families in a state of turmoil. We wonder how it will end. Will sin ever be defeated and righteousness reign supreme?
In the midst of the present confusion we are called to live by faith in the Triune God. The one who spoke the universe into existence in the beginning has committed himself to make all things new. If anyone other than this God were making such promises we would have reason to doubt. But if he is for us there is no one who can stand against us. He is supreme over all. The King of the ages. The one to whom all glory and honor are due. We should not be discouraged but press on in his mighty power; waiting with patient anticipation for all that he will do in his own time.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The Amazing Providence of God
Every once in a while there is a story which reminds us that our times are in God's hands. According to news reports today three young Mexican fishermen missing at sea since last November have been found alive 8000 kilometers from where they first set out. After an extensive search the three were given up for dead, only to be rescued by the Koo 102, a Marshall's Island fishing boat, on August 9th. The three young men survived the ordeal in a 10 metre fishing boat by drinking rain water and eating whatever fish and sea birds they were able to capture. Apparently, although they are sunburned and much thinner than when they left, they are in good health. They had planned to do some deep-sea fishing for two to three weeks when their outboard motors failed and they were left adrift in the ocean. They were pushed westward by the same sea currents that carried the Spanish and Portuguese explorers across the Pacific many years ago in search of riches and a new world.
When I hear a story like this I say to myself: "It wasn't their time!" By that I mean that God had not ordained that they die at sea but instead that they be rescued as they were. I say this because I believe in the sovereignty of God; which is to say that he is in control of all things and he works out everything according to his good will and purpose. Some people die when they merely slip into deep water. These men survived months at sea and lived to tell the tale. I trust they and their families will reflect on God's goodness to them and that they will turn to the Lord in faith and call upon him to save them eternally in his Son, Jesus, if they have not already.
What is true of them, is true of all of us. Our times are in God's hands. For some he has ordained a long life; for others a very short life. Some survive in spite of incredible odds; others are struck down suddenly never to rise again. None of us knows what God has in store for us in terms of this life. And that should not be our concern as Christians. Our job is to faithfully serve him to the best of our ability every day of our lives, whether they be few or many. The sovereignty of God means that we are invincible until our time comes. It also means that when it comes there is nothing we can do to prevent it. If we are ready to meet God that it not a problem because we know that our heavenly Father makes no mistakes and when he calls us home, we are are home indeed!
When I hear a story like this I say to myself: "It wasn't their time!" By that I mean that God had not ordained that they die at sea but instead that they be rescued as they were. I say this because I believe in the sovereignty of God; which is to say that he is in control of all things and he works out everything according to his good will and purpose. Some people die when they merely slip into deep water. These men survived months at sea and lived to tell the tale. I trust they and their families will reflect on God's goodness to them and that they will turn to the Lord in faith and call upon him to save them eternally in his Son, Jesus, if they have not already.
What is true of them, is true of all of us. Our times are in God's hands. For some he has ordained a long life; for others a very short life. Some survive in spite of incredible odds; others are struck down suddenly never to rise again. None of us knows what God has in store for us in terms of this life. And that should not be our concern as Christians. Our job is to faithfully serve him to the best of our ability every day of our lives, whether they be few or many. The sovereignty of God means that we are invincible until our time comes. It also means that when it comes there is nothing we can do to prevent it. If we are ready to meet God that it not a problem because we know that our heavenly Father makes no mistakes and when he calls us home, we are are home indeed!
Monday, August 14, 2006
The Politics of AIDS
No matter how you look at AIDS, it is a human tragedy. The suffering and death that accompany this disease should call forth compassion from the human community in general and from those who identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ. In the past year people like Bill and Melinda Gates have thrown the significant resources of their charity (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) behind the fight to find a cure for this killer which claims the lives of men and women, young and old alike. I believe we should support efforts to find a cure and to prevent the transmission of AIDS in the world.
However, I find it very annoying to see the politicization of AIDS. Today on the news the headlines carried stories of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper being criticized by those attending The International AIDS Conference being held in Toronto. His lack of attendance is being spun by the media types as lack of interest and concern for the plight of those with AIDS. This is just plain nonsense. There is no reason why a Canadian Prime Minister should have to attend such a conference for nothing more than a photo opportunity and a chance for the AIDS propaganda machine to make it appear that this is the number one priority in the world. With Gates and others on board those who are looking for a cure have all the financial resources they need. Statements from heads of state are quite unnecessary, and those in attendance at the conference, and the groups they represent, need to get on with the task of finding a cure.
What must not be lost in this whole discussion is that AIDS, like so many other diseases, would not be the worldwide problem that it is if human beings would stop their promiscuous sexual activity. I fully realize that AIDS cannot be reduced to immorality in a strict one-to-one relationship. It can be spread in a variety of ways now that it is loose in the human population and it is a global problem. But the fact still remains that it would be much less of a problem if human beings were not sexually active outside of a monogamous marriage relationship as God intended from the beginning. The real problem is that human beings find this intolerable! They will not stand for such restrictions on their freedom. And so AIDS and all manner of STDs continue to spread and destroy the lives of those who live immoral lifestyles as well as those who don't.
The ultimate irony is that many of the same people in the media, the business community and elsewhere who are so outspoken against HIV/AIDS make their money selling sexual immortality to the masses in one form or other. It is hard to avoid the cynical thought that finding a cure for AIDS is in their own best financial interest; something that I am sure is not lost on any of them. Unfortunately, the almighty dollar will motivate people to do all kinds of things that love for God and love for neighbor will not. As serious as AIDS is, if we find a cure tomorrow but do not humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, we will perish in our sins, not just for a time but for eternity. When Jesus was here on earth he said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).
The ways of this world are hard in the end. What the world calls freedom enslaves those who wander into its deadly web. Jesus has a yoke and a burden that he calls upon us to bear. But it is an easy yoke and an easy burden compared to the alternatives. If the world does not learn this from AIDS; it has learned nothing.
However, I find it very annoying to see the politicization of AIDS. Today on the news the headlines carried stories of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper being criticized by those attending The International AIDS Conference being held in Toronto. His lack of attendance is being spun by the media types as lack of interest and concern for the plight of those with AIDS. This is just plain nonsense. There is no reason why a Canadian Prime Minister should have to attend such a conference for nothing more than a photo opportunity and a chance for the AIDS propaganda machine to make it appear that this is the number one priority in the world. With Gates and others on board those who are looking for a cure have all the financial resources they need. Statements from heads of state are quite unnecessary, and those in attendance at the conference, and the groups they represent, need to get on with the task of finding a cure.
What must not be lost in this whole discussion is that AIDS, like so many other diseases, would not be the worldwide problem that it is if human beings would stop their promiscuous sexual activity. I fully realize that AIDS cannot be reduced to immorality in a strict one-to-one relationship. It can be spread in a variety of ways now that it is loose in the human population and it is a global problem. But the fact still remains that it would be much less of a problem if human beings were not sexually active outside of a monogamous marriage relationship as God intended from the beginning. The real problem is that human beings find this intolerable! They will not stand for such restrictions on their freedom. And so AIDS and all manner of STDs continue to spread and destroy the lives of those who live immoral lifestyles as well as those who don't.
The ultimate irony is that many of the same people in the media, the business community and elsewhere who are so outspoken against HIV/AIDS make their money selling sexual immortality to the masses in one form or other. It is hard to avoid the cynical thought that finding a cure for AIDS is in their own best financial interest; something that I am sure is not lost on any of them. Unfortunately, the almighty dollar will motivate people to do all kinds of things that love for God and love for neighbor will not. As serious as AIDS is, if we find a cure tomorrow but do not humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, we will perish in our sins, not just for a time but for eternity. When Jesus was here on earth he said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).
The ways of this world are hard in the end. What the world calls freedom enslaves those who wander into its deadly web. Jesus has a yoke and a burden that he calls upon us to bear. But it is an easy yoke and an easy burden compared to the alternatives. If the world does not learn this from AIDS; it has learned nothing.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
On Knowing God
In preparation for preaching tomorrow I have been thinking about what it means to "know God". I realize that there are many people in our world who do not believe it is possible to know God because he is transcendent and beyond us. But the Bible indicates that although God is infinitely awesome he has entered into our world and he is able to communicate with us as creatures whom he has in his image.
Yet still, it is a remarkable thing to know God. The true and living God. Not an idol. Not the figment of someone's imagination. To know that eternal one, the creator of all things, the one who has life in himself and that one who is all-wise. This is remarkable indeed! And only possible because of his condescension and grace.
But how can I be sure? Maybe it is all an illusion. A clever trick to keep the masses in check. How can I know that the God I know is real and true when there are so many people making religious claims, and when uncertainty about these matters is currently viewed as sign of humble superiority? My certainty has nothing to do with innate intelligence or anything of the sort. Nor is it merely to be expected of one raised in my socio-cultural setting. My certainty is based on the Scriptures and the person of Jesus Christ.
Without the written and incarnate Word of God, I know nothing for sure. Postmodern thought has rightly reminded us of "our perspective". No matter who we are, our ability to know anything is very limited unless we rely on God's revelation. For example, the history of philosophy itself demonstrates this. When human beings go on a quest for knowledge and leave the Bible behind they guarantee that their search will fail in the end. They may discover lots of facts along the way and they may even be able to determine significant relationships between those facts; but they will not be able to answer the big questions nor integrate their knowledge into a coherent whole.
It is only as we work within the boundaries of God's word that we can know anything for sure. Only there do we learn who we are and why we are here on the earth. Only the Bible can tell us why are world is unable to find peace and why human beings do the things they do. Without the Old and New Testaments, it is every person for themselves. As in the days of the Judges, when there is no king in Israel (i.e. when God is not recognized as supreme), everyone does what is right in their own eyes. Only when our eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit and we bow in submission to the Lord are we in a position to make sense of the world around us.
There is nothing more wonderful than knowing God. Jesus said that it is the essence of eternal life (John 17:3). And in 1 John 2:12-14, the apostle John encourages those to whom he writes with the wonderful fact that they know God. They know him as "dear children" (which I understand to be young Christians), and they know him as "fathers" (which probably refers to those who are mature in the faith). They know him because he has revealed himself to them. He has cleansed them of their sins and brought them into his family. And he is with them at all times, not merely as a function of his omnipresence, but because he loves them with a special love.
Yet still, it is a remarkable thing to know God. The true and living God. Not an idol. Not the figment of someone's imagination. To know that eternal one, the creator of all things, the one who has life in himself and that one who is all-wise. This is remarkable indeed! And only possible because of his condescension and grace.
But how can I be sure? Maybe it is all an illusion. A clever trick to keep the masses in check. How can I know that the God I know is real and true when there are so many people making religious claims, and when uncertainty about these matters is currently viewed as sign of humble superiority? My certainty has nothing to do with innate intelligence or anything of the sort. Nor is it merely to be expected of one raised in my socio-cultural setting. My certainty is based on the Scriptures and the person of Jesus Christ.
Without the written and incarnate Word of God, I know nothing for sure. Postmodern thought has rightly reminded us of "our perspective". No matter who we are, our ability to know anything is very limited unless we rely on God's revelation. For example, the history of philosophy itself demonstrates this. When human beings go on a quest for knowledge and leave the Bible behind they guarantee that their search will fail in the end. They may discover lots of facts along the way and they may even be able to determine significant relationships between those facts; but they will not be able to answer the big questions nor integrate their knowledge into a coherent whole.
It is only as we work within the boundaries of God's word that we can know anything for sure. Only there do we learn who we are and why we are here on the earth. Only the Bible can tell us why are world is unable to find peace and why human beings do the things they do. Without the Old and New Testaments, it is every person for themselves. As in the days of the Judges, when there is no king in Israel (i.e. when God is not recognized as supreme), everyone does what is right in their own eyes. Only when our eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit and we bow in submission to the Lord are we in a position to make sense of the world around us.
There is nothing more wonderful than knowing God. Jesus said that it is the essence of eternal life (John 17:3). And in 1 John 2:12-14, the apostle John encourages those to whom he writes with the wonderful fact that they know God. They know him as "dear children" (which I understand to be young Christians), and they know him as "fathers" (which probably refers to those who are mature in the faith). They know him because he has revealed himself to them. He has cleansed them of their sins and brought them into his family. And he is with them at all times, not merely as a function of his omnipresence, but because he loves them with a special love.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Carey 2006
One week from tomorrow I am looking forward to the start of 2006 version of the Canadian Carey Family Conference. The conference runs from August 19-25 and this year is taking place at a new location: Braeside Pentecostal Camp, in Paris, Ontario. In the morning sessions this year a number of different speakers are taking up the theme: The Bible - Getting the Big Picture. In the evening sessions we are looking forward to the ministry of David Morris, an intinerant preacher from North Carolina, who will speaking from Hebrews 11 in a series entitled: Faith For The Family. David spoke at the 2004 Sovereign Grace Assembly and we are looking forward to his ministry again this year.
If you are interested in more information about the conference check out our website http://www.careyconference.net/ . If you are in the area, stop by and share with us in the ministry of the word.
If you are interested in more information about the conference check out our website http://www.careyconference.net/ . If you are in the area, stop by and share with us in the ministry of the word.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Seeking The Lost To Win
Maybe it is just me but it seems that people with a heart to see others won to the Lord are few and far between. In saying that I do not mean to imply that people don't talk about evangelism nor that they are not interested in growing their churches and ministries (although that is abominable terminology); but simply that there are few who are willing to beg God to visit them with power and then to follow-up that request with a willingness to open their mouths and tell others about the Savior. It is very rare these days to hear of anyone walking into a church and hearing the Gospel and being converted on the spot. I am not saying that it does not happen, just that it does not seem to happen as it has in days gone by when the Lord came to his people in power. Nor am I saying that people do not continue to make professions of faith; it's that professions of faith are one thing, genuine conversions that transform the life and result in meaningful involvement in Christ's body, are something else! I think we have to admit that for all our innovations, technologies and organizations we are not seeing the kind of evangelistic fervor that has marked the church in times of Holy Spirit power.
For one thing Christians seem to want to try and win people almost by accident. We work very hard to give the impression that we are just like the people we are trying to reach. In one way we are, but if there are no significance differences between us and them because of our experience of God's grace, then there is something wrong with our Christianity, and we are left without much to say to the person we are trying to evangelize.
Another difficulty is that so many messages that are preached are 'me-oriented'. Like the surrounding society everything seems to be geared to "what's in it for me"? So while the Bible has something to say about contentment, and marriage, and children, and work and play and the future, etc., it is possible to be so taken up with these 'practical matters' that we forget the larger story. It is possible to pattern one's marriage and family according to the general precepts of Scripture and not know the Lord at all in a saving way! It is possible to adopt a Christian work ethic or view of money or morality and never entrust yourself as a guilty sinner who needs to be cleansed and forgiven to the Lord Jesus.
When thinking about these things yesterday, I read what Luke records about Paul in Acts 26:28-29. After making a defense before King Agrippa, Paul pushed him with regard to his position on the prophets. In response Agrippa says: "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" To which Paul replied: "Short time or long--I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." When I read those words I thought there is a man who is passionate about evangelism! There is a man who is making the most of every opportunity! There is someone I can look up to as a role model and mentor!
Paul knew what he had been saved from. He knew the Lord Jesus Christ and something of the power of the world to come. He was full of the Holy Spirit and very conscious of the job that had been given to him. And so he prayed (cf. Ephesians 6:19-20) and he spoke when it was convenient and when it wasn't. There is only one Apostle Paul in the kingdom of God, but that does not mean that we cannot learn from his life and seek to emulate him in ways that are appropriate to God's calling upon our lives. May the Lord help us to speak with boldness and may he bless our efforts to the praise of his glorious grace.
For one thing Christians seem to want to try and win people almost by accident. We work very hard to give the impression that we are just like the people we are trying to reach. In one way we are, but if there are no significance differences between us and them because of our experience of God's grace, then there is something wrong with our Christianity, and we are left without much to say to the person we are trying to evangelize.
Another difficulty is that so many messages that are preached are 'me-oriented'. Like the surrounding society everything seems to be geared to "what's in it for me"? So while the Bible has something to say about contentment, and marriage, and children, and work and play and the future, etc., it is possible to be so taken up with these 'practical matters' that we forget the larger story. It is possible to pattern one's marriage and family according to the general precepts of Scripture and not know the Lord at all in a saving way! It is possible to adopt a Christian work ethic or view of money or morality and never entrust yourself as a guilty sinner who needs to be cleansed and forgiven to the Lord Jesus.
When thinking about these things yesterday, I read what Luke records about Paul in Acts 26:28-29. After making a defense before King Agrippa, Paul pushed him with regard to his position on the prophets. In response Agrippa says: "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" To which Paul replied: "Short time or long--I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." When I read those words I thought there is a man who is passionate about evangelism! There is a man who is making the most of every opportunity! There is someone I can look up to as a role model and mentor!
Paul knew what he had been saved from. He knew the Lord Jesus Christ and something of the power of the world to come. He was full of the Holy Spirit and very conscious of the job that had been given to him. And so he prayed (cf. Ephesians 6:19-20) and he spoke when it was convenient and when it wasn't. There is only one Apostle Paul in the kingdom of God, but that does not mean that we cannot learn from his life and seek to emulate him in ways that are appropriate to God's calling upon our lives. May the Lord help us to speak with boldness and may he bless our efforts to the praise of his glorious grace.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Preventing Mind Rot
Two recent studies are being reported in the media today that have to do with the influence of music and television on teens. The first study finds that teens whose Ipods are full of music with raunchy sexual lyrics are more likely to be sexually active at a younger age than those who do not listen to such music. In the second study teens who watched pro wrestling on TV were more likely to behave violently than those who did not; and perhaps most surprising, this was more likely true for girls rather than boys.
Both studies provide more proof, if more proof is necessary, that we are influenced by what we allow into our minds and hearts. Sometime our world tries to convey the message that we are not. It likes to pretend that we can play in the mud but not get dirty. Or swim in the sewer and not smell. But the truth is otherwise. The Bible warns us about the influence of others in our lives (1 Corinthians 15:33); and it tells us to guard our hearts because everything we do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23).
The flip side is that exposure to what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy will do us good (Philippians 4:8). In particular, God's word, the Bible, is able to transform our lives if we read it and ask God to apply it to our hearts. It is a shame that so many teens are exposed to the trash of this world at a stage in their lives when they pick up ideas and concepts so quickly. This is one reason why Christians of all ages need to be aware of what is going on in youth culture and seek to provide the appropriate biblical antidote. A young mind is a terribly thing to waste! Wisdom tells us to remember our Creator in the days of our youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). All of us would do well to heed his very practical exhortation.
Both studies provide more proof, if more proof is necessary, that we are influenced by what we allow into our minds and hearts. Sometime our world tries to convey the message that we are not. It likes to pretend that we can play in the mud but not get dirty. Or swim in the sewer and not smell. But the truth is otherwise. The Bible warns us about the influence of others in our lives (1 Corinthians 15:33); and it tells us to guard our hearts because everything we do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23).
The flip side is that exposure to what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy will do us good (Philippians 4:8). In particular, God's word, the Bible, is able to transform our lives if we read it and ask God to apply it to our hearts. It is a shame that so many teens are exposed to the trash of this world at a stage in their lives when they pick up ideas and concepts so quickly. This is one reason why Christians of all ages need to be aware of what is going on in youth culture and seek to provide the appropriate biblical antidote. A young mind is a terribly thing to waste! Wisdom tells us to remember our Creator in the days of our youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1). All of us would do well to heed his very practical exhortation.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
More Doping Woes
The news is out. Another positive drug test in the athletic world. This time it is Tour de France winner Floyd Landis from the United States whose "second sample" has tested positive for a banned substance. No one is really that surprised because this kind of thing happens all the time with the same predictable results. At first there is denial. Then a promise to clear one's name. Then the imposition of a sentence. And then the story fades from public view until this sad cycle repeats itself all over again.
My purpose in bringing this up is not to rail against the evils of sport. The fact is that I like sports and believe that they can serve a useful purpose in society. One of the values of sport is that it imitates real life in many different ways. The ups and downs, the joys and sorrows, the need for planning and hard work, the value of discipline, unselfishness, and sacrifice; all these and more, are ways in which sport reflects life at large.
So what about the scandals that rock the sporting world? Although regrettable, they are not really that shocking, especially when we see the link between life and sport. Human beings are not upright creatures by nature. They lie and cheat and steal if they think they can get away with it. And they justify and make excuses for their behavior. We see it in marriages, in the business world, in politics, when it comes to paying taxes and in a host of other relationships and activities.
Some people think that education is the answer. But education just tends to make more sinners more clever and creative. Others think that stiffer penalties should be imposed. But too many are willing to gamble that they will not get caught; that they are the exception to the rule. The problem is more basic. Human beings need to be renewed from within. They need new hearts, values, desires and abilities to do what is right.
In short, they need what Jesus was talking about in John 3:3-6. "Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again.' 'How can anyone be born when they are old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!' Jesus answered, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.'"
Whatever happens to Floyd Landis, the lesson is that we all go astray in many different ways and we need to know the power and salvation of God. Only he can make us anew and enable us to live lives that honor him whether on or off the field, or in this case, the road of play.
My purpose in bringing this up is not to rail against the evils of sport. The fact is that I like sports and believe that they can serve a useful purpose in society. One of the values of sport is that it imitates real life in many different ways. The ups and downs, the joys and sorrows, the need for planning and hard work, the value of discipline, unselfishness, and sacrifice; all these and more, are ways in which sport reflects life at large.
So what about the scandals that rock the sporting world? Although regrettable, they are not really that shocking, especially when we see the link between life and sport. Human beings are not upright creatures by nature. They lie and cheat and steal if they think they can get away with it. And they justify and make excuses for their behavior. We see it in marriages, in the business world, in politics, when it comes to paying taxes and in a host of other relationships and activities.
Some people think that education is the answer. But education just tends to make more sinners more clever and creative. Others think that stiffer penalties should be imposed. But too many are willing to gamble that they will not get caught; that they are the exception to the rule. The problem is more basic. Human beings need to be renewed from within. They need new hearts, values, desires and abilities to do what is right.
In short, they need what Jesus was talking about in John 3:3-6. "Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again.' 'How can anyone be born when they are old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!' Jesus answered, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.'"
Whatever happens to Floyd Landis, the lesson is that we all go astray in many different ways and we need to know the power and salvation of God. Only he can make us anew and enable us to live lives that honor him whether on or off the field, or in this case, the road of play.
Friday, August 04, 2006
A Hopeful Sign
Going through my email this past week I read an encouraging piece by Mark Earley, the President of Prison Fellowship, on Room 219, the room closest to the House Chamber in the Congress where some of the highest elected officials in the American government meet to pray on a weekly basis. Encouraging because no matter what you might think about American politics (or the politics of any other country), it is always good when those in positions of leadership and power seek the face of God.
There is nothing worse, and more scary, than political leaders who do not think they need God. Such people have far too much confidence in their own abilities and are capable of grievous errors of judgment. Of course, just because people pray does not mean that they cannot make mistakes; nor does it indicate that they are really listening to what God says. Prayer must be combined with the diligent study of the Scriptures and a willingness to submit to what they teach no matter how difficult it might be to implement in our fallen world.
But all that aside, I still think it is very encouraging to know that there is a "Room 219" where busy American government officials take time to call on God. I think it is also worth noting that they are calling on the Christian God, and not one of the many idols called "God" and worshipped around the world. Some people bow to pray many times a day to a god who is not a god of grace and mercy but a god who advances his cause by war and bloodshed. The Christian God has provided at great cost to himself a way by which men and women, no matter who they are, or where they live, might be reconciled to him. This God is the only one who can change the human heart, which is exactly what we need if there is ever going to be peace on our planet. And he not only changes the hearts of people in general but he changes our hearts as we draw near to him.
I cannot help but think of Paul's word of instruction in 1 Timothy 2:1-6
"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has not been witnessed to at the proper time."
Notice how naturally Paul moves from prayer for everyone, including government officials, to God's desire that all people be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. In other words, our prayers and intercession are to be grounded in the gracious character of God himself. There is an amazing breadth to Paul's instruction that flows out of his grasp of the glory and the greatness of God. And when you stop and think about it, it is only as we know the awesome splendor of Paul's God that we will begin to pray as we should for him to bare his mighty arm and make his name known throughout the earth by bringing people to the place of atonement that he has provided in his Son, our Lord Jesus. Given his glory, let's join together in prayer!
There is nothing worse, and more scary, than political leaders who do not think they need God. Such people have far too much confidence in their own abilities and are capable of grievous errors of judgment. Of course, just because people pray does not mean that they cannot make mistakes; nor does it indicate that they are really listening to what God says. Prayer must be combined with the diligent study of the Scriptures and a willingness to submit to what they teach no matter how difficult it might be to implement in our fallen world.
But all that aside, I still think it is very encouraging to know that there is a "Room 219" where busy American government officials take time to call on God. I think it is also worth noting that they are calling on the Christian God, and not one of the many idols called "God" and worshipped around the world. Some people bow to pray many times a day to a god who is not a god of grace and mercy but a god who advances his cause by war and bloodshed. The Christian God has provided at great cost to himself a way by which men and women, no matter who they are, or where they live, might be reconciled to him. This God is the only one who can change the human heart, which is exactly what we need if there is ever going to be peace on our planet. And he not only changes the hearts of people in general but he changes our hearts as we draw near to him.
I cannot help but think of Paul's word of instruction in 1 Timothy 2:1-6
"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has not been witnessed to at the proper time."
Notice how naturally Paul moves from prayer for everyone, including government officials, to God's desire that all people be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. In other words, our prayers and intercession are to be grounded in the gracious character of God himself. There is an amazing breadth to Paul's instruction that flows out of his grasp of the glory and the greatness of God. And when you stop and think about it, it is only as we know the awesome splendor of Paul's God that we will begin to pray as we should for him to bare his mighty arm and make his name known throughout the earth by bringing people to the place of atonement that he has provided in his Son, our Lord Jesus. Given his glory, let's join together in prayer!
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
The Present Crisis 3
Yesterday, I mentioned how little Scripture is read in so-called "worship services" today. I have been in services where the Scripture reading consists of no more than four or five verses! Surely this is not sufficient given the ignorance of the Bible that exists both inside and outside the church.
In 1 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching (4:13). This is God's will for his people until Jesus comes again at the end of the age. God knows that we need to hear the Scriptures being read on a regular basis. They are powerful because they are the written word of God. Although it is good and very necessary to preach and teach the Scriptures as well, we have a divine injunction to read the word, as the word, to others. Hebrews 4:12 says that, "The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart". Those who read it on a regular basis can attest to the power that the writer to the Hebrews is talking about. In a time when many many of us long to experience more of God's power: why are we cutting ourselves off from the powerful vitality of God's word?
However, if the Scriptures are going to be read, they must be read well. The proper public reading of the word of God is not something that you can assume will happen in a church service. How many times do readers stumble and bumble through the Scriptures as if they had never laid eyes on the passage until they are standing before the people. This should not be! Scripture reading needs to be practiced, along with the right pronunciation of the words, and the appropriate phrasing so as to make the passage understandable. Furthermore, readers need to speak up when they read, they need to carefully enunciate the words, and read with an awareness of the main thrust of the passage.
Listening to the Scriptures being read should be a pleasure. An experience that captivates our minds, hearts and imaginations. Frankly, I have found the reading of the Bible to be one of the highlights of the service; if it is read well and in a way that glorifies God. We must not make the very common mistake of thinking that the Bible is a closed book until we elucidate it with our brilliant comments and illustrations. Nothing could be further from the truth! The Bible speaks for itself. The truth of God's word lies right there on the surface if we have been given eyes to see and ears to hear by the Holy Spirit.
We would do well to remember the word of the Lord proclaimed by Jeremiah: "Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" (23:29) We should also remember the word of the Lord spoken through Amos: "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it." (8:11-12)
It is a terrible judgment when the Lord withholds his word and his truth is not freely and reverently proclaimed throughout the land. One way we can minister grace in the Lord's name is to read the Scriptures ourselves and in the hearing of others while we pray that God would bless it. Only then are we in a position to expound that word with the help of the Holy Spirit.
In 1 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching (4:13). This is God's will for his people until Jesus comes again at the end of the age. God knows that we need to hear the Scriptures being read on a regular basis. They are powerful because they are the written word of God. Although it is good and very necessary to preach and teach the Scriptures as well, we have a divine injunction to read the word, as the word, to others. Hebrews 4:12 says that, "The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart". Those who read it on a regular basis can attest to the power that the writer to the Hebrews is talking about. In a time when many many of us long to experience more of God's power: why are we cutting ourselves off from the powerful vitality of God's word?
However, if the Scriptures are going to be read, they must be read well. The proper public reading of the word of God is not something that you can assume will happen in a church service. How many times do readers stumble and bumble through the Scriptures as if they had never laid eyes on the passage until they are standing before the people. This should not be! Scripture reading needs to be practiced, along with the right pronunciation of the words, and the appropriate phrasing so as to make the passage understandable. Furthermore, readers need to speak up when they read, they need to carefully enunciate the words, and read with an awareness of the main thrust of the passage.
Listening to the Scriptures being read should be a pleasure. An experience that captivates our minds, hearts and imaginations. Frankly, I have found the reading of the Bible to be one of the highlights of the service; if it is read well and in a way that glorifies God. We must not make the very common mistake of thinking that the Bible is a closed book until we elucidate it with our brilliant comments and illustrations. Nothing could be further from the truth! The Bible speaks for itself. The truth of God's word lies right there on the surface if we have been given eyes to see and ears to hear by the Holy Spirit.
We would do well to remember the word of the Lord proclaimed by Jeremiah: "Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" (23:29) We should also remember the word of the Lord spoken through Amos: "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it." (8:11-12)
It is a terrible judgment when the Lord withholds his word and his truth is not freely and reverently proclaimed throughout the land. One way we can minister grace in the Lord's name is to read the Scriptures ourselves and in the hearing of others while we pray that God would bless it. Only then are we in a position to expound that word with the help of the Holy Spirit.
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