January 20, 2009

Hebrews 13:3

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Hebrews 13:3



Location: China Arrested: January 2007 Days Imprisoned: 726
Print Fact Sheet

On January 26, 2007, 76-year-old Shuang Shuying and her son, house church leader Hua Huiqi, were attacked, wounded and arrested by police while walking near a 2008 Olympic hotel site in Beijing. Shuying has numerous medical problems and is serving two years in prison. We invite you to write a letter of encouragement to Shuying. We have experienced incredible results when readers write to believers who have been imprisoned for their faith. The letters often result in shorter prison sentences. Send a letter of encouragement to Shuying and let her know you are praying for her. Also, write to the Chinese government requesting she be released. Let your friends know about suffering believers in China and encourage them to pray and write too. Get involved. Pray and write today.

http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_177_profile.html

January 19, 2009

Quote of the Day

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the Word of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him. Where the battle rages there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” -- Martin Luther

January 18, 2009

Christians in Retreat

The Tennessean today published a story titled “Southern Baptist Fight decline” which can be found here http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090117/NEWS06/901170354. In this article Bob Smietana, wote,

“The biggest problem facing Baptists may be that they talk a lot about saving souls, but church members have become reluctant to share their faith. Baptists emphasize believer's baptism, which means that new converts should be immersed after professing their faith in Jesus Christ.

Ed Stetzer, head of LifeWay Research, said that a grass-roots evangelism revival is needed in Baptist churches. He says too many Southern Baptists rely on preachers to talk about Jesus.

"Southern Baptists are people who love to talk about evangelism, as long as it is being done by someone else," he said.

In 1978, just before the start of the resurgence, there was one baptism for every 36 members of the convention. By 2007, that ratio was one baptism to every 47 members.

"We are baptizing fewer of our own children, and fewer unchurched people," LifeWay's Rainer said.

More than 9,000 congregations, or almost a quarter of all Southern Baptist churches, reported no baptisms in 2007. And, in that year, only 8.3 percent of the churches were responsible for 49.8 percent of the convention's baptisms.”

The problem has to be that Southern Baptist either:

A. Do not believe in Hell any more.

B. Hate the people around them so much that they wish they would go to hell.

C. Are so lazy and narcissistic that they would rather watch football (or read or play Boggle or whatever) than warn people about hell.

D. Are trying to stay out of hell themselves by playing religious games, and once they have checked off the Church box they are done.

I think the answer is either C or D and it breaks my heart. And, the enemy is not taking a break either. If he can get all of us focused on the election, or putting together a petition to have “Desperate Housewives” taken off the air, or making sure that the Jesus fish on my pickup is well polished then there is no one left to share the gospel with the guy at your job. I would invite you the visit http://www.wayofthemaster.com/learntoshare.shtml, and dedicate your life to Jesus and doing the work he has called us to do. Jesus said “Go” and if we disobey that, if we thumb our nose at the King and make silly excuses then how can we expect anything but condemnation in our lives?

Blaurock Luke 12:47

January 17, 2009

How Barack Obama Will Make Christ a Minister of Condemnation

How Barack Obama Will Make Christ a Minister of Condemnation
January 17, 2009 By: John Piper


At Barack Obama’s request, tomorrow in the Lincoln Memorial, Gene Robinson, the first openly non-celibate homosexual bishop in the Episcopal Church, will deliver the invocation for the inauguration kick-off.

This is tragic not mainly because Obama is willing to hold up the legitimacy of homosexual intercourse, but because he is willing to get behind the church endorsement of sexual intercourse between men.

It is one thing to say: Two men may legally have sex. It is another to say: The Christian church acted acceptably in blessing Robinson’s sex with men.

The implications of this are serious.

It means that Barack Obama is willing, not just to tolerate, but to feature a person and a viewpoint that makes the church a minister of damnation. Again, the tragedy here is not that many people in public life hold views (like atheism) that lead to damnation, but that Obama is making the church the minister of damnation.

The apostle Paul says,

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves , nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

What is Paul saying about things like adultery, greed, stealing, and homosexual practice? As J. I. Packer puts it, “They are ways of sin that, if not repented of and forsaken, will keep people out of God’s kingdom of salvation.” (Christianity Today, January 2003, p. 48).

In other words, to bless people in these sins, instead of offering them forgiveness and deliverance from them, is to minister damnation to them, not salvation.

The gospel, with its forgiveness and deliverance from homosexual practice, offers salvation. Gene Robinson, with his blessing and approval of homosexual practice, offers damnation. And he does it in the name of Christ.

It is as though Obama sought out a church which blessed stealing and adultery, and then chose its most well-known thief and adulterer, and asked him to pray.

One more time: The issue here is not that presidents may need to tolerate things they don’t approve of. The issue is this: In linking the Christian ministry to the approval of homosexual activity, Christ is made a minister of condemnation.

Desiring God Blog

"God Told Me"

A Friend of Mine, John Killian Ask me the following question:
"In light of the position we hold that Scripture is our sole authority, I would like comments on the matter of those who constantly claim that God speaks personally to them. Do people today hear voices from God? Is God silent? Do these personal messages from God possess a value on par with Scripture? Lest I am perceived as harsh, I am sincere in wanting input on this question.

I believe that God is still free to speak (just as he did to the prophets) and still does speak to people through many aveunes. The inner conviction of the Spirit, through other believers, through creation through a variety of methods and means. These convictions or experiences however must be interpreted through the lense of scripture. God will never tell you something that contridicts scripture or goes against it in any way. These experiences are in no way equal to scripture. When I preach do I believe God is speaking through me, yes. Do I believe that I have been inspired by he Holy Spirit to speak, yes of course, I pray that every time I speak I am inspired. But, is it inspired to be equal to scripture no way. The same applies to any other Word we have from God. Scripture has a higher level of authority above all other forms of revelation."

An Excellent question, one that I think the Church has avoided for far too long out of the fear of offending someone.
Hebrews 1:1-2 says "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." So, I think that John Piper rightly points out that there are two phases of Revelation 1.) God spoke through prophets, and 2.) He now speaks through Jesus. When we look for a third way are we not saying, "I have plumbed the depths of this Jesus guy, and have found Him wanting. I need more than Jesus." Really, Has my wicked evil heart Really exausted all that Jesus has to offer me so that I long for another word? Or, could it be that I am too lazy to fall on my knees with my face in The Book and seek Him with all my being and effort. I believe that if we seek more of Him, if Jesus becomes the goal and not the means then the "Who do I marry", and "What house do I buy" kind of questions fade to grey and more or less take care of themselves.


It seems to me from observation and personal experience (Not very valuable I know) that when most people say "I feel lead" it means "I really want to", or "I feel strongly" and "God has laid ____ on my heart" means "I just thought of this". As a pastor I have had different people say that "The Lord has lead me" to leave their wife, sue a fellow christian, and take a job as a bartender. I have also had two separate people in the midst of an affair tell me that "God has given them peace" about the illicit relationship because they "really love" the person they are not married to at the time. I realize that these are extreme examples, but they highlight the fact that Our heart is deceitful (A liar) above all things and desperately wicked. I cannot (Nay Must not) believe what my heart/mind tell me. God, I believe does speak to us, through His Word primarily and through His Church, (but we are to test these against the word). Personally, I have excised all the "God lead, God spoke, God called" phrases from my vocabulary lest I break the commandment to Not Take the Lord my God's Name in vain. I think that God guides us through various means, but if it isnt in text I cannot be SURE that it is Him, and must treat it as a lesser, much lesser, authority.

Blaurock

January 1, 2009

New Year’s Day 2009

To follow up the post on New Year’s Resolution, I want to look at a short passage of Scripture.

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16

We’ve got a whole new year ahead of us. As believers though, we’ve got eternity ahead of us. That never changes, no matter the date on the calendar. That means our goals, or resolutions, should never change, no matter what we do, it is to be done to glorify God. (I Cor 10:31)

The year ahead is always something we cannot predict. Things often take turns we didn’t expect. Our passage points out that the days are evil. We know, from Scripture, that the days will get worse as we draw closer to the end. We don’t know when that day will actually be (Matthew 24:36) but we know that they will be similar to the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-38). Genesis 6:5 says “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” The days that we live in are truly no different. People are focused on the temporal, the past, the here and now.

We are to be different “not as unwise, but as wise.” Pay attention to your walk. Place one foot in front of the other, steady as you go. Carpe Diem, as the saying goes. The Greek word for time here means opportunity. Make the most of the opportunity that is the life you have been given. Worship and serve! God is to be our focus, our passion, our life!!

David Brainard, missionary to the Native Americans in the early your of America, said, “When I really enjoy God, I feel my desires of Him the more insatiable, and my thirstings after holiness the more unquenchable…Oh, for holiness! Oh, for more of God in my soul! Oh, this pleasing pain! It makes my soul press after God…Oh, that I might no loiter on my heavenly journey!!!

New Years Resolutions

Every year people make New Year's Resolutions. Sometimes they are a repeat of the resolutions of last year that never got done, sometimes they are new resolutions that won't get done. There is just something about the changing of the calendar that makes people want to change, be better, improve one's self.

That being said, here are mine!!

First of all, I want to improve things here at A&S. I want to post with some kind of regularity, at least once a week. It would help if I had a focus, like I did with the Proverbs, so I may try to find something like that. I also have to finish my post on the Great Commission!!

Second, I want to be better read. I am planning on setting aside $25-30 a month to buy books, hopefully getting at least two books a month. I don't plan on doing book reviews, although I may attempt one or two. Mainly, I just need to feed my mind more (which meand less television).

Third, I want to finally complete a "through the Bible in a year" plan. Every study bible I have has one in the back but I never seem to complete it. I worked on a couple of plans the other day that I think will work quite well though, with a big emphasis on the New Testament. I'll lay it out below.

Plan 1
This plan takes you through the Old Testament once and the New Testament 13 times, reading 10-11 chapters a day of NT. Wow, I know!

1. Read 3 chapters from the OT, 6 days a week, starting January 1st.
2. Week 1 (starting the first Sunday of January)
Sun: MT: 1-10
Mon: MT: 11-19
Tue: MT: 20-28
Wed: 1 Cor. 1-10
Thu: 1 Cor 11-16, 2 Cor 1-3
Fri: 2 Cor 4-13
Sat: 1&2 Thessalonians

Week 2
Sun: Mark 1-8
Mon: Mark 9-16
Tue: 1&2 Peter
Wed: Galatians, Colossians, & Philemon
Thu: Ephesians & Philippians
Fri: Hebrews 1-10
Sat: Hebrews 11-13 & Titus

Week 3
Sun: Luke 1-10
Mon: Luke 11-20
Tue: Luke 21-24 & Acts 1-6
Wed: Acts 7-16
Thu: Acts 17-25
Fri: Acts 26-28 & James
Sat: 1 & 2 Timothy

Week 4
Sun: John 1-10
Mon: John 11-20
Tue: Romans 1-8
Wed: Romans 9-16
Thu: 1-3 John & Jude
Fri: Revelation 1-11
Sat: Revelation 12-22


Plan 2
This plan takes you through the OT once and the NT 6 times(actually 6.5), reading 4-5 chapters a day of NT.

1. Read 3 chapters from the OT,6 days a week, starting January 1st.
2. Week 1 (starting the first Sunday of January)
Sun: Mt 1-5
Mon: Mt 6-10
Tue: Mt 11-15
Wed: Mt 16-20
Thu: Mt 21-24
Fri: Mt 25-28
Sat: James

Week 2
Sun: Mark 1-5
Mon: Mark 6-10
Tue: Mark 11-16
Wed: Romans 1-5
Thu: Romans 6-10
Fri: Romans 11-16
Sat: Jude

Week 3
Sun: John 1-5
Mon: John 6-10
Tue: John 11-15
Wed: John 16-20
Thu: 1 John
Fri: 2-3 John
Sat: Galatians

Week 4
Sun: Luke 1-4
Mon: Luke 5-9
Tue: Luke 1-14
Wed: Luke 15-19
Thu: Luke 2-24
Fri: 1 Thessalonians
Sat: 2 Thessalonians

Week 5
Sun: Acts 1-5
Mon: Acts 6-10
Tue: Acts 11-15
Wed: Acts 16-20
Thu: Acts 21-24
Fri: Acts 25-28
Sat: Philippians

Week 6
Sun: Colossians
Mon: 1 Cor 1-5
Tue: 1 Cor 6-10
Wed: 1 Cor 11-16
Thu: 2 Cor 1-5
Fri: 2 Cor 6-9
Sat: 2 Cor 10-13

Week 7
Sun: Hebrews 1-4
Mon: Hebrews 5-8
Tue: Hebrews 9-13
Wed: Ephesians
Thu: 1 Timothy
Fri: 2 Timothy
Sat: Titus

Week 8

Sun: 1 Peter
Mon: 2 Peter & Philemon
Tue: Revelation 1-5
Wed: Revelation 6-9
Thu: Revelation 10-13
Fri: Revelation 14-17
Sat: Revelation 18-22

December 20, 2008

Atheist Penn Jillette on Proseletyzing

I've never really been into Penn and Teller, though I have been aware of them and their Vegas show. I found this video on another blog, The Contemporary Calvinist, and thought you would all enjoy it. Interesting and convicting!!


December 17, 2008

The Picture As It Becomes

But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me I shall come forth like gold.

Job 23:10

It's like translating: like learning, only less me.

The unsettling urge to rescue

What falls away. Because all I know-

I am unlearning. Seeing is closer to it

(closer to being able to breath as ) I

Understand the cracks, the holes,

And gaps ARE the picture

as it becomes. And as I surrender.


Seeing is closer to it.

See, I keep piling up

The broken pieces around me thinking

That's what will protect, will defend me.

But the garbage is not

keeping me from sinking.

I cry for what's taken away.

Blind to what you are revealing.

The promise that "you know" means more than

My pretty garbage. Its stronger than my hands,

Wrapped around what used to make sense.

Its right, not familiar.

Clean, not common.

If You know - then, this is worth everything.

So. What's lower than weak?

What's higher than calm?

It is not what's left, Its what

is being revealed.

Letting go of my pretty garbage -

and trusting

( in ways, with means)

by forgetting what I call control.

November 16, 2008

It is better to be preserved in brine—than to rot in honey!

William Secker, "The Consistent Christian" 1660


Above every evil, we should consider sin as the greatest evil—as it is the fountainorigin of all evils. Sin is the only target—at which all the arrows of divine vengeance are shot! Sinners are those spiders which weave their own webs—and are afterwards entangled in them! Our own destruction—is but the fruit of our own transgression. There is more real evil in a particle of corruption—than in an ocean of tribulation!

The evil of suffering is transient—but the evil of sin is permanent. The consistent Christian will always choose the worst of sorrows—before he will commit the least of sins!

The wicked entirely reverse this—for they prefer the greatest sin—to the least sufferings! This is to leap out of the hot pan—into the consuming fire! By seeking to shun an external calamity—they rush into eternal misery!
and This is as if a man should lose his head—to preserve his hat!

As the works of sin are dishonorable; so the wages of sin are deadly! "The wages of sin—is death." The corruption of nature is the cause of the dissolution of nature. The candle of our lives—is blown out by the wind of our lusts! Were it not for sin—death would never have had a beginning! Were it not for death—sin would never have an ending!

What is so sweet a good as Christ? And what is so great an evil as lust? Sin has brought many a believer into suffering—and suffering has instrumentally kept many a believer out of sin!
It is better to be preserved in brine—than to rot in honey! The bitterest medicine is to be preferred—before the sweetest poison!worst of sorrows—before he will commit the least of sins! The consistent Christian will always choose the