Month: February 2016

War Room is an absolutely powerful film about the greatest power in the world, the power of prayer.  The final scene is a clarion call to all of us believers in Christ. Just as we gathered at the altar at the conclusion of the film to cry out to the Lord, will you join Clara, and thousands of others across the land in intercessory, strategic, courageous prayer this week and in the days to come?

War Room – Prayer Scene

Clara:  You’ve done it again, Lord, You’ve done it again. You are good, You are mighty, and You are merciful! And You keep taking care of me when I don’t deserve it, praise You, Jesus!  You are Lord!  Give me another one, Lord. Guide me to who you want me to help; raise up more that will call upon your name!  Raise up those that love you and seek you and trust you! Raise ‘em up, Lord, raise ’em up! Lord, we need a generation of believers who are not ashamed of the gospel! We need an army of believers, Lord, that hate to be lukewarm, and will stand on your Word above all else! Raise ’em up, Lord, raise ‘em up! I pray for unity among those that love You; I pray that You open their eyes so that they can see your truth Lord! I pray for your hand of protection and guidance! Raise up a generation Lord that will take light into this world; that will not compromise when under pressure; that will not cower, Lord, when others fall away! Raise ‘em up, Lord, that they will proclaim that there is salvation in the name of Jesus Christ! Raise up Warriors, Lord, who will fight on their knees!! Who will worship You with their whole hearts, Lord!! Lord, call us to battle that we may proclaim You, King of Kings and Lord of Lords! I pray these things with all my heart! Raise ‘em up, Lord! Raise ‘em up! AMEN!

Matthew 7:7  Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Psalm 107:28-30 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven.

1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones (Proverbs 17:22).  In other words, “A joyful heart gives happy healing” (Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon).   “A healthy attitude fosters good health but a depressed spirit ruins good health” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary).  Some medicines taste terrible, but I know they are for my good, for my healing.  A merry, joyful heart never “tastes bad” and is always for my good.  It’s healthy.

When I look back over this past week and consider some of the things that I have written about, events in our county and country, I need a merry heart.  My greatest joy is the Lord, His Word, and the relationship of daily communion (John 15:1-11). My greatest confidence is that my God is sovereign (Psalm 103:19; Proverbs 16:1-4). But, there is also the need of some good laughter in my life!

Yesterday, I had a sudden bout of vertigo, and I took my medicine.  Of course, it made me a bit loopy. I was trying to tell my wife about something in the nearby town of Jonesborough, and the way I pronounced the town’s name proved my loopiness! Well, all of sudden my wife was bent over laughing so hard she was crying.  When I replayed what I said in my own mind, I started laughing.  In midst of our continual state of silliness, the thought came to my mind, “I needed that!”

God created laughter.  Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us, there is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”  So since there is a time for laughter, how about havin’ at it!  It will do you good. Besides, my God has the world and you under control; why worry and fret.  Relax. Allow your theology to affect your funny bone. Take your medicine.

To perhaps get you started, here’s a couple of links of “medicine” that will do you good:

Barney Fife The Preamble To The Constitution

Benjy and the Zipper Story

Proverbs 15:13, 15 – A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.  All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

A month ago I had the joy of attending an event that I greatly anticipate each year which is the Men’s Prayer Advance.  I have written about it in past blogs.

The Making of a Man:  Men’s Prayer Advance

Sing Out, Men!

Men’s Prayer Advance

Once again, the Lord met with us in a special way as we gathered in January at the Sheraton Hotel in Roanoke, VA, for three days set aside to pray, praise and hear strong Bible preaching.  The five men in our group were convicted, corrected, challenged, changed, and charged up to advance in the blood-bought privilege of prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-25)!!

Tuesday night something really unexpected happened.  The five of us had the privilege of meeting at a local restaurant for supper and then a season of prayer.  One of the men resides in Mooresville, NC, and had business in Knoxville on Wednesday.  Because of what God had done in his heart and life, he wanted as many of the group as could to meet up again and renew the joys of Prayer Advance.  So, he initiated this gathering, even driving out of his way to make this work.  What really spoke to my heart was a man advancing in prayer in such a way that he would make plans for it, drive a distance to join other men in a time of intercession, and look forward to another time to do it again in the near future.

Prayer?  Yes, prayer.  When you understand the glories of prayer, the fellowship of prayer, the power of prayer, the unity in prayer, the need of prayer and the future of prayer, you are willing to make advancements in such a privilege.  You are willing to plan for it.  You are more than willing to drive to a prayer meeting.  You are more than willing to invite others to pray with you.

Are you advancing in prayer?

“Prayer is what invites the power of heaven into the circumstances of earth.”  (War Room)

“We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth.” (Andrew Murray)

Washington County Commissioner Forrest Boreing attributed the early Tuesday morning failure of a resolution against same-sex marriage to the ETSU factor, which he said influenced the vote. “It was split by (East Tennessee State University),” Boreing said after the 7-hour meeting. “There are so many people from that school that showed up tonight. Most of the colleges do have more liberal attitudes, but that makes for good discussions.”

The 12-11 vote to approve the resolution — failed because supporters needed 13 to capture a majority of the 25-seat County Commission — came nearly 6.5 hours into the meeting, after a nearly hour-long discussion by commissioners on a measure to drop the resolution from the agenda and more than three hours of public comments.

Hundreds packed five courtrooms of the George Jaynes Justice Center and spilled out into upstairs and downstairs foyers, watching the 57 public speakers and the Commission’s debate on projection televisions specially wired for the occasion.

What caught my attention in Forest Boreing’s statement was “The ETSU factor” and “more liberal attitudes.”  East Tennessee is a very conservative area, but what caused this defeat?  Certainly, I do not know all the facts, but why were Boreing’s comments not about the “The Christian factor” and “more biblical attitudes.”  I do not expect people who are unbelievers to be on the side of biblical righteousness.  I also know that America is fast removing itself from its moral fiber of days gone by.

It is interesting to me that all the counties around us have passed a resolution against same-sex marriage.  Nevertheless, this loss in our county did not happen overnight.  While falsehood rages, truth does not need to flee.  If there was ever a day when the people of God need to open their mouths, their home, and their lives for the gospel, it is today!  The ETSU factor and liberal thinking should be eclipsed because believers are being obedient to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). We are where we are in this county, in our state and in our country because Christians are too silent. Last night’s vote should not even have had to happen. We have the Truth, but we must not keep it to ourselves.  I am not upset with the “ETSU, liberal crowd” at all.  My heart goes out to them, and I want to see them as Christ sees them (Matthew 9:36).

One day, if we do not become intentionally obedient to Christ’s call, we will wake up and find out that unrighteousness has swept over us in our land.  So, if you are bothered in any way by last night’s defeat, you won’t sit and stew or mumble and grumble.  You will become soul-conscious and a gospel voice for Christ.  You will attend your church’s soul winning outreaches.  You will view your home, Sunday School class, job, grocery shopping, recreation, and all of life as a gospel opportunity.  The gospel sets men free from sin, death, and hell.  The gospel changes everything!

Matthew 9:36-38  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

News taken from: http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/2016/02/22/Public-comments-run-late-during-County-Commission-s-same-sex-marriage-debate.html?ci=featured&lp=1&ti=

No matter how America votes in the Supreme Court, in each state or even on the county level in reference to marriage, the truth is, authentic marriage has been and will always be the joining of a natural born man to a natural born woman.  Why?  Jehovah Elohim created it that way (Genesis 2:18-25).

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

A major debate has ensued last night in our county about a resolution supporting “traditional marriage” which has been defined as between one man and one woman.  The words of the definition are correct but the use of the word “traditional” is wrong.  Merrriam-Webster dictionary defines tradition as:

1 a :  an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)

b :  a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable

2:  the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction

Marriage is not a tradition or traditional.  It is biblical; it is God-created; it is fully detailed in Scripture.  True biblical marriage can be defined, described, and twisted by man’s thoughts, but that does not change the truth of Genesis 2:18-25.

Having said that, my challenge to all of us as born-again believers is, the best way to vote for authentic marriage is:

1. Live a biblical marriage (Ephesians 4:21-5:33; 1 Peter 3:1-7) in your home and before the world. What are your next door neighbors, your co-workers, your family learning about Christ and marriage from you?

2. By your example and edification, teach your children about biblical marriage (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Matthew 19:1-6). Model it before them.  Let them see you biblically loving one another (1 Corinthians 13:1-8), and biblically dealing with your sin and failures.

3. Live out the gospel and share the gospel with unbelievers because the gospel changes everything. D.A. Carson has said this about the gospel: It “is not only the means by which people are saved, but also the truth and power by which people are sanctified; it is the truth of the Gospel that enables us to genuinely and joyfully do what is pleasing to God and to grow in progressive conformity to the image of Christ.”  As believers, our marriage should continually be an example of the transforming, sanctifying power of the gospel (Read Ephesians 5:21-33).  Unbelievers should learn about the gospel through our marriage which should be a continual witness of the gospel.

My wife and I are coming up on 35^th anniversary.  Outside of my salvation, the best part of my life has been the privilege to be married.  We have had our joys and our sorrows.  We have had our good and hard times.  What a joy to be involved, not in a tradition, but in a biblical marriage ordained and created by Jehovah Elohim.  So, every time my wife and I pray and read God’s Word together, hold hands, kiss, leave each other love notes, say “Please forgive me,” go on a date, look each other in the eye and converse, serve each other, be kind to one another, overlook faults, believe the truth, do not keep a record of wrongs done, hug, and enter into many, many other joys of marriage, we are voting for biblical marriage!   That’s what the world needs to see.  That’s what honors God!

The recent death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has come as a shock to many.  Here’s a letter from Justice Scalia to Dr. James Goodloe after attending a funeral in which Dr. Goodloe was the presiding minister.  It is worth the time to read and then to pray that God would give us men of principled, biblical character (1 Timothy 2:1-6; 2 Timothy 2:1-7).

Supreme Court of the United States

Washington, D. C. 20543

 

CHAMBERS OF

JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA

 

September 1, 1998

 

Dr. James C. Goodloe

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

1627 Monument Avenue

Richmond, Virginia 23220-2925

 

Dear Dr. Goodloe:

I looked for you unsuccessfully at the luncheon following the funeral yesterday. I wanted to tell you how reverent and inspiring I found the service that you conducted.

In my aging years, I have attended so many funerals of prominent people that I consider myself a connoisseur of the genre. When the deceased and his family are nonbelievers, of course, there is not much to be said except praise for the departed who is no more. But even in Christian services conducted for deceased Christians , I am surprised at how often eulogy is the centerpiece of the service, rather than (as it was in your church) the Resurrection of Christ, and the eternal life which follows from that. I am told that, in Roman Catholic canon law, encomiums at funeral Masses are not permitted—though if that is the rule, I have never seen it observed except in the breach. I have always thought there is much to be said for such a prohibition, not only because it spares from embarrassment or dissembling those of us about whom little good can truthfully be said, but also because, even when the deceased was an admirable person—indeed, especially when the deceased was an admirable person—praise for his virtues can cause us to forget that we are praying for, and giving thanks for, God’s inexplicable mercy to a sinner. (My goodness, that seems more like a Presbyterian thought than a Catholic one!)

Perhaps the clergymen who conduct relatively secular services are moved by a desire not to offend the nonbelievers in attendance—whose numbers tend to increase in proportion to the prominence of the deceased. What a great mistake. Weddings and funerals (but especially funerals) are the principal occasions left in modern America when you can preach the Good News not just to the faithful, but to those who have never really heard it.

Many thanks, Dr. Goodloe, for a service that did honor to Lewis and homage to God. It was a privilege to sit with your congregation. Best regards.

Sincerely,

 

Antonin Scalia

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/antonin-scalia-christian/

With all the attention-grabbers, sound bites, debates, commercials, tweets, Facebook posts, and noise, something tells me there is a presidential election on the horizon!  🙂 Every candidate has a passionate theme and message that trumps all timidity within them (no pun intended or endorsement).  Every candidate meets thousands of people every day on the political trail.  They answer multiplied questions from the media as well as the general public.  They are faced with fierce opposition in debates and by their detractors.  No matter, they press on because they have a message that they believe will change America.

This morning, I read a quote from David Platt that stirred my heart, “Privatized faith in a resurrected King is practically inconceivable.”  We have a message, the Gospel, that will change the world (Romans 1:16-17; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10).  Therefore, we must not be a private Christian when it comes to sharing our faith in our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.  If a man running for the highest office in America can be bold and articulate in his belief, we can, too!  We are not running for office because we are already elected in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-6), but we are running for the Bema (2 Corinthians 5:9-11)!  Share the message of eternal change today!  That message, the Gospel, changed you, right?