Thursday Humor: "Hand Sanitizer" by Tim Hawkins

In this clip, Tim Hawkins tackles the use of hand sanitizer in church. I hope it brightens your day.

On Alert!

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering" (1 Pet. 5:8-9, NIV).

Peter knew what it was like to caught in the lion's trap. During the last supper, Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift him as wheat. He wouldn't listen. He thought he was invincible. You can read about it in Luke 22:24-46.

Someone defined self-control as man's ability to look at reality with a clear mind. Peter calls his readers to be self-controlled and alert. He points them to the reality. We are being hunted by a prowling lion who will devour us if he catches us. Peter reminds urges us to resist the enemy.

Peter uses several terms to describe our enemy. He calls him "your enemy." He isn't just Jesus' enemy, he is our enemy, as well. He is our enemy or adversary. He is one who wants to take us to court and strip us of all good. He is the devil, a slanderer and accuser.  Our enemy is on the hunt, he's hungry, and violent.

How should we respond? We need to resist him. How do we resist him? We do it by standing firm in our faith. Peter, most probably, is referring the truths of Christianity, but he may also mean our personal profession of faith.  Why do we resist him? We do it because our "brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering." He could be calling us to serve as an example for other believers, calling us to encourage other believers with our faithfulness, or calling us to remember our unity with Christ.

Peter wants us to be ready when the devil attacks. Where he once fell, he wants us to stand. If we are to succeed, we must be on alert!

Spiritual Songs: "Hallelujahs" by Chris Rice

I love Chris Rice's music. It is usually thought provoking, occasionally melancholy. This song, "Hallelujahs," is vivid in its descriptions, and powerful in its themes. The song pulls listeners into the rapturous worship. As we listen, we are reminded of the many reasons we should be singing God's praises. I hope this song blesses you, and leads you to praise the Lord.

FAQs Mondays: The Baptist Scriptural Catechism

In the weeks to come, I want to spend some time looking at a new catechism. The Baptist Scriptural Catechism (1850) was written by Henry Clay Fish. You can view an abridged copy at The Reformed Reader. This catechism is for advanced students. The questions encourage deeper thought.

We will definitely look at the questions and answers that deal with the Scriptures, and we may look at other parts as well. I encourage you the to follow the link above or this one, and begin reading through it. We will start next Monday by looking at "The Inspiration of the Scriptures."

Sermon Recap 9-25-11

Morning: The sermon, "In God's Household," explored 1 Timothy 3:14-16. In this passage, Paul explains why he is writing to Timothy. He wants God's people to know how to behave. He refers to them as God's household (family), the church of the living God, and the pillar and foundation of truth. He then turns Timothy's attention to Jesus by explaining the mystery of godliness.

Evening: We had a movie night.

Thursday Humor: "5 Second Rule"

I found this clip on the five second rule both informative and funny. So pick that cookie up off the floor, have a seat, and check this out.

A Heart Prepared

As believers, we are called to set apart Christ as Lord in our heart. We are called to live for his glory no matter what our circumstances are. Peter reminds us of these truths in 1 Peter 3:13-17. In this passage, he gives us a brief field manual for this rough and tumble world.

• We must live righteously. Righteous living is a combination of faith and action. We can call it faithful obedience or obedient faith.

• We must adjust our definition of harm. From a human perspective, harm can be categorized as anything that brings pain, discomfort, or displeasure. From a divine perspective, harm is that which separates us from God's mercy.

• We have to accept suffering as a blessing. I don't mean we enjoy the suffering. We rejoice in the suffering because it means God is treating us as his children. God blesses us in suffering (see Mt. 5:10-12).

• We must not fear. Peter tells us not to fear what they (opposition) fear or he could be telling us not to fear the opposition itself. If he is speaking about fearing what they fear, what would that be? Death, rejection, humiliation, etc. We are not to fear those things because we have Christ. Nor should we fear people because they only have the power to harm our bodies, not our souls.

• We must be prepared to give answers to any one who asks us why we hope in Christ. It doesn't we have all the answers, but that we are able to express the gospel clearly.

• We must be gentle and respectful. The gospel message can easily offend someone who does not believe they are a sinner. However, we should not seek to offend them with the way we present the message.

• We have to keep a clear conscience. We do this by living what we proclaim. We acknowledge our weaknesses, but strive to live obediently. 

Peter's words where meant to comfort a struggling people. They were also meant to encourage them to rise to the challenge. Sometimes, suffering for doing God's will is his will for us. When he permits hardship to enter our lives, we can trust that he has a good reason. In times like those, we cling to him knowing that he is worthy of our trust.

Spiritual Songs: "Give Me Jesus"

This song, "Give Me Jesus," is a beautiful song. Some of its beauty is in its simplicity. It captures the heartcry of the worshiper. The video is a little grainy, but I hope you enjoy it.

FAQs Mondays: "If a Tree Falls in the Forest . . ."

I want to look at a familiar question this week, and how it relates to apologetics. The question is:

If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Let me say a couple of things up front. First, this question, in and of itself, has nothing to do with apologetics. Second, this is the kind of question that it meant to drive the mind to meditate on nothingness.

However, the question helps us to understand the necessity of apologetics, and some of the inherent difficulties of the process. For the record, apologetics is the process of giving a reasoned defense of one's believes.

I know a lot of people who are terrified of the thought of sharing the message of Jesus with another person. Most are scared because they think they will be asked a question they don't know the answer to. Some are afraid they will be asked a question that will cause their faith to unravel. Questions like the one above, remind us that their are questions lurking in the wings, and many of them are difficult to answer (But none of them are fatal to Christianity--the lack of an answer isn't proof that Christianity isn't true. It simply means we don't have all the information we need to answer the question at this time.)

I have discussed the question with several people through the years, and heard other peoples' opinions on it. I would have to say most of the ones I know, are frustrated by the question. Most never take the questions intent into consideration. They assume the question wants a logical answer. However, the question wants to push the mind beyond logic into the realm of nothingness. Whether you want to view this kind of meditation as a uniting with nothing or a uniting with everything doesn't matter. The question is designed to shake logic.

In this way, the question can teach us the necessity of apologetics because we sense the frustration question generates. We are rational beings, and we were designed to be such. There is a reason that most cultures look down on irrationality. Most attacks against God and the faith are really attacks on logic and reason. There is a press to redefine what is rational and logical.

But the question also teaches us the difficulties of apologetics. How does one answer a question like this? No matter what answer you give, the immediate response is: "How do you know?". Now, the person answering the question is caught in the questioners trap. The initial question we must ask when dealing with someone who questions the faith is, "What sort of evidence are you willing to consider?"

Would it answer the question to suggest placing listening equipment in the forest to capture the sound of the falling tree? The equipment, while not a person, would function as a surrogate ear, thus "hearing" the tree. If you turn to the laws of physics, and suggest that a tree falling in the woods would disrupt the air around it as it fell and struck the ground sending sound waves rippling through the forest, then it could be countered that we only know that to be factual in cases where there has been an ear to observe it.

Do you see how logical implications can be skirted by willful refuse to weigh the evidence? Some people have legitimate questions about God, Jesus, and the Bible. Other people are trying to push their minds beyond the logical implications of the gospel. They don't want to live in a world in which they are obligated to honor God with their life. They don't want to live in a world where they deserve death and hell because of their rebellion against God. They don't want to live in a world where they can't save themselves.

When pressed with a biblical truth, they will respond with, "How do you know your right?". If you press further, with legitimate, logical reasons, they will push back with a similar response. Defending our faith is important because we are called to do it (see 1 Pet. 3:15), but apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in a person's heart--it will never open the eyes of the spiritually blind.

Experience teaches us that a tree that falls in the forest, when a person is there to hear it, makes a sound. Evidence, both logical and empirical, can be given to explain why this happens. Yet, no evidence can be given to explain why it wouldn't still happen in the absence of a hearing ear. Likewise, evidence can be given to support the existence of color. Color does not cease to exist because an eye cannot perceive it. Spiritual truth cannot be so easily dismissed just because one does not have an ear to hear or an eye to see.

Sunday Recap 9-18-11

Morning: The sermon, "Servant of the Church," focused on 1 Timothy 3:8-13. In this passage, Paul explains the qualifications of a deacon.

A deacon is a servant of the church. He is to have a certain character: worthy of respect, sincere, not a heavy drinker, not greedy, faithful to their spouse, and able to manage their families. They must hold to the gospel with a good conscience. In 1 Timothy 3:11, Paul either address women deacons or the wives of deacons. I tend to think that he is addressing the wives because they work closely with their husbands. The deacon is promised a good standing and assurance of faith for faithful service.

Evening: We looked at Psalm 121. This psalm reminds us that God is our almighty helper. Like a sentry that is ever vigilant, the Lord watches over us. He covers them with shade from the sun and moon. He shields us from harm by holding us in his hand.

The Realms Thereunder by Ross Lawhead

This is a book review of The Realms Thereunder by Ross Lawhead.

Do you remember that old song that says, "Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you"? In an interesting twist on the fairy tale, Ross Lawhead's book suggests the same thing.

The main characters, Daniel Tulley and Freya Reynolds, discover that the real world and the world of legends, myths, and fairy tales actually overlap.

As children, Daniel and Freya, stumbled into another realm while on a field trip. In this new realm, they awaken two knights who have been sleeping for 1000 years. In order to get back to modern day England, Daniel and Freya, have to help the good knights free their land of an evil force.

As adults, eight years later, Daniel and Freya are struggling to make sense of what happened. Daniel continues to battle dark forces that have crossed into our realm, while Freya is battling OCD. Freya is nearly paralyzed by the fear of returning to the other realm. Daniel yearns to be a hero. The two of them are still at the center of an epic (and almost eternal) battle.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Realms Thereunder. I admit I have often asked myself, "What if those legends aren't really legends after all." Or "What if those creatures truly existed. I have loved knights and swords since I was little. The elements of this story tapped into a part of my imagination that is rooted deep into my heart. Swords, knights, enchantments, and the destruction of evil. What's not to love. Then, Ross Lawhead, takes all of that (myth and legend) and slams it straight down in this world. Awesome!

If you spent your free time in high school reading King Arthur stories, you will love this book. If you didn't, you might find that you can still enjoy it. I will give this caveat, the author makes liberal use of flashbacks and flash-forwards. It doesn't really slow the story down, but if you aren't able to read it straight through (and most people can't), it can make it a bit harder remembering what has already happened in the story.

One other warning. This is the first book in a series. If you hate the idea of waiting a year (or two) to read the next one (or two), then you might want to hold off on checking it out. Or you could read it now, and then read it again later when the other books come out. It's up to you.

If you love fiction, and fantasy in particular, I encourage you to check this one out. If you hate fantasy or fiction or both, try broadening your horizons.

I was given this e-book by Thomas Nelson through Booksneeze.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are mine.

Thursday Humor: "Girls vs. Boys" by Tim Hawkins

The Thursday humor slot will be filled by Tim Hawkins again. The reason is simple. I find myself listening to clip after clip, and he consistently makes me laugh. This clip deals with the differences between boys and girls. I hope it lightens your day.

Change Your Perspective

Sometimes we miss the blessing right in front of us because we're looking off in the wrong direction. It is easy to get sidetracked by the grass-is-greener syndrome.  I have struggled all of my life to enjoy the gifts I have received because I was thinking of the ones I didn't get. These thoughts generate bitterness, resentment, and ingratitude. I guess we can call it the lust of the eyes. The eye sees, and wants. It is never satisfied.

Here is video that reminds us of what we might be missing out on because we aren't looking at things the right way. If you've been looking, but not finding it may be time to change your perspective.

Love Tap from Mike Goode on Vimeo.

Hymns: How Deep the Father's Love for Us

This is a beautiful song. It helps us to meditate on the depth of the Father's love for the redeemed in Christ. It mingles the themes of God's holiness, his mercy, and man's sinfulness. It generates awe in the listener who meditates upon the truths the song contains. We are reminded that God didn't have to love us, but he did. His grace is beyond our comprehension. I hope you enjoy.

FAQs Mondays: "How Do We Keep from Ruining Our Life?

I had hope to dedicate the next few weeks of this series to answering questions from readers. However, I haven't had any questions submitted to me.

No questions could mean several things. It could mean that none of my readers have any theological or ethic questions on their minds. It could mean people feel uncomfortable asking the questions that bother them. It could mean I don't have any readers.

I'm going to operate under the assumption (I know it's dangerous) that I have readers. I'll even assume that they have questions, but just don't know how to ask them. With these two assumptions, I will seek to answer questions I think readers might have, and hope that these answers help. 

Let me offer this question: "How do I keep my life from being ruined?"

The easy answer to this question is don't do foolish stuff. Most of us learn early enough that it is dangerous to stick a fork in an outlet. Those of us who are slower than average learn that lesson the hard way. One's knowledge of potential danger is not always enough to prevent the kind of curiosity that kills the cat, so to speak.

In truth, this question is simple to answer, but the answer isn't simple to follow. There are two ways to live one's life. There is the way of God and the way of self. Proverbs 14:12 states, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." God's way is only right way. All other ways only seem right. God's way leads to life. All other ways lead to death.

The old expression, "an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure," works in this situation. If one wants to prevent the ruin of ones life, it is best done before life begins to slide downhill. If our desires were informed and shaped by the Word of God, we might find ourselves facing fewer difficult choices.

The problem is embedded in human nature. People are born into this world turned away from God. Mankind seeks its own way apart from God.

The farther away from God we travel, the greater our risk for ruin becomes. All of the things we hope to gain from our rebellion--freedom, happiness, satisfaction, are lost in the pursuit. I'm not suggesting that sin isn't fun or enjoyable. I'm not saying there aren't deep emotions involved. But the truth is few, if any, took their first drink with the goal of becoming an alcoholic, and no new bride to be selects their potential mate on the hopes of getting divorced.

We often make choices without asking the right question. The right question is "What does God say?" Too often, people grope around life like a blind squirrel in search of an acorn in a gravel drive way.  They bite rock after rock, but never ask God to open their eyes.

If we start with God's perspective, we can avoid a ruined life. This doesn't mean life will be easy. Pain and suffering are often woven into the tapestries of our life. After all, who would notice the silver lining if there weren't clouds.

Jesus calls us to follow him. He said the way is narrow. It may be difficult, but we don't travel it alone.

Sermon Recap 9-11-11

Morning: The sermon, "Sheltered," focused on the Psalm 91:1-16. In this passage, the Psalmist calls us to find refuge in the Lord.

In this psalm, we are reminded that we need to trust the Lord. Those who trust the Lord are promised protection and security. The Lord is compared to a bird drawing its wings over its young. The psalm ends in a promise spoken by the Lord. It is a promise to care for those who trust him.

Evening: We were in Romans 8:28-39 tonight exploring the implications of the gospel. Paul presents the plan of the gospel in Roman 8:28-30 which includes predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. In Romans 8:31-34, he causes us to think through the implications of the gospel by asking a series of pointed questions. Paul's final conclusion is that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ (see Romans 8:35-39).

Thursday Humor: "Cracker Barrel" by Tim Hawkins

In this clip, Tim Hawkins gives his take on the Cracker Barrel. I love the part about omelets--"Can you thank outside of the box for a minute?". Have a great one.

Revere the Lord

Do you ever think about reverence? What does it mean to revere something or someone? Some would say that reverence is showing the proper respect or honor to a worthy object. What objects are worthy of our reverence. Here are a few people and places worthy of respect:

• God (Ex. 20:1-11; Deut. 5:6-15; Ps. 33:8-9; Heb. 12:28-29)
• God's sanctuary (Lev. 19:30; 1 Cor. 3:16-17)
• God's commandments (Ps. 119:48)
• Our fathers and mothers (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16; Lev. 19:3; Heb. 12:9)
• Government leaders [by extension military and law enforcement] (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:17)
• Church leaders (1 Tim. 3:2, 8; 5:17; Heb. 13:17)
• Other believers (Rom. 12:10; 1 Pet. 2:17)

Paul reminds us that God is an object, that is, a focal point, worthy of infinite reverence. In 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul states, "since we have these promises." The promise that he addresses are found in 2 Corinthians 6:16-18. They can be summarized as:

• He will live with us.
• He will walk with us.
• He will be our God.
• We will be his people.
• We will be his children.

These promises speak to the hope of returning to Edenic perfection. Mankind has a deep, innate yearning for the return to perfection. Mankind once existed in a perfect state in the Garden of Eden prior to the fall of Adam.

We want to return to that state. However, we cannot. We live in a state that doesn't permit us to enter into the presence of the Lord without the aid of a Mediator. The promises Paul alludes to in 2 Corinthians 7:1, all point to the fulfillment of that hope. In Christ, we will experience a future with no death, no exile, no sin, and no separation from God. We'll no longer be east of Eden.

Instead, we will experience belonging, love, care, and protection. God will be with us. We will be able to behold his glory in Christ Jesus, and he will wipe away every tear from our eyes. We will be given new bodies that are not subject to death, disease, or decay.

Until that day, we must strive to show God our reverence. Paul gives us the shape of reverence. We must "purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit," and we need to perfect holiness.

To purify ourselves of all contaminates suggests removing the things in our lives that draw us away from wholehearted devotion to the Lord. The author of Hebrews says something similar in Hebrews 12:1-3, when he tells us to throw off the weights and sins that easily entangle us, and to focus on Christ.

Perfecting holiness is the continual practice of walking in obedience to the Lord. Peter helps us to develop a plan for holy living in 2 Peter 1:3-11. God gives us what we need to live godly lives. We just have to pursue it with faith.

As followers of Christ we must heed Peter's warning, "Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives in reverent fear." We labor for his glory, knowing that Christ has secured our way.

Hymns: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

This hymn was originally written in German by Martin Luther. It speaks of God's sovereignty and might. It is a continually reminder that God's Word cannot fail. As such, it reminds us to cling to God's unerring Word with faith and conviction. Here is Chris Rice's version of  "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God".  

FAQs Mondays

FAQs Mondays will return next week. Thank you for you patience. If you have any questions or topics you would like to address, please leave a comment.

Sunday Recap 9-4-11

Morning: This morning's message, "On Pastor's," focused on 1 Timothy 3:1-7. In this passage, Paul explains to Timothy what he should look for in an overseer (bishop/elder/pastor).

Paul started with a willing heart. It is a noble thing to desire leadership, if the heart is in the right place. The first step to leadership is willingness to serve.

Paul then goes on to explain right character. Pastors are to be men of integrity. They are to be humble, honest, sober men. They are to be men who can teach and who can manage their families well. They should be men who help strangers.

Paul then explains that they should be men of some experience and training. New believers should be placed into roles of leadership because it can cause them to become prideful.

The church should seek such men for their pulpits. It should also seek to train the men in the pew to exemplify these qualities.

Evening: Business meeting.

Thursday Humor: "Raising Kids" by Tim Hawkins

I know I link to the same guys over and over, but that's because they consistently make me laugh. Laughter is an amazing gift. I hope this clip brightens your day.