An American Christian leader recently stated that he was in China visiting pastors of the underground church there. When he was getting ready to leave, some of the pastors said they were praying for Christians here in the States. This statement prompted his question, 'What are you asking God to do?' Their startling response was that we Americans would face persecution, as they do in China. They did not say this maliciously, because they suffer persecution, and we face very little. Their attitude is that we are soft spiritually, and if we come under physical persecution, it will strengthen true believers and send the rest scattering.
With all due respect to the Chinese Christians, and I am sure they are among the heroes of faith of whom this world is not worthy, I take issue on this point. From my study of the Bible, I don't find anyone seeking or praying for persecution. In I Tim. 2:1-2 Paul says, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." Paul's instruction is that we pray for our leaders and government officials so that we may avoid physical persecution. The object of our prayer for these individuals is that we may lead a godly life before others without fear of beatings or imprisonment.
Among the millions of Christians living on this planet, those of us here in America have the greatest freedom. There are those living in North Korea and Saudi Arabia who face the sentence of death for converting to Christianity. Many other countries have similarly harsh punishments for believers. In others the government turns a blind eye, while Muslims practice Jihad or Hindus burn Christian villages. Persecution is not something that we as Christians are exempt from. Read the book of I Peter. Persecution is rather to be expected. And if God does send persecution, our response is to rejoice as Jesus says in Matt. 5:11-12 and Peter reminds us in I Pet. 4:12-13.
So why would a God who has the power to send plagues to destroy Egypt, give the Israelites the Promised Land, and perform the other miracles we read of in the Old Testament, not be able to keep His children from persecution? The obvious answer is yes, but from what I read, our brothers and sisters do not consider persecution to be out the ordinary. They expect the hardships, but they know Jesus is with them, and that knowledge takes them through the rough times. Persecution is not a punishment from God. It is what God allows to draw His children closer to Him. Perhaps this is why the Chinese prayed as they did. If you study the heroes of faith in the Old Testament, and I think Joseph is a great example, you will find that many went through severe hardships before God really used them. The reason God was then able to use them effectively, is that the imperfections of the 'diamond in the rough' had been painfully cut away, and now a sparkling gem was ready to glorify God.
If we can get away from the 'it's all about me' attitude, and remember that it is all about God and He is working in lives to bring glory to Himself, then we will have less questions about what God is doing. It is much more important to allow God to work in our lives, than it is to tell God what and how much we want. We must keep in mind that He is our Sovereign and we are but His slaves. As such we can also take heart in this promise: in every trial I go through, I know that God is going with me and I know God loves me.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Thirty-three Years and Counting
Last weekend my wife and I celebrated our thirty-third anniversary. I am neither boasting nor acting like a prude when I say I have been faithful both before and since our wedding to my one and only love. I have no regrets, and have missed nothing by experimenting or dabbling into sexual immorality. I have read the story of King David enough times and I have seen how horribly adultery and pornography can ruin families. I have a clear conscience, but I also realize that it only by the grace of God that I can say that.
If you are pure, I urge you to stay that way, praying that God will protect you from the temptations that bombard us constantly. If you have strayed, though there may be scars for the rest of your life, God is the God of second chances. It requires repentance, and may require counseling, but God promises to forgive and with His help, you may find the forgiveness of others and possibly restoration.
Although I believe God wanted me to say that, I did want to make this post a little different from previous ones. This is more of a newsy post; I hope you don't mind. Since I took a vacation from my blog the past two months, things have not slowed down. I have spent the evenings and weekends working on our little estate we call Grace Place, and yes, the heat finally got to me! The company, Grace Plastics, has been slammed with more plastic scrap than we can handle, so we have added a fourth grinder and are slowly digging our way out. Although we have been stressed trying to figure out where we would put loads when there was absolutely no room in the building, God helped us through, just as He helped two years ago when we almost lost our shirt when the economy tanked. We are now financially stronger than we were before the crash - God is faithful - and it certainly doesn't hurt when we daily remind God that Grace Plastics doesn't belong to us, but to Him.
Two weeks ago Kathy and I took a trip to eastern Pennsylvania where our son-in-law's sister was getting married. I n a previous life (25 years ago), we spent a year and a half just outside Reading, PA. We visited the church we attended then, and were disappointed that we didn't recognize anyone. With the help of our Garmin, we were able to find the two houses that we lived in back then. Wow! one of them is a real trash heap now. Then we went on to Philadelphia and visited Independence Hall. The next day we were in Gettysburg for a tour of the battlefield, hoping that General Lee would somehow pull out a victory, but it just didn't happen.
And now, back at work, enjoying what God has led me to do. Let us all be faithful to Him!
If you are pure, I urge you to stay that way, praying that God will protect you from the temptations that bombard us constantly. If you have strayed, though there may be scars for the rest of your life, God is the God of second chances. It requires repentance, and may require counseling, but God promises to forgive and with His help, you may find the forgiveness of others and possibly restoration.
Although I believe God wanted me to say that, I did want to make this post a little different from previous ones. This is more of a newsy post; I hope you don't mind. Since I took a vacation from my blog the past two months, things have not slowed down. I have spent the evenings and weekends working on our little estate we call Grace Place, and yes, the heat finally got to me! The company, Grace Plastics, has been slammed with more plastic scrap than we can handle, so we have added a fourth grinder and are slowly digging our way out. Although we have been stressed trying to figure out where we would put loads when there was absolutely no room in the building, God helped us through, just as He helped two years ago when we almost lost our shirt when the economy tanked. We are now financially stronger than we were before the crash - God is faithful - and it certainly doesn't hurt when we daily remind God that Grace Plastics doesn't belong to us, but to Him.
Two weeks ago Kathy and I took a trip to eastern Pennsylvania where our son-in-law's sister was getting married. I n a previous life (25 years ago), we spent a year and a half just outside Reading, PA. We visited the church we attended then, and were disappointed that we didn't recognize anyone. With the help of our Garmin, we were able to find the two houses that we lived in back then. Wow! one of them is a real trash heap now. Then we went on to Philadelphia and visited Independence Hall. The next day we were in Gettysburg for a tour of the battlefield, hoping that General Lee would somehow pull out a victory, but it just didn't happen.
And now, back at work, enjoying what God has led me to do. Let us all be faithful to Him!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Happy Birthday, America!
'When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them to another...' and so begins the document that was penned 234 years ago and was ratified by the Continental Congress on the fourth of July. Written by Thomas Jefferson with the assistance of John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, it is an amazing justification for the breaking of the political ties binding the colonies to Great Britain.
Notice the following key phrases:
all Men are created equal - no nation accepted that idea. Actually even in the United States that didn't become a reality for several decades.
endowed by their Creator - without the authority of almighty God the unalienable rights have no moral underpinning. If we lose the reverential respect the Founders held toward their Creator, we will soon lose the Republic they gave us.
the Pursuit of Happiness - there is no where a guarantee or right to happiness, nor does it say the government is to do all in its power to make us happy. As long as we do not interfere with others, we may pursue to be happy in whatever ways we believe we will attain it.
And may I say that the rights enshrined in the Declaration are given by God. There is so much talk today about 'human rights.' These rights are endowed, not by the Creator, but by the government. Whenever they offer a human right, they are taking away some of our liberty. Our politicians need to be reminded that our great nation was built by courageous men and women who desired to be free of government tyranny.
Though only 234 years old, young among the nations of the earth, may the experiment that is America play out for many years to come. So I say, Happy Birthday, America, may you have many more birthdays free from tyranny and oppression!
Notice the following key phrases:
all Men are created equal - no nation accepted that idea. Actually even in the United States that didn't become a reality for several decades.
endowed by their Creator - without the authority of almighty God the unalienable rights have no moral underpinning. If we lose the reverential respect the Founders held toward their Creator, we will soon lose the Republic they gave us.
the Pursuit of Happiness - there is no where a guarantee or right to happiness, nor does it say the government is to do all in its power to make us happy. As long as we do not interfere with others, we may pursue to be happy in whatever ways we believe we will attain it.
And may I say that the rights enshrined in the Declaration are given by God. There is so much talk today about 'human rights.' These rights are endowed, not by the Creator, but by the government. Whenever they offer a human right, they are taking away some of our liberty. Our politicians need to be reminded that our great nation was built by courageous men and women who desired to be free of government tyranny.
Though only 234 years old, young among the nations of the earth, may the experiment that is America play out for many years to come. So I say, Happy Birthday, America, may you have many more birthdays free from tyranny and oppression!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
FATHER'S DAY, 2010
A FATHER'S PRAYER
A careful man I ought to be, A little fellow follows me. I do not dare to go astray, For fear he'll go the selfsame way.
Not once can I escape his eyes; Whate'er he sees me do he tries. Like me he says he's going to be That little chap who follows me.
I must remember as I go Through summer sun and winter snow, I'm molding for years to be - That little chap who follows me.
My mother-in-law gave me a card with this poem on it when my son was very young. I still have it, though Joe will be 29 years old this summer. The truth it illustrates is of immense importance. We as fathers cannot take it lightly. As Christians we must be the kind of examples who will lead our sons (and daughters) to follow the Lord our God. This is generational; my children are 5th generation Christians. Through the grace of God, a lot of prayer, and hard, consistent work, they were brought into the Kingdom of God.
Though they have been redeemed, my job is not finished. I am now a grandfather and I really want my grandchildren to go to Heaven. That is not going to happen by chance. The large job is up to their parents, but as their grandfather, I am praying daily for their salvation, and have been, from before their birth, when I first heard that another child was on the way.
So fathers, in many ways yours is a thankless job. You have the responsibility of discipline and example, and will one day stand before the eternal Judge for how you have raised your children. It is a solemn responsibility, but well worth it. Always remember, each child is a blessing from God. Enjoy and savor this Sunday as your children gather round you. Count your blessings. I only have four, but realize I have been greatly blessed by a loving God.
A careful man I ought to be, A little fellow follows me. I do not dare to go astray, For fear he'll go the selfsame way.
Not once can I escape his eyes; Whate'er he sees me do he tries. Like me he says he's going to be That little chap who follows me.
I must remember as I go Through summer sun and winter snow, I'm molding for years to be - That little chap who follows me.
My mother-in-law gave me a card with this poem on it when my son was very young. I still have it, though Joe will be 29 years old this summer. The truth it illustrates is of immense importance. We as fathers cannot take it lightly. As Christians we must be the kind of examples who will lead our sons (and daughters) to follow the Lord our God. This is generational; my children are 5th generation Christians. Through the grace of God, a lot of prayer, and hard, consistent work, they were brought into the Kingdom of God.
Though they have been redeemed, my job is not finished. I am now a grandfather and I really want my grandchildren to go to Heaven. That is not going to happen by chance. The large job is up to their parents, but as their grandfather, I am praying daily for their salvation, and have been, from before their birth, when I first heard that another child was on the way.
So fathers, in many ways yours is a thankless job. You have the responsibility of discipline and example, and will one day stand before the eternal Judge for how you have raised your children. It is a solemn responsibility, but well worth it. Always remember, each child is a blessing from God. Enjoy and savor this Sunday as your children gather round you. Count your blessings. I only have four, but realize I have been greatly blessed by a loving God.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Humble Pie
This is not an easy subject to write about. If someone is truly humble, they certainly won't brag about how they have attained an exalted position among 'the few, the humble,...' Likewise, if someone isn't humble, they really don't know what it is about in the first place. I also think that humility is an often misunderstood subject.
First of all, let's get an understanding of what we are talking about. Humility is not being a doormat, letting others walk all over you. I think the Scriptures explain it best. In I Peter 5:5 we read, 'Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility...' Now being submissive to one another and being clothed with humility are very similar. Humility does not lord itself over another. As Christians we are not to act as the disciples did, arguing about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom, but we are to have a servant attitude, preferring others.
This is not the kind of attitude you will find in this world. We scratch and claw to get ahead, we tell whoppers to be thought of more highly than we ought, and we strut about, hoping to be noticed by those we want to please, or just to be well thought of. And of course there are those times it backfires, because people don't appreciate egotistical, proud peacocks. So why do we do it? I don't know about others, but I am just a slow learner. So we need the assistance of God. He gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud.
When I think of examples of those who are humble, the first person I think of is my dad. Of course he was not famous (although you certainly can, and still be humble). As a missionary to Japan and Korea, he was a tremendous preacher, gifted teacher, and wonderful soul-winner. But he never tried to lift himself up or encourage people to notice him. He worked for his Savior first of all, and then he always put others before himself. He also had a knack for detecting those who were stuck on themselves. He had no use for them.
This what humility is all about. Some may think that to be humble, they have to feel and act inferior. Nothing about that is humble, it is just degrading. You can be a pastor or leader and still be humble. In fact a humble leader is a better leader because he acts as a servant to others.
In I Peter 5:6 God promises this: Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Now let's go forth and in humility serve others.
First of all, let's get an understanding of what we are talking about. Humility is not being a doormat, letting others walk all over you. I think the Scriptures explain it best. In I Peter 5:5 we read, 'Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility...' Now being submissive to one another and being clothed with humility are very similar. Humility does not lord itself over another. As Christians we are not to act as the disciples did, arguing about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom, but we are to have a servant attitude, preferring others.
This is not the kind of attitude you will find in this world. We scratch and claw to get ahead, we tell whoppers to be thought of more highly than we ought, and we strut about, hoping to be noticed by those we want to please, or just to be well thought of. And of course there are those times it backfires, because people don't appreciate egotistical, proud peacocks. So why do we do it? I don't know about others, but I am just a slow learner. So we need the assistance of God. He gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud.
When I think of examples of those who are humble, the first person I think of is my dad. Of course he was not famous (although you certainly can, and still be humble). As a missionary to Japan and Korea, he was a tremendous preacher, gifted teacher, and wonderful soul-winner. But he never tried to lift himself up or encourage people to notice him. He worked for his Savior first of all, and then he always put others before himself. He also had a knack for detecting those who were stuck on themselves. He had no use for them.
This what humility is all about. Some may think that to be humble, they have to feel and act inferior. Nothing about that is humble, it is just degrading. You can be a pastor or leader and still be humble. In fact a humble leader is a better leader because he acts as a servant to others.
In I Peter 5:6 God promises this: Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Now let's go forth and in humility serve others.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Sacrifice of Praise
There are two places in the Bible that mention 'the sacrifice of praise.' But what does it mean? When I was younger I thought that the animal sacrifices in the O.T. were simply burned up and of no further use. However as I read my Bible more carefully, I realized that many sacrifices were actually supposed to be eaten. Some of the inner parts and fat were burned as a sacrifice to the Lord and the rest of the meat was eaten by priests, Levites, or the one who offered the sacrifice. When Solomon offered the thousands of sheep and oxen in the dedication of the Temple, there was plenty of food for the people who came to be a part of the celebration. Some may say if that is the case then it wasn't much of a sacrifice. Okay, that is a tough one to answer, but the O.T. sacrifices had a two-fold purpose: first, it often involved someone giving up something or costing something, which it often did; second, it was a picture of the ultimate sacrifice that the coming Messiah was going to make when, as the Lamb of God, He would offer the complete sacrifice for sin.
So where does the sacrifice of praise fit in? In the Law (especially Leviticus) there are a number of different sacrifices described, but none of them refers to praise. And why is it referred to as a sacrifice - a sacrifice of what? This is where I think the praise part of the Sunday service or celebration becomes so important. When we offer our sincere adoration and praise to our King, we offer a sacrifice of praise - it is a submission to His sovereignty over our lives. In Jer. 33;11 the sacrifice of praise was given by Israelites returning to the Promised Land. In Heb. 13:15 we are admonished to 'offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips.' The sacrifice of praise is an outward expression of what is inside: grateful hearts for the goodness of God showering His abundant and amazing grace on those of us who are so undeserving. I believe it is also an expression of our acceptance of servitude to God. My sister-in-law mentioned that when she lifts her hands, palms facing upward, it is as though she were lifting her life and offering it to God.
So a sacrifice of praise is exactly that - a sacrifice, one given freely, with no expectation of anything in return. But we are so richly blessed. When we give our puny lives to God, we entrust ourselves to Him. And then He just pours out His blessings...
So where does the sacrifice of praise fit in? In the Law (especially Leviticus) there are a number of different sacrifices described, but none of them refers to praise. And why is it referred to as a sacrifice - a sacrifice of what? This is where I think the praise part of the Sunday service or celebration becomes so important. When we offer our sincere adoration and praise to our King, we offer a sacrifice of praise - it is a submission to His sovereignty over our lives. In Jer. 33;11 the sacrifice of praise was given by Israelites returning to the Promised Land. In Heb. 13:15 we are admonished to 'offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips.' The sacrifice of praise is an outward expression of what is inside: grateful hearts for the goodness of God showering His abundant and amazing grace on those of us who are so undeserving. I believe it is also an expression of our acceptance of servitude to God. My sister-in-law mentioned that when she lifts her hands, palms facing upward, it is as though she were lifting her life and offering it to God.
So a sacrifice of praise is exactly that - a sacrifice, one given freely, with no expectation of anything in return. But we are so richly blessed. When we give our puny lives to God, we entrust ourselves to Him. And then He just pours out His blessings...
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