...too small a thing...

Enough is Enough... Send a Message to Congress.

(If you do not realize what this picture today is, I want you to know. It is the opening credit of the film showing the beheading of 21 Christians. It is graphic and not fit to watch but if you are a follower of Jesus Christ the message was meant for you.)

Constantly I preach about the fact that those who know the truth about Jesus Christ cannot and should not remain silent about what they know. But so sadly many do. I think this is our most important task that the Bible asks believers in Jesus Christ to do. Our purpose is to make sure others know and hear the Gospel which is the truth about God.

 Last night Bill O’Reilly on his television show ask the clergy of America to get involved with letting the leadership of the country know that, enough is enough. I thought and prayed a bit to see if this newsman is right or just pontificating with words to get ratings. I wrestled a bit and then looked to a previous statement by Dr. Robert Jeffress and found a quote by him that moved me to call on you as blog readers.

Dr Jeffress said.

 Jeffress has further questioned the commitment of the conservative clergy to the preservation of traditional societal morality. In an interview with The O'Reilly Factor, which aired on December 11, 2012, on the Fox News Channel, Jeffress questioned why many clergy falsely perceive Christ as

this little, wimpy guy who walked around plucking daisies and eating birdseed and saying nice things, but never doing anything controversial. The fact is, Jesus did confront his culture with truth – and he ended up being crucified because of it. ... Wimpy pastors produce wimpy Christians – and that is why we are losing this culture war. I believe it's time for pastors to say, You know, I don't care about controversy, I don't care whether I'm going to lose church members, I don't care about building a big church. I'm going to stand for truth regardless of what happens.

There is a holy war going on and we as the United States are not even acknowledging that it is going on. We are not acknowledging who the enemy really is.  Robert Jeffress the Pastor of First Baptist Church Dallas TX said that while we may not be a war with radical Islam as a country they are in an openly declared war with us.

 The last few days have seen more violence and death by ritualistic burning, beheading and bombing. Who is right? Who is wrong? President Obama doesn’t seem to be giving this near as much concern as  he will not acknowledge the religious aspect of this group of ISIS. Choosing to label them as extremist (no doubt they are) but refusing to note their targets are Christians, Jews, and even Muslims who have a differing belief than theirs. They are motivated by their  beliefs this is obvious. It is also obvious the barbaric and brutal tactics are spreading to more countries and there is an increase in their strength.

We have been told over 2000 years ago that this was coming.

 Matthew 24:5-14 NASB

6“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8“But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

      9“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10“At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13“But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 14“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

There is little doubt in anyone’s mind that this is a religious war on the part of ISIS. The extremist is Islamic and is doing what he is doing out of his beliefs. Radical, not main line Islam I will agree, as I have met many who are peaceful Muslims and will condemn violence. But this group of people who will proclaim and participate in the horror of jihad is growing. They are motivated by their faith. It is time to acknowledge this and condemn and stand up to these heinous and outrageous acts of violence.

I call upon those who know what is good decent and right to call upon Congress and the President to convene with the Pentagon for an action plan to stop this blood bath if it is within the power of the USA to do so. This plan should be utilizing every diplomatic strategy and every Nation whom we have alliances with currently. I believe we have a biblical mandate to do this very thing.

James 4:17

17Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

I call upon Christians everywhere to pray. To pray for the President, and Congress to come up with workable and executable plans quickly and carefully.  When Solomon dedicated the Temple He made a commitment to God to do what God told him to do. When we will do the right thing in America to help and deliver the innocent we will be amazed at what God will do for those who deliver the innocent.

2 Chronicles 7:14- 16

14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 “Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. 16,“For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

Lastly I call upon God. I ask Our Lord to give me wisdom as to the role I personally must take, and the role that we as Clergy must take to see the innocent people caught up in the path of these we call ISIS delivered from harms way. I will pray for God to provide their delivery from darkness. If he chooses our nation to lead in that delivery I will pray God will make this plain to all of us.  I will pray for there to be a prophet to rise up to preach to these who walk in darkness and do not see this threat for what it really is in today’s world. I will seek to lead those who I have been called to serve to also pray. And that together we may have influence to overcome this violence by the power of the work of the Holy Spirit. We are fighting evil everyday in this country internally and externally. It is time to rise up.

 Send an email today:

Here is a web page to find any congressman’s email Send yours a note today.

 http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

If you would like to send a note to the White House or Executive Brance of the government here is the email.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

 

The Greatest Words Ever Written

I spend  every morning writing this blog page for a few minutes. I will think and meditate on things that might be of interest or encouragement to you the reader. Sometimes I write something funny or entertaining and sometimes I think I am just tapping keys with little to really make a difference in anyone's life. 

This morning however I want to be quick to point you to "The Greatest  Words Ever Written." They are found in the Old and New Testament of  God's Holy Word. The Holy Canon we have today contains 66 books. There has been quite a development through the years to come to this collection of the wonderful and ancient writings. 

This morning I am beginning preparations to teach a survey course on the New Testament which contains 27 of these books. I will be teaching this at Piney Grove this Saturday morning starting at 9:00 am til noon. This will be a time to sail through all 27 books of the New Testament giving some basics and fundamentals of these books to help you to have a working knowledge of the the depth of the gift God has given us in HIs Holy Word. 

I will not be able to go into details in the short time span but it will be informative and give the student a great perspective of Scripture. Sometimes knowing where to look and what is the back ground of words that you will you will find in the Scripture is essential to gain the overall understanding the Lord intends us to have as Christ followers. 

There is no doubt  the greatest words ever written are the divinely inspired and God breathed Holy Scriptures. We will survey in 3 hours the New Testament to help you gain perspective on what God has given us in His Word. 

This is a personal invitation to join us for this study at 9:00 am on Saturday Morning. You do not have to reregister or sign up in advance.  You can take notes or just listen. If you can't commit to the full three hours come for what portion that you can attend.

I feel it is a privilege to teach the Word of God and I am always excited to see anyone who wants to learn. Join us if you can. 

Survey of the New Testament

Saturday Feb 21, 9:00 am till noon

Piney Grove Baptist Church

One True Love

Something different for Sunday night worship at Piney Grove last night. We had a "One True Love" Family Dinner. We had a very good attendance considering the cold weather. We had a lighting of candles to honor those that are still loved and not with us in this world any longer. Those honored were written on the wall on the forever loved posters. It was a good evening and I really appreciate all who helped to make this happen. 

We had some games, some singing and some spaghetti with meat sauce. I brought a short message on love. The one true love we all should have is our love for the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Mark 12:28-31 NASB

 28 One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31“The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Waiting on the Snow

The South is in limbo. The Meteorologist are hard at work and everyone is watching the weather to see if it is going to snow. "Winter Storm Watch" means we might have conditions get bad, but the truth is living in Atlanta I have learned we do not know what the weather is going to do, until it happens.

So, today will be full of checking to see the latest forecast and a whole lot of "What is the temperature?" One thing is for sure it is cold now, but it can warm up. I have seen a lot of 33 degrees an raining in the Atlanta Area. I am sometimes amazed that the forecasters do hit it with some accuracy, but when they start drawing lines on the map and say snow on one side of the line and rain on the other I think, "Are you really that sure?"

I have noticed that not all of the forecasters agree when snow is coming, but whoever gets the closest to what happens seems to have bragging rights for a while. So I think they tweak their forecast just a little to be different than the others so maybe they will get it right.

The kids of course are all praying that school will be out tomorrow and administrators are listening to the news to try to make the big decision to have school or not. Everyone will be talking about last year and the mess of  getting stuck in the snowjam.

So a lot of focus today on the weather. But remember, today is the Lord's Day. A day to focus on God. I don't think God will be upset if we keep one eye on the weather, but we need to keep our hearts in tune with HIm. He knows how much it is going to snow and where every flake will fall. If it does snow just stay home and enjoy the beauty of it all. So between the looks at the thermometer, the watching of the weather channel, and trips to get your bread and milk, remember a few thoughts today.  

Pray for those in the Northwest part of the country they have dangerous weather.

 

Worship the Lord today it is a day we set aside for worship.

Check on someone who might need someone to check on them today.

And finally realize there is no way it is going to snow today It is tomorrow it might happen.  

Love That Knows No Limits

It is Valentine day and I think love is the theme for the day. I have been fortunate to come to know a family that has got to be one of the greatest love stories of all time. I am amazed by Scott and Becky Ryder. They have a call from God to love children and each other. Scott went with me on a team to train Police officers in Nicaragua 2 years ago and will be going again later this year if we can make it happen. Becky was a deputy before she became a full time mother. This group of six are their children. They are beautiful as you can see.

Scott and Beck have expanded their family by the leading of God and this beautiful and loving family has a lot of work to do. Kids are special and all of them need care. When some have special challenges it take a little more. Scott and Becky's story is powerful and so full of love. I urge you to take time to read Scott's telling of the story from his point of view.  Download Hope - Scott Ryder

You can read some more details about their love and their life as God has blessed them on their blog page. You will see their love on display by reading about this remarkable and wonderful family on their family.    

 BLOG PAGE 

Being friends with Becky on Facebook I  have seen her post as they have gone through so much this year. Asher is a very special young man that I began praying for 2 years ago as Scott and Becky told us about him in our team meetings as we prepared to go on the mission trip. They had not ever met him at the time, but they knew that he was to be their son. They stayed in my prayers as they journeyed to China, processed the adoptions and made the return home.  Asher has had to go through some tough times enduring surgery and an extended time in a body cast but he is doing great. Each one of the children are very special and they are all full of love. 

As you think about love about Valentines Day today, think about the Ryder family. This is a beautiful loving family that knows NO limits. They are living out 1 Corinthians 13 for us to see.

New Living Translation Love Is the Greatest 1If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;a but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8Prophecy and speaking in unknown languagesb and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. 11When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.c All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 13Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Take Time to Focus on Someone Else

The world is full of problems. The problems are big or little depending on your perspective. Some can really get people down with worry and heartache. But how you look at a problem can help you with your own problems. Perspective is everything. 

When you have problems if you focus on them and dwell on them forgetting all else, but your one problem the problem can seem bigger than it is. But if you try to help others even in the middle of your own problem or trouble for just a moment it will be better especially if you can be of help. 

Self-denial and self-sacrifice are important concepts that are godly in nature. When you give yourself to others for their benefit not with an ulterior motive you will be blessed. I see far too many who are self-focused and self-absorbed people that really give little or nothing to others. This means when they have a problem they will focus on their own and it becomes far worse than it is sometimes. 

Jesus was hungry, tired and hurting from time to time no doubt as he was a human being, but we see in the Bible that he continued to serve and care for others always. Some of you who are mothers know about this. When you have a baby you are always focused and serving the needs of the children even when you have your own problems.

Being in the ministry I do have problems too, but even in the middle of my problems taking time, to listen, to love, and to lend myself to others helps to keeps me from becoming self absorbed into any problem I encounter. When duty to serve calls I try to answer even if it is not convenient, or I do not feel like it, or because I have a problem.  

If you are burdened today take a little time to look around. There may be someone you can help. I do not mean to ignore or neglect to deal with your own problems. But too often dealing with a problem takes only a little time it is the worrying about our issues that takes so much time. Replace the worry with some attention to helping others and see if that will help you out of the heartache. 

 

Ordinary Men Can Become Extraordinary

This morning Bible Study at the Barn  will begin a new study of a book by John MacArthur entitled Twelve Ordinary Men. This looks to be a really carefully guided insight into how God takes ordinary people who have the most fantastic thing happen to them. That fantastic thing is something that many of you have experienced. Coming into a relationship with Jesus Christ is without a doubt the most important and impactful thing that happens in anyone's life. 

The ministry of the 12 men that Jesus Christ called to be his disciples were called out and then used of God to change the world. Each changed from who they were as ordinary men into extraordinary men of God. 

The men who attend Bible Study at the Barn come from many professions and many different backgrounds but we all have one thing in common we are in a relationship with Jesus Christ. So the study we do there is not to glorify or put on a pedestal any other man but to see how that man interacted with Jesus and how The Lord used that person to do His work.

I am excited too as we has a new group being birthed today. Some of the Officers cannot make a meeting at 6 am due to their work schedules so they ask Chaplain Glenn Chapplear to start a study in the late morning time slot. He agreed and ask me to back him up to lead the study when he would need to travel. I agreed with and as it would happen today as the group begins Glenn must travel. So I am blessed to start the group this morning in it's first meeting. These are ordinary Cops who can become extra ordinary.

No other life has ever effected the rest of the World like Jesus Christ Dr James Allan Francis wrote a poem in 1928 to note how ordinary Jesus really was as a person. But the fact of who he was and who he is today because he rose from the dead changed everything. Here is the poem. You have probably read it but it is definitely worth another moment to realize who Jesus Christ really is in your life. He will change you from ordinary to extra ordinary today.

One Solitary Life  

He was born in an obscure village 
The child of a peasant woman 
He grew up in another obscure village 
Where he worked in a carpenter shop 
Until he was thirty when public opinion turned against him

He never wrote a book 
He never held an office 
He never went to college 
He never visited a big city 
He never travelled more than two hundred miles 
From the place where he was born 
He did none of the things 
Usually associated with greatness 
He had no credentials but himself 

He was only thirty three 

His friends ran away 
One of them denied him 
He was turned over to his enemies 
And went through the mockery of a trial 
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves 
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing 
The only property he had on earth 

When he was dead 
He was laid in a borrowed grave 
Through the pity of a friend 

Nineteen centuries have come and gone 
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race 
And the leader of mankind's progress 
All the armies that have ever marched 
All the navies that have ever sailed 
All the parliaments that have ever sat 
All the kings that ever reigned put together 
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth 
As powerfully as that one solitary life 

Do Not Fool Yourself

Do you sometimes try to fool yourself? Do you act like everything is OK between you and God. But the reality is although you attend church and act spiritual you know that you have things and ways in your life that are not what He would approve. Maybe there are some things you do that are directly contrary to His commands? The Apostle John warned us against this in his epistle. 

1 John 1:5-10 NASB

   5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

Walking in the Light means the things that we do that do not honor God will show up pretty easily. Actually our sin becomes easy to see not only for ourselves, but also for others who walk in the light. Praise the Lord that He has never told us we had to be perfect, but John reminds us that we can be clean and forgiven. But we must confess our sin and let God do the cleaning. Too many Christians become self righteous and think the things they do are making them somehow holy and righteous. This is so far from the truth. All our works, all our efforts fall so short of what He can do through us. Isaiah with great poetic flair wrote about our self righteous acts condemning them.

Isaiah 64:6 NASB

     6For all of us have become like one who is unclean,
            And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;
            And all of us wither like a leaf,
            And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

We are frail creatures of dust with passions that make us turn away from The Lord with selfish and arrogance too often. Realization of this troublesome fact is a great first step to staying on the path in the Light. 

What Are You Looking For?

It is an amazing fact that when I am looking for something I have misplaced, I always find it in the last place I look for it. Now anyone who thinks about that statement will realize that when I find what I am looking for I stop looking. 

When you do lose something, and you start looking you may find all sorts of things that you have lost, or misplaced.  Many of these things you may have thought were lost forever. But as you look for something you think you want to find, these other things just pop up. I have been distracted sometimes by the discovery of something I thought was lost even though that item was not what I was originally looking for. You probably have been too. 

We go through life looking for fulfillment and satisfaction. We may look many places and be distracted by things we discover along the way. But the truth is many people do not know what they are looking for. The satisfaction and joy every human being needs is found in his or her relationship with God. People know they need something, but they do not realize what? As people go through life, they find things that seem to satisfy for a while their need. When they do find something unique or special they begin to tell others they have found what we all need or at least what is good for them. Others seek to find something unique to them too. And when they find it, get good at it, and do it, they will say it is their calling and their destiny. No doubt some find great satisfaction in some aspects of serving others, and doing things with great skill and workmanship. But even great accomplishments, skills, and achievements in the long run seem to lose their luster.  And then the search for the thing to bring life's fulfillment must be continued.   

You see there is in every person a part that can never be filled except by God Himself. To know the Creator and His love is the reason we were created by Him. We can only find His love by knowing what He has done for us. Our own desire to be self fulfilled is what works against us. We think "we can" do it ourselves. We can find what we need and provide for our own need. And so often people find things that do good for a while. Relationships with other people, careers, good works, even religion all seem to scratch the itch of life for a while. So many of these things make a difference to others and are admired by others. But ultimately even these good things in life are really not what we are looking for. These good discoveries can be what  will get us into trouble and keep us separated from what we should be looking for. Mankind's greatest need is God. 

God has made it possible to know Him. He is so powerful, so mighty, so beyond our understanding that He took care of this for us too. He became flesh and blood in the person of Jesus Christ. He came to live among the people He created. His coming to us demonstrates the the love that we, as creatures made in His image, long for deeply. He has shown us this love and this is what we should be looking for in life. Are we looking for this? Or are we looking for something else? Or have we become distracted by the things we are finding as we look? 

I hope you have found the Savior. I know many who have. But we must cherish Him and serve Him. We must be careful not to get distracted by the many other things we have found in life. 

Matthew 13:44

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

First Responders Marriage Conference

Three years ago Glenn Chapplear and I put our heads and hearts together to sponsor a Law Enforcement Marriage Conference. It was held at the First Baptist Church of Powder Springs. It was very successful and some huge progress was made in several marriages of the people who attended. Last year the event grew and we included many more departments and had a great conference once again at FBC in Powder Springs. 

This year we have included all First Responders in Cobb County which is about 2400 persons and have also invited others from surrounding counties and cities. Burnt Hickory is cosponsoring the event coming up March 13 and 14th. We are excited to have the opportunity to impact the lives of Law Enforcement, Fire Personnel, and all Public Safety where they really need encouragement and some help.

The marriages of all First Responders are strained by their work and schedules, but the strength of God's Word can help to bolster and solidify even the toughest of troubles. Many who come have wonderful strong marriages and the two day event is a time of renewal and blessing on wonderful godly people.

Below is the poster where you can sign up on line. If you are a First Responder do not wait. Sign up now. This could make a great Valentines Gift this week to tell your spouse you have signed up for a Marriage Conference to renew and strengthen your relationship with God and each other.  If you know a First Responder do not wait. Call them and make sure they know about this so you can sign them up. You can show your love and appreciation for a First Responder you know by giving them a great gift of love.