When

When the skies above are bronze,
and the ground beneath is iron,
When the sun o’er battle dawns,
and all the troops are mired.

When hope is hid in pain,
and suffering numbs my words,
My prayers enwrapped in shame,
and all my vision blurred.

The heart will not lift up,
and eyes look only downward,
To see an emptying cup,
to feel the role of coward.

But lo there is a voice,
who speaks to me from high,
Am I not your highest choice?
Do I not your all supply?

Do not fear for I am with you,
to conquer and command,
the battle is not lost,
the victory is in hand.

I have defeated all your foes,
and conquered all your masters,
I broke the chains of the curse,
and on your wounds made plasters.

Lift up your drooping hands,
and look to me, your goal,
I will finish all my plans,
and I will make you whole.

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One

One

All from nothing he created,

earth and sky he fabricated.

On the first he fashioned light,

creating day and forming night.

On the second did he divide, 

the form of earth and heavens wide.

On the third raised habitation,

earth's soils and vegetation.

On the fourth began the blaze,

glow of moon and sun's bright rays.

On the fifth came to life,

fish in sea and bird of flight.

On the sixth were animals created,

but here the story gets deviated.

For now we hear a conversation,

God tells of his next formation.

In His likeness creates the man,

male and female was the plan.

"Fill the earth and have dominion,

all its produce can be eaten."

Over all creation, God, he stood,

He looked and saw and it was good.

On seventh he did rest,

that day made holy and was blessed.

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Resolutions

Resolution /rɛzəluʃən/
          noun: a firm decision to do or not to do something
New Year's Resolution /nu jɪrz rɛzəluʃən/
          noun: a delusion that most people make at the end of a year in hopes that the next will be better

I am not typically one to set New Year's resolutions, but I thought just for fun I would take a stab at it for the coming year. So here are some things that I would like to resolve to do next year. Some serious others just for fun.

• To live each day as if I should face the judgment at its close.
• To review each day at its end that I might not commit the same sins tomorrow.
• To spend at least 30 minutes a day in Greek or Hebrew.
• To memorize a book of the Bible (Perhaps…Philemon or Obadiah).
• To run a half-marathon and then a full marathon.
• To read at least 2 books just for fun.
• To preach the gospel to myself daily.
• To pray consistently.
• To pursue and marry and then purse her for the rest of my life.
• To pursue godliness with all my might to the end that I would glorify God in all that I endeavor. 

Well I do not know how many of these I will actually achieve, but it will be a fun pursuit. 

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Christmas Letter

Every Christmas I come back to the first missionary biography I ever read; Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. It recounts how Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, and Roger Youderian gave their lives to reach an indigenous indian group in Ecuador. This account gripped me and is what first kindled my desire for missions. The reason I return to it is that right before Christmas in 1955 they decided that they would make their greatest attempt to reach the indians. But why go? Elisabeth, Jim's wife, writes this,

"Was it the thrill of adventure that drew our husbands on? No. Their letters and journals make it abundantly clear that these men did not go out as some men go out to shoot a lion or climb a mountain. Their compulsion was from a different source. Each had made a personal transaction with God, recognizing that he belonged to God, first of all by creation, and secondly by redemption through the death of his son, Jesus Christ. This double claim on his life settled once and for all the question of allegiance. It was not a matter of striving to follow the example of a a great Teacher. To conform to the perfect life of Jesus was impossible for a human being. To these men, Jesus Christ was God, and had actually taken upon Himself human form, in order that He might die, and, by His death, provide not only escape from the punishment which their sin merited, but also a new kind of life, eternal both in length and in quality. This meant simply that Christ was to be obeyed, and more than that, that He would provide the power to obey. The point of decision had been reached. God's command 'Go ye, and preach the gospel to every creature' was the categorical imperative. The question of personal safety was wholly irrelevant."

They understood the meaning of the incarnation. God took on human flesh, dwelt among us, lived, died, and was raised so that he might free us from sin and to transform us. It should also motivate us to fearless obedience. Nate Saint knew this type of obedience and sat down on December 18 (56 years ago today) to tell the world the reason of their mission, he wrote the following,

“As we weigh the future and seek the will of God, does it seem right that we should hazard our lives for just a few savages? As we ask ourselves this question, we realize that it is not the call of the needy thousands, rather it is the simple intimation of the prophetic Word that there shall be some from every tribe in His presence in the last day and in our hearts we feel that it is pleasing to Him that we should interest ourselves in making an opening into the Auca prison for Christ.
 As we have a high old time this Christmas, may we who know Christ hear the cry of the damned as they hurtle headlong into the Christless night without ever a chance. May we be moved with compassion as our Lord was. May we shed tears of repentance for these we have failed to bring out of darkness. Beyond the smiling scenes of Bethlehem may we see the crushing agony of Golgotha. May God give us a new vision of His will concerning the lost and our responsibility.
 Would that we could comprehend the lot of these stone-age people who live in mortal fear of ambush on the jungle trail . . . those to whom the bark of a gun means sudden, mysterious death . . . those who think all men in all the world are killers like themselves. If God would grant us the vision, the word sacrifice would disappear from our lips and thoughts; we would hate the things that seem now so dear to us; our lives would suddenly be too short, we would despise time-robbing distractions and charge the enemy with all our energies in the name of Christ. May God help us to judge ourselves by the eternities that separate the Aucas from a comprehension of Christmas and Him, who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor so that we might, through His poverty, be made rich.”

Would that God would grant me this vision so that all my time-robbing distractions would be despised in my own life and that the gospel would have the same hold on me that it did on him. May God give me the grace and courage to hazard my own life in taking the gospel where it has not been proclaimed.

So as you approach Christmas remember that there are thousands upon thousands who know nothing of the Christ you and I celebrate. And that they will continue to know nothing unless we who have experienced the grace of God understand that we have a responsibility to proclaim Him to those who walk in darkness. Understand that the Christmas story, the incarnation, should humble us to the core and should motivate us to action.

Picture from Coach's Corner
Quotations from Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot, pg 175-176.

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The Prologue

I heard this poem by D.A. Carson in his sermon from the Next Conference. I have enjoyed it and wanted to share it with you. It is very fitting for the Christmas season.

The Prologue

by D.A. Carson

Before there was a universe,

Before a star or planet,

When time had still not yet begun --

I scarcely understand it --

Th' eternal Word was with his God,

God's very Self-Expression;

Th' eternal Word was God himself --

And God had planned redemption.

The Word became our flesh and blood --

The stuff of his creation --

The Word was God, the Word was flesh,

Astounding incarnation!

But when he came to visit us,

We did not recognize him.

Although we owed him everything

We haughtily despised him.

In days gone by God showed himself

In grace and truth to Moses;

But in the Word of God made flesh

Their climax he discloses.

For grace and truth in fullness came

And showed the Father's glory

When Jesus donned our flesh and died:

This is the gospel story.

All who delighted in his name,

All those who did receive him,

All who by grace were born of God,

All who in truth believed him --

To them he gave a stunning right:

Becoming God's dear children!

Here will I stay in grateful trust;

Here will I fix my vision.

Before there was a universe,

Before a star or planet,

When time had still not yet begun --

I scarcely understand it --

Th' eternal Word was with his God,

God's very Self-Expression;

Th' eternal Word was God himself --

And God had planned redemption.

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An Amazing Video!!

There is something about God's people reading God's word that just breaks me. 

The grass withers and the flower does indeed fall,

but the word of our God stands forever!!!

This is the Word of the Lord...THANKS BE TO GOD!!!!

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Sex and the Single Christian

I posted these links about two years ago and they seem to be rather well received. Therefore I wanted to post them again. I wouldn't hold strictly to everything that is taught in them, but there is great wisdom to be gleaned. There are talks here for both single men and single women. The topic is about courtship/dating as a Christian. If you are single you really should take a minute and listen to these. The single men should especially take time to listen to them because you will be leading in this relationship. 

The talks are done by the elders at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. 

For the men:

Men's Talk

Men's Q & A

For the women:

Women's Talk

Women's Q & A

Listen to them and then listen to them again. 

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The Church Directory: More than an Address Book

Growing up the church directory was basically like the white pages for church members. It was where you went when you needed someone’s phone number or when you needed an address for sending out a Christmas card. Other than those purposes it was rarely pulled out and opened. It just sat in the drawer next to all the other unused items. However, there is a greater purpose that it can and should serve.

The church directory serves as a reminder of those people whom we should be interceding for on a daily basis. You see these dear brothers and sisters often, you play with their kids, you eat with them, and so you should be taking their request before the father. You know the couple in your church who have tried for years to conceive but haven’t and your heart breaks for them. You know the lady who is fighting for her life against cancer. You know the single mom that is struggling to make ends meet. Therefore, it is you who is best prepared to draw near with boldness and confidence to the throne of grace for the purpose of praying for them.

Listen to what Paul tells the church at Philippi, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:3-11 ESV) Do we feel this way about our fellow church members? Do we offer our prayer with joy for them? Do we hold them in our hearts? Do we yearn for them with the affection of Christ Jesus? If not why?

One of the greatest ministries that you can do for your church happens miles from church, in a quiet area of your house, all by yourself, when you sit down with your Bible and church directory and plead for the saints who are partakers of grace with you. Or consider how great a lesson it would serve your children if during family worship you prayed through the directory with them.

If your church is small enough you can pray through two or three letters a day, i.e. all the last names that begin with A and B. If your church is larger maybe you’ll just pray through half of a list, i.e. half of the names beginning with H.

For most people you’ll have specific request that you can pray for them. However, when you come to someone you don’t know well just take your cue from Paul’s prayers. Pray that their “love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that they may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”(Philippians 1:9-11)*

Or that “the God of hope fill them with all joy and peace in believing, that they may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)*

Pray “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to them a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. Pray that the eyes of their heart may be enlightened, so that they may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might." (Ephesians 1:16-19)*

Pray “that He would grant them, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith; and that they, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that they may be filled up to all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)*

And “ask that they may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that they may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints of light. (Colossians 1:9-12)*

Think of all the evils that could be thwarted if we took up the labor of prayer for one another!

*Text modified by author.

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