Taking time to Explain the Gospel

Last Saturday, Shayna, me and Jeff went to Herman Park to see if we could get into some gospel conversation. God brought 3 curious kids over to where I was writing on my whiteboard. And what followed was about an hour long conversation explaining sin according to the law, the wrath of God, the perfect life of Jesus, his substitutionary death, and resurrection from the dead. The kids asked a variety of questions about hell, heaven, the Bible, and good works. 

Towards the end of the conversation I asked them if they were to die tonight and stand before God and he asked "Why should I let you into heaven?" what would you say? Two of the children said because they did good things, the other one said that God shouldn't let him into heaven. It's interesting that even after careful attention in explaining that salvation isn't based on works two of the children still were holding to the false notion that their good deeds will out weigh their bad. So, Jeff, Shayna and I took some more time and explained again why their good deeds cannot make up for their sins. We used various analogies and then I asked Jeff the question if he stood before God and was asked why he should be allowed to enter heaven. Jeff expounded on the one kid's answer that he doesn't deserve to go to heaven and explained that the only reason he would be able to enter heaven is through the grace of Jesus Christ. It's because of Jesus we can enter heaven. Not because of anything we have done. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sins, washes us, and covers us with the righteousness of Christ. Jesus is our only hope. My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness. 

We left the children with gospel tracts, New Testaments, and invited them to our church. Pray for them.

To Swear or Not to Swear

I recently had Jury duty and not soon after sitting in the jury pool room. Everyone was asked if they would like a Bible to swear in on. About 20-30 people raised their hands. The other half were going to affirm their oath. When the Bibles were distributed a guy next to me asked what the difference was, between swearing on the Bible or affirming. I told him by swearing on the Bible a person is appealing to the ultimate authority Jesus Christ, recognizing that the oath about to be made is not a trivial matter but you are acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the highest authority over your life. Basically saying that if you take this oath and break it, you deserve the judgment that God says liars should receive. On the other hand, those who affirm their oath, in essence, are acknowledging that they are their own ultimate authority. They choose not to be held accountable to God for their actions.

A couple minutes go by. Half the people present swear in on the Bible, testifying that Jesus is the ultimate authority and they will tell truth because they will have to give account to Him when they die and face the judgment. We sit down and then the rest stand up to affirm their oath. It was odd feeling to see so many people proclaiming that they themselves are the ultimate authority in their lives, without any fear of God in their decision making process.

I know what some of you are saying, "what did Jesus say?"


The below is from http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/jesus-teaching-on-oaths/

Jesus' Teaching on Oaths

“I say to you, ‘Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King’” (vv. 34–35).

- Matthew 5:33–37

Oaths and vows are commended in Scripture, but not every oath or vow is legitimate. Certainly, a vow to commit a sin must not be kept, for we are never to break God’s law. David realized this when Abigail’s actions kept him from his vow to kill Nabal (1 Sam. 25). Moreover, no one should swear an oath indiscriminately or frivolously. The Westminster Confession of Faith says oaths are appropriate only in “matters of weight and moment” (22.2). This reflects a biblical pattern wherein oaths are commonly associated with covenants (Gen. 26:3; Ps. 132:11). We should make vows only in matters of great and lasting consequence, such as marriages or court proceedings.

Yet, we are left with some New Testament texts that, on first glance, seem to forbid oaths in our day. Today’s passage, for instance, calls us to “let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’” (Matt. 5:37). Note, however, that the early Christians did not read Jesus’ words as prohibiting all oaths. Paul took vows during his ministry (Acts 18:18), and John records his vision of an angel who swore an oath (Rev. 10:5–6).

Understanding common first-century Jewish practices helps us see what our Savior was getting at in His teaching on oaths and vows. To keep people from breaking the law’s rules regarding our promises (Num. 30:1–2), Jewish teachers and leaders invented a system by which they could determine whether a vow had to be kept. Extrabiblical literature indicates that many rabbis did not consider it a sin to break a vow if it was not made explicitly in the name of God. Oaths made in the name of heaven or even the gold of the temple were not regarded as ultimately binding. As we might expect from sinners, this led to people making oaths by persons or objects other than God to give them an out in case they did not keep their word.

In Matthew 5:33–37, Jesus points out the foolishness of this teaching by reminding His audience of God’s omnipresence. People might think they can get out of their obligations because they did not swear an oath in the name of the Lord, but the Creator is present with those things by which people might swear, and He is the sovereign Creator of all. All things exist by His authority, so to swear an oath at all is to finally swear an oath in His name. A mere change of words does not give one a “get-out-of-oaths-free” card.

Coram Deo

Jesus’ teaching leads us to conclude that it is better not to make a vow than to swear an oath that we have no intention of keeping. It also reinforces the point that oaths and vows should not be made on just any occasion, but they should be reserved only for occasions of great import and lasting significance. In other cases, we should let our yes be yes and our no be no. But in all circumstances, we must strive to keep our word.

Passages for Further Study

Deuteronomy 23:21–23
Zechariah 8:16–17

Today on the way back from our evangelism trip from Virginia Beach, my wife and I stopped in to a restaurant for some lunch. As we were finishing up an older man who looked well dressed in a worn suit approached through the patio entrance and asked if someone there could give him some money to purchase a couple sub sandwiches for him and his wife to eat tonight because they didn't have any money until the first of the month. I was hesitant and he asked again, I was waiting to hear what another table adjacent from us would respond. They kept silent. I reached into my pocket and pulled out an American Hero gospel tract and said to Alston, here you go it's a gospel tract. He looked at it and inserted it into his pocket. I told him that I didn't have any cash to give him but I would by him some food. Go on in and look at the menu and get whatever you want, I said. His look was one of gratitude. A few minutes later I went in and checked on him. I walked over to where he was at the counter and paid for his food and chit chatted with the man for a few minutes. The lady at the register looked shocked that I was purchasing the food for the man. And then I walked away.

Back in the car, we continued our journey home and discussed briefly why I felt the Spirit's leading to purchase this man's food and did not feel led to give money to another guy we saw near Elizabeth City who was holding up a sign. Alston, asked for food and I had the resources to help him out. The man outside a Walmart near Elizabeth City was not asking for food or money but for work. If I lived in the area and had a business I would have given him some tasks to do for some money. 

I thought about how it would have looked to, if the table across from us were unbelievers and I had only given Alston a gospel tract, and he then asked the unbelievers again and they bought him some food. Would my faith be without works? Would the unbelievers who saw and heard me give him a gospel tract think that my faith in Jesus was just words and no deeds?

I then was reminded about an incident that took place a week and a half or so ago. On the way home from work I saw an older, rough, looking man pushing his moped down the road. I passed by and God prompted my heart to turn around and offer to put his moped in the back of my truck and give him a lift to where he was going. I turned around and pulled up next to him and asked if he wanted a ride. The man never acknowledged me and just kept heading to his destination. I said to myself, okay Jesus, I did what you asked me to do and headed on home.

It dawned on me what God was trying to show me through these divine appointments. It's not about helping people, it's about the glory of Jesus. Jesus deserves to receive the reward of his suffering. Jesus wants me to be obedient to the Spirits leading, not for the purpose of helping people, but for the purpose of Glorifying the name of Jesus. It's true that people are helped when Christians follow the Spirit, but helping people for the sake of helping people is not the ideal behind being a follower of Christ. It's all about Jesus!

Paris Reidhead's sermon titled Ten Shekels and a Shirt resonates in my mind [1]. He went to Africa to preach to the heathen in hopes that they would not suffer in hell after suffering so much in this life. When he got there, he discovered "they weren't poor, ignorant, little heathen running around in the woods looking for someone to tell them how to go to heaven. That they were MONSTERS OF INIQUITY!!! THEY WERE LIVING IN UTTER AND TOTAL DEFIANCE OF FAR MORE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THEN I EVER DREAMED THEY HAD! " 

Reidhead was angry at God and struggled with why God had sent him there and it was then that God spoke to his heart, "I didn't send you to Africa for the sake of the heathen, I sent you to Africa for My sake. They deserved Hell! But I LOVE THEM!!! AND I ENDURED THE AGONIES OF HELL FOR THEM!!! I DIDN'T SEND YOU OUT THERE FOR THEM!!! I SENT YOU OUT THERE FOR ME! DO I NOT DESERVE THE REWARD OF MY SUFFERING? DON'T I DESERVE THOSE FOR WHOM I DIED?"

I encourage you to listen or read the Ten Shekels and a Shirt sermon. It is a good reminder that we should avoid pragmatic humanism in our evangelism. We should be faithful to the gospel and serve Jesus despite how ineffective our outreach seems to be. Remember, it's about God's glory, not about how many people repent and put their faith in Christ.  

[1] http://www.parisreidheadbibleteachingministries.org/tenshekels.shtml

Shirt on Backwards

The other day, I go to put a shirt on and it wasn't until I looked in the mirror that I noticed it was on backwards. Haha! Oh the truthfulness of a mirror. It's weird how right it felt, but oh so wrong it was.

Likewise, when you trust your own heart rather than looking to God's law/word as the authority, you have a warped view of reality. Things that the Bible declares bad, you will call good. And the good things God says, you will despise (Isaiah 5:20). God's law is the standard; not your heart, not your feelings, nor your emotions.

Take this as another reminder of which you will be held accountable for on judgment day. Myself included.

Here's a question for you. Why are you prone to follow your own heart? Why, after knowing the truth and having received the Spirit of God, do you (if you are a Christian) still experience the pull of sin? What is the remedy in fighting and resisting that pull?

How does one find knowledge?

Proverbs 2:1-5

"My son, if you receive my words
    and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
    and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God."

________________________________

What does the wise son do?

Desire for wisdom that propels one to diligently apply God's Word to his or her life is what makes someone wise of heart. Wisdom says to "receive my words," "hide my commandments with you," "incline your ear unto wisdom," "cry after knowledge," lift up your voice for it," "seek her as silver," "search for her as for hidden treasures." Do these things and you will find the knowledge of God, that is, the fear of the LORD. To increase in wisdom is to increase in fearing the LORD, which is loving Jesus by obeying his commandments. The one who says he loves God, but does not keep God's commandments has not the fear of the LORD and therefore has not received the wisdom of Christ.

How should a wise son value wisdom taught by his parents during family worship?

The wise son is someone who recognizes that having the fear of God is of utmost importance. To value something is to pursue it. Pursuing the fear of God is to value the wisdom of God as revealed in the Bible. So, how does the wise son value the wisdom his parents teach him during family worship? He is to soak up the instruction his parents give like a sponge soaks up water, and he thinks and meditates on the matters day and night anticipating the opportunity to apply the teaching to his life, whether it is thoughts, words, or his deeds. 

Do you struggle to appropriately value the wisdom you hear in church and family devotions?

The struggle to value wisdom is my lack of meditating on the principles that are learned heard. Or are they even learned? To some extent, yes. Maybe I should say heard. The lack of intentionality in applying God's Word reveals the value that one places on the Word of God. To think about circumstances and situations, filtering them at all times according to the Scripture is to meditate on God's Word day and night. Meditation is not simply meditating on Bible passages isolated from life. Meditation is thinking on Bible passages in order to apply the principles of Scripture to your life--every area of life--home life, education, work, hobbies, politics, everything. The struggle is to be consistent and view, engage, and interact with everything from a thorough Christian worldview. Valuing wisdom takes practice.

Do You Reject Wisdom?

Proverbs 1:24-33

"Because I have called and you refused to listen,
    have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
because you have ignored all my counsel
    and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
    I will mock when terror strikes you,
when terror strikes you like a storm
    and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
would have none of my counsel
    and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
    and have their fill of their own devices.
For the simple are killed by their turning away,
    and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."
_______________________________________________

What will happen to the fool who rejects the wisdom of God?

God will laugh at the calamity that comes upon the person who has rejected the wisdom of God. The Bible says that God will mock the fool when terror, distress, and anguish come upon him. At this point the fool will want God's help after all the years of rejecting God, but God will not have it. He says, "Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me." The fool will get what he deserves and eat the rotten fruit he has produced. Because the fool does not have the fear of the LORD, he in his simplicity is killed; his complacency destroys him.

What will happen when you listen to the wisdom of God?

Wisdom declares that the person who listens dwells secure from the destructive path of fools. The person who loves wisdom will be at ease, having peace, and not have the dread of disaster that comes upon fools. The wise person is answered upon by wisdom. God does not mock or bring punishment upon the people who love and obey his commandments. Loving and obeying God's commandments is rooted in the fear of the LORD. The Christian wants God's counsel and turns to God's wisdom in search for how to live this life in a way that God calls good and righteous. God pours out his Spirit to those who fear him. The fool will only get God's wrath in the end. Are you a fool? Do you reject wisdom?

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The Vantage Point That Christians Have Over Halloween

Matthew 10:16 states “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." These words of Jesus are in the context of persecution and missions (I encourage you to read the whole chapter). Every Christian is on mission whether he or she is abroad or here at home. We are called to be intentional about our faith. Being on mission does not mean that you should quit you job and evangelize full time (Although, Jesus does call some people to this). Being on mission is the Christian life. The mission field is the world and the workplace is just one of many areas to exemplify Christ's work ethic.


As Halloween approaches we should be focused on how to relate the gospel to the situation. We need to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Halloween is a perfect time to engage people in conversation about the gospel. Skeletons, ghouls, goblins, and zombies are a good reminder of death, which comes to all people. If you see someone with halloween costumes and trinkets, this is your springboard to strike up a conversation. Remember, your aim is the gospel, not to get into a debate. You could say something like: "I couldn't help but notice that skeleton you have there and was wondering what you think about death? What do you think happens after someone dies?" Bingo, you're now into a conversation and you have a goal--to explain the truths of the gospel. Ask something like, "Would you consider yourself to be a good person?" "Do you think you've kept the 10 Commandments?" Then take them through some of God's commandments to "bring the knowledge of sin" as Romans 3:19-20 reveals. Show them that God even sees their thought life just as Jesus told us in Matthew 5:28 that lust is counted as adultery. Reveal to them that God must punish unforgiven sinners in hell and that place is as real as the ground their standing on. Ask them, "Do you think God should reward you with heaven or hell for the life you've lived?" If they think heaven, point out the fact that criminals must pay for their crimes and that God is the just judge of all the earth. He must punish you for breaking His laws. Then, give them the good news that Jesus died on behalf of those who will humble themselves enough to turn from their sins (repentance) and place their hope in Jesus--the one who lived a perfect life, keeping God's laws, and then dying on the cross as a substitute for sinners. Three days later Jesus rose from death. He has the power to cleanse you of a guilty conscience and your sins, and restore you to a right relationship with God.

Now's a good time to encourage them to take seriously what they heard. Admonish them to attend a church to hear the word of God preached on a regular basis. Give them a Bible if they don't own one. You can also give them a gospel tract to remind them what they just heard.

If you are too timid to speak up you can do something just as brave--walk up to someone and say, "Hello, did you get one of these?" And hand them a Halloween gospel tract this year.

Another option is to leave your light on this year and hand out great snacks (that children will remember you by) and attach a gospel tract to the treat. Doing so is a great way to send out the gospel! What other night do you have lots of people coming to your doorstep? Be wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove.

If you don't already have some biblically sound gospel tracts, I have some at www.seedshakers.com
You can share them with other Christians to help you pass them all out.

And The Walls Came Tumbling Down

At first reading of the title you would think this is about Jericho, when the Israelites marched around the city for 7 days and followed the instruction of the Lord. No, it's not about that but it is about the after effects of a city without walls. "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls" [1]. This is a golden nugget of a proverb. There is a lot of spinach here to chew on. It's good for us to dwell on challenging verses in the Bible, especially this one, which seems to not make a lot of sense on the surface. But with a little thinking power, the truth of the proverb sets in and causes us to rethink our lives.

What does Solomon mean by it? A man who has forsaken discipline is like an ancient city without walls--it remains defenseless and open to attack from the enemy.

Where are you lacking self-control? The enemy you need to worry about first and foremost is yourself. I'm not denying that the world system of autonomy and the devil are your enemies, but if you can't defend against attacks from your old way of life (pre-regenerate days), you certainly can't fight against those other two beasts [2]. Your depravity--your old nature--as Paul explains in Colossians is to be put off and its practices sentenced to death. The new nature you received when you became born-again, is what Paul reminds his readers about. Because you were granted a new self by God, you are to bring forth fruits of the new nature [3]. Self-control is one of those fruits, which brings us back to a man without self-control, he is like a city broken into without walls. A man who lacks this fruit of the Spirit is living as an unbeliever in particular areas of his life and basically saying that God has no jurisdiction or authority over those areas. The city has holes in its walls. What holes do you have in your walls? In other words what do you know you need to get control over in your life?  

This proverb applies to every area of your life, not just "spiritual" matters of reading your Bible, going to Church, evangelizing, and doing ministry. Actually, every thing you do is spiritual, you can't escape from this reality. All of life is to be under God's authority. Doing church or reading your Bible is no more of a spiritual exercise than going to work or eating dinner. We are to do all things to the glory of God! How you go about completing tasks, duties, and even enjoying pleasures is what makes it a spiritual issue. That's key: How you go about doing something. A pastor can do his work in either a Christian way or he can do a poor job that wouldn't be classified as very Christian like. Same goes for the plumber. He can do his work in a Christian manner or he can do it in a non-Christian like way. How you go about doing something reveals the spiritual quality, you might say, of your thoughts, words, and actions. Am I thinking and acting like a Christian? If I read my Bible but I'm not a doer of the word, what does it say about me spiritually? Or what if I eat dinner but complain and murmur about the food placed before me? I'm not being very Christian like, huh? Or even, what if I have bad eating habits that cause my body to deteriorate in an untimely manner, what does it say about me spiritually? Am I living this particular area of my life as a Christian is suppose to? Let's be careful not to leave compartments or areas of our life untouched by the authority of God's word, for a man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

[1] Proverbs 25:28

[2] The autonomy of the world is the natural impulse of the unregenerate. They seek to be their own gods and have their own rule (autonomy) apart from God's rule and authority (theonomy). The world system that John speaks of is the system of thoughts and actions contrary to God's law. The autonomous world system is the continuation of that first original sin of Adam and Eve, the desire to rule their own lives. We see where it got them and their posterity--curse and judgment--they received negative sanctions for refusing to submit to God's law. Adam and Eve lacked self-control and opened themselves up to attack, they were as a city without walls, they were open to the attack of deceit that came from the devil. "Be self-controlled;" Peter tells us, "be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Peter goes on to say that you are to resist the devil, firm in your faith. Being firm in your faith is not a passiveness on your part and an asking of God to have pity on you, but rather, it is a call to action--a call to stand with self-control, to rebuild the crumbled walls that you have let fall.  1John 2:15-17, 1Peter 5:8

[3] The fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23

Making the Most of Life

Making the Most of Life

The Meaning of Opportunities

Excerpts from J.R. Miller

The real problem of living, therefore, is how to take what the hours bring. He who does this, will live nobly and faithfully, and will fulfill God’s plan for his life. The difference in men is not in the opportunities that come to them, but in their use of their opportunities. Many people who fail to make much of their life, charge their failure to the lack of opportunities. They look at one who is continually doing good and beautiful things, or great and noble things, and think that he is specially favoured, that the chances which come to him for such things are exceptional. Really, however, it is in his capacity for seeing and accepting what the hours bring of duty or privilege that his success lays. Where other men see nothing, he sees a battle to fight, a duty to perform, a service to render, or an honour to win. Many a man waits long for opportunities, wondering why they never come to him, when really they have been passing by him day after day, unrecognized and unaccepted.

"They perish, and are set down to our account”

There is something truly startling in this irreparableness of the past, this irrevocableness of the losses which we have suffered through our follies or our sins. About two centuries ago a great sun dial was erected in All Soul’s College, Oxford, England, the largest and noblest dial; it is said, in the whole kingdom. Over the long pointer were written, in large letters of gold, the Latin words, referring to the hours, “Pereunt et imputantur.” Literally the meaning is, “They perish, and are set down to our account” or, as they have been rendered in terser phrase, “They are wasted, and are added to our debt.”

It is said that these words on the dial have exerted a wonderful influence on the boyhood of many of the distinguished men who have received their training at Oxford, stimulating them to the most conscientious use of the golden hours as they passed, and bearing fruit in long lives of earnestness and faithfulness. The lesson is one that every young person should learn. In youth the hours are full of privileges. They come like angels, holding in their hands rich treasures, sent to us from God, which they offer to us; and if we are laggard or indolent, or if we are too intent on our own little trifles to give welcome to these heavenly messengers with their heavenly gifts, they quickly pass on and are gone. And they never come back again to renew the offer.
On the dial of a clock in the palace of Napoleon at Malmaison, the maker has put the words, “Non nescit reverti”; “It does not know how to go backward.” It is so of the great clock of Time – it never can be turned backward. The moments come to us but once; whatever we do with them we must do as they pass, for they will never come to us again.

"Then privilege makes responsibility."

We shall have to give account to God for all that he sends to us by the mystic hands of the passing hours, and which we refuse or neglect to receive. “They are wasted and are added to our debt.”

It's a New Day!

Just some thoughts from my journal

It's a New Day Indeed! 

Every morning God renews his mercies to us. And I am not going to worry because God is in control. I think I now know what it means, if not what it means at least one reason why it is necessary to meditate on God's word and speak it to yourself. Doing so produces a steadfastness and hope in Jesus, overcoming worries, anxiety, and the contemplation of negative thoughts. Thank you Jesus!

Taking Captive My Thoughts

If I allow my negative thoughts of doubt, discouragement, and pessimism to control the better portion of the day, I'm surely not adding even one hour to my life. But if I take captive my thoughts for Christ and preach to myself what God calls the Christian to meditate on, all my anxiety, fear, and worry will be banished into everlasting darkness where it belongs. 

Light Has No Fellowship With Darkness

What fellowship does darkness have with light? Absolutely none! I am not allowed, get that, NOT ALLOWED to let my negative thoughts of doubt, discouragement, and pessimism reign free. If I do I am disobeying God. He tells me to meditate on His word day and night. This includes preaching to yourself by thinking, talking, writing, sharing, singing, and any other form of communicating. This does not mean that you are not allowed to say or do things that you need to do for work or other activities as long as they are in accordance with God's law. Whenever negative thoughts start to manifest themselves, it is then and there that the law of God comes down and chops the head off of worry, chops the head off of doubt, chops the head off of anxiety, chops the head off that beast of pessimism. God is victorious in putting to death our darling sins. Don't cling to your sins of unbelief! Take the sword of the Spirit, the law/word of God, and slay your sins. Preach the word, use the sword of the law to accomplish victory in the name of Christ. Overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Victory in Jesus, Victory in Jesus is the SHOUT! Amen and Amen!

Salvation Is Today

Today God will deliver me from all my enemies! Today is the day of salvation. I'm not allowed to worry! Jesus evidently thinks this is important or else it would not have been in the sermon on the mount. When I worry, what I am saying is that worry and anxiety are my gods. Worry and anxiety are bad task masters. They are a work of the flesh and God calls me to take up the sword of the Spirit and hack them to pieces just as Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. 

Christmas in Herman Park 2011

This is a brief 11 minute message presented at the City of Goldsboro's Christmas in Herman Park 2011. Reading the story of that first Christmas as revealed in Luke chapter 2, then briefly explaining why the righteousness of Jesus has great implications for our lives today, just as it did for the original hearers. And a closing prayer by J.R. Miller called "A Prayer for Christmas Day."

A Husband's Part

Just a brief snippet from J.R. Miller's "The Family" (a.k.a home-making) on the husband's part.

"Yet there are men who would not willingly tread upon a crawling insect or worm, who would not injure a dumb animal nor needlessly hurt any of the lowest of God's creatures, who every day bring many a pang to the heart of the tender, faithful, loving wife of their bosom by their sharp words or their impatient looks or acts.

The trouble is that men fall into free and careless habits at home. They are not so in society; they are gentle to other women. They pride themselves on their thoughtfulness. They are careful not even by tone or look to hurt a sensitive spirit. But at home too often they are rude, careless in speech and heedless of the effect of their words and actions. They blurt out in their own houses the ill-humor they have suppressed all day on the street. They answer proper questions in an irritated tone. The speak impatiently on the slightest provocation. They are sullen, morose and unsocial."

Miller evidently experienced what most, if not all, husbands fail in their duty to succumb. He writes so that we may be cautioned and take heed not to fall prey to our hard, impenitent hearts. These are great words of truth that every husband (or future husband) should take to heart.

Childbearing and Birth Control

What is God's will for a Christian couple in regards to childbearing and birth control? I came across an interesting analogy that sheds a little light:

"The fruit of the ground is a reward and a blessing."

"The fruit of the womb is a reward and a blessing."

If a farmer plants as many seeds as he can without consideration for the ground, the health of the plants, etc.
...and thinks the fruit of the ground should be God's area and we should NOT get involved whatsoever in the number of seeds planted, or the spacing of the seeds, or the size of the garden which he can reasonably and responsibly care for...

...the seeds will produce fruit of course (it is the nature of the creation) and he will have more plants!

However, the ground will suffer, the plants will not be healthy (because there are not enough nutrients in the soil to supply that many plants), and the plants will ultimately be neglected since there are more plants than the farmer has time to weed, prune, fertilize, and care for.

Likewise...

If a man plants as many seeds in the womb without consideration for his wife's body (the ground), the health, training, discipling, educating, providing, and loving of the children, etc. and thinks the womb should be God's area and he and his wife (the farmers) should not get involved in the consideration of the number of seeds planted, or the spacing of the plants (children), or the size of the garden (family) which they can reasonably care for, the seeds will produce fruit (children--it is the nature of the creation)...

...they will have more children.

However, the wife's body will suffer as well as her emotional state, the children will not be healthy (because there is not enough emotional, spiritual, and physical nutrients in the parents to supply that many plants/children), and the children will ultimately be neglected to some degree since there are more children than the couple have time, energy, and resources to weed (rebuke), prune (discipline), fertilize (teach, train, disciple), and care for (love and meet their emotional needs).

The farmer is responsible before God to be a good steward of his land and the fruit of the land.

The husband and wife are responsible before God to be a good steward of the womb and the fruit of the womb.

They are responsible in God's Word to provide for them, bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, keep their hearts turned to each of them, and provide a rich example of the love of Christ for the church as the children observe their love for each other and how they relate to each other.

Therefore, since we want to walk in a manner worthy of Christ and the gospel, we must have the same attitude as He had (emptying ourselves, humbly serving, and willing to lay down our lives for others) and to think about the interests of others (our wives/husbands first, and then the other children) more than our own interests (reputation or self-esteem or own desires).

Parents should remember, having children is not about them, it's about Christ. And if all of life is about Christ, then it is about others. So the question about how many children should a couple have can only be answered by each couple accurately understanding their abilities, gifting, health, and God's provision with an attitude of stewardship before God for His glory.

One farmer may have planted 10,000 seeds in his plot and there stands 10,000 stunted corn plants because the farmer did not accurately assess what the ground could supply and he care for.

Another farmer may have planted 1000 seeds in his plot and there stands 1000 healthy, fruitful corn plants because the farmer did accurately assess what the ground could supply and he care for.

Which farmer brings more glory to God in his stewardship?

One husband plants as many seeds as he feels like and his wife allows in her womb and there stands # of children (the number is not important) emotionally, spiritually, physically, neglected children because the couple did not accurately assess what they could reasonably care for.

One husband plants seeds wisely and lovingly guided by the Holy Spirit in the womb of his wife and there stands # of children (the number is not important) emotionally, spiritually, physically healthy children because the couple did accurately assess what they could reasonably care for with the Lord's fulness and strength.

Which couple brings more glory to God in their stewardship?

One couple may not pray or seek the Lord in his (their) stewardship because the law (what is being taught by some as God's law) is "have as many children as God wants you to have". On the other hand, another may have their children conceived and birthed out of faith in fellowship and prayer with Jesus Christ. They may have 1 child after many attempts or they may have 10, but they come together freely and with excitement because they are living by the Spirit, in fellowship with God, and with His attitude for His glory.

So the most important consideration isn't how large the family is, but are they walking by faith, in love with God, living with the attitude of Christ for His glory..."

A couple can have only a few (or no children) out of a heart of selfishness, AND a couple can have many children out of a heart of selfishness. God isn't looking at numbers, or lack there of, He is looking at our hearts. He is looking to see His name glorified, whether it be a couple is led to have 2, 4, or 8, etc. He is desiring us to follow His leading to be good stewards and to be responsible to raise our children for Him and with a heart to love Him and others.

This article is a great encouragement to me - one, because I believe that the fruit of the womb is a reward/blessing from the Lord - yet at the same time, we as a couple are called to be responsible before Him, to seek Him, to fellowship with Him, to ask His will (as a couple) in regards to the size of our family and to live by the Holy Spirit and not out of law.

We are to love God and love others and walk this out in all areas of our life. One thing that constantly motivates me in my motherhood calling is to be a good steward of the children I have. Whether that number is 2 for some, or more for some, we have a calling as parents - in God's Word - to provide for them, bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, keep our hearts turned to each of them, and provide a rich example of the love of Christ for the church through our marriage.

This can ONLY be done out of a relationship with Jesus... a living, daily relationship with Jesus Christ that is the real deal.

Motherhood is a calling that cannot be achieved for His glory without first acknowledging that it cannot be done without HIM! Click here to continue reading...

Crown Rights Media

A good friend of mine, Marcus Pittman, has started a ministry called Crown Rights Media. He uses "creative media as a tool to restore the Crown Rights of Christ to his rightful place in all areas of life." God has gifted Marcus with the ability to skillfully and creatively use technology and media for Christ's kingdom. Marcus is currently working on a project called the Open Air Preacher profile series. The video below, is an example of some fruit coming forth from Crown Rights Media. God is doing some great things!

I would like you to prayerfully consider supporting Crown Rights Media, with prayers and donations. Producing video is not cheap and takes financial resources to make it happen. Not only does it cost for video equipment and computers, but travelling expenses to document and produce. Crown Rights Media is currently in need of a few items:

1. Firewire Hard drives

2. Computer memory

3. Wireless lapel microphone

Donations to support the project can be made right from his blog http://crownrightsmedia.blogspot.com/

You can also follow Marcus on Facebook by pressing the like button for Crown Rights Media page. This will keep you informed on how the project is coming along.

Thanks Marcus, for your joyful and diligent work in serving King Jesus!! And your desire to see the nations worshipping Him!!

America's Holocaust

IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THIS 30MIN MOVIE--WATCH IT NOW!

Whiteboard Evangelism in Herman Park

What a great way to strike up gospel conversations in a park. You don't really need any artistic talent, just a willingness to be used by God (and that willingness comes from the Holy Spirit). On this particular outing, I wrote the following sayings on the board:

Are you a good person?
How do you know?
God's Law is the standard!

Don't lie
Don't steal
Don't covet
Don't commit adultery

That's just 4 of the commandments

I then drew a picture of the earth with a cross coming out of it and sin nailed to it, with some blood coming from the nails. I wrote above the bloody cross that Jesus saves sinners! Repent and trust in Him! Then drew a big arrow showing His resurrection. When a passerby walked near, I asked him . . .what do you think about this. To which he responded, "you did a good job." I laughed and said ha ha no, I'm not talking about how well it looks, it's not very artistic, but what do you think about that saying there--Jesus died to save sinners! He paused. Nodded his head. And I asked him; do you believe it? A quiet yes resounded. What do you think about this question up here on the board, Are you a good person? Would you consider yourself to be one? He thought he was good, but had done some bad things. So, I took him through some of the commandments I wrote on the whiteboard; expounding God's perfect standard of justice, the guilt and condemnation that this young man is under outside of Christ, and the need for a righteous substitute (someone who is perfect and never sinned to bear the just anger and wrath of God). Hell didn't seem reasonable to this man at first. I took him back through the law, laying the weight of it on his back. Picture a guy squashed on the ground with a 2,000 pound rock on top of him--that's the reality, the future plight of a sinner who is crushed on judgment day because of his tresspasses against the Holy God who is a consuming fire. I reasoned with the man about the seriousness of offense. If he were to murder a homeless person, an earthly judge would give a much lighter sentence than if he were to murder the president. How much sorer punishment you suppose crimes against the most high God of all creation would be? An eternal hell is reasonable. We broke the law, Jesus paid the fine. The righteous for the unrighteous. What a great gift of mercy that God would give us a way out from underneath the judgment rock Jesus. "And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him” Matthew 21:44. We wrapped up the conversation with repentance and faith, gave him a Bible and a contact card, and talked about life. It was a great divine appointment. This must have been why Shayna and I didn't make it to Bay Days this year.


On another note, if there is anyone in the area and they want to overcome their fear of man and get out of their comfort zone. Just let me know, I'd be more than glad to help you share the gospel. We can break out the whiteboard and do a little evangelism. If you're not familiar with the use of the law in evangelism, go ahead and watch the video on the front page of http://www.seedshakers.com/ , it's of Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron teaching what may be the most important message you will ever listen to, called Hell's Best Kept Secret.

Conversing with an Atheist

Evangelist: Hi there, did you get one of these?
Atheist: What is it?
Evangelist: A gospel tract; it's about Jesus!
Atheist: I'm an Atheist; I don't believe in God.
Evangelist. Why don't you believe in God?
Atheist: There's no proof for God.
Evangelist. Sure there is, just look around; a beautiful blue sky, green grass, the sunshine, it really is a wonderful work of God.
Atheist: Haha yeah, that's your opinion. All the evidence points to evolution. Scientists know for a fact that evolution is how things came about, and that there is no need for God.
Evangelist: First of all, not all scientists believe that. And two, it's called the "theory" of evolution because it is not provable. However, I can prove to you that God exists in about 30 seconds.
Atheist: Yeah, right. Let me see!
Evangelist: When you look at a painting, how do you know there was a painter?
Atheist: Because a painter painted the painting.
Evangelist: Very good, that's right. When you look at a building, how do you know there was a builder?
Atheist: Well...
Evangelist: The building is proof there was a builder. And in the same way, when you look at creation it's proof there was a Creator. Your conscience also proves God is real, because God has taken the time to write his law on your heart. You know it's wrong to lie, steal, and commit adultery don't you? Have you ever told a lie?
Atheist. Yes.
Evangelist: What does that make you?
Atheist: Human.
Evangelist: Nah, more specifically!  : - )
Atheist: You want me to say liar?
Evangelist: Yeah, so what do you call someone who tells a lie?
Atheist: Not a liar.
Evangelist: Come on, you'd be a liar wouldn't you?
Atheist: Yep.
Evangelist:Have you ever stolen anything? The value is irrelevant.
Atheist: No.
Evangelist: Even if it was small, something from a brother, sister, a friend . . . anything without asking that didn't belong to you?
Atheist: Yeah, just small things though.
Evangelist: The value is irrelevant. If I reached into your pocket and took 5 dollars from you and ran off, you'd be just as upset if I took 100 dollars from you. So what are you called if you steal something?
Atheist: a thief.
Evangelist: That's right. Let's go through one more commandment--the seventh commandment--you should not commit adultery. Have you comitted adultery?
Atheist: Nope. Haven't broke that one.
Evangelist: Jesus said that if you look at a woman to lust for her, you have committed adultery in your heart. Have you looked with lust?
Atheist: Who hasn't?
Evangelist: So by your own admission. you're a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart, and that's just 3 of the 10 commandments. Do you think you'd be guilty or innocent on judgment day?
Atheist: Innocent, because I don't believe in God.
Evangelist: Just because you don't believe in God, it doesn't change reality. Stand in the middle of the freeway and say you don't believe in trucks--you'll get crushed! Innocent or guilty?
Atheist: I told you, I don't believe in God so it doesn't apply to me.
Evangelist: Well, in that case, "if" what I'm telling you is true and "if" God does exist, would you be innocent or guilty?
Atheist: If it's true, then I'd be guilty.
Evangelist: Should God reward you with heaven or hell?
Atheist: I don't believe in God but if it's true then yes, I'd go to hell.
Evangelist: Does that concern you, that you'd go to hell?
Atheist: . . .If it's true it would.
Evangelist: Let me ask you a question, would you sell one of your eyes for a million dollars?
Atheist: No.
Evangelist: How about both of your eyes for $10 million dollars!
Atheist: No.
Evangelist: Why not? It's because your eyes are important to you, how much more precious is your soul that looks out the windows of your eyes?
Atheist: . . . I see what you are saying.
Evangelist: Let me make it a little clearer for you. Put yourself in a courtroom, guilty of serious crimes. Do you think that the judge can just let you off the hook?
Atheist: No.
Evangelist: How much more strict of a judgment do you think God will
impose on you for breaking his eternal law, the ten commandments. He can't let you off the hook, if he did he would be an unjust judge. When human judges let people off the hook, we call them corrupt. God reveals himself in the Bible as a righteous judge, who judges every person's thoughts, words, and deeds! There is no corruption in God, unlike us, and he will give everyone who dies in their sins exactly what they deserve. We deserve to be punished in hell for our sins. The question you should be asking is: how can a just and holy God spare you of his firey judgment?
Atheist: If I try to be a good person, won't he forgive me?
Evangelist: Let's go back to the courtroom a second. You say to the judge, but judge I'm a good person now, I broke the law and committed those crimes 6 months ago. I've gave to charity, done community service, and even helped out in nursing homes, please your honor, I won't do it again--I'm sorry,please let me go. A good judge would respond with, certainly not! You  broke the law and the fine must be paid. You should be sorry, but being sorry and trying to change your life isn't going to make up for the law you broke. The fine must be paid.

It's the same way between you and God, you have broken his law by lying, stealing, lusting, and numerous other sins. No amount of good works will ever make up for the sins you have committed. Does this make sense to you?
Atheist: Yes.
Evangelist: Back to the courtroom one more time. You are being handcuffed and led out of the courtroom, and all of a sudden the judge says hold up. You turn and face him, and he says to you, you have broken the law and have not been able to pay your $100,000 fine. As a just judge, I have upheld the law and sentenced you to prison. The judge steps down from his stand, walks over to you, takes out his checkbook and fills out a check for $100,000. He then says to you, but as your friend, I am paying your fine. Not because you deserve it, or because you did anything to earn it, but simply because I was showing you mercy. It is a gift from me to you. How would that make you feel?
Atheist: Pretty grateful.
Evangelist: You bet it would! How would you respond to the judge?
Atheist: I would thank him and not go back to that lifestyle of crime.
Evangelist: That's right. Just like the courtroom, God has judged you guilty of breaking his law and the punishment is hell. But God being merciful, sent his son Jesus to pay the fine for the law you broke. The Bible tells us that God took on human form; Jesus became a man about 2,000 years ago and he lived a perfect life, fulfilling God's law, something you and I have failed to accomplish. Because Jesus had not broke the law he could give up his life as a sacrifice for those that have broke the law--Jesus was a perfect sacrifice for sinners. This was prophesied throughout the Bible and it came to pass. As Jesus suffered on the cross he was actually absorbing the penalty of his peoples' sins in his body--The book of Isaiah puts it this way: God laid on his son the iniquities of the people and crushed him. Jesus absorbed the wrath of God: you broke the law and Jesus paid your fine. The story doesn't end here though. Three days later Jesus was resurrected from the dead proving that he does have the power to forgive and cleanse those who have rebelled against his law. To receive this mercy that God is offerring you through his son Jesus, you are commanded by God to repent (that means to turn from your sins as revealed by God's moral law) and to put your trust in Jesus as you would in a parachute! Does this make sense?
Atheist: Yeah, it makes sense.
Evangelist: When do you think you will repent and put your faith in Jesus?
Atheist: Don't know.
Evangelist: Everyday 150,000 people die and open their eyes in eternity, some open their eyes to realize the flames of hell and torment, others meet Jesus face-to-face. Don't procrastinate, your eternal destiny depends on whether you repent and trust Jesus. Hey, do you have a Bible?
Atheist: Yes, I do.
Evangelist: I want to encourage you to read it, start with the gospel of John (it's the 4th book in the new testament). Ask God to give you understanding as you read it. And don't just be a hearer of it, but obey what it says.
Atheist: Ok.
Evangelist: Hey, thanks for talking with me. If you have any questions just contact me through the website listed on the back of that gospel tract I gave you. Have a great day! :-)