What a face

This little girl could be my neighbor, or a friend at my daughter's school. She could be someone you pass on the street, or see playing in a park near your house. Like all of us, she is created in the image of God. However, this young girl has never heard about Jesus. I pray that she will. Please join me in praying for this child and others like her around the world. Many are cold, many are hungry, still more have not heard the life changing message of God's grace in Christ.

That the world may know.

Crisis brings clarity

Dr. Albert Mohler, President of Southern Seminary, recently went through a personal, medical crisis. He has only in the last few days begun posting to his blog again. One of his recent articles, which you can read in full on his site, speaks to the lessons he has learned following his time in the ICU. Here is just a sample:

"There never was a moment when my life was not, or is not, in His hands. What happened to me was not a freak medical accident, but something God intended as good for me. I was safe, though I was admittedly scared."

I commend to you this article. Many will agree, Dr. Mohler is one of the sharpest minds in the evangelical community today. He is able to clearly articulate his position on a myriad of important and complex issues. Yet, he has testified to what happens when we come face to face with our frailty. Accordingly, that is when we gain the most clarity.

Quotable

"I may devote myself to the study of the Scriptures in the same way as I would the study of some science or the mastering of a foreign language. By diligent application, persevering effort, and consulting works of reference, I may steadily acquire a comprehensive and accurate acquaintance with the letter of God's Word, and become an able expositor thereof. But I cannot obtain a heart-affecting, a heart-purifying, and a heart-molding knowledge thereof. None but the Spirit of truth can write God's law on my heart, stamp God's image upon my soul, and sanctify me by the Truth." A. W. Pink The Holy Spirit, pg. 100.

More of us would do well to remember and affirm this statement by Pink.

The glory of God in football?

I watched as the Indianapolis Colts made an impressive comeback to win the AFC championship beating the New England Patriots 38-34. As the championship trophy was presented to Jim Irsay, Colts owner, CBS commentator Jim Nantz shoved a microphone in his face and fired off questions about the big win. Irsay said there was lots of glory to go around but that all the glory goes to God (not his exact word, but close). Then coach Tony Dungy shared a similar sentiment when asked about the game. (Dungy has been pretty bold about his Christian faith.)

I don't know much about Jim Irsay. I don't know if he is really a follower of Jesus Christ. I only know what I heard him say when given an opportunity on national television. He gave glory to God. Wonder if Irsay has ever heard of the Westminster Shorter Catechism? It instructs us that the chief end of man is to "glorify God, and enjoy him forever." Ultimately, everyone will glorify Almighty God. He rightly deserves glory for everything. Why not football?

Pay As You Go

World Magazine has an article about Dr. Robert Berry that is a breath of fresh air. This is because currently our air is polluted with political and economic mumbo jumbo about rising health care costs and greedy health insurance companies etc etc (almost makes me ill thinking about it). Dr. Berry apparently is a throw-back to the days of "pay as you go" visits to the doctor. He has a clinic in Greeneville, TN called PATMOS, which stands for "Pay At TiMe of Service." You know, you've seen this type of thing on reruns of Andy Griffith (my favorite show) or Green Acres. Sounds like a crazy idea doesn't it? If you are sick you go to the doctor, he treats you and charges you a reasonable fee for his services. Wow, ground breaking! There is a very interesting biographical type article written by Dr. Berry available here.

Actually, in our culture, this is radical. Dr. Berry will probably never be featured on his own reality show, top the list of highest paid Docs, have a garage full of foreign sports cars, or a couple of vacation homes on the coast. I doubt any of these aforementioned are on his list of must do. But, Dr. Berry appears to be on the cutting edge of retro-health care. I suspect he is very well liked by his patients and the community he serves. Maybe this will catch on. I'd go to a reputable Doc who bucked the system and had a pay as you go plan. Wonder what an appendectomy goes for these days??

Idolatry?

American Idol was on last night. I watched. It is entertaining. Worship it? Nope.

Good Answer

Anytime we find a good answer to a difficult or challenging question, we ought to share it with others. Therefore, I commend to you a recent article by Dr. Russell Moore. You will note that I have a standing link to his page just to the left (no, your other left). I am not one to name drop or link to pages in order to flatter myself. Dr. Moore is a very clear thinker and nearly all of his work is relevant, fresh and easily digested by the average Jon (like me).

In his article, entitled "Grave Signs," Dr. Moore speaks to the subject of cremation and how we as believers ought to understand it. You may or may not agree with his conclusions but you will be better off having read this piece. This is an article that you may wish to copy and save for when this question comes to you personally.

Lie, Cheat & Steal Theory

When I was in college I had a roommate that had what he called the "lie, cheat and steal theory." He especially liked to apply this theory in the context of a dating relationship. However, his approach could be used more broadly if the need presented itself. The basics of his idealogy are very simple and obvious. No matter what, it is okay to lie, cheat or steal if you are the beneficiary. That's it.

Last week on the Today Show (no, I won't link to them) there was a piece on lying and they discussed how common it was and how it is okay in certain situations etc. I was not shocked but still concerned that this attitude is apparently so prevelant among Americans. Well, this morning on talk radio I hear again about Sandy Berger because this report has come out about his actions with regard to classified documents. Here is an excerpt from the report.

"The facts of this case raise some peculiar and disturbing questions about the conduct, and more importantly, the motivations of the former National Security Advisor. For example, Berger admitted to leaving highly classified documents at a construction site near the main National Archives facility in downtown Washington, D.C. where they could have been easily found. Addtionally, one of the archivists with a very high clearance level (and therefore presumably reliable) who worked on the document producton for the 9/11 Commission reported that he saw Berger hiding some documents in his socks and under his pants. These acts of concealment show the lengths to which Berger was willing to deliberately go to compormise national security." [emphasis added]

This guy Berger is a former high level government official. I am not completly shocked that someone of his position would lie, cheat and steal. I am most concerned that the majority of Americans do not find this the least bit disturbing. On the grand scale of things Sandy Berger's story is not huge, but it is indicative of a huge problem. Morals in America are gone. Not slipping...GONE. I have often heard, and repeated myself, "we shouldn't be surprised when sinners sin." Ok, I'm not surprised. But, I will call it what it is, sin that is offensive to God. Furthermore, I will not condone it as acceptable.

Twenty years ago (has it been that long) I sat quietly as my roommate espoused the value and necessity of his "lie, cheat and steal" theory. He was wrong, I was wrong, Sandy Berger was wrong (and stupid) and anyone who sits quietly today is equally wrong.

Chimes from the Steeple

As I sit here (literally, Under the Steeple) I am listening to the chimes as they play. They play 3-4 hymns every day at noon and 6pm. The chimes can be heard for quite a distance and many in our community have commented on how much they appreciate and enjoy them. However, we have had two calls in reference to the chimes that have been quite negative. One man complained (he left a msg on our voice mail) that he could not hear the birds sing while sitting on his deck because of our horrible bells. He was adamant that something must be done to stop them. One neighbor told me, in person, that our bells were "evil." As somewhat of a compromise (because I am eager to bend to the wishes of an outraged, atheist neighbor), I am considering broadcasting an MP3 of the Sunday sermon over the speaker system instead of the chimes. Wonder if anyone would notice? Just thinking of new ways to approach ministry in 2007. It's a shame to have this modern technology and not put it to good use.

Quotable, and convicting

"Current evangelicalism has laid the altar and divided the sacrifice into parts, but now seems satisfied to count the stones and rearrange the pieces with never a care that there is not a sign of fire upon the top of lofty Carmel."
A. W. Tozer The Pursuit of God pg. 8

Go Mountaineers!

WVU 38
GA Tech 35

Finally, a Gator Bowl victory.