Our Father

Have you really given much thought to the truth about God as your Father? Regardless of our perspective on our earthly father, we have the best of all blessings in the Sovereign as our Father. The implications of this truth are almost staggering when we allow them to sink in.

Here are just a few:

* Relationship - close family relationship with our Creator, all the privileges of family
* Love & Care - He loves and cares for us as His children, this is so powerful
* Discipline - the fairest and most helpful guidance and instruction, desiring the best for us
* Security - He will never abandon His children or disown us, we are heirs with Christ

J. I. Packer rings this bell so clearly when he writes in Knowing God, "What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father." [emphasis added]

Dear Christian, if you are indeed a follower of Jesus Christ by faith, you have Almighty God as your Father. That is a marvel and a joy.

"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." 1 John 3:1

Amen!

Quotable

"Peace is not the absence of trouble, it is the presence of God during trouble."

I am not certain where I found this quotation. However, I know that it is true. I have experienced the truth of it just this week. God is good, all the time. As far as I know, He is still on the throne!

Thankfulness

My "brood" is preparing to travel to West Virginia for the Thanksgiving holiday. It will be a great time to relax and visit with family and friends. Of course we will eat and watch football.

I am hoping we will take time to reflect on the blessings of this life as well as the wonderful grace we have experienced in Christ. We are thankful that God has so graciously provided for us, both materially and spiritually. Let's be honest, we deserve very little and by and large we are not as thankful as we ought to be, in proportion to the amount of our blessings. So, it is right to set aside time to express our thankfulness to our all compassionate God.

Here's a question: Can atheists and agnostics really celebrate Thanksgiving? I'm sure there will be many, who deny the existence of God, that will gather around a table tomorrow. To whom will they direct their thanks? Will they thank themselves for providing all they have? Will they thank "Mother Nature?" They have a real challenge there don't they?

We have a God who has provided so many blessings. For this we ought to express our thankfulness to Him. By the way, one day a year is not nearly enough.

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." James 1:17

Recommended Reading

I have just finished reading The Jesus Gospel: Recovering the Lost Message by Liam Goligher. This is one of the books so graciously given to the attendees of the Basics Conference at Parkside Church in the spring.

I highly recommend this work. It is engaging and well written. Although the topic is deep, it is presented in a very readable fashion. This book would appeal to a variety of readers regardless of their theological acumen. Goligher provides a biblical overview of the gospel with emphasis on the atoning work of Christ. Nothing new or groundbreaking, but Goligher provides some clear insights that remind us why we cherish the gospel and Christ. Put it on your list.

Michael Vick Finds Jesus

Earlier in the week I watched Mike Vick speak following his hearing. He said many things about being sorry for his immature actions. He spoke without a prepared text and sounded genuine. Toward the end of his statement he said, "I have found Jesus...turned my life over to God." (Maybe not an exact quote but close)

Of course my first thought, being the sarcastic Christian that I am, was 'I didn't know Jesus was lost.' I quickly confessed my critical thoughts and began to ponder these words from this troubled man. After a few minutes, my reaction has changed. My opinion on this statement by Vick is this: I hope he has, found Jesus I mean. At the end of the day that's his only hope. Mine too.

Time and time again we see that the fame and fortune of this world will not ultimately satisfy. More than that, it is not the satisfaction of this life that is of utmost importance. Clearly this life with all its trappings is fleeting. You might say it is like a vapor.

We must get an eternal perspective on things. I hope Mr. Vick is on the right path.

The Mystery of Providence

There are no coincidences. God is sovereign and he has ordered all things according to his will, his plan and his purposes. All of this factors into the doctrine of divine providence.

Wayne Grudem has defined providence this way: "God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he 1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; 2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and 3) directs them to fulfill his purposes." Systematic Theology pg. 315

I will admit this is a tremendously deep aspect of God that I do not pretend to understand comprehensively. However, I see the truth of it all around me.

John Flavel (d. 1691) has a very good work entitled The Mystery of Providence. What I have read in this short volume has been a blessing. Flavel provides a great Puritan perspective on this topic.

The recent traffic on my blog has led me to ponder this subject and the various aspects of God's providence. I have noticed an increase in recent visitors. The little map at the bottom left corner reveals that folks in other parts of the world have been guests here "Under the Steeple." Most often I don't know who they are or why they surfed in. This much I know for sure, God is ordering all things. This means it is not simply by chance that you are reading these words.

One of my goals in this blog is to share the message and truth of God's grace in Christ Jesus. That is what has transformed my life. God in his providence led me and drew me to see the truth. It is an awesome mystery.

Facing Death

My friend Mike Ervin has posted some comments on his blog about the last conversation he had with his grandfather. Several days later he stood to preach his grandpa's funeral. Ironically the last time I visited with Mike (week before last) I had travelled to WV to preach my great aunt's funeral.

At some point we will all face death. I commend to you Mike's comments. Well said Brother.

The Genuine Article

Many today cry for "diversity." I suppose it has its place. However, when it comes to Christians, while there are many shapes, colors and ages, there is only one type of genuine believer. Those who have embraced the cross of Jesus Christ by faith as their only hope of salvation. Have you noticed though that there does seem to be some diversity among folks that attend our churches?

I'll share with you some insight on this topic I gained from Richard Bewes. He has penned a handy little volume entitled "150 Pocket Thoughts: Let The Bible Reinvigorate Your Day." Here's what he says:

"There are different kinds of believers found in every church. Some people are Mis-believers. They've picked up various bits of Christianity along the way, but it's all a jumble, and they would never be able to make a clear explanation of what they believe...Some among us are Make-believers. They may have joined the church, but they are deluded as to what a real Christian is...others are Half-believers. When things are going well, you will see them in church...we even find Fake-believers in the church. They are there for what they can get out of it...their faith is only a con." pg. 124 (I have edited this piece, but only for brevity. The content and message has not been altered.)

Look around your church. What do you see? Better yet, check that guy in the mirror. It is right for each of us to examine our faith. See if yours is the genuine article.

William Cowper

I just finished a mini biography on William Cowper (apparently pronounced "Cooper"). It was one of four in the little book Well With My Soul.

Cowper, who died in April 1800, was a hymn writer and poet. Probably one of his most well known hymns is "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood." It is obvious from the work of Cowper that not only was he gifted, but he was a man that loved the Lord.

What makes William Cowper's life and work so intriguing is that he was plagued with chronic depression most of his life. He suffered from what we know today as bi-polar disorder. Of course in the 1700's there was no medication or treatment. Cowper endured great fits of anxiety that lasted for weeks or months. As he processed the reasons for his depression he felt ultimately that he had been abandoned by God. Although he continued to pray, read and discuss the Bible, he did not attend church for an extended period of years at the end of his life. The author of "Amazing Grace," John Newton ,was one of Cowper's closest friends. Newton served as a spiritual mentor for the troubled hymn writer. Following the tragic death of a close friend Newton asked Cowper and the grieving family to move to Olney where he could minister to them. For the next several years the two men were neighbors and they formed a lasting friendship that was anchored in the love of Christ.

William Cowper's life and writings are a testimony to God's grace. However, there are many who would struggle to see God's hand in the life of a man who lived for over 60 years in a dark depression. In fact, there are some that would say if Cowper were truly in Christ his the reading and studying of God's Word could have led him out of his depression. "Maybe he just needed to pray more." "Maybe he was not actually converted."

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emanuel's veins; and sinner's plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty
stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.

E'er since by faith I saw that stream Thy flowing wounds supply, redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing Thy power to save; when this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

How are we to understand the hand of God in the lives of men? Some bold and vibrant for the Lord. Others struggling daily under a tremendous load.

All of Grace.

Ladies and Head Coverings

Jim Hamilton has a nice post dealing with the spiritual basis that stands behind ladies wearing head coverings at worship. Not exactly a common topic of discussion. I have had little exposure to this practice. I do agree with Hamilton's assessment that submission, as well as all other issues of our personal walk, is a matter of the heart.

God is at work!

What a great joy it is to know that God is at work in the hearts of men, all over the planet. He is at work on the "Emerald Isle," in remote mountain villages and in the lives of pagan tribal chiefs. God is working in the deserts of Arizona, the mountains of West Virginia and even in a tiny borough just outside of Louisville, Kentucky.

I have recently been encouraged to hear of men and women all over the world coming to faith in our Savior. The words of 2 Corinthians 4 have impacted me to see with fresh eyes why we preach, what we preach and how God uses vessels of "clay" in his service.

All for His glory alone!

VT Tragedy

As news unfolded yesterday about the tragedy at Virginia Tech I had a sick feeling in my stomach. What is most interesting is to listen to reporters and others as they analyze the situation. Someones worldview becomes very clear as they articulate "why" this shooting took place etc.

I heard someone comment yesterday morning that, "shootings like this have become common only in recent years" (my paraphrase). I disagreed. My mind immediately went back to February 1977. I was in the 7th grade at Hayes Jr. High School. It was a snowy morning. Our homeroom class was extended for about 2 hours. Eventually we heard the sound of a State Police helicopter landing on our campus. We would all learn later that one of our classmates had been shot dead by another student. Several teens witnessed the tragic event. That was probably the first time I had the sick feeling in my stomach. It was odd, but I realized that death had come to a 14 year old that day. This was difficult to process. By the way, the shooter at my Jr. High had never listened to gangster rap or played violent video games. Neither existed in 1977. So, why did he do what he did?

Years later I have a different level of understanding about the depravity of man. That is what has been magnified for us in the horrible events on the VT campus, although the media calls it by other names. It's not acceptable in our politically correct culture to call it "sin," but that's what it is. The man who sprayed bullets into classrooms yesterday was displaying his sinful nature. I heard one talking head say that the shooter wanted to "go out in a blaze of glory." Today in chapel Dr. Mohler, Southern Seminary President, rightly stated that sin robs God of his glory. Well put, given the aforementioned assertion about the desire of the shooter. Read an article by Mohler here.

It is at times like this that we pray for those touched by these terrible events. God is able to comfort and heal. He is able to bring peace and clarity. Moreover, he can get much glory during this time. Many will have questions. Will we have answers? This may be an opportunity for us, as believers, to shed the light of the gospel into a dark and tragic situation. How will you respond?

By His Wounds We Are Healed!

"Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
and our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
and by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him." Isaiah 53:4-6

On the recently released "Glory Revealed" CD you will find an awesome song based on the Is. 53 text. The song is entitled "By His Wounds." You can listen online here. [make sure your sound is on, if you have dial-up be patient] It is well worth the 3 minutes.

Take time to reflect on the price that was paid for you. Jesus Christ bore the wrath of God on behalf of wicked sinners. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Mohler at the center of firestorm

Yesterday someone pointed out a headline on the front page of the Courier-Journal. It read, "Mohler: Babies may be born gay." (finally found the link here) It was obviously meant to be provocative. Prior to reading the C-J article, I read Dr. Mohler's post to his blog that was the source. Funny how the two were slightly different. Today, Dr. Mohler responds to what has become an apparent firestorm on the issue of homosexuality.

By and large the Church has done a very poor job on the issue of homosexuality. Conservative evangelicals have simply said, "Hey, it's a big sin, maybe bigger than many others," and preached hard against it. I affirm the biblical understanding that homosexuality is a sin. But, I also affirm that we are all sinners. The temptations that you and I struggle with may not be attraction to those of the same sex. Nonetheless, your sin and my sin must be under the blood of Christ or we are without hope.

God in his grace has provided a way for mankind to be reconciled to him, regardless of the depths to which we have plunged. The man that is standing neck-deep in sin is just as lost as the man that only dipped his toe in the murky waters. The only rescue for either is faith in Christ alone and genuine repentance. Thank God for his grace! My prayer is "Lord, help me to have compassion and a burden for those struggling in sin." Someone had a burden for me.

On Holiness

Michael Haykin offers great insight into our personal holiness. We are believers in a world that is ruined by sin. His words are challenging and encouraging.

Is My Job in Jeopardy?

Someone said to me the other day, jokingly, "Hey your job may be in jeopardy, they found Jesus' bones." At that point I had not heard of the recent attack on the Christian faith that is played out in a documentary put together by James Cameron (Titanic) and Simcha Jacobovici. This pair was on "Larry King Live" earlier this week along with Dr. Al Mohler and the results were typical. Solid answers and critiques from Dr. Mohler, and vague speculation from the film makers.

Several evangelicals have weighed in on the discussion. Among them is Dr. Ben Witherington from Asbury Seminary. His comments are very good. Below is a bit taken from his blog and his thoughts on this film project, specifically related to Jacobovici:

"He is a good film maker, and he knows a good sensational story when he sees one. This is such a story. Unfortunately it is a story full of holes, conjectures, and problems. It will make good TV and involves a bad critical reading of history. Basically this is old news with a new interpretation. We have known about this tomb since it was discovered in 1980. There are all sorts of reasons to see this as much ado about nothing much..."

It seems each year near Easter someone else rolls out a new theory about the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The truth remains, my Savior lives! My job, while it may be in jeopardy at some point (presently things are great), is on solid footing - My Anchor Holds!

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.

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?

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.

2007 Under the Steeple

About an hour ago my daughter announced her New Year's resolutions. I was a bit surprised, mainly because when I was 10 I didn't do that sort of thing. I have never been one to resolve to "do" or "not do" things starting January 1, at least not out loud. I do believe it is valid to evaluate our lives especially as they relate to the gospel, God's calling on our lives and our conformity to Christ. Having done so we ought to make appropriate adjustments.

I will not announce any resolutions for all the WWW to see. I will however say that, Lord willing, I will continue to write as I sit here "Under the Steeple" and attempt to be relevant and engaging. Those that know me will testify, what you see is what you get. I won't pretend to be some academic hot-shot or theological know-it-all. I am a regular guy, who is a pastor, and family guy that struggles daily and marvels at the grace of God.

In 2007 I will strive to bring glory to my Lord Jesus and love him with my whole heart. The best to you and yours for a wonderful weekend. I'll post again next year!