We have just finished our first Vacation Bible School since the hurricane that was run entirely by ourselves. In each of the previous two summers, we have had teams of volunteers who have helped organize and staff our efforts. But this year, it was wholly and entirely on our shoulders. And able-bodied shoulders they were too! Even though we are still without a church building of our own, we braved the heat and the inconvenience of not having a permanent place to set up and use. And I, for one, think this year’s VBS went very well. Many people worked especially hard to make this past week a success. A word of thanks goes out to Roddy Russell and VBS co-coordinators Gail Theiler and Jennifer Richard, along with Lucy Russell, Opal Bowden, Lyn Oerting, Lois Leavengood, Monica O’Mara, Mary Ruth Ruffin, Heidi Norris, John and Carolyn Miller, Janet and Hannah Burnett, J.J. Hammond, Katie Sanders, James and Shannon Jordan, Alice Entrekin, Melinda Jones, Linda Jordan, Kimberly Jackson, Chris Carter, Phillip and Anne Shroyer, Catherine Nassar, Lisa Ladner, and the many jr. and sr. high youth who gave their time to help out. We look forward with eager anticipation to the permanence and convenience that a building of our own will give to us in the future!
On a slightly different note, since we are celebrating this year the 232nd anniversary of our nation’s independence, I thought I would include a few comments about the explicitly Christian influence upon the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the freedoms of this great nation that we call our own. The following excerpts are taken from Alvin J. Schmidt’s book How Christianity Changed the World (Zondervan, 2004). I hope they help to make your celebration of the 4th of July that much more meaningful. May we never forget to be grateful to our great God and Savior not only for the salvation that we will enjoy for eternity but also for the freedoms that we currently experience here and now in this country.
“Many today who disparage Christianity may not know or believe that, were it not for Christianity, they would not have the freedom that they presently enjoy. The very freedom of speech and expression that ironically permits them to castigate Christian values is largely a by-product of Christianity’s influences that have been incorporated into the social fabric of the Western world.” (p. 13)
“Given that the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution, which are extensions of the Magna Carta and other British documents of freedom, bear the marks of Christian influence is not to say they are Christian documents, like the Nicene Creed, for example. But it is to say that civic freedoms and liberties would not have occurred had it not been for the Christian values that prompted and shaped the formation of these documents.” (p. 258)
“Wherever Christian ideals have been generally accepted and their practice sincerely attempted, there is a dynamic liberty; and wherever Christianity had been ignored or rejected, persecuted or chained to the State, there is tyranny.” (p. 270, citing Carlton J.H. Hayes)
“The American civilization rests on the basic principles of Christian morality which have their origin in the Hebrew Scriptures….Remove the Bible as the constellation that guides the American Ship of State and the whole edifice of American civilization collapses.” (p. 270, citing Kevin Abrams)
Let’s think about that!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
GA & Youth Mission Trip
Last week Phillip Shroyer, Stephen O'Mara, and I attended the PCA's General Assembly in Dallas. Phillip had the opportunity to serve on the MTW committee, while Stephen and I served on the Overtures committee. The overall tenor of the assembly was quite encouraging. I was especially encouraged by the words of the moderator Paul Kooistra which were repeated throughout the week, namely, that most of the problems (if not all) in the church today are caused by people who think they are SOMEBODIES and so they look down their noses at everyone else. We need to remember, he said, that Christ, the only true SOMEBODY, became a NOBODY for us so that we, who are true NOBODIES, might be SOMEBODIES in Him. And we need to follow His example in our lives.
Considering ourselves SOMEBODIES is one of those "respectable sins" of ministers and Christians in the 21st century. We laud SOMEBODIES, don't we? And we look down on NOBODIES. What a reminder Kooistra gave us! It is one that we need to remember and heed, especially as we move ahead together as a denomination.
Without making comment upon the things we discussed at GA (there are enough comments available on line from people who are more insightful than I am...see the "By Faith" website, for instance), let me say that as old and new issues come before us as a denomination we need to remember Paul Kooistra's words and take them to heart. Maybe that will help us to converse with one another in a spirit of brotherly love and charity.
On a different note, about 30 youth and adults just returned from a week-long mission trip to Cherokee, NC, to work on the Cherokee Indian Reservation there. The team will be giving a full report in church on Sunday immediately following the morning worship service. From what I have heard, the trip was absolutely incredible! Please join me in praying that its impact will continue to last both in our church and in Cherokee, NC.
Considering ourselves SOMEBODIES is one of those "respectable sins" of ministers and Christians in the 21st century. We laud SOMEBODIES, don't we? And we look down on NOBODIES. What a reminder Kooistra gave us! It is one that we need to remember and heed, especially as we move ahead together as a denomination.
Without making comment upon the things we discussed at GA (there are enough comments available on line from people who are more insightful than I am...see the "By Faith" website, for instance), let me say that as old and new issues come before us as a denomination we need to remember Paul Kooistra's words and take them to heart. Maybe that will help us to converse with one another in a spirit of brotherly love and charity.
On a different note, about 30 youth and adults just returned from a week-long mission trip to Cherokee, NC, to work on the Cherokee Indian Reservation there. The team will be giving a full report in church on Sunday immediately following the morning worship service. From what I have heard, the trip was absolutely incredible! Please join me in praying that its impact will continue to last both in our church and in Cherokee, NC.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Andrew Fuller story
Because we live in an age of advanced medical technology and resources, we do not experience many of the trials and tribulations that previous generations experienced. This is a good thing in many ways. But it is also a bad thing...at least in one way: today, we tend to forget that life is fleeting; we tend to think that we will live forever; and, as a result, we tend to have our priorities out of whack--we're not as sensitive toward matters of eternal life and death.
I came across a story about the sufferings of Andrew Fuller, and I wanted to share them with you. Fuller's sufferings served to remind him that this life was not the cat's meow, that this life paled into insignificance in terms of eternity, and that he needed to do business with God for the state of his soul. Here is his story as written by F.W. Boreham in A Bunch of Everlastings:
"During the years that followed [his conversion to Christianity], Andrew Fuller had his full share of trouble. Whilst he lay ill in one room, his daughter, a little girl of six, died in the room adjoining.
'I heard a whispering,' he says, 'and then all were silent. All were silent! But all is well. I feel reconciled to God. I called my family around my bed. I sat up and prayed with them as well as I could. I bowed my head and worshipped a taking as well as a giving God!'
Some time afterwards, Mrs. Fuller lost her reason. In her frenzy she fancied that he was not her husband, but an imposter, who had entered the house and taken all that belonged to her. She regarded him as her bitterest enemy and made every effort to escape. She had to be watched night and day. Just before her death, however, a sudden calm stole over her. 'I was weeping,' Mr. Fuller says, 'and the sight of my tears seemed to awaken her recollection. Fixing her eyes upon me, she exclaimed, "Why, are you indeed my husband?" "Indeed, my dear, I am!" She then drew near and kissed me several times. My heart dissolved with a mixture of grief and joy. Her senses were restored, and she talked as rationally as ever.' A fortnight later she laid a little child in the father's arms and then passed quietly away.
Then again, his eldest boy proved wayward and gave him serious trouble. He ran away to sea. It was reported that, as a result of a misadventure, he had received three hundred lashes, and had died under the punishment. 'Oh,' cried the father, when he heard of it, 'this is heart trouble! My boy, my boy! He cried and I heard him not! O Absalom! my son! my son! Would God I had died for thee, my son, my son!'
It turned out, however, that the rumour was false. Robert was still alive, and the letters that his father wrote him are among the tenderest and most persuasive in our literature. There is every reason to believe that their pleadings had the effect that the father most desired. 'I was exceedingly intimate with Robert,' wrote a shipmate long afterwards. 'We freely opened our minds to each other. He was a very pleasing youth and became a true Christian man.' The news of his death, however, was a terrible blow to Mr. Fuller. On the Sunday following its reception, he broke down completely in the pulpit, and the whole congregation wept with him.
But, through all the clash of feeling and the tumult of emotion, the bells were ringing under the sea....'Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest!'
That rest was never broken. When he lay dying at the last, he called Dr. Ryland to receive his final testimony. 'I have no other hope of salvation,' he said, 'than through the atonement of my Lord and Saviour. With this hope I can go into eternity with composure.'
'I will give you rest!'
'I will go into eternity with composure!'
Rest! Composure! So steadfastly was the promise kept to the very, very last!"
Enjoy! And let us follow his example, fixing our faith upon Christ to the end.
I came across a story about the sufferings of Andrew Fuller, and I wanted to share them with you. Fuller's sufferings served to remind him that this life was not the cat's meow, that this life paled into insignificance in terms of eternity, and that he needed to do business with God for the state of his soul. Here is his story as written by F.W. Boreham in A Bunch of Everlastings:
"During the years that followed [his conversion to Christianity], Andrew Fuller had his full share of trouble. Whilst he lay ill in one room, his daughter, a little girl of six, died in the room adjoining.
'I heard a whispering,' he says, 'and then all were silent. All were silent! But all is well. I feel reconciled to God. I called my family around my bed. I sat up and prayed with them as well as I could. I bowed my head and worshipped a taking as well as a giving God!'
Some time afterwards, Mrs. Fuller lost her reason. In her frenzy she fancied that he was not her husband, but an imposter, who had entered the house and taken all that belonged to her. She regarded him as her bitterest enemy and made every effort to escape. She had to be watched night and day. Just before her death, however, a sudden calm stole over her. 'I was weeping,' Mr. Fuller says, 'and the sight of my tears seemed to awaken her recollection. Fixing her eyes upon me, she exclaimed, "Why, are you indeed my husband?" "Indeed, my dear, I am!" She then drew near and kissed me several times. My heart dissolved with a mixture of grief and joy. Her senses were restored, and she talked as rationally as ever.' A fortnight later she laid a little child in the father's arms and then passed quietly away.
Then again, his eldest boy proved wayward and gave him serious trouble. He ran away to sea. It was reported that, as a result of a misadventure, he had received three hundred lashes, and had died under the punishment. 'Oh,' cried the father, when he heard of it, 'this is heart trouble! My boy, my boy! He cried and I heard him not! O Absalom! my son! my son! Would God I had died for thee, my son, my son!'
It turned out, however, that the rumour was false. Robert was still alive, and the letters that his father wrote him are among the tenderest and most persuasive in our literature. There is every reason to believe that their pleadings had the effect that the father most desired. 'I was exceedingly intimate with Robert,' wrote a shipmate long afterwards. 'We freely opened our minds to each other. He was a very pleasing youth and became a true Christian man.' The news of his death, however, was a terrible blow to Mr. Fuller. On the Sunday following its reception, he broke down completely in the pulpit, and the whole congregation wept with him.
But, through all the clash of feeling and the tumult of emotion, the bells were ringing under the sea....'Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest!'
That rest was never broken. When he lay dying at the last, he called Dr. Ryland to receive his final testimony. 'I have no other hope of salvation,' he said, 'than through the atonement of my Lord and Saviour. With this hope I can go into eternity with composure.'
'I will give you rest!'
'I will go into eternity with composure!'
Rest! Composure! So steadfastly was the promise kept to the very, very last!"
Enjoy! And let us follow his example, fixing our faith upon Christ to the end.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
We are INSANE!
I read this morning of the teenager who was recently arrested in Indiana for plotting to kill fellow students and teachers at his high school. Apparently, this troubled youth has been scheming with an older friend, who, at the age of 33, ought to know better, to massacre more people than any other rampage we have witnessed to date. They were caught because law enforcement officials found emails and posts to blog sites approving such atrocities as the Columbine shooting in Colorado a few years ago.
The Apostle Paul calls this type of behavior INSANE!
In Romans 1:28 (ESV), he says that "since [certain people] did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done." And then, in v. 32 (ESV), he continues describing the insane by saying that "they not only do [the things they ought not to do] but [they also] give approval to those who practice them."
Doesn't this describe our world? Not only do we have troubled teens with DEBASED MINDS doing what they ought not to do, but we also have troubled young-and-old-alike approving of those who do the things they ought not to do. It is not just a matter of not knowing RIGHT from WRONG. We are approving of what is WRONG as though it was actually RIGHT!
That is the textbook definition of insanity.
I'm sure that this sad incident could have been averted and these two troubled individuals saved from such manifestations of aggression and anger had the school in Indiana only adopted the U.K.'s new policy of piping in soothing music into the hallways and using aroma-therapy techniques! (Insert tongue in cheek at this point!)
The Apostle Paul calls this type of behavior INSANE!
In Romans 1:28 (ESV), he says that "since [certain people] did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done." And then, in v. 32 (ESV), he continues describing the insane by saying that "they not only do [the things they ought not to do] but [they also] give approval to those who practice them."
Doesn't this describe our world? Not only do we have troubled teens with DEBASED MINDS doing what they ought not to do, but we also have troubled young-and-old-alike approving of those who do the things they ought not to do. It is not just a matter of not knowing RIGHT from WRONG. We are approving of what is WRONG as though it was actually RIGHT!
That is the textbook definition of insanity.
I'm sure that this sad incident could have been averted and these two troubled individuals saved from such manifestations of aggression and anger had the school in Indiana only adopted the U.K.'s new policy of piping in soothing music into the hallways and using aroma-therapy techniques! (Insert tongue in cheek at this point!)
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