As I was flipping through the channels recently, I saw a documentary title: If we had no moon. It made me think of an early Star Trek episode.
Captain Kirk and crew land on a planet that appears to be an exact copy of earth – but it’s history has stalled out during the time of the Roman gladiators. Mixed into the oppression that has developed is a starship captain gone bad, but the basic story line revolves around the strength and goodness of a small group of rebels. The crew finds it strange that these rebels are locked into the ancient worship of the sun. Nevertheless, they continue on despite the oppression and martyrdom that await them when they are caught by the authorities. The Enterprise crew helps to remove the intrusion by the starship captain – after all, he had disobeyed the Prime Directive – and the planet’s progress begins to change. As the Enterprise heads away, the communications specialist reveals to the crew that they’ve been wrong. Listening to broadcasts from the rebels, she has discovered that they do not worship the “sun”. They worship the “Son”.
What would this world be like “if we had no Son”. Aren’t you glad that we don’t even need to speculate on this question? In the fullness of time, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Gal. 4:4) We are well into the celebration of that fullness of time. Yet, it does provoke the thought about all those people in the world who have not heard of the Son….
Monday, December 04, 2006
Don't Rest on your laurels
Last night the current World Champions of professional basketball received their rings proclaiming them champions. They then turned around and were beaten on the court by 42 points – the largest margin that a champion has ever lost by in their first game of the next year.
There is a term that comes into play here: don’t rest on your laurels. The Greeks awarded wreaths of laurel leaves to the winners of the Pythian Games. Resting on your laurels implies that you’ve reached the pinnacle of success and that you’ll take the laurel leaves and make a comfortable resting place and will not longer strive for your former excellence.
Sometimes you meet Christians who have begun to rest on their laurels. They can tell you about the things they used to do for the Lord. They can describe the joy of a church where they once belonged. They talk with love for pastors and staff members that once had an impact in their lives. The problem? They are no longer active in church. They no longer have real joy in their lives. And, they try to justify their inactivity by saying that their day has passed and that now it is time for others to serve.
In the NBA there is always a new year and a new challenge. In the Christian life, there is always the opportunity to be used by the Lord – while we have life and while we have breath. Hey! Don’t rest on your laurels.
There is a term that comes into play here: don’t rest on your laurels. The Greeks awarded wreaths of laurel leaves to the winners of the Pythian Games. Resting on your laurels implies that you’ve reached the pinnacle of success and that you’ll take the laurel leaves and make a comfortable resting place and will not longer strive for your former excellence.
Sometimes you meet Christians who have begun to rest on their laurels. They can tell you about the things they used to do for the Lord. They can describe the joy of a church where they once belonged. They talk with love for pastors and staff members that once had an impact in their lives. The problem? They are no longer active in church. They no longer have real joy in their lives. And, they try to justify their inactivity by saying that their day has passed and that now it is time for others to serve.
In the NBA there is always a new year and a new challenge. In the Christian life, there is always the opportunity to be used by the Lord – while we have life and while we have breath. Hey! Don’t rest on your laurels.
On Having Too Much
There is such a thing having too much. When you have too much, it is hard to put a true value on the things that you have.
A great illustration of this is the loss of interest in the World Series. Once, sports were played with as great a frequency as they are today – but our access to them was limited. You might get a staticky radio broadcast of something – and, if you could get it, you would sit and struggle through the static just for the pleasure of knowing what was happening. Once, World Series games happened in the afternoon – not late at night. School would go on, but kids would have radios with those cheap white earpieces trying to grab a little of the game – between classes (and during them, too). If you had a coach for a teacher and the game was on the TV, you might get to see the game instead of whatever you were supposed to study that day. And, I remember a game 7 when the principal became “cool” because you could skip class and go watch the game in the study hall. These days we have too much access to sports to even pay much attention to the Series.
The same is true about things religious. Some people have convinced themselves that access to religious broadcasting is the same as worship! From the very beginning, worship has been a group thing for believers in Jesus Christ. We are the ekklessia, the called-out ones. We have been called into a community of believers and experience the Lord in community. That is why the Lord indicates a special sense of his presence where two or three are gathered together. Use the media, by all means; use the media to add to your commitment and understanding; but, never forget that a major signal of Christian maturity is commitment to the assembly of believers.
A great illustration of this is the loss of interest in the World Series. Once, sports were played with as great a frequency as they are today – but our access to them was limited. You might get a staticky radio broadcast of something – and, if you could get it, you would sit and struggle through the static just for the pleasure of knowing what was happening. Once, World Series games happened in the afternoon – not late at night. School would go on, but kids would have radios with those cheap white earpieces trying to grab a little of the game – between classes (and during them, too). If you had a coach for a teacher and the game was on the TV, you might get to see the game instead of whatever you were supposed to study that day. And, I remember a game 7 when the principal became “cool” because you could skip class and go watch the game in the study hall. These days we have too much access to sports to even pay much attention to the Series.
The same is true about things religious. Some people have convinced themselves that access to religious broadcasting is the same as worship! From the very beginning, worship has been a group thing for believers in Jesus Christ. We are the ekklessia, the called-out ones. We have been called into a community of believers and experience the Lord in community. That is why the Lord indicates a special sense of his presence where two or three are gathered together. Use the media, by all means; use the media to add to your commitment and understanding; but, never forget that a major signal of Christian maturity is commitment to the assembly of believers.
On Baptist Association
The 135th annual meeting of the Suwannee Missionary Baptist Association ended last night. Our church was represented well by leadership who attended as messengers from our church with voting rights in the meeting and by a large number of choir members who sang Monday night in a mass associational choir. I am grateful for their participation because people are watching us. Among the 38 voting churches and 1 new church under watchcare, we consistently rank among the top five churches. This puts us into an important middle ground for two reasons.
First, the larger churches know that we are a church that ranks with them – and God can use us to challenge them to do more. An example of this is in the area of baptisms. Last year we led the association with 20 baptisms; this year we were second with 25 baptisms. (Praise the Lord for the 43 baptisms that First, Branford saw last year.) My prayer is that we would take the presentation of the gospel message seriously and that we would consistently lead in this area.
Second, we still know what it is to be “small church”. For 90 years, we were one of them. God creates different churches in different sizes for different people to come to knowledge of Him. There is greatness in small church! This greatness comes from the fact that Christ died for those churches and that their role is absolutely unique in the kingdom. Sometimes bigger churches forget this and act as if the smaller churches are smaller in vision and importance.
We are thankful to be part of Suwannee Association; grateful that we have visionary leadership through Bro. Fritz (or as he is lovingly known here at Wellborn, Rev. Dr. Fountain); and excited about what God is going to do, not only at Wellborn, but among our sister churches.
First, the larger churches know that we are a church that ranks with them – and God can use us to challenge them to do more. An example of this is in the area of baptisms. Last year we led the association with 20 baptisms; this year we were second with 25 baptisms. (Praise the Lord for the 43 baptisms that First, Branford saw last year.) My prayer is that we would take the presentation of the gospel message seriously and that we would consistently lead in this area.
Second, we still know what it is to be “small church”. For 90 years, we were one of them. God creates different churches in different sizes for different people to come to knowledge of Him. There is greatness in small church! This greatness comes from the fact that Christ died for those churches and that their role is absolutely unique in the kingdom. Sometimes bigger churches forget this and act as if the smaller churches are smaller in vision and importance.
We are thankful to be part of Suwannee Association; grateful that we have visionary leadership through Bro. Fritz (or as he is lovingly known here at Wellborn, Rev. Dr. Fountain); and excited about what God is going to do, not only at Wellborn, but among our sister churches.
Friday, October 06, 2006
After the Cup is gone again...
No one has given me an exceptionally hard time over the whipping that Tennessee gave to my University of Memphis Tigers on Saturday. Even if they did, though, I have really tough skin when it comes athletic loss. That tough skin was developed on the African continent and involved another event just a week ago: the Ryder Cup. For those of you not in the know, the Ryder Cup is a golf competition between the United States and Europe. For years, the US dominated the poor Europeans. No longer. The Europeans consistently make a laughing stock of our team. In fact, this year would have been the worst whipping in history had not one of the Europeans conceded a putt that was almost unmakeable. My African golf buddies took great delight in pointing out our deficiencies in the Ryder Cup – and that delight went on and on for months. Up to a year later, at the most inappropriate moments possible, one of them would call out, “Don, what happened to your boys in the Ryder Cup?”
Tough skin is a biblical concept. Here are two proverbs that illustrate what I mean:
Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults. (Proverbs 12:16)
A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11)
People talk. People say stupid things. What a wonderful church we would have if we could let stupid comments, offensive words to just pass…if we shrugged off insults and overlooked offenses. My prayer is that we’d develop tougher skin and hearts more tender than ever before.
Tough skin is a biblical concept. Here are two proverbs that illustrate what I mean:
Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults. (Proverbs 12:16)
A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11)
People talk. People say stupid things. What a wonderful church we would have if we could let stupid comments, offensive words to just pass…if we shrugged off insults and overlooked offenses. My prayer is that we’d develop tougher skin and hearts more tender than ever before.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
What a difference a year makes!
Incredible, the difference a year can bring. She drifted across the Gulf. Predictions about her path varied. She was going to come ashore here or there; she would be a category 5 – she wouldn’t be too bad. And we know now that Katrina’s impact will be long-lasting. (The last week of September Paul Dial and I will travel to Pass Christian to evaluate what we can do to help our sister church in its recovery.) Ernesto drifted up and looked like a hurricane. Mysterious to the weather prognosticators, he just fizzled into rain and a little wind. What a difference a year makes.
I was working through some church history stuff yesterday. March 2004 Wellborn was at the height of its history in terms of numbers. Then the pastor resigned and things quickly began to change. That same month, I was going about my normal life as a missionary. I met with African pastors – individually and as a group. I attended a national board meeting for Youth for Christ – I was serving as its national Vice-Chairman. We had short-term missionaries from another organization into our home. I was leading prayer meetings and worship services as the interim pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church in town. On the personal front, I played some golf (even a tournament) and had the only manicure of my life. What a difference a year made! By then, I was at the Wellborn blueberry pancake breakfast, sitting with Pasco and Loretta Jarvis. Sundays found me preaching. Weekdays found me in meetings about the life of Wellborn Baptist Church. (Sadly, my agenda shows no golf being played.)
Life can change quickly. The challenge is to be in on the plan that the Lord has for us. What will this year bring?
I was working through some church history stuff yesterday. March 2004 Wellborn was at the height of its history in terms of numbers. Then the pastor resigned and things quickly began to change. That same month, I was going about my normal life as a missionary. I met with African pastors – individually and as a group. I attended a national board meeting for Youth for Christ – I was serving as its national Vice-Chairman. We had short-term missionaries from another organization into our home. I was leading prayer meetings and worship services as the interim pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church in town. On the personal front, I played some golf (even a tournament) and had the only manicure of my life. What a difference a year made! By then, I was at the Wellborn blueberry pancake breakfast, sitting with Pasco and Loretta Jarvis. Sundays found me preaching. Weekdays found me in meetings about the life of Wellborn Baptist Church. (Sadly, my agenda shows no golf being played.)
Life can change quickly. The challenge is to be in on the plan that the Lord has for us. What will this year bring?
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Careful with that toy!
As I began to write today’s thought, a commercial ran across my television screen for an X-box video game called “Dead Rising”. According to the advertising, Dead Rising “follows the harrowing tale of Frank West, an overly zealous freelance photojournalist on a hunt for the scoop of a lifetime. In pursuit of a juicy lead, he makes his way to a small suburban town only to find that it has become overrun by zombies. He escapes to the local shopping mall, thinking it will be a bastion of safety but it turns out to be anything but. It will be a true struggle to survive the endless stream of undead, but players will have full reign of a realistic shopping center, utilizing anything they find to fight off the flesh-hungry mob…” According to the TV commercial, you can “chop ‘til you drop.”
So, get this straight. From the moment the game loads until the moment that a gamer turns it off, they will use anything available to “kill” zombies in a massive slaughter of every being that comes in front of them.
There is a violence within our soul. It is not an unnatural part of how God made us. When it is tied to the conscience that the Lord left as part of our soul, it is a valuable aspect of who we are. It is from that core that a man would leap to the defense of a woman who is being raped or that a woman would battle to save the life of her child. We see it when children take the part of soldiers or policemen as they battle against the “bad” elements.
The problem is that the violence within our soul can become perverted. Games like “Dead Rising” can become the training ground of mass murder. A constant diet of this type thing was part of the lifestyle of the two Columbine murderers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. And the product available to those two was tame compared to what is available in something like “Dead Rising”.
Warning to parents: These games are not this generation’s Pacman. Be careful of what you let them play. Be careful of what their friends play. And before you tell me to get a life, remember that we have one…a more abundant one. Somehow I can’t imagine Jesus sitting in front of a screen wiping out zombies.
So, get this straight. From the moment the game loads until the moment that a gamer turns it off, they will use anything available to “kill” zombies in a massive slaughter of every being that comes in front of them.
There is a violence within our soul. It is not an unnatural part of how God made us. When it is tied to the conscience that the Lord left as part of our soul, it is a valuable aspect of who we are. It is from that core that a man would leap to the defense of a woman who is being raped or that a woman would battle to save the life of her child. We see it when children take the part of soldiers or policemen as they battle against the “bad” elements.
The problem is that the violence within our soul can become perverted. Games like “Dead Rising” can become the training ground of mass murder. A constant diet of this type thing was part of the lifestyle of the two Columbine murderers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. And the product available to those two was tame compared to what is available in something like “Dead Rising”.
Warning to parents: These games are not this generation’s Pacman. Be careful of what you let them play. Be careful of what their friends play. And before you tell me to get a life, remember that we have one…a more abundant one. Somehow I can’t imagine Jesus sitting in front of a screen wiping out zombies.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Is the Second Coming coming?
The conflict in Lebanon and Israel is terrible. Israel is seeking to protect itself from enemies whose stated purpose is Israel’s destruction and whose behavior is consistent with their purpose. The enemy is not governmental but terroristic. They have hidden themselves among the population of Lebanon – some who support their purpose, but many who do not. Unfortunately, shells and rockets cannot differentiate between the two types of Lebanese.
Is this conflict the beginning of the end? Is the coming of Christ around the corner?
No doubt, the conflict should cause us to pay closer attention to issues at stake. Even if this is not the beginning of a count down to the Lord’s return, the Scripture clearly tells us that “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (Rom. 13:11) His coming may or may not be tomorrow, but his coming is a day closer at the very least. Whenever the Lord comes, the mission of believers remains the same. Paul declared to the Thessalonian believers: For who is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy! (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20) The thing that we will have to offer the Lord when He returns are those who have trusted Him by way of our witness. Trouble should reemphasize for us the main mission: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Is this conflict the beginning of the end? Is the coming of Christ around the corner?
No doubt, the conflict should cause us to pay closer attention to issues at stake. Even if this is not the beginning of a count down to the Lord’s return, the Scripture clearly tells us that “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (Rom. 13:11) His coming may or may not be tomorrow, but his coming is a day closer at the very least. Whenever the Lord comes, the mission of believers remains the same. Paul declared to the Thessalonian believers: For who is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy! (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20) The thing that we will have to offer the Lord when He returns are those who have trusted Him by way of our witness. Trouble should reemphasize for us the main mission: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Two characteristics of maturity
A church can be an unforgiving place. Let’s face it. We expect more out of people in the church than we do in other places. After all, we are believers in Jesus Christ and to use a phrase “ought to know better”. The problem is that we are warriors who are in the midst of spiritual battles; we are sinners who have been redeemed but not yet perfected; and we are all at different stages of spiritual maturity. One of our deacon’s wives stated it perfectly this week when she said to me, “I know that every church has its problems.”
How do we survive as the family of God when we know that these problems aren’t going to go away? It’s no surprise that the Lord tells us how to handle it in His Word. Here’s what He says, “14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”(1 Thessalonians 5:14-15)
Two characteristics more than any others help us to be the family of God: patience and kindness. When we become exasperated at something in the life of the church, we immediately need to check where we register on the patience meter. Am I upset because I expect someone to be further along spiritually than they are? When someone upsets us, we immediately need to check where we register on the kindness meter. Do I have plans to “get back” at someone? Have I learned to be kind for Christ’s sake even when I’ve been hurt? A church full of believers who have learned to be patient and kind is a church equipped to confront the needs of lost, selfish people.
How do we survive as the family of God when we know that these problems aren’t going to go away? It’s no surprise that the Lord tells us how to handle it in His Word. Here’s what He says, “14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”(1 Thessalonians 5:14-15)
Two characteristics more than any others help us to be the family of God: patience and kindness. When we become exasperated at something in the life of the church, we immediately need to check where we register on the patience meter. Am I upset because I expect someone to be further along spiritually than they are? When someone upsets us, we immediately need to check where we register on the kindness meter. Do I have plans to “get back” at someone? Have I learned to be kind for Christ’s sake even when I’ve been hurt? A church full of believers who have learned to be patient and kind is a church equipped to confront the needs of lost, selfish people.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
On fountains and such
There is high drama afoot in Lake City. It seems that the city has built an interactive fountain in the Olustee Park. Additionally, the have built public restrooms for the park. It seems, however, that according to state health regulations a public restroom must be within 200 feet of an interactive fountain. The new restrooms in the park are 280 feet from the fountain and a health department variance has not been granted for the extra distance. So the fountain that cost $80,000 cannot be activated without significant changes.
Two questions beg for attention. One is: why would you build an $80,000 fountain without covering all your bases? The other is: why would we have a state regulation for how close a bathroom has to be to a fountain? I would entitle this drama in Lake City, “Much Ado about Nothing”.
In the Lord’s church we need to make sure that we don’t end up in the same situation. We have been given the daunting task of representing Christ in the public arena, testifying to His power to change lives. We need to be careful to keep our focus on this purpose. If we aren’t careful we can create useless rules and regulations, simply for the purpose of showing our authority. Or we can ignore rules and regulations and find that it thwarts the purpose of our efforts.
Two questions beg for attention. One is: why would you build an $80,000 fountain without covering all your bases? The other is: why would we have a state regulation for how close a bathroom has to be to a fountain? I would entitle this drama in Lake City, “Much Ado about Nothing”.
In the Lord’s church we need to make sure that we don’t end up in the same situation. We have been given the daunting task of representing Christ in the public arena, testifying to His power to change lives. We need to be careful to keep our focus on this purpose. If we aren’t careful we can create useless rules and regulations, simply for the purpose of showing our authority. Or we can ignore rules and regulations and find that it thwarts the purpose of our efforts.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Summer slump
Summer is here. Tonight is the last night of our suppers for a while and the summer schedule will be shifting around. We will probably plan some cookouts or special meals and we will be breaking for things like VBS. Summer also means smaller crowds for worship services as families take vacations (and seniors go off on cruises).
Summer is a great time for spiritual discovery! Our youth will have at least three major events this summer where great spiritual themes will be explored. Our children will continue to learn the Bible in Sunday School, about missions in CiA (and Mission Friends) and will be preparing a children's musical.
Summer can be a great time for spiritual discovery for you also. There are tremendous opportunities at every worship service to encounter the Lord of every season through music and message. As you encounter people in our community who seem to need spiritual direction, don't forget to ask them the question: “Have you found a place to worship yet?”
Summer is a great time for spiritual discovery! Our youth will have at least three major events this summer where great spiritual themes will be explored. Our children will continue to learn the Bible in Sunday School, about missions in CiA (and Mission Friends) and will be preparing a children's musical.
Summer can be a great time for spiritual discovery for you also. There are tremendous opportunities at every worship service to encounter the Lord of every season through music and message. As you encounter people in our community who seem to need spiritual direction, don't forget to ask them the question: “Have you found a place to worship yet?”
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Turning back
Yesterday Carol, Dennis and I went to my parent’s house in Georgia to pick up some things my mother has given Carol. The low fuel light was glowing and I was trying to stretch it to get to Tifton for some of that cheap Georgia gas. Suddenly, traffic stacked up. Without thinking too much, I pulled the truck into the median and headed back to the previous exit and bought gas.
Life is a constant set of choices. We found out later that a watermelon truck that had burned caused the stack up. Would I have run out of gas? Would I have made it? No way to tell, at this point but sitting in the line, wondering if we were going to make it, would have been stress that I don’t need at this stage of my life. There are times to go backwards!
In our spiritual journey, we need to constantly evaluate our progress. The minute we discover that we’ve wandered off track, that we are going a direction not sanctioned by the Lord or we discover that we lack spiritual energy to get through --- we need to go backwards! Our journey should take us --- as fast as we can travel --- back to the place where we know we are in fellowship with the Lord.
Life is a constant set of choices. Do you need to pull onto the median today and get moving back to the source of spiritual power?
Life is a constant set of choices. We found out later that a watermelon truck that had burned caused the stack up. Would I have run out of gas? Would I have made it? No way to tell, at this point but sitting in the line, wondering if we were going to make it, would have been stress that I don’t need at this stage of my life. There are times to go backwards!
In our spiritual journey, we need to constantly evaluate our progress. The minute we discover that we’ve wandered off track, that we are going a direction not sanctioned by the Lord or we discover that we lack spiritual energy to get through --- we need to go backwards! Our journey should take us --- as fast as we can travel --- back to the place where we know we are in fellowship with the Lord.
Life is a constant set of choices. Do you need to pull onto the median today and get moving back to the source of spiritual power?
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
They're coming.....
I’m trying hard to keep my ear for Portuguese. My thought is that if I can keep remembering how it sounds and what they are saying, I should be able to speak it – if I ever have that necessity. Yesterday, I watched the afternoon news from Portugal over the Internet. One of the lead stories points out how different cultures can be: it seems sardine fishermen are extremely upset over the quotas and prices that have been set for their trade!
Sardines are important to the Portuguese. We’re not talking about the little sardines in a can. The Portuguese love the larger sardines. Fresh ones. Grilled. I’ll never forget the first time I smelled those fish over the fire – they smell almost like a tire burning. Not one that I enjoyed and not one that would entice me to try them, but the Portuguese have a national obsession over anything that comes out of the ocean and sardines are a favorite.
Can you imagine CNN, Fox or a leading network news show leading off with how sardine fishermen are upset? Only if it were the slowest news day in history!
Countries are different; cultures are different; and, what is important to people is different. Yet, despite all the differences there is one fundamental need: to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.
Different kinds of people are headed our way. They will come from all over the United States and will retire here in our part of north Florida. They will come with all sorts of different accents, attitudes and obsessions. Despite this, they will have the one fundament need: to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. The question is: will Wellborn be faithful to share the message that has changed our lives?
Sardines are important to the Portuguese. We’re not talking about the little sardines in a can. The Portuguese love the larger sardines. Fresh ones. Grilled. I’ll never forget the first time I smelled those fish over the fire – they smell almost like a tire burning. Not one that I enjoyed and not one that would entice me to try them, but the Portuguese have a national obsession over anything that comes out of the ocean and sardines are a favorite.
Can you imagine CNN, Fox or a leading network news show leading off with how sardine fishermen are upset? Only if it were the slowest news day in history!
Countries are different; cultures are different; and, what is important to people is different. Yet, despite all the differences there is one fundamental need: to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.
Different kinds of people are headed our way. They will come from all over the United States and will retire here in our part of north Florida. They will come with all sorts of different accents, attitudes and obsessions. Despite this, they will have the one fundament need: to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. The question is: will Wellborn be faithful to share the message that has changed our lives?
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Illegal immigration?
A debate is raging in our country over illegal immigration and its effects on us. Protests over the last couple of weeks have raised the level of debate, especially as it relates to illegal workers from the south – whether Mexico or other Central American countries. The illegals say that justice demands that they be allowed access to the freedoms American citizens enjoy. The President and Congress seem stymied by what to do about it all.
Carol and I can testify that immigration is a difficult process in America. Hoops have to be jumped through; a good bit of money has to be paid; but those steps have to be done in order to be recognized as a citizen of the United States.
There is a citizenship far superior to US citizenship. The basis for becoming a citizen of that place cost far more than US citizenship and was far more complicated. Every person in the world begins as an alien to this citizenship – and as the Scripture says, is “without hope and without God in the world.” But Christ Jesus stepped into our hopeless and broke it – by having his own body shattered on the Cross of Calvary. Now, those of us who have accepted His sacrificial work on the Cross have access to the Father by the Spirit. Now we have been granted a new status, not on the basis of our labor, but on the basis of His sacrifice. Now we are considered citizens – citizens of heaven. (Eph. 2:12-20; Phil. 2:19)
Carol and I can testify that immigration is a difficult process in America. Hoops have to be jumped through; a good bit of money has to be paid; but those steps have to be done in order to be recognized as a citizen of the United States.
There is a citizenship far superior to US citizenship. The basis for becoming a citizen of that place cost far more than US citizenship and was far more complicated. Every person in the world begins as an alien to this citizenship – and as the Scripture says, is “without hope and without God in the world.” But Christ Jesus stepped into our hopeless and broke it – by having his own body shattered on the Cross of Calvary. Now, those of us who have accepted His sacrificial work on the Cross have access to the Father by the Spirit. Now we have been granted a new status, not on the basis of our labor, but on the basis of His sacrifice. Now we are considered citizens – citizens of heaven. (Eph. 2:12-20; Phil. 2:19)
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Personal Holiness
In recent years the writer that God has used in my life, more than any other, is Oswald Chambers. An unknown Baptist teacher, God raised his ministry to prominence only after his death.
I hadn’t read Oswald in a while until this morning…then I remembered why. I love Oswald – yet I flee from Oswald – because the Lord uses him to point out those things that most preachers are too nice to say.
In my reading today, Oswald quoted the old Scottish preacher Robert Murry McCheyne – and desired to have his words engraved on his heart – “The greatest need for my people is my personal holiness.” An exaggeration, true. The greatest need of every person is his or her own personal holiness – yet…. The people of God rarely reach a level not illustrated before them in the lives of their leaders. Sunday School teachers – The greatest need for your class is your personal holiness. Deacons - The greatest need for your families is your personal holiness. Pastor – The greatest need for Wellborn Baptist Church is your personal holiness.
God grant us an overcoming walk with Jesus as He makes us holy even as He is holy.
I hadn’t read Oswald in a while until this morning…then I remembered why. I love Oswald – yet I flee from Oswald – because the Lord uses him to point out those things that most preachers are too nice to say.
In my reading today, Oswald quoted the old Scottish preacher Robert Murry McCheyne – and desired to have his words engraved on his heart – “The greatest need for my people is my personal holiness.” An exaggeration, true. The greatest need of every person is his or her own personal holiness – yet…. The people of God rarely reach a level not illustrated before them in the lives of their leaders. Sunday School teachers – The greatest need for your class is your personal holiness. Deacons - The greatest need for your families is your personal holiness. Pastor – The greatest need for Wellborn Baptist Church is your personal holiness.
God grant us an overcoming walk with Jesus as He makes us holy even as He is holy.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
The Seven Statements from the Cross
Seven in the Scripture often represents completeness or perfection. Numbers of biblical scholars have noted the fact that Christ, hanging on the Cross, dying for our sins, has seven things to say.
1. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) This is the essence of what Christ’s sacrifice is all about. Romans 5:8 tells us that this sacrifice is God’s way of telling us of His love – even while we were lost in sin.
2. "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43) Comfort for a thief; comfort for us. The moment of death is an entrance into the presence of the Lord – for those who have trusted in Him. The thief is one of the greatest illustrations that works are not necessary to salvation.
3. "Dear woman, here is your son, ... Here is your mother." (John 19:26-27) Suffering and in agony, Jesus does not forget the needs of his mother. Sometimes believers get so wrapped up in service to the Lord that they forget to take care of the needs of their families. In the ultimate moment of sacrifice, our Example did not forget.
4. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34) Christ, in his humanity, feels the loneliness of a soul judged in hell. Feeling this sense of separation, he comforts himself by quoting the Scripture (Psalm 22:1). The feeling is only a feeling: Father, Son and Spirit are united in confronting man’s sin.
5. "I am thirsty." (John 19:28) How often have you heard, “Oh, but Jesus was God. He can’t understand how I feel”? Even at the moment of His greatest sacrifice, Christ’s understanding of our condition is revealed. He was thirsty – and said so.
6. "It is finished." (John 19:30) It stands completed! Everything necessary accomplished. Salvation’s sacrifice realized.
7. "Father, into your hands I commit My spirit." (Luke 23:46) In the final moments of life, there is only One who is “able to keep that which I’ve committed to Him against that day”.
Seven sayings. Seven moments in time. Seven markers for Christian faith. My prayer is that this quick review of the seven statements will help you prepare for both Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.
1. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) This is the essence of what Christ’s sacrifice is all about. Romans 5:8 tells us that this sacrifice is God’s way of telling us of His love – even while we were lost in sin.
2. "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43) Comfort for a thief; comfort for us. The moment of death is an entrance into the presence of the Lord – for those who have trusted in Him. The thief is one of the greatest illustrations that works are not necessary to salvation.
3. "Dear woman, here is your son, ... Here is your mother." (John 19:26-27) Suffering and in agony, Jesus does not forget the needs of his mother. Sometimes believers get so wrapped up in service to the Lord that they forget to take care of the needs of their families. In the ultimate moment of sacrifice, our Example did not forget.
4. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34) Christ, in his humanity, feels the loneliness of a soul judged in hell. Feeling this sense of separation, he comforts himself by quoting the Scripture (Psalm 22:1). The feeling is only a feeling: Father, Son and Spirit are united in confronting man’s sin.
5. "I am thirsty." (John 19:28) How often have you heard, “Oh, but Jesus was God. He can’t understand how I feel”? Even at the moment of His greatest sacrifice, Christ’s understanding of our condition is revealed. He was thirsty – and said so.
6. "It is finished." (John 19:30) It stands completed! Everything necessary accomplished. Salvation’s sacrifice realized.
7. "Father, into your hands I commit My spirit." (Luke 23:46) In the final moments of life, there is only One who is “able to keep that which I’ve committed to Him against that day”.
Seven sayings. Seven moments in time. Seven markers for Christian faith. My prayer is that this quick review of the seven statements will help you prepare for both Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Way to go, Gators!
The University of Florida Gators are the national champions of Division 1 men’s college basketball. Proud Florida fans all over the church are over the moon at this unusual phenomenon. Just who are these guys who have brought such pride to Floridian hearts? Let’s see. Al Horford hails from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Adrian Moss from Houston, Texas. Both Corey Brewer and Lee Humphrey are from Tennessee (just like some unknown former Florida hero named Spurrier). Joakim Noah is from New York by way of France. Even the coach is from New York by way of Rhode Island. Only Taurean Green, among the top starters, is from Florida. So, what does this have to do with Wellborn Baptist Church on a Wednesday in April?
Well, in many ways, the Gators serve as a picture of our church. Some of us are native Floridians; some have come from exotic locales like Maine and Rhode Island. Lots are from south Georgia. There are even three from Tennessee, by way of Africa. God has called us from various places at various times to make up the family of faith here at Wellborn. We are as diverse as the basketball Gators.
The question for us is: will we meet with as much success as the Gators? Admittedly our opposition is more formidable than any that Florida faced. Satan and his forces actively wish our destruction. Problem for Satan is that his gates can’t stand up to our assault. Wielding the sword of the Spirit, clothed in the whole armor of God, he can do little against us. We also carry the shield of faith. Interesting fact about the Roman shield: it was designed to link up with other shields so that the legion could press forward as one.
Well, in many ways, the Gators serve as a picture of our church. Some of us are native Floridians; some have come from exotic locales like Maine and Rhode Island. Lots are from south Georgia. There are even three from Tennessee, by way of Africa. God has called us from various places at various times to make up the family of faith here at Wellborn. We are as diverse as the basketball Gators.
The question for us is: will we meet with as much success as the Gators? Admittedly our opposition is more formidable than any that Florida faced. Satan and his forces actively wish our destruction. Problem for Satan is that his gates can’t stand up to our assault. Wielding the sword of the Spirit, clothed in the whole armor of God, he can do little against us. We also carry the shield of faith. Interesting fact about the Roman shield: it was designed to link up with other shields so that the legion could press forward as one.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
The Question of Lifestyle
Most of you know that I’ve been away visiting my parents – celebrating a significant birthday in my mom’s life. Mom and Dad have a “winter place” here in Largo, Florida in what is called a “manufactured home community”. In their recent newsletter, a columnist used the following words: our very lifestyle is being threatened.
Lifestyle. People have lifestyles – and most of them are more consistent with the sins of man than with the Gospel of Jesus. The task of Wellborn Baptist Church will be to help those who come our direction to evaluate their lifestyles with the biblical lifestyle, the Christian lifestyle.
Problem is, our own lifestyles require the same evaluation. The message of hope is both life giving and a threat. When we come to Jesus, He changes us. At the very same moment, we have a new life with Christ and at the same instant “our very lifestyle is being threatened”. Threatened because it is more consistent with the sins of man than with the Gospel. Maturity in Christ is the ever-changing movement away from our “lifestyle” and into conformity to His character; His love and His direction for our lives.
Lifestyle. People have lifestyles – and most of them are more consistent with the sins of man than with the Gospel of Jesus. The task of Wellborn Baptist Church will be to help those who come our direction to evaluate their lifestyles with the biblical lifestyle, the Christian lifestyle.
Problem is, our own lifestyles require the same evaluation. The message of hope is both life giving and a threat. When we come to Jesus, He changes us. At the very same moment, we have a new life with Christ and at the same instant “our very lifestyle is being threatened”. Threatened because it is more consistent with the sins of man than with the Gospel. Maturity in Christ is the ever-changing movement away from our “lifestyle” and into conformity to His character; His love and His direction for our lives.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Feeling Pain
Florida State was knocked out of the NIT last night, falling at the hands of South Carolina’s Gamecocks. That’s right. Those same upstarts from the Palmetto State that took down the mighty Gators two out of three times this year! Do I expect Gator fans to “feel the pain” of FSU partisans? Yeah, right…
All teasing aside, God has called us to share the pain of those around us. Every pain we endure makes us more sensitive to the suffering of others. Within the church, God calls us to takes those painful experiences of life and “bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
Outside the church, we have been called to “love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27)”. This lesson is brought home by the example of a man -- a man whose whole life has seen him despised by another race. Going about his business, he encounters a man from that group – beaten and left for dead. He has the choice to just pass by. After all, a priest and a religious worker from the other group have already done so. But, this Good Samaritan stops and treats the man well.
The power of the gospel is the ability to see the whole world as we see ourselves. The old song says, “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin; the light of the world is Jesus.” We know that we shared the darkness with every person. Our desire is that they now come to the light. God grant that every negative experience He allows in our lives might become fuel for impacting others.
All teasing aside, God has called us to share the pain of those around us. Every pain we endure makes us more sensitive to the suffering of others. Within the church, God calls us to takes those painful experiences of life and “bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
Outside the church, we have been called to “love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27)”. This lesson is brought home by the example of a man -- a man whose whole life has seen him despised by another race. Going about his business, he encounters a man from that group – beaten and left for dead. He has the choice to just pass by. After all, a priest and a religious worker from the other group have already done so. But, this Good Samaritan stops and treats the man well.
The power of the gospel is the ability to see the whole world as we see ourselves. The old song says, “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin; the light of the world is Jesus.” We know that we shared the darkness with every person. Our desire is that they now come to the light. God grant that every negative experience He allows in our lives might become fuel for impacting others.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
How’s your water level?
Every day as I come to the office I pass by Lake Lona. I recently heard Dr. Fritz Fountain, who lives on the lakefront, talk about the eccentricities of this particular lake. It seems that Lake Lona is emptying again. There seems to be some flow into the Ichetucknee Basin so that, unless there is a constant flow of rainfall into Lake Lona, its level begins dropping. When it gets really dry, the level shrinks almost to nothing. Since we’ve had little rain lately, the level of Lake Lona is dropping.
Believers in Christ follow the same pattern as Lake Lona. We have been refreshed by the “fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 2). We were thirsty and we came to him and drank. As a result, He promises that streams of living water will flow from deep within us (John 7:37, Holman). To have that flow of life, however, we must continue to drink deeply from the fountain. Committed to His Word, we allow the inflow of truth to remain constant – even as we allow truth to flow out of us to a world parched by sin.
How’s your water level?
Believers in Christ follow the same pattern as Lake Lona. We have been refreshed by the “fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 2). We were thirsty and we came to him and drank. As a result, He promises that streams of living water will flow from deep within us (John 7:37, Holman). To have that flow of life, however, we must continue to drink deeply from the fountain. Committed to His Word, we allow the inflow of truth to remain constant – even as we allow truth to flow out of us to a world parched by sin.
How’s your water level?
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Get into the game
Consider the plight of the PK (preacher’s kid). Always around; constantly providing illustrations about life – positively and negatively. Wise preachers learn what this can do to his kids, if he talks about them too much and learn to back off. That said, there are times when the lesson is just too powerful….
Dennis is a pretty fair basketball player, for his age. Saturday was his last game of the season. Near the end of the second period, an opposing player crashed over the top of Dennis, hitting him pretty forcefully in the head. Dennis crashed to the floor and reacted to the pain. I went and got him at the appropriate time and let him sit with me until he was a little better. Then, I sent him back into the game – still hurting.
Later he came down on someone’s foot during a rebound and turned his ankle. This was real pain. One of the coaches brought some ice, we kept him iced until halftime and the coach carried him off to be with the team. I joined them and put his shoe back on, laced it tight and told him to get back in the game when he thought he could. He just sat on the bench. I went over to him shortly before the last period and asked him to run to the door for me. He didn’t really want to…but he did it for me and saw that he wasn’t hurting nearly as much as he had been. He played the last period with reckless abandon and ended this year having a great time.
What’s the lesson? When we get hurt in this game of life, the time to get back into the game – into serving the Lord – is not when we quit hurting. The time to get back into the game is as soon as we can get up and limp back down the court. When we play through the pain, we get back into the joy – and find that the joy was worth the pain. Are you in the game?
Dennis is a pretty fair basketball player, for his age. Saturday was his last game of the season. Near the end of the second period, an opposing player crashed over the top of Dennis, hitting him pretty forcefully in the head. Dennis crashed to the floor and reacted to the pain. I went and got him at the appropriate time and let him sit with me until he was a little better. Then, I sent him back into the game – still hurting.
Later he came down on someone’s foot during a rebound and turned his ankle. This was real pain. One of the coaches brought some ice, we kept him iced until halftime and the coach carried him off to be with the team. I joined them and put his shoe back on, laced it tight and told him to get back in the game when he thought he could. He just sat on the bench. I went over to him shortly before the last period and asked him to run to the door for me. He didn’t really want to…but he did it for me and saw that he wasn’t hurting nearly as much as he had been. He played the last period with reckless abandon and ended this year having a great time.
What’s the lesson? When we get hurt in this game of life, the time to get back into the game – into serving the Lord – is not when we quit hurting. The time to get back into the game is as soon as we can get up and limp back down the court. When we play through the pain, we get back into the joy – and find that the joy was worth the pain. Are you in the game?
Thursday, February 02, 2006
On Brokeback Mountain
The New Testament was written to a moral environment that parallels our own. Paul would not have been surprised to hear that Brokeback Mountain leads the Oscar nominations, for example. Brokeback Mountain, is, according to politically correct publications, “the story of doomed love between two men poised to become the first gay-themed film to lasso the top prize.” No, Paul would not have been surprised since homosexuality is a perversion – common to his time – that reflects both a culture that has abandoned God and a culture that God is abandoning.
What might have surprised Paul is the extent of lesbian perversion among us. He noted in Romans 1: “For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural”. Women tend to have a greater heart for God than do men. They have a stronger moral center. When the women of a culture begin to abandon their men, it is clear that judgment has begun to fall.
What can we do in the midst of such change? Two things will make a difference. First, we pray that God will change our culture. The problem is not that people of our culture practice homosexuality. The problem is that they do not have a relationship with Christ. Our prayer is that the convicting power of the Spirit of God that is able to make a person wise to salvation will fall over our land. Secondly, we live correctly in front of them. Roman culture did not prevail! Christian values prevailed because Christians lived the values that they proclaimed.
What might have surprised Paul is the extent of lesbian perversion among us. He noted in Romans 1: “For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural”. Women tend to have a greater heart for God than do men. They have a stronger moral center. When the women of a culture begin to abandon their men, it is clear that judgment has begun to fall.
What can we do in the midst of such change? Two things will make a difference. First, we pray that God will change our culture. The problem is not that people of our culture practice homosexuality. The problem is that they do not have a relationship with Christ. Our prayer is that the convicting power of the Spirit of God that is able to make a person wise to salvation will fall over our land. Secondly, we live correctly in front of them. Roman culture did not prevail! Christian values prevailed because Christians lived the values that they proclaimed.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Shining like stars
Yesterday’s Lake City Reporter carried a letter from a Gerald Witt of Lake City. If you haven’t read it, you might catch it in the online version. I don’t recommend reading it because you will be edified, but rather because his opinion is (a) totally contrary to biblical Christianity and (b) representative of the people we live among and have responsibility to reach.
One quote from his letter serves to introduce the message I will preach a week from Sunday night. Mr. Witt declares, “Religion conceived as a total way of life will never be seriously affected by advance of knowledge because the convictions aren't validated until after death.”
His quote is completely true – if, and only if, our faith is simply meant for “the sweet bye and bye when we meet on that beautiful shore.” Fire insurance. But, that is not biblical Christianity.
We are called to renew the meaning of the word “Christian” in this generation. Remember that disciples were called “Christian” for the first time in Antioch. Their lifestyles were radical. Their conversations were so full of Christ that the local population nicknamed them “Christians”, meaning “little Christs”. We are called to reflect the message of Philippians 2:14-16: 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life… (NIV).
The saddest part of Mr. Witt’s letter is not that he doesn’t have a clue about what life is all about. The saddest part is that he lives in Lake City and hasn’t yet been affected by a life so dominated by Jesus that he recognizes it as more than “religion”.
One quote from his letter serves to introduce the message I will preach a week from Sunday night. Mr. Witt declares, “Religion conceived as a total way of life will never be seriously affected by advance of knowledge because the convictions aren't validated until after death.”
His quote is completely true – if, and only if, our faith is simply meant for “the sweet bye and bye when we meet on that beautiful shore.” Fire insurance. But, that is not biblical Christianity.
We are called to renew the meaning of the word “Christian” in this generation. Remember that disciples were called “Christian” for the first time in Antioch. Their lifestyles were radical. Their conversations were so full of Christ that the local population nicknamed them “Christians”, meaning “little Christs”. We are called to reflect the message of Philippians 2:14-16: 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life… (NIV).
The saddest part of Mr. Witt’s letter is not that he doesn’t have a clue about what life is all about. The saddest part is that he lives in Lake City and hasn’t yet been affected by a life so dominated by Jesus that he recognizes it as more than “religion”.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
When there is no God
Sunday is designated for emphasis of the sanctity of human life. Central in this observation is the question of abortion. No other practice in contemporary society reflects the impact of evolutionary though more than does abortion.
Before the influence of evolutionary thought, we believed in a tier of importance where God was on top; man in the middle; and, the animals at the bottom. Since evolutionary thought, the tier has radically changed. God has disappeared. Man is at the top – but with the animals inching their way closer and closer to equality. There is no one above man to tell us what is right and what is wrong. Instead, we are free to make our own decisions.
During Old Testament times, the Canaanites sacrificed their children to their god, Molech – hoping that he would give them the desires of their hearts. Now that man finds himself at the top of the tier, we have a repeat of Canaanite worship. These days, our generation sacrifices its children on an altar to itself in an effort to please itself.
God forgive us. Oh, that’s right – they did away with Him.
Before the influence of evolutionary thought, we believed in a tier of importance where God was on top; man in the middle; and, the animals at the bottom. Since evolutionary thought, the tier has radically changed. God has disappeared. Man is at the top – but with the animals inching their way closer and closer to equality. There is no one above man to tell us what is right and what is wrong. Instead, we are free to make our own decisions.
During Old Testament times, the Canaanites sacrificed their children to their god, Molech – hoping that he would give them the desires of their hearts. Now that man finds himself at the top of the tier, we have a repeat of Canaanite worship. These days, our generation sacrifices its children on an altar to itself in an effort to please itself.
God forgive us. Oh, that’s right – they did away with Him.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
2006
So we enter 2006! More than mid-way thru the first decade of the 21st century! What does that mean for Christians?
One thing is clear: The church must be more intent than ever before to teach the truth. Years ago, much of Christian truth was caught, rather than taught. A child was around Christian parents and grandparents in critical life settings and caught the gist of what we believe and the pattern of how we live. Outside influence was minimal.
How life has changed! Thought infiltrates our homes via television, radio, newspaper magazine and Internet that is definitely not Christian. Everywhere our kids go, they are confronted with image, symbol and philosophy of life that runs counter to what we believe. If we do not intentionally engage them in discussion about what God teaches, the increasing decline in Christian influence will be the result! Isn’t it funny that with so many ways of communicating today – phone, cell phone, email, snail mail, ipod, etc. – that we do so little actual communication? Let’s take more time this year to actually engage in dialogue with people, especially young people, about the things that matter.
One thing is clear: The church must be more intent than ever before to teach the truth. Years ago, much of Christian truth was caught, rather than taught. A child was around Christian parents and grandparents in critical life settings and caught the gist of what we believe and the pattern of how we live. Outside influence was minimal.
How life has changed! Thought infiltrates our homes via television, radio, newspaper magazine and Internet that is definitely not Christian. Everywhere our kids go, they are confronted with image, symbol and philosophy of life that runs counter to what we believe. If we do not intentionally engage them in discussion about what God teaches, the increasing decline in Christian influence will be the result! Isn’t it funny that with so many ways of communicating today – phone, cell phone, email, snail mail, ipod, etc. – that we do so little actual communication? Let’s take more time this year to actually engage in dialogue with people, especially young people, about the things that matter.
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