What Men Live By

September 1, 2010 at 11:49 am | Posted in A. W. Tozer | Leave a comment
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Insight from A. W. Tozer

Human life has its central core where lie the things men live by. These things are constant. They change not from age to age, but are the same among all races throughout the world always.

Life also has its marginal zones where lie the things that are relatively unimportant. These change from generation to generation and vary from people to people.

It is at the central core that men are one, and it is on the marginal zones that they differ from each other. Yet the marginal thins divide the peoples of the world radically and seriously. Most of the enmities of the earth have arisen from differences that did not matter basically; but because the people could not distinguish things men live by from things they live with these enmities arose between them, and often le dot persecutions, murders and bloody wars.

Were men everywhere to ignore the things that matter little or not at all and give serious attention to the few really important things, most of the walls that divided men would be thrown down at once and a world of endless sufferings ended.

What does matter after all? What are the great facts that are good all the time everywhere among all men? What are the axiomatic truths upon which all human life may rest with confidence? Fortunately they are not many. Here are the chief ones:

1.      Only God is great

2.      Only God is wise

3.      Apart from God nothing matters

4.      Only what we do in God will remain to us at last

5.      Human sin is real

6.      With God there is forgiveness

7.      Only what God protects is safe

–         Taken from Man: The Dwelling Place of God, by A. W. Tozer. Christian Publications, Inc. 1966. Pages 115-118.

You will need to get a copy of this book to fill in what I left out of this excerpt. Do those seven chief facts mean anything to us as Christians today? Lasting transformational change will not come from starting a new political action group no matter how many Christians join with non-Christians to do it. There was way too much religion mixed with politics for me. But I will write more on that later. For now think about what Tozer has to say and remember it was written sometime in the 1950’s.

Stay faithful and hopeful,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13; Matthew 7:15-29

Pray for the Pastor’s Wife

February 5, 2010 at 2:40 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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This Friday I would like to encourage everyone to pray for their pastor’s wife. I am not thinking of any pastor or pastor’s wife in particular. I am thinking that the pastor’s wife can be a tired lady. She may also be discouraged and lonely. Some women marry men who are pastors or who are studying to be pastors. Some men are called into the ministry after being married and the wife becomes a pastor’s wife. These are some of the reasons why we will pray this way this Friday.

Another reason a pastor’s wife may need prayer are expectations some church members may put on her. Some people think they know what a pastor’s wife should be doing in the church without getting to know her. Sometimes she isn’t accepted just for who she is. She may not know how to play the piano. So let’s pray for the pastor’s help-mate. Oh, if you’re a pastor, pray for some other pastor’s wife and trust God to raise up someone to pray for your wife.

Pray that:

  1. She will have wisdom and discernment in dealing with parishoners.
  2. She will have a good or a couple of good close friends.
  3. She will respect her husband privately and publically.
  4. She will be able to know who she is and like how God made her.
  5. She will have a close relationship with the Lord and know His presence.
  6. She will have the joy of the Lord in her life.
  7. She will serve in the church in the power of the Holy Spirit.
  8. She will love people and be friendly.

There may be other ways to pray for her too. Each woman may have different needs and be at differnent stages in life. This prayer guide is in no way exhaustive, but it is a good starting point. Thank you for praying for these important sisters in the Lord. I’ll leave you with a great Scripture and great song to take you into your weekend.

Much grace and peace to you,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

(Romans 15:13; Psalm 16:11)

John 1:14

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.”

“Fairest Lord Jesus”

From Munster Gesangbuch, 1677

1. Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,

Son of God and Son of Man!

Thee will I cherish, thee will I honor,

Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

2. Fair are the meadows, fair are the woodlawns,

Robed in the blooming garb of spring:

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,

Who makes the woeful heart to sing. 

3. Fair is the sunshine, fair is the moonlight,

And all the twinkling, starry host:

Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer

Than all the angels heav’n can boast. 

4. Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!

Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor, praise, adoration,

Now and forever more be thine.

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