Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus

February 3, 2010 at 3:28 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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It’s the middle of the week and you may need a little pick me up. Sometimes when I get a little drowsy I will do some exercises or just get up and walk around. It usually makes me feel better and alert and ready to take on my task again. It may be connected to how God made us, but to exercise or physically exert myself helps me feel better and think better. It just helps me focus or refocus. For me its better than a cup of coffee or tea.

Spiritually speaking, getting on my knees literally and physically has the same effect. Humbly myself before God and casting my cares upon Him helps me feel better and alert and ready to serve again. Most of the people I know are busy people. We find ourselves sometimes with fewer hours and more tasks. But let us not forget the most important task, prayer and quietness before the Lord.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

If you are in need of a spiritual or emotional or even physical pick me up, maybe it comes from kneeling at the Master’s feet. Cast or literally dump all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7). I would like to leave you with words from a very good book that I read last year.

The Saviour Can Solve Every Problem

by Rev. Oswald J. Smith; music by B.D. Ackley (1932)

  1. The Saviour can lift every burden, The heavy as well as the light;

His strength is made perfect in weakness, In Him there is power and might.

(chorus) The Saviour can solve every problem, the tangles of life can undo;

There is nothing too hard for Jesus, There is nothing that He cannot do.

2. The Saviour can bear every sorrow, In Him there is comfort and rest;

No matter how great the affliction, he only permits what is best.

3. The Saviour can strengthen the weary, His grace is sufficient for all;

He know every step of the pathway, And listens to hear when we call.

4. The Saviour can break sin’s dominion, The victory He won long ago;

In Him there is freedom from bondage, He’s able to conquer the foe.

5. The Saviour can satisfy fully, The heart that the world cannot fill;

His presence will sanctify wholly, The soul that is yielded and still.

From The Work God Blesses by Oswald J. Smith.

(Marshall, Morgan and Scott, Ltd.: London. n.d) p. 6.

 

One month has passed since I have started blogging. It has been both a good learning experience and creative outlet for me. I want to thank everyone who has visited the site. I will try to blog something at least three times a week. Some posts will be longer than others. Some blogging may just be adding to specific pages. Some ideas I have are just for fun and not about the Bible or theology. Hopefully that is o.k. because I think I am a well rounded man. And I don’t mean weight….(that’s a joke!). When you think of me pray for wisdom, discernment, the ability to communicate clearly and good time management. And as I usually tell people, any other way that God may lay on your heart. Here’s a little of what I have in mind.

Words You Should Know:

Next week I will start putting one doctrinal word or phrase on this page. I will give a definition, a Scripture reference and an application. The first pharse: verbal, plenary inspiration.

Book Reviews:

      I am going to try to write two to four reviews a month. Academically I have had to use three different formats: review, summary or report. They are all a little different. Not too long ago I read: “The Holy Spirit in Vietnam” by Orrel N. Steinkamp. I may go back through it and review it because I think it is worth encouraging people to read it.

 I am also attempting to read through “Systematic Theology” by Wayne Grudem as part of my devotional reading. If I read three pages a day I’ll finish it in a year. It is an excellent book. I am currently reading “The Power of Mentoring” by Martin Sanders. I will post a review on it next week. I am also reading “The Spark” by Heward and Bacon.

Lord willing, next week I will start reading “Organic Leadership” by Neil Cole and “Groundswell” by Li and Bernoff. I will post a review on Cole’s book. I have some other reading planned after that also.

 I also allow for flexibility in my reading time, because you never know when someone will recommend something very good. For example, I just read an article in Oncology Times, January 25, 2010, Vol. 32, No. 2 titled, “The Gullible Decade” by Joseph V. Simone. It was short and interesting.

I will pass on to my readers what I have read that I think is worth their time to read and/or purchase. Speaking of that I would like to recommend The A. W. Tozer Electronic Library to you. There are 57 Tozer books, 12 A. B. Simpson books and 12 other Bible References on the disc. If you like Tozer it is well worth having. If you have never heard of Simpson or read any of his material this will be a good introduction for you. You can purchase it here: www.echurchdepot.com.

 Links:

Links from my blog will be added but it is hard to say when. I would also welcome links from other blogs or organizations to my blog as well.

Men You Should Know:

There are men from history that we should know about. They may have impacted the Church in different or crucial ways. I will post on a monthly basis, men I think you should try to know something about. I will trust you to look them up and learn about them

Quotes:

I have collected a lot of quotes over the years. I wrote some new ones down today. I will post quotes whenever and as often as I want to. I will try to find a better way to organize them.

Thanks again for taking the time to read either the posts or pages on this blog. I am grateful and humbled. I hope this blog brings glory to God by teaching and encouraging the saints and by introducing the sinner to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To God be the glory.

GRACE to you,

Bill  (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13; Psalm 21:6

Pray For Young Men

January 29, 2010 at 3:08 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to a church planter’s seminar/lunch. It was only two hours long and I wasn’t sure that I really wanted to go. Some of my reasoning was that I don’t really agree with the theology and philosophy of the organization and its founder. I have never met the man, nor do I believe everything that is written about him. Plus I figured I would be the oldest man there and I wasn’t sure of the attitude in which I would be received. So two days before the event I went online to register, kind of hoping registration would be closed. It wasn’t, so I registered and attended.

Now I was the oldest man there. And I might add I was the best dressed too. Even though I was business casual. It wasn’t as crowded as I thought it would be. I found a table near the back and asked the young guys sitting there if the seat was taken. They welcomed me to their group and we began to talk. One of the guys attended a church while he was in college in a different state and I actually know the pastor. It really is a small world. Our God orders the steps of a righteous man, doesn’t He?

The meeting was started with prayer and lunch, and then the panel took the stage and began to talk and field questions. I kept quiet the whole time. Really. There were times I wanted to speak or comment or ask a question, but I didn’t. I went there as a learner. I wanted to learn about leaders in their network, about their ideas of church planting and about their ideas of pastoring. And learn I did.

I still don’t totally agree with the organization theologically or philosophically. I have some minor concerns about some of the things that were said. I think in twenty years the four younger men who were speaking to the even younger men will have both a different perspective and words to offer. We can all change over time. I really do wish there were some older men there with me. Some older men missed out on something pretty good. These younger men missed out on some input from Christian leaders in a different stage of life.

But I am truly glad I went and learned with my younger brothers. I enjoyed myself greatly. If I can try to be humorous: there was so much testosterone in that room! There were so many hopes and dreams of serving the MOST HIGH GOD! It was both a pleasure and privilege to be in their company. I was with a band of brothers who want to serve their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They are willing to risk it all; they are willing to go where HE sends them. Yes, they have a lot to learn. But I for one am willing to help the younger men who are called by our God. I am willing to teach them. I am willing to learn with them. I am willing to learn from them. Are you? And, I still have a lot to learn and I want to keep learning. Do you?

Those young men (and the two young ladies) represent the future of the Church. God owns the Church. No man or woman here has any stock or part ownership of the Church. So will you join me in praying for some young men who are and will be leaders in the body of Christ? You may even know some personally.

Pray that:

  1. They will always be completely surrendered to God (Rom. 12:1-2).
  2. They will be in His Word to study and live it (2 Tim. 2:15).
  3. They will learn to balance their private life and public life.
  4. They will understand that God cares about character more than giftedness.
  5. They will learn about diligence and self-discipline.
  6. They will realize the presence of the God and His joy (Ps. 21:6)
  7. They will stay faithful to God no matter what.
  8. They will confidently know what God has “called” them to.
  9. They will have older godly men to mentor them and younger godly men to mentor.
  10. Their families (if they have them) will be protected from the evil one.

Thank you for looking around, seeing some young men with potential and for praying (interceding) for them. They may never know it, but God will and your prayers will make a difference. I am excited about the future of the Church!

“I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:12-14 NIV)

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

by George Duffield

1.     Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the cross

Lift high His royal banner, It must not suffer loss.

From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,

Till every foe is vanquished And Christ is Lord indeed.

 2.     Stand up, stand up for Jesus, The trumpet call obey;

Forth to the mighty conflict, In this His glorious day!

Ye that are men, now serve Him Against unnumbered foes;

Let courage rise with danger And strength to strength oppose.

 3.     Stand up, stand up for Jesus, The trumpet call obey;

The arm of flesh will fail you, Ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the gospel armor, Each piece put on with prayer;

Where duty calls, or danger, Be never wanting there.

 4.     Stand up, stand up for Jesus- The strife will not be long;

This day the noise of battle, The next the victor’s song.

To him that overcometh A crown of life shall be;

He with the King of glory Shall reign eternally. Amen.

 Be encouraged,

Bill  (a fellow-laborer)

(Rom. 15:13; 1 Tim. 1:18-19)

Lead On!

January 20, 2010 at 2:56 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength You will guide them to Your dwelling. (Ex. 15:13)

This verse is a great reminder of God’s leadership in His people’s lives. The context is within a song of joy and celebration after God had displayed His great power against His people’s enemies (Ex. 14:31). Moses who was called by God to lead the Israelites through the Red Sea and beyond, led the people in a song of celebration to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY (Ex. 15:1-18). Can you imagine the heart and emotion that filled that song? I think about that sometimes when I am between a rock and a hard place. I will break out in song and at times get others to sing with me. It’s not some lovey-dovey, touchy-feely moment; it is a moment of confident assurance in my Father God and His great power and promises.

What difficulty are you facing today my brothers? Can I encourage you to turn to the Word of God and search it for His promises, read them out loud and sing a song of faith to the Most High God? Lead on! Press on! Stretch and reach out to Jesus (Phil. 3:12-16). People around us need us to lead on!

They need us to lead them to Jesus. They need us to lead them to know God and His Word better. They need us to lead them to a better understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. They need us to lead them to church. They need us to lead our families. They need us to lead in serving others. They need us to lead them to surrender all to Jesus. They need us to live like godly leaders would live. They need us to lead in praying. People need our leadership. They need us to live what we say we believe.

I don’t know who first said this, “leaders lead”, and I have read it and heard it many different times. It is true. There are both good leaders and bad leaders (Num. 13-14). I hope that you and I want to be godly leaders. We can’t really lead people to where we have not been. We may be able to point the way, but we can’t lead. We can’t lead them to stay and develop where we have not dwelt and developed. I hope that we have surrendered all to God and walk under the authority of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If we haven’t we need to get right with God. If we have we need to lead on! There is a battle for the souls of men, women and children that is staggering. Think of God, think of others and lead on.

“Lead On, O King Eternal”

By Ernest W. Shurtleff

1. Lead on, O King eternal, The day of march has come;

Henceforth in fields of conquest Thy tents shall be our home.

Through days of preparation Thy grace has made us strong,

And now, O King eternal, We lift our battle song.

2. Lead on, O King eternal, To lands of deepest night;

We follow where Thou leadest As heralds of the light.

May we to souls immortal Thy Word of life convey

And open heaven’s portal Through Christ, the truth, the way.

3. Lead on, O King eternal; We follow not with fears,

For gladness breaks like morning Where’er Thy face appears.

Thy cross is lifted o’er us; We journey in its light;

The crown awaits the conquest; Lead on, O God of might.

Be encouraged,

Bill (Rom. 15:13; 2 Pet. 3:18)

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