THINKING ABOUT MY LIFE – Do you ever take pause to evaluate or think about your life and all the things you’ve done, places you’ve been and the “how many’s” of certain things you’ve done in your life? For example: “How many years have I lived?” I sometimes stop and wonder, “Am I going to be 78 or 79 this year? That one is real easy right now because I just having my 79th birthday, but sometimes I actually have trouble trying to remember which it is. Some other “how many’s:” “How many places have I lived and in how many different houses have I lived in?” “How many different jobs have I had?” “How many countries have I been in?” How many cars have I owned (or worked at buying)?” “How many real friends do I have?’ “How many friends would I have had if I hadn’t offended some along the way?” “How many different kinds of things have I sold or tried to sell by direct sales?” I was just thinking about this last one and I may actually try to figure that one out, an insight into a part of my life most today wouldn’t know. You’ll maybe laugh when you see that list. As ridiculous as these questions may seem to you, being the product of a broken home and having been passed back and forth from time to time or ended up as a Church Planting Missionary, the numbers get a little ridiculous compared to the average farmer who has always lived in the same state, county and maybe on the same farm all his life. I’ll probably get back to you on some of these after I’ve had time to think about it and tried to put some numbers together. I don’t have the best memory, so I may be off a little when I do, but it will be interesting (to me and a few family members and friends, maybe).
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH OUR SCHOOLS – This past week we had a school in Columbus that almost had a Columbine experience. A high school boy was planning to use grenade type bombs to kill dozens of fellow students. Thankfully his plan was discovered the day before he had intended to carry it out. It seems ever since the Columbine case in Colorado several years ago, there has been incidence after incidence of this type of thing happening, not only in high schools but in colleges and elementary schools. It use to be that schools were relatively safe places to send children. Little things like spit wads, hair in ink wells, carvings on desks, fist fights and hair pulling were the type of incidents children got sent to the principal’s offices for. The fallen human nature has always manifested itself over the centuries, but what is going on today is much, much worse and increasingly wide spread. Public education is suppose to improve society, according to the politicians, but it seems to be an increasingly fearful debilitating experience, that is requiring sane parents to become home-schoolers. Conditions suggest the need to establish more Christian schools. Sadly, Christian schools seem to be in decline. Wow, what to do, what to do. Remember, they got rid of prayer and the Bible and now they are reaping the consequences.
ARE PROPHETIC BELLS GOING OFF IN YOUR MIND – I am not a prophet not the son of a prophet, but just being aware of Biblical prophecy, in the light of current events that keep setting off bells in my head. I’ve lived in earthquake areas and been shaken in bed, on a ladder, seen merchandise falling off store counters as well as facades off of store buildings. It is a frightening experience. I’ve heard prophetic teachers tells us there would be an earthquake someplace during the week of meetings and there were. You could make the same statement every week and be correct. I’ve looked up on the inter-net to read the increasing prevalence of earthquakes around the world. In the past several weeks they have reported a number of earthquakes in this country and given new warnings of potential devastating quakes in California. Add to that the thousands killed in China this past week by earthquakes and my prophetic bells keep going off. Matthew 24:7 reads, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” (Also Mark 13:8 and Luke 21:11) There are mountain-shaking verses of judgment in the Old Testament as well. Believers can take comfort from passages like Psalms 46. Please take time to read it. (God will also use similar quaking events in Revelation 11:13, 16:18 & 19, but these are for the Tribulation judgments.) I am not saying the day has arrived, but we are certainly seeing an increase of these events all the time. Let me give you another one to think about.
INFLATION & FAMINE – Famine was mentioned in the Matthew 24 passage and I want to also add Revelation 6:6 into my prophetic comments, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius;” Using corn to make ethanol to supposedly help the price of gasoline, is running up the price of grain to feed live stock (raising the cost of meat) and it is also raising the price of bread. This will surprise some, but I can remember a loaf of bread costing 10 cents. The change in the price of Wonder bread since 2003 has gone up 74%. In that same time the price of a boneless center-cut pork chop has gone up 124% and a rib-eye steak 64%. Have you noticed? The “denarius” of Revelation 6:6 was the equivalent of a day’s wages when Revelation was written. In the last couple of weeks Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club and other bulk stores have started limiting the amount of rice people can purchase. Though we aren’t presently expecting great shortages in this country, there are countries that are having serious problems finding or being able to afford basic grains. Are the prophetic bells I mentioned in the previous paragraph going off again with this as well? Famine is a reality in a number of African countries. The terrible hurricanes in Myanmar (Burma) are causing starvation and shortages of water there. Our hearts go out to all these suffering and dying peoples. Their own governments in Africa and now Myanmar are greatly responsible for the lack of aid, even stealing and hording supplies from the common people that other countries provide. Many things are contributing toward the famines presently on going but the reality of these conditions, it seems to me, are building toward these prophetic conditions. Adding these things into the equation of the Scriptures, along with the “nations rising against nations” (that would take more than another paragraph to discuss) and we are observing the development of matters that could very well drive the world toward what God has told us will take place leading up to and on into the Great Tribulation. I am not trying to create fear-mongering, I am only suggesting that Christians need to be looking up expectantly and suggesting that as you do so, seek opportunities to lead family and friends to Christ while there is still time.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
May 2008 #2
TIMES HAVE CHANGED & SO HAVE I – A week or so ago I was walking toward AAA where my daughter-in-law works. As it turns out the door was locked as they had closed earlier than I expected. Donna was still inside and she saw me coming and opened the door to see what I wanted. As she opened the door she told me what her co-worker had said, “I wonder what that old man wants that is coming here?” That really marked me as I was walking in my slow gait. Between my sore joints, balance problems and white hair, this old man has slowly arrived to a time of slow motion. Moving on with the thought that struck me as I learned of that reference to “that old man,” I never referred to my Father as “the old man.” I always thought it disrespectful when people referred to their fathers as “the old man.” Until later years most fathers are active, still doing their job, etc. and I don’t think the term fits. I don’t think my own children have ever spoken of me in that manner and have always shown the respect do to a father or parent and so it should be. When you evaluate the biblical, patriarchal system the father was highly regarded. Elders are always referred to in a respectful manner, recognizing authority or their wisdom and care they have provided the children when they were growing up. Too much of that seems to be discounted and disregarded today. My father professed to have been saved as a young man but never lived as though he was all the years I knew him, but I still respected him as my father. I guess I should have saved this one for Father’s Day rather than right after Mother’s Day. Since Mother’s Day has just passed I will acknowledge the same respect attitude toward my mother even though I know she lived far from a believer’s life all the years I knew her. It is so strange that both my parents had godly parents and made early professions but did not end up living the life. They paid a price for turning their backs on their moorings but still, I respected them and never used the “old lady” or “old man” terminology that some do.
ISSUE ORIENTATION – When I started out in ministry Dr. Robert Ketchum was the head of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. He kept the issues of ecclesiastical and personal separation before the fellowship and the world at large. Modernism, Neo-evangelicalism and the various doctrinal issues such as the Virgin Birth, a literal interpretation of Scriptures that included revealing those who denied the miracles found in the Bible. I often wonder where his counterparts and others like him are today. The young pastors in evangelical and fundamental churches stick real close to their expository preaching (teaching) and issues are seldom if ever raised. If that is too broad a stroke please let me know but I believe the statement is generally true. If the issues of sin, false teachings and movements are not mentioned how do we expect young Christians to be on guard and protected from the wiles of the devil? If issues are not dealt with in today’s preaching, why not in writings? The “old timers” preached on these things and wrote about them both. Expository preaching doesn’t have to be neglected while dealing with the issues. They can be intermingled, believe it or not! Have issues relating to sins and areas of separation departed from our midst? I think not! Sin continues on an ever-growing scale, as do biblical and moral issues. What is happening is that the prophetic events of the “falling away” as described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 are taking place. We are fearful people will no longer listen to the truth if we don’t stay on a non-confrontational positive presentation. Are we yielding to events of the last day apostasy as mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 that ends with “Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth?” Or perhaps those described in 2 Timothy 4:3 when people “will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears?” I guess I have gone to preaching now but I fear we have taken a considerable departure from yesterdays preaching. One of the benefits of expository preaching is that as you systematically work through you can hit on all the sensitive topics without being accused of preaching at particular people, that is if you give the issues and opportunity to come through, illustrated with current events. There are times when topical preaching is needed but often those areas of need can be fit into the expository messages.
ILLUSTRATIONS – I remember leading one of our church plants through the process of call their first regular pastor. We continued to live in the area and attend the church when we were at home. Sometimes my wife and daughter attended while I was traveling. The young man always had a good Biblical outline but they were a little flat but I said nothing. One day when I was home the pastor called on me and asked my advice on how to find illustrations for his sermons. Since he asked I was free to tell him what he needed to know without offense and I gave a bit of advice that really changed his messages from flat to interesting. I remember having the same problem years earlier. I bought a couple books of illustrations but they didn’t work too well as they were mostly from another age and didn’t fit too well. I finally dumped the books of illustrations having learned there are ample illustrations in every day life. I shared with the young pastor that as he goes about his business, doing his visitation etc., he would have plenty of illustrations if he would just open his eyes to them. He was sharp and began using natural everyday events (and issues) to illustrate his sermons. When you live your life among people as you minister the illustrations will come. Of course you have to be careful to not let what you observe come through as personal, involving individuals that might be hurt or embarrassed.
OBAMA’S TAX BILL – There is not much in Barack Obama’s brief Senatorial experience for him to point to that helps build his case toward elect ability this fall. Recently Barack has sponsored the Global Poverty Act (S.2433) that will force U.S. taxpayers to fork over as much as 0.7 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product or $845,000,000,000.00 on welfare to third-world countries. This could come up for a vote as early as May 24th. U.S. citizens need to wake up and scream to the high heavens about the terrible disaster this would bring on our nation. While your complaining about this one, remember the other tax increases he is for and if your planning to vote for this man this fall, you’d better find someone far better to vote for. Check out Human Events and The Center for Individual Freedom (CFIF.ORG) if you want confirmation about this Senate Bill. We aren’t doing too well on many welfare issues that already exist here at home without adding this to monies already going abroad to nations that hate us.
DECLINING DOLLAR – The decline in the value of the dollar is adding to inflation in this country and making it difficult for our missionaries to continue their ministries of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Be much in prayer for them.
ISSUE ORIENTATION – When I started out in ministry Dr. Robert Ketchum was the head of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. He kept the issues of ecclesiastical and personal separation before the fellowship and the world at large. Modernism, Neo-evangelicalism and the various doctrinal issues such as the Virgin Birth, a literal interpretation of Scriptures that included revealing those who denied the miracles found in the Bible. I often wonder where his counterparts and others like him are today. The young pastors in evangelical and fundamental churches stick real close to their expository preaching (teaching) and issues are seldom if ever raised. If that is too broad a stroke please let me know but I believe the statement is generally true. If the issues of sin, false teachings and movements are not mentioned how do we expect young Christians to be on guard and protected from the wiles of the devil? If issues are not dealt with in today’s preaching, why not in writings? The “old timers” preached on these things and wrote about them both. Expository preaching doesn’t have to be neglected while dealing with the issues. They can be intermingled, believe it or not! Have issues relating to sins and areas of separation departed from our midst? I think not! Sin continues on an ever-growing scale, as do biblical and moral issues. What is happening is that the prophetic events of the “falling away” as described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 are taking place. We are fearful people will no longer listen to the truth if we don’t stay on a non-confrontational positive presentation. Are we yielding to events of the last day apostasy as mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 that ends with “Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth?” Or perhaps those described in 2 Timothy 4:3 when people “will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears?” I guess I have gone to preaching now but I fear we have taken a considerable departure from yesterdays preaching. One of the benefits of expository preaching is that as you systematically work through you can hit on all the sensitive topics without being accused of preaching at particular people, that is if you give the issues and opportunity to come through, illustrated with current events. There are times when topical preaching is needed but often those areas of need can be fit into the expository messages.
ILLUSTRATIONS – I remember leading one of our church plants through the process of call their first regular pastor. We continued to live in the area and attend the church when we were at home. Sometimes my wife and daughter attended while I was traveling. The young man always had a good Biblical outline but they were a little flat but I said nothing. One day when I was home the pastor called on me and asked my advice on how to find illustrations for his sermons. Since he asked I was free to tell him what he needed to know without offense and I gave a bit of advice that really changed his messages from flat to interesting. I remember having the same problem years earlier. I bought a couple books of illustrations but they didn’t work too well as they were mostly from another age and didn’t fit too well. I finally dumped the books of illustrations having learned there are ample illustrations in every day life. I shared with the young pastor that as he goes about his business, doing his visitation etc., he would have plenty of illustrations if he would just open his eyes to them. He was sharp and began using natural everyday events (and issues) to illustrate his sermons. When you live your life among people as you minister the illustrations will come. Of course you have to be careful to not let what you observe come through as personal, involving individuals that might be hurt or embarrassed.
OBAMA’S TAX BILL – There is not much in Barack Obama’s brief Senatorial experience for him to point to that helps build his case toward elect ability this fall. Recently Barack has sponsored the Global Poverty Act (S.2433) that will force U.S. taxpayers to fork over as much as 0.7 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product or $845,000,000,000.00 on welfare to third-world countries. This could come up for a vote as early as May 24th. U.S. citizens need to wake up and scream to the high heavens about the terrible disaster this would bring on our nation. While your complaining about this one, remember the other tax increases he is for and if your planning to vote for this man this fall, you’d better find someone far better to vote for. Check out Human Events and The Center for Individual Freedom (CFIF.ORG) if you want confirmation about this Senate Bill. We aren’t doing too well on many welfare issues that already exist here at home without adding this to monies already going abroad to nations that hate us.
DECLINING DOLLAR – The decline in the value of the dollar is adding to inflation in this country and making it difficult for our missionaries to continue their ministries of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Be much in prayer for them.
May 2008 #1
CASINOS – Thirty-eight states have casinos and the states surrounding Ohio all have them. We are presently seeing ads promoting a casino for Ohio as though the state was missing something of value and that we are behind the times. The ad tells us that money is leaving Ohio at sixty-five miles an hour. When we were in Oregon for John’s funeral we parked a car in a casino parking area on the way to the coast as we all got into another car to save gas. It was a huge place with a very large parking lot just about packed to capacity on a Sunday afternoon. When we returned from the ocean that evening the casino was brightly lit and the parking lot was still full. People do go to these places in large numbers and most of them lose money doing so. Gambling seldom pays off and those who do win usually turn around and lose it again hoping to win more. Gambling is a sinful way of wasting money. It involves greed, the desire to have or to gain what someone else has. It may also be called covetousness, something the Bible clearly condemns. If people have such access funds to spend (waste) there are many needy projects and hurting people who need help. Further, where there is gambling there is usually criminal corruption. So often they make promises to provide better education or some other social or community benefit, with little actually being so applied while pockets are lined. All to often people who cannot actually afford to lose their money do. Many are the stories of peoples lives ruined by gambling. No, I really don’t think Ohio needs a casino to keep up with the bad standards of surrounding states.
FAMILY UPDATE – My daughter-in-law in Oregon is finally back to work. - Ben’s new heart is doing fine but his kidney’s are giving him some problems. It is difficult getting his rejection meds properly adjusted. – Little Logan is adjusting well to his chemo treatments and will have a new MRI of his brain tumor in a week or so. Your continued prayers for this family are still appreciated. / Betty will get a second treatment of the new chemo on the 15th. I am still wearing a heart monitor and will for 30 days. The irregularity causes me tiredness. A shot of cortisone has eased the pain and swelling some in my knee. So much for the medical reports, thanking you for your prayers.
HATE SPEECH ?? – Friends, going back many years, sent me a commentary on “Faith and Politics” by Bill Tammeus in Kansas. Part of the heading was “Preaching is both a burden and a marvelous opportunity.” Tammeus’s comments related to Sen. Barack Obama and his pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. sermons. He also recalled what he referred to as “anti-Catholic hatred” when he was a boy. He also stated: “Throughout Christian history preachers have been free to preach the gospel as they understood it. The task for people hearing sermons is to discern prophetic preaching from hate speech.” I would agree with his assertion that Dr. Wright’s sermons “were not just words about injustice but “expressed a profound distorted view of this country.” Preachers do get themselves into predicaments through their preaching by bad choices of words and sometimes through listeners who misunderstanding their purposes. Having said all this, the word that stood out to me was “hatred.” Wise pastors will avoid giving any impression of “hatred” in their attitudes and expressions but there is more involved here. We have come to a day when Canada has passed laws against “hate speech” that has hampered the ability of pastors and others to make any comparisons between the truths of the Gospel and the different existing religions. Similar laws are being attempted in this country where a pastor could be imprisoned for comparative expressions in their preaching and teaching. I have read of people moving to this country because they could no longer write about and teach their religious differences in Canada. The day may well arrive here as well. Still, I know of no better way of teaching doctrinal truths than by comparing Biblical truth with false doctrines. These new laws will not allow such teaching and that is an attack on our religious freedoms. It is not hate speech to make such distinctions. If I preach and teach against false teachings that go against the Scriptures to protect my congregation, that is not “hate speech,” it is a matter of love to protect people from the false and teachings that lead people into an eternal damnation. We need to be on our guard to not allow such laws to take effect in this country.
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT – David Little, President of Baptist Church Planters graciously stopped in to see us this week on his way through the Columbus area from another stop. It was a delight to see him and to talk about things in common relating to the mission. He brought a potted plant for Betty, something she always enjoys. We rejoiced in the mission’s growth and development in various ethnic ministries. The growing Hispanic ministries are a great delight of God’s blessing. I also mentioned my concern over the declining outreach to African Americans. At one time our mission had a great church planting outreach to African Americans. Several things are causing this, age and retirement without others stepping up to take their places. Another is that a number of our black missionaries have remained with their churches after starting them rather than going on to repeat the process. We really need to be praying for and seeking conservative, fundamental black men to once again recognize the great need in this nation for church planters. One school in the Kansas City area is no longer producing church planters as it once did. There is another area of decline that concerns me. We had a growing ministry to the deaf and that is in decline. Oh, that God would raise up new people to minister in these two areas as they once did for an increase of saved souls and new outreach. PLEASE PRAY WITH US TO THIS END!
MORE ABOUT BLACK MINISTRY – There was a time at Fellowship Baptist Church when a believing African American lady visited our church. I called in the home to encourage her husband to attend with her. He eventually accepted the Lord and I had the privilege of baptizing him. It was my hope and prayer that they might become the nucleus to bring in others. They were not with us long as they came to the conclusion that they wanted their son to grow up in the black culture and moved on. That was such a point of discouragement to me. I might add, that under our present pastors leadership, there have been several other ethnic groups that have become members of our church for which I praise the Lord. It should be our prayer that their numbers increase as we see the multiplicity of different cultures in our area. Let’s not be afraid to make friends with many around us of different cultures in an effort to point them to Christ and our churches.
JEWISH CONCERNS – In the early church Jews and Gentiles alike attended the same churches. For many years now mission agencies have sent out missionaries to reach Jews for Christ, ministering within the culture, but not bringing the two together. I don’t understand why that has been the case. Both are equal in Christ when redeemed.
FAMILY UPDATE – My daughter-in-law in Oregon is finally back to work. - Ben’s new heart is doing fine but his kidney’s are giving him some problems. It is difficult getting his rejection meds properly adjusted. – Little Logan is adjusting well to his chemo treatments and will have a new MRI of his brain tumor in a week or so. Your continued prayers for this family are still appreciated. / Betty will get a second treatment of the new chemo on the 15th. I am still wearing a heart monitor and will for 30 days. The irregularity causes me tiredness. A shot of cortisone has eased the pain and swelling some in my knee. So much for the medical reports, thanking you for your prayers.
HATE SPEECH ?? – Friends, going back many years, sent me a commentary on “Faith and Politics” by Bill Tammeus in Kansas. Part of the heading was “Preaching is both a burden and a marvelous opportunity.” Tammeus’s comments related to Sen. Barack Obama and his pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. sermons. He also recalled what he referred to as “anti-Catholic hatred” when he was a boy. He also stated: “Throughout Christian history preachers have been free to preach the gospel as they understood it. The task for people hearing sermons is to discern prophetic preaching from hate speech.” I would agree with his assertion that Dr. Wright’s sermons “were not just words about injustice but “expressed a profound distorted view of this country.” Preachers do get themselves into predicaments through their preaching by bad choices of words and sometimes through listeners who misunderstanding their purposes. Having said all this, the word that stood out to me was “hatred.” Wise pastors will avoid giving any impression of “hatred” in their attitudes and expressions but there is more involved here. We have come to a day when Canada has passed laws against “hate speech” that has hampered the ability of pastors and others to make any comparisons between the truths of the Gospel and the different existing religions. Similar laws are being attempted in this country where a pastor could be imprisoned for comparative expressions in their preaching and teaching. I have read of people moving to this country because they could no longer write about and teach their religious differences in Canada. The day may well arrive here as well. Still, I know of no better way of teaching doctrinal truths than by comparing Biblical truth with false doctrines. These new laws will not allow such teaching and that is an attack on our religious freedoms. It is not hate speech to make such distinctions. If I preach and teach against false teachings that go against the Scriptures to protect my congregation, that is not “hate speech,” it is a matter of love to protect people from the false and teachings that lead people into an eternal damnation. We need to be on our guard to not allow such laws to take effect in this country.
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT – David Little, President of Baptist Church Planters graciously stopped in to see us this week on his way through the Columbus area from another stop. It was a delight to see him and to talk about things in common relating to the mission. He brought a potted plant for Betty, something she always enjoys. We rejoiced in the mission’s growth and development in various ethnic ministries. The growing Hispanic ministries are a great delight of God’s blessing. I also mentioned my concern over the declining outreach to African Americans. At one time our mission had a great church planting outreach to African Americans. Several things are causing this, age and retirement without others stepping up to take their places. Another is that a number of our black missionaries have remained with their churches after starting them rather than going on to repeat the process. We really need to be praying for and seeking conservative, fundamental black men to once again recognize the great need in this nation for church planters. One school in the Kansas City area is no longer producing church planters as it once did. There is another area of decline that concerns me. We had a growing ministry to the deaf and that is in decline. Oh, that God would raise up new people to minister in these two areas as they once did for an increase of saved souls and new outreach. PLEASE PRAY WITH US TO THIS END!
MORE ABOUT BLACK MINISTRY – There was a time at Fellowship Baptist Church when a believing African American lady visited our church. I called in the home to encourage her husband to attend with her. He eventually accepted the Lord and I had the privilege of baptizing him. It was my hope and prayer that they might become the nucleus to bring in others. They were not with us long as they came to the conclusion that they wanted their son to grow up in the black culture and moved on. That was such a point of discouragement to me. I might add, that under our present pastors leadership, there have been several other ethnic groups that have become members of our church for which I praise the Lord. It should be our prayer that their numbers increase as we see the multiplicity of different cultures in our area. Let’s not be afraid to make friends with many around us of different cultures in an effort to point them to Christ and our churches.
JEWISH CONCERNS – In the early church Jews and Gentiles alike attended the same churches. For many years now mission agencies have sent out missionaries to reach Jews for Christ, ministering within the culture, but not bringing the two together. I don’t understand why that has been the case. Both are equal in Christ when redeemed.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
April 2008 #4
BELATED – I didn’t get a “Musing” out last week. If I hurry I may get this out before the month is completely over. Doctor’s appointments and needs that arose at the home such as a garage door opener going bad and our water cooler going out all took time. I was not feeling good with some problems so I went to my doctor for some tests. This Friday they are going to put a heart monitor on me for two weeks and see what is going on as the EKG showed some problems. Getting older does have its problems but it is also a reminder of the better day we look forward to in God’s presence.
STILL TEACHING – Several months ago the pastor of Fellowship Baptist in Dublin, where we attend, decided to start small group Bible studies in different areas. The youth pastor, who works full time at a secular job, was to teach one small group at the church on Wednesdays. He often has to be out of town and I was asked to co-teach with him. I agreed to help by teaching when he had to be away, which I have been doing. I appreciate the opportunity to still share the truths of God’s Word.
SHORT NOTICE PREACHING – In the church where I gained my first opportunities to serve I use to pick up children in my car and take them to Sunday School. When Sunday school was over I would drive them back home. It always made me a little late for the morning service and I recall one Sunday morning returning to see a deacon leading the singing rather than the pastor who usually led the singing. I had no more than sat down by my wife and boys to enjoy the service when the deacon stepped down from the platform and told me the pastor was ill and he needed to take him home and that I would have to preach. I had only preached one other time when the pastor had asked me to preach when he went on vacation. On that occasion I studied for two weeks (not knowing what I was doing) and I ran out of steam (message) after ten minutes. Thankfully I had been reading my Bible and had written some things in the margin of my Bible that became my sermon on short notice. The Lord blessed and the people seemed to enjoy what I had shared. Whether they appreciated it because it was better than nothing I’ll never know, they were gracious. That experience as a young man, when serving as a deacon, led me to something I did a number of times over the years as a pastor. Believing that deacons should be able to step in at a moments notice to meet special needs in the local church, I would prepare a very brief outline of a message: Topic, point 1, 2, 3, 4 and a Scripture verse for each, typed up on separate 3 x 5 cards. Without warning on Sunday evening, just before the service, I would pass those cards out among the deacons and ask them to present that part of the message at sermon time. They had about a half hour during the song service to gather their thoughts from the topic and verse given to present their portion of the sermon. The deacons gained an experience in ministry and we had great fellowship doing this. It also helped prepare the deacons to minister on a moments notice if needed. When you think this through, we are often caught in situations where we need to give an answer for our faith and share a witness among others without warning. Deacons, as well as all believers, are to become familiar with their Bibles and be prepared to witness on a moments notice. So, I utilized such means to get our people thinking and sharing their faith. Who does such a thing in these days when churches demand such professionalism and degrees or doctorates for their pastors? I had to learn to minister through experience and opportunities that my pastor gave me in those early years. Our churches should be giving their people an opportunity to learn and grow spiritually.
PIANISTS – Being a church planter I often struggled to find someone to play the piano as we start a new plant. Neither my wife, nor myself, knew how to play the piano. Music and a pianist are so important to a church and if you don’t have a pianist or a good singer to lead the music, the new church is handicapped. I recall starting the church in Clarinda, Iowa. Shortly after the beginning of our new work a schoolteacher who played the piano came our way. What a blessing. We also had a twelve-year-old girl who was taking piano lessons and she asked me if she could play the piano for us. She had not learned to play hymns yet but I told her if she would promise to practice hymns I would make her my official Sunday School pianist. She meant business for the Lord and just about drove her parents crazy practicing. She made mistakes but we encouraged her and gave her an opportunity to so serve. A warning went out from me to the people to encourage her and to overlook her mistakes, which they did. It wasn’t long until she turned out to be a very nice church pianist. Young people that are willing to endeavor to serve the Lord should be given opportunities to do so. Everything in church does not have to be done by a professional; the church is to be a training center for believers to learn to serve the Savior. New church plants often give people an opportunity to grow and serve (out of necessity) that too seldom happens in larger more established works, seeking a greater degree of professionalism. I suppose, living in a day of polished entertainment via TV, etc., people are expecting the same of their churches and they fail to recognize the local church as a training center where believers can prepare and learn to serve.
GAS PRICES – Thankfully I am not driving the many miles I use to have to drive, with such high gas prices now. I can remember 22 and 23 cents a gallon for gas. The rising gas prices are going to ruin our economy if the government does find a way to bring it under control. At one time I thought maybe ethanol was going to help but the more I think about it, the more I believe it is the wrong direction to take. The cost of its production and what it takes away from the food market is counter productive. There is no way we can meet the need for energy with ethanol. Trying to do so is running up the cost of grains that may lead to shortages and higher prices for food. If the politicians would stop being led around with a ring in their noses by the environmentalist’s cry of global warming, they might come up with a solution. We have plenty of oil available if they will only allow for it to be drilled and if they would allow for the development of new refineries. The huge profits of oil companies are nothing less than greed, pure and simple. Can you imagine the benefits and corrections for this problem if more of those huge profits were being applied to the creation of newer and better energy resources? They advertise they are doing so but the evidence is not any too apparent. If the additives the oil companies are required to put in gasoline to meet the California pollution standards were applied to all the gas produced, there would be better mileage per gallon than we are presently experiencing. But then the oil companies would not be able to sell quite as much gas. Check out the following lengthy inter-net ad: “Gas Secrets” marketing@solitairelogbook.net about additive savings.
STILL TEACHING – Several months ago the pastor of Fellowship Baptist in Dublin, where we attend, decided to start small group Bible studies in different areas. The youth pastor, who works full time at a secular job, was to teach one small group at the church on Wednesdays. He often has to be out of town and I was asked to co-teach with him. I agreed to help by teaching when he had to be away, which I have been doing. I appreciate the opportunity to still share the truths of God’s Word.
SHORT NOTICE PREACHING – In the church where I gained my first opportunities to serve I use to pick up children in my car and take them to Sunday School. When Sunday school was over I would drive them back home. It always made me a little late for the morning service and I recall one Sunday morning returning to see a deacon leading the singing rather than the pastor who usually led the singing. I had no more than sat down by my wife and boys to enjoy the service when the deacon stepped down from the platform and told me the pastor was ill and he needed to take him home and that I would have to preach. I had only preached one other time when the pastor had asked me to preach when he went on vacation. On that occasion I studied for two weeks (not knowing what I was doing) and I ran out of steam (message) after ten minutes. Thankfully I had been reading my Bible and had written some things in the margin of my Bible that became my sermon on short notice. The Lord blessed and the people seemed to enjoy what I had shared. Whether they appreciated it because it was better than nothing I’ll never know, they were gracious. That experience as a young man, when serving as a deacon, led me to something I did a number of times over the years as a pastor. Believing that deacons should be able to step in at a moments notice to meet special needs in the local church, I would prepare a very brief outline of a message: Topic, point 1, 2, 3, 4 and a Scripture verse for each, typed up on separate 3 x 5 cards. Without warning on Sunday evening, just before the service, I would pass those cards out among the deacons and ask them to present that part of the message at sermon time. They had about a half hour during the song service to gather their thoughts from the topic and verse given to present their portion of the sermon. The deacons gained an experience in ministry and we had great fellowship doing this. It also helped prepare the deacons to minister on a moments notice if needed. When you think this through, we are often caught in situations where we need to give an answer for our faith and share a witness among others without warning. Deacons, as well as all believers, are to become familiar with their Bibles and be prepared to witness on a moments notice. So, I utilized such means to get our people thinking and sharing their faith. Who does such a thing in these days when churches demand such professionalism and degrees or doctorates for their pastors? I had to learn to minister through experience and opportunities that my pastor gave me in those early years. Our churches should be giving their people an opportunity to learn and grow spiritually.
PIANISTS – Being a church planter I often struggled to find someone to play the piano as we start a new plant. Neither my wife, nor myself, knew how to play the piano. Music and a pianist are so important to a church and if you don’t have a pianist or a good singer to lead the music, the new church is handicapped. I recall starting the church in Clarinda, Iowa. Shortly after the beginning of our new work a schoolteacher who played the piano came our way. What a blessing. We also had a twelve-year-old girl who was taking piano lessons and she asked me if she could play the piano for us. She had not learned to play hymns yet but I told her if she would promise to practice hymns I would make her my official Sunday School pianist. She meant business for the Lord and just about drove her parents crazy practicing. She made mistakes but we encouraged her and gave her an opportunity to so serve. A warning went out from me to the people to encourage her and to overlook her mistakes, which they did. It wasn’t long until she turned out to be a very nice church pianist. Young people that are willing to endeavor to serve the Lord should be given opportunities to do so. Everything in church does not have to be done by a professional; the church is to be a training center for believers to learn to serve the Savior. New church plants often give people an opportunity to grow and serve (out of necessity) that too seldom happens in larger more established works, seeking a greater degree of professionalism. I suppose, living in a day of polished entertainment via TV, etc., people are expecting the same of their churches and they fail to recognize the local church as a training center where believers can prepare and learn to serve.
GAS PRICES – Thankfully I am not driving the many miles I use to have to drive, with such high gas prices now. I can remember 22 and 23 cents a gallon for gas. The rising gas prices are going to ruin our economy if the government does find a way to bring it under control. At one time I thought maybe ethanol was going to help but the more I think about it, the more I believe it is the wrong direction to take. The cost of its production and what it takes away from the food market is counter productive. There is no way we can meet the need for energy with ethanol. Trying to do so is running up the cost of grains that may lead to shortages and higher prices for food. If the politicians would stop being led around with a ring in their noses by the environmentalist’s cry of global warming, they might come up with a solution. We have plenty of oil available if they will only allow for it to be drilled and if they would allow for the development of new refineries. The huge profits of oil companies are nothing less than greed, pure and simple. Can you imagine the benefits and corrections for this problem if more of those huge profits were being applied to the creation of newer and better energy resources? They advertise they are doing so but the evidence is not any too apparent. If the additives the oil companies are required to put in gasoline to meet the California pollution standards were applied to all the gas produced, there would be better mileage per gallon than we are presently experiencing. But then the oil companies would not be able to sell quite as much gas. Check out the following lengthy inter-net ad: “Gas Secrets” marketing@solitairelogbook.net about additive savings.
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