Musings 6-16.07

“Musings” 6-16-07
By Leslie G. Newell
(Sharing thoughts from the past & present by a Home Missionary past his prime)

PRAYER PRACTICES: Thinking back over the years relating to prayer I recall when the men use to gather for prayer and kneeling as they did so at prayer meetings and prior to services. These old knees no longer find it easy to get down on them so other acceptable positions are taken, but God understands. Those kneeling men manifest their respect for God in humbling themselves in that manner. Aside from that, it was always my practice over the years to have the deacons or several available men to gather with me prior to the morning service to pray and ask for God’s blessings on the service, for decisions among those gathered and for the pastor as he preached. This always gave me a sense of God’s presence as we worked our way through the service and delivered the message. Reading about Charles Spurgeon it was his practice to have a group of men in another room praying for him as he preached. It is little wonder that his ministry was so effective and that his books of sermons are still printed and read today. Pastor’s need prayer support as they preach and work through their workweek. I wonder how many pastors still gather for prayer prior to preaching that morning message. Customs and times are changing.

FRIGHTENING MAIL: I don’t know how it is with you but I always dread getting letters from the IRS and the State Bureau of Taxation. I received such a letter this week telling me I owed over $800.00 plus three months interest on last year’s taxes. I still have to work through this but for some reason they have not credited me for my estimated taxes paid during the year. I wondered why I hadn’t received my tax return yet. It always makes my heart beat a little harder when such notices come and I am sure many of you have similar occasions. It makes you wonder why Israel of old wanted a king like other countries, knowing they would be taxed to maintain his realm. I always dislike tax time when all those papers have to be filled out and I am relieved when the task is done. Even then you never know but what mistakes or disagreements will arise so we continue to live under the heavy hand of government. Death is the only escape and then the relatives have to wrestle with it. I recall the ignorance of some people. Someone once asked me what I did for a living and when I told the man (I won’t call him a gentleman) I was a missionary pastor his response was, “Oh, you are one of those people who don’t have to pay taxes.” I wish!

NEWS MAGAZINES: Years ago when I attended Candidate School with F.B.H.M. one of the recommendations they made was that we subscribe to U.S. News and World Report since it was the more conservative news magazine. It is certainly more conservative than the liberal bent of Time or Newsweek magazines. Through the years I have subscribed and kept up with a broad view of news and often found some good illustrations I could use in my sermons. A much more helpful news magazine today is World, a news magazine with a Christian worldview. I have subscribed for a number of years and also occasionally given gift subscriptions. Occasionally there will be an article that I don’t find myself agreeing with but even those make me think which is a worthwhile exercise. Try it I think you will like it.

ISLAM’S EFFORT TO PROMOTE SHARIAH LAW: There is a reason we keep hearing reports in the news about Muslim taxicab drivers refusing to drive people who have been drinking or are transporting their bottles. There is also a reason behind their efforts to get special foot washing basins in airport restrooms. Or Muslim girls trying to force tax payer funded universities (and private colleges) to accommodate “Muslim Interest Living Communities” rather than just single sex dorms. Every time you read of these and similar events know that is an effort to gradually force conformity to Islamic practices of Shariah Law. Don’t let such efforts be forced upon our society, voice your objections! I’ve read of public elementary schools teaching and practicing Muslim chants or prayers to teach their culture while denying Christian prayer. A double standard for sure but these are all efforts to gradually prepare us for the day when Islamic law will prevail over democratic governments. We need to be much in prayer that God will deliver us from these efforts. / If I were a cab driver I wouldn’t like driving drinkers around either but that is better than drunks driving their cars and endangering others. Even their supposed opposition to alcohol is hypocritical and I find it interesting that some of those that caused so much destruction on 9-11 were known to have spent some of their last hours in bars. Could it be possible they were trying to drown their own consciences before their vile deeds?

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Churches all over the country will be conducting V.B.S. in the next few weeks. This is a vital and effective ministry to reach children and parents. Many children are saved every year through this ministry. It has always been a highlight of my church planting ministry as we saw children saved and hiding God’s Word in their hearts. Our church will be conducting V.B.S. the week after next and we were out distributing invitations this morning. I quickly found out I am not up to very much of that walking anymore but it is always a joy to serve our Lord.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: I don’t ever remember the candidates out in force this early before. I suppose with the sitting president going out and a new one to come in has stirred up a lot of hopefuls. With the long list of contenders there are still two more that may throw their hats in the ring, Fred Thompson with his TV persona sounds like he is going to do it and Newt Gingrich will decide in October or November whether he will run or not. I consider myself a conservative in politics and religion alike and at this point I am not too excited about any of them. Both of these come closer to catching my interest if they should run but even for their conservative political positions they have some of the same marital problems of the others. That seems to be the condition of these days as Scripture tells us it will be. It looks like we will be right back where we have been for many years voting on the least of two less than desirable. President Bush was a breath of fresh air after the Clinton presidency but he has not carried through in so many areas we had hoped he would. It is my personal view in the light of prophecy that this country is on the downward slope that will be essential to setting the stage for world conditions to put the antichrist in place. What do you think?