Have You Heard There's An Election?

Many Christians seem to be struggling with the candidates the major political parties have put forth for the highest office in the land this year. I've wondered myself. Neither seems to appeal strongly to our values. While they both call themselves Christian, many Christians are left wondering which one will stand on a platform that makes us say "That's my candidate. He thinks like I think." I've given this some thought (and prayer) and here are a few conclusions:

1. As Christians, we should have far different priorities than others. While they're talking about the economy and jobs and taxes and the candidates' positions on popular issues, we should be looking for the candidate who stands closest to our own values on the issues of life and godliness. Who tells the truth? Who takes unpopular stands because its the right thing to do? Who will stand against the taking of the innocent lives of millions of unborn children? Who will uphold the foundational institution of marriage? These are the kinds of issues God will judge this nation upon.
2. We're electing a commander-in-chief, not a preacher-in-chief. In Old Testament Israel, which is as close to a God-ordained form of governance as I know of, there was a king and there were priests. The king was never expected to do the work of the priests. In fact, King Saul tried it and God renounced him as king. The role of the priests was religious leadership and the king was charged with moral and ethical civil governance. People didn't look to the king for spiritual leadership and they didn't look to the priests for civil authority.
3. Rather than looking for the "christian" candidate to lead us, maybe Christians should step into the role of priest the Bible ascribes to us. Are we not a "royal priesthood"? We ought to stop looking to them for any kind of spiritual leadership. Do we really want a politician - any politician - coming to office as the leader of the faith? To me, that idea seems to cheapen faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to a political ideology.

So I'm not watching any conventions or listening to any stump speeches this fall. They won't be talking about the issues that matter to me anyhow. I'm not getting worked-up over this stuff anymore. I'm a preacher, I've got more important things to do with my time. I'll simply pray and ask the Lord to guide me as I choose the one who will guide this nation in a moral path.

What's In A Name?

Only two colleges existed in the American Colonies in 1701, and both were for the training of preachers: Harvard, and the newly formed Collegiate College of Connecticut. The school originally met in houses, but after a major financial gift from Jeremiah Dummer of London, land was purchased and a campus planned.
In 1718, Cotton Mather contacted a Welsh merchant, Elihu Yale, who's small donation consisted of the proceeds from the sale of 9 bales of goods, along with 417 books and a picture of King George I. Shortly thereafter, the name of the school was changed to Yale College.

By all rights, shouldn't the college have been called Dummer College?

Our Giants Have Children

"Now the Philistines were ar war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. Then Isbe-benob, who was among the descendents of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, was girded with a new sword, and he intended to kill David. But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him.
~ 2 Samuel 21:15-17

Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath. It was David's most memorable triumph. As improbable as it was, a young boy slew a nine foot tall, battle-hardened Philistine warrior and became a hero to all of Israel. But that giant had a son.

Some years later, after David had assumed the throne in Israel, there was war once again with the Philistines. In the heat of the battle, David found himself wearied. And at that moment, Ishbi-benob, the son of Goliath, the giant whom David had killed, came looking for King David. The Bible says he had "a new sword, and he intended to kill David."

David probably never imagined that he'd one day come face-to-face with Goliath's son. That giant was history, just a part of the past, a story to tell his children and grandchildren.
But the giant's son hadn't forgotten. On the battlefield, he had one aim - Revenge. Kill the man who killed his daddy. Ishbi-benob had come at the moment when David didn't have the strength to carry-on the fight. It's a good thing David had Abishai nearby.

There's so much here for a preacher to work with. But the bottom line is this: We can never let down our guard. Not for a moment. It seems the giants in our lives - those giants that we've defeated in our past - have children. The things that you've overcome in life are never really ancient history. They may be as close your next battle.

Mepkin Retreat

I had an incredible few days at the Mepkin Abbey. Quiet time alone with the Lord in a beautiful place. Time to pray, to meditate and to delve into His Word for myself rather than looking for the next sermon.

The sanctuary

In the garden

In the garden

Sanctuary organ pipes

The library

Second Amendment Granny

85 year old Leda Smith is my new hero.

On Sunday, she returned home to find a burglar inside her home. Remaining calm, she walked directly past the young man into her bedroom and retrieved her gun. She then backed the would be thief into the living room where she forced him to call the police and report himself. Finally, she held him at gunpoint until the police arrived.

This poor guy will never live this down in prison.

An Appointment With God

I feel like I have an appointment with God.

I'll be spending four days at The Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastary of the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance. It will be a much-needed personal retreat; a time of prayer, Scripture reading and contemplation.

Part of me is really looking forward to it. But part of me is dreading the quiet, alone time with the Lord. He'll have my undivided attention.

Repent

As enamored as we are with all things Jesus, (and that's appropriate) we seem to be a bit selective in the things of Christ we choose to grab hold of. We like the big, the bold, and the beautiful. We love the miracles and the bold proclamations of righteousness and judgment. We delve into the lengthy discourses so impressively delivered, like the Sermon on the Mount.

But His very first recorded sermon is one easily (and perhaps intentionally) overlooked. "Repent, for the kingdom of heavern is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)
There's just not much said anymore about repentance. It's not very sexy to preach from our pulpits; just not much of a crowd-pleaser.

But if ever there was a day when we need to hear and heed the simple truth of our Savior's words, it's now. "Repent!"
As individuals, as believers and as a nation we desperately need a season of repentance.

Our Nation's Shame

I can't shake the thoughts I've had concerning the horrors of abortion in this nation. 50,000,000 abortions since 1973. Ever since I read that number yesterday I've felt sick inside.

I keep hearing those who favor abortion rights pontificating about womens' rights. But what about responsibility? Is no one responsible for their actions anymore?

And of course, there is the specious argument about the woman's health if the pregnancy is carried to term. But here are the real numbers:

1% of all abortions occur because of rape or incest; 6% of abortions occur because of potential health problems regarding either the mother or child, and 93% of all abortions occur for social reasons (i.e. the child is unwanted or inconvenient).

That's right, 93% of all of the abortions performed are "just because ..." Because it's inconvenient, or because children just aren't in the plan right now.

God promises judgment on those who shed innocent blood.

50,000,000

50,000,000.

I ran across that number this afternoon in an article I read. 50,000,000. That's fifty million.

Fifty million is the number of babies that have been murdered since abortion was legalized nationally in the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. 50,000,000!
(American Family Association June 2008)

"For Thou didst form my inward parts;
Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to Thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Thy works,
And my soul knows it very well."
~ Psalm 139:13-14

God Leads, We Follow

"Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the Tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out."
~ Numbers 9:22

God leads, we follow. That's the way God designed it. He led the people of Israel in "a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on their way, and in a pillar of fire by night ..." (Exodus 13:21) He leads us, according to the Scriptures, by His Holy Spirit, the One who abides in us. The idea is the same: He leads, we follow.

But what happens when there is no leading?
As God led Israel through the wilderness, there were times when His Presence lingered in a place and the people stayed put. Sometimes it was only for a day or two. I'm sure that was kind of nice. Like a mini vacation.
Other times it was a month. That might have gotten a bit tedious. Who wants to look at the same old sand dunes for thirty days?
Still other times, God's Presence stayed in one place for a year. And for that year, Israel didn't move. They stayed where the Presence of God was. And in that year, they got no closer to the Promised Land.

How frustrating that must have been for God's people. Day after day, week after week, from one month to the next - going nowhere. They knew God had made them a promise. He was leading them to a place He'd already given to them. A blessed place. But here they were wasting time in the desert.

That's the way we tend to see things when there is no movement, isn't it? We want to get where we're going. But God wants us to enjoy His Presence along the way.
And as long as His Presence is with us wherever we are, why would we want to go anywhere else?

Change

Life is crazy.

For the past few months we've had a house guest staying with us. His name is Larry. He is sixty-six years old and was released from prison in June after serving nearly twenty years. I've known Larry for a number of years and Sharon and I felt the Lord's leading to help, so we offered our home to him as he made the transition from prison to society.

Emily has been home from college since mid-May. It's always great to have her (and my other girls, too) around. It's just nice to spend time together with those we love, whether it's watching a movie, playing croquet in the yard, or just sitting around talking.

Last week, Sheila and Olivia were here for the week. Andrew was out of town, so our oldest daughter and our granddaughter came to spend a "mini vacation" at grammy and grampy's house. We all had a blast chasing Olivia from one thing to the next. She is constant motion and kept us quite busy, but very contented for the week.

Friday afternoon Sheila and Olivia left for home. Yesterday, we spent the day moving Emily back to Boone to begin her third year of college. And over the course of the weekend, Larry has signed a lease on his own place and moved out.

In a matter of just a few days, our house has gone from near controlled chaos to the quiet calm of just Sharon and I. It seems kind of weird right now. I'm sure I'll get used to it again in a day or two.

We spend a lot of time in this life adjusting to changes, don't we? They say change is inevitable, but most people don't like change. I'm just glad to know we have a God who is unchanging and unchangeable. The Bible says He is "the same yesterday, today, and forever."
I like that about Him today.

A Little Wisdom From Noah's Ark

Why Even Ask?

Admittedly, I'm a bit flummoxed today.

A few weeks ago an inmate came by my office seeking godly counsel. He was approaching his release date and had a dilemma. You see, before he got locked up he had been living with a woman who was not his wife. Now he's had an experience with Christ. He wanted to know if I thought it might be alright if, when he got out, he went back to living with this woman even though they weren't married. I said, "No."
"Even if we have separate rooms, preacher?"
Again I said, "No."
"But preacher," he tried again, "We've been together for nine years. Don't you think we're really already married in God's eyes?"
Once again I answered, "No." Then we talked for a good while about what the Scriptures say concerning marriage. I talked with him about honoring God, and the importance of vows, and whether he really believed he'd be able to withstand the temptation of living in the same house, but in different rooms.
He admitted that he knew when he came in what I would tell him. He knew what was right and what he should do. Then he thanked me and left.

I saw that inmate this morning. Knowing that he was going home in just a few days and remembering our conversation, I asked him if he'd "taken care of that thing we talked about? Have you made some better arrangements?"
Very sheepishly he answered, "No."

He's decided to go and do the wrong thing. Even after receiving godly counsel. And even knowing in his heart what's right.
I guess I'm just left wondering: Why'd he even bother to ask?

The Truth About Hardships in Life

Ran across this inspiring story recently. Enjoy!

Lornah Kiplagat learned to run because she did not want to be late for school. Each morning, this little Kenyan girl would help her father milk the family cows as soon as there was enough light from the rising sun. Then she would run the fourteen miles from her home to school. Lornah was an eager student who knew that education would provide her an opportunity for a better future. At the time she didn't realize that her running was laying the foundation for her world-class status as a long-distance runner. She just ran because she was poor. But in the process she developed the discipline and stamina to rise above any and all competition in running. She currently holds world records in road racing in the 5,000 meter, 20,000 meter, 10 mile and half marathon runs.

Could it be that there is a blessing and an opportunity in something you only see as a hardship today?