The Shepherd's Path

Those that do not learn from History...

2011-01-27T11:53:00.003-05:00

I am not sure at what point in school they stopped calling my favorite class "Social Studies" started calling it "History" but those classes were the most fascinating to me if only at the time for their "wars and rumors of wars" qualities. Yet whether you call it History or Social Studies (and I'm sure an academic wonk could set me straight about the nuance here) the point of studying it is best summed up with that almost cliche sentence "Those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." That doesn't just mean taking the class over again. Looking at history is to look at how human beings get along with one another in the world and gives us lessons that I heard the other day are better learned "from parchment instead of pavement." In other words we can learn from books a lot more painlessly sometimes than we can from experience.
Those lessons do not have to be lessons of "doom" by the negative examples of the mistakes of others either. They can also be positive. I am reading Nehemiah right now in preparation for our new Thursday Bible Study (at the ROCK 7:15 PM) and just in the first chapter, I am finding insight into the positive example of this man who found his nation in shambles and determined that he would do more than feel sorry for their mess. He put his distress and compassion into action.
As I prepare too, for this Sunday's annual Meeting and "Celebration of Ministries", I am finding that our church has a place in History, past, present, and future, that we must examine, give thanks for, and step forward in prayer and action to our moments calls to compassion and mission.
Open Nehemiah, or anywhere else in the Bible and look for what the events and actions of people in the past, and their responses to God who is eternal, can teach you about your life, and our life together, today.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Em-Body-Ment

2010-12-02T15:12:00.001-05:00

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" Colossians 2:9

This has been a year for discovering God. Many in our congregation have been participating in the 2010: A Bible Odyssey, Journey Through the Bible in a Year. In that Journey we have had the opportunity to encounter the Written Word of God, God's self revelation to His people through the inspired words of the Old and New Testaments. When we talk about "Revelation" as Presbyterian and reformed Christians we are not talking just about the book at the back of the Bible before "Maps". We are talking about our faith that God is personal and can be known by us. We believe that God revealed himself in General Revelation, through creation in such a way as asserted in Romans 2:20 "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. " We also believe God chose to reveal Himself through "Specific Revelation" to certain people, His covenant people, Israel first then the Church which included the Gentiles, through His Word. That Word, is the Word written, the Bible;The Word Incarnate, Jesus Christ; and the Word Preached, when it rightly explains the first two.
We have encountered the Word Written in reading the Bible together this year, and heard the Word preached when we gather on Sundays and other occasions for worship. Now. here at the end of the year, we celebrate the Word incarnate. The Word "made flesh".
John 1:14 says " The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." This is what we celebrate at Christmas, this em-body-ment of God who otherwise "is Spirit and does not have a body like we do" as some of us may have learned as kids learning the Westminster Catechisms. Yet the miracle of Christmas is that this Holy God, took on a body like ours, ordinary and subject to all that we suffer and enjoy about being embodied people. A friend, Pastor Laura Strauss of Clinton UP Church, shared this quote recently on facebook:

"If we knew what the Incarnation meant, we'd be so preoccupied with awe
that we wouldn't notice all the shopping." -Lauren F. Winner

Certainly, that is Christmas. That is the sum of what we celebrate when we talk about the Word made flesh.
It is so unfathomable to us, who tend to see a body as something so far beneath God as to be preposterous and amazing at the same time, that He would take on flesh like ours. But it is exactly what he did.

While we treat bodies like something worthy of contempt yet God gives honor to bodies. They are a part of His intention for creation. We are born with bodies and when we die we do not lose our bodies, but have them replaced with a perfected "Resurrection body." We bury bodies with dignity because they are important. We also cover our bodies with modesty, or at least ought to because they are important to us and to God. Recently I was having to correct a youth at the ROCK for making comments about another's body. I want to thank our own Henry Yoder because as I was I remembered a line from his book "Longing for Eden" as I was explaining our value of modesty and our duty to care for one another and respect our bodies. Explaining Leviticus 18:6-13, Henry writes, "The reason the nakedness is not to be uncovered is because the responsibility for covering is the responsibility of someone else...Never uncover nakedness for which you cannot properly assume the responsibility to cover." Now, I did not quote this to the kid, but instead explained that we are responsible to keep each other covered just like God covered Adam and Eve's nakedness after they sinned. Whether with words or actions we are to protect the dignity of the bodies we are given.
This too highlights the awe-inspiring reality of the incarnation and of God's self revelation. From Genesis to Revelation God is protecting what we damage and misuse and is restoring us. The miracle of the incarnation is that the word of God became flesh, took on a body to do this.
Merry Christmas!
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path.
Mark

May contain Confidential Information intended for the original recipient only. Confidential information is shared only when necessary to directly aid in acquiring assistance for an individual or family. Any misuse of this information is prohibited.

Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

Awesomeness...

2010-10-28T11:08:00.001-04:00

The only thing more overdone than our use of the word "Awesome" is criticisms of our overuse of the word "Awesome."That being said I will attempt very carefully not to add to this pile, another useless argument that "Awesome" is overused. Instead I want to remind us of the "Awesomeness" (Though that may not be a real word) of God and its implications for our church.

About the time you'll be reading this the Worship team will be singing "Our God is an Awesome God" by the Late Rich Mullins, a staple of 1980's and 90's praise choruses and one of the first of such choruses I learned at a time when I was learning that there were other songs of praise used by Christians other than the Hymns of the 1930's green Presbyterian Hymnal and a few other tunes I had learned in Catholic school Chorus. "Awesome God" resonated with me (and I'm sure a couple of generations of praise chorus singing Christians) both for its simplicity and it's Truth. In fact, as you'll hear the Sunday we sing it it often gets stripped of its verses and sung just as a chorus. Not only are the verses harder for novice guitarists to play, but in their casual imagery they are almost at odds with the majesty of the chorus. (Sorry Rich, but to be fair you get to live with Christ in person now while I'm stuck here writing opinions about your songs)

If you don't know what I'm talking about, here is the Chorus:

Our God(our God) is an awesome God

He reigns(He reigns) from heaven above

With wisdom(with wisdom) pow'r and love

our God is an awesome God.

Now the first verse:

When He rolls up His sleeves He ain't just puttin' on the ritz (our God is an awesome God)

There is thunder in His footsteps And lightning in His fist (our God is an awesome God)

Well, the Lord wasn't joking When He kicked 'em out of Eden

It wasn't for no reason that He shed his blood

His return is very close and so you better be believing that our God is an awesome God

My point is that the song, a lot like church sometimes, is cute and quaint when Majesty is what we aim for. The fact is that God IS an Awesome God and we naturally, struggle to capture that in our worship. However striving to really grasp and reflect praise for the indescribable and mind-boggling holiness of God is what worship is about.

If we are to be revived as a church we must begin to realize the utter Holiness and "Awesomeness" of our God. In a culture that accepts "good enough" and confuses "reverence" with "boring" and "honor" with "formality" It is hard to know how to "Give your best to the master" as the old hymn goes.

It begins with pausing (the purpose of Sabbath) perhaps the night before worship and reminding yourself (and your family if you are a parent or grandparent) of the importance of what you will be doing Sunday Morning. Pause and read Scripture, perhaps a Psalm or portion of the Gospels that reminds you of who it is you are going to Worship. Recall that you are not "going to church" to perform a routine or religious duty, (or a job if you are the pastor) but you are going to offer real worship to the King of the universe who gave you life and who saved you from the terrible consequence of sins that you chose freely to commit. You have been invited by that God to get to know Him better through His word and to participate in some way in being reminded of what he has done.

When you go to worship prepare. For some that might mean wearing your best clothes. Not to impress others or to meet a dress code (hear me on this. No matter how you come I want you here and I will accept you whatever you wear), but for yourself as you would prepare to meet with anyone you loved and who was important to you.

Confess your sins. I know you'll do this again when you get here, but do it for your own sake so that you can be assured that you are in fact "good enough to come" because Jesus has taken your sins away. The roof will not fall in if you show up and you have not failed so badly that you don't belong at church.

Come expecting. Even if my sermon is not the greatest, God has something for you here whether in what I say or in just one piece of the Scripture that you read and trail off thinking about it to miss the rest of the sermon. Realize that if God grabs your attention with one thing and makes a difference in you with it then that was the part of the sermon that you needed. The rest was probably for someone else.

Be present. Not just showing up, but really present and glad to be here with God and His people. If at all possible hang around a bit after or come early to get to spend time with the rest of the local family of God. Enjoy God's presence and His people. You were invited by the King of Kings.

In all this remember that God is an Awesome God and we were greated as the Westminster Shorter Catechism teaches to "Glorify God and Enjoy Him forever."

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Pastor Mark

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May contain Confidential Information intended for the original recipient only. Confidential information is shared only when necessary to directly aid in acquiring assistance for an individual or family. Any misuse of this information is prohibited.

Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

MyChurch.org

2010-10-27T11:58:00.001-04:00

To all of our My Church Members.
Thank you for joining MyChurch.org for the Oakdale UP Church. Unfortunately Mychurch.org is closing all of it's free sites. We are now at http://www.facebook.com/OakdaleUPChurch. Please join us there.
In Christ,
Rev. Mark Simonds
Pastor

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May contain Confidential Information intended for the original recipient only. Confidential information is shared only when necessary to directly aid in acquiring assistance for an individual or family. Any misuse of this information is prohibited.

Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

The Hole in Our Gospel for $5

2010-09-16T14:45:00.002-04:00

The book "the Hole in Our Gospel" for the Thursday Night "Shepherd's Path Bible Study" is at Family Christian Store for $5 this week.
See the store location in Robinson here

Our first Study

2010-09-15T16:34:00.002-04:00

Here's a link to the website for the subject of our first Study.

Check it out.

http://www.theholeinourgospel.com/

What are your initial thoughts? What do you expect to hear?

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

New Bible Study in Oakdale

2010-09-15T15:15:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to comment on the new element of the Shepherd's path which is an in person Bible Study for anyone, in Oakdale PA, at the ROCK Youth and Family Center, Wednesday Nights at 7:15 PM. We'll be beginning this week, September 15 and for the following 6 weeks studying the book "The Hole in our Gospel" by World Vision President Richard Stearns. Additional discussions can occur online here and can be used for those who are too busy to connect with us for the live study.
The Shepherd's Path is about the element of Discipleship which involves following Jesus. our various short term studies will be focused on connecting with and supporting one another as we look to follow Jesus "the Shepherd." The studies will be short term 4-6 weeks to allow people to come in and out as their schedule allows or to look and different topics within our broader calling to discipleship.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path.
Mark

Small World Moments

2010-09-10T11:19:00.001-04:00

On facebook it's not all that surprising that you have a "small world moment" as your network is usually populated by people who run in the same circles as you and often may have some of the same friends even if you've never encountered the two of them in the same setting...but every once in a while you have a genuine small world moment where two tiny networks connect.
I had two in less than a week. In my Adult life I've been a part of small towns mostly with large distances between them. The first happened when PJ and I stopped at a yard sale in Portersville PA, to buy some ridiculously large posters of superheroes for an event later in the fall at the ROCK. The guy who sold them to us was none other than the cousin (Fathers were brother's) of our police chief in Oakdale.
The second was more obscure. I attended a conference for pastors and church leaders yesterday and I, out of character for my "ghost rat" self, invited myself to sit at a table with an older gentleman who I found out was a pastor from somewhere here in the Western PA area. As we talked about where we'd lived and worked I mentioned that I had come back to Pittsburgh after a period of years that took me from Virginia to Kentucky to Kansas "with a brief stop in Indiana." "where in Indiana?" he asks. Sure he would not know the town I said "a little town called Monroe City, near Vincennes." Vincennes being the only recognizable feature on the map since Monroe City could be mistaken for a cigarette ash or pepper flake on the map. His eyes lit up. Turns out his wife was from Monroe City and "was saved" in the Church of Christ there. Here I had lived there a whole year and a half and yet such features as the logo PJ and I designed for the community center there were recognizable to him.
Amazing that it truly is a small world.
If there is any point to this story it also surprised me how easily we talked and recognized each other's common call to ministry when at the time I lived in Monroe City the only Church that wanted nothing to do with us an didn't even recognize our common status as Christians was the Church of Christ. What a difference distance makes. I imagine in heaven we'll have a lot more small world moments where what unites us (Jesus) matters more than those things that divide us.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Newsletter September 2010

2010-08-25T11:23:00.001-04:00

Honor and Significance...

Two things have been heavily on my mind in the Past few months. The first is the concept of Honor and the second Significance, specifically that every person matters.

My attention has been drawn to the subject of Honor by several online discussions with former classmates and alumni of my Alma Mater, bringing my attention back to a statement we all aspired to live by, a code of honor that seems outdated in our generation but was no less real to us, and remains real to me today. It is exemplified in what we came to know as the "Code of a Gentleman" It begins as follows: "Without a strict observance of the fundamental Code of Honor [cf., that a gentleman does not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do], no man, no matter how 'polished', can be considered a gentleman. The honor of a gentleman demands the inviolability of his word, and the incorruptibility of his principles. He is the descendant of the knight, the crusader; he is the defender of the defenseless and the champion of justice… or he is not a Gentleman."

The second subject, the significance, intrinsic value, of every person; put simply the fact that every person matters, has likewise been prompted by several things: my own extended adjustment difficulty with moving from a small community to a larger less connected one, Repeated exposure to God's work elsewhere in the world to eliminate human trafficking and to minister to both it's victims and perpetrators, and most recently a film called "To save a Life", portraying the power of simply befriending the friendless, to change and even save lives.

Both the code of Honor, demanding above all, honesty, and the belief that every person matters, spring from the same source. If it is as we believe, that all people are given life by the conscious choice of God to bring them into this world, then not only are we duty bound to live consistent with that belief, but that living consistently includes the duty to respect one another through honoring them by being honest and never seeking to lie, cheat, or steal from another. Honoring another as valuable means that you look into the eyes of the bagger at the grocery store, through the windshield at the driver in the car trying to "get in" in traffic, at the prostitute, at the drug dealer, at the friendless awkward teenager...at everyone. and see and believe that they are as human and significant as you. Honor demands that we do as simple things as greeting one another and leaving space in front of us in traffic; and as hard things as not seeing people as commodities to be traded, through exploitation of workers, through pornography, through using and abusing others to get ahead.

Most of all the church must be a place where every person matters and where we are intentional about seeing each other's significance. We cannot afford to bypass one another. It must be a place where we teach our children to treat all of their peers as genuine people, even at the cost of their own popularity. Where we as adults welcome all into fellowship and inspire courage in one another when the price of honor gets high. A place where sin is seen as not a flaw in the person but a damage that has been done (even if by the person's own choice) to the valuable individual. We should employ the gospel to clean and repair one another as we would graffiti or vandalism on a great piece of art, with great care to avoid adding damage, while looking to restore the treasure.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

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May contain Confidential Information intended for the original recipient only. Confidential information is shared only when necessary to directly aid in acquiring assistance for an individual or family. Any misuse of this information is prohibited.

Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

2010-08-12T16:22:00.001-04:00

The Summer of our Discontent...

Here it is August already. A friend of mine mentioned at the end of last summer that he was glad summer was over because the pressure to have fun was gone. I hear him. In times when demands are high and funds are low the pressure to get out there and enjoy life is almost unbearable. As people we don't do leisure well. We also are surrounded by enablers and slavemasters who will gladly fill every waking hour and many of our sleeping ones with something. Another friend went on vacation recently and told her bosses she was going overseas, even posting photoshopped pictures of herself in front of well known landmarks on her facebook, just so she wouldn't get called back into work.

I am the ultimate hypocrite when it comes to telling others to not fill their "empty spaces" The very air around me always has to be filled with something. I am writing this article on my facebook account while keeping tabs on other conversations. the radio is on and I just put down a book (a book I am reading to improve my ability to minister, not one for fun) to write it. At breakfast I fill the bowls of cereal and switch on the news to catch up on the goings on in the world in case I missed something since yesterday. Like I can do anything about it anyway. Even when I pray I stop half the time midway because in the stillness of the moment because I thought of something that "just has to get done."

As you contemplate what has to get done next Sunday remember that God, knowing this driving force of human nature, set apart the Sabbath for that reason: to give us the rest we need. He even told us not to work our servants and cattle (or waitresses or clerks perhaps) on that day. Now I know you'll tell me two things, first: it was so much easier when we had the blue laws and there was nothing to do on a Sunday except at church. I really doubt that was totally true but even if it were I know no one is forcing you (or me) through Wal-Mart's doors just because they're open. Jesus said consider the birds...I say consider the mules, no one can make you do anything you really do not want to do. Second, you'll say I am judging you for what you do on Sunday. If I am Then I am judging myself too. But I am not really judging, I am saying whatever you do on the Sabbath do it having considered the question "is this what How God wants me to spend His gift of rest?" Recently God has been teaching me some lessons including one where, though I was unsure of what I really should do I had to respond, "No matter What I do I just want to be faithful." Whatever we do it should be done out of faith in God and assurance that He would not have us go a different way.

The point is use the gift of Sabbath God gave you. Use it to slow down, cut off the noise and listen, expecting God to whisper His will to you. Use God's other gifts, His Word, the Bible, will always speak a word from Him. Use your Sabbath time to surround yourself with His people too. They will often, sometimes without even being aware, speak a word from God to you. Also use the time given to worship to enjoy God. It is hard to see God as anything less than he is when you are worshipping Him in genuine joy.

Anyway I hope this helps you find a little more purpose in slowing down. I may only be writing to myself with you as an audience. But I suspect, from experience, someone else may be hearing a word they need to hear. If nothing else I hope this allows you to enjoy a summer without the fear and discontent of not having had enough fun.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

Remembering.

2010-05-20T11:28:00.001-04:00

So much of our faith and life relies on remembering...
Recently I've enjoyed spending some time talking with old friends about different experiences we shared in the past. It is funny how something that can be hilarious to a small group of people could be completely uninteresting or even horrifying to a completely different group. A group of VMI alumni recently created a page on the social networking site Facebook, called "Having to explain VMI terms to people.." While the title is not exactly catchy the page has more fans than the official page for the school. The reason I believe is the same reason I follow it so regularly. There is something about being around people who "get you", who have shared similar experiences and speak the same language. Whether it is the inside jokes of friends or the more important work of support groups for people going through a common struggle, sharing stories with those who understand feeds you.
The body of Christ is about remembering as well. The church, to be sure is always called to mission, to be active, involved in our community and world and doing good in Jesus name. At the same time we are also a remembering community. Through repeating the stories and truth in God's Word in Worship and Bible Study, singing the truth in song and tasting the truth around the Lord's table we remember Who God is and what God has done. We remember so we do not forget and become simply another Non government organization doing some kind of good. We remember why we do good and we remember what truly is good. We avoid the pitfalls of well intentioned errors that seek to do good for another but in fact lead them further from the truth.
The truth and remembering the truth is important because as much as the church is about remembering it is also about "membering". We are about welcoming others into the family of God. In Baptism we remember and reenact the reality of Christ's death and resurrection washing us clean of the guilt of our sins. It represents a change from being one thing apart from Christ to a completely different thing, a new creation, in Christ.
This new month begins having just celebrated Memorial Day, a day to remember the cost of the freedoms we enjoy. Let us remember the gift freely given by those men and women that served us. Let us also enter this season of Summer with our more relaxed church schedule, to deliberately take the time to remember what it is we believe and Who we serve. When we do this, I believe we will be all the more motivated to be the church we are called to be.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

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May contain Confidential Information intended for the original recipient only. Confidential information is shared only when necessary to directly aid in acquiring assistance for an individual or family. Any misuse of this information is prohibited.

Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

Growing Things Change...

2010-04-20T10:35:00.001-04:00

Journey...Woo Hoo!!! Okay so there are only 6 other people in this congregation who will get that so I should elaborate. This last weekend I got to spend Friday night and Saturday with four of our church's kids at the confirmation retreat at Camp Crestfield. Along with climbing the rock wall, problem solving obstacles while sleet fell on us, intense games of 6 square and Skits and Smores, somewhere along the line we talked about Statements of faith. Our leader, Robin, shared that our faith statement is not a one time event but a Journey (Woo...Hoo!!! All the kids were to reply whenever that word was said.) which we begin at birth, through baptism and confirmation and continue throughout our lives. In fact the way in which I sign these articles, "In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path," implies that kind of a journey. I am not merely a Christian because I have once confessed Christ as Lord and Savior, but I am one because, having so confessed, I now live daily following Him. The simple confession I made the moment I first believed is different now, sculpted like Rock exposed to wind and water, because of experience and also by constant and continual exposure to the Word of God.
Living as a believer exposes you to highs and lows as you battle the consequences of past sins, current struggles and mistakes, wrestle with relationships and learn radical forgiveness. All the while your faith is shaped into something that begins to look more and more like what God has revealed as true about Himself, you, and the world.
There are even harder times when faith requires radical obedience. forgiving the person you refuse to forgive. Doing what you have no desire to do, or even holding on to the tiniest assurance from God's Word that you know to be true so you can trust Him for the other things he promises which you cannot see.
It sounds corny and overdone, like a High School commencement speech, to talk about life or faith as a journey, yet in Christ, and shaped by His Word, you do see that what we were, we are not any longer... and, what we are now we will not be in the future.
A speaker at a Wee Kirk (Small Church) Conference some years ago said this Growing things change..Change challenges us...Challenge makes us Grow...Growing things Change...
As change challenges you, my prayer for you is that you will endure the pain of change to see what growth results.
In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

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May contain Confidential Information intended for the original recipient only. Confidential information is shared only when necessary to directly aid in acquiring assistance for an individual or family. Any misuse of this information is prohibited.

Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

Newsletter Article for April 2010

2010-03-25T10:37:00.001-04:00

Bitterness or Betterness...

A girl from our Kansas Youth group, now in college (yuck I remember attending her 10^th Birthday party), wrote this as her "Status" on Facebook this morning: "How [can] people really believe Humans are "basically good?" Yesh... that and my broccoli can talk."...

Immediately another friend congratulated her on her growing Cynicism (As though that were a good thing) There is a lot of Cynicism going around. I'm fighting a good bout of it myself.

The dictionary defines Cynicism as "having a cynical Character or attitude"...which doesn't help much...Cynical, therfor is best defined as :

"having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic: as a : contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives <those cynical men who say that democracy cannot be honest and efficient — F. D. Roosevelt> b : based on or reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest <a cynical ploy to cheat customers> " (cynical. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.

Retrieved March 25, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cynical)

Now by this definition any mistrust of human motivation would be labeled "Cynical" and by even the tone of the dictionary, not a desirable trait....

But what if it is true...Are we all self motivated. Are we not basically Good. If you believe the bible maybe it is not cynicism after all but a basic point of the Christian worldview.

Romans 3:9-12 says:

9What shall we conclude then? Are we any better[a]? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."[b]

More insight comes from Jeremiah 17:9

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Presbyterian and Reformed Christians have long held this view, that there is nothing naturally in us that compels God to Choose us we are "Totally Depraved" and God's election (free choice) to save us is "Unconditional" based not on our goodness but on His Love and choice to save us. The Faith Essentials and Covenant of the Biblical Presbyterians Network concisely puts it this way.

"Salvation is wholly of God and is purely grace from first to last, without any merit in us. "

Now in days of Health Care debates, Bonuses for failed CEO's, War, Scandal and myriad other aggravations it would be easy to take the reality of depravity and turn it into a cause for bitterness. Except for one thing. In among this bad news we have good news. We can say yes people are not basically good. Yes they seek their own power and pleasure first. Yes there is a need for limited government to protect against tyranny (our founding fathers believed in Total depravity by the way). But..

And this is a big deal...

God does not leave us depraved and bitter. He makes us Better. He sent Jesus to mend our fallen state.

Romans 3 Goes on to Say:

21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Romans 5:6-11 adds

6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

So rejoice! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and You are no longer stuck in the same condition as the rest of the World! You join the saved, justified, regenerated, born again, reconciled, always being sanctified, Saints who are being made better than before, and who are now assured by Christ that you are no longer lost and doomed to live forever in a world dominated by self interest and tyranny.

Jesus conquered sin, depravity, and...the Grave itself!

Happy Easter!

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

The Holy of Holies

2010-01-26T13:06:00.000-05:00

The presence of God...

I was just listening to "Take me In" by the Christian rock band Kutless. This is a powerful and rocking worship song where the singer says to God "Take me in to the Holy of Holies..." It resonated with something that has been on my heart the last few weeks, namely, the desire to see God more and more as a person and not as an idea. Now I know, the whole premise of being a Christian is that we have a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ." The problem, for pastors too, is that life can get in the way and we can lose the "personal" part of that relationship. Prayers become a discipline instead of communication, and our faith becomes a philosophy and "code of conduct".

That's why I need reminded now and then, even by a song, that being a Christian means we have been invited in to the Holy of Holies. We are made clean by the Blood of Jesus and are invited past all the old trappings of the tabernacle that separated the people from God.

If we are to be the church that we are truly called to be we must use every means God has given us to draw nearer to God both as individuals and as a congregation. Use God's Word. As we read through the Bible together use the time to get to know God better. As you pray, pray remembering that you are asking a real person to meet your needs and the needs of your friends and family. Take time to listen, really listen, for who God wants you to be, and what he would have you do. Worship. Sing praise, surround yourself with uplifting music that Glorifies God and the things God calls good. Surround yourself with people who when you are down will lift you up and who will push you into the Holy of Holies with them when you are dragging your feet.

Finally whatever it takes, remove from your life whatever separates you from God and from the duties God has given you to your family, your congregation and your own walk with Him. Idols are not always other gods. sometimes they are images of the real God that we give our attention to instead of looking to live in His real presence.

Now I know this all sounds hard. That's why the last word here is that it is something that has already been done for you. It was Jesus that gave you access to the Holy of Holies by applying His own blood to your account. So church, lets use the privilege we've had purchased for us at such a high price, and go in to the Holy of Holies every time we come together and anytime we feel we are far from God.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Doing some thinking before Annual Meeting...

2010-01-12T12:32:00.000-05:00

Non-negotiable purposes for the church

1.The Gospel
Our mission is to carry a message to the world. That message: God exists, is personal, is knowable and has done an incredible thing to save the people He created from the deadly consequence of their self centered and God ignoring choice to disobey. God set aside the right to separate us permanently and horribly from himself and to continue down our own destructive path by humbling Himself, becoming a human like us, living among us as Jesus, and suffering a death that He did not deserve, in our place, so that all who trust in what Jesus did for them and accept that free gift might be restored to life with God and even be transformed from self centered destructiveness to God centered life. We are transformed by the gift of God Himself dwelling mysteriously in us as the Holy Spirit, so that we can have assurance of God's constant presence and fellowship, and receive gifts and live lives that demonstrate this change.
We accomplish this mission and carry this message by declaring it through words and also by showing through deeds the love God has for people by serving them and caring for their needs, sharing the gifts God has given us and strengthening each other where any of us lacks. We teach the Bible because it is God's own Word and a revelation of these things. It is our source and our reference to know the degree of correctness or error of belief or action.
Without the above we are not a church because our business is in fact “making disciples”, meaning sharing this good news with others and encouraging them to believe it and helping believers live lives that demonstrate this message. However we do what we do it is always to accomplish this purpose.
2.Worship
Our second purpose is tied to the first. Believing that God exists and has done the things we believe He has done we find that God is worthy of praise and Honor. We honor God by first obediently doing as he would have us do. Discovering and doing His will is a major part of worship and failure in that area or failure to turn away from known error, itself invalidates any other acts of worship. Obedience occurs in both daily life as well as the worship we give specifically and intentionally to God. The sacraments of Baptism and The Lord's Supper are done and should be done as correctly and we are knowingly able as much out of obedience as for the benefits we receive from them.
Worship also involves communication with God through Prayer. We are not worshiping deaf dumb idols but a living and personal God who not only hears but in various ways, as He wills, communicates to us. Prayer is essential to knowing and doing God's will as well as important in honoring God's gracious offer to hear our prayers and respond to our needs an the needs of others we bring to Him.
Worship also includes our spontaneous and organized personal and community responses to God's person and work. Public and private worship includes such responses as singing, shouting, telling, expressing through art, playing on instruments, and other ways of expressing God's attributes and giving thanks for God himself and the things he has done or has promised to do. This kind of worship takes many forms and reflects the momentary experiences, emotions and ways of expression of the worshipers as well as their culture. While styles and particular expressions may and should change care is taken in the true Church that expressions accurately convey without confusion that could lead to idolatry, the true nature and works of God.
3.Fellowship
The third Essential element of the church is Fellowship. Connections between people are necessary to sharing the Gospel and to encouraging believers in the life of faith. Connection is also necessary to have true congregational worship and to adequately and appropriately share gifts and resources. Connections also build community and demonstrate the love that is created between people when they become acquainted through the Holy Spirit with the Love that God has for them. We value other people because we see them as God sees them, specially created in His image. Jesus took for himself widening circles of disciples, one closest, three close, twelve immediate, seventy two close enough to train, and more, while on earth demonstrating the importance of community. God ordered human life in families, tribes, and nations, and called no just one man, but his family through whom he would reveal Himself to the world.
In whatever forms and with whatever uses of cultural and technological opportunities this community building takes, sharing life together with a group of fellow believers is essential to being the Church. Efforts must be made to ensure we are doing more than just being in the same place, but welcoming newcomers, and growing and strengthening relationships among our members.

Whatever programs we do,; whatever tasks we take on; however we use our buildings, supplies, money, and other resources; Everything we do and how we do it, must be done with thought to the question: “How will it do these things?”

Genesis 22:1-18 Commentary for Jan 10, 2010

2010-01-09T23:01:00.000-05:00

Gen 22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."

Not as though God did not know Abraham, but as a way of proving and trying Abraham's faith, God would make a request of Abraham that would be beyond difficult to follow. Ambraham's response to God's call is like so many of the saints, “here I am”. It is like a soldier's coming to attention upon the entrance of an officer, that he may stand ready to follow whatever order next comes from his superior.

Gen 22:2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

Matthew Henry in his commentary points out the increasing difficulty of each word of the Lord's request. Abraham must take his son, not any son but his only son to his wife Sarah and he having been born miraculously in old age. He is reminded that this is the son he loves. We should not forget this is no callous act of religious violence but a intended sacrifice of the one thing potentially greater in Abraham's heart than God. His love would be proven as he journeyed quite a distance, said to be three days, three days to contemplate his decision and three days to possibly decide to refuse. He would be required not only to take the life of his son but to do so with all the dilegent and prescribed efforts of a sacrifice. While Abraham had never participated in the sacrifices common to some pagan worship of his day, he surely had heard of the offering of children to idols that was in practice. From what he says later it is clear that he knows how to perform an animal sacrifice so all of these things would weigh heavily on him as he followed God's command.

Gen 22:3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

It is worth noting that Abraham's obedience is without delay, an interesting contrast to Lot's delay at departing Sodom (Gen 19). What should have been happily obeyed ( leaving a city condemned that he and his family might be saved is hesitated upon, while a task of guesome sorrow is attended with swift obedience gives a strong picture of faith. We too should be swift to obey both that which is easy and beneficial, and that which is difficult and appears distateful, knowing that God is both worthy of our obedience as well as good to bring about a good end.

Gen 22:4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.

While a ways off Abraham sees the place and is not hindered no matter what he may dread.

Gen 22:5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you."

I question the idea that Abraham knew that he would return with Isaac for if so it seems difficult to say Abraham did not withhold his son from God. If he did not believe God would have him carry through, or would make a way other than the one set in front of him, how can it be said he really was willing to sacrifice Isaac. Perhaps though he held out a hope in God that was greater than the circumstances he saw. Regardless he has the men stay behind, perhaps that they might not hinder him from his God assigned task once his intentions became obvious. If that is the case then we can learn from him to surround ourselves with only those who will not hinder us in our obedience to God, and avoid those who would encourage us to compromise.

Gen 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.
Gen 22:7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

Issac had to be old enough to understand something of burnt offerings and to understand that a lamb was the ordinary offering. Abraham has to respond to His son's loyal calling of”My father” all the more saddening since it is likely his son's desire is to ensure all is fit for the sacrifice his father would make.

Gen 22:8 Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.

The Holy Spirit gives Abraham words, perhaps unaware, foreshadowing not only What the Lord would do here but also later at Calvary when the God himself would give his Son as a sacrificial lamb for the redemption of all of who would trust Jesus. God indeed provides the lamb whether it is the thing we must set aside to serve Him, or the gift he give to replace what is lost, or most of all the Gift of His son. Abraham's word were sufficient of Isaac an d they went together.

Gen 22:9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

No matter the age of Isaac it is unlikely Abraham needed to overpower him. Isaac was bound as would be any sacrifice, as as Matthew Henry also notes, as would be Christ who even though he went willingly to the cross was treated every bit like the criminal when he received our just sentence in himself. Abraham prepares to offer Isaac as he would any other sacrifice. No note is made of Abraham's emotion here. Whatever he is feeling he does as God required.

Gen 22:10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.

Having done everything else Abraham prepares to give the last measure of obedience. He is only stopped by the voice of the angel giving him word from the Lord himself.

Gen 22:11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."

The angel of the LORD, some say may be the preincarnate Christ himself,or otherwise is clearly the messenger of words from none other than God. Abraham again responds “Here I am.”

Gen 22:12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."

To fear God is to fear nothing else other than God. Abraham's regard for God was such that he would obey even to do something he himself hated to do if it were at God's request. The angel stays Abraham's hand as God never before or since would require a person to kill another to worship Him. God's intent was to prove Abraham's willingness to obey and to value God even more than the son God gave him; to love the giver more than the gift. While it is true God knew the result beforehand I heard it said that a thing is not real until it is done, therefore requiring Abraham's action to prove his genuine fear of the Lord.

Gen 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.

Indeed the animal was provided, in Isaac's place just as promised and as Christ would be later provided in Isaac, Abraham and each believer's place at the cross. The Ram also provided the means to truly worship a God who they now knew all the more intimately as one worthy to entrust Isaac's life and all else. Our worship is to be a response to God's actions and a means of giving thanks for who God is and what He has done.

Gen 22:14 So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."

Abraham names Mount Moriah “The Lord will provide,” giving a memorial to this occasion of all occasions which proved to Abraham God's provision and trustworthiness.

Gen 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven .

Again God communicates to Abraham through an angel. As we grow in faith and relation to the Lord occasions of clearly hearing Him will increase in both frequency and clarity. God may not communicate as often as we like but He will, we can trust, communicate when he desires us to know something.

Gen 22:16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

God would have Abraham know clearly that this was no small thing he had done but makes clear by God's own promise that the blessings he promised to Abraham will come to pass.

Gen 22:17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies,

By not withholding his only son Abraham received the assurance of a promise of innumerable descendants, a legacy Abraham could have only dreamed of when He had no heir. Yet God promises not only numerous offspring but ones who would not ultimately be overcome, a true and lasting legacy.

Gen 22:18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."

Here we are given Abraham's final promise, not just land and people, but that he would play a part in the greater dram unfolding as through a single descendant, Jesus Christ ALL the nations of the earth shall be blessed. Not just Abraham's physical descendants, but his spiritual children, grafted into his family through faith in Christ, himself a descendant of Abraham.
Likewise may we live in such a way that we experience our own part in God's unfolding work of salvation and be obediently used to make real the certain work of God in our world, especially the redemption of His people through the faith that comes through hearing the Gospel.

Genesis 2 commentary 1-3-10

2010-01-01T19:49:00.005-05:00

The sermon for Sunday Jan 3, will be entitled "as it was in the begining." taken of course from the Gloria Patri: "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen." Lets look at the way it was in the beginning.

Genesis 2
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

The previous chapter lines out the 6 days of creation. It is not necessary to hold the strict opinion that the 6 days were 6 periods of 24 hours, but it is important to hold two truths if you still wish to hold to the authority of Scripture: First That God created all that there is, "the heavens and the earth in their vast array." and second: That he did so in some way that will when all is made clear, reflects the pattern and method of Genesis 1. The significance of the "6 Day" creation appears in the next verse, and the revelation of creation in this way is significant to us as believers to display the character of God and His will for us.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested [a] from all his work.

This pattern of work and a Sabbath, seventh day rest, is established at creation and repeated throughout Biblical History. In the commandments, in Exodus 20, the creation story is repeated as the reason for the commandment to "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy". God's rest does not imply His need for rest as much as his sovereignty in being free to choose to rest. The one in authority may choose to rest at will, but if you are under authority you must seek permission either by schedule or request from your boss if you wish to rest. God needs no permission and freely chooses to rest.

3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Jesus said: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." (Matthew 2:27) God blesses the Sabbath: and gives to man rest; something belonging to Him, is granted to His beloved creations. A study of the word Bless or blessed, will turn up many such incidents, God giving freely something that is His. The Sabbath is also Holy: set apart, given yet still belonging to God and therefore a rest we should observe with due reverence to God and looking to how He would have us spend our rest.

Adam and Eve

4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
      When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-

This second account details the creation of God's special creation of humanity. No other creation of His is given the description "in His image". Immediately we find God's word turns to an account of humanity as the Bible is not written as an abstract account but a specific revelation to re-connect God with humanity first through the spoken and written word then the Word made flesh (John 1) Jesus Christ.

5 and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth [b] and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth [c] and there was no man to work the ground,

The world Adam and Eve first saw was different from our environment today. It would seem while the natural plants which would spring up on their own without man's aid would be present Man still had a purpose of tending and caring for some special kinds of plants which had not yet become visible, requiring working the ground and the God given task of tending them. Be aware man was not yet formed, let alone fallen so the work of tending would not be as now where we struggle against noxious plants, weeds and thorns which came as a result of the curse (see Gen 3) and Man would not,as we will se, be reliant on the work for the sake of survival, also a consequence of the fall. Instead work would be like God's own work of creation, done for its own sake and enjoyment, a better form of what we do when we garden or "work" at a hobby now. More than recreation a blessing of participating in God's own work by invitation.

6 but streams [d] came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground-

Verse 5 lets us know there was no rain, but instead the ground was self watering avoiding the later struggles of unstable climate, drought and flood which plague farmers today.

7 the LORD God formed the man [e] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

The man it says was formed out of the ground, the common made special, simple elements made complex by the hand of God. This is God's work. Not only made complex like a plant but given the breath of life and made not only alive but uniquely aware of his being alive.

8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

Among all that was created God also set apart and "planted" and specially equipped a place suited for the unique new being.

9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

In this Garden were trees which not only provided food but were pleasing to the eye. An element of life which sets humanity apart is it's appreciation of beauty,imitation of the creator in creating beauty through art and music. Beauty points to the blessing of our creator and our being in His image. God did not need to make the trees beautiful to sustain life, the glosses of unnecessary and extravagant blessings display God's glory all the more.
The middle of the garden contained two unique trees of Spiritual significance as well, the tree of life and the tree of knowlege of Good and Evil. These will play a part in the drama that unfolds as well as all the rest of Human history through eternity.

10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin [f] and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. [g] 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

Captivating is the placement of this story in a very real landscape and not some vague world. While some would call the Genesis narrative a myth, the Revelation contained in God's word is so often tied to such concrete places and recognizable real world features as to forbid us from writing it off as mere allegory or morality tale. Scripture does freely use the literary devices, including symbolism, parable and other means to reveal God's character and will but is never so vague as to allow a reasonable person to write it off entirely. Faith strengthens our vision to see the truth of Scripture to be sure but details throughout remain testable to anyone looking to disprove them.
Also significant is the pre-fall and pre-flood (Noah) geography and geology of the land. Eden was situated in good land able to sustain the generations that would follow as the humans multiplied per God's command and blessing.

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Work, as I said before was not a curse but a blessing and divine purpose, to participate in God's creation and care for the earth. It was no burden as the daily needs of man were not tied to the work ast they are after the fall into sin.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;

Notice our first condition was one of abundance: we were free to eat of all of the trees of the garden, Including the tree of life, but NOT the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We were blessed with all that we could need and free access to life itself, as well as the ability to talk with God personally, and denied only the loss of innocence. How like us now as children and especially teens when we are tempted to betray our own best interests and freedom to grow, learn and enjoy life, and feel we must lose our innocence as quickly as possible. In youth, now fallen, we flee innocence and even ridicule those who would hold it longer as though they were weak. Fallen humanity make fun of those who value virginity, peace, clean speech, and clean living even though the irony is it takes greater strength to preserve innocence than to give it away.

17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

With the freedom God had given and the innocent condition of Adam, knowing neither Good or Evil, and in full conversational and personal relationship with God, came but one command, the first covenant, of works, requiring obedience and promising life, but also promising death with disobedience. The freedom the human race was to enjoy gave them the freedom to choose obedience or disobedience, and this was what gave unfallen man his "free will". Free will was not "free agency" or sovereignty, with the ability some imagine in "free will" to possess: to do as one wills. Instead a choice is offered along with a clear picture of what would be lost with disobedience. God does not set up a snare but gives us a clear warning of the consequences of sin so that a truly free choice is made.

18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

God's will for the man's companion was that she would be a helper suitable for him. Not just a mate as with the animals to reproduce with but a "companion" and a benefit to him. To see tyranny of the man over the woman in this is to see it through the lenses of our fallen condition. Note Adam's rejoicing in the verses that follow as Eve is made. Love is the character of God and is infused and implied in this union of man and woman and in love each desires to benefit the other and does not see his or her place as a benefit to the other as a chore but as a joyful gift to give. Live "The Princess Bride", Wesley's "As you wish" was his way of saying "I love you".

19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.

Adam was given the task of naming the animals which is almost an early demonstration of man's scientific curiosity, and, in that it was God who brought the animals to be named, I do not think it outside reason to assume God intended for man to explore creation and see in it the subtle and amazing demonstrationas of God's glory. Also in seeing and naming each animal God gives Adam the ability to excercise the "dominion" over them as a shepherd would know his own sheep.

20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
      But for Adam [h] no suitable helper was found.

Adam did this task but in the doing of it his lack of a suitable helper and companion was made more evident.

21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs [i] and closed up the place with flesh.22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib [j] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

The intimacy here is striking. Where God formed Adam from the ground, God's hand is again upon Adam opening his flesh, removing a part of him and carefully closing the place again. The "companion" would not be a separate creature but Adam's own being made alive and now a separate being, yet still a divinely ordered perfect match for him.

23 The man said,
       "This is now bone of my bones
       and flesh of my flesh;
       she shall be called 'woman, [k] '
       for she was taken out of man."

Adam rejoices! She is now alive and a part of him yet a mysterious other. belonging to him yet free as well. Together with Adam the woman Eve completes the creation of humanity. Humanity is male and female as in Chapter one, and incomplete as a single gender. Not to say all should be coupled, but that the mutual humanity of man and woman is cause for celebration, a picture of God's intention for the species and the necessity of the two for reproduction a demonstration of the good purpose of man and woman as companions and helpers when experienced with God ordained love as a bond for both in their relaition to one another.

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Just as a man (or woman) comes biologically from the bodies of the parents so Eve came from Adam and yet God here establishes the necessary order of marriage: that the man and woman leave the parents, their only previous physical tie and in marriage are united physically in a new union, made all the more visible when that union produces children who once again come from the bodies of the parents. Marriage too, even as devalued as it is in our time, creates a picture for us to see the intent of humanity's Creator in man an woman as suitable companions.

25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Their intimacy and innocence combined in a perfect condition where they lived and enjoyed complete vulnerability without fear, and complete freedom without want. They also enjoyed God without separation and guilt since they knew Him without the stain and debt of sin. This would change with their disobedience and the first casualty would be their intimacy with each other and then immediately to follow with God. We inherited this same fear, struggle, distrust and guilt. We too no longer free, choose sin easily and find nothing in ourselves to save us. Yet God made a way. The good news is Jesus came to restore us to the conditions Adam and Eve enjoyed. God came down to us again and was himself wounded to resore us.

John 1:10-14
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path
Mark

2010: A Bible Odyssey

2009-12-23T12:16:00.000-05:00

Have you ever read through the whole Bible? Have you ever wondered how the whole story connects together? This year I am challenging myself and our congregation to Journey through the Bible in a year. I encourage you to take up this challenge and commit to pursue doing the daily readings (The schedule even Gives you Saturdays off to catch up.)
While you do this you'll know that others are doing it with you. You'll have fellow travelers reading the same accounts of God's great works and will always have something to talk about.
In addition your pastor will be preaching throughout the year from selections from the scriptures as you are reading them, highlighting the great unfolding story of God's Good News.
Our journey will not be like the usual, Bible in a year, plans but will be a cover to cover journey, keeping the story in unity from Genesis through Revelation. If you get off track you can just pick up on that days readings and then recover on Saturday.
I am excited to be doing this with you and I know it will not only make us stronger in the Word, but also strengthen our ties as a congregation as we find our place in the adventure together.

In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Bible Reading Plan for Oakdale UP Church 2010

Use Saturdays to catch up.

Pray: Heavenly Father, Through the Holy Spirit, help me to understand what I read and apply it to
my life. In Jesus Name Amen.

_ 1/1/2010 –––– Genesis 1 - 4
_ 1/3/2010 –––– Genesis 5 - 8
_ 1/4/2010 –––– Genesis 9 - 11
_ 1/5/2010 –––– Genesis 12 - 16
_ 1/6/2010 –––– Genesis 17 - 19
_ 1/7/2010 –––– Genesis 20 - 23
_ 1/8/2010 –––– Genesis 24 - 25
_ 1/10/2010 ––– Genesis 26 - 28
_ 1/11/2010 ––– Genesis 29 - 30
_ 1/12/2010 ––– Genesis 31 - 34
_ 1/13/2010 ––– Genesis 35 - 36
_ 1/14/2010 ––– Genesis 37 - 40
_ 1/15/2010 ––– Genesis 41 - 42
_ 1/17/2010 ––– Genesis 43 - 45
_ 1/18/2010 ––– Genesis 46 - 49
_ 1/19/2010 ––– Genesis 50
_ ––––––––––– Exodus 1 - 3
_ 1/20/2010 ––– Exodus 4 - 7
_ 1/21/2010 ––– Exodus 8 - 10
_ 1/22/2010 ––– Exodus 11 - 13
_ 1/24/2010 ––– Exodus 14 - 17
_ 1/25/2010 ––– Exodus 18 - 21
_ 1/26/2010 ––– Exodus 22 - 24
_ 1/27/2010 ––– Exodus 25 - 27
_ 1/28/2010 ––– Exodus 28 - 29
_ 1/29/2010 ––– Exodus 30 - 33
_ 1/31/2010 ––– Exodus 34 - 36
_ 2/1/2010 –––– Exodus 37 - 39
_ 2/2/2010 –––– Exodus 40
_ ––––––––––– Leviticus 1 - 3
_ 2/3/2010 –––– Leviticus 4 - 7
_ 2/4/2010 –––– Leviticus 8 - 10
_ 2/5/2010 –––– Leviticus 11 - 13
_ 2/7/2010 –––– Leviticus 14 - 15
_ 2/8/2010 –––– Leviticus 16 - 18
_ 2/9/2010 –––– Leviticus 19 - 22
_ 2/10/2010 ––– Leviticus 23 - 25
_ 2/11/2010 ––– Leviticus 26 - 27
_ 2/12/2010 ––– Numbers 1 - 2
_ 2/14/2010 ––– Numbers 3 - 4
_ 2/15/2010 ––– Numbers 5 - 7
_ 2/16/2010 ––– Numbers 8 - 9
_ 2/17/2010 ––– Numbers 10 - 13
_ 2/18/2010 ––– Numbers 14 - 15
_ 2/19/2010 ––– Numbers 16 - 18
_ 2/21/2010 ––– Numbers 19 - 22
_ 2/22/2010 ––– Numbers 23 - 25
_ 2/23/2010 ––– Numbers 26 - 28
_ 2/24/2010 ––– Numbers 29 - 31
_ 2/25/2010 ––– Numbers 32 - 33
_ 2/26/2010 ––– Numbers 34 - 36
_ 2/28/2010 ––– Deuteronomy 1 - 3
_ 3/1/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 4 - 6
_ 3/2/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 7 - 10
_ 3/3/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 11 - 13
_ 3/4/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 14 - 18
_ 3/5/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 19 - 22
_ 3/7/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 23 - 27
_ 3/8/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 28 - 29
_ 3/9/2010 –––– Deuteronomy 30 - 32
_ 3/10/2010 ––– Deuteronomy 33 - 34
_ ––––––––––– Joshua 1 - 2
_ 3/11/2010 ––– Joshua 3 - 7
_ 3/12/2010 ––– Joshua 8 - 10
_ 3/14/2010 ––– Joshua 11 - 14
_ 3/15/2010 ––– Joshua 15 - 17
_ 3/16/2010 ––– Joshua 18 - 20
_ 3/17/2010 ––– Joshua 21 - 24
_ 3/18/2010 ––– Judges 1 - 3
_ 3/19/2010 ––– Judges 4 - 6
_ 3/21/2010 ––– Judges 7 - 9
_ 3/22/2010 ––– Judges 10 - 13
_ 3/23/2010 ––– Judges 14 - 17
_ 3/24/2010 ––– Judges 18 - 20
_ 3/25/2010 ––– Judges 21
_ ––––––––––– Ruth 1 - 3
_ 3/26/2010 ––– Ruth 4
_ ––––––––––– 1 Samuel 1 - 3
_ 3/28/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 4 - 8
_ 3/29/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 9 - 13
_ 3/30/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 14 - 15
_ 3/31/2010 ––– 1 Samuel 16 - 18
_ 4/1/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 19 - 22
_ 4/2/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 23 - 25
_ 4/4/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 26 - 30
_ 4/5/2010 –––– 1 Samuel 31
_ ––––––––––– 2 Samuel 1 - 2
_ 4/6/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 3 - 7
_ 4/7/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 8 - 11
_ 4/8/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 12 - 14
_ 4/9/2010 –––– 2 Samuel 15 - 18
_ 4/11/2010 ––– 2 Samuel 19 - 21
_ 4/12/2010 ––– 2 Samuel 22 - 23
_ 4/13/2010 ––– 2 Samuel 24
_ ––––––––––– 1 Kings 1 - 2
_ 4/14/2010 ––– 1 Kings 3 - 5
_ 4/15/2010 ––– 1 Kings 6 - 7
_ 4/16/2010 ––– 1 Kings 8 - 10
_ 4/18/2010 ––– 1 Kings 11 - 12
_ 4/19/2010 ––– 1 Kings 13 - 15
_ 4/20/2010 ––– 1 Kings 16 - 19
_ 4/21/2010 ––– 1 Kings 20 - 21
_ 4/22/2010 ––– 1 Kings 22
_ ––––––––––– 2 Kings 1 - 3
_ 4/23/2010 ––– 2 Kings 4 - 6
_ 4/25/2010 ––– 2 Kings 7 - 9
_ 4/26/2010 ––– 2 Kings 10 - 13
_ 4/27/2010 ––– 2 Kings 14 - 16
_ 4/28/2010 ––– 2 Kings 17 - 19
_ 4/29/2010 ––– 2 Kings 20 - 23
_ 4/30/2010 ––– 2 Kings 24 - 25
_ ––––––––––– 1 Chronicles 1
_ 5/2/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 2 - 3
_ 5/3/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 4 - 6
_ 5/4/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 7 - 8
_ 5/5/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 9 - 11
_ 5/6/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 12 - 14
_ 5/7/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 15 - 18
_ 5/9/2010 –––– 1 Chronicles 19 - 23
_ 5/10/2010 ––– 1 Chronicles 24 - 26
_ 5/11/2010 ––– 1 Chronicles 27 - 29
_ 5/12/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 1 - 5
_ 5/13/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 6 - 9
_ 5/14/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 10 - 14
_ 5/16/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 15 - 19
_ 5/17/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 20 - 24
_ 5/18/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 25 - 28
_ 5/19/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 29 - 32
_ 5/20/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 33 - 35
_ 5/21/2010 ––– 2 Chronicles 36
_ ––––––––––– Ezra 1 - 2
_ 5/23/2010 ––– Ezra 3 - 7
_ 5/24/2010 ––– Ezra 8 - 10
_ 5/25/2010 ––– Nehemiah 1 - 4
_ 5/26/2010 ––– Nehemiah 5 - 7
_ 5/27/2010 ––– Nehemiah 8 - 10
_ 5/28/2010 ––– Nehemiah 11 - 13
_ 5/30/2010 ––– Esther 1 - 5
_ 5/31/2010 ––– Esther 6 - 10
_ ––––––––––– Job 1
_ 6/1/2010 –––– Job 2 - 5
_ 6/2/2010 –––– Job 6 - 9
_ 6/3/2010 –––– Job 10 - 13
_ 6/4/2010 –––– Job 14 - 17
_ 6/6/2010 –––– Job 18 - 21
_ 6/7/2010 –––– Job 22 - 26
_ 6/8/2010 –––– Job 27 - 30
_ 6/9/2010 –––– Job 31 - 33
_ 6/10/2010 ––– Job 34 - 36
_ 6/11/2010 ––– Job 37 - 39
_ 6/13/2010 ––– Job 40 - 42
_ ––––––––––– Psalms 1 - 4
_ 6/14/2010 ––– Psalms 5 - 12
_ 6/15/2010 ––– Psalms 13 - 18
_ 6/16/2010 ––– Psalms 19 - 25
_ 6/17/2010 ––– Psalms 26 - 32
_ 6/18/2010 ––– Psalms 33 - 36
_ 6/20/2010 ––– Psalms 37 - 42
_ 6/21/2010 ––– Psalms 43 - 49
_ 6/22/2010 ––– Psalms 50 - 56
_ 6/23/2010 ––– Psalms 57 - 64
_ 6/24/2010 ––– Psalms 65 - 69
_ 6/25/2010 ––– Psalms 70 - 74
_ 6/27/2010 ––– Psalms 75 - 78
_ 6/28/2010 ––– Psalms 79 - 83
_ 6/29/2010 ––– Psalms 84 - 89
_ 6/30/2010 ––– Psalms 90 - 94
_ 7/1/2010 –––– Psalms 95 - 102
_ 7/2/2010 –––– Psalms 103 - 105
_ 7/4/2010 –––– Psalms 106 - 108
_ 7/5/2010 –––– Psalms 109 - 115
_ 7/6/2010 –––– Psalms 116 - 118
_ 7/7/2010 –––– Psalms 119
_ 7/8/2010 –––– Psalms 120 - 131
_ 7/9/2010 –––– Psalms 132 - 139
_ 7/11/2010 ––– Psalms 140 - 146
_ 7/12/2010 ––– Psalms 147 - 150
_ ––––––––––– Proverbs 1 - 2
_ 7/13/2010 ––– Proverbs 3 - 5
_ 7/14/2010 ––– Proverbs 6 - 9
_ 7/15/2010 ––– Proverbs 10 - 12
_ 7/16/2010 ––– Proverbs 13 - 15
_ 7/18/2010 ––– Proverbs 16 - 19
_ 7/19/2010 ––– Proverbs 20 - 22
_ 7/20/2010 ––– Proverbs 23 - 25
_ 7/21/2010 ––– Proverbs 26 - 29
_ 7/22/2010 ––– Proverbs 30 - 31
_ ––––––––––– Ecclesiastes 1
_ 7/23/2010 ––– Ecclesiastes 2 - 6
_ 7/25/2010 ––– Ecclesiastes 7 - 12
_ 7/26/2010 ––– Song of Solomon 1 - 7
_ 7/27/2010 ––– Song of Solomon 8
_ ––––––––––– Isaiah 1 - 4
_ 7/28/2010 ––– Isaiah 5 - 8
_ 7/29/2010 ––– Isaiah 9 - 13
_ 7/30/2010 ––– Isaiah 14 - 20
_ 8/1/2010 –––– Isaiah 21 - 25
_ 8/2/2010 –––– Isaiah 26 - 29
_ 8/3/2010 –––– Isaiah 30 - 35
_ 8/4/2010 –––– Isaiah 36 - 39
_ 8/5/2010 –––– Isaiah 40 - 43
_ 8/6/2010 –––– Isaiah 44 - 48
_ 8/8/2010 –––– Isaiah 49 - 53
_ 8/9/2010 –––– Isaiah 54 - 59
_ 8/10/2010 ––– Isaiah 60 - 65
_ 8/11/2010 ––– Isaiah 66
_ ––––––––––– Jeremiah 1 - 3
_ 8/12/2010 ––– Jeremiah 4 - 6
_ 8/13/2010 ––– Jeremiah 7 - 10
_ 8/15/2010 ––– Jeremiah 11 - 14
_ 8/16/2010 ––– Jeremiah 15 - 19
_ 8/17/2010 ––– Jeremiah 20 - 23
_ 8/18/2010 ––– Jeremiah 24 - 27
_ 8/19/2010 ––– Jeremiah 28 - 31
_ 8/20/2010 ––– Jeremiah 32 - 34
_ 8/22/2010 ––– Jeremiah 35 - 38
_ 8/23/2010 ––– Jeremiah 39 - 43
_ 8/24/2010 ––– Jeremiah 44 - 48
_ 8/25/2010 ––– Jeremiah 49 - 50
_ 8/26/2010 ––– Jeremiah 51 - 52
_ 8/27/2010 ––– Lamentations 1 - 3
_ 8/29/2010 ––– Lamentations 4 - 5
_ ––––––––––– Ezekiel 1 - 2
_ 8/30/2010 ––– Ezekiel 3 - 7
_ 8/31/2010 ––– Ezekiel 8 - 12
_ 9/1/2010 –––– Ezekiel 13 - 16
_ 9/2/2010 –––– Ezekiel 17 - 19
_ 9/3/2010 –––– Ezekiel 20 - 22
_ 9/5/2010 –––– Ezekiel 23 - 25
_ 9/6/2010 –––– Ezekiel 26 - 29
_ 9/7/2010 –––– Ezekiel 30 - 33
_ 9/8/2010 –––– Ezekiel 34 - 36
_ 9/9/2010 –––– Ezekiel 37 - 39
_ 9/10/2010 ––– Ezekiel 40 - 43
_ 9/12/2010 ––– Ezekiel 44 - 47
_ 9/13/2010 ––– Ezekiel 48
_ ––––––––––– Daniel 1 - 2
_ 9/14/2010 ––– Daniel 3 - 5
_ 9/15/2010 ––– Daniel 6 - 8
_ 9/16/2010 ––– Daniel 9 - 12
_ 9/17/2010 ––– Hosea 1 - 7
_ 9/19/2010 ––– Hosea 8 - 14
_ 9/20/2010 ––– Joel 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Amos 1 - 2
_ 9/21/2010 ––– Amos 3 - 8
_ 9/22/2010 ––– Amos 9
_ ––––––––––– Obadiah 1
_ ––––––––––– Jonah 1 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Micah 1
_ 9/23/2010 ––– Micah 2 - 7
_ 9/24/2010 ––– Nahum 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Habakkuk 1 - 3
_ 9/26/2010 ––– Zephaniah 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Haggai 1 - 2
_ 9/27/2010 ––– Zechariah 1 - 7
_ 9/28/2010 ––– Zechariah 8 - 14
_ 9/29/2010 ––– Malachi 1 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Matthew 1
_ 9/30/2010 ––– Matthew 2 - 5
_ 10/1/2010 ––– Matthew 6 - 8
_ 10/3/2010 ––– Matthew 9 - 11
_ 10/4/2010 ––– Matthew 12 - 13
_ 10/5/2010 ––– Matthew 14 - 15
_ 10/6/2010 ––– Matthew 16 - 18
_ 10/7/2010 ––– Matthew 19 - 21
_ 10/8/2010 ––– Matthew 22 - 23
_ 10/10/2010 –– Matthew 24 - 25
_ 10/11/2010 –– Matthew 26 - 27
_ 10/12/2010 –– Matthew 28
_ ––––––––––– Mark 1
_ 10/13/2010 –– Mark 2 - 4
_ 10/14/2010 –– Mark 5 - 6
_ 10/15/2010 –– Mark 7 - 9
_ 10/17/2010 –– Mark 10 - 11
_ 10/18/2010 –– Mark 12 - 13
_ 10/19/2010 –– Mark 14 - 15
_ 10/20/2010 –– Mark 16
_ ––––––––––– Luke 1
_ 10/21/2010 –– Luke 2 - 3
_ 10/22/2010 –– Luke 4 - 5
_ 10/24/2010 –– Luke 6 - 7
_ 10/25/2010 –– Luke 8 - 9
_ 10/26/2010 –– Luke 10 - 11
_ 10/27/2010 –– Luke 12 - 13
_ 10/28/2010 –– Luke 14 - 16
_ 10/29/2010 –– Luke 17 - 18
_ 10/31/2010 –– Luke 19 - 21
_ 11/1/2010 ––– Luke 22
_ 11/2/2010 ––– Luke 23 - 24
_ 11/3/2010 ––– John 1 - 3
_ 11/4/2010 ––– John 4 - 5
_ 11/5/2010 ––– John 6
_ 11/7/2010 ––– John 7 - 8
_ 11/8/2010 ––– John 9 - 10
_ 11/9/2010 ––– John 11 - 12
_ 11/10/2010 –– John 13 - 16
_ 11/11/2010 –– John 17 - 18
_ 11/12/2010 –– John 19 - 21
_ ––––––––––– Acts 1
_ 11/14/2010 –– Acts 2 - 4
_ 11/15/2010 –– Acts 5 - 6
_ 11/16/2010 –– Acts 7 - 9
_ 11/17/2010 –– Acts 10 - 11
_ 11/18/2010 –– Acts 12 - 14
_ 11/19/2010 –– Acts 15 - 16
_ 11/21/2010 –– Acts 17 - 19
_ 11/22/2010 –– Acts 20 - 22
_ 11/23/2010 –– Acts 23 - 25
_ 11/24/2010 –– Acts 26 - 28
_ 11/25/2010 –– Romans 1 - 3
_ 11/26/2010 –– Romans 4 - 7
_ 11/28/2010 –– Romans 8 - 11
_ 11/29/2010 –– Romans 12 - 15
_ 11/30/2010 –– Romans 16
_ ––––––––––– 1 Corinthians 1 - 3
_ 12/1/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 4 - 7
_ 12/2/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 8 - 11
_ 12/3/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 12 - 14
_ 12/5/2010 ––– 1 Corinthians 15 - 16
_ ––––––––––– 2 Corinthians 1
_ 12/6/2010 ––– 2 Corinthians 2 - 6
_ 12/7/2010 ––– 2 Corinthians 7 - 11
_ 12/8/2010 ––– 2 Corinthians 12 - 13
_ ––––––––––– Galatians 1 - 3
_ 12/9/2010 ––– Galatians 4 - 6
_ ––––––––––– Ephesians 1
_ 12/10/2010 –– Ephesians 2 - 4
_ 12/12/2010 –– Ephesians 5 - 6
_ ––––––––––– Philippians 1 - 2
_ 12/13/2010 –– Philippians 3 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Colossians 1 - 2
_ 12/14/2010 –– Colossians 3 - 4
_ ––––––––––– 1 Thessalonians 1 - 4
_ 12/15/2010 –– 1 Thessalonians 5
_ ––––––––––– 2 Thessalonians 1 - 3
_ ––––––––––– 1 Timothy 1
_ 12/16/2010 –– 1 Timothy 2 - 6
_ 12/17/2010 –– 2 Timothy 1 - 4
_ ––––––––––– Titus 1
_ 12/19/2010 –– Titus 2 - 3
_ ––––––––––– Philemon 1
_ ––––––––––– Hebrews 1 - 3
_ 12/20/2010 –– Hebrews 4 - 8
_ 12/21/2010 –– Hebrews 9 - 11
_ 12/22/2010 –– Hebrews 12 - 13
_ ––––––––––– James 1 - 2
_ 12/23/2010 –– James 3 - 5
_ ––––––––––– 1 Peter 1
_ 12/24/2010 –– 1 Peter 2 - 5
_ ––––––––––– 2 Peter 1
_ 12/26/2010 –– 2 Peter 2 - 3
_ ––––––––––– 1 John 1 - 3
_ 12/27/2010 –– 1 John 4 - 5
_ ––––––––––– 2 John 1
_ ––––––––––– 3 John 1
_ ––––––––––– Jude 1
_ 12/28/2010 –– Revelation 1 - 6
_ 12/29/2010 –– Revelation 7 - 12
_ 12/30/2010 –– Revelation 13 - 17
_ 12/31/2010 –– Revelation 18 - 22

2009-12-10T12:51:00.002-05:00

Read and consider this, on the merits of its statements, not on public opinion or perceptions. Does this reflect your beliefs? What stand should be taken? Are the three points true and non-negotiable? Your thoughts...

The Manhattan Declaration
A Call of Christian Conscience
Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

from: http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Newsletter Nov 2009

2009-10-28T11:54:00.001-04:00

Being the Church, Wherever You go...

If you are not into computers please bear with this article because, trust me, It will have something for you too.

During the time I was gone I attended the 2009 MidAmerica Wee Kirk Conference. Wee Kirk is a ministry to Members and Leaders of small churches co-sponsored by Presbyterians for Renewal and the denomination and subsidized by generous churches. It is by the way, one of the best deals in the Presbyterian church, a three day two night conference including room, food, and the conference for under $100 per couple (or family if in one room) and even less for individuals. I only tell you this because on this trip, I completed my last obligation to the Mid America conference and next year will be trying to convince some of you to take a much shorter journey with me to the one right here in PA. (This year's was in Mount Pleasant)

Anyway to save money on travel for workshop leaders they get as many planning team members as possible to lead workshops, so while I was there I led the 1 hour workshop "His Space: using Social Networking for ministry in the Wee Kirk." For those of you who use Facebook or MySpace or any number of other of these sites you know what "Social Networking" means. For anyone else, it suffices to say that an awful lot of people are using these sites on the Internet to stay connected to friends and family around the world, down the street, and even in their own house.

Another old friend of mine Dr. Douglas Estes, who I reconnected with on Facebook, had at the same time just published a book called SimChurch: Being the Church in the Virtual World. He sent me a copy of the book while I was in Oklahoma. His book takes ministry on the web a step even further, exploring and instructing about an ongoing practice of some believers, "virtual churches". These are churches that exist on the internet for people to participate in on the web, apearing there as "avatars" animated representations of themselves. Now if this sounds weird to you I'll grant you that, But...

The World has become weird.

And Wired...and Wireless.

Technology, for better or worse has become an increasing part of our lives and more and more a part of the way we communicate and relate to each other. And people are spending an increasing amount of their time online.

So whether you like the online world or not, whether you own a computer or not, the challenge remains the same. Mark 16:15 records Jesus saying "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Go into all the world...to me, means go where people are. Online, Offline, Virtual, "real" world, wherever you are, you are the church. Wherever you find people, those people need to hear the gospel so they can respond to it with faith. People of faith need encouragement, wherever you can find them. People need Jesus. Obviously, not all of us are called to jump into ministry in virtual environments, but we are all called, wherever we are, to be the church, representing Christ to everyone we meet, everywhere.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

Sunday Sept 27

2009-09-26T22:23:00.001-04:00

Acts 21:17-36

17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 "What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 "Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law. 25 "But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication." 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

27 Paul Seized in the Temple

When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of theRoman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done. 34 But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 When he got to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob; 36 for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, " Away with him!"

NASU

Acts 21:17-36 Exposition

17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

Her we find Paul, after being told through the Spirit, that he faced certain arrest and persecution, arriving in that city. While he would certainly face persecution, he was initially received well by the "brethren" there. The "brethren" are the Christ following Jews and among them the Apostles and elders who remained in that City. These were those whose leadership in the church had formerly led to the decisions about how gentile Christians were to be received into the church and what would be required of these men and women who were not under the Law. The received Paul well and gladly.

18 And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

It was fitting for Paul to visit with these elders and with James since he was of the same church and not seeking to work in their city and lead people to a separate communion or present another "gospel'. His visit itself is a show of unity between the Jerusalem church and the converts Paul had won in the surrounding gentile world. This was truly to be one church founded on Jesus Christ alone.

19 After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it they began glorifying God;

The success of a minister in one area is no cause for alarm to the true Church, for the true church enjoys nothing more than to see God's Kingdom Grow. Another's success is not our failure but spurs us on to greater worship and greater service ourselves.

and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;

Paul is then reminded that in the time of his absence from Jerusalem how many Jews also are believers so that he would understand the differences between these Jews who were "zealous for the law" and those people of the Churches Paul had encountered who were less concerned with the law being more like the gentiles in culture if not Gentile themselves.

21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

Paul is told that the rumor about him in Jerusalem is that he has been teaching Jews to abandon those customs of the law which set them apart as People of Israel. This rumor had no basis as Paul's mission was to the Gentiles and any contention he had with the law had to do with those who were FORCING Gentiles to adopt the law to be counted as Christians. Yet the misunderstanding was so great that Paul needed ,it was felt, to show that he himself was not abandoning the law.

22 "What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.

The goal of these elders was to maintain the peace between Paul and Jewish believers and avoid conflict that would divide the church. This was not to accommodate those Jews outside the church who would have rejected even a law keeping Christian as they rejected even the idea of Jesus as Messiah and God.

23 "Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.

Paul was to show his unity with the other Jewish believers by showing his participation with and provision for these Jewish customs by undergoing purification rites and paying the expenses for others to also join in these customs. This would discredit the idea that Paul opposed the keeping of the law by Jews who trusted in Christ.

25 "But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication."

This line clarifies that Paul and the Jewish Church's keeping of the law was their own practice in identifying with the people of Israel and was by no means to be a command to all non-Jewish believers. The previous decrees of the council would suffice for the Gentiles. There are times when the church will practice one thing at one place and not at another and these practices where they do not oppose Scripture, do not likewise bind the whole church or the church at all times and places.

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

Paul takes no exception to this suggestion and complies. This however places him in reach of those whose violence toward him is already predetermined and not at all deterred by his keeping of the Law.

27 Paul Seized in the Temple

When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him,

It was not the Jerusalem Jews who had been living in relative peace with the Christians at Jerusalem who stirred up the crowd but Jews from the very regions outside of Jerusalem where Paul had been preaching and whose brethren has caused Paul trouble and chased him from city to city.

28 crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."

Their grudge against Paul was so great that they set out to draw others into it calling on the Jews at Jerusalem to join them in their attack on Paul. Taking the occasion of the controversy surrounding Pauls teaching which he had just sought to correct.

29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

They also added to their slander an assumption that Paul had brought a gentile companion to the temple, even though there was no evidence of this. People are often quick when it suits their anger and grudge to assume that an enemy is doing wrong when the evidence is circumstantial. An unpopular Pastor with a glass of wine at dinner must be a drunk in their eyes. A Christian's firing of an incompetent employee who has a homosexual partner must be motivated by hate. Your neighbor's choice to mow the lawn while you're napping must be an attempt to aggravate you. Etc.

30 Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.

Their rage succeeded in provoking a crowd to violence against a man who they did not know except by reputation and drive them to seek to kill him without investigation or trial. Rage is quick to judge and slow to discern right action.

31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

Ironically it is the ungodly Romans, neither Jew nor Christian who must maintain order. God will use the ungodly as tools in His hand when necessary. This is the purpose of civil government.

32 At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

Fear for their own safety and realization that their own actions would not stand justified by the civil law the rioters are stopped in their rage by soldiers where their own reason could not stop them.

33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done.

Assuming Paul to be a criminal of at least some sort to justify the crowd's treatment of Him, Paul is arrested.

34 But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.

Their case against Paul was so unsure as they had no real cause for their hatred that Paul's arrest becomes more for his safety and civil order than for any punishment for any crime of Paul's doing.

35 When he got to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;

36 for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, " Away with him!"

NASU

The mob's anger is not reduced making it necessary for the soldiers to carry him to be able to enter the barracks. The people's violence had not abated with a simple arrest. Rage and hatred is seldom satisfied with anything short of Blood. Christian, realized that we too can be tempted to unconsidered rage against an enemy and to actions that seek an enemy's destruction rather than his redemption. We should always be mindful that While we were yet enemies of God, and sinners, Christ died violently at our hands so that we could be redeemed, even, while he possessed all the power necessary to destroy any and all of us were that His will. God worked for our protection and redemption not for our destruction, such is His Grace. Dare we neglect such a salvation.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's path,

Mark

2009-09-24T13:11:00.001-04:00

Renewing the Mind...

We live among people, or maybe we hold this opinion ourselves, believing that our religious faith is simply a choice among many. You will hear people say It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere and do good. They will say that a person's private faith is irrelevant as long as his public actions benefit others and avoid doing harm. Yet scripture calls us to a different kind of faith. One that gets us branded as radicals, intolerant and immovable, stubborn and ...did I say already...intolerant.

Listen to Romans 12:2 and consider if you can keep your faith and tolerate everything.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

People love to quote back Jesus' words "Judge not, lest ye be judged." yet what about this renewing the mind stuff?

Your faith is not a set pattern of activities and "right answers" for use on Sunday only. Your faith and your growing understanding of God's will revealed in Scripture will affect how you think about.

Lying,

Stealing,

Poverty,

Death,

Immigration,

Life,

Music,

Art,

Happiness,

Gambling,

Prayer,

Sex,

Marriage,

Love,

Globalization,

Food,

Public Policy,

Clothing

Healthcare,

War,

Peace,

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Shopping

Adult Stem Cell Research

Religion,

Money,

Politics,

Gossip,

Can I go on...

The point is as you read each of these words, Notice, I have not told you how to believe concerning each thing. The fact is you must come to believe something concerning these things and any and all others not listed and it must, if you would be "renewed in your mind" ,come into agreement, ( I like the Catholic word, Communion) with your faith.

We are then told that when we do this we will "Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

This will make you intolerant...not mean, not un-loving, not violent...just intolerant, unwilling to accept the "goodness" of those positions and behaviors contrary to the new pattern of God's Kingdom and it's citizens. It will also, in Love, make you sorrowful and unwilling to allow others continue to live in any world inferior to God's Kingdom and Christ's family at least without having made an informed choice.

We are not Christians to be successful in the world. We are Christians because we believe Christ has overcome the world.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

No Images

2009-09-08T10:57:00.002-04:00

I emailed a post about the Holocaust and I'm Pretty sure the images didn't come through. It's a shame though. I really wanted you to see them. Nothing gruesome, just a good point.
Sorry to all. If I can find them I'll post.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Fwd: Never Forget

2009-09-08T10:55:00.001-04:00

In MEMORIAM - 63 YEARS LATER

Please read the little cartoon carefully, it's powerful. Then read the
comments at the end.

I'm doing my small part by forwarding this message. I hope you'll
consider doing the same.
In Memoriam

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe
ended This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the
six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900
Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved
and humiliated with the German and Russian Peoples looking the other
way!

Now, more than ever, with Iraq , Iran , and others, claiming the
Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it's imperative to make sure the world never
forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.

This e-mail is intended to reach 40 million people worldwide!

Join us and be a link in the memorial chain and help us distribute it
around the world.

Please send this e-mail to 10 people you know and ask them to continue
the memorial chain.
Please don't just delete it.

It will only take you a minute
________________________________

--
Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

A Biblical and Balanced Ministry.

2009-08-27T10:52:00.001-04:00

Recently The Session decided that in the next few months, together
with an assessment of my ministry, they would also like to do an
assessment of our church's ministry. We'll be producing a
questionnaire to help our session determine how our congregation may
strengthen our ministries. A friend of mine sent me a great article
about being a Biblical, Christ-First Church, as opposed to a People
Pleasing "Me-First" Church. This is essential as we assess any
ministry because as Christ's own people we want to be people who bring
HIM glory and are faithful to HIS calling. When we do this we will not
always be as "comfortable" as we might wish, but we will be Faithful,
Filled with Worship, and Ultimately Joy. In Short a Real Church. Not
A religious organization.
Check these out. I am grateful to Jim "the Old Gray Dog" Tuckett for
sending this.
Nine Criteria for a Christ-First Church
CRITERIA 1: The centrality of the Bible as the infallible Word of God.
"Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and
to teaching"
1 Timothy 4:13

CRITERIA 2: The centrality of Jesus Christ as the head of the church.
"And God placed all things under His (Jesus') feet and appointed Him
to be head over everything for the church"
Ephesians 1:22

CRITERIA 3: Scripture-centered, God-centered, Christ-centered worship.
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing
and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God
the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"
Ephesians 5:19-20

CRITERIA 4: Authentic, meaningful fellowship and community.
"All the believers were together and had everything in common…They
broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere
hearts"
Acts 2:44-46

CRITERIA 5: Sound and mature leadership.
"Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in
faith and in purity"
1 Timothy 4:12

"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because
if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers"
1 Timothy 4:16

CRITERIA 6: Ongoing training in the Christian walk.
"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many
witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach
others"
II Timothy 2:2

CRITERIA 7: Opportunities for every person to serve.
"It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to
be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's
people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built
up"
Ephesians 4:11-12

CRITERIA 8: A heart of prayer.
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in
authority…"
I Timothy 2:1-2

CRITERIA 9: An outward focus.
"…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you"
Matthew 28:19-20...

There are five key questions the leadership of every congregation
should ask about its ministries:

             1. Does it help people to see their sinfulness and need
for salvation?
             2. Does it help people see that God is sovereign and
has a wonderful plan for their lives?
             3. Does it help people see that Jesus Christ died for
their sins; that He paid the full price for their salvation?
             4. Does it help people see the trustworthiness of God's
irresistible grace . . . to lead them to the good works for which they
were created; to convict them of their sin; to strengthen them when
they become weak or weary?
             5. Does it help people see they are eternally secure in Christ?

As you examine our church's ministry, my role in it, as well as yours,
keep these Scriptures and questions in mind, and help us become the
church and people God is calling us together to be.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
--
Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

Re: Bridgeville Shootings and Limited Atonement

2009-08-05T12:43:00.001-04:00

Someone caught my Calvinism slipping...This is what Blogs and responses are for.

A friend, Brother in Christ and colleague responded to my last post with the quoted text below. The quotation from Spurgeon is worth reading.

In the text I made the theological misstatement that "He Knew: Christ Paid for every Sin...True."

My friend adds

    "Not true. He paid the price for those chosen by the Father before the foundation of the world. Failure to understand this point has misled millions."

My response: Fair enough. I cannot debate the truth that Christ's atonement is efficient only for the elect. The shooter was perhaps confident either in a Christian Universalism (that in Christ everyone is saved) or in his own belief that Christ's atonement was effective for HIS every sin. In that sense he believed in the effectiveness of Christ's death to cover any sin no matter how grievous. This is true.

However, his actions do not demonstrate his regeneration sufficiently to give us confidence in his inclusion among the elect.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark


"On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 11:59 AM, (Email deleted) wrote:

    In a message dated 8/5/2009 8:30:46 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, (this author) writes:

        The Shooter at the Bridgeville LA Fitness wrote on his Blog, prior to the shootings.

        "Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them."

        I will not post the link because I will not subject others to this man's evil. The quote above was mentioned on the news and that is sufficient to make the point.

        Why do I blog this. Because it so struck me when I heard it on Fox News This Morning that I had to comment. Obviously this person had some facts right but chose to abuse grace.

    Obviously.

    What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
    Rom. 6: 1-2

        He Knew: Christ Paid for every Sin...True.

    Not true. He paid the price for those chosen by the Father before the foundation of the world. Failure to understand this point has misled millions.


    Christ's Limited Atonement
    Charles Spurgeon

            Some persons love the doctrine of universal atonement because they say, "It is so beautiful. It is a lovely idea that Christ should have died for all men; it commends itself," they say, "to the instincts of humanity; there is something in it full of joy and beauty." I admit there is, but beauty may be often associated with falsehood. There is much which I might admire in the
    theory of universal redemption, but I will just show what the supposition necessarily involves. If Christ on His cross intended to save every man, then He intended to save those who were lost before He died. If the doctrine be true, that He died for all men, then He died for some who were in hell before He came into this world, for doubtless there were even then myriads there who had been cast away because of their sins.

            Once again, if it was Christ's intention to save all men, how deplorably has He been disappointed, for we have His own testimony that there is a lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, and into that pit of woe have been cast some of the very persons who, according to the theory of universal redemption, were bought with His blood. That seems to me a conception a thousand times more repulsive than any of those consequences which are said to be associated with the Calvinistic and Christian doctrine of special and particular redemption.

           To think that my Savior died for men who were or are in hell, seems a supposition too horrible for me to entertain. To imagine for a moment that He was the Substitute for all the sons of men, and that God, having first punished the Substitute, afterwards punished the sinners themselves, seems to conflict with all my ideas of divine justice. That Christ should offer an atonement and satisfaction for the sins of all men, and that afterwards some of those very men should be punished for the sins for which Christ had already atoned, appears to me to be the most monstrous iniquity that could ever have been imputed to Saturn, to Janus, to the goddess of the Thugs, or to the most diabolical heathen deities. God forbid that we should ever think thus of Jehovah, the just and wise and good!
           There is no soul living who holds more firmly to the doctrines of grace than I do, and if any man asks me whether I am ashamed to be called a Calvinist, I answer-I wish to be called nothing but a Christian; but if you ask me, do I hold the doctrinal views which were held by John Calvin, I reply, I do in the main hold them, and rejoice to avow it. But far be it from me even to imagine that Zion contains none but Calvinistic Christians within her walls, or that there are none saved who do not hold our views. Most atrocious things have been spoken about the character and spiritual condition of John Wesley, the modern prince of Arminians. I can only say concerning him that, while I detest many of the doctrines which he preached, yet for the man himself I have a reverence second to no Wesleyan; and if there were wanted two apostles to be added to the number of the twelve, I do not believe that there could be found two men more fit to be so added than George Whitefield and John Wesley. The character of John Wesley stands beyond all imputation for self-sacrifice, zeal, holiness, and communion with God; he lived far above the ordinary level of common Christians, and was one "of whom the world was not worthy." I believe there are multitudes of men who cannot see these truths, or, at least, cannot see them in the way in which we put them, who nevertheless have received Christ as their Savior, and are as dear to the heart of the God of grace as the soundest Calvinist in or out of heaven.

     I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours."

Bridgeville Shootings (edited from original)

2009-08-05T11:30:00.003-04:00

Some thoughts on last night's Bridgeville PA shootings (a few miles from my home).

The Shooter at the Bridgeville LA Fitness wrote on his Blog, prior to the shootings.

"Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them."

I will not post the link because I will not subject others to this man's evil. The quote above was mentioned on the news and that is sufficient to make the point.

Why do I blog this. Because it so struck me when I heard it on Fox News This Morning that I had to comment. Obviously this person had some facts right but chose to abuse grace.

He Knew: Christ Paid for every Sin...True in the sense that Christ's death is sufficient to cover any sin no matter how grievous.

Eternal life Does not depend on works...True.

However where he missed the point is that what we receive if we are truly in Christ is a regenerated Spirit where we are truly repentant of Sin and seek to avoid sin at whatever the cost. There is no repentant heart in the shooter's writings. The is a premeditated willingness to do others harm, to take life of those who had offended him by their very existence. There is a self absorbed focus on what he was not getting from others (women). None of these give us an confidence in this man's regenerated condition.

He misses the commandment of Luke 6: 27-37

²⁷"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you.

³²"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. ³³And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. ³⁴And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

³⁷"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

He finds freedom in disregarding human judgment yet disregards the requirement to forgive. Even if all women everywhere had harmed him, he (as it is with the rest of us) is required to forgive just as he has been forgiven.

To believe you can commit premeditated mass murder and still hope for heave in to abuse Grace. While we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone and not by works, even forgiveness of our enemies, the evidence of our conversion (faith) is found in our ongoing pursuit of a life obedient to God's word. We cannot do whatever we wish and expect grace to cover it.

I know some might say, "Are you saying he's in Hell." It is never mine to say. That subject now, since he took his own life, is in God's hands. What I am saying is we have no way to be certain that he is in heaven as his life did not demonstrate the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. To say it another way, if you wish those you leave behind to have confidence in your salvation, your life must show the transforming work of Christ.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
--
Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

Ten Percent

2009-07-30T11:09:00.002-04:00

Written a few weeks ago, just posting now.
Last night I had one of those events in ministry that falls into the ten percent category. As a pastor those events generally are invisible because many times they are at odd hours and are confidential. They only show up on a session report as something like "hospital visit:1" Why I call them the ten percent is because about ninety percent of what I do seems easy, sometimes, to me, too easy. Yet occasionally something comes alone, the one event in ten that really uses every last drop of my training, and pushes the limits of both talent and faith. Yet these are the events that also make ministry worthwhile. Sure preaching and worship is enjoyable, working with youth almost makes me feel guilty for how much fun it is, and who else gets the freedom to study God's Word, read great writers, and enjoy times of fellowship. But these challenging times, they are the ones that make me remember why I took this career in the first place and didn't just go for a nine to five with (hopefully) a dental plan.

Likewise, you too may see life in certain seasons as a daily grind and an exercise in endurance. Even, from time to time you walk with God may become routine, even if "his mercies are new every morning." Yet there are those ten percent events where God uses you that remind you truly of the privilege of your calling, and God's Amazing grace that carries you through.

When you are deep in the ninety percent...remember... that "ten" is just around the corner.

Be Blessed. Be ready. Find Joy.

I'm going to ditch office hours now and take a nap. Leave a message...and my cell phone's on if it's really important.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

--
Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

test post

2009-07-29T23:03:00.001-04:00

test post

--
Rev Mark R. Simonds
Pastor, Oakdale UP Church
"Declaring Teaching and Living God's Word of Grace"
President, West Allegheny Ministerial Association
"Worshiping and Serving One Triune God Together"

When Losing Isn't...

2009-06-24T15:41:00.000-04:00

The Purpose of the Shepherd's Path, my monthly column is to let you in on a little secret: Ready...Pastors are people. Shocking I know. As a result we bring to our profession, or calling, as you may choose, the same struggles, hopes, joys, fears etc. as anyone else brings to theirs. The purpose of this column or Blog if you read it on the Web is to be a bit of an open journal into my own walk along the Shepherd's Path, that is, living day to day following Jesus our Good Shepherd.

As such I've been thinking about losing. Pittsburgh is the City of Champions. I learned this in Kindergarten in 1979 and my kids are learning it in 2009. Whether its the Stanley Cup, the SuperBowl or softball, we like to win and conversely hate to lose. Yet there are times when we do lose. We can lose big, like losing a job or a spouse or a significant relationship or we can lose smaller things like an argument or a debate, or our car keys.

But as much as we like to win there are times when losing isn't losing. You do not lose when you keep what is essential. I'll give you an example. There times in a pastor's life when debate is essential. Whether it is a proposal before presbytery or an unfortunate turn in a conversation about ones faith. I've lost quite a few debates in my life. The proposal I'm looking to see defeated passes, The person attacking my faith in Jesus and insisting on their own brand of religion as the one true church or pressing the case for no God at all outmaneuvers me and leaves me with no good response. Now an hour or a day later I might think of the perfect response but its too late I've lost. I knew the right answer but couldn't produce it when it counted. Yet really I didn't lose. Maybe I was embarrassed but I still hold my faith intact. All the opposition proved was they were more skilled in debate than I which is not difficult to prove. A bully might be able to clear the playground but that doesn't change the deed to the park. What is essential, my faith, remains.

You might lose an argument, again it doesn't prove you were wrong. Maybe you were missing a fact or two that could have proven your case or maybe you simply were ambushed and in your own way chose not to fight back with the same tactics as the other person. They are not right, just...louder. And you kept your integrity intact. Not returning evil for evil... sounds like advice from someone I know.

Losing a job or relationship can not be an ultimate loss if it does not diminish who you are. Finances might suffer in either case and you may miss the benefits of either but you my friend are much more than a position or a part of a couple. You are always a child of God and are always significant.

The fact remains if you lose you may grieve, you may feel sorrow, but do not let what is Rock Solid be shaken, those things you know to be true from the word of God: The truth that in Christ, you are God's own favorite (not like “better than another” but as in “favorite of the king”, recipient of favor and grace). Never let a loss be a total loss.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Glad to be Back

2009-05-27T11:26:00.000-04:00

The School of Evangelism...

As most of you know I spent the first part of the twelve days I took off for Study Leave and Vacation, attending the Billy Graham School of Evangelism in Asheville North Carolina. I want to thank the congregation of this church for the opportunity you give me through giving me leave and funds for that event as well as vacation time as part of my terms of call. I truly appreciate it. While the setting of “The Cove” in Asheville was beautiful, quiet, and restful, the teaching was dynamic and almost overwhelming. The conference was three days starting at 7 PM Monday then Full days, 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM Tuesday and Wednesday. By Wednesday Afternoon I was ready to come back to work to have an easier schedule. In addition to the great teaching though they also gave us a stack of books and even a curriculum that PJ will be looking at with Christian Ed for use with “Tweens” (Youth aged 9-14). The full curriculum itself was worth more than twice what you paid for registration.

While I didn't necessarily “learn” anything new and life altering, I was powerfully reminded of some very important things that I needed for ministry here. You too might need them so I'll share them here. There are five and unfortunately they do not lend themselves to any easily memorizable formula. But I hope you find some or all of them helpful as you pursue your own walk with Jesus and your calling to use your gifts in service to God and neighbors.

1.God is glad in your presence.

One of the challenges of wanting to serve God is that you always see so much that needs to be done and never feel like you are doing enough. Let this attitude go too far and you might even feel like just a part of a crowd where God is the star who you can say you went to see in concert but who of course never knew or cared that you were there. The first night I was reminded that the Gospel is that Jesus died and rose so that he could personally welcome you, into his family. YOU matter to God and He is glad you are his. He is also Glad when you come to worship, pray, read scripture, sing or otherwise draw near to Him. Scripture says “Draw near to me and I will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

Keep the Gospel First

In Various places around “the Cove” you see the motto of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, “Always Good News”. In our desire to see our church grow and to see our people happy we often try to do all things and be all things to everyone to be a “full service” church. Those things which we do, our “programs” are good things, when they serve the main purpose of the church: Telling people the Good News of Jesus Christ and helping them be effective and growing followers of Him. Our drive is not to please all people but to make sure everyone we encounter has the opportunity to hear about Jesus and to have the help, shelter, and equipping they need to follow Him, and the encouragement and opportunity to make disciples themselves.

Pray

Everything that the Billy Graham team does in all its ministries is begun, carried out, and ended with prayer and praise. I even over heard the shuttle bus drivers talking about a morning prayer meeting. Every member of the team is praying and is prayed for. I am reminded of the saying ”You cannot do more than pray, until you have prayed.” I look forward to increasing in our church opportunities for prayer and emphasizing the importance of this part of our life with Jesus.

Don't Do Life on Your Own
Scripture says “No man can serve two masters”. While Jesus was talking about serving God and Money, I believe it also applies to God and self. Tied into the need for prayer and God's Joy in our presence is the fact that we were never meant to make it on our own. For me that means Stop working to remake the life I want and start enjoying the life God has given me at this stage. It means I cannot recreate the home and ministry I had in Kansas here in Oakdale, but I can discover and enjoy the life an ministry God has given us now. Also it means that with prayer I am free to do those things which God directs to be done and stop trying to do what I think I should be doing to be like someone else. We cannot force life to happen the way we want and we can be so busy trying that we miss the open doors God is showing us.

Ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit

Cliff Barrows, 80, the youngest of the original Billy Graham team( Billy, 90; George Beverly Shea, 100; and Cliff) spoke the last night. He told of their early days and the lessons they learned and the principles they applied over the years to their ministry. The story I got the most from was the story he told of the night in London when They visited another minister who shared with them a Bible study from John 13, 14, and 15, about the Holy Spirit. After they prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit everything changed for their ministry. That was when they began to see the thousands come to Jesus that we associate with Billy Graham crusades. It is not about us, it is about God working through us.

Surrender

Finally, the call of following Jesus is not one of commitment to Jesus but one of complete surrender. We are to belong to Him and let nothing remain our own. We do not surrender to other's demands, our wants, the world's priorities, or even the church as an institution. We live in such a way as to say “yes” when we hear the Lord saying “Go” or “Do”. We do so with the assurance that in some way or another, miraculously or through on of God's many tools, (His church being a key part) Things will work out even when they look impossible. For “ we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

National Day of Prayer

2009-05-07T10:11:00.003-04:00

Just some random thoughts and prayers today...

It's easy to blog and gripe about our Nation. The News is depressing and fearful. Leaders seem to be pushing their own agendas and abandoning the true good of all the people. Yet today is the day for putting complaining aside and PRAYING; entrusting the care of our nation, her people, her leaders, to almighty God who is our only real and true confidence.

What makes us a unique nation is our rule of law. We are ruled by a constitution written by people whose principles were shaped by a belief long held and too soon forgotten in absolute truth and right and wrong...good and evil. They saw God as the final arbiter of these things and sought to create a necessary government that would protect human freedom, promote good and restrain evil.

True there were and are still, sins to be confessed. Slavery was thought a beneficial institution for both slave and free, this was wrong. We believed we had a right to empire and ambition and pursued this carelessly. We confess these things but cannot abandon the foundations of our nation for the improper way her people have chosen in the past.

Sins past must be forgiven and reconciled and like the Nation which forgot it's book of the Law, must return to her God with all her heart and seek to live in righteousness from this day forward.

I ask especially for guidance for our president Barack Obama, our congress and Judges. Men's hearts may only be changed and directed by the Holy Spirit to do what is right if You O God work to transform hearts of Stone to hearts of flesh. May even our hearts that are in transformation be changed all the faster so that the flinty portions which harbor our sinful ways and our untrue beliefs may be melted and conformed to God's truth.

Can we love and care for the poor and also allow the successful who succeed by good work and God's blessing to continue in success without punishment? Can a way be found to do that? Can we permit free speech and open debate and only silence opposition by the weight of good arguments and facts? Not with heavy handed bullying and control. Can we do that? Can we protect unborn lives and born ones as well? Can we love those who are wrong, not reward evil, but give grace and freedom?

You alone know, God. With you nothing is impossible. Change hearts. Deal with evil righteously.

We know all human government is provisional and necessary in your providence until your kingdom comes. May we use the blessings of our liberty to call as many as will hear to welcome your kingdom. Come quickly Lord Jesus.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Sanitized...

2009-04-29T10:56:00.000-04:00

“There is not a single instance in history in which civil liberty was lost, and religious liberty preserved entire. If therefore we yield up our temporal property, we at the same time deliver the conscience into bondage.”
John Witherspoon

[John Witherspoon (February 15, 1723 – November 15, 1794) was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New Jersey. He was both the only active clergyman and college president to sign the Declaration. ]

For a soldier's uniform to be “sanitized” it is not washed in bleach or any other germ killing cleansers. A “sanitized” uniform is one that is stripped of any and all reference to anything that would identify the origin of that soldier. In the book by Tom Clancy, Clear and Present Danger , the special operations troops fighting the drug cartels wear “sanitized” uniforms to aid in confusing their enemies and to allow the government to deny knowledge of the operation.

Christians are increasingly being “sanitized” as well. We can do what we do as long as any reference to the king we serve is removed or covered. Hide the cross. Remove scripture references. Don't let on that it is because of Jesus that we have the good things we enjoy, the institutions we have built, or the services we use. Recently I read an article about chaplains in the Armed forces of the united states being told to pray but to pray without using Jesus' name. We would never require a Muslim chaplain to eschew the name of Allah. And while it may be argued that Allah is simply Arabic for the generic term, God, For the Christian to refuse to pray in Jesus name is to deny the very reason we can pray in the first place. We do not pray on our own merit, because God has to hear us, or because our clergy are sanctified and made clean to enter the presence of God. We can pray because we are all made clean by the blood of Jesus, purchasing forgiveness of sins and giving us free access to the “throne of grace.” To pray in any other name or no name at all, is to deny the very source of our ability to pray.

Now I will admit it is perhaps fair to submit to some “sanitization.” Sometimes going and doing what we do without waving a banner will gain us access to those who might not hear the gospel. But this is not true sanitization, but more like discretion. When it counts, when the opportunity arises, or when it is necessary to do what we are doing, we unashamedly and clearly share the gospel. But again this is at our discretion and led by the Holy Spirit. It is recognizing that to certain audiences the name of Jesus must be introduced after we have shown that Jesus and his people (most often his people) can be trusted.

We cannot however willingly allow ourselves to be bullied, legislated, or otherwise made to silence the name of Jesus from our lips. When we abandon the freedom to declare the source of our freedom, we abandon any hope of retaining our own clear conscience, that we might live as Christians.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's path,
Mark

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To Be enough...

2009-04-20T11:47:00.002-04:00

To get right to the point. God's name is I AM.

As I sit in the office this morning I am struck by all of the things I want, the world seems to want, and where God fits. It seems to me that God's name says it all, I Am. I spend an awful lot of time worrying about how to get what I want, and yet God seems to want nothing. God needs nothing in the sense that God is all and self sufficient. God IS, pure and simple.
But God also chose, mysteriously, to make a covenant, a contract, that included me. This contract makes me want to please God, not to live up to my end of the contract, since my end was met by Jesus, but because I love God.
Problem is there are an awful lot of things I think might please God. One of which is that there are people who need to know God's love, hear the good news of Jesus, and be equipped to be His disciples.
In the past few weeks I've seen more than the usual number of people who need what the Church, and I, as part of that church, can offer. Hurting people, lost people, clueless people, people who, like me would be terrified if they slowed down long enough to wonder where they fit.
On top of all of this is the fear I have of not being enough. Those people need a pastor and a church that will meet their needs. They need worship that will not entertain but welcome them into the real presence of God present in Word and sacrament. They need friendships in the congregation who will draw them close, lift up, challenge, and sharpen them. They need opportunities to make a real difference in their world. Can I... can we be enough.
No we can't...but God is. We need to slow down enough and give God enough of our attention to hear where we fit and what we must do so that we can be enough in our own small part to be the means God uses to be all in all to them.
Take some time today. Slow down. sit down... or kneel if the knees allow, and listen. What do you hear?
In Christ and on the shepherd's path,
Mark

TULIP?

2009-04-14T10:16:00.000-04:00

A member of our church asked me "What is TULIP."

TULIP is an acronym for five doctrines of the reformed (calvinist and Presbyterian) church. It is a summary of Biblical teaching on several subjects including Sin, God's sovereignty, Grace, and salvation.

TULIP stands for:

Total Depravity- Human beings are totally lost and incapable of doing anything to aid in their own salvation. We are sin Dead, not merely weak or sick. No good that we do is good enough to earn God's favor and therefore we are in need of a savior. Whatever we choose to do with our "free will" we can do nothing to be "good enough for salvation.

Unconditional election- With no merit of our own God none the less chose a people for himself to demonstrate his grace and glory. This is first demonstrated in God choosing Noah, then Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all of Israel, and then electing both Jews and gentiles for salvation in Jesus Christ. God does this not out of consideration for anything we have done but only by His own free grace. Nothing we do forces God's hand to make him save us.

Limited atonement- This is where most people stumble if they haven't already. The benefit of Christ's death on the cross was only for the elect (saved) not for all. Consider the alternatives Jesus died for all and not just the elect. Then either All are saved which would deny any teaching of the Bible on Hell, or All are not saved and God is unjust exacting from some the same penalty twice (once on Christ and once on the person himself) and a person's salvation is left in their own hands not in God's But that would make us only partially depraved and not "sin dead".

Irresistible grace- The elect are incapable of doing anything to ultimately resist God's power to save them should God elect them. The effect of this is we can be sure that since we contributed nothing to our salvation we can do nothing to lose it.

Perseverance of the saints- Our final assurance is found in the truth that since we did nothing to earn grace, and can do nothing to lose it, that all who are truly elect will persevere in faith to the end and beyond, and will do such works including obedience to God, by the power given to us by the Holy Spirit that demonstrate that we are in fact the elect people of God.

Why this matters. Belief in TULIP has several effects. Remember this is a doctrine to help us understand biblical teaching and for the assurance of the elect, not a means to bar anyone from entering the church. We are to proclaim the good news of salvation to all, that the elect may come to know the joy of knowing their security in Christ. Effects of TULIP include.

Security- A believer may not fear that he will not merit salvation because she or he doesn't. It is a free gift to be received. A believer may not fear that he or she will lose salvation since grace is irresistible and in Christ we persevere. We also can experience forgiveness for mistakes, knowing we are secure in God.

Evangelism- Opponents of TULIP say if we believe these things we will not evangelize since salvation is in God's power of election or (often incorrectly called and understood) predestination and it matters not what we do. This is false for two reasons. First, Means. God uses certain means to call the elect to himself. The ordinary means God has chosen of a sinner coming to know he or she is an elect saint of God is through the preaching of the gospel. God has power to use other means certainly, but the bible has revealed that the ordinary means is from one believer to another. Second, Obedience. Jesus told us to proclaim the gospel. Who are we to say no, even if we believe it is all in God's hands.

Worship- If salvation is entirely ultimately in God's hands then our worship is magnified. We are more grateful and give more glory to God alone for doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. There is no smugness or superiority that has us looking at the lost and saying "I'm glad I was smarter than them and came to Jesus." There is only pity for those outside and the compassionate hope that they too will come to receive what we have since we were once like them. Our worship is then focused on God and his Glory and especially His grace.

Boldness. Since the salvation of others is in God's hand and not ours we can share the good news boldly without fear that a person will be lost for our stumbling words, lack of skill or creativity or inability to be there for them all. The lost (Called the reprobate) will be lost for their sin alone and the saved (elect) will be won by the Holy Spirit working through our words and example, no matter how feeble.

Hope this helps.

In Christ,
Mark

Have we got something worth doing?

2009-03-19T11:04:00.000-04:00

Last Month I wrote to you about keeping our eyes focused on the “main thing”. Recently I've been reading in both the Gospel of John as well as some of Johns Letters. What I discovered this morning sheds some light on who we are as a church and some of the vision to which we are called. Look at 1st John 1: 1-7
The Word of Life
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our[a] joy complete.
Walking in the light
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.

These are the words of John, the Apostle, but also John the beloved disciple who walked with Jesus. John, who was with Jesus at the cross and was given the task of caring for Mark Jesus' mother as Jesus was dying. A side note: John was not simply needed to care for Mary as Jesus was dying, since he would rise again, but also in preparation for Jesus ascension when he as Mary's son could not be there to take care of his widowed mother.

Anyway, this John, writes the words you just read to the early church, giving them his thoughtful summary years after the fact of what it meant to have walked with Jesus. No talk of miracles or sublime moments of prayer. No words about epiphanies hearing Jesus teach the Word to them. Just a simple summary of what Jesus means to the World.

Go back and read his words again...
He gives his account that this is what he saw, felt and experienced. Not academic theology but experience of walking with Jesus, and yet this walk leads him to conclude that Jesus is Life. He also says that he is sharing it with them for a purpose. Not to make them “get right with God.” Not to “make the world a better place.” Not to “save sinners”. Even though all of these things are wonderful side effects.

He shares his account so that The joy of the believers might be complete, seeing those outside now “have fellowship” with us joining with us in the fellowship we have with God the Father and with Jesus the Son. Surely we are forgiven. Surely we live better lives. Surely we make the world a better place. But best of all we walk with God and invite others to ENJOY that too.

Now, do we have something worth doing?

In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

When All seems Lost

2009-02-07T21:15:00.002-05:00

Acts 12: 1-18 Exposition

* It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.

These arrests occurred as the persecution increased following Stephen's death. Jesus had spoken of the enmity the church would experience with the world. Persecution is not in itself a sign of being the true church as some sects would argue. The Latter Day Saints (Mormons) assert that they are the true church and give as partial evidence the persecution they have received. Yet a religious group can simply be wrong in its belief or conduct and find itself subject to rebuke, distrust, and even depending on the law in place in a time or place, arrest and punishment. This is not persecution. Yet believers at the same time should not be surprised when they are persecuted. See Matthew 5:10-12. Even if our doctrine and conduct are pure, we will find that the world that stands apart from God will only tolerate us so far as we please them and will seek to destroy us when we cease to amuse or serve their purposes.

* 2.
* He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

James, an important leader of the church at Jerusalem fell victim to this persecution. Just as believers are not immune to persecution, particularly important or exemplary leaders are especially targets.

* 3.
* When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Herod set out to please the Jews with whom he had little popularity. The Herods ruled by cruelty and by Roman mandate and were considered illegitimate kings by the Jews. In an attempt to boost his popularity he makes a sport of dealing in justice. The hand of the ruler is to be guided by justice and ultimately by God and not by what may bring pleasure to the people or an increase in power. Herod used human life to gain advantage for himself. He chose as the time for this the feast of unleavened bread, the Passover, the same feast in which Christ himself was arrested and executed before.

* 4.
* After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

Avoiding chaos during the feast he had Peter held over for trail after the feast. This important prisoner was placed under what seems a rather extensive guard for a non violent offender.

* 5.
* So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

The turning point comes as Peter is held without any likelihood of escape, yet, as we are called to do, the church prays to God on Peter's behalf; "earnestly" so, not out of compulsion or in a cursory manner, but with sincerity and zeal.

* 6.
* The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.

Again we see Peter under a guard that precludes any imagination of escape.

* 7.
* Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.

Got often uses natural means in his work but yet will still when he desires, and for his own glory, use supernatural means for His Work. I hesitate to call Angels supernatural however, since they are, according to the Word of God, God messengers, created beings serving God's purposes and while certainly uncommon to our experience or perception, are not doing here anything other than that which God created them to do. Angelic work may be unusual, even seemingly rare, but it is "normal" in this sense. God's sovereign control over the order of things is established as while the angel speaks the chains fall off without so much as a touch, or so this account would indicate, one does not need this to be supernatural to Glorify God in that Peter, who is hopelessly bound is set free.

* 8.
* Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9.
* Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.

As this experience was out of Peter's normal experience and expectation he believed it to be a vision, as this was something he had previously experienced. Yet as with a vision he obeyed and followed.

* 10.
* They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.* 11.
* Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."

Having followed the Angel from the prison, past all of the guards and out of the locked gate, Peter, found himself truly released. He immediately Glorifies God (The Lord) having realized the true source of His freedom.

* 12.
* When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

Now freed he proceeds to the house of some friends and fellow believers. All there had gathered to pray, presumably, among their prayers was the subject of Peter himself.

* 13.
* Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. * 14 * When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"* 15. * "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."

It is funny that when we pray our expectation of God's answering is so weak that we will not comprehend when we are told that our prayer has been answered. We should be instructed by this to truly live in expectation of answered prayer, knowing that God is not merely able but willing to answer our prayers. Here the gathered believers leave Peter standing outside in their inability to believe in his deliverance from the prison. They even take to speculation regarding what the girl saw and heard rather than take the simplest answer to be the right one, that is, she is telling the truth.

* 16.
* But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

Peter persists until it is impossible for them to disbelieve and they admit him. Again, they are "astonished" to see their prayers answered. This is not to their condemnation but to the glory of God who can and will accomplish what is astonishing and even unbelievable to us.

* 17.
* Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.

Peter shares the account as reported above, complete, since it has been recorded this way, with Peter's own disbelief and assumption that his experience was a vision to good to be real. In this way I believe we are assured that our struggles to believe point to both our own natural weakness and God's incredible greatness. We cannot marvel that we struggle to believe since the works of God are so staggering in their greatness. In the end we simply believe and stand in awe.
Peter instructs them to tell the account to James, Not John's brother of course, as mentioned in verse 2, but likely James the brother of Jesus, another of the leaders at Jerusalem.

Mark 1:4-11

2009-01-10T22:45:00.000-05:00

Mark 1:4-11

4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

9 The Baptism of Jesus

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: " You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
NASU

Mark 1:4-11 Exposition

4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Before Jesus Began his public ministry, John the baptist was preaching an baptizing in the wilderness. His purpose, as the text tells us in the verse previous, Mark 1:2 and 3 is to fulfill prophesy,

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

"BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'"
NASU

His baptism was similar to the Jewish practice contemporary with his ministry of the mikvah bath which was a ceremonial washing by immersion. Johns baptism was an act done by those who heard his message and call for repentance in preparation for the coming messiah. John called the people to repentance, reminding them that they were unprepared for the “day of the Lord” and needed the forgiveness that God offered. Baptism was a sign of ones acceptance of this promise.

It is important to note that John's baptism was one of repentance where baptism either “in Jesus Name” (Acts 19:5) or “in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit”(Matthew 28:19) is a baptism not of preparation to receive the promise but a sign of identification with Jesus as Messiah and Lord.. (Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3, and by contrast 1 Corinthians 1:13.)

5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

Certainly we are not to believe that everyone came to him for baptism but that seemingly everyone, a great number of people, sought out John to hear his message and were baptized by him after confessing their sins.

6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.

Johns unique calling as well as his reliance on God in his ministry was marked by his strange and at the same time, simple, attire, and diet. He lived in the wilderness and wore coarse clothing rather than the finer showier vestments of the religious leaders of the day. People came out to him. He did not have to try to attract his audience. His diet of locusts and wild honey was a part of his reliance on God while in the wilderness, eating the food God in nature had provided, as given and not going out with plans and provisions. Johns ministry was one that was ordained by God and directed by God's leading and not John's calculated efforts to win the masses. Jesus would later contrast His style of ministry with John's, not to elevate one over the other but to show that no matter how one lived in obeying God those who oppose God's agenda will always criticize and ignore the message for their offense at the messenger. (Matthew 11:16-19)

7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.

John knew his place as the herald of the Messiah. He knew that even as his reputation was growing he would worthy of no praise when compared with the Messiah to come. John Himself would attempt to refuse to baptize Jesus because of this, but Jesus would encourage Him to do it, affirming Johns message by submitting to Baptism by John. (Matthew 3:14 and 15)

8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Jesus superiority to John was no only in rank as Son of God compared with anointed messenger, but also in the gift he could give. John gave a sign of the promise of forgiveness. Jesus would give new life, a transformed nature, the indwelling Spirit of God, and the Spirit's own gifts and fruit equipping each recipient to live life as God intends. John's baptism, while important, pales by contrast; a fact that John readily admits.

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Leaving out John's refusal as I highlighted before. Mark simply related that Jesus came and was baptized. This sentence leads to the next and highlights Mark's purpose in demonstrating that Jesus is the one John had spoken about.

10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;

Whether other witnesses saw this or not, it is clear that John did and it fulfilled a promise that God had communicated to John, namely it showed to John that Jesus was the promised one. The Gospel of John (John 1:29-34) lets us know that this act was John's confirmation of Jesus' identity.

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 "This is He on behalf of whom I said, ' After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' 31 "I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water." 32 John testified saying, " I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 "I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' 34 "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."
NASU

11 and a voice came out of the heavens: " You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

The voice of God confirms the crux of our faith. Jesus is no mere teacher or good man or even superior prophet. He is the Son of God, worthy of our faith and worship. It is with this confirmation that Jesus begins his ministry.
NASU

Happy New Year!

2009-01-08T11:32:00.001-05:00

This Morning as I was reading Scripture the Lectionary Passage was John 2:1-11. The story of the Miracle of the Wedding at Cana. The first and seemingly ridiculous miracle that Jesus performed.

While it may seem inappropriate to call a miracle of Jesus ridiculous, I only say it to show how it appears to our eyes. After all, isn't God about eradicating drunkenness and even (some might believe) eliminating fun? Yet here is Jesus turning water into wine. More so he seems to do so reluctantly, at his mother's request, when the wine for the wedding party has run out. Yet his mother doesn't badger or nag him into it but simply turns to the stewards and says. "do whatever he tells you."

What can we learn from this? I encourage you if this story is unfamiliar open your Bibles and re-read it. First I think we learn something about what it means to have faith in Jesus. For the participants in this feast things were not going well. Now, mind you this is not on par with a Cancer diagnosis or a financial collapse. But it certainly was a big deal in a culture that valued extravagant hospitality torun out of wine for your INVITED guests. These weren't passers by who would still merit a good meal and sheltering, these were invited wedding guests. You don't stop halfway through the party and say "sorry folks, we're out of wine, would you like some tea?" Mary seeing the trouble for a friend? a family member?, she goes to Jesus. When he tries to avoid the attention that a miracle would bring, (she wasn't asking him to make a wine run to the state store.) She simply says to the stewards, "do whatever he tells you." Do you need an answer to a problem? This is the place to begin. Trusting that Jesus has the ability to fix things, DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU TO. Don't assume you have to figure it all out on you own. Go back to the basics. Do what God makes clear that you are to do Pray (Philippians 4:6), Worship (Hebrews 14:15), Work as you are able (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15). Don't do anything he would not want you to do. Don't knowingly sin because you don't seem to have a better option. This takes faith, but we learn from what follows that Jesus acts.

Next, we learn that Jesus transforms our mediocre repetitive attempts to take care of ourselves into completion and celebration. The striking thing here is that the transformed wine is drawn out of water jars used for ritual cleansing. What was used for a repetitive religious ceremony, done again and again and never able to make them truly clean or happy, was now used for celebration. The wine also prefigures the wine of the New Covenant.Where before continued washing with water only served as a reminder of sin and their need to be made clean to approach God. Jesus invites His disciples to dine with Him at His Table offering them "the cup of the New Covenant"in His blood; that blood which gave true forgiveness of Sins.

As you worship and live think about these things. Jesus came to transform our mediocre striving and religious ritual into real forgiveness and celebration. Happy New Year!

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

How will we Receive Him?

2009-01-04T00:40:00.001-05:00

John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 The Witness John

There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 The Word Made Flesh

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, ' He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
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John 1:1-18 Exposition

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The gospel According to John the Evangelist (as distinguished from John the Baptist who is the second subject mentioned in the gospel) begins with an attention grabbing sentence. In the beginning was the Word, with God and in fact God. Taking a philosophical idea of the day of the Logos the divine Word or the self revelation of God. God remains a mystery apart from God's own revelation of Himself. At the same time the Word is a personal being existing both beside the one God, but also being at the same time THE one God. John also adds that this same Word was not a later creation of God but existed in “the beginning” archae, before there was anything or any time to be measured. This concept is not offensive to the idea of one God, yet it becomes an offense, unless true, when one attributes the identity of the Word to a particular human being as John is preparing to do. To begin his gospel, “In the beginning,” he is paralleling Genesis rather intentionally. One has to be certain that he is either right or foolish and he leaves no room for a middle ground. Jesus, He is prepared to assert is in fact the personal revelation of God and in fact God himself.

2 He was in the beginning with God.
This sentence reinforces the first and prepares for the next as it places the Word personally present outside of any measurable time and before anything else existed.

3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

The Word, the self revelation of God is present in and working to accomplish the creation of all that exists apart from God. There is no doubt, as Scripture elsewhere asserts, that creation reveals God in such a way as to make clear and evident what would otherwise be pure inscrutable mystery. Take for example Rom 1:20-21
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
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In addition it is asserted that there is no shared creation by one or more gods or demi-gods. The Word who is God created all leaving nothing to any other mind or being. One cannot assert that anything is a creation of the devil or that the creator God is a lesser God answerable to a higher being. Again the Word is not a lesser being compared with some greater God.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

Here if I may write what comes to my mind, I would say that genuine life is only possible when it is enlightened so that one knows and is in proper relationship to Jesus Christ. For in Him as the second person of the triune God and as the co-creator we not only first receive life as created beings but receive genuine and eternal life when we receive “in Him” that life which is the “Light of men”. In simpler terms. Life is only worth living when we have the life that Jesus offers as the one who turns on the light so we can stop fumbling around in the dark.

5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Often this word translated “comprehend” means to take hold of, of to receive. It is as though light is present yet somehow must be revealed in order to be visible. We know that certain bands of light such as infrared can be shined in darkness but are not visible to the naked eye. The Light shined by Christ was similar to this, it is made visible yet it was rejected, as we will see in verse 11. Also this is made apparent regarding the light of Creation in Rom 1:18-23

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
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and again in John 3:19
19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
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6There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.

John the Baptist is an important figure, needing to be distinguished from the Christ but nonetheless “sent from God”

7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.

His purpose in being sent was “as a witness” one to give sure testimony from God concerning this “Light” so that by his message all might believe. This all speaks of the general nature of Johns message which did not target or discriminate in its presentation of God's call to repentance. Certainly all are in need of repentance. It is also certain that although he was sent to proclaim to all, all did not receive his message as we shall soon see. Yet God is not to be accused of failing to offer the means of salvation to “all”. For our purposes it will become clear with verse 13 that to receive Christ requires a birth that is “of God” and not merely of the will of any person. It suffices that the witness to John the baptist published to all the need for repentance without care for who might receive or reject it. Likewise we are to publish the gospel indiscriminately so that no one may say “I have not heard” and because we cannot know who will believe.

8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

John is to be distinguished from the “Light” just as The lamp may transmit the light to a room but is not the energy which makes visible what was invisible in a darkened room. John, we are to be sure was not the Word, the Light, or more pointedly, the Christ.

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

Apart from John was the “true Light” which was the subject of John's witness, which was about to be made known, coming into the world, and who would enlighten “every man”. There is not other true light or source of genuine “enlightenment” apart from Christ. Prophets and teachers, religions and “spirituality” are merely witnesses, valuable only so far as they correctly point us to the Christ. Those that would steer us to some other source of light other than Jesus Christ are not the light and draw us away from the source of life. (recall verse 4)

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

Here the Light, we are reminded is the same as the Word, which created the world, yet we who are his creations did not know him to be our creator and God.

11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

He even came to a special people who had been prepared through Covenant, Law, and Prophesy, God's chosen people Israel, or else and at the same time, human beings in general. He did not appear as an angel or bird or some other creature or being, but as an Israelite man whose life and actions fulfilled prophesies that pointed to his identity. Yet even coming as one of us and to a special people prepared to receive him, he was not received.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God,

Yet for those who did receive him,they were given the right to become children of God. Important words here for they teach us how to receive what Christ was sent to give. To receive here means to welcome near or to associate with. More than an intellectual understanding of a system of behavior or philosophy to receive Christ is to welcome Him as part of your life, to make a companion of Him, or more accurately to become his companion and follow Him. Second it speaks of Him “giving” the right to become children of God. The status of “child of God is not a natural “right” but it is given to us in and through Christ. The word here translated “right” can also be “power” or “privilege” or “capacity”, to be made able, Were we naturally “children of God” we would not need to be given this. Yet it is through Christ that it is given.

even to those who believe in His name,

To receive Him is also to believe in or as the King James Version states “on” His Name. It means more than understanding or accepting the idea of Him, but to trust in and to place your faith and confidence in Him and in His Name. His name is mentioned so that our faith is once again attached to a person and not an abstraction. Jesus is a person, the person, God the Son, in whom we place our faith.

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Those who put their faith in Christ are assured that this was not their own doing that they may doubt the adequacy of their faith or fear they may lose it by misstep or neglect. The are assured that it came not of their own will, or by inheritance, but by the supreme will of God alone. So, even as Christ came to his own particular people and was rejected by many, all who trust in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile may know that they will be gifted with the privilege to become what we were not before: Children of God.

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

This thing which God purposed to accomplish happened when the Word of God, Jesus Christ, “The Light” became a human being, taking on human nature in every way possible and “dwelt”, more accurately “tented” or “camped”, giving the sense of the temporary nature of His earthly life and momentary placement in history, He did this so that those who saw him, even the evangelist who is writing, could say without doubt or hesitation that they saw with their eyes the Word of God, God Himself, in his Glory. His Glory is one and the same as the only begotten son of the Father. His resemblance to the Father is like that of an only natural son, like him without compare as there is no brother so we could say “the older looks more like his Father,” or “the Younger has more of his father's personality.” He is like the father, different only in his resemblance to his mother as well, being in human flesh (not a characteristic of the father), glorious, and filled with the Father's own grace and truth. John (the evangelist) beheld this glory uniquely (along with Peter and James) at the transfiguration of Jesus, yet this Glory that “we” (his contemporaries) all saw was enough that they could say they saw him resembling the Father and full of grace and truth. In fact the word rendered “saw” implies to see closely or examine or also as one might see someone closely when visiting. This was no mere glimpse of God as Moses saw, but a revelation of God in person.

15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, ' He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"

Here the evangelist, distinguishes Jesus from the Baptist further by reminding us that John (the Baptist) himself pointed to Jesus as the one superior to him so far as to make him, in his own estimation, unworthy of the status of a minor servant. The Baptist assures his audience that the younger relative (Jesus was in human relations a relative of John as His mother and John's were related.) was in fact “before” him, likely implying Jesus Preexistence as the Word and as the Uncreated Son of God.

16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

Now speaking to his contemporary audience John (the evangelist) says to those who would hear that in seeing Christ they have received the fullness of God and more so, more “grace”, a gift given beyond what is due or could be expected that the grace they had already received by God's revelation in the Scripture of the Old Covenant.

17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

The Law was what made Jews, Jews, and what separated them from the gentiles. The chosen people were divided from the rest of the “Nations” by the Law which God had given them through Moses. Yet the fullness of God's grace and truth are given to all who receive Him through Jesus Christ. Here for the first time John makes clear that the person who he has been writing about, The “Word” and the “Light” and the “Only begotten Son” are in fact the man Jesus Christ. At the beginning I said that these ideas of Word and Light are not offensive to our natural minds if they are not attached to a living person. Yet John boldly claims that this person is in fact none other than Jesus of Nazareth who he calls the Christ, the Messiah or Anointed one. Jesus, is the dividing line between those who receive the gospel and those who are offended by it. In the end, we are told, it matters an eternity how we receive Him.

18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

For God to be more than an invisible mystery, or a philosophical abstraction, we must meet Him in the Person of Jesus Christ, for only in Him is the mystery explained.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

What did you get for Christmas

2008-12-27T22:09:00.000-05:00

Eph 1:3-14

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption ofGod's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
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Eph 1:3-14

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

We are often asked after Christmas “What did you get?” When you consider that the “Wondrous gift” given in Christ as He is called in the Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem, We should consider what gifts we have been given in Christ. The Apostle Paul here begins his letter with a word of praise to God as the Father of our Lord and draws our attention to the gift of God he calls “every Spiritual Blessing in the heavenly places” The Christian should be ever aware that our treasure in Christ is stored up in heaven. Any gifts or riches we may have here are resources to be used here for the glory of God for this is the purpose of our salvation as we are told in Eph 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. NASU
as well as in other places. Our real treasures which are ours to keep are those which are in heaven.

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,

Our first gift is that we are chosen. Not on our own merit or because of anything that we had done but before the foundation of the world for Gods own purposes and glory. Let those who are lost worry about what is is to be not chosen. If you are in Christ you have the assurance of God's own unimpeachable Word that you are chosen.

that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

The result of our having been chosen is that we are called by God “holy and blameless” this too is a status imputed to us by God's own decree, for if we are to examine our conduct we will not find that our actions merit such a title. We are in face holy and blameless “before him” that is, God the Father, as he has given us this status and see us us only as he calls us in that given quality of holiness. It is as though he has chosen to call his beloved “lovely” and she remains lovely in his sight regardless of how she appears to other men.

In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

It is no stretch to use the analogy of love as this next line says that it is in fact love which moves the almighty to predestine his church (that is the “us”), we believers, to adoption as sons. We have been adopted and are therefore doubly loved, for a child of birth is loved because it is our own, unless something is wrong with the parent, but an adopted child is not our own yet chosen to be loved when the parent is not compelled by any reason except love to do so. Women should not be offended at the phrase “as sons” for this is not an exclusion but a status. In the Apostle's time a daughter held a lesser place in the house than a son. So even women who are believers are afforded the same adoption as men and afforded the same benefits as would “sons”.

This adoption is accomplished through Jesus Christ so that we may be “sons” of the Father. We are not Children of God by nature as some have loved to proclaim. But only and at great cost, through Jesus Christ, or else this passage would be a lie and it give us no certain hope.

Finally again we are assured that it is the will of God, the “kind” will, or his “good pleasure,” which brought us all this. If we should ask God why this was done He would respond only that it pleased Him to do so.

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Knowing that it was His good pleasure and will drives us all the more to praise His grace. We do not merely praise his might or riches that He can generously reward the deserving like some philanthropist. But in His grace he chose to give such things to the undeserving. These things were given to us in “the Beloved” which is Christ. We know this because of what follows.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace8 which He lavished on us.

What else we have received includes our purchase and redemption by the blood of Jesus, for he did more than come in the flesh, but also died willingly for us. We also receive the forgiveness of those things which we have done which would lead us to fear that we cannot receive the very gifts we have just been told are ours in Christ. This too is out of the “riches of His Grace”, “lavished” on us as one who loves gives extravagantly to the beloved.

In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him

Not content merely to do these things in secret, God made known to us what could otherwise remain unknown to us. His will and plan are revealed again out of the good pleasure of God's purpose for Jesus Christ. Even if all were to be saved how pitiable would be our lives if we were left to grope and grovel under the slavery to sin and the fear of punishment when it was God's intention that we would be saved. Instead we are gifted with the joy of knowing that we have been forgiven and adopted as God's beloved Children.

10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

This is to say that it is God's will that all tings be “set right” and ordered from the chaotic state which sin and death have thrown them, separating heaven and earth, God and man, and even our relations to one another. In Christ “peace on earth” is show to be God's final will and purpose, not merely absence of conflict, but true order and justice and righteousness.

In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

As sons we also receive an inheritance again assured to us by the unbreakability of God's Word and will.

12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

All of this not merely for our benefit, but certainly to our benefit, but for “the praise of His glory.” that is to bring about the deserved worship of God. We are introduced to God rightly in Christ so that we may respond with praise.

13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Lest we should say all receive the benefits of this we are assured that only those who have heard the Word of this “gospel”, (such good news!) have assurance of our inclusion in this promise. Some may have it and not yet know and as I said before that is a pitiable state, but we have the sign and seal of this promise when we have heard and believed the gospel.

14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

The gift of God the Holy Spirit which dwells in each believer individually and is evident in the church as a body is the token like a receipt reminding us that all of these promises are ours. The purpose of this is again, our redemption to be included in God's own people and family to the ultimate end of inciting praise of His Glory. Worship is the end result of all of the gifts that we have been given in Christ.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

A Season to Remember who you are...

2008-11-26T11:24:00.000-05:00

It's right at that time that newsletter stuff is due again and I was looking for inspiration this morning. While checking my junk email box I stumbled on an ad for Deering Banjo's that provided me a bit of help. In what I realistically know to be a sales ad, Barry Hunn (who is the Worldwide Sales Manager for Deering wrote this gem.
“One of the most healing aspects of creating music is that it is a healthy vehicle to bring us closer to our inner self. It can put us in touch with the creative part of us, or perhaps, the most central part of us, that often gets diverted when the pressures of our daily lives lead our attention away from the core of who we are. Isn’t that wonderful? By merely sitting and strumming the banjo, playing songs or just improvising with a few chords or rolls, we focus our ears, our hands, our hearts and attitudes on that beautiful sparkling banjo sound, bringing us back to our creative self, the happiest part of being human.”
While I recognize the often exaggerated tendency of musicians and artists to spiritualize their work, I will say I agree with much of what he wrote. (The full article is at http://www.deeringbanjos.com/DeeringProductPages/Music_Beyond_Technique.html)
It really is all about the joy. I would add that being creative opens us up to realize the signature of the Creator upon us. Joy and an appreciation for beauty are what makes us human and separates us from the call of Satan and the world to be merely efficient animals.
Why am I inspired by this? Because last night I requested from session the opportunity to take a day of rest on Monday December 1, since, the day after Thanksgiving, on which I would be off, is already on my day off, and I discovered, it also falls on Light Up Night, when I'll be working at that event. Also this busy time of year is when I'm thinking about Budgets, giving, that I am told is down, Filling Leadership posts on Session, Deacon's and Trustees...and also the incredible opportunities for ministry we have even while trying to figure out how best to use our resources to do them. It is a time when it is tempting to think in terms of “human resources”, “economic realities” and “efficiency.” In short it is tempting to become the Devil's own efficient animal.
Yet at the same time we start a new season, with a pause in our schedule to give Thanks. To sit at the table with family and friends and enjoy food and remember that we are not just animals but people, who love one another, even with our imperfections, and give thanks too the God who created us, and gives to us gifts, that while they are resources, are also a joy to use. Leadership slots become Opportunities to worship through service. Giving becomes offerings of Thanks and a chance to enthusiastically imagine what God will allow us to do together in the coming year.
And all in all, I look to this season where, having given thanks, we prepare to celebrate that Christ came into the world to release us from slavery and make us the human creations God made us to be, no longer sin trapped “animals” but his own people. Wow! Don't forget this. Celebrate! These are Holy-Days to remember God's amazing gifts.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Sunday Nov 9, 2008

2008-11-08T21:33:00.000-05:00

Acts 9:32-43

Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed." Immediately he got up. 35 And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37 And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to us." 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, " Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
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Acts 9:32-43 Exposition

Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.

Turning from Saul to Peter we now see Peter traveling through those regions that were enjoying this new season of peace. It says he is going to the “saints” at Lydda. His visit is significant because he is beginning to do the work of strengthening the saints in the regions where the Church exists. Our role is to grow the church but it is also to equip and edify those who are in the church. Again we also see the reliance of the believers on one another, visiting groups of existing saints and using that place to do the work that they came to do. The church at large is connected to one another and we should receive with joy a brother or sister from another place who is a fellow “saint” in Christ.

33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed.

Most likely Aeneas is one of these “saints” at Lydda and if so it shows the care of the Apostle for the saints offering such aid as he was enabled to the man who was paralyzed.

34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed." Immediately he got up.

Our duty to the Saints is to offer them immediately and fully any aid we are able to give. Peter, having worked miracles before had no reason to doubt that he could, offer healing through Jesus Christ. Notice he says Jesus Christ heals you. It was not Peter but Christ who healed Aeneas. He also expected Aeneas to make his bed once standing, significant because he was not to expect a relapse and the need to lie on his sickbed again. We, not having worked miracles as regularly as Peter, may hesitate to b e so bold as to declare a sick brother or sister well, yet we should be bold to pray for their healing and expect that God has the power to do what we would ask. Otherwise why should we pray at all. Like Peter, we too should not hesitate to offer whatever help we can. If only prayer, then we should pray immediately and in faith. If friendship, love, comfort or help then freely and as much as we can.

35 And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Our treatment of one another in the church is significant for when it is done well it draws others toward Christ. Obviously this was more dramatic when a miracle is involved to confirm the supernatural power of Christ and to authenticate the ministry of the Apostles. Yet still it is significant that our light as we shine it draws attention to our Lord.

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

Faussett's Bible dictionary tells us of Tabitha, “TABITHA, Aramaic, corresponding to Hebrew tsebiah, "a female gazelle," Dorcas (Acts 9:36), the emblem of beauty. The Christian woman at Joppa, "full of good works and alms deeds" (as making coats and garments for poor widows,”
(from Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1998, 2003 by Biblesoft)
It is a reminder of the later command of Peter, in 1 Peter 3:3-4
And let not your adornment be merely external — braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. NASB
Tabitha's beauty is in her service to others.

37 And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.

Her sickness and death occasions the sending of people to Peter, presuming he might do something for her.

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to us." 39 So Peter arose and went with them.

The people at Joppa must have believed that Peter could do something for Tabitha since they implored him to come with such urgency. Peter likewise responds to their urgency by going with them. We as well should respond to requests with similar urgency. We should give all we can and if we seem to be unable to help, turn to God in immediate and urgent prayer and turn to our gifts, talents, and connections with others to seek help where it may be given.

When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

Dorcas' (Tabitha's) character is shown by the love that the believers showed to her, that they spoke to Peter of all she had been doing. Their weeping was genuine as they mourned the loss to them of such a great woman of faith.

40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, " Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

This miracle was not public like others. Notice Peter sent them all away and turned to the Lord in Prayer. His response to do something was immediate. His action was not. He first sought the direction of the Lord. The request to make a difference for someone who was dead was perhaps overwhelming to Peter. Claiming no power of his own and without making any claims as to what he would do, he retreats from them for private prayer. Then as he was assuredly directed or freed by the Spirit to do, he spoke to the lifeless body as though she were alive telling her to get up. In God's almighty power, a demonstration that life and death belong in the realm of God's power, she returns to life. She is then presented alive to those who had sought Peter.

42 It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

The word spread that Tabitha had been healed and this led to others in the city coming to faith in Jesus Christ. It is significant that it led to faith in the Lord and not in Peter. The word had not only speread concerning her resurrection, but also that the miracle had been done in Jesus Name; thus it led to faith in Him. Faith is receiving Jesus Christ as Lord after hearing the word concerning Him. We likewise should trust all the more in Him whenever we hear the Word accurately proclaimed about him.

Stunned Silence

2008-11-05T09:33:00.002-05:00

I have little to say this morning. God remains Good. While God has the power to answer our prayer, God also will give the people what they demand. May God empower the Church to boldly declare His Kingdom and His righteousness. May we lift the Name of Jesus High.
In Christ and as always on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Acts 9: 19-31

2008-11-01T22:50:00.001-04:00

Acts 9:19-31

Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." 21 All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?" 22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

23 When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

26 When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
NASU

Acts 9:19-31 Exposition

Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,

Saul, after his conversion remains with the disciples in the city of Damascus. He finds fellowship with the very people he was sent to arrest and accepted by those he had opposed.

20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."

Saul states about immediately sharing the good news that he has now embraced. The core of His message is that Jesus is the Son of God. What would have been anathema to him before is the heart of his message, so transformed by the Spirit is his heart toward Jesus. He goes immediately to his own people to persuade them of what he has come to know.

21 All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?"

His transformation astounds them as they see that he is the very one who so hated the name of Jesus and is now boldly proclaiming Him Conversion is seen when we who previously were either indifferent or hostile to Jesus are empowered to joyfully proclaim Him Lord and speak his name with adoration.

22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

The contrast grows as Saul grows in importance as one who teaches others as the the truth of Jesus Christ, “confounding” his fellow Jews with his teaching. His “proving” of Jesus is a word associated with teaching, showing and has the sense of bringing two things together, thus demonstrating the convincing and true argument to the Jews that Jesus was and is their Messiah.

23 When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him,

Like Jesus who was also rejected, and those who Saul persecuted before, Saul Himself finds himself the target of their rejection and plots of murder. There seems to be no answer by those who reject Christ that does not ultimately seek to fully silence the proclamation of Jesus' name. Death seems to be the chosen and convenient means the lost world chooses most frequently.

24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death;

As it was not in God's plan for Saul to die yet, he came to know of their plans.

25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

Saul again receives help by the hands of the church who protects him and sneaks him away.

26 When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

Saul's new reputation did not precede him to Jerusalem. He was still believed there to be Saul the great persecutor and they feared what he might be looking to do.

27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

Barnabas' name means “Son of Encouragement” Perhaps a nickname unless just an extremely appropriate given name. He does in face receive Saul when others feared to do so. Barnabas takes him to the Apostles that his testimony of his conversion might be tested and perhaps he may be examined so as to be approved genuine by the Apostles . How necessary is a Christian brother or sister to the new believer who needs a recommendation to the church that they in their newness might be accepted and able to enjoy the nurture and fellowship of the church.

28 And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.

His place with the Apostles gave him the freedom, for a while, to speak in Jerusalem and proclaim the Name of Jesus there.

29 And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.

He set out to debate with the Hellenists, Jews who had adopted many gentile ways and accommodated much of the Greek and Roman culture. Yet even among these “Liberals” of their day he found no acceptance, and even more plots of murder. It shows that among those who oppose Christ, even the most tolerant and accommodating will not tolerate or accommodate Jesus as Lord or those who proclaim Him.

30 But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

Again Saul is protected by the church and spirited away by them. His value and calling must have been evident to them, even if simply as a brother in Christ, for them to work together for his protection.

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

For whatever reason God permitted that the Church would enjoy a time of freedom from persecution. Yet in this time and not as in our present day, this freedom was employed in the best way, to grow and strengthen the church. Today it is the church under persecution that is growing and the church at ease that is in decline. May we choose to use what freedom we have, while we have it to also grow and strengthen Christ's Church. Perhaps it was the recent nearness of persecution that inspired them to remain dilligent.

Of Senators and Saints...

2008-10-28T10:35:00.001-04:00

There are two issues that are on my mind as we begin the month of November. I was planning on writing on the election exclusively this month, but I figure I spent enough time on that topic for the last two weeks in worship. The bottom line summary. Look up Romans 13. Government is to restrain and punish evil and promote good. Vote for the candidate who you believe, after praying about it, will do the best job of this Biblical purpose for human government. Consider how their policies, and any influence they may have in the choice of judges who will interpret our constitution, will fulfill this task. Set aside issues of race, sex, cost of their clothing, net worth, celebrity status, or what you heard in an email. Instead pray and think, who will work hard every day to resist evil and promote what is good.

Yet the talk of “celebrity” on both sides of the presidential debate reminds me of another topic in the late October air: Halloween. Now if you're expecting an article telling you how Satan will steal your soul if you trick-or-treat you'll be disappointed (or not.) Instead I am reminded by an article I read this morning at WORD FM's website that Halloween is for all our purposes as Christians, Hallows, that is Saints', Eve. (see http://www.wordfm.com/parenting/11583351/page1/ for the article) The writer, who is not Roman Catholic, to my knowledge, reminds us that Halloween was for the Church, the eve of a feast day to celebrate all the Saints.

And who were the Saints. The were people like you and me who after being “vetted” through extensive investigation by the Church, were determined to have exemplified some virtue of Christlike living as to warrant the status of Christian Celebrity. Unlike today's Christian Celebrities who only need a bestseller, a hit song, or a TV Ministry. These folks withstood the test of both the church's scrutiny and the test of history to be granted the status of Saint. While we Presbyterians don't pray to, of “through” the Saints because we do not believe, with Christ as our mediator, we need their virtues to mediate or “supercharge” our prayers; and we don't decorate our churches, yards, or homes with their images; we would do well to know who they are and look at their examples.

They were not perfect. They may only be a Saint for one thing that they got right. We might even debate if they got it right. I am reminded of the Saint I read about in college who threw herself from the roof of her house, dying to preserve her virginity in the face of marauding soldiers. Some of them, history has questioned whether or not they exist, yet the virtue of their legend still points to a higher good and so they are preserved in the catalog of Sainted Celebrities for what they may have represented. The point is we can look at their lives and see how ordinary Christians chose to live in their time so we might consider how to live in ours.

So before you get caught up in the hype of politics and celebrity. Take time this All Saints Eve, and consider the lives of Saints ,whether the capital S ones or the lowercase ones of your own family and friends, now gone on to join the Church Triumphant ( a neat name for heaven from our dusty theology books). Consider how our lives may better reflect Jesus Christ who they sought to follow when we look to their examples. Have a Blessed All Saints Day.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Faith in an Election Year Part 2

2008-10-25T14:55:00.001-04:00

Part 2 What to Do if Your Candidate Loses ... Or Wins.

8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

After we are told to give to those to whom anything is due, we are encouraged to have no debts, other than the ongoing practice of loving one another as though it was debt continually to be paid. This is not to say that our love is to be grudging as we might view a debt as having to be paid out of a finite resource. Instead we are to pay our love to one another as we would an important debt; faithfully and regularly. To love in this way does not break the law but fulfills it. To remain faithful to our Christian calling we are instructed is our duty at all times. There is no excuse that should keep us from being faithful to God.

9 For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

Indeed the law is simplified in this command to love, for if we love we will not pursue the wife or husband of another or live in any way that is unfaithful to God's ordering of marriage. We will not murder. We will not take what doesn't belong to us. We will not Desire what belongs to others or be jealous of what they have or seek to deprive them of it.

10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

To do no wrong to our neighbor certainly restrains us from evil and keeps us on the right side of God's law if not the law of the land.

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

We are to remain faithful to our calling knowing especially that we do not know the hour of Christ's return. Certainly it is no further away than in days past and since Christ has accomplished all he promised except for His return, we must be always ready. We cannot drowsily go about our business as though God is absent or unaware or that we will have ample time for repentance should we die or should Christ return.

12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Often people have used the seeming cover of night for evil deeds or for sensual living pursuing pleasures of their own desires rather than goodness during those hours where they may not be readily observed. Indeed we more often hide our sins even while we are doing them willfully. Yet even as darkness has past in Christ and we are being led out of sin and darkness we should pursue a life that more resembles the life of Christ who is our light. We are even given the image of “putting on” light like one would put on armor. Armor is put on purposefully and is not natural to the body. Likewise a holy life is not natural to us but is put on in Christ. Likewise we willingly “lay aside” evil deeds, putting them off and refusing them like soiled garments not to be worn while dirty.

13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.

Regardless of the teaching of this world we must look to Gods word and live as those who know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. While some things and even some of what the world calls pleasures may be legal under the civil law we must never call what God calls good evil or evil good. As powerful and entangling as our sexuality can be we are to give special attention to keeping that area of life pure. Likewise we cannot allow divisions between people and jealousy for possessions lead us to do what is evil.

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

It is this line that both calls us to strive to live like Christ, as well as affording us no excuse even should the world lead us to do otherwise. Should our leaders approve the murder of the helpless, abandonment of living infants on hospital floors because they were unwanted; should they approve corruption and the abuse of those who work for them; should they abuse the advantages of power for personal gain; should they freely call what Scripture calls good evil, and evil good; Should they place in power those who do not preserve freedom and law, failing to reward good and punish and restrain evil; Should they do any of these things; We must not. We must seek to put on Christ. We must not allow for ourselves to live in any other way that the way of the Spirit. This is what it means to make no provision for the lusts of the flesh. We cannot place our Christian life in one compartment and pursue greed, lust, hatred or any other evil in another quarter. Pray for wisdom. Vote for those who you believe will restrain evil and promote good. Pray for those who gain power that they will faithfully do as God has elevated them to do. And live yourselves as Christians even if the rest of the world should choose Hell's path.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Why there are not many Paths.

2008-10-22T09:47:00.002-04:00

Had a great question this week regarding Matthew 21:28-32.

"But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ' Son, go work today in the vineyard.' 29 "And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 "The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, 'I will, sir'; but he did not go. 31 "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. 32 "For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.
NASU

Jesus was contrasting the very religious Pharisees who were opposing Him and the Tax Collectors and Prostitutes who were following Him. The Pharisees were like the ones who said yes but did not do what was asked. The sinners who followed Jesus had previously said "No" but were repenting and now saying "Yes". The son who does right is tho one who does the will of the Father. Better still of course would be to say yes and to do what you say, but No one has the benefit of never having sinned. So we all are called to repent and begin to follow Jesus and do the will of our Father in Heaven. Remember too that Jesus was talking about their rejection of Him. The will of God for us is first that we should believe in His Son. The Pharisees claimed to obey God but rejected His Son.

In our world we are encouraged to believe in God but accept that there may be many paths to God which may or may not include Jesus. We are told that we can believe in God yet are give the option to accept or reject Jesus as the Son of God. I ask you, should we believe that God accepts our worship and our faith when we reject the very gift He gave of His son? Is it God's will for us to trust in His Son, to repent of our inability to please God on our own, and to trust in Jesus as the way He made for us to be put back into his will and obedience? Or is Jesus Wrong and are we permitted to say "Yes" while going our own way?

In Christ,
Mark

Faith in an Election Year Part 1

2008-10-18T15:53:00.001-04:00

Romans 13 Exposition

Part 1

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

When we consider our duty in an election year we must first consider this truth. God has established human authority on earth. Beginning in Genesis with the establishment of man's “dominion” over the creation, God has afforded to humanity a degree of government and stewardship over the world. In a difficult time for Christians to follow the Authority of Caesar an the imperial government, Paul writes the Spirit's inspired instruction that the people of the church are to live in subjection to the civil governing authorities. While one can point to Daniel and even to the early Apostles for examples of how to obey God before the rules of men, here Paul is cautioning the church to avoid anarchy and the rejection of all civil authority. Our belief in no authority over Christ does not permit us to disobey lawful authority at will. Indeed by reminding us that “there is no authority except from God” Paul makes it clear that God still reigns as the highest authority and those who rule do so only at God's permission or pleasure. When he adds that “those which exist are established by God”, we are reminded that to reject human authorities is to reject what God has established either by his direction or by His permission.

2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

With the rejection of authority comes it's own punishment. When we refuse taxes there will be penalties. When we break traffic laws there will be fines. When we commit crimes there will be sentences. We are reminded that our rejection of authority is a rejection of something God has established.

3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

Why has God established human government. He reveals it here. Government has two biblical purposes to resist evil and to promote the good. Do evil and you will need to fear do good and you have reason to at least be free from fear of punishment and at best will be upheld. True there are times when this is not the case and when tyrants or those rulers who are simply incompetent end up punishing the good and promoting evil. In those cases we are also to trust that God will establish justice. Scripture here does not speak of the realities of all cases of human government but the intended purpose behind God's establishment of authorities. Where these purposes are abused it is a consequence of the sinful nature of humanity. That will be dealt with dually and according to God's will by either the transforming work of the Holy Spirit or by God's Judgment. Often it is even the use of human government from another or higher place which is used to correct abuses of power.

This is especially important to us in our form of government where we are given a certain, if limited, ability to effect change in our government. We have been granted the tools of voice through freedom of speech and of vote through regular elections. While we often feel limited in what we can actually accomplish we are given the ability to be a part of the authority of our government and work to do all we are able to resist evil and to promote good. We cannot neglect to do all we can to ensure that our elected leaders fulfill their God given responsibility to oppose evil and promote good. We will be accountable to God for what little we can do, they for the greater amount they have been given the power to accomplish.

5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

We are told to be in subjection to authority both to avoid punishment but also to maintain a clear conscience. It is not just that we do not break those laws which we may likely be punished for breaking, but also we are to maintain a clear conscience by doing all that we do in a way that is legal and ethical. We are held to a higher standard as well, the standard of God's law, so that whatever is legal does not always equal what is right. In all things we are for conscience sake do that which is right before God.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

The subject of taxes is important because it highlights the purpose of governors as “Civil servants” whose labors deserve to be rewarded. Cynically we could say that they do not do all that their salaries deserve but Scripture here does not give us the authority to decide that for ourselves and to refuse to pay taxes. Recall the question brought to Jesus regarding taxes. Matt 22:17-22
17 "Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? 19 "Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, " Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."
NASU

The question was given as to the righteousness of paying taxes to a repressive and pagan regime. Jesus upheld the practice saying “render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's and to God the things which are God's.”

7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

We are to give what is due to the one to whom it is due. I would encourage any Christian that it is his or her duty to pray for leaders. Knowing that a leader is given the holy task of resisting evil and promoting good it is essential that we should ask for the help of almighty God for them to do just that. Even for those who would not ask such help for themselves it is all the more important that we seek the Spirit's direction for those who would otherwise resist it. It is after all the Spirit's intervention for us that calls us to faith and to obedience while we were still sinners and seeking our own will alone.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Personal Honor

2008-09-29T10:54:00.001-04:00

29:23 A man's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
Proverbs 29:23 RSV

I saw this quote on today's Bible verse. Honor is a word we use in greater or lesser amount at different times and places. We go through seasons where it is not used at all. At other times it is used to the point of losing its meaning. In this election season we are hearing it again in a rising tide. Yet I am drawn to the question, What is Honor? Yesterday I was teaching the LeaDRSHIP section (an Acronym not a typo) section of the ROCK's volunteer training. One of the bullet points under H - Honor, was that a leader uses Honor as a motivation for moral action. The best way I could explain this was to say a person of honor does the right thing because it is the right thing and for no other reason.

Another definition of honor is the one used here of honor being given to a person. A Champion is honored with a prize. A writer is honored with an award. Some people live life seeking honor. Their pride drives them to seek those recognitions which will lift their own name a little higher than others. Yet this proverb tells us that a man of lowly spirit, humble spirit, will obtain honor. You may not see it in this life. Yet it has been my experience that the most honorable people I have ever met are the ones who you would never know of their accomplishments. They talk little of them.

The third definition of Honor that I am familiar with is the one I lived under at VMI and still try to live today. Our Honor Code was: "A Cadet does not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do." Simple. One sentence. Yet profound and challenging to uphold. When a cadet broke faith with the Honor Code he was given its one penalty. Dismissal. He was no longer a cadet. When his dismissal was announced at the 3 AM drum-out ceremony these words were spoken, "He has placed personal gain above personal honor."

This speaks to the Proverb as well. When a person places a higher priority on what he or she may personally gain, over what is right, that person has sacrificed his or her honor.

How do you, your friends, your candidates, those you lead, and those you follow, stack up in the area of personal honor? Will you receive your honor from God as a humble person, or will you seek your honors now at the expense of future honor that matters?

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

Acts 9: 1-19 Part 2

2008-09-27T16:24:00.000-04:00

Part 2: Called

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."

With Saul, God chose to first reveal himself and his will for him through a vision. Yet the ordinary means God uses to bring people to faith is through the preaching of the gospel through human beings. This does not have to be “preaching” in the sense of pulpit exposition of Scripture, but in the sense of proclamation of the gospel of Jesus in whatever setting public of private we have the opportunity. God calls Ananias to meet with the infamous Saul to complete Saul's conversion. Ananias responds as do many others in Scripture when called by God saying “here I am Lord.”

11 And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,

Saul was spending the time while blind and unable to go forward either with his plans (as he was now convicted that his persecution was a sin against Jesus as Lord.) or with his new calling as he did not yet know what it was, in fasting (verse 9) and prayer.

12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight."

The Lord continued to communicate with Saul by visions preparing him to meet with Ananias.

13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem;

As we tend to do when called, Ananias view this calling as beyond his ability, knowing Saul only as the persecutor of the Church and not as the man who God intended him to become.

14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."

The character of Saul is an obstacle to Ananias as well as fear or what Saul may do. The immediate threat of imprisonment causes him to hesitate.

15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

God is always aware of those obstacles but also has in mind the way they will be ( or have been already) overcome. The Lord seeks to calm Ananias' fears letting him know of His purpose for Saul.

16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake."

Saul will surely join the Christians not only in calling and mission but also in suffering. The calling to follow Christ is never one with a guarantee of ease. Suffering is a necessary part of our calling and one which is governed, managed, and finally eased by the Lord.

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, " Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

One cannot claim that the New Testament claims Jesus to be other than God when these Jews refer to Him as Lord and indeed speak of visions as from God and ascribe them to Jesus Himself. Ananias does not say God appeared but “the Lord Jesus.” Ananias appears to Saul as the means by which Saul will regain his sight as well as complete His conversion, receiving the filling of the Holy Spirit. As it was the power of God that caused Saul to lose his sight, so it is the power of God through the laying on of Ananias' hands that Saul is restored and filled. Throughout the New Testament, believers are exhorted to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the ordinary state of believers, not as annointed prophets of old on whom the Spirit descended, but as those who are filled and continually filled with the Holy Spirit of God. For Saul to convert he must be likewise filled.

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;

Unsure of what these scales may be, we can only note that Saul's sight is restored and at the same moment he is assured that the spiritual blindness which led him to reject Jesus now was also gone. We are assured of this as he immediately sought baptism and identification with Christ.

19 and he took food and was strengthened.

The reason for his fast now completed he takes food. The virtue of this period of fasting and prayer was to temporarily seek what God would give both in healing and in direction. Saul was now healed and also had come to faith in Jesus and was publicly identified with him and with the believers he once persecuted through baptism. There are seasons for certain things like retreat and fasting and when those seasons are past there is no longer any virtue in them. We must instead move on to the next thing to which God has called us.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Why I like Branson Missouri...No wait, let me explain.

2008-09-23T11:20:00.000-04:00

Last month I wrote about my apparent hatred of travel. Yet here I am preparing for yet another trip. Pray for us as we endeavor to travel over half the United States with my family all in one vehicle. We'll be visiting our old home in Phillipsburg, Kansas on the way to the Middle America Week Kirk (Small Church) conference, in Wagoner, Oklahoma (State Motto: “Just like the musical but without the singing”) We'll cap off the trip with a stop in Branson, Missouri. Because of this, I wanted to reprint this month a newsletter article I wrote for Christmas two years ago. True, I'm no longer 32, and have three kids now, but the minivan is still rolling. Hope you enjoy it, and that God uses the words to give you an even greater hope for heaven.

I called my folks the other day to tell them that we’d like to use the three days of vacation I have left to go on another trip with them after Christmas. I figured a family trip is a better way to spend our Christmas budget than on a bunch of stuff.
Last year they took us to Branson Missouri; Branson, home of nostalgic shows promising to take you back to the 50’s and 60’s (minus Korea, white and colored bathrooms, “duck and cover”, Vietnam, the Bay of Pigs, and race riots); home of Yakov’s giant 25 foot head on every third billboard within a 90 mile radius; home of theaters owned or otherwise named after stars extending their fifteen or even twenty minutes of fame into a profitable enterprise in a land of condos and timeshares; home of Ozark hillbilly parody culture that should prompt real hillbillies to file a class action suit for libel.
But I’m telling you why I like Branson. (Trust me I’ll get to something spiritual soon)
If I had any interest in being thought “cool” I wouldn’t even bring this up. But as a 32 year old ordained pastor, married with two kids, and driving a 1993 Minivan, I think the “cool” ship has sailed. In my case it ran aground and sank on its shakedown cruise in 6th grade (but that’s another article). Still, I’m no music snob, but much that Branson offers is dorky even for me.
No what I like about Branson is that reality is suspended. It’s like there’s a sign that invites you to “please switch off all portable electronic devices along with any brain function required for worry and critical thought.” I like to stop thinking for a while.
I also like that in this place of neon, knickknacks and $5 sodas with ice, there are real people there who bring a smile to my face. Not the folks you see headlining. Not the guys and girls with big hair, lacquered teeth, and names I’m sure somebody knows. I’m talking about the bass player standing just outside the spotlight doing his best and making a bit of a living doing something he loves. He might never get his own billboard and I suspect he may not even want one. Or there’s the guy at Cedar Creek who will sell you a dulcimer even though you didn’t know you’d ever want one, because he loves to show you in two minutes, that even the most musically inept person can play a tune. And he does it with such joy. There are the two ladies at the flavorless buffet who are just so excited to be there on vacation, and are happy to chat with you. There’s also the twenty something guy sleeping on the floor behind the hotel treadmill at 6 AM, who was very polite as he left so I could run.
And that gets to the essential, spiritual thing. The world God created had no trouble; one man fascinated by his God-given bride, Fellowship with God, unlimited trips to the garden buffet. The world we now know as reality did not exist, or if it did it was an unpopulated place outside of a garden sanctuary. But when sin entered through Adam’s choice to trust his way before God’s, a new reality set in; one with death and sickness and pain and separation from God.
No, Branson is not a new Eden, no matter what the brochures might tell you. (Remember the guy sleeping in the fitness room.) But, Branson reminds me of what it means to be redeemed. He gave us a promise of a redeemer who would crush the head of the serpent who deceived us, while having his own heel bruised. (Genesis 3:15) By dying for us and rising again, Jesus promises an eternal world redeemed, with all the good stuff shined up and made better and all the bad stuff removed, like nostalgia but better and real.
The folks that make me smile for their humanity, their humor, their passion, and their giving their best, remind me that God redeems us too. God is joyful with His redeemed because he knows what we will be. Real people, who trust and follow Jesus, including my family, and I, as quirky, funny, confused, determined, joyful, and even “uncool” as we are, can know we are people that God loves.
The redeemed are people who bring joy to God, not for who we are but just because He chooses to love us. Jesus is the redeemer of those who God loves. Choose to love someone who God loves.
In Christ and on the Shepherd’s Path,

Mark

Sept 21, 2008

2008-09-20T23:53:00.001-04:00

Acts 9:1-19

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do." 7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." 11 And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight." 13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, " Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened.
NASU

Acts 9:1-19 Exposition

Part 1: Blinded to see

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

Notice that it is not when we are perfect that we are then chosen by God. It is not even when we are in a state of Spiritual readiness or openness that God may choose to move on our hearts to convert us. One of the greatest errors and lies of the devil is this: when man says “I am not prepared to come to Jesus.” Of course you are not ready. We are not called to get our life together before coming to Jesus. We are not called to enter a meditative state of openness to God to invite the Holy Spirit to move. The truth is that there is nothing that we may do to be worthy of Christs Love or the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 5:6-10 says this:

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us . 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. NASB

The beginning of the telling of Saul's conversion begins with Him still breathing “threats and murder” against the church. His heart is filled with all malice, certainly not prepared or open to the things of God.

2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Not only was he thinking and speaking evil, he was also in the act of planning how he might persecute the church in a greater way than he had, seeking legal permission to imprison the believers. He also was pursuing this legal right as one who believed, like those who granted him these same letters, that he was doing good. It is not our best intentions which save us, but often our works that we set out to do believing to do good, that are the very sins for which we will need to be forgiven. Good intentions and sincerity do not save us.

3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

Many people do have testimonies of great and supernatural encounters with God which led to their conversion. Yet this is not the normal means. Ordinarily the means of coming to faith is the preaching of the Word of God, leading to faith in that Word. At times this may be accompanied by some miraculous sign or vision which grabs the attention of the person. Yet it is the faith in Christ which results and not the encounter which saves. In Paul's case the encounter with Christ in this extraordinary way served to immediately turn him from his own darkness to the light of Christ, but also served to qualify him as an Apostle, the office to which Christ was calling him. An Apostle had to be one who had personally seen the resurrected Christ. Paul describes it to the church in this way in 1 Cor 15:3-9

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. NASB

4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

Saul is directly confronted by the Lord regarding his sin. Again, we do not ordinarily see a light and hear a voice. Yet it is more often our conscience which is pricked by the Spirit, either by a thought of our own, a word from another person, or God's Word either read or proclaimed which exposes our sin. The Light exposes what darkness hid. Bright light reveals every flaw of the skin and every bit of damage disorder or dirt which may be hidden by darkness. We cannot be truly converted to Christ until we see our sin for what it is, an offense against God himself. Saul is not simply persecuting Christians, he persecuted Jesus in his hatred and opposition to the church. He was not simply bothering people or breaking someone's rule, he was in opposition to God Himself. We like wise, to be truly converted must know our sin to be truly an offense against God for which we truly need forgiveness.

5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

Yet in his ignorance, Saul did not know who he was offending, believing himself to be serving God. Jesus reveals Himself further as the one whom Saul is persecuting. When we are in our sin we are ignorant of our offense, believing our works to be good and our hearts sincere. Yet needing Christ to reveal to us our sin so that we may then seek and find forgiveness and new life in Christ.

6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do."

Not willing to leave Saul in his sin Jesus directs him to the way out, sending Him to Annanias to be ministered to, and to receive the Gospel and be baptized into Christ. God does not convict us of Sin to leave us in guilt but to direct us to its remedy. If you are convicted then cry out to God for forgiveness and believe and do what Christ would have you do when you are informed of the good news of salvatiion through faith in Jesus Christ. DO not reject the Word and go on your own way.

7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

There is a great Hymn which contains the line “Though none go with me, Still I will follow.” The others with Saul are not dealt with here. We do not know if they too believed after hearing the voice. The men did lead him on to Damascus, but this was his destination anyway. While others may not hear and see things as we do, when we sense a call to believe in and follow Christ, there is no legitimate reason to turn aside.

8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

Saul was left blind by this encounter. We can speculate as to why; To show Him his real state, needing Christ to truly make him see; due to the bright light; to make him rely on others to teach him humility; to enable this encounter with Ananias. Whatever the reason we must see for ourselves that if we are to have our blindness to sin and our eyes opened to see God, it must be God who opens our eyes.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Saul spent this time fasting and as we are told in verse 11, praying. While we are without peace and full knowledge of our forgiveness of sin we remain as Saul, in darkness. Yet if we are believing we are in need of Christ, we should not simply go on about our business as usual. Saul prayed and fasted. If you are convicted of sin and unsure what to do, if you are sensing a need for Christ, If you are not sure if you are forgiven, then draw near to God and use the means at your disposal, Pray, fast if you may do so safely (recall Saul would have been accustomed to fasting as a pharisee), read the Bible as it is God's Word, and seek Godly counsel from the Church especially Pastors or elders who may minister to you and bring you to the assurance given by the gospel.

A Night back in Kansas...sort of

2008-09-15T21:51:00.000-04:00

Last night's windstorm was quite unlike anything I've ever seen in Pennsylvania. Dad sent pictures today of some trees blown down in his yard. Travelling from their home in Economy to take my sister home in Beaver falls we had numerous downed trees and limbs to contend with and had to detour a few times. Actually, the night was alot like being back in Kansas. The strong winds were like a typical windstorm and while rare here, would not have been remarkable out there. We wouldn't have had the number of downed trees that we had here since wind of that kind was common enough that any that were weak were probably already blown down. We'd get about 3-5 trees in town to remove and a lot of sticks to pick out of the yard in the morning. It was actually kind of neat to see wind of that strength again. While here we are so surrounded by natural beauty of trees, wildflowers, hills and mountains, out in the flater places I had to discover creation's beauty in the extremes of wind and weather. Unlike the majesty of mountains and old tall trees, I'd say it was the weather that inspired awe in the flatlands since it was the only thing appearing bigger than us.

I did hear of one terrible case of a person killed by a falling tree and I am sure there was some other costly damage. Like with our wild weather out there our hearts and prayers go out to those for whom it brings loss and sorrow. May the God who we see in creation's majesty and nature's power also bring the comfort and provision which He provides and promises in Jesus Christ.

In Christ and on the shepherd's Path,
Mark

Sunday 9-14-08 A Heart Prepared...A Messenger Sent

2008-09-13T23:00:00.002-04:00

Acts 8:25-40

25 So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." ( This is a desert road.) 27 So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." 30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

"HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
33 "IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH."

34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" 37[ And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."] 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
NASU

Acts 8:25-40 Exposition

25 So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Remember that the foremost mission of the Apostles was the preaching of the gospel. After speaking as recored before, both to Simon the Sorcerer as well as baptizing the new believers at that “city in Samaria” (Acts 8:5) where Phillip had been preaching the Apostles set out to return to Jerusalem. The text clearly refers to the Apostles even though it is “they” who returned, since, we remember that the Apostles had not fled Jerusalem during this persecution as others such as Phillip had. Yet even in their return trip they were employed in their calling to preach the gospel as they would do in each of the Samaritan villages they traveled through. Likewise, if we are to follow their example, it is our calling to use the opportunities afforded by our circumstances to preach the gospel wherever life may take us. Note too that since the Spirit had been given to the “outsider” Samaritans, there is no hesitation on the return trip to share the gospel with other Samaritans, not just those who had been prepared by others such as Phillip.

26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." ( This is a desert road.)

A side note here: Notice the detail of Luke. There are those who would tell us the Bible contains mostly fiction. Yet in argument the author includes details of Geography as well as in the following verse, of people, whose identity could be verified. A historian could verify the existence of such people as officials, perhaps not the eunuch himself, but at least the queen, and archaeologists could verify details of geography. Even more so there were the contemporary readers of the account who would know of such places and people and would have refuted them if it would discredit the Christian accounts which they opposed. Perhaps this story is not as good an example as Luke's birth narrative of Jesus, but it occasions this discussion. A writer who is trying to advance some idea as truth risks much by including details which could be verified in his accounts. See Lee Stroebel's The case for Christ for a much better treatment of this argument than I am able to make here.

The angel directs Phillip to a new mission having accomplished his purpose there in that Samaritan City. He is not told specifically what he will do but only a place, or even less, a direction to go. God purposed this mission marking its necessity by sending an angel to ensure the accurate understanding of God's will and purpose for Phillip.

27 So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,

Phillip's response is obedient and he meets on his way this Ethiopian eunuch. Now a eunuch if you are unaware is a man whose testicles have been removed so that He might be trusted to serve in close proximity to royal women. While a slave he was not the kind of slave we might picture, but a man who probably enjoyed certain advantages of wealth and privilege with the significant exception of his condition as a eunuch. He thus was free to come to Jerusalem to worship. By his coming we will note that he is obviously devoted to the God of Israel since he comes to worship even though his condition of being a eunuch would have excluded him from the Temple. See Deuteronomy 23:1
"He whose testicles are crushed or whose male member is cut off shall not enter the assembly of the LORD.” RSV
This is listed among the various persons who are to be excluded from the worship of ancient Israel, yet even as he was partially excluded the Eunuch comes to worship as he is able. What a contrast to those who insist that worship and the church's faith and teaching be modified to accommodate their preferences and comfort. The Eunuch's devotion to God is a demonstration of God at work in him in such a way that he is provided the way, who once was excluded, to inclusion in the body of Christ.

28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

We see his devotion as well in his reading of the prophet. This man, while excluded from the temple applied his privilege in such a way, not to spend it on his own pleasures but to gain what would aid him in drawing nearer to his God. Remember scrolls of scripture were not easily or cheaply acquired. Do we use our wealth to gain pleasure or to serve God?

29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."

The Spirit now communicating with Phillip, the Spirit and not an Angel this time, sends Phillip to the chariot of the Ethiopian. This was a unlikely a person for Phillip to seek out for conversation as they differed in so many ways, yet the Spirit drives Phillip to seek him out. Note too that God communicates in whatever manner he wills, at times using angels, at times the Spirit, and at times men. Just as God chooses What he will do, (save us), and whom he will do it for (the elect), God also sovereignly chooses the means, that is how, to accomplish His will. So foolish is the argument to say that we need not do our part in preaching the Gospel because God can save the elect without us. The fact is God chooses us to preach the Gospel and that preaching is the means of our coming to faith. Romans 10:14-15 says

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? NIV

So the notion that we may avoid the preaching of the Gospel on the grounds of how some characterize predestination or election is both unbiblical and foolish.

30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

The man read aloud, and Phillip hearing him asks if he indeed understands the passage he is reading.

31 And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Again the Ethiopian's faith disperses all of our best excuses. We often dismiss the Scriptures as too difficult, yet he reads, in a language foreign to him no less, and out loud, words he does not know how to interpret. Yet he reads them nonetheless. They are important to him. He also seeks interpretation from one who seems like he might know something, inviting Phillip to join him in the chariot. How many pastors would love to be asked to interpret scripture rather than make some change in the service to appease a member's tastes. How many people choose their church based on comfort rather than the teaching given from the pulpit. Choosing the sound of the music rather than the soundness of doctrine. The best churches do not make you make a choice but offer both excellence in worship and solid, Biblical teaching and preaching.

32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

"HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
33 "IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH."

The passage is one of the passages in Isaiah pointing to the Messiah as the “Suffering Servant”. It is no coincidence that the Ethiopian is reading this passage and his curiosity leads to his question. The Spirit drives all right questions concerning God and directs us to their answer.

34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?"

Reading this passage naturally and not knowing of Jesus one might well ask the same question. Yet there is always a correct interpretation of Scripture even if it eludes us. This is no literature for us to discuss what the author “might have meant” or seek various symbolic or levels of meaning. If the meaning eludes us we can be sure there is a meaning. We must pray for its interpretation as well a seek as good of counsel as we may find. Where we may not find the answer still, it is wise to look for a simple meaning that is faithful to the rest of Scripture and set aside the question until the Lord provides a clearer revelation of His Word to you. But always seek God's Word as He would give it, not as you would have Him speak.

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

Given this opportunity Phillip now opens the Scriptures to the Ethiopian that he may believe in Christ. Do not forget that the object of God's Word is to bring us to faith in the one John calls the Word (Read John 1), namely Jesus.

36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?"

We see the effectiveness of God's Word and Spirit here in that it produces the fruit of obedience in that the man seeks to be baptized at the first opportunity. He does not delay for a convenient time, but having heard of and believed in Jesus, wishes to be identified with Jesus in baptism. So we are taught not to simply believe in Jesus but keep His church (into which we are baptized) at arms length.

37[ And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]

This passage does not appear in the earliest manuscripts and is considered by some an addition. Without getting into textual criticism and attempting to determine what is and is not the Word of God, I will instead attempt to gain what fruit is available from the passage itself. It does little to advance the account since without it Phillip is next seen baptizing him and therefore confirming a true confession of Christ and desire for identification with Him. Nonetheless, you may see from this passage that Phillip seeks certainty in the man's confession and is given it. As the man was capable of understanding the Gospel he is to be fully certain of what he is seeking in baptism. A child lacks this capacity and is baptized in faith that they, being identified with Christ in their youth, will come to own their faith and baptism. The Eunuch, however is to enter the covenant marked by baptism with full knowledge of what he is doing and no immediate misunderstanding of the purpose of his baptism. The Ethiopian confesses that he in fact believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

As his confession was true he is Baptized by Phillip identifying himself both with Jesus Christ and with Phillip who is now a brother in Christ.

39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

God's purpose having been fulfilled, Phillip is taken away. The bizarre way this is stated leans us toward a supernatural explanation which is acceptable but not entirely necessary. In other words, If you believe it was supernatural that is fine. If not, I am of the opinion that your faith in not deficient. The supernatural element of Phillip's departure only serves to emphasize God's action in this event which has been established already. Take away from this the result that the eunuch likewise goes on his way rejoicing, demonstrating that quality and indeed fruit of the Spirit which is Joy.

40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

The chapter concludes with Phillip continuing his mission, beginning at this new city, Azotus and preaching the Gospel all the way as he went to a new destination. Our commission is to preach the Gospel everywhere we go and to make the most of every opportunity.
Colossians 4:5-6 instructs us in this way:

5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. NASU

Likewise Ephesians 5:15-21 teaches

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. NASU

May we do so.

In Christ and On The Shepherd's Path,
Mark

How do You Respond to Correction?

2008-09-07T00:14:00.000-04:00

Acts 8:9-24

9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; 10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, " This man is what is called the Great Power of God." 11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. 13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 "You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity." 24 But Simon answered and said, " Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."
NASU

Acts 8:9-24 Exposition

9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;

Simon had made a name for himself through the practice of magic or sorcery. That His art was not to the glory of God can be seen in that he used it to His own ends; to gain a name for himself, and “claiming to be someone great” promoted himself. The use of power and particularly either real or the illusion of spiritual power to ones own service is what God's people are warned against repeatedly in the Old testament as well as the new. In addition any power we may have is to be used for God's glory alone and not for our own promotion.

10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, " This man is what is called the Great Power of God."

Nothing is said of Simon turning aside this praise so we are to infer this was acceptable to him and indeed allowed him to enjoy a great reputation.

11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.

His celebrity was gained through the use of the sorcery itself and seemingly not for any perceived good he did with it. It may be argued that he did no harm, following what is today among those practicing witchcraft called the “witches reede”, “and it harms none do what thou wilt”. One may view this then as so-called white-magic even though its end is no better than magic done to create evil as he serves himself and not God. If indeed His power was from God then certainly it should have been employed to a higher purpose than self promotion and celebrity. Likewise, what talents we possess are gift from God and should be employed to the glory and purpose of God and not for any lesser thing.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

Without judging the people of Samaria as to the eternal effect of their conversion, it does seem that they are people easily attracted to a new thing. We shall say then that while we must certainly hear and respond to the gospel, and be baptized, we must also persevere in faith. One may respond to the Good news for various reasons,but perseverance in faith demonstrated that our response was more than an excited reply to an attractive offer.

13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

Simon himself believed and was baptized, following and observing the miracles done through Philip.

14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,

Showing the importance of connection among the members of the church the Apostles come to Samaria to see the results of this successful evangelistic work by Phillip. Our work in the church if it is of God will be approved by those who by right faith and practice are a part of the true Church. While disagreements may occur, and while the world especially will hate our work, in the end God's people will recognize and approve what God is doing. Time and examination by the church with faithful submission to the authority and guidance of scripture can separate the gold from the dross and the wheat from the chaff.

15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

The response of the church is to pray for these new converts that their conversion may indeed be complete. Too often when someone whom we may distrust is converted we smugly sit back and say “we'll see”. Yet the apostles take a different approach. They come and see these Samaritans and pray for them asking God to indeed give them the Holy Spirit. When you see a person make a decision to trust in Christ, do not doubt but rather pray, since God is the one who works in all true conversions.

16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

For reasons we can only speculate, the Holy Spirit was not received by these people at the moment of belief or at their baptism.

17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.

Yet as the Apostles prayed and laid hands on them they did indeed receive the Spirit. Whatever we think might be the natural result of preaching, teaching, sharing our faith, or any other godly efforts we make we can be assured that God answers prayer and bestows his Spirit as He wills and when He wills. The Apostles were appointed to go and through laying on hands pass along the Holy Spirit. Be assured the Spirit would not have been given had God not willed it. It was not the people's reaction to Phillip's preaching or the act of their baptism, or even the physical act of laying on hands that bestowed the Spirit, for we cannot make God do anything he does not will. Yet the Apostles prayed and then in faith laid hands on those who would receive and they did receive the Holy Spirit.

18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

Simon saw only the act and did not understand the power or purpose behind it. He was used to dealing in magic where the right words or actions achieved the desired effect and so thought he could purchase this ability. It is only speculation whether he in his heart desired this ability to grow the church or merely his own reputation. Even so we can learn from Simon that whether for good intentions or selfish ones we should not attempt by our own means to gain gifts not given to us. This does not mean we should not be educated or learn new skills but simply that we should not envy or covet those gifts we admire in others.

20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

Peter's rebuke is quick and harsh to our ears. Yet how much more effective might the church be if we were more ready to briefly and directly correct wrong and error than to try to fix it by politics or persuasion. This is not to encourage rudeness, but when error is plain to the church it should be corrected.

21 "You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

Regardless of what Simon planned to do with the ability his heart was not right at the least because he was not content with what he had already received in Christ: Salvation, the Holy Spirit, and baptism into Christ's body the church. Rather than following a calling he sought to grasp a high position for himself thinking it was something he might gain by purchase. Our role in the church is one of grateful followers of Christs calling. There is no higher or lower state. A Pastor is not elevated above a Deacon. Elder, or Lay Person. These are simply different callings and ministries. Therefore one pursues each state only as he or she is called not as a rung in a ladder to be climbed.

22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

With the rebuke is included the way out. Peter offers Simon the offer give to each of us when we are in error. Repent! Turn away from sin and error and loathe it and seek what is right, and then ask forgiveness and a right heart. It is wrong of us to rebuke a person without also offering the way of correction and the assurance of forgiveness which is offered in Christ.

23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."

Prophetically (as this is recorded in the Word of God and therefore true) the Apostle speaks to Simon concerning the condition of his heart. We should beware of what sins may come from bitterness, envy, and what bondage we can fall into when sin is tolerated in ourselves or in our members. Set aside all bitterness and seek in Christ freedom from all sin. Do not tolerate any sin in yourself, repent quickly and seek forgiveness where it may be found, namely from and in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In the church Call sin what God's Word calls sin. Be careful of making laws of your own but clearly oppose those things which Scripture calls sin. Warn gently yet firmly, and out of nothing else than love, those who continue in sin and pray for their return.

24 But Simon answered and said, " Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

I am unsure of Simon's response. Does his response mean he truly repents and desires their prayers. Or does he remain in bitterness and therefore return their words bitterly refusing to pray for himself, and seeking only freedom from consequences.

Rather than answer I instead will offer you this: When you are rebuked, whether by Scripture alone, preaching, an Elder, or a friend or church member, do not respond with bitterness. Examine your heart. If your conduct is right you will be affirmed by the church. Yet if you find any fault in youself, do not ask others to pray until you yourself have prayed and asked, not for freedom from consequences, but for forgiveness, a right heart, and correct action.

In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,

Mark

2008-09-04T17:28:00.001-04:00

Sundays Text 9-7-08

2008-09-03T12:13:00.002-04:00

This Sunday we return to our Fall Schedule of 11 AM Services. I am excited to be returning to the Study of Acts as well as beginning a Sunday School Class Studying the book of Phillippians.

Hope to see you all there. Here is Sunday's text.

Acts 8:9-24

9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; 10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, " This man is what is called the Great Power of God." 11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. 13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.

14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 "You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity." 24 But Simon answered and said, " Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

NASU

The Gospel First and Foremost

2008-08-28T18:35:00.002-04:00

Acts 8:1-8

Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.

And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

4 Philip in Samaria

Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. 6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. 7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 So there was much rejoicing in that city.

NASU

Acts 8:1-8 Exposition

Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.

We return to Acts after some time spent preaching other texts and are reminded that the Deacon Stephen was stoned to death for proclaiming the gospel. Saul was found among those holding the coats of those who did the stoning, and unless we should think him naively unsure of what to do we are told that he was fully approving of what was done. Remember that this passage is both inspired by God but also well sourced as the human author, Luke was a companion of Paul (who was once this Saul) on his journeys and would certainly have had opportunity to hear firsthand the accounts of Paul's conversion.

This one sentence serves a purpose beyond the text we are examining here which is to establish the character of Saul and demonstrate the radical nature of his conversion later.

And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Persecution, like that of Saul and others served to disperse the believers and while the Apostles apparently remained in Jerusalem, many other believers were spread throughout the countryside.

2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.

It would appear by his burial by “devout men”that this burial was not by the believers but by some among the Jews who would bury even the bodies of the executed. However is Adam Clarke's Commentary is to be believed it also indicates that by their “loud lamentation” that he was not fully condemned by the Sanhedrin but instead killed by and unruly mob with the silent approval of those leaders who stood by and by their silence permitted this attack. If we are to learn anything from this it is that we should not stand by while evil occurs and then carry out services and mourning for its results. When there is opportunity to make a difference do what you can and then mourn if you fail, but do not stand by and do nothing and mourn the results

3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Saul by contrast is more active in his opposition to the Christ followers. He is described as “ravaging” the church, dragging off both men and women, obviously not discerning between leaders and those who associated with Christ but persecuting all alike, and imprisoning them. His zeal is recorded in his own account as he repudiates his former life and confidence in his own pedigree and works to claim his confidence in Christ alone. This is in Phil 3:2-11

2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

NASU

All this to remind us that it is neither devotion or zeal which attains for us the reward given through Christ. All that we do is done out of gratitude. Our confidence is in Christ and in Him alone. Our devotion is to Him in Love and thankfulness and our zeal to worship and please Him.

4Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Examine the history of Israel and you will find that persecution drove the Jews from their homeland and led to the dispersion of both Jewish religion and thought throughout the world. As a result there were Jews spread throughout the Roman Empire as well as other parts of the world. Again persecution would drive the church from being a local group to a Empire-wide faith and then as history would continue a global faith. Those who would suffer did not abandon their faith but instead spread it, proclaiming the gospel to be true for all, not just this one race in one place. In fact the earlier dispersion of the Jews would give them an audience in other places. They would find people of like ideas (worshiping the God of Abraham) as well as like nationality and language in the places to which they were driven. There are times when the means God uses to accomplish His plan is adversity. The thing that drives you straight into the place where He wants you to be could be through the loss of something you treasured. The persecution of the believers was not a punishment for any sin of theirs but the fulfillment of what Jesus had predicted when he promised that the world would hate those who belong to Him. But the result would be the expansion of His church.

5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.

Philip was among the dispersed and began preaching in Samaria, a place where Jerusalem Jews would have not likely gone given the choice. Yet the gospel is now expanding to those outside of the initial human boundaries. A person may take this opportunity to preach on the acceptance of those different from us, and indeed this lesson can be inferred, as long as one is clear that it was not a mere “I'm OK, You're OK” acceptance but instead a clear presentation of the Gospel that united these otherwise diverse people. The gospel of Jesus Christ and our common faith in Him is that which unites, not the worldly counterfeit of “tolerance.”

6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

Obviously God is not bound by geography, race, or any human division. The miracles and signs which followed the Apostles and Deacons in Jerusalem continued in other areas confirming the truth of the message and the power in Jesus name. These signs gained an audience for the gospel and commended the message.

7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

As before, evil Spirits, the condemned fallen angels which follow Satan, do not stand in the face of Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit. If people are to be truly free of the deceptions and afflictions of the enemy of God and of our own souls it will be only through Christ. No other means can heal us of the disease of sin, the temptation to do evil, or the seeming need to serve only ourselves. Likewise we must ask for healing of both bodies and Spirits because a healed body without a saved soul and renewed (in the Holy Spirit)spirit is in the end no better off. Should we eliminate poverty, disease, war, or any other malady of people or society, and not bring them eternal life we only make comfortable those who will be lost. So we must do good, and with our doing good show the reason for our work, telling the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The proclamation of the gospel is the means by which the “saved” are known to be the “saved”.

8 So there was much rejoicing in that city.

The dual work of Phillip gained a reputation through the help given to the sick and afflicted and the effective preaching of the gospel. We will see as we continue to study that there is success in Phillip's preaching as well as the miracles.

Do I Really Hate to Travel?

2008-08-20T11:14:00.002-04:00

My wife said something to me the other day that I find appalling. She said that I hate to travel. Now if I wanted to believe this were true I'd not be so disturbed. But I believe myself to be an adventurous sort of person. I like the outdoors. Enjoy seeing as much of the world as I can afford (which I'll admit isn't that much) and enjoy imagining the great places I may get to go in the future.

But to a certain extent I do agree that in her assessment I probably do hate to travel. Because while I see the excitement with which I imagine the trip months ahead. I see the pictures in my mind of the great things we'll see, the fun things we'll do, the exotic things (or at least different from home) things we'll eat, and the sublime moments of quiet time enjoying beautiful scenes of God's creation; She sees the reality, the long drives in the car as I sit frustrated with the kids for the fourth potty stop in half as many hours. She sees the fear and loathing with which I pay just a little bit more for the hotel and mentally count the cost. She sees me cramming our stuff into the minivan declaring on oath that this will be the last time we leave home again. And ultimately she knows that the drive home will include the inevitable disappointed grousing about how those sublime moments enjoying God's glory never materialized.

So while I like the idea of travel, I may have to admit I may...perhaps.. actually...hate to travel.
The key difference is the degree of separation between imagination and reality. The trip I imagine looks nothing like the one I am actually on.

Does life ever look like this for you? Did that great job you imagined turn into just a job. That fairy tale marriage you pictured turn into something that is more about enduring than endearing. Does the adult life you pictured in your twenties still look not enough different than the life you had in your twenties except now you're too tired and busy to enjoy it. Does church seem less like the imagined picture of a comforting smiling family and more like...well, a real family.

The solution is found in Scripture and is built on dropping the idea that life is all about us. Much of what passes for religion today is about being fulfilled here and now. We are told that with sufficient faith and a positive attitude we can enjoy the finest things here and then even more in heaven. Yet Scripture gives us a different picture. One where fulfillment is found not in things from God, but in God himself.

Hebrews 11: 13 NIV says:
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

In this chapter 11 of Hebrews, the "Hall of fame of faith," those who exemplified faith were said to have never seen the promises they hoped for yet they died believing, knowing that their fulfillment came in a far country prepared by God for them. In the meantime the heroes of faith lived lives of faith, trusting and worshiping God, trying to be obedient, making mistakes, seeking and finding forgiveness, and ultimately enduring to the end.

Having just finished Preaching on Revelation's first four Chapters, I am glad for the reminders Scripture gives us both of God's promises and the necessity of endurance. The reason I hate to travel and love the idea of it is that each time I travel it is like imagining that I am going to a better country than my own. Yet when I get there I am reminded that no destination will compare to the place of eternal life with God that I am really looking for.

Also the other reason I really do hate to travel is that there is so much effort involved. The packing ("Will I need a bathing suit or a parka...I'll take them both, you never know..."), the planning ("Can we fit in a stop here to see the world's largest freeze dried squirrel?"), the paying, the driving (It's only 2AM, Lets go on, maybe the next town will have a Better Hotel), and the eating out(Less often exotic, and more often the comfort food of the Cracker Barrel).

Yet the journey to our heavenly country involves the dropping of all effort and trusting in Jesus Christ. There is no packing since there is no stuff that can help you get there. How great when compared to cramming that one last item "we just might need" into the car. Not even clothing to wash and pack since we will receive the robe and crown promised. There is no paying, "Jesus Paid it All" as the song says, Dying on the cross for our sins, doing all that was possible or necessary to provide the forgiveness we need) There is no driving. Our works we do, we do to thank God, and out of love for Him and His people, not to earn our place in heaven. Even the meals are in fact "comfort food" when we Eat the bread and drink the cup and remember the way Jesus provided all we need for life together with God.

With Christ we know we will see that Country someday. Until then, while life can be as frustrating as a road trip (and indeed often far worse) We do get to close our eyes in prayer, or open them and read Scripture, or raise our hands and voices in worship, and imagine the Destination promised to us through Jesus Christ.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Back to the Basics

2008-07-15T11:22:00.002-04:00

Part of my own processing of the situation with the PCUSA and the recent GA decisions led me to explore something that has been seemingly all but abandoned yet remains close to my heart. That is, the Confessing Church movement and its core confessions of "Christ Alone", Scripture Alone" and Holy living. Specifically I looked up the cobwebbed website of the Confessing church movement and found Oakdale's Session resolution. This was important for me as their new pastor since I had transitioned from a confessing congregation in Kansas, knew Oakdale was also a Confessing congregation, but had never read Oakdale's specific statement. I believe it is important to those of us who remain in the PCUSA to revisit our core confessions.

"Session Resolution

The session joins faithful believers throughout the Church in confessing:

- That Jesus Christ alone is Lord of all and the way of salvation.

- That holy Scripture is the truine God's revealed Word, the Churches only infallible rule of faith and life

- That God's people are called to holiness in all aspects of life. This includes honoring sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, the only relationship within which sexual activity is appropriate.

We therefore announce our commitment to the Confessing Church Movement nd we implore all Presbyterians who share these historic Christian convictions to:

- Renew their individual commitments to the above confessions.

- Urge their session and presbytery to affirm these confessions and to declare that they will not ordain, install or employ in any ministry position any person who will not affirm them

- Urge the General Assembly to instruct the General Assembly Council to require that all program personnel uphold these confessions and ensure that these confessions are followed faithfully in all programs and policies of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)."

The purpose of these confessions was not to "target homosexuals" or to create division, but to define who we are as a congregation and to set appropriate boundaries within a family that exists with such deep divisions in belief and practice. We exist as a congregation that believes in the Authority and inspiration of Scripture and so we cannot assume that there is a wisdom greater than God's Holy Word for us to seek to govern either our beliefs or our life. Likewise we cannot compromise and name other views of God, no matter how similar, as compatible with our worship of the Triune God revealed in Jesus Christ and through Scripture.

Where sexuality is concerned we believe that Jesus Christ and Scripture together call us to practices which exemplify the life to which we are called by Scripture and not by the world. We cannot say there are a variety of ways to express our sexuality when scripture clearly calls people to avoid adultery, and to live faithfully in marriage, man to one woman, and woman to one man. Any other expression of sexual activity, other than chastity in singleness, is an example of our broken condition and points to our need to have our thoughts, desires, and behaviors reshaped by the Holy Spirit into ways that are obedient to God's Word. Our struggles with desires that are contrary to God's design are a part of God's gracious gift of conscience and conviction which are to drive us to repentance and to simultaneously trust the Holy Spirit's ability to transform us. We have not been called to creatively redefine sin so that we can say we are outside of its influence or effect. The difficulty of the task of trusting God in this only points to the truth that it is a "narrow way" and a "cross" we are called to bear in following Christ.

To remain faithful in the PCUSA, or out of it for that matter we must remain faithful to our core confessions.

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Damage Control

2008-07-12T21:47:00.003-04:00

That's the word from some about a letter from the General Assembly of the PCUSA, interpreting the various "hotbutton" actions of the 218th. You can read the letter at:
http://www.pcusa.org/gac/ga218letter.htm and I would love your comments.
I am afraid I find myself in the midst of a storm that I never asked for and wonder how I should proceed. To call this letter damage control is unfortunate but accurate, for damage has been done, damage to the hearts of those who love their church but find their faith betrayed by a new teaching which rises up to say that it is a matter of local preference and opinion; a matter of yes votes to no votes on a session, or a presbytery, regarding right and wrong. We are left to wait two years to see if our Presbyteries will once again say that they really really do want pastors and elders who are faithful husbands and wives or if unmarried remain in relationships that exemplify the sexual purity we strive so hard to teach to our children. We are left to "consider" if Jesus would rather have us with leaders who are called by word and deed to teach the Word of God, who in their own relationships demonstrate the behavior acceptable in the world rather than faithfulness to avoid what the Bible calls sin and to seek to live in obedience to the only trustworthy source of revelation of God's character and Will.
I feel betrayed because I believe in the Presbyterian system of church government. It is a democracy and democracy is in fact the worst system of Government... except for all the others. People tend to behave I believe, in agreement with the reformed belief in total depravity, in mostly self interested ways and as a result a system of majority rule under a constitutional rule of law, with checks and balances, tends to restrain evil as well as any human institution can.
The problem comes when the constitution is amendable and the rock solid foundation for that constitution has been forsaken for the shifting sands of a post modern ethic of amoral pragmatism. Most refer to postmodern ethics as moral relativism yet I would argue that the ethic in result is just as I said, amoral pragmatism. The rule is right or wrong are irrelevant ideas and the highest good is whatever happens to work the best. The problem with this ethic is we are all so short sighted and like even a good chess player our game is not deep enough to see the long term consequences of a choice which seems to do "good" at the moment.
Our solid foundation has for generations been the Word of God and while interpretations of nuances of minor details have always been allowed we have remained faithful to declare that what the Bible calls sin is in fact sin.
Now we have sent to our leaders, to vote, a proposal to replace recently clarified language concerning fidelity and chastity, with language that is in effect nonsense since we have already vowed to uphold these standards at our ordinations. It was to our shame that a few years ago we had to clarify what our sexual ethics were to be since we for generations in the church always understood what was expected of our leaders.
But our denomination tells us to stay in the boat and It'll be alright. If we are in fact in the boat with Jesus this is true. But one must ask, might we be riding in Jonah's boat. Are we embarked with prophets who have departed from their calling to preach repentance and instead are seeking a port of their own choice. Are we the Jonah's ourselves choosing a boat headed in the wrong direction looking for an easy way out and only in a storm because we would rather not choose the path of obedience. Will we have the courage of Jonah to at least choose the fish as the path of our own redemption. Jonah did not know that he would survive the sea, only that the boat would not survive the storm with him aboard.
At the same time I am concerned. I want to remain in the boat because I love the people in the boat. I love my church and so I will remain with my congregation and we will seek together, in faith, asking Jesus what we should do. We will not cry that he does not care that we are perishing, for we know from his word that he does and will when need arises still our storm. But we must seek him and do as he says. The way out of a God storm is through obedience not disobedience to God. Jesus says put faith in Him, follow Him, obey Him. May we do so.
Finally I do not wish to alarm my brothers and sisters who are faithful to Christ. This Blog and and any resulting sermons tomorrow are a result of my heart, in pain for my church, responding to the Scriptures and in light of recent events. It is good and necessary to say what I believe in light of these things and your conversations, should anyone actually read this will help.
In the end damage has been done, may it be healed. May we know which ship we are on and call on Jesus that we may know whether ship or sea is the path of faithfulness. May we not remain as we are and seek Jesus quickly and with faith so we may know His Will for us.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's path,
Mark

Sunday June 15, 2008

2008-06-15T00:47:00.000-04:00

Revelation 1:9-20 Exposition

I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

John is writing these things from exile on the island called Patmos. John had been preserved from death but was still living out his punishment for preaching the Gospel. God brought about the circumstances which led to John's exile so that he would be there to receive, record, and transmit this message to the church. Many of the other Apostles had fallen to martyrdom for declaring Jesus as Lord. Yet our Lord himself had foretold that John would survive in John 21:20-23

20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" 21 So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!" 23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?"

NASU

Jesus was not indicating anything as bizarre as an abnormally long life for John, but it was clear that ther was a different calling for John than for Peter who would die a martyr's death by crucifixion.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,

Here was John in exile likely separated from other believers he he describes himself as being “in the Spirit” on the Lord's day. With no luxuries of gathered friends and family, music, entertaining messages or anything else which “church” affords, John is nonetheless in worship, drawing near to the presence of God on the Lord's Day. If there is a first lesson in being the church God wants us to be it is that we must be in the Spirit on the Lord's day. Should anything keep us from worship with our fellow believers in our home congregation, we are called to all the more ensure that we are “in the Spirit” participating in some genuine form of worship and devotion to our Lord on this His day.

Second it is important to note that the message to John came to him while, “in the Spirit”. We often say “I do not know God's will.” or “God doesn't seem to hear my prayers.” While your situation may be different, the first question you should ask yourself is this. Am I “in the Spirit”? That is, are you attentive to God and God alone in your times of devotion and especially on the Lord's day. God is not likely to speak to us when we are performing a religious service out of habit or routine. Should we expect to encounter God's best when we are looking to give Him our least?

The voice itself was like a trumpet. When God speaks or calls it is impossible to ignore. It would take a force of sheer will to disregard a voice like a trumpet. Too often when we know clearly what God wants we will attempt to disregard the voice, believing we may not have heard correctly, yet it is not the ears or the mind which failed but the will that resists.

11 saying, " Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

Christs message was to His church, like any Spiritual gift, Johns vision was for the building up of the body of Christ. So it is with our own Gifts as well a Christian Spiritual experience. These are not given that we may be puffed up with pride as spiritual giants, but that we may use what God gives to build and strengthen His Church.

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;

Christ does more than reveal himself but in setting the scene for John, He displays his role in the church. John sees first the seven lampstands.

13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.

This is Christ, the Son of Man, clothed in majesty, and standing in the midst of the lampstands.

14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.

Christ appears glorified not in the humility of His earthly appearance, but more like the transfigured appearance which He had shown Peter, James and John, His whiteness and fiery eyes display His holiness and purity and you see a glimpse too of his passion and life. This is no ghost of a dead prophet like the translucent and shadowy visions we picture in movies. No one could see what John saw and believe they describing someone dead. He is also similar in appearance to the Son of Man as seen by Daniel (Dan 10:4-6)

5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. 6 His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult.

NASU

John's continued description follows this same pattern.

15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.

John describes the Son of man in this vision in terms of beauty and awe and majesty. Our Lord is no source for us of boredom. His very person and liveliness makes us alive, grabs our attention and calls us to hear his words.

16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

Here we see two ways He shows us who He is, with the sword from His mouth, and the stars in His hand. He himself will explain the stars. We have been told in Hebrews 4:12

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edgedsword , and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

NASU

His face is glorious, shining with an intensity that would force us to look away. This also reminds us of both the transfiguration as well as the Son of Man, again as in Daniel. The similarities to Daniel are important as John's vision deals with much of the same subject matter as Daniel and sets the couse for the New Testament saints to know what to expect and hope for in the end. Knowing this will encourage the Church to stay and stand strong in the future.

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, " Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,

Even though fear gripped John in Christ's glorified presence He is comforted by the reassurance of Who it Is that is speaking to him, Namely the “first and the Last”. Our comfort is not in our situation or in any natural thing, but our comfort and courage comes from the person of Jesus Christ.

18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

As John falls “like a dead man” and perhaps even fears death, he is reassured that Life and death are in the hands of the one who holds the keys to death and “hades” the grave. Jesus conquered death and as its conquerer now exercises authority over death itself. If we know and trust Jesus, and he has authority over death, then death is not something we have to fear.

19 "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.

John is instructed to write both the events leading up to the vision he is to be shown, what he sees now, and what he is about to see. This is the purpose of the vision, that its contents be transmitted to the Church, that she may be blessed with what Christ imparts to her though His Word.

20 "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

The first explanation Christ gives is of the stars and lampstands. The stars are the “angels” as it says, of the seven churches. This can either mean, angelic beings charged with the care of the churches, or the “messengers” of those churches, namely their pastoral leadership. In either sense we gain comfort knowing that the messengers, whether angelic or human, reside in the palm of Christ's hand. The greatest responsibility is the preseervation and the proclamation of Christ's own message to His Church. The task is impossible without the guidance and protection of Christ's own hand.

The lampstands are the churches which can take comfort that Christ stands in the midst of them. One can even infer that Christ does not stand closer to one than another, but stands in the midst of His faithful churches. Our congregations may know that Christ does not belong to us but that His Church belongs to Christ. He stands beside His Bride in whichever congregation she resides, and guides and protects His message and messengers.

Heads up for the Summer series

2008-06-10T10:50:00.002-04:00

The following will be the scriptures for the Summer series on Revelation and God's calling for the Church we are to be. Read on your own to prepare or use this like any other post for comments or questions on the sermons.

Week 1 June 15 2008

Rev 1:9-20

9 The Patmos Vision

I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, " Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, " Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. 19 "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. 20 "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

NASU

Week 2 June 22 2008

Rev 2:1-7

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

2' I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. 4'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place — unless you repent. 6'Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'

NASU

Week 3 June 29 2008

Rev 2:8-11

"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

9'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'

NASU

Week 4 July 6 2008

Rev 2:12-17

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:

13'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15'So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16'Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'

NASU

Week 5 July13 2008

Rev 2:18-29

"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:

19' I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 20'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21' I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22'Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 23'And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24'But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them — I place no other burden on you. 25'Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. 26' He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end,TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; 27 AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON,AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

NASU

Week 6 July 20 2008

Rev 3:1-6

3:1 Message to Sardis

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ' I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2'Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3'So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4'But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5' He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

NASU

Week 7 July 27 2008

Rev 3:7-13

7 Message to Philadelphia

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

8' I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie — I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11' I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12' He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 13' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

NASU

Week 8 August 3 2008

Rev 3:14-22

14 Message to Laodicea

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

15' I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17'Because you say, " I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19' Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21' He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

NASU

Week 9 August 10 2008

Rev 4

4:1 Scene in Heaven

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, " Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.

5 The Throne and Worship of the Creator

Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,

"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY,WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."

9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 " Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."

NASU

2008-06-10T10:38:00.002-04:00

Last week I said concerning Revelation 1:4 that I found no quarrel with the idea that the seven spirits could be angelic beings. In spite of this I have found little to back me up on this and much more evidence to suggest as I believed before, that this sevenfold Spirit, is none other than the Holy Spirit. The most concise argument to this effect I found in the Geneva Bible and include it here.

"Rev 1:4
That is, from the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son. This Spirit is one in person according to his subsistence: but in communication of his power, and in demonstration of his divine works in those seven churches, perfectly manifests himself as if there were many spirits, every one perfectly working in his own church. Which is why in Rev 5:6 they are called the seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb, as if to say, as his most absolute power and wisdom. In Rev 3:1 Christ is said to have those seven spirits of God , and in Rev 4:5 it is said that seven lamps burn before his throne, which also are those seven spirits of God . That this place ought to be so understood, it is thus proved. For first, grace and peace is asked by prayer from this Spirit, which is a divine work, and an action incommunicable in respect to God. Secondly, he is placed between the Father and the Son, as set in the same degree of dignity and operation with them, besides, he is before the throne, as of the same substance with the Father and the Son: as the seven eyes and seven horns of the Lamb. Moreover, these spirits are never said to adore God, as all other things are. Finally, this is the power by which the Lamb opened the book, and loosed the seven seals of it, when no one could be found among all creatures by whom the book might be opened Rev 5:1-10"
(from Geneva Notes, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Blessed be God who reveals His truth to us in His Word. We would be lost to our own fickle imaginations without it.

In Christ,
Mark

Revelation Series for Summer

2008-06-07T14:47:00.002-04:00

Taking a break from Acts, I want to spend some time on the first part of Revelation this Summer and look at the Letters to the Seven Churches. The goal will be for our church to mine from these Scriptures the call of God for the kind of Church we are to be. We'll begin this week with the introduction in Revelation 1.

Revelation 1:1-8

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

4 Message to the Seven Churches

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood — 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father — to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, " who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

NASU

Rev 1:1-8 Exposition

The Revelation of Jesus Christ,

Do not treat the book of Revelation as any kind of cryptic book of predictions. It does prophesy future events in its content as the past present and future are in the hand of the sovereign God. Yet it is not some book of shadowy secrets to be opened by adepts to gain knowledge kept from ordinary men. It is first and foremost “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” and since it says “which God gave Him to show his bond-servants,” we can assume that it is Jesus' revelation, that is the Revelation made by Jesus Christ. This is a contrast to a revelation of the person of Jesus. Again by necessity, just as prophetic warnings and predictions occur by necessity, the book also includes some revelations of the person of Christ, but none which are new and in any differ from the rest of Scripture. We are not meeting a Jesus any different than the one pictured for us in the Gospels.

which God gave Him

The message is God's own given through Jesus Christ.

to show to His bond-servants,

The book is shown by Jesus to the church, “his bond-servants” those who serve him and are bound to him. This accurately pictures the church which is called to serve the cause and Word and good news of Christ and is bound to Him by gracious election and by personal response and baptism. Our obligation to Him is one of gratitude for all he has done for us.

the things which must soon take place

The book is a gift to the church, not for hiding but for revealing “the things which must soon take place.” It's purpose is to strengthen the church to endure in faith in times of tribulation which came upon the church and will always face her until the end. It is a word of hope for us that we can and shall persevere.

and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,

As the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” the book has Jesus as its Author, “His angel” as the author's messenger, true to the name “angel”, and John as its faithful transcriber as John too is Christ's “bond servant”. This is not John's own creative writing, the bond servants of Christ are not called to creativity or originality concerning our message but to faithful transmission of God's own Word.

2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ,

John writes in the third person of himself as this kind of faithful witness, testifying truly to the Word of God as well as the testimonial account of Jesus. John's goal is to be faithful to the revealed Word of God as well as the accounts of Jesus' words and deeds.

even to all that he saw.

John is also testifying to the vision which he was given to see. The words “all that he saw” is from the Greek hosa meaning “all of the things” rather than giving us the sense of him telling these things to all the people which he saw. This tells us that we are about to read an account of a vision.

3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

We are blessed by this account. It is a gift to the church and one too precious to be neglected as it often is for its difficulty. Taking into account its purpose as a revelation from God to the church and a gift with a blessing, unlocks much of what seems hidden and makes study of it worthwhile, encouraging the reader to bear with and trust in God with those things which are hard to understand. We are told the blessing is for those who “read” and “heed”. One does not receive any magical “blessing” for reading alone, but the gift or blessing is for those who read and pay attention to and obey what is writted and faithfully apply what is there. We are additionally warned that the time is near. Certainly the early church would need these words to endure the early tribulations of persecution which were coming. Likewise the church in every age needs these words to be assured of God's sovereign control of their situation and struggles and of Christ's ultimate victory. The church in the days of the final tribulation described herein will need these words to survive to the end. We do not know the day or hour of Christ's return, but these passages give us hope and reason to endure.

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

John now begins to address his immediate audience, not the general “bond-servants” of Christ, but the specific seven churches of Asia Minor (called Asia in John's day). These as we will see are messages of encouragement, warning, rebuke, correction, and praise, to the specific gathered bodies of believers in those seven places, which have application to any and all churches at all times when they find in these letters something which describes them.

Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

First a greeting from the letter's true author, not John, but God, who is described as eternal, “who was and is and is to come. Also from the seven spirits or “sevenfold spirit” depending on the translation, before His throne. This I believe points to none other than the Holy Spirit, but should you wish to believe it is some angelic creatures who add greeting, I would not quarrel since the point is the same, that the message and greeting comes from none other than the throne of God and no lesser place.

5 and from Jesus Christ,

Encouraging me to believe that the seven spirits are the Holy Spirit made manifest with the perfect number seven and perhaps alluding to the nature of the Spirit, the same Spirit who rested on Jesus as in Isaiah 11:2

2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

KJV

Even as I underline these attributes, one might debate whether these are six or seven. Yet the point is that it is possible that the Spirit, of whom additional attributes could be Holiness (as He is the “Holy” Spirit) or eternity (as He is the Spirit of the LORD, which is the Hebrew name of God, “I am”, the eternal” etc.) my point is that to see the Sevenfold Spirit as the Trinity completing Holy Spirit would be appropriate as the greeting already includes the Father, as well as the Son Jesus Christ.

the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

Jesus is here described by His attributes, “the faithful witness” who reveals the Father, the resurrected “firstborn from the dead”, and the “ruler of the kings of the earth” demonstrating His Lordship and echoing the proclamation of the Church, “Jesus is Lord”.

To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood —

Jesus' name is not said without praise as John breaks mid-sentence to Praise His works. Jesus; “ loves us and released us from our sins by His blood”. The choice of Christ to love his bond-servants the church, and to forgive our own unloving disobedience is displayed here as part of a list of reasons for praise. The cross and His Blood were His means of accomplishing what He willed for us and demonstrating his love and gracious forgiveness while remaining perfect in justice and holiness.

6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father —

Not only have we received His love and forgiveness but also we have been elevated, no longer just servants owing Him a debt of gratitude but also his kingdom citizens and priests who are now able to serve His God and Father in worship.

to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The result of these things is unlimited praise equal to that of The Father Himself and due only to God, therefore unreservedly declaring Jesus to be God as well. This praise ascribes to Him glory, and “dominion” lordship, and rulership, not only now but also for eternity, Not for a mere season but always.

7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

Here we are reminded of what was revealed by the angels at the mount of Ascension; Acts 1:11

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

KJV

and by Jesus Himself , Matt 24:30

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

KJV

Jesus own Word of promise are repeated here to assure the church of the truth of His promise even as His return seems delayed and the church prepares to endure suffering and tribulation.

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, " who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Our final assurance is in the eternity of God. There is no changing or defeating God or what he has purposed. This is good news for if our future and even our end is secure in God's hand then whatever we may face, mistreatment, imprisonment, suffering, or even death, we may know that our end is secure. God is, and exists without end existing also in our present. God was, and therefore was present in the past bringing all things about to fulfill His purpose. God is to come, and will not disappear leaving us to our own ends. God is Almighty, no to be defeated, thwarted, disappointed, frustrated, or out maneuvered. Therfore what have we to fear. As Romans 8:31 tells us.

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us ?

KJV

In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark

Sunday Preview, Text

2008-05-22T11:32:00.001-04:00

Acts 7:35-60

35 "This Moses whom they disowned, saying, 'WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?' is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. 36 " This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 "This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, 'GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.' 38 "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. 39 "Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 40 SAYING TO AARON, 'MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT — WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.' 41 " At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 "But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL? 43'YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.'

44 "Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. 45 "And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. 46 "David found favor in God's sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 "But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. 48 "However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

49'HEAVEN IS MY THRONE,
AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET;
WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?' says the Lord,
'OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE?
50'WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?'

51 "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 " Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it."

54 Stephen Put to Death

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.
NASU

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"If we knew what the Incarnation meant, we'd be so preoccupied with awe
that we wouldn't notice all the shopping." -Lauren F. Winner

To all of our My Church Members.
Thank you for joining MyChurch.org for the Oakdale UP Church. Unfortunately Mychurch.org is closing all of it's free sites. We are now at http://www.facebook.com/OakdaleUPChurch. Please join us there.
In Christ,
Rev. Mark Simonds
Pastor