Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Something to think about.
God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. (John Piper)
Pastor’s Corner
for Sunday March 1st
Is there shame in the truth?
If you watched the Oscars you would have heard Sean Penn's comment upon receiving the best actor award in the movie "Milk". His comment was, "I think it's a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame and their shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone." and there was an eruption of applause. There is much in this statement that needs a reply but space only allows me to respond to his comment that those who voted against same sex marriage should feel great shame. What should be our Christian response? As Christians we believe that the bible is God's word to us. This is important because when we take a stand on the clear teaching of God's word we believe that we are standing on moral ground defined by God not defined by man. God's word is clear in its stance against the homosexual lifestyle and there is no shame in standing where God stands on a moral issue. Yes, we should be ashamed if our attitude toward those who are "gay" has been unkind and harsh. We should be ashamed if we have not shown compassion and love toward them and extended to them every courtesy we would anyone else. However, love compels us to speak to them about God's view of their lifestyle. It isn't loving to allow someone to remain in a state of sin and therefore under the judgment of God. So with all the sensitivity and compassion we can muster we must speak to those caught in the gay lifestyle about the grace of God and forgiveness He will extend to them if they would repent. There is no shame in that, but shame on you if you don't.
Pastor Don
12-year-old speaks out on the issue of abortion
I came across this amazing youtube video on the subject of abortion. It is well worth watching, it's only 5 minutes long. Check it out here.
Pastor Don
Friday, February 20, 2009
Making Abstinence Realistic
Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was interviewed by Fox News concerning her status as an unwed teenage mom. Bristol made the statement in the interview that teenagers should not have sex. However, she also said that sexual abstinence for teens is "not realistic at all." Albert Mohler wrote an interesting article on this, in which he makes the excellent point that abstinence is unrealistic given the "hooking up" scene of teenage culture. Al Mohler goes on to say that we must make it realistic by responsible parenting in which we place parameters in our teenagers life that would make having sex unlikely. Read his article here or listen here.
Pastor Don
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday Feb 22nd
Is preaching the gospel intolerant?
The General Synod of the Church of England is to discuss a motion calling on it to recognize explicitly its aim of converting people to Christianity. The motion calls for bishops to give extra training and encouragement to clergy to evangelize non-Christians. What?! Why would any church be debating whether to preach the gospel or not? Why in the world would it be necessary to ask bishops to train clergy for evangelism? Is it not a given that we need to preach the gospel? Now we may be afraid to preach the gospel but surely we all know that Christ has commanded us to preach the gospel with the explicit goal of converting people to Jesus Christ. So why are some churches questioning this mandate? Well, unfortunately, there are many who believe that to convert people to Christ implies that our religion is better than theirs, and this is intolerant. These people believe that preaching the gospel will damage our relationship with other religions - Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. Now nobody wants to be accused of being intolerant, but the reason we preach the gospel is because we believe that since Jesus has born the punishment for our sins He is the ONLY one through whom we can be saved. And since we also believe that all those who die without the forgiveness of their sins in Jesus will go to everlasting punishment, it is imperative that we preach the message of salvation to ALL (that includes Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Mormons, etc) those who are lost. Jesus warned us that the gospel would be offensive; He warned that since they hated Him they will hate us too; He warned that if they called Him a devil they would call us devils too. We don't want to be offensive in preaching the gospel but we must not remove the offense of the gospel, which is salvation through Jesus alone. We don't need to debate this, we simply need to do it - with sensitivity; with love and compassion but also with clarity - preach the gospel.
Pastor Don.
Is preaching the gospel intolerant?
The General Synod of the Church of England is to discuss a motion calling on it to recognize explicitly its aim of converting people to Christianity. The motion calls for bishops to give extra training and encouragement to clergy to evangelize non-Christians. What?! Why would any church be debating whether to preach the gospel or not? Why in the world would it be necessary to ask bishops to train clergy for evangelism? Is it not a given that we need to preach the gospel? Now we may be afraid to preach the gospel but surely we all know that Christ has commanded us to preach the gospel with the explicit goal of converting people to Jesus Christ. So why are some churches questioning this mandate? Well, unfortunately, there are many who believe that to convert people to Christ implies that our religion is better than theirs, and this is intolerant. These people believe that preaching the gospel will damage our relationship with other religions - Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. Now nobody wants to be accused of being intolerant, but the reason we preach the gospel is because we believe that since Jesus has born the punishment for our sins He is the ONLY one through whom we can be saved. And since we also believe that all those who die without the forgiveness of their sins in Jesus will go to everlasting punishment, it is imperative that we preach the message of salvation to ALL (that includes Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Mormons, etc) those who are lost. Jesus warned us that the gospel would be offensive; He warned that since they hated Him they will hate us too; He warned that if they called Him a devil they would call us devils too. We don't want to be offensive in preaching the gospel but we must not remove the offense of the gospel, which is salvation through Jesus alone. We don't need to debate this, we simply need to do it - with sensitivity; with love and compassion but also with clarity - preach the gospel.
Pastor Don.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Responsibility
Now there’s a big word! But we can only get our lives around it as we tackle it ‘bit by bit’ as they say. I don’t roll over one morning and say suddenly “I’m a responsible person”. No, it is a proven commodity along an often drudgery laden landscape of little choices effecting a far more vast universe than what we are aware of at the moment. What does it matter we say, 100 years from now, no one will know. I wonder if Adam and Eve ever had that thought? That thousands of years later their lives would stand such scrutiny. What chagrin, what horror. It was just a bite! But a huge glitch occurred in a moment of seemingly insignificant irresponsibility.
We run from responsibility because we lust after things that cause us to be irresponsible. We want our cake, and to eat it too! We love the lap of luxury, we embrace hollow things in our pride of life. Our insane grasp for fame and fortune, to be like God’s leave us standing at a very selfish pinnacle where we never like to be caught. After all, in the cool of the evening, when responsibility came calling via the voice and presence of God, Adam and Eve pointed their fingers at each other to assign blame anywhere but on themselves. We have mimicked their saga with deft skill and the accomplishment of time practiced methods. Perfecting the skill of passing the buck, the blame, the shame to anyone but ourselves.
But no matter how deft we become, there is one inescapable judge of character and motive, who sees beyond our excuses, our stories, our lies. Who looks into our very souls and declares with a reckoning that cannot be denied that we are guilty. You, me, responsible! What can we say then? We are made to own our stuff, we will. But alas, there is a nobler way. It’s Jesus Christ. The all responsible, never wavering Savior who took our moments of irresponsible behavior upon himself that we could be set free to follow His example of true responsibility. Of laying down our lives for one another. Did you ever stop to think about who you might have to lay your life down for tomorrow, and how you might have treated them differently today. Or how about that someone who might just have to lay down their life for you tomorrow, how are you treating them today. How well do we ever really know each other and what we are capable of? This I do know, scripture teaches us that we are responsible for one another. And I am convinced we will never be bigger than what that rite of passage earns us. God knows you, He really knows you! He is holding you responsible, and how many times are we leaving Him holding the bag?
Determine today to do what you should do. To choose the right next step. To act the right way, to speak the right words. To be responsible. Jesus told us that we would have to prove ourselves in the little things first. Because that is the way responsibility is developed. He understands our inherent weakness, muscular dystrophy of the soul. And that without daily exercise, our will atrophies, and responsibility slips, as does our grasp on life. God help us to exercise the gifts He has endowed us with. To be responsible, to own this word. To be what we were created to be. Creatures who choose responsibly, who choose with that responsibility God! Blessings. Pastor Doyle
We run from responsibility because we lust after things that cause us to be irresponsible. We want our cake, and to eat it too! We love the lap of luxury, we embrace hollow things in our pride of life. Our insane grasp for fame and fortune, to be like God’s leave us standing at a very selfish pinnacle where we never like to be caught. After all, in the cool of the evening, when responsibility came calling via the voice and presence of God, Adam and Eve pointed their fingers at each other to assign blame anywhere but on themselves. We have mimicked their saga with deft skill and the accomplishment of time practiced methods. Perfecting the skill of passing the buck, the blame, the shame to anyone but ourselves.
But no matter how deft we become, there is one inescapable judge of character and motive, who sees beyond our excuses, our stories, our lies. Who looks into our very souls and declares with a reckoning that cannot be denied that we are guilty. You, me, responsible! What can we say then? We are made to own our stuff, we will. But alas, there is a nobler way. It’s Jesus Christ. The all responsible, never wavering Savior who took our moments of irresponsible behavior upon himself that we could be set free to follow His example of true responsibility. Of laying down our lives for one another. Did you ever stop to think about who you might have to lay your life down for tomorrow, and how you might have treated them differently today. Or how about that someone who might just have to lay down their life for you tomorrow, how are you treating them today. How well do we ever really know each other and what we are capable of? This I do know, scripture teaches us that we are responsible for one another. And I am convinced we will never be bigger than what that rite of passage earns us. God knows you, He really knows you! He is holding you responsible, and how many times are we leaving Him holding the bag?
Determine today to do what you should do. To choose the right next step. To act the right way, to speak the right words. To be responsible. Jesus told us that we would have to prove ourselves in the little things first. Because that is the way responsibility is developed. He understands our inherent weakness, muscular dystrophy of the soul. And that without daily exercise, our will atrophies, and responsibility slips, as does our grasp on life. God help us to exercise the gifts He has endowed us with. To be responsible, to own this word. To be what we were created to be. Creatures who choose responsibly, who choose with that responsibility God! Blessings. Pastor Doyle
Pastor’s Corner
for Sunday Feb 15th
Will you lay your Isaac down?
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I. 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." (Gen. 22:1-2) What was Abraham's test? God was testing his faith - how far will you trust me. God was testing his obedience - how far will you go in your obedience? God was testing his love - is there anything you love more than me. Abraham had been walking with God for many years and had been tested many times over the years (some of which he failed) and had come to know God as a trustworthy friend; as a holy and righteous God; as a merciful and loving God. This test wasn't made in a vacuum but was built upon Abraham's relationship with God. God will also test us and though our test will be different depending on how far we have grown in our relationship with God, I think that we are all tested with regard to the same questions that Abraham was - how much do you trust God? Is there a limit to your obedience? Is there anything more precious to you than God? So what, or who, is your Isaac and are you prepared to lay him down for God? Tough questions but ones we must answer if our relationship with God is to go deeper.
Pastor Don.
Will you lay your Isaac down?
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I. 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." (Gen. 22:1-2) What was Abraham's test? God was testing his faith - how far will you trust me. God was testing his obedience - how far will you go in your obedience? God was testing his love - is there anything you love more than me. Abraham had been walking with God for many years and had been tested many times over the years (some of which he failed) and had come to know God as a trustworthy friend; as a holy and righteous God; as a merciful and loving God. This test wasn't made in a vacuum but was built upon Abraham's relationship with God. God will also test us and though our test will be different depending on how far we have grown in our relationship with God, I think that we are all tested with regard to the same questions that Abraham was - how much do you trust God? Is there a limit to your obedience? Is there anything more precious to you than God? So what, or who, is your Isaac and are you prepared to lay him down for God? Tough questions but ones we must answer if our relationship with God is to go deeper.
Pastor Don.
Something to Think About
"Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy." (Prov. 27:6)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Shack - book reviews
Ramona and I just got back from a short visit to some friends in Texas and spent a few hours in airports as a result. To kill some time in these airports we walked around browsing the shops and book stores. In every book store we went into "The shack" was prominently displayed. All the Christian book stores have it "front and center" as well. If you haven't read it someone will soon recommend that you do and even if you have read it I would recommend that you to read these book reviews here
Be an informed and discerning reader.
Pastor Don.
Be an informed and discerning reader.
Pastor Don.
Pastor’s Corner.
for Sunday Feb 1st
Crushed by God!
Here’s a devotional by Oswald Chambers, which I found particularly relevant to some things going on in my life right now. I hope it speaks to you as it did to me. Pastor Don
"God can never make me wine if I object to the fingers he uses to crush me. If God would only crush me with his own fingers, and say, 'Now, my son, I am going to make you broken bread and poured out wine in a particular way, and everyone will know what I am doing.' But when he uses someone who is not a Christian, or someone I particularly dislike, or some set of circumstances which I said I would never submit to, and begins to make these the crushers, I object. I must never choose the scene of my own martyrdom, nor must I choose the things God will use in order to make me broken bread and poured-out wine. His own Son did not choose. God chose for his Son that he should have a devil in his company for three years. We say, 'I want angels; I want people better than myself; I want everything to be significantly from God; otherwise I cannot live the life, or do the thing properly; I always want to be gilt-edged.' Let God do as he likes. If you are ever going to be wine to drink, you must be crushed. Grapes cannot be drunk; grapes are only wine when they have been crushed. I wonder what kind of coarse finger and thumb God has been using to squeeze you, and you have been like a marble and escaped? You are not ripe yet, and if God had squeezed you, the wine that came out would have been remarkably bitter. Let God go on with his crushing, because it will work his purpose in the end." (Oswald Chambers, So Send I You)
Crushed by God!
Here’s a devotional by Oswald Chambers, which I found particularly relevant to some things going on in my life right now. I hope it speaks to you as it did to me. Pastor Don
"God can never make me wine if I object to the fingers he uses to crush me. If God would only crush me with his own fingers, and say, 'Now, my son, I am going to make you broken bread and poured out wine in a particular way, and everyone will know what I am doing.' But when he uses someone who is not a Christian, or someone I particularly dislike, or some set of circumstances which I said I would never submit to, and begins to make these the crushers, I object. I must never choose the scene of my own martyrdom, nor must I choose the things God will use in order to make me broken bread and poured-out wine. His own Son did not choose. God chose for his Son that he should have a devil in his company for three years. We say, 'I want angels; I want people better than myself; I want everything to be significantly from God; otherwise I cannot live the life, or do the thing properly; I always want to be gilt-edged.' Let God do as he likes. If you are ever going to be wine to drink, you must be crushed. Grapes cannot be drunk; grapes are only wine when they have been crushed. I wonder what kind of coarse finger and thumb God has been using to squeeze you, and you have been like a marble and escaped? You are not ripe yet, and if God had squeezed you, the wine that came out would have been remarkably bitter. Let God go on with his crushing, because it will work his purpose in the end." (Oswald Chambers, So Send I You)
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