Getting the Show on the Road

I believe that the Holy Spirit gave me an illustration regarding the place of leadership in the church. Imagine yourself in a large boat in the ocean with the engines turned off. It is a pleasant day with a nice breeze and you are drifting with the wind and current wherever they take you. This is a picture of the leaderless church. As long as no storm arises there is no problem but you really aren't going anywhere. "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it." (Heb. 2:1) Those with the gift of leadership turn on the engine, examine the navigational charts (study the Bible) radio in (pray)and get the show on the road. I am convicted that I personally have become so concerned about not stepping on people's toes (in a spiritual sense)that I am really shirking the responsibility that God has given me.
I am also convicted that I and all of us need to take a much more active role in our walk with God. It is true that apart from Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5) yet all things are possible for us with Him. "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." (Heb. 12:4) "One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way." (Phil. 3:13b-15a)

All Authority

In Matthew 28:18 Jesus makes the absolute statement that, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me." This serves as the foundation for a book, "What Jesus Demands from the World," by John Piper, that I am currently reading. I find it challenging,saturated with Scripture, and convicting. The chapters on pride alone are worth the purchase price. I highly recommend it.
In Matthew 8 Jesus encounters a centurion whose servant is paralyzed. This military man understands authority; astonishingly he recognizes that the nature of Jesus' authority means that Jesus does not even need to be physically present in order to heal his servant. He need only "say the word, and my servant will be healed." (v.8) Jesus marvels at this. He has not found such great faith in all Israel. Do we recognize the authority of Jesus? Does the one whom we refer to as Lord have our obedience or do we just do what we wish to do?
How would we know what He wants us to do? This is yet another reason for Biblical literacy, or being a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." (2 Tim 2:15)
Last night had the privilege of going through the second half of a financial seminar based on Scriptural attitudes towards handling money. I trust it benefited those who attended.

Waiting on the Lord

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Ps. 27:14 ESV) Most of the thing that I had planned for this week fell through, primarily due to the illness of others. Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday morning opportunities torpedoed. And so God wants me to wait for His timing to do things.
Saturday evening did receive the opportunity to meet with some saints in Monson, and share a little on the Lordship of Christ, that He has the right to tell believers what to do. It seems so basic in theory yet turns out so difficult in practice. As Jesus asks in Luke 6:46, "Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?" This is part of the daily denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. (Lk: 9:23)
This morning drove out to Malden to have fellowship with my home church. Blessed to have three visitors join us, all of whom contributed to our edification Our brother Matt exhorted us to pay the cost of preaching the gospel.
Praying that God would orchestrate our next New England regional gathering that we might glorify Him through Jesus Christ. "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Ps. 73:26ESV)

God's Provision

Sunday had the pleasure of fellowship with the saints in Waterford. Despite severe trials the brethren exude a warmth in the Spirit. Our brother Chris facilitated a earnest, helpful discussion based on Psalm 51.
Received a thoughtful, mature e-mail based on James 1:2-8 from our brother Nic. He had many insights, which I urged him to share with others.
On Monday the Lord met my housing need with a Christian family in central MA. I'm in the Mexico suite. Some people's creative ability on a shoestring is amazing.God is faithful. What a stark contrast from my last situation, where I felt like a prisoner most of the time. It will take a little getting used too. Thanks for all of your prayers in this regard.
Looking forward to reading "What Jesus Demands from the World," by John Piper.
Also adjusting to the aging process. Despite every effort (diet & exercise) I feel the decline. "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Cor. 15:54-55 ESV)"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 15:57

Marginalizing ourselves

Most of us wish to be taken seriously when we are being serious. We desire the respect and attention of others. One common problem that prevents this, and marginalizes us in the process, is continual disagreement. Now I understand that as humans we have opinions on many things, and that our opinions differ. However it is not necessary to verbalize every single difference. Part of the maturational process is to "pick your spots," so that you save your credibility for the really important issues. The person who is continually disagreeing or inserting their own nuance into a group will find himself becoming ignored over time. No one will take him seriously because they anticipate he will disagree ahead of time. As my mother used to say, "A word to the wise is sufficient."
Enjoyed a fruitful time of prayer and fellowship with our brother Alex this morning before heading down to CT. Alex is growing in his faith by leaps and bounds. Spoke with our brother Chris on a little jaunt in the crisp winter air about the resistance to Bible teaching and the desire of many to dilute the impact of the Word of God to something they are comfortable with. He experiences the same phenomenon.
Thankful for a good time of fellowship with our brother Josh last night. He is asking God for an accountability partner as he seeks healing and growth in his life. May you, joyful Father, grant Josh's plea.

Variety Pack

Thinking about how insulated we are as Americans from so many problems that others face. If we need food we go to the grocery store. If we're sick we can go to the doctor. So often we don't seem to need God. But I can testify that when I needed Him, he delivered me, from the insane rage of an unsaved man, to providing temporary and probably long term lodging with brethren. Thank you, Jesus
Contemplating Acts 20:35 where Paul quotes Jesus saying "that it is more blessed to give than to receive." Why is that? Is it solely because giving meets the needs of others, or is it the reality that giving relinquishes my control of resources that God has given me as a stewardship, thus acknowledging that they belong to Him, not to me?
Also pondering the very human tendency of placing our subjective understanding of our personal life experience above the truth of the eternal Word of God, something we tend to do often. Rather we should place the Word as the final determinant in our lives. The Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself. He does not say one thing in the Scripture and then something else to you or me.
"How precious is your steadfast love. O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights." (Ps. 36:7-8

False Accusations

Snowstorms canceled everything this week except the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in people's hearts. In my case it was how to respond in a God honoring way to false accusations from an unsaved man listening to the father of lies. ( John 8:44) "He (Jesus) committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." ( I Peter 2:22-23) It is difficult to respond in a God pleasing way to a burly individual cursing you out, threatening physical violence over something that at first you find incomprehensible, and then totally false. "How about a rational conversation, rick?" Not with this person. But barricading a door and fervent prayer spelled deliverance. God is real. The situation could have turned out very differently.
On a completely different note, had wonderful fellowship with our brother Gary as we looked at the beginning of Romans 9. Paul the apostle had great sorrow and unceasing anguish in his heart for his unsaved Israelite kinsmen. How many American Christians can say that we would be willing to be cut off from Christ for the sake of fellow countrymen who don't know Him? I found these painful questions because I don't have even a tithe of the compassion that Paul had for the perishing.

Utter Depravity

Before i launch into my main topic I'd like to thank all of those who read this blog. I have a service, called Sitemeter, courtesy of my techno wizard friend M. T., which gives me a weekly summary of the traffic on the site. Last week was the most ever. I am thankful to God that at least some of you find the entries encouraging. Again thanks Gary for suggesting the idea, and for persuading me that even a techno-dunce like myself could do this.
Every so often God gives me a glimpse of the state of my soul without Christ, and it is horrifying. My thoughts, feelings, attitudes are such garbage that only divine love would want to minister to it. Of myself I am totally hopeless to live a life pleasing to God. As Paul the apostle writes, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24ESV) Who indeed? "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." (Romans 7:25) I am reminded of the words of Jesus in John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess 5:23 ESV)