Wednesday Word from the Word

Hebrews 5:11-6:8

11　About this we have much to say, and it is ^chard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. ¹²For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again ^dthe basic principles of the oracles of God. You need ^emilk, not solid food, ¹³for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is ^fa child. ¹⁴But solid food is for ^gthe mature, for those who have their powers ^hof discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.  6:1 Therefore ⁱlet us leave ^jthe elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance ^kfrom dead works and of faith toward God, ²and of ^linstruction about washings,^{1 m}the laying on of hands, ⁿthe resurrection of the dead, and ^oeternal judgment. ³And this we will do ^pif God permits. ⁴For it is impossible, in the case of those ^qwho have once been enlightened, who have tasted ^rthe heavenly gift, and ^shave shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵and ^thave tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶and ^uthen have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since ^vthey are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. ⁷For ^wland that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. ⁸But ^xif it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, ^yand its end is to be burned.

Is Reading important for a pastor?

Is it important to read?  I would argue that it is very important for a pastor to read and to read widely.   First and foremost I believe that reading in order to learn is an essential characteristic for those who desire to “Love God with all their minds.”  Second, I think Jim Shaddix statement articulates another clear reason for a pastor to read.  —“The development of a working knowledge in various fields will not only sharpen your intellect but enable you to engage the church and the culture form an informed perspective.”[1]

Never forget the old maxim, “Leaders are readers.”

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[1] Jim Shaddix, “How to Build a First Rate Library,”  The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching, 576.

The Closing of one chapter and the turning of a new page

This past week I attended a class session in Fort Worth at the World’s Greatest Seminary.  It was in some ways the conclusion of one chapter in the sense that it was my final class session.  I am one sermon manuscript away from finishing my course work for my Doctor of Ministry.  Now begins the arduous and laborious task of writing my dissertation.  Here’s hoping for some finality by December 2013!

Dusting off the keyboard

I received an incredible spiritual blessing yesterday.  We had a visiting speaker from the Florida Baptist Convention.  After church we went to a local resteraunt to do what Baptists do best…fellowship.  After the meal, our speaker gave my two children a dollar a piece.  On the way home, My 5-year-old tells her mom and me that she can’t decide what she is going to do with her dollar.  When we asked what she meant, she told us that she couldn’t decide whether to spend the money on herself or give it to the missionaries (It’s Annie Armstrong easter offering time–all proceeds go to support the missionaries of the North American Mission Board.)  My bride advised her to pray about it.  About a mile down the road, much to daddy’s delight, my little angel said she was going to give it to the missionaries.  This kid constantly reminds me of the way my heart should be passionate about those who need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Be Thou My Vision

These lyrics ministered to my heart today.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.   2. Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.   3. Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight, Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight. Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower. Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.   4. Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

5. High King of heaven, my victory won, May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’ns Son! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

 

Family Worship

One of the greatest moments of everyday is right before my children’s bed time.  Now I know what you are thinking (quiet at long last), but it’s not for that reason.  No, what makes each night so special is that we are able to open up the Bible with our children and read God’s Word together.  Tonight we added the element of musical worship to go with the worship around the Word. (I guess I am going to have to dust off the guitar and learn more than the two worship songs I can play right now!)    I am so thankful for these times and the opportunities we get to live out Deuteronomy 6:4-9 during the day with our families.

Do you have family worship?  In what form does it take?  I would love to hear from you to see if there are elements we might want to include!

When tempted to Give in

I was listening to Dr. Paige Patterson preach in the book of Ruth not long ago.  He was talking about the sinfulness of leaving the promises of God (Bethlehem) for the greener grass in the world (Moab).  In doing so, he hit on a particular area where so many believers fall  short.  We believe that we can somehow enjoy the sinful pleasures of the world and our relationship with the Lord.  He urged his hearers not to be enticed into the persistence in unrepented unconfessed sin.  In his closing admonition, Dr. Patterson quoted Dr. Richard Ross a series of things you must be willing to have happen if you will continue in sin.  I thought they were worthy of publishing here.

1. Are you willing to face days of distance from Christ?
2. Are you willing to lose being taken into Christ’s confidence?
3. Are you willing to see power removed from your preaching, teaching, and speaking?
4. Are you willing to see doors of opportunity closing?
5. Are you willing to see innocent people in your circle of influence experience pain and hurt?
6. Are you willing to experience humiliation when what is done in secret is brought to the light?
7. Are you willing to lose closeness and intimacy with those closest to you?
8. Are you willing to allow the celebration of the forces of darkness when you sin?