Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Global Day of Prayer - May 11, 2008

World's largest prayer meeting gathers momentum
Below article found at Christian Today:

This Pentecost Sunday, 11 May, millions of Christians, from 210 nations around the world will be gathering to worship and pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth as part of the fourth Global Day of Prayer.

There will be over 38 events across the UK in cathedrals, civic centres, stadiums, high places, parks, churches and houses of prayer.

The Global Day of Prayer started in South Africa in 2005 and is based on Acts 1 and 2 - ten days of constant prayer (1st -10 May); 1 day for the whole church to gather (11 May) and 90 days of blessing (12 May – 10 August). The aim is to see local churches united in prayer to see communities transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Six Anglican cathedrals will host united prayer events in Birmingham, Chester, Norwich, Beverley Minster, Sunderland Minster and York Minster. In Belfast, Christians will be meeting in the Great Hall of the Parliament Buildings in Stormont to worship, pray and give thanks for God’s answers to prayer in the province. Christians in Edinburgh will prayer-walk the seven hills surrounding the city and Swansea will host a gathering in Castle Gardens.

Churches across London have been invited to use sections of the Prayer for the World on the Sunday morning. There will be three stadium events in Redditch, on the Isle of Wight, and the UK’s biggest event will be at Millwall football stadium in London where plans are being made for 30,000 Christians to gather.

"We hope that many people will join in and be part of this unprecedented prayer meeting on 11 May and then put feet on their prayers taking part in all the initiatives planned for the rest of the year with Hope08," said Jane Holloway, UK coordinator of the Global Day of Prayer and head of the World Prayer Centre, Birmingham.

For more information, go to http://www.globaldayofprayer.co.uk/ or http://www.hope08.com/ or http://www.gdop-usa.com/



Thursday, April 24, 2008

Sacrifices Remembered

One year ago today the South Bend Police force was struck by tragedy as one of their Officers, Corporal Nick Polizzotto, was killed in the line of duty and another Officer and personal friend of mine, Patrolman Michael Norby, was seriously injured.

Patrolman Michael Norby was recently honored as Officer of the Year for the South Bend Police Department. He was also given the Chief’s Award of Valor, the South Bend Police Medal, and the Purple Heart.

Corporal Nick Polizzotto was posthumously honored with the Chief’s Award of Valor, the South Bend Police Medal, and the Purple Heart.

Patrolman Norby has recovered from his physical wound and still serves as an Officer in the City of South Bend, Indiana.

The Tragic Death of an Officer and the Sovereignty of God

Late on a cool spring evening the two police officers responded to a dispatched call of shots fired at an often problematic motel. The officers arrived one right after the other. A bystander was contacted and directed the officers towards the subject who had been firing randomly, awaking all who lived nearby. The officers moved in unison and climbed the stairway to the second level of the motel where the suspect was thought to be.

There he was, scraggly and unkempt. The fidgety middle aged man was agitated. The officers took up tactical positions as they made contact with the suspect and began to speak with him. Something was wrong and both officers sensed it. The first officer grabbed a hold of the suspect in order to safely detain him until the investigation was complete. The other officer stood nearby watching the suspect’s every move. Then it happened. The suspect reeled with a gun in his hand. The gun seemed to come from out of nowhere. One second the suspect’s hands were empty and the next the gun appeared and fired almost instantaneously. A shot rang out. The first officer was hit in the right shoulder, his weapon still seated firmly in it’s holster on the right side of his body. The second officer responded immediately. There was not a moments hesitation, instinct took over and the second officer grabbed hold of the suspect in order to defend his partner at any cost.

The suspect now physically entangled with the second officer. More shots fired, sounding like the quick explosion of firecrackers on the fourth of July. The wounded officer miraculously drew his weapon with his wounded right arm and fires. The suspect goes motionless. The rounds found their intended target. The suspect was dead. Romans 13:3-4 “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.”

The first officer immediately attended to his partner who was also wounded and laying on the floor. Now starting to feel the pain from his wounded shoulder, the first officer knew that his partner gave his life in order to save him. John 15:12-13 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” The second officer departed from this earthly realm. His appointed time had come. Ecc. 3:1-2 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die.” This brave officer was now seeing for the first time with eyes that are not limited to the sights of this physical world.

Many people consider a tragedy such as this and immediately conclude that this isn’t God’s will. And in one sense they are right, but not entirely… God does not delight in evil, but God is absolutely sovereign. That is to say that He is in absolute control of everything. According to God’s sovereign plan sin and evil are permitted to exist, but they have only a limited time and scope in which to reap their destruction. Nothing escapes His view, nothing remains outside of His control. Statements like these make some cringe with the obvious thoughts like; how could God be good and still allow something so terrible to happen?

To consider the absolute sovereignty of God is not an easy endeavor, not something that can be comprehended too quickly. An example that might help with an understanding of the absolute sovereignty of God is found in the God-Man, Jesus of Nazareth. God came to this world that He created, in the form of a man named Jesus. This same God-Man lived 30 plus years on the same earth that we do – with all of it’s sinfulness, and then died, bearing our deserved punishment to bring us to God. 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” The very fact that the God-Man, who created the earth and all who live in it, would suffer to die a tortuously painful death at the hands of sinful men – demonstrates the greatest example of how God arranges for good to come out of tragedy. Isaiah 46:10 “declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose. ” This verse declares God’s ability to orchestrate the end from the beginning. Nothing takes Him by surprise.

The greatest good in all the world was accomplished when Jesus, the Son of God, the Word made flesh, came to live among us and die for us as a sacrifice bearing the wrath of God upon our sins. God, according to His sovereign plan, still allows suffering, trials, and tragedy to accomplish His purposes. Do not dismay at the sight of such difficulties but rest assured that God is Just and will render punishment where it is due. We will see much injustice here on earth, but justice will absolutely be served in eternity. We see glimpses of God’s justice in His creation. An example is seen in the immediate response of the first officer to the lawless and self-full acts of the suspect who was instantly ushered into the presence of the God-Judge who is entirely Just. Hebrews 9:27 “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”

Considering the justice of God, set no vain hopes of escaping God’s wrath against your sin. Set your hope in Jesus Christ, the God-Man who alone can bear your unrighteousness and your just deserved punishment and impart to you His holiness. John 14:6 “Jesus said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Romans 10:9-10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Carrying Crosses

This is quite heavy.
Where can I lay it?
Are you sure I'm supposed to carry this?
Certainly there's got to be a better way...
Seriously can we do something a little differently?
Do I really have to carry this?
Can there really be a purpose to this?

Mine was quite heavy too.
Should I have laid mine down?
It was carefully designed just for you.
This is the way that I have made for you.
Do you really want to be the lord of your life?
Did I have to carry that?
I make all things work according to my purposes, especially crosses.

Take up your cross and follow me.
It is good that the servant be as his Master.
Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Listening to stones

The other day I had some time to kill before going to work. It was a beautiful day and I was enjoying the motorcycle ride. I found myself drawn to the shores of Lake Michigan, which is but a few miles from where I work. As I sat there for a while it occurred to me more intensely than has in a long time; God's creation is astonishing.

I've previously found myself agreeing with the gnostics (though I didn't even know what a gnostic was). If I understand their viewpoint correctly, they perceived the material world as entirely corrupted because of sin - and so they longed for the life here-after where they would be free from such corruption.

Thank goodness for friends...

I'm glad to have many friends who share their viewpoints, and the Scriptures, with me - pointing towards more truth.

I was awed at the peaceful and glorious scenery as I pondered God's majesty in creation. Truly God made His creation magnificent. I was reminded of similar experiences at the Grand Canyon. Again I was overwhelmed at God's glory displayed in His creation. Listening to stones...

Luke 19:40
"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

This experience was very refreshing, especially considering that, at least while at work, I have plenty of exposure to the corrupted side of creation. Sin is devastating. But God has designed creation in such a way that His character would be most clearly seen. He knows what He is doing. He has a plan, although all of this corruption exists currently, it does not mean that He is out of control.

Isaiah 46:9-10
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Locked Up

I was pondering the circumstances of a young man sitting in an Indiana jail. My partner and I traveled there last night to interview him regarding some criminal activity in Michigan. As he sat there in tears fearing the sentence that awaited him, he said, "I don't want to live like this anymore, I have a daughter. I want to turn my life around." His drug habit was the motivation for the crimes he committed which ended him up in that cell. His story is that of so very many; pursuing happiness in things that cannot ultimately satisfy and that in the end bring destruction.

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.


Locked Up

Locked here in this cell,

Locked up here in my heart.

This is not what I've planned,
This life is falling apart.

I've squandered and wasted,
I have no hope at all.
There's now no more options,
As I sit and stare at the wall.

What I've thought would bring happiness,
Was naught but a dream.

I was promised such pleasure.

Things are not what they seem.

Searching for meaning in the things that are here,
Has brought me to nothing.
These illusions of satisfaction have only filled me with fear,

That nothing can truly satisfy my heart.


Now what have I left after pursuing this disaster?
Like a bird caught in a trap have I fallen for the snare.
The lies I've believed are now my dungeon-master,

To keep me behind bars and these walls that are bare.


What hope could there be for one here like me,

Who has wasted his life on the brokest of pleasures?

Is it possible that my heart could ever be happy?

Could there be In this life any genuine Treasure?


- A. B. Seal

Proverbs 7:21-23
With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast, till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Simply magnificent...

My wife and I watched one of our favorite movies again tonight. Les Miserables is beyond excellent.

When we look through the movies while deciding what we may watch together we often pass over this one, likely because its so emotionally involving. Some movies are so good their almost too good, and thereby difficult to watch repeatedly - Les Miserables falls into this category.

Having never read the book I was first exposed to this story with this version of the movie. I was simply blown away. I remember watching certain scenes over and over again to soak up the messages displayed therein.

There are several extraordinary scenes depicting redemption (these are among my favorite scenes from any movie):
1) The priest giving the silver candlesticks to Valjean and the conversation thereafter
2) Valjean's intervention in a court to spare another from suffering for his crimes
3) The very last scene depicting the interaction between Valjean and the inspector

A drastically powerful story of redemption and forgiveness. Simply magnificent...

If you have not seen this yet, do yourself the favor.

Friday, April 11, 2008

More of the same...

Jeremiah 31:25
“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish."

"A thirsty tongue is liable to be a murmuring one. When Israel was not satisfied, she tested God with her lips. So with me, and how often I have known this, when I have not been wholly satiated with the water of life in the morning, the tongue is apt to move loosely in criticism of God's children, His ways of leading, his apparent slowness to provide."
- The Journals of Jim Elliot

"Make me Thy fuel"
From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified,
From all that dims Thy Calvary,
O Lamb of God, deliver me.
- Amy Carmichael

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Timeless Truth

It is entirely wonderful to find a single profound truth woven through many lives and over many centuries. Such discoveries highlight the powerful nature of such a truth as it permeates languages, cultures, and time.

Although there are many, here are the 3 means by which I've most clearly perceived this devastating truth:

1) The Scriptures, penned by various inspired servants of God.

2) Men, who lived in centuries long past, who put powerful truths into profoundly simple statements. These have helped to clear away the cloudy vagaries which would endeavor to hide such treasures.

3) The lives of those who have lived in such a way to declare by their very lives, and in some cases also by their deaths, that this is truth.

This single truth saturates the below quotations and Scripture verses:

All men seek happiness this is without exception. This is the motive of every action of every man.
- Pascal

Jeremiah 2:11-13
Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

The men of this world are children. Offer a child an apple or a banknote and he will doubtless choose the apple. - John Newton

Isaiah 55:2
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.

- Augustine

Matthew 13:44-46
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Philippians 3:7-8
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Psalm 73:25-26
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Psalm 119:72
The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
- C. S. Lewis, The weight of Glory and Other Addresses

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

- Westminster Catechism

I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord.

- George Mueller

I find the entirety of the above list to be sharing a common theme: unbreakable and unspeakable joy comes uniquely from a relationship with God, who alone can ultimately satisfy the human heart. (Sound familiar? I know, it's review.) How amazing it is that our God has gone through such incredible lengths to reveal such truth. Thousands of years are not too long to ensure that God's people get an appropriate view of His truth.

Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Originality Unnecessary

There's nothing new under the sun. I think Ecclesiastes says that a time or two. As I was pinch hitting for a friend last night at the jail I found myself speaking to a crowd of about a dozen or so of the guys I've previously spoken to during the addictions class.

Not having any say in who my audience would be I knew not who I was going to be speaking to. I had not a tremendous amount of time to prepare and eventually I found myself in front of this group, most of whom I've already spoken to multiple times. My material was a conglomeration of notes from the previous jail addictions class and scriptures used therein as well.

I had a few minutes to consider flinging together an alternate message. It finally seemed unnecessary. In spite of the fact that the majority of the group had heard this material covered (although there were a couple new faces) the Gospel seemed to me entirely sufficient. Again I was conscious of the Scriptural truth that God's Word never goes forth void.

It was humbling to admit before that group that I had not known I would be speaking to them and I had not much time to prepare. Again I was made aware that God alone is the one Who changes people and His Word is incredibly powerful.

So I found myself without original material. I was reminded of somebody (I think it was Tozer, but I could be wrong) who said, "If anything in Christianity is new, it is by the same token false." It is not necessary for something to be new in order for it to be effective.

Thousands of years old. Hundreds of books have been written about it. Unknown multitudes have spent their entire lives learning about it and teaching it. Completely unoriginal but always radically powerful... That's precisely what the Gospel is.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Prayer and Worship - in Africa

For the past several years, our church has sent a few guys with an abundance of books to Back to the Bible Training College (BBTC) in Barberton, South Africa. I had the privilege of joining 3 guys on the 2006 trip. The trip was nothing less than amazing.

Each morning as we stayed in a small living quarters above the teaching facility we would awake to the glorious sounds of praying and praising students. These students had voluntarily met each morning before classes for prayer and worship. I soon found myself joining them because I could not avoid such a worshipful gathering.

This is a brief video of their morning prayer and worship. I watch this video occasionally and I always find myself encouraged as I remember our brothers and sisters in Christ from another continent. Many of these brothers and sisters sacrificed immensely in order to attend this Bible College.



Thursday, April 3, 2008

"Love one another"

John 15:12
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

I'm sad to be able to say that the love of many Christians is greatly lacking. Christians ought not ignore each other. They ought not to neglect being involved in each other's lives. Jesus loves us in many ways and He does not neglect us, nor ignore us. Rather His Word says things like, "He will never leave you or forsake you."

John 13:35
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

A few friends have allowed the light of their love to shine in my life recently. Simple acts of love such as phone calls, e-mails, or invitations to lunch shine like lights in the darkness of night. Maybe this is a part of what Jesus meant when He said we would be salt and light? It occurred to me that God has gone to, and continues to go to, extreme measures to show His love for us. When I consider the many ways in which I have experienced His love I'm overwhelmed because I simply do not deserve it, nor do I deserve Him. It seems this is what He meant when He said, "as I have loved you."


Out of Your way You gladly went
From glory to gloom You agreed to be sent
That Your heart might be seen by ears that now hear
That in beholding Your glory our knees might be bent,
That Your heart to us may be more revealed
You lived here and died here to pay whatever
ransom - that sinners be forgiven and healed
So we may now know You and enjoy You forever


Who is there in your life that you could go to extreme measures to show love to? Chances are maybe they too (like you and me) might not deserve it, but that didn't stop God from loving sinners like us...