Monday, March 31, 2008

Heroes

Below article found at FoxNews.com (more info here):

"On Sept. 29, 2006, while on a mission in Ramadi, Iraq, Monsoor and other members of a Navy SEAL sniper team were within a moment of death. An insurgent had tossed a grenade into their hideout, hitting Monsoor in the chest before bouncing to the floor.
In an instant, Monsoor was on the grenade, using his body to shield his comrades from the blast.
"He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it," said a lieutenant who sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs that day. "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs' lives, and we owe him."
For that action, President Bush on Monday announced that Monsoor will be posthumously honored on April 8 with the the nation's highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
"Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism on Sept. 29, 2006," presidential press secretary Dana Perino told reporters during a briefing aboard Air Force One. The announcement came as Bush was on his way to Ukraine, Romania, Croatia and Russia in a trip built around the NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania.
Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured; another who was 10 to 15 feet from the blast was unhurt. They had been working with Iraqi soldiers providing sniper security while U.S. and Iraqi forces conducted missions in the area.
In an interview at the SEALs' West Coast headquarters in Coronado, Calif., four members of the special force remembered "Mikey" as a loyal friend and a quiet, dedicated professional.
"He was just a fun-loving guy," said a petty officer 2nd class who went through the grueling 29-week SEAL training with Monsoor. "Always got something funny to say, always got a little mischievous look on his face."
Other SEALS described the Garden Grove, Calif., native as a modest and humble man who drew strength from his family and his faith. His father and brother are former Marines, said a petty officer 2nd class.
Monsoor, a platoon machine gunner, had posthumously received the Silver Star, the third-highest award for combat valor, for his actions pulling a wounded SEAL to safety during a May 9, 2006, firefight in Ramadi. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for his sacrifice in Ramadi.Sixteen SEALs have been killed in Afghanistan. Eleven of them died in June 2005 when a helicopter was shot down near the Pakistani border while ferrying reinforcements for troops pursuing Al Qaeda terrorists."

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 lay down his life for his friends."

Many people are dying for something that is not worth living for. Some people are living for something that is worth dying for.

What are you living for?

Saturday, March 29, 2008

It's kind of a 1 step program...

Friday evening was the 4th class, and final in the addictions series at the jail. I'm anticipating restarting the class next Friday from square one again and hopefully repeating a 4 week series on combating addictions.

Several of the deputies at the jail have referred to the class as a 12 step class. I understand an automatic reference to "12 step" when describing an addictions class. "12 step" seems to so widely known that it appears, at least to me, to be one of the only main options available to those who are seeking help with addictions.

I was soliciting some feedback at the end of the class and one of the inmates said, "It's kind of like a 1 step program." Having pretty much had this opinion myself all along, I quickly agreed. It is exactly a "1 step" program.

The "1 step" is to pursue a relationship with God, who alone can ultimately satisfy the human heart, that your heart would be so satisfied in Him that you would be put out of taste for the broken cisterns of this world (Jer. 2:11-13).

I initially planned on the class being about 6 weeks in length. In attempting to cover the "1 step" as thoroughly as possible. Considering the fairly high rate of turnover for the inmates, 4 weeks seemed to be the most appropriate and provided adequate time to cover the theme well.

I experienced the truth of that great verse 2 Cor 12:9
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Taking heed to some important advice, the Gospel message was a theme running through each class while covering different aspects of addictions issues. Ed Welch, author of "Addictions a banquet in the grave" accurately referred to addictions as worship disorders. This was helpful in grounding the issue of addictions as an issue of misguided affections.

Many Scriptures were tremendously helpful in relaying powerful points about God, worship, ultimate satisfaction, and idolatry. A few key quotes (listed below) came in very helpful in illustrating important truths.

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

"... 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

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

The chief end of man is to glorify God and (by) enjoy(ing) Him forever.
- Westminster Catechism

I am very mindful of the body of Christ being of great usefulness in this ministry. The fact of the matter is that I was able to share very little if any original material. The overwhelming majority, if not the entirety of the material shared with them was that which came from the body of Christ, through several different people and means.

John 15:4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

It is clear to me that a great part of "abiding" in Him is being a part of His body, and gaining nourishment, insight, and wisdom from His body (His people). I've benefited from His people tremendously, many of whom I've never even met.

I am overwhelmed with His exceeding faithfulness. I am also very thankful for those unseen ones who were supporting this ministry with much prayer.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Piper on Adoption - Spiritual & Physical

This is a great video on God's purpose in adoption. Thinking of adoption reminded me of my cousin and her husband, who are in the process of adopting a child from a foreign country.

Adoption is clearly another example of all creation displaying the glory of God. This endeavor known as adoption paints for us a clear picture of what God has accomplished in adopting His children.

Ephesians 1:5
He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will,


Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Lecrae: Praying For You

I first saw Lecrae at http://www.dontwasteyourlife.com/. After watching the videos of his testimony it was clear that this man loves Jesus. The testimony videos combined with this music video brought me to tears.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Thoughts on recent blessings

I was thinking on the benevolence of the ministry of Desiring God, and others like them, who go out of their way to give, give, and give some more. This stands in sharp contrast to the so called ministries which exist solely for the purposes of fleecing the flock, led by wolves in sheep's clothing.

DG (Desiring God) has been a tremendous blessing to me in addition to the huge blessing that DG is by their website which offers free audio and written material from 20 plus years of ministry, and the great publications from John Piper, and the various Christ-centered conferences which they host.

A few years ago I contacted a DG representative while at one of the conferences. I was seeking to find a paperback copy of a DG book, "The Dangerous Duty of Delight." I was merely looking to purchase one for an inmate in the county jail. To my great amazement I was provided with a box full of them to give away. It took me a while but I finally gave them all away and again contacted DG. This time I received two boxes full of the books.

I recently contacted DG and informed them my supply was almost gone. I also asked if they had suggestions for resources that might be helpful and effective regarding jail ministry and for sharing with the inmates. Keeping with their previous benevolent practices they again blessed me with several free books, booklets, and pamphlets to review and decide which ones would be most beneficial.

DG has also blessed our church by granting us significantly reduced prices to purchase books which we then brought to the Back to the Bible Training College in Barberton South Africa.

As I was considering the blessing that this ministry has been to me, it occurred to me that this is unfortunately not the norm. I was reminded of Ezekiel 34:1-10.

Two kinds of pastors / Two kinds of ministries:

One will give you the shirt off of his back and the other will convince you to give him yours. One will lay down his life for you and the other will certainly not. One will clothe you and feed you at his own expense and the other will shear the fleece right off your back and take the food from your mouth.

Ezekiel 34:1-10
34:1 The word of the LORD came to me: 34:2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 34:3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 34:4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 34:5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. 34:6 My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. 34:7 "Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 34:8 As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 34:9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 34:10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

Thankfully these are not the only type of shepherds that exist. The Lord Himself promises us to be our great Shepherd in the following verses.

Ezekiel 34:11-16
34:11 "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 34:12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 34:13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 34:14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 34:15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 34:16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

May the Lord be pleased to raise up more ministries like Desiring God, ministries who give at their own expense to benefit others. Delighting to follow Jesus' command to love one another as He has self-sacrificially loved us (John 15:12).

Friday, March 21, 2008

Battleground: Life

What is this conflict in me? Lately I am finding prayer more difficult, than has been in a long time. I enjoy prayer. I especially enjoy meeting God in prayer and delighting in His presence there. Yet why is this enjoyable process becoming more difficult? It seems to me that this is but evidence that I need to be in prayer more.

"Until you know that life is war you will not know what prayer is for."
- John Piper, Let The Nations Be Glad

I've been reminded lately that life is war as the battle has been intensified. I presume my recent difficulty with prayer is but evidence of increased intensity in this war called life, and more evidence still that I must be in prayer.

To arms! To the tanks! To the battleships! To the fighter jets with laser guided missiles! To war! To prayer!


Life is war! This is what prayer is for!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Meandering musings on Scripture and the Good News

Jeremiah 9:23-24
Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD."

2nd Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

"He is not poor nor much enticed who loses everything but Christ."
- Piper, The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God

Those who belong to Christ are the richest of men who live among the poorest of the poor. Those who do not are paupers dying fat, with full bank accounts, and overflowing storage barns. These are the deaf who have not ears to hear the truth of Jesus' powerful statement, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:26).

A friend recently shared with me about watching a video testimony from Richard Wurmbrand. Wurmbrand said (paraphrase) to be a Christian is like having the flu, if you aren't spreading it than maybe you don't have it. He also said, how could anyone not want this? It's free? Only a fool would refuse such free treasure...

The good news is exceedingly good. Are you sharing it?

Monday, March 17, 2008

Thank goodness for computers...

It's funny how you don't really appreciate how much you use something until it's gone. The reason I haven't been blogging lately (or replying to e-mails) is because our computer was on the receiving end of a serious attack of spyware.

The first night of jail ministry was two fridays ago. Shortly thereafter our computer went down with the spyware mess. Coincidence? Not likely, considering we have had that computer for at least 5 years and no previous spyware issues.

I was reminded of those in history who had to function without computers and word processor software. How did people like Jonathan Edwards and John Calvin accomplish all that they did? Can you imagine what people like them could have accomplished with the tools that we have access to today? Oh how spoiled I am.

Now hopefully we're all equipped for the battle against spyware...

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Jail Ministry

Last night marked the beginning of an addictions class at the jail. This has been in the process of prayer and planning for quite some time. The class on addictions will hopefully be 6 weeks long and meets on Friday evenings at 6pm for about an hour. The inmates appeared to be very receptive and interested.

I sensed the Lord’s favor in several ways. One of which was the Sheriff meeting me after the class. He shook my hand several times and said what these people need is Jesus. He thanked me and advised me that I am welcome to do this as often as I would like.

I know that many people were praying for the inmates and for me, and I am very grateful. Prayer is an essential link to abiding in Him. I am reminded of something I heard long ago: much prayer much power, little prayer little power. I know this ministry is being bathed in prayer by many.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 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.

Pascal’s quote was lightly edited as it remained on the chalk board, “All men seek happiness. This is the motive of every action of every man.” This quote was the opening theme and we discussed the reason why we pursue our addictions is because we are pursuing happiness. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ was shared with them. (I anticipate taking heed to advice given to me recently regarding this, make the gospel message a focal point of each class.) Jeremiah 2:11-13 was shared with them and we discussed the fact that God is infinitely valuable and more desirable and more satisfying than all of the other broken cisterns which we pursue our happiness in.

I am extremely grateful for a humble man, named Bill, who volunteered to come with me as I started the class. Bill is a man who struggles physically. He walks with a large limp and a brace upon his leg. His left arm hangs unusable at his side. When he shakes the hands of the inmates, he tucks his Bible under his chin and holds it there so his hand will be free. Bill has been a volunteer at the jail for about 6 years. He was very helpful to me. He sat through the class and afterwards humbly offered some helpful insights about jail ministry which I shall endeavor to put into practice.

God is faithful.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Everywhere I go I see You…

All creation displays the glory of God. I’m seeing the glory of God in many places; in sunsets, in my beautiful wife, in a father’s unconditional love, in my unbreakable love for my daughter, and most lately in a friend who is very conformed to the image of Christ. All of these are God’s creation, and as such they display His glory as He has designed them to do so.

Some glimpses of His glory as seen in His creation are too marvelous for words. During those times when I behold His glory in His varied displays of His majesty my heart overflows with joy unspeakable. Tonight was one of those times.

Like John the Baptist leaped in his mothers womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, entered the room, so my heart leaps with joy at this friendship with one of Jesus’ disciples. If my heart can be so impacted by some of God’s children - then what will it be like to be with Jesus for eternity? If my circuits are nearly overloaded by the glory of Christ that I encounter in His people and His creation oh what eternal and unspeakable joy must await His people who will have the infinitely priceless treasure of knowing Him more and enjoying Him more forever.

1Co 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"—


My heart with thankfulness does overflow
That Your dear mercy and glory I may know
Words fail me to speak of You adequately
I find myself desiring You ever increasingly
You are breathtakingly majestic and beautiful
May I enjoy You to the absolute limits possible
May the veil You pull forever away
That in visions of Your glory I might ever stay


One of Rich’s songs is especially pertinent to this: “I see You.”

For a sample of the studio version of this awesome song click here and then click on the song entitled "I see You." Although this video is a little rough, this song is one of my all time favorites!


Monday, March 3, 2008

Moments of Majesty

When our family travels in our vehicle together we usually listen to a worship CD, a conglomeration of a many of our favorite worship songs by several different musicians. Our 4 ½ year old daughter loves to sing along. As my wife and I will be conversing, we will often look at each other in silent communication about the majesty going on in the seat right behind us. Our little girl will be singing along to our favorite worship songs. Words cannot express what my heart experiences when I hear my daughter singing every word of “I will glory in my Redeemer.” Admittedly her young mind cannot yet grasp the theological depths of the words she is singing, but a heart may worship though the mind has not yet caught up with the heart. I’ve posted the lyrics below, just in case you’re not familiar with them.

I Will Glory In My Redeemer
By Steve and Vikki Cook

I will glory in my Redeemer, Whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails, and hung Him on that judgment tree
I will glory in my Redeemer, Who crushed the power of sin and death
My only Savior before the Holy Judge
The Lamb Who is my righteousness, The Lamb Who is my righteousness

I will glory in my Redeemer, my life He bought, my love He owns
I have no longings for another, I’m satisfied in Him alone
I will glory in my Redeemer, His faithfulness my standing place
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me,
My feet are firm, held by His grace, my feet are firm, held by His grace

I will glory in my Redeemer, Who carries me on eagles’ wings
He crowns my life with loving kindness, His triumph song I’ll ever sing
I will glory in my Redeemer, Who waits for me at gates of gold
And when He calls me it will be paradise, His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold, His face forever to behold



If you’ve never heard this song before you can listen to samples here and here.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Confessions of the Reformed Church

This month's free audio book from ChristianAudio.com is "Confessions of the Reformed Church."

Confessions of the Reformed Church (Unabridged) by The Augsburg, Westminister & Heidelberg Confessions
"Quite simply, these are three of the most important and well-known confessions of the Reformed faith. Concise, yet with excellent detail, there is no better way to get an introduction and background of historic Reformed faith."

Saturday, March 1, 2008

The Journals of Jim Elliot

January 25
Genesis 31
"Rachel and Leah manifest an attitude toward their family which I would have toward all earthly ties. There is no no longer an inheritance for me down here. I've been bought by the labors of that great Shepherd who came from afar to gain me as His bride. Lead on, Lord, whatever God's command is or wherever He may lead, I am now ready to go."

February 2
Genesis 39
"Thrice in this chapter it is stated of Joseph that "Jehovah was with him." Not only so, but Potiphar saw that "Jehovah was with him," for whatever this man put his hand to prospered. Lord, I know Thou art with me, but I fear that because my life is barren for Thee so much of the time, that you gain little glory from being with me. I pray Thee, make my way prosperous, not that I achieve high station, but that my life might be an exhibit to the value of knowing God."


Both of the above quotes were taken from The Journals of Jim Elliot.

It is quite clear that the Lord answered this prayer of Jim Elliot, that his life might be an exhibit to the value of knowing God. This man's pursuit of God demonstrated to untold multitudes the value of knowing God. He lived out the truth of his now famous quote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Jim's wife, Elisabeth also lived a life exhibiting the value of God. She and her young daughter, along with a relative of one of the other men who was killed with Jim, went to live with the tribe who had killed the five men. Ultimately the entire murderous tribe was converted.