This weekend we will conclude our hostage series.  We have looked many of the things that hold us captive in our lives.  I believe it has been a transforming series for many.

Last Sunday we talked about being held hostage by anger.  We looked at the things that make us angry:

1.  Impatience (Short Fuse)
2.  Bitterness
3.  Jealousy and Envy

We then looked at how to overcome anger:

Ask God for patience
Never speak rashly
Give time to cool down
Emulate Christ
Recite the Word of God

These things are sure ways to overcome our angry reactions and outbursts.

This coming Sunday we will be sharing about the topic of Bitterness and Revenge.  It will be a look at the root of bitterness and how to be set free from this captivity.  Don’t miss it!

I have been mulling over some tough issues that seem to be prevalent in our culture today.  It is centered around what we seem to value most in our society.  Even among believers, we tend to hold the wrong things in high esteem.

Recently, a cultural icon passed away.  He had a troubled life to say the least.  He was at the center of controversy and scandals for many years.  He never could seem to find peace in his life. Michael Jackson was what we idolize in America.  SUCCESS!  Was he a success in the way he lived or was he a success because he sold 750 million albums.?  Was he a success because he gave back so much to society or because he was the King of Pop?   What we see in Michael Jackson’s life, was a man who had a void to be filled but nothing, not even success, could fill it.

For years, the media portrayed him as a freak, a troubled man, but this week we paint him as the greatest entertainer since Elvis.  The response to his death paints a poor picture of what we value in this nation.

I am not at odds with Michael Jackson, nor would I hurl any accusations toward him.  What I am at odds with, is our society that idolizes the wrong things.  We idolize the troubled, while we never consider the unsung heroes.

Steve “Air” McNair, a leader on the football field.  Phenomanal athlete, all around good guy who was senselessly murdered.  His life was snuffed out in a horrific act of murder.  I was a fan of Steve McNair.  I think he was one of the greatest quarterbacks that played the game, but again, we have all kinds of great things to attest to about his life. Yet, we forget, the surroundings of the end of his life.  He was a leader on the field, but not at home.  Married, with four kids, but yet had a girlfriend.  We idolize him because of his athleticism but not because of his example to his family.

Again, I am not at odds with Steve McNair, but rather a culture that idolizes the wrong things.  What we have come to accept in society is heroes that are SUCCESSFUL in our eyes, but do those closest to them see the same thing?

I write these things because I believe we focus on the wrong things in our culture today.  Who are the real heroes?  Who are the true successes?  How come the unsung heroes are never highlighted on the news when they die?  Too many live life and then will only get there name in a newspaper when they are in the obituaries.

We will talk about how our celebrities are who gave 10 thousand dollars from their millions to the Needy, while a poor widow gives $50.00 a month, from her Social Security check, to missionaries.  We glamorize athletes who will visit a kid in the hospital, but do not consider the volunteers who work in the hospital on a weekly basis.  We read about all the great deeds of the famous, but what about the volunteers who feed the hungry, teach Sunday School, support missionaries, and go on mission trips.

Who will spot light them when they pass away? 

Why do we rent out coliseums to bid farewell to an entertainer but hardly consider the funeral of a serviceman or servicewoman who gave their life for our nation’s freedoms?  Why does a football veteran leave with such fanfare but a veteran of America leaves with a small group by his side?

I am not against the famous or any of that, I just wonder sometimes what we value most.  The sad truth of our present day is that many who have give so much back to our society, will receive little recognition in this life or in their passing.  I thank God for the many volunteers and servants of our nation’s communities who serve even without much consideration.

I pray for the Jackson and McNair families, for God to comfort them and strengthen them during these tragic times.  I pray for all the unsung heroes to continue serving and to do all things as unto the Lord.  And I pray for our society, that we would value all people, not just the famous.

Are you free?

The old song says, “Would you be free from your burden of sin? There’s power in the blood, power in the blood. Would you be free from your passion and pride? There’s power in the blood.” That is a question we must ask ourselves. Are we free from the burden of sin?

Today is Independence Day, a national holiday celebrating America’s independence from British Rule. It is a day that we can celebrate our freedoms. We are blessed to live in a free nation where we have freedom to worship and freedom of speech. It is a privilege to live in this great nation. I am thankful for a country that is a leader of the free world and has been a great sender of missionaries around the world.

However, there is another Independence Day celebration coming later in July. July 27^th is the day I celebrate my independence from the life of sin. Eighteen years ago on that day, I started a revolution and waged war against the sin in my life. I became victorious over the burden of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. Thus, today I can say that I have spiritual freedom.

The Bible declares to us that He whom the Son has set free is free indeed. I have been free now for eighteen years and if the Lord tarries I will be free for many more years. I have decided in my life that I will no longer be in bondage to sin. I have a written Declaration of Independence that can be found in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

If you have not made that Declaration of Independence from sin, today is your day! Make the decision to lay down the weight of sin and shame and take up the life that Christ gave for you. He wants you to be free!

I read this on Mark Batterson’s blog.  It gives us some interesting history as we celebrate the July 4th Holiday.

“I love history. And I love America! Thought I’d share a little of both as we celebrate Independence Day.

Before I do, let me say a few things. First of all, this isn’t meant to be a dissertation. It’s a blog. Secondly, I’m not nominating all of our founding fathers for sainthood. Having said that let me say this: there is a lot of revisionist history that totally ignores or distorts the faith of our Founding Fathers. A lot of them were motivated by their faith in Christ.

Here’s some back story on some of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence. Most Americans know next to nothing about these fifty-six heroes who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the cause of freedom.
John Witherspoon was an ordained minister and authored several books of sermons, as well as editing America’s first family Bible in 1791.

Charles Thomson served as Secretary of Congress and was a Biblical scholar. He helped edit the first American translation of the Greek Septuagint into English.

Charles Carroll, the last of the fifty-six signers to pass away at the age of 95 in 1832, wrote out his declaration of faith at the age of eighty-nine.
On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for my salvation, and on His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts.

Another Founding Father, Benjamin Rush, is considered the "Father of American Medicine." He personally trained three thousand medical students. Dr. Rush also founded "The First Day Society" which was the precursor to the Sunday School movement, as well as founding America’s first Bible society. It was Benjamin Rush who said the Constitution was "as much the work of Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament were the effects of divine power."

Francis Hopkinson was a church music director and edited one of the first hymnals printed in America in 1767. He also set 150 psalms to music.

Roger Sherman is the only Founding Father to sign all four of America’s Founding documents: the Articles of Association in 1774, the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the Articles of Confederation in 1778, and the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Roger Sherman was also a theologian. He wrote a personal creed that was adopted by his church:

I believe that there is one only living and true God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are a revelation from God, and a complete rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.

I could share story after story, but the bottom line is this: many of our Founding Fathers were motivated by their Faith in Christ. They wrote sermons and creeds and hymns. They founded Bible Societies and Sunday Schools. They served God’s purposes in their generation. And I, for one, am grateful.

Hope that adds a spiritual dimension to your 4th of July celebration!

HT: Mark Batterson

What Do You Pray About?

Forgive me for getting so personal but let’s evaluate what our prayers consist of. Are they full of me’s and I’s? “God do this for me…God do that for me…I want you to give me…”

Our prayers are often self-centered with little concern for others. The truth is, however, that it is not all about us. God is looking for people to be concerned about kingdom things. Concerned about His agenda for the world.

Psalm 2:8, “Ask of Me, and I will give the nations to you, the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.”

This is a prayer with God’s Kingdom in mind. “Lord, Give Us The Nations!” Our prayers should also have a focus on seeing people come to Christ. For the Gospel to be brought to every nation and that we would be instrumental in reaching the world for Christ.

This doesn’t mean that we should never pray for our own needs but rather our focus should be on more than just our needs. God wants to do things for His people, but I think we could have a lot more of what He wants not just what we want. God desires to give us the nations. The reason we have to pray for it is that it shows our concern for the nations when we pray.

When is the last time you asked God to give us this city? When is the last time you asked God to give you an opportunity to share His love with someone else?

One pastor told his congregation — "Many of our prayer requests are for the sick rather than for the lost. We are more interested in keeping the saints out of heaven than we are the sinners out of hell."  What A Thought!!!

There is nothing wrong with praying for your needs, but we must balance that with praying for others as well.  We must pray for the lost, our community, our nation and world.  God works through prayer. 

As I was reading the Gospel of Matthew this morning, I noticed that Jesus was describing those who hear or receive the Word and  fall away.  In the parable of the sower Jesus gives us a glimpse of what happens when the gospel is communicated.

The enemy of our souls does not want the gospel preached and will certainly try to hinder its taking root in the lives of people.  Jesus shares four types of people who hear the Gospel and then describes three that fall away.

1.  There is the one who hears but does not understand.
2.  There is the one who hears and receives but trials come and he has no root.
3.  There is the one who hears and receives but the pleasures of this life consume him and he bears no fruit.
4.  There is the one who hears and receives.  He has understanding then goes on to bear much fruit.

As a pastor, and ultimately as a church, I/We must make sure that those who come through our doors and those who hear the Gospel, receive the Word and follow through like number four. 

We must communicate in such a way that people understand.  Our messages must be communicated in such a way that believers and non-believers alike should be able to understand and receive the Gospel.

We must ensure that those who receive the gospel are rooted in the Word and growing in their relationship with Christ.  Somehow, we must find a way to see people move from the Sunday morning service to a life of being rooted in Christ and His Word.  When the trials come, those who have no root will not be able to stand.  It is our duty to help people become rooted that they can stand against life’s storms.

As a church, we must work on helping others become fruitful.  It begins with us being fruitful.  This man in the parable received the Word but was so wrapped up in this life that he would bear no fruit for another life.  How often are we so consumed with the things of this world that we have little time to bear fruit for eternity?  We must find a way to move people into a Kingdom mind-set, balancing this life and working for the next one.

These are thoughts that God is stirring in my heart.  As a pastor, I am responsible for how we disciple others.  I am praying that God will give us a plan to make sure that people understand, take root and bear fruit.

"What is needed is something that cannot be explained in human terms. What is needed is something that is so striking and so signal that it will arrest the attention of the whole world. That is revival.

Now we of ourselves can never do anything like that. We can do a great deal, and we should do all we can. We can preach the truth, we can defend it, we can indulge in our apologetics, we can organize our campaigns, we can try to present a great front to the world. But you know, it does not impress the world. It leaves the world where it was. The need is for something which will be so overwhelming, so divine, so unusual that it will arrest the attention of the world . . . .

‘Authenticate thy word. Lord God, let it be known, let it be known beyond a doubt, that we are thy people. Shake us!’ I do not ask him to shake the building, but I ask him to shake us. I ask him to do something that is so amazing, so astounding, so divine, that the whole world shall be compelled to look on and say, ‘What is this?’ as they said on the day of Pentecost."

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Revival, pages 183-185.
HT: Ray Ortlund

I love my day off on Monday!  For many years I have had a hard time taking days off.  I would always feel stressed, knowing I was going to be off because I felt like I had too much to do.  Then I realized how important it is to have a time of disconnect, a time of refreshing, and now I get more done because I am more rested.

Yesterday, we took a road trip.  First to Huntsville, Arkansas for lunch and to check out Withrow Springs State Park.  We found this little cafe called Granny’s and it was incredible.  They had great burgers and homemade pie.  It was heaven on earth!

We left there and drove up to Roaring River Sate Park, which has become one of my favorite places.  Roaring River is in Southern Missouri not too far from the Arkansas border.  It is a place of beauty and rest.  We enjoyed the fish hatchery again and spent some time at the park.  But the best part of the day was spent on the banks of the river.  We found a place down the bank where we could put our chairs and find solitude.

It was quiet except for the roaring of the river.  To me, there is nothing as peaceful in nature as the rolling of water.  You could sense and feel the peace of God.

Everywhere we have lived, I have always had a place of solitude.  In Jacksonville, there was a stream behind the church that I would walk down to and find solitude.  In Nederland, there was a park bench alongside the ship channel that I would frequent and watch the ships go by while I contemplated.  Now, it is this little place in Southern Missouri that I find refuge. 

In the world we live today, there is few places to disconnect.  We are always connected to the internet, or cell phones, the hustle and bustle of life.  There is a need for solitude, aloneness in the quietness of God’s presence.  Jesus found a place to pray and talk to His Father, we must do the same. 

Where is your place of solitude?  Where can you go to disconnect for a while and find refreshing?