Happy Independence Day, America: Thought this was a good video to share on this holiday. Enjoy!
Sunday, July 4, 2021
Sunday, March 28, 2021
What the World Desperately Needs
The Bible is timeless: it is relevant for today, just as it was yesterday, just as it will be tomorrow. I'm reading Acts chapter 3, and a note I penned in the margin some years ago rings truer now, if that's possible, than ever before. That's not just me saying it...a headline from a March 23, 2021 article in The Irish News reads:
"Google searches for 'hope' and 'prayer' peak while 'party' and 'festival' slump."
Acts 3: 1-8. This "certain man lame from his mother's womb...whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful...." had a great physical need. A desperate need. He was lame from birth and had to beg for a living. He needed physical healing, but what he really needed was Jesus Christ and to be spiritually healed from the "disease" of sin and the "prognosis" of death and eternal Hell because of it.
God used Peter and John to deliver physical healing in the name of Jesus, and we can infer that the man believed on Jesus for the forgiveness from his sins, since he is found standing with the Apostles before the Jewish religious rulers later in Acts 4:14.
My little margin note on Acts 3:1-8 says,
"The world desperately needs what we have: not silver or gold, but the gospel of Jesus Christ! Give it to them!!!"
They need what we Christians have. They need it just as desperately as the lame man did. Mary and I pray every morning before I leave for work, and usually I include a request that God raise up His church - His people - to be light and salt, to point people to the Lord Jesus and give them the gospel. He is our only hope, and this world's "party" is almost over!
That's why we go out and offer Bibles and prayer for our neighbors here in Iowa, or wherever we find ourselves. Christian, I hope you join us in sowing the word where God has you planted.
Sunday, February 14, 2021
Encouragement for Today
February 13, 2021
I was reading and pondering the account in Luke chapter 4 of Jesus reading in the Synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth. Jesus infuriated the people by claiming the fulfillment (partially) of the prophecy in Isaiah, and with his references to God's work in the lives of Gentiles (the Sidonian widow of Sarepta, and the Syrian general Naaman). In their wrath they purposed to toss Jesus to his death from the top of the hill.
"But he passing through the midst of them went his way,..." (Luke 4:30)
I guess every time I read this passage I wonder what exactly happened: how did Jesus pass through and escape their plans? Today I read the commentary on this verse from Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible. He writes:
"Passing through the midst of them - Either he (Jesus) shut their eyes so that they could not see him; or he so overawed them by his power as to leave them no strength to perform their murderous purpose.
The man Christ Jesus was immortal till his time came; and all his messengers are immortal till their work is done."
This thought brings a quiet confidence to the hearts of the saints: to consider we are in the hands of Almighty God brings me a sense of peace and strength independent of my circumstances.
David writes by the Holy Spirit:
"My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." (Psalm 31:15)
The days we are living through have been challenging and even overwhelming. I was encouraged by Clarke's notes on Luke 4:30, and I am convinced that like David, my times are in the mighty hand of the Living God.
If you are struggling with the circumstances of life today, I pray this might encourage you as well. Looking at our circumstances will rob us of courage & our strength. Look up! Look to Jesus and take courage. Walk close with God today and remember that because of Jesus Christ, we have a fantastic future ahead of us.
Until our work is done.
Paul.
Friday, January 1, 2021
I wanted to post a commentary note from Adam Clarke's
Commentary on the Bible from Psalm 1. Clarke has quite a long commentary note here, so though this may seem long it is just an excerpt on verse one after speaking on the blessedness of the man, etc.:
That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly - There is a double Climax in this verse, which it will be proper to note: -
There are here three characters, each exceeding the other in sinfulness.
1. The Ungodly, רשעים reshaim from רשע rasha, to be unjust; rendering to none his due; withholding from God, society, and himself, what belongs to each. Ungodly - he who has not God in him; who is without God in the world.
2. Sinners, חטאים chattaim, from חטא chata, "to miss the mark," "to pass over the prohibited limits," "to transgress." This man not only does no good, but he does evil. The former was without God, but not desperately wicked. The latter adds outward transgression to the sinfulness of his heart.
3. Scornful, לצים letsim, from לצה latsah, "to mock, deride." He who has no religion; lives in the open breach of God's laws, and turns revelation, the immortality of the soul, and the existence of an invisible world into ridicule. He is at least a deist, and endeavours to dissolve, as Much as he can, the bonds of moral obligation in civil society. As the sinner exceeds the ungodly, so the scornful exceeds both.
The second climax is found in the words,
1. Walk
2. Stand
3. Sit
Which mark three different degrees of evil in the conduct of those persons.
Observe,
1. The ungodly man - one uninfluenced by God.
2. The sinner - he who adds to ungodliness transgression
3. The scornful - the deist, atheist, etc., who make a mock of every thing sacred.
The Ungodly man walks, the Sinner stands, and the Scornful man sits down in the way of iniquity.
Mark certain circumstances of their differing characters and conduct.
1. The ungodly man has his counsel;
2. The sinner has his way; and,
3. The scorner has his seat.
The ungodly man is unconcerned about religion; he is neither zealous for his own salvation, nor for that of others: and he counsels and advises those with whom he converses to adopt his plan, and not trouble themselves about praying, reading, repenting, etc., etc. there is no need for such things; live an honest life, make no fuss about religion, and you will fare well enough at last. Now, "blessed is the man who walks not in this man's counsel;" who does not come into his measures, nor act according to his plan.
The sinner has his particular way of transgressing; one is a drunkard, another dishonest, another unclean. Few are given to every species of vice. There are many covetous men who abhor drunkenness; many drunkards who abhor covetousness; and so of others. Each has his easily besetting sin; therefore, says the prophet, let the wicked forsake His Way. Now, blessed is he who stands not in such a man's Way.
The scorner has brought, in reference to himself, all religion and moral feeling to an end. He has sat down - is utterly confirmed in impiety, and makes a mock at sin. His conscience is seared; and he is a believer in all unbelief. Now, blessed is the man who sits not down in his Seat.
See the correspondent relations in this account.
1. He who walks according to the counsel of the ungodly will soon,
2. Stand to look on the wag of sinners; and thus, being off his guard, he will soon be a partaker in their evil deeds.
3. He who has abandoned himself to transgression will, in all probability, soon become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin; and sit down with the scorner, and endeavor to turn religion into ridicule.
The last correspondency we find is: -
1. The seat answers to the sitting of the scornful.
2. The way answers to the standing of the sinner; and
3. The counsel answers to the walking of the ungodly.
The great lesson to be learned from the whole is, sin is progressive; one evil propensity or act leads to another. He who acts by bad counsel may soon do evil deeds; and he who abandons himself to evil doings may end his life in total apostasy from God. "When lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and when sin is finished, it brings forth death." Solomon the son of David, adds a profitable advice to those words of his father:
"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men; avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away;"
Proverbs 4:14-15
As the blessedness of the man is great who avoids the ways and the workers of iniquity, so his wretchedness is great who acts on the contrary: to him we must reverse the words of David:
"Cursed is the man who walketh in the counsel of the ungodly; who standeth in the way of sinners; and who sitteth in the seat of the scornful."
Let him that readeth understand.
There's a lot here, and I love how Clarke connect Proverbs 4:14-15 with Psalm 1:1. When we are tempted with sin, "avoid it, pass not by it." If we find ourselves heading down that path, "turn from it, and pass away." I hope this is an encouraging word for someone, as it was to me today.
Friday, November 13, 2020
Getting Creative During Covid-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of ministry. Many churches have been shut down across the country, and also even more going virtual doing Facebook Live church services and having board meetings with Zoom calls. So far, all of our evangelism events this year have been cancelled, including St. Patrick's Day parade, Des Moines Farmers Market, and the Iowa State Fair. It was a huge loss for us Evangelists, and I think most of them would agree, that we all feel a little lost because of it.
One of such evangelistic outreaches that took a hit this year was the Gideon's International, which I am a part. Each fall we look forward to reaching the major college campuses across our state distributing Gideon New Testaments to thousands of students. Many of these students have never owned a copy of God's Word, and even more come from all over the country, and even the world, to study in Iowa. But this year all but one college distribution were cancelled.
That one distribution was hampered by many social distancing restrictions, including placing testaments on tables for students to take one instead of handing them out, talking through a mask, and staying over six feet from where students take the book. So how were the results? Last year at this particular campus, 2147 New Testaments were handed out, and in 2018 we distributed 2115. This year, unfortunately, we passed out an all time low of 259.
We wonder if making arrangements with campus staff, adhering to the COVID rules, and the time and effort it took to lug those boxes across campus, for only 10% of previous years, was worth it all. I believe it was. It could be that 259 students are now seeking a life Christ, understanding the gospel, and surrendering to His will. More than likely this distribution was even more fruitful because those who took a testament had to possibly conquer their own fears and pick it up themselves, not just take it out of guilt, as some do. But even if one person comes to a saving faith in Jesus, what a celebration! Our job is to be obedient and faithful to the call and the distribution of God's Word.
In the past several months, we Gideon's have had to get creative in sharing God's Word with those around us, without the ability to do mass distributions. This past month, members of my camp met to fill care packages to First Responders in Central Iowa. So, if you think about it, if it wasn't for the pandemic, this new group may have otherwise never been able to hear the gospel. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." All things work together for good. Even pandemics.
This year I decided to try something new and was accepted to become a Staff Writer for Got Questions Ministries, answering personal questions about God's Word, Christianity, cults, etc. This has been a huge blessing to the point where I am considering removing my other blog site, Honest Answers. I have also been sharing Christ on a one-to-one basis having bible studies with unbelievers over the phone. One in particular made it through the Gospel of John without dying [I have studied the Gospel of John with several people, all of whom have died before finishing it].
As Christians, we must be willing to change with the times and paradigm shifts to share God's Word. We must be open to try new ways to reach people with the gospel, without compromising Scripture. For God's Word says to be ready in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). If you have any suggestions on how to share Christ during this pandemic, or if you have tried anything in this off-season, please comment below. We would love to hear from you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)