Supreme Folly

Sunday morning we wrestled with the third to last phrase of the Apostles’ Creed—the forgiveness of sins. I trust today you have a deeper appreciation for the forgiveness of your sins. I know after reading R.C. Sproul’s book entitled The Holiness of God, I have a deeper understanding regarding the forgiveness of my sins. Provided below is a copy of Sproul’s poignant remarks:

Hans Küng, the controversial Roman Catholic theologian, writing about seemingly harsh judgments of sin God makes in the Old Testament, says that the most mysterious aspect of the mystery of sin is not that the sinner deserves to die, but rather that the sinner in the average situation continues to exist.

Küng asks the right question. The issue is not why does God punish sin but why does He permit the ongoing human rebellion? What prince, what king, what ruler would display so much patience with a continually rebellious populace?

The key to Küng’s observation is that he speaks of sinner’s continuing to live in the average situation. That is, it is customary or usual for God to be forbearing. He is indeed long-suffering, patient and slow to anger. In fact He is so slow to anger that when His anger does erupt, we are shocked and offended by it. We forget rather quickly that God’s patience is designed to lead us to repentance, to give us time to be redeemed. Instead of taking advantage of this patience by coming humbly to Him for forgiveness, we use this grace as an opportunity to become more bold in our sin. We delude ourselves into thinking that either God doesn’t care about it, or that He is powerless to punish us. The supreme folly is that we think we will get away with out revolt[1].

[1] R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1985), p. 117.

What Makes A Great Worship Leader?

Have you heard the good news? We have found our first full-time worship leader. His name is Bryan Haskins. And, if the Lord is willing, your Personnel Team will present him to the church on Sunday, June 11.

The search for Bryan has been a fascinating journey. So fascinating, in fact, that on June 11 Bryan, your Personnel Team and I want to tell the story of how God brought us together.

One element associated with Bryan’s call involves an article I wrote early one morning while praying through our search process. The document describes what I consider to be the attributes of a great worship leader. I believe after you meet and befriend Bryan, you will discover he possesses these traits in increasing measure.

Please pray for Bryan (& Charma) as he prepares for June 11.

What makes a great worship leader?

1. A great worship leader is CLOSELY CONNECTED TO GOD.
A worship leader must first worship God privately before he or she worships God publicly. I believe a great worship leader has an intimate connection with God. He or she should be someone who yearns for time alone with God, who thirsts for the living God; always asking himself, “When can I go and meet with God?”

2. A great worship leader is a DEFLECTOR.
Leading people to encounter the Presence of the Living, Most High God is a formidable and audacious task. Great worship leaders know how to deflect attention they received and point it directly to God. It would be senseless, arrogant and ultimately the greatest exercise in futility to do otherwise. Imagine a human being taking credit for something God has done through them or for them.

3. A great worship leader is CONSTANTLY GROWING.
Most churches are stuck in a worship rut because the worship leader is not in tune with the times or with God. Worship should be always evolving and developing. Drama, multi-media, praise teams, and praise bands have radically revolutionized the worship experience the last 20 years. What will God make worship look like 20 years from now? A worship leader must stay in step with those changes to be great.

4. A great worship leader is SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Worship is defined very simply as encountering the presence of the Almighty. Man cannot worship God without the Holy Spirit enabling him to direct his attention and praise to God. A great worship leader must stay in step with the Holy Spirit, so when the Spirit changes directions, the worship leader automatically follows.

5. A great worship leader SEEKS TALENT.
Besides the preaching ministry, worship is the most influential ministry of the church. A great worship leader will proactively search for others gifted in the skills of worship to include in this ministry. Moreover, he will also take time to develop the marginally gifted so they too can lead in worship.

6. A great worship leader BELIEVES WORSHIP IS MINISTRY.
Worship is ministry, not performance. Too many times worship leaders perform and thus distort the purpose of worship. A great worship leader realizes worship is a ministry experience. First, worshipers minister to God, which results in God ministering to His worshipers.

7. A great worship leader is LOYAL TO HIS PASTOR.

The relationship between the worship leader and pastor is unique and can often be fragile. The worship leader knows this and does whatever he can to serve his pastor in order to serve with his pastor. He must therefore protect and defend this delicate role. When the relationship between the worship leader and pastor is weak, the church suffers. When it is strong, the church thrives. A great worship leader is loyal to his pastor.

Understanding Difficulties in the Church

A pastor friend of mine sent me this quote. It is an honest observation about difficulties in the church. Although no author can be cited for the content, it is obvious someone of great spiritual discernment composed it. The commentator said:

It is not God’s intention that we should in ourselves be adequate for our tasks, rather He wants that we should be inadequate. If we only accept the tasks which we think are adapted to our powers we are not responding to the call of God. The church is always in a crisis and always will be. There will be difficulties, limitations, insolvable problems, lack of people & money, a menacing outlook, endless misunderstandings & misrepresentations. We are not only to do our work despite these things; they are precisely the conditions requisite for the doing of it.

Now that is a good word for CrossPoint, as well as every other kingdom enterprise advancing the gospel.

I…sought…the…Lord…and…He

Several years ago I developed a lethal habit. I started the dependency when I was about 8 or 9 years old. My grandfather is the one who got me addicted. The habit is memorizing Scripture.

The earliest passage I recall putting to heart was Proverbs 27:1:

Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Another early favorite came from Philippians 4:13, which says,

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

More recently a sentence from the Psalms is now finding its way into my heart. Psalm 34:4 reads,

I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

The best use of Scripture memorization is to pray through the passage after you have it memorized. When you methodically pray through a passage, the Lord has a way of speaking to you more profoundly and deeply.

Here is one way I pray through Scripture. Repeat each line slowly and distinctly, emphasizing the last word. As you state each line, listen for what the Spirit teaches you.

Provided below is an example from Psalm 34:4:

I
I SOUGHT
I sought THE
I sought the LORD
I sought the lord, AND
I sought the Lord, and HE
I sought the Lord, and he ANSWERED
I sought the Lord, and he answered ME
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; HE
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he DELIVERED
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered ME
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me FROM
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from ALL
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all MY
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my FEARS.

Let me know what the Lord taught you.

A Marriage Made in…

An article on page 3A of Tuesday’s Birmingham News (“Clintons still together, though rarely public”) deserves attention. Patrick Healy’s piece focuses on the decidedly strange marital relationship between former President Bill Clinton and his Senator-wife, Hillary. In short, the Clintons are tweaking the public facade of their marriage as Hillary prepares to run for president.

The middle paragraph strikes me as particularly odd. Healy writes:

The effect has been to raise Sen. Clinton’s profile on the public radar while somewhat toning down her husband’s. He has told friends that his No. 1 priority is not to cause her any trouble. They appear in public spotlight methodically and carefully: The goal is to position her run for president not as a partner or a proxy, but as her own person.

I thought the No. 1 priority of every husband was to “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word” (Ephesians 5:26). I guess not causing “her any trouble” is what you do when your priorities are out of whack. Strange, isn’t it?

Organizing My the Best Part of My Day

At the end of last week I wrote about the first part of my day being the best part of my day. The first part of my day is the best part of my day because that is when I spend concentrated time alone with the Lord. For those of you who are interested, provided below is a brief summary of how I spend my time alone with the Lord. Perhaps you can use the tool for your personal quiet time.

I divide my time into six segments:

STUDY: First, I read the Scripture. I read my New Testament Bible reading for the year. CrossPoint is presently working through the Gospel of Luke. I usually read the passage several times, check the cross-references, and make notes in my Bible or journal. Next, I take a few minutes to study a key passage(s) the Lord has recently used to speak to me. Some current key passages include Psalm 130; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 10:35-45. Finally, I take a few minutes to work on my Scripture memorization. This time of reading, studying and memorizing usually takes anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, or longer.

PRAISE: I spend the next 10 to 15 minutes of my time alone with God praising Him. Praise is acknowledging who God is; it is attributing to God who He is. During my time of praise I use songs, hymns, CDs, and Scripture. Some of my favorite Scriptures of praise include: 1 Chronicles 28:10-14; Psalm 100, 139, & 150; Colossians1:15-20; & Revelation 5:11.

THANKS: I spend the next several minutes giving thanks to God. Thanksgiving is expressing gratitude to God for all that He has done. Thanksgiving is easy once you get started. I try to think of a dozen items for which I can express thanks. My whining throughout the day decreases the more I give thanks.

CONFESSION: I spend a concentrated time asking the Lord to reveal to me the sin in my life that demands confession. Psalm 139:23-24 is a great passage to pray while asking the Lord to reveal to you what to confess. Confession is agreeing with God about your sin. Confession is not a matter of informing God about your sin; He already knows about our sin. Confession is a matter of agreeing with God about our sin; admitting to Him that it is wrong. Confession is the key to communion with God. I have found I can never spend enough time confessing my sin.

OTHERS: By now I have invested an hour or more in study and prayer. It is usually at this point I have the urge to get on with my day. Most of the time I resist that urge, because this is when my prayer life becomes dynamic. This is when I pray for others. I pray first for my family, then for my friends. I conclude by praying for you, my sheep.

MYSELF: I learned a long time ago to wait to the end to pray for myself. When I do, I usually cannot recall my needs; they seem to dissipate as I pray for others. After spending concentrated time praising God, giving thanks, confessing sin, praying for others, there is usually very little to pray about for myself.

This method for a quiet time can become burdensome if you used legalistically. If you follow the Spirit, however, it can be very liberating. Any time you follow the Spirit, it is liberating.

Keep the faith.

Best Part of the Day

How do you begin your day? I suggest the way you begin your day determines how you spend your day. When I waste my morning with haste and hurry, I usually lose my way in the chaos of the day. However, when I invest my morning with the Lord, He usually has my attention throughout the day.

I try to begin every day with the Lord. It is usually the first thing I do—that is, after I take our dog out to run around in the yard for his morning routine.

Beginning my day with the Lord is the best part of my day. A few mornings ago the Lord encouraged me to start meditating on Psalm 34:1-4. David writes:

I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

The next few mornings take five minutes to meditate on this passage. Try these three exercises, and then tell me what the Lord says to you through His Word.
First, take a day or two to memorize the passage. Next, start reciting the passage the first thing each morning as well as throughout your day. As you recite the passage from memory, start searching for the one word or phrase that makes the strongest impression. Finally, after chewing on the passage a few days in a row, identify the specific lesson you learned from your meditation and then write in one sentence what God wants you to do with what you learned.

I look forward to hearing from you.

1 Corinthians 13 for Moms & Dads

Ron Ethridge, pastor of Woodward Avenue Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals, Alabama sent this pithy parental version of 1 Corinthians 13. Like me, Ron has teenagers living in his house. This is a good word for parents of teenagers or younger.

I can read bedtime stories till the cow jumps over the moon and sing "Ten Little Monkeys" until I want to call the doctor – but if I don't have love, I'm as annoying as a ringing phone.

I can chase a naked toddler through the house while cooking dinner and listening to voice mail, I can fix the best cookies and Kool-Aid in the neighborhood, and I can tell a sick child's temperature with one touch of my finger – but if I don't have love, I am nothing.

Love is patient while watching and praying by the front window when it's 30 minutes past curfew.

Love is kind when my teen says, "I hate you!"

It does not envy the neighbors' swimming pool or their brand-new mini van, but trusts the Lord to provide every need.

Love does not brag when other parents share their disappointments and insecurities, and love rejoices when other families succeed.

It doesn't boast, even when I've multi- tasked all day long and my husband can't do more than one thing at a time.

Love is not rude when my spouse innocently asks, "What have you done today?"

It does not immediately seek after glory when we see talent in our children, but encourages them to get training and make wise choices.

It is not easily angered, even when my 15-year-old acts like the world revolves around her.

It does not delight in evil (is not self-righteous) when I again remind my 17-year-old that he's going 83 in a 55-mph zone, but rejoices in the truth.

Love does not give up hope.

It always protects our children's spirit, even while doling out discipline.

It always trusts God to protect our children when we cannot.

It always perseveres, through blue nail polish, burps and other bodily functions, rolled eyes and crossed arms, messy rooms and sleepovers.

Love never fails.

But where there are memories of thousands of diaper changes and painful child labor(s), they will fade away.

Where there is talking back, it will (eventually) cease. (Please, Lord!)

Where there is a teenager who thinks she knows everything, there will one day be an adult who knows you did your best.

For we know we fail our children, and we pray they don't end up in therapy, but when we get to heaven, our imperfect parenting will disappear. (Thank you, God!)

When we were children, we needed a parent to love and protect us. Now that we're parents ourselves, we have a heavenly Father who adores, shelters us and holds us when we need to cry.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is – LOVE.

What Does “...He rose AGAIN...” in the Apostles’ Creed Mean?

I am preaching a 20-week message series on the Apostles' Creed at CrossPoint. The underlying purpose of the series is to reinforce what we believe as a church and why we believe.

Several people have asked why the Creed says, “He rose AGAIN” in the second paragraph, when it refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

One person commented that it would sound clearer if it said, "He rose from the dead . . ." or “He rose…”

Well, here is an answer I found this week.

In the Greek text of the Apostles' Creed the word translated “rose again” is “anistemi”. The word is a verbal compound having perfective force. A verbal compound in perfective force is “expressing action as complete or implying the action of completion, conclusion, or result.” It means simply “to raise up” or “to make stand again” or “to restore to life.” While perhaps sounding a bit archaic, the translation “rose again” certainly is an accurate rendering of the Greek text, having the same perfective force.

Also, an adverbial use of “again” in English colloquial usage is not without precedent. For example, to say “the boy fell down and got up again” does not mean that he fell down more than once and arose more than once. So, even in current English usage to say Jesus “rose again” does not necessarily imply (and of course does not in fact imply) that Jesus rose a second time.

Let me know if this helps. It certainly helped me. Bottom line, the Creed wants to reinforce the resurrection of Jesus Christ as being complete, final and absolute.

Video Blog Test

Let's see if we can see the video blog.

Dan Brown and the New Testament

On May 19, Dan Brown’s novel The DaVinci Code will be released as a full length motion picture by Sony Pictures. With Ron Howard as the producer and Tom Hanks as the starring actor, some predict the movie will be one of the top revenue producing movies of all time.

Of the many false claims in Dan Brown’s book, one bogus assertion is that “more than eighty gospels were considered for the New Testament, and yet only a relative few were chosen for inclusion—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John” (page 231). Many of the eighty gospels were the Gnostic gospels that came much later than Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The problem with the using the Gnostic Gospels as a credible source is that they were proven unreliable by the early church because they were written much later than the earlier accounts of Jesus’ life. Additionally, these gospel accounts were considered heretical because the writings contained a dangerous mixture of Christianity and paganism.

It is at this juncture I am compelled to make a strong preaching point: if the Gnostic Gospels were considered unreliable and heretical 2000 years ago, then they are still unreliable and heretical today.

While considering Brown’s claim, one would naturally ask how the New Testament come into existence. Now for a remedial course in the canonization of the New Testament: (By the way, canonization means to be selected as authoritative).

The books of the New Testament were chosen for good reason. As God preserved the word which He breathed out, the early churches began to acknowledge the authority and reliability of the books based upon certain criteria.

These tests were usually asked in the form of a question. A few of the questions included:

1. Is this book written or backed by a prophet or an apostle of God?
For inclusion in the New Testament the books were either written by or associated strongly with one of the apostles.

2. Is it internally coherent?
The writing must fit together with the rest of the writings that were included. The books could reflect unique perspectives of the gospel, but must also have a message consistent with the whole of Scripture. In other words, the books of the New Testament depict the same Jesus, consistently.

3. Did the gospels, books and letters enjoy universal acceptance?
As recent discoveries reveal, there were other gospels. But the ones accepted were the ones which presented the historical, Jesus, whom you and I have trusted for our eternal security and salvation.

4. Were these materials already read, sung and studied in worship?
Paul urged the churches in Colossians 4:16 and 1 Thessalonians 5:27 to read his letters in their worship services.

The New Testament is a mighty work of God guided by His Holy Spirit. When books like The DaVinci Code are released, the Christian community should respond swiftly and cogently. And, as Peter said, “we should always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks…” (2 Peter 3:15). I pray each CrossPointer uses the hype of The DaVinci Code to take a stand on the word of God and to witness for the love of God.

Don't Waste Your Cancer

Several years ago a friend introduced me to John Piper. Since then, I have been a huge John Piper follower. He preaches with great accuracy, intensity and clarity. Early in 2006 Piper was diagnosed with prostate cancer. On the day of his surgery he released this article “Don’t Waste Your Cancer.” We provide it for you today for encouragement:

I believe in God’s power to heal—by miracle and by medicine. I believe it is right and good to pray for both kinds of healing. Cancer is not wasted when it is healed by God. He gets the glory and that is why cancer exists. So not to pray for healing may waste your cancer. But healing is not God’s plan for everyone. And there are many other ways to waste your cancer. I am praying for myself and for you that we will not waste this pain.

1. You will waste your cancer if you do not believe it is designed for you by God.
It will not do to say that God only uses our cancer but does not design it. What God permits, he permits for a reason. And that reason is his design. If God foresees molecular developments becoming cancer, he can stop it or not. If he does not, he has a purpose. Since he is infinitely wise, it is right to call this purpose a design. Satan is real and causes many pleasures and pains. But he is not ultimate. So when he strikes Job with boils (Job 2:7), Job attributes it ultimately to God (2:10) and the inspired writer agrees: “They . . . comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him” (Job 42:11). If you don’t believe your cancer is designed for you by God, you will waste it.

2. You will waste your cancer if you believe it is a curse and not a gift.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). “There is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel” (Numbers 23:23). “The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

3. You will waste your cancer if you seek comfort from your odds rather than from God.
The design of God in your cancer is not to train you in the rationalistic, human calculation of odds. The world gets comfort from their odds. Not Christians. Some count their chariots (percentages of survival) and some count their horses (side effects of treatment), but we trust in the name of the Lord our God (Psalm 20:7). God’s design is clear from 2 Corinthians 1:9, “We felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” The aim of God in your cancer (among a thousand other good things) is to knock props out from under our hearts so that we rely utterly on him.

4. You will waste your cancer if you refuse to think about death.
We will all die, if Jesus postpones his return. Not to think about what it will be like to leave this life and meet God is folly. Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “It is better to go to the house of mourning [a funeral] than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.” How can you lay it to heart if you won’t think about it? Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Numbering your days means thinking about how few there are and that they will end. How will you get a heart of wisdom if you refuse to think about this? What a waste, if we do not think about death.

5. You will waste your cancer if you think that “beating” cancer means staying alive rather than cherishing Christ.
Satan’s and God’s designs in your cancer are not the same. Satan designs to destroy your love for Christ. God designs to deepen your love for Christ. Cancer does not win if you die. It wins if you fail to cherish Christ. God’s design is to wean you off the breast of the world and feast you on the sufficiency of Christ. It is meant to help you say and feel, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” And to know that therefore, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 3:8; 1:21).

6. You will waste your cancer if you spend too much time reading about cancer and not enough time reading about God.
It is not wrong to know about cancer. Ignorance is not a virtue. But the lure to know more and more and the lack of zeal to know God more and more is symptomatic of unbelief. Cancer is meant to waken us to the reality of God. It is meant to put feeling and force behind the command, “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3). It is meant to waken us to the truth of Daniel 11:32, “The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” It is meant to make unshakable, indestructible oak trees out of us: “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:2). What a waste of cancer if we read day and night about cancer and not about God.

7. You will waste your cancer if you let it drive you into solitude instead of deepen your relationships with manifest affection.
When Epaphroditus brought the gifts to Paul sent by the Philippian church he became ill and almost died. Paul tells the Philippians, “He has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill” (Philippians 2:26-27). What an amazing response! It does not say they were distressed that he was ill, but that he was distressed because they heard he was ill. That is the kind of heart God is aiming to create with cancer: a deeply affectionate, caring heart for people. Don’t waste your cancer by retreating into yourself.

8. You will waste your cancer if you grieve as those who have no hope.
Paul used this phrase in relation to those whose loved ones had died: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). There is a grief at death. Even for the believer who dies, there is temporary loss—loss of body, and loss of loved ones here, and loss of earthly ministry. But the grief is different—it is permeated with hope. “We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Don’t waste your cancer grieving as those who don’t have this hope.

9. You will waste your cancer if you treat sin as casually as before.
Are your besetting sins as attractive as they were before you had cancer? If so you are wasting your cancer. Cancer is designed to destroy the appetite for sin. Pride, greed, lust, hatred, unforgiveness, impatience, laziness, procrastination—all these are the adversaries that cancer is meant to attack. Don’t just think of battling against cancer. Also think of battling with cancer. All these things are worse enemies than cancer. Don’t waste the power of cancer to crush these foes. Let the presence of eternity make the sins of time look as futile as they really are. “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:25).

10. You will waste your cancer if you fail to use it as a means of witness to the truth and glory of Christ.
Christians are never anywhere by divine accident. There are reasons for why we wind up where we do. Consider what Jesus said about painful, unplanned circumstances: “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness” (Luke 21:12 -13). So it is with cancer. This will be an opportunity to bear witness. Christ is infinitely worthy. Here is a golden opportunity to show that he is worth more than life. Don’t waste it. Remember you are not left alone. You will have the help you need. “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Keep the faith!

OK, I'm Addicted!!

I have a huge admission to make. I am addicted to blogging.

Three months ago Vaughn Harris approached me about starting my own weblog (aka, blog). For those of you who do not know, Vaughn is the guy that jams on the Hammond B-3 organ each Sunday with the praise band. He said he would build it, organize it and maintain it; all I had to do was write it.

At first, I was apprehensive. Pride crept in. I asked myself, “Why would anyone want to read a daily writing from me? Who do I think I am composing something interesting or worthwhile? Is my ego so big that I think the world would be a better place because of what I have to say?”

Then trepidation seeped in. My writing would be scrutinized, analyzed and criticized by you and anyone else brave enough to read it. (Oh how I wish I had paid more attention to Mrs. Sara Swindoll in English at W.A. Berry High School. For that matter, I wish I had listened more to Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Wilson, and others throughout my years of education.)

Next, I asked a trusted pastor friend his opinion. He wrinkled his nose and asked, “Why?”

“I think it would be a great way to stay in touch with my people,” I retorted.

He mumbled, “Hmm! Sounds like a waste of time to me.” Nothing else was said.

Even though I was apprehensive at first, I am now on fire. I love it. I am addicted to it. I wake up each morning with another blog on my mind. I feel like justonemore.info gives me another avenue to preach and teach. And you know how I am about having more time to preach and teach!

With that said, I have a simple request. Will you help me (and Vaughn) spread the word about justonemore.info? I see the Lord using this tool in incalculable ways. And, as you spread the word, please keep returning each day by offering your comments. Your remarks motivate me, and in return, I want to motivate you.

Here’s to blogging!

Wearing the Mantle

This quote from John Piper reminds me why I take so seriously the task of studying and preaching:

"The mantle of preaching is soaked in the blood of Jesus and singed with the fires of Hell. Are you wearing that mantle?"

Please pray for me I try to wear this mantle.

Keep the faith.

Over the Top

Last night’s Worship on Wednesday at CrossPoint was over the top. It was a great evening of worship, fellowship and ministry. Once again, Bryan Haskins inspired us by allowing us to worship with him. As a sidebar comment, I believe that is the first time I have ever heard the phrase “prolific dissertation” used in a solo. And, I might add, it was used brilliantly.

What can I say about Calvin Miller? He is a gift to the kingdom of God. Every time he speaks his listeners are encouraged. Every time he writes his readers are challenged.

While speaking he made many noteworthy comments. Allow me to remind you of a few.

Did you hear his remark that “holy is a heavy word; it is one of the heaviest four letter words I know.” He is correct. I also valued his clarification of the word holy; that it is not a state of achievement or attainment as much as it is a desire or hunger for God.

The Saint Bernard of Clairvaux’s comment about humility also pricked my heart. Quoting the French monastic reformer, Dr. Miller said, “The first and greatest Christian virtue is humility. The second is… humility. And the third is… humility. And the fourth is…”

His comments about the vitality of a church were encouraging. I sensed by your demonstrative response that you agreed.

Of course, I believe he nailed it on the head when he talked about the plastic nature of our culture. I hear he and his wife are taking the kids and grandkids to Disney World after selling so many of his books last night.

Perhaps his best comment of the night was given after worship, when he told a CrossPointer, “I believe this is the happiest church I have ever been in.” He added, “Every person in the room seemed so full of joy.”

Last night was memorable. That is one of the purposes of WOW—to make eternal, heart-felt impressions on us. Thanks to Bryan Haskins and Calvin Miller, that purpose was fulfilled.

Assurance Leftovers

One of my childhood memories includes eating leftovers on Sunday night. The weekly ritual was both practical and memorable. It was practical in that it gave my mother room for more food in the refrigerator. It was unforgettable in that it created a fond family event I still recall today.

On most Mondays I have several leftovers from the previous day’s message. When I am preparing a message I often have more truth from God’s Word than I have time to deliver. Last Sunday’s message serves as an excellent example.

In the third section of my message titled “I Believe in the Holy Spirit”, I spoke of seven ways the Holy Spirit is active in our life. One of the ways I taught the Holy Spirit works in us by assuring us of our salvation. While studying the Holy Spirit’s role of assuring us, I returned to a review of some key passages from the book of 1 John regarding the evidence of our salvation.

Since I did not have time to present these five keys in my message two days ago, I have decided to provide them in my blog for your personal benefit:

1. You believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

1 John 5:1

2. You will refrain from a pattern of continual sin.

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

1 John 3:9

3. You will love your brother.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7

4. You will overcome the temptations of the world.

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:3-4

5. You will be safe from ultimate harm by the evil one.

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

1 John 5:18

The Power of God's Word

After worshipping and praying through the two aforementioned songs, I cracked open my Bible to hear a word from the Lord. James, chapter 3 is our New Testament reading for today, May 8.

James 3:1 teaches,

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because we know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (NIV)

That opening sentence was like a cold dose of reality. It was exactly what I needed to start my day. I have the huge responsibility of being the lead teacher, preacher and theologian for CrossPoint. That is why I take my job so seriously. For the many others who teach (and even preach) at CrossPoint, I suggest you take your job just as seriously. We were given this stark reminder today—we will be judged more strictly.

Holy Spirit Rain Down

My time alone with the Lord picked up today where our worship ended yesterday. I started my personal time with my Father by singing these two memorable prayers. I encourage you to do the same. Get ready! God will show up.

Holy Spirit Rain Down

Holy Spirit, rain down, rain down

Oh Comforter and Friend

How we need Your touch again

Holy Spirit, rain down, rain down

Let Your power fall

Let Your voice be heard

Come and change our hearts

As we stand on Your word

Holy Spirit, rain down

No eye has seen, no ear has heard

No mind can know what God has in store

So open up heaven, open it wide

Over Your church and over our lives

Spirit of the Living God

Spirit of the Living God
Fall fresh on me

Spirit of the Living God
Fall fresh on me

Break me
Melt me
Mold Me
Fill Me

Spirit of the Living God
Fall fresh on me

Harder and Easier

I concluded my time alone with the Lord this morning with a word from C.S. Lewis:

The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says, “Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree cut down. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.”

Both harder and easier is what we are all trying do. You have noticed, I expect, that Christ Himself sometimes describes the Christian way as very hard, sometimes as very easy. He says, “Take up your Cross”—in other words, it is like going to be beaten to death in a concentration camp. Next minute he says, “My yoke is easy and my burden light.” He means both. And once just see why both are true.

That’s a good word for us today!

WOW!!

If Wednesday night was any indication as to what kind of summer we are going to have at CrossPoint, then I cannot wait to see what God does with WOW. Worship on Wednesday started with a bang last night. If you missed it, then you need to make plans for next Wednesday night.

Thanks to Bryan Haskins, we worshipped last night. Bryan is an incredibly talented man, with a big heart. He loves people. He loves the Lord and it shows.

Next week, our special guest for WOW will be Dr. Calvin Miller.

Preparing for your Week

Like so many of you, I have a busy schedule to keep. Provided are a few disciplines I have developed to keep me on point with my mission.

1. Begin each day alone with God.
It does not matter whether you spend five minutes or 30 minutes or 60 minutes alone with God, each minute spent with the Almighty will be the best investment of your day. Spend the first part of every day alone with Him so He can guide you throughout the remainder of the day.

2. Before your week attacks you, attack your week.
I usually attack my week late Sunday night or early (very early) Monday morning. By attacking my week I mean plan your week in advance. That way you can map out your schedule according to what you need to do rather than what everyone else wants you to do.

3. Learn to say no.
This is a hard lesson for people pleasers. Some people will create an emergency in your life due to the lack of planning in their own life. Learn to graciously thank people while you politely decline their invitation or request. That way you can say yes to things that really matter.

4. Speaking of things that matter, organize according to value.
There was a time in my life when I thought everything mattered equally. Thank goodness I broke that destructive pattern of thinking. Not everything is equal in weight or importance. Develop a sliding scale of appraisal so you can focus more intensively on the things that matter. Here is another little secret about organizing according to value: only a few things really matter. Discover what really matters.

5. Develop the discipline to study.
Successful people are constantly learning. Their success is a result of the discipline to study. John Stott, a preacher from a previous era developed this pattern for study:

One hour a day

One 3 hour period a week

One day every month

One week every year

Time Alone with My Father

The biggest highlight of my day is my time alone with God. I need it. I crave it. I cannot serve Him effectively without it.

My days, like yours, can be very frenetic. My time alone with God enables me to slow down the velocity of my day. I also find a steadiness that comes with my time alone with my Father. This steadiness allows me to pace myself throughout my day.
This morning the Lord took me on a fascinating journey through His word. There is no way I can take you through my entire time alone with the Lord. I have decided, however, to let you peek over my shoulder at a few streams of thought.
I began my time alone with my Father by quoting Psalm 34:1-4, which reads:

I will extol the Lord at all times:
His praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the Lord;
Let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
Let us exalt His name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears.

Through that passage I was overcome by the glorious presence of God, Almighty.

Later in my devotional time I was compelled to admit my sin. In doing so, I was reminded of Psalm 51. The first verse reminded me of why I am forgiven. David records:

“Have mercy on me on, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”

It is according to God’s “unfailing love” and “great compassion” I am forgiven. O God, thank you for loving me that much.

Later in the morning, my Father took me to 1 Corinthians 4:7, where He humbled me with these brief but very serious set of questions:

“For who makes you different from anyone else?
What do you have that you did not receive?
And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”

Five minutes alone with the Lord will soon lead to thirty. Thirty minutes alone with the Almighty easily becomes sixty. Then, before you know it, you are spending countless hours alone with Him. I encourage you to start with five minutes, and then see what God will do.

Honoring Billy Graham

Chris Howell, CrossPoint’s Adult Education Minister called me Sunday night to inform me of a special on PBS about Billy Graham. The hour long telecast was hosted by David Frost.

Early in his ministry Graham recognized the urgent need to separate his evangelistic ministry from the some of the “evangelistic gold diggers” of his day. While leading in a crusade in Modesto, California, Billy Graham, along with his cohorts in ministry, George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows developed what would later be called the “Modesto Manifesto.”

During the crusade the godly men developed four simple standards that would govern their work. The values included:

1. They would ask an outside committee to handle the finances of each crusade.
2. They would never be alone with another woman other than their wife.
3. They would never speak critically of the local pastors or ministers.
4. They would never inflate the crusades numbers or exaggerate the results.

Sixty years later the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association remains as a sterling benchmark of credibility and integrity. Today’s modern evangelist (and I might add, pastor) would be wise to emulate Graham’s example, not only in integrity but also in faithfulness to the Word of God.