by Mike Satterfield
© 2005
Stars, solar systems, nebulae , and galaxies streamed past Gabriel as he flew, single in mind and purpose, towards his destination. His quest was urgent and had been given him from the Throne itself: Deliver the message. He was so consumed with love for the Father, basking the glory and radiance of the Presence, and so filled with honor at having been chosen for this special assignment that he almost collided with the entity that had materialized directly in his path.
“Where are you going, little angel?” the demon hissed.
“I am on my way to Earth. As I’m sure you already know, the Infiltration has been successful and I have a message to deliver as a result. It is from the Throne of Almighty God Himself, and it is urgent, so stand aside.”
Actually, the whole realm of demonic activity was well aware of what Gabriel spoke. They knew of the Infiltration and their ranks resonated with fear and doubt since learning the news. But this particular demon was not going to be intimidated so easily.
“I think not, my old friend. Perhaps you should give me the message and then I will decide whether or not to allow you to pass. There’s always the slight chance that I will let you go intact if the message pleases me. I am feeling benevolent lately.”
“Benevolence is not something you are capable of,” and Gabriel started to reply in like kind with “my old friend,” but thought better of it. “We were once friends, that much is true. We were Comrades. Brothers before the Throne, worshiping the Tri-unity together. That did not have to change, save that you gave your allegiance to Lucifer the Fallen instead of the Creator of all life. No. You are not benevolent and you are no friend.”
“Too bad, little angel.” countered the demon. “I had hoped that by now you might see with greater clarity the freedom from tyranny that I and the others have found in Lucifer. But you still blindly follow Jehovah. So be it. Now, divulge the message and await your sentence.”
Gabriel was fighting mad now, but had to laugh at the audacity of his enemy. “You think that you have freedom? You have only chosen a different master, and chosen poorly at that! If you doubt, you have only to think what punishment awaits you if you return to him now empty-handed. As for the message, gladly will I declare it to you. I have been commissioned to deliver terms of surrender.”
It was the demon’s turn to laugh. “Terms of surrender? Ha! Surely you know that we will never surrender to you or to Him. But you will cry for mercy when we’ve won the victory, little angel,” and his voice trailed off into a snarl as he moved his facer closer to Gabriel’s and placed a crooked talon on the hilt of his scimitar. “You may be an archangel, but I am not alone!” and as he spoke, five more demons of equal size materialized, blades drawn and glowing with a dull red incandescence.
“They are not terms for your surrender, fallen one. They are for the Image. And whether you will it or not, the day is coming when you will bow the knee to the Author of Life in submission, just before you are cast forever into the Lake of Fire. Logos has declared it and no word of His will ever go astray.!” Gabriel was radiant
now, full of the glory of the Father, confident in His love and power, and he added, “Neither am I alone…”
And as he spoke, the darkness of empty space was suddenly flooded with a brilliance that made the demons wince in pain. Blinded, they turned in flight, but were cut down as they fled by the legions of warring angels that rallied behind Gabriel. With swords drawn, they proceeded unhindered and undaunted towards their destination.
***
The men in the field that night were about their normal routine. There was nothing to indicate that tonight would be any different from the hundreds of other nights that they and their fathers and their father’s fathers had spent doing the same job. Shepherding was dirty business, and they were considered unclean as a result. Ironic that the ones who gave their lives to protect and provide the sacrifice for the people were all too often banned from participating in the ritual. But those thoughts were far from them this night, for there had been sightings of wolves in recent weeks. A sheep from a neighboring flock had wandered off two nights hence, and the ravaged carcass found the next morning. Everyone was alert and on guard. Eyes were adjusted to what little moonlight was shining that night, watching the hills and horizon for signs of movement that might indicate danger to their flocks. This is why the sudden sign that appeared in the heavens caught them by complete surprise.
The sky was suddenly ablaze with a great light. The shepherds huddled together, wincing, shielding their eyes from the radiance. Then, from the midst of the light, a voice…
“Fear not, you who are the Image of God. I bring Gospel to you this night – good news for all mankind. The war is decided and victory is at hand. Daystar has infiltrated the kingdom of darkness and will ransom and redeem you from the hand of the enemy. Go to the city of David and see this thing that has come to pass. You will find Logos Emmanuel lying in a feeding trough.”
Then, just as the shepherd’s eyes had almost adjusted to the light, it was magnified a hundred times over as the legions of warring angels appeared with Gabriel in the night sky. With swords drawn and held aloft, they lifted their voices together and the sound was like the crashing of waves upon the shore. A terrible, raging tempest, but also more beautiful and ethereal than any music sung in the tongues of men.
“Praise to the Almighty – He who is without beginning and end! Praise to Him in every realm of existence and before His throne. And here on earth, praise Him, you who are made in His Image! He offers you peace, if you will surrender to Him. Render unto the Lord of Heaven that which is rightfully His: your very lives, and you will have His peace and favor upon you. Choose ye this night whom you will serve!”
And then, as suddenly and unexpectedly as they had first come into view, they were gone, and darkness enveloped the shepherds once more. Without a second thought, they began groping about, adjusting their eyes to the shadows once more. They quickly made their way from the sheepfolds on the hillside to the little town whose name means “House of Bread” to see Him who was born that night, the Bread of Life.
Dec 24, 2008
Dec 21, 2008
a homeless Christmas
It wasn't an idea that I was initially thrilled about, but I wasn't opposed to it either. I just get into an entitlement mentality sometimes because I feel like I've paid my dues and sacrificed for others, and so God owes me some fluffly down time. But He doesn't, and so I'm often finding myself on the receiving end of a Heavenly rebuke. Such was the case this week. So my heart and attitude got an alignment in preparation for tonight.
The idea was not mine, so I cannot take credit. In fact, I wasn't sure at first that it was really going to work. I tend to be cynical when it's not my idea. A homeless Christmas party. In retrospect, it was one of the highlights of not only this Christmas, but my entire year. My sincere and humble thanks to the Fitzgeralds, Stantons, and Doss' for making it happen. These folks had been building relationship with some of the homeless of Athens for months in preparation for this night.
We went out this evening and picked them up and brought them back to the Stanton's house for dinner. Nothing fancy, but a hearty meal of lasagna or spaghetti casserole. I wasn't finding myself to picky about my meal as I sat down with new friends who were getting their first warm food in a long time. It was a pleasure to serve them tonight. It was amazing to let my kids be around them. It was humbling for me to hear their stories.
We sat around and watched the Falcon's game and talked a while and enjoyed the warmth as the temperature dropped outside. Then came time for the gifts. It was such a delight to see them with their individual piles of unopened presents.
Then, instead of doing what I would have done and was longing to see them do (namely rip into the presents) they began one by one sharing their gratitude and thanks. I was overwhelming to hear just snippets of their lives in that context. Demetria said she remembered going around to look at Christmas lights as a little girl and that being her favorite memory, having not celebrated a Christmas since she was 17. This was her second Christmas sober. George expressed his thanks, not only for the gifts, but for being able to come and celebrate at all. The past 6 Christmases George has spent in jail. And Clarence. He was so touched. All he could say was “Thank you all! You don't know how much this means to us.” and he began to cry. I did, too.
We continued to hang out until the sugar wore off and the kids (and I) were getting tired and grouchy. So home we came, and changed into our PJ's and tucked little ones into warm, fleecy beds, all snuggled up and cozy. It really makes you think about the grace and sovereignty of God to realize that those same tender-hearted friends we met tonight, some of whom are Believers, will not spend this night in warm beds, but on the cold ground.
As I sat down to write this, I remembered the last thing that our Pastor said this morning as he closed his message from James 5 on patience. He said “The source of our patience and hope is not in the changing of our circumstances. The source of our patience and hope is in the soon return of Jesus Christ.”
I thought I had a pretty good grip on that until tonight. I lay my head down tonight with feelings of deep gratitude to God for providing so very much to me and my family, and with concerns that I don't go out of my way to do enough for others who are not so blessed.
Maranatha. Come soon Lord Jesus.
The idea was not mine, so I cannot take credit. In fact, I wasn't sure at first that it was really going to work. I tend to be cynical when it's not my idea. A homeless Christmas party. In retrospect, it was one of the highlights of not only this Christmas, but my entire year. My sincere and humble thanks to the Fitzgeralds, Stantons, and Doss' for making it happen. These folks had been building relationship with some of the homeless of Athens for months in preparation for this night.
We went out this evening and picked them up and brought them back to the Stanton's house for dinner. Nothing fancy, but a hearty meal of lasagna or spaghetti casserole. I wasn't finding myself to picky about my meal as I sat down with new friends who were getting their first warm food in a long time. It was a pleasure to serve them tonight. It was amazing to let my kids be around them. It was humbling for me to hear their stories.
We sat around and watched the Falcon's game and talked a while and enjoyed the warmth as the temperature dropped outside. Then came time for the gifts. It was such a delight to see them with their individual piles of unopened presents.
Then, instead of doing what I would have done and was longing to see them do (namely rip into the presents) they began one by one sharing their gratitude and thanks. I was overwhelming to hear just snippets of their lives in that context. Demetria said she remembered going around to look at Christmas lights as a little girl and that being her favorite memory, having not celebrated a Christmas since she was 17. This was her second Christmas sober. George expressed his thanks, not only for the gifts, but for being able to come and celebrate at all. The past 6 Christmases George has spent in jail. And Clarence. He was so touched. All he could say was “Thank you all! You don't know how much this means to us.” and he began to cry. I did, too.
We continued to hang out until the sugar wore off and the kids (and I) were getting tired and grouchy. So home we came, and changed into our PJ's and tucked little ones into warm, fleecy beds, all snuggled up and cozy. It really makes you think about the grace and sovereignty of God to realize that those same tender-hearted friends we met tonight, some of whom are Believers, will not spend this night in warm beds, but on the cold ground.
As I sat down to write this, I remembered the last thing that our Pastor said this morning as he closed his message from James 5 on patience. He said “The source of our patience and hope is not in the changing of our circumstances. The source of our patience and hope is in the soon return of Jesus Christ.”
I thought I had a pretty good grip on that until tonight. I lay my head down tonight with feelings of deep gratitude to God for providing so very much to me and my family, and with concerns that I don't go out of my way to do enough for others who are not so blessed.
Maranatha. Come soon Lord Jesus.
Dec 9, 2008
pride of a brother...
I have never experienced pride in a sibling like I did this morning. I have to tell you the story...
Austin has been staying with us since Nov. 2 and is slated to go back home on Dec. 19. At 15 years of age, I have been challenged in new ways having a teenager in our home. But its been a good experience all around. One area where Austin struggles to manage his life is in regards to his cell phone. Multiple time he has overstepped his usage boundaries with texting. This month was one of those months. So it came to a head.
I spoke with mom and dad and waited to hear from them what they wanted to do in terms of punishing Austin. I got a final decision last night from my dad that they were going to only let him have his phone for one hour a day for the next week. Since I am the enforcer, I took the night to pray and sleep and prepare for the conversation I would have with Austin this morning.
He didn't take it well...initially. He was angry and thought it harsh, as teenagers are wont to do. We ran some errands together and he sat in the van while I deposited our paycheck. He was frustrated and sullen and quiet. So we rode together in silence. I've learned not to try to goad people, especially my kids, into trying to smile or laugh or move past those moments of what we call “negative” emotions. So I wasn't going to prod him to silliness for the sake of lightening the mood.
We had been driving about 15 minutes when Austin spoke. “The Bible says that we're supposed to submit to our authorities, right?”
“Yeah. It does.” I answered, curios as to where this was going.
He paused for a moment as he looked out the window. “That's what I'm going to do then,” he said. “I don't like it, but I'm going to submit to it.”
I lit up! I was beaming and even chuckled out loud.
Austin wanted to know why I was laughing. I explained to him that I was more proud of him in that moment than I could ever remember being before. What he did was HUGE for a 15-yr-old teenager, and I let him know that. I look forward to being as proud of my own kids as I was of my kid brother today.
Austin has been staying with us since Nov. 2 and is slated to go back home on Dec. 19. At 15 years of age, I have been challenged in new ways having a teenager in our home. But its been a good experience all around. One area where Austin struggles to manage his life is in regards to his cell phone. Multiple time he has overstepped his usage boundaries with texting. This month was one of those months. So it came to a head.
I spoke with mom and dad and waited to hear from them what they wanted to do in terms of punishing Austin. I got a final decision last night from my dad that they were going to only let him have his phone for one hour a day for the next week. Since I am the enforcer, I took the night to pray and sleep and prepare for the conversation I would have with Austin this morning.
He didn't take it well...initially. He was angry and thought it harsh, as teenagers are wont to do. We ran some errands together and he sat in the van while I deposited our paycheck. He was frustrated and sullen and quiet. So we rode together in silence. I've learned not to try to goad people, especially my kids, into trying to smile or laugh or move past those moments of what we call “negative” emotions. So I wasn't going to prod him to silliness for the sake of lightening the mood.
We had been driving about 15 minutes when Austin spoke. “The Bible says that we're supposed to submit to our authorities, right?”
“Yeah. It does.” I answered, curios as to where this was going.
He paused for a moment as he looked out the window. “That's what I'm going to do then,” he said. “I don't like it, but I'm going to submit to it.”
I lit up! I was beaming and even chuckled out loud.
Austin wanted to know why I was laughing. I explained to him that I was more proud of him in that moment than I could ever remember being before. What he did was HUGE for a 15-yr-old teenager, and I let him know that. I look forward to being as proud of my own kids as I was of my kid brother today.
Dec 7, 2008
the frozen evangelist
Friday night was bitterly cold, and my face bears the rosy, chapped cheeks to prove it. With temps down in the 20's, and a slight steady wind from the east, our team quickly realized that conversations were better had on north-south running streets with people up close to buildings which shielded from the wind. It was feast or famine for us as we took the Gospel to downtown Athens once more.
Austin, my 15-year-old brother, has been going out with us recently and really enjoying the challenge of sharing Christ with people. He went off with Charles and Robby and had some good interactions, including one stubborn Army Ranger who apparently was a beast of a fellow.
I paired off with Justin, and we set out. I wasn't having many conversations at first, and Justin seemed more “in the groove” than I was. He got to talking to a guy and I wandered down the street a ways, praying for Justin, and looking for another person to speak with. I found John outside a pool hall on Lumpkin Street. He was out taking a smoke break. I approached him and asked if he had a minute. We began to talk and he wasn't interested in taking the Gospel tract I offered him, but we continued to talk for about 10 minutes. Conversation was going well, but he had to step back inside since he was on the clock. I sat on a stool beside the door and waited and prayed that God would have John come back so we could talk some more. In about 10 more minutes, that's exactly what happened. John came back to our conversation about God and His standards of morality. By the end of our time together, John wanted that Gospel tract. I encouraged him to go to Mark Cahill's web site (on the tract) and get a free copy of his book One Heartbeat Away. He said that he would, and I hope and pray that he will.
We walked some more, and got separated again for a while. I rounded to corner on College Avenue to see a girl sitting and reading a book – a strange thing to do in 27 degree weather. She was bundled all in black, looking very Goth. I pulled out a tract and sat down on the ledge next to her. Immediately I felt the cold of the concrete through my jeans! I cleared my throat and asked, “Hey, do you mind if I talk to you for a minute?” She slowly looked up from her book, glanced me over, spotted the tract, and went back to her book. An angry voice came from within the bundled, black mass that now had it's back to me, growling, “No! Go away.”
I was stunned. In almost 10 years of ministry, I have never had anyone respond like that. So I told her that, and also that I was amazed. She didn't even look up this time when she fumed, “I SAID 'Go away'! I don't want to talk to you!” I stood up and began to step away, when I offered a parting thought. I said, “You know, I've never met anyone as close-minded as you before.” and walked away. God immediately convicted my heart about it. I felt like I had to get a jab in before leaving because I was feeling rejected. What I should have said was, “I'm sorry that someone hurt you so badly that it is not possible for us to have a conversation about spiritual things.” Lesson learned.
Time passed slowly in the cold, and all our encounters were either really great opportunities to minister to people who were being drawn by the Lord, or outright rejections by people who were hardened to Him. As we began to get ready to call it a night, Justin and I wanted one more lap around the block. Coming down Clayton Street, we spotted a guy sitting outside a bar by himself. Justin peeled off to talk to him and I went a little ways down, so as not to overwhelm the guy, and began to pray. Very quickly one of the guy's friends come out to see what was going on. I made my way back over in order to engage the friend and keep him from being a distraction to Justin sharing Christ. So Justin was talking with Adam, and I ended up talking with Adam's friend Dan. From what I learned later, Dan is not a friendly fellow at all, and doesn't tolerate much in the way of religion or God-talk. I would never have known that based on our conversation though.
Dan and I went through the 10 Commandments and talked about God's standard of good. Dan admitted that he was in trouble and that God would find him guilty on Judgment Day if he died in his sins. We talked pretty openly about lust, and Dan found it hard to believe that I had victory over this area through Christ. I explained that when you 1) really see your sin and wickedness, and then 2) realize the grace and forgiveness Christ offers in light of the Hell we deserve, the 3) you can live out of a tremendous sense of gratitude to God for what He has done which brings about a will to serve and obey Him.
It was at this point that I learned that Dan was Italian and Catholic. He told me that he'd initially grown up in church, but that he had lost 2 brothers when they were very young, and that was when he began to doubt and be angry at God. I listened to his pain, and then asked him if I could share something with him. I told him about our Luke and how we lost him when the Lord took him home. I told Dan that I empathized with the pain of losing someone very close to you, and that I understood the hurt and confusion. What most baffled Dan was that I was not angry with God about Luke, but that I had peace because I knew I would see him again one day. It was a powerful testimony at the right moment. Truly God allows pain but gives comfort so that we might comfort others (2 Corinthians 1).
We talked about how Dan sees God. I told him that he had a choice. He could either continue to focus on God through the lens of pain and loss, being angry about the situation with his brothers. Or he could stop and think about the fact that we were having a conversation. That God cares enough about Dan to send a total stranger to him on a freezing night to tell him about the love of Christ and the forgiveness He offers so that Dan can avoid spending eternity in Hell. Dan pondered a moment and then nodded in agreement that God really was trying to get his attention.
Dan already had a tract from Justin from earlier, so I called his attention to it again. I reminded him that he couldn't know the moment of his death nor prevent it. He couldn't promise me that if he laid down to sleep that he would wake up again in the morning. No one has that power. I reminded him that eternity is a long time to be wrong about what awaits us when we step out of this life. He was VERY receptive. I went to dig my card out of my pocket, but what came out instead was divine providence.
It was an “Appointment with Death” card that has my name and cell number on it. It simply has the days of the week where you can check one and a space for the date and the time to be written in. It says, “On the day that you are going to die, please call me so that we can continue to talk about Eternal Life and Spiritual Truth.” I handed it to Dan who immediately read it. He looked up at me, confused and dumbfounded. “I don't know when I'm going to die” he said. “That's right, Dan. So you'd better be thinking hard about these things right now!”
I told him to call me if he wanted to chat more. Dan put out his cigarette and reached across the railing and hugged my neck. “Thank you for talking to me tonight.” he said. I walked away thanking God for the opportunity to share the Gospel with people.
Austin, my 15-year-old brother, has been going out with us recently and really enjoying the challenge of sharing Christ with people. He went off with Charles and Robby and had some good interactions, including one stubborn Army Ranger who apparently was a beast of a fellow.
I paired off with Justin, and we set out. I wasn't having many conversations at first, and Justin seemed more “in the groove” than I was. He got to talking to a guy and I wandered down the street a ways, praying for Justin, and looking for another person to speak with. I found John outside a pool hall on Lumpkin Street. He was out taking a smoke break. I approached him and asked if he had a minute. We began to talk and he wasn't interested in taking the Gospel tract I offered him, but we continued to talk for about 10 minutes. Conversation was going well, but he had to step back inside since he was on the clock. I sat on a stool beside the door and waited and prayed that God would have John come back so we could talk some more. In about 10 more minutes, that's exactly what happened. John came back to our conversation about God and His standards of morality. By the end of our time together, John wanted that Gospel tract. I encouraged him to go to Mark Cahill's web site (on the tract) and get a free copy of his book One Heartbeat Away. He said that he would, and I hope and pray that he will.
We walked some more, and got separated again for a while. I rounded to corner on College Avenue to see a girl sitting and reading a book – a strange thing to do in 27 degree weather. She was bundled all in black, looking very Goth. I pulled out a tract and sat down on the ledge next to her. Immediately I felt the cold of the concrete through my jeans! I cleared my throat and asked, “Hey, do you mind if I talk to you for a minute?” She slowly looked up from her book, glanced me over, spotted the tract, and went back to her book. An angry voice came from within the bundled, black mass that now had it's back to me, growling, “No! Go away.”
I was stunned. In almost 10 years of ministry, I have never had anyone respond like that. So I told her that, and also that I was amazed. She didn't even look up this time when she fumed, “I SAID 'Go away'! I don't want to talk to you!” I stood up and began to step away, when I offered a parting thought. I said, “You know, I've never met anyone as close-minded as you before.” and walked away. God immediately convicted my heart about it. I felt like I had to get a jab in before leaving because I was feeling rejected. What I should have said was, “I'm sorry that someone hurt you so badly that it is not possible for us to have a conversation about spiritual things.” Lesson learned.
Time passed slowly in the cold, and all our encounters were either really great opportunities to minister to people who were being drawn by the Lord, or outright rejections by people who were hardened to Him. As we began to get ready to call it a night, Justin and I wanted one more lap around the block. Coming down Clayton Street, we spotted a guy sitting outside a bar by himself. Justin peeled off to talk to him and I went a little ways down, so as not to overwhelm the guy, and began to pray. Very quickly one of the guy's friends come out to see what was going on. I made my way back over in order to engage the friend and keep him from being a distraction to Justin sharing Christ. So Justin was talking with Adam, and I ended up talking with Adam's friend Dan. From what I learned later, Dan is not a friendly fellow at all, and doesn't tolerate much in the way of religion or God-talk. I would never have known that based on our conversation though.
Dan and I went through the 10 Commandments and talked about God's standard of good. Dan admitted that he was in trouble and that God would find him guilty on Judgment Day if he died in his sins. We talked pretty openly about lust, and Dan found it hard to believe that I had victory over this area through Christ. I explained that when you 1) really see your sin and wickedness, and then 2) realize the grace and forgiveness Christ offers in light of the Hell we deserve, the 3) you can live out of a tremendous sense of gratitude to God for what He has done which brings about a will to serve and obey Him.
It was at this point that I learned that Dan was Italian and Catholic. He told me that he'd initially grown up in church, but that he had lost 2 brothers when they were very young, and that was when he began to doubt and be angry at God. I listened to his pain, and then asked him if I could share something with him. I told him about our Luke and how we lost him when the Lord took him home. I told Dan that I empathized with the pain of losing someone very close to you, and that I understood the hurt and confusion. What most baffled Dan was that I was not angry with God about Luke, but that I had peace because I knew I would see him again one day. It was a powerful testimony at the right moment. Truly God allows pain but gives comfort so that we might comfort others (2 Corinthians 1).
We talked about how Dan sees God. I told him that he had a choice. He could either continue to focus on God through the lens of pain and loss, being angry about the situation with his brothers. Or he could stop and think about the fact that we were having a conversation. That God cares enough about Dan to send a total stranger to him on a freezing night to tell him about the love of Christ and the forgiveness He offers so that Dan can avoid spending eternity in Hell. Dan pondered a moment and then nodded in agreement that God really was trying to get his attention.
Dan already had a tract from Justin from earlier, so I called his attention to it again. I reminded him that he couldn't know the moment of his death nor prevent it. He couldn't promise me that if he laid down to sleep that he would wake up again in the morning. No one has that power. I reminded him that eternity is a long time to be wrong about what awaits us when we step out of this life. He was VERY receptive. I went to dig my card out of my pocket, but what came out instead was divine providence.
It was an “Appointment with Death” card that has my name and cell number on it. It simply has the days of the week where you can check one and a space for the date and the time to be written in. It says, “On the day that you are going to die, please call me so that we can continue to talk about Eternal Life and Spiritual Truth.” I handed it to Dan who immediately read it. He looked up at me, confused and dumbfounded. “I don't know when I'm going to die” he said. “That's right, Dan. So you'd better be thinking hard about these things right now!”
I told him to call me if he wanted to chat more. Dan put out his cigarette and reached across the railing and hugged my neck. “Thank you for talking to me tonight.” he said. I walked away thanking God for the opportunity to share the Gospel with people.
Nov 3, 2008
denying Christ
I just sat at my dining room table with my family this morning after breakfast, having out Bible study together. We have been reading through Matthew and today we read chapter 26: 47-75. We talked about Peter's denial of Jesus and about his fear of the cross which kept him following Christ at a distance. I began to speak to my children about death and the fear of death. God gave me a funny analogy that helped them understand how utterly absurd it is for the Christian to fear death.
Imagine you've been away on a long journey. Where is the one place you most want to be? The place where you can rest? Sleep in your own bed? Be with those you care most for? Of course the answer is home. So imagine you've returned and driven up into your driveway and parked the car. You're out and onto the front porch, excited to be home. So you unpack all your things on the front porch, lie down on the concrete and go to sleep. A neighbor comes over to ask about the scene that's unfolded with you living on the porch, and your response is “I know home is where I most want to be, but I'm really too afraid to walk through the door.” Absurd! But this is the condition of the Believer who fears death.
I shared that with my children to simply say, that there is coming a day in our nation – not some far away land – when those who follow Christ will be put to the test the way Peter was that night. He denied Christ three times out of fear of that Roman cross. But Christ has conquered death, and He commands us to take up our cross daily, to mortify our flesh and live by the Spirit. So I asked my sons point blank, “If someone pointed a gun at you and gave you the choice to deny Jesus Christ or die, what would you do?” I was a bit nervous about putting so much pressure on them, but they didn't hesitate. “We would not deny Jesus. We would go to Heaven.”
I prayed over my family and wept. I wept because I have firmly come to believe that we will see this kind of persecution in our day, and I am confident that we will have the same opportunity presented to Peter that night. I am reminded of Jesus' words that “he who denies me before men, him will I deny before my Father in Heaven.” I finished praying and looked up at my family with tears in my eyes and said, “You must never, never, never deny Christ. Even if it costs you everything. Do not deny Him!”
In 1750 Alexander Tyler penned his Cycle of Nations. It details that a people will go from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to freedom, from freedom to abundance, from abundance to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, and finally from dependency back into bondage. We can look back on history and see this happen time and time again, but never as quickly as it has in our country in under 250 years. I read one commentator this week who observed that in his estimation, America is in the stage of progressing from complacency into apathy. I disagree.
I believe that we're actually much further along in the cycle of nations than the transition to apathy. Our welfare state has already moved the cultural mindset back into dependence. We're now careening into bondage under a coming dictator. Life in America will never be the same. Regardless of the outcome on Tuesday, the America that we have known and loved is gone forever and we will never gain it back, not in 20 lifetimes. And I say, so be it. Let Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, and depose all despots and usurpers to power. Come and take Thy royal throne and reign for 1000 years with a scepter of iron, dashing the nations to pieces like pottery who refuse to pay homage. Come soon, Lord Jesus. Come soon Great King! The sun has set on democracy. God shed His light on thee, but that light has waned. Night is upon us. The sun will rise on the perfect Monarchy. May the dawn of His Kingdom come soon!
Imagine you've been away on a long journey. Where is the one place you most want to be? The place where you can rest? Sleep in your own bed? Be with those you care most for? Of course the answer is home. So imagine you've returned and driven up into your driveway and parked the car. You're out and onto the front porch, excited to be home. So you unpack all your things on the front porch, lie down on the concrete and go to sleep. A neighbor comes over to ask about the scene that's unfolded with you living on the porch, and your response is “I know home is where I most want to be, but I'm really too afraid to walk through the door.” Absurd! But this is the condition of the Believer who fears death.
I shared that with my children to simply say, that there is coming a day in our nation – not some far away land – when those who follow Christ will be put to the test the way Peter was that night. He denied Christ three times out of fear of that Roman cross. But Christ has conquered death, and He commands us to take up our cross daily, to mortify our flesh and live by the Spirit. So I asked my sons point blank, “If someone pointed a gun at you and gave you the choice to deny Jesus Christ or die, what would you do?” I was a bit nervous about putting so much pressure on them, but they didn't hesitate. “We would not deny Jesus. We would go to Heaven.”
I prayed over my family and wept. I wept because I have firmly come to believe that we will see this kind of persecution in our day, and I am confident that we will have the same opportunity presented to Peter that night. I am reminded of Jesus' words that “he who denies me before men, him will I deny before my Father in Heaven.” I finished praying and looked up at my family with tears in my eyes and said, “You must never, never, never deny Christ. Even if it costs you everything. Do not deny Him!”
In 1750 Alexander Tyler penned his Cycle of Nations. It details that a people will go from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to freedom, from freedom to abundance, from abundance to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, and finally from dependency back into bondage. We can look back on history and see this happen time and time again, but never as quickly as it has in our country in under 250 years. I read one commentator this week who observed that in his estimation, America is in the stage of progressing from complacency into apathy. I disagree.
I believe that we're actually much further along in the cycle of nations than the transition to apathy. Our welfare state has already moved the cultural mindset back into dependence. We're now careening into bondage under a coming dictator. Life in America will never be the same. Regardless of the outcome on Tuesday, the America that we have known and loved is gone forever and we will never gain it back, not in 20 lifetimes. And I say, so be it. Let Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, and depose all despots and usurpers to power. Come and take Thy royal throne and reign for 1000 years with a scepter of iron, dashing the nations to pieces like pottery who refuse to pay homage. Come soon, Lord Jesus. Come soon Great King! The sun has set on democracy. God shed His light on thee, but that light has waned. Night is upon us. The sun will rise on the perfect Monarchy. May the dawn of His Kingdom come soon!
Oct 30, 2008
my new book is out!
I am really excited to share this with you! Watkinsville First Baptist footed the bill for the initial printing of 250 copies of my book, "A Call to Discernment." I am not selling them! I am suggesting a $3 donation per copy so that I can roll that money into a future printing if demand is high! You can make checks payable to Mike Satterfield and I hope to get a PayPal account set up soon so folks can use credit cards to order online. Thanks to all who helped make this book a reality.
If you have questions or would like more info on the book or getting a copy, you can email me at msatty at gmail dot com
PS - The above image is a my "photoshopped" version of the book. It is NOT that thick in real life. In fact, it is only 50-60 pages long. So don't get your hopes up for a nice, hard-cover version unless some big publisher picks it up...yeah, right.
Oct 9, 2008
Yom Kippur today!
Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement on the Hebrew calendar. Different from Passover, Yom Kippur is the day when the nation Israel was to be atoned for. The High Priest would actually remove his priestly garments and only wear the white linen garments for the slaughter of the goat. Imaging that! Think the blood got everywhere and stained the white garments? You bet! But what a picture of the white linen representing the righteousness of the saints covered with the blood of the sacrifice. I think of Isaiah 1:18 where we are told that “though our sins be as scarlet, yet they shall be white as snow!”
God's intention for Israel was that they be a royal priesthood before Him on behalf of the nations. Priests are intercessors. They represent God to men, and bring the affairs and needs of men before God. They were to be atoned for on this day because 5 days later at Sukkot (Tabernacles) there would be an offering of 70 bulls. Doesn't seem all that significant until you go back to Genesis and the Table of Nations and realize that there are 70 Gentile nations listed there descended from Noah and his sons. Israel had to be cleansed so that they could intercede before God for the nations! Isa 42:6 "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations”
What about us now? I do not hold to that damnable heresy of Replacement Theology. Rather we have been grafted in to the Olive Tree. What does Yom Kippur mean for us as Gentile Believers in the 21st Century? What does Peter tell us?
1Pe 2:4-10 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, (5) you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." (7) So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," (8) and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (9) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (10) Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
It is a day for us to rejoice! We have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! But it is also a time for us to repent and intercede first for the nation of Israel. Pray that God would open their eyes to see Yeshua who is their Messiah! And pray for the nations, though they rage in vain against the Holy One of Israel and His Annointed. For one day soon, Yom Kippur will find its prophetic fulfillment.
Isa 63:1-4 Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save." (2) Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress? (3) "I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. (4) For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come.
Jesus will deliver His people out of Petra from whence they have been hidden in the wilderness. He will defeat the armies of Antichrist and come from Bozrah to the Mt. Of Olives, treading out the wine press of His wrath! At that time, there will be an earthquake and the Mt. Of Olives will split (Zech. 14:4) and Christ will separate the sheep from the goats! (Matthew 25)
We are nearer than we realize. Repent and seek the Lord while He may be found! Let us be mindful, awake, alert, and sober-minded as we rejoice in the righteousness of our God on this Day of Atonement.
God's intention for Israel was that they be a royal priesthood before Him on behalf of the nations. Priests are intercessors. They represent God to men, and bring the affairs and needs of men before God. They were to be atoned for on this day because 5 days later at Sukkot (Tabernacles) there would be an offering of 70 bulls. Doesn't seem all that significant until you go back to Genesis and the Table of Nations and realize that there are 70 Gentile nations listed there descended from Noah and his sons. Israel had to be cleansed so that they could intercede before God for the nations! Isa 42:6 "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations”
What about us now? I do not hold to that damnable heresy of Replacement Theology. Rather we have been grafted in to the Olive Tree. What does Yom Kippur mean for us as Gentile Believers in the 21st Century? What does Peter tell us?
1Pe 2:4-10 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, (5) you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." (7) So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," (8) and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (9) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (10) Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
It is a day for us to rejoice! We have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! But it is also a time for us to repent and intercede first for the nation of Israel. Pray that God would open their eyes to see Yeshua who is their Messiah! And pray for the nations, though they rage in vain against the Holy One of Israel and His Annointed. For one day soon, Yom Kippur will find its prophetic fulfillment.
Isa 63:1-4 Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save." (2) Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress? (3) "I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. (4) For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come.
Jesus will deliver His people out of Petra from whence they have been hidden in the wilderness. He will defeat the armies of Antichrist and come from Bozrah to the Mt. Of Olives, treading out the wine press of His wrath! At that time, there will be an earthquake and the Mt. Of Olives will split (Zech. 14:4) and Christ will separate the sheep from the goats! (Matthew 25)
We are nearer than we realize. Repent and seek the Lord while He may be found! Let us be mindful, awake, alert, and sober-minded as we rejoice in the righteousness of our God on this Day of Atonement.
Oct 6, 2008
God our Provider
After 10 years of ministry I think I'm learning to trust more. Finally! I don't do it all the time, and when I do do it, I don't do it consistently like I'd like to. But I'm a work in progress. So last week, our friends and neighbors, the Schulz's had their dryer go out. Their kids were coming over to play with ours anyway, so they called to ask if they could bring a load of wet laundry. We were glad to help friends in need, so over they came with wet clothes. Our dryer was a hand-me-down from before we got married, and I've had to repair it once. Well, before completing the cycle with the Schulz's laundry, our dryer joined their's in the Great Beyond of Appliance Afterlife. It was ironic to say the least. So...we prayed. What else could we do, right?
Like I said, time was when I would panic. But not this time. I was calm – bordering on apathetic! Maybe I didn't want to give it my attention, but I was determined to let it sit over the weekend. Well Sunday, a dear brother in the Lord was over to the house and asked me out of the blue if he could buy a new dryer for us! Awesome, huh? So when it came time for us to go back to church at 5pm, I sent Jen and the kids on as he came back from Lowe's with a new dryer which we quickly installed. Jen came home to a wonderful surprise, and we are grateful to the Lord for using this friend to meet our need! I even did some loads today myself! And it drys the load in ONE cycle! We're used to 2! Its going to take some getting used to...
Then I got up this morning for guys Bible study and went out to the car, and it was dead. (I'm laughing here!) At least a dead battery, maybe more. Don't know yet, but you know what? I haven't gotten to it today. At peace...bordering on apathy. New car? Anyone? lol!
Like I said, time was when I would panic. But not this time. I was calm – bordering on apathetic! Maybe I didn't want to give it my attention, but I was determined to let it sit over the weekend. Well Sunday, a dear brother in the Lord was over to the house and asked me out of the blue if he could buy a new dryer for us! Awesome, huh? So when it came time for us to go back to church at 5pm, I sent Jen and the kids on as he came back from Lowe's with a new dryer which we quickly installed. Jen came home to a wonderful surprise, and we are grateful to the Lord for using this friend to meet our need! I even did some loads today myself! And it drys the load in ONE cycle! We're used to 2! Its going to take some getting used to...
Then I got up this morning for guys Bible study and went out to the car, and it was dead. (I'm laughing here!) At least a dead battery, maybe more. Don't know yet, but you know what? I haven't gotten to it today. At peace...bordering on apathy. New car? Anyone? lol!
Sep 29, 2008
many posts in one
So much in the news right now and things are happening so fast, it's hard to know where to begin. I am going to address several items in this one posting instead of making several posts. Have fun reading!
Wesley Foundation at Kennesaw State
Some of you have asked how my time went at KSU Wesley as follow up to my post about sharing the Gospel on their campus. I had a blast with them. We ate dinner together and then went into worship. I know I'm getting old because I had to stay in the back of the room with the band at that volume. I spoke on “the Scriptures as the basis for all other spiritual disciplines” and it went exceedingly well. I stayed after and had some good interaction with the students. After, we hung out at Starbucks where I sampled the new, seasonal drink – salted caramel hot chocolate! Sounds strange but tastes AMAZING! I haven't been able to find it since, so hurry up Starbucks! Then I proceeded to stay up all night with their Director, David Scott, who is an old and dear friend. It was he who introduced me to the Sonseed “Jesus is a Friend of Mine” video posted below. They really blessed me by having me there and encouraged my heart greatly! I hope to be back over there sometime soon!
Friday Night Evangelism
This past week was terrific! There were HUGE crowds in Athens the night before the Alabama spanking we received and that meant lots of people to share with. I won't go into all the details, but the highlight of the night was Charles leading a guy to Christ. You can check it out here on his blog. I encourage you to read it in its entirety.
Super Soaker Baptism
I post this in the fear that there might be (and probably ARE) those out there who will think this is a good idea and put it into practice. Nevertheless, with the rampant heresy in the Church in America in the name of cultural relevance, I find myself frequently thinking of how to take these “relevant” ideas to their ridiculous conclusions so as to show them for what they are. My latest brainstorm is regarding baptism. Long have I held that immersion is the most Scriptural mode of baptism though I do not break fellowship with my Christian brothers who disagree. Now in this age of “re-imagining” and “re-thinking” Christianity (as if it was so tired and old as to be found boring) I have “re-thought” baptism. So in an effort to make it more culturally relevant, I propose that we have Super Soaker Firing Squads instead of baptismal pools. The idea is to portray death, burial and resurrection, right? What better than a firing squad of high-powered water guns? Think it over, and I'm sure you'll agree...lol!
In case you are wondering what that smell is...it's called sarcasm.
Idolatry
I have been a campus minister on the UGA campus for 10 years. In that time, I have seen my share of raucous and lewd behavior. I have seen every kind of sin and addiction that depraved man can concoct. But I have never witnessed the sheer volume of idolatry that I did on Saturday as we walked around campus before the game. I've experienced my my fair share of gamedays and tailgates and seen the drunkenness and revelry, but never like this. It was literally oppressive. The closer we got to Samford Stadium, the darker it got spiritually. I am convinced in my heart that Saturday's loss was grace to the UGA community in that it affords the opportunity for renewed humility.
Worship is a compound word from “worth-ship” or what we ascribe worth to. What we value, talk about, spend money on, give our time to, energy to, and attention to is what we worship. As Christians, we've had the eyes of our hearts enlightened so that we see God and are able to worship Him, because to Him alone belongs worship. He alone is worthy of all praise. But fallen man worships the creation instead of the Creator (Romans 1). It was so telling to see the worship on Saturday, even down to our Anthem, “Glory, glory to old Georgia!” God is the ONLY One deserving of glory. Truly we deserve worse than our loss to Bama.
Economic Bailout
Watch Rep. McCotter (Republican, Michigan) as he explains his opposition to the bailout plan.
Towards the end, he quotes Dostoevsky about "giving them bread." It has been shown time and time again how true that is, especially when you've bred an entitlement mentality into a culture like ours that expect handouts. It was true of the Roman Empire just before it's collapse, and it's true in the America today. What is MOST frightening about this temporal, short-sighted perspective is how many in the Church have spiritualized it, just as the Grand Inquisitor advised Jesus in "the Brothers Karamozov." Truly there are those who think that Jesus' greatest offer to them is the "bread" of temporal things and easy living in this world when the reality is so markedly different. Let us openly weep, and repent, and rend our hearts AND our garments as we lament our national sin and greed and cry out to Jesus for forgiveness!
Wesley Foundation at Kennesaw State
Some of you have asked how my time went at KSU Wesley as follow up to my post about sharing the Gospel on their campus. I had a blast with them. We ate dinner together and then went into worship. I know I'm getting old because I had to stay in the back of the room with the band at that volume. I spoke on “the Scriptures as the basis for all other spiritual disciplines” and it went exceedingly well. I stayed after and had some good interaction with the students. After, we hung out at Starbucks where I sampled the new, seasonal drink – salted caramel hot chocolate! Sounds strange but tastes AMAZING! I haven't been able to find it since, so hurry up Starbucks! Then I proceeded to stay up all night with their Director, David Scott, who is an old and dear friend. It was he who introduced me to the Sonseed “Jesus is a Friend of Mine” video posted below. They really blessed me by having me there and encouraged my heart greatly! I hope to be back over there sometime soon!
Friday Night Evangelism
This past week was terrific! There were HUGE crowds in Athens the night before the Alabama spanking we received and that meant lots of people to share with. I won't go into all the details, but the highlight of the night was Charles leading a guy to Christ. You can check it out here on his blog. I encourage you to read it in its entirety.
Super Soaker Baptism
I post this in the fear that there might be (and probably ARE) those out there who will think this is a good idea and put it into practice. Nevertheless, with the rampant heresy in the Church in America in the name of cultural relevance, I find myself frequently thinking of how to take these “relevant” ideas to their ridiculous conclusions so as to show them for what they are. My latest brainstorm is regarding baptism. Long have I held that immersion is the most Scriptural mode of baptism though I do not break fellowship with my Christian brothers who disagree. Now in this age of “re-imagining” and “re-thinking” Christianity (as if it was so tired and old as to be found boring) I have “re-thought” baptism. So in an effort to make it more culturally relevant, I propose that we have Super Soaker Firing Squads instead of baptismal pools. The idea is to portray death, burial and resurrection, right? What better than a firing squad of high-powered water guns? Think it over, and I'm sure you'll agree...lol!
In case you are wondering what that smell is...it's called sarcasm.
Idolatry
I have been a campus minister on the UGA campus for 10 years. In that time, I have seen my share of raucous and lewd behavior. I have seen every kind of sin and addiction that depraved man can concoct. But I have never witnessed the sheer volume of idolatry that I did on Saturday as we walked around campus before the game. I've experienced my my fair share of gamedays and tailgates and seen the drunkenness and revelry, but never like this. It was literally oppressive. The closer we got to Samford Stadium, the darker it got spiritually. I am convinced in my heart that Saturday's loss was grace to the UGA community in that it affords the opportunity for renewed humility.
Worship is a compound word from “worth-ship” or what we ascribe worth to. What we value, talk about, spend money on, give our time to, energy to, and attention to is what we worship. As Christians, we've had the eyes of our hearts enlightened so that we see God and are able to worship Him, because to Him alone belongs worship. He alone is worthy of all praise. But fallen man worships the creation instead of the Creator (Romans 1). It was so telling to see the worship on Saturday, even down to our Anthem, “Glory, glory to old Georgia!” God is the ONLY One deserving of glory. Truly we deserve worse than our loss to Bama.
Economic Bailout
Watch Rep. McCotter (Republican, Michigan) as he explains his opposition to the bailout plan.
Towards the end, he quotes Dostoevsky about "giving them bread." It has been shown time and time again how true that is, especially when you've bred an entitlement mentality into a culture like ours that expect handouts. It was true of the Roman Empire just before it's collapse, and it's true in the America today. What is MOST frightening about this temporal, short-sighted perspective is how many in the Church have spiritualized it, just as the Grand Inquisitor advised Jesus in "the Brothers Karamozov." Truly there are those who think that Jesus' greatest offer to them is the "bread" of temporal things and easy living in this world when the reality is so markedly different. Let us openly weep, and repent, and rend our hearts AND our garments as we lament our national sin and greed and cry out to Jesus for forgiveness!
Sep 25, 2008
Jesus is a friend of mine...
I find the 3rd stanza particularly moving...
I also find the hip swaying of the guitarist alarmingly hypnotic...
Sep 24, 2008
my day at KSU
Awesome day today! I can't say I particularly enjoyed driving from Athens to Kennesaw, but I got here nonetheless. Met up with David Scott, former UGA Wesley intern, now Director of the Wesley Foundation at KSU. He showed me around and we went to get some lunch at Mellow Mushroom. Our waiter was Lou, who come to find out, had just met a girl from Wesley yesterday (also named Lou). Immediate connection. Good waiter. Good food. David is building relationship with the with the owner, Victor, who couldn't stay around. But we talked with Lou and in the process of ordering drinks, mentioned Chick-fil-A sweet tea. My position is that there is none better, having worked there myself for 8 years (with the possible exception of J Tingle's sweet tea). It got Lou pining away for a glass of it, but he had tables. We got our food and left Lou with a One Heartbeat Away tract, and David had an idea. So we went down the road to Chick-fil-A, got a large sweet tea and dropped back by Mellow Mushroom. Lou was stunned...Isn't it great to share Christ and bless people?
We got back to campus and some of those preachers who use the big signs and tick people off had already done the hard work of drawing a crowd for us of about 100-150 students. I learned a long time ago that no fruit comes from arguing with them. All lost people see is Christians arguing. Instead, I'm grateful – not for their methodology, but that they've drawn people. So David and I worked into the crowd and began to engage people. Please pray for Chad and Tyler who are not Believers and for Chris who said he was, but wasn't involved in any church or ministry. They all heard the Gospel today and can get the free book by Mark Cahill from the tract. Pray that they will take the time to order it.
Next I came upon a group of 4 friends smoking and bad-mouthing the preachers. I asked them more about what they thought of those guys and listened for few minutes before launching into the Good Person Test with them. Amy was the one who talked most with me, but Caroline, Mike, and Matt all listened intently for the 35 minutes I sat with them. Mike and Matt were offended by the Gospel because of their homosexuality. I could sense it in Matt, but Mike didn't give off any external signs that he was gay. It wasn't until he commented on Amy's pumps, wishing that they had them in size 15 for him (he was BIG guy!) that I caught on. We never talked about it. You don't have to deal with the issue of homosexual sin when talking to homosexuals. It's enough that they've lied, stolen, blasphemed, and lusted – things that every other person on the planet does in sinning against God. Amy was very open about her former life as a Catholic, and her present life living and having sex with her boyfriend. By the end of the conversation, she was asking me questions to get a “pastor's point of view” on her sinful lifestyle. I reminded her that as a pastor, it isn't my job isn't to give people truth based on what the cultural norms say, but rather based on what the Word of God say. I did that with her, but most of her response was self-justifying. But she was polite and civil, and the other 3 listened. I wrapped things up by giving them the tract and encouraging them to order the book. I reminded them of eternity, and thanked them for listening and talking with me. It was encouraging. Pray for Amy, Caroline, Mike, and Matt that the seeds that were planted in them today would take root and that they would repent and put their faith in Christ.
I'm finishing this post up, going to get a shower and then going to dinner before speaking at the Wesley Foundation here at Kennesaw State University tonight. I'll be speaking on “the Scriptures as the basis for all other spiritual disciplines.” Pray for me as well. I hope to have an audio recording soon that I will link to if you'd like to listen...
We got back to campus and some of those preachers who use the big signs and tick people off had already done the hard work of drawing a crowd for us of about 100-150 students. I learned a long time ago that no fruit comes from arguing with them. All lost people see is Christians arguing. Instead, I'm grateful – not for their methodology, but that they've drawn people. So David and I worked into the crowd and began to engage people. Please pray for Chad and Tyler who are not Believers and for Chris who said he was, but wasn't involved in any church or ministry. They all heard the Gospel today and can get the free book by Mark Cahill from the tract. Pray that they will take the time to order it.
Next I came upon a group of 4 friends smoking and bad-mouthing the preachers. I asked them more about what they thought of those guys and listened for few minutes before launching into the Good Person Test with them. Amy was the one who talked most with me, but Caroline, Mike, and Matt all listened intently for the 35 minutes I sat with them. Mike and Matt were offended by the Gospel because of their homosexuality. I could sense it in Matt, but Mike didn't give off any external signs that he was gay. It wasn't until he commented on Amy's pumps, wishing that they had them in size 15 for him (he was BIG guy!) that I caught on. We never talked about it. You don't have to deal with the issue of homosexual sin when talking to homosexuals. It's enough that they've lied, stolen, blasphemed, and lusted – things that every other person on the planet does in sinning against God. Amy was very open about her former life as a Catholic, and her present life living and having sex with her boyfriend. By the end of the conversation, she was asking me questions to get a “pastor's point of view” on her sinful lifestyle. I reminded her that as a pastor, it isn't my job isn't to give people truth based on what the cultural norms say, but rather based on what the Word of God say. I did that with her, but most of her response was self-justifying. But she was polite and civil, and the other 3 listened. I wrapped things up by giving them the tract and encouraging them to order the book. I reminded them of eternity, and thanked them for listening and talking with me. It was encouraging. Pray for Amy, Caroline, Mike, and Matt that the seeds that were planted in them today would take root and that they would repent and put their faith in Christ.
I'm finishing this post up, going to get a shower and then going to dinner before speaking at the Wesley Foundation here at Kennesaw State University tonight. I'll be speaking on “the Scriptures as the basis for all other spiritual disciplines.” Pray for me as well. I hope to have an audio recording soon that I will link to if you'd like to listen...
Sep 20, 2008
what would you have done?
So I saw this tonight and thought about why this photographer would have ended his life after taking this photo. The clue lies in the text of the photo - no one, including the photographer, knew what became of this child after the picture was taken. Surely visions of that child's demise haunted this man and drove him to take his life, knowing that the U.N. food distribution center was less than a mile away. It is my belief that Kevin Carter went to bed every night and woke up every morning of those 3 months before his suicide thinking one single thought: "Why didn't I intervene? I could have saved that child's life!"
He had seen the imminence of death. He had been present and able to do something about it, but for whatever reason, failed to act to save this life, and it drove him to despair.
I share this because every person who has experienced the life-altering, saving grace of Jesus Christ is in the position of Kevin Carter. Whether it is in the classroom at the university or the cubicle in the workplace, all around us is death. The Scriptures tell us that men and women who've not believed on the Lord Jesus are "dead in their sins and transgressions." Like this child, the day will come for every one of them when they collapse and succumb to physical death. Every one of them, family members, co-workers, friends, acquaintances , are part of the ultimate statistic - 10 out of 10 people die!
Let us not be like Mr. Carter who simply observed this sad reality, choosing to do nothing. James reminds us that to those of us who know what is right, but do not do it, it is sin! We must speak openly and lovingly and intelligently about this Jesus that we claim to love so much who has saved our souls from Hell. We must intervene in the lives of the people around us. The vultures circle, waiting for death, but it is within our power to bring life by the Spirit of God. Do not let their blood be on your hands. Do let that possibility drive you and compel you to overcome your fears and share your faith.
Charles Spurgeon said, "Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor!" Don't let fear hold you back. Go and share your faith while there is still time...
Sep 6, 2008
back on the streets
Man! Tonight was awesome! Justin, Robby and I met downtown for some witnessing! Last week was tough, but it was helpful to remember that you can't go out with expectations of things going well every time. And even though I thought it wasn't a great time last week, I can't see how God might tended the seed that we planted...my sight is so limited.
But this week really did feel different. I got downtown at 8:30 and met up with my friend Terri who is a chemist. Terri likes to set up a table on the corner in front of Starbucks and do magic tricks to get people's attention before sharing the Gospel. Tonight he had a dry-erase board set up with “Creation? Or Evolution?” at the top and a line down the middle, asking people to vote. Each vote received a piece of candy. Airheads (a candy if you aren't familiar). I thought that was a particularly funny touch. Terri got a good crowd and really gained the respect of some students who were arguing with him. One biology major was particularly frustrated that he couldn't one-up Terri, and Terri gently but firmly humbled this guy by explaining insulin to him. The short of it is that the mathematical probability that insulin just happened is so astronomically high as to me impossible. Later, a kid who works in Starbucks came out and introduced himself to Terri. That group of students had gone in to get coffee after talking with Terri and talked about the conversation which he overheard. While they still disagreed, they all respected Terri's demeanor. It was a real encouragement!
Justin showed up and we headed out to find people to talk to. I have really enjoyed using Mark Cahill's tract “One Heartbeat Away.” He sent me 10 copies of the book by the same name. I have them in my trunk in case I meet someone who needs one. We had some really good conversations tonight, and we handed out several tracts, even to people who didn't really want to talk. As the night wore on, the streets got more and more crowded. It was the first time this fall that it has really felt like a home game weekend to me!
Diane Lytle was there with some of her friends preaching on a corner. We stopped to listen for a while and work the crowd a little, striking up conversations with people who were gathered. I always find myself wanting to get up there and preach, especially when there's a dialog happening with a skeptic. I'm always thinking that I have something better to say in response than what's being said. Well God, not being one to tolerate pride, put the thought in my heart, “Its been a while since you've done that. Maybe you ought to get back up there and take a swing.” I was just squelching that thought due to fear when Diane came to me and said, “Mike, why don't you take a turn?” It's just like the Lord to do that.
Well, I pulled aside and prayed and then took the mic and got up and began. The Holy Spirit was faithful according to the Word and gave me words to speak in my moment of need. It was s fruitful time. By way of a particular highlight, I'm always amused when open-air preaching when the Lord gives a live example of something that I'm saying in that moment. It's been a while for me, so I had forgotten until it happened tonight. I was preaching on self-righteousness and self-justification and how God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. I was just saying that men must humble themselves by acknowledging sin and repenting of it, turning and putting their faith in Christ alone for salvation. Then and only then will they find forgiveness. But those who would justify their sin, or mock God in their pride would not find forgiveness, but judgment. As I was saying this, a group of guys walked in front of me, with one in the back of the pack loudly proclaiming in a mocking voice, “Jesus saves! Praise Jesus!”
It occurred to me to take advantage of the moment. Not one to be put off by hecklers, I used the young man as an example. “Here is a great example of what I was just saying. This fellow will mock God but he knows not whether he might stand in judgment this very night! There's no guarantee that when he lays his head on his pillow that he will pick it up again. He will give an account of his life before God. If he repents, God will forgive him. If he mocks like this, God will judge him according to the Law and he will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.”
Well, he heard me. He was drunk, but he wasn't drunk enough not to care! He was about 25 feet away by the time I got to “Lake of Fire” and when he heard that, he turned and the anger errupted! I got several explicatives that I won't even attempt to hint at here. His friends were astute enough to drag him on their way as he invited me to do things I would never consider in a million years. Several folks were watching the show and this guy was making my point more clearly than anything I could imagine. Its amazing how lost college students who will oppose the Gospel will recognize the moral clarity in a moment like that.
One girl who had been present for the preaching before me was still around, talking with a guy named Keith. I don't know if she heard anything I was saying or not, but I did see her turn, crying, and run off at one point. I inquired of Keith later and she claimed to be a Christian, but had become deeply convicted by the Gospel and the preaching about sin and law. The Holy Spirit was clearly at work in her heart. I don't know her name, but pray for her that God would continue to work in her life.
After that, we continued to walk around until about midnight. The streets got consistently more crowded and the people more intoxicated. When that happens, you either change your strategy in ministry on the streets or you go home. We called it a night. But I came home excited again to be counted worthy to share the Gospel with lost and dying people who need Christ. And as I share it, I'm reminded how much I need the same Christ in my life every day!
I hope you're encouraged by these stories. I know I am. My prayer is that more and more Believers will become active in sharing their faith. How will they know unless they hear? And how will they hear unless someone proclaim it? My good friend Bob says, “If we're not fulfilling the Great Commission, we're just shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.” How true...
But this week really did feel different. I got downtown at 8:30 and met up with my friend Terri who is a chemist. Terri likes to set up a table on the corner in front of Starbucks and do magic tricks to get people's attention before sharing the Gospel. Tonight he had a dry-erase board set up with “Creation? Or Evolution?” at the top and a line down the middle, asking people to vote. Each vote received a piece of candy. Airheads (a candy if you aren't familiar). I thought that was a particularly funny touch. Terri got a good crowd and really gained the respect of some students who were arguing with him. One biology major was particularly frustrated that he couldn't one-up Terri, and Terri gently but firmly humbled this guy by explaining insulin to him. The short of it is that the mathematical probability that insulin just happened is so astronomically high as to me impossible. Later, a kid who works in Starbucks came out and introduced himself to Terri. That group of students had gone in to get coffee after talking with Terri and talked about the conversation which he overheard. While they still disagreed, they all respected Terri's demeanor. It was a real encouragement!
Justin showed up and we headed out to find people to talk to. I have really enjoyed using Mark Cahill's tract “One Heartbeat Away.” He sent me 10 copies of the book by the same name. I have them in my trunk in case I meet someone who needs one. We had some really good conversations tonight, and we handed out several tracts, even to people who didn't really want to talk. As the night wore on, the streets got more and more crowded. It was the first time this fall that it has really felt like a home game weekend to me!
Diane Lytle was there with some of her friends preaching on a corner. We stopped to listen for a while and work the crowd a little, striking up conversations with people who were gathered. I always find myself wanting to get up there and preach, especially when there's a dialog happening with a skeptic. I'm always thinking that I have something better to say in response than what's being said. Well God, not being one to tolerate pride, put the thought in my heart, “Its been a while since you've done that. Maybe you ought to get back up there and take a swing.” I was just squelching that thought due to fear when Diane came to me and said, “Mike, why don't you take a turn?” It's just like the Lord to do that.
Well, I pulled aside and prayed and then took the mic and got up and began. The Holy Spirit was faithful according to the Word and gave me words to speak in my moment of need. It was s fruitful time. By way of a particular highlight, I'm always amused when open-air preaching when the Lord gives a live example of something that I'm saying in that moment. It's been a while for me, so I had forgotten until it happened tonight. I was preaching on self-righteousness and self-justification and how God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. I was just saying that men must humble themselves by acknowledging sin and repenting of it, turning and putting their faith in Christ alone for salvation. Then and only then will they find forgiveness. But those who would justify their sin, or mock God in their pride would not find forgiveness, but judgment. As I was saying this, a group of guys walked in front of me, with one in the back of the pack loudly proclaiming in a mocking voice, “Jesus saves! Praise Jesus!”
It occurred to me to take advantage of the moment. Not one to be put off by hecklers, I used the young man as an example. “Here is a great example of what I was just saying. This fellow will mock God but he knows not whether he might stand in judgment this very night! There's no guarantee that when he lays his head on his pillow that he will pick it up again. He will give an account of his life before God. If he repents, God will forgive him. If he mocks like this, God will judge him according to the Law and he will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.”
Well, he heard me. He was drunk, but he wasn't drunk enough not to care! He was about 25 feet away by the time I got to “Lake of Fire” and when he heard that, he turned and the anger errupted! I got several explicatives that I won't even attempt to hint at here. His friends were astute enough to drag him on their way as he invited me to do things I would never consider in a million years. Several folks were watching the show and this guy was making my point more clearly than anything I could imagine. Its amazing how lost college students who will oppose the Gospel will recognize the moral clarity in a moment like that.
One girl who had been present for the preaching before me was still around, talking with a guy named Keith. I don't know if she heard anything I was saying or not, but I did see her turn, crying, and run off at one point. I inquired of Keith later and she claimed to be a Christian, but had become deeply convicted by the Gospel and the preaching about sin and law. The Holy Spirit was clearly at work in her heart. I don't know her name, but pray for her that God would continue to work in her life.
After that, we continued to walk around until about midnight. The streets got consistently more crowded and the people more intoxicated. When that happens, you either change your strategy in ministry on the streets or you go home. We called it a night. But I came home excited again to be counted worthy to share the Gospel with lost and dying people who need Christ. And as I share it, I'm reminded how much I need the same Christ in my life every day!
I hope you're encouraged by these stories. I know I am. My prayer is that more and more Believers will become active in sharing their faith. How will they know unless they hear? And how will they hear unless someone proclaim it? My good friend Bob says, “If we're not fulfilling the Great Commission, we're just shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.” How true...
Aug 27, 2008
Root Canal done!
Good news! Well, good, painful news! I went to see a dentist from our church yesterday (Tuesday) and he looked at my tooth and agreed to do the crown and let me pay him as I'm able! But he had to refer me to another dentist in that office complex for the root canal. Apparently, I have curvy roots in my molars that are hard to file out! Well, I went to Dr. Bishop today for what I thought would be a consultation, but it turned out to be a root canal. But Dr. Strickland (first dentist) had spoken with Dr. Bishop, and he agreed to do the $1200 root canal for 1/2 price! What a blessing!!!! Of course, I had to put it on the credit card today, but we're trusting God to provide that money so we can pay it back! I go back tomorrow to Dr. Strickland for the crown and should be done at that point, except for the healing up process! I want to publicly thank the Lord for these 2 men who love Him and are willing to minister to me in this way! Keep praying for us that the Lord will provide the resources to pay these men for their work. We believe He will. He's blessed us so far in this. And pray for my speedy healing!
Aug 24, 2008
active in sharing our faith
It is just so good to be out on the streets sharing the Gospel again. I have to say a public “thank you” to one of my best brothers in the Kingdom, Justin, for challenging me to get out there with him and go after it. Philemon tells us that the sharing of our faith may leads us to the full knowledge of every good thing that we have in Christ. I am finding this to be so true. Discouraged at not being able to hear God in recent days for direction, this has been the medicine that was needed. As I shared the Gospel over and over again Friday night, I was reminded in my heart of how wretched a sinner I was and am and how glorious God is and gracious to save even me. How freeing that knowledge is.
Last night was so great. The streets were filled with sinners and we had the privilege of presenting to Gospel to many of them that might not have otherwise heard it. We spoke to a lot of people, but I want to share just three of them if I may...(it is my blog after all...)
As Justin and I were walking up Clayton Street, we passed a bar where a young guy was sitting outside. He had on a black shirt that said “Bad Religion” and had a white cross beneath it encircled and crossed out. As we walked past I thought, “I can't pass this up.” So I asked him about the shirt and if that was his take religion in general. He clarified that the shirt was referring the band by that name, but that he did feel that all religion was bad. As we talked, I discovered that
Brandon had grown up in a Christian school in Atlanta, but had forsaken his upbringing in college. This is the same story as 80% of kids who come out of evangelical Christian youth groups. We talked for a little while and made sure that he heard the true Gospel, sensing that his take on Jesus was “the Cosmic Killjoy” and that Christianity was a lot of “rules to follow.” His bandmates ended up standing around listening and eventually inviting us back for their gig at midnight. They all got Mark Cahill's tract with his free book offer (you can see it here).
We passed by Timon and his friend (NOT Pumba) sitting on the sidewalk outside a drug store on Clayton Street. Justin opened the conversation while I went in to get a bottle of water. I came out joined the discussion, quickly picking up on the fact that Timon was Muslim. It became very obvious that he was not a “practicing” Muslim since he enjoys smoking and drinking heavily, but he was very open to talking about Isa Al Masi (Jesus in Arabic). He initially said that he believed Allah and Yaweh to be one and the same, but when I reminded him that the writing around the top of the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem says “Allah has no son” he conceded that they weren't. Timon said that because of his behavior, he may have to spend some time in Hell for not following the Koran more closely, but that if he had faith in Allah, that he would get out of Hell and go into Paradise. We spoke to him about the finality of judgment and that no man is capable of making up by his good deeds the sin he's accumulated unto himself or crossing the great chasm from Hell into Heaven. Timon took the tract also and promised to order Mark's book. He even invited us to come see him at the store next week to talk some more.
We walked and talked to more people, and then we encountered a group of 4 young students sitting on a low wall on the corner of College and Washington. The two guys seemed pretty amiable and laid back, but the girls were easily riled up and offended. I let Justin talk to them...
I ended up talking with the guy on the end who claimed to be a Christian, but really was more Unitarian Universalist (all paths lead to God if you're sincere) in his thinking. And then, right in the middle of our conversation, up walks a young black guy who asks if I will help him out. I told him that I didn't have any money, but to have a seat and tell me what was going on. Charles began to explain that he'd just gotten out of jail (had his belongings bag and release form) and had walked from the jail to downtown (about 3 miles). He said he wanted to get home and get back in school and back on the football team. I asked him what had landed him in jail and he told me a long, complicated story which may or may not be true in all points, but that wasn't my concern. I just wanted him to know that I was interested in him. We began to talk about spiritual things and the brevity of life and the fact that he could not guarantee his lifting his head off his pillow the next morning. We're all part of the ultimate statistic – 10 out of 10 people die! We just don't know when that time will be. I shared the Law with Charles and took him to the courtroom of God's justice, which demands a penalty for our sin. All this was VERY fresh in Charles' mind! Though his family was Christian and he claimed to know Jesus, Charles began to be visibly concerned and broken over what I was sharing. He said that he wanted Jesus like I was describing, but he still wanted to go do “bad things” and then later in life surrender to Christ. I asked what bad things he wanted to do and he told me it was smoking pot. It was then that the Holy Spirit really spoke to me to press him on this issue of bondage to sin. I spoke with Charles about his inability to overcome sin and that he was, in fact, a slave to it. It was not something that he would ever be free of, unless or until he cried out to Jesus in repentance and full surrender. Charles was clearly wrestling in his inner man. His flesh was desperate to sin, but God was quickening his spirit. He stood up and promised to think more about these things as he walked away. I made sure that he had a tract and my card in case he needed me later.
So please pray for Brandon, Timon, and Charles. These are people in whom has been scattered the Seed of the Word. Pray for the soil there to be cultivated and that the Seed would take root in their hearts! And remember that as you pray for these guys, you're taking an active role in laboring with us for the Kingdom.
Last night was so great. The streets were filled with sinners and we had the privilege of presenting to Gospel to many of them that might not have otherwise heard it. We spoke to a lot of people, but I want to share just three of them if I may...(it is my blog after all...)
As Justin and I were walking up Clayton Street, we passed a bar where a young guy was sitting outside. He had on a black shirt that said “Bad Religion” and had a white cross beneath it encircled and crossed out. As we walked past I thought, “I can't pass this up.” So I asked him about the shirt and if that was his take religion in general. He clarified that the shirt was referring the band by that name, but that he did feel that all religion was bad. As we talked, I discovered that
Brandon had grown up in a Christian school in Atlanta, but had forsaken his upbringing in college. This is the same story as 80% of kids who come out of evangelical Christian youth groups. We talked for a little while and made sure that he heard the true Gospel, sensing that his take on Jesus was “the Cosmic Killjoy” and that Christianity was a lot of “rules to follow.” His bandmates ended up standing around listening and eventually inviting us back for their gig at midnight. They all got Mark Cahill's tract with his free book offer (you can see it here).We passed by Timon and his friend (NOT Pumba) sitting on the sidewalk outside a drug store on Clayton Street. Justin opened the conversation while I went in to get a bottle of water. I came out joined the discussion, quickly picking up on the fact that Timon was Muslim. It became very obvious that he was not a “practicing” Muslim since he enjoys smoking and drinking heavily, but he was very open to talking about Isa Al Masi (Jesus in Arabic). He initially said that he believed Allah and Yaweh to be one and the same, but when I reminded him that the writing around the top of the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem says “Allah has no son” he conceded that they weren't. Timon said that because of his behavior, he may have to spend some time in Hell for not following the Koran more closely, but that if he had faith in Allah, that he would get out of Hell and go into Paradise. We spoke to him about the finality of judgment and that no man is capable of making up by his good deeds the sin he's accumulated unto himself or crossing the great chasm from Hell into Heaven. Timon took the tract also and promised to order Mark's book. He even invited us to come see him at the store next week to talk some more.
We walked and talked to more people, and then we encountered a group of 4 young students sitting on a low wall on the corner of College and Washington. The two guys seemed pretty amiable and laid back, but the girls were easily riled up and offended. I let Justin talk to them...
I ended up talking with the guy on the end who claimed to be a Christian, but really was more Unitarian Universalist (all paths lead to God if you're sincere) in his thinking. And then, right in the middle of our conversation, up walks a young black guy who asks if I will help him out. I told him that I didn't have any money, but to have a seat and tell me what was going on. Charles began to explain that he'd just gotten out of jail (had his belongings bag and release form) and had walked from the jail to downtown (about 3 miles). He said he wanted to get home and get back in school and back on the football team. I asked him what had landed him in jail and he told me a long, complicated story which may or may not be true in all points, but that wasn't my concern. I just wanted him to know that I was interested in him. We began to talk about spiritual things and the brevity of life and the fact that he could not guarantee his lifting his head off his pillow the next morning. We're all part of the ultimate statistic – 10 out of 10 people die! We just don't know when that time will be. I shared the Law with Charles and took him to the courtroom of God's justice, which demands a penalty for our sin. All this was VERY fresh in Charles' mind! Though his family was Christian and he claimed to know Jesus, Charles began to be visibly concerned and broken over what I was sharing. He said that he wanted Jesus like I was describing, but he still wanted to go do “bad things” and then later in life surrender to Christ. I asked what bad things he wanted to do and he told me it was smoking pot. It was then that the Holy Spirit really spoke to me to press him on this issue of bondage to sin. I spoke with Charles about his inability to overcome sin and that he was, in fact, a slave to it. It was not something that he would ever be free of, unless or until he cried out to Jesus in repentance and full surrender. Charles was clearly wrestling in his inner man. His flesh was desperate to sin, but God was quickening his spirit. He stood up and promised to think more about these things as he walked away. I made sure that he had a tract and my card in case he needed me later.
So please pray for Brandon, Timon, and Charles. These are people in whom has been scattered the Seed of the Word. Pray for the soil there to be cultivated and that the Seed would take root in their hearts! And remember that as you pray for these guys, you're taking an active role in laboring with us for the Kingdom.
Aug 21, 2008
the health of an aging man...
I am laughing to myself as I write that title knowing that 34 is not really old at all. But into my mid-30's, my health is something I'm increasingly concerned about. With that in mind, the last week has brought good and bad news. The good first:
We went on August 15 to Griffin, GA to a free dental clinic for pastors and their wives who don't have insurance. What a blessing! They did glucose and cholesterol screenings and bone density scans all for free while we waited for our appointments with the dentists who were volunteering through the GA Baptist Outreach. I have to say, with much delight, that despite her worries about my cholesterol, mine was significantly lower than Jen's! 136! Not bad says I. Now I'm fighting the temptation to eat greasy foods as a form of celebration.
So Jen went first and had her teeth cleaned and they did a marvelous job and she is now sporting a movie star smile! I went in knowing that I had a sore cavity in my #31 molar (back, bottom, right side). Turns out that the old filling had partially broken out and a new cavity had formed there. The plan was to drill out the old filling and new cavity and refill. So in went 2 shots with those LOOOOONG needles back in the jaw muscles. The came the drill in the hands of a man who apparently thought I was part hippo and that my mouth was designed to open 180 degrees. Well, after a while of drilling came some probing to see just how deep the cavity decay had gone. So he's poking around in the hole with one of those sharp hooked things and suddenly goes through the floor of the tooth! Needless to say I almost came up out of the chair! PAINFUL!!!
His response: “Did you feel that?”
Duh!
So in went 3 more shots in the jaw...
A while later, after filing out some holes in the root of the tooth, he tells me that they don't have the equipment on hand to do a root canal, but that I need one and a crown also. Fun. So he puts in a rubber dam and some packing, and sends me out the door with a prescription for some antibiotics (infected jawline) and vicodin for pain!
Fast-forward to today. I went to my kid's dentist here in Athens and showed him the Xrays and let him look at the tooth. His assessment? $2309 for a root canal and crown! Yeah...and on a 6-month payment plan, that's ONLY $384 a month! LOL!
So please pray for me. I'm calling around to dentists in the area to see if anyone can do better than that and also if anyone is willing to let us pay as we're able on a monthly basis. So pray for:
1 – a good dentist
2 – one who will let us make payments between $50-$100 a month
3 – the $$ to pay for this sooner rather than later
In the meantime, I will be chewing my (low fat, high fiber) food gingerly on the left side of my face...
We went on August 15 to Griffin, GA to a free dental clinic for pastors and their wives who don't have insurance. What a blessing! They did glucose and cholesterol screenings and bone density scans all for free while we waited for our appointments with the dentists who were volunteering through the GA Baptist Outreach. I have to say, with much delight, that despite her worries about my cholesterol, mine was significantly lower than Jen's! 136! Not bad says I. Now I'm fighting the temptation to eat greasy foods as a form of celebration.
So Jen went first and had her teeth cleaned and they did a marvelous job and she is now sporting a movie star smile! I went in knowing that I had a sore cavity in my #31 molar (back, bottom, right side). Turns out that the old filling had partially broken out and a new cavity had formed there. The plan was to drill out the old filling and new cavity and refill. So in went 2 shots with those LOOOOONG needles back in the jaw muscles. The came the drill in the hands of a man who apparently thought I was part hippo and that my mouth was designed to open 180 degrees. Well, after a while of drilling came some probing to see just how deep the cavity decay had gone. So he's poking around in the hole with one of those sharp hooked things and suddenly goes through the floor of the tooth! Needless to say I almost came up out of the chair! PAINFUL!!!
His response: “Did you feel that?”
Duh!
So in went 3 more shots in the jaw...
A while later, after filing out some holes in the root of the tooth, he tells me that they don't have the equipment on hand to do a root canal, but that I need one and a crown also. Fun. So he puts in a rubber dam and some packing, and sends me out the door with a prescription for some antibiotics (infected jawline) and vicodin for pain!
Fast-forward to today. I went to my kid's dentist here in Athens and showed him the Xrays and let him look at the tooth. His assessment? $2309 for a root canal and crown! Yeah...and on a 6-month payment plan, that's ONLY $384 a month! LOL!
So please pray for me. I'm calling around to dentists in the area to see if anyone can do better than that and also if anyone is willing to let us pay as we're able on a monthly basis. So pray for:
1 – a good dentist
2 – one who will let us make payments between $50-$100 a month
3 – the $$ to pay for this sooner rather than later
In the meantime, I will be chewing my (low fat, high fiber) food gingerly on the left side of my face...
Aug 19, 2008
Aug 13, 2008
on turning 34
As I sit here on the eve of my 34th Birthday...
(this is going to be more of a “stream-of-consciousness” thing for me, so bear with me...)
As I sit here on the eve of my 34th Birthday, I think I am finally coming to terms with the fact that I am not a 22 year old college student any more. Now, I realize that for many of you that will not come as a shock, but for me, that reality has been one that I've been slow to embrace. And like many truths in life, it has been embraced in phases. I've known this about myself for some time now from a purely cerebral perspective, but only now am I learning to embrace it at an emotional level. There have been several occasions when, upon coming to the stop sign to turn onto my street, I have seen my house and sometimes my children there playing in the yard. I find myself sitting there in my car at the stop sign, wondering to myself, “When did THIS happen? When did I have kids? Buy a house?” But recently, those incidents have all but ceased. Now I find that I come home, and turn at the stop sign, and there's no dismay at this yellow house with a white, picket fence greeting me. And if the kids are outside, there's a great clamor once the car is stopped in the driveway as the children rush the driver's door to tell me about what's happening in their world. And that's just life and reality and it's good.
I think the proverbial nail in the coffin experience came for me the other night when some of the guys that were part of our ministry decided to go to a late movie. It started at 9:50, which isn't too bad for me, but the exit time was somewhere around 11:45pm which is way past my bedtime. The first thing that should have tipped me off was that I was attempting to smuggle a bottled water into the theater in my sweatshirt. No. Scratch that. The FIRST things that should have tipped me off is that I've come to the place in life where I actually get chilly in the movie theater after a while and have to carry a sweatshirt or jacket with me. The SECOND thing is the bottled water, when in days gone by it would have been a Coke or something carbonated. Jen's health-consciousness has not gone without effect on me. So we watched the movie (Mummy 3 for those of you who want to know) and I finished the water early on. I DID NOT have to get up to go to the bathroom, which is a saving grace to me in this whole thing! But after the movie, I did make a bee-line for the men's room, and it was there that the epiphany took hold. I stood looking in the mirror as one of the guys came up to the sink next to me. He's a junior this year, and it's been great seeing him grow mentally, spiritually, and physically these past 3 years. But I looked at him and his face and studied him for a minute, and then I looked at myself, and it just hit me, “You're not a young kid anymore!” So I worked my way down the counter to my walker with the tennis balls for stoppers, and preceded to shuffle out of there...
No, seriously...all of this is an effort to say that I'm finally finding freedom in a concept that for me, for many years, was something that I saw as binding. I guess working with college students, I've appreciated that my season of life difference has given me some authority in their lives, but have still sought to maintain a certain “youthfulness” in my attempts to be able to hang with the boys. So while I'm not giving up fitness or anything like that, I am embracing age. I guess its all part and parcel to the whole “leaving-campus-ministry-becoming-a-pastor” thing, too. I'm not feeling like that's such a “grown up” job anymore (some of that due to some pastors I know personally!).
So that's it, really. I'm 34 tomorrow, and feeling it which is not a bad thing. Some of you reading this post would say that 34 is youthful, and I am beginning to appreciate that perspective in that age is such a relative concept, especially in how we feel about our own. My hope is that one day soon we'll all know what Christ meant when He said, “Behold, I make all things new!” and age will have no more meaning as time ceases to hold us captive. May it be so.
(this is going to be more of a “stream-of-consciousness” thing for me, so bear with me...)
As I sit here on the eve of my 34th Birthday, I think I am finally coming to terms with the fact that I am not a 22 year old college student any more. Now, I realize that for many of you that will not come as a shock, but for me, that reality has been one that I've been slow to embrace. And like many truths in life, it has been embraced in phases. I've known this about myself for some time now from a purely cerebral perspective, but only now am I learning to embrace it at an emotional level. There have been several occasions when, upon coming to the stop sign to turn onto my street, I have seen my house and sometimes my children there playing in the yard. I find myself sitting there in my car at the stop sign, wondering to myself, “When did THIS happen? When did I have kids? Buy a house?” But recently, those incidents have all but ceased. Now I find that I come home, and turn at the stop sign, and there's no dismay at this yellow house with a white, picket fence greeting me. And if the kids are outside, there's a great clamor once the car is stopped in the driveway as the children rush the driver's door to tell me about what's happening in their world. And that's just life and reality and it's good.
I think the proverbial nail in the coffin experience came for me the other night when some of the guys that were part of our ministry decided to go to a late movie. It started at 9:50, which isn't too bad for me, but the exit time was somewhere around 11:45pm which is way past my bedtime. The first thing that should have tipped me off was that I was attempting to smuggle a bottled water into the theater in my sweatshirt. No. Scratch that. The FIRST things that should have tipped me off is that I've come to the place in life where I actually get chilly in the movie theater after a while and have to carry a sweatshirt or jacket with me. The SECOND thing is the bottled water, when in days gone by it would have been a Coke or something carbonated. Jen's health-consciousness has not gone without effect on me. So we watched the movie (Mummy 3 for those of you who want to know) and I finished the water early on. I DID NOT have to get up to go to the bathroom, which is a saving grace to me in this whole thing! But after the movie, I did make a bee-line for the men's room, and it was there that the epiphany took hold. I stood looking in the mirror as one of the guys came up to the sink next to me. He's a junior this year, and it's been great seeing him grow mentally, spiritually, and physically these past 3 years. But I looked at him and his face and studied him for a minute, and then I looked at myself, and it just hit me, “You're not a young kid anymore!” So I worked my way down the counter to my walker with the tennis balls for stoppers, and preceded to shuffle out of there...
No, seriously...all of this is an effort to say that I'm finally finding freedom in a concept that for me, for many years, was something that I saw as binding. I guess working with college students, I've appreciated that my season of life difference has given me some authority in their lives, but have still sought to maintain a certain “youthfulness” in my attempts to be able to hang with the boys. So while I'm not giving up fitness or anything like that, I am embracing age. I guess its all part and parcel to the whole “leaving-campus-ministry-becoming-a-pastor” thing, too. I'm not feeling like that's such a “grown up” job anymore (some of that due to some pastors I know personally!).
So that's it, really. I'm 34 tomorrow, and feeling it which is not a bad thing. Some of you reading this post would say that 34 is youthful, and I am beginning to appreciate that perspective in that age is such a relative concept, especially in how we feel about our own. My hope is that one day soon we'll all know what Christ meant when He said, “Behold, I make all things new!” and age will have no more meaning as time ceases to hold us captive. May it be so.
Aug 7, 2008
overdue update
We are thanking God for the rain we’ve had in Athens this sumer. Finally, some real, old-fashioned Georgia thunderstorms! I woke up the other night from a dream about being in London during the bombing raids of WWII only to think myself still dreaming with all the flashes of light and explosions of sound right outside our bedroom window. The weather has been warming and summer is surely upon us, but we are praying that spring will linger a while longer and with it, the much-needed rain.
Warmer months bring birthdays to the Satterfield house beginning with Ethan in late April as he turned 6. June brought Abigayle’s 2nd birthday and Noah’s 8th! August means Jen and I both move up a notch to 34. Life is moving ahead at an alarming rate in our house. Sports are the next big thing for Noah – he needs team interaction and is a true extrovert! Depression sets in if so much as a week passes without a playdate with his buddies. Ethan is excelling in his studies, and of our 3 children, has the easiest time focusing. He has been enjoying his birthday presents, especially his new bike. Abi is developing at a terrifying rate. She’s speaking so clearly, but it’s her comprehension that is so astounding. For all her bounding growth and development, she’s still my baby girl and there’s nothing that mommy and daddy love more than Abi cuddles.
Spring semester was over in what seemed like no time at all. Didn’t I just get back from Romania? Speaking of…that was an amazing time! I got to preach in village churches in Transylvania, eat Romanian food, meet wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ, and eat Romanian food, and walk a lot, and eat Romanian food…did I mention that? My host-mom was a tremendous cook and a generous lady with a servant’s heart. I came in the first night, late, and left my muddy dress shoes in the hallway (as is the custom). They were muddied from the village I had been in. When I woke the next morning, they were shiny and polished. I was really humbled being with the Believers there. I hope to make it back sometime soon.
Spring Retreat came right on the heels on the break, and we were fortunate to get Parks Wilson (WDA’s Director at Purdue) to come down and speak for us. He took us through parts of the book of Daniel and really challenged our students to get out of their comfort zones on evangelism. Only 2 guys had the chutzpah to stay overnight with me in a tent the last night as a fierce storm rolled through. It was quite an experience.
Of course, both Jen and I were busy all that last semester with our gender-respective Bible studies. The ladies studied through 1 John and had some great bonding times over dinner every week. The guys tackled topics that “Guys aren’t supposed to talk about in church.” It was eye-opening for everyone as we got to know one another at a much deeper level. We had our lighter moments, too, rest assured. You can’t get 8-10 guys in a living room with cream sodas and root beer and not end up laughing about something.
Summer brought the offi
cial end to our UGA ministry responsibilities.Our end-of-the-year picnic was a great success and well attended. Many students and alumni shared after our dinner about what the ministry had meant to them down through the years. I was encouraged, though not surprised, to hear a common theme among the alumni that finding the kind of fellowship and discipleship we had together was difficult. So few in our culture really seem to understand how to live life with one another as we follow after Christ. The next week our staff team enjoyed a night out together over dinner and dessert as we reminisced about our years of labor together. It was a special time that none of us wanted to end. It was one of many “goodbyes” that will continue in the weeks ahead. It is a sad time and an exciting time as we look ahead to what the Lord may do in each one of us as we yield faithfully to Him.
God is doing some really unique and amazing things in WDA these days, and typically, when God is moving, Satan is trying to undermine that work any way he can. Miscommunication is one of his primary weapons. Some misconceptions have been spreading about what is happening in Athens in particular and WDA in general, so I’d like to take the opportunity to clear the record so that we’re all on the same page. WDA is not closing – just the UGA ministry that WDA has had here for 34 years. Not all of our local staff are leaving Athens or WDA as a ministry, though some are. Matt McClure has left staff to serve at the newest Athens Chick-fil-A as a manager-in-training, and is pursuing marriage. Margo Theivagt continues to serve on WDA staff but will be directing her energy more towards restorative ministry to girls and outreach to internationals. Becca Brown has transitioned to WDA seminary staff and has moved to Chicago to attend Trinity (not Obama’s church, but the excellent seminary). Dave Johnson is still WDA’s National Campus Director and is pastorin
g Heritage Christian Bible Church in Watkinsville. His church hopes to develop a vibrant ministry on the UGA campus soon, filling the void that we are leaving there. And Jon Deans, though not on the UGA team, continues on WDA staff working with the Athens Men’s Ministry as he has for many years. Pray for Jen and the kids and me as we continue to seek the Lord for the church in this area that we are supposed to pastor. You certainly will be among the first to know when that direction is clear.In the meantime, God is presenting us with some great ministry opportunities as we wait on Him. I took the first 2 weeks of May to seek the Lord in prayer about His direction for us. I couldn't go to the coffee shop because of interruption, and I couldn't stay home for the same reason. So I set up a tent in the backyard and retreated into it daily to pray and read and study and attempt to be still before the Lord. Distractions and spiritual warfare abounded and I wish that could say that I was able to press in despite that, but it was difficult. Pray for me for clarity of direction in the days ahead.
Some other things have happened this summer in terms of ministry opportunities. The first was Revival in the Streets. The past few years, my good friend Joe Campbell has been organizing gatherings in downtown Athens for worship and evangelism. In fact, it was a past worship band from our ministry that played at the first RITS. They have continued this through the summer on Friday nights, and I have been excited to be a part of this outreach. The past couple of years, administrative responsibilities have taken time and energy from areas of ministry I enjoy more and would rather do. I have enjoyed having the time to participate in this once more.
The other thing for us was a Wednesday night study called “eXamine.” Watkinsville FBC has agreed to let us do this there and open it up to anyone who wants to participate. We began in late May and went 10 weeks through the end of July. The study is kind of the “X-files” of Scripture, examining (hence the name) things like modern apostasy, dinosaurs in the Bible, and End Times prophecy. Not your typical Sunday morning fare. There is a web site just for the study for notes or audio files for you to examine (Ha Ha!). You can visit it at http://www.examinescripture.org
As we walk by faith in these days, Jen and I want to thank each of you again for your continued prayers and financial support. Our country’s economic crisis is looming, yet in the midst of unsettled times and uncertainty from the world’s perspective, it is refreshing to see God’s people trust Him by doing something so counter-culture as to give money away as it were. But you and I know that the investments we make in the Kingdom of God will yield a significant reward for us in ways that the world will never understand. May that eternal perspective continue to guide God’s people through what lie ahead. You have our thanks and our love.
Jul 1, 2008
A Call to Discernment
My good friend, Vic Doss, has recently been teaching through Paul's admonition to Timothy not to let anyone despise him because of his youth (1 Tim. 4:12). Paul goes on to list several areas where that plays out in life and ministry. The one that I am most interested in at this late hour in Church history is one that is inferred instead of explicitly stated – discernment. The idea appears back in verse 6 of this chapter and later in verse 13 in the form of teaching the Word and guarding sound doctrine. This is sorely lacking in the western Church today. I want to explore how we came to this place of slumber rather than vigilance and what that means for our present situation. It may be that some will read this and come out of the haze of confusion and apathy, wearied of being tossed to and fro by every wind and wave of doctrine that comes down the pipe.
Francis Schaeffer details in his work A Christian Worldview how secular humanism, especially in its present form of post-modernism, has crept unabated into the Church. It has taken spiritualized forms, wearing religious garb, but still essentially relativism and pragmatism. You can easily spot the former in the abundance of utterances today saying “God told me to do (or say) “X”.” Because the doctrine of Sola Scriptura is being eroded and undermined by those who claim the Canon is open, we are losing the ability to say authoritatively, “That doesn't line up with Scripture.” Woe be unto anyone who would, in the name of being a conscientious brother or sister in Christ, bring the Word to bear on a given situation in an effort to evaluate its validity. Very quickly epitaphs like “Doctrine Police” and “Pharisee” are placed on the person, and the old stand by “Judge not!” is thrown into the ring.
More subtle, but no less dangerous, is pragmatism when it becomes “Christianized.” We are ready to ascribe a teaching, person, or event to God the minute we see results in the physical realm. If it is well attended or if a book is being read by many people, the assumption is that it is from the Lord. I confess, I am prone to this, feeling "up" when many attend my studies and feeling down when the crowd is sparse. We must guard against it in all its forms. The fatal mistake in this, though, is to assume that because there is something supernatural at work, that it must be of God. This is a mistake this the Church is very prone to in our day given the hype about different teachers and events in recent days.
There are a couple of other factors that have brought us to this place that warrant mentioning. The western Church has largely abandoned the True Gospel and adopted a Man-Centered Gospel instead. There is little or no mention of sin, or explanation of what sin is. The issue is glossed over in our packaged presentations and colorful tracts. The Law is not brought to bear on the conscience of the sinner, allowing the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). We rush to grace in an effort to count a number or get the repetition of a prayer that is not to be found anywhere in the Bible. In doing so, we fail to preach the full Gospel, allowing the Spirit of God an opportunity to bring men to repentance, without which no one may be saved.
And then there's our consumer-driven Christianity in America. If they brought a Humvee on stage last week to illustrate spiritual warfare, what must they do this week to keep the crowd entertained. Heaven forbid people leave. Far be it for us to preach the Word and challenge men to grow in holiness and risk their offense. Seats would become empty. They will go where they can get what they want out of their “church-experience.” Dear ones, let them go and have their ears tickled.
Our current situation is bleak. We find ourselves living in Laodecia with a Church that is largely Biblically illiterate. Many of the mainline denominational churches have failed to teach the Word of God systematically. The people don't know how to read it or study it or interpret and apply it for themselves. Exegesis is lost. Hermeneutic is lost. The Bible is now “culturalized” to fit our context and Jesus is what we want Him to be according to our ideas. Surely we have broken the First and Second Commandments, having made gods to suit ourselves.
Being inundated by commercialism and advertising certainly doesn't help either. We've become a people who are mainly lead by our emotions rather than Truth. In this we can see the influence of post-modernism because we have been lax in the guarding of doctrine, which was our charge. And so we find ourselves in a Church that is more and more obsessed with the experience over and above the Truth.
I need to make a side not here, and I hope that the reader will hear and understand clearly. I am in no way opposed to experiences, healings, the supernatural, nor emotions. God still moves and interacts and intervenes in human history. He does heal, though at His decision, not at our command, and He has emotions. In fact, He gave us the ones we have, though it is important to note that He has them perfectly, whereas we do not. That having been said, there is nothing innately wrong with the above items in and of themselves. It's simply that they've become the driving force in the Church, and that is unhealthy at least, catastrophic at best.
The author of Hebrews admonished his readers, “About this (Jesus as a priest in the order of Melchizadeck) we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil (Heb 5:11-14).
The call is to Christlike maturity, but we're no where close corporately. What we do have is a Biblically illiterate generation, coupled with essentially no comprehensive, cohesive Christian worldview, added to an emotion-driven, feeling-lead people who are overly obsessive about experience instead of Truth is a recipe for deception and apostasy. We are a fat baby church lacking in discernment and the evil one is seizing this opportunity like never before in human history
Will it get better? Isn't it enough that someone claims they prayed a prayer once? Isn't it enough that someone says they love Jesus? Let's see what our Lord had to say on this...
Mat 7:15-23
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
So we are expected to make a judgment concerning true and false teachers and teachings. How does this reconcile with the whole “Judge not lest ye be judged” admonition? John 7:24 holds the answer for us: “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." Jesus commands us to not make snap judgments based on appearance but rather on substance. This requires some critical thinking as well as a willingness to dig and research. You can see why so few in our culture are willing to go to the trouble.
In Revelation chapter 2, the Church at Ephesus was commended for testing those who claimed to be apostles but were not – they were liars! Such examination could not have taken place without 1) the mandate to test all things 2) the Scriptures by which to make a correct judgment 3)moral fiber and courage to do so and 4) plain obedience for the sake of the truth. But this kind of right judgment or discernment is shot down in our day, labeled as divisiveness. If we decide we like someone or something (based on how we feel about it) then woe to anyone who comes against it!!! This is especially true if there is anything supernatural affiliated with the person or event taking place. In fact, the label that is most readily and speedily applied to the critic is that of Pharisee. Here's what I find ironic about that...
Mat 16:1-4
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.
Note that it was the Pharisees who were seeking signs and Jesus called them wicked because of it! And here is what makes our present situation so dangerous...
2Th 2:8-12
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Jesus' rebuke to the Pharisees begs the question, “What is it that makes seeking, desperately longing for, obsessing over signs and wonders wicked and adulterous?” Jesus' half-brother James tells us:
Jas 4:1-3
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Jesus affirms and clarifies this in the Sermon on the Mount in the giving of the Beatitudes. Matthew 5:6 tells us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (not experiences or feelings) will be satisfied. It is the difference between being fully satisfied in Who He Is as revealed in the Word as opposed to longing and craving for what He can do. If God never healed another person, never answered another prayer, never did another thing on behalf of humanity, He would still be Good and Righteous and Holy. If He had never sent Jesus to the Cross, He would still be worthy of our worship simply because of Who He Is. Granted, the ultimate expression of love in the Cross is perfectly in keeping with Who He Is, but you understand my point. He is sufficient for us even if our needs go unmet and our desires neglected. To look for our satisfaction in anything other than His character is to become an idolater.
Will the situation improve? I think Scripture indicates that it will not. The eschatological (End Times) scenarios painted in the Bible indicate things getting worse, not better. I think of the seventh Kingdom parable in Matthew 13 about the drag net. There was a great haul of fish to be sure. But when it was dragged up on the beach, there were good fish and bad fish. We're told that the angels will have to sort it out at the Judgment! I do not believe that we can keep this from happening, but we can, and MUST sound the alarm for those who would hear it to awaken from their apathy and slumber!
Jude devotes the entirety of his epistle to these false teachers and those who get caught up in their wake. He describes 5 groups of people: the false teachers, the Beloved to whom he was writing, those who doubt to whom should be shown mercy, those who need to be snatched out of the fire, and lastly, those who need mercy but whose garments have been stained by the flesh. The question that we must as ourselves in this late hour is, “Which category to I fall into?” Once you've figured that out, you may be in a better position to reach out to those around you.
**Side Note**
I mentioned earlier that there are those who are teaching that the Canon is not closed but that God is giving new revelation that is as authoritative as Scripture. This is heretical and must be combated. Does God still operate through the spiritual gift of prophecy? Yes. But we must be careful to distinguish between the gift (now) and the office (then). Does the Spirit speak to and guide people today? Yes. But He only speaks what He has already spoken, reminding us to obey the Word and apply it to our lives. He does not speak new truth to us that are not to be found in Scripture (or worse, that contradict it!).
So how can we know that canon is closed?
Heb 1:1-2
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
"In these last days..." refers to the finality of the testimony of Jesus in the New Testament. Peter tells us that the Scriptures are even more authoritative than his experience at the Transfiguration of Jesus (2 Peter 2) and that we've been given EVERYTHING we need for life and Godliness.
If the Canon is open, how then can we test the spirits (1 John 4:1)? By what objective standard can we weigh the claims of men who supposedly speak for God? Praise God that He anticipates every heresy that we must combat and gives us Jude 3: Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Once for all (for all eternity implied in the Greek) not continually being delivered
the next time we will get NEW information is when we see Him face to face (1 Cor. 13:12).
Stay awake and be vigilant. Jesus is coming soon. Will He find faith on the earth?
Francis Schaeffer details in his work A Christian Worldview how secular humanism, especially in its present form of post-modernism, has crept unabated into the Church. It has taken spiritualized forms, wearing religious garb, but still essentially relativism and pragmatism. You can easily spot the former in the abundance of utterances today saying “God told me to do (or say) “X”.” Because the doctrine of Sola Scriptura is being eroded and undermined by those who claim the Canon is open, we are losing the ability to say authoritatively, “That doesn't line up with Scripture.” Woe be unto anyone who would, in the name of being a conscientious brother or sister in Christ, bring the Word to bear on a given situation in an effort to evaluate its validity. Very quickly epitaphs like “Doctrine Police” and “Pharisee” are placed on the person, and the old stand by “Judge not!” is thrown into the ring.
More subtle, but no less dangerous, is pragmatism when it becomes “Christianized.” We are ready to ascribe a teaching, person, or event to God the minute we see results in the physical realm. If it is well attended or if a book is being read by many people, the assumption is that it is from the Lord. I confess, I am prone to this, feeling "up" when many attend my studies and feeling down when the crowd is sparse. We must guard against it in all its forms. The fatal mistake in this, though, is to assume that because there is something supernatural at work, that it must be of God. This is a mistake this the Church is very prone to in our day given the hype about different teachers and events in recent days.
There are a couple of other factors that have brought us to this place that warrant mentioning. The western Church has largely abandoned the True Gospel and adopted a Man-Centered Gospel instead. There is little or no mention of sin, or explanation of what sin is. The issue is glossed over in our packaged presentations and colorful tracts. The Law is not brought to bear on the conscience of the sinner, allowing the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). We rush to grace in an effort to count a number or get the repetition of a prayer that is not to be found anywhere in the Bible. In doing so, we fail to preach the full Gospel, allowing the Spirit of God an opportunity to bring men to repentance, without which no one may be saved.
And then there's our consumer-driven Christianity in America. If they brought a Humvee on stage last week to illustrate spiritual warfare, what must they do this week to keep the crowd entertained. Heaven forbid people leave. Far be it for us to preach the Word and challenge men to grow in holiness and risk their offense. Seats would become empty. They will go where they can get what they want out of their “church-experience.” Dear ones, let them go and have their ears tickled.
Our current situation is bleak. We find ourselves living in Laodecia with a Church that is largely Biblically illiterate. Many of the mainline denominational churches have failed to teach the Word of God systematically. The people don't know how to read it or study it or interpret and apply it for themselves. Exegesis is lost. Hermeneutic is lost. The Bible is now “culturalized” to fit our context and Jesus is what we want Him to be according to our ideas. Surely we have broken the First and Second Commandments, having made gods to suit ourselves.
Being inundated by commercialism and advertising certainly doesn't help either. We've become a people who are mainly lead by our emotions rather than Truth. In this we can see the influence of post-modernism because we have been lax in the guarding of doctrine, which was our charge. And so we find ourselves in a Church that is more and more obsessed with the experience over and above the Truth.
I need to make a side not here, and I hope that the reader will hear and understand clearly. I am in no way opposed to experiences, healings, the supernatural, nor emotions. God still moves and interacts and intervenes in human history. He does heal, though at His decision, not at our command, and He has emotions. In fact, He gave us the ones we have, though it is important to note that He has them perfectly, whereas we do not. That having been said, there is nothing innately wrong with the above items in and of themselves. It's simply that they've become the driving force in the Church, and that is unhealthy at least, catastrophic at best.
The author of Hebrews admonished his readers, “About this (Jesus as a priest in the order of Melchizadeck) we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil (Heb 5:11-14).
The call is to Christlike maturity, but we're no where close corporately. What we do have is a Biblically illiterate generation, coupled with essentially no comprehensive, cohesive Christian worldview, added to an emotion-driven, feeling-lead people who are overly obsessive about experience instead of Truth is a recipe for deception and apostasy. We are a fat baby church lacking in discernment and the evil one is seizing this opportunity like never before in human history
Will it get better? Isn't it enough that someone claims they prayed a prayer once? Isn't it enough that someone says they love Jesus? Let's see what our Lord had to say on this...
Mat 7:15-23
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
So we are expected to make a judgment concerning true and false teachers and teachings. How does this reconcile with the whole “Judge not lest ye be judged” admonition? John 7:24 holds the answer for us: “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." Jesus commands us to not make snap judgments based on appearance but rather on substance. This requires some critical thinking as well as a willingness to dig and research. You can see why so few in our culture are willing to go to the trouble.
In Revelation chapter 2, the Church at Ephesus was commended for testing those who claimed to be apostles but were not – they were liars! Such examination could not have taken place without 1) the mandate to test all things 2) the Scriptures by which to make a correct judgment 3)moral fiber and courage to do so and 4) plain obedience for the sake of the truth. But this kind of right judgment or discernment is shot down in our day, labeled as divisiveness. If we decide we like someone or something (based on how we feel about it) then woe to anyone who comes against it!!! This is especially true if there is anything supernatural affiliated with the person or event taking place. In fact, the label that is most readily and speedily applied to the critic is that of Pharisee. Here's what I find ironic about that...
Mat 16:1-4
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.
Note that it was the Pharisees who were seeking signs and Jesus called them wicked because of it! And here is what makes our present situation so dangerous...
2Th 2:8-12
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Jesus' rebuke to the Pharisees begs the question, “What is it that makes seeking, desperately longing for, obsessing over signs and wonders wicked and adulterous?” Jesus' half-brother James tells us:
Jas 4:1-3
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Jesus affirms and clarifies this in the Sermon on the Mount in the giving of the Beatitudes. Matthew 5:6 tells us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (not experiences or feelings) will be satisfied. It is the difference between being fully satisfied in Who He Is as revealed in the Word as opposed to longing and craving for what He can do. If God never healed another person, never answered another prayer, never did another thing on behalf of humanity, He would still be Good and Righteous and Holy. If He had never sent Jesus to the Cross, He would still be worthy of our worship simply because of Who He Is. Granted, the ultimate expression of love in the Cross is perfectly in keeping with Who He Is, but you understand my point. He is sufficient for us even if our needs go unmet and our desires neglected. To look for our satisfaction in anything other than His character is to become an idolater.
Will the situation improve? I think Scripture indicates that it will not. The eschatological (End Times) scenarios painted in the Bible indicate things getting worse, not better. I think of the seventh Kingdom parable in Matthew 13 about the drag net. There was a great haul of fish to be sure. But when it was dragged up on the beach, there were good fish and bad fish. We're told that the angels will have to sort it out at the Judgment! I do not believe that we can keep this from happening, but we can, and MUST sound the alarm for those who would hear it to awaken from their apathy and slumber!
Jude devotes the entirety of his epistle to these false teachers and those who get caught up in their wake. He describes 5 groups of people: the false teachers, the Beloved to whom he was writing, those who doubt to whom should be shown mercy, those who need to be snatched out of the fire, and lastly, those who need mercy but whose garments have been stained by the flesh. The question that we must as ourselves in this late hour is, “Which category to I fall into?” Once you've figured that out, you may be in a better position to reach out to those around you.
**Side Note**
I mentioned earlier that there are those who are teaching that the Canon is not closed but that God is giving new revelation that is as authoritative as Scripture. This is heretical and must be combated. Does God still operate through the spiritual gift of prophecy? Yes. But we must be careful to distinguish between the gift (now) and the office (then). Does the Spirit speak to and guide people today? Yes. But He only speaks what He has already spoken, reminding us to obey the Word and apply it to our lives. He does not speak new truth to us that are not to be found in Scripture (or worse, that contradict it!).
So how can we know that canon is closed?
Heb 1:1-2
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
"In these last days..." refers to the finality of the testimony of Jesus in the New Testament. Peter tells us that the Scriptures are even more authoritative than his experience at the Transfiguration of Jesus (2 Peter 2) and that we've been given EVERYTHING we need for life and Godliness.
If the Canon is open, how then can we test the spirits (1 John 4:1)? By what objective standard can we weigh the claims of men who supposedly speak for God? Praise God that He anticipates every heresy that we must combat and gives us Jude 3: Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Once for all (for all eternity implied in the Greek) not continually being delivered
the next time we will get NEW information is when we see Him face to face (1 Cor. 13:12).
Stay awake and be vigilant. Jesus is coming soon. Will He find faith on the earth?
Jun 24, 2008
transportation news
God has been SOOOO good to us in recent months. Ever since He provided the means for us to get the van last winter, things have been smooth and we've been grateful. First of the year, a wonderful family in our church provided a second car for us, but I've primarily been using the scooter when the weather is better since it saves us a ton on gas. That is, until today. I noticed that the rear brakes were not engaging properly a couple of days ago, but thought it might be low on fluid or the pads were worn. But then it started riding funny today. I pulled into a station to check the air in the back tire and found that it wasn't a lack of air pressure, but rather the entire wheel was loose and coming off its mount. Needless to say, I called Scott (who is a ever-faithful truck buddy!) and we took it over to the cycle shop. The call came in a hour later - it's scrapped. The wheel got cock-eyed in the mounting and chewed up the motor and transmission housing. It's going to be about $950-$1000 to replace and the bike is nowhere near that much, so I'm not interested in sinking that money into it for repairs. SO....
Please pray that God would provide something else. I have the car, but would prefer to get back on 2 wheels and save money like we were doing. If anyone knows of a motorcycle or scooter for sale (more than 150cc's) then let me know. My desire would be to move up from the realm of scooter into low-end motorcycle so I can make trips to Fayetteville for meetings while saving money. Who knows what the Lord will do. Thanks for your prayers about this.
Please pray that God would provide something else. I have the car, but would prefer to get back on 2 wheels and save money like we were doing. If anyone knows of a motorcycle or scooter for sale (more than 150cc's) then let me know. My desire would be to move up from the realm of scooter into low-end motorcycle so I can make trips to Fayetteville for meetings while saving money. Who knows what the Lord will do. Thanks for your prayers about this.
May 31, 2008
what happened last night...
Last night was the first time this summer that I’ve been able to go downtown for Revival in the Streets with my good friend, Joe Campbell. Many Friday nights throughout the summer, Joe gets permits to block off a section of street, set up a stage, and proclaim Jesus Christ through music and message. I love being downtown on a Friday nigts…
So Joe asked me to share last night from the stage, and I had been thinking and praying about what to say. It wasn’t a feel-good message, and it wasn't one that I really was excited about sharing. But I knew that God had given it to me, so I did share it.Here is some of it in it's condensed form.
Three years ago this summer, Hurricane Katrina made landfall as one of the most destructive storms ever to hit the
In stark contrast to that, God promises
Zec 8:19 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; the fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth,
One of those fasts in particular, Av 9 on the Jewish calendar, is of interest. Historically, it has been a day of great tragedy for the Jewish people. It was on this day 3500 years ago that the 10 spies brought a bad report and the people rejected the land. In 586BC the first
I am not attempting to link Katrina to the
Zep 1:14-18 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
He goes on in chapter 2 to speak to the generation upon whom this is coming, warning them before hand. Listen to the language here…
Zep 2:2,3 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
So, here we have the warning that the tribulation is basically upon a generation; followed by the urgency to prepare. Then God gives the generation one of the first signs that the tribulation is at the door, in the very next verse:
Zep 2:4 For
How you respond depends on where you live. Colossians tells us that (for those of us who have repented and out our faith in Jesus Christ) we have been transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of the Beloved Son. Our response is to make ready your hearts, make ready your homes and make ready the people of God. Now is a time of repentance and consecration. God is removing every idol and every sin that so easily entangles. He is making ready a Bride without spot or blemish. Our response is to get ready, BUT we MUST NOT FEAR. For He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of sound mind and self-control.
There’s another group of people who don’t live in the Kingdom of the Beloved Son. Scripture says that you are enslaved to sin and to the Prince of this World, Satan. The proper response for you right now IS fear. God has not given you a spirit of anything because you are objects of His wrath. If you perished tonight, you would die in your sins and you would spend eternity separated from Him and everyone else in a place called Hell. Do not be deceived – as a man sews, so shall he reap. If by your life and actions and attitude you say that you wish to have nothing to do with Jesus Christ I tell you in all truth He will respect your decision forever.
I went on to share the Good Person Test and to use the Law to bring God’s standard of holiness and perfection to bear on people’s consciences. I shared that the judgment of God is coming upon the nations, including this one. And not to sound too much like Jeremiah Wright, but the days of God bless
It was a hard message, and not one that I particularly wanted to preach, but it is what God gave me to say. I came down from the stage and wandered to the water cooler and a couple of older men made their way to me to shake my hand and thank me for preaching it. A few minutes later and Joe was waving me over to the side. He and another friend, David Smith, were talking to a man and walking around the corner out of ear shot of the music.
I caught up and was introduced to Will, a man in his late 20’s who was weeping and broken. I had seen him off to the side while I was speaking, but had assumed he was with the band as he was listening intently. I was wrong. God had brought Will inexplicably out of Topper’s strip club a couple of blocks over and right up to where we were right as I began to preach. And the Holy Spirit broke this man, and he was contrite of heart.
For the last couple of years, I have longed to share the Gospel with someone who was visibly broken and demonstrating contrition. Too many times have I shared the Gospel with indifferent people, even some who wanted prayer after, but come away wondering if there was any real conviction of sin. There was no wondering last night. I lay no claim nor take any glory for myself in Will’s salvation last night. God gave me a word to speak even though I wasn’t thrilled about sharing it. God brought the one who needed to hear it at the moment is was being spoken. And God moved in that man’s heart to break him of his sin and bring him to repentance. I did nothing but obey my Master in a small matter.
Let us all be obedient to our Master in small matters in this day. Who knows how He will use it…
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