Wonderful worship

I am a day late posting in my blog after a few weeks of consistence in posting by Sunday night. I could use the excuse that my family and I are back in Ohio visiting for a week......What really hindered me to a small degree yesterday is exactly what I want to talk about briefly today. Yesterday I was honored yet again to have the privilege to preach at my home church, the church where God drew me to hear His gospel taught clearly, the church that discipled me, invested in my family, invested in me, licensed me to the preaching ministry, and ordained me as Hysham Baptist Church called. It is wonderful to return there to see the familiar faces, the sounds of chatter before the service, old hymnal pages' rustling as faithful congregation members ready themselves to sing praises to their Lord, and the great feeling of unity during a corporate worship service. I believe this the legacy that is being passed down at First Baptist Felicity; truth, unity, and love.

During the service Sunday evening I was blessed to listen as Pastor Chad Bevins brought a convicting and inspiring message from his continued exposition from the book of Hebrews. It was the first time in over a year that I sat in church and listened to someone other than myself bring forth God's Word to the people. I am thankful for God's calling in my life to the ministry, but being fed the Word of God is a great privilege that many Christians neglect. Might we be more faithful and diligent in receiving the Word of God, and moving together as the body of Christ in all His congregations.

Upon reading W. K. Clifford’s; The Ethics of Belief, I was convinced of that which he had wrote about in the essay were true and of good application to the Christian, and those whom hold certain beliefs without testing them for authenticity. The Ethics of Belief is a proper title because it examines how the results of our beliefs if not examined properly can and do often lead to injustice not only to ourselves but to others as well.

Some of the main points in this essay were as follows; 1. We may believe anything, many people do, but why should we? 2. Do we have the right to believe what we believe? 3. How do we conclude that what we believe to be apparently true? (note; although not clearly broken to this particular points in essay format, I have taken the liberty to devise as it flowed from author to reader)

Clifford uses illustrations in this text that are relevant to the title of the essay. The illustration that I would liken to employ here (paraphrased) is that of a shipmaster sending an old vessel out on the open sea, full of passengers to their ultimate doom in the wake of a storm at sea. We must realize that the shipmaster was confident in the soundness of his ship, it has made many maiden voyages in the past that would have sunk a lesser ship. In fact the shipmaster was so confident in the ships ability that he did not even give a thought to inspect the ship for sea worthiness.

This is the same concept that all people should apply to what they believe and why. How many people do we know that hold certain beliefs that are detrimental or critical to their existence, purpose, and meaning of life. Have we only accepted what we have been indoctrinated with, have been persuaded passionately by those with personal agendas, or have we taken the critical evidence available and made rational decisions about what we believe and why we believe it?

“It is not only the leader of men, statesmen, philosophers, or poet, that owes this bounded duty to mankind. Every rustic who delivers in the village alehouse his slow infrequent sentences, may help to kill or keep alive the fatal superstitions which clog his race. Every hard-worked wife of an artisan may transmit to her children beliefs which shall knit society together, or rend it in pieces. No simplicity of mind, no obscurity of station, can escape the universal duty of questioning what we believe. -W.K. Clifford

How can we apply The Ethics of Belief, to the Christian faith.

Unfortunately many Christians today have checked their brain at the door, willing to only believe what is easy to digest, or my favorite; “I don’t know, I just have faith.” What is faith exactly? In order for it to be helpful it must relate to something, shouldn't it? To many Christians read the horoscope in the morning instead of their Bible. How did Abraham exercise faith? The knowledge of God that clearly told of Abraham of the truth of who God is, that is precisely what Abraham drew his faith from. In other words Abraham’s faith was grounded in the knowledge of who God is in other words he knew what was; TRUTH!

Christians take for granted the rich source of truth that is easily gained from reading their Bible; “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him,” If you abide in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” -John 8:31-32. We must examine what we believe so that we may not send others on sinking ships. This knowledge will strengthen our faith, disciple our children in the knowledge of God, and enable us to be effective in the use of the Great Commission.

21st century Gospel

Many exciting events are shaping in the age in which we live in. It has taken some time but I have fully embraced most of the technological advances in todays society. That statement is made from a man that is now eating crow. I do remember saying that I would never own a computer, those that do are geeks, I am not a geek; therefore, no computer for me. I also went as far as saying that those whom embraced the internet, where weirdoes that did not have any social skills or anything to contribute to society. I distinctly remember making those commits around 1999, oh if the old me could only see what I have become. Wait he has.....

The change came when I entered as a student at Luther Rice where it was an absolute necessity to have a PC, so I reluctantly purchased my first Dell. My wife had a good time laughing at me as I pecked at the keyboard like a little bird for the first year of my transition. My typing has improved somewhat since then, and as minister of the Gospel I now see the great use that technology gives to the spreading of the Gospel message. My first encounter with ministries that have utilized this tool was desiring God, the ministry of Bethlehem Baptist Church. All the wonderful resources that were offered where at my finger tips, and best of all FREE! I am in a different place than that of BBC (not the network), but I have clearly seen the advantages that can be used of this technology anywhere, with any ministry.

Listed as follows:

1. We are seen, with the appropriate networking, people, other churches/ministries can know that we actually exist.

2. Not only are we known but known more personally, and what we are all about.

3. In desolate areas (such as much of Montana), we can connect with those whom are not easily connected with.

4. For those whom have left home, friends and family can see the fruit of their work, and still feel connected.

5. We can connect with others in our part of the world that are in the same circumstances, to offer support, and a helping hand.

6. It gives pastors something else to do other than the one hour a week that they work (kidding).

7. Probably the most important reason is that; its cool, hip, and trendy.

Obviously the last two are because I ran out of cool reasons, but I am now a believer that technology is useful for people other than nerds.

Willing God's Will As a Way of Knowing Christ's Word

Willing God's Will As a Way of Knowing Christ's Word

Just finished watching the Super Bowl with some friends from church. I must say that I couldn't be any happier with the results from the game. I grew up in Ohio as an avid Cleveland Browns fan, so naturally the Steelers have always been the arch nemesis to the Browns, and have continually spanked them in the AFC north division. So for me and many other Browns fans we have become Packer fans for at least one night.

I must say that I am not biased toward the Steelers so much that I don't respect certain personnel on the team. For instance, I have the up most respect for Mike Tomlin (the head coach) and how he has put his stamp on the organization. He is a genuine classy guy, whom wins or looses with the up most humility and dignity. I did find out that later after the game he greeted players as they returned to the locker room, and thanked them for the hard play during the course of the season. Classy.

As a pastor, especially one in a small town it is hard to make friends. People often look at you with dis-trust, or tend to be uncomfortable in your presence (It may be that I am just weird looking). Regardless, it is a good feeling to have when you are invited over to someone's home to just hang out and just watch the game. That fellowship outside the church walls is something that I have noticed is missing in many ecumenical situations. We tend to set aside a certain hour each Sunday to meet with people whom we probably really aren't interested in, but do so anyway out of a sense of guilt, or tradition. Traditionally that has not always been the case in the function of the healthy church. Those whom have experienced this have seen something of a divine interaction between God, and human beings. The reason for that is; that in a healthy church Christ is the center of attention, not the individual.

When our focus is shifted we become more interested not only supremely in God (which is the source of the later), but we also become interested in the lives of others. It is a sign of church maturity to see the body of Christ truly engaging the lives of their brothers, and sisters in Christ.