At the beginning of every year, I find myself reflecting upon the words of the saintly Frances Ridley Havergal:
Another year is dawning,
Dear Father let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with thee.
Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving,
Thy presence all the days.
Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness,
The glory of thy face.
Another year of leaning,
Upon thy loving breast,
Another year of trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.
Another year of service,
Of witness for thy love,
Another year of training,
For holier work above.
Another year is dawning,
Dear Father, let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven,
Another year for thee.
As we have crossed the threshold of 2009, there are several things that I have purposed in my heart to accomplish this year. I have asked God for His favor in 3 specific areas: family, integrity and ministry. I desire to be a more godly husband and father than I've ever been, giving my family the assurance that I am the same man at home that I am at church. If I am not what I am supposed to be for my personal family, then I cannot and will not be what I am supposed to be for my church family.
I desire to be a greater man of integrity than I 've ever been. When I speak of integrity, I am encompassing the gamut of sexual, moral, mental and financial integrity. I desire for truth to dominate my "inward parts." I give God permission to "search me" and "know my heart; "try me" and "know my thoughts...see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139: 23-24) I want to give no room for compromise with sinful attractions, sensual affections, and sensual ambitions.
Finally, I desire to for God's favor to rest upon my ministry. I believe that the effectiveness of ministry hinges upon family and integrity. When we are real in private, God can use us in public. I have broken down my ministry into 5 basic areas, and I desire more anointing, favor, and power in each area: prayer, preparation, prioritization, preaching and pastoring.
I want to be a greater man of prayer. I want to pray big! I want to shape my will to come in line with His will. I want to stretch my expectation to overlap with God's revelation. I want to dare to launch out into the deep and believe God for things that have no other explanation but Him.
I want to be a greater man of preparation. I want to be a better student of the Word. I want to fall in love, all over again, with the Word of the Lord and the Lord of the Word. I want God to unlock the door to the deep, divine truths of Heaven.
I want to be a greater man of prioritization. I want to "redeem the time" God has allotted me. I want to say "no" to things which interfere and conflict with my Heavenly agenda. I want to say "yes" to things which lead me to the "secret place of the Most High."
I want to be a greater man of preaching. More than I desire anything else, I desire more of God's power, favor, anointing, and blessing upon the spirit of my calling. I desire for the little preacher to become smaller, and the Big Preacher to become bigger. I desire for the Living Word to step off the page of the Written Word into the hearts of people.
I want to be a greater man in regards to pastoring. I want the love of the Chief Shepherd to fill the heart of His under-shepherd. I want to see His people as He sees them. I want to love His people as He loves them. I want the care, concern, and compassion of the Good Shepherd to fill, and flood my heart for His sheep.
Yet, as I enter into this covenant, I immediately affirm that what I am unable to do, He is more than able to "perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." As the "branch" I desire to abide in the "Vine" to bear "fruit," "more fruit," and "much fruit." As the clay, I desire for the Potter to mold me and make me after His will. My answer is "YES," even before I know the question.
Another year is dawning,
Dear Father, let it be,
On earth, or else in Heaven,
Another year for Thee.
May God grant it to be so.
Holding Forth the Word of Life,
Pastor Steve
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thursday, December 4, 2008
SOVEREIGNTY WITHOUT CALVINISM
One of the most heated debates and controversies within our denomination is that of Calvinism. I believe it is a debate that will only become more intense over the next few years, especially by those who are being trained in seminaries with Calvinistic leadership. I have chosen, by my own volition, not become involved with the debate, but have tried to remain true to what God has called me to do.
I am not a Calvinist, certainly not by today's standards. Nor, am I an Armenian. I refuse to be placed into a manmade camp, and hold to its tenets as my security blanket. I am a Biblicist. And as a Biblicist, I am totally committed to the tenet of the sovereignty of God, without being a Calvinist.
As I understand it, the sovereignty of God is a doctrine which very simply declares that God is in control, and governs the affairs of men. However, God can be sovereign and still allow His creation the freedom to choose. This freedom was first illustrated in the garden of Eden when God informed our initial parents that of every tree in the garden that could "freely eat." Thus, God's sovereignty in no way represents the fact that God is a Heavenly bully who forces us to do what He has already predetermined.
His sovereignty simply declares that He is God of Himself, in Himself, and all by Himself. Thus, being sovereign, He is in absolute control of His own creation. Of all the doctrines of the Bible, I don't know of any that is more comforting to my heart than sovereignty. It lets me know that God is not surprised, shocked, panicked, or alarmed by the events of my life. He is so sovereign that He possesses the right to either allow it or arrange it. If It gets to me, it first had to come through Him.
In the book, "America Out of the Ashes," Colonel Jeffrey O'Leary, of the USAF, gave an answer to the question, "Where was God on September 11th?" He answered the question by looking at what didn't happen that could have happened, and should have happened on that day. He began by looking at the flight manifests. He writes:
"On American Airlines Flight 77, 289 seats were available, only 64 people were aboard. On American Airlines Flight 11, 251 seats were available, only 92 people were aboard. On United Airlines Flight 175, 351 seats were available, only 65 people were aboard. On United Airlines Flight 93, 289 seats were available, only 45 people were aboard."
He continues, "Out of a minimum of 75,000 potential 'victims' that day, more than 93% survived or avoided these despicable acts. The buildings in New York City should have collapsed immediately. Who held them up until tens of thousands could make it out? The Pentago was hit at its strongest point, but it was nearly empty in those sections due to renovations. Why did the plane hit just those 2 sections?"
He concludes, "So, in answer to the question, 'Where was God on September 11th?' The answer is that He was the same place He was on September 10th, right where He was supposed to be: on His throne, and nothing out of His sight."
If the issue of God's sovereignty is something that alarms you, think how much more alarmed you would be if God wasn't sovereign, on His throne, in control, and right where He was supposed to be.
Calvinist, no; comforted, YES!
Thank God for God,
Eternally HIS,
Gratefully Yours,
Pastor Steve
I am not a Calvinist, certainly not by today's standards. Nor, am I an Armenian. I refuse to be placed into a manmade camp, and hold to its tenets as my security blanket. I am a Biblicist. And as a Biblicist, I am totally committed to the tenet of the sovereignty of God, without being a Calvinist.
As I understand it, the sovereignty of God is a doctrine which very simply declares that God is in control, and governs the affairs of men. However, God can be sovereign and still allow His creation the freedom to choose. This freedom was first illustrated in the garden of Eden when God informed our initial parents that of every tree in the garden that could "freely eat." Thus, God's sovereignty in no way represents the fact that God is a Heavenly bully who forces us to do what He has already predetermined.
His sovereignty simply declares that He is God of Himself, in Himself, and all by Himself. Thus, being sovereign, He is in absolute control of His own creation. Of all the doctrines of the Bible, I don't know of any that is more comforting to my heart than sovereignty. It lets me know that God is not surprised, shocked, panicked, or alarmed by the events of my life. He is so sovereign that He possesses the right to either allow it or arrange it. If It gets to me, it first had to come through Him.
In the book, "America Out of the Ashes," Colonel Jeffrey O'Leary, of the USAF, gave an answer to the question, "Where was God on September 11th?" He answered the question by looking at what didn't happen that could have happened, and should have happened on that day. He began by looking at the flight manifests. He writes:
"On American Airlines Flight 77, 289 seats were available, only 64 people were aboard. On American Airlines Flight 11, 251 seats were available, only 92 people were aboard. On United Airlines Flight 175, 351 seats were available, only 65 people were aboard. On United Airlines Flight 93, 289 seats were available, only 45 people were aboard."
He continues, "Out of a minimum of 75,000 potential 'victims' that day, more than 93% survived or avoided these despicable acts. The buildings in New York City should have collapsed immediately. Who held them up until tens of thousands could make it out? The Pentago was hit at its strongest point, but it was nearly empty in those sections due to renovations. Why did the plane hit just those 2 sections?"
He concludes, "So, in answer to the question, 'Where was God on September 11th?' The answer is that He was the same place He was on September 10th, right where He was supposed to be: on His throne, and nothing out of His sight."
If the issue of God's sovereignty is something that alarms you, think how much more alarmed you would be if God wasn't sovereign, on His throne, in control, and right where He was supposed to be.
Calvinist, no; comforted, YES!
Thank God for God,
Eternally HIS,
Gratefully Yours,
Pastor Steve
Friday, November 7, 2008
WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
That is the question that I have been repeatedly asked by family, friends, colleagues and members of my congregation ever since the events of this past Tuesday night. In our mid-week service, I attempted to answer that question, not only to put people's fears to rest, but to remind them of Who ultimately governs the affairs of men.
First of all, let me say that as I sat and watched the events of election night I was both amazed, as well as honored to watch history take place right before my very eyes. To think that in almost a generation and a half we have watched this country go from treating black men as slaves to electing them as the leader of the free world, is nothing short of astounding. I went out and bought a paper Wednesday morning so that I would have a piece of history not only for myself, for to pass down to my son. I told him, "Son, always remember this night, because you have watched history unfold before your very eyes."
Loving, and knowing history the way that I do, I can proudly say that I am proud to be a citizen of the United States of America. I applaud President-elect Barak Obama for his promotion to the highest office in the world. Although I DID NOT vote for him, not because of his race, but because of his political views, there is no doubt that he ran a masterful campaign down to the minutest of detail. Furthermore, while others played the "race card" throughout the campaign, I never heard or saw him play the race hand.
My concern is not from a political or racial standpoint. I do not have a prejudice bone in my body, and I do not cling to a party as a security blanket. If you were to track my voting record, you would find that I have voted more Republican than Democrat; however, I have several bones to pick with the Republican party for NOT doing the jobs they were elected to do. From President Bush all the way down to my local politicians, they have let me down, they have let my family down, and they have let my nation down.
The concern that I have is from a MORAL standpoint. One of the reason I did not vote for President Obama is because of his views regarding abortion and same sex marriage. If one were to study history, they would find that the success of a nation is not determined economically, militarily, or politically; but, it is determined MORALLY. Every great power that has risen and fallen, did so because their moral foundation crumbled beneath them; be it Persia, Assyria, Babylon, Rome, or the United States of America.
Our recent economic woes, while due in part to poor leadership and decisions, are the result of cracks in our moral foundation. For example, politicians talk about finding a way to fix Social Security, so here's a thought: ABOLISH ABORTION! Since 1973, we have murdered more than 65 million babies. Fast forward 35 years and most of those would have been involved in the work force and paid into Social Security for 17 to 18 years. There is your solution for Social Security.
Thus, everything is directly linked to morality. There is no way around it. Why? It is because that is the way God set things up. "Blessed in the nation whose God is the Lord." (Psalm 33:12) It's one thing to have the words, "In God We Trust" on our currency, but when our lifestyles contradict those words, our currency becomes worthless.
We cannot take God out of our school system and not expect guns, violence, illiteracy and drugs. We cannot take God out of our judicial system and not expect abortion, same sex marriage, and assisted suicides. We cannot God out of our economic system and not expect stock market crashes, foreclosures, and the possibility of another Depression.
So, to answer the question, "What do we do now?' I have only one answer. As God's people, we do what we should have been doing all along, and that is awake out of our sleep, stand for truth, be salt and light instead of sugar and spice, and with a backbone like a saw log we refuse to back down, back away or back up.
As Christians, we have a mandate to pray for the "powers that be" which are "ordained of God." (Romans 13:1) Although you may not have voted for him, you and I have a responsibility to pray for President Obama. We must pray that God will work in his heart, and open his eyes to truth. We must pray that his liberal agenda in the Senate does not follow him to the White House. We must pray that he will lead this nation morally, so that he may lead this nation economically, politically, militarily and judicially.
I have placed his name at the top of my personal prayer list, and I hope that you will do the same. As the blood-bought, born-again people of God, we can still stand for right and pray for those who are wrong. Because at the end of the day, we know that regardless of who is in the White House, Jesus is still on the throne, and "the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of water, he turneth it whithsoever he will." (Proverbs 21:1)
May God bless President Barak Obama, may this nation turn back to God, and may God's people awake from their sleep and not only recognize their responsibility to live as citizens of this country, but as citizens of another country.
With Eyes to the Hills from whence Cometh My Help,
Pastor Steve
First of all, let me say that as I sat and watched the events of election night I was both amazed, as well as honored to watch history take place right before my very eyes. To think that in almost a generation and a half we have watched this country go from treating black men as slaves to electing them as the leader of the free world, is nothing short of astounding. I went out and bought a paper Wednesday morning so that I would have a piece of history not only for myself, for to pass down to my son. I told him, "Son, always remember this night, because you have watched history unfold before your very eyes."
Loving, and knowing history the way that I do, I can proudly say that I am proud to be a citizen of the United States of America. I applaud President-elect Barak Obama for his promotion to the highest office in the world. Although I DID NOT vote for him, not because of his race, but because of his political views, there is no doubt that he ran a masterful campaign down to the minutest of detail. Furthermore, while others played the "race card" throughout the campaign, I never heard or saw him play the race hand.
My concern is not from a political or racial standpoint. I do not have a prejudice bone in my body, and I do not cling to a party as a security blanket. If you were to track my voting record, you would find that I have voted more Republican than Democrat; however, I have several bones to pick with the Republican party for NOT doing the jobs they were elected to do. From President Bush all the way down to my local politicians, they have let me down, they have let my family down, and they have let my nation down.
The concern that I have is from a MORAL standpoint. One of the reason I did not vote for President Obama is because of his views regarding abortion and same sex marriage. If one were to study history, they would find that the success of a nation is not determined economically, militarily, or politically; but, it is determined MORALLY. Every great power that has risen and fallen, did so because their moral foundation crumbled beneath them; be it Persia, Assyria, Babylon, Rome, or the United States of America.
Our recent economic woes, while due in part to poor leadership and decisions, are the result of cracks in our moral foundation. For example, politicians talk about finding a way to fix Social Security, so here's a thought: ABOLISH ABORTION! Since 1973, we have murdered more than 65 million babies. Fast forward 35 years and most of those would have been involved in the work force and paid into Social Security for 17 to 18 years. There is your solution for Social Security.
Thus, everything is directly linked to morality. There is no way around it. Why? It is because that is the way God set things up. "Blessed in the nation whose God is the Lord." (Psalm 33:12) It's one thing to have the words, "In God We Trust" on our currency, but when our lifestyles contradict those words, our currency becomes worthless.
We cannot take God out of our school system and not expect guns, violence, illiteracy and drugs. We cannot take God out of our judicial system and not expect abortion, same sex marriage, and assisted suicides. We cannot God out of our economic system and not expect stock market crashes, foreclosures, and the possibility of another Depression.
So, to answer the question, "What do we do now?' I have only one answer. As God's people, we do what we should have been doing all along, and that is awake out of our sleep, stand for truth, be salt and light instead of sugar and spice, and with a backbone like a saw log we refuse to back down, back away or back up.
As Christians, we have a mandate to pray for the "powers that be" which are "ordained of God." (Romans 13:1) Although you may not have voted for him, you and I have a responsibility to pray for President Obama. We must pray that God will work in his heart, and open his eyes to truth. We must pray that his liberal agenda in the Senate does not follow him to the White House. We must pray that he will lead this nation morally, so that he may lead this nation economically, politically, militarily and judicially.
I have placed his name at the top of my personal prayer list, and I hope that you will do the same. As the blood-bought, born-again people of God, we can still stand for right and pray for those who are wrong. Because at the end of the day, we know that regardless of who is in the White House, Jesus is still on the throne, and "the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of water, he turneth it whithsoever he will." (Proverbs 21:1)
May God bless President Barak Obama, may this nation turn back to God, and may God's people awake from their sleep and not only recognize their responsibility to live as citizens of this country, but as citizens of another country.
With Eyes to the Hills from whence Cometh My Help,
Pastor Steve
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