Life Looking Up

Long for the Endless Immensity of the Sea

2012-01-23T09:25:00.000-05:00

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, aFrench writer, said, “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people tocollect wood, and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them tolong for the endless immensity of the sea.”

I was so struck by this exhortation this morning that I caught myself pausing and just thanking God for such a picture.

In our fight against sin, particularly habitual sin, we often find ourselves turning to legalistic means to rid ourselves of it: stop it, move to another room, call a friend, read the Bible. And all of these things are good things. But over and above just removing things from our lives, the greater need is to replace them with better things (Eph. 4:22-24).

How do you remove darkness from a room? You turn on a light. In the same way, how do you remove the darkness of sin from your heart? You run to the Light - Jesus Christ. It's only as we catch the grand vision of God, the immensity of His mercy and grace, and His willingness to send His Son to die for our sins that we really begin the process of change. As His light shines into our hearts we find that it is so much more beautiful than the ugliness of our darkness. Like sunshine at the end of a dreary day, we rejoice when we can bask in the light of God's provision.

My hope and prayer today is that I "long for the endless immensity of the sea" - of God - and in so doing my sin looks so much less appealing. May God's grace enable us as we pursue His greatness!

A Giving Spirit

2011-12-13T16:03:00.001-05:00

One of the few commands the leaders of the Jerusalem church gave to the apostle Paul when he visited with them was this: "remember the poor" (Gal. 2:10). A simple command and one always available to be performed: "For the poor you always have with you..." (Jn. 12:8a). Because of this command's simplicity and availability, I am always pleased when our church enthusiastically becomes the beacon of caring for the poor in our community and around our world.

When Jubilee Christmas began in 2007 and Providence was contacted to be a host church, I thought to myself, "I'm not sure..." We were involved with Operation Christmas Child and the Prison Cookie Distribution, both taking place in the month of December. Should we tackle another Christmas giving project?

But here's what I noticed. Operation Christmas Child is worldwide. Great!- an opportunity to reach the nations. The Prison Cookie Distribution is in Central Indiana. Great!- an opportunity to reach our region. But what are we doing in our very own community? Jubilee Christmas filled that gap!

"We'll try it for one year and see how it goes" was my commitment. And was I ever surprised! Our church stepped up to the plate and gave over and beyond what I expected! Volunteers came out of the woodwork, presents were purchased cheerfully, and many plates of delicious cookies were prepared.

Yesterday was our 5th year participating in Jubilee Christmas. And each year gets better than the one before. This can only be possible because the Holy Spirit has taken our hearts captive to the command, "remember the poor." Thank you to all the volunteers, staff, and friends for your giving spirit! God was pleased as you carried out His good work (Eph. 2:10).

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-22T11:33:00.001-05:00

So I haven't posted in a while, I know that. It seems these days that my posts get further and further between, making me wonder if I should keep the blog or not??

Just a couple notes before I head back out the door for another appointment:

This Thursday is Thanksgiving, a special day set aside to be thankful for the many blessings in our lives. If you were at Providence on Sunday you heard me say that everything you have in life is a gift: health, family, school, job, clothes, etc. We deserved none of it. In fact, the only thing we "deserved" was death. But that problem was solved on the cross and through yet another gift, we receive mercy and grace. How marvelous! We have many reasons to give thanks!
So my question is this: are you more focused on Thanksgiving or what takes place the day after? Stop. Hold up. Before you begin hurling tar and feathers at me, hear me out! Nothing wrong with special deals on the things we hope to bless others with on Christmas. In fact, I may snag a few myself. But is that the focus of this week? Are you lost in the myriad of Black Friday ads that you can't set it aside for just one more day?
I challenge you to write down at least 10 things for which you are thankful and find a way to share those both with God and with a fellow human. Speaking our thankfulness not only encourages your own soul, but it encourages others (Col. 3:16-17).

May you have a blessed holiday week!

Back to School

2011-10-27T14:17:00.000-04:00

Well, it's official. On October 13 I was accepted into the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling program at Faith Bible Seminary located in Lafayette, IN. Needless to say, I am excited and nervous all at the same time.

The excitement part: I can't wait to increase my knowledge of applying biblical truth to real-life circumstances! By learning my Bible better this way, not only do I become a better counselor but I actually become a better pastor and preacher. My sermons can have more direct applicability. I can shepherd better those under my care who are rejoicing, hurting, or struggling. I can more accurately counsel those with intense problems that need my undivided attention. That, to me, is exciting!! To be used of the Lord to "love my neighbor" better is worth it.

My plan is to take two classes per semester beginning November 14, one online and one modular (one week in Lafayette, remainder at home). If class rotation works out properly, I should finish my degree in approximately three years.

The nervousness part: I will maintain all my current pastoral duties while attempting school. Why does that make me nervous? Because the workload is extensive for a masters program. Books to read (should be doing that now instead of typing), papers to write, discussions to engage...all of these things take time. And the last thing I want to do is add more time away from my family and my flock.

So how will I get that done? Well, we'll see. My wife and I have some preliminary thoughts to try and if those don't work, we'll go back to the drawing board.

What can you do to help? Please pray for me. Not necessarily that the process would be easy but that God would be gracious in revealing more of Himself to me. Pray that I would have the energy and stamina necessary to see this through. Pray that I would be so wholly devoted to our Lord that His truth would become evident quickly as I study. And pray for my family that they would be encouraged as they see my heart change as a direct result of the study of God's Word.

Thank you!

Together for the Gospel

2011-10-18T14:49:00.000-04:00

In April 2012, I plan to attend my third Together for the Gospel (T4G) conference. These conferences are held bi-annually and attract thousands to Louisville, KY for their three-day event.

For those unfamiliar with this conference, I would encourage you to check out their website at: www.t4g.org. The conferences have taught me much and each time I come away renewed in my passion for the glory of God through the power of His gospel.

I would like to take a group of people from PMC along this year. If you are interested, please contact me and we'll get you on the list! Please take advantage of this world-class event "right in our back yard!"

P.S. What you pay in registration fees, you'll come home with in free book giveaways!

Oh, the Fear of Man

2011-09-15T11:00:00.001-04:00

The fear of man can dominate our lives so quickly, sadly almost without our notice. Probably one of the most influential decision making factors in the minds of the disobedient is this prevailing thought, "What will others think of me?" Instead of asking, "What will please Christ?" (2 Cor. 5:9), the lure of man's approval can almost seem irresistible.

Throughout the Wisdom Literature we're 1) warned of the sinfulness of the fear of man and 2) exhorted to understand the fruits of the fear of God:

Psalm 25:12 "Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose."
Psalm 118:6 "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
Psalm 128:4 "Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD."
Proverbs 29:25 "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe."
Ecclesiastes 12:13 "The end of the mater; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."

I was struck this morning as I read through Mark 6 and became starkly aware of Herod's fear of man.

Herod had a high level of respect for a guy named John the Baptist. Mark says of Herod:
vv. 20-21 "for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly." Herod recognized the Godly qualities that John the Baptist possessed and preached.

Yet, Herod desired so much the approval of his wife (whom he sinfully married, by the way) that he was willing to have John imprisoned to satisfy his wife's hatred toward John (i.e., example #1 of his fear of man). As long as this arrangement was kept, at least John was safe and Herod's wife was superficially appeased.

But when the moment was right, Herod's wife played on Herod's fear of man and got her way with John the Baptist's life. At a banquet held for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee, Herod's daughter danced for entertainment. In a boisterous and foolish vow to impress his influential friends (again, fear of man in the sense of desperately wanting their approval), Herod tells his daughter she can have "whatever you ask me...up to half of my kingdom."

The daughter dutifully asks her mom for advice and Herod's wife seizes the opportunity. Herod's daughter comes back with this request, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

What is Herod's response? V. 26 "And the king was exceedingly sorry..." He knew he should not carry out this request. He knew this was wrong. He knew, even though John spoke against his marriage, that John was right and Herod stood in the wrong. The very thought of taking John's life struck horror in the mind of Herod. So what did he do? Refuse? Rebuke his wife? Leave John alone?

V. 26 "...but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her." John was beheaded immediately and his head paraded back to the party.

Oh, the power of the fear of man. Herod could have done the right thing. It might have cost him his career. It might have cost him his marriage and his family. It might have even cost him his own life. But he could have done the right thing.

But there stood the easy way out, the fear of man. And Herod once again faltered in the face of it.

Friends, I hope this sad commentary is not true of your life. What decisions are you facing right now where it really boils down to a fear of God versus a fear of man? Where are you battling in your mind because you so desire the approval of others that you're willing to sacrifice the approval of God? Is it at home? In your workplace? At school? In your church?

May the stinging revelation of St. John be a hearkening call to you: "...many of the authorities believed in [Jesus], but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God" (John 12:42-43). Their judgment awaits them in eternity.

Heading Off to College? Read Here!

2011-08-22T15:30:00.003-04:00

I really enjoyed this post from Jeff Brewer about the most important things at college! Yes, the "Freshman 15" may happen, but there's much more than that!

College-bound from PMC, I'm praying for you! 2 Cor. 5:9

P.S. If you need a recommendation for a church near your school, let me know and I will help you out!

Defining Yourself by What You Are Against

2011-08-15T11:39:00.002-04:00

I thought this blog post by Byron Yawn was particularly convicting for myself as a pastor:

http://thecripplegate.com/the-danger-of-defining-yourself-by-what-you-are-against/

Our Next Study

2011-08-10T13:58:00.002-04:00

I have thoroughly enjoyed our "Summer in the Psalms" series. From great highs to extreme lows, the psalmists had a central focus on the glory of God and from that we have learned much!

By God's grace, beginning August 21 we will launch into an expositional, verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians. This insightful letter from Paul to a divided church has much to say to our modern culture. I hope that we glean a Christ-centered, grace-filled approach to similar root problems the church faces today.

Begin reading ahead now! Looking forward to encountering life-changing truths with you PMC!

When Others Lead

2011-07-21T09:30:00.003-04:00

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV)

The pastor is often credited with the term, "leader," and rightly so for that is what God has called him to do. But to lead in the church is very different from leading as a CEO or as a "boss." When God calls pastors to lead, He calls them to equip others so that the work of the ministry can actually be accomplished. It's a humble position, a bottom-up position where the pastor becomes the one boosting others onto his shoulders so they can reach much further than he ever could alone.

By God's grace, the effects of this type of leading have proven fruitful this week at Providence. As I sit back and watch our Vacation Bible School (VBS) take place and the young hearts that are being exposed to the gospel, I watch in simple amazement at all the things that I could not do on my own.

My role is a minimal one this week - I get to simply intermingle with the kids, fill in for teachers who had to be absent, or generally just try to find someplace to serve. And what is most humbling about my role is that it's true: VBS could go on this week with or without me! Am I not the "leader?" Am I not entitled to some upfront, glamorous role with everyone looking at me? Heaven forbid! God's truth says that I should become invisible for the sake of Christ - it's in Christ that we boast, not in any man!

So I thank God this week that He has called so many others to lead. And they have been incredibly faithful in doing just that. These volunteers come in each night with cheerful faces, servant hearts, and an eagerness to show Christ to these young ones. Amazing grace! I thank God that He has called me to "lead" this group of Christ-centered men and women. Without them, the ministry could not continue.

Our Ears Still Itch

2011-07-11T13:42:00.002-04:00

Great post by Trevin Wax on how we as church members can still fall victim to "itching ears." Can you identify yourself here?

Spurgeon Quote

2011-06-27T14:46:00.000-04:00

Oh my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay, and not madly to destroy themselves. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.

Charles Spurgeon

Easy Reading Plan through the Psalms

2011-06-14T08:15:00.005-04:00

To correspond with our summer preaching series in the Psalms, I would recommend the following easy reading plan:

Read five psalms per day as follows:

Begin with the psalm that corresponds to today's day of the month (ex: read Psalm 14 since today is June 14)
Add 30 to this date and read that psalm (ex: 14 + 30 = 44 so read Psalm 44)
Repeat step 2 until you have read a total of 5 psalms

By following this daily reading schedule you will have read through all the Psalms in one month! Happy reading!

A Summer in the Psalms

2011-06-13T13:39:00.003-04:00

As a church body, we recently finished studying through the book of Colossians - a fascinating book describing the preeminence of Jesus Christ in all things and how that fleshes out in our everyday lives. We learned much as we studied verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter through the book. For resources on the book, visit here.

Because we finished the book of John last year right at the end of spring, we took the summer months to work through a topical series called "What If I Have a Friend Who..." and we bibically answered several common relational and/or emotional problems people encounter. This year we finished Colossians at the end of spring so rather than immediately dive into another expositional book series (again due to the timing) , we're making it "A Summer in the Psalms!" Here's the plan for the summer:

How to Live Happily Ever After – Psalm 1 (June 12)

Is the World Out of Control – Psalm 2 (June 19)

What to Do When Under Attack – Psalm 5 (July 3)

What to Do When the Bad Guys Win – Psalm 37 (July 10)

Ritual or Reality – Psalm 50 (July 24)

Growing Old God’s Way – Psalm 71 (July 31)

What Might Have Been – Psalm 81 (August 7)

(These dates are subject to change.)

I'm looking forward to what God is teaching us through this wisdom book of Hebrew poetry and songs. The psalms are so intimate, so real, so personal and they ultimately point us to the magnificent glory of God!

Check back in often on our Resources page to find sermon audios and related message notes as we travel through this summer together. And starting this fall we'll begin our next expositional series through a book. "Which one?" Come and find out!! Details coming later!

The Sermon Confronts

2011-05-24T16:17:00.002-04:00

Jonathan Leeman in his book Reverberation says the following concerning the confronting nature of sermons:

No other medium of communication works quite like this. Present me with the picture of a pretty face, or the sound of a sweet melody, and my mind and heart can become engaged, yes, but apart from words, there is no challenge to my self-sovereignty. Only words - and especially words from a king - can call me to surrender my will.

That's why our churches must be utterly centered upon God's words.

Amen.

Parenting 101

2011-05-10T11:23:00.001-04:00

As a follow-up to the sermon Sunday regarding parenting from Colossians 3:20-21, check out this insightful and funny post by Kevin DeYoung:

Parenting 101

The Subject of Paul's Ministry

2011-05-03T16:51:00.003-04:00

Are you sitting under a Christ-centered, Christ-saturated, Christ-magnifying ministry? Are you hearing about Him in the fullness of His person: the God-man, who is Prophet to teach us, Priest to atone and intercede for us, and King to rule over us as His people? Are you hearing about His work? Is His life of sinless obedience held up to you? Do you learn of His atoning death, bearing God's wrath in our place? Do you hear of His resurrection from the dead? What of His glorious rule as He reigns over heaven and earth? A faithful minister will bring these things often before you, directly and indirectly. You are, because of God's grace, entitled to such a ministry, and entitled to require it of the man who ministers to you. The Lord intends that His people should be shepherded by men concerned for the salvation and subsequent spiritual maturity of those who hear them. He will hold to account those who neglect this calling and thereby end up with blood on their hands. God has appointed His gospel ministers to employ proclamation, with admonition and instruction, for His glory and your good, pressing Christ home upon your minds and hearts honestly, earnestly, and closely. We should pray for regiments of such men to be raised up and thrust out into the harvest.

Excerpt from A Portrait of Paul (Reformation Heritage Books, 2010) by Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker (emphasis mine).

A Call to Persevere

2011-03-15T10:59:00.004-04:00

One thing I've really come to appreciate about the Almighty God is His thorough, perfect, and exhaustive understanding of man and the inclinations of his heart. (After all, He created man, so shouldn't He by definition have a complete comprehension of him?)

This understanding, coupled with God's desire to reveal Himself and His plan to us, is shown to us on the pages of Scripture. We don't have to be baffled when people act in certain ways because God has prepared us for that in advance if we will but read His Word.

At the end of Jude (strategically placed before the final book of man's history), God is calling us to persevere. Persevering sounds easy until you realize that there are those "out there" who don't follow the same Godly principles as you. God knows because He knows man. And God knows of their attempts to derail you, belittle you, and otherwise cast you out so He predicts their behavior in this passage. And yet, in the light of their looming presence, God calls us to react by renewing our focus on the love of God and the eternity we will spend with Him in the future. Read and be encouraged. Jude 17-23 (ESV):

¹⁷But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." ¹⁹It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. ²⁰But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²²And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Be Encouraged!

2011-03-14T10:22:00.003-04:00

Sometimes we wonder why God allows certain trials into our lives. We get insulted, we get our feelings hurt, we may even have our sincerest of motives questioned. We're shocked - "how could they do that to me?!" - as though God should protect us from anything painful.

Yet, as difficult as these times might be, we should be encouraged in one sense when these things happen. Not only does the writer of Hebrews remind us that "discipline" means we're a true child of God (Heb. 12:5-8), but Peter too reminds us that these are indeed a "blessing" - a cue to return of our understanding of our position in Christ. 1 Peter 4:12-19 (ESV):

Suffering as a Christian
¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. ¹⁶Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. ¹⁷For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸And

"If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
¹⁹Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

So friend, be encouraged! God uses even suffering to confirm your identity with Him. And, even more than that, He uses suffering to conform you to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28-29). Remind yourself of Joseph's infamous words, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Gen. 50:20a).

Be encouraged today as you lean on God for strength through trials!

Blogs to Follow

2011-03-03T13:56:00.003-05:00

For those interested in staying up-to-date on what's happening in the larger evangelical world, I would suggest following the blogs listed below. I find them very helpful to aware of trends, dangers, noteworthy news in Christendom.

Justin Taylor: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/
Tim Challies: http://www.challies.com/
Albert Mohler: http://www.albertmohler.com/

Church and Parachurch

2011-03-03T13:52:00.003-05:00

I've always been impressed with 9Marks Ministries, a group of Godly men who endeavor to measure the health of the church by nine essential litmus tests.

Their eJournal this month deals with parachurch ministries: what are they, how do they interact with the local church, what are some of the benefits and pitfalls, etc.

I encourage you to read these and form a biblical perspective on parachurch ministries.

The Sanctity of Human Life

2011-01-26T14:23:00.004-05:00

John Piper's statement from two years ago, reacting to our current president's position on abortion, worth repeating this week:

The Pastor and Personal Criticism

2011-01-26T12:51:00.003-05:00

Follow C.J. Mahaney's blog as he explores the theme, "The Pastor and Personal Criticism."

Looks to be a humbling, exciting, and growing experience for any pastor (and parishioner).

Ghost Writer

2010-12-23T15:48:00.002-05:00

I need a ghost writer to fill in for me during my long gaps in posting here. Anyone interested?

Thank You!

2010-12-07T15:34:00.003-05:00

"Give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
1 Thess. 5:18

At the risk of forgetting someone, I want to offer thanks to the many, many people at Providence who work behind the scenes to make ministry happen. Some churches lock the doors on Sunday afternoon only to unlock them the next Sunday. Not Providence!

It amazes me day after day to see the number of cars pulling into the parking lot to do this or that, drop off supplies, volunteer for something, make copies for classes, ask questions...and the list could go on and on.

Thank you to:

The elders who gather every other week to learn and pray, and then daily carry out the hard work of ministry
Our grounds/facility folks for keeping all the lights on, sinks working, heating the building
Counselors and counselors-in-training who give of their time every Monday afternoon and evening to help meet the needs of hurting people
The sound/visual techs for their constant research, tweaking, enhancing to get systems to the point where they're not noticed unless they're not working
The music team who gathers at 8am every Sunday to rehearse
Gifted teachers who teach AWANA and Sunday School, providing opportunities for children and adults to learn God's Word
The kind folks who copy the CD's after each week's worship service
Ushers who kindly lead folks to their seats before the service and then make coffee for their enjoyment after the service
Ladies (and gentleman) who gather once a month to quilt and put together comforters so others can stay warm in this COLD weather
Finance people who count the money, pay the bills, pay the employees and otherwise keep our church on target
Decorators that make our building interior look great each and every week
Special program directors that lead us in special Christmas and Easter worship
The anonymous person who drops off Starbucks gift cards in my mailbox the first Monday of every month (just kidding - hopeful that someone will take it upon themselves to do that one!)
A secretary who faithfully carries out my quirky and often ill-timed requests
A congregation that tithes so the church can carry out its biblical mandates
Entertainment folks who plan Christmas banquets and other social events, making it easy to fellowship together as a church
Folks who listen to Bible Memory verses each week
Library volunteers who gather to sort returned books, purchase new resources, and provide oversight to the library room
The quiet, thoughtful women who purchase Bibles in memory of deceased loved ones
The volunteers who take meals into new mothers
The members of the church council who gather to carry out the physical needs components of the church

The list really could keep going...These people make things happen around here. For the one who says, "That's Pastor so-and-so's church," I would be quick to remind them that 1) it's Christ's church (Mt. 16:18) and 2) "Pastor so-and-so" could never do all these things himself!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the many, many gifted members who faithfully use their spiritual gifts to carry on the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12). You are a blessing to Christ and to me!

Saturday Preview

2010-12-04T19:25:00.003-05:00

Paul loved the Church. He spent His life serving Christ by serving the Church. Tomorrow we plan to see how we might be able to imitate Paul in serving Christ by serving others. Please read ahead Colossians 2:1-5 and come prepared to dive into it tomorrow morning!

If you've been part of our church family for years, we're thrilled to have you come back!
If you've been part of our church family for only a short time, we're hoping you'll stay and grow!
If you've never been part of our church family, here's hoping you'll join us tomorrow!

May God grant you good sleep and an eager heart!

Guarding the Gospel While Engaging the Culture

2010-11-17T16:11:00.004-05:00

Several years ago I was doing some accounting work for a pastor of a mega-church in Southern Indiana. He made a remark in passing that afternoon that sticks with me even today:

"I was driving through your neck of the woods last weekend Shawn. That one church up there, [name of church], must be a really successful church. There were cars buzzing around that place everywhere!"

As quickly as he said it, he moved the conversation back to the task at hand. But to this day, I think about that statement often. Really? Is that it?! Is that the definition of a successful church?

In my friend's mind success equaled an abundance of cars in the parking lot. Are lots of cars necessarily a bad thing? Of course not! But is that by definition the description of church success? What about what happens inside the church? Does that matter? What about when the worshipers engage society after church at lunch? Does that indicate anything?

I've been asked to preach at a conference in Kansas in February 2011. The theme of the conference is, "Interaction of Church and Community." I chose "Guarding the Gospel While Engaging the Culture" as my sermon title.

I've been giving a lot of thought to these questions: How do we "engage" the culture (whatever that might mean) and at the same time maintain an authentic gospel? Is that possible? What does interaction between church and community look like? What does Scripture have to say about "engaging culture?" Can we find mandates for gospel presentation that cannot be compromised as we intersect with an unbelieving world? How does a Christian engage the world and deliver an unpolluted message of Christ?

The task seems monumental and I'm staring at a blank computer screen wondering where to begin. Please pray that my preparation would be driven by clarity, a heart of charity, and a passionate love for the gospel. I desire more than anything that Jesus Christ be lifted high.

Excuse me for a moment, I think another car just pulled in! Success in the making??

God's Cause

2010-11-10T15:00:00.003-05:00

(Puritan Prayer from The Valley of Vision collection):

SOVEREIGN GOD,

Thy cause, not my own, engages my heart,

and I appeal to thee with greatest freedom

to set up thy kingdom in every place where Satan reigns;

Glorify thyself and I shall rejoice,

for to bring honour to thy name is my sole desire.

I adore thee that thou art God,

and long that others should know it, feel it,

and rejoice in it.

That all men might love and praise thee,

that thou mightest have all glory from the intelligent world!

Let sinners be brought to thee for thy dear name!

To the eye of reason everything respecting the conversion of others

is as dark as midnight,

But thou canst accomplish great things;

the cause is thine,

and it is to thy glory that men should be saved.

Lord, use me as thou wilt,

do with me what thou wilt;

but, O, promote thy cause,

let thy kingdom come,

let thy blessed interest be advanced in this world!

O do thou bring in great numbers to Jesus!

let me see that glorious day,

and give me to grasp for multitudes of souls;

let me be willing to die to that end;

and while I live let me labour for thee

to the utmost of my strength,

spending time profitably in this work,

both in health and in weakness.

It is thy cause and kingdom I long for, not my own.

O, answer thou my request!

Church Etiquette

2010-10-30T13:29:00.003-04:00

I really like this blog post by Pastor Tommy Nelson. May we be reminded...

http://dentonbible.org/blog/church-etiquette/

Saturday Preview

2010-10-23T15:02:00.003-04:00

Cannot wait for tomorrow! Why? Because I get to worship our God with you at PMC!

We'll be studying through Colossians 1:15-20. Here's some questions to get you fired up:

What does it mean that Jesus is the "firstborn?" Was He created??
Why did Paul use "thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities" to illustrate his point in verse 16?
If Jesus is the head, what should be our role?
How might you reflect the preeminence of Jesus Christ in your own life?

See you tomorrow!

Ladies Day 2010

2010-10-21T15:52:00.004-04:00

Yes, I know I'm not a lady, thank you very much.

But I do want to invite you to Providence's Ladies Day 2010 scheduled for November 12-13 here at the church! (Yes, I also know that Ladies Day is singular, but the conference actually covers 2 days. You'll have to talk to someone on a higher pay grade than me to get that answered!)

We are privileged to have Cindy Patten with us this year. Cindy has been a conference speaker at many regional and national events and joins us to speak on the topic of encouragement.

"Encouragement: The Lost Art of Lifting" will be beneficial for any woman who knows someone who is struggling, knows someone who has struggled, or anticipates that they might know someone who will struggle in the future (any way you look at it, you should attend!). Cindy will give you some sound, practical tools for encouraging your friends in the faith.

For more information or to sign up click here for this much-anticipated weekend! Registration fee (payable at the door) is $15 before November 8. Registrations received after that date go up to $20. Hope you come and enjoy the day!

Saturday Preview

2010-10-02T16:23:00.003-04:00

Friends, I am looking forward to teaching you tomorrow from Colossians 1:11-14. Some questions to get you thinking:

Why would Paul pray for the Colossians (and us) to be strengthened? What's the need?
Thankfulness should be a hallmark of the Christian. But what should be the greatest reason for our thankfulness?
What are some characteristics of the "domain of darkness?" The "kingdom of his beloved Son?"
Define redemption.

David Platt, in his book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, says that we should be "reproducers" and not just "receivers" when we hear the Word taught. We should be keenly following along in the Bible and taking notes with the intention of teaching someone else what we're learning. With that forward-looking goal, we become active listeners, learning carefully so we're ready to reproduce disciples in our own everyday lives instead of just receiving a couple hours of teaching with a solely self-centered focus.

So I encourage you: bring your Bibles, pens, and an active mind, ready to reproduce what you hear to others you contact this week! Looking forward to tomorrow!

Saturday Preview

2010-09-25T08:44:00.002-04:00

Looking forward to the Lord's Day tomorrow! As we continue in our study of Colossians, we'll be drawing some practical truths from Colossians 1:9-10:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Some questions to consider before tomorrow:

Why would Paul spend time praying for these believers? Weren't there greater concerns to pray for?
What does it mean to be "filled" with knowledge?
What is God's will ("knowledge of his will")? How can we know and apply that?
The request made in verse 9 naturally leads to the outworking in verse 10. In what ways can you see evidences of this grace in your life and others?

Get a good night's sleep and we'll talk tomorrow!

Love to Eat, Hate to Eat

2010-09-23T14:34:00.003-04:00

I'm reading a book written by Elyse Fitzpatrick titled Love to Eat, Hate to Eat: Breaking the Bondage of Destructive Eating Habits. It's been a really good book so far.

Ms. Fitzpatrick struggled with destructive eating habits herself. These experiences along with the hundreds of counseling hours she's logged as a Biblical Counselor more than qualify her to write this book. From anorexia to bulimia to vicious dieting cycles, Ms. Fitzpatrick writes with brilliance and Godly hope.

For anyone who might be interested, I will be putting this book in the church library soon. I hope you'll be encouraged to change as you see yourself in the light of God's glorious grace in Christ Jesus!

Counselors in Training

2010-09-14T14:49:00.004-04:00

I am so thankful for the group of men and women from PMC who went to the Biblical Counseling Training Conference this past weekend in Mitchell, IN. We learned a lot and I hope that each person who went was challenged personally (before being challenged to help others). The famous saying in biblical counseling is, "A good counselor is first a good counselee."

The speaker for this event, Dr. Rick Thomas, was my counseling supervisor when I was going through the NANC certification process. So I was especially excited to finally meet Dr. Thomas in person and hear him teach accurately from the Word of God.

I pray that as we counselors reach into a community that desperately needs to apply the Word of God to their everyday lives, we will make much of our risen Savior Jesus Christ! To Him be the glory, honor and praise!

Boldness. Confidence. Fearlessness.

2010-08-31T21:21:00.003-04:00

J. Mack Stiles, in his excellent book Marks of the Messenger says,

Boldness is not a lack of fear. It is faith in something bigger than our fears so that we appear fearless. Confidence in something bigger than our fears gives us the strength to do the right thing in spite of opposition or persecution.

Friends, we serve a BIG God. A good God. A God who knows the beginning from the end. A God who wins. A God who crushes evil. A God who created all and holds all together. A God who gives life and takes life away. A God of infinite power, knowledge, and presence. A God who parted the Red Sea. A God who created time and then entered into it. A God who raised the dead.

A God who is for us and not against us. A God who has our best interest in mind. A God who sent His own Son because He first loved us. A God who will never punish us because He punished His Son instead. A God who extravagantly blesses us beyond what we can hope or imagine. A God of grace, mercy, forgiveness, love. The God of gods. The God of perfect peace.

If we have faith in that kind of God, why would we fear?

Who Can Know the Human Heart?

2010-08-11T21:58:00.002-04:00

John Piper writes in Finally Alive:

The prophet Jeremiah wrote, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9). David said in Psalm 19:12, "Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults." In other words, we never get to the bottom of our sinfulness. If our forgiveness depended on the fullness of the knowledge of our sins, we would all perish. No one knows the extent of his sinfulness. It is deeper than anyone can fathom.

But the Bible does not leave us without help to know ourselves. The fact that we cannot know fully how sinful we are, does not mean we cannot know our sinfulness deeply and truly. The Bible has a clear and devastating message about the state of our souls. And the reason it does is so that we will know what we need and shout for joy when God gives it to us.

Thoughts on Counseling

2010-08-03T14:09:00.003-04:00

Why Biblical Counseling

In Acts 20:20 Paul says, "...I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house." From this verse we learn that Paul had a two-fold ministry: public (preaching, proclamation of the Word) and house to house (private, individual, custom-tailored). This same two-fold ministry should be happening today in our churches.

As members of the local church, we should regularly feed on God's Word through the hearing of public preaching. Sadly, this diet of God's revelation is becoming a bygone in many American evangelical churches, replaced instead with cool stories, hip illustrations, and watered-down theology. Thankfully God is preserving faithful men among the many who still value the sermon as the means by which God teaches His people publicly.

But beyond the public preaching of the Word, many churches suffer in the second category of ministry, the house to house part. Private ministry of the Word (or modernly referred to as "counseling") has been given over to the "professionals" or abandoned altogether. Pastors have been deemed ill-equipped to handle the problems of life. Theology, once called the "queen of the sciences," has largely been relegated to the back burner when people have "real" problems. Instead of turning to the local pastor, many have opted to seek out a psychologist or psychiatrist to solve their problems. This common practice has led to the secularization of counseling, ranging from 12-step programs to self-help books to bizarre aesthetic practices, and has stripped counseling of any true heart change capabilities.

Paul was quick to remind Timothy that Scripture is sufficient to answer life's problems:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

Peter echoed this truth by point to the all-sufficiency of Scripture to address human issues:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

Our Experience

Since we have delved head-first into the private ministry of God's Word here at PMC, I have been amazed at the transformational effect taking place in the lives of hurting people. I have seen marriages improve, addictions broken, communications restored, and a host of other Christ-pleasing changes. I have become fully convinced that God's Word is sufficient to handle all of life's problems.

Weekly I'm challenged and encouraged as I see hope instilled in the face of the hopeless, life and joy where once existed only gloom, and hearts that desire to please God where before self-pleasure was the highest of goals. Each week as I leave the counseling room, I'm reminded of ways that I can better serve my wife, children, and church. Truly, the counselees have changed and I have changed too!

I would encourage you in this: if you are part of a church that practices biblical counseling, thank God for the way He'll change lives through it! Pray for the counselors. Find out how you can be involved either through counseling training yourself or coming alongside those in need of a friend (or "advocate") in counseling.

If you are part of a church that doesn't practice biblical counseling, ask yourself or your leadership these questions: How can Christ be honored by us involving ourselves in biblical counseling? Why don't we do this? What training is necessary to begin doing biblical counseling? Why do we refer out to secular counselors when God has promised to meet all our needs in His Word?

For more information on biblical counseling, check out these websites:

National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC)
Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF)
Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries (FBCM)

Psalm 25:14

2010-07-19T09:30:00.003-04:00

I was really struck this morning by the powerful truths revealed in Psalm 25:14:

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

The alternate reading in the ESV says, "The secret counsel of the LORD is for those who fear him..."

I was taken by the following thoughts:

Those who truly fear God (respect Him, honor Him, reverently adore Him) are in for a special treat. To them the Lord's friendship is known. We confide in our friends, right? Our friends know things about us that no one else knows. We can trust our friends. We can be honest with our friends. God Himself develops this kind of friendship with those who reverently honor and worship Him. What a magnificent thought! The secret things of the Lord are revealed to those who seek after Him with all their heart. I want that!
For those same friends who fear Him, He also makes known (makes real, reminds them of) his covenant. His covenant is that of His mercy, His steadfast love, His goodness, His faithfulness (vv. 6, 7, 10). God promises to lead and teach (v. 9). God pardons and instructs (v. 11, 12). All these things God will keep because He is faithful to His word to save the humble (v. 9), those who recognize their need for a Redeemer.
I don't know about you, but I want to be a friend of God. I want to have the zeal that David had to run hard after the God of salvation. To this end, I respond as David did in the next verse, "My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net." My eyes are fixed, not on this world, but on the LORD. I want to know His secret things, I want to be led by Him, and I want to lift my soul to Him (v. 1).

What will you do today? Seek the friendship of the world or the friendship of God? To fear man or fear God? Lift your soul to the fleeting pleasures of idols or lift your soul to God? He alone can satisfy. He will be faithful to you! Will you trust in Him today?

"Justified" by Martin Luther

2010-07-09T15:57:00.003-04:00

When the devil throws our sins up to us and declares that we deserve death and hell, we ought to speak thus: 'I admit that I deserve death and hell. What of it? Does this mean that I shall be sentenced to eternal damnation? By no means. For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction in my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Where he is, there I shall be also.'

"These Inward Trials" by John Newton

2010-06-30T13:29:00.006-04:00

A less famous, yet powerful, hymn written by John Newton. Can you identify with the songwriter?

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

Summer Sermon Series

2010-06-22T19:11:00.003-04:00

New sermon series for Summer 2010! Since we've finished our study of the book of John, let's take a few weeks and look at some critical issues we each face on a regular basis. Many times we have a friend (even if the "friend" is really us) who needs help. Everyone knows it, but no one knows what to say. Here's some hope and help:

What If I Have a Friend Who...

Is a Worry Wart (Jun 27)
Was Abused in the Past (Jul 4)
Is Down in the Dumps (Jul 11)
Can't Have Kids (Jul 25)
Is Lonely (Aug 1)
Can't Keep Anything to Herself (Aug 8)
Dresses to Impress (Aug 15)

Come prepared to encounter God's Word as He speaks to us about these important topics!

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T06:27:00.002-04:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! May God bless you on your special day!

And a special Father's Day blessing to my father! Thanks Dad for all the ways you love me and your other children. I sure appreciate all the advice over the years and the many times you acted as Mr. Fix It when I didn't have a clue where to start. You are one special guy!

May God bless you richly this day!

Saturday Preview

2010-06-12T16:07:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will be finishing our study of John! Can you believe it?! This book has been such a part of us for so long it's hard to imagine moving on. But moving on we will! God has other good things in store for us.

Some questions to get you thinking about this last passage (John 21:15-25):

Why does Jesus ask Peter three separate times, "Do you love Me?"
In what way(s) is Jesus restoring Peter in this passage?
What criteria are necessary for following Jesus?
In what ways are you encouraged by the life and death of Peter?

Can't wait to worship with the saints at PMC tomorrow! May God grant you a good night's sleep, a willing mind, and a teachable spirit! See you tomorrow!

Revelation Song

2010-06-08T09:16:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite contemporary songs about the worthiness and holiness of the Godhead. This song is taken from Revelation 4-5.

And Away They Go!

2010-05-27T15:51:00.004-04:00

I am so excited that PMC is sending out three short-term missionary groups this summer! As we seek to fulfill Matthew 28:19-20, I trust that the Lord will be pleased with our efforts and use them to produce fruit for His kingdom.

Brooke Lengacher has left for a missions trip to Zambia, Africa. She will be working with Creator's Touch Ministries, an established missions ministry there. Pray for her adjustment to a different time zone, life away from the States, and boldness to proclaim Christ's name to the nations. Listen to her pre-leave interview here.

Olivia Graber will be departing soon to Orlando, Florida to do Round 2 with Campus Outreach Ministries around the Disney World campus. The things she learns will be invaluable in her continued walk with our Master. Her pre-leave interview (recorded just today) is posted here!

Finally, our PMC youth group is leaving for Mexico soon to build two houses with Casas por Cristo. We are excited to see these young people experience culture outside the U.S. while at the same time being able to serve them physically with the love of Jesus Christ.

Please keep each of these three groups in your prayers! May God grow disciples for Himself through their ministry!

All I Have Is Christ

2010-05-19T16:47:00.004-04:00

If everything else in my life were taken away, would I rest in the gospel of Jesus Christ? Is He sufficient? May this song be your testimony:

All I Have Is Christ from Sovereign Grace Ministries on Vimeo.

Receive the Word of God with Meekness

2010-05-13T15:56:00.003-04:00

In his excellent book, "What Is A Healthy Church Member?" Thabiti Anyabwile says the following:

Christians should receive the Word of God with meekness. That is, in the preaching of God's Word and in Bible study, Christians should remain lowly and gentle before the Scripture, acknowledging it as the source of salvation and instruction in godly living. As we come to the Scripture, we are to do so as people knowing our sinful nature, our spiritual poverty before God, and our need for the molding influence of God, which comes normally by his Word.

How can we know if we are receiving God's Word with meekness? Perhaps the following questions will help:
As we read the Bible, are we reading for information only or with faith that God actually speaks through his Word?
When we hear the Word preached, are we generally looking to have a need met (for example, to be entertained or to gather some practical advice) or are we primarily desiring to understand the original meaning of the text and apply it to our lives?
Is our first reaction to the Scripture "how does this make me feel?" or "do I accept this as true?" Do we allow our feelings to determine what's true, or do we allow the Scriptures to determine our feelings?
Is our listening posture during sermons or Scripture readings defensive or combative, as though we demand someone to "prove it to us"?
Do we tend to judge other philosophies and viewpoints by the Scripture, or do we try to either reconcile or judge the Scripture by other philosophies and views?
Receiving the Word with meekness means accepting the Bible by faith, with a friendly and submissive heart, and with the testimony of God's Spirit. Specifically, we accept the fact that the Bible is true, that it's the only sufficient authority for shaping our lives, and that it must govern how we feel and think.

Excellent words on how we grow and change as a result of hearing God's Word. May we never think "we've arrived" and thus have no need for further instruction and consideration!

Happy Mother's Day Greta!

2010-05-08T15:34:00.004-04:00

TO: Greta
FROM: Your daughters, Abby & Emma

Dear,Mom Thank you so much for helping our family and friends!
I love you so much and I am until you die.
Love,Abby Otto Happy Mother's Day!

Dear Mommy, Happy Mother's Day. I love you so much. "And then what?" Heart. Sparkles. And love. Emma Faith

Saturday Preview

2010-05-08T15:26:00.002-04:00

Our precious study of the Gospel of John is rapidly coming to a close. This Lord's Day we plan to study John 20:11-23. I'm looking forward to what we'll learn together.

Some questions to get you started:

Why did John take the time to tell us about Jesus' resurrection? What's the importance?
Jesus says, "...go tell my brothers..." Why is His terminology significant?
In this passage we find a commissioning. In what ways are you "being sent?" Have you told anyone recently about your Lord? If so, how? If not, is He really your Lord? Are you really excited about Him, or more embarrassed?

I'm anticipating the time we can spend together. I'll be looking for you on this Mother's Day Sunday!

Unworthy Servants

2010-04-29T16:11:00.004-04:00

How many of us like to think of ourselves as "unworthy servants" of God? If we're honest, we'd have to admit that we'd rather think of ourselves as highly important servants, servants that deserve a little pat on the back every now and then. I mean, we try really hard don't we?!

We don't steal, we don't cuss, we don't lie (except for little white ones sometimes), we don't cheat (except on taxes maybe - they don't need the money, I do), we don't get angry (I'm getting angry right now thinking about my taxes)...ok, ok. Forget it. Maybe we do some of these things, but good grief, we do good things too, right? Shouldn't we get some credit for that?

Jesus said:

"Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" (Luke 17:7-10)

I would suspect that the servant in this story was dirty, tired, and sweaty when he came in from the field. We would have expected the master to say, "Thanks for all you do for me! I appreciate your hard work!" Instead he says, "Make me some food and get yourself cleaned up and serve me my dinner."

I think most of us, if we were the servant, at this point would respond, "Excuse me? Do you see what I've been doing for you all day. A little gratitude would be nice here! I mean, really, not even a 'thank you??'"

But the servant didn't say this. He simply followed his orders and did what he was told. And the amazing part? Not only did he bite his tongue from the retaliatory words he may have wanted to say, he concludes the interaction with his master by calling himself an unworthy servant. Unworthy? Unworthy?! Are you kidding me? This servant has worked his tail off for this guy. What's up with this?!

Here's the point: The servant, like the tax collector in 18:13 and unlike the Pharisee in 18:11-12, realize that the master owes him nothing. In fact the servant owes everything to the master.

Likewise, Christian, God owes you nothing. You owe Him everything, your life included. We are but sinners - wretched, poor, blind, dead sinners. And God stepped in to give us new life, eternal life, in His Son Jesus Christ. We deserve hell. We get heaven. Now that is a gift! And because of this gracious, kind, undeserved gift, we owe everything back to God. We serve Him, love Him, obey Him - not because we expect a big Thank-You-You're-Such-A-Wonderful-Servant - but because He did everything for us.

We are merely "unworthy servants." May this be your humble attitude today.

Saturday Preview

2010-04-24T14:30:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will be studying the death of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in John 19:25-30. What a touching, valiant picture of our Lord as He finishes fulfilling OT prophecy, takes our punishment on Himself, and utters some of His final words, "It is finished."

Consider the following questions as you prepare your heart to hear God's Word:

Why did Jesus choose the term "Woman" in this passage instead of the expected "Mother"?
What Scripture was Jesus fulfilling as He asked for a drink?
What is the significance of the words, "It is finished"? How does this simple statement affect the way you and I view our salvation?

I trust that you'll get plenty of rest tonight as you gather yourself for tomorrow morning. May God grant us ears to hear and eyes to see what His glorious Word has for us!

Where's Waldo...er...Shawn?

2010-04-22T15:07:00.006-04:00

Ok, so it's been a while since I've been on Blogger Street. It's time for me to ditch the fake glasses, hat, and wig and come out of hiding. Thought you might like an idea of where I've been. It's actually because of your great generosity that I'm able to do these things, so here goes:

April 13-15 I spent at the Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville, KY. I left refreshed and uplifted as I considered again the beauty of the gospel. I am more and more amazed at the tremendous grace of God in my life. As we sang "All I Have is Christ," my heart was overflowing with gratitude and love for the Savior Jesus Christ. In total there were 7,000 attendees at this conference. Beautiful time with fellow saints in the ministry.

April 17-18 we held our first annual Providence Bible Conference here at PMC. I learned a great deal from Bob and appreciate so much his love for the Lord and his dedication to the local church. (By the way, free audio downloads of Bob's sessions will be available on our website soon. More info to follow.) I had the privilege of returning Bob and his wife Christine to the airport Monday. We had a deep conversation about my ministry and Bob was very encouraging.

April 19 I spent the afternoon putting the finishing touches on our new Membership Matters class. We've revamped the class this time to be conducted on one day instead of spread out over multiple weeks. We'll cover the same material (in fact, more!) and conduct membership interviews thereafter. It takes time to put together a new class but I think it will be even better than what we've done before.

So, all in all, I'm back in the saddle and my identity is back in the open. Thank you for giving me the time and resources to be able to do these things. The neat thing is, the effort you put into me and my ministry, by God's grace, will come back to you multiple times over. So thank you, and thank God for what He'll do through me! So long for now.

It's Cool to Watch You Grow

2010-04-08T22:37:00.003-04:00

One of the coolest things for me in life is to watch other people grow in their walk with the Lord. What I mean is this...sometimes people take baby steps and sometimes people take huge leaps. One is more obvious than the other (obviously!), but both represent the grace of God in their lives.

By God's grace we are chosen by Him
By God's grace we are loved by Him
By God's grace we are saved by Him
By God's grace we are changed by Him
By God's grace we are kept by Him

It's really all God's grace. I deserved none of it and yet I receive blessing upon blessing. As you and I grasp this incredible message of the gospel the only right response is worship and obedience.

And when I see this worship and obedience in others' lives, I'm encouraged once again that our God is still in the choosing, loving, saving, changing, keeping business. And that makes me excited to take the time to share it with one more person and watch the fruit blossom.

If you believe in Jesus Christ today, take a moment to thank Him for His amazing grace.
If you don't know Jesus, please comment and we can talk.

It's cool to watch you grow!

Easter Services 2010

2010-03-31T16:00:00.004-04:00

I will be participating in several Easter services this week for anyone interested. Check out the following:

Thursday, April 1 at 7pm - Maundy Thursday communion and footwashing service at PMC
Friday, April 2 at noon - Community-wide Good Friday service at Christ United Methodist Church in Washington
Sunday, April 4 at 7:15am - Sunrise service at PMC
Sunday, April 4 at 9:15am - Easter worship service at PMC

I look forward to seeing you at some or all of these beautiful services! God bless you this Easter season!

No One Does Good, Not Even One

2010-03-24T16:59:00.003-04:00

Psalm 14:1-3 ends with the phrase, "there is none who does good, not even one."

R.C. Sproul comments on this phrase in his book The Holiness of God:

The human spirit recoils from such a universal indictment. Surely the Scriptures exaggerate. We know several people who do good. We see people perform good deeds frequently. We grant that no one is perfect. We all slip up from time to time. But we do perform a few good deeds now and then, don't we? No! This is precisely the way the rich young ruler was thinking. He was measuring goodness by the wrong standard. He was evaluating good deeds from an outward vantage point.

God commands that we do certain good things. He commands us to give to the poor. We give to the poor. That is a good deed, isn't it? Yes and no. It is good in the sense that our outward act conforms to what God commands. In that sense we do good often. But God also looks at the heart. He is concerned about our deepest motivations. For a good deed to pass the standard of God's goodness, it must flow out of a heart that loves God perfectly and loves our neighbor perfectly as well. Since none of us achieves that perfect love for God and our neighbor, all of our outwardly good deeds are tarnished. They carry the blemish of the imperfections of our inner motivations. The logic of the Bible is this: Since no one has a perfect heart, no one does a perfect deed.

Wow! That's powerful, convicting, and convincing. If my salvation is dependent upon me obeying God's commands, I'm in BIG trouble. No, I'm not in trouble, I'm doomed.

God help us to trust in Christ alone and recognize that it's only by His grace and His merits, not our own, that any of us will one day see the face of God. Grace, grace to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love!

Providence Bible Conference 2010

2010-03-24T12:53:00.004-04:00

I'm happy to announce the Providence Bible Conference 2010! This exciting event is scheduled for April 17-18. Our guest speaker is Dr. Robert Burrelli, Jr. (check out his church here). Dr. Burrelli will be teaching four sessions on Saturday and then once during Sunday morning worship.

In this world of easy believism, half-hearted Christianity, and tolerance for all things "Christian," how can we know that we're real believers? What are the marks of an authentic Christian? Why is the church in the shape it is today?

The title of this year's conference is Authentic Christianity. The Saturday session titles are:

The State of Affairs of the Church
Counterfeit Christianity
Authentic Christianity
Habits of Champions of Righteousness

We hope that you'll be able to join us as we learn together from God's Word. To register for this event, click here or call the church office at (812) 486-3679. Call or email the church if you have questions. See you there!

The Emergent Church and Brian McLaren

2010-03-17T13:59:00.002-04:00

For those of you interested in learning more about the Emergent Church and in particular one of its forefront leaders, Brian McLaren, check out one author's informative responses to Brian McLaren's book A New Kind of Christianity here.

For those unfamiliar with the Emergent Church and what that means, check out these resources from Grace to You. Dr. MacArthur also wrote a book titled The Truth War which is particularly helpful in learning more about this topic.

How Do You Spend Your Time?

2010-03-10T08:23:00.004-05:00

Building off the verse in yesterday's post, Ephesians 5:16 "making the best use of the time, because the days are evil," consider how the apostle Paul then prioritizes the use of time in the next several verses:

Time for God - "giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (5:20)
Time for spouses - "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord" (5:22) and "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (5:25)
Time for children - "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." (6:1)
Time for work - "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling..." (6:5)

Is it coincidence that Paul lists the use of time in this particular order? I don't think so! The Holy Spirit inspired him to write these things in this order so you and I would know how to prioritize our time. Consider how your time allocations align with the above.

In this season of your life, are you doing well? Are your priorities correct? Or are there places for repentance and change? May God challenge and confirm you as you structure your life according to His best design!

Spring Forward!

2010-03-09T10:28:00.003-05:00

Just a quick reminder that Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 14! Don't forget to set your clock forward one hour before you go to bed or you'll be late for worship service on Sunday morning!

Yes, we "lose an hour" this weekend. But remember, whether we lose time or gain time, Paul said, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:15-16). May you use your time wisely as you live for our Lord!

We Serve a Great God

2010-03-08T09:29:00.002-05:00

I was struck this morning during my devotions at the way the Spirit inspired Moses to write about the Father in heaven. Moses is laying out before the people a vision of God that inspires them to think about the mightiness, yet the nearness, of their God. A personal God. A God of infinite power. A God of tender affection. A God who chose to love them. And this what He says:

For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a might hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.
Deuteronomy 4:32-35

Friends, this is your God too! If you are a believer, this is the same God that exists today, that saved you through Christ Jesus, and now today looks on you only with compassion and love because all His wrath was poured out at the cross. This same God that led Israel from Egypt, that proclaimed His great name through His mighty deeds, this same God sings over you (Zeph. 3:17).

So stand strong today knowing that the Strong One resides within you. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).

Series Survey

2010-03-04T15:18:00.001-05:00

For all PMC-er's, check out the new poll on the right about the sermon series "John" we are working through! Please click your most educated guess!

Saturday Preview

2010-03-04T10:25:00.003-05:00

Ok, we're a couple days early, but I'm excited as I think about this coming Lord's Day message. Some questions as we prepare our hearts to study John 18:28-38a:

Why was the religious establishment reluctant to enter Pilate's palace? What does this say about them?
Pilate's bantering back and forth with the Jews reveals his ego. What did he want more than anything?
Jesus speaks words of truth to Pilate. Does Pilate accept them? What do His words reveal?
In what ways do we question God's control over circumstances in our lives? Does it appear "others" are winning and God is not?

Can't wait to see you Sunday! God bless as you finish the week strong for Him!

PMC Vision

2010-02-26T11:28:00.003-05:00

Lately I've been thinking about PMC's vision/mission statement alot. After my visit to Faith Biblical Ministries in Lafayette a couple weeks ago, I've really been focusing on: what are we about, who are we, and how are we going to move forward as a church (what is our direction).

I've thought about this over the last three years too, don't get me wrong. But as I really lay our ministries, our vision statement, our people over the pages of Scripture, how are we doing? Where are we doing well? Where do we need to improve? What's mandated by Scripture and how are we fulfilling its charge?

Providence's vision/mission statement is:

The purpose of this congregation is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved and promote the spiritual growth of its members by providing opportunities for worship, instruction, nurture, fellowship, Christian witnessing and service.

Thinking about this mission statement alongside the various programs, outreaches, and ministries we do, what do think? Where are we doing well? Where do we need to improve?

Over the next several months I hope to address this formally, but I just want to put the bug in your ear. As a VERY informal survey, give it some thought and if you want to reply with something I would be interested to hear it. Maybe we'll do a formal survey later at some point, but for now I am just looking for some very general information.

If you do choose to reply, include Scriptural support for why you think what you think. I really want our church to be Bible-focused, Bible-driven, and God-glorifying. Thanks in advance. More information to follow over the next several months (years??).

Happy 7th Birthday Abby!

2010-02-13T08:10:00.001-05:00

Happy birthday to my precious Abby! You have given us seven years of delightful memories, laughter, and amazement!

Thank you for being such a sweet girl! We love you very much!

Super Bowl Sunday

2010-02-06T13:42:00.003-05:00

Friends, should we feel guilty for looking forward to tomorrow's big game? Some would say so. Is the anticipation and enjoyment of a good football game sinful? Some would like us to think so. But I disagree. So does Randy Alcorn in his book titled Heaven. Consider his following comments:

God isn't displeased when we enjoy a good meal, marital sex, a football game, a cozy fire, or a good book. He's not up in Heaven frowning at us and saying, "Stop it - you should only find joy in me." This would be as foreign to God's nature as our heavenly Father as it would be to mine as an earthly father if I gave my daughters a Christmas gift and started pouting because they enjoyed it too much. No, I gave the gift to bring joy to them and to me - if they didn't take pleasure in it, I'd be disappointed. Their pleasure in my gift to them draws them closer to me. I am delighted that they enjoy the gift.

Of course, if children become so preoccupied with the gift that they walk away from their father and ignore him, that's different. Though preoccupation with a God-given gift can turn into idolatry, enjoying that same gift with a grateful heart can draw us closer to God.

So have fun tomorrow night. Enjoy the big game and give glory to God for the gift of athletics that He's given to us to enjoy. And by the way...go Colts!

Saturday Preview

2010-02-06T13:37:00.002-05:00

My heart is genuinely thrilled to preach tomorrow from John 18:1-11. Wow have I been changed again this week! Jesus Christ is truly majestic and I hope you leave the service tomorrow more in love with Him than ever before.

As we study this text, we'll find that it's far more than just narrative. Some questions to get the brain juices flowing:

Was Jesus surprised by the events of this night? If so, how? If not, what proof do you have?
Judas the betrayer appears again. What insights can we learn about him from this passage?
What great demonstrations of Jesus' power and protection can you find here?
If Jesus is determined to save sinners and protect them once they're saved, what areas of your life can you begin trusting Him where perhaps before you didn't?

Looking forward to loving the Lord together with you tomorrow! May God bless you until we can gather.

On the Road Again

2010-02-02T13:48:00.004-05:00

I'm getting ready to hit the road for a couple weeks, so pray that my time will be productive and Christ-exalting! I'll miss my church home and my bed, but I'm looking forward to great things!

February 7 - 12: Counseling training with Faith Biblical Counseling in Lafayette, IN
February 15-18: CMC Pastors' Conference in Sarasota, FL (we get to stay a few extra days afterwards to relax and visit)

Looking forward to the intense training I'll be receiving at both places! I'm not sure how many (if any) updates I'll be able to do on Blogger, so check my Twitter account for frequent updates. See you this Sunday morning and then "it's off to the races!"

PMC Cruise?

2010-01-26T15:16:00.003-05:00

You know how all these big-name Christian preachers and teachers always host an annual cruise where they go to some exotic place, teach the Word in dynamic settings, and have some high-stakes band to sort of round out the event?

Well, in order to keep in step with these limelight, marquee events, some of us were tossing around some ideas of putting together a cruise of our own. We need your feedback!

Exotic place for the cruise: Boggs Lake
Exquisite cruise ship: Jerry's fishing boat (reserved seating of course!)
Marquee speaker: me. Sorry, we can't afford anyone else.
Ticket pricing: One direction (east to west or west to east), free. Both directions, one case of Vanilla Coke Zero.
Lunch: Going dutch (no pun intended) at Stoll's Lakeview Restaurant
When: Warm weather. Life jackets provided in case a close call with an out-of-control skier knocks you from the boat. CPR available as needed.
Band: N/A - seems electricity is necessary for so many things these days?!

Taking reservations starting today! I can tell you're excited. Go ahead and make your reservation. What are you waiting for? Everyone's doing it. No pressure but you won't want to miss this. Just click comment. Are you still reading this?! Reserve! Now!

Saturday Preview

2010-01-23T15:38:00.004-05:00

"...that they may all be one..." Jn. 17:21a (ESV)

I'm anticipating tomorrow as we dive into the last part of Jesus' prayer in John 17. Verses 20-23, which represent the beginning of His prayer for believers today, cast a very unifying them (no pun intended). In this text, Jesus asks the Father to keep His children "one" as Jesus and the Father are one. I hope as we study this passage together we'll be motivated to increase our unity as a body of believers.

Some questions as you read the text before tomorrow:

What does it actually mean to be "one"? What does that look like?
What purpose does Jesus give for desiring that His followers be one?
If oneness is not achieved, what is the result?

God bless you as you study and prepare for tomorrow's preaching of the Word!

The Role of Preaching in Church

2010-01-21T16:35:00.003-05:00

I recently attended a meeting of pastors in which we were asked to go around the room and share what's happening in our churches. As the discussion came around the table, one participant proudly announced, "We're trying something new in our church! We've decided to have sermons!"

Shocked, I recall looking at this individual thinking, "And what had you been doing??" Seems the norm at this church was breakfast followed by an informal group discussion of the Bible. While ok with some, apparently others in the group decided it was becoming "too social." While strange to many of us who have grown up under the regular preaching of the word, this phenomena of "no sermons" is certainly not unique.

"Preaching has fallen on hard times," quotes Dr. Albert Mohler in a recent blog post. Seems people have mixed feelings about what should and should not be counted as preaching. After reading Dr. Mohler's post, I would be interested in hearing your feedback about preaching and its role in the church today. Is it necessary? Do you look forward to it? How long should it be? Should it be entertaining? Should it be doctrinal? Practical?

Please leave a comment and then plan to attend PMC's service this Sunday evening at 6pm as Taj Eaton teaches "The Nature, Marks, and Purposes of the Church." (Sneak peek: One mark, of course, is preaching of the Word!)

Haiti Relief

2010-01-14T16:50:00.002-05:00

For those from PMC wondering what you can do in response the tragedy suffered in Haiti, I just received the following email from our conference office:

Dear CMC ministers,

We’ve all been saddened by the tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti. This may bring a desire among attendees of CMC churches to contribute to earthquake relief and some of your people may wish to contribute to Anabaptist agencies.

Conservative Mennonite Conference has official ties with several agencies that work in Haiti and we recommend them to you.

1. Gospel Light Chapel is an international affiliate with CMC that has strong connections with Palm Grove Mennonite Church in Sarasota, Florida. Eris Labady is the overseer of this mission and David R. Miller is the contact person with Palm Grove Mennonite Church. Funds for earthquake relief may be sent to Palm Grove Mennonite Church for the purpose of repairing earthquake damage to schools, churches, and homes of the mission and surrounding areas, as well as purchasing food, water, and fuel.

Send funds designated for earthquake relief made out to Palm Grove Mennonite Church, % Ollie Kempf, 11075 Celetine Pass, Sarasota, Florida 34240

2. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is responding to the earthquake by providing immediate shelter, food and emergency supplies and trauma healing and other long-term recovery needs. You can help through prayer for the people of Haiti and by donating to MCC’s Haiti Earthquake appeal. Give online at donate.mcc.org/project/haiti-earthquake, by check to the MCC office nearest you, or by phone toll free: 1-888-563-4676 (U.S.).

Sincerely,

Steve Swartz

CMC General Secretary

I'm Offended!

2010-01-13T15:16:00.002-05:00

Why are we so offended all the time? As a culture, we play the "victim" card any time someone else says, thinks, or promotes something with which we disagree. Why is that?

Kevin DeYoung, in a blog post today, says,

For starters, being hurt is easier than being right. To prove you’re offended you just have to rustle up moral indignation and tell the world about it. To prove you’re right you actually have to make arguments and use logic and marshal evidence. Why debate theology or politics or economics if you can win your audience by making the other guys look like meanies?

Unfortunately, this victimization has spilled over into the Christian arena. Read the post in its entirety here as Mr. DeYoung explains how we worship a "victimized Lord."

"I love Jesus but not the church!"

2010-01-12T11:42:00.004-05:00

Such was the title of a recent bulletin insert at PMC to introduce a new Sunday evening teaching series that will begin this Sunday, January 17. I am excited that Taj Eaton will be taking us through a six-part series on the doctrine of the church. So many people in our society today claim a love for Jesus but fail to see the importance (or need) of the local church.

In this series, Taj will be addressing questions such as:

What is the nature of the church?
What are the marks of a healthy church?
Are there true and false churches?
Who runs the church?
What are the ordinances of the church?
What is church discipline?

Please make plans to attend this special opportunity for learning. Teaching nights will be in January (17, 24, 31) and February (14, 21, 28). Services begin promptly at 6pm.

I believe that this series will be God-glorifying as well as foundational for the many plans God has for us at PMC! Come, worship, and learn with us!

Should I Get a Christian Tattoo?

2010-01-11T13:34:00.004-05:00

With the proliferation of tattoo-toting individuals in our society, this question of "Should I get a tattoo?" is one increasingly posed by Christians. What does the Bible say? Is it sinful, ok, or just morally neutral? What if my parents don't approve? Does the church approve? Great questions!

Dr. Russell Moore wrote up a scenario of a person asking if he/she should get a Christian tattoo. The scenario goes like this:

I am 19 years old and a college student. I live at home with my parents. I work and pay for my own school, but I live with them. I love my parents and truly believe I honor them, but where does “honor your Father and mother” end? I really believe this is an issue of obedience in doing what the Lord seems to be directing me to do.
You probably agree with my parents that I shouldn’t get the tattoo and I can respect that. I’ve thought it all through. My question isn’t whether I should get the tattoo; it’s whether I’d be sinning against God and my parents if I did it.

If I am under their authority right now, when does that end? When I’m 21? When I’m out of the house? Or does it ever end, when it comes to making decisions like this?

How would you respond? Follow along as readers respond to Dr. Moore's question. Perhaps you want to weigh in as well? Dr. Moore will eventually give his opinion to this oft-asked question.

Pre-Marriage Viewing Requirement?

2010-01-09T08:49:00.002-05:00

I do a lot of pre-marriage counseling in my capacity as pastor. I'm considering that each young man view this video and memorize these (biblical?) mandates. What do you think?

If You Could Change One Thing...

2010-01-06T16:58:00.003-05:00

If you could change one thing about yourself,
what would it be?

Saturday Preview

2010-01-02T21:47:00.002-05:00

I'm excited to be preaching through John 17:6-11a tomorrow. This passage has truly moved me and I trust that God will be glorified as we see Jesus' prayer here to the Father. Some questions:

What reasons does Jesus give in this passage for praying for His disciples?
What are some characteristics of the disciples?
How do these verses apply to us today (hint: see verse 20)?
How does Jesus' return to the Father affect His prayer here?

See you tomorrow!

Bible Reading Plan for 2010

2009-12-31T15:26:00.004-05:00

Want to learn more about God in 2010?
Want to have a fuller grasp for the overall plan of redemption?
Want to become more familiar with Bible stories and characters?
Want to gain a better understanding of locations and dates?
Want to love our Lord Jesus Christ more?
Want your life to change to become more closely patterned after Jesus?

Then join me in reading through the Bible in 2010! If you've never read through the Bible before, you can view many helpful plans by clicking here. Check out this article from a wonderful Christian man who read through the ESV Study Bible (including notes) during 2009. His reasons for doing so are inspiring and challenging!

I'd be interested in knowing how many people want to take this challenge. Just leave me a comment and I'll be in prayer for you that God will use His Word to change you in 2010!

How the Big Picture Changes Us

2009-12-28T10:32:00.005-05:00

I had an excellent conversation with a lady after yesterday's sermon. It went something like this:

Lady: The sermons you've been preaching lately make sense to me.
Me: Yea? How so?
Lady: As an adoptive parent, I can relate first-hand to how God chooses us as His children, with no merit of our own, and places us into His family to love and cherish us forever. When we adopted our son, he hadn't done anything to earn our affection. Yet we chose him and have shared our love with him for his lifetime. We will always cherish him.
Me: That's spectacular. Exactly why the Bible uses an adoption analogy to make its point.
Lady: I believe that as you teach a high view of God and His overall plan it causes us to be captured by the love and beauty of such a wonderful God and it calls us to serve Him with everything we've got. Who wouldn't want to serve such a precious God who would do all this for us and adopt us as His children?
Me: You've got it! Excellent.

As we look at the big picture of God's redemptive plan, we can't help but be moved by such a gracious, kind, and merciful God. That God would send His Son to die for us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8) is praiseworthy and magnificent. It's as we look at the grand scheme of God's work in history that we understand God's purposes.

So often as defenders of the truth we look for the perfect answer to every individual question. Yet, it's in the "harmony of the woven fabric of God's revelation" (Dr. James White) where we really begin to understand and ultimately change into God-worshippers.

Read Dr. White's article "Chicken Coop Theology" here. Why does God allow conflict over individual doctrines to exist in the church? "...it is when we are forced by such things to consider the gospel in its fulness that we see it in a new light and appreciate even more its glory."

May we not only study God in the minutia, but let's be a people that also views God from a panoramic perspective. As we do, we'll become people who want to "serve Him with everything we've got!" May God be glorified in your life today!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-23T15:29:00.004-05:00

From the staff at PMC, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

As we recall the birth of our Savior, we are ever reminded of the love of our Father in sending His Son Jesus into His own creation to redeem a people for Himself. Without God's act of mercy and grace, we would stand condemned, left to die in our own sin.

But because God loved us, He provided the means by which the penalty for sin could be paid. By Jesus entering the world, living perfectly, dying, and resurrecting three days later, we can now have reconciliation with the Father! The wrath of the Father toward sinners was satisfied by the substitutionary death of His Son. We must now believe that Jesus was the Son of God and trust Him as our Lord and Master.

May you never forget the real meaning of Christmas! God bless you abundantly this holiday season!

Christmas Eve Communion Service

2009-12-17T17:23:00.003-05:00

Each year PMC has a Christmas Eve Communion service. Please bring your family and enjoy the evening.

During this service we will have some congregational singing, lighting of the last advent candle, a short devotion, communion, and a candle-lighting service. I'm looking forward to a special time together with the saints as we celebrate the birth (and life, death, and resurrection) of our Savior Jesus Christ!

This year our program will begin at 9pm and end at approximately 9:45.

See you there!

Saturday Preview

2009-12-12T17:39:00.003-05:00

As we head into the Christmas season, our pastoral team decided several weeks ago to do a two-part Christmas series in December. Tomorrow we will be looking at the Christmas story from Luke's angle. Next week we'll tie in Matthew's perspective.

As we look at the birth of Jesus foretold in Luke 1:26-38, consider the following questions:

Why was it important for Jesus to be born of a virgin?
Why was it important for Jesus to be born a man?
Why was it important for Jesus to be born at all?

Come join us as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Ministry is Stranger Than It Used to Be

2009-12-10T15:18:00.003-05:00

Dr. Albert Mohler, respected theologian and one of evangelicalism's leading voices, posted an excellent article on his blog titled "Ministry is Stranger Than It Used to Be: The Challenge of Postmodernism."

Those who are interested in the mood of the current culture, defined as "postmodernism," will find this article insightful and challenging. A couple excerpts:

Texts, according to the postmodernists, reveal a subtext of oppressive intentions on the part of the author, and so must be deconstructed. This is no matter of mere academic significance. This is the argument behind much contemporary constitutional interpretation made by judges, the presentation of issues in the media, and the fragmentation of modern biblical scholarship. The rise of feminist, liberation, homosexual, and various other interest-group schools of interpretation is central to this postmodern principle.

In another place,

In the name of postmodernism, anything can be explained away as a matter of interpretation. Games played with language mean that every statement must be evaluated with care. A statement as clear and plain as the first line of the Apostles' Creed, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth," must be evaluated in terms of the speaker's intentions. Does this confession assert belief that God is actually the maker of heaven and earth, or is this a statement of mere personal sentiment?

Click here to read the article in its entirety.

Father, we pray for Your wisdom as we live, breath, and minister in and to our culture. May Your name be exalted!

Saturday Preview

2009-12-05T15:30:00.002-05:00

Good afternoon! Let's prepare our hearts a moment for tomorrow's Lord's Day sermon. As we move through John 17 we find ourselves hearing the heart of Jesus as He defines eternal life in verse 3. Some questions as you reflect on John 17:1-3:

How does Jesus define eternal life? How is it different from a definition you may have heard? What is the difference between quantity and quality of eternal life?
Jesus is specific about the God whom man should know. Jesus says the Father is the "only true God." How would you specify who this "God" is?
According to Scripture, there is only one mediator between God and man - Jesus Christ. What did Jesus do that would create that bridge between the infinite and the finite?

Come worship with us as we gather together as a corporate body. We have much to be thankful for as we experience God's grace in our lives. Be prepared to be challenged and encouraged as you think about the goodness of the only, true God.

Modesty

2009-12-01T08:35:00.002-05:00

My sister in the flesh and my sister in the Lord, Tonya Eaton, is doing a short series on her blog, Better Than Life, about modesty in the life of a believer.

Enjoy her mini-series and resources by clicking here.

The Sad Result of Mysticism

2009-11-27T16:44:00.002-05:00

Sadly many people find the most incredulous things in which to place their security. From cloud formations in the sky to unexpected and "confirming" phone calls to burnt ruins on the bottom of a iron, people look in many directions other than the Word of God for their "proof" of God's existence.

Check out this latest article on a bizarre sighting of Jesus. This excited woman claims the image she sees reassures her that "life is going to be good" and proves that Jesus "is listening." Isn't Scripture sufficient to give one proof that God listens? And how, I wonder, would this individual describe a "good" life? All things, including trials, are used by God for a believer's good to make us more like Jesus (Rom. 8:28-29). Would trials be counted as "good" in her definition?

Be careful when people try to convince you that mystical sightings and such are evidence of God. God has given us His Word and tells us that it contains everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). May we dwell on Scripture always and not rely on the odd and supernatural to confirm our trust in God!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-24T15:30:00.003-05:00

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:16-18 (NASB)

Wow! Another Thanksgiving holiday rolling around on the calendar. Is it just me or does time continually speed up??

I am incredibly grateful for many things. Several that come to mind instantly:

God's sovereign work of grace in my life
The living, breathing Word of God, active in my life
A beautiful wife who loves me faithfully
Three beautiful children who bring great delight to my soul
A gracious flock to shepherd here in my hometown of Montgomery
The gift of technology that allows me to stay in contact with those I cherish
God's work in placing around me Godly leaders who encourage me through their gifts of preaching and writing
Food, clothes, and a place to lay my head
Trials that expose sinful attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors in my heart

I trust that you can find many things in your own life for which to be grateful. Remember that Thanksgiving is a holiday once a year, but it should be an attitude all year long! God bless you!

A Special Tribute to Jim Stoll

2009-11-19T16:09:00.003-05:00

There are some people in life that have a gift for serving. And there are some people in life that thrive on doing things behind the scenes. And there are some people in life that are just very kind and thoughtful no matter the circumstance. Those are some people.

But rarely do you find one person who embodies all those qualities. Yet, I'm proud to say that we have just the man at PMC. Jim Stoll, trustee and usher (who will be quite embarrassed that I published this), has been a true source of joy for me since arriving at PMC almost three years ago to begin my pastorate.

From burnt out light bulbs high in the ceiling, to moles in the front yard, to gutters flapping in the wind, this man's prompt service has simply made my life on this campus a delight. With unwavering commitment and steadfast dependability, Jim makes things happen. Things that seemingly go unnoticed by the masses until they don't work!

So here's a "hat's off" to Jim Stoll! We appreciate you brother and are incredibly grateful for the countless hours you spend making our campus look and feel great! Thank you sir! Your service is impeccable.

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have not need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, where our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:14-26 (NASB)

One Strike You're Out

2009-11-16T10:21:00.003-05:00

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 2:10 (NASB)

Does God have a high standard? Yes He does.
How high is that standard? Perfection.
Perfection?! Yes, perfection. God expects perfection.
But that's impossible! Of course it is, that's the point.

It amazes me how many people think of themselves as "good." No they haven't murdered, committed adultery, or even stolen anything. Yet, if questioned long enough, they will admit that maybe perhaps they sort of could have told a little white lie, or maybe gossiped about that one person, or had sinful pride in something other than God. For these "little" things, God declares that the entire law has been broken. And the penalty for breaking that law is as strict as the law itself: death.

So what is the solution? We couldn't come up with one our own. We try. Things like, "Well I'm not as bad as him," "who are you to judge?" "or "well that's excusable because..." Left to ourselves we only bury ourselves deeper in our prideful, "all-about-me" attitudes.

So God had to interpose a solution. He took it upon Himself to enter this world as a man in the Son Jesus Christ. Jesus did what you and I couldn't: keep the law to perfection! And at the end of His life He died on a cross, bearing the wrath that you and I deserved for our sins. Three days later, He rose again, demonstrating His power over death and His satisfaction of the wrath of God. Only by believing in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master can you ever have a relationship with God and have assurance of eternity in heaven.

If you know the Lord today in that way, rejoice! Your sins have been forgiven! But if you don't, won't you confess your sins today and repent? God is gracious to forgive (1 Jn. 1:9) and promises to be reconciled to those who believe in His Son (2 Cor. 5:17-19). May God's work in your life be fruitful today.

PMC Makes a Strategic Change

2009-11-11T14:05:00.003-05:00

PMC announced two weeks ago that beginning January 3, 2010 a strategic and purposeful change will be made! On that Sunday, the teaching pastors at Providence will begin using the English Standard Version (ESV) for preaching and the public reading of God's Word.

Currently the church uses the New International Version (NIV) for its worship times. So why make the change? What's the underlying purpose in this switch? Why go through all the hassle?

As a leadership team, we remain firm in our commitment to preach and teach with accuracy and clarity from the Scriptures, one verse at a time. With unwavering determination we engage ourselves in the study of God's Word so we can properly interpret it and apply it to lives today. This task only remains possible as we understand the words we read and what they mean. With an eye to the continued spiritual growth of our members, we want to make sure that the translation we use 1) brings us as close as possible to underlying Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic languages originally spoken and recorded, and 2) is presented in a modern English format that is properly understood by its readers.

With an ever-changing English language, older translations become difficult to read. And with various translation philosophies, different Bibles say different things, all claiming to be accurate to the original languages. So how does one know?

Well, we took a look at the various options out there, considering translation philosophies as well as endorsements from solid, Bible-teaching pastors and theologians. Our pursuit brought us to the ESV. With an "essentially literal" translation philosophy and the endorsement of many well-known, well-loved pastors and theologians, we decided this updated English translation would be suited to take our flock deeper and more accurately into God's Word. Click here to learn more about the ESV translation.

Our hope is that as you read, study, and understand God's Word, you will be changed to be more like our Lord Jesus Christ. May you be blessed as the ESV helps you in that endeavor!

Saturday Preview

2009-11-07T16:12:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is another opportunity to share together in worship as we sing and study corporately. Again, I'm excited about another day to teach. I trust that you are changing as you apply God's Word to your life.

Tomorrow's sermon will come from John 16:25-33 as we finish part 2 of a two-part message on "Peace in a Troubling World." Last week we learned that the first ingredient to settled peace in a troubling world is knowing I'm loved by the Father. This week we'll study the final two ingredients, knowing I'm saved by faith and conquering (overcoming) by Christ.

Some questions to get you prepared:

How are the love for Jesus and belief in Jesus tied together in verse 27?
Can you identify the gospel in a nutshell in verse 28?
What is the implication made in verse 33 regarding overcoming?
How can these three ingredients together give us settled peace in this life?

Beloved, I hope that you come to church, not to be entertained, but to be changed. My ministry becomes a joy as I see you becoming more like Christ. I trust that's your goal again tomorrow!

Words, Words, and More Words

2009-11-04T16:40:00.003-05:00

Why do we use so many words in our worship? Why are we so intent on making sure the words we preach, sing, and read are accurate? Is this simply undue attention on the minutiae or is there an underlying purpose?

Kevin DeYoung, pastor and co-author of Why We're Not Emergent by Two Guys Who Should Be, wrote an excellent article detailing the critical importance of words in our worship of God. Read the article here.

I challenge you to take a close look at your church. Does the music, sermon, and praying revolve around solid, theologically-accurate words of God or are they merely man's wisdom dressed up in attractive cliches to make it appealing to the masses? Concerning music specifically, Charles Spurgeon once said, "Fine music without devotion is but a splendid garment upon a corpse."

May the preaching and praises of our churches resound with the glory of God as revealed in His Word given to us!

Saturday Preview

2009-10-31T15:56:00.003-04:00

I'm eagerly anticipating God's faithfulness in helping us understand His Word tomorrow. The plan is to begin the end of John 16. We have verses 25-33 to complete, but we will be taking these in two parts. So part 1 tomorrow, part 2 next week, Lord willing.

Some questions to help you begin thinking about this text:

Jesus said He spoke figuratively before but will soon speak plainly. What does He mean? When will that time come?
In verse 26 Jesus says He will not request of the Father on their behalf. But what about verses like Romans 8:34 and 1 John 2:1 that seem to contradict this?
In verse 33 Jesus says they will have peace. This "in Me" peace is fueled by no less than three things in this text. Can you pick out the first one in verse 27?

Looking forward to worshiping with you in Spirit and in truth. God bless!

Church "Success"

2009-10-30T10:18:00.003-04:00

I use various things for my personal devotions, but a recent addition to my favorites is TableTalk Magazine. I enjoy the insights and personal challenges.

A short blurb from today's devotion on the life of Paul and his ministry:

According to [God's] sovereignty, Paul enjoyed a fruitful ministry during his first Roman imprisonment for two years (Acts 28:30-31). God may likewise allow us to experience long periods of outreach that bear visible fruit, but whether or not He does this, let us be as faithful to the gospel as Paul was.

How do you measure the success of your church's ministry? Are you concerned simply for numbers or for faithfulness to the Word of God? More than anything else, the Lord is looking for fidelity to His gospel, and it is His good pleasure to give the growth where He sees fit (1 Cor. 3:1-9).

Great words of encouragement as we continue to love the Lord at PMC and watch Him faithfully move us to become more like the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Time Change Sunday

2009-10-28T10:04:00.002-04:00

Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night! Yes, that's right, you get one extra hour of sleep!

So no excuses for being late to church Sunday morning! ;-)

Look forward to worshiping with you!

Resources for Growth in Your Marriage

2009-10-26T20:52:00.002-04:00

Looking for some ways that you can become a more Godly husband or wife? Then check out these two excellent books by noteworthy authors:

For husbands: The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott
For wives: The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace

These would make wonderful Christmas gifts for those oh-so-hard-to-buy-for folks in your life! Enjoy!

Saturday Preview

2009-10-24T17:29:00.002-04:00

I am so looking forward to preaching John 16:16-24 tomorrow morning! God is truly changing me as I study through the Upper Room discourse. I hope it has been as meaningful to you as it has to me.

Some questions:

In this passage, Jesus discusses two sources of joy in the believer's life. Can you identify them?
How does Jesus' resurrection ground a believer so that he/she is not shaken when trials come?
Jesus is seen as a God of comfort again in this passage. What is Jesus facing in the next day? Yet, how does He respond to the ignorance of the disciples?

God bless you with rich sleep tonight so you're alert and ready for His Word to minister to you tomorrow. God has been good to me this week. Let's anticipate Him this evening and again tomorrow!

Bible Burning?

2009-10-22T20:15:00.005-04:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in my survey a couple weeks ago about Bible translations. Interestingly, most people who answered the questions said they have a King James Version (KJV) in their possession. Yet a slim minority of those same people said it was their favorite to study or read.

Thankfully you don't go to this North Carolina pastor's church! Click here to read how this fanatical pastor is planning to have a book-burning party on Halloween night in which he plans to burn "heretical" books including all non-KJV Bibles. Bibles other than KJV are "satanic" and "perversions" of God's word, according to Pastor Marc Grizzard.

This article is a poignant example of legalism within the church. While the KJV admittedly brought the English-speaking world to a new reality of God's Word, many worthy translations have been published since 1611. I'm thankful for the committed, trained scholars who spend countless hours bringing older translations up-to-date so modern audiences can enjoy God's Word in their contemporary English. So, enjoy your KJV, but also realize that other outstanding translations exist to promote the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Is the Debate Really Over?

2009-10-20T21:09:00.003-04:00

As tension continues to increase over the boundaries of human sexuality, at least one pastor is ready to call the debate quits and declare victory for his side. John Shelby Spong, a retired bishop of the Episcopal Church and long-time proponent of homosexual relationships, has issued a manifesto in which he claims the debate is over. Spong states:

I make these statements because it is time to move on. The battle is over. The victory has been won. There is no reasonable doubt as to what the final outcome of this struggle will be. Homosexual people will be accepted as equal, full human beings, who have a legitimate claim on every right that both church and society have to offer any of us. Homosexual marriages will become legal, recognized by the state and pronounced holy by the church.

Really? Will the debate end because one person in a narrow minority of apostate clergy declares it so? I don't think so. I think this attempt to shut up the mouths of conservative Christianity will only embolden it to increase its biblical message of redemption, repentance, and the exclusive claims of Scripture. I believe the debate is still very much open and will only grow in intensity as more states grapple with recognition issues related to same-sex unions and "marriages."

My prayer is that genuine believers, standing under the authority of Scripture, will continue to share the truth in a loving way that welcomes sinners to run to the forgiving arms of the Savior. May we never bend on God's unchanging truth.

God bless you as you walk steadfastly with Him!