Logos Software

Let me start this post by saying, I am not addicted to Facebook, I am just adamantly committed to friendships!  There, makes it kind of hard to refute that argument, doesn’t it.  Today I was reading through status updates and Logos Bible Software posted their Great Bible Giveaway premium Bible winners for the month of August.  I’m thinking, how awesome that Logos would give away such expensive resources.  Logos by the way is completely committed to providing, for those willing to study God’s word, electronic resources which are invaluable.  Using tools such as Logos we can study God’s word to depth’s never even dreamed of decades or centuries ago, and do so with accuracy and speed our forefathers would love to have had.

Anyway, as I was reading their updates I noticed a post by a gentleman condemning Logos and others for their apparent gluttony over the production and distribution of these “extravagant” Bibles.  His words were, and I quote, “whenever I see a Bible priced over $50 and advertised as “premium”, the Scriptures prohibiting gluttony immediately come to mind. N.Korean Christians use hand-written scripture on balloons floated in from VOM workers, yet publishers crank out these ridiculously extravagant Bibles? How is God honored by this excess I wonder?”

Now, I applaud this individual for his perspective.  His apparent purpose is to seek to answer this question; Are we in our extravagance here in America neglecting those in countries where God’s written word is not allowed? My hope is that he will not simply ask the question, like most people do, and never struggle through to an answer, but in his own heart and mind will evaluate his life and seek to answer for himself how he can best fulfill this need to spread the truth of God’s word to these very people!  Well this is the purpose for my post, I too want to seek to answer the question, and what remains here in this post is a beginning…

First off, I applaud Logos for seeking to put into people’s hands the resources needed to help us study God’s word. So that we can seek to fulfill the words found in them. Passages like Romans 10:14-17 comes quickly to mind.  

¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him ^uof whom they have never heard?³ And how are they to hear ^vwithout someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent?

(The scripture and its footnotes are possible thanks to Logos Bible Software)

Regardless of the cost of a Bible, the thing each and everyone of us will have to answer for one day is what we did with what God blessed us with! Reminds me of Jesus’ parable in Luke 12:48 when he says concerning these servants who were given care of the Master’s house, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.”

Be careful condemning God’s provision of his written word to us, and be more concerned about how to use this provision to bless the billions who are lost and dying, who even if they had the word, might be like the Ethiopian Eunuch who though reading the Scriptures himself needed someone to guide him. Acts 8:31 (The Eunuch needed someone to lead him, instruct him, someone who was knowledgeable).  In other words God sent Philip because Philip most definitely knew the way!  God’s word is best understood by those who have been blessed to sit under and study under those who know the way.  Hence God’s OT command to the Father’s, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deut 6:7

One closing thought, which I struggle with in my own life at times.  People complain about the “extravagant” packaging of God’s precious words to us in leather and ink, yet they claim to have the very precious living word of Christ in them, and they could care less what its packaging–how they live, talk and act–looks like to the world around them.  Now that is a waste!

¹¹ Command and teach these things. ¹² Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:11-12

Study to know Him,

My prayer for all of those who might read this is that as we walk through our day tomorrow we might have a better perspective on the life we have been given and the life we are able to live because our parents chose life for us. More importantly, I also believe that we are absolutely unable to fully understand the blessing of the life we live today, unless we understand the TRUE Life that we are offered through Jesus Christ, God’s only Son.

1 John 5:12-13 tells us, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Make no mistake Scripture teaches plainly that without the Son (Jesus Christ) we are like Dead men walking.  We look alive and well as we live out our days here in this world, but death is coming…last I checked the mortality rate of humanity was still at 100%.  Once we breath our last in this life, the grave is not the end.  If so scripture would be lying to us and eternal life is just a dream.  Each and every one of us have one opportunity to get it right in this life and from the point of conception we begin dying.  In other words our days are numbered and there is so much work to get done, in such a short amount of time.

Time is short, I know it seems like we have eternity when we are young–er, but James reminds us that this life, well it is just a vapor, a mist that is here and gone in an instant.  Even Solomon, the wisest man this world has ever known tells us this life is but a shadow.  My point is that many of us believe we have all the time in the world to get eternity, and that kind of gamble…well its like grabbing for fog…it sure looks good, but it is impossible to grasp.

Many of those who will fill the pews in churches across America this Sunday are living this kind of life.  They want True Life, they want the assurance of eternity, but they don’t want to pay the price that God requires.  Oh Oh…”pay the price…”  that can’t be…My Bible tells me eternal life is a free gift!  All I have to do is pray this little prayer, walk down to the front of the church and sign a card, and “poof” I’m good to go!  I like that kind of salvation!  Doesn’t cost me anything, and just like the Good Book says, its free.

Well, your right, it is free.  As a matter of fact Paul used those words “free gift” 12 times in Romans.  Romans 6:23 which most of us know and can quote freely tells us, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of  God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“  Maybe scripture can explain what I mean by “those who are not willing to pay the price God requires…”

John 5:39-40 says, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

Jesus’ words should wake us up out of our complacency and sleep!  Oh we will go to church on Sunday, we will sing the songs and we will drop some money in the offering plate and somehow feel satisfied as we struggle to concentrate as the pastor drones on, silently anticipating lunch, and who we will go eat with, or who might ask us to go eat with them.  Then we will leave the church, and silently return to the life we choose to live, not the life God desires for us to live.  The entire book of Amos has a sad commentary on this very kind of lifestyle.

The Northern Kingdom truly believed that just because they went to “Bethel” (House of God) and sang songs, and offered sacrifices to God that he was pleased with them, and furthermore that he had to be pleased with them because they were Hebrews, and therefore God would never destroy them.  Oh how horribly wrong they were.  God so despised what they called “Service” because what they were doing on “Sunday” looked nothing like what they were doing every other day of the week!  As a matter of fact, by the time we get to Hosea, less than 30 years later, their place of worship is no longer called Bethel, but instead the prophet calls it “Beth-aven” or (House of vanity, house of nothing).

True “Service,” true “Worship” is living a life of holiness and godliness Monday through Saturday, not just Sunday morning from 11:00-12:00.  That is what “Sanctity” really means.  Sanctity of Life therefore is choosing to live a life of “holy character” every day. But just like Amos, John 5:39-40 paints a vivid picture of the failure of so many today who profess to be Christians.  You search the Scriptures because you think in doing it, that it makes you a Christian…“yet You refuse to come to me…”

You see the price that is required?  Yes grace exists for us when we fail, and all of us will fall from time to time.  No one is perfect in this life.  But think about this, if you fall, make sure that you fall looking at the face of Him who died so that you might live.  Falling forward into the arms of Christ, well it happens from time to time.  Falling backwards away from Christ, because we were looking at the world behind us, well that is not good.  Hebrews 12:2 tells us we can live a Sanctified Life if we “fix our eyes on Jesus…”

I urge you this week as you seek to live out your Christian faith, Fix your eyes on Jesus and him alone, because he paid the price required to purchase you out of death,  and then do pick up your Bible and read.  John tells us one last time why we need to read God’s words…

John 20:31  “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Study to know Him,

Leave No Trace

Well it is October and for a group of men from South Side Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas this always means it is time for the annual Fly-Fishing trip to the incredible San Juan river in New Mexico.  Since 2004 this trip for me has become so much more anticipated because I no longer live in Abilene, nor am I able to fellowship every week with the men of this church.  So, this annual event gives me the blessed opportunity to hang out with godly men for seven days as we camp out, eat incredible meals every evening (thanks guys) fellowship through deep discipleship around the campfire, and of course…FISH!

The San Juan river in NM is well known as one of the premier trout tail waters in the western half of America for its consistently cold water and enormous numbers of large trout.  What a great place for guys who are desiring to learn the art fly-fishing to go and catch their first trout.

This year I am trying something new. I bought Simms carbide studs to go in the sole of my wading boots.  The slippery rocks of the San Juan can be difficult to navigate, and so I am looking forward to the new advantage I will gain with the added grip of the studs.  But as I was thinking about the hard carbide tipped studs added to the soft felt sole of the boot, a concern came to mind.  There is a great ethic in fly-fishing in that we wade into pristine rivers, use single barbless hooks, fish and enjoy the environment and then wade out leaving the river just the way we found it except for the tired fish we released and the quickly fading foot prints.  However, I have seen the scaring on rocks from the carbide studs of other fly-fisherman’s boots and it begs the question, in seeking to be comfortable and safe on the river are we failing in our ethic of “Leave No Trace?” Are the scrapes and marks left by our footsteps leaving long term imprints on the appearance of the riverbed, or worse is there some ecological implications?  Well, that question is still up for debate, and probably will be for many years to come.

However, there is another greater question which comes to my mind.  Is my concern for how I walk through the environment overshadowed by my concern for how I walk through this life as a Christian?  Unfortunately I have in the past spent too many years seeking to perfect the false ethic of “Leave No Trace” in the lives of those I came in contact with.  Whether I was too embarrassed, to shy, or just afraid of damaging the lives of friends and fellow workers I chose to remain comfortable and safe in my Christian walk; rather than willing to be bold and risk the chance of sharing Jesus Christ with them and seeing their lives changed forever or losing them as a friend.

As I screw the final carbide tipped stud into the sole of my wading boot, I can’t help but think of Paul’s words in Colossians 2:6-7, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” This great imperative given to the first Christians in Colossae is just as important for us today.  It forces me to go back and evaluate the life of Christ, to look at how he behaved (walked) in the world, how he impacted those lives around him.  Jesus didn’t choose comfort or safety, he was bold and purposeful.  He left the indelible mark of the invisible God in this world…Jesus left the Father’s very Imprint (Hebrews 1:3) on people’s lives.

Therefore, my desire is to leave the very imprint of Christ everywhere I go.  How do I do that?  By being rooted and built up in Christ…established in the faith. That only happens through extreme Bible study and prayer.  Then and only then can I leave the comfort of the four walls of the church, and start to leave the marks of Jesus on the hearts of people.  Only when I sit at the feet of Jesus and desire to be discipled, can I truly fulfill the Great Commission and begin to make disciples.

Study to know Him,

Interesting time of year Easter always is. For me this year it seems to be busier than ever. Maybe that is because for the first time in my life, I am the one preaching the Good Friday and Easter services. In the weeks prior to this coming weekend, I have been somewhat concerned, and apprehensive. Not really sure why. I guess it being my first Easter service, I so desired to correctly present Jesus Christ and the atoning act of his life, death and resurrection that I almost missed him in all the details.

Then this week as I was immersed in my studies seeking to trace the line of God’s redeeming work towards us his creation, from its beginning to the cross where it was completed, God spoke and the immensity of his word caught my attention.

The story of redemption doesn’t necessarily begin in Egypt, however God’s plan unfolds in an incredible way here. And unfortunately it starts with death. Sadly on this day, the first passover, many died, the firstborn of the family regardless of whether you were a human or animal. However, it didn’t just being at death, you see it begins in the heart of man. One man that couldn’t seem to let go of something he so greatly desired to hold on to. One man that chose not to listen to God. One man who thought he could be a god.

Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’ ” ² But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” Exodus 5:1-2

Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. God begins all this making it clear to Moses that He (God) will harden Pharaoh’s heart–and this is a repeated phrase throughout the plagues–but scripture also says that Pharaoh himself hardened his heart, Exodus 8:15. Nevertheless, Pharaoh by his own words, makes the proud statement, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice.” As a result the final plague on Egypt is what we now know as the passover. A lamb was to be chosen, introduced into the household like a pet and then on the evening of the 14th day, that lamb was to be killed. Blood was to be taken and spread on the door frame of each household, and at midnight when the Angel of death passed by, the blood would be a sign and the Angel would pass over that house. The blood was a sign.

Pharaoh lost his firstborn that night, and the following day, the Israelites were freed. So it begins with a lamb, and a nation was freed from slavery. But that isn’t the end of the story, you see this coming weekend–Easter–is the rest of the story. For Christians, those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, Easter takes the story of the first passover, the first lamb that was slain to redeem a people from slavery and traces its purpose throughout the history of the Old Testament all the way up to the cross two thousand years ago. The lamb throughout the Old Testament is an earthly picture of what Jesus would become for us. It is documented throughout the Bible. Isaiah 53:7 prophesied about “the lamb that is led to the slaughter.” In John 1:29 John the Baptist, the forerunner for Christ said, “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.” Acts 8:32 repeats the passage in Isaiah reminding us of the lamb that is silent before its shearer. In 1 Corinthians 5:7 Paul reminds us that “Christ, our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed.” And the Book of Revelation tells us in 5:12 that in heaven there will be thousands upon thousands and more saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain…”

So Jesus has become all of this for you and for me. And on the cross he took all the guilt and shame of my sin, and your sin, and Colossians tells us that the father laid it on Jesus, and the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands–death (Romans 6:23)–God set aside, and He nailed it to the cross. (Colossians 2:14) the righteous for the unrighteous. And in doing so, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ bought the final redemption of the entire world. A world born into the slavery of sin, with no hope of freedom or inheritance.

And yet, with all the excitement of being able to think hard about and remember what Jesus did for me this Easter season, my mind is stuck on Pharaoh. Why? Well that is the whole reason for writing. I kept going back to those words of Pharaoh, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go?” And I realize, that after all these thousands of years, God is still calling out to his creation, longing for and desiring a people that will “let go.” For me it was the desire to find perfection in a service that has nothing to do with me, but everything to do with Christ Jesus. And for weeks, I have held on strongly to that prideful desire. So, I broke off the studies, long enough to write to you, and compel you this Easter season, to stop and listen to the voice of God. He is still the same, and he is still calling out to us to let go. Will you harden you heart, and refuse to give in to the Lord of lords, and King of kings, or will you allow Christ to break open your heart and have Lordship over you. The choice is always yours. But as in the beginning, death is on the line. Is eternity worth it, when the price has already been paid for you in full.

Let Go,

Study to know Him,

“If the Bible is considered merely to contain the Word of God, rather than actually to be in toto the Word of God, there is naturally a decreased sense of responsibility to study its text minutely, or to systematize its theology, or authoritatively to declare its message.”  –Merrill F. Unger  Principles of Expository Preaching

What you believe about the Holy Scriptures, in their entirety, will or has already become for you the foundation of how you live, teach and or preach, in this life, and eternity to come.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

The birth of Christ was spoken of by the prophets, the Old Testament has documented within its pages what this Savior, this Messiah would do and what He would accomplish. So it is such an incredible announcement when the angels burst onto the scene to those shepherds in the fields that night two thousand years ago. With all the celebration of the heavenlies these angels did what they were created to do, and what they have been doing for all time, proclaim the glory of the Lord of lords, and the King of kings:

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

Yet history tells of one who’s birth very similar words had been written of, “The providence which has ordered the whole of our life, showing concern and zeal, has ordained the most perfect consummation for human life … by filling him with virtue for doing the work of a benefactor among men, and by sending in him, as it were, a savior for us and those who come after us, to make war to cease, to create order everywhere… ; the birthday of the god was the beginning for the world of the glad tidings that have come to men through him…”

Upon first glance, or a quick reading it might seem that Jesus’ birth and life had already been proclaimed through another who had been born September 23, 63 BC. But these words were written in tribute to the birth of one Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. Better known as Caesar Augustus. Even Caesar’s title “Augustus,” given to him by the Senate, means “to increase.” This title symbolized an approval of authority over humanity, and in fact nature. Even after his death in August 19, AD, Augustus was deified.

However, make no mistake, Caesar Augustus failed to make good on the promises proclaimed at his birth. Prior to his time as Augustus, he was known as Octavian during which time he self-titled himself, Divi filius, “Son of God,” to further his cause in military power. Wars still came, order though maybe temporary soon collapsed around Rome, and the glad tidings which might have come to men under Augustus, were only to those who showed allegiance to Rome. Even Augustus’ self proclamation as pontifex maximus, the high priest of the collegium of the Pontifices, the most important position in Roman religion, couldn’t sustain the claims given to him at his birth.

Jesus however, speaking truth came to set men free (Jn 8:32). Jesus Christ died on a cross in the greatest act of salvation that no one before, and no one since can and ever will be able to duplicate. But if the story ended there, there would be no great salvation, because Jesus would still be dead. And there can be no good news if death remains victorious. But the resurrection of Christ three days later is the truth of the all prophecies. Hebrews makes this truth clear saying, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Hebrews 4:14 If Jesus’ death and substitutionary atonement were false, and worthless then Hebrews 4:14 couldn’t be true.

Hebrews goes on to state that “Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’” Hebrews 5:5

Make no mistake, because of Jesus’ sinless life, His death for your sin and mine, and the proof of his resurrection, there is absolute TRUTH in the scriptures when it says, “And being made perfect, he (Jesus the Christ) became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedeck.” Hebrews 5:9-10

Study to know Him,

“For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 ESV

A great friend of mine and Christian Brother is just getting settled in Louisville Kentucky, preparing to begin a new season in his and his families life. Edward is about to begin his studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is seeking to follow God’s direction into the Pastorate. It is great to be able to look back over the past half a dozen years and see how both Edward and I have grown spiritually. Both of us now with families, both in our 40’s, both of us working through God’s calling in our lives to leave the secular world and move into full time vocational ministry preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. And all of that time was spent under the guidance and direction of a pastor both Edward and I would agree typifies what preaching the cross, and godliness by example is all about.

As I have written before, Men like Edward have been one of the greatest growth catalyst for me during my walk and because of so many of them, my state of spiritual maturity is where it is today. Edward and I do our best to call and encourage one another, as well as listen and discuss important issues occurring in each others thoughts and lives. It is not at all odd then to have a phone conversation with Edward yesterday, and in the process of our talk hear the topic move to the aspect of preaching the Cross. I brought it up, since I am reading the book, Preaching the Cross – Together for the Gospel. What I didn’t know is that a few days earlier Edward had already blogged on this subject.

http://pasturesoftruth.blogspot.com/2007/07/history-repeated.html

Our hearts were already on the topic long before we ever discussed it verbally over the phone. I of course didn’t fully realize how much so till this morning as I logged into WordPress to write a post on R.C. Sproul’s Chapter The Center of Christian Preaching: Justification by Faith, and clicked on Edwards blog just to see if he had written anything new. Well, I couldn’t have written it any better and I agree with Edward’s thoughts. One of Edward’s recommendations for those who have been called by God to preach is worthy to be quoted here. It is a reminder to all of us to be diligent and with purpose when we preach,

“To my brothers who are already serving in pastoral capacities, I urge you to never forget the urgency of your calling to proclaim the gospel “all the way” and shepherd the flock to the pastures of godly obedience.”

R.C. Sproul writes in the book, Preaching the Cross,

“So let me tell you what the good news is. I despair of my righteousness; I acknowledge my sin. I put my trust in Christ and Christ alone. And the good news is that at the very instant I do, all that Jesus is, and all that Jesus has, is mine, and for the rest of my days he has me covered. The Father looks beyond my impurities and all my sin, and he sees the cloak of the righteousness of Jesus. … Is there any better news than that in the whole world?”

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8 ESV

All of this rings soundly in my ears as I remember the passage Kevin preached to me and those present at my ordination service from Jeremiah 15:19, “Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth.”

Pastor’s, seek that which is precious, live it and preach it. And may we never cease striving to hold one another accountable to that great task. For we are all sinners, saved by grace, for the glory of God.

Study to know Him

“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6

In the closing verses of Job it is interesting to see the grace and mercy of God towards those who were “friends” of Job. God’s anger burned against Job’s friends because of the way they spoke against Him. However because of Job’s understanding and faithfulness they were spared from God’s wrath. Their offering coupled together with Job’s interceding prayers preserved their lives.

In v. 3 of Chapter 42 scripture says, “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

For Job, coming to the true understanding of who God is, and then beginning the process of repentance and humility begins in the dust and ashes. What a place for restoration to begin, the dust and the ashes of all that used to be! Sitting in the worthless remains of all that was of worth to Job, Job’s understanding that God is bigger than all that man can build, and all that man can gather for himself slowly became clear. And in the presence of God, Job learned that it can all be reduced to nothing more than dust and ashes.

So in the place where Job believed it all would end, covered from head to toe in sores with nothing he deemed valuable remaining in this life, God became personal to Job and life truly began. Job was blameless and upright, feared God and turned away from evil (Ch. 1 v.1) yet not until the end of the Book do we fully understand that Job now sees God clearly with his spiritual eyes. I believe the end of the Book of Job is really just the beginning of real life and an incredible relationship with the Lord.

Job lived out his days with a clearer vision of God than what he began with, because he met him face to face. Not just from hearing what other men had to say about Him. But by the relationship born through trial and tribulation.

In the dust and ashes, covered with sores, reduced to nothing but the man, Job deals with his thoughts and presuppositions of who God is and what God is about. And his vision afterwards is never clearer. Job lives out his days not only with greater fortune and family than before. More importantly Job lives out the remainder of his days with a deeper and truer relationship with the God he now knows intimately, and personally.

Maybe it doesn’t have to take loosing all before we come face to face with the God who created all. My prayer is that daily we open God’s word, read, meditate and pray, desiring to see God clearly, and personally. And in doing so we might know a better life lived through a deep and abiding relationship with Him through His only Son, Jesus Christ.

David’s charge to his son Solomon is fitting for us. David wrote,

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.” 1 Chronicles 28: 9

Study to know Him,

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:15-21

My time here in Nashville, TN is coming to a close. Both my wife and my son are looking joyfully for my return, and I am no less joyful to be going home. The past eight weeks have been fruitful, both for me, the company I have been working for, and for those God has placed in my path. It has been a short repreave from my studies in seminary, and it has been a wonderful time of “tent making.” More importantly God has given me an opportunity to step out of the somewhat sterile bubble of the Christian environment of both the church and seminary, and step back into the current culture of the corporate IT life. Although I have spent the past twenty years immersed in the culture of the corporate world, it is amazing to see how quickly one can find himself out of step, both intellectually and culturally once you move into full time vocational ministry in the church.

During my time here in Nashville, the couple I have been blessed to stay with have given me ample opportunity to worship together and be a part of their church family at Woodmont Hills, Church of Christ. For me it was interesting since I have not seen much of any other denomination outside of the Southern Baptist. (I have definitely lived in a denominational bubble.) Let me say, that I have been blessed to be a part of such an incredible body of Christ. Dean Barham and the rest of the teaching staff at Woodmont uncompromisingly preach the gospel message of Jesus Christ. In my eight weeks of attending I have found that within the Body of believers at Woodmont there is no lack of giftedness in both their musical and teaching abilities.

From the first moment on the job, I have been forced to dive back into the culture of IT and Information Security. In doing so I have found it is imperative that you identify and mesh with the current culture or you will not be of any impact whatsoever, and communication will be difficult. I have been out of this culture for only two years, and I realized very quickly that much has already changed. That which two years ago was relevant in IT is in many ways “old technology” today. In the same way, our culture isn’t static, it is dynamic and in constant change. However, the gospel message is unchanging, yet has the incredible ability to adapt itself throughout history so that it continues to impact and change lives without compromise.

Woodmont’s preaching minister Dean Barham presents a unique perspective into this same kind of need to identify with the current culture of today in order to better communicate the gospel message. In a series of five sermons Dean identifies and provides insight into different environments where our culture is trying to speak today, and how we can better understand them. In doing so we gain the ability to speak clearly and relevantly into culture the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dean’s web blog is active and can be found here, http://companionsonjourney.blogspot.com/.

Podcast’s are available as well, Woodmont Hills Podcasts, and I invite you to go and listen as Dean along with the help and insight of some of the staff at Woodmont dialog together and help us better understand how we must step out of the four walls of our church, evaluate the culture surrounding us, understand it, and then clearly speak … The Gospel in Culture.

Study to know Him,

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of
woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so
that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God
has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir
through God.” Galatians 4:4-7

For those reading here, who are not familiar with the prayer requests which have gone out recently for a couple here in Nashville and their adoption efforts in Russia, I sent the following letter out after a recent trip by one of the family members to Siberia.

I wanted to write this blog and publish it on the web for those who have been praying for John, Sandy and Sveta because I know in my heart and know you as well believe that this kind of work is truly what the heart and mind of Christ is all about, on a global scale. Adoption is what we as Christians understand so well, yet we seem to take for granted so often.

Sveta is about to move from Siberia in Russia, from a small orphanage in a little town, where they have never even seen a foreign adoption occur. Almost overnight she will become an American citizen, but more than that, she will gain full rights under the laws of adoption and she will receive a new name, a new life full of promise and a new home. She has been chosen out, and because she will become a Kovacic child, she will receive by law the same rights as those Kovacic children that were born into the family by blood.

I praise the Lord that through a reminder of adoption in this earthly picture we can see fresh and new the more incredible picture of the reality of our adoption through Christ as children of God. We have been chosen out of a foreign land, a place that is not really our home, we are given a new name, a name that only God knows, written in stone. And we become heirs, even co-heirs with Christ Jesus in the fullness of all that God has prepared for us in heaven. The presence of the Holy Spirit is our promise that what God has secured on earth, will be claimed in full when the One He has given charge over comes again one day soon. Jesus’ blood shed on Calvary is the sign of promise, not a piece of paper signed in the presence of a notary and judge.

The Judge who sits in the court room, given authority by man, to decree a valid adoption in this world is just a slight image of the Ruler over all, who one day will look at us, and through the blood of Jesus Christ say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, …” Matthew 25:34-35

Galatians 4:4-7 reminds us of who we are in Christ, and “whose” we are:

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Galatians 4:4-7

Now seeing adoption new and fresh, don’t you think Sveta will look back on her life before adoption and the years after adoption and be forever grateful to her earthly father who chose her and adopted her? In the same way if you have trusted your life to the heavenly Father, your life should be different, and you should be grateful even more because of what he has done for you.

Study to know Him,

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men,” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:10b-11

You ever wake up in the morning knowing that before the day’s end your entire life will be changed drastically, and possibly painfully in some way and yet rejoice in it. I never have, and probably never will. God just never has worked that way in my life before.  Maybe it is because I am slow and need things spelled out real slow for me.  If this is you as well, then take joy, we are not alone.  In this passage in Luke these fishermen were no different. It is interesting how God’s plans for us unfold. This fact is evident when we consider Luke’s narrative of Jesus calling his first disciples. When the story begins to unfold in 5:1-2, the men have already been fishing all night and are out of their boats washing their nets.

As Jesus approached the fishermen he did not just walk up to them and in the booming voice of God command them saying, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” If that would have happened, those men would have probably laughed, and continued cleaning up and preparing their nets for the evening catch, or the next days work, or they would have trembled in fear. Jesus instead, approaches and first climbs into the boat asking Simon to “put out a little from the land.” Simon and the others then heard the teaching that followed, saw the crowd pressing in close to hear, and would have been honored to oblige a teacher of the scriptures.

However, Jesus was not done with Simon … That was … just the first step.

After teaching, Jesus asks Simon to take the next step saying, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” After a long night of failure alone out on the sea, Simon agrees to the Master’s wishes and the results are miraculous. Nets began filling, the water must have been churning from the large number of fish, and the nets strands began breaking from the weight. The other boat was signaled for and after filling both of them with fish, they both began to sink.

The imagery here cannot be missed. Jesus asks for obedience in the midst of their failure and with his help, it is more than can be humanly handled. As a result Simon falls to his knees overwhelmed in the presence of the Lord so much so that in the midst of his sin the only thing he can ask for is that Jesus might depart from him. However, Jesus has different plans.

Jesus knew Simon’s life, his sin, his failures. Jesus knows my life, my sin, and my failures just the same as yours. Nevertheless, in the midst of all of that, when I often feel unworthy to be in Jesus’ presence, Jesus knows there is no greater place for me to be. Instead of departing from these men, they work together to make it to the shore, but not before Jesus takes them, one step further. “From now on you will be catching men.”

The scriptures tell us, “When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” For many of us Jesus will never take us from the dry land and comfort of the shore to the deep waters of his will in one blinding, sweeping moment. Yet for all of us, there are steps we must take if we are to follow him in a life of sanctification and holiness. Oh, there are those who have moved from justification to glory in one seemingly massive step. Just pick up Foxes Book of Martyrs, if you dare, and read of those called to give all in death for the sake of Christ.

Yet for me, and for you, Jesus just wants us to do first things first, and get in the boat with him. What are you afraid of? Remember, Jesus told his disciples, “Do not be afraid …”, and in Matt 28:20b he gives the reason not to fear saying, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Take the step, Jesus is waiting.

Study to know Him,

“Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you? Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” John 19:10b-11

It is interesting how one so powerful as Pilate, one who utters the powerful words found in John 19:10b could be the very same one who one verse later gives in to a raging mob of Jews, the very same Jew’s he was sent to rule over.

John in his Gospel doesn’t mention all the great measures that Pilate goes through to try to release Jesus. The other Gospels outline the details John omits. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod, but Herod sends him right back. Three times Pilate claims Jesus’ apparent innocence, three times the mob yells crucify him. Pilate tries to substitute Barabbas (a convicted criminal), but the Jews would prefer a convicted criminal. And finally the washing of his hands, a mock attempt to rid himself of all blame.

The simple phrase, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend.” turns Pilate’s will, and is enough to cause him to give in to the crowds.

How many times have I heard these same words in my own life. Not specifically about being Caesar’s friend. But you know what I am talking about. Often our resolve withstands the taunts and the tempting of Satan. However, when it hits us in a personal way, at a level of pride, or at a level of understanding that something is on the line, then we often give in. And we hand Jesus over, for a lie in its place. The accusations are different for all of us. For some the point of giving in might be the possibility of loosing our job. For others it might be loosing a friend. For Pilate, to be called an enemy of Caesar created a fear of loosing his honor as a Roman citizen.

Jesus never minced words with his disciples about the cost of being a disciple. The words in Luke 14 are just as true for us today. We give in at the point where we have chosen to place life or some thing that is important to us above loving Jesus. For Pilate, he didn’t even really know Jesus, much less love him. Nevertheless, he still fought for his apparent innocence, until fighting for Jesus, got personal. Then he willingly handed him over.

Luke 14:26 says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

We are told in scripture to daily take up our cross and follow Jesus. Daily, Satan will come against us, seeking to find that in our life which we have chosen to love more than Jesus. When we fail to fix our eyes on Jesus daily, Satan will find our weakness, and he will exploit it. Think that is OK? No big deal! What is one failure … Unless that one failure results in the loss of your ministry, the loss of your witness, the loss of the trust of your family, or simply knowing deep in your heart that you failed to love Jesus, more than this life, and its stuff.

Remember, Satan won’t tell you what all your about to lose by giving in to temptation. Sin makes you stupid. You never even see the train coming till it is too late. Pilate had The answer standing right in front of him, but he took his eyes off Jesus and put them on a person.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Study to know Him

Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the Chosen One; listen to Him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen. Luke 9:35-36

Luke’s view of the transfiguration of Jesus is quite unique. Compared with the other two Synoptic Gospels Luke provides the greatest detail into this incredible event. However one cannot simply read the event of the transfiguration apart from the context of the narrative preceding it. Earlier, Jesus alone with his disciples asked them an important question. v.18 And it happened that while he was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?” We all know their answers, maybe John the Baptist, maybe Elijah, or maybe one of the prophets of old.

In verse 20 Jesus asks them a more pointed question, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter who always was quick with an answer, ready to speak on behalf of the disciples replies, “The Christ of God.” But did he really understand what he had just said? Did he truly understand the meaning of the term Christ?

Peter thought he knew what the Messiah was all about, but his focus was blurred. It is the same for us today. Sometimes the world around us screams so loudly about what Christianity is supposed to be that we replace truth with tradition or something much worse, all the while believing we are looking at the real deal. Jesus begins to focus the disciples spiritual eyes on Truth in vv. 22-27 telling them that first, Christ must suffer, die and be raised from the dead. Second, that those who will follow him will suffer as well.

However, it took something more for the disciples … an event of Biblical proportions. Taken up on a mountain with Jesus; Peter, John, and James were witnesses to an incredible glimpse of glory, and it left them literally speechless. Half asleep, yet seeing clearly enough to identify two men they have never seen before—Moses, and Elijah—Jesus begins to correct their vision. In the midst of Peter’s dialogue concerning the building of earthly tents for glorified beings, God the Father arrives in a cloud obscuring everything. And when they are absolutely alone, blinded from the world, prophets of old removed … they hear the voice of God, and see clearly.

“This is My Son, the Chosen One; Listen to Him!” v. 35

When the cloud lifts, there is no Elijah. There is no great prophet of old. Just a voice clearly ringing in their ears, and Jesus the Christ, alone.

Sometimes our spiritual vision gets out of focus, and we just like the disciples need a mountain top experience to remind us what serving Jesus is really all about. Remember, the mountain isn’t where life is lived. It is in valleys, where most often we will encounter suffering and pain for the cause of Christ.

How is your vision?

Study to know Him,

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:11-14

The chair in the picture is one of the ceremonial chairs from the Egyptian king Tut’s tomb. It is an interesting piece of work, when you actually see it up close. It is said to be one of the finest examples of furniture.

The rectangular stool in front of it was intended to serve as a footrest. It is ornamented with bound captives, humiliated under the sandals of his majesty. For an interesting note on Tut’s footstool and its markings contrast it with v. 13 of the footstool which will be made for Jesus in Hebrews above.

I have no idea what the pieces of furniture used in the wilderness tabernacle, and eventually the Temple would have looked like. Maybe they would have looked something like Tut’s chair. It is said in Exodus 31:1-11 that Bezalel was “filled with the Spirit of God” in order that he and Oholiab would be able to craft all of the pieces of furniture for the tabernacle in the wilderness. However, one day as I was studying this passage in Hebrews 10, something caught my attention…

Hebrews 10:11 says that “every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. Yet in verse 12 the author of Hebrews says that “Christ having offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, HE SAT DOWN at the right hand of God.”

That is when I flipped back to Exodus to God’s detailed instructions for the building of the tabernacle, and I looked and I looked for one item I had never seen before … a chair. It isn’t there. Well there is a reason, and God’s design was for this very reason is found in Hebrews. The same priests…meaning those earthly priests, generation after generation, continued to offer sacrifices that would never take away the sins of the world, much less a single man’s sin. Hebrews 9:11-14 tells us that the blood of goats and bulls is not sufficient, but Christ’s perfect sacrifice is sufficient. How sufficient, well if a high priest once a year was able to enter into the Holy of Holies to make atonement, then Hebrews tells us Jesus by his blood, was able to enter the presence of God, and so enter in such a way as to demonstrate that his work was completed. He sat down at the right hand of God. Jesus’ work is completed (aorist tense v. 12) and his work continues in perpetuity (perfect tense v. 14).

You see, there was no chair in the tabernacle or the temple because the work of a priest was never done. No sooner would he make atonement in the Holy of Holies, than he would have to walk back out of that incredible place, and slaughter another animal. The significance in Hebrews that Jesus sat down after he offered himself as a single sacrifice, should tell us all that there is no other sacrifice left to be made.

So look to the Great High Priest, of which there is no other, and enter with confidence into God’s presence through the new and living way. By the blood of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ.

Study to know Him

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

My apologies go out to all of those who faithfully come to visit this blog, and who for the past week have been frustrated in finding nothing new here to read.

Well, there is hope around the corner, both for you and for me. Those of you who have been through seminary, and even those of us who can remember the last two weeks of the semester know the troubles and woes that await us. Yes, May is around the corner, and it is that time of the semester for papers to be due. And I have them in spades this semsester. However, one paper is done, and two left to go.

So, having said that, yes, as Paul proclaimed, REJOICE!

For those who would enjoy a great passage in the Greek (KU), I thought I would drop this in. It is an easy passage by all standards…But it has a couple of incredible exegetical points.

First, Rejoice (both of them) are in the present active imperative. This present tense could possibly be gnomic since gnomic verbs typically take a object, although the Lord is not “generic” by any means. Either way the command to Rejoice has gnomic implications which means–it is a “timeless fact.” We should be rejoicing in the Lord always! For me, unfortunately, Rejoicing in the Lord isn’t always a fact. Sin, invades, and often times rejoicing ceases.

Second, the imperative mood, especially in the present tense is taken as a command, meaning that Paul wants each of us to make it a priority to find ways to rejoice in the Lord. There are several choices this passage could fall under.

• Ingressive – Progressive–meaning this should be a habit or something that characterizes our behavior. Paul intends for Rejoicing to begin, and then continue.
• Customary – meaning your already rejoicing, however, continue to rejoice.
• Iterative – rejoice over and over again.

What is the difference between these three, well, that is up to you:

1. If Rejoicing in the Lord is an attitude, that is ingrained in your Christian character, then your rejoicing will be progressive, and customary. You began rejoicing at salvation…and you know well how to continue rejoicing, even in tribulation.
2. If Rejoicing in the Lord is simply an action to you, then it cannot be progressive, and most assuradly will not be customary. It is nothing more than something you do, generally when things are going good.

This is the one hitch that makes the imperative mood what it is. It is the mood of potential. It means even though Paul tells us to Rejoice always in the Lord, the results are up to you. Example. 48 hours ago when I was up at 3:00a.m. in the morning while every other civilized American was sleeping, (except for at least a couple hundred other seminary students like me) enough books and papers surrounding me to fill most any small town library’s theology section, trying my hardest to figure out the syntactical mumbojumbo (that’s Greek for I don’t have a clue what this means) of Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:22-38…I found it really hard to Rejoice. The potential was there, but I was not making it a priority. Life was getting in the way…better put, Dr. Williams Greek paper requirements were getting in the way. (No offense to Dr. Williams, he has been the greatest Second year Greek prof I could have hoped to take…he kept it fun.)

Well, Greek is behind me. A masterful work of 25 pages…quality only befitting an A+…(I pray!).

As I sit in the silence of my study, assessing what lay before me, I couldn’t help but think of one phrase…it keeps resounding in my mind…the images are vivid. Maybe for those LOTR fans these words will help you visualize my plight. The Great Gandalf said it best in – The Return of the King ~ “It is the deep breath before the plunge.” Coming this evening is the beginning of Hermeneutics exegetical paper on Matthew 20:1-16.

Nevertheless, as I write to you, it gives me great joy, to read Philippians and remember that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the King. The dark forces that are assembled against us, are already defeated. Therefore, I will choose to rejoice, and I exhort you as you read this to do the same. Maybe you are not struggling through exegetical papers of biblical porportions, but you have your own. We all do. My prayer for you is that you remember, although you read the words of Paul and you hear his command to “Rejoice,” it is only potential to rejoice unless you step into the moment, choose by your free will, and then from out of that which only the Holy Spirit can put in us…REJOICE in the LORD!

Study to know him