My boss...doing what he does best.
8.30.2006
8.28.2006
Ode To A Chemistry Teacher
A buddy of mine sent me an email some time ago reminding me of the unique gift of a teacher we had in high school...
Scott Ausbrooks was the Chemistry teacher at my alma mater - Sheridan High School. He had a real way with words. I found a list of Mr. Ausbrooks' quotes in an old year book. I thought you might get a kick out of them. Imagine a heavy set, bearded man delivering them in a dead pan voice to a bunch of rowdy high school students...I must say I've been the recipient of several of these remarks.
Here are the quotes - and I've included some old yearbook photos to help you "picture" these timeless words! Since high school, I've had the privilige of getting to know "Scott" as a friend, including several hunting trips with him. He's never lost his touch! He is currently hiding out at Harmony Grove High School near Benton, Arkansas.
Quiet, you children of the corn.
You're a quality individual with dynamic proclivities.
What a muldoon!
I'll keep that in mind as I give you your "F."
Have a large time.
You've obviously mistaken me for someone who has money.
Out in the road ditch.
Y'all are blabbin', blabbin', blabbin'.
Must have been some mutant troll.
Flit, flit, flit.
Park your carcass.
Close your cake-holes, there's no cake here.
Control your animal urges until the bell rings.
It's as hot as a fried owl in here.
I don't care! You can put wads of paper on the back of your Elvis Presley jacket and call it the Appalachian Mountains if you want to!
Dumb as a sled-load of mud.
Well, what are you going to do, take away my birthday?
The amount of extra work I am going to give you may rival the Old Testament.
Anybody with one eye and half sense knows that.
Long as a wagon rut.
Now why'd you do that? You must have gone coo coo for Cocoa Puffs.
You can do anything you want to. You can jump up and down and spit out marbles for all I care.
Study until you croak...then study two more hours.
Would you like to leave now, or wait two seconds?
I'll give you thirty minutes to quit that.
The Earth is a large place. My classroom is only one tiny corner of the Earth. Perhaps some other tiny corner would be better for you to inhabit right now.
Going to school doesn't make you a student any more than crawling into an oven makes you a biscuit.
8.25.2006
The Value of Salvation
**I'm closing my old website and transferring any articles to this blog. So, if you've ever visited the website, some of the entries over the next few days might be a re-run.
The Value of Salvation
A good friend asked a good question during an email conversation we were having. The questions was basically this: "What is more of a testimony - or more touching: someone commiting their life to Christ in the midst of hardship (a death row inmate, a man whose wife just left him, etc.) or someone committing their life to Christ in the midst of success and prosperity. I might slightly rephrase the question, by saying, "Which brings God more glory?"
I have a few thoughts...
First, a passage comes to mind:
"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matt 19:16-29, Mark 10:17-31 and Luke 18:25-30
So here are words straight from Jesus basically saying that it's very difficult (impossible?) for one with wealth (or just prosperity in general, maybe) to be saved, probably because he's trusting in his own accomplishments.
Jesus also gives in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, some "criteria" some might say that are typical of those seeking God. "Blessed are the poor in spirit (spiritually bankrupt)...blessed are those who mourn (over their sinful condition)...blessed are the meek...blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...etc. (Click here for some expositions of these passages)
This brings me to a second thought...
Regardless of one's success in life or failures in life...the reason genuine "seekers" come to Christ is first theological: Because God is actually seeking them (Romans 3:11 says that there is "no one who seeks [the true] God", cf. John 15:16 (Jesus speaking) "You did not choose me, but I chose you...")
Second, it is a bit more practical (yet still theological): people come to Christ because the Spirit of God convicts their hearts of sin and it's violation toward a holy God and God then grants them faith and repentance to believe (Acts 16:14, Eph 2:8).
So back to the original question - which is more commendable/impressive/etc...the well-to-do man or the down-and-out man....I'd say in one sense neither, since both are works of God.
However, it is also true that it is a greater sacrifice to give up everything to follow Christ (unlike the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-31 - when challenged by Jesus to sell all his possessions and follow Him, he walked away sad). The guy who has nothing - the death row inmate, the man/woman who's family has walked out on them...has nowhere else to go. That's not to say that God doesn't save people in all of these types of situations... He can and will. (Chuck Colson was saved while in prison, and some say that Ted Bundy might have been converted before his execution).
So, certainly, from a human perspective, the effectiveness of one's testimony to God's salvation could be viewed as more or less "dramatic" depending on the circumstances out of which one came. But if we remember that it's a testimony to GOD'S SALVATION, then the praise and glory goes to Him since He ordained it (one's salvation) before the foundation of the world, accomplished it through Christ's death on the cross and applied it to the life of the saved sinner by His Spirit and His Word - all for the praise of His glorious grace! (Eph 1:3-14) Click here for a good sermon on this great passage.
Charles Spurgeon has said, "The unsaved sinner loves a salvation from hell. The true Christian loves a salvation from sin." Meaning this: One who is genuinely saved should not only be glad that he's saved from Hell (after all, why would we be told about Hell in the Scripture if it wasn't some sort of motivation for us to flee to God's mercy from God's wrath), but even more importantly, a genuine believer (whether it's a Donald Trump or a Ted Bundy) should want a salvation from that wrath of God against our sin since it violates His holiness. I.e., I need Christ's "cross work" on my behalf because I've offended a holy God, not just because I don't want to go to Hell. (See Romans 1:16ff, note verse 18)
If one "comes to Christ" for any reason other than a godly sorrow and repentant heart over sin...it's difficult to not always keep that as the reason one came to Christ. I.e., I came to Christ when the stock market crashed and I lost everything...or...when my wife left me with the kids...or...when I was sentenced to life in prison. If this is the main or only reason they wanted the Lord in their life, it's more based on how Jesus can meet my needs than the above mentioned remorse over sin. And let it certainly be said, Jesus can supply our physical needs, restore our families, and comfort us in prison, but that never needs to be the REASON we come to Christ. Those are the RESULTS of coming to Christ.
There are and will always be the human elements to this whole thing - after all, we are human! But we should always remember Psalm 3:8 "Salvation belongs to the Lord" (cf. Psalm 13:5, 35:3, 40:16, 51:12, 67:2, 69:13, 69:27, 29, 71:15, 85:7, 119:41, 155, 166, etc.)
The Value of Salvation
A good friend asked a good question during an email conversation we were having. The questions was basically this: "What is more of a testimony - or more touching: someone commiting their life to Christ in the midst of hardship (a death row inmate, a man whose wife just left him, etc.) or someone committing their life to Christ in the midst of success and prosperity. I might slightly rephrase the question, by saying, "Which brings God more glory?"
I have a few thoughts...
First, a passage comes to mind:
"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matt 19:16-29, Mark 10:17-31 and Luke 18:25-30
So here are words straight from Jesus basically saying that it's very difficult (impossible?) for one with wealth (or just prosperity in general, maybe) to be saved, probably because he's trusting in his own accomplishments.
Jesus also gives in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, some "criteria" some might say that are typical of those seeking God. "Blessed are the poor in spirit (spiritually bankrupt)...blessed are those who mourn (over their sinful condition)...blessed are the meek...blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...etc. (Click here for some expositions of these passages)
This brings me to a second thought...
Regardless of one's success in life or failures in life...the reason genuine "seekers" come to Christ is first theological: Because God is actually seeking them (Romans 3:11 says that there is "no one who seeks [the true] God", cf. John 15:16 (Jesus speaking) "You did not choose me, but I chose you...")
Second, it is a bit more practical (yet still theological): people come to Christ because the Spirit of God convicts their hearts of sin and it's violation toward a holy God and God then grants them faith and repentance to believe (Acts 16:14, Eph 2:8).
So back to the original question - which is more commendable/impressive/etc...the well-to-do man or the down-and-out man....I'd say in one sense neither, since both are works of God.
However, it is also true that it is a greater sacrifice to give up everything to follow Christ (unlike the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-31 - when challenged by Jesus to sell all his possessions and follow Him, he walked away sad). The guy who has nothing - the death row inmate, the man/woman who's family has walked out on them...has nowhere else to go. That's not to say that God doesn't save people in all of these types of situations... He can and will. (Chuck Colson was saved while in prison, and some say that Ted Bundy might have been converted before his execution).
So, certainly, from a human perspective, the effectiveness of one's testimony to God's salvation could be viewed as more or less "dramatic" depending on the circumstances out of which one came. But if we remember that it's a testimony to GOD'S SALVATION, then the praise and glory goes to Him since He ordained it (one's salvation) before the foundation of the world, accomplished it through Christ's death on the cross and applied it to the life of the saved sinner by His Spirit and His Word - all for the praise of His glorious grace! (Eph 1:3-14) Click here for a good sermon on this great passage.
Charles Spurgeon has said, "The unsaved sinner loves a salvation from hell. The true Christian loves a salvation from sin." Meaning this: One who is genuinely saved should not only be glad that he's saved from Hell (after all, why would we be told about Hell in the Scripture if it wasn't some sort of motivation for us to flee to God's mercy from God's wrath), but even more importantly, a genuine believer (whether it's a Donald Trump or a Ted Bundy) should want a salvation from that wrath of God against our sin since it violates His holiness. I.e., I need Christ's "cross work" on my behalf because I've offended a holy God, not just because I don't want to go to Hell. (See Romans 1:16ff, note verse 18)
If one "comes to Christ" for any reason other than a godly sorrow and repentant heart over sin...it's difficult to not always keep that as the reason one came to Christ. I.e., I came to Christ when the stock market crashed and I lost everything...or...when my wife left me with the kids...or...when I was sentenced to life in prison. If this is the main or only reason they wanted the Lord in their life, it's more based on how Jesus can meet my needs than the above mentioned remorse over sin. And let it certainly be said, Jesus can supply our physical needs, restore our families, and comfort us in prison, but that never needs to be the REASON we come to Christ. Those are the RESULTS of coming to Christ.
There are and will always be the human elements to this whole thing - after all, we are human! But we should always remember Psalm 3:8 "Salvation belongs to the Lord" (cf. Psalm 13:5, 35:3, 40:16, 51:12, 67:2, 69:13, 69:27, 29, 71:15, 85:7, 119:41, 155, 166, etc.)
8.24.2006
Your Ministry Matters!
I received an email recently from a college friend, who wanted to give glory to God for His great and mighty deeds. Seems she was used of God in a rather "melodious" way to bring a sinner to repentance. I'm sure you'll be encouraged by this as I was, in that God can and does use our ministries - no matter how insignificant they seem - for His own glory. (Matthew 5:16)Today I witnessed the baptism of an 80 year old man who just recently gave his life to Jesus Christ. Following the service, the pastor of the church approached me and informed me that the Lord had used my service in the church to bring this man to the Lord. Puzzled by his statement, I inquired as to what he meant for I didn't even know this man. I recognized him, but couldn't really claim I knew him.
The pastor went on to explain that years ago, this man played the violin. But arthritis had crippled him and he hadn't played for decades. When he heard that I was playing the violin in church every Sunday, he decided to come, just to hear me play. You see this man had never set foot in church before and wanted nothing to do with God. But he missed playing the violin and wanted to at least hear someone else play it.
After attending several services, God began to do a work in his heart. Months later, he gave his life to Jesus Christ.
You see it's not that I'm some famous or great violinist. But around here, no one else plays the violin. So coming to church was his only chance to hear someone play.
Why do I share this with you today? For two reasons; one, so you will rejoice in the salvation of a soul; two, so you will be encouraged in your service to God. For you never know when God might be using you to bring someone to Him[self].
8.23.2006
Leading Our Children To Hell
In J.C. Ryle's little booklet, The Duties of Parents, he offers this warning about teaching our children by word only, and not in deed - by education, but not example.
(highlights are mine)
Train them remembering continually the influence; of your own example.Instruction, and advice, and commands will profit little, unless they are backed up by the pattern of your own life. Your children will never believe you are in earnest, and really wish them to obey you, so long as your actions contradict your counsel. Archbishop Tillotson made a wise remark when he said, "To give children good instruction, and a bad example, is but beckoning to them with the head to show them the way to heaven, while we take them by the hand and lead them in the way to hell."
We little know the force and power of example. No one of us can live to himself in this world; we are always influencing those around us, in one way or another, either for good or for evil, either for God or for sin. — They see our ways, they mark our conduct, they observe our behaviour, and what they see us practise, that they may fairly suppose we think right. And never, I believe, does example tell so powerfully as it does in the case of parents and children.
Fathers and mothers, do not forget that children learn more by the eye than they do by the ear. No school will make such deep marks on character as home. The best of schoolmasters will not imprint on their minds as much as they will pick up at your fireside. Imitation is a far stronger principle with children than memory. What they see has a much stronger effect on their minds than what they are told.
Take care, then, what you do before a child. It is a true proverb, "Who sins before a child, sins double." Strive rather to be a living epistle of Christ, such as your families can read, and that plainly too. Be an example of reverence for the Word of God, reverence in prayer, reverence for means of grace, reverence for the Lord’s day. — Be an example in words, in temper, in diligence, in temperance, in faith, in charity, in kindness, in humility. Think not your children will practise what they do not see you do. You are their model picture, and they will copy what you are. Your reasoning and your lecturing, your wise commands and your good advice; all this they may not understand, but they can understand your life.
Children are very quick observers; very quick in seeing through some kinds of hypocrisy, very quick in finding out what you really think and feel, very quick in adopting all your ways and opinions. You will often find as the father is, so is the son.
Remember the word that the conqueror Caesar always used to his soldiers in a battle. He did not say "Go forward," but "Come." So it must be with you in training your children. They will seldom learn habits which they see you despise, or walk in paths in which you do not walk yourself. He that preaches to his children what he does not practise, is working a work that never goes forward. It is like the fabled web of Penelope of old, who wove all day, and unwove all night. Even so, the parent who tries to train without setting a good example is building with one hand, and pulling down with the other.
You can read the entire booklet online for free here or order a paperback copy here - or (wow!) - even a version for your palm pilot!
8.22.2006
Pieces of Proverbs - Asteroids
Continuing in a short series of simple observations regarding sin found in Proverbs Proverbs 5:7-8
And now, O sons, listen to me,and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her,and do not go near the door of her house...
"Do not go near the door of her house": in other words, avoid putting oneself in positions where one will be tempted to sin. The statement is not simply, "don’t go in her door," but rather, "don’t even go near her door."
This is likely a testimony to the very strong attraction that such temptations have over one, much like (to wax astronomical) the gravitational pull of a planet on passing asteroids. If the asteroid stays far enough away, it is unaffected by the strong gravitational pull, but if it comes closer, its course is inevitably altered—and if it comes close enough, it is pulled into the planet, becoming annihilated as it burns up in the planet’s atmosphere.
Sexual sin is like this in that one should not flirt with the temptation; to do so is already to have been defeated.
8.21.2006
Q: What Do Don Whitney, Walt Kaiser, Phil Johnson and Bruce Ware All Have In Common?
A: They will all be speaking at the Bible Church of Little Rock sometime in the next 6 months!
If you're going to be in the central Arkansas area during any of the dates below, be sure to take advantage of the ministries of these choice servants of the Lord who will be at the Bible Church of Little Rock. Below are dates and speakers...I'll post the time & schedule details as they're made available closer to the event date. You might consider subscribing to iamchief so you'll automatically get any updates to these events, or just keep checking back here or at the BCLR webpage. Hope to see you there!
SEPTEMBER 22-24 -
Don & Caffy Whitney will be our guest speakers at the annual BCLR Men & Women's Fall Conference. You can listen to some of Don's sermons here.
Click HERE for free conference audio (search for "Whitney").
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21st
Walt Kaiser will be giving an all-day workshop on the subject of Old Testament Ethics. Listen to some of his sermons here. For more info and to register, click here.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31st
Phil Johnson, Executive Producer of Grace To You and the Pyro Blog, will be presenting a message about Charles H. Spurgeon during the BCLR Reformation Celebration. There will be activities for children as well. (No cost for these events)
FEBRUARY 23 - 25
And next year, in February, Dr. Bruce Ware will be the keynote speaker for our annual BCLR Missions Conference. You can listen to some of his sermons here or here.
*There will be a nominal registration fee for the Men & Women's conference, as it includes
several meals. The Reformation Celebration & Missions Conference are free & open events. I'm not sure of any cost for the OT Ethics workshop. More details TBA
If you're going to be in the central Arkansas area during any of the dates below, be sure to take advantage of the ministries of these choice servants of the Lord who will be at the Bible Church of Little Rock. Below are dates and speakers...I'll post the time & schedule details as they're made available closer to the event date. You might consider subscribing to iamchief so you'll automatically get any updates to these events, or just keep checking back here or at the BCLR webpage. Hope to see you there!
SEPTEMBER 22-24 -
Don & Caffy Whitney will be our guest speakers at the annual BCLR Men & Women's Fall Conference. You can listen to some of Don's sermons here.
Click HERE for free conference audio (search for "Whitney").
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21st
Walt Kaiser will be giving an all-day workshop on the subject of Old Testament Ethics. Listen to some of his sermons here. For more info and to register, click here.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31st
Phil Johnson, Executive Producer of Grace To You and the Pyro Blog, will be presenting a message about Charles H. Spurgeon during the BCLR Reformation Celebration. There will be activities for children as well. (No cost for these events)
FEBRUARY 23 - 25
And next year, in February, Dr. Bruce Ware will be the keynote speaker for our annual BCLR Missions Conference. You can listen to some of his sermons here or here.
*There will be a nominal registration fee for the Men & Women's conference, as it includes
several meals. The Reformation Celebration & Missions Conference are free & open events. I'm not sure of any cost for the OT Ethics workshop. More details TBA
Pieces of Proverbs - The Path
Continuing in a series of insights and observations in the Proverbs...Proverbs 5:5-6
Her feet go down to death;her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life;her ways wander, and she does not know it.
In verse five, the author states that the feet of the adulteress "go down to death, her steps take hold of Sheol," with the consequence (in verse six) that "her ways are unstable [but] she does not know it."
Like the "lip" motif in verses one through three, this description of the adulteress’ feet and "ways" is set over against the advice (or wisdom) given by the author at the end of the previous chapter. There, the author has already admonished the reader to "watch the path of your feet," with the consequence that "all your ways will be established."
So the author appears here to be contrasting 1) the wise man’s self-knowledge, mindfulness and attentiveness to his lifestyle and careful, intentional consideration of the effects of his behavior on his life to 2) the adulteress’ lack of self-knowledge and inability or unwillingness to "ponder the path of life."
The wise man’s ways are "established" as a result, while the adulteress’ ways are "unstable". Since stability is much to be preferred over instability, the truly good option is here obvious.
8.20.2006
Pieces of Proverbs - Honey
A friend has recently been doing some meditating in Proverbs and recording some of his thoughts and observations. I found them to be so helpful, that I asked for his permission to post them here. They're simple, yet profound insights, that I think will be helpful to all of us.I'm not sure how many I'll post, but I've got at least three sets of verses for this week. I'll call them "Pieces of Proverbs". We'll begin in Proverbs 5.
Proverbs 5:1-4
My son, be attentive to my wisdom;incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion,and your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,sharp as a two-edged sword.
In the first three verses, there is a "lip" motif.
The author advises the reader to cultivate discretion so that one’s "lips may preserve wisdom." This is set over against the lips of the adulteress, which initially seem abundantly delightful—the author expresses this by saying that her lips "drip honey," seeming to indicate such a promising abundance of pleasure. This promise is true, but dangerously lacking in full disclosure, however, for verse four says that "in the end she is bitter as wormwood." It is interesting here that the author does not claim that her lips are bitter but that she is bitter. This seems to be a reference to the character of the adulteress considered as a whole.
The author does not deny that there is genuine pleasure to be had in the lips of the adulteress; to deny this would be radically implausible. Rather, he seems to be claiming that one’s delight in such pleasure is inextricably linked to the experience of a greater bitterness that is hidden from view at the outset.
The promise of such pleasure is so dangerous because it seems to capture all of one’s attention, preventing one from observing discretion in these matters.
8.16.2006
Reforming the Local Church
I have several close friends and relatives that are currently serving in churches - both as leaders and laymen - who are praying for reformation in their church (I'm using "reformation" a bit broader than normal here). Those friends who are in leadership positions are praying and doing their part to humbly yet boldly proclaim the whole counsel of God, expositing the Scriptures, and trusting the Lord - in His time - to bring about a new awareness of the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man and the sovereign grace of this holy God to save these sinful men. They are desirous to see biblical, restorative, church discipline (Matthew 18) reinstituted in their churches... elder rule... the doctrines of grace...the glories of God...etc. In other words, a ministry that fulfills the biblical prescription.
I admire them, I really do.
Many who have similar desires get impatient, frustrated and just plain tired... they usually pack up and move on. So, how does one go about bringing reformation to a church that's...well...a church that's not heretical, but perhaps just not as substantive as she should be. Perhaps such a church is wider than it is deep...perhaps more anthrocentric than theocentric. Again, these churches aren't false churches - they are full of many sincere believers. It's just that...um...there's much more to be desired.
Dr. Fred Malone has addressed this issue in an article posted on Don Whitney's website. Dr. Malone summarizes the article with these words:
If true reformation comes, it must come with preaching the Word in a Christ-centered, expositional, applicatory way. It must come by gracious and patient pastoral care to earn the people's trust and following. And it must come by faithful prayer by pastors for themselves and for their people—without ceasing. This takes time, patience, forgiveness and love by the pastor. There is no other biblical secret or strategy ordained by God in the Scriptures.
Our Lord promised to build His church, universal and local, and that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. But He does it in His sovereign time, in His sovereign way and with His sovereign means. What is needed is reforming pastors who trust Him themselves and who labor faithfully, graciously and lovingly until He chooses to bless the means He has given. Be thankful for every glimmer of grace you see in your people. It is a miracle! And do not enter into controversy with our Lord because He is not moving fast enough for your comfort and joy. Look unto Jesus always, the greatest Reformer of all, and He will give you the strength to preach the gospel, which blesses and divides at the same time. And then you will hear these words one day: "Well done, thou good and
faithful servant."
Read the entire article here.
And, if you're in a solid, reformed church...be thankful.
And if you're not...be patient.
8.14.2006
The Parable of the Loving Father
A week ago, August 6th, I had the great privilege of hearing my favorite preacher - Dr. John MacArthur, preach in our pulpit. (no offense to my local pastors!). We were celebrating a 10 year anniversary of ministry at the Bible Church of Little Rock. Our pastor, Lance Quinn and his family have been serving here in Little Rock for an entire decade!! And, seeing as how MacArthur was Lance's mentor for 13 years, we invited him to come preach for the commemorative service (If you have a copy of MacArthur's book, "The Gospel According to the Apostles", look at the book dedication inside the front cover)I had been anticipating this for weeks, and even had my 6 year old son excited about it (we occasionally listen to MacArthur sermons while riding in the truck together). Sunday morning I asked him, "Are you ready to hear John MacArthur preach?". My 3 year old daughter somehow got my words jumbled up in her head, and so she asked, "What's a Karma Parcher?"
Anyway...he preached from Luke 15 - the parable of the prodigal son. Only, he suggested that the parable wasn't about the son(s) at all, but about the loving father. He told us that when he preached through this parable at his church, it took him 5 one hour messages to get through it! (If you're on the GTY mailing list, you might have received this free sermon cd of a one-message summary of the parable). He also mentioned that upon completing this sermon series at GCC, something happened that has never before happened during his pastorate (I don't know if this is a good thing or bad thing). He said when he finished the last sermon, the people sat in stunned silence - weeping. At this point, he had our attention.
Building on the Jewish culture of shame and honor surrounding fathers, Dr. MacArthur explained the very familiar parable in a way that I've never considered. EVERYTHING the son did towards the father was shameful, and EVERYTHING the father did in response to the son was shameful (in the eyes of the pharisaical crowd, at least). Even the eldest son, continued the shame with his ungrateful response to his brothers homecoming. The first son, MacArthur explained, represents the sinner. The older son, represents the Pharisees. The father - represents - of course, God.
I cannot begin to describe or summarize much more without doing a dis-service to his exegetical work, so I will only STRONGLY recommend that you download it and listen for yourself. The last few minutes are simply...well - stunning.
*UPDATE as of 8/21/06 - here's a better set of links for you:
Click here to order the original 5 part sermon series from GTY
Click here to order a 3 part series on the same parable (just condensed a bit)
Click here to order a single sermon on the same parable and read the transcript (VERY condensed, and without the dramatic ending)
Click here to download the FREE audio from the sermon he preached at BCLR. Use the search engine to find the title, "The Story of a Loving Father", or search for "MacArthur" or "Luke 15".
8.11.2006
Jonathan Edward's Blank Bible
I was recently introduced to a new blog from the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University. Currently being featured is the release of Edward's "Blank Bible" on September 5th. "What's a Blank Bible?", you ask (so did I!). I'll let them tell you. Quoting from their email announcement:
Watch the video below for a further introduction:
Jonathan Edwards' interleaved bible, known commonly as the "Blank Bible" is one of the treasures of Yale's Edwards collections which is seeing general public release for the very first time this year. On the blank pages sewn between each page of this leather-bound King James Version, Edwards wrote over 6000 entries in which he commented on individual scripture. His exegetical thoughts range widely, covering historical, theological, systematic, and occasional topics; some of the entries relate to other important Edwards texts while others are unique, standalone thoughts on particular passages..
Watch the video below for a further introduction:
Blank Bible
I Am Chief Celebrates One Year TODAY!! ~ "Post from the Past" #5
There were several posts that I considered re-posting to commemorate my one year of blogging. But I went with the one below - primarily because of it's necessity after the previous two posts. I think you'll understand.
Also, pardon my self indulgence...but if you've been a reader of iamchief at any time this year and have yet to leave a comment, why not today? C'mon! It's my 1st bloggin' birthday! Just say "Hey!" or "Love the blog!" or "I read your blog daily to induce vomiting" or "whatever".
Now - back to the 5th and final "Post from the Past", as a necessary and natural postlude to the last two posts...
SIN IS WORSE THAN HELL
While preparing to teach a college/young adult class on sin this past Lord's Day, I revisited a book by Jeremiah Burroughs that I had set aside several years ago after having almost read half. In The Evil of Evils, Burroughs endeavors to present two twin truths, that the least sin is worse than the greatest affliction, and the least sin is worse than the greatest torments of hell.
Using typical Puritan logic, he suggests that sin is worse than affliction & hell because sin CAUSED both affliction and hell. And that which has been caused (affliction & hell) cannot be greater than that which caused it. Make sense?
People often go to great lengths to avoid affliction in thier lives, but do very little to avoid sin, when sin is the greater of evils. And it seems that people are more concerned about dying in Hell than living in sin, when in reality, living in sin is worse than dying in Hell. There is at least some good in hell - that is - God is glorified in the just punishment of the wicked. There is, however, no such good in sin.
Weighty matters, indeed! Makes me want to finish the book. Makes me want to stop sinning. Makes me eager from Heaven that much more when we'll be delivered from "this body of death" by Christ Jesus our Lord! (Romans 7:7-25)
From page 3 of his book, Burroughs says this:
Burroughs also speaks of two other areas that tie in to my previous post on reasons not to sin, as well as the post on the salvation of angels (actually the impossibility of such).
When suggesting deterrents to keep us from sinning, or in his own words, "way[s] to break your hearts for sin, and also to keep you from temptation", Jeremiah Burroughs says that viewing sin foremost as sin against God and His holy character is a stronger and more necessary deterrent than the mere consequences of sin. Whereas the consequences are certainly a deterrent, they are usually in the near or distant future, yet God is always present. Plus, we can sometimes avoid (by sinning yet more) such consequences of our sin, but we cannot avoid God. It's perhaps summarized best by Joseph, "How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?"(Genesis 39:9)
And then there's the fallen angels. Creatures that were once so glorious, that are so numerous, and yet their punishment and chains and miseries now are so eternal. All this, for one sin. All this, for the first sin. Burroughs continues, "Consider that God should not now enter so much into any parley with them about any terms of peace, nor ever would, nor ever will." (pg. 90, emphasis mine)
We would do well to take more seriously the sinfulness of sin...the evil of evils.
And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more" John 8:11
Also, pardon my self indulgence...but if you've been a reader of iamchief at any time this year and have yet to leave a comment, why not today? C'mon! It's my 1st bloggin' birthday! Just say "Hey!" or "Love the blog!" or "I read your blog daily to induce vomiting" or "whatever".
Now - back to the 5th and final "Post from the Past", as a necessary and natural postlude to the last two posts...
SIN IS WORSE THAN HELL
While preparing to teach a college/young adult class on sin this past Lord's Day, I revisited a book by Jeremiah Burroughs that I had set aside several years ago after having almost read half. In The Evil of Evils, Burroughs endeavors to present two twin truths, that the least sin is worse than the greatest affliction, and the least sin is worse than the greatest torments of hell. Using typical Puritan logic, he suggests that sin is worse than affliction & hell because sin CAUSED both affliction and hell. And that which has been caused (affliction & hell) cannot be greater than that which caused it. Make sense?
People often go to great lengths to avoid affliction in thier lives, but do very little to avoid sin, when sin is the greater of evils. And it seems that people are more concerned about dying in Hell than living in sin, when in reality, living in sin is worse than dying in Hell. There is at least some good in hell - that is - God is glorified in the just punishment of the wicked. There is, however, no such good in sin.
Weighty matters, indeed! Makes me want to finish the book. Makes me want to stop sinning. Makes me eager from Heaven that much more when we'll be delivered from "this body of death" by Christ Jesus our Lord! (Romans 7:7-25)
From page 3 of his book, Burroughs says this:
There is... more evil in sin than in all the miseries and torments of hell itself.
Suppose that God should bring any of you to the brink of that bottomless gulf and open it to you, and there you should see those damned creatures sweltering under the wrath of the infinite God, and there you should hear the dreadful and hideous cries and shrieks of those who are under such soul-amazing and soul-sinking torments through the wrath of the Almighty. Yet, I say, there is more evil in one sinful thought than there is in all these everlasting burnings, and that is what I shall endeavor to clear and prove to every man's conscience, that we shall not only see it as an ill choice to chose sin rather than affliction, but (if it comes in competition) to choose sin rather than all the tortures and torments of hell, however many of you give in to sin upon very easy terms.
Burroughs also speaks of two other areas that tie in to my previous post on reasons not to sin, as well as the post on the salvation of angels (actually the impossibility of such).
When suggesting deterrents to keep us from sinning, or in his own words, "way[s] to break your hearts for sin, and also to keep you from temptation", Jeremiah Burroughs says that viewing sin foremost as sin against God and His holy character is a stronger and more necessary deterrent than the mere consequences of sin. Whereas the consequences are certainly a deterrent, they are usually in the near or distant future, yet God is always present. Plus, we can sometimes avoid (by sinning yet more) such consequences of our sin, but we cannot avoid God. It's perhaps summarized best by Joseph, "How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?"(Genesis 39:9)
And then there's the fallen angels. Creatures that were once so glorious, that are so numerous, and yet their punishment and chains and miseries now are so eternal. All this, for one sin. All this, for the first sin. Burroughs continues, "Consider that God should not now enter so much into any parley with them about any terms of peace, nor ever would, nor ever will." (pg. 90, emphasis mine)
We would do well to take more seriously the sinfulness of sin...the evil of evils.
And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more" John 8:11
Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out
I still don't agree with the entire methodology discussed in the previous "Post from the Past" regarding the 3X Ministry, but after watching this local news story tonight, I sat stunned... saddened... and almost in tears. The need for this sin to be stopped is ever increasing.
Seven men were arrested in the small community of Benton, Arkansas recently when the sheriff's department conducted an "internet sex sting". The men were coming to meet someone they thought was a 13 year old girl they met in an online chat room. The "13 year old girl" was an undercover cop.
If you're a parent, you need to watch this and re-evaluate your child's internet usage. (You might also be interested in these resources, ESPECIALLY this story of murdered Greenbrier teen Kacie Woody)
If you're a child, you need to watch this and re-evaluate your internet usage (and see the above resources).
If you're a man (or woman) who is practicing this sin of online pornography - stop. Really - I'm not trying to be funny or insensitive - you must stop. Get help. Call your pastor now. Email me for crying out loud - I'll help you.
And know this: those seven men in that news story...could've be anybody who's ever "dabbled" in the area of online pornography. It's the inevitable result if the sin isn't mortified early on. Don't believe me? I'd encourage you to read Proverbs 5, 6 & 7 and take close notice of the many, MANY different results of sexual sin (see also the end of Romans 1). Sure, it's talking about physical adultery, I understand that. But just replace "adultery" with whatever sexual sin you're struggling with - the principles & consequences still hold true.
Please, don't just sit there. Do something.
8.09.2006
I Am Chief Celebrates One Year ~ "Post from the Past" #4
Today's post from the past is one of my favs simply because it has generated more comments than any other post on iamchief. You can read all 36 comments here. Enjoy.
X-Rated Ministry?
I received an email recently from a dear brother telling me about an accountability program offered for free that keeps track of your internet history. It's offered over at Integrity Online.com. I copied this from their site: "Called X3Watch*, this service tracks websites visited from a specific computer. It then regularly sends a report of potentially inappropriate websites accessed by that computer to an accountability email address which you designate."
A helpful program, no doubt. Seems like I heard once that it might slow down your connection speed a bit - but that might be a small price to pay for some extra accountability (by "extra accountability", I'm assuming that we are all ULTIMATELY accountable to God, and perhaps have others in our lives with whom we openly discuss our progress in sanctification and fight against sin...without accountability to God, no filter or website tracker will do any good).
Now to the other purpose of this post...
The ones offering this free "X3 Watch" program also have a ministry aimed at helping those who are sinning in the area of pornography (note: I didn't say "struggling" I said "sinning"...let's not candy coat anything here :o). Their ministry and website is called XXXChurch.com. And the tagline is "#1 Christian Porn Site". Now, I'm sure you're like me & were a bit leary of having those three letters ANYWHERE on your computer! So, if you want to let your spouse know what you're doing or inform an "accountability partner", that might put you more at ease, then please do so before visiting the site. They also have a "nicer" address at www.x3church.com that takes you to the same page).
I can assure you that there are absolutley no provacative images on this site, nothing sensual, nothing tantalizing. (I did see at least two thumbnail images that were a bit questionable - pictures of some people from this ministry (dressed modestly) having their photo made with someone who wasn't dressed modestly, but these pictures weren't featured or highlighted in any way to draw attention to them)
There are, however, lots of play-on-words & "punny" phrases used to promote their products and ministry, just like the web address. Again, the site is safe, but do be aware that you'll see graphics such as their podcast title designed like a pink neon sign which reads "Dirty Little Secrets", or their "Porn Sunday" church campaign, or their t-shirts that say "Jesus loves Porn Stars". So, offended by images, probably not...put off by puns, perhaps.
After spending some time (admittedly, not a lot), I found several helpful things on this site. The filter and accountability software (as mentioned earlier), some frightening statistics about the damaging affects of pornography on men, women and children, and some links taking you to other ministries designed to help people stop sinning in this area (They seemed to be biblically based, but I couldn't tell from the sites just how biblical they were and if they integrated psychology in their counseling methods or not).
I'm also aware (and I'm not necessarily putting this in the "helpful" category), that the two men who run this ministry set up their "XXXChurch" booth at adult film conventions and pass out Bibles & the "Jesus Loves Porn Stars" t-shirts and share the gospel with the attendees.
Now, before I say anything else about this online ministry, so as not to influence anyone, I want to ask you a question. Take a look at the site, click on some of the links & resources and then answer this question in my comment section:
Is the XXXChurch site/ministry a legitmate way of reaching the lost?
Is there biblical support for such methodology?
Is God being honored and glorified in such a ministry?
What is right about this ministry?
What is wrong about this ministry?
I look forward to your comments!
X-Rated Ministry?
I received an email recently from a dear brother telling me about an accountability program offered for free that keeps track of your internet history. It's offered over at Integrity Online.com. I copied this from their site: "Called X3Watch*, this service tracks websites visited from a specific computer. It then regularly sends a report of potentially inappropriate websites accessed by that computer to an accountability email address which you designate."A helpful program, no doubt. Seems like I heard once that it might slow down your connection speed a bit - but that might be a small price to pay for some extra accountability (by "extra accountability", I'm assuming that we are all ULTIMATELY accountable to God, and perhaps have others in our lives with whom we openly discuss our progress in sanctification and fight against sin...without accountability to God, no filter or website tracker will do any good).
Now to the other purpose of this post...
The ones offering this free "X3 Watch" program also have a ministry aimed at helping those who are sinning in the area of pornography (note: I didn't say "struggling" I said "sinning"...let's not candy coat anything here :o). Their ministry and website is called XXXChurch.com. And the tagline is "#1 Christian Porn Site". Now, I'm sure you're like me & were a bit leary of having those three letters ANYWHERE on your computer! So, if you want to let your spouse know what you're doing or inform an "accountability partner", that might put you more at ease, then please do so before visiting the site. They also have a "nicer" address at www.x3church.com that takes you to the same page).
I can assure you that there are absolutley no provacative images on this site, nothing sensual, nothing tantalizing. (I did see at least two thumbnail images that were a bit questionable - pictures of some people from this ministry (dressed modestly) having their photo made with someone who wasn't dressed modestly, but these pictures weren't featured or highlighted in any way to draw attention to them)
There are, however, lots of play-on-words & "punny" phrases used to promote their products and ministry, just like the web address. Again, the site is safe, but do be aware that you'll see graphics such as their podcast title designed like a pink neon sign which reads "Dirty Little Secrets", or their "Porn Sunday" church campaign, or their t-shirts that say "Jesus loves Porn Stars". So, offended by images, probably not...put off by puns, perhaps.
After spending some time (admittedly, not a lot), I found several helpful things on this site. The filter and accountability software (as mentioned earlier), some frightening statistics about the damaging affects of pornography on men, women and children, and some links taking you to other ministries designed to help people stop sinning in this area (They seemed to be biblically based, but I couldn't tell from the sites just how biblical they were and if they integrated psychology in their counseling methods or not).
I'm also aware (and I'm not necessarily putting this in the "helpful" category), that the two men who run this ministry set up their "XXXChurch" booth at adult film conventions and pass out Bibles & the "Jesus Loves Porn Stars" t-shirts and share the gospel with the attendees.
Now, before I say anything else about this online ministry, so as not to influence anyone, I want to ask you a question. Take a look at the site, click on some of the links & resources and then answer this question in my comment section:
Is the XXXChurch site/ministry a legitmate way of reaching the lost?
Is there biblical support for such methodology?
Is God being honored and glorified in such a ministry?
What is right about this ministry?
What is wrong about this ministry?
I look forward to your comments!
"For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor..."
1 Thessalonians 4:2-4
(ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
8.08.2006
I Am Chief Celebrates One Year ~ "Post from the Past" #3
Ok, I'm going to cheat on this one - I'm going to re-post TWO posts instead of one, because both deal with "first things" with two of my children. The first re-post is about my daughters first date. The second is about my son's first deer.
So, the little dear (from February 2, 2006) and the little deer (from November 13, 2005)...
My Daughter's First Date
Every little girl's father dreads the day, but it's bound to happen...her first date. For my daughter, it came sooner than usual.
The guy called her up, talked to her mom, and made sure it would be ok to take our Abby out on a date. I know the guy, which made it better, even though he was quite a bit older. I know him as well as I know myself, actually. He's me. Tonight, I took my 3 year old daughter Abby out on our first Daddy-Daughter date!
It's an idea that I think I heard of first working at Familylife - Dennis Rainey does this type of thing with his daughters, and I thought it was a great idea. After all, I probably spend a disproportional amount of time with my son...you know, first born...he's a boy, I'm a dad...male bonding....deer hunting, etc. So, Abby is certainly due some time out with dad. (I have a 1 yr old daughter and a daughter currently in the womb, due May 11, who will also be dividing my date nights in a few years, if the Lord wills!)
It was a sweet night...nothing too terribly noteworthy to blog about. When I "asked Abby out on a date" over the phone, she excitedly said "yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!". I then asked, "Do you know what a "date" is?". She calmly said, "no." My dear wife tried to explain & prepare her as the afternoon progressed. After trying to ask her what she'd like to do on our date & where she'd like to eat, she basically said "I'm not hungry, I just want to go to the toy store." (just like a woman!) :o)
We went to Abby's favorite restaurant...not Red Lobster...not Outback...but...Wendy's. After a cheese burger with mayo only, we went to the Purple Cow and drank a purple milkshake. It was fun...we sat at the soda counter and shared a shake sipping from two straws. We giggled alot. Afterwards, we walked over to Lifeway Christian Books and she looked at the Veggie Tale stuff...then we went to Toys-R-Us to try to find "Mommy & Poppy" (sp?) figures for her Dora the Explorer house. She didn't seem too sad when we couldn't find them. She was probably still elated that she was getting to spend the evening with her favorite guy (tic). She did, however, repeatedly through the night say, "I like going out on a date!" Sweet girl.
And that's about it. I don't even know if she'll remember much about it tomorrow. But, Lord willing, I hope to begin a tradition with all my daughters of periodically taking them each out on a date with daddy and showing them how a man is to treat a lady. My end goal...well, I'd really like to set the bar so high that they become convinced that they'll never find a guy as good as their dad, so they'll commit to a life of singleness and service to the Lord. Seeing as how that probably won't happen (I might still pray towards that end, though, and make them fill out this application), I can only hope to model some standard of godliness and gentlemanly (it's a real word, look it up) conduct for which my daughters will use in choosing a mate.
So, the little dear (from February 2, 2006) and the little deer (from November 13, 2005)...
My Daughter's First Date
Every little girl's father dreads the day, but it's bound to happen...her first date. For my daughter, it came sooner than usual.
The guy called her up, talked to her mom, and made sure it would be ok to take our Abby out on a date. I know the guy, which made it better, even though he was quite a bit older. I know him as well as I know myself, actually. He's me. Tonight, I took my 3 year old daughter Abby out on our first Daddy-Daughter date!
It's an idea that I think I heard of first working at Familylife - Dennis Rainey does this type of thing with his daughters, and I thought it was a great idea. After all, I probably spend a disproportional amount of time with my son...you know, first born...he's a boy, I'm a dad...male bonding....deer hunting, etc. So, Abby is certainly due some time out with dad. (I have a 1 yr old daughter and a daughter currently in the womb, due May 11, who will also be dividing my date nights in a few years, if the Lord wills!)
It was a sweet night...nothing too terribly noteworthy to blog about. When I "asked Abby out on a date" over the phone, she excitedly said "yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!". I then asked, "Do you know what a "date" is?". She calmly said, "no." My dear wife tried to explain & prepare her as the afternoon progressed. After trying to ask her what she'd like to do on our date & where she'd like to eat, she basically said "I'm not hungry, I just want to go to the toy store." (just like a woman!) :o)
We went to Abby's favorite restaurant...not Red Lobster...not Outback...but...Wendy's. After a cheese burger with mayo only, we went to the Purple Cow and drank a purple milkshake. It was fun...we sat at the soda counter and shared a shake sipping from two straws. We giggled alot. Afterwards, we walked over to Lifeway Christian Books and she looked at the Veggie Tale stuff...then we went to Toys-R-Us to try to find "Mommy & Poppy" (sp?) figures for her Dora the Explorer house. She didn't seem too sad when we couldn't find them. She was probably still elated that she was getting to spend the evening with her favorite guy (tic). She did, however, repeatedly through the night say, "I like going out on a date!" Sweet girl.
And that's about it. I don't even know if she'll remember much about it tomorrow. But, Lord willing, I hope to begin a tradition with all my daughters of periodically taking them each out on a date with daddy and showing them how a man is to treat a lady. My end goal...well, I'd really like to set the bar so high that they become convinced that they'll never find a guy as good as their dad, so they'll commit to a life of singleness and service to the Lord. Seeing as how that probably won't happen (I might still pray towards that end, though, and make them fill out this application), I can only hope to model some standard of godliness and gentlemanly (it's a real word, look it up) conduct for which my daughters will use in choosing a mate.
=======================================
Oh, Deer!
I decided to take Aaron Job, my five year old son, on his first deer hunt this year. My only concern was keeping him quiet and still long enough to have even the slightest possibility of having a deer come up on us. So, my ingenious wife packed his portable cd player & some cd's (audio books) for him to listen to in the deer stand. It worked! Well, it worked as far as keeping him still and quiet Saturday morning. After about 30 minutes or so, he was out!
We got up around 4:45am & were in our stand by 5:30am. Our "stand" (see photo above) was nothing more than a camo tarp wrapped around some posts & a stool to sit on. I laid out some old carpet the night before, anticipating a need for Aaron Job to have something to sleep on. Even after he woke up from his nap, he sat on my lap very quiet and still for another half hour or so. We returned to camp by 8:15am which, was pretty good considering the circumstances. However, no deer.
Saturday evening's hunt was a bit different. We went to a different stand (above photo) - a box stand perched on 15' legs. I saw three deer on this stand one evening last year, so I had high hopes. Just as the sun went down and it began to get dark, I was telling Aaron Job to be looking close, because he wouldn't be able to hear the deer, they could just quietly slip out of the underbrush at any time. As I was whispering this to him, he calmly said (as if he wasn't suprised), "There he is." I looked, and sure enough here comes a buck walking right toward us. After at least 10 minutes of trying to count horns (3 points on one side is the minimum requirement), Aaron Job all the while squatting down with his fingers in his ears (he actually stood up twice to look at the deer, which, suprisingly, didn't run off!), I aimed, I shot, I made contact.
So, long story short... we spent 15-20 minutes following his blood trail, and my brother-in-law finally found him about 30 yards away. Great day!
Aaron Job's first day of hunting, Aaron Job's first deer. My umpteenth day of hunting...my first deer. I'm not sure who was more excited!
I Am Chief Celebrates One Year ~ "Post From the Past" #2
The second of my top five favorite posts over this first year of blogging, is a tribute to my wife that I wrote to her commemorating our 10 year wedding anniversary. It's rather mushy, unashamedly candid, and in no way completely captures my sentiments for my dear bride.
I had already planned on re-posting this one sometime this week, but decided to do so today because I just heard this woman's story, on NPR (Yeah, that's right...I'm a Christian and I listen to NPR. Leave your comments below :o) Now, this audio essay, called "I Believe" has featured some real kooks and God haters in the past, but this particular story was rather encouraging. Betsy Chalmers has been married 30 years to her husband. The last 28 - almost the entire marriage - he has been in prison. Why did she stick with him? In her own words:
Whatever you think or decide about Betsy and her husband, you must commend her for her faithfulness to her marriage covenant. In a world where getting divorced is easier than getting married and it's done for far lesser "problems" than a spouse being sent to prison for decades, Betsy's example is one for us all.
So, here's my "Post from the Past" and my committment to faithfulness:
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY - DECEMBER 22
Excuse the sap, but this one's for my wife:On December 22, 1995 my life changed forever, again. I say “again”, because three years prior, I received God’s gracious gift of eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. In the fall of 1992, at the age of 22, in the small town of Sheridan, Arkansas, I heard the gospel for the first time that I can remember. God granted me faith and repentance (Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:25) and opened my heart to believe the gospel (Acts 16:14).
There were many human instruments used in God’s redemptive work on my behalf. One person – of no small significance – was a pretty young lady I was pursuing, named Anita Kelley. Through Anita’s gentle spirit and sweet disposition, and because – even in my unregenerate condition – I respected her as being “religious”, I ended up in church with her after our first date where I heard the bad news of my sin and separation from God, and the good news of God’s forgiveness through the cross-work of His Son. I believe it was only days after that particular Sunday, that the Lord saved me. My life was changed forever. Hallelujah!
But I don’t want to talk about me right now. I want to talk about her. Anita Kelley. On December 22, 1995, my life changed forever, again. I married Anita Kelley. Today we will celebrate 10 years of marital bliss (with an occasional “miss”) :o). These are my thoughts about Anita, marriage and the past 10 years.
We certainly didn’t know much when we started, we’re much wiser now, but the wiser we get, the more we realize we have yet to learn. You learn simple things like…uh…like realizing my mom isn’t going to come behind me to clean up any more…and that I shouldn’t expect my wife to clean up like my mom…in fact – I shouldn’t expect my wife to be ANYTHING like my mom (and for crying out loud, don’t tell her if you do!!). I learned that Anita’s dad has protected her all her life. Now it’s my turn. So, be sure all the doors are locked at night.
I’ve learned not to hang wet wash rags over the top of the shower stall, not to leave messy, mucky lids on the condiment bottles and not to throw away ANYTHING without asking her (I love my frugal wife!). I learned to eat Chinese food (how did I survive for 26 years without it!?). I learned to make coffee that I would never drink, how to sleep with a noise machine and how to shine a sink.
You learn things that aren’t so simple…things you can’t explain…things you can’t always live up to…but you’ll die trying. You learn to forgive and you learn to be forgiven. Me, I’ve learned more about being forgiven…for Anita has had plenty of practice forgiving me of my selfish, sinful actions. Let me park here for a moment. My wife is a forgiver. She has forgiven me seventy times seven (Hosea’s faithfulness to forgive, she has modeled Christ’s forgiveness for sinners (Proverbs 31 woman. If you’re going to be a husband or a wife, you must be a forgiver.
You learn about love…and that it’s not based on a feeling. IT’S NOT BASED ON A FEELING! Love is an action. To borrow lyrics from one of my first Christian albums (dcTalk, Free at Last)… “Luv is a verb”. It’s an action. Genesis 2:23-25), one flesh. One flesh cannot have two separate directions in any area of life. You are one. And you are one forever. The cute little algebraic love equations we wrote in grade school said it best: 2 PEOPLE + 2 TOGETHER=4 EVER.
4 ever. Forever. Together forever. I’m still learning a lot of things. I want to always learn. But there’s one thing that I learned before I even began my own marriage. It is this: I won’t give up. I won’t. I won’t. Together…forever. This “one flesh” thing is serious. One flesh cannot separate. It’s not supposed to. It’s not God’s design (Genesis 2:23-25; Malachi 2:10ff; Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:1-12). I’ve seen one flesh separate. I’ve seen it up close. I was in the house… I was in the middle…I saw and heard and felt the flesh ripping apart. I still feel it. I still hear it. I still hear my mom weeping in the middle of the night. I still remember going to my grandparents home where my father was living and pleading with him…wailing uncontrollably for him to come home. It still makes me want to weep. It makes me want to get angry.
Just recently I heard a lawyer on television discussing divorce and it’s horrible effects on children. He spoke from experience, saying he could still remember telling his four year old son that “daddy and mommy aren’t going to be married anymore”. He said his little son ran out of the room with his hands over his ears. That’s terrible. That is absolutely heart wrenching. That really makes me angry.
I think I did that…maybe not physically, but in some strange act of denial, I just ran around with my hands over my ears for years. I was 17 years old.
So, even before I knew anything of unconditional love, before I knew anything of God’s love for His own, before I knew anything of God’s plan for marriage, I knew one thing: Not me. I will not end my marriage in divorce. Now, as I live my life on the other side of the cross, I still have the same resolution towards oneness and permanency. I will not end my marriage in divorce. I will not do that to my children. It just kills me to think about telling them something like, “Aaron Job, Abby, Anna, and little baby still in mommy’s belly… Mommy and Daddy don’t love each other anymore, so we’re not going to be married anymore. Daddy is leaving. We’re going to live in different houses from now on. You won’t get to see daddy much anymore…maybe on the weekends…and holidays…but I still love you guys…” and on it goes, ad nauseum. PUH-LEEEZE! WHAT A CROCK!
I will not do that to my wife. I promised. I made a commitment to her. I made a vow. I made this vow before her, before my family, my friends, and my God. ‘Til death do us part. Does that not mean anything anymore?! I will not do that to my God. I’d like to say that it’s my love for God and reverence for His holiness and hatred toward sin that compels me toward my resolve to remain married to my wife. And it does, to a great extent. But it’s my past that makes me resolute. Now, I’m not one to build a theology on experience, but since my experience – in God’s providence - has given me fuel to heat the flame of what I now understand to be a biblical position, then I’ll continue to use my past, painful experience with divorce to keep me warm toward marriage.
There! Just had to get that off my chest. Thanks for enduring. Where was I? Oh yeah, love…commitment…sacrifice…together forever…that stuff. There’s a lot to learn in a marriage. And I think I can safely say that you have to learn it in the midst of the marriage. Even the best biblical counseling can only prepare you for the marriage…prepare you for the learning, like a good high school teacher can prepare you for college.
I love being married. I love my wife. I know that I’ve been a real sanctifying instrument in her life (that’s NOT a compliment towards me!), as I’ve seen her grow into godliness over the years. I’ve seen her develop a deeper love for God and His Word and His people. I’ve seen her follow me into youth ministry - spending our first days of marriage with 20 something teenagers at a weekend conference. She has followed me out of full time ministry under a conviction that I was under-qualified. She supported me emotionally while I tried to find a job to support her financially. She has patiently spent many long days – from dark to dark - at home with the children while I was working job number 2…or job number 3. I worked these jobs so that she could continue to stay at home with the children.
And the children, oh my! I’ve watched my wife transform in ways that can only be attributed to God’s great design for mothers. As I watched her belly grow with our first child, and watched her “nesting” period as she got everything in place and just right before our baby (babies) would arrive. She’s a wonderful mother – a super mommy! She’s done this now three times, and is currently about mid-term in her fourth pregnancy. She makes it look easy! I know! I know! It’s NOT! I know!
It’s been a great 10 years. If the Lord would give us 10 more, I’d be elated! I’m elated that Anita even gives me another 10 minutes on some days! :o) Anita, you’re the greatest and I love you. Thank you for 10 years of bliss… and miss. You’ve done the “blissing”, and I’ve done the “missing”. Thanks for putting up with me.
Happy 10 Year Anniversary!
All My Love, All My Life –
Aaron
xxx ooo
I had already planned on re-posting this one sometime this week, but decided to do so today because I just heard this woman's story, on NPR (Yeah, that's right...I'm a Christian and I listen to NPR. Leave your comments below :o) Now, this audio essay, called "I Believe" has featured some real kooks and God haters in the past, but this particular story was rather encouraging. Betsy Chalmers has been married 30 years to her husband. The last 28 - almost the entire marriage - he has been in prison. Why did she stick with him? In her own words:
I have faith in the covenant of marriage and of the God we stood before when we took those vows. I have faith in my husband and his ability to grow and change and become a better man, no matter where he is -- and he has. I have faith that time makes changes in us all we cannot avoid or ignore.
Whatever you think or decide about Betsy and her husband, you must commend her for her faithfulness to her marriage covenant. In a world where getting divorced is easier than getting married and it's done for far lesser "problems" than a spouse being sent to prison for decades, Betsy's example is one for us all.
So, here's my "Post from the Past" and my committment to faithfulness:
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY - DECEMBER 22
Excuse the sap, but this one's for my wife:On December 22, 1995 my life changed forever, again. I say “again”, because three years prior, I received God’s gracious gift of eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. In the fall of 1992, at the age of 22, in the small town of Sheridan, Arkansas, I heard the gospel for the first time that I can remember. God granted me faith and repentance (Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:25) and opened my heart to believe the gospel (Acts 16:14).There were many human instruments used in God’s redemptive work on my behalf. One person – of no small significance – was a pretty young lady I was pursuing, named Anita Kelley. Through Anita’s gentle spirit and sweet disposition, and because – even in my unregenerate condition – I respected her as being “religious”, I ended up in church with her after our first date where I heard the bad news of my sin and separation from God, and the good news of God’s forgiveness through the cross-work of His Son. I believe it was only days after that particular Sunday, that the Lord saved me. My life was changed forever. Hallelujah!
But I don’t want to talk about me right now. I want to talk about her. Anita Kelley. On December 22, 1995, my life changed forever, again. I married Anita Kelley. Today we will celebrate 10 years of marital bliss (with an occasional “miss”) :o). These are my thoughts about Anita, marriage and the past 10 years.
We certainly didn’t know much when we started, we’re much wiser now, but the wiser we get, the more we realize we have yet to learn. You learn simple things like…uh…like realizing my mom isn’t going to come behind me to clean up any more…and that I shouldn’t expect my wife to clean up like my mom…in fact – I shouldn’t expect my wife to be ANYTHING like my mom (and for crying out loud, don’t tell her if you do!!). I learned that Anita’s dad has protected her all her life. Now it’s my turn. So, be sure all the doors are locked at night.
I’ve learned not to hang wet wash rags over the top of the shower stall, not to leave messy, mucky lids on the condiment bottles and not to throw away ANYTHING without asking her (I love my frugal wife!). I learned to eat Chinese food (how did I survive for 26 years without it!?). I learned to make coffee that I would never drink, how to sleep with a noise machine and how to shine a sink.
You learn things that aren’t so simple…things you can’t explain…things you can’t always live up to…but you’ll die trying. You learn to forgive and you learn to be forgiven. Me, I’ve learned more about being forgiven…for Anita has had plenty of practice forgiving me of my selfish, sinful actions. Let me park here for a moment. My wife is a forgiver. She has forgiven me seventy times seven (Hosea’s faithfulness to forgive, she has modeled Christ’s forgiveness for sinners (Proverbs 31 woman. If you’re going to be a husband or a wife, you must be a forgiver.
You learn about love…and that it’s not based on a feeling. IT’S NOT BASED ON A FEELING! Love is an action. To borrow lyrics from one of my first Christian albums (dcTalk, Free at Last)… “Luv is a verb”. It’s an action. Genesis 2:23-25), one flesh. One flesh cannot have two separate directions in any area of life. You are one. And you are one forever. The cute little algebraic love equations we wrote in grade school said it best: 2 PEOPLE + 2 TOGETHER=4 EVER.
4 ever. Forever. Together forever. I’m still learning a lot of things. I want to always learn. But there’s one thing that I learned before I even began my own marriage. It is this: I won’t give up. I won’t. I won’t. Together…forever. This “one flesh” thing is serious. One flesh cannot separate. It’s not supposed to. It’s not God’s design (Genesis 2:23-25; Malachi 2:10ff; Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:1-12). I’ve seen one flesh separate. I’ve seen it up close. I was in the house… I was in the middle…I saw and heard and felt the flesh ripping apart. I still feel it. I still hear it. I still hear my mom weeping in the middle of the night. I still remember going to my grandparents home where my father was living and pleading with him…wailing uncontrollably for him to come home. It still makes me want to weep. It makes me want to get angry.
Just recently I heard a lawyer on television discussing divorce and it’s horrible effects on children. He spoke from experience, saying he could still remember telling his four year old son that “daddy and mommy aren’t going to be married anymore”. He said his little son ran out of the room with his hands over his ears. That’s terrible. That is absolutely heart wrenching. That really makes me angry.
I think I did that…maybe not physically, but in some strange act of denial, I just ran around with my hands over my ears for years. I was 17 years old.
So, even before I knew anything of unconditional love, before I knew anything of God’s love for His own, before I knew anything of God’s plan for marriage, I knew one thing: Not me. I will not end my marriage in divorce. Now, as I live my life on the other side of the cross, I still have the same resolution towards oneness and permanency. I will not end my marriage in divorce. I will not do that to my children. It just kills me to think about telling them something like, “Aaron Job, Abby, Anna, and little baby still in mommy’s belly… Mommy and Daddy don’t love each other anymore, so we’re not going to be married anymore. Daddy is leaving. We’re going to live in different houses from now on. You won’t get to see daddy much anymore…maybe on the weekends…and holidays…but I still love you guys…” and on it goes, ad nauseum. PUH-LEEEZE! WHAT A CROCK!
I will not do that to my wife. I promised. I made a commitment to her. I made a vow. I made this vow before her, before my family, my friends, and my God. ‘Til death do us part. Does that not mean anything anymore?! I will not do that to my God. I’d like to say that it’s my love for God and reverence for His holiness and hatred toward sin that compels me toward my resolve to remain married to my wife. And it does, to a great extent. But it’s my past that makes me resolute. Now, I’m not one to build a theology on experience, but since my experience – in God’s providence - has given me fuel to heat the flame of what I now understand to be a biblical position, then I’ll continue to use my past, painful experience with divorce to keep me warm toward marriage.
I love being married. I love my wife. I know that I’ve been a real sanctifying instrument in her life (that’s NOT a compliment towards me!), as I’ve seen her grow into godliness over the years. I’ve seen her develop a deeper love for God and His Word and His people. I’ve seen her follow me into youth ministry - spending our first days of marriage with 20 something teenagers at a weekend conference. She has followed me out of full time ministry under a conviction that I was under-qualified. She supported me emotionally while I tried to find a job to support her financially. She has patiently spent many long days – from dark to dark - at home with the children while I was working job number 2…or job number 3. I worked these jobs so that she could continue to stay at home with the children.
And the children, oh my! I’ve watched my wife transform in ways that can only be attributed to God’s great design for mothers. As I watched her belly grow with our first child, and watched her “nesting” period as she got everything in place and just right before our baby (babies) would arrive. She’s a wonderful mother – a super mommy! She’s done this now three times, and is currently about mid-term in her fourth pregnancy. She makes it look easy! I know! I know! It’s NOT! I know!
It’s been a great 10 years. If the Lord would give us 10 more, I’d be elated! I’m elated that Anita even gives me another 10 minutes on some days! :o) Anita, you’re the greatest and I love you. Thank you for 10 years of bliss… and miss. You’ve done the “blissing”, and I’ve done the “missing”. Thanks for putting up with me.
Happy 10 Year Anniversary!
All My Love, All My Life –
Aaron
xxx ooo
Need some helpful marriage resources?
Click the FamilyLife image below!
See original comments here.
8.07.2006
The Glory of Christ - Study Guide, Chapter Three
I'm reading through John Owen's classic, The Glory of Christ, with a couple of other guys. My desire is to create a list of study questions to help further our thinking about each chapter. I'll be posting them here, as we work our way through the book.
Feel free to use these for your own study, but include the source below, as I'm going to consider submitting these to Banner of Truth for possible publication - depending on how they turn out. I'd sure welcome your input.
These questions are based off the "Puritan Paperback" edition by Banner of Truth, which is abridged by R.J.K. Law. However, for the serious reader, the entire unabridged work can be found online here for free.
(For a Microsoft Word document of these questions, click here.)
The Glory of Christ by John Owen
Abridged by R.J.K. Law
Study Guide
Chapter Three
The Glory of Christ in His Person
Memory Verse:
1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (ESV)
1. John Owen starts this chapter by introducing the “mystery” of Christ’s person. Describe, in your own words, this “mystery”.
2. List the “two evils” of Satan’s first sin. (p. 29) How does Owen suggest that the glory of Christ in His person frustrates Satan?
3. What importance does Owen place on the glory of Christ as it relates to the church?
4. Describe the imagery we see in Exodus 3:2-6 (Moses & the burning bush) of the glory of God in the person of the Son.
5. List Owen’s outline to the remainder of this chapter, including main points and sub-points. (beginning on p. 31)
6. John Owen wants to “fix in our minds” on the fact that the glory of Christ should be the focus of our hearts and minds. He offers several questions to help evaluate where our thoughts & the world’s thought are: “What are all other things in comparison to the ‘knowledge of Christ?’”; “What does the world think about and desire most?”; etc. Consider these questions, then answer this question, “What do I spend the majority of my time thinking about and how can I better meditate on the glories of Christ?”
7. List “three ways by which the glories of Christ are represented to us in Scripture.” (p. 32)
8. Read Isaiah 6 and John 12:36b-41. Based on your understanding of these passages and Owen’s remarks on the bottom of page 32 & top of page 33, who do you think Isaiah saw? Explain your answer.
9. What other passages come to mind where we see the glory of God expressed in the Son?
10. What does it mean to meditate on Scripture? What instructions, warnings and observations does Owen make on p. 34 regarding such meditation?
11. John Owen wants us to increase our thoughts of Christ during the day (p. 35). What practical ways can we accomplish this?
12. Explain the relationship between the glory of Christ and the grace of Christ. (p. 35)
13. How should we respond when it seems as if Christ has withdrawn from us? (p. 35-36)
14. As a follow up to question #11, how can we turn our thoughts of Christ toward “admiration, adoration and thanksgiving?”
Copyright © 2006 Aaron S. Wilson
Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright. Other uses require written permission.
I Am Chief Celebrates ONE YEAR!
This Friday will be exactly one year since my first post here at iamchief. I'm not alone, I just saw where another brother is marking one year in the blogo-sphere as well.
So, by way of celebrating - and to give me an easy way to post during a week when I haven't much time...I'm going to re-post FIVE of my FAVORITE blog posts from the past year (in no particular order). I'll blog one "post from the past" each day this week, culminating on Friday. (somehow I think I'm the only one excited about this)
What's been your favorite post at iamchief? Let me know in the comments, and perhaps I'll post the most popular (considering my wide reading audience of two, this might not go over all that well).
My first of five is actually one of my first posts. It has to do with my son's first haircut (which wasn't his last!). This post was titled:
Cheesy Hair Salon Names and My Son's New "Do"
Ever noticed all those corny names for hair salon? My guess is that they mostly rank pretty high on the cheese factor scale. Granted, it's hard to come up with a great pun. Puns are either royal, or just plain retarded:
Cuttin' Up
Hair Force Academy
A Cut Above
The only two punny names that weren't funny names that I can remember were "The Clipper Ship", where the owner used a clipper ship decor in his salon and "Choppers", where the decor was - of course - choppers (those motorcycles with the front wheel sticking way out). Those where cool names, and actually were used for the same shop. Apparently the owner got seasick from looking at so many boats, that he got revved up over motor bikes. (I know, bad puns! See, I prove my point!) You know, now that I think about it, this same guy, many years earlier, named his shop "Suds & Scissors" and before that "His & Hers". Not bad, not bad. For the record, as I've grown up, I've had my hair cut in every one of the above establishments.
Here's just a few I found quickly on the internet, some of them aren't really puns, and some of them are actully kind of cool.
Shear Hostility
Mane-lining
Hair-oin
Clipping Penalty
Dexa-Trims
The Mane Reason My Parole Was Revoked
Reason Has Been E-Clips-ed by Rage
Running With Scissors
In No Conditioner To Drive
Cuts & Bruises
Dude, I'm So Buzzed
I Hate My Mother
George Hair-ison's Solo Career
Why Won't You Dye?
and from the local phone book:
Upper Cuts
Wild Hair
Transformation Christian Beauty Salon (what?)
Snip 'N Clip
The Shortcut
and when in doubt, use the word "Shear"
Shear Pleasure
Shear Madness
Shear Impressions
Shear Professionals
Shear Elegance
Shear Blah, Blah, fill in the blank blah!
enough of that...shear torture...wait here's more:
Head First
Heads First
Heads Up
Head Waves
Head To Toe (gross!)
Head on the Door (um, ok?)
then there's the overkill of using "Hair"...
Hairloom Family Hair Design
Hairline Barber & Style
Hair Affair
and so on, and so forth, ad nauseam...
I'd like to hear your favorite/worst hair salon name - just leave a comment below. Pass the cheese, please.
And now the subtle segue into our own family hair style story (ok, not so subtle...here's the story anyway, which I emailed to several of my friends several months ago when it occured).
My Son's New Do
Aaron Job has previously used scissors, in a controlled, adult-supervised enviroment. Recently we let him have his way with the funny paper. He likes cutting out the comic characters.
Observe photo #1:
In the above picture, he's in the study...with lots of books (not pictured here)...and bibles (not pictured here)...
The following day this photo was taken, Anita noticed a slit in a page of my new bible which was laying open on the desk.
She asked, "Aaron Job, did you cut this page in the bible?"
He answered, "No"
She asked again, "Aaron Job...did you cut this page in the bible?"
He again answers (keep in mind, he still has scissors in hand), "No."
The following day this photo was taken, Anita noticed a slit in a page of my new bible which was laying open on the desk.
She asked, "Aaron Job, did you cut this page in the bible?"
He answered, "No"
She asked again, "Aaron Job...did you cut this page in the bible?"
He again answers (keep in mind, he still has scissors in hand), "No."
Knowing Aaron Job usually is pretty truthful, she examines the "slit" closer to make sure it's not just a tear. Confirming that it's indeed a slit, she asks a third time, "Aaron Job...did you cut this page in the bible."
The guilt overwhelms him. "Yes, ma'am."
The guilt overwhelms him. "Yes, ma'am."
In a divine, poetically justified way, Anita notices where in the bible the cut was made:
I submit photo #2:
I won't go in to the rest of the story. You can probably figure it out.
So... I come home from work, and as I enter the house, I find a pile of sandy blonde hair on the bar.
Seems that even after the bible shredding incident, Aaron Job smuggled the weapon into his bed during nap time.
Anita tells me that when she went to get him up from his nap, his excitement and pride rivaled that of his 2 year old sister when she goes on the big potty.
"Mommy, look! It's not long any more!"
Now, photo #3 (Review Photo #1 for reference)
The photo does'nt reveal the other bald spot on the top.
So, after spending the evening cutting the grass, I ended the evening cutting the hair...what was left of it. So finally...
So, after spending the evening cutting the grass, I ended the evening cutting the hair...what was left of it. So finally...
Photo #4.
The bible cutting event was probably inevitable, but punishable none the less (since he lied about it).
The hair cutting was certainly inevitable, but just plain hilarious!!
Thank you Lord, for children! And for digital cameras!
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