Are You Bored with the Bible?

I am sure you have had the experience (more often, I'd guess, than you would like to admit) of opening your
Bible only to find yourself staring at blank pages. And when you close it, you've wondered what it was you just read.

I encourage you to take just five minutes to listen to Pastor and author John Piper as he answers the question, "Pastor John, what do you do when you find yourself bored of reading the Bible." Here's John Piper's answer! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . and SEIZE THE DAY by KNOWING and LIVING God's Word!
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Currently on my second cup of coffee (or is it my third?) ... well, who's counting! Thanks for stopping by
today!

1. Yesterday I performed one of my pastoral "duties." I officiated a memorial service. Increasingly in our society, funerals are seen as "celebrations: (in fact, the expression "celebration of life" is really in vogue -  as you will see when you read an obituary). Gone are the days of black attire and somber moods. Now its all about celebrating the good things a person did and being glad he or she is in a "better place" - wherever that might happen to be! The sad thing about many funerals today is that all the celebrating is not based on any solid foundation. Not so with the memorial service I was privileged to lead yesterday! The woman who had died had indeed left behind the fruit of a "well lived life." What made her life so was her devotion to Jesus Christ, her love for her family, and her compassion toward others. It was a joy to celebrate her life. But what really made the service was the celebration of the gospel! For it is only through the GOOD NEWS that God so loved us that he gave his Son, Jesus, to die for us ... that we can have a celebration that really matters! In Christ we find joy in this life and hope for the next! Have you found that joy? That hope? If not, please take a moment and consider Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face. 

2. Twice this week I took some time to fish at some nearby ponds. The first evening ... success ... catching a half a dozen fish with some of NICE size. Last evening I went out again and quick after an hour. Nary a hit ... nary a nibble. Guess the fish had already dined by the time I arrived (But as a friend once reminded me, that's why it's called "fishing" and not "catching!). All of us are called to be fishermen. Yep! Jesus in the gospels issued the call to his disciples (many who were fishermen by vocation) to follow him and he would make them fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). How about you? Are you living your life intentionally on mission? Seeking to point people toward the Savior by what you say ... and how you live? To help you in this vital arena of our faith journey, we will be introducing two exciting mini-series on Sunday mornings this fall - stay tuned for details! But for now, here's a resource that will require a 60 second investment each day. But if you do so, you will be a better fisherman for sure! Check out The Way of the Master's Minute devotional! It's good stuff.

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Defending the Bible

Yesterday I did a Google search for quotes about the Gospel. My search led me to the site, goodreads.com.   As I read through the quotes, I noticed several quotes from Scripture. Several were quotes of Jesus, another was a quote of the Apostle Paul. What struck me was these quotes were all labeled "anonymous." Curiously, I clicked on "anonymous" which linked to another page. On this page, the reasons were given as to why a quote received the "anonymous" label. Here is what I read:

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons: 

* They are officially published under that name 

* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author 

* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author 

Upon reading this, I thought to myself, "Really? Since when are these "religious texts," these quotes from the Bible, not generally attributed to a specific author? Only a bias against the Scriptures could lead a person to this conclusion. 

All this to say, there are a huge number of people around us who are either totally clueless about the Bible (the rate of biblical illiteracy is indeed climbing), or indifferent to it, or are downright antagonistic toward it. So do we need to stand up and defend it? In answer to that, I happen to agree with C.H. Spurgeon, the London pastor from yesteryear when he said, "Defend the Bible? I would as soon defend a lion! Unchain it and it will defend itself. 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

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When Germophobia Flies Over the Top!

The following list which was printed in this morning's Lancaster newspaper grabbed my attention:  The Top ten areas and objects to avoid during air travel. Here's the list:

Tray tables
Seat controls
Latches on overhead bins
Arm rests
Airplane bathrooms, especially the doorknobs
In flight magazines
Hand rails on escalators and shuttles
Chairs and seats
Airplane pillows and blankets
Luggage carts and wheelchairs

Hmm. As I looked over that list and thought of my flights last November to India, here's what ran through my mind:

Tray tables (Guess I could avoid this if I don't mind holding my food tray on my lap - sure hope the coffee is not that hot!)

Seat controls (No problem ... just sit straight up for some 16 hours or so)

Latches on overhead bins (I guess I could wear the same clothes for a week so I would not have to use the overhead bins; and medicine - who needs medicine especially if I avoid all these germs?!)

Arm rests (Tough one here ... do I check my arms when I check in my luggage?)

Airplane bathrooms, especially the doorknobs (Wow! Guess I could avoid drinking any beverage for the week before leaving  ... Oh wait, guess it's OK if I kick the door in and avoid the door handle or knob!)

In flight magazines (Not a problem ... Oh, wait, if I want to know which movie is showing on which channel, I am going to have to risk it!)

Hand rails on escalators and shuttles (Ahh ... not a problem, I have health insurance!)

Chairs and seats (Hmm ... can see it now, "Mr., would you please sit down, we are about to takeoff!")

Airplane pillows and blankets (What? This is a monastery? I thought it was an airplane!)

OK .... I guess the writers of the article were trying to make a point. Obviously, if you are going to fly, you are going to be exposed to germs (of course, if you are going to live ... you are going to be exposed to germs!). I have done a fair amount of overseas travel. My suggestion? Just use some common sense. Practice good sanitation habits (like avoid licking  your arms after they have been on the arm rests!), and you should do fine. God in his marvelous design of the human body, gave us an immune system that is pretty spectacular! The psalmist was right on when he praised God that he was "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:13-16). 

Take a moment and praise your Creator for the way he made YOU! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Lugguage carts and wheelchairs

Holiday Edition of Friday Coffee with PJ

It's that time again to pour yourself of the best beverage in the world ... and join me for a few random thoughts.

1. I had lunch the other day with someone who reads my blog. He asked me if I really enjoy coffee as much as I say I do on my blog. The answer? ABSOLUTELY! Of course, he is NOT a coffee drinker ... and so he just does not understand! But I can't think of a better way to start the day than A, B, C!


                       A - Acknowledge God's ownership of me and all the world
                       B - Bible, Bible, Bible - spending time reading and reflecting on God's Word
                       C - Consuming the best beverage in all the world - COFFEE!

Not only does coffee taste great, many believe it brings a number of benefits to those who consume it. To read about these, click here. Who knows, if you are not a coffee drinker now, perhaps after reading all of its benefits you just might decide to become one!

2. In light of the world cup, you just have to take a moment and see these two soccer (futball) reporters at work. Thanks, Kevin DeYoung!

3. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY holiday. As you celebrate the freedom we enjoy in America (and our religious freedoms were solidified somewhat by Monday's Supreme Court decision in favor of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties (see Tuesday's post), please remember to continue to pray for our country. Pray for our leaders and pray for the ministry of the gospel in our land! Pray that as the gospel seed is planted in hearts that it might find fertile soil (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Also thank God that through his Son Jesus Christ, we can find freedom from sin and death (John 8:31-36).

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

A poet once penned the following line, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”  All of us have experienced this truth (at least from the humanity side of things!). As I write this, the National Weather Service has posted a Hurricane Watch for much of North Carolina's Outer Banks. Tropical Storm Arthur is expected to intensify into a category one hurricane and brush the Outer Banks ... although a more substantial "strike" is not out of the question. This is forcing many vacationers, planning to head to the region for the Fourth of July holiday, to think about changing their plans .... if not in whole at least in part. As a result, there are a lot of eyes hungering to see each updated forecast from the National Hurricane Center. 

As I thing about this weather event, the following words from the Bible come to mind, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).  God is sovereign.  He is working out His purposes for our world – and that includes EVERYONE in our world (which means you and me!).  So go ahead and make your plans – but realize that God has a purpose for you and it just may be that HE will redirect your steps.  So in a sense the poet got it right – but he missed the bigger picture.  When plans go “awry” from our perspective, we must remember there is an invisible hand involved in the process.  And that invisible hand belongs to the God who so loved us that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Why the Supreme Court's Decision Is So Important!

Yesterday the long awaited Supreme Court decision in the case of the Lancaster County based Conestoga Wood Specialties Inc., was handed down. Not surprisingly, the decision was a 5-4 split among the justices. Surprisingly (at least for me) they ruled in favor of Conestoga Wood Specialties (for Lancaster Online's coverage, click here).

So why does this all matter ... or doesn't it? And if it does matter, why?  To help you understand, I have listed below some thoughts by others who are much better thinkers and writers than me. If you take the time to read through what they have written, you will have a better  understanding of what this all means ... especially for religious liberty in our country (note, Hobby Lobby also sued the government, and since it is the larger of the two companies, its name is given the headline nationally).

Why Hobby Lobby Matters, by Russel Moore.

The Hobby Lobby Decision: A Big Win for Religious Liberty - and a Very Revealing Divide on the High Court, by Al Mohler.

The Supreme Court Agrees with Hobby Lobby, but Your Neighbor Probably Doesn't, Trevin Wax

Hobby Lobby: What the Ruling Means to You, by James Dennison.


Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj