Thursday A La Carte

Here are this week's offerings . . .

1. I really like what Christine Jensen has to say about going to church with your family. 

2. Tim Challies offers up "Five Bullet Points about Death."  - a good summation of the Bible's teaching. And since we all will one day experience death (unless, of course, Jesus returns first) - it may be good to reflect on these!

3. What do you say to someone who claims that the Bible is full of errors?  Here is one man's take ... and it's worth your time to read!

4. R.C. Sproul in this video (4:10) talks about the Christian and suffering. 


5. Finally ... on a lighter note.  With a bit of humor ... Mark Lowery makes a point!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Storms Come and Storms Go - Will YOU Be Left Standing?

Last evening as I was driving home at a late hour, I came around a curve on a dark country road ... when, through the open windows came a loud crack. Looking to my right, I noticed a huge tree beginning to fall. Quickly projecting where it would land ... I breathed a sigh of relief as the tree began its descent to earth. Fortunately for me it fell somewhat parallel to the road (although some of its branches did reach the shoulder).  After my heart stopped pounding, I offered up a prayer of thanksgiving to God for his protective hand upon me!

As I continued my drive toward home, I began to think about what might have caused such a large tree to come crashing down. Here's my theory. Earlier last evening a huge storm(s) blew through our area. In addition to lots of vivid lightening, booming thunder and gusty winds, the storm(s) dropped more than a few buckets of rain. This in turn softened the soil in which this particular tree was rooted - which caused the tree to lose its stability. Lacking roots that were firmly planted in solid ground ... the tree fell to the earth. 

I think I see a lesson in this for us. We as believers face many storms in life. We don't invite them ... and we surely don't welcome them when they come. But come they will. Whether we will "weather" them will be determined ... to a large degree ... by how well we are "grounded" in God's Word. In Psalm 1, a man who delights in God's Word and spends time meditating on it .. is compared to a tree that is planted by streams of water (Psalm 1:2-3). So if we want to be a tree that is planted ... and firmly planted so that we will be able to bear the brunt of life's storms and be fruitful as we do so ... then being in God's Word is a non negotiable. We must seek to learn it ... and then we must seek to put it into practice. Anything less is asking for trouble! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Thinking Theologically about Patriotism

Every time a patriotic holiday comes around (in particular Memorial Day and Independence Day), I struggle somewhat with the patriotism shown in evangelical churches. Now don't get me wrong ... I consider myself an American patriot. I make it a priority to vote in elections (and to do so as an informed voter). I pray for the President as well as other leaders in our governments. I love to sing along as the national anthem is sung at baseball games (often, I am sure to the annoyance of some around me). When given the chance, I still recite the Pledge of Allegiance with gusto. And during the summer and winter Olympic Games ... I chant "USA! USA!" along with the crowd when an American athlete wins a gold! But ... I think all of us patriots who are Christians need a good reminder from time to time that our primary citizenship is NOT in the United States of America. It is in HEAVEN (see Philippians 3:20). We are NOT American Christians ... we are Christian Americans. And one day ... when we arrive in heaven ... we will be singing a lot of songs with people from every nation ... songs that glorify God ... not the United States.

I encourage you to take a moment and read Kevin DeYoung's insightful comments about Memorial Day and patriotism and its rightful place in the church. 

Have a great Memorial holiday ... and don't forget to thank God for those who have given their lives so that we can enjoy the freedom we have here in the U.S.! AND take a moment to thank God for the One who gave HIS life for us to purchase for us a freedom that will last FOREVER!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Disdain for God's People

Yesterday I read a brief letter to the editor of our local paper. The headline of the letter read, "Gay marriage coming, ready or not." The writer of the letter, in her support of gay marriage, used a number of negative and emotionally-charged words to describe us Christians who hold to the biblical definition of marriage, "one man ... one woman ... one flesh ... for life" (Matthew 19:4-7).  Here are some of her descriptions: "Bible-bangers," "religious zealots, and "bigots." She also accuses Christians of being "misinformed" and a "danger to any freedom loving American."

Now as I reflected on her letter ... a few thought came to mind:

1. Jesus warned his followers to expect this sort of "hatred" to be directed toward them (John 15:18-19). So when "name calling" such as this comes our way, we should not be shocked and allow ourselves to be "blown away" by it. If the world treated Jesus like this (and worse!) ... as His followers, we can anticipate the same treatment (and if we are not receiving this kind of negative and even nasty feedback from the world ... perhaps we need to examine our lives to see if we are living Christ-like lives --- see 2 Timothy 3:12). .

2. Doesn't the Constitution guarantee the freedom of religion and speech? So how is it that if an evangelical Christian voices his or her belief that marriage is for a man and a woman ... how is that a "danger to any freedom loving American?" It seems to me that the attitude being displayed by this woman (and others like her) are more of a threat to those of us who cherish our constitutional freedoms!

3. We who believe in the CLEAR teaching of Jesus (can Matthew 19:4-7 be any clearer?) must not back off or be ashamed to speak out about our beliefs. However, as we do we must always remember to speak the truth in love!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Thursday Means A La Carte!

Here are this week's offerings .  . .

1. For you husbands out there ... here is a solid list of ten practical ways we can (and should) love and serve our wives!

2. Last year at this time, the news was abuzz with Harold Camping and  his followers who were expecting the return of Christ on May 21st. Here's an interesting article of where these people are now ... one year later.

3. Here is a great read for moms: Are you Mom enough? (Mommy Wars) - from Desiring God Ministries.

4. I love the prayers of Scotty Smith ... here is a great one dealing with the glorious and generous mystery of the trinity. 


5. On a lighter note . . . enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

A Prayer for Your Day

Recently I picked up the book, A Diary of Private Prayers, by John Baillie. It's a great book ... and has proved helpful to me in my own praying!  Baillie was a Scottish theologian and wrote this little book, considered a devotional classic in 1936. I highly recommend it!

Here is a brief prayer from Baillie's little gem ... I encourage you to make it your own.

O God, who hast been the Refuge of my fathers through many generations, be my Refuge today in every time and circumstance of need. My Guide through all that is dark and doubtful. Be my Guard against all that threatens my spirit’s welfare. Be my Strength in time of testing. Gladden my heart with Thy peace; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

A Salute to Law Enforcement

Police work is not easy ....and it is not getting any easier! Every time an officer heads out on patrol, he knows that his life is at risk. Yet these men and women who make up the the over 14,000 various law enforcement agencies in our country continue to do their job ... day in and day out ... intent on protecting the communities they serve.

Yesterday at Grace Church at Willow Valley, we conducted our 28th Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation and Memorial Service. We do this year in and year out because we want the men and women of law enforcement who serve the people of Lancaster County to know two things: We appreciate their diligence - that when we are trouble and we need to call for help ... that they are there! In addition, we want them to know that if they ever have to pay the ultimate price, that their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Every year we conclude this service with a memorial segment in which we read the "Roll Call of Honor." This roll call consists of the names of those officers who have died in the line of duty here in Lancaster County. I am grateful that it has now been several years since we have added to the list.

So to the men and women of law enforcement, I salute you! Thanks for serving us so well!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

P.S.  Having served as a police chaplain for some ten years now, my appreciation for the men and women of our law enforcement community has grown. Please, do me a favor. The next time you see a police officer, take a moment to thank him or her for serving our community. Thanks!