Thursday A La Carte

Here are this week's a la carte offerings.

1. Pastor Don Shoemaker, chair of our fellowship's (Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches) social concerns team, writes about the abortion situation as he sees it today. 

2. John Piper, in a letter to his congregation, offers up 13 reasons why Christians don't have to be afraid. 

3. Ed Welch gives one of the best explanations of Matthew 11:28-30 that I have ever read. Check out, "Whose Yoke Are You Under?" 

4. Kathleen Nielson wrote the following about grief shortly after the tragic shooting in Newtown, CT last month. It's worth the read!

5. On a lighter note . . . (Tim Hawkins on the things you don't say to your wife!).

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Got Bible Right!

Yesterday I wrote about the need for a daily time in the Bible, using a quote from John MacArthur to drive the point home (also see Psalm 1:1-6, John 17:17 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17  for further encouragement to get into the Word DAILY!).

Today, I want to give some tips on how you can be sure you are "getting it right" (2 Timothy 2:15) when it comes to your understanding of what the Bible is actually saying.

1).  Take the LITERAL approach. Do not look for hidden spiritual meanings as you read and study the Bible. The whole purpose for this book is REVELATION. Therefore, God is not going to play hide and seek with us in the Bible. He wants to reveal truth to us - not conceal it!

2).  Remember, the best interpreter of the Bible is the Bible itself. How so?  Because the Bible ultimately has ONE author, it makes sense that what God says in one place will agree, and often clarify, what he says in another passage. So as you seek to understand the Bible, one of the best things you can do is learn to cross reference the passage you are studying with others (the simplest way to do this is to use the cross reference in the margins of your Bible).

3).  ALWAYS view a verse in its context. If you fail to do this, you will make the Bible say something that it does not really say! For example, consider Matthew 7:1 ("Judge not lest you be judged."). If this verse appeared just like this, with no context around it, then it would appear that Jesus is forbidding the making of any kind of judgement of other people (and that is how it is often used). HOWEVER there is a context, and within that immediate context (and the context of the rest of the New Testament), it becomes clear that what Jesus is forbidding is the judgment of others which results when we jump to conclusions without all the facts OR when we judge others based upon preconceived biases and prejudice. PLEASE make sure you always view a verse in its context!

4).  Finally, remember that the goal of all interpretation is application! After you have answered the "What does this mean?" question, then you must answer the "So what?" question (or the "What does this mean for ME?" question). 

These are just some basic principles to help guide you in "getting it right" when it comes to interpreting God's Word. If you want to dig a bit deeper into this crucial area ....check out this basic summary of the principles of biblical interpretation.  

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Got Bible?

A number of years ago, the Dairy Association ran an ad campaign with the slogan, "Got Milk?". Here is one brief video of a commercial from that campaign:


                          

If I were to start a similar ad campaign in the church today ... I would title it "Got Bible?" So many Christians fail at spending much, if any, personal time in God's Word every day. This is tragic!

Author and pastor John MacArthur explains why this is such a tragedy:

The rapid pace of twenty-first-century living is not very conducive to setting aside time to slow down, read the Bible, and pray and mediate on God’s Word. Yet such activity ought to be the daily priority of every Christian—it is the primary way God leads us in our sanctification. Just as physical nourishment is essential to physical life, so spiritual nourishment is essential to spiritual life—your growth in Christ depends on it.  (MacArthur, John F. Daily Readings From the Life of Christ, Volume 2)

I agree with MacArthur on this. SO ... how about it ... GOT MILK today? 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Some Random Thoughts on Parenting

From time to time I grow a bit reflective. In those moments, I often think about parenting.  Now I admit I have not been a parent as long as some – but I have been at it longer than many (almost 34 years!).  Sharon and I have been blessed to parent three of our own (and now we have five grandkids with another on the way!). And for a little over a year (some 33 years ago) we also had the chance to parent a group of nine who were not our own. So I guess you can say we’ve had some experience.

Now just what have I learned about parenting across the years? Hmm.  That’s a good question.  I think I have learned a lot.  I learned that my own mom and dad were a lot smarter than I ever gave them credit for.  I learned that parenting is a lot more demanding than I ever dreamed.  I learned that the joys of parenting far outstrip the heartaches.  And I have learned that parenting never ends.  It changes – but it does go on and on and on.  Sharon and I like the stage of parenting in which we find ourselves.  Our children are adults. They are all married, gainfully employed and raising their children. They all live near by and we get to see our grandchildren on a consistent basis.

It has been gratifying to see our children move on to establish their own households. But even now, my wife and I realize (as I have already mentioned) that our parenting will continue, primarily by way of example.  With this in mind, Sharon and my prayer is that when our children (and their children) look at us – they will see Jesus!  Let me ask YOU this – when your children and grandchildren look at you – do they see Jesus (check out Romans 8:28-29).

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Thursday A La Carte

Somewhat busy this week ... so here is an abbreviated a la carte offering ... enjoy!

1. Tim Challies writes on the reality that Facebook makes us miserable. 

2. R.C. Sproul weighs on whether Christians should or should not boycott companies that support unbiblical practices.  

3. A thought-provoking and brief article for parents who struggle with how much technology is too much in our digital age. 

4. On the lighter side . . . 

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

It's All Relative ... Or Is It?

Here we are ... moving toward the end of January and mired in a good old fashioned cold snap. Our temperature this morning just before sunup was 9 degrees (F.). Even now at midday, we have yet to crack into the twenties! Now ... there are some up in Minnesota who would probably scoff at these temps being considered "cold." For example, at International Falls, MN it is currently -9 degrees (F.) after bottoming out at -30 degrees overnight. But even these temperatures fail to compete with the conditions at the summit of New Hampshire's Mt. Washington where right now it is a frigid -30 degrees. Add the 53 mph winds and the wind chill is a down right frightening 75 degrees BELOW ZERO! Now that ... without argument is COLD!

So ... when I say it's cold here ... compared to what's happening elsewhere .. it might not be very cold at all to someone else (especially if that "someone else" lives in south Florida, where a temperature below fifty is considered "cold!").

And so .. our perception of the weather is relative, dependent upon our perspective. I have no problem with this. But what I do have a problem with is when we take this view of "relativity" and start applying it in the arena of sin. In doing so, we tend to categorize our sin. The sins of adultery, murder and child abuse we view as horrible. On the other hand, the sins of gossip, greed and impatience are sins that we can live with. After all, we are humans ... and to err is human!

But is this how God views sin? Does he group our sin into unacceptable vs. acceptable sins? Is there such a thing as an "acceptable" sin? Before you answer that last question with an emphatic "no!" (which is, by the way, the correct answer according to the Bible), you may want to take a long hard look at your own life. Author Jerry Bridges a few years ago came out with the book, Respectable Sins. As you take that "long hard look" at your life, use his list of "respectable" sins as guide. If you find any of these in your life (which I would guess that you will), then repent ... confess ... and ask God to help you get rid of them! You will be better for it!

Bridges' list: frustration, anxiety, impatience, irritability, anger, discontentment, pride, unthankfulness, selfishness, lack of self control, judgmentalism, envy, jealousy, worldliness. 

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

You Can Run but You Can't Hide!

Megan Lee Musser recently learned that "you can run, but you can't hide." Last July Musser was charged by police with stealing over $20,000 from the housing authority for which she worked. She appeared for her arraignment and then disappeared. For the past six months, authorities have been looking for her. This past weekend she was arrested by U.S. Marshals at her home in New York. She is awaiting extradition to Lancaster County.

What Musser did is not all that unusual. Frequently the media reports on people who steal from their employers. In addition, accounts of people jumping bail and eluding law enforcement authorities are also not all that uncommon. Sometimes these individuals manage to seemingly disappear into thin air. But often, as in the case of Musser, they are eventually found.

With God, this is ALWAYS the case. We can run ... we can hide ... we can flee to the most remote spot on the planet. But even there, God will see us (Psalm 139:7-12; Proverbs 15:3).  So the next time temptation comes knocking at the door of  your mind and your heart, remember that God is watching. And if you are tempted to give in (which you will be - that is what temptation is all about!) - keep in mind that when it comes to God ... "you can run but you can't hide!"

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj