No Immunity

Scripture

As the scriptures say, “There is no one who is righteous… All have turned away from God; they have all gone wrong; no one does what is right, not even one.

~Romans 3:10-12, GNT

Quote

“The depravity of man is at once the most empirically verifiable reality but at the same time the most intellectually resisted fact.”

~Malcolm Muggeridge

June and I got hooked on TNT’s The Last Ship which comes on Sunday nights at 8:00. A deadly virus broke out causing a pandemic, the entire human race was threatened until Dr. Rachel Scott came up with a vaccine. The antagonistic in the drama is a group they call the “Immunes“. Due to their rare DNA, they are immune to the virus and many of them form an alliance to rule the world. On the final episode of the 2015 season, an Immune shot and killed Dr. Scott and I am not happy about her departure.

There are no immunes when it comes to sin, we are all infected; from the poorest peasant to the richest king, we are all hopelessly depraved. We all have a self-centered rebellious nature. Our sin has been sufficiently dealt with by Jesus but to appropriate this cleansing we have to acknowledge our sin which most refuse to do. The liberals not only deny personal sin, they deny the presence of evil. It takes a fool to deny the existence of God or the presence of evil. So we have another word for the “Immunes;” it is “fool.”

• I am not going to complain about hot weather but I am going to praise the LORD for the two cooler days {Sunday and Monday}.
• I’ve decided that I will not go home in the evening until I have made four visits. My problem is that I enjoy them so much, I tend to stay way too long. I spent an hour and a half at my last stop yesterday. It seemed like 30 minutes.
• VBS evaluation: I realize things that the average DBC member does not-We are blessed with good help. Mandy and Shohn are VBS, they do all the planning, enlisting workers, props, etc. They put hours into the planning before VBS begins. You are not going to find two better employees who not only know what they are doing but enjoy doing it. It might be a good idea to appreciate them. We are also blessed at DBC to have a lot of school teachers. Although some that could have helped didn’t, still our school teachers help us. Our master teachers are superb and we have had the best refreshment crew in VBS for a number of years. As far as I know the school went great and the program and picnic was the best ever. The unsung heroes in our VBS were the nursery workers, we had 26 children in our three nurseries.

Where Are The Sinners?

Scripture

Don’t put me, your servant, on trial; no one is innocent in Your sight.

~Psalms 143:3, GNT

Quote

The depravity of man is at once the most empirically verifiable reality but at the same time the most intellectually resisted fact.

~Malcolm Muggeridge

As I was visiting a few days ago, I inserted a disc into my CD player and listened to a message on forgiveness. The message was delivered by one of the most revered men of our time; it was filled with truth but the messenger never, not even once, confessed any personal guilt or failure. Normally, when I hear this man preach, I feel better but this sermon was disturbing. My track record on forgiveness is a struggle at best. I can relate to David’s prayer…Don’t put me, your servant, on trial; no one is innocent in Your sight.

This aggravated my mind which lead to a lot of thought on this subject. Why is it so hard for us to confess our guilt? This is a universal problem which is seen even in the greatest Apostles. I am studying the book of ACTS currently but this is something I noticed a few years ago. The Apostles lay the death of Jesus at the feet of the JRL [Jewish Religious Leaders] but they never acknowledged their own personal guilt in relationship to Jesus death [Acts 2:23, 36, 3:15, 4:10, 5:30 & 10:39]. Since they all ran like cowards, I know there had to be some guilt. I am sure their guilt was understood, I just wish it had been clearly stated. All of this is recorded for a reason, spiritual leaders should make their desperate need for grace clear so that all understand.

Our depraved lying nature is also revealed in the JRL who said in Matthew 27:25, “Let His blood be on us and our children,” and then in Acts 5:28 “And now, you want to make us responsible for His [Jesus] death.” Wow! What a shift. First they want responsibility and then they pretend they had nothing to do with Jesus death. We are all responsible folks, no exceptions. It was not only the corrupt and ruthless Sanhedrin, the indifferent Pilot, the cruel Roman soldiers but it was our fear, cowardice, jealously, envy, selfish ambition, love for the world and a thousand other sins that put Jesus to death. We are all guilty!

Recently I was in a meeting at another church and a member of that congregation and I were talking about their pastor and this is what she said, “I love my pastor because he is the first preacher I have ever known who confesses publicly that he is a sinner.”

When many of our illustrations from the pulpit feature us and all have a happy ending, with us shinning like the stars of heaven, something is wrong. I know the truth, all men are depraved, and that includes preachers. You can save your act for someone else, I’m not buying it. Be real, it’s a big deal both with God and others.

• I knew I was leaving someone out yesterday: Steve Hardy will be transferred from PMC to HH today for an arteriogram.
• I actually got to talk with Gary Garner yesterday and have prayer. I really don’t know what to report other than we “Need a Miracle.” I know this, the man has suffered a lot and I want what’s best for him. I don’t pretend to know what that is but our Heavenly Father does.
• I don’t think Robert Pope went to Lake Shore Rehab in Birmingham yesterday. 

Living In A Fool’s Paradise

 

SCRIPTURE

Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others.

~Matthew 15:19, CEV

QUOTE

Good people know about good and evil; bad people do not know about either.

~C.S. Lewis

 

Oswald Chambers said, “Either Jesus Christ is the supreme authority on the heart or He is not worth listening to.” Accepting our depravity is a blow to our ego. We do not like it when we are told that nothing good resides in our flesh. It offends us when the bible states our inherent evil and its potential to show out. Jesus confirmed what Jeremiah the prophet had stated, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” The fall corrupted all and to the bone, to the deepest part of our being. Religion tries to clean up the mess by working on the outside. Religion can reform us but it cannot transform us. God works from within. He begins at the deepest part of our being, our spirit. When we acknowledge our need for Christ, the Holy Spirit comes in and begins a sanctifying work deep within us. He is the antiseptic who fights sin and He begins the process of purifying us from within. Religion creates a fool’s paradise and deceives us into thinking we can purify ourselves by our virtuous works. There are two kinds of people; those who see their wretched wickedness and their desperate need for Christ and those who don’t.

• Children left for Shocco about noon yesterday. They will be returning on Friday and the College and Career Team will leave for Guatemala on Thursday.
• We are working on our maps and our handouts for the mass visitation on AUGUST 6. We are going to need 30 teams and 3 on each team. Everyone can do it, there is nothing to it, the handouts will be in bags. If they are not home, you hang them on the door knob. They will contain info about Block Party, AWANA, and Church in general. Young people and children can help. Matter of fact, we will never get the 90 we need without them. Your immediate reward is a Chick-Fil-A supper. Our commitment service will be this Sunday so be praying.
• PTL, we got ice machine working yesterday. It was making ice when we left. Sammy has given us a second machine so we should be good to go for the BLOCK PARTY.
• Halls and part of sanctuary were flooded yesterday morning: one of the urinals stuck. Trustee’s you or I one are going to have to check them before we leave.

Bob’s Pics

Ireland, The Emerald Isle

 

Nature

SCRIPTURE

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.

~Psalms 19:1-4, NLT

QUOTE

Nature is but a name for an effect whose cause is God.

~William Cowper

Louis Pasteur, the great scientist, once said, “The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the Creator.”  George Washington Carver, the most underrated man in American history,  said, “I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” Somethings we do not question or doubt: God is infinite and we are depraved. Too much evidence to doubt either unless you are a fool.

• Kenny got to come home yesterday {May 4} but this does not mean that he is OK, he is still very sick and need our prayers.
• Attendance down: decorations have started but we did have two good services. High praise for J.D.’s sermon on God’s Sovereignty from two very good expositors. Very good illustration about controlled freedom. Sounds like an oxymoron but it is true. God is never not in control and yet you are free to make choices. Great LCBS lesson to go along with sermon.
• Forgot to check the offerings: give you an update tomorrow.
• Men’s breakfast went really well. I am encouraged. Big Daddy and Johnny did a good job.
• God is at work in our fellowship: He is preparing us for something.

Lessons From The Cross

SCRIPTURE

But many were amazed when they saw Him.
    His face was so disfigured He seemed hardly human,
    and from His appearance, one would scarcely know He was a man.

~Isaiah 52:14, NLT

QUOTE

Non-Christians seem to think that the Incarnation implies some particular merit or excellence in humanity. But of course it implies just the reverse: a particular demerit and depravity. No creature that deserved Redemption would need to be redeemed. They that are whole need not the physician. Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for; to make them worth it.

~C.S. Lewis

The crucifixion of Christ exposes man’s depravity. The cross brought out the worst in all of us. The disciples were cowards and the religious Jews were blood thirsty savages calling for the innocent blood of the Son of God. Can you imagine, religious people whose two greatest commandments were to love God with all your heart and your neighbor as your self were shouting “kill Him, kill Him.” These same hypocrites who celebrated the brutal treatment and bloody death of Jesus were no better than the Romans whom they despised for their blood thirsty lust for gladiatorial events. The only noble and truly good human being on that ugly hill was Jesus.

But the cross is also the greatest expression of God’s love and this is the good news. No man ever loved like Jesus; no man could because Jesus was not merely a man, He was God in a human body. The highest and most noble prayer ever to fall from the lips of man was: “Father, forgive them, they do no know what they are doing.” If you have any doubts about God’s love for you, watch the Passion of Christ. If you have enough conviction to watch, it will erase all the doubts.

• Well folks it has been a day [10:42 April 11]. Two of my beautiful granddaughters are playing in the Morgan County tournament and I got home from Wilson Morgan about 9:00 and Chloe was waiting on me. By the time I rocked her to sleep and got to my computer it was 10:20. When I get the blog posted, I have to make plans for tomorrow. The good news is that Joe David is preaching Sunday morning so that reduces the pressure.
• I invited a family to the Egg Hunt Sunday evening and I think they are coming. Let’s make this an outreach event. I think it is going to be a 40 pizza night: what do you think?
• We have a baptism Sunday morning at the end of our worship celebration.
• I got word late yesterday evening [April 11] that Alva Wayan was killed in an automobile accident and his wife Quanita is seriously injured. I don’t know if Alva understood, I can’t remember talking to him about it but he helped me at a critical time in my life. One of the eight milestones came when I was with him at an A.L. Williams meeting in Albertville, Alabama. That was in the 80’s and it was the first time I had ever heard the 10-10-80 rule. I knew it was good the moment I heard it explained and I came home and put it to practice. It would not have happened without Alva.
• I also go word that Ruby Woodham, age 93, of Rogersville, Alabama passed away. This is Ramona Roy’s mother. Ramona has one brother David Hanson, and two sisters: Jenette Rawlston and Bonnie Ann Hanson. Visitation is today, April 12, 11:00 A.M. until 12:30. They will be a graveside service at 1:00 P.M. at Pettus Cemetery. Visitation is at Green Hill Funeral Home.
• No pics today: I am give out.

 

Evil

SCRIPTURE

As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests and the scribes assembled and brought Him back before their council, and said, “Tell us if You are the Christ.”

~Luke 22:66, Williams

QUOTE

At the heart of the story stands the cross of Christ where evil did its worst and met its match.

~John W. Wenham

The cross exposes our depravity. The disciples acted in weakness and cowardice. One betrayed Christ, another denied Him and all abandoned Him.  The Jews were driven by envy, hate and murder. The Romans were cold, cruel, callous and careless. The women were the best of the lot and even they were helpless. I read Luke 22 in Williams yesterday and jotted down these characteristics of evil that we see in and around the cross.

1. Evil is persistent: The religious Jews never let up, they were determined to destroy Jesus.
2. Evil is driven by envy and hate.
3. Evil is disguised by pretense: the Jews pretended to be acting in God’s behalf.
4. Evil is diabolical, it loves the cover of darkness. They waited for daylight to pass the verdict but they did the dirty work during the night.
5. Evil is always antichrist.
6. Evil is present in us all. What sins are not evil? Is pride, prayerlessness and indifference not sins? Why do we pretend?
7. Evil is defeated in the end. The Jews thought the cross would put and end to Jesus but instead it put an end to the reign of sin, Satan and death.

• Baptism today at the conclusion of our worship celebration.
• Deacon’s meeting at 8:00, LCBS at 9:00 and worship celebration at 10:15.
• We have a very pressing schedule: prayer appreciated.
• We have them headed in all directions: to the beach, on cruises, camping and only the LORD knows where else. We’ll have church with whoever shows up. Going to be some more changes today. I know how much you love changing.
• The Sanctuary will look a little different: it is set up for the 2:00 PM memorial service for Clayton Clemons.

Depravity

SCRIPTURE

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

~I Timothy 1:15, NKJV

QUOTE

No creature that deserved Redemption would need to be redeemed.

~C.S. Lewis

At one time I thought Paul was being insincere when he said he was chief of sinners. How could Paul be chief with people like Nero, a perverted scum ball, walking the earth? Perhaps this is the point, people like Nero have no conviction of sin. They have no vision of the holiness of God. I think the closer you get to Christ, the greater your consciousness of sin. In my late 20’s God revealed to me in a rather dramatic way some degree my depravity. I knew from that day till this that I am deserving of death and hell but now at age 64, I beginning to think the first revelation was only the tip of the iceberg. For the last year or so, I have taken it upon myself to learn how to pray more effectively. I have discovered everything I ask for is rooted in selfishness. About the only prayer I can pray these days with confidence in “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.”  We don’t have time to look at all the underlying factors but I want to mention one thing and it is the sin of despising or feeling morally superior to others.

I know that if I really saw myself as the chief of the sinner family, I would not despise others. To despise you have to look down but if you are the lowest of the low, there is no one beneath you to look down on. I think Nero was a horrible excuse for a man and Paul was next door to Jesus but Paul says, “I am the chief of sinners.” Paul was so close to Christ, he saw his depravity in the light of Christ holiness. In other words, getting to Paul’s state of grace would require getting closer to Jesus.

• Dana Segars CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE today [March 19] at 4:00 [Peck Chapel]. Visitation for family 3:00-4:00.
• Remember, tonight schedule has not changed: the only thing that has changed is the menu. We will have supper but it will be a Chick-Fil-A box meal. Supper begins at 5:30, AWANA at 6:15, and the GATHERING at 6:30.
• Also: keep in mind that next week is SPRING BREAK and a lot of folks are going to be out of town. Shohn is the only staff member who is not going to be gone. For this reason the office will be closed and there are no mid-week services of any kind. The AWANA Team gets a break and they deserve one.
• SENIOR ADULT FELLOWSHIP this Friday at 11:30 in the Parlor. Menu is Potato Bar with Southern Hickory BBQ. Seniors, your option is a desert or salad. You did great last month on those deserts. I especially loved the peach cobblers: both of them.

Fear of God

SCRIPTURE: Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding. [Proverbs 9:10, NLT]

QUOTE: God is not mean, but He is dangerous. ~Dallas Willard

COMMENTARY: In Romans 3 Paul talks about man’s depravity which is from tongue to toe. No one understands, no one seeks God and no one does good, not even one. We lie with the tongue, there is poison under our lips. Our mouth is full of cursing and bitterness, our feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in our path. We do not know how to achieve peace and there is no fear of God to restrain us. The Proverb above states clearly that the “Fear of the LORD” is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding.  Dallas Willard says, “We are beginning to get smart when we fear crossing God.” Do you have a fear of not doing His will? A truly wise person realizes that his or her well-being lies in being in harmony with God. God is not mean but He is serious about sin and how it affects His kingdom and what it did to His Son. Electricity or nuclear power are not mean but they are dangerous. When we follow the rules and respect their power, they can indeed be a blessing but we must keep in mind that electricity and nuclear power are dangerous and should be respected with some sense of fear. A person who does not worry about what God thinks isn’t smart.

EXTRA: There are a lot of hurting people and some that I would like for you to remember in prayer. I had a good visit with Penny Hazel yesterday and I was very impressed with her spirit. She has to lay on her back 24-7 and she has pain with almost every movement. She has not been able to eat since her surgery and will not be able to eat for some time but her spirit was incredible. She has tremendous faith in Christ. I went in to encourage her but she encouraged me. I think she may get to come home in a few days. She is a sweet lady with an optomistic attitude and I ask you to say a prayer for Penney. Also, I would like for you to remember my dear friend Bobby and Cyble Anders. They have been through so much the past few months and Cyble is battling bone cancer. They are gracious people.

Carson Andrews Dedication

2013 Real Men’s Retreat

EXTRA/EXTRA: Today is Daddy’s birthday. He would have been 102, the age of his mother when she passed in 1992.

Eugene Luther Bailey