God’s Missionary Heart

Scripture

I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

~Isaiah 56:7, NLT

Quote

“God’s love is like the ocean: we can see it beginning but we can not see its depth or its end.”

~Image Quotes

The “them” in Isaiah 56:7 is in reference to us the Gentiles. God had miraculously and mysteriously brought the Jews home from exile but He promised to bring others to join them. In the same breath, Isaiah denounces the leaders of the Jews. He said, “You leaders are not doing your job. Instead of warning My people, you are blind and ignorant. You are like watch dogs who don’t bark. You lay around like a lazy dog who sleeps all the time. You are greedy dogs who never get enough. You have no understanding and you seek your own pleasure by taking advantage of others.”

Israel misinterpreted their call and responsibility. Isaiah made it crystal clear in 42:6, “I, the LORD, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations.

Israel failed to demonstrate God’s righteousness and they failed to be a light to the nations but Jesus did not fail. He did what Israel failed to do. Israel will eventually be a light, a guide to the nations but if will be a new Israel with Jesus as King and you and I will be a part of this great kingdom.

• Thank you Jesus for the cooler air: it is refreshing!
• BUMPER STICKER OF THE DAY: “Somewhere in Kenya, a village is missing its idiot.”
• Full schedule today: Deacon’s meeting at 8:15, LCBS at 9:15, Worship at 10:15, Kids leave for camp at 11:30, Pastor’s Search Team meets at 4:00, VBS Commencement at 5:00 and picnic to follow.
• I got to visit four families yesterday. I’m slow because I get to talking and stay too long. Every visit I have made has been excellent. I haven’t heard a complaint yet: I have had a couple of close calls or near misses. We had a great time at Emily and Sean’s last night. I think I’ve finally got the boys figured out.
• Children leaving for camp today and will be back Friday. We have a record number going. I think it is 26 plus counselors.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

 

The Amen

Scripture

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

~2 Corinthians 1:20, NIV

Quote

The Old Testament is a book of prophecies and promises but a part from Christ, these promises are worthless.

~Ya’akov

Paul said in Ephesians 1:4, “Every spiritual blessing comes through Christ.” You cannot name one exception. Forgiveness, peace, purpose, privilege of prayer, justification…you name it, they all come through Christ. This is why so many Jews hate Jesus. Although Jews have been privileged as the chosen people, it gives them no advantage unless they repent of their sins and turn to Christ, which they refuse to do. Jews cannot secure the spiritual blessings of God without coming to Christ and neither can anyone else.

Paul went on to say...He destined us for adoption as His children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Did you notice all those possessive pronouns? His children, His will, His glorious grace, His blood, His Son, His good pleasure, His plan, . It is God’s plan {He set it forth} to gather all things, in heaven and earth, in HIM [Jesus]. Christ rejecting Zionism has no future. Israel has no future a part from Christ. God has one door–Jesus. He has one way–Jesus. He has one plan–Jesus. Get with the plan!

• Good crowd at church last night: I was pleasantly surprised. Thank You Jesus.
• Revised schedule for Sunday: Donuts and biscuits at 9:30, and worship at 10:15. No Deacons meeting, No LCBS and no PM services.
• Election June 5,12: Pastor Search Team. Business meeting June 12 after am worship.

VBS June 12-17

VBS June 3-7

VBS June 3-7

The Harmless Dragon

Scripture

Tell us what we want to hear. Let us keep our illusions. Get out of our way and stop blocking our path. We do not want to hear about your Holy God of Israel.

~Isaiah 30:1-11, GNT

Quote

You can’t change the truth but the truth can change you.

~Image Quotes

Isaiah labels Egypt “Rahab, the Harmless Dragon,” because Egypt was all mouth and no muscle. In other words, they were good at blowing smoke. Egypt was unreliable and was not to be trusted. Again and again, Egypt deceived Israel with big promises and tough rhetoric. On this occasion, Egypt was urging Hezekiah to rebel against Assyria while promising to  back him up. Egypt did not carry through with their promise.

Isaiah was preaching the truth but no one wanted to hear it. Eventually, God saved Jerusalem from the Assyrians no thanks to the Egyptians. God showed mercy to Hezekial who had made a bad mistake in judgment.

This story reminds us that some folks can’t handle the truth. They are locked in their room of illusions and pretense with a do not disturb sign on their door. It makes them angry when you force them to face reality.

The truth may be painful at times but it will set us free. It set Jacob the patriarch free. No man is free who lives under the dark cloud of a lie.

• God is good. Good crowd at church on Sunday 323 and two very good offerings. Thank you church for giving to the Senior Project. Mandy will get the bibles wrapped this week.
• My Aunt Angie’s COLS went divine. The Holy Spirit fell at the end. Donnie Browning song  O GLORIOUS LOVE and heaven came down and glory filled my soul. Tim leaned over and said, “I’m getting ready to go.” It may be as close to heaven as I’ve been. 
• It is hard to believe that we have wrapped up another AWANA YEAR and now we are gearing up for VBS, our 38th at DBC and final. We are going after supplies today so no one will be at the office.

YES TO…VBS…JUNE 13-17

VBS June 3-7

VBS and VBX June 3-7

Spend Now, Pay Later!

Scripture

The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

~I Samuel 8:7, NRSV

Quote

God will forgive us but sin leaves a dreadful mess.

~William Franklin Graham

Sometimes our lust for the things of the flesh is so great that we choose to ignore the circumstances. Israel petitioned Samuel for an earthy king and God told him to grant their wish but not until he had warned them of the consequences. Samuel went over the consequences: military draft, labor pool, forced labor, civil service, daughters taken to cook, clean, serve and fill his harem, taxes on produce, livestock and income. The Israelite’s said, “We don’t care, we want a king so we can be like other nations.”

I made a visit several years ago to a woman who was leaving her family. She was head over heals in love but not with her husband. I tried to get her to fast forward 20 years. I ask her, what do you want to be doing on Christmas day twenty years from now? In 20 years you will have grandchildren, do you want to be with them or your new friend? She said, “I’m not worried about my children or grandchildren, they will be okay.” She ignored the consequences and severed a relationship that can never be mended.

These folks never return to me and say, “Bro. Jack, you were right, there are dreadful consequences for putting yourself and your interest before your children.” They never admit it but I can see the sorrow in their eyes. Some are living in a hell on earth while they pretend that everything is great. We may be clever but not enough to mock God, whatever we sow, we will reap.

• Great music last night at the GATHERING. We are definitely backslidden and in desperate need of REVIVAL. Can you imagine what it would have been like last night had all the pews been filled.
• March 28th is our deadline of selling 200 Swamp John’s tickets. The money [$2 per plate] goes to St. Jude’s in Memphis. If we don’t move these tickets in the next few weeks, they will not be coming. 
• No Baptisms Sunday but we will begin them February 21 Lord willing.
• Gary Garner is about the same: keep praying. I didn’t get to talk to him yesterday, he didn’t wake up while I was there.

Moses The Prophet

SCRIPTURE

“But Israel soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock of their salvation.

~Deuteronomy 32:15, NLT

QUOTE

Could a mariner sit idle if he heard the drowning cry? Could a doctor sit in comfort and just let his patients die? Could a fireman sit idle, let men burn and give no hand? Can you sit at ease in Zion with the world around you damned?

~Leonard Ravenhill

Change one word in Deuteronomy 32:15 and it is as current as today’s news paper–“But America soon became fat and unruly; the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed! Then they abandoned the God who had made them; they made light of the Rock [Jesus] of their salvation. Someone other than Moses wrote Deuteronomy 34 because verse 8 reads, There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. One thing is certain, he had the Israelites pegged and it seems that Americans have a lot in common with the ancient Israelites. This nation was born in adversity and suffered through more wars than you can count on one hand but we can not handle prosperity. We have abandoned the God who made us the greatest nation in history and we have treated His Son, the ROCK with great disrespect.

• There was a wreck yesterday morning [10/15/15] on Danville Road across from John and Cyndi’s. It involved Marlon Cole and Morgan Weatherwax. I was told that both escaped serious injury but I think Marlon went on the Huntsville to check out his back. It was a bad wreck and it is a miracle that no one was killed. LORD willing, I will check on Marlon today.
• Bill Wilborn remains in very serious condition. Bill has a staph infection and he needs a surgery but he is too weak. They are going to try to build him up so they can amputate the bad foot. His heart rate is also very high: Debbie has requested that you pray. I was there early yesterday but he got worse as the day progressed.
• Kane Update: Well….that is a deep subject. We will not be home this weekend. Plans have changed. Kane’s Colon is nor well enough to be that far away. I do respect Dr. Poi he has Kane’s health in mind. It is hard on us here and family home. Pray that when sonogram time comes Monday all is well.
• Corey Orr [Chanda’s GM] is growing weaker. She was not able to converse with me yesterday. She is getting good care from her daughters.

Tripping On Greed

SCRIPTURE

So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

~1 Timothy 6:8-9, NLT

QUOTE

The antidote for covetousness is contentment.  The greedy worship themselves: Only the contented person worships God.

~John MacAuthur

King Rezin of Syria joined king Pekah of Israel in attacking Jerusalem. Ahaz king of Judah took all the gold and silver from the temple treasures and sent them to Tiglath-pileser, the ruthless barbarian who ruled the Assyrian Empire, asking him for help. Tiglath-pileser took the money and attacked Damascus. Rezin army was encamped around Jerusalem and thus he had no defense. The Assyrian monarch marched into Damascus and took it without  fight. He enslaved and deported the people and killed Rezin.

The moral of the story is simple: King Rezin should have been content with what he had and minded his own business. His reach for more cost him his kingdom and his life. Beware of greed, it is as treacherous at Tiglath-pileser. Greed will destroy you ultimately and you can take that to the bank, the bank of truth.

• Somebody stumped me this morning with a bible question: I did not know the answer and if I ever knew it, I have forgotten knowing it. When Daniel has his vision on the banks of the Tigris, there were three persons present counting Daniel. Can you name the other two? I could not; I got one, the angel Michael but the third was the pre-incarnate Christ. Scholars call this a Christophany, some call it an Epiphany, the manifestation of the divine Christ in some visible form.
• One lady in our church has started a small group bible study in her home. They meet on Monday night and she had every member of her group in church last Sunday. If we had  three dozen more like her, we would fill up the building. Just thought you might want to hear some good news.
• Heat or no heat, June is flying by, the 4th of July is a week from Saturday. One half of this year will be gone is one week.
• One of the first things that happened yesterday morning was opening a card. At first, I did not recognize the name. It was from a woman in Athens who lives in a wheel chair and now she is taking care of her dad who is 83. He told her years ago to cancel the DIGEST but she said no, “I like it and I am not canceling.” I think he is probably a democrat. Any way, her dad has had a stroke and she is the primary care giver. I walked into their house about 2:30 and there were six fans going full speed. I said, “Do you not have A/C?” “Oh, we have it but daddy doesn’t want us to run it,” she said. I said, “Are you kidding me, why on earth would he not want you to use it?” She said, “We don’t need it, [pointing to the fans] we have plenty of air.” I said, “Yes, but it is all hot.” I stayed about 20 minutes: I could not wait to crawl back into Squeak. I told them, “I’m going to get you some help: tell me what you need.” She said, “We don’t need a thing.” I wish you could see what I saw and yet this woman with one leg and a bed fast dad said, “We don’t need a thing.” She has two brothers: I ask, “Do the boys know how sick their dad is?” “Yes,” she said, “I have told them everything.” She said it had been over 4 years since either had seen their daddy. I didn’t leave complaining; I left thanking. God has been good to Jack Bailey and he doesn’t deserve it but he is grateful for the mercy.

Criticism

SCRIPTURE

Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”

~I Samuel 8:4-5, NLT

QUOTE

You can judge a man’s character by the way he treats the very young and the very old.

~Hubert H. Humphrey

Paul gives a list of spiritual gifts in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4: the gift of criticism is not listed. Samuel had devoted his life to his country and his thanks was to be referred to as an “Old Man.” “Give us a king” they demanded; we want to be like the other nations.” The criticism was displeasing and disappointing to Samuel but he took his pain to the LORD. The Lord said, “Don’t take it personal, they are not rejecting you, they do not want Me to be their King. Give them what they ask for but make sure they understand what they are getting.”

How do you react to criticism? Is there such a thing as constructive criticism? Is it wise to despise an ‘Old Man’s’ advice? Lord willing I will answer all three questions in tomorrow’s blog.

TODAY WE PRAY FOR THE WORLD

• Our travelers are coming home one by one. We had a group get back yesterday evening and more late last night. Pray for traveling mercies for those still out there.
• Senior Adult Cookout this Friday…BBQ Chicken and ribs..11:30 at the pavilion. Seniors your option is anything you want to bring. I’ll do the meat and Mandy will do the baked beans and get us some dinner rolls. We will also have the team and a freezer of cream.
• The GATHERING tonight at 6:30…You will hear the best band in the land and I will be doing the part 2 message on Temptation.
• VBS-VBX June 8-12…8:30-11:30…this could be a historic VBS.
• A SPECIAL THANKS to David Hopper. He is not only a whiz with a guitar, he is a whiz with computers. He fixed my computer with a text message. All I had to do was follow his instructions.
• There is a lot going on June 6th which is unfortunate but nothing can be done about it. I am praying for someone to go to Montgomery with me but I am not afraid to go alone. I will say this: we are going to keep on until the left takes every right we Christians have. For some reason, we don’t get upset unless they get into our pocket book. TAKE A STAND FOR BIBLICAL MARRIAGE.
• I visited with J.W. and Sandra Blackwood yesterday. Sandra is about the same. The entire family is gracious to me and they seem to appreciate everything I do which is not much. Keep them in your prayers. Also: Alaina Fitzgerald became seriously ill while the family was on vacation in Branson. It is my understanding that she has multiple blood clots in the left lung. I know the family would appreciate your prayers.

FRIENDS STICK TOGETHER

 

Promise Keepers, Not!

SCRIPTURE

Preserve and protect the people you have chosen, the nation you made so strong. We will never turn away from you again; keep us alive, and we will praise you.

~Psalms 80:17-18, GNT

QUOTE

There are three rules in relationships: don’t lie, don’t cheat and don’t make promises you cannot keep.

~Source Unknown

I was reading Psalm 80 yesterday and I got the impression that the Psalmist was upset with God over Israel’s circumstances. The author is Asaph who was David’s chief praise and worship leader. Asaph accuses God of feeding Israel with tears and sorrow; He has made them a reproach to their neighbors and broken down the wall of protection. Asaph makes the promise that if God will restore protection and blessing that Israel will be faithful and never turn away from Yahweh again.

It reminds me of Peter’s solemn promise in Matthew 26:33, “I will never leave you, even though all the rest do!” Ironically, Jesus knew that Peter could not keep this promise and He loved him anyway. Sometimes when the circumstances are bad we make rash promises and we blame God for our circumstances. All anger and misery is directed toward God.

You may question the above thought and that’s OK but as soon as this insight popped into my mind, I thought about the elder brother in Luke 15. He was angry with his circumstances but who was the object of his anger. Was he mad at his little brother who came home ragged and broke? No, he was angry at his father for showing mercy to his brother.

The elder brother had no right to be angry with his father and neither did Israel with Yahweh. Our circumstances, for the most part, are a product of our rebellion.

• Today we pray for FAMILY and if you don’t have one on your heart I can give you some suggestions. Kenny rested Wednesday night and he and I watched the 1st half of the Auburn game yesterday. He is still in pain and not able to eat anything. Please pray for my noble friend! I also have a Nephew in Athens Limestone Hospital who is in a similar condition. He is in his early 50’s. His name is Henry Eugene Bailey. He has had a rough week: actually, a rough year.
• It is not a good time to be an SEC West fan. There is a lot of pressure on Alabama, too much. I haven’t had a chance to watch the ROSE bowl but it appears that Oregon is going to win. I am predicting an Ohio State-Oregon Championship. Do I want to be wrong? Yes! Do I think that I am wrong? No! Call me superstitious but I think the SEC West is snakebite. I may not even watch the game. Auburn fans, you never want me to pull for you: every time I do, you get beat. I don’t know what will happen after I post this blog: but up to this point Ole Miss has been the biggest disappointment and Arkansas has been our only star in the sky.
• Heard Big Mama yell: Winston fumbled and the Duck ran it in: 45-20. I predicted this one to go down to the wire, looks like I am wrong again. If I were you, I would not bet on football.

The Ultimate Alabama Fan

I

A New And Living Way

 

 

SCRIPTURE

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh.

~Hebrews 10:19-20, NASB

QUOTE

Everything in Old Testament Judaism was a symbol or shadow of Christ. The temple, the furnishing, the veil: all point to  Christ. 

~Ya’akov

According to Josephus, the temple veil was 60 feet tall and 4 inches thick. Not even a horse had the strength to draw this huge curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the court of the priest. The veil served as a wall, a partition separating sinful man from Holy God. The Jews had the right concept: God is holy and sin had created a barrier but Jesus broke down the barrier that separated Holy God from sinful man.

The moment Jesus died, there was an earthquake and this 60 foot curtain know as the veil was ripped open from top to bottom. The renting of the veil was the final blow to Judaism and marked a NEW AND LIVING WAY to the Father. Jesus is the new and living way. When we think of a “way,” we think of two things: [1] A path or route and [2] A vehicle. Jesus is both.

Sadly, the religious Jews patched up the veil and tried to continue as though the death of Jesus had no impact. In truth, the death of Jesus had a huge impact on Judaism: Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial system. We don’t have a problem with this but the early disciples struggled with it big time. Paul was arrested in the temple fulfilling a Jewish vow. He was warned not to go to Jerusalem but he wanted to be there for Pentecost, a Jewish festival. Paul represents the best of the best: he understood grace like no one else and yet he had a hard time letting go of his old religion.

Let your religion go and embrace Jesus. He is the NEW and LIVING way.

• Today we pray for Family…I think it is Friday.
• June tripped over my boots and almost fail: I heard her from the study. I said, “Are you all right,” “Yeah,” she said, “I tripped over your boots.” She always finds a way to make things my fault. Those boots have been sitting in the middle of that room all day. She has had three or four chances to put them in the closet and she just walked by them and now is blaming me for stumbling over them. Now you know what I live with. Bless my heart.
• We went to see UNBROKEN yesterday evening: I don’t recommend it for women and children. Hannah said she had rather see the LAST OF THE MOHEGIANS. It has a lot of gruesome torture. Not many bright spots and very little humor plus they leave out the part about Billy Graham. The people I talked to said the book was better than the movie.
• Jeff Garner’s dad, Charles Garner, passed away yesterday morning. I am pretty sure the COLS will be Saturday.
• Don’t forget…Michael Mason this Sunday at 10:15…We’ll have some donuts and coffee about 9:30.

• I have posted the top ten cartoons of 2014. Number one is on the bottom. There may be a tie between 1 and 2: it ran pretty close.

Blasted Modern Architecture!

Law Of Prayer

SCRIPTURE

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

~Matthew 7:7, NLT

QUOTE

The law of prayer is to ask.

~George W. Truitt

Matthew 7:7 is an imperative, not a suggestion: it is like a command. I fully concur with Dr. Truitt, the law of prayer is to ask. I do a lot of asking when I pray but I do not feel like a powerful intercessor. I think of what James said in chapter 4 of his epistle….Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” Then I get to wondering if my asking is selfish. I have noticed my tendency to do more asking than praising or thanking. Oswald Chambers sheds some light on my dilemma, “You will never receive if we ask with a certain result in mind, because you are asking out of our lust, not out of our poverty. A pauper does not ask out of any reason other than the completely hopeless and painful condition of his poverty.”

Begging is a fine art these days. It is not what it was a hundred years ago or even fifty. Beggars today are very specific but I do understand what Chambers is saying, a true beggar ask for anything you are willing to give. He does not declare terms but begs your mercy. I am not saying that it is wrong to be specific but when in doubt we can ask God to give us what He wants us to have. He may very well be answering more of my prayers than I realize because He is not doing what I expect. The Jews prayed for a Messiah and God answered their prayer. He sent a Messiah and they didn’t recognize Him because He was not what they expected.

• 238 Sunday night…I knew we had a crowd and consumed 350 burgers but I didn’t know it was that many. Think how many we would have had if some of our regular folks had not stayed at home.
• We have reached our Guatemala goals so we start on BLOCK PARTY this Sunday. We are not early on this, we have only 8 Sundays to raise $8,000. I believe that where God guides He provides: may His will be done. “LORD, give us what you want us to have.”
• The GATHERING this Wednesday night at 6:30. Tyler Beck will be leading our Praise and Worship on Wednesday nights this Summer. David will continue to lead on Sundays.
• I fear that with the passing of VBS that this Summer will fly by with School beginning way too early at August 6th.
• Posted some new top tens yesterday if you want to check them out.
• Anna Shaneyfelt will be seeing a doctor in Huntsville tomorrow.