The Gospel
November 10, 2015
SCRIPTURE
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
~Romans 1:16, NASB
QUOTE
The gospel is the supernatural message about a supernatural person who brings about supernatural changes in the lives of those who accept it.
~L. Nelson Bell
- I intended to visit yesterday but Joe David got it on the way to Seminary.
- Kane goes back to Memphis today if I am not mistaken.
- My Nephew Heath goes to the doctor on Wednesday. We are fairly certain that he will have brain surgery, just don’t know when.
- VETERANS DAY WEDNESDAY. The office will be closed but we will have the GATHERING at 6:30.
Peace
May 14, 2014
SCRIPTURE
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 4:7
QUOTE
If the basis of peace is God, the secret of peace is to trust Him.
~J.N. Figgins
It is not hard to be at peace when everything around you is going smoothly and under your control but this is not real peace. Real peace is the inner calm of God’s Spirit reigning in your heart when all around is chaotic and everything seems to be going wrong. We get this peace that surpasses all understanding by trusting Christ and staying focused on HIM, not the problems. His peace will keep us calm so that we can process solutions and deal effectively with the circumstances. Don’t settle for the world’s peace which is fickle, fragile and fleeting. Put all your confidence in Christ.
Mrs. Eloise Maddox was promoted yesterday [4:30 am]. She got to spend a quiet day Sunday with her family. It will be a MOTHERS DAY that will be cherished. She is a fantastic and very, very sweet lady. Friends will have an opportunity to visit with the family Friday night 6:00-8:00 at Pecks. The Celebration of Life Service will be Saturday [May 17] at Pecks. Mrs. Maddox daughters got her a mini lap top some 3-4 years ago so she could read the blog. She read it every day until a couple of months ago. When Mr. Jack departed this world, she ask me to sit with the family at the service. Both Jack and Eloise Maddox were refreshing spirits to me. They always encouraged me and as long as the LORD gives me mind to remember, I am sure I will remember them.
- Two more Wednesday suppers, tonight being one of them. Remember the deadline is 10:00 am this morning {May 14}
- Big Mama, Chloe and myself saw something last night that everyone should see. It was a baseball game for handicapped or mentally challenged children. We went to see Clara play. I went thinking everyone would be in a wheel chair but there were only 6-8 in chairs. The Downs Syndrome children can run and so can some of the others. There is no arguing with umpires; there are no umpires. All the fans cheer for all the kids. For a child to hit the ball in fair territory and touch all the bases is rare: there is a lot of grace in their game. What impressed me is how they celebrate what we take for granted; things that we could consider small. It takes some of them a full minute to get around the bases. No outs, no strikes: just hits, runs and cheers. Every game ends in a tie. Actually Clara would be one of the few who could keep score. Most of them do not have the mental capacity to keep score. They just have fun and love on each other. It moved my hard heart and it needed to be moved. I’m glad Clara invited me: it was good for the soul.
Hype Verses Praise
July 2, 2013
Prayer For REVIVAL in America
SCRIPTURE: My teaching and my speaking were not with wise words that persuade people. But the proof of my teaching was the power that the Spirit gives. [1 Corinthians 2:4, ERV]
QUOTE: I see a new cross among evangelicals but it is not the cross of the New Testament: The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it.~A.W. Tozer
COMMENTARY: As I was reading 1 Corinthians 2, Philippians 3:3 came to mind…For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. I cannot bring myself to use the term spiritual in connection with hype [speech intended to excite and enliven] so I will refer to the age old practice as “Religious Hype”. Preachers have used hype as long as I can remember. My father in the ministry was an exception. I never heard him brag about our church when in the presence of other preachers. He listened mostly; rarely did he say anything about the church and I never remember hearing him brag but others did. One man in particular was bad about hyping everything up. Every service was great; the crowds were great; his sermons were great. Bro. Inman use to say, “He is not exaggerating, he’s just blowing it up so we can see it.” Bro. Inman was being nice: the man was exaggerating.
I filled in for a small church in the summer of 1970. The church ran about 30 in Sunday School and had 40 or so for worship; there was a Sunday that I could not be there and they had another preacher fill in. I was at the Associational Office the next week, I worked there part time, and this guy came in. He didn’t know me from Adam’s house cat. I was busy and I did not interrupt but I listened to him as he reported his work to the DOM. He said, “The house was packed and people were sitting on the edge of their seats. I think revival may have broken out.” I could not believe my ears. When he left, I said to Bro. Presley, “Is he talking about the same church where I have been filling in?” Bro. Presley just laughed. I went back the next Sunday and the house was not packed. I think we had 33 in SS and about 40 for Worship. I guess they found out I was coming back.
My mentors have been promoted but I wonder what they would think about the hype today, with Facebook and Twitter. Is it ethical to exaggerate the facts. Can hundreds of decisions be made for Christ without revival breaking out? If true revival broke out, could it be contained in one local church or even one area? I want Revival, I pray for it every day but not just for Danville. America needs revival; it is our only hope. Hype is a big part of the competition that goes on between churches but it has no part in the spreading of the gospel. The kind of revival we need cannot be generated by hype. Like it or not, we are at God’s mercy. Mercy drops round us are falling but O for the showers we plead.
EXTRA: I do realize that no one cares but I did get a project completed today and I am thrilled. I want to thank my grandson and my son-in-law for helping me. I now have a shed to park the Titan under. What about that rain: was that awesome or what. We have some beautiful corn and I bet that rain is going to make the farmers corn as well. Thank You Jesus for the rain.
A sight for sore eyes
How Could We Forget?
January 4, 2013
SCRIPTURE: But My people have forgotten me too many times to count. [Jeremiah 2:32, ERV]
QUOTE: “Begin with not honoring God’s day and you will soon cease to honor God’s book; cease to honor God’s book, and by-and-by you will give God no honor at all. ~J.C. Ryle
COMMENTARY: Does a young woman forget to put on her make up or her jewelry when she is going out? Does a bride forget to put on her wedding dress on her wedding day? God told Jeremiah, “My people have done an amazing thing: they have forgotten their God.” How do you forget God? How can you forget your Savior Jesus Christ? How many days can you go without thinking about God? Can you go a day, a week or a month?
Can you imagine the pain of being forgotten? Being in the military, yet forgotten…being in the nursing home, yet forgotten…being an aging parent and forgotten. It has to sting to be forgotten.
God had been good to Israel. He had treated them with favor and kindness; yet they did what no other nation had done, they forgot their God. Read Jeremiah 2 and count the parallels between ancient Israel and America: it will put the fear of God in you.
EXTRA: Incredible day yesterday! The six platoons that graduate today began yesterday morning with a four mile run. They finish by running down the main street of Parris Island [it does have two r’s no matter what spell check says]. It is the first time that parents, girl friends or grandparents get to see their sons or daughters. Two platoons were female. Lara spotted Seth first. I was trying to catch it on video but I jumped when Lara spotted him, he saw us and gave us the power sign [right fist in the air]. I don’t think he was supposed to do that but he did and he hollowed “Hi Mom”. It was a very emotional moment. After a long-long wait, we got to see him about 10:45 and he was given liberty until 2:45. I saw the word liberty in a whole new light. Not much you can do on the Island and you can’t leave. It rained all day and so our picnic was almost spoiled but in the nick of time, our party planner, Alias Betty R., spotted a pavilion near the entrance of the Island. There was one pavilion open and we got it! TYJ! Of all things, Seth wanted taco’s and Holly brought him 12. He ate an entire pumpkin pie that Big Mama had brought, 12 taco’s, I don’t know how chocolate covers cherry’s and a MD’s apple pie that Kelsey brought him. The last thing he asked for was the bibles for his buddies and we gave him an entire box. I thought that I had written him a lot but Kelsey wrote him everyday. Can you believe that…everyday. Way to go Kelsay Ray, you made my day. I don’t think Parris Island had ever seen a Fagan/Bailey mix. I will not say that the boy is stubborn but he has a lot of determination.
Today is graduation day but also a travel day: keep praying! You got us here, now please pray us home. Big Mama says she is never leaving Danville again.
Oh Happy Day! Thank YOU Jesus.
He Love Them!
ONE YEAR AGO: Weather was cold with a lot of wind. I was reading the prophet Jeremiah in NRSV–amazing, I reading it in Moffat now! Our Wednesday night study was in Hebrews.
Political Correctness, Not!
November 6, 2012
SCRIPTURE: And now, Lord, listen to their threats. Lord, help us, your servants, to speak your word without fear. [Acts 4:29, NCV]
QUOTE: Declaring a situation hopeless is like slamming a door in God’s face. ~Charles Allen
COMMENTARY: Our LCBS lesson last Sunday was very convicting to me. I don’t know if this lesson was planned with the election in mind but it certainly seemed that way. Peter and John were arrested by the JPD for doing a good deed. They healed a cripple man in the name of Jesus and it got them thrown into jail. You check it out, there is no complaint on the part of the apostles about the injustice of the situation. Peter and John do not take this as an opportunity to rail at the corrupt government that was anti-Christ and literally responsible for Jesus death. Instead of taking a shot at all the hypocrits on the Sanhedrin, they stay focused on one thing–being a bold witness for Jesus. As I studied this lesson, I was convicted. I don’t need to focus on Obama: my focus needs to be on Jesus.
At the same time, Peter and John did refuse to be politically correct and Peter did tell them the truth…let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Please note: The Apostles did not yield to the pressure to be politically correct [they continued to speak in Jesus name] and they acknowledged openly that the government of the day was anti-Christ.
Bro. Tim Keenum said something last night that was right on target: we need to go vote today but we need to be in church tonight. The United States has a limited history but if one person gets saved tonight, they will live forever with Christ. It is a struggle at times but we have to keep the main thing, the main thing.
EXTRA: Thank you Jesus for the rain. June and I worshipped as we drove home in the rain last night. Pray for the Revival Services tonight at DBC and Sardis Springs. I anticipate a big crowd tonight. Mike Wilbourn’s CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE is today at 2:00 [Roselawn]. Doug and I will be helping in that service.
Mrs. Martha Newby in between two crazy Baptist Preachers
EXTRA/EXTRA: Lord willing I will be back at Danville tonight. I had committed to Bro. Tim long before J.D. planned our Revival. You can’t blame either because they are trying to get a meeting in between football and basketball and this is the only week. June and I got great reports on the service at Danville. I have been battling some physical issues and I am very thankful that I got to fulfill my obligation to Tim. I am much better and Dr. Crouch is already treating the ulcer [we think that is the problem]. I am fine so long as I don’t eat too much or eat the wrong things but you can look at me and tell that I eat too much. Coffee and cokes are my greatest battle.
I am anxious about the election and you don’t have anything to worry about; I have no intention of becoming politically correct no matter what happens but I do want my priorities to be in order. I am stating publically that if Romney wins today that I will take the Bailey bunch out to eat at the place of their choosing. Holly does not read the blog but I am sure that someone will get her the word. Ruth Crisp is out Holly and so is Hooters.
One other thing: I got chewed out by a mad woman Sunday morning. She told me off right there is the hallway of the synagogue. She got me so upset that I poured coffee all over her jacket. Blessed are the persecuted. I think she did it in fun but when she stated, she had me fooled.
Jack's Blog 