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

 

Do What Is Right!

Scripture

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

~2 Timothy 2:16, NLT

Quote

The first struggle is to do the right thing and second, is to do the right thing for the right reason.

~Ya’akov

Sometimes it is easy to see the right or the wrong in a situation and then there are times when it is very difficult. I don’t encourage divorce for obvious reasons but there are times when I give my consent and blessing. You cannot endanger your life or the life of your children. You cannot endure constant abuse; verbal or physical. It is not hard to spot an abused wife if you know what to look for.

The Nazis starved prisoners of war and some entire nations including Holland. They set up a blockade so that Holland could not get food supplies. When the allies reached Holland, they found skeletons with some flesh, skin and breath. One American soldier said, “I cannot get the images out of my head, they will haunt me the rest of my life.” These starving people could focus with their eyes but were too weak to speak or lift a hand: they were like ghost. Some were saved but many could not be revived: they had suffered deprivation too long. The same is true with an abused woman: if you don’t get them out in time, they will lose their soul, their personality. They have a body, a voice and they appear to be alive but the soul is gone. For this reason, I do not counsel anyone to stay in an abusive situation.

There are those who hollow abuse when there is no abuse. Women who are being abused will try to hide it. It is one thing to jump the nest because you have fallen in love with some one else’s husband or wife but it is a different matter if the lives and well being of your children is at stake. In such a case, you do what is right for the children. I am an advocate for children: if that bothers you the best thing you can do is avoid me.

If you are confused about what to do: begin reading your bible daily, share your problem with a Christian friend, seek professional counseling [if you can’t afford a counselor, confide in your pastor] and if your parents are living, run it by them. They love you and your children, plus they have more experience and objectivity.

Remember our goal is to do what is right, not what feels good. Often times, doing right requires much more courage and character than just letting things go. Take the high ground: it requires more effort but eventually, you will celebrate your choice.

• It has been a busy week and although it wasn’t late when I got in Tuesday, I was very tired and not thinking well. We have a lot going on Sunday: PROMOTION DAY IN LCBS, Vote of Pastor Search Team, VBS workers meeting at 9:00 in Sanctuary along with all our other activities.
• Mavis Fitzgerald is not doing well: She didn’t know Joe David yesterday. Lord willing, I am going today. I also need to check on Kathleen and Ruth.
• We took a hit last night in youth but my group was up, maybe it was because we didn’t have choir practice. I can’t speak for anyone else, I had a ball. I loved the music. I think Brent rearranged one of the songs and I loved it.
• Sunday night week, June 12, we are going to hear Junior Hill at the Hartselle Camp Meeting. I want at least 100 to go. Let’s make a difference.

Alabama’s Favorite Son…Dr. Junior Hill

My Sin and Shame

Scripture

He [God the Father] made Him [Christ the Son] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

~2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB

Quote

I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon the cross.

~Tim Hughes

Can you imagine someone loving you so deeply and completely that they are willing to take your sin and shame, and not just yours but that of the every human being. This includes perverts, pedophiles, murderers, rapist, liars, abortionists and even arrogant preachers.

If there is one thing that could get me down and keep me down, it would be the weight of my sin, guilt and shame. I have done some low down despicable things. There are some sins that I have confessed only to God. One of the reasons I long for heaven is to be totally separated from all my sin and shame. The only reason I am getting to go to heaven is Jesus willingness to become my sin and bear my shame in His own body on the cross. Jesus made it possible for me to become righteous like Him. How could I not love Him!

• Joe David and I attended the COLS of Myrtle “Millie” Smith yesterday. Although I did not know Mrs. Smith, I know her children and grandchildren. Some of you might remember Judy Payne {Jan Fields sister-in-law}. Judy donated $6,000 on our first church van. I don’t think I will ever forget the Wednesday morning when she called. Millie Smith was Judy’s mom. Judy has two brothers, Alvis and Randall. Alvis was our neighbor on Craze Road back in the 90’s. I know all of you remember Matt and Anna Brown: both faithfully attended DBC back in their high school days. I got to disciple Matt one on one. Millie was Matt’s grandmother. Judy stayed single after Roy’s accidental death until her children were grown, then the LORD gave her a second good man to love and protect her, his name is Bill Welch. Both Judy and Bill are active in church and love Jesus. I got to visit with Matt just a few minutes after the service and I got to meet his wife. Matt is a fine young man. Most of you remember the night Tray, John and Matt wrecked on 36. It is a miracle that these boys survived.
• I saw Randy Lewis last evening at Ironman. He just finished another round of chemo and was feeling weak but still going. He said he had gained two pounds. Everyone loves Randy. He wants us to continue praying for him which we will do.
• I wake up in a new world practically every day. I generally make my plans the night before but sometimes they get changed. Harold and I were going to work on my old Ford tractor today but I’ve  had  to alter my plans. I have some hard visits to make and I have to get ready for Sunday. If you want to say a short prayer for me, I have no objections.

https://static6-a.akamaihd.net/assets/js/lib/html5.js
https://static6-a.akamaihd.net/assets/js/lib/respond/respond.min.js

/assets/js/lib/respond/respond.proxy.js
https://static6-a.akamaihd.net/assets/js/ie8.js

Our Sin–God’s Love

Scripture

But God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

~Romans 5:8, NRSV

Quote

Call no man worthless for whom Christ died.

~Muretus

As evangelicals, we believe God loves all people even though all have sinned and fall exceedingly short of the perfect standard we see in Christ. I think about sin a lot but it’s mostly my sin that I dwell on. All sin is antichrist. There is no such thing as a good sin. All sin is destructive in nature. Some sins  are more destructive than others. I hate cigarettes, the smoke will give me an immediate headache and I do appreciate friends respecting me enough not to smoke in my presence. Yet the truth of the matter is that drugs and that includes alcohol are far more harmful than tobacco. Our society says that alcohol is a disease not a sin. If it is a disease, why do they label bottles and cans.

Sin has far greater consequences than lung cancer or a pickled liver. Sin alienates us from God because sin produces guilt and shame. The only remedy for sin is Jesus. Technically, sin cannot be forgiven, it must be judged and this is exactly what happened on the cross. Jesus literally became sin for us. He, the holy One, took our sins upon His own body so that when He died on the cross, sin died with Him.

Jesus not only suffered the judgment our sins deserved; He gives us the desire and the will to overcome sin. If the desire to overcome sin in not in you then Christ is not in you. The key to saying no to sin is to understand the price that Jesus paid for our forgiveness: Sin got judgment and we got forgiveness. We should want nothing to do with the cause of Jesus death and it was sin. We should value our life in relationship to the price Jesus paid for our redemption.

Retired Veteran with a Smart Wife

Early one morning, an elderly retired veteran just finished a piece of artwork he had been working on and yelled to his wife, “Honey! Come see what I created! It’s an abstract panorama, depicting the seven years of the Obama administration!”

She yelled back, “Flush the toilet Bob, and come eat your breakfast.”

Trivial Pursuits

SCRIPTURE

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace.

~2 Timothy 2:22, NLT

QUOTE

Most people would prefer a change of circumstances rather than a change of heart.

~Warren W. Wiersbe

We are all in pursuit of something and it has to do with our core values. What do you value most? What is your highest priority? Is it financial security, a nice home, a condo on the beach, comfort, a cabin on the lake, a new husband, season tickets to Auburn games or perhaps some other form of entertainment. Americans have sold their soul for entertainment; we are going to entertain ourselves all the way to hell. The curse of worldly pursuits is that you might get them.

Paul said, “Pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace.” We need to set our affections on things above and not on things here on earth. Instead of craving better circumstances: more income, a better job, more comfortable living conditions–why don’t we crave a change of heart. Oh that this very day, Christians everywhere would repent of their worldly pursuits and seek righteousness, faithfulness, love, peace and REVIVAL.

• Jay set us up on WORD PRESS several years ago because it is simple and FREE. The only problem with FREE is they [WORD PRESS] wants you to get hooked and then buy the real thing. The FREE stuff is full of glitches and the more you use it, the harder they make it on you. Each night I set my font color on black and it changes back to gray. Sometimes I spent 20 minutes trying to get it right and last night I just gave up. So I am going to try blue. I don’t really like it but hopefully I can tell if they change it before I post.
• We are still needing prayer for Gary, Kane, John, Mavis and Keri. Gary is discouraged; Kane slightly better; John came home but still has some recovering to do; Mavis was dehydrated and has UTI. She will probably come home today. Also, add Allison Blackwood to your prayer list.
• Full slate this SUNDAY: Deacons at 8:15, Coffee, donuts and biscuits at 9:00, LCBS at 9:15, Worship Celebration at 10:15, Visitation and AWANA at 5:30 and evening worship at 6:15.
• Yesterday was an unusual day, I have had a lot of them this week. On my way to DGH I was praying, I said, “LORD my heart feels like glass, I don’t seem to hear You whisper like I once did; is it me? Am I not listening?” Then I had to apologize immediately, the LORD has spoken to me clearly several times this week in my BIBLE STUDY. On my way in to ICU, just a few steps from the door I hear a voice coming out of nowhere, “Who made the trees?” Then I hear the innocent voice of a little child say, “Godddd.” “And who loves you?” said his mom, the same little voice said, “Jesus.”  I did not touch my phone, it was in my pocket. I don’t know what I did, but it was the video Allison sent me. My phone is so smart, it knows when I need encouraging.
• June is a nervous wreck, she is afraid that Patton is going to get hurt, maybe paralyzed. She loves to watch him play but tonight it has been painful. He makes good reads but there is no zip on the ball. He has no feeling in his throwing hand.
• COLLEGE BIBLE STUDY REPORT: 29 in attendance, PTL.

The Fruit of The Spirit

SCRIPTURE

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

~Galatians 5:22-23, NRSV

QUOTE

The difference between want and need is self-control.

~Anonymous

Study the fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, etc. Is there anything on this list that is unattractive to you? Honestly, there is nothing on the list that I do not admire and covet. What moron would not want love, joy and peace? The last thing on the list is self-control but it is actually the key to all the others. If we would deny self and give preference to others, the other fruit would emerge without our effort. We always begin with love because it is first on the list and probably the most coveted fruit but the key is self-control. In terms of importance, it is first.

• I stand amazed. What a Thursday night response! Linda and Dian were hear and waiting on the arrival of the goods. Within 30 minutes, the FORTE looked like an ant hill. This doesn’t mean we are through but we are off to a great start.
• We will be here all day today. Our focus today will be the Grace Barn and tonight we may do some more sitting up. I’m not sure about the Saturday Schedule: Mandy has that but I will post it tomorrow.

Higher Ground

SCRIPTURE

Hear my cry, O God;  listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

~Psalms 61:1-3, NRSV

QUOTE

Surround yourself with people who are only going to lift you higher.

~Anonymous

MY THOUGHTS

We sang the old hymn Higher Ground yesterday morning and I enjoyed every verse. I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day; still praying as I onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” Is this your prayer? Do you have the desire to be planted on higher ground? What was Johnson Oatman thinking about when he wrote this hymn.

There are levels in life. I suppose the lowest level is the criminal; the person who disregards the law and has no respect for the rights of others. Then there would be the law-abiding; those who meet the laws demands but there is a higher plain. This higher plain is loving your neighbor as much as you love yourself. The higher plain is selfless living. It is putting the needs of others first. A life devoted to Christ in service of others.

The kids who went to Guatemala came back on a high: not for drugs but from serving others. I heard one of them say it was the best week of their life.

EXTRA

• Bro. Tim wished us a good Sunday [by text] and I am going to get him to do it again next week. It looked like Easter. It did my heart good to see a crowd and we had another good service. Last night was really special. DBC sending a Mission Team of 19 to Guatemala; can you believe it!
• BLOCK PARTY WEEK begins today. We will be taking stuff out of storage. Wednesday we go to SAMs. Thursday night we begin work at 5:00. We need you to bring stuff for the GRACE BARN beginning Thursday at 5:00.
• Good fellowship last night: people were hanging out and in no rush to get home.
• Good turnout for the FIRST PRIORITY prayer meetings.
• I do feel that I have sufficiently thanked you for the trip to Alaska so I want to do it one more time. I do thank everyone who made it possible. It was a wonderful trip. I don’t think a pastor could ask for more. I feel like I am in your debt. Your kindness overwhelms me.

He Knows Our Heart

SCRIPTURE

Give your people what their actions deserve, for You alone know each human heart.

~I Kings 8:39, NLT

QUOTE

Jesus knows everything.

~Peter [John 21:17]

It’s that time of year when fruits stands pop up from place to place. June and I stop at the one on Highway 31 just past West Hartselle on the left. We have purchased some delicious tomatoes from that stand but we have not been as fortunate on the cantaloupes. The problem with melons is that you cannot judge them by their appearance. You cannot look at cantaloupe and tell if it is sweet or tasteless. We bought a couple that were out of this world but most have been rather bland, almost tasteless.

The same is true with people; you cannot see their heart. My Mother was fond of saying, “You can’t judge a book by looking at the cover.” We may suspect that a person is vainly motivated but we don’t know for sure. We don’t know but Jesus does. Jesus knows everything. There is not one thing about you that He does not know. This would be a frightening prospect if it were not for His unconditional love. Jesus knew us before He made a commitment to love us. We do not win or earn His favor: He loves us because He choose to do so and there is nothing we can do about it.

• VBS 2015 is officially over: good program and great picnic. The kids did great. I don’t understand why so many take the night off. Hey, we had a ton of visitors and we did not run out of food. We want to thank Johnny, Zeb and Adam for cooking our burgers and dogs.
• We get back to normal Wednesday night with the GATHERING at 6:30.
• DBC voted to call David Hopper as our Minister of Music.
• Kane Hogan goes back to Memphis on Wednesday and Kerri goes back to Mayo in Jacksonville this Friday.
• Carman Livingston has been progressing daily and Cecil Linderman was carried to the hospital last night. Cecil is conscious but not talking.
• We will be working today but not in the office. If you need me, call my cell.

Abide In My Love

 

SCRIPTURE

Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

~John 15:9, NASB

QUOTE

Like bread, relationships can grow stale and crusty with time.

~Bill Mandrell

Ben Mandrell is a NAMB church planter and is presently in Denver, Colorado. He is a very bright young man but he is wrong about one thing: Ben said in our April 26 lesson, “Nobody like the ends of the bread loaf.” Guess what, I love them but June will not let me eat them first. Her theory is that they keep the pieces in the middle fresher.

Do you have any relationships that need to be freshened? Have some of your relationships grown old, stale and crusty. If you do not work to keep them fresh, they will naturally grow stale with time. How many senior adult couples do you know that hold hands? The James sisters can spot a second marriage. When they see a senior adult couple that is all lovey-dovey, they say, “This is not his first wife.” Guess what, 99% of the time, the James sisters are right. The key to relationships is to stay in love and we begin with Jesus.

• I carried the old LCBS literature to Trinity yesterday {James Kyle and Peggy did this for years} and when I got to the loading dock, the worker said, “What church?” I said, “Danville Baptist.” He said is Jack Bailey still the pastor? I said, “Yes, but he is getting old. We tried to run him off three times but he want leave.” He said, “He is a strong man.” I should have said, “Yes he is, but odor isn’t everything.” I drove off smiling: I really enjoy getting people in that position. I sure wish he had said, “Big and strong.” I could have said, “Yes, he is a giant of a man.”
• I will be in Birmingham today but hopefully back to church for the VBS rally. We are going to give all the workers their shirts but you have to order no later than 8:00 pm tonight. If you order later, you have to pay, plus you may not get your shirt in time for VBS. Tonight only, kids shirts are free but you have to be present and you have to give them your sizes. Workers you have to give them your size. No extra shirts will be ordered. If you registered your child last Sunday, you get the free T-Shirt. If you have already paid, we can give you a contribution credit or we can reimburse but these girls are going to kill me for making this last minute change.
• Congratulations to Haley and Kevin Clark on the birth of their son Shane Davis Clark.
• Mary Katherine is having surgery in Birmingham today. This is Tracey Gillies daughter and Jerry and Sheila’s granddaughter.
• I got a report from Tracey Callahan last night: Murphy’s law has  been in effect for them. Practically everything that could go wrong has. They had to stay an extra night and lost their motel room because it was previously booked. Pray for something good to happen and for their safe return. Pray for Kerri, Mary Katherine and Kane, now. Stop and whisper a prayer in their behalf. I would appreciate it and I know they would.
• GOLDEN GIRLS Saturday morning at CB, 9:30 am.
• Got a good report from the YOUTH. They are staying busy. They worked at the Baptist Children’s Home in Mobile yesterday. They also did yard work for some Senior Adults. They will come home FRIDAY.
• We will have the van if we need it Saturday. So far we have four men going to Montgomery. We need at least four more. Come on men, don’t be intimidated. There is nothing to fear but fear itself. Twenty-five years ago, we rented a bus and filled it up for a pro-life rally and now we can’t fill a van.

VBS JUNE 8-12

Purity

SCRIPTURE

And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in Him.

~I John 3:5, NLT

QUOTE

All those who were close to Jesus had the same testimony, He was the Lamb of God, spotless and unblemished.

~T.W. Hunt

Jesus was pure but He never talked about it, not in relationship to Himself. No man ever lived who had more adoring women around Him than Jesus. They followed Him and supported Him with their means [Luke 8:3]. They were there at the cross, unafraid to be close, they stood vigil until His suffering was over and then they watched the men put Him in a tomb. If Jesus had been lustful, He could have taken advantage of their affection but He was not lustful, nor was he puritanical as are so many men of the cloth. Jesus was not worried about reputation: He befriended prostitutes and tax collectors which earned Him the title “Friend of Sinners.” He also had meals with the Pharisees. According to the testimony of those who knew him, He never yielded to lust in any form or fashion: He was pure, perfectly and completely pure.

• TODAY WE PRAY FOR SENIORS
• LCBS at 9:15, Worship Celebration at 10:15 and 6:00. This morning we will be talking about Jesus before Pilot and tonight the unnecessary mocking and abuse that Jesus endured.
• Beautiful Weather: LORD we thank You for Spring.