One of the great joys of ministry!

One of the great joys of being in the ministry is having the opportunity to baptise people after they have made a profession of faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ. This past Sunday we were able to baptise nine people who wanted to make a public profession of their love for and faith in Jesus.

Lucky was the oldest individual being baptised and we baptised him first. He is on oxygen and unable to walk without assistance so we had to help him into and out of the pool. It was such a blessing to see the joy on his face as he shared his testimony in baptism. His public confession was a big step of obedience for him and spoke volumes to those who witnessed the baptism.

The youngest person baptised was Gabriya who, when I interviewed her about why she wanted to be baptised, gave an amazingly clear and biblically accurate testimony of what Jesus had done in her life and what salvation was all about. I wish that everyone had as good an understanding of what "believing in Jesus" means as she does! She brought tears to my eyes as I baptised her.



Lord, you have given me such a wonderful privilege to be an ambassador for Christ. Thank you for allowing me to by Your instrument in these wonderful people's lives. Amen!

A life or death decision . . .

This morning I had the opportunity to console and pray with a mom whose 51 year old son is in a medically induced coma. The medical staff and her son’s siblings have advised the mom to “pull the plug” on her son because the situation is so grave. An automobile accident some thirty plus years ago, which killed two of his friends, left him in a wheel chair with no spleen and the need for kidney dialysis. Over the years he has been close to death four times because of infections and pneumonia. Such is the case now.

The weightiness of having his power of attorney and, thus, the final responsibility is overwhelming for her. Too often, when we are viewing from the outside, we see situations like this from our perspective only. Such thoughts as: “I wouldn’t want to suffer like that, just let him go” or “he will be much better off with Jesus” miss the point. What about the agony of the one on whom the decision rests?

As I sat across from this woman this morning my heart ached for her. She was wrestling with the guilt of letting her son suffer and the fear of “playing God” if she agreed to remove life support. Fortunately, Jesus is her Lord and she is resting by faith on Him and is trying her best to allow Him to lead her and guide her. How much worse it would be to go through something like this without Jesus Christ holding you up!

Over the years I have learned that there are situations when I am asked for counsel where I have no answers. This is one of those. I could not make the decision for her but I could listen to her and we spent time in prayer asking God to intercede and make clear His will. After we prayed it was interesting to see how prayer had lifted her spirits. This again reminded me that it is not about me and what I can do to help someone; it is all about God, seeking His face, and allowing Him to minister His grace.

As I left her home I was reminded of the passage in 1 Corinthians 10:13 where Paul writes: “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” I had just left the presence of a godly woman who God knew was able to handle a situation that was far beyond my capabilities to handle.

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and your love. May your grace and love surround this dear woman as she waits on you. Please work through this situation to bring glory to yourself. Amen!

Oh the memories . . . .

Oh the memories . . . .

When our daughter blogged about entering the teen years with our thirteen your old grandson a flood of memories returned. Memories that have been hidden and repressed for over 50 years. (See her blog at: http://inthedetails-gabeanddave.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-is-mom-to-do.html)

Too often everyone thinks that puberty is only difficult for the female gender – not at all true. Boys struggle with identity issues, body issues, inferiority issues, and acceptance issues as much as girls do. I remember going to a YMCA camp one summer and having an awful time because I didn't feel as though I fit in or was accepted. I was not as physically mature as many of the other boys, I was much more naive than the other boys, I was overweight (I preferred the term "husky"), and none of my friends were there. I felt isolated and alone. It was a long week and I was very happy to return to the safety and love of our home. I refused to ever attend that camp again.

Then there was the time, at about the age of thirteen, when I had an emotional breakdown at home and could not stop crying. My parents could not consol me nor could some very dear friends of theirs console me. I could not communicate why I was crying because I had no reason why I was crying but it was real and unsettling for me. As those of you who know me understand, even today crying is still an issue. Talk about an identity crisis – "real men don't cry"!

Peer pressure as a teen was huge for me. I struggled with my identity well into my adult years. Unfortunately, I fear that peer pressure for my grandchildren is much more difficult than it was for me. While alcohol was a problem in my teen years, drugs were rare, teen pregnancy was rare, physical abuse was rare, sexual abuse was not talked about, and respect for those in authority was required. In those days if you got into trouble at school your parents would back up the school official and you were in trouble at home as well.

I cannot protect my grandchildren from the sins and corruption of the world they have inherited from my generation, but I can and do pray for my grandchildren regularly asking God to give them the grace to be His people not only through their teen years but throughout their entire lives here on earth. I am very thankful that all of my grandchildren are being raised by God fearing, Jesus loving parents who also pray for them and desire God's best for each of them. What a blessing and what an advantage that my grandkids have over so many others.

The Death of One of His Saints is Precious to God

As a pastor one of the responsibilities and/or privileges that go with the position is the commission to marry and bury people. Even though I am no longer in the full time ministry, the profession to which I was called is one from which there is no retirement. It is, in fact, a life long employment.

Today I had the privilege of officiating at the internment of a cousin who had passed away in another state and whose ashes were returned here to be buried next to his parents. It was not so much because I was a pastor that I was asked, but more because I am part of the extended family involved. My father-in-law and the mother of the deceased were brother and sister.

In preparing for the graveside message my attention was drawn to an amazing passage: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." (Psalm 116:15) Think about that for a minute. When someone who is a believer in Jesus Christ dies, that physical death is precious; which means of extreme value and highly esteemed by the Creator of the universe! What an amazing picture -- not only did God so love us that He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for our sins, not only does God so love us that He sent His Holy Spirit to take up residence within the believers heart, but God also so loves His saints that He esteems them of ultimate value in their death! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

I again stand amazed and in awe at the all encompassing love the Father has chosen to give to me, a sinner condemned unclean! He chose me, He indwells me, He awaits to welcome me home as one of His precious ones. Why? Because He chose to do it! I don't understand that kind of love but I sure do appreciate it and thank Him for it!

The Battle Still Rages

(NOTE: I posted this blog last April but the battle with Satan continues to rage and I am still fighting mad!)

The battle is raging and I am fighting mad! I am mad because I have seen firsthand the destroyed lives, the messed up kids, and tangled webs of deceit that are the causalities of this battle.

Ø A respected pastor of 25 years leaves his family, church, and friends for another woman after a secret illicit affair . . . the battle rages!

Ø A church leader struggles to the point of entertaining thoughts of leaving the church because someone on the church's staff is overly demanding and self-centered . . . the battle rages!

Ø A vibrant church is facing a devastating split because someone brought in an heretical teaching that undermined the orthodox teaching coming from the pulpit . . . the battle rages!

Ø A wife and mother who professes Jesus Christ as her Savior leaves her family and retreats into a self-centered life of affairs and alcohol . . . the battle rages!

Ø A prominent civic leader is disgraced through the lure of pornography . . . the battle rages!

Ø A successful business man wants to walk away because he can't get along with a partner . . . the battle rages!

The battle rages on every front. Why? Why are families dissolving before our eyes? Why are relationships being destroyed at an alarming rate? Why are our children being pulled into every form of evil imaginable? It is because we don't understand the battle in which we find ourselves. We believe that our problems, issues, and unhappiness are caused by those around us when, in fact, we face an enemy whose end goal is to kill and destroy everything that is good and wholesome and God honoring. We face an enemy who is "hell bent" on the destruction of all mankind, especially those who call Jesus their Savior! We face an enemy who despises the Creator of all things and seeks to make those who believe on Him impotent and unable to carry out His call in their lives.

Since Satan's attempt and failure to overthrow God in the beginning of time, he has had just one goal – to wreak havoc on earth destroying the lives of as many people as he could in an attempt to undermine God's plan. In Isaiah 14:12-15 we are given a glimpse of that monumental confrontation that took place between God and Satan:

How you have fallen from heaven,

O morning star, son of the dawn!

You have been cast down to the earth,

you who once laid low the nations!

You said in your heart,

"I will ascend to heaven;

I will raise my throne

above the stars of God;

I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,

on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.

I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High."

But you are brought down to the grave,

to the depths of the pit.

Even though many "enlightened" scholars and thinkers of our day dismiss the idea of an actual, literal battle between good and evil, one would have to choose to ignore the overwhelming evidence to believe that such a battle is not raging. Unfortunately, the very idea that such a battle is imaginary disarms many who otherwise would be able to see the reality of the battle and chose to fight it by standing with the Victor.

The Apostle Paul understood this battle very well. In his letter to the Ephesians he admonished them that the battle was raging and they had to prepare and understand the enemy in order to overcome all of the weapons that the enemy would use against them.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.^. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground. . ." (Ephesians 6:10-13)

The battle rages but the war is not lost! In fact, the war is already won and that great deceiver, destroyer, murderer, who we call Satan knows that he has been defeated. In his last gasp he is trying to bring down as many as he can. Jesus has won the victory and, in His perfect timing, will forever bind Satan and refrain him from causing any more havoc!

". . . the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Revelation 20:10)

The battle rages, however, when you face the temptations, struggles, and disappointments of life that come at us daily, remember that you have a choice: you can be a victim or you can be a victor. You can choose to follow Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, or you can choose to get angry with your fellow man, the situation, or your circumstances and allow Satan to side track or derail you and make you impotent for God's work. Remember, our daily battle "is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

The battle rages but the victory is won! My prayer is: "Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus. But while I wait for You, give me discernment to know when Satan is using other people, situations, or circumstances to try and derail me from following You. Allow me to hear your Holy Spirit as He leads and directs me into decisions that will honor You and further Your Gospel here on earth. Lord, I want to be a victor not a victim. Amen."

Surprise blessings . . .

Because of some back and hamstring issues, my neurologist ordered physical therapy for me. While I am not opposed to physical exercise, I have not, in the past, had the best results with physical therapy.

After my first meeting with "Dale", my physical therapist, I had reservations again about how this was going to go and I was not real excited about the scheduled six sessions I had to face over the next three weeks.

I returned a couple of days later for my next appointment and an amazing thing happened. As "Dale" was "torturing" me we talked about life, and his schooling, and his ex-girl friend, and God. Then, as I rolled off of the exercise cot and hobbled toward the door he asked me if I would like to pray with him. Wow, I thought, when is the last time I had a professional medical person ask me if I wanted to pray with them? Hum, can't seem to remember the last time.

That was two days ago and again today, after my "torture" treatment we went into an empty exam room and prayed together. What an awesome privilege and special blessing. God has not only brought a new brother into my life but also a new prayer partner.

Kind of reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

What an awesome God! Thank you Father!