What Voice is heard in Your Tent?

The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD. The LORD has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD, Through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
(Psa 118:14-29)

May the voice of rejoicing and salvation be heard in our tents this Lord's day, and may you rejoice and be glad in this glorious day that the Lord has made.

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.

Put on the Garmin of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness

I was doing some shopping yesterday and happened to purchase a Garmin brand GPS device for my wife. (I had ordered one for her last Christmas but it never arrived, and eventually we discovered that the system had somehow canceled the order.) Well, I finally got around to getting one for her. But I digress. I was going to share with you how when I got to the counter I began singing, "Put on the Garmin of praise for the spirit of heaviness". The folks behind the counter gave me weird looks. I said, you know like the worship song, "Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Still blank looks. Neither the two ladies or the guy obviously recognized the song, and two of the three didn't crack a smile. I took the opportunity to witness a little bit, and thought to myself, maybe I should have stopped by and bought oil at the Discount Auto place. The second line to the song is "let the oil of gladness flow down".

Worship provides great opportunities to witness. Brian Barnett and I were in the Florida Hospital elevator with a few of its medical staff on Thursday and I sang that Ron Konoly song, "We're going up, going up to those high places, to tear that devil's kingdom down." I couldn't get the staff to get in the groove with the song, but truth be told, Brian didn't seem to want to get in the groove either on that one.

Good news is that Brian and I had the opportunity to anoint Joe Wlasiuk (la-sook), and old friend in the Lord (Lynn Foss's dad), with our oil from Israel and pray over him for healing. He is in for an aggressive cancer that recently got found. Praise God, I found out yesterday that the hospital has decided to release him several days early, he is handling the chemo okay, and he is in good spirits (after all, he's coming home today!).

Keep praying for brother Joe and I'll keep you posted. In the mean time keep that garment of praise on, and keep that oil of gladness flowing!

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.

Happy Birthday!

My wife, Claudia, has a birthday tomorrow, and so I thought I'd take a few minutes to talk birthdays. (By the way she's the cute blonde girl about to blow out her candles.- Just joking, my love. [Those of you that don't receive the pictures I send won't be seeing this young lady.])

Some of us like birthday celebrations, and enjoy the special attention of friends and family that comes with them once a year (My wife, Claudia, is in this category). Others of us are party poopers, sticks-in-the mud, and various other labels used by the birthday celebrators to describe those of us that for the most part would just as soon not be surrounded by a crowd of crepe paper hanging, balloon tying, candle lighting well wishers when our time of the year comes around. :)

I actually do love having friends and family around when I can take the time to enjoy their company, and don't feel like I have to 'work the crowd'. But as the years have gone by I've gotten more sentimental and much more appreciative of those brothers and sisters in Christ that are there for me through the hard times, and any excuse to be around them is okay by me.

The Bible does address this whole matter of special days in Romans 14 (it was likely dealing with sabbath keeping and holy days in the New Testament church):

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
(Rom 14:5-8)

The important thing for us to ask ourselves on any special occasion is what exactly are we celebrating? Are we simply celebrating life, or are we celebrating life IN CHRIST? When Jesus Christ come through the door, eternal life comes through the door. Now we are no longer celebrating what could be our last time together, but we are celebrating an eternal fellowship that is ours to enjoy in Him FOREVER!

So whatever the occasion, do your best to glofiy Christ in the midst of it. Then there will be plenty to rejoice in for everyone present, as whether we have a particular attraction of affinity for special days, or not, we should all have a particular attraction and affinity for Jesus Christ at work IN US and THROUGH US.

After all, He redeemed us to purify unto Himself, a particular people, zealous of doing His work here on earth (Titus 2:14).

I LOVE JESUS, YES I DO, I LOVE JESUS, HOW ABOUT YOU?

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Thanksgiving and prayer are a spiritual medicine for what ails you.

You can always give thanks, even when you don't feel thankful, and you can always pray, whereever you are. And you don't have to wait each day until dinner time to say 'grace'.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psa 100:4)

Worrying?

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Php 4:6-7)

Not sure you know what to say to an unbelieving friend or co-worker?

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; . . . Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (Col 4:2-6)

Feel like you need to do more to give God glory?

I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
(Psa 69:30)

Do you know people that need more wisdom from God? Spend more time praying for them, and less time talking about them.

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Eph 1:15-17)

Do you struggle with sinful habits?

Spend less time complaining about authorities, people, and circumstances, and more time giving thanks for those in authority, for the people in your life, and for the blessings that are always there in the midst of your circumstances.

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. (Eph 5:3-4)

How often should we pray? How often should we give thanks?

pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. (1Th 5:17-19)

May you be blessed with a 'holy addiction' to thanksgiving and prayer.

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.

What's Been on Your Lips Lately?

Did you hear the latest about Bob? And did I tell you what Susie was doing? Can you believe it?

Some people call them juicy tidbits. Just enough to whet your apetite. I don't even know if they are still around, but years ago there were many soap operas on daytime television. People loved to tune in just to see what everyone was up to, and often it was up to no good.

My intent is not to get into the human psyche to determine why there seems to be an insatiable apetite for juicy stuff about people, but let's face it, there's something that draws us in to a good story. Sitting around the camp fire telling tall tales is one thing, but sitting around gossiping about real people is another.

The Word of God is cyrstal clear on this matter:

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. -1Pe 2:1-3

Has God been gracious to you? Be gracious to others. Has God acted towards you with good intentions? Act with good intention toward others. Has God been honest and up front with you? Be honest and up front with others. Has God been a person of integrity? Be a person of integrity. Envy and evil speaking are not characteristics of God, and neither should they be characteristic of us.

You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. - Lev 19:16-18

If you have a problem with your brother or sister in the Lord, take it to them. Do not bear grudges.

For the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS." - 1Pe 4:7-8

I've been trying to be a lot more serious and watchful in my morning prayers, and funny thing, I'm finding the Holy Spirit speaking to me more and more about my obligation to have fervent love toward my brothers and sisters in Christ. Let's not let our hearts be hardened to the point that it takes a terminal disease for someone to receive our compassion.

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.

Are you wretched?

What does wretched look like? As I browsed through many sketches and pictures of people that were poor and homeless, I realized that most of them had one thing in common- the ability to help themselves in some way. Then it hit me. Wretchedness in its worst condition is not only being in extreme distress, but not being able to do anything about it. I then found this photo of a young child in a poverty stricken community.

Wretched is being "in a deplorable state of distress".

The apostle Paul talked of this wretched state we find ourselves in as sinners in Romans 7, where he writes, "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. (Rom 7:23-25)

We, apart from Christ, are indeed sinners, and wretched sinners at that! Me thinks there are too many comfortable sinners out there. I'm a sinner, but I am wealthy, and have need of nothing. I'm a sinner, but I must admit, I'm doing pretty well for myself.

And then there is that judgment upon the lukewarm Laodecians in Revelation 3:17, "

Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
(Rev 3:17-19)

Are you truly wretched?

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

For those that are neither tired, nor poor, there is no need to seek that place of rest, that promised land.

For those that are not wretched, for those that are not homeless, there is no need of a new home.

For those that are not tossed about life's storms, there is no need of a shelter and place of refuge.

Thank God, that for those that are tired and poor, for those that are wretched and homeless, for those that are tossed about by life's storms, there is a place of rest and a place of refuge. In the arms of Jesus Christ.

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.

P.S. I'm praying for you

Are you living on the edge?

Some Christians give no meaning to the word living on the edge. When Christ told us to build our house on the rock (see Matthew 7:24-25), He wasn't talking about building it out on the edge, and the propping the ends up with stilts!

Yet when we allow our own wants and ways to take the place of God's wants and ways we are propping our house up on stilts overlooking the depths of the abyss.

Why would a Christ follower do such a thing? Allow his or her wants and ways to take the place of God's wants and ways? We should give this some thought before jumping up too quickly in judgment, as it is something that can take us by surprise in little and subtle ways if we are not careful.

Many times we do not start out to build our house so far out from the edge of the rock, but we allow a gradual slide to take place as so many people and things compete for our attention and as we are challenged on every side about what it really means to be a Christ follower.

God calls us to be radical for Jesus, as anything less than that is mediocre or lukewarm, and God says in Revelation 3:16 that lukewarmness makes Him sick to His stomach (actually, it literallysays that God will spew us out of His mouth if we stay lukewarm).

If you are not growing in Christ, you are in a gradual slide mode, and without even knowing it, your house is edging away from the solid foundation of the rock and is more and more relying on wood stilts to prop it up and keep everything from tumbling down.

Wood, hay, and stumble will not withstand the refining fire and judgment of God, and God wants us to build our house solidly on the rock for good reason. As Jesus said, "and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded on the rock." (Mt. 7;25) Rain will come. Floods will come. Storm winds will come, and will beat on our house. The question is not whether disasters will come and threaten our house, but whether our house will withstand the disasters that come.

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.