Convention

I just got back from the BCNM Convention in Albuquerque. It was very good; in fact, I wish that the SBC conventions were as fun. There was great music, challenging messages from Bobby Welch and Wayne Barber, and quick and easy business sessions.
The California fires were on everyone's mind, especially the disaster relief crews. The DR people are just waiting for the word to go. While I'm on the fires, I found it interesting that the fires broke out just after Gov. Schwarzenegger signed House Bill SB777. This bill prohibits any bias against homosexual, transgender or bi-sexual lifestyles in public schools. Kindergarten and up would learn about these practices and be taught that they are normal alternatives. Could the fires be a wake up call. Most westerners don't think God would do such things. I'm afraid our view of God is skewed. The Bible declairs that God is Holy! Holy! Holy! but we don't like to see God in this light. All we want to hear is grace, mercy, and love not sin, repentance, and righteousness. I thank God that He is rich in mercy, for I need His mercy more than any living person, but how can I see mercy untill I see my sin in light of a Holy and (dare I say) angry God. Go figure...

The Occasional Blogger

Well, it has been months since I last posted a blog. I think I should have named my spot: The Occasional Blogger instead of Light for Living. Today I have a moment of peace to pose three thoughts for pondering.

1. Why do many in our country embrace President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? My feeling is that, realativism, which has been so hard at work in our schools, has become the formost philosophy of our day. Therefore, people do not believe in evil. Oh, you have a few that call out evil, but they are castigated as intolerant fundamentalists. When a class of philosophy studens at a state university wouldn't admit Hitler was wrong and evil- we have a problem. Of course, I see this as a sign of the times- the approaching Day of the Lord. Which leads me to my next question.

2. Why do so many Christians shun the study of Bible prophecy? I see so much scepticism, doubt and fear among Christians concerning this topic. It drives me crazy that many seem to love this world more than they love Jesus and His Kingdom. Don't we believe what we pray: "Thy Kingdom come". I say come Lord Jesus. We are called to "watch" not bury our heads in the sand.

3. Why did the SBC adopt the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message if they didn't believe it? One day at a Baptist meeting, I suggested that this particular group could save a lot of writing on a doctrinal statement if they simply stated that they were in agreement with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. You would have thought I had denied the Holy Trinity. I'm suprised some didn't pick up stones to hurl at me. Instead they hurled comments: "that's too controversial", "we don't agree with the BFM 2000", etc. I was somewhat doumbfounded. I guess I'm ignorant of all the subtleties of Baptist thought, but I figured if you want to be a Baptist you ought to be in agreement with Baptist doctrine. Go figure.

New Resource

This past week I attended a couple of seminars at Trinity Southwest University. While there, I was made aware of a resource called Bible Interact Institute. This is a great website and you can register for free. They offer lots of Bible study helps along with many other cool resources. Check it out at www.bibleinteract.com.

Repent!

Before we as Christians make unwise comments about tornadoes or bus accidents, we need to heed the words of scripture. Please read Luke 13:1-5. Sometimes our immediate response to tragedy is to think that God is judging those to whom it befalls. But remember Job, bad things happen to the righteous and the unrighteous. The point God seems to always "drive home" is "where is your heart?", "are you right with me?". I think for most of us a lot of the time- we need repentance. To repent means to make an "about face", turn around, turn away from our sin and selfishness and turn toward Jesus. If we could practice repentance; we would always be ready for whatever comes.

The Message

The gospel of John in the first 14 verses sum up what the Bible is about, and who it is about. It is all about Jesus coming to reconcile those who receive Him and believe in His name. Who it is about is Jesus described in these first few verses as the Word, the God, the Creator of all things, the Life, the Light, God in the flesh and the only begotten of the father. The message of the Bible is Jesus, C.H. Spurgeon said, "as all roads lead to Rome, all texts lead to Christ". Our Christiology must be such that Jesus is always exalted; His works are always magnified, His death, burial and resurrection always lifted up before the eyes of men by the exposition of God's holy word. As the old puritan saying declares "the Bible is the crib that contains the Christ". In Him is the message to all peoples everywhere: " believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:31). My friend, whoever you may be trust in Jesus today. Read God's word, the Bible, and pray that He will guide you. Please find a church that preaches the Bible, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, precept upon precept. If your a preacher reading this; I want to encourage you to put down your 'intent driven' books and pick up your Bibles, pick up your word study tools and pick out some good old commentaries and go to the work of "rightly dividing the Word of truth". You'll be amazed what God does when we exalt His Son through exposing His word. Jesus is the message.