Politics

I do not like to talk about political campaigns from the pulpit, but I feel free to express my personal opinions in this open forum. God is not democrat or republican. God is sovriegn over all. It is He who establishes governments and likewise it is He who brings them down; all for His glorious purposes. However, we as American citizins should use our right to vote while we still can. That said I freely admit that I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God before I am an American. I have one King and one Lord who I am to obey and it is the Lord Jesus. So, when it comes to my vote I will not knowingly support anyone for office who is pro-abortion, I will not knowingly support anyone for office who is not a Christian (that is an evangelical, Bible believing, Christ-follower). If no candate fits my litmus test: I will not vote. Now some will say, you should support your party or at least support someone who has the same moral values. I say nuts! Enough of my rambling... suffice it to say that I am glad that God is in control. and Mike Huckabee can win if we will support him and if God wills it!

High Church Baptist?

Sunday evening I participated in an ecuminical thanksgiving service. I was asked to lead the responsive reading, and this I did from Psalm 118. We had a grand entrance, the congregation singing 'We Gather Together" and the respective clergy all processing in their finery. Not to be out done, I donned an alb and borrowed a stole. I think this is about the funniest thing one could see: a baptist in an alb and stole. Some might think that was a compromise of baptist principles or flirting with popish traditions; it was neither, I just like to dress up. It is part of my make-up, it is the way I was wired. Since I was a child, I dressed up: I had a costume for everything. If I was watching a war movie on the Saturday matinee, I would drag out my army suit and plastic tommy gun. If I were playing cowboys and indians in the backyard, I could select from my closet a cowboy hat, boots and capguns, or a feather headress and bow and arrow as the mood might suit me. Sundays at our house was a formal occassion. My mother believed in the saying, Sunday best". I was always dressed in a suit and tie, or nickers and a bow tie. I loved it. It has never changed: when I ride my motorcycle-leathers, when I go to my cousin's ranch-cowboy hat and boots, when I play the bagpipes- kilt, when I preach- sometimes a suit and tie, sometimes a frock coat, sometimes a zoot-suit, sometimes a button up shirt with blue jeans (which Christianity Today calls the new dress for the post-modern pastor), sometimes my doctoral gown and hood, and last Sunday evening an alb and stole. You can call me a high church baptist, you could call me crazy but just don't call me late for supper.

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.