Irony

We just got back from vacation. We had a great family time, spending a couple days in Hershey PA and a couple more days in Washington DC. It was a trip full of 'ironies' for me. It was exhausting, yet refreshing at the same time, if that's possible.

The ironies that come to mind mostly surrounded things in our nation's capital:

Irony #1 - While visiting Arlington National Cemetery, the place where thousands of American heroes have been laid to rest, we were brow-beaten by a customer service representative who could barely speak English. She was frustrated because we couldn't understand her. I am all for the 'melting pot' thing, but it's a sad irony that I came to pay my respects to the fallen Americans and someone enjoying their freedom in America, working at Arlington, considers their privilege of working there as 'just a job' instead of the honor that it is.

Irony #2 - The Holocaust Museum and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History just a couple blocks from each other has me scratching my head. Let me explain. Everyone knows about the Holocaust and the genocide that took place at the hands of Adolph Hitler. On the side of the Holocaust Museum there is a quote by Ronald Reagan: "We must make sure that their deaths have posthumous meaning. We must make sure that from now until the end of days all humankind stares this evil in the face... and only then can we be sure that it will never arise again". Sadly, Adolf Hitler exploited the racist ideas of Darwinism to justify genocide. Where do we find Darwinism in Washington DC? At the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, of course - two blocks away. Busloads of high school kids being indoctrinated into evolutionary thought. They don't even try to hide it or be subtle about it anymore - there's a new film at the museum about butterflies called 'Partners in Evolution'. If we want to make sure something like the holocaust repeats itself, I suppose we can continue to teach our children that we were not created in the image of God, but rather we are a product of chance.

Irony #3 - We live in a culture that is trying to get 'God' out of the public square. Some people even want to re-write history and say that the founding fathers were not Christians and that our country was not founded upon Christian/Biblical principles. The irony in this is that God, Eternal Father, Jesus Christ, the Almighty, the Creator, and other like terms are inscribed or engraved into virtually every marble wall, monument, building, statue or other memorials in the city.

Irony #4 - We visited the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. We saw literally millions of dollars in stacks and bales. We saw expensive buildings, expensive cars, expensive clothing, expensive houses. It's a different lifestyle in that city. I know people who have migrated to D.C. in pursuit of all those expensive things. And yet true joy seemed elusive in the faces of those whose eyes met mine on the street. The stress, the rush and the rat race of the work day drowned out any small hope of peace and happiness. The silence in the Metro stations was deafening as the thousands of empty faces proceeded to their next destination, just like they did yesterday and the day before. I wondered about all that money and its false promise of happiness.

More thoughts on Washington DC in upcoming posts next week.

Glad to be home,
Mark

Last Day!

Today was a day of 'lasts'. Sort of...
Today was my oldest son's last day of school. Sort of... he'll start second grade in 90-some days.
Today was my last day of work. Sort of... I'll go back on June 2nd after a week or so of vacation.
And so it will also be my last day of blogging. Sort of... I'll be back on with fresh posts when we return.

We'll make a stop in Hershey, PA. Some people call it "the sweetest place on earth" - for us it's true, but it's not because of the candy. After we visit mom and dad, we're headed somewhat south - to Washington DC (someone's got to straighten those people out). Our plans include visiting the Iwo Jima Monument and other Arlington sites, Mount Vernon, Smithsonian, Lincoln Monument, Jefferson Monument and any other special attractions on the Mall or in the city.

I'll share some pictures when I return.
Pray for our safety.
Blessings,

Mark and the gang

Personal Steps to Political Victory

I gotta be honest. I am not real excited about the choices for President this coming November. I think the conservatives in this country have been deserted. On the Sean Hannity website there is an article that outlines 'Hannity's 10 Steps To Victory'. I agree with what he says here to large degree. Our country needs some strong leadership in these big issues like national security, education, energy and health care. There is no doubt that these serious issues need to be addressed.

But I would like to submit my own 'steps to victory'. Without these 'steps' being taken by American Christians, it probably won't matter who is in the White House.

1). Pray for our leaders. "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity". - 1 Timothy 2:1-2.

2). Give thanks in all things. "In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18. We are an ungrateful people at times. We need to be thankful, because the last time I checked, we still live in the most free country in the world.

3). Learn to be content. "For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am". - Philippians 4:11. No matter who is the President of the United States, we must learn contentment, knowing that God is sovereign. "The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes" (Proverbs 21:1). If that verse doesn't give us confidence in God's sovereignty, even over the President, then there is no such confidence anywhere. This confidence should bring us contentment.

4). Use restraint when the urge to 'argue' politics strikes. "He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent" (Proverbs 17:27-28). One of the quickest ways to disqualify ourselves from sharing the gospel with someone is getting into an argument over politics. A political disagreement may alienate us from a friend or work associate forever. They may never listen to us again when it comes to the weightier matters of the gospel.

Mark

Four O'Clock in the Morning

Taking a break from my Romans commentaries last night, I decided to open another Puritan paperback by a man named Joseph Alleine, called 'A Sure Guide to Heaven'. I never heard of this guy until recently, but the subject matter of this work interested me and so I made the purchase.

The back of the book says, ‘When the spiritual history of the Western world in the 20th century is written, it may well be seen as the epoch of spiritual sloth and slumber’. The purpose of the book is to alarm and awaken people to the concerns of life and death.

The introduction tells us that Joseph Alleine lived in the mid-1600’s and was very protective of his study time. If his friends interrupted him, he would say ‘it is better that they should wonder at my rudeness than that I should lose my time; for only a few will take notice of my rudeness, but many may feel my loss of time’. For someone who took great pains to evangelize the lost, study time was essential.

Alleine certainly knew how to redeem the time. He made it a regular habit to wake up every day at 4:00am. He spent the next FOUR HOURS in prayer, contemplation, and singing psalms. Is it any wonder he was effective in ministry?

I barely made it out of the introduction and was convicted about my own slothfulness. I love my morning sleep. Apparently much more than some quiet study in the Scriptures.

Mark

Game Ball!!

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. - 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15


My youngest son plays for the Yankees. Not the New York ones, but for the local T-Ball league. Those kids are hilarious. Last night he won the game ball. You would have thought he won the seventh game of the World Series! A little encouragement goes a long way. His coach is excellent in the way he teaches the kids. They’re learning how to hustle and pay attention. Learning how to throw and bat correctly and run the bases and work together. Working together! Good attitudes… confidence... That game ball was pretty important to my son (and to me).

It made me wonder how many game balls I gave out today…

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou My Vision has to be one of my favorite songs. It ranks right up there with How Great Thou Art and Great is Thy Faithfulness.

Men lack vision. Our best 'seeing' is often only hope for next week or next month. Some people have enough 'foresight' to plan well enough to pay for their children's higher education or have a materially secure retirement for their sunset years. But this alone is a lack of vision. What kind of 'vision' do we have for our children and our grandchildren and their children after that? What kind of faith will our descendents a hundred and fifty years from now have because of the vision that we had? Will those descendents love God? Or will they seek after wealth and other perishable wreaths?

Be Thou My Vision. The line, 'Thou and Thou only first in my heart' is always the toughest to sing, because I never want to be lying or half-truthful as I sing it. Almost every time, that phrase never makes its way out of my voice box. If I can destroy all sense of 'possessing', someday I might be able to sing the whole song with a pure heart.


Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

I Set My Bow in the Cloud

The psalmist bursts forth praise in Psalm 19 by exclaiming that 'The heavens are declaring the glory of God'.

Who doesn't love a rainbow?!! This beautiful bow and reminder of God's faithfulness was set over our neighborhood this evening right after an easy spring rain.

For Better or for Worse

Yesterday, I was definitely outside of my comfortable Christian element. I spent some time at a non-Christian wedding. Alot of time. Not that I was enjoying myself so much that I just couldn't leave - I was there to help the photographer take a few photos, so we were there for the duration. So while I was enjoying the photo aspect of the wedding, it was the emptiness of the whole affair that made it such a drag. I never saw so many open bottles of beer under one roof. Anytime I needed to find the groom, all I had to do was look no more than five feet away from the bar. I can't imagine the tab for the booze at this wedding, but the executives at Budweiser couldn't have been happier. I wondered how all these drunk people were going to make it home safely. Emptiness. I couldn't help but think, 'this is as good as it gets for most of these people'. A really good dinner, a few beers, a couple wild dances, a limo ride... Emptiness.

Solomon summed this wedding up in three words "All is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2b).

The Green Samaritan?

This global warming thing has gone too far! I have been saving all the advertisement type flyers that I get in the mail, and it's almost comical to go through them. One of them encourages you to 'go green' by using recycled plastic for your centerpieces at your wedding. I'm still not regretting the traditional flowers at our wedding reception, even though the environmentalists would probably have my head now. Some of the ads are suble, using shades of green for their borders, and green ink for the text - all designed to get you thinking about saving the planet.

Don't get me wrong, I am all about being a good steward of the place God has given me and my children to live in. I don't want them drinking bad water or throwing their McDonald's wrappers out the car window. But how arrogant are we, that we think WE are causing 'global warming'? We've taken climate change away from the Maker of climates. The One who makes the sun come up in the morning no longer has control over the temperature of the sun, or of the earth? Are you kidding me? I think if anyone is going to save the planet, it certainly isn't going to be you, me, Al Gore or Kermit the Frog (it's not easy being green!).

Instead of being caught up in another fad that really has no scientific basis, I would suggest that we catch a passion for something with more substance. We know from real science and modern technology when life really begins and its about time we start saving babies. You want to 'go green'? Let's put the gazzillion-dollar abortion industry out of business. How do we do that? Learn the truth about abortion. Learn the truth about Roe v. Wade. Learn the truth about the devastating effects of murdering the unborn. And then do not be shy about spreading the truth about it. Our country's future is at stake here. No, our planet's future is at stake.

For more information on abortion and PRO-LIFE issues, see the following websites:

http://www.epm.org/articles/pla39.html

http://www.ehd.org/

http://www.abort73.com/

A Man of God - Aiden Wilson Tozer

A few days ago marked the 45th anniversary of one of the great ones. A.W. Tozer went to be with the Lord on May 12, 1963 - his headstone marked with the engraving 'A. W. Tozer - A Man of God'. Tozer is the author of many books, including the Christian classic, 'The Pursuit of God'. This book has had a profound impact in my life. Aside from the Bible, this is probably my most favorite book on my bookshelf. I've read it numerous times and it still speaks to me. I highly recommend it.

Here are a few quotes from it that are worth reading over and over again:

It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the kingdom, to see God’s children starving while actually seated at the Father’s table. Page 8

Sound Biblical exposition is an imperative must in the Church of the Living God! Page 9

How tragic that we in this dark day have had our seeking done for us by our teachers. Page 16
The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. Page 17

The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One. Page 19

Our woes began when God was forced out of His central shrine and things were allowed to enter. The roots of our hearts have grown down into things, and we dare not pull up one rootlet lest we die. Things have become necessary to us, a development never originally intended. God’s gifts now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution. Page 22

The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of soul poverty and abnegation of all things. The blessed ones who possess the kingdom are they who have repudiated every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing. These blessed poor are no longer slaves to the tyranny of things. They have broken the yoke of the oppressor; and this they have done not by fighting but by surrendering. Page 23

God wills that we should push on into His presence and live our whole lives there. This is to be known to us in conscious experience. It is more than a doctrine to be held; it is a life to be enjoyed every moment of every day. Page 34

The great of the kingdom have been those who loved God more than others did. Page 38

No one need to be poor, because if he chooses, he can have Jesus for his own property and possession. Page 39

Self is the opaque veil that hides the face of God from us. Page 43
Let us beware of tinkering with our inner life, hoping ourselves to rend the veil. God must do everything for us. Our part is to yield and trust. We must confess, forsake, repudiate the self-life and then reckon it crucified. Page 44

Why do the very ransomed children of God themselves know so little of that habitual, conscious communion with God which Scripture offers? The answer is because of our chronic unbelief. Faith enables our spiritual sense to function. Where faith is defective the result will be inward insensibility and numbness toward spiritual things. Page 49-50

If we cooperate with Him in loving obedience, God will manifest himself to us, and that manifestation will be the difference between a nominal Christian life and a life radiant with the light of His face. Page 60

It will require a determined heart and more than a little courage to wrench ourselves loose from the grip of our times and return to biblical ways. Page 66

Our thought habits are those of the scientist, not those of the worshiper. We are more likely to explain than adore. Page 74

It is important that we get still to wait on God. And it is best that we get alone, preferably with our Bible outspread before us. Page 76

If you would follow on to know the Lord, come at once to the open Bible expecting it to speak to you. Do not come with the notion that it is a thing that you may push around at your convenience. Page 78

Faith is the gaze of the soul upon a saving God. Page 83

The man seeking mercy looks straight at the God of mercy and never takes his eyes away from Him until He grants mercy. (Psalm 123:1-2) Page 83

While we are looking at God we do not see ourselves – blessed riddance. The man who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the perfect One. Page 85

As long as Christ sits on the mediatorial throne, every day is a good day and all days are days of salvation. Page 88

The cause of all our human miseries is a radical moral dislocation, an upset in our relation to God and to each other. Page 93

Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and bring Him nearer to our own image. Page 95

God being who and what He is, and we being who and what we are, the only thinkable relation between us is one of full Lordship on His part and complete submission on ours. We owe Him every honor that is in our power to give Him. Our everlasting grief lies in giving Him anything less. Page 96

"Be thou exalted" (Psalm 21:13) is the language of victorious spiritual experience. Let the seeking man reach a place where his life and his lips join to say continually, "Be thou exalted", and a thousand minor problems will be solved at once. His Christian life ceases to be the complicated thing it had been before and becomes the very essence of simplicity. Page 97

Pride, arrogance, resentfulness, evil imaginings, malice, greed are the sources of more human pain than all the diseases that ever afflicted mortal flesh. Page 104

The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort. Page 106

The rest He offers is the rest of meekness, the blessed relief which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are and cease to pretend. Page 109

Let us practice the fine art of making every work a priestly ministration. Let us believe that God is in all our simple deeds and learn to find Him there. Page 117

It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do no common act. Page 120-121

If A.W. Tozer could speak to us today, he would tell us that his 'pursuit of God' was well worth the effort.

Mark

Reasons to Believe the Bible is God's Book - Part 3

Reason #3 – The Bible's Prophetic Accuracy

Job said that he treasured the Word of God more than his necessary food (Job 23:12). Peter tells us that we need to long for the Word so that we may grow by it (1 Peter 2:2). The Word of God is nutrition for our hungry souls. But how do we know this book called the Bible is really God’s book? Last week we mentioned its amazing unity and its scientific accuracy. Today we look at its prophetic accuracy (much of this information I learned from my online Bible program by Parsons Technologies).

The Bible has over 2000 predictive prophecies. They are detailed, not vague. Consider the following detailed prophecies:

Concerning the nation of Israel
1). Israel would become a great nation (Gen. 12:1-3).
2). Her kings would come out of the tribes of Judah (Gen. 49:10).
3). She would spend 400 years in Egypt (Gen. 15:13).
4). Israel would reject her Messiah (Isa. 53).
5). Because of this, her enemies would dwell in her land (Lev. 26:32; Lk. 21:24).
6). Jerusalem would be destroyed (Lk. 19:41-44; 21:20).

Concerning various Gentile nations
1). Edom (Gen. 36, Num. 20, Jer. 49:17, 18; Ezek. 35:3-7; Obadiah; Mal. 1:4)
2). Babylon (Daniel 2:31-43; 7:1-8, Isaiah 13:17-19; Jeremiah 51:11)
3). Medo-Persia (Daniel 8:1-7, 20, 21)
4). Greece (Dan. 7:6; 8:8, 20, 21)
5). Rome (Daniel 2:40, 41)
6). Egypt. (Ezek. 29:1, 2, 15)

Concerning specific cities
1). Jericho. Joshua 6:26.
Joshua makes an amazing threefold prophecy about this fallen city:
a). That Jericho would be rebuilt again by one man.
b). That the builder’s oldest son would die when the work on the city had begun.
c). That the builder’s youngest son would die when the work was completed.

Did all this happen? See 1 Kings 16:34:
Joshua uttered those words around 1450 b.c.
Some five centuries after this, in 930 b.c., we are told:
a). A man named Hiel from Bethel rebuilt Jericho.
b). As he laid the foundations, his oldest son, Abiram, died.
c). When he completed the gates, his youngest son, Segub, died.

2). Jerusalem - Matthew 24:1, 2; Luke 19:41-44; 21:20-24 - Jesus predicted that:
a). Jerusalem would be destroyed.
b). Her citizens would be slaughtered.
c). The temple would be completely wrecked: not one stone left upon another.

Did all this happen? Consider the historical facts:
a). In February of a.d. 70, the Roman general Titus surrounded Jerusalem with 80,000 men
to crush a revolt that had begun earlier.
b). In September of the same year, the walls were battered down and over a half million
Jews crucified by Titus.
c). The temple was leveled and the ground under it plowed up

3). Tyre - Ezekiel 26. Tyre was actually two cities, one on the coastline, some sixty miles
northwest from Jerusalem, and the other on an island, a half mile out in the Mediterranean
Sea. In this prophecy, Ezekiel predicts:
a). The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, was to capture the city.
b). Other nations would later participate in Tyre’s destruction.
c). The city was to be scrapped and made flat, like the top of a rock.
d). It was to become a place for the spreading of nets.
e). Its stones and timber were to be laid in the sea (Zech. 9:3, 4).
f). The city was never to be rebuilt.

Did all this happen? Consider the historical facts:
Ezekiel wrote all this around 590 b.c. Four years later, 586 b.c., Nebuchadnezzar
surrounded the city of Tyre. The siege lasted thirteen years and in 573 b.c. the coastal city
was destroyed. But he could not capture the island city. During the next 241 years the island
city of Tyre dwelt in safety and would have doubtless ridiculed Ezekiel’s prophecy concerning
total destruction.
But in 332 b.c. Alexander the Great arrived and the island city was doomed. Alexander built
a bridge leading from the coastline to the island by throwing the debris of the old city into the
water. In doing this he literally scraped the coastline clean. (Some years ago an American
archaeologist named Edward Robinson discovered forty or fifty marble columns beneath the
water along the shores of ancient Tyre.) After a seven-month siege, Alexander took the island
city and destroyed it. From this point on, the surrounding coastal area has been used by local
fishermen to spread and dry their nets. Tyre has never been rebuilt in spite of the well-
known nearby freshwater springs of Roselain, which yield some 10,000 gallons of water daily.

Concerning particular individuals
1). Josiah – cf. 1 Kings 13:1-2 with 2 Kings 23:15-16
2). Alexander the Great – Daniel 8:3-8
3). Antiochus Epiphanes – Daniel 8:9-14
4). John the Baptist – cf. Isaiah 40:3-5 with Matthew 3:1-3

Concerning the Lord during His earthly ministry
In the Old Testament there are prophecies concerning the earthly ministry of the anticipated Savior. While upon this earth, Jesus Christ fulfilled every single prediction. Consider the following:
He would be born of a virgin (cf. Isa. 7:14 with Mt. 1:22, 23).
He would be called Emmanuel (cf. Isa. 7:14 with Mt. 1:23).
He would be rejected by his own (cf. Isa. 53:3 with Jn. 1:11; 7:5).
He would have a forerunner (cf. Isa. 40:3-5; Mal. 3:1 with Mt. 3:1-3; Lk. 1:76-78; 3:3-6).
He would be born in Bethlehem (cf. Micah 5:2, 3 with Mt. 2:5, 6).
He would be visited by the magi and presented with gifts (cf. Isa. 60:3, 6, 9 with Mt. 2:11).
He would be in Egypt for a season (cf. Hosea 11:1 with Mt. 2:15).
His birthplace would suffer a massacre of infants (cf. Jer. 31:5 with Mt. 2:17, 18).
He would be called a Nazarene (cf. Isa. 11:1 with Mt. 2:23).
He would be zealous for his father (cf. Ps. 69:9 with Jn. 2:13-17).
He would be filled with God’s Spirit (cf. Isa. 61:1-3 with Lk. 4:18, 19).
He would be a light to the Gentiles (cf. Isa. 42:1-3, 6, 7 with Mt. 4:13-16; 12:18-21).
He would heal many (cf. Isa. 53:4 with Mt. 8:16, 17).
He would deal gently with the Gentiles (cf. Isa. 9:1, 2; 42:1-3 with Mt. 12:17- 21).
He would speak in parables (cf. Isa. 6:9, 10 with Mt. 13:10-15).
He would make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem (cf. Zech. 9:9 with Mt. 21:4, 5).
He would be praised by little children (cf. Ps. 8:2 with Mt. 21:16).
He would be the rejected cornerstone (cf. Ps. 118:22, 23 with Mt. 21:42).
His miracles would not be believed (cf. Isa. 53:1 with Jn. 12:37, 38).
His friend would betray him for thirty pieces of silver (cf. Ps. 41:9; 55:12-14; Zech. 11:12, 13 with Mt. 26:14-16, 21-25).
He would be a man of sorrows (cf. Isa. 53:3 with Mt. 26:37, 38).
He would be forsaken by his disciples (cf. Zech. 13:7 with Mt. 26:31, 56).
He would be scourged and spat upon (cf. Isa. 50:6 with Mt. 26:67; 27:26).
His price money would be used to buy a potter’s field (cf. Jer. 18:1-4; 19:1-3; Zech. 11:12, 13 with Mt. 27:9, 10).
He would be crucified between two thieves (cf. Isa. 53:12 with Mt. 27:38; Mk. 15:27, 28; Lk. 22:37).
He would be given vinegar to drink (cf. Ps. 69:21 with Mt. 27:34, 48).
He would suffer the piercing of his hands and feet (cf. Ps. 22:16; Zech. 12:10 with Mk. 15:25; Jn. 19:34, 37; 20:25-27).
His garments would be parted and gambled for (cf. Ps. 22:18 with Lk. 23:34; Jn. 19:23, 24).
He would be surrounded and ridiculed by his enemies (cf. Ps. 22:7, 8 with Mt. 27:39-44; Mk. 15:29-32).
He would thirst (cf. Ps. 22:15 with Jn. 19:28).
He would commend his spirit to the Father (cf. Ps. 31:5 with Lk. 23:46).
His bones would not be broken (cf. Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12; Ps. 34:20 with Jn. 19:33-36).
He would be stared at in death (cf. Zech. 12:10 with Mt. 27:36; Jn. 19:37).
He would be raised from the dead (cf. Ps. 16:10 with Mt. 28:2-7).

The point of this post is that when the Bible makes a prediction, you can be assured that if it hasn’t already happened, it WILL happen. This is the only ‘religious’ book that even dares to make so many bold and detailed prophecies. And when we see them come true to the very word, we can only come to one conclusion: This Book is God’s Book.

Marcus Aurelius - Gospel Thoughts for the Week

Everybody has a friend or two that have a knack for making up nicknames; you know, special terms of affection. To a couple of my friends, my name went from Mark to Marcus, and then from Marcus to Marcus Aurelius. I thought it was kinda cool to be Marcus Aurelius… that is, until I learned who he was, and then I didn’t think it was so cool anymore.

Marcus Aurelius was the emperor in Rome from 161 A.D. until 180. He was not a friendly man toward Christians. In fact, he was hostile toward them, he hated them, he persecuted them – and he had them murdered.

Polycarp was a student of the Apostle John and was a devoted follower of Christ. He was martyred because of his strong stand on Biblical principles and his undying love for Jesus Christ, his Savior. Although the exact date of the death of Polycarp is disputed, the historian Jerome states that the killing of Polycarp took place under Marcus Aurelius.

After learning some interesting things about Polycarp, I became almost infuriated that a man like Marcus Aurelius would be so wicked as to preside over the torturous murder of such a great man of God. This was a crime to beat all crimes.

But then, as it happens every time I examine the wickedness of another, God blasts me with the thought of my own wickedness. The crime of all crimes is not that Marcus Aurelius killed one of my Christian brothers – no, the crime of all history is, that because of MY personal sin, the spotless and innocent Lamb of God was murdered on the hill at Calvary. And even worse than that? If you and I spurned the love of God and rejected the offer of forgiveness He offers from the bloody hill.

Marcus Aurelius

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! I've been blessed great 'moms' in my life. First, God blessed me with my own mom for whom I am very thankful. Also, I couldn't ask for a better mother-in-law. My wife has been a wonderful mom to our three children. My sweet little girl is an amazing mom to her little baby dolls. And if she's anything like her mom and her grandmothers, then she will be a blessing to her own kids and grandkids someday.

Believe it or not, I have a couple of 'womens' websites that I like to read on a regular basis. One of them has all the frilly pink and pretty stuff... another one has lavender (that's 'purple' to you macho men). Now before you go thinking that I have lost it and had a significant drop in my testosterone levels, listen up: the reason I go there is because my job as a husband is to make sure my wife is being challenged in her faith. These couple of websites have had numerous great articles that I can sift through, print out, and share them with my wife - encouraging articles on parenting, housekeeping, finances, Bible study, etc. And so I find great value in these websites and actually have them on my 'favorites' list. Here are the links, in case you'd find them as encouraging as I have:

http://titus2talk.blogspot.com/

http://purplecellar.blogspot.com/

Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Words: Dorothy A. Thrupp, 1836.
Music: William B. Bradbury, 1859.

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,

much we need Thy tender care;

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,

for our use Thy folds prepare.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us, be the guardian of our way;

Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;

Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and power to free.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! We will early turn to Thee.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! We will early turn to Thee.

Early let us seek Thy favor, early let us do Thy will;

Blessed Lord and only Savior, with Thy love our bosoms fill.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.

All We Like Sheep

Early next week I will post more 'Reasons to believe that the Bible is God's book'.

We have a sheep pasture near our house. I love driving past it, because those sheep remind me of myself. I recently went through a couple commentaries on Psalm 23, Spurgeon, Leupold and MacArthur all gave me the information below. I hope you benefit from it.

The Lord is my Shepherd... 'This Psalm is NOT worn out – it is as sweet in a believer’s ear now as it was in David’s time' – CH Spurgeon

A common analogy in the bible is that of us being sheep and the Lord being the shepherd.
‘Shepherd’ appears 56 times in the bible. ‘Sheep’ appears 174 times in the bible.
‘Lamb’ appears 98 times in the bible (OT mostly referring to the animal, NT mostly referring to the Spotless Lamb, Christ.

• Psalm 110:3 – We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
• Psalm 119:178 – I have gone astray like a lost sheep…
• Isaiah 53:6 – All we like sheep have gone astray…
• Jeremiah 50:6 - My people have become lost sheep; Their shepherds have led them astray.
• Matthew 25 – the separation of the sheep and the goats
• Mark 6:34 - When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
• Luke 15:3 – 7 - So He told them this parable, saying, What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance

Psalm 23 is a psalm of David. Imagine David tending the sheep and contemplating his relationship as guardian over the sheep and his relationship with them. And then imagine him drawing this analogy of him being the sheep and his Lord being the shepherd.

Why would God use this sheep/shepherd analogy? We are just like sheep. We need to be led, we need to be rescued, we need to be comforted and we need to be protected.

To gain a better appreciation for the Shepherd, it helps to know a little about SHEEP.

• Sheep need to be led: Psalm 23:2 –
  Sheep are indiscriminate about what they eat and drink. They don’t know the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous plants. Their diet must be carefully controlled and guarded by the shepherd. They MUST be led to greener pastures or they will continue to eat the stubble of the old pasture down to the dirt, and then they will die. They MUST be led to clear water that is not stagnant or filled with potential disease. Can’t be too hot or too cold or flowing too fast. It must be nearby and easily accessible. They must be led BESIDE THE STILL WATERS. What are our green pastures and still waters?? Scriptures of truth which are never exhausted – they are always fresh and rich. The influences and graces of his blessed spirit.
• Sheep need to be rescued: Psalm 23:3 –
  Sheep have no sense of direction – no sense of finding its way home. A sheep can be lost within a few miles of home and will walk in endless circles in a state of confusion or even panic. If it wanders from familiar surroundings the results can be disastrous. (All we like sheep have gone astray). Like lost sheep, lost people need a rescuer. And its all for HIS names sake! It's for his ‘character and reputation’. He does all this because HE has a reputation among his saints for faithful dealings with them, a reputation that must be cautiously upheld!
• Sheep need to be comforted: Psalm 23:4 –
  Sheep lack the instinct for self-preservation. If you mistreat a sheep, he can simply give up with a crushed spirit and possibly die. The shepherd must know his sheep’s individual personalities and know how to treat them, taking care not to inflict undue or excessive stress on them. Sheep have a reluctance to move on their own when it is dark. They need a shepherd to give them confidence and assurance. The shepherds rod/staff was often employed as a defense system in some cases, warding off harmful predators. Walking through the ‘darkest valley’. – Notice the walking ‘through’. The Hebrew phrase contains no reference to DEATH. This refers more to dark and bitter experience, which certainly could include death. Spurgeon says 'where there is a shadow, there is light'.
• Sheep need to be protected: Psalm 23:5 –
  Sheep are almost entirely defenseless. The can’t kick, scratch, bite, run or jump. They need a protective shepherd to be assured of survival. When attacked by an enemy or predator, they huddle together rather than run away, and that makes they easy prey.
  If a full-wooled sheep falls on its back, often it is unable to roll back onto its feet, again making it easy prey. If it lies there long enough, its circulation will be cut off and it will die. It needs a shepherd to come to its aid, and the shepherd may carry it for a long time on his shoulders until it can walk again. Part of protection would also include cleaning the sheep. Older sheep are almost never white, since the lanolin in their wool attracts dirt, seeds, weeds, etc. They have no capacity to clean themselves. Eating wet weeds can cause diarrhea which is not a good combination with the matted greasy wool. The elimination process doesn’t work like it is supposed to and the shepherd must dip the sheep and clean him up. Wet ground is also a threat. The sheep can develop hoof rot or get diseases which quickly spread from sheep to sheep potentially ravaging the whole flock. Anointing the head with oil – shepherds would carry flasks of oil to smooth on the scratched faces of the sheep that sought food in the brambles or thorny areas. After a ‘bout’ with an enemy or a stressful situation, it would not be beneath the dignity of the faithful shepherd to carry an overflowing drinking vessel to the over-tired and out-of-sorts sheep for his refreshment.
  

So, if I am a sheep, and I have a shepherd, I really do have everything I need, and in abundance! Knowing this truth about literal sheep has staggering implications on how we respond to knowing that WE have a shepherd in Christ…

The Lord is my shepherd – I have everything I need (23:1). And because of that, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me (23:6) .

Reasons to Believe the Bible is God's Book - Part 2

Reason #2 - The Bible is Scientifically Accurate.

Consider these following facts:

1). The fact that the earth is spherical.
Isaiah 40:22 - While it is true that a few Greek philosophers did postulate this as early as 540 b.c., the common man held the earth to be flat until the introduction of the compass and the fifteenth-century voyages of Columbus and Magellan.

2). The fact that the earth is suspended in space.
Job 26:7 - this was not known by the scientists of the world until the writings of Sir Isaac Newton in a.d. 1687.

3). The fact that the stars are innumerable.
Genesis 15:5 - As late as a.d. 150 the famous astronomer Ptolemy dogmatically declared the number of the
stars to be exactly 1056. Today scientists tell us there are probably as many stars in the heavens as there are grains of sand on all the sea shores of the world. (see also Genesis 13:16).

4). The fact that there are mountains and canyons in the sea.
2 Samuel 22:16, Jonah 2:6 - As recently as a century ago, the ocean’s volume and size was viewed as a watery bowl, which sloped from the coastline gently downward toward the middle, where it was deepest. It then was thought to proceed upward to the other side. The Marianas Trench, near the Philippines; is over 7 miles deep.

5). The fact that there are springs and fountains in the sea.
Genesis 7:11; 8:2; Proverbs 8:28 - Shortly after World War II, research ships discovered many underwater volcanoes. The number is estimated today to be at least 10,000. U.S. Geological Survey research has shown the present rate of water increase from underwater volcanic outlets to be 430 million tons each year.

6). The fact of the hydrological cycle.
Job 26:8; 36:27-28; 37:16; Psalm 135:7; Ecclessiastes 1:6-7 - This would include precipitation, evaporation, cloud construction, movements of moisture by wind circuits, etc.

7). The fact that all living things are reproduced after their own kind.
Genesis 1:21; 6:19 – For hundreds of years scientists followed the spontaneous generation theory of Aristotle (350 b.c.). They believed eggs of all lower animals (insects, etc.) were formed out of rotting substance. Frogs and other small sea life, they thought, had their origin in slime pools. In fact, it was not until 1862 that Louis Pasteur proved once for all that there was no such thing as spontaneous generation. Then, in 1865, a monk named Johann Mendel demonstrated even more forcibly the rigid laws of heredity.

8). The facts concerning the human bloodstream.
Leviticus 17:11 - Many scientists (Herophilos, for example, a physician in the medical museum at Alexandria, Egypt) believed blood to be a carrier of disease instead of life. ‘Bloodletting’ was the cause of many deaths from the fourth century BC until the nineteenth century AD.

These facts reveal one thing: science will ALWAYS bow the knee to God's Word. Sometimes we get it backwards - trying to retrofit the Bible into what we believe 'science' is telling us. When we do that, we have abandoned a high view of Scripture. Yes, 'science' can be valuable, but not at the expense of the truth. Knowing what the bible says regarding these types of things helps us to regain and maintain our highest regard for the Word AND renews our confidence that it really is God's inspired Word to us.

Mark

Reasons to Believe the Bible is God's Book - Part 1

Reason #1 - Its Amazing Unity.

Here are a few interesting and amazing facts about the Bible:
1). There are 66 books in the Bible. 39 OT, 27 NT 2). There are 1,189 chapters; 31,173 verses; 774,746 words.
3). The Bible was written over a period of 1,500 years (ca. 1405 BC to AD 95).
4). The Bible was written by almost 40 different human authors. There were kings, priests, a doctor, fishermen, shepherds, statesmen, a tax collector and prophets.
5). The Bible was written in Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT) with a few passages in Aramaic.
6). The Bible was written from different places, such as deserts, caves, prison, palace and beaches.
7). The Bible was written from different moods (sadness and joy).
8). The Bible was written in different times (war and peace).
9). The Bible was written with different literary styles: history, parables , songs/hymns, proverbs, genealogies, laws, gospels, letters, apocalypses, narratives, doctrines, ethical teachings, prophecies, sermons, confessions of faith, and thank-you notes.

We see all this variety, yet the Bible is without errors or contradictions.
How is unity achieved despite the variety mentioned above?

Consider the divine author:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 states that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." "Inspired" in the original Greek language means "breathed out" – God breathed out (or dictated) what He wanted the human authors to write; God superintended the writing of scripture.

Consider also, 2 Peter 1:20-21: "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." In other words, nobody came up with this stuff on their own accord. God, through the Holy Spirit, caused these 40 human authors to pen His very thoughts and words.

And despite all the variety mentioned above, the Bible has one unified message to mankind: how one may enter into a right relationship with this God who 'breathed out' these words of scripture.

Amazing.

The Indestructible Word

I just cut my grass in the back yard. A few short days ago my yard was vibrant with bright yellow dandelions. Today my yard is white with dead dandelions. Not only did it remind me of how short a life span can be, whether a plant or a human life, but it also reminded me of a passage in Isaiah: "The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8).

Grass, no matter how lush and green it can be at times will often be brown and crunchy in the midst of the heat of August.

Flowers, no matter how beautiful and colorful they can be (yes, even dandelions), the petals eventually fall off.

God's Word - no matter what kind of scrutiny - no matter who the scoffers may be - no matter what direction the culture turns - God's Word is always true, and always stands firm. The grass and the flower wither and fade, but God's Word is indestructible.

In the next few posts, I want to share some thoughts specifically about the Word, and how we can know with confidence that this indestructible book called the Bible really is from God.

Mark

Reading is FUNdamental!

Reading good books is important to me for several reasons:
1). Reading is actually very enjoying and is a great stress reliever.
2). Reading other people’s view of things often makes me look at things from a different angle – a new approach that I had maybe never considered.
3). Reading is one good way to ‘renew my mind’ (Romans 12:1-2). Most of the things I read are about theology, so this kind of material is good in stretching and renewing my mind – causing me to contemplate that which is good and noble.
4). Reading is part of God’s command to ‘study to show ourselves approved unto God’ (2 Timothy 2:15). Of course studying the Bible itself is of the utmost priority.

These are some small tips that helped me to cultivate a regular habit of reading.
1). Be diligent. If you read just 3 pages per day, you can read over 1000 pages in one year. That is three good-sized books. Imagine if you read 10 pages per day.
2). Read to understand, not just to get through the exercise.
3). Pick material that interests you and subject matters that you can follow. It’s healthy to read books that have very challenging concepts in them, but if the topics are too deep, don’t get discouraged or give up - move on to something that is more your speed.
4). Choose authors that are reputable. Reading someone's wrong thoughts about theology is poisonous.
5). Don't be distracted and/or consumed by the television, the telephone or the internet.

Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages

Words: Augustus Toplady, 1776.
Music: Thomas Hastings, 1830.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Amen!

Black and White - Gospel Thoughts for the Week

I like black and white photography. Although there are shades of gray, black and white photography is about contrast - it makes a statement about 'difference'. You will notice that I like to use alot of black and white photos on this blog - and that is by design.

I believe that Christians need to think in black and white terms (right vs. wrong, truth vs. error, light vs. darkness, life vs. death, etc). When we get used to thinking in black and white, then when we are confronted with the 'gray areas' of life, we are much more ready to respond confidently, without waffling, equivocating, or second guessing.

So, why the morbid picture of the tombstones? Because you and I are going to be lying under one someday. The Bible says that 'the wages of sin is death' (Romans 6:23). Because Adam, our federal head, disobeyed one command of God, humankind was plunged into a situation where death is inevitable. And so our names will someday appear on one of these stones, and we will be in either one of two places, forever and ever and ever: either enjoying eternal bliss in heaven where there is no more pain, suffering, disease, war, hunger, hatred or fear, OR we will be bearing the full force of God's wrath by spending an eternal, conscious punishment in hell, suffering and being tormented and punished where the fire is not quenched. See the contrast? This is not a gray area in God's Word.

Praise the Lord for Jesus Christ, who became our wrath-bearer. Placing our full faith and trust in Him, in complete surrender and full obedience is the clear option. Romans 6:23 does not just stop at telling us what the wages of sin is - it thankfully goes on to state that there is a 'gift' we can receive! The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. But a 'gift' must be received in order to really be a gift. People can turn away a gift. People can reject God's gift of eternal life in Christ - to their eternal damnation and suffering. What choice have you made?

Hear what Moses said to the people as he addressed them just before his death - I think the principle applies to us today in choosing Christ or rejecting Him:

"See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him" - Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Embracing the good news,
Mark

One Mediator Between Man and God - Part 2

So, what does the Bible say about the papacy?

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus - 1 Timothy 2:5.

The Church of Rome demands that all follow blindly with implicit faith the interpretation of the Bible given by the pope and his hierarchy. This usurps the place of the Holy Spirit as teacher and leader. Romans 8:14 states, "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." The brazen exhibition of arrogance, bigotry and intolerance in the Catholic church is in sharp contrast to that of Peter in whose succession the popes claim to follow.

In 1 Peter 5:1-3, we read "Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock."

Furthermore, Jesus said in Matthew 20:25-28, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Peter, the alleged first pope, was not infallible as a teacher of faith and morals, as is evidenced by his conduct at Antioch when he refused to eat with Gentile Christians so as not to offend Jews from Jerusalem (Galatians 2:11-16). Would not Paul have been more qualified as a ‘pope’ than Peter, as both a man and a teacher? There is NO indication anywhere in the New Testament that anyone should be chosen for this position. Church leadership positions ARE outlined in the NT: Elders (bishop, pastor, shepherd) and Deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-15, Titus 1:5-9). No archbishop, supreme bishop or pope is mentioned in ANY of Paul’s writings, not even his letter to the Romans. Surely these would be mentioned if such an important office existed.

James R. White, in his excellent book 'Scripture Alone', gives this insightful commentary on the subject: '...man seeks to enthrone his own thoughts and authority in place of the the ultimate authority of God's Word so as to allow man to control God's truth. This is the basis of every false teaching, every error the church has ever faced or ever will face'.

Before Martin Luther came on the scene centuries ago, the church at Rome had begun assert interpretive control over the Bible. The church had taken over Christ's role as mediator between God and man. Luther was outspoken in his criticism of the condition of the church at the time and thrusted the world into the Protestant Reformation by making the following statement: "unless I am convicted by scripture and by plain reason, I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have frequently errored and contradicted themselves. My conscience is captive to the Word of God… to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other."

The Word of God, the Bible - is our sole authority. Not the church, not tradition, and certainly not the Pope.

One Mediator Between Man and God - Part 1

Recently, Pope Benedict XVI was in our country and throngs of people turned out to see him. I couldn’t help but wonder if an appearance by Jesus Christ himself would receive such fan-fare. All the pope-worship was a bit disturbing to me.

A couple of interesting items on the papacy:
The word ‘pope’ comes from the Latin ‘papa’ which means ‘father’. The title was first given to Gregory I by emperor Phocas in the year 605. He did this to spite the bishop of Constantinople (who excommunicated him for setting up the assassination of his predecessor). Gregory refused the title, but his successor Boniface III (607) assumed the title, and this has been the designation of the ‘head bishop of Rome’ ever since.

Claims of the papacy:
1). "The pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on earth… he is the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged by no one, God himself on earth" –The New York Catechism

2). "The pope holds upon this earth the place of God Almighty" - Leo XIII, The Reunion of Christendom

3). "The Roman Church holds that the pope, as the vicar of Christ on earth is the ruler of the world, supreme not only over the Roman Church itself, but over all kings, presidents and civil rulers, indeed over all peoples and nations" – Loraine Boettner, Roman Catholicism

What does the BIBLE have to say about this? Find out tomorrow.

Mark