The Flintstones Rocked

I loved watching the Flintsones as a kid . Still remember taking the famous Flinstone vitamins. I think Wilma and Barney were my favorite flavors. I could be wrong but just thought it was cool . I have great memories from this time in my childhood. I always get reflective as September arrives and look back to growing up . I will touch on the reasons why soon . Nuff said .  

The Shepherd

One of most touching passages in Isaiah comes in chapter 40 verse 11. God is called a shepherd                    

 [11] He will tend his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arms;

he will carry them in his bosom,

and gently lead those that are with young.

(Isaiah 40:11 ESV)

  

Here God shows His heart to tend,gather ,carry and lead . A shepherds task was to care and know his flock. Sheep are very easily led astray and can be lead into danger very quickly. A good shepherd knew his flock in such a way that he could tell if they needed something be it the staff for discipline or even a soothing  touch or even the sound of his voice calming them. Is it not comforting to realize that the omnipotent God who created all universe knows you and has your well being in His heart. That no matter what may come , He leads,He carries and will hold you  to  His bosom. 

When Jesus came defeat sin,death,Satan and lay down His life as atoning sacrifice , the good  shepherd lowered Himself and as a lamb , was led to slaughter. Why? So that He might do just as Isaiah 40:11 says God will do. For  think for a moment about what it says. It is God gathering,tending,carrying for His sheep.  No wonder when Jesus refers to Himself as the good shepherd .

[11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. [13] He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

(John 10:11-15 ESV)

Read both of these passages together and see the amazing truth that shows God seeking,saving through the Son , Jesus Christ. What a beautiful,amazing and truly astounding truth . What a Shepherd we have , should we not follow Him ,trust Him and sing His praises. 

Final thought. To those who say Jesus is not God in the flesh , when Jesus calls Himself the good Shepherd he did two things. One , the image of the Shepherd as featured in Isaiah refers to God . Connection one. But not only does Jesus say Shepherd , He calls Himself "the Good Shepherd". Recall the encounter with the rich young man . When he called Jesus good , Jesus said why do you call me good for only God is good. Do the math . Nuff said.

Could It Work ?

I have been doing much thinking lately as to whether or not a Christian bookstore would work in my area.We currently do not have one since the old one closed more than 5 years ago .I realize with the current state of online purchasing and e-books , the question has to be is it viable at all. Would there be enough support locally to sustain it. My area has the numbers and with a Divinity school just minutes from where the store would be , one would hope so.

I have a heart for this or I see it not as a business but a ministry to the larger community , both to the believers and even as a outreach to the surrounding area. It would have to operate on a very basic and sustainable wage level.Something that I would be willing to do and draw enough of a basic wage to sustain a simple lifestyle(like I don't already). It would be also great if local Churches would support it and come on board. Seeing it as a vital need to help deepen Christians in their faith.

The advantage as well in being a independent store , I could avoid all the doctrinal weak or even heretical books that some mainstream Christian stores carry. That is not to say one would only carry the deep and profound works but many decent authors who are more for devotional could be incorporated as well. But the focus would be on promoting reformed teaching , apologetics and authors that would truly challenge and push a believer to grow. It would be cool to have some fun stuff as well for kids . There are so many ideas in my head .

But would it work? I don't know.All I do know if given a chance within the next couple years and Lord willing I will give it a go. One last thing , with it being all the rage to buy local , why not a local business that is independent from the soulless box-stores with people who truly care and know what they are selling.

I don't know maybe I'm crazy .....what do you think?

Make Time To Be Still

In this can beans,microwave dinners ,fast food in less than 10 minutes , work this shift or that shift ,open all day ,all night , everyday,buy this,get that, fast paced world , do you make time for God. To sit and listen to God speak through His word. Jesus said come , rest and receive His peace. Its not an option and thinking you get the God fix in just one hour on Sunday is simply not enough. To know God one must spend time with Him . May we fix our eyes ,our hearts and minds on His beauty and supremacy . Be still and know that He is God.

A Reasonable Faith But Still Supernatural

Coming up shortly in my home Church I have been blessed to co-lead an elective concerning the reliability of the Bible. My co teacher is John Delong .He is one the smartest minds I have met . He is  research scientist dealing with fruits and vegetables. I'm truly looking forward to helping and pray I'm up for the task. Its a real honor to be asked and I do not take it lightly.

The course we are teaching from is called True U  from Focus on the Family. The lecturer featured on the DVD is Dr.Stephen Meyer . After reviewing the material its main focus is on archaeological and extra biblical narrative to collaborate what the Bible says . It will hopefully arm those who come to it that what we have in the Bible is not a bunch of myths or legends but truth revealed by God about life and the world around us. That we can stake our lives on it .

I have often used evidences for the truth of the Bible and used even basic science to show that there is a reasonableness to believing in the truth of God's word. It is not a blind faith without any external realities to facts. But having said that , the fact is evidence alone will never convert someone to believe . It is a act of God to open a dead sinners heart and awaken the eyes to the light of the world ,  Jesus Christ.


[12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
(John 1:12-13 ESV)

The Holy Spirit is the one who awakens the dead sinner. Regardless of what we try and show that faith in the God of the Bible is not like what some Atheist have compared Him to a spaghetti god . There is a logic and reasoned response to at the very least shut the mouths of those who think it is a bunch of foolishness. But the goal is always to pull the person back to the gospel. The ability to lay a foundation of apologetics should never  be the end but the start to open up the word and proclaim Jesus , crucified ,risen and coming again. The only one who can save one from their sins through his life ,death and resurrection. That must always be our goal . To enter into a debate over evidence will lead down a rabbit trail.

Apart from the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit , one will never believe . Remember even our intellect is held captive to the curse of sin. That a sinners mind is against God .It hates Him,It despises Jesus therefore we could have presented the best defense we could muster and still it must be the work of God to convert. Evidences should only act as a shovel to at least get away the clutter to present the gospel but even through giving a defense , the gospel should ever be at the front .

It is not to win a debate to score points but to glorify God by presenting the gospel . Then let the Holy Spirit do His job. God will be glorified no matter if not one believes you.


 

Preacher Feature

It is grace at the beginning, and grace at the end. So that when you and I come to lie upon our death beds, the one thing that should comfort and help and strengthen us there is the thing that helped us in the beginning. Not what we have been, not what we have done, but the Grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. The Christian life starts with grace, it must continue with grace, it ends with grace. Grace wondrous grace. By the grace of God I am what I am. Yet not I, but the Grace of God which was with me. 

Martyn Lloyd-Jones  

Psalm 51 has always been one of most raw and true confessional parts of scripture one will read. Coming from a man totally broken and laid bare as David opens up to God concerning his sin. But are we all not David's to one degree or another . Our hearts are ever prone to wonder , to find solace and satisfaction in anyone or thing but our Lord at times. I find myself returning to this Psalm again and again . It convicts me and restores my soul . May it penetrate our hearts and move us to be honest before our Lord . There is cleansing and forgiveness at our Lord's feet . Come and be renewed.


Psalm 51

         [1] Have mercy on me, O God
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
[2] Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
[3] For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
[4] Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
[5] Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
[6] Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
[7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
[8] Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
[9] Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
[10] Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
[11] Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
[12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
[13] Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
[14] Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
[15] O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
[16] For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
[17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
[18] Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
[19] then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
(Psalm 51 ESV)