I'm a Poppa!!!

We received a call from my oldest daughter early this past Saturday morning telling us it was now time!!!!! We have been waiting patiently for the past nine months plus almost one full week for the birth of our first grandchild!!! Well, after a quick trip down to GA in almost record time, we quickly became the proud grandparents of baby Clint!!!!!

If you are interested, please click on the link below to my daughter's blog which posts pictures of Clint's arrival plus his introduction to his new family. Of course, I believe he is just as handsome as his grandpoppa!!!!! : ) : ) : )

http://courtneyscontemplations.blogspot.com/2010/03/hospital-pics.html

Has Anyone Missed Me???

I have been out of commission for several months now, mainly due to a "dead" computer, but at the same time, simply taking a rest from the blogosphere environment. At times, it can be so much work and a period of desparation searching for a quality posting; and that is not fun at all. Blogging is supposed to be a time of enjoyment....

I am waiting for a phone call from GA anytime now announcing that my daughter is headed to the hospital to give birth to her first child, thus allowing me to enter the new stage of life of being a grandparent!!!!! That means even more gray hair for this "young at heart" man still married to the prettiest and most Christ-like "help meet" in the whole world!!!!!

I hope you are off to a great start here in 2010 continuing to serve our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We have much to be thankful for even though the world around us continues to become darker and darker in these last days..... even more reason for us to share the light of Christ with all those we encounter each and every day. God is good.... ALL THE TIME!!!!!

EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE

Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

One of the most devastating evidences of the spiritual decline in any culture can be seen in the home and family. A nation's homes will, in many ways, determine the condition of churches, communities, and ultimately entire societies. We have witnessed tremendous changes, mostly not for the better, in America's families. There are no more important human relationships than those formed and fostered in the family.

In looking for reasons for the decline in the average home, one needs only to seriously consider our Scripture. "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it." Without God, our families will never be what they were planned to be. As our society has rejected the authority of God and His Word, the effects have become obvious. It is not possible to experience God's best in our families without the help of God. This Bible passage gives us assurance that God is interested in our homes. "Except the LORD build the house" teaches us that God can build our families to be what He wants them to be. Whatever your family situation might be, God wants to work in that relationship.

To see Him work, we must be willing to follow His guidelines for the home, beginning with Scriptural order. God has clearly established that the husband or father is to lead the home. There is confusion in many families because of a lack of biblical direction. This does not mean that the husband is to be a dictator or a tyrant, but rather should provide loving protection and leadership. The wife is to be in submission to the husband, recognizing and respecting his God-given position; and the mother's priority should be the home. Children are to obey and honor their parents. This order has been greatly rejected in modern society.

Not only do we need order in our homes, but also we desperately need love in our families. Love that is kind, forgiving, patient, selfless, and attentive binds the hearts of our families together. Having a loving and caring home that is filled with peace and is a refuge in this troubled generation is still possible. But, it takes God to "build the house." If we are going to see true revival, it must begin in individual hearts and in our homes.

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Personal Thanksgiving Praise

Deut. 26:11a And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee...

Here are some things I am thankful for as I reflect on this past year:

1. First, I’m thankful I was born in America where there is freedom to preach the Gospel so people can be saved.
2. I’m thankful God allowed me to live long enough to hear the Gospel and trust the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. 2 Cor. 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
3. I’m thankful God has given me the Bible, the perfect Word of God, for many people in this world do not have a copy. Psalm 56:10 In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. 1 Thess. 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
4. I’m thankful for the line of channel of prayer whereby I can bring my petitions, supplications, and intercessions to God 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Psalm 28:6 Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
5. I’m thankful for God giving me a godly wife / helpmeet who loves and cares for me, prays for me, and serves the Lord with me. Prov. 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
6. I’m thankful God gave me three Christian sons, three Christian daughters, one Christian son-in-law and one future Christian daughter-in-law who are all actively serving the Lord. Heb. 2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
7. I thankful for the opportunity to serve the Lord through various ministries at the local church which my family and I attend; a church which preaches the Gospel to evangelise both locally and around the world, which edifies and instructs believers, and which glorifies the Lord in all its ministries and activities. 1 Tim. 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
8. I’m thankful for all the times the Lord has kept me from doing something stupid I would have regretted later. 1 Sam. 25:39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.
9. I’m thankful for the trials and hardships of life God is using to make me more like Christ. Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
10. I’m thankful for faithful friends who love me, pray for me, and, like iron, sharpen me. Prov. 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Psalm 89:52 Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

THE HOME AND CHURCH

Numbers 2:2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.

This Old Testament passage gives us insight about the place of the two most important institutions for our lives, THE HOME AND THE CHURCH. We see this typified in the positioning of the tribes or families of Israel around the tabernacle. Every man was to pitch by “his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house.” Every family had its own standard, or flag, and its own ensign, or insignia, to identify them from the other families. Family identity is important. In our nation, we have lost much of this. A few generations ago, it was common for extended families to grow up on the same piece of property that their parents and grandparents once farmed and lived on. Often, more than one generation lived in the same house. Our society has become much more mobile with occupations and other interests moving families far away from their relatives. In the Old Testament, they were to pitch their tent under the family banner. The families camped with their family, but they also pitched “about the tabernacle of the congregation.” The place of worship was central to their lives. Each family was positioned around the tabernacle as the Lord directed them. Each tribe had their assigned place around the house of God. When the tabernacle moved, they moved. They kept their family identity and maintained their nearness to the place of worship. I believe this typifies to us the importance of these two institutions in our lives. Our lives, in essence, should include a close relationship with our family while maintaining a close relationship and participation with our church family. This picture not only reveals how important these two relationships are, but it also reminds us of the importance of keeping a wholesome balance between the two. It is easy for us to over-emphasize one and neglect the other. There are those who are so zealous about the church and its work that they fail to give the home the attention it deserves. Then there are others who, for the love of the family, neglect the place and ministry of the church God placed them in. This example teaches us to keep THE HOME AND THE CHURCH in their proper places.

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

NO GREATER JOY

III John 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

What is the reward of the true Bible teacher, preacher, mentor, or spiritual leader? This is a great part of it—to see those we have taught walking in the truth. This is the greatest satisfaction and fulfillment for those of us who have invested our lives into others. There is “no greater joy.” This is the goal of the spiritual leader, whether in the home, in the church, or in the ministries of the church. We want to see people walking in the truth. We teach the truth that others might hear and believe the truth. Having heard and believed the truth, the next step is to appropriate that truth into our daily lives. The truth is to be applied to the practical decisions and priorities of our lives. Next, we want to see them walking in the truth on their own as they live for Christ and obey His commands. It is one thing for them to obey in our presence or under our direct supervision; it is another thing for them to follow the right paths when we are not there to guide. To hear that our spiritual children are continuing in the direction we helped steer them toward is the greatest encouragement we can receive. For the parent, there is “no greater joy” than this. The joy of seeing our children living for Christ is the greatest fulfillment we can have. Christian parents who are serious about serving the Lord will have spiritual goals for their families and children. Accomplishments in athletics, academics, music, finances, and the like are never to be compared with the importance of seeing our children “walk in truth.” If our desires and objectives for our children are only physical or material, we are no different from the world. The most important thing they can learn is to “walk” in the truth that they have been given. When we see our children give evidence of wanting to obey God and showing respect to their elders, etc., we can certainly rejoice. When we see our teenagers making the right decisions, having the right friends, and demonstrating the priority of serving the Lord, we can greatly rejoice. When we see our adult children leading their families in a godly way, training their children to love and serve the Lord, our hearts are filled with thankfulness. Nothing can compare to the joy of seeing our children and grandchildren growing in the grace of God.

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Father's Family Name

You got it from your father
It was all he had to give
So, it's yours to use and cherish
For as long as you may live.

If you lost the watch he gave you

It can always be replaced,
But a black mark on your name
Can never be erased.

It was clean the day you took it
And a worthy name to bear
When he got it from his father
There was no dishonor there.

So make sure you guard it wisely
After all is said and done
You'll be glad the name is spotless
When you give it to your son.

Author Unknown

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

A Little Fellow’s Dad

I may never be as clever as my neighbor down the street.
I may never be as wealthy as some other men I meet;
I may never have the glory some other men have had;
But I’ve got to be successful as a little fellow’s dad.

There are certain dreams I cherish that I like to see come true,
There are things I would accomplish ere my working time is through,
But the task my heart is set upon is to guide a little lad.
And make myself successful as the little fellow’s dad.

It’s that one job I dream of, it’s task I think of most,
If I’d fail that growing youngster; I’d nothing else to boast.
For though wealth and fame I’d gather all my future would be sad,
If I failed to be successful as that little fellow’s dad.

I may never get earth’s glory, I may never gather earth’s gold.
Men may count me as a failure, When my business life is told.
But if he who follows after is a Christian, I’ll be glad--
For I’ll know I’ve been successful as a little fellow’s dad.

-unknown

I Sought For A Man

Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

God has always been looking for men He could use; men He could place His hand of blessing upon as they serve Him with their lives.

1. Holy men -right with God, saved and separated - 1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

2. Helpful men - serving, cooperative men - 1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

3. Honest men - faithful, trustworthy, tithing - 1 Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

4. Home loving men - 1 Tim. 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

5. Handy men - not afraid to work - 1 Tim. 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Prov. 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

6. Happy men - Neh. 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Php. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

7. Hopeful men - men of faith - Heb. 11:1-3 (and remaining chapter) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

The A to Z Mother

(The following post is in honor of my mother, who has taught me to be a success during my lifetime by simply following common sense characteristics such as education and courtesy when dealing with others. I also would like to honor my wife, whom I love very much, who has raised my six wonderful children, installing in each of them a love for God and others, and building a home that will have lifelong effects on each of us. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!)

Prov. 31:10-31 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

What is a godly Mom? Solomon so well describes what she is in the passage listed above from Proverbs. I want to look at a mother from A to Z in this passage. Our society has taken outward beauty and made it to be what is the most important and is obsessed with it. The Lord does not look at outward beauty alone. That is why He had placed in the scriptures these verses above. It behooves women to try harder to be what God sees than what man looks upon.

Asset- (vs. 10)
Beautiful (inner beauty)- (vs. 25)
Compassionate- (vs. 20)
Diligent- (vs. 16)
Entrepreneur- (vs. 24)
Fears the Lord-(vs. 30)
Good cook- (vs. 14,15)
Homemaker- (vs. 27)
Industrious- (vs. 18)
Joyful- (vs. 27)
Kind (vs. 26)
Loyal (vs. 12)
Model mother (vs. 28)
Noble character (vs. 10)
Organizer (vs. 21)
Praiseworthy (vs. 28;31)
Queenly (vs. 22)
Resourceful (vs. 16)
Skillful (vs. 19-20)
Trustworthy (vs. 11)
Understanding (vs. 26)
Vigilant (vs. 27)
Willing worker (vs. 13)
eXceptional (vs. 29)
Yielding (vs. 23)
Zealous (vs. 17)

Our Household Will Be Getting Even Busier!!!

I know that I have a few faithful blog readers who may be wondering where I have been, and I apologize for my limited posts during the last few days, and really the last several weeks. I rarely share personal family activities here, but I thought in this case, I would share a bit of news!!! My mind and prayers for the past several weeks has been on my daughter and her continued on-going courtship with a fine young man from GA. A father will always think of his daughter that he is the only man in their life, and she as his "little girl," however, the greatest responsibility (other than leading her to the Lord and teaching her about God and His Word) a father has with his daughter is to make sure he prepares her for her future husband, and to make sure that man also loves God with all his heart and has a desire to serve Him with his life. By God's hand and perfect will, an outstanding young man, Christopher, was brought into my daughter's life during the past year, and after nine months of courtship, their engagement was announced this past weekend. Now, I only have a short time left to offer my experience and counsel to help prepare them for their future marriage, and I am quite sure, a period of much reflection of Courtney's memories which we have shared together as father/daughter personally and within our happy family. However, I can assure you I won't spend too much time looking backward; what is past can not be changed; instead, I plan to focus upon their future blessings together as husband and wife as they both continue to serve the Lord in the path that He has set for them together. Two serving together in the Lord's work can accomplish much more than either of them alone. I pray that she will be the "help meet" her mother and I have been training her to be for all these years.

You can read about the engagement and view some pictures of the happy couple on my daughter's blogsite found at http://courtneyscontemplations.blogspot.com

Congratulations Christopher and Courtney!!!!!

Go For The Men: Bringing Back Godly Order

One of the greatest missing elements in American Christianity today is the leadership of a godly husband and father who knows how to biblically lead his home. There is no question that the home is in serious trouble in America today, and perhaps no other generation in our short history as a nation has been targeted by the devil for destruction as much as the generation in which we live. While we have busied ourselves with all sorts of ministries and programs within the local church, we have failed to focus on the home and the marriage relationship. While we have busied ourselves with so much outreach, we have failed to engage in an in-reach that develops in our men good leadership principles, and in our homes a strong biblical foundation. While our homes are sick and spiritually anemic, we have focused on many things that may well be good in-and-of themselves, but have placed the proverbial cart before the horse. We have become so busy building our churches, that we have forgotten to build our men. Though it is important to win souls to Christ, it is also of great importance for husbands and fathers to disciple their wives, win the hearts of their children, and lead their homes. The local church is only as strong and foundational as the homes that make it up, and we had better look to our homes if we are to present an effective witness in the community where God has placed us.

It has been said, “If you preach to women, you’ll reach women. If you preach to children, you’ll reach children. If you preach to men, you’ll reach men, women, and children.” The typical program-based church has an endless array of “ministries.” Normally, they will have children’s programs galore, a ladies’ ministry, youth group, pre-school/daycare, sports teams, Sunday School for all ages, and maybe a Christian school. Does it strike you a bit odd that the only group left out of the line-up is the men?

Thomas Manton said, “Religion was first hatched in families, and there the devil seeks to crush it; the families of the Patriarchs were all the Churches God had in the world for the time . . . if he can subvert families, other societies and communities will not long flourish and subsist with any power and vigour.” The local church can never be any stronger than the families that belong to it.

God’s design for the home is diametrically opposed to our culture’s concept of the family. The Jews, God’s chosen people, placed great importance on husbands and fathers. They could not even have a synagogue service unless a minion (a minimum of ten men) were present. Worship services were predicated upon a strong masculine presence. The priests taught the men and the men were to teach their families.

The headship of the husband and father is also clearly taught in the New Testament. “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man . . For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man . . . Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man” (1 Cor. 11:3,8,9). God has an order and His plan is that men lead their homes.

It has always been God’s plan that the fathers be the primary communicators of truth to their families. In Deuteronomy the Lord charged the men, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut. 6:6-7).

Now I am not suggesting for a moment we abandon evangelism, stop reaching out to children and young people, ministering to single Moms, etc. God’s command to evangelize and disciple others is clear. The church should be a hospital where the spiritually sick find healing. We are involved in an ongoing salvage endeavor, reaching out to those whose lives have been devastated by sin. A church should be so loving that sinners feel welcome, and so hot that sinners come under conviction and get saved.

What I am suggesting is that we get our own houses in order. I fear we will continue to multiply generation after generation of statistics if we neglect to train the men in the church to train their children. Training includes instruction, confrontation, inspiration, accountability, godly example, and personal involvement. If men are to shepherd their families, then the under-shepherd (pastor) must shepherd them. There is simply no excuse for the appalling lack of accountability and strategy. God will give us wisdom if we will courageously, boldly, and desperately ask for it (James 1:5).

It’s high time to make church membership mean something. We have the worst of sins in the best of churches. Men are addicted to enslaving habits, defiling and destructive music, hobbies, sports, pornography, materialism, NASCAR, and a host of things that hinder them and their families. Will we continue to facilitate spiritual mediocrity, or chart a new course by calling men to step up to the plate? Is it a church or a club, a Bride or a harlot? Congregations that have good doctrinal statements without Biblical practice are the delight of the Devil. Husbands and fathers must be challenged to grow up, put away childish things, and assume their God-ordained function.

To have effect, truth must be believed, preached, and practiced. Intellectual theories and lip-service will not get the job done. We must take action.

Integrity demands our practice conform to the truth of Scripture. God expects much of men, and so should we. The patterns of non-expectancy, non-equipping, and non-accountability must be replaced with vision, training, and intentional involvement.

It takes a strong man to lead strong men. The key to strong churches is strong families, and the key to strong families are strong fathers. Job sacrificed for his family to be right with God. Abraham taught his family to obey God. Joshua led his family to serve God. Men must be taught to pay the price for righteousness, challenged to obedience, and directed to lead their households for God.

May God enable us to be like “The children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chron. 12:32). Zion is in desperate need of a resurgence of strong male leadership. Brethren, let’s go for the men!

Excerpts from an article by Evangelist Harold Vaughn, "Go For The Men: Bringing Back Godly Order"

Government Cannot Do Church's Job

(Here is an excerpt from an article posted by Pastor Chuck Baldwin earlier this week with some interesting commentary. The entire article can be found at http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin418.htm)

One thing that Christians should come to terms with is the truism that government cannot do the church's job. Not in any shape, manner, or form. Yet, by the way many Christians and pastors behave these days, one gets the impression that they don't really understand this truth. Instead, it seems that many Christians and ministers see the government--especially the federal government--as an extension of the church.

It is equally apparent that many Christians and ministers today have developed the attitude that somehow the federal government is supposed to enforce by law what only the Spirit of God can enforce through grace. Let's be plain: the federal government cannot do the church's job.

The role of the federal government is to secure the rights that are given to us by God. Namely, the rights of life, liberty, and property. Properly understood, the role of the federal government has little to do with providing "services," and everything to do with securing the liberties of the people. It is just that simple.

However, a majority of Americans today believe that the federal government (in essence) is supposed to be father, mother, provider, teacher, doctor, and even preacher to people. Instead of looking to God, the family, the church, and individual responsibility, we look to Uncle Sam. And this sentiment is shared by a host of professing Christians as well.

Therefore, instead of doing the hard work of teaching and disciplining our children, we look to Uncle Sam to straighten out our rebellious kids. Instead of preaching the hard messages of truth from our pulpits, churches expect Uncle Sam to straighten out (through the power of law) all those "bad" people out there. Instead of taking personal responsibility for our own health and livelihood, we expect Uncle Sam to be our provider and protector.

Take the issue of morality, for example. When, pray tell, did it become the responsibility of the federal government to define, inspect, and enforce morality? Is this not first, the responsibility of the home, and second, the responsibility of the church? Do we really desire a federal government with the power to define and enforce morality? God forbid!

At this point, I should make it clear that state and local governments have every right--and even the responsibility--to establish community standards. State and local governments are legitimately within their rights to prohibit those activities deemed harmful to the health and well-being of their communities.

If states or municipalities want to prohibit "adult" book stores, they certainly have the right to do so. If they want to make prostitution and drug use illegal, they have every right to do so. If they want to regulate nightclubs and honky-tonks, more power to them. I, for one, have no desire to live in Pottersville. However, none of this is any of Uncle Sam's business!

Here is the problem: our pastors have become spiritual pantywaists and our churches have become spiritual playgrounds. Pastors and churches have sold their souls to success-driven "ministry." We want big attendances, big offerings, big family life centers, big youth departments, big Sunday Schools, and big-name people on our membership rolls. And we will do whatever it takes to achieve it.

And most of the time, in order to accommodate our overwhelming desire to be a "big success," pastors and churches will soften the message to the point that the average Sunday sermon is little more than a glorified "how-to-get-rich," or "how-to-be-happy," or "how-to-avoid-guilt," ad infinitum, ad nauseum, pep-talk. Words such as "sinner," "Hell," "judgment," "retribution," and "repentance" have been permanently removed from the vocabulary of the average pastor. The plain, powerful, old-fashioned Gospel has been replaced with sloppy, mushy, offend-no-one sermonettes that could not bring Holy Spirit conviction if one even wanted it--which hardly anyone does.

Furthermore, the music program of the average church is nothing more than a hard-rock concert, and our youth programs are little more than dating services. There is no church discipline or accountability. People can dress (or undress) any way they want, talk any way they want, and act any way they want with little or no supervision or oversight.

Then, when our families and communities go to Hell, instead of hitting the prayer closet and asking God to send revival to our hearts, our homes, and our churches, we demand that Uncle Sam fix it. We support presidential candidates who say they will lead the federal government in finding solutions to all of our ills.

Ladies and gentlemen, the federal government cannot do the church's job. The church has an obligation to be the "light" and "salt" of society. It should be setting the standard of righteousness through its preaching and teaching. It should be willing to call a spade a spade, even if it offends business leaders and politicians in the process.

Likewise, the federal government cannot do the family's job. It is the responsibility of each mother and father to teach morality and faith to their children. Parents are given the task of disciplining and correcting their children.

Let's tell it like it is: America is fast losing its moral compass because our families and churches are not doing their respective jobs. And the problem is, when families and churches fail, there is no Plan B. That is, not without the loss of freedom and independence.

The federal government cannot do the job of the family and the church, because everything it does is at the expense of something else. The only wealth it has is what it confiscates from someone else. The only power it has is what it steals from someone else. The only "services" it provides are at the expense of someone else. This is why our country's founding documents state that the federal government's role was to be very limited and narrowly defined.

As someone rightly said, "A government that is big enough to give you all you want, is big enough to take it all away." Amen.

Therefore, instead of looking to presidential candidates who will use the federal government to accomplish everything we want done (even the good things we want done), we should support only those candidates who recognize the proper role of the federal government as being limited and narrowly defined (by the Constitution). And then, it behooves us to look to ourselves to be the parents we should be to our own children at home, and to look for pastors and churches that are not trying to be popular, but that are courageous and faithful custodians of the truth.

© 2007 Chuck Baldwin - All Rights Reserved

Boldness of Faith

I believe that with each passing generation, it becomes more difficult for believers to live out their faith, as compulsory moves toward secularism and so-called diversity work to break down our devotion to Christ.

It is therefore our responsibility, as Christian parents, to instill biblical values in our children and to bring them up in the ways of the Lord. This is true especially as mainstream prophets of secularism attempt to denigrate our message and teach our children that all beliefs should be incorporated into a common national hodgepodge.

Ezekiel chapter 13 speaks of false prophets who confused their thoughts with the thoughts of God. These false prophets were like foxes among the ruins because they scavenged for themselves while causing, ignoring and profiting from the human wreckage surrounding them.

I believe this is a picture of our modern culture as our schools, our families and our communities are in turmoil while politicians and “experts” blindly refuse to see the roots of our escalating cultural meltdown.

My friends, we must train up the next generation of Christians to stand in the gap, for the sake of our country. There are many who have decided that God is not relevant, that He should no longer play a role in the modern culture.

We must be proactive in standing on truth, in lifting up truth and in preaching the Gospel, without apology, to this generation. We must ensure that our fellow Americans see the importance of the Word of God in their lives.

In addition, we must ensure that we teach moral absolutes. So many today have determined that there is no absolute truth, that we can determine what is right and wrong as long as we don’t offend someone else. This type of moral relativism is tearing at the fabric of our nation.

The problem with this idea is that the Bible clearly tells us that the heart of man is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?). That being the case, it is impossible to determine morality by looking inside our own hearts, even as Christians.

Instead, we must look to the only source that is perfect and holy. That source is Almighty God!

There are four commitments that I believe we, as Christians, must make in order to ensure the future of our nation. Briefly, they are:

1. We must be bold in our faith and unashamedly stand up for truth.



2. We must be prophets, speaking out against sin in our land. We must stand against attacks on the sanctity of life, on the traditional family and on our religious freedoms.



3. We must be gentle. In the midst of standing up for truth, we must reach the world in meekness and gentleness. I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:



4. We must always be proclaimers of the Gospel. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. We must remember that winning souls changes everything and that when we win people to the Christ, we will change the culture.

May we join together in these four commitments to spark change in our culture and bring the truth of Jesus Christ into the lives of those who do not know Him.

Excerpts from email message by Jonathan Falwell - October 5, 2007

Leading Our Children

(Here is a follow-up post by Pastor Paul Chappell from his daily devotional email list which goes along with the earlier post this week found here on my blog site. Parents are to lead their children!!!)

2 Timothy 3:14–17 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Over the last few days we have seen that we as parents are given the privilege and responsibility of raising our children for the Lord. God desires that we as parents would take this responsibility seriously and seek His help. We have seen the steps God has given us in raising children who love Him. Today, let’s see how we must lead our children in making right decisions.

First, we must lead them to salvation. We cannot force our children to get saved or to accept Christ, but we can influence them spiritually. We can teach them of God’s gift of salvation and of His sacrifice on the Cross. We can tell them of our need for His redemption and of His promise of Heaven. We can fill their hearts with stories about God.

Sometimes people say, “I’m just going to let my child make up his own mind about religion.” But this is not wise! Proverbs 29:15 says, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” The Bible warns us that if we fail to nurture a child and lead them to right decisions, they will bring us to shame! We must be actively teaching our children about salvation so they will want to trust Christ as their Saviour.

Second, we must also lead them to separation. We see a perfect example of a young person who was separated in Daniel 1:8, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” I am sure this decision was not made on impulse but came from years of right parenting by Daniel’s parents.

We must lead our children to be set apart from the world. So many young people today are trying to “fit in” but we must show our children that God desires for them to be separate. We must teach them to set standards for themselves and to be separate like Daniel.

Last, we must lead our children to be surrendered to God. We can’t make the decisions for our children, but we can lead them in the way they need to go. We must lead them to have a sensitive heart toward God and His leading in their lives.

It is so vital that we instill these principles in our children at a young age. As parents, we must be leading our children by actively teaching them the things of God. We must also be modeling separation and surrender in our lives so our children will see our examples.

Are you leading your children to know and love God? Are you helping them develop godly habits and principles in their lives? Because the devil is active in trying to corrupt our children’s hearts, we must be active in protecting them and leading them to God. Ask God for help in leading your children. Commit to helping your child live for God by teaching them and leading them today.

Teaching Our Children God’s Word

(Here is a devotional article written by Pastor Paul Chappell that was in my mailbox early this morning. This thought and command from God's Word has been my goal with the six children God has blessed my wife and I with over the years; it's a never ending job, but it is so rewarding when you see how God blesses in our lives as well as the lives of our children.)

Prov. 4:1-4 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

God desires for us to raise our children for Him. He delights in the faith and love of small children and He has a special place in His heart for them. He even sets distinct consequences for those who harm children. Matthew 18:6 says, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” God takes the raising and nourishing of children very seriously.

In giving us the gift of children, God has also given us a responsibility. We are to raise our children to love the Lord. We are to help them develop hearts for Him. Yesterday we saw how we can help them by expressing our love to them each day. Today we will see that God desires for us to teach them His Word.

We are the ones responsible for teaching our children God’s Word. Every child needs a set of principles to live by. They need to learn respect, integrity, honesty, and discipline. These attributes can only be learned if we, as parents, are teaching them God’s Word.

Many of the problems in our world today can be traced back to parents who failed to teach their children God’s Word. Many times parents avoid teaching their children the Bible because they do not know it themselves! Parents, we must be in God’s Word each day so we can teach it to our children.

Also, we must realize that God’s Word keeps the heart. When we teach our children Bible verses and Bible stories, their hearts are nourished. We may not think so, but even young children can learn and retain Bible stories! It is a good practice to nourish their heart early on in life with good Bible stories and verses.

Time in the Bible does not have to be boring for your children! You can make it fun and exciting so they will want to learn God’s Word and spend time with Him. As you cultivate a love for God and His Word early on in your child’s life, they will be more established in Christ when they are older.

Parents, it is our responsibility to teach God’s Word to our children. Our world is not teaching them about God and how to live a moral life. If we do not teach them, who will? Also, we can help protect their hearts by teaching them His Word. As we teach them to hide His Word in their hearts, they will be better prepared to face the devil and his temptations.

Are you actively teaching your children God’s Word? It isn’t the job of the church, Sunday school, or even the Christian school to teach your children of God! It is your job as the parent. Spend time with God now and commit to helping establish your child’s heart by teaching him God’s Word. Take time today to teach your child a Bible verse or to tell them a Bible story. Help ground their lives in God’s Word today.

(Comment from Jim; The example of Timothy shown from the verses below has always been a guide to my wife and I in raising our children in God's Word.)

2 Tim. 1:5, 2 Tim. 3:14-17 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Family Covenant to Honor God in All of Our Home’s Entertainment

(This covenant was written by a preacher brother of mine who developed it for his church family while preaching a series of messages on the home to his church. I thought I would pass it on to my faithful blog readers for their information and prayerfully use.)

As family members committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and wanting to live separated, holy, lives that would be pleasing to Him, (Lev 20:26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.), we pledge to from this day forward to honor God in our home’s entertainment. For wrong, sinful decisions that have been made in the past, we can only petition His forgiveness and mercy. For the many temptations/pressures to yield and compromise that lie ahead, we plea for His strength and the Holy Spirit’s enablement alone to overcome (Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy).

Knowing with certainty that God sent Jesus, “who gave himself for us; that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works”, (Titus 2:14), and that God commands us in His Holy Word to “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Prov 4:23), we pledge to set a guard around this house and in the hearts of all those who call it home. Specifically, to guard it from sinful media influences that would grieve the heart of God and cause us to sin and stumble. Influences such as any music, television, magazines, internet sites, DVD’s, and video games that are not becoming of a born again follower of Jesus Christ. From this day forward, as a family, we say “no” to feeding the desires of the flesh, and “yes” to nurturing the things of the spirit, and we do make a covenant to follow and honor Christ in all of our entertainment decisions.

Date: _______________

Family Members:

______________________ _____________________

______________________ _____________________

______________________ _____________________

Does Daddy Go???

(The following poem was published in the August 2007 edition of Calvary's Stand, a publication of Calvary Baptist Church in Tunnel Hill, GA. The author's name is not listed, but it is well worth reading. This was posted on a mailing list by Bro. Rex Simcox as was in my mailbox tonight.)

Daddy had a little boy, his soul was white as snow,
He never went to Sunday School, ‘cause Daddy wouldn’t go.

He never heard the Word of God, that thrills the childish mind,
While other children went to class, this child was left behind.

As he grew from babe to youth, Dad saw to his dismay,
A soul that once was snowy white, became a dingy gray.

Realizing that his son was lost, Dad tried to win him back,
But now the soul that once was white, had turned an ugly black.

Dad even started back to church, and Bible study too,
He begged the preacher, “Isn’t there a thing that you can do?”

The preacher tried, failed, and said, “We’re just too far behind,
I tried to tell you years ago, but you paid me no mind.”

And so another soul was lost, that was once as white as snow,
Sunday School would have helped, but Daddy wouldn’t go.

Godly Advice For Dealing With Real Life Situations - Only God Can Change Hearts!!!

Here are some real life examples that have occurred in my lifetime;

Godly parents who have sought to honour the Lord in their child rearing have come to the realization that their adult child has begun turning or has already completely turned their back on everything that mom and dad have taught them. What can they do about this???

A wife feels that her husband does not take the spiritual lead as he should. She wants him to lead in spiritual matters and desires to follow him as he follows Christ but he seems disinterested in this necessary role and satisfied and even complacent with his own spiritual condition. What can she do about this???

A husband seems frustrated. The Holy Spirit has dealt with him and he desires to lead his family into a deeper commitment to Christ and a more fervency of zeal in their service for Christ. Yet the family seems disinterested, even cynical and sometimes even antagonistic toward the changes dad makes. What can he do about this???

A family has dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ. Beyond salvation they have begun to be faithful to church, they are tithing their income, they are sending their children to a Christian school, they are changing their worldly music and other worldly forms of entertainment, and adopting Biblical standards for Christian living. Other saved family members whom they dearly love question their newfound commitment to Christ. They make light of, make fun of, mock and criticize their standards and convictions. None of this mind you is brought on by a prideful disposition on the part of the changed family. The subject matter is not even brought up by them. Yet the extended family members seem bent on interrogating them for their new found commitment to an old-fashioned Bible Christianity. What can they do about this???

YOU CAN'T CHANGE A PERSON'S HEART, BUT GOD CAN!!!

1. God can change a person's heart! - 1 Sam. 10:9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. Ezra 6:22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
2. God can put something in a person's heart! - Ezra 7:27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
3. God can soften a person's heart! - Ezek. 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: Ezek. 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
4. Only God can change or turn a person's heart! - Prov. 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

WELL, THEN WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS???

1. I can love them.
2. I can pray for them.
3. Ask God to change their heart.
4. Let God change my heart. I cannot expect a person to be better than my attitude toward them. What is God trying to teach me through this person or situation???
5. Realize that God can take even our mistakes and bring about something good from them. Rom. 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
6. Make yourself available. However, refrain from giving unsought advice. Unsought advice is seldom heeded and often resented. If you do give unsought advice you may very well forfeit the right to give advice later.

I'll Have To Pray On It

(Here is another great article written by Dave Daubenmire from the August 9 issue of NewsWithViews. Although the article deals with a dilema in the public school arena, the main thrust is the lack of genuine concern for the average Christian to be involved and actively engaged against the Devil's crowd in today's world. I am happy to report to you that my wife and I are getting ready to begin our 18th year of homeschooling our children, simply because of our conviction that it is the parents responsibility to train their children. Some parents utilize public schools, some Christian schools, but we have chosen the path of home education. That being said, however, doesn't remove my responsibility from speaking out against the world and it's sinful programs in the public school arena. The public school system has no problem at all taking my taxes!!! Click on the title above to read the entire article on the NewsWithViews website.)

Last week I saw a story in the local paper that made me squirm. It seems that a public library was putting up a fight over the placement of sexually-suggestive books in the children’s section of the library. When a politically incorrect parent complained about the placement of such materials in an area that was open to the perusal of young eyes, it seems that the local librarian got all bent out of shape over the attempt of the parent to “censure” from children “educational” materials that the library board had deemed “appropriate.” Somewhere along the line, some God-hating humanist had made the determination that if any material had “educational” value, then the material should be made available to all children regardless of the concerns of the tax-paying clientele.

How long are we going to put up with this? Is it just me, or does it seem that the god-hating progressives love to take our money and promote their agenda? It is becoming abundantly clear that anything labeled “public” in America is becoming increasingly decadent. “Public” is rapidly coming to mean “you pay for what I want to do. Give us your money and we’ll tell you what is best for you and your family.

Well it just so happens that I had recently been at a gathering where the discussion of such “public” indoctrination had come under inspection. A group of parents had invited me to come and listened as they “privately” aired some concerns that they had about what was taking place in their “public” schools.

“What should we do, Coach?” they inquired of me. “We think it is horrible what they are exposing our kids to at such a young age. Somebody is going to have to do something about it?"

I had been here before. As a guy with a reputation of being a bit “edgy” as far as Christianity is concerned, I knew that the “somebody” they wanted to do something was me. They didn’t come right out and say it, but I knew they wanted to hire me as a mercenary, free of charge of course, because I had “experience” in this “type of thing.” In other words, they wanted me to go fight their fight for them, sort of a Christian hired-gun. Let me take the fire as they hid in the pews and watched.

“What do you think we should do? I queried them. “What is it you would like to see happen?” They did not appreciate my questioning; they had invited me for answers. I didn’t let them hide in their silence. “Let me ask you a few questions. Who pays for the schools, whose children are being “educated” there, and who is responsible for training the children?” All eyes immediately dropped to the floor as mine panned the crowd. “Until you answer those questions there is no need to proceed. After a long pause I said “Let me help you out.”

“Here it is in a nutshell. The schools are paid for with your tax dollars. The teachers, school board, and superintendent all work for you. You buy the books, the buses, pay the utilities, the salaries, and build the buildings. In many cases, you ‘tithe’ more to the schools than you do your church. Yet you have no say. Some “expert” in Washington knows what is best for your kid, even though they don’t know him, his parents, or his community. The children belong to the Lord; He has merely put them in the care of earthly parents. They do not belong to the teachers, the school board, the superintendent, the National Education Association, or the Gay and Lesbian Task Force. George Bush doesn’t own them, Congress doesn’t own them, and the Supreme Court is not their family. If you have children it is because God has entrusted them to you. The responsibility for training children falls to the parents. You will live with the consequences of what your children are taught. To turn the education of them over to people who will teach them things that are in opposition to everything that you as the parents believe is to bastardize them. They have your genes but someone else’s values. What more defines a child as yours? Is it the fact that he looks like you, or is it because he thinks like you? If you believe in your values, why wouldn’t you want your children to be taught them? Why would you pay the freight for your school to teach your children things you don’t believe?”

The room was uncomfortably silent.

“You want a plan? Well here you go. Call everyone that you know. Every pastor, every elder, every church member, every Sunday school teacher and ask them to join us at the school board meeting next Monday. If you do that, if you rally a crowd, I’ll go speak on your behalf. We will demand that the homosexual agenda be removed from our schools, that comprehensive sex-education be aborted, that abstinence education be the ONLY thing taught, and that every student be taught creationism as the origin of the species. We will make it clear that until our demands are met, not a one of us will ever vote for a school levy again, and we will encourage everyone we know to also oppose government indoctrination of our kids. They work for us. The school board will never see the light until they feel the heat. I say it is time we turned up the temperature.”

In the back of the room a cowardly man stood up and cleared his throat. “This seems pretty radical stuff to me. There are a lot of good people working in the schools. They do the best they can to educate our children, with all of the restraints that are put on them” And then he hid behind his skirt. “I’ll have to pray about it. I’d have to be led by the Lord to do that.”

“Really?” I said as the steam rose off of my collar. “What is there to pray about? Let me sharpen the picture a bit for you, sir. If someone was breaking into your house to rape your daughter would you have to pray about your response? If you found a predator online trying to make a rendezvous with your 12 year old would you have to pray about it? If your neighbor was window peeping into your bedroom would you have to pray about it? If a drug dealer was standing on the corner giving marijuana to children would you have to pray about it? If your baby-sitter were feeding your child poison, would you seek the Lord about what to do?"

Do you pray before you go fishing? Do you pray before you play golf? Do you seek the Lord about going to a football game? Do you seek the Lord’s guidance before you put your kids on the yellow school bus from hell? As I once heard Zell Miller say, Silence isn’t golden, it’s yellow.

Sorry to sound so judgmental, but that guy was a male, but he was not a man. He was more a coward than Christian.

So here is where I left it. I told them that I am more than willing to lead a fight to reclaim our schools, but that I was not interested in falling on my sword. If they want to fight, and fight to win, then I am willing to help organize the troops. But there is a contingency attached. My next step into the battle will only be initiated after I have heard from ten local pastors/church leaders who are willing to reclaim the education of our children. Just ten men who truly understand the importance of education and the role it plays in the perpetuation of our Christian culture: Just ten Godly men who believe the future of Christianity demands action and will go stand with me at the meeting.

I’m still waiting. No calls. No men. Our children continue to be pummeled by the un-godly in the government educational system. Where are the watchmen? Where are those who love their children more than they love their comfort, who love Truth more than a lie, who love the Lord more than their possessions?

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

I won’t hold my breath. Besides, my grass is getting higher, and the weeds are taking over my garden. What should I do? I need to seek the Lord and ask him if I should mow. I think I’ll call a meeting of my neighbors to see if any of them “feel led” to tend to my yard.

I think I’ll have to pray on it.