For Me

I lose so much of true life when I forget or ignore what it cost God to give his Son as a sacrifice for my sins. Considering all my sin how can I rest with an ungrateful spirit? Jesus willingly submitted to suffer the rejection, alienation, humiliation, and death that we're rightfully mine. While I was his enemy he gave himself as a sacrifice for my sin, dying as my substitute and surety. In him I have been given a share in the inheritance he alone deserves. What kind of love is this? Who can measure it? Who is Christ that he would be my redeemer, even mine?

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." ~ 1 John 3.1-3

My Niece Has Cancer

My fourteen-year-old niece, D. A., has been diagnosed with Lymphoma. The doctors are very optimistic. She begins chemo soon in Lexington, Kentucky, after a bone marrow tap to complete her tests. She had a PET scan today. 

She is a Christian. From what I’m told she shows real faith and courage. You can imagine how her parents have felt. They found strength today in the doctors positive outlook. 

Prayers are appreciated.

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” ~ James 5.11 KJV

mourning

I just learned by email that two elderly church members from Wales have died, Vera Machell and Hilda Pimm. Both were widows. I was their pastor for nearly seven years. It hurts.

See Me

Self is always struggling for expression, for attention, sympathy, and praise. Such a terrible truth, that self can resist God! 

The first work of submission is an admission of our corruption, our inability to move toward him on our own. To have communion with him we must first confess our complete dependence on his first moving toward. We have no claim on God in ourselves. 

Shame, how we resist her accusing truth about our sin! We despise the shame of the cross so that we can keep our proud, mocking self alive in the very face of Christ. 

Who am I to be crucified with Christ today? 

Abortion, homosexuality, genetic engineering, animal rights, racism, politics...What should be the Christian response?

Questions of Professional and Personal Ethics: Should a Seventh-day Adventist Pastor, or Christian for that matter, be proactive against or for such things as abortion rights, homosexuality, genetic engineering, animal rights, racism, politics, etc.? Or do we simply act as reactors when the issues come up? Do commit to silence? Do we take a moral stand on a case by case basis, to groups, or remain ambivalent? If we care about these issues, how should we express that care? How much should we let the possibility of offending others or concerns of personal security influence our behavior or even our thinking on such issues? How do we preach, teach, or in some other way share the gospel meaningfully and with power in our postmodern context without undermining the principles of the gospel as defined by the person and work of Christ? How does or how can the gospel of Christ meet these issues in the public space? How do we address these concerns in the specific light of the Biblically defined identity and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church? 

I am not asking rhetorical questions here, but exploring out of personal need and a sense of moral responsibility, particularly as a pastor.