Blessed by PBA Annual Meeting

Last night's Piedmont Baptist Association meeting was a great experience.  I really enjoyed seeing several people that I hadn't seen in a while, some in ten years!  What's not to like about being among people who truly are "friends in the business" of Christian ministry and outreach?  Especially when they come up to you, remember your name from years ago, and genuinely express interest and best wishes for your work!  Not to mention the encouragement of knowing others who are not only plodding along in pastoral ministry, but also who are active and intentional in support ministries that reach our church members outside of the walls, encouraging them during the week.  The (sort of selfish) take away from all this is that I'm almost certain to reduce the feelings of isolation that have dogged me during ministry.  If I will plug in firmly to this family of Christians to which I obviously belong, God will use them to help me stay encouraged.  Unhealthy isolation is no good in any context; and it is abundantly clear to me that in pastoral ministry it leaves one wide-open to big time discouragement.  And we all know where discouragement leads.  Will you help hold me accountable to this PBA family?  Will you consider taking an active part in locally cooperative activities along with me?

Also, this meeting was historic in that it was the first time the annual meeting has been hosted in a predominantly black church. This enabled us to have a likely unique worship experience with the St. Paul's Youth Choir.  One concern that was expressed openly was that many on the 2015 leadership team are sporting bald heads (on purpose mostly). What does this mean? 2 Kings 2:23 says "Go on up, you bald-head! Go on up you bald-head!" but in this case let's hope for much different results as a truly cooperative PBA impacts the Triad in every way, in every nation, every neighborhood, and every neighbor.

Luther Heggs: Faith Based on God's Power

This is what I mentioned during the introduction in last Sunday's message, "Does Your Faith Rest on the Power of God?"  The idea is that our faith cannot be based on some vicarious external sources that we are offered regularly in Christendom (translation=Madison Avenue & Hollywood for Christians).  Our faith must rest on God's power alone, because God will not give His Glory to another.  Paul was careful to tell those in Corinth that he was no super-apostle or professional orator attempting to win a competition.  He was indeed a triumphed-over servant of the true and living God, and was speaking the truth. Are you careful about your faith?  Is it genuine enough to carry you through great difficulties and persecutions?  Or is your faith based on your favorite music, your favorite TV preacher, your favorite missions work, or your most cherished theological assumptions?  Faith must rest on the power of God who gives it.

Must Read: The Government wants to Control What We Preach

Here we go folks, you can see what's coming! This is no joke, even if it doesn't last in this case. Never say, "This won't happen here."

Houston Seeks Review of Pastors’ Sermons After Lawsuit Filed Over ‘Bathroom Bill’ Initiative

And another from Chronicle: http://m.chron.com/news/politics/houston/article/City-subpoenas-pastors-sermons-in-equal-rights-5822403.php

Article: ISIS Persecution Forces Iraqi Christians to Choose

I Peter in action- please pray!



ISIS Persecution Forces Iraqi Christians to Choose

Peace or Payback?

If you take some time to sort through 1 Peter 3, you'll see that believers are to be a source of blessing.  Exactly what blessing means includes truth, btw.  

Blessing is here contrasted with common behavior: retribution.  This is the big word for "payback" (yes, we all know "payback is H#77", so don't even think about saying that out loud).  Blessing is clearly contrasted, and is in fact opposed by or even defeated by payback.  

If Christians simply give insult for insult, evil for evil, we are defeating the purpose for which we are called by God.  We are going to inherit blessings of the heavenly kind, the unimaginable kind, and so we are to be the source from which others are blessed. Verse 13 reminds us that we have no need to fear harm if we are staying in the right.  

This is just not our regular instinct.  I want to be the sheriff, the judge, jury and, well...you know.  But this ain't my calling, is it?  Jesus didn't save us so we could get even.

SO- you gotta love the application of Psalm 34:11ff in verses 10-12.  Who thinks of "people who want to live, love, and be happy" as a Biblical idea?  The behavior will follow the calling of God to salvation.  Any retribution belongs to the One who calls.

What is for us is to be harmonious, which I hope means cooperative, sympathetic, which helps us pray like crazy, brotherly, including acceptance in the big family of God, kindhearted, including to cruel people we find unattractive, and humble in spirit, that is, satisfied with God and His work in us.  

The next time someone steps on your cornflakes, will you choose peace or payback? If you were ever attacked for being a Christian, would you be able to explain why you're giving a blessing?

"Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it."

 

CT Learning to Count to One

Consider this timeless article from a few years back: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/februaryweb-only/learningcountone.html