Singing orca
March 2, 2010
This is from the blog of Scotty Smith, Pastor for Preaching, Teaching and Worship at Christ Community Church (PCA) in Franklin, Tennessee:
A Prayer About the Day of Singing OrcaThen I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13Dear Lord Jesus, I cannot imagine the horror and trauma of those who witnessed the death of an Orca trainer yesterday at Sea World. We pray, especially for the children who were present… bring your healing hand and loving heart to bear. By whatever means you choose, we pray for your redeeming presence in this tragedy.Jesus, gut-numbing events like this fuel my intense longing for the Day when “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them,” will sing your praise forever in the new heaven and new earth. What Isaiah whispered (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:17-25) and John envisioned (Revelation 21:1-5), we will enjoy with them—this very world redeemed and restored by you, Lord Jesus—the one who is making all things new.The very fact that Orca are better known as “Killer Whales” just underscores the fact that nothing in this broken world is the way it’s meant to be. Orca were meant to sing and play, not attack and devour. The odious stench of sin, decay and death permeate every sphere of your creation. In fact, it’s far more incomprehensible to realize that over half of the world’s families exist for a whole month on the price of one Sea World ticket. Have mercy, Lord Jesus, have mercy… I know that you have, and I know that you will….Until the Day of the pan-creature praise chorus, give us, give me, all the grace and strength we need to love mercy, do justice and walk humbly with our God. So very Amen, we pray, offering all praise, honor, glory and power, to him who sits on the throne and to you, the Lamb of God.
Read it again in 2010
December 29, 2009
READ THE BIBLE FROM COVER TO COVER IN 2010. You can start at Genesis and go right through to Revelation if you like. My favorite plan involves reading three chapters a day (and five on the Lord’s Day). In this plan you read a different genre of Scripture each day of the week (wisdom literature, Pentateuch, OT histories, prophets, gospels, epistles). The variation has helped me push through the low seasons that come during the year, and it helps me see the interconnectedness of all of God’s Word. I first came across this scheme about twenty years ago when Dr. Douglas Kelly included it as an appendix in his book If God Already Knows, Why Pray? I have passed it along to many others through the years.
Sundays: read five chapters in the Psalms. When done, read through Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
Mondays: read three chapters in Genesis. When done, read through Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Tuesdays: read three chapters in Joshua. When done, read through Judges, Ruth, 1& 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings.
Wednesdays: read three chapters in Job. When done, read through 1 & 2 Chroniclers, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
Thursdays: read three chapters in Isaiah. When done, read through Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Fridays: read three chapters In Matthew. When done, read through Mark, Luke, John, and Acts.
Saturdays: read three chapters in Romans. When done, read through 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude, and Revelation.
FURTHER ADVICE
- Set a distinct time of day and place for your reading, as free as possible from distractions. Turn off that electronic device that bosses you around.
- Use a good, readable translation. I recommend, in the following order: English Standard Version, New King James Version, New International Version, King James Version, and New American Standard. But the best translation of the Scriptures is one you are actually reading! I don’t recommend a study Bible. All those extra notes and comments can be distracting, and you might need an orthopedic specialist if you haul around an ESV Study Bible for 365 consecutive days.
- When you forget or fall behind, don’t give up. All is not lost. The devil would like you to give up once you’ve fallen behind. Pick back up right where you were. You can double up to catch up, but you don’t have to. So what if you finish in February 2011?
- Pray every day before you read, and after you read.
- Ask a friend or loved one to join you in the venture. Keep each other accountable.
Cream of blog 12.01.09
December 1, 2009
A few blog posts worth reading…
Two sharp barbs re: prayer
October 19, 2009
The next sermon in the Jesus Unplugged series is on Luke 11:1-13, in which Jesus’ disciples want him to teach them how to pray. Below are two sharp barbs about prayer–the first from Paul E. Miller’s recent release, A Praying Life,
“The quest for a contemplative life can actually be self-absorbed, focused on my quiet and me. If we love people and have the power to help, then we are going to be busy. Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart. In the midst of outer busyness we can develop an inner quiet. Because we are less hectic on the inside, we have a greater capacity to love…and thus to be busy, which in turn drives us even more into a life of prayer. By spending time with our Father in prayer, we integrate our lives with his, with what he is doing in us. Our lives become more coherent. They feel calmer, more ordered, even in the midst of confusion and pressure.”
The second is a humorous-but-deadly-serious observation from Jonathan Acuff’s site Stuff Christians Like. Acuff addresses a frequent prayer meeting and intercessory prayer technique: Praying that God will fix a situation as long as you are not part of the solution. (I dare you to click it and read.) More and more often I find myself coming back to that as I pray and as I lead others in praying, “Father, use us–our words and actions–as part of your gracious answer to these prayers….”
Cream of blog: 29 September 2009
September 29, 2009
- Explore the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, a vast library of print and audio media files from Colson and many others.
- From Gene Edward Veith’s blog, a glimpse at where the debate about gay marriage is heading for some–the abolition of marriage itself.
- Also from Veith, thoughts concerning the Christian origins of health care as we know it in the West. (Atheists are fond of claiming that Christianity is a toxic presence in the history of civilization.)
- Actions steps for anxiety from Tullian Tchividjian.
- A review of Paul Miller’s A Praying Life from Coram Deo, Omaha, Nebraska.
Focused prayer for the Mulsim world
September 3, 2009
Last year in our prayer meeting we spent a portion of time praying for the power of the Gospel to reach mightily into the Muslim world. 30-Days International (www.30-days.net) produces the “30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World” Christian prayer guide coinciding with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan each year.
The origin of this international prayer network came about as a group of Christian leaders were praying during a meeting in the Middle East in April 1992. God put a burden on the hearts of these men and women to call as many Christians as possible to pray for the Muslim world. The annual, worldwide, 30-Days Muslim prayer focus gives Christians the opportunity to learn about Islam and pray for Muslims during Ramadan (Islam’s important annual month of fasting and religious observance).
Each year a new prayer guide booklet is published in a number of languages and locations around the world. The booklet is illustrated and contains daily readings with prayer points and informative background articles focusing on the Muslim world. Check out the site’s resources and join in praying for light of Christ to shine into darkness of Islam.
Sweet counsel 08.20.09
August 20, 2009
Sweet Counsel is back after a six-week hiatus…
REMIND
Happy New Year! August is the start of the new year for many of us, especially if we have children. It is also the time when we regroup, restart some ministries that lie fallow for the summer and introduce some new vehicles of ministry. If you missed the Fall Family Night ministry preview back on August 12, you can catch up by picking up an orange Fall @ FPC 2009: What is your next step? sheet. This will give you a lot of information on upcoming events between now and Thanksgiving. The back page is a calendar for the next four months.
Reaching Out at Home: Do you have a heart for the mission field close to home? If you are, you are invited to a meeting directed toward developing and strengthening FPC ministry vehicles for local outreach and mercy ministry, English as a Second Language (ESL), church planting in North America, special needs ministry, campus ministries, military chaplaincy, disaster relief, and other ways of reaching out to our nearby neighbors and those in spiritual need across our nation. We will meet over soup and/or sandwiches on Sunday evening, August 23, in the Jackson Room right after Evening Worship.
REVISIT
Rally Day: We fed around 120 or so last Sunday morning. Cooks Culley Newman and Danny Temple, decorators Keith, Teresa, Victoria and Alexandria Paton, and the entire committee (Lynda Temple, Tanya Steen, Celina Wilson, Sandra Fowler and Mary Denny) put an excellent meal together. Grant was in charge of the Rally Day program. Rally Day is not a just a relic of the past. It is a good way to catch a quick glimpse at what the various children’s and adult classes are doing. There are red sheets of paper at the bulletin pick-up points which give a brief description of the various classes. Invite someone to join you in your class, or if you need help finding a class that suits you or someone else, talk to me or to Grant.
Helping Hand for Helping Hands: Thank you for your generous response to the last-minute call for canned goods to replenish the food pantry at Helping Hands. The number of beneficiaries receiving food assistance at HH has increased by 75% over the past 4 months. FPC really rose the occasion with a strong response last Sunday. If you didn’t get in on that particular joy, I’m sure you can call Helping Hands and ask how you can help.
Andy and Bev Warren: At the last Wednesday Night Connection I gave my teaching time to Andy Warren (MTW Ethiopia) for a report. He emailed me last Friday to let me know that he and Bev could be in Kosciusko on the following Wednseday night, and who can refuse such an opportunity? Their visit to the U.S. is not a regular home assignment; rather, it is due to their youngest son Kit enrolling at Mississippi State. They have helped Kit settle on campus, and are getting ready to visit other supporting churches and do some recruiting while they are here. They will return to Ethiopia October 4. Andy showed us a moving video which chronicled some of their work with HIV-infected residents of Addis Ababa and surrounding regions. They are currently working with 485 families affected by the disease. They are always in need of medical personnel for short-term trips. Also, they help 714 children with educational needs. Andy and Bev asked us to pray for them in their new ‘empty-nest’ situation as a family, for the development of the church plant they want to see in Addis Ababa, and for the many people they serve and care for in Jesus’ name.
Prayer for a Thick Skin and a Big Heart
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21
Dear Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, apart from you, the admonitions in this passage mock our sensibilities. Everything within us instinctively wants to get even when we are hurt by others. Whether it’s a “light-hearted” insult or an outright assault; whether it’s our forgotten birthday or a remembered failure; whether we’re excluded from a party or included in someone’s madness… so often, too often, the pain we feel get’s recycled and redistributed to others.
We ask you for thick skin and a big heart, Jesus. We want to love well in the presence of everything from non-intended slights to full bore evil. Where evil has already deeply wounded us or is presently lurking, Jesus, let us remember, even deeper in our hearts, that you will repay, you will avenge. Because you have already overcome evil on the cross and have secured its utter annihilation, we can dare to imagine overcoming evil with good. We are clueless about feeding hungry, thirsty enemies, Jesus. Take our hand and show us the way.
And where we are just too sensitive, Jesus, too easily offended, too ready to keep record of wrongs done to us… may the gospel bring us much greater freedom. May this be a week, Jesus, of overlooking everything that should be overlooked, of dealing wisely as peacemakers with the situations we must confront, and a week of revoking all revenge in light of the Day you return to make all things new. All for your glory we ask these things, Jesus. Amen.
Morning Worship: This Sunday we’ll have the joy of witnessing the Baptism of Nathan Carroll. Camille’s father, Rev. Billy Joseph, Minister of Congregational Care at First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, will assist. I will conclude the series The Handing Down: The Gospel according to the Isaac and Jacob by preaching from the genealogy of Esau in Genesis 36–a passage that illustrates for us some truths about God’s “common grace” toward all people and God’s “saving grace” toward believers. In the morning liturgy we will sing This Is My Father’s World, Blest the Man That Fear Jehovah [Psalm 128], and Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.
Evening Worship: Speaking of concluding a series, Sunday evening will mark the conclusion of my series on Revelation–a sermon on Revelation 22:6-22 entitled Hope Unveiled.
Prayer: a rare medium well done
August 18, 2009
Over at Scotty Smith’s blog, he’s sharing some prayers he has composed about many different aspects of life: friends, enemies, Jesus’ return, suffering, joy, acceptance, shame, and much more below are three that have gripped my heart recently
Prayer for a Thick Skin and a Big Heart
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21
Dear Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, apart from you, the admonitions in this passage mock our sensibilities. Everything within us instinctively wants to get even when we are hurt by others. Whether it’s a “light-hearted” insult or an outright assault; whether it’s our forgotten birthday or a remembered failure; whether we’re excluded from a party or included in someone’s madness… so often, too often, the pain we feel get’s recycled and redistributed to others.
We ask you for thick skin and a big heart, Jesus. We want to love well in the presence of everything from non-intended slights to full bore evil. Where evil has already deeply wounded us or is presently lurking, Jesus, let us remember, even deeper in our hearts, that you will repay, you will avenge. Because you have already overcome evil on the cross and have secured its utter annihilation, we can dare to imagine overcoming evil with good. We are clueless about feeding hungry, thirsty enemies, Jesus. Take our hand and show us the way.
And where we are just too sensitive, Jesus, too easily offended, too ready to keep record of wrongs done to us… may the gospel bring us much greater freedom. May this be a week, Jesus, of overlooking everything that should be overlooked, of dealing wisely as peacemakers with the situations we must confront, and a week of revoking all revenge in light of the Day you return to make all things new. All for your glory we ask these things, Jesus. AmenA Prayer About Weaknesses
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Heavenly Father, I totally get Martin Luther’s statement that “bad theology is the worst taskmaster of all.” For there’s so much in this one passage of Scripture that exposes and contradicts many distorted and destructive notions I used to have about the Christian life. I wasn’t raised to delight in weakness, rather to despise weakness, to deny weakness, to demonize weakness, to de-throne weakness.
It was all about “the victorious Christian life”… being “superman-Christian,”… basically a Type A personality on spiritual steroids, filled with positive confessions, and an unrealistic obsession with being in control, of myself and others. I didn’t want sufficient grace, I wanted replacement grace. What a miserable me-centered merciless myth.
How I praise you, Father, that you are actively working to bring to completion the good work you have begun in each of your children, including me. Hasten that glad Day! Until then, Jesus, please help me to delight in my weaknesses (plural). I have NEVER been more aware of being weak, of having no ability to change certain parts of my brokenness. I really am weak. Jesus, I so want your power to rest on me, I so need your power to rest on me. I am desperate for, and expectant of, sufficient grace from you.
Lastly, as you continue to humble and gentle my heart, help me be more compassionate towards others, in their weaknesses. You haven’t called me to “fix” anyone, but to love everyone. What a wonderful merciful Savior you are, Jesus. Indeed, it was because you embraced the weakness of the cross, Jesus, that I can gladly boast in the weaknesses of my life. What a most profound, liberating and hope-filled paradox. Amen
A Prayer About Acceptance
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7
Lord Jesus, it’s both settling and centering to begin this day in the peaceful assurance of your acceptance. You know everything about me, and still I am fully and eternally accepted by God in you. You know my failures, fissures, fickleness, foolishness, faithlessness… and yet you totally accept me. When I confess my sins, I don’t inform you of anything you don’t already know. In fact, I’m probably only am aware of 3 or 4% of my actual sins. It’s absolutely astonishing to be this known and this accepted, by YOU.
But here comes the difficult part, Jesus. As you have accepted me, you are calling me to accept my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Do you really have enough grace that can enable me to love like that, Jesus? Are you really calling me to receive, welcome, and love others with whom I disagree about so many things? You’re really gonna have to help me, because there are a lot of my brothers and sisters, (even those in my own family), with whom I disagree on everything from topics in theology, politics, dress, issues of Christian liberty, women’s issues, how to spend money, worship styles, what to do on Sunday, educating children, drinking alcohol, entertainment… and that’s just for starters.
I need a bigger gospel-heart and more gospel-wisdom, Jesus, if I’m going to make any headway in this calling. Please help me show compassion without compromising my convictions. Please show me the difference between essential and non-essential matters. Please show me the difference between accepting someone where they are and acquiescing to the destructive things they are doing. Please free me from the limitations of my perspective, the prejudices of my heritage, and the insecurities of my comfort zone. Please, please, please free me from my stinkin’ need to be right all the time.
Father, please remind me, over and over, that YOU will bring to completion the good work YOU began in each of your children. And burn the conviction, indelibly into my heart, that it brings YOU praise when I work hard at accepting others as Jesus’ accepts me. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ name.
Matthew Henry’s A Method for Prayer available online
August 12, 2009
In 1994 Christian Focus Publications released a newly edited version of Matthew Henry’s A Method for Prayer (original edition appeared in 1712). Former professor and constant friend Ligon Duncan served as editor. A Method for Prayer has assisted and encouraged in me over the last fifteen years in both private and public prayer. It has helped me pray with greater Scriptural proportion and brought my prayers into greater conformity to the priorities and the very language of God’s Word.
Now Henry’s A Method for Prayer is available online, together a number of resources. Take and read…and above all, PRAY!
Sweet counsel 05.14.09
May 14, 2009
REMIND
Cookout in honor of the Hollands: It looks as though we’re going to have a large crowd joining us at Kosciusko Country Club lake at 4 pm to say a corporate ‘farewell’ to Joe Holland and his family. Because we’ve had so much rain and the possibility of more on Saturday, we’ll have our fun at the clubhouse and parking lot. We will have a scavenger hunt, bingo, etc. The hamburger cookout begins at 6:00 pm. There will be s’mores for dessert. Please sign up on the “Church Events” bulletin board if you will be able to attend.
Mission Sunday: Wes Baker of Peru Mission will be here on Sunday, May 17. Wes will give a report on the work in Peru at 9:45 am in the sanctuary. He will preach in the morning worship service as well.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONNECTION…coming May 20: We’re adding some new things to Wednesday nights to develop our TEACHING ministry (remember W-T-N-R?). Wednesday Night Connection is designed to connect us with one another in fellowship and reaching and to dig deeply into God’s Word through Bible-centered studies for children, youth, and adults.
Summer 2009 (NOTE: Due to the length of each DVD episode of ‘The Truth Project,’ we’re altering the schedule a bit from the original plan)
6:00 Children’s ministry; adult electives will gather in their respective meeting room (but still, don’t be late):
ELECTIVES
• Framework of Faith: a study of fundamental Christian teaching that aims to be rigorous and refreshing, systematic and stimulating (led by Phillip Palmertree). A number of people have been asking for a survey of systematic theology, and here it is. Join us for a study of the skeletal system of Christian living. Meeting in the Mary Thornton Room.
Morning Worship: The Rev. Wes Baker will preach in the morning service. Wes is an excellent preacher, and I wanted to return the favor extended to me back in January 2007 when Wes and the saints at the Larco Presbyterian Church in Trujillo, Peru invited me to preach to them. Wes will preach from Joshua 1:1-9 on the anticipation of Jesus’ “Great Commission” in the commission given to Joshua as he led Israel into the Promised Land. We’ll exalt the Lord in singing Psalm 46 (God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength), My Trust in the Lord, and A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. Also, we will hear an Adopt-a-Missionary report, and there will be a recognition of our high school graduates: Victoria Paton, Jonathan Miles, Stokes Templeton, and Hogan Briscoe.
Evening Worship: Revelation 10-11 covers the pause between the sixth and seventh trumpets (just like the pause bewteen the sixth and seventh seals in Revelation 7). The pause shows us a vision of an angel with a little scroll and a vision of two witnesses. There a great unveiled in this passage about Christian preaching and witness.
