Compelled to Contend

How Do God’s Love and God’s Wrath Relate?

2011-03-14T06:22:00.000-07:00

by Don Carson:

One evangelical cliché has it that God hates the sin but loves the sinner.

There is a small element of truth in these words: God has nothing but hate for the sin, but this cannot be said with respect to how God sees the sinner.

Nevertheless the cliché is false on the face of it, and should be abandoned. Fourteen times in the first fifty psalms alone, the psalmists state that God hates the sinner, that His wrath is on the liar, and so forth. In the Bible the wrath of God rests on both the sin (Rom. 1:18–23) and the sinner (1:24–32; 2:5; John 3:36).

Our problem in part is that in human experience wrath and love normally abide in mutually exclusive compartments. Love drives wrath out, or wrath drives love out. We come closest to bringing them together, perhaps, in our responses to a wayward act by one of our children, but normally we do not think that a wrathful person is loving.

But this is not the way it is with God. God’s wrath is not an implacable blind rage. However emotional it may be, it is an entirely reasonable and willed response to offenses against His holiness. At the same time His love wells up amidst His perfections and is not generated by the loveliness of the loved. Thus there is nothing intrinsically impossible about wrath and love being directed toward the same individual or people at once. God in His perfections must be wrathful against His rebel image-bearers, for they have offended Him; God in His perfections must be loving toward His rebel image-bearers, for He is that kind of God. . . .

The reality is that the Old Testament displays the grace and love of God in experience and types, and these realities become all the clearer in the New Testament. Similarly, the Old Testament displays the righteous wrath of God in experience and types, and these realities become all the clearer in the New Testament. In other words both God’s love and God’s wrath are ratcheted up in the move from the Old Testament to the New. These themes barrel along through redemptive history, unresolved, until they come to a resounding climax in the Cross.

Do you wish to see God’s love? Look at the Cross.

Do you wish to see God’s wrath? Look at the Cross.

—From D.A. Carson, “God’s Love and God’s Wrath,” Bibliotheca Sacra 156 (1999): 388–390.

8 Symptoms of False Doctrine

2011-03-11T05:20:00.000-08:00

J. C. Ryle Quotes is a nice repository of ever-relevant quotes from the 19th century pastor.

Here is the latest:

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Many things combine to make the present inroad of false doctrine peculiarly dangerous.

1. There is an undeniable zeal in some of the teachers of error: their “earnestness” makes many think they must be right.

2. There is a great appearance of learning and theological knowledge: many fancy that such clever and intellectual men must surely be safe guides.

3. There is a general tendency to free thought and free inquiry in these latter days: many like to prove their independence of judgment, by believing novelties.

4. There is a wide-spread desire to appear charitable and liberal-minded: many seem half ashamed of saying that anybody can be in the wrong.

5. There is a quantity of half-truth taught by the modern false teachers: they are incessantly using Scriptural terms and phrases in an unscriptural sense.

6. There is a morbid craving in the public mind for a more sensuous, ceremonial, sensational, showy worship: men are impatient of inward, invisible heart-work.

7. There is a silly readiness in every direction to believe everybody who talks cleverly, lovingly and earnestly, and a determination to forget that Satan often masquerades himself “as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

8. There is a wide-spread “gullibility” among professing Christians: every heretic who tells his story plausibly is sure to be believed, and everybody who doubts him is called a persecutor and a narrow-minded man.

All these things are peculiar symptoms of our times. I defy any observing person to deny them. They tend to make the assaults of false doctrine in our day peculiarly dangerous. They make it more than ever needful to cry aloud, “Do not be carried away!”

~ J.C. Ryle

Warnings to the Churches, “Divers and Strange Doctrines”, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1967], 76, 77.

Nicaragua Missions with M.U.D. Ministries

2011-03-10T06:46:00.000-08:00

God is expanding our ministry in Nicaragua, and we are in the beginning stages of some major training for the indigenous pastors in this country. There has been a lot of “mission” effort going on in Nicaragua for the past several years. With that, there are some good things that have happened and some bad things that have happened, as well.
With the doors open for Americans to go to Nicaragua and train pastors, many have taken advantage of that opportunity. Just like in Jude, some men have crept in unnoticed and begun to preach another gospel. There have been some churches that have fallen victim to the prosperity message: if you come to a certain church and give to their cause, God has promised health and wealth. This is so sad because the poorest people seem to be the ones that fall victims to this kind of lie. There has been an invasion of cults into the country, and so many are being led down a pathway of destruction. Our only option is to take the truth and preach the Gospel. We have been doing this diligently for the past several years, and we will continue to share the Gospel and contend for the faith.
In addition, we have the team that is going in July to prepare the way for our mission trips later in the year. We are in need of Bibles in Spanish or the funds to purchase them. The fact is, we can't take enough so we just take all we can and continue to prepare to bring more!
In August and October we will take more teams to spend time equipping and training pastors and lay leaders. We have 27 new Pastors that will be going through some very strategic training to help equip them to lead their congregations for the glory of the Lord. We are also working with two new orphanages that are in need of our help. We feel that the Lord is leading us to begin a mentor program that will prepare the older children for a transition to life outside the orphanage.
The facts about some of the conditions in Nicaragua are heartbreaking but we must face the issues. We see the problem, now we must combat the enemy!

78% of rape cases in 2009 involved adolescent girls less than 17 years old.
1 of every 4 children suffer from some form of malnutrition.
Prostitution is legal for girls 14 years old or older.
87% of violent crimes—rape, sexual crimes, and assault—are against children.
1 of every 3 girls and 1 of every 5 boys have been sexually assaulted.

When you support M.U.D. Ministries you are supporting God’s work in Nicaragua. He has told us to go and serve Him by serving others. Please consider going with us either this year or next year. God can use you to go and make disciples and stop the cycle of destruction that many children and adults are in. If you can’t go, help us by sending us and offering scholarships for those desiring to be on one of our mission teams to Nicaragua!

Thank you

2011-03-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to personally thank all those who have and are continuing to pray for our family during our loss. My wife lost her Dad suddenly on Friday, March 4th. He was getting well and planning to come home after a bout with pneumonia. All we know is that he fell in the hospital and hit his head. Due to the amount of blood thinner he was taking, he could not have surgery and the bleed inside his head could not be stopped. He went to be with the Lord on March 5th.

We all have a best. I encourage you to give your best to Christ while you can. For some, it would have just been a bump on the head but for others it may be the end of your life. When the Lord requires your soul, you will not take it back. I thank you for your love and prayers as we move ahead. We desperately wanted the boys we are adopting to meet their Paw Paw Bill. He would have loved them and they would have loved him. God's grace is sufficient and we will continue to trust the Lord!

2011 Nicaragua Missions

2011-03-07T08:11:00.000-08:00

M.U.D. Ministries has been hosting mission trips to the country of Nicaragua for the past five years. In 2010, over 100 people from dozens of churches throughout the U.S. participated. These trips have included city-wide crusades, door to door evangelism, revival services, pastor's conferences, marriage conferences, women's conferences, VBS for children, construction projects, and ministering to orphans. The primary focus for all M.U.D. Mission Trips is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ Biblically and effectively. M.U.D. is also committed to equipping international churches to reach their communities.

There is still time to sign up for a mission trip with M.U.D. Ministries to Nicaragua this year. If you have any questions or would like general information, please feel free to contact us anytime! The June trip price increased due to airfare increase.

JULY NICARAGUA TRIPDate: July 23-30, 2011
Capacity: 30 participants *
Cost: $1,770 per person **
Description: Plans include Revival Services, Evangelism, and Children's Ministry.
Payment breakdown: $870 deposit due March 15th, 2011

AUGUST NICARAGUA TRIPDate: August 13-20, 2011
Capacity: 30 participants *
Cost: $1,695 per person **
Description: Plans include Revival Services, Evangelism, and Pastors’ Conference.
Payment breakdown: $700 deposit due June 1st, 2011

OCTOBER NICARAGUA TRIPDate: October 1-8, 2011
Capacity: 30 participants *
Cost: $1,695 per person **
Description: Plans include Revival Services, Evangelism, Pastors’ Conference, and Children's Ministry.
Payment breakdown: $700 deposit due July 1st, 2011

* Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone. Student Groups must have one adult chaperone per four students of the same gender.
** Cost includes the following: administration, meals, lodging, ground fees, interpreters, and airfare from Atlanta, GA. Cost is subject to change if airfare increases or your group needs to fly out of a different city. Deposits are NON-Refundable and used to purchase airfare for participants. Call the M.U.D. Office (256.620.1788) today for questions, reservations, or more information.

Prayer Request

2011-03-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends! Please pass the word along about the blog and M.U.D. Ministries. You can alos keep up with me on Facebook and Twitter.

I'm asking you to pray for me as I preach at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Albertville on Sunday morning and Monday night. I'll be teaching during Sunday School to all parents and grandparents that have children in the home. I'll teach on Leading and Restoring a Household of Faith.
It is basically the doctrinal foundation for family discipleship and worship. Then I'll preach their first revival service. Monday night I'll return and preach the revival service that night. I pray that it is a God blown revival!!

Rebekah's Dad

2011-03-06T05:42:00.000-08:00

Bill Nesmith, my Father-in-Law, went to be with the Lord Saturday morning.

Paw Paw Bill as I called him, was in the hospital with pneumonia but was expected to come home soon when he fell in the hospital room and suffered injury to his head Friday. He died yesterday morning. To say this is such a shock is an understatement.

He will be missed greatly by my precious wife and children. I thank the Lord for him and the love he had for his family. I thank the Lord that our last conversation was about the Gospel and the joy of knowing Christ. We talked about John 17:3.

This is eternal life, to know the one true God and His Son, whom He sent, Jesus Christ.

I grieve for my wife, and I am encouraged by her faith in God's Word. She wanted so deeply for her daddy to meet his adopted grandsons. I pray that they will come to know Jesus as their Savior and have true eternal life.

Eternal life is not place, it is a relationship with God and His Son! I am thankful for eternal life this morning!!

Even though they will not meet Paw Paw Bill this side of heaven, I know that he would have loved them! He sure did love his grandchildren!! Please pray for Rebekah as she and her brother work through the many things together. Pray that it builds their love for each other and strengthens our family. For a good picture of Rebekah and her dad visit...

Draw Near

2011-03-04T08:06:00.000-08:00

“But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.” Psalms 73:28

In times of trials and uncertainty, this verse is a great verse to meditate upon. Asaph is the man whom the Lord inspired to write this psalm. As you read Psalm 73, you find that Asaph is singing of providence. He seemed to wonder, “How can it be right for a man that is wicked to have so many good things, and those who are good to suffer want?” If I had to guess, I would guess that many people have thought the very same thing. God uses trouble in our life to accomplish His purpose. I could preach an entire six months on this and still not adequately cover the topic, but here are some thoughts for you to ponder.

Why does God allow us to go through trials and test us?

#1 — To test our faith, so that WE can see the areas of our faith that need to be increased. He knows our strength, but WE need to see it, or the lack of it, as well.
#2 — To humble us, lest we think more of ourselves than we should.
#3 — To wean us away from worldly things.
#4 — To call us to a heavenly hope so that we live for Christ and not the world.
#5 — To reveal what it is that we really love.
#6 — To teach us to appreciate the blessings of God as they come to us in the midst of our trials.
#7 — To enable us to help others in their trials and bear one another's burdens.

God uses all things to draw His children to Himself! He is a jealous God and deserves all of our attention. There are so many distractions, and we are so weak. God loves us enough to use even the most difficult of circumstances to make us more like Him. It is good when you draw near to God. By nature we stand in opposition to God, alienated enemies (Col. 1:21). I am thankful that God sent a mediator, Jesus Christ, that saved us from divine justice.

Jesus Christ has made a way for us to draw near to God by His life, His death, and His resurrection. Jesus died to make God and us friends. So in your trials—I know you have them—draw near to God and feel His love for you through His precious Son, Jesus Christ!

From Eric

2011-03-03T19:05:00.000-08:00

I pray that this month’s newsletter finds you growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is our personal, Biblical, and experimental knowledge of Him that shapes our lives. The Lord has used these past several weeks in my life to compel me to follow Him at all cost. I know that I need a greater and clearer vision of Christ that I may be more transformed into His image. My prayer is that my life will be a testimony to others of the transforming power of Christ!

There is much advice to be taken in as we go through life’s trials. There are those that are “experts,” like in David’s day when he faced Goliath, that will tell you just what you need to do to win the battle. They have strategies and methods which seem to work so well in the world that they will urge you to use. Some would have you dress up in unbiblical armor to the point that you cannot even walk the path of faith—let alone run the race set before you.

I have done much evaluating of all that M.U.D. Ministries has been involved in, and I have looked at it in light of Scripture. We are making some changes that we feel will be more honoring to God. I have a group of Godly men that serve on our Board of Directors, and I am spending much time in prayer and in the Word of God to direct our ministry. In the future, this may mean that we may be smaller, but I believe we will be much stronger.

My family and I are very thankful for the opportunity to serve. The mission field in Nicaragua and the United States is vast. God is working through His servants, and people are being saved! What a privilege to be serving our King, Jesus! In the coming days, our family will be growing again. Jonathan and Josiah will be with us soon, Lord willing.

The adoption is stretching us, to say the least. We have been through more than most of you know in this process. Our experiences have included attempting to adopt from Nicaragua and being so close and having the door shut at the last minute, a very difficult time with foster care and adoption here in the U.S., then the long wait for approval for adoption from China. The Lord is blessing us with not one, but two precious sons. It seems almost unreal but so real you can taste it!

Please pray for us as we strive to honor our Savior in all that we do as a ministry and as a family. Your partnership is making a difference, and lives are being changed for eternity! Thank you for sending us out to fulfill the Great Commission!!

I'll try again

2011-03-03T08:02:00.001-08:00

I will try to begin blogging a little again. I am not going to commit to blog daily but I pray I can do this weekly. Who knows, maybe a little more. The first post of 2011 is coming soon. If you want to read a really good blog about the Hixon Family go to www.intheheartofourhome.blogspot.com

Boys to Men -- A Revealing Angle from the World of Advertising

2010-11-16T07:05:00.000-08:00

From Albert Mohler's Blog
Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The “Sunday Styles” section of The New York Times is often a useful barometer of the culture. On October 17, that section featured a front-page spread entitled, “From Boys to Men,” and the article is a sign of something larger than mere fashion and advertising.

Reporter Guy Trebay explains that advertisers have shifted their images of male identity from the “skinny skate-rat” of recent years to real and recognizable men. Trebay credits Hedi Slimane of Dior men’s wear for inventing the boy image so prevalent in recent culture. Images of skinny youths with slightly (or more than slightly) androgynous appearances have dominated. Trebay describes this pattern as “designer subversions of age and gender expectations.”

But now, a far more masculine and traditional model of manhood is showing up in advertisements and media images. Joe Levy, editor in chief of Maxim, a magazine that skirts the edge between the traditional men’s magazine and pornography, attributes the shift to economic factors. In other words, when unemployment threatens, skinny skate-rat images bring no comfort. Instead, men who look like they might actually hold a job are back in style.

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You will love how Trebay describes the trajectory of the new man-in-demand: “You lose the T-shirt and the skateboard. You buy an interview suit and a package of Gillette Mach 3 blades. You grow up, in other words.”

That is a classic statement that deserves great prominence. The crisis of delayed manhood for so many boys and young men is now well documented, and the larger culture reflects this phenomenon. Advertising does not rule the world, but it is a powerful indicator of the cultural direction. Advertisers make it their business to know where the culture is headed. This new trend can only be seen as good news, even if it does not yet represent any profound recovery of sanity in the society.

One important aspect of this report ties directly to a vital aspect of biblical masculinity — the reality and value of a man’s work. These advertisers are not shifting merely to older and more rugged males, but to men who look like they just might be able to hold a job and do it well.

That is a healthy and promising dimension of this new development. One statement from this article deserves to be imprinted on the male brain: “You grow up, in other words.”

Time Out

2010-11-13T06:06:00.001-08:00

I have taken a extended "time out" from blogging. I find it to be very difficult to maintain. I don't know about you, but when I begin to feel like I'm overwhelmed, I find it easy to shut down....at least certain things. Bloggin has been one of those for me. Hopefully, I will attempt to blog more in the coming weeks. I know that the 3 people that read this blog will be jumping for joy. LOL!

The ministry that the Lord has entrusted me with is doing well from the standpoint of having opportunity to serve. I am preaching more than ever, we have more people going on the mission field with us than in years past, and I am full of excitement about the opportunities I have been given.

The adoption is getting closer and we are preparing our home to have another child. You can keep up witht he adoption at my wife's blog: www.intheheartofourhome.blogspot.com

Please continue to pray for my family and the ministry that I have. I want to use it for the glory of God and give Him my best!!

Give your Best!

2010-10-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the prayers and concern for my one year old son. Most of you know we spent the night with him getting a major gash in his nose fixed. He did great and will be fine. What you don't know is this.

My one year old received a major ncut to his nose while playing with a few friends. He was in the wrong place and a large toy hit him in the face that was accidentally dropped by a child while he was trying to take it up stairs. We had some great friends over and they stayed with my older children till my mom could come over and stay. We were at the local hospital within 20 minutes of his injury. The local Dr. quickly referred us to Children's as they were not able to do what they felt needed to be done. Time was of the essence.

My wife and I wisk him away to Birmingham. Not even out of the county, our van overheats and I am forced to pull over and wait on help to arrive. Never before had the van overheated. Could've had something to do with my foot stuck through the floor board as I had been self appointed ambulance driver for my son. Regardless, we are stuck there, feeling helpless. We prayed and gave our best to remain calm and think this through. Called Cliff Cook, my fellow Pastor at NCBC. Without hesititation, he came and gave me his car to use while he sat stranded and waited on my Dad who also came without question or hesitationt to the rescue. They gave their best. We got our son to the ER and they soon took us back in and started working on him.

The specialist came in and immediately referenced his dependance upon Christ. We then prayed together. This brother and I have close connected friends we soon found out, and he is possibly going to Nicaragua with us now on our medical mission trip in October of 2011. He allowed us to stay in the room as they gave my son anesthesia and started the delicate process of repairing his little nose. Once again we were helpless and could only pray. Going under anesthesia is a scary thing for anyone and for parents who have to make that call. Christ was our only hope. We prayed like parents who love their son.

The Dr. took great concern and detail in all that he was doing. His focus was on giving his best. It was very delicate fine tuned work. The Dr. gave his best. Last night that was everyone's focus. From our friends and children who without being asked began to comfort one another and gather little brothers comfort items like his pacifer and blanket. They knew he would need these things and rushed them to the van before we left. They are great brothers and sisters! They gave their best to help.

Last night, we were reminded that we are not in control. We like to think we are but when you slow down, you realize you are not. We do have responsibility but ultimately, we rely on the love of God for us to see us through this light affliction. Little brother happily relied on his Momma and Daddy and the nurses and Dr.'s to help him. It was not easy or painless, but he made it through just fine. He gave his best.

Even though things are difficult and days are not certain. I urge you to give your best to the Lord and eveything you do. You never know when you will be required to react and your best will be needed. If you are accustomed to giving your best, you will be ready for what you must face. Laziness, apathy, and average is not what we are called to give for our Lord. He is not impressed with the scraps...He deserves and wants the best! Thank you friends for praying your best and giving your best to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Christ's Sympathy to Weary Pilgrims

2010-09-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

By Octavious Winslow, 1870

HOW EMPTYING, HUMBLING, AND ABASING!

Cultivate frequent and devout contemplations of the glory of Christ. Immense will be the benefit accruing to your soul. The mind thus preoccupied, filled, and expanded, will be enabled to present a stronger resistance to the ever advancing and insidious encroachments of the world. No place will be found for vain thoughts, and no desire or time for carnal enjoyments. Oh, how crucifying and sanctifying are clear views of the glory of Emmanuel! How emptying, humbling, and abasing! With the patriarch, we then exclaim, "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." And with the prophet, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." And with the apostle, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

Oh, then, aim to get your mind filled with enlarged and yet expanding views of the glory of the Redeemer. Let it, in all the discoveries it affords of the Divine mind and majesty, be the one subject of your thoughts—the one theme of your conversation. Place no limit to your knowledge of Christ. Ever consider that you have but read the preface to the volume; you have but touched the fringe of the sea. Stretching far away beyond you, are undiscovered beauties, and precious views, and sparkling glories, each encouraging your advance, inviting your research, and asking the homage of your faith, the tribute of your love, and the dedication of your life.

Go forward, then! The glories that yet must be revealed to you in a growing knowledge of Jesus, what imagination can conceive, what pen can describe them? Jesus stands ready to unveil all the beauties of His person; and to admit you into the very pavilion of His love. There is not a chamber of His heart that He will not throw open to you—not a blessing that He will not bestow upon you—not a glory that He will not show to you.

You shall see greater things than you have yet seen—greater depths of sin in your fallen nature shall be revealed—deeper sense of the cleansing efficacy of the atoning blood shall be felt—clearer views of your acceptance in the Beloved—greater discoveries of God's love—and greater depths of grace and glory in Jesus shall be enjoyed. Your communion with God shall be closer, and more the fruit of adopting love in your heart. Your feet shall be as hinds' feet, and you shall walk on high places. Your peace shall flow as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea. Sorrow shall wound you less deeply—affliction shall press you less heavily—tribulation shall affect you less keenly—all this, and infinitely more, will result from your deeper knowledge of Jesus.

Back to Blogging

2010-09-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

Note from Eric

Sorry I've been away for some time. I have been so ultra busy that blogging just hasn't seemed to be the best use of my time. Also, my laptop crashed! No viruses, just wore it out. The motherboard went bad and I'm hoping to get it back soon. Blogging from my iPhone is just to time consuming.

Regardless, I hope you enjoy the following post and I'll try to be back blogging by next week regularly again. God bless!!

God's Man

2010-09-05T04:14:00.000-07:00

Being a preacher is more than correctly handling the Scripture. It is a life of prayer and spiritual discipline. I do not want to come to the end of my life and say, "I wish I'd prayed more." God's man is not a hireling to be at the beck and call of man, we are serving God. I'm not on man's errand, I'm on God's errand. I go to men from God. I'm not my own. Pray I'll not get distracted by "good" things and neglect the BEST thing. Being His!

There are times when I just want to be with God. I'm not always looking for a deep truth. I yearn to just be with the King of the universe. The more I know Him, the more I want to be with Him. That is why I burst out with passion when I preach. I will not apologize for this passion or try to stifle it. I need prayer more than ever. I yearn to know so much more about God and His character. Please pray less of me and more of God!

I cannot imagine a day without God's grace.

What Are We Apart From Christ?

2010-09-02T05:55:00.000-07:00

by: Justin Taylor
From Justin Taylor's Blog

We sometimes think of the second half of the first chapter of Romans as a discourse about atheists. (And indeed, according to Romans 1 the answer to the question “Does God believe in atheists?” is “no.”)

But in reality, it’s a universal text that applies to all of us apart from Christ—what we are, what we do, and what we would do apart from God’s restraining and redeeming grace, with graphic examples to illustrate our truth-suppression and idolatrous identity.

Here’s an attempt to start to think through this sobering section of Romans.

What do all of us know?

(1) We know God himself.

(2) We know God’s decree.

(3) We know God’s judgment—that those who practice sinful things deserve death.

What is our responsibility?
We are without excuse.

How clear is the evidence for God’s knowability?

What can be known about God is plain.

Who showed us the evidence for God?

God himself has shown us what can be known about him.

What is it about God that every one of us knows?

We have clearly perceived God’s invisible attributes (= his eternal power and divine nature).

Where do we see God’s invisible attributes?

In the things that God has made.

What do we fail to do in response?

(1) We fail to honor God as God.

(2) We fail to give thanks to God.

(2) We fail to acknowledge God.

What do we do instead of honoring and thanking God?

We suppress the truth.

How?
By our unrighteousness.

What do we claim about our thinking?

We claim to be wise.

What are we in reality?

We are fools.

What happened to our minds?

We became futile in our thinking.

What happened to our hearts?

Our foolish hearts were darkened.

What is the result?

We exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling

•mortal man
•birds
•animals
•creeping things
We exchanged the truth of God for a lie.

What did we do with created things?

(1) We worshiped the creature rather than the Creator.

(2) We served the creature rather than the Creator.

What is the result of this idolatry?

God gave us up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity.

What kind of impurity?

The dishonoring of our bodies among ourselves.

How did we become entangled in dishonorable passions?

God gave us up to dishonorable passions.

Which dishonorable passions did women commit?

Women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature.

Which dishonorable passions did men commit?

The men gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

What does God do to us for failing to acknowledge him?

God gave us up to a debased mind.

To do what?

To do what ought not to be done.

What are we filled with?

All manner of

•unrighteousness
•evil
•covetousness
•malice

We are full of

•envy
•murder
•strife
•deceit
•maliciousness

What are we?

We are

•gossips
•slanderers
•haters of God
•insolent
•haughty
•boastful
•inventors of evil
•disobedient to parents
•foolish
•faithless
•heartless
•ruthless
What do we know?

God’s decree.

What is God’s decree?

Those who practice such sinful things deserve to die.

What do we do?

(1) We do these sinful things.

(2) We give approval to those who practice these sinful things.

What does God do in response?

God reveals his wrath from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.

Is there any hope?
The gospel.

What is the gospel?

The power of God for salvation.

For who?

To everyone who believes—to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

What is revealed in the gospel?

The righteousness of God, from faith to faith.

As Habakkuk 2:4 says, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

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Romans 1:16-32
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

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Addendum

For those who struggle to see why Paul would use homosexuality as his prime example of idolatry, I’d recommend this sermon from John Piper. Piper’s most profound insight here is that Paul sees a “dramatization” of Christ and the Church in Christ-centered heterosexual marriage, and that he also sees a dramatization of idolatry in same-sex sexual behavior, as men and women unite with images of themselves.

The reason Paul focuses on homosexuality in these verses is because it is the most vivid dramatization in life of the profoundest connection between the disordering of heart-worship and the disordering of our sexual lives. I’ll try to say it simply, though it is weighty beyond words.

We learn from Paul in Ephesians 5:31-32 that, from the beginning, manhood and womanhood existed to represent or dramatize God’s relation to his people and then Christ’s relation to his bride, the church. In this drama, the man represents God or Christ and is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. The woman represents God’s people or the church. And sexual union in the covenant of marriage represents pure, undefiled, intense heart-worship. That is, God means for the beauty of worship to be dramatized in the right ordering of our sexual lives.

But instead, we have exchanged the glory of God for images, especially of ourselves. The beauty of heart-worship has been destroyed. Therefore, in judgment, God decrees that this disordering of our relation to him be dramatized in the disordering of our sexual relations with each other. And since the right ordering of our relationship to God in heart-worship was dramatized by heterosexual union in the covenant of marriage, the disordering of our relationship to God is dramatized by the breakdown of that heterosexual union.

Homosexuality is the most vivid form of that breakdown. God and man in covenant worship are represented by male and female in covenant sexual union. Therefore, when man turns from God to images of himself, God hands us over to what we have chosen and dramatizes it by male and female turning to images of themselves for sexual union, namely their own sex. Homosexuality is the judgment of God dramatizing the exchange of the glory of God for images of ourselves. (See the parallel uses of “exchange” in verses 25 and 26.)

Piper’s entire sermon is worth reading or listening to, especially as he gives counsel to those struggling with same-sex desire, as well as advice to parents.

Nicaragua, Evangelism, and Repentance

2010-09-01T05:55:00.000-07:00

by; Drew Dixon
(Drew is Family Pastor at New Covenant Baptist Church Albertville. He is married to Jennifer.)

Nicaragua, Evangelism, and Repentance

There are many stories I could tell you about Nicaragua that would encourage you—stories that may even impress you—stories of how our team members got to share the gospel with hundreds of children in the local schools and stories of the many difficult questions that I was asked at the Pastor’s Conference or stories from our door-to-door evangelism and how the Lord was working to convict people of their sin. However, perhaps the most memorable experience I had while in Nicaragua happened at a small Baptist Church in the rural area of Los Cedros—it was an invaluable lesson learned from Pastor Adonis.

When we went out into the communities of the churches we were serving at in Nicaragua, the pastors of the churches went with us and even brought members of their churches along so that they might learn to do evangelism and so that he might be used of the Lord to disciple them. Pastor Adonis has a passion for evangelism and for discipleship. He understands that the only hope the lost people in his community have is Christ and he understands that the members of his church must be the ones that tell their lost neighbors about Jesus. There can be no evangelism without discipleship—if people are not trained to reap the harvest, they will not go out into it. There can be no discipleship without evangelism first preceding it. You cannot disciple the lost, you must share the gospel with them first, then the process of teaching them everything that Christ commanded can begin (Matt. 28:18-20). Pastor Adonis was doing both—teaching the members of his church to do evangelism and doing evangelism himself, going out into the community and delivering the good news to the lost.

While I was greatly encouraged to see a pastor leading by example and seeking to disciple men in his church, this is not what stuck out to me most about Pastor Adonis. What stuck out most was what Pastor Adonis said to the members of his church who were not doing evangelism. Thursday night was the last night that we would spend at Los Cedros Baptist Church and Eric Hixon preached a revival there that night. At the end of the service, Pastor Adonis opened up the altar for people to come and pray and he challenged those in his church who were not doing evangelism in the community to come to the altar and repent for their sin. About 15-20 adult members of the church came forward and knelt at the altar in prayer.

If evangelism is a command, then it follows that neglect of evangelism is sin. This really convicted me because far too often I fall to the temptation to think of evangelism as an optional practice. I felt like I should be at the altar praying—I wasn’t invited though, Pastor Adonis only invited the members of his church as they were the ones who had covenanted together as a body to hold each other accountable to seek the Lord. Perhaps Pastor Adonis’ encouragement to his people to repent for not evangelizing seems harsh and perhaps it was, but it was sweet moment for me. It did not feel bitter, it felt redemptive and loving—I got the feeling that Pastor Adonis was calling his flock to repentance because he loved them. I hope that is the case—I am praying that God would develop such relationships in our body at NCBC—ones were we can lovingly call each other to account and ones in which we take the gospel and evangelism seriously.

Despite the fact that I got to spend three days teaching Pastor Adonis and several other Nicaraguan pastors, it goes without saying that I feel I gained much more from Pastor Adonis’ example and care for his flock.

Journey to Josiah

2010-08-31T05:53:00.001-07:00

by: Rebekah Hixon

Our adoption journey is moving along, and we are coming closer each day to bringing Josiah home. We recently received an update from his orphanage along with several new pictures. They were helpful to answer several questions we had about our new son concerning his dear little personality and also about how his day typically looked and about the schedule his foster parents keep. We learned he is “fairly extroverted” and “talkative and lively.” Sounds like a Hixon!

We expect to travel this winter; however, we understand how unpredictable adoption processes can be, so we are daily submitting to the Lord’s timetable. We are keeping ourselves busy with normal life: ministry opportunities, church ministry, homeschooling, and the day to day activities of a family. In addition, we are fundraising for Josiah. We have been blessed with the opportunity to participate in an online adoption t-shirt fundraiser. You can check it out on my blog: www.intheheartofourhome.blogspot.com. We are also planning for 2 different bake sales in September. This will not only give us an opportunity to fundraise, it will be a wonderful opportunity for our children to contribute in a tangible way and, hopefully, always remember the journey is not necessarily easy but so very worth it!

I know many understand the eternal aspect of adoption and see it as ministry to the orphan, an extension of the Great Commission, and a beautiful picture of the Gospel, not to mention a truly wonderful way to welcome someone to your forever family. To you, I plead that you would commit our family to your prayers. We are asking the Lord to prepare our family for Josiah and that He would please prepare his little heart for such a huge upcoming change. We are also praying that the Lord would provide the remaining resources for the fees. Finally, we are prayerfully asking the Lord to make the paperwork path before us smooth to allow Josiah to come home as soon as possible. We would so appreciate your prayers, knowing you loved Josiah before you even met him! If you desire to contribute to our fundraising efforts, you are able to do so in a “tax-deductible way” by giving through M.U.D. Ministries and marking it “Suggested Use: Adoption.”

So many of you have inquired about Josiah and this journey, and we are grateful to know we have such sweet support from family and friends. Thank you!

From Eric

2010-08-30T05:47:00.000-07:00

There is nothing to be bragged upon except the Lord Jesus Christ! He is all that we can boast in because we know that every good thing, every good deed, every act of obedience is a work of His grace. I praise the Lord for His mercy and love for me and my family every day. There is nothing that I find more encouraging than the Word of God! My strength comes from Christ and my very best is nothing apart from His wonderful amazing grace!

The Lord has been very good to M.U.D. Ministries and the Hixon Family. We do not deserve any good thing to come upon us, and it is all for His glory that we have been allowed to serve in a full-time manner for the past 7 years. God laid it upon our hearts to serve Him and to live by faith, and we are very grateful to the Lord for His blessings. When I had the very first meeting with some prayer warriors concerning M.U.D. Ministries, I knew that the Lord was impressing upon me to never turn down an opportunity to serve the Lord based on a church’s financial ability or size. Many modern evangelist have been convinced that they are “worth” a certain amount or deserve a certain size crowd to hear them. I cannot see that as the example of Jesus or Paul. They did talk to the crowds when the opportunity arose, but Jesus also talked to the woman at the well and many other smaller groups as well. Our confidence has never been in our ability or our worth. The confidence I have is in the Gospel.

The fact is that people let us down. There is nothing we have apart from Christ, and I promise you, friend, we can count on Him! The fact is that God doesn’t need M.U.D. Ministries or Eric Hixon. There are no great ministries or great men of God—only wicked sinful men that God has redeemed for a work that will bring Him glory! I have found that the church in America can be very man-centered, and we are paying the price for such a focus. Let us repent of any man-centered attitude or self confidence, and let God’s people be committed to doing God’s Work, God’s Way, for God’s Glory!

I am asking you to please pray for God to raise up people that have a heart for Biblical Evangelism. If God chooses to sustain us, it is totally undeserved and a work of grace. We have not places our confidence in man, but in Christ! Please know that we appreciate all your prayers!!

Hello Managua and South Carolina!!

2010-08-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say hello to all those who have been recently enjoying our blog! Especially those who have suddenly became so interested in what M.U.D. Ministries is doing.

Our ministry prays for each person that visits our blog as we get updates on those that visit us. Please feel free to shoot us an email or call the ministry to let us know how we can pray for you! We are praying for those from Managua today and South Carolina! God bless and we hope you keep visiting our blog!!

Integrity is vital!

International Mission Trip Opportunities for 2011

2010-08-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

M.U.D. Ministries has been hosting mission trips to the country of Nicaragua for the past five years. In 2010, over 100 people from dozens of churches throughout the U.S. participated. These trips have included: city-wide crusades, door to door evangelism, revival services, pastor's conferences, marriage conferences, women's conferences, VBS for children, construction projects, and ministering to orphans. The primary focus for all M.U.D. Mission Trips is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ biblically and effectively. M.U.D. is also committed to equipping international churches to reach their communities.

In 2011, M.U.D. will be hosting five trips to Nicaragua. M.U.D. will also be hosting an international trip to a brand new location— JAMAICA. This trip will take place in a Deaf Community. Below is a brief description of each international trip for 2011. For questions, reservations, or more information, please call the M.U.D. office at 256.620.1788.

NICARAGUA WEEK #1
Date: February 5-12, 2011
Capacity: 30 participants *
Cost: $1,495 per person **
Description: Plans include Revival Services, Evangelism, Women's Conference, Pastor's Conference, and Children's Ministry.
Payment breakdown: $600 deposit due October 1, 2010; $500 payment due 12/1/ 2010; and $395 final payment due 1/ 1/11.

NICARAGUA WEEK #2
Date: March 12-19, 2011
Capacity: 30 participants *
Cost: $1,495 per person **
Description: Plans include Revival Services, Evangelism, and Children's Ministry. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring High School Students or for College Students because it falls within many Spring Breaks. This is a trip for everyone!
Payment breakdown: $600 deposit due November 1, 2010

NICARAGUA WEEK #3
Date: July 23-30, 2011
Capacity: 30 participants *
Cost: $1,495 per person **
Description: Plans include Revival Services, Evangelism, and Children's Ministry. Plans are also underway for a possible BASEBALL CAMP and Evangelistic Baseball Games against Nicaraguan Teams.
Payment breakdown: $600 deposit due March 1, 2011

* Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone. Student Groups must have one adult chaperone per four students of the same gender.

** Cost includes: administration, meals, lodging, ground fees, and airfare from Atlanta, GA. Cost is subject to change if airfare increases or your group needs to fly out of a different city. Deposits are NON-Refundable and used to purchase airfare for participants. Call the M.U.D. Office (256.620.1788) today for questions, reservations, or more information.

Nicaragua Mission Team #4 Update

2010-08-27T05:43:00.000-07:00

In the month of August, M.U.D. Ministries mobilized 14 people to go on international missions to Nicaragua. We went to a new area and worked with pastors and churches that have not had any missionaries working with them in recent years. This mission trip was probably the most spiritually healthy trip that we have led in many years; we were very impressed with the commitment and diligence of the local pastors and churches. These churches had resolved to do God’s Work, God’s Way many years ago and were established on a Biblical standard.

Berea Baptist Church was located in Managua and was only a few blocks away from the Jehovah Witness Headquarters of Central America. Pastor Jorge and his members were faithfully out witnessing with our team and very involved in the evangelism. The brothers and sisters were strong in evangelism and discipleship. The congregation was small and met in a rented house with an open courtyard. It was stirring to see some neighbor children looking over the wall and listening to the services. The pastor’s wife, Doris, found out the week we were there that she has a tumor, and she’s having it removed later in the month. They will determine then if it is cancerous. Please pray for this dear sister; she’s in her mid twenties, and she doesn’t look well. They have one small son and care for their twin nieces.

Los Cedros (The Cedars) Baptist Church was also a blessing to serve. Pastor Adonis has been there for 9 years, and he is only 30 years old. This congregation is in the center of a poor community, and several spiritually unhealthy groups have come in, and there is a lot of confusion about what salvation is. Pastor Adonis has a solid in-road to the local school and community. He has invited us to come back in October and preach at a large evangelistic outreach and do a women’s conference. This will be their first community-wide outreach and would impact several thousand people. We are renting out the local school’s facilities for the event. We are praying for souls!

The Pastors’ Conference and Women’s Conference were amazing to say the least! They both had a distinctively Biblically healthy approach and were very Bible-saturated. Rebekah taught the women of Berea Baptist and Los Cedros Baptist the book of Ruth, and two other pastors and I taught a Pastors’ Conference, emphasizing the Sufficiency of Scripture in Preaching and Biblical Church Discipline. It is so easy to follow tradition or what we think is best. We communicated very thoroughly that we are called to preach the Gospel and to restore those people who are in our churches to health God’s Way! This will allow us to not be found as a compromiser and idolater.

We are servants to our Savior, and we need your prayers and support as we prepare to return to Nicaragua in October to work with these local churches again. If you are interested in going with us or supporting our work there, please let us know! Pray for Nicaragua!

S.C.A.N. the Scriptures

2010-08-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

From Justin Taylor's Blog

If you want a quick and easy way to memorize the traditional four attributes of Scripture, just put them in the order of S.C.A.N.:

•the Sufficiency of Scripture
•the Clarity of Scripture
•the Authority of Scripture, and
•the Necessity of Scripture

Below are some definitions and thoughts from Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology) and Timothy Ward (Words of Life: Scripture as the Living and Active Word of God).

Sufficiency

Ward: “Because of the ways in which God has chosen to relate himself to Scripture, Scripture is sufficient as the means by which God continues to present himself to us such that we can know him, repeating through Scripture the covenant promise he has brought to fulfillment in Jesus Christ.” (p. 113)

Grudem: “The idea that Scripture contained all the words of God he intended his people to have at stage of redemptive history and that it now contains all the words of God we need for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly.”

Clarity

Grudem: “The idea that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who read it seeking God’s help and are willing to follow it” (p. 108).

Ward: “Scripture is the written word of the living Word, God’s communicative act, and the Spirit who authored it chooses to continue to speak most directly through it. Therefore we are right to trust that God in Scripture has spoken and continues to speak sufficiently clearly for us to base our saving knowledge of him and of ourselves, and our beliefs and our actions, on the content of Scripture alone, without ultimately validating our understanding of these things or our confidence in them by appeal to any individual or institution” (pp. 126-127).

Authority

Grudem: “The idea that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.”

“The phrase ‘the authority of Scripture’ must be understood to be shorthand for ‘the authority of God as he speaks through Scripture.’ . . . The authority of Scripture is a statement about what God did in authoring Scripture, and about how he continues to act in relation to Scripture” (p. 128).

Necessity

Grudem: “The idea that the Bible is necessary for knowing the gospel, for maintaining spiritual life, and for knowing God’s will, but is not necessary for knowing that God exists or for knowing something about his character and moral laws.”

Ward: “Necessity sits right at the heart of the ways in which sola scriptura is explicated and defended. If Scripture alone is claimed to be the supreme authority in Christian thinking and living, that is because both its content (the verbal revelation) and its form (the written Scriptures) are indispensable” (p. 102).

To Serve is to Suffer

2010-08-19T06:39:00.000-07:00

by: Ajith Fernando

(I know this is a long post but I think it is a must read for anyone in ministry. ~ Eric Hixon)

If the apostle Paul knew fatigue, anger, and anxiety in his ministry, what makes us think we can avoid them in ours?

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North American Christians have paid special attention to the suffering of Christians in the Global South ever since 1996, when a coalition of Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish activists began raising awareness about the persecution of Christians outside the West. When Christians, especially in the West, have shown concern for the persecution of majority-world believers, they have often approached it through the lens of human rights. In this installment of the Global Conversation, Sri Lankan pastor and evangelist Ajith Fernando helps us focus on suffering as an essential part of Christian discipleship, but especially for those called to be church leaders.

I write this shortly after returning from a week of teaching pastors in the deep south of Sri Lanka. These pastors' experience shows that when people pioneer in unreached areas, they usually wait 10 to 15 years before seeing significant fruit and reduced hostility. In the early years, they are assaulted and accused falsely; stones are thrown onto their roofs; their children are given a hard time in school; and they see few genuine conversions. Many pioneers give up after a few years. But those who persevere bear much eternal fruit. I am humbled and ashamed of the way I complain about problems that are minute compared to theirs.

When I return from ministry in the West, my feelings are very different. I have been able to "use my gifts" and spend most of my time doing things I like. But when I resume being a leader in Sri Lanka's less-efficient culture, frustration hits me. The transition from being a speaker in the West to being a leader in Sri Lanka is difficult. As a leader, I am the bond-servant (doulos) of the people I lead (2 Cor. 4:5). This means that my schedule is shaped more by their needs than by mine.

Vocational fulfillment in the kingdom of God has a distinct character, different from vocational fulfillment in society. Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work" (John 4:34, ESV, used throughout). If we are doing God's will, we are happy and fulfilled. But for Jesus, and for us, doing God's will includes the Cross. The Cross must be an essential element in our definition of vocational fulfillment.

Young Christian workers who come back to Sri Lanka after studying in the West struggle with this. They are highly qualified, but our poor nation cannot afford to give them the recognition they think their qualifications deserve. They cannot use their gifts to the fullest because we cannot afford pure specialists. They struggle with frustration. Some end up leaving the country after a few years. Some start their own organizations so as to fulfill their "vision." Others become consultants, giving expert training and advice in their specialized field. Others pay the price of identifying with our people and ultimately have a deep impact on the nation.

I try to tell these students that their frustration could be the means to developing penetrating insight. I explain that people like John Calvin and Martin Luther had a dizzying variety of responsibilities, so that they could only use their gifts in the fog of fatigue. Yet the fruits of their labor as leaders and writers still bless the church.

Frustration and Fulfillment

Paul's theology emphasized the need to endure frustration patiently as we live in a fallen world awaiting the redemption of creation. Paul said that we groan because of this frustration (Rom. 8:18-27). I believe we fail to include this frustration in our understanding of vocational fulfillment. A church that has a wrong understanding of fulfillment for its workers will certainly become sick. This may be one reason why the church contains so much shallowness. We have measured success by the standards of the world and fail to challenge the world with the radically different biblical way to fulfillment.

To Serve is to suffer The Cross must be an essential element in our definition of vocational fulfillment.The contemporary emphasis on efficiency and measurable results makes frustration even harder to endure. In the past four centuries, industrial and technological development in the West made efficiency and productivity top values. With rapid economic development, things once considered luxuries became not only necessities but also rights in the minds even of Christians. In this environment, the Christian idea of commitment has taken a battering.

We call our churches and Christian organizations "families," but families are very inefficient organizations. In a healthy family, everything stops when a member has big needs. We are often not willing to extend this commitment to Christian body life.

Commitment and Community

The biblical model of community life is Jesus' command to love one another as he loved us—that is, for members to die for other members (John 15:12-13). The model of Christian leadership is that of the Good Shepherd dying for his sheep, not abandoning them when the situation gets dangerous (John 10:11-15). When God calls us to serve him, he calls us to come and die for the people we serve. We don't discard people when they have problems and cannot do their job properly. We serve them and help them come out of their problems. We don't tell people to find another place of service when they rebel against us. We labor with them until we either come to agreement or agree to disagree.

When people leave a church because they do not fit the program, it communicates a deadly message: that our commitment is to the work and not to the person, that our unity is primarily in the work and not in Christ and the gospel. The sad result is that Christians do not have the security of a community that will stay by them no matter what happens. They become shallow individuals, never having true fellowship and moving from group to group. Churches committed to programs can grow numerically, but they don't nurture biblical Christians who understand the implications of belonging to the body of Christ.

Sticking with people is frustrating. Taking hours to listen to an angry or hurt person seems inefficient. Why should we waste time on that when professionals could do it? So people have counselors to do what friends should be doing.

Ideally, counselors help diagnose and treat difficult cases, and friends give the time that is needed to bring healing through acceptance, comfort, and friendship. Hurt people usually hurt those who try to help them. Hurt and angry people to whom we are committed will hurt us too. Others they hurt could get angry with us because we are committed to them. But we endure the pain because Christ called us to die for our friends.

Several people have sympathized with me, saying it must be hard and frustrating to serve in a country wracked by war and hostile to evangelism. Indeed, we have suffered. A few months ago, one of our staff workers was brutally assaulted and killed. But I think the biggest pain I have experienced is the pain I have received from Youth for Christ, the organization for which I have worked for 34 years. I can also say that next to Jesus and my family, Youth for Christ has been the greatest source of joy in my life. Whether you live in the East or the West, you will suffer pain if you are committed to people. This is suffering that can be avoided. We can avoid pain by stopping the relationship or moving on to something more "fulfilling." But what do we lose?

Some years ago I was preparing a message on commitment while traveling in the West. Within the space of a few days, three people told me how they or someone close to them had left a group or a person because of problems. One had left an unhappy marriage; another, a church; another, an organization. Each person described his leaving as a merciful release from suffering. But I could not help asking myself whether, in each of these cases, the Christian thing to do would have been to stay and suffer.

Drivenness or Servanthood?

I have a large group of people to whom I write asking for prayer when I have a need. Sometimes my need is overcoming tiredness. When I write about this, many write back saying they are praying that God would strengthen me and guide me in my scheduling. However, there are differences in the way friends from the East and some from the West respond. I get the strong feeling that many in the West think struggling with tiredness from overwork is evidence of disobedience to God. My contention is that it is wrong if one gets sick from overwork through drivenness and insecurity. But we may have to endure tiredness when we, like Paul, are servants of people.

People who are unfulfilled after pursuing things that do not satisfy may be astonished to see Christians who are joyful after depriving themselves for the sake of the gospel.The New Testament is clear that those who work for Christ will suffer because of their work. Tiredness, stress, and strain may be the cross God calls us to. Paul often spoke about the physical hardships his ministry brought him, including emotional strain (Gal. 4:19; 2 Cor. 11:28), anger (2 Cor. 11:29), sleepless nights and hunger (2 Cor. 6:5), affliction and perplexity (2 Cor. 4:8), and toiling—working to the point of weariness (Col. 1:29). In statements radically countercultural in today's "body conscious" society, he said, "Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day" (2 Cor. 4:16); and, "For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you" (2 Cor. 4:11-12). I fear that many Christians approach these texts only with an academic interest, not seriously asking how the verses should apply in their lives.

The West, having struggled with the tyrannical rule of time, has a lot to teach the East about the need for rest. The East has something to teach the West about embracing physical problems that come from commitment to people. If you think it is wrong to suffer physically because of ministry, then you suffer more from the problem than those who believe that suffering is an inevitable step on the path to fruitfulness and fulfillment. Since the Cross is a basic aspect of discipleship, the church must train Christian leaders to expect pain and hardship. When this perspective enters our minds, pain will not touch our joy and contentment in Christ. In 18 different New Testament passages, suffering and joy appear together. In fact, suffering is often the cause for joy (Rom. 5:3-5; Col. 1:24; James 1:2-3).

The Glory of the Gospel

In a world where physical health, appearance, and convenience have gained almost idolatrous prominence, God may be calling Christians to demonstrate the glory of the gospel by being joyful and content while enduring pain and hardship. People who are unfulfilled after pursuing things that do not satisfy may be astonished to see Christians who are joyful and content after depriving themselves for the gospel. This may be a new way to demonstrate the glory of the gospel to this hedonistic culture.

I have a great fear for the church. The West is fast becoming an unreached region. The Bible and history show that suffering is an essential ingredient in reaching unreached people. Will the loss of a theology of suffering lead the Western church to become ineffective in evangelism? The church in the East is growing, and because of that God's servants are suffering. Significant funding and education come to the East from the West. With funding and education comes influence. Could Westerners influence Eastern Christians to abandon the Cross by communicating that they must be doing something wrong if they suffer in this way? Christians in both the East and the West need to have a firm theology of suffering if they are to be healthy and bear fruit.

Ajith Fernando has been national director of Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka since 1976. With his wife, Nelun, he also serves in a church in Colombo consisting mainly of poor, urban first-generation Christians. He is the author of The Call to Joy and Pain (Crossway) and An Authentic Servant (The Lausanne Movement).

Key Christian leaders respond to this article at ChristianityToday.com/go/conversation. Post your own comments to become part of the Global Conversation about important issues related to world evangelization in preparation for the Lausanne Movement's Cape Town 2010 conference.

Two Tones of Biblical Faith

2010-08-18T05:34:00.000-07:00

by: J.I. Packer

J.I. Packer:

Christian faith is shaped, and its nature determined, entirely by its object, just as the impression of a seal is shaped entirely by the die-stamp that is pressed down on the hot wax.

The object of the Christian faith, Packer writes, is threefold:

first, God the Three-in-One, the Creator-become-Redeemer, who throughout history has been, and still is, transforming sinners into a new humanity in Christ;

second, Jesus Christ himself, God incarnate and Saviour, now absent from us in the flesh but personally and powerfully present with us through the Holy Spirit; and

third, the many invitations, promises, commands and assurances that the Father and the Son extend to all who will receive Jesus as their Saviour and Lord and become his disciples, living henceforth by his teaching in his fellowship under his authority.

Biblically, then, faith is a matter of knowing the facts of the gospel (the person, place and work of Jesus Christ),

welcoming the terms of the gospel (salvation from sin and a new life with God) and

receiving the Christ of the gospel (setting oneself to live as his follower, by self-denial, cross-bearing, and sacrificial service).

Packer calls New Testament faith a “two-tone” reality:

Believing the biblically revealed facts and truths about God, and trusting the living Lord to whom these facts and truths lead us, are the two “tones,” the intellectual and relational aspects, of real faith, blending like a chord in music.

This is the understanding of faith that need to be re-established.

—J.I. Packer, Taking Faith Seriously (Anglican Essentials Canada, 2006), p. 5.

Terminal Generation

2010-08-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

by; Al Mohler

Is this evangelicalism’s terminal generation? Without doubt, we are facing an unprecedented set of challenges to evangelical identity. The rise of a postmodern culture has produced an intellectual context in which the very concept of truth is held under suspicion, and claims to revealed truth are simply ruled out of order.
Benjamin Franklin, caught on the street during a break in the Constitutional Convention, is said to have been asked by a passerby to describe the new order to be proposed. "A republic," he answered, "if you can keep it." By definition, evangelicals are to be a Gospel people, cherishing, teaching, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will remain evangelical only insofar as we maintain the integrity of our Gospel witness--if we can keep it. We are truly evangelical only if we keep our testimony to the Gospel without confusion or compromise.

We should be very concerned about certain trends in contemporary evangelicalism that threaten this integrity. The first is an ominous confusion about the Gospel itself. The heart of the Gospel is the objective truth that Christ died for sinners, and that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ--alone. The cardinal doctrine of justification by faith is, as Martin Luther warned, "the article by which the church stands or falls."

If so, the church is falling in many quarters. Much of what is presented in many pulpits--and marketed by flashy television preachers--bears little resemblance to this simple message. Instead, sinners are told to seek after riches, material blessings, vibrant health, and earthly rewards. Salvation is packaged as a product to be hawked on the airwaves and sold at a discount. The notion of salvation from sin and judgment is entirely missing from this scenario. Instead, salvation is presented as a gift of self-enhancement.

On the theological left, the Gospel had long ago been transformed into a social and political message of liberation from oppression. Now, among some who consider themselves evangelicals, the Gospel of Christ has been reduced to a form of self-expression or therapy. Salvation is promised as the answer to low self-esteem and emptiness. Gone is any notion of a holy God who offers salvation from sin and its eternal penalty.

The other pressing front in the current battle for the Gospel concerns the exclusivity of the work of Christ. The testimony of the Bible could not be more clear. Salvation comes to all who call upon the name of the Lord. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ--and through Jesus Christ alone.

In our culture of political correctness and intolerant tolerance, we are told that such a claim is simply unacceptable. There cannot be only one way of salvation. Who is to say that the religions of the world are wrong, and that Christianity alone is true?

Well, that is the non-negotiable criterion of evangelical faithfulness. Jesus identified Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life--and "no one comes to the Father, but through Me" [John 14:6]. Without this clear testimony, the Gospel is emptied of its integrity. The Bible allows no misunderstanding. Without conscious faith in Jesus Christ, there is no salvation.

Dean Kelley, a liberal Protestant, once noted that, "Even the most gentle, humble, and loving Christians must divide the world into those who confess Jesus as Lord and those who don't." Given the clarity of the Gospel, we have no other choice.

Even so, various forms of compromise erupt on this crucial front in the battle for the Gospel. Some advocate an open universalism, in which all persons are eventually saved. Others promote pluralism, promising that all roads will eventually lead to God, and that no faith has a privileged claim to truth. Closer to home, some have advocated a form of inclusivism in which other religions and faiths are seen to be included in the work of Christ. Still others advocate a form of "anonymous Christianity" or a post-mortem opportunity to confess Christ.

Against these various attempts to evade the simple clarity of the Gospel stands the Word of God. Our evangelical integrity stands or falls on this truth--salvation is found through faith in Christ alone. This is the logic of the missionary mandate and the sustaining conviction for all evangelism. Nevertheless, the worldview held by many individuals today--especially those among the educated classes--flatly rejects such claims as imperialistic and arrogant.

Sociologist James Davison Hunter has long warned that younger evangelicals tend to go soft on this doctrine. Educated in a culture of postmodern relativism and ideological pluralism, this generation has been taught to avoid making any exclusive claim to truth. Speak of your truth, if you must--but never claim to know the Truth.

Unless this course is reversed, there will be no evangelicals in the next generation.
Charles Spurgeon stated it plainly: "We have come to a turning-point in the road. If we turn to the right, mayhap our children and our children's children will go that way; but if we turn to the left, generations yet unborn will curse our names for having been unfaithful to God and to His Word." Those words ring with prophetic urgency more than a century after they were written. Evangelicals must regain theological courage and conviction, or we must face the tragic reality that this may be evangelicalism's terminal generation.

The Heart of True Ethics

2010-08-16T04:21:00.000-07:00

by: John MacArthur

It is common in the evangelical church today for people to verbally acknowledge that the Bible, as God’s Word, is the final authority for both what they believe and how they live. Yet in reality, a clear connection between that public confession and personal conduct is rare.

Instead of looking to the Bible, many professing Christians look to psychology and sociology for supposed solutions to personal needs and social ills. The rise of postmodern thought has similarly skewed the church’s understanding of right and wrong—as an unbiblical tolerance (in the name of love) has weakened churches to the point where they are as soft on truth as they are on sin. Popular television shows, from Oprah to Leno to the average sitcom, have had a tangible effect (and not for the better) on how American Christians think through everyday issues. The political arena, too, has played a major role in shaping an evangelical understanding of morality, as words like “Republican” and “Democrat” or “liberal” and “conservative” have come to redefine the difference between what is good and what is evil.

The fact is that far too many professing Christians live their lives, day in and day out, on the basis of something other than the Bible. As a result, their priorities reflect the world’s priorities, not God’s priorities. Their patterns of behavior and their plans for the future differ only slightly from those of their unsaved friends and neighbors. Their expenditures reveal that their perspective is temporal, and that they are vainly pursuing the elusive American Dream. Their shortcomings, when they admit to them, receive the same fault-free labels that the world ascribes (“mistakes” or “diseases” or “addictions” rather than “sins”), as they search for answers in psychology, medication, or the self-help section of the bookstore. Though they adhere to an external form of traditional Christian moralism, there isn’t anything particularly biblical or Christ-centered about how they live.

Yet it is in the lives of sinners who have been transformed by the Gospel of grace, that a distinctly Christian ethic must be fleshed out. True Christianity is not defined on the basis of external moralism, religious traditionalism, or partisan politics; but on the basis of a personal love for Jesus Christ and a desire to follow Him no matter the cost (cf. John 14:15). It is only because believers have been transformed on the inside (through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit), that they are able to exhibit godliness in their behavior. And the world cannot help but take notice. As Jesus told His hearers in the Sermon on the Mount, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16; cf. 1 Peter 2:12).

The heart of the Christian ethic, of course, is the Gospel. Only those who have been transformed from within (Titus 3:5–8), being indwelt by the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:13–14), are able to exhibit genuine holiness (Gal. 5:22–23; 1 Pet. 1:16). Biblical Christianity is not primarily concerned with external behavior modification (cf. Matt. 5–7), but with a change of heart which subsequently manifests itself in a changed life (1 Cor. 6:9–11).

A true Christian ethic, then, is not possible without the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Unless the inner man is washed first, external morality and religious observances are only a superficial façade. Jesus rebuked the hypocrites of His day with these words, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matt. 23:27). Christ was not saying that behavior is unimportant. But rather that from God’s perspective, the heart is what matters most (cf. 1 Sam. 16:7; Mark 12:30–31).

Of course, a heart that has been truly transformed by God will respond in love to His Son, Jesus Christ (cf. John 8:42). And those who love Jesus Christ will eagerly desire to follow and obey His commands (cf. John 14:15), as found in His Word (cf. Col. 3:16). A truly Christian ethic, then, eagerly affirms and applies the moral instructions found in the Bible. But it does not do so in an attempt to legalistically earn salvation (Is. 64:6). Rather, having received salvation as the free gift of God through faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8–9), it readily obeys out of a heart of love (Eph. 2:10).

If Christians are to live in keeping with who they are (as children of God), they must live according to the Word of God through the power of His Spirit. No other source of wisdom or moral insight will do. By definition, they are people of the Book—and not just on Sundays, but every day of the week (cf. Is. 66:2).

8/16/ - 8/20

2010-08-16T04:16:00.000-07:00

I will be posting some borrowed articles over the next few days while I'm in Managua. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Don't forget to check out the blog for a possible Field Update. If I can get to an Internet Cafe I may be able to do a post.

For Christ Alone,

Eric

Nicaragua and God's Grace

2010-08-12T17:25:00.000-07:00

by: Eric Hixon

I have been through many disappointments in life. I have lost many friends who have died or walked away from me because of my faith in Jesus Christ. Well, not just my faith, but because the old Eric died. He was made new and is still being changed by the grace of God.

One of the biggest blessings in my life has been my ministry in Nicaragua. I had spent most of my ministry in the United States and more specifically in the southeastern US. Then, several years ago, I was invited to go on a mission trip to Nicaragua, and I accepted. I did not plan on having a major life changing encounter with the Lord. It hit me out of nowhere when I was on the plane about to land. At first, I thought it was just the bumpy ride and the fact that I was farther away from my wife than I had ever been. I soon found out that it was God doing a work of grace in my life. It was a fear of God that made me well aware that He was with me. I was so convicted of my sins and spent much time confessing and repenting of my selfishness.

This was a work of grace because God would use this time to refine me and make me very uncomfortable. I would not have chosen this path...I assure you. I like the easy road. God, however, isn't all that concerned about what I want, He is concerned about what I need. I needed to spend some serious time getting my focus on Him. For that reason, most of my ministry has not been a path of ease...it has been difficult. That is what God allowed me to do through my first Nicaragua trip. I could give you all the details, and maybe someday the Lord will allow me that time; however, I just want you to know that I thank God for what He did in my life during that time.

I am now preparing to go back to Nicaragua again. I can't even tell you how many times this makes, but it has been a lot. I have been heartbroken in more ways than words can describe over the spiritual condition of Nicaragua. I've had people try to use me and take advantage of our tenderness toward these precious people. I've also made friends that are like family to me. God has used these people in each group to refine me and to make me into what He is wanting me to become.

In all honesty, I'm compelled to go back by in spite of the hard times and dissapointments. The Lord has allowed my heart to be touched by the children and the pastors of this country. Lord willing, M.U.D. Minsitries will soon be beginning a Bible Institute in Nicaragua with the vision of training pastors. Our desire is to help equip and train these men and show them how to do God's Work, God's Way, for God's Glory!

I assure you, it will be the grace of God if that is allowed to happen. There are those that say Central America is too overrun with missionaries. I would disagree. Yes, there are many who come down but few that teach sound doctrine. I've been told that I take the Scriptures too seriously, but I honestly don't think that is possible. Let God decide. These indigenous pastors need solid Biblical training! God will use them to do a work that only a Nicaraguan can do. The day may come when the doors to this country are shut to those like me. It is vital that these men get the Gospel and preach it. That door cannot be shut by any man.

For now, I ask you to pray for me and the 13 others that I have helped mobilize to join us on a mission to glorify God through serving others and making disciples as our King has commanded. If anything good comes from us, it will be a work of grace. I thank God for Nicaragua and God's grace!

It Is Good To Have Zeal

2010-08-11T03:49:00.000-07:00

This morning I am reminded that true zeal comes first from the heart of the individual and then can manifest itself in the life of the church as a whole. Ask yourself tough questions and deal with them. No one can ask you a better, more probing, deeper question than you.

Do you have a zeal for God today? Does your actions relay to God and others the condition of your heart?

Zeal is defined as enthusiastic devotion or care to or for a cause. In many instances, our zeal is for our job or our hobby, or other causes. It is easy to find oneself influencing others for these causes and not influencing others for Christ isn't it? I pray that God uses me to influence othes in their devotion and love for God. That God would use my feeble efforts to stir up love for other believers.

Our enthusiasm has the ability to stir others into action. (2 Corinthians 9:2)

I am constantly reminded that my zeal should not be born out of a selfish desire, but out of a love for Christ and others. This type of zeal will help you to develop a hatred for those things that oppose Christ, such as sin in my own life. I desire to be used by Christ for God's glory!

James 5:19-20, "My brothers, if anyone among you wanders fromt he truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings a sinner back from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."

I need to be encouraged and I do this by encouraging those that read this post. It is good to be zealous for Christ and to see souls saved. Yes, it is only God who can save but it is God's will that we are used as the ones who bring the message of Christ! Today, go and witness to the world of the grace of God and give each person a personal warning, encouragement, and invitation to come to God through Christ and Christ alone!

Adoption Update

2010-08-10T06:27:00.000-07:00

We are doing an adoption fundraiser that is really cool and you can even win a amazing book! To learn more go to www.intheheartofourhome.blogspot.com today!!

Confidence in the Gospel

2010-08-05T08:09:00.001-07:00

I wanted to share something with you that didn't shock me the way it should have. I am getting less and less taken back when I hear of such things. Much of what I am sharing I learned from Brad Williams, Pastor of New Covenant Baptist in Albertville, AL. He is a dear brother to me.

From Brad Williams recent church wide newsletter:

You may not have ever heard of Julea Ward, but I hope that you soon become familiar with what has happened to her. Julea was a graduate student at Eastern Michigan University in pursuit of her Master’s in school counseling. That is, until Julea was recently expelled. She was expelled, not because of her conduct but because of her conviction that homosexuality is morally wrong. She refused to counsel homosexual clients, doing so was a breach of school policy and of the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics.

Julea sued the university on the basis that she had been discriminated against due to her religious beliefs. The judge refused to hear the case. She never got her day in court. Here is Judge Steeh’s statement as to why:

The university had a rational basis for requiring students to counsel clients without imposing their personal values…In the case of Ms. Ward, the university determined that she would never change her behavior and would consistently refuse to counsel clients on matters with which she was personally opposed due to her religious beliefs – including homosexual relationships.

The only way that Ms. Ward would be re-admitted into the program was if she went into a remediation program in order to see the error of her ways and change her belief system about homosexuality. The remifications of this decision are dizzying, and the logic used to reach this decision is patently absurd.

In this decision, the University of Eastern Michigan has done precisely what they have warned Ms. Ward not to do: that is, they have imposed their beliefs onto her. They believe that homosexuality is morally fine. They believe that to counsel otherwise is a breach of ethics. Their “Bible”, if you will, is the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics. Ms. Ward’s code of ethics is the Bible itself, the University has declared that the ACA’s code is a higher and more correct authority than the Bible, and this deviation from their faith in the ACA is met with expulsion from the program. So much for academic freedom of thought.

Should Ms. Ward have refused to counsel homosexuals? The details are vague as to what is meant by that. If she outright refused to counsel them, I believe she erred. I believe she should definitely have given them counsel, but she should have pointed out that homosexual behavior is sin, and that abandoning the counsel of God’s Word in pursuit of illicit pleasure will always result in misery. That counsel would have gotten her expelled also, it seems, but it would have been a better way to get kicked out.

We are hearing more and more about public prayer being banned and Christians being told they must "change" their beliefs in order to graduate. I am not a prophet but I do think this is just the beginning. I agree with Brad, she hould have shared the only hope these people have with them. I'm not being negative or a messenger of doom and gloom. I think if God allows persecution to happen it will only be used to strengthen the true church. Don't think because we live in America that we are exempt from persecution.

Persecution is allowed to strengthen God's people and drive them to do what they wouldn't do without persecution. I pray that you take the initiative to disciple your children and your wife. There are those who will challenge us and like unreasoning animals attack truth with lies. We must learn how that we are to respond and how that we are to survive in these times. If you have not, I encourage you to listen to the series on Jude that Bro. Cliff Cook and myself preached at New Covenant Baptist Oneonta recently. You can visit the churches website to listen to the series.

www.ncbconeonta.org

I pray that God will work in your heart so much that your confidence in God would surpass all your fears of man! There is a proper way to live this life for the glory of God. I pray that you and I will obey the Word of God

Pray for God to Awaken Your Church

2010-08-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Every true revival that God has blessed us with has begun after much prayer. I encourage you to pray that God would stir your church diligently. I find that Christians who pray for their church specifically have a much deeper, meaningful membership in that local body than those who do not pray regularly for their church. Pray that god would move in such a way that:

Pray that hundreds of people come to Christ

Old animosities would be removed

Marriages would be healed and renewed

Prodigal children would come home, both young and old children

Dominating sin would be crushed

Spritual dullness is replaced by spirit filled joy

Worship would not be routine but a true time of praise and prayer to God

Confidence in the flesh would dissappear and confidence in the Gospel would increase

Prayer would be fervent

Evangelism wouldn't be a program but a natural result of a desire to glorify God

Missions would be something people DO and SUPPORT

Pastors would PREACH the WORD

Fear of man would be replaced by a fear of God

Radical faith would seem, well...not radical, but normal

The Getty's on Modern Hymn Writing

2010-08-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

Keith Getty led one of the workshops at the National Worship Leaders Conference on the topic, “Writing Today’s Modern Hymns.” David Neff, editor-in-chief for Christianity Today Media Group, edited and distilled ten notable ideas from the workshop:

1. The primary form we use is the story form. The gospel is primarily story. How do you take people who want 4-line worship songs and get them to sing 32 lines? By structuring the song as a story.
2. It is important to look at things that are harrowing and that don’t necessarily make us feel happy. The central core of the Christian faith is not something that makes us happy. We need to acknowledge our need for a redeemer. The reason we worship is that we meet God through the central story of the cross.
3. We need lament. But if you want to write lament, remember that a successful lament resolves. Not into a happily-ever-after ending, but like the psalms of lament, by ultimately acknowledging that God is God.
4. To write strong melodies remember that folk melody has to be passed on orally (aurally). I try to write songs that can be sung with no written music. I imitate Irish folk melody, with a great deal of contour, of rise and fall.
5. Use pastors and theologians as resources for your writing. But keep company with them. Don’t just ask them to fix your text here or there when you’re done with it.
6. Trinitarian worship safeguards us from so many problems our worship can get into: either an overly stern view of god or a casual view of god. Both can lead to problems in our lives.
7. Martin Luther is one of ten people from history I would want to have coffee with. I have looked at a lot of Luther’s hymns and emulated him. First, Luther had a high view of redemption. He also believed we live our lives in the midst of spiritual warfare. Thirdly, he had a high view of the church and a high vision of the church.
8. The congregation is the choir and it is merely the privilege of those of us who are musically gifted to help them sing.
9. Lyrics and great writing are the same thing. Lyricism is poetry. If your write lyrics, read as much poetry as you can. Lyricists are people who love words and do crossword puzzles.
10. Growing up, I never listened to pop music as a child. I was steeped in church music. That could be a blessing because everything I write can be sung by a congregation.

Keith and his wife Kristyn have several CDs that might be of interest to you:

In Christ Alone
Awaken the Dawn
Songs that Jesus Said (music for children)

Communion Hymn

2010-07-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

I encourage you to listen to this song.

Communion Hymn

Ready....set.......GO!!

2010-07-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, August 1st, is our official launch day of New Covenant Baptist Church! We have been training our Core Group since May 23rd and now we are going to start taking members. We are a Southern Baptist Church and we are looking forward to planting other churches in the future and actively being on mission for the Lord!

You can go to the churches website for more details.

www.ncbconeonta.org

Final Day of State Side Impact Missions

2010-07-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

Today missionaries went out for the last day to the streets of New Orleans to share the Gospel. Pray that others will come and water the seeds we have planted and that God would bring the increase. I am very thankful for all the churches that came along side our ministry to share the Gospel. It was hard work!

We do not share some cheap message of easy believism, we urge people to repent. Our goal was to give a personal warning to each person we could. This warning is because we have all broken God's law and justly deserve His wrath. Then we urged them to repent of their sins and trust Christ.

Many rejected Christ. Pray God will be merciful and give them another opportunity. Some received the message. Pray that it was good soil!

Pray for souls! Only God can save!!

How to Love One Another: Affirm, Share, and Serve

2010-07-28T05:54:00.000-07:00

From Justin Taylor's Blog

Most of us are familiar with the “one another” commands of the New Testament. In the study guide for

Gospel in Life: Grace Changes Everything

, Tim Keller offers a helpful taxonomy under the categories of affirming one another, sharing with one another, and serving one another. These form, he says, “nine ‘community-building practices’—specific behaviors that build Christian community.” For a more detailed unpacking of each point, see pp. 58-71.

Affirm

1. Affirm one another’s strengths, abilities, and gifts.

Romans 12:10: “Honor one another”
James 5:9: “Don’t grumble against each other”
Romans 12:3-8: Confirm the gifts of one another

2. Affirm one another’s equal importance in Christ.

Romans 15:7: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you”
1 Corinthians 12:25: “Have equal concern for each other”
1 Peter 5:5: “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another”
James 2:1: “Don’t show favoritism”

3. Affirm one another through visible affection.

Romans 16:16: “Greet one another with a holy kiss”
James 1:19: “Be quick to listen, slow to speak”
Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another”
1 Thessalonians 3:12: “[May] your love increase and overflow for each other”

Share

4. Share one another’s space, goods, and time.

Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love”
1 Peter 4:9: “Offer hospitality to one another”
Galatians 6:10: “As we have opportunity, let us do good”

5. Share one another’s needs and problems.

Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens”
1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Encourage one another”
Hebrews 3:13: “Encourage one another daily”

6. Share one another’s beliefs, thinking, and spirituality.

Colossians 3:16: “Teach and admonish one another”
Ephesians 5:19: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs”
Romans 12:16: “Live in harmony with one another”
1 Corinthians 1:10: “Agree with one another”

Serve

7. Serve one another through accountability.

James 5:16: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other”
Romans 15:14: “Instruct one another”
Ephesians 4:25: “Speak truthfully”

8. Serve one another through forgiveness and reconciliation.

Ephesians 4:2: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love”
Colossians 3:13: “Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another”
Galatians 5:25: Don’t provoke or envy one another
James 4:11: “Do not slander one another”
Matthew 5:23-24; 18:15: Reestablish broken relationships with one another

9. Serve one another’s interests rather than our own.

Hebrews 10:24: “spur one another on toward love and good deeds”
Romans 15:1-2: Don’t please yourself but please others
Galatians 5:13: “Serve one another”

Day 3 Week 2 Impact New Orleans

2010-07-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

Mission teams are like children, they all have different personalities. This team is doing great, they really are out of their comfort zone. God is stretching them beyond anyplace they've ever been. God is working and honoring His Word. We've been able to do some ministry with families that are struggling. Some are single parent homes, some are out of work and on the verge of loosing their homes. In both cases, they are holding on to the hope they have in Christ. Local churches are reaching out to help and encourage those that are faithful.

We have this one afternoon and one morning project left. I'll preach tonight to the mission team at 7:30 PM. Pray for them to be broken for the lost. I know that until you realize the awful wrath of God and the finality of the judgement, you'll never have a true zeal to share the Gospel.

God is working and we are honored to serve Him. Pray that this last full day will be glorious! Not by man's standard but by God's. That we would glorify Him.

Do you want to get well? Part 2

2010-07-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

OUR EXCUSES DO NOT STOP JESUS FROM WORKING IN OUR LIVES
Jesus asked this man, “Do you want to get well?” I’m thinking “YES!! Get me out of this nasty place, and I’ll move on!” But he made an excuse, “I can’t…people keep breaking line.” Breaking line!! That is a 3rd grade excuse, but here we see a grown man making the excuse. I think, after a little while, I could inch over, and when the water stirred, I’d finally get in and be healed,. . . if I really believed it would work.

Some people reading this may be making excuses as to why you do not get well spiritually. You are too busy, you are to tired, you’ve already done that, you are to young, you are to old, you just can’t. Whatever the excuse, God doesn’t back up and say, “Oh yeah. That’s right. I forgot about your situation. Just hang around and when you get a chance, come to me.” No friend God is passionate that His children get well. He is able to present you blameless before the Father and He is going to sanctify you.

Regardless of where you are in your Christian journey, you need to get well. We all have areas of our lives that need to be fined tuned and tweaked. Some of you may be spiritually stressed because you know you are being a fake. You know that you should be more faithful, but you can’t get over yourself and your fears. It is stressful being a fake. We’ve all done that, and you can admit it if you are honest. You may realize that you are more than sick; you may realize that you are dead. You are spiritually paralyzed. You may realize your sinfulness and that you have never been a child of God. If that is your case, you should repent and believe the Gospel. Trust Christ, my friend, and He will make you well. He is the only one Who can present you to God and you be able to stand and not melt like wax in a blazing furnace. You need saving…you need to get well.

So how can we apply what we have learned to our lives? Here are a couple of things.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO ANSWER THE PRIMARY QUESTION FOR THE DAY…”DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?”
Jesus asked this question over 2000 years ago and He is asking it again to you today. “Do you want to get well?” You may like where you are and are not going to budge. You would rather worship in your tradition than to worship in Spirit and in truth. You would be happy to stay sick as long as you continue to get your way.

Regardless of where you are in your Christian life, you need to ask yourself this question. It doesn’t matter if you are closer to God than you have ever been, you still need to be healthier as a Christian. Build yourself up in the most Holy faith (Jude 20). I pray that you will ask the Lord to search your heart and see if there is any wicked way in you (Psalms 139:22). This will lead you to a deeper repentance and trust in the Lord to make you well by faith! I beg of you, please do not leave reading this article without honestly evaluating your spiritual condition. It may be your last opportunity to get well.

YOU MUST ALLOW JESUS TO BE A PART OF THE CHANGE PROCESS
If you keep going in the same direction, you will not get any better. We all need Divine intervention. Remember, nothing is too big or too small for God. The Lord desires to help His children be completely well. We must not rely on ourselves but upon Him to make us well. It is Christ who redeemed us and makes us well. He nurses us back to health with daily spiritual training. If we will submit our lives to the Lord we can become spiritually healthy. The biggest factor is allowing Christ to part of that process and not attempting this on our own. There is no need to put confidence in yourself; our confidence is in the Gospel and the power of Christ to transform us. It is a work of His grace!

Traveling as an itinerant preacher, I hear almost weekly from someone sharing with me about an area in their life where they desire prayer. Most of the time, it is a person trying to “do something” to make themselves better, and they haven’t fully submitted their lives unto the Lord. God seems to be allowing their spiritual sickness to occur so that they can learn that He is the only One on whom they can rely. He is the same Christ who made the lame man well at the pool of Bethesda who will make us well today. We need to cry out to the Lord and ask Him to heal us; He is the only One who can.

Do you want to get well? Part 1

2010-07-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

by: Eric Hixon

I do not know if you have ever looked at the account of the miracle at the Pool of Bethesda. However, if you haven’t, I encourage you to read it now.

"2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"

7"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

8Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked."
John 5:2-9 (NKJV)

I have never been to the Holy Land but always wished I could. Maybe one day the Lord will allow that, but, until then, I can Google. When you see the pictures of this pool you can see its potential beauty with its 5 porches surrounding it. But then you realize this was a place of sickness. The unsanitary conditions alone make you cringe, and then you think of all the disease. It is enough to make you want to make me go bathe in hand sanitizer gel.
Why did the Lord give us this miracle? The Scriptures teach that if all the miracles that Jesus had done in His three years of public ministry were recorded that all the books in the world couldn’t contain them (John 21:25). I have thought about how this can apply to us today. Here are some things we can learn from this miracle.

OUR APPARENT COMFORT MAY KEEP US SICK
The Scriptures tell us this man had been in this condition a long time—38 years. More than likely, he had been at this pool for a long time as well. I think that this man had made himself as comfortable as possible. Even around all that sickness, he had himself a life and possibly even a daily routine. Perhaps he had made friends with others at the pool. The point is, he made himself comfortable around such a sick place.

Maybe you are pretty comfortable in your life. Perhaps where you are right now you are not exactly happy with the condition of the world, but you have found your place in it and are comfortable. Just like this man, unless some changes are made, you are headed toward a much greater sickness. We are not called to go with the flow and adjust to our cultural conditions. Maybe the guy at the pool was afraid of risking. If he became well, he would need to leave. Maybe all his friends were there. Maybe he did not have family to whom he could return, or perhaps he didn’t know where they were? I do not know what your fears are; however, you do, and God does. I do know this, you can get so comfortable that it keeps you sick.

Ask yourself some tough questions and evaluate whether you are spiritually comfortable? Are you satisfied with where you are in your spiritual growth? Do you know why you do what you do? Do you know for sure that you are doing God’s Work, God’s Way? How do you know? If it is not based on God’s Word, you may be a victim of a satanic delusion. Have you fallen into a trap of man’s tradition that has lead you to believe that what you are is doing is approved by God? Be very careful of getting comfortable. I do not know many soldiers that are in a battle that are comfortable.

Day 2 Week 2 Impact New Orleans

2010-07-26T04:51:00.000-07:00

We are rejoicing this morning in the Lord! Some of the families began the day with family worship times and prayer. It is wonderful to see fathers leading their families to serve together. Please pray for them as they serve the Lord today.

We are sending teams to 11 different mission sites around the city. From service projects to witnessing locations, we are looking forward to seeing what the Lord will do today! Thanks for your prayers!!

This is a short post but the day is already started and I am looking forward to going on the mission field. More updates coming soon!

Day 1 Week Two Impact New Orleans

2010-07-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Just finished preaching at two churches and God's Word convicted some and there were a few that seemed to repent and truly trust Christ as Savior. Much brokenness and a great deal of encouragement to the church there. Pray for them as they literally minister to the world on their doorstep. Gang members, homeless, prostitutes, and drug dealers abound, but God is able to save the worst of sinners.

I preached the Word of God and God changed lives. Oh I pray that our churches would go to the streets and invite people in to hear the Gospel. I love ministering the Word to a non-religious group! They do not attempt to disguise themselves, they will openly tell you what they believe. They seem to be open to the truth and you can see God's Word effecting them. Pray for souls!!

140 Missionaries have arrived. I preach, equip, train, beginning tonight at 7:00 PM. Much grace is needed, the task is more than we can do on our own. We need to be fully submitted to the Lord. The battle is His!! Pray!!!

HOPE

2010-07-25T06:25:00.000-07:00

Our prayer is that God would bring a lasting revival to our nation. The Churches in North America do a lot in the name of evangelism and worship; the question is, though, “Do people really want lasting revival?” Almost every time I will hear a resounding, “YES!” But how much are we willing to pay for it? I’m not talking about money, friend;...I’m talking about our lives. I honestly believe that anything less than giving our lives for service to our King will not do.

Where does our very best go? What do we do with our time, resources, our prayers? For many, Christianity is just part of their lives. When honestly evaluated, they find that it is more about morals than missions. What we must be reminded of constantly is the fact that we are not our own. God has created us for His glory, and we must take a close look at our lives to see if we are striving to give God our very best. If God answered all your prayers for the past 30 days, would it change the world. . . or just your world? This reveals our hearts, doesn’t it?

M.U.D. Ministries partners with hundreds of people that are members of local churches each year that come and give of their time and energy to serve others in the name of Jesus. We spend a lot of time preparing and praying because we are faced with the calling to “go and make disciples,” and it is becoming increasingly difficult in our culture to do that. There are some who literally act as if they have salvation coming to them. As if because we are Americans, we deserve it. God help us! Break our hearts Lord that we would repent of this kind of spiritual arrogance. If we do not repent and do God’s work, God’s way, we will reap what we sow. I pray you will glorify God by being obedient to His Word!

The only hope that our country has is Jesus! He is more than what we need; He is all we have. Many people look at the past as if it offers no relevant value. This is especially so in this generation of tolerance and technology. Even among many who say they are Christians, there is a subtle rejection of historic Christianity, at the expense of remaining relevant and following shallow, trendy fads. I assure you, God will never say He is pleased with that. What will please God? What will offer hope to this nation that is in utter disarray? I believe that we must repent and humbly turn our lives away from self and turn it to Christ. Obey God’s Word, and you will live. Reject His Word and settle for a wasted life. Jesus Christ is our only hope!

Right now, I ask you to pray and ask God how you can be involved in His work. Some are called to go, some are called to give, some are called to give and go. You do your best!

Missions 24/7

2010-07-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

I was reminded today that missions are 24/7 for True Christians. I was sharing the Gospel with a few people outside the local Post Office today. It was a good opportunity and I love to talk about Christ and the hope we have in Him. I'm getting ready to head back to New Orleans. The missions are just as much in Oneonta, AL as they are in New Orleans.

I'm headed to the mission field everytime I wake up. Whether in my home or thousands of miles away, I'm on mission with God! Pray for those who say they love Jesus but never talk about Him outside the church building walls. Pray for their salvation.

Next stop, New Orleans!

Day 5 Impact New Orleans

2010-07-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

This is the last day for this group of missionaries to serve the Lord in New Orleans through Impact. We have had a tremendous week and I think more people have shared the Gospel than ever before. We have had missionaries from Ohio, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee serving with us this week! I am proud of each individual and of the churches for preparing their people for missions. The teams will serve till 4 PM this afternoon and then have a celebration service at 7:30 PM. This will be a time when we get some actual idea of how many people actually were witnessed to over the week.

These individuals were not seeking numbers, they were seeking souls. the only way to win a soul is to share the Gospel. Some people do not want to hear this message but God has commanded us to share the Gospel. It was a aroma of life unto life for many and for some, death unto death. However, we were triumphant in our battle because we served for our King.

Impact Missions is a band of soldiers who are called by God to obey His every command. We are in a war! It is a war for truth and for souls. We are unique soldiers in that we are not called to war to kill....but to save. There is room for more soldiers, we are praying that God would stir you to serve in this battle. If not with us, with another Gon-honoring ministry. I do pray for workers for the fields, they are white for harvest!!

Sunday, another band of Soldiers will come in and go to battle along side us. Pray for them and keep checking for updates!!

Day 4 Impact New Orleans

2010-07-22T03:42:00.001-07:00

After a much needed half day's rest, the team will go back to their ministry sites this morning. Please pray for them as the heat is a draining factor. We are going to some indoor areas to try to help with that and minister to thise seeking shelter from the heat. I know that God will give them opportunity to witness and that hundreds will have heard the Gospel before the week is out.

Pleae pray for the teams as they go and share the Gospel today. More updates coming soon!!!!

Day 3 Impact New Orleans

2010-07-21T06:13:00.000-07:00

This will be the 3rd day on the mission field. The Gospel has been making an impact both on New Orleans and on the missionaries. I have been blessed to be able to preach the past 3 nights and God seems to be blessing His Word! The focus has been placing our confidence in the Gospel, not our ability. It is amaIng to see how this is increasing the missionaries faith and stirring them to do more for our Lord. Only God could do what has been done so far this week, we take NONE of the glory.

Today is a half day of ministry projects then they get to take the afternoon off to refresh and take in a few sites. I have a sneaking suspicion that even then, these Brothers and Sisters will be sharing the Gospel!! Please continue to pray for us all as we serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!

More updates coming soon.....

Day 2 Impact New Orleans

2010-07-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

We have began our 2nd day on the mission field here in New Orleans. The majority of the mission team has already shared the Gospel multiple times and are out now sharing. Pray for God to convict and save the lost through our efforts. I'm glad to work along side these missionaries. They are committed to boldly sharing the good news of Christ and serving sacrificially. One young man said,"This is not a photo op. This is for God's Glory!"

Pray for more men like him to be drawn out into service for King Jesus! I'm headed back out to the streets in the next few minutes to witness. Pray for souls!!

Day 1 Impact New Orleans

2010-07-19T05:43:00.000-07:00

New Orleans is off to a strong start! God seems to genuinely be stirring this group for service. We are launching out to 15 different ministry sites today to share the Gospel. The only hope is that God will, in mercy, save souls through our efforts.

Last night I preached on "What is the Gospel?" Today we take the message of Christ to this city. Please pray for us.....

More updates soon!

Impact New Orleans

2010-07-16T05:14:00.000-07:00

After a year of praying, preparing, and training, we will mobilize more than 300 people for missions over the next 2 weeks in New Orleans!

M.U.D. Minsitries has built relationships with these local churches and pastors over the past several years that have allowed us to have the opportunity to serve along side them. Our ministries desire is not to be a flash in the pan, but to partner with churches that want to do God's Work, God's Way. We will be focused on serving and sharing the Gospel in over 15 different communities during our time in New Orleans.

I met with several Pastors earlier this year, and God is using some of these men in great ways. Of course, it is hard to see it from their position, it is easy for them to get discouraged. According to one pastor, "You do not see a lot of people responding but when a person does get saved...they are faithful." I met former drug dealers and prostitutes that had been converted on the streets of New Orleans. One former prostitute had been actively serving in her local church for over 15 years. She says that since she trusted Christ she has never been the same!

I understand that Jesus never saved anyone that He didn't change!!

Please take full advantage of this opportunity to pray for our mission team specifically. Each group has been trained in Biblical Evangelism and we will not use manipulative tactics to get numbers. Our confidence is rooted in the Gospel! We will share with over 1500 people over the next two weeks. Pray that they see their sin as exceedingly sinful and that the Holy Spirit would convict them and they would repent and trust Christ!! Christ is all they have!!

I will be preaching nightly and will be in a few churches that are planted in the Lower 9th Ward. This was the hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Many homes are still in rubble and people are desperate. Pray that they will be desperate for Christ and that they will trust Him before it's eternally too late!!

Family Worship

2010-07-14T05:03:00.000-07:00

The Word of God clearly implies that God deserves to be worshipped daily. In order to do that, we must worship Him in our own homes as individuals and families. I realize that there is no direct commandment in scripture to have family worship, however; it is clearly practiced and taught throughout the Bible.

You can go as far back as Genesis 18:17-19,

"The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

A little later we also read, "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ESV)

It doesn't take a lot of thinking to realize that training our children in the way of God means much more than a trip to church a couple times a week. As a parent, I have first hand experience with this. I can honestly say, that my family worship times are a blessing. It is a blessing to see my children learn about the things of God. It is wonderful to see them worshipping the Lord together in our home.

I encourage you to begin today, if you haven't already, leading your family in worship in your home. I can give you this promise....you will never regret it!

He Forgot He Was a Wanted Man

2010-07-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

by Brad Williams

Brad is the Pastor of New Covenant Baptist in Albertville, AL. This is from his latest newsletter. Enjoy!!

I want to tell you the true story of a man named Victor Houston. His real name is actually Frank Dryman. In 1951, Frank, freshly bounced out of the Navy for mental issues, car-jacked an unfortunate café owner named Clarence Pellet. Frank ordered Clarence to get out of the car, then shot him in the back six times as he attempted to comply. Frank Dryman murdered Clarence Pellet.

Frank narrowly avoided the death penalty for his crime, and he wound up getting parole after spending just shy of twenty years behind bars. But Frank did not like checking in with his parole officer, so he skipped town and settled in Arizona. That’s where he remained for forty years. He got married. He had children. He built himself a life. He was, apparently, a good citizen of his local community. Frank forgot that he was a wanted man. Frank forgot that he was a murderer. He even applied for his Navy benefits from the VA. He tried to become a new man named Victor Houston, and he believed that this would be enough to cleanse him of his guilt.

Almost sixty years after Frank killed Clarence, Clarence’s grandson tracked him down and ruined Frank’s illusion. Frank was promptly arrested and put back into prison, and he will most likely die there. The court was not impressed that Frank had lived a good life after skipping bail. He was a parole violator and murderer to them, and now he will spend what little time he has left on earth behind bars.

Frank says that he forgot that he was a wanted man. He said, “I never thought I was a parole violator. I was Victor Houston. I never looked over my shoulder, I just forgot about it…to be honest, I didn't even remember the victim's name.” But Clarence’s family did not forgot. More than a dozen members of the family showed up for his parole hearing to testify of the carnage Frank caused by killing Clarence Pellet.

There is a parable here for us, a parable of the danger of forgetting our guilt before God for our very real, very terrible crimes against His Majesty. Men, convinced that they can make up for wickedness by good works, are displeased that God would hold them to account for sins committed in the past, sins the sinner himself may not even remember. Frank said this of Clarence’s grandson’s quest to see him put back behind bars, “I think it was so wrong he spent so much money getting me here. I feel it is unfair.” Does that sound like a man aware of the heinousness of his crimes?

It is the natural inclination of the sinful heart to downplay the seriousness of its sin. It is our tendency to forget that we are guilty sinners, and except for grace, we would be undone. May the Lord reveal to us how sinful we are that we may own up to our guilt and receive the forgiveness He offers.

The High Cost of Appeasement

2010-07-10T06:10:00.000-07:00

This is a post I did a couple years back. I pray that it will be useful to you.

In his sermon, Sinner’s in the Hands of an Angry God, Jonathan Edwards preached that God was not going to be tolerant of sin. He reminded his audience that God desired holiness and obedience to His Word. The enemy of our souls is doing all that he can to bring death and destruction to all of God’s Creation. We some time do not look at the subtle attacks of the enemy. We see the devastation that a person who is without Christ is headed for but some have forgotten that Satan is still trying to kill the Christians as well. He knows that he cannot have our soul so he tries to make us ineffective in our Christian witness.

On February 20th, Bernard Lewis discussed Iran’s active pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. But even without WMD’s, Lewis noted, Iran is still extremely dangerous. Adolf Hitler, he reminded his audience, never had weapons of mass destruction. And look at what that man accomplished with his non-nuclear arsenal.

While many churches try to appease members by preaching that God is love and He is tolerant to sin, the Bible speaks volumes on His righteous judgment and His wrath. Yes, God is love, but many think that is all He is. Jesus’ message was actually the opposite of appeasement, he actually told His followers that following Him would entail a higher risk of direct confrontation, which would erupt into some form of conflict.

John 15:20, Jesus said, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecute Me, they will persecute you…”
We are by nature, not prone to want to have conflict. It is not in our mind in America that Christianint causes people to hate us. Especially in the south, where everyone has some form of Bible knowledge. Around the turn of the last century, many churches began to be more relevant in their message in order to “grow” their churches. They begin to use methods that would make people feel at ease in there services and many of the messages focus on life enhancement and not the Gospel. It has resulted in the development of thousands of false converts who never truly repented of their sins and believed the Gospel. They never heard the Gospel and their motive for salvation was not based on a clear understanding of sin, God, or Jesus Christ. Were in not for those men who have continued to stand and preach the truth despite how much the world hates it, we would be in worse trouble than we currently are.

While preachers and polititions set around and talk about unity and economic growth solutions, many are being jard out of their spiritual slumber. I truly pray that it is not to late, that they have woken up in time to go forth and herald the truth. The enemy has already killed millions and there are millions of other souls at stake. Satan wants to annihilate all of God’s creation. We must ask God to send us a nation shaking spiritual revival. There is absolutely no room for surrender or compromise. Many will hate us and turn against us because they will love this world more than they love God but we must charge into this world with the love of God in truth!

The idea that the Christian life is going to be safe and full of wonderful prosperity and ease, is like telling people that a rabid pit bull is a nice pet. However, we know that being obedient to Christ is a life that is full of abundant peace and joy. Some Christians have been duped into believing that “carrying your cross” means doing without a vehicle for a few days. Friend, this Christian life is full of trials and sometime pure misery. To think that God is going to somehow spare you from this when He didn’t spare His own Son or His Apostles. Where did anyone get that idea anyway? It is not a short war, it is a lifetime!!!

Satan doesn’t play by the rules, he has made no treaty. John 10:10 says, “The enemy only comes to steal, kill, and destroy…” I just look at what millions of people stand for around this world that think they are doing right and it is leading them straight to hell. I pray that America will wake up from its long, deluded slumber. It will take some time to regain the lost ground but together we can win. It will be a difficult battlefield and some will not make it through. I truly believe that if Christians will join together and speak the truth of God’s Word, many that the enemy wants to perish will not. Many will be saved! As Ray Comfort said when speaking of the church, “We are not some Christian cruise ship, we are a battleship, and we are stationed at the very jaws of hell!”

Some have asked me, “Could we have avoided this?” I honestly do not know the answer to that. Regardless, we are in a situation and the only response is to be faithful to the Word of God. Never back down, never be silent, never stop sharing the Gospel! Refuse to give any ground to the enemy! We are more that conquers through Christ Jesus our Lord!!!!!!

Grace and Peace,
Eric

Impact Fort Payne

2010-07-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

This is the last day for Impact Fort Payne. Saturday everyone will return to his or her home. I cannot say enough how thankful I am to the Lord for these missionaries that came to share the Gospel in this area. We have had several that have had the opportunity to share the Gospel with people who seemed to make a genuine profession of faith! Some of them have even came to the evening services.

God richly blessed us this week and we have seen that the Gospel does impact the entire county! Please pray that the seeds we have planted will take root and grow to bear much fruit for our Lord.

We must bid our friends in Fort Payne, AL, farewell for now. God does not call us to get comfortable, He calls us to "go and make disciples." That is what M.U.D. Ministries is all about,

"making disciples."

We move on to New Orleans, LA, where we will partner with over 15 churches to share the Gospel in their community. I will be preaching there each night and in two churches in the Lower 9th Ward on July 25th. Please pray for souls!!

We truly love each of our partners and appreciate your intercessory prayer!!

Marriage Realities (Part 1)

2010-07-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

I will be doing s few articles on marriage and family over the next few weeks. i pray that God will use it to strengthen your marriage and protect it from the attacks of the enemy.

Each person should recognize that their marriage commitment is to the Lord FIRST and to your spouse SECOND. There are many things that the enemy uses to attack marriages so we must be "innocent as a dove and wise as a serpent" in defending our marriage against these attacks. I believe that the key to maintaining a solid foundation in marriage is for both husband and wife to cultivate and maintain a solid, deep, and mutual relationship with Christ and make a commitment to be obedient to God's Word.
Here are a few things that I know will help this journey:

Focus on YOUR HEART, not your outward appearance.

Our heart is much more important than the way we "present" ourselves to our peers. People can look good on the outside and on the inside be falling apart. I can't help but to think of those in Hollywood that people literally try to imitate and how we read everyday of their marital collapse and moral debauchery. Proverbs 31:30,"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."

Spend time growing in your love for God's Word and for the times you are with Him. This will strengthen your heart and be good for your soul. All of our efforts should not go into what we "appear" to be but on growing in godliness. This will be an opportunity for your marriage to mature and be strengthened.

Focus on who your husband/wife REALLY IS, not on who you want them to be.

There are so many marriages that stumble because the husband and wife do not know each other. No one is perfect, and we can't expect them to be and have any chance at experiencing the reality of a strong marriage. Strong godly marriages are not made between two perfect people but between two sinners who trust Christ to guide them. Just as there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1), we should not have a spirit of condemnation toward our spouses because they do not meet all of our expectations. Chunk that idea of having a "perfect marriage" and learn to love the spouse that you have. Husbands, we must live with our wives "with understanding" (1 Peter 3:7) and patience. Just as God is preparing us for Christ, we must love our spouses without always focusing on their faults. I promise, you are messed up, too. Thank God that he uses messed up people for His glory!

Focus on LOVING your husband/wife not on how much you have in common.

My advice to couples I've counseled is to "love your wife" and to "love your husband." Ephesians and Titus deal with so much of this thought that it is obviously something of which we need to be reminded. No two people are the same, especially husbands and wives. What did you expect? God uses those differences to help us become more like Christ. If our focus is directed toward self, you will never see the absolute joy of being in that marriage relationship.

The UnComfort Zone

2010-07-06T05:28:00.000-07:00

It is always a unique thing to see people coming into a mission project. Some are very focused on the mission at hand, some are excited, some are tired, some are just..well...goofy. (that is meant in a good way) Regardless, it is always a little uncomfortable that first day. All kind of interaction with people that you have never seen and do not know. Tons of information getting dumped on you. New sites and people at every corner. Everyone always seems to be a little tense not matter what they try to act like.

There is something about being uncomfortable that God uses. Something that happens to us when we stepp out of our norm so we can serve God for His glory. God uses these times to push us to be what we would have never been on our own. It is a time when we are forced to have faith. Faith that the Lord will help us in this situation. Faith that will give us strength to make an impact on a community that is not our own. Faith that prayerfully we realize is not from us, but is a gift from God.

Pray that these Soldiers will be used for God's glory this week. Pray that in this uncomfortable time, God will stretch them beyond themselves to the place where they are useful for Him. There is no doubt that Fort Payne and Dekalb County Alabama has already been impacted by these men and women of God. I am thankful for them!!

Ready or Not...HERE WE COME!!

2010-07-05T04:47:00.000-07:00

by: Eric Hixon

In only a few hours, between 120 and 140 Short-Term Missionaries will converge on Fort Payne, AL. To my knowledge, this is a first for this area. We will be sharing the gospel with hundreds of people and doing some light construction work for a few select individuals. This project will go through Friday!

We need you to pray for God's mercy and grace on each missionary. Pray that we all of the work that has gone into coordinating this project will be helpful. Shawn Doss, my National and International Ministry Coordinator has put countless hours into this mission project. We will now trust the Lord to guide us as we serve Him this week.

Each day, please pray that God will open doors for the Gospel to be shared and for hearts to be opened. Each missionary has been studying and training to share the Gospel Biblically and take advantage of every opportunity God offers to them. I doubt that Dekalb County, AL has every seen such a missions event in their own County. Please pray for souls!

Every evening, I will be preaching, training, and equipping these missionaries to do the task that the lord has set before them. I need your prayers as well. This week will be busy and Shawn and I will be going non-stop most of the week. I'll try to keep updating as I go along! Thank you for your prayers!

I have also attatched a link below to a newspaper articel done by the Times Journal, a local Dekalb County newspaper.

The Times-Journal

Elan Kagen and Partial Birth-Abortion

2010-07-04T05:48:00.000-07:00

from Justin Taylor's Blog

Here is an eye-opening article at National Review Online, written by Shannen Coffin on Supreme Court nominee (and undoubtedly future Justice) Elena Kagan and her crucial role in coming up with (dishonest) language to defend partial-birth abortion.

In judicial rulings on partial-birth abortion, one of the most important documents was produced by a “select panel” of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The Supreme Court used this document as a key example of medical opinion on partial-birth abortion, as it said that partial-birth abortion “may be the best or most appropriate procedure in a particular circumstance to save the life or preserve the health of a woman.” This language was used extensively in defeating partial-birth-abortion bans.

But in point of fact, the select panel of the AOG actually wrote in their initial draft that they “could identify no circumstances under which this procedure . . . would be the only option to save the life or preserve the health of the woman.”

Mr. Coffin writes:

Upon receiving the task force’s draft statement, Kagan noted in another internal memorandum [PDF] that the draft ACOG formulation “would be a disaster — not the less so (in fact, the more so) because ACOG continues to oppose the legislation.” Any expression of doubt by a leading medical body about the efficacy of the procedure would severely undermine the case against the ban.

So Miss Kagan sought to solve the problem.

Her notes, produced by the White House to the Senate Judiciary Committee, show that she herself drafted the critical language hedging ACOG’s position. On a document [PDF] captioned “Suggested Options” — which she apparently faxed to the legislative director at ACOG — Kagan proposed that ACOG include the following language: “An intact D&X [the medical term for the procedure], however, may be the best or most appropriate procedure in a particular circumstance to save the life or preserve the health of a woman.”

Kagan’s language was copied verbatim by the ACOG executive board into its final statement, where it then became one of the greatest evidentiary hurdles faced by Justice Department lawyers (of whom I was one) in defending the federal ban. (Kagan’s role was never disclosed to the courts.) The judicial battles that followed led to two Supreme Court opinions, several trials, and countless felled trees. Now we learn that language purporting to be the judgment of an independent body of medical experts devoted to the care and treatment of pregnant women and their children was, in the end, nothing more than the political scrawling of a White House appointee.

Yuval Levin writes:

What’s described in these memos is easily the most serious and flagrant violation of the boundary between scientific expertise and politics I have ever encountered. A White House official formulating a substantive policy position for a supposedly impartial physicians’ group, and a position at odds with what that group’s own policy committee had actually concluded? You have to wonder where all the defenders of science—those intrepid guardians of the freedom of inquiry who throughout the Bush years wailed about the supposed politicization of scientific research and expertise—are now. If the Bush White House (in which I served as a domestic policy staffer) had ever done anything even close to this it would have been declared a monumental scandal, and rightly so.

Apparently scientific integrity only matters as long as it doesn’t somehow infringe on abortion. That, of course, was always the lesson of the stem-cell debate in the Bush years anyhow. But clearly it started earlier. It’s good to know where Kagan’s priorities are. Let’s hope senators are paying attention.

The Gospel at a Grocery Store

2010-07-03T05:35:00.000-07:00

From Justin Taylor's Blog.....

Elyse Fitzpatrick helps us think through a situation of applying the person and work of Christ to sinful frustration at the checkout line of a grocery store. What I especially appreciate about this is how it helps us to think about all of Christ, and not just one aspect of his work.

Because of the incarnation, Jesus Christ knows exactly what it is to live in a sin-cursed world with people who break the rules . . . like me. I am a rule-breaker but He’s loved me and he’s experienced every trial I face. He’s with me. He sympathizes with my weakness (Hebrews 4:15).This understanding of His love in the face of my sin drains my anger at my rule-breaking neighbor. I can love her because I’ve been loved and I am just like her.

Because of His sinless life, I now have a perfect record of loving my neighbor. He perfectly loved rule-breakers. This record of perfect love for my rule-breaking neighbor is mine now; knowing this relieves my guilt. Even though I continue to fail to love, His record is mine.

Because of His substitutionary death, I am completely forgiven for my sin . . . even the sins that I seem to fall into at the slightest provocation. God has no wrath left for me because He poured it all out on His Son. He’s not disappointed or irritated. He welcomes me as a beloved daughter.

Because of His resurrection (and the justification it brings), I know that the power of sin in my life has been broken. Yes, I’ve failed again, but I can have the courage to continue to fight sin because I’m no longer a slave to it. This replaces despair with faith to wage war against my selfishness and pride.

Because of His ascension and reign, I know that this situation isn’t a mere chance happening. He’s orchestrated it so that I will remember Him and be blessed by the gospel again. He’s ruling over my life and interceding for me right now. I’m not a slave to chaos or chance. He’s my Sovereign King and I can rest in His loving plan today and rejoice in Him.

And, because of His promised return, I know that all the doubt, injustice and struggle will one day come to an end. This line in this grocery store and my plans for dinner isn’t all there is. There’s the great good news of the gospel. I can go home now and share with my family and guests how Jesus met me at the grocery store and we can rejoice together in His work on our behalf.
Amen!

For more along this line of thinking, see the book she co-authored with Dennis Johnson, Comforts from the Cross: Celebrating the Gospel One Day at a Time.

Avoid Assuming the Gospel

2010-07-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

I encourage you to pick up a copy and read,

Marks of the Messenger: Knowing, Living, and Speaking the Gospel

(IVP, 2010), by J. Mack Stiles. He brings some tremendous insight concerning assuming the Gospel. It is reminding us: "Losing the Gospel doesn't happen all at once, it's much more like a four generation process."

The Gospel is accepted ---->

The Gospel is assumed ---->

The Gospel is confused ---->

The Gospel is lost.

How do you know if your church is beginning to assume the Gospel? The answer, Stiles says, is when you no longer hear the Gospel. He ask a series of questions that will assisit you in diagnosing your situation.

Was the Gospel in the sermon Sunday morning?

Could the uniinitated hear that sermon and come to real faith in Christ?

Do you hear the Gospel in people's prayers?

Does your fellowship encourage you to say the Gospel? And then is it more than just a memorized sketch? Sure, it may follow the form of "God, Man, Christ, Response," but is it in people's own words?

Furthermore, do you see it in their actions? Is the gospel lived out?

Is membership based on a true commitment to the Gospel or just because someone wants to join an organization--or may write and expose?

The healthy evangelist is asking the question and looking for answers so as to guard the Gospel. Here is a critical test.

**Could you have preached that sermon if Christ has not died on the cross?

**Could you have developed that leadership principle had Christ no been
crucified?

I'm not saying be impractical--the bible has much to say about being practical--but make sure that the practical is tied to the message of Jesus. Otherwise we are on the road to an assumption that will lose the Gospel.

(p.41)

I pray that the god of all grace will pour out that grace on us! So much so, that we will be men, women, and children of, by, and for the Gospel!!

God's Great Grace

2010-07-01T04:49:00.000-07:00

by: Justin Taylor

One of the beautiful things about the book of Ephesians is the way in which Paul celebrates God’s grace, power, might, wisdom, love, and glory.

Follow the adjectives and superlatives to see an example of worshipful pastoral theology in action.

We are saved “to the praise of God’s glorious grace” (Eph. 1:6)

Our redemption and forgiveness through the cross is “according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us” (Eph. 1:6-7).

We are called to know “the riches of [God's] glorious inheritance in the saints” and “the immeasurable greatness of his power . . . and his great might” (Eph. 1:18-19).

Because God is “rich in mercy” and because of his “great love” toward us, we were saved” (Eph. 2:4).

In the coming ages God will show us “the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7).

Paul preached to the Gentiles “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8).

Though the church “the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10).

Paul prays that “according to the riches of [God's] glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Eph. 3:16).

One application for us is that we should notice how we speak of God’s love, wisdom, grace, etc. Do we feel, with Paul, how truly great God’s grace is?

Newsletters

2010-06-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

If you are not already receiving M.U.D. Minsitries monthly newsletter via U.S. Post Office, you can sign up for that today!! I send out a monthly newsletter in the form of a 8 page magazine. This gives you specific updates on our ministry and prayer request along with detailed information about what, where, and when of M.U.D. Minsitries.

Email us with your mailing address and we'll sign you up today! eric@mudministries.com

You can also receive our bi-weekly email update by emailing impact@mudministries.com

Thanks for your prayers!!

Impact Missions by: M.U.D.

2010-06-30T05:46:00.000-07:00

Since M.U.D. Ministries began, we have had one vision: To do God’s Work, God’s Way, for God’s Glory! We strive to do this through Biblical-evangelism, God-honoring missions, and Christ-centered discipleship. One of the ways we accomplish this is through state-side missions that we call IMPACT MISSIONS!
This July we will be mobilizing 400 short term missionaries for a weeklong mission project right here in the southeastern United States. On July 5th—10th, we will converge on Fort Payne, AL. This community was hit by a tornado in April, and there are still many people that need help getting back on their feet. We are working with the Dekalb County Baptist Association to minister to people that have a need. The missionaries will also be doing “Back Yard Bible Clubs” in different locations in the county. Some of the team members will be involved in light construction projects while others will be involved in ministry projects, sharing the Gospel with an entire community. We thank the Lord for Minvale Baptist, our host church. Please pray for them as they host these participants! Please pray for these missionaries and the families they will be serving!
Since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans, we have been on the scene taking mission teams to serve those in this area. In July, we are leading 2 projects: July 18th—24th and July 25th –28th. God has allowed us to mobilize over 1000 people to share the Gospel in this city. We provide detailed coordination and are working with more than 25 churches. Recently, I met with 15 pastors, and we have a solid strategy to go into this city in July and share the hope of Jesus Christ with the hundreds of people we will meet. I have been asked why I would go to “Sin City” to do mission work. I think this name in itself gives the reason why I go! Their only hope is Christ! Only Christ can change them! Jesus never saved anyone He didn’t change!
In each of these God-honoring mission opportunities, we have trained the participants in Biblical Evangelism. They have been trained to share the Gospel with anyone they meet. Each evening, they will gather together for a time of worship and Christ-centered discipleship. The teaching is focused, intense, and Bible-saturated! Our prayer is that God will encourage these missionaries to take the Gospel back to their homes and cities the way God intended!
Pray that the Lord would use us to impact someone’s life for eternity. If you are interested in going with us or even helping send us to these mission fields, it would be a huge blessing. Thank you for your prayers and partnerships. Please contact Shawn Doss at impact@mudministries.com if you are interested in serving along side us!!

Adoption Update

2010-06-29T05:41:00.000-07:00

Thank you to those who have been praying for the adoption of Josiah. We are getting closer and more and more excited about bringing him home. The first several stages of this process we call the paperchase are behind us. Unless there is a bump in the road, we should be getting Josiah before the end of the year. We pray it will be sooner rather than later!
Rebekah and I want to thank all of you who have supported out adoption and lifted us up in your prayers. The Lord has placed this calling upon our lives, and we see this adoption as a way of bringing God glory. There are circumstances that the Lord has used to bring us to this place. Honestly, some of those circumstances have been very painful and heartbreaking. I do not know how we would have made it through these times without the grace of the Lord being upon us. I have truly been blessed!
We will be doing some fundraisers in the coming months. If you would like to help us with a fundraiser, please let us know; we would love for you to be a part of this process with us. If you would like to help us through M.U.D. Ministries, you can do so and receive a tax deduction. You must place on the check: SUGGESTED USE—ADOPTION.
I am so thankful that through Christ God has adopted me into His family. I was a total stranger. Actually, I was rebelling against Him. A wicked sinner. While I was all of that, He sent His Son to pay my fine on the cross at Calvary. I am forever grateful to my heavenly Father that loves me. I cry out to him regularly for help and strength. He always provides what I need. I thank God that my adoption was God’s idea!

“He predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:5-6 (KJV)

Our adoption into God’s family is the greatest thing that could ever have happened to us. I am not alone! I have not been abandoned! There is life after death! Through Christ, the Children of God have experienced the death of death!
We are adopted into God’s family through faith; we will never be alone. We have a Father in heaven who loves us, and that eternity is only the beginning of our lives.
Rebekah and I believe that human beings are created in the image of God, and this forces us to place a high value on human life. Every child deserves to be raised in a loving home with a mother and a father. It was never God’s original intentions for there to be 147 million orphans around this world. This is a result of man’s fallen nature and evil exposing itself on earth, destroying the fabric of the family.
I want to encourage you to think about adopting or supporting adoption. If only 7% of professing Christians around the world would adopt, every single orphan in the world would have a home. I realize that many orphans cannot be adopted due to their particular country’s laws. In some cases, it is more feasible to help support Christian orphanages. I am committed to doing both. Will you join us? Will you support literal adoption and Christian orphanages? M.U.D. Ministries has an avenue for both! To God be the Glory!!

Completion! Garcia House Update

2010-06-28T04:38:00.000-07:00

I praise the Lord that the Garcia House is completed! As you know, M.U.D. Ministries is committed to training pastors and sharing the Gospel in Nicaragua; however, from time to time we will take on a construction project. This project was for the Garcia children to whom Rebekah and I are very close. Many of you have met these children and know their situation personally. These children have been cared for by the orphanage most of their lives. In Nicaragua, when you become 18 years old, you can no longer be under the guardianship of an orphanage and cannot live at an orphanage unless you work there. Sometimes an orphan is removed and placed with a “relative.” The oldest of the Garcia children, Esther, turns 18 on September 1st, of this year. She had already received a letter informing her she was being placed with a “relative” in 2009. (This particular type of move reflects a government decision to reduce the number of orphanages in Nicaragua and is affecting hundreds of children, not always for the best.) We arranged it so that she could stay at the orphanage until her home was built, with the understanding that she would leave then and take her siblings with her to be under her guardianship.

Soon, Esther will be leaving the care of the orphanage and moving into her new home. Esther has 2 years of public school left, while the youngest brother, Nelson, is only 11 years old and has several more school years ahead of him. With that in mind, if you would like to sponsor one of the Garcia children, you can do that for $25 a month or $300 a year. This will help in providing for them.

Their home was 100% provided by M.U.D. Ministries. This home and property will be the Garcia children’s. The Lord used our partners to supply the majority of the financial means to complete this home. With people like you partnering with us, we have been able to build this house and lightly furnish their home with the essentials like beds, one dresser, fire stove, pots and pans, 4 plastic chairs, and one plastic table. Hopefully, in the near future, we will have the means to provide a few more things for them. We feel that the Lord placed this family in our lives for us to help and minister to them. You can be a part of ministering to the fatherless through M.U.D. Ministries. Please pray specifically for the Garcia children as they enter this part of their lives. I know that they are trusting the Lord, and we are in contact with them if anything may come up. Your partnerships help us meet the physical and spiritual needs of these children.

We are currently preparing a monthly budget for the Garcia children and getting a system in place to be assured that these children are doing well and are having their needs met. If you feel that the Lord would have you be a sponsor, please make a note on your donation: Suggested Use Garcia Children. This will allow us to direct the funds to these children.

The Biblical Qualifications and Responsibilites of a Deacon

2010-06-24T05:51:00.000-07:00

By Benjamin Merkle

Who should be a deacon? What does the Bible say deacons should do?

THE TWO BIBLICAL OFFICES: ELDERS AND DEACONS

Comparing the office of deacon to the office of elder will help us answer these questions. The primary spiritual leaders of a congregation are the elders, who are also called overseers or pastors in the New Testament. Elders teach or preach the Word and shepherd the souls of those under their care (Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:2; 5:17; Titus 1:9; Heb. 13:17). Deacons, too, have a crucial role in the life and the health of the local church, but their role is different from the elders’. The biblical role of deacons is to take care of the physical and logistical needs of the church so that the elders can concentrate on their primary calling.

This distinction is based on the pattern found in Acts 6:1–6. The apostles were devoted “to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (v. 4). Since this was their primary calling, seven men were chosen to handle more practical matters in order to allow the apostles the freedom to continue with their work.

This division of labor is similar to what we see with the offices of elder and deacon. Like the apostles, the elders’ primary role is one of preaching the Word of God. Like the seven, deacons serve the congregation in whatever practical needs may arise.

THE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS

The only passage that mentions the qualifications for deacons is 1 Timothy 3:8–13. In this passage, Paul gives an official but not exhaustive list of the requirements for deacons.

The similarities of the qualifications for deacons and elders/overseers in 1 Timothy 3 are striking. Like the qualifications for elders, a deacon must not be an addict (v. 3,), not greedy for dishonest gain (v. 3), blameless (v. 2; Titus 1:6), the husband of one wife (v. 2), and an able manager of his children and household well (vv. 4–5). Furthermore, the focus of the qualifications is the moral character of the person who is to fill the office: a deacon must be mature and above reproach. The main difference between an elder and a deacon is a difference of gifts and calling, not character.

Paul identifies nine qualifications for deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8-12:

Dignified (v. 8): This term normally refers to something that is honorable, respectable, esteemed, or worthy, and is closely related to “respectable,” which is given as a qualification for elders (1 Tim. 3:2).
Not double-tongued (v. 8): Those who are double-tongued say one thing to certain people but then say something else to others, or say one thing but mean another. They are two-faced and insincere. Their words cannot be trusted, so they lack credibility.
Not addicted to much wine (v. 8): A man is disqualified for the office of deacon if he is addicted to wine or other strong drink. Such a person lacks self-control and is undisciplined.
Not greedy for dishonest gain (v. 8): If a person is a lover of money, he is not qualified to be a deacon, especially since deacons often handle financial matters for the church.
Sound in faith and life (v. 9): Paul also indicates that a deacon must “hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.” The phrase “the mystery of the faith” is simply one way Paul speaks of the gospel (cf. 1 Tim. 3:16). Consequently, this statement refers to the need for deacons to hold firm to the true gospel without wavering. Yet this qualification does not merely involve one’s beliefs, for he must also hold these beliefs “with a clear conscience.” That is, the behavior of a deacon must be consistent with his beliefs.
Blameless (v. 10): Paul writes that deacons must “be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless” (v. 10). “Blameless” is a general term referring to a person’s overall character. Although Paul does not specify what type of testing is to take place, at a minimum, the candidate’s personal background, reputation, and theological positions should be examined. Moreover, the congregation should not only examine a potential deacon’s moral, spiritual, and doctrinal maturity, but should also consider the person’s track record of service in the church.
Godly wife (v. 11): It is debated whether verse 11 refers to a deacon’s wife or to a deaconess. For the sake of this discussion, we will assume the verse is speaking about the qualifications of a deacon’s wife. According to Paul, deacons’ wives must “be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things” (v. 11). Like her husband, the wife must be dignified or respectable. Secondly, she must not be a slanderer or a person who goes around spreading gossip. A deacon’s wife must also be sober-minded or temperate. That is, she must be able to make good judgments and must not be involved in things that might hinder such judgment. Finally, she must be “faithful in all things” (cf. 1 Tim. 5:10). This is a general requirement which functions similarly to the requirement for elders to be “above reproach” (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6) and for deacons to be “blameless” (1 Tim. 3:10).
Husband of one wife (v. 12): The best interpretation of this difficult phrase is to understand it as referring to the faithfulness of a husband toward his wife. He must be a “one-woman man.” That is, there must be no other woman in his life to whom he relates in an intimate way either emotionally or physically.
Manage children and household well (v. 12): A deacon must be the spiritual leader of his wife and children.
In general, if a moral qualification is listed for elders but not for deacons, that qualification still applies to deacons. The same goes for those qualifications listed for deacons but not for elders. For example, a deacon should not be double-tongued (v. 8, ESV). Paul does not explicitly say this about elders, but no doubt it applies to elders since Paul has said that elders must be “above reproach,” which would include this prohibition.

Still, we should observe the differences in the qualifications, since they either signify a trait that is particularly fitting for the office-holder in order to accomplish his duties, or is something that was a problem in the location to which Paul writes (in this case, Ephesus). This should be more clear as we turn to considering a deacon’s responsibilities.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEACONS

Whereas the office of elder is often ignored in the modern church, the office of deacon is often misunderstood. Based on the New Testament, the role of the deacon is mainly to be a servant. The church needs deacons to provide logistical and material support so that the elders can focus on the Word of God and prayer.

The New Testament does not provide much information concerning the role of deacons. The requirements given in 1 Timothy 3:8-12 focus on the deacon’s character and family life. There are, however, some clues as to the function of deacons when their requirements are compared with those of the elders. Although many of the qualifications are the same or very similar, there are some notable differences.

Perhaps the most noticeable distinction between elders and deacons is that deacons do not need to be “able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2). Deacons are called to “hold” to the faith with a clear conscience, but they are not called to “teach” that faith (1 Tim. 3:9). This suggests that the deacons do not have an official teaching role in the church.

Like elders, deacons must manage their house and children well (1 Tim. 3:4, 12). But when referring to deacons, Paul omits the section where he compares managing one’s household to taking care of God’s church (1 Tim. 3:5). The reason for this omission is most likely due to the fact that deacons are not given a ruling or leading position in the church—that function belongs to the elders.

Although Paul indicates that a person must be tested before he can hold the office of deacon (1 Tim. 3:10), the requirement that he cannot be a new convert is not included. Paul notes that if an elder is a recent convert “he may become puffed up with conceit” (1 Tim. 3:6). One implication concerning this distinction could be that those who hold the office of elder are more susceptible to pride because they possess leadership over the church. On the contrary, it is not as likely for a deacon, who is in more of a servant role, to fall into this same sin. Finally, the title “overseer” (1 Tim. 3:2) implies general oversight over the spiritual well-being of the congregation, whereas the title “deacon” implies one who has a service-oriented ministry.

Beyond what we can glean from these differences in qualifications, the Bible does not clearly indicate the function of deacons. Yet based on the pattern established in Acts 6 with the apostles and the Seven, it seems best to view deacons as servants who do whatever is necessary to allow the elders to accomplish their God-given calling of shepherding and teaching the church. Just as the apostles delegated administrative responsibilities to the Seven, so the elders are to delegate certain responsibilities to the deacons so that the elders can focus their efforts elsewhere. As a result, each local church is free to define the tasks of deacons based on their particular needs.

What are some duties that deacons might be responsible for today? They could be responsible for anything that’s not related to teaching and shepherding the church. Such duties might include:

Facilities: The deacons could be responsible for managing the church property. This would include making sure the place of worship is prepared for the worship service, cleaning up, or running the sound system.
Benevolence: Similar to what took place in Acts 6:1–6 with the daily distribution to the widows, the deacons may be involved in administrating funds or other assistance to the needy.
Finances: While the elders should probably oversee the financial business of the church (Acts 11:30), it may be best left to the deacons to handle the day-to-day matters. This would include collecting and counting the offering, keeping records, and so on.
Ushers: The deacons could be responsible for distributing bulletins, seating the congregation, or preparing the elements for communion.
Logistics: Deacons should be available to help in variety of ways so that the elders are able to concentrate on teaching and shepherding the church.
CONCLUSION

Whereas the Bible charges elders with the tasks of teaching and leading the church, deacons’ role is more service-oriented. That is, they are to care for the physical or temporal concerns of the church. By handling such matters, deacons free up the elders to focus on shepherding the spiritual needs of the congregation.

Yet even though deacons are not the congregation’s spiritual leaders, their character is of utmost importance, which is why deacons should be examined and held to the biblical qualifications laid down in 1 Timothy 3.

Benjamin L. Merkle is Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He is the author of 40 Questions about Elders and Deacons (Kregel, 2008) and Why Elders? A Biblical and Practical Guide for Church Members (Kregel, 2009).

May/June 2010
© 9Marks

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A Really Fast Year

2010-06-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

Today my youngest son turns 1 year old! For a look at one cute kid, check out my wife's blog:

www.intheheartofourhome.blogspot.com

The Committee-Free, Task-Specific Deacon

2010-06-23T05:47:00.000-07:00

By Matt Schmucker

British politician Joseph Chamberlain once quipped, “On every committee of thirteen persons there are twelve who go to the meetings having given no thought to the subject and ready to receive instructions. One goes with his mind made up to give those instructions. I make it my business to be that one.”

My own experience with church committees would lead me to add one more individual to Chamberlain’s cast of committee characters: the one or two individuals who come to thwart progress. They can’t or won’t articulate a positive agenda; they simply know the articulated agenda is wrong.

Let me put this even more starkly: committees don’t work!

Really?

Technically, I’m on solid ground. Committees don’t work, individuals on committees work. And if we’re honest, our experience is probably like Mr. Chamberlain’s: most committee members haven’t thought about the committee’s agenda since the last time they met. It’s only the committee chairman who feels the pressure to get something done.

Committees can be inefficient, slow, and discouraging. If you doubt my word, go join your first church committee!

Before I dig this hole too deep, I’ll admit I’m not anti-group on everything. I think families should eat together, elders should meet together, and church members should worship together. But how about deacons? Should the office of the church that is charged with doing the spiritual work of giving physical care meet together in a committee?

SHOULD DEACONS MEET AS A BOARD OR COMMITTEE?

First, a disclaimer. I don’t think this is a matter of obedience or disobedience to Scripture. I want to make it very clear that here I think we’re swimming in the waters of prudence. That said, here are three arguments for not having the deacons meet together as a board:

Boards, like committees, are inefficient. How many important tasks in a church go undone because the deacon board has to meet first? It is a mistake not to grant authority to a deacon to act on behalf of the group. So instead of having every decision filter through a committee, empower a trustworthy deacon to act and watch how much good happens.
Getting clogged in committees can discourage a deacon. Why should a qualified deacon who is competent to manage the facilities have to run the gauntlet of a deacon board and seek the approval of less qualified commentators? Again, it is a question of efficiency, but not only efficiency. It is encouraging when a gifted deacon is able to exercise his gift, and it is discouraging when the gifted deacon gets trapped in the administrative labyrinth of a committee. Further, when a church or committee doesn’t grant a deacon the authority to act independently, it seems to communicate distrust, which can also discourage a deacon.
A deacon board can be easily pitted against an elder board.Scripture does not set up elders and deacons as two separate legislative bodies (as with the House of Representatives and the Senate in the United States Congress) with the executive branch (the senior pastor) signing into law a negotiated piece of legislation. Scripture designates elders as the shepherds of the church, while the deacons are to support the elders’ work through caring for the church’s physical needs. Having the deacons meet as a board can tend toward this unbiblical and potentially paralyzing “bicameral legislature” type of structure.
IF NOT A BOARD OF DEACONS, WHAT? TRY TASK-SPECIFIC DEACONS

If deacons do not meet as a board or committee, what should they do?

Assuming you have a qualified board of elders giving oversight to the church, I would suggest appointing “task-specific deacons.” That is, don’t appoint a general board of deacons who then share all deacon-related responsibilities, but appoint a deacon for a specific task that helps keep the church in good order.

Types of task-specific deacons could include:

A deacon of buildings, who is responsible for maintaining any buildings the church owns and physically preparing for worship.
A deacon of grounds, who is responsible for grounds, organizing volunteers for cutting grass, removing snow, and so on.
A deacon of weddings, who is responsible for the physical preparation related to all weddings. This person does not coordinate the wedding, but represents the church in the care and use of the building during weddings, and relieves the church staff from long weekend hours spent on weddings.
A deacon of child care, who is responsible for implementing a child protection policy as well as forming teams of teachers and care-givers.
A deacon of library/book table, who is responsible to order and maintain access to good reading approved by the elders/pastors.
A deacon of ordinances, who is responsible to set up baptism and the Lord’s Supper, as well as recruit volunteers for distribution and clean up.
A deacon of sound, who is responsible for microphones, sound boards, recording sermons, and so forth.
These are just a few suggestions for task-specific deacons. You may also need a deacon for parking or legal matters or college ministry.

Do such task-specific deacons ever need to meet together? Not necessarily. What about the church budget? Should the deacons or a finance committee pull together the budget? Instead, why not appoint a deacon of budget who interviews each task-specific deacon regarding his area of oversight and asks him about his financial requirements for the next year? Then let that deacon of budget present his first take on the budget to the elders, who will then prepare the budget and present it to the congregation.

The bottom line? I would suggest that the church find qualified deacons and then put them to work in areas where they have interest and expertise, unhindered by a committee. Let each deacon form and lead teams of volunteers who love serving Christ’s church together.

Matt Schmucker is executive director of 9Marks, is an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, and has sat on one too many committees.

May/June 2010
© 9Marks

© 9Marks. Website: www.9Marks.org. Email: info@9marks.org. Toll Free: (888) 543-1030.

Deacons: Shock-Absorbers and Servants

2010-06-22T05:43:00.000-07:00

By Jamie Dunlop

The position was designed to alleviate tension in the church, but the office of deacon sure seems to provoke remarkable controversy. Elders butt heads with deacons over decision-making authority. Deacons are accused of being “turfy.” Staff treat deacons as irrelevant. And so on.

Is there a way to alleviate these unfortunate realities in your church? Yes. What’s needed is a positive, theological definition of what it means to be a deacon.

WHAT IS A DEACON?

According to the New Testament, a deacon is two things: a shock-absorber and a servant.

Deacons are shock-absorbers: the seven men chosen by the church in Jerusalem to care for widows, who seem to be precursors to deacons, were chosen to preserve unity at a time when botched administration was creating fissures in the church (see Acts 6:1-7).

And deacons are servants: their very name means servant, and their precursors in Acts 6 were chosen to handle the practical needs of the church. That way, the apostles could devote themselves to leading the church through prayer and the ministry of the Word.

DEACONS AS SHOCK-ABSORBERS

God has always intended to display his glory to the nations, in part, through the unity of Jews and Gentiles within the church (Eph 3:10), and yet it was exactly at this juncture that disunity was erupting in the early Jerusalem church.

The Greek-speaking Jews began to complain “against” the Hebrew-speaking Jews concerning the distribution of food. The church therefore chose seven men to distribute food equitably, yes, but, more than that, to restore unity where there was division. Unity-building was their primary goal; good administration was the means.

This has several important implications for how we view deacons:

Selection: It’s notable that, when laying out qualifications for deacons in 1 Timothy 3, Paul focuses on issues of character rather than administrative skills. Accordingly, our churches should select deacons primarily for their track record of peacemaking, and only secondarily for administrative expertise.

In my church, we have passed over individuals with specific skills that would be beneficial in a deaconship (building management, finances, computers, and so on) in favor of less skilled individuals who are better peacemakers. Then, we have encouraged the new deacon to disciple the skilled individual as part of a volunteer team.

Control: The idea of deacons as shock-absorbers stands in stark contrast to deacons running their own ministry fiefdoms in the church.

How can churches avoid raising up deacons who have territorial fiefdoms? Consider giving deacons limited terms of service (say, three years), after which another individual must rotate into the position. This discourages ministry monopolies and forces deacons to be continually training their replacements.

In addition, elders should teach deacons that they do not “own” areas of ministry; rather, deacons facilitate congregational ministry under the leadership of the elders.

Communication: Elders can also equip deacons to be shock absorbers by regularly communicating with them. They should communicate with them concerning their specific areas of ministry. They should communicate with them concerning the direction the elders are leading the church generally.

For instance, elders might consider reviewing a members meeting agenda with the deacons beforehand, or preparing the deacons on Saturday with the news of a significant Sunday morning announcement.

In both cases, communicating with the deacons ahead of time prepares them to work for unity as the elders lead the congregation through changes.

DEACONS AS SERVANTS

The elders are called to “direct the affairs of the church” (1 Timothy 5:17), and deacons are called to support that direction. In our churches, then, elders should make directional decisions while deacons facilitate congregational involvement to make that vision a reality.

This yields an interesting dilemma: how do we encourage deacons to be entrepreneurial unity-builders without encroaching on the elders’ leadership of the church, and so cause disunity? Here are a few ideas:

Deacon Meetings?: If the goal of deacons is to support the directional decisions made by the elders, then deacons do not need to meet as a deliberative body—especially if your deacons each facilitate ministry in one specific area, such as childcare or hospitality (as they do in my church).

Certainly there is no biblical model of deacons “sharing power” with elders, as do the House and Senate in the U.S. legislature.

Committees: When standing diaconal committees begin to feel that they “own” specific ministry areas of the church, it becomes difficult for them to avoid making direction-setting decisions that should be left to the elders. After all, even things as “worldly” as the building or the budget have highly spiritual dimensions in their administration.

As such, churches should consider making any committees task-focused and time-limited, chartered to complete a task assigned by the elders.

Communication: Most diaconal ministries will at least occasionally run up against direction-level decisions that need to go to the elders. At our church we have found it useful to assign each deacon to an elder who regularly communicates what the elders are deciding in their meetings. The elders can then take direction-level issues in the deacon’s work back to the larger body of elders as needed.

Elders lead ministry, deacons facilitate ministry, the congregation does ministry. That, I believe, is the New Testament model, and that biblical clarity in deacons’ role and function is invaluable for promoting peace and unity in our congregations.

Jamie Dunlop is an associate pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC.

May/June 2010
© 9Marks

© 9Marks. Website: www.9Marks.org. Email: info@9marks.org. Toll Free: (888) 543-1030.

How to Seperate Deacon Work from Elder Work

2010-06-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

By Matt Schmucker

The Evil One loves to divide, and he often divides most effectively along the lines of authority: husband and wife, parent and child, boss and employee. This is true in the church as well. Whether between the pastors and the congregation or within the church’s leadership, division causes Christ’s church to suffer.

One way this division creeps into the church is when issues arise that don’t clearly fall to either the elders or the deacons.

The goal of this article is clarify how to separate deacon work from elder work. This will help to minimize division between elders and deacons and thus preserve unity among the church’s leaders.

WHERE’S THE RUB?

Fights occur over issues that don’t clearly fall to either elders or deacons. If it’s clear to all parties who’s responsible for something, there’s no cause for dispute. But trouble occurs when it’s less clear: Is this deacon work? Is it elder work? How much should the elders comment on the deacons’ work? Can the deacons weigh in on the elders’ conclusions?

My answer is a rock solid, “It depends.”

No deacon should object to the elders’ ability to pick Sunday School teachers. No elder should argue with the deacons about the furniture polish used on the communion table. If you have this level of disputes in your church, you need to do some basic teaching about what an elder is, and what a deacon is. Your elders should know they are responsible for the spiritual oversight of the church, and your deacons should know they are responsible for the physical and material needs of the church. If both parties don’t know that, start there.

On the other hand, the tough cases are tough because the issue falls on the boundary line between the spiritual oversight of the church and its physical and material care, or the issue involves both domains.

In order to try to sort some of these struggles out, let me give you three brief scenarios where the jurisdiction issue is fuzzy, two suggestions for bringing clarity, and two encouragements for the road ahead.

THREE FUZZY SCENARIOS

Here are three scenarios that seem to fall on the line between elders’ and deacons’ responsibilities:

Babies are being born and the nursery needs to be expanded. Whose job is it, the elders’ or deacons’? You might think this is deacon work, but if the elders are doing their job well, they will have seen the growing need in the natural course of their shepherding. If you take in fifty new members over the course of two years who are single, the elders should expect to need an expanded nursery in five years or so! This matter will finally be resolved by the deacons through a construction project, but it should be initiated by the elders as they give oversight to the congregation.
Ninety-year-old Mrs. Spandler turned her car keys over to her daughter and can’t get around like she used to. You might think the responsibility for getting her to church falls to the elders, but we would encourage the deacons to step up here. Consider appointing a “deacon of member care” who focuses on the physical needs of especially needy members such as elderly shut-ins.
It’s September and the church’s budget needs to be passed before December 31st. Who leads? Finances sound like a deacon matter, right? In part. A budget is one picture of a church’s vision. Show me the money and I’ll show you the heart of the church. Therefore, elders should take the lead and give direction. That doesn’t mean the deacons cannot help by submitting estimates and listing needs for their areas of service. And a deacon of budget can pull the entire spreadsheet together and propose a budget for the elders to begin working with. But the elders should apportion and balance the budget, weighing, for example, local needs (such as buildings and salaries) against international missions. I would recommend that the elders present the budget to the church with the support of the deacons.
TWO CLARIFYING SUGGESTIONS

How should elders and deacons decide which issues are or are not primarily their responsibility? Here are two suggestions that should help clarify matters:

Elders should be careful to keep administrative (deacon) matters from dominating their agenda. The work of the elders can easily be overwhelmed by a church’s unending stream of seemingly urgent physical matters, yet this is not their main task. Consider forming an administrative sub-committee among the elders that can address more deacon-oriented concerns before they get to the elders. This can keep administrative concerns from clogging up the agenda of the elders as a whole. Give that sub-committee authority to act on behalf of the elders. On the flip side, elders can quickly take the legs out from under the deacons and thus discourage them by too much oversight. Instead, elders should delegate responsibilities to faithful servants and trust them to capably handle such matters.
Elders should model good communication. How? First, they should seek counsel from the deacons before making certain decisions. Consider Proverbs 15:22: “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” Second, they should make sure the deacon are never be caught off guard by any of the elders’ decisions. Therefore, keep the lines of communication open between the elders and the deacons. Consider planning one-on-one conversations between elders and deacons, as well as having a periodic gathering of both groups in which the elders inform deacons about decisions the elders have made before they put such matters before the whole church.
TWO ENCOURAGEMENTS FOR THE ROAD AHEAD

Finally, here are two encouragements to elders and deacons to press on in your work and labor for unity:

Elders: Labor to build trust with the deacons. Don’t assume they trust you by the mere fact that you hold an office. Work overtime to communicate with deacons and carefully consider their counsel. As the deacons’ trust and confidence grows, you will defeat the evil one’s divisive ways.
Deacons: Assume a posture of support without an attitude of “playing second fiddle.” According to 1 Corinthians 12:28 the gift of “administrating” is right up there with apostles, prophets, miracles, and healing. If you have a gift for administration and the qualities of a deacon (1 Tim. 3:8-13) you are a gift to Christ’s church. You have been given a particular “manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Cor. 12:7) Use your gift to put down division and build up Christ’s body.
In short, be aware of the overlapping areas of responsibility that elders and deacons may have, and work to clarify which group should handle different issues. Fight against turfiness. Communicate openly and thoroughly with each other. In doing so, you will fight off division and model godly unity among the leaders for all the flock to see, profit from, and imitate.

Matt Schmucker is executive director of 9Marks and is an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC.

May/June 2010
© 9Marks

© 9Marks. Website: www.9Marks.org. Email: info@9marks.org. Toll Free: (888) 543-1030.

This Week's Focus: DEACONS

2010-06-21T05:39:00.000-07:00

I will be sharing several blogs this week concerning the biblical leadership role of Deacon. It is a very important role in the body of Christ. There are specific qualifications and guidelines for how they are to be selected, their authority in the church, and how they are to serve. I will be using a lot of infomation from the Nine Marks website. You can go their and check it out yourself anytime.

www.9marks.org

Have a great week!!

The Dangers of Building the Kingdom of Self

2010-06-19T05:06:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some thoughts with you today about the dangers of living for yourself. I posted the following snipets on my Twitter account over the past few days. You can follow me on Twitter. Just sign up and search for me using: EricHixon

I would really like to get your comments on the dangers of building a Kingdom of Self. Here are my thoughts over the last couple of days.

If you are building your Kingdom, it's a fake empire. It will not last. We are to be about God's work, God's way, for God's glory!

When you are the king of your world, your all dressed up but have nowhere to go except to your just end. Hell. The wide road's final stop.

Your kingdom will never satisfy the soul. It leaves you empty, alone, and ashamed. Christ alone satisfies your soul and gives you victory.

An Apostate is about what his leadership role will get him. The goal for God's child is to glorify the Father and enjoy Him forever.

If not for God's grace we'd still be crying brats, demanding or manipulating to get our own way. Only Christ gives hope to escape our self.

God's love for us is what shapes our life. If it is the love of others that shape your life....your doomed.

God's grace lets us see that we are in need. We need Divine intervention or we will be trapped by wanting to please our self.

The kingdom of self is a camouflaged kingdom that only looks real on the outside. Inside it is full of lies and deception.

There is security in the midst of conflict for God's children. We've moved out of kingdom of self to a safe haven. The Kingdom of God.

When you're the king of your life, you think you'll live forever and you live for you. A child of God lives for Christ...their reward.

Magnify

2010-06-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have been teaching our Core Group at New Covenant. We are talking about why we need the local church. I thought this article may be encouraging.

by Chris Brauns:

Here is a summer science project. Do this one at your own risk.

Choose an afternoon when the summer sun is burning down, get a magnifying glass and a pile of some dry combustible material. Dried leaves will work just fine. Gun powder will be more exciting.

Put the burning material down on the sidewalk and then use the magnifying glass to focus a beam of sunlight onto the material. You will be amazed at how quickly smoke begins to curl away. My boys and I do this and we think it great. Jamie rolls her eyes.

You know: the magnifying glass does not provide any power of its own. It serves only to direct the power of the sun. But, when it does, it brings light to a burning focus and things ignite.

That is what the local church is supposed to do. By itself, the church, God’s people, do not offer any power. But, a church is like a magnifying glass that God uses to focus and direct His power. Paul says in Ephesians 3:10 that God is pleased to make declaration of Himself both to people and the Heavenly realms by means of the church.

Maybe in your life, the presence of Christ does not seem powerful. You keep waiting for change and power to ignite in your life but it’s just not happening. If that is the case, then try another experiment this summer. Look for a church that centers on the Lord Jesus and His Word. Put yourself right underneath the magnifying glass on a warm Sunday and wait for Spirit and Truth to ignite in your heart.

Fake Empire's

2010-06-17T05:12:00.000-07:00

In my study of Jude, I am learning much about the presence of false teachers in church history. It is not a new thing. The enemy has always placed these people, and God has always allowed them.

One of the things that I have noticed is that Apostates are building a kingdom. It is a kingdom of self. This kingdom has a king, but he’s a fake. This king indulges in things that will gratify the flesh and bring him more authority. This king is all dressed up but has nowhere to go, except his just end…HELL.

Fake empires are built on the satanic delusion that men know more than God. They reject authority because any authority may cramp their style. An Apostate likes to be in total control because they demand to rule their own lives. They refuse to accept or submit to Christ’s lordship over them. They may look good on the outside, but, on the inside, they are full of dead men’s bones.

God is jealous, and He intends for us to follow Him. It is right for God to be jealous! The only hope the world has is that God will be angry at anything that tries to get in the way of His plans. I pray for Divine Intervention in my life. Don’t you? If not for God’s grace, we would still be determined to do anything to get our way!

Make sure that you are not building your kingdom. If you are living in your kingdom, you will be alone, empty, and ashamed. Christ alone will satisfy your soul and give you victory over self. An Apostate is about what his leadership role will get him. The goal for God’s child should be to glorify Christ and enjoy Him forever!
What are some things you can do to battle the desire to build a kingdom of self? I will list four but would love to read your thought on other things!

(1) Be aware of your thoughts. The question to ask yourself if you are afraid that you may be building your kingdom and not God’s is simple. Who is being glorified? Pay attention to your thoughts because your thoughts will lead to actions.

(2) Befriend godly people. The more you surround yourself with godly people, the more they will hold you accountable in what you are doing. It is good to have someone tell you what Jesus would tell you. Only a strong Christian will do that. Don’t open yourself up to those who are not strong believers.

(3) Be humble over your sin. When you, or someone else, see sin in your life, be humble about it. Don’t think that you can excuse it or that they should just because someone else is “doing the same thing just another way.” Repent every time you recognize sin in your life.

(4) Stay in God’s Word. Even when you do not feel inclined, persevere to read, meditate, and think on God’s Word. In will be a huge step in your growing in Christ. This is one of the main ways to remain in God’s presence. The more you are in the Word of God, the more the Holy Spirit will work in your life. There is nothing more glorious than the Lord and His Word.

A Moment of Decision: Will Southern Baptists Face the Future, or Will We Flinch?

2010-06-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

by: Al Mohler
President of Southern Seminary

A great sense of historical importance looms as the 2010 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention fast approaches. The messengers to the SBC meeting in Orlando will cast many important votes, but one exceeds all others in significance, and that is the vote on the report of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force.

Southern Baptists have faced such moments before. In 1845, those messengers who founded the SBC took a great step of faith as they created a convention of Baptist churches called by and committed to a Great Commission vision. Southern Baptists faced another moment when they revolutionized the denomination in 1925 by adopting the Cooperative Program as the unified means of supporting our Great Commission efforts, established the Executive Committee, and adopted our first confession of faith, the Baptist Faith & Message.

Throughout the years from 1979 to 1990, Southern Baptists showed up in force to reclaim the denomination for the full authority and integrity of the Bible and the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Each of those conventions was a moment of historical consequence. The same was true in 1995, when Southern Baptists adopted the Covenant for a New Century, streamlining the convention as it celebrated its 150th anniversary.

Now, once again, Southern Baptists will convene for a meeting that will make history. Messengers to the 2009 convention in Louisville overwhelmingly adopted a motion calling for a task force to report this year concerning how Southern Baptists may work more faithfully and effectively together in service to the Great Commission. A generation of younger Southern Baptists is gripped by a vision for a Great Commission Resurgence, and Southern Baptists of every generation are reminded again of the reality of a lost world and of Christ’s commission to His church — the command to make disciples of all the nations.

The Southern Baptist Convention is a massive denomination. No task force or committee can review the totality of the convention’s work and reach. Nevertheless, the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force dedicated itself to making the greatest Great Commission impact as Southern Baptists face the future.

The Task Force’s report will be presented to the Convention on Tuesday, June 15, and that day will go down as a turning point in this denomination’s life and work. This is true, not only in light of the report and recommendations presented by the Task Force, but in light of the attitude and passions that will be revealed in the deliberation and vote.

I am convinced that the recommendations we are presenting are both right and reasonable. They are not a revolution in themselves, but they point to the future with a statement that we are determined to be far more serious about reaching the nations and our own continent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The report is honest in setting the reality of lostness before us, and calling us to a renewed commitment to make disciples of all the nations. The report respects our Baptist polity and is based in gratitude for all that Southern Baptists have done in generations past. The recommendations are constructed with care to preserve the bonds that hold us together, and also to propel us into the future determined to do more, not less, in faithfulness to Christ.

Change is never easy, and change merely for the sake of change is a charade. Nevertheless, God’s people are called to make whatever changes are necessary in order to obey the commands of Christ. Southern Baptists are a people committed to the Great Commission. That commitment will be shared by every messenger who arrives in Orlando ready to do the Convention’s business. The future of the Southern Baptist Convention will not rest on this vote alone, but who can calculate what it will mean as a watching world and a rising generation watch to see if we are serious about emboldened Great Commission faithfulness in the future?

The looming question in Orlando is this — will Southern Baptists face the future with boldness, eagerness, and faithfulness, or will we choose business as usual? In other words, the real question is whether Southern Baptists will face the future, or flinch. So much rests on the answer to that question.

The New Orleans Saints

2010-06-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

No, I am not talking about the NFL football team. I am talking about the men and women of God that I have met and served alongside in their efforts to reach this city with the Gospel.

M.U.D. Ministries has been doing mission work in this city since Katrina, and there is so much yet to be done. Many big ministries that have had large budgets have come in and done a lot of good things. Many homes have been rebuilt and houses cleaned up. What disturbed me was a conversation I had with a brother whose ministry is on the brink of pulling out of New Orleans. He shared with me this past week that they have rebuilt or refurbished literally hundreds of houses since the hurricane. He shared with me that there have been a lot of people who have made a “profession of faith” in Christ. Then with almost tears in his eyes he said, “But I can count on one hand, the people that have actually remained in the faith and plugged in to a local church because we rebuilt their house.”

Rebuilding houses is a good thing to do for those who have been devastated by a hurricane. God wants us to help those who are in need. It is much easier to get volunteers to go and build and clean than it is to get people to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, building houses does not win souls to the Lord. Preaching the Gospel is what God uses to save souls. Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but that is why the Lord called it foolish.

Recently, one associate pastor asked us to come to his church and do a survey. I thought this would be a great way to transition into a Gospel presentation. Then he told me that was not what he wanted. “I just want a survey to find out how we can meet their felt needs. We want to do something to make them feel good and come to our church. If we could just find out what it is that no one else is doing for them, we want to do that.” I almost screamed, “Well, you could share the Gospel! No one is doing much of that!!”

Such churches are well to be on Compromise Street. That is an accurate description for what they are doing. But not all are compromising.

Two faithful pastors are preaching the Gospel on the front steps of their church to drug dealers and prostitutes. Many of those have been converted and are now actively serving the Lord in the local church. These men do not go out once in a while to preach; they go out every day and preach. One Pastor, Bro. Oscar, told me that he has been preaching on the street for over 15 years and said that Katrina was not what has destroyed New Orleans. He said it is sin that is trying to destroy New Orleans.

I'm sure there are many others preaching truth...at least I pray that there are. The only hope for New Orleans, the only hope for the world, is Jesus Christ!

Praise the Lord that there are some true Saints still marching on in New Orleans. Pray for us as we descend on New Orleans in July with over 250 of God’s soldiers to take the Gospel to the streets of this city. If you are interested in going or bringing a group, please contact us at impact@mudministries.com today!!

I will be preaching in two Baptist Churches on July 25th in the 9th Ward. Pray for souls!!

Puritans and Spurgeon on Family Worship

2010-06-12T05:51:00.000-07:00

If family religion were duly attended to and properly discharged, I think the preaching of the Word would not be the common instrument of conversion. -- Richard Baxter

Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church, consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by his rules. -- Jonathan Edwards

Family education and order are some of the chief means of grace; if these are duly maintained, all the means of grace are likely to prosper and become effectual. -- Jonathan Edwards (1703 - 1758)

I think, with you, that it is very expedient and proper that reading a portion of the word of God should be ordinarily a part of our family worship; so likewise to sing a hymn or psalm, or part of one, at discretion; provided there are some people in the family who have enough of a musical ear and voice to conduct the singing in a tolerable manner: otherwise, perhaps, it may be better omitted. If you read and sing, as well as pray, care should be taken that the combined services do not run into an inconvenient length. -- John Newton (1725 - 1807)

We must have a special eye upon families, to see that they are well ordered. The welfare and glory of both the Church and the State, depend much on family government and duty. If we suffer the neglect of this, we shall undo all. Therefore, if you desire. reformation, do all you can to promote family religion. -- Richard Baxter (1615 - 1691)

Family Worship increases the spirit of reverence for God and His Word. Children copy their parents’ spirit and example. If parents begin the day by invoking God’s blessing, by consecrating the early hour to His service, they show their estimate of the value of worship. If business, society, wealth, and pleasure are deferred for worship, the youth feels that the claims of Deity are above all other claims. Parents thus show that they can do nothing rightly without the divine blessing, and that Divine approval is far more precious than the approval of men. -- M. Simpson

As touching the spiritual state of his family; he ought to be very diligent and circumspect, doing his utmost endeavour both to increase faith where it is begun, and to begin it where it is not. Wherefore, to this end, he ought diligently and frequently to lay before his household such thing of God, out of his word, as are suitable for each particular. Thy children have souls, and they must be begotten of God as well as of thee, or they perish. And know also, that unless thou be very circumspect in thy behavior to and before them, they may perish through thee: the thoughts of which should provoke thee, both to instruct, and also to correct them. -- John Bunyan (1628 - 1688)

Masters of families, who preside in the other affairs of the house, must go before their households in the things of God. They must be as prophets, priests, and kings in their own families; and as such they must keep up family-doctrine, family-worship, and family-discipline: then is there a church in the house, and this is the family religion I am persuading you to. You must read the scriptures to your families, in a solemn manner, requiring their attendance on your reading, and their attention to it: and inquiring sometimes whether they understand what you read.
-- Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714)

Brethren, you are ordained of God to rule your own houses in his true fear, and according to his word. Within your houses, I say, in some cases, you are bishops and kings; your wife, children, servants, and family are your bishopric and charge. Of you it shall be required how carefully and diligently you have instructed them in God’s true knowledge, how you have studied to plant virtue in them, and [to] repress vice. And therefore I say, you must make them partakers in reading, exhorting, and in making common prayers, which I would in every house were used once a day at least.
-- John Knox (1510 - 1572)

First, let us begin by emphatically declaring it is parents (fathers in particular) and not the church who are given the primary responsibility for calling the next generation to hope in God. The church serves a supplementary role, reinforcing the biblical nurture that is occurring in the home. It is not the job of “professionals” at the church to rear the children of believers in the faith. -- Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 - 1892)

Fighting for the Faith?

2010-06-11T05:07:00.000-07:00

Yes. We are told by God to fight for the faith. But it is not with weapons of man but with His Word!

I am encouraged to see the number of pastors and itinerate preachers that are standing up for the faith. Many of them have encouraged me. I wish that I could say that I didn’t get discouraged at times; however, God’s Word is like a burning fire in my soul, and I am compelled to preach the Word every chance I get. For years I was discouraged at the manipulation and inaccurate handling of the Word of God. I have found that there are many who are preaching truth.

I am currently doing a series in Jude along with Bro. Cliff Cook at New Covenant Baptist Church. It has been very challenging and encouraging to me to study this book intently. There is as much of a need now for Jude to be preached as ever in the history of the world. I am reminded of that as I travel around this country preaching the Gospel. It is shocking to me at how many of the pastors do not want you to address the obvious sin in the churches they are supposed to be shepherding but to just brush it aside like it is nothing.

Friend, we need to contend for the faith! When I read Jude’s encouragement to the church to be contenders for the faith, I do not see that he did it with any arrogance at all or not even in a dominating way. He was very mild, sweet, and gentle in his encouragement. He could have been demanding but he, like any good pastor, wanted people to see the urgency for standing for truth be birthed in the heart of his people.

Yes, there is a battle cry going out today, and I urge you to stand for truth. As Christians, we do not take joy in being militant. It is not something we do out of personal anger but out of obedience. It is a trap to be proud when you find fault with other believers. But the humble servant realizes that he/she must watch his/her own heart because it tends to wander. None of us are anything apart from Christ!

It is because we are nothing that we must trust in the ONE who is everything! Christ has been revealed through God’s Word. This Word, the Bible, is in its fullness and inerrancy. It has been given to us and will not be given again in the form of a “new” word or form. It never was or ever shall be changed! The same Savior of man, the same Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Jesus is the only Lamb of God that can take away the sins of the world.
We are not in a wrestling match over ideologies and methods. This is not a debate to see who is most clever. It is not a game. It is a “purposeful struggle” to protect the truth and unleash it against the enemy. We do this with the hope that God may use us in His purpose to rescue some lost soul that has been trapped by darkness and living in a Satanic delusion. So, with that said, I beg you to pray for souls! Pray for me that I may stay the course and contend for the faith!

My Sunday Morning Testimony

2010-06-07T05:10:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, it is twice I have posted on my blog from this dear brother, Zack Eswine. But it's just good stuff and even if your not a preacher, you need to read this. Pray for your Pastor my friend, they need it!!

Preaching is Testimony
Posted by zeswine in preaching and the preacher.

In Webster Groves, Missouri, preaching doesn’t feel like martyring but what if that’s what it is? After all, we preachers are called to do what most people never do. We stand up in a public place week after week and declare what we believe.”We preach” Paul says, “because we believe.” (2 Cor. 4:13) Isn’t this why, depending upon the time and place in which we live, what preachers do is a dangerous business? Does this mean that every time we prepare a sermon we are not only turning over the room of the text, emptying its drawers, searching its hard-drive, sifting the clothes in its closets and opening the boxes beneath its stairs; but we are also digging through the files of our own personal response to God? Preaching therefore is not only proclamation. Preaching is testimony. We are not only ambassadors we are also converts. Prior to our homiletic, preaching exposes our humanity. We not only try to say what the text says, but in so doing, we implicitly reveal our own response to that text before God.

No wonder I’m scared sometimes. There is no hiding. Someone may not like the implications of my public meddling. My limits and sins, my own need of Jesus are put on display. To preach can feel like standing in an emergency room having to wear one of those gowns that doesn’t cover everything and with no way to hide my condition and need for help. I feel like a fool. I am thought of as one. No wonder I’m emboldened sometimes. I preach what I believe. This is no game for me. I’m not in class anymore trying to get a grade for my sermon. My whispers are war-cries. My exegesis is ambush. My sermon is insurgency. My illustrations are uprising. I am an outlaw with a bounty on my head. I am preaching allegiance to a different king and a new kingdom. Preaching is rebellion against sin and subversive of its rules and ways. The world is broken. I can no longer pretend otherwise.

Ask Yourself

We are meant to preach because we believe. I feel grateful. This is God’s kindness to resist the hypocrisy that distastes all of us. I also need help. Sometimes I can hear myself saying something like the following. When I do, I need Christ’s grace to recover me by His mercy. Such thoughts reveal to me that the sermon has become a crisis of my faith.

I preach because I’m scheduled to (we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, Christ is your scheduler)
I preach because they want me to (people are fickle, Christ desires what is best for you)
I preach because I’m good at it (not everyone will agree with this assessment, Jesus’ opinion is best)
I preach because if I don’t I don’t know how to provide for my family (our jobs are rarely secure, Jesus is your security)
I preach because it gives me opportunity to do other things (what if sermon making fails to do this for you? Jesus is your future and holds the desires of your heart)
I preach because I enjoy the study (what happens when time to study is lost? Jesus has joys beyond study for you)
I preach because if I don’t I might lose their respect or interest (people are fickle, Jesus’ opinion is what you need)
I preach because God will love me if I do (will God love you if you do not preach? Jesus’ love depends on something other than your sermon-making)
I preach because I’m respected (what happens when respect is removed? Jesus sticks closer than a brother)
I preach because I’m the only one who can (what happens when you burn out or worse? Jesus is the hope of Christianity in your generation, not you dear friend)
That is good stuff!

Eric

Sermon Impact

2010-06-03T06:12:00.000-07:00

This is a post that I found on Justin Taylor's blog. You can read more at http://preachingbarefoot.wordpress.com/

Zack Eswine—whose blog is well worth subscribing to, especially if you’re a pastor—has very helpful counsel for those who share this common frustration: “Sometimes we may feel there is no point in preaching because we do not see the kinds of changes in our hearers or ourselves that we had hoped for.”

Does a Sermon Really Change Anybody?

Sometimes we may feel there is no point in preaching because we do not see the kinds of changes in our hearers or ourselves that we had hoped for. When this thought tip-toes down the dark hallways of our minds, we are helped to remember that preaching is like farming. We sweat through long days of ploughing and planting only to recline at the end of the day looking out over a barren field. Harvest doesn’t happen in a moment. Harvest happens through a series of necessary moments put together.

Preaching matters for more than its moment. There is always a point to preaching even if people do not respond or if you are not as different as you had hoped that week. Even in burned-out landscapes returning birds still sing. God’s glory is declared by beaks among the ash and all of us are reminded that more than ash still exists in the world. We speak in His presence. (2 Timothy 4:1-2) His presence attends our speaking (2 Corinthians 5:20). When a preacher preaches whether persons listen or not, a sign of God’s presence is given. The called human voice speaks of God and all will know that God had been among them (Ezekiel 2:5)

One can ignore the stop sign and drive headlong into the intersection. But this does not mean that the stop-sign was not helpfully present. Those who do the report will identify the presence of the sign and ask us what we made of it when we came barreling through. Or, consider a different scenario. We may have passed the exit we needed. But farther down our mistaken road we can come to our senses and turn around. Memory reminds us that we were once given a different road. The thought that the road is still there calls out to us. We turn and our way is more securely and finally found.

All is not lost when the after-sermon desert offers no water. This moment may have been meant to prepare some for what they have yet to face. It may be meant to call out to others months from now when they are more heedless or needy than they are today. It may serve as one more evidence of the hardness of one’s heart. It may serve as one more piece in a puzzle God is putting together for another–the picture will not complete for some time, but completeness will not happen without the corner-piece offered by the sermon today. Those who are changed seemingly in a moment by your sermon today have had multiple moments of God’s working prior. Take heart. There is seed there though it lay beneath the ground. Step out into the barren field dear friend, and pray for His rain to fall.

Refining Grace

2010-05-31T08:07:00.001-07:00

I journaled these thoughts this past Saturday. I thought they may encourage you!

I am sitting in my office. It is quiet. Something there is not much of here on a Saturday at the Hixon house. My precious wife, my three daughters, and my three sons are all enjoying a much needed nap on a rainy Saturday. I wanted to take a nap, but there was freshly washed and folded clothes on one half of the bed. I tried to nap in my chair in the living room, but I could not. I was thinking about my children. About the messed up world they are going to have to grow up in. About what a mess humans have made of it all. And most of all, how can I get them ready for the difficult days ahead? Then I think of my, well, other son. My son whom I’ve yet to adopt. We’ve been approved and are waiting on a precious little boy we’ve named Josiah.
He is a little boy in China whom many in his culture consider an outcast. He has disabilities. (Don't we all?) I’ve never had a child with physical disabilities. All six of my biological children are healthy.
I get afraid. I can’t help but wonder why I have opened my heart up again for a possible heartbreak. I’ve thought I was going to adopt before. I even went to their orphanage and talked to them and held them. We even had three children live with us for 3 weeks whom we honestly thought would be adopted out of the DHR system. They called me dad. Then in a moment. Gone. Tears. Heartache. Brokenness. It was like a death, and no one really even seemed to understand. Rebekah and I were again deeply grieved. It was like a nightmare, but it was real. Why would I want to open my heart up for something like this again? It’s crazy, but I know it is because of the Lord. God is the Father of the fatherless, and He has placed it upon our hearts to try to adopt….again.
Now I’m concerned for Josiah. He has foster parents, but do they know Jesus? Are they preparing him for us? Does he want a mom and dad the way we want him to be our son? Do they feed him enough? Does he get the proper medical care? Questions I ask and then…..I remember.
My heavenly Father has watched out for me for many years before I came to know Him. Long before I was adopted into God’s family, I was in good hands. I should not have lived. Some of my friends didn’t. God came to my rescue so many times before I even realized it. I’m sure that some of the times I can’t even remember, but I remember enough to make me weep for joy and be humbled with a deep gratitude to God for His love for me.
God is taking care of Josiah, and He is in control. He has always been in control, and Josiah doesn’t even know it. God has the best intentions for Josiah and for my other children. He outdoes me in every realm of fatherhood. My very best intentions can’t even come close to the loving care He has for my children. Whether they are up in their room taking a nap or in China waiting on forever parents, God has always been in control. My heavenly Father has been preparing me for this my entire life. The grace that I feel right now is overwhelming. It is difficult and uncomfortable grace, but that is what God uses to refine me. I am reminded that God is on His throne and he has His eye on my boys and girls. He has an army of angels looking at Him and the moment He sends one to my children’s side, all is well. And so, it is well with me.
I prayed. Then I prayed some more. Then I just got still, and the Lord reminded me that He was in charge. I prayed again, primarily that I would trust Him and not trust my wisdom.
My wisdom is so messed up. I get it wrong. I make mistakes and I let Eric get in the way. So I need to trust the Lord more.

So, I sit here in my office with time to think. It is bitter sweet time. A time that I am learning again to trust the Lord. It’s all a part of being refined by the Father, and I thank Him. scheduled

Impact Missions Update

2010-05-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

Our Impact Mission Trips will soon be here. M.U.D. Ministries will be hosting four summer mission trips in three exciting locations: Nicaragua, Fort Payne, and New Orleans. There are 400 participants, representing 26 churches and 8 states (Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Kentucky, & Ohio) that will be attending these trips. We are very excited about what God has in store for us this summer.
All of our summer Impact Mission Trips are designed to accomplish one primary purpose – Spread the Gospel. We want to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible. We will be using Ministry and Construction projects as platforms to accomplish this important task. As we meet physical needs, it will give us opportunities to meet spiritual needs. That is a pattern we see in Scripture. Jesus always met physical AND spiritual needs. However, His primary purpose was spiritual. Therefore, while we want to meet many physical needs this summer, our ultimate goal is to spread the Gospel.
Our first Impact Mission Trip will take place in Juigalpa, Nicaragua on June 20-27. This is our third of five trips scheduled in Nicaragua this year. This team is primarily made up of students. We are excited about giving students the opportunity to be involved in International Missions. Our June Nicaragua team will be working on many projects, including: finishing the Garcia House, conducting Sports Camps, door-to-door evangelism, and nightly revival services. This will be a very intense week. Please pray for our team as they seek to bring glory to God.
Our second Impact Mission Trip will take place in Fort Payne, AL on July 5-10. Like many cities throughout the U.S., Fort Payne has experienced hard times because of recent economic troubles. Many factories which once flourished are now closed. Many people feel hopeless. This will be a great harvest field for our Impact team. Pray for us as we seek to meet physical and spiritual needs in Fort Payne and surrounding areas.
Our third and fourth Impact Mission Trips will take place in New Orleans, LA. New Orleans is our “flagship” Impact Mission Project. We have been conducting mission trips in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. Over 1,000 participants from dozens of churches have been mobilized to meet the needs of the people of New Orleans. Our first Impact Mission Trip will take place on July 18-24. This trip is made up primarily of students. However, M.U.D. is excited to be hosting our first Church-Wide Impact Mission Trip on July 25-28. People of all ages will attend this exciting trip this summer. Pray for these two teams as they continue to build on a legacy of Christ in New Orleans.
As you can see, M.U.D. Ministries will be very busy this summer. Please be in prayer for our staff as they continue to prepare for these trips. Pray for the cities we will have a chance to Impact with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray for the churches who will be participating.
If you would like to be a part of our prayer team for these mission projects, email me at
impact@mudministries.com for a list of churches that will be participating. Thank you for your prayers!!

Are We Living in the Last Days?

2010-05-28T05:39:00.000-07:00

Are We Living in the Last Days?

Uncomfortable Grace

2010-05-28T05:37:00.000-07:00

I have been a student of God’s Grace for many years, and I still can’t wrap my mind around it! I have learned a few things and try to understand, but I am so glad that I have eternity with Christ because I think it will take that long to begin to understand. God is God, and I am only his willing servant.

As I consider God’s grace, I believe that most of the grace we experience on this earth is “uncomfortable grace.”

When we ask for God’s grace today, it is normally very “me” centered--asking for God to give us some kind of relief. When in truth, we need a grace that will refine us. I have had a deeper appreciation of grace over the past several years, and I can honestly say that it has brought about a much deeper awareness of sin. This, in turn, has given me an even more appreciation for grace!

God HAS taken me to places I didn’t intend to go. Like Nicaragua, New Orleans, and even scarier places….like my home town. Just two years ago, I made the statement that after all the heartache of serving on church staff I would not ever do that again. Well….I am now serving as an Elder at New Covenant Baptist Church. I never intended to do these things, but God uses all of these and more to produce in my own heart what I could have never achieved on my own.

When you find yourself in a situation that you didn’t “intend” to be in, remember, God is working in your life and is pouring out grace! Praise Him for it, and trust Him to be with you regardless of how uncomfortable it may be!

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Pure and Undefiled Religion

2010-05-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." ~ James 1:27 ~

God is expanding our ministry in Nicaragua, and we are in the beginning stages of some major training for the indigenous pastors in this country. There has been a lot of “mission” effort going on in Nicaragua for the past several years. With that, there are some good things that have happened and some bad things that have happened, as well.
With the doors open for Americans to go to Nicaragua and train pastors, many have taken advantage of that opportunity. Just like in Jude, some men have crept in unnoticed and begun to preach another gospel. There have been some churches that have fallen victim to the prosperity message: if you come to a certain church and give to their cause, God has promised health and wealth. This is so sad because the poorest people seem to be the ones that fall victims to this kind of lie. There has been an invasion of cults into the country, and so many are being led down a pathway of destruction. There also have been ministries that I believe, began with good intentions, that have found how easy it is for them to make money off of exploiting children. Some didn't even begin with good intentions. This really breaks my heart because the children are not to blame or are they a willing participant. Our only option is to take the truth and preach the Gospel. We have been doing this diligently for the past several years, and we will continue to share the Gospel and contend for the faith.
In addition, we have the team that is going in June to complete the house for the Garcia Children. This will have been the largest building endeavor we have ever completed in Nicaragua. I ask you to pray for the Garcia family as they try to live their lives for the Lord in a difficult place. We are in need of some funds to complete this home and give them the items they need like beds, dishes, cabinets, etc.
In August and October we will take more teams to spend time equipping and training pastors and lay leaders. We have 15 new Pastors that will be going through some very strategic training to help equip them to lead their congregations for the glory of the Lord. We are also working with two new orphanages that are in need of our help. We feel that the Lord is leading us to begin a mentor program that will prepare the older children for a transition to life outside the orphanage.
This area of ministry includes working with a home that will be for girls 18 or older who have gone through the program and desire to be helped. We train them spiritually and both educationally and vocationally. This part of our ministry has the potential to break a cycle of living in abusive situations and homelessness. I will share more about this soon. Here are some heartbreaking realities that we are combating in the war against children in Nicaragua.

78% of rape cases in 2009 involved adolescent girls less than 17 years old.
1 of every 4 children suffer from some form of malnutrition.
Prostitution is legal for girls 14 years old or older.
87% of violent crimes—rape, sexual crimes, and assault—are against children.
1 of every 3 girls and 1 of every 5 boys have been sexually assaulted.

When you support M.U.D. Ministries you are supporting God’s work in Nicaragua. He has told us to go and serve Him by serving others. Please consider going with us either this year or next year. God can use you to go and make disciples and stop the cycle of destruction that many children and adults are in. If you can’t go, help us by sending us and offering scholarships for those desiring to be on one of our mission teams to Nicaragua!

I am praying for God's grace in our efforts in Nicaragua. I find myself wishing that I, and those I minister to, had relief or freedom from the hardships in Nicaragua. I find the grace that I find most of the time is a grace that is refining me into the person that God wants me to be. His and His alone!!

Am I Called to be Balanced?

2010-05-24T14:42:00.001-07:00

I am still in awe of what the Lord can do! Since God called me to vocational ministry I have had a vision of reaching the lost and equipping the Saints for ministry. God has honored our efforts and there are times when I can’t believe the opportunities the Lord gives us to serve.

I was asked recently when I was sharing with a brother about all that our ministry is a part of. He asked a common question, “How do you find balance in all that you do?” I thought a moment and said, “I probably am not very balanced.” It might sound braggish but I do not mean it that way at all, but I do not find many men in scripture or in Christian history that the Lord was using that lead a “balanced” life.

I am called to give my all to the Lord and that is my desire. When the Lord is finished with me, I look forward to my reward. Being with Jesus and worshipping Him forever!

In a small book called Sacrifice, Howard Guiness wrote this in 1939.

Where are the young men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap, and be faithful even unto death, who will lose their lives for Christ’s, flinging them away for love of him? Where are those who will live dangerously, and be reckless in this service? Where are the men of prayer? Where are the men who count God’s Word of more importance to them than their daily food? Where are the men who, like Moses of old, commune with God face to face as a man speaks with his friend? Where are God’s men in this day of God’s power ?

That is living….to serve the Lord with all that I am and to train my children and others to do the same.

People are dying. People who have never heard the Gospel of Christ. That bothers me and keeps me awake at night. Christ is not valued supremely by the majority and someone must equip and train others to take the message of Christ to future generations. If the Lord tarries, the generation to come needs voices of truth that will not compromise or water down the Gospel for the sake of unity. Revival never has brought unity to anyone accept Christians. Jesus gave us the heads up on that truth!

I have learned that the majority is seldom right. The Gospel that I preach and you stand on has been handed down by the bloody hands of martyrs. I thank God for those men. I pray that I will always be faithful to preach the truth.

It seems that many people respect those men of God who stood firm in the faith and they highly esteem them as mighty men of God. Who says that those men are confined to hundreds of years ago?

We are in a crisis in this country because of a lack of spiritual reproduction. We must pray for and equip workers for the field because they are white for harvest. Let us raise the banner of Christ and give our lives for His service!

Recently, I had a man tell me that I took the Bible to seriously. I asked him if he thought that God would scold me for doing that. I received no response. I will tell you, I do not believe that God will chastise us for taking His Word seriously. I think he will honor us for doing that and we will never regret it.

Let the World be balanced and we as God’s Children live for our King as if He is returning in moments. For you know that He could!!

Health Does Equal Growth

2010-05-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

I received a call some time ago that drove me to the Scriptures because something just didn’t seem right. A pastor called and said, “I want you to come do a revival at my church! I need you to come help me grow this church to its full potential. I want to see these pews packed!”
I talked to the Pastor and we did book the revival, only it was cancelled a month prior to the set time because the Pastor left and went to a larger church. The Lord used this to make me look at what God says about church growth. I came to the conclusion that spiritually healthy things do grow, but not the way that you may have been taught to think.
In the Scriptures, you never find Jesus being impressed with the crowds. However, many times large multitudes of people were saved, we read about that in the book of Acts. Numbers however was never the motivation, the Gospel was the focus. The Gospel went out and God added to the Church. In many churches, they have large numbers each Sunday but as many are walking away as are coming in. One preacher said, ‘The bucket is full but the problem is that the bucket has a hole in it!”
I’ve grown up in a church culture that has put much focus on programs and plans. I have listened to church growth guru’s, been trained in slick ways to present the Gospel, and even paid to go to seminars that would teach me a “way” to see the local church top out it’s seating capacity. I have learned one thing that I should have known all along, “If the Lord doesn’t build the house, the builders labor in vain.” Psalms 127
In my search for truth I have found, in regard to church growth, that Spiritually healthy things do grow. Here are my findings, and I am sure that there is much more that could be said on the subject of health and church growth. I hope this encourages you!

Growth and sanctification are evidences of Spiritual health (Psalms 92:12-14)
I. A growth in your knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Are you more acquainted with the Lord and His ways than before? I do not know as much about Christ as I should but I have more understanding today than I have had in my past.
II. A growth in love (1 John 3:14). Do you love being around true Brothers and Sisters in Christ? Do you love God more? Are you more devoted to Him now because of that love?
III. A growth in faith. Do you trust the Lord to serve Him more? Are you reserved in your service because of fear of man or are you faithful to proclaim the Gospel? Our confidence is not in anything this world has to offer but in God. Pray that the Lord will increase your faith!
IV. A growth in watchfulness over your life. Do you guard your heart and pay attention to your life? Is it a habit to avoid things that can take your eye off Christ? Be sure to be vigilant in your battle against worldliness.
V. A growth in a contempt for this world (1 John 2:15-17). Do you love this world? I have an increased disdain for this world and all it has to offer. It is trash compared to the riches in Christ!

The Gospel is not a plan, but the “power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16) Trust it and declare it! God will grow you like never before!

For His Glory

2010-05-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

We lift up the name of the Lord in all we do and find great joy in writing you about the great things God has done and is doing in our midst. There is no end at our amazement of His character and works, He is the Rock!! The Lord’s work is perfect and all His ways are just. Regardless of which attribute you look at concerning the Lord, you will say, “This is the greatest thing about God!” You will not find anyone or anything greater than He is. We are like a blind man whose eyes have been opened for the first time. He runs and looks at a flower and calls for his family and friends to come look because it is the greatest thing he can imagine, then, before they can get there he has ran to a waterfall and he calls out again. Finally, he just falls to the ground, exhausted in the middle of total perfection.
How could we not serve Him? Is there any reason to doubt Him? If you look at anything about God, you will not find one flaw. He is light and in Him there is no darkness at all! (John 1:5) Every promise, every Word that He has ever spoken, and every thought He has ever had is pure and true. I’m totally dumbfounded at His perfection!!
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)
The Gospel is glorious my friend and we do not even think we can comprehend it’s greatness! However, our goal and our life is dedicated to the spreading of it. With so many families in utter disarray and with so many people perishing in the world, we realize their only hope is Christ! Our goal in 2010 is to continue to serve the Lord with great passion and zeal. He is worthy of every ounce of our strength and resources.
I pray that you will find the grace of God this year so amazing that you will joyfully serve Him with all your mind, souls, and strength. Enter in to the Harvest field with us! The work is plentiful but the laborers are few. There is room for you in the field!!
As always, thank you for partnering with us to support Biblical Evangelism, training Nicaraguan Pastors, ministering to orphans, and doing local United States based missions. We could not continue without God raising people like you as a partner. Please know that we are very appreciative of your support and we give God glory for each of you that pray for us!!

Never Give Up

2010-05-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.” ~ Proverbs 31:8

I love children! I guess you can see that by the picture on this page. All of these children are my biological children. I love them, I believe, more than anyone has ever loved their children. I know, of course, that if you were typing this you would say the same thing about the love you have for your children.
If you have followed our lives, you probably know that we have been trying to adopt for several years now. We have been, quiet honestly, heartbroken through this process. We have had several “bad” experiences and many let downs. More than once I have thought about giving up. I have had every imaginable reason to do so...but the Lord wouldn’t allow me. God kept bringing me back to the fact that He adopted me. I was not a “desirable” child. Rebellious, wicked, selfish, you name it, I was not good! In spite of that, He pursued me and saved me from my deserved destruction.
We exhausted basically all resources in adopting children from Nicaragua. I have a heart for the orphans there and always will. We attempted to adopt from the United States, from both DHR and a adoption service that helped match children with parents. I had almost given up. Then, Rebekah, my precious wife, called me when I was out of town preaching a revival and said, “What do you think about China?” I said, “Not much.” I knew where she was going and I just didn’t want to go through this again. I put it off, but God, wouldn’t allow me to get this off my mind.
I saw this little boy, the called him Nolen. I thought that was ironic, being that is my mothers maiden name and tried not to get my hopes up again. I felt that we would just go through another rejection. We filled out some basic paper work and then we learned that I didn’t make enough in yearly wages to qualify without getting a waiver from the Chinese Government. “Well, that is great.” I thought. The Chinese Government is now going to say, “No. Your rejected.” I was not very hopeful to be honest.
On April 19th, I was heading to preach day #2 of a Revival service in Athens, AL. Rebekah and I had spoken the day before that we probably wouldn’t hear anything for at least 2-3 more weeks. I was trying to keep it out of my mind, and doing a good job of that. Then...as I am thinking on my sermon for the night, the phone rings. I thought, “Every time I get a moment the phone rings.” I saw it was from my home. I answered and I could tell it was Rebekah but she was...well...emotional. I immediately thought it was bad news. I didn’t have good signal anyway, she was saying something that I couldn’t understand. Then it came through, “Do you want to go to China?” I still was clueless about what she was trying to tell me. I said, “Yes. Why?” She said, “WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO ADOPT NOLEN!”
I didn’t know what to say. I just couldn’t actually believe someone said we could finally adopt. It took a while for me to believe it was really real. I’m still attempting to come to grips with being accepted. My wife is elated, my children are thrilled, and my close friends are supportive. I am thankful.
I am thankful that God didn’t give up on me. God went to battle for my soul and he was victorious. Adoption is not charity, it is war. I didn’t have a chance for eternal salvation apart from Christ. He came to me and rescued me. He gave me a voice before the Father and He has adopted me into His family. I’m even a joint heir with Him! He is my friend. I am glad He never gave up, and I am glad that I didn’t give up on adopting a little boy.
His name will be Josiah Nolen Junhay Hixon, Lord willing. I realize that I do not have him yet, but I’m not giving up. Rebekah and I are finishing some required readings and paper work, then it is just a matter of time before we get our travel approval. They are estimating us travelling in December or January to China to pick Josiah up.
Here is a quote from Russell Moore’s book, “Adopted for Life,” that inspired me.
“What if a mighty battalion of Christian parents would open their hearts and their homes to unwanted infants—infants some so called “clinics” would like to see carried out with the medical waste? It might mean that the next Christmas there’ll be one more stocking at the chimney in your house—a new son or daughter who escapes the abortionist knife or the orphanage’s grip to find at your knee the grace of a carpenter’s Son.”
As an itinerant Evangelist, I spend a lot of time sharing the Gospel with people that I do not know. I pray for those people and that God would save them before it’s eternally too late. I am also an Evangelist in my home. Training, equipping, mobilizing, and teaching my family to be on mission with God. Please pray that we will be able to go get Josiah. Who is an “undesirable” in his country because he has a few physical problems. Pray that he will come to know Jesus as his Savior and he will experience that moment when God says, “You are now in my family Josiah, you are my son now!”
If you would like to be a part of helping us bring Josiah home, you can make a donating to M.U.D. Ministries with the statement, “Suggested use: Adoption” on the check. It must say, “Suggested Use:” Please pray for us as we move closer to the frontlines in the battle for souls. This conflict is greater than any war fought in history, the stakes are eternal and we are going to stand and battle for truth! Will you be a part of that? I thank God for all of you who have partnered with us and continue to make an impact on eternity!