I recently heard a testimony of a lady who had gotten into reading, studying, and memorizing the Bible on a very regular basis.Others around her began to see the change in her and so formed a group that was dedicated to reading, studying, and memorizing the Bible also.One lady, however, came to the regularly scheduled meeting and stood and admitted, “I have allowed myself to get too busy and I just haven’t disciplined myself to do the work of Bible study and memorization.”The lady in charge then asked her a question, “Did you eat yesterday?”The delinquent lady responded, “Yes, of course.”The lady in charge then asked, “Did you have to discipline yourself to find time to eat?”The delinquent lady responded, “No, I just ate when I was hungry.”The lady in charge said, “There you go.Your real problem is not lack of discipline for studying the Word of God.Your real problem is that you are not hungry for it.”
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:for they shall be filled.”Matthew 5:6
We feel spiritual hunger pangs in a unique but definite way.Those pangs can’t be described to a person who has no spiritual relationship with Christ.That feeling has been all but forgotten by too many Christians who have lost that hunger because they keep stuffing themselves with spiritual “junk food” instead of the “righteousness” of God.
My greatest challenges as a pastor can not ultimately be solved by the next methods book that comes along.Good administration, good music, good programs, etc . . . . all have their places but they also have their limitations.None of them can either create or satisfy that real hunger that is missing in many Christians today.
I used to wonder how many people hearing me preach or teach were “really” listening.Now I wonder how many are hungry for what God’s Word has for them.Wow, that is humbling.I can do a lot of things but I can not create a hunger inside others for what God has for them.I know God can, but I can not.
Patriotic
I always thought it amazing that the Apostle Paul honored the Roman government. It seemed like they were unfair to him most of the time. However, he says, "Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." Romans 13:1 He continues to tell us to listen to those in authority, "For he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." (4)
Paul recognized that governments have power. They have police and they have soldiers in order to help protect and in order to do good. We all realize that many will abuse the power that is established in many countries through the military. I am thankful as an American that our military history is filled with accounts of true heroism, partiotism, and courage. Thank you to those in the military and to those who are veterans!
Fighting the Giants
We all have giants in our lives. They all look different to each one us because most of our giants are very personalized; finances, relationships, jobs, depression, addictions, etc . . . However, each of our giants look as formidable as Goliath looked to the Israelites. Too big; too powerful; to well defended; to dangerous; It took a little boy named David to remind us that the battle was not about what the eye saw or the emotions felt. The battle was the Lord's. In Christ we already have freedom power. In God's word we have all of the weapons that we need. With the Spirit of God we have the direction and courage given. May you stand with Lord today and fight your giant. May you see freedom in that area that you thought lost.
How do you measure success? 1-21-10
Sacrifice is not determined by how much we have.Sacrifice is really measured by “how” you keep score.If you are keeping score, in life, by objects that you obtain and by dollars, you’re not going to be very likely to give those things up.Why, because that’s the way you have learned to determine if your life is a success or not.Those things are your measuring rod.If you give your stuff away, how will you be able to tell if you have a successful job?How will you be able to tell if you have a successful life?How will others be able to tell if you have a successful life?If . . . . . you measure success; if you keep score by . . . objects and dollars.
But . . . if you are keeping score by disciples made and by life’s changed this good neighbor thing; this putting others before yourself; this idea of sharing God’s love and grace makes a lot of sense.
I was born May 23, 1940.In Feb. 1952 at the age of 11 years, I was born again at an evening revival service at the HarrisonStreetBaptistChurch in Great Bend, Kansas.Unfortunately my parents attended a church that was some what modern and I did not grow as a Christian until after high school when I became a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church, in Liberal, Kansas where our family operated a business.
While there God impressed upon me the burden of preaching the gospel.In 1961 I enrolled in BaptistBibleCollege in Springfield, MO.During my training in B.B.C. I surrendered to the call of missions.Ethiopia was an open field and I sensed the burden to go.During this time I met and married Janice Hartmann.Janice had a call to serve as a missionary in Africa.
After graduation I accepted a call to pastor the PrescottBaptistChurch in Prescott, Kansas.We were there 3 years.In 1968 were approved as missionaries to the Baptist Bible Fellowship to Ethiopia.We were involved in church planting and training of national pastors.We served there until 1974 when the field closed to missionaries because of a government overthrow.
My wife and I sensed God’s leadership to the country of England.We labored there for 19 years.In that country we ministered in helping to start new churches and worked with assisting national pastors.
In 1994 we returned to the states.We resigned to allow our daughters to finish their schooling and go into families of their own.I worked in a grocery store and did evangelistic work and V.B.S’s as the Lord opened the doors.Also I begin to make trips to Haiti.In 2001 after our four daughters were all married Janice and I felt God’s leadership back into full-time missionary work.Because of the trips to Haiti we believed God wanted us there to serve.We were reinstated with BBFI, worked at re-raising our support and moved there.
We are working in Port-au-Prince.I am teaching in a HaitianBibleSchool and again work with the national pastors.
What is a "New Creature in Christ"?
We know, all to well, about our disappointments and failures of the past year. Hopefully that motivates us to seek success. But . . . what is success? Who defines what success is for you this year? Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a newcreature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corintians 5:17)
The exciting thing about being "new" in Christ is that there is hope for something . . . . better; not just different; . . . better. This year seek to be someone who is more influencial and more constructive.
The seed of hate was planted in the hearts of Joseph's half brothers; partly because of a father who showed favoritism. (Genesis 37) Hate only needs a small place to plant itself in our hearts. It can wait, un-dealt with, for a long time withouth showing its ugly head . . . . but suddenly opportunity comes; the seed is watered; the soil is fertile and . . . . watch how quickly hate can grow to be a dominating force; a destructive force.
Proverb 12:22 "Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight." We find ourselves in a time when our culture has made an art out of lying. It is a shame when so many of our leaders are known as skillful liars. What's more is that we consider it "normal" and "acceptable" (until their lies affect us directly, of course).
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