Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The Holy Spirit is a down payment


Great study notes:

Ephesians 1:13,14
In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

That word EARNEST stands out. Why is the Holy Spirit called the earnest of of our inheritance?

A quick word study shows that the translation of the Greek word "earnest" (arrhabon) means:
"money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid" (Strongs 728)

In other word, all the joys, miracles, encouragements, insights, and wonders that the Holy Spirit brings to the Christian is just a small "down payment" - a glimpse of what Heaven will really be like!

"A church in the land without the Spirit is rather a curse than a blessing. If you have not the Spirit of God, Christian worker, remember that you stand in somebody else's way; you are a fruitless tree standing where a fruitful tree might grow." - Charles Spurgeon


Monday, October 30, 2006

Oscar Hyde and Whoopie Pies



On the left is a picture of one of my international students and a very dear friend, Oscar Hyde. This is not a recent photo; Oscar is now taller than me and is active in his youth group in England. Oscar and his parents, Jeremy and Barb Hyde, live in Steelton in the Somerset area of England. Oscar, please e-mail me soon! I will drop you a line today. The Zockoll family misses you immensely!

I can recall the day when Oscar was a young middle school and I was explaining to him about our Thanksgiving holiday here in the States. Oscar picked up on two receipes I had discussed: pumpkin seeds and Whoopie Pies! He made them both for his family! YOU SAY YOU'VE NEVER MADE A WHOOPIE PIE???? Then I'm here to help. Please click on the address below and prepare to make yourself a treat:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,whoopie_pie,FF.html

...and yes, I do cook a lot. I enjoy being in the kitchen. It's culinary therapy, okay?

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Brilliant words from the late Oswald Chambers:

"Faith is a tremendously active principle that always puts Jesus Christ first. The life of faith says, "Lord, You have said it, it appears to be irrational, but I’m going to step out boldly, trusting in Your Word" (for example, see Matthew 6:33 ). Turning intellectual faith into our personal possession is always a fight, not just sometimes. God brings us into particular circumstances to educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make the object of our faith very real to us. Until we know Jesus, God is merely a concept, and we can’t have faith in Him. But once we hear Jesus say, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" ( John 14:9 ) we immediately have something that is real, and our faith is limitless. Faith is the entire person in the right relationship with God through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ."

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Matthew 16

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[
a] the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Clarence Darrow was chicken!

What hsitory student would not know of the famous Scopes trial of 1925, which pitted William Jennings Bryan against Clarence Darrow in a classic confrontation over the teaching of evolution and creation in the public schools.?

Many revisionist reports of history would have you believe that the great attorney Clarence Darrow convincingly demolished Williams Jennings Bryan in a spectacular and heroic stand for evolutionist and against Biblical creationism. The fact, however, is that the 1926 trial was quite different and Mr. Darrow did not finish in the heroic fashion that many are led to believe!

In an article written by by David N. Menton, Ph.D.m the facts from the actual court transcript are reveal a much different story:

"After spending much of the seventh day of the trial systematically grilling and ridiculing Bryan for his belief in numerous miracles of the Bible, Darrow abruptly ended the trial by asking the Court to instruct the jury to find his client guilty (abstract page 306)! This incredible concession, together with the judge's decision to strike Bryan's testimony from the record, was very much to Darrow's personal benefit because it prevented him from being subjected to the same kind of inquisition he had just put Bryan through.

"Bryan had agreed to take the witness stand to answer questions on his Christian beliefs with the understanding that Darrow would then also be required to take the stand to answer questions about his own agnostic and evolutionary beliefs (transcript page 284). Both Judge Raulston and Darrow had agreed to this condition. When Bryan asked if Darrow, himself, knew the answer to some of his more ludicrous questions (ie. "Do you know how many people there were on this earth 3000 years ago?"), Darrow responded with "wait until you get to me." Despite the increasing hostility of Darrow's questioning, Bryan thwarted repeated attempts by his colleagues to stop it.

Bryan:
"I want him to have all the latitude he wants. For I am going to have some latitude when he gets through."


Darrow:
"You can have latitude and longitude." (transcript page 288)


It is most unlikely that Darrow had any intention of giving Bryan "latitude and longitude". He had, after all, been unwilling to let Bryan question even his expert witnesses on their religious and evolutionary assumptions, how much less likely would he be willing to subject himself to such questioning after what he had put Bryan through? As it turned out, of course, Bryan was given no opportunity to ask Darrow his questions during the trial."

On other words, Mr. Darrow chickened out! He was afraid to stand up for what he believed, so he actually threw in the towel and let his client lose rather than for Darrow to lose face.

Interesting...

More can be read at http://www.gennet.org/facts/scopes.html

Lesson from a coffee recipe


2 Timothy 4:6-7
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith..."

A backwoods country preacher wrote George Bernard Shaw in 1935, having heard the playwright was particularly adept at brewing coffee a certain way. The pastor was interested in the method and asked Shaw to explain the "recipe." Shaw sent a reply in detail, adding, "I hope this is an honest request and not a surreptitious mode of securing my autograph."

The preacher answered, enclosing Shaw's signature cut out from his letter. He wrote, "Accept my thanks for the recipe. I wrote in good faith so allow me to return what it is you infinitely prize, but which is of no value to me: your autograph."

I laugh whenever I read the above illustration. So many of us live our lives with an eye outward, looking to see if people are watching and admiring us. We wish to create a stage-play model of life, formed with a desire to have every facet of our life admired by others. Life is like a dress-up game with no reality involved.

Christians, first of all, why don't we look upward and see the Lord's guidance for our lives for the day, the week, the months and the years ahead.

Like Shaw, perhaps some of us have a higher estimation of ourselves than is real. May we get a "reality check" of our true worth as a child of God. May we see ourselves as, among other great things, one who has been put here on earth to worship Him, not ourselves.


"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God" -- William Carey

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Bits 'n pieces.



Nicholas will be stopping home tonight to say a quick hello. He had sent me word that his report card looked fantastic: all A's! We'll be able to see him all weekend in about ten days. East Tennessee State University is fine with him; he's involved in some great Bible studies and has made some good friends. Here he is flexing or showing off or doing something nutty.

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Peter's last football game is tonight. Christian Academy of Knoxville takes on Sweetwater for a Thursday night game to close out both team's regular season. We go to the playoffs!

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I'll be teaching an adult evening class tongiht while Jill takes little Julie and goes to enjoy the game in Sweetwater. Although this will be a late night for me, I really enjoy sharing the Bibel truths with adults. Jill is slowly sneaking fall decorations around the house along with some Thanksgiving items. Things are getting exciting as we ready for the holidays...I know, I know. We get going a bit early in the Zockoll household. That's just the way we are. My two favorite holidays are Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the other holidays are far behind.

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I had contact with an old youth group member, Chris Jones, who now works for Fed Ex. Good to hear from you, buddy!

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Facts about Heaven


We have a destiny in Heaven; how come there's not more preaching about it? I love studying the truths of Heaven. Here are some facts:

It's a simple faith that gets us to Heaven...
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. -- Matthew 18:3

The closeness of Heaven is only a breath away...
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. --Matthew 3:2

The tree of life awaits us...
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. --REV 2:7

It's a place of righteousness...
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 2PE 3:13

Our entry could happen at any time...
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. - 1TH 4:17

Monday, October 23, 2006

A Dying Man's Cry

Maurice S. Rawlings, a cardiologist at the Diagnostic Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, had an encounter that literally scared him into looking towasrd salvation. Rawlings took Jesus Christ as his own Savior as a result of an experience with a dying patient.

Rawlings wrote:

The patient began "coming to." But whenever I would reach for instruments or otherwise interrupt my compression of his chest, the patient would again lose consciousness, roll his eyes upward, arch his back in mild convulsion, stop breathing, and die once more.

Each time he regained heartbeat and respiration, the patient screamed, "I am in hell!" He was terrified and pleaded with me to help him. I was scared to death. In fact, the episode literally scared the hell out of me! It terrified me enough to write this book. . . .

He said, "Don't you understand? I am in hell. Each time you quit I go back to hell! Don't let me go back to hell! . . . "

As a result, I started working feverishly and rapidly. By this time the patient had experienced three or four episodes of complete unconsciousness and clinical death from cessation of both heartbeat and breathing.

After several death episodes he finally asked me, "How do I stay out of hell?" I told him I guessed it was the same principle learned in Sunday school--that I guessed Jesus Christ would be the one whom you would ask to save you.

Then he said, "I don't know how. Pray for me."

Pray for him! What nerve! I told him I was a doctor, not a preacher.

"Pray for me!" he repeated.

I knew I had no choice: It was a dying man's request. So I had him repeat the words after me as we worked--right there on the floor. It was a very simple prayer because I did not know much about praying. It went something like this:

Lord Jesus, I ask you to keep me out of hell. Forgive my sins. I turn my life over to you. If I die, I want to go to heaven. If I live, I'll be "on the hook" forever.

The patient's condition finally stabilized, and he was transported to a hospital. I went home, dusted off the Bible, and started reading it.


Source: Maurice Rawlings, Beyond Death's Door (New York: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1978), pp. 18-20.

Through the clouds

It has been a difficult week, as many of you close to me might know. I have had to deal with unruly behavior - even among adults - as well as meeting deadlines, overcoming financial worries and handling the household while Jill struggles with her fibro myalgia.

Yet in spite of all that is thrown into our little household, I can see the Light that comes through the clouds, beckoning us not to get discouraged. We might have eyes that are weary from the pollution of the world's problems, but Jesus reaches out and grasps my hand when I cannot see His.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose." - Romans 8:28

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Phillpns 4:7


"It is not hard for the Lord to turn night into day. He that sends the clouds can as easily clear the skies. Let us be of good cheer. It is better farther on. Let us sing Hallelujah by anticipation." -- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty, but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes. It does not make life easy; rather it tries to make us great enough for life." -- James L. Christensen

"Therefore the Christian heart, since it has been thoroughly persuaded that all things happen by God's plan, and that nothing takes place by chance, will ever look to him as the principal causes of things, yet will give attention to the secondary causes in their proper place." -- John Calvin

Friday, October 20, 2006

He is Here Every Day

I find God making Himself known all around me. I see Him in the sunrise on the Tennessee horizon. I see Him whenever I am shown kindness by a fellow Believer. I see Him in my daughter's eyes as we romp around the room. I hear Him in the solid preaching of our pastor. I enjoy Him in the songs we sing in church.

I even discover Him when I'm flat on my back in frustration. I see Him pointing the way whenever I'm in the maze of trials and challenges that seem impossible to escape.

He's glorious and He's personal. What more can a man wnat that that, to enjoy the Creator on a daily basis?

"and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. {These are} in accordance with the working of the strength of His might..." - Ephesians 1:19

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"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." - C. S. Lewis

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

I'm Angry Right Now


Besides being hurt by some extremely unkind comments, I'm downright mad.

Really.

A friend had relayed to me that a third party had done a vicious hack job - unjustly at that - on my character. Furthermore, this person had lied in order to make the accusation more powerful. And I'm the target.

And you know what? I got angry. Hot under the collar. Steamed.

It was a fellow Christian who indulged in unwarranted gossip, so now I'm at a crossroads: do I match the person's attitude and reply in kind? Boy, I used to be pretty good at that. Remember, I used to host a radio call-in show. You want to argue? I'm ready.

Or do I throw myself under God's instruction and let Him handle the problem? The Bible is straightforward about this kind of problem:


Prov. 10:12, "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins."

Prov. 12:16, "A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame."

Prov. 17:9, "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends."

Prov. 19:11, "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression."

I Pet. 4:8, "And above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover the multitude of sins."

Ah, Lord, You know the path I'm to take. I've got to let it go. I must deal with the attacks from the "high road." My flesh doesn't want to - the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Yet I know if I let You handle this, it will come out pointing toward You, not me.

Every Christian is a missionary

God's message of salvation in Jesus Christ is the package that every Chsitian should carry about and show to each man, woman and child in the world. In effect, we are all missionaries, ministers of God' Word.

This world would have us believe that it is the duty of every person to seek his own fortune, but the things of the world will pass away soon enough. Let's get athe right mindset.

Oswald Chambers says,

"The key to the missionary’s devotion is that he is attached to nothing and to no one except our Lord Himself. It does not mean simply being detached from the external things surrounding us. Our Lord was amazingly in touch with the ordinary things of life, but He had an inner detachment except toward God. External detachment is often an actual indication of a secret, growing, inner attachment to the things we stay away from externally."

Delight in Jesus Christ. That's the key.

Charles Spurgeon says,

"Oh! the delights of fellowship with Jesus! Earth hath no words which can set forth the holy calm of a soul leaning on Jesus' bosom. Few Christians understand it, they live in the lowlands and seldom climb to the top of Nebo: they live in the outer court, they enter not the holy place, they take not up the privilege of priesthood. At a distance they see the sacrifice, but they sit not down with the priest to eat thereof, and to enjoy the fat of the burnt offering. But, reader, sit thou ever under the shadow of Jesus; come up to that palm tree, and take hold of the branches thereof; let thy beloved be unto thee as the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, and thou shalt be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. O Jesus, visit us with Thy salvation!"

"...He awakens {Me} morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple." - Isa. 50:4

"My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips." - Psalm 63:5

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

The book is ready!


YAHOOO!

The Fireside Psalms books is online and ready to be shipped out! You can see the front cover and the general info here (simply click on the address below) :

http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-41531-8

or you can read a few sample passages here:

http://books.iuniverse.com/viewbooks.asp?isbn=0595415318&page=fm1

We're having a booksigning party at Cedar Springs Christian bookstore on Saturday November 18th. You can get directions and read more about this store (one of the nation's largest independent Christian bookstores) here:
http://www.cschristian.com/e/home.asp

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Here's a great message sent to me by Mike and Krisi Hulsey:

"...you may remember my request for prayer about my 18 year old cousin that died tragically in a car accident. For those who were not there, Aayla was a young woman who had made a hard 180 u-turn in her life, she went from drugs alcohol to a life lived for God.Her funeral was an amazing event in her small town! (More than 1,000 attended) The family decided that Aayla would want them to take this opportunity to share Christ with all that came so they gave a true Salvation message at both the visitation and the Funeral (20 people came forward during the visitation to accept Christ) The next day the funeral was so crowded that they had to send folks into the gym to watch on a big screen. Once again the message of God’s grace was shared and many came forward. A revival has hit this small town in Missouri all because a young girl was brave enough to trust in God’s love, set her pride aside and live for our KING! Praise God for the testimony Aayla left behind, that so many would say 'I want what She had.'"

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Welcome to new friends

I want to say a big HELLO to the many new friends I made while speaking at the ACSI Convention in Greensboro NC. I had promised you that if you would come to this site you would find info on new teaching ideas and helps for your classroom.

As you read this, I am constructing a whole new page that will be loaded with ideas for your use. Please allow me a few more minutes to complete the construction of the new page and I will post the page below.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

At convention


I'm in Greensboro, North Carolina in the Koury Convention Center right now, readying to speak at three seminars during the ACSI Convention throughout the rest of this week. The Association of Christian Schools International is a great organization, and I look forward to my opportunities to run workshops each year. I do miss my family terribly, though. When I'm away from my family, I feel as if a part of me is missing.

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Ah, what a great reading in devotionals today.

"Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens." —Lamentations 3:41

We're raising hands of dependency toward God, recognizing Him as Father and Lord. It's a comforting truth in the harried lives we lead.

Charles Spurgeon says this:

"The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits; and hence the use of prayer, because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be, in the very dust. Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian."

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

The Christian's daily cry

This moan, “O wretched man that I am,” expresses the normal experience of the Christian, and any Christian who does not so moan is in an abnormal and unhealthy state spiritually. The man who does not utter this cry daily is either so out of communion with Christ, or so ignorant of the teaching of Scripture, or so deceived about his actual condition, that he knows not the corruptions of his own heart and the abject failure of his own life.
- - A.W.Pink, The Christian in Romans Seven

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Response to John Lennon's "Imagine"

"Imagine there’s no Heaven
It’s easy if you try…"

Actually, I can think of few things harder for me than to imagine that there is no peaceful goal for mankind than the assurance of an eternal rest beyond the life we now live.

"No hell below us
Above us only sky …"

Universal salvation without repentance seems to me rather like a chess game with no winner, or perhaps no gameboard at all…the whole reasoning for the set-up is skewered.

"Imagine all the people
Living for today "

Uh, that’s why we had the Serial Killer running around Phoenix, shooting at random. He was living for the thrill of today with no thought of remorse or justice in the hereafter.

"Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do"

Well, that’d make the World Cup kind of confusing, wouldn’t it?

"Nothing to kill or die for"

Personally, I’d fight pretty hard for a good slab of beef ribs with an ear of corn and a dish of ice cream, but then that’s just me.

"And no religion too"

If you mean liturgical ritual for the sake of ceremony and not a relationship with God, then I agree, but I don’t think that’s your whole thinking here.

"Imagine all the people
Living life in peace"

That’s Heaven, John

"You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one"

I think we all want a life beyond this one filled with joy and peace, but my dream is made a reality through the Word.

"I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one"

I would say contrariwise that if you had seen faith in Jesus Christ in its pure unadulterated form, you would have felt differently. I wish that you would have joined us.

"Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can"

Well, yes I can. I’m on a teacher’s salary

"No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world"

I am in agreement, but John, if you had read the Bible and saw the clear picture of Jesus, you’d see that this is the Christian’s joy, of bringing gifts of all kinds to the peoples of the world, especially the one great Gift.

"Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays"

I've been contacted already about the upcoming fight to keep the word "Christmas" in our holiday season. Buttons are being offered to me to wear to show an aggressive love for the "Christmas" word in order to let the world know that I will not neutralize the effect of Christ in the holidays.

I admire the people who sustain these drives to fight the alteration of our seasonal language, but one thing still itches and I cannot seem to scratch it. "Have a Merry Christmas" - we spend a lot of time protecting the sentence but very little in promoting the Savior.

Come now, tell me of an aggressive outreach taken by Christians during the holiday season. A Christmas cantata? A light display? A food plate?

2 Timothy 4:2 says "preach the word; be ready in season {and} out of season"...well, this is a season for sharing the Jesus we know and love. What kind of outreach do we have? Not to sound sarcastic, but is it limited to fighting over phrasing?

I'm outwardly seeking ways to give the truth of Jesus this Christmas season. I do it every year - it's my birthday present to the Savior. Please understand, I do agree with those who would defend our right to express a Jesus-first holiday. I'd just like us to give a reason for the fight.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

God sends us a gift every morning


Of the many beautiful words in the Hebrew language, I find that "khesed" is one of my favorites.

Whenever we sink into depression or cry out for help to God, is He indifferent or even offended?

No. He responds with Khesed.

Khesed is one of four Hebrew words for love. Khesed is an overwhelming desire to give of your self to the other person, for their benefit, no matter what it costs you. Note in Psalm 42:8 - The Lord will command His khesed in the daytime.

It is His command to give this overpowering care for us through the struggles of the day. This is God’s command, that we be loved and cared for. Corrie Ten Boom’s father told her “Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need - just in time."

He will do more than that - He will give you strength through His khesed to make one day at a time as well. It is more than a command. It’s also a “personal effort” by God to make sure we receive our personal attention. I believe I can use that phrase without any disrespect to our Father, since I can read Psalm 57:3 and see “He will send forth (literally stretch out, direct) from Heaven...He will direct His khesed ...” God extends Himself toward us, reaches out, so that we may feel His presence and sense His love.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Random thoughts


We're doing a study on Old Testament Hebrew words this week in school. There are treasures galore in the book that the Jewsih community calls the Tanakh. I will share some words int he next blogs to come.

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I grieve for the families of the little Amish girls who were shot in the rampage in Pennsylvania. I can only imagine the terror that these little girls went through as they were chained and shot. My good friends in the Amish community from years past showed a great strength in the Lord and I pray that God shows them a powerful closeness as never before.

Father, please give the families the peace found in Phil. 4:7 - a peace that passes all explanation; a peace that can only come from You.

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My book Fireside Psalms - an Advent devotional - is set for a November release in time for the Christmas holidays. We'll be having a booksigning at Cedar Springs Christian bookstore here in Knoxville on November 18th. I thank the Lord for this avenue of writing opening up and becoming possible.

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Jill and Sue Polson, wife of Pastor Sam Polson, have become walking buddies. They are planning on covering some serious miles of hiking each day (most of it in malls and walkways) while sharing prayer requests and spiritual encouragement. What a great idea!

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Speaking of exercise, I've now hit the six mile mark in my running efforts. I fell great - I haven't run this distance since college. I'm able to keep the pace at 47 years of age! Hope I don't keel over.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

A brave heart in Kingston Tennessee

Just down the road from us is a city called Kingston, Tennessee. Within their public high school there was a moment of bravery and boldness that I must share with you. One of my fellow teachers here at CAK passed this one to me:

This is a statement that was read over the public address system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee, by school principal Jody McLeod.

''It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country.
''Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternative lifestyle," and if someone is offended, that's OK.
''I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it 'safe sex.' If someone is offended, that's OK.
''I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a 'viable means of birth control.' If someone is offended, no problem...
''I can designate a school day as 'Earth Day' and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess 'Mother Earth' and call it 'ecology.'
''I can use literature, videos, and presentations in the classroom that depict people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as 'simple minded' and 'ignorant' and call it 'enlightenment.'
''However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God and to ask Him to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, the Federal Case Law is violated.
''This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical. Apparently, we are to be tolerant to everything and anyone, except God and His commandments.
''Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.
''For this reason, I shall 'Render until Caesar that which is Caesar's,' and refrain from praying at this time.
''However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise, and thank God and ask Him, in the name of Jesus, to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law--yet."
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One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another, and began to pray.
They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayerd at the concession stand and they prayed in the announcer's box.
Kingston, Tennessee, remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE?

I confronted a praise group who planned to perform before a Christian congregation. As I was placing my notes on the podium prapring to speak, I spotted two stacks of their music. On the right hand side of the podium was the praise music for the morning's service. On the left was the stack of secular music that they were secretly practicing early Sunday morning. Seems that they were going to moonlight somewhere in town... I have no problem with that - I DO however, have a problem with the lyrics I was reading from that particular left-handstack. Vulgar language; a worldview that was "gimme gimme"; suggestive lyrics about girls; mockery of authority and a "don't tell me wht to do" line of thinking ...this is what a Christian group is supposed to sing?

I confronted them about this hyprocrisy. They were running a serious danger of sending out a two-faced message to the congregation and the community at large. You're going to sing praise songs on Sunday but perform hedonisitic entertainment the rest of the week?

James 3:10-11 " Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?"


There seems to be a real ambivalence about total commitment in the area of following Christ. Read the words of the late Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

"...one thing is clear: (Jesus) did not go to the cross to ornament and embellish our life. If we wish to have him, then he demands the right to say something decisive about our entire life. We do not understand him if we arrange for him only a small compartment in our spiritual life... there are persons who would not even bother to take Christ seriously in the demand he makes on us by his question: 'Will you follow me wholeheartedly or not at all?'"