A new step

Yesterday was a bittersweet day for me. Happily, I was able to share the joy of a new avenue in my career but sadly I had to say goodbye.

At chapel I announced to the faculty and students that I would not be returning to CAK this fall. I have received a wonderful offer to join up with the ABS corporation here in town, and I will be starting with them in June. I am leaving a campus full of kids that I love, and it's never easy to say goodbye to family.

I thank the Lord for the fantastic five years I have enjoyed teaching here in Knoxville. I can gladly say that I have enjoyed virtually every day that I stepped into the classroom. What most people don't know is that I probably learned more than the students did.

I learned more about the Bible. I learned about working among educators. I learned about today's generation and their great needs. And I learned about myself - my joys, my commitment, my temper, and my shortcomings.

Thank you, Grace Academy and Christian Academy of Knoxville, for the opportunity to serve. Thank you, Jesus, for giving me this great blessing.

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. - Psalm 37:23

I was sitting here, thinking of the many people whose friendship I've enjoyed through the years. Friends who stayed with me through thick and thin, whose hearts are ready to counsel, listen and enjoy. I can safely say that the Lord has given me an abundance of riches in this area.

The Hydes in England
The Krises in Arizona
The Hornes in Tennessee
the Daniels in South Dakota
The Kliewers in California
The Sidwells in Pennsylvania
My professors in South Carolina
The Hodaks in Michigan
The Pines in Oregon
The Williams in North Carolina
The Johnsons in Florida


and of course, Jesus overall. He's the friend that sticks closer than a brother.

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“Compassion costs. It is easy enough to argue, criticize and condemn, but redemption is costly, and comfort draws from the deep. Brains can argue, but It takes heart to comfort.” - Samuel Chadwick

Lose My Salvation?

In his sermon "Abiding in Christ", John MacArthur says:

Some people would conclude that Judas lost his salvation, and that if any Christian fails to bear fruit, he also will lose his salvation. However, John 10:28 says, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." The Word of God is absolutely clear about the security of salvation. In John 6:37, Jesus said, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me." In chapter 17, He told the Father, "Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition" (v. 12). Those statements reveal that Jesus was not talking about a true believer who stops bearing fruit and loses his salvation. Rather, he is talking about a Judas-type of believer who is superficially attached to the vine, but never receives spiritual nourishment from it. Judas had a superficial relationship with Jesus, but he willingly walked away from that relationship and into the judicial condemnation of God. It seems natural that the allegory of the vine and the branches would come out of Christ's intimate talk with the eleven disciples who believed in Him.

Where is your joy?

“If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence...? You'd be bored to tears in heaven, if you're not ecstatic about God now!”

- Keith Green

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death..."

- Phlpn. 3:10

Good Friday

Germans call this day what could be considered "Mourning Friday." In Russia today is known as "Passion Friday." Why does the English-speaking world call it "Good Friday?" Numerous sources show us that it is a change in the form of God the Father; it actually means "God's Friday" or "God Friday."

We reflect on Christ's suffering today, how He suffered as payment for our sins. The Believer in Christ, is then told that his walk with be a walk with suffering as well. Have we considered this, in a society of ease such as ours?

The Puritan pastor John Flavel exhorted people to consider the cost before calling upon Christ as Savior:

"If I open to Christ, this I shall gain, but that I must lose; I cannot separate Christ from sufferings: Christ will separate me from my sins; if I seek him, I must let them go; if I profess Christ, Providence will one time or other bring me to this dilemma, either Christ or earthly comforts must go. It is necessary, therefore, that I now propound to myself what Providence may, one time or other, propound to me. He hath set down his terms: 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. '"

(Christ Knocking at the Door of Sinners Hearts [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1978 reprint], p. 183).

Every Dog Has His Day

An easy way for an average artist to get noticed on a nationwide scale?

Make your artwork mock Jesus.

It's controversial, bombastic, and it gets the attention you crave. Think of the latest entries into the Ridicule Jesus parade:
- a New York creation of Jesus unclothed, made totally in chocolate.
- a Chicago art entry of Barak Obama as Jesus, complete with a neon halo

These follow the line of "daring" art pieces of the past that have shown Jesus in a jar of urine and the Virgin Mary splattered with feces. (Am I the only one to notice that none of these pieces show any talent?) The artists smile smugly at the camera and proclaim that this shows "boldness and daring" or (here's my favorite cliche) "it opens the door to discussion."

In virtual all cases, the artist portrays himself as being brave enough to address such an issue.

My question is: have any of these artists considered themselves bold enough to portray such a depiction of Mohammed?

No, it's safer to mock the Christian.