True and Undefiled Religion

When life goes through ups and downs, we often dwell on our own portion of the trouble that is every man's burden in this sinful world. As I sit here now it is with one leg propped up on a chair because of a badly sprained ankle yesterday. (I might get up more but the kids keep walking off with my crutches.) That means some time off from work--which also means time to sit and think. Today as I was reading from some of the blogs I appreciate I found a link to http://www.chinaorphans.org/ . If you are going through something right now that seems difficult (or even if you just find yourself sucked into the malaise of American Christianity), click on over to that site and you will find an abundance of things to put your mind off your own trouble and onto that of others. (Depending on your temperament, you may need some kleenexes.) I find it amazing how easily we are continually drawn into the "trials" of American life, or even the pleasures of American life; spending time at this site will help give a reality and priority check. I started to think--what am I really doing with this life of mine? Can I do something more to bless others? This is eternity we are trying to invest in here, and how often I settle for the porridge of Esau with my time and money. The musician Chris Rice has a song in which he speaks of anticipating heaven. One line in that song says, "freedom from myself will be the sweetest rest I've ever known." I felt a touch of that freedom while I read from this website.

The ministry described in this site is known as the Philip Hayden Foundation. The founders of the organization are a couple who had gone to teach English in China in 1988. While there their friend Philip Hayden introduced them to ministry to orphans. In God's providence, Philip died suddenly at the age of 28 from a rare, undiagnosed heart defect.

The website says this about Philip: Philip Hayden's love for the people of China was demonstrated in a quote he kept in his dresser drawer, which said,

"The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief." (T.S. Elliot)

Just some thoughts to think about.

From John Newton

Alas! though I know in theory what a Christian should be--I am still sadly deficient in practice! I am a poor creature, and see much to be ashamed of every day, and in every circumstance. Yet, though sin will distress--it cannot condemn, those who believe in Jesus!

"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!" Romans 8:1

From The Letters of John Newton

Be a sinner

I found this Martin Luther quote over at Ray Ortlund's blog, www.christisdeeperstill.blogspot.com Reading this makes me wonder at how inadequately I grasp the concept of God's forgiveness and grace.

"God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We however, says Peter (2 Peter 3:13), are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign. It suffices that through God's glory we have recognized the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day. Do you think such an exalted Lamb paid merely a small price with a meager sacrifice for our sins?"

Martin Luther, writing to Philip Melanchthon, 1 August 1521.

Real Freedom in Jesus

The following is a post from the Desiring God blog which I appreciated. I heard this man's testimony several months ago, before all of this began with Jacob. I remember him saying how his son was born without eyes and how that experience did not make him stop believing in God but made him start thinking that God was not good. Instead, he just used his power capriciously. What encourages me is that a man can go as far in the wrong direction as this man, yet be brought back into even greater light than he had before. This testimony gives us hope in tomorrow's grace.



Real Freedom in Jesus
July 4, 2009 By: John Knight Category: Commentary
Originally posted, July, 2008

The 4th of July is a different sort of ‘Independence Day’ for me. On July 4, 1995 my multiply-disabled son entered the world and my life came crashing down around me—and would soon include a deep and intense bitterness toward God.

I never denied that God existed or is powerful; I concluded he was mean and capricious. But it also began God’s work of creating an affection for him and for the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. I am often astonished, when thinking back, that I am now able to praise God for his goodness in giving my son his autism and blindness.

None of this happened easily or by accident. I can point to five specific things that God brought to bear on my life:

1. Faithful pastoral leadership.
I can still remember Pastor Tom Steller, now leading The Bethlehem Institute, walking up my front steps with a note from Pastor John. And I remember sitting with and emailing Pastor David Michael.

These men, with great courage and biblical conviction, entered into dangerous territory. My attorney, a man trained in conflict, said that my intensity and bitterness frightened him. But my pastors never wavered from bringing a message of hope and absolute certainty in the sovereignty and goodness of God, even when I pushed them away.

2. Faithful people of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Shortly after my son was born we dropped everything at church—our small group, volunteering, Sunday school class and attendance. One couple refused to let us go and loved us with a gracious, firm, consistent tenderness that made me want to understand how they could love someone like me, my wife or my son so completely.

3. A faithful father.
My own father was the first person in the world to understand and communicate my son’s value and inherent worth as a creation of a good and loving God to me. Through 13 years, he has stood with me through much pain and sorrow—and joy.

4. A faithful wife.
My wife and I have not walked the same path; hers has been much harder than mine for many reasons. But by the grace of God we are together and I thank God every day for this woman whose spine is made of steel and who loves me and our four children.

5. The sovereignty of God as revealed in his word.
I remember a particularly heartbroken, bitter email I sent to Pastor John. He had every right to discipline me, but instead wrapped the words of the bible around my heart. God used those words from the bible, among many others, to create longings I didn’t have, to start a dead heart beating, and to reveal, when I was incapable of seeing, the beauty, sufficiency, and majesty of Jesus Christ and his cross.

God has done it all, and it was his word that proved decisive.

Living with a boy, now a teenager no less, who will always be dependent on someone for all his needs is hard. I have a daily, often hourly, fight for joy in my salvation. Yet, through my oldest son’s daily care, through my youngest son’s premature birth, and now through my wife’s ongoing battle with metastatic cancer, God is not just sustaining me, but revealing more of his goodness because he is sovereign over all these things, for his glory and my good.
So, on this Independence Day I am grateful to Jesus for my real freedom in him and for giving me my boy to help me see it: So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36).

Happy birthday, Paul.

Christian encouragement

I thought I would share an encouraging email we received from a dear family in our church. Since we have known them they have shown sincere Christian concern and care for the events of our lives. We value their friendship and wisdom. It reminds me again of how God's grace is given to us through his people. We are a body and we stand strong in God's strength when we stand together in trials.


Dear brother,

I want you to know that you have been much on our minds lately and that we are praying for you. Hannah shared with Andrea about her conversation with Sharon last Saturday, and we know that the news from the medical professionals is not good. I hope and pray, though, that the information you are receiving from the doctors is not discouraging you. I know that we cannot expect or demand healing as God's children. I also believe that the miraculous sign gifts have ceased, so that we cannot look to other Christians to perform miraculous works of healing. However, I know of so many examples, and I am sure you are aware too, of Christians who have been healed, or the progress of whose illness has been arrested, with no logical explanation from the world. We have a dear sister in our town who is suffering with cancer, and her unsaved oncologist has termed her response to chemotherapy and the disappearance of her tumors "miraculous." I also think of Jay Perskie, Tim Atwell, and Justus Rossell in our own fellowship. I know that we cannot expect our Lord to arrest or slow the aggressive progress of Jacob's disease that the doctors have predicted, but I also know that our God is merciful and that He desires to give gifts to His children, and I am praying for God's mercy in this situation while at the same time knowing that He knows best and asking that His will be done.

Here are some verses that may encourage you:

"The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,

Slow to anger and great in mercy.

The LORD is good to all,

And His tender mercies are over all His works." Psalm 145:8-9

"As a father pities his children,

So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

For he knows our frame;

He remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:13-14