About Us Blogs!
| Page 1 » 1-15 of 20 |
Can a Mormon be President?
[Politics]
10/27/2011 12:28 pm
By Rohlin, Robert
I read some unbelievable comments today from Joel Osteen and felt the need to respond. Many are confused as to whether Mormons are Christians and whether their faith should affect our voting for them. I've had many Mormon friends over the years -- they always seemed bright and pleasant people.
To see my personal take on these issues, read my blog article on the subject. Again, this is my personal view and does not represent any official position of the church on these matters.
Encouragement from our children
[Spiritual Warfare]
05/31/2011 11:16 am
By Rohlin, Robert
We had great services Sunday and it was a privilege to preach the first half of a two-part sermon entitled "How to finish life well." I really don't want to blow it morally or spiritually in the last half of my life. Interestingly, most men who lose their families, lose their jobs, lose their ministries through indiscretion and immorality do so in the last half of their lives. While I don't have any plans for failure, I also know that Scripture teaches us that we are to take heed while we are standing firm that we don't fall. If you ever get overconfident that you will not be overtaken by temptation, your pride becomes your downfall.
So as I studied Colossians 2:1-14, a passage that didn't seem to have anything for me for the two weeks I looked at it suddenly came forth with an abundance. I found 9 positive actions we can take to enable us to "finish well" in the Christian life -- all of which I put under the category "Receive the Light of Christ." Next week I hope to deal with the second half of the message which is to "Reject the Darkness of the World" an explain specific ways that the world attempts to attack and dilute our faith.
After 30 years of pastoring, I'm still a bit over-sensitive to sermons that don't end at noon. Because we had folks in church we hadn't seen in a while, most folks were still fellowshiping in the fellowship hall when we should have started services. So we were late getting things off the ground. And we also took time to acknowledge the presence of Telugu Bible Baptist Church in our services (who began using our facilities this Sunday). So I didn't get started preaching until 11:45 and then preached to 12:30. But I didn't hear one person complain -- everyone was very gracious about it and felt like God had ministered to them.
The comment that was a big encouragement to me was a mother who said her children sometimes talked about a sermon for 2 or 3 weeks after they heard it. She looked over Sunday and everyone of her kids was taking notes. She attributed that to preaching that reaches all age groups, but I have another explanation. I have seen kids that had the opportunity to hear great preaching and simply "endured" the experience until it was over. But with very few exceptions the children at our church are different. They have been taught to be attentive. Their parents have taught them the Word of God and its importance to living. They've been taught that understanding the Bible is the key to success. I think it is not great preaching but exceptional parenting that has produced children who take notes and discuss a sermon for weeks that even the adults in most churches would have forgotten by the time they'd finished lunch on the very day they heard the sermon.
Thank God for parents who have taken the responsibility to teach their children a love for the inerrant, infallible, inspired, and imperative Word of God! They are a blessing to me and a blessing to our church. They will be a great light in the increasing darkness of our world. May God richly bless all of us to raise up a generation that subjects every decision and action to the supremacy of God's Word! -- Pastor Robert Rohlin
Retaining Spiritual Truth
[Salt & Light]
09/20/2009 9:48 pm
By Rohlin, Robert
Thoughts of the Weekend
What a blessing that Richard was able to fill in for the pastor and me today. God has blessed Richard with insights into His Word and given him the ability to express them. It may be that everyone at Las Colinas will ask the pastor and me to be gone more often....I attended a class this weekend to teach teachers how to teach. (That sounds redundant, doesn't it.) (But there is a verse in Revelation about harpers harping on their harps, so I'm in good company.)
I was amazed at how many new thoughts and techniques I learned to improve my ability in both my ministry activities and in my secular profession. I'm looking forward to starting soon meeting with young men who have surrendered to preach the Gospel to give them a "leg up" by teaching them at a young age what it has taken me many years to learn (and which I am still learning). I pray that this class will help to raise up a generation of preachers who can teach with authority. Many today just want to follow preachers who will "tickle their ears" by telling them what they want to hear -- by allowing them to stay comfortable with compromise. But there are also Christians who long and hunger after the deeper truths of God's Word. May God give us another generation of preachers who will rightly divide the Word of Truth and proclaim it without compromise.
I heard two things this weekend that particularly impressed me.
The first was a John Piper quote: "God is most GLORIFIED when we are most SATISFIED in Him." Wow! That is what we called a "zinger" in seminary -- a short, pithy statement that conveys a great truth in a few words. How often I fail at this. It is so easy to look for my satisfaction in human relationships, earthly possessions, comfort, or entertainment. And yet, we really need to focus on entertaining God. Abraham did that while camped in the plains. He saw three men and ran toward them. He fell before them and worshiped one of them -- Who did not refuse his worship. He brought them back to the tents and prepared a meal for them. He entertained God. Have you done that lately? Have you spent time just talking to God without asking for things? I too often let my prayers be a "wish list" or a "to-do list" for God. But prayer is to be so much more than that. It is to listen to His heart in His Word and then respond with a love language of our own to a God with whom we are increasingly in love. It is to find satisfaction and joy and riches and peace in Him instead of in those around us or in our circumstances. Real prayer is us laying a banquet of love before God; then we truly will glorify Him. See, it takes me a long paragraph to say what John Piper says in one sentence. How does he do that?Now from the reverent to the practical....(the second thing I heard this weekend)...
Do you know that people remember:
- 10% of what they hear (how much of the Sunday sermon can you remember now?)
- 25% of what they hear and see demonstrated
- 65% of what they hear, see demonstrated, and then practice doing
- None of us remembers 100% of what we hear. That is sad when you think of the hours a pastor puts into careful preparation of God's Word. He discovers and then reveals truth that most of us will overlook. And at best we are likely to remember 10% of it. What happened to the other 90%? It reminds me of the adage, "The shortest pencil is better than the longest memory." (Or "the dullest pencil is better than the sharpest mind.") If we think it is important to balance our checkbook, it is even more important to capture and record spiritual truth.
- How can we get to the optimal 65% retention in terms of spiritual truth taught? How do you demonstrate spiritual truth? Occasionally I'll find a visual aid for something. But then how do you get people to touch, handle, demonstrate, and coach others on spiritual truth? When you pass that truth on to others is when you really retain it. Jesus mastered this concept of teaching. He put all of God's principles on display -- demonstrating them for all of us. Then He put His disciples in situations where they had an opportunity to demonstrate those same principles. Sometimes it meant getting into a boat on a stormy sea with Him asleep. Other times they were in the boat without Him coping with increasingly choppy waves when they thought they saw a ghost coming. Other times it was going out by twos to minister. But much of that spirit of discipleship is lost in our churches today. Pray that God gives us insight on how as a church we can help your family -- especially your children -- retain more of spiritual truth. May we all becomes doers of the Word and "not hearers only" ( which amounts to deceiving ourselves).
I have seen many homeschooling families that have lost or are losing their children to the world. Could it be because we have only told them truth (and enforced legalistic standards) and therefore they only remembered 10% of what we tried to teach them? Could it be because we have failed to DEMONSTRATE truth in our own lives? Could it be that we have not gone with our children and helped them and encouraged them and blessed them to PRACTICE spiritual truth while they are still under our authority? Could it be that we spend too much time criticizing what is wrong with them rather than encouraging the small steps of progress we see?
May God help us as parents, as Christians, and as a church to become more effective in helping our families, our friends, and our neighbors to retain God's spiritual and eternal truths.
Just pondering,
Robert
The Lord's Prayer as You've Never Heard it Before!
[Children]
04/18/2009 12:11 pm
By Rohlin, Robert
I'm not one to recirculate the latest fad email or even forward videos. But if you believe children are the gift of God, you MUST SEE this video! This 2-year-old will bless your heart. I would recommend you download it to your computer and play it whenever you feel a bit blue. May God richly bless you.
What Weapons Will We Use?
[Spiritual Warfare]
04/18/2009 10:13 am
By Rohlin, Robert
and self-will reign instead of Scriptural authority,
we shall fight the Lord's battles with the devil's weapons,
and if we cut our own fingers, we must not be surprised."
Adrian Rogers reminded me this morning that a train functions at its best when it stays within the limits of the rails of the track. It fulfills its ultimate purpose only when on the tracks. But should a train leave that confining and restricting tracks to venture down a hill and across a meadow, the only future it has is a wreck!
This is why King David said, "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage"(Psalm 119:54). He found God's law to be subject for songs. Wow! I know I haven't pulled out the Texas Code of Criminal Offenses and started writing music for it yet. But David did that for God's law. Why? Because he understood that when he operated under God's authority, he enjoyed God's blessings.
Basically, every one of us has only two choices in life:
1. We do our own thing, go our own way, and while thinking we're making ourselves happy, we open ourselves to inevitable destruction.
2. We voluntarily place ourselves under the authority of God and there enjoy the blessings that come from the hand of a loving and righteous King.
So which choice do we take? You can walk off the ledge at the top of the Empire State building looking for a pleasurable stroll, but like it or not, you will suffer the consequences of the law of gravity. Like it or not, God has placed into operation laws that always operate 100% of the time. And these laws "cut both ways -- the two-edged sword of God's Word. It brings blessings to those who live under God's authority and allows the natural curse of consequences of our rebellion to God when we refuse His authority.
Yes, authority is not politically correct. Today our country is following after Israel's example in the book of Judges -- "And every man did that which was right in his own eyes." But we need to check our history -- things didn't work out well for Israel when they rebelled against God's authority.
Now we have an entire generation growing up being told that there is no God -- and hence no authority. Every man sits on the throne of his own life. And is it then any wonder that we hare reaping an increasing harvest of violence, disastrous financial policies, incurable venereal diseases, fatherless children, and an epidemic of divorce?
Persecution will some day come for saying this, but "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"(Joshua 24). I wish I could tell you that I did this faithfully, but I don't. There are some real "fleshy" days in my life where I react and respond to others against the dictates of my conscience. I occasionally jump the track, cause a train wreck, and find myself missing the fruit of God's sweet blessings. But when I do stay within the confines of the track, I find there fulfillment, joy, and rest. I find that I'm meeting the purpose for which I was created.
Thanks for taking time to read these thoughts -- most of which belonged to Adrian Rogers in his book The Incredible Power of Kingdom Authority: Getting an Upper Hand on the Underworld. But while the thoughts are his, the passion and the prayer are mine. "God, keep me on the tracks today."
In Her Own Words
[Courtship]
04/18/2009 9:59 am
By Rohlin, Robert
Well, you saw the events of the Valentine Banquet (check out our photo gallery if you didn't). If you received one of the program booklets for the Valentine Banquet, you saw Richard's note about Sophie -- expressing admiration for her character qualities. Perhaps you read the "rest of the story" blog about the note Sophie already had prepared to give Richard that night. Well, here is Sophie's account of that night in her own words. (By the way, you will notice she misquotes me which is evidence of the fact that she was praying too hard to listen to anything I said.):
If you are receiving this it is because I thought you would be interested to hear the latest developments in my life. Please bear with such a long letter--it has been an eventful 48 hours!!! God truly is abundant in mercy and loving kindness. In the past few months I have been amazed by the mercies He has shown me, and by the depths of His Love. His love and blessings are freely, deeply, abundantly given above all we can ask for or think--entirely apart from any good work we can do in ourselves! But I feel like I'm getting ahead of myself--the purpose of this letter is to clue y'all in to the most recent act of God in my life.
Just over two months ago God revealed to me the young man for whom I have been saving myself. He is a man of honor, integrity, courage, and tenderness--a man who also has a deep love for the Lord. A trustworthy man who swears to his own hurt and does not change. A man who, by the combination of rough and tumble manliness and tender loving kindness he has shown me, has given me a clearer picture of the ultimate rugged bravery and unspeakable gentleness my dear Savior has shown. His name is Richard Rohlin. Our families have known each other since I was little. In the last few years he has become my closest confidant and best friend, but up until the last year I never thought of him as someone who would be interested in me in that way. Every time the thought would occur to me I would chuckle to myself and move on--after all, there is a big difference between choosing to be somebody’s best friend and desiring them for a spouse. God enabled me, by His great mercy, to remain "asleep" to my dear Knight in Shining Armor.
At first when God revealed this to me I didn't believe it. My greatest fear was it wasn't really God's will but that Richard might think I was the right one--and be wrong!! It was a very turbulent several days, during which I got very little sleep!! I prayed constantly during that time, and the Lord gave me a verse that calmed my fears. It is when Ruth's mother-in-law spoke some words of encouragement to her while she was waiting for Boaz (Ruth 3:18). "Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day." I knew that God was telling me that everything was alright, this really was His will, and that very soon the time would be here for us to begin courting. In the interim time--however long it was--I was supposed to simply wait. Life was so much easier when I realized that all I had to do was trust God and trust Richard (and quit worrying about being inadequate!). My Jesus has never failed me, and there is no other man on earth who I trust as completely as I trust Richard.
There is more that could be told about those two months, how full of joy they were!! I always thought it would be much harder to wait when I was waiting for somebody specific, but I've found, quite to the contrary, that the last two months have held joys and contentments beyond what I ever dreamed possible. God enabled me to eagerly anticipate the future, while maintaining a deep, restful contentment in the present. But I want to skip all that and tell you about what happened last night!!!
Yesterday evening my family attended a Valentine's banquet/seminar at the church Richard attends with his family. From almost the beginning I had thought that he would probably ask me there, because he is very romantic and it seemed his style. I didn't know how he would do it (I didn't even try to guess! Those of you who know Richard know he isn't the most predictable man in the world!) but whatever happened I thought it might be then. In the last week, however, for various reasons I'd concluded that I was wrong and that I probably had a good deal more waiting to do. For that reason I was looking forward to getting the banquet over with. When I arrived I was surprised to find that Richard wasn't there (anywhere! I looked!)--especially when we were all seated and Mr. Rohlin began speaking about the four stages of courtship. I'm afraid I missed nearly everything he said because I was praying and trying to give the matter of whether we began courting that night to God. It was hard!! I thought I'd put that hope to rest, but quickly discovered it was very much alive and well!
At some point Mr. Rohlin said it was time for the surprise speaker and walked over to a side door and opened it. I'd been told that I'd never met the speaker, so I was expecting some preacher friend of the Rohlins to come and say some words of wisdom for the "seminar" part of the banquet. You can imagine my astonishment when, instead of the gray-haired preacher that I'd expected, a Knight in Shining Armor stepped through the door. Literally. Complete with cape, and breastplate--the works. Instead of a shield the knight carried a beautiful vase of roses. The helmet covered his entire face, so I couldn't see who it was. Though I wanted it to be Richard I wasn't going to let myself voice that even in my mind. Vaguely I wondered if it was a very creative illustration for something Mr. Rohlin was talking about--or if that gray-haired preacher I was expecting actually went out and got himself a suit of armor to illustrate his point better!! The knight started walking toward me, and (still not letting myself believe) I wondered if I was expected to help with the illustration and exactly what I was supposed to do. He stopped in front of me, but I remained sitting, still not sure what I was supposed to do or what was happening. The knight gestured for me to stand, handed me the vase of flowers and removed his helmet. After I saw Richard's face, I'm afraid I really can't tell you what he said. The general idea was that he loved me very much and, with the blessing of both our parents, believed it was time to take our friendship to the next step--and he asked if I would be willing to enter into a courtship with him. I had a lovely acceptance speech all thought out in my mind, and grand dreams of honoring him as publicly as he had honored me. I wanted to tell everyone how dear he was to me, how much I honored and respected him, that I appreciated the fact that he has always been a spiritual leader, that there was no one else who held a candle to him in my eyes--and never had been, how much it meant to me that through the years he as purposely, faithfully, and zealously guarded the purity of our relationship and above all sought to glorify God first--I could go on for quite awhile in this line!! Sadly, y'all are the only ones who get to hear that particular speech--I only managed to get one word out at the banquet and that was a barely audible "yes." He took it. ;)
The rest of the evening was a haze of happiness. I couldn't stop looking at him--and what food I did eat, by the time I remembered it was there, was quite cold. I still don't think it has fully hit me what a tremendous blessing the Lord has bestowed upon me in this man. I am fully confident that this is the will of God and I am completely at rest in the center of His will. Please keep us in your prayers as we enter this new phase in our relationship. For those of you who are married, if you have any words of wisdom to give us they will be both welcomed and appreciated. It is my desire to look back on this phase of courtship and be able to say there is nothing I would change. Above all we desire that our courtship be for the glory of God; please pray that we will honor Him in every word and deed, and keep Him at the center of our relationship.
God's blessings be with each of you!!
Sophie
Exam Study Aids now online!
[FBI]
03/25/2009 6:57 am
By Rohlin, Robert
I have created some exam study notes for those of you enrolled in FBI. You need to login before you can view these exam notes. The notes are available in 3 formats:
- PDF file
- Microsoft Word document
- Flash file (which gives you an interactive graphic format complete with hyperlinks to the referenced Scriptures)
I would recommend that you use the Flash file for your initial study. Where Scripture references are cited, I have put a hyperlink reference. You can click on the symbol next to the item and it will open the Scripture for you so you can associate the verses with the item you are studying. The graphical format also helps the other hemisphere of your brain get involved in organizing the information. Have fun!
Week 9, Introduction to Hebrews
[FBI]
03/24/2009 3:24 am
By Rohlin, Robert
Many Bible scholars--including John MacArthur--agree with Pastor Yates' assertion that the book of Hebrews is written to three groups of individuals:
- Jewish Christians
- Jews intellectually convinced of the Gospel but who have not made a profession of faith in Christ
- Jews opposed to the Gospel
It is dangerous to ignore warnings. So for "me and my house" we will interpret the warnings as being applicable to us. We can do so with no threat to the doctrine of eternal security (which some scholars seemingly cannot do). I appreciate Pastor Yates teaching each night of FBI because he is biblically sound and firm in his convictions. However, I'll agree to disagree with him on the recipients of Hebrews (and therefore will probably find some further disagreement in the interpretation of the more severe warning passages later). This is not something that is a "test of fellowship." If I had the opportunity, I'm sure we would be "iron sharpening iron" together and that both of us would come away richer for the experience.
But I think this particular issue is a big deal for me. I do not want to ignore warnings in Scripture that were written for my benefit by assigning them away to another group. I encourage you to be like the Berean Christians so that you can determine for yourself what the Word of God says. You should do that whether the pastor of our church, Pastor Yates, me, or any other preacher is teaching. Men are fallible, but the Word of God is not.
I have written a paper indicating why the issue of identifying the recipients in Hebrews is important. My reasons are stated there. Consider what is said there as you study the book of Hebrews. This paper is available only to our pastor and to students taking FBI. You will need to Login link. After that, you can go to RESOURCES, then FBI, and then look for the paper on the setting and nature of Hebrews. May God use it to encourage and challenge you. May He use it to get you to consider whether the severe warnings in the last part of Hebrews can apply to you or other Christians.
The 'Rest of the Story' to our Valentine Banquet
[Courtship]
02/18/2009 3:24 am
By Rohlin, Robert
I used to think I might write a book some day. A professor I had in creative writing read my first assignment and told me to forget the rest of the semester's assignments and just write a novel for him to read. He thought my talents were beyond the scope of the class but I thought it was too much work so I dropped the class.
But I've never met the human writer that can create a plot with sub-plots and mental twists and sheer fascination like God can. Now obviously the Bible is the greatest of literary masterpieces. But I wasn't actually referring to that. "History is HIS Story." When you can see God superintending in the lives of His children, it is a wonder to behold.
Those of you who were at the Valentine Banquet saw my son Richard begin a God-ordained courtship with Sophia Rhoades. You should know that her parents have waited about 3 years for this day. Sophia always knew she would say "Yes" if Richard ever asked her. He really woke up to the idea in November and struggled to wait for the big event at Valentines. Judy and I have known this was God's will for nearly 5 years. Courtship is at its best when the guy, girl, and both sets of parents all know it is God's will. (Donald and Melody had this blessing and now we are seeing it again.) So during our Valentine banquet, Richard walks in wearing a suit of armor and hands Sophia a dozen roses and asks for the honor of courting her. And she accepted. By faith, he had already put a letter about his love for Sophia in the book that we gave out at the banquet which also contained letters from another courting couple and from the married people at the banquet. Perhaps you have already read that. Well that is the story you know. Now let me tell you the rest of the story... (as Paul Harvey says).
Sophia (we call her Sophie) had felt like God had told her that Richard was the one for her. She received two rhemas from the Lord and even felt like God told her something would happen at the Valentine banquet. However when she arrived, Richard was not there. And the seating cards had been arranged so that he was sitting on the other side of a young lady seated next to Sophia. So the entire time I was talking on the subject of courtship, she didn't hear a word I said. She was busy praying to give her expectations to the Lord so in case nothing happened, she could still experience the joy of the Lord and just continue to wait patiently for His timing. But it was hard and she had to pray over and over again. After Richard did come in wearing armor and ask for the privilege of courting her, neither of them could eat dinner. Later that night Sophia gave Richard a card she has prepared in case she had indeed heard from the Lord and Richard did indeed ask her. So she came to the banquet with this prepared letter thinking that the Lord would give her the desire of her heart.
The outside of the card was spectacular (and showed she had taken great care to choose the perfect card). But she pasted a letter inside that was even more incredible. She has given me permission to share it. When you read the letter you will not only hear the heart of a young lady waiting on God's will, but will be amazed at the particular way in which she signed the letter (knowing nothing in advance about what Richard would do):
Over the last several years we have both done a lot of growing. On your end you have grown into a man of integrity, courage and honor. A trustworthy man who swears to his own hurt and does not change. A man who, by the combination of rough and tumble manliness and tender loving kindness you have shown me, has given me a clearer picture of the ultimate rugged bravery and unspeakable gentleness my dear Savior has shown. On my end I have matured more into the woman that He would have me be (or am getting there!!), and many of the changes that have taken place in my life were due to the Godly influence and encouragement that you have given. God truly has used you mightily in my life. And I know that a lot of the lessons He has taught--especially recently--we learned together.
Not too long ago God revealed to me the One I was waiting for. At first I was afraid to believe it was true. Then I was afraid it wasn't true. Through those turbulent days God was with me, and gave me two of the sweetest rhemas I've ever had. The time since then has been an adventure in waiting. I say adventure, because for the most part waiting was no longer hard. God strengthened my heart as He promised He would, and enabled me to eagerly anticipate the future, while maintaining a deep, restful contentment in the present. Some things, my dear Mr. Richard, are worth waiting for. And you are one of them.
So now one stage of waiting is over, and we are entering another. But this one we will walk through together. I eagerly anticipate the unveiling of God's glorious plan for us, and pray that whatever comes His glory will be paramount. Solo deo gloria!
God bless you, my dear Knight.
Your Lady,
Sophia
I pray that God will continue to allow us opportunities to support, encourage, and explain HIS principles of courtship and marriage so that as an entire church we can show the world that His ways work and that there is a better way of life. May God richly bless you!
--Robert
FBI Week 2, Calvinism and Arminianism
[FBI]
02/03/2009 3:24 am
By Rohlin, Robert
"Any truth out of balance leads to heresy."
I came home from our second week of Faith Bible Institute (FBI) so enthused. In the book of Hosea, the instructor taught the "6 Steps to Resurrect a Dead Marriage." That material showed me why the movie Fireproof has been so greatly used to restore marriages. It follows those steps. And I have to tell you that I learned more in about 90 minutes on how to help failed marriages than I did in an entire semester of a Christian Counseling course in seminary. That material alone sold me on the value of FBI in our church -- to give us practical, helpful, and dependable help for life straight from the Word of God.
I was also excited to hear a pastor talk about that prayer is a greater priority in worship than music -- something our churches today often miss. And he told the truth about how Scripture teaches the need for women to dress modestly. This is an unpopular truth among many Christian women -- I've even seen the wives of ministers mock this. Yet 1 Timothy is clear that modesty is always in style with God. Women can cause men to sin by wearing what is too low on top, too high on bottom, or too tight. So I really appreciate the no-compromise teaching of God's Word in FBI.
However, I also found an area that needed some balance. Pastor Yates is very obviously opposed to the doctrines of Calvinism. And he makes some good arguments from Scripture. But it can be dangerous to emphasize one truth to the exclusion of the other. Read my article on the Need for Balance for further explanation. You must be enrolled in FBI or be a part of church leadership to read this article. You must login to the web site before you will be able to view the article or see it appear in the Resources / FBI menu.
Putting God on Display!
[Treasurer]
01/19/2009 5:51 pm
By Rohlin, Robert
Have you ever wondered what it meant to "glorify" God? After all, you cannot make Him any more glorious than He already is. So what exactly does that mean? My dear friend Ellis Wright answered this for me years ago. It means to "put God on display." In other words, the way we best glorify God is to give Him opportunities to display His majesty in our midst. God delights in glorifying Himself. Now that may sound "arrogant" to some, but it really isn't. When God shows in power who He is, it draws unregenerate men to Him so that they become the children of God.
Our biggest problem today in the U.S.A. is that we see so little of God's power actively at work in our churches or among our saints. We pray little prayers, see little results, and then are surprised! We dare not ask God for big things, because somewhere deep in ourselves, we are sure that such big things cannot be granted. But let me ask you -- Is there anything BIG to God?
What I desire to see most in our church is to see God's power on display. What would that look like if God's power was on display in our church?
- Lives would be changed rather than sermons just heard.
- Marriages would be healed and become shining lights to the world.
- Christians would get out of debt, tithe consistently, and give generously to the Lord's work and to those in need.
- God would provide an abundance of funds for missions activities.
- Our children would grow up with Christian ministry as the main focus of their lives. Our church would be supporting missionaries that came right from our midst.
- In short, the world would see that there is a better way of life -- living life according to God's principles.
- Pray daring prayers that seem just beyond the reach of our faith. Our church did that last July and God sent us a number of families in response to that prayer that are such a blessing to us. If you pray for something that is likely to happen anyway, how does God get the glory for that? But if you pray for something that is God's will but would require a miracle, then God gets the glory. (We have not because we ask not.)
- Remove hindrances to God's blessings. Sometimes God wants to bless us in a great way but does not do so because we are holding on to that which He cannot bless. Last August we made some changes at our church that removed hindrances to the blessings of God. And how He has blessed since then! We need to identify that which does not please God and eliminate it as quickly as possible. This is true in our church and in our families. Richard reminded us Sunday in our study on prayer, that even small compromises in what we watch on TV after the kids go to bed provides a "gap in the hedge" through which the Enemy can enter. What is in your life that needs to change in order to remove the hindrances to blessing?
- Give God public opportunities to put Himself on display. Elijah went out of his way on top of Mount Carmel to give God an opportunity to really "shine." He built an altar for the sacrifice. Then he had barrels of water poured on it. The land was experiencing a drought, so water had to be brought up from the nearby ocean to drench the sacrificed animal, the stones, and even filled a trench around the altar. By the time Elijah was through, no one could ever claim that the altar was the victim of spontaneous combustion. No one could ever claim that someone was inside the altar trying to "flick his Bic" to start a fire. And God did really shine that day -- He destroyed the altar, the sacrifice, and licked up the water in the trench with a consuming fire. There was no doubt that day that God won a victory over the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Ashtoreth (KJV--"groves) (1 Kings 18:19).
Our church will never be perfect as long as I'm in it (or as long as any other sinner is in attendance either). But we can move in the right direction and experience His blessings.
I believe we took at least two significant steps in that direction last Sunday in our business meeting -- and they are both related to money. It is fascinating how closely our stewardship of material things is tied to our relationship with the Lord. I believe the steps we took in our last business meeting are moving us in the right direction. Let me just mention two of those items:
- We gave the pastor a long-overdue raise. I believe that God cares how we treat His ministers and that their faithfulness should be rewarded. Pastor Thornton has served here for a long time making less money than his predecessor and never getting a raise. But as God has blessed us, we are now able to bless our faithful laborer in a greater way. I believe this removes an obstacle to God's blessing. I believe that as we honor the one God put in spiritual authority over us, that God will bless our church in a greater way.
- We have given God a public opportunity to glorify Himself through finances. Most church budgets contain fixed amounts of giving to different causes. Or they may have a fixed percentage of their overall income (e.g. 10%) that they give to missions. But imagine a giving plan that doesn't have a limit to what we will give to missions. Imagine a plan that gives God an opportunity to show He is the ultimate supplier of all we need (Philippians 4:19) and that He can do so abundantly. So here's what our church adopted.
- Each month we will determine whether our actual expenses or budgeted expenses is larger.
- If our income is greater than that larger amount, we will take 33.33% (1/3) of the difference and give it as an additional missions offering.
- We will divide that missions offering to contribute to the ministry support of ministry families in our church:
-- 1/3 to Gospel for Asia for the support of the Matt Dickson family
-- 1/3 to Campus Crusade for Christ / Student Venture for the support of the Tom Bridges family
Thanks for being part of the adventure with me!
Travelers Together
[Courtship]
11/26/2008 11:39 am
By Preuninger, Melody
"Two shall be made One"--the story of how I met Donald
Growing up as a pastor’s daughter always had its interesting side. Part of that meant moving around a lot. So, when at the age of nine, we moved to Ft. Worth, moving was something with which I was familiar. Having resigned his pastorate in Dallas, my Dad decided that we would begin attending South Park Baptist Church there in Ft. Worth.I have but a vague recollection of walking into that church for the first time, and I’m afraid that it does not include the fact that my future husband was standing at the door, holding it open for my family and I to enter. We attended that church for about a year before my Dad got called to pastor a church in Dallas—so back to Dallas we went.
Two and a half years passed, until I was a young girl of nearly 13. Dad resigned the church in Dallas, and we began searching for another church. The Lord led us back to South Park, where they asked my Dad to teach a Sunday school class, and a year later, asked him to become the Associate Pastor.
Again, I have little recollection of Donald during the first few years of our stay at South Park. I do remember him being the game time leader in AWANA’s, but not much more than that. However, about the time I turned 13, two things happened. First of all, I became friends with Donald’s sister, Maria. And secondly, God enlarged my prayer life.
Doing Him Good
The words echoed through my fourteen year-old mind. I had memorized this passage of Scripture five years prior to this day, but had never thought much of it. But now, at a young ladies’ conference, the verse “She will do [her husband] good, and not evil, all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:12) came alive to me.Stunned, I thought, “All the days of my life? All? Not just after I’m married to him? All the days of my life? That means now! But how, Lord?”
“You can pray for him,” whispered a still, small voice.
“Pray for him? But I don’t even know who he is!” I argued.
“That does not matter,” said the voice, “He still needs your prayers.”
My attention returned to the speaker just in time to hear her giving instructions for a private time of prayer. I soon found a quiet corner, and knelt down to pray. “Dear Heavenly Father,” I prayed, “I feel rather funny praying this, but feel as though you have told me to do so. Lord, I don’t know where or who my future husband is. But I pray right now that you would protect him from all harm; that you would make yourself known to him, bind his heart to yours, and make him a godly man of integrity. Lord, please keep him pure and guard him from the temptations of this world. And Father, could you please show me how I can do him good all the days of my life? In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Thus began what became a daily prayer for my future husband. For a time I felt sheepish about praying for him when he was yet unknown to me, but the Lord would never let me go a day without praying for him. I soon came to realize that it did not matter whether I knew who he was, for the Lord knew him, and was just as able to answer my prayers whether I knew him or not. Little did I know that I attended church with him!
Noticing Him
When I was about 16, something strange began happening. My parents began talking a lot about Donald. He would come over to our house to fix our Air Conditioning, and then all I would hear for the rest of the day would be, “Donald is such a nice young man,” etc. Curious why my parents would talk about him so, I began studying Donald. As I did so, I began noticing character qualities that I had always wanted in a husband: gentleness, a servant’s heart, faithfulness, patience, humility, a love for children, and many other qualities.The more I observed him, the more I noticed these qualities, and I became strangely drawn to him. I began talking to him a lot on Wednesday nights, while waiting for the service to start. He would be standing at the door, opening it for people as they entered the building, and I would come in, and sit down in a chair only a few feet away. Then we would talk for about 15 minutes until the service started. The more I got to know him, the more I admired him.
In January 2005, at age 17, I attended his sister’s birthday party. While at the party, we girls began discussing what age difference we wanted our future husbands to be. I casually remarked that I would marry a man up to 11 years older than me. For some time, people at church had been telling him that the two of us should get together. He, however, would tell them that I was too young for him. However, when he heard my comment, he changed his mind.
June 30, 2005—a day that will forever live in infamy. Donald fell off a ladder while working, and broke his knee. I had gone with my family to Tyler, Texas to visit my grandmother. That evening we were sitting in a Chinese restaurant having dinner, when my Mom’s cell phone rang. It was a man from church calling us to inform us of Donald’s accident. When my Mother relayed the news to us, my heart sank into my stomach.
Along with this sinking sensation came a sense of confusion. “Why,” I asked myself, “Does it trouble you so? He’s just a guy.” However, as I pondered the question, I realized that to me he wasn’t “just a guy,” but a guy that I “liked” very much.
A few days later, we celebrated the 4th of July with Donald and his family. During that day, I noticed something else new and strange about myself. I noticed every single time that Donald got up from a chair to try to get something, and would get upset if he tried to do it without his crutches. During the ensuing days, I kept a “hawk’s eye” on him, and would “lecture” him if I thought he was doing more than he should. Apparently he noticed this, and decided then that I was the girl for him.
July 14, 2005—another day that will forever live in infamy. My sister Faith had a birthday party on this day, and Donald and Maria were invited. During the course of conversation, I remarked to Donald that I appreciated some comments he had made in our Sunday School class the previous Sunday, and that he had said exactly what I was thinking on the subject.
When he heard that, he looked at me and said, “Well, maybe you’re the girl God wants me to marry then.” I blinked and stared at him, and then burst out laughing—something I usually do when I’m nervous, and don’t know what to say. He began laughing too, and then we changed the subject and “forgot” it.
Two days later, I had a conversation with Maria, during which she told me that Donald “liked” me, and I admitted that I returned the “liking.” For the next three or four weeks, Donald and I spent a lot of time talking with each other, and I quickly grew to admire him more than ever. So much so, that I decided that he was the one I would want to marry someday.
During the first week of August, I attended a Regional Conference for the Advanced Training Institute. While at that conference, two significant things happened. While in a session for young ladies, I heard a speaker (Mrs. Speed) talk about surrendering your “love life” to the Lord, and asking Him to take desires you have for marriage, and put them “to sleep” until His proper timing.
Everything I heard rang true in my heart, as I knew that the desires I had for marriage at that time were not in God’s timing. So, at the close of the session, I bowed my head and prayed, “Dear Heavenly Father, I want to surrender my love life to you. Can you please take these desires I have for marriage, and put me to sleep to all such desires until I’ve met the one you have for me to marry, and until it is your perfect timing? Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.” Almost instantly, those feelings and desires I had had disappeared—almost as suddenly as if someone had turned off a flowing faucet.
The second significant thing that happened during that conference, was that the Director of the ATI department at the Institute in Basic Life Principles’ Headquarters asked me to come work in their department. Having just graduated high school, and having a great interest in children and writing, the job opening they had for working with the homeschooling curriculum sounded like a perfect fit for me. After praying about it, I accepted the position, and left for Chicago on September 11 at the age of 18.
Up until the time I left, I had no communication with Donald, and avoided him whenever I saw him at church. Since God had put my desires for marriage to rest, I no longer had any feelings for him of that kind, so I basically gave him the “cold shoulder.” Over a year passed by on swift wings. The Lord during this time was taking this young girl, and stretching her—causing her to grow into a woman. During this time, Donald remained in Texas, trying not to give up all hope that I would one day return his feelings for me.
December arrived, and I knew I would be going home in a few short days for Christmas vacation. One day, a thought struck my brain, “I can’t wait to go home and see Donald.” Shocked that I had thought such a thing, I thought, “Whoa there…where did that thought come from? I haven’t even thought of him nor heard from him in the last several months.” Confused, I put the thought behind me. However, as the days continued, and I came closer to going home, I thought more and more of Donald. “Lord, what are you doing to me?” I questioned. “I thought I asked you to put me to sleep, but all these thoughts and desires are coming back to me. Please put me to sleep again!”
But no amount of praying for the Lord to remove those desires seemed to help, and I came home anxious to see Donald. Upon my first Sunday home, however, I was shocked, and even a little hurt to see that he seemed to be avoiding me. I tried my best to talk to him, but every time I headed his way, he would go the opposite direction. I thought, “Wow, you blew it Melody. You avoided him so well in the past, that now he probably dislikes you.”
A few days later, I saw a tagline he had on Skype (an instant messenger program), saying something to the effect that we needed to keep Christ in CHRISTmas. I greatly appreciated the tagline, and sent him a message to that effect (which action, I later learned, gave him hope again). Then, a few days later, three of my siblings had a violin recital, and I invited Donald to attend.
As I sat at the back of the room waiting for the recital to start, I kept an eye out for Donald. To my great joy, he came right before it began. Upon seeing him, my face (as Donald tells me) lit up like a car going from parking lights to the high beams. I was so happy that he had come, and thanked him profusely. After that evening, our conversational barrier was removed, and we once again began talking like old friends—just making no reference to the year’s silence on my end.
January came, and I returned to Chicago, singing in my head, “I left my heart, in Ft. Worth Texas,” for I realized that I wanted to stay and begin courting Donald. However, I also had a commitment and a fierce loyalty to my job in Chicago. During the next month, Donald and I corresponded quite a bit over email. After a few weeks of this, I realized that my heart was more attracted to Donald than ever, and I began feeling guilty.
I felt guilty because I knew that we did not have my Dad’s permission to correspond. And, I did not want to ask him for permission, because I felt that he would say “no,” as he had told me often that while in ministry was not the right time for me to pursue a relationship. So, I felt that to correspond with Donald was to be courting him behind my Dad’s back.
This guilt weighed on me for a few weeks, but I kept pushing it aside. Then, on February 18, while walking home that evening, I slipped on a patch of ice, and fell to the ground. Gasping for breath, I lay there a while on the snowy road, and then slowly got up and headed home. The next day, I was a little sore, but was able to cope. That evening, the guilt began pressing on me more than usual. So I decided to pray. “Lord, I know this isn’t right, and that we need to stop. However, I don’t want to be the one to tell Donald about it. Can you please work in his heart, and cause him to talk to me about it?”
The next morning, I awakened with considerable back pain—some of the most intense pain in my life, yet I still went to work. Upon arriving at work, I found I had an email from Donald saying that he was feeling guilty, and was wondering whether he had done anything wrong. My heart sank into my stomach, for I knew that something had to be done.
By that afternoon, the pain in my back had grown to such intensity that it felt like I had knives stabbing me in my lower back. A dear friend and co-worker took me to the chiropractor, where he took x-rays, and informed me that I had a slipped disc on my third lumbar, a sprained back, and severe whiplash. The doctor adjusted me, had me lie on a table, and put heat pads across my back. As I lay there, I had time to think, and realized that I needed to answer Donald’s email, and tell him that I felt guilty also—and tell him why. I began crying. How in the world was I ever going to tell him? How I reproached myself for ever letting this happen in the first place! After all, I was the one who knew courtship procedures, having been raised with them—he, however, knew nothing about it save what he had heard from me.
After leaving the chiropractor’s office, I insisted that my friend take me back to my office so that I could write that email. I wrote that email, even though I was literally writhing in pain. Then, despite my pain, I insisted on walking home—I just needed some fresh, cold air to clear my head, I said.
I cried the whole way home. The combination of bodily pain and mental distress was too much for me. Nearly to my house, I was startled by my phone ringing, and looked to find that Donald was calling me. I stifled my crying, and answered the phone with dread in my heart. “He’s gotten the email, and is probably upset…what do I say to him?” However, he was just calling to see how my chiropractor visit had gone, and to make sure that I was doing alright, so our conversation was brief and to the point.
My physical condition continued to grow worse, so much so that I no longer went to work, but stayed at home with ice packs on my back. Not liking the fact that their “baby girl” was suffering away from home, my parents had me flown home within a week of my accident. During my three weeks stay at home, the Lord showed me in two ways that it was His will for Donald and me to be together.
First of all, He showed me through my parents. While at home, I told my parents how I felt about Donald. And, to my surprise, I discovered that they felt that it was the Lord’s will for us to court, and someday get married. However, they felt that the timing was not right at that time, and that we should wait at least another year.
Secondly, He gave me an answer to prayer. Back in January, as I had once again felt attracted to Donald, and realized that he was the one I wanted to marry, my heart and my head began arguing. My heart said that he was the one, but my head said that it would never work. I knew that Donald listened to music that I had convictions against, and knew that I could never marry a man who listened to the wrong kind of music. Finally, after arguing with myself about it, I decided to pray about it instead. “Lord,” I prayed, “If this man is the one you want me to marry, then I pray that you would work in his heart and change his music standards. I will not say anything to him on the subject—I want it to be solely your work.” And this I prayed every day for the next two months.
So, while at home recuperating, I got to see Donald at church. One Sunday, he asked me whether I had anything on the subject of godly music that he could read. I said yes, and he informed me that for the last two months, the Lord had been working in his heart, and he felt it was time to change his music standards. Two months later (in June), he took all his music CDs, and smashed them with a sledge hammer. When he did this, I felt the Lord saying, “Melody, Donald is the one I want you to marry. See? Have I not clearly shown you this?”
But, being a doubting Gideon—or Thomas—I was not totally convinced. So, on June 24, 2007, I went on a hour long prayer walk around the Headquarters campus. “Lord,” I prayed, “if this is the man you would have me to marry, then can you clearly open the door wide? But if this is not your will, please slam the door in my face. I want no part of it.” This I prayed repeatedly, until I felt a peace and an assurance that God had heard my prayer. Desiring more time with God, I returned to my apartment, and opened my Bible. It fell open to Revelation 3, so I decided to begin reading there. When I got down to verses 7 and 8, my eyes widened.
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”
“Jesus is He that opens and closes doors! Well good, that’s what I’ve been asking Him to do! And it says here, that the door is open…” Thus ran my thoughts. As I continued to reread these verses, peace stole into my heart, and I heard the Still, Small voice saying to me, “Melody, I am He that opens and closes doors. I can open doors that seem impossible. And Melody, I have set before you an open door that no man can shut. You have learned that without me you can do nothing, and you have sought me in this matter. Melody, the door is open.”
Later that evening, I shared my answered prayer with my parents, and was astonished when my Dad informed me that they had known since I was 14 that I would marry Donald someday. Stunned, I once again heard the Lord say, “See, my child? The door is open.” My Dad then went on to say, “Melody, it’s not a matter of IF you marry Donald, but WHEN. It’s not a question of IF, but a question of the right timing.” He then explained that he and my mother thought that the right timing for a courtship would be when I was 21, but that if I felt differently, then I needed to pray for God to change his heart.
Two more months passed, and at the end of August, I moved back home from Chicago. I had finished the work the Lord had called me to do, and now He wanted me home. I eventually settled back into home life, and began practicing for some upcoming music exams. However, always at the back of my mind was the fact that I desperately wanted to court Donald.
Earnestly I prayed that it would all happen according to God’s timing, and that His will would be done. Yet, I clung to my timing, and longed for a courtship to begin. Seeing Donald every Sunday did not help matters either. The more I saw him, the more I wanted a courtship. At the end of September, I had two dear friends (Chloe and Lauren) from Headquarters come to stay with me for a while. Towards the end of their visit, on October 3, I had a special sharing and prayer time with Chloe.
Chloe had sensed my desires, and I discussed them at great length with her. I explained that I did not want to wait another ten months to begin courting, and that I would like to begin then. However, being a firstborn, I did not want to let my parents down by telling them that I thought differently, and therefore was determined to abide by their wishes even if it hurt. So, after talking a good deal with Chloe, we decided to pray.
We sat down on the guest bed, and began praying. Within minutes, we both slid to our knees. The presence of God was overwhelming, and I felt that I had to get on my knees before Him. Tears began streaming down my face. I once again told God what I wanted, and prayed that He would answer it. Then, Chloe began praying. As she prayed, the Lord spoke to me. “Melody, you keep telling me what you want, and keep praying that I’ll answer your prayer. But have you ever placed this desire on the altar and said, ‘Let thy will be done’?” Shame swept over me. Imagine me—little me!—telling Almighty God what I wanted!
Chloe stopped praying, and I began once again. “Lord, I place this whole matter in your hands. Donald is yours—Dad is yours. I place them and my future on your altar. May your will be done. And Lord, I would like to ask that you would give me a chance to speak with my Dad about this whole issue. But can you cause him to be the one to initiate the conversation? Thank you, Lord. And once again, thy will be done.”
The next day, I read Ps. 34. “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears…This poor [girl] cried, and the LORD heard [her], and saved [her] out of all [her] troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the [girl] that trusteth in him.” These verses, and others like them jumped out at me. I felt as if the Lord was assuring me that He had heard my prayer and would answer it. Peace and joy took control of my heart.
Three days later, my world turned upside down: God answered my prayer—He allowed me to start crying about something petty in front of my dad! Now this did not seem like my answer to prayer at the time, but upon questioning the cause of my crying, dad soon realized that a deeper issue was bothering me. Thus, he took me out to a park for several hours so that we could talk undisturbed. Once there, everything came out—everything I had held pent up inside me for months—including my tears. After hearing my desires, Dad decided that it wasn’t wise to make me wait any longer. In his words, “I can see that while your body may be with us, your heart and mind are in a different place. So, I think it’s time to get the ball rolling.” Thus, after months of praying that God would change my heart or change my dad’s heart in this situation, the Lord answered my prayer and moved the “king’s heart” in my favor.
I was stunned! To think that God had actually answered my prayer the way I so desperately longed for Him to answer it! I couldn’t help but pinch myself, wondering if it was really true. I guess that part of me believed that God’s will would be to do things as my parents saw it at the time—because to do so would be the most sacrificial and self-denying on my part…and after all, we all know that God’s will always involves sacrificing our own happiness, right? Or so I thought…Oh me of little faith!
By believing this, I failed to believe Christ’s words as absolute truth. He said that the Father loves to give good gifts to His children…that if we abide in Him, He will do whatever we ask in His name…and all this simply because He loves us! I had heard, read, and memorized these verses…yet had never taken them to heart. But I am Christ’s daughter. Why then was I so surprised that He would actually give me the answer to my prayer for which I so longed?
A few weeks later, my Dad arranged to spend a Saturday with Donald, with the intention of talking to him about me. The day came—November 17, and I was a nervous wreck. So many things could happen that day… I might be courting by the end of it. Yet, at the same time, maybe Donald didn’t feel the same way about me. After all, I’d only heard that he liked me from his sister, and he had never said so himself, but had always acted like the perfect gentleman towards me.
Well, Dad and Donald went out, and were gone for hours. I didn’t eat a single thing the entire day. Finally, around five that evening, Dad arrived back home—without Donald. Dad went into his office, and called me. I went in, and he shut the door. He then proceeded to tell me that he had talked with Donald, and that we were now free to begin a courtship. Apparently, after spending time with Donald at the gun range, he had taken him to lunch. Once they had sat down with their food, Dad looked Donald in the eyes, and said, “So, what are your intentions towards my daughter?” And they talked from there, with the end result that Dad granted him permission to court me.
After telling me this, Dad informed me that we were meeting Donald and his family at a restaurant to celebrate the beginning of our courtship. Once we got to the restaurant, and went inside, I discovered (to my pleasure) that I was to sit across from Donald. As the meal progressed, however, I became somewhat confused. Donald wasn’t saying a single word about our courtship. So, I followed his example, and didn’t say anything either. Towards the end of our meal, Dad asked for my camera, saying that we needed to take a picture to commemorate this event. I handed him the camera, and he started taking pictures.Then, while I was still looking at the camera, I heard Donald’s voice saying, “Melody, will you enter into a courtship with me?” I gasped, and looked up to see Donald standing there with a dozen red roses in his hand. I smiled, and said, “Yes.” As we left the restaurant that evening, Dad told me that I could ride in the car with Donald, and sent my sister Faith along as chaperone. We were both so dazed that we had trouble remembering how to get to my house from the restaurant, and were glad my sister was along.
Thus began an incredible eight month courtship. During our courtship, we had many Bible studies together, in which we both grew closer to each other and to the Lord. Our courtship included many fun activities, such as going to see the Nutcracker Suite, family Christmas gatherings, dinners with families, Putt Putt, bowling, trips to see extended family, and many other things. But my favorite activity during this time was simply to be with him. It didn’t matter what we did, as long as I was with him, I was happy.
Throughout the months, I grew to love Donald very much, and knew without a doubt that He was the one God had for me. God blessed me so much with a wonderful courtship filled with His gifts—a courtship that has left no regrets, but only treasured memories.The Engagement
Now, we come to my favorite part of our story: the proposal! On my 21st birthday—July 30, 2008—my family and I went to the Dallas Arboretum under the guise of Dad wanting to take pictures of his daughters (who had gotten all dressed up for the occasion). Well, after a couple of hours of taking pictures in the suffocating heat, we were all tired, hot, sweaty, and thirsty. So, we headed over to a Mansion on the grounds to get a drink, and then go for a tour of the Mansion. After getting our drink from a water fountain, we all sat down on benches in front of the mansion to wait for the next available tour. While we sat there, I looked up, and found to my amazement that Donald was walking towards me. I had been under the impression that I would probably not get to see him that day, as he was going to have to work.Well, he walked up and said, "Happy Birthday," and then asked me if I was surprised. I assured him that I was. He then informed me that his mother and sister were also with him, which news I was very glad to hear. After they had joined the rest of us, we all headed over to an area where Dad could take some more pictures of us. Once Donald and I had posed, Dad told us that there was a gazebo somewhere ahead in which he wanted to take pictures of us, and asked the two of us to go find it, saying that he would join us after he was done taking pictures of the rest of the family. So, doing as we were told, the two of us went searching for a gazebo. After a while, we found one, but discovered that a wedding party was using it for their picture taking. We then searched for another one, but to no avail. Finally, Donald suggested that we just find a nice, shady area and sit down and wait for the others to join us.
Once we found a spot meeting both our approval, we sat down. After sitting down, he handed me a birthday card, and asked me if I would read it out loud. Towards the end of a somewhat lengthy "letter" that he had written in the card, it said "I once again wish you a very Happy Birthday, which I suspect truly will be one of your best birthdays ever when you look up at me and see the gift I have for you." I looked up, and discovered that he was getting on his knee. I knew then for a fact that what I had begun suspecting halfway through the card was actually happening--he was going to propose to me! Donald was holding a ring in his hand, and was saying, "Melody, I love you, and cannot imagine a life spent without you. Will you marry me?" I replied, "I love you too. Yes, I'll marry you." Then, after the removal of the courtship/purity ring given to me by my Dad on my 12th birthday, Donald took my hand for the first time (and last time until our wedding day) and slipped a beautiful engagement ring onto my finger. Once the family had joined us, and more pictures were taken, we all went to a restaurant to have dinner and not only celebrate mine and Harmony's birthdays, but to also celebrate the wondrous goodness of God as portrayed in mine and Donald's relationship.
I am so very happy and am incredibly at peace, knowing that I am in the center of God's will. God has been so good--so wondrously, overwhelmingly good to me. I love Donald very much, and cannot wait to be his wife. Throughout our courtship and engagement, we have not had any physical contact with one another.While this has taken a great amount of self control on both our parts, we both believe that it will be worth it in the end—or, should I say the beginning?
The first time that we hold hands, hug, or kiss will be on our wedding day at the marriage altar. In saving all physical contact for marriage, our courtship and engagement have had a purity seldom seen in the world’s relationships as we have had an opportunity to make the Lord the center of our relationship. I praise the Lord for giving me a man with a commitment to purity before marriage. I praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works done for me. All glory, honor, praise, and dominion be unto His matchless name!A visit to my bookshelf...
[Courageous Manhood]
11/26/2008 7:16 am
By Rohlin, Richard
"People will know you," goes the saying, "by the company you keep and the books you read." I think in this day and time we might also add the television and movies you watch to that list. It is a fact that the character of a person will be influenced by the kind of examples set before them -- especially during the formative years of childhood. So good influences can help foster the growth of good character. "Evil communication," however, "corrupts good manners." Computer programmers phrase it this way: "garbage in, garbage out."
It was with this thought in mind that several months ago a mother asked my advice on the kind of reading materials I thought would encourage the development of godly character and manly virtues in the lives of her sons. The following is a sort of "recommended reading list" that I gave her.
The Works of G.A. Henty
A few Christmases ago my father bought me a set of 40 of these delightful books. To this day I still consider that to be the most valuable Christmas gift I have ever received. These are ideal for the lad with a love of history and adventure. Henty's books deal with an actual historical setting (most often a war or time of particular crisis) and set in it a fictional character who, along with interacting with important historical figures such as Moses, William Wallace, and Gustavus Adolphus, also has his own adventures and personal battles he must face.
Incidentally, if the name Gustavus Adolphus isn't ringing a bell, it's a sign you should read more Henty.
Henty's characters are almost uniformly chivalrous and good-hearted -- to the point that some have accused Henty of casting the same character for every single story. This criticism really falls apart if you've read enough of his works. But it is true that most of Henty's characters are motivated by the same sense of morality and virtue, regardless of their historical setting or circumstances. And that, I think, is a good thing. Henty's characters are good role models in that they generally represent what we all should be.
For the boy who has trouble giving his attentions to schooling, Henty's works are also an excellent way to learn history. Henty is almost always well-researched and accurate in his historical facts.
There are literally scores of Henty books and it's hard to pick a favorite out of them. Here are four that would be a good start:
In Freedom's Cause: A Tale of Wallace and Bruce
With Frederick the Great: A Story of the Seven Years' War
In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy -- If you only ever read one Henty book, this should be the one.
St. Bartholomew's Eve: A Tale of the Huguenot Wars -- A very stirring tale about the French Huguenots who stood up in defense of their families against Catholic persecution.
Henty's books can be found as free electronic texts at Project Gutenberg. Preston Speed publications also publishes some nicely-bound editions, which are available both directly from Preston Speed and from Vision Forum.
The Works of R.M. Ballantyne
I was actually introduced to Ballantyne's works when I came across an electronic copy of his The Coral Island. He is hands-down my favorite author. In my library, his books are given a place of honor even above that of my Henty volumes.
The reasons for this are twofold. First, Ballantyne is one of the most engaging writers you could ever hope to read. His works have an easy, conversational style that makes them more enjoyable to read. At least, in my opinion.
Second, each and every one of Ballantyne's works unashamedly proclaims the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Unlike some writers, he manages to accomplish this without making it seem forced or unnatural. The glory of God's creation; the depravity of man; the mercy of God; the civilizing influence of Christianity; these are all issues that are not only reflected in Ballantyne's world view, but taught in his stories.
Ballantyne wrote a number of different kinds of stories -- most of them set in the early nineteenth century. They typically involve a varied group of adventurers off in far-flung and exotic locations. Others treat on the hardships and trials our forefathers faced in everyday life. Still others are meticulously-researched historical novels. Reading a Ballantyne book is akin to an exposition on the history, flora, fauna of the given region with which the book deals.
If you were going to introduce some of these books to your sons or daughters, these are some I'd recommend for a good start:
Erling the Bold -- If I had to choose one Ballantyne book above all the rest, it'd be this one. One of Ballantyne's historical novels, this will get the martial spirit of any young man stirring.
Hunted and Harried -- A moving tale of the hardships endured by the Scottish Covenanters.
Shifting Winds -- A good all-around story enjoyable for all members of the family.
The Blue Lights -- Probably my second favorite of Ballantyne's works. The Blue Lights is the story of a rebellious young man and the lengths God takes him through to turn his heart back toward his parents. Along the way, of course, he has several adventures.
Most of Ballantyne's works can be found as electronic texts on Gutenberg. Vision Forum now has several that they have published.
Robinson Crusoe
This book by Daniel Defoe has been considered a classic for generations -- so many generations, in fact, that people like Charles Dickens read it as a boy. It is an inspiring tale of one man's survival alone year after year on an island, the only humans he met with for years being savage cannibals. The titular character of this book demonstrates the manly virtues of courage, determination, and perseverance. He learns, too, to repent from his rebellious youth and lean upon the almighty hand of
Everybody, at least once in their life, should read Robinson Crusoe.
The Holy Bible
We must be careful not to forget that the Holy Scriptures really do contain more fantastic and yet completely true stories of manliness and courage than any book penned by mortal imagination. The acts of David and his mighty men alone put to shame the wildest tales concocted by writers of fiction. Just some of their mighty deeds can be found in 2 Samuel 23:8 -- like Adino, who slew eight-hundred enemies with a spear in one fight. Or Eleazar, who fought so hard and so long that his sword stuck to his hand.
My point here is that boys should be taught that they need not turn to the world's alternatives for entertainment. God has stories in His Word that licks anything the world has to offer hollow.
Biographies
I have noticed that for some reason it is difficult to get young boys to read biographies. Aside from Scripture, there is really no better way to learn godly character than from the lives of those who have gone on before. My suggestion is that parents start making the reading of biographies a daily family activity. This will foster an interest that will grow as the boy matures. The recorded lives of God's saints are too many to list here, but I'll share a few of my personal favorites:
William Wilberforce -- Probably one of my greatest heroes. He had a deep love for God and an almost supernatural amount of determination.
Hudson Taylor
Jonathan Goforth
I would also strongly recommend Vision Forum's Adventures in Missionary Heroism. This book is full of fascinating stories, most of which are brief enough to be read to the family in one sitting.
In closing, let me again stress the importance of encouraging your sons to read quality books. Yes, almost everything I have listed was written before 1900. That may mean the words will be a little harder and the vocabulary a little broader than that to which most kids are used. Let this be a challenge to overcome – not an impassible obstacle. The improved reading and writing skills that will result will be an education in and of themselves.
Excelsior!
Where's the Good Music?
[Music and the Family]
10/27/2008 7:25 am
By Rohlin, Robert
The queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon because she wanted to see for herself if even half of what she had heard about his wisdom, his wealth, and his kingdom was true. She came to the conclusion that she had not even heard a fraction of the greatness that she witnessed when seeing a king so blessed by God.
I think that part of what impressed her was the things Solomon did to give glory to God. When Solomon was king of Israel, he not only built the Temple but decorated the street between his palace and the Temple. The Scripture records that he lined both sides of the street with men holding shields made of solid gold.
It is sad, though, that these shields did not remain in the possession of Israel. After Saul's death, the kingdom split. His son Rehoboam became king over only two of the twelve tribes of Israel. What happens next is truly sad:
And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. And king Rehoboam made in their stead brazen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house. And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber. (1 Kings 14:25-28)
Pay attention to the picture here. The king of Egypt -- the Pharaoh -- wears a crown that includes a golden serpent. This is a picture or "type" of Satan. He comes to God's chosen people and steals all the golden shields. So what does the king of Judah do? Does he say, "No way, Jose! Give those back. We use those in the worship of the Lord. That you are not going to take!"? No. Instead, he looks for a cheaper substitute and makes shields out of brass.
I have some brass things in my home. Brass can indeed look shiny. But after a while, it becomes dull, then dingy, then dirty. You see, brass tarnishes -- something that gold will not do. Gold is a pure metal, but brass is an alloy. So Rehoboam COMPROMISED by introducing a COMPROMISED metal to be used in the worship of God.
I wonder what it was like walking from the palace to the Temple surrounded by brass shields. I think you might have noticed the shine. But you would have also noticed the darkening. You might have spent the whole walk focused on the shields because something in you knew they didn't reflect the glory of God.
We have done the same thing in our churches and even in our homes and private worship. We choose a compromised vehicle for worship instead of worshiping God with that which lifts our thoughts to His majesty. I believe perhaps the most prevalent area of compromise in our churches today is in the music we use.
Now I'll save my specific observations on what Scripture says about music for future blogs. For now I'll say only that I want to strive to have godly music that points to the majesty of God and honors Him. I want my children to have thoughts of God and for their minds to be filled with Scripture. I want them to hear good music daily so that when they hear the world's music, they will reject it as counterfeit.
In our house, my computer is hooked to the intercom system. I make a point of playing godly Christian music over the intercom as often as possible, so that my children can experience the "gold" of music. I want them to grow up knowing the sense of Majesty that comes by hymns of true praise. Please don't let the serpent steal your golden shields of worship from your home by listening to music that is not easily distinguishable from the world.
A Sack Lunch
[Illustrations]
10/23/2008 7:47 am
By Rohlin, Robert
I'm not in the habit of repeating stories or posting them. But I've been on a lot of flights with soldiers on their way to or from armed conflict. I always try to let them know I appreciate their service of protecting me and my family. Sometimes when I've seen them in a restaurant, I've picked up their bill anonymously so they didn't have to pay. Isn't that the least we can do for the fact these individuals lay down their lives so we can have the freedoms we do? So I was especially moved by the following story. I hope you will enjoy it, too.
The Sack Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.
Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq '
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago ' His friend agreed.
I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, an said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.
Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!
Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check Made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in This country who no longer understand it.'
| Page 1 » 1-15 of 20 |
9(0x0*Off)11(2*2)&utmwv=1&utmn=6836775696&utmsr=-&utmsc=-&utmul=-&utmje=0&utmfl=-&utmdt=-&utmhn=firstbaptistlascolinas.com&utmr=&utmp=/noscript&utmac=UA-27114567-1&utmcc=__utma%3D86775862.1878632453.1337510378.1337510378.1337510378.2%3B%2B__utmb%3D86775862%3B%2B__utmc%3D86775862%3B%2B__utmz%3D86775862.1337510378.2.2.utmccn%3D(direct)%7Cutmcsr%3D(direct)%7Cutmcmd%3D(none)%3B%2B__utmv%3D86775862%3B)