A MEMORIAL DAY REMINDER

I am thankful that I live in the U.S.A.,a land of prosperity and freedom. I am fully aware that the freedoms we enjoy here have come at an extremely high price. That price is the life-blood of many a soldier who, in various wars and conflicts, has carried the battle to the enemy in order to keep us safe here.

This is a day that we have set aside to remember with grateful hearts those who have given all to preserve and protect our freedom. We are also mindful of those whose lives are daily on the line as they track down the enemy there so he can’t come here. The words ‘thank you’ seem terribly insufficient, but it’s all I have so, THANK YOU!

However, there is another group of freedom fighters that is often overlooked. They are missionaries. The missionary is one who takes the great comission seriously and personally. He hears his Master’s call and readily obeys. He immediately begins to downsize and make preparation to leave. He says goodbye to loved ones and friends. He packs his bags, and together with his wife and kids, leaves behind the comfortable familiarity of his homeland to go to an unfamiliar place where they have not asked for him and possibly may be hostile to him.

Many missionaries are working in hostile environments where their lives are constantly in jeopardy. Many of them have died in faraway lands where their bodies lie in unmarked graves. Some of them have been attacked and killed by the very ones to whom they were ministering. Others have succumbed to diseases or other dangers that are inherent to the harsh evironment in which they lived and worked. They are like those of whom the writer of Hebrews says “…the world was not worthy”.

While the value and success of a soldier can be more or less easily assessed, the contribution of these unsung heroes cannot be calculated by human reasoning. Only in eternity will we be able to truely assess the value and fruit of the missionary’s service. (Rev. 14:13 “…and their works do follow them.’)

In the eternal state we shall hear the story of the potentially successful terrorist who, through the preaching of a missionary, surrendered to Christ. We shall rejoice with the one-time political rebel who was transformed by the faithful gospel witness of a missionary, and through the teaching of that missionary, began to preach the good news too. In eternity we will fellowship with many who would have been our enemies, but because of a missionary, they are our brothers in Christ .

As we remember the awsome contribution of those in the armed forces of the U.S.A., let’s not forget the soldiers of the cross. When we get to Heaven, we might learn that they contributed more to the preservation of our freedom than the military, without firing a shot.

Hey! You gotta admit, that’s purdy. See? It’s eve…

Hey! You gotta admit, that’s purdy. See? It’s even smilin’ for the picture. It is a work of art.It’s all American. It’s a Chevy. It’s old, and I love it. What’s not to love about it? It’s an amazingly graceful old Chevy.

Before you ask, no, it isn’t mine. I found this picture somewhere else on the internet. At present I don’t have a digital camera, so I can’t post pictures of my stuff yet. Not only that, but I don’t yet know how to scan my photos in. Believe me, ignorance is not bliss.

For those who would say that it is extremely carnal for a pastor to love old cars so much, you’ll get no argument from me. All I can say is “O wretched man that I am…”

ANOTHER MISSIONARY MEMORY

This is a rerun of a post that I did back in May . It is the account of another challenge that one faces while trying to get it right on the ‘mission field’. More to come in later posts.

PREPARATION PLANTING AND PLOWING; NOW THAT’S HARD WORK!

While working as a missionary in Mexico, I observed as a group of pentecostal ‘missionaries’ breezed into the town in which we were laboring. They were there for only one week. They held services every night with relatively large crowds attending. By the time they left at the end of the week, they had a thriving work established with a local pastor who had just been converted during their week-long meeting. According to them, it was miraculous.

I must confess that when I saw how easy it seemed to be for them, I felt a little discouraged with the little I had been able to accomplish. We had been living in that particular town for about two years, during which, we encountered political, spiritual, and religious opposition . I was trying to be faithful to pray, witness, and teach the Word of God, but with only occasional visible results. My congregation was small and my converts few in comparison to theirs. I began to question in my heart:” Why is it so easy for those who are, to say the least, mis-representing the gospel, while it seems so difficult for me?” I had no doubt that I was preaching the truth, but hey, it kinda makes ya wonder.

I needed help, and the help I needed came from the very same Bible that I was using to teach others. I remembered how Jesus often used agricultural metaphors in His teaching ministry. One of the most familiar ones is found in Matt.13:3-9. In this parable, which He explains in v.18-23, Jesus tells of a Sower, His seed, and the soils. Jesus is the Sower, the seed is the Word of God, and the soils represent the people who hear the Word.

In this parable, all the seed that fell on unprepared soil eventually perished. Some never took root at all, some sprang up quickly, some even lasted a while, but all the seed on the unworked soil perished. However, the seed that fell into the good (prepared) ground, not only survived, but brought forth fruit.

Someone had worked long and hard preparing that soil to receive the seed. It was not over-night success, or even one -week success. It took time, dedication, and hard, back-breaking work. But the work didn’t end with the preparation of the soil. In order for the plants to survive and bring forth fruit, they had to be faithfully tended. That means even more time and work.

Here is the point I’m trying to make: God does miraculously establish His work through the preaching of the Word. But in the words of A.W. Tozer, “The miracles follow the plow.” The wilderness and the weeds will grow just fine by themselves, but to have a fruitful crop, we must work for it.

A PEARL OF WISDOM FROM PASTOR STEVE WEAVER

As you all know, Pastor Steve Weaver is my son. We live about 650 mi. apart, so we don’t see one another very often. However, we talk by telephone almost daily. During one of our phone conversations in which we were discussing how busy we are(he, very; me, not so much), this pearl of wisdom fell from his lips:”It seems like the busier I am, the more I am able to accomplish.” Frankly folks, I was dumbfounded! That is profound! Not only was that a deep and highly quotable thought, but I am (almost) positive that it was 100% original. (Friendly warning: If you are planning on using this quote in, for instance, a motivational speech, you must give Steve the appropriate acknowledgement.)

But wait! There’s more! After recovering from my initial amazement, and after quietly giving thanks that such wisdom dwelt among men, a response was triggered in my own mind. Almost without thinking, I said:” That’s interesting, because I’ve just been thinking that the more I lay around, the less I am able to accomplish”. Now I don’t expect my observation to get equal time with Steve’s, but it does prove the truth of the proverb:”Iron sharpeneth iron…”(Pro.27:17)

RADICAL CHRISTIANITY

As I preach through the book of Luke, I am both awed and convicted as I consider the radical nature of Jesus’ teaching.
From ch.9v.51 through ch.19v.27, the events and teachings recorded take place as He journeys toward Jerusalem. He knows that this part of His earthly ministry is going to end very soon at Calvary. So, it seems to me that He intensifies the tone of His teaching so that it will have a maximum effect on His hearers.
His teaching in this section is designed to do at least two things: 1.To instruct His true followers.2.To identify the false ones. In order to accomplish that, He sets the standard high and draws a bold, clear, and well-defined dividing line. We all are on one side or the other. Ch.11v.23 states it in unmistakable terms:”He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.” Now that’s radical! There is no neutral ground. Nope, none. Not any. Nary a bit.
Jesus demands an all or nothing commitment. He is not teaching, as some mistakenly believe, some higher form of Christianity. It is the ONLY form of Christianity that He taught. Jesus’ teachings are not suggestions but commands. We are either endeavoring to obey them as commands or we are actively rebelling against them.There is no middle ground.

LESSONS FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOP

(Luk 9:28) And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
(Luk 9:29) And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
(Luk 9:30) And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
(Luk 9:31) Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
(Luk 9:32) But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
(Luk 9:33) And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
(Luk 9:34) While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
(Luk 9:35) And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
(Luk 9:36) And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
(Luk 9:37) And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

Lesson #1. God gives mountain-top experiences: Those precious times when His presence is so sweet, His glory is to some degree unveiled , and we get a fresh understanding of His work and ministry.

Lesson #2. Mountain-top experiences are relatively rare. Jesus taught His disciples and revealed His glory in many ways, but as far as the gospel record is concerned, there was never another experience like the one described in these verses.

Lesson #3. Christians can easily be distracted by an emotionally charged experience and begin to focus on prolonging or repeating it.
Peter said,”Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us build three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah:” These words indicate that his focus was already beginning to shift from the manifestation of Jesus’ glory to a desire to prolong the experience.

Lesson#4. It’s all about Him! Peter was willing to put Jesus first in his tabernacle building proposition. But the cloud came, and the fear, and then the Voice. “This is my beloved son: hear him”. He is not to be #1 on our list of important things to be considered in our christian service or worship. He is everything! It’s not about the emotional experience, although passion in worship is good. It’s not about the other participants or those who help us in worship. It’s about Him!
*He is to be the focus of all our preaching.
*Praying is about what He wants more than about what I want.
* He alone is to be the focus of our worship.
*Our witnessing should be about Him, His glory, His holiness, His demands, and the remedy He has provided for man’s sin.

Lesson #5. Ministry takes place at the foot of the mountain (v.37). Those to whom we are called upon to minister, will not be on the mountain with us. They are in the lowlands. However, the One who is with us on the mountain, leads us as we minister in the valley.

CLARIFICATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS

After considering what I have written in my INTRODUCTORY POST, I think maybe I should clarify a few things. In this post I want to clarify what I meant by the term ‘recovering IFBer’. The initials IFB stand for Independent Fundamental Baptist.
A. I am still an independent baptist in that I pastor (or pester depending on which of my members you talk to) an independent baptist church.
B. I have not ‘recovered’ nor am I ‘recovering’ from the fundamentals of the Faith. Rather I am daily coming to a deeper understanding and love for the fundamental doctrines and bible truth.
C.I am still a baptist. I can love, appreciate, fellowship with, and profit from anyone ,who is doctrinally sound on the basics, no matter what his denomination. But I am a baptist by conviction.

Then, from what am I ‘recovering’? I am recovering from some of the doctrines, but mostly from the attitudes of some (not all) of my IFB brethren.

• The bless God, you’d better listen to me attitude.”I have all the answers,so you don’t need to think for yourself”.
• The if you question me, you’re a compromiser attitude.”.The only reason others don’t preach it like I do is that they are sissy crowd pleasers”.
• The I can’t fellowship with anyone who doesn’t see every detail exactly like I do attitude. “And even though you seem to believe just like me, I’m gonna keep my eye on you because you might say or do something that I don’t agree with . Or you might fellowship with somebody that I don’t agree with, and then I’ll have to tell everybody what a compromiser you are. Thereby exalting myself as the Lone Ranger of Rightness.
• The I never struggle, doubt, or fail attitude. “If you do, then you probably aren’t saved”.
• The Go ahead. Get mad and leave the church attitude. “You look better going than you do coming anyway”.

I could go on and on. Like others, I could tell some horror stories as well as some humorous ones, but I’ll have to save them for another time.

INTRODUCTORY POST

I am a newcomer to computers, the internet and blogging. You will also quickly detect that I am new to writing. Apart from sermon prep, I haven’t done much of it. I started this blog in part to force myself to articulate my thoughts and theology by writing them out. So this is going to require a new discipline for me . I am greatly influenced by superior bloggers such as:Phil Johnson, Frank Turk, James Spurgeon,Tom Ascol and many others of this stripe. My two favorite blogs, of course, are PASTOR STEVE WEAVER’S BLOG and DOXOBLOGY. These two young men are the smartest, most articulate, fervent, anoited, cutting edge, doctrinally sound to be found anywhere on the internet.(Is my prejudice showing?) I confess that I am not in the same league with these men that I have named either educationally or spiritually. However I do occasionally have something to say and I intend to try to say it coherently on this blog. Have mercy on me and try not to judge me too harshly if I fail in this attempt. I feel a little uncomfortable saying “I” so much, but in this introductory post I think I need to kinda ’splain myself and where I’m coming from. Theologically I’m a Calvinist. I pastor a small independent baptist church in Titusville Fl. where I preach verse-by-verse through books of the bible. I am not into the KJVonly debate, however I do only preach from the KJV. I can readily identify with guys like James Spurgeon and RegularJoe in that I also am a recovering IFBer. I guess I never really fit in with them, though, and was often viewed with a certain amount of suspicion. Although I tried to be accepted, I just didn’t seem to fit in. For one thing I never beieved in nor did I practice Hyles style easy-believism. I was always a little too close to Calvinism, although I hadn’t come to a full understanding of the doctrines of grace. I always have believed that the church’s primary purpose is not “soul winning” but to worship and glorify God. Please don’t mis-understand this last statement. I believe in the great commission.My family and I spent a total of 5 years on the mission field in Old Mexico. I just believe that evangelism must be done in a scriptural way and that it is to be done for the glory of God. The focus is on God and not the “soul”. By the way, can you tell that I don’t know how to make this thing do paragraphs? Now, you might ask “why is this blog named AMAZING GRACE AND OLD CHEVYS ?” The answer is simple. I love the doctrines of grace and am still, after 28 years, amazed that God would extend His saving grace to me. I also love old Chevys. I like to drive ‘em, I like to see ‘em, I like to buy ‘em, I like to sell ‘em. I like ‘em. What more can I say? If John Calvin were alive today he would say “Old Chevys are the bomb”.