True Greatness

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

IN CHRIST ALONE

There is a popular, modern-day hymn, called “In Christ Alone”. This song, as well as any, has captured the essence of the Christian message. The message begins with the miraculous truth of the incarnation. In this doctrine, we learn that over 2000 years ago, in the small rural town of Bethlehem, God made His dwelling with man. The word “incarnation” literally means “in the flesh”. Jesus was no mere man, He was the miraculous incarnation of the eternal and Almighty God.

“In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness”

The song continues to tell the story of Jesus in the next verse,

“Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live”

The climax of Jesus’ life was His death on the cross. However, Jesus was not merely a victim, for He said, “No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! (John 10:18) You see, Jesus was uniquely qualified to absorb God’s just and holy judgement for sin. He was born to die. The good news (or gospel) is that anyone who puts their trust in Jesus will have their sin debt paid for in full. God cannot just look the other way when it comes to our sin. He is entirely pure and holy, and He will judge lawbreakers in proportion to their crimes. Yet at the same time, He is overflowing with compassion and love. That’s why Jesus was willing to take your penalty for you. Not only can you be forgiven for your past sins, but your future sins as well (because Christians still sin). God can grant you eternal life on the basis of substitution. Jesus took your sin, and in return, He offers you His perfect righteousness. Will you recieve it?

It’s a free gift, but it is very costly. It requires repentance. To repent, means to die to your former life and be born again. If you turn to God in faith, He will give you a new heart with new desires. God will become your Father, Jesus your friend, and the Holy Spirit will comfort you and guide you in your walk with Him. If you do that today, pick up a Bible and start reading the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Obey what you read, and find a good church to help you grow.

Christmas is all about Jesus. What better time for you to become a Christian? If you are already a believer, perhaps this season will renew your faith. I pray that it does; but most of all, I pray that you will be encouraged, by God’s grace, to share your faith with your family and friends. In Christ Alone

– Matt Johnson

The Sweetest Most Sacred Spot on Earth!

2011-10-21T05:03:00.000-07:00

In many ways, the Christian home is just like any other home. The kids fight, make messes, and disrespect their parents. The husband and wife quarrel, nag, and yell at their kids. To varying degrees, the Christian's home is no more peacable and loving than that of their muslim neighbors or unbelieving relatives. However, unlike other family structures, the Christian home has the potential of becoming the sweetest and most sacred place on earth - namely because it is where God Himself is pleased to dwell. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty and freedom. Where the presence of the Holy One abides, there is a harvest of spiritual fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentlesness, faitfulness, and self-control. The puritan, Charles Orr, gives us a glimpse into what the Christian home can be, by God's grace.

Charles Orr, "Christianity in Home Life")

Nowhere is Christianity more beautifully displayed, than in the home. It changes the home of wickedness, strife, and contention--into a peaceful and delightful Eden. It converts the home of the wicked--into a palace. It drives away discontentment, uneasiness, fear, and darkness--and showers contentment, peace, and sunlight into every heart

Christianity in home life--makes all . . .
love and kindness--between brothers and sisters;
love and dutifulness--between parents and children;
love, peace, harmony, honesty, and faithfulness--between husband and wife.

Christianity makes a home--a Heaven! A Christian home where all is love and tenderness and devotion--is the sweetest and most sacred spot on earth! A home where Christianity is crowned a queen in every heart--is an Eden. The heart of God is filled with delight as He looks down upon such a home! His presence dwells there, and causes this home to be a beautiful oasis in this wilderness world of sin.

Alas, that such homes are so few! Sin destroys the happiness of man, and makes many a home--a hotbed of contention, strife, and confusion!

When the husband and wife are kind, loving, and gentle toward each other; when she in her weakness feels her dependence upon him, and lovingly, trustingly looks unto him as her defense; and he in his strength and delight enfolds her in his strong arms of protection with a feeling of responsibility to nourish and cherish her--then they can testify, that they have a Heaven in their home!

Unless we have attained unto such a life--we have not attained to Bible Christianity, nor to domestic joy and happiness.

This excerpt was from GraceGems.org - if you like this kind of old-school, gospel-centered truth, then be sure to subscribe to their daily emails.

Godly Discipline: The Lost Art of Biblical Reproof

2011-10-17T12:10:00.001-07:00

Having a baby is a tremendous joy for new parents. Raising a baby on-the-other-hand is an eye-opening experience into the nature of the human condition. The first few months are innocent enough, but as the baby grows so does his/her propensity to exhibit certain undesirable characteristics: selfishness, anger, dishonesty, greed, rebellion, etc. In response to the growing list of inequities, parents often fall into the ditch of disciplinary extremes. Some parents can become abusive, while others turn a blind eye to their children’s behavior. Both extremes are equally destructive, but biblical, loving correction can be the single most influential blessing in the life of a child.

Spanking a child can be a necessary and loving form of correction, but sometimes it is sadly abused. Parents who become abusive spank out of anger and frustration. They become easily irritated and “fly off the handle” at even the slightest transgression. Oftentimes, the children are punished for behavior directly related to a parent’s lack of involvement and direction. Perhaps the reason these parents have become abusive in their discipline is because they struggle with patience, self-control, and pride. Corporal discipline can also become abusive when it is excessive or inflicts physical injury. This type of discipline is unjust, unloving, and ungodly.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, parents who refuse to acknowledge their children’s sinful nature, regard deviance as merely acting-out in order to receive what they need. These parents attempt to fill their children’s self-perceived void with gifts, attention, and affirmation. While they do not intend to cause harm, those who affirm their child without correcting behavior are passively approving it. These children will grow into adults who cannot be corrected or rebuked. They do not perceive error, and they cannot come to terms with their own sinful appetites. Therefore, those who have not learned to accept responsibility for their sin will not acknowledge their transgressions, and consequently cannot be saved from them. This is by far the greatest error, and it is extraordinarily common today.

If the ultimate goal of Christian parenting is to prepare children to respond to the gospel, then it is imperative that discipline accomplishes this goal. By modeling the character of God the Father, a Christian parent can discipline their children through pain, in a way that cultivates humility, builds trust, and shows them their need of a savior. God’s discipline can sting, but it does not last forever. It is intended to drive us to repentance, where we will ultimately encounter restoration and joy.

Whether the parent uses a spoon, paddle, or a firm swat on the backside, the end result is a physical, emotional, and spiritual connection with sin. Little Johnny learns that sin equates to pain, and this will restrain his sinful nature. Furthermore, Johnny’s parents must counsel him concerning his offense, explaining what he did wrong and why he was punished. Most importantly though, little Johnny needs to know that because of Jesus, God is not mad at him, and neither are his parents. Every corporal punishment should end with hope, encouragement, and love. This form of discipline influences children in a positive way and brings glory to God.

Healthy Churches Plant Churches

2011-10-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

Churches in post-Christian America have many challenges, but for those who have experienced success, the challenge of rapid growth is a good problem to have. To handle the growth, congregations will be challenged to choose between two biblical options. One course of action is known as the Mega-Church Model. In this model, churches deploy their resources to build bigger facilities, create more programs, and hire additional staff to accommodate the larger attendance. The second model of church growth is the Church Plant Model. In this model, the growing church sends a group of committed believers into the surrounding community to give birth to a second, start-up church, commonly known as a church plant. When planning a course of action, growing churches would be wise to consider how each model will impact resources, spiritual health, and faithfulness to the Great Commission.

Churches, like all organizations, have limited resources, and because they are non-profit, wise stewardship of these resources is even more paramount. While rapid growth means the absence of available space, it also means an increased offering and larger volunteer base. This reality drives many churches to consider the Mega-Church Model. However, building a bigger building will cost more than just dollars. This model will require additional staff to maintain the building and care for the church’s growing number of programs. Furthermore, this model causes strain on leadership to organize and facilitate the complex issues that result. On the other hand, the Church Plant Model minimizes the need for additional staff, and does not result in additional programs. In a church plant, the “Mother Church” is still invested in the process, but to a much lesser degree.

A growing church that chooses the Mega-Church Model can experience a period of prosperity and spiritual health. Members of this model will often list the benefits, such as better facilities, diverse programs, and additional paid staff members, as the recipe for spiritual health. However, studies have shown that over time, spiritual health gives way to spiritual complacency. Members of mega-churches often cite the lack of doctrinal depth and meaningful relationships as reasons for discontentment. However, in the Church Plant Model, just the opposite is true. The rigors of starting a church are shown to create real, binding relationships for those who have committed themselves to the task. These gospel-centered relationships, coupled with doctrinal depth and clarity, form the foundation for a spiritually healthy congregation.

Additionally, a second blessing is created for the mother church. The excitement of planting new churches inadvertently sparks evangelism, builds unity, and reenergizes the faithful to fulfilling the Great Commission, given by Jesus in Matthew 28. Facing the temptations of comfort and familiarity, mega-churches can grow complacent in their evangelical zeal. In contrast, church planters are actively involved in their communities, reaching out to the lost and serving the broken-hearted. Spiritual health and faithfulness to the Great Commission is the mission for every Christian church, and while good churches can come to different conclusions on how to manage growth, those who choose the Church Plant Model will experience greater blessings and ultimately win more souls to Christ.

To learn more, check out Pastor Everhard's article on Church Planting in the Fall 2010 edition of Sola Fide.

My Brother’s Death and the Life that Followed

2011-10-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

The apostle Paul, seeking to strengthen the church in Rome, reminded the believers of God’s gracious purpose in the midst of suffering. He writes, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) My family is living proof of this exceedingly great promise found in scripture. My brother, Bryan, passed away ten years ago at the age of 27. He was a man who seemed to be continually at war with personal demons. His life was a rollercoaster of addiction, sobriety, and relapse. Despite his setbacks, he was known by those who loved him for his more endearing qualities: love, gentleness, and faith. His death was sudden and heartbreaking. My family and I sought to find purpose in the pain, but there was none to be found. It wasn’t until years later that we began to see how God used this tragedy to usher in a new era of life.

My sister, Dena and her husband, John, were still newlyweds when Bryan passed away. Something happened in the months following the funeral. Dena and John began attending church, searching for answers to life’s ultimate questions. God began to heal their hearts, replacing the sorrow of death with gospel joy. It didn’t happen overnight, but soon Dena and John were walking alongside Jesus. He had given them new birth, along with new hearts, and new desires. Today, Dena and John are planting a church, ministering to their community, and raising godly children.

When Dena and John gave their lives to Christ, they became the only Christians I knew. At the age of 21, four years after my brother’s death, I experienced a turning point in my own life. I foolishly ignored the costly lessons of my brother’s life, and I spent my college years flirting with drugs and addiction. One day, a freak heart palpitation changed everything. For the first time since my brother’s funeral, I could taste death. I wondered if my life was wasted. I wondered what my fate would be for neglecting so many blessings. I turned to the ones who I knew had answers.

Dena and John helped lead me to my Savior. Because God had changed their lives, a door was opened for me. By His grace, I walked though it, and never looked back. Today, I am married to the only woman I have ever loved, the father of two beautiful children, and God has blessed me a flourishing ministry and career. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that by the age of 27, the same age as my brother when he passed away; I would go from self-centered agnostic to gospel-centered husband and father. Since my conversion in 2005, I have seen God use my life to impact countless others, including many family members.

While it hasn’t always been easy, I have become confident in the Lord’s grace and purpose in my life. God has been faithful to His promise. He used the untimely death of my brother to save my life and spark a revival that continues to this day.

Alaska Sunrise

2011-10-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning – late, as usual. It was summer in Alaska, and I had trouble sleeping again. The bed was comfortable, but 22-hours of daylight can make it hard for visitors to fall asleep. I stepped outside my cabin and breathed deeply. Even though it was early July, the mountain air was a crisp 55 degrees. I looked at the mountains which dominated the Denali landscape, a landscape so remote that it required a bush plane to reach. The water on Lake Chelatna was like glass, and I could not discern reflection from reality. I thought about reality. In this grand solitude I could be as real as the mountains, and so I smiled a childish grin and breathed the breath of gratitude. I thought about how good it was to be here, away from the computers and the people who physically, mentally, and emotionally drain me. I spoke aloud to myself, “These Mountains do not take my strength, but they give it without reservation. They are true emissaries of God’s grace!” As I stepped away from my cabin, I turned from the mountains and walked up a steep hill, aided by some not-so-random stones which acted like nature’s staircase. As I reached the top of the hill, I climbed a second set of stairs, man-made stairs, which led me into the main cabin. I could smell the glorious scent of bacon mixed with fresh roasted coffee. I entered the cabin to greet the other residents of the lake. My father, uncle, and cousin looked up from their iPads and said, “Morning, Sunshine! Good news, the cabin has WiFi!” Thus, my contemplative morning ended, and I sat down with my family and talked about the fish we had not yet caught.

Check out the photos on Shutterfly.

Top 10 Reasons to Cycle Your Commute

2011-09-21T11:19:00.001-07:00

First introduced in 1817, the modern bicycle literally paved the road for automobiles at the close of the nineteenth century.

Early on, innovators recognized the potential of an energy efficient means of transportation. The industrial revolution of the nineteenth century would provide the technology necessary to make that potential a reality. Soon bicycles replaced the horse-drawn carriage as the primary means of travel within major metropolitan areas. Eventually, political groups of cyclists demanded better paved roads, and in so doing, made it possible for the automobile to hit the ground running.

More than a hundred years later, bicycles remain a popular mode of transportation for more than a billion people around the globe. Bicycles today even outnumber motor vehicles 2 to 1. The modern bicycle may be one of the most important modern innovations in the history of mankind. They are the world's most efficient man-powered vehicles, and while they are often used recreationally for competitive racing and physical fitness, they are the preeminent transportation of choice worldwide.

However, Americans live in the land of the automobile. Gas prices, health concerns, and depression statistics are at all time highs. Those who have adopted a commuter lifestyle insist on the superiority of bicycles over cars, and the facts are pretty fascinating.

Here are the Top 10 Reasons to Cycle Your Commute:

1. Cycling burns calories.
Cycling can be a fun, dependable and very low-cost mode of transportation, but did you know that it also burns about 1500 calories an hour? With our busy lives, what better way to fit your physical activity into your schedule?

2. Cycling reduces your stress and improves your health.
Bicycle commuters get to work on time more often, and are often happier and more productive employees. "Physical activity appears to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety and improve mood… Regular physical activity may reduce the risk of developing depression…Physical activity reduces the risk of premature mortality in general, and of coronary disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and diabetes mellitus in particular. Physical activity also improves mental health and is important for the health of muscles, bones and joints."

3. Cycling = Less Traffic
Cycling is a positive alternative to garage-highway-garage journeys that isolate commuters and clog roads. More cycling means less traffic, cleaner air, and fewer accidents.

4. Cycling is faster.
It's often faster than other modes of transportation for distances over three miles. In congested situations it is often faster for distances up to five miles. On a bicycle, you can travel on secondary roads and paths, often arriving in less time than if you'd driven through rush-hour traffic!

5. Cycling saves you time.
The time it takes to search for car parking, the time spent at gas stations since you won't need to fill up, and the time wasted sitting in traffic.

6. Cycling saves you money.
The cost of operating a car for one year is approximately $5,170... Meanwhile, the cost of operating a bicycle for a year is only $120! How about trading in your second car for a high quality bicycle. I know a good shop!

7. Cycling is energy-efficient.
If one out of 10 commuters switched to walking or biking, we'd save 2 billion gallons of gas a year. Every transit commuter who bike rides to the station saves an average of 150 gallons of gas per year. Every car commuter who switches to biking and transit can save 400 gallons of gas a year.

8. Cycling reduces polluting emissions.
A short, four-mile round trip by bicycle keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe. Motor vehicles are responsible for roughly 50% of all greenhouse gases and 75% of the smog in our atmosphere. Cycling can play an important role in improving air quality. If one out of 10 car commuters would switch to walking or biking, we'd reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25.4 million tons a year.

9. Cycling is fun.
It's much more of an adventure than driving a car which practically drives itself. You feel like you're flying. You breathe real air, under the real sun.

10. Cycling is good stewardship.
The bottom line is that we are stewards of creation. God gave us our bodies, money, fuel, and the earth to use in a wise and humble way. When we choose to limit our impact on the environment, we are being good image bearers of God. When we take care of our bodies and use them in ways that The Creator has designed, we honor Him. All of this results in joy, because we are lining ourselves up with the way He has created the universe.

http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/

Just Deserts

2011-09-03T09:08:00.001-07:00

Inside the human heart, tucked between the pulmonary artery and left atrium, is an innate understanding of justice and reward. These two concepts are as equally responsible for fueling a nation's liberty as they are for chaining heavily-burdened converts.

In the essay, Boyhood with Gurdjieff, we learn about the mystic and philosopher, G.I. Gurdjieff and his insight into the human condition. In this story, the author, Fritz Peters, recalls a particular event from his childhood in which he learns a valuable lesson in an unconventional way. Our author provides us a detailed account of a time, while attending one of Gurdjieff's schools, when he was called in front of his peers to receive discipline for numerous "offences". We assume that his schoolmaster, Mr. Gurdjieff, at the approval of his teacher, a Miss Madison, will visit his iniquities with satisfactory justice. However, we are soon shocked to discover that instead of receiving a paddle, the boy (Fitz Peters), receives a roll of cold hard cash!

This dramatic turn of events throws our young offender for a loop. He struggles with the concept of receiving money when he should have received retribution. As he approaches his unorthodox schoolmaster with his newfound moral dilemma, he learns that the true purpose behind this conundrum was so that he could learn the ever elusive character traits of "sympathy, pity (and) compassion". Peters feels horrible for offending Miss Madison, and learns to see things through her perspective. This valuable lesson is taught, as Mr. Gurdjieff says, "through feeling" and not by words. In the end, Fritz Peters compels his audience by this unconventional story of emotional education through the most unconventional means.

Some time ago, I heard of an equally emotional and impactful demonstration.

The lead characters in this story were an evangelical pastor and his son. The pastor's family was gathered at the dinner table, and amid the conversation of the hour, certain information had been leaked, which positively incriminated the pastor's oldest son for "numerous offences" at the local junior high school that day. Like Fritz, the boy in this story stood rightly condemned and was unable to offer any defense. A heavy tension had fallen in the place where light-hearted fellowship had permeated just moments before. The father looked disappointed with his son, and the boy was prepared to accept whatever punishment would be dealt. His father looked thoughtful for a moment, and then opened his mouth to deliver the verdict.

"Sweetheart, could you please serve the desert now?"

The family looked puzzled, but his wife got up and proceeded to hand out plates of homemade pecan pie with vanilla ice cream. Passing over her disobedient son, she handed her husband a plate. Seeing that his family was about to enjoy the delicious desert at his expense, the boy's countenance dropped immensely, even tears began to well-up in his eyes. Just then, his father carefully pushed his plate across the table until it was in front of the boy.

He explained to everyone present, "Johnny has been disobedient at school today and does not deserve to have this desert. Justice demands that payment be made for his acts of disobedience. Therefore, I will accept his punishment tonight. He may eat my desert, and I will go without." The family was stunned; most of all, little Johnny.

"But Dad, pecan is pie is your absolute favorite!? You love pecan pie!"

His father leaned forward with a certain twinkle in his eye and said, "Yes, but I love you more."

As you can imagine, eating that pie, although tasty, was a difficult, and yet immeasurably valuable experience for little Johnny. He learned a lesson about God's grace and forgiveness, which is contrary to our own human experience. We struggle with the idea that good people are dealt difficult hands, while bad people are given undeserved grace.

In God's economy, all of us deserve to skip desert. That's what makes the gospel so amazing.

Jesus offers us His piece (pun intended).