Tag Archives: God

by | April 29, 2012 · 4:00 am

When I Cry (Psalm 57:2)

Not if, but when.

I heard it said growing up, and I hear it said still today, “Real men don’t cry.” What nonsense!

Who was more of a man than Jesus? Yet He, the One who left the realms of glory to walk the path to Calvary, who willingly laid down his life for sinners, wept (John 11:35).

The Omnipotent Word made flesh; the King of Kings; the Resurrection and the Life cried at the tomb of Lazarus. If he could cry, then so will I.

And when I do…

“I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth [all things] for me” (Psalm 57:2).

Jesus wept because of a broken heart for others. I usually weep as a result of my own needs and failures. He was all-sufficient, while I am totally dependent. I need Him more than I usually admit.

And when I come to the point of crying out, if I call upon the One who hears my prayers, my cries are not in vain, nor will they be ignored. I do not call out as stranger, but as a son to his Father (Romans 8:15).

“Abba! Daddy! Help!”

Did any of you, parents, ever hear your child wake from sleep with some panic, or fear, and shriek the mother’s name through the darkness? Was not that a more powerful appeal than all words? And, depend upon it, that the soul which cries aloud on God, The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, though it have “no language but a cry,” will never call in vain. – Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910)

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by | April 28, 2012 · 12:42 pm

Courageous Commitment

“Daddy, will you dance with me?”

If you have seen the movie Courageous, then you’ll get it.

If you have not seen the movie, get it, then you’ll get it. Got it?

At 9 a.m. I was at the gym, signing us both up, and committing to work out with my 16-year-old daughter. It was hard, but worth it. She was so thrilled that I would take the time.

I just wish I could make time stand still.

Being the Dad.

 

 

 

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by | April 21, 2012 · 5:22 pm

In Memory of Chuck Colson (1931-2012)

If you have never heard of Chuck Colson, that’s a real shame. Please follow the link I have provided and become aquainted with him, however belated that aquaintance may be.

Click Here.

Chuck went home to be with his Lord this morning, shortly after 3 am. He will be sorely missed.

Because of the efforts of Mr. Colson, many prisoners have come to know Christ, freedoms have been preserved, ethics have been championed, atheists have been challenged, and politicians have been held to account. May God raise up others to take his place.

In his honor, please go to the box on the right labeled “Manhattan Declaration.” Please read the declaration and sign it. Make your voice heard in the fight for religious liberty in this country.

“One of the most wonderful things about being a Christian is that I don’t ever get up in the morning and wonder if what I do matters. I live every day to the fullest because I can live it through Christ and I know no matter what I do today, I’m going to do something to advance the Kingdom of God.”— Charles Colson

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by | April 14, 2012 · 8:51 pm

Proverbial Thought

Hey, everybody! This will make two posts in the same day, but it’s worth it.

Many of you are not aware of Proverbial Thought, a new blog created as an online devotional and commentary on the book of Proverbs. If you have not seen it, I wish you would check it out, then tell others.

Wisdom, true wisdom, comes from God. Proverbs is full of wisdom. The problem is that too few people read Proverbs, much less think about how to apply the wisdom contained to modern life. Our goal is to get people back into the book, reading it from a fresh perspective, and putting what is learned to everyday use.

I have pulled together some great people who contribute to Proverbial Thought. Each one brings a different perspective to the scripture.

My hope is that this blog will catch on and be a source of inspiration for hundreds, if not thousands of people every day. Why not subscribe, then forward a link to a couple of friends. One day the seeds planted will result in a harvest, if not here, in heaven.

This is a screen shot from April 14. Notice the contributors. They are from all over the globe, and more are coming on board in the weeks ahead.

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by | April 14, 2012 · 6:54 pm

Ashamed?

Sometimes I’m Ashamed

Of my past. Do you have a past? I do. We all do. And I have done many things in my past of which I am ashamed. Some things I did while I was an unbeliever, but others were after I had become a Christian. My past haunts me. Does yours?

Of course, on a positive note, one’s past can prove beneficial when rearing children. For example, my children are not totally sure if I was a secret agent, a hired gun, or a former special ops helicopter pilot who had his license taken away for excessively brutal conduct. They will never know for sure, either. The “not knowing” helps keep boyfriends away.

Of my accomplishments (or lack of). Have you ever stopped to compare yourself to others? Bad idea. There are always going to be people who can do what you do a lot better than you ever could – some before they even start elementary school.

I am a preacher, a pastor, an aspiring writer, etc. I am also 44 years old. Have you ever looked at what preachers of yesteryear were able to accomplish by my age? Don’t even start with Jonathan Edwards, Wesley, or even Billy Graham. I have been faithful, but I have little by way of accomplishments to show for it. For crying out loud, I haven’t even written one book!

Of my education. At 44 years of age I am working on my Master of Ministry degree. Guys younger than me are teaching in the seminary, for Pete’s sake! By the time I receive a doctorate, I will need full-time hospice care.

What could I have done if only I had gone to school earlier instead of working, getting married, learning about life, having beautiful children, or experiencing God’s grace? I mean, I could have been a pastor at age 20! Now that would have been shameful.

Of my lack of discipline. There are some people who wake up two hours early in order to pray. If I tried that, I’d have to be on my knees at 3 a.m.! I rarely even get to sleep until after 11 p.m.!

There are some who read at least one book a week. There are others who do all this and run, ride bikes, climb tall mountains, hunt mountain lions, and keep a spotless house. I hate them.

Seriously, I am ashamed at my lack of discipline. As a pastor, a pillar of society, I should be an example of what a disciplined person should look like. But I’m not. I struggle for every minute of sleep I can get. Sad, isn’t it?

Of my appearance. If I had the previously mentioned discipline, the kind that says, “Hey, I have a long day ahead of me, so how ’bout we go run 5 miles before breakfast,” I would be a stud. Before long I would look like a Green Beret, or Joel Osteen (with less perfect teeth). Instead, I look more like a tall Danny DeVito who has a thing for monkeys.

Yes, I can be ashamed of a lot…

But Never of the Gospel

I thank God for being able to use a weak, inadequate, undisciplined, uneducated, unattractive fool. As a matter of fact, it is only because of the gospel that I can accept my shortcomings, putting everything behind me, and look forward to what lies ahead.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. – Romans 1:16

Only through someone who admits his shortcomings can Christ bring glory unto the Father. If I had it all together I might take all the credit, but I can’t. If there is anything good in me, it is because of Jesus (Rom 7:18; 2 Cor 3:5).

One last thing. Many times I am tempted to feel ashamed of myself. Nevertheless, even with my lack of accomplishments, etc., I know that God is not ashamed of me. And if He is not ashamed of me, then maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. I just need to keep walking and looking ahead, hoping for the day when I will be home.

But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. – Hebrews 11:16

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by | April 6, 2012 · 12:09 am

Ministry Objectives

If a fruit fly was asked to submit a ministry objective, it would probably be pretty short and sweet. If he could write, it would go something like, “Eat, procreate, and die.”

I am not a fruit fly. Yet, I was asked to provide a list of my ministry objectives. I thought you might like to see them. And, instead of just listing references, I footnoted the verses.

My ministry objectives:

  1. To bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ in all that I do,[1] and all I go through.[2]
  2. To “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine,”[3] and “to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”[4]
  3. To affect future generations yet to come as children are grounded, parents become responsible, singles are emboldened, and the aged get a second wind.[5] [6]
  4. To be known as a humble and consistent husband and father whose household serves the Lord;[7] [8] a forgiven sinner who understands grace;[9] and a fearless soldier of the Cross[10] who never compromises the truth.[11]
  5. To promote the preaching and teaching of the Gospel in every part of the world.[12]

[1] Psa 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

[2] 1Pe 1:7 – That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

[3] 1Ti 4:13 – Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

[4] Act 6:4 – But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

[5] Jos 4:21-24 – And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What [mean] these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it [is] mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.

[6] Pro 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

[7] Jos 24:15 – And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

[8] 1Cr 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

[9] 1Ti 1:15 – This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

[10] Mar 8:34 – And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

[11] 1Ti 4:16 – Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

[12] Act 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

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by | April 1, 2012 · 9:55 pm

Defining a Fool

April Fools Day

Today was the first time I actually preached a sermon on April Fool’s Day. Can you guess what it was about? Can you guess what I discussed?

Even though atheists think we are being smug and “snarky” by quoting Psalm 14:1, I believe the one who thinks there is no God really is a fool. But what I think matters little in the scheme of things. What matters to me is what God thinks. That is why I came up with a list.

What is a Fool?

What is a fool?  Believe it or not, Scripture lists several characteristics of a foolish person. The following is not an exhaustive list, but it’s a good start. So, why not do this Jeff Foxworthy-style?  

You might be a fool if…

  1. You are always right in your own eyes (Pr 12:15).
  2. You despise instruction (Pr 1:7; 15:5).
  3. You are unteachable (Pr 17:10; 23:9; 26:11)
  4. You’re always running your mouth, getting into trouble (Pr 29:11; 18:6-7).
  5. You are always trying to find yourself (Pr 18:2).
  6. You make fun of sin (Pr 14:9).
  7. You’re always meddling in other people’s business (Pr 20:3).
  8. You are a shame and a burden to your parents (Pr 17:25).
  9. You deny the obvious because the truth is inconvenient (Ro 1:18-22).
  10. You deny Jesus because you think the cross is foolish (1 Cor 1:18).

Don’t be a fool.

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by | March 26, 2012 · 12:08 am

Monday Monkey “Wisdom Teeth” (Episode 19)

My daughter showed me one video on YouTube [Click Here] of a girl who had her wisdom teeth removed. That led to another video, and another, and another. They were so funny (and sad) that I felt Mr. Monkey needed to have surgery.

There’s no deep, hyper-spiritual message to this episode of Monday Monkey. It’s just funny.

However, my wife did ask me, “So, what Bible verse will you use for this?” All I could think of was 1Corinthians 14:27 – If any man speak in an [unknown] tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most [by] three, and [that] by course; and let one interpret. 

With that said, don’t get more than 3 cotton-stuffed monkeys in the same room – we Baptists might get nervous (smile).

“Wisdom Teeth”

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by | March 24, 2012 · 1:11 pm

Atheists March While God Watches

Washington, D.C.

Today the mall in Washington, D.C. is being trampled by those who say there is no God. Below is a news article from Fox News.

Atheists and other nonbelievers are gathering Saturday on the National Mall for what organizers say may be the largest secular gathering in Washington’s history.

Thousands of atheists, humanists and others are expected to gather for the “Reason Rally,” featuring speakers, music and comedy. Organizers say they also expect to be challenged by religious groups.

The National Park Service says a permit calls for an estimated crowd of 15,000.

The American Humanist Society is one of the primary sponsors. Roy Speckhardt, the group’s executive director, says the rally will be a “coming out party” for humanists and atheists and a rally for political change.

Atheists held their first large gathering on the Mall in 2002. It was billed as “The Godless March on Washington.”

Two Points

There are just a couple of things that I would like to point out, and then I am done.

First, 15,000? Are you kidding? I am not a Joel Osteen fan by any means, but he has at least twice that many in his congregation on any given Sunday! And these people say they speak for the majority of Americans? Get real!

Secondly, I couldn’t help but think of all the monuments surrounding the National Mall. One in particular is worth noting: The Jefferson Memorial.

Atheists and humanist want to remove God from every public surface (including washing blessed roads – see below). The problem is that “God” has been deeply engraved in granite and marble for a long time. Consider the following excerpts from the panels surrounding the statue of Thomas Jefferson:

  • “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” – Panel 1
  • “Almighty God hath created the mind free…All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens…are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of our religion.”  – Panel 2
  • “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.” – Panel 3

One of key speakers at the Reason Rally will be Prof. Richard Dawkins. Speaking of this event, Dawkins says that our country is  “constantly under threat from people who would like to turn this country into some sort of a theocracy” (see story below). However, one would think that if America should have ever become a theocracy, it should have been early on, when our founding fathers were not afraid to speak of He from whom our liberties are granted.

So, while they march, while they sing, and while they laugh, God’s name surrounds them, engraved in stone, while His eye beholds their acts of reason.

_______________________________

I would encourage you to listen to all four parts of the following address by Dr. Ravi Zacharias.

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by | March 23, 2012 · 4:06 pm

Research Sources Needed

I would like your help…

I have decided to do a research paper addressing the doctrine of separation. You could help by forwarding any relevant source material, such as books, articles, denominational publications, etc.

Specifics

Specifically, I need material published by denominations who prohibit fellowship with believers in other denominations. In other words, if you have access to published material that says stuff like, “We will not associate or worship with Southern Baptists because…,” I would greatly appreciate a copy.

You can reply here, or you can forward copies of source material to my email: PastorACBaker@yahoo.com.

Thank you for your help!

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