Free to Serve

Like Fiction?

A recent article at Slate.com noted the rising influence of Christian fiction books among teenagers. With the exception of C. S. Lewis, I haven't exposed my kids to a lot of explicitly Christian fiction books. I have found that many classics serve the purpose of exposing young readers to virtue and, sometimes, biblical spirituality. I'm currently reading Swiss Family Robinson with the family (written by Johann Wyss). It is very good! Not only is it exciting -- shipwrecks, jackal fights, tree houses -- but the father, who narrates the book, is regularly stopping to praise God and lead the family in prayer. Good stuff. My kids very much liked the beginning and end of Edith Nesbit's book The Railway Children. The middle was boring. E. B. White is great. Deana read them The Trumpet of the Swan, and they loved it.

It's Summer, so if you are interested in getting some books for the kids or simply getting into some reading yourself (again, I'm thinking fiction here) check out Ray Van Neste's blog, "The Children's Hour." Also, Elizabeth Wilson has compiled a useful bibliography in Books Children Love. Adults who want to revisit their childhood education through the lens of a Christian worldview would like Invitation to the Classics: A Guide to the Books You've Always Wanted to Read, edited by Louise Cowan and Os Guinness. 

If you are at Mount Vernon and want to get your kids into some good books, talk to Terry Earl, our Children's Ministry Coordinator. She is a great resource and has even composed a good list of books on parenting, kids' bibles, etc. on our website. Check it out.

For those who may be wondering, we don't read all the time in our home. But we do read a little most every day and you'd be surprised how it adds up!

A Spiritual Experience

Vacations are a great time for reading. With little kids (and episodes of 24 to watch) I didn't get a ton of reading in, but I did manage to visit my former supervisor's history of Southern Seminary. It is an amazing description of the story of a Seminary that began theologically conservative, became theologically liberal, and then returned to its roots. The history of Southern Seminary is, in many ways, the history of the Southern Baptist Convention. Coming from Oregon, I think it would be great if we could rename the SBC to reflect its international scope but, from what I'm told, most names with "Baptist" have been taken.

I also began C. H. Spurgeon's autobiography. This is not a book to be tasted, it is a book to be devoured. Spurgeon preached in London's Metropolitan Tabernacle for 38 years. His sermons are biblical, sweet, sharp, convicting, and powerful. I think every preacher does (or should) desire to have a little bit of Spurgeon deep inside. I know I do. Even his writing is soaked in the conviction that God's Word is true and that it works--it saves, it gives life, it gives hope. So here is a little taste of Spurgeon from his autobiography where he reflects on the link between sorrow and joy:

A spiritual experience which is thoroughly flavoured with a deep and bitter sense of sin is of great value to him that hath had it. It is terrible in the drinking, but it is most wholesome in the bowels, and in the whole of the after-life. Possibly, much of the flimsy piety of the present day arises from the ease with which men attain to peace and joy in these evangelistic days . . . Too many think lightly of of sin, and therefore think lightly of the Saviour. He who has stood before his God, convicted and condemned, with the rope about his neck, is the man to weep for joy when he is pardoned, to hate the evil which has been forgiven him, and to live to the honour of the Redeemer by whose blood he has been cleansed (54).

Sunday Reflections

--Sunday morning, Mount Vernon had the privilege of seeing a new believer baptized. This brother was born in Iran and has been on a long journey looking for truth. He finally found it in Jesus Christ. Before a baptism we ask the believer to share his or her testimony. It is not a requirement, but it is an opportunity to share the Gospel. He did just that. Please pray that the Spirit would protect and encourage and grow him in the days and months ahead.

--Every Sunday morning we have a pastoral prayer. I've been using Operation World to help us pray for the nations. I woke up early to spend some time getting prepared. Operation World divides the nations of the world among the days of the year. The nation for June 27: the Islamic Republic of Iran. We had several Iranians this morning joining us for corporate worship. God is sovereign!

--Our text was Joshua 23:1-11. This is the beginning of Joshua's Farewell Address to God's people. Joshua challenged Israel in three ways. First, to have faith that God is for them. Second, to be holy for God. Third, to love God. We can think of perseverance in the faith as a three-legged stool--faith, holiness, and love are all necessary for that stool to stand. Faith, holiness, and love are all necessary marks of a Christian!  For more on this, read the letter of 1 John.

--What an encouraging day! We were reminded that God is in control--saving sinners, imparting life, exercising His authority over creation. I began and ended the day praying these words from Valley of Vision:

Remember, O my soul, it is thy duty and privilege to rejoice in God: He requires it of thee for all his favours of grace. Rejoice then in the giver and his goodness, be happy in him, O my heart, and in nothing but God, for whatever a man trusts in, from that he expects happiness.

Vacation Tidbits

I've been away for about a week with the family. It is good to get away--not because I don't enjoy my work, but because I love long stretches of uninterrupted time with my family. Paul told Timothy, "if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." The "provision" that Paul referred to is certainly material, but one of the greatest commodities of the 21st century is time. Fathers, give time to your families!

So, here is what I am especially thankful for this past week:

(1) Extended conversations with my wife that could go on into the evening without having to think about getting up early in the morning. God has given me an extraordinary helper, and I know time away with her serves me more than it does her.

(2) Long stretches of time with the kids. Board games, movies, swimming, running, and Bible time. We he had a blast. They are growing fast. Extended time with them is a very special joy. The kids were especially troubled while we were away by the goose in the pond whose bill got stuck in a little plastic ball. The ball jingled. The goose is now known as Jingle. Yes, I tried to extricate goose from ball, but failed. Yes, we tried to call people who care for animals to get them to help, but failed. We are still trying. I really think the goose will be fine. He can still open his mouth, he just jingles. I think my kids will remember this more than anything. 

For those of you who thought I made this up, see Jingle, below, first goose on the right:

(3) The majestic beauty of God's creation. I'm not sure what beats floating down a river for hours while all you can see are trees and hills and running water! No one came close to drowning, and the scene took our breath away.

(4) Time in the Word and prayer. I continued to mediate on the book of Joshua. It has been an unusual privilege to soak in that book the past few weeks. I read and re-read Joshua 23 and can't wait to preach from it on Sunday.

(5) The reminder of how thankful I am to do what I do. Rest is great and important. My family is my priority and I can't run the race the way I should without investing in them with everything I have. I am so thankful that as I am to be away, I still look forward to being back and doing what God has called me to do--shepherd the flock at MVBC for the worship and glory of God.

VBS Reflections

Last week, members and friends of MVBC put on an excellent Vacation Bible School. Our friends at the Sandy Springs Mission joined us as we explored the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the lens of life in first century Bethlehem. We shared the Good News over and over again. Friendships were developed. Christians served. Many, many thanks to Terry Earl and her team who labored and prayed for our children's good. All thanks to God who has given us the greatest news to share. Relive or learn about what happened by watching the video below.

VBS 2010: Bethlehem Village from Mount Vernon Baptist Church on Vimeo.

On the Privilege of Gospel Ministry

I'm back from the Convention and am very thankful for the changes that are taking place. I've gone to about half a dozen SBC meetings and this year's meeting was the most gospel-centered one I've ever seen. One of the new faces this year is not a Southern Baptist at all. C. J. Mahaney was invited to speak at the Pastor's Conference which directly preceded the Convention.

He spoke from 1 Peter 5:2, "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be . . .."

Mahaney reminded me of the great privilege I have to pastor a local church. It is an amazing thing--to be able to serve a congregation, preach to a congregation, and lead a congregation. This is not something I have to do, rather, it is something I get to do.

To the members of MVBC, thank you for the privilege you have given me to partner with you in Gospel ministry. Pray that we would not grow tired of doing good, but would labor together to accomplish together what we could not accomplish alone.

SBC Orlando

I've been in Orlando, Florida, at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. Today, two significant pieces of business took place.

First, the Convention adopted the report of the Great Commission Task Force. In a nutshell, for years there have been questions about the effectiveness of the Southern Baptist Convention churches when it comes to accomplishing Jesus' Great Commission. At last year's Convention, a Task Force was established to look into the problem and bring back a recommendation. This recommendation encourages us as a Convention of churches to be more deliberate about getting resources out of America's Southeast -- which is saturated with churches -- and into less-reached portions of the states and unreached portions of the world. This recommendation rightly challenges us as a church to make the sacrifices necessary to support and send missionaries. As a pastor, I want to be part of a Convention of churches that takes the Great Commission seriously and is willing to engage in critical, self-examination. This report is the beginning of an important change.

Second, the Convention elected our neighbor, Bryant Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, to be the next President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Bryant has done a great job of leading Johnson Ferry to pray, give, and serve on the mission field. I"m sure he will do a great job encouraging other churches to do the same.

Mount Vernon has a rich tradition of Great Commission giving, serving, and sending. We should welcome any reminder to redouble our efforts to seek and save the lost.

Sunday Reflections

Two things were really encouraging to me this Sunday morning:

First, meditating on heaven from Joshua 13-22. There was so much in those chapters that we didn't cover--but the main points are very clear. God was faithful to fulfill His promise to Israel. God was gracious to give His people more than they could ever deserve. What a joy to realize how faithful and gracious God is to us in Christ. Thinking of God's faithfulness, ultimately evidenced by eternal communion with Him in heaven, brings to my mind the lyrics of that revival hymn, "Bound for the Promised Land": On Jordan's stormy banks I stand/And cast a wistful eye/To Canaan's fair and happy land/Where my possessions lie.

Second, announcing the MVBC Deacons' recent unanimous vote to recommend a new Church Constitution with Elders and Deacons. Lots of information is available here. Please join me in praying that this change, whenever it comes, would not be about paperwork but about mission. The Deacons moved this direction with the conviction that the more biblical we are in our approach to leadership the more faithful we will be in achieving our purpose of ministering for the worship and glory of God.

Can Our Prayers Be Too Small?

I think they can. Christians have all sorts of questions about how to use their time, how to serve in missions, how much of their money to give away, etc. Those are all good questions to ponder and most of us would do well to serve and give more. But this we know for certain: our prayers should be bold and brave and big. We should desire great things.

We should pray for the conversion of the most unlikely person. We should pray for the safety of Christians we've never met. We should pray for the coming of God's kingdom. We should pray for victory over small and large sins in our lives. We should pray for healing and we should pray for joy. 

These thoughts were kindled in my mind after reading another Puritan prayer from Valley of Vision:

Help me not only to desire small things but with holy boldness to desire great things for thy people, for myself, that they and I might live to show thy glory. Teach me that it is wisdom for me to pray for all I have.

Churches Need Old and Faithful Saints

Thursday at 1pm, the saints at my former church, Third Avenue Baptist in Louisville, Kentucky, are going to celebrate the life of Amy Ward. Amy, who joined the church in 1939, is survived by her husband, Denver. I met both in 2000 when Deana and I first started attending Third Avenue. It was a pond of gray hair, a tiny and dying church. Ten years ago when Deana and I joined, we were part of a small group of Christians, mostly tied to the local seminary, who were eager to serve the Lord, encourage the saints, and generally pray that God would revitalize a church in Old Louisville, just a couple miles south of the city center.

Not all of the members of the church were excited about our presence. I still remember how when one young pastor faithfully preached the Bible, a long-time choir member would faithfully balance her checkbook! At one members meeting, after suggesting we do something to reach out to the college students a block away, another member came up to me and suggested, with not a little hostility, that those college students just wanted free food. Some in the church were, at worst, hostile to authentic gospel ministry and, at best, skeptical of the new growth.

Then there was Denver and Amy and several others like them. They must have wondered what was going on with all these youngsters joining the church, their church. But the truth is, this cadre of older members did not see it as their church. They were looking for signs of life, signs of gospel growth, people to pray for them in the hospital when they got sick, people to miss them when they died. It is a sad thing to see a church die, sometimes it happens, and sometimes it should happen, but not this time. 

By God's grace, Third Avenue survived, and Amy Ward was an important part of that process.I will always remember Sunday mornings when my family and I arrived for Sunday School. We would meet Amy just past the sanctuary entrance, sitting at a desk and demanding a hug from everyone. She loved the "old" church but she also loved the "new" church. My dear friend, Bruce Keisling, who was a part of Third before I was put it this way in a letter he wrote to the Church:

Her death is especially hard to those of us who have been in the church for a number of years because she was one of a very, very small group who truly rejoiced in seeing new people join the church. She loved the church enough to allow it to change in ways that kept it alive and kept it preaching the gospel. She loved us enough to stay when some of her peers left the church. She defended us in the most difficult moments. She loved every one of you and your children even if she didn't know you by name. She loved having your kids run around after the services. She never complained about singing new songs or seeing this or that tradition change. She loved the church in completely self denying ways. I think because her spirit was so alive that I never contemplated her death, and it makes it all the more astounding that this has happened. But is has, and the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, and blessed is the name of the Lord.

Third Avenue Baptist Church is thriving now, thanks to the ministries of pastors and members, young and old, including Amy Ward. Churches need old and faithful saints.