Allowing Your Life to be Interrupted

Brethren, you have believed the Gospel. You are growing in the Lord. You may have been saved for many years.You are for the church. You are for the work of the Lord.  ou support it by prayer, words, and monies. You are glad to see increase in lives. You are for the Lord’s work increasing. You are for interested in the lost. You think about them. You think about serving the Lord, witnessing to the lost. You are glad to see new people (as well as the old people) come through the doors. Your heart rejoices to hear the testimony of grace working in lives. That is all fine and very good. But I want to press you some. Are you willing to get your hands dirty? Are you willing to be inconvenienced? Are you willing to have your schedule interrupted? It is my observation that one of the greatest opportunities to all of us is the many around us who are seeking the Lord or open to the Lord’s people. We even have them come through our doors! But we must receive them and reach out to them. We must do good to them. Yes, especially to the household of faith. But to all in general. Remember Jesus said if you have over people who can have you back over, then you and I do no more than sinners! Sinners do that! But to have over those who can’t repay you is godly. All right. What about you? When do you or I last have some that couldn’t have us back over? Any one in the last year?! Oh, my dear brother and sister, this will cost you? It will inconvenience you?  It will disrupt your life style.  It will make you have to have an interest in some one else. It will demand that you listen to them, not them you. It will only work if your reason is them, not you. It is not reciprocal. It is one way. It is to love them with not expectation of pay back. It is to give of your self for the Lord into the lives of others. But did not Jesus say that the one who keeps his life will lose it, but the one who loses his life will find it?! Yes, He did. So lose your life in this regard. Be hospitable. Have strangers into your home. Entertain them. They may be angels! Do this and God will begin to bless you and your families life in ways you never thought. And remember it is truly more blessed to give to receive. And this is speaking about more than money.  Jesus gave His life’s Blood. How much more did He receive which will last forever and never be fully comprehended. What an interruption!  Let us follow, then, our Master in this regard. Let us let our lives and homes be interrupted. Let us open our lives and homes to those who can’t repay us. Let us demonstrate the love and goodness of God that we have found in Jesus Christ.

What is the Status and Answer for the Churches in America Today?

Brethren, it is obvious to all who study and observe churches in our day that things have changed. Most recognize we are living in a post Christian era. A recent poll stated that those who are non religious has increased to 15% in America, an all time high. Every one knows mainline churches are declining. The mega church movement is booming. Of course, what they are offering truly only God knows, so it seems. But let me go further. I agree with one man’s assessment that while there is a somewhat of a boom in the mega church movement, that Bible believing churches are decreasing. If I were to be honest, overall it seems that sound, Bible teaching churches are less in number. But I hasten to add that what churches are there in that category seems to be becoming more distinct and refined (to the good). Our country is changing in this regard. The result will inevitably, barring God’s grace, result in more and more secularization of America, which will result in an increasing persecution of believers and churches who obey the Bible. I have said for years that my children, if they have the same Biblical convictions that I have, will have to go to jail for those convictions more than likely. That is strong, but mark my word. It is just around the corner. How many of you now are extremely private when you even talk about applying the rod to the child for correction?! What is the answer to all this? Well, we must face that in God’s plan He may be allowing this nation to loose its past history of being a righteous nation. It may be unstoppable. If God has decided to judge America to this degree, we cannot stop it (except we cry out to Him and He has mercy). Having said that, what is it the churches have lost or need to do what they ought to be doing that might shine as light in this dark and sinful world? Here is one noticeable thing that brought about this article. No doubt two answers for the churches are the need for churches to straighten up and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be preached. The second is what caused me to write this article. It is the preaching of the Gospel. Brethren, it seems a sound understanding and proclamation of the Gospel to the world is almost gone in America. In most churches, the Gospel is weak at best and gone at worst. Here is an observation that will help then a word of hope! In all of America who, on the national scene, is known for preaching the Gospel! Think of all the household names in Christianity on T.V. and radio and in magazines.  Name those known for preaching the Gospel. You will come up with only one name, and he no longer preaches. Yes, Billy Graham, now 89, is the only name you will give. I understand his ecumenism and problems, but he is the only name you or I could give. And he no longer preaches. Now notice this. Today in America, with all our media, there is not one, not one! Name, on the national scene, who is known for preaching the Gospel! Not one! God forbid! My, oh my! Can you not see this problem and how the best answer stares us in the face?! How could this be in America? No known Gospel preacher! Brethren, we all know it starts with the Gospel preached plainly and powerful. And all this brings me to our recent endeavors to make plain to those near us, by preaching personally, the message of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ’s work on the Cross. Yes, we need to grow as a church and so all churches. But it starts with clarity on and the preaching of the Gospel. So have hope. We are beginning, in a new way in recent days, to make this good news plain to those around us. Surely God will bless it. Will He turn the nation around? I don’t know. But He will and still saves and that is enough to rejoice in and look forward. Pray as this Gospel is preached. Tell it plainly to those around you as you are able. Don’t pull back on the message. It is for sinners. It is through the Blood of Jesus Christ. It still saves. Faith must be exercised. The Holy Spirit must work. Let us make this plain to those around us. Most have never heard it. Surely we can do that. Yes, we need to do as Jesus said. To preach the gospel to every creature - in America!  in Wisconsin! in our cities we are in!
That is the crying need today.

Why God Allows Evil to Happen to People

Recently a pastor was shot and killed as he stood near the pulpit teaching the Word of God. Most of us have read about it. One of the members stated that hearing of it was shocking, but hearing that it was a pastor who was killed was even more shocking. Well, we understand that statement. I, of course, might feel the effects more than most. Maybe. Yet is brought to my mind that old saying that “death is the great equalizer.” Truly it is. No one is exempt in regards to timing. Read the papers and obituaries. Mothers, fathers, wives, husbands (young and old) are suddenly taken away. The rich, as quick as the poor, die unexpectedly. The other day the papers told of a president and his wife, I believe it was an African country, who were in an accident. The wife died.  Celebrities names turn up regularly who died suddenly. Newscasters the same. The other day two professional football players were lost in the ocean. Of course, even children suffer the sudden hand of death. So none of us are given a guarantee. What, though, stands out more is the issue of why God allows this. And maybe the nature of a pastor teaching God’s Word makes it loom larger. It is the atheists big argument. If God were a God of love, He would not allow such events and sufferings. It makes no sense, they say. The answers are many though as to why God allows these things. More than allow, at times He orchestrates them. Why, then, does God allow such tragedies? Here is one of many reasons, but one that has helped me much through the years. The Bible states in Hosea concerning the Lord’s people that “in their affliction they will seek me.” The unvarnished facts are that such tragedies are often the very things (and it seems at times the only way) that bring many of us to our senses in areas of life that matter. Death or the prospect of death or even catastrophic events that leave lives marred often are the very things that wake us up. So much good comes out of the evil that happens to people. This is especially true of believers. The unbeliever may chide against the Lord. They may not only question God, but they may oppose God. They may speak of how they couldn’t serve a God who would allow such things. Of course, their life is full of evil coming from all quarters. And yet in their family circles they don’t abandon people or circumstances (some do, but many do not). Think of the woman recently who is debilitated for life due to the attack of an animal.  I heard her brother respond to questions about his view of the owner of the animal. He told of how the daughter of this woman had responded marvelously. But let God allow something bad or at least let people be without an answer (so God is blamed) and the opposition and atheistic responses prevail. Not so in the believer’s life. Rather we believe our Heavenly Father knows best. And we believe all things work together for good. Now my point is they do work together for good. They are the very events, the evil that comes into our lives, which wake us up and get us right with God. They cause us to become serious. They cause us to start doing things that have been delayed for years, maybe for our whole life time. Brethren, much good will come out of this act of murder. We would rather it never happen, but be sure much good will come out of it. You say that is good, but what about the loss to the family? Yes, a great loss. He was married and had children, but he is with the Lord based on the testimony I read. So is he worse of? I think not. Are the family? Well, yes and no. Yes, they have a void and loss. Yes, of course, but even this loss will be overshadowed in their lives by how their hearts and lives can be turned towards the Lord and what really matters. So then realize that evil does happen to people. This is true of every day. But when responded to properly, we can find great solace, learning and peace knowing “He doeth all things well.” Fanny Crosby at six years of age was blinded due to faulty medical practices at the time. Yet at the end of her life she blesses God for her blindness, a blindness that strummed the chords of her poetic soul and gave the church an array of songs that grace our hearts to this day. Don’t be overcome by evil that happens suddenly and shockingly. Know that we cannot not tell love or hate by all that is before us, Solomon wrote. What we know is that the “steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord.” A fallen and rebellious world has been given leeway to follow the god of this world. With the ability to choose come the responsibility and consequences of those choices. We do not understand how all that works. And for every portion of evil we experience, think of all the consequences suffered due to our choices. Think of all the consequences man deserves that God fore goes due to His mercy and well as His long suffering. No, my brother, this is not a perplexing thing. This is not a surprise. This is the fruit of a fallen world. And let us be very happy that God has intervened to keep the evil under control, lest man should destroy himself completely. And let us learn from the evil that does befall us the lessons that we need for our lives that could come no other way. Yes, “it is God which worketh in you to both will and to do of His own good pleasure.”

Special Easter Service

We announced after our Special Christmas Service (specifically an attempt to preach the Gospel to the lost which resulted in several unconverted attending and hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ) that we were going to do the same for Easter Sunday. It is a day that attempts to commemorate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a wonderful and praise worthy event in our lives! Jesus secured for us a new life, new body and an enduring life with Him through His resurrection. “He has begotten in us a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ...” Prior to this event we are writing and printing a third tract for the West side as well as an invitation for all in the West Side to attend.  Recall there are approx 6,500 addresses on the West Side. Also we are putting up a large sign in the front a couple of weeks prior to this.  Anyone willing to make it on a large white canvas banner let me know. Daniel will be preaching a Gospel sermon that morning as well as some young men and women giving a brief testimony of the power of the resurrection in their lives. Pray for this event. Line up family, friends and neighbors to come for the service.  Do this by faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We will do all we can to invite the neighborhood. The Lord is with us. May He draw many to hear the Gospel. And know that we can expect Him to bless His word as it goes out with prayer and preaching. Jesus, brethren, still saves. Let us trust God to do the impossible. Is there anything better to offer people than the new life-an everlasting life- that is the result of people believing on the Lord Jesus Christ?! We have the answer for the grave! Jesus said ”He that believes on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and he that lives and believes on me, SHALL NEVER DIE!” Wow! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! What a wonderful message to convey to those all about us. So then let us pray, persuade and preach.  For if we do, surely the power of the gospel shall be manifested unto the salvation of the souls of men and women on the West Side and beyond. 
Note, this service is April 12th at 10:30.

Is Living for God becoming Grievous?

Christians can find themselves grieved at the thought of keeping God’s commandments and continually serving Him. What we do for the Lord becomes more a duty and burden, than a joy and privilege. We may look back and ask, “What happened?” The answer is we took our eyes off of Jesus Christ our Lord (Hebrews 12:2). Remember all Christ has done for us out of love; how He took upon Himself our sin and died on the cross in our place. What love! And because Christ first loved us we now love Him. When you love someone it becomes a joy to be with them and to serve them. Brethren, let your love for Jesus Christ become your motivation for what you do. You are already God’s children who are received through the righteousness of Christ, and are loved of God. So enjoy God’s love and meditate upon it and your love for Christ will overflow into wanting to labor for Him.

”Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
-Hebrews 12:2

- Curt Laughlin