Tuesday, June 3. 2008
A local TV news program was interviewing people on the street tonight. The Question: Should Religion be kept out of Politics? The unanimous rely: Absolutely! Religion is private, they said, and should not be mixed with politics, economics or even social issues. What kind of Religion, we may ask, would that be? It would be a Religion without values, principles to live by or morals. Or are those also private matters having nothing to do with living our lives in society? Does Religion have nothing to say about character and human relations? Does it offer no guidance about social justice and the care of the marginalized and oppressed? What kind of Religion has no connection with health and wealth? Has it nothing to offer to counter greed and selfishness, not only in our private lives, but in our national lives as well. Our Nation has the world’s largest Prison System with more people incarcerated than any other country in the world. What kind of Religion has nothing to say about that or about terrorism or war or violence? These people interviewed must think Religion is confined only to mystical inner feelings and maybe to events like weddings and funerals. They certainly do not know anything about Biblical Christianity!
There is an increasingly popular twist on this scenario. There are many young “Evangelicals” who also insist that the Religion they believe in should be kept separate from politics and cultural issues. This is strange because they are very concerned, even passionate, about changing the world, including its Politics and cultural issues. Turns out what these young Evangelicals mean is that Religion should be kept separate from what they perceive the Religious Right and the Republic Party stand for. In practice their Religion is more compatible with the Religious Left and the Democratic Party. I really wish I had the opportunity to show them what the Bible actually says about Politics and social, economic issues. They have a lot to learn!
Friday, January 19. 2007
My wife and I have been sick and confined to bed most of the last 3 weeks, but are gradually coming out of the cave of coughs and congestion. Thus, I haven’t been doing much writing; but I expect to resume over the weekend. We have not stopped praying. Romans 12:1-8
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your [gifts] as a living sacrifice, … to God, [this] is your spiritual worship. How can I best serve [worship] God? By discovering and using the gifts he has given me. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: We have gifts! Each one of us has at least one gift. Some many have more than one. None of us have “nothing to offer”. Here is one short list. There are other lists and other gifts. Each is from the Lord and given to us in God’s plan for our lives. Note that none of them is a Profession in itself nor are they gender or age specific or confined to a church box- Preaching, proclaiming, communicating
- pastoring (shepherding)
- teaching, mentoring
- exhortation, counseling
- generosity, hospitality
- leading, organizing
- compassion, works of mercy
be transformed by the renewing of your minds, … to think … according to the [gift] that God has assigned. Many of us would be transformed, if we learn to think about ourselves, our lives, according to our God-given gifts and abilities, our aptitudes and strengths. This means not measuring ourselves in terms of others or of their expectations of us.Our assignment today is to be what God has assigned us to be
Friday, January 12. 2007
The Oremus page is down today- it can not be reached. I am down today, too. This is our 11th day feeling miserable. Both my wife and I have very bad head and chest colds. I do not feel up to singing and praising the Lord this morning. Actually, with our sore throats we can not. I just want to go back to bed. Ever have a day like this? Sure you have. And there’s the lesson. We don’t have to always be up and atem for the Lord. The Lord knows when we are sidelined. He is still ok. He is still here whether we “feel” His presence or not. He is still in control.
We walk by faith, not by feelings anyway. Right? On these days, we just need to let go and rest in His keeping, while He does His thing. Sometimes, that is the reason He allows us to be down, so we have to look up.
Monday, January 8. 2007
My wife has had a bad cold for several days, feeling miserable. Others in our family are struggling with “stuff” and it is raining out. So I was hoping for something uplifting and inspiring, even comforting, from my Devotions this morning [same as you, right?) What I found were these three readings, which I have abridged-
Psalm 2
1 Why are the nations in tumult, and why do the peoples devise a vain plot? 2 The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his anointed: 3 ‘Let us break their bonds asunder and cast away their cords from us.’
Sorry, but the news headlines and the condition of our world appears the same today as it was last week. Pagans and Secularists and myriads of sinners are still all arraigned against their King, Jesus Christ.
There is but one verse in the Bible where it says God laughs. This is it-
4 He who dwells in heaven shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision. 5Then shall he speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury:
6 I [have] set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.’ 7 I said ... ‘You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. 8...I will give you the nations for your inheritance
This is the Word of the Lord to all those with power in our world-
10 Now therefore be wise, O kings; be prudent, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and with trembling kiss his feet, lest he be angry and you perish from the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Psalm 110
This is one of the most quoted Psalms from the OT in the NT. It is about Christ-
2 the Lord [shall] stretch forth the sceptre of [his] power; 6 In all his majesty, he shall judge among the nations, smiting heads over all the wide earth.
And then I read this wonderful prophecy-
2 Though night still covers the earth, and darkness the peoples; 1 Arise, shine out, for light has come, the glory of the Lord is rising
Let that sink in: though darkness still covers the earth and its peoples light has come, the glory of the Lord is rising
Hallelujah! That is encouraging today. We are on the Lord’s side and that is the winning side. I don’t know if the Patriots will beat the Chargers next week, but I absolutely know that the Lord will defeat the Devil and his minions! Truth shall prevail. Faith shall rout Unbelief. Our work is not in vain. "Stuff" will not get us down!
3. Above you the Holy One arises, and above you God’s glory appears.
Repeat that: Above you the Holy One arises, and above you God’s glory appears.
4 nations will come to ... light, and kings to ... dawning brightness.
Isaiah 60.1-3, 11a, 18, 19, 14b
Friday, January 5. 2007
I struggle with the state of the Church [define that as you will]; I see its walls crumbling and wonder if its foundation will last. Then comes this reassuring prophecy in today’s Readings-
Psalm 48
1 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised, in the city of our God. 3 On Mount Zion, the divine dwelling place, stands the city of the great king. 4 In her palaces God has shown himself to be a sure refuge.
The Church is the dwelling place of God. Yes, He may be found everywhere in the world, but His unique and special presence is in the Church, His House, His Body.
2 His holy mountain is fair and lifted high, the joy of all the earth.
This is not true yet, the Church is not “the joy of all the earth“. Most of the Nations and the world’s 6.5 billion people do not consider the Church of Christ to be where God (and Salvation) is found. But one day, they shall!
5 For behold, the kings of the earth assembled and swept forward together. 6 They saw, and were dumbfounded; dismayed, they fled in terror. 7 Trembling seized them there; they writhed like a woman in labour,
The Nations, the Peoples of other Faiths, the Atheists, Scoffers and Skeptics, the Cultured Despisers of Orthodox, Catholic and Reformed Christianity, the Church, shall be dismayed and come to ruin.
8 As we had heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, the city of our God: God has established her for ever.
Yes, God has established His Church. As Christ said, He would build His Church and the gates of Hell would not prevail against Her!
10 As with your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is full of justice. 11 Let Mount Zion rejoice and the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your judgments, O Lord.
This is the Justice and Judgment of God.
12 Walk about Zion and go round about her; count all her towers; consider well her bulwarks; pass through her citadels, 13 That you may tell those who come after
that such is our God for ever and ever.
Consider well the Doctrine, Tradition and Heritage of the Christian Church- her towers, bulwarks and citadels. She shall stand! She shall overcome and persevere because of Who inhabits Her.
It is he that shall be our guide for evermore.
Monday, January 1. 2007
HYMN - Words: Meaux Breviary, 1713; trans. Francis Pott, 1861
The year is gone, beyond recall,
with all its hopes and fears,
with all its bright and gladdening smiles,
with all its mourners' tears.
Thy thankful people praise thee, Lord,
for countless gifts received;
and pray for grace to keep the faith
which saints of old believed.
To thee we come, O gracious Lord,
the newborn year to bless;
defend our land from pestilence,
give peace and plenteousness.
Forgive this nation's many sins,
the growth of vice restrain;
and help us all with sin to strive,
and crowns of life to gain.
From evil deeds that stain the past
we now desire to flee;
and pray that (this new) year may
be spent, good Lord, for thee.
Friday, December 29. 2006
Isaiah 9 [selected and adapted]1 The light has dawned [upon] those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness
When did this happen? at the Incarnation: when God became flesh in Jesus
3 …you have shattered the yoke that burdened them; the collar that lay heavy on their shoulders.
When did this happen? At the Incarnation: when Jesus was born in Bethlehem
4 For to us a child is born and to us a son is given And who is this baby?
5 his name will be called: Wonderful Counselor; Mighty God; Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace
This new-born came to rule over all nations
and the government will be upon his shoulder. 7 …the throne of David and … his kingdom,
And what will be His program?
to establish and uphold [His Kingdom] with justice and righteousness.
Can we be sure this shall happen? Yes!
[and] 6 Of the increase of his government there will be no end, 8 … the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
[By doing all this, God has] 2 increased [our] joy and given [us] great gladness
Ours is to see the King at work and to serve Him
Friday, December 22. 2006
Psalm 126
2 our mouth [is] filled with laughter and our tongue with songs of joy.
This sounds like what our time together as family should be this Christmas, simply because we shall be all together. But, that is not what the Psalmist is talking about. He is remembering hard times, times of suffering and sadness. Ironically, we often muse on them during this time of festive family fun.
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream. 3 Then [it was we said] ‘The Lord has done great things...’
Best remedy for the blues, is remembering the blessings of the Lord over times past, particularly when he healed and helped us through those hard times. My, how faithful He was, coming to our rescue. He heard our hearts break and our tears fall.
4 The Lord has indeed done great things for us, and therefore we rejoiced.
This is why “our mouth [is] filled with laughter and our tongue with songs of joy“.
6 Those who sow in tears shall reap with songs of joy. 7 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed, will come back with shouts of joy, bearing their sheaves with them.
Here is one of the great promises of Scripture. Christian ministry, Christian living, often is done with heart break and with difficulty; but, we push on all the same. We don’t give up. We know that, if we are faithful anyway, eventually it will all be worthwhile. God will honor and bless our hard labor, finally. Our work will bear fruit in abundance. Weeping shall give way to joy.
Monday, December 18. 2006
1 Thessalonians 5.1-11 adaptedThe Scripture readings in Advent are primarily about the Second Coming (Advent) of Christ. We sing of that Coming as a joyous occasion. For many it will be the most terrifying Day in History. They will not be ready… sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! It will be a day of reckoning, a Day of Wrath. Scoffers and Skeptics, Agnostics and Atheists are doomed. Non-Christians will perish for Eternity. concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you … know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. What about Christians? We do not need to fear that DayGod has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. This means whether we are awake [alive] or asleep [have died] we may live with him when He comes.
Meanwhile, let us be sober [serious minded], and put on armor for our personal spiritual warfare-the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
and stay active in the church … encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. As the Day approaches, we need each other more than ever!
Friday, December 15. 2006
Psalm 108
My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and make melody. Wake up, my spirit; awake, lute and harp; I myself will waken the dawn. I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
Jim and Eleanor Pelley’s life together (52 years) has been committed to spreading the Word of God around the world via radio. Upon returning from years doing this oversees, they settled in Hamden, CT and continued that ministry with the Christian radio station WIHS in Middletown.
Jim Pelley was the first voice heard on WIHS when the Station initially began radio transmissions on October 11, 1969. He served the Station as Lead Announcer and Program Director for the next 22 years, through the end of 1991 and, after retirement, he and his wife continued on as volunteers until recently. Jim went to be with the Lord last Sunday.
Early in our marriage, my wife and I and our first child lived in what was the North American Headquarters for another Christian Radio Station, HCJB. Clarence Jones and his wife were radio missionary pioneers. They went to Quito, Ecuador and set up a short wave station there, in a sheep shed, high in the Andes. Then they traveled down into the jungles and gave out radios fixed to receive only one station- HCJB. It began broadcasting on Christmas Day 1931.
HCJB stands for “Heralding Christ Jesus' Blessings”. The Pelleys and WIHS and the Jones and HCJB were all dedicated to doing just that. And they did it to the Glory of God. Millions have heard the Word and untold numbers have come to Christ and grown in grace, through these people and their ministries. We thank the Lord for them and renew our own commitment today to personally herald Christ Jesus blessings, in every way we can.
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