Archive for July, 2009

Swine Flu on the Rise! Doctors, Parents, Teachers, and other authorities are worried now and taking pre-cautions for the Swine Flu pandemic that has the potential of threatening so many people this fall as school gets underway again. The number of outbreaks at summer camps has been in the hundreds. H1N1 swine flu is now so widespread that the World Health Organization (WHO) has stopped counting individual cases. So far H1N1 is characterized by mild symptoms in most patients who go on to recover without treatment within a week. The median age of sufferers has been 14 to 17 years old, although the age is increasing slightly as the number of cases increases, according to the WHO, suggesting the virus is spreading from schools into the wider community. My nephew was just evaluated for Swine Flu. Fortunately, he does not have it. But-it will hit home to a lot of people, and most all will recover within days. Certainly there is cause to be concerned. —Incredible however, thinking about all this attention, that there is a greater virus and disease infecting the lives of our students with so much more potential for  harm with very little promise of recovery. It’s the disease of spiritual blindness that is brought on by the apathy and callousness and lack of spiritual discernment on the part of so many “Christian” parents. Parents who are not giving the best immunizations and vitamins to their kids,allowing them to be subjected to every worldly influence out there. We know what they are. But why do we continue to let them be tainted and contaminated so easily. Parents-church leaders-these are days of deception and infiltration by the enemy. Why not take the advice from Psalm 1 – “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”  Want to protect—immunize—your kids as best you can? Watch where they walk, Watch where they stand, Watch where they sit, Help plant Him/Her by the streams of pure water—and He/she will prosper!

Preaching—Bible or Entertainment oriented ?Recently read an article by John Piper who referred to John Calvin’s preaching. Regardless of your opinion of John Calvin, no doupt, He was committed to the authority of the Scriptures. John Piper, calls into question the style of preaching so many use today. I have only been “preaching” as a Sr. Pastor for about 10 years. Most of my 26 years in vocational ministry to this point as a 47 year old Man has been to Student Ministry. I am still refining my “style” if you will. As I read through this article, I came out of it agreeing with John Piper and more resolved to be all I can be in the Pulpit. Listen to His admonition, and then pray your pastor will always be a Bible Centered “preacher”.

“For Calvin, preaching was tethered to the Bible. That is why he preached through books of the Bible so relentlessly. In honor of tethered preaching, I would like to suggest the difference I hear between preaching tethered to the word of God and preaching that ranges free and leans toward entertainment. The difference between an entertainment-oriented preacher and a Bible-oriented preacher is the manifest connection of the preacher’s words to the Bible as what authorizes what he says. The entertainment-oriented preacher gives the impression that he is not tethered to an authoritative book in what he says. What he says doesn’t seem to be shaped and constrained by an authority outside himself. He gives the impression that what he says has significance for reasons other than that it manifestly expresses the meaning and significance of the Bible. So he seems untethered to objective authority. The entertainment-oriented preacher seems to be at ease talking about many things that are not drawn out of the Bible. In his message, he seems to enjoy more talking about other things than what the Bible teaches. His words seem to have a self-standing worth as interesting or fun. They are entertaining. But they don’t give the impression that this man stands as the representative of God before God’s people to deliver God’s message. The Bible-oriented preacher, on the other hand, does see himself that way—“I am God’s representative sent to God’s people to deliver a message from God.” He knows that the only way a man can dare to assume such a position is with a trembling sense of unworthy servant hood under the authority of the Bible. He knows that the only way he can deliver God’s message to God’s people is by rooting it in and saturating it with God’s own revelation in the Bible. The Bible-oriented preacher wants the congregation to know that his words, if they have any abiding worth, are in accord with God’s words. He wants this to be obvious to them. That is part of his humility and his authority. Therefore, he constantly tries to show the people that his ideas are coming from the Bible. He is hesitant to go too far toward points that are not demonstrable from the Bible. His stories and illustrations are constrained and reined in by his hesitancy to lead the consciousness of his hearers away from the sense that this message is based on and expressive of what the Bible says. A sense of submission to the Bible and a sense that the Bible alone has words of true and lasting significance for our people mark the Bible-oriented preacher, but not the entertainment-oriented preacher. People leave the preaching of the Bible-oriented preacher with a sense that the Bible is supremely authoritative and important and wonderfully good news. They feel less entertained than struck at the greatness of God and the weighty power of his word. Lord, tether us to your mighty word. Cause me and all preachers to show the people that our word is powerless and insignificant in comparison with yours. Grant us to stand before our people as messengers sent with God’s message to God’s people in God’s name by God’s Spirit. Grant us to tremble at this responsibility. Protect us from trifling with this holy moment before your people.”

IN THE WATER ? I was in Exodus this morning-chapter 2 –at the Nile River, when Pharaoh’s daughter happened to see little baby Moses among the reeds of the river. If you’ve read the story—or do so latter, you will find Moses’ Mom putting her baby boy in a basket and purposely floating him along the river bank in hopes that one of Pharaoh’s royal family members would see him and have compassion on him. No doubt, God had moved Moses’ Mom to do this. Pharaoh was killing all the baby boys in fear of the Israelites becoming too strong of a people. No problem for God! He already had a plan and thus protects a baby boy whom He would call to change the world. Little Moses becomes powerful Moses who would lead God’s people into blessing and out of captivity. I love the words of vs. 10, “She (Pharoah’s daughter) named Him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.” God can take anything of ours out of the water and make something powerful and fruitful. Just when many of God’s people had lost hope, God still had a plan of deliverance. We may feel America is in the water. And she is. She is drowning fast. But God’s people can be assured He will deliver us (MAYBE NOT America ?) as we trust Him and allow Him to be magnified and glorified in and through our lives. We may have to give things up—plans up—dreams set aside—but His way is best and perfect. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord—plans to prosper you and not to harm you.” So child of God—don’t be afraid of the water. It may be the safest and most blessed place for you and your family at this time. But make no mistake—you trust Him and He will deliver!

It’s Sunday Morning and can’t wait to see GraceView this morning! Hope you are awake and ready to glorify God in worship this morning. Pray now–pray on the way -pray during the service for a moving of God’s Spirit in each of our hearts and lives this morning. Hope you invited someone to join us. “Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.” Psalms 150:1-6 (NIV)

 pastor robbie

God’s Glory Above All!

C.S.Lewis wrote, “ We are half hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us…We are far too easily pleased.” How true for our generation. We have allowed so many “self centered -things” to buy for our attention away from God’s intended pleasure for our hearts and souls—glorifying Him in and through our lives. Even our pulpits have become a place to emphasize the freedom and liberty of enjoying “things” to the neglect of emphasizing our privilege of glorifying God and seeking His glory manifest in our daily living. Moses had an insatiable desire to see God’s glory manifest to all nations and this was the reason He prayed for God’s grace on His people. –So that the world would see the glory of God. If today—you and I did everything we do for the purpose of glorifying God—I wonder what would change about our motivations and actions—and even the liberties we love to flaunt around because we are “under grace”. Never forget that Extravagant Grace is measured extravagantly upon us for the purpose of showing God’s Extravagant Glory to all people. This is what we are called to do today. I Corinthians 10:31.

A SURPRISE CONFERENCE

I have been to numerous youth pastor and pastor conferences since being in vocational ministry for almost 25 years, 10 years as a senior pastor. I have attended some of the best conferences out there led by nationally well known speakers. I came to the conference I am attending this week with reservation. No big names and no “bells and whistles” to lure me here. I came at the suggestion of a good friend and the prompting of the Spirit to “get away” and hear from God. Last night I heard one of the most moving messages for a pastor that I have heard in many years. My heart was stirred and my vision focused for my own life as well as the life of GraceView. I was most impressed with this young–30 year old pastor who is just becoming known in SBC circles. His humility, transparency, and genuine passion for glorifying God in his life and in the mission of the church he serves were obvious. In a time when there are few men in the national spotlight of “leading church movements” it is so refreshing to see a young Man who seems to be “doing church right” with a glow of maturity and focus for what the church really is all about. It’s not about us. It’s not about attracting a crowd or watering down or magnifying the church. It’s all about God’s Extravagant Grace that has been given to His people to make known the Extravagant glory of an awesome God. Perhaps the church today has made her mission all about “us” and the “lost” and forgotten the real reason we do everything we do—“to make His Glory known” throughout the nations. I Corinthians 10:31- “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”.

Pam and I are in Asheville and had the opportunity to attend Biltmore Baptist Church yesterday. Great service. But-we missed GraceView. Several have told me already about the awesome worship and message yesterday. Thanks to Brain and Sabrina Waters for sharing. I can’t wait to get back and hear Brain’s message. I had opportunity to visit with him last week to discuss the service and knew his message would be powerful for GraceView. Starting today I will be attending a Discipleship Conference at Ridgecrest Conference Center. My heart for GraceView is to continue being a fully-functioning Disciple making church with a heart for going Higher-Deeper, and Wider and to do what we have been called to do better and better. Pray for me as I listen and spend some quality time with my Bible and God that I will be all God wants me to be as a pastor at GraceView. GraceView is moving forward, and I anticipate greater things in the weeks and months ahead. I assure you of my commitment to the church and am confident of yours as well. Blessings-Robbie

THE CROSS

I don’t know where I heard this quote, but it is a reminder to me this morning that I must come back to the cross regularly to view the grace that was given to me because I was so desperately in need of help as a lost sinner. The Cross happened because of my sin—and your sin. Write this quote down somewhere to read over and over again: “Before we begin to see the cross as something done for us—we have to see it as something done by us.” Selah!   Hoping  you have a blessed day living in the Spirit—fulfilled by the Spirit, and directed by the Spirit. He who has begun a good work in you will be faithful to complete it! J

SELF-IMAGE

C.S.Lewis wrote, “I remember that when Christian teachers told me long ago that I must hate a bad man’s actions but no the man, I used to think this a silly, straw splitting distinction: how could you hate what a man did and not hate the man? But years later it occurred to me that there was one man to whom I had been doing this all my life namely myself.” Ever thought about this? How many of us continually look down on ourselves or judge ourselves for our past when we have already given it to God who has forgiven and forgotten about it. Unfortunately we “IDENTIFY” with our past and present failures when God is at the door ready to take the “trash” out and away if we will just let it go. God wants us to feel good about ourselves as we hide ourselves in his grace, mercy, and forgiveness. And when we hide ourselves in Him—He gives us the ability to like and love ourselves as He sees us. This is healthy. A Healthy self-image based on the perfection of the one who covers us with His feathers of love and power. Raise your head saint of God—give it all up to Him and walk in “newness of life” today! J