It's a new day

Php 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

Satan is extremely clever. He would prefer that we be disunified, no matter the means. Since our battle is not against flesh and blood, we need to be careful to lift up our ministry with prayer. Prayer is where the battle will be won. It may look like the battle is enjoined on the field, but it takes place in the heavenly places.

Prayer for the Body of Christ

9:42am

We are a small fellowship--a bit over 20 people (some Sundays) including children. If you think about it, that is plenty of people to consistently pray over! I know, I know...there are systematic ways to "pray" for people in larger bodies; however, you probably are often praying for strangers and faces, rather than people you know and/or care for.

If you are a leader in a Body then it's your responsibility to pray and watch over those in the flock. (The head of the flock, is Jesus, not you or anyone else.) I have a hard enough time consistently praying over 20 people that I know and care about (not including specific children in our AWANA ministry) much alone praying for strangers. I do pray for a few people that I have "met" over the Internet and for friends who are elsewhere.

My specific help is a prayer document that I can access on my computer when I do my quiet time. I have everyone listed with their specific requests so that I can come back and put in answers/partial answers to those prayers. Having a list also enables me to generally pray for them and (hopefully) listen to what the Holy Spirit wants me to pray for them.

I firmly believe that God answers prayer. I also firmly believe that He is sovereign in His decisions how and when to answer prayers. I also believe that He has a better grasp on things than do I.

Prayer, it's what's for breakfast!

Death comes a knockin'

7:50am

Please read this article about Elena Kagan, the Supreme Court justice nominee, from World Magazine:

http://online.worldmag.com/2010/07/09/kagan-doesnt-shudder/

Economics

8:39am

I am reading through a book titled, The Battle, by Arthur C. Brooks. The subtitle ingeniously tells the theme in a nutshell: How the Fight Between FREE ENTERPRISE and BIG GOVERNMENT Will Shape America's Future. Mr. Brooks argues that one of the causes of our financial collapse is government policy and intervention. His argument is iron clad and irrefutable. I recommend the book to anyone who is concerned about the move to socialism/one-world government that was ramped up under the Republican administration of Bush 43 and now by the policies of President Obama and his Democratic regime.

My ongoing concern, however, is about the real BATTLE that is raging across the universe--the war for the souls of men. The fight that began in the Garden and will end by the power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (AMEN!).

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

As Christians, our primary concern should be the souls of men and the Word of God, two of the things that we know are eternal. As strangers and aliens in this world, our main emphasis should be on the Kingdom of God and battling against the gates of hell through the power of our Lord. As Francis Schaeffer so aptly predicted in many of his works, modern America will willingly sell her freedoms for the promise of personal peace and prosperity. Frankly, I don't see a return to the good old days because both political parties are in control for power, not for the benefit of the American people.

It seems that we are willing to pray for peace but not for the right reasons. Hear what the apostle Paul tells his missionary associate, Timothy, in 1 Timothy:

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men;

1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The peaceable life that Paul has Timothy prays for is for the primary purpose of the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not for the personal peace and prosperity that many prominent heretics propose to their congregations here in the US and around the world.

We can fight for free enterprise over socialism as long as we are fighting for the freedom to further the kingdom of God. Some day, as all of us know, this life will end. Will we have spent our time on the things that are really important?

1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and its flower falleth away:

1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you.

Dentist

8:29am

Well...you learn something new all the time it seems. I found out this morning that the canal inside your tooth can calcify over time when you have a large filling (from my childhood). I found out that my regular dentist (great brother named Wes) would prefer that my root canal be done by an endodontic specialist.

What bothers me is that it wasn't even a (stinkin') cavity! Ahh...the sins of my childhood are coming back to haunt me.

I will have to drive about 90 miles for my "consultation." Then, they will set up an appointment for the procedure. Luckily, they had an opening for a consultation in six days :)

Maranatha

7:04am

Before heading out to see the dentist this morning, I wanted to make a comment on the encouragement of having a prayer list. A list that you can add to and highlight the answered prayers. I know that I need encouragement (more than I think) and the prayer list reminds me that God answers prayer.

I have a numbered list, with bullets, of prayer requests for individual families inside (and outside) our fellowship. Whenever God answers a specific request I "color" and "bold" the answer so that the answers jump out when I open the prayer document.

One of the things that I have been encouraged to do as a result of the list is to be more specific in my prayers for individuals. For example, instead of just asking for repentance for a brother, I am specifically asking the Lord to bring him back to our fellowship. Repentance is tops, but I also really would like to have him back with us.

Also, as I have prayed for us, God has answered prayers in ways that I didn't ask. Certainly, in ways that are better than my specific requests.

Got to go get a "bad" tooth looked at this morning. I hope, err pray that Wes can take care of it ASAP.

Doctor's Visit

8:37am

After coming home from a doctor's visit yesterday (routine once-a-year), I commented to my wife that I was the youngest person in the office for a while. There was one young lady with two children who left before I got called back to see my doctor. I am 54 years old and felt like a spring chicken compared to most of the folks there. The conversations were interesting to hear, besides the one older gentleman whose snoring would send a Grizzly back up the mountainside. In retrospect, it was, quite frankly, Medicare brinkmanship.

Person A: "How are you doing?"

Person B: "Just glad to be able to get up and eat my breakfast!"

Person A: "I was happy to get up with my walker this morning. Now I'm down to using my cane."

Person B: "It's just one day at a time for me. Some good and some bad."

Person A: "At least you're not in a nursing home like my wife is."

The next conversation centered around who's getting the bigger shaft when it comes to medication.

Scripture says, "Where your heart is, there your treasure will be."

The oneupmanship really didn't bother me. You see, whenever we see someone doing something stupid we need to ask the question, "What am I doing that's even more stupid than what they're doing?" NOT "Why are they doing something stupid?"

The things that regularly come out of our mouths generally are the things that has got the attention of our heart (because those are the things that we are engaging in or thinking about). Am I ensnared by the things of the world to the point whereby they are treasured in my heart and consequently come out in my speech? Brother Andy taught us on Sunday that "...friendship with the world is enmity (to be an enemy of) with God" (James 4:4). Am I a friend of the world or a friend of God?