A Word from John Piper

The following quote if from John Piper's website http://www.desiringgod.org/AboutUs/OurDistinctives/OurHistory/ .

I think he is right on in his perspective. May God so work in me and our ministries.....

As we move into the future, we are aware of the danger of growth. The bigger we get, the greater the temptation to refrain from risk. It’s tempting to be pre-occupied with internal systems and management. It’s tempting to be anxious about financial security.

But our calling is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. We are not called to preserve ourselves but to spend ourselves. We are called to treasure Christ and show him as glorious to as many people as possible. When you think of us, pray that the Lord will continue to give us grace to love him passionately, trust him radically, give generously, and preach Christ boldly.

Clergy Retreat at the Monastery

I have just returned from a 24-hour clergy retreat at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA. A number of us Anglican-types gathered to be quiet, listen to God, and spend time reflecting. Our teacher was the Rev. Dr. David Watkins and he spoke about healing our wounded spirits; dealing with significant losses in our lives. He was great!! He gave us plenty of food for thought from God's Word.

The Rev. Steven Saul leading us in Communion.

Most fascinating (and illuminating!) is being silent. No talking. Eating your meals in silence. It is amazing the things you begin to notice, to see, and observe. Of course, it makes it easier to hear that "still small voice" of the Lord which gets crowded out by all the noise in our lives. Listening to the Bible as you read it. "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

The Rev. Bill Sharpe and Dr. David Watkins

O, that I would take more time out to be with the Lord in times like this!

I give thanks for the time with the Lord I just shared with fellow ministers of the Gospel.

Vance Havner and Preachers

Years ago I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Vance Havner preach. He was in his eighties having retired after serving a baptist church for years in Charleston, SC (Probably retirement is the wrong word since he didn't believe in retirement; after all he was still preaching in his 80's!). He was SO funny, and then in between in between his humor, he would strike with a penetrating truth from the Word of God.

I recently picked up one of his books from my study, The Van Havner Notebook, and wanted to share some of his words. I will use several posts to share some of his insightful wisdom.

A minister may have his study walls lined with diplomas, his ordination papers signed by illustrious men, a sheaf of recommendations from the mighty of the land, but if the stamp of heaven on his commission is faint and fading, he had better close up shop and take time out until he can return to his pulpit with a brand new autograph from God. When he is thus re-signed, he will be reassigned, like Elijah, like Jonah, like Peter. He may be given the same task, for some churches need not a new preacher, but the same preacher renewed.

A man sent a note to John Wesley saying, "God does not need your learning." Wesley replied, "God does not need your ignorance." But greater than a full head is a full heart and God must fill it. The complement of a full heart is an empty hand, a realization that we are nothing and have nothing in ourselves, that our sufficiency is in HIM alone.

A friend of mine, speaking of a well-known preacher of some years ago, said, "At one time he was my greatest inspiration but there came a day when he was my greatest warning." What a tragic finish when a life that once inspired comes to its close as a grim danger signal!

Maintaining the spiritual "glow" when we have lost our "go" is a major problem. Sometimes I see smug old ministers who are coasting to retirement. It is next to impossible for a church to have revival under such leadership, because the pastor himself needs reviving.

We must stir up the gift of God within us, that we may be burning and shining lights. But it is the dynamic of the Spirit, not human enthusiasm -- old Adam worked up to a high pitch. Stir carries the idea of kindling the flame -- doctrine that we may believe, discipline that we may behave, dynamic that we may burn! This is the true New Testament Timothy, believing, behaving, burning!

Consecration and Snow

This past Saturday I had the privilege of attending the ordination and consecration of Neil Lebhar as the first bishop of the new Anglican diocese, The Gulf Atlantic Diocese, in Jacksonville, FL. Neil has been a long-time friend and colleage in ministry. I have admired his love of the Lord, his pastoral gifts in ministry, his love for the Jewish people, his wonderful and inspiring family, and his example of sharing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

While I was gone, it snowed at home. In the Atlanta area it is always a big deal when it snows since we don't receive much snowfall each year. So I missed out!! But I did see snow flakes in Valdosta, GA (located near the Florida border) while eating dinner with my daughter on Friday night. God's creation is so awesome! It is a reflection of Him in all His Nature.

Supreme Deception

I am given books all the time by people saying: "You have to read this!" Oftentimes, these books get put in a pile in the corner of my study which I gradually make my way through. Months ago as a gesture of kindness, a member of our church gave me a book she had written. For whatever reason, I couldn't read it at the time, and it was put in the "to read" pile.

Well, this week I picked up Sybil Fletcher Lash's, Supreme Deception, and I could not put it down. It is the story of Sandra Cano, who was "Mary Doe" in the parallel abortion case to Roe v. Wade, called Doe v. Bolton. It is the story of Atlanta's contribution to the abortion travesty we have in our country.

Sybil Lash captures the essence of how Sandra Cano was used and abused by the legal system in our country to legalize abortion and partial-birth abortions. One has to ask: how can something like this happen in the United States of America? Well, it did, and you need to know about it.

Supreme Deception is available at Amazon.com or you can write me and I will get you a copy.

Heavenly Father, how your heart must grieve every time an innocent life is snatched from its mother's womb. How you must hurt with all the women who bear the after-effects in their bodies, in their hearts, and in their spirits of a decision they usually made with bad information! Forgive us Lord for destroying your innocent creation. Forgive us Lord for viewing life so cheaply. Forgive us Lord for allowing it to continue. Revive and renew our country Lord, and end abortion. In the Name of the One who gives us Life, Jesus the Messiah.

February Newspaper Column Posted

TO read "Let Love Be Love" go to http://awordfromthelord.org/page.asp?pg=February%202010

Oh Deer!!

Last night, my wife and I were heading down GA highway 138 going to our neighborhood bible study. Before we could see it, a deer crossed two lanes of traffic and hit my car on the driver's side. Of course, I was going at least 55 miles per hour so she bounced off my car after sliding down the left side of the car.

My wife and I both love deer. We have them in our neighborhood. They eat my flowers after I have worked so hard to create a garden. They deposit their business in our yard planting seeds of all kinds of wild flowers and weeds. But there is something about these animals that always gives us peace and joy.

To hit and kill a deer like this is such a helpless feeling - a reminder of all those things which come our way in life which are out of our control. The car will be fixed and life will go on. But another one of God's creations was killed. The continued issue of "progress" meeting the "environment" will not be resolved. But I rejoice that Jesus is Lord of this planet, and I can rely on Him, even in the helpless moments of life.

A Fabulous February

February is here and a lot is happening around Holy Cross this month. If we don’t get snowed out (J), consider the following goings-on at the church.

First, please know that because of budget concerns and new opportunities, please note the following changes. Betty is leaving her position as the Church Administrator to become the Part-time Diocesan Administrator (she will work at Holy Cross). Julie Ashey is starting part-time as our Office Manager and will take on many of the administrative duties held by Betty. Beth Weaver will return to Holy Cross and work part-time one day a week as the Membership Administrative Assistant. Judy Adams will work part-time three days a week as our Worship Administrative Assistant. The Church Office will not be open on Fridays (this is a three-month experiment) although we will continue to have our volunteers here to answer the phones and greet folks. This will not affect our Pastoral Care abilities as our current response system will remain in place.

Second, on February 10 at 7:00 p.m. at our Wednesday night Healing Service, we will have another guest speaker to talk about another aspect of healing. The Rev. Dr. David Watkins will speak on “Healing the Wounded Spirit.”

Third, with Ash Wednesday on February 17^th, the Brotherhood is sponsoring our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday evening, the 16^th. We will have two services on Ash Wednesday, 11:15 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. During Lent we will also have several volunteer “fast days” for you to consider (see schedule in this newsletter).

Fourth, the Wednesday after Ash Wednesday, we will continue with a weekly Mid-Day Communion Service with Prayers for Healing at 11:15 a.m. The Rev. Bill Sharp and the Rev. Jim Blanton will be leading this service each week.

Fifth, the Rt. Rev. Charles Obaikoi, bishop of the diocese of Soroti in Uganda, will be our guest preacher. He is known to be a good preacher and a loving and compassionate pastor. He will be accompanied by his wife, Margaret.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of what is going on this month at Holy Cross, and doesn’t include our Annual Celebration Dinner on February 7^th. I cannot tell you how encouraged I am about how the Holy Spirit is leading us at Holy Cross. He is amazing.

Where Did January GO?

Wow! January flew by. Where did it go? I keep looking at my calendar in January. Sure, it was a busy month -- much fruitful ministry, but it went by too fast. I am reminded that life is zipping by and how we spend our time will last for eternity - either for God's glory or for the vast emptiness of existing-less fire. How often I forget that every minute counts, and how I use this minute and this day will take me to where I will be tomorrow.

The Lord has a big dream for our lives. How we respond to him in obedience and surrender determines how much of His dream we get to live and enjoy. I hope I will be surrendered to Him until my last day.

This past month I said good-bye to a special lady, Marianne Klassen. She was an incredible disciple and vessel of the Lord, and she served him until her final hours. What a way to go! Determined and dedicated to God's purposes until my last breath. Lord, help me to be so yielded to you!

God is good -- All the time!