Through A Glass Darkly...

Make The Most of Every Opportunity

2009-09-23T11:15:00.007-05:00

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9,10 ESV)

What about now? What about today? You realize that tomorrow has not been promised to any of us. What I do today is important. Don't let the failures of yesterday spoil today. Even a cup of cold water will not go without reward. For those of us who have "living water," let us offer some to others today. Freely you have received, freely give. Stay faithful!

Let Us Labor For The Master...

2009-09-07T06:19:00.012-05:00

LABOR DAY - Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:4-5 ESV)

Too often, we think that our labor for God has to be some super-magnanimous act. But all that is required of the Lord's servant is that he/she be faithful. Christ said that a cup of cold water given to the least of these His servants will reap its' reward! (see Matthew 10:42)

Our Lord gives one more answer to who is a true laborer or not. In Matthew 24 tells us whom He considers the true laborer. "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (Matthew 24:44-46 ESV)

Let us pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into his fields. Amen, come Lord Jesus.

Being Occupied With God

2009-09-05T07:09:00.007-05:00

"Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!" (Psalm 113:1-3 ESV)

In other words, every place on this mortal soil, is a proper place to worship and offer praise! Note, I didn't say the only place.

In the early '60's, when JFK was our president, his brother served as Attorney General. While on tour of Brazil, Robert Kennedy was introduced to a farmer from the interior of Brazil. He decided to ask this simple farmer a deep philosophical question. "What did the farmer esteem as his highest calling throughout the day in his existence in the interior of Brazil?" Without a moment's hesitation, the farmer replied, through his interpreter, "Being occupied with God."

Certain that the farmer had misunderstood his question, Kennedy asked him the same question once again. Again, the simple farmer immediately responded through his interpreter, "Being occupied with God." Unbeknownst to the Attorney General, the simple farmer living in the immense Amazonian Rain Forest had recently responded to the Gospel call of a missionary and had come to know the Maker of the Universe in an intimate way.

Being occupied with God is one simple way we can fulfill the Scriptural admonition to praise the Name of the Lord from the rising of the sun to the setting of the same.

No Condemnation!!

2009-09-04T08:32:00.002-05:00

"The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned." (Psalm 34:22 ESV)
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1 ESV)

The Holy Scriptures tell us that the human race is under a curse. We have committed Cosmic Treason against the Sovereign of the Universe. Scripture also tells us that this Sovereign has provided a way to escape the judgement that is coming. Jesus, God's son, came into the world, lived a life of perfect obedience and then offered that life as a propitiation for our sin.

For everyone who flees to Jesus for refuge, there will be no judgement of conviction. Trust Christ my friend, He has paid the price of redemption. We are free! Embrace Him and rejoice dear hearts!

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
- Refrain:
  Jesus paid it all,
  All to Him I owe;
  Sin had left a crimson stain,
  He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
And now complete in Him,
My robe, His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.
Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.
When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Predestined To Be Conformed

2009-09-03T09:42:00.002-05:00

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,..." Colossians 3:16a ESV "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11 ESV

Scripture, God's Word, is to be at home in our lives in a very copious, magnanimous way. It is the Spirit's work to conform believers to the likeness of Jesus Christ. However, the Holy Spirit does not work in a vacuum. The Spirit always uses the Word of God in our day-to-day transformation.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus told his disciples that when the Holy Spirit comes He would bring back to their memories all that Christ had taught them. The Word that we hide in our hearts, is the same Word that the Holy Spirit uses to conform us to the image of the Son that He loves. Just as a potter keeps his hands wet as he molds the clay, the Holy Spirit wets His hands with the "water" of God's Word as He molds and makes us into the image of the Beloved Son.

Let us renew our efforts of hiding God's Word in our hearts so that God's Spirit may continue His work in our lives.

Why Am I Here?

2009-09-02T08:16:00.007-05:00

And he [Jesus] said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15 ESV

Contrary to popular culture, the one who dies with the most toys doesn't win. The chief end of man is not the accumulation of stuff but to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. Let us not exchange the truth for a lie. We are to worship the Creator and not the creature. Whenever we value our "stuff" more than we value the Lord, we are guilty of breaking the 10th Commandment. And James tells us that if we break one of God's commandments we have become accountable for all. [James 2:10]

Praise For My Wife On Our 42nd Anniversary

2009-09-01T07:38:00.008-05:00

"An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain... Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.'" Proverbs 31:10,11; 28,29 ESV

Today my wife and I celebrate our 42nd Anniversary. I have said often and will continue to say until my dying day, that outside of coming to know Jesus Christ, she is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I would not be who, what or where I am today without her. She truly has been "the wind beneath my wings."

God Is Still On His Throne

2009-08-31T23:58:00.001-05:00

"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will." Proverbs 21:1 ESV

Take heart timid souls, at the top of every organizational chart is the King of kings, the Lord of lords. Rejoice, everything is under His control!!

"Quotables"

2009-02-17T06:43:00.007-06:00

"God is always like Himself." - John Calvin

"It is impossible to reason someone out of a position that they have not at first reasoned themselves into." - Jonathan Swift

"God never gives us discernment in order that we may be critical, but that we may intercede." -Oswald Chambers

"Remove natural man from his rituals and he must begin to think in the realm of impossibilities." - Pastor William Downing

"Contentment is spiritual equilibrium - in both favorable and adverse circumstances." -Anonymous

The President, the Passengers, and the Patience of God

2009-01-21T18:34:00.005-06:00

January 21, 2009
By John Piper

[Note from Lee R. Shelton, III: Here is an excellent post from Pastor John Piper of DesiringGod.org ]

Sometimes we are so overwhelmed at being treated better than we deserve that we must exult in the all-sovereign God—the God of birds' flight and Obama’s rise. When King David pondered how many were God’s “wondrous deeds,” he said, “I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told” (Psalm 40:5). That’s the way I feel watching God’s public mercies in the last few days.

Have you considered how unlikely was the crash of USAir flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15—not just the rescue but the crash itself? Picture this: The Airbus A320 is taking off at an angle—maybe 30 degrees. It’s not flying horizontal with the earth. Not only that, it is flying fast—not full speed yet, but perhaps four times as fast as your car would go at top highway speeds.

The geese are flying horizontally with the ground, more or less. They are not flying in a cloud like a swarm of bees. They fly level with the ground, often shaped like a V. In view of all that, what are the odds that, traveling at this speed and at this angle, this airplane would intersect with the flight of those geese at that very millisecond which would put a bird not just in one of those engines, but both of them?

Two laser-guided missiles would not have been as amazingly effective as were those geese. It is incredible, statistically speaking. If God governs nature down to the fall (and the flight) of every bird, as Jesus says (Matthew 10:29), then the crash of flight 1549 was designed by God.

Which leads to the landing in the Hudson River—which is just as unlikely. The airbus now has no thrust in either engine. The flight attendants said it was as quiet as a library in the plane without the sound of engines. The plane is now a 77-ton glider with its belly full of fuel. Captain Sullenberger decides to land in the river. Anywhere else would mean one big fireball.

He banks and misses the George Washington Bridge by 900 feet and glides the plane into a perfect belly landing. A few degrees tilt to the front or back or the right or left and the plane would have done cartwheels down the river and broken up. On the water, the flight attendant does not let passengers open the rear door. That would have flooded the cabin too fast. The emergency doors and front doors provide exits for everyone and the plane floats long enough for all of them to climb out. Ferry boats are there almost instantly. The captain walks the aisle twice to make sure everyone is off. Then he leaves. Later the plane sinks.

If God guides geese so precisely, he also guides the captain’s hands. God knew that when he took the plane down, he would also give a spectacular deliverance. So why would he do that? If he means for all to live, why not just skip the crash?

Because he meant to give our nation a parable of his power and mercy the week before a new President takes office. God can take down a plane any time he pleases—and if he does, he wrongs no one. Apart from Christ, none of us deserves anything from God but judgment. We have belittled him so consistently that he would be perfectly just to take any of us any time in any way he chooses.

But God is longsuffering. He is slow to anger. He withholds wrath every day. This is what we saw in the parable. The crash of Flight 1549 illustrates God’s right and power to judge. The landing of the plane represents God’s mercy. It was God’s call to all the passengers and all their families and all who heard the story to repent and turn to God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and receive forgiveness for sin.

I am writing these thoughts on the evening after the inauguration of Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States. I cried twice today. There were two points when I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. Once was when I prayed with some brothers after Obama’s speech and was overcome with the sinfulness of my own racist background. The other was in trying to express my emotion to an African-American brother about what this must mean for him.

As much as I reject Obama’s stance on abortion, I am thankful to the bottom of my soul that an African-American can be President of United States. The enormousness of it all is unspeakable. This is God’s doing. The geese were God’s doing. The landing of Flight 1549 was God’s doing. And the Obama presidency is God’s doing. “He removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21).

And I pray that President Obama has eyes to see. The “miracle on the Hudson” and the “miracle in the White House” are not unrelated. God has been merciful to us as a nation. Our racial sins deserved judgment a thousand times over. God does not owe America anything. We owe him everything. And instead of destruction, he has given us another soft landing. We are not dead at the bottom of the Hudson.

O that Barack Obama would see the mercies of God and look to the One whose blood bought everlasting life for all who trust him. The parables of God’s mercy are everywhere. The point of them is this: God is a just and patient Ruler, and Jesus Christ is a great Savior. Turn. Turn. Turn, O President of the United States and passengers of this planet.

Full of thanks for all God’s mercies,

Pastor John

IN LOVING MEMORY

2008-12-28T11:19:00.008-06:00

Frances Loraine (Reeves) Shelton
June 11, 1924 - December 26, 2008

Friday morning, my loving Mother passed away unexpectedly in her home. At this time, we are not sure how she expired. For the past 5 years my mother has lived "just around the block" from Marsha and me in Cold Spring, Minnesota. On Christmas day, our "Thursday Evening Dinner Club" got together for a Christmas meal. My sister Sharon, her husband Alan, along with Marsha, me and my mother enjoyed each others company while feasting on turkey, dressing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry salad and pumpkin pie. It was a time of sweet fellowship with family. We called friends and relatives on the phone and shared precious memories with each one. Little did we know that Mom's time with us was in short supply.

My mother and father were married to each other a little over 60 years. During that time, they displayed what true love was all about as they exampled the love they had for each other to those that lived around them. My father was a true "trailblazer" in many areas of spreading the Gospel. Mom was probably the least selfish person that I ever knew. She placed her husband and children ahead of herself in life. She indeed was the "wind beneath the wings" of my father. If giving is more blessed than receiving, as Jesus Christ said it was, then my mother experienced much blessing in her life.

A Friday, January 2nd memorial service is planned to be held at Mt. Zion Bible Church in Pensacola, Florida. The Bayview Fisher-Pou funeral home is taking care of all arrangements. My father is buried in the Bayview Cemetery and mom will soon join him. Pastor Jeff Pollard, current pastor, will conduct the service.

Is It Over?

2008-11-07T10:54:00.003-06:00

Friends,

I present a well-written analysis of our recent elections. It is from Pastor Voddie Bacham. I couldn't have written anything better or even quite this good, so I let him speak for me. Enjoy.

Lee

You can visit Voddie Bachman's web site here:

Voddie Bachman Minitries

IS IT OVER?

The people have spoken. Barack Hussein Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States of America. The Left Wing press is ecstatic, white guilt has been assuaged, Affirmative Action has been vindicated, and socialist Europe loves us again. Now comes the rub... It ain’t over! If you think this means that the “America is a racist society” crowd will have to shut up, you’ve got another thing coming. In fact, watch the press closely in the coming days. There will be a concerted effort to press the opposite point. Jesse Jackson (who said he wanted to castrate Obama a couple of months ago because he had the audacity to call black fathers to account), Al Sharpton, and their ilk will argue that this is merely proof that policies like Affirmative Action work, and that such efforts need to be redoubled; not abandoned. They believe we need to continue telling young black boys and girls that they are not smart enough, good enough, industrious enough, capable enough, and America is not ‘fair’ enough for them to succeed without special help that their white (or Asian) counterparts don’t need.

We must also be ready for the backlash. Anyone who is not happy about an Obama presidency (or the leftist policies he, Pelosi, and Reid will attempt to cram down our throats) will be labeled racist. Conservative evangelicals, who have opposed President-elect Obama and his policies from the beginning, will be met with cries of, “You’re just mad that a black man won.” “Yes,” you say, “but I am not concerned with his ethnicity; I love all people... I don’t even see color.” Who cares? If I’ve learned anything during the last several months it is that people do not pay attention to, or bother to interact with the written (or spoken) word. It is much more convenient to erect strawmen and rely on ad hominem attacks.

The neo-Marxist left has achieved cultural hegemony. Through the news media, government education, and the entertainment media, Americans have been shaped and molded into the kind of people who view Ron Paul as a political hack, while applauding gay marriage (one of the first lines out of Obama’s mouth last night was an acknowledgement of homosexuals), wealth redistribution, and government intervention in the free market! How ironic. We sent our children to Caesar for their education, and yesterday they voted just like Romans (the majority of 18-30 year-olds flooded the polls for Obama whether they were professing “Christian” or not). These young people believe hatred and racism are America’s biggest problems, and that the election of Mr. Obama is the cure (along with Hate Crimes Legislation). They believe America is evil because we don’t have universal healthcare like the Europeans. They believe homosexuality is innate, the existence poverty is a sin, and abortion is an ethical (and completely personal) means of birth control. They believe in anthropogenic global warming, Darwinian evolution, Gramscian Marxism, and Freudian Psychology. In short, they believe what they’ve been taught during their 14,000 hours of government indoctrination. And yesterday, we saw the culmination of this cultural hegemony as Obama beat McCain like a tied up goat.

But do not despair. We survived Presidents like Wilson, Carter, and Clinton. We can survive President Obama. “...Even so, come Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:2)

VB

For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in TRUTH
-3 John 3,4 ESV

An Open Letter to My Family Upon My 60th Birthday

2008-09-09T17:54:00.013-05:00

The following is a letter I sent to my family when I turned 60.

Dearest, dearest loved ones,

Today, by God’s marvelous grace, I have reached 60 years of age. I hope to make my allotted “three score and ten” and ten more if I am strong enough. (Psalm 90:10) My life has truly been an amazing journey. I don’t know if you know this or not but my birth brought together my mother and father who had been separated for a while. Their love for each other never wavered again. So, if nothing else was ever accomplished through my birth, good came from it.

But there was something ahead that would be even greater. I met the most beautiful, amazing, marvelous woman when I was 12 and knew without a doubt at that moment that she would be my wife. Through some struggles of our own we became one on September 1, 1967 – almost 41 years ago. For the next 3 years we were inseparable, teaching school in Grand Bayou, LA. My love for her has never waned and I love her more deeply today than ever before. To me she is still that young mysterious dark-eyed beauty that walked into my life some 48 years ago.

My dearest Marsha, I want you to know I still believe that you are the most beautiful, caring, loving and gracious woman I have ever known. Without you I am not complete. I have said many times that I would not be who I am without you. You will never know how deeply I hurt inside because I have not been the husband that you deserve. These past few years you have been the most caring wife a man could ever have. I pray that my health will improve so that I can be for you in the waning years of our life that you have been to me. Thank you for all you do and have done.

Lee Roy, Christy and Sharla: you are the most wonderful children a father could ever hope for. I have said often that your mother and I have not had one single day of trouble with any of you. All of you have become (and are becoming) is more than my wildest hope. I am so proud of each one of you. Your love for me is more than a father deserves. I still credit your growth in character and statue to your mother. She has been so faithful in her role. Please forgive me of my failures over the years. I thank you for your love and concern. I pray that our Lord will continue to protect, guide and grace you with His presence and love.

Dawn and Paul: you are family and I love you like my own. Dawn you have been a wonderful, gracious wife to Lee Roy. He has benefited greatly because of you. I pray that you both have a long and loving relationship. Like mom, I can’t wait until Olivia, Patricia and Phileppe joins us. You will be great parents. Paul, I am so proud of you and your loving attention and care you have for Christy and the kids. You have worked hard to provide for them and I am touched at the love your children have for you. My only regret is that we are so far apart.

Roy, Jake, Audrey and Lydia: my grandchildren. You guys will never know the love I have for you all. You have added much joy to my heart. Papa Lee loves you all so very much. I am so proud of each of you. Continue to love and obey your mom and dad. May you all grow up to become the men and women that God would have you to be.

Finally, to you all, continue to walk with the Lord and trust Him with your whole heart. He has never failed you and has promised never to leave you. I know that I have not been the easiest person to live with over the years. However, my prayer is that in the few years that we have left, our love will increase and we will become more like our savior.

With much love,
Your husband, father and grandfather.

Some Observations

2008-09-02T15:34:00.008-05:00

From time to time, ye ol' philosopher will make some personal observations as seen through a glass darkly.

If we believe in original sin, and I do, then I think we all come from dysfunctional families. Some more dysfunctional than others.

If we believe in original sin, and I do, then I think we all walk around with some level of mental insanity. Some need more observation than others.

Pro-Life? Yes; Pro-Family? ??????

2008-09-01T12:35:00.009-05:00

One of my favorite pastors is Voddie Baucham. He recently posted the linked article below on his blog. Please read and give careful consideration of what he has written. Then we must ask ourselves as Christians, "Are we really biblical in all of our thinking?"

Please feel free to comment.

Did McCain Make a Pro-Family VP Pick?

Is President Bush A Christian?

2008-08-12T04:49:00.004-05:00

In 2000 we were told that W. was a man of faith. I think we now have to ask, "Which faith?"

Walking In Truth

2008-08-11T13:04:00.007-05:00

The epistle of 2 John is addressed to "the elect Lady and her children." There is an interesting verse included by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is the 4th verse: "I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father." ESV There is nothing more important to a believer than his/her children walk in the truth. Next to the salvation of your own soul, the greatest thing is the salvation of your immediate family.

I have been blessed to watch my son grow and walk in truth. He is one of a long line of Lee Roy's that have claimed to walk in the Way. I have, by God's grace, tried to guide, teach, and encourage him in his pilgrimage. I have been one of his "balcony people" cheering him on. I am proud to call him my son and tell the world of his accomplishments.

With that in mind, I would like to share with the reader's of this blog an article he wrote immediately after the September 11 tragedy in New York City that fateful day in 2001. It was first published on his blog and with his permission I now post it here.

Please feel free to comment if you desire to.

Dear friends and family—

In the wake of the terrible destruction brought upon our nation this past week, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect onthe hope and protection we have as Christians. Although we may not be spared the physical hardships of a fallen world, we have the assurance that God will never leave us nor forsake us.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

As our nation’s leaders decide how to respond to the recent terrorist attacks, the American people are trying to come to terms with the tremendous loss of life and the unsettling sense of insecurity that inevitably follows such tragedies. Many are struggling with questions left unanswered and are wondering where they can turn for comfort in their time of grief. Many are also beginning to understand that there is more to this than meets the eye.

The term “holy war” has been bandied about by politicians and members of the media to describe the suicidal resolve of the radical Muslim terrorists responsible for these atrocities. Little do they realize how descriptive that term really is. There are forces of good and evil at war in a spiritual world we can neither see nor touch. From Scripture we learn that these forces, however intangible they may seem, directly affect our lives. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church at Ephesus, writes, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). The invisible battle that is raging is just as real as any we see here on earth.

The Muslim extremists who despise our country are right about one thing. There is a “Great Satan” at work in the world, but it is not America. He is the Devil, an evil spirit, a fallen angel. The Bible tells us that he “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). He is the supreme commander of countless demon hordes whose primary objective is to thwart God’s plan for mankind.

We Christians know the forces of evil will ultimately fail. Though we may appear to lose a battle every now and then, we have read the end of the Book and rest in the fact that our heavenly Commander in Chief has already won the war. Anything Satan has to throw at us cannot take that away, no matter how devastating the situation may seem at the time. Although this struggle between good and evil cannot be seen in the physical realm, the effects of this spiritual warfare can. Evil drives people to do bad things. It attacks without warning, and it can become terrifyingly evident during traumatic events like the ones witnessed on September 11.

Despite the feelings of hate, frustration, and despair we have all experienced as a result of these terrorist attacks, there is a blessed hope to be found. We who have been given the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ know that we are eternally safe and secure from the evil that plagues the world. Although we cannot escape the physical and emotional pain that comes from living in a fallen, sinful world, that eternal flame of hope will never be extinguished, and the reward promised by our Heavenly Father will far outweigh any suffering we may endure here on earth.

Over 450 years ago, the great Reformer Martin Luther penned one of the most magnificent hymns of all time, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” I can hardly sing it without tears in my eyes, and that was especially true this past Sunday, only days after first seeing the death and destruction in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. The hymn’s message is one of hope and encouragement in the midst of life’s trials for those who have Christ as their Lord and Savior:

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow’r are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim—
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly pow’rs—
No thanks to them— abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him Who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill;
God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is for ever.

The Psalmist also reminds us of this protection in times of adversity. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Ps. 46:1-3). Truly, if God is for us, who can possibly stand against us?

As Christians, we should have the desire to bring others into the shelter of our mighty fortress. We should be praying for healing and comfort in this time of crisis. We should also be reaching out in love and doing what we can to meet the needs of those who are suffering.

It is our prayer that throughout all of this others may find the eternal hope we have in Christ. With that hope, we can stand firm and confront evil knowing who the ultimate victor is. We can have the confidence to say to those who strike out against us, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen. 50:20). Let us not lose hope, and let us trust that God can and will bring about good from evil.

• Lee R. Shelton IV

The True Israel of God

2008-08-01T11:13:00.009-05:00

Eschatology is one of my favorite theological subjects. The word literally means, study of final things. I was raised on the Scofield Reference Bible. Our theme song was, "My hope is built on nothing less, than Scofield notes and references." In fact, I was 23 years old before I came to the understanding that Scofield's notes were not verbally inspired! I was 25 before I realized that there were other viable interpretations of the “end times.”

As I began to question what I had been taught since childhood, I read vociferously anything pertaining to end time studies that I could find. From the Late Great Planet Earth by H. Lindsey to An Eschatology of Victory by M. Kik. I was always uneasy with the Dispensational model. It was so depressing. The victory that Christ promised to the early Church that the gates of hell would not prevail against it seemed to be lacking. The Psalms and especially the New Testament promised great victory for the Church. The Gospel was to conquer and spread over the whole face of the earth. The only eschatological mindset that seemed to fit these promises was the A-Millennial teaching.

Over the years, the Lord graciously moved me from an ultra Pre-Trib Dispensational Pre-Mil position to where I am at now. Where am I now? (Well, if you have to label me, I am in the Partial-Preterist A-Mil camp.) The book of Hebrews is a good starting point to understand more. The Old Covenant has passed away - gone, finished, kaput, and the New Covenant is in place. The Lord Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all Covenants. (see 2 Corinthians 1:20; Luke 24:25-27; Acts 13:29-33) He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is the seed of Abraham and all who believe and follow Him are the true children of Abraham and heirs of all Covenant promises. (Galatians 3:15-29) Not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring. (see Romans 9:6-13)

Israel and the Church have become one body, with one Lord, one Faith and one Baptism, with one God and Father of all. (see Ephesians 2:11-3:6) This had been the “mystery” that had been hidden since the beginning. It was given to the Apostle Paul the privilege of making it known in his day. The Church, the bride of Christ, made of up Jews and Gentiles has become the True Israel of God. It is through the Church that the preaching of the Gospel will bring to Christ a great multitude of men, women, boys and girls from every nation, from all tribes, and peoples, and tongues. It is a multitude that no man can number. Now friends, that is a victorious Gospel! Nothing depressing with that!

We have been in "the last days" since Christ’s first advent and are looking only for the "last day" of His second advent - the Blessed Hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (see Acts 2:16; 3:24; Hebrews 1:1-3) There will be no literal 1,000 years reign of Christ on earth because He reigns now!!! When He returns, there will be a general resurrection of both the just and unjust (John 5:25-29) and eternity will be ushered in (see 2 Peter 3). Friends, we are to be looking for a New Heaven and a New Earth where righteousness dwells. To look for a crass literal restoration of physical Israel, a literal temple, etc… is to look for the very same things that the first century Jews looked for. And we know what they did to the Son of God.

The following article: Justification by Faith and the Israel of God best sums up what I believe. Read it carefully and search the Scriptures. Don’t you think it’s time to have some victory in your life?

Justification by Faith and the Israel of God

Grace & Mercy Be With You

2008-07-31T23:20:00.009-05:00

Grace and mercy. Two beautiful words. Two useful words. How else could you explain God's love? Scripture is clear that the only thing sinful man deserves from the hand of God is judgement. God is under no obligation to save sinners. Read carefully the first two chapters of Genesis and nowhere did God give Adam and Eve any hope that if they disobeyed him that he would save them from death. The die was cast; "The day you eat thereof, you shall surely die." Capital punishment was to be the consequence of disobedience.

But the God of the Bible is a multi-faceted God. His attributes are multitudinous. Several times in the Old Testament we read that "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." (Psalm 103:8 ESV) Oh what compassion the Heavenly Father displays! "He does not deal with us according to our sins; nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him..." (Psalm 103:10,11 ESV)

Grace and mercy.

GRACE - receiving what we don't deserve: forgiveness, deliverance, salvation.

MERCY - not receiving what we do deserve: judgement, death, Hell, separation.

May we worship the Lord and thank him for his grace and mercy.

Grace and mercy be with you!