Finding wood, leaving marble...

"It was claimed for Augustus Caesar that he found Rome a city of wood, and left it a city of marble. The pastor who succeeds in changing his people from a prayerless to a prayerful people, has done a greater work than did Augustus in changing a city from wood to marble. And, after all, this is the prime work of the preacher. Primarily, he is dealing with a prayerless people - with people whom it is said, "God is not in all their thoughts (Psalm 10:4)." Such a people he meets everywhere, and all the time. His main business is to turn them from being forgetful of God, from being devoid of faith, from being prayerless, so that they may become a people who habitually pray, who believe in God, remember him, and do his will. The preacher is not sent merely to induce men to join the church, nor merely to get them to do better. It is to get them to bray, to trust God, and to keep God ever before their eyes that they may not sin against him."
E.M. Bounds

Philippian Comfort

"For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ." Philippians 3:18

Groaning for salvation (understanding it to be for those unsaved and saved). With tears weeping for a dear Brother. Free him from slavery to sin. So unite him with Christ that his sin is dead on the Cross. Raise him anew so that his life is hidden with Christ. Give him eyes to see the joy of salvation and who he is in Christ. Make him pure and blameless as he walks with you for your glory and honour and praise.

Preaching next Sunday. I am anxious for attacks to come. I am so weak. I'm worried about arrogance because I'm so full of pride. I'm worried that I will not speak your words as clearly and joyfully as I could.

In both cases there is a word...

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

Young Man, there's a place you can go...

Tonight we looked at Titus 2. It was encouraging to look at what we can learn and what we can teach by our lives as Christians. Particularly lovely was the response of the boys who looked at the young men section.

"Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."
Titus 2:6-8

Please pray that we would be self controlled in everything: In the way that we pray, in the way that we use our time, in the way that we relate to each other, in the way that we relate to girls, in the way we drink alcohol. Please pray that we will set a good example, and that we will do what is good. Pray that we will have integrity in what we say, will be mature in the way we speak and speak in a way that builds others up and not use our mouths to talk crap. Please pray that we will be able to stand firm under opposition and that those who oppose us will come to know Jesus as their Saviour by our blameless lives.

Something along those lines anyway. I think it's good to pray these things for young men. As one myself, I know I need it prayed for me. As a leader I know I need to pray it.

You're welcome?

Recently we've been getting a few people from other churches visit our church. A lot of them are my friends, so it's nice to see them. It does pose a problem though. It's easy to welcome people you know and to forget that there are other people. Scary people that you don't know. People for whom the act of welcoming is a sacrifice because they might think you're crazy, or that you will invest love into and they won't come back again.

Is welcoming a social problem? Or is it a spiritual problem? I'm inclined to think it's the latter (though the former can't be ignored!). Some people, often people who need most to feel the warmth of Christ's love through Christians, sit invisible at churches.

Would we only welcome some people if we were praying for all people?

http://matthiasmedia.com.au/briefing/library/1645/

I'd be interested to know how the church in the above post has gone after almost 20 years.

Bonhoeffer on Separation

"I should like to say something to help you in the time of separation which lies immediately ahead. There is no need to speak about it's difficulties, but as I have learnt something about it myself during the last nine months, having been separated during that time from all those I love, I should like to pass it on to you.

Firstly, nothing can fill the gap when we are away from those we love, and it would be wrong to try and find anything. We must simply hold out and win through. That sounds very hard at first, but at the same time it is a great consolation, since leaving the gap unfilled preserves the bonds between us. It is nonsense to say God fills the gap: he does not fill it, but keeps it empty so that our communion with another may be kept alive, even at the cost of pain. Secondly, the dearer and richer our memories, the more difficult the separation. But gratitude converts the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy. The beauties of the past are not endured as a thorn in the flesh, but as a gift precious for it's own sake. We must not wallow in our memories or surrender to them, just as we don't gaze all the time at a valuable present, but get it out from time to time, and for the rest hide it away as a treasure we know is there all the time. Treated in this way, the past can give us lasting joy and inspiration. Thirdly, times of separation are not a total loss, nor are they completely unprofitable for our companionship- at least there is no reason why they should be. In spite of all the difficulties they bring, they can be a wonderful means of strengthening and deepening fellowship. Fourthly, it has been borne in upon me here with peculiar force that a concrete situation can always be mastered, and that only fear and anxiety magnify them to an immeasurable degree beforehand. From the moment we awake until the moment we fall asleep we must commend other people wholly and unreservedly to God and leave them in his hands, transforming our anxiety for them into prayers on their behalf.

'With sorrows and with fears,
Let EVERYTHING be taken to God.'

This was written to Bonhoeffer's dear friend who was about to be sent off to fight in the war for Germany. I'm sure it must have been difficult to have to leave a country and the people you love, fight for a dictator you hate and tried to dispatch, and also serve Jesus fight against people you don't know. "That sounds very hard at first...", no?