Reformation Day

October 31, 1517, the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the church door at Wittenberg. When Luther nailed up his Theses, he did not know that his actions were going to have the drastic impact that it did.

Luther's intent was for the Catholic Church to reform some of her improper practices. Luther did not know that God was going to use him and his 95 Theses to bring about a spiritual reformation. Likewise, Luther did not know that his simple act would ultimately be considered the starting point of the Protestant Reformation.

What Luther started on October 31, 1517, is not complete. The church today needs a modern-day spiritual reformation. Remember the following Latin phrase because it is needed in our present day: Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda. The phrase translates into "the church reformed, always in need of being reformed."

Soli Deo Gloria.

Called Home: Tribute to Former College Professor

Last week I learned that one of my former college professors went to be with the Lord. Nancy Wall, associate professor of modern language (French and German) at the University of Mobile, died on Saturday, Oct. 14 after a brief illness.

“Succeeding generations of students moving through the halls of, first, Mobile College, and then the University of Mobile, have since 1969 been under the teaching of Nancy Wall,” said UM President Dr. Mark Foley. “She was teaching until only a few days before her death, and even in the hospital as her illness became more pronounced, she was concerned about arranging her classes. The kind of dedication and influence which Nancy demonstrated to her students and colleagues is a very precious thing, and she will be greatly missed.”

Frau Wall (to those who took her for German) had been teaching full time at the University of Mobile, formerly Mobile College, for nearly 37 years, and continued teaching until Thursday, Oct. 5. While at UM, she was instrumental in the formation of the Modern Language Club, now the International Club, and in increasing student enrollment in foreign language classes. She made frequent trips to Germany and France, and helped plan several international trips with the UM choir.

She will be greatly missed my those she taught through the years! It was Frau Wall renewed my love for the German language while at the University of Mobile. As a young child, I learned German since I lived on a military base in Germany due to the fact that my dad was in the military. I loved the both the country and the language but had forgotten much of what I loved about the language until Frau Wall rekindle the fire.

Frau Wall, auf wiedersehen!

Bible Reading Plan

There are three of my favorite things in this picture. There is the Bible, a hot cup of coffee, and a great pen. When Dr. Don Whitney (http://www.spiritualdisciplines.org/) speaks in churches on the Christian Disciplines he emphasizes Biblical intake. When I was in seminary and sat in his classes he emphasized to us "professional" ministers the absolute necessity of spending time taking in the Word of God. He told us that we should read the Bible through every year.

I don't know about you but every time I have tried to read straight through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, I get bogged down somewhere in the begat section of Numbers. Recognizing this, Dr. Whitney advocates a Bible reading plan from five sections of Scripture. Let me outline the sections.

1. The Law and Writings- Genesis through Esther.

2. The Wisdom Books- Job through Song of Solomon (Canticles for you Puritans).

3. The Prophets- Isaiah through Malachi.

4. The Books of the New Testament- Matthew through Acts.

5. The Letters of the New Testament- Romans through Revelation.

By reading just two chapters each day from each section you can read the Bible through faster and more efficiently than you think. For instance, a good reader can read these ten chapters in twenty to thirty minutes. Let me show you how fast you will read through each section.

The first section will take the longest. Genesis through Esther contains 436 chapters. Two per day will have you reading through that section 1.67 times in one year. Section two moves faster and you will read through the Wisdom Books 3 times in a year. The Prophets will be read almost 3 times in a year.

The New Testament will go even faster. The Books of the New Testament will be read 6 times in a year and the Letters will be read 5 times. Isn't that amazing? Think about what you will do in three years. Look:

In three years you would have read through the first section over 4.5 times. Section two would be read 9 times. Section three also 9 times. And you would have read through the entire New Testament 15 times in three years! Do you see how easy this is? We all can make time to fit in thirty minutes of Bible reading time in our day. You could do ten minutes in the morning, ten minutes at lunch, and ten minutes at night.

Happy Reading and may God bless you through His wonderful Word!

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Mediation on Romans 7:13-25

The Conflict of Two Natures

Do you recall the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? If not, let me recap the story for you. Story tells of a respectable doctor who transforms himself into a savage murderer. Dr. Jekyll seeks to separate his good side from his darker impulses so that he discovers a way to transform himself periodically into a deformed monster free of conscience--Mr. Hyde. Jekyll later reveals that his metamorphosis into Mr. Hyde was beginning to happen without taking the potion. With the notion of a single body containing both the erudite Dr. Jekyll and the depraved Mr. Hyde, the story portrays the struggle between good and evil.

Christians have the same struggle: the desire to do what is right and to do what is wrong. The apostle Paul, himself, had this very struggle and writes about it in Romans.

Read Romans 7:13-25:

Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin (ESV).

Despite the fact Christians are redeemed and forgiven, believers struggle with temptation and with sin. The battle over the struggle of sin is going to continue until the Lord completes the our sanctification. Charles Spurgeon put it this way, "sin is sovereign till sovereign grace dethrones it."

We are responsible for our actions. We are not to claim: "the devil made me do it," or "I did not do it." Christians should not ever use the power of sin or Satan as excuses for their given into sin and temptation because they are defeated foes. We must rely of Christ's strength and power, sin is stronger than we are, and we are incapable of defending ourselves against its attacks.

"Our attitude towards sin is more self-centered than God-centered. We are more concerned about our own 'victory' over sin than we are about the fact that our sin grieve the heart of God."--Jerry Bridges

Whose strength are you going to rely on? Are you going to rely on your own strength? Or are you going to rely on Christ's strength?

How are you going to view sin, itself? Is your attitude toward sin going to be self-centered? Or is it going to be God-centered?

Justification by Faith: Worthy is the Lamb!

Mediation on Romans 3:21-26

"But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." --Romans 3:21-26, NASB95

This particular passage of Scripture had a profound impact on Martin Luther. In fact, it was this text that God used to draw Luther until himself. At the heart of Romans 3:21-26 is the notion of propitiation, the penal substitutionary atonement of Christ. James Montgomery Boice states it well "the cross means this: Jesus taking our place to satisfy the demands of God's justice and turning aside God's wrath."

Ponder the words of John Owen.

The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent punishment for, either: (1) All the sins of all men; (2) All the sins of some men; or (3) Some of the sins of all men. In which case it may be said: (a) That if the last be true, all men have some sins to answer for, and so, none are saved. (b) That if the second be true, then Christ, in their stead suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth. (c) But if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins?

You answer, 'Because of unbelief.' I ask, Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it be, then Christ suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did, why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their sins!

Consider the words of J. I. Packer: "Calvary not merely made possible the salvation of those for whom Christ died; it ensured that they would be brought to faith and their salvation made actual."

"Worthy is the Lamb"

Thank you for the cross, Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love, Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crown
You reign victorious

High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
The Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

Is There More to Life?

Yesterday I was asked a question by someone who honestly wants to know the answer to his question. Yet, any answer that is given as an attempt to his question is ignored. This individual ignores the answers given simply because he desires to find the answers for himself. Yet, he is yearning for answers that make sense.

The question that was posed yesterday was: Is there more to life? The philosophical outlook of this individual is that of Solomon--eat, drink, and be merry. Yet, he realizes that this philosophy is not filling the great void in his life. But he is not to the point to acknowledge that "man cannot find the ultimate explanation of his own being anywhere but in God himself" (Edward Sillem).

But he is starting to come to grasps with the fact that "there is within every soul a thirst for happiness and meaning." This quote comes from the insight of Thomas Aquinas. But he has yet found the source for satisfying his soul's thirst for true happiness and meaning in life. He still feels that the words of Voltaire are true: "Life is a bad joke."

More to come on this individual's journey . . .

Where Are You?--On the Mountaintop or In the Valley

I must admit that I would rather be in the mountains than almost any where else in the world. It does not make a difference whether I am in the United States or Switzerland. Ever since I was a young child I have loved being around mountains. Perhaps, the reason for this is that some of my earliest memories are with my family and I traveling throughout Europe on vacations since we lived in Germany for awhile.

But as I grow in my relation with Christ, there is one thing that I have learned. I do not grow spiritual while staying on the mountaintop too long. Yes, it is nice to experience that "mountaintop experience." I think all of us at some point or other have experienced that spiritual bliss that I am calling a mountaintop experience. As I am typing this blog, several of those mountaintop experiences are coming to my mind.

But it is while I am walking in the valleys of life that I grow the most personally and spiritually. It is while I am struggling with issues that force me to rely on God and his strength that I grow the most. Recall the Psalmist's words: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4, NASB95, emphasis added).

Where are you? Are you on the mountaintop? Or are you walking in the valley? What is crucial is that you are growing spiritually. It is important that you are spending time with God daily. Are you in fellowship with him? Are you fellowshipping with other believers?

Draw Near to God

Mediation on James 4:7-10

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." --James 4:7-10, NASB95, emphasis added

Are you submitting your life to God? Are you submitting every aspect of your life? It is not enough to submit a part here and a part there. We are called to submit our entire being under the lordship of Christ.

Are you resisting the devil? Are you resisting temptation? How are you fighting the urge to give into the temptation to sin? Are you following Christ's method for resisting the devil and temptation? Read Matthew 4:1-11. Notice that Christ quote Scripture. Are you memorizing Scripture so that you can use it against Satan?

Are you drawing nearer to God so that he can get closer to you? Are you spending time with him daily? Are you mediating upon his Word? Are you fellowshiping with other believers? Are you seeking God's face? Are seeking first his Kingdom and his righteousness?

Are you cleansing your hands? Are you seeking forgiveness for your sins and transgressions? Are you seeking a pure heart? Do you desire a pure heart? Do you long for a pure heart?

How is your thought life? Is your mind double-minded? Or are you developing the mind of Christ? Are you growing in holiness? Do you seek to be holy? Have you cried out --"Woe is me, for I am ruined!"-- like the proophet Isaiah?

Are you humbling yourself before the Lord? Are you humbling yourself before others?

"If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking God."--Johannes Eckhart

Are you seek God for the right reasons? Are you seek God with the right motives? Are you seeking after God with selfish desires? Take a moment and seriously ponder upon this question.

Know this: "There's a God we want and there's a God who is and they are not the same God. The turning point comes when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is."--Patrick Morley

Which God are you seeking after? Are you seek the God you want and desire--the God that you have created? Or are you seeking after the God who is--the sovereign King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

Are You Thirsting?

Mediation on Psalm 63

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;

My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,

In a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips will praise You.

So I will bless You as long as I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

When I remember You on my bed,

I meditate on You in the night watches,

For You have been my help,

And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.

My soul clings to You;

Your right hand upholds me.

But those who seek my life to destroy it,

Will go into the depths of the earth.

They will be delivered over to the power of the sword;

They will be a prey for foxes.

But the king will rejoice in God;

Everyone who swears by Him will glory,

For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

--Psalm 63:1-11, NASB95

Is your soul thirsting after God? Is your flesh yearning for God? With the business of our lives it is easy to ignore our need to spend time daily with the Lord. But it is crucial that we devote time each day to be in communication with the Lord.

"I was dying of thirst. When my spiritual eyes were opened I saw the rivers of living water flowing from his pierced side. I drank of it and was satisfied. Thirst was no more. Ever since I have always drunk of that water of life, and have never been athirst in the sandy desert of this world."--Sadhu Sundar Singh

Are you going to seek after the Living Water? Are you going to seek to spend time with the Lord?

Resource for Theological Sound Music

I am grateful to Jacob Hantla (http://www.hantla.com/blog/) for informing me about a great resource for theologically deep, God-exalting songs that are written and published by Sovereign Grace Ministries. Please check out the various resources available at Sovereign Grace Ministries. You can find Sovereign Grace Ministries at www.sovereigngraceministries.org.

A Mind For God

Over the last fifty years many evangelical Christians have addressed concerns about the lost of the Christian mind. Those concerns need to be heard in 2006 as well. This past week I had the joy of reading James Emery White's lastest book A Mind for God.

In the present day there are so many things that distract our attention away from the things that are crucial and important. "Never before have the 'habits of the mind' mattered more." We are faced with the great challenge to develop our minds rather than simply allowing ourselves to be entertained.

Humans were created in the image of God. And part of being created in the image of God is the fact that we have the capability to think and reason. Thus, to be fully human is to think. James Emery White fears that Christians are failing in their responsibility to take every thought captive for Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). I fear that White among others are correct that Christians are failing in their responsibility to take every thought captive for Christ.

"And even if we do not lose our own minds, we will certainly lose the minds of others. This is the double-edged threat of our day," White writes. "Apart from a Christian mind we will either be taken captive by the myriad of worldviews contending for our attention, or we will fail to make the Christian voice heard and considered above the din. Either way, we either begin to think or lose the fight" (16).

Within its pages, White challenges Christian to become active in pursuing the development of the Christian mind, thus developing a mind for God. White closes his work by providing three reading lists to aid the believer in the development of the Christian mind and list of resources available for additional learning.

I would like to join White in challenging believers to begin to develop their minds for battle.

For more information about James Emery White, please check out his website at: www.serioustimes.com