The Prayer of Meditation

What controls or dominates your thinking? Is it money, recreation, other people or self? We live in a hurried day that is characterized by sensory overload. In the hurry of modern life, few people are meditating on anything. The way you think influences the way you live. Meditation helps you discover how to apply all the truths that God has revealed during prayer.

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What is the Gospel?

This seems to be a simple question for a Christian. I wonder however, how many professing Christians can articulate the essence of the Gospel in understandable terms? The word Gospel literally means "good news." It is essential to Christianity. But, what is it?

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Your Relationship With God

I have purposed in my heart that nothing is of greater significance in my life than my relationship with God. If I am too busy for God, then I am just too busy. Furthermore, if God gets crowded out of my life, I can accomplish nothing of eternal significance or value anyway.

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Want revival? Get rid of the idols!

Genesis tells us of Jacob moving back into the land of Canaan from Paddan Aram (Genesis 33:18) when Shechem, son of Hamor, saw Dinah and took her and raped her (Genesis 34:2). This led to a series of events that would change everyone impacted by them. God was still working out His Sovereign plan in spite of it.

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Integrity in the Ministry

Infidelity, broken families, divorce, moral failures, questionable ethics are all a part of the world right? Yes, but far too often they are also associated with the ministry. Hardly a week goes by without a story about someone in the ministry who has compromised his integrity.

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The Pursuit of Gratification

Focal Passage- Philippians 3:12-21

Click Here to Listen to Sermon

There is a powerful word here for all believers, for all followers of Jesus. In order to live a faithful, and full Christian life, we need to be aware of some things.

- We need to have the right beliefs: all who are mature should think this way.

- We need to practice what we believe and live in a manner that is consistent with it: we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.

- We need to follow good examples: join, in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.

- We need to take warning from bad examples: I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

At the heart of the pursuit of gratification is a desire to find ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment. The problem is that people are looking in all the wrong places.

4 Characteristics of those who pursue gratification in the world:

1. Their god is their stomach.

2. Their glory is their shame.

3. Their focus is on the earthly.

4. Their end is destruction.

The cross offers the remedy!

Richard Owen Roberts- The only path to pleasure is in pleasing God.

Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.

Evangelism: Motivation That Leads to Methodology

As believers, it should be our desire to reach people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. If we truly understand the profound importance of what God has done in rescuing us from the darkness of sin and the destination of hell, we will be passionate about evangelism. God has miraculously forgiven and saved us through the precious blood of Jesus. Because of the power of the resurrection we have eternal hope in Christ.

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The Prayer of Petition

Luke 11:1-13

Petition= to beg, to plead, for the supply of a definite need.

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Who is a "younger evangelical"?

The term “younger evangelical” is being used frequently these days to identify people who supposedly represent a certain ideology. The term “evangelical” is somewhat ambiguous and can be used in a variety of ways. The Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals at Wheaton University identifies at least three distinct ways the term “evangelical” is used.

First, it is used to identify all Christians who affirm a few key doctrines and practical emphases. The British Historian David Bebbington identified four hallmarks of evangelical religion: a)Conversionism- the belief that lives need to be changed; b) Activism- the expression of gospel in effort; c)Biblicism- a particular regard for the Bible; d) Crucicentrism- a focus on the sacrifice of Christ at the cross.

Second, the term is used to identify an organic group of movements and religious tradition. It includes style as well as beliefs.

Third, the term is a self-ascribed label for a coalition that arose during World War II as a distinct movement from the fundamentalism of the 1920s and 30s.

All clear now, right? It seems to me that the term “evangelical” is definitely used by the popular culture and the secular media in America to identify those they think are Christian people. That said, there are some disturbing trends developing within the “younger evangelical” group. Robert Jones, President of the Public Religion Research group (not a conservative group) conducted a study that included the views of younger evangelicals. The study found that younger evangelicals are nearly 2 ½ times more likely than the overall evangelical population to support legalizing same sex unions. The study also found that younger evangelicals are far less likely than their elders to consider themselves conservative. According to the study, younger evangelicals also show far more openness to religious pluralism than their older counterparts. In the study, 44% of younger evangelicals agreed with the statement that a person can be moral without believing in God.

But this is the kicker in the discussion. A quote from Robert Jones:

Younger Americans, including younger Americans of faith, are not the culture-war generation. On issues from gay and lesbian rights to the role of government at home and around the world, young Catholics, mainline Protestants and evangelicals are bridging the divides that entrenched their elders and are ushering in an era of consensus in which the common good trumps the clash of ideologies.

Things are changing for sure. But this is NOT the kind of change we would hope for. At age 37, I like to think of myself as “younger” but if these people and their views define “younger evangelicals” then count me out. This is nothing more than theological liberalism in a new outfit.

The Prayer of Praise

P.T. Forsyth said- Prayerlessness is the worst sin, because it bespeaks as nothing else does, that root of all sin:

"For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him." Romans 1:21

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Journaling for Spiritual Growth

I have been keeping a spiritual journal for nearly ten years. I would like to say that I have been consistent over all those years, but I have not. I am getting more consistent with it however. Journaling has been an important spiritual discipline for many Christians throughout the ages. Frequency of journaling varies from person to person but the value of it is clear.

Journaling has helped me to:

Remember what the Lord has done- Life happens quickly. Even the best of memories fade over time. When I write an experience down, I have a spiritual record of it and I can look back on it and give praise to God for His faithfulness. It helps me to see the big picture because I can more clearly remember how things unfolded and how God moved to accomplish certain things in my life. It causes me to pause and think through how God is working in my life.

Keep life in focus- When I face difficulties and I journal about them, it is a release of sorts. When tempted to get angry, or overwhelmed about a situation, if I write down my thoughts it helps to process the issues and keep life in focus.

Focus on matters of faith- When I remember what the Lord has done, and I keep life in focus, I can look ahead with faith regarding what I am praying for God to do in the future. I am able to write those things down and then review them and praise God as He works in my life,family, and ministry.

If you have never journaled much you may be asking, what should I write about? The answer is everything! Record your experiences, thoughts, prayers, feelings, and questions.

Journaling is a place for growth and discovery. It is a pilgrimage. Try it, you will find it to be most fruitful in your walk with God!

Religious Activities and Discipleship

The twenty-first century has continued a disturbing trend in ministry that began in the twentieth century. The trend is a rapid expansion of ministries and programs to the point of saturation. Many churches are characterized by a smorgasbord mentality of "if we offer it, they will come." In many cases that is true. People are coming . . .

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The Prayer of Intercession

Intercession is God's method for involving His followers more closely and completely in the totality of His plan . . .

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Prayer From the Heart

At its most basic level prayer is talking to and listening to God. Prayer is not easy however. It is the most talked about and probably the least practiced doctrine or discipline of the faith. If you approach prayer as a duty and not a delight you will not tarry with it for long, save for the perfunctory prayer you may offer at a meal or the prayer of desperation in the midst of difficulty . . .

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Are you an educated voter?

It is very important to make the effort to be an educated voter and then act on the information you have. The mainstream media offers much more biased commentary than they do helpful information.

I appreciate the work of the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention under the leadership of Dr. Richard Land. The ERLC has numerous resources available to assist concerned voters in becoming better educated on the issues and the candidates.

Some of the resources offered are:

The Democratic and Republican Party Platforms

Candidate Profiles

40/40 Prayer Vigil

Take time to get informed and exercise your right to vote.

A Nation on the Brink of Self Destruction

The culture war is heating up. Ground zero for the battle is California, and marriage is at stake. Supporters of a Biblical, and traditional definition of marriage are promoting Proposition 8 to define and defend marriage in California as being between one man and one woman.

According to Baptist Press, opponents of the proposed constitutional marriage amendment have outraised supporters by a significant margin. Opponents have raised $8.3 million in October while supporters have raised $1.2 million. Much of the opposition money has come from Hollywood and the likes of George Lucas of Star Wars fame. The California Teachers Association donated $1 million.

Dr. Albert Mohler wrote an article posing the question, "What's at stake in the 'gay marriage' debate?" According to Dr. Mohler, "The institution of marriage is destablized and transformed before our eyes--and especially in the eyes of the young."

What is at stake is the survival of our society as we know it. Kerby Anderson wrote an article for Leadership U, "When Nations Die". He points out that many great nations have died from within and there have been common characteristics each time of social, cultural, and moral decay. These characteristics are what we are observing first hand as our nation is experiencing an accelerated moral implosion.

Russell Kirk put it this way:

"It appears to me that our culture labors in an advanced state of decadence; that what many people mistake for the triumph of our civilization actually consists of powers that are disintegrating our culture; that the vaunted 'democratic freedom' of liberal society in reality is servitude to appetites and illusions which attack religious belief."

II Timothy 3:1-7 But know this: difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of religion but denying its power.

If this Biblical description of the last days does not fit our society, I don't know what would. Thankfully, the future of God's children is secure.

I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Psalm 121:1-2

Genuine Spirituality- Devotional

Colossians 1:18

Is Jesus Christ preeminent in your life?

Laying It All On The Line For Jesus

In the United States we continue to experience peace and the freedom to worship as we see fit. It is easy to forget, or at least to ignore the danger that many of our brothers and sisters find themselves in, as they serve Jesus in dangerous places around the world.

Christians in Mosul, Iraq have been under attack recently and many have been killed because of their faith. More than 70,000 believers have fled persecution from Orissa, India and are living in refugee camps. Just yesterday, a report came out that a Christian "aid worker" in Kabul, Afghanistan who worked with the disabled was killed because of her faith. The Taliban stated that they killed "the foreign woman for preaching Christianity in the country."

Are you willing to lay it all on the line for Jesus? Obviously we will not all be called upon to pay the ultimate price of giving our lives for the cause of the Gospel.

I wonder however, what price are you willing to pay?

Pray for the persecuted church.

Tertullian said, "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."

Revelation 6:9-11 I saw under the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of God's Word and the testimony they had. They cried out with a loud voice; O Lord, holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth? So a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers, who were going to be killed just as they had been, would be completed.

My Favorite Modern Hymn

Oh to See the Dawn, Getty Music

This is a stirring but painful reminder of the power of the cross, and the ultimate sacrifice that was made at Calvary for our sins by our blessed Lord.

Faith in the Public Square

I preached a message today from I Peter 2:11-17 on Faith in the Public Square. (Click here to Listen or Download MP3)

The outline is as follows:

1) The Government's Role is to Protect.

2) The Christian's Role is to Be Holy, Submit, and Pray.

3) The Christian's Role is to Participate.

We are free to serve God and we do so when: We honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor our leaders.

How do we apply this to our modern context?

Thesis- God uses righteous people who make up the church to influence society for the good through the institutions He has created, in order to accomplish His agenda of redeeming a lost humanity, ultimately to advance His Kingdom and bring glory to Himself.

Application-

* Our hope and ultimate allegiance is in the Sovereign God of the Universe.

* True change must come in the hearts of men by the power of the Gospel. We seek transformation not reformation.

* The church and the pulpit is no place for partisan politics.

* We must approach the process from a Biblical worldview.

* We must understand the issues.

* We must promote righteousness.

What is the role of faith in the public square?

Faith is central to all aspects of life.

West Virginia Marriage Amendment Effort

Traditional marriage is under attack in the United States. Three states have now legalized same sex unions and this will inevitably, and eventually impact the entire country. Family values in West Virginia are strong. According to a recent poll, West Virginians overwhelmingly believe that marriage should be defined as being between one man and one woman, which is the Biblical, historical, and traditional position that has been held for thousands of years.

A group of pastors from across West Virginia met today at the State Capitol for a Press Conference on this issue. We are working alongside of the Family Policy Council of West Virginia under the leadership of Jeremy Dys. We have requested that Gov. Manchin consider this issue in a special session of the legislature. Gov. Manchin has publicly stated that he is in support of traditional marriage, but he believes that the current statute on the books is sufficient to protect us from any outside influences. We respectfully disagree with Gov. Manchin. We are not adequately protected. California had a Defense of Marriage Act as well that was approved by an overwhelming majority of the electorate. Yet, four judges struck it down. The ruling in California is particularly troubling because six of the seven judges on the California Supreme Court are actually conservative appointees. Think it can't happen here? Think again.

Now is the time to define and defend marriage in West Virginia through a constitutional amendment. We believe that West Virginians should have their voices heard on this.

Open Letter to Gov. Manchin

West Virginia Marriage Amendment Effort Press Release

No Better Time Than Now

What I Learned From Paige Patterson

I had the opportunity to be at the dedication service for the new Patterson Hall at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina on Tuesday of this week. The new facility will house several educational programs along with state of the art classrooms and more. The building was named in honor of the Pattersons, who profoundly impacted SEBTS in their tenure there. Dr. Patterson is now President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas.

I had the privilege of being a student at SEBTS from 1998-2000 in the MDiv Program. I started my seminary studies at the New Orleans Baptist Theological extension in Orlando, Florida. My wife and I actually had planned to move to New Orleans and pursue seminary education full time. My pastor at the time, Lonnie Norris, who had graduated from SEBTS back in the 1970s approached me and told me I needed to at least make a visit to SEBTS to consider going there. He said, "Paige Patterson is the President now, and I have heard that there is a spirit of revival on the campus." So we made the visit and my Pastor was right. The presence of God's Spirit on the campus was evident. We changed direction and knew that God was calling us to SEBTS.

I have learned many things through the years. Some things we learn from the people who are closest to us in life- family, friends,pastors and the like. Other things we learn from spiritual giants whom we encounter and are impacted by. Such was my experience of being at SEBTS under the leadership of Paige Patterson and the men who served alongside of him on the seminary faculty. In my years at SEBTS, Paige Patterson would become one of my spiritual heroes.

Under Dr. Patterson's leadership . . .

1. I learned to love the Truth: I already loved the Truth when I went to SEBTS, but I learned to love it even more as a gift from God.

2. I learned to preach the Word: I learned to preach the Word with confidence and to handle it accurately. I came from a church with strong Bible preaching and loved good preaching. At SEBTS I personally learned how to preach the Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. I learned to be passionate about Evangelism: I learned what it meant to motivate others to be passionate about evangelism as well.

4. I learned to have a heart for World Missions: My heart burns with passion to reach the nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, people walk in darkness and are blinded by the god of this age. Christ is their hope and we must go, to the ends of the earth.

5. I learned by observing Dr. Patterson, how to deal with critics graciously: I learned that even in the face of opposition one must maintain his integrity and the consistency of his witness.

Is Paige Patterson a perfect man? No. Neither are we. There has never been but one and His name is Jesus. Yet God works through people, His chosen servants, to accomplish His perfect will.

I praise God for the current leadership of Dr. Danny Akin and the faculty that he has assembled at SEBTS. It is in my estimation the finest seminary on the face of the planet. May God continue to richly bless His work there!

Fall Has Arrived in West Virginia

S
Fall has arrived in West Virginia. It is my favorite time of the year. The air is getting cool and crisp. The leaves are starting to turn color on the trees. We are well into the football season. Thanksgiving can't be far away!

The change of seasons reminds me of the faithfulness of God. The Bible indicates in Genesis 8:22 "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

Daniel 2:21 indicates that God "changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding."

So enjoy the fall season. It comes from the hand of Almighty God.

Boast Only in the Cross- Devotional

Focal Passage- Galatians 6:14

Do Not Despair- Our Hope is in the Lord!

In the United States, we are a blessed people. We have been blessed so much that in many ways we have failed to recognize the blessings, and honor God for them. At present, we are in the midst of crisis. The crisis includes financial, political, and social/moral elements.

The financial crisis has been driven by greed. For some reason, many people thought the market would only go up. People have short and selective memories. Financial markets always cycle. They go up, and they go down in this country. They always will as long as we remain a viable nation. Some have compared the current situation to the Great Depression which is a huge overstatement. Not many Americans are missing meals. In fact, the vast majority of us have had too many meals. Compared to the rest of the world, we are wealthy. There is no comparison.

The political game is discouraging at best. Promises are made, and promises are broken. Approval ratings for all branches of government are at all time lows. People are weary of all of it.

We are at an all time low in this country socially and morally. The family is under attack and its foundations are crumbling.

All of these factors put together make for a bleak and depressing outlook from our perspective. I am thankful that God is still in control!

Isaiah 59:1 Indeed, the Lord’s hand is not too short to save, and His ear is not too deaf to hear.

Jesus has already won the victory and our eternal hope is in Him. The church is triumphant.

Philip Schaff, the Church Historian wrote concerning the church:

During the long succession of centuries, it has outlived the destruction of Jerusalem, the dissolution of the Roman Empire, fierce persecutions from without, and heretical corruptions from within, the barbarian invasion, the confusion of the dark ages, the papal tyranny, the shock of infidelity, the ravages of revolution, the attacks of enemies and the errors of friends, the rise and fall of proud kingdoms, empires, and republics, philosophical systems, and social organizations without number.

And, behold, it still lives, and lives in greater strength and wider extent than ever; controlling the progress of civilization, and the destinies of the world; marching over the ruins of human wisdom and folly, ever forward and onward; spreading silently its heavenly blessings from generation to generation, and from country to country, to the ends of the earth.

It can never die; it will never see the decrepitude of old age, but, like its divine founder, it will live in the unfading freshness of self renewing youth and the unbroken vigor of manhood to the end of time, and will outlive time itself.

Single denominations and sects, human forms of doctrine, government and worship, after having served their purposes, may disappear and go the way of all flesh; but the Church Universal of Christ, in her divine life and substance, is too strong for the gates of hell. She will only exchange her earthly garments for the festal dress of the Lamb’s bride, and rise from the state of humiliation to the state of exaltation and glory.

Then, at the coming of Christ she will reap the final harvest of history, and as the church triumphant in heaven celebrate and enjoy the eternal Sabbath of holiness and peace. This will be the endless end of history, as it was foreshadowed already at the beginning of its course in the holy rest of God after the completion of his work of creation.
(History of the Church: Volume 1, pp 19-20, Philip Schaff)

Our hope is not in finances, or in politics. Our hope is in the Lord! He has already won the victory. So do not despair!

Humility: A Proper View of Self- Devotional

Focal Passage- Isaiah 66:1-2

Finding Peace at the Feet of Jesus- Devotional

Focal Passage- Luke 10:38-42

Sermon- "The Heavens Declare the Glory of God" Genesis 1:1; Psalm 19

MP3 Sermon Audio from October 5, 2008

You may listen to the sermon online or download the MP3 File to your Media Player.

Life Chain- Cross Lanes Baptist 2008

A group from CLBC participated again this year in the national Life Chain. Life Chain is a peaceful and prayerful public witness of pro-life Americans standing for one hour and praying along the roadways for our nation and for an end to abortion. It is a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children and that the church supports the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception.

The church at large has been silent and apathetic for far too long. We have largely stayed on the sidelines as our nation has progressively moved toward actively promoting a culture of death. All of this has been promoted in the name of convenience and personal choice.

The church as a people will not be held accountable for the sinful actions of others. We will be held accountable however for our faithfulness or lack thereof, and for our willingness or unwillingness to be a voice for those who do not have one.

So we must pray. We must pray for a reduction in abortions through pro-life efforts. We must be willing to do more and be advocates for adoption and other pro-life alternatives. There is an important election coming up and every Christian has a God given responsibility to vote pro-life. This is not a political position, it is a biblical position.

We need an outpouring of God's Spirit to turn things around. May your prayer be, "Lord, let the revival begin with me."

Father God, forgive our land, heal our land! I pray that the mercy drops of God begin to fall on us all.

Cross Lanes Baptist 2008 Church Picnic

Each year our church family has a picnic at FMC Park in Putnam County. We cancel evening service and most people who participate in the picnic stay for the afternoon. The Lord blessed us with beautiful fall sunshine today. I tell people that if the weather was this good in West Virginia all of the time, we couldn't keep people out. But alas, it is not always this nice. We thank the Lord for the sunshine as well as the rain.

The picnic is a great opportunity to get to know people better in an informal setting and to visit with friends. The children love to get out and play and there is plenty of room to run.

I appreciate the Fellowship Ministry Team that always puts in many hours of work to make this event possible.