Ordination for Tyler Smith

This past Sunday, May 29, I had the privilege of being apart of the Ordination Service for Tyler Smith at First Baptist Church, Anderson, AL. In the picture (l-r) is Pastor J.D. Harrison, First Baptist Church, Anderson; Tyler and myself.

I had the privilege of giving the charge to the candidate. Here are some bullets of the sermon:

* Used Matthew 12:15-21 believing Jesus is the model pastor.

* Jesus was divinely chosen; so is each person to salvation and each pastor for service. John 15:16. The call will be the only thing that will keep pastors in the ministry.
* Jesus had divine consent of the Father's good pleasure; so should each pastor treasure above all else the pleasure of the Father. A pastor can't please everybody, so he should seek to please only one - the Father.
* Jesus had divine control of the Spirit; each pastor can have the fullness of the Spirit in order to walk and be controlled by the Spirit. A Spirit-filled life will lead you to a right relationship personally with God, with your family and to fulfill your most important ministry to the church - to "Preach the Word." (II Timothy 4:2). As Dr. Stephen Olford use to say, "God had only one son and He made Him a preacher." Luke 4:18
* Jesus had divine compassion for the weak and hurting; each pastor should be compassionate toward the weak, the sick, the sinful. II Timothy 2:24
* Jesus had the promise of divine conquest; each pastor is promised a crown of glory. I Peter 5:4. The pastor's ministry can only be judged for success after this life is over; all other judgements are premature.

Tyler has been called to serve as Associate Pastor at Ryker's Ridge Baptist Church, Madison, Indiana. Tyler graduated in December, 2010 with his Master of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently working on his PhD in Systematic Theology. Our prayers are with him and as Bro. J.D. said in his message Sunday night, "we commend him to the Lord." (Acts 14:23)

A Prayer for our Children-Stormie Omartian

Stormie Omartian is a best-selling author of several books in The Power of a Praying series. Many of you have read her book relating to praying for a husband, wife, or children.

Charisma magazine has published online a recent article "Breaking Down Ungodly Strongholds." You may read it here.

Also, the magazine republished from her book The Power of a Praying Parent on a "Prayer for Your Children." I include it here.

"Lord, You have said in Your Word that a good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children (Prov. 13:22). I pray that the inheritance I leave to my children will be the rewards of a godly life and a clean heart before You. To make sure that happens, I ask that wherever there is a sinful trait in me that I have acquired from my family, deliver me from it now in the name of Jesus. I confess my sins to You. I ask for forgiveness and restoration, knowing Your Word says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9). I know that cleansing from sin through confession lessens the possibility of passing the habit of sin on to my child.

Jesus said, "I give you the authority...over all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19). If there is any work of the enemy in my past that seeks to encroach upon the life of my child, [name of child], I break it now by the power and authority given me in Jesus Christ. I pray specifically about [name something you see in yourself or your family that you don't want passed on to your child]. Whatever is not Your will for our lives, I reject as sin.

Thank you, Jesus, that You came to set us free from the past. We refuse to live bound by it. Thank you, Father, that You have "qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light" (Col. 1:12). I pray that my son [daughter] will not inherit any sin trait from his [her] earthly family, but will "inherit the kingdom prepared for him [her] from the foundation of the world." (Matt. 25:34). Thank you, Jesus, that in You the old has passed away and all things are new."

Growth of Christianity in the world

Most of us in the United States think Christianity is declining; but the opposite is actually true. The main difference in the US and other parts of the world - persecution. That's right - where there is persecution, the church is growing.

It is reported by some that Christians in China are reaching 25,000 people for Jesus every day. Christians in Muslim nations meet secretly; yet their churches are growing exponentially.

In 1900 only 2.5 percent of the world's population were practicing Christians. Seventy years later that number doubled to 5 percent. In 2010 the number had more than doubled and reached 12 percent in only 40 years. (Source: Charisma magazine, May, 2011, page 16)

1 out of 8 people worldwide are active, practicing Christians. (Source: www.joshuaproject.com)

In 50 years Chinese Christians grew from 1 million to more than 80 million. (Source: www.joshuaproject.com)

The Rapture will occur next Saturday - REALLY?

Biblical scholar and theological genius Harold Camping has demonstrated with devastating exegetical precision that the Rapture will occur on May 21, 2011, followed by five months of judgment on earth with the end of the world occurring on October 21, 2011. You can read the tract here, but the logic is brilliant beyond disputation. You can read more here.

He has based his calculations of lunar cycles and the Hebrew calendar.

I remember the 1988 debacle when millions of Christians bought the late Edgar Whisenant's book 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will be in 1988.

Believers have always had an interest in the end times. When you consider that Heaven is our final destination and a Rapture will end all of our suffering without us having to go through death, it is definitely appealing.

Jesus was barely out of the tomb and the disciples were asking about the end times (Acts 1:7). Jesus did not answer their time-sensitive question, instead he turned their attention to the priority of evangelism and witnessing.

Jesus does not want us to waste time setting dates, predicting Armageddon or making mis-guided "believers" millionaires by buying their books. Instead, share our faith so others can know Jesus now and the future.

Like then, like now - it won't happen. Don't sell your house, your assets, postpone marriages and quit your jobs. Silliness like this hurts us as believers as national news organizations (CNN, ABC, etc) have done stories on this. But use this as an opportunity to speak the truth:

* Jesus is coming again.

* We don't know when.

* But be ready for when He does come.

Read Dr. Al Mohler commentary published here yesterday.

Get ready for a long journey

Last Wednesday night, May 11, I spoke words of encouragement to our church "To never give up." We must not give up no matter how tough it is or what we are experiencing. We should expect things to be tough; thus be prepared and ready for a long, hard journey.

Ron Walters in Preaching magazine (January, February 2011) shared these examples of how long journeys appear to be a part of life's DNA; God's creation points to it:

* The grey whale navigates 10,000 miles up and down the west coast each year at a speed comparable to a child on a bicycle...because it has to.

* Every year, the Arctic tern is required to relocate 22,000 miles away, roughly the circumference of the earth.

* Desert locusts have been known to cross oceans for a preprogrammed raid.

* The ever-so-slow leatherback turtle must travel 3,000 miles annually for its favorite meal: jellyfish a la carte.

* The monarch butterfly, which can't even fly a straight line and is forever losing momentum to the gentlest breeze, is compelled to migrate 3,000 miles - a trek that takes five generations to complete.

So, no matter the length of the journey, let us "not grow weary in well doing." Don't give up!!!

NOBTS Graduate Recognition Service Sunday, May 22

Pictured are five of the six men who graduated Friday, May 13 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with Certificate degrees at the North Alabama Center meeting at First Baptist Church, Athens.

Pictured (right-left) Geoffrey McClain, Herb Stratham, Steve Slaton, Mike Poff, Mike Johnson and yours truly. The one not pictured is Ed Carpenter.

These men will be honored at a Graduate Service on Sunday, May 22 at 4:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Athens with a reception to follow. All family, friends, fell0w-church members, current teachers, professors and interested students are invited to attend.

Congratulations. I am proud of these men for their two year commitment to finish this degree. For more information about our classes, click here.

Sermon Notes from Sunday, May 8, 2011

Here are the sermon notes from this past Sunday "Our Personal Holiness." Also, I mentioned that I would post some resources that would be helpful in pursuing personal holiness:

Personal Holiness in Times of Temptation by Bruce H. Wilkinson
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
The Practice of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
The Common Made Holy by Neil T. Anderson and Robert L. Saucy

Preview of Paul Tripp's Parenting Seminar

Our church family is scheduled this summer on Wednesday nights to watch the DVD series of Paul Tripp "Getting to the Heart of Parenting." This DVD consists of ten 25-minute teaching sessions by Paul Trip recorded at a parenting conference.

If you would like a preview of this resource, then Desiring God Ministries Live will host Paul Tripp on Tuesday, May 10, 6:00 PM (Central) to discuss the content of a new DVD resource, "Getting to the Heart of Parenting."

Tripp explains that parenting is all about the exposure and change of the child's heart. Join us Tuesday for a practical discussion on what this way of parenting looks like whether your children are toddlers or teens.

Tuesday, May 10, 7:00 PM (EDT): Paul Tripp on parenting at www.desiringgod.org/live.

National Day of Prayer

Today is the 60^th annual observance of National Day of Prayer. Please join with the Peacemaker staff and millions of others as we commit our country to the Lord. You can learn more about National Day of Prayer at www.nationaldayofprayer.org.

There is an observance at 12 Noon at Wilson Park in Florence and then tonight from 7-8:30 a Prayer and Praise Gathering at the Shoals Theatre in Florence.

Tornados and the Trustworthiness of God - David Platt

by Justin Taylor

This sermon by David Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, is a good model of how basic biblical doctrine can and should inform our response to tragedy and equip us to trust in God’s good purposes.

Specifically, he explains how the tornadoes that recently ravaged their area can remind us of biblical truth.

Here is an outline:

These tornadoes remind us that this world is unpredictable.

• Suffering is usually surprising.
• Life is never safe.
• Death is unavoidably sure.

These tornadoes remind us of the penalty of sin which plagues all of us.

• Our sin is universal.
• Our suffering is inevitable.

These tornadoes remind us to repent and be reconciled to God.

• Turn from sin.
• Trust in Him.

These tornadoes remind us of the sovereignty of our God.

The sovereignty of God is the only foundation for worship in the midst of tragedy.

• God’s sovereignty assures us that He is in control.

God is with us.

God is for us.

• God’s sovereignty reminds us that Satan has been conquered.
• God’s sovereignty guarantees us that one day suffering will conclude.

Ultimately, tragedy on earth can only be understood rightly from the perspective of heaven.

These tornadoes remind us of the urgency of our mission.

• Life is fleeting.
• People are perishing.
• Eternity is coming.

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Original audio source (373.mp3)

Update on Roxanne 9:00 p.m. Monday

I've not updated on Roxanne since Friday when we got home. She is doing well. She is remarkable independent and getting around the house with her walker and braces. She has also been doing her exercises and walking on the driveway. She is a real trooper.

We went to therapy today and was disappointed that the Bioness did not work - but neither do we know what it was before we got there or what it could do. So, I guess we were only disappointed when we heard it could help and then it didn't. We go back to the surgeon tomorrow in B'ham. Her pain management is going very well. Again, thanks for all your prayers and support.

Will the Royal Wedding Survive?

The Royal Wedding
Will Their Marriage Survive?
by Chuck Colson

April 29, 2011

Today nearly a billion people around the world are focused on a wedding taking place in London's Westminster Abbey: The marriage between Prince William, second in line to the British throne, and his bride, Kate Middleton.

For months people have focused on wedding details: Who will design the wedding dress? What jewels will she wear? What food will be served at the wedding breakfast?

But maybe we're focusing on the wrong things. As my colleague Anne Morse noted this week in National Review Online, divorces among the royals have become so common that, shortly after the engagement was announced, British bookies began taking bets about when William and Kate's divorce would take place.

"Can this marriage be saved?" Morse asked. For the answer, she asked several marriage experts about William and Kate's chances, based on such factors as their family background, age, faith commitment, life choices, and royal expectations.

For instance, when William's mother, Lady Diana Spencer, married Prince Charles, virginity was considered all-important in a royal bride. Not anymore. William and Kate lived together before the wedding. This is a bad idea, says Mike McManus, founder of Marriage Savers: He notes that "Couples who are sexually active before marriage are about two-thirds more likely to divorce than those who marry as virgins."

The reason? Couples who abstain are more likely to develop a strong emotional and intellectual relationship; they don't just get pushed into it because of physical intimacy. In addition, abstainers are practicing the self-restraint they will need after the wedding, when they are tempted by others.

More bad news: The history of divorce and adultery in the groom's family. According to Jennifer Roback Morse, author of Smart Sex: Finding Life-Long Love in a Hook-Up World, "No question about it: divorce is a condition that can be inherited."

And the fact that both of William's parents committed adultery "is also a big red flag" Roback Morse says.

Marriage expert Patrick Fagan at the Family Research Council says William and Kate "will need to inoculate themselves against this example, which leaves deep imprinting." They will need to "grapple with the meaning of fidelity, the suffering and sacrifice involved in that, [and] the cost they are prepared to pay."

But according to the marriage experts, William and Kate do have a few things going for them: They are marrying in their late twenties and have known each other for eight years. They also share a university education, and will have no financial worries.

But if they want to improve their chances for a lasting marriage even more, they should consider becoming active members of a church. As Roback Morse observes, "Regular religious practice, at least in U.S. data, is a protective factor against divorce."

Well, they are getting married, of course, in Westminster Abbey, but by all accounts that not because of their personal faith, but because that's where royal couples get married. It's all part of the pageantry.

So, even though they're not off to a particularly auspicious start, we ought to pray for the marital happiness of Prince William and his bride -- both for their sakes, and for the example they will set for the millions watching them tie the knot. In the end, that's far more important than the design of the wedding gown.

Why Christians Should Not Celebrate the Death of Osama Bin Laden

by wadeburleson.com

The joyous celebrations that have broken out among Americans over the death of Osama Bin Laden are understandable, but also regrettable. Granted, there are differences between the celebrations of Muslims on September 11, 2001 and the spontaneous expressions of joy that broke out among Americans late in the evening of May 1, 2011, but there are far too many similarities to be ignored by Christians.

Below are five reasons why any expressions of joy over the death of Osama Bin Ladin ought to be muted:

(1). God Himself takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

God says "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked" (Ezekiel 18:32). It would seem that the Judge of all men, the one who passes judgment upon individual sinners, is the One from whom we should receive our example of conduct when a sinner dies. Rather than dancing and chanting "USA," we possibly ought to take a moment of silence and solemnly reflect on the awful condemnation Osama Bin Ladin is receiving from a holy and righteous God for his rebellion against God's laws and his murderous actions on earth. If the judge is not celebrating the punishment He is meting out, we who love the Judge ought not either.

(2). What should be applauded is the redemption of the sinner, not the sinner's death.

Osama's death rings the bell that marks the passing of our own lives, for the "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Anytime we hear of the death of a fellow human, it should remind each of us that we are nearer our own death. The prospects of giving an account of our lives on earth to the One who created us should cause fear in each of us; a fear that drives us to the Deliverer. Those, however, who have mocked the Son in this life should be pitied, not celebrated. It is the unredeemed sinner that gives an account of his actions to God for judgment purposes--an accounting that is necessary, but not celebrated. God's judgment is like the cutting of a surgeon's scalpel before the surgeon heals; nobody is ever seen clapping the scalpel's work, but the cut is necessary for the healing. Only the healing is applauded.

So too, the wicked and their judgment are necessary, but not celebrated. The wicked and their judgment are only part of God's plan for the gathering of His redeemed. We don't clap at the judgment of the wicked, only the redemption of the sinner.

Nature also teaches us that we ought not clap at death and judgment. Herman Hoeksema point out: "When a farmer sows seed in his field, he sows much more than he needs. When the seed falls into the earth and dies, there appear not only the kernels of wheat, for which the seed was planted, but also the stem, the straw, and even the chaff. Without the stem and the chaff the grain could never have germinated and ripened. The stem and the chaff serve the grain, the seed. Yet both will presently be burned by fire in order that the grain may be gathered into the barn. Here also we find election and reprobation, and in such a way that the latter serves the former, and is necessary to it." I would add, necessary, but not celebrated.

(3). Vengeance on earth for the crimes of the wicked is foreign to Christianity.

The book of Romans tells us that "government bears the sword of vengeance," (Romans 13:4) but not individual Christians. In other words, on this earth there will always be a separation of God's kingdom from human kingdoms. The Christian is personally told by God that "It is mine to avenge, I will repay," (Romans 12:19) and that we are to forgive and love our enemies. However, when a Christian finds himself by God's ordination in a position of civic or governmental power (i.e. President, judge, congressman, etc...), there are decisions that must be made for the sake of justice on earth that the individual Christian would never make outside of his position of earthly power. God ordains governmental leaders as "His ministers" to bring about justice on earth through vengeance, but no individual Christian is called upon to exercise such revenge.

The United States government and military can, and should, avenge the death of nearly 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001 for the sake of justice on earth. However, any celebration by individual Christians over Osama Bin Laden's death should be muted simply because it is God's holy court that metes out the final and eternal appropriate punishment for sinners, and He Himself takes no pleasure in this judgment.

(4). When we celebrate the death of Osama, we look much to similar to the Muslims who celebrated 9/11.

I know there are differences. Too many to articulate here, but my point is how we look to the Muslims. When we dance in the streets at the death of their hero, we look to them like they looked to us when they danced in the streets on 9/11. The death of Osama Bin Laden was necessary; the celebrations are not. This fourth reason for muted celebrations is only pragmatic, and I have found that many Americans, and sadly even Christians, are more moved by the pragmatic than the theological or philosophical reasons for right behavior. So be it. Don't dance at the death of Osama because you inflame the hearts of Muslims.

(5). The only death that ever should be celebrated is the death of Jesus Christ.

Why celebrate His death? Because in the death of Jesus the Anointed One there is power over death. In short, there is the death of death in the death of Christ. Jesus conquered death, taking upon Himself the punishment of the Creator for sins, rising from the dead, and delivering all those sinners who will trust Him. If you wish to celebrate someone's death, celebrate His death and resurrection, for in it, you will find the righteous and holy punishment of God for your sins satiated.

Someone might object and say, "But the world is safer because Osama is dead!" Yes, it is. But the principles above override any thought of future personal safety, for the truth of the matter is, you are not even guaranteed your next breath. Personal safety on earth is a far inferior motivation for celebration than the understanding of God's infinite and holy justice that should bring a muted and solemn silence from Christians upon hearing the death of Osama Bin Laden.


In His Grace,


Wade Burleson