Marriage Anchors

“Betsey Stockton (c. 1798 – 1865) was a freed African-American slave who left domestic service to travel as America’s first single female missionary to Hawaii, then known as the Sandwich Islands. In fact, she went partly as a missionary and partly as a servant to one of the couples on the mission, the Reverend and Mrs. Stewart.

After being asked by the son of the Hawaiian king to teach him English, Stockton started up a school in… West Maui for the… fishermen, farmers and craftsmen who lived off the land …which continued after she left.

Stockton’s diary: Stockton kept a detailed written record of the mission, which conveys her somewhat turbulent, occasionally agonized, inner spiritual life; her interest in the natural world — including the kinds of fish caught from the ship, the color of the waves, and various bird life; and her spirit of adventure. Like others on board she was frightened at her first sight of the Hawaiian men who come out in canoes to greet the ship:

‘half man and half beast—naked—except a narrow strip of tapa round their loins…’” ¹

As we pray today, let us be strengthened by Betsey’s authentic faith in Christ. It was not ‘holier than thou’ but rather it was genuine, real, with ups and downs, fears, and joys. Have you ever experienced turbulence and even agony? I most assuredly have as did Jesus and His disciples. Good news! You and I are not alone.

“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “’Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’”  (Isaiah 41:13  ESV)

¹ http://www.cslewis.com/us/about-cs-lewis/

The Gospel for You

Is Jesus God or Just a Good Man?

“Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement.” ¹

An author of many works such as Mere Christianity  and The Great Divorce, he went on to write The Chronicles of Narnia which has sold over 100 million copies and has led to 3 motion Pictures. Time magazine stated he was one of the top 100 Christian authors of the Twentieth Century.

This Irish born intellectual giant was a man who loved the Lord Jesus. He often used fantasy fiction to convey enduring truths about God, Scripture, and the Christian life. As many of you have experienced, he also knew much sorrow for the love of his life, his wife, Joy, battled cancer and died. They were together only 4 years. If you’ve ever lost a love one, words cannot describe the depth of sorrow and soul groaning that occurs in the pit of grief. If he were alive today, I bet he would comfort those of you experiencing grief, pain, and loss with his nearness, not his words. The suffering you go through often has no explanation and is miserable at best. Our great Comfort is that Jesus knows your pain. Even, at times, if you feel He is silent, He is very close. He will hold you, cry with you, and help you. It may not be with words but with His presence.

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  (Hebrews 13:5b  ESV)

¹ http://www.cslewis.com/us/about-cs-lewis/

The Gospel for You

Is Jesus God or Just a Good Man?

“Corrie ten Boom was the first licensed female watchmaker in the Netherlands. She learned the trade from her father, who was so fascinated by the craft that he often became so engrossed in his own work he would forget to charge customers for the services.” ¹

The Nazis invaded the Netherlands in 1940. Some Jewish folks humbly asked if her family would hide them from capture. Corrie’s family said, “Yes!” Most of you know the rest of the story having read her book The Hiding Place or seen the movie that followed.

Corrie and her brave family trusted God. They did the right thing in God's eyes. That was all that mattered to them. The Nazis eventually arrested all of them and most died in the death camps. Corrie was miraculously spared. She travelled the world speaking to audiences and churches on the fact that God's forgiveness and love are greater and go deeper than any sin, evil, or darkness.

After the war, she was confronted face to face with one of the prison guards that was partly responsible for her sister’s death. A battle ensued in her mind and heart. She reached down deep and remembered what her Lord and Savior Jesus had done for her on that despised cross 2000 years ago. By a gut choice of the will, she grabbed his outstretched hand and greeted him. She chose to forgive. She was free.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”   (John 13:34  ESV)

¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrie_ten_Boom

The Gospel for You

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Our nation and our churches are in trouble. When I watch or listen to the news, there is a growing indication that virtue is a lost commodity.  The media jumps from one trouble spot to another, from one terrible murder to another, from one terrorist attack to another, and from one politician flinging mud to another. None of these people committing violence or flinging insults should have passed Kindergarten!

What is of great concern to me is I see a great divide between churches claiming to be Christian.

On the one hand, there are churches that stand for the uncompromising truth of God's Holy, eternal, authoritative Word, the Bible. The people in some of these churches lean heavily on obedience, faith, and high standards of personal piety. Some of these people may tend to be blunt in their honesty and hurtful in their name calling of sinful lifestyles. They are not afraid to call out sinners with their wretched perversions and idolatry.

On the other hand, there are a growing number of churches that are dedicated to compassionate activities and the lifting up and welcoming of the less fortunate, people of color, inner city groups, and those struggling with gender issues. i.e.: LGBTQ. They rally to the battle cries of social justice, cultural diversity, economic equality, and lifestyle tolerances.

There are some churches that excel at both.

Have you ever watched one of those cage fights on TV?

Imagine for a moment there are two bug-eyed opponents in the cage ready to fight. They are staring while sizing up each other. You see, they are used to fighting...a lot.

Each opponent has a good argument.

Compassion says, "Truth! You're missing the point! People don't need Bible verses shoved down their throats! People are tired of being judged and feeling guilty. What they need is mercy, kindness, warmth, and acceptance. God says to love Him and love your neighbor! Our churches are open and affirming safe places where hate, bigotry, and self-righteousness are not welcome. We love and accept people where they are at. It's our job to love them. Its God's job to change them.

You put God in a Truth box. You refuse to let Him out so He can help hurting, lonely, and downcast people. They need love; not the hammer of truth! You hurt people and judge people with all the truth you throw at them. You repel them from church. What you call LOVE is actually HATE! Who wants to follow a God that makes people cringe and squirm over sin and so called unacceptable lifestyles and relationship choices? What difference does it make? Haven't you read 1Corinthians 13 lately?" The Apostle Paul is quite clear. 1Corinthians 13:3-8a says,

^'3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails.'

Paul goes on to say in 1Corinthians 14:1a, 'Make love thy great quest.'

Truth, on the other hand, says, "Compassion! Your'e forgetting something! Me! Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." He also said, 'Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' In your attempt at making everyone feel affirmed, welcomed, and accepted, you are leading some over the cliff of unrepentant sin.

You are unknowingly enabling them to fall to their doom. Destruction awaits. Don't you remember? God is not just a God of love and mercy. He is a holy God. His wrath upon sin is real. Hell is filling fast! Is it not love and kindness to help sinners see the error of their ways? John, the Baptist did this. Matthew 3:2-3 says, 

'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

STOP THE CAGE FIGHT!

For the sake of the Gospel, God's honor, and souls hanging in the balance, Mercy and Truth - You two need to get along!  Matthew 11:17 says, "Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall." (Bold added)

Abraham Lincoln knew this well with the Civil War (1861-1865). We Americans nearly lost our nation.

Advice? 

Let Proverbs 3:3 and Zechariah 4:6 guide your way.

Compassion and Truth - you need one another.

Proverbs 3:3 says, "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:   KJV  (Bold added)

Zechariah 4:6 says,  "So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty."  (Bold added)

Truth should never be found separate from mercy. The reverse is also true. Truth delivered without mercy is a dagger of death into the heart. Mercy without truth is just comforting souls on the 'bus ride to Hell.'

With God's help, neither Compassion nor Truth has to be compromised. He will enable you to be on the same team. Seek Him. Wise people still do.

 NO MORE CAGE FIGHTING!

NO MORE CIVIL WAR!