12th Avenue Baptist Church

Back Musings

2011-02-10T14:57:00.005-06:00

Thanks for all of you who prayed for me with my latest back episode. I had done pretty well for quite awhile, so I was surprised by the suddenness and randomness of this last one. In the past when this has happened, I have fought against this ailment and argued with God for letting this happen to me. This time I thought of Psalm 31:15- "My times are in your hands,"(trust me --this thought had to come from God!) and this became my breath prayer. Physically it was not easier, but mentally and emotionally --- it was.

We want to control our lives and yet what do we really control? In fact, we are utterly dependent upon God! Trusting or doubting? It's pretty simple, hard but simple--James 1 from our Bible reading last week -we find the consequences of failing to trust--vs 6 "...because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

2011-02-09T16:33:00.006-06:00

Imperfect Al! I guess you figured that out back in January when the Bible reading schedule went from Psalm 15 to Psalm 17. What about old number 16? It is still there and I hope you caught my faux pas and read it. The last verse in the Psalm gives us another snapshot of what heaven is going to be like.

Other Imperfection Thoughts: I have lived a long time thinking that at some point I would be able to say "Finished" and look back on my spiritual journey with a sense of closure. I have read Paul's words in 2 Tim 4--"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." Good for him! But what does that really mean? I listened to Andy Stanley's sermon, "How Good is Good Enough" --a great reminder that we never measure up; that God's Grace plan is so much better; that we are utterly dependent upon the grace of God. Paul struggled with his sin and failure to measure up (Romans 7), yet somehow was able to finish with a sense of honoring God in it all. Hmmm!! We probably would not admit it, but I think we want a salvation by grace and then want to somehow deserve it by our good works. (see Galatians) But as I process this, I realize more and more --it is all Grace-- and that is a good thing for imperfect people like me. Thank God!

Prayer: If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared." (Psalm 130:3,4)

Quote of the Day: "O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself." St Augustine

birth of blog

2011-01-20T09:49:00.001-06:00

Birth of Blog

This is my initial blog. For you who live outside of my church world, a little introduction is in order. I am a native South Carolinian who has been in Kansas for sixteen years. Connie and I met at Columbia Bible College and have been married for 36 years. We have two sons who are grown and married and two grandchildren. Alas, both sons and families are out-of-state--one in SC and one in FL(great winter vacation site). I love the outdoors—fishing and hunting and find God in nature in a significant way that is hard to verbalize. I am a South Carolina Gamecock (“wait till next year” is our team cheer in football) but national champs in baseball.

Our Bible reading plan for 2011 is not the way you will find it in your Bible. This is intentional.

· The four gospels and Acts---the narrative portions are spaced out through the year so we can revisit the life of Christ and early church life.
· The epistles are listed in chronological order as best I can ascertain.
· Psalms and Proverbs, books of prayer and wisdom respectively, are interspersed to bring variety to your reading and your journey.

I will be preaching from Psalm 1 this week. It could be our proof text for our theme: “Plant—Grow—Multiply” See verse 3. Healthy Christians are growing Christians and the word of God is consistently vital to the process. Andy Stanley talks about becoming familiar with the providential will of God and submitting to the moral will of God (which we find in scripture) as key contributors to understanding the personal will of God and, in reality, to growing in our very knowledge of Him.

Dear Lord, I want to be that tree fed by your streams of water; I want to be that fruit bearing tree; I don’t want to wither; and whatever it looks like in your eyes –I want to prosper for you. Thank you for your promise—“The Lord watches over the way of the righteous,”

Quote for today:

Winston Churchill - “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.”