"A God-Centered Mercy"

2011-12-22T11:10:00.002-06:00

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus,

for He will save His people from their sins."

- Matthew 1:21

“He will save His People from their sins!” That’s the good news of Christmas we hope to celebrate this year! It's the fact that Jesus came to save us. From what? From our sins! From our God-denying, small-minded, earth-is-all-I-care-about meaningless and wasted lives! – from flittering away 20 or 30 or 80 years on nothing! – like money and sex and luxuries and houses and lands and vacations and beauty and fame or whatever else you might come up with!. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36)

Or maybe we can say it this way: What does it profit you to live your whole life and yet never know God! You see, that’s what Christ has done for us. Not only has He saved us from God’s wrath against our sin, He’s brought us into fellowship with God. “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. !” (1 Peter 3:18). You and I were made for God! We exist to know God (John 17:3) – to glorify and enjoy Him as God! So any life lived without God, is a waste! You can be a millionaire celebrity, but without God, it’s dust and ashes! But if you have Him, if you know Christ the way a man knows and trusts a dear and faithful friend – even an ash-heap becomes a castle.

Do you know Him? This is the greatest gift you could gain this Christmas. Not just to have your sins forgiven by Christ, but to have Christ Himself reigning as Savior and Lord of your life! That’s how he saves His people from their sin, by giving us Himself!

In the Grace and Love of Jesus!

SSL

Rockport Family Camp 2011

2011-10-19T11:56:00.000-05:00

Romania Report -- March 2011

2011-04-26T15:50:00.006-05:00

I was privileged to go back to Brasov, Romania (a place I have grown to love) and speak in several churches and a student conference for a few days this March. While there, I did my best to keep my church family at Rockport Baptist informed since they were praying for me and many had helped provide the funds so I could go. What follows is a collection of the reports I sent back via our church news group.

Fri March 11
Just a quick word to let you know I arrived safe and am staying with Sorin in Brasov Romania. We start tomorrow with a youth meeting. The Gypsy meeting has been postponed until next Monday. All else is the way I have printed in the bulletin.

Sat March 12
About to turn in tonight. Much preaching and traveling in the morning. We had a youth meeting today. It began with many games. I played the Romanian version of Risk (Risc) with several teenage boys (and one girl). I did not win. I then spoke to the group from Isa 6. Several of the boys are not believers. Pray the Lord opens their hearts. One of the families have two daughters. They represent something very rare in Romania. They are homeschoolers. .

We had dinner with the Tomeci and Palada families tonight. It was good to see them. Their children have really grown up. Kim, Bob and Aaron, they pass their love along to you all, as well as to the whole of Rockport.

God bless you all. I am very tired and must go to bed!

Sun March 13
I was praying for you all this morning as you were meeting (afternoon here). Right about the time Aaron was standing to preach, I was doing the same for the second meeting of the day. Things went well. God protected us as we drove across the mountains to Fiene. There is a good work going on there -- a church plant. It is a difficult work. The Orthodox are very much against them and threaten them and warn the people that they are a dangerous "cult" so they must stay away. People treat them that way, but the persevere in preaching and sharing. There is only a small congregation, but the two missionary families continue faithfully. I preached from Mark 8 on taking up your cross to follow Jesus.

Sorin and I then drove back across the mountains to Brasov. The church here meets in the evening. It was wonderful to be with so many people I know. In addition to the Tomeci and Palada families and Sorin, there are also many I know from the summer Aaron, Bob, Kim and I spent two weeks here. It was wonderful to spend time with them. I preached from Colossians 3 on love and forgiveness in the body of Christ.

Tomorrow we will go on the university campus and do some witnessing in the dorms. Tuesday there is a prayer meeting with many of the students. Wednesday the conferences start (this is a change from what I had put in the bulletin).

I don't remember if I told you, but Sorin's wife is not here. She is in America with her parents. She is seven months pregnant and there are some complications. It is not severe, but the medical help she needs is much better in the US. She will be staying with her parents until the baby is born. Sorin will join her in early April. Please keep them both in your prayers.

Tue March 15
As long as I am at Sorin's apartment I will have access to a computer so that I can jot these notes. I hope you find them encouraging. It helps me to know I can share a word with you. (I've noticed as I type, that I'm writing in short sentences. Just as i must speak to my Romanian friends. )
We had a really good day Monday. I spent the morning and afternoon with our good friends Bebe and Ani Tomeci. We walked in old Brasov (where Aaron, Bob and Kim have been). We then went back to their apartment to fellowship and have lunch together. I think it was an encouraging time for them. In the evening we went to the University of Transylvania campus to share the Gospel with students. We found several there from Nigeria (who speak English). We were able to converse with them. It was more relationship building that giving a direct gospel. Alex and Bebe want to develop a ministry to the international students here, so this was our first real contact. We spent a good deal of time with them. We are praying they will come to our conference this weekend.

Today, there will be more meetings with friends (Ionutz and his new wife). Then tonight I will be speaking at a Campus Crusade prayer meeting. I am not certain what I will be speaking about (I have two possibilities), but the Lord will certainly direct me.

Please keep us in your prayers. Tomorrow we will begin traveling for a few days to the cities of Fiene and Pucioasa for conferences there. Please pray for pastors Florin and Nicu as we share with their congregations. I am not sure if I will have internet access during these days or not, so ....we will see.

Wed March 16
We had a great prayer meeting here last night. God gave real freedom in sharing from the Psalms on desperation for God in prayer. I believe it was a help to them. Sorin said that He could tell the Holy Spirit was among us and that there was a real joy and faith in the prayer time that has been missing lately among them. I am grateful to hear this. There is a great spiritual resistance to the Gospel in this city and indeed in Romania these days. The spirit of secularism and atheism has returned with a vengeance. So has the religious spirit of dead orthodoxy. This kind comes out only by prayer! Please be praying for us!

Here very shortly Sorin and I will travel the 2.5 hours to Putuoasa. We will meet with the elders for prayer. Then I will preach twice this evening. Tomorrow we will go to Fiene and do the same thing there. We will then return to Brasov. The student conference begins on Friday and goes thru Sunday. Please pray God will provide us with a place to meet. Currently we plan to meet in Sorin's apartment, but it is not very large and there are many students who said they are coming. God knows our need.

Please pray for our safety and our health as we travel. I am praying for you all by name while I am here and longing to see you. Pray for my family while I am gone as well.

Love to you all. Love especially to Amy and my girls (sorry I was rushed and did not have time for a separate email).

Wed March 16 PM

A short note from my phone. Good meetings tonight in Pucioasa. In a hotel tonight. Found a worm in my bed. Interesting. Yes I have a picture.

Wonderful time with Pastor Nicu and family. His little daughter is a doll. We became good friends. I know it is true because she told me so. She also said I need to learn better Romanian. I saw many villiages where there is no Gospel preaching. They are working hard to start churches.

Tomorrow we will do a conference on Firmer. Please pray for us. Pray also for me. I've had a mystery ache in my side.

God is good. Late here. Must go to bed.

Friday March 18

We are back in Brasov in the mountains. We had a really good meeting yesterday in Fiene. God gave me a lot of freedom in sharing from Genesis 3 and Genesis 12 as we were looking at Christ in the Old Testament. It seemed to be a help to the congregation. There was one man there who has lived for 9 years in the States. We were able to speak for some time. He has been confused by some in the charismatic movement. Please pray for him.

We also had a really good meeting the pastoral team in Fiene, answering questions and trying to encourage them. We spent a lot of time talking about the husbands role in raising children. There has been very little teaching about this here. Even in Christian families it is often left to the wife to do nearly everything, with the men only occasionally making sure she is doing it right. I hope I was able to share some things to help this brother understand his responsibility. Please pay for bro Florin and his wife. They recently lost their second daughter in infancy and, as we talked about it I could tell they are still deeply grieving.

After the conference was over late last night, Sorin and I grabbed a quick meal at a restaurant, and then headed back over the mountains. It was dark, rainy and foggy. If you'll remember, this is Transylvania, so imagine all the images that were running through my mind! Narrow, broken down roads twisting through the mountains of Romania in a dense fog! You could almost see the werewolves and hear the vampires moving through the bushes! To be honest, it was great fun. Sorin and I talked about family and ministry most of the way, then turned on some Christian music and worshiped the remainder of the journey. When the song "Jesus Thank You" came on, just for a moment I felt a very strong longing to be back home worshiping with Rockport. Soon . . . .

I'll have lunch with Alex Palada and his family later today. Then the student conference will begin this evening. Imagine 30 to 50 college students or more crammed into an area no bigger than the Johnson's or the Dickman's living room and you'll have an idea what we are looking at.

Saturday March 19
Greetings from Romania. I'll need to be quick since the second day of our conference will begin shortly. Friday evening's meetings went very well. We had a house FULL including 8 young men from Nigeria who came. Since they were here the whole conference had to be translated into English from Romanian, and not just from English to Romanian when I spoke. I preached from James about living as those who know they must die. I believe God used it to awaken some to the reality of their own mortality. Afterwords one of the Nigerian young men asked me if he could have my notes. I have no idea what he'll do with them, but I gave them to him.

Alex then preached a message on the meaning of real friendship, and the ultimate friendship which is found in Christ. It was pretty good. I was glad they had to translate it so that i was able to understand. If the Nigerians had not been here I would not have been able to listen in.

We will begin a morning session here soon. I must get my room put in order since some will have to sit there as an "overflow" room. They cannot see the speaker from there, but they will be able to hear. Even more students will be with us today, since some have traveled here by train from Sibiu.

Usually when I am in Romania I have not really struggled with being homesick. For some reason it really hit me last night and this morning. I am glad to be here, but my heart is beginning to long for home.

Saturday March 19 PM
Well, we just finished our Saturday morning and afternoon sessions. I preached twice -- once on "Living with all Your might for the glory of God" and a second time on cultivating biblical contentment. It seemed to go very well. We had a full house. After a lunch of spaghetti (with a really unique and good sauce) we spent time in prayer. The students have now gone out two by two to witness in the dorms. They have left me behind to rest since it would be hard for me to share the gospel in English. My plan is to jot this note and rest a bit for now.

Later today I will go to a young couple's apartment for dinner and fellowship. Tomorrow morning Bebe Tomeci and I will both preach for the last session of the conference. I will then preach in the evening service for the church that meets here in Sorin's apartment (Providence Baptist Church).

So many have told me to send their love and appreciation to you all. You have mine as well!

God bless you. I am praying as you all meet tomorrow that God would pour out his Spirit richly upon you!

Sunday March 20
Things have been very busy this weekend. Last night, after the conference, Sorin had rehearsal with his worship team, and then we had dinner with a sweet newly married couple (Bob, Aaron and Kim may remember Ramona from their time here).

This morning we will finish the conference. Then, church this evening. Tomorrow morning very early we will leave for Bucharest. I will then preach a small conference with the Gypsies there which had to be postponed from last week.

And then, very early Tuesday morning I'll go to the air port and head home! :-)

I am praying as you all gather for worship this morning! (by that time it will be evening here and we will be worshiping with Providence Baptist in Sorin's living room.

Monday March 21
It seems this is my last email from Brasov. In about 10 minutes Sorin and I will pile my stuff in the van and head to Bucharest. We'll get there just in time to go to the gypsy church for a conference. I'll preach twice. Then I'll be done for this trip. My heart is already turning toward home. I pray I can keep my focus for these last two messages.

Yesterday was very busy, but very good! It was hard to say good bye to the Tomeci and Palada families, as well as all the other friends we now have here -- Ionutz and his wife, Ramona and her husband. But God is so very good. I was very tired for the second service yesterday and not sure I'd have strength to preach it. But God helped and things seemed to go very well.

There was one tragedy. Some have small children. They were running around afterwards, as small children do. One of them knocked over Sorin's guitar and the neck broke. This guitar was given to him by someone from the states. It was a very nice one (I'd guess about $1000). It is ruined now. I could tell he was grieved, but he took it very graciously.

This evening I hope to get to bed early. We must be up very early 4 am in order to get to the airport. I am longing for home and the chance to see all of you. I miss my girls terribly.

Monday March 21 – via Facebook
We drove through snow to get to Bucharest. Conference with the gypsies went well. Now just hanging out til tile to get to the airport!!

Monday March 21 – PM
Hey church! I'm sitting in Starbucks with Sorin waiting for our friend Ruxi to join us to go to supper. The gypsy conference went well. I am done. My plane leaves in about 14 hours! Can't wait to be home. Grateful to God for all he has done.
Tuesday March 22
Sitting in the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. No coffee yet. Romania is a fond memory and I am dreaming of home. I'm grateful for all God has done over here, but I'm ready for my feet to hit US soil. Soon enough. Long layover here.

I did get to see our friend Ruxi for a bit for supper last night and pray with her about her ministry to young women.

Two hours til my plane begins to load now. I think I'll Get that coffee.

Wednesday March 23 – FB
To my dear friends and family, Thank you so much for your prayers & words of encouragement while I was gone. The Lord sustained me thru you! I hope to rest today so I can hit the ground running tomorrow. Love to you all.

Romanian Mission

2011-01-18T09:42:00.001-06:00

Dear Friends,

We are currently praying about an opportunity to return to Romania for a mission trip in March with dear friends Sorin, Ian and Alex from HeartCry Missionary Society who are in the process of planting a church in Brasov. Please pray for me and for my potential preaching/teaching partner, Mack Tomlinson as we seek the Lord concerning this opportunity.

Soli Deo Gloria,

S. Scott Lee

Song of Assurance

2010-11-09T16:15:00.000-06:00

We were talking about assurance in our C-Group last week, from Romans 8, when I remembered an old Welsh hymn I once heard Martyn Lloyd-Jones quote. I couldn't recall the words exactly, so i looked them up. It can be sung to the tune of "Come Thou Fount". There are other verses, also, but I can't seem to find them right now. I hope this is a blessing to someone.

Sung to the tune of Come Thou Fount

Speak I Pray

Speak, I pray, Thou gentle Jesus.

O, how passing sweet Thy Word.

Breathing o’er my troubled spirit

Peace that never earth affords

Tell me Thou art mine,O Savior

Grant me an assurance clear.

Banish all my dark misgivings

Still my doubtings, calm my fears.

O my soul within me yearneth

Now to hear Thy voice Divine

So shall grief be gone forever

And Despair no more be mine.

Tell me Thou art mine, O Savior

Grant me an assurance clear.

Banish all my dark misgivings

Still my doubtings, calm my fears

Happy Reformation Day!

2010-10-28T14:13:00.003-05:00

So many, today, are unaware of the great significance of October 31st. Greater than Halloween (or Pumpkin Day), for it was on October 31st, 1517 that God used a timid young monk to begin one of the greatest revivals in history: The Reformation. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The Apostle Paul wrote, in Romans 1:16-17,

16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed,
a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written:
"The righteous will live by faith."

When he read these words, nearly 500 years ago, they stunned the young monk who's name happened to be Martin. Up to that point, he’d been taught by his Church that salvation came as a result of his own efforts to be righteous by doing good and trying his hardest to keep the commands of the Law laid down by the priests and bishops. And try, he did – as hard as any man could. He fasted. He prayed. He wept. He confessed his sins. Yet still he was plagued by doubts and tormented by the guilt of his sins. It nearly drove him mad!

How could he, sinner that he knew he was, ever hope to be righteous in the eyes of God! That was his problem. He knew his sin. He knew God was holy. He understood that even if he did manage to purge the sin from his life (as impossible as that was!) and even if he did come to the place where he could believe he was righteous 98% of the time, with only 2% sin remaining, still he knew he would fall short of God’s perfect standards. What could he do? When told by his superiors that he must simply “Love God”, in the agony of his soul he cried out,”Love God? Sometimes I think I hate Him!”

But God had mercy upon young Martin. He was assigned the task, by one of his superiors, of teaching the New Testament. And there, in the book of Romans, God opened his eyes and let him see the simple, life-giving truth of the Gospel – that God gives the righteousness He requires freely, as a gift, to all who put their faith in Christ alone to save them. Not by works! Not by religion! Not by morality! Not by ritual! But by grace alone through faith in Christ, sinners may be saved!

That realization changed everything for Martin, who’s last name was Luther. He began to share the good news with others, thinking it would find as welcome a home in their hearts as it did in his. It was that drive to let others know what he had found that drove Luther, on that cool October day, to post his 95 Theses (95 points of debate he wished to raise about the religious system of his day). He thought his publication would lead to a lively debate among scholars and perhaps even a return to the truths of Scripture for some. Instead, it touched off a firestorm that would erupt into the Protestant Reformation. Europe would never be the same. Millions who came to faith through his preaching and the preaching of those who followed him would never be the same. And now 500 years later I, as an heir of the Reformation, can never be the same.

The message that God used to open the eyes of a terrified monk, has come home to me as well. By faith in Christ I know that my sins are forgiven, and I have been accepted by God as righteous, not because of any good thing I have done, but because of the finished work of Christ received by faith! It is my hope that this same message will come home to you as well. There is hope for every sinner, who by faith will repent of his sin and trust in Jesus, God's Son, by Grace, through faith alone.

Oh! What a rich mercy!

Pastor Scott Lee

Private Prayer

2010-10-12T08:39:00.001-05:00

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

In all the ages of the world, the saints have kept up secret prayer. In spite of all opposers and persecutors, in prisons, in dungeons, in caves, in chains, on racks, in banishments, and in the very flames--the saints have still kept up secret, private prayer.

A Christian can as well hear without ears, live without food, fight without hands, and walk without feet as he is able to live without private prayer! Private prayer is the life of our lives--the soul, the sweet, the heaven of all our earthly enjoyments. Of all the duties of piety, prayer alone is the most soul-sweetening, strengthening, enriching, spiritually fattening, refreshing, satisfying, and encouraging duty.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace--that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

- Thomas Brooks

Rivers and Oceans

2010-09-08T12:04:00.001-05:00

From my daughter, Kim . . .

Rivers and Oceans

To drown in the deepest ocean of grace, springing from rivers of love and mercy would be the greatest way to die. When you die, you find that all that is dead is the sin in your life and the power death had over you. Through the love of God, the new heart that reflects Christ is living in you and will never die. You find yourself no longer drowning but swimming in this ocean of grace and drinking from the rivers of love and mercy.

Christ gives you new robes that He wove with His righteousness. When these new robes you have soiled, you can plunge head first into the river of love, where Love Himself washes you clean. The river of love flows red with blood, blood that man alone could not claim. Only the blood of the one who is both God and man could clean my soiled robes. The river of mercy washes away my shame and guilt, it purifies me within. The deepest part of my heart is by mercy made clean and my sin can no longer reclaim it.

The ocean of grace my sins forgot, my slate is clean and fresh. I have no righteousness of my own, but grace gives me His. Without these rivers and this ocean deep, my sin would beat me to the grave. My glorious Savior came and took it all, my guilt, my pride, my shame, from Him flows these rivers of love and mercy. The ocean fills from His veins. He took my sin and the wrath of God. If I do not my worship bring, what good is each breath I breathe. Glory goes to God alone, no earthly thing my glory should receive. As I drink from love and mercy, it propels me to give Christ my glory, and as in grace’s depths I swim, my love and glory goes only to Him.

Labor Day Dad

2010-09-07T15:52:00.003-05:00

I've asked permission to re-post a tribute written by one of the young women in our church to her dad. I thought it was excellent and well worth passing along.

---------------------------------------

September 6, 2010

Today is Labor Day - the holiday in honor of the hard-working American citizens who labor day after day throughout the year. It is a day when many choose to relax. If you google Labor Day, the fully reliable source known as Wikipedia (yes, that’s sarcasm) states it so profoundly as to say that, “the holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parties.” Some go fishing, others go camping, and many do other types of leisure activities. Is there anything wrong with these? No. Our bodies are designed to work, but we are also dependent on rest. In fact, God commands us to rest (Ex 31:15). Resting reminds us (as I learned from my new friend C.J. Mahaney) that we dependent creatures and we are not self-sufficient.

God has used this Labor Day to remind me what an awesome earthly father He has given me. I have always looked up to my Dad. He never missed one of my basketball or volleyball games in school. He would practice with me and push me to be my best. More importantly, he constantly displays patience, humility, and wisdom. He leads and guides our family, as he is the head of our home. He works hard to provide for us. He would be the first to admit that he is not perfect, but he is the most selfless man I know.

Let me just give you a small glimpse into his Labor Day. He wakes up to a demanding list of tasks that are waiting to be completed. Between our house and 3 rental houses, there is always something to be done. Alright, let me just pause right here to say that is one example of his selflessness. He is always willing to give up his time to help others, even when there’s something better or more fun to do. That’s a Colossians 3 type of love right there! Okay, back to his day. The past couple days he has been working on fixing my sister’s ceiling fan (They live in the rental house next door to us). This normally wouldn’t have taken that long, but one thing went wrong and then another and he ended up having to buy a new ceiling fan for their rental house. During this time, one of the neighbors backed their car into my sister’s mailbox. So today, Dad is working on fixing that. Some men may look at these repairs as inconveniences in the road to what they want to do. Not my Dad. He uses these “fix-it” times as teachable moments. My oldest brother (almost 11 yrs) loves helping Dad with whatever task is at hand. The younger bro (9 yrs) loves to tag along too, but he does tend to be more easily distracted. Both of my brothers have learned so much just by being with my Dad and helping him out. They each have their own little tool set and love being able to use them. They probably have more tools than most guys my age!

Back to the mailbox dilemma- Dad and the boys worked on that most of the morning. During the process, Dad got sawdust in his eye, which is obviously not the most preferable circumstance. This can actually be quite painful and caused him problems the rest of the day. Despite this, they are all working hard to get this thing fixed when who decides to grace our streets with their presence? The Jehovah Witness clan. Does Dad complain about this? No. Does he shrug them off or ignore him? No. He uses this as an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel truth to these men who are wrapped up in their false religion. I’m afraid my natural tendency would be to say, “No thanks. I already have the real Christ!” and walk away or simple try to ignore them. He talked to them for around half an hour sharing the true Gospel. I think he ended up doing more witnessing than they did! During the course of that half an hour, we discovered that our basement had flooded. So Dad comes inside after talking to the Jehovah Witnesses’ and being out in the sun working on that mailbox with sawdust in his eye to hear all of us exclaim that our basement flooded and we couldn’t use the water. He has a servant-like attitude and doesn’t complain (ahem, Phil 2 yes, I was feeling convicted). Why doesn’t he complain? He knows that this is what God has called him to be – a man! It sounds so simple, but this is exactly what is lacking in our culture. Men who are bold enough to stand up and lead their wives (Eph 5:23). Men who work hard to provide for their families (Gen 3:17-19). Men who train their children up in godliness (Proverbs 22:6, 23:13-14 and yes, this includes DISCIPLINING them). Men who deny themselves and live according to God’s standard (Luke 9:23). It is not easy to give up pleasures, material things, or conveniences, but that is the cost of following Christ.

So my Dad will probably go into work tonight feeling exhausted, somewhat irritated (that sawdust is still really bothering his eye), and like he has accomplished little. He’ll sleep when he gets home in the morning. He’ll wake up with a new day full of new challenges. Despite this, he won’t forget to wrestle with his children (that’s his favorite way of expressing his fatherly love) and make them laugh/scream and then shout, “Dad’s the Champion!!!” He’ll lead his children in studying the Word of God and prayer. He’ll try to get what needs to be done accomplished, but if not, that’s okay. He’ll go into work that night and repeat it the next day all while echoing the words, “’My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I apologize now for the A.D.D format of this note and for any grammatical errors (writing was never my thang!).This isn’t in anyway meant to come across as depressing or anti-fun. My family and I have lots and lots of fun memories together especially if it involves the word, “free.” If you know us, then you know we’re goofy and even kinda weird. =) But as one of my favorite quotes by JohnnyMac goes, "Following Christ isn't rooted in spectacular events, juiced-up conferences, or continual mountaintop experiences. It's found in loving Him, obeying Him, thanking Him, and glorifying Him in the most mundane daily details of life."

So Dad, thank you for your example of humility and self-sacrifice, which is a portrait of Christ. Thank you for showing me the qualities of a Godly husband through your daily living. I LOVE YOU!

Good Health

2010-09-01T12:03:00.003-05:00

Here is an insightful journal post from Bro Bob Jennings, a dear friend of mine who has pancreatic cancer. Please keep him in your prayers, but also, gain the value of the things the Lord is teaching Him during his fleeting days here "under the sun" as Ecclesiastes tells us.

---------------------------

Good Health

Posted on August 30, 2010 by jjennings

Acts 4:10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by this name this man stands here before you in good health.

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

Good health, apart from the welfare of the soul, is a supreme blessing. If you are in bad health, you can scarcely enjoy any material blessings – a fine house means so little. If you are in bad health, service for God can be hindered – Trophimus was left at Miletus sick, 2 Tim. 4.20. Peter’s mother-in-law was healed and was able to serve again, Mat. 8.15. It is astonishing that so much attention is given to car maintenance and house maintenance, but often the body is neglected and abused.

Our bodies are very important, very close to home. The devil knows that and told God that Job would compromise if his health were stripped, Job 2.5. Demons, even religious demons, want to destroy the body, Col. 2.23. The medical industry is enormous. In about any society it is big. The medicine man or witch doctor is the big man in primitive tribes. God speaks loudly to the non-Christian through his body, Rom. 1.24. That applies for the Christians too, 1 Cor. 11.30. The fact that all are returned to dust is a powerful sermon as to the awfulness of sin. For the non-Christian, God will put body and soul in hell, Mat. 10.28.

For the Christian, though our body is dust, yet, what a mercy, what a full salvation it is that the Lord has redeemed our body too, Rom. 8.23. Our bodies are even now called members of Christ, 1 Cor. 6.15. They are the temple of Christ, 6.19. The body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body, 6.13. We are called to continually present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, Rom 12.1.

It is a blessing to die in a ripe old age, Gen. 25.8. But our times are in God’s hand, Psa. 31.15. So we press on and work with what we have and seek to glorify God in our body, whether by life or by death, 1 Cor. 6.20, Php. 1.20.

Preaching at Countryside and Jefferson Heights

2010-08-23T14:50:00.001-05:00

This Tuesday, August 24th, I'll be speaking at Countryside Family Church's, Family Conference. Each evening, there is a meal at 6:00. Family activities at 6:30. Worship at 6:45. Message at 7:00. As I say, I'll be speaking on Tuesday night, but the conference goes Monday through Friday with a different speaker each evening. (Contact Terry @ tdelaney017@yahoo.com for more information)
Countryside is less that 30 minutes from Rockport, in Millstadt, IL (310 Veterans Dr). Click here for directions.

Also, several of us from Rockport Baptist Church will be taking part in another conference this weekend at Jefferson Heights Baptist in Jefferson County MO. The conference will focus on "Lessons from the New Testament Church". Speakers include John Greever, Charles Lawson, Brian Butler and myself. It begins at 9:00 AM Saturday morning and will continue until about 2:30. Please call Jefferson Heights for more information (636) 942-3080. Or click here for directions.

I couldn't agree more!

2010-08-11T13:49:00.002-05:00

“What the church needs today is not more machinery . . . , new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Spirit can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men—men of prayer.”

- E M Bounds

So Here's to Mother's Day . . .

2010-05-06T15:02:00.001-05:00

An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels. (Prov 31:10)

It’s easy, sometimes, to overreact. In my zeal not to repeat the mistakes of others, I can end up making new ones of my own. I wonder at times if I’m ever in danger of doing that where Mother’s Day / Father’s Day are concerned.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love my mom– far more than I could ever say! And I think its good to set aside a day once a year to honor our moms and let them know that we think there really is no one like them in the whole world.

My problem comes in the tendency I see in churches to take a day like Mother’s Day and make it the focus of worship. It just seems to be a misappropriation of God’s honor to shift the focus of any worship service off of Him and put in onto anyone or anything else at all. Am I right?

And then there’s a practical concern, as well. When it gets down to it, I’m convinced that what you and I need is not another warm and fuzzy, feel-good experience, or another ‘sentimental journey’ sponsored by Hallmark. What we need is for the life-strengthening, soul-anchoring power of God’s Word to be opened up and applied to our lives.

So let’s take a moment this morning to say ‘Thank you’ to our Moms for what they mean to us. Let’s acknowledge that we can’t think of any job that could be more important than that of a godly parent. Let’s shout from the rooftops, “We love you, Mom! We’re grateful to God for you. We know our lives would be infinitely poorer without you and your Christ-like example of love.” But then for Mom’s sake, let’s shift our focus off of her and on to Him who created motherhood in the first place. And let’s offer our prayers to our Father in Heaven Who alone can give Mom the help she needs!

Grace Camp Meeting

2010-04-22T14:06:00.002-05:00

What a wonderful time of mercy was experienced this past week at Rockport Baptist Church. We call it our Grace Camp Meeting. It's a time of coming together for an extended time of preaching, praying, fellowshipping and enjoying God's presence with the saints.

This year's Camp Meeting featured the following messages

Brother Bob Jennings from Highway M Chapel spoke on the Nature of God (God is Light); Parenting; Seeking Wise Counsel; Prayer; and the Grace of God.
Brother Rob Pelkey gave several messages on the Worship (or Worth-ship) of God, and then ended with a stirring testimony of how the Lord saved him from religion.
Brother Jon Sims from Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church spoke of God's Everlasting Love and our being Slaves of Christ.
In addition there were sermons by Dr John Greever from First Baptist Fenton on "Christ in a Truthless World," by Pete Ruble from Lighthouse Baptist on "Being at the Feet of Jesus," and by Scott Lee from Rockport Baptist on "Longing for the Glory"

All sermons are available on Rockport's Website, or on our Sermon Audio Site.

Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year

2009-12-30T10:43:00.002-06:00

This is from our friend Don Whitney and the Center for Biblical Spirituality. I thought it was an excellent way to begin the new year. So, with all due thanks to Don for his helpful ministry, consider the following:

Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them.

Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It's so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going and where we should be going.

The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

In addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more to help you "Consider your ways." Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.

11. What's the most important decision you need to make this year?

12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?

13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?

14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?

15. Who is the person you most want to encourage this year?

16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?

17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?

18. What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?

19. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?

20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?

21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?

22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?

23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?

24. What's the most important trip you want to take this year?

25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?

26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?

27. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?

28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?

29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?

30. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year?

31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?

The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus. For example, just by articulating which person you most want to encourage this year is more likely to help you remember to encourage that person than if you hadn't considered the question.

If you've found these questions helpful, you might want to put them someplace—in a day planner, PDA, calendar, bulletin board, etc.—where you can review them more frequently than once a year.

So let's evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical diligence, remembering that, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage" (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let's also remember our dependence on our King who said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Copyright Disclaimer: All the information contained on the Center for Biblical Spirituality website is copyrighted by Donald S. Whitney. Permission granted to copy this material in its complete text only for not-for-profit use (sharing with a friend, church, school, Bible study, etc.) and including all copyright information. No portion of this website may be sold, distributed, published, edited, altered, changed, broadcast, or commercially exploited without the prior written permission from Donald S. Whitney.

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Missions and the Blessing of God

2009-12-09T10:50:00.002-06:00

“God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us that Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.”
Psalm 67: 1-2

Psalm 67 is about missions! That's why we've named our missions organization at Rockport Baptist Church the Psalm 67 Missions Network. It is a cry for God’s blessing. But unlike so many who cry for God to bless them, the Psalmist is not thinking only of himself He has a much greater goal in mind. He prays that God would bless us and be with us, not so we can be blessed, but so that through us the nations might hear and know and worship God as He deserves to be known and worshiped!

This has always been the motive behind the saint’s desire for the blessing of God. God does not bless us so we can hoard the blessing to ourselves. He blesses us that we might be a link in the chain of events He ordains to bring the blessing of Christ out to others through the preaching of the Gospel.

What was it He said to Abraham when he called him to follow by faith? He said, “I will bless you and you will be a blessing and all nations on earth will be blessed through you!” (Gen 12:3) Think of it! God doesn’t bless us so we can look in the mirror and say, “Wow, isn’t it great to be blessed?” God blesses us so that other nations and people we’ve never met might be blessed through us! How? By hearing and responding to the Gospel of Christ that we preach and that we send out to the world through missions!

That’s why I like to say that Psalm 67 is a missionary Psalm! It’s a call for us to realize what God is doing in our lives. All His blessing, all of the advantages we have enjoyed as Americans – are for the purpose of making His glory known and enabling us to carry His Good News to the ends of the earth so that “all the peoples” and “all the nations” may hear and be glad in Him!

May God enable us to orient our lives and our church to that holy and joy-filled calling until we find ourselves in that great worshiping throng from every nation, tribe and tongue who bask forever in His glory!

Pastor Scott Lee

Show Hospitality to Stangers

2009-12-02T13:36:00.001-06:00

Dear Rockport Family,

Hebrews 13:2 says, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." As we enter the Christmas season, I want to remind you to practice hospitality to the new members and guests we are seeing each week. When we were smaller, it was easier to identify someone who was new, since you pretty much knew everybody. But now, many of you don't know everyone who attends each week...and it becomes easy to overlook those who are here for the first, second or third time.

So, here's what I'd like you to do. When you see someone you don't know, introduce yourself. Go out of your way to tell them your name and learn theirs. Do what you can to make them feel welcome among us. It REALLY does matter. You are a warm, kind-hearted congregation. But it won't feel that way to those who come among us if no one takes an interest in them and works to make them feel at home.

This past summer I visited a congregation in Chicago. I was impressed by the way the people sitting around me took an interest in me, asking if I was new, and generally helping me feel like I belonged among them. It really did help set me at ease in a strange place full of people who were strangers to me. Before long they did not feel like strangers.

So let's make that a habit here at Christmas and the year 'round. Go out of your way to get to know the folks seated around you. If you see someone you don't know, go over to them. Introduce yourself. Tell them you're glad they're here. God uses such small things in a great way. And who knows, by doing so, some have entertained angels unaware . . .

I just thought I should remind you,

Loving you in His grace,

S. Scott Lee
Soli Deo Gloria
www.RockportBaptist.org

God's Faithful Providence

2009-10-23T15:46:00.002-05:00

In the faithful providence of God, I was drawn to eat at a restaurant today where I rarely go...and where I never go alone. It is amazing, in fact, that I found myself there at all. I had set out to go to a different place, but on arriving there discovered they were no longer offering the "special" I was counting on. So I got back in my car, intending to head back toward the church and pick something up along the way.

Again, providence intervened and I could not get a left turn out of that place, and so was forced to go to the right, away from my chosen destination. By this time, knowing there was no easy place for a U-turn, I decided to take the freeway up to the next exit. There were many places to eat along the way, some that I count as my "favorites." But for some reason none of these appealed to me. "I'd like some Chinese," the thought seemed to enter my head. And so, having never planned to do so, I ended up at a small buffet where I have often eaten with my wife or with friends, but never, as far as I can remember, alone.

I didn't really give it much thought at that moment. The food was good, and I'd brought a book along to read between bites. But still, why did I end up in this restaurant of all places?

As I was finishing off my first plate -- I did say it was a buffet, didn't I? -- I glanced up just in time to see a fellow pastor walk in, with whom I have been wanting to spend a little time. He is one of those men I admire most -- a bi-vocational pastor -- who must divide his time between the ministry and a secular job and thus normally has very little time for such meetings. I invited him to share my table, and as we began to talk it became clear that God had ordered both our steps that day.

My friend and I began to share together. He too, had been rather strangely drawn to this place on his lunch break, though he came here more often than I. But why? As we fellowshipped together it became clear. My companion was going through some things and needed someone -- perhaps a brother in the ministry -- he could talk to. He began to share with me some of the things he was facing. They were the kinds of things most of us in the ministry struggle through at one point or another. Painful issues and struggles that, at the time you are facing them, can seem almost insurmountable!

It was then that I saw so clearly the hand of God in bringing us to this place. It was so that I could have the opportunity to share this bit of time with my brother, perhaps even share his burden a little as we talked and prayed together.

Honestly, I doubt whether I had any real wisdom to share with him. I don't think that was really the point. The point was that God intended my brother to find a listening ear and a fellow believer who has been through some of these things before to confide in at that moment and time. And in the providence of God, I got to be that friend. Not only that, there was a benefit for me as well. I gained the joy of getting to know this brother pastor a little better, whom I had only known at a distant before. That always makes for a good day.

So what can I say to this but, "My what a faithful God we have! What a gracious and unfailing providence as He works all things for His glory and the good of His people!"

Maybe tomorrow, I'll try some Mexican . . .

On Prayer

2009-09-17T14:08:00.001-05:00

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 15:7

Unless you’re really into church history, you’ve probably never heard of John Chrysostom. In addition to being Archbishop of Constantinople from 398 to 407 AD, he was known to be an eloquent and passionate preacher of the Gospel of Christ. “Chrysostom” was, in fact, his nickname. It means “Golden Mouth.” He was the Spurgeon or John Piper of his day.

And, therein,comes my interest in introducing him to you who may never have heard of him before today. Once, while preaching on prayer from Mark 11:22-26, the same passage I’ll be preaching from this coming Sunday morning (9/20/09) at Rockport, Chrysostom had this to say:

Prayer is an all-efficient panoply (something that gives you everything you need), a treasure undiminished, a mine never exhausted, a sky unobstructed by clouds, a haven unruffled by storm. It is the root, the fountain, and the mother of a thousand blessings. It exceeds a monarch’s power. . . . I speak not of prayer which is cold and feeble and devoid of zeal. I speak of that which proceeds from a mind outstretched, the child of a contrite spirit, the offspring of a soul converted – this is the prayer which mounts to heaven. . . The power of prayer has subdued the strength of fire, bridled the rage of lions, silenced anarchy, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, enlarged the gates of heaven, relieved diseases, averted frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt. In sum, prayer has power to destroy whatever is at enmity with the good. I speak not of the prayer of the lips but of the prayer that ascends from the inmost recesses of the heart.

As I read these words and studied this passage this week, I have been deeply convicted about my own lack of prayerfulness. It is so easy, isn't it, to get "too busy" to pray the way we know we ought. And yet, as I consider the startling promises God makes about prayer, and all that He deems to do through it, I realize that I have made myself a spiritual pauper by my neglect. So I have resolved, yet again, that I will give a greater place to prayer in my daily life. There are so many things I must do, and more yet I choose to do, and yet this is the one thing I cannot do without. To draw near to God, daily; to rest my needs and those of others dear to me in His lap; to have Him redirect my heart and my thinking in every area so that by and by I am more conformed to Him! This is my great need.

Lord helping me, it will become my more consistent and joyful practice.

Soli Deo Gloria
(For His Glory Alone)

Scott Lee

The Faith and Martyrdom of a Young Muslim Woman

2009-06-08T09:13:00.002-05:00

I read the following in a magazine this morning. What a powerful story and poem from a young Muslim woman who was killed by her family for her confession of Christ in Saudi Arabia last August. One more example of the difference between Christianity and Islam. Islam expands by killing those who disbelieve it. Christianity marches forward by the willingness of those who believe it to die that others might hear. One update posted on Voice of the Martyrs website indicates that further investigation has determined that it was the girl's father, a member of Saudi's religious police, who killed her, not her brother. Here is her story and the amazing poem she wrote hours before her death.

Fatima Al-Mutairi was killed by her brother after she told her family she was a Christian.

In August, a Muslim cleric and member of Saudi Arabia’s Commission of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, killed his sister 26-year-old Fatima Al-Mutairi, after she proclaimed her faith to her family in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia The Voice of the Martyrs contacts report. Fatima’s fellowship with other believers was mainly limited to Internet forums and phone correspondence. “As part of her testimony to the family, she proclaimed that the way of Christ is the most pure and most holy way of all. After sharing with her family, she found her brother in her room with her laptop open before him,” VOM contacts said. “Her laptop contained notes about her spiritual journey, which he was searching in order to find more evidence against her. Her brother locked her in the room for four hours, during which time she wrote a final letter on the Internet. Fatima was killed soon thereafter,” our contacts added.

Prior to her martyrdom Fatima wrote a poem that shows her love for Christ and her desire to share His love with her family.

And We For the Sake of Christ All Things Bear

by Fatima Al-Mutairi

May the Lord Jesus guide you, Oh Muslims
And enlighten your hearts that you might love others
The forum does not revile the Master of the prophets
It is for the display of truth, and for you it was revealed
This is the truth which you do not know
What we profess are the words of the Master of the prophets
We do not worship the cross, and we are not possessed
We worship the Lord Jesus, the Light of the worlds

We left Mohammed, and we do not follow in his path
We followed Jesus Christ, the Clear Truth
Truly, we love our homeland, and we are not traitors
We take pride that we are Saudi citizens
How could we betray our homeland, our dear people?
How could we, when for death - for Saudi Arabia—we stand ready?
The homeland of my grandfathers, their glories, and odes— for it I am writing
And we say, “We are proud, proud, proud to be Saudis”
We chose our way, the way of the rightly guided
And every man is free to choose any religion
Be content to leave us to ourselves to be believers in Jesus
Let us live in grace before our time comes
There are tears on my cheek, and Oh! the heart is sad
To those who become Christians, how you are so cruel!
And the Messiah says, “Blessed are the Persecuted”
And we for the sake of Christ all things bear
What is it to you that we are infidels?
You do not enter our graves, as if with us buried
Enough - your swords do not concern me, not evil nor disgrace
Your threats do not trouble me, and we are not afraid
And by God, I am unto death a Christian—Verily
I cry for what passed by, of a sad life

I was far from the Lord Jesus for many years
Oh History record! and bear witness, Oh Witnesses!
We are Christians - in the path of Christ we tread
Take from me this word, and note it well
You see, Jesus is my Lord, and He is the Best of protectors
I advise you to pity yourself, to clap your hands in mourning
See your look of ugly hatred
Man is brother to man, Oh learned ones
Where is the humanity, the love, and where are you?
As to my last words, I pray to the Lord of the worlds
Jesus the Messiah, the Light of Clear Guidance
That He change notions, and set the scales of justice aright
And that He spread Love among you, Oh Muslims

As Children, Enter the Kingdom of God

2009-05-28T14:23:00.002-05:00

""Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."
Mark 10:14-15

Here in this passage we get a marvelous glimpse into the very heart of Jesus, not just for those who are children, but for all who will receive Him! John 1:12 says, “But to all who received Him, to those who believe in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Imagine that. We get the right to become children of God through faith in Him

In fact, one thing I hope you notice here, is that Jesus does not say, “The kingdom belongs to those who are children.” As if the thing that matters for eternal life is that you be a child. He says “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (v 14). Meaning there is something about the status of a child – his helplessness and dependancy, his willingness to receive that which is given – that is necessary for us to have if we hope to enter the Kingdom of God.

So here’s the question we must all face. Do I see myself as weak and helpless before God? Or do I imagine that I am strong enough to stand on my own two feet? Do I understand that there is nothing I can bring to the table to commend myself to Him? Or do I still maintain that there is something in me that merits salvation? Have I understood that, if I am to enter the Kingdom of God at all, it can be only by a willingness to receive freely and joyfully what He has given by grace alone? I tell you, heaven and hell hangs in the balance for you, based on which of these attitudes characterize your life.

I hope you will join us at Rockport Baptist Church this Sunday morning as we look first, at the love Jesus has for children, and then second, at what this tells us about how we must receive the Kingdom of God.

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be the Glory),
Pastor Scott Lee

So Have I Told You Lately . . .

2009-04-27T19:09:00.001-05:00

A note to the members of Rockport Baptist Church,

Hey Church,

Have I told you lately that I love you all and feel incredibly blessed to be allowed to serve you as one of our pastors and to be given the privilege of opening God's word with you each week? Sometimes I cannot fathom how kind God has been to us...and continues to be day after day. No, of course we aren't perfect -- that's why we need the Gospel! But I was just thinking about it after we'd taken the Lord's Supper together Sunday. We draw near because we are poor and needy. We have sinned and fallen short. We have failed to love as we ought to have loved. Our faith is weak and pitiful. But oh! He is merciful! And He receives us freely on the basis of His finished work on the cross. Therefore we can draw near -- not only to Him (joy of all joys!) but also through Him to one another! And there we find that we are loved, and forgiven and accepted and made one family in Christ! Wonder of wonders!

Hebrews 10:19-25
19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

In Him!

S. Scott Lee
Soli Deo Gloria
www.RockportBaptist.org

Grace Camp Meeting starts tonight!

2009-04-16T14:07:00.001-05:00

We have been so very busy preparing for our Camp Meeting that I have not posted anything here in a very long time. Sorry about that. But I hope to jot some notes down as things go along! God has been blessing at Rockport and we're anxious to get to share in that blessing with those who will be coming to our conference.

Grace and peace to all
SSL

Letter to My Daughters

2009-02-18T08:53:00.003-06:00

The following letter was originally published by Charles Spurgeon (it is an excerpt written by another man, Leah Richmond, to his own daughter). I thought it was so excellent that I added a note of my own and sent it along to my precious girls. Here is a Christian father's fondest desire and most urgent prayer for his daughters....

"Christ's garden"
by Charles Spurgeon

~ ~ ~ ~

(An excerpt from a letter from Legh Richmond to one of his daughters)

My dear daughter,
May my dear child be preserved from the defilements of a vain, dangerous, and destroying world. You know not, and I wish you never may know--its snares and corruptions!

I send you the following applications of my sermon on Ephesians 5:15-16, "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

On circumspection of walk, redemption of time, and general sincerity of character:

1. Adhere most scrupulously to Scriptural truth; and labor to preserve the strictest integrity, simplicity, and sincerity.

2. Engage in no pursuit in which you cannot look up unto God, and say, 'Bless me in this, my Father!'

3. Strive to be as kind, forbearing, and forgiving as you can--both to friends and foes. Never speak evil of anyone.

4. Strive to recommend true religion by the courtesy, civility, and humble character of your conduct.

5. Watch against irritation, pride, unkind speaking, and anger--study and promote love.

6. Mortify (kill) all lusts, sensuality and sloth.

7. Never speak well of yourself. Keep down pride; let it not be indulged for a moment--but watch against it.

8. Shut out evil imaginations and angry thoughts.

9. Let it be your sole business here to prepare for eternity. Consider every moment of time in that view.

10. Remember that you have to contend with . . .
a legion of devils;
a heart full of deceit and iniquity;
and a world at enmity with God.

11. Pray that you may ever rejoice in the advancement of Christ's kingdom, and the salvation of sinners; and labor in every way to promote these objects.

12. Prayer is the only weapon which can subdue your corruptions, and keep you in close fellowship with God. Cultivate prayer.

The love of Christ is the only safe ground of all motives, and of all conduct. Where this is established, all is well. The life-blood of Christianity then circulates through every vein of the soul; and spiritual health, strength, and purity of mind is the happy result. Fall down upon your knees before God, my dear, praying that He would pour that love into your heart, until it becomes a constraining principle for the government of your thoughts and actions. The love of Christ is the only remedy for all the diseases of the soul.

~ ~ ~ ~

2009-02-15T23:23:00.000-06:00

We invite you to join us for our Grace Camp meeting
Registration and Information click here

Grace Camp Meeting '09 -- April 16 - 19

2009-02-11T11:58:00.000-06:00

I'm still rejoicing about all that God did for us during last year's camp meeting here at Rockport. Brother Paul Washer, Mike Morrow, Mike Williams, Charles Leiter and Rob Pelky blessed us with clear, encouraging, challenging messages from God's Word (all of which can still be heard by clicking here). And even though it was our first time ever to try and host such a meeting, God helped us tremendously and everything just seemed to work out for a wonderful time of fellowship, prayer and worship.

With that in mind, we are beginning to look forward to this year's

Grace Camp Meeting '09.

Dates: April 16-19

Speakers:
Charles Leiter
Mike Williams
Tim Conway
Michael Durham

Be praying with us as we make preparations. Registration information will be up on our website soon.

We hope many of you will be able to come.

In Jesus,

Pastor Scott

By Grace Alone

2009-01-26T15:49:00.001-06:00

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

It is humbling to believe the Gospel. Religion, on the other hand, is a great foundation for human pride. Religion lets me continue to think well of myself even as I exult in “the depths” of my devotion to God. With religion I am the one in charge. I set the pace. I make the decisions (at least the ones that really matter!). I devote myself to God’s cause and do my best to practice my faith in a way I feel is both personally fulfilling and, I imagine, of help to God.

But the Gospel is just the reverse. When the Gospel comes to me, it finds me to be an outcast, powerless and – to be honest – anything but devout. No, I am a sinner. A reprobate. A pagan with nothing in me that could commend me to God. Every decision I have ever made – spiritually speaking – has been the wrong one. And even my best acts of righteous devotion have been nothing but filthy rags of self-serving pride. That’s where the Gospel finds me! Not a good man, hoping to be better. Not even a weak man needing to be made strong. But a dead man who needs to be given a life that comes from outside himself.

I remember for years thinking of my salvation as if I had been drowning – going down for the last time - and Christ at the last minute jumped in to save me. Now I know that I was a dead man, three weeks dead, bloated and lying at the bottom of the ocean when Christ, for his own purpose and glory chose to come to me. I could not cry out. I would not save myself. Nevertheless He came. And with a marvelous display of astounding power and grace, He saved me! He rescued the perished and gave life to the dead. Where then is my boasting? It is no more. All I can do is say, “Praise! Praise! Praise for an Amazing Grace!”

SSL

A living, loving, personal Savior

2009-01-26T10:11:00.002-06:00

One of the things that really struck me this past week as I was preparing for Sunday's message is the personal nature of Salvation by Christ. I'm fully aware that many in evangelicalism have misused the idea of having Jesus as "personal" Lord and Savior. We've bent and twisted this idea into the creation by each of us of our own "personal Jesus" which is, of course, idolatry. The same Jesus who saved Paul is the Jesus who saves me. He's not my personal possession (though I have become His). He's not mine to re-image or re-configure. He is Who He is. The Living God become flesh -- the Eternal Son, Second Person of the Trinity as revealed in Scripture.

And yet, when He does comes by His grace to save a loathsome sinner like me, He comes to me in a way that is real and person through the Gospel that is preached. By His Holy Spirit He opens my heart to believe in Him. And as a result, I personally, through that grace given, repent and believe in Him and am brought into the personal intimacy of a new relationship with Him and with His church that is real. I come to know Him who died for me and with all the saints begin to live to the praise of the glory of His grace.

That's the point of this little quote below. Jesus becomes for those He saves.....

A living, loving, personal Savior

(J. R. Miller, "Counsel and Help" 1907)

We are in the habit of saying that Christ saved
us by dying for us on the Cross. In an important
sense this is true. We never could have been
saved--if He had not died for us.

But we are actually saved by our relation to a
living, loving, personal Savior--into whose
hands we commit all the interests of our lives;
and who becomes our Friend, our Helper, our
Keeper, our Burden bearer--our all in all.

Christian faith is not merely laying our sins on
the Lamb of God, and trusting to His one great
sacrifice; it is the laying of ourselves on the living,
loving heart of one whose friendship becomes
thenceforward the sweetest joy of our lives!

"The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith
in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
Himself for me!" Galatians 2:20

Only Jesus

2008-12-22T11:52:00.000-06:00

My wife, Amy, has always had a time sitting still. Her active mind is always buzzing about something. Even in church she tends to need to occupy herself with something as she listens and participates with the congregation. This past Sunday night as we were all celebrating Christmas together, Amy was jotting down some of the thoughts that were pouring through her brain. She shared them with our congregation just before I got up to preach. I thought they are an excellent summation of why only Jesus is worthy of all praise!

Here is what she wrote:

Only Jesus

Only Jesus can be our Great High Priest

And our sacrifice

Only Jesus can be our judge

And our advocate

Only Jesus can be born

Of his own creation

Only Jesus can be humble enough

To be highly exalted

Only Jesus can be seated at the right hand of the Father

And be with us always

Only Jesus can be the hearer of all our cries

And cry out in intercession

Only Jesus can be the alpha

And the omega

Only Jesus can be the Lion

And the lamb

Only Jesus can say “It is Finished”

And “I am completing a good work in you”

Only Jesus can be feared

And calm our every fear

Only Jesus could have nothing in his appearance that we would desire him

And be the joy of man’s desire

Only Jesus can be despised and rejected

And draw all men unto himself

Only Jesus can exist before time

And appear when the time had fully come

Only Jesus could empty himself

And be the fullness of God in bodily form

Only Jesus

Love for Jesus

2008-12-10T08:59:00.001-06:00

The following is from (Theodore Cuyler, "Wayside Springs from the Fountain of Life" 1883). I borrowed it from Gracegems.org, a fine organization that is a treasure trove of great quotations, books and sermons from the rich heritage of our Christian past. I highly recommend it -- not just the website, but the passion producing power that flows down to us from faithful men and women in our past who faithfully served Christ. They have much to teach us.

"The love of Christ constrains us."
2 Corinthians 5:14

Love of Jesus is essential to Christianity.
No privations can starve it, and no burdens
can break it down. It is the core of all true
piety. It is the only cure of the reigning
worldliness and covetousness and fashion
worship, which have made such havoc in
too many churches.

There is only one way to be a steadfast
Christian--it is to get the heart so full of love
to Jesus--that the world, and the lusts of
the flesh, and the devil can get no foothold.

A true Christian life is the continual
consecration of our bodily powers, of our
energies, our affections, our resources,
and our influence--to Him who bought
us with His precious blood.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of
God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is
your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1

Christmas, Depravity and Why We Need a Savior

2008-12-04T14:17:00.003-06:00

"For from within, out of the heart of men,proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."
Mark 7:21-23

“‘Tis the Season!” And in all honesty I must confess that I’m a sucker for this time of year. I love the sights and smells and traditions. I like to hear the carols and watch It’s a Wonderful Life and The Muppet’s Christmas Carol at least once during December. I can’t help myself. I really do just love it.

And yet, despite all the talk of “peace on earth and good will toward men, ” I am forced to admit that Christmas, like everything else, brings out the best and the worst in people. We are, after all, such depraved creatures, you and I (Rm 3:10f). When push comes to shove, we shove back and find a way to turn even the greatest of all God’s gifts into a reason to display the selfishness of man.

We, sadly, saw a terrible example of this last week when 34 year old Jdimytai Damour was trampled to death in a Long Island, New York Wal-mart as Black Friday shoppers pushed and shoved their way past his broken body in their rush to claim their Christmas deals. And so the birth of the One given as the result of the greatest of all loves, became an excuse to kill a man in the selfish desire of a crowd to satisfy it’s lust for things.

Certainly I know this is an extreme case, but doesn’t it reveal something about the true nature of the human heart. Jesus said that it is from within, out of the heart that such evil flows (see Mark 7:21-23 above). That is the true condition of every man and woman apart from the grace of God. That is the root of our problem. Not what other people do, but what I myself am capable of doing and will do in my selfish rush to satisfy me! That, my friends, is why we need a Savior, and why I celebrate God’s gracious gift of Christ for a sinner like me!

To Him Be the Glory Forever!
SSL

God Reigns

2008-11-05T07:59:00.000-06:00

A good word from my friend, Mack Tomlinson

God Reigns

Daniel 4:34-35

I awoke this morning, looked out my bedroom window, and saw the leaves of a tree gently moving in the breeze; The thought came to me: "God is controlling the movement of every leaf on every tree, in every town, on every mountain side, and in every valley, in the whole earth. Lord, You are the One who controls that breeze, and ordains and causes every movement of each leaf."

If that is true, how much more the nations, governments, and all the direction of the affairs of all men?

"I bless the Most High, and I praised and honored him who liveth forever, whose dominion and his kingdom is from generation to generation; And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest Thou?" - Daniel 4:34-35

In other words, God reigns! In eternity past, He was reigning; at creation, He was reigning; at the coming of Christ to earth, He was reigning; a thousand years ago, He was reigning; and yesterday and today-- He is reigning in all the affairs of men. He reigns. Rejoice-- the Lord is King.

- Mack Tomlinson

Preaching Repentance

2008-10-24T16:46:00.001-05:00

And they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
Mark 6:12

The Christian message begins with a call for sinners to repent of their sin and turn to God by faith. That’s always been the case. When Jesus began his ministry after being baptized by John, he began by commanding repentance. He said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15). Without repentance there is no Gospel.

Sadly, much of today’s preaching skips over repentance as if it were an unnecessary addition to the Gospel. Since Christ came to save people, so the thinking goes, let’s just tell them about Christ and his love, and urge them to put their trust in Him. “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” they say, “so pray this prayer and ask Jesus into your heart and you can be saved.”

The problem with such a message is that it falls far short of the biblical Gospel, and thus it cannot save. ‘Salvation’ you see, implies rescue from something. I’m in danger of some terrible fate. I need to be rescued from it. But what does the modern gospel offer, to save me from missing “God’s wonderful plan for my life?” Maybe I have plans of my own? Is that all there is to it? I think most people would be willing to take their chances if there is nothing more to the Gospel than that!

But the biblical Gospel begins with a warning. “You have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”, and “the wages of your sin is death.” It’s not just that you might “miss God’s best.” You are a rebel sinner who’s sin has put you under the wrath of God. You’ve set ourselves against God and His right to rule over this universe. Thus the danger you are in is that you will perish under His righteous wrath when He pours it out against all who stand against Him. No, your only hope is to turn from your sin and embrace by faith the Savior God has sent to bear His wrath for you – Jesus Christ His only Son. So repent and believe the good news that God saves sinners who turn and trust in Him!

Soli Deo Gloria
SSL

Hopless Situations and the Glory of God

2008-10-14T14:39:00.002-05:00

For those few who may read both blogs, forgive this repeat. I'd recently posted this on Rockportviews, but wanted to share it here as well.

----------------------------------

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Hopeless situations must be some of God’s favorite things, for he always seems to show up in the middle of them. Think of all the hopeless places in the Bible where God has made his presence known.

Abram is over a hundred years old with a post-menopausal wife who’s never been able to get pregnant. But God says, “I’m going to give you a son.”
The children of Israel have their backs to the wall – the Red Sea in front of them, Pharaoh’s army behind them – with no place to run either left or right. There’s no way out of this jam. But God tells Moses, “Stand back and you will see the salvation of the Lord”
Gideon’s army is whittled down to 600 men, when God tells him to defeat a Midianite hoard of thousands.
And who could forget David the shepherd boy sent out to face the Giant; or Daniel in the Lion’s Den; or the young virgin girl who’s told she will bear God’s Son even though she’s never been intimate with any man.
And then there is Christ, God’s Messiah, hanging on a cross, despised and rejected by the very people He came to save. What hope could there be in such a Man? Or what hope is there for the ragamuffin band of disciples He sends out to evangelize the world.

God, it seems, does his best work when he puts us in impossible places. That theme, of God’s strength made perfect in our weakness, is what drives the action in Mark 5. Here Jesus steps in to rescue three different people who are drowning in despair: A man controlled by evil, a woman afflicted with an incurable illness, and a father grieving the death of his only child. In each case, it seems like a hopeless situation! But then, that’s just where God’s grace shines best.

I was thinking about this chapter the other day, when it occurred to me, that the real miracle here is not just what Jesus did for these individuals, but who He shows Himself to be in each case.

One man is possessed by demons – Satan has taken over His life! Jesus comes and sets him free. But that's not all. 1 John 3:8 says, “the Son of God has come to destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus not only has power to set this man free. He came to purify all His people from sin and it’s terrible consequences

The woman is suffering under the crushing weight of a terrible affliction. And Jesus heals her of her affliction. But Isaiah 53:4 goes on to say “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; . . .by his stripes we are healed. Christ came to take upon Himself our wounds and our sins and bear them away to the cross!

A child was dead! Beyond all hope of recover. And Jesus raises her from the dead. But even more, in John 11:25 Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in me will live, even though He dies.” He Himself is our source of Life! Eternal Life comes to us by trusting in Him!

In each one of these cases, Jesus not only gives what each one needs! He Himself is what they need! He is our victory over sin! He is our healing righteousness! He is our resurrection life! In other words, we don’t come to Him for what He gives! We come to Him, by faith trusting Who He is!

My prayer is that thought will give you hope in a lot of "hopeless situations" as you look by faith to Him

SSL

What a Faithful Savior!

2008-10-10T10:04:00.004-05:00

I'm sitting here preparing this morning for the message I'll get to preach on Sunday morning, and thinking, "What a privilege!"

God has so faithfully given us the truth of His Word! (John 17:17) That's where we see Him! And that's where He meets us with "grace to help in time of need!" (Heb 4:16)

But not only that, God is just as faithful to open up His word to our eyes, and by His Holy Spirit apply it to us, to our understanding and for our transformation by grace through faith! (Rm 12:1-2, etc)

Oh what a faithful Savior!

Looking forward to meeting with His people again this Sunday.

Soli Deo Gloria

Starbuck's Theology

2008-10-02T12:18:00.005-05:00

I'm hoping to get the time to write some thoughts of my own someday soon, but until that happens, I keep coming across some great things by other people that I think are well worth sharing. The following was sent to my by my friend, Mack Tomlinson. I thought he gave an excellent insight on the nature of true faith, as opposed to its shallow substitute in the culture at large

------------------------------- Mack writes....

I stopped this week at my friend Michael Durham's 3rd favorite place, Star Bucks Coffee (after his home and Oakgrove Baptist Church), to get some hot tea and study for about an hour before getting my children at school in the afternoon.

As I sat down at the table outside to enjoy the pleasant weather, I saw words written on the Starbucks cup which intrigued me. I began to read these exact words by James Brown, a pro football television sports anchor:
"I have faith--faith in our wondrous capacity for hope, good, love and trust, for healing, and forgiveness; I have faith in the blessing of our infinite ability to wonder, question, pray, feel, think, and learn; I have faith in the infinite possibilities of the human spirit."

I began to think, smile, ponder, and then grieve-- everyone's religious in America these days; Brown sounds like he lifted a quote from yesterday's Oprah show, though he probably wrote it himself. Everybody's talking about faith today, from Obama to Joe Biden, to Rush Limbaugh, to Oprah and Hillary, to Barbara Streisand and even Madonna-- everybody loves "faith"-- it's very fasionable and in vogue to say you have faith.

It all sounds so sweet, kind, inspiring, gushy and mushy, making people want to bust out singing in unison, "We are the world, we are the people!" But the real question is this:

What in the world do they mean by faith?

Brown's words above are loudly and clearly saying one thing: "I have faith in me-- I have faith in man-- I have faith in my own endless capacity to be really good; I have endless, infinite abilities and capacities because I am human."

The world is groveling and drooling over such language every day- in advertising, in movies, in the media, in Hollywood, from L.A. to New York, in office buildings, coffee shops, in press conferences, in presidential candidates' speeches, in churches, at weddings, funerals, graduation ceremonies and in university classrooms across the country and in many towns in rural America, where ladies will have coffee together tomorrow morning. This disease is everywhere and it continues to spread.

Such words as Brown's are meant to teach only one thing-- have faith in yourself and in innate human goodness, for that is the only thing that matters. Neither Marx, Lenin, or radical atheistic communism ever had a better humanism than the words on that Star Buck's cup. America has swallowed the biggest lie of all-- I trust in myself because I am good.

Never has there been worse blindness than that. Such people are clueless as to what faith is at all. Because there is no faith apart from a true objective basis of faith-- the Word of God; and there is no object of faith that is credible and true except in one person-- Christ Himself. The Bible is the only basis of faith and Christ is the only object of faith. Accordingly, true believers are the only ones who have any faith at all and are the only ones who can even talk about faith in a true way.

There is only one faith in existence- the faith once delivered to the saints; there is only one basis of faith-- the Bible, and there is only one object of faith-- not you, not me, not man, but Jesus Christ Himself. Faith doesn't even exist apart from the exclusive reality of the Lord Jesus. Every person who has ever been on the planet is shut up in complete unbelief until he or she finds a resting place solely in Jesus Christ Himself, the only place for true faith.

Sorry, James; the hot tea was good, but the cup's advertising fluff about faith is emptier than cotton candy. I'll drink the tea, but not the faith you are spreading; I don't want it because it's not the faith of Jesus and it does not work-- cannot work-- in life, in death, or in eternity.

- Mack T.

What are you living for?

2008-09-29T09:06:00.002-05:00

"We have met the enemy and it is us!" I think it was Pogo who said that, or something like it. But whoever it was, it certainly is true. Most often my falls into sin have come from tripping over my own two fleshly feet. Far too often I find that there's just too much of "me" in me, and too little Christ. That's when I thank God for the grace of repentance that turns my focus off of me and my wants and onto Him and His matchless, graceless provision.

I found the following quote from Horatius Bonar to be a help toward giving me a clearer view of the reality of things. My prayer is that it will be helpful to you as well.

Horatius Bonar, "Self or Christ--Which Is It?"

What are you living for?

Most, perhaps, live to enjoy present things as
much as possible--and to escape hell at last.

Have your ideas, your hopes, your aspirings--ever
risen beyond these two things? Are you living only
for self? Is that all? What a poor object--what a
base and narrow aim! What an insignificant, empty,
hollow being is yours--wasted, shriveled, useless!

"My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."
John 10:10

What stands between you and that life? It is self,
the accursed thing! What separates you from God?
It is SELF--your love of self, your admiration of self,
your confidence in self. It is SELF which is blinding
and bewildering you!

What is it that is dragging you down, and making
you cleave to the dust? It is SELF! And what is it that
will before long be your everlasting ruin? It is SELF!

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wants
to come with Me--he must deny himself, take up
his cross, and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

Your Life Preaches Every Day

2008-09-21T14:44:00.001-05:00

A Great Reminder from Robert Murray M'Cheyne

A man is what he is on his knees before God and nothing more! In great measure, according to the purity of the instrument, will be success. It is not great talents which God blesses so much as true likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is a powerful weapon in the hand of God.

Study universal holiness of life. Your whole usefulness depends on this; your sermons last but an hour or two, but your life preaches every day! If Satan can only make a minister covetous, or a lover of praise, of pleasure, or of fine worldly things, he has ruined your ministry!

"Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be!"

- Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Looking Forward to Sunday

2008-09-18T13:46:00.001-05:00

Dear Rockport,

As we look forward to Sunday and what will be the last of our short series on "Raising Children Who Delight in God", I've really been enjoying God's teaching on wisdom, (or as I see it, "the God-centered life") found in Proverbs 1:7-9. This is what we are to train our children to see! That all of life relates back to God...and life is sterile and empty if anything but him takes center stage!

It also occurred to me this weekthat the Bible's emphasis on family is not something we should see as exclusive, as if those who are single or no longer have children in the home, are left out. The Bible's emphasis on family is "inclusive." We as Christ's church are meant to see ourselves as a "household of faith" (Eph 2:19). Thus we are commanded to open our lives and homes to one another so that all the benefits that are designed to flow from a healthy home into the lives of the children of faithful parents, can also flow out of our homes into the lives of those around us who are hurting, lonely, or just in need of seeing the beautiful picture we find on display of the love of God in Christ whenever we do see a biblical, healthy family.

I also have found great encouragement in the fact that there are no perfect families. Nor does it take perfection for God to work in the life of our children. 2 Tim 1:5 and 3:14-15 give us a window into Timothy's home life: an absentee father, raised and trained in Scripture by his mother and grandmother -- anything but ideal! And yet Timothy was trained well because of the God-centered faith and love of these two women who brought him up (1:5). It seems that God's grace can make up for an awful lot that sin would otherwise destroy! So it's true, no one comes from a perfect home. And yet, no matter what kind of home you may have had, God's grace is sufficient, and more than able to make up for what sin has stolen. What a joyful thought! When our lives are shaped by His Word, His presence heals and corrects, strengthens and solidifies us into men and women who are able to know the joy of living to the praise of His glorious grace!

Now certainly this does not excuse parents to slack off and just "let grace handle it". Far from it (See Romans 6:1f)! We can do much to set our children on a God-glorifying path -- and we must do all we can as we prayerfully seek God's help! But it is a great encouragement to those who feel deeply the loss of not having a solid home life to find that God really is able to restore all that sin has broken! And he does that through the larger family we all 'the church" when it really is being "the church", the "household of God" There wounded hearts can heal, the fatherless can find a Father, and the unloved outcast finds that he has a family who cares for him very deeply and will not let him go. And there, by the patient love of a church family, built on the solid structure of healthy families, God will use what Satan meant for evil, in order to bring about great good! What a wonderful plan our Father has for His children of grace!

Well, that's a small taste of what we'll be thinking about together this Sunday.! I pray you who live near Arnold, MO will be able to join us!

God is at work. I'm looking forward to worshiping with my beloved family in Christ!

Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor Scott

It's a time thing

2008-09-11T16:47:00.003-05:00

I was looking at my blog and realized it's been a while since I posted. Not good. There's so much I really could put up here to talk about -- What God's been doing in our lives, Questions about missions support that we're dealing with at church, etc. Remembering the importance of today (9/11), or just talking about how faithful God is at all times, especially in the midst of such incredible busyness. But, there's the rub. Busyness!

I hope to get back to this soon!

God bless

SSL

I Marvel at His Mercy!

2008-08-29T11:37:00.004-05:00

I truly do marvel sometimes, at the mercy of God in setting me aside to be a preacher of His Gospel. If you knew me, you'd know what an amazing thing that is! I grew up believing that the only reason a man would ever become a preacher was because he wasn't good for anything else. I don't know why I believed that. Nobody that I remember ever said it to me. That's just what I thought.

And so I set my course in a different direction. Early on I loved to study science. I received a degree in chemistry and even worked in research for a little while (though that sounds much more impressive than it really was!) And yet God called me to Himself. He opened my eyes to see Christ as my only Savior and Lord. He turned my feet so that I would walk after Him. And then He called me to declare His praise to the nations, that all might see and hear the glories of His grace.

I don't know why he did it. I just know that He did. And now it is my privilege, among other things, to spend time in His word, seeking to understand Him and the wonderful things He has done, and then somehow to find a way to express what I have learned to others.

That's where the note that follows (or perhaps its a prayer) comes in . I sent it out as an email to our congregation asking them to pray for me. You see, my greatest desire as I stand before them on Sunday, is to be able to express, in some small way, the wonderful things God has so graciously allowed me to see! And though you may be reading this long after the particular events have passed, perhaps you might be moved to pray for me as well, or to pray for your pastor, that he, too, may be able to declare clearly "the wonders of God's grace" to his people this Sunday.

So here is the note:

-------------------------

Dear Family in Christ,

Once again I am humbled to the point of great joy over the truth God has let me see in the passage we'll be studying this Sunday, from Mark 5:1-20. There is such a stunning picture here of the compassion and power of Christ! I find myself humbled and encouraged just to think of it!

Please pray with me that God will give enabling grace to share, to some degree, the wondrous mercy he's allowed me see. I always feel -- and every preacher feels this way, I think -- I always feel that I fall way short of really being able to describe the great depths of his love that I see opening up before me in the careful study of Scripture! My desire is that he would enable what he has made so stunningly beautiful to me, to appear just as beautiful to you, and that the encouragement he's giving me, will fill your heart as well when we meet together this Sunday!

Seeking Him for an outpouring of grace!

S. Scott Lee
Soli Deo Gloria
www.RockportBaptist .org

The Wages of Sin

2008-08-19T08:34:00.003-05:00

I think this quote from my friend Charles Leiter pretty much says it all. What a vital warning in a day when we find it so easy to minimize sin -- especially our own!

One of the most fearful things about sin is its power to harden the one who practices it. The deeper a man goes in sin, the less sin bothers him. . . . Every sinner finds himself now committing sins that he once despised, and the sins that he now despises, he will someday find himself committing. It should shock us to remember that Adolph Hitler was once a little boy playing with toys just like other little boys. Man knows the beginning of sin, but no man has ever known the end of sin.

~Charles Leiter

Amen.

A Little Time Off

2008-08-07T08:36:00.002-05:00

Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. Psalm 116:7

What a busy summer (and spring and winter) this has been! But it looks like I might have a little time to catch up on a few things this week and next. My good friend and fellow elder Bob Schembre is about to take a short sabbatical from his position of leadership at our church so he can finish up some college courses he never got to complete when he was young. He's asked to give his testimony this Sunday. Since that's relieved me of the need to prepare to speak this week, I've tried to use the time to catch up on a lot of other things that tend to pile up when things get as busy as they've been. Thank you Lord, for this opportunity!

Next week, a couple of our interns and I are going down to Muscle Shoals, AL to spend a little time with some of our good friends form HeartCry Missionary Society talking about how our church can expand it's commitment both to training young men through internship, and how we might better organize to be more personally involved in the task of world missions. That will be Monday and Tuesday.

I hope to use the rest of that week as a kind of spiritual retreat and to get some things ready to teach this fall. After that, my girls and I plan on visiting my parents and family down in Arkansas.

Not a bad way to spend a couple of weeks here at the end of the summer. How I think the Lord for every opportunity he's given, and for his ongoing grace that upholds and strengthens us for every task!

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Psalm 127:2

You Preachers Will Understand

2008-07-31T16:43:00.004-05:00

It's been one of those weeks only a preacher could understand. Sermon preparation has been a struggle to say the least. I’m not really sure why. Some weeks are just like that. There are times when the Word just seems to fall off the page and God gives me an understanding of His Word as I study, that enables me to see fairly clearly what needs to be said. But then there are other times, like this week, when nothing comes easy and my puny brain just seems incapable of getting itself around the truth like it should.

And yet, as strange as it seems, I praise God for weeks like this (and there are a lot more of them than I’d care to admit). Because it’s these times that always seem to throw me back on my knees before God, pleading for understanding and help. Times like these remind me that understanding God’s word is not so much the result of my skill as an interpreter, as it is His grace in letting me see something of His Truth. How I thank God for that. Jesus said in Matthew 11:25,

"I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.

I thank God as well that truth, like silver and gold, doesn’t usually lay on top of the ground where any half-hearted fool can stumble over it, but it must be sought with diligence (Prov 23:23) as we dig and sweat and seek the help of the One who is worth seeking! The One Who sought us first, and through an amazing grace has given us a desire to know Him in Jesus Christ.

My prayer is that God will give you a growling hunger for his truth that will continually send you to your knees before an open Bible seeking to know Him, and longing to be like Him. And that He will satisfy that hunger he creates in you, by giving you an intimate and growing fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ as you meet with Him regularly in His Word. For whether it comes to you easy, or it's one of those days when things are hard, it's always worth it to find that God still speaks through His Word.

New Blog "Rockportviews"

2008-07-30T15:15:00.002-05:00

The new blog, RockportViews, is up and running! Aaron, Bob and I have been considering doing this for some time. Our goal is to be able to answer questions put to us, as well as deal with some important issues concerning the living of the Christian life. We three have enjoyed such great conversations together as we've wrestled with various things over the years, that we thought we should try and broaden the circle of conversation. We're hoping this might be one way to bring others in and stimulate some helpful interaction. Pray with us as we attempt to make this a ministry that is spiritually profitable to many.

Grace and Peace

God at Bate's Creek

2008-07-28T20:51:00.003-05:00

Last week I was asked by our student minister, Aaron Sutton, to go down on Wednesday to Bate’s Creek Camp and spend the day teaching, participating in worship, and taking part in a question and answer session with the teenagers who were at camp there. I was glad to do so, but I must admit my expectations weren’t very high. I’ve been to camp before, you see, and kind of had an idea what to expect. You know, kids who tolerate the teaching time so they can get back to doing the things they’re really interested in doing.

What a welcome surprise to discover that this year things were quite different. Oh there were the usual displays of drama, and the cuts and bruises that accumulate whenever you have kids at camp. But from the moment I arrived it was clear God that had been moving upon the hearts and lives of many of the young people who were there in a way that is very encouraging.

One of the things that really impressed me was the response I saw from the teens in the class I taught. Aaron had asked me to speak on “What is the Gospel.” But when he told me that this would be an “elective” class held during “free time” just before supper, I thought, “Well great, that one kid that shows up and I can have a great time.” Much to my surprise fifty young people came on their own to study the Bible when they didn’t have to.

That’s amazing enough. But what really encouraged me were the answers I received to a series of questions I asked them about the Gospel. I expected to get the usual, shallow answers one usually finds in a room full of teens. To my great shock and surprise, this group of kids displayed a real depth of understanding and a deep hunger to get even more. Questions like, “What did Christ accomplish on the cross?” were met with answers like, “He gave Himself to be my substitute and took God’s wrath in my place!” Wow! I was blown away! I soon realized that this was a group of kids I could go deep with, and not only be understood, but also find that the truth was greatly appreciated. There’s no other way to say it, these kids were hungry to know God.

I especially appreciated the spirit and attitude of the youth from First Baptist DeSoto. It was clear that their youth pastor,Gene Smith , is doing a great job teaching and discipling them. Brother, it was great to meet you and your kids. I hope we’ll get to work together again in the future.

Another encouraging event was the late night question and answer session that I shared with Pastor Jeremy Muniz (also from FBC, DeSoto) and two of his staff guys (Gene and John). The young people asked more questions than we could ever have taken time to answer - but they were good questions. And even though we went way too long – they patiently listened the whole time. Quite amazing. I’ve rarely seen that many young people giving their full (or mostly full) attention to something like that when they were not being entertained, but were instead being given clear answers instruction from God’s Word.

Thank you Bro Jeremy for being a part of the whole thing with me. It was a joy to be able to field such good questions with a like-minded brother. God has given you much wisdom for your young age – I suspect that it comes through your complete dependence on the source of all wisdom – His inerrant word!

Another thing to mention, Bro John (also from DeSoto) did an incredible, Christ-exalting job of leading the kids in worship. I’ve been to many of these things where the music was more of a play time than anything else, and the cross of Christ barely an after-thought. So many today seem to think you’ve got to focus on the kids themselves and make them think the whole thing’s about them - or they won’t be interested. But that’s exactly what they don’t need. Most of their problems in life will come from thinking that it is all about them ( Isn’t that the very nature of sin?). What they need is a vision of the majesty of a Christ Who is big enough to cause them see that it’s not about them, it’s never been about them, and it can’t possibly be about them. They need to understand that there is a God Big and Glorious enough and Sovereign enough to demand their total allegiance, and able to satisfy their souls forever! You, with the help of the Holy Spirit, gave them that. I so much appreciate your leadership.

And finally, Bro Aaron, I will tell you again, how much I appreciate your hard work this past three weeks. I know you’re tired. But you wanted to make this about Christ, and you did so. I believe there will be a rich, future harvest of grace worked in many lives by God through your faithful obedience to Him this past month.

And to the rest of you who may happen to have read this far. I share this word of thanks with all of you as a word of encouragement. God has not abandoned this present generation. He’s still at work revealing Himself and His ways to hungry hearts. I pray you will come to Him hungry as well, and draw near to Him expecting to hear from him as you open His Word. And I pray God will open your eyes to the Majesty of His Son Jesus Christ, Who died and rose again to give life us who put our trust in Him.

Soli Deo Gloria
(To God Alone Be the Glory)

One Family

2008-07-21T19:45:00.003-05:00

It's one of my many "favorite things" about being a Christian. It's happened to me so many times now, you'd think by now I'd be used to it, but it always comes as a welcome surprise. I'm talking about the joy of meeting someone for the first time-- a new friend from another part of the world -- and discovering instantly how much you have in common because of the common bond you share in Christ.

My most recent experience of this joy began back in April on my last mission trip to Romania -- you know, the one I was supposed to blog but never did! -- I met Mateusz (Matthew) Wichary, his wife Beata and their friend "Chris", all from Poland. They'd heard about the work of HeartCry and were interested in attending a conference where we were teaching, so they drove down to Romania for the week (an amazing thing in itself!). From the beginning we fell into a warm and enjoyable fellowship as we traveled along all week in what for all of us was a "foreign" country. At the end of the week, "Mat" told me he would be coming to the states during the summer to work in his PhD at Southern Seminary. I told him to contact me when he did.

To make a long story short. He emailed me about four weeks ago when he got this side of the Atlantic, and we arranged for one of our former church members, Terry Delaney, a student at Southern, to bring him to Arnold, MO for the weekend so he could join us at Rockport (thanks Terry, for taking the time!).

That weekend has just finished, and what a time we've had, laughing at silly jokes, sharing ideas, and rejoicing together in the marvels of God's grace in Christ to sinners such as ourselves. And what fun to be able to introduce him to Saint Louis and the Arch - despite the 100 degree heat! -- and then to try and explain what all the celebrating was about when Miles popped a walk-off grandslam to beat the Padres at Busch Stadium while we were standing under the arch. Have you ever tried to explain baseball to a European who's never seen it played before?

Any way, I don't know if you'll read this, but Matt it was a joy for my family to have you here and to learn what God is doing among the small, but vital group of baptists who live and worship there, and to find out how very much we are alike, despite the miles and cultural differences that might separate us! And I'm grateful to God for giving me the chance over the years to meet dear brothers and sisters of our one family in Christ from so many different places around the world!

What a mercy!
SSL

"Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light”*

2008-07-01T14:20:00.003-05:00

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness,
and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son
Colossians 1:13

Why are children afraid of the dark? It’s too simplistic, I think, to say that it’s only because they cannot see what’s there. For the same children who ran screaming from a dark room the night before, will almost certainly turn around the next morning and walk into that same room blindfolded and think nothing of it. No, it’s not just that they can’t see. There is something in a dark room, a quality in a darkened house, that feels threatening. Something in there forebodes of evil unknown and lurking, ready to pounce. No doubt, that’s why nearly every horror movie I ever saw as a boy ended up at some point in a darkened room with strange noises echoing from a corner. We all fear something in the dark.

Darkness is that place where evil hides and evil deeds can be indulged unobserved. Nobody sees you in the dark. No one is there to hold you back. You do exactly what you want. Perhaps that is why the Bible uses “darkness” as a metaphor both for the evil that holds men in their sin, and for the evil that motivates people to indulge in sin.

Let’s think about each of these pictures. First, the Bible describes “darkness” as a sinister power or evil empire that holds people in it’s grip – something from which they need to be rescued. In Colossians 4:13, for example, the apostle Paul describes what God has done in Christ for those whom He has saved (rescued) from the power of sin. He says,

“For [God] rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

Here “darkness” is a “domain”. It is a “realm” that is “ruled” by a power. Much as a king would rule his kingdom, so darkness is pictured as ruling over a domain where people live, bound in sin. They are it’s subjects. It’s slaves, as John 8:34 makes clear. Darkness is something from which people need to be rescued.

The Apostle Paul certainly understood this. In Acts 26:18, as he relates how he was commissioned by Christ to go preach the Gospel, he says he was sent “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God.” Notice the parallels here. By preaching the Gospel, Paul will see people turn from darkness to light, which means from the dominion (or realm or kingdom) where Satan rules to the realm or kingdom where God rules. Darkness, then, is that place where sin reigns and Satan holds men and women bound in chains they forged for themselves by lust and rebellion against God.. It is a kingdom from which they cannot break themselves free. They need a Rescuer, someone who can enter the darkness with them and set them free.

But there is a second, deeper darkness that must also be considered, lest we think of men and women merely as victims of evil forces outside of themselves. The Bible is very clearly that the darkness that holds people in their sin, is an internal darkness as well – a darkness of the heart that sins because it wants to. John 3:19-20 says that even after Christ came into the world in the incarnation – when God became man, and light broke in to the darkness – mankind in the evil of his sin continued to refuse Him.

"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

It’s not just that men and women are held in sin against their wills. They are willing participants in the sin and rebellion that holds them. That’s what we must understand. All of us at one time looked at the light of God in the face of Christ wherein are found all beauty, purity and perfection, and then we looked back into the face of our sin, and it was a face that seemed so familiar, like seeing your own image in the mirror. We looked and we said, “I’d rather have my sin than surrender to this Christ!” And we turned our backs and walked deeper into the darkness away from Him. We loved darkness rather than light!

That’s why the Bible pictures the coming of Christ into the world as an invasion of Sovereign Grace – of God breaking through our darkness with the overwhelming power of His Light to drive that darkness from our hearts that we might be changed by His grace from God-haters, into those who walk in the light of His love through faith in Christ. Thus Isaiah said, as he looked forward to the coming of Christ in Isaiah 9:12,

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.”

And the Apostle John adds,

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5 ESV).

This powerful light that shines through Christ, shines not only into the darkness of this world but, as the Gospel of Jesus is preached, it also shines into the very hearts of men and women chosen by grace, so that their darkness is overturned and they themselves become children of light who turn from sin to embrace Christ by faith alone.

Consider the following verses that depict this transformation. 2 Corinthians 4:6

"For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Notice that it is not we who have clawed our way out of the darkness in order to find Him. It is He who has commanded the light to invade our hearts and to give us the gift of seeing Christ and coming to the knowledge God through Him. Or, Ephesians 5:8-10

"[F]or you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord."

This invasion of light is transforming us in Christ. It not only brings us into His light to dwell, it also becomes a part of us, transforming our character and making us more like Him.
In other words, not only have we been transferred from the realm where Satan reigns, to the realm where God’s grace rules, so that positionally we have a new Master and therefore a new destiny (heaven, not hell). We also have been transformed personally (and are being transformed daily through the work of sanctification) so that more and more His light can be seen shining through us. 2 Corinthians 3:18

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory (the bright shining) of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

We are being made more and more like Christ, the Lord of Light, who has called us out of darkness to walk with Him in a new and God-glorifying light.

Of course such a calling, brings with it a responsibility. We must realize what He has done in bringing us out of darkness and into the light of a new life in Him. We must acknowledge that this is now the truth about us. We are no longer children of darkness. We can no longer live as we once did in the darkness of our sin, following the lusts of our former life. We must live now as men and women whose lives have been transformed, and who now belong to a new realm of righteousness and grace in the light of Christ. Thus Romans 13:11-14 commands,

“The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”

Or again, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 urges us

“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day [of judgment] would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. ”

In other words, let us not sleep in the darkness as those who belong there. But let us strive with all His new life in us, to live in a way that is pleasing to God. Or as Jesus says in Matthew 5:16,

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

This is what He called us to, when He called us out of darkness and into light! It is a call first of all to salvation, to turn from sin and embrace Christ by faith alone. And then it is a call to ongoing sanctification, to continue with Him in the light of this new life with its ever expanding joy of holiness as we , the people of God, keep on walking with Him. And so Peter urges us to remember in 1 Peter 2:9-12,

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Let us no longer fear the dark, as children we once did. But let us overcome it by faith in Christ, Who is the Light of New Life alive and at work in us, to the praise of the glory of His grace.

*This post was originally written for "The Saint Louis Amigan" anniversary issue published by Bill Maddock at billsey-christian.net

God's Strange Choices

2008-06-19T13:35:00.004-05:00

How odd for God to choose the Jews? How odd for God to choose . . . you?

God, it seems, makes some strange choices. If you don’t believe that, just take a quick glance in a mirror or look around the room next Sunday when you go to church! One look should prove my point! Or, if you still need convincing, consider the choices he made when he called his Twelve Disciples. That He’s the one who did the deciding is beyond question. Mark 3:13-14 says that “he summoned those whom He Himself wanted” and then “appointed the Twelve to be with Him that He might send them out to preach.” The emphasis here is on the fact that He Himself did this. He chose those he wanted to be with Him. So let’s think about some of His choices.

First there’s Simon Peter. Peter is his nickname. It means “rock.” Some think Jesus gave it to him because he was so steadfast in his faith. The truth is, he was anything but. He could be impulsive, unstable, unsure of himself, and when push came to shove, he even denied Jesus. No, by naming Peter “the Rock” Jesus was not telling us about Peter, He was telling us about Himself and what He is able to do with such an unstable man.

And then there’s James and John. “Son’s of Thunder” Jesus called them. Impetuous, hard to get along with. Ready to call down fire on those who opposed them. And yet before Jesus is through, one will lay down his life for Christ (James), while the other becomes known as “the apostle of love” (John). There is power in His gentle grace!

And then consider Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector. If ever two men should not have been brought together, it was these two. Zealots believed all tax collectors were traitors and therefore worthy of death; and tax collectors feared the Zealots who wanted to kill them. And yet here, in the power of Christ, these two men found a reason to love one another as brothers.

How odd for God to choose such a crew. But Christian, aren’t you glad He’s chosen you? May we live to the praise of His glorious grace!

2008-05-21T16:23:00.002-05:00

A woman in our church came to mind today as I was meditating on Philippians 1:21-26

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

It reminded me of something my wife said to me just the other day . She pointed out how so many widows and others who retire or end up with time on their hands seem to use it to turn in on themselves. They take up little hobbies, or just waste their time doing nothing. But this woman has not done that. Instead she has become a beautiful example of the biblical exhortation to use this precious time God has given to serve others for their spiritual good and to find joy in seeking to be used by God for His Kingdom.

Her husband, Bill, died a few years ago. He was a marvelous, warm-hearted believer in Christ who I know she misses every day. I'm certain it would have been easy for her to just turn inward and give her energy to doing whatever would help her forget her loneliness. I can imagine there are times she would rather just "depart and be with Christ". But instead, she has humbled herself as a precious, gifted servant of Christ, giving her time and energy to minister to hurting children in our local Baptist association's divorce care ministry; helping people in need through the Missouri Baptist Convention's Disaster Relief Team, promoting missions and prayer as our WMU director, serving the members of this church in so many ways; ministering to the needs of her own aging parents; and even showing up to watch our church's softball team and serve them by keeping score.

And while I am not trying to puff her up, I can't help but admire her gentle, Christ-like, Spirit. God sees her bearing this choice fruit of love! He insures that none of her efforts will ever be wasted! And I am convinced there is laid up for her, and thousands of other dear saints just like her, a "crown of life" which our Lord will give to her when he looks at her and says "Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into your rest"

God is faithful! And in women like Janet, I see a picture of His faithfulness.

With loving admiration for faithful saints everywhere!

Pastor Scott Lee

Saying Amen, to the preaching of the Truth.

2008-05-13T15:01:00.003-05:00

In one of our recent elders' meetings, my good friend Bob Schembre raised the issue of the importance of affirming the truth that is being preached verbally by the saying of "Amen" -- especially by those in leadership It provoked an interesting and helpful conversation. As a follow up to that discussion, Bob sent us the following message by Dr. John Piper on the subject. I thought it was excellent. So here, for your consideration, is part of that message based on 1 Cor 14:6-19 (The full message called "Amen" can be found at DesiringGod.org by clicking here)

-------------------------------

Saying Amen, to the preaching of the Truth.

1 Corinthians 14:6-19

In most languages of the world where Christianity has taken root the word "Amen" has been taken over untranslated. Listen to a person pray in Chinese or Japanese or Swahili or Maninka or German or French or Russian or Arabic, and very likely there is at least one word you will understand: "Amen" - pronounced differently perhaps, but discernible. One of the reasons for this is that the Greek New Testament took it over from the Hebrew Old Testament untranslated (even though the Greek Old Testament [the Septuagint, LXX] rarely did, using "let it be" [γενοιτο] instead of "amen" [Αμην]).

So what we have, all over the world today, is a word, "Amen" that is a direct transliteration - not translation - of the Hebrew "Amen". Now we see from our text that the word was taken to Corinth, a Greek city speaking the Greek language which did not have a word "amen." And, within a matter of weeks or months, Paul and the other missionaries had already begun to transform the Corinthian culture by grafting a brand new word onto their great Greek language. It wasn't the only one. Paul also taught them the Aramaic words "marana tha" (1 Corinthians 16:22, Marana qa) - "Lord, come." And, of course, he taught them a vision of reality that exploded many of their preconceptions.

Bringing the word "Amen" to Greece is a little microcosm of what happens spiritually and intellectually and culturally wherever Christianity comes to a new culture. It brings a vision of God and the world that keeps some things in the culture, rejects other things in the culture, and touches everything in the culture. There are no pure cultures, especially ours. Every culture needs more words and more concepts and more ways of viewing the world and deeper combinations of emotions and different patterns of behaving than is native to itself. So one of the things that this little word "amen" means as it intrudes itself all over the world into every culture is that no culture, no language, no worship is complete in itself. There is always more to see and know and feel than is possible with our limited vocabulary and thought patterns and customary feelings.

But let's be more specific. What did the word "amen" come to Corinth to do? What did this Hebrew word mean as it grafted itself onto the Greek vocabulary of Corinthian Christians?

"Amen" in the Old Testament

Well, let's make sure we get a glimpse of its Old Testament background before we answer that. In the Old Testament the word "amen" was mainly a congregational response to give a strong affirmation or agreement - to a curse or a word of praise to God. For example, in Deuteronomy 27:16 the Levites say, "'Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'" That is, we agree with that curse, so let it be.

Or consider this beautiful scene of reverence and worship from Nehemiah 8:5-6:

Ezra opened the book [the Word of God] in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

The "amen" meant, "Yes, we agree with your blessing! We join in your blessing! All that you have said of God's greatness we let it echo in our Amen. We say, "True, and firm and reliable is what you have said."

Or take Psalm 72:19, "Blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen." Here the psalmist speaks his own "Amen," and doubles it for doubled certainty. But he almost certainly means for the people to join him in saying the Amen. As in Psalm 106:48, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, 'Amen.' Praise the LORD!" Amen is the congregational way of affirming the leader's blessing. When great things are being spoken to God or about God in a public assembly, the fitting thing to do is to express agreement and affirmation. That seems to be the implication of these texts.

"Amen" in the New Testament

Now here comes Paul into Greek-speaking Corinth, and he teaches them about this word "Amen," - just as if he were to come to us today with a new Hebrew word we didn't know. What did he teach them? Well, we can see behind 1 Corinthians 14. Paul is concerned that the gift of tongues is being abused in public so that people are speaking what nobody can understand. He is not rejecting the gift of tongues. But he is putting something way above it in the Christian assembly. He is saying that edification comes not by amazement at miracles, but edification comes by the understanding of God. That's why verse 19 says that five intelligible words that help you understand God are better than a thousand unintelligible words that make you tremble with amazement.

Paul is extremely zealous that public speaking (whether prayer or preaching) be an event of group understanding and group agreement - not one person doing his own thing and others boggled. Not even one person doing his own thing and others understanding and silent. What then? His answer is just beneath the surface in verses 15-16:

What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

Paul assumes something here. He assumes that when a public prayer is made, other people besides the one praying say, "Amen." Let's not miss this. It seems to matter to Paul. He could have just said: don't pray in tongues because nobody can understand you and so nobody is built up in their faith, because faith comes by an understood word of Christ. Or he could have said always have an interpretation. But he said more. He said (verse 16): If you pray so people can't understand you, how will they say "Amen"?

"Amen" Affirms Others in the Body

What if someone says to Paul, "I don't care if people say "Amen" to my prayers"? Or what if someone says, "That's not my tradition or my personality to say anything out loud in a group"? What would Paul say? I think he would say, This is not about personal taste. It's not about traditions of high church or low church. It's not about culture, say, African-American culture versus Swedish-American culture. It's about God's will for corporate worship, rooted in age-old Biblical patterns of prayer and preaching, and captured in a word that crosses all cultures.

I think he would say, God is calling us not to be isolated, silent, encapsulated individuals in worship. Privately coming, privately hearing, privately going, with no one able to tell what we love and cherish and long for, because we haven't expressed resonance - an echo, an empathy - with anything. I think he would say that God is calling us out of our cocoons of emotional isolation and invisible, inaudible, unshared responsiveness. I think he would say, it's God's will that we echo the excellence of God in preaching and prayer - that we express our affirmation of the truth of God in the Word, and that we resonate verbally with Godward longings and yearnings in prayer.

Let me mention two more reasons for making more of this than we do, and then close with some practical suggestions. Consider 2 Corinthians 1:20. This is the passage that gives "Amen" its clearest and deepest meaning. "For as many as are the promises of God, in Him [that is, in Christ] they are yes [which is a translation of "amen"]; therefore, also through Him is our 'Amen' to the glory of God through us."

Now what Paul is doing here is precisely what I am trying to do this morning. He is taking the familiar word "Amen," and trying to fill it back up with the theological freight that words so quickly lose, so that it has meaning and weight and power to it when we use it.

Christ Is God's "Amen!"

He says first that Christ is God's "Yes" to all the promises of the Bible: "As many are the promises of God, in him they are Yes." Christ is God's Amen to all that he has spoken. Christ affirms them and even secures them by his blood. The fact that you don't deserve God's promise to pursue you with goodness and mercy all your days, is now no obstacle. Christ has taken your ill-desert on him, and put his righteousness on you. He is God's yes to all the promises in your life. For his sake you will get them if you trust him.

Then he says, in verse 20b, ". . . therefore, also through Him is our 'Amen' to the glory of God." In other words, the reason we say "Amen" through Christ when we hear the promises of God preached or hear a prayer of longing for the promises of God to be fulfilled, is that Christ has said "Amen" to us. He is God's "Amen" to us. God says "Amen" to us through Christ in the cross, and we respond with "Amen" to God through Christ in preaching and prayer. So that's one more reason we should make more of this echo of agreement than we do in corporate worship and prayer.

"Amen" Is Part of the Exaltation of God

The other reason is found in Revelation. John interrupts his own preaching with "Amen." And when we see the final worship in heaven, one of the main forms it takes is the form of "Amen."

Look at Revelation 1:7, "Behold, He [Christ] is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be [literally: Yes]. Amen." Here is John's intrusion on his own preaching when something is said that is so wonderful that he can scarcely contain himself. Christ is coming. Everyone will see him - everyone. Even those who pierced him. And there will be global weeping among those who have not repented. And John breaks into his own sermon and says, in Greek, Nai!, and in Hebrew, Amen! - Yes, Amen, let it be, come, Lord Jesus.

The book ends with the same connection. In Revelation 22:20 John says, "He who testifies to these things [namely, Christ] says, "Yes [= Amen], I am coming quickly," to which John cries, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." John responds to Jesus' "Yes" with his own "yes": Amen! Come!

Finally, look at Revelation 5:14 to see how central "Amen" is to the eternal acts of worship in heaven. Starting in verse 13b John describes the heavenly worship. All creation says, "'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.' And the four living creatures kept saying, 'Amen.' And the elders fell down and worshiped." In other words, when worshipful beings - like we should be all the time - hear God exalted, they want to enter into the exaltation, and they do it with "Amen."

Well, what shall we say? What shall we do?

"Amen" When We Pray Together

The main thing I would say is: Let's be natural and healthy. Here's what I mean. When you are talking to someone, or even in the presence of someone, about things that are extremely precious to you, or painful to you, or frightening to you, and they give you no feedback that signals a sharing of your values or your hurt or your fear, there is no possibility of a natural and healthy relationship. Now that is the way many prayer meetings happen, and it's the way much preaching happens. And it is unnatural and unhealthy. And I fear we have come to accept it as normal. But dysfunctional worship dishonors God in ways that healthy worship doesn't.

A person pours out his heart to God in a circle of prayer and there is complete silence. What does that mean? Well, you could probably tell me fifteen things that it may mean. But let me simply plead for another way, a more Biblical way. As others pray, you whisper, "Amen." Whisper, "Yes, yes." Whisper, "Umhm." Whisper, "Do it, Lord." I say whisper, partly because I want to make it easy for you, and partly because you're not supposed to take over or draw attention to yourself. The murmur of quiet "Amens" and "Yes" and "Umhm" is like background music that supports the one who's praying and joins him in the prayer. And at the end of a prayer a deeply felt "Amen" in unison is a powerful moment before the throne of grace.

The deep question is really: When you listen to someone pray, are you longing for what they are praying? Are you aching for God to work? Are you glorying in the God they praise? If so, make that moment a corporate moment the way Paul calls us to do it, not just an isolated, private, individualistic experience.

"Amen" When We Hear the Word Preached

And so with preaching. For me, preaching is expository exultation. It is a kind of prayer, a kind of exultation before God. I'm going to talk about this next week - why is preaching central in our corporate worship services? But today I will simply say, preaching is worship. It is the heralding of good news about God in Christ by a person who is called, sent and anointed by God to make Biblical truth plain, beautiful and powerful. Now when that happens in worship, it is a marvelous thing. And if it happens regularly without an echo or a reverberation in the mouths of God's people it is unnatural and unhealthy. It's as if a wife should come home thrilled at the sunset she saw, and as she describes it, her husband and children just look at her and don't say anything. That makes a natural and healthy relationship impossible. It also minimizes the beauty of the sunset.

God knows this about worship and preaching. That is why for 4,000 years he has made it simple for us: he has prepared a word. "Amen." There is no talk here about shouting or dominating or distracting. This is simply the call to make preaching and praying a corporate exultation in the supremacy of God. It is a call for authentic heartfelt expressions of "Yes" and "Amen."

Mother's Day

2008-05-08T15:23:00.002-05:00

"An excellent wife, who can find?

For her worth is far above jewels."
Prov 31:10

It’s easy for me, sometimes, to overreact. I know that. In my zeal not to repeat the mistakes of others, I can end up making new ones on my own. I've wondered at times if I’m in danger of doing that when it comes to "Hallmark Holiday's" like Mother’s Day.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love my mom– far more than I could ever say! And I think its good to set aside a day once a year to honor our moms and let them know that we think there’s no one like them in the whole world.

My problem comes in the tendency I see in churches to take a day like Mother’s Day and make it the focus of our worship. It just seems to be a misappropriation of God’s honor to shift the focus of any worship service off of Him and put in onto anyone or anything else.

And then there’s a practical concern, as well. When it gets down to it, I’m convinced that what you and I need is not another warm and fuzzy, feel-good experience or another ‘sentimental journey’ sponsored by Hallmark. What we need is for the life-strengthening, soul-anchoring power of God’s Word to be opened up and applied to our lives.

So let’s take a moment this Sunday to say ‘Thank you’ to our Mom’s for what they have meant to us. Let’s acknowledge that we can’t think of any job that could be more important than that of a godly parent. Let’s shout from the rooftops, “Mom, we love you! We’re grateful to God for you. We know our lives would be infinitely poorer without you and your Christ-like example of love.” But then for Mom’s sake, let’s shift our attention off of her and on to Him who created motherhood in the first place. And let’s offer our prayers and praise to our Father in Heaven Who alone can give Mom the help she needs!

Yours for His Sake...and grateful for moms everywhere....,
Pastor Scott

"He’s not a Tame Lion”

2008-05-01T15:06:00.002-05:00

One of the themes you’ll find again and again in the Gospels is how surprising – even shocking – Jesus can be. Take, for example, his demand for absolute discipleship in Luke 14:26. He says,

"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”

Jesus was uncompromising in His demand that there be no rivals to him in our lives – not even the members of our own family! Our love and commitment to Him must surpass all other loves and eclipse all other commitments.

Sadly, much of that emphasis has been lost in today’s preaching. Instead, we’ve tried to present Jesus as someone people should like, someone who is “relevant” and fun and always good to have at parties. But mostly this “new Jesus” ends up looking about as interesting as the store manager down at Office Depot. He’s friendly, tame, middle class and safe!

No, you can’t re-imagine Jesus! You can’t turn him into the ‘nice guy’ down the street. You have to take him for Who He really is – as He’s revealed Himself in Scripture. And there you find that he’s rarely “safe”. As Mr Beaver says to Lucy in C S Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia (the book, not the movie!) ”He’s not a tame lion!” Nor is He “safe.”

In that same passage from the book, Lucy asks Mr Beaver if Aslan, the Lion representing Christ, is “safe”. To which he responds, "Safe? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

So it is with the real Christ. He’s not safe, but He’s good! He’s the King! I pray God will give us new eyes to see Jesus for Who He really is – not a “tame lion” – but the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who is mighty to save!

Philippians 1:3-11

2008-04-30T13:30:00.002-05:00

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Our small group will be studying this passage tonight. But as I was preparing, I was so struck but the warmth of what Paul has to say, that I thought I’d take a moment to ‘blog’ some of the wonderful things I’m seeing here.

The first thing that really strikes me is the depth of Paul’s affection for this church. He says to them,
v 3 - “I thank God for you!”
v 4 - “I’m praying w/ joy over you”
v 7 - “It is only right for me to feel this way about you...since I have you in my heart”
v 8 - “I long for you with the affection of X”
v 9 - “As I pray for you, I think about your love...”

I wonder how many congregations can say those kinds of things about each other? One of the great joys in my life here at Rockport is to see how this kind of deep feeling is alive among us! Certainly we haven’t gotten it down to perfection, and there’s always room to grow. But I really do see this kind of love alive in our fellowship – to which we can say, “Thank you, Lord!”

At the end of last week’s prayer time, I asked our group to spend some time this week looking at this passage and asking two two questions:
1) What ought to bind us together in the body of Christ, and particularly in this church?
2) What does Paul pray will be true about us as people who are ‘in Christ’?

I see several things here that bind believers to one another. First, as we’ve just seen, there should be a deep, Christ-like affection toward one another. Jesus said in John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love for fellow believers is one of the first and most important marks of a genuine Christian (see 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7-8; 11-12, etc). Every believer should seek to increase the affection he feels for other believers, and to demonstrate that affection through his/her actions.

The second thing I see that binds us together is a joint participation in the Gospel. Paul says in v 5, that he prays with joy in view of their ‘participation in the Gospel’. Every genuine believer loves the Gospel they have believed, and is committed to sharing that Gospel with other people! That makes us “co-laborer’s and “co-combatants” joined together in this same holy pursuit – that His Name would be great among the nations (Psalm 67). For that reason we purpose together to spend and pray and go and tell and serve and share with one accord this message of God’s grace in Jesus.

A third thing that bind is us a solemn confidence in the power of this Gospel! I love verse six, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” The Gospel is God’s work. It is by His power and grace that any of us believe (Rm 1:16). It is through this same Gospel and the grace and power it brings into our lives that any of us continue to believe and thus remain faithful to the end. This confidence then continues to do two things for me. First, it makes me less likely to panic when things don’t go well. I know that God is in control, even when I (or others) blow it. I can rest in His grace. But second it gives me patience with others. This Gospel is not done with us yet. I’m not looking to find perfection in your life, just a genuine change of direction from the old self-satisfied, self-centered life you used to live, to the new Christ-exalting, Christ-centered, life you’re living now. So when you blow it, or disappoint me (or I do you), it’s not the end of the world. I know God’s not finished with either of us yet.

Fourth, we are held together in a Shared grace. Paul says in v 7, “For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.” What is implied here, I think, is that this group of Christians in Philippi were demonstrating the grace of God in their lives by the way they cared for Paul in his time of need! They stood with him! They supported him! They loved and encouraged him! We must do the same for one another! And we will, if we are truly in Christ.

And then fifth, I see us held together by a common experience of new righteousness in Christ. In v 11 Paul says that they have been “filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ” Such Christ-like fruit is something that spills out into believer’s life in a way that can be seen (Galatians calls it the ‘fruit of the Spirit’). Such ‘righteousness or Christ-like attitudes and behavior then spill out from our lives into our relationships with others! And that’s when “church” really begins to happen. You see, whenever these Christ-like attitudes and commitments begin to spring up in a body of people, they become begin to experience the joys of a genuine Christian fellowship. That brings an irresistible and attractive force that soon draws other people in to enjoy the good thing God is doing. I love it when I see that happening among us! And I’m humbled by it, because I know no human plan or program could bring it about! It’s a God-thing!

But then, there is a second question I used to challenge our group as well. I’ll only touch on it briefly here since I’ve already gone so long. But it too is a very important question and could lead to a great deal of very fruitful discussion. Here it is: What does Paul pray will be true of us who are in Christ together? Let me just point out four quick things.

1) That we will experience a growing love! He prays in v 9. “ . . . that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,”. Notice that this love is not only meant to grow outward and embrace more and more people, but it is also full of ‘knowledge and discernment!’ In other words, it’s not a love that is based on empty platitudes and warm fuzzy feelings! It’s a love that is rooted in something real! Something God has done! You see, God through Jesus Christ has created a new reality in us that binds us together in love and then pushes us out in that same love to give our lives together for Christ in the world. This love, rooted in truth, makes us wise as we demonstrate the reality of new life in Christ in everything we do, say and undertake together in Him.

2) This work of Christ gives us wisdom to press toward what really matters! The first part of verse ten says we exercise this knowledge and discernment “ so that you may approve the things that are excellent.” There is a great deal in this world that is not necessarily good, or bad. It’s just mediocre. A great deal of entertainment falls in this category. TV won’t make you a mass murder, but it will certainly cause you to kill a lot of time that should have been spent doing something that matters! Wisdom teaches us in the body of Christ how not to settle with merely avoiding what is bad, but instead to strive for what is “excellent” and what really matters in life by pouring ourselves into the great priorities of life which include family, friends, the Gospel and seeking to glorify God in all things.

3) We are meant to be blamelessness in our behavior. Verse ten continues, , “...in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.” Behavior matters – not so that we can be saved (Eph 2:8-9) but as the evidence that we are saved (Eph 2:10, notice the connections here!). It is after all our “good works” that people will observe in order to “glorify God” because of us (Mt 5:16). How many unbelievers have been turned away from ever hearing the Gospel because of what they’ve seen in professing Christians. What if they were constantly seeing us live such good lives – lives in which there was nothing blame-worthy – that they had no choice but to confess that there truly is something different about us! Might not more people be brought to Christ by our blameless actions of love toward them, than by our boycotts and blame casting shouts against them?

That brings me to the fourth thing,

4) We must live fruitful lives of righteousness that bring glory to God. As Paul says in v 11, “... having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

My prayer is that God will make this true at Rockport and every church where his word is faithfully preached and his people seeking to live for the glory of His Name.

Wow!

2008-04-13T22:27:00.002-05:00

Grace Bible Conference concluded at Rockport today! Wow! What an amazing time of fellowship and instruction centered around the experience of mercy from God. Every speaker and every message seemed to build on the one before it in a display of the riches of his grace. God was evidently among us to encourage and confront and build up His people.

I've been to a lot of conferences over the years. Usually there are one or two outstanding messages, and then a few that, while helpful or informative could only be described as ...well...OK. But here there seemed to be such evident grace from God that every message ministered something vital and helpful to my soul.

Another amazing thing is how great a diversity there was between the preachers both in their style and personalities, and yet such a great unity in the truth they proclaimed. Paul Washer is passion aflame as he burns for the glory of Christ. Mike Morrow exudes a confidence in truth with a 'country preacher' kind of charm. Charles Leiter teaches with a clear and logical faithfulness to Scripture that never fails to help me see something even more wonderful in the truth of Christ. And Mike Williams speaks so plainly and powerfully with a unique ability to disarm me, even as he presents deep and powerful truth in a way that is simple without being at all simplistic. Each man (and there were others as well) was used by God to show me something else of His glory that I needed to see. Now my prayer is that all who heard will believe and apply what they have seen into their daily life with Christ -- especially the numerous young people who were in attendance.

Finally (for now), just a quick word about Rockport Baptist! Wow (again). I am amazed at all your hard work -- the way you all chipped in and gave of yourself to make this conference come together so wonderfully. So many have done so much that it would be impossible to name you all. And a couple of you deserve loud commendation for what you've done...but since you would not want to be acknowledged publicly (thus keeping your reward in heaven) let me just say, "Thank you!" knowing that you know who you are!

To God alone be all the glory!
SSL

PS - I hope to blog a bit more about content once I've had time to process and perhaps listen again to the messages. We also plan on posting the messages on our website or on Sermon Audio as soon as we can. Now it's off to Louisville for the Together for the Gospel conference

It was a nice thought

2008-04-09T11:44:00.002-05:00

Obviously I never got the chance to blog while in Romania. I'll try to catch up when I can. God has been so merciful as we met new friends and ministered in several cities.

I'm not sure when I'll be able to give a report. We've got a really busy schedule for the next two weeks. Grace Camp Meeting here at our church this week, with Mike Morrow, Charles Leiter, Paul Washer and Mike Williams. Then next week I'll be headed to Louisville, KY for the "Together for the Gospel" conference.

Lord willing, after all that I'll come back and get things caught up.

God is good!

Back to Romania

2008-03-25T13:33:00.000-05:00

It's a busy week as I prepare to head back to Romania with HeartCry. We'll be there from March 28th to April 8th. Our main purpose, in addition to preaching in various HeartCry sponsored churches and a youth rally, is to teach at a Family Conference for the HeartCry Missionaries. Please pray for me as well as for Don and Cindy Currin and Walid Bitar who will also be teaching at the conference. If possible, I will try and blog a few entries while we are in Romania.

Does the Trinity Matter?

2008-02-20T13:21:00.002-06:00

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:8

Recently, I’ve been in contact with one of my former students, let’s call him ‘Gary.’ Gary is a fine young man, very bright and very dedicated to being trained for the ministry. Nevertheless I am deeply concerned for him, because Gary rejects the doctrine of the Trinity.

Now, there are some today who would wonder why that should matter, After all, they say, as long as he puts his faith in Jesus and tells others to do the same, who cares whether or not he agrees with me over the details of a 'doctrine' as esoteric as the Trinity. Can’t we just agree to disagree and go on from there? But while that’s fine when it comes to a non-essential issue like “should we use drums during worship?"; being sure about who Jesus is, is not a theological “side issue.” It is central to being “Christian!” In fact, many today have a “false faith” in a “fictional Christ” who cannot save! For no matter how much you believe in a man-made ‘christ’, if the one you’re trusting in does not exist -- in other words, if He is not the biblical Christ -- He can’t do you any good!

That’s why we must always go back to the Bible in order to learn Who Christ really is! It is there, in God’s inerrant Word, that we find God’s own explanation about Who He is and what He’s done. It is there in His word that we read of a God who is One God (Dt 6:4) and yet exists eternally as Three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; John 14:16; 1 Pet 1:2, etc). It is through God’s Word that we understand that the Father planned our salvation from eternity, the Son purchased it by His life, death and resurrection, and the Spirit applies it when He opens our hearts to repent and believe the Gospel News!

My prayer is that you will think hard and strive to grasp the truth about Who Jesus is, making sure to measure your faith against the unchanging truth of God’s Word and not just the fragile opinions of man. And while you're at it, pray for ‘Gary’ that God would open His eyes and enable Him to embrace the truth as well!

Seeking Him!
Scott Lee

PS - A good place to being in your study of the Trinity is with James White here or here
He also has a good book on the subject called, "The Forgotten Trinity"
In addition, I would recommend Wayne Grudem, either in his Systematic Theology, or in a series of mp3 sermons
Finally, for a classic and interesting look at the Trinity, there is always Jonathan Edwards' little "Unpublished Essay on the Trinity"

Help from Piper for those who want to keep their eyes!

2008-02-12T14:24:00.000-06:00

"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Matthew 5:27-29

Hardly a week goes by that I don't find myself counseling a young man (or a not-so-young man) who is struggling with the issue of lust. We live in such a pornographic society -- a society in which people have frankly lost every vestige of common sense when it comes to living by what used to be normal standards of modesty and decency -- that most men must battle for their very lives to keep their minds free from sinful and erotic thoughts. We are, of course, sexual and erotic creatures. And God created sex to be enjoyed in the context of marriage. But our foolish society has ripped it out of its God-given setting and spilled it onto the streets and airwaves until it has become something harmful and destructive, rather than the the binding force for strong and stable homes it was meant to be. Biblically defined, then, any desire for sex outside of the marriage covenant of one man and one woman who are committed to one another in the bond of lifelong marriage is sin.

Given that, and the blatant perversion of our culture, "How can a young man keep his way pure?" Several years ago, John Piper wrote a wonderful article called ANTHEM: Strategies for fighting lust. I've found it such a help in my own life, that I wanted to reproduce it for you here. (You can also find the original on Desiring God's Website by clicking here)

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A N T H E M
Strategies for Fighting Lust
By John Piper November 5, 2001

I have in mind men and women. For men it's obvious. The need for warfare against the bombardment of visual temptation to fixate on sexual images is urgent. For women it is less obvious, but just as great if we broaden the scope of temptation to food or figure or relational fantasies. When I say "lust" I mean the realm of thought, imagination, and desire that leads to sexual misconduct. So here is one set of strategies in the war against wrong desires. I put it in the form of an acronym, A N T H E M.

A – AVOID as much as is possible and reasonable the sights and situations that arouse unfitting desire. I say "possible and reasonable" because some exposure to temptation is inevitable. And I say "unfitting desire" because not all desires for sex, food, and family are bad. We know when they are unfitting and unhelpful and on their way to becoming enslaving. We know our weaknesses and what triggers them. "Avoiding" is a Biblical strategy. "Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness" (2 Timothy 2:22). "Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:14).

N – Say NO to every lustful thought within five seconds. And say it with the authority of Jesus Christ. "In the name of Jesus, NO!" You don't have much more than five seconds. Give it more unopposed time than that, and it will lodge itself with such force as to be almost immovable. Say it out loud if you dare. Be tough and warlike. As John Owen said, "Be killing sin or it will be killing you." Strike fast and strike hard. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" ( James 4:7).

T – TURN the mind forcefully toward Christ as a superior satisfaction. Saying "no" will not suffice. You must move from defense to offense. Fight fire with fire. Attack the promises of sin with the promises of Christ. The Bible calls lusts "deceitful desires" (Ephesians 4:22). They lie. They promise more than they can deliver. The Bible calls them "passions of your former ignorance" (1 Peter 1:14). Only fools yield. "All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter" (Proverbs 7:22). Deceit is defeated by truth. Ignorance is defeated by knowledge. It must be glorious truth and beautiful knowledge. This is why I wrote Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ. We must stock our minds with the superior promises and pleasures of Jesus. Then we must turn to them immediately after saying, "NO!"

H – HOLD the promise and the pleasure of Christ firmly in your mind until it pushes the other images out. "Fix your eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 3:1). Here is where many fail. They give in too soon. They say, "I tried to push it out, and it didn't work." I ask, "How long did you try?" How hard did you exert your mind? The mind is a muscle. You can flex it with vehemence. Take the kingdom violently (Matthew 11:12). Be brutal. Hold the promise of Christ before your eyes. Hold it. Hold it! Don't let it go! Keep holding it! How long? As long as it takes. Fight! For Christ's sake, fight till you win! If an electric garage door were about to crush your child you would hold it up with all our might and holler for help, and hold it and hold it and hold it and hold it.

E – ENJOY a superior satisfaction. Cultivate the capacities for pleasure in Christ. One reason lust reigns in so many is that Christ has so little appeal. We default to deceit because we have little delight in Christ. Don't say, "That's just not me." What steps have you taken to waken affection for Jesus? Have you fought for joy? Don't be fatalistic. You were created to treasure Christ with all your heart – more than you treasure sex or sugar. If you have little taste for Jesus, competing pleasures will triumph. Plead with God for the satisfaction you don't have: "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days" (Psalm 90:14). Then look, look, look at the most magnificent Person in the universe until you see him the way he is.

M – MOVE into a useful activity away from idleness and other vulnerable behaviors. Lust grows fast in the garden of leisure. Find a good work to do, and do it with all your might. "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord" (Romans 12:11). "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Abound in work. Get up and do something. Sweep a room. Hammer a nail. Write a letter. Fix a faucet. And do it for Jesus' sake. You were made to manage and create. Christ died to make you "zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:14). Displace deceitful lusts with a passion for good deeds.

Fighting at your side,

Pastor John

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All I can say is "Me too!"
Pastor Scott

He Must Increase!

2008-02-07T13:39:00.000-06:00

"He must increase, but I must decrease. "
John 3:30

John the Baptist had it right. As long as I am “big” in my own eyes, and Jesus is “small,” everything else in life will be out of whack. I won’t see things as they really are. I’ll believe the lie that life ought to revolve around me and that my temporary happiness is really all that matters. Even my religion will serve my selfishness as I imagine that God is there to help me accomplish my own goals and figure out how I can have “my best life now.”

As long as I stand big in my own eyes, I am incapable of seeing or responding to the One Who alone is able to set me free. No, it is only when I am forced to climb down off the pedestal of self-worship that I become willing to turn and see the One who is worthy of true worship. It is only as I cease serving my own desires that I discover the One I was made to desire and Who alone is able to satisfy my heart’s true need. It is only when I am made to step off the throne of self-exaltation that I find the self-forgetfulness that lets me begin to be happy in Him.

Of course, I would never do any of this on my own. It is only when God, by an amazing and powerful grace, turns my heart from its infatuation with me, and sets my eyes upon the beauty and glory that is Christ and Him crucified, that my heart and mind become willing to turn from self-love to Christ-love (and that by faith alone!) It is only when mercy has taken hold of me, that I am enabled to repent and believe the good news that God will save a sinner like me!

How glad I am that God has done this – and that He keeps doing it every day – as I am allowed to hear His Word and believe His Gospel and find in Him One Who is worth forsaking all to have! My prayer is that God, if he never has before, would do the same for you this morning.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Is "Church Membership" Divisive?

2008-01-31T12:50:00.001-06:00

A friend of mine and I were discussing the issue of church membership when he asked me this question:

What are our biblical grounds to divide with any true brother in Christ over doctrinal distinctives, no matter how biblical they may be?

What follows, with minor adjustments, is my answer:

Brother,

The question I really have to ask first is, "What do you mean by 'divide'?" I do not believe myself "divided" from R C Sproul even though we are not a part of the same local church or denomination and probably could not be. I'm afraid this is simply a reality in a sin-broken world where even the elect are not yet perfected. Yes, there is a division of sorts on the administrative level of our fellowship, but not one that keeps us from recognizing one another as brothers and working together in the Kingdom.

Is there biblical justification for this? Not really, at least not in the sense of a statement that says, "This is how things are supposed to be." It is simply an unfortunate reality -- and one that is insurmountable at the present time for a number of reasons

(1) Because none of us are untouched in our ability to 'reason' due to the fall, none of us sees the Bible with perfect clarity. For that reason we cannot agree completely on some very important, though non-essential to salvation, issues. Baptism is a great example, and so is the nature of plural leadership in the church, the calvinist/arminian divide, how to organize for missions etc, etc. "How can two walk together unless they be agreed?" Such differences of opinion make it all but impossible for all true Christians to fellowship and serve in the same local body. This is a very sad admission, but one that is true and has been true for 2000 years! Remember Barnabas and Paul? We could add Peter and Paul in Galatians (at least for a time), etc. And then add to the fact that it is possible even for genuine Christians to fall into grievous error, the end result is external division on the local level.

(2) Some would say, "Well then, we should not ever make an issue of such non-essential matters." As wonderful as that sounds, it ends up with a disastrous outcome. The only way to do that is to reduce down to a "least common denominator" approach to a local church's confession and practice. "We will only stand on those issues about which all can be agreed." Because the dividing line between what is essential and non-essential is in some places a bit fuzzy to us; and because that line will be drawn in different places by different people (due to the problem discussed in #1), you ultimately end up with a Methodist church -- all-inclusive but totally compromised. You see this happening right now in the discussion between some Protestants and the Roman Catholic church (you also saw it in the old "ecumenical movement") The desire for an outward appearance of institutional unity often leads to the willingness to discard much truth that is essential. Baptism is a great example. I believe firmly that baptism is a picture of an inward and spiritual reality and that Christ commands it to be accepted as an act of obedience upon a believer's public confession of faith in Him. To disregard that in order to make room for infant baptism -- since this is admittedly not an essential issue -- would to my understanding be a betrayal of the very purpose of baptism. I don't believe those who practice infant baptism are lost, but I do believe they are wrong. And I believe their practice will, of necessity, lead to the admission and acceptance of unregenerate church members -- and that is an essential issue since it tends to lead to a betrayal of biblical truth by the next generation! Therefore, I am constrained to "divide" with a brother over a non-essential, as far as local church membership is concerned. Yet, in the case of a faithful Presbyterian brother for example, I am united with him in all else and willingly and gladly work with him and fellowship with him on a number of levels beyond that of local church structure.

This brings me to ...

(3) The true church is united on the universal level, even where there is a necessary division on the local level. True biblical unity exists between all regenerate believers as they draw near to Christ. So even though I am not organizationally unified with every other believer on the planet, nevertheless a genuine union exists and can be seen in our fellowship when we meet, when we work together for the cause of Christ outside the local church structure, when we pray together, etc. And so, while we pray for a complete and unhindered unity at every level, we know that in a broken world this will never quite be the case organizationally. Therefore we act with unity and charity toward one another at ever level possible, and accept the unfortunate divisions that are necessary for the sake of conviction and truth in the mean time. You see, unless we are willing to compromise every principle outside of a very few basic statements of faith (and who would decide what those are?), this is the unfortunately necessity.

I hope this begins to help.
--------------------------------

Well, to all who read this, keep thinking about this issue, and measuring it and your response to other believers against Scripture. May God give us a real and Christ-honoring unity!

Ministry Meeting: Godly Character

2008-01-30T08:43:00.000-06:00

We had our first ministry meeting last night. It was great to get together with these young men who feel God's call into service, and to discus with them what that calling is all about.

Our discussion centered around Titus 1:1-9 which we agreed focuses on the godly character that is necessary for the man who would in any way lead God's people. More vital than seminary training and skill in the pulpit, or even having every doctrinal "i" doted and "t" crossed (as important as that is!) the pastor/elder must give evidence that He is mature Man of God (He is after all called an "elder" v 5 -- a word that assumes spiritual maturity!) And so the man who would lead God's people must give evidence of a growing spiritual maturity and ongoing faithfulness 1) in the home (v 6), 2) in his personal character and integrity (vv 7-8) and 3) in his commitment to hold, declare and confront with God's Word (v 9).

The words to Steve Camp's song, "The Mark of a man of God" were shared:

“The mark of a man of God is what he’s faithful to,
and what he’s fleeing from, and what he’s fighting for
“The heart of a man of God is what he daily pursues...
His family, friends, the word the church
And worship of the Lord
“The godly man daily takes up the cross of Christ
and faithfully follows him as a living sacrifice”

We then ended our time together with a discussion of how a man can cultivate godly character; personal accountability; daily walk with Christ; books we should be reading, etc.

All in all, I a believe it was a profitable time. I'm looking forward to our next meeting on February 19th when we will discuss the question: "What is the Gospel?"

Grace and Peace

Grace Camp Meeting and Bible Conference

2008-01-29T09:04:00.000-06:00

"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. "
Jeremiah 29:13

We at Rockport are excited to announce our first annual "Grace Camp Meeting and Bible Conference." This should be a really great time of being challenged, encouraged and confronted in the Word, while at the same time strengthened with good fellowship. I hope to write more later, but for now, let me just give the basics.

Grace Camp Meeting and Bible Conference
at
Rockport Baptist Church
in Arnold, Missouri
(www.rockportbaptist.org)

April 10th - 13th

Featured Speakers:
Charles Leiter
Michael Morrow
Paul Washer
Mike Williams

For information, registration and speaker bios
you can go the link on our website or click HERE

The Task of a Faithful Shepherd

2008-01-24T15:00:00.000-06:00

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Romans 16:17-18

John Calvin said, “The pastor must have two voices, one for gathering the sheep; the other for warding off and driving away the wolves and thieves” In other words, it’s not enough merely to exposit the truth, a pastor must also be willing to expose the errors! Why? Because not all “doctrine” is created equal. If there is true doctrine, there is also false doctrine! If there is truth that builds people up in Christ (Eph 4:15) there are lies that tear them down. There are doctrines of demons (1 Tim 4:1) and destructive heresies (2 Pet 2:1) that lead people away from Christ. A faithful pastor just be willing both to build people up with truth, and at the same time warn them about error.

Now here’s where that gets hard. Because not only must he be willing to warm them about error in doctrine. He must also be willing to help his people identify those who promote such error so they can avoid them! False teachers, like a spiritual Typhoid Mary carry the contagion of corrupting doctrine into people’s lives to the destruction of their souls. For that reason a pastor must be willing at times to get specific, just as Paul did in 2 Timothy 2:16-18 when he said,

“But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.”

I know at times my friend Paul Washer has taken flak for being willing to name false teachers. So have I, at times, no matter how tactful I’ve tried to be (though thankfully, such complaints have rarely come from within our congregation). Most recently someone took me to task for a sermon posted on Sermon Audio.com (you can find it here) But I understand. People get uncomfortable (even angry) when you start “naming names” if a name you happen to name is that of their own favorite (false) teacher.

Nevertheless, this is part of the preaching task of faithful shepherd. It’s certainly not the only task he has, but it is without doubt a part an important part of it. Just as Paul commanded young Titus, in Titus 1:9, when he told him that an elder

“must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”

And the reason he must do that, v 10 continues, is because

“there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers . . . [who] must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.”

Another problem with deceivers is that they are, well . . . deceptive. If Satan can appear as “an angel of light” (1 Cor 11:14), it’s no surprise that his followers can disguise themselves as preachers of the Gospel (1 Cor 11:13). So it is necessary for faithful elders and pastors in any church, not only to expose the lie of false doctrine, but also be willing to unmask the liars who spread such teaching as well (Acts 20:28). He must name names!

So pray for faithful pastors and teachers who will , as tactfully as possible expose error (and those who promote it) as they exalt the Truth of God’s Word for the good of God’s people. Ask God to raise up faithful shepherds like those Paul describes in Acts 20:28-32

28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 "Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. 32 "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

God Among Us on a Glorious Sunday!

2008-01-15T21:19:00.000-06:00

God was among us Sunday. Yes, yes, I know that God is always present. I've taught the omnipresence of God on more than one occasion. And yet, there are times and ways that God is "more present" than in others. Sunday was one of those times.

I don't know when I first realized it. Perhaps it was as Bob began to ask different people to lead out in singing verses of "There is a Fountain". Something about the simple simplicity of different ones of you lifting up your voices and crying out to God with all your heart caused me to see God in his gracious mercy displayed in the cross of Christ that much more clearly. It was a very special moment.

Afterwards, when it came time for the sermon, it's hard for me to comment specifically on how the message was received by others -- after all I was the one doing the preaching. And yet, I became aware again of a special "help" from the Holy Spirit. I don't know what else to call it and I'm not trying to be mystical -- and I certainly would not claim any kind of special "annointing" or revelation. But God helped. I was aware of being "born along" with an added clarity and passion that was due to more than my own preparation or "feelings." (I'm doing a really terrible job of explaining this, I know, but the point is, God was at work in a very clear and identifiable way, even if it is not an easily definable way!) [Message can be found here]

Finally, we came to Sunday Evening. The "crowd" was much smaller of course (something I've never really understood), and yet the Spirit of God chose to come among us with a special grace once again. Aaron led worship. And as we began, he asked the congregation if any would be willing to share a verse or two that had special meaning to them. Once again I was stunned into gratitude as different members of our church lifted their voices one after the other after the other in a grace-filled chorus of Christ-exalting joy for mercy shown at the cross! I sat in my pew saying over and over again, "Thank you Lord, for a people who get it! Who see that the purpose of Scripture is not to give us good feelings or a sweet devotional thought, but to confront us with life anchoring truth in Christ!" The verses that were read were not the usual "promise box" verses ripped out of context to make it sound like "all is well with the world." They were passages that pointed to the triumph of grace and mercy over sin, to the steadfastness of Christ's love for His elect, and for the assurance that belongs to the sons of God who, thought they suffer in this world, have an inheritance that can never perish spoil or fade in Him! In Him! There was the unifying theme! That all we need and all we have is found in Christ by faith!

Well, I've rambled enough. All this just to say, it was a glorious Sunday and I was glad to be with the people of God in the presence of such grace!

SSL

The Barrier shattering power of the Gospel!

2008-01-09T17:17:00.000-06:00

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also greet the church that is in their house.
Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.
Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord . . .

Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the churches of Christ greet you.
Romans 16: 3-8, 16

Greeting, greetings, greetings! Romans 16:1-16 is one of those passages you’re tempted to skip over as you study your Bible. After all, what can you learn from a list of names like this? So the apostle Paul had a few friends? Great! What does that have to do with my life?

Well, skip by a passage like this too fast, and you’ll miss some of the many hidden blessings found in Scripture. I'm constantly amazed at the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in the way He has arranged the Bible, and I'm certain He wanted us to see something here as well. So what could it be?

First of all, the very fact that Paul names other people like this is significant. I don’t know how you tend to think about the apostle, but for many he is seen as a kind of a spiritual trail blazer – a lone ranger out there conquering the world alone for Christ! But when you actually ead the Bible for what it says, you find a very different picture. Paul is an amazing man, make no mistake about it. But he is also very rarely alone! Wherever he goes there are others – faithful friends and common Christians– who make His ministry possible.

That brings up the second thing. Real ministry takes lots of people. There is an idolatry in our age that kills true, biblical ministry. We exalt the mega-pastor and the so-called Christian “celebrity” as if the fate of Christianity stands or falls with them. But the fate of Christianity never stands with any man or any movement! It always stands with Christ alone! And Christ stands with His church! Not special people, but common people he chooses to use to make His glories known

There are 27 people are named here. Most of them, you’ve heard of! We know next to nothing about any one of them. And yet they are believers who are important, not only to the Apostle Paul, but also to the Kingdom of God! We should never underestimate the vital role of the ordinary men or women who faithfully follow Christ

Another thing that encourages me as I study this passage is the clear evidence of the barrier-destroying power of the Gospel. In this list of Paul's friends are found, not only men and women (down goes the gender barrier), Jews and Gentiles (so much for the racial barrier), but also slaves and noblemen as well (the social barrier). The Gospel of Christ has power to break down every dividing wall that we put up as it brings all believers together on equal footing under the cross as sinners saved by grace!

But not only do we see barriers coming down, we also see the wonderful power of salvation on display. In this list we find members of wicked King Herod’s family. We also see members of the household of Narcissus, a Roman who was tragically executed by Emperor Nero. What a joy to have a Gospel that can reach into any home – no matter how deep the pattern of sin or how great the experience of tragedy – to bring help and wholeness in Christ. My prayer is that we would see many similar miracles of grace throughout this new year!

Rejoicing in His Mercy!
Pastor Scott Lee

Jonathan Edwards and Contemporary Worship Music

2008-01-03T19:52:00.000-06:00

I've been reading George Marsden's massive biography of Jonathan Edwards (Yale Press, 2003) and I've discovered something I never knew. During Edwards' day there was a controversy over what kind of worship music to use in church. The older, more traditionalists among the laity wanted to keep to exclusive Psalm singing (usually done poorly with no accompaniment). Why? Well, mainly because that's what had "always been done" in Puritan churches and thus, it just felt more like church to them. They were against the "modern" invention of human composed songs (we call them hymns) and the use of such innovations as three part harmony and (gasp!) musical instruments.

On the other side of the worship divide were mainly clergy who felt that God was better glorified by "regular" singing where people learned parts, were free to use a variety of musical instruments and to sing songs that were composed by modern authors as long as they were faithful to the message of Scripture. Isaac Watts, of course, was at the forefront of this movement. Most will remember him as the author of such songs as "Joy to the World," "Alas and Did My Savior Bleed" and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross". His hymns were a large part of the "new music" being sung mostly in the city churches, but largely rejected by the churches in the smaller towns and countryside.

Now, most of that I already knew. But what I did not realize until reading Marsden's book, was that Calvinist stalwarts Cotton Mather and Increase Mather (both famous preachers of the day who pretty much defined what it meant to be theologically conservative) were on the side of the new music. And right along with them, championing the new music was a very young Jonathan Edwards (in his late 20's).

For him, it just made sense. Edwards' famous grandfather, Solomon Stoddard (whose pulpit Edwards took over in 1726) had been one of the first to introduce the "new music" into rural Massachusetts, and young Jonathan continued the reforms he began.

I think if Edwards was with us today, he'd be in the forefront of those who believe in using good contemporary music (as well as solid older hymns) to the glory of God. I don't mean the fluff. There's a lot of worthless stuff out there that isn't worthy to be used in worship - both in contemporary and traditional song books. What I mean are the solid, biblical, Christ exalting songs from every age -- whether Luther's "A Mighty Fortress" Wesley's "And Can It Be", or "In Christ Alone" or "The Power of the Cross" both by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend, or any one of a hundred other new and old songs I could mention.

The point, once again, is not "traditional" or "contemporary", but Christ honoring and biblical, verse not.

In Christ Alone, My Mighty Fortress!

Scott Lee

PS - For those interested in exploring this subject for themselves I would suggest John Frame's excellent work "Contemporary Worship Music". It's a tad bit dated now and could really use a revision, but still a good place to start. Also, Sovereign Grace Ministries (www.sovereigngraceministries.org) is a marvelous resource for well written "new" music with rock solid biblical words. So also is www.igracemusic.com

The Gospel at Christmas

2007-12-13T14:34:00.000-06:00

“ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
Mark 1:4

What is the message of Christmas any way? You hear lots of things about that this time of year. “Christmas is for caring” says one. “It’s gifts and presents,” says another. “No, it’s peace on earth and goodwill toward men” chimes in a third, a little closer to the truth.

But really, what is the message of Christmas all about? You ask most people and, unless they’ve just come straight from an ACLU meeting, they’ll know at least the basics – Christmas has something to do with Jesus, and God sending Him into the world as a baby, and that somehow this gift was meant to save the world. Most will know at least that much.

But again, I’ll ask, what exactly is the heart of the Christmas message? And what are we supposed to do with it, once we’ve understood it?

When it gets right down to it, the thing we need to understand is that the Christmas message is exactly the same as the message of the Gospel. There really is no difference. For Christians, Christmas is not a separate thing, tucked over in a corner of the year all by itself (even though we sometimes treat it that way). It’s not that we have this nice, sentimental little story about a baby in a manger who was visited by shepherds and wise men, and then we have this other story about a Christ who was rejected by men, crucified and then raised from the dead on the third day. It’s all part of the same wonderful story – the record of what God has done to save His people from their sin! It’s the announcement of the Good News that God saves sinners!

And so the message we need at Christmas is the same message we need to hear at Easter and every other time of year – it’s the message of repentance from sin and of faith in Christ Jesus for salvation for those who believe. It’s the good news that sinners like us can be reconciled to God and made His children and heirs, if we will turn from sin and by faith trust in His Son as Savior and Lord

My prayer for you this Christmas Season is that God will give you ears to hear the marvelous news of what he has done in sending His own Son to die in the place of sinners. And that he'll give you a heart to believe that He did this even for you -- if you will trust in Him. So that, no matter what you've done or where your life has taken you up to this point, if you will repent of your sin (which means turn away from it in order to turn to Him) and trust in Christ (believing that He is able to save even the worst of sinners and give them new life in Him) you too can be saved.

Christmas Giving

2007-12-12T14:36:00.000-06:00

“Where your treasure is there will your heart be also”
Matthew 6:21

Giving and Christmas go together. Everybody knows that. Even before Ebenezer Scrooge got straightened out by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future and went running through the streets of London giving away his wealth, people have identified Christmas with giving. It’s in the air this time of year. There are fund raisers at work and at school, bell ringers in front of every store and shopping mall, and more than a few reminder from the pulpit.

And Americans seem to be listening. More than $260 billion will be given to charitable organizations this time of year (most of it through Christian organizations, by the way!). That’s something we should be glad about. Americans are still the most generous people on earth – and I believe God has blessed us because of it.

And yet, one thing we have to keep in mind during this time of holiday giving, is that the attitude of our hearts toward wealth is something we need to be aware of all year ‘round. Sometimes I find that, even as I’m giving to help the poor and support missions, my foolish heart can be filled with greed. Whether a desire for the latest new gadget, the shiniest jewelry or the biggest HD TV , it’s easy to become discontent with what you have and thus be tempted to give less for those in need in order to have more of what you want.

My prayer for our church --and for every Christian in the prosperous West -- is that God will continue to free us from our obsession with wealth and things that so easily captivate our souls. I pray we will refuse to give in to the thought that says, “I’ve already done enough” and instead will ask God for even greater opportunities to do more to extend His kingdom and meet the needs of those around us who are hurting.

Believers, let’s ask God to make us truly generous all year around with our time, our money and our very lives. Let's give and serve and sacrifice in a way that makes God look good (see Matthew 5:16), and in a way that will leave people no choice but to come to the astounded conclusion that having Him really is more valuable to us than having those things the people of the world live and die to possess.

Treasure Him!

Psalm 67 -- A Missionary Psalm

2007-11-29T15:23:00.000-06:00

“God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us that Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.”
Psalm 67: 1-2

Psalm 67 is about missions! It’s a cry for God to bless us. But unlike so many who cry today for God’s blessing, the Psalmist is not thinking only of Himself. He has a much greater goal in mind. He prays that God would bless us and be with us, so that through us the nations might hear and know and worship God as He deserves to be known and worshiped!

Now, as I think about that, I realize that this is always the motive behind God’s blessing. God does not bless us so we can hoard the blessing to ourselves. He blesses us so that we might be a link in the chain of events He uses to bless others – and especially to bless them with the Gospel of Christ.

What was it He said to Abraham when he called him to follow Him by faith? He said, “I will bless you and you will be a blessing and all nations on earth will be blessed through you!” (Gen 12:3) Wow! Think about that. God doesn’t bless us so we can look in the mirror and say, “Gee, isn’t it great to be blessed?” God blesses us so that other nations and people we’ve never met can be blessed through us! How? By hearing and responding to the Gospel of Christ that we preach and that we send out into the world through missions!

That’s why I like to say that Psalm 67 – in addition to being one of my own personal favorites – is a missionary Psalm! It’s a call for us to realize that all God is doing in our lives today – all of his blessing, all of the advantages we have known as Americans is for this purpose: to make His glory known, and to enable us to carry the news of His glory (..the Gospel) to the ends of the earth so that,....”all the peoples” and “all the nations” may hear and be glad in Him!

God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth might fear Him! (Ps 67:7)

Pastor Scott Lee

Belated Thanksgiving Message

2007-11-28T14:21:00.002-06:00

OK, I meant to post this right before thanksgiving, but never got around to it. But, here we go . . .

I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30

As Christians, every day is thanksgiving day! So while I hope you and your family had a wonderful time giving thanks and celebrating this holiday we call“ Thanksgiving,” my real prayer is that you will find your heart rejoicing this morning in the reality of what God has done for us in Christ!

It’s sad, really. Our world has forgotten what Thanksgiving means – if it ever knew. For many it’s just “Turkey Day” – an excuse to eat too much and drink too much and watch TV. But the thing missing from such “celebrations” is the one thing that matters most – the reality of a genuine delight in Him to Who all praise and thanksgiving are due! (Rm 11:36)

Romans 1:21 says that although people knew about God, “they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to Him” Ingratitude, you see, is the root of all kinds of sin – pride, selfishness, bitterness and complaining. We take God’s blessings for granted. We assume we deserve the good things that happen, and then complain bitterly about the bad. It’s as if God – if He exists – exists to serve us and make our lives easy. And if He doesn’t, He has failed.

But the Gospel of grace frees us from such insane delusions. It re-orients our world and puts God at the center, not us! When that happens you then discover that you’ve been freed to do the one thing in all the universe you were meant to do – gain the joy of making much of God forever! I pray that you know this freedom and that you will express it joyfully in the form or thanksgiving and praise offered to the One who truly matters most! And then, ask God to help each of us grasp the importance of knowing Him in a real and lasting way through the miracle of conversion by grace through faith in Christ alone

With Thanksgiving in My Heart for all things in Christ!
Pastor Scott Lee

“The Valley of Vision” -- A place to gaze on the majesty of God

2007-11-07T15:02:00.000-06:00

“The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions,” as the title suggests, is a collection of prayers and devotions from the Puritans – a people who knew and deeply loved God! As you read this book, you’ll discover that the Puritans were not the “stuffed shirts” so many think they were. They were warm-hearted Christians who passionately loved and pursued God in every area of their lives. They understood that prayer, doctrine and life must all fit together in the Christian’s life in such a way that one cannot be separated from the others! In fact, it was their doctrine that produced in them such deep praying (as we find in this book), and it was their prayers that filled their hearts and lives with such a Christ-centered joy.

One of my goals in life, and in the life of Rockport Baptist Church, is that we would be a people who not only know a lot about God from His Word, but also who know Him in way that is real and intimate and filled with a passion for His glory. This book will help you in that pursuit. For years I have used it to help my own praying. By looking over the shoulders of these godly men and women as they lifted their hearts to God, I’ve found my own passion for Christ rekindled, my prayers resurrected from deadness, and my heart warmed with faith. My prayer is that this book will have the same effect on you.

What we stand for matters every bit as much as what we stand against!

2007-10-04T13:21:00.000-05:00

“He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
Proverbs 28:27

“Jesus hates strip clubs, but he’s OK with people starving.” That’s the provocative title I found on somebody’s blog this week. Now I believe the guy who wrote that is ‘out to lunch’. He was upset because some Christians had banned together to shut down adult-themed clubs in his town. Well what a shame! Apparently he has a problem with people who have the sense to realize that such establishments exploit women, lead to increased crime and contribute to the ongoing breakdown of marriages. Obviously I don't share his sentiments. But his article did remind me of one very tragic fact. All across this nation unbelievers identify Christians for what we stand against (in this case, strip clubs) and not for the good we do (like feeding starving children, building hospitals, establishing schools etc). And to a great extent, it’s our own fault.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t stand against strip clubs – not at all! But isn’t it a shame that people are used to hearing us scream out against what is wrong with the world, but rarely see us sacrificing – in the spirit and power of Jesus – to make things right? They know our political views well, but are ignorant of our good works. Could it be that we are lacking in the latter?

James 2:14-17 says, "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no [good] works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. "

And Jesus commands "He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food let him do likewise." (Luke 3:11)

Believers, we need to consider how our “good works” are meant to be seen – especially in those things we should do to help the poor and starving of this world. Jesus said, in Matthew 5:16, “"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” How is your life doing that? Could it be that God wants you to re-evaluate your priorities and your spending and to think again abut how people see your faith in action? Does God want our church to take a more active role in reaching out to meet the practical needs of those around our neighborhoods and around the world – even as we continue to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ? May God help us to live in such a way that people see what we stand for...not just what we stand against.

In Matthew 25, Jesus presents a disturbing picture of the final judgment. I believe he does so to wake us up to our responsibility to the hurting in this world. Beginning in v 31 he says,

But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'

"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'

"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'

"Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'

"Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'

And then notice the last line. Here is where Jesus interprets the whole parable for us. Then "These (who had not concern for the hurting of the world) will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous (who showed concern for the hurting) into eternal life."

Now, I don't think this parable teaches salvation by works -- you know, do good things and God has to accept you. No, that would contradict virtually everything else Jesus said about salvation and how he came to save the lost by giving his life as a payment for their sins. But what this passage does tell us is that when Christ saves you, the new life of righteousness he gives will be seen in the sacrificial service that results from it. Or as Eph 2:10 says, "We are God's workmanship created for good works in Christ, which God prepared in advance that we should do."

My prayer is that we will think hard about these sorts of things as we look for ways to make a difference in the lives of those who are hurting. For surely, Jesus not only hates the lustful immorality and exploitation of the strip club, but he also has a deep love and concern for the "least of these" who suffer in this world. As Isaiah says.... “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters fail not."

May God be greatly glorified in our transformed lives

"Hating Divorce, but loving the divorced!"

2007-09-27T14:20:00.000-05:00

“ I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel”
Malachi 2:16

I've found there are two people who truly hate divorce. God and anybody who's ever been through one! God hates divorce, first, because it violates His design for marriage as the exclusive covenant of love between one man and one woman for life. A covenant that is meant to reflect the heart of Christ's love for his church, and her joy-filled response to Him. (Eph 5:22-33) And second, God hates divorce because it rips families apart. And God loves families (see the rest of Malachi 2)

But anyone who’s ever been through a divorce learns to hate it just as well. As a preacher, I know that anytime I begin to touch on the subject of divorce, it’s like ripping the scab off an old wound for many people. Divorce is a wound! It’s a painful, heart-wrenching, devastating thing that tears right through the middle of a person’s life. Someone has observed that a divorce is more traumatic, emotionally, than even the death of a spouse. Death brings a clean kind of pain. Yes, they left you, but they really didn’t want to! Divorce, by contrast, is a dirty, mangled pain filled with rage and betrayal as it separates those who promised never to part.

And so the question is, how should we as the people of God, respond to divorce and all the pain and harm it brings into the lives of people we know and love? As I've thought about this, I found John Piper's helpful comment that we do so in two distinct ways to be right on target (though I do not quote him exactly here)

1) We respond to divorce with love and care for those who are suffering from it’s pain We stand by them as they grieve. We help them see the need to repent of any sin they have committed as part of the process leading up to and resulting in divorce. And then we urge them to be reconcile to their former spouse where that is possible. And when it's not possible, we lovingly help them rebuild their broken lives by the grace of God that's offered so freely in Jesus. Divorce is a tragedy filled with sin, but it's not the unforgivable sin.

2) We respond to divorce by standing firm and saying clearly that God hates it! We remain clear that every divorce is rooted in sin and therefore violates God’s will and God’s purpose for marriage! It is not something anyone who makes any pretense of having faith in Christ can enter lightly, or treat casually. It is an admission of defeat, and a concession that sin has gotten the upper hand. And so with God we say, we hate it because of all the pain and anguish it brings into people's lives and the harm it brings to families. And then we do everything we can to help prevent divorce by seeking to build up strong and grace-filled marriages, being attentive to the needs of our spouses, holding one another accountable in the fellowship of Christ's church and seeking in all things to walk in the meekness and love of Christ in our relationship with one another.

Standing up to fight with you,
Pastor Scott Lee

It's a Miracle Every Time God does it!

2007-09-15T15:37:00.001-05:00

Salvation is always a miracle. It's as dramatic as the creation of the universe or the raising of the dead (Eph 1:18-21). Every time we see God bring someone to Himself, it's cause for great rejoicing (Luke 15:7).

The short note below is from my sister, Gina, concerning her daughter Cheyenne. Cheyenne has Asperger's Syndrome -- which is related to autism. It often results in someone who has a really hard time "getting it" socially, so they tend to say and do things that "cross the line" and even insult others without knowing it.

Asperger's people have a hard time grasping such things as how close to stand to someone when you talk to them -- or even that it's polite to wait and listen to them when they talk, after you've had your say. They have to be taught not to say things like, "Wow, you've got bad B.O.!" When it's OK to talk, and when it's time to shut up and let someone else have the floor, etc. And it's not just the natural childishness all children have, it is an inability in the brain to process the signal coming from "outside of me" and realize, "Hey there are other people out there like me with feelings and needs I must respond to!" Even though they can be quite intelligent, such children struggle in social situations trying to do the most common things that you and I simply take for granted. And then, because people do not understand their "odd" behavior, they often feel like outcasts.

Any way, Cheyenne and her family have had their share of these kinds of struggles over the years at school, at church, etc. But...to make a long story short, you can read for yourself the following little note and then rejoice with me as you keep her in prayer:

---------------------

HI,

Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all of your prayers for Cheyenne & her salvation. She wanted me to help her pray last night (in her words, "like Uncle Scott prayed with you, Mom"!). After we prayed, she had such a look on her face that I can't describe (huge tears, but the biggest smile) and said she had never been so happy before - it was even better than Christmas! She wanted to tell everyone about it (before when she would talk about it with me & pray, she didn't want to tell anyone). Now she seems sure of her salvation and is just so happy!!! God has also given her the courage this week to talk to some of her friends about Jesus & being saved. She wants to keep doing that! So, again, thanks for all the prayers & keep praying that she will grow in Christ and stay close to Him.

Love you,

Gina

Thank God for Those Who Serve

2007-09-11T13:54:00.000-05:00

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. - Romans 13:1-7

This morning I participated as moderator of a breakfast meeting held to honor those who have served our nation and community in the Armed services and as Firemen and Policemen. My part was to introduce the speaker, Bro Rick Needham. Wow! What a great job he did.

Rick is a dear brother with an interesting past. I knew that he had served for years as an army chaplain. I had no idea how extensive that service was. I suppose it was his modestly that kept him from ever mentioning that he retired as a Lt Colonel and that he served with, among others, the 10th Mountain Division. I don't know that much about our military divisions, but I do know those guys are the real deal! After his military service Rick, who is an ordained Nazarene Pastor, came into the glories of the Doctrine's of God's Grace and now serves as pastor in a community church not too far from our congregation. It's been a real privilege to get to know him

As I say, Rick did a fantastic job. My heart was moved by his deep and passionate desire to see people come to a saving knowledge of Christ -- both within and outside the military. More than once he said, "I love our soldiers and long to see them come to Christ!" Lord, that's my prayer as well.

Overall, it was a great meeting. Most of those in attendance are men who retired from the various services - both domestic and military. It was a great honor to be able to express to them our gratitude for their faithful years of service.

May God bless all who wear the uniform and their families...and above all, may he bring them to a saving knowledge of His marvelous grace in Christ. And while I'm on it, would you who read this remember to pray for my dear friend, Dave Davis, as he serves our country in Iraq alongside so many other brave men and women? And remember his wife Vikki, and their two dear children as well.

By God's grace and for His glory!

Pastor Scott Lee

All About Me?

2007-08-30T15:12:00.000-05:00

“For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself "
Romans 14:7

Our age has been called the “me generation” for a very good reason – since the moment we broke out of the womb, we have insisted on putting ourselves first! Now, I know that most of us would like to think that’s only true of other people – we, at least, don’t act that way! But amazingly I’ve found that more and more people today not only admit they are self-centered, they honestly believe it’s a good thing!

Two recent surveys, one in the US and the other in Britain, show that more than half of college aged young people believe the slogan that says “It’s all about me.” When asked which is more important, to give of yourself for the good of society or to look out for yourself first, more than half pledged themselves to the “me first” philosophy.

The results of this approach to life are, of course, predictable. In such an atmosphere marriages will continue to fail – its hard to stay married when you believe that the purpose of such an arrangement is to “meet your needs.” (What happens when the other person fails to do so? Call a lawyer!) Friendships will continually falter because self-centered people can’t ever get along! (How many “Hollywood deals” have fallen apart because of the inability of massive egos to occupy the same space?) And churches will continue to divide. (When everyone believes its “about me” no one can win.)

But this really is nothing new, is it? Selfishness has always been the natural response of the sinful heart! But Christ came to take away our sin and to give us new lives and new attitudes that result in new relationships – not only with Him, but with each other, as well! May God give us grace to begin to live in a way that builds up, rather than tears up the body of Christ.

My thoughts exactly!

2007-08-28T13:35:00.000-05:00

OK, I'm not usually into plagiarism, but in this case I think I'll make an exception. John Piper's latest "Taste and See" article was so "dead on" that I immediately wanted to forward it to our entire congregation. But instead of doing that, let me simply post it here. Rockport, read this article and everywhere you see the word "Bethlehem" substitute in "Rockport" and you'll get the benefit of an excellent message from one of God's servants. Here is

Pastors, Pragmatism, Pleasure, and Pride

By John Piper August 22, 2007

My calling on the staff at Bethlehem includes the charge to study and preach the Scriptures, to sharpen and shout the vision, and to sound the bell of warning when there is danger ahead. So on our recent pastors’ prayer and planning retreat, I rang the bell three times. Of course, there is always danger ahead. So there was nothing unusual about this. The Bible is strewn with ever-relevant warnings. And I felt that three were urgent. Actually, there are two warnings, and one positive exhortation. Here is a summary of what I said. Please pray this for yourselves and for us on the staff.

1. Beware of the idolatry of pragmatism (2 Chronicles 28:19-27).

Ahaz, king of Israel, “had made Judah act sinfully and had been very unfaithful to the Lord” (2 Chronicles 28:19). So the king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him. Ahaz tried to take portions from the house of the Lord to placate the Assyrian king. It did not work. His folly he became more foolish, and he “sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him” (v. 23). Incredible! He sacrificed to the enemy’s gods! Why? What made this king tick?

Answer: “For he and said, ‘Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me’” (v. 23). In other words, it looks like prayer to the gods of Syria worked. So if it worked for them, it might work for me. This is pragmatism in its rawest form. The idolatry of pragmatism. Pragmatism worships what works. The end of Ahaz’s story: His sacrifices “were the ruin of him and of all Israel” (v. 23).

Beware, Bethlehem, of sacrificing truth and holiness on the altar of what seems to work. Things are not what they seem. Instead of pragmatism . . .

2. “Welcome the love of the truth and so be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

That’s a literal translation of the last clause of 2 Thessalonians 2:10: “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” They did not “welcome the love of the truth that they might be saved.” If a person does not love the truth, he is not saved.” Loving truth is one of the sure fruits of the justified life.

What happens in the end to those who will not welcome a love of truth into their lives? Paul says, “God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (vv. 11-12).

That last phrase is astonishing. We spent a good while as a staff unpacking it for our ministry. Paul contrasts “believing the truth” not with disbelief but with “pleasure in unrighteousness.” In other words, wherever anyone considers Jesus and rejects him, it is not owing merely to an intellectual conclusion but, more deeply, to stronger pleasure, namely, “pleasure in unrighteousness.” The fallen human mind is not a neutral observer of Christ. People do not believe in the light because they love the darkness (John 3:19). Love. Take pleasure in. The pleasure of sin is the alternative to loving the truth. So, Bethlehem, love the truth. Flee the idolatry of pragmatism, and love the truth.

3. Beware of pride which brings destruction (2 Chronicles 26).

Uzziah became king of Judah when he was sixteen. He reigned 52 years. “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. . . . He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper” (2 Chronicles 26:4-5). He became very strong and everywhere he went God helped him. But then the constant and thudding theme of the Old Testament happened again. The best kings fail.

“His fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” (vv. 15-16). His God-given success proved to be his ruin! He became proud. And his pride expressed itself in feeling himself to be above the law and above criticism. So he entered the temple to do what only the priests were allowed to do.

Azariah and eighty priests who were “men of valor” confronted the king in the name of the Lord. “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. . . . Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God” (v. 18). When Uzziah became angry, God struck him with leprosy in his face, and he lived the rest of his life in a separate house as a leper (v. 21).

Bethlehem, God has strengthened us. We are at risk of this leprosy: “But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction.” What then shall we do? I said two things to the staff: 1) Never let me be above criticism and correction. I invite you to give me constructive criticism whenever you see some attitude or words or actions that dishonor the Lord. 2) Stay close to the cross and never cease to be amazed and thankful that you are saved. People who are perpetually and thankfully amazed that God has saved them are not likely to be destroyed by pride.

Pray for us concerning these three P’s: The idolatry of pragmatism that ruins the church; the pleasure in unrighteousness that refuses to love the truth; and the pride of being strong that leads to destruction.

Leaning on the purifying power of ever-arriving future grace,

Pastor John

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I could not have said it better myself!

In Jesus,
Pastor Scott Lee

The Lordship of Christ

2007-08-06T15:27:00.000-05:00

“For to this end Christ died and lived again,
that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”
Romans 14:9

Jesus Christ is Lord! That’s the most basic truth that undergirds every Christian’s faith. Jesus is not only a Savior from sin, He is the Lord of life! I remember the first time this verse really took hold of me. It was when Brother Lew Miller preached at our church, Rockport Baptist, for the first time, back in the mid 1990's. Oh sure, I’d read Romans 14 several times over the years. But have you ever had the experiencing of something suddenly becoming clear to you in a way it hadn’t been before? That’s what it was like for me that day.

I’d known since the moment I'd become a Christian, that Jesus is Lord and that I must strive to obey Him in every area of my life. I knew it was impossible to be a Christian and at the same time refuse to follow Jesus. Nor could I honestly claim to belong to Him and yet continue in a lifestyle of Christ-dishooring sin (see 1 John 3). I’d even read John MacArthur’s wonderful, if somewhat controversial, book, “The Gospel According to Jesus” and found myself in full agreement with pretty much everything he said. But somehow Lew’s words came home to me that day with great power. I remember he said, “Jesus came into this world to be Lord! And what does Lord mean? It means ‘Boss’! Jesus has come to be the 'Boss' of your life, Christian! He’s the Boss Jesus Christ! He's the One you must follow and obey! And if He’s not your Boss, then He’s not your Savior either!”

Wow that really hit me! I’d shared the Gospel with a lot of people over the years, many of whom were willing to “pray the prayer”, but that’s about as far as it went! God was showing me again, that salvation does not come down to saying a prayer or going to church, it comes down to a supernatural work of God that causes us to surrender to Christ the Lord Who is mighty enough to save and worthy enough to rule all who repent and put their whole trust in Him!

Since those days I've come to see that this is the teaching of the entire New Testament. That Christ rules the lives of those He save, and that the saved love it that way. And that even when we fail to obey as we must, it always remains our desire to do so, knowing that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)

May we continually bow our knees and joyfully confess that "Jesus Christ is Lord" to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:10-11)

For Him,

Pastor Scott Lee

"Justification and Regeneration" by Bro. Charles Leiter

2007-07-26T14:02:00.000-05:00

Charles Leiter is a friend of mine and a man who, in God’s wonderful providence, has had a big impact on my life and especially on my understanding of Scripture. So you can imagine how excited I was when the news broke that HeartCry Missionary Society had finally published his book on the subject of “Justification and Regeneration.” Now if you’re like a lot of Christians today, that title won’t have you running to the bookstore to try and buy a copy for yourself– it just sounds too academic (besides, the book is only available on HeartCry's website -- www.Heartcrymissionary.com.) But even though the title sounds merely academic, nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve rarely found a book – other than the Bible – to be so filled with such a high degree of Christ-centered, soul-liberating truth as this one.

Brother Charles has managed to put in a very brief and readable way, some of what I consider to be the New Testament’s most basic and important teaching on the nature of salvation. Here, a believer will learn not only what Christ has done to rescue sinners, but also how this marvelous work of salvation has set us free from sin’s power and liberated us forever to live new lives to the praise of God’s glorious grace.

For example, Bro. Leiter says on pages 106 - 107,

“In practical terms . . . Christians are not laboring to achieve a life that they do not yet have or to obtain a victory that has not yet been won. They are participants in the very life of Christ and in the victory He has already won. Christian, you are a partaker of the resurrection life of Christ, and He has already defeated and broken the power of the sin that you are facing right now – by His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension! As a participant in His life, your calling is not to try to achieve something for yourself that He has not achieved, but to believe what He has already done for you and to walk in it. In this way you will be enabled to fight “the good fight of faith” instead of the miserable struggle of unbelief!

The same is true of our battle against the powers of darkness. We constantly need to be reminded of the fact that Satan has already been defeated by Christ on the cross and that “in Christ” we are seated “far above” all the hosts of evil.” We should read Ephesians 6:12 in light of this present reality: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the [defeated] rulers, against the [dethroned] powers, against the [subjugated] world forces of this darkness, against the [vanquished] spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" As we humbly "submit ourselves to God and resist the devil," we have the promise that even this roaring lion will "flee" before God's otherwise defenseless sheep! Glory to God!" (emphasis in the original)

I cannot recommend this wonderful book strongly enough. Go get yours today!

In Jesus,

S. Scott Lee

PS - Just to wet your appetite, here are the chapter titles from "Justification and Regeneration" Sin: Man's Ultimate Problem; Can a Man Be Right Before God; Justification: It's Characteristics; Regeneration: All Things New; A New Creation; A New Man; A New Heart; A New Birth; A New Nature; Crucifixion and Resurrection; A Change of Realms: Flesh to Spirit; A Change of Realms: Earth to Heaven; A Change of Realms: Sin to Righteousness; A Change of Realms: Law to Grace; A Change of Realms: Adam to Christ.

In addition, Brother Charles includes four helpful appendices to a) summarize his teaching; b)to help explain the much debated Romans 7; c) to explain what John means when he says a Christian "Cannot Sin"; and d) to give a marvelous run down of all the blessings that are ours "in Christ." That last one alone would be worth the price of the book! Go get yours today!

Love is Hard

2007-07-16T18:57:00.000-05:00

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another,
even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another."
John 13:34-35

Sitting at the heart of the Christian faith is a command to love! We love Him because He first loved us (1 Jn 4:19); and we love each other because He is in us (1 Jn 4:7-8). Loving, in fact, begins within the fellowship of the church! One way to think of it is to see that both our families and our church are meant to be “nurseries of love.” That is, these are the places where we must learn how to give and receive real love!

There are differences between them, of course. Love comes quite naturally within a family – at least at first. And love tends to remain in a family unless something terrible happens to rip it apart (which is tragically all too common today). But within the church it’s different. When you first enter a new church fellowship, there is an attraction, certainly. All Christians share a common bond that draws us together in Christ. But no matter how strong that bond may be, there are other factors that tend to work against it: Different temperaments and backgrounds; different ways of thinking and doing things; different likes and dislikes. All these conspire to make loving each other hard, especially when any kind of conflict develops.

One thing I’ve come to see over the years, is that God allows believers to experience a certain amount of conflict in their relationships for a very simple reason. When there is perfect agreement between us, love doesn’t have to work very hard. It’s easy to love you when we see eye to eye on everything. But it’s when we have struggle to understand each other and have to fight to hear what the other is saying and why, that love’s muscles get their needed exercise. It’s when we begin to irritate one another just a bit, that love must be consciously practiced. That's true in your natural family, it's true in your church family as well.

I think one of the biggest mistakes believers make today is assuming, like a very foolish young husband once told me he assumed, that "Love should be easy. We shouldn't have to work at it so hard." How foolish indeed. All human love involves work -- usually hard work. It involves patience and tears and prayers, and saying "I'm sorry" and "I forgive you". It requires walking with Christ by faith, and continuing to walk with Him until something of His power to love "rubs off" on us and can be seen in us as we relate to one another. Without that real love cannot exist.

May God help us learn the practice of this Christ-like love as we continue to walk with Him.

Learning to love and be loved in Jesus!

Pastor Scott

Holiday Mesages and Invitations

2007-07-02T22:29:00.000-05:00

One of the newsgroups I'm part of was having a discussion about whether or not pastor's should preach "holiday messages" on Mother's Day, etc, and whether every message must have a gospel invitation. For what it's worth, here are my two bits.

As far as holiday sermons are concerned, after 16 years of pastoring the same church, I think I've said about all I can about "Mother's Day", etc...and I have rarely seen any real Kingdom benefit come out of giving into Hallmark Card Sentimentality . Instead, it's long been my practice to preach verse by verse through God's Word. When a message coincides well with a Holiday, like it did this past week (We were in Romans 13:1-6 and it was near the 4th of July!) that's wonderful. If not, I may mention the cultural event, but little more. Above all I want to make it my goal to build solid truth into the lives of our people with the same balance and emphasis that I find in the Word. Now, having said that, I may sometimes take advantage of a Holiday to speak on biblical themes related to them, but I do not feel bound or constrained to do so. As a baptist I do not feel bound by any sort of liturgical calendar (catholic or cultural)

As far as 'invitations' are concerned, it surely must come down to what is meant by such. I have seen some so-called invitations which were ungodly, manipulative attempts to wrest a "decision" out of people who'd not been told the Gospel and had no idea what they were "deciding for". Ever since Charles Finney introduced his so-called "new measures" with the idea of developing methods that could be used to 'draw the net" and "bring people in"...ever since those days some preachers have believed it was in their own power to force a change upon the heart and so press for that which only God can give through the power of the Gospel.

But, if by invitation what is meant is calling on people with passion to hear and apply the Gospel Word they've just heard, and turn from sin to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ who lived, died nad rose again, to flee from the wrath to come and put their whole hope in nothing but Christ's finished work on the cross -- well then, praise the Lord -- and why wait to the "end" of the sermon for such urging? Why not at any and every point in the message where the Scriptures point to Christ?

Just my two bits....

Pastor Scott
To God be the Glory,

Real Love

2007-06-13T14:49:00.000-05:00

Let love be without hypocrisy.
Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9

What do Christians do? Christians love each another. At least, that’s what Jesus said in John 13:35. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love is the authenticating mark of real Christianity. By that I mean, the way you know you’ve been in the presence of real Christians – and not just people who pretend to know Jesus – is by the love they share for one another. The apostle John said the same thing in 1 John 4:7-8,

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

How important is it to have love for fellow believers? It’s so important that having such love is proof that you belong to Jesus and not having it shows that you don’t. That’s why Paul says that “love must be without hypocrisy”, that is, it must be genuine and unfaked. A fake love, like a pretend faith, does nothing. And that’s the point.

Real love – genuine Christian love – is active! It’s not just a feeling you get once in a while, it’s a motivation for ministry. It moves you to take action for the good of those you love. People who love one another share in each other’s burdens. They join together to fight the evil and confront the sins they know would bring harm to each other’s lives if left unchecked. By their actions they seek to bring good to one another, to meet each other’s real needs; and to heal each other’s hurts with the grace and compassion of Jesus.

May God fan such love into a flame in our fellowship here at Rockport!

Learning to love you for His sake!
Pastor Scott Lee

Sexual Sins

2007-06-13T14:41:00.000-05:00

Flee immorality.
Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body,
but the immoral man sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 6:18

Sin is sin. But not every sin destroys in the same way or carries the same consequences. Some sins are “worse” than others because of the destruction they bring into our lives, or the harm they cause other people. For example, if I get angry and shout an unkind word at my friend, Tom, that’s sin. I shouldn’t have done it. But if in my anger I shoot Tom in the head, that’s much worse! Now I’ve committed murder and the consequences for myself and others will be far more serious (especially for poor Tom!).

Contrary to what most think today, sexual immorality is that kind of serious sin that always brings devastating consequences. You play with fire, you will be burned. That’s true whether we’re talking about the man who views pornography, the young couple engaging in premarital sex, or those caught up in adultery and homosexuality, the result of all such sins is a form of spiritual suicide (see Romans 1:18-32)

Does that sound too harsh? Listen to what the apostle Paul said in 1 Thess 4:8. As he was urging fellow believers to stay clear of all immoral behavior he warned that the one “who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.” In other words, when you choose to engage in sexual sin, you choose to reject God! You show that you’d rather have the temporary thrill that titillates the body for a moment, at the expense of the infinite satisfaction that comes from the God who made your body and gave it to you so you could glorify and enjoy Him forever!

I think maybe that’s why 1 Cor 6:18 warns that such sins are “against” the body. It is taking what God made for our good – our sexuality – and using it as a weapon to reject Him and cheat ourselves of the ultimate satisfaction that can only come by embracing the purity of Christ (a purity that includes the joy of sexual experience in the confines of marriage). This past weekend at Rockport, we attempted to teach our men many of the basic Gospel principles for walking in the joy of biblical holiness. That’s not easy in a perverse culture like ours where temptations jump out from every dark corner. So pray for our men (and women) as we seek to be conformed to the beauty of Christ and to see our marriage and lives transformed into His image through grace.

Growing with you by His Holiness.

Pastor Scott Lee

New Life

2007-05-09T12:33:00.000-05:00

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,
to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God
in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24

The Christian life is a completely new kind of life. It’s not just the old life dressed up a bit where the regenerate believer– poor sinner that you still are – must spend your time and effort trying to be good so you can become something you're not. It’s a whole new kind of life that grows out of the fact that God really has done something wonderful for you in Christ. He's really saved you out of your old life of sin, and brought you to a whole new life in Christ. That old person you used to be is gone forever (2 Cor 5:17) He or she died with Christ, and by the power of His resurrection, a new life has risen to take place of the old. Romans 6:5-11 says it this way:

5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

(and then the pay off verse....)

11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Now that's the truth about the person who is born again through the supernatural grace at work in the Gospel. You are a new creature in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). You've died with Christ to your old life and have been raised up with Him to walk in a completely new life.

For that reason, the Bible constantly commands us to consciously take up the new life we have been given "in Him."

"Be who you are!” is God’s command to the Christian; not “Try to become something you’re not!” The Christian doesn’t pretend to be holy. He or she really is holy in Christ -- set apart by Him and for Him to live for His glory. My goal in life now is to live out the truth of what God has done for me in Christ. That means that I am being truest to my (new) self when I’m walking with Jesus and living in His holiness to the glory of God, confessing my sins when I do stumble while being renewed day by day through His power at work in me.

That’s why the apostle commands us, in Ephesians 4, to do three things. Notice how these go together

1) He says, “Put off your old self.”
You’re no longer that person you used to be. So just like you would throw away an old pair of jeans that are full of holes and no longer fit, take off that old life and throw it away. It no longer fits who you are in Christ. (See Ephesians 4:17-24)

2) He says, “Get a new attitude about yourself.”
Let the Bible (not the world) tell you who you are and teach you how to live. Believe what God says is true of you in Christ, and then act on it. (see Romans 12:1-2)

3) “Put on your new self” which is your “true self” in Christ.
Begin to live and act like someone who really does belong to God; who really has been redeemed by Christ; and really is indwelt with the Holy Spirit of Grace. Why? Because all that's really true, if you've been born again by the power of the Gospel and brought to faith in Christ.

It is through these “baby steps” -- as you set your mind on being what God really has made you in Christ -- that you begin to see the power of this new life at work in you. Through faith in Christ and what Christ has actually done (both objectively on the cross and subjectively in our lives), you and I are being equipped to live out the life that is truly ours because of Him!

Loving the journey as we learn what it means to walk together with Him!

Pastor Scott Lee

Final Romania Post

2007-04-28T12:04:00.000-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Of course, by now I realize that I've done this all backwards. OK, I'm new at blogging. I didn't think about the fact that my blogs would be listed in the order I posted them...so that if you read through them the way they are arranged, you'll be going backwards. Oh well.....

Here is the last entry (if you want them in order, skip down to #1 and work your way up)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I've been unable to write to you again since we were traveling from place to place in Romania. I'm home now. We got back last night, I spent a little time with my family and then passed out for about 11 hours of much needed sleep. There's a ton of stuff on my desk that needs attention -- as you can imagine -- but I had to take just a minute to jot a quick note of praise to God!

The Lord was with us every step of the way! After my last email we finished the conference in Brasov. The Lord helped in such a powerful way -- I really do think we were able to offer the students some help in dealing with sin and growing up into this new life that God has give through Christ. They were very appreciative and there were many tears as we left. Many pastors in Romania, it seems, do not shepherd in the sense that they do not take time to nurture the lives of the people. Many have become administrators. I do not mean to imply that they are not good men. I have met very many who are deeply committed to Christ. But they have taken on so many responsibilities -- often for administrating American backed "causes" and para-church endeavors -- that they are left with little or not time to be shepherds in any biblical sense of that term. So when we come and take time to teach and to talk with young people and pray with them, is a bit overwhelming for them. Pray God will bring biblical change to the churches in Romania -- they have picked up a lot of bad habits from American churches -- many of the same things we're concerned about here have been carried over there by the bucket load! I fear a lot of our "church growth" silly-ness has been imposed on them.

After Brasov we traveled across the tops of some of the most beautiful mountains I've ever seen -- snow covered peaks and 1800's type alpine villages for miles all around us. We then descended down in to Cumpalung to stay with a dear family -- one of the sweetest I've ever known. They were an important "pipleline" for Bibles and funds being smuggled into Romania back under communism (their daughter was one of our translators -- and boy is she good at what she does!). I preached to the church there. God really helped me to give a message on the reality of a God-sent conversion as opposed to someone merely making "a decision for Christ". When God does it, it's real. As I say, God really helped. The family we stayed with were thrilled. They are so tired of American "decisionism" and said they were so happy to finally hear the Gospel preached clearly. What a gracious God to let me experience such friendship and kindness!

From there we went to Putuasa (it means brimstone). A friend, Bro Mike Durham was supposed to preach there and we were to have supper with him -- as so often happens in Romania he was late so Bro Mike and I each spoke a few words to the congregation and then, just as our friend arrived had to leave to get back to Bucharest and prepare for our flight early the next day.

Got to Bucharest late -- about 11:30, could not sleep. Had to get up at 3 AM to get to the Airport by 4 AM. Flew for about 18 hours total -- got home, got some really wonderful sleep. And now......can't wait to see you all

God is so good to treat a sinner like me so very well for Christ's sake!

S. Scott Lee
Soli Deo Gloria

www.RockportBaptist.org

Romania Report #5 - Saturday April 21st

2007-04-28T11:55:00.000-05:00

Dear Family,

Another two wonderful days of conference. We have about 75 students crammed into a very small upper room. They were expecting about 50. They are like the others -- very hungry for truth and filled with questions. I've really experienced the help of the Holy Spirit here as I've taught. There has been great freedom to speak on our freedom in Christ from Romans 6. It has been amazing to see God at work.

Tomorrow we finish this conference (Sunday morning). Then we will load up and travel to Cumpalung (I'm not sure of the spelling). We will then preach in the evening service in the church in that town.

We've been able to spend some great time with old friends (Ruxi, Bagdon, Ionutz, Little Adi, and Alex). It's been good to get to know Alex's three children. The boys (10 and 12) said they like having us with them. Also, I beat them both at pingpong! I'm just glad there are no Lovings here!....that way I can win!

I will write again if I am able.

Love to you all.

Love especially to my girls!

Romania Report #4 - Thursday, April 19th

2007-04-28T11:51:00.000-05:00

Dear Family,

We are now in Brasov. One of my favorite Romanian cities!! For those who know him, Ionutz is here with us. We had quite a time getting here. Romanian roads are tough any way, but this time there was constant construction. But we are here. Praise the Lord

Our conference begins tomorrow. I will write you more then

God bless you all

Romania Report #3 - Wednesday April 18th

2007-04-28T11:44:00.000-05:00

Dear Family,

God has been very good. We've had a great meeting today with the students. God let us renew many old friendships, offer biblical counsel on some difficult personal issues, and see some break thoughts by the power of God's word. I am so happy to see that God has brought my dear friends into a fuller grasp of the doctrines of God's wonderful grace! They are much further along that I had imagined. God has been showing them so much.

I also had a long and wonderful conversation with our friend Adi -- Aaron and Bob will remember him -- and find that he too has come to see the joy of sovereign grace. It's wonderful to see so many rejecting this "pray this prayer" evangelism that is so common over here (and in the states) and coming to see that Salvation is an act of God's grace in changing the heart and bringing faith in Christ alone as Savior and Lord. Praise our wonderful Lord.

And oh yes, Adi and his wife have a beautiful new baby girl!

God is so good. Can't wait to see you all. We leave for Brasov in the morning (an 8 hour drive over mountain roads) so please pray for us

It's very late and I must sleep.

I continue to pray for you all

With much love

Post #2 From Romania -- Tuesday, April 17

2007-04-28T11:41:00.000-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

We had a really great time today. Brother Mike and I both preached twice to the students. The turnout was lower than they were hoping (many are just arriving back from Easter break), but still it was a blessed time. We were able to renew acquaintances with several friends from two years ago when Aaron, Bob and Kim were with us. I can't wait to share it all with you

Really tired and ready for bed. Another long day tomorrow

Love to you all -- especially to my girls

Romania Report #1

2007-04-28T11:28:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends and Family,

While in Romania I was able to send emails to our newsgroup, but was unable to post to my "blog." The next several entries will be "catch up" from the mission trip -- ie, I'm going to submit slightly edited versions of the emails I sent to our church family.

Entry #1 - Monday, April 16th from Timisoara Romania

We're here and we're safe. Had a great time of worship and preaching Sunday. I preached three times -- once at Holy Trinity (the big church in Bucharest) for their early service. Then in a service with Brother Moise and the gypsies. Please pray for them. He is very depressed. There are many problems facing him and the families of his church right now. Pray for one family in particular who have endured the pain of having a daughter turn away into a life of sin.

Later that afternoon I had the joy of preaching at Glina, again with Brother Nae. It was a very full and lively service. God gave a lot of help. I love the gypsies! They are very appreciative of you all and the help you've given and told me more than once to express that to you.

One very sad note. The community and church at Mama India have been destroyed! The government came in and bull-dozed the church and school and most of the homes. They say the gypsies have no right to be there. The problem is they have not "right" to be anywhere according to Romanian law because they are poor and have no claim on the land. It is very sad. I stood there with one of the men I met two years ago as we prayed, and he wept and wept. I have taken pictures (see above). It is all very shocking! There were 100 children attending the little school there -- many of them have an opportunity to get a basic education for the first time ever. Now all but 20 are gone. "Where?" I asked. No one knows. Some had moved into a forest, living in hand made "tents" of tree limbs, but the government came and chased them away from there as well. Now they have scattered to who knows where. Pray for God's help and for justice.

We did get to spend a little time with Bro Paul Washer and Sorin on Saturday and Sunday. They returned to the states today (Monday). We have just driven over 10 hours to get to Timisoara. This is where Bebe and Ani Tomeci life. I'm with them now. We will begin our conference in the morning. It is now midnight and I must get to bed. Please pray for us.

Love to you all. I'm praying for you as well. Do not let the enemy gain a foot hold in any area. Our God is greater than the devil. He will give us the victory. In the Apostles John's words, "Little children, love one another".

In Jesus

S. Scott Lee
Soli Deo Gloria

www.RockportBaptist.org

A Passion for Missions

2007-03-04T18:02:00.000-06:00

God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us
That Your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations. (Ps 67:1-2)

The theme of Psalm 67, like the theme of the whole Bible, is missions! It is a prayer that God would bless us so that through us the nations might come to know and worship Him! From that, I take this important truth: The reason God blesses His people is never just so we can be blessed. It is always so that we might use His blessing to make Him known in the earth!

When God called Abraham, in Genesis 12, He made this promise. He said “I will bless you and you will be a blessing” It was God’s purpose to bless Abraham. Why? Because, He goes on to say, “in you all the nations of the earth will be blessed” In other words, God’s purpose in blessing Abraham was that ultimately through him, a blessing (salvation in Jesus) would go out to the nations! Notice that! God’s goal was the nations. The way He accomplished that goal was through Abraham. So God blessed Abraham and made him a blessing, so that through him, God would be known in all the earth!

That’s what I want our church to understand. I want us to see that that Missions is at the heart of everything God does, which means that missions is at the heart of what it means to be Christian! That means the church that does not have missions at the center of its life and activity cannot claim to be a true church, and the Christian who does not have a passion for missions burning in his/her heart cannot claim to be a true disciple of Christ.

That’s the big picture! This is what God is doing on planet earth right now! He’s raising up a people for Himself, blessing them with joy in His Son, and then sending them out to the nations to might make his glories known! May God bless us and cause His face to shine on us, that His name may be known in all the earth!

In His Mercy
S. Scott Lee

Let me glorify God with all that I have!

2007-02-18T10:15:00.000-06:00

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God.- 1 Corinthians 10:31

Stewardship is about a lot more than just money. It includes money and possessions, but it is not mainly about money and possessions. Stewardship involves your life and your time, as well. It’s what you do in your “off moments” as well how you spend your “on the clock” time. It is a matter, Paul says in 1 Cor 10:31 of doing “whatever you do to the glory of God”

“That’s Stewardship.” It is a commitment of my life to God, not just my things. I think of 2 Cor 8:5 where Paul commends the Macedonian believers who gave themselves to God first, and then gave their possessions. It was a matter of priority. God does not need our help. He does not desire our things, as if He was dependent on us or needed us to give to Him before He can get His will done (Acts 17:25). He doesn’t need us. But God delights to see our hearts so value Him and His Kingdom that our priority is to glorify Him with all that we have. He loves to see it when we gladly use our things – our time, our efforts, our possessions, our all – for Him.

As one of our elders, Will Jackson, said to me in an email the other day: Stewardship is “much bigger” than just putting a check in the offering plate. “It is taking someone in and letting them sleep in a spare bedroom..., or getting close to a neighbor who is out of work so you can help him..., or helping the poor in downtown Saint Louis..., or keeping your old car a little longer so you can help someone else buy a new one they need.... or it may mean something radical!” That is the biblical idea of stewardship – seeing everything you have and everything you are as being at the disposal of the Master! That's the kind of man I want to be. That's the kind of church I want our congregation to be! That's the kind of people I want my children to be! So that, in whatever we do, we do it all for the glory of God.

Seeking Him for God Glorifying Grace!!

Scott Lee

"God is Able" to make giving a joy!

2007-02-07T11:39:00.000-06:00

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you,
so that having all contentment in all things at all times,
you may abound in every good work”.
2 Corinthians 9:8

“God is able.” Those have to be three of my favorite words in the whole Bible. In fact, several of my favorite passages begin with these same, or very similar words of encouragement. For example, consider, the following passages:

“God . . .is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:32

“[God] is able to strengthen you according to my gospel” Rm 16:25

“[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Eph 3:20

“He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 2 Tim 1:12

“He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” Heb 2:18

“He [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him” Heb 7:25

“[God] is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy. Jude 24

Now the thing that absolutely thrills my heart as I look at all these verses, is the astounding realization that not one of them depends on me for its fulfillment. In each and every case I am being told something God will do in my life as I put my trust in Him!

God will "build me up and give me an inheritance" among the saints. (Acts 20:32).
God will "strengthen me" according to the gospel (Rm 16:25).
God will "do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Eph 3:20)
God will "guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (2 Tim 1:12)
God will “come my aid" when I am tempted. (Heb 2:18)
God in Christ will "save me completely" (Heb 7:25)
God will "keep me from stumbling, and to make me stand in the presence of His glory
blameless with great joy." (Jude 24)

All these things God will do, as I put my trust in Him and rest in His all-sovereign ability.

And then there is this matter of giving in 2 Cor 9:8. The larger passage says,

6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Somehow we forget that the God who is able to save us from death and make us alive spiritually in Christ Jesus, is also able to supply all our needs physically as he teaches us to live a new life of open-handed generosity. In other words, God gives us all we need for His Kingdom and Glory! So why is giving what God has provided so darn hard? Why do we treat the things we own, as though they were the key to our supply of daily bread? Could it be because, like Calvin said, we are by nature idolaters at heart? Could it be that we find it easier to trust God for things we can't see -- like heaven -- but harder to trust him for what we can see -- like money and possessions? It's as though we believe God is able to save us from sin and take us to heaven -- and we know it because He's promised -- but we're not too sure he can provide for our needs physically and give us all we need "for every good work" -- as He has also promised in the very same Bible. (Or maybe we're just afraid he won't supply us in the manner in which we are sinfully accustomed?)

It's an age old problem. As far back as the prophet Malachi, God was urging His people, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows." (Malachi 3:10)

IN Christ Jesus, we must learn that giving does not flow from me to God as if I’m doing Him a favor. It flows from God through me and back to God again. It is when I trust Him and freely put all my possessions into His hands, that God grants me the freedom to enjoy the rich gain that flows into my life through a Christ-centered and God-honoring generosity! And by "gain" I don't mean that I'll always have the earthly wealth or riches my selfish heart often desires. I may have very little of this world's goods. But it means I will enjoy the "gain" of a free and generous heart that is no longer bound by it's love of things, but has discovered a deeper love and satisfaction in God that "things" cannot provide! And because I am satisfied in God, that makes it possible for me to enjoy being able to honor God with all I possess, giving freely to the poor and generously (like that widow with her two copper coins) to the cause of missions and God's glory in the world.

Well, that's my goal! As I write this, our church is preparing to consider once again the Bible's many promises to faithful stewards. And my prayers is that we will discover once again that we are not owners, we are stewards" -- and servants serve the Master by managing His possessions well and in a way that will accomplish His purposes and bring Him the most glory. Oh Christian, God has put all you possess into your hands that we might learn the joy of a glad and open-handed generosity. May God grant your heart such freedom so that Christ may be all in all! "Little children, guard yourselves from idols" ( 1 John 5:21)

Pastor Scott

PS - For any who may be interested, let me recommend a wonderful and helpful little book called "The Treasure Principle" by Randy Alcorn. We give this away to all our members and have used it more than once for a basic study in biblical stewardship. I urge you to get a copy and find the joy of making Christ and Christ's Kingdom your highest priority in the matter of money and possessions.

A Blessed Life -- and Life Indeed!

2007-02-01T10:04:00.000-06:00

Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people. - Genesis 25:8

This passage reminds me of my grandmother. Most of my friends know that she passed away this past Sunday and that I’ve gone down to Arkansas to be with my family during this important time. I have mixed feelings as I think about her passing. Many have said to me, when they’ve heard the news, “I’m sorry.” But I can’t help thinking that I’m not.

Of course I will miss her. It makes me sad to think about the loss of fellowship many feel right now – especially my dad who was the youngest of her five children. I’ll miss seeing her at holidays and pretending to fight with my brother over which one of us she really made that special buttermilk pie for (everyone knows it was for me! :) )

And yet Eva Lee died at the ripe old age of 99, an old woman and satisfied with life. She lived through ten of the most amazing decades in world history. They were farmers and not at all wealthy, so it was never easy. But through hard work and -- I'm sure many prayers -- they always seemed to have enough. She never learned to drive and has lived on her own for the past 30 years following the death of my grandfather in 1976. She is remembered affectionately by 20 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and 3 great, great grand-children. She was in the hospital two, maybe three times at most, (but never for anything serious), enjoying almost amazing health until just a little over a month ago. She was even awarded a certificate in 1998 acknowledging her as the "Oldest Eldercare Volunteer in the State of Arkansas". She once said she enjoyed going down to the center to "help those old people" -- most of whom were younger than her, I think. She lived a full life!

But most importantly, she knew (and knows) that life that is life indeed! A long-standing member of the Assemblies of God, my grandmother knows (presently!) the Lord and by grace through faith has been permitted to enter into the joy He has reserved for those who trust in Him!

So I feel the loss, but I’m not sorry. My grandmother has known the simply joys of a common life. Unremembered by history, she is treasured by her family, and held in the ever-lasting arms of God’s unfailing love. What could be better?

In His Mercy!
Pastor Scott Lee

Blessed is the man who mediates on God's Word

2007-01-25T14:39:00.001-06:00

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. - Psalm 1:1-2

I’m drawn to the words, “his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night” For the Christian, meditation on God’s word is not a duty to be fulfilled, but a delight to be indulged! When you feed on the Word daily, you find your resistance to sin strengthened and your heart for God satisfied. For just as the man who's recently enjoyed an amazing steak dinner isn’t tempted to stop off on the way home for a quick McDonald's cheeseburger, so a Christian who’s belly is full of the good things of God is not easily tempted to “sit down” to the feast of the wicked.

It is only the hungry who are ready to eat anything set before them. But if you fill your mind with God’s Word so that it satisfies the longings of your heart, you soon find an ever-growing power to say “No!” to sin. “No!” to sin because you’ve been saying “Yes!” to better things in Christ! That's the power of a superior delight!

One of the things people often miss, is that our hearts were made to be satisfied by something. "Satisfy me in the morning, with your steadfast love" Moses writes in Psalm 90:14. Notice that. He does not say. "Make me a man who doesn't need satisfaction." He says, "Satisfy me in you, so that I won't seek satisfaction elsewhere -- in lesser things. The key to not finding satisfaction in that which is sinful, is to pursue something better!...to find a deeper more lasting satisfaction in that which God has provided in Christ!

Thus David writes in Psalm 19:7-11,
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.

Let me urge you to make God’s Word your daily delight. Let it strengthen you in your fight against sin as you read and meditate on it daily, and as you join others each week for Bible Study or Sunday School at a local, Christ-exalting, Bible-faithful church.

Talking Jesus Dolls

2007-01-19T14:00:00.000-06:00

I don't know if you happened to hear about the controversy this past Christmas surrounding 'Toys for Tots' initial refusal to allow the "Talking Jesus Doll” among it’s donated items, it seems to me most of the discussion ended up missing the real point. Why should Christians be upset when a secular organization doesn’t what to hand out plastic Jesus dolls? Shouldn’t we be more concerned that someone has actually made plastic Jesus dolls in the first place, in direct violation of the Second Commandment? "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." (Ex 20:4) The point of this commandment is that God is not to be represented by any man-made objects at all Why not? Because as soon as we make an object and say "this is what God is like" or “Jesus is like this,” we misrepresent Him to the world! No matter how good our image may be, it will fall short of what is real. It will misrepresents Him! We used to call that blasphemy.

In this case, imagine how such a doll will be looked at by children (Not to mention played with!) Children will think within themselves, "This is what Jesus is like. Look what I can make Him do!" And they will manipulate him and talk for him and have him in their hands to do with as they please, just like they do with their Batman and Barbie dolls. He is reduced to a child's play thing! To think of that makes me shudder! And then I think of all the times God brought terrible judgments upon His people because they failed to treat Him as "holy" (Num 20:12, etc). One meaning of "holy" is "to be separated from that which is common or profane." Putting Jesus in the hands of children to play with in the same way they would play with Batman or Barbie violates a whole host of biblical commands and could possibly bring spiritual harm to the children who grow up thinking of Jesus as a common play-thing.

May God give us clear biblical discernment in all things.

Pastor Scott Lee

Only "Half-a-God"

2007-01-18T14:54:00.000-06:00

“Behold then the kindness and severity of God” Romans 11:22a

I wonder, sometimes, if we Americans aren’t guilty of worshiping only “half-a-God.” We sing about His mercy and kindness. We love to talk about His love, as we “count our many blessings” and tell others of a God who loves them and has “a wonderful plan” for their lives. But rarely do we stop and think about the harder truths of God – things like his wrath and justice, or how He absolutely hates all sin.

The result of this is that we are not a people who know God, or fear God or “tremble at His Word.” (Isa 66:2). His commands don’t carry nearly as much weight with us as do the opinions of the “experts” on TV. We’re far more likely to take our views about personal issues, like sex or raising children or building a business, from the people around us rather than the God above us. We don’t know or walk with God!

One of the great benefits of studying the Bible verse by verse is that it forces us to deal with the hard things in God’s Word just as much as we get to rejoice in the easy and more pleasant things. I remind you of this because Romans 11, which we're studying at Rockport right now, is filled with hard things. Here we find God in all His sovereign supremacy reigning and ruling over sinful man, hardening some and pardoning others as He desires, and not asking anyone’s permission.

My prayer, as we wrestle through these difficult truths together, is that God will use this time to deepen your sense of dependence on Him, that He will give you an ever-increasing admiration and love for His mercy; and an ever-growing amazement at the grace that broke through to save you.! May we learn to worship a “Whole God” Who “has mercy on whom He desires, and hardens whom He desires” (Rm 9:18)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone be the Glory)

Pastor Scott Lee