Truth Matters

True Joy

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:53:00 +0000

“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”
ESV Psalm 4:7

Last week I mentioned that for some time I’ve desired to teach in a place where the people had not been bombarded with the gospel; a place where the never changing gospel message could be presented with a sense of freshness to eager ears. I found that place last week in Peru. I was privileged to be part of a team of seven who spent last week in the high jungles of north eastern Peru preaching and teaching at a church conference.

The conference church was located several miles from the nearest town. The final leg of our journey required that we travel by pack horse, foot, or four wheel drive vehicle. For the record, we hired a truck. But even by truck, it took just over an hour to get to the church. To put the remoteness into perspective; we were 1 hour by truck to the nearest plumbing or electricity; 2 _ hours to the nearest paved road; and depending on the weather, almost 4 hours from the nearest police or hospital. You might say that we were in the boonies. (For the record, I felt safer there than in the nearest town.)

The story of how a church was established in this remote location will have to wait for another day. But last week, it acted as the host church for many congregations situated in the surrounding countryside. Pastors, men, women, children, even entire families traveled as much as six hours in order to attend. I met one man who hired a car to the nearest town and then walked the final 2 _ hours on the jungle trail.

Just after dark that first night, I saw headlights coming down the trail above. It was a four wheel drive truck bringing in more people for the conference. And had I not witnessed it, I might doubt what I’m about to say, but 25 people climbed off or out of a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. I knew where they came from; I knew where they were going; I knew what the road was like; I knew they came to hear the God’s word. I cried.

When services finally began that first night, the humble sanctuary (which sat about 80 people) was full and faces glowed down each wall as people stood on logs and boards outside in order to look through the open windows, and 50 more people stood outside the church doors with ears tuned to the message from inside. And these people were happy. No, they were more than happy; though short on earthly treasures, these people had the joy of the Lord in them!

Charles Spurgeon says this about our verse (and I found it to be true during my trip): “Christ in the heart is better than corn in the barn, or wine in the vat. Corn and wine are but fruits of the world, but the light of God’s countenance is the ripe fruit of heaven.”

-Ken Askew

Wherever He Leads

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:00:00 +0000

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." ESV Matthew 28:19-20

Just about two and a half years ago we had a men’s conference here in Russellville that was called “a man of HIS Word.” Some of you may remember it. About 150 men from several counties showed up at the Todd Centre to listen to the five messages about biblical manhood. All of the messages were good, but the final message pierced my soul.

That last message was delivered by Al Jackson. He’s affectionately known as Brother Al in Auburn, but more importantly, he’s known to be a man of God; a man of His Word. He’s also known across his denomination for his burning passion for preaching the gospel around the globe. So fittingly, that afternoon Al delivered a message titled “a man on HIS mission.”

The day ended without a lot of whooping and hollering. As a matter of fact it ended sort of quiet and reverent with the words of an old hymn playing in my mind; wherever he leads, I’ll go.

That was the year I got a passport. Since that time, I’ve had many opportunities to travel internationally, but never with a sense of calling. And quiet frankly, I’ve not been up for a Christian vacation abroad, so my passport has sat in a drawer unstamped.

But things took a turn last April. I was visiting after a service with a missionary and offhandedly remarked that I had a desire to preach in a place where folks had not been bombarded with the word to the point of numbness. Without hesitation, he looked me straight in the eyes and replied, “Then brother, you should go to Peru with me this year.” Somehow, I knew at that very moment that I had received the calling that had been missing before.

Well, one thing led to another and barring something totally unforeseen, by the grace of God, as you read this article, I am camped on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains in the high jungle of Peru preaching from the book First John at a conference for church leaders and missionaries.

They tell me I’ll get an opportunity to preach eight times in four days in the compound. Never been there. Never done that. I’m in uncharted territory and I’m depending on the grace of God to keep me healthy and mentally alert.

Pray for me this week. Pray that this trip will be for the glory of God.

-Ken Askew

1gspl4all

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:53:00 +0000

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” ^ESVTitus 2:11-12

My mom was a legal secretary when I was a baby. I have no recollection of it at all other than the memory of being fascinated by shorthand notations. I never learned to read or write in shorthand, but I understand it to be a way of writing that uses odd shapes and symbols to denote words and phrases. Hey, wait a minute; Mom was text messaging way before it was cool!

Well, it might cool to use shorthand in an email, an article or even a letter to communicate; there is simply no shortchanging the gospel and its far reaching power to save what was lost and keep it forever.

Some months back I wrote a series of articles inspired by Jerry Bridges’ comment that “we all need a daily appropriation of the gospel.” That thought was rekindled in me this week as I listened to Matt Glass preach about the gospel in our church; specifically mentioning the verses above. Let’s explore them briefly.

In verse eleven, we see right away that Paul is talking about Jesus. Jesus is the grace of God and he has appeared to us here on earth. And for what purpose; why did the grace of God appear? So that salvation might be had by all. So that sinners might be reconciled through faith and repentance to God. But is that the only reason? No, the gospel has other purposes too.

Look at verse twelve with me. The grace of God has also appeared for those who have already been saved. We see right away that the gospel is good for training Christians too! In a negative sense, the gospel causes Christians to recognize ungodliness and worldly passions in their lives; both of which separate us from the joy of our salvation. And the same gospel enables Christians to renounce these things too.

Now look at verse twelve in a positive sense. The gospel is that fuel which enables Christians to live self controlled, upright and godly lives. And each of these attributes, exercised for the glory of God, serve to increase the joy of our salvation; to bring us closer to God with each passing day.

The simplicity of it all is fascinating. Think about it. One God; One Saviour; One Gospel; One Way. The same gospel that saves also leads, guides and directs Christians in their daily walk. So there really is -young or old, skinny or chubby, pretty or homely, lost or saved - just one gospel for all; 1gspl4all.

-Ken Askew

Scripture Sandwich

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:31:00 +0000

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ESV 1 John 1:8-10

Ever notice how easy it is to forget things? Tell the truth, have you ever walked into a room and wondered what you went in there for? I thought so. If you can’t relate to that, how about this; you tell your child no to a request (in no uncertain terms mind you) only to have them tugging at your leg with the same request a few minutes later.

We all need little reminders along don’t we? In the book of 1 John, John was reminding his flock of some basic Christian truths that he and the other Apostles had already shared with them.

Our passage today is what I like to call a scripture sandwich; which is a real, distinct, meaty verse sandwiched in between two related verses.

In verse eight, John points out that regardless of how pious, righteous and holy that his readers think they are living; they are kidding themselves if they think they have eradicated sin in their lives. Of course sinless perfection is something all Christians should strive for, but we won’t be completely victorious until we are removed from the very presence of sin; at home in heaven.

John uses even stronger language in verse ten. There he warns them that if we claim to have never sinned, then they are going way beyond kidding ourselves. He says that if we make this claim, we are in essence making God out to be a liar. Paul confirmed this in his letter to the Romans when he said “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

But wedged in between these two related verses lies the remarkable verse nine which says that if “we confess our sins…he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I confess to having difficulty wrapping my arms around this verse. Think about it for a minute. Here’s a promise, from God Himself, to cleanse us of all unrighteousness if we will recognize sin for what it is and confess it to him; wow.

Christians, be honest this week. Don’t deceive yourself by claiming you are living in sinless perfection and don’t make God out to be a liar by denying that you’ve ever sinned. Either answer should give you reason to doubt that the truth is in you. Instead, in absolute humility, confess your sins to the Redeemer and He will be faithful to cleanse you of all unrighteousness.

-Ken Askew

Pastor John

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:21:00 +0000

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-² the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-³ that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

^ESV1 John 1:1-3

Some months back during a lunch conversation a pastor friend of mine asked: “Ken, what are you passionate about?” After some reflection, the answer became clear; Truth Matters! In hindsight, I don’t know why the answer required any thought at all; you’d think it would have been on the tip of my tongue.

As I read through John’s letters, especially 1^st John, I get the sense that John felt the same way. In all of his letters, John exposes the errors of the day and points his readers towards truth. For John, truth mattered.

While I have often thought of John as the Beloved Disciple, I confess to have never thinking of him as a pastor until recently. But his letters are no doubt pastoral in nature; meant to guide and shepherd his flock in truth. So in the coming weeks, instead of looking at John the Beloved, or John the Apostle, lets think of him as Pastor John.

He begins by affirming a central truth about Jesus. Jesus is eternal. I suppose the correct theological terminology would be that Jesus is eternally begotten by the Father, but my mind is sufficiently stretched by simply thinking of Him as being around forever; past and future.

But the next three things John mentions really catch my attention. John says that he has heard Jesus; seen Jesus; even touched Jesus in the flesh! Think of the strength of John’s testimony. He’s walked with Jesus! If I may be so bold as to put words into his mouth, John is saying ‘I’ve seen Him with my own two eyes!’

In our verses today, John points out twice that Jesus was made manifest to us; meaning that Jesus descended from the heavenly realm to abide with us in the flesh. He also points out that Jesus is the word of life and the eternal life that has come from the Father to earth.

And for what purpose? Why did Jesus come to earth and why is John going to such lengths to establish this truth? So that his readers might know the truth and enjoy the same fellowship with God the Father and God the Son that John and the other Apostles enjoyed.

Pastor John knew Jesus; do you know Him? More on this in the coming weeks…

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Focused on the Gospel

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:21:00 +0000

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” ^ESV Acts 20:24

The book of Acts tells us that while Paul was in Athens, his spirit was provoked because he noticed that everywhere he turned, people were worshiping idols. They even had an idol to an unknown God.

So, as was his custom everywhere he went, Paul did everything within his power and means to convince the Athenians of the truth regarding the one true God; the God of the Bible. Paul was always focused on sharing the gospel.

In the case of the Athenians, he had to first point out to them that there was only one true God who was creator of heaven and earth. But his custom according, to his first letter to the Corinthians, was to share the story of Jesus. He says that he “…delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to Scriptures…” Paul shared this story of Jesus everywhere he went.

Paul’s ministry was by no measure an easy one. His concern for the early churches weighed heavy on him and his teachings met frequent opposition. His travels were hard and difficult and many times they exposed him to danger from robbers. He recounts many nights without food, water or shelter. The Jews had given him thirty-nine lashes on at least five occasions. He had been beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, and spent time adrift at sea. Yet Paul never lost his singular focus; the gospel of Jesus Christ.

There were occasions when Paul saw some fruit from his labors. But he credited any growth in the church to God; admitting only to planting the seed of truth himself.

In our verse today, we see Paul saying goodbye to the Ephesians as he prepares to go to Jerusalem; unsure of the fate that awaited him. What calamity would he encounter this time? Would they beat him? kill him? or would they accept the seed that he would plant?

Paul’s attitude regarding his ministry should be an inspiration to all who labor to deliver the truth. To the pastor, take courage preaching to an unresponsive congregation. To the Sunday School teacher, take joy as you prepare for hours in order to deliver a thirty minute lesson. To the choir, sing praises as unto the Lord! To the volunteers in the shadows, persevere. To all, stay focused on testifying to the gospel of the grace of God; Jesus.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Agnostic to Apologist

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:16:00 +0000

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." ESV John 8:32

If you look up the definition of an agnostic, you’ll find that it is describes a person who does not necessarily deny the existence of God. But neither does an agnostic affirm the existence of God. As a matter of fact, they generally believe that no proofs of God exist. You could say, they’re just kind of indifferent and don’t really care one way or the other.

On the other hand, if you look up the word apologist, you’ll find that it describes a person who stands in defense of a doctrine; like Christianity. Interestingly enough, one of the greatest agnostics of modern times spent his later years earning the distinction of being one of Christianity’s greatest apologists. I’m speaking of C.S. Lewis, the author of Mere Christianity and many other Christian books. Lewis went from being a decided skeptic to a staunch supporter and many of his writings give insight into his conversion. Allow me to summarize his conversion with the simple observation that “the truth” set him free.

This past week I had lunch with a self described agnostic. It was a short but interesting conversation. And I hope to continue the conversation one day soon.

One comment my friend made has stuck with me. He said that the part of him that wanted to believe in God was skeptical (even distrusting) of religion. He seemed both surprised and amused that I agreed with him. Now, I’m not suggesting that we abandon gathering together in local congregations, but whenever the object of our faith rests in our religion instead of our Creator, we’ve made a grave mistake.

The Athenians made this mistake. When Paul was in Athens, he noticed that they were so religious and so careful to cover their bases, that they even had an idol to an unknown god. Acts chapter seventeen records his sermon to the Athenians. Beginning in verse sixteen, Paul proclaimed to the Athenians the truth about the God that was unknown to them; the God who made the world and everything in it.

When Paul finished what I believe to be one of the greatest sermons recorded in scripture, we find that some people mocked him, others wanted to hear him again on the matter, but some believed. Yes, some believed in the one true God. They were converted through the gospel that Paul taught; the same good news Christians preach and teach today. The truth set them free.

My prayer is that God would grant me the opportunity, desire, knowledge and ability to share as much of the gospel, to as many people, as possible. So that perhaps, the truth of the gospel would set someone free. Who knows, maybe someone will even go from agnostic to apologist.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

The Apostles’ Creed: Brilliant at the Basics

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Why print The Apostle’s Creed? It’s simple really. Any document respected and revered enough by Christendom to remain in widespread use since the very early days of Christianity deserves some attention.

Some readers will immediately yawn and dismiss this article because their tradition recites the Creed every week in church. Other readers already have their defenses up; bristling at the thought of my using this space to discuss a creed. And still others are probably scratching their head wondering aloud: Hmm, what’s a creed? (It’s a brief statement of faith.)

As my Sunday School class discussed The Apostles’ Creed briefly this past week, I tagged it with the sub-title “Brilliant at the Basics” because of the way it effectively articulates the basic tenants of Christianity. I am convinced The Apostles’ Creed can be defended biblically. That being the case, I challenge you to read it carefully, slowly, and with an open mind; noting how it systematically and brilliantly lays out the basic beliefs held dear by Christians throughout the ages. It is truly Brilliant at the Basics.

Well, here it is with some of my thoughts inserted in brackets. Think of it and read it as a profession of faith in three parts.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell. [This phrase was not in the earliest editions of the Creed. It first appeared around the end of the fourth century and much debate surrounds its meaning. I’m convinced that “to hell” should be interpreted and read “to the grave.” But you can beg to differ and we’ll still be friends.]
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church, [In modern English, this phrase is better rendered “the holy universal church;” meaning the true church. It is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church that we know today.]
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Communication

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:00:00 +0000

“For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” ESV James 3:2

Do you remember the movie On Golden Pond (1981) starring Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn? Well if you didn’t see it, there isn’t room here to explain it. But if you did, you’ll recall that it centered on the sometimes ornery family relationships of an aging couple. Miscommunications between the couple and their daughter, which were sometimes intentional, were also frequent and many times comical to the viewer. I guess the gaffs were humorous because they were so ordinary and easy to relate to.

I’ve never been to Golden Pond, but I have been to Little Bear Creek. And last week, down on the lake, I was reminded of just how easy it is for miscommunication to occur.

Melisa (my wife) and I were sitting on the back porch of the cabin early one morning enjoying the dawning of the day when I noticed a crane slinking along the bank in search of prey. Not wanting to startle the crane, I motioned for Melisa to be quiet; it’s amazing just how noisy Frosted Flakes can be. Anyway, we watched as the crane stealthily inched along the water’s edge until just the right moment when, all of sudden, he pecked at the water and caught a fish!

We continued to watch in silence as the crane positioned the fish just right in its beak. He would jiggle the fish around a little, clamp down on it again and rinse it in the water. He must have repeated these steps a half dozen times before he got it like he wanted it. Then, he stuck his beak into the air and swallowed the fish whole in a single gulp.

At this point I’m smiling and thinking to myself: “Alright! You go bird; breakfast!” At that same moment, Melisa, before going inside for more Frosted Flakes, mutters out loud: “Poor fish!”

Now, we had both witnessed exactly the same event. The facts of the event were indisputable. Yet, when the deed was done, we had registered completely different endings in our minds; satisfied hunter versus poor, helpless prey.

I hope this story illustrates the importance of clear, concise communication in a family; or for that matter, between friends, at work or even in the church. Even when facts are indisputable, we often register different conclusions in our mind. This is exactly why letters, emails and text messages fall short as a means of communication; they’re easily misinterpreted and oft times register unintended conclusions.

Picking up on our verse, let me encourage you to be careful and clear in your communications this week. In conversation, choose your words carefully so that you don’t stumble in what you say.

Hmmm…wonder if I should I have told Melisa about this article ahead of time?

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Bike Rides, Hummingbirds and Wood Peckers

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:04:00 +0000

“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” ESV Proverbs 12:11

This past weekend I took a break and stopped to “smell the roses.” On Saturday I went bicycling with my son and a group of our friends. We pedaled some forty miles across sections of Franklin, Colbert and Lawrence counties. I was reminded anew that I’m not as young as I once was and of just how refreshing a hot shower followed by a two hour nap can be!

We started with the wind at our backs, but as we turned back to the south and then to the west, we faced a stiff, fifteen mile per hour headwind. I never considered quitting and letting the wind get the best of me, but I did have to remind myself that forward progress could only be accomplished by continued pedal strokes; one methodical circle at a time.

On Sunday afternoon I headed to a cabin on Little Bear Creek Lake where I was treated to a spectacular view of the lake aglow in the afternoon sun. I was also greeted by a hummingbird that had an odd fascination with my sandal and two wood peckers hard at work on a nearby tree. As I watched, I noticed that the hummingbird had a curious attraction to anything colorful and still. I’m sure its daily search for food.

But it was the two wood peckers that brought this verse to mind. The pair must have been male and female; one being larger than the other. And they were steady boring a nesting hole into a tree. One of them would stand aside or fly away while the other methodically ducked into the tree, banged away for a moment, and came out with a mouth full of sawdust. Then they would swap for a spell; but the work continued unabated. And I have no doubt that they’ll be in their new home soon.

Now think for a moment about the truth of our verse from my weekend observations. Had the wind bettered me, I could have stopped on the side of the road, but I wouldn't have been any closer to crossing the finish line. The hummingbird looked silly trying to find nectar in my sandal strap, but he would’ve never found a meal resting in his nest. And those two wood peckers. Well, they have learned the art of working together in a focused effort to get the job done and they’ll very soon reap rewards.

Are you methodically working your land, focused on the truly important things in your life, or are you distracted and following worthless pursuits? Distractions are plentiful. Spend some time this week focusing on the truly important things in your life; especially your relationship with God and your family. The fruit of your labor will be sweet.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Resist the devil

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:03:00 +0000

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” ESV James 4:7

Often times when reading about war and military actions the word resistance comes up. And it usually carries the implication of conflict or the meeting of opposing forces. I looked the word up online and found this definition: “the act of opposing.” Similarly, a quick search on the word resist yielded: “to oppose actively.” These definitions make an important point; to resist, or the act of resistance is not passive. Resistance is active.

So, to resist is to actively oppose or engage. Likewise, in the case of our verse today, to resist the devil would mean to actively engage and oppose him. Rather than being passive against evil and the power of the devil, James is telling us to actively oppose him and the result will be that “he will flee from you.”

I have a passing interest in Civil War history because troops from the North and the South spent a lot of time, and often fought, right here in our backyard. So, I enjoy occasionally mining historical nuggets with a local connection. One day while I was reading from Shelby Foote’s Civil War about some troops stationed in Tuscumbia, I came across a rather brash quote from a young General that is meaningful to our discussion of active opposition. In a message to Jefferson Davis, John Bell Hood wrote this: “You may rely upon my striking the enemy whenever a suitable opportunity presents itself, and that I will spare no effort to make that opportunity.”

Now think about the parallels for a moment. Hood was engaged in a physical battle. Christians are engaged in a spiritual battle. Hood vowed to strike (actively oppose) his enemy. Christians are commanded to resist (actively oppose) our enemy; the devil. Hood vowed to strike whenever he could. Does James indicate that Christian resistance is part-time? Finally, note that General Hood vowed to “spare no effort to make that opportunity.” May I suggest that we are to do the same? Spare no opportunity to resist the devil.

Followers of Christ can anticipate, even expect the devil to be lurking around every corner. The bible says he is like a “roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1Peter 5:8) Why then should we spare any effort to unveil him? Why should we spare any effort to reveal the devil who is camouflaged, hidden in the shadows, ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness? The answer is obviously that we shouldn’t. We must spare no effort to reveal the devil and resist him.

In physical combat, the tools of resistance are munitions designed to inflict bodily harm; guns, bombs, etc. Next week, we’ll look at the spiritual tools of resistance. Tools that make the enemy flee.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Fear, Imagination & Reality

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:02:00 +0000

“There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a wizard or a necromancer, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. ESV Deuteronomy 18:10-12

There was a “New Earth Festival” in Huntsville this past Sunday. Apparently, this festival provided a forum for tarot card readers, ghost hunters, new age healers and the like. Now I don’t pretend to know all the details, but here’s how the Huntsville Times reported on one of ten topics under the heading: Do skulls hold key to world salvation?

“According to folklore, 13 crystal skulls were created in a dimension other than this world up to 30,000 years ago and hidden in Central and South America. On Dec. 21, 2012, the skulls will reunite, activate and save the Earth from doom.” (I’m not making this up.) To which one person is quoted as saying: “I’m a believer and I’m a skeptic. I just don’t know.” How’s that for a disciple?

If it were not so sad, the whole event would provide much comic relief; it’d be a hoot. But it is sad. It’s sad because it’s just another example of the extraordinary lengths our society will go to both fuel and quench our fears of mortality with our own imaginations. We go to all manner of trouble to obscure and/or soft pedal truth. And in so doing, serious discussion is replaced with entertainment. As Neil Postman said in his aptly titled book, we are Amusing Ourselves to Death. I mean think about it. We’re all one day closer to meeting our maker today than yesterday and these folks would have us seek answers at a conference for fortune tellers…It’s like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic; useless.

The Bible says that there is no place for such nonsense with God’s people. But the nonsense is not new. We’ve may communicate it differently, but it was present even in the times of Moses!

The nonsense endures, but the truth endures as well. And the truth is that an all-powerful, timeless, all-knowing, righteous, just and holy God created the heavens, the earth, and all that is in them. And he’s not served, glorified or amused by our entertaining antics.

So, what is the key to world salvation? The writer of Hebrews says it best: “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27-28

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

A Dose of Reality

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:01:00 +0000

“Jesus said to him [Thomas], "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ESV John 14:6

These last few weeks we’ve looked at who God is (Creator of all things and worthy of all praise), what God demands of creation (to love Him with every fiber of our being and our neighbors as ourselves), and our societal drift in opposition to God’s commands; namely, the self-centered attitude of “it’s all about me;” my wants, my desires and my gratification supersede all else.

Do you see the conflict between God’s commands and society’s attitude? That conflict can only result in separation from God. Now, this is the point where a politically correct columnist would move on, but let’s talk frankly about this separation issue. One of these days, the same God who created the world is going to judge the world. And those found wanting, will be banished from His presence forever. It won’t be fun; it will be torment; it will be hell.

But ask someone to join you in Bible study and you’ll get all kinds of answers: I know I need to be in church… I’m going to clean up my life… I’m a good person; I’m ok… I’m a member at _____church… Momma used to carry me to church every Sunday… I’d come, but the church is full of hypocrites…I’m not into organized religion…The sad reality is that none of those answers will suffice on judgment day. When we meet our Creator, all excuses and human reasoning will be out the window. Instead, a holy God will judge sinful man and sentence him on the spot.

But the same God who will judge sin has provided a means of reconciliation with Himself. And that means is through His Son, Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, God “gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). There is no catch, but here’s something very important: Jesus is the only means of reconciliation that God has provided. There is no other way to be reconciled with God; religion won’t do it; cleaning up your life won’t do it; your momma’s good intentions won’t do it. “No one comes to the Father except through me [Jesus].

Drew Jones has written a short song (The Gospel Song) that has captivated me because of the way it beautifully summarizes this central Bible truth. It goes like this: “Holy God, in love became -- perfect Man to bear my blame. On the cross He took my sin. By His death I live again.”

Amen.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

It’s All About Me

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0000

“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” ESV Romans 3:20

Last week’s article asked the question: What does God demand? The answer, from the Gospel of Matthew, was that we are to love God with all of heart, soul and mind and our neighbor as ourselves. How does the reality of our lives compare to commands of God?

I had an opportunity this past week to read about the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. You know the story, but let me point out a few similarities to our society. In Genesis 9, God had commanded the survivors of the great flood to “multiply and fill the earth” and again to “teem on the earth and multiply in it.” Now, any way I read it, I get the impression that God is telling them to scatter about the earth; as in the whole earth. But when you come to Genesis 11, you’ll find the people all congregated together, living large and comfortably on the plain of Shinar; one big happy family.

The text goes on the say that not only had they settled in this land, but that they also desired to make a name for themselves by building a tall tower reaching into the heavens. They justified the goal and building project by suggesting that such a creation would prevent them from being “dispersed over the face of the earth.” Do you see any contradictions emerging here? The desires of mankind were directly contrary to God’s commands; contrary to God’s Law. Now I ask you, is it really any different today or are the natural desires of man contrary to God’s commands found in Matthew?

Isn’t it amazing how timeless the Bible is? The same issues were present in Rome during the Apostle Paul’s time. And in our text today, he points out that knowledge of God’s Law doesn’t bring us closer to God. No, the knowledge of God’s commands only brings to light the sins for which we are guilty. In other words, knowledge of God’s commands reveals just how self centered we really are! Admittedly, such knowledge should bring about a remorseful and repentant attitude, but that’s certainly not always the case.

No, our generation seems intent on satisfying personal desires without regards to God’s commands. We truly do live in an age whose motto could be: It’s all about me. The same attitude was prevalent in Paul’s day, that’s why he goes on to say in verse 23 that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” We have all sinned and our sin separates us from God. Honestly ask yourself, is my life 100% God-centered and not the least bit self-centered?

So what is the answer? If God commands one thing while we pursue contrary desires, something has to give or we’ll find ourselves eternally separated from God. More on this next week…

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

What Does God Demand?

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 29 May 2008 03:59:00 +0000

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." ESV Matthew 22:36-40

What is the greatest commandment? The question, albeit legitimate, was asked by a religious expert in the hopes of causing Jesus to misspeak. He was from a group that had already quizzed Jesus about taxes and the resurrection without tripping him up. But Jesus answered in typical, confounding, fashion. In two short statements Jesus summarized all of the Law and all of the Prophets: “…love the Lord your God with all your heart…[and] …love your neighbor as yourself.” Enough said; nobody argued the point further.

Do you ever yearn for a simpler, less hectic lifestyle? Do you wonder from time to time why we make “church” so hard with cumbersome traditions and rituals?” Well, these two commandments cut right to the heart of scripture and neither is particularly complicated or difficult to understand. They are actually both quiet simple and easily understood.

But history testifies that simple is not necessarily easy. The same Creator that hands us these two commandments had a simple program laid out for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden too. But it didn’t take long for them transgress God’s law. And on that fateful day when they ate the forbidden fruit, their lives and all of creation was forever changed. Even today, you and I live in a world still tainted by that original transgression (sin).

God demanded perfect obedience from Adam and Eve. And that was his prerogative as their Creator. God was perfectly just in requiring their perfect obedience to his simple command. But they couldn’t do it. So they were driven from the Garden of Eden; separated from God.

Now, here’s some food for thought: God demands perfect obedience from you and me too; and that’s his prerogative as our Creator. God is perfectly just in requiring our perfect obedience to his simple commands. So, the questions of the day are: Do you “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind?” And do you “love your neighbor as yourself?” And can you do it, every day, without fail?

Who is God?

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 22 May 2008 03:58:00 +0000

"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." ESV Revelation 4:11

Here in the Deep South, we sometimes use language that is very familiar to us and simply assume that our hearers comprehend it as intended. Take this phrase for instance: “I am fixing (pronounced fxn) to go to town.” The phrase seems perfectly clear to me, as I’m sure it is to you, but use the same phrase in Boston and most people will immediately wonder what is broken and just how going to town will fix it. A more precise sentence might read, “I am about to leave for town;” which of course is easily comprehended by all.

We also have the distinction of living in the Bible belt. And we sometimes use Bible belt language that is not universally understood. Take this phrase: “I have been saved.” Now, the initiated correctly understand the phrase to be personal testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. But to the uninitiated, the same phrase will leave them wondering; saved from what?

Who is God? It seems like a straightforward question doesn’t it? But let me suggest that the question isn’t altogether clear for a lot of folks. Unfortunately, the word “God” means different things to different people. The quandary is best illustrated by this quote I picked up recently: “God created man in his image and now man has returned the compliment.” See the problem?

My personal conviction is that the God of the Bible is the One True God. And the Bible is never short on descriptions of God. In this one short verse in Revelation we see that he is Lord (or boss), worthy of glory and honor. It also affirms his distinction as the supreme Creator of everything; you, me, heaven and earth; everything. And it implies that creation is an act of his will. In other words, all of creation exists just because God wants it to! Wow.

I confess to being grieved at just how flippant our society treats these truths from the Bible. It is as if we simply don’t take God seriously. But, if he’s simply an image of our own creation, then why should we?

Well, the One True God is not our creation. The prophet Isaiah got a glimpse of his glory in a vision and could only respond by saying, “Woe is me! For I am lost…my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of host!” Isaiah got it. Isaiah got a glimpse of God in all his perfect holiness and splendor. Isaiah got a glimpse of the One True God; Lord and Creator. Have you seen the same God?

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

The Highest Duty of Parenthood

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:57:00 +0000

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” ESV 2 Timothy 1:5

This past Sunday, Mother’s Day, I had an opportunity to speak at a local church. Being the special day that it was, I wanted to speak about some of the godly women mentioned in the Bible. I considered Eve, the mother of all living; Sarah, the wife of Abraham; Ruth, Naomi’s daughter in-law; even Mary, the mother of Jesus. But I was led to two lesser known women; Lois and Eunice.

As far as I can tell, Lois and Eunice were a couple of very ordinary women. Scripture mentions their names only once and that mention is hardly spectacular. Lois was the mother of Eunice. And Eunice was the mother of a young preacher named Timothy with whom the Apostle Paul spent no small amount of time counseling and mentoring.

But as I studied these two ordinary women, I came to the realization that their lives had and extraordinary impact. Their ordinary lives had an impact on eternity because they embraced the highest duty of parenthood; they shared their faith. Think about it. What greater gift can we impart to our children than a saving knowledge of God? I’ll go so far as to say that sharing your faith in the One True God of the Bible is the highest calling of parenthood. Paul tells us that these two women shared their faith with Timothy; a young man called out by God as a preacher.

The fruit of their sharing is apparent. Paul tells us that faith resided first in Lois, then in Eunice and finally with Timothy. And Timothy’s life must have given evidence of his internal faith because Paul says that he is “sure” that Timothy is a man of sincere faith. Timothy does more than pay lip-service to his faith; Timothy is living his faith. What a wonderful testimony!

This testimony of Timothy’s faith reminds me of Paul’s words in Romans 10:14: “But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”

We don’t know who shared their faith with Lois. But I perceive that she shared with Eunice and that they both shared with Timothy. And what was the result? The good news, that Christ is the way of salvation, was heard. The good news was believed. The good news took root. And the good news was shared with others.

Parents, you have no greater calling than as Christ’s witness to your children. Be sure they have heard the good news of Jesus Christ.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Cedars of Lebanon

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:56:00 +0000

“And so I [Solomon] intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to David my father, 'Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.' 6 Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me…”
ESV 1 Kings 5:5-6

At the death of King David, Solomon (his son) begins the task of building a sanctuary for the Lord. The time seems right; God has granted Solomon a time of peace on all fronts and the Bible tells us that the nation was dealing with “neither adversary nor misfortune.” Times were good and the door for a building project was wide open.

So Solomon announces his building project and makes plans to hew timbers from the “cedars of Lebanon” for the project. Now, the cedars of Lebanon are mentioned several times in the Bible and each reference alludes to their majesty. Quite simply, these trees must have produced the choicest timbers in the world. For Solomon, only the best would suffice for his Lord’s house. These choice timbers, properly selected, hewn and set, would be the backbone of God’s house. And truly, scripture bears witness to the Temple’s final grandeur.

But the “church” is more than a building. In the broadest sense of the word, the church includes everyone who worships the One True God of the Bible. And according the Acts 1:8, the church “will be my [Christ’s] witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Now, in order to carry out this charge, the church must be in a continual, ongoing building mode.

To support this never ending building program, the church must continually raise, nurture, harvest and hew choice timbers and set them in their proper place in God’s church for the task of being Christ’s witness in all of the earth. Of course, I’m talking about people now. Those people called by God to teach and preach His word. And not just at home, but throughout our nation and our world.

Unlike the timely example of Solomon’s building project, the timing hardly ever seems right when it comes to sending out friends or family members to be witnesses for Christ. The objections and reasons for hesitation flow freely at such times. But those people called by God for the task, somehow always seem to muster the faith and determination to answer the call – the call to be choice cedars of Lebanon – and gladly accept their role and take their place as Christ’s witness in God’s true church.

How’s your church doing? Are you raising folks up, sending them out and supporting them in their calling?

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Never Alone

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 01 May 2008 03:55:00 +0000

“But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love…”
ESV Genesis 39:21

The story of Joseph never ceases to fascinate me. It is full of conflict, temptation, hardship and deliverance. It follows a classic, repeating riches-to-rags-to-riches story line. And while Joseph is the key action figure, God is the main character.

You’ll recall that Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and then carted off to Egypt where he proved himself most capable and was given much responsibility in his new home; Potiphar’s household. Potiphar’s household flourished under Joseph’s care. However, sometime thereafter he met hard times again; finding himself imprisoned based on the false claims of Potiphar’s wife (insinuating a little romantic impropriety). It is here, at the low point of Joseph’s imprisonment, that our verse above is excerpted.

Note two things from our verse: First, “the Lord was with Joseph.” Yes, God was with Joseph even while Joseph’s circumstances might have seemed insurmountable, unbearable, unfair, and hopeless. Secondly, note that God showed Joseph “steadfast love” in those same circumstances. The important lesson for us is that neither God’s presence nor God’s love are dependent on our circumstances. If you are a child of God - a true Christian - God is with you always and His steadfast love will abound in all your circumstances; good and bad. He’s there when you celebrate and he’s there when you suffer. He’s there when a child is born and he’s there when loved ones die. God never abandons his children.

Oddly, not once in the entire story do we read of Joseph taking credit for the good times nor does he blame God in the tough times. He seems content in all circumstances; maintaining faith and confidence in the providence of God even while in prison.
In fact, Joseph’s reaction to his circumstances, both good and bad circumstances, always confirmed his unwavering faith in God to those around him. You might say that his life bore witness to his faith.

What about you? Does your life bear witness to your faith? How do you react to your circumstances? Samuel Rutherford gives this advice to Christians: “Glorify the Lord in your sufferings, and take his banner of love, and spread it over you. Others will follow you, if they see you strong in the Lord; their courage shall take life from your Christian carriage.”

Christians take heart and be confident in your faith; you are never alone.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads an adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Guiding Little Children

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:54:00 +0000

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
ESV 1 John 2:1

Heads turned, but I didn’t think much of it when the baby began to cry; babies cry all the time in church. But whose was it? I didn’t recognize them as the young mom quickly rose and whisked the child out of the sanctuary to tend to its needs. From the sound of it, the needs were pretty urgent too.

Well, the joke was on me. The young mom turned out to be a high school senior, and the crying baby was an electronic gizmo that she had to tend to for the weekend as school project. And to hear her tell it, her electronic baby was requiring a lot of attention! But, how much more attention children require in reality. Not days, hours or years, but a lifetime of tending, teaching, interceding and leading; all in the hopes that they’ll avoid danger along the way.

John must have felt that same parental duty, love and joy when he penned this letter to a group of young Christians in the early church. He refers to them as “little children” (a phrase only found fourteen times in all scripture) seven times in this short letter. John uses the term in a fatherly tone; gently admonishing them to walk in truth and obedience to Christ.

Chapter one ends with John stressing the importance of believers recognizing and confessing sin in their lives. In our text here, John speaks of the perfectly righteous and eternal remedy to sin found in Christ; our advocate. But notice what he stresses. Notice how he begins by saying that he is “writing these things…so that you may not sin.” You see, just like a parent, John wants to guide these young converts clear of danger; clear of false teachings; clear of sin.

Think of it this way. We can explain to our children that a tow truck is designed to pull an automobile out of a ditch after and accident. But we want to teach our children to drive safely and stay out of ditches. We can explain to our children that a doctor can set a broken bone, but we want to teach them to avoid broken bones!

John is doing the same thing here. He’s explaining to these babes in Christ that Christ is their advocate before God the Father. He has already told them that they should confess their sins to him. But his point to these “little children” is that they don’t sin!
Timeless words indeed.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads and adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Contend for the Faith

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:53:00 +0000

“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” ESV Jude 1:3

Truth matters. It really does. And that’s the primary reason for the name given this column. A secondary reason for the name is that I aspire to communicate matters of truth through this writing each week. But regardless of whether I succeed in communicating truth, truth still matters! And there is no greater truth than that of the resurrected, living Christ on whom the Christian faith is surely well founded. Truth mattered to Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, and truth matters today.

We’re not sure who Jude’s letter was originally written to, but it’s obvious that they were dear to him by his tender greeting “beloved.” While Jude wanted to spend precious ink and parchment sharing with them an encouraging word about their “common salvation,” a more pressing issue had reared its head; an issue worthy of special attention and instruction.

It seems that false teachers had slipped into their midst and begun to distort the truth of the Christian faith. Now a distorted truth is not truth at all, but a lie. Not willing to let the false teachers deceitfully chip away at the faith and the faithful, Jude sounds an alarm. He warns them that these teachers were guilty of denying Jesus and perverting the grace of God. He also suggests that these teachers were really seeking fame, glory and riches for themselves; glory that only the one true God is worthy to receive.

Come to think of it, that’s probably the best way to sniff out a false prophet. If you watch them closely, they’ll typically seek or accept glory for themselves instead of humbly striving to glorify God in their endeavors.

Well, Jude won’t stand for it and gives a call to action. He rallies the troops if you will, by charging them to contend for the faith. The seriousness of the order is betrayed by Jude’s words; contend for the faith. If you look up the word contend in the dictionary, every definition listed will refer to it as a strenuous or competitive endeavor. The mental picture I get of contending is standing firm, holding ground; fighting like a yard dog if you will.

Is truth the truth of our Christian faith, the truth about Jesus Christ, that important? It sure is. Because “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Yet all around us, every day, this truth is being distorted.

Christians, take a stand this week. Contend for the faith. Truth matters.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church in Russellville where he leads and adult Bible study. Comments are welcome and may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Remembering His Words

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:52:00 +0000

6 “He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." 8 And they remembered his words,” ESV Luke 24:6-8

This past week I spent a good deal of time studying the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus as recorded by Luke. Each Gospel writer records the event. Yet each writer records it from a unique perspective and felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to record different, complimentary details.

One of the recurring themes in the Luke’s account is that of remembrance. In our text today, several women had gotten up early and headed out near dawn to the place where Jesus was buried with the intent of continuing the preparation of his corpse for proper burial. Fully expecting a corpse, they instead found an empty tomb!

Well, the tomb wasn’t completely empty. They did encounter what appeared to be two men in dazzling clothes (angels). And one of these men made the grand announcement: “He is not here, but has risen.” He continues by telling them to “remember” the words of Jesus. Jesus had indeed spoken of His impending persecution, His death and His subsequent resurrection while He was ministering in Galilee; see Luke 9:22; 18:31-33.

These women must have heard that testimony firsthand because the text tells us that they remembered and then they returned to tell the news to the eleven. This had to be what I like to call an “aha” moment. When they remembered His words, and connected them to the current events, I’m convinced that their faith was strengthened immensely. They had to literally swell from the increase in their faith. Can you imagine how the conversation turned? Could it be? Yes, He’s alive; just like He said! Now, because of their remembrance, they can carry on with renewed confidence and hope.

Fast forward to today. Christ’s words (indeed all scriptures) are just as important for us to commit to memory today. Just as Moses admonished the Hebrews to “take these words to heart” in Deuteronomy, we should take scripture to heart; cementing it in our minds through careful study so that when trials and tribulations come (when, not if) we can be prepared to “remember” His words, have our faith strengthened, and carry on with renewed hope.

R. Kent Hughes, in Disciplines of a Godly Man, has this to say:

You must remember this: You can never have a Christian mind without reading the Scriptures regularly because you cannot be profoundly influenced by that which you do not know. If you are filled with God’s Word, your life can then be informed and directed by God – your domestic relationships, your child-rearing, your career, your ethical decisions, your interior moral life. The way to a Christian mind is through God’s Word!

Develop a Christian mind. Read the Bible. Study the Bible. Study it so that it becomes a part of your very being. Study it so that it profoundly influences every facet of your life. And when the trials come, your remembrance of the Word will strengthen your faith; His Word will bear you through.

Walking in the Truth

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:51:00 +0000

“The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” ESV 3 John 1:1-4

Gaius lived during a time when a group (known as the Gnostics) was spreading all manner of false doctrine in the community. Their religious teachings were a patchwork of ideas they obtained from philosophy, Christianity, and other religions of the time. One of their primary teachings was that salvation was acquired, not through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, but through the acquisition of knowledge about oneself. Now, this may sound absurd, but look at how self centered, self gratified, self satisfied our society has become. We live in a time when the general consensus seems to be “it’s all about me.” And we’re a smug lot to boot.

Of course these self-saving notions, both then and now, contradict the most basic tenants of Christianity. To deny the work and power of Christ (Immanuel; God with us) through His death and resurrection is to completely deny Christianity. And this is the primary purpose and aim of John’s letters; to encourage Christians to hold fast in the faith and walk in truth; thus shunning and avoiding the false doctrines of the day.

Now, when it came to spiritual matters, this fellow Gaius must have had it together. Not only were people testifying to the fact that his daily actions indicated that he was steadfast in the faith and “walking in truth,” but his general spiritual health was such that John wrote greetings with the hopes that his physical health was also doing as well. When I read the passage I get the feeling that John was genuinely proud to count Gaius as a brother in Christ. We’re told plainly that John was always delighted to hear that Christians were “walking in truth.”

John received testimony of Gaius’s walk through a third party. Reading 3 John in its entirety indicates that some missionaries had passed his way and had subsequently encountered John and reported these things about Gaius.

And that brings me to my point. What would have been reported of your behavior? If a stranger crossed your path today and testified later as to your actions, would it be the same report these folks gave of Gaius? Could they report that you are steadfast in the Christian faith and walking in truth? Or would they report that you were so caught up in yourself that you scarcely noticed them?

As Easter Sunday approaches and you prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, be especially mindful that your actions bear witness to your faith. Your true colors literally do shine through. May your actions betray your faith in a living, resurrected, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing savior; Christ our Lord.

-Ken Askew

Christ’s Cross

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:50:00 +0000

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." ESV Matthew 11:28-30

Many of you know that I enjoy searching out and reading writers from the Puritan era. That’s how I came across a great little book called The Loveliness of Christ. Its content was excerpted from the letters of a Puritan writer by the name of Samuel Rutherford; a Scottish chap from the 17th century.

I want to share with you one of his thoughts that I’ve been meditating on lately. Here it is: “Christ’s cross is such a burden as sails are to a ship or wings to a bird.” Now, please take a moment and let it sink in because it packs quiet a punch. That’s what I admire about the Puritans; they pack lots of content into few words.

I shared this thought with several of my friends last week and got all kinds of responses. They ranged from: “Christ is freedom!” All the way to: “Ken, You might want to consider lightening up on your reading a little.” And they were all right…

As I’ve repeated the phrase over and over in my mind this last week, I’ve come to realize that it lines up with the very words of Christ in Matthew.

Think of a sail. It is the means by which a vessel harnesses the wind for propulsion. Sails harness the wind so as to set the whole vessel into motion over the water. The sails must be very strong in order to harness and transfer the energy from the wind. Yet it the grander scheme of things they are not a burden to the ship at all. Quiet the contrary. The sails are an integral, vital, and complimentary part of the ship. And without them, the ship would never make its destination.

What about wings on a bird? Wings harness the air currents in a way that creates lift and enables birds to fly and glide seemingly effortlessly in the sky. Their wings no doubt endure lots of stress while supporting the weight of the bird and being buffeted by the wind. But far from being a burden, they are an absolute necessity if a bird is to fly. Without wings, birds would never leave the ground!

So too is the cross of Christ. Christ’s cross is demanding, yet it is the necessary appendage by which Christians are transformed into His image. It is through the cross that we find true rest. It is through the cross that our souls are quieted. Far from being a burden in a negative sense, the cross of Christ is that means by which we find true peace and eternal life.

Let me end by bringing Paul’s words to the Corinthian church to your recollection, “…the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1Cor 1:18

Train Yourself for Godliness

noreply@blogger.com (TBC) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 04:48:00 +0000

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;” -ESV 1 Timothy 4:7

What kinds of training have you experienced? Some of you will undoubtedly think of rigorous military training. I don’t have any military experience, but my younger brother has told me plenty about Paris Island. Based on my conversations with him, I know that Marine training is intense to say the least. He even got some special treatment, not that he asked for it, at meal time. It seems that the Marines pay closer attention to your portions if you go into basic training a little on the heavy side. But I’ve got to hand it to them, twelve weeks later he came out of training a changed man.

Of course there are other kinds of training too. We go to college and enter into rigorous, prolonged courses of study in order to equip ourselves with the appropriate knowledge and skills to pursue a particular vocation. And as our studies progress in a particular subject, the study material becomes more and more focused. While freshman history classes are notorious for having hundreds of students, the atmosphere is much cozier in advanced courses like Tax Accounting and Organic Chemistry II. (For the record, I’ve actually taken Tax Accounting, but Organic Chemistry I was enough for me.)

And then there’s physical training. How many of you have ever tried to train your body by joining a health club? Those of you who’ve made the attempt know that discipline and accountability are keys to success. Confession time: In this area, if somebody is not holding me accountable, I won’t practice the necessary discipline to complete the task. For instance, today I’m six pounds lighter than I was a year ago after having lost 30 pounds during the last twelve months. (Don’t laugh too hard.)

Anyway, are you beginning to see a pattern? Effective training of all sorts shares common keys to success; focused attention, study, discipline and accountability. And I might ad that successful training is seldom easy. It takes effort to transition from civilian to Marine; from high school grad to college grad; from – well, you get the picture. To paraphrase Matthew Kelly, we often desire change; but it’s the transition that’s difficult.

In our text today, Paul tells Timothy to avoid irreverent, silly myths, but to focus instead on godliness. Now, many of you no doubt desire godliness. I mean how could a professing Christian not desire godliness? Wouldn’t that be completely contrary?

But godliness is not something that is simply conferred on a person. No, Paul tells Timothy to train himself for godliness. The implication is that while we might desire to change so that we are indeed more “godly” we will have to do so through a transition; training is required.

In his book, The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges says: “God’s Word must be so strongly fixed in our minds that it becomes the dominant influence in our thoughts, our attitudes, and our actions.” His point is that to pursue holiness, or godliness, we must train ourselves by and through God’s Word. And if we train day in and day out by firmly planting God’s Word in our minds, then our thoughts and actions will become more and more inclined to godliness with each passing day.

For those of you willing to take Paul’s advice to heart; for those of you willing to train yourself for godliness; let me encourage you to identify with a local, Bible believing church that will support your endeavors by supplying some of the keys to success. Namely, the preaching/teaching of God’s Word and gentle accountability.

-Ken Askew