Can you hear me now?

Liberia: Konia Church 2

Beginning of sermon at Konia Christian Revival Church in Konia, Lofa County, Liberia. On this night the biggest rice planter in town was giving a party for everyone who had worked his land during the harvest season, harvesting his rice for him. As a result, the crowd this night at the only evangelical church in town with the special meetings with the "strangers" was mostly the children of those parents. So I changed the sermon to focus on the children. I was not prepared for the response that came from the simple message. You can see that message in one of the later videos of this great night.

Alabama history

Alabama History

Real Evangelism Conference at SEBTS

Come and bring your congregation to the Real Evangelism conference at Southeastern Seminary, October 14-16, 2008.

REGISTRATION IS FREE.

Bailey Smith, Danny Akin, Johnny Hunt, Paige Patterson, Junior Hill, Jerry Vines

Liberia: Konia Church 1

Margaret Taylor and David Humphries speak at Konia Christian Revival Church in Konia, Lofa County, Liberia.

Liberia: Konia Church Worship

Happy 82nd, Mr. Eugene Smith

One of the men I've grown to respect and enjoy at Southeastern Seminary's Facilities Management Office is Mr. Eugene Smith. Today is his 82nd birthday, and the Shop celebrated with a surprise birthday party for him. He was blown away and got a little choked up at the 50 or so folks who showed up to honor him.

Here are two pictures from this morning. The first is Mr. Eugene opening his gift, a new CD player. He is a music lover. The second picture is Mr. Gene saluting me as I take his picture at the birthday cake table.

Mr. Gene came to work at Southeastern in 1980 when the furniture store in downtown Wake Forest closed where he had worked for 28 years. Now he has worked about the same amount of time at Southeastern Seminary. Mr. Gene is strong, hard-working, sharper and wittier than most of the young seminary guys, and quite a cut-up if you get a chance to talk with him. He told me this morning that he has two children, five grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.

Mr. Eugene works on a team with the mysterious name of Crew 18. Their assignment is to handle assignments no one else can. Their enigmatic name, according to Mr. Gene by way of another Crew 18 friend, Kirk Parrish, comes from a former technological era when work crews carried large shoebox-sized walkie-talkie phones on campus to communicate. His crew's extension was 18.

Happy 82nd birthday, Mr. Eugene Smith. May the Lord continue to bless you greatly!

Confederate Wedding pictures

The Chatman-Boyd Wedding was beautiful, relaxed, and was an enjoyable time with friends. It was held during our regularly scheduled Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting at the American Legion building in Oxford, NC, on September 23.

Our camp commander, Ronnie Boyd and his fiance Penny Chatman enjoyed themselves and their friends as they wed. Roy and Debbie Laney and Donna Snipes helped organize the event which was followed by a good meal cooked by Debbie Laney. Nathan Black played the pump organ, and I used the 1819 Book of Common Prayer service of matrimony.

Here are a few pictures. Click them to get a larger version.

The Happy Couple: Penny and Ronnie Boyd.

The Wedding Party. L to R: Paige (Penny's daughter), Donna Snipes (bridesmaid), Debbie Laney (matron of honor), Penny Chatman (bride), me the chaplain, Ronnie (groom), Roy Laney (best man), and Nathan Black (organist).

Penny and Ronnie with Penny's (and now Ronnie's) beautiful daughter Paige. The picture on the right includes Ronnie's sister and aunt.

Left: Our organist, Nathan Black, with his wife Jessica. Nathan's dad is New Testament professor Dr. David Black at Southeastern Seminary. Right: Rachel and I after the ceremony.

The groomsmen guards crossed their bayonets in the air to let the couple pass under at the end of the ceremony. One of these guardsmen is a Greek New Testament professor at Southeastern Seminary. Can you identify him for court martial?


Before the ceremony, Ronnie's groomsmen make sure he gets to the altar.


And how could I do pictures without a few of the most beautiful children at the wedding: Ava-Grace, Luke, and Rachel? They did great. Rachel and Luke really enjoyed the wedding cake Debbie made. I also enjoyed the bread pudding. Amanda somehow managed not to get caught in front of a camera this time.

Help for Those who Sway

If in the worship service, you find yourself swaying to the music or even (gulp) tapping your foot to the point that it might, by some strict observers, be called dancing, there is help for you.

Click here to order the "Body Stopper."

Liberia: Lofa Road & Konia morning

Exodus 33 and John 1

I'm reading Alfred Poirer's The Peacemaking Pastor (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006). He has a great insight on the close echoes between Exodus 33-34 and John 1:1-17.

The Quest to see God: Exodus 33:18 with John 1:8
God dwelling with his people: Exodus 33:14 with John 1:14
The Revelation of God's glory: Exodus 33:18; 34:5 with John 1:14
God's glory is grace and truth: Exodus 34:5-6 with John 1:16-17

John's point? Moses' request to see God's glory is finally and fully answered in the incarnation of God's one and only Son.

Sunday morning sunshine

Here are pictures of Ava-Grace on Sunday morning ready to head out the door to church. Try clicking the image for a larger size.

A Confederate wedding

On Tuesday night I am privileged to officiate in a Confederate-period wedding for a great couple, Ronnie and Penny. Ronnie is our camp commander (chapter president). I had the honor of leading Penny and her daughter Paige to the Lord -- Paige during Bible School at Amis Chapel; Penny just the other night as I talked with the couple about marriage.

The Chatmam-Boyd wedding will take up the Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting Tuesday night (our camp website). It will be held at the American Legion / VFW building on 158 in Oxford, NC. Nathan Black will play his pump organ. Many of the members will come in period dress, and instead of crossing swords, they will cross bayonetted rifles. It should be quite an event.

We will begin at 7pm with the wedding service, then Roy and Debbie Laney will serve supper afterwards for members and guests. We should have a big crowd since a number of people have never seen such. I will be using the wedding service from the 1819 Book of Common Prayer.

Here is the uniform I was given to wear -- a Lieutenant General's 3-star, the same uniform that Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee wore (Though Lee was a 4-star full general, he always wore 3 stars). Confederate chaplains ordinarily did not hold or display rank, and usually wore black, but a number of clergyman during the war were officers, some like Father Abraham Ryan and Bishop Leonidas Polk who himself performed a wedding during the war. One chaplain, perhaps Ryan, commanded four cannon he dubbed Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He often gave his order with a prayer, "Lord, have mercy on their souls. FIRE!"

Chapel Hill Halloween bash reviewed

News Item: Chapel Hill leaders to review report on Halloween bash
Nearly a third of owners told the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce that their business suffered from the annual party, which attracts thousands and shuts down Franklin Street.

Gene's comment: You know, there's a reason for that. Halloween is about death and destruction -- not prosperity and life and fun. But somehow we, Christians adamantly included, insist every year on redeeming something that is irredeemable. We insist on following the generational pattern of our Celtic Druidism instead of Biblical Christianity.

Dan and Marion

Here are a few pictures from the July 12, 2008, Johnson-Sperry Wedding at Occoneechee State Park near Clarksville, VA, where Dan and Marion Pritchard's granddaughter was married. I had the honor to officiate the ceremony overlooking the lake. The kids love Dan and Marion as their own family. Dan and Marion are both engineers -- Dan is chemical; Marion is domestic.

Friends like these two are rare pearls. They have stuck with us, encouraged us, counseled us, and believed in us through thick and thin, sometimes it seemed mostly thin! They are two of the Godliest people we have ever met, and Bible -- wow do they know their Bibles. I had the distinct honor of ordaining Dan as a deacon.


Luke got hold of one of the cameras on a reception table and went off to the back of the yard to take pictures of a little girl!

Liberia: St. Paul Bridge Lofa

Liberia: Driving Lofa Road

AD 50 "Christ" cup discovered

The English media has not yet picked it up, but a cup has been discovered in Alexandria with the oldest known inscription of Jesus Christ (AD 50): "'Dia Christou o Goistais,' translated as "Through Christ the Magi."

Liberia: Lofa Road 1

Driving up the Lofa Road after Gbarnga on the way to Konia.

Southeastern's Shop

When we left Amis Chapel in July, we moved back to seminary housing at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. Dean Allan Moseley was so kind to us in our transition, helping us in several financial ways. Doug Nalley at the Housing Office was also kind and gracious with housing, and Sid King created a part-time job for me, cleaning the woodworking shop.

During the summer I cleaned it in the evening, but since classes started, I've been getting up early and start cleaning between 5:30am and six.

Here is the space I clean every day.

There are a lot of woodworking machines and a lot of dust to get up each day. Getting Patterson Hall ready to go online has been the big push this summer. The woodworkers are making horrendous numbers of book shelves right now for professors' offices.

I enjoy working there. The guys and supervisors are largely laid back and friendly. Don't mention that you might need help with something. At least three will drop what they're doing to help you. They love the Lord.

It has been great to get to know these guys and work with them, especially fellows with whom I have been sitting in class for several years. They are almost all preparing for the pastorate or the mission field, but they are also learning and using skills they can fall back on if anything bad happens in a church they're pastoring one day, and then they can support their families.

On Mondays the whole Facilities staff meets for about fifteen minutes, goes over the week, and prays. Sid leads the meeting. Here's a picture of last Monday's meeting just at the moment when everyone bowed in prayer for the week.

Liberia: Rainbow Town Well & Kitchen

Liberia: Mother Feeta & Harriet Quinesear

An interview with Mother Feeta Namien and Harriet Quinesear of Rainbow Town, Gbarnga, Bong County, Liberia.
Mother Feeta is the remarkable woman who, despite her own protest, started the orphanage that is today called Rainbow Town.

40 Days Election Prayer

40-DAY PRE-ELECTION REPENTANCE PRAYER AND FASTING

September 26 - November 4, 2008

"Return, America, to the Lord your God." - Hosea 14:1
Intercessors for America has produced a repentance and prayer guide for you and may be freely copied, posted, and distributed.

Click here for prayer guide. Click here for additional information on prayer and fasting.

Liberia: Rainbow Town Devotions

Liberia: Rainbow Town 4

This video includes some remarks by Judy Humphries.
This video has been removed at the request of Judy Humphries.

Liberia: Rainbow Town 3

John William Holt, Sr.,”Willie”

Here's the obituary of my mother's brother who passed away suddenly in Charleston. He was buried in the Jerry family area at New Prospect Baptist Church in Laurens, SC. I was thankful to hear that he had received the Lord about eight months before his death.

My heart goes out to my cousins Angie and John.

This picture is a recent one.

I reproduce the obituary here because it will be taken down in a few weeks.

September 13, 2008

John William Holt, Sr.,”Willie”, 61, of 3138 Burnt Mill Creek Rd., Laurens, SC, passed away Friday, September 12, 2008, at Trident Medical Center in North Charleston. Born in Laurens County, he was the son of the late H.L. and Etolia Jerry Holt. Mr. Holt served with the National Guard and was a cowboy having worked on a cattle ranch. He was also a member of First Presbyterian Church in Laurens and attended Northwood Assembly of North Charleston. Surviving are his son, John W. Holt, Jr. and wife, Kisha of Gray Court; daughter, Angelia Grech and husband, Joe of Mt. Pleasant; six grandchildren, Stetson Lee Holt, Elizabeth Rose Grech, Emma Katherine Grech, Justus Wyatt Holt, Joseph Henry Grech and Piper Grace Holt; and a sister, Sandra H. Brooks of Clinton. Graveside services will be held 4:00 PM Sunday, September 14, 2008, at New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery conducted by Rev. James K. Hamilton. Memorials may be made to SC Home of the Deaf & Blind, “Halter Program” 355 Cedar Springs Road, Spartanburg, SC 29302-4699. The family will be at 178 Hope Road, Gray Court and will receive friends after the graveside service. http://www.thekennedymortuary.com/

Liberia: Rainbow Town 2

Numbers 12 - Miriam & Aaron oppose Moses

Pray and Read: Numbers 12:1-16
Contextual Notes:
There is a pattern to the last several chapters, and they are leading up to a defining moment for Israel in Numbers 14. In Numbers 10, Israel set out from Sinai as the people of God, with the pillar of fire, the cloud, and the trumpets. Moses called for God to “Arise, let his enemies be scattered,” little knowing that the bodies of that generation would end up scattered across the desert for their unbelief.

And the pattern began. At Taberah, in Numbers 11:1-3, there was rebellion, and Moses’ intercession stopped the punishment of fire. Then the people rebelled against the manna, a symbol of the word of God, and lusted after flesh, that is, quail. So the Lord made a blessing a plague on Israel, and the flesh rotted in their mouths as they ate it, bringing death to many so that the place was called Kibroth-Hattaavah, meaning graves of lusting. It was Moses’ intercession that stopped the plague and brought about the descent of the Spirit on Seventy Elders who would help Moses govern the people of Israel.

Now Moses must endure not just the rebellion of the sons of Israel, but that of his own brother and sister. Miriam and Aaron mount a rebellion that results in leprosy. Only Moses’ intercession heals Miriam and brings her back into full fellowship with Israel. In each case there is rebellion, punishment, and intercession, the same picture of us. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through the intercession of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Key Truth: Moses wrote Numbers 12:1-16 to teach the Israelites that jealousy threatens unity; God defends the humble, and Christ is our intercessor.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about jealous, humility, and Christ’s intercession.

Sermon Points:
1. Miriam’s jealousy: Rebellion threatens unity. (Num 12:1-3)
2. God’s response: God defends humility (Num 12:4-10).
3. Moses’ intercession: Moses prefigures Christ (Num 12:11-16).

Exposition: Note well,

1. MIRIAM’S CRITICISM: JEALOUSY THREATENS UNITY (Numbers 12:1-3).
a. Moses was about to find out the pain of family betrayal. Matthew 10:36: “A man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”
b. Miriam and Aaron: The text says, “She spoke, Miriam and Aaron, against Moses.” She was the instigator.

c. Cushite woman: She was only the occasion of the rebellion. They didn’t like her, Moses’ wife Zipporah. Perhaps because through her and her father Jethro came the ideas of the new governmental changes of the 70 elders (Exodus 18:13-36) and changed some of their power. Though some unwisely jump to the conclusion from Scripture’s silence of a second Ethiopian wife (Edersheim), this is unwarranted (Bruce, Richards). The word is Cushite, Kushi, a word describing those of NW Arabia (Exod 2:15, 21; Cushan - Hab 3:7; Amos 9:7). She is foreign, and they don’t like her. But it seems that Miriam and Aaron were making a racist argument to conceal the real source of their resentment for Moses.

d. JEALOUSY: The real issue was not the Cushite wife, it was jealousy of Moses. Apparently Moses the lawgiver, Aaron the priest, and Miriam the prophetess of song (Exod 15:20), had all been leaders for Israel. Now Miriam challenged Moses’ unique place of leadership. The jealousy centered around Moses’ being God’s supreme channel of revelation (12:2). Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he also spoken through us? All three of them have gifts of leadership, but in different areas. Aaron also spoke for God (Exod 4:15-16; 28:30) as did the prophetess Miriam (Exod 15:20). But with the appointment of the seventy, it was plain that Moses was the central channel of God’s authority, so now Miriam and Aaron, not liking the organizational changes, assert their own equality (Micah 6:4).

e. APPLICATION: If you listen to those who spew out the drivel going around most churches, you know, those critical spirits that are never satisfied, constantly stirring up dissension and creating disunity where it never was, you will find that they bring up one thing as a cover, but the root is often something else. Miriam’s public issue was her opposition to her foreign sister-in-law. But her real issue was jealousy over Moses’ position. Watch these kinds of people. Often those defilers go after the top leadership, because there is a lust in their hearts for power and control. They don’t speak the wisdom from above, as they would have you think. No, their putrid sewerage is from below. A wise leader recognizes it.

Just like Aaron was drawn in by Miriam's gossip, the know-it-all talk, and the better-than-you attitude, you can get drawn into some person’s smokescreen. Second-tier leadership in the church are especially susceptible like deacons or Sunday School teachers listening to defiling talk without the sense to see through it, just like Aaron. Remember Aaron was the one who always listened to things he shouldn’t. He listened to the Israelites while Moses was on Sinai and made them a Golden Calf. Not exactly the most discerning leader in the bag. Be forewarned, if you are drawn into the web of some of those critical, jealous talkers, you’ll be classified with them in sin.

f. APPLICATION: Some have found in Miriam’s jealousy of the Cushite woman a parallel to Israel and the church. The Jewish people, represented by Miriam, jealous of the foreign Gentile bride of Christ, figured in Moses.[1] Charles Spurgeon: “Can we wonder if this vain world opposes Jesus and his spouse, and especially when great sinners are converted? for this is ever the Pharisee’s ground of objection, “This man receiveth sinners.” Still is the old cause of quarrel revived, ‘Because he had married an Ethiopian woman.’”[2]

2. GOD’S RESPONSE: GOD DEFENDS HUMILITY (NUMBERS 12:3-9).
a. Notice Moses’ humility (v. 3): (Exod. 14:13; 32:12, 13; Num. 14:13; 21:7; Deut. 9:18). They accused Moses of pride, and he himself was the most humble living person. Some read this and ask how could Moses write this. Well, he probably didn’t, but whoever wrote about his death (Deut 34), likely Joshua or perhaps Ezra, probably added this inspired line. Moses has not said a word. God defends him.

b. APPLICATION: When you are being attacked and betrayed by those you never expected, acting in humility always works. Why? Because when you are silent like Moses was, when you keep your work and eyes focused on the Lord and let Him take care of the bigmouths, He will defend you. If you choose to get in the flesh and defend yourself, well, God is a gentleman. He won’t force his protection on anyone. But if you let Him do His work, let Him see your heart, let Him defend you and take care of your reputation for you, He will overcome and deal severely with those who assail you. “I will contend with those who contend with you,” says the Lord in Isaiah 49:25.

c. APPLICATION: Moses is a picture of Christ, who, though chosen as the supreme channel of God’s revelation, was the most humble of any man who ever lived. Isaiah 53:7 says that Christ “was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

d. Miriam: The sister of Moses had been used to help save Moses from certain death in the Nile. She suggested to the Egyptian princess that she knew a Hebrew woman who would nurse the child. After the Red Sea crossing, Miriam led the special choral singing of the triumphant Israel (Exod 15). By virtue of being Moses’ sister, she assumed great influence naturally among Israel, but she took it too far. She let her influence turn to interference in matters which were none of her business. Her undermining talk was dangerous. Even Aaron had been won over by her critical spirit, and she represented a serious threat to the unity of the camp. God moved quickly.

e. Held accountable: God moved swiftly and called Miriam and Aaron to account. He stressed the unique place and position of Moses, and that no one else could have it. With Moses he spoke face to face (12:8). This speaks of a closer relationship with Moses. He was the model of lawgiver, mediator, and the prophet to come. He and Elijah are the two prophets who appear at the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13). But Christ Jesus went even further. He not only spoke with us face to face (lit. mouth to mouth) as God, but he became a man and walked among us, says John 1, in the flesh, the Incarnation.

f. Miriam punished: (cf. Exod 4:6; 2 Kgs 5:27; 15:5; 2 Chron 26:19, 20). Some feminist readers of the text say, aha, here’s an error in the text showing that the Bible is a male chauvinist book. Only the woman was punished, but verse 1 says “She spake” and called her name first. The reason Aaron was spared was not on account of his sex. Aaron was the high priest, and Leviticus 21:10-12 did not allow him to become unclean for any reason. He must always be available to minister on behalf of Israel at all times. So only Miriam was stricken alone, not because she was a woman or her sin was any worse than Aaron’s, but because God in his grace refused to deprive His people of the high priest’s ministry.[3]

g. APPLICATION: Here’s a news bulletin for a few of you listening to me this morning: A lot of what you criticize and pontificate about is none of your business. It was none of Miriam’s business whom Moses married and who she was. It didn’t matter what her ethnicity was. It was none of her business what the Lord did through Moses. It wasn’t any of her business what authority God put on Moses or what kind of leadership gifts Moses had. Instead of thanking the Lord for the role she had in leading worship, instead of focusing on the assignment the Lord had given her, instead of looking to her own responsibilities, Miriam made it her business to correct everyone else’s business. Her root issue was jealousy. Her problem was rebellion. She was threatening the unity of the people of Israel.

Can you imagine what would have happened if Miriam’s diarrhea of the mouth had gotten into that horde of 2 million Israelites? They would have turned on themselves in the desert. That is what happens every week in churches across the country. Somebody with nothing else to do, who doesn’t have enough business of their own to tend to, spends their time running off at the mouth, spreading their poison, creating problems for the Body of Christ, and hampering the work of the Kingdom, and turning people off to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

That, my friends, is grounds for putting someone out of the church. We have lost the good common sense in the Baptist church that our forefathers had. A hundred years ago, you wouldn’t act that way and just keep on and on with nobody saying anything to you because we don’t want to rock the boat. No, they called you up to the front of the church, asked you to repent of your sin of gossip and creating dissension, and if you repented, then well and good. They would assign a deacon to help you get that sin out of your life. If you would not repent, they would weep over you and they would put you out of the camp.

And if we had godly, loving church discipline in our churches today, we would not have some of the shenanigans going on or some of the foolish comments in our business meetings. We wouldn’t have deacons stepping out on their wives or Sunday School teachers getting drunk on Friday nights or marriages breaking up over convenience or our youth smoking weed.

Can we even imagine anymore a church body that actually has a tangible holiness that is above that of what goes on among unbelievers? That is what we are supposed to be. We are supposed to be salt and light, but many times our churches look to our communities like nothing more than dirt and darkness. We would rather not offend anybody, want to keep them coming. We need the offerings with the economy down and all. You know that woman’s family is important in our church. Best just turn our heads and look the other way. And all the time you’re doing it, we’re giving place to nest of vipers in our churches. Be sure of this, brothers and sisters, you don’t coddle sin without it affecting you, and you don’t nurse vipers that don’t bite you.

Then we wonder why our churches are empty. Can’t figure out why our young people don’t think our religion is authentic. Don’t know why we can’t get more people to serve. Can’t see what happened to the sweet spirit the congregation used to have. We are just like Laodecia. We think we’re rich and have acquired wealth and have need of nothing, but we don’t realize that we are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked (Rev 3:17).

h. Dreams: Notice that God says he speaks in dreams (halom) including ordinary ones (Job 7:14; Eccl 5:3). In some he spoke directly (Gen 20:3-7; Matt 2:12-23), and in some symbolically (Gen 40-41; Dan 2). Hebrews 1:1-3 tells us that God spoke in dreams before but now He has spoken to us by His Son. In Jesus we have a full and complete revelation of God’s love and person and will.

3. MOSES’ INTERCESSION: MOSES PREFIGURES CHRIST (NUMBERS 12:10-16)
a. Moses’ Intercession: Aaron is horrified (lit. “lay not sin upon us” Zech 14:19) and asks Moses to intercede for them both (12:11-12), acknowledging the special position God had just said Moses held (12:13). God agreed to lift the punishment, but she must stay outside the camp seven days, the initial period of exclusion for one suspected of an infectious skin disease (Lev 13:4). The congregation did not move until she came back in, signifying her important leadership (12:15).

b. Sin’s consequences: Miriam was healed of the leprosy, but was forced to stay outside the camp for seven days. Based on the date of Passover, this event happened in early June 1461 BC, just before the Feast of Shavuot, (Weeks, Pentecost), (Lev 23:15-19; Num 28:27-29) the feast of harvest (Exod 23:16; 34:22) or firstfruits (Num 28:26). At this feast people were invited to bring free-will offerings (Deut 16:9-11) of two loaves of bread and two lambs. Miriam was shut out of this celebration, a foreshadowing of the Rebellion of Israel at Kadesh in Num 14 in which they would be shut out of the Promised Land. But then there's another foreshadowing here. Pentecost is the birthdate of the Christian church when the Spirit descended on the 120 in the Upper Room. As such, Miriam’s separation foreshadows also the rebellion and unbelief of Israel in rejecting Jesus as their Messiah and Israel being scattered in AD 70. One day, though, the nation of Israel will come to Yeshua as their own and be grafted back into the olive tree (Romans 11).

c. V. 14: Spitting was an expression of disapproval and disgust (Deut 25:9; Job 30:10; Isa 50:6).

d. APPLICATION: This passage centers on a power struggle among leadership. We forget too easily that leadership is God-given for the benefit of the Body and is not sought for personal or selfish reasons. Those who try to assume leadership through manipulation are in the flesh and outside God’s model of leadership. Leaders must instead be servants to one another, appreciating, affirming, and encouraging the use of other people’s gifts.[4]

e. APPLICATION: Moses prefigures Christ here as well. It is Christ Jesus’ intercession that frees you and me from sin, from ourselves. Hebrews 7:25 says that Christ is “able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Romans 8:34 tells us that Christ Jesus, who died – more than that who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. The Apostle John tells us in 1 John 2:1-2 that he writes so that we will not sin, “But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our but also for the sins of the whole world.” This Jesus whom the Father set apart to reveal Himself fully to us in these days, the full revelation, what Colossians 1:15 calls the “image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

Invitation:
Brothers and Sisters, Christ the Righteous One has arisen with healing in his wings for you and for me. That leprosy of sin he removes, and he brings us back into the camp as righteous.

Sister, have you grasped hold of that Righteous One? Have you given your life to him? Have you asked forgiveness for your gossip and backbiting and jealousy? Brother, have you been pricked today about your out-of-control mouth? Have you been convicted about your way of living while you call yourself a Christian? Have you ever given your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ? Maybe you got baptized once because you were old enough and it was time, but you have no relationship with Jesus Christ, and the whole thing was a sham to you.

Today is the day to set things right. Today is the day to receive Christ. Today is the day to put your tongue in park. Today is the day to honor your leadership. Today is the day to ask forgiveness of somebody in this room for what you said several years ago. Today is the day to turn away from your sin. Today is the day some of you leaders need to quit being boys and step up as men and straighten some things out in this church. Today is the day God is calling you to be cleansed and walk free and full of liberty.

Won’t you respond to Christ right now?

Preached: Sunday, September 14, 2008 at Dexter Baptist Church, Oxford, NC.
[1] A.B. Simpson, Christ in the Bible Commentary, (1:250-1.)
[2] Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, October 6.
[3] Lawrence Richards, Bible Readers Companion, 99; T. Carson, “Numbers,” F.F. Bruce, gen. ed. International Bible Commentary, 230.
[4] Anastasia Boniface-Malle, Numbers, Africa Bible Commentary, 184-5.

Liberia: Rainbow Town Welcome

William Carey

William Carey
Father of modern Protestant missions

"Expect great things; attempt great things."

At a meeting of Baptist leaders in the late 1700s, a newly ordained minister stood to argue for value of overseas missions. He was abruptly interrupted by an older minister who said, "Young man, sit down! You are an enthusiast. When God pleases to convert the heathen, he'll do it without consulting you or me."

Read more about William Carey.
Source: Christian History

Liberia: Driving to Gbarnga

September 11th: We remember

Richard Land

Richard Land of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention spoke in my Pastoral Ministry class this morning (pictured above on mobile phone as he spoke to the class). The commission, he said, speaks to the SBC about moral issues and speaks for a consensus of the SBC's values to the federal government.

He was a little late, having just finished an interview with NPR, in which the reporter tried to get him to explain how Southern Baptists could support Palin for VP but disallow her to be pastor of a church. Land said, "This has nothing to do with whether a woman has equality under the law. The Bible nowhere says that a woman cannot hold government office." His point was that we are talking about democracy, not theocracy.

Dr. Land had several points to make:

1- Every Christian's responsibility is to vote, to vote her or his convictions, and not personal self-interest. Romans 13:1-7. He said being involved in government in paying taxes infers active voting in our context.

2- Pastors nor churches should ever endorse a political candidate, though it is every pastor's right as a citizen to do so. Government likewise should not bar the right to religious groups to endorse candidates, but pastors and churches should refrain from doing so. Why? Because political endorsement is mixing the sacred with the profane.

3- Churches and pastors should instead be looking for candidates who endorse us, our values, our views, and our convictions. He told about the time Ronald Reagan came and spoke to a large group of Christian leaders in the meeting that supposedly birthed the Religious Right. Reagan said, "I know you cannot endorse me. But I have come today to endorse you."

4- We should preach from our pulpits what the Bible says about moral, cultural, and social issues. The Bible is pro-life, pro-family, anti-theft, anti-homosexuality, he said. He referenced Paul in Acts 20 as he left the Ephesian elders saying, "I have preached the whole counsel of God." We have an obligation to feed our flocks not just the sweet food easy to digest but also the food that is good for them that may not taste as good. And in choosing for whom we will vote, we must teach our people to choose on a priority of values. For example, a pro-life candidate who wants to raise taxes is preferable to a pro-abortion candidate who wants to cut taxes. Political parties, he said, are no better than they have to be. They will manipulate and use anyone in order to be in control of political power. The church is above that and must operate according to the principles of the Word of God.

5- We must engage culture. But what about being controversial? A non-controversial gospel, Land said, is no gospel. We are called to be salt and light by our Lord. In Romans 13:1-7, Land says, government is named as one of only three divinely ordained institutions along with the church and marriage.

40/40 PRAYER FOCUS

He strongly encouraged the students in chapel and in our class to participate in the 40/40 Prayer focus in partnership with the North American Mission Board. Forty days of prayer beginning September 24 to the election and 40 hours of prayer before the election.

Some accuse Land of using this prayer initiative as a guise to push the Religious Right's agenda, but I heard none of that. In fact, he has encouraged the media to look at the material and see if they can find any fault with it, and response has been mute.

There are also FAQs on issues available at the ERLC website which he says college students use frequently to establish a coherent position on moral and cultural issues.

Contrary to what I had heard about Dr. Land in the past, I found him to be quite likeable and friendly, honestly and genuinely answering questions of the students, though some of them were a bit strong. A strong personality to be sure, but a necessary characteristic in the hard world of media and government in which he operates.

I found someone to respect and appreciate in his intelligent, common sense approach to moral and cultural issues. And his heart is for revival. In chapel, he made the point clear. In order for our nation to turn around, God must begin with us in personal revival. There must then be revival in the church. That can lead to genuine spiritual awakening in the land, and that will lead in reformation of our nation.

He warned us not to look to government for change (which both parties are now trumpeting I might add). Government, he said, is a reflection of society, not a leader. The society must change, then the government will change. In order for society to change, the hearts of our citizens must change. Government, he said, is the caboose, not the engine. The Church in Revival is the engine.

Until we get the sin out of our lives and of the church, our nation has no hope. We must seek 2 Chronicles 7:14 repentance among ourselves so that many may be won to Christ so that society will see reform. The government will only reflect the moral values of the people it represents. Focus on getting sin out of the church, and our nation will change.

Liberia: Konia School

Video from November 2007 trip to Liberia.

Liberia: Konia Church Worship

Video finally uploaded from my November 2007 trip.

You're invited Oct 5-8

We want to invite you to revival services at Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Hodges, SC. They are a month away, October 5-8, 2008 at 7:00pm nightly. We are really looking forward to being home in South Carolina again. A number have written to say they are coming.

Pastor Jim Warren, his wife Gail, and the church are making extensive preparations for the series of meetings. Jim recently wrote us with the following details:

• Revival committee is finalizing all their plans
• Visitation has begun
• Cottage prayer in homes is being planned
• Many are visiting
• The Lord and the Holy Spirit is working
• Dr. Russell Dean will sing on Tuesday night of the Revival.

For more information, please contact Pastor Jim Warren at pastorwarren7@embarqmail.com.

Walnut Grove Baptist Church (Map)
230 Morgan Road
Hodges, SC 29653

(864) 374-3743 Home
(864) 876-3402 Church
(864) 993-3435 Mobile

Jim and Gail Warren were long-time members of Davidson Street Baptist Church in Clinton, SC. Gail has retired from Whitten Center. Jim later in life than some, surrendered to the call to ministry and worked his way through a bachelor's degree at North Greenville University. Amanda and Jim became friends when they both worked at Belk in Laurens, SC. During that time he was also pastor at Waterloo (SC) Baptist Church and Highland Home Baptist Church in Gray Court, SC. After earning a bachelor's degree, Jim drove 10 hour round trips to earn a Master of Divinity in Biblical Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. I ran into him by accident one day my first year at the seminary when I noticed a car with a Cooper car dealership tag and turned around to see who was driving it. There was Jim. He had been commuting for over a year at that time. Jim graduated this past May and is pastoring Walnut Grove in Hodges, SC.

More Second Temple wall uncovered

The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the discovery of part of the southern wall of Jerusalem during the time of Christ.

Uncovered on Mount Zion and the best preserved Second Temple Wall yet found, archaeologists believe it was built by the Hasmoneans sometime after 150 B.C. Josephus dubbed it the "First Wall," in distinction to Herod's (?) "Second Wall" and Herod Agrippa's "Third Wall."

The "First Wall" encompassed the city on all four sides (unlike the later two), and had sixty towers. One of those towers is preserved to a height of 10 feet (3 m). The wall was in use until the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Todd Bolen provides more details here.

A number of articles are here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Video here.

Video: Sarah Palin at church

George and Joanie Staples sent me the link to a presentation that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin made in June 2008 to the Masters Commission graduation at Wasilla Assembly of God, Wasilla, AK. Alternate Wasilla AOG website.

See the video here.

See the pastor's statement regarding her VP candidacy here and his clarification on the media accusation that anyone who voted for John Kerry was not saved.

Southern ejumacation

It's about time for Luke to get some education on Southern history. This morning I was watching a video of the 2007 Confederate reenactment at Brattonsville.

Luke walked up and asked, "Is that the Philistines?"

Sarah Palin's faith

Baptized Catholic, reared Assembly of God, now a member of an evangelical Bible church stressing inerrancy, Sarah Palin is about as evangelical as they come.

Rachel Shopperette

Coming up

I will be supplying the pulpit the next two Wednesday nights (September 3 and 10) at Mountain Grove Baptist Church, 834 Alert Road, Louisburg, NC.

On September 14, 2008, I will supply the pulpit at Dexter Baptist Church in Oxford, NC.

October 5-8, 2008, I will lead revival services at Walnut Grove Baptist Church, 230 Morgan Rd, Hodges, SC.

Heading back to NC

We are heading back to North Carolina in a few minutes from Montgomery. We don't know what to expect in traffic, weather, etc., as so many have filled the hotels and highways this direction fleeing the Hurricane Gustav.

Yesterday the men including Luke went to tour Fort Toulouse, a significant French, then American fortification at the confluence of the Coosa and Talapoosa Rivers to form the Alabama River in Wetumpka, AL. The Poarch Band of Muscogee Creeks operate a casino on land near there in Wetumpka. Something told me that I'd be back there one day doing some prayerwalking. I felt like I was scouting a site. Andrew Jackson made the Native Americans give up all of central and southern Alabama in a treaty there following the battle at Horsehoe Bend. The land there is high and good, and a Mississippian mound (ca. 1000 AD) is there, too.

Last night we were all at Carmen's house for supper, glued to the TV watching Gustav move in, praying for those poor people, many filling the hotels here in Montgomery. Having been down there doing some Katrina work for a week in Biloxi, MS, I know some of the places they are talking about, and that makes the storm more personal.