My heart broke today when you got hurt this morning!  To see you cry, took everything in me to not cry myself.  I have loved you since the day you mommy and daddy brought you home from the hospital.  I have always called you my “Little Yankee.”  Especially because your Mom and Dad don’t care for the Yankee’s.  They are Mariner fans (Boo Mariners, Yea Yankees)!  I have thought about you a lot today.  I just talked to your mom a little bit ago and she said that you were doing fine.  I am so very glad! 

I love you so very much, my “Little Yankee”

Eric

Just because your family is historically Republican or Democrat, certainly does not mean that you should or cannot vote for some one else of another party that you believe to be more qualified.  Unfortunately, you, nor I, nor anyone, will ever completely agree with everything that a particular candidate believes in.  However, you should never vote for someone just because you have always voted a particular party.  You should always vote for the best person for the job.  You may not always agree with everything that a candidate does or believes in, but you should always vote based on biblical principals.

As a Christian, we all need to be aware of the biblical moral issues that the newly elected president is going to have to deal with while he is in office.  In addition, remember, that any decision that a president acts on while he is in office usually will always have repercussions long after he has left the office.  The most important thing that we can do as Christians is to pray for our leaders.  Even if we do not agree with their politics, we should pray for our national leaders, as well as state, county, and even local leaders.  They all have tough jobs, with tough decisions that they need to make.  They need prayer!

I would like to invite you to read an article that I have published that was written by David Barton, founder and president of Wallbuilders.  He has some great insight on how Christians should biblically vote for a particular candidate.  At the top of this page is the article called, “Election 2008: Keeping First Things First.”  Please take the time to read it.  Especially if you are not sure who to vote for this November.

I had never heard of Saint John’s Bible until last week.  However, in the past few days, I have been reading a lot about it from the internet.  My niece heard that is was going to be at one of the local museums and asked if Jacki and I would like to go.  Therefore, we went that last Thursday evening.  We got there at about 5 o’clock, which was perfect.  We walked right in.  Within the next thirty minutes, there were so many people that the museum staff was only allowing so many people into the exhibit room at one time.  As one person left, they would allow one person in.

It was an amazing to see.  First, let me give you some background information.  The Abbey Church of Saint John the Baptist has commissioned this bible.  It is the place of worship for the monastic community of Saint John’s Abbey.  It is the home of Saint John the Baptist Parish and is the primary place of worship for the Saint John’s University community. 

Donald Jackson, who is the Queen’s Scribe, was the one who undertook this project.  Saint John’s is also know for there 1500-year monastic tradition and its long-standing commitment to manuscript preservation, which it why they got involved in commissioning this project.  The Saint John’s Board of Regents and the monastic community got together to seen if they wanted to do this, and they decide that, “Yes, we want to embark on this monumental project.  We want Donald Jackson to bring the Word of God to life on vellum for the next five hundred years.”

Let me state, before I go on, that I do not agree with this bible being written.  I will get more into that later.  I want to spend a little time describing how this bible is being written, which I do find fascinating.  Most of the information about Saint John’s Bible, I get from either their website, or employee’s at the museum. 

It has been about five hundred years since a scribe has written the bible in this way.  Basically, since the creation of the printing press, the bible has never been written by a scribe.  Donald Jackson and his team are writing this bible just like they would have hundreds of years ago.  No synthetic paints were used.  It is some sort of process of the yolk of and egg, and dies, and proteins, etc.  They would also use quill feathers to write with.  Everything was written on, what was called vellum, which is processed animal hid that is thin, smooth, and durable. 

All of the materials, and even processes were done just like they were back in the medieval time when a scribe would write the bible.  However, they interesting part of the processes used, is that they do use modern technology to communicate and talk back and forth.  Donald Jackson and his team are in Wales, Scotland, and Saint John’s Abbey is in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

This bible is not the size that you would normally be thinking of.  It is roughly, about two feet wide, by three feet tall.  Therefore, it is a large bible.  It is also, not going to be just one book.  It will be many volumes that will make up the one bible.  It is scheduled to be completed in the year 2010. 

The version of the bible that they are using is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).  Three main reason of why they chose this version.  First, its predecessor was officially authorized by use of all Christian churches: Protestant, Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Eater Orthodox.  Second, the NRSV includes gender-inclusive language.  Lastly, it has been approved by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (1991) for liturgical use in Canada, and in the United States. 

Now, as I stated before, I said that I am against this bible being written.  One main reason that I do not agree with this is, as they say on there website, “It interprets and illustrates scripture from a contemporary perspective, reflecting a multicultural world and humanity’s enormous strides in science and technology.”  As they told me at the museum, that the purpose behind this bible is to make it appealing to everyone.  They do not want to offend anyone, no matter what their belief or religion.  Therefore, this is basically a progressive, politically correct bible.  Let me say, that they are not changing scripture, that is staying the same, thankfully.  The politically correct part of the bible that I am referring to is the pictures of art work on the pages that are drawn that correlate to a particular passage that is on that page. 

For example, one of the pages in the Psalms had various pictures on it that seemed a little odd.  The information page next to it, explained how Saint John’s Abbey included Native American, Hinduism, Muslim, and various other Easter religions in the artwork.  According to this information page, these religions are part of Saint John’s Theology and worship.  I even spoke to one of the people that was running this exhibit, and talked to her about this incorporation of various other religions, that are not Christian, and she basically told me that I was interpreting the bible wrong. 

If it were just art work, I would say that it is fabulous!  It is some of the most exquisite modern day art work I have ever seen.  However, it is not just art work, because it is placed right next to the living word of God.  Which does not and never will include any other religion.  It is solely Christian! 

Defenders of this bible would argue that the scripture has not been changed.  I would disagree that the context of the message has been changed.  Most people are going to be looking at the artwork around the scripture, not reading the scripture for what it says. 

It is done very much so in the Catholic traditions.  Bright colors, gold, fancy pictures, etc.  In a day when most people want to say that there are no absolute truths, now these same people are trying to make the bible appealing to everyone, because we don’t want to offend anyone.  So let us mask the truth with lies, so no one gets offended.  Right?

WRONG! 

Students for Life of America Exposes Partial-Birth Abortionist Declaring Aborted Infants Born Alive “Just Sloppy Medicine” at Conference Held at the National Education Association

**Update: Click here to see the letter sent to the NEA by over 100 pro-life teachers!

Arlington,VA – Students for Life of America (SFLA) today released video exposing footage of abortionist Dr. George Tiller of Wichita, KS openly discussing children who “slip out” accidentally during an abortion and are “born alive” or with a “heartbeat” and condemned such medical mistakes during the Feminist Majority Foundation’s annual Women’s Leadership Conference, held at the National Education Association (NEA.) Dr. Tiller, who currently faces 19 criminal charges for illegal late-term abortions in the state of Kansas, stated “If the baby is born alive, that is sloppy medicine” after addressing the crowd of about 100 feminists during a plenary session titled “Standing with our Sisters” on March 9, 2008.

The video reveals Dr. Tiller showcasing graphic pictures of children with fetal abnormalities that he aborted to make the case for late-term abortions as necessary medical procedure. He also admitted to performing abortions on children the day before the mother’s due date. Yet when questioned in a personal interview, Dr. Tiller failed to recognize the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, a federal bill signed into law in 2002 that protects born children from murder and illegalizes infanticide.

When asked about the Act, Dr. Tiller also admitted, “Let’s say you have 15 or 16, you had one slip out with a heartbeat; that is not a viable fetus, but that is born alive or has a heartbeat. Then you have to take that non-viable fetus and rush it directly to the hospital against the woman’s wishes.”

The conference and personal interview with Dr. Tiller was videotaped by SFLA’s Executive Director Kristan Hawkins and Programs Coordinator Becky Banks.

Full video available online at http://youtube.com/watch?v=wpr_sN04j_0

 “What is most disturbing about this video is the point when Dr. Tiller shows footage of children he has aborted,” stated Kristan Hawkins, the Executive Director of Students for Life of America. “One had an extra arm: could not that child had survived and received corrective surgery? Was violently killing the child the only way to go? Pro-lifers are regularly condemned for displaying pictures of aborted babies, but here the pro-abortion crowd and the NEA are more than happy to showcase these graphic images, and even gave Dr. Tiller’s presentation a standing ovation.”

Becky Banks, SFLA Programs Coordinator, said “I’m concerned that Dr. Tiller didn’t know what the federal ban on infanticide is about. A man who performs thousands of abortions a year should know of this legislation and realize that any time that ’something with a heartbeat slips out,’ the baby is then a protected person under the law. The question obviously caught him off guard, because he could not give a straight answer about live abortions and contradicted his own information in a matter of minutes, claiming it’s not ever necessary and then explaining when it is necessary to abort live infants.”

The NEA should consider the effect their sponsorship has on its more than 3 million members:

“As a pro-life teacher, I can say this illustrates why I am no longer a member of the NEA. The NEA should not be involved in this issue; here they are hosting this controversial abortionist and his slideshow of babies he has aborted. There is no way any of my money will ever be used to advance the radical pro-abortion agenda of Planned Parenthood and the NEA,” said Marla Mercer, a West Virginia teacher and former member of the National Education Association.

ACTION: Send your complaints to the National Education Association.

(J. C. Ryle, “The Gospel of Mark” 1857)

“But Peter insisted emphatically, ‘Even if I
have to die with You, I will never disown You!’
And all the others vowed the same.” Mark 14:31

See how much ignorant self confidence may
sometimes be found in the hearts of Christians.
The apostle Peter could not think it possible that
he could ever deny his Lord. And he did not stand
alone in his confidence. The other disciples were
of the same opinion. “And all the others vowed
the same.”

Yet what did all this confident boasting come to?

Twelve hours did not pass away before all the
disciples forsook our Lord and fled. Their loud
professions were all forgotten. The present
danger swept all their promises of fidelity clean
away. So little do we know how we shall act in
any particular position—until we are placed in it!

Let us learn to pray for humility. “Pride goes before
destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

There is far more wickedness in all our hearts,
than we know. We never can tell how far we might
fall—if once placed in temptation. There is no degree
of sin into which the greatest saint may not run—if he
is not held up by the grace of God, and if he does not
watch and pray.

The seeds of every wickedness lie hidden in
our hearts! They only need the convenient season
to spring forth into a mischievous vitality. “Let him
that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” “He
who trusts his own heart is a fool.” Let our daily
prayer be, “Hold me up—and I shall be safe!”

 “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”     Rom 15:14 NASU

“But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.  We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” 1 Thess. 5:12-14 NASU

   What is Admonishment?  

It is used in many various ways, depending on the version that you are using?

            UNAS- ’admonish one another’

            NIV-     ’warn one another’

            Other versions- ‘counsel one another,’ and ‘correct’

The word admonish comes from the Greek word noutheteo (verb).  It means ‘to put in mind,’ ‘to caution or reprove gently.’

A friend of mine made a statement one evening in the men’s bible study.  It has really stuck with since he said a few months back, and I reflect on it every once in awhile.  “I’d rather have men around me that care more about me, than they do about my feelings.”  I’d like to also to add to the end of that, “or feeling that I might reject them if they say something.”

There is a lot of truth in that statement.  I would rather have a friend confront me about some sin that is in my life, that I need to deal with, than for him or her to feel that I might reject him or her if they say something, so they say nothing to me.  Some of you may think that, well it’s a Pastor’s job to deal with someone who needs to be corrected or counseled.  No, it’s not!  It is our responsibility as Christians, as brothers and sisters in Christ, that if you know of someone who is in sin, that we confront them about it in love.  There are exceptions to when Pastors and Elders need to be involved.  For sake of time, I’m not going to go into that right now.

What makes us “competent to admonish others”?

As we read in Romans 15:14, Paul states that the readers were “full of goodness” (Rom. 15:14a).  These believers were able to admonish one another because they were making progress in their own Christian lives.  You do not want to get yourself caught up in thinking you need to be perfect in order to admonish someone.  If someone is in sin, and you think that, I am not a good enough Christian right now to confront him or her about it, then you never will confront him or her.  Because only Jesus was and ever will be perfect.  What Paul was telling the Gentiles in Romans 15, is that you do not have to be perfect to confront someone.  You need only to be making progress in you Christian life.  Christians who are sensitive about their own walk with God are capable—and responsible—to admonish other Christians.  We need to make sure our act is together, before we try to help others get their act together.

Continuing in Romans 15:14b, they were “complete in knowledge”.  You need to have an adequate knowledge of God’s word.  If you are not reading God’s word, and spending time in prayer, then you are in a place where you need to get your act together.  How can you even attempt to counsel some one or even approach them about a sin issue they may have if you do not know the word of God.  The main reason for this is that it is the word of God that gives us direction on how to live our lives.  And the person, whom ever they are, needs to know that this is not your opinion, but what the word of God says.

We need to be careful that admonishment is based on God’s specific will and ways—not on what we think other Christians should or should not be doing.  Likewise, it should be based on scriptural lists of sins, not a list that we have added to the Bible.  For example, going to the movies.  The bible doesn’t say anything about going to the movies.  But, Philippians 4:8 warns us against exposing our minds to impure and unrighteous things.  Therefore, the bible doesn’t say anything about not going to the movies!  However, it does guide us into what movies we could go and watch or not.

   (Additional Biblical Guidelines)

Admonishment must be done with deep concern and love. 

“Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.”  Acts 20:31 NASU

This potion of scripture is from Paul to the Ephesians.  I am sure there is no doubt in these men’s minds that Paul loved them.  Paul’s tears were a reflection of his concern for them.  Paul didn’t just admonish these men because he thought he was better than they were.  He had a deep concern for them.  He love them as fellow brothers in Christ.  That’s why he could go to them and correct them.

Also, admonishment must frequently be personal.  Make it a private matter, not a public matter.  It only needs to be between you and the person you are admonishing.  It does not need to be shared with the bible study group that you both are attending.  You know what I mean?  Sharing during prayer time about the sin.  “I’d like to pray for John Doe because he had been struggling with sin in the area of such and such.”  No!   It only need to be between the two of you. 

Continuing on those same lines, admonishment must be persistent if it is to be effective. 

 “The word of God is filled with a multitude of exhortations, warnings, and instructions.  It takes a lot of time to communicate them all—and a lifetime to apply them.”    Gene Getz, “Building Up One Another” 

That is such a true statement.  If someone is struggling in sin, and you have been counseling him or her through it.  Don’t think you just have to tell him or her about it and that’s it.  You will have to be persistent with them and hold them accountable to make sure they are headed down the right path.  Also, and very importantly, we must do all we can to avoid embarrassing people—even those who are guilty.  Admonishment has to and must flow from pure motives.

Lastly, and I believe most importantly, admonishment must have the proper goal.  There should be only one basic objective when we admonish others; to help them become more mature in Jesus Christ.  Let me repeat that!  The only basic objective and goal should be to help them become more mature in Jesus Christ.  If you have any other goal than helping them to become better Christians, than you better evaluate what you doing and why. 

Each of us, before we admonish anyone should always evaluate our lives.  Are you “full of goodness?”  Do you have “knowledge of God’s word?”  Are you motivated by love?  As we close, I hope we seriously pray about what admonishment is and our biblical responsibility to it.  Over this past weekend, putting this teaching together, God has really opened my eyes to areas that I need to work on.  I pray that each of you do the same. 

   Verses on Admonishment

Acts 20:31

Rom 15:14

1 Cor. 4:14

Col 1:28

Col 3:16

1 Thess. 5:12-14

2 Thess. 3:15

If I were to put myself in his shoes, I probably would have said it as an excuse.  I’m old, and I really don’t want to be raising a child at my age.  It will be at least 20 years before he is out of here, my son is not going to want parents old enough to be his grandparents to be at his graduation, etc.  Plus, all the extra running around Zechariah will be doing for his son.  All the sports games he will have to go to, the prom, etc. 

Actually, I’m poking fun, but that could have be a legitimate excuse that he used.  Maybe he didn’t want to be a parent at that age, or maybe he felt he was too old to be a parent.  Whatever the reason was, God proved his point, by taking away Zechariah’s ability to speak until he would have a son.  God wanted to use Zechariah and his wife, weather they thought they were ready or not.

Just like people today.  God may want to use us for something in particular, and we may not feel that we are adequately suited for the job, and not want to do it.  But, if God wants to use us, then we should be willing to be used.  We should pray that we be open to God moving in our lives and directing us to do whatever his will is.  Even if it is something we want to do or not.

36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

NIV

When is Jesus going to be coming?  That is the question.  It even says in verse 32 of that same chapter, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  Jesus does not even know!  Which begs the question, why doesn’t Jesus know?  There is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, all three are separate in there own way, yet all three are one.  Why would Jesus not know what the Father knows?  Even though that is a question that I cannot answer at this time, one thing is for sure, Jesus is coming back someday for His bride.  Peter, John the Baptist, and many others went around saying to those around them to repent, because the end is near.  IF they were saying that almost 2000 years ago, how much closer to the end times are we now? 

Do I live like the end is tomorrow?  No!  This makes me ponder a question that I have heard asked before.  If I knew for a fact that Jesus is coming back this Friday at 5:37pm, pacific time, what would I do between now and then.  Would I continue living my life the way I live it now, sharing the gospel, when I know it is safe to.  Or maybe even going most of the day not even thinking about God, let alone not even praying to Him.  I think not!  I believe, that all Christians, unless there heart is stone cold, that they would be witnessing to every person they came into contact with.  No matter what that person thought about them.

Why don’t I live like that now?  Grant you, Jesus coming back in a couple days, changed the way I would go about witnessing, but why don’t I witness as much as I should.  Do I pray for opportunites in my daily walk to share the gospel with other people?  Most importantly, am I prepared to share the gospel, and even possibly leading someone to Christ? 

All of this is making my mind wander about various things.  Such as, how many verse do I have memorized?  AM I memorizing other verses?  How much time do I spend in prayer with God?  How much time do I spend in His word, studying who God is and everything about Him?  I have a lot of areas that I am weak in, yet, I have the ability to grow in, spiritually.  So what am I going to do about it?

I will keep you posted!

Jesus took his three closest disciples with him to Gethsemane to Pray.  Peter, James and John.  He told them to “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  Jesus was praying very earnestly.  He, as the scriptures says, “began to be sorrowful and troubled.”  Jesus knew that his time was coming when he would be arrested, and eventually crucified.  He is God the Son, which makes him omniscient.  Yet, even though he knows what must take place, he is still human, and can still feel everything and anything we would feel.  Emotions, tiredness, and pain.  All of which he has experienced by this time, with the exception to pain.  But I’m sure he knew what that was going to feel like.

Just put yourself in Jesus’ shoes, or sandals, for a minute.  You took your three closest friends to pray about what was about to take place.  You are tired, and you know that one of you friends that you choose to be a disciple will soon show up with some centurions to have you arrested and falsely accused.  And there is nothing you can do except pray.

The scripture says that he was overwhelmed with sorrow, but I do like how the NASV puts it, that he was “deeply grieved.”  That is such a better translation.  That he is so grieved about what is going to take place soon, that he knows there is nothing he can do except pray.

So he takes his three closest friends with him to pray and they can’t even stay awake for an hour to pray with him.  They all fall asleep.  When Jesus returned to his friends after a little while of praying, they were asleep and Jesus woke them up, asking Peter why they could not stay awake, and telling him to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”  How true is that statement, that the spirit is willing, but the body is weak?  I know in my own life, I have many times put sleep over prayer.  It is so convicting to just write this.  I wonder sometimes why my prayer life is not where I would like it to be.  Well, I’m afraid if Jesus were to answer that question, he would say that I do not spend good quality time with him.  What does Jesus get from me when I do pray.  He usually gets what is left over.  That is so wrong of me.  He should get whats first, and then what is left over should go to everything else. 

Many months ago, I started a plan to get up even earlier than I usually do for work in order to start my day off with the Lord.  Sometimes, I am able to get up, but other times, I’m tired, so I continue to sleep in and will spend my time with the Lord when I get home in the evening from work.  Anywhere from  5:00 to 9:00.  The end of the day.  My spirit is willing, but my body is weak.  I give the Lord the end of my day, when he should get the start of my day. 

Here’s my challenge to everyone reading this.  We should, and need to give the Lord the first of our day.  If that means we need to make adjustments in our sleeping schedule so that we can get up earlier, then do it.  Spending time with the Lord should be the first thing we all do everyday.  I believe that the Lord will truly bless us, and maybe even use us to change our world, just like the disciples.  Make time for the Lord, first thing every morning.

My second challenge is, let’s all keep each other accountable.  I have another guy that I am accountable to, and I will ask him, along with my wife, to hold me accountable to putting the Lord first everyday.  Find someone to be accountable with, that will ask you if you are spending time with the Lord everyday.

Well, I’ve gone on long enough.  I didn’t even get to the rest of the passage, but I guess you have gotten my point of what the Lord is convicting me on.  God bless you all, and put the Lord first in everything.

EPHESIANS 3:14-21 (New International Version)

A Prayer for the Ephesians

 14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

This is a great prayer of Paul’s.  Paul doesn’t just pray something little, but prays big.  He prays that the saints would “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,”  verse 18. 

If you would like to hear the sermon, or other Previous sermon;s on the book of Ephesians, please to the Valley Bible Church website under staying involved.