Bible Study Outrage in San Diego

I just returned home from the 2009 Banner of Truth Ministers Conference in Grantham, PA on the campus of Messiah College. It was a great time and it was exciting to see some familiar faces and good friends in the ministry. We share a camaraderie and common bond as brothers called out to shepherd the flock of God.

After such an enjoyable few days away from the daily grind (disconnected from the computer I might add) you can imagine my shock when I saw this article posted at Fox News today reporting that the city of San Diego is prohibiting a pastor and his wife from using their home to host a small group Bible study. Just the most recent installment from the "You've Got To Be Kidding Me" department.

Read the article and spread the word. Let's keep our eye on this together.

Having Computer Problems? Don't Ask An Astronaut to Help

After having gone a few rounds with my new computer and its Vista operating system, I chuckled this morning when I saw that NASA astronauts weren't able to get their laptops to play DVD movies aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis.  You can read what happened in this article from yesterday.

It seems even the most brilliant people in the world, who have the intelligence and NASA training to repair a multi-million dollar space telescope, still have trouble with their technology on occasion.  Even with the best and brightest minds working on it for more than an hour, they still couldn't get it to work.

Yes, I'm smiling right now.

Hey Christian! You're Not A Spectator

This year I am celebrating my tenth year in the ministry, and believe it or not, the hardest thing about the ministry for me is not the preaching, the long hours, or the counseling--- it's trying to help 21st century Christians understand that they are not spectators.

You see, everywhere we go today in America we live as spectators and consumers. When we step into the Mall, it exists to serve us and we go and do as we please. When we sit at the table at Applebee's, we expect to be served and we order what we like. When we sit in the stands at a sporting event, the event unfolds before our eyes and we know we are there to watch. Drugstores, doctor's offices, auto mechanic shops, grocery stores, insurance agencies--- they all exist to serve us--- and we see our role as consumers. Non-participants. Spectators.

But for the Christian believer, when it comes to the realm and sphere of a local church assembly, the Bible expressly says that individual is not a spectator--- but a servant. In the Body of Christ, there are no passive consumers because every Christian is called to be an active producer. A contributor. A worker.

With that biblical viewpoint much on my mind this year, that is why this recent ministry article by John MacArthur struck such a chord with me.

When consumerism affects America--- the economy flourishes and our nation advances. But when consumerism infects the church--- the cause of Jesus Christ flounders and the church loses ground.

O God, please help me be one of the godly pastors of this generation who helps to slay Christian "consumerism" once and for all. Let me boldly declare that the Body of Christ does not exist for leisure--- but labor. Amen.

No, Mr. President

Yesterday in the midst of heated debate and vocal protest, President Obama made his much-publicized appearance at the University of Notre Dame for the purpose of delivering the 2009 commencement address.

Over the last many weeks, many Catholics have been angered and many Notre Dame alumni and supporters have been outraged that a Catholic university with a rigid pro-life stance would invite a pro-choice abortion advocate to speak at graduation---- especially one like President Obama who is actively redrawing the lines and relaxing standards regarding human life issues.

As Obama spoke to the crowd of more than 12,000 people, he delivered an address in which he called for more understanding and more dialogue in the abortion debate. Even when three protesters interrupted his remarks with shouts of "Stop killing our children!", the president continued on unfazed.

But while President Obama continues to plead for patience, tolerance, and dialogue---- the killing of innocent millions is not something that should be up for debate. And that is why I heartily agree with John Piper in saying, "No, Mr. President".

Basketball Magic Strikes Again

Many of you will remember the legendary true story of Jason McElwain, the high school basketball manager with autism who finally got a chance on the court.... and magic happened. In the night of his life, Jason scored 20 points in four minutes.

Well, following in Jason's footsteps, two more magical moments happened when Patrick Thibodeau and Josh Titus--- two more high school basketball managers with special needs--- got their chance on the court this past season.

When I watched this video, I wept. Then I watched it again, and wept--- again.

Thank you CBS Sports for airing this video during this year's Final Four. This is what makes basketball and other sports so special. You just never know when you're in for something magical.

Hubble: Face to Face With God's Glory

Yesterday at 2pm, the Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off on a mission to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope, which rides at some 300 miles above the earth and peers into the deepest recesses of the universe.

You might remember that following its launch back in 1990, the Hubble was infamously ridiculed and labeled a bust after it was discovered that its primary lens was distorted. Its first pictures were so blurry and out of focus, it looked like the images were taken through a pair of grandma's old Coke-bottle spectacles.

Thankfully though, following NASA's mission to correct the telescope's primary mirror optics, Hubble finally came into its own--- and wow, what glories have been unveiled.

God's glory, that is.

You see, while secular scientists and humanistic astronomers study the treasures of space in hopes of unlocking the secrets of the Universe and the dawn of time, all the while denying the existence of God--- what these heavenly bodies ultimately reveal is not the absence of God but His undeniable presence and the evidence of His majestic glory in creation.

As the Psalmist says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." (Psalm 19:1-3 NIV)

How ironic that the very tool these unbelieving scientists and astronomers have used to rail against God, is the very tool that has presents the most incredible proofs of His reality and power!

While we look at pictures like these and marvel at the grandeur and majesty and glory of God the Creator, it shouldn't surprise us that so many skeptics continue to cover their eyes, plug their ears, say "There is no God", and insist that the Universe appeared in a giant explosion 14 billion years ago.

Paul explained this ongoing phenomenon in the hearts of sinful men in the first chapter of Romans:

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools..." (Rom. 1:18-22 NIV)

The bottom line is that while skeptics will continue to use Hubble in protest against God, we can use it as a platform for worshipping Him. The universe really does declare His majesty.

We can only hope that with Hubble's upgrade, more awe-inspiring pictures like these will come before our eyes in future days, continuing to display the unfathomable glory of the God who spoke all these heavenly wonders into existence.

Make no mistake. Face to face with Hubble's history-making photos, only "the fool says in his heart 'There is no God'." (Psalm 53:1)

Front Page News! Celebrating Fifty Years

Its been more than two weeks since I last posted something current here at Light and Heat, but this post will help to explain why.

Over the last year my church has excitedly been making special plans and preparations for its 50th anniversary, and this weekend was the culmination of those celebration plans. On Saturday night we had a fantastic anniversary banquet, and on Sunday morning we had a special 90-minute celebration service featuring inspiring singing, special recognitions and commendations, and two guest preachers.

The last two weeks have been a blur, as I have had to pull together all the final pieces of the Anniversary weekend---- in addition to all my regular preaching and shepherding responsibilities.

We were excited to learn that the local Standard Speaker newspaper was going to write a short article about our weekend, but you can imagine my shock this morning to discover that we were the front page feature article!

I invite you to check out the article as it is posted on today's Standard Speaker website.

Our weekend's theme was "Great Is Thy Faithfulness", and I'm so thankful that all the praise, honor, and glory was ultimately directed where it belongs: to the sustaining grace of God and the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ.