Today I am Wearing White

Happy March 17th! No, I did not say Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Most of you will be joining in the various types of celebrations or means of commemorating this annual “holiday.” The most visible means of lending support or expressing solidarity with this holiday is “the wearing of the green.”

Of course that is followed by green hair, green beer, green water fountains, and green shamrocks. Most folks, who think about today, will get up and browse through their closets looking for something green to wear, from underwear to outerwear. The funny thing to me is that most folks don’t know what they are “conveying” by the “wearing of the Green.” Did you know that originally the color for St. Patrick's day was blue and not green? Green became the utilized color when it was discovered that Patrick used a green, three leaved clover in an attempt to explain the Trinity. 

As I get up this morning, among the many things tasks of the day, I will do two things. First, I will rummage around my closet looking for something white to wear today. Secondly, I will call my youngest daughter Stacy and wish her a happy 29th birthday!

Now, you ask, why will you wear white? And What does the wearing of the green mean? I am glad you asked, so let me fill you in.

Since 1691 Ireland has been ruled by Protestant forces of the British Empire. Northern Ireland has tried to put off this rule for years. Ireland was Catholic in faith and resented the protestant rule of England.

In 1798 the “Irish Rebellion” broke out in an attempt to win Catholic freedom. The wearing of a green shamrock in one’s hat was a sign of support or solidarity with the Catholic forces (Society of United Irishman) trying to overthrow the Protestant rule.

Unfortunately, the protestant regime of Britain responded with horrible tactics of murder, torture, wrongful imprisonment. I deplore the tactics of my “so-called Protestant” predecessors" and in no way support either their British rule over Northern Ireland or the forced imposition of Protestantism while suppressing Catholic freedom.

By the way, the wearing of green and the shamrock in the hat was a hanging offense. This was a very painful time during Ireland’s history. That is why if one is found not wearing “green” one is pinched. This way one can "feel the pain" of this horrid oppression.

Where does the white come in? Orange is symbolic of Irish Protestants while green is symbolic of Irish Catholics. On the Irish flag, there is an orange stripe, a green stripe and a white stripe. The orange is for the Protestants, the green is for the Catholics and the white is for the hope of peace between the two.

The orange on the Irish flag stands for the Protestants widely known as Orangemen in Ulster after William of Orange. They dress in Orange for the day if they celebrate it.

Since, I am not catholic nor do I sympathize in any way with catholic dogma (theology) I choose not to wear green. However, as a “protestant” (I am really a baptistic non-denominationalist rather than “protestant”) I do not condone as I have said the behavior of the “Orangeman.”

The last few years, however, after learning the distinction and purpose of the colors green and orange, I took to wearing orange. I loved it when people who had no clue as to why everyone was suppose to wear “green” asked me why I was wearing orange.

However, last year, I realized something as I visited this subject again, I had forgotten about the third color on the Irish flag, white. I am going to wear white today to symbolize my solidarity and support for peace. 

I have no plans to dye my hair green or orange. Nor do I think I will put green or orange food coloring in my my beverage tonight. Regardless of what color my daughter wears today, I still am going to call her and tell here happy birthday and how much I love her.

How do you acknowledge or celebrate "St. Patrick's Day?

What is your favorite part, tradition,

 or memory of this "holiday?"

If you were to come across a Leprechaun today, 

what would you want from him?

*************************

Happy 29th Birthday to our youngest daughter Stacy A. Moreno of Mesa, AZ! I love you SAM4

Protect the Flock By Excluding Visitors

By Michael McKinley | 3.7.2011

Elders are called to protect the church from people who would do them spiritual harm (wolves among the sheep). One of the ways we try to do that in our church is by not allowing people to get very involved in the life of the congregation until they are members. 

So in our church, non-members are welcome to attend and participate in the public services of the church.  We are happy to have them in our Sunday morning gathering, our Sunday evening gathering, and our fellowship meals.

But we don't let people attend small groups or serve among the children or lead music until they are members.  In order to join the church, a person must be examined by the elders and approved by the congregation.  Once a person has been through that process, we feel reasonably comfortable that they are safe (that is to say, not a wolf). 

But until the point, we don't want to encourage people in the church to look to that person as a leader by putting them up in front of the congregation to lead singing.  We don't want them teaching the children of the church.  We don't want people to completely let their guard down and trust them in the way we ask members to trust each other in small groups.

People who are "regular attenders" but who haven't joined the church sometimes feel like our policy is exclusive.  But ultimately my responsibility is to the flock over which the Spirit has made me an overseer.  And besides, they are welcome to pursue church membership at any time.

http://www.9marks.org/blog

I agree with this Michael McKinley. I do not think non-members, those unwilling to commit to the body fully by an act of joining should be teaching, training, or toying with God's people.

What is your opinion?

Why do you think people become time attenders, even financial supporters, and consider themselves apart of the church and yet will not become official members?

Do you think a body of Elders can affectively shepherd,

 equip, and even discipline non-members. 

Why? or Why not?

Common Grace Part III

Today we continue with out look at common grace. Before we do however, let me remind you that in Part I, we established a working definition of common grace. Actually, we borrowed a definition from Wayne Grudem which says, "Common grace is the grace of God by which he gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation." Of course the idea is that common means something that is common to all people and therefore is not restricted to God's people alone.


In Part II, we elaborated on a number of depictions or examples of common grace. We looked at some very specific areas such as the physical realm, the intellectual realm, the societal realm, and the religious realm. In each  of these areas we see that both the lost and the saved receive blessings related to those specific areas seemingly indiscriminately.

Be sure to catch up if need be and read those first two posts. Now we move to a third area concerning common grace, and that is the...

THE DESIGN


The first question that comes to the mind of most thinking people is, "Why would God give something like common grace to people who don't deserve it in the first place, and in the place are considered by His standards to be sinners? There seems to be at least four (4) reasons under-girding God's design. The first reason in God's design is...

To Redeem Those Who Will Be Saved


Peter tells us very clearly that God is actively delaying the day of judgement of all of mankind because there are people in every generation who are to be saved. "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (II Peter 3:9-10, ESV)


God is fulfilling his plan and purpose this very moment. He is going to bring an end to this world as we know it and all of mankind will stand before God and be judged. However, he is delaying that judgement so that all those whom he has determined to save in each generation have the opportunity to repent and turn to Him through Christ and be saved. God delays judgement, bears with or suffers the countless sinners to violate his standards in order to bring about the salvation of all of the elect, leaving none behind or unsaved. Since God has delayed judgement and is working to save his elect in each generation (until that last elect individual has been saved) both those who are lost and those who are redeemed experience the same benefits of common grace.

Sinners are recipients of God's common grace as the elect are drawn to salvation. There is a second reason in God's design concerning common grace, and that is...

To Demonstrate God's Goodness and Mercy


It remains very clear that both God's goodness and his mercy are depicted in the salvation of his elect. It is equally as clear that God's goodness and mercy is depicted in his goodness to undeserving and unrepentant sinners. God displays his glory to both angels and human beings when he is good to those who do not deserve  his goodness. "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the most high, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6"35-36, ESV)

"The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made." (Psalms 145:9, ESV)

Louis Berkhof wrote, "...God showers untold blessings upon all men and also clearly indicates that these are the expressions of a favorable disposition in God, which falls short however of the positive volition to pardon their sin, to lift their sentence, and to grant them salvation."


So, God delays judgment of the lost and displays his glory, goodness, and mercy by giving temporary blessings to human beings. There is a third reason in God's design concerning common grace, and that is...

To Demonstrate God's Justice


This is a tough one. It is hard for us at times to understand God's condemning people. Well, some people we can more easily understand; child molesters, murderers, and politicians. OOPS! Did I say that? You know what I mean, when we look at the life of a brutal, wanton, despicable rapist and murderer we many times are not only understand God's condemnation but we are happy about it. The apostle Paul gives a sobering warning to the "good people" who refuse God's command to repent and invitation to be saved, "But because of your hard and impenitent heat you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgement will be revealed." (Romans 2:5, ESV)

God, in delaying the day of judgement and in giving all sorts of benefits and blessings which we call common grace will be more than justified when people who refuse to acknowledge God and repent. People use or enjoy all the blessings of common grace given by God without acknowledging the source of that grace and without ever repenting. God is just when they are condemned.

God of course is just whether he chose to bestow common grace or not, but how much clearer is it to you and me the justness of God's condemnation to those who refuse to repent, especially after enjoying God's blessings. There is a fourth reason in God's design concerning common grace, and that is...

To Demonstrate God's Glory


God displays his glory in a number of magnificent ways. The glory of God is is essential character and nature. God uses various means to display his nature and character to mankind. God uses things that are common to man to display both his character and the quality of his character such as rain, lightening, thunder, sunshine, oxygen, and other means. God reveals himself through these means that are common to us all.

Side Note: This is the second time my automatic post has "eaten" a paragraph. This last point was much longer with more examples and three questions and it has disappeared along with a picture. I my try to fix it later but don't have the time right now. 

FREE TO GOOD CHURCH

One aging pastor, one ageless wife, two cats, and one dog! 

(Will not break up the set)
Not perfected as of yet, just a sinner saved by grace.

Have been roughly used for over ten years,  well broken in

yet still lots of life and miles available to be spent in

the service of our Lord for the body of Christ.

Not well known and with no notoriety, however adapts

very easily, and requires very little maintenance.

Looking for long term service opportunity.

Can't remember who I have baptized, well there was John and Judy P.,

Sheryl T.,and that guy that came with the duct taped tennis shoes,

and a countless others, but I have not been in jail and have not caused

any riots, and have not been run out of any towns or cities.

Willing to relocate, size of congregation is not important. 

Limited in abilities - only know how to preach and teach

exegetical and expositionally, never learned to ride

hobby horses or promote denominational  sacred cows. 


Will love all the sheep and will gladly lay down my 
life for the Chief Shepherd or the flock.
Has own bible, a few books, and a coat.

Whose drum?

Found on Facebook as a status: "‎...wants to love, live and laugh to the beat of her own drum...but first I must find my drum." 


Humorous? Cute? A status that will generate a lot of "likes?" All three are true. I have no doubt this was posted in fun for a response and more than likely really isn't this person's worldview at all.  However, how does this  sentiment of this cute, humorous post gel with a Christian worldview?


There are certainly a number of people who are living to the beat of their own drum. The humanistic worldview encourages and caters to members of society to have it your own way. Is this wise? 


Solomon, recognized by both Scripture and Christians at large as the wisest man who has ever lived addressed this in one of his wisdom books. As a matter of fact he felt so strongly about this that he didn't mention it but once, he recorded it twice. It was an important lesson he wanted to get across.


"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25)


The more that I grow in the grace and the knowledge (II Peter 3:18) of the Lord Jesus Christ the more my worldview comes in line with that the Scriptures and our sovereign God. The more I grow the more I see that Paul realized the utter fallacy and even danger of such a thought process. However, Paul's worldview, daily ground into him by both experience and the Holy Spirit is one which must people grow in. 


If you read Paul and truly understand his heart you will discover Paul didn't want to live, love, or laugh to the beat of his own drum. As a matter of fact Paul longed for and looked for the destruction of his "drum." Listen to Paul:


"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."  (I Timothy 1:15)


"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right but not the ability to carry it out, For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do want I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand...wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"  (Romans 7:18-19,21,24)


Let me say I have nothing against drums or most drummers. I have been a drummer since I was eleven. Let me also say that allegorically we are all "drummers" in this life. Besides didn't we have someone who made it his motto in order to be able to say, " I did it my way?" How did that work out for him in the end. I mean when he drew his last breath.


So, let me ask you; do you still want to live, love, and laugh to the beat of your own drum? Or is it more wise to seek the suppression of that drum that lives in all of us, and seek to live, love, and laugh to the beat of "the drum" Christ Jesus our Lord?

God Caused the Earthquake In Japan

"Is a trumpet blown in a city and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it?" (Amos 3:6, ESV)


As my heart and prayers go out to the Japanese, do not forget that God is sovereign and working out his plan perfectly, Amos 3:6, do not attribute disaster to bad luck or nature but take note God is at work in sovereign wisdom and men should act and react accordingly to his judgment. May this working of God remind us of God and His power creating awe, submission, and repentance.

Many times in order to prevent misunderstanding God revealed to prophets his own view of various events or disasters. At times God chose to reveal his purposes and even actions so that those events or disasters could be interpreted correctly.


God has a plan and a purpose in the earthquake that took place in Japan and for all those which take place around the world. God does not always choose to reveal his secret plan or purpose but be assured these events are not random or merely caused by "actions in nature." God will use various means to work out his eternal purpose. Our responsibility is recognize the power of God and submit to him.

A Prayer by John Piper in Response to This Disaster

The power of moving water is greater than most of us can imagine.

 Nothing stands before it. We are driven to our knees:

Father in heaven, you are the absolute Sovereign over the shaking of the earth, the rising of the sea, and the raging of the waves. We tremble at your power and bow before your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. We cover our faces and kiss your omnipotent hand. We fall helpless to the floor in prayer and feel how fragile the very ground is beneath our knees.

O God, we humble ourselves under your holy majesty and repent. In a moment—in the twinkling of an eye—we too could be swept away. We are not more deserving of firm ground than our fellowmen in Japan. We too are flesh. We have bodies and homes and cars and family and precious places. We know that if we were treated according to our sins, who could stand? All of it would be gone in a moment. So in this dark hour we turn against our sins, not against you.

And we cry for mercy for Japan. Mercy, Father. Not for what they or we deserve. But mercy.

Have you not encouraged us in this? Have we not heard a hundred times in your Word the riches of your kindness, forbearance, and patience? Do you not a thousand times withhold your judgments, leading your rebellious world toward repentance? Yes, Lord. For your ways are not our ways, and your thoughts are not our thoughts.

Grant, O God, that the wicked will forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Grant us, your sinful creatures, to return to you, that you may have compassion. For surely you will abundantly pardon. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus, your beloved Son, will be saved.

May every heart-breaking loss—millions upon millions of losses—be healed by the wounded hands of the risen Christ. You are not unacquainted with your creatures' pain. You did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all.

In Jesus you tasted loss. In Jesus you shared the overwhelming flood of our sorrows and suffering. In Jesus you are a sympathetic Priest in the midst of our pain.

Deal tenderly now, Father, with this fragile people. Woo them. Win them. Save them.

And may the floods they so much dread make blessings break upon their head.

O let them not judge you with feeble sense, but trust you for your grace. And so behind this providence, soon find a smiling face.

In Jesus’ merciful name, Amen.

"Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do!"

We all remember, well, maybe I should say, most of us, all remember I Love Lucy. Lucy Ricardo was such a zany character. Even for primitive and early pioneering the I Love Lucy Show was in my opinion borderline genius.

It was such a hit that on January 19, 1953 for the episode entitled Lucy goes to the Hospital, more people tuned in and watched that episode than the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower which aired the following day.

Can you believe it? Forty-four million people or 72% of the viewing public watched Lucy "give birth" to Little Ricky. What many people do not know is that Lucy gave birth to Desi Arnaz, Jr. that very day. Many people think Little Ricky and Desi Arnaz, Jr. were the same baby and little boy, however they were not. Little Ricky was played by twins Joe and Mike Mayer, Richard and Ronald Simmons, and Keith Thibodeaux.

Well, I have a character that I love as much as the public loved Lucille Ball, oops I mean Lucy Esmeralda McGillicutty Ricardo. I love Luke. Yes, the Gentile physician and historian that wrote almost two thirds of the New Testament with his two volume set The Gospel According to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

Luke has always fascinated me. He was a trained doctor. His writings show him to be very compassionate and generally interested in people. He left his practice for reasons that are totally unknown to us to travel with a dynamic, diminutive, displaced, and determined Jewish Pharisee turned Christ follower. He suffered imprisonment, shipwreck, hardship, and persecution along with Paul and other companions. What causes me to love him the most I think are these words dictated by Paul, "Only Luke is with me." When Paul was in the Mamertine Prison facing execution at any moment and all alone with no one standing by him as the end drew near, Luke was standing by his side. God give me a man like Luke to stand with me through thick and thin, peace and persecution, valley and mountain top and I will charge the gates of hell.

Who is your favorite bible character?

Why is he or she your favorite character?

If given the opportunity of spending a quiet afternoon

 with your favorite bible character, describe it.

Don't be chintzy with your answers,

take some time & thought I am truly

interested and would like to learn.