Highlights 1.18.2017

Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Psalm 119:136

My eyes shed streams of tears,
    because people do not keep your law.

Highlights 1.17.2017

Psalm 119

Samekh

I hate the double-minded,
but I love your law.
You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commandments of my God.
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
Hold me up, that I may be safe
and have regard for your statutes continually!
You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,
for their cunning is in vain.
All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,
therefore I love your testimonies.
My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.

Matthew 10:26-33

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."

Leadership Lessons: Stonewall Jackson

As someone who has been called to minister in the local church, leadership is something I think about often. As a pastor, I am called to lead the congregation entrusted to my care. This includes setting direction for the church, directing the execution of the church's mission, modeling a godly life, and developing other leaders to continue the work of the ministry. Leadership is something I regularly study, read, think, and write about (so far that is just scribbles in my notebook). Leadership is something that I am passionate about. Leadership matters.

And the Scriptures have a lot to say about leadership. The Bible directs, instructs, and informs leaders. It also provides powerful models of leadership , both failed and successful.

But sometimes it is also helpful to draw leadership principles from other great men of the past. Great men of history provide a unique opportunity for studying leadership, both good and bad. We can look back and see where leaders came from, what molded them, what difficulties they faced, and how they led in the face of momentous challenges. We can look back and see where their decisions led. We can evaluate their accomplishments and failures and consider how we should lead in light of this.

Recently, I read Robert E. Lee: A Biography by Emory M. Thomas. Much could be said about Lee's leadership. But I was especially  intrigued to read about the bravery, conviction, and leadership of another great Confederate; perhaps the greatest subordinate to Lee, and in many ways Lee's superior, none other than Stonewall Jackson.

With my interest in Jackson piqued, I was excited to find a newer biography on Stonewall at my local public library, Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson by S.C. Gwynne.

I started reading this biography last week and it has been hard to put down. Gwynne is a superb biographer and talented writer. He makes the days surrounding the Civil War come alive.

As I started reading about Jackson being thrust into leadership from relative anonymity, I found myself noting pages repeatedly (don't worry, in Evernote not on the pages). Jackson is a powerful example of great leadership. As Gwynne walks you through the dusty lanes of northern Virginia and the fiery baptism of those first battles, Jackson's leadership marches to the forefront.

While he was not perfect - and he would agree with that statement - Jackson was truly a great leader among men. He offers valuable lessons in leadership, timeless principles that need to be applied in our tumultuous times as well. So as I read Rebel Yell, I plan to post some brief summaries of leadership principles drawn from the life of this greatest of Southerners. I hope you will profit from it as much as I.

The Enemy inside the Walls

Any man worth his salt will think often about protecting what is valuable to him. Money in the bank, documents in the cloud, guns in the safe; we protect what we value.  We take proactive steps to ensure the safety of what we treasure. When it comes to our flesh and blood, this caution levels up big time.

No man in his right mind would ever allow danger to come at his wife and kids. So we act different than the fairer sex. We keep our head on a swivel when out in public, looking for danger close. We check the locks before we go to bed at night. We put up walls around our homes, install alarms, and sleep with our boomstick close to hand.  Double-aught baby. We exercise great caution to avoid danger, but prepare to handle it should it ever get close.  We protect what we love.

In Colossians 3:19, Paul reminds men to apply this protective mindset to the person they should love most–their wife. But this isn’t protection from danger outside the walls. It is protecting love from the enemy inside the walls, the enemy of bitterness.

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.”

We get the love part. At least we know we are supposed to love our wives like Christ loves the Church. But how often do we think about bitterness toward our wives?

Bitterness is the dried out and twisted heart. It’s the remnants from the slow-burn of anger that smolders on the inside. It is under the singed heap of unmet expectations, irritations, frustrations, and anger that we choose to direct toward the one who is to instead be a well-spring of life. Bitterness is the silent killer that wraps the piano cord of selfishness around your neck and twists without mercy until your marriage lies lifeless on the floor. Bitterness is the enemy within.

Ironically, bitterness is the enemy that we let slip inside. We choose to let it in. We let it happen. Hence the command to not let bitterness poison the love of a husband for his wife.

So how do we guard against bitterness? How do we kill this silent but powerful enemy? We go back to the beginning and find the answer in one word, love. If we make it our business to love our wives, bitterness will be kept on the outside. Love is the wall that keeps bitterness out. And if bitterness ever finds its way inside, love is the weapon we choose to take up that will slay this mortal enemy. Christ centered, Spirit empowered love. 

So men, protect your love toward your wife. Watch your heart toward her. Remember, that bitterness is the enemy that will do great harm against your wife. Stay on guard for bitterness. Check that the doors to your heart are locked against it. Watch out for it. Be ready to shoot it down if it creeps in. Protect what you value most. Protect your love for your wife.

Pathways

"14 Do not enter the path of the wicked

And do not proceed in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, do not pass by it;

Turn away from it and pass on.

16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil;

And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness

And drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

That shines brighter and brighter until the full day."

 

~ Proverbs 4:14-18 

Alot more of us need to sit at the feet of this teacher and lend our ear to his wise words.

We understand that when the writer speaks of the path of the wicked he means their course of life, their sinful character, and the actions that follow. But think about it, at the time that Solomon wrote there was literally a path to the wicked.

How could you go lie in wait to ambush someone (1:11) or go to the house of the harlot (5:8) unless you physically walked on a path to go meet up with them. You had to physically get up, go outside, and walk to the door of the harlot's house. There was actually effort involved in entering the path of the wicked.

We need Solomon's words even more today. What do I mean? I mean it is all too easy, convenient, and anonymous to enter the wicked path today. Now, every IP address is a path to folly and every sort of evil. A step only takes the press of a button, a single click of a mouse. The path of the wicked is all around us, floating in the cloud, choking and blurring our way.

Without stepping foot in the dusty square of Sodom, we find ourselves like righteous Lot, who was oppressed by his generation, though I want to have a different ending to the story of my life than his.

Here's the deal. I don't think that we will do much shining if we are constantly walking in the fog of spiritual confusion that characterizes our modern life. What is  the answer?

We need to dive deep into the truths of God's word and let it's living waters flow over our souls. We need to make the hard climb up to the heights of older theological stalwarts and let them show us the vast panoramas of God's glory. We need to walk the old paths through the sun dappled meadows of righteousness.
 

Then our minds will be clear, our path will be evident, and we will shine.
 

Eiger Jungfrau Switzerland

How to Be Spiritually Miserable

For the last several months I have limited my reading to the printed page, and that further limited to the wisdom of more seasoned writers. Puritans and older current pastors who write in the same vein of reformed soul care have been my focus. Frankly, so much of what is published today feels vacuous and leaves a dry taste in my mouth.  Previously, I found myself wanting the skilled soul care that comes from deep theological and pastoral reflection; and there's just not alot of that out there on the interwebs.

So this post by Eric Davis was a real blessing to my soul today. I'm not saying it felt good reading it. There was some serious conviction going on in my heart. But after dealing with my own soul before the Lord, I was happy. It is encouraging that there are guys like Eric and the other fellows at The Cripplegate who are concerned with genuine biblical heart change.

The question I'm wondering is what puritan divine has Mr. Davis been reading recently?

Check out Eric's post here:

How to Be Spiritually Miserable: You have to do one thing to ensure a run-in with misery: exist. In a fallen world, it’s inevitable. And, for many, it’s unbearable. Misery: a state of dissatisfaction, unfulfillment, an…

A Treasure Trove

A box full of treasure arrived today. The delivery man had no idea the heavy box he lugged up the steps was full of olden gold, pearls of great price, and rare diamonds. But the treasure inside was not the stuff of rare metals or brilliantly compressed minerals. Inside the box lay centuries old wisdom, the priceless treasure of theological reflection and pastoral insight that is all but lost today - lost treasure - and maps to more for the adventurous wisdom seeker.

Jesus compared the gospel to a treasure hidden in a field (Matthew 13:44). Sometimes it feels like the field is now buried under the concrete jungle of our modern times. But there are still wizened guides who know the way. They have already sunk shafts deep into the quartz of theological truth and they offer to share their gospel gems if you are willing to dig a little. 

John Owen is one such guide. Read him and you will have to dig. You might even scuff your knuckles and perspire a bit. But follow his prospector lamp a little further down the mine shaft and you will hit the mother lode. 

Here's my treasure maps. Can't wait to start diggin'!

   

 

*If you are interested, you can find the works of Owen here.