Pastor's Fellowship

"By His Grace Alone" is the way that I sign my letters and e-mails. I don't know what it does for others but it serves as a great reminder to me.

Among the many things that are brought to my attention by that phrase is the fact that since salvation is by the grace of God alone then life and ministry should be to the glory of God alone.

It is one thing to give lip service to the idea of God-centered ministry. I suspect that very few would openly admit to a man-centered ministry. I am also convinced that all of us have more focus upon men than we are willing to admit.

In light of these realities and convictions I am delighted to have found a group of Pastors who are passionate about shepherding God's flock in a manner that is truly God-centered. They challenge and encourage me by their character and by their communication.

Those who are interested in this type of fellowship you will want to join us for our next meeting. We have scheduled a meeting for Thursday, January 26, 2006. This meeting will be held here at Faith Baptist Church, 905 Fairlane Terrace. Albert Lea MN. We will begin at 11:00 a.m. and conclude sometime around 2:00 p.m. Pastor Phil Siefkes of Calvary Baptist Church of Sleepy Eye will be teaching on "Godward Separation." I will be teaching on "The Pastor's Day of Reckoning." A noon meal will be provide free between the sessions.

If you have questions about our meeting please e-mail me at faithbaptist@smig.net or call me at 507-373-4412. If you will be attending please let me know so that we can plan the noon meal accordingly - my post Christmas diet will have started by then and I don't want to be tempted by the left overs!

Christmas Confusion

As a young boy growing up in central Pennsylvania deer hunting was a very important matter. In our early years we looked forward, with almost unbearable eagerness, to the day when we would turn 12 and be able to join our fathers and older siblings in the annual hunt. Once we were old enough to purchase a license we dreamed about the trophy buck that was certain to step into our shooting lanes. Deer hunting was so popular that our local school district designated the first two days of the season as holidays. In central Pennsylvania in the 1960's and 1970's deer hunting was a national holiday. As you can see, I grew up with a passion for deer hunting and a great taste for venison.

With that background you can imagine my concern when in 1991 my two year old daughter offered a brief commentary on my deer hunting. Several of the men from the church had arranged for a hunt during the opening week of the season. As Katie saw me dressed in my hunting clothes and gun in hand she boldly declared "Daddy is going hunting." I assured her of my prompt return and then to my dismay she described what would be the result. She replied, "Daddy will talk about deer." It was obvious that she was either a bit confused concerning the purpose for hunting or she had no confidence in my shooting abilities. Let's not pursue those options any further!!!

I think of that this morning as we look forward to the coming celebration of the borth of Christ. There is a much more serious confusion in our world which has, sadly, invaded the church. There has been a certain amount of uproar in recent weeks over retailers who have prohibited employees from saying Merry Christmas. While that move in the secularization of Christmas is revealing and appalling it is not, in my mind, the big issue. The fact that the professing church - of all stripes - has failed to keep Christ at center stage is what is most alarming. One expect the unregenerate to substitute materialism, parties and traditions for the person of Christ. What is shocking is when those who claim to belong to Christ have replaced God centered worship with man centered entertainment. I must add that what is seen at Christmas time is just one symptom of a grave illness that plagues the church throughout the year.

May God grant each of us the spiritual insight to see ourselves in these matters and not just those around us. May we be brutally honest as we examine ourselves. May our quiet contemplation of the realities of the incarnation lead to lives and ministries that are committed to exalting the Lord of glory. May He be glorified as we worship him.

Grace and 68 Years

I just returned from a local nursing home after visiting with Harry and Eunice Kuiters. If the Lord permits the Kuiters' will be celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary on December 29th.

During our visit we chatted about the many changes they have witnessed over nearly seven decades of married life. I am compelled to rejoice when I see a couple who have remained true to their wedding vows. I am certain that in their 68 years they have faced many challenges and struggles of almost every sort. If you asked Harry and Eunice how they have reached this milestone they would both tell you that it is the work of God. The all sufficient sovereign grace of God is the only explanation.

I didn't ask the Kuiters' how they got along through those years but thinking about their anniversary reminds me of two men I knew in North Dakota. Alfred and Russell were brothers in law and worked together for I suppose 40 plus years. When I inquired of the secret of a business partnership that lasted so long I received the following explanation. "Whenever Russell would do something to irritate me, before I said anything I always tried to ask 'I wonder how many times I have irritated him?'" That's grace.

May all of us be marked by the kind of attitudes and commitments that give evidence of the working of God's grace in our lives.

Music

It was Martin Luther who said “after theology there is no art than can be placed on a level with music; for besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart.”

If Luther was correct in his assessment of music, and I believe he was, then it is a wonderful thing when good music is wed to good theology. Those who seek to be God-centered delight in music which expresses the teaching of the Scriptures with fidelity. A good song communicates truth and thus prompts lofty thoughts of God. Among the myriad of hymns which do such is Edward
Caswell’s “See! In Yonder Manger Low.”

See! In Yonder Manger Low

See! in yonder manger low,
Born for us on earth below,
See! the Lamb of God appears,
Promised from eternal years.

Refrain
Hail, thou everblessed morn!
Hail, redemption’s happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Lo! within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies,
He who, throned in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim.

Say, ye holy shepherds, say
What your joyful news today;
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?

"As we we watched at dead of night,
Lo! we saw a wondrous wondrous light:
Angels, singing peace on earth,
Told us of the Saviour's birth."

Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this!

Teach, O teach us, holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee
In Thy sweet humility.

Behold the Lamb

BEHOLD!

Let me begin by giving credit where credit is due. The prompting for this musing came from a devotional that one of our men led us through at a recent meeting.

In that meeting our attention was drawn to the third chapter of First John. Our brother highlighted the meaning of the word behold, in a very effective way. Last Lord's day morning we spent some time considering John the Baptist’s declaration “Behold, the Lamb of God…” so in preparation some of the comments from that earlier meeting came flooding back to mind.

Let me attempt to communicate some of those ideas. Beholding is what an antique collector does at an estate sale. Beholding is what a craftsman does when viewing a piece of furniture. Beholding is what a Surgeon does when performing a delicate surgery. Beholding is what a painter does when preparing to transfer the fleeting realities of life to a memorial on canvas. From these few examples we get the idea that beholding is far more intense than just a casual glance.

May God grant to those who preach and teach the Word tomorrow, the passion and ability to draw attention to the Lamb of God. May He enlighten those who “Behold the Lamb” as we open the Word today. May He richly bless those who “Behold the Lamb” in the days leading up to the celebration of the birth of our great Savior.

The Difference: Expected and Experienced

How far is it from Minnesota to Texas? About sixty four degrees!
I don't know the present temperature reading in Albert Lea but I noticed on the weather page that Terrell Texas is basking at 84 degrees. I suspect that here in Southern Minnesota the thermometer is resting somewhere around 20 above. A week ago, we were visiting a Christmas Tree farm near Quinlan Texas. Somehow it didn't seem right to have people cutting trees and serving hot cider without snow.

I could fill many pages with the comparisons between the two locales. The point that I wish to make is this. A person expects a difference in the weather between the two states.

A similar reality exists in the arena of grace. I run the risk of being labeled "legalistic" but the Scriptures are clear that those who have tasted of the grace of God in redemption, not only should, but indeed, will live differently. Jesus declared in John 10:27 that His sheep follow Him. Paul wrote in Titus 2:12 that God's grace teaches holy living.

May the Lord use the teaching and preaching of His Word to turn "The Expected Difference" into "The Experienced Difference" in the lives of His own.

Back With Gratitude

We have returned safely from our trip to Texas with hearts overflowing with gratitude.

Grateful for the Lord's provision and protection during the nearly 2,500 miles of travel.

Grateful for those dear friends in Christ whom we were able to visit with. Old friends are special and at my age most all of my friends are just that - OLD.

Grateful for men who are standing firm upon the truth of Scripture. It was especially apparent at Terrell Bible Church in Terrell TX. If you are traveling to that part of the country be sure to stop in and worship with the saints at TBC. You will be nourished spiritually as they make much of God and treat His Word with great care.

Grateful for a ministry here in Albert Lea among God's people who make one long to return from vacation. Certainly, the family of God is special.