September 11, 2011

September 7th, 2011

This Sunday we will observe the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001. If you are 20 years old or older, you remember where you were when you heard the news. It was a day that lives in infamy, similar to December 7, 1941, the day the Japanese Navy bombed Pearl Harbor.

Such a day also brings back the memories of how God worked. God was at Ground Zero working through people who cared about others — giving care, witnessing to His love and mercy, risking lives for others, etc.

This Sunday morning at our church we will honor our “first responders.” My message from the Bible will be based upon Psalm 23. I hope you can join us!

Suspended Teacher

August 19th, 2011

Our own Mount Dora High School in Central Florida has made national news for suspending a teacher who had the nerve, i.e., courage to express his views on Facebook. The view in question? He does not approve of gay marriage. As do not most of us.

I, for one, have written the principal by email at Mount Dora High encouraging her to reinstate the teacher in question. This is political correctness run amok. Most Americans do not approve of gay marriage, and the Judeo-Christian foundation, upon which our country was built, does not endorse gay marriage.

Please, can we encourage decent and honorable views — and even permit views with which not everyone agrees?

Summer Reading

August 17th, 2011

With summer vacation coming to an end, I look back on some outstanding reading this summer.  I am currently finishing a book entitled, “Look Me in the Eyes – My Life with Asperger’s,”  by John Elder Robison.  It is an outstanding book on Asperger’s from the view of someone with Asperger’s.  Excellent book!

I love to read biographies, and I love to read about missions.  This summer I read biographies of Amelia Earhart, Harry Greene of Good News Prison Ministry, missionary John Hyde, missionary Amy Carmichael, Nazarene evangelist Bud Robinson, missionary Hudson Taylor, and missionary and BSF founder Wetherell Johnson.  I also read an outstanding book by Jewell Johnson entitled, “The Top 100 Women of the Christian Faith.”  And I read a couple of historical books on the Kennedys.

Also, I read Ken Hemphill’s “Bonzai Theory of Church Growth,” Jacob Gartenhaus’ book on witnessing for Christ, and a book on missions in Ecuador by Bruce Porterfield.

Mindless Insanity

July 27th, 2011

Our government, and the complicit news media, continue to display a mindless insanity when it comes to so-called “separaton of church and state.” Two new issues have just surfaced, which would make the founding fathers of America turn over in their graves.

First, the current administration in Washington has eliminated the use of the name “God” in burial services at Arlington Cemetery. What nonsense! Essentially, prayers are not allowed. Fortunately, Congressmen are already taking this issue head-on and will probably succeed in seeing it reversed.

Second, atheists are now filing a lawsuit to prevent a cross from being part of the Ground Zero 9/11 memorial. Figures. The lawsuit hasn’t gone anywhere, but if history is reliable, it will gain traction among the ruling class.

This is all nonsense. No sensible person objects to the personal display of faith in public. We need to elect new representatives to send to Washington. As a Christian, I know of no one who wants to impose a state religion on others. But we can face the fact that this is a Christian nation. That truth hurts no one. If you travel to Japan, you will see Buddhist temples scattered throughout the nation. If you travel to India, you will see a Hindu temple every few blocks. Here in America you will see church steeples. Do we permit Hindu temples? Yes. Do we permit Muslim mosques? Of course. But we also permit Christians to pray, to acknowlege God, and to exercise their faith.

Prayer for Missions

July 19th, 2011

We are strongly motivated to pray for missions this summer. Our church has people literally scattered all over the world serving God on the foreign mission field. We believe in missions here at Delaney Street Baptist Church. It is rewarding to see our commitment to missions growing.

a. Already this year I spent two weeks in India preaching and teaching the Word of God;

b. We have a young lady from our church, Stephanie Lemon, on a two-year mission trip to Southeast Asia;

c. This week we have a team of 9 young people, led by our youth pastor, Rev. Curt Amlong, in Ecuador on a 10-day mission; and,

d. Our music pastor, Rev. Jon Woods, will be taking a four-person team to Haiti at the end of the this month.

So, we are praying for them! The Apostle Paul challenges us to pray for missions — Ephesians 6:18-20.