Forgiveness Always Hurts

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Dana Dill

stock-footage-sad-man-sitting-alone-on-his-balconyWhy did Jesus have to die in order to save us? Why couldn’t God just forgive us?

Darrin Patrick gives a helpful answer by pointing out the simple truth that we never have forgiveness without pain.

Think about a time you or someone you love was seriously wronged. Were you or the person close to you able to just shrug off the offense or dismiss the wrong without suffering?

Of course not.

When truly offended, there are two choices. You can either exact revenge and make the one who has wronged you pay or you can forgive him or her by absorbing the pain of hurt yourself. On the one hand, you cause pain to set yourself free. On the other hand you can receive the pain of forgiveness and set the other free. If you think forgiveness is not painful, you have never forgiven someone who hurt you deeply. Whether through revenge or forgiveness, someone always pays for injustice. (Taken from Church Planter, p. 121)

And therein lies the beauty of the cross’s news: Christ chose to endure the pain instead of us. He took on our sin and endured the pain we deserved in order to right the relationship we have wronged.

If this is what God has done for us, then what ought we do for others who sin against us?

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The Heart of Sin & Salvation

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Dana Dill

stottJohn Stott:

The concept of substitution may be said to lie at the heart of both sin and salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be. Man claims prerogatives that belong to God alone; God accepts penalties that belong to man alone. (Taken from The Cross of Christ).

 

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100 Things I Am Thankful For

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Dana Dill

BrotherWord-Thankful-Thursdays1As I was spending time in scripture and prayer this morning (been trucking through James very slowly and profitably), I began to thank God for His gifts to me. The more I prayed, the more overwhelmed I became; not in sorrow, but joy.

Spurgeon nailed it when he said, “If we will only think, we shall begin to thank.”

It was almost an unnerving experience. I could not find a place to stop. The more I thanked God for the more I became aware of what I needed to thank God for. I realized that I would never reach a natural end to the thankful-list I was offering, so I decided to put my journal away and grab my Macbook Air for two reasons. First, I type faster than I hand-write. Second, I thought my list of thankfulness would encourage and help other Pilgrim’s to be thankful to God on this day of Thanksgiving.

100 Things I Am Thankful For

So, without further ado, here is a quick and dirty list, ranging from the smallest to the greatest, not in order, of the things I am thankful to God for on this Thanksgiving day.

My Father in Heaven, the One from Whom all good gifts have come (James 1:17), thank you for…

  1. The steaming hot mug (my favorite black mug I got from Kamden!) of coffee in my hand.
  2. The Macbook Air I write on and work with everyday.
  3. The journal I write in and started this prayer in.
  4. The Uniball Vision pen I wrote with.
  5. The other amazing pens you have created (i.e. the G2 10 and the Uniball Vision Elite). There’s few things more satisfying than writing with one of those babies.
  6. The morning stillness.
  7. Candles. I love candles. Their smell. Their soft, dancing light.
  8. The English Bible and the wonderful translations available to me my fellow English speakers. Abundant abundance.
  9. Matthew Henry’s bomb commentary. You have blessed me so much through his pen (it was probably a Uniball Vision Elite).
  10. My wife’s slow, methodical morning shuffle-walk. It’s adorbz.
  11. My wife. Lord, thank you so much for this woman. As amazing as she was when I married her, I marvel that each passing year, you grow and mature her into something even more wonderful. Thank you, Father, for her love for me. Her tender, attentive, diligent care for me is overwhelming when I think about it. She really listens to your Word and really seeks your face. She loves you, your Word, and your people. She is a living illustration of Proverbs 18:22. Who am I, Lord, to receive such a gift.
  12. Our daughter. Her giggles, her smile, and her eyes cut me to the heart everyday. Lord, who are we to receive such a little one? Thank you for her easy temperament too. You are easing us into parenthood with such a child and we are thankful.
  13. Our family. Thank you for my Midas-Touch little brother, my cranky-Presbyterian older brother, my sailor dad, my crazy-cooking mother, my insanely hospitable and generous in-laws, my compassionate brother-in-law, my world-traveling sister-in-law, my Cobra-Pilot brother-in-law, my football-coach uncle, my Doctoral Aunt, my toe-head cousins, and all my other family members. These holidays have provided a great time to sit back, look upon the chaos of my family and thank you from a deep place in my heart.
  14. Tobasco. Thank You for Tobasco. Life wouldn’t be the same without it.
  15. This table I am writing on. It’s beautiful.
  16. My home. Thank you for a warm home to return to each night. Thank you for the decorations you have provided to make it cozy and welcoming. Thank you for the kindness of one man to help us make it what we couldn’t of without him. Bless him abundantly for his kindness.
  17. Books. Real, page turning books. I am thankful for e-books, but please do not allow real books to stop. Ink, pages, and binding make me happy.
  18. Teachers. I fear thinking about where I would be without the teachers, preachers, and writers you have sent my way.
  19. Flowers. They look nice and smell nice.
  20. In-door plumbing.
  21. Dave Keehn.
  22. Refrigeration.
  23. Sausages.
  24. Bacon. Proof that you love the world.
  25. This book.
  26. Music. Especially folk and blues.
  27. Spotify.
  28. This blog. It has been a gift to me to write and, I hope, a continuous gift to others.
  29. Health. I do not thank you enough for this immense gift. May I never curse you for sickness you may bring into my life and may I never forget that my healthy days greatly outweigh my sick ones. Thank you for my health and my family’s health. You are kind.
  30. Doctors and hospitals.
  31. Medication. Both the natural kind and the kind made from laboratories.
  32. Golf and golf courses. I am really bad, but still thankful for the game and the beautiful courses it’s played on.
  33. My church.
  34. Friends. Both the casual ones I can laugh with and the close ones I can cry with.
  35. Preachers who believe the Bible’s sufficiency. Men who make it their primary goal to say, explain, and apply only what the text is saying.
  36. Clothes. I have never been forced to live naked. I don’t even know what that would look like. I don’t want to know.
  37. Food. Oh! Food! Delicious and nutritious (and un-nutritious) food! Not only does it sustain us and energize us, but it brings so much gladness to my heart. Thank you, Lord, for food! Especially Mexican, Japanese, and Italian food.
  38. The various postal services. Getting things delivered to my door is great.
  39. Amazon Prime.
  40. Netflix.
  41. Hulu.
  42. The Office.
  43. Money. Thank you for money to support my family with all their needs.
  44. Days off, vacations, and holidays. I know these have not and are not a right, but a privilege. Thank you that I have time to rest from work and rest with family.
  45. Instagram. Pictures are fun.
  46. My wife’s cooking. Yes, please.
  47. My wife’s baking. C’mon mama.
  48. The Ride & Core. Ministries that have blessed me and many others.
  49. My students. A gift you have entrusted to me and my fellows shepherd leaders.
  50. My shepherd leaders. Their faithfulness to love and care for their students is a constant refreshment and encouragement to me.
  51. Faithful parents. The ones who love you and make it their greatest priority to raise their kids to know you, know your Word, and love you.
  52. My grandparents. Glenn and Barbara Dill mean the world to me and you know why.
  53. My spiritual grandparents. Oh the joy of being adopted as a grandson by Jesus-loving folk in your church.
  54. David C. Cook. I am amazed they want me to write for their TruIdentity curriculum and waiting for them to realize their error, but in the meantime, I am greatly thankful for the opportunity.
  55. People who encourage me. The folks who tell me they think I have something to contribute for the church’s good. Often times I don’t think I do, but they disagree with me and that brings me life.
  56. My dog. She’s pretty cool.
  57. Generous people. You have sent me numerous people who have generously cared for Chawna and I.
  58. Did I say Bacon?
  59. Clouds and rain. Oh, goodness.
  60. Heaven’s drink.
  61. My bed and the sheets on them.
  62. Laundry machines.
  63. Dishwashers.
  64. Dishware.
  65. Forks and knives. As opposed to chop-sticks, though those are fun every now and then for a few minutes.
  66. Cars. Specifically our two working ones that are paid off.
  67. Settlers of Catan.
  68. Idiomaddicts.
  69. Telestrations.
  70. Faithful churches that preach the gospel for the salvation of sinners and the sanctification of saints.
  71. Godly pastors who take Jesus and His Word seriously but not themselves.
  72. Humble people. The kind who know that in 5 years they will look back at themselves and think they were stupid and live according to that truth in the present.
  73. Couches.
  74. Pillows.
  75. Nice furniture.
  76. Electricity.
  77. Bonfires.
  78. Large bodies of water.
  79. Fishing, hunting, and camping.
  80. Biola University, Talbot School of Theology, and all other conservative, Bible-believing institutions that cultivate thoughtful and loving Christian folks.
  81. Those who pray for me.
  82. New socks.
  83. Sunglasses.
  84. Shoes.
  85. TVs. Watching stuff on them is cool.
  86. Marriage. A rich gift.
  87. Parenthood. Making a rich gift all the richer.
  88. Repentance. May it mark my every day.
  89. The gospel of Jesus Christ. The truth that Jesus Christ has paid my sin-debt, that He has been punished in my place for my crimes, floors me and gives me life. Lord, why such love to me? Why would you send your Son to do anything beyond punish me to hell? Why, instead of sending Jesus to do Revelation 19 stuff to me, did you send Him to do 1 Peter 3:18 stuff for me? Your love, oh Lord, amazes me. I have done nothing for you but insult you, reject, and hate you, yet you, in love and mercy, have blessed me, accepted me, and loved me. I love myself and hated you, you lowered yourself and loved me. Through the bloody death and victorious resurrection of your son you have killed off the old me (thank You, I hated Him too) and have risen a new me to life. Now, I actually love other people and I love you. My grave clothes have been thrown off and now I wear the clothes of your Son. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! How marvelous! How wonderful! My song shall ever be! How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior’s love for me!
  90. The Holy Spirit who lives in my heart. Thank you Holy Spirit for convicting me of sorrow-inducing sin, turning me toward life in Christ, and for faithfully instructing me in His ways every day. Your patience is profound and your love is steady.
  91. Thomas Watson.
  92. Heaven’s leaf.
  93. Richard Sibbes.
  94. Every other awesome Puritan who rocks my soul.
  95. Famous preachers. Yea, I know a lot of people scoff at the “celebrity preachers” and think that only immature people would be thankful for them, but I think that’s stupid. I thank you for faithful men who are famous because of their faithfulness to your Word. Thank you for John Piper, for Matt Chandler, for Tim Keller, for John MacArthur, for C.J. Mahaney, for Michael Horton, and for the many other famous and not-famous men who preach your Word with clarity, conviction, and power. I know that none of these men are perfect and none of them worthy of veneration, but I do know that faithfulness to your Word should create thankfulness in your people. Thank you.
  96. Book shelves.
  97. Baby toys.
  98. The internet.
  99. Theologians who write children’s books. I am looking at you R.C. Sproul.
  100. Diaper cleaning supplies. Right after I wrote #99, Daisy went nuclear and I had to change her or we all may have died. As I changed her, I thought to myself, I am thankful for all these diaper supplies (changing table, wipes, butt ointment, etc.). Thank you Jesus for diaper supplies.

There are infinitely more things to say because we serve an infinitely good and generous God. No doubt I have forgotten many important things, but this is a good start.

A Word to Believers & Non-Believers

We, both believing and unbelieving, are drowning in His gifts. For believers, this is cause for great joy not only because of our present enjoyment of God’s gifts, but for how they prepare us for the eternal gifts awaiting us in heaven. For non-believers, realize how God has gifted you with everything you have and turn to Him. Stop taking God’s gifts without any love for God Himself. Turn away from being your own king and bow to Jesus as King. In doing so you will realize that all your gifts are nothing compared to the gift God offers in His Son, the Greatest Gift of All.

To help keep this from being a post we forget and move on, I offer you a quote I heard from a friend the other day:

“What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you are thankful for today?”

May we never overlook God’s gifts and may we never forget to be thankful for them all.

Happy thanksgiving.

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The Saturday Post(s)

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Dana Dill

Saturday Post

Why Bother With Church Membership? A great overview on what I think is one of the most needed doctrines in the church today. “‘Where is church membership in the Bible?’ This is a question I am frequently asked. The short answer is nowhere and everywhere. The fact is that there are no specific church member texts in the scriptures. Yet, there is a lot of implicit evidence in the Bible to support the concept of church membership…”

Dad Jokes. 30 of the greatest jokes known to man.

Bad Doctrine vs. Heresy. “Genuine Christians can disagree on things like the mode and recipients of baptism; but if two people disagree on the Triunity of God, one is a Christian and the other isn’t.” Here’s a helpful overview of how to tell the difference between essential doctrines and just bad doctrine.

A Great Way to Learn Romans. Tim Challies says this series of talks on the book of Romans is, “some of the best teaching on the book I’ve ever heard.” Worth a look.

What Does the Bible Say About Singleness? “I don’t know of anyone else who has ever provided the extent of biblical reflection on singleness that Barry has provided for us here. . . .”

What Should Christians Think About the Syrian Refugees? Russell Moore urges that we stop pitting compassion against security and vise versa. Good thoughts for the conversation.

Four Types of Worship Teams. “In my experience with worship teams (either as a member or a leader of one), and in my observations of the worship leading landscape these days, there seem to be four different types of worship teams. Four ways you can go. Four approaches to how to structure, view, and lead a team.”

On Being Matt Chandler’s Roommate. “My sophomore year a student transferred in who captured the attention and imagination of much of the student body. His name was Matt Chandler.”

Dads and Technology. This fella doesn’t know his go-pro is selfie-ing his whole trip and it’s hilarious.

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Beware of Church Hoppers

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Dana Dill

Mez McConnellchurch-hopping-2, a church planting pastor in Scotland and founder of the church planting ministry 20Schemes, gives some good advice to pastors and church planters concerning a certain type of church folk called church hoppers:

These are the people that every church wishes didn’t exist and that every church planter should dread turning up. Church-hoppers are those who have been to every church on the block (often more than once) and never seem able to settle down. They often present as lovely people who are misunderstood and are the innocent victims of all the other horrible churches out there. Furthermore, they will always give compelling (and plausible) reasons for why things haven’t worked out at their previous churches (it was never their fault!)

We should be very wary of those who are quick to judge other local churches, not least because experience has taught me that if they turn up at your church slagging off the last church, it’s only a matter of time until they’re at the next church slagging off your church! Church-hoppers are dangerous because they do not understand commitment. If a friend of mine asked me for advice regarding their desire to start a relationship with a man who had never shown any commitment in previous relationships but who was known to have slept with every girl in the village, my advice would be the same as my advice to any church planter/leader wanting to welcome a serial church-hopper into their fellowship – DON’T DO IT!

To do so would be to arm a ticking time-bomb.

stop it picIf you are a church hopper, please stop and settle your family down somewhere for their good and for the good of the church. Your constant moving around confuses the churches you visit and hurts them when you leave. When I say hurts them, I really mean it. So, no more sleeping around. Commit, settle down, and love for the long haul. Oh, quit your hopping ways.

Read the whole post here.

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The Pastor I Hope to Be

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Dana Dill

2015-08-21-niles-dI am not a novel reader by practice, but I know it’d be good for my soul. So, in an effort to cultivate, I recently picked up a book that a good friend, lover of literature, fantastic wife/mommy, and gifted writer (check out her blog here) gave me many moons ago. The book is called Peace Like a River by Leif Enger and, so far, it’s been grand.

I’m not going to give a summary of the book (you can find that here), but I do want to share a snippet that I found relevant for me as a pastor. As I was savoring its pages yesterday, I was cut to the heart and even driven to tears by Reuben’s (the narrating voice of the book) description of his new pastor in comparison with his old.

Our new minister wasn’t half the exciting preacher our old one was. Pastor Reach was slight, with a limp and a speech problem that altered some of his consonants…I had been use to oratory; our former pastor could exhort like everything and owned what Dad said must be a special edition of the Holy Bible, for it contained things omitted from our own – references to card playing, for example, and rock and roll, and the Russian people.  Our former minister had so much energy that simply pastoring wasn’t enough; he also wrote regular editorials for the paper…which riled up readers and made him a star.

Pastor Reach has no such ambitions. He had a wife, Eunice, who played the piano and whom I’d once overheard praying aloud that the “fig tree might blossom.” He had a plain Bible, like ours, and preached right out of it. Always regretful of his sinful nature, Pastor Reach was a great advocate of forgiveness, in which he put a lot of stock. Thrilling he was not. (pp. 27-28.)

I know, it’s not a powerful or emotionally packed passage for most, but for this pastor’s heart it is. With all the various models offered me in the world of pastoring – the CEO, the Guru, the Entrepreneur, the Orator, etc. – I’ll take Pastor Reach any day.

Could there be more than this? Surely. Having an influence outside one’s local church for the gospel is nothing to scoff at. However, no matter what plans God has for my service to His bride, I never want to graduate from those beautiful marks: a simple pastor who teaches his Bible, is humble in his heart, and “a great advocate of forgiveness.”

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The Saturday Post(s)

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Dana Dill

Saturday Post

God Actually Spoke to Me. A story of a man who heard the voice of God.

Mizzou & a More Excellent Way. An amazing story demonstrating the power of the gospel and the hope of true reconciliation. “This gentleman started loudly singing the following words: “Too many niggers, too many niggers.” Immediately I turned around and stared at this man. He stopped, looked at me, and said, “This city is the rape capitol of the world, and you’re surprised, nigger?” He turned around. He walked away.”

France: A Fabric Torn. I always appreciate Piper’s thoughts on current events. This is especially sobering and focusing.

In Light of Paris, Pray Psalm 10. If you are struggling for the words to pray in the face of such evil, consider lifting up the words of Psalm 10…

Six Questions to Ask When Studying the Bible in a Group. Really good stuff for youth or church groups. “Whether you’re reading alone, or with another person one-on-one, or in a small group, this method gives you five things to look for in every passage.”

The Illusion of Respectability. Good thoughts for the noggin. Love the story about Van Til.

You Are Meant to Move Mountains. I loved this and was challenged by it. “The faith of God’s people is the channel through which God chooses to manifest much of his glory that results in the conversion of unbelievers. If we have little faith, then little glory is seen through us. We must not be content with this.”

3 Good Reasons to Be Re-Baptized. There are a lot of bad reasons to get baptized so it’s important to know the good reasons to get re-baptized. Here’s three good ones.

Why I Am a Complementarian. “By complementarianism, I mean the view that men and women are equal as God’s fellow image bearers, but nonetheless have some differences of role in the church and in the home. The way I like to put it is equal, but not interchangeable.” Why does he hold those views? Read on.

How Should You Relate to Your Pastor? The church needs more of this sober-minded, biblical-anchored kind of counsel.

Pizza Rat. Scaring folks is fun.

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The Beat of a Different Drum

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Dana Dill

2Have you ever wondered why Christians are so weird?

Vance Havner:

I have read of a parade of boys in which everyone was in step except one youngster. It was discovered that under his coat he carried a transistor radio and was marching to different music from a thousand miles away!

The Christian is in step with the drumbeats of another world.

(Taken from The Vance Havner Quote Book, p. 36.)

Whose drum beat are you marching to?

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 John 2:3-6

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10 Questions to Ask About Your Marriage

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Dana Dill

old+people+are+cuteKevin DeYoung recently posted ten questions he thought every married person could ask to assess the health of their marriage.

They are money.

Read and heed:

1. Do you pray together?

2. Do you still notice each other?

3. Do you ever hold hands?

4. When is the last time you said “I’m sorry”?

5. When is the last time you said, “Thank you”?

6. When is the last time you planned a surprise?

7. When is the last time you embarrassed the kids together?

8. When is the last time you went out and talked about something other than the kids?

9. What would others think about your spouse just by listening to you speak about him or her?

10. Do you think more about what you aren’t giving or about what you aren’t getting?

His comment on the last question is worth posting in full:

We all get hurt in marriage. We all get disappointed. Stick with someone until death and you are bound to be wronged a time or two. But as you think about what needs help in your marriage, are you fixated on your spouse’s deficiencies or your room for improvement? To love like Christ is to commit to loving well even when we are not loved as we deserve.

Read the whole post (with his comments for each question) here.

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This Would Change Everything

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Dana Dill

coram-deo-titleIt is easy to believe a doctrine in our head, but not really hold tightly to it with our hearts. It’s easy for us to say that Jesus is the supreme treasure above all the world, but ten seconds later feel deep envy and jealously for the job or possessions of another. It’s easy for us to intellectually assent to the trustworthiness of God, but find ourselves doubting His promises or practices when things get hard. It is not difficult at all for us to say “Yes!” to truths in our minds, but say “No!” to those same truths with our actions.

This is especially true of the doctrine of God’s omnipresence (i.e. God’s full presence is always everywhere). Every Christian would affirm that God is fully present in all places and at all times and that He sees all things, but often we fail to live according to that truth. We say it’s true, but we don’t often live like its true.

J.C. Ryle unpacks the idea well:

Everywhere— in every house, in every field, in every room, in every company, alone or in a crowd— the eye of God is always upon you. “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (Prov. 15: 3).

How little is (the reality of God really felt! How many things are done continually, which men would never do if they thought they were seen! How many matters are transacted in the rooms of imagination, which would never be allowed to occur in the light of day! Yes, men entertain thoughts in private, and say words in private, and do acts in private, which they would be ashamed and blush to have exposed before the world. The sound of a footstep coming has stopped many a deed of wickedness. A knock at the door has caused many an evil work to be quickly suspended, and hurriedly laid aside. But oh, what miserable folly is all this! There is an all-seeing Witness with us wherever we go. Lock the door, draw down the blind, shut the shutters, turn out the light; it matters not, it makes no difference; God is everywhere. You cannot shut Him out, or prevent His seeing. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight” (Heb. 4: 13). Well did young Joseph understand this when his master’s wife tempted him. There was no one in the house to see them, no human eye to witness against him, but Joseph was one who lived as seeing Him that is invisible: “How could I do such a wicked thing,” said he, “and sin against God?” (Gen. 39: 9)…

Do nothing you would not like God to see. Say nothing you would not like God to hear. Write nothing you would not like God to read. Go no place you would not like God to find you. Read no book of which you would not like God to say, “Show it to Me.” Never spend your time in such a way that you would not like to have God say, “What are you doing?”

(Taken from Thoughts for Young Men, pp. 82-83.)

Although for many, God’s omnipresence is Theology 101, stuff of the kindergarten sort, we often fail to live according to it.

So, friend, remember, God sees all you think, desire, and do. Your whole life is coram deo, so live like it. Don’t use any of your gifted hours to bring grief to His heart, but labor to please Him.

For those who are rightly terrified at this idea, be reminded once again that the God who sees all your sins has paid for all your sins by the blood of His Son Jesus (1 Peter 3:18).

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