Thank God for the Fleas

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Dana Dill

fleaIn her book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom recalls when she and her sister first entered the barracks at the Nazi prison camp they were assigned to during World War II. The room was cramped, the smells were foul, the beds were soiled, and  groans of the sick and dying filled the air. To top it all off, when they wearily crawled into their bunk to rest, they soon realized, the beds were infested with fleas.

In their bewilderment, Betsie, Corrie’s sister, remembered a scripture they had read earlier that day: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). She exclaimed, “That’s it, Corrie! That’s His answer. ‘Give thanks in all circumstances!’ That’s what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!” So, though they hadn’t seen any good in most of their circumstances, they thanked God for everything; including the fleas.

Throughout their time at the camp, the sisters led Bible studies where many women came to know and love Jesus as their Savior. They always marveled that their worship meetings, a punishable crime at the camp, were never stopped by the Nazi prison guards. In fact, the guards never once entered the barracks during Bible study. Later, Betsie found out why and told Corrie: the guards never entered the barracks because of the fleas. God protected them and their ministry with His fleas. When she heard the news from Betsie, Corrie wrote, “My mind rushed back to our first hour in this place. I remembered Betsie’s bowed head and I remembered her thanks to God for creatures I could see no use for.”

We can give thanks in all circumstances because we have a God who is graciously working in all circumstances, even if they’re infested with fleas.

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The Saturday Post(s)

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Dana Dill

Saturday Post

Measuring a Church By Love. This is a simple and needed reminder. “Rather than measuring His body by its statistical success, Jesus measures it by the way that we love one another.”

15 Ways to Use Leftover Wine. For those who find themselves with leftover wine.

Why God’s Commandments Are Not Burdensome. “Let me tell you when you can know you are making good progress in the Christian life…It’s when you read a passage that contains some (commandment) and your immediate response is: ‘Yes! I love it! This is really good news! More God! Give me more! These exhortations aren’t burdensome. These commands aren’t heavy, but light. They aren’t hard, but easy. Wow! I never realized how much God really loves me until I heard him tell me what to do.’”

7 Ways to Guard & Repair Broken Relationships. Simple, concise, and stratight from the Bible.

What is Preaching? It is good to ask questions we may think we know the answer to. Contrary to popular wisdom, good preaching has little to do with eloquence, fashion, or the length of a sermon. Good preaching is all about content and posture. By content, I mean, “What is the message about?” and by posture I mean, “How is it about it?”

5 Wonderful “Won’ts” I Learn from My Parents. “I had the wonderful privilege of growing up in a Christian home with wonderful, godly parents. Much of what I know about marriage and parenting came simply by observing the way they related to each other and related to us kids. What follows are five wonderful “won’ts” that I learned. Obviously I haven’t achieved any of these perfectly, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, I’m growing.”

You Don’t Need a Bucket List. Because of the resurrection, the idea of a Bucket List is silly.

Why You Should Never Be Done With the Church. “These are just a few reasons God’s word says we should be part of a local church. You may need to leave the particular church you are in now. But Jesus wants you to be in some church somewhere.”

Homosexuality to Holiness. So very short and so very needed. “Our hope for homosexuals is not heterosexuality, but holiness. We’re not trying to make them straight, but lead them straight to Jesus…”

Gordon Ramsey’s Pancake. This is why he’s a genius.

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3 Necessary Truths for Suffering

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Dana Dill

suffering-paula-smith-heffelThree truths to store away in your heart for when the rain inevitably comes.

Jerry Bridges:

In the arena of adversity, the Scriptures teach us three essential truths about God— truths we must believe if we are to trust Him in adversity. They are:

• God is completely sovereign.

• God is infinite in wisdom.

• God is perfect in love.

Someone has expressed these three truths as they relate to us in this way: “God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about.” (Taken from Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts, (pp. 18-19).

Three anchors for our souls when all around us gives way. As Spurgeon once said, “When you can’t trace His hand, you must learn to trust His heart.”

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Do You Admit You Have Blindspots?

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Dana Dill

head_in_the_sand-461x307In the last Saturday Post I linked to an article about blind spots, but the article’s message so resonated with me that I thought to quote the main section of it here.

Talking specifically about his writing, Russ Ramsey shares his appreciation for editor revisions of his work. As you read, pay close attention to the way he views the editor’s corrections, suggestions, and improvements.

I love sending my best first pass to an editor. I love that feeling of having accomplished something weighty. And I love it when the editor sends it back covered in red ink. I really do. I feel that the editor just made the work better. They saw what I could not see and spoke into it, and in doing so, made it stronger.

Still, whenever someone edits our work, or brings constructive criticism of any kind to the labors we take on, we have a choice to make. Will we receive the criticism as a wound, or as a gift? That depends on whether or not we’re okay with having blind spots and limits. Learning to function within our limits brings us face to face with our pride. And anything that humbles the proud has inherent virtue.

Love for the craft of writing is not my struggle. But when I go back and read things I wrote even a year ago, I see weaknesses in that writing I did not recognize at the time. What makes me think the same will not be true a year from now when I look back on these words I write today?

This fact tells me two things about my writing: 1. I will always have blind spots. and 2. If I keep at it, I will get better.

The reason I wanted to post this quote was because the heart of its message is about so much more than the craft of writing, but it is about wisdom for living. We all have blind spots in every area. We have blind spots in our knowledge, our behavior, our ministries, our jobs, our parenting, our marriages, our relationships, and everything else in our life. We don’t see ourselves with perfect clarity. In fact, much of the time we have the most distorted view of ourselves and our work out of anyone. We need others to speak truth to us and we need hearts ready to receive it.

But hopefully, this isn’t the first time you’ve thought about this.

“Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.” Proverbs 15:32

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” Proverbs 12:1

“My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof…” Proverbs 3:11

What do you do with the correction of others? Do you receive it as a gift or as a wound? Do you seek it like a treasure offered for your good and growth? Your answers will determine your growth. Accept that you have blind spots and call out for the help of others to see, repent, and grow.

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The Saturday Post(s)

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Dana Dill

Saturday Post

5 Reasons Why the Virgin Birth of Jesus is Important. “John Frame writes that the virgin birth of Jesus is doctrinally important because of…”

Don’t Badmouth Obama. “God takes his word very seriously. If we dishonor the President there may be consequences in our lives for disobeying God’s command. These consequences will be worse than anything the president does to us by his policies.”

What Do You Want Your Church to Be Known For? A great question to ask and a great answer. “Sometimes churches get known for the wrong things. Often it’s a particular emphasis that some or many in the church have. So people in your community may describe your church as “the church that doesn’t vaccinate,” or “the right wing church,” “the homeschooling church,” “the pro-life church,” or “the organic, gluten-free, lactose free, all natural grass-fed free range church.” I’m not saying that any of these things are inherently good or bad. It’s just that we don’t want our church to be known primarily for these kinds of things…”

Are You Willing to Admit You Have Blind Spots? Oh goodness. Yes. Yes. Yes. We need this kind of challenge everyday. “Still, whenever someone edits our work, or brings constructive criticism of any kind to the labors we take on, we have a choice to make. Will we receive the criticism as a wound, or as a gift?”

You Cannot Have Two Masters. “You can have two friends. You can have two hobbies. You can even have two jobs. But you cannot have two masters…”

Who Turned the Lights Out? Is it good or bad for churches to turn down the lights during singing? Bob Kauflin’s answer is thoughtful and helpful.

A Plea for Gospel Sanity in Missions. “Western brothers and sisters often don’t understand is that most Indian “ministries” have learned what excites people in the West. Indians have learned that massive numbers and astounding testimonies are what dazzles the Western church. And when supporting partners in the West are impressed, that typically means that the dollars will rush in. Unfortunately, Western churches seldom—if ever—learn that in many cases, the numbers are inflated, testimonies fabricated, and the “gospel work” that they’ve been investing in is a mirage.”

What is Coptic Christianity? With the recent tragedy of the 21 Martyrs, many have asked what Coptic Christianity is. This is a helpful historical and doctrinal analysis of Coptic Christianity.

Pookie Bunny Head. We just started a relationship series for the middle schoolers at our church and this was the video we opened the night with. Sorry for the queasiness it will induce.

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The Helpfulness of Anger

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Dana Dill

17446-anger-1369478809-285-640x480Martin Luther and his wife often had friends and students living in their home or visiting for dinner. It was often a packed house. The students and friends of the Luthers would not only enjoy their hospitality, but also Martin’s thoughts from day to day. They so enjoyed Martin’s thoughts that they began taking notes of the various things he said. Hence, Table Talk. Table Talk is a collection of quotes recorded by students or friends of Martin Luther from his dinner table (or home). I have been reading through the Table Talks of Martin Luther and came across this little snippet that caught me off guard and I thought to share it with you.

Martin Luther:

I never work better than when I am inspired by anger; when I am angry, I can write, pray, and preach well, for then my whole temperament is quickened, my understanding sharpened, and all mundane vexations and temptations depart.

Now it goes without saying that the anger Martin speaks about here is anger directed at error, heresy, heretics, or anything that stands in the way of the gospel. He isn’t talking about anger directed at petty things (the barista who spelled your name wrong) or anger that turns to evil (gossip, bitterness, etc.). He is talking about a righteous anger directed at evil. Anger toward falsehood, lies, murder, greed, pride, corruption, etc. Anger directed toward things worthy of hatred. Anger toward anything that stands in opposition to God’s holiness, righteous, and beauty.

The Helpfulness of Anger

As I read, after the initial shock of hearing anger spoken of so positively, I began thinking about various times in my life where righteous anger about evil actually spurred me on to do work I otherwise may have not done with a focus and passion I may not have otherwise had. I think of…

Sermons I prepared for and preached that were actually helped by anger of evil.

How anger of evil has kept from me having a laissez faire attitude toward sorrow-inducing, joy-killing sin in counseling appointments; how it kept me engaged and desirous to fight for the joy of my counselee.

Anger has compelled me to avoid cowardice and confront evil even when it was scary and could create more hardship for me.

Yes, I too have benefited from righteous anger. Righteous anger has been for me a refining fire that keeps me from casually meandering through my Christian life. It reminds me that I am at war and my enemy is to be shown no mercy (Ephesians 6:12). It beckons me to take up the Sword of the Spirit and fight like heaven (Ephesians 6:10-17). Righteous anger wakes me up from slumber (Ephesians 5:14), it sobers me up from spiritual drunkenness (Romans 13:13-14), and it gives light to my eyes that are dimmed by surrounding spiritual darkness (John 3:19-21). Anger against evil is not my foe, but my friend.

Love Produces Hate

It may here be helpful to add a little word on where this righteous anger comes from. It doesn’t come from a dark place in one’s heart, but actually from a good place. It is an anger not born out of hatred, but out of love.

When you love something, you will naturally oppose anything that threatens it. If you love your wife and kids, you will not feel kindly toward anyone who wants to harm them. If you love your dog, you won’t feel warm and fuzzies toward those who want to kick him/her. If you love truth you will hate lies. If you love integrity you will despise duplicity. Our love for certain things produces anger toward anything that opposes them.

In this way, Christian anger comes only from Christian love. Our love for God and His truth compel us to become angry at anything that opposes Him and His truth. Our love for righteousness makes us angry at wickedness. Our love for purity makes us angry at that which defiles. Our love for joy makes us hate all bringers of sorrow. Christian anger is an anger that is not centered on self, but on God. Christians are a people who love God deeply and, because of that deep love, hate righteously anything that opposes Him and His character.

Hatred Produces Evangelism

This is what brings Christians to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We hate the evil in the world and want it to cease. How do we do that? With swords, guns, bombs, and violence? No. That isn’t radical enough. As you know, humanity is no stranger to war, but wars haven’t helped the world come to the peace that all so desperately desire. No. The only thing that will change the evil in the human heart is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Men don’t need to be repaired, counseled, educated, or employed, they need to be made new. They don’t need a new lifestyle, they need a new life. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that sinners can be forgiven and made new (1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17). The Christian’s desire to see evil come to an end is one of the great motivations for evangelism. Our hatred of evil compels us to preach this very good news because that is the only way (other than Christ’s final judgment) to bring evil to end.

So, there are some good questions to ask. What do you hate? What do you find yourself angry at? Are they things worthy of anger and hatred or is your anger spurred on by petty and sinful things? How does your love for Jesus affect what you become angry at? Do you hate the things God hates? How does that anger help you? Does it at all?

At the end of this post, this is the prayer I find in my heart, “Father, fill our hearts with anger that we may live lives of true love. Help us abhor evil that we may live lovingly.”

 

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When My Child Remembers My Prayers…

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Dana Dill

Pierre-Édouard_Frère_-_Child_Praying_at_Mother's_Knee_-_Walters_371330Melissa Edgington offers some great thoughts on parenting and prayer that, as a father of a 28 week old (still cooking in the belly), stir my heart in all the right ways.

(John Newton) remembered clearly times when (his mother) would pull him into her prayer closet and lay her hand on his head, praying aloud all of her passionate pleas for her little boy.  Later in life when he came to his rather dramatic conversion, he said that he could still almost feel his mother’s hand resting on his head like it had in her prayer closet so many years before.

When I heard this story and thought of my generic let’s-hurry-up-and-pray bedtimes with my kids, I felt sure that I was meant to do more.  I believe in the power of those off the beaten path moments of individual prayer.  But, why unintentionally hide all of my impassioned cries to God from my children?  Why reserve those only for my prayer closet moments when I can bless their lives and stir their very hearts and souls with my words to the Father on their behalf?  Why miss the opportunity to impact them so much?

When my children emulate how I taught them to pray, I don’t want them to be able to recall nothing more than a let’s-get-this-over-with recitation.  I want them to remember the passion in my voice, the warmth of my touch, and the blessing of a praying mother who leaves no doubt that God is real and He is listening.  That He is more than just a good luck charm.

Amen and amen.

Read the whole post here.

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Words to the Dying

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Dana Dill

AnselmIf you were at the side of a dying man, what would you say?

Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109), a weighty and time-honored theologian, once wrote a piece intended for that very purpose: to bring comfort to  dying Christians. His words are immensely comforting and powerful and worthy of slow, careful meditation.

The first set of questions is intended for dying clergyman:

Question. Do you rejoice, brother, that you are dying in the Christian Faith?
Answer. I do rejoice. . . .

Question. Do you confess that you have lived so wickedly, that eternal punishment is due to your own merits?
Answer. I confess it.

Question. Do you repent of this?
Answer. I do repent.

Question. Do you have the willingness to amend your life, if you had time?
Answer. I have.

Question. Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for you?
Answer. I believe it.

Question. Do you thank Him [for His passion and death]?
Answer. I do thank Him.

Question. Do you believe that you cannot be saved except by His Death?
Answer. I believe it.

Come then, while life remains in you, in His death alone place your whole trust; in nothing else place any trust; to His death commit yourself wholly; with this alone cover yourself wholly; in this enwrap yourself wholly.

And if the Lord your God wishes to judge you, say, “Lord, between Your judgment and me I present the death of our Lord Jesus Christ; in no other way can I contend with You.”

And if He shall say that you are a sinner; you say, “Lord, I interpose the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between my sins and You.”

If He says that you have deserved condemnation; say, “Lord, I set the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between my evil deserts and You; and His merits I offer for those which I ought to have, but have not.”

If He says that He is angry with you; say, “Lord I set the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between Your wrath and me.”

And when you hast completed this, say again, “Lord, I set the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between You and me.”

This done, let the sick man say thrice, “Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit, for You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.” . . .

The second portion is intended for the dying layman:

If he is a layman, he should be questioned after the following manner . . .

Question. Do you believe the things which belong unto the Christian faith, so far as regards what has been determined by the church?
Answer. I do believe.

Question. Do you rejoice that you are dying in the Christian faith?
Answer. I do rejoice.

Question. Do you grieve that you have offended your Creator?
Answer. I do grieve.

Question. Do you purpose, if God prolong your life, to abstain from offending Him?
Answer. I do purpose.

Question. Do you hope and believe, that not by your own merits, but by the merits of the passion of Jesus Christ, you may attain to everlasting salvation?
Answer. I do.

If any oppose you, and should object to you, set between him and you the merits of Christ’s passion.

HT: Nathan Busenitz

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Jesus, the Division Maker

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Dana Dill

Persecution of the Christians at Rome by NeroOnce Jesus preached an astonishing message in which he said the following:

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Matthew 10:34-36

What? Did I hear that right? Did you hear that right? Did Jesus just say that he has come to bring a sword? Did the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) just say that He has not come to bring peace? What gives? Has Jesus come to bring us peace or conflict?

The answer to that question is, “Yes.” Allow an explanation.

Jesus Brings Us Into Peace With God

Jesus has come to bring us peace. In the except above, it is helpful to distinguish between the ultimate reason for Jesus’ coming and consequential effects of that coming. First, Jesus is not saying the ultimate reason for His coming is to bring division and conflict into our lives. His primary mission wasn’t to break up families and friends. Jesus’ ultimate reason for coming to earth was to make peace between sinners and the God against whom they’ve rebelled. As Peter taught, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Because of Jesus’ atoning work on the cross, we now have “peace with God” (Romans 5:1-2). Jesus is indeed the Peacemaker, the Prince of Peace in that He has established perfect peace between God and those who would trust in Him. Jesus brings peace between God and Man.

So where does all this division language come in? In what way did Jesus bring division? Well, Jesus has brought His people into conflict with those who refuse to be at peace with Him. In giving us peace with God, He has given us enmity with Unbelieving Man.

Jesus Brings Us Into Division With Man

In the very work of giving us peace with God (Romans 5:1) Jesus brings us into discord with others; even those who were once closest to us. The Scriptures plainly teach that the unbelieving world is in a state of hate-filled rebellion against God (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:9-18). They hate His Name, they detest His Law, and they reject His grace. However, the world does not only hate God, but they also hate whomever calls upon the Name of His Son (Matthew 10:22). The world hates Jesus and those who love Him. Therefore, to have peace with God is to be in conflict with the unbelieving world. To have the affection of God is to have the hatred of the world. Jesus has come to bring us into peace with God which then makes us hated by men.

This truth is powerfully illustrated in John Bunyan’s classic work, The Pilgrim’s Progress. In this classic allegory of the Christian life, Bunyan writes about the moment where the main character, aptly named Christian, realizes that He lives in the City of Destruction and decides to make His journey toward the Heavenly City. In choosing to obey God’s message, he incurs the anger of his friends and family.

So I saw that the Man began to run. Now he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children perceiving it, began to cry after him to return. But the man put his fingers in his ears and ran on crying, “Life! Life! Eternal life!” So he looked not behind him, but fled (onward).

The Neighbors also came out to see him run. As he ran some mocked, others threatened, and some cried out for him to return.

Now among those that did so, there were two that were resolved to fetch him back by force…

In listening to God’s message of salvation and beginning his journey toward the Heavenly City, Christian finds himself at odds with his community, friends, and even his own family. In seeking Christ, he gains new enemies. However, this is not only something illustrated in Bunyan’s book, but it is also shown in the countless lives of those who call on Christ today.

In coming to Jesus, a wife finds her husband obstinately opposed to her going to church or meeting up with other women from church.

In coming to Jesus, a young high school student finds her parents sitting her down telling her how they think she is becoming to fanatical in her new found faith and they don’t want her going to church any longer.

In coming to Jesus, a young man from a Muslim family is kicked out of the home and told to never come back as long as he is a Christian.

In coming to Jesus, a college student becomes a disappointment to his family for buying such nonsensical garbage and funds himself as the brunt of all their jokes.

In coming to Jesus, a man witnesses his wife and children murdered before his very eyes.

To be at peace with God is to be in conflict with the world. To be reconciled with God is to be estranged from the world. To receive God’s smile through Jesus is to receive the world’s frown because of Jesus. To have the acceptance of Christ is to have the rejection of the world. Our world is in rebellion against Jesus and whomever calls on His Name. In choosing to follow Jesus, we are also choosing to be despised by the world.

Jesus has come to bring peace and that peace will bring us the sword.

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The Power of Story

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Dana Dill

dadreading1Not only are stories fun, entertaining, engaging, and all around enjoyable, but they also are a powerful means of shaping our character and the way we see ourselves. Stories have the power, in the power of the Spirit,  to change who someone becomes and how they act. In an excellent article titled, Reading as Parenting, The Christian Pundit elaborates on this very point.

Reading to our children shapes character.

Do you remember a storybook from your childhood? Think for a moment about how that story has shaped the way that you see life. Consciously or not, what we read as children forms our character by extolling the good and courageous and kind and exposing the evil and selfish. We have a comparatively limited time to teach our children, and help shape their thinking. Reading good stories out loud to them helps this.

Human beings are oriented towards stories, both telling and listening, and a good story can stick for life. It does not stick without shaping the mind that holds it. And it is sometimes a powerful tool for helping children see themselves. When a kid is being selfish and grumpy, you can say, “Remember Charlotte’s Web? Well, you’re sounding like Templeton, honey.” This is what Nathan did to David after his adultery, right? Told him a story to help him see his own sin? Sometimes the moral effect of a story is so deep that it changes how we think about our lives, and the effect is too broad to state. Putting quality stories into our children’s heads is a fundamental part of shaping character.

Stories not only entertain and engage, but they shape the very minds that are entertained and engaged by them. I highly recommend the entire article which can be found here.

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