Saturday, June 14, 2008

Fathers- MIA in America Today


For many children across our country Sunday will not be a reflection of happy times. Due to increased divorce and numbers of children born out of wedlock about 28% of our nations children now live in a household without their father. Dr. James Dobson wrote these words, “Boys are in trouble today primarily because their parents, and especially their dads, are distracted, overworked, harassed, exhausted, disinterested, chemically dependent, divorced, unable to cope or simply not there.” In too many instances fathers in America are missing in action.

Eight years ago voters in California passed Proposition 22 defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This was passed by an overwhelming majority vote. Apparently this didn’t mean much to the state Supreme Court judges who declared the law as “unconstitutional.” Friends we are in trouble in America.

Ephesians 6:1-4 gives us a directive. God’s intent was for fathers to provide the direction in the lives of their children. The Scripture explicitly instructs fathers to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. What a far cry from what exists in our nation today! Many children are being raised without the influence of a father. For many more the father in the family is concerned about anything but influencing the children in the ways of God.

Dads are the most powerful platform to speak into a child’s life. The example of a Christian father provides more value in a child’s life than all the avenues the world has at its disposal. We need Christian fathers to step forward and provide the edge needed to raise children in a mixed up world. It is time for our culture to expect fathers to take an active role in the lives of their children. Otherwise fathers are simply missing in action in America today.

Posted by onedaysoon at 03:33:12 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Monday, June 9, 2008

The Wall


This afternoon I visited “the Wall”.  The wall is a memorial dedicated to the many who have given their lives in the Vietnam conflict.  This weekend this memorial visited Payson.  This was such an inspiring memorial.  For over one hundred yards the wall contained name after name of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.  How anyone can visit this memorial and not shed a tear is beyond my imagination.  The wall contains the names of men and women who protected the heritage of freedom for our nation.  On the wall are the names of thousands of America’s greatest warriors.

I hear from our news media a clamor for change.  What is it they want to change?  Hopefully it isn’t the freedom afforded us by these heroes.  I hope we do not want to change the respect we give to those who have purchased freedom for all.  Certainly we would not sell the memories of these great individuals for the sake of something new.  Choose wisely the things you want. 

The wall contains the names of some of our greatest warriors.  From those of us who didn’t serve to those of you who did, thank you for your service. May God always bless those who put their lives on the line for freedom.

Posted by onedaysoon at 00:39:39 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Some Men Cast a Long Shadow


Albert Pirtle is a fine Christian and a gentleman in every sense of the word. Tonight Albert struggles to regain his health. As Albert approaches his ninth decade of life he remains a strong servant of the Lord. The outcome of his struggle is important to those of us left behind. If he loses this struggle we will miss him greatly. A great void will be left as he casts a long shadow. Albert remains one of the finest men and servants of God I have ever known. If he loses this mighty struggle his gain will be the majesty of heaven.

I will never forget meeting Albert for the first time. He had recently lost his wife of many years. He visited with us on a beautiful Sunday morning. Later that week I visited with him in his home. He told me that he had been out of service of the Lord for over 40 years. His greatest desire was to return to his Saviour. Albert was restored to the Lord’s fellowship almost three years ago. Since that time he has been a shining example of everything a servant ought to be. In every sense he has been faithful. Every week found him regularly attending worship, setting up Bible studies, letting Christ live through him. A week ago last Thursday Albert fell and broke his hip. Today a feeding tube was inserted.

When the day comes that our brother Albert goes to be with the Lord we will have lost another of the World War II generation. Albert served our nation for four long years during the mighty struggle. Albert and his kind are the strength that holds this nation together. It is his kind who give us the ability to live in freedom today. Without this generation there would be no freedom.

Albert is the kind of servant who brings hope to a dying world. He is a man looking for those who have fallen into the ditch, looking for those who need his help. He is always searching for an opportunity to let Christ shine through him. I have never known a finer man nor a greater servant for the Lord. Regardless of the outcome of Albert’s struggle, he will continue to cast a long shadow in a world who need so many just like him.

Posted by onedaysoon at 04:50:23 | Permalink | Comments (5)

Monday, June 2, 2008

A Battle for Direction


For more than one hundred years Churches of Christ have drifted in a direction of legalism and division.  We have emphasized worship styles and legalistic intellectualism while forgetting to reach out to those who desperately need to hear about Jesus.  I know there are those who take issue with this statement.  Disagreement with what I have said doesn’t change the truth.  We are involved in a battle for the direction of Churches of Christ today.  At stake are the souls of mankind both present and future.

One direction would emphasize worship styles and intellectual doctrine.  The other would place emphasis on the preaching of Jesus Christ as Messiah.  Since the message of Daniel Sommer so many years ago Churches of Christ have drifted into an attempt to convert the world to how we practice Christianity.  Instead of converting the world to the church our preaching should convert the world to Jesus Christ.  If we convert the world to Jesus, God will take care of adding them to the church.

The emphasis of Jesus was serving His fellow man, doing good, and seeking the lost.  If we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus we must emphasize the same things He held as important.  Instead of Christians who can win Scriptural arguments, the Lord needs Christians who are willing to search for those who need Jesus.  It is time we learned  what is taught inside church buildings has no value if it doesn’t translate to the streets.

We are in a battle for the present and future direction of the church.  It will be a hard battle.  Those of us who attempt to sway the direction away from legalistic intellectualism back to the preaching of Jesus will be labeled.  We will be called false teachers, change agents, post-modernists, and a multitude of other things. None of this matters so long as the Lord calls us good and faithful at judgment.  This battle for direction will be fought one Christian one congregation at a time.   Don’t be afraid of the names.  Fear not what man can do.  Let us continue to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Posted by onedaysoon at 06:39:34 | Permalink | Comments (9)