Assisted Living

Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Have you ever seen those retirement homes with the sign, “Assisted Living” on them?  Another famous ad in the Toronto area calls it “gracious Living.”  As I view these signs from the perspective of my 31 years, I shudder to imagine needing assistance.  The very idea of “Assisted Living” repulses me, as it cloaks desperate need under a veil of respectability.   Now, I understand that one day I may need these facilities, and I have nothing against the aged.  But the idea of weakness strikes a blow to my pride & abilities.

In the same manner, we Christians often resist God’s “Assisted Living” program.   We try to muddle our way through our lives, fighting to retain our “freedom.”  We reject the supports extended by His Spirit, and avoid the restraints He places upon on our frail, limited, failing flesh.  Paul cried “O wretched man that I am…”, yet so many of us have a very different view of our abilities.

A man who has Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, bad eyes, and a weak heart would be thought a fool if he insisted on driving.  Why do we insist on driving our “spiritual car” when we have the same spiritual symptoms?

2Peter 1:5-9,  Jeremiah 17:9,Heb 12:12

Simple Science

This week we experienced a beautiful full moon. The sky was clear, and the moon was so bright I could read by it. As I watched and marveled at its brightness, it occurred to me that the moon possesses no light of its own. Now, I know this is simple science, but it led me to think of a verse we have been studying in Sunday School.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

As I meditated on this verse, and thought about the moon, God gave me three observations.

#1: How do we shine? Paul says so clearly that in ourselves is nothing good! Romans 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:…” Therefore, the light that we shine must be a reflection of Christ’s light! Having nothing good in myself, (The moon is a cold, dark, lifeless place) yet still I am commanded to illuminate the world. I can only do so through His light! Which brings me to observation #2.

#2: The phases of the moon are caused by the moon moving in orbit. As it orbits the earth, there are times when the earth blocks out all or part of the sunshine from reaching the moon. In like manner, our reflection of His glory is greatest when the world and it’s atmosphere do not block the Son’s light in our lives. When the earth blocks the sun, the moon is darkened, and the light in the dark areas of the world is diminished. So also our illumination in the darkness of this world is affected by how brightly the Son of God shines upon us.

#3: You know those dark areas on the shining moon? The “face” of the moon? Those are caused by imperfections and irregularities on the moon’s surface. If the moon were perfectly smooth, the light would be much brighter. Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Imagine how much brighter you could shine for Christ in this world if your surface were free of imperfections!

Simple science… with Sobering implications… for Sincere Christians. Now let your light Shine!

Drunk and Forgetful

The following is an excerpt from a proclamation for a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer, issued by President Abraham Lincoln, March 30, 1863.

“ …We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.
But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.
Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!
It behooves us then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”
…
“All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessing no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace.”

As I read these words, written over 140 years ago, I was struck by the clarity by which Lincoln assessed his own age, and the striking similarity to our own nation’s condition. Look at the words he used. “Forgotten God…intoxicated…self-sufficient…proud” These words are clearly applicable to Canada as well! Psalm 9:17 says “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” O Canada! In our quest for wealth we have abandoned Wisdom. We seek peace but scorn the Prince of Peace. We assert our multiculturalism but cheerfully tear down the moral fabric of our nation. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. Psalm 50:22-23
O Canada, remember the Lord!
- Pastor Hollingsworth

Where is your soup kitchen?

From time to time I am asked about the programs our church offers to the community.  People ask what causes we support, and which local agencies we are affiliated with.  The answer to all of these is “none.”  But why?  How can we not be involved in righting the social ills of this world?  This is a valid question with a simple answer.  We are involved. I believe the Bible encourages us to relieve the oppressed, the needy, and the hungry (Matthew 25:34-40), and I attempt to do as much as I am able.  A member recently brought me a story of her son purchasing lunch for one of society’s cast-offs, and using the opportunity to witness to him. Fantastic! Our lives abound with opportunities to alleviate suffering. But drunkenness, slavery, poverty, disease, etc. are symptoms, not causes.  I will submit to you that there is no injustice, poverty, discrimination, or disease in the world that does not have its root in sin (e.g. Deuteronomy 28:15-68). I understand that there are those who suffer through no wrong of their own, yet the mission of the church must be the glory of God and the conversion of souls (Matthew 28:19-20).  There are many agencies in the world that care for the body, but few that care for the soul.  There are many who are rich in this world’s goods, but few who are rich toward God.  Therefore, while we will do our part personally, as a church we will focus our energies, time, and resources on the spiritual needs of our community and the world, for it is the spiritual condition that dictates the social and physical conditions. 

 

1 Corinthians 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;. 

Send me fanatics!

I must admit I weary of mediocrity. I despise blandness in my food, politicians, and Christianity. More and more I understand Christ’s disgust with the Laodicean church. I am tired of the polished veneer and divided hearts. Divided, I say, between God and the world. Divided, I say, between holiness and sinful pleasure, between eternal truths and temporary conveniences, between Christ and self-will. Where are the men of God who stand like Elijah of old and thunder the truth? Where is the man who will cast his pride aside and live completely for Christ? Oh God, give us MEN who will set fire to their worldly allegiances! Give us MEN who will defy ungodliness in their life, their family, and their church! Give us MEN who will pray instead of play, workers instead of whiners! Give us MEN who are willing to spurn the glass baubles of this life that they may earn eternal crowns in the life to come!

My friends, this life is too short to use it in any way except in whole-hearted, single-minded devotion to Christ. I urge you to spurn all earthly considerations in favour of eternal rewards. I encourage you to begin running NOW with courage, determination, and passion. I implore you to order your life after Heaven’s values – for we shall soon be there, worshiping Christ in our glorified bodies. And when ten millenniums are past, and the feeble joys of earth long since forgotten, we will wish we had spent more for others, less for self, and all for Christ.

 

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:7-8

The forgotten virtue

Supercalifragilisticexpialidoucious! Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious. If you say it loud enough you’ll always sound precocious. 13 year old Morgan Pozgar won the US Texting Title by texting the above in 15 seconds on her cell phone! I can barely say it in 15 seconds! It is almost faster for me to send a letter than text. My sister-in-law Tina can a page of text while carrying on a verbal conversation! But why can Morgan and Tina do what I cannot? Are they wiser, younger, more tech savvy? I suspect that the real reason is practice or diligence. We become good at what we practice. Let me give you a verse. Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Webster’s Dictionary defines diligence as “characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort” How good are you at keeping your heart & soul clean & close to God? We admire great Christians, but how did it happen they became great? No amount of talent makes a “great” Christian! Could it be that they have been diligent to keep their heart & soul before God? 

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;

Determine to be diligent!

Spring cleaning

Tomorrow starts spring cleaning in the Hollingsworth house.  You men know what that means! (No sitting down, no meals, no sleep, the vacuum starts the “Shock and Awe” campaign at 7am sharp…)  Now it’s not really that bad, I’m allowed a 15 min break at lunch!   But all jesting aside, the impending rite of spring made me think about spring cleaning in our personal lives.  We ought to be keeping a close watch on things, keeping the filth and muck swept out of our lives, but sometimes things start to slip.  It reminds me of Psalm 51, written after David’s sin with Bathsheba. Psalms 51:2-3  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. David acknowledged his sin and asked for cleansing “throughly”.  “Throughly” means throughout, but also has meanings that imply severity or ruthlessness.  Is this not what God wants of us in regards to our sin?  To be thorough, to be ruthless in removing our sin?  I am afraid that all to often we settle for a quick tidy of our inward man instead of paying the price to be really clean.  When is the last time you had a spiritual spring cleaning?   Psalms 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Live like THEY are dying!

Today there is an interesting article from the Baptist Press called “Handwriting on the Wall”. Part of a paragraph reads “This last decade has seen many persons preoccupied with attempting to discover a magic way to do evangelism that does not call on people to go out into the world and intentionally sow seeds. We are now all faced with vast wastelands of seedless soil in North America.” Friend, this is absolutely correct! Changing technology, corrupt society and calloused hearts do not require a polished presentation, but rather the old Gospel preached from hot hearts! Sin has not changed! The Gospel is still the same! God changes not, so what in the world are we waiting for? We have wasted many opportunities while waiting for a better method, instead of going in simple obedience. How our apathy and disobedience must grieve the Saviour’s heart. May God set our cold hearts on fire.

I attended a funeral this week of a friend of mine. Though a Christian, he had not lived righteously for much of his life. But while dying he began to see things from God’s perspective, and the change in his attitude and outlook on life was wonderful to see. His life in a way reminded me of Sampson, – great potential, weak life, strong finish. May God give me the passion to live like I am dying. Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In memory of Martienus Rohof, who would want me to tell it like it is.

The clock is ticking!

This was sent by a friend. While not using KJV, the impact is undeniable.

GET BUSY FOR GOD! 

Crucified by choice

Yesterday I posted a video by National Geographic. It concerned a man who was willing to be crucified every single year in thankfulness to God for sparing his wife and daughter’s life. I was amazed at the depth of the man’s conviction. It is a fantastic display of courage, determination, and utter disregard for one’s self. Yet I could not help but think of that Christ also was crucified by choice, and for an even grander reason, the salvation of the human race. And while this man’s crucifixion does not approach the brutality of Christ’s crucifixion, it ought to serve as a potent reminder of what Christ did for us. He also was crucified by choice. Matthew 26:53-54 tells us that 12 legions of angels were at his disposal if he would but ask. What amazing love! How incredible to be crucified for as those who hated Him, as well as those who loved Him!

Now let me ask you a question: Are you willing to be crucified with Christ? It is your choice.

Galatians 5:24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and s.