Praying for our leaders....

Chapter 23 of the Westminster Confession of Faith address the way we interact with our public officials. Reminding us the folks serving in public office are there because God selected them, calling us to obey the civil law as long as it doesn't conflict with God's law, and to pray for them. (23.4). Paul reminds Timothy of is...

Looking at the Lincoln Memorial from the WWII Memorial

• First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, [2] for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. [3] This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
  (1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV)

If you have a moment today, pray for your County Executive and Council, The Governor and State Legislature, the President, and Congress. The days ahead are going to be difficult, it is good to remember God is over all.

God's Might seen through our Might...

At the end of today's reading in 1 Chronicles 14 we read the following verse 17... And the fame of David went out into the all the lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.

The United States has been called a "Christian" nation. Often referring to how often God is referred to in our founding documents. Maybe it is because nations that have a recognized state religion, see Christianity as the closest thing to a state religion here. 

No matter where you fall in this discussion; the verse above made me wonder how often has God used the military might and economic influence of the United States to bring a healthy fear of God to the nations around us?  I know much of the mission work in Japan and Eastern Europe was made possible because those nations recognized how the teaching found in the Bible influenced our culture. 

Do you see God using the might or this nation to bring the Gospel to the rest of the world?

Are "Good Works" always Good?

One of my goals is to spend time reviewing and reflecting on the Larger & Shorter Catechism and the Westminster Confession of Faith. The review is to prepare for my Licencure exam. Today I'm reviewing chapter 16 - Of Good Works. These are the themes that caused me to pause:

Life out of the dying..

1. A good work is something we do in accord with God's will
2. Good works or series of great works are only dirty rags to God
3. All the acts of kindness I do in accord to God's will cannot save me
4. Any works performed by a non believer are not good in the eyes of God.
5. While God is the final arbitrator of what work is good or bad, we are encouraged as Christians to make every to do good work.

What do you think about these definitions of "Good Works"?

God is excited about the boring too....

In the reading today (1 Chronicles 5-6), God spends a lot of time on the names of the families of Israel. It is interesting at how much time God devotes to recording administrative information. It is also interesting how often my eyes glaze over while reading these reports.

For some reason God thought it was important for His people to keep good records. Those records where not only good for the nation of Israel but for you, me and every Christian throughout history. So next time, your friend, your spouse, or your church deacons, begin to review the budget, membership roles, expenses, regular maintenance on the home, car, or computer, remember our God finds these things important and of interest.

My preaching dates have changed.  I am preaching on November 28 & December 26.

A Prayer for You....

The Bible Reading plan brought me to the book of Philemon. A short personal letter Paul sent to his friend Philemon. The letter adresses slavery, friendship, forgiveness, unconditional love and relationships, thank you Pastor Scott for pointing all that out.  The letter also contains the prayer below...

4] I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, [5] because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, [6] and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. [7] For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
(Philemon 1:4-7 ESV)

Ditto...

 Remembering my dad today....

Voter Fatigue...

Yesterday was Election Day (Did you vote?). My sister and I decided to be part of the process this year. We were book judges. These are the folks that greet you and check to see if you are eligible to vote at that polling station. Hard to do when you cannot ask for proof of ID.

Being an election judge is not a job for everyone. The day was long, 10.5 hours were we served.  You feel cut off (no electronic communication, no entertainment, only non political conversation with mostly strangers) from the rest of the world.

Voter turn out was disappointing (888 out of a possible 1872). The attitude of the other judges was more disappointing (could not wait for the day to end, frustrated by voters coming early or late). When did it become such a hardship to help our country do what over a 1 billion people in countries around the world only dream about.

Be Ready in Season and Out of Season...

[4:1] I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: [2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. [3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. [5] As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
(2 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV)

On this first Monday after Reformation Sunday,  part of the daily Bible reading is about being ready to preach.  One of the many reforms the Reformers wanted to see happen in the Catholic Church of their day was a return to preaching and teaching God's Word as contained in the 66 books of the Bible. Today, we are blessed with many churches preaching from the Bible it almost feels like we can claim mission accomplished! But as the passage above reminds us this is not a one and done thing, it on going.

It is with that in mind, that the Christian Ninja blog page offers two Bible reading plans in the calendar section, a weekly memory verse at the top of the page, daily postings from the Westminster Confession and the Larger and Shorter or Children's Catechism (hard to imagine kids memorized that document), and links on the topics prayer along with ministry resources. 

It is my hope you will find the information helpful in keeping you prepared in and out of season to share the love of Christ with those around you.

Thank you for praying for my preaching on Sunday. God provided a group of friends along with an already supportive congregation to encourage me Sunday morning.  If so moved, please remember to pray for me on the following Sundays.

• 26 November
• 12 December
• 26 December

Seeking to know Jesus better,

Dwayne
 
Christian Ninja Blog