Moratorium on Church Membership?

Who have ever heard of a pastor of a church wanting to call for a moratorium on adding any new church members? None that I’m aware of. But this is exactly what this pastor desires to do in his heart. Why you ask? Simply because it has been affirmed and reaffirmed over and over again that the typical, modern-day professing Christian doesn’t have a clue what it means to member of a church. Church Membership has all but lost all of its significance today in our culture. Far from being a community of deeply devoted Christ-followers who covenant together to share all of life together for the glory of God and to carry out the great commission, we change churches like we change our shoes. We’ll try this one for a while, and if it doesn’t fit, we’ll kick it off and get another, without one ounce of regret or second-thought. But what can we expect from the ultimate consumer-driven culture in which coveting is a value and where our personal happiness reigns supreme? In many ways, it takes more effort and devotion to be a member of the local “animal” lodge than it does the church of the Jesus Christ. If this small, insignificant, saved-by-grace pastor is broken-hearted over the current condition of Christ’s bride today, I can’t even imagine how broken-hearted He is.

Wrestling with the Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper is one of two primary ordiances in the church instituted by Christ Himself. It is a very special time of fellowship, personal reflection and evaluation, and a re-committing ourselves to the Lord and to the fellowship of believers. But is this sacred meal only properly to be observed when most of the church is present? Or can it be properly done in homes with only a few believers?

I have really been wrestling over this issue lately because of the desire of many of our shut-ins to participate in the Lord's Supper, even though physically they really aren't able to come and worship anymore.

In the Baptist confession of faith written in 1689 (one of the most detailed and lengthy confessions), it is stated of the Lord's Supper:

"1.THE Lord's supper was instituted by the Lord on the same night in which He was betrayed. It is to be observed in His churches to the world's end, for a perpetual remembrance of Him and to show forth the sacrifice of Himself in His death. It was instituted also to confirm saints in the belief that all the benefits stemming from Christ's sacrifice belong to them. Furthermore, it is meant to promote their spiritual nourishment and growth in Christ, and to strengthen the ties that bind them to all the duties they owe to Him. The Lord's supper is also a bond and pledge of the fellowship which believers have with Christ and with one another."

In this one paragraph of this confession about the Lord's Supper, we can observse both the corporate aspect as well as the individual aspect of the blessing of participating in this meal.

The question that I have is, which is more important and does one overrule the other? For example, can I as a pastor alone go and administer the Lord's Supper to an elderly shut-in, or does at least a portion of the church be represented because of the communal aspect of the meal? Sure the more practical and easier thing to do would be for me to just do it alone when I'm out doing my visiting during the day. But as one who is trying to be obedient and honoring to God, what is easier or practical cannot be my guide. I have to think through what I'm doing and make sure that what I'm doing lines up with Scripture and with the intention that Christ had when He instituted it.

Insights and comments from other believers who are also striving for God's glory are always welcome. :)

New Appreciation for Genesis 3:16

Genesis 3:16 states, "To the woman He said,'I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children;'" (NASB)

I now have a new appreciation for this verse. When Andrea labored and delivered our first two, she had epidurals with both, the first more than the second. I can remember when Caleb was born that all day, Andrea and I had basically just sat in the hospital room, watching tv, until about 3:30pm when the nurse came in and said, "Ok, it's time to push." I was like, "What?" That experience was nothing like I had seen on television.

But yesterday, Andrea had NO epidural; she only had a little "Newbane" (sp?) to take the edge off, and it was really different. I mean she was hurting and uncomfortable for hours before it was time to push. No television yesterday, we were all business. And then when it was time for her to push, boy I really understood Gen.3:16 because it was like the movies. I'm sort of surprised she didn't start calling me dirty names! (haha).

But even through that terrible/wonderful experience... her heart could be seen. She would scream at the mid-wife and nurses when it hurt so bad, and then immediately say "I'm sorry..." which we all thought was kind of funny. But when God said he would greatly multiply her pain in childbirth, He wasn't kidding around.

So, why would God do that? Why would He take such a wonderful experience as the birth of a child and make it so hurtful and sorrowful? Is God just mean and hateful like that? Well, of course God is not mean and hateful; He has nothing or no amount of evil or maliciousness in Him. Everything He does is good and righteous. So, why the pain in childbirth?

Well, I can't say this is the only reason, because knowing God, I'm sure there are more than one. But one reason I believe is because the Lord in His mercy wanted to give a lasting reminder of the consequences of sin. Sin has consequences. Rom 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death..." As the human race, we need to remember that our rebellion against God came at a great cost. And if we forget that cost, and seek not His mercy and forgiveness before we die, we will be eternally separated from Him in hell. So, God who is rich in mercy and grace, gave to mankind a perpetual reminder that "Hey, Sin has consequences! And you had better remember that before its eternally too late!"

Another reason for the pain and sorrow might be to remind us that in sin we are conceived and born. Some people have the mistaken understanding that man is born basically good and morally neutral, and that we only turn into bad people because of our environment or upbringing. This is not true Biblically. Kind David stated in Ps.51:5,"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me." Eccles. 7:20 also states, "For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin." So, the truth of the matter is, man is NOT born basically good or morally neutral. He is born with a sinful nature that has been passed down from one generation to another since the time of Adam and Eve. Man is not a sinner because he sins... He sins because He is a sinner. This reminder is also a gift of mercy because again, we are reminded that we are sinners desperately in need of God's grace and forgiveness.



The good news is that God in His love and grace sent His unique and only Son, Jesus, to be the Savior of the world. Jesus came and paid the ultimate penalty for our salvation. He lovingly and willingly allowed Himself to be crucified so that we might live forever with Him. But how good is a cure if a person doesn't know he's sick? In childbirth, we have a perpetual reminder of our need for Jesus. So, even in something as terrible and sorrowful as labor pains, we see the incredible love and mercy of God.

Kid's Chore Chart

I don't know who's idea it was, whether it was mine or Andrea's, but either way I like it. Our boys, who are only 5 and 3 years old, already have chores that they have to do, some on a daily basis. The picture below is snap shot of our chore chart (you can only see Caleb's part). As you can see the chores are listed on the left side with a corresponding block for each day of the week. And each time they do the chore, they get a star. For example, Caleb's chores are cleaning the table (after a meal), feeding his fish, cleaning his room, emptying the dryer, making his bed, and taking out the bathroom trash. Because all of those are things that he can do. Taite only has 3 things: cleaning up his toys, taking out the recyclables, and emptying the dryer (b/c he helps Caleb do that).And at the end of each week, for every star they have, I give them 1 dime. I know thats not a lot, but I can't afford a quarter for every star and a dime keeps things simple. So, why are we doing this?

Well, because I want to start early teaching my children about the value of hard work and about the proper and correct use of money. When I was growing up, I never received any form of allowance. And even though I know my Dad's reasoning (everything I had he provided), I still think I would have benefited from personally learning how to use, save, and be generous with my own money. As they get older, the chores will increase in quantity, and their value will go up as well. But for now, I think this is a good start.

iHeartFaces - "Excited"

My wife showed me her photo for this site called iHeartFaces. She took a picture today that I thought fit the theme well.

*Larger View HERE*


You can view the other entries over at iHeartFaces.com

A Baptist Catechism for Young Children

A friend of mine asked me to post this. So, here it is. Sorry, I don't know how to do PDF's for download. If anyone would like it, I would be happy to email it to them.

A Baptist Catechism for Young Children

Instructions for use: This catechism should be begun when a child is approximately 2 years old and should be totally completed by the time the child is 8 years old. Questions and answers should be memorized completely and accurately.

Q. 1. Who made you?

A. God/ Jesus

Q. 2. What else did God (Jesus) make?

A. All things.

Q. 3. Why did God make you and all things?

A. For his own glory.

Q. 4. How can you glorify God?

A. By loving him and doing what he says

Q. 5. Why should you to glorify God?

A. Because he loves me and takes care of me.

Q. 6. How many gods are there?

A. There is only one God.

Q. 7. In how many persons does God exist?

A. Three persons.

Q. 8. Who are they?

A. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Q. 9. Where is God?

A. God is everywhere.

Q. l0. Can you see God?

A. No; I cannot see God, but he always sees me.

Q. 11. Does God know all things?

A. Yes; nothing can be hid from God.

Q. 12. Can God do all things?

A. Yes; God can do all his holy will.

Q. 13. Where do you learn how to love and obey God?

A. In the Bible alone.

Q. 14. Who wrote the Bible?

A. Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit.

Q. 15. Who were our first parents?

A. Adam and Eve.

Q. 16. Of what were our first parents made?

A. God made the body of Adam out of the ground, and formed Eve from the body of Adam.

Q. 17. What did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies?

A. He gave them souls that could never die.

Q. 18. Have you a soul as well as a body?

A. Yes; I have a soul that can never die.

Q. 19. How do you know that you have a soul?

A. Because the Bible tells me so.

Q. 20. In what condition did God make Adam and Eve?

A. He made them holy and happy.

Q. 21. What is a covenant?

A. An agreement between two or more persons.

Q. 22. What covenant did God make with Adam?

A. The covenant of works.

Q.23. What was Adam bound to do by the covenant of works?

A. To obey God perfectly.

Q. 24. What did God promise in the covenant of works?

A. To reward Adam with life if he obeyed him.

Q. 25. What did God threaten in the covenant of works?

A. To punish Adam with death if he disobeyed.

Q. 26. Did Adam keep the covenant of works?

A. No; he sinned against God.

Q. 27. What is Sin?

A. Sin is any want of conformity to, or transgression of the law of God.

Q. 28. What is meant by “want of conformity”?

A. Not being or doing what God requires.

Q. 29. What is meant by “transgression”?

A. Doing what God forbids.

Q. 30. What was the sin of our first parents?

A. Eating the forbidden fruit.

Q. 31. Who tempted them to this sin?

A. The devil tempted Eve, and she gave the fruit to Adam.

Q. 32. What happened to our first parents when they had sinned?

A. Instead of being holy and happy, they became sinful and miserable.

Q. 33. Did Adam act for himself alone in the covenant of works?

A. No; he represented all his descendents, all mankind.

Q. 34. What effect did the sin of Adam have on all mankind?

A. All mankind are born in a state of sin and misery.

Q. 35. What is that sinful nature which we inherit from Adam called?

A. Original sin.

Q. 36. What does every sin deserve?

A. The wrath and curse of God.

Q. 37. Can any one go to heaven with this sinful nature?

A. No; our hearts must be changed before we can be fit for heaven.

Q. 38. What is a change of heart called?

A. Regeneration.

Q. 39. Who can change a sinner’s heart?

A. The Holy Spirit alone.

Q. 40. Can any one be saved through the covenant of works?

A. None can be saved through the covenant of works.

Q. 41. Why can none be saved through the covenant of works?

A. Because all have broken it, and are condemned by it

Q. 42. With whom did God the Father make the covenant of grace?

A. With Jesus Christ, his eternal Son.

Q. 43. Whom did Christ represent in the covenant of grace?

A. His elect people.

Q. 44. What did Christ undertake in the covenant of grace?

A. To keep the whole law for his people, and to suffer the punishment for their sins.

Q. 45. Did our Lord Jesus Christ ever commit the smallest sin?

A. No; he was holy and undefiled.

Q. 46. How could the Son of God suffer?

A. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became a man that He might obey and suffer in our nature.

Q. 47. What is meant by the Atonement?

A. Christ’s satisfying divine justice, by his sufferings and death, in the place of sinners.

Q. 48. What did God the Father undertake in the covenant of grace?

A. To justify and sanctify those for whom Christ should die.

Q. 49. What justification?

A. It is God declaring sinners forgiven, and treating them as if they had never sinned.

Q. 50. What is sanctification?

A. It is God’s making sinners holy in heart and conduct.

Q. 51. For whom did Christ obey and suffer?

A. For those whom the Father had given him.

Q. 52. What kind of life did Christ live on earth?

A. A life of poverty and suffering.

Q. 53. What kind of death did Christ die?

A. The painful and shameful death of the cross.

Q. 54. Who will be saved?

A. Only those who repent of sin, believe in Christ, and lead holy lives.

Q. 55. What is it to repent?

A. To be sorry for sin, and to hate and forsake it because it is displeasing to God.

Q. 56. What is it to believe or have faith in Christ?

A. To trust in Christ alone for salvation.

Q. 57. Can you repent and believe in Christ by your own power?

A. No; I can do nothing good without the help of God’s Holy Spirit.

Q. 58. How can you get the help of the Holy Spirit?

A. God has told us that we must pray to him for the Holy Spirit.

Q. 59. How long ago is it since Christ died?

A. More than nineteen hundred years.

Q. 60. How were pious persons saved before the coming of Christ?

A. By believing in a Savior to come.

Q. 61. How did they show their faith?

A. By offering sacrifices on God’s altar.

Q. 62. What did these sacrifices represent?

A. Christ, the Lamb of God, who was to die for sinners.

Q. 63. What offices has Christ?

A. Christ has three offices.

Q. 64. What are they?

A. The offices of prophet, of priest, and of king.

Q. 65. How is Christ a prophet?

A. Because he teaches us the will of God.

Q. 66. How is Christ a priest?

A. Because he died for our sins and pleads with God for us.

Q.67. How is Christ a king?

A. Because he rules over us and defends us.

Q. 68. Why do you need Christ as a prophet?

A. Because I am ignorant.

Q. 69. Why do you need Christ as a priest?

A. Because I am guilty.

Q. 70. Why do you need Christ as a king?

A. Because I am weak and helpless.

Q. 71. How many commandments did God give to Moses on Mount Sinai?

A. Ten commandments.

Q. 72. What are the ten commandments sometimes called?

A. The Decalogue.

Q. 73. What do the first four commandments teach?

A. Our duty to God.

Q. 74. What do the last six commandments teach?

A. Our duty to our fellow men.

Q. 75. What is the sum of the ten commandments?

A. To love God with all my heart, and to love my neighbor as myself.

Q. 76. Who is your neighbor?

A. All my fellow men are my neighbors.

Q. 77. Is God pleased with those who love and obey him?

A. Yes; he says, “I love those who love me.” (Prov.8: 17)

Q. 78. Is God displeased with those who do not love and obey him?

A. Yes; “God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Ps.7:11)

Q. 79. What is the first commandment?

A. The first commandment is, 3 You shall have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:3 (NKJV)

Q. 80. What does the first commandment teach us?

A. To worship God alone.

Q. 81. What is the second commandment?

A. The second commandment is,4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. Exodus 20:4-6 (NKJV)

Q. 82. What does the second commandment teach us?

A. To worship God in a proper manner, and to avoid idolatry.

Q. 83. What is the third commandment?

A. The third commandment is, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)

Q. 84. What does the third commandment teach me?

A. To reverence God’s name, word, and works.

Q. 85. What is the fourth commandment?

A. The fourth commandment is, 8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11 (NKJV)

Q. 86. What does the fourth commandment teach us?

A. To remember the Sabbath day and to keep it holy.

Q. 87. What day of the week is the Christian Sabbath?

A. Sunday, the first day of the week, called the Lord’s day.

Q. 88. Why is it called the Lord’s day?

A. Because on that day Christ rose from the dead.

Q. 89. How should the Sabbath be spent?

A. In resting from all work, in private and public acts of worship, and in doing good to our fellow man.

Q. 90. What is the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment is, 12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12 (NKJV)

Q. 91. What does the fifth commandment teach me?

A. To love and obey our parents and those in authority over us.

Q. 92. What is the sixth commandment?

A. The sixth commandment is, 13 "You shall not murder. Exodus 20:13 (NKJV)

Q. 93. What does the sixth commandment teach us?

A. To avoid angry passions.

Q. 94. What is the seventh commandment?

A. The seventh commandment is, 14 "You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14 (NKJV)

Q. 95. What does the seventh commandment teach us?

A. To be pure in heart, language, and conduct.

Q. 96. What is the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment is, 15 "You shall not steal. Exodus 20:15 (NKJV)

.Q. 97. What does the eighth commandment teach us?

A. To be honest and industrious.

Q. 98. What is the ninth commandment?

A. The ninth commandment is, 16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Exodus 20:16 (NKJV)

Q. 99. What does the ninth commandment teach us?

A. To always tell the truth.

Q. 100. What is the tenth commandment?

A. The tenth commandment is, 17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

Exodus 20:17 (NKJV)

Q. 101. What does the tenth commandment teach us?

A. To be content with that which God has provided.

Q. 102. Can any man keep these ten commandments perfectly?

A. No mere man, since the fall of Adam, ever did or can keep the ten commandments perfectly.

Q. 103. Of what use are the ten commandments to us?

A. They teach us our duty, and show our need of a Savior.

Q. 104. What is prayer?

A. Prayer is asking God for things which he has promised to give.

Q. 105. In whose name should we pray?

A. Only in the name of Christ.

Q. 106. What has Christ given us to teach us how to pray?

A. The Lord’s Prayer.

Q. 107. Repeat the Lord’s Prayer.

9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)

Q. 108. How many petitions are there in The Lord’s Prayer?

A. Six.

Q. 109. What is the first petition?

A. “Hallowed be thy name.”

Q. 110. What do we pray for in the first petition?

A. That God’s name may be reverenced & honored by us and all men.

Q. 111. What is the second petition?

A. “Thy kingdom come.”

Q. 112. What do we pray for in the second petition?

A. That the gospel may be preached in all the world, and believed and obeyed by us and all men.

Q. 113. What is the third petition?

A. “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Q. 114. What do we pray for in the third petition?

A. That men on earth may serve God as the angels do in heaven.

Q. 115. What is the fourth petition?

A. “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Q. 116. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

A. That God would give us all things needful for our bodies and souls.

Q. 117. What is the fifth petition?

A. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Q. 118. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?

A. That God would pardon our sins for Christ’s sake, and enable us to forgive those who have injured us.

Q. 119. What is the sixth petition?

A. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Q. 120. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

A. That God would keep us from sin.

Q. 121. How many sacraments are there?

A. Two.

Q. 122. What are they?

A. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Q. 123 Who appointed these sacraments?

A. The Lord Jesus Christ.

Q. 124. Why did Christ appoint these sacraments?

A. To distinguish his disciples from the world, and to comfort and strengthen them.

Q. 125. What is baptism?

A. The quickly dipping of a person completely under water and then back up.

Q. 126. What is baptism a sign of?

A. That we have been united with Christ, and that we are cleansed from all sin by His blood.

Q. 127. In whose name are we baptized?

A. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Q. 128. Who are to be baptized?

A. Only persons who have exercised faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Q. 129. What is the Lord’s Supper?

A. The eating of bread and the drinking of the cup in remembrance of the sufferings and death of Christ.

Q. 130. What does the bread represent?

A. The body of Christ, broken for our sins.

Q. 131. What does the cup represent?

A. The blood of Christ, shed for our salvation.

Q. 132. Who should partake of the Lord’s Supper?

A. Only those who repent of their sins, believe in Christ for salvation, and love their fellow men.

Q. 133. Did Christ remain in the tomb after his crucifixion?

A. No; he rose from the tomb on the third day after his death.

Q. 134. Where is Christ now?

A. In heaven, interceding for sinners.

Q. 135. Will he come again?

A. Yes; at the last day Christ will come to judge the world.

Q. 136. What happens to men at death?

A. The body returns to dust, and the soul goes into the world of spirits.

Q. 137. Will the bodies of the dead be raised to life again?

A. Yes; “The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised.” (1 Cor.15:52)

Q. 138. What will become of the wicked in the Day of Judgment?

A. They shall he cast into hell.

Q. 139. What is hell?

A. A place of terrible and eternal torment.

Q. 140. What will become of the righteous?

A. They shall be taken to heaven.

Q. 141. What is heaven?

A. A glorious and happy place, where the righteous shall be forever with the

Lord.

Daddy Day at Marbles Museum

Well, its like after mid-night, and I should be in the bed sleeping because I have an early morning tomorrow, but I guess that grande coffee at 6pm and glass of Coke at 8pm were too much for me. So, since I can't sleep I thought I would post a short blog about my day today.

I took the boys out for a "Daddy-Day." In case you don't know what that is, thats where it's just me and the boys all day... or most of the day. We left this morning around 7:30am to go to McDonalds for breakfast. And then shortly after, we headed to Raleigh to go to the Marbles Museum. (We were actually headed to a place called the "Playspace" on Glenwood Ave., but it no longer exists.) I wish the internet could be updated with information like that.

Anyway, we ended up finally getting there around 11:30am. So, we went ahead and ate lunch in the park before going in. But once we were in... Whoa, let the fun begin! There was so much to do and so many kids! Oh my goodness, it was like controlled chaos! I mean seriously, my boys played there for 3.5 hours and would have stayed longer, and we maybe did half the stuff you could do. But boy, they had a blast. I have posted a few photos below of our day.

Taite especially loved the HUGE Thomas the Train set...

Both boys really liked the water stuff. Here was a continuous running fountain layed out like a river with a waterfall at the end. They were a little wet after this.

This had to have been their favorite. It was the "peas and carrots" bin. (ball pit) They must have went in like 30 times. We even left for a while to go do something else, and ended up coming back to finish the day here. They loved it!

Here they were supposed to be learning about other cultures in the world, like how Eskimos sometimes live. I must confess, we didn't do much learning... just playing.

Not sure what happened to this last picture of Taite with "snow shoes" on... maybe my computer savy wife can figure it out for me.