Make All Things New

Good words from John Bryson on “Learning to Be Misearable“.

Power Through Prayer
by E.M. Bounds
(http://christianaudio.com).

This stirring and inspiring book is packed with insightful points from a man who has obviously spent much time seeking the Lord through prayer. E.M. Bounds seeks to show us that it is not more methods and gimmicks that are needed, but earnest men of prayer. Such a timely message today yet Bounds wrote this book many years ago! In the first chapter, Bounds lays out his reason for writing this book: “What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men—men of prayer.” (p. 2)
In twenty chapters, Bounds lays out not only his argument in his own words but he relies on excellent quotes from many saints of the past whom God has used mightily for His work. Bounds stay often that any man who has been used by God is first a man of prayer. Prayer is the basis for any pastor to be used by and for God. As Bounds states it, “Every preacher who does not make prayer a mighty factor in his own life and ministry is weak as a factor in God’s work and is powerless to project God’s cause in this world.” (p. 4)
This book is a refreshing to the soul as it continually challenges the reader to strive for holiness and seeking the Lord through prayer. The examples on page after page of the divines who spent hours in prayer in order to prepare for their service to the Lord is challenging. Of course, if received incorrectly it could be seen as a law to slavishly follow or an out-of -reach standard that leads to discouragement. But read in the larger context, that is not how it should be received. Bounds seems to work through his argument skillfully beginning with showing the need and motivation for men of prayer, moving to examples of men of prayer, then further showing methods of prayer and finally capping of with sharing some of the many glories of a life of prayer.
I was greatly encouraged by this book. I have recently been struggling with my time of private devotions. Changes in my schedule and a new baby give me many reasons to make excuses but Bounds has been used by God to speak to my heart and refresh my soul. Prayer is not a duty but a delight. Prayer is not just a necessity I am called to, it is a privilege I am given!
The chapters on the topic of “unction” were very profitable for me. I have read much about the term “unction” within the pages of the Puritan Paperbacks but Bounds gives a very clear and precise discussion on the necessity of unction. Unction in the pulpit and in ministry does not come from merely studying well or writing eloquent sermons. Unction comes from spending time on your knees in prayer with the One who gives power.
This is a book that I plan on referring back to for encouragement and refreshment as I seek to be faithful in prayer for the sake of my joy and God’s glory.

I had the opportunity to preach the last time our church was able to meet (due to the 24 inches of snow in Philly last weekend). The text was John 11. I’d love your feedback.

John 11 – Extraordinary Hope

I have been reading a book called “A Praying Life” by Paul Miller which I highly recommend. Yesterday, I read a short portion that served me well. I am seeing so many people suffering around me, so many lacking joy as they seek to find a way out of their suffering. This reminder from Miller was greatly encouraging to me and I hope to share it with others.

“The Father wants to draw us into the story of his Son. He doesn’t have a better story to tell, so he keeps retelling it in our lives.” That means that we endure suffering and pain that seems like it should be avoidable, seems like it shouldn’t happen so that we can display the gospel in our lives. The gospel is the best story and we are privileged to “share in  [Jesus'] sufferings” (Philippians 3:10).

That is good and true, and here is the piece that is breathtaking to me. Miller writes, “If we stop fighting and embrace the gospel story God is weaving in our lives, we discover joy.” We find joy in submitting to the story God is writing with our lives! Joy comes through faith in God! God is doing so many things with our lives right now and we only see just a few of them. His story has a great ending that will suffice.

Gospel growth isn’t easy, but it is good because the Author of the Story is Good. So, I pray that we all are submitted to God as he tells his story through our lives. Soli Deo gloria.

Recently I noticed some small splinters in my hand. As is so common with these things, it only started hurting after I noticed them. Then I remembered that we have a larger, wooden cross we setup at church during the time of Advent. “I must have gotten them from that.” I thought to myself. “Man, these are really starting to hurt. I need to get them out.”

Thankfully, it didn’t take me long to realize the ridiculousness of complaining about the “pain” I endured carrying the cross. A few splinters are not even worth comparing to the immense agony that my Savior suffered through carrying His cross. And even more, He, who never deserved to bare such shame, did so for me. I so thankful for grace!

I found this to be helpful.

Are you SAD? from Puritan Reformed on Vimeo.

This video was taken prior to his undergoing brain surgery. Very encouraging!

This Friday, Pastor Matt Chandler, will be undergoing surgery for a brain tumor. Please pray for him and his family.

More information is available in this article.

Come and join us this Friday night!

A young man was killed near our church building last weekend.

Saturday night we setup for church at Richmond Hall in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. Finished up around 6:30 p.m. As I drove past the playground across the street, nothing was out of the ordinary. It looked like the beginnings of another typical night in the neighborhood. Sadly, what came later was anything but typical.

We arrived for worship the next morning completely unaware of anything tragic happening less than 100 feet away and merely 9 hours earlier. There are conflicting stories about the events but the end result is the same: a 21 year-old boy from the neighborhood is dead. He was shot and killed by an off-duty policeman in front of the playground. As I said, there are lots of different stories about how all this came to happened and I hate to speculate, so I won’t. Here’s the report from our local ABC station:

When I heard about this, I was settling in with my family after church. Got a text about it and read a brief news release. I asked myself, “How do you bring shalom to a situation you know nothing about, with people you don’t know and who may not care about what you have to offer them?” Thankfully, I didn’t have to spend too much time dwelling on that thought in the comforts of my home.

“Gonna go down there and check around” was the text from my good friend (pastor and co-laborer for the gospel) Rob Burns. My most excellent wife totally understood as I got up and left.

“How do you bring shalom in this situation to people you don’t know and who may not care about what you’re offering?” I thought to myself again. Then it struck me. “You enter in!”

We need not look farther than Jesus to see someone who entered into a world of pain where people didn’t know him and certainly most didn’t want what he was offering. Yet he came to bring shalom (in part at first) to the people. He did this by entering into their lives and sharing their pain, ultimately being rejected and killed so that we wouldn’t have to bear the wrath for our sin. That is true caring. That is true love.

I’m not saying that Rob and I do this perfectly like Jesus (hangout with us for a while and you will see our lives are marked by God’s grace, not our own accomplishments). But the Holy Spirit prompts us to be like Jesus (while conforming us more into his image) in our city.

So, we prayed, walked around the playground, talked with people, listened to people, talked to the police and just generally looked for ways we could help the people in our community. We tried to enter in.

I think the answer to loving your city, to serving it and bringing a foretaste of shalom to your city is simple but impossible. It’s simple in that it only requires you to go and enter into the lives of people around you. That really doesn’t take much (even if it may be uncomfortable sometimes). Besides, you are just following the leading of the Savior as he entered into this world.

However, it is impossible in that – on our own – we won’t seek the shalom of the city and we won’t enter into people’s lives until Christ has entered into ours. The gospel must first change us before we are propelled out on mission. It’s impossible because we can’t make that happen. It’s all God’s grace to us and through us so that we can be blessed and a blessing.

My question for all of us is: “If God has called you to himself, how is he sending you to spread shalom in your neighborhood?”