Memorial Day 2009

Spending time reading the Bible every single day over the past 6 years, has caused my convictions about many things to change and grow firm in many ways.

One big way is learning the importance of honoring and respecting those to whom we owe honor and respect (Ephesians 6:2; Romans 13:7).

Memorial day is a day to remember the great sacrifices of many men who loved their people enough to die for them in order to provide the freedom everybody wanted.

Those sacrifices should be remembered, and our military, government, soldiers and men should be honored and respected by all in so much as is due them. We would not be able to enjoy so much of the freedom we now do if God had not given us men who would fight.

Nevertheless, since we live in a fallen, evil world of sin, we must remember that these imperfect sacrifices only point us to a sacrifice far greater, and a love incredibly stronger than any other has ever shown.

Jesus is our ultimate Hero (Revelation 5:13). Let's honor Him by thanksgiving, praise, fear, love and obedience to His gracious Word.

Are We Beginning to See a Revival?

Just Because Calvinism and Humble Orthodoxy are "in" with a lot of young Christians today, doesn't necessarily mean it will last.

What do I mean by saying that? With all the excitement about being a Sovereign Grace fan or a Desiring God addict, you would think that God's new generation of fired up Christians are really a great thing. It certainly is wonderful to see people become fired up for truth. However, does that mean all are Spirit filled? I think of what I have learned about other movements in the past, and I must say, the world gets 'em in the end.

What about this one? Well, I'm still not sure if many of the followers are even out of the world yet. Nevertheless, they are certainly into theology. That is a good thing, but if good theology does not make our Biblical convictions last regarding true saving faith in Christ, the glory of God in evangelism and missions, and genuine assurance, then it will have accomplished very little, if not worse.

I hope to be one who resists going with the flow, but rather stands on the Word of God and the hope of Christ Jesus at all times. This should lead me to practice humble orthodoxy in a lasting way when it is the Spirit of God at work in my heart. I love the leaders of this movement and their messages. Men such as John Piper, John MacArthur, Paul Washer, as well as others are worthy of honor, but if their words are what I hang on, then what will there be after they are gone? Don't get me wrong, I love what is happening, and am very, very thankful for my answered prayers for a sort of 'Bible revival'. I also am concerned that the true children of God must mature to the point where we can stand on the Words of Scripture so steadfastly, even when, perhaps those within such a great movement might fail to do so. Are we able? Are we trusting in the Builder of the house, rather than in the house? By God's grace we will do so and more.

Grace to all and God bless.

[I just heard a well-known preacher give a very similar message, and so, since I had written this in my notes months ago I was reminded of it again. Perhaps it will help to "stir you up by putting you in remembrance" (2 Peter 1:13 KJV).]

A prayer from my early days of being transformed:

This is not Scripture, but I was thinking of how Psalm 119 had influenced me so much in the past, as I was just beginning to understand God's Word back in 2003 or so. The bridge photo is where I walked every day during my first year in Pittsburgh, often praying as I passed over the river. I was 19 years old then, and I actually found verses from Psalm 119 written on one of my old notebook pages (I may scan it later and stick it here). Here is one of my prayers I found written waaaay back then:

O Lord, how majestic is your name?
No one knows my heart like you,
they don't believe me when I speak.
When I was in trouble, I called out to you,
and you answered me with your love.
The world is full of confusion,
though you perform miracles right in front of them,
they do not understand.
Through faith you came to me,
through hope you healed me.
But through your great love, you saved me.
How can I bear to disobey you?
Surely your will guides me,
and my heart rejoices along your path.
When you shone your light on me,
I saw my sins for what they were.
Who can see in the darkness without a light?
As surely as light contrasts dark,
righteousness contrasts sin.
Through your righteousness, I saw
the light of life.
Such a great thing cannot be hidden.
To speak of your great love,
is to speak all I know.

[There was no date on this page, but I think I was being influenced by certain Psalms when I wrote this?]

Daleth

More Psalm memorizing today. I had a blessed day of worship; listening to the sermon on Galatians 1:1-4 at church; studying Genesis chapter 3; eating with fellow believers; visiting my brother in Christ Herman Lee and looking at his artwork; eating with my Bible study group and teaching them of the amazing grace and love of God through Jesus Christ. Please pray for them, that they will all see the amazing hope that God gives by His promise through Christ. I really understand better, after being a teacher, that not many should presume to be teachers, we stumble in many ways with our tongue. I love teaching, just not my tongue that sometimes gives the wrong answer to some questions, so now I need to remind myself to correct it as soon as I can. There is so much joy in serving such precious people, and I love helping them understand God's Holy Word the Bible.

I read John 10 tonight for my devotion, and it struck me in a new light how that Jesus was telling the Jewish leaders that He was God by saying, "I am the door... I am the good Shepherd... I and the Father are one." They understood him when they said, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God." Even though Jesus claimed, "I am the Son of God," He was not denying His deity, but was affirming His divine relationship with His Father. He ended by saying, "If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." Then in the next chapter, He goes and raises a man from the dead!... Wow, bow down and worship this Lord.

Again, I'm only at the 32nd verse of Psalm 119:

Daleth
My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!
When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your laws!
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
I cling to your testimonies;
let me not be put to shame!
I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!

What a day... Gimel

I woke up late this morning feeling not so great. I was up late studying Spanish and reading the Scriptures last night. A morning dose of insulin and a glass of water quickly relieved my problem. Before I even had my first cup of coffee I was up and preparing to study Genesis chapter three. I have been listening to MacArthur sermons on Genesis three all week as it was read to me by my mac at work, and I have been listening to Genesis read by Stephen Johnston all week (I listened to all of it twice). All I can say is, "Wow!" and I can say it backwards, too, "woW!" :P

Today, I really looked into the first seven verses of Genesis 3, and was amazed at what I was seeing, and with connections it was making to other verses in the Bible (the picture is me studying last week with cheerios). I will have the study up on my other blog after tomorrow. At around 3 p.m., I helped my sister and mom pick out a good senior class photo for my sister, then I headed off in the pouring rain for Philadelphia. On the way to Philadelphia, I memorized the third stanza in Psalm 119, praying along the way. Since it was raining, the brothers and I decided not to go to our regular spot for street evangelism, so we headed down to the 30th Street Station in center city. We've been there before, and it is always a blessing. Well, I can't go into all the details, but we had a great time and left rejoicing in God's magnificent grace. I spoke to a Spanish Christian man from Puerto Rico, a drug addict from Ocean City (I think that's where he said), a homeless woman from Sierra Leone (W. Africa, her name was Christiana), and also brief interaction with a few other people. We didn't stay as long as usual, but went back to Pastor Mark's house to pray. Our prayer time was filled with rejoicing and requests to God, and we also prayed for souls in the hurricane storm down in the South, as well as for the police who are walking the streets now in Philadelphia (dangerous job). It was really wonderful to have fellowship with a bunch of "ordinary" men, who are fired up for reaching lost people in our cities. One brother, a former drug addict, alcoholic and homeless, is preparing to start Bible college soon (amazing to see the change in his life, as well as the same change in one of his old buddies - amazing). Others are just so much of a blessing to know.

When I left, it wasn't raining and the sky was clear. I came home, and behold, the stars where covering the face of the sky! One of our prayers tonight was a thanksgiving for God's faithfulness to His servant Abraham, that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens and the sand on the seashore. My reason for sharing all this, is for encouragement to any who read, and to give away a little info into my life, showing that I'm not just a "smart kid" (I always despised those kids while growing up, and now I am one, but for a good reason - to help others know the gospel). As one man said to me last Saturday, "I'm a real person," I answered, "I'm a real person, too" (even though I've never been stabbed or been in jail, or joined a muslim cult - I understood the guy's point and wasn't disrespecting him). So my life is richly blessed to be spent with the greatest people in the world, the poor, lowly, downcast and nobodies of this earth, who by the grace of our precious Lord Jesus will one day be numbered with those stars.

Here is where I'm at in Psalm 119, I practiced it again on my way home:

Gimel
Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law!
I am a sojourner in the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!
My soul is consumed with longing
for your rules at all times.
You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.
Take away from me scorn, and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.
Even though princes sit and plot against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.

Grace Abounding from Pittsburgh

I just arrived home after a five hour drive from Pittsburgh. It was a grace-filled weekend. I was extremely blessed to see how the King of kings continues to uphold the saints there and keep them witnessing for the sake of His name. A few guys seem to have gone under genuine conversions, though time will be the test. If it is of God, then they will continue in His grace. The brothers there are definitely growing in their love for the truth and for one another, and that is very encouraging to see.

Here are some miniature snapshots I took from my little cheepie keychain camera I bought at CVS downtown (the thing is a little larger than my thumb!):


This morning we met to pray in the park and the fire men (and woman) were making a rainbow in the river.







PPG - one of the many buildings downtown where I used to sell coffee.








I guess this would have been on Smithfield Street.







Smithfield and Forbes, across the street from McDonalds (where all the 'Riff, Raff' meet).








"God's grace is free... the Post Gazette is a dollar!" That's our Newspaper friend's stand on the corner.





Same corner... yesterday I saw an ATM robber get jumped by the police right behind me here. It looked like the undercover cops set the guy up. I noticed two large men scuffling about ten feet behind me, the XL man grabbed the robber and held him firmly in a headlock. A very big uniformed cop ran across the street and pulled out his cuffs, then the skinny young lady who appeared to be the one being robbed snapped the cuffs around the guy's wrists and they hauled him off to the county jail. We were praying for them as it was happening. People were staring at me amazed and asking, "What just happened?" I replied, "What are you gonna' say when you stand before the judge?..." and just smiled... They were walking away with the same amazed look on their faces. :)








I crossed this bridge on foot every day for a year and a half.














I'm praying for all the precious souls in this city. Oh, that God would save some today!

































The clouds on my trip home were pretty impressive. This is in the middle of Pennsylvania.




















I was thinking, "Jesus could come back at any moment." He is coming... and Romans chapter eight playing in the car was like water to my thirsty soul.

Grace Abounding to Pittsburgh

[This is where I will be for the weekend]

Please feel free to check out all the great resources and links on my previous post and on my blogs. This is "grace abounding" from Gap to Pittsburgh.
~ Penn

Believing by grace:
And when he [Apollos] wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
(Acts 18:27-28 ESV).

Trustworthy Sayings

Here are some faithful and trustworthy sayings to ponder this weekend:

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:15-17 ESV).

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time." (1 Timothy 2:1-6 ESV).

"For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken...
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah...
Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work."
(Excerpts from Psalm 62 ESV).

"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:4-9 ESV).

"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:37-40 ESV).

"Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
“The Lord will surely separate me from his people”;
and let not the eunuch say,
“Behold, I am a dry tree.”
For thus says the Lord:
“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose the things that please me
and hold fast my covenant,
I will give in my house and within my walls
a monument and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that shall not be cut off.
“And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,
and holds fast my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.”
(Isaiah 56:3,6-7 ESV).

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules." (Ezekiel 36:25-27 ESV).

(This is adapted from an entry in my journal dating 10/17/05. A typical journal entry for me, simply copying verses down to be read again in the future :)

Grace and peace with love in the Lord Jesus our Savior.