Lift Up Your Eyes

Yesterday I was talking to the pharmacist at Wal-Mart. She said, "Your insurance called and said you all need a 6 month supply of Andrew's eye drops because you are leaving the country this month." I said, "yes" and then she asked where we were going. I told her Cameroon, and she asked how long we would be visiting. I told her that is where we live. That is where Drew and his siblings grew up. I told her we have lived there more than 13 years. She just stood there with her mouth open. I am glad nobody was in line behind me and her assistant was just wrapping up with another customer. I briefly told them Drew's story and gave them each one of Drew's Gospel tracts. They were both thankful and promised to read them. As we walked away, Drew and I looked back and saw them both standing there reading their tract. "...Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." ~Jesus (John 4:35-36)

"Lord, help me."

You just never know what the person you rub shoulders with is going through... Sometimes on Wednesday nights (if we are in Chattanooga), Becca and I plan a date night after church. We come home, we spend time together as a family in prayer and Bible reading, and then we send the kids to bed. I run out for a pizza from our favorite local pizza joint, and Becca and I spend the rest of the evening hanging out. I recently gave Mark, the manager, one of Drew' Gospel tracts. When I entered his store last night, the cooks were leaving and the assistant was stacking chairs and sweeping the place out. Mark handed me my pizza and said, "I read your son's story, and was deeply touched. I needed that, Mr. Ben. Thank you for sharing that." He went on to open up his heart. He shared some of his struggles, desires, and life issues. As my pizza cooled and the store closed, Mark and I discussed life, the Bible, and the answers found in Jesus Christ. Mark assured me that he was a believer, but admitted that he was not where he wanted to be spiritually. I asked Mark if I could pray for him, his wife and his 2 children. He looked surprised, but immediately said, "sure." Right there, on either side of the counter, Mark and I entered the throne room of heaven and worshiped the Lord like the Canaanite women I read about this morning in Matthew 15:25 who said, "Lord, help me." With emotion brimming in his eyes, Mark and I shook hands, and I headed home. I don't know what God has planned, but I am looking forward to following up with Mark when possible. I share this story to encourage you to keep your eyes lifted up today. Lift up your eyes on high (Isaiah 40:26), and then lift up your eyes on the harvest (John 4:35). Every person we meet today needs Christ or could use some encouragement. Share Christ with others today. :) Kingdom first!

If any man will come after me...

I saw in a dream that I was in the Celestial City – though when and how I got there I could not tell. I was one of a great multitude which no man could number, from all countries and peoples and times and ages. Somehow I found that the saint who stood next to me had been in Heaven more than 1,860 years. “Who are you?” I said to him. (We both spoke the same language of heavenly Canaan, so that I understood him and he me.) “I,” said he, “was a Roman Christian; I lived in the days of the Apostle Paul, I was one of those who died in Nero’s persecutions. I was covered with pitch and fastened to a stake and set on fire to light up Nero’s gardens.” “How awful!” I exclaimed. “No,” he said, “I was glad to do something for Jesus. He died on the cross for me.” The man on the other side then spoke: “I have been in Heaven only a few hundred years. I came from an island in the South Seas – Erromanga. John Williams, a missionary, came and told me about Jesus, and I too learned to love Him. My fellow-countrymen killed the missionary, and they caught and bound me. I was beaten until I fainted and they thought I was dead, but I revived. The next day they knocked me on the head, cooked and ate me.” “How terrible!” I said. “No,” he answered, “I was glad to die as a Christian. You see the missionaries had told me that Jesus was scourged and crowned with thorns for me.” Then they both turned to me and said, “What did you suffer for Him? Or did you sell what you had for the money which sent men like John Williams to tell the heathen about Jesus?” And I was speechless. And while they both were looking at me with sorrowful eyes, I awoke, and it was a dream! But I lay on my soft bed awake for hours, thinking of the money I had wasted on my own pleasures; or my extra clothing, and costly car, and many luxuries; and I realized that I did not know what the words of Jesus meant: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). ~Original Source Unknown

William Haslam

You remember when William Haslam, that English clergyman, was converted. He preached with such power that he won every member of his perish to Christ. There was not a person living in the Baldhu section of Cornwall who had not confessed the Lord. Then he became greatly concerned about his neighbors, so he began preaching in adjoining parishes and winning souls there. The other ministers became upset over it, and sent in their objections to the Bishop, saying, "Mr. Haslam is interfering with our work. He is poaching in our parishes, telling our people that they have to be converted and need to be born again." The Bishop sent for William Haslam and said, "I understand you are preaching all the time. You don't seem to be doing anything else." William Haslam replied, "My lord bishop, I assure you I preach only two seasons of the year." "Oh," said the Bishop, "I am glad to know that. And what seasons are they?" "In season and out of season," replied William Haslam. That is the charge that comes to everyone of us if we really know Christ. It is not just for official proclaiming of the Word, not just for pastors and elders, but for all Christians. Let us be instant in season and out of season in winning precious souls to the Lord Jesus Christ. ~H.A. Ironside in his commentary on 1 Timothy through Philemon, page 160.

Dr. Champlin's Anniversary in Heaven

One year ago today, I learned of the home going of a man of God who probably impacted my life more than any other when it came to the development of my philosophy and passion for missions. This man's life and ministry influenced many people on three different continents. Dr Darrell Chaplin was not just a college professor, he was a mentor, a counselor, and a friend. I will never forget his messages and stories of walking on hot coals and of converted witch doctors who impacted their nation. However, my all time fondest memory was during my senior year. I don't remember the date, but I do remember coming under tremendous conviction of sin in my life during a Wednesday evening service. Normally midweek services were pretty informal, but after this message I went down on my knees in my pew and confessed my wicked pride. I was broken in a unique way. After some time I stood up and realized I was not the only one on my knees. Individuals and pairs of students were scattered all over the white chapel. There was no music, most people had long since gone. There was simply a work of God in hearts, and the only thing that could be heard was soft sobs and whispered prayers. I can remember making my way outside and thinking about all I had to do for class the next day, and how I was supposed to preach for the student body chapel. I prayerfully walked back to my room and told a friend what God was doing. A few of us gathered for more prayer. By this time, I had no thought of class work or assignments, I only wanted Christ and His presence. I don't remember who first suggested it, but we decided to ask Dr. Champlin (who stayed with his wife in the men's dorm) if he would like to join us in prayer. He was probably ready for bed, but he was so encouraging and immediately invited us in for a time of prayer. We all prayed around, and I remember getting up from my knees wishing it was not time for lights out, but that we could spend the entire night at the throne of grace. The next morning I became nervous about what to preach in chapel. As I was preparing for the day, a fellow student rushed to my room and said that Dr. Champlain was calling for me. I immediately went to his apartment. He was so encouraging and I was so humbled to learn that he had been praying for me. He shared the attached outline with me in that meeting - on what was then a bright red piece of paper. He told me that he had been reading in Nehemiah for his devotions that morning, and that he was impressed with the revival principles within the text. He had written them down and wanted me to have them. I did not end up preaching that day. In fact, I spent the entire chapel in the weight room praying while someone else led the chapel service. I will never forget the lessons I learned during that little touch of revival. Lessons about brokenness over sin and the parallel joys of pure and perfect communion with Christ will remain with me forever. I have kept Dr. Champlin's outline from his morning devotions of "Revival Principles" with me all these years. It is a treasure to me of a man who took time to pray, to encourage, and to be a tremendous example of a spirit filled missionary to a simple student like me. Perhaps there are others reading this post who knew Dr. Champlin. What memories do you have of him and his wife Louise? Please post memories below if you would.

Five Qualifications for President

The morning after Ted Cruz suspended his campaign for president, I posted a silly comment about how I would not be supporting the candidate who financially supported Hillary Clinton's campaigns for Senator and President no fewer than 7 times. I naively assumed that most of my Christian friends would feel the same way. I assumed wrong. I was genuinely dumbfounded to begin reading about friends immediately throwing their support and vote behind Donald J. Trump. Some of these new supporters had previously and publically been in the #nevertrump camp. Now they were trying to morally, and rationally justify their support for a man they admitted was "wicked," "immoral," "proud," and other less than reputable descriptions. I was truly surprised by how many conservative Christians shifted their support from one who they considered to be "the best choice" to one they referred to as "the best chance" overnight - and openly admitted it.

Since my opinion was already public, and since I have tried to leave some thought provoking comments and memes from time to time on facebook feeds, people started trying to explain to me that I did not "fully understand what is at stake this election." Some of the most common arguments begin with, "nobody's perfect," or "we're not voting for a pastor." Some have even stated that "too much is at stake to vote for the best candidate this election." Finally, someone asked, "Do you have a biblical reason for voting for the person you are planning to vote for?" I believe this question hits the nail on the head. I believe that everything we do should be based on Scripture - even our vote.

When a Baptist church (or any congregationally ruled church) selects or ordains a pastor, the Bible gives that church a list of specific qualifications that must be true of the candidate or he is not a biblically qualified candidate. When a person is looking for a spouse, the Bible gives certain qualifications and qualities that must be present before someone can be considered for marriage. While the Bible gives lots of examples of good and bad leaders, it does not gives a list of biblical requirements when voting for heads of state...or does it?

By the end of George W. Bush's second term, I began to think through and personally create my own list of non-negotiable presidential qualifications. I admit that some of the following are preference, but some are strictly biblical qualities of a leader that must be present if God is to empower and use that leader with grace and wisdom. The following is the list I mentally developed about 8 years ago. I have not supported a party since. I am presently registered as an independent. I have voted based on principle and the character of the individual candidates, rather than a party since 2008.

Considering the following five biblical and personal qualifications, I will probably not be voting for either of the current candidates proposed by the Republican or Democratic parties.

1. HE MUST BE A MAN. God ordained three human institutions, and God designed men to lead them all. According to the Scriptures, a man should be the head of the home (Eph 5:22-24). A man should be head of state (1 Cor 11:3; I Tim 2:12-14). A man should be the "bishop" or overseer of Christ's church (1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9). Male leadership is God's ideal, and has been since creation. The desire of women to rule over men is a direct result of the fall (Gen 3:16). By the way, The constitution does not contain the word "she." It's signers clearly intended for our country to be lead by men. Consider this quote from the U.S. Constitution: "The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows..." I cannot vote for a Clinton or a Palin because I do not believe they meet the biblical or constitutional qualifications to be president.

2. HE MUST BE A MAN OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY (Prov 12:22; 19:1; Matt 5:37; Phil 4:8-9). I do not believe that either Clinton or Trump have proven themselves to be honest or people of consistent integrity.

3. HE MUST BE A MAN OF HUMILITY. The Bible clearly states that God hates pride (Prov 6:16). God resists proud people and only gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Trump is literally the proudest man I have ever known. In his acceptance speech of the Republican nomination, he actually said, "Nobody knows the system better than me. Which is why I alone can fix it." Really? Trump sincerely believes that he is the ONLY man on earth who ALONE can make America great. My Bible says that God hates and resists the proud. I am not looking for a pastor to run the country, but I also cannot accept a man who brags that he has never asked God to forgive him for anything either. People often present wicked leaders from the Bible as examples of how God can use anyone. However, these people miss the truth that God only uses humble, righteous leaders to bless his people, while God uses proud, wicked leaders to bring chastening upon his people (Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Jeroboam, etc.). David was a murderer and an adulterer. This is true, but he was also a humble, repentant man after God's own heart. Someone could reasonably argue that David was "more evil" than his predecessor, Saul. The difference was not the number or severity of their sins, but rather their responses to their sin. God did not reject Saul because he was a sinner, God rejected Saul because he was a proud sinner! I have never seen an ounce of humility in either of the mainstream candidates. Time and again, the current candidates have made significant errors or flat out lied and they refuse to humbly apologize or admit fault. I do not reject them for being sinners, all candidates are sinners, I reject them both for being proud, arrogant sinners. I cannot biblically vote for either Clinton or Trump because neither of them are humble, and God only gives grace (-the gift of God's supernatural enablement to do His will) to humble people - period. Read that sentence again. God only gives grace to humble people. A vote for Clinton or Trump is a vote for the chastening of America at best.

4. HE MUST BE A SACRIFICIAL PATRIOT WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTION. This is obviously not a biblical point, but one that I personally require when considering a candidate. I think the best commander in chief is one who has served his country in the military. I do not require military service, but I think veterans make the best presidents. There are other ways to prove your sacrificial love, and consistent defense of the constitution. Clinton has proven her wanton disregard for the constitution and the military time and again. When asked what he has sacrificed for his country, Trump replied "I think I've made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard." Based on his answers (and George Stephanopoulos asked him 3 times), it is quite evident that Donald Trump does not even comprehend the concept of sacrifice. Making lots of money by working hard, employing thousands of people and building big buildings for profit has nothing to do with sacrifice. Trump too has already made comments about executive orders that lead me to believe he has possibly never read the U.S. Constitution. He recently stated that he doesn't have "time to read," so betting he has never read our nation's founding document is probably a pretty safe bet.

5. HE MUST BE A MAN WHO FEARS GOD AND HONORS THE BIBLE. The Bible plainly states that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Pro 9:10). I want a wise president. If the fear of the Lord is the foundation and beginning of wisdom, then a president CANNOT begin to lead a country with wisdom unless he fears God and honors His written revelation to man - the Bible. I do not require that my presidential choice be a born again child of God. I do not believe Washington or Lincoln were born again believers, but I do expect, based on the clear statements in both the Old and New Testaments, that wise leaders MUST fear God and honor His Word (like Washington, Lincoln, Reagan, etc. did). The reason our country has shifted to a position of honoring immorality and condemning the unborn to nothing but a "choice" is not because we have had a democrat in the white house or liberals in the supreme court, but rather because we have leaders running our country who believe God is a fairy tale and humans are nothing more than evolved animals. I cannot vote for a woman who states that "unborn people do not have constitutional rights," and neither can I vote for a man who indicates that his favorite Bible verse is "An eye for an eye." Trump is the first republican presidential candidate to promise to protect the LGBTQ community but not even mention the unborn in his acceptance speech - let alone promise to protect them. Neither Clinton nor Trump fear God or honor His Word.

For me to vote for either of the big, two party candidates as they stand today would be a direct violation of my faith and conscience - as formed by my understanding of the Word of God. Such a violation would be sin for me (Rom 14:23), and I will not do it.

With these mostly biblical prerequisites in a candidate, I end up voting based on two biblical mandates. First, my vote must glorify God (1 Cor 10:31). Second, my vote must promote salt and light (Matt 5:13-14). Notice I did not say "protect" salt and light. I will not vote for a candidate who might select conservative judges - that is not a biblical mandate. I will not vote for a candidate who is less of a disaster than another candidate might be - that is not a biblical reason either. I will vote for a humble man who desires to glorify God with his life, and will lead our nation by grace and wisdom. I do not vote for the "best chance," I vote as a salt and light in a sin darkened world. If my vote, like my testimony, ends up being a small percentage of the U.S. population, I will not be surprised. Christ promised that true disciples will be the minority. I do not consider my life to be a waste simply because it is a minority in this world, and neither is my vote. I will simply continue to serve my Lord and Master as a Spirit-filled salt and light in all venues and all opportunities of society (including voting). I will keep preaching Christ and making disciples until the next election when I pray more and more salt and light voters will vote for the glory of God rather than the lesser evil of the two, majority choices.

Let me say that I do not condemn a brother in Christ who votes for Clinton or Trump believing that his vote glorifies God and somehow reflects the light of Jesus, but I do have a problem with Christians who do all kinds of rationalistic gymnastics to try and support the idea that Trump really is a man of God. He is not. So, let's all pray for revival, continue to serve the Master, and show deference to all of God's people whether they vote or not. To be honest, I am not fully convinced that Jesus would vote at all. He seemed pretty focused on His kingdom, rather than the kingdoms of this world (John 18:39; Luke 4:5-8).

We Can Have Revival Now!

With all the recent talk about "The end of America as we know it." I was greatly challenged and encouraged by this quote from a book I was reading last night: "When Wesley would preach he was often assaulted physically just for preaching the gospel. Mobs were raised again and again against him and his fellow preachers. Occasionally a Methodist meeting house would be utterly destroyed and the officers often favored the culprits. England was as unlikely a place for a great revival as one could imagine. The Puritan revival had been suppressed with great violence. Independent-minded and Bible-believing preachers were everywhere abused, jailed, run out of the country, or their property confiscated. England was hardly civilized, utterly foreign to what we now know as England. Yet God breathed upon John and Charles Wesley, on Whitefield and the preachers whom God raised up with them, and a mighty revival transformed England. Besides leading to the salvation of millions of souls the Wesleyan revival indirectly started a Sunday school movement, caused prison reforms, stopped the slave trade, caused immense reforms in government, and largely created what we know as traditional English character, justice and society. The unbelief, the lewdness, the immorality and dishonesty among the people and among church and government leaders when the Wesleyan revival began were far more discouraging than is true in America today. In view of the mighty revival God gave in Wesley's day,  his foolish and faithless to believe that God could not now stir America and England and anywhere else in the world where men shake God and pay God's price for revival, as mightily as He did in Wesley's day. The problem is not with the hardness of world conditions and wicked hearts. The trouble is with the laborers. 'The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few.'" ~John R. Rice

Rice also writes that four infinite resources of God make revival always possible. 1. The infinite grace of God 2. The infinite power of the Word of God 3. The infinite, miracle-working power of the Spirit of God and 4. The power of persistent, prevailing, brokenhearted, believing prayer. He states, "When a group takes full advantage of these resources available, they cannot avoid revival." (We Can Have Revival Now! page 104)