ORDINATION- My Testimony

This post is a little more personal than most. On Sunday June 1st I will be ordained as a minister of the gospel. This will be one of those significant milestones in my life. In thinking back on my life I just wanted to share briefly one of the other milestones. A place that was a significant marker of God's work. Isn't it funny how we remember certain things so well and yet others that may even be important events we can barely recall. What do I mean? Well I can't remember the exact time or circumstance surrounding the moment that I recognized that I was a sinner and that sin meant I was spiritually dead , without life. And in realizing my condition, recognizing Jesus to be the savior that I needed who offered life to me and therefore surrendering my life to Him. I can remember though a very clear yet quiet thought that God put in my heart sometime as a teenager. Pastor Ted Paintor said to me one day at his house "Eric you are so smart you will be an engineer or something one day." I was so encouraged by that comment but I remember thinking "No one day I am going to be a pastor"! I had no idea what it meant to be called by God at that time. I also didn't know where that thought came from at the time. I literally would take a zero on an oral book report rather than stand in front of anyone and speak. I never even shared it with anyone until I was 19 years old. Well I would love to say that I answered that call and walked with God in all that He was doing, went off to school and became a pastor and lived happily ever after. That was not true of me. Though I never forgot that thought in my heart, I spent most of my teen years living in rebellion to God. That rebellion cost me a lot of difficulty and pain. Things that even to this day I have to face because of decisions made then. I know God's incredible forgiveness and have been walking with Him for 16 or so years now, yet some things have lasting consequences. With all of that being said here I am 2 days before my ordination having already taken a position as a full time pastor. Well it is obvious that it was not my own human will, determination, and ingenuity that got me to this place. It is a testimony to a sovereign God who birthed that call in my heart and even through my disobedience worked in my life through the years to do in and through me exactly what He made me and called me to do. So as I walk through the ordination service there will only be one thought on my mind "Thank you Lord Jesus you are incredibly faithful!"

TRUE CHRISTIANITY!

True Christianity is not a set of principles we are to live by, it is a person who is life!!!

WORK!!!

WORK! Now there is a word for you students to think about this summer! But summer is for rest, relaxation, and fun not work. Well let me say that first actual physical productive work is a positive thing. We are made to work, be producing, and active. It is good for the body and the mind. There are a lot of warnings in scripture about laziness. Let me shift gears a little though and mention work in the spiritual realm. Work is a lot of times misunderstood. Some people have the attitude that they are “working for God”! That is really a misunderstanding about what it means to walk with Christ (though it is used with good intentions). To be a Christian is to walk in what God is doing. We don’t work for God. He is at work in us and through us. On the other hand some people feel like that means they do nothing. They are so afraid of the word work in the spiritual realm that they have decided the best thing to do is to do nothing. After all they would never want to be accused of trying to work their way to heaven. This is an improper understanding of what it means to walk with Christ also. So what am I to do then? What is the work I should be doing? In John 6 Jesus had a dialogue with some folks who had a similar question.

"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." John 6:27-29

So what is the work of God that we are to do? Trust Christ. In this passage “believe” is in the aorist tense, which means at a point in time. We are told in Colossians 2:6 that as you have received (by faith) Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk (ongoing- present tense) in Him. The activity in our life is to believe, be persuaded in who Christ is and what Christ is doing in and through us. To walk in Him. SO what is my encouragement to us in that? Well don’t take the summer off. Hopefully you all have something productive in some way to be doing this summer. Look for ways to be active and interacting with people. Serve, give, and work. But most importantly be intentional about your walk with Christ this summer (and every season). Listen for His voice, spend time in His Word, and walk in what He is doing!

Do I Just Follow Christ When It Is Easy?

“Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.”

Philippians 2:29-30

In this passage Epaphroditus is being commended to his fellow believers in Philippi. They are told to receive him and to hold men like him in high regard. Paul goes on to explain what he means by men like him. He says he came close to death. Now it doesn’t say what the particular situation was but it does go on to say that Ephroditus obviously knew he was walking into some danger. It says “risking his life”. In the Greek the word translated risking is parabole which means knowingly placing oneself alongside danger. As I said we aren’t told the details of the situation but whatever it was we are told that to complete their service to Paul, he willingly placed himself in danger. He came close to death in this service to Paul. The Philippians are told to hold men like him in high regard. So what does that say to us? Well we are not often (in our American culture) placed in harms way because of our faith. We are always called to die to self and deny ourselves and follow Christ though. This often places us in a position where to follow Christ means saying no to our own comfort and self promoting desires. We are faced with saying yes to self and our comfort or saying yes to Christ even when it seems to cost us something. Are we willing to follow Christ even when that seems risky? Following Christ often will stretch us but He can always be trusted. Are you walking with Him? What does that look like? Well from our text we can see that the risk was taken to serve and minister to Paul. Are we allowing Christ to lead us into others lives. To minister to the people He has placed around us in a way that may cost us personally? Let’s look beyond ourselves to the people God has placed all around us and let’s serve them as God leads!

Cookout/ End of Year Celebration

Well that was it! The last of the fund-raising. Last night (Wed) the student ministry hosted the last of their fund-raising dinners. We had a cookout for the whole church. I don't in any way enjoy "fund-raising". I do believe that the students learned a lot about serving others by hosting these dinners. The body seemed to really enjoy being served also. It was a win win!!! You students did another great job!

We also used this opportunity to mark the end of the year. We did what students do best- we laughed and enjoyed each other. We also sealed the evening by hurling spherical objects at the strongest possible velocity with the intention of striking another persons anatomy in an effort to remove them from participation in the organized group activity. HUH? We played DODGE BALL!!! Anyway, I love you students and I look forward to those coming up from elementary school to join us. I look forward to those moving from middle to high school. I also look forward to seeing how God works in the lives of those graduating!!!

God's richest blessings found in Christ Jesus to you all!

Graduate Recognition 2008- PSBC

On Sunday May 18th we recognized and honored our graduates in a special service. We had a total of 8 high school graduates that are a part of Poplar Springs in some way. We also acknowledged 3 college graduates. It was a special time to celebrate, acknowledge and encourage these graduates. They received a gift from the student ministry and was challenged and hopefully encouraged by the Word of God! May all of you place your education(past and future) in God's hands along with the whole of your lives!!!




The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7




We had one home school graduate, 2 Ooltewah High graduates, and 5 Ringgold High graduates. They will be headed to West Georgia, Toccoa Falls, UT (go big ORANGE), the military, work. They will be pursuing art, missions, American studies, strategic intelligence, social work, and some desire to raise a big family one day. May you all be lead by Christ and place your life in His hands!!!





We are proud of you all!

Worldview- What is the Starting Point?

How does a theologian and a scientist, or a believer and a non-believer, or even just 2 different individuals look at the same circumstance, body of evidence, or object and come to totally different interpretations and explanations? It has to do with their starting point or worldview. Their set of preconceived ideas and notions. Why do I bring this up? Well I have been thinking a lot about Proverbs 1:7 which says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. What does that mean? Well as I have meditated on that verse it seems to say that true knowledge (what we understand or know about everything/anything) has its beginning in the fear of the Lord. In other words we can not have correct knowledge without beginning with God. The fear of the Lord at its core is realizing God is creator, sustainer, and the purpose behind all of existence. When you start there you can then accurately interpret the world. Faith is not irrational and neither is scientific conclusions apart from God in one sense. It all has to do with the purpose you see in our universe. The irrational part in science (without God) is trying to explain life itself and therefore the purpose for it. So where are you? Do you have a fear (reverence and awe) of God? Do you view life through His eyes? Today we will be honoring our graduates. They will be entering a world that in a lot of cases doesn’t begin with God. Let’s all pray that they will be strengthened in their faith as their worldview is challenged. Pray that they will be able to stand in the face of opposition (in some cases) as lights in the midst of the world.

Tenth Avenue North concert!

This Wed we attended a Tenth Avenue North concert. We took about 25-30 to Silverdale Baptist. We had a great time. We enjoyed being together, seeing others, the music, and most importantly it was a good opportunity to worship together. When I say worship that takes many forms. On this evening we were lead in songs about God that helped us have the opportunity to express His worth to us in some way. We also were reminded of some great truths about God. His incredible unfailing love for us, that we don't have to try to be good enough for God- He (Jesus) is the only one who can make us good, and a great reminder that our life has to be based on God's truth and not our ever-changing emotions. What a great time. Thanks Tenth Avenue North, Silverdale Baptist and most of all thank you Lord for continually revealing yourself to us! You are truly worthy of worship and praise!

THE SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE!

"We are built for significance. Our problem is not that we search for it, but that we search for it in all the wrong places." That is the opening line of a book that I am reading. I haven't gotten very far into the book since it was just given to me on Sunday, but I think it is laying out a very real problem that is at the heart of who we are. Even that opening line has a lot to say. It is not a problem that we search for significance. I mean the reality is we are made in God's image, we are made to have a relationship with God Himself, we are made to live eternally, in creation humanity seems to be the pinnacle of all that God created, the very Son of God (God in flesh) suffered and died to buy our forgiveness. Those are all significant truths about who we are and what we are made for. As that opening line goes on to say the problem is that as broken, fallen humanity we try to regain our significance in all the wrong ways. The first chapter lays out all the areas of life that is ultimately effected negatively by this pursuit of significance. It effects 1. Our Personhood- I respond to people and behave the way I do ultimately because of my protection of my significance. Think about it when someone wrongs or hurts us why do we react so strongly? Because in some way we are being told by their treatment of us that we are not significant. Or at least not as significant as them. Therefore we have the need to defend ourselves. 2. Our Relationships- every relationship we have(friendships, dates, family,etc) is effected by this desire for significance. We have a tendency to look at others for what we can get from them. This is a direct result of our need for significance. We need others to make us feel significant. This is a devastating and unrealistic demand we put on the people in our lives. 3. Our Culture- so many of our cultural issues can be traced back to this need for significance. Prejudice, arrogance and pride, violence, wars, politics all have their roots in a need to feel superior or significant in some way. So what is the answer? Well I think it is what the New Testament means when it talks about dying to self. In other words I don't live life trying to make myself significant. I die to self and allow Christ to restore me to the proper place of significance. How does that effect these three areas? Well if I understand who I am in Christ and the security that comes from Him, then I am not always threatened by others or the circumstances I face. I mean my significance found in Christ is something that no one can take away or add to. It is unconditional so I don't have to "earn" it. In relationships instead of looking to others to serve or give to me in some way, I can now look at others and serve and give to them. Instead of taking I can give! The effect on our culture is obvious at this point. We would have no need to build self up, tear others down, oppress, or rule. We could truly do what is right and best for others. So where do you stand? Are you still searching for significance or are you at rest in who you are in Christ? Check out Philippians chapter 3 and see if you notice where Paul did look for significance and then ultimately where he found his significance. It is amazing (though not surprising) how accurately and directly the scriptures address every issue of life if we will listen.

WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?

I have been struck with that thought recently. Why do you do what you do? Maybe it is the end of another school year and graduation for several of you that has made me think about that so much. The reason it has come up is as I have been praying for and thinking about you students, especially the graduates (including one of my daughters), I have been wondering what the road ahead may hold for you all. As you graduate high school you are entering a new stage of life. It is a very exciting stage, and a very different one. You are leaving behind a stage of life called childhood. In a lot of ways it is the first time you have had to begin to make important decisions on your own. For many they are prepared for this. For many others they seem not to be. What is the difference? Well I think it has to do with the question we asked in the title of this post, "Why do you do what you do?" For the first time in a lot of students life they realize that the reason they do what they do is because of parents, or teachers, or family, or a particular peer group, even a youth group. All of those things may be beneficial protections in our lives, but what happens when they are gone. If you don't have an inner set of values, convictions, and standards that guide your decision making process you can find yourself in places and circumstances that you would never have imagined. What I mean is if you are only controlled by the exterior structures placed around you and then upon graduation and going off to college you find those boundaries removed you can end up not knowing who you are. I think that is what Paul may be referring to in Philippians 2:12:
"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;"
Paul's reference to obeying much more in his absence is reminding the Philippian' believers that it is not Paul who is their motivation for obedience. In other words Paul says don't do what you do because of me. Do it in light of God's salvation being worked out in your life. As he goes on to say it is God who is at work (continually) in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure. So what does that mean for you students? Well, why do you do what you do? Is it because you belong to Christ? Does it come out of the reality of who you are in Him? Do you have a faith of your own? Does the Lord Jesus Christ live within you and does the fact that you are His child energize your every decision? When you are left to your own decisions are you being led by Christ? Let me encourage us all to give that some thought!

What is Your Treasure?

The following is taken from a journal entry by Mike the lead singer of Tenth Avenue North. I really enjoyed reading it. They are the ones we will see in concert on Wed May 14th at Silverdale Baptist. Check them and their music out on the web after you read this. www.tenthavenuenorth.com

03/26/08

Precious

So,
I’m assuming that most of you reading this are at least familiar withthe Lord of the Rings trilogy, written by J.R.R Tolkien, and just recently, adapted to film under the direction of Peter Jackson? Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. Frodo, rings, elves, trolls, wizards, wars, and of course....Smeagol. Yes, Smeagol. That little river hobbit gone bad. The little half-naked creature fighting within himself, in continual conquest for a little shiny piece of gold, affectionately named, "the precious."
To quote wikipedia, "Originally known as Sméagol, Sméagol was later named Gollum after the guttural, choking, coughing noise he made in his throat. His life was extended far beyond its natural limits by the effects of possessing the One Ring. His one desire was to possess the Ring which had enslaved him. He pursued the ring for 76 years after having lost it to Bilbo Baggins. During his centuries under the Ring’s influence, he developed a sort of split personality: "Sméagol" still vaguely remembered things like friendship and love, while "Gollum" was a slave to the Ring and would kill anyone who tried to take it.
Does this ring a bell for you now? Excellent.
Well, before I go on, let me just remind the reader that I possess a close personal affinity for this little guy, mostly due to the fact that I like to impersonate him on occasion, but also, because I know how he feels. Now, by that I don’t mean that I know how it feels to have all my goodness and love corroded away by the influence of an ancient, all-powerful ring, but I definitely know how it feels to be ruled by desires. And perhaps a bit more specifically, to be ruled by those desires which explicitly mean to rob me of joy and ultimately kill me.
Smeagol was led away, enticed, and finally destroyed by his obsession with a chunk of metal, and sadly, I don’t think that I’m all too different sometimes. Granted, I’m not big into mythological jewelry, but I am very very much into, (as I John 2:16 puts it) "all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life..." I don’t strip down to a loin cloth and and spend all my time caressing a ring in a cave, but I do spend plenty of time casting off self-restraint and stroking my own ego. So what? What’s the point, Mike? Why all this talk of Lord of the Rings and the striking similarities between you and a cgi character? Well, the point is this:
"the worth and excellency of a soul is measured by the objects of its love."
-Henry Scougal
In other words, we are a form of what we love. Hence, Smeagol, captivated by the ring that was designed to rule and lord over all mankind, was himself captured and enslaved to it. Neglecting even his most simple needs to serve and admire the ring. He worshipped it, and it ruled over him. The ring was precious to him...literally.
So this begs the question, what then is precious to you? For if Gollum here is any indication, you will inevitably become whatever you hold most dear. You will most closely resemble that which you find value in. Whatever you love, that is what you will come to be. And that of course, is quite alarming. At least, it is for me. Because as I have said before, I am much like him. This world is a magnet after all, pulling and drawing me to all that it has to offer, shining, sparkling, enslaving... and it’s no easy feat to break that gravitational pull. Think on the mental and physical strain that Frodo underwent to finally dispatch of the ring? Now imagine if the ring was himself? Or, for Smeagol, it really was himself, to the point of creating another self altogether. Hmm, sounds like something I’ve read before,

"So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members
another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to
the law of sin that dwells in my members." (Romans 7:21-23)

So what do we do? How do we find escape from this world, this self, these rings of death that
promise peace, pride, and prosperity? Well, I’m not an expert, but I guess there’s only one thing we can do. We find something better. Someone better. Toss the ring in the lava and lift our eyes to more lofty shores, to life, to truth, to the true treasure. To Him who is "Precious," because
"to those who believe, the stone is precious." (I Peter 2:7)

Is He then? Is He precious? I have to ask myself that everyday. Do I fail? Yes. Do I still get tricked by my little rings of self and lust and fear? Yes. But do I delight in the law of God in my inner being? Am I still fighting? Am I still wrestling? Is He still precious? Oh, while we continue to battle these deceitful desires, may we not give up. May we keep heading toward Mt. Doom, toward the freedom that awaits us in the end. Let us keep on fighting, until all we desire is Him.
And of course, then, and only then, will be made to be just like Him.

"We are forms of all the things we love." -Jars of Clay

The Wisdom of Fools!!!

As you know as students we have been looking at the book of Proverbs on Wed nights. Proverbs is a book of wisdom. It is not a deep theological book. Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings that are helpful as general principles. The main theme of Proverbs is that the fear(appropriate, reverent, respect) of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (1:7). 2 places in the Psalms says that a fool has said in their heart there is no God. This lays out the 2 foundations of life that determines whether the Bible would call you wise or foolish. One is a God-centered view and the other ultimately is a self-centered view. This past Wed we looked at the characteristics of a fool as the Bible defines it. There were several principles about a fool that are important to note. First a fool has said there is no God. They live life without a big picture or an ultimate purpose. We also saw that a fool trusts only himself and his own wisdom. They don't want or accept advice from others. We also saw that fools live life carelessly. They tend to rush ahead without thinking about the consequences. We also saw that a fool doesn't learn from their mistakes. They continue to do the same things over and over, even if it is destroying them. The reason I highlight these things again here is that I think it speaks to the teenage culture very directly. Don't pass this off as this is talking about the fool at school. Ask yourself how you live life. Is life defined for you by the fear of the Lord? I mean do you live in light of the fact that He is the giver and taker of life, that He holds eternity in His hands, and that He is the supreme ruler and very purpose behind all that exists. In making decisions do you seek the wisdom of others and God's Word or do you just do what you think best? Do you live purposely or do you just go with the crowd. Do you learn from mistakes and the failures of others? Do you receive correction and discipline and grow from it? These are all good evaluation questions. Are you living a life marked by wisdom or foolishness?