Acts 25:11
If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them."
Paul was not trying to merely avoid being martyred. He was simply pointing out which argument he was having. Sometimes we rush to defend ourselves against things our adversaries are not even accusing us of currently. Paul was more than willing to die for the sake of Christ when and if it conflicted with the rules of Rome. However, he was not eager to rush the process without actual violation. The matter at hand was not treason to Caesar, but infraction of Jewish law. With regard to this case, Paul confirmed he was not in opposition to Jewish teaching, but actually more in keeping with it as a believer of Moses' prophecies fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Had the matter been moved to monarchy and who was ultimately under whose authority, Paul certainly would have opposed Caesar and proclaimed that there is no earthly authority that is absolute, all are under the authority of Jesus.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Friday, August 30, 2019
day no. 14,921: go... fight... win!!!
1 Timothy 6:11-12
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
"If you decide to fight, you must also decide to win"
If you determine that something is serious enough to fight about, then you must also determine to be serious about winning the fight. There is no point in fighting if you aren't attempting to win. If winning isn't important, then it isn't worth fighting over.
Matthew 5:43-45a
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven."
"We love our enemies by opposing them"
We do not love our enemies by agreeing with their falsehoods. We do not love them by allowing them to win. We love them by opposing them to their faces, treating our differences with integrity and fighting them tooth and nail over what we hold most dear. You do not love them by allowing them to believe our differences don't matter. You don't love them well by leading them to believe that our beliefs are not worth fighting for. You do not love them by letting them think their persecution is God's preference.
In order to fight the good fight and to love our enemies, we must be willing to fight when necessary and willing to win whenever we throw down.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
"If you decide to fight, you must also decide to win"
If you determine that something is serious enough to fight about, then you must also determine to be serious about winning the fight. There is no point in fighting if you aren't attempting to win. If winning isn't important, then it isn't worth fighting over.
Matthew 5:43-45a
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven."
"We love our enemies by opposing them"
We do not love our enemies by agreeing with their falsehoods. We do not love them by allowing them to win. We love them by opposing them to their faces, treating our differences with integrity and fighting them tooth and nail over what we hold most dear. You do not love them by allowing them to believe our differences don't matter. You don't love them well by leading them to believe that our beliefs are not worth fighting for. You do not love them by letting them think their persecution is God's preference.
In order to fight the good fight and to love our enemies, we must be willing to fight when necessary and willing to win whenever we throw down.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
day no. 14,920: lolo is 6 yo!
Laurelai Rush Van Voorst, today you are 6 years old!!!
You are such a joy. You are tiny and feisty, full of life and the life of the party. You come out every morning while I am reading my Bible and my devotionals and ask me, "You know what to do, right" Which is my hint to respond and say, "Yes, I will come and get you before I leave for work and let you lock the door behind me and wave and say, "bye hello kitty to you and bye hello cat to Rocco." This confirmation received, you go back to your bedroom to play and to await my departure so that you can partake in your usual morning time routine.
At night, you always want to sit on my lap after Story Club while we watch something short as a family before bed. You always want piggy back rides up the stairs and once tucked in after praying and singing you regularly come out to inform me and your mom that, "going to sleep is hard."
You love praying and singing with Callista when she is put to bed and are distraught if you miss an opportunity to see her off to bed.
You regularly pray for everyone in the world to come to know Jesus, for all the women in the world to act like women and all the men in the world to act like men. You pray for Josiah and Meghan Blansett to get pregnant faithfully each and every night. You love to pray and take every opportunity available to pray to God on behalf of others.
You still spend a good portion of your day on the toilet. You love just hanging out on the toilet, taking your time to go the bathroom and wash your hands afterwards. You can make a regular potty break last an hour if allowed to. You dally with meals and are often the last one at the table, the last one to finish your food, the last one to get treat and the last one to brush your teeth. You are in no hurry to get those kind of things done. :)
You have princess hair and love having it done after baths. You are a sweet girl and I love you with all my heart. I love being your dad.
Happy sixth birthday lil' lady. I am so excited to continue to know you as you grow up. You are a blessing to our family and I am grateful that God chose us for each other.
You are such a joy. You are tiny and feisty, full of life and the life of the party. You come out every morning while I am reading my Bible and my devotionals and ask me, "You know what to do, right" Which is my hint to respond and say, "Yes, I will come and get you before I leave for work and let you lock the door behind me and wave and say, "bye hello kitty to you and bye hello cat to Rocco." This confirmation received, you go back to your bedroom to play and to await my departure so that you can partake in your usual morning time routine.
At night, you always want to sit on my lap after Story Club while we watch something short as a family before bed. You always want piggy back rides up the stairs and once tucked in after praying and singing you regularly come out to inform me and your mom that, "going to sleep is hard."
You love praying and singing with Callista when she is put to bed and are distraught if you miss an opportunity to see her off to bed.
You regularly pray for everyone in the world to come to know Jesus, for all the women in the world to act like women and all the men in the world to act like men. You pray for Josiah and Meghan Blansett to get pregnant faithfully each and every night. You love to pray and take every opportunity available to pray to God on behalf of others.
You still spend a good portion of your day on the toilet. You love just hanging out on the toilet, taking your time to go the bathroom and wash your hands afterwards. You can make a regular potty break last an hour if allowed to. You dally with meals and are often the last one at the table, the last one to finish your food, the last one to get treat and the last one to brush your teeth. You are in no hurry to get those kind of things done. :)
You have princess hair and love having it done after baths. You are a sweet girl and I love you with all my heart. I love being your dad.
Happy sixth birthday lil' lady. I am so excited to continue to know you as you grow up. You are a blessing to our family and I am grateful that God chose us for each other.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
day no. 14,919: weather or not
External stimuli like weather can affect our moods and attitudes. A long enough stretch of harsh weather can lend itself to a harsh attitude.
And while these factors certainly must be considered, it must also be considered that a person is not forced to have a harsh attitude. It is an option. It is even an understandable one, but it isn't an inevitable, deterministic one as though you had no other choice than to be grouchy because it was too cold, too hot, you were too hungry, too tired, too stressed, etc...
We are not simply responses to stimuli. We are persons made in the image of God and we are not the sum total of our environmental factors.
The Apostle Paul said it specifically as,
Philippians 4:12-13
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Stephen Covey said it more generically as,
"Proactive people can carry their own weather with them."
"The ability to subordinate an impulse to a value is the essence of a proactive person"
And while these factors certainly must be considered, it must also be considered that a person is not forced to have a harsh attitude. It is an option. It is even an understandable one, but it isn't an inevitable, deterministic one as though you had no other choice than to be grouchy because it was too cold, too hot, you were too hungry, too tired, too stressed, etc...
We are not simply responses to stimuli. We are persons made in the image of God and we are not the sum total of our environmental factors.
The Apostle Paul said it specifically as,
Philippians 4:12-13
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Stephen Covey said it more generically as,
"Proactive people can carry their own weather with them."
When you have something inside you, driving the way you interpret the world around you, your filter becomes the weather. You can look at cloudy skies with smiling eyes. You can acknowledge the rain and the clouds without being depressed by their looming darkness. You do not have to pretend that they aren't dark and that sunshine isn't more preferable, but you don't have to be utterly tossed about by the jet stream.
Covey again said it this way,
"The ability to subordinate an impulse to a value is the essence of a proactive person"
There is no denying that some external stimuli lend themselves more likely to joyful attitudes, like sunshine...
Ecclesiastes 11:7
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
But there is no denying that God sends His rain on the just and the unjust alike and whether the weather is sunny or overcast, the light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
day no. 14,918: preaching and teaching Jesus from reasoning
Acts 24:24-25
After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed
Paul preached to Felix about three things:
1) righteousness
2) self-control
3) coming judgment
There are two things we all know:
1) there really is a right and wrong
2) we have done wrong
For example, we all know that lying is wrong and yet we all must admit we have lied.
We all subscribe to the idea that righteousness is required to be accepted by God. But we know we do not meet the standard of righteousness required. So we make the grade a bell curve instead of a pass/fail. Righteousness proper demands 100% adherence. Righteousness popular demands you land somewhere on the plus side of 50%. As long as you are better than most, you will be approved of by God who knows you tried your best and that perfection was out of your reach.
We all know that there are parts of ourselves at war with what you hold as ideal. In order to live according to our ideals, we must have self-control. There will come a time where we are tempted to lie if we hold the truth as an ideal. There will come a time where we are tempted to cheat if we hold integrity and fidelity as an ideal. There is something in us that wants to do the opposite of what we want. We have conflicting desires which require us be self-controlled and say, "No," when we want to say, "Yes," and to say, "Yes," when we want to say, "No." If we do not, we will do things that war against our priorities and ideals.
We all know that judgment is coming for what we have done. We know the things we approve of and pursue and the things we despise and disapprove of will be weighed on the scales of God's justice. We know there is a future vindication for someone coming and we do our best to convince ourselves that our causes and failures will be justified and that our enemies' will not.
Paul appealed to standards, procedures and evaluations in sharing the Good News of the gift of God in Christ Jesus. We should take notes and share the same message with those God has placed before us.
After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed
Paul preached to Felix about three things:
1) righteousness
2) self-control
3) coming judgment
There are two things we all know:
1) there really is a right and wrong
2) we have done wrong
For example, we all know that lying is wrong and yet we all must admit we have lied.
We all subscribe to the idea that righteousness is required to be accepted by God. But we know we do not meet the standard of righteousness required. So we make the grade a bell curve instead of a pass/fail. Righteousness proper demands 100% adherence. Righteousness popular demands you land somewhere on the plus side of 50%. As long as you are better than most, you will be approved of by God who knows you tried your best and that perfection was out of your reach.
We all know that there are parts of ourselves at war with what you hold as ideal. In order to live according to our ideals, we must have self-control. There will come a time where we are tempted to lie if we hold the truth as an ideal. There will come a time where we are tempted to cheat if we hold integrity and fidelity as an ideal. There is something in us that wants to do the opposite of what we want. We have conflicting desires which require us be self-controlled and say, "No," when we want to say, "Yes," and to say, "Yes," when we want to say, "No." If we do not, we will do things that war against our priorities and ideals.
We all know that judgment is coming for what we have done. We know the things we approve of and pursue and the things we despise and disapprove of will be weighed on the scales of God's justice. We know there is a future vindication for someone coming and we do our best to convince ourselves that our causes and failures will be justified and that our enemies' will not.
Paul appealed to standards, procedures and evaluations in sharing the Good News of the gift of God in Christ Jesus. We should take notes and share the same message with those God has placed before us.
Monday, August 26, 2019
day no. 14,917: my favorite f-bomb
Yesterday (July 7, 2019) I sat next to my son, Finneas Haddon Foxe Van Voorst, at church.
The text that was being preached was
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Finneas is named after Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, who is renowned for his zeal. Paige and I prayed that our son would be full of the same sort of chutzpah for our son, a man who would stand when everyone else was lying down (Psalm 106:30).
As the sermon went along I looked down and saw my son's sermon notes book on the ground in front of him with a large "F" on the front.
It occurred to me that this was very fitting. Finneas is an F-bomb. He is full of zeal and determination. He inserts himself into situations without reservation. He is a future man I am excited to meet. He is my very favorite F-bomb. Few things shake people up like a well-timed, carefully selected F-bomb. It requires discernment. Simply having an "11" does not every situation an "11" make. My primary parenting goal in this season with my son is to thank God for his built in "11" and to teach him to do the same. In addition, I've been teaching Finneas as sense of proportion. When you have an "11," I've observed that you also have a tendency to act like everything is an "11."
During the service, Finneas wrote, "i heart you" on the top of a page and elbowed me to get attention. I wrote back, "eye heart u 2," to which he responded, " i heart u 3"
I love being a dad and having the opportunity to grow in my ability to discover and develop my children for the purposes of deploying them into the service our Great God and Savior.
My aim is to fan their respective flames and send them flying into the darkness for God's glory and the good of whatever neighbors God would place in their path. An arrow does damage, but a flaming arrow does damage while illuminating the darkness.
The text that was being preached was
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Finneas is named after Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, who is renowned for his zeal. Paige and I prayed that our son would be full of the same sort of chutzpah for our son, a man who would stand when everyone else was lying down (Psalm 106:30).
As the sermon went along I looked down and saw my son's sermon notes book on the ground in front of him with a large "F" on the front.
It occurred to me that this was very fitting. Finneas is an F-bomb. He is full of zeal and determination. He inserts himself into situations without reservation. He is a future man I am excited to meet. He is my very favorite F-bomb. Few things shake people up like a well-timed, carefully selected F-bomb. It requires discernment. Simply having an "11" does not every situation an "11" make. My primary parenting goal in this season with my son is to thank God for his built in "11" and to teach him to do the same. In addition, I've been teaching Finneas as sense of proportion. When you have an "11," I've observed that you also have a tendency to act like everything is an "11." 
I love being a dad and having the opportunity to grow in my ability to discover and develop my children for the purposes of deploying them into the service our Great God and Savior.
My aim is to fan their respective flames and send them flying into the darkness for God's glory and the good of whatever neighbors God would place in their path. An arrow does damage, but a flaming arrow does damage while illuminating the darkness.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
day no. 14,916: one trick pony brand dog food
My friend, Josh Miller, sent me this text the other day...
"One trick ponies make excellent dog food when their trick no longer works"
It is well worth your while to become good at something. And as I've recently discovered and begun telling my children,
"If you want to be great at something, you have to be willing to be bad at it first."
Those who are great at things were once willing to be bad at them, but were not willing to remain bad at them. They persevered and pushed through in order to become great by grit.
That said, it is always good to be diversifying one's ability and not hanging one's hat too firmly upon one area of greatness. Once a particular skill is mastered it may be the most difficult thing in the world to return to being bad at something else. It can become easy to stick with what you know rather than endure the difficulties of being bad at yet another thing.
But one trick ponies bank a lot of their future dependency upon that trick being enough for all that life will require of them in the future.
To put it into other words, a one trick pony is fragile. Everything is fine... until it isn't. A pony with a bag of tricks can be resilient and even anti-fragile in that they are prepared to face adversity, learn new tricks, and have the character to be bad at new things in order to be growing in greatness in many things.
"One trick ponies make excellent dog food when their trick no longer works"
It is well worth your while to become good at something. And as I've recently discovered and begun telling my children,
"If you want to be great at something, you have to be willing to be bad at it first."
Those who are great at things were once willing to be bad at them, but were not willing to remain bad at them. They persevered and pushed through in order to become great by grit.
That said, it is always good to be diversifying one's ability and not hanging one's hat too firmly upon one area of greatness. Once a particular skill is mastered it may be the most difficult thing in the world to return to being bad at something else. It can become easy to stick with what you know rather than endure the difficulties of being bad at yet another thing.
But one trick ponies bank a lot of their future dependency upon that trick being enough for all that life will require of them in the future.
To put it into other words, a one trick pony is fragile. Everything is fine... until it isn't. A pony with a bag of tricks can be resilient and even anti-fragile in that they are prepared to face adversity, learn new tricks, and have the character to be bad at new things in order to be growing in greatness in many things.
Saturday, August 24, 2019
day no. 14,915: appetites and appeasals
Ecclesiastes 6:7
All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
Winston Churchill once defined an appeaser as...
"one who throws others to the alligator, hoping to be the last one eaten."
You can appease an alligator by ministering to his hunger, but that only works for a moment. Hunger has a funny way of coming back and yesterday's bread will not cover today's pangs. Fresh bread will be required. And if your strategy is simply to feed others to the alligator to keep him at bay, eventually you will be on the menu.
Proverbs 16:26
A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.
All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
Winston Churchill once defined an appeaser as...
"one who throws others to the alligator, hoping to be the last one eaten."
You can appease an alligator by ministering to his hunger, but that only works for a moment. Hunger has a funny way of coming back and yesterday's bread will not cover today's pangs. Fresh bread will be required. And if your strategy is simply to feed others to the alligator to keep him at bay, eventually you will be on the menu.
Proverbs 16:26
A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.
Friday, August 23, 2019
day no. 14,914: a salvation too simple
Psalm 106:10-13
So He saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. 12 Then they believed His words; they sang His praise. 13 But they soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel.
Commenting on these verses and this episode of Israel's history, Doug Wilson said,
"They wanted His redemption from consequences, His preventative salvation not so much."
Often, when we use the word "salvation," we are referring almost exclusively to being saved from the consequences of our sins... namely death a la Romans 6:23. We are plagued by the lingering penalty of sin awaiting us in the future for our past sins. So when we discover that in the past, Jesus died to save us from the future penalty of our past sins, we are overjoyed. But then we wake up tomorrow in the power and grip of sin. We either wonder if the salvation we sought yesterday actually "took" or we wander into sin feeling immune to future disease because of yesterday's inoculation injected by the grace of God through faith in confessing Jesus' Name.
Much of this is a result of thinking of salvation too narrowly. We fail to see our need of salvation today and tomorrow. We understand, at best, our need for past mistakes, but we fail to see our need for salvation today or tomorrow as being in any way a similar species as that which we call salvation.
But God has saved us, is saving us and will save us. Salvation is not just something God did on a particular hill on a particular day in history. The foundation of salvation was certainly finished that day, but His business with us is not finished. He desires to save us today from the power of sin and tomorrow from the presence of sin altogether. God, by the power of Holy Spirit, wants to save us from future sin and destruction by sanctifying us today. He is preparing to conquer future sin by conquering us presently.
So He saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. 12 Then they believed His words; they sang His praise. 13 But they soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel.
Commenting on these verses and this episode of Israel's history, Doug Wilson said,
"They wanted His redemption from consequences, His preventative salvation not so much."
Often, when we use the word "salvation," we are referring almost exclusively to being saved from the consequences of our sins... namely death a la Romans 6:23. We are plagued by the lingering penalty of sin awaiting us in the future for our past sins. So when we discover that in the past, Jesus died to save us from the future penalty of our past sins, we are overjoyed. But then we wake up tomorrow in the power and grip of sin. We either wonder if the salvation we sought yesterday actually "took" or we wander into sin feeling immune to future disease because of yesterday's inoculation injected by the grace of God through faith in confessing Jesus' Name.
Much of this is a result of thinking of salvation too narrowly. We fail to see our need of salvation today and tomorrow. We understand, at best, our need for past mistakes, but we fail to see our need for salvation today or tomorrow as being in any way a similar species as that which we call salvation.
But God has saved us, is saving us and will save us. Salvation is not just something God did on a particular hill on a particular day in history. The foundation of salvation was certainly finished that day, but His business with us is not finished. He desires to save us today from the power of sin and tomorrow from the presence of sin altogether. God, by the power of Holy Spirit, wants to save us from future sin and destruction by sanctifying us today. He is preparing to conquer future sin by conquering us presently.
Thursday, August 22, 2019
day no. 14,913: strong... and needy
Oak trees are notoriously strong. They are tall and sturdy. But they are also very needy. Their elaborate, unseen root systems suck up upwards of 50 gallons of water per day and the more stately and dignified they are to the naked eye, the more needy they are behind their tough exterior. Their strength is a product of their unseen neediness. An uprooted oak tree may expose its root system, but it is unable to benefit from its roots. They are meant to be hidden and exposing them in that manner renders them unable to perform a supportive function. Oak wood cabinets and floors are beautiful and strong and... dead. They have no life left in them. They are no longer living. Their toughness remains, but their life has evaporated.
If you only had 1 and 2 Samuel, you would believe David was a hardwood floor of a man. Strong, resilient and no weakness anywhere to be seen. If you only had Psalms, you would believe David was an uprooted oak with exposes roots wilting and shriveling under the weight of living. But David was both. He was strong... and he was needy. His great need produced great strength. His hidden dependency produced observable mettle.
God calls us to be strong and needy. However, our neediness is meant to communicated in ways the preserve our need. It can become fashionable in Christian circles to show off your roots, forgetting that exposing yourself in that fashion cuts you off from the source of life. That brand of neediness is meant to feed off the praise and adoration of others and dries up quickly. True, godly neediness knows that it needs God and is willing to invite people to know that, but isn't rushing to pull up its roots in order to validate their authenticity.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
day no. 14,912: circumference and deference
Acts 12:24
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
The Word of God continues to increase as the book of Acts continues on. It multiplies with every verse. As time marches ahead, as the Holy Spirit comfort His people, as the fear of the Lord embodies His servants, His Word is held in high esteem and grows in width and depth, drawing more and more hearts to His work and drawing deeper and deeper in to the individual hearts of each and every disciple. God is multiplying those standing shoulder to shoulder and the depth of each heel into the rock on which they stand. More and more were being added to the horizon as each and every was being plumbed to greater depths.
Where the Word of God is increased, disciples will be multiplied in quantity and quality, width and depth, circumference and deference.
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
The Word of God continues to increase as the book of Acts continues on. It multiplies with every verse. As time marches ahead, as the Holy Spirit comfort His people, as the fear of the Lord embodies His servants, His Word is held in high esteem and grows in width and depth, drawing more and more hearts to His work and drawing deeper and deeper in to the individual hearts of each and every disciple. God is multiplying those standing shoulder to shoulder and the depth of each heel into the rock on which they stand. More and more were being added to the horizon as each and every was being plumbed to greater depths.
Where the Word of God is increased, disciples will be multiplied in quantity and quality, width and depth, circumference and deference.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
day no. 14,911: the ministry of multiplication
Acts 9:31
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
The church had peace and was being built up. The time to build is during times of peace.
"The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war."
Peace is the time to prepare for future battle. You build walls during down time, not while enduring bullets.
The church walked in:
1) the fear of the Lord and
2) the comfort of the Holy spirit
And by faithfully, aggressively doing these two things during this time of peace...
the church was multiplied.
Multiplication is the the buzzword in ministry these days whether its applied to building ministries, planting churches, or making disciples. Whatever it is, we want it multiplied. And rightfully so. Multiplication beats addition every day. Exponential growth overcomes additional growth in due time and then blows it away over the long run.
The lesson here is that multiplication can be achieved for multiplication's sake. If you grow a church without the fear of the Lord or without the comfort of the Holy Spirit, you may still grow something, even to impressive numbers, but what you will have multiplied will be more like cancer growing than fruit reproducing. Sickness seeks to multiply as much as soundness does.
So do not seek multiplication without qualification, but rather grow in the fear of God and the comfort of His Spirit and you will see fruitfulness abound for His sake and our good.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
The church had peace and was being built up. The time to build is during times of peace.
"The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war."
Peace is the time to prepare for future battle. You build walls during down time, not while enduring bullets.
The church walked in:
1) the fear of the Lord and
2) the comfort of the Holy spirit
And by faithfully, aggressively doing these two things during this time of peace...
the church was multiplied.
Multiplication is the the buzzword in ministry these days whether its applied to building ministries, planting churches, or making disciples. Whatever it is, we want it multiplied. And rightfully so. Multiplication beats addition every day. Exponential growth overcomes additional growth in due time and then blows it away over the long run.
The lesson here is that multiplication can be achieved for multiplication's sake. If you grow a church without the fear of the Lord or without the comfort of the Holy Spirit, you may still grow something, even to impressive numbers, but what you will have multiplied will be more like cancer growing than fruit reproducing. Sickness seeks to multiply as much as soundness does.
So do not seek multiplication without qualification, but rather grow in the fear of God and the comfort of His Spirit and you will see fruitfulness abound for His sake and our good.
Monday, August 19, 2019
day no. 14,910: one swift about-face
"One of the eternal paradoxes of human politics is the fact that it is only the man who is brave enough to challenge dragons who can discover that they are only lizards." - G.K., Chesterton
The boogeyman's only move is to convince you not to turn around.
One swift about-face is all it takes to disarm his hoverings.
Numbers 13:33
"We seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."
By faith, God-fearing grasshoppers can fell a godless giants, who seem less large once flat on their backs.
The boogeyman's only move is to convince you not to turn around.
One swift about-face is all it takes to disarm his hoverings.
Numbers 13:33
"We seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."
By faith, God-fearing grasshoppers can fell a godless giants, who seem less large once flat on their backs.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
day no. 14,909: the prevalence of preaching in the promotion of churches both deep and wide and the power of a people propelled by the Word
Everyone always wants to "get back to the way things were in the early church." Sure, why? We have a Biblical historical account of how to build churches and make disciples.
And it begins, by preaching:
Preaching builds churches.
Preaching makes disciples.
Acts 5:42
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Acts 6:2
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
Acts 7
(This entire chapter is a sermon Stephen preaches)
Acts 8:4
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:25
Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Acts 8:40
But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Acts 9:27
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:28
So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
Acts 10:36
As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
Acts 10:42
And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
Acts 11:20
But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Acts 14:7
and there they continued to preach the gospel.
Acts 14:21
When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
Acts 15:35
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Acts 16:10
And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:14
The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
Acts 17:18
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
Preaching involves words. Jesus is the Word of God. Christians are word-centric people, who realize the value of words. We see, all throughout the books of Acts, the power of words and the word-centeredness of God's early church.
Acts 2:14
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
Acts 2:22
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—
Acts 2:40
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
Acts 2:41
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 4:4
But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
Acts 4:29
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Acts 5:5
When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
Acts 5:20
“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
Acts 5:24
Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
Acts 6:2
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
Acts 6:4
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Acts 6:7
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 6:11
Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
Acts 6:13
and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,
Acts 7:22
And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
Acts 8:4
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
Acts 8:14
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
Acts 8:25
Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Acts 10:36
As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
Acts 10:44
While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
Acts 11:1
Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
Acts 11:16
And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
Acts 11:19
Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.
Acts 12:24
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Acts 13:5
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
Acts 13:7
He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
Acts 13:15
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”
Acts 13:44
The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
Acts 13:46
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:48
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
Acts 13:49
And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.
Acts 14:3
So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Acts 14:25
And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,
Acts 15:7
And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Acts 15:15
And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
Acts 15:24
Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,
Acts 15:27
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.
Acts 15:32
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
Acts 15:35
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Acts 15:36
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
Acts 16:6
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
Acts 16:32
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
Acts 17:11
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Acts 17:13
But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.
Acts 18:5
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
Acts 18:11
And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Acts 18:15
But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.”
Acts 19:10
This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Acts 19:20
So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
Acts 20:32
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Acts 20:35
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20:38
being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Acts 22:22
Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”
Acts 26:25
But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.
And it begins, by preaching:
Preaching builds churches.
Preaching makes disciples.
Acts 5:42
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Acts 6:2
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
Acts 7
(This entire chapter is a sermon Stephen preaches)
Acts 8:4
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:25
Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Acts 8:40
But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Acts 9:27
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:28
So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
Acts 10:36
As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
Acts 10:42
And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
Acts 11:20
But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Acts 14:7
and there they continued to preach the gospel.
Acts 14:21
When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
Acts 15:35
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Acts 16:10
And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:14
The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
Acts 17:18
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
Preaching involves words. Jesus is the Word of God. Christians are word-centric people, who realize the value of words. We see, all throughout the books of Acts, the power of words and the word-centeredness of God's early church.
Acts 2:14
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
Acts 2:22
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—
Acts 2:40
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
Acts 2:41
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 4:4
But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
Acts 4:29
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Acts 5:5
When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
Acts 5:20
“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
Acts 5:24
Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
Acts 6:2
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
Acts 6:4
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Acts 6:7
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 6:11
Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
Acts 6:13
and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,
Acts 7:22
And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
Acts 8:4
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
Acts 8:14
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
Acts 8:25
Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Acts 10:36
As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
Acts 10:44
While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
Acts 11:1
Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
Acts 11:16
And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
Acts 11:19
Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.
Acts 12:24
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Acts 13:5
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
Acts 13:7
He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
Acts 13:15
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”
Acts 13:44
The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
Acts 13:46
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:48
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
Acts 13:49
And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.
Acts 14:3
So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Acts 14:25
And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,
Acts 15:7
And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Acts 15:15
And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
Acts 15:24
Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,
Acts 15:27
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.
Acts 15:32
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
Acts 15:35
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Acts 15:36
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
Acts 16:6
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
Acts 16:32
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
Acts 17:11
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Acts 17:13
But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.
Acts 18:5
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
Acts 18:11
And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Acts 18:15
But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.”
Acts 19:10
This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Acts 19:20
So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
Acts 20:32
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Acts 20:35
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20:38
being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Acts 22:22
Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”
Acts 26:25
But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
day no. 14,908 continued... don't sleep on the preach
Acts 6:1-7
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
1) the Word of God increased!
2) the number of disciples multiplied greatly!
3) many became obedient to the faith!
Q: Why?
The disciples believed in the power of preaching. The episode that immediately precedes this summary statement in vs. 7 is that of bread distribution and widows and practical, boots on the ground, person on person, hands and feet ministry.
The disciples in that episode acknowledged the value of addressing the situation by assigning 7 honorable men to take it on as their responsibility, but they did not take it upon themselves personally. They proclaimed that their primary responsibility was to preach.
So they committed themselves to that and the Word of God increased (not surprisingly) but also disciples were multiplied... greatly! It is easy to assume that disciples are made more or less by one on one interactions, but here we see that God used preachers preaching to produce an increase in Biblical awareness and a great multiplication of disciples who were obedient to the faith they were being won.
All that to say... don't sleep on preaching.
Especially when it comes to making disciples. The early church was built upon the Word of God and bold men daring to declare what God had said and done and what ought to be done by us in response. Disciples are not made exclusively in one on one sessions. They are made by sitting next to each other, under the authoritative Word preached by men committed to it as a primary means of making disciples.
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
1) the Word of God increased!
2) the number of disciples multiplied greatly!
3) many became obedient to the faith!
Q: Why?
The disciples believed in the power of preaching. The episode that immediately precedes this summary statement in vs. 7 is that of bread distribution and widows and practical, boots on the ground, person on person, hands and feet ministry.
The disciples in that episode acknowledged the value of addressing the situation by assigning 7 honorable men to take it on as their responsibility, but they did not take it upon themselves personally. They proclaimed that their primary responsibility was to preach.
So they committed themselves to that and the Word of God increased (not surprisingly) but also disciples were multiplied... greatly! It is easy to assume that disciples are made more or less by one on one interactions, but here we see that God used preachers preaching to produce an increase in Biblical awareness and a great multiplication of disciples who were obedient to the faith they were being won.
All that to say... don't sleep on preaching.
Especially when it comes to making disciples. The early church was built upon the Word of God and bold men daring to declare what God had said and done and what ought to be done by us in response. Disciples are not made exclusively in one on one sessions. They are made by sitting next to each other, under the authoritative Word preached by men committed to it as a primary means of making disciples.
day no 14,908 continued.. est .2007
Team Van Voorst: doing damage to the darkness since 2007.
Blood on three!!!
Blood on three!!!
day no. 14,908: twelve bells
Twelve years ago on this very day, I entered into the covenant of marriage with Paige Jeanette Chorpening. She walked down that aisle a Chorpening and walked back up it a Van Voorst. That day, God made her and I into one. He superintended our wedding and made us both something we had never been before and would not be thereafter until the death of one of us or His return.
Since then, there have been a lot of opportunities to be what we already were made - one.
One mealtime, one show we're watching together, one address, one last name, one bed, one bed time, one friend group, one church, one God, one faith, one bank account, one team, one dream, one, one one...
We are more one today in many ways than we were that day twelve years ago today when we walked back up that aisle in Cornerstone Church of Ames' South Auditorium. But in another way, we are no more one than we were made that day - a oneness provided by God into which we are growing accustomed.
The hour has struck twelve and another twelve remains before we round out a days worth of years. It is high noon in the Van Voorst household. I'm excited to see how the rest of the day plays out.
Since then, there have been a lot of opportunities to be what we already were made - one.
One mealtime, one show we're watching together, one address, one last name, one bed, one bed time, one friend group, one church, one God, one faith, one bank account, one team, one dream, one, one one...
We are more one today in many ways than we were that day twelve years ago today when we walked back up that aisle in Cornerstone Church of Ames' South Auditorium. But in another way, we are no more one than we were made that day - a oneness provided by God into which we are growing accustomed.
The hour has struck twelve and another twelve remains before we round out a days worth of years. It is high noon in the Van Voorst household. I'm excited to see how the rest of the day plays out.
Friday, August 16, 2019
day no. 14,907: to be great is to first be bad
"To be great at something, you must first be willing to be bad at it."
I have noticed lately a tendency in my children to give up before they begin. They desire to be good or even dare to be great at something and yet at the first hint of adversity, they deflate and assume the worst about themselves.
In light of this, we have adopted the terminology, "If you want to be great at something, you must first be willing to be bad at it." No one is great right out of the gate except for a few savants. For most people, what you perceive as fluid grandiosity is actually the product of years of difficult grit and determination.
As a family, we often enjoy watching Danny MacAskil videos. He makes everything look so easy... until the end. At the end of each of the polished Red Bull production videos, they show clips of him attempting one of the more difficult tricks you've just seen in the video. But in the clips, you watch him fail and fail again. You watch him grin and bear it. You watch him dig deep and sigh deeply in frustration of wanting something so badly and yet falling short. It is good to want something desperately and to fail at achieving that thing. It is good for developing resolve and character.
I point out to my kids that Danny MacAskil failed more times than he succeeded if we add the clips together. But he kept at it and he was willing to be bad at that trick long enough to become good, even great at it.
In order to be great, one must first be willing to grind.
I have noticed lately a tendency in my children to give up before they begin. They desire to be good or even dare to be great at something and yet at the first hint of adversity, they deflate and assume the worst about themselves.
In light of this, we have adopted the terminology, "If you want to be great at something, you must first be willing to be bad at it." No one is great right out of the gate except for a few savants. For most people, what you perceive as fluid grandiosity is actually the product of years of difficult grit and determination.
As a family, we often enjoy watching Danny MacAskil videos. He makes everything look so easy... until the end. At the end of each of the polished Red Bull production videos, they show clips of him attempting one of the more difficult tricks you've just seen in the video. But in the clips, you watch him fail and fail again. You watch him grin and bear it. You watch him dig deep and sigh deeply in frustration of wanting something so badly and yet falling short. It is good to want something desperately and to fail at achieving that thing. It is good for developing resolve and character.
I point out to my kids that Danny MacAskil failed more times than he succeeded if we add the clips together. But he kept at it and he was willing to be bad at that trick long enough to become good, even great at it.
In order to be great, one must first be willing to grind.
Thursday, August 15, 2019
day no. 14,906: Jesus is Lord
Luke 22:65
And they said many other things against him, blaspheming Him.
If Jesus was not God, you could not blaspheme Him. But since He is, that is what Luke records happened in this incident. Whether those doing the blaspheming recognized what they were doing or not is less germane than seeing that Luke, in retrospect, reports what they were, in fact, doing -- blaspheming Jesus.
There are many proof texts demonstrating that Jesus is God, but additionally, much of what is written doesn't make sense unless Jesus' divinity is assumed as an underlying truth.
Colossians 3:23-24 is another example.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Paul's argument is simple: when you work, work as though you are working for God knowing that He is the one who will pay your wages when it's all said and done. He has the inheritance and exists in eternity future where He will give it to you. When you do this, you are serving Jesus, because He is God. Thus the admonition and recognition that all service done for God is service for Jesus only makes sense if Jesus and God are not in competition, but are, in fact, the same.
Or even more simply, we work for the Lord and expect our wages from the Lord. That Lord is named Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
day no. 14,905: transparency and potency in preaching
"But when a feeble man, sprung from the dust, speaks in the name of God, we give the best proof of our piety and obedience, by listening with docility to his servant, though not in any respect our superior." John Calvin, Institutes, Chapter 3
If a man stands before a church and preaches himself as transparent as the podium behind which he occasionally paces by, we deem him a humble servant of God. He tattled on himself and told us the very worst about himself. This, we say, is humility.
But if a man stands before a church and preaches his God as opaque as the leather hymnal before you, we deem him an arrogant, self-righteous servant of self-delusion. He rattled on and on about God without any reference to his daily life. This, we say, is arrogance.
Preachers do their hearers no favors by proclaiming loudly their personal failures and whispering sporadically the glory of God. God demonstrates His power by using feeble men to preach His strength. When this is done, the feebleness of the man is obvious. Just as obvious, if not more so, then spending 20 minutes confessing one's feebleness. Feebleness is demonstrated best by elevating and depending upon and assuming God's strength and authority above all other interests. Bringing this to light reduces the preacher to nothing but a mouth and elevates God's Word to more than just personal application or appreciation.
If a man stands before a church and preaches himself as transparent as the podium behind which he occasionally paces by, we deem him a humble servant of God. He tattled on himself and told us the very worst about himself. This, we say, is humility.
But if a man stands before a church and preaches his God as opaque as the leather hymnal before you, we deem him an arrogant, self-righteous servant of self-delusion. He rattled on and on about God without any reference to his daily life. This, we say, is arrogance.
Preachers do their hearers no favors by proclaiming loudly their personal failures and whispering sporadically the glory of God. God demonstrates His power by using feeble men to preach His strength. When this is done, the feebleness of the man is obvious. Just as obvious, if not more so, then spending 20 minutes confessing one's feebleness. Feebleness is demonstrated best by elevating and depending upon and assuming God's strength and authority above all other interests. Bringing this to light reduces the preacher to nothing but a mouth and elevates God's Word to more than just personal application or appreciation.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
day no. 14,904: when a feeble man, sprung from the dust, speaks in the name of God
While listening to The World We Made season 2, Tim Bayly made a passing reference to a idea of Calvin's he paraphrased as, "God could have sent angels to preach to us, but instead He gave us sinful men." This prompted me to want to find that quote or idea. After several internet searches, I was able to narrow it down to where I assume its inspiration came. In Calvin's Institutes, Chapter 3: Of The Teachers and Ministers of the Church: Their Election and Office, we read...
1. WE are now to speak of the order in which the Lord has been pleased that his Church should be governed. For though it is right that he alone should rule and reign in the Church, that he should preside and be conspicuous in it, and that its government should be exercised and administered solely by his word; yet as he does not dwell among us in visible presence, so as to declare his will to us by his own lips, He in this (as we have said) uses the ministry of men, by making them, as it were, his substitutes, not by transferring his right and honour to them, but only doing his own work by their lips, just as an artificer uses a tool for any purpose. What I have previously expounded (chap. 1 sec. 5) I am again forced to repeat. God might have acted, in this respect, by himself, without any aid or instrument, or might even have done it by angels; but there are several reasons why he rather chooses to employ men. First, in this way he declares his condescension towards us, employing men to perform the function of his ambassadors in the world, to be the interpreters of his secret will; in short, to represent his own person. Thus he shows by experience that it is not to no purpose he calls us his temples, since by man's mouth he gives responses to men as from a sanctuary. Secondly, it forms a most excellent and useful training to humility, when he accustoms us to obey his word though preached by men like ourselves, or, it may be, our inferiors in worth. Did he himself speak from heaven, it were no wonder if his sacred oracles were received by all ears and minds reverently and without delay. For who would not dread his present power? who would not fall prostrate at the first view of his great majesty? who would not be overpowered by that immeasurable splendour? But when a feeble man, sprung from the dust, speaks in the name of God, we give the best proof of our piety and obedience, by listening with docility to his servant, though not in any respect our superior. Accordingly, he hides the treasure of his heavenly wisdom in frail earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7), that he may have a more certain proof of the estimation in which it is held by us. Moreover, nothing was fitter to cherish mutual charity than to bind men together by this tie, appointing one of them as a pastor to teach the others who are enjoined to be disciples, and receive the common doctrine from a single mouth. For did every man suffice for himself, and stand in no need of another's aid (such is the pride of the human intellect), each would despise all others, and be in his turn despised.
1. WE are now to speak of the order in which the Lord has been pleased that his Church should be governed. For though it is right that he alone should rule and reign in the Church, that he should preside and be conspicuous in it, and that its government should be exercised and administered solely by his word; yet as he does not dwell among us in visible presence, so as to declare his will to us by his own lips, He in this (as we have said) uses the ministry of men, by making them, as it were, his substitutes, not by transferring his right and honour to them, but only doing his own work by their lips, just as an artificer uses a tool for any purpose. What I have previously expounded (chap. 1 sec. 5) I am again forced to repeat. God might have acted, in this respect, by himself, without any aid or instrument, or might even have done it by angels; but there are several reasons why he rather chooses to employ men. First, in this way he declares his condescension towards us, employing men to perform the function of his ambassadors in the world, to be the interpreters of his secret will; in short, to represent his own person. Thus he shows by experience that it is not to no purpose he calls us his temples, since by man's mouth he gives responses to men as from a sanctuary. Secondly, it forms a most excellent and useful training to humility, when he accustoms us to obey his word though preached by men like ourselves, or, it may be, our inferiors in worth. Did he himself speak from heaven, it were no wonder if his sacred oracles were received by all ears and minds reverently and without delay. For who would not dread his present power? who would not fall prostrate at the first view of his great majesty? who would not be overpowered by that immeasurable splendour? But when a feeble man, sprung from the dust, speaks in the name of God, we give the best proof of our piety and obedience, by listening with docility to his servant, though not in any respect our superior. Accordingly, he hides the treasure of his heavenly wisdom in frail earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7), that he may have a more certain proof of the estimation in which it is held by us. Moreover, nothing was fitter to cherish mutual charity than to bind men together by this tie, appointing one of them as a pastor to teach the others who are enjoined to be disciples, and receive the common doctrine from a single mouth. For did every man suffice for himself, and stand in no need of another's aid (such is the pride of the human intellect), each would despise all others, and be in his turn despised.
Monday, August 12, 2019
day no. 14,903: the world we made and the world I want to bulid
There is an amazing paradox between needing to lead and wanting to be loved. If you want to be loved, you will need to lead, not try to get others to like or love you.
I finished up listening to this podcast last night while running on the treadmill (Thursday, June 27th). The closing remarks on this one are absolute gold. Combined with the backdrop and score playing in the background, this is powerfully presented and has left an impact on me.
"We love our wives, we love our children, we want their approval, we want them to love us when they grow up, we want to be their friends, but if you spend your life trying to get your children or your wife's approval, you will never do your job properly... never, never! and it's not because they're evil, it's because leadership is lonely." - Tim Bayly
"Just like Calvin says about pastors, 'God could have sent angels to preach to us,' God could have sent angels to be dads. But He chose to use sinful men as fathers because it humbles us to have to be under the headship of a sinner like us." - Tim Bayly
"So number 1: it's going to be over soon, you better get yourself to work and number 2: you better work for God and then number 3: you better not live for the approval of your children and your wife because it will destroy your teaching, your discipline and... they will never give you their approval if you want it."- Tim Bayly
I finished up listening to this podcast last night while running on the treadmill (Thursday, June 27th). The closing remarks on this one are absolute gold. Combined with the backdrop and score playing in the background, this is powerfully presented and has left an impact on me.
"We love our wives, we love our children, we want their approval, we want them to love us when they grow up, we want to be their friends, but if you spend your life trying to get your children or your wife's approval, you will never do your job properly... never, never! and it's not because they're evil, it's because leadership is lonely." - Tim Bayly
"Just like Calvin says about pastors, 'God could have sent angels to preach to us,' God could have sent angels to be dads. But He chose to use sinful men as fathers because it humbles us to have to be under the headship of a sinner like us." - Tim Bayly
"So number 1: it's going to be over soon, you better get yourself to work and number 2: you better work for God and then number 3: you better not live for the approval of your children and your wife because it will destroy your teaching, your discipline and... they will never give you their approval if you want it."- Tim Bayly
Sunday, August 11, 2019
day no. 14,902: the logistics of educating growing boys
Last night (6/27/19) I listed to this podcast while running on the treadmill. Tim Bayly made a couple of statements that really impacted me and have gotten me thinking ahead.
One thing he said was that young men should not be homeschooled by their mothers. By the time they are young men, they ought not be under the regular authority of a woman in order to develop and transition to their role of being men building a life and home of their own. His point was not that homeschool is not ok for older children, but that having your primary authority be a female, for young men, was not ok.
This got me thinking about ways to become my boys primary educational authority by the time they transition into young adulthood (13-14 years old through 18 and leaving the home). This would either involve me finding a way to add it to my current responsibilities during a time that would work well for everyone involved or making the time by changing my current responsibilities. Still just a seed of a thought less than 12 hours old, but it is something I need to run out since this stage will be here sooner or later for Atticus who turns 11 this December.
The other thing he said was that men should find ways to invite their children into their work and the things they love. This got me thinking about my current situation. I can't really bring my children to work to sit in the cubicle with me. One, I don't think it would be allowed. Secondly, it would not be much of an experience for my children. Although, they would get a glimpse into the humdrummery of hard work for the sake of feeding and providing for those you love.
But that being said, it did get my wheels turning on considering what occupations I could in a short time pursue enough to be able to do them on my own, be self-employed and able to bring my sons along with me and teach them a trade. A trade is the most obvious way to accomplish this as far as I can initially tell. If I could develop a trade, I could get paid, bring my children along with me to work, teach them my work and also complement my desires with Tim's first point in creating time to be their primary educator as they transition into young adulthood.
This is all very fresh, but it has my mind spinning on creative ways to try to accomplish these things for the good of my sons and the glory of God.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
day no. 14,901: flaming arrows
Psalm 127:3-5
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
The Bible refers our children as arrows. In thinking about this and praying for my children one morning while walking to work, I realized that a few my children are flaming arrows. They are passionate and full of energy and are more dangerous than regular arrows. They are still pointy, but they are capable of inflicting greater degrees of damage than regular arrows.
As parents, we don't typically know how to handle flaming arrows. So we more often than not attempt to snuff it out, assuming we can light it later once it is better trained at hitting the intended targets. But I'm not entirely sure we should be trying to "beat the fire out of 'em" as I have heard it said. They may be hot and dangerous to have around in some regards, but imagine all that heat and energy aimed at something worthwhile. Imagine that kind of danger and damage being inflicted upon the darkness. Flaming arrows can pierce the darkness both by being driven deep down by their points, but also by illuminating the night by their fire.
May God grant us the patience to deal with burnt fingers in order to turn out flaming arrows. May He give us the restraint to avoid making our lives easier by stamping out the fire. May He give us wisdom to know how best to fan their flame without letting everyone get burned in the meantime. May He send them out as instruments of righteousness aimed at demolishing devilish strongholds and inflicting compound damage on the darkness through pierced hearts lit aflame for His glory.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
The Bible refers our children as arrows. In thinking about this and praying for my children one morning while walking to work, I realized that a few my children are flaming arrows. They are passionate and full of energy and are more dangerous than regular arrows. They are still pointy, but they are capable of inflicting greater degrees of damage than regular arrows.
As parents, we don't typically know how to handle flaming arrows. So we more often than not attempt to snuff it out, assuming we can light it later once it is better trained at hitting the intended targets. But I'm not entirely sure we should be trying to "beat the fire out of 'em" as I have heard it said. They may be hot and dangerous to have around in some regards, but imagine all that heat and energy aimed at something worthwhile. Imagine that kind of danger and damage being inflicted upon the darkness. Flaming arrows can pierce the darkness both by being driven deep down by their points, but also by illuminating the night by their fire.
May God grant us the patience to deal with burnt fingers in order to turn out flaming arrows. May He give us the restraint to avoid making our lives easier by stamping out the fire. May He give us wisdom to know how best to fan their flame without letting everyone get burned in the meantime. May He send them out as instruments of righteousness aimed at demolishing devilish strongholds and inflicting compound damage on the darkness through pierced hearts lit aflame for His glory.
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