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“But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.” Much of our struggle in the world is linked to fear of men rather than God. This is especially true when we are called upon to sacrifice our standing in society or even our lives to do what is right. These women understood what they were doing. They had been commanded by the highest authorities to kill children. The order was disgusting enough to cause anyone to rebel, even in the face of danger and death. Still, these women did not act based upon a general sense of decency or natural instinct; they made their choice because they feared God. We sometimes choose to do something other than God’s will for fear of earthly difficulties. If these acts were discovered, terrible consequences were guaranteed. Obedience also offers guarantees; in this case it was the deliverance of Israel from grievous bondage. What wonderful plans does our Lord have in mind for our obedience? We may never know if we choose to fear men.

We have stretched out our series of “daily” devotions in Romans for several months. The first was written on January 1st, in what was intended to be about a month long journey. A lot of things have happened in life since we started, including the birth of our third child Stephen. Since he came along, these devotions have not exactly been “daily”, as you may have observed.

One way or the other, we came through the book learning a lot, and reviewing some important passages. The entire Romans series can be downloaded in PDF format from our Catalog. We have now made our way through sixteen books, and will be headed back to the Old Testament for a study in Exodus next week.

“For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” We should pray that the things which were true of the Roman church are true of us. While Paul recognizes and commends their obedience, he also calls them to a higher level. Those of great Christian character don’t mature past simple obedience, they rather do just as the Apostle suggests; increasing their understanding of good, while further separating themselves from evil. The most Godly people develop an experiential ignorance of continual sin, and (at the same time) a keen, objective understanding of its lure, its affects, and its dangers. They do not forget the sins of their past or ignore the sins of present, but instead become more determined to rely upon Christ to overcome them. Their simplicity in matters of evil is not simplicity of understanding, it is simplicity of ongoing experience. I hope this passage will inspire all of us to greater obedience, allowing any discussion of the most Godly disciples to include us. My prayer is that we would have a vast knowledge of goodness, and profound hatred of sin.

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” Believers always love their brothers and sisters in Christ. We fellowship with one another, encourage, and diligently pray for one another. When one of us needs help, we think nothing of asking the other, and provide the same assistance in return. We give money to church family in need and those that labor in missions or other vocational Christian service. We even sacrifice hours of our time discipling and caring for one another spiritually. What about laying down our “own necks”? Are we ready to hazard our lives to protect a brother or sister? True, those of us that live in the United States have little opportunity to do so, thanks to the wonderful blessing of freedom and liberty, but the key to the question is willingness. How far does our commitment to Christ go; does it lead us to the point of counting our own physical lives less than another’s? I don’t know that we can ever provide a preemptive answer. After all, Peter felt he would follow Christ even to death just hours before denying Him. This is a question that is considered deeply, and only answered at the moment of opportunity. Begin your considerations today.

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” There are some big and wonderful words in this passage of scripture. It seems that each phrase is selected to reveal the sufficiency and wonder of God. All joy and all peace are found in Him, and every ounce of hope given to man is “His hope”. These, the greatest gifts in the world, come not as a result of our efforts to obtain them, but rather through the realization we cannot obtain them without Christ! Simple faith in the only one that could make them accessible (by belief in His death, burial and resurrection), provides freedom from a joy-less, peace-less and help-less life. By Jesus Christ, we are brought near to God and given the Holy Ghost, who indwells us, and endues us with abundant and heavenly comfort. The world provides cheap substitutes that are momentary and vain. Only Christ can provide the fulfillment spoken about in this passage, but it comes about because of the two main words: “in believing”. Do you believe (put your faith and trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ?

We have recently done some updating in our Family 2007 section, including a few pictures from the end of the year. An entirely new gallery has also been added, documenting some of our 2006 travel on deputation.

The above shot was taken in night mode on our terrific Sony camera. I had been stranded in Beaver, Alaska for a few days that December (2006), and was happy to see that Cessna in the foreground. The temperature was around 40 below zero.

While I enjoy debating the weighty matters of theological conservatism, I fear I do it all too often on this site without also offering something simple, interesting and fun. Today I found myself surfing BBC London for information on the upcoming mayoral election. (I’m fascinated by the British political system.) As a side journey, I decided to visit In Pictures, which led me to a series of fantastic photo galleries.

Over the past few years I have become increasingly interested in learning more about life and culture in Britain, and have collected a series of web links to UK political, cultural and photography sites. The BBC is one of my chief sources, along with the Telegraph, and the Independent. Anyway, you don’t have to be nearly as intrigued as I am to enjoy these photos of London.

• Night Fantastic - Night shots from around London.
• Big Ben - Go inside the famous Westminster clock tower.
• London Bridges - A collection both historic and modern.
• Aerial Photos - Much of the city seen from the air.

I have taken a few decent London shots (including the one above), which you can see in our England 2007 gallery. Most of the others were captured in either Bedfordshire or Buckinghamshire this past October.

A good friend recently sent along an e-mail commenting on our Settle for This? post from March 18. By way of response, I sent this additional information that might help others who have read the article. Here is a slightly modified version:

I correspond/keep up with many people in the ministry. Recently I have been nothing short of alarmed by the authors and teachers they are recommending. It is not a matter of these men having nothing profitable to say at all, but more a case of their materials being vastly inferior to others written/provided by fundamentalists.

These pundits usually have one thing in common; they are popular. Some have sold hundreds of thousands of books and operate very large ministries. These guys are usually highly intellectual and pragmatic. They are higher class neo-evangelical types that operate on “sophisticated” outreach plans, usually relying on observation of the culture - then development of a ministry philosophy - then systematic execution. They discount our - preach God’s word faithfully and pray the Holy Spirit works in hearts - method as old-fashioned, unsophisticated and (worst of all) unsuccessful.

What’s the common denominator? Problematic, poorly formulated and many times unquestionably wrong doctrine.

There are some fantastic fundamentalist ministers around today. They are found at small Bible colleges, medium sized churches, and remote mission fields all over the world. Their teachings are more difficult to find, I understand, but the power of God shines through their every word. They give testimony of simple faith, consistent Bible teaching, and love for people. Their ministry is not accomplished by pragmatic methodology and study of cultural relevance, but rather by the power of God’s word in the heart’s of Holy-Spirit-prepared people.

Therefore, when I am asked to endure the heady research and intellectual formulation of another doctrinally questionable evangelical heavyweight, I ask myself, do I have to settle for this?

All that to say I generally agree with your statements on the subject. There is sometimes no harm at all in recommending a book by an author that violently disagrees with us. In fact, some of them are likely more Godly people than we are! To me, that’s not the main point. I am instead weary of being told that the “best and brightest” Biblical thinkers of today reside far outside fundamental circles. I find that notion unquestionably wrong and bordering on laughable.

We have made an attempt to clarify our position in the past few days by presenting the preaching of Dr. Rick Flanders. He makes the connection between belief and philosophy as well as anyone we have ever heard on the topic.

“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” No two believers hold identical views on every matter of conscience. Experience, upbringing, personality and a variety of cultural factors contribute to our individual thinking on personal standards. One man may feel an issue is open for discussion, while another has settled the answer in his mind; both may have a tendency to believe the other is wrong. This passage commands that we leave the ultimate judgment to God. With that being said, we must be clear on the type of issues this passage is speaking about. These matters seem to be explicitly personal and generally observed to be debatable among men of righteous character. The concern doesn’t seem to be over the application of specific scriptural text, but instead comes about as a byproduct of endeavors to maintain holiness within a difficult, contemporary context. Let’s not decide to stretch the term “personal standard” too far within its Biblical context, but let us also be careful not to assume everyone must agree with us! If we are “fully persuaded” our actions (or lack thereof) please God; He alone can be the final judge.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” The first two verses of the chapter are regularly connected in sermons and other teaching, but these are rarely quoted together. I am always surprised by that, as I see such a vital link between them. The imperative in verse two is renewal of the mind; instructions on the subject of that renewal come in verse three. While we often believe our thinking patterns regarding the world are the main issue, it seems the way we think about ourselves is key. Affection for, and subsequent conformity to the world have their root in the selfish desires of the flesh. When we place ourselves at the pinnacle of importance, we obey our own desires, live in a pattern of sinfulness, thinking and behaving in a worldly manner. The person we consider above all others in life should be our Savior. A person living in total devotion to Him will think soberly and live righteously, separating themselves from worldly influence.