Grace Notes

I was recently made aware of a young woman in another city, who faced criticism from people in her own church for having surgery to take care of an ectopic pregnancy.   It’s common knowledge, at least in my circles, that a baby that is growing IN mom’s fallopian tube will not survive.  The baby will die and may cause an infection that kills mom.  Taking care of the issue is, of course, sad and hurtful, but it’s not a choice and it has no similarity to a free-will abortion.  

Enter politics.  Almost immediately after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe vs Wade, I heard news reports about hospitals that were wringing their hands about all sorts of labor and delivery procedures.  Certainly, there were some that were doing so out of an abundance of legal caution, but much of it was straight manipulation.   Tubal (ectopic) pregnancies became the primary battle ground.  They are fairly rare, but they do happen.  Even though NO state law prohibits caring for mom’s in this state, pro-abortionists were claiming that this new law would tie doctor’s hands.  All lies, but that’s the enemy’s stock in trade.  I thought the dust had settled until I heard this story.  

The Accuser of the Brethren has wormed his way into the church!  Just like he manipulated Eve in the garden, he is manipulating public opinion all the time.  Now someone who is defending a correct, pro-life view,  has had their definition manipulated by Satan as he manipulates the pro-choice press in their manipulation of public opinion! 

These well meaning* guardians of the pro-life position have caused this young woman to become skeptical of the church at large – which likely was Satan’s end-game!

Be wise as serpents, gentle as doves!  And let’s please check our facts, scriptural and otherwise.

If it could happen there, it could happen anywhere.  ☹️

Pastor Scott

*As the story was related to me, these folks could have spoken with more grace.  A careful reading of Ephesians 4:2 leads this writer to conclude that we ought to also listen with grace. 🙂

According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man’s feet and gave him food and drink. The old man immediately began eating without saying any prayer or blessing. So Abraham asked him, “Don’t you worship God?”

The old traveler replied, “I worship fire only and reverence no other god.”

When he heard this, Abraham became incensed, grabbed the old man by the shoulders, and threw him out his tent into the cold night air.

When the old man had departed, God called to his friend Abraham and asked where the stranger was. Abraham replied, “I forced him out because he did not worship you.”

God answered, “I have suffered him these eighty years although he dishonors me. Could you not endure him one night?”

Thomas Lindberg

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,  being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”  Ephesians 4:1-6 Emphasis Added

Yours, for His Glory,

Pastor Scott

Frequently, months after losing a parent or spouse the questions start popping up. What’s it like for them? What are they experiencing? What do they see? What do they remember? Someone sent me a blog (vlog?) by a famous preacher addressing Isiah 65:27; that seems to say that we wouldn’t remember anything in the kingdom. Even though this preacher and I don’t agree on the when of the kingdom, I mostly agree with what he says; I just think he missed an important God-given analogy. The verses prior to 27 make it clear that what God will wipe away is the evil from our minds. As to how He can do that and leave us whole, I believe a great analogy is στοργή (storgé) – the mother’s love that washes away the pian of child birth in an instant. I believe when we we behold the face of Jesus; it will be even better than that new baby glow!

Pastor Scott

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-will-we-remember-in-the-new-creation

This week we celebrate the 247th birthday of our nation. As Christ follower, my eyes need to be on Him, and He, through His servant Paul instructed that first of all we should pray for our leaders – for our nation! Let’s do it! – PS

Word of Gracers,

I don’t know this blogger, but I appreciate her biblical and common sense testimony.  Please take the time to read it as it makes the point I had planned to make this week, from a perspective I can’t make because my parents took me to church as an infant and I have never stopped going.  🙂  

Pastor Scott

https://www.afaithfulstep.com/blog/how-one-question-got-me-to-go-to-church-tips-for-inviting-your-friends

Scripture calls us over and over again to humble ourselves before God.  We are also called to walk in humility here, whether among family, friends or strangers.  But what does that mean practically?  

Paul gives us one clue in Philipians 2:4 where he says simply “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, also!”  So one could say horizontal humility is being “other focused.”  In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis puts it this way: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less”… except, according to a deeper search, he didn’t write that.  

This quote has been making the rounds for years, since the publication of Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life, where it appears as part of Day 19, “Cultivating Community.” And it is to Warren this quote belongs, for indeed, it is his.

It’s a nice quote, and even a helpful one. But what Lewis actually wrote on this subject is far more challenging:

Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.

If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 3, Chapter 8, “The Great Sin,” Kindle location 1665

Paul’s words, Warren’s words, and Lewis’s words are good reminders to care for the planks in our own eyes before we try to remove the rainbow splinter from someone else’s! 🙂 

Because God is Still On the Throne,

Pastor Scott

I’ve been shopping at Target since I first could drive.  Kelly has been using Kohl’s Cash since the program first started.  Now stepping in either store makes us a bit uncomfortable.  We aren’t alone. Target has lost mega dollars in recent weeks and that’s why I’m writing. Boycotts aren’t new.  There was a boycott of the meat markets in both Corinth and Rome by Christians of strong conviction In the Apostle Paul’s day.  Of course, not all Christians shared that conviction and the strongly convicted tended to judge them.  The ones who thought the boycotters (vegans) were being silly tended to hold said abstainers in contempt.  Thus there was division in the church circa 65 AD.  

In 2023 AD, as the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) movement gains more influence over investors, we may see more and more companies throw off all moral restraint.   I don’t pretend to know what to do about where to shop and where to buy, but praise God I do know how we are to behave toward each other.  Consider this application of Romans 14:1-4:

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.  One person has faith that he may shop anywhere, but he who is weak boycotts.   The one who shops anywhere is not to regard with contempt the one who boycotts, and the one who boycotts is not to judge the one who shops, for God has accepted him.  Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Application of Romans 14:1-4

I don’t know what this will come to, but I do remember a time when some Christians weren’t wearing Levi’s (I don’t even remember why) and other Christians couldn’t afford not to wear the pants already in their closet.  The last thing we should be doing is humiliating each other because of some corporation’s decision!    Always choose grace! 

Yours, together with Him,

Pastor Scott

Compare:   14 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Romans 14:1-4 (NASB 1995)

One of the character qualities of a mature believer, listed in the epistles, is that of “endurance” (“patience” in KJV*).  We are told in Romans 5, and in James 1, that this particular character quality is brought about by suffering, a.k.a. “trials and temptations.”  “Endurance” is a translation of a compound Greek word hypo meaning “under” and meno meaning “to stand”, so it literally means to stand up under the circumstances, under the hardships, under the pressure, and even to stand up when you’ve been knocked down….

The story is told that Andrew Jackson’s boyhood friends just couldn’t understand how he became a famous general and then the President of the United States. They knew of other men who had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of Jackson’s friends said, “Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now.” Another friend responded, “How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn’t they usually say three times and out?” “Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat — he would never stay ‘throwed.’ Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andrew Jackson would throw him and be the winner.” Picking up on that idea, someone has said, “The thing that counts is not how many times you are ‘throwed,’ but whether you are willing to stay ‘throwed’.” We may face setbacks, but we must take courage and go forward in faith. Then, through the Holy Spirit’s power we can be the eventual victor over sin and the world. The battle is the Lord’s, so there is no excuse for us to stay “throwed”! 

There is a saying among soldiers and tough guys, “You can rest when you’re dead!”  We have a better one, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.”  So as long as I have breath in my earthly lungs, there is no need to “stay throwed!” Amen?

Yours, for His Church,

Pastor Scott

*As the Bible was continuously translated into English it was English that changed over time..     

Makrothumia {Long burn} – “Long-Suffering” in KJV is “Patience” in NASB

Hypomeno {To Stand Under} – “Patience” in KJV  is “Endurance” in NASB

The textline has been fairly  quiet in recent months, but I did get an interesting email question this week: “Do you think plurality of demons, as portrayed in Matthew 8, is what is influencing the transgender movement?”

If you’re asking about the plural pronouns, I suppose only God knows (Psalm 44:21).  But in the bigger picture, yes!  All rebellion against God’s plan is ultimately wrought by Satan.  Satan first suggested to Eve that there was a better option than obedience and that’s still what is being proffered; alteration of God’s plan.  The 27th verse of our Bible (along with every cell in our body) indicates that we were each created male or female.  You may be a man who likes to sew; it may mean you are destined to be able to help your daughters with their wedding dresses. but it doesn’t make you a woman!  You may be a woman with a great arm; you may be destined to help your sons learn how to pitch, but it  doesn’t make you a man!  There is a huge spectrum of abilities within each assignment; but the assignment is ordained by God and is cell deep.  So yes, seeking to escape it is rebellion, which God calls “witchcraft” in 1 Samuel 15. Close enough to be demonic for me!

Speaking of demonic influence check out this news story, Jackie Hill Perry is one of the Conference Speakers streamed in for conferences here for our ladies.:    

Jackie Hill Perry Warns That Beyoncé’s Music Has a Demonic Influence

I don’t know anything about Beyonce, per se, but I think this may apply to a lot of what passes for entertainment today!

Live in the light brothers and sisters!

Pastor Scott

Three thoughts this year as we approach Mom’s day!

1. If she is still living on earth, call your mom!
2. Keep praying for the 26 states where preborn babies aren’t safe!
3. Put $ behind those prayers! https://rachel-house.org/donate/

Yours, for His Glory,

Pastor Scott