"Passionately Seeking & Speaking the Love of Jesus Christ" Dateline: My Father's World As a consummate Generation X'er, I often have the music of the 1980's playing on my XM Radio between preachers and Georgia Bulldogs football games. Yes, I do love 80's pop culture and it is cool to be able to access so much of it so easily in this modern age. My beautiful bride even gave me a Patrick Nagel print for Christmas and every day I look at it it brings me right back to the Reagan era (warning to Googler's; some of Nagel's prints are PG13 and not "family friendly"). As readily available as the 1980's are today you know what is even more abundant? Access to God's Word. Currently in the Twin Cities we have 8 Christian radio stations broadcast over the air. Sirius XM has 6. Our over the air digital TV has 16 Christian channels (there may even be more but my antenna picks up 16). The internet has countless access to daily devotionals, Christian music, church resources, missionary stories, opportunities for ministry, and Bible reading (www.biblegateway.com is my home page). Ask any pastor how much easier it has become to gather sermon notes from commentaries, concordances, and Bible dictionaries. Christian education is accessible and affordable; it is amazing to see how streamlined the Bible College's and Seminaries have become for the vocational and volunteer in ministry. Many churches (including ours) have access to newsletters, music, sermons, and stories right on their websites. On top of all this, I drive past a minimum of 7 churches, no matter which route I take, on my 3.5 mile drive to work at New Hope Baptist's building. There has never been a better time in history to surround yourself with the Word of God and all His work in the world. Yet, I still hear people complain that our country is godless and that we have "kicked God out" of the USA. Instead of grumbling about "the way things were" or the "way they ought to be" (I think Moses heard the same rhetoric) I suggest praising God for how things are and using the many opportunities and enjoying the many blessings we have. Listen to Christian radio, watch Christian TV, go to Bible study websites, and go to church! I guarantee you will be encouraged and equipped to do everything God wants you to do and live the life God authored for you when you were created. After years in exile and isolation, King Nebuchadnezzar turned his eyes toward heaven and his sanity was restored. Turn your eyes, ears, and minds toward all the goodness of God in our country and yours will be, too. God needs sober minded people for his harvest field in 2013 |
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
News Hope Weekly 1/16/13
