Counseling, if mentioned in the church, is often understood to imply that someone has real problems or perhaps someone is getting married. (As in pre-marital counseling.) Yet verses that we have memorized speak of 'stirring one another up unto love and good works' (Heb. 10:24,25). This certainly is a form of counseling, is it not?

Below is a link to 9marks.org, their latest ejournal is featuring counseling on a very practical level for churches. On the left of this page is 'latest from 9marks'. Under this title is information on the Nov/Dec ejournal.

http://www.9marks.org/partner/0,,314526,00.html

I may print up a few copies to have available.

I am offering this information as a helpful tool for us, that we might function together in a healthy manner, building each other up in the love and truth of the Lord.

Voting, as a Christian.

Elections are just around the corner.

Here for your pleasure and edification (Lord willing) is my ideal candidate, and why I question whether many of our present slate of nominees will be a blessing for our country.

The first and foremost command is to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind. The God of this command is not just any ole god. He is our Creator and Judge. The God who provided His Son as the Way, Truth and Life – the God of the Bible.

The candidate must have a life that shows consistence in living this belief, as this is the foundation for a sound world-view.

Secondly, the candidate must love his neighbor as himself. This point may be fleshed out by looking at the last 6 of the Ten Commandments (according the traditional Protestant numbering of these).

I would like to highlight just three.

God commands us not to covet our neighbor's . . . (filling the blank). The ideal candidate will not encourage us to look at our neighbor's wealth, success and prosperity with envy. He will teach us by example, by veto power, and other means, that our trust is to be in the God who made us. This candidate will encourage work. He would take steps to take the rewards way from laziness and a lifestyle of deliberate dependence upon others.

This leads to the second point. He will not pass legislation that amounts to stealing from one's neighbor. There are legitimate roles of the government, both arising from the Bible and from our Constitution, which he would seek to fund. He would not be known as a man who has enlarged government.

The role of our government in his administration would be to punish evil, rather than in legislating programs. Government would not be 'god' to him or his people.

Third, the murder of our infants and infirmed would have to be addressed. This would include not just these acts but the world-view that cultivates the environment for these deaths.

Lastly, one general comment regarding international diplomacy. Democracy, while being greatly blessed by God in our country, is not necessarily the only good form of government. Democracy requires a philosophical/religious foundation that some cultures just do not have. Early America had it. It is doubtful that the America of today would have gotten off to such a good start if we had to do it over again. We are theologically/philosophically a different culture today.

He would realize that, both at home and abroad, the ugliness of sin (the breaking of these commandments) is going to corrupt all of the best laid plans of mice and men. His hope of being a good ruler would be that the Lord of Heaven and Earth would bless him, and thus, faithfulness to his God would be his light rather than his standing in the polls.

(This candidate would not seek to set up a Christian state, but would life his faith in the political arena.)

Pay for by . . . .

What is the Church? Or, the local Church? Here is a short article touching upon campus ministries and the Church. The overall article is good, but I would encourage you to look carefully at the paragraphs on the Church. This is very well stated and is an important point.

http://www.henryinstitute.org/commentary_read.php?cid=484

Discernment – 2

(ESV) Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

One tricky part regarding discernment is that we are not always objective. Certainly this means that we may think we are very discerning, when in truth we are just so much wind blowing. Or, our discernment might be on target but applied with little love or desire for edification. Further, this verse also means that I might not be objective when I consider my own walk with the Lord or my own maturity or my ministry. One must bear the testimony of this verse before him at all times.

Humility is a good antidote to a false assessment, however, the deceitful heart is very capable of messing with this attribute as well.

The following might prove helpful in keeping a proper perspective.

Always bear in mind that one never will have perfect discernment – that deceitful heart thing, again.

Listen to the views and opinions of others, even the most 'humble' saint.

Don't be rash in imposing your own judgment.

Be filled with God's word. Let it's light illumine each issue and situation.

Listen to more than one side of an issue.

Just because one has gotten one issue correct he mustn't think he's am on a roll. (Pride and that heart issue.)

Live a life of dependence upon the Lord.

Above all, apply the truth in love.

Discernment

How does a pastor/teacher know if God's people are getting it? You know, understanding the Word, the Gospel and various issues and theological positions.

One window into a person's mind is the comments that they might make in discussions, conversations or emails. One such recent conversation comes to mind. A few members and I had the opportunity to share comments on a speaker we had all heard. One member remarked favorably about the presentation of the gospel. The other member and I were not as enthusiastic. Yes, the gospel had been presented, but with a very strong bias in the direction of man-centered faith. For example, the speaker emphasized that “You are the only one who can reserve a place in heaven for yourself.” Christ is actually the one who does this. (John 14:1-3; 1 Peter 1:4,5)

Certainly some attenders and members of the church will never grow in their understanding. Yet there is hope, isn't there, for others?

ESV 2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

While I, as the under-shepherd, have responsibility to do these things listed, I must wait upon the Lord to give understanding to His people. He is the one who opens eyes spiritually.

And I do wait in hope, for eternal life is knowing God and the one he sent. (John 17:3) It is God's will that his people know him. So I teach, and pray, that these sheep might know God, know more about God, - might know him better, more accurately.

Is this important?

Yes. God's people bear witness in the church and in the world of who and what God is. God does not share his glory with man, and He gives grace to the humble. We do much better before God when we are not lifting ourselves up.

ESV 1Co 1:29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.