A Prayer for those "in Ephesus"

Ruins of the Library of Celsus, Ephesus, Turkey

We are going through the letters to the seven churches right now, and considered yesterday the message to the church at Ephesus.  Doctrinally strong, hard working, persevering, and discerning, this church nevertheless faced a potential death sentence over one deficiency: their lack of the love they had at first.  This love from God and toward him and the body, had been forsaken; not that their efforts were wrong, but they no longer were being done for the right reasons.

Early church fathers wrote in the second century that Ephesus did indeed take this message to heart and continued for centuries as a light in their world (the decimation of that whole region by Islamic conquest centuries later should not be seen as failure to repent, as it was six hundred years later).

So, if they did repent, how might they have expressed that to the Lord who warned them?

Maybe you heard this message, and saw aspects of your own spiritual life that mirrored this church's experience.  You know the truth and guard it.  You work hard for the cause of the Gospel.  But your spirit is no longer moved by devotion to the Lord and his people as it is driven by duty.  And now you see this and want to change.  How might you repent?

Perhaps you would want to pray a prayer something like this.

"O Lord of the Church and Lord of my life, you have loved me with unmatched love.  You are so kind and gentle with me.  You sent the Spirit to be your presence in me, and you always hear my cries for help.  You have poured out your gifts and yourself for me and for your people.  I have been enriched beyond understanding by your saving mercy and grace.  You bless your people always, and lead us without fail toward our good for your glory.  I will never lack any good thing.  You've made me one of your Father's children, and given me the privilege of living in your family forever.

But I have grown cold in my response to all you are and all you have done.  I've become so used to blessing that I have forgotten how undeserving I am.  I've come to treat mercy as commonplace and grace as the normal expectation of life.  I've been consistent in what you've asked, but I've forgotten why I wanted to do your will--not for your favor or blessing, but because your love captured my heart.  I've told people when their beliefs were wrong and needed to be right, but my own convictions have supplanted my affections for you and for the ones in need of correction.  I've worked hard as you would want, but I haven't labored as one working on behalf of the Lover of my soul.  Because I have let my love for you grow cold, your family has not found in me a source of love and encouragement either.  They may know I'm right, but they may well also know that something is not right in me.

Lord Jesus, forgive me for my passionless obedience.  I am remembering what service out of love was like, and I want to offer it once again.  You have not wanted my works but my heart.  You are the King of love, and you want your love to reign in me, first by being captured by your love for me.  Awaken my passion for you.  Let me think of you even before I think of your will.

Blessed Spirit indwelling me, kindle the cooling embers in my soul--fan them into flame.  Give me a fresh vision of my Savior--reaching out to me, calling me to walk with him, obeying the Law for me, forgiving me, suffering for me, dying for me, coming out of the grave for my justification, interceding for me before the Father, rebuking the adversary for accusing me, making me the Father's child and a part of a family just as loved and just as needy as I am.  Captivate my heart with a clearer vision of Jesus.  

Dear Father, you are love, and your kingdom will be a kingdom of love, where all who are yours will come to experience in ever-growing ways your love for your own.  You have loved us and sent your Son.  Fill me with your Spirit so that I will be filled with your love and be able to demonstrate it--to you and to your people.  Make my obedience a fruit of love.  Remind me that there is no power to obey, to serve or to discern that I have not received as a gift through the Spirit from your Son.  

Father, Spirit, and Son, I love you.  Let me live in your love and be a vessel of love poured out on those around me, beginning again today.  Amen.

Steve Saint-one year later

Last year, Steve Saint was critically injured in a crash of a prototype of the flying vehicles his company, I-TEC, is developing for indigenous peoples around the world.  It was uncertain if he would survive.  He has, and praises the Lord.  But it hasn't been easy, and it still isn't.

Steve's father was killed by tribal people that he was trying to reach with the Gospel.  Steve later came to know and love these people and was part of the efforts that saw them come to Christ.  Later, he lived among them to help them in the midst of dire circumstances and saw the need to help them live independent of "first world" control but with the advances technology could give them.  Thus, I-TEC was born.

Steve has given much of  his life to helping such peoples around the world, and his continuing efforts are an example in every way to us all.  Watch the video and be encouraged.  And then, pray for Steve and for I-TEC

Links That Made Me Think

Recently a few friends have sent links or posted them elsewhere that have been thought-provoking and a blessing to me.  Here are some of them:

The Shadow of Schizophrenia: Where God was amid my mom's mental illness.  This article is by Amy Simpson, who writes with great transparency about what it was like to live with a mom (a pastor's wife) sinking into schizophrenia.  Powerful story.

When the Doctor Calls is Gordon MacDonald's story of learning from a master about memorizing Scripture against his will, and how that practice gave him something many of the rest of us do not have when we need it.

Russell Moore: From Moral Majority to Prophetic Minority is a Wall Street Journal interview with Moore, who speaks about his new role as leader of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee of the SBC, and the place in which Christians now find themselves.

"Evolution vs. God" is Ray Comfort's latest apologetics offering, and worth taking a look at.



Another Celebrity Victim is a profoundly sad commentary by Karen Spears Zacharias on the aftermath of the rescue of Hannah Anderson and her actions in social media following that rescue.  It makes one wonder about a lot of things.

I attended this spring's Gospel Coalition National Conference and was incredibly blessed.  They have finally posted the video's of the messages.  Here is the first one from Don Carson in the pre-conference series on world missions.  Enjoy.


The Biblical Basis for Missions - Don Carson - TGC13 Missions Conference from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

Back in the Saddle (or in this case, pulpit) Again!

Riding an elephant--not the
fastest transportation I've
taken, but certainly some of
the coolest!

Well, it's been a good long while since I've posted, and much of that time I have been out of the state and out of the country.  The last full weeks of July were spent in Chiang Mai, Thailand, teaching for the Asia Biblical Theological Seminary.  ABTS is a graduate school of Cornerstone University offering American-accredited Master's level degrees to church leaders throughout the region.  My students included U.S. missionaries, an Australian missionary, leaders of ministries within four tribal groups in northern Thailand, a Thai pastor, and students from Pakistan and Bangladesh.  Through ABTS, I was able to assist leaders in countries and groups I will never visit personally, but who are training literally hundreds if not thousands of others.

Jim and Karen Blumenstock

I taught "Spiritual Formation," a class I teach on the undergraduate level at Cedarville, which meant a different kind of preparation--making the class appropriate for those who would be teaching this to others.  It was a delightful two weeks on many different levels.  I spent time with our own Jim and Karen Blumenstock (and their daughter Ella, who was my elephant riding companion in the picture above).  Jim and Karen grew up at Grace and are sent out to minister by us.  Jim is the Dean of the Seminary, and arranged this invitation for me.

ABTS classes are taught in two week seminar formats, with instruction in English, so I taught every day for

Scott Carroll speaking with 2 attendees
after the seminar, one from US via Ukraine,
and one from Germany

four hours in the afternoon.  A second seminar was offered for four hours in the morning on Biblical Archeology.  Dr. Scott Carroll was the visiting professor there, and an added bonus for me was attending a Saturday seminar on the reliability of the Bible's manuscripts that he gave, sponsored by ABTS and Chiang Mai Community Church (where Jim and Karen worship).  He brought very old manuscripts along, and also some seals that dated from near the time of Abraham.  What a treat to see and actually handle an ancient Torah scroll and a seal from Abraham's day.  I am making plans to have Scott come and make a presentation here at Grace!

Massage time!

The two weeks went so quickly, and were filled with time with my

A Buddhist Temple on the
Mountain above Chiang Mai

students and seeing the sights of Chiang Mai with the Blumenstocks, who were wonderful hosts.  Asian street markets have similarities wherever you go, but one great plus in Thailand is their love of massage--foot massage especially.  That is a custom that I could get very used to, especially at about $3.00 for a 30 minute massage!  Food in Thailand is also very familiar to those who have gotten acquainted with Thai restaurants in the states, although there are many Thai foods that have not made U.S. menus, and probably will not.  And the "heat" factor of Thai curry there is much higher than it is here.

Watching my students write their Final Exam

Following the completion of the class, I flew back to the USA, arriving in Los Angeles for a short week or recovery and vacation with Kathy, and visiting our daughter Rebekah and our grandson, Landen!  Even though I was recovering from jet lag, the easy schedule made for an easier time of it.  And one treat for us

What a cute kid!  Takes after me,
don't you think?

(as always) is visiting favorite California eateries that we don't have back here, from In N Out Burger ("Quality You Can Taste") to Del Taco (so sorry for all of you who only have Taco Bell in your memory) to Rattlers BBQ (barbecued tri tip marinated in their amazing sauce).  Ah yes, it was quite a change from the land of gravy and casseroles.  Our week flew by and we arrived back in Ohio on August 2.

What a joy it was to come back and worship with the Grace family again.  It was a special joy to me NOT to be preaching and to hear one of the finest messages on the process of sanctification and "grace driven effort"  I could have heard.  You should listen if you haven't already, by going here.  Chris Miller "hit it out of the park," and it was the perfect capstone to a ten week consideration of the Fruit of the Spirit.  Thanks to Chris, Stu Olley, Brian Hanson, and Mike Standish for their contributions to this series.  You can find all the audio and video by going to our media link.

And now, I am trying to get back into the swing of things.  We launch a new series this Sunday--actually this message and the next are introductory material to get us ready for the series in the Book of Revelation.  Our first message: "Who's Afraid of the Apocalypse?"  I hope you're not!

"Love Into Light:" New Book and Website Helping the Church Respond to SSA

I've just come across a new book and an associated website (h/t John Piper on Facebook), from Peter Hubbard called "Love Into Light."  The book is intended to help churches and pastors engage with biblical fidelity and humility those who face Same Sex Attraction (SSA), including those who have chosen to act on those desires.  The articles on the website are helpful, and would indicate an approach that echoes what I tried to share in our "No Easy Answers' series message on the subject.

Hubbard's comments on the demise of Exodus International are particularly helpful.  He rightly warns that Christians need to repent of arrogance, but that the message of repentance also is needed for those practicing homosexuality, right along with the message of the gospel--in fact, the gospel begins in both the preaching of John the Baptist and Jesus with repentance.  Of interest to me was his identification of the former board chairman of Exodus as a pastor whose teaching on the nature of grace is problematic, and follows a line I have seen in the past--thinking that says, "Christians need not ask forgiveness, they are already forgiven," and "God is not moved by our bad works any more than he is by our good works."  Historically, this has been categorized as "antinomian" thinking (the word means "no law") and has been rightly condemned as error.

Read the article, and perhaps buy the book.

And you can watch the message from the series here:

No Easy Answers (2013-03-17) "When Gay Comes to Church" from Grace Baptist Ch, Cedarville OH on Vimeo.

Saturday Fun

I am probably the last person you know to post this, but it still makes me laugh, and wonder how long this little kid was planning his deviation from the "Books of the New Testament" script.  Enjoy!



OK, so I don't watch "America's Got Talent," but I heard about this, and was pretty impressed with what I heard.   You might enjoy it, too.

Shirley Cook Is With Her Lord

Missionary.  Wife.  Mother.  Grandma.  Friend.  Teacher.  Encourager.  One of the most gracious women I have known has passed from this life into the presence of Jesus earlier this morning (July 1st).  Shirley Cook, wife of Dr. Jim Cook, died four months after her diagnosis with Bulbar's Palsy, a degenerative disease that made talking, swallowing, and muscle function in the face and neck slowly disappear.

Through her illness, she maintained her gracious spirit and her testmony.  I just spoke to and prayed with Dr. Cook, who told me of her words to the doctor who diagnosed her at the Mayo Clinic.  She thanked him for his hard work in finding out what was wrong, and in response to his rather negative outlook, she said, "I belong to the Lord Jesus, and I will not arrive in Heaven one day late."

Shirley married Jim after the death of his first wife, Sylvia, the mother of his two sons.  Shirley had worked in the office of their mission as the Cooks left for the Philippines.  Upon Jim and Shirley's marriage, she became mom to Jim and John.  A son, Jeffrey, was born to Jim and Shirley in Sri Lanka during their mission service there, but he died shortly after his birth (one of many events recounted in Jim's wonderful memoir, Under His Majesty's Command).  She served with Jim as a missionary in Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon), and as pastor's wife when they planted International Baptist Church in Honolulu and then as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of San Jose, CA.  After Jim's retirement from the pastorate, the Cooks embarked on a ministry of teaching, preaching, conference speaking, and mentoring.  They traveled nearly one million miles until Shirley's illness made it impossible for them to continue.

I first met Shirley and Jim when Kathy and I were at Hume Lake Christian Camps and Conference Center for a summer vacation and Jim was the speaker for the adult conference.  We hadn't planned to go to the conference that week, but hearing Jim changed our minds.  Jim and Shirley met with us there, and we were blessed to begin a wonderful friendship.  They have been confidants and advisors to us, and they have loved us and our children.  We will miss her terribly.

Pray for Dr. Cook, for John and Dee (our missionaries with IMI), as well as the rest of the family.  Services for Shirley will be in Colorado and Hawaii, with the Colorado service on July 13.