Corner Pillars

Kim Killebrew      

May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace...     
(Psalm 144:12)

Did you hear it?  Were you there Sunday?  Did you hear our senior pastor take us to that verse in Psalm 144?  If you didn’t, listen to it here.  “A blessed culture” is one where the strength, stability, and weight-bearing is carried out by the women!  That’s pretty exciting to me.

As I looked around the sanctuary, I saw women who I know are corner pillars.  Women whose feet are immovable and whose hearts are strong even when the worst of circumstances surround them.  When I consider the role of a pillar and what that may look like as I seek to live it out, I’m reminded of another verse - 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”  Being the weight-bearing, godly women we are designed to be is not easy when we have not been entirely freed from our sinful nature.  I know my feet grow restless and my heart sick and sore.  But the comfort, freedom, and peace comes in knowing that this role is not a circumstantial result of sin.  It is the design and purpose that a holy God has assigned to me.  And if he has deemed it good and necessary, he will give me the strength I need to continue.

Last week, I received a blog post from Desiring God Ministries (video below).  Johnathan Todd also shared it with us on GOL, so you may have already seen it.  But I have been so moved by this story of Ian and Larissa.  There is no doubt that this precious woman knows her design.  I have been humbled and mystified by the conscious decision this young, darling, energetic woman has made to display the glory of God in her life and in her marriage.  I want you to see them.  The video is beautiful... dreamy.  But poke around and read the letters that Larissa shares.  Larissa is living in a real, broken world but with the purpose of stability, strength, and hope.  Only in Jesus.

Truly, not every woman has a physical child in this world.  However, every woman was equipped to be a nurturer, and we are all mothering all the time through our relationships with one another.  I do not know Larissa Murphy personally, and I am older than she is.  But she has mothered me by pointing me to the cross and encouraging me to embrace my design as a “corner pillar cut for the structure of a palace.”

May the Lord raise up our women to act and function as corner pillars.  And may he give us the wisdom to encourage each other to keep our feet firmly planted in our God. 

*The Story of Ian and Larissa (video w/ remarks by John Piper)

*Follow-up articles from Larissa:

• Part 1: Why We Got Married
• Part 2: Learning Contentment in Suffering
• Part 3: A Daily Disabled Life

Hidden Service

John Ottley      

When we set out on a consciously chosen course of action that accents the good of others and is for the most part a hidden work, a deep change occurs in our spirit. Nothing disciplines the inordinate desires of the flesh like service, and nothing transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness. The flesh whines against service but screams against hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition.  It will devise subtle, religiously acceptable means to call attention to the service rendered. If we stoutly refuse to give in to this lust of the flesh, we crucify it. (Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, p. 114)

Stephanie is a nurse and a member of Grace Evan. She wanted to be able to explain the Gospel to her patients, so she listened to the Grace Evan Scripture Songs to help her memorize some key verses. As she chats with her patients, she tries to turn the conversation to the spiritual side of life, if they’re willing. Usually they are. If they’re interested, she tells them what the Bible says about eternal life in Christ.

One of her patients was a scientist and an expert on light.  He also had a condition that rendered him unresponsive at times. Sometimes he’s “on” and sometimes he’s “off.” When he’s “off” he appears to be asleep but he’s not. When Stephanie first met him he was “off” so she just started talking and sharing the verses she learned. Turns out Dr. G heard everything she said. Stephanie was startled when Dr. G said, “I’ve heard these things but never believed them. Now I want to believe.” He trusted Christ and poured out his heart to God and to Stephanie. As he confessed his sins, Stephanie said, “God can forgive that… God can forgive that too…” And “there’s enough grace for that…” On and on. God’s glory and the two of them hidden away in a hospital room.

Dr. G wanted more. Stephanie often returned to his room after work to read and explain God’s Word. She started with the Gospel of John. There’s a lot about “light” in John. “The light shines in the darkness.” Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” This made a big impact on a scientist who had studied light. Coincidence?  Hardly. The nurse was letting her light shine.

She read Genesis (“Let there be light…”)... Luke... Ephesians... Philippians. He loved it. He drank it in like a deer panting for water (Psalm 42). He couldn’t get enough. Plus, he was lonely. He wondered if Stephanie had other friends who would be willing to come and read God’s Word to him. Stephanie mentioned this to Dr. Young during a recent Wednesday night supper. Dr. Young told her to talk to Roger. Roger and others came up to Dr. G’s room to read God’s Word. Roger set up a schedule to keep track of what had been read. Hidden service.

One day, before Roger learned about Dr. G’s “on/off” condition, he was reading Genesis. He thought Dr. G had fallen asleep so he stopped reading. Dr. G, with eyes still closed, yelled, “DON’T STOP!” It shocked Roger. He’d never heard Dr. G raise his voice like that. He kept reading!

Dr. G spent his last days listening to the reading of the Word of God. Two people hidden away in a hospital room. One in a bed listening. The other beside him in a chair reading. Hidden service. Dr. G died Monday morning.

The true light, which gives light to everyone…was in the world… He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:9-13)

Cut It Off!

Brent Wilkins      

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he tells his disciples that sin must be dealt with drastically because of its deadly effects. He goes as far as to say, “if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away, for it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell” (Matthew 5:30).

Jesus was not advocating self-mutilation. Cutting off your hand does not solve the problem of sin because sin lies in the heart of man. But Jesus is saying that we must abhor sin and take extreme measures to not mess around with those things which can tempt us to sin. If a part of the body is gangrenous, it endangers the whole body. If something is causing you to sin, then get rid of it! It would be more profitable to lose a member of one’s own body than to bear the eternal consequences of the guilt from such a sin.

Maybe you’ve heard of Aron Ralston, the young man who while canyoneering in Utah’s Blue John Canyon became pinned to the canyon wall by a shifting boulder. He spent the next six days trapped with his hand pinned under an 800-pound rock. In the end he cut off his arm to free himself and he survived to tell the story.

I still have the September 2004 issue of Outside magazine where Aron’s account of survival was first published. Since then, a book (Between a Rock and a Hard Place) has been published and a movie created (127 Hours) to tell the terrifying story. In the Outside account… day 6… Aron is near death and prepares to do the unthinkable. In order to live, he realizes he must amputate his arm. He describes the moment he realized “it” must be done in order to live [Rated R]:

“Out of curiosity, I poke my thumb with my knife blade twice. On the second prodding, the blade punctures the epidermis, like it is dipping into a stick of room-temperature butter, and releases a telltale hissing. Escaping decomposition gases are not good; the rot has advanced more quickly than I guessed. Though the smell is faint to my desensitized nose, it is abjectly unpleasant, the stench of a far-off carcass.

I lash out in fury, trying to yank my arm straight out from under the sandstone handcuff, never wanting more than I do right now to simply rid myself of any connection to this rotting appendage.

I don't want it.

It's not a part of me.

It's garbage.

Throw it away, Aron. Be rid of it.”

Friends, sin will destroy you. It will ensnare your heart! Flee from it. You don’t want it. It’s not a part of you. It’s garbage. Throw away the rotting appendage and be rid of it. Rely on the Holy Spirit who enables you to say no to temptation and strengthens you to be obedient.

Life Is Mundane

Johnathan Todd      

We are set up. We long for and are encouraged to experience grand, big, exciting, fascinating lives. Yet most of life is actually quite mundane…

…wake up so I can go to bed again that night.

…wash dishes so I can dirty them again.

…take a shower so I can get dirty again.

…eat, only to find myself hungry again.

Sadly, we discount all of this mundane part of life when in fact, we should treat it worshipfully. Huh? Let scripture speak here…

      1 Corinthians 10:31

      So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the 

      glory of God.

      Philippians 4:4

      Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

      Romans 12:1

      I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of 

      God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and 

      acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

      1 Thessalonians 5:18

      Give thanks in all circumstances.

So, as you go about those mundane parts of life, you can either be frustrated and disappointed because it isn’t the “exciting” you were hoping for, or you can choose - even in the mundane - to glorify God, rejoice, give thanks, and present your life as a living sacrifice.

Mythbusting Toward a New Day

John Ottley        

We had a terrific event for “Adults Over 55” (formerly known as “Seniors”) Thursday evening.  If you were old enough to attend, but couldn’t for some reason, we missed you and you missed a great time!  We had an excellent turnout… about 120 people.  We had a great meal courtesy of the Germantown Commissary and plenty of great desserts.   I tried to blow up three myths of “Seniors Ministry.”

Mythbuster #1:  We’re not labeling anyone.  We want you to be involved in the mission of Grace Evan to "reach an unchurched world through maturing believers."  We want you to be what God wants you to be (a Christ-like servant) and do what God wants you to do (the good works spoken of in Ephesians 2:10).   We want you to be content with your age but not complacent.   We don’t want “adults over 55” to be discontent, defensive or in denial.  “No stinkin’ badges.”

Mythbuster #2:  We’re not trying to make busy people busier by giving them more to do.  We do want “adults over 55” to prioritize their personal spiritual growth.  We want everyone to have “a ministry in the church and a mission in the world.”  We want to challenge and inspire each other to mature by “emulating Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.” 

Mythbuster #3:  It’s not about you.  We’re not here to make sure everything’s goin’ your way.  Someone has said, “The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness.  If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God.”  And not just any god.  The God who has spoken in Scripture and in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3).

Lee Harrington and Jim Umlauf played and sang a great set of “oldies.”  It’s rumored that people were dancing in the aisles, but of course, we can’t confirm this.  Andrew Bryant brought the house down with his rendition of a Michael Buble’ number.  Dr.Young gave an excellent message from Mark 8 about “the leaven of aging.”  He challenged us about the leaven of bitterness, false guilt, fear, and feelings of regret or uselessness.  Betsy Bryant capped the evening off with a great “prayer in song” to remind us that it’s a new day for adults over 55 at Grace Evan.  Let’s make the most of it.

Father, I know that all my life is portioned out for me,

The changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see;

I ask Thee for a present mind intent on pleasing Thee.

Eyes Fixed

Morgan Martin        

“Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth.” - Colossians 3:2

I’ve heard an analogy before:  Just as a ballerina must focus her eyes on a fixed point to keep her balance while she is spinning, so we must focus our eyes on Christ to keep from getting distracted and “falling.” That picture is such a helpful one for me. Circumstances are constantly changing, and the world is spinning so fast around us. The only way to keep balanced is to fix our eyes on the One who never changes.

Beneath the Cross of Jesus

Kim Killebrew        

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land;
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat,
and the burden of the day. 

Beneath the cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me;
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess:
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness. 

I take, O cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all the cross. 

---Beneath the Cross of Jesus, by Eliz­a­beth C. Cle­phane, 1868

I love this hymn.  It seems to be the natural cry of my weary soul.  When we sang it a few weeks ago, a few words caught my attention.  Shadow. Home. Rest. Abiding place.  I imagine the few people gathered at the foot of the cross, content in the shadow of it.  I feel myself, thousands of years later, piled in a wounded and weary heap at his feet, desiring to be nowhere else but in the safety of redemption.  

While I know that this abiding place ultimately is our eternal home with God, I wonder about the beginning of our eternal life here on earth.  Shouldn’t these words describe the church? How often do we think of the church as our home within the wilderness?  As we gather with other sick and sore pilgrims, aren’t we all seeking the same thing: the assurance of his redeeming love, despite our unworthiness?  

But how do we treat these other pilgrims?  Do we welcome one another into the shadow?  Do we care to bear one another’s burdens? Are we brave enough to share ours?  I wonder when people see Grace Evan, our church home, do they see the reflection of “the sunshine of his face.”  I certainly hope so... don’t you?

Feed Your Soul

Erin Pearce      

I'm learning more and more, the older I get, what a ministry music is to my soul. I remember in college days getting my very 1st RUF CD (Reformed University Fellowship) that had many of the hymns and songs that we sang in large group. As I would drive around, I remember just listening and meditating on the powerful, truthful words, and then Scripture would come to mind that would remind me of and confirm these truths. Music was such a blessing to my soul, as I was constantly singing these truths alone in my car on days that I was struggling, doubting, fearing, repenting, confessing, rejoicing, praising. Through all kinds of myriads of emotion, these songs would help me cling to the truth when I was having a hard time seeing straight.  Even this morning as I was worrying about my grandmother who is in the ICU and several other people in my life that have had really bad turns in life recently, I heard this song playing as I was putting on my make-up:

Abide With Me by Henry Lyte

Abide with me; falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers, fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, abide with me. 

Thou on my head, in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious, and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close Lord, abide with me. 

I need Thy presence, every passing hour.
What but Thy grace, can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, abide with me. 

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight, tears lose their bitterness
Where is thy sting death? Where grave thy victory?
I triumph still, abide with me. 

Hold Thou Thy cross, before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, Lord, abide with me. 

I was reminded yet again that our Lord is faithful even when we are not. That He is with us when help and comfort flee. He is our constant stronghold who cannot be moved when things seem to be falling apart around us. My soul was encouraged by these truths, and I hope yours is too.

Obedience and Feelings... in that order

By: Chris Leuck     

We live in a “feelings-based” culture. We tend to operate as “feelings-driven” people. By “feelings” I mean one’s personal will, emotions, desires, motivations, etc.

In the current cultural paradigm, an individual’s feelings are seen as a trustworthy primary source for life direction. You have heard and maybe even used the sayings, “Just follow your heart” or “I just have a good feeling about this one…”

This is not the way we should live as Christians (or as human beings, for that matter). Your feelings are not a trustworthy primary source for life direction.

Why?
We are “fallen”… every last one of us. Sin has corrupted mankind and contaminated us to our very core. No man will experience complete freedom from his indwelling sin this side of the grave.

Christians ARE free from sin in another way (in the sense that we no longer have to serve sin as our master… the chains have been broken and we ARE FREE to serve our new master, Jesus Christ). However, we will continue to have indwelling sin as we serve Him.

Stay with me… we live in a time when popular thought says that your feelings ARE a trustworthy source of direction for your life. I am telling you that this is NOT TRUE because you are contaminated with sin down to your deepest parts, including your feelings.

At best, your feelings are often confused. Worse than that, they are often misleading and can be downright destructive. In fact, the corruption in this world has been caused by sinful desire (2 Peter 1:4).

The biblical paradigm puts your feelings in their proper place. Your feelings do not dictate your obedience to God. Your obedience to God dictates your feelings.

1 Peter 1:22-23
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”  (I would recommend reading all of 1 Peter 1 to get the fuller context… Peter describes the great GIFT of salvation and the Christian’s responsibility in light of the gift).

Have you ever been faced with this dilemma? “I REALLY WANT to do ‘that thing’ but I know that God hates ‘that thing’ so I know I shouldn’t do ‘that thing’… but I really want to.”

If you have been a Christian for more than 5 minutes, you have had that dilemma. You have competing sets of feelings. Sometimes you are in touch with the PURE feelings that God has given you, but sometimes you are in touch with your SINFUL feelings. They wage war against each other inside of you. They compete for your loyalty.

Take heart… you ARE FREE from the slavery of service to your sinful desires. You ARE FREE to serve Christ. HOWEVER… please understand that your feelings are not trustworthy. They are NOT to be the primary source of direction for your life. The truth is.

What should you do in that dilemma?
Obey the truth not your feelings. Peter says that your obedience to the truth purifies your soul. Is Peter being legalistic? No. Peter is not talking about earning your salvation… he is talking about living out your salvation.  If you are truly a Christian, you have experienced a second birth… born of an imperishable seed… you have been given salvation.

What are the makings of this second birth?
From 1 Peter 1:23 we at least know that it has come “… through the living and abiding Word of God,” also known as the truth.  Elsewhere, we find more clarity into the fact that God has actually given His people HIS HOLY SPIRIT! See Ezekiel 36:25-27. God has given His people the inner means of obedience. If you are a Christian, he has caused you to be born again of the truth for obedience to the truth. Salvation IS a gift… and the means of your obedience is part of the package. Do not despair of your indwelling sin… live your life in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit… live your life in obedience to the truth.

Ezekiel 36:27
“And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

Regardless of the way you feel, obey the Word… and as you live your life in obedience to the truth, your soul will be purified. This is an important distinction. Your motivation for obedience is not to be the driving force of your obedience. Truth is. Truth dictates what you should or shouldn’t do and obedience to the truth purifies your motivations, or feelings. The more you follow God, the more you will want to follow God (and I would say that the more you live in sin, the more you will want to live in sin).

Think about the implications in the context of marriage:

Ephesians 5:24-25
"… as the church submits to Christ so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…”

But what if I don’t FEEL like it!?

Ephesians 5:33
“… and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

But what if he is being a jerk and he makes me mad? What if I don’t FEEL like it!?

These are not conditional commands… in fact, the call is for unconditional love. Put your feelings in their place. Husband, your call is to sacrifice yourself for your wife’s sake. Wife, respect your husband… submit to him in everything.

Obey God’s commands… He has given you the ability to do so. After a while, you will feel like it.

Chuck Colson

By: Dr. Jimmy Young     

I was saddened to hear on the news Saturday night that Chuck Colson had died.  You younger folk may not recognize that name, but, boy I do.  Nixon’s “hatchet man” of Watergate fame, converted in prison, founder of Prison Fellowship.  What a brother he was! 

I had supper with him one night many years ago.  But I most remember his books, of which there were several.  The guy was brilliant.  There were so many keen insights contained in his books, like this one: 

“I was reminded of a young woman profiled in Psychology Today.  Counseled to give up the endless round of parties, drugs, sex, and alcohol that was driving her into despair, she gasped to her psychiatrist, ‘You mean I don’t have to do everything I want to do?’”  

He was full of the thought-provoking, and did it in a way that made Christianity appear as the most credible option that ever existed.  In a day when we Christians are made to look as if we have committed intellectual suicide, Colson was a star.  I will miss him.