Say what you mean and mean what you say

The local church where I serve supports a missionary in Venezuela. This precious, young family is working with New Tribes Mission and has been there serving with the prayer that they can reach a certain people group with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A few weeks back, some comments made by Pat Robertson sent shockwaves throughout the country of Venezuela. Even though Robertson has revoked his original comments, it makes no difference in the eyes of the government of Venezuela. A few days back, President Chavez ordered all New Tribes Missions out of the country.

It has been interesting to see how God unfolds His sovereign plan for this family. I am being purposefully ambiguous as it relates to names, places, and people groups for obvious reasons. Naming them in any type of Internet format could cause them to be targeted and identified.

It is also a great reminder to me to watch what I say. Being a pastor, I use words to communicate the meaning of Scripture. I am rebuked by the exhortation from James, "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well." (3:1-2). It is easy to criticize Robertson, but how many times have we said things from the pulpit that we regret? Most of us do not have media microphones and video recorders filming our every word. Robertson does. Let's learn from his mistakes.

These are difficult issues to think through as Christians. It is clear that the government in Venezuela is against NTM, which is evangelical and fundamental in their approach to the Gospel. To put it Biblically, they are against God and His Gospel (cf. John 15:18-27).

The apostle Paul wrote, "But I shall remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; 9 for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." (1 Corinthians 16:8-9). Oftentimes, we pray for open doors for effective service, then we are surprised when there is opposition! In Paul's case, an open door from God was synonymous with opposition from sinful man. Perhaps we could remember that the next time things are difficult in ministry and in life!

The saga of what will happen with the NTM missionaries is firmly in the hand of God. From our perspective, we see very dimly. Let me close by quoting part of a recent email from our missionary family, "God's sovereign rule is best viewed from back a bit and not with your nose pressed up against the glass. Up close things seem out of control...until things become clear, let's take a couple of steps back from the glass. All we are doing is fogging the view."

Happy anniversary...

Today is the 88th month anniversary for my wife and me. I know, it may sound strange that we celebrate anniversaries every month, but it is something that has really helped to keep the marriage "fresh."

Sarah is a precious wife and mother. "An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her" (Prov 31:10-11a).

I thank God for His grace in providing me with such a wonderful, godly helpmate. To God be the glory in our marriage and ministry.

Heart issues...

No, I am not speaking about my spiritual heart. This article will seek to inform many of you who have heard bits and pieces about the ongoing problems with my physical heart. But please, any and all prayer for my spiritual heart would be welcomed!!!

Let me say first of all that my father had a number of heart attacks during his lifetime. As a matter of fact, he died of a massive heartache on Father's Day of 1993 (June 20). He was only 50 years young.

I have had a heart murmor since I was very young (ca. 3 years old). Growing up, I was told that my slow heart rate was indicative of an "athlete's heart." At resting rate, my heartbeat was around 43 beats per minute. After strenous activity, my heartbeat would jump up to a whopping 90 or 100 beats per minute. While sleeping, however, my heart rate would drop just under 30 beats a minute!

During my third year of seminary, I began having some chest pains. I went to my general practitioner, and he ran an EKG on me. As the report was being printed, he left the room rather hurriedly. I heard him in the next room talking to someone, but I didn't pay any attention. Well, not until I heard him talking about a 27 year old man...then I realized that he was talking about me! He came back into the room and asked me, "How do you feel?" I told him that I felt fine and asked him his reasons for that question. He responded, "I think you might be having a heart attack." It seemed like the world stopped for a second or two. Within minutes, I was walking to the emergency room (just down the hill from the hospital). The ER staff welcomed me and ushered me back immediately. They monitored me overnight, taking all sorts of tests on my heart. The next morning, a cardiologist (Dr. Eric Lee) discussed my potential heart issues and a course of action. After about 30 seconds on a treadmill, it was discovered that I had arrhythmia. The top and bottom chambers of my heart were "blocked: (congenital heart blockage). Dr. Lee's recommendation was a dual-chamber pacemaker that would help to regulate both chambers of the heart, making sure that both "fired" at the same time. Otherwise, one chamber would try to compensate for the other - the result may be a swollen chamber that would eventually rupture. So, I had a St. Jude's dual chamber pacemaker installed on April 4, 2002. It has greatly helped me life, giving me more energy and stamina.

As many of you know, the Lord directed us to serve at Copperfield Bible Church in Houston, Texas immediately after graduating from The Master's Seminary. Houston is world reknown for its excellent cardiologists. My current cardiologist is Dr. Mark Hausknecht. Within two years, I have been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, an enlarged aorta, and a possibility of Marfan Syndrome.

It has been a learning experience over the past few years, to say the least! But God has been faithful through it all. We praise Him for His grace, mercy, reliability, and sovereignty. Without the full knowledge of Him being in control, we would have no confidence in the future!

The latest news from my cardiologist today (October 11, 2005) is that my aorta continues to enlarge. From December 2004 to July 2005, my aorta grew from 3.9 cm to 4.6 cm. From July to October, it grew from 4.6 cm to 4.8 cm. Once the aorta reaches 5-5.5 cm, my cardiologist is recommending me to have corrective surgery to repair the aorta. This is a very invasive surgery, but my youth and health should help me to recover quickly. I have been on Toprol XL since July, and it seems to be slowing the rate of expansion. It has helped to slow the rate of expansion; however, it has not fully stopped the aorta from widening.

I will continue to keep you updated through this blog regarding my health! Thanks for enduring me with me through this long blog. So many have asked, and I figured I would put my entire heart history up for her for others to read at their convenience.

MacArthur labeled as teaching psychology

Someone in our local church asked me to preview a website called Biblical Discernment Ministries. Their Statement of Faith is pretty solid, and there is some helpful information within the website. However, they start getting goofy in their "exposes" of some leading people in the Church.

For example, they affirm that MacArthur teaches and affirms psychological teachings. You can view their website to brush up on your own discernment skills! I have never heard MacArthur make such comments, either over Grace to You or in person. I was at GCC for four years, so I think that I would have heard something during that time. Apparently, these people have the "inside scoop" and know what MacArthur believes better than he himself does!

It never ceases to amaze me how some people can be so blind to the truth. Speaking of the Introduction to Biblical Counseling book that was published in 1994, this website says, "These days anything written by John MacArthur seems to automatically come with high recommendations, and this book is no different. However, we can find nothing in it to recommend" (emphasis mine). I think that is a fairly overrated comment, considering it is a great book on Biblical, nouthetic counseling.

Remembering the good 'ole days

Perhaps some of you men find yourself in a similar situation as I. Recently, I have been reminiscing about my educational days. I have been blessed to have had my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Bible/church/pastoral studies. I have a weekly prayer list that I pray through, and one of the items is to pray specifically for the institutions that I have been privileged to attend.

In the past few weeks, it has really hit me how much I miss my time at these institutions. A pastor once told me, "You will always be the same except for the people you meet and the books you read." I first heard that 10 years ago, and it becomes more and more clear to me every day.

Some of my best friends are those men that I have privileged to study with at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute, Southeastern Baptist Theological College, and The Master's Seminary. You men have profoundly and eternally sharpened me by your character, devotion to family, commitment to Christ, and knowledge of the Word.

I am looking forward to glory, where we can once again gather together. This time, however, it will be forever, not just for three (or four or five or six) years of study. I am praying to that end.