Mistaken Identity

This morning Mark Sutton, minister of Bathurst Community Church preached at our church, Bathurst Evangelical Church, as our minister is in Bali serving a church there for a few weeks.

As an introduction to telling us about people who mistook who Jesus really was in John chapter 7, verses 1-13, Pastor Sutton told us the story of Laura and Whitney, two friends involved in a tragic accident in which one girl died and the other was seriously injured.

The story of how their bodies were mixed up and how one family held a funeral for their daughter who was still alive and fighting for her life, while the other family unwillingly looked after the first family's daughter is a powerful one.

Jess on the role of mother

Jess at Making home writes some great stuff. This is a sample:

If you are one who loves Christ, who desires to see people come and know Him, and longs to find her purpose in the world, let me commend to you the role of mother.

If you are a young woman who has been told all the horrors and sob stories of colic and tantrums and have somehow missed hearing about the joy of raising up interesting, unique individual men and women who will know and serve God, let me commend to you the role of mother.

If you are a gal of my generation, who was told you could "be anything you wanted to be" without ever even having it be hinted that that "anything" might include being "everything" to some little people, let me commend to you the role of mother.

If you are a lady who wants to change the world and make it a better place, let me commend to you the role of mother.

If you are someone who desires to impact people in a huge way, help others to overcome difficulties and find their strengths and God-given abilities, so that they might in turn serve God & contribute to this glorious world in a more weighty manner, let me commend to you the role of mother.

Mothers...

* ... have the opportunity to impact lives, day-in, day out-for 18+ years, more time than any professor or doctor or preacher or counselor will ever be able to have in the lives of the people they seek to impact.
* ... have the privilege to study and know their children so that they can train, counsel, and encourage them as they grow towards adulthood
* ... are given the blessing and responsibility of connecting deeply and wonderfully with their children in ways that are virtually impossible with the world at large.
* ... have the opportunity to love and be loved in a way that is entirely distinct from any other sort of relationship.
* ... are able to change the world through a mastery of various fields and talents that they themselves do not possess, as they spur on and encourage their children to find their God-given place of service.
* ... are able to teach and train and sharpen and shape and guide and gear their children in ways that will forever alter human history.
* ... have the privilege of praying with intimate understanding for the hearts and lives of people from the very beginning of their existence.
* ... have a purposeful career designed by God Himself, with His assistance and leadership guaranteed throughout.
* ... have the unique experience of watching the man they love grow into a man who loves in ways that were unseen and unknown before he became a father.
* ... have a God-given life with sanctification built-in by the requirements of hard work, selflessness, disappointment, perseverance, patience, grace, self-control, and a continual seeking of wisdom from above.
* ... have the unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand with God Almighty and the husband He has given to mold future adults.

I am not saying this is the only way-- but I am absolutely saying that it is an awesome way, and a God-designed way, for women to yield to their Maker by welcoming with joy and with great sober responsibility the blessing and gracious gift of children into their hearts, lives, and wombs.

God continues to do amazing things in my heart and life and draw me closer to Himself through this role of mother, and I would be a foolish woman indeed if I did not speak highly to you of this beautiful means of sanctification that God has given to women: the disciple-making, world-changing, heart-molding role of mother.

One of my favourites

I don't think you can beat this photo of Cathy and Jerome. They look so happy and Jerome looks so secure in Mummy's arms

Tim Keller connects with New York

Interesting article about Tim Keller's work in New York. It shows that careful preparation was involved, but also that Keller embraced New York and New Yorkers, and that God has mightily used him there.

Great story.

More divorces among Christians?

John MacArthur debunks the canard that there are slightly more divorces among born again Christians than among the general population.

Are born again Christians more likely to divorce their spouses than unbelievers are? Some recent studies say, “Yes.” According to one widely reported survey, 27% of born again Christians have been divorced, in comparison to 24% of those who are not born again.

For the one who understands the life-changing power of the gospel, these findings raise a significant question: “What, in the mind of these pollsters, constitutes a born again Christian?” According to the research firm that conducted this survey, a born again Christian is an individual who (1) claims to have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important to him today and (2) believes that he will go to heaven because he has confessed his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as his savior.

To categorize an individual as “born again” because of his answer to two simple questions, however, fails to recognize a solemn truth—not everyone who professes eternal life actually possesses eternal life. Jesus Himself said that many would come to Him on the day of judgment, calling Him, “Lord, Lord” and fully expecting to inherit eternal life, only to be told that they never knew Him (Matt 7:21-23). In fact, Scripture is replete with warnings to those who confess Christ with their mouths but do not possess genuine, saving faith (e.g., Mark 7:6; Luke 6:46; Titus 1:16; James 2:14; 1 John 1:6; 2:4, 9; 4:20; Rev 3:1).

So what about the “born again Christians” in the divorce survey? Where does this group of individuals stand? According to a poll by the same research firm, 15% of born again Christians deny the resurrection of Christ; 28% believe that Jesus committed sins during His life on earth; 34% believe that if a person is good enough he can earn a place in heaven; 26% believe that it doesn’t matter what faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons; and 45% believe that Satan is a symbol of evil rather than an actual being. In other words, many of these “born again Christians” are not born again at all.