Miracles.....and J D Sumner

     I have been often asked if I have seen certifiable miracles in my ministry. There is no question in my mind that I have witnessed the miraculous intervention of God in such supernatural manifestations of His power that I could only come to the conclusion that I had been blessed as a witness to occurrences that can only be defined as miracles. Ordinarily, we have tendencies to associate miracles to medically unexplainable recoveries from terminal illnesses or injuries. However, our Lord moves among us with His "still small  voice" more often than with thunderous proclamations, and His equally miraculous acts may be so camouflaged as coincidences that they are simply overlooked by us. Someone has said that coincidences are God's miracles when He wants to stay anonymous.

     The greatest miracles I have been blessed to see on a regular basis take place during altar calls when people move down the aisles burdened with sin but leave the service delivered and free; they are facing eternal death when they awaken in the morning before their decision for Christ but go to sleep that night resting peacefully with eternal life as their pillow; they do indeed become new creatures in Christ.

     I love talking to people about Jesus, especially those who do not know Him. I certainly am embarrassed that during my ministry I have not led more to a saving knowledge of Him. Nevertheless, I can say with neither apology not boast, that the primary goal of all I do is to lead souls to Christ and my second goal is to enrich the lives of those already saved with a deeper study of Scriptures. 

     The great Methodist evangelist, Samuel Porter Jones, is my pulpit hero and I have patterned much of my evangelistic endeavors and methods after him. His best-known person he influenced for Christ was Capt. Tom Ryman who was converted at a Sam Jones meeting in Nashville in 1885 and later built the Union Gospel Tabernacle for Jones' use for meetings each year in Nashville. Upon Ryman's death, it was renamed the Ryman Auditorium.

     Similarly, the person whose name is most recognizable in association with mine is J D Sumner, the long time bass singer for the famous Blackwood Brothers Quartet, Stamps Quartet and close friend of Elvis Presley. A few days ago I watched an old video recording of the Stamps Quartet at North Jacksonville Baptist Church in 1989.  Most touching and precious to me was when J D stood alone at a microphone with tears flowing and told the congregation about my influence in his life for Christ. Suddenly, tears filled my eyes, too. My dear friend, 

J D Sumner, is with Jesus but I will see him again. I'm humbled that he felt in some way I had helped him. 

     J D is known far and wide. His name transcends southern gospel music. Stories of his legendary life are plentiful, but I want to share a few things about him from my perspective. 

     The last conversation that I had with him before he left for his final series of concerts in Myrtle Beach, during which he passed away, J D hugged me and whispered, "It's such a miracle to me to know that Jesus loves me like he does. Before I got right with God, I just stood on the stage and sang or said something funny; but now that I've found the Lord's love for me, I want to talk about Him instead of singing but I usually just bust out crying."

     Even when J D by his own admission wasn't living as close to to the Lord as he might have done, he was a very generous, caring person. On one occasion, when I was living in Jacksonville, I needed to see my father who was very ill about an hour from Nashville but the plane would arrive so late that I could not get a rental car. When I arrived, there was J D with his car waiting for me, full tank of gas and sack of food and drinks in the front seat. Then, he asked me if either I or my parents needed some money during this time. We didn't but I was overwhelmed with his kindness.

     Although J D is widely-remembered for his straight-from-the-hip honesty, I was truly impressed to hear him defend fellow singers, musicians, pastors or evangelists who may have fallen into sin. On one occasion, I mentioned the name of someone who had actually done him wrong, but he never said a negative word . Instead, he told about a funny experience they had shared one time.

     Somehow, the miracle of miracles is that when I looked at the body of this man who was larger than life lying in a casket, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would see him again. He wrote many, many great songs. One of my favorites is "Inside The Gate." It starts out "Oh how I happy I will be when life's journey here is run, when I look upon His face and I hear Him say well done; you have fought a faithful fight and my child you kept the faith. Enter now my joys are yours so just step inside the gate!" That, my friend, will be the greatest of miracles that we can all experience because of Christ!

     

"A few of my reasons that I believe Trinity Seminary is unique and VERY special"

     It is hard for me to believe that I have now been the president of Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary almost ten years. On August 26, 2005, I became interim president and was inaugurated as the fourth president in Trinity's history on November 5 of that same year. A rather dubious bit of trivia is that later that same day an awful and horrific tornado just barely touched the Trinity campus resulting in minor damage to seminary property but for the greater Newburgh area left a wide swath of death and destruction including the loss of twenty-six lives.  Prior to the arrival of that tornado but after my inauguration earlier that day, my first act as president was to give Trinity to God as completely and totally as I knew how to do. 

     Sometimes I am asked why a person in ministry should choose Trinity for the completion of degree programs. There are several answers I could give but for brevity's sake I will name only a few:

     (1) TRINITY HAS A WELL-CREDENTIALED FACULTY EACH OF WHOM HAS A RICH HISTORY OF MINISTRY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. It is not enough to have a professor who may be a very godly man but has never proven himself in the "foxholes and trenches" of actual ministry. At Trinity you will not only learn from academically well-trained instructors but also from people who have applied what they are teaching into practical success in ministry.

     (2) TRINITY HAS NO THEOLOGICAL HOBBY HORSE. We believe and teach without apology the five fundamentals of the faith which are the blood atonement, the deity of Jesus Christ, the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection and the inerrancy of the scriptures. These doctrines are absolutes and not open to equivocation. Trinity has a long tradition and a wide respect by peers for its adherence to these doctrines. Other institutions work hard to promote themselves as advocates of other doctrinal tenets to the point that they are identified primarily by those tenets which, in my opinion, do not rise to the level of the aforementioned five fundamental doctrines of the faith. For example, there are seminaries whose identity is the propagation of Calvinism. All guest speakers at their campus must be Calvinist. Scholars who have a non-Calvinist view are marginalized by these schools. Other institutions are identified by their anti-inerrancy views while still others are noted for their almost total lack of respect for biblical authority. At Trinity, aside from the five fundamental doctrines of the faith, we allow the student without fear to explore his own denominational distinctives so that he may be able to defend his beliefs. 

     (3) TRINITY HAS LIVE INTERACTIVE WEBINARS SO THAT A CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE IS AVAILABLE. Without leaving home or office a Trinity student via his computer can enjoy the benefits of an on-campus classroom while discussing topics with professors and fellow students. I regularly hear from students who are excitedly registering for upcoming webinars!

     (4) TRINITY HAS STATE-OF-THE-ART ONLINE CLASSES. These classes bring to the student the very finest of religious studies. I was pleased when recently I was informed that Trinity has more courses in books of the Bible than any other Bible college or seminary in the world. This is a treasure trove of material that is available to any individual who desires to learn biblical truth but simply is unable to leave his home to pursue it!

     (5) TRINITY PROVIDES A QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE.  Our founder, Dr John Brooke, established affordability for a superior biblical education  as his goal and we have held firmly to his insistence for that throughout the forty-six years of Trinity's existence. If you speak with one of our Admissions advisers, you will be pleased with what you hear that will make it possible for you to learn at a cost that will not shipwreck your family budget.

     (6) TRINITY PROVIDES YOU WITH LIFELONG MINISTRY ASSISTANCE.  My pastoral ministry includes churches in sizes of 42 to 5100 and  of hundreds of revivals and area crusades as an evangelist in churches large and small in a variety of denominations. I have developed a ministerial network across the nation as well as other parts of the world. When you complete your Trinity program, I commit myself to you as a consultant to help you deal with organizational problems, to give ideas for church growth or to be a person who can submit your name with a personal recommendation if a relocation is needed by you; and, of course, there is no additional charge. When you walk off the platform with degree in hand, we look forward to being there for you in the future whenever you face a crisis.

     These are only a few of the many reasons to choose Trinity. I encourage you to go to our website, www.trinitysem.edu for more information. Once at the website, if you simply fill out the Evaluation Form for more information, you will receive, if you desire, a free e-book by Dr Braxton Hunter, entitled "CORE Facts," a truly outstanding book on Apologetics. It is a book you will reference often in your ministry and daily life. You may choose to call 812.853.0611 and ask to speak to one of our friendly Admissions advisers. They will help you overcome any anxieties and put you on a joyful path to the realization of your dreams. 

     I hope very soon I will be able to welcome you to our worldwide Trinity family! 

     

A Sad Secret In The Church Some Pastors Don't Want Known

       I am about to address a subject that I have never seen discussed in any book or blog article. It is the peculiar plight of the former pastor who has been "forgotten" by some ungrateful church.....or current pastor.

     Over the last month, I have had  an unusual cluster of conversations with five dear men of God, three of whom are retired. Each of the five shared with me the deep inner pain they suffer on a daily basis of being "forgotten" by some church at which they had previously served as pastor before God had moved them elsewhere. I know each of these men. I know their hearts and the battles they fought and the expenditure of tireless personal work as they selflessly gave of themselves at those churches. 

Now, Satan attacks them with ferocity, especially one dear man  who is ill in a nursing home as the Evil One laughingly sneers that his labors at that thankless church were all in vain. I tried to assure them that the lack of respect was not coming from the people of the congregation but rather from the pastor.

     When I was a pastor, I made sure that my congregation knew that I was standing on the shoulders of each pastor who had preceded me, because I believe that every pastor is brought to a church for a specific reason. Some of my predecessors were men with whom I had serious philosophical or procedural disagreements, some were men who were controversial, some were men with whom I had virtually nothing in common, but the undeniable fact was that they had  been the pastor of my church at some point in history. So, I asked myself, "How can I preach to my people the biblical injunction of giving honor to whom honor is due unless I showed honor to every living predecessor of mine by inviting them back to preach, whether I personally liked that previous  pastor as a person or not?"

     This is an ugly problem. It is far more prevalent than one might ever suspect. Since I have travelled much in my ministry and listened carefully to hundreds, if not thousands, of pastors in private conversations, I am glad to report that the vast majority are humble men of God who sincerely love our Lord with all their hearts. However, many of the more visible pastors see themselves as pulpit celebrities who will jealously protect their exalted opinions about their own preaching ability  by refusing to invite a former pastor for fear that that previous pastor will be welcomed too heartily.

     To me, ingratitude is the worst of human sins, especially when we fail to pay tribute to those who have placed themselves in a position to protect us. That is the reason that all veterans of the military deserve our respect. That is the reason that retired policemen and firefighters deserve a warm thank you. And, that is the reason that former pastors, who may have  fought bloody spiritual battles on behalf of us,  deserve our undying gratitude. 

     A few days ago, as I held the frail frame of one of these dear men against my chest and saw the tears wet his cheeks, I purposed to call the man who is now the pastor of my friend's former church. He is a well-known speaker at Bible conferences. The conversation was rather brief and, to me, very discouraging. He informed me very curtly that he knew the former pastor, but had never contacted him by phone or mail, and that he would not make contact with him in the future. Additionally, he would not invite him back to the church for anything. His simple response to my question as to why was blunt, "We've moved on, it's my church now."  To that reply, I answered, "Paul says that even if he were a great orator who spoke with the tongues of men and angels but did not have love, he would be nothing more than sounding brass or tinkling cymbal. You, sir, are a great preacher, but Jesus says we will recognize each other by our love. I cannot recommend you as a pastor to people who need a pastor since you obviously lack love and gratitude for your predecessor. It would be better for me to recommend a less gifted preacher than you, less educated than you, but a man who ardently loves God and all people, including his predecessors. I simply cannot recommend someone who by his own words is sounding brass and tinkling cymbal."

     A tragedy in America is that we have literally thousands of veterans of the military who fought for us in World War II, the Korean Confict, Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan and other dangerous places around the world. They are dying and leaving us daily without our young people hearing their stories directly from them. Likewise, we have a vast number of former pastors, heroes of the faith, who sacrificed much and asked for little in return, but they are largely ignored or bypassed. They still have much to give even yet in the ever-present spiritual war. Our younger people need to hear from them; and, in return, it would do us all good, as a church, to simply say, "Thank you."

     This is a sad secret; we have an almost invisible army of veteran former pastors. They still stand tall and courageous. Unfortunately, too many current pastors, for whatever reason, never use them or honor them, but instead they silently hope the congregations of their churches never notice nor question their arrogant neglect.

     

Are you a "friend" or a "good friend"?

     Mark Twain said, "Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience. This is the ideal life."  Note that Twain said "good" friends; unfortunately, not all friends are good friends. 

     Jesse Owens was the brilliant American athlete who won four gold medals at the Olympics of 1936 in front of Adolph Hitler in Germany. Owens was an African-American and the son of a sharecropper. Understandably, he was very nervous, actually frightened, because of Hitler's vicious racist views that non-Jewish, white people with Nordic features were the master race and all other groups were inferior. Although the previous year Owens had set a record of twenty-six feet, eight and one-half inches in the broad jump, a record that would stand for twenty-five years, his anxiety increased when he watched the tall, blond, white-skinned Luz Long of Germany leap in the range of twenty-six feet during practice. Surprisingly, Long approached Owens and sensed his fears. He encouraged Owens and suggested that during practice he should move his takeoff for his jump back a few

inches in order to build his confidence. Long stayed close by Owens throughout the practices and later the competition. 

After Owens won the event and claimed the second of his four gold medals, he was the first person to hug Owens and congratulate him in full view of Hitler who was in the grandstands. Long was later killed in battle in World War II. Throughout the remainder of his life Owens often said that Long was so dear to him that you could melt down all his medals and cups he had ever won and they would not begin to compare to the 24-carat gold of Luz Long. He always considered Long not just a friend, but a good friend, a close friend.

     Jesus talks about a friend who sticks closer than a brother. I have noticed a strange phenomenon where a sense of loyalty such as existed between David and Jonathan is a very rare attribute today. I have dealt regularly with hurting people who have friends who are now friends with people who have tried to injure them. All I can say to the shell-shocked individuals who feel betrayed is that it is sad when people you know become people you knew. 

I am quite sure that Jesse Owens concerning his friend, Luz Long, would agree with this memorable quote from Michael Bassey Johnson:

     "People will walk in and out of your life, but the one whose footstep made a long, lasting impression is the one person you should never allow to walk out."

Jesus Is A Personal Savior

       Who is Jesus? I can discuss His role as the most important historical figure in the entire history of the world. Or, I am always happy to share his miraculous  life as revealed in the Word of God. Or, I can shed tears with you as we discuss his awful death to purchase our salvation but punctuate the conversation with "Hallelujah" because of His resurrection. 

     The wonder of Jesus is that He is not only God Incarnate for all mankind, but as Mosie Lister wrote in song and the Statesmen Quartet made famous and I have often sung if to nobody else but myself. This is the chorus:

     "He's a personal Savior

     He's mine I know

     I love Him so

     He did my heart 

     A personal favor 

     That's why I tell it out

     Wherever I may go. 

     When I am blue

     And feeling oh so low down

     He'll take me through

     Old Satan can't get me down 

     And from the path

     I'll never more waver

     For He's a friend

     A personal friend."

     

     There is so much I'd like to tell you about what He means to me. He has never failed to be near me in my darkest hours. He has been my Great Physician when hope was gone. He has lifted me up when I've stumbled. He's given me direction when I've been confused as to what to do or where to turn. 

     Most of all, He is my personal Savior because on the day we celebrated His resurrection, I watched my four grandchildren hunting eggs, scurrying here and there while laughing with childhood glee....and His resurrection means death will not permanently separate me from them. Jesus makes all of that possible. 

     I was in an elevator one day and a fellow rider began to use our Lord's name in a vile profane way, I turned to him and said, "Sir, I wish you would not speak of Jesus in such a way, my beloved mother and father are dead, and one day I'll be dead and my grandchildren whom I love dearly will live their lives without me. The only hope I have of seeing them again is the Jesus you are using as a curse word."

     I would have loved to sing for him the first two verses of Mosie Lister's song:

     "You've heard about a place called 

          heaven up in the blue

     I'm glad that all my sins are forgiven

     I'm telling you

     I'd like to see you get this feeling

     You can receive

     God's ready now to give you 

          this feeling

     If you believe.

     Don't ever try to quench the Spirit

     When God's around

     Some people seem to get

          so near it 

     Then turn Him down.

     Judgment you're going

          to see the Savior

     That you passed by

     Think how you're going 

          to feel that morning

     When others cry"....(sing chorus)

     I love Jesus, my personal Savior, for many, many reasons. Most of all, however, it is He who will bring us all safely to the other side. 

     

A Hunter Family Tradition: Being Model Fathers To Their Children

 
 God is described as a father. That being the case, it behooves earthly fathers to do everything that's within their power to faithfully portray our Lord in this unique relationship of fatherhood to their children. This has been a characteristic that the men in my family, the Hunter family, have taken seriously. Though they may have failed in other ways, fatherhood has been passed down through the generations of my ancestry as a sacred trust.

     As a side note, I have found that Mother's Day crowds are among the largest on the church calendar each year while Father's Day is one of the lowest. There is a reason for this. Churches exalt motherhood with not a critical word uttered, but Father's Day at most churches finds men suffering through sermons of the failings of fathers. So, men by the tens of thousands, even godly men, look for reasons to miss an annual sermon listing the shortcomings of fathers and having to listen to that message in front of their children.  When I was a pastor and realized that sad situation, Father's Day at my churches became a day, just like Mother's Day, when noble fathers were lavished with honor and recognition. There are many godly men who more than deserve those tributes.

     Through the years, there was always an expectation of any male in the Hunter family that he would grow up and become a faithful and loving father. There are certain unwritten but ironclad guiding principles that are passed from father to son in the Hunter family tree in terms of successful parenting:

(1) THE FATHER WILL LET NO THING OR PERSON CAUSE ANY OF HIS CHILDREN TO QUESTION THAT HIS LOVE FOR THEM HAS DIMINISHED.

Here is something to remember....there should be nothing a child can do to make his father love him more and there should be nothing a child can do to make his father love him less. Be sure you read that sentence until you fully grasp it. The fragility of a child's heart in regards to his/her father, even with adult children, is such that a father who foolishly lets other activities or people build a wall between father and child may crush that heart irreparably for the duration of this life. A father is a father in that exclusive and wonderful God-given relationship that only his children, and by extension their spouses, have the right to enjoy. He may have friends, close friends or associates, who may be the age of his children or even younger, but if his son feels discomfort that a father's friend is intruding on that father/son bond, he will be wounded in spirit in very harmful ways from which he may never recover. No other male outside your family,  as a boy or later adult, should consider you as his father......and if that intruder tries to refer to you as "dad," draw a firm line that insists the title of "dad" is exclusively the title reserved for your family members. The same, in my opinion, is even more so for a daughter, as a lass or a grown woman. Absolutely no female should intrude on her position as "her daddy's girl" except her sister. Listen well, father! You are a symbol of God to your children. If you let others trespass into your father/child relationship and allow it to seem publicly that you have another child, you are a fool of the highest order. My two sons, Chad and Braxton, have only one father and it's up to me to see that though I may have other friends their ages or younger whom I love and appreciate, my two sons need to know without question my highest commitment and loyalty as a dad by far is to them. 

(2) THE FATHER WILL LAVISHLY PRAISE HIS CHILDREN MORE THAN CRITICIZE THEM.

Peter Lord put it this way. We need to eulogize them. We usually think of eulogies at funerals, but the word, "eulogize," literally means "to say a good word." We need to eulogize everybody.....the clerk at the checkout lane, the neighbors, the people in waiting rooms at doctors offices, etc. You will marvel at how spirits are lifted if you start eulogizing people. How much more so should that be true with children. I have the entire lives of my two sons told them that they can truly achieve whatever dreams God puts in their hearts. Till this day, I regularly tell them how proud I am of them as godly men, now as wonderful husbands and fathers, and also in their careers. I have always eulogized them; I eulogize them today, and I will eulogize them until I draw my last breath.

(3) THE FATHER WILL NEVER LIE TO HIS CHILDREN.  

God is truth. Jesus called himself "the truth." Children need to know that their father can be trusted to always give them a straightforward transparently honest answer to any question. I promised each of my sons as they lay as babies in cradles that I would never lie to them.

(4) THE FATHER WILL FIRMLY BUT FAIRLY DISCIPLINE BUT ALWAYS USE IT AS A LESSON ABOUT GOD'S DISCIPLINE.  

What do I mean by that? Whenever my sons were small and disciplinary actions were necessary, I made sure they heard me tell them that God sometimes disciplines people, including me their father, because He loves us. I always tried to do the discipline in private because I did not want my sons embarrassed. Then, after the penalty was done, I held them and told them that I would never mention this wrongdoing by them ever again because when God forgives us, He forgets it and never brings our sin to his memory again.

     In summary, my father was a simple man. He was hard-working and poorly educated but was a giant of the faith. The principles I laid out above were realities in his life as he lived it before me and my two brothers. I saw that same commitment to fatherhood in my father's father, my grandfather. Once I could hold my sons in my arms and playfully throw them in the air. Later, we played Atari and watched X-Files while munching mounds of popcorn. I remember teaching each of them to drive and repeatedly urging them to forget they even have a left foot....use only your right foot! But the most compelling memory was our ritual of eating Sunday lunch after church as we did on the Sunday before I had heart surgery that because of my blood disease could well be fatal. Before we left the table, I looked across at them and said, "Sons, I promised I would never lie to you, and I won't this time. There's a good chance I won't make it. If I don't, I'll go to heaven. If this is our last Sunday lunch, I have two words for you...'Be there!'"   After saying that, I looked into their eyes and knew they were ok.  Somehow, I felt the presence of my own earthly father who already had made the journey to the other side whisper in my ear, "Your sons are good....they're all right."  No greater reward on this earth is possible than knowing if a father or child is taken in death, they will see each other again....even death can't break that sacred bond!  Hallelujah!

   

"I'm tired of 'doing' church...."

     I'm tired of "doing" church.  It is apparent to anyone with an honest observation that the vast majority of churches today, both traditional and contemporary, have become nothing more than flesh  on parade.  Words like "awesome" and "exciting" have become buzz words that are regular adjectives describing church services. Flamboyant eye-catching "worship events" designed to elicit from the congregation,  depending on the mood of the preacher, either laughter and standing ovations or amazed oohs and ahs are now staples at  worship services. And, above all else, we must be sure people feel comfortable and unoffended, so worship leaders need to dress as ragged as a bouncer at a night club brawl, and ladies can forget Paul's admonition to women about dressing in modest apparel; and, for sure, men should not feel hesitation about their whiskey picture shirt or their favorite casino cap. After all, as we are so often admonished, "man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart." When I hear that phrase used to justify a church crowd that's dressed like glorified sand fleas, I ask myself, "Doesn't the Bible also say to avoid the very appearance of evil"?  Doesn't the Scriptures tell us to "be not conformed to this world?" Doesn't the Bible command us to be "peculiar" people? Say what you will, these verses, as well as host of others, either directly state or firmly imply, that God does care very much how we are dressed when we approach Him and daily represent Him. While I acknowledge that clothing should never be a test of fellowship or genuine hand of welcome to everyone, I still maintain that as we grow by the leadership of the Spirit, everything about us changes, including our dress.

     This is not simply an older generational concern. Today, in 2015, suits and ties with ladies appropriately also attired are expected by participants in wedding parties, funerals, courtroom proceedings, television sports commentators, etc. This is because the degree of  their respect for the activity in which they are participating  is visually conveyed by what they wear as much as by what they say. Casually-dressed large crowds with some religious activity do not necessarily indicate a successful church; otherwise the largest church in Tennessee is located in Knoxville during the fall at Neyland Stadium when over 100,000 are in attendance and start everything with heads bowed in prayer.

     On the other hand, some churches are rusted in tradition and frozen in procedures. Unlike the churches just mentioned, these churches exist at the other extreme. They are bastions of proper decorum. If it weren't so tragic it would be comical that these stilted congregations are so insistent on procedures that a member could be vacationing a thousand miles away from church on Sunday morning but know that at 11:06 they are singing the doxology back home and at 11:23 the pastor is beginning his sermon. 

     While I agree with the scriptural admonition that God expects things to be done decently and in order, the WAY we do worship should never replace WHOM we worship. That applies to the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of disorganized churches mentioned in my opening remarks and also the very formal almost funeral home-like churches of latter remarks.

     The great man of God, Peter Lord, challenged me one time when he asked, "How much of what you do at church, and how you do it, did you ask God if that's what He wanted for YOUR church. Did you and and your leadership get on your knees and ask Him what kind of music that He wanted? Did you ask Him what kind of organization did He want? What kind of preaching did He want? After all, if your church is not really YOUR church, but instead is HIS church, why didn't you ask Him about every detail of what your church does?" Dr Lord's words changed me forever.

     In summary, the churches I was privileged to serve each had significant numerical growth but I believe significant spiritual growth too because I followed Dr Lord's penetrating questions and started seeking God's will instead of emulating what other "successful" pastors were doing. John 22:32 became my guide for growth, both spiritual and numerical, because Jesus promised "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." For assurance, Jesus always keeps His promises, including this one. 

     Yes, I'm tired of doing church. Jesus does a much better job. And, if a church is really a New Testament church in worship, the congregation will actually meet Jesus. When a person meets Jesus, I doubt he will go dancing up shouting, "Awesome!" or formally stretch forth his hand to clasp the Savior's with a courtly "Glad to meet you."  Oh no, I believe that I and every other person who truly loves His appearing will, like John on the Isle of Patmos, fall at His feet as one dead. Friend, that won't be "doing" church, but it will be genuine worship!

     

PLEASE READ!...We Need You For A Solemn Assembly

     In Joel 1:14 are found these words, "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather ye the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God and cry unto the Lord."

     A solemn assembly was called during times of crisis by various leaders such as Moses, Hezekiak and Josiah. Most of the time in the Bible these calls for a gathering of the people to unite solemnly for a time of fasting and prayer was to pray for Israel. A solemn assembly always consisted of three elements:

     (1) Repentance;

     (2) Confession;

     (3) Return to God as our first love.

     Thursday, May 7, is designated as the National Day of Prayer. I think we should also make it a solemn assembly. Joel 1:14 included fasting. So, I intend to fast from after my dinner is concluded on Wednesday, May 6, until dinner time, May, 7. During that time, I will drink only liquids and eat no solid food. Each time I feel hunger pangs I will use that as a trumpet call to enter a solemn assembly to pray for the nation and acute personal needs including needs shared with me by others.

     As the president of Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary, I am calling for a solemn assembly on the National Day of Prayer, May 7. We need believers everywhere to join us. I'm asking faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of Trinity to join us in fasting and prayer. I'm asking my friends and former church members to participate. I'm asking each of you to ask your family, friends and churches to be a part of this solemn assembly.

     If you plan to be a part of this solemn assembly, will you "like" this post. If you have a special need for which all of us can help you pray, please tell us what it is in a comment.

     This is a way to have a groundswell of united prayers to the very altar of heaven that day. I need it, you need it and our nation needs it. 

The Preacher President of the USA

     James A Garfield became the president of the United States in 1881. His presidency, unfortunately, was only of approximately 200 days in duration. On July 2, 1881, only a few months after his inauguration he was shot by Charles J Guiteau as he walked through a railway station. Guiteau was bitter because he had not received a political appointment he wanted. President Garfield lingered until September 19, 1881, but finally died.

     Gloriously, his decision to give his heart to Christ at the age of 18 has been for him of far greater value than being elected president of the United States. Garfield is the only president in American history to also be an ordained minister. He possessed a natural booming voice. He was in New York on Wall Street when news came of President Lincoln's assassination. A large angry mob was on the verge of rioting when Garfield used his magnificent voice and proclaimed, "Fellow citizens, God reigns and the government in Washington still lives!" Those words calmed the mob and they quietly dispersed to their homes. Though his presidency was shortened, President Garfield would often leave the White House to speak at religious gatherings or preach at evangelistic services. He thoroughly enjoyed sharing the claims of Christ with non-believers. So, you can easily see why some historians refer to him as the "Preacher President."

     Can you imagine the horror of today's politically correct crowd if they had to contend with President Garfield or another soul-winning Bible-preaching president like him? On the other hand, can you imagine the welcome Garfield received in heaven as he entered those gates after his death because he loved the "name that is above every name" and that name is Jesus? 

      President Garfield was no poorly educated wimp as those who despise Christians will suggest about faithful men and women who offer themselves for election to public office. He was no wimp because he had served valiantly in the military. He was well educated as proven in that he excelled in Latin and Greek, plus being so ambidextrous and brilliant that he could write equally well both languages at the same time with both hands!

     This may cause some of you to have a migraine, but I think I would sleep better if we had more Preacher Senators, Preacher Representatives, Preacher Justices and Preacher Presidents leading our country.....and I know for a fact that God would be pleased because Proverbs 14:34 says, "Righteousness exalteth a nation..."

What Do You Intend After Easter?

     In the KJV, the word, "Easter," is found only once in the Bible  in Acts 12:4 which includes the phrase, "intending after Easter." That leads me to ask, what are you intending after Easter? The Sunday designated as Easter will be a day of crowded churches and fresh spring clothes. What are the crowds that gather for their once a year ritual of church attendance intending after Easter?

     Dr Bobby Moore was the pastor of the great Broadway Baptist Church in Olive Branch, MS. He was a truly great man of prayer and wrote a book every Christian should read entitled, "Your Personal Devotional Life." I was privileged to preach for him many times. On one occasion, he asked me to preach his Easter service, and he asked me to preach the best evangelistic sermon I could muster. I asked him for his reason for such a request. He replied that there would be hundreds there that day who only come on Easter and probably had the resurrection message memorized. He continued by saying that some just might get saved if they heard an evangelistic message, but if they got upset, they had a year in which to get over it. I did as he asked and 121 adults were saved that day. 

     You need to honor the Risen Lord on the day we honor his resurrection but in reality the proof of whether you truly believe Christ rose from the dead is how you live that precious truth in your life the following 364 days of the year. Does Paul's desire for himself ring true for you as he expressed in Philippians 3:10 where he exclaimed that he wanted to know the power of our Lord's resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings. I tell you this. That's my intention after Easter.

On Good Friday, All Of Us Will Make One Of Three Decisions

     Good Friday is a day for remembrance of the agonizing death and the shed blood of Jesus at Calvary that provided salvation for mankind. 

     Today, I have been thinking of three Roman centurions who stood at the base of the cross that day. I believe each of them made decisions that reflect decisions made by everyone in today's modern world. I think you will understand as I present each centurion for your contemplation, because I believe two made the wrong decision and are in hell today, but one made the right decision and is in heaven.

     THE FIRST CENTURION MISSED SALVATION BECAUSE OF DISTRACTION. He was gambling for the seamless coat of Jesus, probably with his back turned on the most important event in human history. There is nothing either moral or immoral about wanting a coat. His problem was that he was distracted from Jesus. Modern Americans have little or no time for Jesus because of their being distracted by sports, family, careers, politics, etc. I believe hell will have huge crowds of people who were actually moral, good people, but people whose attention was on things that in and of themselves were good things but nevertheless kept people from gazing upon the Christ of Calvary.

     THE SECOND CENTURION MISSED SALVATION BECAUSE OF A USELESS

DEED. He cast a spear into the lifeless body of Jesus. That was a useless act. It made no sense. A spear is an instrument of combat against a living person. However, he must have despised our Lord so much that he could not restrain himself from this non-productive deed. There are millions who will be in hell because like this centurion they will choose some useless, non-productive sin rather than accepting Jesus as Savior. I believe at the judgment all of heaven's angels will mock them for the choice of a useless sin over the Son of God. 

     THE THIRD CENTURION MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE BECAUSE HE GOT AS CLOSE TO JESUS AS HE COULD AND ADORED HIM. In Mark 15:39 we are told that this centurion, according to the KJV, got over "against" Jesus. To be so close that you are against someone is to be as near that person as possible. And, once he was there, according to verse 39 of Mark 15, he saw Jesus as he gave up the ghost and then said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."

     On this Good Friday, as we ponder the cross, which of these centurions represents you? Are you so distracted by even good things of this world that you have no intimacy with Jesus? Are you too committed to a useless sin that you will not obey our Lord's commands? Or, are you as near to Jesus as possible and adoring him as the Son of God?

So What If They Did Backtrack In Indiana...

    It is extremely disturbing to me that there are preachers and laymen in the Christian community who believe it is a good thing when legislators and governors change enacted laws because of an unusually heavy backlash by not only their constituents but also by economic threats coming from out-of-state groups. We are seeing this presently in Indiana, the state in which I now have my residence. It is one thing if opposition to legislation is based upon the actual statements included in the bill, but it is quite another to stir up a mob mentality through screaming vitriolic falsehoods by alleging conditions in the bill that do not exist. This acquiescence to whichever group can shout the loudest will lead to anarchy, a total breakdown of an orderly government of laws and reason.  And, lest you think of me as a right-wing fanatic, let me assure you that I have friends of a more liberal political persuasion than mine that are also very concerned about this kind of socio-political protest that distorts facts to fit its own agenda.

     We are living in a time unprecedented in the history of our nation. There is an increasing gathering of storm clouds that is speeding toward all who follow Christ. Since Trinity Seminary has students and alumni in over eighty denominations, I believe I am in a unique position to speak on this subject because we have Christian leaders in this vast array of denominations who serve across the spectrum from very conservative churches to very liberal churches. Let me warn all of you. If this trend continues, none of you will be safe from government interference to preach your convictions concerning anything that touches at all on moral issues. This activist effort to use the government to squelch the faith convictions of business owners will never be satisfied. So, if you are of a more liberal theological leaning and perhaps even agree with the backtracking in Indiana and Arkansas, please consider the history of the USSR and its evolution into an atheist state. Before the fall of that country, not only were conservative churches banned but liberal churches were outlawed as well. It is extremely important that all believers in Christ, and I mean all believers, conservative or liberal, should immediately and very soberly look toward the future of America in terms of your ability to leave your particular religious faith to your posterity. 

     The best defense against an uncertain future that includes the possibility of a religious purging in America is the election of statesmen, not mere politicians, of high moral character to serve in both major political parties. We need men and women in elected office who cannot be threatened, coerced, intimidated, bribed, bought or sold. We need people who possess a reasonable mind who will listen carefully to opposing views; men such as Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan who fiercely argued their respective positions and then went out to dinner together. We need people of a resolute spirit who will not listen to the howling mobs or watch the latest polls but rather make decisions based on earnest convictions and then firmly stand on them even if it means the loss of re-election. We need people with a religious foundation that is anchored on "Thus saith the Lord!" as found in their regular study of God's Word. We need champions, not cowards, statesmen, not snivelers; and godly, not godless. 

     Finally, my appeal to all who name the name of Christ is that you determine within yourself that "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"