In Case You Didn't See It (or refused to watch)

Yesterday, Barack Obama took the oath of office and became our 44th President. Many people watched this ceremony, many did not. Much criticism was thrown at Obama for selecting Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural prayer. Criticism came from the left becasue Warren is opposed to gay marriage. Criticism came from the right because some say he isn't conservative enough. There's just no pleasing . . .anybody!

If you didn't watch Warren's prayer yesterday, click here. Did Warren honor God and Jesus Christ? You be the judge.

Roe vs. Wade

January 22, 1973, in a 7-2 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that abortion on demand is a fundamental right under the Constitution. How far from God we were then and have continued to be.

It began in the Garden of Eden. Our first rebellion. Our first instance of where mankind determined that it was the definer of what is right and what is true and what is pure. It was in the garden that man decided he would act on God's behalf. Forget what the command was. Eve decided she would believe what the serpent told her. They sinned. They found out they were naked. In Genesis 3:11 God asks them, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" Now here is an opportunity to fess up to what they had done, but what do they do? Blame shift. Adam says it's God's fault, Eve says it's the serpent's fault. Sure the serpent was crafty, but so what? Adam and Eve has the clear command of God: "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17)

They had the pick of any tree in the Garden, but this particular tree gave one the ability to know good and evil. They could be like God. At least that's what the serpent told them. Eve twisted the command of God didn't she? She told the serpent that they couldn't even touch it, but here comes Satan with the lie. "The serpent said to the woman, 'You surely will not die!'" (Genesis 3:4)

Satan lied then and he continues to lie now. Adam and Eve did die, and we died with them. Spiritual death is far worse then physical death.

As we come up on the 36th anniversary of one of the worst decisions in American legal history, we need to recognize that as soon as man fell, God provided a means of salvation. Instead of pronouncing judgment on Adam and Eve, God let Satan know that Jesus Christ would crush his head. Yes, there were consequences to their sin, but first there was an avenue of forgiveness. That's the way God is.

If you have had an abortion, it cannot be undone, but it can be forgiven. God does not want you to live with the weight of that sin on your shoulders. He wants you to place it on the shoulders of the only One that can bare your sin. He freely offers forgiveness through the work that His Son Jesus Christ completed on Calvary's cross. I encourage you to seek comfort from the Comforter, from the God who was in the Garden on that rebellious day.

The New Year

Well the new year is upon us. As I look at the expansion of my mid-section, I think about the expansion of our ministry in Camden County. We have expanded our campus with new classrooms, meeting rooms, a kitchen, and lots of storage. I have an office! I'm very excited to be able to work outside of my home. I need the privacy and so do Kari and Amelia.

2009 promises to be a great year. It will have its ups and downs, but one thing is for sure. Jesus is still on the throne and has great plans for us. In Jeremiah 29:11, the prophet says, "‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." As Christians, we need to keep this verse at the forefront of our minds. As we face the trials and struggles of life, God is there with us, walking with us, guiding us to strengthen our faith, to persevere even in difficult circumstances, to remain steadfast, pure, and holy. He is worthy of our devotion, of our praise, and our adoration. How will you serve Him in 2009?

As for me, I will continue to serve Him in every way I can . . . and I will do it in a slimmer, trimmer profile. Getting rid of all the sweet stuff in my house is the first step. Two more cupcakes, and it's all gone.

It's what I've been doing

This has been a busy month for me. I have been busy with the normal things that Christmas brings, decorations, parties, meetings, and so on.

One thing that has really kept me busy is my son Seth. Today marks a milestone in his life and in the world of kayaking. Seth and his friend Keith completed a historic 11 day, 300 mile journey up the St. Johns River in Florida. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of this accomplishment. It is the first time this has been done, so far as anyone can tell, on the St. Johns River. I had the privilege of updating Seth's blog each day.

The first 5 days, they counted 620 alligators. What an adventure. I encourage you to check out all the details at sethdent.com. Click here to watch a video of the story.

This is a very proud Dad.

Thankfulness

Its the day after Thanksgiving. The leftover turkey and dressing are at my sister Clare's. That's one of the down sides of going to someone's house for Thanksgiving. No leftovers. I love Thanksgiving leftovers.

I was thinking about all the blessings God has showered down on us. It got me to thinking about God's grace. We have so much to be thankful for. Don't get me wrong, the past year has had its ups and downs. There have been some significant valleys and some tragedies. One thing was constant. God's grace, God's mercy, God's strength, and God's comfort. He has been and will continue to be the firm foundation upon which we stand.

We need to be thankful year round. I encourage you to remember just how involved God is in your life; how much He loves and cares for you. I cannot imagine life without Him.

A Great Reminder

John MacArthur said, "Preaching, not lobbying, is how we are supposed to make the truth known. Gospel, not law, is what changes sinful hearts. Service, not dominion, is the most effective way to win people in any culture. And Christ, not moralism, should be the primary substance of our message."

How true those words are. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter who is in the White House. Laws cannot change the human heart, they may be able to control human behavior, but not what guides a person's behavior. Only the Holy Spirit can change the heart through the blood of Jesus Christ. That's the transforming power of Christ.

Especially in this time, our message must remain the same with the same power as when Paul preached it. It is time for Christians to stand once again, on the firm foundation of God's Word.

Following God's Word is the change we all need.

Chuck Colson

I received this and thought I'd share it with you. These are the words of Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries.

Pray for Our President and Our Nation

Whether you voted for Barack Obama or John McCain, whether you're recovering from your all-night celebration or drying the tears from your pillow, today's a good day to remember the words of the apostle Paul: "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:1-3). And the new President will surely need our prayers because he and his administration face huge, serious challenges to the health of our nation and to peace in the world—challenges that, in my opinion, neither he nor any government on earth will have the power to overcome without divine aid.
How has America come to this point? Why is our economy on the brink of disaster? Why is our culture so utterly depraved?

I can only think of what Alexandr Solzhenitsyn said about the catastrophic consequences of the Russian revolution. "I recall," he said, "hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened."

Solzhenitsyn was right. Indeed, I can't find any better explanation for why we Americans find ourselves in the state we are in. We have forgotten God. We have also forgotten that American democracy—indeed Western Civilization itself—is the product of the Judeo-Christian understanding of God and humanity. Without that revelation that man is created in the image of God, our founders never would have recognized the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Indeed, as I and others like Rodney Stark have argued, modern science and education, liberal democracy, capitalism flourished in Western civilization precisely because of the Judeo-Christian worldview.

The attacks on Christianity these days are only going to intensify in the months ahead. But we must press on all the more to make a winsome witness. Those who would banish Christianity from American life are risking the very survival of American society.

Friends have asked me whether this economic crisis is God's judgment upon us. I don't know. As I've re-read the Old Testament prophets recently, I couldn't help but notice the recurring theme: The people of God turned away from Him and worshiped false idols. The result was always disaster.

Is God responsible for credit markets collapsing around the world? No. We're responsible. Because instead of worshiping God, we've worshiped false idols of the marketplace, credit card companies and cheap mortgages. We've put our own appetites over our duties to God and neighbor.

So this is no time for Christians to go into the bunkers. No time to wail or moan over our retirement plans. This is a time to repent, to pray more, to give more. It's a time for Christians to lead, encourage, and minister to a faltering country in a faltering economy.

This is a time for the Church to get serious about Christian discipleship. Enough cheap grace.

So pray for the new President and his administration. But most of all, my brothers and sisters, this is a time to love our neighbors and to hunger for God and His righteousness.