Wisdom from A.W. Tozer

"Little by little Christians these days are being brainwashed. One evidence is that increasing numbers of them are becoming ashamed to be found unequivocally on the side of truth. They say they believe, but their beliefs have been so diluted as to be impossible of clear definition. Moral power has always accompanied definite beliefs. Great saints have always been dogmatic. We need a return to a gentle dogmatism that smiles while it stands stubborn and firm on the Word of God that lives and abides forever.”

A. W. Tozer

Quotes Worth Pondering...

You might have noticed the feature on the right side of this page entitled "Quotes Worth Pondering."

I have chosen some of my favorite quotes, the kind that make you go, "hmmmm," and I've been rotating them. The problem is that once they are off the rotation they disappear from this blog for good.

So, I have decided that I will introduce each quote as a blog entry before they get introduced in the side bar. Then, they will be archived under the label link, "Quotes," in the lower right side of the blog. Now, if you ever find yourself wanting to use one of the quotes I've offered, you'll be able to go there and find it.

No need to thank me. :o)

The Fab Five

No.

This post is not about the "Lost Beatle." His name was Stuart Sutcliffe, by the way. Have I mentioned lately that I love Google?


Actually, I've decided that one of the first things I would like to do with my blog is to share with you all my top five Biblical teachers. Of the five, three are still with us, and two have relocated to better accommodations. Each of them have had varying influences on my faith journey, and I am so grateful to the Lord for their ministries.

Over the next few posts I will highlight each of them, but I want to make a quick introduction of each...in no particular order.

First is Pastor John Piper. Piper is the preaching pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, and the founder of Desiring God. He is the author of a stack of books, and you can hear his teaching on the radio waves around the country. His solid biblical exegesis and obvious passion for the Lord are infectious. I wholeheartedly encourage you to give him a read or a listen. Many of his sermons and free articles can be found on the link I provided above by clicking on his name. He has been of special encouragement to me in the areas of anxiety and depression, a subject that he has had personal dealings with.

Second, is Pastor John MacArthur. MacArthur is the Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. He has a solid radio teaching ministry you might have heard called "Grace To You," and he is known for his pastor mentoring, book authorship, and study materials. For me, MacArthur was an acquired taste. There was a time when I considered him to be a little dry, and a little too certain. Now, his teaching for me is like water to my soul, and his certainty on biblical truths satiates my hunger. I have found more than once that where I disagreed with MacArthur, if I reserved judgment, heard him out, and studied the matter for myself in the scriptures, I ended up a lot closer to his side of the spectrum than I would have initially thought. Again, you can find many free resources on the Grace to You ministry site.

Third, is Paul Washer. The first time I heard Paul Washer preach I was rattled. Really. He spoke with such boldness. I thought, "who on earth is this guy?" I had never heard of him until a couple of years ago. I have now listened to dozens of his sermons, and I am always challenged. If you haven't heard him speak, you will likely be taken aback by his directness, but I encourage you to give him a chance. Washer has quite the testimony. He's served as a missionary to Peru and has since started HeartCry Missionary Society, a training and support ministry for native missionaries all around the world. I truly believe the Lord has raised him up for such a time as this, and that the American Church needs to take heed to Washer's words.

The last two men, although no longer in this world, continue to have a lasting impact on many, many believers.

Charles Spurgeon was a larger-than-life preacher who served in England in the latter part of the 1800's. I will write more on him later, but I have to say that his keen insights into the dangerous trends of the Church are just as applicable today as they were then. And, his stand for truth, at great sacrifice and cost to himself, has inspired me to take the hard road more than once. If you're interested, here is a site you'll want to spend some time at.

Lastly, I have a definite "soft spot" for A.W. Tozer. Tozer has bestowed a treasure on the Church with his volumes of writing. I never get tired of reading his insights. I just wish I had been alive when he was preaching. In some ways I liken him to some of the great painters whose work was never fully realized and appreciated while they were alive. His preaching seems to 'gather steam' with the passage of time. I will look forward to posting about him later. In the mean time, you should check out some of his devotionals.

And there you have it...the fab five. If only one of you is blessed, encouraged, enlightened by one of these mens' teachings after reading this post, then it was worth staying up until 1:30 a.m. to write it.

Yeah, I know. This post didn't quite make the "brevity" criteria, did it? There's always next time.

I'll definitely do it tomorrow...

I've been saying that to myself every day for the past month.

"I'll definitely do a new blog post tomorrow."


I no longer trust what I tell myself. How are you, my blog visitor, supposed to trust me?

I have started around 10 blog posts this last month. Topics range from prosperity doctrine, to poverty, to false revival, to easy believism, and even brevity, ironically enough. "Brevity" was the most recent post idea, because I seem to be struggling with how to write posts that aren't lengthy, but yet thorough enough to get the point across. I'm finding that it's an acquired skill.....and I lack it. I have also found that I'm probably putting a little too much pressure on myself to write deep posts with deep insights that will deeply touch people and make people think deeply. Deep, huh?

I have had a lot going on this last month as well, including having my wisdom teeth removed, traveling to Texas for a week, getting through a "bug" that I brought home with me, and preparing to send my now 13-year-old to his first year of public school in several years....seventh grade, nonetheless.

So, my dear blog visitor, please believe me...I have not forgotten you, and I will be posting a lot to this blog in the next few days. I think I'm just trying to find my footing and hit my stride.

You CAN trust me.....more insightful, thorough, and brief posts to come! Well, that's the idea anyway!

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night!

Okay, I know that post title ages me. That's okay; most of the people reading this are likely right in step with me on the age thing, and you probably recognized that song title....am I right?

I just asked my husband which band recorded that song in the 1970's. I thought it was K.C. and the Sunshine Band. He assures me that it was the Bay City Rollers. Darn it if Google doesn't confirm that my husband is right. He always wins these arguments. I have the worst memory when it comes to band names and movie actors. Luckily, I didn't have a bet riding on this one. I also keep Todd laughing when it comes to the lyrics of old songs. I usually make the words up as I go along. Next time I do that, I'll have to post it for all of your amusement. Shoot, I could probably start a whole new blog with just "Duska's Lyric Bloopers." That's a thought.

Anyway, to my original thought for this evening.

It's Saturday night, and I am anxious.

This is nothing new, mind you. When I was on staff at my church as the worship leader for nearly seven years, I would get anxious every Saturday evening. In fact, I would get nauseous and hardly sleep. I went through periods of feeling great shame about that. Where was my faith? How could I lead others in worship when I was feeling so.....well.....inept and unworthy?

Then, over time, God opened my eyes to a whole new aspect of my struggle with anxiety. I had asked Him to just take away the anxiety many, many times. Every week, there it was again. Then, Paul's words from II Corinthians came to life for me...

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (II Cor. 7-9)

I think it would be easy for someone who leads others in worship to become very self-sufficient, even arrogant. As a worship leader, I loved to hear how people were moved during worship, or to get compliments on my singing or playing. My flesh tended to really eat that up.

Suddenly, I started seeing my anxiety in light of the grace and mercy of God. I'm not saying that anxiety is something to embrace or shrug off. After all, scriptures are pretty clear that "worry" is sin, and we are exhorted to "be anxious for nothing."

On the other hand, my anxiety did keep me from relying on myself as I led others in worship. It's hard to be confident in one's own abilities when your knees are knocking and your stomach's churning. Each and every week I bathed our worship service in prayer, and I pleaded with the Lord to have His way in the service. I really leaned on the Holy Spirit for His leadership and ability. I'm not saying that I was perfectly "in the Spirit" every time I led. But I am saying that the Lord used my anxiety to bring me closer to Him and to bring His people into true worship. How can I not be grateful for that?

I've been asked to help lead worship with Jerry tomorrow at church. It's been a year and a half since I've helped lead worship at Salisbury. Our church has really grown. There are now nearly double the number of people in the congregation. My chest is tight. I'm feeling a little queasy.

But, I'm excited.

I'm remembering how tenderly and faithfully the Lord met me each Sunday morning to bring me into His throne room to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. And I'm reminded that nobody ever remembered the wrong notes I hit, or cared if my voice wasn't up to par. They did, however, remember being drawn in to the Lord's presence.

So, if I need to feel a little uncomfortable in order to experience His amazing work of grace once again. I'm okay with that....I really am.

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (II Cor. 12:10)

True Prosperity

I ran across an old hymn today that I've never heard before. My husband recently gave me an old hymnal that he had acquired for free; even though it was missing its cover and many of its pages, he thought I might like to keep it around for inspiration while crafting some of my handmade paper designs. He knows me so well.

The issue of "prosperity doctrine" has been weighing heavy on my mind lately, and I'm sure I will speak of it with some frequency on this blog. But today, I thought I might share the words of this newly found, yet century old, hymn I've come across. I think that its words rightly interpret the Bible's words on the riches we are promised in Christ.

"Unsearchable Riches"
Copyright, 1882, by John J. Hood / Words and Music by JNO. R. SWENEY

O the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Wealth that can never be told;
Riches exhaustless of mercy and grace,
Precious, more precious than gold.

O the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Who shall their greatness declare?
Jewels, whose luster our lives may adorn,
Pearls that the poorest may wear.

O the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Freely, how freely they flow;
Making the souls of the faithful and true
Happy wherever they go.

O the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Who would not gladly endure
Trials, afflictions, and crosses on earth,
Riches like those to secure!

CHORUS:
Precious, more precious,--- Wealth that can never be told;
O the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Precious, more precious than gold.

And so we begin....

This blog has been a long time coming. Actually, I started a blog a couple of years ago, but I just wasn't ready to commit to the process.

Even now, I hesitate. What could I possibly have to say that would benefit another? Then again, how can I not say some of the things that are pressing on my heart? There are times when I feel as though I could write volumes, and there are times when I feel that I shouldn't dare open my mouth to utter a single word. I'm beginning to see both of these times as moments of opportunity in my growth process....a "time to build up" and a "time to tear down." A time for bold witness, and a time for humble, silent submission.

And so, I view this blog as an opportunity. It is an opportunity for me to share the convictions that seem to saturate my thoughts these days (perhaps freeing up some brain space that is becoming more and more of a commodity as I age). It is an opportunity for me to learn and glean truth from other Christians on this same journey, and to gain understanding into the perspective of non-Christians who join in. It is an opportunity to give testimony to the Lord's grace and, I hope, glory to His precious name.

I encourage you to read, contribute, and pray as you are led. I will reserve the right to delete comments using inappropriate language or not contributing positively to the discussion at hand.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog! God bless you!