America has such a rich history! And this month we celebrate the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Of course, Illinois is truly the “land of Lincoln”. The last couple of years I have had the privilege of going to some Lincoln sites—including right here in Danville.
One of those sites is the Fithian House. According to the Vermilion County Museum website, on September 21, 1858, Lincoln made one of his last visits to Danville. He was campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat and had just completed four debates with Douglas. Lincoln arrived at Dr. Fithian’s home, and in his stocking feet, he gave an informal speech from the balcony.*
Also here in Danville, is the Lamon House. The Lamon house was buit in 1850. Joseph and Melissa (Beckwith) Lamon built the home. Joseph was the cousin of Ward Hill Lamon. Ward Hill Lamon was the law partner, and later body guard of Abraham Lincoln. This is an easy one for us to visit as it now sets across the street from our home here in Danville. And, as many of you know, our daughter volunteers during the summer for their open houses.
One other place we had the privilege of visiting in 2008 was the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. What a great memorial for one of our greatest presidents. The Memorial was officially dedicated by President William Howard Taft May 30, 1922. The Lincoln Memorial has 36 columns—one for each state during Lincoln’s day—25 in the Union; and 11 who had seceded from the Union. The view from the steps was incredible looking over the national mall—Washington Monument and the US Capitol all in view.
History is important to be studied. Sometimes history is portrayed as boring and meaningless. But there are so many lessons to learn from history. In fact, as the old saying goes, “those who do not know their history are bound to repeat it”.
The Bible, which is a historical book is meant to be studied. In fact, the events that have been recorded for us, have been preserved by God for us! In I Corinthians 10:6, Paul writes about the Old Testament: Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. I hope that we can learn the lessons of history and stay faithful to God.
*http://www.vermilioncountymuseum.org/history.htm
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Titles for Christ in the Revelation
I have been doing a lot of preparation for our Wednesday evening Bible Study in Revelation. My main resource, besides the Bible itself, will be Glenn Bourne’s personal class notes and his book Tower of Truth. Another good resource, which I will use, is The Seer, the Savior and the Saved. You may recognize the author of that book: Dr. James Strauss.
In Dr. Strauss’ book, he has a special study in it entitled Titles for Christ in the Revelation. It is not an exhaustive study, but may make a good sermon series in the future. Based on the titles, it is no wonder that Revelation 4:11 reads, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Here are a few of the titles that Dr. Strauss lists in his book:
· Jesus Christ (1:1, 5)
· Jesus (1:9; 12:17 and other texts)
· Christ (20:4, 6 and other texts)
· The Lord Jesus (22:20-21)
· The Lord (1:10; 14:13 and other texts)
· The Lord’s Christ—also God’s Christ (11:15; 12:10)
· The Son of God (2:18)
· The Son of Man (1:13; 14:14)
· The Word of God (19:13)
· The King of Kings and Lord of Lords (19:16)
Dr. Strauss calls these the “simple designations”.
He then lists several “descriptive designations”:
· Him that loved us and loosed us from our sins by His blood (1:5)
· The Lamb that hath been slain (5:6, 9, 12; 7:14; 13:8)
· The Lamb (5:8, 13; 6:1, 16; 7:9-10, 14, 17; 12:11; 14:1, 4, 10; 15:3; 17:14; 19:7, 9; 21:9, 14, 22, 27; 22:1, 3)
· The First born of the dead (1:5)
· The Faithful witness (1:5)
· The Faithful and True (19:11)
· The Amen (5:14; 18:4)
· The Beginning of the Creation (3:14)
· He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the keys of David, He that openeth, and none shall shut and that shutteth and none shall open (3:7)
There are many other “special designations”, but this gives you a hint of what is to come in our study beginning January 7, 2009. Dr. Strauss ends this special study with these words: “There is some great biblical preaching to be done on the great names of Christ. They describe His person and function of His work. The imagery is not hard to communicate in preaching and teaching”.
I pray that as we study through this great book, we may draw closer to our great Savior and Lord!
(The Seer, the Savior, and the Saved, pp. 333-338)
In Dr. Strauss’ book, he has a special study in it entitled Titles for Christ in the Revelation. It is not an exhaustive study, but may make a good sermon series in the future. Based on the titles, it is no wonder that Revelation 4:11 reads, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”Here are a few of the titles that Dr. Strauss lists in his book:
· Jesus Christ (1:1, 5)
· Jesus (1:9; 12:17 and other texts)
· Christ (20:4, 6 and other texts)
· The Lord Jesus (22:20-21)
· The Lord (1:10; 14:13 and other texts)
· The Lord’s Christ—also God’s Christ (11:15; 12:10)
· The Son of God (2:18)
· The Son of Man (1:13; 14:14)
· The Word of God (19:13)
· The King of Kings and Lord of Lords (19:16)
Dr. Strauss calls these the “simple designations”.
He then lists several “descriptive designations”:
· Him that loved us and loosed us from our sins by His blood (1:5)
· The Lamb that hath been slain (5:6, 9, 12; 7:14; 13:8)
· The Lamb (5:8, 13; 6:1, 16; 7:9-10, 14, 17; 12:11; 14:1, 4, 10; 15:3; 17:14; 19:7, 9; 21:9, 14, 22, 27; 22:1, 3)
· The First born of the dead (1:5)
· The Faithful witness (1:5)
· The Faithful and True (19:11)
· The Amen (5:14; 18:4)
· The Beginning of the Creation (3:14)
· He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the keys of David, He that openeth, and none shall shut and that shutteth and none shall open (3:7)
There are many other “special designations”, but this gives you a hint of what is to come in our study beginning January 7, 2009. Dr. Strauss ends this special study with these words: “There is some great biblical preaching to be done on the great names of Christ. They describe His person and function of His work. The imagery is not hard to communicate in preaching and teaching”.
I pray that as we study through this great book, we may draw closer to our great Savior and Lord!
(The Seer, the Savior, and the Saved, pp. 333-338)
Monday, December 01, 2008
Shepherds in Their Fields at Night
We all know the REAL Christmas story, as it is recorded in the Scriptures. Forget this “Happy Holiday” thing—”MERRY CHRISTMAS” - but that is a whole different newsletter article.
In this newsletter space I wanted to take a look back at those shepherds who received the announcement about the promised Messiah. Luke 2:8 reads, “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night”. There are so many things we can learn from each of the characters in the nativity scene. Let me share a few we can learn from these shepherds.
First thing we learn is right out of Luke 2:8. The Shepherds stayed with their flocks! Simple lesson, but it also teaches us a little about the sheep. The sheep NEED the shepherds! The sheep needed guidance. And the sheep needed to be fed. As I think about the shepherds here at South Side (our elders, overseers or pastors), I am reminded how much we need their wisdom within the assembly.
A second lesson we can learn comes out of that same eighth verse. Luke records that the shepherds were out there even at night. They watched their flocks by night to protect the flock. Wild animals and thieves could break in and try to steal the sheep. But not these Christmas shepherds—they stayed with their flock even at night. Again, reflect on the eldership here at South Side. One of their roles as the pastors of the flock are to protect us from any false doctrine or false teachers who might enter the flock and try to steal the sheep.
Luke 2:9 gives us the next lesson I would like to bring out. As the angels appeared to them, the text says that the shepherds were “terribly frightened”. I hope I am not stretching this, but let me suggest that these Christmas shepherds were humble shepherds. We have the greatest example of a humble shepherd when we look to the Good Shepherd—Jesus—who laid down His life for His sheep. All one has to do is read Philippians 2 to read about the great humility of Jesus! James 4:10 reads, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you”. Humility is truly a quality of the shepherds here at South Side.
For the fourth lesson, we need to drop down to Luke 2:15 after the angels had left. The shepherds said among themselves, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us”. These Christmas shepherds did not trust their personal experience—they wanted to see for themselves! Same way “doubting” Thomas wanted to see for himself the resurrected Christ—I personally am glad he “doubted” - I want my faith to rest on the eyewitness testimony! Our shepherds are firmly planted on the eyewitness testimony of the Bible!
The fifth lesson, is that the shepherds told others about what they had seen. Luke 2:17 says that the shepherds “made known the statement which had been told them about this Child”. What a great example for our shepherds, and each one of us! Each one of us, our pastors included, are commissioned by Christ to go and share the message! May we at South Side learn from the Christmas shepherds to present the Gospel!
The final lesson (and I am running out of space) comes from Luke 2:20 which says, “The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen”. Shepherds spend time glorifying and praising God! In caring for the flock, the shepherds become examples to the sheep for worshiping and praising our God.
In conclusion—I am thankful for our shepherds—all six of them! Len, Lawrence, Larry, Denny, Myreon and Dick are all to be commended on their shepherding the flock here at South Side! I know they won’t mind me saying that I am thankful for someone else even more. I am most thankful for the Chief Pastor (or Shepherd) because when He returns, I will “receive the unfading crown of glory”. (I Peter 5:4).
In this newsletter space I wanted to take a look back at those shepherds who received the announcement about the promised Messiah. Luke 2:8 reads, “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night”. There are so many things we can learn from each of the characters in the nativity scene. Let me share a few we can learn from these shepherds.
First thing we learn is right out of Luke 2:8. The Shepherds stayed with their flocks! Simple lesson, but it also teaches us a little about the sheep. The sheep NEED the shepherds! The sheep needed guidance. And the sheep needed to be fed. As I think about the shepherds here at South Side (our elders, overseers or pastors), I am reminded how much we need their wisdom within the assembly.
A second lesson we can learn comes out of that same eighth verse. Luke records that the shepherds were out there even at night. They watched their flocks by night to protect the flock. Wild animals and thieves could break in and try to steal the sheep. But not these Christmas shepherds—they stayed with their flock even at night. Again, reflect on the eldership here at South Side. One of their roles as the pastors of the flock are to protect us from any false doctrine or false teachers who might enter the flock and try to steal the sheep.
Luke 2:9 gives us the next lesson I would like to bring out. As the angels appeared to them, the text says that the shepherds were “terribly frightened”. I hope I am not stretching this, but let me suggest that these Christmas shepherds were humble shepherds. We have the greatest example of a humble shepherd when we look to the Good Shepherd—Jesus—who laid down His life for His sheep. All one has to do is read Philippians 2 to read about the great humility of Jesus! James 4:10 reads, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you”. Humility is truly a quality of the shepherds here at South Side.
For the fourth lesson, we need to drop down to Luke 2:15 after the angels had left. The shepherds said among themselves, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us”. These Christmas shepherds did not trust their personal experience—they wanted to see for themselves! Same way “doubting” Thomas wanted to see for himself the resurrected Christ—I personally am glad he “doubted” - I want my faith to rest on the eyewitness testimony! Our shepherds are firmly planted on the eyewitness testimony of the Bible!
The fifth lesson, is that the shepherds told others about what they had seen. Luke 2:17 says that the shepherds “made known the statement which had been told them about this Child”. What a great example for our shepherds, and each one of us! Each one of us, our pastors included, are commissioned by Christ to go and share the message! May we at South Side learn from the Christmas shepherds to present the Gospel!
The final lesson (and I am running out of space) comes from Luke 2:20 which says, “The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen”. Shepherds spend time glorifying and praising God! In caring for the flock, the shepherds become examples to the sheep for worshiping and praising our God.
In conclusion—I am thankful for our shepherds—all six of them! Len, Lawrence, Larry, Denny, Myreon and Dick are all to be commended on their shepherding the flock here at South Side! I know they won’t mind me saying that I am thankful for someone else even more. I am most thankful for the Chief Pastor (or Shepherd) because when He returns, I will “receive the unfading crown of glory”. (I Peter 5:4).
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