From Wesley's Sermon 24
"It is impossible for any that have it to hide the religion of Jesus Christ."
"Men who love darkness rather than light will make every effort to prove that the light in you is darkness... Your [persistence] will make you still more visible and conspicuous than you were before."
"A secret, unobserved religion cannot be the religion of Jesus Christ."
"God does not enlighten any soul with his glorious knowledge and love to have it covered or concealed, either by so-called prudence, or shame..."
These thoughts are foremost in my mind as I consider evangelism in this season. We dare not, we cannot hide the love and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ! It will not be enough that we ourselves are joyful and ecstatic, receiving some private benefit, perhaps like children of a wealthy and indulgent father, cavorting while other kids can only imagine what it would be like...
Please, tell them the reason for the joy that is in you! Tell them the reason for the season! Compel them to come into the Feast!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
George Story, Methodist Preacher
George Story was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1738. He was something of a prodigy, having read the catechism and explained his understanding of it to the minister-- at the age of 4! By the age of 6, he had read the entire Bible several times. He repeats a story common to a couple of other of Wesley's Veterans, that when he was a boy he threw a rock at a neighbor's fowl, not immediately killing it, and being very disturbed by the animal's death agonies.
His parents taught him to fear the Lord, and the local minister of the Church of England was a pious and engaging man, so the young Story had a solid foundation. But as his boyhood wore on into adolescence, Story started drifting away from his training and ultimately his faith. Story was apprenticed to printers and booksellers, and was around not only lots of information that he greedily absorbed, but also around the latest intellectual fashions.
He tried to fit into the world, thinking he would be in the "party crowd," playing cards-- but this bored him. He decided perhaps he would start betting on horses, but he thought that surely humans were made for more than watching horses go round and round. Because he was of a serious bent, and inclined to think about what was the purpose of life, and having left his faith behind, he fell into Deism.
Story says something that really strikes at the root of my conversion to Christianity. He remarks that he had tried to live his life according to Reason, but that he stood condemned "even by that partial judge;" which is to say, you'll always have a long list of real good reasons for everything you've done. But at the end of the day, for all the learning and thinking and justifications, you find yourself as venal and self-serving as anyone. So what do you do?
At this juncture in his life, Story heard that his mother had found grace among the Methodists. She encouraged him to go hear them. He went for her sake, but was prepared to scorn their ignorant ways. He said, indeed, that since all their arguments were from Scripture and he did not care what Scripture said, he wrote them off.
But a young woman among the Methodists asked him if he was happy. He said No, and she asked if he wanted to be. He said he had sought that by as many means as he could find, but alas, did not have it. She said that if he sought the Lord he would find the peace and happiness he was looking for. Somehow, this struck deep within him, and he did seek the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and says that he then discovered how important the Scriptures are: "there is no other revelation of the divine will to mankind... I found my reason had been deceived and corrupted by the suggestions of an enemy..."
He joined the Methodist societies, and only reluctantly began exhorting and sharing what he learned. He felt a call to preach, but as he had a speech impediment, he was not sure how he would fare. The Methodists opened a small chapel nearby and he began to preach regularly. At the Conference of 1762, he went only with the intention of listening to the discussions, and spending some time with the preachers. As it turned out, his friends suggested him to the Conference as a preacher, and off he went!
Story died in 1818, and a friend said of him, "He was on old disciple, a faithful laborer in the Lord's vineyard. He continued to travel in various parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland."
He finished his career by being the head of the Methodist printing house-- back to his old work.
Just before he died, he said, "I feel Christ to be more precious to my soul than ever."
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
His parents taught him to fear the Lord, and the local minister of the Church of England was a pious and engaging man, so the young Story had a solid foundation. But as his boyhood wore on into adolescence, Story started drifting away from his training and ultimately his faith. Story was apprenticed to printers and booksellers, and was around not only lots of information that he greedily absorbed, but also around the latest intellectual fashions.
He tried to fit into the world, thinking he would be in the "party crowd," playing cards-- but this bored him. He decided perhaps he would start betting on horses, but he thought that surely humans were made for more than watching horses go round and round. Because he was of a serious bent, and inclined to think about what was the purpose of life, and having left his faith behind, he fell into Deism.
Story says something that really strikes at the root of my conversion to Christianity. He remarks that he had tried to live his life according to Reason, but that he stood condemned "even by that partial judge;" which is to say, you'll always have a long list of real good reasons for everything you've done. But at the end of the day, for all the learning and thinking and justifications, you find yourself as venal and self-serving as anyone. So what do you do?
At this juncture in his life, Story heard that his mother had found grace among the Methodists. She encouraged him to go hear them. He went for her sake, but was prepared to scorn their ignorant ways. He said, indeed, that since all their arguments were from Scripture and he did not care what Scripture said, he wrote them off.
But a young woman among the Methodists asked him if he was happy. He said No, and she asked if he wanted to be. He said he had sought that by as many means as he could find, but alas, did not have it. She said that if he sought the Lord he would find the peace and happiness he was looking for. Somehow, this struck deep within him, and he did seek the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and says that he then discovered how important the Scriptures are: "there is no other revelation of the divine will to mankind... I found my reason had been deceived and corrupted by the suggestions of an enemy..."
He joined the Methodist societies, and only reluctantly began exhorting and sharing what he learned. He felt a call to preach, but as he had a speech impediment, he was not sure how he would fare. The Methodists opened a small chapel nearby and he began to preach regularly. At the Conference of 1762, he went only with the intention of listening to the discussions, and spending some time with the preachers. As it turned out, his friends suggested him to the Conference as a preacher, and off he went!
Story died in 1818, and a friend said of him, "He was on old disciple, a faithful laborer in the Lord's vineyard. He continued to travel in various parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland."
He finished his career by being the head of the Methodist printing house-- back to his old work.
Just before he died, he said, "I feel Christ to be more precious to my soul than ever."
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, December 20, 2010
Richard Whatcoat, Methodist Preacher
Whatcoat was born in 1736. His father died while he was a child, leaving a widow and five children. At 13 years of age, he entered his apprenticeship, and was known for his piety, or at least, for his avoidance of open sin. It is interesting to note that he considered this as having "little religion;" for when he went to another job where the master had no religious life, Whatcoat left in fear that he would fall.
When he came to his new place of employment, he began to hear the Methodist preachers. One in particular seemed to speak directly to him concerning the fall of man, and Whatcoat fell under conviction of sin. "Though I believed all the Scripture to be of God, yet I had not the marks of a Christian believer. And I was convinced that if I died in the state I was in, I should be miserable forever. Yet I could not conceive how I that had lived sos sober a life could be the chief of sinners." [How true-- this is a huge battle for the church in the affluent world. We think we are basically ok, and Jesus will give us a little push to true righteousness...]
Whatcoat one day heard a testimony that gave him hope; someone said to him, "I know God for Christ's sake has forgiven all my sins, and His Spirit witnesses with my spirit that I am a child of God."
Whatcoat says that his previous life of avoiding open sin, what he called sobriety, was nothing but filthy rags. [For if all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, there is no remedy but grace.] On Spetember 3, 1758, as he was reading his bible, he seemed to hear a voice whisper to him that he should read no more, for the more he knew, the more he would be accountable to, and what if he knew the will of God and still did not follow it? But he kept on, and came to the words of the testimony he had heard, about the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God. "In the same instant, I was filled with unspeakable peace and joy in believing, and all fear of death and judgment and hell suddenly vanished away."
He has a word that I know speaks to me, and perhaps speaks to you, in the heady times after a dynamic conversion: "This joy and peace continued about three weeks, after which it was suggested to me, 'you have deceived yourself. How dare you think you are a child of God. And even if you are, this won't last. Your faith will fail.' This threw me into great confusion and heaviness, but it didn't last long. I dug deeper in to prayer and to reading and hearing the Word of God at all opportunities."
And as a good primitive Methodist preacher, Whatcoat has a word to say on perfection, being filled with the love of God. "Even though I was justified, I still find that I was not wholly sanctified... I paid more attention to the great and precious promises whereby we may escape the corruption of this world and be made partakers of the divine nature. I was much confirmed in my hope by hearing Mr. Mather speak often on the subject [PLEASE, METHODIST MINISTERS!! Speak often about being filled with love of God, the Second Blessing, Christian Perfection, Entire Sanctification. People are hungry for the truth of the Word!] I saw it was the mere gift of God, to be received by faith And after many sharp and painful conflicts, and many gracious visitations, on March 28, 1761, my spirit was drawn out and and engaged in wrestling with God for about two hours in a manner I never did before. Suddenly I was stripped of all but love, and prayer, and praise; and in this happy state, rejoicing evermore, and in everything giving thanks, I continued for some years, wanting nothing more for soul or body than I received from day to day.
With this powerful experience of the love of God for His creation, how could Whatcoat not want to share what he had found? Hed began to preach in the neighboring towns, exhorting people to repent and believe the good news. He did this for about 18 months, and then began to feel that he might be more useful as a travelling preacher. A little while later in 1769, he was accepted as a probationary preacher and assigned to his first circuit. In 1774, he was appointed to a circuit in Ireland. He had to count the cost-- not only his fear of sailing, but also that his mother was on her death-bed. But she fully supported and loved his work of preaching and so sent him away, not knowing if they would meet again on this side.
The Irish ministry was tough: "It took us eight weeks [to travel the circuit] and in that time we slept in nearly 50 different locations-- the ones that weren't cold were damp, and still others not very clean. We commonly preached 2-3 times per day, besides meeting the societies and visiting the sick, and we had no other food but potatoes and a little salt-meat." Whatcoat's health declined under this regimen, but 200 people were added to the rolls and many of them found salvation on Jesus' name.
Because of his declining health, Whatcoat had to quit preaching to recuperate. And he did recuperate; in 1784, Wesley sent Whatcoat to America with Thomas Vasey, Dr. Coke, and Francis Asbury. In 1800, Whatcoat was appointed Bishop with Asbury, because the fruit of Methodism was growing beyond what could be handled.
A convicting eulogy: "Whoever saw him light or trifling? Whoever heard him speak evil of anyone? Nay, hoever heard him speak an idle word? He was dead to envy, self-exaltation or praise; sober without sadness; cheerful without levity; careful without covetousness; and decent without pride. He died without enough money to pay the expenses of his sickness or funeral--if anyone had asked for payment!"
Richard Whatcoat died July 5, 1806 after a series of illnesses aggravated by his traveling laid him low.
When he came to his new place of employment, he began to hear the Methodist preachers. One in particular seemed to speak directly to him concerning the fall of man, and Whatcoat fell under conviction of sin. "Though I believed all the Scripture to be of God, yet I had not the marks of a Christian believer. And I was convinced that if I died in the state I was in, I should be miserable forever. Yet I could not conceive how I that had lived sos sober a life could be the chief of sinners." [How true-- this is a huge battle for the church in the affluent world. We think we are basically ok, and Jesus will give us a little push to true righteousness...]
Whatcoat one day heard a testimony that gave him hope; someone said to him, "I know God for Christ's sake has forgiven all my sins, and His Spirit witnesses with my spirit that I am a child of God."
Whatcoat says that his previous life of avoiding open sin, what he called sobriety, was nothing but filthy rags. [For if all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, there is no remedy but grace.] On Spetember 3, 1758, as he was reading his bible, he seemed to hear a voice whisper to him that he should read no more, for the more he knew, the more he would be accountable to, and what if he knew the will of God and still did not follow it? But he kept on, and came to the words of the testimony he had heard, about the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God. "In the same instant, I was filled with unspeakable peace and joy in believing, and all fear of death and judgment and hell suddenly vanished away."
He has a word that I know speaks to me, and perhaps speaks to you, in the heady times after a dynamic conversion: "This joy and peace continued about three weeks, after which it was suggested to me, 'you have deceived yourself. How dare you think you are a child of God. And even if you are, this won't last. Your faith will fail.' This threw me into great confusion and heaviness, but it didn't last long. I dug deeper in to prayer and to reading and hearing the Word of God at all opportunities."
And as a good primitive Methodist preacher, Whatcoat has a word to say on perfection, being filled with the love of God. "Even though I was justified, I still find that I was not wholly sanctified... I paid more attention to the great and precious promises whereby we may escape the corruption of this world and be made partakers of the divine nature. I was much confirmed in my hope by hearing Mr. Mather speak often on the subject [PLEASE, METHODIST MINISTERS!! Speak often about being filled with love of God, the Second Blessing, Christian Perfection, Entire Sanctification. People are hungry for the truth of the Word!] I saw it was the mere gift of God, to be received by faith And after many sharp and painful conflicts, and many gracious visitations, on March 28, 1761, my spirit was drawn out and and engaged in wrestling with God for about two hours in a manner I never did before. Suddenly I was stripped of all but love, and prayer, and praise; and in this happy state, rejoicing evermore, and in everything giving thanks, I continued for some years, wanting nothing more for soul or body than I received from day to day.
With this powerful experience of the love of God for His creation, how could Whatcoat not want to share what he had found? Hed began to preach in the neighboring towns, exhorting people to repent and believe the good news. He did this for about 18 months, and then began to feel that he might be more useful as a travelling preacher. A little while later in 1769, he was accepted as a probationary preacher and assigned to his first circuit. In 1774, he was appointed to a circuit in Ireland. He had to count the cost-- not only his fear of sailing, but also that his mother was on her death-bed. But she fully supported and loved his work of preaching and so sent him away, not knowing if they would meet again on this side.
The Irish ministry was tough: "It took us eight weeks [to travel the circuit] and in that time we slept in nearly 50 different locations-- the ones that weren't cold were damp, and still others not very clean. We commonly preached 2-3 times per day, besides meeting the societies and visiting the sick, and we had no other food but potatoes and a little salt-meat." Whatcoat's health declined under this regimen, but 200 people were added to the rolls and many of them found salvation on Jesus' name.
Because of his declining health, Whatcoat had to quit preaching to recuperate. And he did recuperate; in 1784, Wesley sent Whatcoat to America with Thomas Vasey, Dr. Coke, and Francis Asbury. In 1800, Whatcoat was appointed Bishop with Asbury, because the fruit of Methodism was growing beyond what could be handled.
A convicting eulogy: "Whoever saw him light or trifling? Whoever heard him speak evil of anyone? Nay, hoever heard him speak an idle word? He was dead to envy, self-exaltation or praise; sober without sadness; cheerful without levity; careful without covetousness; and decent without pride. He died without enough money to pay the expenses of his sickness or funeral--if anyone had asked for payment!"
Richard Whatcoat died July 5, 1806 after a series of illnesses aggravated by his traveling laid him low.
Friday, December 17, 2010
2010 Christmas Cards
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Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Salt of the Earth
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot" (Matthew 5:13)
In sermon 24 of the 52 sermons, Wesley reminds us of the interior work that the Beatitudes seek to do in us, and that this interior formation is the substance of our Christian character. He also reminds us that we are not to be totally withdrawn from the world, but that it is in our character to be "salty," to season that which is around us. "The Providence of God has mingled you together with other men, that you may share with others whatever grace you have received from God."
Following immediately on Jesus' words about sharing the grace we have received form God, Jesus shows us what happens to us when we do not share what we have received: "if the salt loses it's saltiness, it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."
If you were holy, had your mind in heavenly things, and therefore did all the good you could, but you are no longer "salty," and therefore cannot impart the good things you have received from God to others...how can you be re-salted? You can't.
To those who have never tasted the goodness of God, He is indeed full of pity and mercy, but to those who have tasted and fallen away (John 15:2-6; Hebrews 6:4 ff) He is a god of Justice.
But who are the ones who lose their saltiness? Those who fall away completely, into apostasy. A believer may fall, even into sin, and rise again because "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins." But we really need to beware. It is one thing to sin and fall down, it is another to keep falling and finally fall away for good.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
In sermon 24 of the 52 sermons, Wesley reminds us of the interior work that the Beatitudes seek to do in us, and that this interior formation is the substance of our Christian character. He also reminds us that we are not to be totally withdrawn from the world, but that it is in our character to be "salty," to season that which is around us. "The Providence of God has mingled you together with other men, that you may share with others whatever grace you have received from God."
Following immediately on Jesus' words about sharing the grace we have received form God, Jesus shows us what happens to us when we do not share what we have received: "if the salt loses it's saltiness, it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."
If you were holy, had your mind in heavenly things, and therefore did all the good you could, but you are no longer "salty," and therefore cannot impart the good things you have received from God to others...how can you be re-salted? You can't.
To those who have never tasted the goodness of God, He is indeed full of pity and mercy, but to those who have tasted and fallen away (John 15:2-6; Hebrews 6:4 ff) He is a god of Justice.
But who are the ones who lose their saltiness? Those who fall away completely, into apostasy. A believer may fall, even into sin, and rise again because "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins." But we really need to beware. It is one thing to sin and fall down, it is another to keep falling and finally fall away for good.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Feed The Hungry Shout Outs
This has been the most amazing year of feeding the hungry! I mean, when the Rock had no money, so many people came through so that not only did we NOT stop feeding the poor and hungry of Lexington, we did more of it! That is our Lord at work!
I can't tell you how incredible all the groups and agencies are! I am afraid I will leave someone out... if I do, please forgive me.
Jim Embry, who showed up at the beginning, and who thought before I did that this was more than just a garden on some empty lots.
The folks from First United Methodist-- their huge garden at Andover and how y'all keep me in "walking around money" to bless the poor! And extravagant generosity in mission giving! Thanks Paul and Teddy!
First Methodist's Andover campus-- for giving us space and running food drives. Thanks Lisa Michele and Todd!
The folks from Southern Hills United Methodist-- Mike and Marian Blodgett, Bill Moore, Dennis Burrows and John Hatton and all the folks that brought in food.
The folks at Seedleaf-- Ryan Koch (who has helped my family in ways you can't imagine) and Rebecca Self
John Walker
Erica Horne and the whole Faith Feeds group. Wow. You packed the halls of our church each Sunday! You guys can tell me more about all the various groups and farms that let you glean! It was amazing.
Bob McKinley from InFeed-- a gentle and encouraging man
Susan Bush from the Dept of Environmental Quality
Kate Black, my favorite librarian.
Berries on Bryan
This goofy idea that we can grow good food for hungry people introduced me to my wife, Jessica, in the garden. Biblical, isn't it?
So many folks at The Rock La Roca United Methodist Church, where I am privileged to pastor-- Martina Ockerman, Melissa Kramer, Larry and Ruth Stewart, Cleat Douglass, Beverly from-across-the-street Paul and Venus Bailey, Mama Itoula, David and Noella Mapigano, Osman Santos, Benjamin Marin Cruz, Miguel Mazariegos Chris Zoch, Matthew Highfill, Robert Highfill, Jimmy Kaindu-- notice how we all come together in the garden. Remember the words of the Revelation:
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the great street of the city. One each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."
Last but not least, Farmer Pinky aka Shannon Baker, an old friend. Maybe 12 years now we've been friends, and for someone who has moved all the time, that's like family. Shannon is our farmer-in-residence, and is working all kinds of plans to expand this great work.
Please tell me if I forgot anyone and I will make amends!!
I can't tell you how incredible all the groups and agencies are! I am afraid I will leave someone out... if I do, please forgive me.
Jim Embry, who showed up at the beginning, and who thought before I did that this was more than just a garden on some empty lots.
The folks from First United Methodist-- their huge garden at Andover and how y'all keep me in "walking around money" to bless the poor! And extravagant generosity in mission giving! Thanks Paul and Teddy!
First Methodist's Andover campus-- for giving us space and running food drives. Thanks Lisa Michele and Todd!
The folks from Southern Hills United Methodist-- Mike and Marian Blodgett, Bill Moore, Dennis Burrows and John Hatton and all the folks that brought in food.
The folks at Seedleaf-- Ryan Koch (who has helped my family in ways you can't imagine) and Rebecca Self
John Walker
Erica Horne and the whole Faith Feeds group. Wow. You packed the halls of our church each Sunday! You guys can tell me more about all the various groups and farms that let you glean! It was amazing.
Bob McKinley from InFeed-- a gentle and encouraging man
Susan Bush from the Dept of Environmental Quality
Kate Black, my favorite librarian.
Berries on Bryan
This goofy idea that we can grow good food for hungry people introduced me to my wife, Jessica, in the garden. Biblical, isn't it?
So many folks at The Rock La Roca United Methodist Church, where I am privileged to pastor-- Martina Ockerman, Melissa Kramer, Larry and Ruth Stewart, Cleat Douglass, Beverly from-across-the-street Paul and Venus Bailey, Mama Itoula, David and Noella Mapigano, Osman Santos, Benjamin Marin Cruz, Miguel Mazariegos Chris Zoch, Matthew Highfill, Robert Highfill, Jimmy Kaindu-- notice how we all come together in the garden. Remember the words of the Revelation:
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the great street of the city. One each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."
Last but not least, Farmer Pinky aka Shannon Baker, an old friend. Maybe 12 years now we've been friends, and for someone who has moved all the time, that's like family. Shannon is our farmer-in-residence, and is working all kinds of plans to expand this great work.
Please tell me if I forgot anyone and I will make amends!!
Monday, December 13, 2010
George Shadford, Methodist Preacher
Shadford was born in 1739, in Lincolnshire. As a young child, he says he was afraid of death, and felt himself prone to all kinds of wickedness-- he had a very tender conscience. While he was very disturbed by breaking the Sabbath by playing (at one point, even being chased by the parson!) he also did like to throw sticks and rocks at animals to harm them. So while we might say that sometimes he was too scrupulous about suspected wrong-doings, he was at times a real malefactor.
He performed all the outward duties of the Church of England-- saying set prayers morning and night; being confirmed by the Bishop, getting ready to take Communion. BUt he found that he did not have peace in his soul, either for forgiveness of sins, nor for power to resist temptation.
As young man, he joined the militia, something like the National Guard, not the full time British Army. He figured ot would be fun for an active and athletic man, and also be a little bit of income, with no real responsibilities to be away from home. Sadly for him, the French were actively trying to get Ireland to rebel, and landed a small force just as Shadford was in "basic training," and so he was marched off to Liverpool to get ready to embark for Ireland and war with France! He was really worried that he might be killed in battle having not found God.
He found his way to Methodist preaching because two attractive young ladies were going! After the sermon, he thought no more of the young women, but gave heed to the state of his soul.
The Irish-French matter was settled without Shadford even going to Ireland, and he was sent home, where he found that God had sent a Methodist farmer to his village, and the man was opening the farm to Methodist preaching. But within 2 months, Shadford was back to tricks. Soon enough, though, the Methodist farmer told Shadford that there would be preaching at his farm.
The preacher spoke to Shadford's heart, and he seemed to speak an invitation to follow Christ directly to Shadford. Soon enough, Shadford was in a Methodist Society, and would pray at meetings and even "give an exhortation," but he did not feel he was called to be a preacher.
Shadford began to have fruit in his exhorting, starting with his family. He began to be a regular preacher in Lincolnshire, and John Wesley asked if he would be an appointed travelling preacher. in 1768, Shadford left to preach in Cornwall.
In 1773, Shadford set sail, on Wesley's recommendation, to America, beginning his ministry in Philadelphia. He had ministry in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia.
As the Revolutionary forces were heating up, Shadford and other Methodists were in trouble: John Wesley was anti-revolution, and Shadford believed he could not go against the King, so he decided to go back to England.
From the eulogy of a colleague:"Mr. Shadford was free and generous. His little annual income, managed with a strict regard to economy, supplied his wants and left a portion for the poor and needy." see again that most Scriptural idea: to convince sinners they need the Lord, and to take care of the poor and needy! Let us never consider ourselves greater than our Master, but let us do as He did!
He performed all the outward duties of the Church of England-- saying set prayers morning and night; being confirmed by the Bishop, getting ready to take Communion. BUt he found that he did not have peace in his soul, either for forgiveness of sins, nor for power to resist temptation.
As young man, he joined the militia, something like the National Guard, not the full time British Army. He figured ot would be fun for an active and athletic man, and also be a little bit of income, with no real responsibilities to be away from home. Sadly for him, the French were actively trying to get Ireland to rebel, and landed a small force just as Shadford was in "basic training," and so he was marched off to Liverpool to get ready to embark for Ireland and war with France! He was really worried that he might be killed in battle having not found God.
He found his way to Methodist preaching because two attractive young ladies were going! After the sermon, he thought no more of the young women, but gave heed to the state of his soul.
The Irish-French matter was settled without Shadford even going to Ireland, and he was sent home, where he found that God had sent a Methodist farmer to his village, and the man was opening the farm to Methodist preaching. But within 2 months, Shadford was back to tricks. Soon enough, though, the Methodist farmer told Shadford that there would be preaching at his farm.
The preacher spoke to Shadford's heart, and he seemed to speak an invitation to follow Christ directly to Shadford. Soon enough, Shadford was in a Methodist Society, and would pray at meetings and even "give an exhortation," but he did not feel he was called to be a preacher.
Shadford began to have fruit in his exhorting, starting with his family. He began to be a regular preacher in Lincolnshire, and John Wesley asked if he would be an appointed travelling preacher. in 1768, Shadford left to preach in Cornwall.
In 1773, Shadford set sail, on Wesley's recommendation, to America, beginning his ministry in Philadelphia. He had ministry in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia.
As the Revolutionary forces were heating up, Shadford and other Methodists were in trouble: John Wesley was anti-revolution, and Shadford believed he could not go against the King, so he decided to go back to England.
From the eulogy of a colleague:"Mr. Shadford was free and generous. His little annual income, managed with a strict regard to economy, supplied his wants and left a portion for the poor and needy." see again that most Scriptural idea: to convince sinners they need the Lord, and to take care of the poor and needy! Let us never consider ourselves greater than our Master, but let us do as He did!
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Apostles Were Perfectionists, Part 1
[I am purposely playing with the word perfectionist, hoping that our negative connotation will make us think about perfection not as flawlessness, but as maturity, completion, finished product; someone being all that God has for them to be.]
Ephesians 1:4 God has done for us in Jesus what he did for us so that we would be "holy and blameless in His sight."
"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Eph 4:17-24).
There is a clear progression, from wickedness, to justification. But even while justified, we are still carrying around the "old man" v.22 until we "put him off" and are re-created, having God's righteousness and holiness. That is to say, we will be the "finished product," or perfect.
--from W.A. Godbey's 1886 book, Christian Perfection
Ephesians 1:4 God has done for us in Jesus what he did for us so that we would be "holy and blameless in His sight."
"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Eph 4:17-24).
There is a clear progression, from wickedness, to justification. But even while justified, we are still carrying around the "old man" v.22 until we "put him off" and are re-created, having God's righteousness and holiness. That is to say, we will be the "finished product," or perfect.
--from W.A. Godbey's 1886 book, Christian Perfection
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
John Murlin, Methodist Preacher
Murlin was born in Cornwall in 1722. At age 13, he was apprenticed to a carpenter, and as he put it, both he and his master, lived utterly without God, prone to swearing and taking the Lord's name in vain. When he entered into his own business as a carpenter, he added to that to cursing, he added gambling and drunkenness.
In 1749, he began to hear Methodist preaching (John Wesly, John Nelson, and John Downes led a powerful revival in Cornwall). Murlin says, "I was soon brought under deep conviction." [Let me add how important this is! Our preaching should lead people to the uncomfortable place of conviction, to the moment of decision, where they know they simply cannot keep on as they are, that they have no hope of saving themselves!] Murlin was definitely at the place of needing salvation. All he had was deep conviction of sin, such that he was afraid to go to sleep at night lest he wake up in Hell.
His deliverance came: "In April, I heard Mr. Downes preach on part of the 15th chapter of Luke. Under this sermon I found great deliverance. [Our preaching must diagnose the disease and provide the remedy!]
As he grew in grace, William Roberts, the Methodist traveling preacher in those parts put Murlin in charge of a class meeting in the area. He felt inadequate and began to pray and study the Scriptures more diligently, to be better prepared for the care of souls. He found that he was gifted to give a word of exhortation. And then he was called upon to preach, because even thought there were plenty of local preachers, there were too many places needing and wanting preaching! One day, a preaching meeting had been scheduled, but no preacher could go, so Murlin was pressed into service!
Murlin was well-received by the people, and the traveling preachers worked him and taught him. But Murlin had a problem, a problem that perhaps will sound familiar to many of us today: he had little expenses and great income from his carpentry. And he had a rich uncle who would leave him his estate. So Murlin began to build for himself a nice home. And then John Wesley sent him a letter asking if he would be willing to be a traveling preacher. Murlin wrote back to wesley that basically he was comfortable where he was, and he did not want to do it. All Murlin says is that Wesley wrote him back a letter that answered all those objections! [Man I'd love to see that letter.] Murlin says, "I took my horse and without delay rode away into the west of Cornwall."
Murlin preached in England and Ireland. Murlin, near the end of his career, said of himself, "When I look back on the many years I have now spent in testifying the Gospel of the grace of God, though I have not made the advancement in His ways I might have, yet can I say, to His glory, He hath so kept me that none can lay anything to my charge with regard to my moral conduct since God forst spoke peace to my soul in April 1749."
Perhaps Murlin's highest accolade came from John Wesley, who called him, simply, "honest John Murlin."
His colleague, traveling companion, and friend John Pawson said this in eulogy of Murlin: "His truly Christian temper, as well as his exemplary conduct bore witness that he walked with God. I am inclined to think that very few who have it in their power, as he had, to retire and live comfortably upon the property which God has given them, would continue to struggle with the heavy afflictions which he endured, traveling in all kinds of weather to preach the Gospel; but he had an affecting view of what his Lord and Saviour had suffered for him, and he was confident in his call to ministry.... He was a Methodist of the primitive stamp, in heart and life, and doctrine and discipline." [I think I should be entirely satisfied, if at the end of my life, those who know me would say, "he was a primitive Methodist!]
Murlin died in 1799 of complications from a stroke, in the peace of a firm believer in Christ.
The Methodist Minutes for 1799 gave him the noblest epitaph, repeating Pawson's estimate: "He was a Primitive Methodist."
In 1749, he began to hear Methodist preaching (John Wesly, John Nelson, and John Downes led a powerful revival in Cornwall). Murlin says, "I was soon brought under deep conviction." [Let me add how important this is! Our preaching should lead people to the uncomfortable place of conviction, to the moment of decision, where they know they simply cannot keep on as they are, that they have no hope of saving themselves!] Murlin was definitely at the place of needing salvation. All he had was deep conviction of sin, such that he was afraid to go to sleep at night lest he wake up in Hell.
His deliverance came: "In April, I heard Mr. Downes preach on part of the 15th chapter of Luke. Under this sermon I found great deliverance. [Our preaching must diagnose the disease and provide the remedy!]
As he grew in grace, William Roberts, the Methodist traveling preacher in those parts put Murlin in charge of a class meeting in the area. He felt inadequate and began to pray and study the Scriptures more diligently, to be better prepared for the care of souls. He found that he was gifted to give a word of exhortation. And then he was called upon to preach, because even thought there were plenty of local preachers, there were too many places needing and wanting preaching! One day, a preaching meeting had been scheduled, but no preacher could go, so Murlin was pressed into service!
Murlin was well-received by the people, and the traveling preachers worked him and taught him. But Murlin had a problem, a problem that perhaps will sound familiar to many of us today: he had little expenses and great income from his carpentry. And he had a rich uncle who would leave him his estate. So Murlin began to build for himself a nice home. And then John Wesley sent him a letter asking if he would be willing to be a traveling preacher. Murlin wrote back to wesley that basically he was comfortable where he was, and he did not want to do it. All Murlin says is that Wesley wrote him back a letter that answered all those objections! [Man I'd love to see that letter.] Murlin says, "I took my horse and without delay rode away into the west of Cornwall."
Murlin preached in England and Ireland. Murlin, near the end of his career, said of himself, "When I look back on the many years I have now spent in testifying the Gospel of the grace of God, though I have not made the advancement in His ways I might have, yet can I say, to His glory, He hath so kept me that none can lay anything to my charge with regard to my moral conduct since God forst spoke peace to my soul in April 1749."
Perhaps Murlin's highest accolade came from John Wesley, who called him, simply, "honest John Murlin."
His colleague, traveling companion, and friend John Pawson said this in eulogy of Murlin: "His truly Christian temper, as well as his exemplary conduct bore witness that he walked with God. I am inclined to think that very few who have it in their power, as he had, to retire and live comfortably upon the property which God has given them, would continue to struggle with the heavy afflictions which he endured, traveling in all kinds of weather to preach the Gospel; but he had an affecting view of what his Lord and Saviour had suffered for him, and he was confident in his call to ministry.... He was a Methodist of the primitive stamp, in heart and life, and doctrine and discipline." [I think I should be entirely satisfied, if at the end of my life, those who know me would say, "he was a primitive Methodist!]
Murlin died in 1799 of complications from a stroke, in the peace of a firm believer in Christ.
The Methodist Minutes for 1799 gave him the noblest epitaph, repeating Pawson's estimate: "He was a Primitive Methodist."
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Humorous Moments with Wesley
Because Jessie and I are complete nerds, we often end our evenings reading selections from Wesley's Veterans, a 7 vol account of the exploits of the earliest Methodist preachers. My favorite is John Nelson, a powerful stone mason who flat wore it out preaching.
Once while Wesley and Nelson were on a preaching tour in Cornwall, they had bad weather, getting soaked from one town to the next, losing their way in the night, etc. I want to share two times Nelson had with Wesley. We don't often think of Wesley as light-hearted. These stories make me wish I could have travelled with him. I have tried to update the language.
"When I had been out a week, I returned to St Ives and found Brother Downes in a fever, so that he was not able to preach at all. All that time Mr. Wesley and I lay on the floor: he had my overcoat for his pillow, and I had Burkitt's notes on the New Testament for mine. After being here near three weeks, one morning, about three o'clock, Mr. Wesley rolled over and finding me awake, slapped me on the back and said, 'Brother Nelson, cheer up! I'm only sore on one side of my body, there is a whole other side left.'"
On another occasion, he writes, "One day we had been at St. Hilary Downs, and Mr. Wesley had preached from Ezekiel's vision of dry bones, and there was a shaking among the people as he preached. As we returned, Mr. Wesley stopped his horse to pick blackberries, saying, 'Brother Nelson, we ought to be thankful that there are plenty of blackberries; it's easy to get hungry here, but hard to get food. Do the people think we can live by preaching?"
It reminds me of a time when young John Mynhier and I were out doing evangelism. We were out in the woods so far, you'd have to head towards town to hunt, and we got to some blackberries that the birds had not found. There we were with purple mouths and hands and I said we needed some ice cream, but John said they were good as is.
Once while Wesley and Nelson were on a preaching tour in Cornwall, they had bad weather, getting soaked from one town to the next, losing their way in the night, etc. I want to share two times Nelson had with Wesley. We don't often think of Wesley as light-hearted. These stories make me wish I could have travelled with him. I have tried to update the language.
"When I had been out a week, I returned to St Ives and found Brother Downes in a fever, so that he was not able to preach at all. All that time Mr. Wesley and I lay on the floor: he had my overcoat for his pillow, and I had Burkitt's notes on the New Testament for mine. After being here near three weeks, one morning, about three o'clock, Mr. Wesley rolled over and finding me awake, slapped me on the back and said, 'Brother Nelson, cheer up! I'm only sore on one side of my body, there is a whole other side left.'"
On another occasion, he writes, "One day we had been at St. Hilary Downs, and Mr. Wesley had preached from Ezekiel's vision of dry bones, and there was a shaking among the people as he preached. As we returned, Mr. Wesley stopped his horse to pick blackberries, saying, 'Brother Nelson, we ought to be thankful that there are plenty of blackberries; it's easy to get hungry here, but hard to get food. Do the people think we can live by preaching?"
It reminds me of a time when young John Mynhier and I were out doing evangelism. We were out in the woods so far, you'd have to head towards town to hunt, and we got to some blackberries that the birds had not found. There we were with purple mouths and hands and I said we needed some ice cream, but John said they were good as is.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Perfection Friday
Teddy Ray mentioned that he saw a bumper sticker for a church that said something like "the place where nobody is perfect."
He wasn't sure if we Methodists needed a bumper sticker to counter that, or if it's just the weakness of bumperstickers.
Our bumpersticker would be too long. We'd have to define sin, then love, then the work of the Holy Spirit, then perfection...
And that's both the glory and problem for Christian theology. In a bumper sticker world, theology tries to make sense out of stuff that won't fit on a 2 inch by 8 inch sticker.
But somehow, the church mentioned above doesn't need to define not being perfect...
"Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:1-2).
So, after salvation, there is still something to be done in us? In sermons this summer and fall, I was at pains to describe the idea of mind in the New Testament, that a transformed mind, a mind like Christ's is not a matter of changed opinions, or intentions for better behavior, but rather, it is a mind-transplant, effected by the Holy Spirit. You can not get the New Testament "mind" on your own. It is a gift from the Lord through the Holy Spirit.
It is a mind controlled by love. And again, not human love, but the Holy Spirit love, that allows us to love God, and to love neighbor.
But I do not know of anyone who had that love at the instant of conversion. Neither does the Word expect that. What we see instead is a continuing work of God, making us holy, cleaning us out of our self-will.
This passage from Romans is one of my favorites, in the sense that it has been with me a long time. when I was a new Christian, how badly did I want its promise, that I could be transformed to the point of no longer conforming to the world.
But how? It wasn't when I stopped smoking or stopped drinking, although those were demonstrably good things. I still battled with sin no matter how hard I tried. When I learned that it was the Holy Spirit who must do this work in me, I was set free to let it happen.
But how? That question crops up at every stage. It's one thing to hear that the Holy Spirit will do this if you seek it. But how do I seek it?
Verse 1 of Romans 12 tells us: offer our bodies as living sacrifices. It means that we place our selves on the altar. We lay it down there, consecrate it to God and we keep doing it (thus the living, on-going sacrifice). This can be a sacrifice of praise, in that we rejoice for what God has done and is doing in us. But it has to start with a repentance, laying aside sinful ways, leaving them at the altar and rising up to newness of life.
It is one thing for God to forgive our sins. We can scarce believe He would do that while we are still in our sins. It is yet another thing for Him to make us holy. And being made holy will come on the same condition as salvation: we confess our need for yet more of God. We trust that Jesus will do what He says, that He is as able to make us perfect through His death and resurrection as He was to save us from our sins. That is to say, we will be made perfect by nothing short of faith in Jesus.
He wasn't sure if we Methodists needed a bumper sticker to counter that, or if it's just the weakness of bumperstickers.
Our bumpersticker would be too long. We'd have to define sin, then love, then the work of the Holy Spirit, then perfection...
And that's both the glory and problem for Christian theology. In a bumper sticker world, theology tries to make sense out of stuff that won't fit on a 2 inch by 8 inch sticker.
But somehow, the church mentioned above doesn't need to define not being perfect...
"Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:1-2).
So, after salvation, there is still something to be done in us? In sermons this summer and fall, I was at pains to describe the idea of mind in the New Testament, that a transformed mind, a mind like Christ's is not a matter of changed opinions, or intentions for better behavior, but rather, it is a mind-transplant, effected by the Holy Spirit. You can not get the New Testament "mind" on your own. It is a gift from the Lord through the Holy Spirit.
It is a mind controlled by love. And again, not human love, but the Holy Spirit love, that allows us to love God, and to love neighbor.
But I do not know of anyone who had that love at the instant of conversion. Neither does the Word expect that. What we see instead is a continuing work of God, making us holy, cleaning us out of our self-will.
This passage from Romans is one of my favorites, in the sense that it has been with me a long time. when I was a new Christian, how badly did I want its promise, that I could be transformed to the point of no longer conforming to the world.
But how? It wasn't when I stopped smoking or stopped drinking, although those were demonstrably good things. I still battled with sin no matter how hard I tried. When I learned that it was the Holy Spirit who must do this work in me, I was set free to let it happen.
But how? That question crops up at every stage. It's one thing to hear that the Holy Spirit will do this if you seek it. But how do I seek it?
Verse 1 of Romans 12 tells us: offer our bodies as living sacrifices. It means that we place our selves on the altar. We lay it down there, consecrate it to God and we keep doing it (thus the living, on-going sacrifice). This can be a sacrifice of praise, in that we rejoice for what God has done and is doing in us. But it has to start with a repentance, laying aside sinful ways, leaving them at the altar and rising up to newness of life.
It is one thing for God to forgive our sins. We can scarce believe He would do that while we are still in our sins. It is yet another thing for Him to make us holy. And being made holy will come on the same condition as salvation: we confess our need for yet more of God. We trust that Jesus will do what He says, that He is as able to make us perfect through His death and resurrection as He was to save us from our sins. That is to say, we will be made perfect by nothing short of faith in Jesus.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Blessed Are You When People Falsely Say All Kinds of Evil Against You
We kind of wrapped up Wesley's teaching on being blessed in persecution. This beatitude is treated by Wesley in that same heading, but I wonder if Jesus saying it twice, or expanding on it means it has some extra weight?
I find some of Wesley's thinking about the matter of being spoken against, persecuted, etc intriguing. Part of this is because my grandfather told me something like, "You can tell a lot about your character [i suppose for good and ill!] by who doesn't like you." That is, if everybody likes you, you're doing something wrong!
And yet, I have found that many Christians want a good reputation. No doubt, we want to be sure that we are not evil-doers, but I wonder if we secretly want ourselves, the Church, Jesus to be thought of positively?
And yet, Jesus has here said it won't happen. And at the end of the day, it is because of the Cross.
The Cross is ugly, nasty, torturous death.
The Cross means we are sinners.
Neither of those things are appealing.
And there is this other offensive thing about us: we have found the way to Heaven, without which all go to Hell. To pronounce this is to invite anger and scorn from many, even though some will rejoice.
Maybe this is why as churches we try to do "nice things" in our communities and avoid the work of evangelism?
The crazy thing is, in all this talk about blessings, Jesus is right! They don't sound like blessings! I suppose even after we dig and discover what it means to be meek or a peace-maker, even though that mitigates some of our notions, it still does not seem like a blessing. But... when you live with it for a while... you find indeed, it is a blessing. But more than that, it's out of your hands. If I throw in my lot with Jesus, these characteristics will flow out of me. And where my carnal mind saw mourning as bad, bad, bad, I will find the blessing in being comforted by Him!
Can you tell I have struggled with the Beatitudes for a long time? I always wanted them to mean something other than what they do... And even when I did the word study and Scripture study to ferret out things like meekness, it simply was not until in deepest mourning I was comforted by the presence of my Lord.
I love those moments, where Jesus breaks in and reminds me to trust and obey.
I find some of Wesley's thinking about the matter of being spoken against, persecuted, etc intriguing. Part of this is because my grandfather told me something like, "You can tell a lot about your character [i suppose for good and ill!] by who doesn't like you." That is, if everybody likes you, you're doing something wrong!
And yet, I have found that many Christians want a good reputation. No doubt, we want to be sure that we are not evil-doers, but I wonder if we secretly want ourselves, the Church, Jesus to be thought of positively?
And yet, Jesus has here said it won't happen. And at the end of the day, it is because of the Cross.
The Cross is ugly, nasty, torturous death.
The Cross means we are sinners.
Neither of those things are appealing.
And there is this other offensive thing about us: we have found the way to Heaven, without which all go to Hell. To pronounce this is to invite anger and scorn from many, even though some will rejoice.
Maybe this is why as churches we try to do "nice things" in our communities and avoid the work of evangelism?
The crazy thing is, in all this talk about blessings, Jesus is right! They don't sound like blessings! I suppose even after we dig and discover what it means to be meek or a peace-maker, even though that mitigates some of our notions, it still does not seem like a blessing. But... when you live with it for a while... you find indeed, it is a blessing. But more than that, it's out of your hands. If I throw in my lot with Jesus, these characteristics will flow out of me. And where my carnal mind saw mourning as bad, bad, bad, I will find the blessing in being comforted by Him!
Can you tell I have struggled with the Beatitudes for a long time? I always wanted them to mean something other than what they do... And even when I did the word study and Scripture study to ferret out things like meekness, it simply was not until in deepest mourning I was comforted by the presence of my Lord.
I love those moments, where Jesus breaks in and reminds me to trust and obey.
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