Book Brief - Strawberry Hill

Strawberry Hill

Mary Ann Hoberman

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (July 1, 2009)

It was a time when children just had to be home in time for lunch. A time when scheduling time to play together would have been considered crazy. A time when a dime was worth something. A time when ice cream was a rare treat. A time when staying inside during the day meant you were sick or it was raining. A time when children explored outside instead of on the internet. A time when parents raised children by actually disciplining their own children as well as children who weren’t their own. It was also, unfortunately, occasionally a time of prejudice.

“I want you to understand something,” she said. “You can be dirty on the outside or you can be dirty on the inside. Outside dirt can be washed off. But when you call people names that insult your religion, you’re dirty on the inside. And that’s not washed away so easily.”

Ten year old Allie is moving to a street called Strawberry Hill. With a magical name like that she doesn’t mind moving so much. Things change when she gets to the new house as she struggles with the change in school, friends, and neighborhood.

Somewhat reminiscent of The Penderwicks on Gardam Street or, perhaps, The Great Brain this is a poetic look back at a simpler childhood. Nostalgic, yet contemporary, as it addresses relationship struggles common to any age, this is a timeless book that will be enjoyed by children as well as adults.

By the way, there is only One who can wash away the inside.

Rating: Hardback

Sermon Notes - The Church: Distinctively Pure

The Church: Distinctively Pure, 1 Peter 2:9-12
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended April 25, 2010

If we are going to accomplish the mission of God we have to be a church serious about sin. The most loving thing and individual or a church can do for a person, and for Christ, is deal with sin.

Peter is writing to the churches to encourage them. He points them to the coming of Christ and reminds them that He always keeps His promises.

In 1 Peter 2:9 Peter tells us why we, and the church, are here. Summarized, we can say:

God has chosen a people for Himself who are to be distinctively pure so that they might proclaim Him to a watching world.

God has chosen a people for Himself...

Peter uses the term for Israel and applies it to the church. We are a chosen “race” (Isaiah 43:10). We are a steward of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are a royal priesthood who are called by, belong to and exist for God. We were once not a people but through Christ all those isolated are now a people (1 Peter 2:10). There is a distinction between who we once were and who we are now.

In His grace, He has chosen a people for Himself. Being a Christian is trusting in the death of Christ and submitting to His rule over your life, so we no longer belong to ourselves – we belong to Him.

…who are to be distinctively pure…

A holy nation, set apart. Out of darkness to light. Out of the world to the kingdom of God. We are known by our righteous deeds and the truth of our message. We are a reflection of the glory of God.

1 John 3:10 shows us there are only two groups of people. You are either of God or the devil and the difference should be obvious because of righteousness. Peter talks about who we should be before he talks of what we should do.

Is your life marked by holiness? In other words, in what ways does your life look different from those around you who do not know Christ? Turn your back on any sin that would keep you from being distinctively pure.

…so that they might proclaim Him to a watching world.

A priest mediates between men and God. The plan from the Old Testament is still the plan today. We are mediators between men and Christ in a certain sense. We are priests as we teach others. If we fail to be pure we can’t do what we are called to do because we aren’t different.

In 1 Peter 2:11-12 he urges us to do what we should. He is not saying that people will come to Christ by watching us. We overestimate our lives when we say this. It is very arrogant because no one can come to Christ without hearing the gospel. He is saying that our life either voids or validates the gospel. If we live like everyone else then we aren’t distinctively pure. When they see an obvious difference and hear the verbal proclamation people with come to Him.

In the Old Testament when the people of God failed to be pure:

1. They lost the blessing and favor of God (Psalm 67).
2. They were unable to accomplish the mission of God and wandered in the desert.
3. They were disciplined by God.

He called the church to warn brothers and sisters in Christ out of love for them and out of love for Christ. Their sin is our problem. We must beg them to walk with Christ. If we fail to warn, admonish, encourage and discipline them we are saying we don’t love them. We are also saying we don’t love Christ or His church. We would rather have a false sense of peace than to do the hard, right thing.

The gospel tells us how to be saved and how to live. We forget the second one sometimes.

NOTE: These are my notes, taken as I listened to the sermon live. Any errors, misunderstandings or misinterpretations are my responsibility entirely and not the fault of the preacher.

Something Light - The Youth of Old Age

Book Brief - Heart of a Shepherd

Heart of a Shepherd

Rosanne Parry

Random House Books for Young Readers (January 27, 2009)

“Brother”, the youngest of five siblings, has more responsibilities than most eleven year olds. Truth be told, more than most adults nowadays.

“They’re not the ones who have to look at the Grands after they’ve worked for ten hours straight and the gate’s still not fixed and the wood’s not split or stacked and the tractor engine is still in eight pieces on the back porch.”

He doesn’t mind the responsibilities. He loves the land, his family and his community. When his father is deployed to Iraq, he determinedly shoulders even more responsibility as his older brothers are also away. With his grandparents and Ernesto, the hired help, he works hard to maintain their Oregon ranch even though he isn’t quite sure that the ranching life is for him.

I suppose I should admit it. It isn’t often I find myself finishing a book with a tear in my eye. I did with this one. This is a beautiful novel of family, duty, sacrifice and faith. God is just as much a part of life as the land.

“Land shapes a man’s heart, too, and his aspirations. A man near the mountains learns to look up, and it calls his mind to God.”

With action enough to satisfy the middle-grade reader and depth enough for any adult, this simple, well-written story is highly recommended for all.

“Don’t confuse the right thing with the easy thing, Brother. Sometimes choosing what’s right for you breaks your heart.”

Rating: Hardback

Quote - Remember Lot's Wife! (Luke 17:32)

"Our Lord's use of the mistake of Lot's wife was to teach the peril of desiring to save things out of the world—lest in doing so we lose all. "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."

The inference from our Lord's use of the incident would seem to be that she was appalled at the thought of leaving and losing all her beloved possessions, and paused in her flight and looked back, with the hope that possibly she might yet run back and snatch some of the ornaments or gems—something, at least, from the awful destruction. "But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt!"

We should not miss the lesson which our Lord Himself teaches us from the tragic fate of this woman. We cannot have both worlds! Lot's wife could have escaped with her husband and her daughters—but she could escape only by resolutely and determinedly leaving everything she had in Sodom. Her love for her possessions, cost her her life.

Just so, there are thousands today, to whom God's message comes, "Run for your lives! Do not stop anywhere in the plain. And do not look back! Escape to the mountain, or you will die!" They somewhat desire to follow Christ—but their love for the world is so intense that they cannot give it up—they cannot renounce it. They must decide, however, which they will renounce—Christ or the world. They cannot keep both!

In Lot—we have an example of one who was almost lost—and yet saved. In Lot's wife—we have an example of one who was almost saved—and yet lost. She was lost because she loved the world. She looked back, lingering there until it was too late to escape.

There is a picture of an artist sitting on an ocean rock which had been left bare by the retreating waves. There he sat, sketching on his canvas the beautiful scenery—sky, earth, and sea—all unconscious that the tide had turned and had cut him off from the shore and was rapidly covering the rock on which he sat. The tempest, the waves, the rising sea were forgotten, so absorbed was he in his picture. Even the cries of his friends as they shouted from the shore were unheard.

So men grow absorbed in this world, and perceive not the torrents of judgment onrolling, and hear not the calls of friends warning them of their peril. So they stand—until overwhelmed with the waves of destruction!"

J.R. Miller, "The Outcome of Lot's Choice"

Sermon Notes – What If You Were Lost?

What If You Were Lost?, Acts 20:20
Dr. Bailey Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended April 18, 2010

A church that is always receiving but never telling becomes dead - like the Dead Sea. We shouldn’t be a reservoir of truth but a river of blessing.

“Followship”, not fellowship, is the most important thing. Our fellowship is often just an exercise in mutual mediocrity. We need “reckless evangelism”!

We need 20/20 vision from Acts 20:20.

If we could all go to hell for just five seconds we would all evangelize. We need to understand that we are like firemen. They may have a responsibility to cook at the firehouse but their job is to put out fires. They don’t stay and cook when there is a fire to put out.

1. What if you were lost and believers thought that the work of the church was done at the church?

Religion is man seeking God, Christianity is God seeking man. God left heaven to come to earth – we need to leave our living room.

2. What if you were lost and believers said they didn’t know how to witness?

You don’t tell your dad you can’t mow the lawn because it isn’t your gift. It is your duty to mow the lawn. It is the responsibility of every believer in Jesus Christ to know and communicate the Gospel.

3. What if you were lost and believers listened more to the devil than they do to Christ?

Don’t worry about disturbing people. Their house is on fire! They need to be disturbed or interrupted or inconvenienced. They need to know. We need laborers.

NOTE: These are my notes, taken as I listened to the sermon live. Any errors, misunderstandings or misinterpretations are my responsibility entirely and not the fault of the preacher.

Something Light - Boom Goes the Dynamite!

An update here.

Quote - He Doesn't Need Us But Works Through Us

"All of David's successful conquests are explained in this way: "The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went." Again we discover that the history of David is not about what David did for God, but about what God did for David!

The grace of God for man is too often turned into the idea that it is man who does heroic feats for God. Our humanistic dream is that we may do great things for God. We shall give our genius, our talents, and our strength to him...Yet the theme of grace is what he does for us!

The Almighty is not in a tight spot, needing men to come to his rescue. It is we who, in every hour and emergency of life, stand in need of the Lord to uphold and to deliver us. It is tragic when readers of Scripture barely notice the historical record, "The Lord gave victory to David," but rather bolster their humanistic theory that "David surely gave the Lord's cause a boost in his day."

Walter Chantry, David: Man of Prayer, Man of War, quoted in Start Here

Sermon Notes - So, Will You Follow Christ?

So, Will You Follow Christ?, Mark 1-16
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended April 11, 2010

We have now heard of Jesus’ life, according to Mark, and we are now more accountable for what we have heard. We must be “doers”, not just “hearers”, who delude themselves. James 1:22-24

What a waste if we don’t change and look more like Him. The only reason we would spend so much time on Mark comes from Romans 8:29. The only reason is so that we would be conformed to Him, to look like Him day to day.

The Gospel of Mark teaches us that being a Christian is both trusting in the death of Christ and embracing the life of Christ. Those who want to “come after Jesus” must choose to “follow Jesus.” Our life is to be modeled after His. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “…repent and believe…” in Mark 1:15. Repent – turn from your old ways and follow me. Believe – trust in my death for heaven.

What is the picture of Christ we are to follow and emulate?

1. Jesus is the Christ who calls –

Jesus is always calling people, believers or not, to respond. Mark 1:15, Mark 1:17, Mark 1:20 and Mark 1:38.

Preaching always calls for a response. Preaching is not just communicating truth. Mark 2:14 and Mark 2:17.

He even calls His followers to greater service and commitment. Mark 6:36 (calling them to have more faith). Mark 9:35 (calling them to be truly great in the kingdom of God).

He is always calling people. He knew people would spend eternity in Hell. He knows true greatness and true life. He always calls people to embrace true life.

We are to call people to Him.

2. Jesus is the Christ who invests –

He could have stood above us and called, but His ministry was incredibly relational. He met with them and got into their lives. He showed them things and spent time with them. Mark 1:32-34 (He stayed all night casting out demons. The whole city was there.)

He invested in the crowd but He also invested in the disciples. Mark 3:14 (“…so they might be with Him…).

He even gets more specific and invests more in Peter, James and John. Mark 5:37 (they were the only ones He brought Jairus’s house.), Mark 9:2 (they were the ones who saw the Transfiguration), and Mark 14:33 (they were with Him in Gethsemane.)

He was constantly pouring out His life for others. We know things are better “caught than taught”. If we are to emulate Him we must do the same. It isn’t a matter of our personality or if we enjoy it or not. It doesn’t matter if you are called in this area, we are called to follow Christ, not our personality.

We are to invest in people for Him.

3. Jesus is the Christ who battles –

He doesn’t walk around the battles. He is aggressively waging war against all those who oppose the Gospel.

He battles the demons throughout. Mark 1:21-28 and others.

He battles the religious institution. Mark 3:4-6 and Mark 7:1-23.

He battles the misconceptions of the disciples. Mark 8:32-33 (Peter had a misconception about who the Messiah was.)

Why was he aggressively and actively battling? Jesus is light, in a world that is dark. There is no way they won’t conflict. He has to be ready to engage in battle.

The battle for us begins with us. The Spirit is leading us to Christlikeness but the flesh is leading us the other way. We must wage war against our flesh and our mind. As you advance the kingdom of Christ you can be sure you will have other battles as well. He was not passive but aggressive.

We are to battle against the things God hates for His glory.

4. Jesus is the Christ who cares –

We see He genuinely and deeply cares for people on every page of Mark’s Gospel. He listens. He stops. He heals. He touches. He looks people in the eye. Mark 10:45 is a statement of purpose for Him.

He always seems to care for the people no one else cares about. He cares for those the world ignores. Mark 1:40-41 (a leper), Mark 2:1-12 (a paralytic), Mark 3:1-6 (a man with a withered hand that the Pharisees were using to accuse Him), Mark 5:1-13 (a demoniac and a woman with a discharge of blood that was mistreated and unclean), Mark 7:24-30 (a Syrophoenician woman of a race that was considered “dogs”), Mark 8:22-26 (a blind man) and Mark 10:17:31 (the most caring thing He, and we, could do is tell him the truth) among many.

He demonstrates He cares in His actions. He is the embodiment of Psalm 34:18. This is the Jesus we are called to follow.

We are to care for the people the world ignores for His glory.

5. Jesus is the Christ who sacrifices –

We really don’t need any other examples besides the Incarnation and all the limitations and sacrifices involved there. His life is a living sacrifice for the glory of the Father and the salvation of mankind.

He doesn’t ask us to do anything He doesn’t do Himself. He asks us to take up our cross – like He did. Mark 8:34. He is asking us to follow Him in a life of self-denial and self-sacrifice. This is the foundation and essence of what it means to follow Him. We are saying no to the flesh and yes to the Spirit. We are repenting everyday.

It is about self-denial all the time. When you want to be alone but someone needs help. When you don’t want to talk but God has placed a witnessing encounter in your path.

We didn’t see sacrifice just in His death – His whole life was one of self-denial and sacrifice. We need to embrace self-denial and choose by faith to walk like Jesus walked.

We are to sacrifice all for the glory of the Father and the salvation of people.

We’ve seen what He demands. The question is will we by faith follow Him? We can’t just decide to be more like Him because, apart from regeneration, we can do nothing good. Faith and ongoing repentance are the hallmarks of following Him.

If we claim to be with Him we must walk in Him. 1 John 2:5-6 is how we know we are saved. A past decision is not necessarily a good indication of our salvation. The greatest proof is not that you look like Him but that you want to look like Him.

Follow Jesus Christ fully, practically, aggressively, and daily. Each day choose to follow Jesus Christ in calling people to Him, investing in people for Him, caring for people that the world ignores, battling against the things God hates, and sacrificing all for the glory of the Father and the salvation of mankind. These are not abstract principles; these are practical ways in which we must follow Christ. Following Jesus in these practical ways is the essence of what it means to be a Christian. We do all this in gratitude for what He has done for us.

We might love to look at Christ but not desire to look like Him. We have to choose to look like Him not just at Him.

NOTE: These are my notes, taken as I listened to the sermon live. Any errors, misunderstandings or misinterpretations are my responsibility entirely and not the fault of the preacher.

Something Light - Nolan's Cheddar

Quote - A Godly Woman

"The modern challenge to motherhood is the eternal challenge–that of being a godly woman. The very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other kind of women–beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career woman, talented women, divorced women, but so seldom do we hear of a godly woman–or of a godly man either, for that matter.

I believe women come nearer fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife than to be Miss America. It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realm of morals to be old-fashioned than to be ultramodern. The world has enough women who know how to hold their cocktails, who have lost all their illusions and their faith. The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need woman, and men, too, who would rather be morally right that socially correct."

Peter Marshall, "The Keepers of the Springs"

Sermon Notes – The Five Most Important Days of Your Life

The Five Most Important Days of Your Life, Mark 15:40-16:8
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended April 4, 2010

We have a tendency at Easter to focus on one day but Easter points to other important days. These other days demand a decision. You have to respond and do something with these days.

1. Friday: a day of humiliation and darkness – the day Jesus died

He was mocked, beaten and absolutely humiliated. It was a day of darkness which was an outward symbol of an inner reality. Jesus inner reality was a darkened soul. He took upon Himself the sins of the world.

It points us to the darkness of the disciples also. They abandoned Him.

Mark 15:40-41 shows us two women standing there late Friday evening.

Mark 15:42-46 introduces us to Joseph of Arimethea who asked for the body of Jesus. It wasn’t uncommon for the body to be just left there. Many times the family requested the body. Family and friends are nowhere to be found at this point.

Friday ends with Jesus dead in the tomb.

Why is this Friday important to me? The only hope you have of having the wrath of God removed from you is to trust what Jesus did on that day.

Friday is one of the most important days of your life.

2. Saturday: a day of silence and defeat – Mark skips this day

We hear nothing from the crowd, the disciples or God. It is an eerie silence. Saturday was a day of confusion, disappointment and fear.

We see Mary Magdalene and Mary bringing spices later, when it wasn’t customary to do so, they were thus probably confused on Saturday. They also have no expectation when they go on Sunday so they are probably disappointed on Saturday.

The disciples are absent out of fear.

The defeat of Saturday was soon to be overshadowed by the joy of Sunday.

Why is this Saturday important to me? Because you must feel the pain of Saturday before you realize how much you need Sunday.

Have you ever felt the pain of Saturday? The inability to be faithful, overwhelmed by discouragement, fear and disappointment. Saturday is a reminder that no matter how bad Saturday is, if you are a believer, it is always followed by Sunday.

You have a choice to be child of Saturday, controlled by sin, or you can choose to be a child of Sunday.

Saturday is one of the most important days of your life.

3. Sunday: a day of astonishment and grace – a day of new life.

The bodies were usually anointed before burial but they came anyway to show honor and respect.

Mark 15:3 they realized they couldn’t roll away the stone.

Mark 15:4 they realized they didn’t need to!

In Mark 14:28 Jesus said He would meet them in Galilee. Here, in Mark 15:7, the angel confirms this meeting.

Amazed could be translated to mean absolutely terrified. Where is the joy? Whenever people encounter the power of God they are always astonished. (Mark 5:42, Mark 9:15) After seeing this angel they ran, overwhelmed by the power and glory of God. It was a day of astonishment!

In Mark 15:7 He says, “…go, tell his disciples and Peter…”. This seems a little redundant since Peter is a disciple. Remembering the earlier situation with Peter however it seems the emphasis is provided so that everyone will know that He loves Peter. Imagine the message, “By the way Peter, they specifically mentioned you!” His grace is sufficient for those who have denied Him time and time again. It was a day of grace!

Why is this Sunday important to me? It reminds us of the astonishing power of Jesus Christ over sin and death. It is also a reminder of His merciful grace. If even Peter is a recipient of that grace then certainly you will be also.

2000 years later these are three of the most important days of your life.

4. Today: a day that is a matter of life or death – today is the day of salvation.

The New Testament teaches us that if you are trusting and submitting to Jesus alone that today new life reigns in you. It isn’t just the removal of sins but the addition of a new man. (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:9-11, Colossians 2:13-14) You have victory over sin and victory over death. This new life is not an absence of sin but a desire to get rid of it through the Holy Spirit.

The New Testament teaches that if you are not trusting and submitting to Jesus alone then you have none of these things. God’s wrath still abides on you. You are a slave to sin and unable to do anything that pleases the Lord. You have no hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Why is today important to me? Today is important because either life or death reigns in you. (Hebrews 4:7) The only hope you have over sin, death, and hell, is if today, and every day, you are trusting in Jesus Christ alone as the payment for your sins, and submitting to Him as the exalted King.

Today is one of the most important days in your life.

5. Someday: a coming day of judgment – a day of vindication or condemnation.

He is now at the right hand of the father waiting to come back. (John 5:24)

“…he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness…” Acts 17:30-31.

Why is “someday” important to me? For those who have trusted Him what a glorious day! For those who haven’t trusted Him it will be a horrible day of condemnation. If you don’t respond “someday” is always waiting. Don’t trust in yesterday, a prayer or walking the aisle, if there is no indication of newness of life. We are not saved from sin, death, and hell by a momentary declaration of faith but rather by a lifetime of faith. Remember, the righteous live by faith. Today, do not trust in a past experience; trust in Christ.

Is the resurrected life a reality in you. Do you long for the things of God? Do you long for the people and Word of God? Are you ready for “someday”? Submit to Him as King today. Today the world is divided into two groups of people. There are those who are trusting in Jesus Christ and living with Him as their Lord, and those who are trusting something besides Christ and are living with themselves as Lord. These two groups will be exposed someday. Those who are trusting in Christ will receive eternal life; those who are not trusting in Christ will receive eternal hell.

“Someday” will be one of the most important days of your life.

NOTE: These are my notes, taken as I listened to the sermon live. Any errors, misunderstandings or misinterpretations are my responsibility entirely and not the fault of the preacher.

The Grave Couldn't Hold Him...That's My King!

That's My King from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

It's Friday....but Sunday's Comin!

Sunday's Comin' from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

Something Light - Sometimes - You Just Can't Help It

A day early because of Good Friday tomorrow.