Ladybug Dad, I salute you!

The screen shots you are seeing in this blog are from a text conversation my wife and I had with our daughter and son-in-law. It happened yesterday.

My daughter sent me a funny text about her husband Kyle. He chose to wear a Lady Bug costume to his work party because all of the other costumes were still in storage. His wife, my daughter Julie, had been laughing all day at the thought of her husband wearing a Lady Bug costume to his office party.

But I want to defend his high and noble choice to be a ladybug this day! When a man chooses to sacrifice his comfort, his reputation, and his imagined sense of coolness for his new identity as a father, he becomes a better man.

• When a man chooses to allow his daughter to paint his toenails he becomes a better man.
• When a man chooses to wield a plastic ninja sword and fight villains with his son, he becomes a better man.
• When a man chooses to sit in the floor and have imaginary tea at an imaginary tea party with his daughter he becomes a better man.
• When a man chooses to wear a costume in the street as he follows his kids when they’re trick-or-treating because they want him to he becomes a better man.
• When a man chooses to pretend he doesn’t know where his kids are hiding as he searches for them during a game of hide-and-go-seek he becomes a better man.
• When a man chooses to allow his daughter to put make-up on him he becomes a better man.
• When a man chooses to play the Candy-Man, or Strawberry-shortcake, or Rainbow-bright, or any other mind numbing children’s board games he becomes a better man.

I hope your getting the picture here. I want to repeat it here, “When a man chooses to sacrifice his comfort, his reputation, and his imagined sense of coolness for his new identity as a father, he becomes a better man!”

There are few things better than being a father (except for maybe being a grand father).

So forget your insecure posturing and be a dad like no one is watching!

Way to go “Lady Bug Dad!” Someone is watching and you are my grand daughter’s hero (and mine too).

Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor
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You Alone

It's just what I am thinking and feeling right now. 
I have been listening to this song over and over and over:

"You Alone", by Kim Hill

I lift my eyes when I am troubled
I lift my hands, I lift my heart
And there I stand knowing nothing can defeat me
Just as long as I know where You are

In You alone
Is where I find my comfort
In You alone
You're my only hope
In You alone
My heart has found a resting place
In You alone
In You alone

So I won't fear though darkness hides me
No, I won't let my courage sway
For You are near and at the brightness of Your glory
The shadows of the night melt away

In You alone
Is promise I can cling to
In You alone
You're my security
In You alone
My soul has found a dwelling place
Only in You alone

What could separate me from Your love?
Neither life nor death, nor anything at all
Anything at all

In You alone
Is where I find my comfort
In You alone
You're my only hope
In You alone
My heart has found a resting place
Only in You alone
Only in You alone
Only in You alone

Seeing the Present through the Past

32 “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. 33 Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? 34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him. Deuteronomy 4:32-35

Today I simply aim to again, encourage our consideration of God’s grace. In the above passage, Moses reminds the Israelites of their miraculous release from Egyptian bondage. He asked them to recall the history of their people. Had there ever been a god in some time before or since that had acted so swiftly, so sweetly, in such strength, in such spectacular ways, as personally as God had for Israel? The answer to his rhetoric was clear. Through trials and war, many signs and wonders, God had delivered His people in ways that could only be attributed to His divine hand.

It is here that I believe we might benefit from asking some similar questions. From where we stand in history, on this side of Jesus’ cross, has a greater act of love ever been witnessed? Has there ever been another god step down from heaven to humbly take on human flesh? Jesus came as man and walked this world so that He would be familiar with its grievous burdens. Yet He came not only to experience our pain, but also to remedy our hurts by conquering both sin and the grave. To this point, when and where else has the righteous taken on the iniquity of the unrighteous? At Calvary, God poured out His wrath on His only begotten, raised Him on the third day, and now pours out His Spirit on His children, to live within them as their Comforter. How scandalous is His love!

Moses reminded the Israelites that their release from bondage was so that they would know that there was no other! The cross exclaims this same truth today! Blessed soul, remember Calvary, for there our debt was paid; yet forget not that Christ’s tomb remains empty and He has been raised and exalted. He sits at the right hand of the Father for His work is finished. Like Israel, our hearts are prone to forget. Nevertheless, our Lord is One and He is to be worshipped and obeyed. Remember this! Look back and see how personally He has pursued you. Oh, so many mountains did He move! Such hardness did He break through! It is no small thing!

Moses continues to describe God’s unmerited goodness toward His people and concludes that the events of days past are meant to affect our days present. “Therefore you shall keep His statutes and commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time (Deuteronomy 4:40).” Did you get that? Moses says this: “Because (notice why the “Therefore” is there for) of what God has done, and because He is the only true God, we must serve Him alone.” We must submit to that which He has called us to. Friends, the gospel must not be seen as a onetime event, only pertaining to conversion. It must be preached far beyond a believer’s justification; yes, we must cling to its hope throughout the process of our soul’s progressive sanctification, as we wait for the glorification that will one day be realized in heaven. 

Our Lord God is One. He is neither distant in His relationship with us, nor superfluous in His actions toward us. He has blessed us to be a blessing. He has saved us to send us. He has loved us with an everlasting love so that we might learn to love Him by spending our days loving others. It is a simple principle, but one worth repeating to myself as long as I dwell in this earthly tent. By reflecting on all He’s done for us, we’ll better understand what we’re called to do. And each time we acknowledge His lordship and obediently adhere to His word, trusting Him more deeply, we deliver hope to the world, joy to our hearts, and glory to His Name. Oh, may we see the present through the past.

Matt Fowler
Assoc. Pastor of Missions & Students
matt@nbchurch.info
@fattmowler

Natural Revelation & Its Implications for Global Missions

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” Psalm 19:1

How great a truth is this! The God of the universe makes Himself known through all He has created. The vast expanse of sky above speaks of His infinite power and His eternal supremacy over everything below. Although there is no audible sound to be heard, no articulation of speech to be observed, the voice of His Creation goes out to the ends of the earth (Psalm 19:2-4) and is clearly understood. All the world’s inhabitants have received the message of God’s splendor and majesty. All have not only experienced the sun’s light and the felt the heat of its rays and considered the source of such goodness, but man is completely dependent upon its daily provision for life (Psalm 19:5-6). God’s existence is undeniable, proven through that which He has made. And for this reason, He is worthy of all honor and praise and worship.

This is what theologians refer to as the doctrine of natural (or general) revelation (as opposed to God’s particular or special revelation which is given through the Holy Spirit’s illumination of His Word). God has disclosed enough about Himself through the created universe and man’s own consciousness that all must acknowledge that there is a Supreme Being. No one can claim ignorance. So much has been revealed that Paul writes the following. “For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse (Romans 1:20).” However, this creates a problem for us.

Although general revelation is perceivable to all, it is not without its soteriological limitations. That is to say, alone it has no power to save. Without the gospel (God’s special revelation through Christ), there is no hope of salvation (see Romans 10:14-18). So if you are tracking with me, here is what can be understood. Because of God’s general revelation, all are aware of Him and are without excuse. Yet, short of receiving the good news of Jesus, each man and woman will surely perish.

So while this Scripture serves as a sweet reminder of our marvelous Lord and Savior and His graciousness toward us, it should also stand before us as a very humbling reality. There are men and women, entire people groups, born into this world, a world that has been crafted by God, in which they will experience God through His natural revelation, yet live their few years under the sun and die, having never been engaged with the truth that can save them from their sins. They will know enough about God to be found guilty and condemned, yet will have never heard the precious name of Jesus; they know nothing of His cross.

So what do we do about? Well, we can try to philosophize about how God surely wouldn’t send these unreached peoples to hell. Of course, this stance is impossible to defend biblically, for “none is righteous, no not one (Romans 3:9-18).” We can pretend that it isn’t our problem, but then again, Scripture seems to place this burden upon the church. Jesus’ famous last words involve making disciples of all nations, by taking His gospel to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8). To return to my previous reference of Paul in Romans 10, the apostle was making a case for the urgency of global missions, long before the enormity of the globe was even known. Again, what is meant by Paul in Romans 15:20? “And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation.”  His point is clear; the apostle was adamant about taking the gospel where it had not yet been preached!

Are we similarly concerned today? Does the thought of the nearly 6500+ unreached people groups passing away to face an eternity separated from their Creator burden you at all? To what extent have you been grieved? Is it evident in your life – your personal evangelism, your giving and involvement in the discipleship process at your local church? Perhaps the most sobering question, how about in your personal prayer life? Have you labored and anguished, petitioning the Lord to send messengers to herald the good news? Sure, not all of us are called to carry the gospel to the heathen nations. But is that really the concern? Are we afraid that everyone will suddenly leave, vacating our American pews? You and I both know that’s hardly the case.

Obedience for some of us may indeed require staying put. But if so, we must ask: Are we involved in the sending and supporting of our missionaries? Those who will forsake the comforts and safety of their home to go, and by God’s grace, save some, are we praying for them corporately? Are we as families? Individually, are we doing this? Are we involved in sharing God’s heart for the nations as revealed in Scripture (Genesis 12:1-3, Psalm 67, Isaiah 61, Psalm 117, Psalm 96, Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 24:14, Revelation 5, etc.)? Are we calling people to see the realities of the world and the biblical mandate for global missions? Please know that by asking these things today, I’m in no way trying to portray myself as one that is perfect in these areas. In fact, even as I type this blog, I’m convicted of my own, far-too-occasional indifference.

I’ve seen myself as a gospel guy for many years now. I understand the gospel as being as important to the seasoned Christian today as it was when he first believed. I know that it is what I must cling to each hour of every day. I have also stated my belief that the good news of Jesus propels His disciples outward to serve and make His name known. Yet in all of my gospel-centered teaching and writing, my concern for reaching the ends of the earth has been lacking. I could try to convince myself that it hasn’t; I could attempt to justify my good intentions. Or I could simply repent of not giving a rip. I can believe the gospel and move forward in faith that I’ve been forgiven, and I can seek to make the most of the time that is left. And the same is true for you. Will you own your indifference? May we repent together, and in the strength God provides, carry this burden together?

Lord, allow us to consider the global implications of this doctrine we’ve discussed. Help us to see our role in fulfilling Your Great Commission. Oh that Your grace might captivate us, motivate, inspire, and enlarge our hearts to spend our lives in making the hope of Your gospel known, both here and abroad, for our greatest joy and Your utmost glory. Amen

Matt Fowler
Associate Pastor of Missions & Students
matt@nbchurch.info
@fattmowler

Coincidence? Doubt it!

Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
This verse has been misinterpreted and misused many time over the years.
Nevertheless, if you will, you can see the hand of God in ordinary circumstances.
This was our experience on Thursday morning at the New Beginnings Men’s Bibles Study.

• Maybe it was a coincidence when Eric chose to walk into the New Beginnings Men’s Bible Study 3 years ago as a stranger to the group.
• Maybe it was a coincidence when he sat down in between two strangers, Claire and Danny, that morning.
• Maybe it was a coincidence that over the course of the next two years the Eric transitioned from stranger to acquaintance to real relationships with the men in that morning bible study group.
• Maybe it was a coincidence that Eric gained nine new friends who were formerly strangers that now missed him when he wasn’t there.
• Maybe it was a coincidence that when Eric shared that he had recently been diagnosed with throat cancer that the two strangers, Claire and Danny, that Eric sat in between that morning 3 years earlier were both cancer survivors.
• Maybe it was a coincidence that this group of new friends would pray for, check on, and encourage Eric as he began battling cancer.
• Maybe it was a coincidence that Eric would still come to New Beginnings Men’s Bible Study even when he was missing work and at home on short-term disability even though he was weak and weary during radiation treatments.
• Maybe it was a coincidence when Eric announced a few weeks ago, “Hey, I got really good news from the doctor last night, tests show that I am 100% cancer free.
• Maybe it was a coincidence that every man sitting around our table had eyes full of tears and hearts full of thanks.

Maybe it was a coincidence, but I doubt it.
Thank you God that You are at work in and through us today!

Dr. Phil Sallee, Pastor
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How do we pray?

If God were to answer one of my many prayer requests, but decided to achieve this outside of my preferred means, would I be okay with that? Would I even acknowledge that my prayer had been answered if it came wrapped in methods I didn’t recognize? What is missed when I presume my will upon God’s? Is not my planning out His course of action a practice in utter futility? Would my response to the above questions be telling of my faith?

Well, the official in John 4 finds himself in a similar situation. He had learned that Jesus was returning to Cana (the place where Christ had performed His first miraculous sign by transforming water into wine), so he went to meet Him there, hoping that Jesus would travel back to Capernaum with him to heal his son (John 4:46-47). This nobleman had walked a great distance and was in great need, for his son was deathly ill (John 4:49).

He made his petition before the Lord, but Jesus was not planning to make the trip to the official’s home. How disappointing! Can you imagine how you might have responded? If I’m the father and my child is about to die, and I truly think this Jesus guy can help, I’m not leaving Cana without Him. I would have bribed Him, bartered with Him, maybe even bullied Him with force. “Listen Jesus, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, but You’re coming with me!”

Interestingly, the father did nothing of the like. Rather, when Christ told him to go because his son would surely live, the official simply believed him. He trusted Jesus at His word and went back home (John 4:50). Before the nobleman could reach his house, one of his servants met him on the road to inform him that his son was recovering and the sickness would not end with the grave (John 4:51).

So then, how do you and I respond? Are we so narrowly focused that we miss His hand at work? Many of us prayed for patience years ago. The Lord later blessed us with children. Coincidence or answered prayer? We often pray for humility, yet how might that take place without our prideful hearts being exposed? When that happens, do we focus on how silly we look and feel or do we see His grace that has revealed these areas of weakness? We long to grow in our faith, but that means we must be stripped of all the other things we place our trust in. Yes, when life’s crutches and false foundations are taken away, we have none other than Jesus to lean upon. To say it rightly, we discover that in reality, we have all things pertaining to life and godliness in Christ alone (2 Peter 1:3). He is the Cornerstone and the Rock on which we stand.

When we pray with our assumed version of God’s plan all mapped out in our mind, His actual response to our plea may go unnoticed. The official could have stayed in Cana, determined to find some way to have Jesus come visit his son personally. But he would have missed the miraculous healing of his child. Instead, he trusted Christ and headed home at the word “go”, only to find that his son had began improving the very hour that he spoke to the Savior a day earlier (John 4:52-53).

That kind of faith is contagious. As noted in the story, not only did the official come to believe, but his entire household did as well (John 4:53). Will we trust God enough to allow Him to answer our prayers in His time and in His way? Will we accept “no” and “not now” as easily as we receive His “yes”? Will we trust Him with all the means and methods? Will we be obedient and faithful whether we can perceive Him at work or not? Oh I pray that we will, for He is glorified in such trust. So, what are you praying for? Have you made your need known to our Heavenly Healer? Good, now rest in confidence that you’ve been heard (1 John 5:14) and believe that His will shall be accomplished.

Matt Fowler
Associate Pastor of Missions & Students
matt@nbchurch.info
@fattmowler