Fifty-Three-Year-Old Preschooler

I matriculated at Liberty University (then known as Liberty Baptist College) in the fall of 1979. Since that first semester when I began Greek and theology courses, I have studied the Bible at a significant level for almost 36 years, including three degrees, all of which have increased my theological knowledge. Since 1988 when I became a full-time pastor, I have studied the Bible verse by verse in Greek and Hebrew for 10+ hours a week (not counting sermon and lesson preparation), I have averaged reading around 60 books a year (most of which have helped me focus upon the message of the Bible), I have read the Bible through over 30 times, and I have spent thousands of hours preaching, teaching, counseling, discipling, training, and talking about the Bible and God.

I give all this background because it helps you understand a discussion I had with myself not long ago. I am currently reading two books that are “knocking my socks off”—one about how God is glorified through both salvation and judgment and one that deals with why and how we glorify God by enjoying his creation and all the gifts he gives us in creation. Both are subjects I have thought much about, but in each I am learning, being stretched, experiencing stabs of joy as I think and pray about them. As I was meditating upon one of the books in the morning hours recently I said to myself, “Barnes, you are so slow and thick. I can’t believe you haven’t already covered this ground in all these years!”

Ah, but then a new thought hit me—one I believe that was carried by the Spirit of God. “I should not be surprised that I am still learning new things about God. After all, he is infinite. I will never know everything about him and I will spend eternity growing in my knowledge of him and my delight in him. The fact that I am still learning is a reminder of this!”

I then thought about some of the greatest Christian minds that have walked this earth: the Apostle Paul, Peter, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, J. I. Packer, John Stott, John Piper, D. A. Carson, and so many others. The best have not made it out of kindergarten in this age when it comes to the knowledge of our Lord. What that means is that at the most I am a fifty-three-year-old preschooler when it comes to my knowledge of God!

But what this focuses our hearts on is that all of us who are in Christ will have eternity to unpack who God is, his grace in his acts of kindness toward us, and in this expansion we truly will grow in our enjoyment of him!  I ended that morning not being discouraged, but with great pleasure—I (we) get to spend age after billowing age exploring God, his grace, his person, his work, his creation (the new heaven and new earth) and our fellow believers, ever-increasing in my capacity to love him, others, and to worship him. And those stabs of joy will forever increase in us. What an amazing thought!

As a result of that morning self-talk from God’s glorious Word, I invite you not only to enjoy getting to know him now, but to look forward to what we will experience for eternity. Oh, and don’t feel bad that you believe you are not that far down the road in your knowledge of God. Join the club!

Why Not A Post-Bucket List?

In the Spring issue of Eternal Perspectives magazine author Randy Alcorn writes that “the reality of the resurrection means you don’t need a bucket list.” He explains: “The term ‘bucket list’ was popularized by the 2007 movie of that name. It’s an inventory of things people want to do before they ‘kick the bucket.’ The idea is, since our time on earth is limited, if something is important for us to do, we have to do it now, because this is our only chance to do it.”

Alcorn, however, goes on to write that this view of the world falls short of how the follower of Jesus should see the future. It is certainly not wrong to have a bucket list. However, our physical death in this age will not be the last opportunity we have to have adventures in this world. Because we are united to Jesus Christ and because he is the firstfruits of our resurrection, we know we will be resurrected and will live on the new earth, the new heaven, for all eternity. So, go ahead and have a bucket list. And, while you are at it, why not make a post-bucket list. Maybe you can start off with a trip to Mars or Venus!

Praise God that because Jesus lives, we live and will continue to live also!

The Crowded Kindnesses Of God

The late 19^th and early 20^th century pastor, Alexander Maclaren, once advised:  “Seek to cultivate a buoyant, joyous sense of the crowded kindnesses of God in your daily life” (cited in Randy Alcorn, Eternal Perspectives [Spring, 2015]). This is wise counsel. After all, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 2:4, “God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance,” and then in Ephesians 2:7 he taught that one of God’s purposes in saving us is this: “so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” In other words, both in this present age and in the ages to come (without end) God is committed to displaying acts of kindness to his sons and daughters.

It is easy to think this is not the case. We focus upon the trials and suffering, the pain we experience, and it is easy to conclude that everything “stinks”! But even in these hard things God has promised to orchestrate them together along with other acts of providence he brings to us, coupled with what he teaches us in his Word and also with the ongoing work of his Spirit in us to bring about the good of conforming us to the image of his Son (Romans 8:28-29). So, we can even rejoice in trials since we know they are producing endurance and strength in us, as well as hope (Rom. 5:1-5; James 1:2-3). God is so committed to showing us the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness that he even turns the hardships into kindnesses.

But, more than this, there are so many acts of kindness he brings to us that we often take for granted: A kind word of a friend, the presence of a friend, the food we have to eat, our health, a breath-taking sunset, a smile-causing rainbow, a timely rain, the family of God who rallies around us when we are paralyzed by loss, time spent with a child or a grandchild, the Bible and its words of life, the gift of prayer, assurance of God’s love, fellowships with Christ, joy in the Holy Spirit, continual increase in God’s grace, and God’s preservation of us so that we can persevere in the faith.

This is merely scratching the surface, but hopefully it is enough to get us thinking and looking for not just a few, but for “the crowded kindnesses of God” we experience daily!

One, Three, And Five Year Goals

Minden Evangelical Free Church family, the following are some one, three, and five year goals I have for the congregation. These are all some things that have arisen as I have prayed for and dreamed about the church. I shared them at our annual church meeting.  I am sharing them for those who were not at the meeting. Please work through these, pray about them regularly, and if God places it on your heart to be part of helping to fulfill them, we would love to have you part of the team!

One:

·         See every Bible Fellowship regularly encouraging prayer for and outreach to the unchurched and unsaved, as well as doing life together outside of Sunday morning while inviting unchurched or unsaved friends or family to do life with them.

·         See outreach events birthed out of vision casting and dreaming that takes place within Bible Fellowships, as well as other ministries.

·         See our Unashamed Youth Ministry regularly encouraging prayer for and outreach to unchurched or unsaved friends, as well as intentionally doing life together outside of Wednesday night while inviting unchurched and unsaved friends or family to do life with them.

·         See outreach events birthed out of vision casting and dreaming that takes place within UY leadership.

·         See at least two new Bible Fellowships birthed and two additional BF apprentices in place.

·         See our Sunday prayer meeting regular attendance grow to twenty.

·         Birth a twenty-something outreach-oriented Bible Fellowship.

·         Develop Deacon and Deaconess training similar to what we have done with elders.

·         Have a missions vision and plan-of-action in place with the help of elders and our missions committee. (I hope and pray that we may end up with a crisis-response team; outreach to int’l. students at UNK; regular short-term trips; recruitment of next-generation missionaries; ministries here and abroad; foster care and adoption ministries)

·         See a welcome and assimilation team come together that would help new people be welcomed to the congregation, know how to connect, and to get involved.

·         Start a second service.

·         Have a plan in place for additional administrative staff help.

·         Annually continue our outreach and training ministries of the Art Of Marriage event; Financial Peace University; and the In Step With The Gospel Conference.

·         See our first Spanish-speaking convert(s).

Three:

·         Grow to 130 children regularly in AWANA.

·         Reach 10 new AWANA families who come to know Christ, are renewed in their faith, and/or who are enfolded into our church.

·         Grow by six new Bible Fellowships and six more apprentices.

·         Have in place and functioning well ministries of support for our church and community that would include: (1) At least two support groups (e.g. Mental Illness and Celebrate Recovery); (2) a Training/support ministry for those who are struggling financially/vocationally;  and  (3) a counseling ministry.

·         Start a new building project toward an expanded ministry center and auditorium (“sanctuary”).

·         Have a new staff person who oversees discipleship and support ministries.

·         Be at 1 ½ the times of our current attendance.

·         Have a full-blown outreach to Spanish speakers that would include whatever we need to do to reach and grow them (including a service).

·         Target area where a church needs to be planted—in preparation for plant.

Five:

·         Have a larger ministry center and auditorium in place.

·         An additional staff person.

·         Be at 2 ½ times our current attendance.  

·         See at least three people from the church who have been called into full-time missions of some kind.

·         Have a leadership training institute in place to train future pastors, leaders, teachers—that goes beyond the training received in Bible Fellowships and other classes now.

Plant another church in the are

The Servant In Battle

The following is taken from The Valley of Vision: A Collection Of Puritan Prayers And Devotions. It provides a wonderful collection of devotional thoughts on abiding in Christ that we might carry out fruitful life in the battle.

O Lord, I bless you that the issue of the battle between yourself and Satan has never been uncertain, and will end in victory.

Calvary broke the dragon’s head, and I contend with a vanquished foe, who with all his subtlety and strength has already been overcome.

When I feel the serpent at my heel may I remember him whose heel was bruised, but who, when bruised, broke the devil's head.

My soul with inward joy extols the mighty conqueror.

Heal me of any wounds received in the great conflict; if I have gathered defilement, if my faith has suffered damage, if my hope is less than bright, if my love is not fervent, if some creature-comfort occupies my heart, if my soul sinks under pressure of the fight.

O you whose every promise is medication, every touch life, draw near to your weary warrior, refresh me, that I may rise again to wage the strife, and never tire until my enemy is trodden down.

Give me such fellowship with you that I may defy Satan, unbelief, the flesh, the world, with delight that comes not from a creature, and which a creature cannot mar.

Give me a drink of the eternal fountain that lies in your immutable, everlasting love and decree.

Then shall my hand never weaken, my feet never stumble, my sword never rest, my shield never rust, my helmet never shatter, my breastplate never fall, as my strength rests in the power of your might.