The Good Thing About Being Sick

I should have known. While Lynne was suffering from being sick, I remember thinking, "Man, I don't seem to get sick very often." Right then, I should have known that I was going to get sick. It seems to be the same thing that a lot of people are suffering from right now - not horrible, but not fun either.

But, there's a least one good thing about being sick. When I'm sick, I feel weak and vulnerable. I don't like the feeling, and I don't feel it much when I'm well. But when I'm sick, I come face-to-face with the reality that I'm not indestructible, that I am needy, that I cannot protect myself from all harm. I have to face the facts - I'm not bulletproof. I must ask for help.

I ask for help often during any given week - but not because I am unable to take care of myself, but because I want to accomplish many things or I want to involve someone else in ministry or any number of reasons. Rarely is it because I'm too weak. Being sick forces me to ask for help because I can't do something for myself.

That's the kind of humility we need in order to receive help from God - the help we need for salvation, the help we need with our sin, the help we need with our spiritual growth, the help we need for every aspect of the Christian life. We cannot come to God with a swagger and "ask" for His help while sporting the attitude that we can really take care of most of this ourselves. We must come face-to-face with the reality that we are too weak to be what God wants us to be, to be perfect, to be sinless.

When I'm sick, I'm less proud and more apt to ask for help out of need. I need to remember that humility when I come to God and ask for His help. I need to realize that I am in fact that needy before God all the time, even when life is going pretty well. I cannot be the Christian I want to be by having enough "health" within me. I am weak and sick and needy when it comes to being a follower of Christ. Being sick teaches me the kind of humility I need in order to ask for His help.

Welcome Will Swinger!

If you have been able to join us either of the last two Sundays, you have been able to enjoy the worship team's newest member, Will Swinger. Over the last few weeks, I've gotten to know Will a little bit, and see that he has a heart for Christ first and foremost. Then, ministry flows from that love of Christ.

Will has many musical talents, but what I appreciate about Will is his desire to worship. Leading worship done properly begins with personally worshiping Christ, and I see how well Will fits into our team because they all share this same desire.

Will lives in Macon and is in training for ministry with the International House of Prayer (IHOP). In August, he will move to Kansas City (I've already recommended to him the best barbecue places in each category of barbecue) to further his training with IHOP. So, we only have him for a short time.

Since Will does not live in Dublin, it is more difficult for us to get to know him personally. Please take the initiative to introduce yourself to Will so that we get to know who's helping to lead worship and he gets to know those he's entering into worship with.

I appreciate the addition that Will is making to our dedicated team. Most of you are unaware of how many extra volunteer hours go into preparing the worship music each week. I urge you to not take the worship team for granted. Please let them know how much you appreciate how they help us to worship the risen Christ.

Pastor Benard and Pamela

Pastor Benard and Pamela Ondiek will be with us in Dublin for almost a week, starting Friday. We have quite a few engagements for them, and we still have a few slots where you can help. Here's the rundown on what we have so far.

Thursday (3/19):

• The Ondieks arrive late at night.

Friday:

• Speaking at Trinity Christian School all morning (lunch at school).
  
• Dinner with the Elders at the Kinsers.

Saturday:

• Perhaps the Arts and Crafts Festival (volunteer opportunity)
  
• Wedding shower in the afternoon for Ben Byxbe and Allison Conley.
  
• Main Street Munchies for dinner with Byxbes.

Sunday:

• Sunday morning worship service. (remember, starts at 10:30)
  
• Covered dish at the church. (bring a few dishes to share)
• Dinner? (volunteer opportunity)
• Open (volunteer opportunity)

Monday:

• Eye exams during the day
• Private meeting in the afternoon
  
• Private dinner at the Joneses

Tuesday:

• Lunch with McDuffies
• Afternoon open
• Dinner with Sanders
• Speaking at Sanders' small group (all are invited)
  

Wednesday:

• Dental exams during the day
• Lunch with Colby (at Smokin' Lobos!!!)
• Dinner open
• Speaking at House of Refuge in East Dublin (all are invited)
  

Thursday:

• Leave for Columbus, GA (meeting their team halfway, west of Macon)
  

Volunteer opportunities:

• Transportation to or from any of the events.
• A few meals are still open.
• Unscheduled times would be great to meet with the Ondieks personally, ask about the orphans (perhaps even the orphan you sponsor), taking them to see the sites
  
• Transportation to the far side of Macon on Thursday, 3/26.

Please see Colby if you'd like to help out in some way.

We give a great big thanks to the Joneses for providing the Ondieks a place to stay and breakfast every morning.

Keeping Focused

DBC had a really good contingent of folks attending the Worldview Weekend Code Blue Rally a couple of Saturdays ago. This is a nationwide tour of Christian speakers who teach about worldview and how to engage people in a discussion about the Christian worldview.

Afterwards, Tim Bryarly, Lynne, and I got into a discussion about the presentations, what we liked, what we didn't like, what we agreed with, what we didn't agree with. All in all, we liked the speakers and the presentations, but we each had our pockets of disagreement with each speaker. And that's healthy - we shouldn't just swallow everything a Christian speaker says, but weigh everything against Scripture, be informed of the various views, and submit our opinion to what we believe God has to say on the matter.

In our discussion, we talked about the issue of Creationism, and one important point came to mind. Clearly, the debate between Creationism and Secular Evolutionism is centered on whether the universe began to exist by the willful act of a Creator or by an accidental (i.e., unplanned) chain reaction of natural events.

But notice what the core of the debate is not about.

This particular debate is not the existence of God ... not really. Clearly, the creationist argues for the existence of a Creator, and often call this Creator "God." But the evolutionary model does not require the non-existence of God (even though most evolutionists hold that view). One could be a deist (believing that God does exist) and still hold to a completely naturalistic explanation of the origin of the universe.

Neither is this debate about the age of the universe ... not really. There are creationists who hold to a "young earth" view, that the universe is somewhere between 6000 and 20,000 years old. There are other creationists who hold an "old earth" view, usually saying that the universe is somewhere in the neighborhood of 16 billion years old. But both camps are creationists - they believe that God created all of this out of nothing by his will. In many cases, advocates from both views are Bible-believing folks who say that Genesis accurately records Creation, and that the species came about by God's creation, rather than some form of macro-evolution. Both can rationally hold that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.

This post is not to argue old earth vs. young earth, or to defend the biblical merit of either view. I have opinions on the matter, but to discuss them here would miss the point.

My point is this: When we are engaging the world about the issue of Creation, we should focus on what this debate is really about - whether or not a Creator created the universe. That's the main issue of this particular debate. We should keep the conversation on that point and not get distracted by what is not essential to this issue.

For example, if we debate with an evolutionist that they should not only adopt a creationist view, but a "young earth" creationist view, we are confusing the issue. What they first need to accept is that the Creator created. That's an essential factor of faith. Hebrews 11:3 says, "By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible." There's nothing here that requires us to believe that the universe is a particular age. The age question is secondary to the fact of Creation.

Someone can have the wrong opinion of the age of the universe and still be a vibrant Christian. But no one can believe that God doesn't exist and be a vibrant Christian. And no one can believe much of what Jesus said if they don't believe that God created everything, because Jesus' teachings rely completely on the fact that God is Creator, Sustainer, Provider, and Savior.

We can have the internal debates about the age of the universe for academic reasons, but when we openly bicker before the unbelieving world or when we make the secondary issues the litmus test of Christianity, we are putting up barriers between the lost and the Savior.

Keep focused on the essentials of Christianity when talking to the unsaved. Those are the truths that will transform their souls.

Spiritual Warfare

In our Wednesday night study, the youth have been discussing the reality of spiritual warfare - that the spiritual world is real, and that there is a real battle being waged there ... a battle that includes us! There are several important observations about spiritual warfare that we can all benefit from (using Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem and Know Your Enemy by Michael Youssef):

The reality of the spiritual battle

• Not all evil from Satan and demons. Some of it is, but not all. Our flesh gets some of the blame, too. Which means that we can't just blame everything on demonic activity. Sometimes, it's not the devil that made you do it!

• The nature of the battle is ultimately about the Gospel (cf. Act 13.8-11; 16.16-18). The battle is over the Gospel itself - it's truth, it's impact on our lives, and it's advance. As we talk about becoming more missional, we necessarily engage more in the spiritual battle.
  

• We are always undergoing spiritual warfare. It may be subtle, but the battle never rests. When we rest, then the enemy gains the advantage.
  

• Christians cannot become demon-possessed (as far as my research reveals). But, we can still be influenced by them.
  

• The demons key activities are: to tempt, to deceive, and to inflict. We must be alert to all three, and defend against all three.
  

• Seven-point profile of the enemy (according to Youssef):
  

1. The enemy believes in questioning authority (his fall, the Fall, abortion, views on the Bible / church etc.)

2. The enemy goes to church!

3. The enemy wants to meet your needs (self-centeredness)

4. The enemy is a supreme forger (he won’t necessarily look evil)

5. The enemy detests the down-and-out (i.e. they have needs and know it)

6. The enemy disguises falsehood with truth (e.g. business, personal life, dating, giving to your church)

7. The enemy never attacks from the front (“acceptable sins”, like gossip, critical spirit, unforgiveness, etc.)

How to engage in the battle

• We have been given authority to rebuke demons (Jm 4.7; 1 Pe 5.8-9)

• But our real authority over demons is the cross (Heb 2.14; Col 2.15; Rev 12.11; 1 Jn 4.4; Php 1.28; 2 Cor 10.4)

• Speaking directly to demons can be more effective, but we don't want to become too fascinated with them or focused on them.
  

• God has given us plenty of weapons (Eph 6.10-20; see also 2 Cor 10.3-4).
  6:10 Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.6:11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes ²¹ of the devil.6:12 For our struggle ²² is not against flesh and blood, ²³ but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, ²⁴ against the spiritual forces ²⁵ of evil in the heavens. ²⁶ 6:13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground ²⁷ on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. 6:14 Stand firm therefore, by fastening ²⁸ the belt of truth around your waist, ²⁹ by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, 6:15 by fitting your ³⁰ feet with the preparation that comes from the good news ³¹ of peace, ³² 6:16 and in all of this, ³³ by taking up the shield ³⁴ of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation ³⁵ and the sword ³⁶ of the Spirit, which is the word of God.6:18 With every prayer and petition, pray ³⁷ at all times in the Spirit, and to this end ³⁸ be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. 6:19 Pray ³⁹ for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak ⁴⁰ – that I may confidently make known ⁴¹ the mystery of the gospel, 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.

• Seven-point strategy against the enemy (according to Youssef):
  

Remember: The victory is ours.


The secret of Masada: Lay down your life (Jm 4.7; Rom 6.13-14). Take up your cross daily and experience death to self. The enemy has no defense against that.


Lock the doors each morning. Pray each morning.


Put on the battle gear. Understand the passage from Ephesians 6 and put it into practice.


Praise the Lord (demons can’t stand that).

If in a conflict, pray for the other person (by name, in humility).

Start thinking of heaven (turn your attention away from things like anger and toward the things of eternity).

One thing Satan would love would be for us to ignore the spiritual battle entirely. He would love for us to ignore the reality of the battle - to think ourselves too "scientific" for such things. But if he can't get us to ignore him, his second strategy would be to make us inordinately interested in him. The most effective response for us is to be fully aware of his methods and activity, to address it simply by the power of Christ, and then to focus our attention on Christ.

I recommend reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. This is not a book that tries to describe exactly how demons behave, but through the story, Lewis does show how the demons use trickery to deceive us.