Back At It

Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 

Well, it’s been exactly 4 months since I lasted posted to the blog. 

It’s not that I haven’t been reading my Bible and getting something from it… 

And it’s not that I haven’t intended to pick it back up probably every single week for the last 4 months… 

It’s just that as a husband (about 4.5 years), father (almost 15 months), and youth pastor/assistant pastor (over 3.5 years), I’ve still got a lot to learn about so many things, one of which is time management and prioritization.   

It’s not that I haven’t been busy.  It’s not that at all.  But when I think of that as an excuse I’m reminded of people I know who have a LOT more on their plate than I do and still make the time to do whatever it is that God has given them.  (particularly reminded of this when I get the “Encouraging Words” posts from www.caryschmidt.com) 

So, I’ve got a stack of papers in my Bible with verses and thoughts and lists and studies to look into and write about.  Looking forward to getting back at it.  Hope some will follow along.  Trust we’ll all either start or continue to PRESS toward the mark (Phil 3:14) and follow HARD after God (Ps 63:8).

Brother David

Lessons from Riley Grace

Well, as many of you know, our little Riley Grace made her safe arrival into this world last Tuesday night (March 23). She weighed 6 lbs 6 oz and measured 19½ inches long. Mother and baby are both doing very well. All praise be to God!

Many people told us throughout the course of Lauren’s pregnancy that once our first little girl was born “life would never be the same.” I never doubted them. I just didn’t have any clue exactly what they meant.

Well, they were right. The blessing of being a parent totally changes everything. And there really is no better way to describe it than to say that “life will never be the same.” And that’s a good thing.

Just a couple quick things that have been on my mind the past week.

1. God really does answer prayer. Throughout the course of Lauren’s pregnancy and the entire 18+ hours of labor and delivery, we prayed some very specific prayers, and the Lord graciously granted some very specific answers. He didn’t have to, but He did. And we’re thankful for it.

2. I understand that we will never be able understand or explain or comprehend the “love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19), but I believe that watching the birth of my little girl last Tuesday night maybe inched me just a little bit closer. It seems the best example God can give of His love for us is the love of a parent for his child. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him” (Psalm 103:13).

At the risk of sounding gushy, there is absolutely no way to describe the wave of love that completely overwhelmed me the moment my wife gave birth to little Riley. I mean I absolutely lost it the moment my little girl was born, and there’s just absolutely no way to describe the intensity of the love that has filled our hearts for this precious little gift from God.

If I can feel that strong and indescribable of a love for my little child as a weak, depraved, fallen human being, then “behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we might be called the sons of God…” (1 John 3:2).

If you ever come to the place where you doubt God’s love for you, either consider becoming a parent ;) or if you already are, think back to the day when your little child was born and you caught a slight, little glimpse of the amazing love God has for you.

Praise His name!

Lord willing, I’ll pick back up with regular posting in the very near future. In the meantime, please be in prayer for the 3rd annual youth rally at THE BIBLE Baptist Church on Saturday, April 17. We don’t just want to have fun or host an organized and efficient meeting, we want God to do a work in the life of some young person that will mean something in eternity.

PRESS TOWARD THE MARK!

Brit Hume On Tiger Woods

Someone (formerly) in the news bold enough to stand for Jesus. Watch with wonder. And remember to pray for Tiger Woods.

A Sobering Question

I would like to ask this nicely. David, why do preachers define "wine" as alcoholic thru-out the Bible. Yet when Jesus turned water into wine, it is defined as grape juice w/o fermented (alcholic effects).

Drunkenness has no appeal to me. Knocking down a brew while mowing the lawn certainly does not feel like a sin to me.

Received this comment in response to “What Are You Seeking?” It had nothing to do with the post, but I appreciate the question and the spirit in which it was posed. As long as we can agree that it doesn’t matter how we “feel” about the issue, then the Bible can guide and direct us in the way of truth (Psalm 119:105). Here we go.

The Definition of “Wine”

The term “wine” is used throughout the scripture to refer to grape juice in BOTH its pure (unfermented) and intoxicating (or fermented) forms. In most cases, the context and common sense are enough to determine which is being referred to (Genesis 9:21; see below). In others, it is neither clear nor terribly important (Deuteronomy 32:38). Admittedly, still others leave us scratching our heads and/or debating over which is in view (1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 5:23).

It is clear that every mention of “wine” does not refer to the intoxicating sort for several reasons. Let me give you just a few.

1. The Israelites drank of the PURE blood of the grape (Deuteronomy 32:14).

2. This “wine” is that which can be gathered in from the fields and vineyards (Deuteronomy 11:14; Deuteronomy 16:13).

3. The Levites were instructed not to drink “wine” (Leviticus 10:9) but were given the best of the “wine” (Numbers 18:12) that the Israelites brought as part of their offerings/sacrifices (Exodus 29:40; Leviticus 23:13; Numbers 15:5, 7, 10; Numbers 28:7, 14; Deuteronomy 12:17; Deuteronomy 14:23, 26; Deuteronomy 18:4; Nehemiah 10:39). Obviously, what the people brought to the temple was not off-limits and must have been something other than what was forbidden, though both are referred to as “wine.”

Some teach that “new wine” is used specifically to refer to this “fruit of the vine” (Genesis 40:9-11; Matthew 26:29), and that idea seems to fit well with the following passages – Proverbs 3:10; Isaiah 65:8; Nehemiah 10:39; Joel 3:18. However, the distinction does not seem to hold up in places such as Hosea 4:11; Joel 1:5; Acts 2:13.

Jesus and Wine

It is wrong to assume that Jesus drank wine (as we commonly refer to it) or that he condoned doing so, much less accommodated it at a wedding party.

1. The scripture NEVER states that Jesus drank an intoxicating beverage. He did not drink the miracle water in John 2, and what He drank in the upper room was called “the fruit of the vine” (Mark 14:25).

2. The Bible does NOT state that anybody in John 2 drank wine. Watch what it actually says. There were six WATERpots of stone (v. 6). Jesus said, “Fill the WATERpots with WATER” (v. 7). The ruler of the feast tasted the WATER (v. 9). This is significant for at least a couple reasons. First, Jesus turned WATER into wine. He did not turn FRUIT into wine. When you turn FRUIT into wine, there is a fermentation process (think TIME), but WATER cannot ferment – especially not in the time that it takes for a servant to draw the cup and bare it to the governor of the feast (v. 8). Secondly, perhaps the miracle of John 2 was that the men were fully convinced that the WATER they were drinking was actually wine. Let me explain. God once put potable WATER in ditches that looked red as blood (2 Kings 3:15-24). So is it possible for God to give men water while they are fully convinced that it is blood? Yes. Likewise, is it not possible for Jesus to give men water in John 2, while they are fully convinced it is wine? Why not!

3. In fact, this would much more in line with His character. Jesus never sinned. Had he provided alcoholic beverages for the wedding party in John 2, He would have placed himself under the woe of Habakkuk 2:15. In addition to that, Proverbs 20:1 says wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging. It bites like a serpent and stings like an adder (Proverbs 23:32; Deuteronomy 32:33). It overcomes men (Jeremiah 23:9); inflames men (Isaiah 5:11); robs them of their senses; and leads them into immorality (Genesis 9:21-24; Genesis 19:32-35) and spiritual darkness (Isaiah 28:7-8). It is unholy and unclean (Leviticus 10:9-10). Would Jesus really pass it out? I’m not convinced that He would.

The Christian and Wine

In addition to the above, here’s why I believe that knocking down a brew while mowing the lawn is a sin:

1. Proverbs 23:31 says not to even look on the type of wine that “moveth itself aright” (the fermented stuff). How can I drink it if I’m not supposed to look at it?

2. Proverbs 31:4 says that it is not for kings to drink wine. Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 say that I am a king.

3. Proverbs 31:6 says that wine is for those who are ready to perish. If you’ve been saved by the grace of God, that’s not you (John 3:15-16; John 5:24; John 10:28).

4. Proverbs 20:1 says that whoever is deceived by wine is not wise. Ephesians 5:17 says that I am not to be unwise.

5. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt it would cause some brother to stumble or be offended (Romans 14:21-23).

6. Even if it were lawful, I am not to be brought under the power of any (1 Corinthians 6:12). I must not partake of anything that would hinder my life from being under the full and complete control of God’s Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

7. I’m not yet willing to give up on drinking water (1 Timothy 5:23 – see The Devil’s Bible, 9/23/08).

I understand that not everybody who drinks a beer becomes a drunk. Some say it’s genetic. Some say it’s a matter of will. Others contend it’s entirely a spiritual matter. But in any case, I am not willing to take a chance at becoming a statistic by taking that first drink. Nor am I willing to encourage anyone else to take that chance by taking a social drink every now and then – even if “I can handle it.”

So there it is. I appreciate your feedback, but I ask you to check every Bible reference before you decide to argue with me. If you’re concerned about what the Bible says, there’s plenty to consider. If you place more weight in how you “feel” about it, then nothing the Bible says is going to matter anyway.

Cheers!

Visit THE BIBLE Baptist Church website to order The Lost Cause Series, including a chapter on “Drinking in Moderation.”