Nov 8 2010

Gone but not forgotten


This past Saturday my neighbor and good friend Mike called and suggested that we visit the “Moving Wall”, a memorial to those who paid the ultimate price in Vietnam. It was a moving experience.

On the wall there are the names of 58,320 casualties. Of those 8 are women. 2,056 are inscribed “Body not recovered”. The average age of the deceased was 22.8 years. In the mass of people who came out on Memorial Day to see the moving wall there were many veterans. I witnessed one old gentleman look at a spot on the wall for perhaps a minute and then, with his back as straight as any Marine ever stood he gave a prolonged salute. When he finally turned away with parade precision I saw tears running down his cheeks. They never forget, the pain never goes away.

This letter left at the bottom of the wall by a 5th grader is a fine example of what it means to be a patriot. We care. The few, the brave gave all they had to give, and we care.


The Vietnam War was the first war whose military strategy was decided not by experienced military men on the ground but by political types in Washington, D.C. who had never had their hands dirty. We will never win a war run out of the beltway.

What did our country accomplish in Vietnam? Well today what was then North and South Vietnam are now just one big Communist country. We made a lot of children orphans. We made a lot of wives widows. And we largely treated those who did make it back to our shores like human trash.

Liberalism has not changed except that it is worse. A segment of our people do not know honor, have no shame, and live only for what is easiest and satisfies the most base desires of a human.

This American will not forget those who died in the jungles of Vietnam, those whose planes were shot down over Germany, those who died in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, and at Pearl Harbor. Neither will I forget those who died at Fort Morgan, Gettysburg, Vicksburg and dozens of other places where brave young men gave their all for their countrymen.

The Civil War General Sherman said “War is hell boys…”. I hate war and all it represents. But, as long as evil is alive there will be war. The brave will step up and put their lives on the line just as they have since the first in the history of mankind.

I believe that if something is serious enough for the United States to send our young men and women into harms way it is serious enough to win at all costs. Trying to fight a heartless and evil enemy while being politically correct is unwise and the persons responsible when we do it should be tried for treason.

I hate war of every kind. But, if you are going to have a war, Win it!

I salute every family and friend who was touched by losing a loved one in Vietnam.

Royce Ogle

 

Nov 4 2010

“Not Condemned”


 

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Roman 5:1)

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

In Romans 5:1 we have the promise that  we presently “have” peace with God. This is not speaking of the “peace of God” which we can also claim. But rather it is the opposite of being at odds with God because of sin.

We are in this joyful state of being at peace with God “through” our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the ground and basis of our peacefulness with God. There can be no peace with God except through him.

Then there is the first part of the promise “we have been justified by faith”. This is bedrock truth stated in the past tense. Paul’s letter to the Romans begins by giving his own apostolic credentials and he then mentions those to whom the letter is addressed.

“…you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:6)

” To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.”
(Romans 1:7)

So the letter is not addressed to all Roman citizens but to those specific ones who are “called ” to be Christians, “called” to belong to Christ. Next Paul tells them why he thanks God for them…

“…because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.” (Romans 1:9)

He was not thankful for them because of their charitable work or that they had a big missions budget, but rather because their “faith” was well-known across the whole world!

And so it is, we have been called to Christ and have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ. Christ alone is the ground of our faith and hope. He alone is the way to God the Father. It is his worth and work that set us (past tense) right with God so that by his saving and satisfying acts we right now have peace with God. This is one of the “Gospel Bookends”. The other now follows.

In Romans 8:1 the same truths are stated in a different way. In Romans 5:1 we are told what is present. In Romans 8:1 we are told what is missing.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

Condemnation is missing! The one who puts his whole trust in Jesus at once goes from “condemned” to “uncondemned”. Isn’t this precisely what Jesus told the Jewish leader Nicodemus when he came inquiring about him?

“Whoever believes in him(Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:18)

Jesus clearly laid out two conditions, two states in which a man could find himself. He did not mention religion, He did not mention the Law, and He did not mention good works. What He did say is so very clear.

Not Condemned? “Whoever believes in him (Jesus).”

Now Condemned? “Whoever does not believe…”

It is true that those who put their whole trust in Jesus are not condemned, but more than that they will never be condemned. Jesus said these words as He addressed a huge gathering at Capernaum.

37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:37-40)

Jesus states the Father’s will twice.

“…that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.” (vs 39)

“…that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (vs 40)

And in those two consecutive verses Jesus makes it plain that every person who trusts in Him will be raised from the dead. Eternal life is a present, permanent, possession.

It is not possible to be “condemned” and at the same time have “eternal life”. And it is not possible either to “not condemned” and maybe miss the resurrection. The two “I wills” of Jesus in passage are conclusive. There can be no other legitimate meaning to what Jesus promised.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

When darkness seems to hide His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

This old hymn states it well. Edward Mote wrote these truth filled words in the year 1834. In the following 176 years no one has discovered any Bible truth that is more foundational, that make us more secure.

We have been justified, we now have peace with God, and we have no condemnation because we are in Christ Jesus the Solid Rock.

Agape’

Royce

Oct 26 2010

What does love look like?


A couple of weeks ago Carol and I visited with the good folks at the Hemley Road Church of Christ. We are always so encouraged and built up in our faith to just be with them and observe 1st century Christianity up close. One of my experiences was on Thursday morning at the food give away.

I arrived at the Civic Center in Bayou La Batre to find the parking lot full of cars. I drove to the side of the building, found a place and entered through the service entrance. When I entered I saw a long line of people who were waiting to have their ID’s checked and then receive a large box of Hungry Man dinners. The Mobile County Bar Association was present offering pro bono legal work for the citizens. Medical personnel were there checking blood pressure, trying to get a snapshot of the health of those who wanted the service.

Each week a semi trailer of food is distributed. This week about 400 family units received about 1700 meals. They also received tooth brushes, tooth paste, and other essentials most of us take for granted. Perhaps 30 volunteers helped in the effort. The local jail’s trustees, dressed in their horizontal striped black and whites carried cases of food out for people, ladies at a long table checked the necessary paper work so food and other supplies would go to those who most need it.

I studied the faces of those people in line to get food. Most of them entered the line showing no emotion. Their faces were those hardened by days in the sun on shrimp boats, working in ship yards, and a history of fighting for survival in a place where drug abuse and alcoholism is as common as the sun. Their faces did not reflect hope, just a determination to survive. Most would force a faint smile as they said “Thank you” when they received their allotment of food.

A series of storms topped off by Katrina, the Gulf Oil Spill, and stupid government policy has forced this once thriving fishing community to its knees. Will they ever recover seems to be the question of most people I spoke to. It is difficult to be optimistic when you and most of your friends are unemployed and only a fraction are eligible for any benefits.

When the local network affiliates come from Mobile or Pensacola, or CNN, and PBR come calling to find how and why all this is going on in south Mobile County they find that the Hemley Rd Church of Christ is responsible. It is an amazing story of God’s faithfulness to a hand full of people who believe He can do anything.

Only 4 1/2 years ago they were less than a half-dozen common folks who together decided that they would make a difference in hurting people’s lives. They were distributing what ever they could find that the people needed. They started to repair storm damaged houses and people began to come and help. Soon, they decided they would worship together and they met at Hardees, the Odd Fellows Hall, on the beach, and finally in their own building. They have gone from nothing to being the leading church in the area, touching lives both for time and eternity.

Not only have they fed thousands, repaired almost 500 homes, given tons of bedding, furniture, and large appliances, they have also baptized people regularly who have decided to follow Jesus.  In God’s providence, funds, goods, and volunteers have come to help from all across the U.S. Not only church of Christ people but perhaps a dozen or more other groups continue to be staunch supporters both with funds and people on the ground.

Recently a church gave a 28 passenger people mover, another church purchased a 2010 van, and a local denominational church opened its heart and check book to help them help the community they serve well into the next year. The stories are too numerous for this format. Again and again, when the funds are almost completely gone and bills are due God supplies every need and more. I had not seen this kind of faith first hand in a long time. I’ve read about it, but when you see it up close and personal there is no denying that God is faithful to those who are depending only upon Him.

Carol and I spent a week working, worshiping, laughing, watching, and being amazed at these simple and unlikely hero’s of the faith as they feed the hungry, heal the broken-hearted, love the unlovable, and give out of their poverty in Jesus name.

Want to see some first century Christianity at work in 2010? Drive down to south Mobile County, Alabama and ask someone where the Christians are. They are easy to find.

Agape’

Royce

 

Oct 7 2010

Just Say No to the Status Quo!


First, an admission. I am a skeptic. I am one who questions the “Status Quo” in every arena of life. For example, when I receive a forwarded email that makes some claim that doesn’t ring true in my mind, I at once try to find out if my intuition is correct. (It usually is.)

Just because “this is how we have always done it..” does not equate to being right or best. I question public policy, and even contemporary Christianity. I think it is very healthy to read the label before you ingest some substance into your body. And, I think it is profitable to follow the same logic about what you allow into your mind. So, I have questions…

Does it bother anyone but me that not one of the people we read about in the book of Acts would qualify to be a minister in almost all of our churches?

This week I read a want ad from a church seeking a youth minister. One of the first requirements was “a minimum of 5 years experience”. Peter wouldn’t qualify, he only had about 3 years experience in ministry when he preached the powerful sermon where 3,000 were saved. Paul would’t qualify, he had no ministry experience when he began his ministry to the Gentiles.

Most all churches now require a degree from some Bible related school. Paul had about 3 years alone with God. He was schooled in Judaism but wouldn’t qualify on educational grounds. Even Jesus himself wouldn’t pass muster.

Maybe it would be beneficial if we would spend some time thinking about how and why we got so far off track. Could it be that culture has crept into our churches so that we are operating more like business than like a living organism that is solely dependent upon God to exist and function in the world?

Could it be that the reason numbers are shrinking in most evangelical groups is that Jesus is no longer the central message?

Read the book of Acts sometime and you will see a noticeable difference in the message of those early preachers and what comes out of most pulpits today. I am certain that multiplied thousands of regular church goers have never once heard their preacher give a clear presentation of the gospel.

Several months ago I read about a dozen sermons by a fellow whose self description was “Gospel preacher”. Amazingly, not once did this guy explain the gospel. He made reference to the word “gospel” several times but oddly failed to preach the gospel. How can you logically give an invitation to people to become Christians if they haven’t a clue about the gospel?

We would do well to get back to preaching Christ and the good news about what He accomplished for sinners.

Can “Ministry” become an idol?

Think long and hard before you answer. Only each individual can answer from him or her self. I answered the question and was not pleased with the answer… Granted, my feeble ministry pales in comparison to many who will read this post. But, what we do have in common is an ego that keeps fighting for the front of the line. The praise of men too often takes the place the glory of God should occupy in our “ministry”.

Do I first seek God’s approval for what I do? Do you? Or, do I want to hear words of praise from others? Our honesty, or lack of it, about such matters is a measure of who we really are.

Oh that all of our teaching and preaching and ministry models and community activism and charity give Christ glory and honor! If when at the end of the day Jesus is the center of attention, and not us, we will have succeeded.

Manage your ministry well, don’t allow it to manage you.

Dare to be different

Tens of thousands of ministers and other Christians are running about clamoring for attention, rushing to this conference and that one, looking for something new and exciting. We believers are fascinated by new books sometimes at the sacrifice of the Old Book.

Surrender to Jesus is not glamorous. Holiness will not get you invitations to a lot of parties. And, being Christ centered at all costs will not pay off by the world’s standards.

He must increase and I must decrease. His strength is made perfect in my weakness. Only in my brokenness is His wholeness on display to a watching world.

Agape’

Royce