“Altar-ations”
“Some of my most significant life events happened at an altar.” Jack Graham, Pastor Prestonwood Church
As I drove down the road early one morning I listened to the sermon of Jack Graham. His subject was total surrender to God’s will. I thought back over my life, recalling several key moments kneeling at an altar dedicating my life; standing before an altar pledging marital fidelity, and joining hands with family members as we said goodbye to beloved parents.
Then, in typical Brenda-fashion, I started hearing the word roll around, changing its meaning. Altar became alter. But they really are not so very unlike.
I heard a woman bemoaning additional weight the other day… ”I used to blame my dryer for shrinking my clothes, but I was wrong – it was the refrigerator’s fault.” Clothes that used to be a tad too big now hug my ample late fourth quarter body. How thankful I am for elasticized waists!
Living for nearly 80 years gives me the advantage – a robust selection of rear view mirror experiences. I can look back on moments of alteration when critical changes were made. Some shocked me while others quietly creeped up. Some were received with boundless joy while others took my breath away and threw me into a spin. But all were alterations!
And even better than that – they were altar-ations. They were brought into my life by the hand of a loving, gracious, all-powerful God. When I kneeled in recognition of His goodness my heart experienced peace preciously unknown. Peace with God and the peace of God gave me an acceptance of alterations and made each day one to practice altar-ations.
Prayer Network
by Brenda A. Smith, BWFLI.com, BreakfastWithFred.com
“It is the calling of the Christian college and university to be constantly and resolutely about the business of renewing minds.”
Robert P. George in his foreword to David Dockery’s outstanding work Renewing Minds points out the primary focus of the Lord’s reminder that we are to love God with our hearts, souls, and minds.
As the students prepare to return let’s join together in praying for their total readiness. Just as we are told to put on the “whole” armor of God, we pray for all to be wholly equipped for this next school year. Students, faculty, staff, and administration need our constant support and encouragement.
During this month would you choose one of our Prayer Network schools and pray specifically? Would you take the extra step of sending a note to the President, assuring of your belief in their mission?
All of our Christian higher education institutions need faithful men and women who stand with them. When their very existence is challenged, we have the privilege of going before our Father God on their behalf. The Lord is mighty and daily provides – let’s be grateful and earnest in our friendship.
Money
by Bob Deffinbaugh, Bible.org, BWFLI.com
“33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me (Acts 20:33-34 NAU).”
“17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed (1 Timothy 6:17-19).”
It should not be difficult to convince anyone that false teachers talk a whole lot about money. As Paul put it, they “suppose that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:5). But Paul talked a lot about money as well, but for a very different reason: He believed that being generous with material wealth was profitable, not only for the one who received, but for the one giving (see 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Philippians 4:10-19). Paul himself was a giver (Acts 20:34-35; 1 Corinthians 9:12; 2 Corinthians 12:14), and thus it was easy to encourage others to follow his example. Jesus taught that how we handle money was indicative of how we would handle more important things (Luke 16:1-13).
College students are typically not wealthy, and they might see this as an excuse for looking the other way when needs become evident. But we all, like the Macedonians, should be eager to meet the needs of others as they are able (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). May our college and university students be sensitive to the needs of those around them, and generous in helping to meet these needs.
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Don’t Duck
Weekly Thought – August 2, 2022
Fred grew up in the home of a Southern Baptist preacher. “Soul winning” burned in the heart of M.B. Smith. All five “Smith boys” grew up hearing their father stand in the pulpit holding his big Bible and powerfully proclaiming the Gospel. Fred’s philosophy of evangelism has helped laymen to comfortably share the good news.
Don’t Duck
One of my favorite weekends is the annual men’s retreats in Fresno, California. We have established great trust and friendship. However, at the beginning I had to explain that I am not a pastor, ministry leader, nor evangelist. Early in the development of the lay movement it was difficult for the idea of integrating Christian faith into all areas of life feel natural.
In the 1950s the Student Department of the Southern Baptist Convention piloted an idea: send teams of Christian businessmen to college campuses for a week, staying in dorms, fraternity houses, and speaking in chapel, classrooms, and informal sessions. We all had to explain we weren’t ordained preachers – we were business people. The response was positive. “I have never heard a businessman talk about faith like you all do.” We weren’t delivering sermons, or exegeting texts – we were talking about what it meant to follow Christ.
We were not taking the place of pastors – we were expanding their reach.
During these men’s retreats evangelism would always come up. I explained that I didn’t have that gift, but that I wouldn’t avoid talking about faith if it came up naturally. I boiled it down to two words, “Don’t Duck.” Each morning I found peace in praying, “Lord, today I won’t duck. If the subject comes up I will handle it as normally as I would any other subject.”
Talking to others about spiritual matters has never been as easy for me as talking about business. But when I made the Don’t Duck commitment it became a more normal part of my day to day. Once I did that I found the most interesting thing: spiritual issues come up – and they come up as naturally as any other subject. I don’t have to figure out ways to jam it into the conversation. I met a man recently who proudly told me he never leaves a person without challenging him with the gospel. I find staying open strangely provides opportunities repeatedly.
At one particular retreat weekend I talked about my commitment to “Don’t Duck.” An advertising man in the audience had an idea. The next time all the men walked around sporting a large lapel button with a duckhead crossed through with a black line denoting “Don’t Duck.”
When we listen to the Holy Spirit our experiences are beyond anything we could force.
This week think about: 1) How comfortable am I talking about spiritual matters? 2) What would change if “Don’t Duck” became my daily commitment? 3) When can I tell the Spirit is opening up the conversation?
Words of Wisdom: “Don’t Duck.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12 NET Bible)