Another beautiful song on the piano by Greg Howlett. Enjoy.
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All posts for the month March, 2013
ABUSE IN THE CHURCH & CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS
The link will take you to an interview with Boz Tchividjian who heads the investigative organization, G.R.A.C.E.. GRACE deals with abuse within churches and Christian organizations. Interestingly GRACE was just weeks away from submitting their final report on the pedophile missionary Donn Ketcham when the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) dismissed G.R.A.C.E. Was ABWE frightened of what the report might reveal? Sadly, we will probably never know what G.R.A.C.E. discovered in their investigation.
Boz says in this interview that “In 1994, I became a prosecutor in central Florida, and eventually became the chief of the sexual crimes division. During that time, God opened my eyes to the physical, emotional and spiritual harm resulting from child sexual abuse. After leaving the prosecutor’s office in 2001, I was burdened to apply what I had learned on the front lines as a child sexual abuse prosecutor in helping to train and equip the faith community to address the many issues associated with abuse. In response to this burden, I formed GRACE in 2004.”
Boz continues “It was not until I became a prosecutor that I saw for the very first time the utter devastation that is caused by the horrors of sexual abuse. I will never forget sitting across my desk from weeping parents who had only recently learned that their 9 year old daughter had been sexually victimized by one of their best friends. I will also never forget meeting that beautiful 9 year old little girl. A girl whose life had just begun, but who never had the opportunity to enjoy childhood because of the evils perpetrated upon her. Though the abuse had forever changed the life of this precious child, I came to realize that the abuse had not destroyed her soul and that underneath it all she was still a 9 year old who had childhood interests, aspirations for what she wanted to do when she “grew up”, and even dreamed of going to Disney World. It was during those moments when I realized that God had given me an incredible privilege to be placed in such a position for the purpose of expending myself to those who were struggling through these very dark and painful valleys of life.”
This interview is a must to read. Sexual, mental and physical abuse is happening right now within many churches and Christian organizations. If you do not believe this do a little search on the internet and you will soon read not only of the abuse but the all too often cover-up that occurs to either protect the offender, the organization or both!
One could almost (and I stress almost) understand the cover-up when it is in the world but churches and mission organizations?! Whatyareckon?
Is Freedom of the Press under seige?
With an election only months away here in Australia is this a tactic that might benefit the Labor Party?
Sadly many do not seem to have the discernment to see how the man who occupies the White House is destroying America. This guy (the occupier) plays the fiddle while America burns! Wake up America!
This gospel hymn was written by English Baptist pastor Edward Mote (1797 – 1874). Mote told his congregation when they offered to turn the title of the chapel over to him; “I do not want the chapel, I only want the pulpit; and when I cease to preach Christ, then turn me out of that.”
He can be your Friend too if you trust Him as your Saviour. He is God in the flesh, God’s Son, Who died and paid for your sins and rose again from the grave.
Over three thousand years ago a man by the name of Solomon wrote a book that is very relevant to us today. This Book shows forth two choices people, young and old, are confronted with. Here is a man, Solomon, that is characterized by wisdom and wickedness. Here is a man who knew Deity in a very personal way but lived his later life in debauchery and idolatry. Here is a man that knew the true and living God and built a house for His worship but at the same time through wrong and worldly marriages built houses of worship for idols. In old age this man, Solomon, who had been so privileged by God went the way of the world. 1Kings 11:4 – 7 “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.” We can learn much from Solomon, good and bad.
The Proverb before us presents two choices men have to make whether they be young or old. However, I believe it is much more sorrowful to see the old men making the wrong choice for they, one would think, should be wiser by the very breadth of days they have lived! There is no fool like an old fool!
Proverbs 9:1 – 18 “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. 3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. 13 ¶ A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.”
Proverbs chapter nine is centered around two houses; the house of Wisdom and the house of Fools. The noun “house” appears in 28 verses here in Proverbs. The Bible principle of first mention may be of interest here. The word house appears first in Proverbs 2:18 “For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.” This is the house of the fool and this “house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death” Proverbs 7:27.
Just as in all ages past, people were faced with two life changing decisions, so today people have the same two choices; which house will I enter. One choice is the house that Wisdom built and the second is the house the foolish built.
First, the house of Wisdom is for those who will but “turn from his way and live” by entering the house of wisdom. The other choice is to enter the fool’s house “that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat”.
THE HOUSE OF WISDOM
The first house is the house of Wisdom, 9: 1 “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars”. The wisdom found in this house “…is from above (and) is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
The fulfillment and personification of this Wisdom in Scripture is the Lord Jesus Christ; 1Corinthians 1:30 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom…” Solomon tells the reader in Proverbs 8:35 that “whoso findeth me (Wisdom) findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.” Solomon also tells the reader that “In the house of the righteous (which is the house of wisdom) is much treasure” Proverbs 15:6. The house of wisdom we are told in Proverbs 9 offers a furnished banquet table full of food and drinkand Psalmist knew this for he wrote “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” Also there in the house of wisdom is taught truth and how to live a long and prosperous life.
Entrance into the house of wisdom is a choice made by each individual person. Wisdom calls and says“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28. Wisdom also cries out saying “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” John 10:9. It is worth noting that “the wisdom of this world” is not even under consideration in Wisdom’s house!
THE FOOL’S HOUSE
Proverbs 9: 13 – 15 “A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways”. See those passing by doing no harm, on their way to work perhaps or just doing their shopping or daily chores and the Fool calls them to come in. A choice is to be made and will be made!
The one who enters this house learns the ways of the world. This is worldly wisdom and “the world by wisdom knew not God”. In fact the house of the fool says there is no God! In the house of fools dwells the dead and the depths and demons of hell itself. Here in the fool’s house one is taught deception, thievery and lies. The head teacher in this fool’s house is none other than he who “…was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” This teacher in the fool’s house is the devil himself who is described “as a roaring lion” who “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. Oh, what a wretched teacher! What a horrible house to be in! There is no truth there, just lies. In this house of fools “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived”. What a picture of the world with its intellect and wisdom, all opposed to God!
CONCLUSION
Each person will make a choice to either enter the house that wisdom has built or the house of the fool. Each person is individually responsible for their own choice as to which house they enter. The house of fools is often thought of as the place of liberation, freedom to be ME. However, in reality “the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell”.
There is no blame shifting at the end of the game of life. Each person is walking the path of life thinking all is well but often without warning “and in a moment go down to the grave”. One wakes up in the morning thinking about what they will do after work or on the week-end but neither happens for life as they know it ceases via death.
The path trod to the grave is “the way of all the earth”. None of us are immune from the cold reach of death. The choice we make today will determine where we spend eternity. Remember, death has no age barrier and that is why Solomon said to “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth”.
The world’s sirens are appealing but they are “the ways of death”. The fool’s “… house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead” Proverbs 2:18. Yes, there are “the pleasures of sin for a season” but as stated earlier “the end thereof are the ways of death”.
Wisdom calls out and says “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life”. God the Son said “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you …I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
The house of fools tells people that there is more than one way and the fool seeks to reinterpret the truth to fit their purpose of deceit. In the end however the choice is yours! May you if you haven’t already, make the right choice for in making the right choice “Death is swallowed up in victory”. The wise choice is to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
whatyareckon 