Friday, June 25, 2010

Blest Be The Tie That Binds (and Chokes)

Christian historian, Tyler Nector, displays an ancient item of clothing once worn by all spiritual and godly men and boys while attending church three times on Sunday and once in the middle of the week.  Many of these unfortunate souls choked to death during Pastor Charlton Finkenbinder's two-hour expositions of Holy Scripture.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Radical

Today my friend and fellow blogger Paul Wilkinson from Thinking Out Loud introduced me to a young man who is making a global impact that is undeniable.
   
David Platt has written a book entitled Radical and it is just that.  The fact of the matter is that the gospel is radical but it has been altered and tampered with so much over the centuries that in its present state...it no longer appears "radical" at all.
David Platt (pictured) is pastoring a mega-church in Birmingham, Alabama that is taking the radical gospel seriously.  Check out Paul's blog post here and then go the the site of The Church at Brook Hills.

Be challenged here as you watch this video clip.

Friday, June 18, 2010

I'm Tired Dear or Is It Deer Me?


I know, I know!  
I'm supposed to be taking a break from blogging but, dear me, I'm getting tired of not posting.  
Couldn't resist sharing this photo with you.  
Can you lend me a buck or two?
Post Script:  My friend Paul Wilkinson from Thinking Out Loud feels that this picture desperately needs a caption.  Here's his suggestion:
"Okay, just lay back and tell me how long you've been having this dream..." 
Any suggestions?

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Taking a Break

NOTICE...
Effective today, Tuesday, June 8th, 2010, I will be taking a break from my Pilgrim Scribblings blog. I hope you will take the time to fish in my archive pool for some of the close to 2,000 articles I have posted over the last 5 plus years.
Don't be alarmed! I will be back later.  God bless you all and thanks for your encouragement and friendship over the years.
- The Pilgrim

Monday, June 07, 2010

Evening Prayer

My friend Tim Challies posted the following prayer on his blog recently.  It is definitely worth repeating:
Merciful God, in whom is no darkness at all, we come before You at the end of this day. We thank You that You have given us strength for our daily work, and have guided us safely through this day. Bless what was good in our labour and conduct.
Since You ordained that man should labour during the day and rest at night, we pray You to give us peaceful and undisturbed rest so that we may be able to take up our daily task again. Command Your angels to guard us and cause Your face to shine upon us. We cast all our anxieties on You, for You take care of us.
Control our sleep and rule our hearts, in order that we may not be defiled in any way but may glorify You even in our nightly rest. Defend and protect us against all assaults of the devil and take us into Your divine protection.
We confess that we did not spend this day without grievously sinning against You. In Your mercy please cover our sins as You cover the earth in the darkness of the night.
Grant comfort and rest to all who are ill, bowed down with grief, or afflicted with spiritual distress. Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not abandon the works of Your hands.
All this we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday, June 06, 2010

Sign of the Times

The following article was posted on my friend Paul Wilkinson's blog, Thinking Out Loud. Check out his site here.

I want to say that this picture was contrived. I really do. But even it is, is it that far from the truth?

I also want to believe that the various meetings advertised here are outreach events the church itself is presenting, but in all likelihood they are simply room rentals. Does it matter, if the need is real?

I want to believe that the sermon advertised for Sunday morning will address this dichotomy, but in all likelihood, it will consist of “heads in the clouds” platitudes. Did anyone at the church see the contrast?

I want to wish for things to be different, but deep down, I know that the people who attend Monday to Saturday are often the same people who are seated in the pews on Sunday morning. Or their proxies. These are the people for whom Christ died.

Jesus can do more with broken people than he can with people who have it all together. The addicted, the abused, the abusers, the impoverished, the homeless, the users, the people with no self image, the people dealing with temptation, the people on the brink of despair; these are all the people who can be America’s hope for the future.

The future never looked as bright as when you know you’ve reached bottom and there’s nowhere lower down you can go.

I hope it was a great sermon!


Picture is from Friends of Irony, a Cheezburger Network website.

P. S.


Another good friend sent along the following comment in response to this post.  She is a solid Christian whose opinions I respect so I add her perspective for your consideration.  Let me also add that I posted the above article with my "tongue partially in cheek" because of the subtle humour that was present.


Here's my friend's perspective:


"...but in all likelihood, it will consist of “heads in the clouds” platitudes."

I find that sad, David, that you would assume such a thing about a church you do not attend and a pastor you do not know. Frankly, it breaks my heart into pieces.

God uses different means to help different people. Those groups on the sign are helping people who, at this time, would rather die than attend a regular church service. These groups often have to pull up people from their despair, their death wishes, before they can even find the strength to seek to live and desire God.

God is huge. He thinks outside the box. He uses all sorts of people, all sorts of ways, to help all sorts of people. What works for one will not work for absolutely everyone.

Yes, ultimately Jesus is the answer for us all. Yes! But the ways He brings us to Himself are many and varied. And the ways He keeps us whole and joyful and healed *after* we know Him are many and varied, too, and He has pastors out there showing us how to stay healthy in spirit, soul and body so that others will want what we have.

And it behooves us to respect the people He creatively uses to pull people upward from their despairing aloneness so they can glimpse--and desire-- His light which will ultimately expose their darkness and bring them to Himself and a joy in living.

Blessings!

Another note:

Just to add further perspective to Paul Wilkinson's post, here is the comment he wrote to "my good friend":

To David's good friend;

As the author of the piece that David used, I want to say that there was no intent to be judgmental toward a particular pastor. As I stated in the first paragraph, I have no idea if the photo is real or somewhat staged.

All I wanted to say was that sometimes, in the face of need all around us, as the Monday thru Saturday schedule at that church demonstrates, it's easy for there to be a disconnect on Sunday morning. The weekly sermon often misses the hurt of the community. We all share in that.

If you'll look carefully, you'll see that I ended with, "I hope it was a great sermon!"