The Fear Factor

Let's be transparent, shall we?  Does fear and anxiety well up in you when you think of speaking Christ and the gospel to others?

I've been thinking a lot about Stephen in Acts 6 and 7, and now Philip in Acts 8.  We know that Stephen unequivocally declared the Lord Jesus Christ and was killed because of it!  And I'm sure that Philip's obedience in carrying the gospel to Samaria was risky, too.  These were bold men, very bold.  What made them so?  How can I get some of that boldness?  How can you?

In his highly recommended book, Marks of the Messenger, J Mack Stiles wrote, "Boldness is not a lack of fear.  It is faith in something bigger than our fears so that we appear fearless.  Confidence in something bigger than our fears gives us strength to do the right thing in spite of opposition or persecution."

That helps me.  Fill up on God and His Word.  Pray hard.  And trust Him.  Take Jesus at His Word when He says, "When the time comes for you to speak, I will give you words." ("I will give you a mouth and wisdom..." Luke 21:15)  Do we believe Him?

Going hard after Jesus and praying for boldness, with you,

Pastor Carey

Book Recommendation:

John Piper's DESIRING GOD made a huge impact on my life and I recommend the book to you.  Please read and enjoy the quote below--

http://takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-does-god-command-praise.html

Especially for Dads

Ray Ortlund: Christ Is Deeper Still

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Memories of my dad: 2

Posted: 21 Jun 2010 12:00 AM PDT

Years after I was grown, mom told me how dad came home at the end of the day.  After giving himself wholeheartedly all day, his blood sugar low, as he walked up the back steps and just before he opened the door, he shot up a prayer: “Lord, I need a little extra energy.  Please give me something more right now, to give my family.”  God answered that prayer.

His pattern was, first, to go give my mom a huge, borderline-embarrassing kiss, and then he’d turn to me and say, “Come on, Skip, let’s wrestle!”  He and I went out to the front room and got down on the floor and wrestled and tickled and had fun being guys together.  Then it was dinner time.

I can never remember my dad coming home with nothing to give.

Memories of my dad: 2 is a post from: Ray Ortlund

Memories of my dad: 1

Posted: 20 Jun 2010 01:50 PM PDT

This being Father’s Day, let me tell you a few stories about my dad. I hope you will be encouraged.

First memory. Every now and then, when dad felt that he and I hadn’t had enough time together, he would take me out of school. His day off was Monday. So on Sunday night he’d say, “Want to skip school and go to the beach?” Off we’d go the next morning and surf and goof off and just be together.

On Tuesday morning, he’d write a note for me, I’d take it into the school office, and they would mark my absence “unexcused.” I guess they saw no excuse for a dad spending time with his son. Dad didn’t care. He didn’t feel imprisoned within their technicalities. He wanted me to do my best in school, of course. He told me so. But being a dad was too real to him to be held back by the formal disapproval of the system. I felt loved by him. I still do.  And that too is education.

More memories this week, as Jani and I are away at an Acts 29 retreat in Colorado.

Memories of my dad: 1 is a post from: Ray Ortlund

We Don't Drift Toward Holiness.

Please read 1 Peter 1:15-16 and this article from D.A. Carson.

Sanctified Terms for Our Drifts from Holiness
Source: thegospelcoalition.org

Stephen Was the First: Witnesses Are Still Dying for the Gospel

http://www.gfa.org/news/articles/courageous-missionary-murdered/

LIVE ON GOD'S GRACE

What but grace could do it?
http://www.thedailyspurgeon.com/2010/06/what-but-grace-could-do-it.html