The job of the evangelist is not done until the evangelized becomes the evangelist.
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For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:16-17 KJVR

Evangelism is nothing more than one beggar telling another beggar where to find food.

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Thursday, June 28, 2007

God's Promise to Deliver Israel

I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt... I will certainly be with you... I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt... to a land flowing with milk and honey... So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. Exodus 3:10, 12, 17, 20

Again, we see our God of promises pouring out His guaranteed plans like a cascading river. They encompass God's promise to deliver Israel. These promises build upon God's fundamental commitment to Abraham to call out a people for His own glory and purposes. The central promise reveals the rescuing heart of God, who wants to deliver people from bondage, and bring them into blessing. "I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt...to a land flowing with milk and honey."

Our God is a God of compassion. When Israel was in cruel bondage in Egypt, God's heart was moved with concern. "And the LORD said: 'I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows'" (Exodus 3:7). The prophet Isaiah put it this way: "In all their affliction He was afflicted" (Isaiah 63:9). Thus, the Lord committed Himself to deliver them. "So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go."

When the Lord Jesus walked upon this earth, He demonstrated the same compassion. "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." (Matthew 9:36). This same loving compassion led Jesus all the way to the cross to deliver us from the bondage of sin.

The delivering work of God for Israel was not only from bondage; it was to substantial blessing: "to a land flowing with milk and honey." Israel was not only rescued from great heartache, but they were brought into a joyous bounty. When Joshua and Caleb saw the land, they described it as "an exceedingly good land" (Numbers 14:7). This same pattern (from bondage, to blessing) is how Jesus works on our behalf. He delivers us from spiritual death to fullness of life. "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Dear Lord, my deliverer, I praise You for rescuing me from the bondage of sin. I rejoice that You have brought me into the richness of fellowship with You. What a gracious plan You have provided — to make all of this available by means of Your faithful promises!




Bob Hoekstra, June 28

Day By Day By Grace


Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Me Worship

On sale right now!!!

Me Worship


Thomas Jefferson

"On every question of construction carry ourselves back to the
time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit
manifested in the debates and instead of trying what meaning may
be squeezed out of the text or invented against it, conform to
the probable one in which it was passed."

-- Thomas Jefferson (letter to William Johnson, 12 June 1823)

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"The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have past at home in the bosom of my family."

-- Thomas Jefferson (letter to Francis Willis Jr., 18 April 1790)

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"I have sometimes asked myself whether my country is the better for my having lived at all? I do not know that it is. I have been the instrument of doing the following things; but they would have been done by others; some of them, perhaps, a little better."

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"His person, you know, was fine, his stature exactly what one would wish, his deportment easy, erect and noble."

-- Thomas Jefferson (on George Washington in a letter to Dr. Walter Jones, 2 January 1814)

Monday, June 25, 2007

Benjamin Rush (On the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic,

"[T]he only foundation for a useful education in a republic is
to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue,
and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the
object and life of all republican governments."

-- Benjamin Rush (On the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic,
1806)

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

The West Michigan Mission Field

by Donald King

Woodland Baptist Association includes ten counties in western Michigan where North American Mission Board missionary, Michael McCoy, serves as the associational missionary.

"More than a half million people in the Woodland Baptist Association are without a church home and Christ in their lives." In fact, two of the ten counties, Oceana and Lake, do not have a Southern Baptist work. And when you enter Grand Rapids into the equation, the second largest city in Michigan, which has grown 4.5% in the last six years with a population of 750,000 people, this North American mission field represents a significant need with real possibilities.

Michael has served the Woodland Association for two and a half years. In that time, he has led the 16 churches in that association to embrace the vision of "Planting and Growing the Kingdom of God."

"We are a group of partners," says McCoy, "and among the ways we have partnered with our churches to reach West Michigan is the Tent Meeting, sponsored by Trinity Baptist Church, a house church in Newaygo County. This is a very rural part of our association which has a great tent meeting out in the country."

Partnerships are important in Michigan. They often build bridges to the lost in the area. An example of this is seen through the City of Wyoming's block party.

"It was the first Tuesday of August, the night of the National Night Out campaign to fight crime through developing community relations. The city partnered with us and asked if we could bring our block party equipment to the city park. We did face painting in addition to providing snow cones and inflatable rides for the kids."

"There were hundreds of people in the park that night and by the end of the evening, seven people gave their hearts to Christ as their Savior," said McCoy.

McCoy, a classic car enthusiast, is leading the association to reach their communities for Christ through the annual Woodland Baptist Association ministry at the 28th Street Metro Cruise. The 28th Street Metro Cruise is a two-day, classic car rally in Grand Rapids which takes place in late August.

"There are about 10,000 classic cars and more than 100,000 people who attend," says McCoy, "and we partner with our churches to do street witnessing and tract distribution during the cruise."

Holland, Michigan may be best known for an annual event which takes place the first week of May. Tulip Time is a week long festival celebrating the Dutch heritage of Holland. Tulip Time is one of the largest flower festivals in the United States and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

The Holland Baptist Church and their new pastor, Dr. Greg Howard, have begun a new evangelistic outreach during the festival. The First Baptist Church of Perrysburg, Ohio partnered with the church this year to do street witnessing and distributed cold water to festival goers annually.

New church starts are critical to the association's overall strategy. Michael is especially excited about two new, healthy church starts in Grand Rapids and Holland.

Pastor Francis Darko is the church planter at Sonrise Baptist Church in Grand Rapids which is targeting African-Americans. He just started a few months ago and is already seeing fruit from his labor. "He already has a great core group and is baptizing new believers who have given their hearts to the Lord," says McCoy.

Pastor Medina has started a new church in Holland, Michigan, targeting Hispanics. Vacation Bible School proved to be a very effective way of reaching this community. But there is much more work to be done to make in-roads to this part of the community.

When asked what the prayer needs are for his association, McCoy is quick to answer with the following:

Pray for:

  • Our churches without pastors (First Baptist, Ludington; Northside Baptist, Holland; and, Iglesia Bautista Hispana, Grand Rapids)
  • Our new church starts in Grand Rapids and Holland
  • Our church planting funds, which will dry up within three years unless partners join us in the harvest
  • Partners to join us in our work

Consider the opportunity to share Christ in Michigan. The rural communities and big cities of the Woodland Baptist Association offer Southern Baptists the opportunity to obey the Great Commission near the Great Lakes.

NAMB missionaries, Michael and Cheryl McCoy, need your help in western Michigan. Of course they covet your prayers but they also extend an invitation to come along side them to be involved in the work. In fact, they are praying for partnerships with Southern Baptist churches like yours. So take some time and go yourself or take a group from your church.

Go! Discover the North American mission field in western Michigan.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

No Child Left Behind and the Race to the Bottom

By Dan Lips and Evan Feinberg

As Congress prepares to decide the future of No Child Left Behind, it seems everyone has become an expert on the law, including Comedy Central’s Steven Colbert.

On a recent episode of The Colbert Report, Mr. Colbert shared his thoughts on the landmark federal education law, highlighting one of its central problems - how No Child Left Behind is causing states to dumb down state standards.

Colbert picked on Mississippi to demonstrate the problem. “Only 18 percent of fourth graders in Mississippi passed the standardized national (NAEP) reading test,” Colbert explained. “Fortunately, it’s the state reading test that counts. And 89 percent of Mississippi fourth graders passed the state test. You see, folks, with one deft move Mississippi is a shining example of how easy it is to succeed…if you simply redefine ‘success’ as ‘below whatever you’re currently achieving.’”

Colbert’s report on No Child Left Behind came on the heels of two important studies that shed light on whether the landmark federal education law is working. The first report, from the Center on Education Policy, trumpeted good news for NCLB supporters.

The study looked at state proficiency scores and measured whether states were reporting improvement after the enactment of No Child Left Behind. It found that state math and reading scores had improved since the law had passed.

“American educators and students were asked to raise academic achievement, and they have done so,” said Jack Jennings, president and CEO of the Center on Education Policy. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings also heralded the study’s findings as evidence that “confirms that No Child Left Behind has struck a chord of success with our nation’s schools and students.”

But NCLB supporters shouldn’t be too quick to celebrate. Days later, the Department of Education released a report that explains why state test scores alone don’t show whether NCLB is working.

The Department report showed that state-defined proficiency standards are often far lower than proficiency standards on the NAEP, a national snapshot of American students’ academic achievement. This means that states which claim large numbers of students scoring “proficient” on reading and math tests may just have easier tests than other states. Secretary Spellings called the report “sobering news.”

The Department of Education report shows why, as Mr. Colbert explained, it is possible for 89 percent of Mississippi’s fourth graders to score “proficient” in reading when only 18 percent scored “proficient” on the NAEP exam.

To be sure, state tests have always differed from the national exam. The real problem is that No Child Left Behind actually put in place incentives for states to weaken their standards - making it more pressing for them to meet political objectives than to improve student achievement by objective measures. Under NCLB, states are required each year to increase the percentage of students scoring “proficient” on state exams. Ultimately, the law requires that all students meet the goal of “proficient” on state tests by 2014.

This has led states to simply lower the bar, as humorously articulated by Mr. Colbert: “Well, that sounds hard. So here’s what I suggest: Instead of passing the test, just have kids pass a test…. Eventually, we’ll reach a point when ‘math proficiency’ means, ‘you move when poked with a stick,’ and ‘reading proficiency’ means, ‘your breath will fog a mirror.’”

Researchers have studied trends in state testing and report that states are indeed participating in a “race to the bottom” by lowering state standards to meet NCLB goals. A 2006 study by University of California researchers found that the gap between state and NAEP proficiency scores had widened in 10 out of 12 states examined since NCLB was enacted. Professor Bruce Fuller, the lead author of the report, pointed to the likely reason: “State leaders are under enormous pressure to show that students are making progress. So they are finding inventive ways of showing higher test scores.”

The bad news is that this problem will worsen as the 2014 deadline approaches. If nothing changes, parents should expect to see significant increases in state tests scores. But this improvement probably won’t be evident on the national measures like the NAEP.

Mr. Colbert’s jokes aside, this isn’t a laughing matter. No Child Left Behind was intended to strengthen accountability and transparency in public education, but it is actually having the opposite effect. The “race to the bottom” is threatening to erode real transparency about academic performance. Parents and taxpayers soon may not be able to judge whether their children are learning and whether their public schools are working.

This is just one of No Child Left Behind’s significant flaws that must be addressed in the upcoming Congressional reauthorization debate.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Notes for June 17th

God’s Word is Essential

2 Peter 1:12-21

What evidence is there in your life that deep biblical knowledge has shaped your thinking and behavior? __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

He also turned to _________ them what he had taught them about Christ’s ____________ and the _______________.

God inspired men to write down His ____________ so we could learn it and be _____________ of it constantly

Why do Christians become complacent about their spiritual responsibilities?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Peter insisted what he taught was not _________________.

The gospel is the testimony of __________________ to the magnificent _______, __________, and _______________ of Jesus.

What are some cleverly contrived myths that many people follow today? How can Peter’s word help you refute these myths? _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

God’s Word is ______________ for us because it gives the truth to which we are to pay attention.

As _____ __________ ________ signals the imminent sunrise, so the return of _________ will bring us the full light of _______________.

What specifically will you do to learn and reflect on God’s Word? _____________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Scripture for June 17th

Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. Ans I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind. For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"- and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

2 Peter 1:12-21 NASB

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

First Fruits

Sunday night, after church, Tanner and I went to look at the garden we had planted several weeks back. It was obvious that I had not weeded it in a while but Tanner had been faithful in watering everyday. With the wrong attitude, I began to pull up some of the larger weeds that were there when all of the sudden, I saw a glimpse of red. "What could that be" I wondered.
As I looked closer it was obvious. Radishes. Even though I hadn't been diligent in tending our garden, God would not be mocked, we reaped exactly what we had sown. As I called Tanner over to see, he became almost giddy with excitement. We pulled a good dozen or so radishes and he was all excited to go show mom what we had grown.

As we were picking them, I tried to remind Tanner of how in the Old Testament the Jews would sacrifice the first fruits of their harvest to God as Thanks for what was still to come. His reaction was probably not too much different then most of ours would have been, he wanted to keep them for himself. I didn't spoil the moment by pushing the lesson any farther but it did remind me of how thankful I am to be under God's grace and not the Law.

Thank you Jesus!!

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Letter to Pastor

I’ve been meaning to write this letter for a while to say thank you for all that you do for Immanuel. Thank you for being a strong leader and not backing down from teaching the Bible as the word of God. As I write this letter, you are preparing to preach at the convention and I know you will challenge the pastors there just as you challenge us each and every week.

Thank you for seeing the needs of our families and being willing to start a new series on the families. I know that since I have been a member of IBC, you haven’t done this series and I am glad to see it coming.

I know that you are a busy man so I will keep this letter brief. The question I had for you was this; are we, as a church, going to be able to make the sermons available on the Internet soon? I know there are lots of members like myself that listen to sermons online and also download mp3s. I haven’t done any pod-casts myself but I have had people come into my class with Ipod’s on listening to John McArthur, Greg Lorie and J. Vernon McGee. I think this would be a wonderful outreach to our younger generation (and some of the older ones too).

I have used your words often in my Sunday School class that we will never change, “The Man, The Message or The Mission” and I agree with you that we must be willing to change, “The Methods, The Mindset and the Ministries.” I believe using the Internet this way would be a wonderful tool. If there is anything I can do to help promote this, please feel free to let me know.

Thank you.

Love you and God Bless,

Joshua Shupe

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - Building Your Marriage with God's Blueprints

Our Pastor is beginning a new series on the biblical foundation of marriage, beginning Sunday, June 17th. The series is called Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - Building Your Marriage with God's Blueprints. Make sure you are in place for this. He will be sharing with us what God's word says about a husband and wife's relationship with each other and with God, as well as principles for how to date in preparation for a Godly marriage. Immanuel, make sure that you invite family, friends, co-workers and neighbors to be in place beginning Father's Day - June 17th, for this series on Marriage and Family. This is a tool for you to share with someone who really needs this message - and we all need to know Godly principles to apply to our marriages. Be there, and bring as many as you can with you. Also, send everyone you can to The Chief End to check out the promotional blurb that Byron Mathe put together for us.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Scripture for June 10th

Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.


2 Peter 1:1-11 NASB

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Notes for Sunday, June 10th

Growth is intentional

2 Peter 1:1-11

What evidence exists that you have made spiritual growth an intentional discipline? ________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

You can have ___________ in your life only because of God and Jesus Christ.

How could you use the article on the inside cover of the Learner Guide to help a person take the step of faith? ___________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

1. God has given us ___________ required for life and godliness. The good news for us is that God’s _________ has given us ____________ we need to live and to live godly lives.

2. God called us by His own __________ and goodness.

3. Through God’s glory and righteousness we have received __________ and __________ promises.

4. Through God’s promises to us, we share in the ____________ nature.

5. Since we share God’s character through our relationship with Jesus, we can escape the ____________ of this world.

What provisions from God help you grow spiritually? ____________________

__________________________________________________________________

Salvation is a _________ gift of God’s grace, but God still requires _________ effort from us.

Peter reminds us to be ___________ to continue in those things that God has called us to do, and if we will do that, we will stay on the right path.

What evidence in your life confirms you are truly in Christ? ______________

__________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Thought for the day

The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has...been with you, and you have not lacked anything.

Deuteronomy 2:7

Monday, June 4, 2007

Not Yours to Give

Col. Davy Crockett
1884

One day in the House of Representatives, a bill was taken up appropriating money for the benefit of a widow of a distinguished naval officer. Several beautiful speeches had been made in its support. The Speaker was just about to put the question when Crockett arose:

"Mr. Speaker --- I have as much respect for the memory of the deceased, and as much sympathy for the suffering of the living, if suffering there be, as any man in this house, but we must not permit our respect for the dead or our sympathy for a part of the living to lead us into an act of injustice to the balance of the living. I will not go into an argument to prove that Congress has no power to appropriate this money as an act of charity. Every member upon this floor knows it. We have the right, as individuals, to give away as much of our own money as we please in charity; but as members of Congress we have no right to appropriate a dollar of the public money. Some eloquent appeals have been made to us upon the ground that it is a debt due the deceased. Mr. Speaker, the deceased lived long after the close of the war; he was in office to the day of his death, and I have never heard that the government was in arrears to him."

APPROPRIATE: To set apart for, or assign for a particular use, in exclusion of all other uses; as, a spot of ground is appropriated for a garden. [Webster?s 1828]

MONEY: 1) Coin; stamped metal; any piece of metal, usually gold, silver or copper, stamped by public authority, and used as the medium of commerce. 2) Bank notes or bills of credit issued by authority, and exchangeable for coin or redeemable, are also called money; as such notes in modern times represent coin, and are used as a substitute for it.If a man pays in hand for goods in bank notes which are current, he is said to pay in ready money. [Webster?s 1828]

CHARITY: Liberality to the poor, consisting in almsgiving or benefactions (Alms - Any thing given gratuitously to relive the poor, as money, food, or clothing, otherwise called charity), or gratuitous services to relieve them in distress. [Webster?s 1828]

"Every man in this House knows it is not a debt. We cannot, without the grossest corruption, appropriate this money as the payment of a debt. We have not the semblance of authority to appropriate it as a charity. Mr. Speaker, I have said we have the right to give as much money of our own as we please. I am the poorest man on this floor. I cannot vote for this bill, but I will give one week's pay to the object, and, if every member of Congress will do the same, it will amount to more than the bill asks."

AUTHORITY: Legal power or a right to command or act; as the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children.? Power; rule; sway. [Webster?s 1828]

He took his seat. Nobody replied. The bill was put upon its passage, and, instead of passing unanimously, as was generally supposed, and as, no doubt it would but for that speech, it received but few votes and of course, was lost.

Later when asked by a friend why he had opposed the appropriation, Crockett gave this explanation:

"Several years ago I was one evening standing on the steps of the Capitol with some other members of Congress when our attention was attracted by a great light over in Georgetown. It was evidently a large fire. We jumped into a hack and drove over as fast we could. In spite of all that could be done, many houses were burned and many families made houseless, and besides, some of them had lost all but the clothes they had on. The weather was very cold, and when I saw so many women and children suffering, I felt that something ought to be done for them. The next morning a bill was introduced appropriating $20,000 for their relief. We put aside all other business and rushed it through as soon as it could be done.

The next summer, when it began to be time to think about the election, I concluded I would take a scout around among the boys of my district. I had no opposition there, but, as the election was some time off, I did not know what might turn up. When riding one day in part of my district in which I was more of a stranger than any other, I saw a man in a field plowing and coming toward the road. I gauged my gait so that I should meet as he came to the fence. As he came up, I spoke to the man. He replied politely, but as I thought, rather coldly.

I began, 'Well, friend, I am one of those unfortunate beings called candidates, and-'

'Yes, I know you; you are Colonel Crockett, I have seen you once before and voted for you the last time you were elected. I suppose you are out electioneering right now, but you had better not waste your time or mine. I shall not vote for you again.'

This was a sockdolager, I begged him to tell me what was the matter.

'Well, Colonel, it is hardly worth while to waste time or words upon it. I do not see how it can be mended, but you gave a vote last winter which shows that either you have not capacity to understand the Constitution, or that you are wanting in the honesty and firmness to be guided by it. In either case you are not the man to represent me. But I beg your pardon for expressing it in that way. I did not intend to avail myself of the privilege of the constituent to speak plainly to a candidate for the purpose of insulting or wounding you.

I intend by it only to say that your understanding of the Constitution is very different from mine; and I will say to you what, but for my rudeness, I should not have said that I believe you to be honest. But an understanding of the Constitution different from mine I cannot overlook because the Constitution, to be worth anything, must be held sacred and rigidly observed in all its provisions. The man who wields power and misinterprets it, is the more dangerous the more honest he is.'

'I admit the truth of all you say, but there must be some mistake about it, for I do not remember that I gave any vote last winter upon any constitutional questions.'

'No, Colonel, there is no mistake. Though I live here in the backwoods and seldom go from home, I take the papers from Washington and read very carefully all the proceedings in Congress. My papers say that last winter you voted for a bill to appropriate $20,000 to some sufferers by a fire in Georgetown. Is that true?'

'Well, my friend, I may as well own up. You have got me there. But certainly nobody will complain that a great and rich country like ours should give the insignificant amount of $20,000 to relive its suffering women and children, particularly with a full and overflowing Treasury, and I am sure, if you had been there, you would have done just as I did.'

'It is not the amount, Colonel, that I complain of, it is the principle. In the first place, the government ought to have in the Treasury no more than enough for its legitimate purposes. But that has nothing to do with the question. The power of collecting and disbursing money at pleasure is the most dangerous power that can be intrusted to man, particularly under our system of collecting revenue by a tariff, which reaches every man in the country, no matter how poor he may be and the poorer he is, the more he pays in proportion to his means.

What is worse, it presses upon him without his knowledge where the weight centers, for there is not a man in the United States who can ever guess how much he pays to the government. So you see, that while you are contributing to relieve one, you are drawing it from thousands who are even worse off than he. If you had the right to give anything, the amount was simply a matter of discretion with you, and you had as much right to give $20,000,000 as $20,000.

If you had the right to give to one, you have the right to give to all and as the Constitution neither defines charity nor stipulates the amount, you are at liberty to give to any and everything which you may believe, or profess to believe, is a charity, and to any amount you may think proper. You will very easily perceive what a wide door this would open for fraud and corruption and favoritism on the one hand, and for robbing the people on the other. No, Colonel, Congress has no right to give charity.

Individual members may give as much of their own money as they please, but they have no right to touch a dollar of the public money for that purpose. If twice as many houses had been burned in this country as in Georgetown, neither you nor any other member of Congress would have thought to appropriating a dollar for our relief. There are about two hundred and forty members of Congress. If they had shown their sympathy for the sufferers by contributing each one week's pay, it would have made over $13,000. There are plenty of men in and around Washington who could have given $20,000 without depriving themselves of even a luxury of life.

The Congressmen chose to keep their own money, which, if reports to be true, some of them spend not very credibly; and the people about Washington, no doubt, applauded you for relieving them from the necessity of giving by giving what was not yours to give. The people have delegated to Congress, by the Constitution, the power to do certain things. To do these, it is authorized to collect and pay moneys, and for nothing else. Everything beyond this is usurpation and a violation of the Constitution.

So you see, Colonel, you have violated the Constitution in what I consider a vital point. It is a precedent fraught with danger for the country, for when Congress once begins to stretch its power beyond the limits of the Constitution, there is no limit to it and no security for the people. I have no doubt you acted honestly, but that does not make it any better, except as far as you are personally concerned and you see that I cannot vote for you.'

'I tell you I felt streaked. I saw if I should have opposition, and this man should go talking, he would set others to talking and in that district I was a gone fawn-skin. I could not answer him and the fact is, I was so fully convinced that he was right, I did not want to. But I must satisfy him and I said to him:

Well, my friend, you hit the nail upon the head when you said I had not sense enough to understand the Constitution. I intended to be guided by it and thought I had studied it fully. I have head many speeches in Congress about the powers of Congress, but what you have said here at your plow has got more hard, sound sense in it than all the fine speeches I ever heard. If I had ever taken the view of it that you have, I would have put my head into the fire before I would have given that vote; and if you will forgive me and vote for me again, if I ever vote for another unconstitutional law, I wish I may be shot.'

He haughtingly replied: 'Yes, Colonel, you have sworn to that once before, but I will trust you again upon one condition. You say that you are convinced that your vote was wrong. Your acknowledgment of it will do more good than beating you for it. If, as you go around the district, you will tell people about this vote and that you are satisfied it was wrong, I will not only vote for you, but will do what I can to keep down opposition, and perhaps, I may exert some little influence in that way.'

'If I don't, I said, I wish I may be shot, and to convince you that I am in earnest in what I say, I will come back this way in a week or ten days, and if you will get up a gathering of the people, I will make a speech to them. Get up a barbeque and I will pay for it.'

No, Colonel, we are not rich people in this section, but we have plenty of provisions to contribute for a barbeque and some to spare for those who have none. The push of crops will be over in a few days and we can afford a day for a barbeque. This is Thursday. I will see to getting up on Saturday week. Come to my house on Friday and we will go together and I promise you a very respectable crowd to see and hear you.'

'Well, I will be there. But one thing more before I say good-bye. I must know your name.'

'My name is Bunce.'

'Not Horatio Bunce?'

'Yes.'

'Well, Mr. Bunce, I never saw you before though you say you have seen me, but I know you very well. I am glad I have met you and very proud that I may hope to have you for my friend.'

It was one of the luckiest hits of my life that I met him. He mingled but little with the public, but was widely known for his remarkable intelligence and incorruptible integrity and for a heart brimful and running over with kindness and benevolence, which showed themselves not only in words but in acts. He was the oracle of the whole country around him, and his fame had extended far beyond the circle of his immediate acquaintance. Though I had never met him before, I had heard much of him, and but for this meeting it is very likely I should have had opposition, and have been beaten. One thing is very certain, no man could now stand up in that district under such a vote.

At the appointed time I was at his house, having told our conversation to every crowd I had met, and to every man I stayed all night with, and I found that it gave the people an interest and a confidence in me stronger than I had ever seen manifested before. Though I was considerably fatigued when I reached his house, and under ordinary circumstances, should have gone early to bed, I kept up until midnight talking about the principles and affairs of government, and got more real, true knowledge of them than I had got all my life before.

I have known and seen much of him since, for I respect him - no, that is not the world - I reverence and love him more than any living man, and I go to see him two or three times every year; and I will tell you, sir, if every one who professes to be a Christian lived and acted and enjoyed as he does, the religion of Christ would take the world by storm.

But, to return to my story. The next morning I went to the barbeque and to my surprise, found about a thousand men there. I met a good many whom I had not known before, and they and my friend introduced me around until I had got pretty well acquainted - at least, they all knew me. In due time notice was given that I would speak to them. They gathered up around a stand that had been erected. I opened by speech by saying:

Fellow-citizens - I present myself before you today feeling like a new man. My eyes have lately been opened to truths which ignorance or prejudice, or both, had heretofore hidden from my view. I feel that I can today offer you the ability to render you more valuable service than I have ever been able to render before. I am here today more for the purpose of acknowledging my error than to see your votes. That I should make this acknowledgment is due to myself as well as to you. Whether you will vote for me is a matter for your consideration only.

I went on to tell them about the fire and my vote for the appropriation and then told them why I was satisfied it was wrong. I closed by saying:

And now, fellow citizens, it remains only for me to tell you that most of the speech you have listened to with so much interest was simply a repetition of the arguments by which your neighbor, Mr. Bunce, convinced me of my error. It is the best speech I ever made in my life, but he is entitled to the credit for it. And now I hope he is satisfied with his convert and that he will get up here and tell you so. He came upon the stand and said:

'Fellow citizens, it affords me great pleasure to comply with the request of Colonel Crockett. I have always considered him a thoroughly honest man, and I am satisfied that he will faithfully perform all that he has promised to you today.'

He went down, and there went up from that crowd such a shout for Davy Crockett as his name never called forth before. I am not much given to tears, but I was taken with a choking then and felt some big drops rolling down my cheeks. And I tell you now that the remembrance of those few words spoken by such a man, and the honest, hearty shout they produced, is worth more to me than all the reputation I have ever made, or ever shall make, as a member of Congress."

"Now, sir," concluded Crockett, "you know why I made that speech yesterday."

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From The Life of Colonel David Crockett

Member of the U.S. Congress 1827-31 & 1832-35

Compiled from The Life of Colonel David Crockett
by Edward S. Ellis (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1884)



Thought for the day

The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory...

Isaiah 62:2

Passage for June 3rd

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the suffering of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge; but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He might exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

1 Peter 5:1-14 NASB

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Notes for Sunday, June 3rd

Act with Humility

1 PETER 5:1-14

What evidence do you find in your life that you have learned to serve others humbly in Jesus’ name? ____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Lead by Example

Peter identified himself as having authority to say these things in three ways.

  • First, he called himself a __________ ____________ so he is holding himself to the same _______________.
  • Second, he called himself a ______________ to the suffering of the __________, thus identifying himself as an apostle.
  • Third, he said he was a _____________ in the glory about to be revealed, showing that he was looking toward the __________ __________ of Christ just like they were

Leaders are more effective by ________________ then they are by _______ ________.

How can we pray for and encourage church leaders to model humility? In what ways can we learn humility from these leaders’ examples? ________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Put Others First

Believers are to ___________ themselves with humility.

Humble ourselves before God so that we may be ___________ at the _____________ _________.

To what extent do you relate to others with a spirit of humility? ____________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Always Be Alert

Our true enemy is ____________.

What are the Devil’s strategies? _____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What are appropriate ways believers can effectively resist the Devil? ________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Exploration

Overseeing (1 peter 5:2)

“Overseeing” in 1 Peter 5:2 is a verb form of the Greek word for “overseer” or “bishop.” This term has often been linked to the civil offices of overseers in Greek city governments. The civil officeholders carrying the title, though, bear little resemblance to the New Testament office of overseers or bishops.

The meaning of “overseer” in the New Testament is tied up with the concept of careful watching over someone. First Peter 2:25 describes Jesus as “the shepherd and guardian of your souls.” The word translated “guardian” is the word for “overseer.” In Acts 20:28 Paul told the elders at Ephesus that God had appointed them “overseers, to shepherd the church of God.” In 1 Peter 5:2 the apostle instructed the elders to oversee the church and shepherd God’s flock. In 1 Timothy 3:5 Paul wrote that one duty of overseers is to “take care of God’s church.”

In the first three texts, overseers are described as shepherds. The fourth text reflects the same concept of watchful care over the congregation. “Overseeing,” therefore caries the meaning of a watchful care and nurture of the congregation, as a shepherd cares for his flock.

Take your stand in grace!


Biblical Truths

· Believers should follow the example of church leaders who carry out Christian responsibilities with a willing servant spirit.

· Believers should relate to one another in a spirit of humility.

· Believers are to rely on God’s grace and be on guard against the Devil’s attacks, keeping a spirit of faith and humility toward Christ.