Archive for December, 2009
Following Christ in 2010
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Discipleship on December 14, 2009
Here’s a link to a good article written by David Francis entitled “The 8 D’s of Discipleship for the New Year.” David works for LifeWay as the Director of Sunday School. He is a down-to-earth, practical writer, and a nice guy.
Let me know what you think?
UK or U of L?
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat, Evangelism, Funny, Life Happens on December 13, 2009
One day I was in a barbershop getting a haircut. As you try avoiding the thoughts of a hair joke next time you see me, let me share my “spiritual” experience.
While my bushy flocks were being trimmed and thinned a gentleman walked in the shop wearing telling apparel. He was wearing a UK hat, a UK coat, a UK sweatshirt, and possibly some unseen UK clothing as well. I looked up and said, “Looks like we have another one of those Cardinal fans coming for a haircut.” Everyone laughed because it was obvious that this man was on the side of the University of Kentucky!
Moses once asked the question, “Who is on the Lord’s side?” I believe it should be obvious whose side we are on! Our words, our dress, our drink, and most importantly, our life should scream that we are on God’s team. Everywhere the barbershop UK fan went throughout the day folks would clearly know that he was for UK. It’s likely that UK basketball would sometimes be part of his conversation, but even when it wasn’t he was sharing his allegiance.
“Lord, help us to be obvious Christians. Show us ways to provide both a silent and verbal witness of our allegiance to you! Lead us to be far more excited about the eternal things of God than the temporary things of this world.”
Today Is Christmas At Our House
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat, Life Happens on December 12, 2009
Today is Christmas at our house, well, kinda! Our daughter Lauren will be working with the International Mission Board over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Because she will be leaving soon, I worked out a deal with Santa to come early at our house. As I type, I’m looking at her full stocking hanging from the fireplace.
Please pray for Lauren as she travels and represents the Lord. Pray for the children, youth, college students, and missionaries with whom she will be working. Naturally, we will miss her this Christmas, but we’re happy she will be serving in this capacity.
I Miss My Mommy
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Life Happens on December 11, 2009
You wouldn’t think that a grown man would miss his mother, but I miss my mom more and more each year. My mom went home to be with the Lord in 1992 at the age of 60. She was the heart and soul of our family, especially when it came to holidays and birthdays.
One of my favorite Christmas memories is etched in my mind forever and revolves around my mom. For some reason when I was about 10-years-old, she decided to move the Christmas tree from its usual spot in the living room of our modest little eastern Kentucky home, to the dining area off the kitchen. She placed it in front of the breakfast nook window and it snowed during the holidays that year.
I remember staring at the Christmas tree with the snow coming down outside in the background. For some reason the combination of the simplicity of the tree, the falling snow, a warm house, homemade candy, and my family nearby is a memory that remains vivid to me. Even at the time, I seemed to sense that I was experiencing something special.
Enjoy every moment with your family this Christmas and be thankful for each person. Be sure to slow down so you can notice and appreciate the “little” things about them and about the holiday. This may be the year that your favorite Christmas memory is etched in your mind to enjoy for years to come.
Another Funny Christmas Video
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat on December 10, 2009
I’m not sure why this is funny, but I couldn’t stop laughing. Here you go:
Weird, Inspirational, Funny Christmas Light Show
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Life Happens on December 10, 2009
Check out this brief Christmas video. You will experience a variety of stress-relieving Christmas emotions.
Will You Cheer For Tiger Again?
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat on December 10, 2009
In the past I have been a huge Tiger Woods fan. If he was in the hunt in a PGA tournament I was usually watching live or by DVR. Although I was never under the impression that he was a Christian, I always thought he was a loyal, family man. Because he showed such discipline in his golf game, I imagined he maintained similar discipline in his private life.
Please understand that I am not making any accusations of Tiger, because obviously, I have no personal knowledge of transgressions. But, if some of the alleged incidents prove to be true, I will be very disappointed. His apparent fall shocks me, but it really shouldn’t. Sin is luring. Especially sins of the flesh. The devil is seeking to devour people and illicit sex is one of his most effective devices.
The question I know I will have to face in the future is “will I cheer for Tiger again?” Right now, I would say “no,” but who knows. I can’t help but think about the story in John 8 about the woman caught in adultery. Jesus told the religious leaders, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7, ESV). We ALL know that we are not without sin in our own lives. Share your thoughts.
Will you cheer for Tiger Woods in the future?
Can Non-Christians Have Joy?
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Church Chat, Discipleship, Evangelism, Worship on December 9, 2009
In 1971, the group Three Dog Night released a song that was the #1 song on the charts for 6 weeks in a row. Here are some of the words to the song:
Jeremiah was a bull frog; was a good friend of mine. I never understood a single word he said, but I helped him drink his wine. And he always had some mighty fine wine. Joy to the world; all the boys and girls, now. Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea; joy to you and me.
It seems to me that this song contains a very misguided view of true joy and where it originates. In the New Testament, the word “joy” is the word χαρά [khar•ah]. Throughout the Bible, joy is almost always associated with salvation.
In Luke 2:10, the angel told the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy….” What was that great joy? “Today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11, NASB). David linked joy and salvation when he prayed, “Restore to me the joy of my salvation” (Psalm 51:12, NASB).
I contend that only Christians can experience Biblical joy because only Christians have experienced salvation. Non-Christians can certainly experience happiness in life, but happiness can come and go. Joy is constant — it does not depend on circumstances. I like to say it this way:
Happiness depends on happenings; Joy depends on Jesus!
If we’re going to choose a song about joy, I think the Isaac Watts version of “Joy to the World” is much better than the Three Dog Night version. Here are the words:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room. And heav’n and nature sing. And heav’n and nature sing. And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
What do you think? Can non-Christians have joy in their lives?
BOOK: “Eternal Security, Can We Be Sure”
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Book Reviews on December 8, 2009
I believe that once a person becomes a genuine Christian, they can never “lose” their salvation. They are saved by grace and they are kept by the power of God. Along that line, I recently read Charles Stanley’s book Eternal Security: Can We Be Sure. In the book, Stanley shares about growing up in a Pentecostal Holiness Church that did not believe in the eternal security of the believer. Not only did the church not believe that a person that is saved is always saved, they often preached against that doctrine.
Stanley’s book is well written and the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer is strongly supported. The book is understandable and written to a wide audience.
Do you believe that you can “lose” your salvation? Well, so did Charles Stanley! But in the book, he documents how he came to believe differently when he began to dig into the Scriptures.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue of eternal security, I believe the book will be a blessing to you. Pick up a copy today and decide about this doctrine for yourself.
Favorite Bible Translation
Posted by Stephen C. Rice in Book Reviews, Ministry on December 5, 2009
Lately, I’ve been thinking a great deal about different Bible translations. As most people my age, I cut my teeth on the King James Bible. The last decade or more I have been reading and preaching from the New International Version. I love both translations, but they are very different. The King James takes a word-for-word (formal equivalence) translation approach while the New International Version is a thought-for-thought (functional equivalence) translation.
In the last few years, two new, scholarly translations have been published. One is the Christian Holman Standard Bible. This Bible is a combination of a word-for-word and a thought-for-thought translation. I have read quite a bit from this translation and I find it a refreshing and accurate approach to the Scripture.
Another recent and excellent translation is the English Standard Version. The ESV is a word-for-word translation in the tradition of the King James Version. It has quickly become a highly accepted translation by scholars and casual readers alike.
Check out these translations and let me know what you think? Let me complete this post by asking the following question:
Which Bible translation do you prefer?
Here’s a link to a great radio broadcast by Dr. Albert Mohler about the best Bible translations.
