The Works of God

Politicians from both sides of the aisle have been caught using the word ‘retarded’ in a demeaning way over the past several months.  Of all people, those who have their words scrutinized should know better.

But I’m not writing today to pile on – I know my own heart well enough to know that while certain words are off-limits, my heart still harbors evil against others.

I’ve been thinking about how to address the issue of language and the condition of my heart. The church covenant I entered into at Bethlehem includes several helpful statements.  For example, here is statement four of the six that make up the entire covenant:

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.

I know the Church Covenant is specifically addressing the community of members at Bethlehem.  But the principles of being ‘slow to take offense’ and ‘always ready for reconciliation’ are worth striving for as one who clings to a savior who sacrificed his very life for sinners like me.

Plus, I know that God has already assigned special protection to those with disabilities:

You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:14

So, let us not demean politicians who use language carelessly.  Yes, such things need to be addressed because they do harm others, like my own boy.  But their words are only pointing to the condition of their hearts.  We do them no favors by merely encouraging them to hide that condition rather than turning their trust to our savior.

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Eric Mason delivered a powerful message yesterday morning at the DG Conference for Pastors. His theme was suffering, sanctification and joy.  

He speaks with credibility.  He has experienced suffering in his own life and family.  And he loves Jesus.

Here is a quote from my notes that I’m still chewing on:

The purpose of suffering in sanctification is not to destroy you but to develop you.

Listen or watch here.  I highly recommend it.

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This headline in the Telegraph says it all:  Haiti ‘faces amputee generation’.

In another article, The Miami Herald reported that Healing Hands for Haiti, the only prosthetic limb manufacturer in Port-au-Prince was destroyed.

Does anyone know of agencies preparing to serve the thousands of newly disabled people of Haiti?  Please add a comment if you do.

And let us all continue to pray for them and support the agencies providing immediate relief.

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Today marks the 37th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade.

I’m grateful for this video from Abort73.c0m on what is obvious: from conception, there is life.

The Psalmist saw it long before he could know all that we know today:

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Psalm 139:13-15

We have a particular stake in this issue.  More children identified with a disability in the womb will die than will live – not because of the disability, but because of abortion.  Nine times more babies will die than live when Down syndrome is found.

Pray that this ends now.

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I came home the other day to find this on our family whiteboard:

Did you think I came up with posts for this blog all on my own?

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With news of the earthquake in Haiti showing extraordinary devastation and loss of life (and long-term probably thousands with permanent disabilities), I recommend reading this Taste and See Article by Pastor John from 2005:

Tsunami and Repentence

Here is an excerpt:

(Jesus) himself stood on the sea and stopped the waves with a single word (Mark 4:39). Even if Nature or Satan unleashed the deadly tidal wave, one word from Jesus would have stopped it. He did not speak it. This means there is design in this suffering. And all his designs are wise and just and good.

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Lord willing, my family will be in South Dakota today (Sunday) as we visit extended family.  One of the great blessings of being in South Dakota is attending a really good church, Central Valley Community Church, in Hartford, South Dakota.

What makes it so good?

• God-centered preaching.  Pastor Chris Gorman just gets better and better over the years we’ve visited.  He takes God’s word seriously, obviously spends time in study and meditation, and demonstrates personal affections for Jesus Christ.
• Commitment to missions and church planting.  They didn’t even wait to have their own building before they planted another church in a nearby community.  I love that!
• Elders committed to leading well.  Chris brought his entire elder board to a Desiring God Pastors Conference so they could learn what he was learning and so they could, together, consider how to best lead that church.  Then I met another elder at the most recent Children Desiring God conference.  These men are serious, and joyful, about their leadership roles.

And, equally important to me:

• They are a kind, welcoming community for my multiply-disabled niece and her parents.  That young woman is known and accepted.

It is a joy to be with God’s people and to soak in his word when away from home.  May God grant you that same blessing this season if you are traveling!

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I was at Bethlehem for a meeting yesterday and as I parked at the downtown campus I noticed three people leaving Bethlehem.

The first was a Somali woman, presumably Muslim, waiting for her ride – and using a wheelchair.  At the other entrance was a blind man with a cane being directed to his ride by the third person, who was obviously his driver.

I don’t know any of their circumstance or why they were at church, but I love how good God is in bringing those two individuals with disabilities and that driver to Bethlehem.  Their presence makes me happy!  And it reminded me of how Jesus did things:

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.  Matthew 21:14

Please pray that Bethlehem would be the kind of place where all people of all abilities and cultures are drawn and feel welcome to come learn about this Jesus who heals us from things much worse than disabilities – our own sin.

And pray that all three people I saw would know the kind of healing that Jesus provides for eternity!

. . . having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. . . Ephesian 1:18-19

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Justin Taylor recently wrote in his blog on the book of Joshua, answering the question about how God could have commanded the destruction of the Canaanites.

Justin covered several themes that are also vitally important to understanding God’s authority and intentionality with regards to creating some people with disabilities:

1. As the maker of all things and the ruler of all people, God has absolute rights of ownership over all people and places.
2. God is not only the ultimate maker, ruler, and owner, but he is just and righteous in all that he does.
3. All of us deserve God’s justice; none of us deserve God’s mercy

The Bible is remarkably consistent about describing God, whether it is about the weather, war, disability or election: God is sovereign over all things.

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Noel’s comment on Saturday’s post regarding the DG National Conference is correct!  When I wrote that post on Friday, I should have remembered what event I was writing about.

The very first event I attended, the Philippian Fellowship Annual Meeting, began with Pastor John talking about how frequently (and importantly) suffering comes up in his books.

And last night, Sam Storms put suffering into perspective against the future hope of a glorious eternity with Jesus Christ.  I highly recommend his talk: The Final Act in the Theater of God.

As I’m writing this, conference audio and manuscripts through Saturday night are now available here.  Conference audio and video for the entire conference might be available by the end of the day today.

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