Pastor’s Blog 

     One of the most precious possessions I have, other than my wife and children, is a little Bible that was given to my father when he fought in the Philippine Islands during World War II.  It is called, “The Heart Shield Bible”, a pocket size New Testament covered by a steel plate with the words, “For God and our Country” etched in its face.  I have been told that the New Testament fits in the uniform pocket that conveniently covers the soldier’s heart to provide, in a small way, partial physical protection from a ballistic projectile (a shot that was not direct or point blank) and at the same time, spiritual protection for those who understand that they might be in the presence of God at any moment.  I am moved with the knowledge that my father held on to this book for comfort as he defended this nation during this conflict with tyranny. 

     In Ephesians the 6^th chapter, we are told to put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against the enemy of our souls and his devices.  Verse 12 tells us why; because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  We have an enemy who will do whatever it takes to subvert us from the path our Lord has placed us on.  We are not ignorant of the devils devices.  He wants to steal, kill and destroy us (John 10:10).  We need to make sure we our adorning ourselves with the armor that has been provided to us.  Our Lord won the war on the cross, yet we are still subject to spiritual battles.  Let us be comforted in the fact that we need not fear for Jesus is our Captain; more on this later.
 

Midweek Ministry Musings with Leah

In my last ministry musing I included a quote from the book, Community 101 by Gilbert Bilezikian. It was this: “Paul exhorted the laypeople in Philippi and in Colossia to assume responsibility toward each other since they were ‘competent to instruct one another; (Rom. 15:14) and ‘teach and admonish one another’ because the word of Christ dwelt in them richly (Col. 3:16). It appears that under normal circumstances, the apostle Paul was more interested in encouraging believers to minister to each other than in setting up orders of hierarchy for their governance.”

Paul makes an assumption that the laypeople are “competent to instruct one another because the word of Christ dwelt in them richly.”  Equipping this generation for “the word of Christ to dwell in them richly” is a lofty goal but it must be possible or Christ through Paul wouldn’t exhort us to such a task. Clearly Paul realizes that this is a task for the entire body and not just one individual.  So, how do we, as ambassadors of Christ in 2010 assume the responsibility of this task?

 Disciple Kids asked these questions recently:

*How did Samson’s eyes get poked out?

*Why did God put all of Samson’s strength in his hair?

*What did Orpah do when she left Ruth and Naomi?

*How did Naomi’s sons die?

Part of the challenge and responsibility to each other is that we are expected to be able to give an answer to anyone who asks the reason for our hope. I take comfort that I don’t   always have to know the answer off the top of my head as to how Sampson’s eyes got poked out, but I can encourage children’s questioning. We may not be ready to share with each other how Naomi’s sons died, but we hope to equip every Disciple Kid and youth with the ability to give their children and their children’s children a reason for the hope to which they have been called.                                                                      ~Leah Doughty     

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