MAC KIRK

The Wise men ( magi) followed the Star, Matthew 2:1-12. How do we know where /what God is leading us to? J. I. Packer in his wonderful book, " Knowing God" has a good chapter on this subject, chapter 20, " Thou Our Guide". Here is some of what he says. Packer gives some general verses as Isaiah 58:11 which promise, " The LORD will guide you continually..." ( previous vs talks about letting the oppressed go free, sharing our bread with the hungry, covering the poor naked). Psalm 32:8 says , " I will counsel you with my eye upon you." Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us that " In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." The Holy Spirit is a guide to all Christians. Acts 15:28 " it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and us.." Christians say Packer go about it in the wrong way. To seek guidance from the Holy Spirit apart from the written Word is an error. From this " folly can grow." There is ...

I was reminded of how it is so easy to look for problems instead of progress. Problems are a part of how we work. They are not all bad. But progress comes from problems. You may not see a lot of progress in things going on in your life, but there are little lights that I have seen popping up here and there. Perhaps it is a small step of someone that you were surprised at. You would have never bet on it, but there it is anyway. Look for the little lights that are around you. It is a lot more fun than cursing the darkness. I saw them this week !

Now is the week before Christmas , and things are already in the Christmas celebration. That is not the way the Church intended it. Christmas begins on December 24 EVE and continues to Jan 6. That is called the 12 days. We miss the expectancy and surprises of Christmas without the preparation of a holy Advent. As we look forward to his Second Coming, we bring to mind those things we could change by His grace. How can we be better in our walk of holiness and righteousness? The gray day we have today is a good day for Advent. The reading of Matthew 25 and the talents reminds us to not hide our talent in the ground, because one day we will be called to account. Have a holy Advent.

This weekend we will have a military wedding at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Florala. Most people really do not understand that this is still a properly conducted wedding service done in the faith of the couple and the Chaplain selected or clergyman, but just the particpants are in uniform. Sometimes they use Sabers as an Arch when the couple exits the Church as well. It can also be done inside too, and outside. Usually it is best to do one time , and that is most often done outside.

Looking at the Memorial Ceremony for the Fort Hood Soldiers, I was struck by one thing. Some of the presenters were real. Some were not. What do I mean? It is ok to be tied to your notes a bit, but some seemed to just be going through the motions. Interesting. This points out a need to be real in what we are saying to people from the pulpit. I imagine a nicely crafted sermon with all the bells and whistles impresses , but if it is just a show, what is it? Same in our lives. We can be fooling ourselves if we just go along. Let us be real in our actions and words and deeds.

Tomorrow we enjoy the blessings of the Sabbath Day. Revelation 2 and 3:1-6 in the High School Class, warnings to the Churches that mixed religion with sexual immorality. The Worship with Holy Communion and the Readings celebrate what it is to be a Saint now and the communion we enjoy with each other, as well as the after life which is present for those who have died in Christ. " I BELIEVE IN THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS" It is only time that separates us. The best hymn for this is " I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" written by Lydia Scott for her three children and of course , " For All the Saints" In the pM we enjoy a hay ride and a short devotional from the Catechism. The only rule that God has proscribed that we may enjoy Him is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments...not a word we make up , but one already written down for us! The fulness of that Word is Jesus Christ, the God-Man.

Rain, and more rain here today. But now it has stopped. The shoes and socks are off and are trying to dry in the Church office here. Heard a message on the internet about Presbyters and holiness. This is certainly right. It is hard in this culture that exalts everything but holiness. Just watch the tv for a few minutes! I am enjoying the slant from the service I heard though. It is good to know that some are trying! It does make me want to do that too. We need encouragement and hope to do it as well. Blessings to all on this beautiful October day and have a good Lord's Day of Resurrection on Sunday!

This Sunday we will begin in the pm service a new study based on the classic Puritan work above by Thomas Brooks c. 1652. I remember going to a Church while in seminary that used this in an Adult Class. Brooks was born in 1608, and studied at the " nest of the Puritans" Emmanuel College, Cambridge, England. I note he was a Chaplain as I was. He acted as a Chaplain to Parliamentary Commanders during the English stormy Civil War, 1642-1648. After this he was the preacher at St. Thomas Apostles, London. He preached before Parliament . He then went to ST. Margaret's , Fish-Street Hill. He was ejected from his position in 1662 because of his views. He was at the great fire of London 1666 and the plague the previous year. His first wife Martha died in 1676. His second wife was Patience. He died in 1680. Here is a quote, " Beloved, Satan being fallen from light to darkness, from felicity to misery, from heaven to hell, from an angel to a devil, is so full of mali...

http://soldierworks.com/untilthen.htm Just had a chance to take a look at this. It reminds me of our trip to Iraq in 2003. I think anyone who has ever been in the military will like this. We do not always like the mission, but the Soldiers do it anyway. What a great attitude. Seems there are some good applications here for our life here in the US. 1. We do not always like what we have to do in life, but we do it anyway. 2. Life is bigger than just us. We should think of others before we think of ourselves. 3. There was no greater time in my life as I look back now. Be grateful for your experiences. 4. We live in a great nation, and we have a lot to live up to when we realize the continuing sacrifices of our men, women and families in /out of uniform. Thanks to LTC Lee (ret) USMC for sending this link.

I have having some trouble with the blog. I can get on it on my office computer, but not my lap top? I was going to post some quotes from Philipps Brooks....will do some day soon. I have to figure out why the lap top does not let me sign on.......

Maurice Roberts has a good article in this month's " Banner of Truth" magazine about the 1859 Revival in Scotland: " It was the most stupendous movement that the country had seen since the days of the Covenanters....Many ...confess that they owe all they are, have been, or ever hope to be to that Revival." ( TT Matthews) He reports the fact that the " United Presbyterian Church also, the third largest denomination in Scotland, reported that within their congregations 129 new prayer meetings had been started in the previous year and over the past two years attendances at prayer meetings had doubled." Family worship was established in households, and " the rural police mentioned to me..that during the whole year they had only two cases of petty theft. The whole morals of the district seemed to have undergone a complete change..." Laymen took part in the work of the Church. I like the story of Richard Weaver who was a converted as a prize f...

October is the most beautiful month of the year. The leaves are falling and the air is crisp. NICE. Now, all we need is a real revival at the Kirk!