A Song for the New Year

Horatius Bonar, one of the justly famous ministers of the Free Church of Scotland in the nineteenth century wrote the following hymn while superintendent of the Sunday school at the Church of St. James, Leith. "It was one of the first hymns he wrote, and the only one he composed specifically for his Sunday school students. It was sung for the first time on New Year's Day, 1843" (a portentious year for the Scottish Kirk). "Bonar published it in his Songs for the Wilderness the following year." (See www.cyberhymnal.org). As Pastor Lignon Duncan writes, "It puts our present time in the perspective of eternity. Notice how the day of the Lord is variously styled: that "great," "calm," "sweet," "glad" day. Is that how you think of it?

A few more years shall roll,
A few more seasons come,
And we shall be with those that rest
Asleep within the tomb;
Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that great day.

Refrain
O wash me in Thy precious blood,
And take my sins away.

A few more suns shall set
O’er these dark hills of time,
And we shall be where suns are not
A far serener clime:
Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that blest day.

Refrain

A few more storms shall beat
On this wild rocky shore,
And we shall be where tempests cease,
And surges swell no more;
Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that calm day.

Refrain

A few more struggles here,
A few more partings o’er,
A few more toils, a few more tears,
And we shall weep no more:
Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that bright day.

Refrain

’Tis but a little while,
And He shall come again
Who died that we might live, Who lives
That we with Him may reign;
Then, O my Lord, prepare
My soul for that glad day.

Refrain

How low can evangelicals go?

Texas Church Plans to Give Away a House

LA MARQUE, Texas - In a game show-style giveaway, a church plans to award a $120,000 three-bedroom house to one of its worshippers on New Year's Eve.

Since 2003, Abundant Life Christian Center has given away a car, a motorcycle and furniture.

"It encourages people to come to the service, and it helps keep people off the street with all that revelry going on," said pastor Walter Hallam.

During Saturday's service, 20 names will be selected at random and placed with 100 others chosen from services throughout the year. Twelve finalists — symbolizing the 12 apostles — will be selected.

Each of the finalists will receive a key, which they will try in a door on stage. The person whose key unlocks the door wins the home. Lightning, music, indoor fireworks and balloon drops will also be part of the festivities.

More than 2,000 people typically attend the church's New Year's Eve service.

Church member Richard Murillo, who owns Trinity Builders, charged the church $53,000 to cover the cost of materials to construct the house.

True Love

Dick Mayhue in his commentary on 1 Thessalonians (FOCUS Publications) list these qualities characterize authentic, biblical love according to the Apostle Paul as outlined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. He then promises, ‘Love never fails’ (13:8). Test yourself and see how you measure up to truly loving others.

1. ‘Love suffers long.’ Therefore, I will bear with a person’s worst behavior, without retaliation, regardless of the circumstances.
2. ‘Love is kind.’ Therefore, I will diligently seek ways to be actively useful in another person’s life.
3. ‘Love does not envy.’ Therefore, I will delight in the esteem and honor given to someone else.
4. ‘Love does not parade itself.’ Therefore, I will not draw attention to myself exclusive of others.
5. ‘Love is not puffed up.’ Therefore, I know I am no more important than others.
6. ‘Love does not behave rudely.’ Therefore, I will not engage any person in ungodly activity.
7. ‘Love does not seek its own.’ Therefore, I will be others oriented.
8. ‘Love is not provoked.’ Therefore, I will not resort to anger as a solution to difficulties between myself and others.
9. ‘Love thinks no evil.’ Therefore, I will never keep an account due on others.
10. ‘Love does not rejoice in iniquity.’ Therefore, I will never delight in another’s unrighteous behavior, nor will I join its expression.
11. ‘Love rejoices in the truth.’ therefore, I will find great joy when truth prevails in another’s life.
12. ‘Love bears all things.’ Therefore, I will be publicly silent about another’s faults.
13. ‘Love believes all things.’ Therefore, I will express unshakable confidence and trust in others.
14. ‘Love hopes all things.’ Therefore, I will confidently expect future victory in another’s life, regardless of the present imperfections.
15. ‘Love endures all things.’ Therefore, I will outlast every assault of Satan to break up relationships.

9 Keys to Biblical Evangelism

Sinclair Ferguson, now pastoring a church in Columbia, SC, recently preached a message on repentance and calling people to biblical repentance. He ended by giving some bibical insight into being an effective evangelist. Here they are.

• Pray for and love the people to whom you bring the gospel
• Strive to reflect the nature and truth of God in your life and character
• Ask God for wisdom Proverbs 11:30 Hebrews 11:35
• Present the law of God
• Sow the Word of God (specifically the atonement)
• Be a vessel of the Holy Spirit through both your life/testimony
• Move your audience into a world of doubt 2 Corinthians 10:5 1 Peter 3:15 Hebrews 5:14
• Help your audience always acknowledge the truth Romans 1:18,19
• Clearly challenge your audience to repent and believe the gospel

The Da Vinci Code is coming

One of the biggest cultural stories coming in 2006 may well be the release of The DaVinci Code movie. I plan to preach a message on this before this movie's release in May. This book which is sold as fiction but believed as fact needs to be refuted. James White is doing an excellent job right now writing a series exposing the book and Newsweek's has a cover story on the movie!

Approaching the Word

Approaching God’s Word involves the right attitude! So often when we approach the Word, we do so with a flippant, superficial or cavalier attitude. But this is not the attitude God wants us to develop. So what kind of attitude must we have in approaching the Word. Here are some reflections from the Word.

• A Humble and contrite heart (Isaiah 66:1,2)
• A heart full of awe (Isaiah 66:1, 2)
• A submissive heart, one that is willing to do what the Word says, that is seeking truth, and that is not approaching the word with its own preconceived ideas (John 7:17)
• A heart that loves the Word--that treasures it, esteems it and values it (Psalm 119)
• A heart that exalts in the Word (Psalm 138:1-2)
• A heart that is dependent on the Author to teach and apply it (Psalm 119:18)
• A heart that engages one's whole being: mind (John 20:31), will (Revelation 2:4, 5) and emotion (Philippians 4:4)