Called to Worship – Chapter 1

Chapter 1 is basically a repeat of the Genesis creation narative.  Actually pretty dull and academic.  The best part is the author’s personal experience that compels him to worship at the end of chapter 1.

Called to Worship – Book Review – part 1

As promised, I will review “Called to Worship,” by Vernon M. Whaley, as I read it.  At the conclusion, I will do a summary review as well.

Today, I read the introduction and scanned the table of contents.  I must say that I am more than happy to see this is not another book on ritual and routine, but rather a scriptural look at what worship is all about.  It looks to be a promising book of building a life of worship based on God rather than worship based on the “what I like” mentality.   I have dealt with this challenge in the church for the last 4 years; that is the entertainment, performance (for the people) concept of worship.

The book is divided into 3 main categories.  The first two are logical;  Old Testament Principles of Worship and New Testament Principles of Worship.  The third, I must admit, took me by surprise, Worship in Heaven.  The old, the now, and the yet to be.  I like the structure of the book.  I look forward to part three!

In reading the introduction I was able to sample a little of Whaley’s style of writing and, so far, he is very readable.   Also, you got to love a book that has an endorsement from Ricky Skaggs as a worship leader.  I do enjoy Ricky and that bluegrass music,  I just never knew he was a worship leader too!

Book Review

My son, Russ, has got me to do a book review on my blog.  How did he do that?  He told me of an opportunity to get a book on worship for free!  Thomas Nelson Publishers will give me a book free if I just read it and review the book on this blog.  Sounds good to me.  The first book review will be on the following book:

I will probably review it chapter by chapter with an overall summary at the end.  Tune in and I’ll let you know how it goes!

The book is in the mail.  I should receive sometime next week.

Support Your Country Buy A Ford

May 7 – National Day of Prayer

Since 1952, The National Day Of Prayer has been an annual observance.  It’s roots go back to the days when The Continental Congress proclaimed a special day whereby colonists were encouraged to pray to Almighty God for guidance in 1775.  Times were difficult; decisions had to be made that would affect the direction and future of America.

Following the Treaty of Paris in 1783 the observance was revived.  It wasn’t long however, that the American people forgot the observance.  Nearly a hundred years later President Abraham Lincoln restored the Day of Payer during the Civil War.  He wrote:  Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”  But as time passed and the nation healed from the ravages of war, the observance was forgotten again.

Then, in 1952, Congress revived the observance, calling prayer “an unifying force for all people.”  Part of the new proclamation reminded citizens that “This common expression of reverence heals and brings us together as a Nation and we pray it may one day bring renewed respect for God…”  

Never has there been a time when our country needs to get back to the principles of thankfulness and divine guidance.  At critical moments in our history, someone has remembered to pray – the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Washington at Valley Forge, Lincoln during the Civil War.  Who will stand today?  Will you join millions of believers this Thursday in prayer – prayer for our nation – prayer for our leaders – prayers for our future, and the crucial decisions that await us?  

Fathers and mothers:  Gather your children together and read Lincoln’s Proclamation as a reminder of our godly heritage.  We dare not take another step without God’s direction and His attended blessings.  Below is Lincoln’s proclamation.  

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.

And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty seventh.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

Jesus Was Not a Christian

Jesus was not a Christian.

He never asked anyone to become a Christian,

            never built a steepled building,

            never drew up a theological treatise,

            never took an offering,

            never wore religious garments,

            never incorporated for tax purpose.

He simply called people to follow him.

That’s it. That, despite it’s simplicity is it.

He called people to follow him.

The first two were brothers: Simon and Andrew.

Regular guys, simple fishermen.

The first two Christians ever.

These brothers didn’t think at all about “becoming Christians” or taking on a new religion.

Here was this thirty-year-old-man (a carpenter) who simply said “follow me.”

And they believed him.

So, in faith, these two brothers gave their lives to him (literally),

            putting down their familiar nets and following him.

Here was the birthplace of a way of life,

            of a reality that would change the world forever.

Before hurrying on with words and centuries of theology,

            we must pause at the cradle of what we call Christianity.

It is never more than Jesus’ call: “Follow me”

            and a response: dropping familiar nets and following in faith,

            this sandaled Jewish man.

            It is never more than that.

Two thousand years of words can do nothing

           to the simple, basic reality of Christianity:

Those first steps

          taken by those two brothers.

         Peter and Andrew’s theology

         was as pure as it gets:

Jesus said, “Follow me.”  And we did.

Don Everts

Fun Day!

What a great day to run a 5K with your family!  My grandson, Tanner age 5, ran in a personal best time of 37 minutes!  Wow!  That was awesome for those little legs.  It was a great day.  Other family members were there to cheer for Tanner.  It is always a great day when you can be with the family you love with all your heart!  Thanks T for the awesome picture!

Welcome Carter Thomas Bortell!

I thank God for the safe delivery of my latest grandson, Carter Thomas Bortell.   Carter arrived yesterday, March 2, 2oo9 at 3:15 pm EST.  He weighed in at 6 lbs. 15 oz. and is 19.5 inches long.  Mom and baby are doing fine.  I know that I’m biased, but he sure is cute!  I look forward to watching this precious gift grow up.  I can’t wait until I can buy him an ice cream at Family Frosty!

A Tribute to Duane Clark by Philip Clark

Brother, son, father, mate and friend; Each role played well from the start to the end.

You ran the race and you ran it well; You gave of yourself, that, all could tell.

Compared to most, your skills were quite great; You made things level, you made things straight.

“That’s what I do,” you once told me; “I make things pleasing for each eye to see.”

You sought no glory; You sought no fame; Yet all who knew you will remember your name.

You approached each task without making a stir; And left things better off than they were.

And so we all gather around here today; To honor you in our own special way.

We’ll laugh and sing as you’d have us to do; To alert all the saints that you’re coming through.

You’ve finished your life but now comes the sequel; another carpenter that’s more than your equal.

Will welcome you to a place free from pain;  A place where worry and anguish can’t rein.

A place void of stress, a place undemanding; With a peace that passes all understanding.

And when the grandchild that you never knew; Asks mom and dad, “What did granddaddy do?”

They’ll get the clear answer that each child expects; “Grandpa and Jesus, they’re off building decks.”

by Philip Clark, brother of Duane Clark

Tim Tebow – The Picture Says it All!