The Blacksmith's Shop

After reading just a few of the short articles in Max Lucado's first book, On the Anvil, I can certainly see why he has become one of the most read and beloved inspirational Christian authors over the past two decades!

The introduction of the book sets the stage for everything else that follows. His presentation is an awesome allegory that explains what harm sin has done to our souls and how our Master, Jesus Christ, calls us out of that "junk pile." Lucado demonstrates that Jesus uses certain tools to shape us towards our calling in life.

The Blacksmith's Shop

In the shop of a blacksmith, there are three types of tools.

Outdated,

Broken,

Dull,

Rusty.

They sit in the cobwebbed corner, useless to their master, oblivious to their calling.

There are tools on the anvil:

melted down,

molten hot,

moldable,

changeable.

They lie on the anvil, being shaped by their master, accepting their calling.

There are tools of usefulness:

sharpened,

primed,

defined,

mobile.

They lie ready in the blacksmith's tool chest, available to their master, fulfilling their calling.

Some people lie useless:

lives broken,

talents wasting,

fires quenched,

dreams dashed.

They are tossed in with the scrap iron, in desperate need of repair, with no notion of purpose.

Other lie on the anvil:

hearts open,

hungry to change,

wounds healing,

visions clearing.

They welcome the painful pounding of the blacksmith's hammer, longing to be rebuilt, begging to be called.

Others lie in their Master's hands:

well tuned,

uncompromising,

polished,

productive.

They respond to their Master's forearm, demanding nothing, surrendering all.

Wow! What a metaphor for describing one's journey towards salvation in Jesus Christ! Can you relate to this in your own life? I sure can!

I thought long and hard about where I am on that "tool" list. I think that I am halfway between still "lying on the anvil" and "lying in the Master's hands." The Holy Spirit's leading has helped me to be well tuned to God's Word, and uncompromising in it's application to life today. However, I need to confess and admit that the Lord is still working on me to be "polished" and "productive."

There are people whom I know who are definitely well tuned, uncompromising, polished, productive. People like John MacArthur, Dr. David Jeremiah, various Christian authors like Max Lucado, Pastor Miles McPherson...to name a few. I see them preach from the pulpit. I hear about their missionary work. I read their awesome books. Yes. They are polished and productive and able to reach out and encourage other Christians to do the same.

In Chapter One, Lucado shares what it is like to be in "the pile of broken tools."

To find me, look over in the corner of the shop,

over here,

behind the cobwebs,

beneath the dust,

in the darkness.

There are scores of us,

broken handles,

dulled blades,

cracked iron.

Some of us were useful once, and then...many of us never were.

But, listen, don't feel sorry for me.

Life ain't so bad here in the pile...

no work,

no anvils,

no pain,

no sharpening,

And yet, the days are very long.

Are you broken too?

Do you think God might be calling you "off the pile"? What would that require of you?

When I first read that, I though that Lucado was speaking about the unsaved. Then, I realized that he was speaking about Christians!!

"Some of us were useful once, and then...many of us never were."

Ouch!! Convicting words...Amen?? The rest of the article includes the portion that I had included in a previous post.

We are all somewhere in the blacksmith's shop.

We are either on the scrap pile,
IN THE MASTER'S HANDS ON THE ANVIL,
Or in the tool chest.

Some of us have been in all three.

In this classic collection of inspirational reading, best-selling author Max Lucado takes us on a tour of the blacksmith's shop - examining every tool and looking in every corner, from the shelves to the workbench, from the water to the fire...

And I'm sure that somewhere you'll see yourself.

Yes. I have seen myself as all three kinds of tools - useless, longing to be rebuilt and called, and responding to the Master's forearm.

Perhaps the "polished" and "productive" part is included in the process of sanctification? It is a lifetime journey...is it not?

I think that Christians can have their moments of being polished and productive. However, attaining true excellence in such an area is something to continually strive for. We don't want to rest upon any "laurels" now do we?

I used to feel guilty when I felt like I wasn't doing as much as I have witnessed my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ were doing for the Lord. I would think to myself, 'am I too lazy'? What else should I be doing? As Pastor Miles often says, "Do Something!"

Reading Lucado's next paragraph helped me.

We'll discover what Paul meant when he spoke of becoming "an instrument for noble purposes." And what a becoming it is! The rubbish pile of broken tools, the anvil of recasting, the hands of the Master--it's a simultaneously joyful and painful voyage.

I realized that to be an instrument of noble purposes requires constant "becoming." We have never "arrived," so to speak.

I have felt both the pain of Christian evangelism, as well as the simultaneous joyfulness along the way of this voyage. Of course, I am so blessed to live in the U.S. where pain and suffering is minimal compared to the persecution that Christians endure in much of the rest of the world. Therefore, to whom much is given, much is required.

For those who make the journey -- who leave the heap, enter the fire, and dare to be pounded on God's anvil--a grand privilege awaits: to be called one of God's chosen instruments.

SEE YOU IN THE SHOP

I'm willing...are you?

Reclaiming Pastor's Free Speech Rights

This is certainly good news!

ADF announces new initiativeto reclaim pastors’ First Amendment rights

New effort challenges intimidation tacticsof organizations that use IRS to silence pastors

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Alliance Defense Fund announced a new initiative Friday that will challenge the tactics of groups that use the Internal Revenue Service to intimidate churches and pastors into silence on important issues of the day.

“Pastors have a right to speak about biblical values from the pulpit without fear of punishment. No one should be able to use the government to intimidate pastors into giving up their constitutional rights,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. “The government can’t demand that a church give up its right to tax-exempt status simply because the pastor exercises his First Amendment rights in the pulpit. Groups like Americans United intentionally trigger IRS investigations that will silence churches through fear, intimidation, and disinformation.”

The new initiative will equip, protect, and defend pastors who wish to exercise their First Amendment right to openly discuss the positions of political candidates and other moral and social issues from the pulpit. Participating pastors across the country will deliver a sermon along these lines in their own churches Sept. 28.

Prior to 1954, churches were free to evaluate the positions of political candidates on moral issues without fear of the Internal Revenue Service revoking their tax-exempt status. That year, then-Senator Lyndon Johnson amended the tax code to add the threat of IRS action against churches if their pastors mentioned the positions of specific candidates from the pulpit. Citing that rule, groups like AU have repeatedly threatened to report churches to the IRS if they speak out on such issues.

Many tax-exempt organizations are permitted to evaluate candidates’ positions based on the values important to those groups. Organizations which are tax-exempt but do not have the same speech restrictions the IRS places on churches include civic leagues; labor, agricultural, or horticultural associations; business leagues; chambers of commerce; real estate boards; boards of trade; professional football leagues; clubs organized for pleasure, recreation, and other nonprofit purposes; fraternal beneficiary societies; and cemeteries.

“The intimidation of churches by leftist groups using the IRS has grown to a point that ADF has no choice but to respond,” said Stanley. “The number of threats being reported to ADF is growing because of the aggressive campaign to unlawfully silence the church. IRS rules don’t trump the Constitution, and the First Amendment certainly trumps the Johnson amendment.”

Pastors who want to learn more or who wish to be considered for participation in Pulpit Freedom Sunday Sept. 28 can visit Tell ADF.org Church. [Note: Watch the short video at that link!]

ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.

telladf.org

Gifts, Jesus, & Politics

My son and daughter always get me the best presents! For Mother's Day, my son bought tickets to the Spirit West Coast Concert this month! I'm really excited to attend because several of my favorite Christian artists and bands will be appearing! Hopefully we can encourage a group to attend with us!

Brief Spirit West Coast video

He gave me the funniest card! On the cover was a photo of a dog (looked similar to our puggle!) with a towel wrapped around it's head and two pop-out cucumbers on it's eyes.

The card read:

It's your special time, your day to be #1...
Then it's back to me the rest of the year, right?
Happy Mother's Day

Sooooo cute! Really made me laugh, too, because it's so true! Our puggle (Sasha) runs my life! Ha ha

My laughter turned to tears...of joy...when I read what my son wrote:

Mom,
I don't think I'll every find a better card than this one! Thank you so much for everything you do for us. We are blessed to have been raised by such a loving and caring person. I don't thank God enough for you because I should be doing that everyday! I love you so much, Happy Mother's Day!

Love, your son! (and Sasha)

My daughter's card made me cry just by reading the cover! LOL There is a picture of two cartoon-like women on a blanket in a meadow with a picnic basket nearby.

My Mom
if I had to get right down to the reason you're everything from my hero to my friend, it would be this:

your constant, strong, forgiving love.

Inside:

I believe that God is good and kind and generous - I feel that way because He gave me you.

Happy Mother's Day
with Love
(heart shape) always,
your daughter

Then she wrote in the card:

Mama-
Happy Mother's Day! I hope today is everything you could have wanted on Mother's Day. I hope you know how much I truly appreciate all that you do for me. All the advice you give, support, guidance, and even just the random chats...none of it goes unnoticed. Even if I don't say it enough, know I want to say it a thousand times! & more! THANK YOU! for all you do for me and for being the best mom and friend I could have ever hoped, wished, and prayed for. You are an amazing woman. I love you so so very much. AND of course you're beautiful! & YOUNG! :-)

If only the "beautiful and young" part were true! Ha! I look much older than my profile pic, now. Ah well. See what three years of blogging can do to a person? heh heh

Now that she is about to turn 21 soon, our chats often include how grateful she is that I didn't allow her to do certain things when she was growing up. She has seen the fallout from the errors of other young women who either did not have such guidance or didn't heed the warnings and advice of their moms. It is very gratifying to now know that she sees such past restrictions as helpful in avoiding the painful consequences that she has seen others around her now (unfortunately) bearing.

She gave me the greatest gifts, too! A CD by Natalie Grant, a book called "On The Anvil - Stories on being shaped into God's Image" by Max Lucado, and a book called "Jesus For President."

"On The Anvil" is Max Lucado's first book. He wrote it back in 1985. It has been re-published this year. I like what is written on the back cover:

We are all somewhere in the blacksmith's shop.

We are either on the scrap pile,
IN THE MASTER'S HANDS ON THE ANVIL,
Or in the tool chest.

Some of us have been in all three.

In this classic collection of inspirational reading, best-selling author Max Lucado takes us on a tour of the blacksmith's shop - examining every tool and looking in every corner, from the shelves to the workbench, from the water to the fire...

For those who make the journey -- who leave the heap, enter the fire, and dare to be pounded on God's anvil--a grand privilege awaits: to be called one of God's chosen instruments.

SEE YOU IN THE SHOP.

Since I didn't recognize the authors of "Jesus for President," I flipped through it briefly to get a "feel" for it. Well, the first well-known name that I ran across was "Tony Campolo." O.K. now I knew that this was another book similar to "Unchristian" - which hails from the liberal Christianity crowd.

In the back of the book are photos of stacks of book titles. I didn't recognise many of them. Then I realized why! Towards the end of one stack on the second page of these photos, there was more evidence of the liberalism I was about to read in this new book because Brian McLaren's book (Everything Must Change) was listed there.

While flipping through the book, I noticed this subtitle on page 106:

"On Citizenship in Heaven and Being Born Again."

I will have a lot more to say about that particular chapter. For now, I will just give you a glimpse of what the authors think being "born again" means. At the end of this section, they write:

This is not the old-time religion of going to heaven; this is about bringing heaven to the world.

Today, I decided to see the reviews on this book at Amazon.com.

There were only a few negative reviews, but I found one in particular to be quite accurate in his evaluation based on some of what I had already seen and read in the book.

It's Sad: Legitimate theological issues are hampered by awful logic. by "Phil K."

It's funny. Pastor Miles McPherson tells the congregation to "vote God." I don't think that he had what the authors of "Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals" had in mind!

Christine

P.S. How strange that the authors only have "Jesus for President" on the cover. They eliminated the "Politics for Ordinary Radicals" phrase! Hmmm......

*******
Update: Just received an email with a link to Dr. David Jeremiah's new book called, Hopeful Parenting. Looks really good!

Miles Ahead: Save, Equip, Send

The Rock Church's mission trip to Jamaica can be seen at Miles Ahead T.V. The goal of this Christian evangelical non-denominational church, pastored by Miles McPherson, is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, save, equip, and send those who desire to reach a hurting world and minister to their needs. You will be blessed watching these videos!

read more digg story

In my previous blogpost, I mentioned The Rock Church's mission trip to Jamaica. At Miles Ahead T.V., there are far more videos to watch.!

Here is a link to Miles Ahead T.V.. On the right side of the video box, you can click on various interviews that Pastor Miles did on Jamaican T.V. talk shows. You can also view videos of the history of Miles Ahead Ministry and the various events where thousands of decisions for Jesus Christ were made by people attending them.

There are also several blogposts to read about the awesome accomplishments done by 280 mission volunteers during the visit!

[Note: The embedded video is not working properly. Please go to link above to view. Apologies for the inconvenience.]

I just got finished watching Miles' speech at the Rethink Conference. IT'S FANTASTIC!! Lots more to view as well!

Here is an additional link to Jamaica update videos!

A Joyful Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of my fellow moms out there in the blogosphere!



Many thanks to readers who have left very nice Mother's Day good wishes on the blog and via email. I really appreciate it!



Had an absolutely wonderful day with my family! The day started out at The Rock Church. What an awesome service! Each mom received a beautiful rose at the entrance of the church. I was handed a gorgeous red one.

We then enjoyed a wonderful buffet brunch! Ate too much!

This evening, we enjoyed some pizza. I opened my gifts and they were the best! My children always write such wonderful messages in their cards. I always tear up!

The Rock Church service today included video and information about the Miles Ahead Mission trip in Jamaica. Words cannot adequately describe everything that was shared during today's church message. Hopefully, the video will be up tomorrow and I can link to it for everyone to see. Don't miss it!

You
Will
Be
Immensely
Blessed!

Good night & God bless!
Christine

*******
Update on 5/12/08 @ 10:30 a.m.:

Here is a link to Miles Ahead T.V.. On the right side of the video box, you can click on various interviews that Pastor Miles did on Jamaican T.V. talk shows.

There are also several blogposts to read about the awesome accomplishments done by 280 mission volunteers during the visit!

*******
Second Update!

YAY!! THE VIDEO IMBED WORKED! I just got finished watching Miles' speech at the Rethink Conference. IT'S FANTASTIC!! Lots more to view as well!

[Note: I have decided to move this video link to a new blogpost. People...no matter which videos you choose to watch...YOU WILL BE IMMENSELY BLESSED BY WHAT YOU ARE SEEING!!]

See new blogpost called "Miles Ahead T.V."

Code Pink's Mental and Spiritual Disorders

Rabidly leftists groups like "Code Pink" have two problems. Their radically liberal agenda unequivocally demonstrates that they must suffer from either mental disorder, spiritual disorder, or both.

Their latest craziness was on display during another one of their loonie protests:

Code Pink Protesters Try Witchcraft at Anti-Marine Rallies

Lots of bloggers have covered this protest. Many comments, such as these over at Digg have been shared.

But there is more to it than meets the eye.

The following post includes my original comment over at Digg.

When I wrote my comment at Digg, the following quote was included in a previous comment:

"The lovely ladies from Code Pink are at times cheerful and at other times bitterly shrill."

Sounds like bi-polar (which used to be called the less PC disorder of "manic-depressive.") disorder to me. Michael Savage got it right when he titled one of his books after the Code Pinko types: "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder."

These women seriously need mental health examinations.

Important add-on: [Please note: I am not claiming that such a disorder does not genuinely exist. In fact, I know (and have known) several people whose suffering with such a disorder is real. Fortunately many have obtained medication to treat it. Please do not misconstrue that this post is mocking those who have suffered (or are suffering) from such a disorder. That is not my intent. However, as Savage's book indicates, sometimes the disorder is more behaviorally-oriented rather than genuinely a brain dysfunction.]

However, there is more to it than that. If these women do not genuinely suffer from bi-polar disorder, but just are guilty of displaying unreasonable behavior, then that fact reveals something even worse - a spiritual disorder.

Resorting to witchcraft often reveals a terribly severe spiritual problem. Take note of a sorcerer named Simon whose error in witchcraft led him into thinking he could buy the power of the Holy Spirit in the Bible:

Act 8:9 A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, claiming to be someone great.

Act 8:10 The Samaritan people, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as "the Great One-the Power of God."

Act 8:11 He was very influential because of the magic he performed.

Act 8:12 But now the people believed Philip's message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized.

Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the great miracles and signs Philip performed.

Act 8:14 When the apostles back in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there.

Act 8:15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new Christians to receive the Holy Spirit.

Act 8:16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Act 8:17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Act 8:18 When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the apostles placed their hands upon people's heads, he offered money to buy this power.

Act 8:19 "Let me have this power, too," he exclaimed, "so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!"

Act 8:20 But Peter replied, "May your money perish with you for thinking God's gift can be bought!

Act 8:21 You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right before God.

Act 8:22 Turn from your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts,

Act 8:23 for I can see that you are full of bitterness and held captive by sin."

(NLT version - Blue Letter Bible)

The Code Pink women display "bitterness" and reveal that they are "held captive by sin."

God's Word has additional advice for them:

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
2 Chronicles 16:9

A Mother's Prayers

Friday, May 9

A Mother's Prayers

She continued praying before the Lord . . . . Her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.
1 Samuel 1:12-13


Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 1:8-18


Someone once said, "It's not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it!"

That's especially true for mothers torn between work and home. Former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir put it this way: "At work, you think of the children you have left at home. At home, you think of the work you've left unfinished. Such a struggle is unleashed within yourself. Your heart is rent."

But Christian mothers have a secret weapon—prayer; and the "patron saint" of praying mothers is the biblical hero named Hannah. In half of all the verses about her in 1 Samuel, she is praying; and her prayers produced one of the greatest heroes of the Bible, her son Samuel.

You can pray for your children when you're at work. You can pray for them when they're at school. Your prayers can pursue them to college, to Iraq or Afghanistan, or to the far corners of the world. Your prayers can mold, shape, protect, recover, and enrich them. And in praying, you can trust the Lord with their welfare and remain hopeful for their success.

In an age of "Hannah Montana," it's time to rediscover the original Hannah and to emulate her example.


Praying Samuels come from praying Hannahs. . . . Praying leaders come from praying homes.
E. M. Bounds

Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 29:1- 31:21

*******

That devotional is just so beautiful! It truly touched my heart; and I'm sure that it will touch the hearts of many who happen to come here and read it today.

Over the course of my marriage I have been both a working mother and a stay-at-home mom. For me, staying at home with my children while they were growing up was most rewarding.

On Fox News this morning, there was a statistic that read, Stay-at-home moms worth $117,000 per year. I can tell you this, I NEVER earned that much per year when I was a working mom! Now that I am caretaker of two dogs, I'd say I would deserve that much money just for getting them clean before they come back into the house each day! Ha!

The other day, I went out of my way to help my husband with something. I said, "See? You still need me!" He replied, "Honey, we all need you."

It's so nice to be appreciated! It's even nicer to hear it occasionally!

My husband works extremely hard at his job. We are counting down the years to retirement. Words of appreciation are shared with him often. I remind our adult children to do that too. I know that such praise and appreciation helps him to keep going!

Why do we crave words of praise and appreciation? I think that it is because it is built into us by God. But even more important is the fact that we OWE GOD MUCH PRAISE AND APPRECIATION!

The other day I caught my husband staring at me across the kitchen. He then said, "do you know how much I love you?" I'm tearing up...again. He then said, "We are not perfect; but we have a good life. We are so blessed."

I agree. We have so much to be grateful for!! Despite all of the craziness that is going on in this world, our family is intact, loving, following Jesus Christ, and we can be nothing but grateful for that!

All families have their problems and hard times. But we have survived and gotten through them - ending up stronger for having been through them. That's a phenomenal reality. It reflects what the Bible tells us:

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

Our children have been, and continue to be, one of the greatest joys of our lives! Therefore, I was very surprised to read that a Harvard professor stated: Children Spoil Happiness,

That has certainly not been our experience!! What does a psychology professor know about this anyway? Just another example of man's wisdom attempting to trump God's wisdom!

If this particular professor's experience was bad (that is, if he is/was ever married and has children) why make ridiculous claims that others must think that way too?

Note what the article also shares:

"In a Pew poll taken last July, 85 percent of people said that their relationship with their children was their greatest source of fulfillment," she said. "I think that says more about the value of children to their parents" than Gilbert's conclusions.

Yes...that sounds more like the genuine experience of most Christian parents. It's more in line with this quote:

"The Scriptures teach us that kids are an inheritance of the Lord. They're a gift that God gives us."

Please keep all moms in your prayers this Mother's Day - especially those closest to you in your lives. If you are a mom, please pray for your children. The Bible story about Hannah, the mother of Samuel, teaches us all the power of intercessory prayer - especially when directed towards those we love and cherish!

In Christ,

Christine

*******
HT: Turning Point

Citizenlink

Fox News

Pro-Life Memorial Desecrated

I would not have believed that this was allowed to happen unless I had seen it with my own eyes via this video! As if this terrible act of desecration to the memorial isn't enough to anger you, there appears to be a campus patrolman (who does nothing!) standing by, arguing with the man who is tearing up dozens of the white wooden crosses which had been placed there in remembrance for the precious lives that have been lost through the scourge of abortion. The exhibit was LEGALLY placed there WITH PERMISSION from the college!

Why did this man go unpunished for this awful deed?

Liberal intolerance and fanaticism at its best...



From Michele Malkin's blog:

Video: Another campus pro-life memorial vandalized

By Michelle Malkin • May 7, 2008 09:45 AM

It has happened again. In January 2006, pro-abortion thugs destroyed a pro-life memorial of wooden crosses at Louisiana State University. In April 2006, a nutball feminist professor at Northern Kentucky University led another destructive raid on a pro-life Cementery of Innocents. And this week, at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, pro-abortion vandals struck–pulling up hundreds of crosses from a display sponsored by Pointers for Life. College Republican Ryan Wrasse sent me a video of one of the pro-abortion thugs gone wild– a student government senator named Roderick King.

News coverage here and here.
Caution: Liberal tolerance at work.
RAAAARGGGHH!

HT: Michele Malkin