J.R. MacDuff

My Father,

(J. R. MacDuff, "A BOOK OF PRIVATE PRAYERS" 1890)

 
 

My Father,

I desire to enter Your sacred presence in the name of Jesus. Where would I be, but for such a Savior! I have no plea of my own.

 
 

My best actions -- how full of blemishes!

 
 

My purest aims and motives -- how mingled with selfishness!

 
 

My best righteousness -- how marred with imperfection and defilement!

 
 

My best thoughts -- how sinful and unworthy!

 
 

My best prayers -- how cold and languid, requiring themselves to be prayed for!

 
 

If You, O Lord, would mark iniquities -- who could stand!

 
 

I know not what entanglements may hinder me in prosecuting my pilgrim way, what temptations may overtake me, what sorrows may darken me. Be about my path all the day long.

 
 

Strengthen me, good Lord, for the duties which are before me this day. I cannot forecast its perils and dangers and temptations. I implore the continuance of Your sovereign, sustaining, restraining grace -- to keep me from falling. Hold me up -- and then I shall be safe! Let me resume my pilgrim journey, leaning always on Your omnipotent arm.

 
 

May I know in my experience, that I can do all things, and endure all things, through Christ who strengthens me. When tempted to worldliness, or sloth, or self-indulgence -- may I look to Jesus for strength. Conform me to His image; mold me into His holy example. In every difficult and perplexing path, may this be my guiding maxim and direction -- "How would Jesus, my Lord and Master have acted in this situation?" And knowing His will, may I delight to do it.

 
 

May I ever exercise a jealous scrutiny over my thoughts and words and actions. Preserve me from . . .

  all pride and vain-glory;

  all selfishness and covetousness;

  all that would lead me to exalt myself;

  all guilty and unworthy compromises with the world, the flesh, and the devil.

 
 

May the consciousness of Your presence and favor -- lessen my every cross and sweeten my every care. I anew commend myself to Your gracious keeping and guidance this day. Watch over me for good; and may every power of my body and every faculty of my mind, combine in devotion to Your service and glory. Wean me from all that is fleeting and perishable. Let it be my highest joy to follow You -- and my deepest pain to grieve You.

 
 

Other refuges will fail, other props will be removed; may I find in You, an unfailing refuge and portion and friend! I go forth to the duties of a new morning, in simple dependence on Your grace and strength.

Why I Choose to Vote Republican

There are many reasons why I choose to consistently vote the Republican ticket; however, I think it's safe to say there is one major reason why I vote Republican.

These are the two views of life taken from the Democratic and Republican Party Platforms:

Democrat:

"The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right " (50).

"The Democratic Party also strongly supports access to comprehensive affordable family planning services and age-appropriate sex education which empower people to make informed choices and live healthy lives. We also recognize that such health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby also reduce the need for abortions" (50-51).

"The Democratic Party also strongly supports a woman's decision to have a child by ensuring access to and availability of programs for pre-and post-natal health care, parenting skills, income support, and caring adoption programs" (50-51).

Republican:

"We oppose school-based clinics that provide referrals, counseling, and related services for abortion and contraception" (45).

". . . we assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children. We oppose using public revenues to promote or perform abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it. We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life" (52).

". . . we oppose the non-consensual withholding of care or treatment from people with disabilities, as well as the elderly and infirm, just as we oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide, which endanger especially those on the margins of society" (52-53).

First, in the Democratic Platform, it states that the party supports "a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion." I'd like to ask the question, "Safe for whom?" It's obviously not safe for the life that is growing inside that woman, and there has been repeated evidence supporting the mental and emotional trauma a woman faces following an abortion. Plus, there is always the risk that a woman who chooses an abortion must face: a possible childless future. No surgical procedure is absolutely risk-free.

Secondly, the Democratic Platform supports "age-appropriate sex education which empower people to make informed choices and live healthy lives." Who decides what age is appropriate to discuss and educate about sex? Should that really be our government's responsibility? Personally, I believe the parents are responsible. I admit the unfortunate fact that many parents do not take this responsibility seriously. It's a shame. Yet, I, as a soon-to-be parent, have to think about the fact that I really do not want my child learning about sex before the time that I believe it is appropriate. This should be the parent's choice.

Thirdly, the Democratic Platform states a fact that I believe is more of a theory: ". . . such health care and education help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and thereby also reduce the need for abortions." There has already been an increase in sex education in our public school systems. This, however, has not decreased the need for abortions. Abort73.Com (please read my final paragraph before visiting this website), a website detailing documented facts about abortion from both a secular and Christian perspective, states this: "In 2005 (the most recent year for which there is reliable data), approximately 1.21 million abortions took place in the U.S., down from an estimated 1.29 million in 2002, 1.31 million in 2000 and 1.36 million in 1996. From 1973 through 2005, more than 45 million legal abortions have occurred in the U.S. (AGI)." While the number has decreased in the last 10 to 20 years, there are still too many abortions to make this argument plausible. The idea of being properly educated about sex is that theoretically, no one should have to have an abortion. Safe sex is not fail-proof. Abstinence (until you are prepared to have a child) is the answer . The logical fact remains: the more sexual partners or experiences you have, the greater your chance of an unwanted pregnancy.

Secular scientists even agree that human life begins at conception. Many respected human embryology textbooks state this fact . This is why Roe v. Wade is such a horror to our civil, American ideals and society. As a country, we believe murder is wrong, yet somehow abortion is not considered murder.

I want to encourage you to visit the website I mentioned above, Abort73.Com. Before you do, please be prepared. It is extremely detailed, both in facts, as well as images. When I first watched the visual documentation, I cried and wondered if I should be viewing such horrible images (especially being 4 months pregnant myself). Then another thought came to me: I have always advocated against abortion, but now, having seen those images, it somehow makes the horror of abortion more "real." I believe we tend to become a little desensitized or distanced from what's really going on in this country, and watching these videos, as well as reading the facts, has been a major wake-up call for me. I hope and pray it will help to aid you in your decision in a few weeks at the polls. We have an opportunity to do something. Let's do it.

Christians and the Pro-Life/Pro-Choice Debate

I have been burdened for a couple of weeks now about this, but am just now getting around to actually sitting down and writing something.

I'm frustrated. The Lord keeps reminding me to trust in Him, because He's sovereign. I do believe that. It's so hard not to be anxious. Yet, I'm still in amazement at how I have brothers and sisters in Christ who view abortion differently than I do. Please hear me out...I don't think I have all the answers, nor do I think I'm right about everything. Quite the contrary. Yet God's Word specifically says not to take another person's life because we are made in His image. He is the author of life and death. And the Bible is also clear about the fact that life begins in the womb (Psalm 139).

I guess the reason I'm so bummed about this disagreement right now is because of the upcoming elections. Here is the bottom line for me: when you place all the policies on the table, all the viewpoints, everything...I will vote for the candidate who is a pro-life advocate. There is nothing equal in my opinion. Yes, I know our economy is a mess; yes, I know the health care system could be better; yes, I know people are ready to end the war. But I have to go with conviction. These are secondary matters. For me, it is especially important that this president be pro-life because of the retiring Supreme Court judges. We have the potential of reversing Roe vs. Wade!

I have a friend who says America is not ready for the ramifications of that change. She's seen too many orphans who have been transferred from foster home to foster home, being neglected, abused, or molested. That is truly devastating, I admit. In her opinion, it's better if children are with Jesus. I believe that particular view is looking to long at the world around us, being conformed to the culture and not looking deeply into the divine Word of God, being transformed by His truth and trusting Him in obedience. So are they better with Jesus? Of course they are, but you would never advocate killing an infant after being born because of the potential of them being abused. Truth: there is no difference in a baby outside the womb from a baby inside the womb. I visited my obstetrician at nine weeks and heard my baby's heart beat. Nine weeks. And that's not when Baby Sell's life started. It started at day one.

The other argument I have heard: the war in Iraq has claimed too many lives to ignore, making it a more important issue on which to vote. My answer to that is this: those men and women voluntarily joined the military to serve their country, knowing full well that someday they may be called to war...and they may lose their life. Please don't get me wrong...I'm not trying to trivialize the deaths of those who have served in Iraq, or any war, for that matter. What I'm trying to say is that they chose that life. Who are we to chose which babies die and which babies live? Because the baby is still inside me, you're telling me that I have a right to "terminate" it? We call the baby a fetus to somehow make it less convicting...more sanitary. To me, fetus is just a stage in life...newborn, infant, toddler, child, adolescent, adult, senior citizen.

These thoughts are not put together most eloquently, but I had to get them down. My prayer is that the Lord would allow us to have a pro-life president; yet I know that ultimately God is the one who anoints those in authority, and I don't have to fear. He is in control. I just pray God's people will pray long and hard before casting their vote.

The King of Glory

Psalm 24 (ESV)
A Psalm of David

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in,
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah

Sitting at the Feet of Jesus

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

(Luke 10:38-42 ESV)

 
 

• Martha welcomes Jesus--she is hospitable. This is a good thing! This displays a servant heart, which is very good. Recently the Lord has been convicting me about this very thing--being more hospitable, more of a servant.
  
• Mary sits at Jesus' feet, listening to His teaching. This is also a good thing, and according to Jesus, the better thing. She is a student and follower of Christ. She longs to gain wisdom from Him by giving Him her undivided attention.
  

  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
  

  (Proverbs 9:10 ESV)
  

  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
  

  (Psalms 111:10 ESV)
  

   
   

  BUT . . .
  

   
   

• Martha was distracted with much serving. Perhaps she was simply looking for praise from Jesus, and Mary was ruining her plans by making her look bad (as we see a telling statement she makes to Jesus in verse 40)! R.C. Sproul's commentary in my Bible says that maybe her mealtime plans were too elaborate. Her distraction proves her focus is not right. She recognized that Jesus is Lord (v. 40), yet she is not giving Him the respect that the Lord deserves--her undivided attention. This shift in her focus starts her down the wrong path in her attitude as she becomes resentful towards Mary and begins to complain--not to Mary, but to Jesus. In going to Jesus, she recognizes His authority by asking Him to tell Mary to help her; yet her focus on earthly things over eternal things becomes more important to her at this moment.
  
• What is Jesus' response? He reproves Martha--I like to imagine His voice is very gentle because of the way he says her name twice: "Martha, Martha." This seems to show more of a loving, almost familial rebuke. He says she is "anxious and troubled about many things" (v. 41). Martha was a disciple of Jesus . . .if only she would have remembered His teaching at this time-- for Jesus said to His disciples "do not to worry about what you eat or what you drink or what you wear" (Matt. 6:31).
  
• Serving Christ is good. Being distracted anxious, troubled and resentful with those around us who we might think aren't pulling their weight is not good. Jesus never asked Martha to go to that much trouble. He wanted to be with her.
  
• In my own life, the Lord has graciously taken me to a place of anxiously serving to freely loving Him. I have battled perfectionism--taking my eyes off of Christ and His freedom and placing my eyes on myself and my own limitations and failings. There have even been occasions when the Lord has led me to open my home to friends, and I've either disobeyed or been hesitant until He convicted me--simply because I am afraid of not pleasing them. Whether I'm worried about preparing food they wouldn't like or worried that I don't keep my house as clean as they do, I have been known to become preoccupied by silly, earthly things. And yet, when my friends have invited me to spend time with them in their home, I have been enriched! Not because of the things they have offered, but rather, because they have offered themselves! These examples of Christ-centered serving have motivated me in my own life as I ask the Lord to continually refine me.
  
• All earthly things pass away--only our relationship with the Lord remains. He must be our portion, as Mary chose (Ps. 119: 57--the psalmist says, "The LORD is my portion . . .") We must go to Him to fill and satisfy us (Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalms 90:14 ESV)
  
• We must "fix our eyes on Jesus" (Heb. 12:2). We must "serve Him with gladness" (Ps. 100:2) , not under compulsion or out of selfish motives. When we become so consumed with our earthly ministry, and take our eyes off of Jesus, we've lost what is most important. Fellowship with God is more important than doing things for God. God isn't as concerned with outward appearances (1 Samuel 16:7, Ps. 51:6) and doesn't need us to serve Him (Acts 17:25). What our Lord desires is obedience and a humble heart (1 Sam. 15:22). For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6 ESV)
  
• Paul Little, in his book How to Give Away Your Faith, says, "Incredible as it is, the God of creation, who made heaven and earth and us, wants to have personal fellowship with each one of us . . . It is easy to get so involved 'serving the Lord' that we never have any time to spend alone with Him." Let us continue to do the better thing, looking to Mary's example--let's sit at the feet of Jesus.
  

   
   

   
   

The Kingdom of God and the Church of Christ--Final Post in Paradigms in Conflict Series

 
 

In Chapter 10, Hesselgrave asks the question in the chapter subtitle, "What on Earth is God Building—Here and Now?"
(315). He takes us through a brief history of ecumenical missions conferences and the downward spiral of missions as a result of reconstructing missio Dei ("the mission of God") and reforming the Great Commission to accommodate the world's philosophies. The focus grew towards social reformation rather than evangelization.

In my personal ministry, I believe proper interpretation of Scripture is the key to keeping the focus on missions accurate. Many of my close friends are involved in other denominational or interdenominational mission ministries. I fully support them—always with prayer and also with finances, as God leads. I do, however, seek to find out what their fundamental beliefs are as well as their main emphases in missions. As long as the untainted gospel of Jesus Christ is going out to a dying world, I wholeheartedly commit to support their efforts as best as I can.

Anytime missionaries and mission sending agencies begin to falter on their view of the inspiration of Scripture and its authority, there will be problems in the success of missions. The primary reason we even have a debate about what our mission really is and what is the true meaning of the kingdom of God is because we have people who hold to a historical, conservative view of Scripture and we have others who hold to a modern, liberal view of Scripture. God used humans to reveal His word to us, but it was Holy Spirit inspired and in all cases infallible and inerrant. Again, this is the most important belief to hold when meeting together with other religious affiliations in regards to any ministry or missions work.

We, the church of Jesus Christ, must be going and sending in order to fulfill the Great Commission. The kingdom of God is God's active rule and reign both now and in the future. Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father and one day "every knee will bow . . . and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:11, 12, emphasis mine).

 
 

 
 

 
 

The Kingdom of God and the Church of Christ--Final Post in Paradigms in Conflict Series

 
 

In Chapter 10, Hesselgrave asks the question in the chapter subtitle, "What on Earth is God Building—Here and Now?"
(315). He takes us through a brief history of ecumenical missions conferences and the downward spiral of missions as a result of reconstructing missio Dei ("the mission of God") and reforming the Great Commission to accommodate the world's philosophies. The focus grew towards social reformation rather than evangelization.

In my personal ministry, I believe proper interpretation of Scripture is the key to keeping the focus on missions accurate. Many of my close friends are involved in other denominational or interdenominational mission ministries. I fully support them—always with prayer and also with finances, as God leads. I do, however, seek to find out what their fundamental beliefs are as well as their main emphases in missions. As long as the untainted gospel of Jesus Christ is going out to a dying world, I wholeheartedly commit to support their efforts as best as I can.

Anytime missionaries and mission sending agencies begin to falter on their view of the inspiration of Scripture and its authority, there will be problems in the success of missions. The primary reason we even have a debate about what our mission really is and what is the true meaning of the kingdom of God is because we have people who hold to a historical, conservative view of Scripture and we have others who hold to a modern, liberal view of Scripture. God used humans to reveal His word to us, but it was Holy Spirit inspired and in all cases infallible and inerrant. Again, this is the most important belief to hold when meeting together with other religious affiliations in regards to any ministry or missions work.

We, the church of Jesus Christ, must be going and sending in order to fulfill the Great Commission. The kingdom of God is God's active rule and reign both now and in the future. Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father and one day "every knee will bow . . . and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:11, 12, emphasis mine).