Sermon Text: Psalm 39

Psa. 39:1 I said, “I will guard my ways
That I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle
While the wicked are in my presence.”
Psa. 39:2 I was mute and silent,
I refrained even from good,
And my sorrow grew worse.
Psa. 39:3 My heart was hot within me,
While I was musing the fire burned;
Then I spoke with my tongue:
Psa. 39:4 “LORD, make me to know my end
And what is the extent of my days;
Let me know how transient I am.
Psa. 39:5 “Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight;
Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah.
Psa. 39:6 “Surely every man walks about as a phantom;
Surely they make an uproar for nothing;
He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them.
Psa. 39:7 “And now, Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in You.
Psa. 39:8 “Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Make me not the reproach of the foolish.
Psa. 39:9 “I have become mute, I do not open my mouth,
Because it is You who have done it.
Psa. 39:10 “Remove Your plague from me;
Because of the opposition of Your hand I am perishing.
Psa. 39:11 “With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity;
You consume as a moth what is precious to him;
Surely every man is a mere breath. Selah.
Psa. 39:12 “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am a stranger with You,
A sojourner like all my fathers.
Psa. 39:13 “Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may smile again
Before I depart and am no more.”

Women in the Church

Just got this email yesterday and am still reading the articles, but I thought it was important enough to pass along quickly.

I was frustrated we did not get anywhere at General Assembly about women in the church, but I think that has changed. Read along...

To: ByFaith Readers
From: Richard Doster, editor
Subject: Two articles in the current magazine

In June the PCA’s General Assembly rejected Overture Nine—to form a study committee investigating the issue of women deacons.

In his defense of this decision, Fred Greco, chairman of the Overtures Committee, urged more discussion at the local level. “There are,” Greco said, “venues for this discussion to take place in a less confrontational way.”

These discussions are underway—formally and informally—calmly and not so calmly. To encourage unity and civility, we’ve published two articles on the subject in the most recent issue of byFaith. They come from two of our most highly respected pastors, Ligon Duncan and Tim Keller. Both men know and love God’s Word. Both have unwavering allegiance to its authority. And, though they differ, each one respects the other.

As you approach these articles, we want you to be aware of these points of agreement:

* Both writers are firmly complementarian.

* They agree that no credible, biblical case can been made for the ordination of women to the teaching and ruling office in the church.

* They affirm that our polity and practice is to be informed by, and corrected by, Scripture alone.

* They urge us to engage the question with full respect for our fellow churchmen who hold different views.

* They urge us to focus on Scripture rather than to respond—either by reaction or adaptation—to the culture.

* And both agree, “The real question we ought to be asking is not should we have ordained female deacons or deaconesses but rather, what kind of deaconess, or female diaconal assistant, does the New Testament authorize?”

In publishing these articles, we hope to promote the peace and purity of the PCA.

For the sake of the kingdom,

Richard Doster
Editor

The Case for Commissioning (Not Ordaining) Deaconesses

Tim Keller, Issue Number 21, August 2008

The Case for Our Current Policy on Female Deacons

Ligon Duncan, Issue Number 21, August 2008

Facebook

A church member had been regularly encouraging me to join facebook, and being a sluggard, I never got a around to it. I had a myspace account, which I have not frequented for some time. I thought, what is the point of facebook? Another networking website I won't use.

Well I could not be more wrong.

I set up an account and have found it extremely useful in connecting with people. If you don't have one, I would encourage you to look into it. www.facebook.com

Psalm 23 Again

I had a feeling this was going to happen.......

Even though Psalm 23 is only 6 verses, it is 6 verses that have been studied and meditated on for centuries. For that reason, there is a lot of work on Psalm 23 and numerous insights that are very interesting.

Take for example the reference to a table being prepared in verse 5. Before I studied the passage, I am thinking a standard table that you eat at. But in actuality, it is referring to something else, and it is related to sheep. ( big surprise).

So this past Sunday I was unable to finish the sermon and will finish Psalm 23 this coming Lord's Day.

Oh well, it will happen from time to time, but for some one who plans out sermons it kinda messes up my schedule, which is a little annoying. But if I am looking for someone to blame, the finger points back at me.

Our Guide through Psalm 23

When you come to a passage in scripture that is well known, like Psalm 23, it is sometimes a challenge to preach a sermon.

I think there are a number of reasons why that is so. I think the leading reason for me is feeling a bit intimidated that the passage is so meaningful to so many people that I want to make sure I do it justice.

Somewhere along my Christian Journey I heard a sermon on Psalm 23 that used Philip Keller's book, A Shepherd's look at Psalm 23 and was really impressed. Written in 1997, it is a classic and a must read if you want to truly appreciate Psalm 23.

Philip Keller will be a our guide this Sunday as we look at Psalm 23, I think it is going to be a very different sermon, and a very inspirational one. Come and join us this Sunday.

Sermon Text: Psalm 23

1The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Monsoon Season in New England

This July, it rained 18 days out of 31.
So far in August, it has rained 11 of the 12 days.

We have already exceeded our annual rainfall amount, and it is only August 12. Insane.

And of course, it is raining as I blog.

Rain, rain, go away!

Wow! My Favorite Olympic Moment so far

I, like many in our world love watching the Olympics.

I stayed up late to watch the men's swimming relay and boy, was that exciting or what? If you have no idea what I am talking about, click on the article.

Go U.S.A.!

Guest Speaker: Rev. David Stewart

We are blessed to have Rev. David Stewart from Portland, ME. David is the Associate Minister at Christ the Redeemer Church in Portland and a member of our Presbytery of Northern New England.

David will be preaching out of the Psalms which is great, because that is where we are as a church this summer. Come and join us this Sunday.

Sermon Text: Psalm 125

Psa. 125:1 Those who trust in the LORD
Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.
Psa. 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
Psa. 125:3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous,
So that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do wrong.
Psa. 125:4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good
And to those who are upright in their hearts.
Psa. 125:5 But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways,
The LORD will lead them away with the doers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel.

A Reason to watch Larry King Live

I am not sure I have ever watched one of his shows, but I have a reason to do so now.

Steve Curtis Chapman, one of my favorite musical artists is a guest on the Larry King Show this coming Thursday Night.

If you remember, they went through a terrible tragedy in May with the lost of their 5 year old daughter. She was killed when their teenage son ran over her in their driveway.

I thought I would share this as it is one of the first times Steven Curtis Chapman has shared since that tragedy.

Sermon Text: Psalm 22

Psa. 22:1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.
Psa. 22:2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
Psa. 22:3 Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
Psa. 22:4 In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
Psa. 22:5 To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.
Psa. 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.
Psa. 22:7 All who see me sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
Psa. 22:8 “Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”
Psa. 22:9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
Psa. 22:10 Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.
Psa. 22:11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
Psa. 22:12 Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
Psa. 22:13 They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.
Psa. 22:14 I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.
Psa. 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.
Psa. 22:16 For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
Psa. 22:17 I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
Psa. 22:18 They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.
Psa. 22:19 But You, O LORD, be not far off;
O You my help, hasten to my assistance.
Psa. 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
My only life from the power of the dog.
Psa. 22:21 Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.
Psa. 22:22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
Psa. 22:23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.
Psa. 22:24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.
Psa. 22:25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.
Psa. 22:26 The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the LORD.
Let your heart live forever!
Psa. 22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.
Psa. 22:28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S
And He rules over the nations.
Psa. 22:29 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
Psa. 22:30 Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
Psa. 22:31 They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.