tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39675491407544405702024-03-07T23:11:54.602-08:00Pastor Brad's Thoughts'Your love is better than life...'Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-13535495707327410412011-07-25T06:56:00.000-07:002011-07-25T06:57:49.754-07:00Thoughts along the Home StretchWe are rounding the corner, heading for the home stretch. It is Monday morning in Sydney and we are about to depart for the Blue Mountains where we will be spending a few days with Alison’s friends, Hugh and Barbie. At the top of the mountain, in Leura, it will be close to freezing, at least toward sundown. Believe it or not, I am looking forward to that! (Update – it is now evening and we had a great time in the hills – almost thought it was going to snow!)<br /><br />Yesterday was a blessed day. We worshiped with the church family at St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Sydney (well, Turramurra, but it’s all Sydney to me). Life was flowing through this body. It reminded me so much of Grace Community Church. The singing was wonderful and the Word was both piercing and encouraging in the way that only God’s Spirit-filled Word can be.<br /><br />St. Philip’s seems to be an oasis in a desert – spiritually speaking, that is. As previously mentioned on this page, there is little attention paid to the gospel in Australia. It is increasingly the case in the U.S., but it is critical here in OZ. This morning on Good Morning Australia (equivalent to “Today” in America), one of the guests was the founder of a web site that encourages married men and women to cheat on their spouses. It was noted that this site receives more hits in Australia than any other country. Furthermore, in every other country, far more men visit the site than women. In Australia, just as many women “sign up” for an illicit relationship as do men. Australia, like America, is sinking.<br /><br />But, God always has His people, does He not? We were so encouraged by the growth at St. Philip’s! The body there is talking about expansion – please pray that this light on a hill in a very dark place will find the resources to expand their facilities and yield to the Holy Spirit as He grows the gospel in Sydney.<br /><br />Want another really encouraging word? It was announced in church that the Alpha Course – a Bible Study program that originated in England – is being conducted in Baghdad. It is the largest such study in the world – 2,700 people! Alpha would not be my first choice of Bible study programs, but God has greatly used it and I give Him great praise for this wonderful news!<br /><br />I must say that I spend a lot of time explaining my political preferences in Australia. It is interesting to me that the same people who cheer the news about the church in Iraq have little more than contempt for George Bush. By no means did I agree with everything President Bush did, but I strongly believe that he is a brother in Christ and a man of honorable character. Did he contribute to this economic mess we are in? Absolutely! But, not an ounce more than I contributed to the mess, and, almost certainly, no more than you contributed to it. Greed is what has us where we are; greed in almost every one of us. I seek to be generous, but there is a self-centered “get it, and get it now” streak in me that will not die easily.<br /><br />When it comes to politics, voting always comes down to a “lesser of two evils” for me. I DO NOT think that all politicians are evil. But, even though all governments are ordained by God (don’t even begin to ask me to explain that), they are imperfect – many times, evil. God is nothing but good, but He uses all governments and people and circumstances for His sovereign will and purposes. My responsibility is to vote responsibly, since I live in a democracy. I can’t say that I would never vote for someone who is pro-abortion (remember – lesser of two evils), but there would have to be a very strong, compelling reason for me to vote that way. That is the first item on the list, when I consider which candidate to support.<br /><br />I had better get off the old soap box. It’s time for bed and then my penultimate (full) day in OZ. Remember, we are 14 hours ahead of you blokes on the East Coast. Early Thursday morning, I will click my heels (don’t you dare call me Dorothy) and say, “There’s no place like home!”Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-48526893892041381812011-07-19T06:31:00.000-07:002011-07-19T07:08:37.473-07:00Great - no, check that - Incredible Food!Last year in Australia, we pretty much ate 5 times a day. Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Then, there was the occasional late-night snack. Ridiculous! Well, this year I determined it would be different. Alison enjoys certain Aussie foods and treats, so I did not expect her to follow my lead, but I - - Okay, I started well, but lately I have fallen off the wagon.<br /><br />Fish and chips are exceptionally good here, but I really love the grilled Barramundi, a delicious white fish that is almost always accompanied by a dreamy - I mean, creamy white sauce. It is the sweets that consistently get you, though. It is almost disgusting to see these skinny people eating chocolate caramel slice after lemon tart after meat pie after Tim Tams after - you get the idea. How do they do it!?!<br /><br />Tonight, Alison and I had the most delightful evening with her (and, now my) good friends, John and Ann McGeachie who love in beautiful Terrigal on the Central Coast. In fact, the Pacific Ocean lies about 300 yards from where I am writing this post. The conversation tonight was fun, uplifting, and extremely gospel centered. Over and over, John and Ann preached the gospel without necessarily meaning to. It is just who they are! They acknowledged the fallen state of humanity, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, and the hope we have of heaven. Over and over again.<br /><br />The conversation began over the tastiest (and, quite healthy) meal that either of us have had in a long, long time - and, if you have prepared food for us in the last year, please know that your meal was delicious. This was - I don't even know how to communicate how good this meal was! Roast pork, steamed and/or grilled broccoli, cabbage, zucchini, sweet potatoes and white potatoes, rice and gravy. Oh, my goodness - I do not watch enough Food Network to adequately describe the explosion of flavors that brought waves of delight to our respective palates! As good as the conversation was, I could hardly concentrate because I kept wondering what I would save for the last bite. Then, there was dessert - a large pear slice, baked in pure maple syrup mixed with vanilla and topped with real cream and vanilla ice cream.<br /><br />I wonder how good the meals are in heaven? My dad enjoyed eating at least as much as I do, so I wonder what he is eating today? Isn't it good to be redeemed by the blood of Jesus, knowing that heaven awaits? Isn't it good to know that in addition to dwelling with Jesus, all cancer, dementia, and depression will be gone and all broken relationships (with believers) will be made right? Occasionally we are allowed just a glimpse of heaven. I got a little taste tonight - pun intended!Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-58310239346742395032011-07-18T06:01:00.000-07:002011-07-18T06:04:08.514-07:00Hillsong!Since I have such limited Internet access, I am publishing two posts at once. The one just before this one is actually a guest column. It is MUST reading. What a beautiful testament to the grace of God (a grace spoken of in a different context in this post - both true)! Now, on to this post.<br /><br />Last year when we visited Australia, Alison and I fully intended to spend one of our Sundays at Hillsong Church in Sydney. Alas, we failed to get to the world-renowned church. We use a lot of their music at Grace Community Church, so it was a disappointment not to make it to Hillsong. My disappointment was nothing, though, compared to the amount of criticism (abuse? :)) that I took for not attending. This year, we made it!<br /><br />On Sunday morning, Alison and I met her good friend, Sharon, who drove us to church. Sharon is a member at Hillsong. To say that the music was loud was quite the understatement. Well, at least Alison and Sharon told me it was loud. I didn’t notice – volume just doesn’t bother me. I never got over the 60’s, so I still listen to loud music, especially when I am alone in the car – though you won’t hear the bass thumping from my speakers!<br /><br />During the first song, youth were jumping up and down during the song. It looked like a mosh pit. When I looked later in the service, there were quite a few adults in the first few rows. Do you think . . . ? On the platform, behind the musicians, there was a choir, of sorts – or, perhaps I should say, of singers and jumpers (praising God – don’t think I am making fun – well, not too much fun). These jumpers were being led by a chief jumper, whose face I never saw. She did have a very long ponytail, though.<br /><br />The message, delivered by founder and lead pastor, Brian Houston, was about grace. So many good thoughts, but this one stands out: “We are told that God’s grace is sufficient for all of our troubles. We tend to think that it is barely enough grace to get by. The same Greek word (for “sufficient”) is used when we are told that ‘sufficient for the day is its own trouble.’ We certainly do not think that our troubles are barely enough to register – we think they are overwhelming! Well, so is grace!”<br /><br />After Hillsong we went to downtown Sydney where we spent the night in a hotel with a beautiful view of the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. On Monday morning we caught a ferry to Manly Beach where we had lunch with Max and Rose Boys. Max was Alison’s pastor for eight years at St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Sydney. What an encouraging refreshing time! The body of Christ is a marvelous blessing!<br /><br />As I write this post, I am also listening to a debate about religion on Australian TV that includes a Muslim, an atheist, a journalist who has written about religion – and, John Lennox, an outstanding debater for Christianity. Lennox is a professor of math at Oxford University. He will be debating well known atheist, Peter Singer, next week in Australia. This fair land is in trouble, with regard to the gospel. (Notice, it is not the gospel that is in trouble – it is flourishing in Africa and Asia) America is, of course, very much in trouble as well.<br /><br />In the last post, I wrote about Mike Raiter, who is principal of Melbourne School of Theology. In January, Mike will be embarking on a passion of his and developing a school/center to promote the practice of expository preaching – passionate expository preaching, that is. May the gospel regain a foothold in Australia! If it does, it will be according to God’s will – so, PRAY! Does that seem strange to you – pray because God is sovereign? After all these years, it makes perfect sense to me! God is the only one who can change the hearts of men and women, and He calls us to pray that He will. He also uses the (expository) preaching of the cross to draw men to Himself.<br /><br />Thanks for checking in!Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-9057579806882214452011-07-18T05:54:00.000-07:002011-07-18T06:01:38.976-07:00Guest column - this is must reading!This past week, my good friend, David Carson, passed from death to life - into the presence of Jesus. It was an extremely difficult year for David's family as his health declined because of a brain tumor. Last week, just a day or two before he died, David's daughter, Lydia Wells, wrote the following words on her blog. I have not asked for permission, but I am 100% certain Lydia would not mind you sharing her grief - and, trust - through her words. Read, and weep, but be blessed:<br /><br />Today has been a hard day for me. I've lived for over a year now with the knowledge that my Dad is dying. All along, I have prayed for either healing or a quick, painless death. Neither has happened. My Dad is suffering, his body is rotting, his mind is not clear, he is unable to do anything for himself. He has lost nearly everything that made him David Carson. It is hard to watch.<br /><br />For the past week, I have been really dwelling on what he must be thinking and feeling, if he is able to think much. I don't know since he doesn't communicate with us anymore. Is he focusing on heaven? Is it dark where he is at? Is he groaning in his mind? I hear his sighs and quiet moans and I know he is hurting, though he has never once complained. Is he talking to God or is silent in his mind? Is he only capable of feeling the weariness and pain that I know he is feeling? Does he ever allow the thought to cross his mind that maybe God has forsaken him? OR is he content to suffer, knowing the glory that is coming?<br /><br />I have had many conversations with God over the past two days. For some reason, my Dad's voice enters these conversations. Because I know my Dad's heart so well, I am easily able to imagine his interjections into these conversations, where I am, at this time, unable to hear God's reply. The great I AM is very silent right now. But my Dad, well, I can hear him pretty clearly. I know some of you may think that I am only giving my Dad's voice to God's replies...maybe.<br /><br />When I rant and say things like, "It's not fair! My Dad is a good man and has served you well." my Dad's voice reminds me that no man is good enough to enter the presence of God and that no one deserves mercy. My Dad reminds me that we all deserve eternal separation from God, that we all deserve suffering and death. It is because of Jesus Christ and his death, and my Dad's acknowledgement of and acceptance of that, that my Dad will (eventually) enter heaven and spend eternity gazing on the face of his Savior.<br /><br />When I *remind* God (as if HE needs reminding) of all the sacrifices my Dad has made for Him, of all the ways that my Dad has served and followed and loved Jesus Christ, my Dad's voice reminds me that he did not do those "works" to get to heaven or to make death easier. He lived the way he lived because he loves Jesus and wanted to honor Him with his life. Dad has always desired that others see Jesus in him, he has never cared that they see David Carson. One of my Dad's favorite verses is 1 Corinthians 2:2- "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." Dad did not need lofty speech or worldy wisdom to show others Jesus. I believe others so clearly see Jesus in the life of my Dad because he resolved to live the gospel for all to see.<br /><br />As I watch my Dad's body fall apart, as I reflect on his life, I feel closer to him than I have ever felt, even though we are no longer able to communicate. Even though God remains silent to my entreaties and questions, I am still comforted by the knowledge that what I believe is REAL and it is TRUE. Even as I shed tears, I am at peace, because I know He holds the future and my Dad's future is with Him.<br /><br /><br />God sent His son,<br />They called Him Jesus.<br />He came to love, heal and forgive.<br />He lived and died, to buy my pardon.<br />An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!<br /><br />Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.<br />Because He lives, all fear is gone.<br />Because I know, I know, He holds the future.<br />And life is worth the living just because He lives.<br /><br />How sweet to hold a new born baby,<br />And feel the pride and joy he gives.<br />But greater still, the calm assurance<br />This child can face uncertain days because Christ lives.<br /><br />Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.<br />Because He lives, all fear is gone.<br />Because I know, I know, He hold the future.<br />And life is worth the living just because He lives.<br /><br />And then one day, I'll cross the river.<br />I'll fight life's final war with pain.<br />And then as death gives way to victory.<br />I'll see the light of glory and I'll know that He lives.<br /><br />Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.<br />Because He lives, all fear is gone.<br />Because I know, I know,He hold the future.<br />And life is worth the living just because He livesPastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-73140096259032115322011-07-14T22:52:00.000-07:002011-07-14T22:54:16.536-07:00Melbourne!I love the smell of this city! Perhaps I should say I love the way that this city smells. Melbourne is known as a city of restaurants and coffee shops. From the first moments in this great city, Alison and I were inundated with sights, aromas, and tastes that thrilled our senses! Coffee shops along the alleyways and restaurants that always seem to be cooking their best fare beckoned to us all day long.<br /><br />Melbourne is a beautiful mixture of old and modern. The architecture and angles of buildings and museums and shops and art galleries invite one to participate in the city’s charm. Charming? Is it possible to consider a city of three million plus, charming? Indeed, one is tempted to employ the word “quaint!” As one resident said, “Melbournians enjoy their city.” It is, without question, a more leisurely pace in Melbourne than Sydney, or almost any other world class city of its size that I have visited. One particularly impressive spot was the reading room in the State Library. I will try to post a picture on Facebook, soon.<br /><br />Visiting with friends and family were the highlight of the trip to Melbourne. We stayed with Alison’s long-time friends, Mike and Sarah Raiter. Mike is the principal (Americans would use the term “president”) of the Melbourne School of Theology and Sarah is an artist who thinks deeply about life. Fortunately, for us, Mike was on holiday. In addition to showing us the lay of the land, we enjoyed many long talks about life and ministry, one night going strong after 1 AM. The Raiters’ two adult sons, Joel and Nathan, delighted us with their company much of the three days we were in Victoria. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with this wonderful family!<br /><br />One day was spent with other (new, for me) friends and (some new, some not so new to me) family. We had lunch (maybe the best lasagna I have ever had!) with Alison’s friend for many years, “Musha,” (Aussies love nicknames!), whose husband, Thomas, welcomed us into their home along with their two delightful children, Sonya and Henry. Betty (Alison’s aunt) and partner Ian, and Cousin Jane had us for dinner where we enjoyed Christmas in July, complete with decorations and mince pie! In all, I think there were three distinct, delicious desserts after a sumptuous meal of corned beef and potatoes and all the fixings.<br /><br />We are back in Sydney, now, and preparing for a dinner party with 30 friends. I am sitting in McDonald’s, one of the few places that offers free wi-fi. I am not kidding, I have only seen one lap top (besides mine) open in Australia in a week’s time – and, I have been looking! The coffee shops are full, but no computers. Even in Mackers (as they call McDonald’s), no one is surfing the web. I would conclude that Aussies get their Internet fix on their phones – but, there seems to be precious little of that. Could it be that they are simply more interested in connecting with people than they are in surfing the web, at least while out in public? Good form!<br /><br />Thanks for checking in. I will be back!Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-46131027147684977682011-07-11T03:09:00.000-07:002011-07-11T03:11:27.690-07:00Toilet Humor - But, It Is Not What You Think!In the Toronto airport last week, on our way to Australia (crazy route, but you have to take those sometimes with frequent flyer miles), I went into the men’s restroom and saw a little boy moving around in front of a toilet and making it flush. “Dad – is it magic!?!” “Yes, son.” “Dad – they’re all magic!”<br /><br />How could you not smile? I LOVED it! I also thought about my father, who probably thought the same thing 10 or so days ago when he entered heaven – “Is this place for real?” But, he knew that it was, and he knew he was there because of Jesus, not because of twenty plus years of teaching Sunday School or being a church member or being baptized, but because he repented of his sin and placed his trust in Jesus, who died for his sin and took God’s punishment for sin that was directed toward Billy Talley. Jesus got in the way of God’s wrath – Praise the Lord!<br /><br />We have been enjoying a blessed few days in Sydney with Alison’s mom – and we have been blessedly out of touch! We have limited access to Internet and email, though we may have a little more access the next few days when we are visiting friends in Melbourne. I did not go that far South last year, so I am looking forward to being with Alison’s friends, the Raither, in Melbourne, though I am not looking forward to the 4:30AM to get back to the airport while jet-lag is still a factor. If you think that three-four days in is a little long to be struggling with jet-lag, come to this enchanted land they call OZ sometime – it is well worth it, but it ain’t an easy trip!<br /><br />I hope to write from Melbourne. It will be a little cooler than the 50’s we have been experiencing here with brilliant sunshine. Jealous? You should be, even though I freeze here when I am inside! Aussies are quite committed to saving energy, and they do so with heat! Our ways are just as different to them, I am certain, so for my Aussie friends reading this, please know that your way is more than OK. It’s just cold! You are, without doubt, though, some of the warmest people I have met! So glad that most of our time here is still ahead of us.Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-79351669130122436622011-07-06T15:39:00.001-07:002011-07-06T15:59:55.517-07:00In Memory - Billy TalleyI am sitting in the Toronto airport, waiting for a flight to Vancouver and then on to Sydney, Australia. We are going to visit Alison's mum and other family. Like last year, I plan to chronicle our journey in this space.<br /><br />We almost didn't make this trip. My father, Billy Talley, passed from death to life - into the presence of Jesus - last Saturday, July 2. We buried him yesterday. This post is dedicated to his memory with the words that I shared during my portion of leading the service.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Funeral Service for Billy Talley</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>July 5, 2011</strong><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="left">FUN! I suppose that is the word I would first associate with my father. I imagine most of you who knew my dad beyond just the most surface level would add an n-y to that word and think of my dad as FUNNY! When I grew up with my dad, life was just plain old fun.<br /><br />They say that we tend to relate to God in the same ways we have come to know our fathers. If your father was stern and demanding, then you have to work hard to see God as loving and gentle. If your father was permissive and/or absent, you may struggle to grasp God’s holiness and transcendence. You may not be surprised to know that I see the Father holy and transcendent, yet with a sense of humor who sees the irony in life and the corners of His mouth turn slightly upward.<br /><br />Understanding God in relation to our fathers is natural. We are, after all, made in the image of God. Since God is Spirit, we know that being made in His image does not refer to the physical, even though God appeared in the flesh in Jesus. So, what does being made in God’s image mean? Most would say that it is our ability to reason that separates us from animals, so to be able to think and reason is the primary way we exhibit the image of God. One theologian has said that it is man’s imagination that is indicated, for when we are creating, we are most like God. That explanation resonates with me.<br /><br />My dad had quite an imagination. He was quick-witted and almost always had a funny comment about the circumstance of the moment. I would like to think that I received a measure of my dad’s wit, but what made him exceptionally funny is that he didn’t care whether you thought he was funny or not. When I think of something clever, I want you to hear it! When he thought of something funny, he often spoke it softly, not really caring if anyone else heard or not – or, at least he seemed not to care – and that is funny. Nan and Sabra and I have laughed more than we have deserved to laugh, I suppose, because of his influence in our lives.<br /><br />My dad was incredibly blessed with the two wives that the Lord graciously gave to him. Like father, like son. I love you, Alison. I will say more about Patricia, whom most of you know as Pat, in a few moments, but let me say how much joy and laughter he brought to their lives! When I was called to care for my dear, dying wife over four years ago, I had the perfect role model. No one could have cared better for my mom than my dad did in her last many years of life, suffering with emphysema. He rolled her, I imagine, over every square inch of Raleigh in her wheel chair. Sometimes he put her life in danger because of the ways he would make her laugh when she was desperately short of breath. I laugh when Patricia tells me about the way that he courted her, showing up every morning to greet her on her way to school, calling her on the phone, disguising his voice with various accents from around the world, and singing to her as the crooner that he was. Billy Talley was a funny – and, a fun – man.<br /><br />But, not all of you would respond the same way if I asked you to describe my dad. When you have spoken to me over these last five years, no doubt, most of you have said that he always made you smile – always! But, there have been just as many comments about my father’s love for Jesus, his love for children and his love for teaching them, his heart-felt prayers, and his godly character. It is, in fact, his relationship with Jesus as his Savior that has sustained him, and us, over these past five years.<br /><br />In many ways, my father died five years ago when he began to slide rapidly and inexorably into the living hell of Lewey Body Dementia. For all the fun that my dad had in the first 75 or so years of his life, these last five years have been anything but fun. Many of you have had similar experiences with your loved ones. I don’t know what he would have done without Patricia’s tender loving care that went so far beyond what would have been expected, even of a devoted spouse. Our family knew that God had blessed us with a beautiful addition even before Dad and Patricia said “I do.” We are so grateful God brought you into our lives, Patricia – we love you!<br /><br />Just think of how difficult these years have been for Patricia. Dementia was, for Billy, a horrible disease that caused him to act in ways that were horrifyingly embarrassing to him in the few lucid moments early in his disease. If you had seen him this past Friday, repeatedly gasping for breath with terror in his eyes, you would understand why it is such a relief for us that he is with Jesus, today. That doesn’t mean we are not sad, though. Quite a few tears have flowed along with the laughter. But, as Scripture says, we do not grieve in the same way as those who have no hope. We recognize that our parting is only temporary. Consider these words from John 14:1-6, spoken by Jesus just before He was to part, temporarily, from His disciples:<br /><br />1 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.<br />2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?<br />3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.<br />4 And you know the way to where I am going."<br />5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"<br />6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="left">The night before He was crucified, Jesus told His disciples that He was going away. They were shocked, because they had thought that He was going to establish the kingdom of God on earth, but now He told them, in essence, that He was going to heaven and that they were to be at peace about it! And, He told them, He would be busy preparing a room for each of them in His Father’s house. He concluded by saying, “You know the way to where I am going.”<br /><br />Thomas said, “Uh, uh – we don’t have any idea where You are going, so how can we possibly know the way there?” Jesus responded with some of the most important words any of us will ever, ever hear: “I am the way – and the truth – and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”<br /><br />Wow! Jesus was either incredibly arrogant – or, He was God. I don’t know about you, but I am going with the latter. Jesus was God! He had to be in order to accomplish our salvation because our sin had separated us from God. My dad suffered as he did because of sin. Not any particular sin of his, but because of Adam’s sin, which we have all inherited – every one of us. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden, they sinned, and thus were separated from God, and there was NOTHING they could do about that separation. There was no way back to God. But, God covered their nakedness, which represented their desperate condition, and He did so with animal skin. Blood was required in order for their sin to be covered.<br /><br />But, as the book of Hebrews tells us, it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin, no matter how many sacrifices were made in the Jewish Tabernacle and Temple in OT days. Jesus, though, being the perfect, spotless Lamb of God, went to the cross to absorb the wrath of God against sinners. Since we are all sinners, God’s righteous, judicial wrath is aimed squarely at us and unless someone stands in the way and absorbs God’s wrath, we will experience it one day. But, God's love made a way!<br /><br />This may be hard for you to accept, but all the terrible things in this world, including these last five years of my dad’s life, are just a little taste of God’s wrath being revealed against sin, as are tsunamis and wars, and they may have NOTHING to do with the people who are experiencing tragedy. Until Jesus returns to rule on a new earth, which will really be heaven, every one of us will suffer because of sin. But, as Jesus promised His disciples, if we are related to God the Father through Jesus, we will experience perfect peace and joy throughout eternity!<br /><br />My dad’s days are now full of joy because so many years ago he repented of his sin and trusted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as payment for his sin. My father’s hope of heaven was Jesus, not twenty years of teaching Sunday School, or baptism, or church membership, or comforting the grieving, or quiet acts of service and giving about which most never knew. He is OK today because of Jesus! Patricia pictured him clicking his heels when he got to heaven. What a beautiful picture – Billy Talley made whole and perfect because of Jesus! I don’t doubt that the beautiful parts of our personality are retained in heaven. Clicking his heels, indeed!<br /><br />As I close, let me share how my dad passed from death to life, into the presence of Jesus. The staff at Senter’s Assisted Living Center was wonderful to my dad. This past Saturday afternoon, Patricia asked Gwen Morrison to sing for Billy. She was delayed because she had to make her rounds, but she arrived just before 3:30. In a beautiful, soulful voice, Gwen sang the first verse of Amazing Grace. As she sang the last note and turned to go, my dad breathed his last, clicked his heels, and fell into the arms of Jesus! Oh, I do hope that you will put your faith in what Jesus did for you so that you may have the same hope when your time comes, as everyone of us knows our time surely will come.<br /><br />I cannot prove this in Scripture, but I have all ideas that there were a host of people waiting for Billy, including my late wife, Linda, and my mother. Sabra had a picture of how she thought it was in heaven on Saturday. In the last year of my mother’s life, Nan, Sabra, and I all lived away from Fuquay. When we would come for a few days, my mother could hardly stand the wait. She eagerly anticipated our arrival, so much so that when our car would roll down the driveway, she would tap her feet and say, “They’re here they’re here!” In Sabra’s mind – and, how can we argue – she was tapping her feet on Saturday and saying, “He’s here, he’s here!” To God be the glory!<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><strong></strong></div>Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-84228668890037386542011-03-02T19:14:00.000-08:002011-03-04T13:25:09.212-08:00Remembering Mom - Autumn, for the KidsRemembering Mom<br /><br />It’s that time of year again when my thoughts of Mom have been pressing and heavy. I think about Mom many times every single day, but these first three months of the year are thick with more difficult memories from her sickness, ultimately culminating to March 3rd, 2008 when she, as Dad said in his last post, passed from death to life. I really wanted to do something to honor Mom’s memory this year so I asked Dad awhile ago if I could post something on her blog. And now that it’s time to post, I have serious writer’s block.<br /><br />I don’t have a lot of theology or wisdom to impart, but I just wanted to take some time and intentionally remember Mom. The idea came to me on her birthday last month when I was reading some Facebook comments. Our dear family friend, Sherri Russell, posted a comment on Aunt Terri’s page simply saying, “I love her and miss her too.” It reminded me again how many countless people out there, from so many places of our lives, love and miss Mom. What a tremendous impact she made on so many lives in her short 53 years on Earth. We were reminded of that in droves when she was sick. The meals, visits, cards, housecleaning, yard work, uplifting videos, music, scrapbooks and gifts poured in nonstop for over a year. It was an amazing testimony of the body of Christ in motion. Can I say THANK YOU again on behalf of the whole family, including Mom? We were all absolutely overwhelmed by your love and generosity.<br /><br />I really miss Mom’s smiling, beautiful face. She loved Jesus with all her heart and it radiated through her. I love to listen to old hymns now because they remind me of Mom’s sweet voice singing harmonies in the pew beside us at Fellowship Baptist. I think of her standing there with her strong voice, lovingly shepherding her little flock of Liz, Michael and me, making sure we were growing up in God’s Word. She was a beautiful example of Deuteronomy 6: 6-8, faithfully growing in love and service to the Lord and teaching those values to her children.<br /><br />One of Mom’s favorite verses that she shared with me was from Isaiah 30:15, “…In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength…” Mom really exuded these qualities of quietness and confidence. Liz reminded me one time that she almost always had a smile on her face – both when she was healthy and sick. She had a genuine little laugh that would come out in conversations and I miss that laugh. She was shy and insecure but I’m so proud of her for boldly stepping out and serving and counseling so many. Maybe that’s why she liked that verse…she was quiet, but she found her confidence in Christ.<br /><br />She was a great Mom and I appreciate so many things about her. I love that she modeled the importance of an education by going back to college and graduating in her thirties. She gave us a love for reading, she taught us the value of true nutrition long before it was popular, and she gave us a lot of freedom in letting us run wild all over TVR property.<br /><br />Mom’s absence from this earth is really hard for me in two ways. One, because I was just developing a true “friendship” with her as an adult. We had finally moved past those difficult teenage years, accepted each other as individuals and settled into a nice groove. I’m sad that we weren’t able to further develop that relationship. The other really tough thing is really missing her guidance and support now that I am a mom to a sweet and sassy 19-month old who is brimming with life and energy and is just so lovable! Mom loved, loved, loved her grandchildren Laurel, Judge and Willow. And now three years later she has three more in Alia, Audrey, and little Miles on the way. It’s sad for me to know that the kids are missing the love of their Nina in this lifetime. I know she would give really great advice on a lot of the questions that I have. She was very wise, well-read and imparted her knowledge is such a gentle way.<br /><br />I miss Mom every single day. Walking through the difficult year of her sickness and then seeing her die changed me in so many ways. I am a stronger, less fearful, more patient and loving person after experiencing the intensity of caregiving. I always feared sickness…and then she got sick…and died…the very worst thing I could imagine! But you know what? It’s okay. I’m still trying to accept that. It’s okay. It’s more than okay. She finished her race (Hebrews 12:1). The thing that’s tough is that I am still running mine and still trying to come to terms with the fact that more sickness and more death will come; it is guaranteed. I’ll admit that, along with the fear I’ve cast to the side, sometimes it feels like I’ve just shouldered different fears of losing someone else close to me, or myself dying while my daughter is still young.<br /><br />These are just aftereffects of the grief, I suppose, but I am dealing with them. In fact, even as I write this, I’ve thought about Hebrews 12 that I just referenced. It gives a really good answer for this fear that still paralyzes me from time to time. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” I guess it’s full circle back to what I said at the beginning – that Mom absolutely loved Jesus. She had such a firm foundation in His Word and His love, that she was not shaken when she was given a diagnosis of an aggressive brain tumor. Like any human, she had her moments of fear and weakness. But she kept circling back to Jesus. That is awesome and I’m so proud of her and the example she set.<br /><br />I think I’ve officially written more than what is considered acceptable for a ‘blog,’ but I did want to mention one more thing before I close this out. While it has been hard to be a young mom and not have my mom around, God really does give more grace. I want to give a big hug to my amazing husband, Brian who shepherds our family with grace, love and a lot of fun; and to so many women who have stepped in to fill a role: my dear friend and mother-in-law, Debbie; my new stepmom, Alison (Who, by the way, is just as incredible as Dad describes in his posts. What a tremendous blessing she and her kids, Jonathan and Sarala, are to our family!); my beautiful sisters, Liz and Laura; my steadfast grandmas, Virginia and Patricia; my godly aunts and cousins, and so many other amazing women in my life who have loved me through some really tough times. I love you all so much.<br /><br />And by the way, since I’ve poached this space, I want to say that all of these godly characteristics of Mom are equally true of our Dad. We are so incredibly blessed to have grown up in a household that had a firm foundation in God’s Word. Thank you, Dad, for being a rock as we walked through this darkest valley; for always pointing us to Jesus and for being equal parts leader, mentor and friend to us now!<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to visit and hear where I am today (every day is different) after three years of missing Mom on this earth. God bless you all as you also reflect on your own special memories of her on this day!Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-73397889549061942372011-02-28T12:37:00.000-08:002011-02-28T12:39:05.580-08:00Blessings, Past and PresentBlessings, Past and Present<br /><br />It has been quite some time since I last wrote for this space, but I wanted to alert those who still check in from time to time that one or more of my children may be reflecting in this spot next Thursday, March 3, the third anniversary of the passing from death to life of their mother and my wife of 31 plus years, dear sweet Linda Faile Talley.<br /><br />I cannot tell you how many times I have been told that I must be one of the most fortunate men alive to have been blessed first, with Linda, and now, with Alison! Like father, like son, I suppose – my dad has been equally blessed with my mother, Bobbie Griffin Talley, and with his current wife, Patricia Keith Talley. My father, who lives with dementia, is blessed, along with our entire family, by the most incredibly caring wife you could imagine. One of the last pieces of his mind to slip was his recognition of the beautiful blessing that Patricia is to him. Even now, he longs to see her every day as the final chapters of his life play out in a rest home. He is not disappointed, for Patricia is well known to all at Senter’s Rest Home, located about a mile from her home.<br /><br />This life is hard, is it not? There are so many ways of looking at difficult circumstances, such as asking “Why me?” or “Why not me?” Those are questions that my dear friends, David and Pam Carson ask as David lives the last days of his life (barring a miracle from our God, Who is, indeed, capable, but may not heal, in His sovereign will) with the same tumor – Glioblastoma Multiforme – that Linda had. Another of my close friends, Mark Poindexter, had surgery last week to remove a brain tumor. We know that it is malignant, but we do not know the grade, yet. Please pray for Mark and Kim, and their daughters, Lauren (with husband, James Peavy) and Sarah. Oh, we do hope and pray that Mark’s tumor is more manageable!<br /><br />So, why would I speak of blessings in the title? Well, because alongside of God’s sovereignty, in equal measure, is His goodness! Evidences of His grace and mercy are everywhere, even in crises, but sometimes his goodness shouts to those who are listening! Do you think David Carson and Mark Poindexter are aware of His goodness in the beautiful, loving families that God has given them? Absolutely! Am I aware of my own blessings that far, far exceed anything I remotely deserve in Linda and Alison? Without question! I told Alison recently that in the center of many painful realities of this existence, my “lows” are considerably higher than they were a few years ago, and much higher on the chart than they would be without her. She blesses me with 100% support and encouragement at the same level that Linda did. Amazing! Is my primary hope in Jesus? Of course! And He sustained me as I endured loneliness at a level that I did not think possible because of the loss of life and love from one of God’s most incredible human beings of our time, and wouldn’t you know it, He brought blessing back to me in an equally beautiful and valuable package, though of a different nature (personality, past experiences, etc.) altogether.<br /><br />I had not intended to write nearly this much – I had only intended to alert you to a coming post on Thursday – but since I am on a roll . . . When you marry for the second time, it can be quite a delicate proposition to speak of your previous spouse. Not so in our house! We both recognize and believe with all of our hearts that God is sovereign and God is good. Alison has never once shown the slightest hint of discomfort (jealousy is not even on the radar in the slightest form) when I speak of Linda. In fact, Alison has often asked my children and me about Linda. You may think it odd, but we went to Rome, Georgia this past Thanksgiving to be with Linda’s parents and all of her siblings and their families. What an awesome time it was for all of us! Was it awkward? No! Linda’s family is one of the most incredible, caring group of men, women, and children you will ever meet, and they welcomed Alison graciously into “the family.” Was it difficult? Certainly! It was painful for all of us to remember Linda so poignantly in that setting.<br /><br />As we drove away from Rome, Alison was unusually quiet (that is not a jab – I talk at least as much as she does!). After a bit, I noticed that she was crying. I asked why, of course, and she said that she had always known that the cost had been high for the two of us to be together, but she felt the emotions of the entire family together at a level she had not experienced to that point. Blessings, past and present!<br /><br />Well, I could go on, but I had better stop. If you have read this far, I would encourage you to get a life! Just kidding! Thank you!!! and, PLEASE return on Thursday to read the children’s (one may speak for all) words of praise and tribute to the beautiful, lovely lady who pointed others to Jesus, Linda Faile Talley.Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-89279895912870711092010-08-09T19:47:00.000-07:002010-08-09T19:51:34.656-07:00Um, well, OK, go here for wedding picturesI really feel odd doing this, but in case you were at the wedding, there may be some pictures of you. If not, I will have to say that our photographers, James and Jen Tarpley, are some of the best anywhere and you may enjoy viewing these just for the photography itself! And, for the beautiful pictures of my beautiful bride! I will include the two paragraphs that they sent to us about the pictures, which will give you the proper links and passwords.<br /><br />From Visio Photography:<br /><br />I hope you're having a great day! We are excited to let you know that you can now view your beautiful images online. :) But first, before you go to your gallery, make sure the volume on your computer is up and go to <a href="http://visiogallery.com/preview/kasbe-talley/">http://visiogallery.com/preview/kasbe-talley/</a><br /><br />We hope you enjoy watching the preview slideshow of a selection of images from your day. Feel free to pass it on to family and friends for the next couple of weeks. Once you have seen your slideshow, you can view your full gallery by going to our website, www.visiophotography.com. Once there, click on Weddings, then Client Login on the bottom menu bar. The main galleries page will come up and your password is kasbe-talley.Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-80702765683165777462010-07-28T05:42:00.000-07:002010-07-28T06:29:45.095-07:00Homeward BoundIt is our last night in Australia, and on this last day I have seen some beautiful views of the Australian Outback. No, I didn't actually go there, but I got a taste of the Australian heartland on the Aussie Reality Show, <em>The Farmer Wants a Wife</em>. Do I really need to explain? The scenery was beautiful, and if you are in to such reality shows, you may want to check it out online. I am continually surprised and amazed by this remote land that is teeming with life.<br /><br />We are heading home in the morning. It will be a bittersweet goodbye. I have grown to love Joan Cotton (Alison's "mum") in these three short weeks. She was great on the phone and in letters, but she is better in person! I have been truly blessed with in-laws of all kinds in this life!<br /><br />We will leave Sydney at 1:50 Thursday afternoon and arrive in Los Angeles at 10:17 Thursday morning - another marvel of air travel with significant distances that involves crossing the time line. You may recall when we began this trip that we chased the sun out of Los Angeles (departing an hour or so after sunset) on a Monday night and ended up just beating it into Sydney on Wednesday morning some 14 hours later. Tomorrow, we get our lost day back.<br /><br />In addition to leaving family, we will also leave behind good friends. These dear ones in Australia have had significant spiritual input into Alison's life, and I am the beneficiary. Alison's mother told her tonight as she went to bed, "I am so happy for both of you - everyone is!"<br /><br />As Alison and I have said many times, "Neither of us wanted to be where we are - but neither of us would want to be anywhere else." Indeed! Can I explain that? No way. Life can be extremely painful - and, there are no promises that life will get better. We are well intentioned when we say, "God will always make things better," but we are often wrong. God is good, but He is God and His ways don't always make sense. A father in North Korea, no doubt, was dragged away from his family on the way to prison and maybe execution in this last week because of his faith in Jesus. We can't make sense of this life that is so often painful, but we can know that God is sovereign and that God is good. Our hope is not in this world - it is in eternal life with Jesus.<br /><br />But, sometimes - many times, in fact - God brings beauty out of the ashes. It is just a taste of what life will be with Jesus in heaven, and it can be a treat to the senses and the imagination as we wait for the day when our Father calls us to be with Him. Do you know Jesus? As much as I have enjoyed meeting so many new friends in Australia, and as much as I love my friends back home, I SO want to be with you in heaven! Call out to Jesus, would you? He died to take the judgment of God that was directed toward you and me - until He stepped in the middle as a sacrifice that would satisfy God's righteous wrath against sin and against sinners. Repent of your sin (acknowledge it before the Lord) and call out to Jesus, believing that He died for you. He has promised to save you if you will!<br /><br />It has been quite a trip, and an extremely full one. I will be back in the States soon, so if you see someone driving on the left side of the road . . .Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-70788452194240240972010-07-26T05:46:00.000-07:002010-07-26T06:53:00.205-07:00Whales, Kangaroos, and Shrimp on the BarbieIs this an authentic Australian experience? Oh, yeah! There is so much to report from the last trip that I would never get it done if I recalled all of it, so I will just hit some highlights. Alison and I spent two wonderful days with her sister, Heather McAlpine, and John (husband), Melinda, Christine, Matt (children), and Jo (Matt's good friend). On the way down to Kiama (over an hour south of Sydney), where the McAlpines reside, I saw possibly the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. <br /><br />Alison and I have been quite busy on this trip meeting dozens of people and spending quality time with many of them, so the trip down was quite nice just to catch up with one another. We went through a National Park (we would say National Forest in the States) for about 8-10 miles. The Australian bush is much, much prettier than I had anticipated. The large variety of Eucalyptus trees - there are over 700 total - and palm trees, often situated along spectacularly beautiful rivers, well, it is quite a scene. In this particular National Forest, we went downhill for 4-5 miles and then went uphill for about the same amount of distance in curvy, mountain-like roads. It reminded me, in fact, of Three Mile Road in Avery County, North Carolina where I used to live. Three Mile is actually Hwy. 194 between Linville Falls and Hwy 19E, close to Spruce Pine. The road we were on was quite curvy, one of those roads on which you wonder if you will ever come out of the curves and the hills. All of a sudden, we burst out of the forest to find ourselves quite high and overlooking the incredibly blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The view was very much as one you might see on the Pacific Coast Highway in California - only much more beautiful. It was lunch time, so we stopped just a few miles down the road and ate at a restaurant overlooking the Pacific. Magnificent!<br /><br />We did not see a whale on Thursday, but we did see three whales on Saturday and one breached (leaped out of the water rolling over on his back). That was on the same day we saw the famous blow hole of Kiama, a cove in the rocks that border the ocean and in which the water rushes in and gushes up into spectacular spray. By the way, I exhausted my admittedly meager supply of descriptive adjectives to describe this beautiful land and this particular experience in Oz several days ago. <br /><br />But, what about kangaroos? Can you have an authentic Australian experience without kangaroos? No worries, mate! We ate lunch very close to kangaroos on Friday in another National Park. OK, OK, it is like bears in Alaska hanging out close to picnic areas, but you have to admit it is better than seeing them in a zoo! Indeed, we had a mother and two joeys hanging out, just hoping that we would give them a snack, which we did not, of course. The kangaroos were within 25 feet of us just about the whole time we were eating.<br /><br />The Rosella's - beautiful tropical birds - did not wait for us to throw them a morsel. They were all over us, literally, competing with us for our food. They were on our shoulders, our heads, on the table, trying to eat the sandwiches out of our hands. What a day! I am constantly thinking about how much Professors Bartlett and Metz (biology profs at Campbell University and part of the Grace Community Church Family) would enjoy being with me. In fact, I would enjoy having them with me immensely, telling me all about the plant life and wildlife in this magical land! And, by the way, did I mention the incredible views of the coastline and the bays along the Pacific Coast of Australia, south of Sydney? <br /><br />Sunday night, we went back to Gil and Jo's home for shrimp on the barbie! It was a barbecue (I can't believe I am using that word as a verb!) that almost any American would award the highest of marks! We had steak, shrimp, chicken, and beef sausages, in addition to salad and risotto. What a great time with these good friends! Today, Monday, has been a day chock a block (full) of meetings with more of Alison's close friends. One lady, who is a close friend of Alison and her mom, happens to be the grandmother of Bonnie Wright, better known as Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films. Doreen, Bonnie's grandmother, is a gracious and beautiful follower of Jesus. <br /><br />It has been a wonderful trip, but I am very much looking forward to being back home later this week. We leave Sydney at 1:30 on Thursday and get in to Raleigh that night at 11:30, so it is a 10 hour trip. No, wait - with the time change, it is about a 24 hour trip, with stops in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Maybe there will be time for one more post from here, but if not, I will see you in the States!Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-29228938625913473452010-07-21T04:12:00.000-07:002010-07-21T05:04:18.581-07:00More from AustraliaAlison and I are more than half-way into our stay in Australia. We have gone nearly non-stop. It has been quite a ride. This past Saturday night, we gathered in Gil and Jo's home (see earlier post) along with around 50 of Alison's family and close friends (mostly, friends). In one of the speeches, which are important at nearly all celebrations in Oz, it was noted how amazing it is that someone could be gone from the country for 14 years and this many people show up for a celebration. Indeed! Several more had planned to come, but were unable to for various reasons. The numbers are a testament to Alison's commitment to stay in touch with her friends, even on the other side of the globe. It has me thinking about the importance of staying connected with the people who are important to me.<br /><br />At Tuesday lunch, 15 more people gathered at the community center of the village where Alison's mother, Joan, lives. They joined us to celebrate our marriage with us. 15 more will gather next Tuesday at the same place. My memory is not as sharp as it once was, so even though it is great to meet so many new family members and friends, it is a challenge to remember names.<br /><br />Food. Lots of food! We eat five times a day. Breakfast, morning tea (or coffee) with a snack, lunch, afternoon tea (or coffee) with or without a snack, and dinner. It will be "work it off" time when we return to the States.<br /><br />If there is one place that I have heard that people want to visit, but have not yet done so, it is Australia. It is a long flight - 14 hours - with significant jet-lag (at least for me) and an expensive ticket (though Alison is flying free from miles and I am on a relatively cheap ticket because I got it early), but it is well worth the trip if you can make it. <br /><br />I have engaged in several interesting conversations with people about theology, ministry, history, and politics. Several people have asked me about Obama. It is interesting to interact with people from other countries on the topic of America. I have found everywhere I go that Americans are treated very, very well. When the discussion turns to politics, however, very few people seem to like America, considering her (as a country) arrogant and aloof. I quite disagree, of course, but that is the perception that others have. I am eager to engage in these conversations, but they always have the potential to go awry. <br /><br />The conversations about theology, ministry, and history have been invigorating and enlightening. It is so encouraging to find that the kingdom of God transcends national boundaries, and that differences inherent in politics are transcended by life in the shadow of the cross. I guess it is true that (Jesus') blood is thicker than water!<br /><br />While America is waking up, I am getting ready for bed - tonight, in the States! I will close by telling you how very much I was blessed reading from the Gospel of Matthew today. The Sermon on the Mount was particularly encouraging. Jesus' words are very straight-forward in chapters 5-7. Laced with grace as they are, however, my heart soared to think that God cares for me so deeply and that He desires my full heart and attention, which will be seen in the kind and forgiving ways that I treat others. "Thank You, Jesus, for telling me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear."Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-60535179921303111562010-07-16T05:03:00.000-07:002010-07-21T04:08:37.608-07:00Driving on the Wron - I Mean - the Other Side of the RoadI have been driving for several days in Australia. I have been driving so much, in fact, that I have been unable to get to the computer to update our stay. We are meeting so many people that I had better dispense with trying to recall everyone - more of the same, though. Wonderful, wonderful friends Alison has here, just as she does in the States!<br /><br />Have you ever driven on the opposite side of the road than the one you are used to? I have been driving on the left side of the road of late. The steering wheel, of course, is on the right side of the car. I took a few days to get acclimated to the Aussie way of driving on the left side, then I asked my beautiful and lovely mother-in-law, Joan Cotton, if I could drive her car. She agreed, and off I went on a very short excursion. By the next day, I was driving all around Sydney and having a grand time.<br /><br />The place that gives me the most trouble is in parking lots, where I find myself reverting back to a "right side" mentality. Actually, the most difficult aspect of the whole experience is hitting the correct lever for the blinker. I am forever turning the wiper on trying to get to the blinker, which is on the right side of the steering wheel. As for the driving, so far, so good. No doubt, I am much more careful and focused here than I would be at home. It was unnerving at first (and still is, a bit), but quite exciting all in all.<br /><br />New experiences - both scary and exciting. It is like that with many of life's ups and downs, isn't it? I have been having my Quiet Time in Philippians 1. Early in the chapter, Paul calls the Christ-followers at Philippi, "partners in the gospel." In verse 12, he seeks to encourage them by saying that all that has happened to him has actually served to advance the gospel. You may know that "what had happened to Paul" was that he had been arrested and put in prison. I wonder if Paul thought this was a good thing for the gospel at first when he was arrested. I wonder if perhaps he thought Satan was having a good go and now the gospel would be hindered. I doubt it, really, knowing Paul's understanding of God's sovereignty. Sometimes, God’s ways are not always clear to us. Often, though, as in Paul's case, the not so wonderful turns in life make sense later on.<br /><br />As a special prisoner, a member of the Imperial (Praetorian) Guard would be chained to Paul at all times. The guards were assigned to the apostle in four-hour shifts, which meant that 6 different guards would be chained to Paul in a 24 hour period. Do you think Paul witnessed to them? Verse 13 tells us that the entire guard knew that Paul was a prisoner for Christ! Surely, some of these men trusted Christ. No doubt, many of these elite soldiers went on to serve the Roman Empire in important posts around the world - and, the gospel advanced!<br /><br />It is easy to see how Paul began to understand clearly what God was doing. Oh, that we will make the most out of opportunities, no matter how they look at first – even if they appear to be disastrous. Far better for us to trust God from the beginning so that we are doubly blessed when God's purposes begin to take shape in front of our eyes.<br /><br />Tomorrow night (Saturday), we will have an Australian wedding reception with about 60 friends! We are looking forward to a great evening. I am quite excited, also, about meeting Alison's sister, Heather, and her husband, John, for lunch, and then meeting my new nieces and nephew (Melinda, Christine, and Matthew) at the party. We will spend a few days with them next week in Kiama - a spectacularly beautiful place (as just about all of the East Coast of Australia is - I can only speak for what I have seen).<br /><br />Hopefully in the coming days I can catch up on our experiences at the Australian Reptile Park and the Central Coast and incredible views and food, etc., etc., etc. For now, sweet dreams for those of us Down Under, and a good Friday to those in the West.Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-26139931268634235812010-07-12T01:03:00.000-07:002010-07-12T17:16:28.788-07:00A Whirlwind in OzIt is not exactly the tornado in <em>The Wizard of Oz</em>, but it sure feels like it! This cyclone is named Alison, who goes, it appears, non-stop when she is in her native land. Well, actually, she goes non-stop in her adopted land, also. My children talk about how I am constant motion and activity. I have met my match in my new bride - but, I knew that, of course, before we married and I wouldn't have it any other way. What a delicious natural disaster!<br /><br />What a first week (not done, yet) it has been! After arriving Wednesday and recovering from the flight (well, I needed the recovery time, anyway), we headed for friends in the Blue Mountains on Thursday - the Hugh and Barbie I wrote about earlier. On Friday, Alison, Barb and I drove up into the Blue Mountains, which remind me, in many respects, of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. We saw the Three Sisters, a special rock formation of the sandstone that is so prevalent in this range and about which there is an Aboriginal legend. The temperature turned cold, as it should in this colder than normal Australian winter. Back at Hugh and Barbie's home, we enjoyed a delicious dinner and marvelled at the pictures from their recent 200 plus kilometers hike in the high mountains of Nepal. Exactly the kind of trek I like to experience - vicariously!<br /><br />On Saturday morning, we were blessed to meet more ministry friends - George and Dim - awesome minsters for Christ! These faithful friends of Alison's provided incredible support. George had the same theology books on his shelf that I have! Later that morning, we went with Hugh and Barbie on a bush walk. We walked down one spot so grown over and narrow that there is almost no way I would walk that path in the summer with Australia's large number of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">venomous</span> snakes and spiders! If you don't know about those, google them and prepare for reading-induced sweaty palms.<br /><br />We got home to Sydney just in time to shower and head for the city for an awesome night on the town with Hugh and Barbie, who provided us with quite a wedding gift. After dinner right on the water at the Harbour, we walked a few blocks to the famous Sydney Opera House to watch the Broadway Play, <em>A Little Night Music, </em>starring Australia's own Sigrid Thornton (<em>The Man from Snowy River</em>) and Anthony <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Warlow</span> (who has played the lead in <em>Phantom of the Opera</em>). None of us knew the plot to this play or we would probably not have gone, but it was fine theater, great acting, and great singing! As we exited our section of the theater, we walked into the lobby to find massive glass and a fine view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Beautiful, beautiful city, this Sydney, Australia.<br /><br />Sunday after church (see last post), we went back downtown with Gil and Jo, two more of Alison's good friends. We took a ferry to Watson's Bay where we were generously treated to lunch at the famous Doyle's Seafood Restaurant. Delicious fish and chips! Gil regaled me much of the day with interesting facts about Australia, particularly Sydney, while the ladies shared their hearts with one another, both being breast cancer survivors and mothers of teenagers and sisters in Christ and - you get the idea. We went up to The Gap and looked out on the Pacific Ocean where we saw a whale (at least the other three assured me that spot in the distance was a whale). The Gap is a narrow expanse of land that ends in cliffs high above the Pacific and separates Watson's Bay from the Pacific ocean. More than a few Aussies have committed suicide at this place, jumping off the cliffs. It was so good to reflect on life in Christ and the joy that is in my life with my wife, my children and their families (Jonathan, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sarala</span>, Ben, Brian, and Laura being the same as my own three) and the beautiful body of Christ - at Grace and around the world.<br /><br />Sunday evening, Alison and I met with Kayla (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">sp</span>?) Wall, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">granddaughter</span> of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">GCC</span> members, Jay and Ellie Wall. We first met Kayla at the fireworks extravaganza at the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moneypennys</span> on July 3, less than 36 hours before we flew out of North Carolina, heading here. We learned that she was also heading to Australia for a semester at the University of New South Wales while they reside in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Coogee</span> Beach (what sacrifices these young scholars endure), just south of Sydney, so we planned to connect Down Under. Kayla and her friend, Bridgette, met us for dinner at the Circular Quay (pronounced "Key") at Sydney Harbour. It was great to watch Alison help these girls <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">acclimate</span> to their new home for the next five months.<br /><br />As I wrap this up on Monday evening, we have just returned from dinner with two more of Alison's 1,237,538 friends in Australia - these two are Ross and Sarah. What a great night! I have met one really interesting person after another in this country (and enjoyed some wonderful food - lasagna tonight!). An aside - on the flight from LA to Sydney, we sat beside Tim, a flautist with a chamber group out of Chicago named "Eighth Blackbird." Did I mention him before? Interesting guy! One of the things he loves about living in the U. S. is that he says he is far more interesting in the States than he is in Australia - the accent, you know. So, I ask myself about these Aussies - is it the accent, or are these genuinely interesting people? It is ABSOLUTELY the latter! I'm blessed, though, because I am so used to finding the exact same kind of people in North Carolina, and, particularly at Grace. Ross and Sarah (whose four children - vibrant, I understand - were in bed) jumped right in to spiritual conversation, which turned to theology, which turned to the sharing of deep issues (where but in the body of Christ can that happen so quickly?), which turned to discussions of books and history and politics. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Riveting</span>!<br /><br />Tomorrow is an off day. Sort of. It is a bit in flux, but perhaps we will spend the day at Manly Beach, reading (I am really inspired after the conversations this past week), praying, writing thank you notes to our good friends here and at home, talking and continuing to indulge in the blessing of getting to know one another more, and just being quiet at times and reflecting on God's Word while being sensitive to His Spirit. As for now, sleep <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">callllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllls</span>.Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-90841975870530452212010-07-11T20:18:00.000-07:002010-07-11T21:47:52.014-07:00The Body of Christ - in Sydney and WorldwideSt. Philip's Church in Sydney reminds me a great deal of Grace Community Church. Alison's home church is an Anglican Church. The relaxed liturgy at St. Philip's has much the same feel as the services that I have attended at Church of the Apostles in Raleigh (special Thanksgiving and Good Friday services, though not a Sunday morning service). It was, as you can imagine, quite a blessing to be with brothers and sisters in Christ who love our Lord so much, and who love my dear wife, Alison, so very much, as well. Even as I enjoyed the sweet fellowship with new saints, my heart was drawn in spirit and prayer to the services at Grace Community Church that would begin some 14 hours later. The powerful preaching on the Sermon on the Mount and the friendly spirit of so many believers at St. Philips that held us for an hour after services (morning tea, you know - quite right) filled and warmed my heart on a cold Sunday morning.<br /><br />It is always a joy to worship with brothers and sisters in different parts of the world. We have the common fellowship around Jesus that binds us together before we even meet one another. It is always heartening to see that the truth of Scripture that is so important to one's life (beliefs, thoughts, philosophy, worldview, etc.) are equally important to Christ-followers anywhere in the world you may find them. Sadly, I often find the level of commitment to be greater in other parts of the world than I do in the U. S. Of course, that could be a perception based on limited knowledge.<br /><br />It is easy to love and enjoy new brothers and sisters in Christ, especially when you meet them in different parts of the world. The challenge is to love those same brothers and sisters 15 to 20 years later when you have lived life together all that time. Such reality is a picture of the truth found in Scripture that we are never commanded to <em>create</em> unity, because it is already built into the body of Christ. We are, however, strongly commanded to <em>keep</em> and <em>protect</em> unity because it can be such a fragile thing. It is surprising (or, not so, really) how much the NT speaks to this very issue, whether directly or indirectly. It is the point Peter is making in 1 Peter 4:8 when he says that we are to "love one another earnestly, because love covers a multitude of sins." <br /><br />The Lord is the same everywhere. We know that, don't we? The believers in Sydney are beautiful - but, I have found them to be so, as well, in Prague, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Budapest</span>, Beijing, Chengdu, Jerusalem, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Bethlehem</span>, Rome, and many other places around the world and in the States. Why? Because our Savior is beautiful! Thus, the body of Christ is beautiful, as well, and the Lord loves us deeply, regardless of where we reside.Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-18309840881191088112010-07-08T02:18:00.000-07:002010-07-08T02:49:43.367-07:00In AustraliaAlison and I arrived in Australia yesterday morning, having chased the sun out of Los Angeles on Monday night and then beating it to Sydney by about 30 minutes Wednesday morning. I just got Internet access earlier today (Thursday evening) for my computer. I have been able to access emails and the Internet via my Blackberry, but there is no way I was going to post anything from that! Besides, yesterday was a day of recovery from the flight - the most difficult I have had in a long time. <br /><br />Although it was a difficult day physically, there was no let-down in the anticipation of meeting Joan, Alison's sweet and hardy Mum. Joan had a stroke two years ago while visiting her son's family in Spain. It appeared she may not ever see her home again, but the Lord brought her back from the brink and I am blessed for her resilience. What a delightful lady who loves the Lord, loves people, and loves life! I look forward to many coffee's and tea's and hours of conversation with my mother-in-law.<br /><br />Currently, we are in the home of dear friends of Alison's, Barbie and Hugh. Barbie met us at the airport (along with Alison's cousin, Max, and Joan), as is the tradition for these close friends of many years. Alison has a passle of friends in the U.S., and it is becoming apparent that she has an equal number of pals in Oz. Tomorrow, we will go higher in the Blue Mountains - hopefully I will have more to report after our adventures. We may go to an area where we can expect to see kangaroos in the wild. Tonight, we may be able to hear a local wallaby from Hugh and Barbie's home on the edge of the bush. <br /><br />Australia is a beautiful country, but the people are more beautiful than the landscape! Easy and fun (yet meaningful and purpose-filled) conversation is the norm, here. The bread is delicious - and that, my friends, is trouble. Oh, do pray for us!Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-676145939463498142010-07-05T16:18:00.000-07:002010-07-05T16:28:37.548-07:00Going Down UnderIt has been quite some time since I have given serious attention to this space. I have written to announce the births of grandchildren and to announce my engagement to the lovely Alison Kasbe. She is now my wife - the new Alison Talley - and she becomes lovelier every day. We were married on June 14 at a ceremony at Alison’s Raleigh church – Church of the Apostles – in what would be characterized by all who were there, I feel certain, as a true worship service. Patrick Dominguez, lead pastor at Apostles, led us to the very throne room of God where many of our friends gave thanks for God’s beautiful grace in sending His Son, Jesus, to make a way for us to relate to God. And, our friends gave thanks to God for bringing us together, thus, blessing us immeasurably!<br /><br />So, now we head to Australia to meet most of Alison’s family. Hey, I’m no fool – marry first, meet the family afterwards! I am just kidding – we have already fallen in love with one another from opposite sides of the world. Alison’s brother, David Cotton, and his incredible family (wife, Catherine and children, Sophie, Laura, and Josh – awesome missionaries in Spain, by the way) blessed us with their presence at the wedding and then were able to stay with us for a week in Fuquay after we returned from our honeymoon. I cannot tell you how wonderful that time was – well, for us, anyway! They helped us move from Alison’s house to an apartment in Raleigh, where we will be staying for a year while Sarala graduates from high school (more about our first year – I am not going anywhere, GCC!). Most of what was moved from Raleigh, though, went to storage in Fuquay, where my daughter, Autumn, and her husband, Brian Stafford, will be staying this year while we are in Raleigh (though we will be in Fuquay on the weekends and plenty more).<br /><br />Waiting for us in Oz are Alison’s mother, Joan, and her sister, Heather (finishing treatment for breast cancer), her husband, John McAlpine, and children Melinda, Christine, and Matthew. I can’t wait to meet this dynamic family that is deeply committed to the kingdom of God! Additionally, we will meet a host of friends in this place that many think of as the friendliest country in the world.<br /><br />So, I will stay in touch while we are in Australia. Many of you have expressed excitement with us about this trip, and a few have suggested that I chronicle the days and events while away. Our stay will be a decent one – we will not return until the end of July. Shaun Cross and David Calvert will be preaching at Grace while I am away, so please pray that I still have a job when I return!<br /><br />I have been meditating on the first four verses of the book of Philippians for the last few days. I have, yet again, been struck by the Apostle Paul’s committed heart of prayer for others. My ADD mind (never diagnosed, but, hey, come on . . .) finds it difficult to sustain lengthy periods of prayer. In these last few days, I am working hard to pray for you when I think of you – and, I have been thinking about you quite a bit as I have contemplated blowing the dust off the old blog and cranking up again. You must know that Paul’s prayers focus on the spiritual rather than the physical, so that is guiding my thoughts and prayers for you. I am quite eager to share experiences with a whole new family (both those related to Alison by blood and those precious friends who mean so much to my dear wife) on this excursion, but I also want to share what God is doing in my heart and mind. I will be giving much prayer and thought to what God is doing at Grace Community Church as I interact with elders and staff back home in this marvelous age. I am certain some of those thoughts will spill over here.<br /><br />Travelogue? Hardly! I wish the quality of the writing would be worthy of such a title. Experiences shared on paper? Oh, yeah! In fact, may I tell you about the 12 hour layover in Los Angeles in which we currently find ourselves? Not interested? OK – talk with you from Sydney!Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-77405358895891023042010-01-26T11:46:00.000-08:002010-01-26T12:03:18.448-08:00Audrey Elizabeth Talley - My Fifth Grandchild!This morning at 4:28 AM, Audrey Elizabeth Talley entered this world. Luara, my daughter-in-law, went into serious labor last night. Michael and Laura arrived at the hospital (in the snow) at about 10:30. Praise the Lord, it was not an extremely long labor, especially for the first child! We are thankful, as well, that Audrey is beautiful and healthy. She weighed in at 7 lbs., 14 oz and was 20 inches with a head-full of hair. Thank You, Father, for this beautiful new addition to our family!Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-89551631072213662272010-01-19T11:50:00.000-08:002010-01-20T04:26:15.157-08:00She Said Yes!This past Sunday afternoon, Alison Kasbe became my fiance when she said YES to my proposal of marriage! We both knew before Sunday that God had brought us together in His gracious, sovereign plan, but Sunday was a day of pure delight for us both. It was a day when weeping (for both of us) was officially turned to laughter and rejoicing. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that God has called her to be by my side as we, together, seek to follow His plan for our lives as we minister together in the kingdom.<div><br /></div><div>The current plan is for us to be married at 6:00 PM on Monday, June 14. I say "current plan" for two reasons: 1) We have considered several other options, from a destination wedding, to a small local wedding, to a larger church wedding (the current plan); and 2) I am still holding out hope that I can talk her into eloping before that! Just kidding. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sort of.</div><div><br /></div><div>For those of you who don't know the Kasbe's, Alison has two wonderful children - Jonathan, a freshman at Elon University, and Sarala, a junior at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh. Jonathan and Sarala both love Jesus and follow hard after Him! In order for Sarala to be able to finish her senior year at Leesville Road High, we will live in Raleigh next year, so I will be commuting backwards. The elders of Grace Community Church have graciously granted my request for this arrangement. I am not going anywhere - I LOVE being the teaching elder at GCC, and if God will allow me to, I hope to retire at Grace. That will occur when I am 85 years old. Just kidding.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sort of.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alison and I plan to travel to Australia in July. I am so looking forward to my time Down Under and meeting my new friends (and, readers) in Alison's native land. What a pleasure it has been to correspond with some of you and to speak with some of you on the phone. I very much look forward to meeting many of you in Australia! Of course, there is family to meet in Oz, and I can't wait! In coming days and years, you will read more about Joan (Alison's awesome Mum), John and Heather (Alison's sister, who is battling breast cancer - please pray for her), McAlpine and their children (Melinda, Christine, and Matthew), and David (Alison's brother - missionary in Spain) and his family, though I will meet David, Catherine, and children (Sophie, Laura, and Joshua ) here this summer rather than in Australia.</div><div><br /></div><div>OK, any more would be information overload. There is more to say, and I promise to get to kingdom matters in this space, but this is big news, and I'm not kidding! Thanks for caring! Oh, one more bit of info - for you Americans who don't know, Alison is spelled with one "l," which, apparently, is more common in Australia.</div>Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-56727535399729272542010-01-15T12:22:00.000-08:002010-01-15T12:33:43.642-08:00AlisonThat's her name. Most of you know about Alison, but in case you don't, she is the beautiful (inside and out) Ozzie (Australian, in case you didn't know) lady that God brought into my life this past year. I tell her that she is my happy song because on the day that I met her, I stopped listening to sad music and began listening, once again, to happy music. Music is a big part of our lives. Last night, in fact, we enjoyed listening to Joshua Bell play violin with the North Carolina Symphony. He only played for about 35 minutes, so we figured it cost us about $2 per minute - each! You do the math. It was worth every penny of it! If you have not heard about the Washington Post's experiment with Joshua Bell playing in the entrance to a Washington, D.C. subway, check it out on You Tube.<br /><br />Back to the topic at hand. Alison, though originally from Australia, lives in Raleigh. We share a deep commitment to Jesus, identical values, and many of the same interests, though football is a challenge for her and board games are equally difficult for me. Her smile lights up every room (and, always, my heart) and her genuine love and concern for people attracted me to her very early in our acquaintance. You will hear more about Alison on these pages, but I just wanted to introduce you to her in case you didn't know. <br /><br />Thanks for hanging in there!Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-85969761310633337862010-01-14T12:31:00.000-08:002010-01-14T12:34:14.820-08:00Is Anyone Still Out There?Long time, no posts. That will change, soon, though, with so many kingdom matters on my heart and mind and with many interesting and wonderful events occurring in my life these days. So, in case anyone is still checking, stay tuned!Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-84248370537877837532009-07-23T12:33:00.001-07:002009-07-23T12:38:38.520-07:00Home Sweet Home!Alia Lynn Stafford is home! If you have no idea what I mean by that, please see the previous post. Alia was sent home from the hospital this morning and is sleeping contendedly at home (or, at least she was when I last spoke with the contented parents around noon!). The pneuma thorax is much better - if there at all - and her breathing is good enough for doctors to feel completely comfortable for her to be at home. Of course, Brian and Autumn only live 3 miles from the hospital, so that is nice just in case . . .<br /><br />Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement! Now, please pray with me that Alia will one day put her trust in Jesus as the one who died for her sins and that she will follow Him all the days of her life. I pray this for your children, also! God bless.Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-47058092005168937332009-07-20T19:25:00.001-07:002009-07-20T19:41:40.983-07:00My New Granddaughter, Alia Lynn Stafford!Well, just in case you still check this spot from time to time, let me tell you about my brand new granddaughter, Alia Lynn Stafford, born to Brian and Autumn Stafford on July 19 at 1:46 PM, weighing in at 7 lbs., 9 oz. Alia was clearly in no hurry to get to this troubled world. She came nearly a week after her due date, and only after a long, long labor and delivery. She is a stunning beauty. Really!<div><br /></div><div>Alia came into this troubled world with a few troubles of her own. She was born with a pneuma thorax (collapsed lung) and spent much of her first twenty-four hours under an oxygen bubble (it looked like a space helmet). She is no longer under the oxygen tent, but still not where she needs to be. The problem should resolve itself within this week. There is also an irregular heart beat that shows up every so often. Brian and Autumn are counting their blessings rather than expending energy on anxious thoughts - though at times . . . Please pray that all of this will be behind them soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our prayer for Alia is the same as it is for all of our children/grandchildren/nephews/nieces/cousins, etc.: that she may believe that Jesus died for her sins (of which she must repent) and that she will follow Him all of her days. If you are reading this, thank you for caring so much about our family! </div><div><br /></div><div>I cannot end without tell you that the family of Cali Moody, the little girl in our church with a brain tumor, received incredible news today. After the most radical radiation imaginable, there are no signs whatsoever of the tumor in her body! PRAISE THE LORD! Is there a chance the tumor will return? Of course, but this is exceedingly good news - a miracle, really! Had there been any signs of the tumor apparent on the scan, it would mean that her days are numbered. Well, we know that all our days are ordered even before one of them comes to pass (Psalm 139), but we long for our precious Cali to be with us for many, many, many blessed years! So, today is a happy day - Alia and Cali - thanks be to God!</div>Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967549140754440570.post-57808914036169254382009-06-21T05:51:00.000-07:002009-06-21T05:57:04.449-07:00Trinity Series - Sermon #12, Our Great God!This post marks the final offering in a series about the Trinity that began on January 22 and includes both Sunday morning sermons and small group notes. If you have not been following this series and are interested, you may want to go back to the first post and procede. For those of you who have persevered to the end, I do hope it has been profitable! God bless!<br /><br /><strong>All of God:<br />Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity<br />Our Great God!<br />Hebrews 1:1-14<br /></strong><br />Earlier this morning, our children’s ministry held its annual Promotion Sunday, complete with breakfast – although when Keisha told me they were having muffins and fruit, I thought maybe it was a Senior Citizen promotion of some sort with bran muffins and apple slices. Hey, promotion Sunday is a big day, especially for the 8 to 10 5th graders that will be moving up to the youth group. Now, that’s big time for those guys! A whole new world is opening up to those moving up to the youth group with activities and adventures heretofore unknown, especially since most of the ones moving up come from such boring families. Just kidding!<br /><br />Along with the new privileges and opportunities that await these young students, there will be a higher level of expectation for their knowledge and behavior. With maturity comes responsibility. That’s the way it always is, is it not? The more we know the more is expected of us.<br /><br />This morning will be my last message on this series about the wonder of God found in the Trinity. We will be reviewing some of what we have learned and also thinking about the responsibility that accompanies our newly acquired knowledge. The more we know about God, the more we are expected to apply what we know. <br /><br />Hopefully today’s message will be easier on your ribs than last week’s message was! Our text will be the first chapter of Hebrews, and while I will refer to it, we will not spend a great deal of time here, although we may revisit it in a few weeks because of its connection to the psalms. <br /><br />Just a heads up, our next series is entitled, Pain, Praise, and Peace: A Summer in the Psalms. Many of us have experienced a great deal of pain this year, and in the psalms we will find God right in the middle of our mess. For this morning, I chose Hebrews 1 for our text as we review what we have learned about the Trinity because it points to the awesomeness of our great God – God the Father and His Son, Jesus. Even though the Holy Spirit is not mentioned here, He led the author to write these words and He is present in the work of salvation that is expressed at the end of the chapter.<br /><br />As we read together in just a moment, look for the following truths:<br /><br />Ø The awesomeness of God the Father (His transcendence)<br />Ø The awesomeness of God the Son (His immanence)<br />Ø God’s communication to us through His Word (as the prophets were led by God’s Holy Spirit to write – 2 Peter 1:19-21)<br />Ø God’s communication to us through His Son<br />Ø The deity of Jesus<br />Ø Jesus’ present glorification<br />Ø God’s gracious salvation to those who believe<br /><br />I have learned so much about our triune God these last four months – and I already knew a pretty good amount! I imagine you have learned more than you think you have. A lot of our knowledge of God builds upon what we already know, and in many case the new truths we learn are actually making our understanding of God more precise. As your understanding of God has grown this spring, I trust that God Himself has also grown in your mind and your heart. Let’s read about our great God in Hebrews 1. Would you please stand for the reading of the Word?<br /><br />1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,<br />2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.<br />3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,<br />4 having become as much superior to angels as the name He inherited is more excellent than theirs.<br />5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”? Or again, “I will be to Him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?<br />6 And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”<br />7 Of the angels He says, “He makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.”<br />8 But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.<br />9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions.”<br />10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of Your hands;<br />11 they will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment,<br />12 like a robe You will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.”<br />13 And to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?<br />14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?<br /><br />Have you ever considered your biblical knowledge and understanding of God to be a burden? Of course not! Wait a minute. Have you ever had a discussion with a co-worker or an aunt or a neighbor about God and had your friend or family member say something like, “Well, I just believe God is love and He is not going to send anybody to hell,” or, “I just believe that God helps those that help themselves”? When you try to point out that God is not that way, they are offended. Even if you show them Scripture to refute their claim, they fall back on, “Well, my God isn’t that way.” Hmm. <br /><br />This is a good place to start our review. Our God is three, yet He is one. Not only does Deuteronomy 6:4 tell us so, but so does Romans 3:29-30. It would have been much easier for the apostles and early church fathers to declare that we serve three gods – after all, they lived in a polytheistic age where most people worshiped multiple gods. But, the early Christians understood that not only was Jesus sent by God, but He was, as He claimed, God Himself! Jesus also made it quite clear, as did the apostles in Acts 5, that the Holy Spirit is God. Thus, three Persons, one substance, one nature. When someone asks if we all worship the same God as other religions, our response should be, “Only if they worship the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: three in one.”<br /><br />Three, yet one. This was difficult to swallow for a number of people in the early church who thought deeply about God. You will recall that it was not until the fourth century that the church agreed on an orthodox position about God, about the Trinity. Why did it take so long? Essentially because there was no need for orthodox doctrine until a heresy about God gained enough traction to require a response. Heresies developed because theologians wrestled with the difficulty of explaining three in one. Rather than accepting the teaching of Scripture by faith, these theologians sought ways to explain how “God works.” They ended up with a theology that was based more on “I just think such and such about God,” rather than one based on what God said about Himself in His word. There were two primary heresies in the early church.<br /><br />The first heresy was modalism. This was the idea that God exists in all three Persons – but since even the NT is clear that He is one God, He can only be Father, Son, or Spirit at one time – it is not possible to be all three at once. This heresy was dismissed fairly early because of Jesus praying to His Father and the presence of all three Persons at Jesus’ baptism and a host of other texts that render this heresy untenable. Amazingly, there are modalists today. In fact, I received a nasty response from a pastor in Mississippi on my blog when I preached and wrote about modalism earlier this year. <br /><br />A far more dangerous heresy in the early church was a belief that came to be known as Arianism, named after Arius, a 3rd and 4th century North African priest who could not accept the notion that Jesus was co-eternal and equal in nature with God the Father. He believed that Jesus was created by the Father, and thus was only able to remain sinless by the Father’s power. Arius ended up not being the primary spokesperson for his heresy, but his ideas gained a fair amount of support and had to be addressed. God raised up a theologian named Athanasius who fought Arianism through much of the first half of the fourth century. Later in the century, there were three other men known as the Three Cappadocians who helped to bring us to the place of understanding of the Trinity that we accept today and, frankly, tend to take for granted. I hope this study has raised your level of appreciation for those who have fought for truth through the centuries, particularly those in the fourth century.<br /><br />If you are here today for the first or second time, you may be lost. I hope this short review on the Trinity will whet your appetite to go our website and either listen to the sermons from this series or click on the link to my blog where you can find the written transcripts of the messages to this series. The title of the series has been All of God: Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity. Indeed, the idea of the Trinity can seem mysterious when you recognize that God is three Persons, one nature. But the use of the word “mystery” in the title does not refer to that which is mysterious or unknowable. <br /><br />There is a difference, theologically, between a secret and a mystery. A secret is something we cannot know because God has not revealed it to us. There is much about God we do not know because He has chosen not to reveal Himself fully to us. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” But, a mystery in the NT is different than a secret. A mystery is something that was previously hidden but has now been revealed to us by God. Romans 16 25-27 helps us understand this theological principle: “Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages, but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith – to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.” And, Amen indeed! God has told us much more about Himself than He did before Christ. That is what the author of Hebrews was telling us in our text. <br /><br />So, can we know God or not? Yes – and no. God is both transcendent and immanent. He is transcendent, or far above His creation. God doesn’t need us to be fulfilled, or for anything else. He is self-sufficient. Furthermore, if God did not choose to reveal Himself to us, we could not know anything about Him. But He did choose to reveal Himself to us. In addition to being transcendent, God is also immanent, or, close at hand. He remains in and interacts with His creation. He has done so in two ways, as we were told in Hebrews 1 – through his Word and through Jesus. <br /><br />For the first 1800 or so years of the church, God’s transcendence was emphasized. Oh, there was a great deal of talk about Jesus, but people had a respect for God that kept Him high above us. The problem was that sometimes people were led to believe that God was so distant that He set the world in motion and has little to do with it because He can’t be bothered with unimportant matters, really. Some of our founding fathers believed that, even though they talked about God. <br /><br />The last 200 years have seen a shift to an emphasis on God’s immanence, or His nearness. We saw that this morning as we sang worship songs and some of you, I imagine, raised your hands in praise to a God who is near and who loves you deeply and who is concerned about the intimate details of your life. Is that wrong? NO! Unless we lose our awe of a holy and majestic God. It is best to acknowledge and approach God with both His holiness and His accessibility fully in our hearts. <br /><br />There is danger in emphasizing either extreme. Since the church is currently riding the pendulum on the side of God’s immanence, we need to be aware of potential theological errors about God on that side of center. When God’s immanence is emphasized, there is a tendency to focus on experience. Now, once again, referring back to Hebrews 1, we are told that God has revealed Himself through His word and through Jesus. But, since we were not alive when Jesus was on earth, we must depend on God’s word to tell us about Jesus, who told us specific information about God, the three in one, the triune God. When people begin to rely on personal experience or personal thoughts about God rather than on the truth revealed in Scripture, it is easy to get off course. And though an error about the nature of God may seem small, if it is pursued to its logical end, it can be quite troubling theologically. Is this making sense?<br /><br />All this leads us to take a few minutes to think about the popular book by William Young, The Shack. Although it is a work of fiction, Young very much wants to teach us about the Trinity. The main character in the book is a man named Mackenzie Phillips whose daughter, Missy, was abducted on a family camping trip while Mack was rescuing one of his other children from a canoe accident. When Missy’s bloodstained dress was found in an abandoned shack in the Oregon Mountains, it was assumed that she had been murdered. As you can imagine, Mack, who is a Christian, struggles emotionally and doubts God’s love and goodness. Three years after his daughter was abducted, Mack receives a note in the mail saying he should come back to the shack for a talk. The note is from Papa, which is the name that Mack’s wife calls God the Father. When he arrives at the shack, Mack is met by an African-American woman who represents God the Father. She calls herself Papa. A Jewish carpenter, naturally, represents Jesus. A mysterious Asian woman, who wisps in and out, represents the Holy Spirit. <br /><br />Before Mack ever gets to the shack, William Young lets us know that God reveals Himself to us in new ways and He does not limit Himself to the pages of Scripture, especially to the interpreters of Scripture like Athanasius, the Three Cappadocians, and theologically trained pastors around the world today. Of course, Mack has been to seminary so he is qualified to make the following statement as he muses about God:<br /><br />“In seminary he had been taught that God had completely stopped any covert communication with moderns, preferring to have them only listen and follow sacred Scriptures, properly interpreted, of course. God’s voice had been reduced to paper, and even that paper had to be moderated and deciphered by the proper authorities and intellects. It seemed that direct communication with God was something exclusively for the ancients and uncivilized, while educated Westerners’ access to God was mediated and controlled by the intelligentsia. Nobody wanted God in a box, just in a book. Especially an expensive one bound in leather with gilt edges, or was that guilt edges?”<br /><br />This stops just short of expressing contempt for biblical teaching by trained pastor/teachers – or, does it stop short? The result is a fictional book about God that has very much the feel of, “Well, I just think this about the Trinity.” Oh, Young uses Scripture and theological terms in the book, but ultimately he has come to specific conclusions about God based on what he wants God to be. It is the classic error of man making God in man’s image. <br /><br />To be sure, some of the things Young says about God are extremely well said. As someone whose heart has been broken in recent days, I understand why it is so appealing. When Mack first gets to the cabin and sees Papa, before he can turn around and run, she has enveloped him in her arms, saying, “Mackenzie Allen Phillips!” She then pulls back and grabs him by the shoulders and says, “Mack, look at you! Here you are, and so grown up. I have really been looking forward to seeing you face to face. It is so wonderful to have you here with us. My, my, my, how I do love you!”<br /><br />I understand how that appeals to a broken heart. But, at the same time, there are problems galore, and the ideas taught about God in this book are especially dangerous because when people get emotionally attached to something said about God, it is very easy for truth to take a back seat to emotions. First of all, I have a problem with God the Father being represented by a woman of any kind – or a man like Morgan Freeman, for that matter, but especially by a woman since God is always represented as a male in Scripture. God is said to have characteristics of a loving, compassionate mother, but He is always presented to us in masculine terms. <br /><br />Second, as appealing as this scene is, it speaks only to God’s immanence and says nothing of His transcendence. Remember how we have studied in this series that God the Father is never clearly seen? He is seen in visions in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4, but both Ezekiel and the Apostle John had trouble describing Him and their visions indicated a great distance between God the Father and man. Thank goodness for Jesus! <br /><br />The last problem I have with this portrayal is that Papa is entirely too familiar for the role of the God the Father. As much as you want the word “Abba” to mean “Papa,” it doesn’t. It is the Aramaic term for Father, and if anything it is a tad on the formal side, not the other way around. It is a term of respect. Don’t ask me how it got so confused. Within the past year or two, I was going to emphasize the intimacy we can have with the Father and use the term “Abba” in a sermon, but something told me I had better check it out before I used it. I looked at several sources and every one said the same thing – it is a term of respect for one’s father. That is not the sense one gets in the Shack. <br /><br />So, if you have been using the term “Papa” for God the Father, He has probably been standing with arms folded saying, “Don’t use that term for Me,” right? Of course not! God looks at your heart! BUT – when you have the knowledge, you are responsible to act accordingly. It is like a baby in a family – he or she is quite comfortable coming up to Dad or Mom at anytime with a request. As the child grows, though, respect is learned and he or she approaches with more caution – not out of fear, but out of respect. <br /><br />Well, in order to keep from going all day, I will just give two more examples of concerns in the book and then we will close, though there is much more about the book and about the Trinity that I want to say. At the shack, Mack notices that Papa has scars on her wrist. He says, “I thought Jesus died on the cross” and she says, “When one of us suffers, we all suffer – I was there.” “But,” Mack protests, “What about when Jesus said, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” Papa answers, “I didn’t forsake Him, just like I didn’t forsake you when Missy was taken. I was at the cross” <br /><br />This is a problem. As we discussed last week, each Person of the Trinity has a specific role, and these roles include authority-submission relationships. These authority-submission roles are intentionally blurred in the book where mutual submission is the order of the day, even to the point that God is said to submit to us in love. Bizarre. At one point, Mack is having breakfast with all three Persons of the Trinity and the Holy Spirit says to him, “Mackenzie, we have no concept of final authority among us, only unity. We are a circle of relationship, not a chain of command.” That is just blatantly wrong. Past sermons give ample Scripture to contest the idea of no authority-submission roles within the Trinity.<br /><br />As for the Father bearing the scars of the cross, think about it. What happened on the cross? Jesus took our sin upon Himself as our substitute to absorb the wrath of God against sin. He bore the equivalent of an eternity in hell for us while He was on the cross. For that time, He was separated in every way from God’s favor. God’s wrath was fully poured out on sin and Jesus was bearing our sin, so the Father’s wrath was poured out on Jesus, and that included turning His back on the Son. Jesus will bear the scars of the cross for eternity, which will serve as a reminder to us of God’s great love for us, but I can assure you that there will be no scars on the wrists of God the Father. In fact, there is no indication in Scripture that we will ever see the Father in a form that allows us to discern where His wrists are. <br /><br />One last problem with the book, and there are many more that I do not have time to mention. William Young admits that he has nothing to do with the institutionalized church because he has been hurt by the church. In an exchange between Jesus and Mack, Jesus says, “I don’t create institutions; that’s an occupation for those who want to play God. So, no, I’m not too big on religion . . . and not very fond of politics and economics either. And why should I be? They are the man-made trinity of terrors that ravage the earth and deceive those I care about.”<br /><br />So, Young takes a shot at the organized church by saying that Jesus is against it. Doesn’t add up with Scripture, though. In Matthew 16:17, Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” As we read last week in Ephesians 5:23, “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior.” Every time that the church is addressed in the NT epistles, a local church – or, an institutional church, Young would say – is being addressed. Jesus loves the church! He loves this church - Grace Community Church!<br /><br />Well, I have to stop, and it seems a strange place for me to conclude several months about the Trinity. Our God is an awesome God – but a lot of people do not want Him to be as awesome as He is. When we make God in our own image, it really works for us for a time, but since we are imperfect, when we succeed in making God in our image, the end is always bad. The only way we will ever know the full blessing of this awesome triune God is to know as much as we can about Him and to interact with Him on His terms. <br /><br />God the Father, the ultimate authority in the universe and the grand architect of the plan of salvation. Jesus, God’s Son, our Redeemer, the perfect substitute, dying in our place and taking all the righteous wrath of God upon Himself for those who believe. The Holy Spirit of God, author of God’s word and servant to the Father and the Son and the primary agent of God at work in the world today. Praise the Father and the Son. Praise the Spirit, three in one. Let’s pray.Pastor Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135703626825346184noreply@blogger.com2