I recently came upon a definition for ministry that I really like.  It is from the pen of Warren Wiersbe.  I tweeked it a bit.  My apologies to Mr. Wiersbe.  "Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving and dependent channels to the glory of God."  It is important that I see ministry take place by knowing the divine resoures personally, see human needs with compassion, and become a channel for God to work through me, to His glory.  I long to see ministry that cannot be explained except by the fact that God is at work.  I want a spiritual discontent to control me as long as I see needs around me go unmet.  I long to see God's people equipped for ministry and living the victorious Christian life.  I long to see God's people become people of the Book,  and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.  I thank the Lord that He has given to me the ministry of pastor-teacher, and I pray that God counts me as a faithful proclaimer of His truth.

I have begun a new preaching series in the Book of Judges.  It is a very modern Book--like reading this morning's newspaper.  The Book of Judges reveal a dark time in the history of Isrsael.  I am concerned that I personally, as well as the church, respond properly to the dark days ahead for us as a country.  The people of Israel instead of becoming a distinct people, compromised when it came to God's truth and became just like their culture. The sins of the culture became the sins of God's people. God's people had no influence on the culture, the culture influenced God's people.  It is my prayer that I live a distinctly godly life so that I might be a light in the darkness, and have an influence on those around me for the good of  God's people and for the glory of God's name and gospel.  I know that there are some difficult and challenging and courageous and risky choices ahead to be made for Christ.  Lord, may I rely on your grace and enablement to stay steadfast in following Christ.