AN APPLE IN A BOTTLE
Posted by wagardner - 18/02/08 at 03:02:44 pm
by Charles Spurgeon
”I remember well, in my early days, seeing upon my grandmother’s mantel shelf an apple contained in a phial. This was a great wonder to me, and I tried to investigate it. My question was, “How came the apple to get inside so small a bottle?” The apple was quite as big round as the phial; by what means was it placed within it? Though it was treason to touch the treasures on the mantel-piece, I took down the bottle, and convinced my youthful mind that the apple never passed through its neck; and by means of an attempt to unscrew the bottom, I became equally certain that the apple did not enter from below. I held to the notion that by some occult means the bottle had been made in two pieces, and afterwards united in so careful a manner that no trace of the join remained. I was hardly satisfied with the theory, but as no philosopher was at hand to suggest any other hypothesis, I let the matter rest. One day, the next summer, I chanced to see upon a bough another phial, the first cousin of my old friend, within which was growing a little apple which had been passed through the neck of the bottle while it was extremely small. “Nature well known, no prodigies remain.”
The grand secret was out. I did not cry, “Eureka! Eureka!” but I might have done so if I had then been versed in the Greek tongue. This discovery of my juvenile days shall serve for an illustration at the present moment. Let us get the apples into the bottle while they are little: which, being translated, signifies, let us bring the young ones into the house of God, by means of the Sabbath-school, in the hope that, in after days, they will love the place where His honor dwelleth, and there seek and find eternal life. By our making the Sabbath dreary, many young minds may be prejudiced against religion: we would do the reverse. Sermons should not be so long and dull as to weary the young folk, or mischief will come of them; but with interesting preaching to secure attention, and loving teachers to press home the truth upon the youthful heart, we shall not have to complain of the next generation, that they have “forgotten their restingplaces.””
Lessons we can learn from this note in Spurgeon’s autobiography!
1. We must build strong children’s ministries! We have to get them while they are small and get them in Sunday School and church.
2. We must make sure we get the Bible into them as much as possible
3. We must make sure that our lessons and messages as we teach and preach are anything but boring! This is no new idea that the new “not like your grandmother’s church” people!
4. We want to have loving teachers that can deal with these children so your ministry in Sunday School and Children’s Church is a very important ministry. Thank you Vision Baptist Church workers for all you do!
The book has arrived!
Posted by wagardner - 15/02/08 at 09:02:47 pmBrother Tony and I have put a lot of work into a book for missionaries as has our whole team. Mark Coffey, Travis Snode, Morris Hunsucker, Kelli Canfield and I don’t know who else has worked so hard to get this book together.
We are really praying that God will use it to help missionaries raise their support. There is a lot that scares people about being a missionary but one of the scariest things of all is how they are going to raise their support. This book is going to help them in every area of their deputation.
For those from our church that may not understand the term–deputation is the process we use in our independent Baptist Churches and faith mission agencies. Our men and women make phone call after phone call and then visit churches. After a couple of years they should be able to raise all of their support.
This book and material has already been used by many people now for many years but we just haven’t had it in a published book. I am so proud of our team and I pray that God will greatly use the book to help get men and women to the mission field.
If you are interested in purchasing the book click here and you can buy it right now with your pay pal account or your credit card.
The book is not at its regular price of $16.95. Get it for a missionary you love!
quote
Posted by wagardner - 14/02/08 at 07:02:07 amAbraham Lincoln once said “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”
Deputation Manual a rapid best seller!
Posted by wagardner - 13/02/08 at 10:02:21 pmWell not really but we did already get orders for about 30 books and they aren’t even here yet. If you want to order some you can go to the following link and order right now. The book should be to you within the next two weeks.
The honor
Posted by wagardner - 13/02/08 at 09:02:50 am“Brethren, if God honors you as pastors or teachers, accept the honor, but do not attribute it to your own worthiness or even your
own personality; but ascribe it to the office to which the Lord has called you. “I magnify mine office” said Paul, but you will never
find Paul magnifying himself. He wears the glory as the ambassador of God, not as a private individual. The dignity that God gives to
His servants is bestowed upon their office, not upon themselves apart from it.” (C.H. Spurgeon) Celebration Sunday, March 16, 2008, is just around the corner. Come and invite others to spend the morning thanking God and worshipping Him at Vision Baptist Church.
Quote
Posted by wagardner - 13/02/08 at 09:02:20 am- The reason congressmen try so hard to get reelected is that they would hate to have to make a living under the laws they’ve passed.
Be praying about our upcoming Celebration Sunday at Vision Baptist Church that God would get great honor and glory from the day and our service to Him
Pre order the Deputation Manual
Posted by wagardner - 11/02/08 at 04:02:05 pm
I know that several pastors and missionaries read this blog. So here is a special offer to all of you. The Deputation Manual is on its way from the printer. I want to give you a pre release offer. If you will order the book before it gets here you can have a copy for $10 plus postage. If you want to order 10 or more copies we will get them to you for $8.50 plus shipping. The book will be selling for $16.95 when it arrives. You have about one week from today to place your order. Just send us an email to gardner at bcwe.org or call the church at 770-456-5881 and we will let you know how to make your payment. I believe the book will be a blessing to any missionary you have and is good information for you as a pastor to have also.
“Danger! More than 2,000 “Nationals” enter Christianity”
Posted by wagardner - 08/02/08 at 11:02:46 am(I am inserting the word “Nationals” in the place of our countries name.)
So here is the article with some of the repitition taken out, of which there was an abundance:“Foriegners are entering into “our country” and are turning Muslims to Christianity because since 2004 more than 2,000 “Nationals” have become Christians. There are 8,000 foreigners. In our neighboring country there are even more converts. The foreigners are entering and teaching and helping these young people because the young people don’t know the Muslim religion. In the eastern desert there have not yet entered many foreigners as in other Arab countries. Those who are entering Christianity are overwhelmingly young people. Why? Because they are sitting on the internet and chat a lot. This is a very dangerous problem. People are asking why “our country” is being quite about this problem.
Another Arab country is writing about how in “our country” and our neighboring country there are many foreign Christians entering to teach Christianity. The country with the most Christians is our neighboring country and close behind is “our country”. There are more than 2,000 “Nationals” that are believing in the Christian books. Young “Nationals” like this religion. That which has brought them away from Islam. In our neighboring country there are many protestants and evangelicals. They come and pass out Bibles, CDs, and Videos about the Life of Jesus in the languages of “our country” so that everyone understands. In that way they help them to become Christian.
The foreign Christians are changing the “National” music with Christian words. These foreign Christians are going into all Muslim countries in Africa and even to Asia. It is estimated that in 2008 there are 7,000 Christians. In our neighboring country there was between 4 and 6,000 Christians in 1992. Now there are many more. And the government doesn’t say anything. A National teacher named Mohammed Suruti says that “our country” doesn’t know how these Christians distribute these Christian. In a southern city they have brought in many young people to the police station for questioning. Also, 4 foreigners in a nearby city were questioned along with 12 other foreigners with them. They came in through the countries main Airport in the capital. These 16 that came in split up to four different southern cities. The police said that there are many Christians who came in last year into our country in order to spread Christianity. This Christian evangelism of Muslims was begun in the USA in the state of Colorado since the year 1978. These young Christians will grow in numbers by reason of having children and more young people becoming Christians. There will be more than we can imagine by the year 2020, maybe numbering up to 10%! (Right now there is .oo1%)
There are many highly educated people among the “Nationals” who are becoming Christians . These people will turn many against the Muslim religion. The “National” police found that there are many chat rooms and web pages in the North African dialect and mountain languages bringing young people to Christianity. There are also “Nationals” giving their testimonies on these webpages. They are turning uneducated “Nationals” to Christianity, too. The police say they don’t know who these foreigners are but they move closely among the people. They come in planes and boats and bring with them thousands of New Testaments. “
WHEN DID YOU EXPERIENCE LOSTNESS?
Posted by wagardner - 08/02/08 at 07:02:15 amOn several occasions at Camp Zion, Bro. Paul Ragland asked this question before he would preach. Every time he would ask it, I would be bothered spiritually because I had never experienced lostness.
The word “lost” means to be separated from God and under His condemnation. This is the condition of every non-believer who has reached the “knowledge of accountability,” that point in life where a person is responsible for his own sin. Many refer to this as the “age of accountability” and try to say that when a person reaches a certain age they are accountable.
A person is not accountable based on age but on a time in their life when they have knowledge between good and evil. The only scripture that makes this clear is Deut. 1:39, “Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.” This verse refers to those Israelites who were under 20 years of age at Kadesh-Barnea who were not sentenced to death when they refused to enter Canaan. (Num. 14:26-35)
Notice, “they had no knowledge between good and evil” not right and wrong as many say. There is a difference between good and evil and right and wrong. Children can and should know the difference between right and wrong as young as one year old, yet, they have not knowledge of good and evil at that age because they can only think “concrete” not “abstract” until they are about six or seven years of age or possibly older. “Concrete” means “tangible” or capable of being touched. God is “abstract,” a Spirit, not capable of being physically touched. Faith is also abstract. Therefore until a child is capable to think in abstract terms they are not able to be saved and have not reached the “knowledge of accountability.” In this condition they are “safe” and will go to heaven if they die as II Sam. 12:23 indicates.
The word “knowledge” means to have some understanding about good and evil. “Good” refers to God and “evil” to the devil. Therefore, for one to be saved he must have some understanding about God, not just mimic or repeat what he has heard as a child. Those who make a profession at a young age usually repeat what they have heard and they have no real knowledge or understanding of good and evil. (By the way, the tree Adam was forbidden to eat of was the tree of the “knowledge of good and evil” not a tree of “the knowledge of right and wrong.”)
At the point one reaches the knowledge of accountability he is “lost” and may not even recognize that fact. It is not enough to be lost or even recognize that you are lost because to be saved you must experience “lostness.” Many have come to the conclusion that they are lost because they have reasoned out and concluded from scripture that they are not saved. This is only mental ascent to one’s condition which is not enough to produce real salvation.
Godly sorrow or Holy Ghost conviction must have a complete work before one will repent and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord. (II Cor. 7:10). Repentance is necessary to be saved. Romans 10:13, states, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” and I Cor. 12:3 states, “No man can call Jesus, Lord but by the Holy Ghost.” This takes a completed work of reproval or Holy Ghost conviction in three areas: sin, righteousness, and judgment as John 16:8-11 bears out.
When Godly sorrow has its complete work there will be more than the revelation of the fact that you are not saved thus concluding you are lost. There will be the reality of being lost as you realize you are separated from God in your sin of unbelief, and are in need of the Lord to control your life.
Many who say they are saved have never experienced “lostness;” therefore, they cannot tell you a time and place where they were saved because they really are not saved. Some were bothered and made a profession to get the pressure off them but they have never experienced lostness; therefore, they are not saved. Others prayed a prayer or did what some well meaning preacher or personal worker told them to do, but they have never experienced lostness. Therefore, they are not saved. Oh how sad it will be for those who one day will be cast in the lake of fire, because they mimicked and repeated words they were told to say before they ever reached the knowledge of accountability and hung on to that profession when they were void of knowledge of good and evil and did not experience lostness.
When did you experience lostness? I did not ask when you were saved! If you have ever experienced lostness you will never forget it and that Godly sorrow that produced the experience of lostness in you will have its finished work. But if you have never experienced lostness then you are not saved. II Cor. 13:5 states, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
THE PERSUADER
June-July, 1995
Crisis in Kenya
Posted by wagardner - 04/02/08 at 10:02:35 pmThis comes from Travis Snode’s blog. This country really needs our prayers. We have a man in our church from Kenya. This brings the story really home to us! It is difficult to put into words the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis that we are facing here in Nakuru. We have spent the last two days trying to locate our people and then assess the needs that they have. We have found about 250 of our people in the various official and unofficial displacement camps that have been set up. We have found others that are taking refuge in various homes in areas that are a bit safer. For the last two days we have been feeding them and trying to get them basic necessities such as blankets etc. In all of the displacement camps the people are sleeping outside with no shelter from the elements. The biggest of the camps house almost 10,000 people and their situation is incomprehensible. We could not even think cannot even think of caring for all of them but feel a great responsibility to those members of our churches. They are innocent in this conflict and their only crime is their tribal origin.
Yesterday morning the remaining members of the Grace Bible Baptist Church voted to use the money they have been saving for the last three and a half years to put a ceiling in their auditorium to help buy food for our people who are suffering. The amount they have saved in American dollars is nearly $2,500. None of this money has come from the U.S. but only through their giving. The people unanimously said we do not need the luxury of a ceiling in our building when our fellow members are suffering and dying. Unfortunately this money will only last a few days and the need will undoubtedly last much, much longer.
I apologize for not updating everyone sooner concerning the situation in Kenya but we have had a real problem trying to send out email. I will quickly summarize what has happened but will not get into great detail at this time because I do not want to take away from the intention of this message which is the humanitarian crisis and help we need from you to help our people. I do intend to soon send out a more detailed explanation of the events. I regret that some of what will be written below is very disturbing.
Early Friday morning an outlaw sect called the Mungiki who are made up of people from the presidents tribe simultaneously raided different parts of Nakuru seeking revenge for election violence that has taken place in other parts of Kenya against the presidents tribe (Kikuyu). They selectively burned down the houses belonging to people of the Kalenjin and Luo tribes. Unfortunately they did not care to wake or warn those who were sound asleep in the houses. One of the houses burned is only half a kilometer from our house and less then that from the Grace Bible Baptist Church. The house belonged to a family who has their two sweet daughters in our Christian school. They were beautiful girls and the parents were kind. Since the fire they have not been heard from and I fear they perished in the flames that night.
Friday was a crazy day as the violence began to escalate all over town. In our area the Kikuyu made up of the outlawed Mungiki began to rile the local Kikuyu people to join them in their acts of revenge. To our great disappointed many who acted as our friends and neighbors began to join them. They began to hunt specifically for the people of the Luo and Kalenjin tribes. When found they were killed. We have many Luo people in our church and they began to flock to our building for protection along with some from the community. The police did little to stop the violence. Whenever there seemed to be a lull in the violence I would venture out of the house and help those who were in great danger for their life to get to safety. One such call came from a family on the other side of town who had been burned out of their house and the mob was after them. We were able to reach them and began the journey back when we came upon a road block one of the gangs had put up. The police were there clearing the way. While we were waiting for them to finish we watched three men go to a vehicle in front of us and pull out a man from the Luo tribe. They picked up big rocks and began beating him in the head until he died not more than five feet from our vehicle. The police who all had guns watched it happen and turned their backs and allowed it to happen. Words cannot describe the feeling running through me at this time.
Friday night a curfew was called and the Kenyan military was deployed to enforce the curfew. The military did a great job and there was no trouble at all. Saturday morning the military went back to their barracks and the police were supposed to take over. Not more then 30 minutes after daybreak I got a call from Pastor Oloo who was at the church building with those taking refuge that the building was under siege. Men carrying all kinds of weapons (no guns) were at the building demanding to have the ones who sought refuge from us. Some of our men who are of the same tribe as the attackers left the protection of the building and pleaded with the mob. They stood like a wall in front of the building praying, quoting scripture and trying to reason with the mob. Because they were of the same tribe as the attackers it bought us some time to try and get some help. The attackers finally said they would give us 30 minutes to give up the people and if not they would kill everyone. During this time I was frantically on the phone calling anyone that I though could get us some help. I spoke to the Nakuru police and they showed little concern. Finally we spoke to a police officer whose children attend our Christian school but who is stationed in a far away town. He called some people and a few minutes later we received word that help was on the way. Ten minutes later the Kenyan military showed up and evacuated all of those in our building. God was good and all of our people seeking our refuge were saved. Unfortunately not all those in our churches in Nakuru can say the same thing.
Pastor Peter Kiarie who pastors the Habari Njema Baptist Church on the other side of town has confirmed that at least three of his members have been killed. We were at the Nakuru mortuary earlier today and saw the most gruesome sights imaginable. Amongst the over 100 bodies in the mortuary of people who have been killed were three bodies of his church members. One a faithful, serving youth of 17 years of age had his head completely cut off his body. There are a number of members of this church that we have not yet found.
All of our people who fled for their lives have had their houses burned and or the belongings piled in the street and burned. They have nothing left but the clothes they are wearing. There are six Baptist Churches in Nakuru and all of them are effected. We are trying to help the members of each church. Brother Scott Hall is on furlough and some of the members of his church are still locked in their house trying to find a way to safety. We are trying everything we can to reach them but it is just not anywhere near safe to venture near where they live.
I could go on and on with examples of the destitution around us but at this time I must blatantly and openly ask for your help. Our people are dying. Some are already dead and hundreds of others are in the process. We fed people today who have had nothing to eat since Friday and if we do not help them I don’
t know who will. We had people fall into our arms today, both friends and strangers and beg us for help, children grabbing us not wanting to let us go, not wanting us to leave them because they are in a helpless, hopeless situation.
We have determined to help the people God has brought to us. We have given them the gospel and watched God change them from vile wretched sinners into some of his choicest servants. We cannot turn our back on them. We will use every dollar we have, we will max our credit cards to the limit and if we must we will sell our belongings to get food and shelter to our people. But no matter what we do ourselves it will not be enough. We need the help of God’s churches and God’
s people everywhere. We need your help. We beg you for your help.
Our lives will never be the same. I can never forget the depravity of sin that I have witnessed the last few days. We have no more problems because we have seen how petty our problems are compared to what our people our facing. This situation will get worse before it gets better. We need your help. We beg you for you help.
If you can help we ask you to please send money for this desperate situation to our home church or mission board.
Cleveland Baptist Church
4431 Tiedeman Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44133
216-671-2822
FBWWM
P.O. Box 341356
Memphis, TN 38184
901-873-2146
His for Kenya,
Robert Mickey Jr. and family
Sent from:
Cleveland Baptist Church
Pastor Kevin Folger
P.S.
We have no plans to leave Kenya because of the trouble. I want to stress that the family is safe and in no real danger. We are not targeted and would only be in real trouble if caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. We are trying to be careful. We need to be here and our people need us and we need them. We would not hesitate to leave if the family was real danger. I would also consider going somewhere if the trouble was affecting the kids in a bad way. They have remained relatively calm in spite of the situation around us.
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