Fireproof: A GREAT Movie and Must See for Believer and Unbeliever Alike!

This past Monday night (11.24.08) Katie and I finally got the opportunity to go to the movies and watch "Fireproof." It was an incredible movie that I highly recommend to all followers of Christ and to those who do not yet claim to call Him Savior and Lord.

Below is a brief review of the movie, simply including some of the thoughts I have had since we left the theater Monday night...

What Fireproof Gets Right:

1. Fireproof gets the GOSPEL right.

The scene where Kirk Cameron (Caleb) surrenders his heart to Christ is wonderfully done. The one sharing the Gospel (Caleb's father) does a great job explaining sin, our need for sin, and that Jesus is the only One who can save us from our sin. Thank you for getting this right!

2. Fireproof gets the connection between the GOSPEL and MARRIAGE right.

In the same scene mentioned above, Caleb's father does a great job showing how God loves us unconditionally and covenantally (in Christ) despite our sins and how marriage is to be demonstrated in the same way. The truth that marriage cannot be right and healthy and what God wants it to be apart from understanding salvation in Christ was communicated. I do wish, however, that this truth would have been expounded on a bit further. But the fact that it was there is a huge positive in my book.

3. Fireproof gets evidence of salvation right.

In the movie, after Caleb surrenders to Christ, several behaviors emerge: First, he commits to pursuing his wife regardless of her reactions to him. Second, he repents of his pornographic addiction/problem. Third, he uses his money which he had saved up for a boat to help his ailing wife's parents. This is important for the world to see. Genuine salvation brings about a change. A change of heart. A change of attitude. A change of affections. Fireproof gets it right.

4. Fireproof gets the crucial need for 'elder' accountability right.

In both instances, what helped steer the husband and wife back toward the other was hearing the truth from an older, godly person. This is SO needed today. It is extremely biblical and something I loved seeing in the movie and desire to see more of in real life.

5. Fireproof gets the 'real life' issues right.

The production crew of this movie did not put together an "easy" movie to watch. What I mean is, they tackled tough "real life" issues such as pornography, adultery, verbal abuse/anger, job demands, divorce papers, etc.

6. The final clip was a quote of Romans 5:8.

Great touch! I was pleased to see this verse flash on the screen as I was walking out.

Two Mild Concerns:

1. Caleb's wife (Katherine) never deals with her sin.

Though this is assumed, we never see a discussion about or a repentance of her sin of near (if not full blown...depending upon your definition) adultery. Granted, she did what she did due to what was not happening at home. But that never excuses us to sin. She is responsible for her own sin. I wished we would have seen her and Caleb deal with it a bit more. These are real issues that really hurt and leave the other spouse scarred. This was a small concern I had.

2. The taste of 'add Christ to your life and all will go well' syndrome.

I know. I know. I am being WAY too critical at this point. I do not believe that this was ANYONE's intention. Those who put this film together did NOT have this in mind (at least, I don't think they did). The purpose was not to show that if you have Christ, all goes well. The purpose was to show that without Christ no marriage will truly ever work the way it is supposed to, much less endure hard and difficult times. However, for a movie to be good, it must always end well. In this case, as with Facing the Giants, it all ended well. People came to Christ and it all worked out the way it is supposed to work out.

Please hear me: I am glad that oftentimes this is the case and that oftentimes, Christ does come and change a heart and marriages are saved and ballgames are won. However, there are also a host of other instances where this does not happen. Sometimes the spouse continues with the divorce. Sometimes the game is lost. Sometimes the wife never does get pregnant. I guess I just get concerned sometimes that Christianity is so often seen as a 'crutch' to enhance circumstances in our lives instead of passion for Christ that reigns and rises regardless of surrounding circumstances. Christ was the hero of Fireproof. I believe that. However, as with any movie made for theaters that aims at attracting large audiences, all must end well with the earthly circumstance. Sometimes that simply does not happen, yet Christ is still glorious. I left with that taste in my mouth (or, should I say soul) and it was another mild concern for me.

I urge anyone who hasn't seen the movie to go. These mild concerns in no way, shape, form, or fashion would cause me to discourage anyone from seeing it. Rather, these are just mild cautions I have and reflections I have had since Monday night.

Christ does change lives and marriages and football teams. Hallelujah! Christ rules over all things. Let us all worship and bow down and submit to the One who is exalted and sits at the right hand of the Father.

Another Great Quote from Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

While preparing for Sunday morning's message (relating Christmas to the Lord's Supper), I came across the following quote from chapter 2 in Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus. Joseph Ryan quotes John Donne (from The Book of Common Prayer) who said:

“The whole of Christ’s life was a continual passion; others die martyrs, but Christ was born a martyr. He found a Golgotha, where He was crucified, even in Bethlehem, where he was born; for to his tenderness then the straws were almost as sharp as the thorns after, and the manger as uneasy at first as the cross at last. His birth and His death were but one continual act, and his Christmas Day and his Good Friday are but the evening and the morning of one and the same day. From the crèche to the cross is an inseparable line. Christmas only points forward to Good Friday and Easter. It can have no meaning apart from that, where the Son of God displayed His glory by His death.”

Tremendous Thanksgiving Message

This morning while I was exercising I listened to this message on Thanksgiving. It was preached by an elderly gentleman, Richard Owen Roberts, whom I had never heard of. In the message, he provides one of the most (if not THE most) comprehensive and convicting messages on Thanksgiving I have ever heard. I encourage you to take time to listen to what the Lord laid so strongly on his heart.

Two suggestions as you listen:

(1) Know ahead of time that it takes him a little while to get to the subject matter on Thanksgiving. It's okay. Be patient and stay with him!

(2) At moments it may seem a tad dry. However, the content of what he says is so important. Hear what he has to say and how he uses Scripture to show how crucial being thankful is. Stay with him. It will be worth it!

I would love to hear from you this thanksgiving. Let me know what you are most thankful for and why. Happy Thanksgiving!

Bible Reading Plans for 2009

Between now and January 1, 2009 I plan to post links to as many solid Bible reading plans as I can. Any that I come across, I will do my best to post them on this blog. Please feel free to post a comment with any suggestions you have regarding a good Bible reading plan that has been beneficial for you.

This first plan I found at BibleGateway.com. Click this link and it will take you directly to four different plans to aid in your personal Bible reading time.

Remarkable Advent and Christmas Devotional Book

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus is a remarkable work put together by Nancy Guthrie. The work contains 22 chapters in which Guthrie took portions of sermons and writings from host of solid Christian preachers and authors throughout evangelical history. Each chapter offers the reader a different truth about the glory of Christ and Christmas.

You can order the book for yourself by going here, here, or here.

You can view the preface and the first two chapter by clicking here.

You can view sample material from the book by clicking here.

Churchgoer Giving and the Christmas Spirit

Consider this very frightening quote from a recent survey (from this article) regarding religious giving since the Depression:

"In fact, fewer than 5 percent of churchgoers actually tithe 10 percent of their income; the average, according to numbers from Empty Tomb, a Christian research group that puts out annual reports on church giving, is now 3.4 percent, or 21 percent less than what dust-bowler counterparts gave during the worst of the Great Depression. Figures show that churchgoer contributions have been cascading downward since the 1960s. Religious conservatives do give more. Problem is, they only give nominally more and other groups give next to nothing."

Now. Take that statistic and couple it with this quote from J.I. Packer from Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus:

"This Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity--hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory--because at the Father's will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later he might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard, or will hear.

We talk glibly of the "Christmas spirit" ... the phrase should in fact carry a tremendous weight of meaning. It ought to mean the reproducing in human lives of the temper of him who for our sakes became poor at the first Christmas. And the Christmas spirit itself ought to be the mark of every Christian all the year round.

It is our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians--I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most orthodox Christians -- go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lord's parable, seeing human needs all around them but (after a pious wish, and perhaps a prayer, that God might meet them) averting their eyes, and passing by on the other side. That is not the Christmas spirit. Nor is it the spirit of those Christians - alas, they are many - whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home, and making nice, middle-class Christian friends, and bringing up their children in nice middle-class Christian ways, and who leave the sub-middle-class sections of the community, Christian and non-Christian, to get on by themselves."

Wow. Does the Spirit of Christ really dwell within us? If He does, how is it that we are living and functioning and hoarding for ourselves the way we do?

Disciplines of a Godly Man - "Man to Man" Men's Luncheon Series

Yesterday (11/24/08) at Men's Luncheon I mentioned that Kent Hughes recently delivered three conference messages on the Disciplines of a Godly Man. You can download the audio of the messages by clicking here.

Also Hughes' book I used this year, Disciplines of a Godly Man, can be purchased at Amazon by clicking here.

The Next Five Minutes Video

This past Sunday morning, I showed a videa entitled "The Next Five Minutes." I borrowed it from The Church at Brook Hills where my good friend David Platt pastors in Birmingham, AL.
You can view it via the Brook Hills web-site by clicking here, or you can watch it along with the message I preached this past Sunday by clicking here.

May the next five minutes of our lives NOT be like the last five minutes!

You Might Have the Desire to Be Rich If...

Yesterday morning, during my message from 1 Timothy 6:9-10, I mentioned 10 scenarios that if true might mean you have the dangerous and sinful desire to be rich. Here they are...


1. If you play the lottery and/or gamble in other capacities, you might be guilty of having the desire to be rich.

2. If you use your credit card to purchase things you cannot afford or immediately pay off, you might be guilty of having the desire to be rich.

3. If you desire to move and/or change jobs for the sole purpose of making more money, though you and your family are growing spiritually and being challenged spiritually, you might be guilty of having the desire to be rich.

4. If you assume God blessed you with a raise or a great crop or a plethora of business so that you can upgrade your possessions you might be guilty of having the desire to be rich.

5. If your entire mood is affected by the up or down swing of the stock market you might be guilty of having the desire to be rich.

6. If the way you voted in this past election was solely based on the present economic crisis, you might be guilty of having the desire to be rich.

7. If you think more about what you might get for Christmas instead of what you can give for the sake of love for others, you might be guilty of having the desire to be rich.

8. If you base your tithe amount off of what you have at the end of the month instead of what you make, you might be guilty of having the desire to be rich.

9. If you think Bro. Matt’s challenge to give more to Lottie Moon than you spend on Christmas gifts is absolutely absurd, you might be guilty of having the desire to be rich.

10. If God has called you to missions, but you refuse to heed it due to not wanting to sell everything and receive a much smaller salary, you might be guilty of having the desire to be rich.

The Shack: Incredible Fiction, Horrific Theology

Several WBC'ers have asked me my opinion of William Young's The Shack. Most of the opinions I have shared have been based on another. However, I have purchased the book and begun reading the book. My assumptions and opinions remain the same at this point. The Shack is great fiction. It is a fun-fiction book to read. Likewise, it is a reminder of the 'relationship' we can have with God and that I believe He wants to have with us. However, the God represented in The Shack is simply not the God of the Bible. For anyone who is interested, I recommend three different places/sites to read and/or listen to reviews of this book. They can do alot better job than I can at reviewing and, from what I have read and heard regarding what they have to say, I think they are right on track.

Tim Challies' Review of The Shack (Or, click here if you cannot get the other site to appear).

Paul Grimmond's "We Need More Shack Time" from The Briefing magazine.

Al Mohler's Radio Program on The Shack.

Devotional Reading Recommendations

I was recently asked my opinion on a specific devotional book of which I had never heard anything about (the book nor the author). That prompted me to think about what books (devotional) I would recommend to anyone who asks. In what follows, I list several books that have been used of the Lord to help me grow in my love of Him and His Word.

1. Life as a Vapor: Thiry-One Meditations for Your Faith by John Piper

2. Pierced by the Word: Thirty-One Meditations for Your Soul by John Piper

3. Taste and See: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life by John Piper

4. A Godward Life: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life by John Piper

5. For the Love of God: A Daily Companion For Discovering the Riches of God's Word by D.A. Carson.

6. Drawing Near: Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith by John MacArthur

7. Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon (A Devotional Classic!)

8. The Best of E.M. Bounds

9. Holiness Day by Day: Transformational Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey by Jerry Bridges

10. Daily Readings from the Life of Christ by John MacArthur

Five Who Changed the World

Tonight, prior to beginning a brief series on the book of Jude, I recommended three books to the flock of WBC. Links to the ESV Study Bible and the The Jesus Storybook Bible can be found elsewhere on this blog. The book I mentioned by Danny Akin, however, can be found here. As I mentioned, he preached a biographical sermon series on each of these missionaries. You can listen to the messages by clicking here and download the sermon manuscripts by clicking on the messages and clicking on the "manuscript" link.

Dr. Akin's web-site is http://www.danielakin.com/, not "dannyakin.com" as I stated tonight.

Post-Election True/False Test for Christians

I found this test at Founders Ministries. I thought the test was well worded and a much needed reminder on a host of different levels for a host of different serious things for believers.
Take the test for yourself and ask the Lord to help you continue doing what followers of Christ are to always be about doing no matter what.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order - (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, "Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.

True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.

Great Word on Praying for Our New President Elect

Insightful thoughts and challenges for how believers are to think about and pray for Barack Obama. Click here to read Ligon Duncan's thoughts on the matter.

Proposition 8 in California Passes

Hallelujah!

Read the Baptist Press news article here.

A Wonderful Childrens Book

To be honest, I haven't even read it to my children yet because I couldn't put it down long enough to do so last night! I ordered The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones for Luke and Seth and was amazed by what I read. What captured my attention initially was the sub-title that read: "Every Story Whispers His Name." Of course, this was referring to the fact that every story in the Bible whispers Jesus' name. My heart leaped and said, "Amen!" Sure enough, when it arrived in the mail yesterday I had the opportunity to read the first portion of the book. I was blessed by its accuracy and aim to help children see the story of Jesus in the Bible (which, by the way, is the entire purpose of the Bible!). Lloyd-Jones does not try to show how everything in the Bible points to the children reading it. No. She helps children (and adults!) do what the Bible is really aimed at doing: showing us our need for God and our desperate need for the Savior He sent into the world on our behalf. Thank you Lloyd-Jones!

Of the book, Tim Keller said:

“I would urge not just families with young children to get this book, but every Christian—from pew warmers, to ministry leaders, seminarians and even theologians! Sally Lloyd-Jones has captured the heart of what it means to find Christ in all the scriptures, and has made clear even to little children that all God's revelation has been about Jesus from the beginning—a truth not all that commonly recognized even among the very learned.”

These are my thoughts exactly. Get the book for your kids. Get the book for yourself. Get the book for your friends. In my opinion it is an easy, down to earth way, of understanding the whole point of Scripture.

Please pray that Luke and Seth would not only allow his mother and I to read the book to them, but that they would "get" the point behind it and be enthralled with their Maker!

The Morning After: Praises, Prayers, a Biblical Pursuit

Last night history was made. Last night Barack Obama became the first ever African-American President elect of the United States. My mind has been filled with thoughts as I have contemplated this. What follows is a meager attempt to be as biblical as I can be as I try to help myself and the WBC flock think this through from a Christian perspective.

PRAISES

Yes, there are praises to God for what happened last night.

1. John McCain's concession speech displayed wonderful grace. The way he handled defeat is a model all of us (especially believers!) need to observe and copy. His humble submission to American democracy AND to his new President was (although sad) very refreshing.

2. An African-American President. Though I strongly abhor most of what President-elect Barack Obama stands for and believes in, there is a sense in my soul that is grateful that America has reached a place where African Americans are treated like every other human. This is the way it should be. I was not opposed to Barack Obama due to the color of his skin. I was opposed to him due to his convictions (or lack thereof!) and non-biblical beliefs. Apart from that (and this is still in my opinion no reason to elect a man for President), however, I am thankful that America has come this far in the racial war.

3. God instituted what happened last night. Therefore, let us submit to His Lordship and rejoice.

This is the day that He has made. Yesterday was a day He made. Tomorrow is another day He will make. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. We may be sorrowful and fearful of things to come, but we are to be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.

4. Jesus is Coming Soon! I know you are probably thinking at this point that I say this because of the anti-Christian stuff that is probably coming to America. Though this may be true, I must confess that is not what is prompting this praise. What prompts this praise is the way Chicago, much of North America, and alot of others around the world rejoiced when they heard the news of who was our next President. Jubilation was everywhere. Excitement streamed across the world, it seemed, as the news made its way to various places. If that is how it is when a mere man is elected as President, can you imagine how incredible it is going to be when Jesus descends from glory and returns to earth? Oh I cannot wait! What I observed last night was a tiny, inkling of a picture of what is to come when Jesus returns to take us home. Oh come Lord Jesus! My soul longs, yes even pants for You!

PRAYERS

I urge you to pray 1 Timothy 2:1-7 now more than ever. Just because the man you may not have wanted to be President isn't the new President-elect does not mean you stop praying. Now we need to pray this more than ever! My eyes were brought to tears this morning as my 3 year old son Luke and I were watching Obama's speech from last night on my computer. When I had his breakfast fixed we paused to say our blessing and I urged Luke to pray with me for the man he was watching with me on the screen. We did pray for him. May we continue now more than ever to pray for our President.

PURSUITS

As followers of Christ and as those who profess complete and total trust in the Lord, we must respond with biblical convictions and with a Christ-like, Christ-filled Spirit. We are to give to God what belongs to God and give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. We are to trust that what happened last night was an act of God and be subject to the governing authorities. We are to remember that those who resist governing authorities will incur judgment from God Himself.

Now, I must admit that I have a lot of thinking and wrestling and work to do regarding how to balance submission to governing authorities with being light and salt in a dark and bland world. I will need the help of God's Word and His Spirit to know how to discern when and how to do both when doing both seems to be at such odds in this case. It compels me to read through the New Testament with a new lens on my eyes, for Jesus and Paul and John and James and others lived during times of extreme persecution of those who believed on Jesus Christ. Yet, incomprehensibly, they taught submission to authorities. This will be a wrestling indeed and I encourage each of you to wrestle with the Lord and His Word and trust in His Spirit to help us in the days and months and years ahead. We must be biblical in all that we do and learn how genuine believers are to trust in the fact that God instituted this new President, submit to our governing authorities, and let our light shine before men all at the same time.

I encourage you to check out the following posts I have found in other places to help us begin to think biblically about how followers of Jesus are to respond in times such as these...

How to pray and thank God for our government.

Thoughts from Justin Taylor

Thoughts from Eric Redmond (Second Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention and an African American)

Reflections from Al Mohler

*Please note that I have not, as yet, had time to read through all of these articles. However, I respect these men and trust that at the very least will help us begin to process and think biblically about what is ahead for America and especially Christians in America.

Sound Advice and Counsel For a Very Important Election Day

I urge any and all followers of Jesus to click on this link and read Dr. Al Mohler's thoughts, advice, and counsel on this election day. In my opinion, he is exactly right on all points and I am grateful to God for men like him who understand the times and help gear Christ's followers in a Gospel-oriented way. May God help America today and may He help us believers in the days ahead...

Commission Stories On-line

While preparing for the upcoming November sermon series on giving, I came across yet another helpful tool provided by the International Mission Board. It is a web-site called "Commission Stories" and is designed to inform, update, educate, etc. about what God is doing through Southern Baptist missionaries around the world. Great stories! Great pictures! Great video! Go to the site and learn more about how God is at work and see who some of the people are He is using. Be careful: He may call you to go too!

Learn about Lottie!!

The International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention has done all of us a favor by putting together a web-site to help educate about the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and how it is currently at work around the world. I urge you to go there and spend some time reading about how God is using the offering Southern Baptist's take up every year to further His kingdom and bless those He has called out to serve.

You can also learn how to make Lottie's famous cookies by clicking here. If you make a batch, PLEASE bring them by my office and let me try one (or two!)!

Calling All Parents!

Tedd Tripp, the author of Shepherding a Child's Heart and Instructing a Child's Heart recently led a conference for parents in Seattle, Washington. Though I have not listened to these sessions yet, I have found Dr. Tripp to be extremely helpful and sound when it comes to raising children to know and love God with their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

You can go to this link here to download either the video or audio of the conference. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts!

Places/Sites to Visit for Last Pre -Election Day Contemplation

I have found that some solid voices in the evangelical world have posted thoughts, videos, radio broadcasts, etc. that are helpful as we approach the final hours leading up to election day 2008. Below are links to some of these sources. It's not too late to be informed. Be diligent to think theologically, critically, and biblically about the issues and what all is at stake in this deal. Prayerfully approach tonight and tomorrow as you vote, talk with others, and watch the returns.



A Townhall Discussion of issues and what is at stake in this election by Al Mohler.



A video of John Piper discussing his thoughts on the Presidential election. He also offers a perspective on a woman running for the office of Vice President as well as a prayer for the election. All of these can be found on the desiringgod.org blog.


A thoughtful response and perspective by Justin Taylor to Piper's thoughts.

Pastoral Prayer for Wynne Baptist Church - Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Heavenly Father, I am overwhelmed this morning that You, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe would choose to listen to the weak cries of sinful saints on behalf of the nations. I am even more overwhelmed that You would choose to bless this body of believers with a heart for You to be glorified around the world. Thank You, Lord, for sending Jesus on our behalf so that we might now approach Your throne of grace with confidence and be free to spend our lives radically for the expansion of Your name and reputation around the world.

Steadfast Father, my heart is heavy and anxious and eager this morning because of the change that is before us as a nation and a church. More than likely, less than 36 hours from now, our nation will have a new President. This Sunday our congregation will be led in worship by a different face. Yesterday, around 150 people from this flock committed to a short-term mission trip in 2009. A dozen or so committed to long-term (2-3 years or career) mission service with their lives. Might this be the year of the harvest? You have brought new families to our church. Adults, teenagers, and children are being baptized. Things are changing, Lord, and I/we need Your help to lead us in the days ahead. Remind us all that we are desperate and helpless sheep, who have been selected by the Ultimate Shepherd, to feast and flourish in Your pasture as You direct us. May we never be found guilty of being led by another.

Sovereign Father, I believe in my soul that the best days are yet to come here at Wynne Baptist. We have yet to begin to give what we can truly financially give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, other mission entities, the poor and impoverished, and our church. We have yet to begin to see how many of our teenagers and children will be called out to go to the hardest places in the world with the Gospel. We have yet to begin to see how You might want us to best and most effectively reach our beloved city of Wynne with the Good News. We have yet only faintly begun to taste and see how good You are. We do not know the future, but how good it is to know the One who does.

Glorious Father, come and show us Your glory. Come and give us a sense of urgency and deep compassion in our souls for others to see Your glory from our mouths and our actions. Give us unity and love for one another as Satan despises and hates and is horrified by what he observes from WBC and will try everything he can to tear us apart. Bind him from our midst I pray! Cause our hearts to love Your Son more affectionately. Give us a hatred for sin and a fear of living rebellious, disobedient, and mediocre lives. I/We look to You to do for us, in us, around us, and through us what only You can do. Make us dependent upon Your Spirit. Lead us to pursuits that would only work if Your Spirit were to do powerfully do it through us. Do far more than any of us could ever ask, imagine, or think…not so WBC would be talked about…but so that You might be seen and shown for the majestic God that You are.

In the Wonderful Name of Jesus I/we pray….
Amen.