Monday, August 07, 2006

Separation: A Fundamental?

Dr. Kevin Bauder, of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote on this subject in this week's "In the Nick of Time" Newsletter. If you didn't receive this, here is the link to it on Sharper Iron. There have been many discussions here in the dorms at MBBC about this subject, and I bet it's probably discussed at the other Bible colleges, as well. Thanks Dr. Bauder for presenting this article on how biblical seperation is a proper response to those who reject the fundamentals of the faith.

This will be my last post for the week now that Fine Arts Camp is officially in session.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Psalm 40

This afternoon and evening we had our training for Fine Arts Camp at Maranatha Baptist Bible College.

This afternoon we were taught biblical truths on how to deal with conflict. Galatians 6:1-10 kept coming to mind over and over again as I consider our motives for confrontation. The motive is always in love, humility, and truth.

However, most needed was a short devotional after dinner from Psalm 40 by Dr. David Ledgerwood, the chair of the Fine Arts Department (after church here in town tonight, we went to the Ledgerwoods for dinner). I’ll be honest, I wish I’d had my computer and microphone with me so that I could’ve recorded his comments, but this one sticks out in my mind the most as this has always been my take on Camp Ministry (he has expressed this every year since he started heading up Fine Arts Camp 3 years ago, but it was refreshing to hear it again):

“Though, yes, we want each of the campers to walk away from this camp being better trained and more able to play and perform on their instruments, that isn’t what this camp is all about. This camp is about seeing lives changed for Jesus Christ. This camp is about seeing campers wholly surrender their hearts and their lives to Jesus Christ one step at a time and you [the counselors] being used by God to help them make that step.”
- Dr. David Ledgerwood

Please pray for us and the 90 campers who will be here this week studying instrumental, strings, voice, and speech & drama. Pray that:
1) Every camper would walk away knowing for sure that they will spend eternity in heaven with God as their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, indeed.
2) That every camper would surrender some area of change that needs to be made wholly and completely to God and let Him work in that area of their lives.
3) That every counselor would surrender their lives to wholly loving and serving God with all their hearts, that they might be clean and unblocked channels to be used by God this week of camp.

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.
How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.
Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; My ears You have opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.
Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”
I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O LORD, You know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.
You, O LORD, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.
For evils beyond number have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has failed me.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; Make haste, O LORD, to help me.
Let those be ashamed and humiliated together Who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored Who delight in my hurt.
Let those be appalled because of their shame Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!”
Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.
- Psalm 40:1-17 NASB