Beyond the Pulpit

Welcome to the Pastor’s Blog, because you’ve probably been thinking that sometimes Sundays are not enough.  I use this blog to share photos of the family, post sermons, and provide devotional thoughts throughout the week.

The Prince of Preachers: Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Introduction

“Those preachers whose voices were clear and mighty for truth during life continue to preach in their graves.  Being dead, they yet speak; and whether men put their ears to their tombs or not, they cannot but hear them.”[1]  Although Charles Haddon Spurgeon may not have completely understood the significance of those words when he offered them (especially as it related to his own life and ministry), his voice of truth continues to sound in this modern day.  Dr. J.H. Jowett once remarked of Charles Spurgeon regarding his preaching ability and achievement.  He said, “He is not eclipsed even when set in radiant succession to Paul, Luther and Calvin.”[2]  Of course, comparing a man to the likes of legendary Reformers and arguably the greatest man to walk this earth (besides Christ Himself) would be absurd; except it be true.  Charles Spurgeon was the most popular preacher of his day in which his ministry demonstrated a global reach as he became an international figure.  However, his influence did not end upon his death.  Although the “Prince of Preachers” died January 31, 1892[3], Spurgeon’s voice resonates in the hearts and minds of thousands of men and woman all over the world.  In fact, Charles Spurgeon is history’s most widely read preacher (except for preachers in the bible) in part because there is more material written by Spurgeon than by any other Christian author, living or dead.[4]  What made this man so successful?  Why is Charles Spurgeon considered one of the most prolific preachers of all time?  Indeed, Spurgeon had been gifted with natural abilities as an orator and had the natural ability to mesmerize the crowds by mastering his words, yet Spurgeon’s success as a preacher was a direct result of the experiences he enjoyed as a believer in Christ and the commitments he made to necessary disciplines he valued in ministry.

Is it Time for a Change?

“I am not the person I used to be.  I have changed.”  I don’t know if you have ever heard someone say that before, but I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that expression offered by someone that had been incarcerated down in the Butler County Jail.  Typically, those I visit are grateful to see me and although I do not go there to judge them, my presence is often a reminder that things need to change; things need to be different.  So they often volunteer these words or sentiments like them, “I am not the same person I used to be.  I have changed.”  These words are usually followed up with a verbal commitment to attend our services upon their release.  Unfortunately, I rarely if ever see them again. 

 Does that surprise you?  Most of us would probably say, “No it doesn’t”.  In fact, many would say, “I am not that naïve or gullible.  Haven’t you heard you can’t teach an old dog new tricks or a leopard can’t change his spots?”  I suspect that most people are skeptical toward people who claimed they have experienced significant change in life.  I have found that most people today struggle to believe that that anyone can authentically change.  Ask anyone’s opinion and thoughts on politicians, celebrities, athletes, musicians, lawyers, reporters, co-workers and family members and see what people think about their predetermined vices.  They all have them don’t they? 

Jump In and Enjoy the Ride

I would characterize the joys of life in two ways.  First, there are the simple joys of life.  Simple joys are the simple pleasures we can experience throughout our week.  No doubt there are certain things that resonate within all of us.  These are those things that bring a smile to our face, a bounce to our step and they offer simple happiness to our life.  These are those things that bring a certain level of satisfaction in living, they give us temporary comfort on long days and they serve as that necessary reprieve from the grueling pressures that mount about us.

For me, my simple pleasures are quite simple:  I am a baseball fan.  In fact, it is no secret around here that I am a St. Louis Cardinal fan.  I enjoy the sights and the sounds of America’s past time.  There is no greater game on planet earth than the game of baseball. 

 I like to ride motorcycles.  There is something about getting on that iron horse and trekking down those back roads that gives me great pleasure.  On a given day, one might catch of glimpse of me tooling around town on my bike sporting my boots, my leather vest, or even my doo-rag and as odd as that might sound to some of us, I enjoy being a biker.

 I love the beach.  If someone were to ask me to pick a vacation destination, without hesitation I would say, “I want to go to the beach” and the more secluded the better.  I don’t need glitz and glamour.  I don’t want to spend all my resources of time and money on tourist shops and trappings.  Rather, give me a beach and a place to cover this bald head and I am happy. 

 I am a Skyline Chili and brownie kind of guy.  My wife often asks me when we are going out for dinner, “where do you want to eat?”  My response is usually, “I’m a simple man.”  Which means I don’t need to spend a lot of money out at dinner?  I am perfectly content with Cincinnati’s greatest comfort food, Skyline Chili.  I don’t need a sophisticated desert; it’s hard to improve upon a dollar box of brownies. 

Why are You Standing There?

Did you know that freedom is not standing still? 

 The people of France gave the Statue of Liberty to the people of the United States over 125 years ago in recognition of a friendship established during the American Revolution.  Over the years, the attributed meanings of the Statue have grown until she has become the international icon of freedom and liberty.  The Statue of Liberty is the most recognizable symbol of democracy in all the world.

We have known her as the “Statue of Liberty” but her real name is “Liberty Enlightening the World”.  The Statue was completed in France in July of 1884, then disassembled and shipped to the United States.  She arrived in NY in June of 1885.  Once the pedestal in which she rests upon today was finished, Lady Liberty was re-assembled in four months and on October 28, 1886 President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty in front of thousands of spectators.

 The crown of Lady Liberty has seven spikes, symbolizing the Seven Seas across which liberty should be spread.  In her left hand she holds a tablet with the Declaration of Independence and in her right hand a torch, symbolizing liberty’s enlightenment.  But what many may not have realized because it is not visible do to the way she is positioned high upon that pedestal is that Lady Liberty is not standing still, rather she is trampling a broken chain while carrying Liberty’s flame. 

 In other words, freedom is not standing still.  The French artist depicted this symbolic feature to deliver a subtle yet significant message.  He intended to make a statement with a broken chain wrapped around the Statue’s feet.  The chain is protruding from the bottom of Lady Liberty’s robe and it symbolizes her free forward movement, enlightening the world with her torch.  As we gaze upon her the artist intended Americans to realize that liberty is moving forward for it is free from oppression.

Live Like You are Dying

The other day I reached for my phone and was excited to talk to one of my mentors, Dr. Harold Brown. 

The Brown family entered my life for the first time while I was a student at Baptist Bible College in Springfield Missouri.  On one particular day of classes, Harold and his son Dan attended one of my ministry classes and offered practical perspective to aspiring pastors.  Harold and Dan were incredible ministers serving the people of Somerset Kentucky at Oak Hill Baptist Church.  Although, this was my first encounter with them, one of my classmates leaned over and shared with me their reputation; I was immediately impressed, intimidated and naturally curious.

My first real introduction came a few months later.  I was now serving as the youth pastor of Fairfield West Baptist Church and Dan had invited our ministry to attend LIFT; an up in coming camping ministry that was like none other.  Through the circumstances surrounding the planning and attending of LIFT (which still continues today some 16 years later), I fell in love with the entire Brown family and have forged one of my most intimate friendships in life.

However, on the day in which Harold called me, I never anticipated what I was about to hear.  “Hey Rob, I need you to find me a place that will let me jump out of an airplane.” 

Be Holy in All Manner of Conduct

Simon Peter was a remarkable man.  Peter was a rugged man with a strong personality.  He was bold, sometimes brash while living a determined and daring life.  Like most of the Jewish population of the day, Peter lived off the land to support his family.  He lived in Capernaum with his wife and mother-in-law; it was not an easy life.

 Therefore, Peter was a hard worker; a fisherman by trade he was accustomed to laboring on the water probably in a boat made of cedar and oak.  If you can imagine a vessel some 26 feet long, by 7 feet wide by 4 feet deep with a crew of 4 or 5 leather skinned men negotiating the Sea of Galilee, you can get a glimpse of what their days were like. 

 However, once Peter met Christ, everything changed.  It was Andrew, Peter’s brother and business partner, that led him to Christ and once that happened, everything in Peter’s life became radically different.  Simon Peter, became a Christ follower.

 Peter had boldly confessed that he believed the Lord to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God and along his journeys with the Lord, Peter had witnessed too many astounding things to think any differently.  Peter was there when Christ raised Jarius’s daughter from the dead.  Peter was there when Christ beckoned him to step outside the boat and walk on water.  Peter was there to see the feeding of the thousands, the healing of the diseased and the teaching of the multitudes.  Peter was an eye witness to all the miracles of Jesus Christ and was present during the Lord’s transfiguration. 

The Cross: What Does It All Mean Anyway?

Every religion has its visual symbol which helps illustrate a significant piece of its history or belief system.  For example, the lotus flower has become the Buddhist trademark.  Although the flower was used by the ancient Chinese, Egyptians and Indians, it is now associated with Buddhism.  It is not uncommon to see images of Buddha enthroned in a fully open lotus bloom for they claim that the shape of the flower depicts the cycle of birth and death. 

 Ancient Judaism avoided visual signs and symbols for fear of breaking the second commandment which prohibits making graven images.  But modern Judaism has adopted the Star of David which is a hexagram formed by combining 2 equilateral triangles.  It symbolizes God’s covenant with David that his throne would be established forever and that the Messiah would descend from him. 

 Islam, on the other hand, is identified by a crescent.  This image of one of the moon’s phases is said to depict the sovereignty of Muslim conquest, but ironically history reveals that the symbol predates Islam by several thousand years.  Modern legend sometimes claims that the points of the star refer to the 5 pillars of Islam:    Testimony of faith, prayer 5 times/day, almsgiving of 2.5% of individual savings, fasting during the daytime for 1 month during Ramadan and pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.       

Don’t Give Out, Don’t Give In, Don’t Give Up

Lyman Beecher was born in New Haven Connecticut on October 12, 1775.  His father (David) was a blacksmith, yet Lyman chose not to follow in his father’s vocation.  Instead, Lyman went to Yale and graduated in 1797.  The following year Lyman went to Yale Divinity School and was eventually ordained into the ministry. 

 Lyman Beecher began his ministry in Long Island New York and in 1806, Lyman gained notoriety after preaching a sermon concerning the historic duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.  History records that Hamilton, one of our nation’s founding fathers, was gunned down in that duel in defense of Burr’s honor and pride. 

 This fiery Presbyterian preacher went on to raise a large family in Connecticut, eventually served in Boston’s Hanover Church but ultimately came here in the Cincinnati area to pastor the Second Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati where Lyman Beecher is credited as being one of the leaders which led our nation into the Second Great Awakening.   (Today, this congregation is named Covenant First Presbyterian Church, 717 Elm St., 8^th and Garfield)

 In 1828 Ebenezer Lane, a Baptist laymen and a New Orleans merchant, along with his brother, William, pledged to finance from their business profits the establishment of a seminary in Cincinnati.  When the Baptists were unable to carry the project through, the Presbyterians assumed it.  So 1832, Lyman Beecher became the first president of Lane Theological Seminary in Walnut Hills where his mission was to train ministers to win the West for Christ. 

Are You Fully Alive?

God loves us!  Lean into that:  Despite where we have come from, what we have done or where we have been going, God loves us.  In fact, He has moved Heaven and Earth to position Himself at our heart’s door for He desires an authentic relationship with us.  Christ said it this way, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” 

Now, some believe what the Lord was suggesting is that Jesus came to extend to us worldly prosperity for mankind often equates “living life” with material wealth and circumstantial blessing.  However, that is reading into His statement that which He never intended.  Jesus never promised man such things; rather He simply promised us life; abundant life. (i.e., excessive life, superior life, superabundant life)

 So the question becomes, what does it mean to live?  Not only, what does it mean to live life, but rather what does it mean to be fully alive? 

 

Leaving a Signature of Significance

When we think about it, everyone worships.  Literally, everyone yields their life to something and pursues it authentically.  There are many things in which humanity will seek after and submit their life to; prosperity, position, power, popularity, and prestige are just to name a few.  In of themselves, these things are not evil and wrong to experience, but yielding to these pursuits have proven to be empty accomplishments to those that have achieved them.  Yet many continue to yield there life and worship worldly success.

 However, I am beginning to notice that more and more people are not satisfied with pursuing worldly success.  This discontentment has seeped in for many reasons.  First, some have tasted all the world can offer and it has left them completely disillusioned.  They have been the “lucky” ones in our society and have achieved great prosperity in this life, yet they would be the first to tell us that worldly success is not all that it’s cracked up to be.