Are You Ready for Good Works?

*This is my article for the March 2012 President's Page in the Sabbath Recorder.

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, tobe ready for every good work (Titus 3:1, ESV)

     How do we get ready for EVERY good work? What are the good works we need to be ready to do? They are the “good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). God’s word shows us what these good works are. His revealed word causes us to be “equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Our submission to Him allows us to do them in His name and for His glory. Without submission to God and those authorities that He has placed above us, we sully our good works for Him.

     The American culture at large seems to be having an authority crisis. We like to snipe, criticize, humiliate, and flat out disobey the people who have been placed in authority (whether elected, appointed, or biological). If you don't believe me, start one conversation about your president, or your pastor, or your parents. See how long it takes this conversation to go from “constructive” to “destructive”.

     Being under authority and showing respect is not easy for us because like our forefathers, our sinful nature tells us that we know how to do everything better than everyone else. Nobody likes being to told what to do or how to do it. We start to believe that authority is only granted to those with whom we want to give it.

     Biblically (Romans 13), it seems that all authority has been put in place by God (nationally, locally, ecclesiastically) for our benefit and good, whether you voted for the guy or not. This is a tough teaching of the Bible. This is all being pointed out so that we are aware that we are a people under authority. If we are rebellious in our submission to our parents, will we then curb our rebellious behavior with God?

     I want our churches to be ready for the good works of church revitalization and planting that God has for us in the near future. He has been doing great things among our Seventh Day Baptist leaders and people. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19a)

     ARE YOU READY to make Jesus not just your Savior but your Lord? ARE YOU READY to follow, serve, submit to, and wait for Him? It is through His authority that our good works are able to advance His Kingdom. AREYOU READY to honor, respect, submit, and obey those He has placed in authority over you?

     This summer during our Conference sessions we will be challenging our churches to get ready for what God will do through them with our Conference theme, ARE YOU READY? We will be studying through the book of 1 Thessalonians in our morning sessions and use the gathered worship times to discuss themes like Repentance, Revitalization, and His Return, among others. Of course, there will be the fantastic fellowship times and other activities that we have grown to love during that week.

     We are placing an emphasis on church planting and revitalization during this year's session as well. If that is an area of ministry that you are being called to explore or discover or have questions about, please contact the Center office, the Missionary Society, or myself so that we can be praying for you and include you in these discussions.

     There is still time to offer any input into our yearly meeting. Please feel free to contact me through email, Twitter, or Facebook.

     On behalf of myself, our denominational executives, our boards and agencies, and our Conference host committee, we want to invite you to join the ARE YOU READY? conversation at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV from July 29-August 4, 2012. 

Lenten Devotional 02/22/12

Genesis3:6-29 (The Message)

6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. 7 Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. 8 When they heard the sound of Godstrolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God. 9 God called to the Man: "Where are you?" 10 He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid." 11 God said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" 12 The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." God said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" 13 "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." 14-15 God told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel." 16 He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you." 17-19 He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree That I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground Will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, Until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt."

     On the Christian liturgical calendar, today is Ash Wednesday. There are Christians of every stripe: Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Lutheran, and yes, even Baptist who will celebrate this day by remembering solemnly the fact that we are but mere creations of the Almighty God who will one day, through decomposition, have our physical bodies revert to the heap of dirt and ashes that God used to mold us.

     However, the reminder of this day doesn't rest on the practice of placing ashes on your forehead. The reminder lies in the decomposition that creates the ash. The process of decomposition generally creates foul odors. Our sin creates foulness. Ever since this act of volitional disobedience by our forefather Adam, our race has been fouled by sin. And now when we are born we are on a trajectory, not for perfect relationship with God, but rather for decomposition and death.

     While verse 19 provides our reminder (that because of Adam's we too face the consequences of sin, which is death), verse 15 provides us with our hope. Jesus has been victorious over life, sin, and death. In Him there is no imperfection or decomposition. If our faith is place in Him and His finished works, our bodies will still see decay but our souls will see Jesus. 

Are You Ready to Forgive?

*This is my article for the February 2012 President's Page in the Sabbath Recorder.

Butyou are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to angerand abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. (Nehemiah 9:17b, ESV)

     When I read this verse, I think of a parent watching a child and knowing they are going to make a mistake but letting them make it anyway. Then I see the parent use that mistake not as an opportunity to punish their child but as a teaching moment to correct them in love and to show them that there is no expectation of perfection on the parent's part but rather a transmission of grace and mercy.

     God is ready to forgive us when we disobey Him and fall short of His calling for us and our churches. He is gracious and merciful in the way He corrects us and places us back into His community. He is aware that sinners sin and is slow to get angry with them but abounding in love, which bides the anger.

     Unfortunately, as imperfect people, we sometimes do not model the readiness of our God to forgive. We are not READY to go forward with our calling from God because we are trapped with the grudges of the past.

     Have you thought about what grudges you are not ready to forgive (the ones that come burning to mind when you are reminded of a particular event or person)? As a follower of our Lord Jesus, have you modeled the grace and mercy He has displayed to those who have sinned against you? (If you haven't forgiven, then it will be hard.) Are you slow to anger when mistakes are made? Is your love steadfast for His people or is it conditional and held hostage by what you want to have happen?

     Thankfully, God does not forsake us when we make mistakes. He lovingly corrects us and brings us back into a right relationship through the work of God the Holy Spirit and His holy people, the church. Because He uses us to build His Kingdom, from the inside out, this is why it is important for the church to model the forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love of our Savior.

     ARE YOUREADY to ask for forgiveness from God and from those you have sinned against? (Confess and Repent) ARE YOU READY to forgive those who are indebted or have transgressed against you? If you have done these two things, ARE YOU READY to show His holy people (the church) grace, mercy, and love? In modeling this forgiveness, ARE YOU READY to be the church to each other inside the body and the world outside the body?

     It is getting close to that time to start thinking about your plans for the summer. Our annual Conference program this year is lining up to be very exciting. We will have seven messages from some great speakers in the evening flowing from our Conference theme, ARE YOU READY?, and challenging our churches to get ready for what God will do through them. There will be five Bible study sessions taking us through the book of 1 Thessalonians. Of course, there will also be some meal meetings, fellowship times, a few banquets, singing, prayer, and ice cream.

     There is still time to offer any input into our yearly meeting. Please feel free to contact me through phone (304-629-9823), email, Twitter, or Facebook.

     On behalf of myself, our denominational executives, our boards and agencies, and our Conference host committee, we want to invite you to join the ARE YOU READY? conversation at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV from July 29-August 4, 2012.

I am NOT a Resolutions Guy!

I used to be that guy. You know...the one who used to make a bunch of resolutions and then just as quickly as they were made toss them aside. (However, resolutions aren't necessarily bad-as Joe Thorn explains)

It was a few years ago that I got sick of that. I always started my year out feeling like a failure. This is a bad way to set the tone for a year. It often wasn't until March or April that I got out of my failure funk and felt like I could have a productive year. What a waste of three month!

I refuse to wallow in self-pity any longer. Instead, I take advantage of my "new" year and realize where I fell short in the previous year (and what lessons were learned) and what goals I want to make for the coming year.

In 2011, I learned the following lessons:

• Having the title of pastor does not help you pastor your people well
• Be careful what you pray for. God may actually give it to you.
• It is better to be accused of being something than to sin trying to defend yourself.
• I am not as wonderful as I think I am; but I am loved far more than I believe I am

In 2012, I will make the following goals:

• To strive to be empathetic to those whom I serve
• To lose 50-80 pounds (mostly because I realize my obesity is because of lack of self control)
• To regularly spend time with just my family (including the goal of pastoring them well)
• To spend my time with God well, doing more listening than talking. (in order to discern His will)

What did you learn in 2011? What goals are you making for 2012?

How REAL is too REAL when it comes to marriage?

     I applaud most things Mark Driscoll does since I had been introduced to him about two years ago (although I don't agree with his emphasis on everything). However, with the release of his new book, Real Marriage: The Truth about Sex, Friendship, & Life Together, there appears to be some controversy stirring.

     Tim Chailles, uber blogger and lover of Jesus and His church, writes a very biting review of this much publicized new release. His conclusion is:

Having read the book through two times, I’ve found myself wondering how to best measure or evaluate it, but perhaps these criteria are useful: Would I want to read it with my wife or would I encourage her to read it on her own? Would I recommend it to the people in my church? In both cases the answer is no. This is not to say that the book is entirely without merit; Real Marriage does have things to commend it. But in my assessment the negatives far outweigh the positives. Its disjointed nature, the way it is unhinged from the gospel, the way it evaluates sexual acts through an improper grid—in all these ways and more it inadvertently lowers marriage rather than elevates it. With so many good books on marriage available to us, I see no reason to recommend this one.

     Driscoll's take on the Song of Solomon has been controversial for years but I have been refreshed, encouraged, and helped by many of his messages regarding the role of men and women in the church which is founded from their roles in the home. If Chailles' review is accurate, this will be a terrible disappointment for me and others I assume.

     Read the whole review here. But make sure to read the book for yourself, be challenged, and decide!

Engaging in Scripture 2012

What I would like to do here is to try to persuade you to set aside time each week in the coming year to plan—and specifically to plan your life of prayer and devotion and ministry. The bulldozer of God's Spirit often arrives at the scene of our heart ready to begin some great work of building, and he finds that due to poor planning there are piles of disordered things in his way. We're not ready for him.

     In order to make sure that we are ready for the great work that God is ready to do in our church, we will be using the ESV Study Bible reading plan for those who wish to engage in Scripture reading in 2012. We will not be posting the daily readings on our website this year but there will be multiple ways to follow along (RSS, Twitter, print copy).

     The ESV Study Bible reading plan offers four sections of reading everyday:

Psalms and Wisdom Literature

     Some of the greatest poetry of all time, these books are full of Spirit-inspired wisdom, Godly principles, praise and exultation toward our faithful Creator.

Pentateuch and History of Israel
     As we read about God's covenant with Israel and their constant failure to obey it, we gain perspective on our need for a savior. We also see the origin of salvation through faith in Abraham, and countless records of our Lord's miraculous power.

Chronicles and Prophets
     Amidst the turmoil of  Israel's disobedience, the Prophets emerge as God's chosen instruments to point us toward our Messiah and the hope of a new and better covenant.

Gospels and Epistles
     Jesus. Our Savior destroys the power of sin forever. The early Church is filled with the Holy Spirit. Saul of Tarsus is transformed into Paul the Apostle and chosen by God to embolden us to an obedient life in Christ under the freedom of our faith.*

So my plea to you is that you set aside time each week to plan, especially to plan your life of prayer and Bible study. Give some thought how God might want to use you that week in a special way. Plan the letters you need to write, the Bible verses you want to teach your children, the visit you want to make, the book you want to read, the neighbor you want to talk to, etc.

*From the Journey St. Louis Engage Scripture page.

You're Making Me Two Tents? (Sermon from 12/24/11)

Sermon from Metro Atlanta SDB Church on 12/24/11

This message takes a brief look at the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles from Nehemiah 8:13-18 (with additional background from John 7:1-52; 8:12and Leviticus 23:33-44) and helps us see that the conflict between the temporary and the eternal does not just make us too tense but stems from God making for us two tents. Jesus shows us, helps us, and leads us through the journey of two tents from His birth to His return.

Affection Moves Us to Share (Extended Version)

    This article is found in the January 2012 edition of the Sabbath Recorder:

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (ESV)

     The book, Real Hope in Chicago, is about a high school coach named Wayne Gordon. He was doing a Bible study after school with some inner city kids in the Lawndale area, which was the second poorest community in the country and having issues with drugs and gangs. God gave him such a desirous heart for that community that he moved to Lawndale.
     The kids urged him not to move there because it would be very dangerous for him but Wayne moved there anyway. He got attacked by one of the gangs and had his house broken into again and again.
He persevered not for himself or a sense of duty but a desire to love these kids, share the gospel, and share his life with them. Those kids asked him to start a church and to be their pastor. I don’t how he did it but his love for the community of Lawndale was so strong that he had the opportunity to witness to the guy that kept breaking into his house. Today, that church has 600 members and has ministered to Lawndale by sharing the lives that the gospel has changed with the brokenness found in the community. In other words, the gospel didn’t just transform the people; it transformed the entire community. Wayne Gordon had lived out the truth of 1 Thessalonians 2:8.

Being Affectionately Desirous

     I love being affectionate with my wife and kids. It indicates my desire to continue my relationship with them. Affection is not always physical. It can be demonstrated in a myriad of ways. One of the best ways to show affection is through clear and true communication. This happens in spoken language but also in body language.

     How do you communicate affection and desire to your community and to people who visit your church? What message do your words convey to visitors and the community? What does your body language convey to visitors and the community? (Think about what your church communicates with others when you don't answer the phone, your website is out of date, or your property sits empty most of the week.)

     I love that I get to see my friends and other church members at church every Saturday. However, I want to make more friends and have more people join the body of Christ. My desire is for others to know the same Jesus that changed my life almost twenty years ago. My affection lets others know that I want them to not just have a relationship with Jesus but with me as well.

Ready to Share the Gospel

     According to this passage, it seems as if the gospel is not just words but also how believing those words can impact your life. It concerns me that many folks cannot articulate the gospel of Jesus Christ well. This does not bode well for being ready to share it.

     If we know Christ, we all have a testimony to share concerning how the gospel saves. If He has been working in our lives, we all have a testimony to live concerning how the gospel transforms. Can you give your testimony to what Jesus has saved you from, saved you for, and saved you to? If you can, then you can speak to the infinite love and grace and mercy of God and live it among those who don't know Him. If you can't, then will you practice? Ask for help from another church member or a pastor if necessary.

But Also Our Own Selves

     The sacrifice of animals for the atonement of sins is no longer necessary for our reconciliation with God with the death of Jesus providing the ultimate and once for all scapegoat for the trespasses of those who abide in Him.

     However, there still is a sacrifice to occur by Christians. Romans 12:1 appeals to us “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice”. While martyrdom and a physical death in defense of our faith qualifies here, I do not believe that Paul is calling us all to die as martyrs. This passage is referring to living your life in such a way that God is ordering the steps and not your self.

     Part of our desire for others to know Christ is to provide them with not just testimony of how the gospel transforms our lives but an example of how that life is lived. Part of sharing our own selves for the sake of the gospel is not necessarily moving to the ghetto but allowing others to see how the gospel impacts your workplace, your marriage, your finances, and your priorities.

     This transparency does not come easily and can open our lives up to attack. This is where we learn to lean upon God and His promises to us. Jesus' ministry would not have been nearly as effective had He never involved Himself in the lives of others but shared the gospel one day in seven.

     ARE YOU READY as churches to be affectionately desirous of your communities, to share the Gospel in word and deeds, and sacrifice your preferences in service of Him? AREYOU READY for God to use your church to bring people to Himself? AREYOU READY to sacrifice your comfort, your preferences, your desires, and even your own self to the glory of God? ARE YOU READY for the gospel of Jesus Christ to take its preeminent place in our pulpits and our lives? ARE YOU READY to not just be Seventh Day Baptist but seven day Christians? 

Missional Living Resources

The listing of these items does not in any way imply endorsement personally or by Seventh Day Baptists. These links are merely meant for reference or for provoking discussion.

Here are a list of links referred to from the December 2011 Sabbath Recorder:
Being Missional May Kill Your Church
Missional Pneumatology
Missional Christianity
Missional Christology
Missional Ecclesiology
Meals with a Mission
10 Things that Keep us from Mission
What Does it Mean to be Missional?
How NOT to be a Missional Church!
Missional Manifesto
30 Ways to be Missional at Work
Leading a Missional Life
Tim Keller on Missional
Friend of Missional

Don't Put It Off (Extended Version)

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 24:44 (ESV)

I have had a few bad days in my life (this is an understatement). A lot of these bad days involve vehicles and problems with the operations of these vehicles. These operational problems are often magnified by my laziness to prevent them from happening. The story of a few of these days goes something like this:

I was driving my car and I realized that I was driving on a flat tire. These things happen. I jack up the car, put on the spare, and continue about my day's business. A week later, the spare tire was still on my car. One of my other tires went flat. I already had the spare on my car. I ended up pushing the car close to a mile to a service station. There I was told that due to riding on the spare for such a length and moving the car so far on its rim. That I would also need an alignment and a new rim in addition to two new tires.

Here is where the bad days could have been prevented: 1. These two tires were 35,000 mile tires. I had put twice that many miles on them when they went flat. 2. Instead of addressing the problem directly, I caused more problems by driving on the spare for longer than was wise. 3. This all ended up costing me much more in the long run in terms of time and money than if I would have addressed them up front.

In the September 2011 edition of the Sabbath Recorder, it announced the Conference theme that God has chosen for us, “Are You Ready?” This has confirmed in me and many of you (thank you for your Spirit led encouragement) that God is ready to mightily move amongst Seventh Day Baptists and is even now preparing us for the work that He would have us do as agents of His Kingdom. This theme is God's challenge to us that we should get ready to be a SOLD OUT, NO EXCUSES, WILLING TO DO ANYTHING SHORT OF SIN people in order that we might save some of the people God has in our cities (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

We have such little time on this planet (that is NOT our home). We don't know how many days our lives will number (but God has them numbered.) Most certainly we will not know the fixed day for holy judgment (although many have and continue to try to fix a date). What we do know, from the parables of Jesus found in Matthew 25, is that those who are prepared for our Lord's glorious coming will be happy that it has arrived. Those who are not ready will dread His return. So Are You Ready?

The key to being ready is being prepared. Is our preparedness for the coming of Jesus a priority? Or, like in my story above, are we being lazy and selfish with the stewardship of our resources so that our lack of preparation has an eternal cost?

Faithful men have been showing us how mankind and God work hand in hand in the preparation of a spiritual harvest. While God was preparing judgment for the world in Genesis 6, Noah was preparing to save some of God's creation. While God, through the prophets, were preparing people for their Messiah, Jesus was preparing to become a missionary to our culture to accomplish God's rescue plan. While Jesus, the God-man, was preparing His disciples for His death and the coming of the Comforter, the disciples were preparing to lead His bride, the church. God is preparing Seventh Day Baptists and the people in their communities for spiritual harvest. Are You Ready? to be prepared for your church to participate in the growth that God will bring?

The problem with our preparedness for Christ's return is that our timing is off. We are either too anxious for it and expect it soon or we become too complacent as if it will happen much further in future. The true way to get ready for His return is to look forward to it and live as if this life is an investment for Him (taking risks; see Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25). Stewardship of earthly resources is great but stewardship is not hoarding or petty decision making. A building, a building fund, what kind of music is played, and your committees won't matter when Jesus returns. These things are important but not eternal.

Before our Lord and Savior returns, we need to get ready for revival and growth. There are some lessons to take away from my mistakes mentioned in the story that can help us as we answer our challenge, Are You Ready?:

1. The tires were twice past their regular life span. If there was some regular inspection of the tires, I would have seen that these tires had no tread and needed replaced before a bad day begins. A lot of our churches are having bad days because they will not do an inspection to see what is outdated and no longer works or what can be done to be ready for where God is taking them next.

2. The problem I had needed immediate attention. It was not taken care of immediately. More problems followed. Part of being prepared is not putting off problems to another day. Those problems will still be there. Address any problems immediately and stop blaming time or money or put your excuse here. Visitors to your church, and more importantly Jesus, are not interested in your excuses as to why we are not ready for them.

3. Lack of preparedness costs more in the long run than being ready. It generally ends up costing more money, time, and emotion to address issues later than sooner. The costs could really add up as well because when we are dealing with the bride of Christ the costs are eternal.

Are You Ready? for God to bring His Kingdom growth into Seventh Day Baptist churches. If yes, share what God is doing in your churches to facilitate and prepare for this growth. If not, are you spiritually, relationally, financially, and actively ready for your church to grow?

Please continue this conversation with me this year. Join me as we continue to pray for the revitalization of existing churches and the planting of new ones. Contact me with your questions, comments, concerns, and prayer requests. Let's get ready for what God is doing and partner with Him as faithful servants.

Email me at: john.j.pethtel@gmail.com

Call or text me at: 304-629-9823

Follow me on Twitter: @jjpethtel

Friend me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jjpethtel

Visit my blog: blogspot.jjpethtel.com

Pondering Freedom

As I sit with my daughter on my lap (dressed up as Snow White) about to enjoy Cars 2, eat a dinner at a restaurant, and enjoy fireworks, I wonder what folks in other countries do to celebrate their country.
I am grateful to live in America but even more grateful to God for my freedom in Christ.
Remember during this holiday to celebrate America and worship God. Don't confuse the two

Expository Preaching and John MacArthur

"Last Sunday night, to the sound of thunderous ovation, Dr. MacArthur completed the expository preacher’s equivalent of landing on the moon."

I don't always agree with everything that John MacArthur says or believes (i.e. dispensationalism) or how he attacks some issues (i.e. Mark Driscoll) but this week after 43 years of pulpit ministry, Dr. MacArthur has preached through the whole New Testament verse-by-verse.

Expository (verse by verse) preaching has become something of a dying art as most churches and preachers prefer topical sermons (jumping from Scripture to Scripture to support points). I do believe that topical preaching has it's place in speaking from the word of God but for regular systematic preaching I believe expository preaching denies you opportunities to proof text, gives people the whole counsel of God, and disallows skipping the "hard" verses.

To this feat, I say Bravo! And should God give Him another 43 more years I pray he completes the Old Testament.

To view or sample some of Dr. MacArthurs work on the New Testament, pick up one of his commentaries or visit http://www.gty.org/.

HE IS RISEN!

I just finished watching the live stream of the Mars Hill Easter Service. Jesus was made much of and many crossed over from death to life in baptism. It is a joyous occasion to witness what God has done and continues to do for us.

I have to admit that while watching the baptisms (people who were 80 and people who were 7, about 500 of them) that I got emotional. I started bawling like a baby. Thankful that God saved me and excited that He still continues to save.

He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. - Matthew 28:6a

A Good Friday Indeed (For Me)!

I am completely overwhelmed with things to do at the moment. It seems as the nexus of all of my responsibilities have met together this week (Christian, husband, father, pastor, Sears employee, leader, friend) to create an instable wormhole of "how do I get anything done". It is in times like these that I am reminded to rely on my Savior's strength instead of my own. My getting things done compares nothing to how my Savior "got it done" in these three days. Thankful for His obedience and completion of work so that I can be obedient and complete mine.

Please Be Generous!

          As we consider the events occurring in different parts of the world and the knowledge that calamity and suffering will not end until our Lord and Savior returns, the SDB Christian Social Action and Disaster Relief (CSADR) Committee works diligently on your behalf to help provide compassion and relief to those who have need, both in our SDB family and to the rest of humanity, all of whom are created in the image of God.
          It is to that end that we encourage you to join with us in contributing monetarily to the needs of the many people in Japan who have suffered recently due to massive earthquakes and a tsunami. Over one thousand people have lost their lives. Many more are homeless and in need of basic supplies. It appears as though with continued aftershocks and damage to some of the country’s infrastructure that the damage may worsen.
          There are many fine relief agencies that have mobilized to help the people of Japan. We have chosen to donate through Baptist World Aid. This is an organization that we are affiliated with through the Baptist World Alliance and that we have used in the past to help us administer assistance in other regions of the world, even as recently as the earthquakes in Haiti. We encourage you to send your donations to be added to ours to help Japan. Your giving will help provide some comfort in the midst of this tragedy and provides a tangible way to show Christ's love to others.
          May God help us realize in this suffering and in our giving that our creation groans to be reunited with its Creator!
Please send checks with a note that they are for Japan to:
SDB Center
PO Box 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
Or e-gift to with a note for Christian Social Action for Japan here.

A Plane Landed Right on Top of My Car

One of the neat things about living in the ATL is driving around I-285 near the airport and going through the tunnel that is the runway. Yesterday, on my way back from preaching at the SE ATL SDB Church, I was driving under this runway and a plane landed over top of me. It shook my whole car, but a neat experience.

You can see more about the construction about that here. Can't do that any other place but here!

I HATE DIVORCE!

One of the things that occurs on a regular basis is the constant and clockwork like child swapping that goes on in the parking lot in front of my Sears store. (ex)Husbands and wives gather there to exchange custody of their children like they are a book that was borrowed from the library. Sometimes there is an interaction that goes on that is quite pleasant between the adults, as if they split rather amicably. However, this is rare. The normal occurrence is that the parent returning the child opens the other parents car door and places that child in the car, closes it, gets back into their car and leaves. No speaking, no interaction, but almost always the child bawling because of the discord and abandonment felt because of divorce. It has become even more odd recently when I have started to notice a former couple who is swapping their dog back and forth.

This story to explain about how much I hate divorce. I HATE IT! I have lost a close friend who killed himself over the complications of divorce. I have friends who have been emotionally crushed by the devastation of divorce. I see children of divorced parents ending their marriages in divorce. I HATE DIVORCE! Guess who else hates it? That is right God. (Malachi 2:16)

I don't want to have a debate on whether it is permissible or not. Culturally it is permissible and religiously it is permissible under certain circumstances. I just want to know how to make it end. Maybe not until Jesus comes to take His bride. If so, come Lord Jesus! Selah.

The Pelagian Drinking Song

The Pelagian Drinking Song

Pelagius lived at Kardanoel
And taught a doctrine there
How, whether you went to heaven or to hell
It was your own affair.
It had nothing to do with the Church, my boy,
But was your own affair.

No, he didn't believe
In Adam and Eve
He put no faith therein!
His doubts began
With the Fall of Man
And he laughed at Original Sin.
With my row-ti-tow
Ti-oodly-ow
He laughed at original sin.

Then came the bishop of old Auxerre
Germanus was his name
He tore great handfuls out of his hair
And he called Pelagius shame.
And with his stout Episcopal staff
So thoroughly whacked and banged
The heretics all, both short and tall --
They rather had been hanged.

Oh he whacked them hard, and he banged them long
Upon each and all occasions
Till they bellowed in chorus, loud and strong
Their orthodox persuasions.
With my row-ti-tow
Ti-oodly-ow
Their orthodox persuasions.

Now the faith is old and the Devil bold
Exceedingly bold indeed.
And the masses of doubt that are floating about
Would smother a mortal creed.
But we that sit in a sturdy youth
And still can drink strong ale
Let us put it away to infallible truth
That always shall prevail.

And thank the Lord
For the temporal sword
And howling heretics too.
And all good things
Our Christendom brings
But especially barley brew!
With my row-ti-tow
Ti-oodly-ow
Especially barley brew!

Intelligence: How Much You Know or Who You Know?

For those of you who have been introduced to my son, Xavier, you know how sponge-like and capable his intellect is. He very much reminds me of myself at his age: reading and watching anything, learning from it, memorizing details, encyclopedic like in knowledge. This growing intellect led us to believe that he may very well be advanced for his age. So my wife and I pushed for him to be included in the local school board's gifted student program. After much hoop jumping through and a lot of poor communication from the school, he was “tested” and found not to meet the requirements for this program.

We were disappointed. We know he is smart and gifted and were now concerned that his ever growing boredom in school was going to cause behavior issues. Should we find another school? Should we homeschool?

As I suffered through that disappointment, I thought of how important being recognized for your intelligence was. It is almost certainly at the heart of my pride problems. I spent years thinking and being told about how smart I was and how my good grades and intelligence would make me a well respected and rich man. Oh, how I was disappointed! Intelligence is no measure of a man. My measure of “manhood” is found in how well and how closely I identify with the transforming nature and person of Christ. I pray and hope that I can now teach my son the importance of this knowledge and not all knowledge is what truly makes the difference. I love you son! May you learn to grow and love His Son!

Killer Marriage Tips

               About two months ago, I went to see the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. While I was waiting for the movie to start, there was a gentleman in front of me there with his wife and his grade school aged son. The wife went to go use the restroom and as soon as she did, the man (who had not looked up from his phone once) immediately went to match.com (a dating website) and was browsing through pictures of women. I almost threw up at the thought of him ignoring his child and cheating on his wife while waiting to watch this movie.
              My killer marriage tip for this guy: Be a man! Love your wife! Pay attention to your children! You are going to regret every single moment of what you are doing now and you won't be able to change it.
              These guys have some other killer marriage tips that you may be doing but probably should think about it twice.

The "Unmentionable" Sin

Gluttony.

I love food. I said it. I love it a lot. My physique currently shows that.

If there is one thing that I have been convicted of in the last few months more than any other, it is that food is my comfort idol.

When I get upset, sad, depressed, anxious, joyful, or any other (insert your) emotion, I run to food to help.

NO MORE!

I have too often run to my false Savior of Ice Cream, or Cheese Fries, or McDonalds instead of the One I know who does provide comfort and joy. I will now from this day forth, with the power of the Spirit, work to remove this idol from my life.

Will you help me?

This! Yes!

Pastor Mark hits the nail on the head (except for the day of Sabbath thing). I need to listen to the gospel like this everyday. It gets me going.

Election

Taken from the Coram Deo Blog:

Philip Ryken offers this helpful analogy to understand God’s sovereignty in salvation and how it interfaces with our responsibility:

The famous American Bible teacher Donald Grey Barnhouse often used an illustration to help people make sense of election. He asked them to imagine a cross like the one on which Jesus died, only so large that it had a door in it. Over the door were these words from Revelation: ‘Whosoever will may come.’ These words represent the free and universal offer of the gospel. By God’s grace, the message of salvation is for everyone. Every man, woman and child who will come to the cross is invited to believe in Jesus Christ and enter eternal life. One the other side of the door a happy surprise awaits the one who believes and enters. For from the inside, anyone glancing back can see these words from Ephesians written above the door: ‘Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.’ Election is best understood in hindsight, for it is only after coming to Christ that one can know whether one has been chosen in Christ. Those who make a decision for Christ find that God made a decision for them in eternity past.

I find this to be an understandable view of election. Some folks may argue who chose who. I think Scripture is pretty clear on how man can do nothing deserving of salvation and by God's grace we can enter into His Kingdom. It seems to me like salvation belongs to God not man. (Rev. 7:10)

#itsthe011son

If you are not using Twitter, you should give it a try. You are limited to 140 characters to speak your peace. This leads to a lot of bad grammar but some amusing statements. It is a much more pithy method of conversation and I find it to be useful when trying to solicit social commentary on specific topics. When you join, follow me @jjpethtel.

One of the things used on Twitter to search for trending topics is hashtags (This symbol: #). You place a hashtag in your conversation such as #snowpacalypse11 (remember you don't use spaces) and then if you do a search your "tweet" will show up along with everyone else who is using the hashtag.

This is useful to me for two primary reasons: Humor (look at some hashtags when you join they are funny, such as the one that is the title of this post courtesy of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon) and conferences (every one attending the same conference will be using the same hashtag and you can make new friends or find out about seminars or breakouts you could not attend).

In the church world, Twitter is good for posting short announcement and for connecting with folks you don't know who might have the same or similar interests as you in the same geographical area.

I have learned that if I only spend time with people who know Christ that I fail in the Great Commission arena so this has been an invaluable tool in making virtual connections that precede face to face ones.

When Yes Means No

Sitting here pondering the events in the lives of ones whom I love dearly and my schedule for the upcoming year and realizing that I need to be very consitent and orderly with the right priorities to make sure that I accomplish everything that I have responsibility for.

One of the most influential things I read last year was a series of blogs titled Biblical Productivity by C.J. Mahaney. Something that truly stuck out to me in these series of posts was the truth that when I say yes to doing something I am saying no to doing something else.

Those who know me best know that I have a hard time saying no. There are many reasons for this:
I want to be helpful.

Sometimes I feel like I have to be helpful because I am a pastor.

I am skilled and competent in lots of different areas of service so it is easy to help in lots of things.

So when someone asks for help I used to say most certainly yes.

But I have become convicted that saying yes isn't always the best choice of my time. I can only play so many roles so I have (upon the advice of Mahaney) limited my roles to 5. Here they are in order of importance:

1. Christian (this includes devoting time to spiritual disciplines and growth because I fully believe that if I am not growing that I cannot help others grow)

2. Husband

3. Father

4. Pastor/Church Leader

5. Friend

I encourage you to read these blog posts from Mahaney during the upcoming months and to change your life accordingly. You will not be disappointed.

2011: Best Sequel Ever?

If this year were a movie title for my life it would be John J. Pethtel XXXIII: How Will He Do It?.

Spoiler Alert: I can't. There is nothing that I can do of any value without Christ.

It only took me thirty years and some change to realize this basic Christian truth but it has dawned on me that in every thing I do I need to show where my real treasures lie.

So today, as I set out to preach the gospel at the Journey ATL for some friends or as I work my shift this afternoon at Sears selling appliances or as I come home and eat dinner and send my kids to bed, I need to show what my true treasure is and where my true dependence is.

May God help me be faithful to building His Kingdom and not mine through my works! SDG!

Updates coming soon!

I am wanting to make this blog more formidable in 2011. I am currently working on a schedule to distribute and re-distribute content. I will be examining some of the going's on in the theological world as well as some personal experiences to share with everyone. I hope to be faithful in using this as an outlet to share some of my studies and personal spiritual growth. I find it very helpful spiritually and socially to be connected to others in blogland and I hope to join this world regularly.

In the mean time, please pray for me and my family. This next two years are gearing up to be some of the most busy and challenging yet. May God get the glory from our family's pursuit of Him.

Don't be one of These!

EIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF FALSE TEACHERS

[from Coram Deo's (Omaha, NE) eldership training class]

1. They turn secondary issues into primary ones (1 Tim 1:1-7, 2 Tim 2:23)
2. They cause division & dissension (1 Tim 6:3-5, Romans 16:17-18)
3. They prey on the weak (Rom 16:17-18, 2 Tim 3:1-9)
4. They talk a lot but say little (2 Tim 2:16, Titus 1:10)
5. They have un-Christlike character (Titus 1:16, 1 Tim 4:1-2)
6. They don’t call people to repentance (2 Tim 4:1-5, Jer 23:14)
7. They despise authority (Jude 8, Col 2:18-19)
8. They are ultimately tools of Satan himself (1 Tim 4:1, 2 Tim 3:24-26)

False teachers tend to distort the truth along one of two trajectories: legalism (1 Tim 4:1-5) or liberalism (Jude 4, 2 Pet 2:18-19)

Summer Institute: SDB Polity, Week Two

On Sunday, June 20, we started our 2nd week of Summer Institute with a test reflecting upon discussions from the first week. Then in the afternoon, we started with the topics for the rest of the course:

-Women in Ministry (or actually Women in Pastoral Leadership)

-Meaning, Forms, and Methods of Worship in SDB churches

-Baptism

-The Lord's Supper (including transubstantiation, consubstantiation, real presence, and memorial views)

-Origins of SDB General Conference (including original purpose and the "associational principle")

-Present polity and structure of the SDB General Conference (with focus on the roles of General Council, CLT, and the Executive Director)

-How General Conference functions in session (one week a year) and out of session (51 weeks a year)

-The current Ad Hoc Committee proposal on reorganization (found here)

It was a great two weeks with a great bunch of guys who love Jesus. I want to thank Pastor Gordon Lawton and Nick Kersten for teaching our class and for the students in the class for helping me learn a lot of lessons (both in the syllabus and not.!)

I would love to write or share more of my thoughts or our discussions on any interested topic. Leave a comment here, ask me on facebook, or send me an email.

Summer Institute: SDB Polity, Week One

On Monday morning, June 14 at 8:30am, 10 students, including me, started the journey toward learning "how" SDBs handle church issues. Rev. Gordon Lawton, Dean of the Center on Ministry, is our instructor.

We have tackled the following issues thus far:

Who are the People of God? (viewed from dispensational, covenantal, and antinomian perspectives)

Local Church Covenants

The Kinship System (including the tension between the Great Commandment and Great Commission)

Internal/External Balance in relation to the purpose of the church

3 Major Types of Church Polity: congregational, episcopal, presbyterian

9 Conference tests for congregational polity

process of church membership

the importance of conducting orderly business

Authority/Leadership in the church

Call to Ministry/Licensure/Ordination/Accreditation

I am looking forward to next week and what discussions wait in store for us based upon God's word. I would love to write or share more of my thoughts or our discussions on any interested topic. Leave a comment here, ask me on facebook, or send me an email.

Wisconsin Bound

I am getting ready for my last Summer Institute session in Janesville, Wisconsin. I love going to Janesville to see great friends and catch up with what they have been doing.

This visit (assuming I pass the course) and a vote on the floor of General Conference (in the affirmative) will make me an accredited SDB minister.

I am excited about this prospect. Fifteen years ago I started my quest towards ministry with a calling by God and an affirmation from my local church (Salem SDB). This summer I will have served ten different churches in some sort of ministry capacity, preached countless sermons, worked multiple camps, delivered numerous children's messages, sung in many special music presentations, started a campus ministry, gone through three Summer Institutes, graduated from four years of seminary, and made so many good friends that I cannot mention them all.

Here is the lesson in all of this doing and the one thing I am sure I have learned. I am not capable of changing one heart, even mine, with all of the learning and activity I have done. I am still fully, totally, and forever reliant upon the power of God.

I pray that what people have invested in me (time, money, patience, etc.) will bear fruit through my faithfulness and reliance upon God. Thank you so much to so many for so long!

Soli Deo Gloria

The State of the Church in the South

This is a preview video for the Advance '10 Conference that I really want to go to at the end of the month. I am not able to but in this teaser video, David Platt, a pastor in Birmingham, AL, briefly details the state of the church in the U.S. South.

Thoughts from Plant and Replant 09

It was a great time of fellowship and encouragement at Plant and Replant 09. There were many old friends there. Also, new friends and acquaintances were made. I look forward to my next opportunity of fellowship with these gentlemen seeking next steps for ministry.

Most of the folks here were pastors or church planters (or aspiring to be). This was an encouragement, especially on the replanting side of things. Replanting churches, especially in the religious South, is the next big thing. There are many churches who want to revive themselves and make better use of their resources and just don't know how or where to get started. This was a great time of learning some of the struggles, pains, and blessings of church planting and replanting.

You can click on the title above to go to the Plant and Replant 09 website to download audio from the sessions but I am going to share some quips and quotes that I heard from many during the sessions (I attended the RePlanting track.)

"It is easier to give birth than to resurrect the dead." (concerning planting vs. replanting)

Church Members = Missionaries

People aren't scaffolding to get to the church that I want.

4 Things to Keep in Mind when RePlanting:

1. The Gospel - the gospel brings life after death; you must be a pastor before you are an executioner.

2. An organism is dying not an organization - memories are involved; personal interactions are involved; SHE is a church and SHE is dying.

3. Discern what God has let die - Is it obvious that it is dead? Is there no hope?

4. What is old needs to be buried - new life with new things; celebrate the past and then move on; an old ship is sunk a new boat is built (not resurrecting the Titanic)

3 Things to Help Resolve Conflict in RePlanting:

1. The Gospel causes conflict - don't give up on people; you must pastor everyone, even those who disagree with you but use the Gospel

2. Conflict cannot be ignored - if you do it will cause critical mass; address every ripple of conflict; be wary because dealing with conflict is exhausting

3. Prayer is the center - if you have a shallow prayer life your time will be tougher in RePlanting; Proverbs 16:3, Let the Lord establish your plans

5 Most Important Things for Planters and RePlanters in order:

1. Take care of you and your family - the church will only go as far as its leader; your wife must thrive as well; your health must be important to you and the church

2. Vision - you are responsible for the vision; you must continually fight for better clarity

3. Communication - you are the lead communicator; you must continually strive to get better; you must use all avenues of communication for the sake of the gospel

4. Leadership - the most important use of your time is teaching, training, and coaching leaders who will teach, train, and coach others.

5. Finances - not giving is a pastoral issue that must be addressed

Align every thing to the vision; All ministries and activities; All communication.