Looking ahead to 2013

As we approach the new year, so often thoughts wander to what we wish we could have accomplished in 2012. Other times, we think of what we would like to see and do, or even become in 2013. The change of the calendar seems to invoke a sense of resolve in us all, yet truly January 1st is just another day in God's timeline of history. The day itself means nothing, and truly any resolution made at this time of year would not be more earnestly fulfilled than other promises or plans we may have made over this past year. It is with this in mind that I would like to share how we believe that rather than making New Years resolutions, we ought to commit to faithfully love the Lord our God, to obey His commands, to know more about the character of God, and then to look back at what the Lord has accomplished in conforming us to the image of His dear Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.

Looking back 10 months, our family moved back to Maine as led by the Lord. We had hopes and plans for many things, local church fellowship, Gospel outreach, goals for ourselves and our children. Many of these hopes were not fulfilled in the way we hoped they would, but we also have to recognize that our plans are not always God's plans, and at times we plow forward with what we think is God's plan rather than waiting on the Lord.

This past  year, we gave up our formal commendation for the work of evangelism. We now meet in our home to remember the Lord Jesus and have fellowship with another family around the Lord's Table. We are few in number, but our hearts are united in Christ and only clinging to the love of Christ and the obedience to the Scriptures. My plans needed changing to align less with what I hoped for, and more with what God has in mind for us. So often this is the case, being zealous for the Lord we tend to run ahead of Him in zeal. We run ahead and hope the Lord blesses our plans rather than submitting ourselves in humility and brokenness to His plans, which are always better! 

We have not organized any large scale evangelistic outreach in our area. I (Mark) have only preached publicly once since March, and that was in Tennessee (a long ways from Maine), and have no plans at this point for public preaching or teaching. These very typical events associated in the life of a man whose heart beats for the proclamation of glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, one might think that this is a fault, but indeed there has been more fervent prayer and more faithful sharing of the Gospel in our lives this past year than before. I have found there is great value in large outreach events, but that often things die down immediately thereafter. I have also had to learn that my desire for door to door evangelism and other venues to proclaim the Gospel are not always what God wants from all people. We are all commanded and expected to proclaim the Gospel, to have compassion on the lost and reach out to them with the truth of sin and salvation. We are not all commanded to knock on doors, have children's Bible clubs, talk to folks at nursing homes, or any of a thousand other ideas from which there is much fruit for God's Kingdom. 

The largest idea of this past year, and the one for which I look earnestly forward to coming days, is that of discipleship in the family. With much research, prayer, conviction, and even obvious needs in regard to the local church and family, we have resolved not only for the new year, but for each day of our lives been transformed from a nice little family who loves the Lord to a passionate group of disciples following the only Teacher worth following. 

It is imperative as we see the commands of the Lord not only to know and obey them, but to love righteousness and to see every good work as a means by which we glorify the Father in the Son.. 

Nursing Home Ministry (Post from 12/28/2012)

This encouraging email came in today regarding nursing home ministry. Many folks have a desire to reach out to those who cannot get out to church or other community events, yet often we hear that folks don't know where to start or whether this type of ministry would be profitable. Below read the experiences of the Hughes family in Rockland, Maine. The Hughes family attend Lakeview Presbyterian Church in Rockland, Maine. The Knox Center, mentioned within, is a long term care facility in Rockland. 

We hope this in depth look at the details of nursing home ministry, complete with tips of some things to be sure to do and other things to avoid, is welcome here at Equipped Ambassadors. We are so thankful for many others like the Hughes family, who labor in the name of Christ. 

If you have an equipping and encouraging story about the proclamation of the Gospel and related ministry, feel free to send us a description or story and we may feature it here on the blog. The body of Christ is made up of such diverse people with various talents, gifts, and abilities, yet one united body given to the glorification of our blessed Savior. What a privilege it is to serve alongside other saints for the glory of God.

EAC

Good morning!

In regard to your query today about nursing home ministry...Our family has been involved with a monthly outreach at the Knox Center for the past 13 years. We took up the charge at the request of our Session at Lakeview OPC (Orthodox Presbyterian Church), having had a natural connection with the Knox from the time that my dad was a resident there. On the first Sunday of every month, we lead an afternoon worship service which includes the reading of scripture, prayer, a brief Gospel devotional message, and the singing of hymns. John leads the service and Sean and I help out with the musical side of things. Another church deacon regularly comes with us to assist.

We have found that these residents are longing for spiritual food and for reminders of the grace and encouragement for their souls that is found only in Jesus Christ. John leads them in a chronological study of one book of the Bible, always pointing them to the gospel, encouraging them to embrace Jesus Christ, or reminding them of the hope that they have in Him. Right now we're starting in the gospel of Mark, having just finished the gospel of John, a study that took at least two years for us to complete.

We minister to residents at all levels of care, including the dementia patients. It always amazes us that those who have lost their short-term cognitive abilities still hold onto the familiar hymns and scripture passages that they learned in their youth, quoting John 14 or Psalm 23 with us from memory, or remembering ALL of the verses to all of the hymns! Even when natural mental capacity is failing, God's Spirit continues to minister to their souls through the truth of His incomparable and changeless Word.

Because we are there every month, we have come to know many of the residents by name, and a little bit about their lives. For anyone involved in nursing home ministry, I would say that this consistency is very important. If I had my "druthers", I would want to have a "Knox Team" of perhaps half a dozen church members to lead the service every month, so that the residents see the same faces and we can build relationships with them even more effectively than we do now. Many of these residents are at the Knox for several years, and we always feel as though we have lost a friend when one of them passes. There have been several occasions when we have sent our condolences to surviving family members, because we have such sweet memories of our time with their mum or dad, around the Word of God.

It is important to touch the residents, to hold their hands and pray with them, to get down on "wheelchair level" so that you can look them in the eye. Staying for a few minutes after the service to work on a jigsaw puzzle together or ask about their children and grandchildren can open up more opportunities to share the love of Christ with them. Having our whole family involved in the ministry has been important, too, as the residents have been able to watch Sean grow up before their eyes. It gives them a connection with an intact family, something that they lost when they moved into the facility.

While not every resident attends each service, we have a core of "regulars" who look forward to our coming, and sometimes we have visiting family members join us for the service as well. Since our service is on Sunday, the Knox is often functioning on a short weekend staff, and it takes extra planning and motivation for the CNAs to get their residents fed, toileted and ready for the service at 2:00 p.m. Therefore, I always try to remember to thank the staff before we leave, knowing that their involvement can either make or break the success of our ministry. They hear what goes on in our services, and they know that we're there in the name of Christ, so a word of encouragement to the staff can speak volumes as to the validity of our Gospel witness.

Our church also has an ongoing ministry at Bartlett Woods one Sunday afternoon every month. The physical needs of the residents there are not as acute, but the spiritual hunger is still very evident. Our pastor leads that service, helped by his family and several other church members. That outreach began because one of our own members was a resident there and was finding it difficult to get out to services at our church. She passed away about five years ago, but the outreach has continued on.

Sorry my message is so lengthy. I hope that there is some information here which you'll find helpful. We love our friends at the Knox and pray that God will continue to bring eternal fruit from the seeds that have been planted there.

Have a blessed day,
Pam

The Truth About Grace- Review

As we have become a bit behind in our expected schedule for book reviews, I have to preface this review with an apology. This book, The Truth About Grace by John MacArthur, has been one of those books that didn't leap off the page to me. Maybe it is the writing style, or possibly the fact that I have listened to Mr. MacArthur on the radio for so many years, but I felt this book just fell flat.

The Truth About Grace is not qualified as a textbook, but was above the standard teaching methodology employed in many pulpits across the world today, as many have rather gone into great depths to provide entertainment and milk teaching rather than getting into the meat of God's truth. It is with this in mind that I admit that I did not learn much about the topic at hand from brother MacArthur, but rather a restating of that which I already knew or believed. I must also admit that this man's teaching on other doctrines, I do have a bit of skepticism in regard to any teaching. Surely this review is not the place to discuss other doctrines, and so I will say shortly that this book is a good read and an encouragement of the grace of God for the average Christian.

We reviewed this book for Booksneeze.com and were provided with a free ecopy  of the book for the purpose of review. As always, you get our honest opinions, the good and the bad. Thanks Booksneeze.com 

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The first of many home made wooden toys

Today, we got our scroll saw, an early Christmas present from Sara's mom and dad. We got home and started work on our first project, a simple and fun wooden toy.

This bear was cut out with the scroll saw, drilled holes in the bear's hands (paws) and the laced some nylon rope through the holes. A simple toy that the kids are enjoying immensely.

This is the beginning of a new venture for the Cowperthwaite family. Nathaniel wants to learn how to use this saw and other woodworking tools in order to make various wooden toys. He hopes to sell them online and at local craft fairs.

Sara and Virginia are the ideas department, with Virginia thinking of fun things to make that kids will enjoy. Sara has lots of ideas for educational games and also has a flair for the artistic.



My father, George Cowperthwaite Jr. lives in Gouldsboro, Maine and has been working with his scroll saw for many years now and makes everything from 3D optical illusion art to clocks, puzzles, and ornaments. We hope to help dad sell some of his wood art via the website Nathaniel is building.

In the coming days and months, we hope to have more projects like this to share with you all. We also plan to make kits of multiple age appropriate wooden toys to send to missionaries. These toys will be great for the children living in the city, the country, the jungle, and more. Pairing these with Sara's education toys, and we just might be onto something here. Whether we make money doing it or not, we love working together and sharing with others, so I see this as a win/win situation.


       

Nuclear Strength Apologetics by Dr. Jason Lisle

This series is a great introduction to presuppositional apologetics and logic. It is worth watching more than once to be sure you get the concepts as Dr. Lisle tends to talk pretty fast. Still, a free lecture series like this and many more at Answers in Genesis are very valuable. Though these are free, donations are readily accepted as they want to make material available to all, but the high quality products cost a lot to produce.

Here's the link for the free on demand video of Nuclear Strength Apologetics by Dr. Jason Lisle

Be sure to check out all of AiG's videos on demand, as they are good quality, well researched Biblical science from credentialed scientists and researchers. 

Why I choose to believe the Bible by Voddie Baucham- MUST SEE!

For my Christian friends who like myself in times past have defended their belief in accuracy of God's Word with answers like:" It's what I was raised to believe" or "God changed my life, so I know He is real and the Bible is true" I challenge you to take 45 minutes to watch this series of videos http://youtu.be/EPNraxxxRO8 (part 1 here, watch parts 1 to 5) and see the failure to connect with any unsaved person based on such illogical answers. This message challenged me a lot, and I also suggest Jason Lisle's Ultimate Proof of Creation to further educate us on this issue. We will never reach the lost for Christ using illogical, emotional, irrational answers. 

I thank God that we have truth of God's Word that stands up to any challenge, and to quote brother Baucham, “The Bible is a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses that reports supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies and claim that their writings are divine writings rather than human in origin.”

Watch the video and be challenged, encouraged, and blessed. Thank you!

The Lord's Day

As our family sat around the table at breakfast this morning, it was great to see everyone got a good night's sleep. Yesterday, we had about 17 people at our home for our Thanksgiving meal. Some family members had to work on Thursday while my oldest son and I laid new flooring at my wife's parents house. After a long week of hard work, it was good to have much of our family and friends gathered around the table to enjoy the Lord's provision and bless Him for all He has done. 

Today, we took it easy and just enjoyed our time together for the early morning, taking our day of rest. Soon, we will be watching Voddie Baucham's message "Why I Choose To Believe The Bible" on Youtube. We are glad to have such great teaching and preaching available in our modern age and consider it a great privilege to have this kind of access to the teaching of faithful men of God.

Later on we hope to work through the "Catastrophe" portion of AIG's "Hiking through History" which works through the Gospel in a clear and concise chronological approach. The books were graciously given to us by a brother in Christ from West Virginia some time ago and are finally being put to use. I am amazed that sometimes we let good material sit around the house some times, but I also consider it a blessing that we have this type of abundance and are able to use things like this on a cold windy day (though the kids played outside for quite a while)and that we can talk about the Lord's salvation again by making use of resources that rely on God's Word for its authority. 

Grace and peace to you all in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ the Righteous. 

Family worship time "Amazing Grace"

I am sorry about the poor quality of the audio, as I was using our digital camera and evidently kept moving my finger near the microphone input. Nathaniel has started playing guitar (self taught) recently and this was the first time he led the family singing while playing his guitar. We made this video to share with our friend Earl as he always encourages our family in singing praise to the Lord. This was recorded during our "verse box" time where we learn and recite passages of God's Word and sing hymns, choruses, and even a few songs just for the kids. Each night is a little different, some times we read a few chapters of the Bible, other nights from our favorite Bible story book which was handed down to me by my mother. I remember reading from that same book (which is now falling apart a bit) when I was a little boy, and it is great to be able to share this with my own children.

A Father's Prayer

These past few months, along with time of Bible study and prayer at home, I have spent many hours in prayer and listening to God's Word on MP3 while I work. I thank the Lord for providing me with a job where I have about 5 to 6 hours per day to listen to Scripture, messages on audio (many from NCFIC ,Voddie Baucham, and more) and I often have great opportunity to pray. In these times, I have often considered especially my role as husband and father.

When I arrive at home each night, I have enjoyed talking with my wife about the events of the day, the struggles with the children's school work, issues of child training and character development in our older children, and a thousand other precious discussions with my beloved wife and friend. With shame I admit that rather than putting into faithful practice these things we glean from God's Word, I often lack perseverance, I struggle, and far too often I fail, but I praise God for His mercy and faithfulness. I am exceedingly thankful for prayer in these times, and I have seen many answers to my prayers if I am patient enough to wait on the Lord and wise enough to hear His voice.

This afternoon as my 3 year old son feel asleep in my arms (in "my" comfy spot in my bed) I cried out to the Lord in prayer, with tears in my eyes and a burning pain in my heart. I cannot even come close to explaining the strain on the mind and heart of a husband and father who feels woefully inadequate, yet knows the command and calling of the Lord of all creation on his life, whose only desire is to be counted a faithful servant in the eyes of the Lord. I pray that I never forget this passion that I feel today. From the depths of my soul I cry out to God and trust He will answer a prayer of faith and obedience to supply my need in this hour.

My Father in Heaven, You are the creator and sustainer of my life. You know the failures of my body, you designed my brain and you know why it is failing as it is(I suffer from a chronic neurological dysfunction). You may heal me or things may grow worse with pain, tremors, and confusion. Lord, I am pleading with you, not to take away the trial, but to give me strength to endure it, to grow through it, and to even rejoice and find joy in You even in the worst of trying days.

Jesus is my Savior and Lord, the lover of my soul, the One who gave His own life and sacrificed himself so that I might have life. Help me to walk in His steps rather than to continually stumble on these rocks in the path. Help me to walk as He walked, faithfully taking each step trusting Him who judges righteously. He is my excellent example in all things.

By your Spirit, breathe in me the breath of life in a new and living way today. Help me to truly see with clarity the Kingdom of God as Jesus explained it to Nicodemus (John 3). Speak to me and guide me as I seek to love and lead my wife, to raise up godly children and walk as an example worth following. I know that to be like Christ is beyond my ability, but with your life and breath in me I know I am able to do all you have called me to do.

Lord, when I can't explain my feelings, my fears, and my hopes for my family, help me to live them out in every way. Help me to walk away from distractions that seem innocuous but truly are sinful if I allow them to distract me from full obedience to you! Give me wisdom to truly enjoy time with my family. Don't allow me to just be in their presence physically yet far away in spirit. You have made me for a purpose, I believe in you and am born of your Holy Spirit. Equip and help me to teach my children to walk in your ways when they lie down, when they rise up, when we walk by the way, to be a walking, talking image of Christ Jesus that they can trust, who they will speak with honestly even when they fail and succumb to temptation. Help me to be merciful as you are merciful to me.

Thank you for my wife, for the strength of her character. Thank you for her love and submission that comes from fully trusting You to protect and lead our family through me as her spiritual head. Thank you for the encouragement she is to me, her unfailing example of faithfulness, of compassion and mercy, things which I fail to exemplify so often. Thank you for each one of my unique and precious children. Thank you for showing your diverse creative ways through their lives, their personalities. Help me to help and not hinder what you created them to be, but let me see them through your eyes and trust you to protect and guide them in every aspect of their future.

Thank you for giving me life, for calling me to yourself, for saving a wretched sinner who deserves judgement, for giving mercy time and time again. Thank you for not throwing in the towel on me as I deserve. Thank you for reminding me that my job as a husband is one exemplified in Christ, my job as a father is modeled in You, that there is nothing you have called me or commanded me to do that I can do on my own, but that I can do all these through Christ who gives me strength.

I commit myself today to your provision, protection, guidance, and I wish to obey you with all my heart, every action of my body, and every thought in my mind. So much I long to truly be like my Lord, my Master, to live worthy of being called "Christian" in every sense of the word. I ask all these things, humbly coming before your throne through the name of my Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Reaching our culture Biblically

Lately, I have been enjoying the messages of Ken Ham from Answers in Genesis. This video message is approximately 50 minutes in length and was recorded years ago at Liberty University.

In the lecture, Ham compares and contrasts the preaching methods of the apostle Peter in Acts chapter 2 (to a Jewish crowd) with that of Paul's message at the Areopagus in Ancient Greece as documented in Acts chapter 17. Mr. Ham has well noted that if our desire is to reach the lost with the Gospel, we need to be in prayer and following the leading of the Holy Spirit. He also notes that most modern evangelistic methods go straight to the New Testament in their proclamation of the Gospel, whereas it should be very dependent on the background and culture of the person with whom we are sharing.
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While I don't agree with everything stated in this message or other AiG materials, I believe the issue is critical for us to understand as we are living in a very Greek culture, that is, one who believes in evolution and does not generally have a Biblical worldview or even an accurate history of the world. As always, the focus of the message of the Gospel is the authority of God's Word, conforming our own thoughts and beliefs to agree with the God who is beyond time, who proclaims a 6 day creation as truth as He was the only One who caused and witnessed that creation.

Watch Ken Ham "Why won't they listen?" on Youtube

A little encouragement for homeschool moms (and dads)

Recently, Sara picked up a book at the library called "Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe" by Todd Wilson. I have always enjoyed the brilliant cartoons offered  by Todd Wilson and his insights regarding homeschooling, especially as a Christian father. This little bundle of encouragement reminds us that part of why we educate our children at home is because we want to help them become who God wants them to be, not to be just like everyone else.

Praying in light of God's sovereignty

I recently listened to John Piper recall the life and testimony of George Muller. This man was an extraordinary man of faith, and yet claimed his was not the gift of faith mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8. Rather, he said that the faith he demonstrated was not only attainable by all Christians, but indeed was necessary for those who truly understand the providence, grace, and sovereignty of God Almighty.

Below is Piper's telling of the events leading up to the death of Muller's wife, Mary. You can read or listen to the entire message HERE

Mary's Death and the Key to His Life

We have the full text of the message at Mary's funeral and we have his own recollections of this loss. To feel the force of what he says, we have to know that they loved each other deeply and enjoyed each other in the work they shared.

Were we happy? Verily we were. With every year our happiness increased more and more. I never saw my beloved wife at any time, when I met her unexpectedly anywhere in Bristol, without being delighted so to do. I never met her even in the Orphan Houses, without my heart being delighted so to do. Day by day, as we met in our dressing room, at the Orphan Houses, to wash our hands before dinner and tea, I was delighted to meet her, and she was equally pleased to see me. Thousands of times I told her—“My darling, I never saw you at any time, since you became my wife, without my being delighted to see you.”

Then came the diagnosis: “When I heard what Mr. Pritchard's judgment was, viz., that the malady was rheumatic fever, I naturally expected the worst. . . . My heart was nigh to be broken on account of the depth of my affection.” The one who had seen God answer 10,000 prayers for the support of the orphan, this time did not get what he asked. Or did he?

Twenty minutes after four, Lord's Day, February 6, 1870, Mary died. “I fell on my knees and thanked God for her release, and for having taken her to Himself, and asked the Lord to help and support us.” He recalled later how he strengthened himself during these hours. And here we see the key to his life.

The last portion of scripture which I read to my precious wife was this: “The Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord will give grace and glory, no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Now, if we have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have received grace, we are partakers of grace, and to all such he will give glory also. I said to myself, with regard to the latter part, “no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly”—I am in myself a poor worthless sinner, but I have been saved by the blood of Christ; and I do not live in sin, I walk uprightly before God. Therefore, if it is really good for me, my darling wife will be raised up again; sick as she is. God will restore her again. But if she is not restored again, then it would not be a good thing for me. And so my heart was at rest. I was satisfied with God. And all this springs, as I have often said before, from taking God at his word, believing what he says.

Here is the cluster of unshakable convictions and experiences that are the key to this remarkable life. “I am in myself a poor worthless sinner.”I have been saved by the blood of Christ.” “I do not live in sin.”God is sovereign over life and death. If it is good for her and for me, she will be restored again. If not she won't.”My heart is at rest.”I am satisfied with God.” All this comes from taking God at his word. There you see the innermost being of George Mueller and the key to his life. The word of God, revealing his sin, revealing his Savior, revealing God's sovereignty, revealing God's goodness, revealing God's promise, awakening his faith, satisfying his soul. “I was satisfied with God.”

I urge Christians to consider the understanding revealed here in this passage as spoken by a man of faith and service to the Lord, and of true humility, this man George Muller. His understanding of the grace of God is not confined to the understanding of his mortal mind, nor to the bounds of our physical habitation on Earth, but rather in full view of the immensity of eternity and built upon the authority of God's inerrant Word.

When our son was stillborn  5 years ago, I prayed that God would bring our son back to us. I begged God to let him live, and yet once the panic of the moment was over, I also found comfort in Job's consideration that "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord" I admittedly did not (during the ambulance ride and subsequent events at the hospital) seek God's glory so much as my own will, but only found true comfort in the end trusting that transcendent truth, that God is truly in control even when I felt so out of control. Let me add here that I urge great caution for anyone looking in from the outside on such trials that we avoid judging one another, but rather share the judgement of my own heart and actions looking back on the goodness of God and the wisdom of His Word.

In the midst of such a difficult time, God often shows us His mercy and wisdom and gives us reason for hope in Christ no matter what comes. If we look at this life in light of eternity, we can agree with Paul the apostle that "to live is Christ and to die is gain". Yet, we cannot look at this life as simply awaiting glory with our Savior, but as servants who have been called and must obey our Master as He has given us labors to do for His glory.

Paul speaking to the Athenians in Acts 17 said that God has determined our "appointed times and the boundaries of our habitation" and that "in Him we live and move and exist" which fortifies our resolve to seek God's glory above our own comfort. In difficult times, it is not that we become callous to our emotions or avoid pain, but rather that we see all things in light of the precious truth that God is in control, His wisdom is far beyond our comprehension, and that we can fully trust the Author and Giver of life with every aspect of our lives on this Earth.

As the magnitude of God's wisdom is inexhaustible, maybe this thought is best summed up with the promise of God from Revelation 21:1-7 NASB

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; 

for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, 

and there is no longer any sea. 

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,coming down out of heaven from God, 

made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, 

and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; 

there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” 

And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 

Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. 

I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son."

Pride, humility, and judging ourselves rightly

Many people these days use the term "Pharisee" or "Pharisaical" when referring to standards of Biblical authority and teaching on any of a number of subjects. Whether one teaches the reality of an eternal Hell or  call out sins such as adultery or homosexuality, it seems every person quoting the Bible more than Ghandi or  Mother Theresa,  are branded as Pharisees. There are surely some who quote the Bible out of context to prove their own point, but I find that much of this branding is terribly inaccurate and even lends itself to slanderous accusations rather than edification.

I even have to disagree with the definition of "Pharisaical" as offered by Merriam Webster's online dictionary
 "marked by hypocritical censorious self-righteousness" as this definition also supposes ill intent or motivations on the part of the Pharisees.

Testimony of David Hansen

Our friend and coworker in the proclamation of the Gospel, David Hansen, gave this powerful Gospel message about 3 years ago after a near death experience working on power lines at his job. Fast forward to today, David was married this spring and 7 weeks later fell 55 feet from a telephone pole and nearly died again. His recovery is miraculous and continues very slowly, but by God's grace and mercy David is still alive today. While he cannot speak at this point (though we continue to pray for healing) David's message from years past along with his testimony of faithfulness in sharing the Gospel with thousands door to door and in many other venues continues through this message.

You can hear David's passion not only for the Lord Jesus his Savior, but for seeing the lost come to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus for salvation. Check out this message, which is available on CD to give out to others, at http://www.goodnewsgranary.org/media/audio/Will_You_Be_Ready.mp3

CD cover from David's testimony 

Read more about David's continuing journey with updates from his wife Rachel and various family members. Please keep David and Rachel in prayer as they deal with the daily trials as they trust in the Lord to do as He wills.

Word clouds worth considering

I have seen word clouds before and wondered what would happen if I tried to make one with some of my blog posts. Below is the unedited result of doing that. What do I talk about? Look below to see 

Grandma Niswander's book about Alzheimer's

As many of you know, Sara's maternal grandfather, Dean Niswander of Bluffton, Ohio died about 2 years ago from Alzheimer's. A man of many talents and well known for his love of his family, it was hard for us to watch him endure the loss of his memory and other complications from the disease. Grandma (Joanne to the rest of the world), a writer and essayist shares some of her journal posts day by day along with the difficulty of slowing watching her husband die.

If you know someone who is showing signs of this dreaded disease, or if you have lost a loved one to Alzheimer's, I think this book will shed some light on the journey that many people either dont' talk about or don't know how to express. We are proud of Grandma for sharing their story in hopes to help others. You can buy the book at Amazon using the link below. 

An Alzheimer's Primer

The cost is great, but worth it to me

I have been enjoying a daily read through 1 Thessalonians for a little while now. It has been a great encouragement yet a challenge. I noted in chapter 5:22 the verse says in KJV "abstain from every appearance of evil" that in the ESV and NASB it is translated as "22 Abstain from every form of evil."

I have often said that I cannot understand how we can possibly abstain from every appearance of evil. Christians and the world alike have told us that living by faith for provision is wrong, that salvation can come without repentance, that home schooling is wrong, that believing as a father I have some say in who my kids marry is wrong, that reading any version besides the KJV is wrong, and a few that say chiropractic is witchcraft. I avoided getting chiropractic care for years due to this belief that stemmed from my childhood, and now I know better. At the time though, this verse was used to prove the point that it appears to be evil.... to whom?

Suffering for righteousness....even in reputation

Come with me as we walk through the Biblical narrative and explanation of a certain man whose reputation in most Christian circles is that of compromise, weakness, and worldliness. This man of whom we know very little is nonetheless scrutinized by the masses, with many adding into the Biblical account their own suppositions, opinions, and yet sadly are seen by most as true and accurate. Spanning the Old and New Testaments, the story of a man who is righteous in God's eyes will be thoroughly examined here, with my hope to exonerate once and for all whom the Bible calls "righteous".  Let us take a thorough, unbiased look at the life of Lot.

My 2 Cents Worth Regarding "Gay Marriage"

The following is my expanded comment on a recent Facebook status from an acquaintance that stated" The fact that you can't sell your daughter for three goats and a cow means we have already redefined marriage". This (jocular?) statement lacks merit on a few fronts, not the least of which is that marriage has never been Biblically nor legally defined by the exchange of livestock. This tactic of portraying marriage as some archaic property exchange only upheld in nomadic societies is not accurate historically, Biblically, nor logically. I understand my arguments will anger some, but I just call 'em like I see 'em.

"Marriage would not be redefined by the content of the dowry. Indeed, this could have been paid in multiple ways including payment of animals, money, or servitude for an agreed period of time. Biblically, marriage was defined when it was first instituted by God between Adam and Eve. Indeed, no dowry at all was paid nor was there any ceremony. God made a woman for the man as a helper and told them to be fruitful and multiply."

Power to pronounce you "man and wife"?

I recently read this article on a friend's website. I have verified many of the facts contained herein on other occasions in my study of the church and state's place in other issues, including the oxymoronic "marriage for homosexuals". Voddie Baucham did a great job discussing that issue in his blog post "Is gay the new black?" and I highly recommend reading that article also.

 This article delves into how marriage was taken out of the realm of God's authority and given to the state or even placed in the hands of the Catholic church during the Reformation. Lots more inside that most people who have not studied marriage in the Bible to modern times will be shocked to see.

Read the article and research the facts yourself. Go to God's Word and be convinced

Enduring for the truth

As we  walk through the trials that come with standing on God's Word,  this portion of Scripture has often served to remind us that we are not alone in our suffering. Indeed, there are many in this world who suffer for doing wrong, and they are rightly judged.  Conversely, there are also many who suffer for doing what is righteous and godly, too often at the hands of their brothers and sisters in Christ who have zeal without knowledge. I hope this letter serves to encourage those who have endured persecution for their stand on God's Word regarding marriage. 

We will begin by considering a portion of Peter's first epistle. Having endured great trials himself, Peter shares his heart with those receiving the letter and reminds them that the holy and righteous savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, also suffered wrong and patiently endured it. Surely we can agree that much of what we endure truly is momentary, light affliction compared with the public execution of God's only begotten Son. 

1 Peter 2 (NASB)

16 "Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.

17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. 

True patriarchy considered

The Christian patriarch of our day has an uphill battle ahead of him. With feminism taking a firm hold in most cultures around the world and the majority of the church, patriarchy may well be the most misunderstood Biblical teaching of our day. The word "patriarch" for some stirs up an image of a strict legalist who runs his home with an iron fist. Some in conservative Christian circles have laid hold of the term, but make special notice to distance themselves from certain aspects of patriarchy as demonstrated and prescribed in God's Word. This is sad to me, as in my opinion one of the necessary characteristics of a true patriarch is that of ruling well his own household, a belief which has been compromised to include egalitarianism.

Just as the characteristics of Biblical elders and deacons, the issue is less about how many children a man may have been blessed with (as some have held the standard), and more of how one cares for and manages that which is under his authority. The patriarch has been given a great responsibility from the Lord, a stewardship to lead his family in the ways of the Lord by teaching and example. If a man does not love his wife nor train his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, he has surely failed to accomplish the goals which were given to his charge.

The issue of headship is not one of worth nor even ability, but of obedience and faithfulness. A weak and simple man who will be faithful to obey all that God has given to his charge is truly more effective in representing Christ than would one with great intellect and accolades of men that relies on his own strength and disobeys the Lord in favor of doing things his own way.

A man is truly strong when he recognizes that he is weak, humbly allowing the strength of God to be manifested in his life. After all, the picture of a husband and wife is to proclaim Christ and the church. With the Lord Jesus Christ as our supreme example, we fall on our faces in humility and gratitude for the privilege to serve our families as Christ served the church. He is the King of Kings, yet His triumphal entry into Jerusalem was on the foal of a donkey. The One whose blood would cleanse away every stain of sin took upon Himself the duties of a servant, washing the feet of those under His authority. These pictures of humility and exemplary service surely show us that we should not be prideful or harsh to those under our charge.

In contrast, Jesus also said "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Surely, the Savior is trustworthy in all things. Though husbands and fathers are surely human and quite capable of mistakes, nevertheless they are the trusted servants to whom Christ Himself has entrusted with a charge of headship and leadership. Thus, the godly man who understands his place will be trustworthy. There surely will be conflict and disagreement in some situations that arise in the home. The mark of a true patriarch will not be that there is never conflict, but rather how he leads through that conflict. 

Josiah Matthew Cowperthwaite

Josiah Matthew Cowperthwaite was born at 606pm on July 14th, 2012. This was a long, arduous labor but definitely worth the work! Josiah is our earliest baby yet, at 23 days prior to "due date", but all in God's perfect timing. Lots of stories to tell in this labor and delivery, but the important parts is he is here, everyone is healthy, and God has richly blessed our family yet again.

1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth.

5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127

Book Review: Behemoth

Sara and I often read together at bed time, but "Behemoth" was such an exciting read we got to bed late a few nights. Often, we found ourselves reading just one more chapter, as the excitement grew with each turn of events. Following the life of Dr. Stephen Gregory, a science professor and former atheist turned creationist, this thrilling adventure takes the reader into the swamps of Africa to settle the question once and for all whether or not dinosaurs are truly extinct. A second story  is that of Jim Thompson, caretaker of a large game preserve who diligently hunts down a mysterious creature that is killing some of the larger animals in the game preserve.

Delving into the cultural stereotypes against Christians and believers in intelligent design and creation, this book honestly deals with the fact that all scientists have the same evidence available to them and yet a great divide exists between those who approach the facts with faith in God or faith in humanistic philosophy.

Living Waters Tract demo video by Ray Comfort

Watch and share this video posted on our sister site, Equipped Ambassadors for Christ

Living Waters Tract demo video by Ray Comfort

"Good morning?"... and so it began....

I went into the Knox County Jail last night with Justin Humes for ministry in the Saturday night service. This time is such a blessing to me in many ways, and yet a struggle in which I find myself not knowing what to say. It is a struggle in that, though I spent a little time in jail, it was many years ago and I don't relate as well as I used to in this context. It was also a blessing in that I don't relate as well because I am a new creation in Christ and the old man is dead. Now a new man has been made in the image of Christ Jesus. Every time I step foot in the jail for ministry, I find myself confronted with my past and last night was no exception.

The Gospel Van: Goat trails in West Virginia- April 2010

Ah, the good old days revisited. Not much time lately to write, but I thought I would share this blog post for those who have missed it.

The Gospel Van: Goat trails in West Virginia- April 2010: It was a beautiful spring day just south of Atlanta, Georgia. Our family was headed to Hinton, West Virginia and we had been forewarned abou...

Time4learning review

First, I would like to thank www.time4learning.com for the opportunity to review their program for 30 days.  It was a great opportunity for our family and came at a very good time for us as we adjusted to Daddy's new work schedule.  The weather here is still not great most days so it was okay for the kids to be inside.

We set Nathaniel up at 8th grade level to review skills.  Virginia did 3rd grade level for most subjects and I set her for 2nd grade in Math.  This did not matter much as she did not do much math.  Naomi started at 1st grade in all subjects except math which I did K.  I eventually changed Naomi's math level to 1st grade as the K was too easy for her.  She also excelled on certain subjects and moved up to 2nd grade level after completing 1st grade.

This program is a complete curriculum.  Every level we did had Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts.  Virginia loved the Language Arts.  She is a reader and loved learning about point of view, fact versus opinion, and compare and contrast.  Nathaniel focused on Social Studies and Science.  It helped fill in some gaps in his mind of WHEN things occurred.  Naomi hopped back and forth between them all as she really liked the whole program.

Subject to their husbands in everything?

I often lean pretty heavy on the men anyway, as I am a man who takes my role very seriously before the Lord and can see my own failures too often. I wish to lead with love and grace for the protection and edifying of my family, and feel the burden of responsibility on a husband and father may be even greater than I had previously thought. How much we need the Lord's help as we are incapable of accomplishing this or anything else in the flesh!

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."


Ephesians 5 says that wives submit to their husbands, 1) as to the Lord, 2) in everything. This command is not worded the same way regarding submitting to one another or to those in authority over us in other passages. Those passages are seemingly more general and in part seem ambiguous as to when we should submit one to another, whereas the husband/wife and Christ/church are specified as "in everything" We ought to obey God rather than man as the apostles did in Acts 5:29 , yet I have been considering whether this is the same with a husband and wife as it would be with other Christians.

The following passage is what got me thinking as it says that the man who is disobedient to the Word should still be obeyed. This passage explains:

1 Peter 3: "1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands(not all men); that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:"

Here Peter speaks of a woman respecting and being in subjection to her husband even when he is disobedient to the word, being won without a word. It speaks of trust in God rather than crafting a plan that is wise in human understanding. This mindset does not agree with our culture, not even church culture where women often feel that if their husband is not leading well that they should fill in the role for the men.

First of all, we must recognize that a wife in this situation could be wrong in her assertion of her husband's error. The point is also often missed that the problem could be a disobedient wife. Let us not forget the curse on Eve and her daughters "and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." The charge is given to the man to rule over his wife, and the responsibility is left on his head if things go wrong. If I don't agree with how our local judge does his job, that does not mean I have the authority to take his place. Much more so, a man who is ordained by God as head of his home cannot be disregarded even if he is wrong, which I fully admit happens often. 

As Paul wrote in Romans 11:22 "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness!" 

and again in verse 33: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Whether or not we understand how and why God has placed this authority in order, we are bound to obey it and see that He is always just and righteous! 

What then can a man do if he has not lived up to his role? He can recognize his fault, agree with God and His Word, and proceed in the power of the Holy Spirit as he has been called to do. It must be understood that if the men will not see their error and take up the lead for their family, it does not fall to the women to take over, it just means the men need to step up! David would not harm God's anointed man in Saul, though Saul sought and attempted many times to kill him, and this serves as an extreme yet appropriate example of trusting the Lord even when people fail.

There are many things a woman may still do for her family that fit within this structure, but examining each decision through the lens of God's Word will yield better results than using human wisdom and logic, which so often is contrary to God's wisdom and commands.

This message from Peter does not sound to me like those men who "ask the boss" permission or fearfully avoid making decisions, but men who value their wives counsel and lead in God's ways even when his wife disagrees. Men will give an account to God for their actions and how they lead their families.Wives will give no such account and should consider how blessed they are not to have that accounting with God.
The notion of husband and wife submitting to one another is an incorrect understanding of Ephesians 5 and is contradictory to Scripture. Placing the general submissive relationship of all saints with the husband and wife scenario could pollute people's perception of God Himself.

1 Corinthians 11: 3 "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. (note that God and Christ are one, as husband and wife are one, with different roles but unity)
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

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This is not an issue of worth, value, gifting for service, love, or anything but authority. The wife is co-heir with her husband of Christ, salvation, and righteousness. She is precious, to be honored and loved, but she is not to be placed over her husband in authority for any reason. 

A husband certainly can delegate jobs to his wife as she is able and available, as Christ has given us jobs to do and equipped us by His grace to carry out all things that we are commanded to do. Still the authority and the responsibility will always lie on Him and the husband in kind. What a beautiful picture of Christ and His Bride we have here, that we serve as He gives us ability, but always under His authority. Christ has given Himself for us in death, but more so in life 

Book review- "Man and Woman in Biblical Law"

I believe that when I publish this post, it will mean the end of many people reading our blog, supporting our ministry, and having Christian fellowship with us. Such response is not Biblical, necessary, or even logical, but it has happened with many already and so we accept that standing on God's Word often receives such a response. 

Those who know us personally and have labored in the Gospel with us, ministered to families alongside us, and have heard me teach and preach God's Word know that I not only speak truth, but live it out daily by God's grace. I fail often, but my heart's desire is to please the Lord in all things. Our desire is not to offend, but to stand up for those Christians who have been persecuted for their beliefs or practices. 

For those who have the standard questions on the topic, you may do well to read through this document http://biblicalfamilies.org/common_misconceptions

Clear in conscience before the Lord my Judge and my Savior, Jesus Christ the Righteous,

~Mark Cowperthwaite

Review of "Man and Woman in Biblical Law" by Tom Shipley


I was given a copy of this book by the author, Tom Shipley, whom I met in the home of a friend. Mr. Shipley's work in this book is well researched, documented with large doses of Scripture, and I believe fairly deals with a difficult and divisive issue that need not be divisive in my opinion. This is not an issue of means of salvation, but of practical obedience and family life and therefore I believe it should be discussed calmly and rationally by Christians who come upon the subject. I do not necessarily agree with the assertion that there must be a return to complete obedience to Biblical (OT) Law in order for plural marriage to be instituted, though I see great value in doing so.

My wife and I have read and discussed this book and the Biblical passages it presents at length, and we see many possible blessings possible from such an arrangement, but we think it best to practice Biblical plural marriage only if one feels specifically compelled by God to do so as there are also many complications and challenges to life in a plural marriage. Men should not marry one woman for the purpose of proving a point, nor should we take that approach to polygyny. We ought to be led by the Holy Spirit, in agreement with the Scriptures, for the glory of God rather than practice something for the sake of sensationalism or any motive other than love and responsibility to care for those we love and have been given charge over.


I have been harshly rebuked for even suggesting the acceptance or practice of polygyny in the United States or the Christian church anywhere in the world. Indeed it is not my desire to suggest people practice plural marriage at all, especially if one is not already fulfilling the roles and responsibilities given to men as husbands and fathers. My primary desire in this issue is that we not unfairly judge those who feel led by God, in accordance with Scripture, to take more than one wife. Many who practice this Biblical practice have been excommunicated, dispatched from profitable ministry, and been rejected from Christian fellowship. This is not about cults, Mormonism, Islam, but about men stepping up to whatever God's call is on their life and family, to fulfill the role of Biblical patriarchy.


I suggest that if one is merely intellectually interested in the topic of polygamy due to recent popular TV shows, you may do well to spend your time reading something else. For those seeking to find God's plan for the family, or Biblical patriarchy so-called, (with one wife or multiple wives) this book may open your eyes to much of the background of the Old Testament. 


If you are open to finding what God says rather than what people think about it, then you might just find that the Bible actually says nothing derogatory about polygamy, but rather even blesses it in the historical record at times. There is a renewed interest in polygamy in our culture for many reasons, not the least of which is the failure of many American men to stand by their wives, provide for their children, and lead their families as men are commanded in God's Word.


I believe the American church at large has left much of the Biblical pattern for life and the function of the church behind, and I feel this is just one of those issues that most folks are unwilling to assess solely from God's Word. Rather we have been met with accusations, name calling, and character assault which are unbecoming to Christians. This book and its contents seem to bring out those very things in the fleshly nature of man, though most Christians may agree with the author's views on feminism and men's roles in the family. 


It is always through careful study of God's Word and prayer that the Holy Spirit leads us, but often Christians rely instead on the culture and traditions (whether or not they are based in Scripture) rather than being truly Berean in our approach to things.


I enjoyed the book and found it very informative. I do not agree with ALL of the assertions, but overall do agree with Mr. Shipley's assessment of patriarchy along with men's and women's roles in Biblical Law. The follow-up to this book "They shall be one flesh" is not available on Amazon, but is an excellent book also. It addresses many questions raised by the first book and delves a bit deeper into marriage traditions in the Bible. I have yet to study that book thoroughly and so will not share yet my opinions on that work.

God's Word is preserved!

How we approach the interpretation of Scripture is key to applying it in our lives. We must use proper hermeneutics to find what is there rather than what is easy to accept. One recent doctrinal argument from my dear brother in Christ was built solely around the KJV being the only real Bible, saying that the English translation is superior to the original languages and that if the Bible uses a certain English word in the KJV then that is without question exactly what it means. This is errant I believe, and so I wanted to share my thoughts on this topic. Understand my heart is not to divide the body, but to see unity as we come to God's Word as He saw fit to have it written by men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Hebrew Bible

Rejecting the original language writings or considering them currently inferior to English  would in my estimation lead to the conclusion that Moses didn't really know what the Law meant, nor did Jesus or Paul, as none of them saw fit to study, speak, or write in English. It is either that or that God chose a different language for this dispensation, which would reject the Jews as having God's Word in the current era if my logic is correct. I don't mean to oversimplify this issue, as I know many dear brothers and sisters are adamant about their position.

If KJV is the only authoritative Word of God, the Jesus even misquoted Isaiah when He read the scroll, as He uses different words comparing those passages in the KJV. Add in the fact that the first edition read in Exodus 20 "Thou shalt commit adultery" (OOPS!!) and you realize quickly that any work of man is fallible, which is why we rely on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for our Scriptures.

Reading the notes of the translators of the King James edition, they stated the same as fact, that they were not inerrant but did the best a human could do when handling something so important as God's Word. The argument I often get in return to questioning the KJV as the only English Bible was "So you don't really think God is capable of preserving His Word?!!!!" This argument is inflammatory and illogical. I believe the heart of those who have said this to me is pure and their desire is to stand up for God's truth, but nonetheless the argument seems errant to me. I am not saying that any other version is perfect either, but only the original documents which God truly inspired, which agree in all fundamentals though they have been handed down for many centuries through copies and copies of copies, etc.

Chinese Bible

I do believe God has preserved and still preserves His Word in the original languages even if we are not cautious or diligent enough to seek it out, which I believe is why we have thousands of copies in the original languages. I believe that one will find the authentic message of the Gospel in any language (unless perversions are intentionally added by the work of man which has been submitted as a theory) and that we need not know these languages in order to study God's Word. Studying the original languages is surely beneficial as long as it is done accurately, and some scholars have wisely done so in such things as the Strong's concordance and other such tools. 

This is more broad a discussion than we started with, but I am still learning all along the way by God's grace and am so blessed to see His hand guiding me as I learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. Have I mentioned lately that I am more in love with the Lord today than I have ever been, and that the more I learn the more I see I am nothing without Christ and still yet a child in His wisdom? Just thought I would mention that!

Grace to you and peace through our precious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Book Review- "Why do you believe that?" by B.A. Berean

A few months ago, we stayed in the home of some new friends. It is always a blessing getting to know brothers and sisters in Christ, and this stay was a special blessing in many ways. We were in Florida for a week, staying with multiple families over the course of our 3 city trip, and we were exhausted already with tired children, also preparing for a move to Maine the upcoming week.  When we arrived at Nathan's home, the hospitality was superb, and the fellowship of Christians was great. A few other families gathered to meet us for dinner as well, adding to the blessing. We were reminded that night that the fellowship of Christians is not limited to those we know well, but any who are brothers and sisters in Christ are instant friends.

As we spoke about our Savior, our families, convictions, about digging deep into God's Word, and the cultural traditions of the American church, even the persecution seen when we break man's rules and tradition in obedience to the Lord's calling on our lives, our host mentioned a book he had that might speak to some of our thoughts and discussions. He had just one copy of this book, Why Do You Believe That? and I read the book at bed time that night.

As a Christian man with deep convictions and a desire to always learn more of God's Word, I of course devoured the book in no time. I finally fell asleep at 3am, though I finished reading hours earlier. I needed to consider the thoughts shared in this book by God's Word (the point of the book) and pray. I had a great time of prayer that night, so lack of sleep didn't seem to matter. I asked if Nathan knew where to get more copies, and he thought the book was out of print, so I was especially blessed recently to find the book listed for sale on Amazon.You can use the link below to buy the book through our store.

Though it was a short read, a mere 148 pages, this book surprised me. It was conversational, gentle, and yet challenging. Along with many other books that have been handed to me over the years, I found this book contained some things that I agreed with immediately, some that I disagreed with, and many more that required further study. I had been led to study marriage and Biblical patriarchy for months as we noticed the demise of the family in our society, and looked forward to finding a book that stood on Biblical truth more than popular opinion. That is precisely the point of this book, though. He asks a lot of questions and will make you think, and though the book is about common misunderstandings about marriage in the Bible, it urges every step of the way that the reader would seek God's Word above all. We need more people who will study God's Word in the church today, and a little friendly debate wouldn't hurt either in my estimation.

The author does not want you to just believe what he says, but rather urges you to study God's Word on the topic at hand and every topic. He urges you to truly "be a Berean" in your approach to knowledge of God's Word, and in so doing shares the fallacies often seen when men neglect context, setting, audience, and other study tools that help us understand God's Word as it was meant to be studied.. He speaks of exegesis, that is taking what is in the text for what it says and seeing what it was intended to say as truth. Many people rather bring their beliefs to the Bible and find some verse or even part of a verse that seems to agree. They might even ignore context, audience, or skip large passages that disagree with their beliefs. We must seek to know what God wants, says, and intends if we are to obey Him and know Him more intimately. If you are not familiar with this term "Berean", you would do well to consider Acts 17:10-15

"The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 

Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as lwell, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there. Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left."

We see here what it means when the author calls us to "be Berean" in our approach to knowledge, that is to weigh out the teachings of men comparing them to the Scriptures to check the validity of the information. We see in the following verses of this passage that this truth was contrary to culture and therefore caused persecution for those preaching the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah and Savior.

I believe it is important that we seek to extend ourselves beyond the groups of people with which we are comfortable, to listen to differing viewpoints and learn to love our brothers and sisters in Christ even when we disagree at times. Truth is truth, and I am not advocating heresy or relativism, just a willingness to see what the Scripture actually says without adding our own assumptions. This is easier said than done to be sure. There are some Scriptures that are clear or at least seem clear depending on the context of our culture. Other passages are difficult to discern with complete certainty, or if we are not careful we miss what is there because we think we already know God's whole counsel on a subject.

Are we reading the Bible to find evidence for our own opinions, or do we truly seek to know God's mind even when it runs contrary to what we believe? This was the problem of the Pharisees, who added laws and traditions to God's Law and then crucified the Lord of glory because they held so tightly to their beliefs that they did not recognize the One who they proclaimed to obey. Are there any sacred cows in your life that you will not hear the voice of the Lord about? Are you adding cultural traditions and long held teachings of men to the Word of God and possibly persecuting those who disagree with you without cause? Can you humble yourself enough to say "I was wrong, please forgive me"

Those that know our family have seen our vehement stance on the authority of God's Word even when it is not popular or forces us to change our own lives to obey new found understanding of God's truth. People have seen our testimony of sacrifice, service, and humility as we seek to honor our Savior in all things. Sadly our views on some things have set us at odds with the majority of Christendom. We have accepted that this type of radical obedience to God has given us many opportunities to encourage others to do the same. This is nothing good of us, but the reflection of Christ in His children by His grace.

We believe in the exegetical approach to God's Word, and strive to see what God actually says rather than try to get the Bible to agree with us or confirm what we already believe. How will we ever have unity in Christ unless we take this approach, to find the original intent of the Author who gave us the book for our edification and training?

This following of the Bible even when opposed to culture (even church culture) has put us in strange situations at times, as we see that in many areas we can have differing views on some subjects as Christians and yet be united. We also must recognize that some things are not ambiguous in God's Word and therefore must not be compromised in any way, shape, or form. How will we know which is which, or what side to take on an issue if we do not give due diligence to the whole counsel of God? I suggest that as a culture we have become apathetic and left it to the preachers and conference speakers to dig out the truth of God's Word. This is not acceptable in a society where we have multiple copies of the Bible in our language in most homes. Shame on us for not picking up that Word of God and cherishing it as the source of wisdom! Shame on us if we neglect the reading and study of the Bible and rather just watch the TV preacher, supposing we have no personal obligation to seek out His truth!

I may take up this thought more in another post, and urge you to consider Romans 14 as I have at length these last few months. That passage has reminded me that I ought not be a stumbling block to others, yet I must obey God even if that is not acceptable to others. These thoughts and many more are contained in this wonderful little book, and I highly recommend reading it. Even if you disagree with some of the points, I believe this book will be a great blessing and perhaps inspire you to dig even deeper into God's Word.