…And Pulled Her In Unto Him Into The Ark

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Genesis 8:9

Wearied out with her wanderings, the dove returns at length to the ark as her only resting place. How heavily she flies-she will drop-she will never reach the ark! But she struggles on. Noah has been looking out for his dove all day long, and is ready to receive her. She has just strength to reach the edge of the ark, she can hardly alight upon it, and is ready to drop, when Noah puts forth his hand and pulls her in unto him. Mark that: ‘pulled her in unto him.’ She did not fly right in herself, but was too fearful, or too weary to do so. She flew as far as she could, and then he put forth his hand and pulled her in unto him. This act of mercy was shown to the wandering dove, and she was not chidden for her wanderings. Just as she was she was pulled into the ark. So you, seeking sinner, with all your sin, will be received.

‘Only return’-those are God’s two gracious words-‘only return.’ What! nothing else? No, ‘only return.’ She had no olive branch in her mouth this time, nothing at all but just herself and her wanderings; but it is ‘only return,’ and she does return, and Noah pulls her in. Fly, thou wanderer; fly thou fainting one, dove as thou art, though thou thinkest thyself to be black as the raven with the mire of sin, back, back to the Saviour. Every moment thou waitest does but increase thy misery; thine attempts to plume thyself and make thyself fit for Jesus are all vanity. Come thou to Him just as thou art. ‘Return, thou backsliding Israel.’ He does not say, ‘Return, thou repenting Israel’ (there is such an invitation doubtless), but ‘thou backsliding one,’ as a backslider with all thy backslidings about thee, Return, return, return! Jesus is waiting for thee! He will stretch forth His hand and ‘pull thee in’-in to Himself, thy heart’s true home.

3.13p

Weekly Links (5/24/2013)

We should test ourselves with some questions. It is right to pursue likeness to Christ. But the question is, why? What is the root of our motivation? Consider some attributes of Christ that we might pursue, and ask these questions:

  • Do I want to be strong like Christ, so I will be admired as strong, or so that I can defeat every adversary that would entice me to settle for any pleasure less than admiring the strongest person in the universe, Christ?
  • Do I want to be wise like Christ, so I will be admired as wise and intelligent, or so that I can discern and admire the One who is most truly wise?
  • Do I want to be holy like Christ, so that I can be admired as holy, or so that I can be free from all unholy inhibitions that keep me from seeing and savoring the holiness of Christ?
  • Do I want to be loving like Christ, so that I will be admired as a loving person, or so that I will enjoy extending to others, even in sufferings, the all-satisfying love of Christ?
    (John Piper)

by Richard Shin

  • You’ve probably heard of the natural disaster that struck Oklahoma this past week. Michael Patton shares that there is a wrong way to carry this burden. Sam Storms is a pastor of Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City, and he has a few words to share on the tragedy and God’s sovereignty. Jesse Johnson speaks on giving money to those struck by the tragedy (and here‘s his follow-up). Michael Horton writes on the difference between placing our trust in God and saying “stuff happens.”
  • On that note, Al Mohler shares on the goodness of God and the reality of evil. You can find his article here.
  • R.C. Sproul has a set of free eBooks on Christian living you can download from his website here.
  • Josh Blount shares an encouraging word on why God gave us the church and not Superman.
  • With the explosion of social media, it’s very easy for even computer illiterate people to post pretty much whatever they please. However, Jen Wilkin warns parents to be careful about what they post.
  • John Piper here affirms the Christian adoption through a list of disavowals and affirmations.
  • Tony Payne shares what Christ meant that He did not “come to abolish the law but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).

That’s it for now. Have a great, long weekend, folks!

Coram Deo

Reflections from a Groom-to-Be

by Brian Song

I Do.

In a couple of months, I will be reciting those exact words in front of God and close family and friends. Those two words carry the promise of remaining forever faithful to my bride and loving her until “death do us part.” Unfortunately, this level of commitment is deemed too difficult by many in the world as many couples find it easier to co-habitate than get married. Yet as Christians, it shouldn’t be a novel concept, especially for those of us who attend LBC. Marriage should just be an extension of the commitment and love that we already show to God and His church. In the seven or so years that I’ve spent at LBC, especially my time in the Singles Ministry, God has taught me this important lesson and helped me apply the passion statement of LBC.

It all starts with God. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus commands us that, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” We are called to love God with our entire being. At LBC, we have a steady diet of preaching and teaching to help us learn about God and his character. In my small groups, I was constantly challenged to love God and make Him a priority in my work and grad school life. This experience is definitely not limited to those of us who are single. But being a single definitely freed me up to take advantage of all the opportunities to learn. I had more “free time” and was able attend as many church activities as I could and spend more time in prayer with Him.

Continuing on in Matthew 22, Jesus also commands us that, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Being committed to loving others was not always an easy task for me. Like many in my stage of life, I preferred to spend my free time doing things that pleased me. But over the years, I’ve learned that by serving others, my love for people, God, and His church grew. A couple of years ago, I was blessed with an opportunity to serve the Singles Ministry as a small group leader. Through this experience, God taught me that committing to love others often requires sacrifice. Again, being a single guy allowed me to fully commit to them and the needs of my other brothers and sisters in the ministry. Whether they needed me to counsel them through personal struggles or just wanted someone to hang out with, I was available for them.

As I get ready to transition out of Single Life, I know God will continue to deepen my understanding of these truths and help me apply them in marriage. As you live your life, have you said “I Do” to the Lord? Just like marriage, this is a life-long commitment. Let us all endeavor to passionately love God and people every day.

The Honor of Motherhood

by Pastor Patrick Cho

This past Sunday (on 5/12) we celebrated Mother’s Day at LBC and took some time away from the Book of James to study Paul’s remarkable statement in 1 Timothy 2:15, “Yet she will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” Paul’s point is to direct his readers’ attention to God’s amazing grace towards women by providing a means for them to have great dignity and honor. This “salvation” was granted because of the indignity that resulted through Eve’s deception when she became a transgressor. God’s highest calling for a woman is for her to serve her family – to be a helper for her husband and instrumentally to raise up the next generation in the Lord. This is given for her good and as a blessing.

I’m afraid that the more time passes, the more our culture will drift further from the loving counsel of God’s Word. Such a message about a woman’s high calling sounds antiquated and even barbaric to contemporary ears. Popular culture scoffs at the idea that a woman’s highest calling is to be in the home caring for her family. If God was a loving God who cared for men and women equally, wouldn’t He give to both genders complete equality, not only in value but also in function? The answer to that question is obviously no. The Word of God was written as God’s loving counsel to men. The instructions He has given to bring order to the home and church are driven from the fact that He is a God of love, and yet gender role distinctions are clear from what we read in the Bible.

Certainly it is challenging to go against the grain of contemporary thought and even to be mocked by the masses for holding to such a seemingly outdated concept. The rest of society believes it has promoted justice by rejecting God’s plan for men and women, but how is going against the God of justice promoting true justice? Perhaps the reason these principles are difficult is not so much because of God but because of our own hearts. Rather than trusting that God’s sovereign plan is best for us, we would rather challenge Him and hold to our own belief of what is best.

The church should rise up in celebrating God’s roles for men and women. We ought to celebrate our differences and glory in the roles and work to which God has called us. This is not just the “Lighthouse way.” It is so frustrating to hear people reduce it to that. “So-and-so is only a stay at home mom because that’s the way Lighthouse is.” How unfair and belittling this opinion is when a mother is seeking to devote herself to the Lord and be a God-honoring mom, and others believe it is simply to conform to an institution. This isn’t Lighthouse’s way. It’s God’s.

Some have asked about single moms. How do these principles apply in their unique contexts? I agree that the context is unique and challenging. In the plans and purposes of God and because of the fallen nature of man, some God-fearing women are put in the position to raise their children on their own. In some ways, they are asked to serve as both mother and father. Of course this necessitates that these moms find work outside the home. But I also believe it places a greater responsibility and obligation upon the church to care for these ladies. God has graciously given us a church family where we can mutually encourage and serve one another, and in the absence of a father the rest of the church family can help to fill that void in a child’s life. Praise God that single moms are not abandoned by God and left to fend for themselves (cf. Mark 10:29-30). At the very least, the members of the church ought to pray for our single moms that the Lord would strengthen them to persevere through the difficulties of being a single parent.

I’ve already heard that this past Sunday’s sermon has sparked some helpful conversations and challenging meditation. I praise God for that. He is a good God who knows what is best for us. Let’s continue to lean on His wisdom to direct us and guide us and trust that His understanding, goodness, and justice far exceeds ours. And in light of Mother’s Day, thank you to the moms of Lighthouse Bible Church who strive for excellence in raising up the next generation to love and fear the Lord.

Why Sit We Here Until We Die?

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From 2 Kings 7:3

Dear reader, this little book was mainly intended for the edification of believers, but if you are yet unsaved, our heart yearns over you: and we would fain say a word which may be blessed to you. Open your Bible, and read the story of the lepers, and mark their position, which was much the same as yours. If you remain where you are you must perish; if you go to Jesus you can but die. ‘Nothing venture, nothing win,’ is the old proverb, and in your case the venture is no great one. If you sit still in sullen despair, no one can pity you when your ruin comes; but if you die with mercy sought, if such a thing were possible, you would be the object of universal sympathy. None escape who refuse to look to Jesus; but you know that, at any rate, some are saved who believe in Him, for certain of your own acquaintances have received mercy: then why not you? The Ninevites said, ‘Who can tell?’ Act upon the same hope, and try the Lord’s mercy. To perish is so awful, that if there were but a straw to catch at, the instinct of self-preservation should lead you to stretch out your hand.

We have thus been talking to you on your own unbelieving ground, we would now assure you, as from the Lord, that if you seek Him He will be found of you. Jesus casts out none who come unto Him. You shall not perish if you trust Him; on the contrary, you shall find treasure far richer than the poor lepers gathered in Syria’s deserted camp. May the Holy Spirit embolden you to go at once, and you shall not believe in vain. When you are saved yourself, publish the good news to others. Hold not your peace; tell the King’s household first, and unite with them in fellowship; let the porter of the city, the minister, be informed of your discovery, and then proclaim the good news in every place. The Lord save thee ere the sun goes down this day.

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Weekly Links (5/17/2013)

When someone sets his affections upon the cross and the love of Christ, he crucifies the world as a dead and undesirable thing. The baits of sin lose their attraction and disappear. Fill your affections with the cross of Christ and you will find no room for sin. (John Owen)

by Richard Shin

It was tough, but I’ve compiled a few around the interweb for this week’s Weekly Links.

  • The Kermit Gosnell trial has ended with the defendant guilty of three charges of murder. Anna Williams with links upon links of the backdrop, Al Mohler shares a few words here, Jesse Johnson on why he cares (and you should too), Denny Burk on what happens if we don’t learn from the incident, and Pete Spiliakos on whether we’ll know about the next Gosnell.
  • Michael Patton shares twelve ways parents can prepare their children for times of doubt.
  • Nathan Busenitz compiled a list of quotes from early church fathers on the topic of sola scriptura. He also compiled a few quotes on why we must think about heaven.
  • Michael Kruger shares why we do not need the original manuscripts in order to believe what we have today contains God’s Word.
  • Winston Hottman from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood shares a few thoughts on marriage and (im)perfectionism.
  • Tim Challies reflects on what the lack of prayer says about us. This quote stands out for me as well: “The things you pray about are the things you trust God to handle. The things you neglect to pray about are the things you trust you can handle on your own.”

That should be enough for now, and yes, I cheated a bit. Still, enjoy!

Coram Deo

LBC Weekly SPARK – May 16, 2013

Dear LBC friends and family,

I hope you’re doing well and walking with the Lord. Last night, the single adults ministry looked at the topic of pride from Scripture. It is always convicting to reflect on this issue because pride is at the root of all our sin. Its focus is self – self-exaltation and even self-pity. It is when we refuse to live according to a God-orientation to our lives and instead set up a self-orientation that pride is at its height. Our pride says, “I am (or should be) the source, the accomplisher, and the benefactor of all that is good, right, or worthy of praise.” In other words, everything is from me, through me, and to me.

We need to strive to put our sinful pride to death. Instead of having ourselves at the center of all that we do, say, and think, we need to learn what it is to have a God-orientation to our lives. As we put off pride and arrogance, let’s put on humility and love. Consider this week how you can serve God and others.

There are many opportunities to be involved in one another’s lives and to encourage each other in the faith. Please read below for more details!

In His grace,

Pastor Patrick

Here are this week’s announcements:

  1. Tonight’s Bible Studies. Tonight is the last meeting for LKC and Grace Life for this term. Both ministries will be meeting at 6:30pm at the church. LKC will be having a Parents Night. Those who are in Grace Life and not a part of LKC are encouraged to come together for a time of informal fellowship and food. Bring some yummy food item to share!
  2. Men’s Breakfast. There will be a men’s breakfast this Saturday, May 18, at 7:30am, at the church. The men’s ministry is currently walking through a series on the theme “Leadership: Being the Man God Called Me to Be.”
  3. Membership Class. Our next membership class meets Saturday, May 18, from 9:00am to 12:00pm, and Sunday, May 19, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Attendance at both sessions is required. If you’re interested in becoming a member or learning more about membership, please contact Pastor Patrick (pastorpatrick@gmail.com).
  4. LBC Anniversary Banquet. Praise God for His grace to our church for 14 years of ministry! We will be having our annual banquet on Saturday, May 18, at 4:45pm, at the church. Come dressed as you would on Sunday for service.
  5. Mission Bowl Pep Rally. We will be having a Mission Bowl Pep Rally on Sunday, May 19, at 4:30pm, at the church to cheer on our men’s and women’s Mission Bowl flag football teams. Come out to show your support!
  6. Mission Bowl Tournaments. The Men’s Mission Bowl Tournament will be on May 25, and the Women’s Mission Bowl Tournament will be on June 1. The tournaments will be held at UCSD’s Muir Field.
  7. All Church Photo. We will be taking our 2013 all-church photo on Sunday, May 26 immediately after service. Parents, please be sure to get your kids from their classes as soon as service is over to be able to take the photo. The parking spaces near the church entrance will need to be cleared to take the photo.
  8. Vacation Bible School. VBS this year will be from June 24 to 28. The theme is “The Kingdom of God,” and registration is open to any elementary (1st to 5th grade) and preschool age children (beginning at age 4). The cost for elementary school age children begins at $150, with a $10 discount per (elementary school age) child of the same household. The elementary school age children will meet from 9:00am-5:00pm, and can participate in the field trips. The cost for preschool age children is $50 per child. The preschool age children will meet from 9:00am-12:30pm. Registration costs increase by $10 on June 2, and $20 by June 23. If you have any questions, or would like to receive a registration form, please contact Josh Liu (liu.joshuac@gmail.com).
  9. Summer Missions. Please be in prayer for our Argentina summer missions team as they get ready to minister in Tucuman. The trip will be from July 10-18. More information is forthcoming.

When are You Ready to Date?

by Hansol An

Recent events and conversations I’ve had have made me think that it might be a good time to discuss dating again. I gave a message on dating last year so some of what follows may be familiar to some but I thought it was time for a refresher.

The way the world defines love and the way the Bible defines love are diametrically opposed to one another. The world would have you believe that love is the fulfillment of your desires for intimacy, both emotional and physical. On the emotional side are feelings of euphoria, happiness, satisfaction, ecstasy, and excitement. When someone in a movie or on TV says “I love you,” aren’t they really saying “I love the way you make me feel right now?” But these feeling are often temporary or at the very least, understood to be conditional and subject to change. That’s why people say they can fall in and out of love. On the physical side we know that the world is often referring to sexual pleasure or passion. The term “making love” is very revealing of the way the world views love, basically reducing it to mean the same thing as having sex. The word “LOVE” is used too loosely in today’s culture. That’s why people date. They want this kind of love, all or in part, but only until it doesn’t suit their desires any more. Then they look for love in the next person. This pursuit of love is what we commonly refer to as dating.

The way that the Bible defines love, or God’ definition of love is clearly different. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a says,

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

Does that sound like the world’s definition? Does it say anything about your feelings? Does it say anything about your sexual fulfillment? The difference is that the world’s definition of love is all about satisfying selfish desires. God’s definition is sacrificial and puts your feelings aside for the sake of others and God’s glory. Jesus was the ultimate example for us to follow.

The world tells us that love is fleeting. You can fall in love and out of love very quickly. So if you’re in a dating relationship and you’re no longer in love with them, then dump them and move on. Who cares how many times you’ve said “I love you?” Who cares how many times you’ve kissed that person? Who cares? God cares because his Word says that love never ends. What does that tell us about the couple who proclaims to love each other, then breaks up? Was that really love? They probably genuinely felt something but only so long as it was convenient to them. Did their love bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things? Did their love never end?

We need to change the way we view dating and its goal of finding “love.” This can be challenging because dating is non-biblical, meaning it’s not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. So what should we do? As a believer how do we determine the goal of dating? Is it marriage? Yes, it is the vehicle in which most Christians pursue marriage, but we have to remember that whether it’s dating or marriage or anything else, God’s glory is always our primary purpose! We as Christians should not date for our own emotional or physical fulfillment, but to pursue the goal of God’s glory and His intention for a man and a woman: marriage.

If marriage truly is the goal of dating one should be ready for, or reasonably close to being ready for, marriage. As mentioned before, dating is not specifically addressed in the Bible, so no one can tell another how ready they have to be to date. No one can tell another how long the dating period should be. But marriage is addressed in the Bible and if marriage is the goal and not dating itself, it stand to reason that dating should be minimized. It shouldn’t be prolonged longer than necessary to confirm that marriage should be pursued between a particular couple. The longer a couple dates the natural inclination will be to begin to act like a married couple in emotional attachment, in physical expressions and in other ways. The danger is that the couple will give too much of themselves to each other, when they might not end up getting married. Until a commitment in made, there are no guarantees.

So the question you need to answer is: Are you ready, and mature enough as a believer, to fulfill your role as a husband or wife? Are you ready to forsake all others? Ladies, are you ready to submit your life to a man? Guys, are you ready to love a woman as Christ loved the church? These questions should be examined and carefully considered along with other biblical responsibilities of marriage before dating is even considered. Dating is a choice and ultimately, so is love. There must be a conscious consideration of what is required before entering into a relationship with the goal of marriage in mind. We are called to be set apart from the world and dating is one area where we can practice our distinctiveness in Christ.

A Tale of Two Seasons

by Elder Johnny Kim

The start of the month of April signals the start of the Major League Baseball season and the start of fans flocking to stadiums everywhere to enjoy America’s favorite pastime. Following the off-season hiatus, excited fans are eager to start rooting for their home teams and to start cheering on their favorite players. However, save for the most committed fans, some of that excitement will inevitably wane as the season progresses. At 162 regular season games, the baseball season is the longest out of all other major professional sports in terms of the number of games (82 games for the NBA and NHL, 34 games for the MLS, and 16 games for the NFL) so understandably, only the most die-hard baseball fans will follow each and every game.

Even the professional baseball players themselves realize that they are in for a long season and it’s always interesting to note how that affects their attitudes towards the game. When a sports writer interviews any given player or manager whose team might be off to a horrible start, the response is almost always along the lines of, “There’s still plenty of season left to turn things around!” Likewise, a player who might be going through a terrible hitting slump early on might respond, “Don’t worry, I have many more at bats ahead to get back in the groove.” A long season coupled with the certainty of knowing exactly when it ends allows for the luxury of such attitudes, attitudes that certainly don’t apply off the playing field out in the real world.

Yet even as Christians, we can find ourselves harboring this same type of attitude about life in general. I would even say that the younger we are, the stronger those sentiments might be. It is easy for us to think that we are still in the early stages of the season of our lives with plenty of life left to live. If we find ourselves lazy with our spiritual disciplines, we might think to ourselves, “I’m okay, I have plenty of time to get serious about Christianity!” Likewise, given an opportunity to share the gospel with an unbeliever, we might be inclined to put it off for a more convenient time in the future. Or if we find ourselves falling for the temptations of sin over and over again, we might even rest in the thought that we have more than enough time to turn our lives around.

However, God makes it clear to us through His Word that Christians are to live a life of urgency and intentionality. James 4:14 reminds us of the brevity of our lives and that tomorrow is never a guarantee. Far from being just scare tactic, the Word here is presenting us with yet another precious truth. One doesn’t have to look any further than the front page of the newspaper for proof that indeed our season here on earth is short and can come to an end at any time. Proverbs 27:1 advises us against presuming upon the Lord to provide us with more days of life ahead. In the end, God desires for us to live our lives with urgency; urgent to know Him and everything in His Word, urgent to conform our lives to Christ’s, urgent to share Christ with people who are physically and spiritually dying all around us.

Do you live your life with a sense of urgency? Are you intentional in how you spend your days, and even hours, living for Christ? Are you doing your UTMOST to bring God the most glory TODAY? Because unlike in baseball, the time for a “late-season comeback” in life may never come at all.

To Whom Belongest Thou?

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From 1 Samuel 30:13

No neutralities can exist in religion. We are either ranked under the banner of Prince Immanuel, to serve and fight His battles, or we are vassals of the black prince, Satan. ‘To whom belongest thou?’

Reader, let me assist you in your response.

  • Have you been ‘born again’? If you have, you belong to Christ, but without the new birth you cannot be His.
  • In whom do you trust? For those who believe in Jesus are the sons of God.
  • Whose work are you doing? You are sure to serve your master, for he whom you serve is thereby owned to be your lord.
  • What company do you keep? If you belong to Jesus, you will fraternize with those who wear the livery of the cross. ‘Birds of a feather flock together.’
  • What is your conversation? Is it heavenly or is it earthly?
  • What have you learned of your Master?-for servants learn much from their masters to whom they are apprenticed. If you have served your time with Jesus, it will be said of you, as it was of Peter and John, ‘They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.’

We press the question, ‘To whom belongest thou?’ Answer honestly before you give sleep to your eyes. If you are not Christ’s you are in a hard service-Run away from your cruel master! Enter into the service of the Lord of Love, and you shall enjoy a life of blessedness. If you are Christ’s let me advise you to do four things. You belong to Jesus-obey him; let his word be your law; let His wish be your will. You belong to the Beloved, then love Him; let your heart embrace Him; let your whole soul be filled with Him. You belong to the Son of God, then trust him; rest nowhere but on him. You belong to the King of kings, then be decided for Him. Thus, without your being branded upon the brow, all will know to whom you belong.

3.12p