“The Four Loves”

Posted on 2011/09/09 by Shawn Thomas

Ok, I have to admit, I took the advice of Prince Humperdinck from “The Princess Bride” and did something I never do: “Skip to the end!” I had started a C.S. Lewis book I had never read before, The Four Loves, and had read the first chapter, which was very interesting. But I am starting a new sermon series on I Corinthians 13 this Sunday, and so I had more than a passing interest in what Lewis had to say regarding agape love (or “Charity” as he entitles the chapter, in accordance with the old King James translation of that great word for love). I guess it was too much for me – I went to the last chapter and read it. Yep. Never do that – but I just did.

And what a chapter it was. It contained searching insights on the nature of God, man, salvation, relationships, love, heaven … and more – all within the space of the 25 pages that comprise the final chapter of The Four Loves. Let me give you just a taste of it:
Continue reading →

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The God Who Speaks

Posted on 2011/09/05 by Shawn Thomas

A few weeks ago during my morning sermon, I spoke about how idols are “speechless” (Habakkuk 2:18), but when you know the Living God, He speaks to you through His word.  Last Sunday I experienced yet another example of this.

Friday and Saturday, both my wife Cheryl and our son Michael had come down with cold/flu-like symptoms.  Cheryl had a bad headache and backache, sore throat, and was extremely tired, and Michael felt much the same way, and had a very raspy throat as well.  As a result, both of them were going to miss church on Sunday morning.  Saturday evening, as I got ready to go to bed, I began to get a bad headache … I was concerned. Continue reading →

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“A Labor Day Message”

Posted on 2011/09/05 by Shawn Thomas

Ephesians 6:5-9               “A Labor Day Message”             Sept. 4, 2011 p.m.

 I wonder how many people really know what Labor Day is about – other than that it gives us a 3-day weekend!  Labor Day seems to mean different things to different people.  The holiday was initially instituted after a violent confrontation of labor unions with the Federal Government back in 1894, as a means of trying to reconcile the two parties.  To most of the American people, Labor Day is the symbolic end of summer.  (We can hope now that cooler weather is just around the corner!)  I have also read that for many women, Labor Day is significant because it is the last day of the year in which they may fashionably wear white!  So, Labor Day means different things to different people.

     Although I have never heard it emphasized as such, I believe that Labor Day should carry some significance to the Christian as well.  If you are a Christian, Jesus Christ is not just a little “addition” to your life; He and His teachings should permeate every aspect of your existence.  And that means your LABOR as well.  As Christians, we should ponder how following Jesus should make a difference in the way that we labor.  It is in that light that I want us to turn to Ephesians 6 tonight, where I believe we can see “A Labor Day Message.” Continue reading →

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“A Song In The Night”

Posted on 2011/09/04 by Shawn Thomas

Habakkuk 3:16-19           “A Song In The Night”                Sept. 4, 2011

      In the early 1820’s, John Keats, the English poet, went outside one evening for the specific purpose of sitting under a tree and listening to the song of a nightingale, the bird renowned for singing its song at night.  Several hours later, one of his friends said that Keats returned home with scraps of paper in his hand; on them he had composed one of the most famous poems in history: “Ode To A Nightingale.”  Keats was captivated with the nightingale, that bird that could sing its song in the night. 

     As we come to the very end of this Book of Habakkuk this morning, I believe that the prophet Habakkuk himself is much like that nightingale.  Habakkuk lived in a land of darkness – and it was about to get much darker.  And yet, he had a song that he could sing in the those dark days. (Remember from our study that this whole 3rd chapter of Habakkuk is literally a song).  In the end, despite all of the darkness and despair that overtook his land, Habakkuk had a song to sing.  And if you are a follower of Jesus Christ today, then you can be like that nightingale as well.  The Book of Job speaks of “God my Maker, who gives songs in the night.”  In the darkest hours of your life, you can still have a song to sing – “A Song In The Night.”  Let us read the last verses of this chapter together – and as we do, watch and see how these last verses form the fitting conclusion to this whole book.  It amplifies what Chapter 2:4 meant when it said that “the righteous will live by his faith” in a land of darkness.  These last verses are the ultimate answer for Habakkuk: he would sing in the night.  And if you are a follower of Jesus, then in your darkest hours, you can always have a song to sing as well: “A Song In The Night.” Continue reading →

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My LASIK Experience

Posted on 2011/09/01 by Shawn Thomas

About two weeks ago I had LASIK surgery: a popular procedure used to correct one’s vision.  It was something I had contemplated for some time.  I had several relatives who had experienced the procedure, including two of my sons and my brother-in-law, as well as a number of other acquaintances.  Many of those who emerge from LASIK are effusive about its benefits, how it eliminates the need for glasses, and makes an incredible change for the better in their vision. Continue reading →

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“Anwoth Is Not Heaven; Preaching Is Not Christ”

Posted on 2011/09/01 by Shawn Thomas

Sometimes in the process of looking for one treasure, you inadvertently find another.  That happened today, as I was searching through one of my very favorite books, The Letters of Samuel Rutherford.  (Rutherford was the pastor of a church in Anwoth, Scotland, in the 1600’s, but was removed from his pulpit during a time of persecution, and sent into exile.  He continued to minister to his congregation through his letters, which were preserved in this gem of a book.)  I was looking for a specific quote for Sunday morning’s sermon, but my search was continually interrupted by the need to record yet another line from one of Rutherford’s letters that I just felt compelled to save in my illustration file.

In one of his letters, to Lady Kenmure (an aristocratic woman in his congregation who had endured many “losses and crosses”) I found that Rutherford wrote the following: “Anwoth is not heaven; preaching is not Christ …”.  That little sentence stopped me flat.  I think many of us in the ministry today need to ponder these words. Continue reading →

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A Song of Wrath and Mercy

Posted on 2011/08/25 by Shawn Thomas

Habakkuk 3:1-2       A Song of Wrath and Mercy             8-21-11

 This week one of our church members reminded me the story of Stuart Hamblen, the songwriter who had lived a life of drinking and partying, but who was saved through the ministry of Billy Graham, and subsequently wrote a song about his story of coming to the Lord, entitled: “It Is No Secret What God Can Do.”  Many of the songs we hear are songs that come from people’s personal experiences.  Many of the Psalms of David in the Bible are that way; they are expressions of what he was going through.  We find that same thing as we come to the last chapter of Habakkuk.  Habakkuk has been through a lot as he wrestled with God about what he saw going on in the world; and under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, he writes a song about what he has learned.  That song is found in the 3rd and last chapter of this book. Continue reading →

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The Third Team on the Field

Posted on 2011/08/16 by Shawn Thomas

At The Response, the prayer gathering attended by 32,000-plus in Houston a few days ago, most of the event was spent in some kind of prayer.  There were no “sermons” as such, although periodically, a preacher or recognized figure would speak for 5 minutes or so before encouraging us in yet another segment of prayer.  One of those speakers was Tony Evans, a well-known pastor in the Dallas area (and known to many of our women as the father of Priscilla Shirer).  Evans shared an analogy which I believe is very insightful, and is a key for keeping a balanced Christian walk in the society in which we live. Continue reading →

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Delight Yourself in the Lord

Posted on 2011/08/15 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 37:4                   “Delight Yourself in the Lord”         8-14-11  p.m.

      Years ago, Corrie Ten Boom wrote, “Look around, you’ll be distressed.  Look within, you’ll be depressed.  Look to the Lord, you’ll be at rest.”  From all of her experiences, she ought to know.  And her words are so applicable today.  There are so many things we can look around at, and become distressed or depressed about: the stock market is crashing, the economy is not in good shape, the nation seems to be sinking in moral depravity, people we care about are straying or suffering.  But even in the worst of times, there is joy available for the Christian – IF we look for it in the right place. Continue reading →

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“The Lord is in His Holy Temple”

Posted on 2011/08/14 by Shawn Thomas

Habakkuk 2:9-20      “The Lord Is In His Holy Temple”       8-14-11 a.m.   

A couple of weeks ago, when we studied Habakkuk 2:4, we talked about how Job, when he had endured so much, asked God questions for which he never really received any answers.  In the end, he just covered his mouth and worshipped.  We have seen that Habakkuk too asks God some difficult questions: why do evil practices not seem to be punished, when God is supposed to be a holy God?, etc.  Here in Chapter 2 we find that Habakkuk gets some answers to his questions – at least more than Job did.  But in the end, both Habakkuk – and we – do not get all the answers; we are still left challenged to live a life of faith, and trust God.  Let’s read this whole chapter together, and then come back and look at “The Sin that Will Be Judged – and the God who is on His throne”.  Continue reading →

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