October 24, 2025

Any Attempt to Extinguish the Light will Result in it Growing Brighter

This was true in the early church. Perhaps we are about to see if it is true in our own age. Persecution against the church is growing globally. Even in American culture, which was founded upon the Christian faith, where we are often isolated and insulated, we sense that there are signs that anti-Christian persecution is escalating. Mark it well - the recent NO KINGS protest was not simply a political statement. It was also a statement that our King - King Jesus, is no longer acceptable in the USA. This is not to play the victim card. It simply seems obvious to those who have a heightened sense of reality. The Bible makes us aware of this universal truth concerning persecution. Paul reminds us: “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12 Jesus declared:  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:10-11 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. John 15:18-20 In the world, you will have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world. John 16:33 Always remember the second spiritual law of thermodynamics: the greater the heat the greater the expansion. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred

October 17, 2025

Charisma without Character Leads to Corruption in Christians

Recently, there have been too many stories in papers and periodicals that focus on the moral failure of pastors and Christian leaders. Being involved in training pastors, my goal has been, as Kem Oberholtzer once said, to produce men who have “a scholar's mind and a shepherd's heart.” But somewhere, somehow, something can go wrong. There is a disconnect. Just a few weeks ago, one of my students confessed to me that he had cheated on an exam. In a seminary course of all places! Did he think God could not see what he was doing? To be successful in serving the Church and glorifying the Lord, it is essential that people be informed in the mind and impacted through the heart. It does not take much mental awareness to realize we are operating in a post-Christian world and that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. And so, we must be aware so we can beware. (Eph 4:14, 6:12) And yet it feels at times that we are living in two worlds - one that is dead and the other that is powerless to be. If we are going to live successfully in this corrupt world, we need to heed the command of the apostle Paul: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lust”. (Romans 13:14) Serving Him with you Until He comes for us, Fred  In my Friday with Fred a few weeks ago I quoted John Piper. I took this quote from a secondary footnoted source, which had been found in a variety of places. Dr. Piper says he never said this and does not believe the content of the quote.

October 10, 2025

The Golden Years

As age brings gray hair and skin wrinkles, new names emerge to describe it--- elderly, declining, senectitude, and senile. Ouch! The onset of age diminishes many functionalities. In the mental arena, I cannot do all-nighters anymore, and I have less ability for extended periods of focus in studying, not to mention the physical limitations that begin to appear- so I won’t mention them. But all is not lost, for as author Arthur Brooks reminds us, although we may lose ground in what he calls “Fluid Intelligence,” we may increase in what he calls “Crystalized Intelligence” or what the Bible calls wisdom. Acquired and applied truth sensitive to situations is wisdom. Slowing down and occasionally breaking down is part of getting on in age. But along with the downturn, there can be an upturn if we solidify our life experiences and learn from them. In former times and in different cultures, the aged were respected and seen as possessing and being able to pass on wisdom to the younger generation. This is still true in many family settings and in some parts of our culture. However, in many ways, most are “kicked to the curb” and viewed as a hindrance to the production of product and personal profit. So, as I begin senescence and enter my declining dotage years and try to “not let the old man in,” I hope I am a man of wisdom, spiritually mature, and sensitive to the needs of people. Although I have more gray hair, I look forward to these Golden Years. Years of wise service to the King. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us. Fred

October 3, 2025

Theological Hygiene

Theological confusion can be found everywhere these days--even in those we trust to be speaking the truth. I’m not saying a person has bad motives, just bad theology. John Piper is a well-known leader of evangelicalism and a passionate speaker who has taught and led literally millions of people. He is a man of honor and distinction. However, here is a theological statement that is very troubling, disturbing, and I would say, wrong. “No Christian can be sure he is a true believer; Hence, there is an ongoing need to be dedicated to the Lord and deny ourselves so that we might make it.” John Piper, Ligonier National Conference, June 15-17, 2000 I hope you see the dangers in this quote. Essentially, he is saying that a Christian cannot have confidence or assurance that they are saved and have eternal life. So, there is a need to do good works to prove they are saved, and with all that, there is still the danger or potential that they “might not make it”- get to heaven. How many good works and what type or level of good works must I do so that “I might make it?” Where is the official list, or is this simply a sliding scale of subjectivity? When I read John 3:16, 5:24, and 10:28-29 it sounds like I can be sure and even certain that I have passed from death to life and never come into judgment. The Apostle Paul reminds the church at Corinth and us in our own time, that “It is good that there are divisions among yourselves so that those who are approved may be made manifest” (I Cor 11:19). It is interesting that the term “divisions” is the word from which get “heresy.” Sometimes divisions are necessary so that we can analyze each side of an issue to see what the truth is, no matter who it is who is teaching it. We must demand the time to think and develop the habit of thought. Serving Him with you Until He comes for us. Fred