Another Gem from Tozier
Posted on Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at 11:41 AM by David Zavadil
"In my opinion, the great single need of the moment is that light-hearted superficial religionists be struck down with a vision of God high and lifted up, with His train filling the temple. The holy art of worship seems to have passed away like the Shekinah glory from the tabernacle. As a result, we are left to our own devices and forced to make up the lack of spontaneous worship by bringing in countless cheap and tawdry activities to hold the attention of the church people."
A. W. Tozer 
Posted in Commentary (RSS), The Church (RSS)
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Grace Active
Posted on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 10:35 AM by David Zavadil
The following prayer is taken from The Valley of Vision. This is a must have in your Library.
Lord Jesus, great high priest, Thou hast opened a new and living way by which a fallen creature can approach Thee with acceptance.
Help me to contemplate the dignity of Thy Person, the perfectness of Thy sacrifice, the effectiveness of Thy intercession.
O what blessedness accompanies devotion, when under all the trials that weary me, the cares that corrode me, the fears that disturb me, the infirmities that oppress me, I can come to Thee in my need and feel peace beyond understanding!
The grace that restores is necessary to preserve, lead, guard, supply, help me. And here Thy saints encourage my hope; they were once poor and are now rich, bound and are now free, tried and now are victorious.
Every new duty calls for more grace than I now possess, but not more than is found in Thee, the divine treasury in whom all fullness dwells. To Thee I repair for grace upon grace, until every void made by sin be replenished and I am filled with all Thy fullness.
May my desires be enlarged and my hopes emboldened, that I may honour Thee by my entire dependency and the greatness of my expectation.
Do Thou be with me, and prepare me for all the smiles of prosperity, the frowns of adversity, the losses of substance, the death of friends, the days of darkness, the changes of life, and the last great change of all. May I find thy grace sufficient for all my needs.
Quote for Today
Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 at 8:18 PM by David Zavadil
"I refer to the loss of the concept of majesty from the popular religious mind. The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshipping men..."
A. W. Tozer
Posted in Ministry (RSS), The Church (RSS)
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Politics and the Preacher
Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 1:17 PM by David Zavadil
I was pretty open during our elections concerning my view of the candidates running for office. I made it clear, up front, that I did not think either candidate was, in the long run, good for our country. My view has not changed.
While our president says he is doing what is best for the country, I am not sure. Between the state of our economy and the state of our society, more and more there are issues that are crossing and sometimes blurring the line between the political and theological. As a preacher of the Word, I struggle with the fine line between God's pulpit and the "Bully Pulpit."
During both the Revolutionary and Civil War periods many sermons were preached for and against every view. Today we tend to see multiple views of political sermons. One view is that we should just focus on the Word of God and should take an apolitical position. Another view is that we need to be politically proactive, declaring our views and vocally advocating them. I am not sure I agree with either position and wonder what is the place for hot button or political sermons in our pulpits. Can a minister of the word address the recent California Supreme Court hearing or the economy or other political issues of the day? Weigh in and let me know what you think. Let's talk about this.
Edited on: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 1:24 PMPosted in Ministry (RSS), The Church (RSS)
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Quote of the Day
Posted on Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 4:34 PM by David Zavadil
"When the Lord turns the light strong upon us, we soon see the spots in our raiment. How shall an unholy God send out unholy messengers? An unsanctified minister is an unsent minister. An unholy missionary is a pest to the tribe he visits. An unholy teacher is an injury rather than a blessing to his students."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Posted in Just For Fun (RSS), Ministry (RSS)
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Challenges of a Wedding
Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 3:42 PM by David Zavadil
This past Saturday my oldest child was married. I had the privilege or both giving her away and performing the ceremony. While I tried to maintain a strong exterior, I have to admit that it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I performed enough weddings to go into the ceremony a little cocky, "Aww this will be nothing." It is totally different when it is your own child.
I was strong as we walked down the aisle. The Lord held the rain off until we were under the tent and down the aisle. I made it through the hand off, accurately saying, "Her mother and I." About half way through the vows, as I was going through the "do you take this woman..." part, the light went on. "This is my daughter!" "What woman are we talking about?" I instantly began to see the wedding ceremony through different eyes. Not only was this really happening, my little girl had grown up before my eyes and was now a woman. She is still my daughter, that will never change, but now she is a wife and one day a mother. She has grown all up. I suddenly found myself tongue tied.
I am glad I did not realize that her sister and brother were crying to my right and left. I would have lost it, more than I did. I am proud of my daughter, just wish we had more time together.
Posted in Family happenings (RSS)
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Give Time to God
Posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 10:56 AM by David Zavadil
This Devotion is by Andrew Murray:
Ecclesiastes 3:1* ¶ For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
"THIS is literally true, there is a time for everything. Can it be true, as many maintain, that there is no time for communion with god? Is not the most important matter for which we must find time fellowship with God, in which we may experience His love and Power? Give God time, I beseech you.
You need time to feed upon the Word of God and to draw from it life for your soul. Through His Word, His thoughts and His grace enter our hearts and lives. Take time each day to read the Bible, even if it be only a few verses; meditate upon what you have read, and thus assimilate the bread of life. If you do not take the trouble to let God speak to you through His Word, how can you expect to be led by the Spirit? Meditate upon the Word, and lay it before God in prayer as the pledge of what He will do for you. The Word gibes you matter for prayer, and courage and power in prayer. Our prayers are often futile because we speak our own thoughts and have not taken the time to hear what God has to say. Let the Word of God teach you what God promises, what you need, and in what manner God wishes you to pray. Thus by prayer and the Word your heart will be prepared to have fellowship with God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Dear child of God, it is of little use to speak of the deeper, more abundant life of Christ as our life if we do not daily, above all things, take time for intercourse with our Father in heaven. The life and love and holiness of God cannot be ours amids the distractions and temptations of the world unless we give God time to reveal Himself to us and to take possession of our hearts."
Posted in Commentary (RSS)
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That's My King.
Posted on Sunday, April 12, 2009 at 3:19 PM by David Zavadil
Easter is upon us. This classic from Dr. S.M. Lockridge reminds us of whose we are.