Welcome to the Dellview Lighthouse first ever blog. I suspect that many who will view this will be members and friends of Dellview Baptist Church in San Antonio TX. In fact, this may or may not be your first entry into the mammoth blog reality. I can’t technically explain what a blog is, however, as you visit more blogs and view this blog site you’ll quickly get the idea.
Weekly or ever so often I’ll will "post" some thoughts specific to daily spirituality, church life at Dellview Baptist, and or sermon preparation for upcoming services at Dellview Baptist church. Sometimes these "posts" will be in the form of a question, brief paragraph or short prose. Some days it might only be a text of Scripture or a contemplative poem.
At the end of each post you’re invited to respond by clicking on the "comment" link.
You might agree or disagree. You might add to the thought or ask a further question. Let me offer
one simple guideline:
1.
Respect one another and each other’s views. Yes it should go without saying that Love is the theme. As Baptists we value the priesthood of all believers, and therefore should not seek to impose a list of propositional "truths" on one another. Remember to aim for unity in the essentials, tolerance and the right to disagree on the marginal issues and grace and love in all matters.
Here is a
thought for this week in the wake of Katrina:
People are, no doubt, questioning the existence and compassion of God this very hour in the wake of our country’s most natural catastrophic destruction ever.
They cry out:"Where is God in the midst of my baby dying? Where is God in the midst of the rage and destruction of the storm? Where is God in the midst of thousands dying in their attics and in the flooded streets of New Orleans?"
God has chosen to rely on the church (those who claim his name) to respond, rescue, care for, and love those in dire need.
If those who claim his name do not respond, then God’s hands have been tied.
If those who claim his name do not rescue, then God’s feet have been immobilized.
If those who claim his name do not proclaim for and cry out for the needy, Then God’s mouth and voice have been muzzled.
You see when we choose to dance with God, we choose to be his hands, his feet, and his voice in this world. If we choose not to dance with him then the lost stay lost and dying are sure to die.
Are you dancing with God?
Is your spirit connected with his spirit?
Are you Spiritual?
The spirit in us is that very part of God that longs for God himself. If it remains unconnected then it’s dead. If our spirits dance with God then we are enlivened with God’s power and wisdom (not the world’s wisdom!).
Esther was summoned to dance with God in the night before the destruction of her people by the evil plot of Haman. Mordecai sent word to Esther in her hesitancy to respond the impending crisis:
"Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this moment at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this." (Esther 4.12-13)
