Author Archives: chadzaucha

A man I consider to be a great friend and mentor is in his last days.  Dick surprised us all by rallying enough strength to come to worship with his family and sing one more time.  He is finishing well and I will forever be grateful for the impact he has had on my life.

We had a great day of worship Sunday with Dr. Sam Chetti challenging us to consider the snapshots of the church contained in Romans 12:9-21.  At the conclusion of his message, I presented you with a homework assignment to write a brief description of how we as a church would practically live out one or more of these snapshots.  I have already received some responses and they are fantastic.  If you have not yet done so, would you please take a moment and consider how we as a church can practically apply this passage?  You can send this to me via email.  This is a great opportunity to dream.

May God fill your mind with His dreams for First Baptist Church!

I have mentioned christianaudio.com before.  As the name suggests, it is a great site for downloading Christian audio books.  It also has some amazing sermons/teachings/messages, many of which are free.  In particular this week I came across some rock solid teaching from John Piper on significant figures in the history of the Church.  I was blown away by what he shared about Spurgeon and Mueller.  It went way beyond informational to inspirational.  I highly recommend this to you.  Visit christianaudio.com.  Click “best sellers” and scroll down until you find the appropriate messages from John Piper.  I think you will also find other teachings of interest as well.

You have probably gathered from earlier posts that I am doing a lot of wrestling with God these days.  I feel like my life (my safe, comfortable, healthy life) is being taken from me.  Nobody likes to have anything taken from them.  It makes us feel violated and cheated, especially when it is something valuable to us. 

But when we give something valuable as a gift to someone we love, that is a great joy.  It is interesting that the removal of the same object from our lives can produce resentment or joy.  The question is whether it is being taken from us or being given by us?

Galatians 1:4 refers to the Lord Jesus Christ, “who gave himself…”  He set the example.  He is calling me to give as He gave.  And He knows that for me to experience true joy, I must give my life (my safe, comfortable, healthy life) to Him as a gift.  At some point (soon hopefully) I need to quit wrestling with the idea that my life is being taken and joyfully give it to Him who has given everything to me.

It is very humbling when the worship services that are the most meaningful are those in which I have the most limited role.  This past Sunday was a great example.

John 3:30 (NIV)
He must become greater; I must become less.

Podcast for Sunday, July 31st

The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul

“Jacob, Job, and Habakkuk all declared war on God.  They all stormed the battlements of heaven.  They were all defeated, yet they all came away from the struggle with uplifted souls.  They paid a price in pain.  God allowed the debate, but the battle was fierce before peace was established (144).”

“Indeed, for the transforming power of God to change our lives, we must wrestle with Him.  We must know what it means to fight with God all night if we are also to know what it means to experience the sweetness of the soul’s surrender (139).”

“Yet Job was satisfied.  Even though God gave no answers, Job’s questions were put to rest.  He received a higher answer than any direct reply could have provided.  God answered Job’s questions not with words but with Himself.  As soon as Job saw who God is, Job was satisfied.  Seeing the manifestation of God was all that he needed.  He was able to leave the details in God’s hands (142).”

“With the appearance of God, all of Habakkuk’s angry protests ceased.  Suddenly the tone of his speech changed from one of bitter despair to one of unwavering confidence and hope:  “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior”  (Hab. 3:17-18).  Habakkuk was now as fierce in his joy as he had been in his despair.  He was able to rest absolutely in God’s sovereignty (143).”

 Why in the world did I think I could

Only get to know You when my life was good?

When everything just falls in place

The easiest thing is to give You praise.

Now it all seems upside down

‘Cause my whole world is caving in

But I feel you now more than I did then

How can I come to the end of me

And somehow still have all I need?

God, I want to know You more

Maybe this is how it starts

I find You when I fall apart

Podcast For July 10, 2011 (Romans 7:1-6)

Podcast For July 17, 2011 (Romans 7:7-13)

When I Lay My Isaac Down:  Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances by Carol Kent.

“Most of us who have walked with Christ for a few years find it relatively easy to trust God for “the small stuff”–occasional financial reversals, minor physical challenges, relationship struggles, disappointments, lost opportunities.  But an Isaac experience puts our relationship with God to the test.  Do we really believe He is good and loving when our life is irrevocably altered in a way that causes hardship and heartache?  When we experience a debilitating disease, accident, addiction, or heartbreaking loss due to another’s choice or our own, will we still love, trust, obey, honor, and worship the God we’ve claime to love, even in this?  Even if nothing changes (94)?”