“…graven with an iron pen and lead…” Job 19:24
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
God & Country
The First Prayer In Congress
Be Thou present O God of Wisdom and direct the counsel of this Honorable Assembly; enable them to settle all things on the best and surest foundations; that the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that Order, Harmony and Peace may be effectually restored, and the Truth and Justice, Religion and Piety, prevail and flourish among the people. Preserve the health of their bodies, and the vigor of their minds, shower down on them, and the millions they here represent, temporal Blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world, and crown them with everlasting Glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior, Amen. (The first prayer of Congress, offered by Rev. Duche in Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia on September 7, 1774)
Are You Prepared For Heaven?
Lewis Sperry Chafer said, “Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.” Are you prepared for Heaven? “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:3, 16-18
Be On Guard!
Be on guard against any tampering with the Word, whether disguised as a search for truth, or a scholarly attempt at apparently hidden meanings; and beware of the confusion created by the senseless rash of new versions, translations, editions, and improvements upon the tried and tested Bible of our fathers and grandfathers. M. R. DeHaan
What Is Leadership?
David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Many think of a leader as one who barks out orders and bosses others around. Others hold the dictatorial view of leadership, looking at leadership as empowering the one leading with absolute power and supreme authority. However, Jesus Christ, the greatest leader who ever walked the earth gives us some valuable insights into what leadership is not and what a leader is to be in Matthew 20: 25-27. “Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.”
First, what a leader is not to be or do. A leader is not to “exercise dominion over” those being led. That is, a leader is not to compel those being led to submit to his absolute control. Secondly, a leader is not to “exercise authority upon” those being led. That means a leader does not pressure, manipulate and exploit those being led for his own selfish purposes.
The model of Biblical leadership is found in the two words “minister” and “servant” in our text. While space will not allow me to share the complete results of my word study, I can tell you this: one who leads the way by serving. So, what does that mean? It means that a leader has a servant’s heart. A good illustration to use of a Biblical leader is a “lead horse” so called. A lead horse is first in the harness and the first to pull! A Biblical leader is one who leads by example. A good emblem of a true leader, a biblical leader is not a throne or a club, but a lead horse, who is first in the harness and the first to pull.
No one who really wants to count for God can afford to play at Christianity. Harry Ironside