Dale Tedder

What I Learned about God from Psalm 99

Posted on May 3, 2013 by daletedder

13825_Psalm_99_t_smAs I was reading God’s Word a couple of years ago, God reminded me about how awesome he truly is. I was also reminded that I have never regretted reading Scripture early in the morning, but I have absolutely regretted not reading it. Just think what I would have missed out on if I had slept in. Thanks be to God… he woke me up and encountered me in his Word. Here’s the text…

Psalm 99:1-9

The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. [2] Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. [3] Let them praise your great and awesome name– he is holy.

[4] The King is mighty, he loves justice– you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. [5] Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.

[6] Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the Lord and he answered them. [7] He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

[8] O Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. [9] Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.

And here’s what I learned early one morning about God…

  • He reigns. (v. 1)
  • He is the King, for he sits enthroned between angels. (v. 1)
  • He is great and should be exalted over the nations. (v. 2)
  • His great and awesome name should be praised. (v. 3)
  • He is holy. (v. 3)
  • He is the King who is mighty and loves justice. (v. 4)
  • He does what is just and right. (v. 4)
  • He is the God of his covenant people. He is to be worshipped. (v. 5)
  • He is holy. (v. 5)
  • He answers those who call on him. (v. 6)
  • He speaks to his people. (v. 7)
  • He gives laws that are to be obeyed. (v. 7)
  • He is a God who forgives. (v.8)
  • He disciplines his children when they disobey. (v.8)
  • He should be exalted and worshipped, for he is our God and he is holy. (v. 9)

Grace and Truth,
Dale

Categories: Attributes of God, Bible Study, Daily Devotions, Dale Tedder, Psalm, Scripture, Scripture for Today | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Turn Curses into Blessings

Posted on April 28, 2013 by daletedder

daily-devotions-1Nehemiah 13:2 – “Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.”

What the devil and the world mean for evil, God can use for good. He is a Romans 8:28-kind-of-God. He can turn curses, ill-will, and hate-filled words, thoughts and actions aimed at us into blessings. But to be honored in such a way, we must honor him (1 Samuel 2:30).

The priests in Malachi 1 and 2 did not honor God in such a way. Thus, God vividly reminded these “spokesmen and ministers of his” that blessings can also be turned into curses. In Malachi 2:1-2, God declares…

“And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not ‘I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.’”

A covenantal relationship involves God’s promises of blessings and curses. To even be offered a covenantal relationship with Almighty God is an expression of grace.

Why, then, do we dishonor God? Why do we show contempt for his blessings? Why wouldn’t we want to experience all that he has to offer those who honor him?

Lord, I’m a fool. Forgive me for not honoring you with everything I say, do and think. Enable me, by the power of your Spirit, to honor you in every sphere of my life and with all that I am. Amen.

Grace and Truth,
Dale

Categories: Daily Devotions, Dale Tedder, Godly Manhood | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Life for Yours

Posted on April 26, 2013 by daletedder

wheatverse300John 12:24-26

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. [25] The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

In our scripture Jesus is teaching his disciples that he is going to die, but that he must if they would live. A kernel of wheat must die if it would produce many seeds.

Why hasn’t reformation and revival broken out across the church at Southside…or any other church around us lately? There are perhaps many reasons, but could one reason be that we are holding on too preciously and tightly to our own lives – unwilling to die – so that we might reproduce many seeds through our deaths? Do we love our lives too much in this world, so much so, that we are actually losing our lives?

My life for yours. Genuine, substitutionary, and sacrificial living. Following and serving our King wherever he may lead…to whatever end. This brings honor from the Father. This glorifies the Father.

My life for yours. Training and nurturing our children in the Lord – when we rise, when we go to bed, as we live throughout the day, when it’s convenient, when it’s inconvenient – making sure that our children are not merely “taught at” but saturated in the things of God each day, all day – because they are eternal beings and heirs of the King. “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

Are we leaving a godly legacy to and for our children and our children’s children for a thousand generations? Are we dying so they can live – really live? Can we think outside our individual lives to see how our own deaths will extend the Kingdom of God by producing many seeds? Will we believe the promises of God that he has made regarding faithful, covenantal parenting? My life for yours and for a thousand generations after you. Talk about a payoff!

But this is hard. That’s why it’s called death. Death to self. It is intentional, committed, disciplined. It’s every day, all day. It’s the discipling of our children because it is our joy, blessing, and responsibility before God to do so. Our lives for theirs. The Kingdom of God grows in such ways. Darkness is engulfed by light through such ways. Reformation and revival are ushered in through such faith and obedience. God promises blessings to such as these.

We must die. We must do with less stuff if it means more time with our families. We must wrestle with our children at the end of the day…even when we are tired. We must discipline our children, even when we would rather not. We must cast a God-glorifying vision before our children (and reiterate it every day) of who they could be for Jesus. We have to read great stories to our children (even when we’d rather doze off) so that their imaginations can ignite as they put themselves in the places of the characters in the stories. We have to read to them about the heroes of the faith who have gone before us, so that they might see how others have given themselves for Christ and his Kingdom. We absolutely must teach our children who our God is – his person, plan, power, purpose and so on. We must drive home again and again what the gospel is and is not (after all, we’re not trying to merely make better citizens or “behaviorally correct” robots). We must teach them grace and show them grace. They must learn what it means to know, love, and follow Christ. They have to understand that our faith is a total world and life view that addresses every sphere of life.

We are called to create Christian cultures in our homes though the power of God’s Word and Spirit, that those cultures might spill out into every other sphere of life. This is first and foremost our (the parents’) responsibility, not others…not even the church. Our lives for theirs. We must die so they can live.

Can we let go? Of our wants, things, desires, passions – our very lives? We must if we would find real life – abundant life – eternal life. Life in service to the King is not our own…it’s better. Only in dying are we raised. Only in dying are more seeds produced, and therefore, more fruit. Our lives for theirs.

From our commitment and hard daily labor now, what might God do in response? Might he use one of our children, (or one of our children’s children), to bring many to Christ, to redeem the culture, to usher in reformation and revival in the church, to extend the Kingdom of God as never before? We have every reason to believe he will! But we must die. We must fall to the ground and die. We must hate our lives in this world. We must give our lives for our children’s lives, and for their children after them, that God might be pleased and choose to honor us by blessing those for whom we gave our lives.

My life for yours. Our lives for theirs. This is biblical faith.

Grace and Truth,
Dale

Categories: Bearing Fruit, Covenant Family, Covenantal Home, Daily Devotions, Dale Tedder, Discipleship, Godly Manhood, Love, Sacrifice | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Leadership Lessons from a City Clerk

Posted on April 25, 2013 by daletedder

Leadership Road SignActs 19:35-41

The Ephesian city clerk was wise. He was a real leader. In the midst of an unjust riot against two Christian brothers, Gaius and Aristarchus, the clerk made a bold stand. There is no indication that this man was a follower of Christ, so I take it that his intercession was the result of special grace, while his wisdom and leadership was the fruit of common grace. As John Maxwell says, “leadership is influence,” and this man certainly had it.

First, he connected with the “Men of Ephesus” by recalling for them the ego-stroking perspective that the entire world knew that Ephesus was the “guardian of the temple of the great Artemis…” At this point he reminded them that the whole world knew of their important position, as well as the respect that such a position held (at least that was his implicit suggestion). Then he cleverly inserted a “therefore” to indicate that such an honored position in the world required decorum and order. This unnamed man saw the injustice against the two Christian brothers and was not going to allow it.

He cautioned the mob that these men had committed no crime or wrong doing at all. Message to crowd: Refined and respected citizens of Ephesus, the keepers of Artemis’ temple, ought not behave like uncouth and uncivilized barbarians. Moreover, his rhetoric seemed to suggest that because they were indeed so refined and civil, they could rightfully address any legitimate grievances with the local legal authorities. Furthermore, he told them that if they continued in such unjust unrest, they themselves would be the transgressors of civility and the law. Chalk one up for the city clerk.

After making his case he dismissed the crowd. And Acts 20:1 gives evidence that he must have succeeded in his efforts. The text reads, “When the uproar ended…” It is gratifying to see God’s common grace alive and well in the lives of pagans…even more so in the lives of pagan leaders. I wonder how Christian leaders placed in a similar situation would have handled it.

There are probably many lessons to be learned from this historical snapshot of an anonymous Ephesian city clerk, but that would require more space than this little devotion allows. I would like, however, to point out how intrigued I am with this man’s leadership. He didn’t bend and bow to the mob’s desires in an effort to gain favor with them. That’s sometimes my personal failing. The idea of putting my finger to the wind to see which direction it is blowing is all too tempting to those of us who loathe confrontation. But that’s not leadership… it’s cowardice. It’s the fear of man, not the fear of God. Equally as bad is the fact that there is no character or integrity in such weakness. The city clerk chose to do what was right – even in the face of possible opposition.

How many times has a Christian pastor backed down from a position (even a God-ordained one) because of pressure from the mob? To be sure, no one ought to die on every single hill that comes along, but there are some principles (convictions and/or values) that should be tenaciously held on to – ones that should yield no quarter.

My children don’t always know what’s good for them. They would be content to eat nothing but cotton candy and McDonald’s french fries for the next five years (come to think of it… so would I). But that would be harmful to them. I’ve been entrusted to shepherd them, and shepherd them I must. Sometimes, adults aren’t much farther down the road than children, especially when the mob mentality is at work.

God-appointed leaders must exercise wisdom and courage in such situations. For though it is usually true that “all of us are smarter than one of us” and that many counselors may surely provide good advice… that is not always the case, as the episode in Ephesus reveals. The city clerk was able to make the distinction (wisdom) and acted on what he knew was right and best (leadership).

May God give the same character and willingness to those called by his name to shepherd his flock.

Grace and Truth,
Dale

Categories: Daily Devotions, Dale Tedder, Leadership | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Wartime Mentality

Posted on April 22, 2013 by daletedder

5457749024_d56c96e139_zMatthew 11:12

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

One of the emphases of my life’s purpose and ministry is to “extend the Kingdom of God into every sphere of life.” I like the word “extend” because it means to stretch, lengthen, prolong, continue, expand, enlarge, offer, put forth, give, impart, and present, just to name a few. And while each of those words is similar, each represents a slightly different emphasis. That’s just what I want to stress when talking about the Christian’s mission regarding the Kingdom of God.

But in our text today, Jesus focuses on the Kingdom “advancing.” This has a military-ring to it. Jesus also says that forceful men lay hold of this forcefully advancing Kingdom. My NIV footnote says,

“They enter the kingdom and become Christ’s disciples. To do this takes spiritual courage, vigor, power, and determination because of ever-increasing persecution.”

What is described here is what John Piper refers to as a “wartime mentality.” The kingdom of heaven is forcefully advancing. The kingdom of darkness resists this advancement. We are daily fighting for our lives and for the lives of those we love and those who have been entrusted to our care. The world, the flesh, and the devil are formidable adversaries. And if we don’t maintain a war-time mentality – being ever vigilant, standing firm, being prepared, growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ – then we should know that we will, in fact, suffer the ravages of war, the consequences of poor preparation and lax attentiveness, and all the collateral damage that attends war – even the loss of loved ones.

We must fight the good fight of faith. We must enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Peter tells us that many have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness (2 Peter 2:15), which is death (Romans 6:23). So we must stand firm in the faith, or we will not stand at all (Isaiah 7:9). And we ought to know in advance that people will hate us for standing firm, but he who does stands firm to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22).

But standing firm will take a war-time mentality. We cannot assume that we are ever safe from attack. We must be ever watching and on our guard. Our Defender is strong to be sure. We draw from his strength. He continually intercedes for us, and our cause would be lost if this was not the case. We would indeed be sifted like wheat. However, as true as that is, we are still called, commanded, and expected to fight, to persevere, to press on, to grow and mature, to stand firm, and so 0n. If we don’t, we could very well wander from the faith (1 Timothy 6:20-21), and become shipwrecked (1 Timothy 1:19). Jesus had his Judas. Paul had his Demas. We shouldn’t therefore think that we’re safe and secure. Our defenses are only as strong as our diligence.

And yet our hope is not in ourselves. Our hope is in the Lord. Does this contradict all that I just said? That matters very little to me for two reasons. First, the Bible affirms this. And second, I know that because the Bible teaches it, it is not, therefore, contradictory in the mind of God. Getting my puny little mind around it just doesn’t matter a great deal to me.

Forceful men lay hold of the Kingdom of God, which our Lord is causing to advance in and through his power. And yet he calls us to take it to the far reaches of our own hearts, as well as those of our families, our places of work, community, culture, and to the very ends of the earth.

This will not be a waltz. It is a battle. The enemy shoots his fiery darts at us daily (Ephesians 6:16). He hides and waits to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). The world sends out its false teachers to lead God’s people astray (2 Peter 2:1ff). Add to that the weakness of our own frame. We may indeed count ourselves dead to sin (Romans 6:11), but sin has not yet been utterly eradicated.

And yet the Kingdom advances still.

So “be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). And to do so you must begin with faith and trust in our King, not by pulling yourself up by our own bootstraps. It will also end with faith and trust. For that matter, it will require being saturated with faith and trust all the way through. And because of his grace and your faith and trust, God will make you stand firm in Christ Jesus, our Lord (2 Corinthians 1:21). This is how we advance – or extend – the Kingdom of God into every sphere of life.

Stand Firm,
Dale

 

Categories: Courageous, Dale Tedder, Discipleship, Faithfulness, Godly Manhood, Kingdom Discipleship, Manhood | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Richard Baxter

Posted on April 18, 2013 by daletedder

Baxter-2I have described Richard Baxter as a 17th century Renaissance man. More truthfully and accurately, he was an English puritan pastor and writer. But that description doesn’t do him justice. According to Baxter scholars, J.I. Packer and Timothy Beougher,

“Baxter has been called the greatest of all English preachers, the virtual creator of popular Christian literature, and the most succesful preacher and winner of souls and nurturer of won souls that England has ever had.”

They go on to point out that,

“As Puritanism’s leading writer on practical, devotional, moral, and apologetic themes, Baxter produced over 140 books marking out various aspects of the path of truth and holiness.”

I call Baxter a Renaissance man because of the wide interests about which he wrote. “Baxter penned treatises on grace and salvation, apologetics, …antinomianism, the sacraments, millenarianism, ethics, nonconformity, devotion, conversion, politics, and history, not to mention systematic theology.” In fact, Ian Murray points out that…

”Baxter was a many-faceted man. He was both an evangelist and scholar; a speaker and an author, a poet and a possesor of a keen analytical mind.”

How important was he in his day? John Wilkins, Bishop of Chester concluded, “If [Baxter] had lived in the primitive time he would have been one of the fathers of the church.” A biographer of Baxter says about him that “he came nearer the apostolical writings than any man in the age.” How important is he for today? Packer and Beougher tell us:

“As two students of Baxter who cannot be sufficiently thankful for the impact [Baxter] has made in our lives, we would say to every believer, get to know Baxter, and stay with Baxter. He will always do you good.”

Why would I choose Richard Baxter as my “patron saint?” Because he captured as well as anyone the worldview focus (or the “every sphere kingdom-mindedness”) of Christian discipleship. He understood that all of life (every sphere) must be faithfully integrated because Christ is the Lord of all of life. Packer writes,

“The sheer brilliance of Baxter’s achievement in crystallizing a proper form for the life of faith on a canvass as broad as life at a very high level of intelligent, Bible-based, theologically-integrated wisdom, and with unfailing compressed clarity, is dazzling to the mind. Baxter had a high view of “the unity of human life before the Lord.”

Packer says that there is no world-denial with Baxter. Instead, what Baxter calls for

“is the sanctification of all life through bringing all its manifold activities into the unity of a single overmastering purpose – loving God, and laying hold of eternal life in its fulness. That can be put the other way round, by saying that what Baxter calls for is a branching out of the converted Christian’s heart’s desire, to know and love and please God, into biblically informed and situationally appropriate action in every department of life.”

Richard Baxter has shaped my faith and ministry and many ways. I give thanks to God for his faithful witness.

Stand Firm,
Dale

Categories: Biography, Dale Tedder, Heroes, Richard Baxter, Witness | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Life Checkup: Introduction

Posted on April 17, 2013 by daletedder

doctor_with_stethoscopeAbout three or four years ago I shared with my church family a revised version of a “spiritual life checkup” that I put together eight or nine years before then. Well… I thought it was time to dust it off, clean it up a little and share it once again. My plan is to share it in smaller parts so that you don’t have to read one really long post.

One thing I added to this particular spiritual inventory was an article to go along with each category. I thought it would be helpful to read something that communicates why the questions of the particular category (or even the category itself) are worth asking, reflecting on, answering, and then working on in our spiritual pilgrimage.

I hope that the checkup adds some value for you in your pursuit of spiritual growth in Christ.

Blessings,
Dale

******************

Dear Southside Family,

Continued spiritual growth is a key emphasis in the Christian faith. We call it sanctification. That’s simply a fancy word that means growing in godliness or holiness. In other words, as followers of Christ, we are called to progressively become more like him throughout our lives. Becoming a Christian by repenting of our sin and placing our trust in Christ alone for our salvation is only the beginning. The rest of our lives are to be spent pursuing Christlikeness… in God’s power.

The whole Bible points to this truth, but here are a few sample-verses to make the point…

John 17:17 – Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Romans 12:1-2 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. [2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test?

2 Corinthians 5:9 – So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

Ephesians 4:1 – As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Ephesians 5:1 – Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

Ephesians 5:10 – and find out what pleases the Lord.

Hebrews 6:1 – Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,

2 Peter 3:18 – But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

This is a common theme found throughout Christian history, especially in the life and ministry of our own John Wesley. Throughout his life and ministry, Wesley exhorted followers of Christ to “go on to perfection” (i.e., spiritual maturity). His General Rules and Covenant Service (see Appendices A and B) are representative of how important this was to him.

The following Spiritual Life Checkup is composed of questions for self-examination as well as articles of encouragement and direction. Completing this will not magically or instantaneously make you like Christ. It will, however, give you some indication of how you’re doing on your spiritual journey with Christ and point to some areas in which you may want to pursue greater growth and depth.

This is completely voluntary, and thus, there is no requirement to share your findings with anyone else. However, if you think it would be helpful to seek spiritual direction with another person, I would be happy to meet with you to pray, talk about what you discovered, offer appropriate guidance, and perhaps share resources to equip you on your journey.

If you belong to a small accountability group, you may also consider sharing your results with your brothers and/or sisters in that setting. Perhaps together you can pray for and encourage one another as you seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

One Last Caveat: Please take your time with this. Prayerfully proceed, asking God’s Spirit to guide you as you reflect on your walk with Christ, answer the questions, read the articles, etc. You won’t get extra credit for completely this quickly.  Instead, I deeply desire for you to learn more about yourself so that you can better see and hear the ways in which God may be leading and calling you.

PS – a good article to read on this subject is, Your Regular Checkup by Gordon MacDonald

Please do not hesitate to let me know how I may serve you.

Your Brother in Christ,
Pastor Dale

Categories: Bearing Fruit, Calling, Change, Dale Tedder, Discipleship, Encouragement, Godly Manhood, Lifelong Learning, Pilgrim's Progress, Righteousness, Sanctification, Spiritual Direction, Spiritual Growth | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Legacy to Your Children

Posted on April 16, 2013 by daletedder

fatherhood1What legacy are we leaving to our children and to our children’s children? 2 Kings 17:40-41 gives us a frightening glimpse of what it could be if we are not vigilant. Take in these sobering words…

2 Kings 17:40-41 – They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. [41] Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

We can commit idolatry, even while professing the Lord. How shocking is that? Our legacy can be for good or evil, righteousness or wickedness. But make no mistake… we will leave a legacy. How are you influencing your children?

Our children tend to believe what we believe, behave the way we behave, and have the same attitudes as we. We will either draw them closer to God or drive them farther away.

Israel believed what they did and behaved how they did because the world was too much a part of them. They were called to be a set-apart (holy) people. They were to think, speak, act, and worship differently than the surrounding culture.

And yet, 2 Kings 17 is a horrific tale of the worst forms of human depravity. God’s very own people practiced everything from idolatry to child-sacrifice to everything in-between. The depths to which the children of Israel fell and became like their ambient culture is staggering.

Perhaps, however, the last two verses of Chapter 17 are the most somber of all. Even after the Lord called his children to repentance and emphasized that his love was still available to them, we read these words in verse 40…

They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices.

Then, in verse 41, we learn of the consequences that can destroy a family, a church, or a nation.

Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

The example of the parents and grandparents had been firmly set in place. Their legacy was playing out. It’s no wonder that James reminds us that friendship with the world is to become an enemy of God (James 4:4).

To be a holy, set apart people means that we have an allegiance to God and to God alone. It means that we must declare our loyalty to him even while dwelling in a foreign land. When we do, we pass along a godly heritage – a godly legacy – that can last for a thousand generations. Yet, when infidelity to our King is our memorial, the consequences can be perilous.

How do we let the world in our hearts and let its fallen, sinful patterns influence us? There seems to be no end to the number of books written to answer that very question. Yet, for my part, I would want us to ask at least this question: What is our goal in the raising of our children? Success? Happiness? Wealth? Status? Education? The right social connections?

If “godliness” is not our automatic, reflexive answer to that question, then perhaps the world is too much with us. Perhaps it is the world, and not our Lord, who is setting our agenda. So too, and more importantly, it’s not merely what we’re trying to pass on to our children, but who we, as parents and grandparents, essentially are. For if we talk like the world, walk like the world, and look like the world, then it may not be much of a stretch for our children and grandchildren to assume that such worldliness is how “good Christian children” should talk, walk, and look.

Is that the legacy you want to leave to those you care most about in this world?

May God turn (and keep) our hearts toward him.

Stand Firm,
Dale

Categories: Children, Covenant Family, Covenantal Home, Dale Tedder, Discipleship, Discipling Children, Fatherhood, Godly Manhood, Leadership, Legacy, Multi-Generational Vision, Parenting | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In Search of Wisdom

Posted on April 15, 2013 by daletedder

wisdomProverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:29 – Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord,

Advice from Solomon, the wisest man in the world, to his sons. Such great counsel is contained in the chapters of Proverbs. It’s too bad that Solomon didn’t always practice what he preached. But isn’t that true of all of us? We know the better course; we take the lesser.

I so desperately want knowledge, discernment, insight understanding, discipline, and wisdom. I pray for all of those things often. Imparting them is why Solomon wrote these words to his sons. The verses of Proverbs 1:1-6 read accordingly…

Proverbs 1:1-6 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

[2] for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; [3] for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; [4] for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young– [5] let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance– [6] for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

Who wouldn’t want all of that? Apparently, plenty of folk. God, through Solomon, tells us how to get such things. He writes…

Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

There is no separation of the spiritual, volitional, emotional, intellectual, or moral in the Bible. They are all interrelated and interdependent.

To have the attributes on Solomon’s list (or at least, to move toward acquiring them), one must fear the Lord. All too often people bend over backwards to point out that such “fear” simply means “reverence.” And, of course, there’s some truth in that. But I can’t help but think that fear also means fear.

For example, when Isaiah stood before the throne of God in Isaiah 6, he immediately knew how sinful he was. He shrieked in terror and was beside himself with the overwhelming feelings of dread and unworthiness. That sounds a little like fear. Or, how about when Jesus calmed the sea and the disciples wanted him to depart because they felt the weight of their radical shamefulness. I think that there’s something to that understanding of fear that we shouldn’t immediately dismiss, simply because it makes us uncomfortable.

But, of course, it means more than that.

“Fear,” in our Scripture, also means covenantal submission to the Lordship of God. We show we properly fear God when we submit, reverentially, to who he is, and to what he has commanded us to do. We can’t just give him lip service. Our obedience must have hands and feet to it as well.

To know God is to know him covenantally and relationally, to know about him (his character, attributes, decrees, commands, etc.), and to humbly, gratefully, and joyfully live our lives in response to all of that. We can know that we are approaching what it means to fear God when we are living in such a way.

And this, according to our text, is the beginning of knowledge (which includes all the other items on Solomon’s list). As I mentioned earlier, there are apparently some who do not desire such knowledge and who have no fear of God. They are spiritually, intellectually, morally, emotionally numb. The Bible calls them fools. Such people don’t desire God or his ways. And, sadly, Proverbs, (as well as the rest of Scripture), tells us that to such people with that attitude, God responds… “thy will be done.” And thus, they reap the consequences of their foolishness – both here and hereafter.

I love the book of Proverbs. Like Solomon, I want to pass such wisdom on to my children. And while there’s gold in the pot for both boys and girls, there’s wisdom contained therein that our boys desperately need to be taught in this day and age. The average prime time TV program will run in complete antithesis to the pearls of wisdom that Solomon is trying to communicate to his sons. Our boys need to ingest this wisdom long before they become men. Because, by then, it will be almost too late.

Have you read Proverbs lately? You may be interested to know that there are 31 chapters – one for each day of the month. Doctor’s Prescription: A Proverb a day will help keep sin away (or, at least, it will help). Of course, I would also exhort you to read more than Proverbs, but you can’t go wrong by adding it to your spiritual diet.

Stand Firm,
Dale

Categories: Daily Devotions, Dale Tedder, Godly Manhood, Wisdom | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Francis Schaeffer: Faithful Christian Witness

Posted on April 12, 2013 by daletedder

Francis_SchaefferLike many other folks, I was influenced early in my ministry by the books, audio messages, and video recordings of Francis Schaeffer. I never gave in to trying to grow his goatee or dress like him… but I’m certain from time to time I surely must have tried to speak like him.

I used to obsessively study philosophy, worldview-thinking, ethics, theology, culture, and apologetics through seminary and well into the first half of my ministry. Francis Schaeffer helped me navigate much of that journey. He helped show me how those subjects were all connected as well as how understanding such things was essential for practical day-to-day life and ministry. More than that, his biblical, theological, and philosophical convictions compelled him to bear faithful Christian witness to the world in which he lived.

Reading Schaeffer’s works and learning more about him, his family, and his ministry also led me to discover others who have greatly impacted my thinking and ministry, such as Jerram Barrs, Os Guinness, and Dick Keyes.

This post is late to the dance because this past Monday (January 30) was the centennial celebration of Schaeffer’s birth. I’ve read some great tributes to his life and ministry over the last few weeks and I thought I might share some of those, as well as some inspiring websites and ministries that are carrying on the work that Schaeffer helped revitalize in his day.

As is often the case with my blog, this post is not properly a “Top Ten” list, but it makes for a good title to the post.

I hope something mentioned here will bless you.

Grace and Truth, Dale

10numbertenincircleA few articles about Schaeffer…

Remembering Francis Schaeffer by T.M. Moore (good list of links at the end of the article). In many ways Charles Colson and his various ministries (The Colson Center, BreakPoint, etc., are carrying on in the same spirit as Schaeffer.

100th Anniversary of Francis Schaeffer’s Birth by Nathan Bingham at Ligonier Ministries

Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life (a review by Hunter Baker) at Gospel Coalition

Francis Schaeffer at 100 at Credo Magazine

Covenant Theological Seminary’s magazine issue on Schaeffer

The Need to Read Francis Schaeffer by Todd Kappelman at Probe Ministries

Francis Schaeffer and a World in Desperate Need by Lane Dennis at Crossway

Francis Schaeffer at Wheaton

How Then Should We Live?: Francis Schaeffer at 100 by Charles Colson

Some great websites/ministries serving in the “Schaeffer spirit”…

L’Abri Fellowship -This is the ministry that Schaeffer and his wife founded. It has greatly expanded and continues to do a wonderful job of ministering today. Check out their page on the history of L’Abri.

Francis A. Schaeffer Institute at Covenant Theological Seminary. Jerram Barrs is closely connected to this. Two of his courses, on the early and later years of Schaeffer, are available (for free!!!) at the Covenant website. And HERE

Francis Schaeffer Studies.org -a new website and ministry launched to celebrate the 100th birthday of Schaeffer. Lots of great resources available.

Francis A. Schaeffer Foundation - The Francis A. Schaeffer Foundation was incorporated in 1988 by Edith Schaeffer, Udo and Deborah Middelmann and several of their friends as a foundation of ideas.

The Francis Schaeffer Study Center - This is an awesome ministry to students. From their webpage… “The focus of the Study Center curriculum is on equipping high school students with basic biblical knowledge, an understanding of the Christian world-view and an integrated study of the literature, history, and art of western civilization.”

Other helpful resources…

And… what would a post on Schaeffer be without something from the man himself…

Categories: Dale Tedder, Francis Schaeffer, Heroes, Witness, Worldview | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pursuing Wisdom

Posted on April 11, 2013 by daletedder

wisdomJoshua 1:8

May I not let Your word depart from my mouth, but meditate on it day and night, so that I may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then I will make my way prosperous, and I will act wisely. (Ken Boa paraphrase)

This verse from the first chapter of Joshua has been paraphrased in the first person to remind us that God’s Word has application in our lives. It is, in a manner of speaking, addressed to us.

That’s quite relevant in light of the fact that this single verse is exhorting and instructing us to saturate ourselves in God’s Word. Why? Because that’s where we meet God…hear God…are confronted and instructed by God. In short, it is where we learn to act wisely.

I pray for wisdom on a daily basis, All of Scripture encourages me to do so. James puts it bluntly in the first chapter of the book that bears his name. Verse five reads,

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

It doesn’t get any plainer than that. Ask for wisdom and God will give it…generously. That seems simple enough. Yet what I have learned over the years of my spiritual pilgrimage is that this “formula” does not work like a magic genie in a lamp. You don’t rub the lamp and make a wish. It doesn’t operate like taking an aspirin for a headache. You don’t take two tablets and get wisdom in the morning.

Instead, our text from Joshua gives us a pretty good understanding about how to attain wisdom. If the wisdom we want is God’s wisdom, and God has revealed his wisdom to us in and through his Word, then it would behoove us to read, study, mediate upon, pray over, and apply – SATURATE ourselves – with that source of wisdom. If we want God’s wisdom to rub off on us and really get into our spiritual bloodstreams – into our hearts and minds – then we have to do the hard work of “not letting it depart from us.” We will want to “meditate on it day and night.” We will want to be “careful to do according to all that is written in it.” Only then will we become prosperous and begin to act wisely.

That’s the cost to this component of faithful discipleship. It’s not easy and it certainly does not come instantly. This is not for the lazy or the faint of heart. But it is a pearl of great price that is worth more than we can possibly imagine. It’s worth the cost and then some.

One last thought: I’m not sure when I will know that “I’ve arrived” and received the wisdom that I’ve been desperately praying and striving for. Do we “arrive” when it comes to wisdom? What does that even mean? Does a wise person think that he is wise? That doesn’t seem to fit with my understanding of wisdom. I think I’ll just pursue it, with God’s grace, all the days of my life and leave it to my heavenly Father, if he so chooses, to one day let me know how I did.

Stand Firm,
Dale

Categories: Daily Devotions, Dale Tedder, Wisdom | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Appreciating C.S. Lewis

Posted on April 11, 2013 by daletedder

Lewis-2I’m thinking about writing a tribute of sorts to C.S. Lewis in an effort to communicate my appreciation for him and my indebtedness to his life and writing. (This post is not that tribute.) I told my wife not too long ago that I really do think I could spend the rest of my days reading his books, or reading books about him and his books. He speaks to me as very few others do outside Scripture.

Of course, I’m no Lewis scholar. I’m a rank amateur at best. But I am a fan. And while I can’t cite every fact about his life or how he influenced such-and-such school of thought, I find myself returning to him time and time again… whether it is his fiction or nonfiction or letters or poetry. For that matter, I usually have a biography somewhere near my bedside table as well.

Until such time as I’m able to put together enough coherent thoughts to write a proper tribute to him, I thought I would pass along a “mega” Top Ten List that will actually include far more than the usual Ten. Below are links to websites by folks who really are Lewis scholars and who have also contributed to helping us think about how Lewis is a helpful guide in our walk with Christ. I have also included links to websites about his friends, his influences, and those who have been greatly influenced by him.

Joy and Truth,
Dale

10numbertenincircle1.) C.S. Lewis Institute - Bonanza of great resources. Check out their publications, Reflections and Knowing & Doing. They have great curricula on two Lewis books as well as many audio messages you can listen to or download.

2.) C.S. Lewis Foundation - Another bonanza. Lots of great resources including an online journal and blog.

3.) The C.S. Lewis Review

4.) Into the Wardrobe

5.) Diana Glyer’s website

6.) Mere Lewis.org

7.) C.S. Lewis at Harper

8.) C.S. Lewis Society of California

9.) Narnia Web.com

10.) C.S. Lewis & Public Life

Websites with lots of articles about Lewis

1.) My old website (scroll to the bottom of the page)

2.) Catholic Education Resource Center

3.) Books and Culture

4.) C.S. Lewis, Literature, and Life

Inklings and Other Friends of Lewis Related Sites

1.) The Kindlings and Earl Palmer Ministries

2.) Peter Kreeft

3.) Ralph Wood

4.) American Chesterton Society

5.) The Tolkien Society

6.) The Inklings

7.) Mythopoeic Society

8.) George MacDonald Society

9.) George MacDonald Info Web

10.) The Hobbit Movie

Categories: CS Lewis, Dale Tedder, Heroes | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Forget to Start Your Chainsaw

Posted on April 10, 2013 by daletedder

daily-devotions-1Galatians 3:1-5 – You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. [2] I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? [3] Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? [4] Have you suffered so much for nothing–if it really was for nothing? [5] Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

If we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, why do we always seem to revert back to trying to earn God’s acceptance?

This sort of question perplexed Paul. It perplexes me. The Church at Galatia – home of those “foolish Galatians” – was clearly taught that Christ had been crucified for sinners (v. 1). They had heard the gospel rightly exposited by the Apostle. And yet, they seemed to be setting aside the grace of God. For if righteousness could be gained through the law, then Christ died for nothing (Gal. 2:21)!

So, Paul asks them point blank: How did you receive the Spirit: By observing the law or by believing the gospel (v. 2)? I’ll let Paul speak for himself in verse 3…

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

The answer to his questions was YES. They were indeed guilty as charged… but all too often…so are we.

How often do we try to earn God’s favor and become enslaved to performance-based living, thus rendering Christ’s sacrifice for sin as worthless? While we know – or ought to know – that we are justified (or saved) by faith, we somehow think that everything else is up to us.

The biblical truth is, however, that although we must certainly pursue godliness for all we are worth, it is only by the power of the Spirit that we will achieve our goal of Christlikeness. And we access that power only by faith. Trying to live for Christ by your own power is like trying to cut down a mighty Redwood Tree with a chainsaw that you never start. You’ll fail miserably and look stupid doing so.

Instead, we are not only called to begin with the Spirit in our justification, but also to finish with him…and to walk every step with him between those two points as well. To change metaphors one last time, it’s only as the Spirit pulls us along the track of life that our efforts will amount to anything for the Kingdom.

Stand Firm,
Dale

Categories: Dale Tedder, Godliness, Godly Manhood, Righteousness, Sanctification, Spiritual Growth | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Manly Libraries and Studies

Posted on April 9, 2013 by daletedder

batemanMy favorite room to investigate when I visit someone’s home is their library and/or study (provided I’m allowed to do so without being too nosey). I find that such a room says so much about a person. My little makeshift study in my home is my favorite room in the house (though it is occasionally hijacked and turned into the laundry room or the Food Network viewing room).  I’ve also written here about John Baillie’s study. What an amazing place of peace, intimacy with God, study, fellowship and ministry it must have been.

As providence would have it, I was considering just last week sharing that post once again as part of a larger post on various libraries and studies throughout history, but I never quite got off the ground with it. Well, the good folks at The Art of Manliness have put together an impressive list of The Libraries, Studies, and Writing Rooms of 15 Famous Men. They did all the work for me (and far exceeded anything I would have done). You really must check it out!

And while you’re coveting your neighbor’s library and study, take a look at this list of 14 Famous “Man Rooms,” also put together by The Art of Manliness. And finally, please check out this great post on A Man’s Library by Douglas Phillips at Vision Forum. (Excuse me while I wipe the drool off my keyboard.)

Here’s to dreaming dreams and to reading good books.

The Lord bless you,
Dale

Categories: Books, Dale Tedder, Godly Manhood, Manhood | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

What is Christian Witness?

Posted on April 5, 2013 by daletedder

missions-2Very often, at least in my experience, Christians have truncated the scope of Christian witness one way or the other, depending on the person or group with whom you are speaking. For example, sometimes witness is understood purely in terms of evangelism and missions. Other times, bearing witness for Christ is framed exclusively in terms of social action. I would suggest that the church is at her best when she views and practices her witness as a both/and… not an either/or. It’s what George Grant called in his book by the same name, The Micah Mandate (a very, very important book in my life that did much to shape me).

Bearing a faithful witness for our King and his Kingdom involves introducing folks to our King and helping them come to know him in a meaningful, transforming, and personal way. Yet it also involves representing our King in the midst of the lesser kingdoms of this world. He desires to rule and reign in every sphere of life and we must go out into the highways and byways to stand for… and even fight for… his mercy, justice, and peace. Of course, all of this is to be done with great humility, and always in the context of loving our neighbors by serving them and sharing his truth with them.

At all times we are under his authority and are not at liberty to pursue our own agendas and preferences. This means we must dig into what his Word says. The Great Commandment, Great Commission, and Cultural Mandate all require loving, serving, and obeying our King for his glory and the good of our neighbors. This is our Christian witness. It’s what I’ve elsewhere referred to as Kingdom Discipleship.

My goal for the Stand Firm posts related to witness will be similar to the other Stand Firm posts; my desire will be to find some helpful resources and link them with the intent of educating, equipping, and encouraging you as you seek to bear witness to our King.

Stand Firm,
Dale

Categories: Dale Tedder, Kingdom Discipleship, Witness | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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