Pastor’s Ponderings

 Join Us In Prayer About Possible Building

Our church, Lighthouse Baptist Church, is out of room.  Our current building is located on 2.2 acres in the heart of Columbus, and it will seat approximately 160.  Over the past few years we have been praying for the Lord to permit us to purchase some adjacent property, in order to be able to build and grow.  Thus far, the Lord has not provided that option.

A couple of weeks ago, we discovered a building that is up for sale and is located only within a couple of miles of our current location.  It is on a major thoroughfare with 450 feet of road frontage.  It sits on 4 acres, and offers current educational and seating capacity that is more than double of our current location.

Please join us in prayers about the Lord’s will in this decision.  The asking price of the building and property is $1,250,000.  We owe nothing on our current building and land.  We are diligently praying about this matter.  We do not want to move ahead of the Lord’s leading.  Yet, if He leads in this direction, we know that He will provide the finances as well.

If you would like to see pictures of the building, then click on this link:  www.lbcministries.net/lbcvision.

Tags: Building, growth, Lighthouse Baptist

 Book by Pastor Wynn

An Examination of the Biblical Principles Regarding Christian Dress

Does God Care What I Wear is a twenty-page booklet that addresses the biblical standard of dress and propriety.  It is the outcome of a two-sermon series preached in the pulpit of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia.  The sermon was a part of a series on “Things Baptist Believe,” which was answering questions submitted by the new believers in the church. 

To read an excerpt from the preface and introduction, click this link. . .Does God Care (Excerpt).  Or, to read the entire booklet (with watermarked pages), click this link. . .Does God Care (Watermarked)

Chapters include the following:

• Modesty of Dress
• Distinction of Dress
• Testimony of Dress
• Authority of Dress

For more information, please contact me at phone or e-mail at the top of this blog page.  

Single Copies:  $1.75 (+ $1 S/H)
25-49 Copies: $1.50 ea (+ $5 S/H)
50+ Copies:     $1.25 ea (FREE S/H)

Tags: bloomers, dress, godliness, modesty, pants, standards, women

In a recent article that is posted on MSNBC, entitled “Prayer no guarantee against adultery,” the author documents the fact that a professed belief in God is not enough to protect marital fidelity. The writer states, “Attendance at religious services is the only faith-related activity that predicts improved chances of fidelity in marriage, according to the research.”

Of course, this should be no surprise to anyone with an understanding of biblical principles.  If a professing Christian does not take his/her commitment to Christ serious enough to be faithful to Him, is it any surprise when they do not stay faithful to their marital commitment? Since our commitment to Christ is the highest of all commitments, then any lesser commitments will be more easily broken when this sacred commitment is violated.

The marriage commitment is a holy and sacred commitment.  As couples stand before the wedding altar, they are reminded that they are about to enter the “bonds of holy matrimony.”  However, as society has proven, the commitments at the wedding altar are not sufficient to insure marital bliss and success.  Hollywood, Nashville, Branson and other music and movie centers have all trivialized the marital commitment.  Marriage is seen as a temporary arrangement that is to be ended when the “loving” feeling is gone.   However, such a interpretation is not what God has in mind for marriage (see Matthew 19:6).

Faithfulness in church attendance, and other areas of biblical disciplines, will help to insure marital faithfulness.   It is not simply “attendance” that makes the difference.  It is the benefit that faithful attendance brings.  There are the benefits of consistent biblical instruction and Christian exhortation.  Hebrews 10:25 reminds us that meeting faithfully with other believers is a genuine source of exhortation.  Hebrews 3:13 states that Christian exhortation should be a “daily” practice.

The maintaining of our commitment to Christ will help to insure our commitment to our spouse.  Yes, I used the politically incorrect word “spouse,” and not “partner.”  But. . .That is another topic.

Tags: Commitment, Faithfulness, Fidelity, Marriage, MSNBC, Piety

Professing Themselves to be Wise
For the past couple of weeks, the American public has been exposed to the supposed mystery of a man giving birth to a baby. The printed stories and internet versions all feature a photo of the alleged “man” with his pregnant abdomen. The alleged “man” is now known by the name of Thomas Beatie. Although Thomas was born as Tracy Lagondino, a woman, he was surgically altered to now have the appearance of a man. Thomas went through what is known as “gender reassignment,” and the state of Oregon declared that Thomas is now legally a man.

Of course, this has spawned much discussion by the talking heads of the media. Some are fascinated by the “history-making” even of a man giving birth. How foolish! Romans 1:22 quickly comes to my mind, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Within its context, this verse precedes the description of those who have been given over to a reprobate mind by God (Romans 1:23-32). Included in this list of reprobates are those who “change the natural use into that which is against nature” (v.26). The first part of this verse defines such behavior as “vile affections.”

It is a fool who believes that simply altering one’s anatomy is all that is required for gender reassignment. God created men and women different in more ways that anatomy. The physical alterations do not alter the chromosome differences between men and women. It does not alter the physiological, mental and emotional differences between men and women. Thomas even chose to keep the female reproductive organs in her body. That is uniquely female. The state of Oregon was in error when it declared that this anatomically altered individual was a man. Unless the state can make the core changes at the genetic level of life, then Thomas is still a woman.

However, I am certain that the media will continue to try and push this hoax on the American public. They will declare that history has been made (although women have been giving birth since the beginning of history). This is an important event that must be swallowed by the gullible. The left-wing liberals of our country have long sought for a definitive benchmark by which to redefine the family unit. Thus, this lie must be accepted by the public. It was Joseph Goebbels, an aide to Hitler, who stated that if the state tells a big enough lie often enough, it will be believed. Lenin added, “A lie told often enough becomes truth.” Thus, this lie will be told often and loud, in order to be redefined as truth.

The American public must expose this farce for what it is. . .A lie from Satan. Like Satan, mankind is shaking his fist at the Almighty God and saying, “You will not control me!” How sad it is. We must pray for those who have become prey for the media lies. We must pray for the Lord to raise up a generation of Godly people that will seek to impact the world by reaching the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must reach the world in our generation for His glory!

Tags: gender reassignment, man, Man give birth, Thomas Beatie, Tracy Lagondino

Busy but not Blessed

Reading: Luke 10:38-42

It has been a few days since my last post to this blog. The schedule of past days have excluded time for writing thoughts for posting. Yet, it is this very limitation that has challenged my heart and soul.

I was sitting in my office a few days ago and meditating on the Scriptures. As I did, the Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart concerning my communion with the Lord. As with many pastors and preachers, my schedule is full of ministry. With visitation, sermon preparation, teaching and other ministry duties, I am fully engaged in ministry. However, it seems that with all of my trying to refresh others, the spiritual well from which I drank had become dry. I had become guilty of what I call the “Martha Syndrome.”

In Luke 10:38-42, we see the involvement of Martha in serving Christ. She is busy in the kitchen preparing dinner for the Lord. This is an honorable ambition. It is noble to desire to meet the physical needs of the honored guest in her home. Yet, it was this very service that made her resentful of her sister. Her service for Christ did not produce a closeness to Christ. Rather, it made her doubtful of Christ. Continue Reading »

Tags: Communion, Communion with God, Devotional, Service, Union

It has been a couple of days since my last post.  We had a great services this past weekend at Lighthouse.  One man was saved, who was first brought in on the bus.  He came back this week in his own car and brought his family.  During the service, the Lord spoke to his heart and he trusted Christ as Savior!  What a blessing.

 Anyway, I did want to post some fresh content on the blog for challenge and encouragement.  The article posted here is a quote from A.W. Tozer.  Tozer died in the 1963, after a living of intimate communion with the Lord.  He was a man of prolific words and challenging insight.  I would recommend that anyone read all they can of Tozer’s writings.

 Although, this article is not new, I believe it is worth reading today.  If Tozer was appalled at the state-of-the-church in his day, what would he think of today?  This brief excerpt from his writing on Religious Boredom is a timely challenge to our churches today.

Golden-Calf ChristianityIt is scarcely possible in most places to get anyone to attend a meeting where the only attraction is God. So we have the strange anomaly of orthodoxy in creed and heterodoxy in practice. The striped-candy technique has been so fully integrated into our present religious thinking that it is simply taken for granted. Its victims never dream that it is not a part of the teachings of Christ and His apostles. Any objection to the carryings on of our present golden-calf Christianity is met with the triumphant reply: “But we are winning them!” And winning them to what? To true discipleship? To cross-carrying? To self-denial? To separation from the world? To crucifixion of the flesh? To holy living? To nobility of character? To a despising of the world’s treasures? To hard self-discipline? To love for God? To total committal to Christ?

Of course, the answer to all this questions in NO! We are paying a frightful price for our religious boredom. And that at the expense of the world’s mortal peril!

Tags: Church, Passion for God, Ritual

The Beauty of Holiness
Read: Psa. 108:7a (”God hath spoken in his holiness“)

Jesus Christ is absolute holiness. This is, perhaps, His most beautiful attribute. Throughout the Scriptures we find that we should “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psa. 29:2; 96:9; I Chr. 16:29). Notice that the phrase does not say “the beauty of His holiness.” But rather, it states, “the beauty of holiness.” Thus, beauty is attributed to holiness itself (cf. I Chr. 20:21; Psa. 110:3). Holiness displays its own beauty. Holiness stands in direct opposition to the vileness and ugliness of sin. Although sin’s pleasure is attractive (Heb. 11:25), it possesses no beauty. Attractiveness may go no farther than the skin, but beauty radiates from within the heart and soul.

Therefore, we find the inherent beauty of God is found in His holiness. God is the consummation of divine holiness. There is not even the slightest hint of anything less than holiness to be found in the nature of God (James 1:17; I Jn. 1:5). Thus, the more we know of God, the less we desire to know of sin. The more consumed we are with God, the less contaminated we shall be with sin. And, the more intimate with God we are, the less influenced by sin we will be. If we, as sinful men, are distraught over the sinfulness of our age, then how much more must the Holy God be sickened by even the smallest of our sins.

Tags: Beauty, God, Holiness

 Power is Better Than Plans

Reading: Joshua 5

The opening of chapter five is that of both awe and wonder. The first verse inspires the people of God, as they observe the fear of their enemies (5:1). This is not a fear of their enemies but, rather, a fear from their enemies. This is a fear that not only melted their hearts, but banished their hope. It is interesting to note that this fear was not produced because of the work of God. The latter part of verse one reveals that this fear was “because of the children of Israel.” What an incredible statement! The victories of God’s people (5:1a) had bred terror in the hearts of their enemies.

Why is it that God’s people no longer cause hearts to melt? Continue Reading »

Tags: Fear, People of God, Power of God

The following is a brief excerpt from an Associated Press release this morning. . .

At least one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease, or more than 3 million teens, according to the first study of its kind in this age group.

A virus that causes cervical cancer is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in teen girls aged 14 to 19, while the highest overall prevalence is among black girls - nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD. That rate compared with 20 percent among both whites and Mexican-American teens, the study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

The study goes on to imply that one of the reasons for this alarming report is the teaching of abstinence to our teenagers.Is not this living proof of Romans 1:22, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools“?  It is absurd to lay the blame for these findings at the feet of abstinence teaching.

To follow their reasoning, then we should educate bank robbers on successful ways to elude being caught.  After all, we should want to help them escape the hurtful consequences of capture and conviction!  Of course, this is an absurd notion.  Yet,  when will we learn that we must educate our children with the idea that choices have consequences?  It has been accurately stated that trying to build a moral nation without teaching consequences, is a futil as rearranging the furniture on the deck of the Titanic. To anyone with normal intelligence, it would be simple to avoid a STD (i.e., Sexually Transmitted Disease). 

By virtue of definition, if a person does not engage in the act of transmission, then nothing is transmitted.  Therefore, abstinence works!

What will reduce STD’s is not only the teaching of abstinence, but the practicing of abstinence before marriage and being monogamous in marriage.  This may strike some as being out of touch with modern day reality.  However, it is still a biblical truth. . .”Thou shalt not commit adultery.“  No one, not even modern man, can avoid the consequences of violating God’s Law. 

Tags: Abstinence, CDC Study, STD

The Judgment Seat of Jacob
Reading: Genesis 49

While reading through Genesis chapter 49, I remembered a message that I heard Dr. John Phillips preach a number of years ago. It was at a Pastor’s Conference in Jacksonville, Florida where about 3,000 pastors were in attendance. He stood behind the pulpit that morning and in his accented speech announced, “I am going to speak to you this morning on the subject of the judgment seat of Christ.” Immediately, the sound of Bible pages turning to one of the New Testament passages on the subject could be heard. After a long pause, Phillips said, “Turn with me to the forty-ninth chapter of the book of Genesis.” A stunned silence fell over the congregation that morning. Yet, the message that followed was nothing short of fresh water from the well of God’s Word. It was obvious that the picture-perfect “type” of the judgment seat of Christ had been missed by most in attendance. By the time the message was concluded, we were all wondering how we had missed such a clear picture up to that time. The following notes are a summary of that incredible picture. . .The Judgment Seat of Christ as seen through the picture of the patriarch, Jacob.

The opening of the forty-ninth chapter of Genesis reveals a solemn occasion. It is a time when that which has seemingly been hidden will be brought to light. It is a time when each of the sons Continue Reading »

Tags: Christ, Jacob, Judgment Seat, Repentance