Through the Mundane Things of Life

Michael E. Wood

April 15, 2013

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6

While in the process of doing housework: Yes! I said, housework; you know, things like washing dishes, and clothes, dusting, etc., Hebrews 11:6 came to mind which brought much delight in the doing of the things that had been given me for this particular day. So then that which at times is done more as a mere necessity and is seen from my perspective as getting in the way of the things of which I would rather be doing became a pleasure as the following thoughts came to mind.

Help me seek You as I serve You

Through the mundane things of life

As You show me You are present

Giving peace amidst the strife

Of the conflict raging daily

For Your glory in all ways

As You bid us by Your Spirit

And You lead us all our days.

For the grace You give sufficient

Far surpasses what we ask

And we miss sometimes the blessing

When we enter on a task

Without knowledge of the promise

That You gave by Your own Word

That was written for our learning

And made known when first we heard

Your sweet voice which first awakened

Our poor, stony, stubborn hearts

As You raised us for Your glory

When You tore the bars apart

Which had held us then as captives

In our sin, and pride, and shame

But was left on Calvary’s Mountain

When You came to earth to claim

The due honor thus befitting

Such a righteous, Holy Son

Representing God the Father

And the Spirit, Three in One!

“We ever need to be reminded that our Christianity and our profession of the Christian faith is something that is meant to show itself in every single detail of our life. Christianity is not something to be enjoyed only in a place of worship or when we are reading about it in the Bible or in other books: it must show itself in the most ordinary details of life, in everything we do.” D. Martyn Lloyd Jones (Darkness and Light: An Exposition of Ephesians 4:17-5:17)

Nothing to Glory in, Save but the Cross

Michael E. Wood

January 22-March 7, 2013

Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Psalm 27:11 (ESV)

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14 (KJV)

This song was written as a plethora of scripture passages came together over a period of a month and a half. Numerous poems had poured forth from meditations from Psalm 27, and from one written on January 22^nd, Dianna said, “that sounds like a song”. Jokingly I asked her, “Well, can you tell me what it sounds like?” I printed out a copy and reviewed it occasionally as the days went by.

On March 1^st, while being reminded by the Word of God that all that we have which is of any eternal value comes as a free gift of the grace of God, and as the result of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, the words to a short chorus expressing those facts came to mind.

In the mean time, Dianna had gotten one of the various flu bugs that had been going around this time of year which lasted for several days. As a result, she got sicker than she had ever been and spent most of her time for the week in the bed. Thus, I resigned myself to not going out from the house as much on my normal schedule so that I might be there to help with whatever needs she might have.

On Thursday night she was feeling somewhat better, but I found myself struggling to focus on continuing to study in sermon preparation for Sunday, and began to read through some of the poems I had written, when suddenly I noticed that the meter for the poem of which Dianna said sounded like a song and the chorus written on another occasion was the same. In the matter of about an hour the rest came together and the following is the result.

We thank You, Oh Father, as perfect You send

All things in our lives and control to this end

With grace more abundant and love to us show

That Jesus our Lord and our Savior we’ll know-

With nothing to glory in, save but the cross

The blood of our Savior redeemed us from loss,

When crushed for our sin He fulfilled all the law,

Restoring our souls for Your worship in awe.

As vessels of mercy and channels of grace,

Reflections of glory which stream from the face

Of Christ our dear Savior, who rules from above,

Transforming our minds and our lives by His love-

With nothing to glory in, save but the cross,

Our faith You refine as the gold from the dross

To make us the means by Your Spirit to share

Some glimpses of glory while burdens we bear.

You teach us dear Jesus to stay in the way,

Though narrow, yet level, the path till the Day

Our pilgrimage comes to a close in the house,

With God as our Father and we as Your spouse-

With nothing to glory in, save but the cross,

With no more remembrance of anything lost,

With every thing perfectly brought into view

With You as the center of everything new.

All enemies vanquished, with death as the last,

So help us more boldly on You our cares cast,

While knowing all things will then prove in the end

That You, our Lord Jesus, our Father did send-

To show us the glory of God on the cross,

The Lamb that was slain to redeem us from loss,

And then in perfection, Your beauty we’ll see,

In radiant awe of Your Great Majesty!

There’s No Place Like Home

Church celebrates 40th anniversary with senior pastor 

By Stephanie Butzer / Times-News 
Published: Monday, May 13, 2013 at 16:32 PM.

May 19 will mark a special anniversary for Beacon Baptist Church, marking its 40th year under the leadership of the founding pastor, Greg Barkman.

In 1973, Barkman was invited by a group of people in the Burlington area to begin a new church. The people were members of a nearby church and, for various reasons, did not like that pastor.

“At first I was not very inclined,” Barkman said. “I didn’t really like the idea of starting a church. I liked the idea of stepping into a church better. That was what I had in mind.”

But as Barkman got to know the people better and prayed about it, he found their goals were very compatible with his.

“We had the same desire and that was to establish a church that was committed to the Bible, that would be as Biblical as we could possibly make it,” Barkman said.

When the decision was made, the church only had 19 adults and they met in the E.M. Holt Elementary School cafeteria. Forty years later, the church had a large congregation and a three-building facility.

“I can’t believe I have been here for 40 years,” Barkman said. “I can’t believe I’m 65 years old. I don’t feel that old, but it has been so richly rewarding that it seems like maybe I’ve been here for 20 years, but it’s 40. That’s what the calendar says.”

Many pastors move around to different churches a few times during their career, but Barkman said he has never had a strong urge to leave the church, even though he has had offers.

Robert LaTour, the minister of families at Beacon, became a member in 1978 and joined the pastoral staff in 2006. He and his wife first chose to join the church because they were attracted to the “serious-mindedness of the preaching of the Word” at Beacon.

Since he became a leader at the church, LaTour said he has seen how dedicated Barkman is to his study. Barkman spends hours each morning studying the books in the Bible and dedicates 12 to 15 hours preparing for each sermon.

“Even though there is a time expense, if you love doing something, you bring that love to it,” LaTour said. “His respect for the position is a humbling thing, it’s not a prideful thing.”

In the afternoons, Barkman mainly prepares for future sermons and records his sermon on a radio show so people far away can listen. You can hear the sermons at the church’s web site,www.beaconbaptist.com.

One man who lived in High Point listened to Barkman’s broadcast regularly. He drove to the church one Sunday and told Barkman he had become a Christian through his radio broadcast.

“How rewarding is that?” Barkman said. “To have someone show up and say, ‘I’ve listened to your radio broadcast and I’ve become a follower of Jesus Christ as a result of listening to it.’”

His congregation appreciates all the years Barkman has led them and, as a thank you gift, they put together enough money to send him and his wife to Israel.

“I had never been to Israel before and that was wonderful to see Jerusalem and the Temple Mount and to see the Sea of Galilee and so many things. I read about them all my life and studied them in textbooks but to actually be there – that was a wonderful thing. I was very grateful for that.”

In all of sermons, both in the church auditorium and through the radio, Barkman aims to take a text of scripture, explain what it means and apply it to daily life.

“That’s what I do,” Barkman said. “That’s what I have been doing for 40 years.”

In response to this article being posted at http://sharperiron.org/filings/5-14-13/27347, Pastor Barkman said, “ I knew a story was in the works, but was surprised to open the Tuesday morning newspaper to find my photo on the front page. I hadn't expected much from the 22 year old reporter, who was an intern from the local university, volunteering time for her last report before graduation. However, although she misunderstood two or three details, I was pleasantly surprised that she made faithfulness to the Bible the main point of the story. All praise to God!

The story has generated a bit of "stir" in our local community. Several called the church office to say they plan to visit soon. We shall see. 

At any rate, we have a celebration planned for this Sunday, May 19, to give praise to God for His grace these forty years. Our church organ, along with other equipment, was damaged by a lightening bolt last Wednesday, but repaired yesterday in the nick of time. Whew! With Dr. Ed Dunbar, organist from BJU coming this weekend, we really needed that organ! Joan Pinkston, who is also coming, suggested I tell Ed we were only able to obtain a little pump organ to replace the Allen. I didn't have the heart!

As we highlight "Stones of Remembrance" this Sunday, may God meet with us, and enable us to worship Him in spirit and truth.”

April 9, 2013

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:43

Having recently received a copy of “The Beacon Beam”, I was reminded that Beacon Baptist Church would be celebrating their 40^th Anniversary and Homecoming on May 19, 2013.

While thinking back over the years of the impact of the faithful ministry of the Word through preaching, breaking of bread and fellowship among the saints at Beacon, my heart yearned to be there to enjoy this milestone, but alas, it is not to be this year. That does not mean however that I can not give God thanks and honor the occasion.

I smile as I think of a play on an old saying of which I think would be appropriate. You can take the man out of Beacon, but you can never take the Beacon out of the man. While thinking of the Homecoming at Beacon the following words came to mind.

There’s no place like home where Christ and His love

All filled with affection is to us made real,

And though but in part, He stirreth our heart

To know He is present and with us we feel

To join us by praise as on Him we gaze

Who lightens our eyes by His infinite worth

To grow us in strength to know of the length

He went on the cross to secure our new birth.

And yet now we groan for heaven our home

Will show forth the fullness of mercy and grace

He came to fulfill in our Great Father’s will

To own us and bring us to see His dear face.

Now onward we go and more of Him know

Till like Him we’ll be with our work on earth done

And marvel in awe as before Him we fall

Proclaiming Him Lord in His light, as the sun.

Happy Anniversary “Wifey”

May 2-3, 2013

Three years now and still no words

Can express the magnitude

Of the grace we have received

To exalt by gratitude

Our God alone who made us one

To reflect His love for us

Through Christ who died and glorified

To know our Father glorious.

So for His praise we stand as one

As He alone we magnify

Who meets our needs to make us pure

And hears within His Spirit’s cry:

Hallelujah, praise the Father,

Hallelujah, praise the Son,

Hallelujah, praise the Spirit,

For with Him we are made one!

A Few Who Have Fed my Poor Soul

Michael E. Wood

April 2-3, 2013

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7

Over the course of the last several years God has been pleased to stimulate my heart in worship to Him through the use of giving poetry and songs in response to the things of which He teaches me through His Word.

Sometimes He teaches directly by His Spirit through the Word in personal communion either while reading and meditating therein or as He brings it to bear upon various situations in life. Sometimes He teaches by His Spirit through hearing His Word proclaimed through preaching and sometimes He teaches through the writings of those who are His; whether they are living here on the earth at the present or have been taken to glory  and have left their written works behind.

While contemplating putting together a small volume of some of the poetry and songs He has given me up to this point in my life with special emphasis upon the works of those who have gone before, it is my hope that these minuscule glimpses at His perfection will be used to stimulate others to partake of the volumes alluded to.

These are a few who have fed my poor soul

Whom God is now using since He made me whole;

To grow and to be what He made me to be

When Christ took my place on Mount Calvary’s tree.

He made me anew by His Spirit divine

To taste of the body and blood of the Vine,

Partaking of fatness which never shall cease

That the praise of His glory may ever increase.

With His image restored in my soul to reflect

The power and glory of Him to perfect

The new man He made when He saved me from sin

And death to the old man who once ruled within.

Oh help me, Oh Father to work out with fear

What You have worked in by Your Spirit so clear

To will and to work what You speak by Your Word

With a heart of obedience that You have stirred

To show forth the glory of Christ as the Treasure

You sent to the earth to fulfill all Your pleasure

To claim as a part of the remnant from shame

Perfecting forever the praise of Your Name!

That Place to Hide

Michael E. Wood

March 27, 2013

God foreordained that place to hide

The church which flows from pier’ced side

Of Christ to wash with crimson tide

Of blood till all with Him abide,

Then wrath exhausted for all those

Who find in Him their sweet repose

Will swallow up all angry foes

Who know not God – Then held in throes

Of death eternal forever locked

To know that God will not be mocked

Though many sure had often flocked

To see and hear of Him they frocked

With empty tributes to Him raised,

As goats amongst the sheep that grazed,

But cur’sed hearts will be emblazed

As Christ forevermore is praised.

So He which seemed so foolish when

On earth His cross was preached to men

Will separate those still in sin

From those in whom His light shown in

To glorify through eternal ways;

In likeness, we shall ever raise

Our anthems to His glorious praise;

The God whose grace will still amaze!

Take My Life

Michael E. Wood

March 16, 2013

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1st John 1:7-9

How oft do we allow our sins to separate us from the enjoyment of God Himself, when confession is the very means by which we may draw nigh and have fellowship with Him?

Take my life, my sins and all

As I lay prostrate before You now.

Oh help me know Your mercies new

And humbly take of Your grace and bow

To worship You Almighty God

And Father of my poor ransomed soul,

For You have raised me up to see

You dwell within and make me whole.

Preach Through Word and Song

Michael E. Wood

March 16, 2013

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, Acts 16:25

Do we segregate our worship of God in song to appointed times of corporate gatherings alone? Do we fail to realize, that through our praise to Him through singing regardless of our circumstances or surroundings may be the very thing of which God will use to speak to the hearts of others, administering comfort to believers and pricking the conscience of unbelievers?

No, we are not all wired the same way but let us learn a lesson from Paul and Silas. Our worship of God through song regardless of circumstances or surroundings could very well have an eternal impact on the souls of men and women, as He opens opportunities for the gospel through our praise to Him.

Thy Word we preach through word and song;

Expressions of true hearts that long

To know You, Lord and make You known

As You fill us from glory’s throne-

With rapturous thoughts exceeding all

What we may think, to heed the call

You make to raise us from the dead

To worship You, Oh Christ, our Head.

Oh dictate by Your Spirit, moving

Men to know Your wondrous mind

And join us by communing through

The matchless grace in You we find-

To unify the body of

Your glory through every age

To worship You in holiness

On that grander, purer stage

Of which You have appointed

And remind to keep in view

Till all will see and know

The beauty found alone in You!